By Sarah
I attended my third wedding of the year this past weekend and again was amazed by the creativity of the bride and groom. So, I thought I’d pass along a few of my favorite ideas:
Trolley: A trolley took the wedding party and significant others on a tour of downtown Dubuque before arriving at the hotel. Not only was it a romantic way to travel, but the trolley also had much more room than a limousine.
Personal touches: The bride and groom used the skills of friends and family, including asking a friend to sing in the ceremony and a bridesmaid, who graduated from culinary school, to make the cakes. Those not in the wedding party gathered the morning of the ceremony to help decorate the reception hall, which made us feel excited and involved.
Simple décor: Alternating green and cream-colored plates with a candle held in a jar surrounded by glittery fake fall leaves was all that was needed to dress the tables, and it probably saved a ton on flowers.
DJ requests: I’m not sure whether these were requested by friends or whether the bride and groom gave the DJ a list, but he periodically played a song that was personal to the bride or groom and got them up dancing with the crowd. It might not be a bad idea to give the DJ a short list of songs to play and why they’re important to you.
Kid fun: They had coloring books and toys for kids to play with during dinner, which helped keep them from getting too antsy.
Buffet outside: The food was served outside the reception hall, which kept guests from lining up around tables, congesting up the room, and making other guests sitting at tables feel awkward.
Brunch: The bride and groom had a separate room in the hotel where guests could gather for brunch, and while people ate and talked, they opened gifts, rather than making people watch them open gifts for hours.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
The not-so-small things
By Marjorie
It’s getting down to crunch time, and in the midst of invitations, cake consultations and tuxedo fittings, my future husband and I stand in a whirlwind of chaos, uncertainty and stress.
I had heard that all of those “small things” just kind of fall into place, but as it turns out, those things aren’t so small and instead of falling into place, they are all over the place.
There are so many “small” things orbiting like planets around my head, jumping like sheep in my sleep and getting added to my list of things to do that I can’t make sense of it all. I don’t know if I am forgetting something or what that something would even be.
And oh yeah, did I get the list of addresses from my mother?
I feel as though it would be easier to throw my papers up in the air, storm out of the room and fly to Las Vegas and just have Elvis marry us. Not only would it cost less, but the fret of remembering the million “small things” wouldn’t haunt me 24/7.
And in spite of it all, people keep telling me “not to worry.” Not to worry, I ask. They aren’t the ones getting married; they aren’t the ones that have yet to order a flower girl dress, have yet to find a cake decorator, and are still invitation-less.
Oh dear! If only people had warned me of the true reality of those not-so-small things, then I would have been prepared. Instead, I had friends and relatives assuring me that all these things would fall into place, as though planning a wedding was as simple as putting together a 25-piece cat puzzle designed for a 2-year-old. Well, it’s not as easy as a 25-piece cat puzzle, and it definitely seems like there are more than 25 things going on at once, that don’t fit nicely together.
So, my advice to you: Don’t wait and let all those “small things” go until the month before your wedding. They aren’t small, they aren’t easy and they don’t just magically fall into place.
Start working on the small things as early as you can. Order your cake when you choose your reception hall, order your flower girl dress when you order your own dress, and please don’t wait until four weeks before the big day to start thinking about invitations.
It’s getting down to crunch time, and in the midst of invitations, cake consultations and tuxedo fittings, my future husband and I stand in a whirlwind of chaos, uncertainty and stress.
I had heard that all of those “small things” just kind of fall into place, but as it turns out, those things aren’t so small and instead of falling into place, they are all over the place.
There are so many “small” things orbiting like planets around my head, jumping like sheep in my sleep and getting added to my list of things to do that I can’t make sense of it all. I don’t know if I am forgetting something or what that something would even be.
And oh yeah, did I get the list of addresses from my mother?
I feel as though it would be easier to throw my papers up in the air, storm out of the room and fly to Las Vegas and just have Elvis marry us. Not only would it cost less, but the fret of remembering the million “small things” wouldn’t haunt me 24/7.
And in spite of it all, people keep telling me “not to worry.” Not to worry, I ask. They aren’t the ones getting married; they aren’t the ones that have yet to order a flower girl dress, have yet to find a cake decorator, and are still invitation-less.
Oh dear! If only people had warned me of the true reality of those not-so-small things, then I would have been prepared. Instead, I had friends and relatives assuring me that all these things would fall into place, as though planning a wedding was as simple as putting together a 25-piece cat puzzle designed for a 2-year-old. Well, it’s not as easy as a 25-piece cat puzzle, and it definitely seems like there are more than 25 things going on at once, that don’t fit nicely together.
So, my advice to you: Don’t wait and let all those “small things” go until the month before your wedding. They aren’t small, they aren’t easy and they don’t just magically fall into place.
Start working on the small things as early as you can. Order your cake when you choose your reception hall, order your flower girl dress when you order your own dress, and please don’t wait until four weeks before the big day to start thinking about invitations.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Save the date
By Sarah
I admit, it sounds weird, sending out invitations to let people know that an invitation will be on its way in a few months.
But in today’s fast-paced society, Save the Date cards are a great way to let your guests know early on that they need to keep your wedding day open. It helps ensure that you have the most guests possible come, as well as gives guests who are coming from out of town a chance to make travel arrangements early. Plus, you can drive them to a Web site, where they can watch for updates and get excited about the festivities ahead, without calling you for that information. Trust me, you’ll be busy enough.
Here are some tips when thinking about Save the Date cards:
· Send them out six to eight months in advance. Otherwise, they’re invitations.
· Do something cheap, simple and fun, versus an invitation, which is more formal. We made magnets, which many of my friends still have on their refrigerators. Also consider a small calendar with the date circled, a postcard with a picture of the two of you shortly after your engagement, or a puzzle. Make it something people will want to leave out as a reminder of the event.
· Keep the wording simple. You don’t have to give directions to the church or where you’re registered. Just tell them the date and the city, then send them to a Web site or give them a number to call for additional information, such as hotel options for out-of-town guests.
· Finalize your guest list before sending them out. Yes, it will be stressful getting this done early, but then it will be done for the rest of the year. This includes getting complete names and addresses, and deciding whether you’re inviting kids or allowing people to bring guests. It’s better for people to know up front than to make arrangements and have things change.
Anybody have any other suggestions or do something interesting for their Save the Date card?
Monday, September 8, 2008
The 70 percent rule
By Marjorie
There is wedding lingo I have come across that I didn’t even know existed, and wedding planners who throw around jargon as though a first-timer is supposed to understand it. Phrases, rules, words, countdowns – whoa, this is my first time getting married. I know I’m not supposed to be familiar with this, am I?
And there is one rule in particular that I have heard over and over again, in different ways, in different tones and from different people.
“Approximately 70 percent of the people you invite to your wedding will actually attend.”
“Plan for 70 percent of your total invited guests.”
“You know the rule of 70, don’t you?”
“What! You’ve never heard of the 70 percent rule?”
Needless to say, the 70 percent rule is important, and any person you come across while planning a wedding will more than likely remind you of it. And to give them some credit, the rule has been helpful when planning how much food to order, and believe it or not, how many items to put on the gift registry.
It’s a golden wedding equation that looks something like so:
Total number of invited guests x 0.7 = Number of guests who will actually attend
Apparently, nobody knows why this rule is accurate, but it is.
So taking it in stride, I have started to apply this rule sporadically during my planning ventures and have come to realize that our wedding reception might not be as pocket-draining as I had initially thought. And so I stress: Use this rule when drafting your final head count for your reception.
Originally, I had planned on an extravagantly large reception with a total bill much greater than any parent would wish for. But, after applying the 70 percent rule, I am now planning for a less grand reception, which I’m sure will put a little more hop in my parents’ step.
There is wedding lingo I have come across that I didn’t even know existed, and wedding planners who throw around jargon as though a first-timer is supposed to understand it. Phrases, rules, words, countdowns – whoa, this is my first time getting married. I know I’m not supposed to be familiar with this, am I?
And there is one rule in particular that I have heard over and over again, in different ways, in different tones and from different people.
“Approximately 70 percent of the people you invite to your wedding will actually attend.”
“Plan for 70 percent of your total invited guests.”
“You know the rule of 70, don’t you?”
“What! You’ve never heard of the 70 percent rule?”
Needless to say, the 70 percent rule is important, and any person you come across while planning a wedding will more than likely remind you of it. And to give them some credit, the rule has been helpful when planning how much food to order, and believe it or not, how many items to put on the gift registry.
It’s a golden wedding equation that looks something like so:
Total number of invited guests x 0.7 = Number of guests who will actually attend
Apparently, nobody knows why this rule is accurate, but it is.
So taking it in stride, I have started to apply this rule sporadically during my planning ventures and have come to realize that our wedding reception might not be as pocket-draining as I had initially thought. And so I stress: Use this rule when drafting your final head count for your reception.
Originally, I had planned on an extravagantly large reception with a total bill much greater than any parent would wish for. But, after applying the 70 percent rule, I am now planning for a less grand reception, which I’m sure will put a little more hop in my parents’ step.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
A DJ that works
By Sarah Bzdega
I am not a big fan of disc jockeys at weddings. Oftentimes, they blare songs people have heard thousands of times from a totally ’80s play list, like to hear themselves talk, or try to get the crowd involved in silly dances, such as the chicken dance or the electric slide. By the end of the night, most of the guests are outside talking, minus a few stragglers.
But as I flew back late at night after a whirlwind tour of the East Coast, which included a stop in Providence, R.I., for a wedding reception, I began thinking about the party and how much I enjoyed the dancing.
Here’s what I think made the difference:
· The dance floor was in the center of the room, not hidden in some dingy corner, so people felt involved in what was going on.
· The dinner was set up as three stations, so people were forced to get up and walk around to try different dishes, which also made them more comfortable getting up from their tables to hit the dance floor while others were eating.
· The married couple had their first dance before dinner, which made guests feel comfortable getting up to dance during dinner.
· The bride and groom were into the music, which encouraged the rest of us to join them.
· The tunes were tasteful – no hokeypokey, chicken dance, or other prescribed dance. Just good classics that appealed to a wide age group and were a good mix of fast and slow songs.
So, my best advice would be that if you decide to go with a DJ (for which I can’t blame you, because it is a lot cheaper than a band), make sure you look at ways to get and keep people involved. Skip the dollar dance and the cheesy songs with set moves that force half the crowd to remain antsy in their chairs, spell out exactly what you want and do not want the DJ to do, and focus on classics that appeal to the broader crowd. Then, get your dancing shoes on, because they’ll be waiting for you to make the first move.
I am not a big fan of disc jockeys at weddings. Oftentimes, they blare songs people have heard thousands of times from a totally ’80s play list, like to hear themselves talk, or try to get the crowd involved in silly dances, such as the chicken dance or the electric slide. By the end of the night, most of the guests are outside talking, minus a few stragglers.
But as I flew back late at night after a whirlwind tour of the East Coast, which included a stop in Providence, R.I., for a wedding reception, I began thinking about the party and how much I enjoyed the dancing.
Here’s what I think made the difference:
· The dance floor was in the center of the room, not hidden in some dingy corner, so people felt involved in what was going on.
· The dinner was set up as three stations, so people were forced to get up and walk around to try different dishes, which also made them more comfortable getting up from their tables to hit the dance floor while others were eating.
· The married couple had their first dance before dinner, which made guests feel comfortable getting up to dance during dinner.
· The bride and groom were into the music, which encouraged the rest of us to join them.
· The tunes were tasteful – no hokeypokey, chicken dance, or other prescribed dance. Just good classics that appealed to a wide age group and were a good mix of fast and slow songs.
So, my best advice would be that if you decide to go with a DJ (for which I can’t blame you, because it is a lot cheaper than a band), make sure you look at ways to get and keep people involved. Skip the dollar dance and the cheesy songs with set moves that force half the crowd to remain antsy in their chairs, spell out exactly what you want and do not want the DJ to do, and focus on classics that appeal to the broader crowd. Then, get your dancing shoes on, because they’ll be waiting for you to make the first move.
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