Children’s Buffet: Little ones delight in this one. Prepare a separate buffet for the small guests at your wedding reception. Place it on a pint-sized table and watch what happens. When we do this, we use animal shaped peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips, cookies, cheese, box drinks, etc. The hardest thing for us is keeping the adults away from the kids table!

Candy Buffet: Candy Buffets are not new yet they always add excitement to wedding events. The best ones are color coordinated with small, specialty printed bags or boxes. It takes time and effort to do a candy buffet but much can be found on the Internet – even custom colored M&Ms printed with your photos on them. Candy buffets have come a long way in the past few years. Don’t over-order on candy. Only a small percentage of your guests will really eat much. It truly is more for a fun favor and a great decoration!

Throwing Bouquet: Now I know that an extra bouquet to toss is not a new idea – but stay with me here. Have your florist build your throwing bouquet in such a way that when it does come time to throw it, it will separate into several smaller groups of flowers – 4 or 5. We guarantee that this will amp the squeal factor as you toss it.

Photo Booth: These are relatively new and most have not experienced a photo booth at a reception yet. Guests really have great fun in and around these booths and I predict we will see a lot more photo booths this summer. Try to pick one that has a viewing screen outside. This adds to the laughter. Make the photo booth part of the guest registry process. BUT, be aware not everyone will to get into the booth, it is mostly for the young at heart. Some wedding receptions are too big and photo booths are notoriously slow so have an alternate method of guest registration in order to capture all of your guests names.

Well all is not lost if you follow our 4 – step plan:

First, don’t set a date. I say this because if you get your heart set on a specific date, you most likely will be disappointed – especially in the summer months. Temples will be full and any good reception center will be booked. Start first by booking a reception center with and open mind about your date. Good reception centers are truly harder to reserve that Temple sealing times. Receptions from 7:00 to 9:00 in the summer and 6:00 until 8:00 in the winter seem to work best for the majority of your guests.

Second; choose a weeknight instead of a weekend. I say this for two reasons. The first reason we have already gone over – better reception centers will already be booked. The really cool reason however, is that in our culture, weeknight events are much better attended than weekends. That is in your favor! Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings are all better attended than Fridays or Saturdays. In fact Thursday evening events typically have 22% better attendance than that of a Saturday! That’s 1 in 5 more guests! Plus you get the weekend for your honeymoon – longer honeymoon!
(If you get engaged around Christmas or even Valentine’s Day, work even quicker. Reception centers take lots of reservations around those times and dates go very quickly. If you have the chance, reserve your date prior to, or just a day or two after those holidays to get the best chance of finding a date open.)

Third; now reserve a sealing time. Sealing times can be morning or early afternoon. Keep in mind that if you are having a luncheon after your sealing, you should schedule your luncheon to begin 3 hours after the sealing time – 2 ½ at some of the smaller temples. Luncheons typically last about 1½ hours. Sealing times between 9:00 and 11:00 seem to work best for scheduling all that is involved. (However, even with a sealing time as late as 1:00, there is still ample time for a luncheon, photos and reception. The luncheon can begin at 4:00 and will be over at 5:30. Then it is on to take photos with the reception beginning at 7:00.)

Fourth; now reserve a time and place for the luncheon. This can be tricky depending on the sealing time. If you decide on a place with multiple brides and luncheons going on at the same time, there is usually never a problem. But if you want a private room and facility, there will be some time restraints. For example, here at the Eldredge Manor, we serve only one luncheon at a time and only until 3:00pm making the latest start time for a luncheon at 1:30. So, at a facility like ours, you need to have your sealing time preferably around 10:00. However, if you have booked your reception here also, then the 3:00pm ending time no longer matters since it will be the same bride and party staying for the remainder of the day and evening.

I hope this helps. We have observed over the years the struggle that most LDS brides have when it come to the logistics of scheduling. Following our 4 – step plan should eliminate what always seems to be the most frustrating part of the planning process – well maybe with the exception of the dress!

The main job of a reception center is to assure that you and your guests have an extraordinarily, fun and safe event. As much as you are concerned about the right venue to fit your personality, you should also seriously weigh the choice of a particular venue from your guests’ point of view! Here are some points to ponder –

Evaluation Criteria – From your point of view

Romance: The venue has to have some feeling of warmth, comfort and romance. (Otherwise you might as well be holding another school dance in a large hall!) Ask yourself, does it feel right?

Experience: This may be the most important factor. It is crucial to the overall success of your event. Look for experience. You never know what minor or even major emergencies may happen during your event. Find a venue with proprietors that have been around the block a few times.

Amenities at the venue: This is really the bulk of what you pay for. Observe the venue’s overall appeal, quality and cleanliness. These are clues to how the venue will treat you and your guests. ALWAYS look at the kitchen! Check air conditioning! Is there a host or hostess? Is there a wedding consultant? Look for integrated audio and video; indoor/outdoor sound system; fireplace; staircase; adjustable lighting; water features, and other amenities you may desire. How will the venue accommodate family and guests, (is there more than a single hall such as a family area, sitting rooms, dressing rooms, greeting areas, etc.). If in the summer, can the outdoor facilities accommodate dancing, reception line, food service and photo spots? AND what is the back up to the outdoors if it happens to rain?

Price: Don’t choose a venue on price alone. Weigh the quality of a venue and what it can provide to your overall event – typically, the more amenities, the greater the price. Check to see if separate pricing is offered for peak vs. non-peak dates. This is an industry where you get what you pay for. Be cautious of inexpensive venues. Typically there is a reason that they have had to lower their price. Perhaps you don’t get the whole venue to yourself, perhaps past brides have been disappointed and word has spread around. And remember to check portion sizes when comparing food prices … cheap equals cheap!

Evaluation Criteria – From your guests’ point of view

Accessibility: Don’t choose a venue that may be inconvenient for your guests. They will travel a considerable distance but, look for ease of access. Is it close to freeways and major access routes? Overall is it easy for guests to find. Are there hotels nearby for out-of-town guests?

Parking: Verify the ease of parking for your guests. Is it free or paid; is the lot size adequate? Will others be using it at the same time? Is it adjacent? Can it be maintained easily in wintertime? What is the condition of the parking lot and pathways?

User-friendliness: How about the noise? A venue may not be appropriate if everything happens on top of each other or in the same room. Think about the simple challenge of having to shout over the crowd noise to visit with your guests! Additionally, is the venue accessible to the elderly and the disabled?

It really boils down to choosing a venue where you can feel comfortable and take pride in hosting your guests – one that will create enjoyment and memories for this most important day of your life. As I said before, particularly in this industry you get what you pay for!

Don’t check references. Every venue can offer a good reference list. Ask those who are in the industry such as florists and bakers or ask if you can call the last group that held an event at the venue.

So, if you have a wedding in your future, there’s no need to lower expectations just because of the economy. Wonderful wedding receptions can be done on a budget. There are many ways to save money and still have a fantastic event.

It is true that many are cutting back on the extravagance, but enjoy their guests and the evening just the same. Your event is not diminished because there are fewer fresh flowers on each table. I’m not sure how many guests will even notice.

Here are my thoughts on controlling budgets:

The first is decorations. This is where reception centers have a strong advantage. Hundreds, if not thousands of dollars can be saved on decorations not to mention the logistical nightmares! Especially at The Manor, there is little need to add decorations. The gardens and the architecture are the star of the show here. Linens, guest tables, display tables, chairs, china, easels and more are already here.

Even costs for table center pieces can be reduced by grouping photos together of the bride and groom that tell the story of the couple. They can even be set around a floating candle or flower. Toss some petals or even Skittles on the table in your colors and you’ll have a great center piece for next to nothing!

Food can be scaled back. No doubt food is important, but have you thought about a less expensive alternative such as an ice cream sundae bar or a soup buffet? These types of offerings may even provide more in the way of casual fun for your guests.

Photography costs can be drastically cut these days. With the advent of the digital photographer, costs for photography have dropped dramatically in the past few years. There are quality photographers out there for under $1000. You will get hundreds of shots. Make sure all your photos will be copyright released. Don’t repay for your photos by buying them off of a Web site. Your Photographer should give them all to you on a disc. Don’t buy a print package. You can print them most anywhere. If you do not have a photographer in mind, I would suggest Jeff Haslam. We only get compliments about his service.

Many guest lists can be trimmed also. It doesn’t need to be dramatic. But possibly by not inviting children or just cutting 10% from your list, you could realize a savings of more than several hundred dollars!

Please don’t spend more than $350 for your wedding cake. Some very elegant cakes are even under $250. Do not pay deposits or delivery charges for you wedding cake. Here we average less than 80 pieces of cake served per night, so do not spend for large cakes or serving cakes. A modest sized three layer cake is plenty.

There, now I have saved you literally thousands. Do you realize that instead of the average cost of a reception (which is around $9000 in Utah), You could have your event at The Manor at Eldredge Square and spend less than $3000! Ask anyone, there is no nicer venue than The Manor, so why pay more?

At wedding receptions, I have witnessed brides brought to tears by photographers. Your photographer should never dictate how and when you can cut the cake or dance just to meet their schedule. There are plenty of great photographers out there who will stay the whole night. Besides, the candid photos are the best and those opportunities happen throughout the event.

At wedding luncheons, I witness guests waiting for what seems like forever for the meal to begin. Meanwhile the photographer has the bride and groom somewhere shooting more and more shots simply to get one more photo of them to sell to them later.

So my advice, choose your photographer wisely and set expectations up front. In our opinion the best are those that stay the whole evening, give you ALL the shots (with the copyright released), don’t control your time, take tons of candid pictures, and it’s all included in the price up front!

Wedding Bouquets

When it comes to bouquet styles, the round clutch retains its popularity. But cascade and hand-held bouquets are making a comeback, this time in simpler forms than in years past. Cascade bouquets have been unpopular because of their cumbersome extravagance, especially during the 80s. No one wants a bouquet that touches the ground or outweighs the bride, but the basic cascade shape can be a beautiful and elegant choice if you keep it simple. Simplicity is key — don’t complicate things.

Floral Arrangements

Today’s brides are choosing a single flower type such as a rose, an orchid or a daisy to use throughout their wedding. It is popular now for florists or wedding planners to help the bride choose a flower that fits their unique personality. For example, the romantic summer bride might choose the deep pink stargazer lilies to base her theme around. The modern bride who wants a fresh, clean look might choose a white cymbidium orchid, which is timeless in any season. The dramatic winter bride may select a beautiful deep purple dahlia. Pastel-colored bulb flowers — like pale pink tulips or lavender freesia — are always a classic for whimsical spring brides. Lastly, the eclectic fall bride might choose a deep orange rose or calla lily with fall colored accents.

The silk bouquet shown here demonstrates realism of today’s silk floral alternatives.

If you want a wider variety, try incorporating two or three bold colored flowers that pop. You might also try adding some greenery or small accent flowers. There are endless varieties to choose from. Your florist will know what best compliments the flower you choose.

Don’t rule out other silk alternatives. Silk flowers are a better option now than ever before. They look real, require no care and are the perfect answer as a keepsake. It’s virtually impossible to distinguish today’s silk flowers, even from a short distance (see bridal bouquet shown at right).

Whatever you choose, keep it simple. You will save yourself added stress and a thinning pocketbook. Simplicity often costs less while still maintaining the beauty and quality you expect.

Who is the host and whose wedding party is it?

The host is whoever sends out the invitations. In other words, the people who are “requesting the honor of your presence” are generally viewed as the hosts of the event. Typically, these are the parents of the bride.

If the invitation is issued by the bride’s parents, it may contain language similar to this: “Mr. and Mrs. William Garrett request the honor of your presence at the wedding reception of their daughter…”

Guests can presume from this language that the bride’s parents are: a) Paying for the event; b) Have given their “blessing” to the event; and c) Want to honor their daughter by hosting a reception for her.

Some couples may choose to pay for their own wedding and reception. However, the invitations may still be issued by their parents as a way of honoring them.

If the invitations are issued by the bride and groom, they will contain language similar to this example: “James and Candice have chosen…” This wording indicates other possibilities; a) This is a second marriage where the bride is not being “given away” by her father; or b) This marriage does not have the “blessing” of the parents; or c) The bride and groom are hosting a reception at their own expense.

There are a number ways to word a wedding invitation for a more contemporary approach. It really all comes down to the personality of the couple, their parents, and the underlying message they want to portray.

Announcements vs. Invitations

Wedding announcements and wedding invitations are quite different and, just as their names imply, one announces an event while the other invites guests to be in attendance.

Wedding announcements are always sent out after the event, never before.

It is inappropriate to pre-announce an event to which you do not invite the person. In much of the Intermountain West, especially within the LDS culture, it may be OK to announce an event — for example a ceremony at an LDS Temple — and then include an invitation to the reception in the following paragraph. However if this document is sent outside of that community, it may come across to many as rude. It steps all over several rules of etiquette.

First, you announced the wedding ceremony yet you did not invite me to it. Next you sent the “announcement” of that ceremony prior to the day it is to take place, and third, you placed an invitation on the same document as the announcement instead of printing two separate cards. If you have individuals on your list that are not familiar with the culture, you should choose an “invitation” format and then simply place copy within or at the end of the text of invitation stating, “Marriage solemnized in the (local) LDS temple.”

Is it “to” or “and”?

The word “to” should appear between the bride and the groom’s name on an announcement; whereas, the word “and” is the connector on an invitation.

Hope this clears up that issue! Hey, later I may tackle: “Dates, time and places listings”, “When to use an Enclosure”, “How do I assemble all of this”, and “When should I mail.”