1.  Cake Jewelry- can you believe it!  Swvaroski crystals either monograms, flowers, wreathes even a tiara made into a cake topper for any event.  Lovely!

2.  I came across a crystal “glass slipper” on FBYS.com.  So cute! Would be a perfect way to ask a girl to marry you….”You are my one and only princess….the only one who fits in this slipper and in my heart!”  yes sappy, but it can be improved upon.  It could be a nice shower favor (it comes in a clear box with ribbon) or party favor at the wedding.  It could then be used as a paper weight at home or the office! Every girl needs a glass slipper! “One shoe can change your world!” ~Cinderella 

3.  I’ve seen a new trend towards brides using real lace to decorate their cakes instead of having the cake decorated, painstakingly, to look like their lace on their dress.  Takes less time and labor and therefore, less expensive.  The lace can be taken off before serving.  Cost effective yet still beautiful. 

4.  Another neat site is pwponline.com, Products with Personality.  I came accross many unique items.- love these lip balm favors.  I also loved the wine cork place holders.  There are so many ways to make your day unique and special.

5.  A wedding day tip:  make sure your dance floor is well lit.  I have seen many photos come out dim and dark due to low lighting on the dance floor.  Ask your photographer, videographer, or DJ what can be done to make sure your first dance is captured for eternity!

 Make your wedding special with these great ideas.

1.  Use a photo booth at your reception for fun photos your guests can take home and a few you can keep too!  Provides hours of entertainment!!

2.  For your destination beach weddings….beach jewelry.  I saw a barefoot bride wearing a pearl wrap around her foot.  The only way to describe it is…a pearl toe ring with pearls that continued up the top of  foot and then wrapped around her ankle.  So pretty!!  See beachbridejewlery.com

3.  Don’t feel tied to flowers that match the bride and bridesmaids bouquets.  I saw a boutonniere that featured some pretty leaves, a Swarovski crystal and a branch or two beautifully pulled together and for the outdoors man, fishing lure, shell and other greenery…so apropos but stylish.  Loved it!  Featured in Brides Florida.   

4.  Have you ever thought of a spa party for your shower or bachelorette party? Why not try a mobile spa that can come to you?  Instead of taking over a salon, call your favorite place and see if you can arrange them to come to you.  There’s also mobile spas that will come to you.  If you can’t arrange it via your local spa or there isn’t a mobile spa operating in your area, try calling the bigger hotels they probobly have people who do come to your home and are professionals. Exquisite Events can help you arrange this as well. 

5.  Need help coming up with a creative gift for your friends helping with the wedding,  bridesmaids and groomsmen?  A personalized gift is always unique and treasured.  Spa bags with mani/pedi sets inside, robe or headbands to keep hair out of your face during a massage or facial are nice….make them spectacular by personalizing the bags with your bridal parties names.  What about a monogrammed beach bag with a pair of flip flops and sunglasses for that beach wedding or girls night out before hand!  Guys would like a poker set of cards, chips and carrier or beer or wine glasses monogrammed.  It’s the extra touch that makes the gift meaningful.

When planning a lunch or dinner wedding reception and a guest list which exceeds fifty (50) a seating chart is a priority and Exquisite Events has devised some simple rules to live by. 

Specialty seating – the newlyweds sit at the center table which should be the most prominent table in the room.  The best man should be on the Bride’s right the Maid Of Honor should be on the grooms left, the rest of the bridal party may sit as they wish.  Sometimes the bride and groom’s parents sit at the head table.

The bride and groom’s parents can sit with each other or they can host their own table. Divorced parents can host separate tables.  The officiant can be seated at the head table along with his/her spouse if room allows or with either of your parents.  Some smart moves: try to put people with the same things in common together: college chums, work mates; friends, hobbies of interest etc.

Do have a children’s table in you have more than 3 children in attendance.  They will have more fun and so will their parents.  You can place coloring books, puzzles, and other games along with a candy centerpiece on said table thereby keeping the children entertained.

Do put the escort cards (seating assignment) in rows alphabetically.  These should be placed near the entrance to the reception.  Your guests will take these as they arrive so they can be used as favors or menu choices.  We at Exquisite Events have many ways to do this from of course Exquisite to whimsical. 

Don’ts in seating.

1)      Don’t sit all the single guests together.  They will spend the night feeling as if they are misfits or have “single” stamped on their foreheads.  Your wedding reception is not a dating opportunity – although some romances begin at weddings. Seat them with people they know or will have something in common with.

2)      Do not put elderly guests too close to the band, speakers, kitchen or any other location that may be loud or busy.

3)      Don’t seat more than eight (8) guests at a 60 – 62” table or more than ten (10) guests at a 70” table and “NO” not even if it’s a child.

4)      Keep in mind the flow of traffic to get to the buffet, bar, dance floor etc.

THINK AGAIN…..
THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS….

The Lunch Wedding Reception

While you may think that having a lunch wedding reception isn’t as fashionable and apropos as dinner, it does provide you with many savings and can be done just as elegantly as the traditional dinner soiree.

The most important thing to keep in mind when planning a lunch wedding reception is timing. It’s imperative that the ceremony be done early enough that the guests are still in their lunch mode and aren’t moving towards “happy hour” or “cocktail hour” mentality. That mentality will bring in heavier drinking and a bigger bar bill. So, try to have your reception start no later than 2 ish. Your invitation timing should make most of your guests aware of the type of fare being served. Just in case, wording can convey that fact quite easily that this is not a four course dinner by stating “light lunch” or “light hors d’oeuvres.”

Lunches can be very intimate and low key. Depending on your motif ….they can be very elegant or very casual. As, always the more elegant you go…the more expense usually involved. However, an intimate, relaxed atmosphere can be created very easily with nice low centerpieces, soft lighting and bright, fresh decorations.

The meal itself should be filling but not as heavy as dinner. If you stay true to a normal lunch menu you will be fine. Consider limiting the types of drinks served and create a menu of signature drinks. Maybe naming one after the bride and the groom or find out the favorites of some of the other important members of the bridal party such as best man and maid of honor or parents of the bride and groom and having them each come up with a signature drink and name. Another alternative is to serve typical brunch/lunch type drinks such as sangria and mimosas for alcoholic drinks and raspberry teas and lemonades for non.

With a lunch reception, you may not need or desire a full band or DJ. Think about an acoustic guitarist or duet. You could still do your signature dance with your groom while creating a low key, elegant, intimate ambience. Maybe a piano player who can do requests…..outdoor parties can do a steel drum band….or a sketch artist to do simple portraits of the guests which doubles as a keepsake. 

The Dessert Wedding Reception

What decadence! A reception built around everyone’s favorite course …dessert!! Of course, this means your wedding reception will have a later start…..maybe 8 pm after traditional dinner hours are done, but still can contain all the essential elements of a first class reception. The timing should convey that fact that it’s after dinner time but you can be very clear on your invitations stating “Dessert reception to follow” or Join us for desserts at our reception….”

What to serve…?? Well, that’s taken care of isn’t it! Your only major decisions will be how many fabulous choices you want to offer your guests. Though you may want to downsize the portions to bite size ! Of course, you will still want to serve your wedding cake but here again, go with smaller portions since your guests will be filling up on lots of sugar. Another idea, would be to include a cheese and fruit tray for those who may be watching their weight, have health issues such as diebetes and may not like sweet items in general. It’s always a good ideal to offer something to balance out the menu. Drinks could include champagne, Mimosas, sangrias and dessert liquers, wines and cordials. No reception is complete without coffee…maybe even with flavored shots to add to them.

There are several ways to lay out a room for this type of wedding reception but the most efficient is buffet stations. If it is a smaller wedding one long table will work out perfectly fine and be lovely. However, if you are expecting quite a few guests, setting up stations around the room encourages everyone to wander around a bit. Some people will want to sit but it’s not necessary to have seating for all. Cocktail tables are fine, small, intimate groupings of tables and chairs scattered around will create a cozy, intimate setting.

To keep your guests entertained, depending on the length of your reception`, music should be incorporated….be it background music, harpist, acoustic guitarist or if the reception is longer …a DJ, soloist or small band.

A Cocktail Wedding Reception can be a lot of fun but has to be planned especially carefully as the timing is crucial.   This type of reception is usually done in the late afternoon before dinner…happy hour time.  Though it’s my personal opinion that it could also be done late in the evening 8 ish if so desired.    Basically, before or after dinner hours or your guests will be hungry and come expecting to be fed.  Your invite should state very clearly that this is not a dinner. “ Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served at our reception.  Please join us” should work fine.

As in any cocktail party, hors d’oeuvres and cocktails should be served!  The usual fare of hors d’oeuvres is fine.  Follow the etiquette rules of about 10 pieces per person and you should be fine.  To keep the open bar from reaching sky high costs try limiting it to beer, wine and maybe a few specific drinks.

As with the Dessert Wedding Reception, seating for everyone is not required.  Create a fun, cozy atmosphere by setting up seating areas that make it easy for people to mix and mingle.  Meanwhile, a singer or duet…whatever you choose can be entertaining in the background. 

The Brunch Wedding Reception

Brunch is not only for Sundays anymore.  It’s easy to incorporate a late morning wedding with a brunch reception.  Everyone loves brunch! Who doesn’t like to eat breakfast all day!  And it provides your guests and you with many choices to create a varied menu.  As always, a clearly stated message in your invite should answer all your guests questions as to what to expect.  “Please join us for brunch immediately following the ceremony” is all your guests will need to plan accordingly.

Again, any kind of background music will suffice if you don’t want to have a band or live music of any sort.  Though a small musical grouping will allow you to have all the traditional dances if you so desire.

With a brunch you should have seating for all as your meals can be a little heavier than some with breakfast fare.  Though you may decorate in a light and easy manner in accordance with the early hour.  Simple flower centerpieces or small arrangements will add a nice touch.

Brunch drinks are fairly standard and include mimosas, champagne, sangrias and wine.  Of course, you may want to provide beer as well.  Coffee and tea should be available throughout.

As with all weddings and receptions, this is your day.  Whatever you plan will be fine if you balance your wishes and your guests’ needs.  Above all else…have fun, your wedding day will be a memorial event for all!

1)      Forgo the full bar – We have found that by providing only beer/wine/soda and a signature drink you can cut your bill in half.

2)      Find a BYOB venue – choose a site that will let you bring your own liquor.  By it by the case and save up to 10 – 15 % off a single bottle.  In the state of Florida you can return unopened bottles for a full refund; whether you purchased it by the case or as a single bottle.

3)      Say yes to a different bubbly – Instead of the expensive French bubbles serve a sparkling wine like Prosecco (Italy) or Cava (Spain) - these mimic champagne’s bubbly personality but not their price tag.

4)      Avoid Designer Lables – Choose non brand names liquors and have house wines instead of premium brands.  Most guests won’t even notice.

5)      Use trays – Have your wait staff offer glasses of champagne and wine from trays.  This lets you serve less expensive varities without worrying about your guests judging the drink by the label.

6)      Think Tuesday – If most of your guests are local get married on an off night.  Sunday through Thursday.  Most people tend to drink less when they have to work the next day.

7)      Plan a Themed Reception – When you do this you can limit beverages to a few appropriate options. For example, serve wine for an Italian celebration or Coronas and Margarehttas for a Mexican themed reception.  These are just a few examples the options are limitless.

      Work with your wait staff – You can have your wedding planner work with your wait staff.  They can ask them to just clear empty glasses from the tables.  This avoids driving the guests back to the bar when they notice that their half full gin and tonic has disappeared.

9)      Open as needed – Have the bar tender start a new bottle ONLY when needed.  Other wise you will be charged for an opened bottle of “Johnny Walker Red” even if no one orders a single drink from that bottle.

10)  Time it right – Avoid “over time”.  At certain hotels an extra hour of open bar (average 7.00 per person) would cost you $1050.00 for a hundred and fifty guests.

Exquisite Events is committed to making your wedding one of the most memorable events of your life while keeping the costs within your budget.

WEDDING BUDGET

The first thing to consider is your budget.  Obviously planning a wedding for 250 guests and having the reception at a fine hotel will be more costly than a wedding for 70 guests and a garden brunch reception.  However, there is always an exception to the rule.  I planned a wedding reception  for 75 guests outside on the beach, with fine china, tents, dance floor, a sit-down meal, etc. where the budget exceeded that of the formal scenario previously mentioned. 

When budget is a concern it is best to keep the guest list small and choose a venue where your guests will not seem “lost” in a grand space.  The best options are a garden, beach or home wedding reception.  Again, these can still be very elegant and formal depending on the brides’ style and wishes.

OUTDOOR WEDDING VENUES

Many brides today are choosing to have their wedding ceremony and/or receptions outdoors.  This is a wonderful way to incorporate beauty and serenity into your wedding; however, there are many things to consider.  There is of-course the obvious weather considerations.  You will need to have an alternative plan in case of rain or extreme wind.  Besides wind and rain you will need to consider the time of year in which your wedding will be taking place.  If you are having a Florida wedding in the summer you may want to keep your ceremony short and provide shade.  If you are having the reception outside, given the same scenario, you may want to provide misting standing fans and hold the wedding reception during the cooler evening hours.

In addition, you will need to make sure you accommodate guests who are physically challenged. For example, if having a beach wedding you will need a hard surface for guests in wheel chairs or who use walking aids.  If holding an outdoor wedding ceremony and reception don’t forget to consider lighting, parking and restroom facilities.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF VENUES

A home or garden wedding provides a lot of versatility.  They can be formal catered affairs or “do-it-yourself” receptions.  Depending on the size of your wedding reception, rental equipment can be quite pricey.  If you are planning a wedding ceremony and reception in a local park keep in mind you will need to obtain the proper permits.

There are many benefits to having a wedding ceremony and reception in a park/garden or at a private home.  For one, you can supply your own caterer and purchase your own liquor for less money than a hotel or banquet hall would charge.  This will help offset the price of the rental equipment.

A hotel or formal banquet hall can be a fabulous setting for the more formal affair.  They typically have a minimum that is to be spent depending on the day of the event and which rooms will be rented.  It can be easier to plan a wedding ceremony and reception because most hotels require the bride to use their caterer, baker, bar service and event coordinators.  The average cost per person for food alone can run between $65.00 and $100.00 per person.  Of-course every wedding reception regardless of size and venue should have an open bar.  At a hotel a full open bar can run several thousand dollars.

Planning your wedding reception at a community center or private hall can seem like a lack luster and daunting task, but any venue can be turned into a beautiful setting.  With the proper lighting, flowers and fabric lined walls a “hall” can be transformed into an unrecognizable venue.  There are many private clubs; such as, the Lion’s Club, Moose Lodge, etc. that are in prime locations, even waterfront, but need some creative touches.  By renting these venues the day before the wedding you can enlist family and friends to help with the decorating and incorporate it within the rehearsal.

Where ever you decide to hold your wedding ceremony and/or reception there are questions you need to ask before reserving your venue.  For example, does the venue provide tables, chairs, and linens? Is the setup and cleanup fees included?  Can you provide your own alcohol and caterer? Can the venue hold the number of guests you’d like to invite (sit-down vs. buffet)?  Is there adequate parking?  Is there an alternative venue in case of inclement weather?  Are there overtime charges?  Are there extra charges for cake cutting or corkage fees?  Do they provide rooms for the bridal party to get ready?  Are there any insurance or permit requirements?

Be sure to visit the venue you choose while it is set up for another wedding or event similar to one of your size.  Even though wedding receptions vary in size there are some key elements that are the same.  Your dance floor should hold 20 to 40 percent of your guests at a time.  Make sure there is enough room for the flow of traffic to the dance floor, bar and/or buffet.  There needs to be adequate space for your DJ or live entertainment.

Wedding and event coordinators can be lifesavers when it comes time to choose your venue.  They are experts at planning for unforeseen events and are familiar with the area.  This means that they are aware of the costs and issues that go along with any venue you may be interested in, as well as, many other options. 

Here are some things to consider when choosing a DJ for your wedding or special event.

     1.  Expect the least amount of service for the least amount of pay.  The best price is not always the best deal.  A Disc Jockey will spend anywhere from 10 to 25 hours planning his/her service for your wedding event.  They will spend time consulting, music purchasing and editing, setting up and tearing down.  Remember, “You get what you pay for.”

     2.  A professional DJ should be prompt in returning your phone calls and emails, as well as willing to meet with you and present you with his/her service.  They should attend the meeting with a list of references, an itinerary of the reception, a contract or agreement to secure the date and be familiar with your type of event.  More importantly you should like the person you meet and they must be the DJ that will work at your wedding.

     3.  When planning your wedding or special event it is important to choose a Disc Jockey that has professional grade equipment.  It is also imperative that they have back up equipment.  Unforeseen events do happen and a professional DJ is always prepared with a Plan B.

     4.  A professional Disc Jockey does not have an office job and then “DJ on the side”.  Make sure that this is their only full time job and that they have an extensive and up to date list of music. It is important that you let the DJ do their job.  Aside from the first dance, some favorite songs that you have to hear,  and music that you do not want played, let the DJ play “to your guests.”  This will insure that the dance floor is full and everyone has a wonderful time.  There will be many guests of all ages at your event and you are hiring a DJ to make sure everyone has a wonderful time.  Also, make sure that your DJ will take requests.

     5.  Lastly, when you have met with a DJ that you like and he/she has demonstrated the before mentioned professional attributes, do not hesitate to hire him/her.  A great DJ will be in demand and your wedding date may be taken if you take to long to sign a contract.  Do not pay more than half the total price of service upon signing the contract with the remaining balance due at the wedding reception.

Hiring a DJ for your wedding is a crucial part of the wedding planning process. Your DJ will act as the Master of Ceremonies; as well as, the sound technician, and the light technician.  They will read the crowd and pick the appropriate music to keep your guests motivated.  A good DJ will work with and coordinate the other service providers at your event.  Following this advice when planning your wedding will ensure that your wedding reception will be memorable for you and your guests. 

In this writing I will address a few issues that can cause brides and their families distress.  Look for future writings about using etiquette when planning your wedding.  First let’s discuss save-the-date cards and invitations.

WEDDING PLANNING: Save-the-date cards 

When beginning your wedding planning consider the out of town guests you plan to invite.  Any out of town guests should receive a save-the-date card. Because your traveling guests will need to make many travel arrangements you will have to send these several months in advance.  You can send information about available hotel accomodations and local areas of interest at a later time.

Keep in mind that these save-the-date cards will be the first impression your guests will have of your wedding day.  For a beach wedding I suggested sending sand dollars calligraphed with the bride and groom’s name and the wedding date.  We placed magnets on the back so their guests would have a constant reminder every time they reached into the refrigerator.  This was a unique idea that garnered lots of compliments.

WEDDING PLANNING: Invitations 

In my professional opinion, it is NEVER acceptable to send email invitations.  Your guests are worthy of receiving a proper invitation through the U.S. Postal Service.  If your budget is a concern, there are many inexpensive options at party and craft stores, which you can print yourself.

If the bride’s parents are paying for the wedding ceremony and reception then their names are printed on the invitation.  This is true even if the bride’s parents are divorced or the bride and groom are co-habitating.   If the bride and groom already live together and are paying for their wedding ceremony and reception themselves then their names are printed as the hosts.  

It is courteous to send an invitation to your officiant and a guest, as well as your wedding party.  They do not need to respond.

NEVER, under any circumstances place registry cards in your invitations or suggest “cash only” as gifts.  Your friends and family will get the word out about where you are registered.  If you do not want children to attend you can add “Adult Reception” to the bottom of your reply cards.

When planning your wedding it is imperative to have an accurate guest count.  With that in mind it is perfectly acceptable to call guests who haven’t responded a week past the reply date.  You will need to let your caterer know the exact amount of guests no later than three weeks before your wedding date.

When it comes to wedding planning, keep in mind that it is YOUR day but using common etiquette for certain tasks is essential. 

Sit-down dinner receptions are when your guests are seated by assigned tables and the meal is served to them at the table.  They are more formal by nature and under certain circumstances can be more costly than other alternatives.  There are three different styles of sit down dinner receptions. 

The more traditional form of a seated dinner reception is where the full meal is pre-arranged on individual plates before being served to each guest.  The French service is where the food is prepared tableside with two waiters serving each guest.  This type of service can also be where one server holds the platter (with the food already prepared) and the other serves the food to the guests.  The Russian service is where a server brings the platter of food to the table and the guests serve themselves.

The more traditional plated service deminshes the choices the guests have for dinner while the French and Russian service do not.  However, the French and Russian styles of service are more costly because of the amount of service involved.  

The advantages to having a seated dinner wedding reception are that the costs are often comparable to the buffet or food station styles, there isn’t any juggling of plates and glasses, there are no lines for your guests to wait in and there is more control over the timing of the rest of the reception. 

Buffet dinner receptions are where the food is prepared and set out on tables for the guests to serve themselves.  A new spin on the old buffet is to have food stations.  Food stations are just that, different stations of food placed around the wedding reception venue.  Buffets are not always less expensive as more food has to be prepared to accommodate multiple trips.  In addition, buffet lines can be long unless two identical tables are set up.  This could increase the cost due to additional staff and decorations needed for both tables.

Family-Style dinner receptions have the best of both worlds.  Guests don’t have to wait in lines or manipulate their plates as they return to thier table.  Your guests will also have more choices of entrees and side items.  This service is technically a sit-down dinner where the guests are seated and the servers bring platters of prepared food to the table.  The platters are then passed and each guest can select the amount and item they like.  They have the same choices as with a buffet and you won’t have to worry about running out of food.  When they are done the serving dishes can remain on the table for seconds and/or a server will remove the dish for either a “refill” or to clear the table.  The amount of servers needed may be increased when compared to a buffet as you will need approximately one server per two tables. 

Family style dinners don’t have to be casual.  For example, using silver serving dishes and utensils, serving more elegant foods (such as filet mignon - which is pre -sliced therefore saving on costs) and the attire of the servers can add to the formality of the dinner.

When planning your wedding reception consider that both the seated and buffet dinner services have their advantages and disadvantages. Along with the costs involved in wedding planning it is important to consider the enjoyment of your guests.