Friday, May 28, 2010

Theme Weddings: Do or Don't

When I think of a theme wedding visions of a bridal party dressed in Renaissance Costumes or Lightsabers come to mind. Now, I realize that many theme weddings don’t take it to that extreme, so I will give you a cautious “Do” when it comes to theme weddings.

My caveat on the “Do” is that the overwhelming theme of your wedding is YOU!

A Bride and Groom cannot go wrong if they make sure their wedding is a true reflection of themselves. What are you and your fiancé passionate about? How can that translate into your wedding?

Here are a few ideas:

Date: Select the date of your wedding to correspond with your favorite season, to accommodate the overall fashion look you are going for or that will allow you to incorporate food you love, when it’s in season, on your menu. If you love the colors of fall and warm apple pie, find a date in the fall. Always picture wearing a (faux) fur stole and taking pictures in a snowy winter wonderland, pick a date in a winter month like January or February (you may even score some deals as it’s the slow season).



Décor: Incorporate colors, images, artwork and personality into the overall look of your day. In this aspect the difference lies in the details. Set your “theme” for your guests in your wedding invitation. Carry it through in all of your wedding day stationary (programs, place cards, menu cards, thank you cards, etc.) to pull off a very polished look. Work with your floral designer and decorator to incorporate important colors, textures and fabrics throughout your big day. Be creative with centerpieces, we love flowers, but you can bring in some fun non-floral items depending on the look you are going for.



Pre & Post-Wedding Parties: Bridal showers, Bachelor & Bachelorette Parties, Rehearsal Dinners and a post-wedding Brunches are all great opportunities to bring your theme through. Keep your colors in mind, pass out fun theme related favors, and add some fun touches.

If you’re the biggest Trekkies around, no one will be surprised to see Captain Spock as the Officiant of your ceremony. Not quite so passionate? Then make sure YOU (& your fiancé, I mean YOU as a couple), your passions and personalities are the theme of your wedding, you can’t go wrong!

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),
Olivia

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Here Comes the Bride...

Ladies, you’ve found the right guy, he found the right ring, now you must truly find “The One.” Your wedding gown of course! Many brides find selecting their wedding gown the most FUN part of planning their wedding. So, first and foremost, take some time and ENJOY finding your gown, the one that will bring a tears to your eye, and probably mom’s too.


Photo courtesy of theknot.com

Your dress will set the tone for your wedding so keep that in mind as you hit the racks. As you search here are some helpful hints to know before you hit the store:

Style
All kinds of words are used to describe the shape of a gown. Hopefully this will help you know what you’re looking at.

Ball Gown/Princess: shape is traditional, poofy, and what comes to mind when you think of a Princess getting married. There is typically a more fitted bodice but the skirt is big big big. This style is flattering on most and favored by those who want to camouflage their hips.

Empire/Babydoll: This gown will have a “flowing” feel from just below the bust through to the floor. Girls who want to enjoy food on their big day, without worrying about their tummy showing may want to look at this style of gown.

Trumpet/Mermaid/Fit n Flare: This gown is going to be fitted through the body to somewhere between the hips and the knees, and then it will flare out some. Each dress will vary in just how fitted it is and how much volume comes with that flare. This cut can give the look of curves to those with a more athletic build or accentuate the waist of a bride who wants to work her curves.


Photo Courtesy of theknot.com

A-Line: This style is very similar to the Ball Gown or Princess shape, there is a fitted bodice, however there is less volume in the skirt. This is a universally flattering style.

Sheath: This style of gown is pretty fitted throughout the gown from top to bottom. This gown will highlight hips and probably won’t leave a lot of room for enjoying a big meal on your wedding day.

Other things to think about are the style of neckline (strapless, halter, sweetheart, etc.), length of train (if any), and amount of beading and lacework you are comfortable with.


Photo courtesy of theknot.com

Color:
White, Bright White, Diamond White, Antique White, Off-white, Champagne, Ivory... Who knew there could be so many shades of the color your groom will inevitably call white?

Think about the colors you typically wear because they look best against your skin tone. If you find yourself wearing more cool tones you will most likely find yourself happiest in more of a “white white” gown. If you tend to go warm in your clothing and make-up you will probably want one of the softer versions of white. Many shops will only have a sample gown in one color, but they can order it in a few so try on the sample and look at their swatches.


Photo courtesy of theknot.com

Party:
I’m not going to dive into Bridesmaid gowns, I’m talking about the entourage of ladies that all want to go dress shopping with you. Remember that every person you bring will have an opinion on what you should be looking for and ultimately buying. Bring a few ladies who are close to you, who will be honest with you, and that’s it. No reason to let all those voices get in your head and sway your decision. You know your style, your body and what you like, you will know your gown.

At the Bridal Gown Salon:
Be open to trying on gowns that are different than what you imagined. You may think you “know” what you want, but you have most likely never seen yourself in an actual wedding gown before. Step outside of your comfort zone and try on something different. It won’t hurt anything and you just might surprise yourself.

Be honest with yourself, and your sales consultant, about your budget. No reason to fall in love with an $8,000 gown if you budget is $1,500.

And finally, as my friends on TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress” would say, think of your dress like your fiancé, once you find “The One” stop looking!

BBFN (BRidal Bliss for Now),
Olivia

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Do Me a... Favor

We’ve all gotten them, the good, the bad and well, the ugly. Yes, I’m talking about favors. Like all aspects of a wedding, favors vary greatly depending on the couple’s style and budget, from something small and traditional like a small tulle wrapping of almonds to something as elaborate as a bottle of wine with a custom label.


Photo from theknot.com

Anyone you ask about favors will give you their opinion, and each of those opinions will be very different. Here is what I can tell you after attending more weddings than I can count, as a guest and as a planner:

If they can’t eat it, your guests will probably forget it:
Those beautiful little votive holders, wine stoppers, coasters, etc. will catch the guests’ eye, and they will all talk about how great they are. However, after all of the dancing and a few celebratory cocktails, you will find most of those favors left behind. I can’t imagine that anyone has enough parties to need quite that many coasters.

I have found however, if you give your guests a little treat, you will not have as much leftover. Why is that? My best guess is that people either eat them between the courses, during dancing, or pick them up on their way out for a snack on the way home. Favors such as candy bars, truffles or cookies are great munchies and you will not find many are left behind.


Photo from theknot.com

Honor Your Guests:
Some Brides and Grooms chose to honor their guests by making a donation to a charity close to their heart. This is a beautiful way to give back, and make your guests feel special. One couple I know made donations to several charities, and indicated which charity they selected for each guest on their placecard. Another Bride made a donation to the USO because her brother was overseas serving in the Army during her wedding. Just be sure to put a sign in a frame or on display so your guests know that you have thought of them. If you decide to donate to charity in lieu of favors, choose with your heart and connect with your purpose.


Photo from theknot.com

Overall, don’t break the bank. A favor should be a token of appreciation to your guests, thanking them for taking time from their busy lives to celebrate your love and the beginning of your new life. You can consider adding a sweet table or late night munchie station for your guest to enjoy by moving your favor budget to accomadate the expense. If you come up with a great idea, and you think your guests will remember to take it home, go for it. After all it is your big day.

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),
Olivia

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Salmon or Sea Bass: Meal Selection at Your Wedding

How important is the dinner selection for your wedding? Much time is spent on planning the details of the day, but especially for your guests, the most important part of the day is dinner. Planning the right selection of hors d’oeuvres and number of courses in the meal will have guests offering accolades.



I have met two couples in the past week that have complained about the food at their wedding. You don’t want that to be you. And after all of your hard work you don’t want your guests walking away hungry, or talking about the dry chicken!

Here are some noteworthy thoughts to ponder upon while making food selections:

Know your guests:
You may be a foodie, but are your guests? If you want to showcase the talents of your Rock Star chef make sure to balance the meal. Offer some trendy palette teaser for appetizers, but you may consider keeping the entrée basic.

Menu Matters:
Spend time with your catering manager to discuss your tasting. Select items that are in your wedding package, but do not be afraid to ask the chef to be creative. Never arrive hungry to a tasting. You will not be able to judge the food for its taste and quality if you are starving. Once the food arrives at your table, give it few minutes before you take a bite. This will allow you to better understand how the food will taste if it is served during a large dinner service.

Not Happy:
If you are not happy with the quality or presentation, try again, and try until you are happy. It is your big day, and you want to make sure that your celebration dinner is truly something to celebrate. You want your guests to enjoy the food, as much as you did at the tasting. Your catering manager wants to make sure that you are happy, and will be accommodating within reason. Remember, your Venue Manager is not your Wedding Consultant



Teen or Children Meals:
Don’t forget the younger guests at your reception. They may not care for the lavish artistic meal presentation, but would be satisfied with a less “foofooie” dish. Do a plan a course for them that is similar to the selection you are offering your adult guests.

Offering a meal choice:
Letting your guests choose between the salmon and steak? This will certainly create more work for you in the tracking of the RSVPs to correctly count the meal selections being made by your guests. Keep in mind that your guests have selected their meals 6 weeks in advance, and may not even remember their choice on the day of the event. Some venues may offer “at time service,” which will allow guests to choose their selection once they are seated in the ballroom. This is the easiest choice for pleasing your guests, but it will most likely cost more.



As you make the final selection of your royal feast, be sure to take pictures of the plates you have chosen. Do share with your catering manager special notes or comments made during the tasting. Have all your special requests, temperature preferences and presentation choices written in detail so that the catering manager and the culinary staff are aware of your requests. Once you have enjoyed your culinary experience be prepared to work it all off on the dance floor.

Happy Feast!!!

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),
Olivia

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