Linen, What's Your Choice?

Hello lovely ladies,

Today Melanie Stancampiano will be sharing some tips and tricks about linen selection with all of us. Take it away...

Call me biased but I believe that linen has giant impact on the overall ambiance of a room. This is particularly important to consider when planning a wedding, gala or any other important event.

Think about linen like the paint on the walls of your home. The way that your furniture, artwork and personal touches appear in a room is greatly impacted by the color and texture of the walls. In the scope of your event, the flowers, china and stemware are comparable to the personal accents in your home. Surely you are working with a florist and/or décor professional to adorn your tables with lush flowers, sparkling candles or elegant crystals. The impact of these items is greatly affected by the linen on the table.


Reception venues typically offer some sort of linen with their wedding packages. To expand upon the “wall paint” analogy, this linen is the equivalent of a flat beige paint. The linen has to fit into a variety of events and provides the most neutral background. If you do not plan on renting linen my advice is to be sure to use the house linen purposefully. Find out if the table linen is white, ivory or some other color. Talk to your florist about how you can best coordinate centerpieces, and which color to select for a napkin.

If you prefer color or texture on your walls, then you will want to leave some room in your budget for linen rental (you will get high impact for low cost in linen rental, I promise!). I still recommend working hand in hand with your florist/decorator when making your final linen selections. You want to make sure they are aware of your selections, leave them a swatch if possible.


Now on to the fun part… making your selections! There are so many choices in color, textures and sizing when it comes to linen. First there is the cloth, which covers the table and is most often floor length. An overlay is typically a square of cloth used as an accent on a table. This can either be done in a coordinating color or in a sheer cloth to add to the overall feel of the room. Another option to add color is by using a runner (or two, which would be my strong recommendation). This is a strip of fabric that is run down the center of the table as an accent; the centerpiece would be placed on top of the runner. If you want to use two runners you can run them side by side, or like an X. Finally, the color, fabric and fold style of napkins must be chosen.

Think about the colors you are using throughout your wedding. Try to incorporate more than one color in your linen selections. Use a neutral cloth and add a pop of color in your napkin, or use a striking table cloth and add a neutral colored napkin, champagne works with just about anything. Think about fabric textures and how you can mix them to add depth to the setting.


My favorite tablecloths are those that have texture right in them, a “Twist” or “Pintuck” create such a striking look, and no overlay or runner is needed. I love to see tablecloths in deep rich colors are well, but then again if you looked around my house you’ll see the same on my walls. Like all aspects of your wedding, you will make the most striking impression if you make your linen selections reflect you, and your unique style.

Have fun, try a few different looks, and always feel free to contact us if you’re looking for suggestions!

~Melanie

Hope those tips helped you out.

BBFN, (Bridal Bliss for Now)
Olivia

Place Cards, Escort Cards and Scrolls, Oh My…

It’s one of the most daunting tasks when approaching your wedding, putting together the seating chart for your wedding reception. After you have figured out which guests will be seated at which table you need to figure out how you will communicate that information to your guests on the big day. There are Place Cards, Escort Cards, Scrolls and more. You may be wondering what all the lingo means, here are some pointers:



Place Card:
A place card indicates exactly where a guest should be seated, including which table, and which seat at the table. This card is placed at the guest’s seat. You may use a Place Card in conjunction with an…

Escort Card:
An escort card tells a guest which table he or she is to be seated at. Most often you will find one card per couple on a table during the cocktail hour.



Scroll:
Instead of giving each guest a “card” you may choose to keep all of the guest seating information in one place. This is often beautifully done on a scroll. Besides giving guests a place to check back if they loose their escort card a scroll can be a beautiful keepsake for the bridal couple. It may be more difficult to make last minute changes to seating if you chose to use a scroll, so keep that in mind when allocating your time to assign seating.



Thinking about scraping all of them, DON’T! I promise you, you will have some tables half empty, and 18 of your colleagues trying to squeeze into one so they can sit together. If you are not up for assigning each seat, take some time and at least assign each guest to a table.

Do yourself a favor and do your seating chart in Microsoft Excel. Provide your coordinator (or a trusty friend) with two copies of the list, one sorted in alphabetical order by last name and another sorted by table number. This will allow your coordinator to help guests find their table number if they can’t find their name on a card or the scroll. It will also allow the coordinator to know where open seats are quickly if the guest’s RSVP did not reach you in time to assign their table.

When it comes time to assign tables think about where the speakers are going to be set-up, which tables will be closest to service doors (and thus server chatter and some kitchen noise) and which family members and other VIPs you want seated closest to you and your bridal party. Enlist the help of both families if you are having trouble placing people, especially those you might not know as well.

Take a deep breathe, when you get to this step you are in the home stretch!

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),
Olivia

The Final Touch to the Perfect Look

Hello lovely brides, today I am giving the floor to Kate Gutierrez, Event Architect with Oliveaire. She will be giving you some great advice on selecting your wedding day shoes. Take it away Kate!

Marilyn Monroe got it right when she said “Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world."


Photo Courtesy of theknot.com

When it comes to finding shoes, it’s hard not to just dream about that very moment you are standing at the end of the aisle, looking amazing as ever, the love of your life waiting for you make that first step, with those stunning 4 inch Manolo Blahniks! Yes, style is important. Yes, they can be just as beautiful as you ever imagined them to be, but there are a few key things to keep in mind as well.

Comfort:
This is a very important, if not the most important, factor in selecting your shoes. It is very easy to be carried away with the way the shoes look. You have to remember that you will be walking down the aisle with these shoes, standing for what may seem like hours on end, walking around mingling with your guests, and dancing at the reception in these shoes.

Try shopping for shoes towards the end of your day. Feet tend to swell as the day progresses, and they are bigger at the end of the day. Also, try purchasing shoes that are a ½ size bigger than you usually wear. The more strain you put on your feet, especially given how many hours you will be wearing them on your wedding day, they will swell. It would also be a great idea to have an extra pair of insoles, or pads, for your shoes. This way you can slip them on whenever and wherever they are needed.

Consider purchasing second pair of shoes for the reception. Something that is a little bit more comfortable, like a low heel, ballet flats, or cute flip flops. At some point during the night those fabulous wedding shoes will start to hurt!

Photo courtesy of theknot.com

Break your wedding day shoes in! Walk around at home in your shoes for a few weeks before the wedding. MAKE SURE THEY ARE COMFORTABLE!

Height:
This goes hand in hand with comfort. A heel is a great way to give you that extra boost. It creates lift that will elongate your body and crafts a beautiful line. Who doesn’t want that? However, if you have never worn a heel larger than an inch, this would not be a great day to start on those 3 ½ inchers. Just imagine yourself being in those shoes all night. Also, think about the height of your groom, just to make sure you are not soaring over him.

Comfort? Check. Height? Check. Now, surface...
Are you having an outdoor wedding? What type of shoes will work? A spiky heel on grass will have you uncomfortably on the balls of your feet the whole time, or poking holes all through the lawn. Having an indoor wedding? Does it have a slippery surface? What type of shoes will work well inside? These are questions you have to ask yourself. You want to ensure that you are able to walk marvelously and are not slipping and sliding. One quick tip-if you have shoes that have a smoother sole, scuff it up. Make sure that you have enough traction.

Your Day, Your Style:
You want to choose a shoe that reflects your style. This is the fun part. If you are more traditional, the most popular shoes are made of Silk and Satin. They are the easiest to dye, and are typically the same color as your gown. If you are Non- Traditional then explore COLOR! This can add that WOW to your look.

Photo courtesy of theknot.com

More helpful tips:
A simple and elegant dress should be paired with a more elaborate shoe. A dress that has more beadwork and detail should be paired with a simpler shoe. Even with this said, your shoe should reflect YOU. If you decide to go with shoes that have embellishments, make sure they coordinate with the embellishments on your dress. If your shoe has embellishments, watch out for the fabric that is at the bottom of your shoe to ensure that it does not snag on the heel, or that you don’t step on it.

Length of Dress:
Consider how visible your shoes will be. This will help with budgeting. If your shoes are not something that will be AS visible then the $$$$ designer shoes can be replaced with a $$ less expensive shoe. If you have selected a shorter gown it may seem easier to justify spending more on shoes, because you know they will be seen. Always keep in mind, the key points (comfort, height, style, etc.) when purchasing your wedding shoes. Oh, and if you are spending the $$$$, make sure you can wear them again! Tip- Make sure that you purchase your shoes with enough time to take them along to alteration appointments.



Where are they?
There are plenty of places to find shoes. These days the most popular place is online. You are able to compare prices, styles, designers, and basically everything, in the comfort of your own home. Don’t forget my earlier suggestion, COMFORT IS KEY, and you cannot try on shoes your purchase online. That’s why giving yourself enough time for delivery and/or a return is a huge MUST. Sometimes when purchasing online it is good to purchase more than one pair. It is easier to return a pair that is a “no” than to find a pair you love last minute.

You can also often purchase bridal shoes at a Bridal Salon. Most Bridal Salons just have sample sizes of shoes, just like gowns, so you will have to order your size. Make sure you ask about, and are comfortable with, their return policy before you order shoes.


Photo credit to R.E.M. Photography

You can make a day, a week, or a month of finding your shoes, shopping around until you find the perfect pair to go with the perfect dress! Hit up all the department stores and the local boutiques. Admire someone’s shoe collection? Ask them where they shop and pay that business a visit.

Although this may seem like an overwhelming list of things to remember, the most important thing is that this is your special day. You want to be comfortable, confident and stylishly you. The perfect pair will lead you to be the most dazzling bride out there!

Have fun shopping,
Kate

What you have selected for your wedding day shoes?

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),
Olivia

After the Last Dance

I know you hate to think about it being over, but trust me, your wedding day will fly by in the blink of an eye. Be sure to take time throughout the day to look around, take it all in and have fun. After all you have been waiting for this moment your whole life.



It is important for you to also have a plan for the end of the night, after the party has ended. Whether you will have a Wedding Planner onsite, or will be relying on help from friends and family, you will need to think through the end of the evening, and probably the next morning. Why, you ask? Here is what we know to be true…

First, are you at the place you will be sleeping? (i.e., is your reception at the hotel you will be staying at?) If not, how are you getting back home? Many brides and grooms do not think through carrying cash on their wedding day. One of my favorite cautionary tales is of the bride and groom who needed a cab to their downtown condo at the end of the night, but did not have cash, a credit card or a debit card on them. Luckily their Oliveaire Wedding Planner saw them on her way out of the hotel, and gave them $20 to get home.

My advice, have someone check you into your hotel room, and make that someone who will remember to give your groom (who has pockets!) the room key at some point during your reception. Also, think through how you will be getting to that honeymoon suite and be sure to have some cash, a credit/debit card and your cell phone (with the important phone numbers programmed in) delivered to you at the end of the night by someone you trust (probably the same person who checks you into your hotel room). If you are party hardy couple, don’t drink and drive. Arrange for a car to pick you up or have a designated driver.



Next, where are your gifts? Make sure to assign this task to a close family member. It will then be that person’s responsibility to secure the envelopes and move boxes of gifts. Your Reception venue may have a safety deposit box you can keep them in until the end of the reception, but then it is your responsibility to make sure they are picked up. Have a plan for where you will take those generous gifts the next day. The sooner you get that money in the bank, the better, especially if you plan on catching a plane soon.



Finally, headed to the airport the next morning? Make sure that your luggage is packed, and that your tickets and documentation are all easily accessible and ready to go! Nothing puts a damper on a honeymoon like forgotten passports or lost luggage (or a hangover FYI).

None of this will take too much work, just a little bit of forethought on your part. Enjoy that beautiful and monumental day in your life. Happy Honeymoon!

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),
Olivia