Twas the night before your wedding, and all through the hall, bride and groom were practicing, for their big day at the ball...
Not a perfect rhyme, but you get the picture.
The day or two before your big day, often times there is a rehearsal held. It's typically at the location of the ceremony so that everyone can learn what's in store for the next day. Thankfully, with a planner, these people will have someone there to remind them where to stand when they forget.
But after the rehearsal, it's customary to go to dinner together as a group. This dinner is often left to the last minute to be planned, but really should be taken care of at least 2-3 months in advance. Frequently a rehearsal dinner will fall on a Friday or Saturday night, when restaurants are already busy with guests, including other parties for birthdays and such. Here are some things to remember:
Your rehearsal dinner space will give guests the opportunity to give you those final "best of luck" wishes before you walk down the aisle. Make sure that where ever you go, there is ample food and, of course, wine, champagne and your beverage of choice. While no one will be getting plastered (and if they do, shame on them) it's always a good idea to offer a drink choice so that guests can relax and do a toast if they so please.
Rehearsal dinner reservations should be locked in and rock solid at a strong establishment. Tell your planner what you're looking for and see what they suggest. This is a very important dinner, and if you go through a rehearsal with no reservations, no place to go, or a place to go that lost those reservations, the stress of your wedding day will begin the night before. No need to go crazy with decorations, a photographer/videographer or any of that, just make sure your friends and family know where they're going. This is the night to have everyone relax and enjoy themselves...that includes the bride and groom.
More and more couples are coming to us with an aversion to flowers. They want to use light, branches, and anything else to keep an organic feel going throughout the big day. Some, are even allergic to flowers and while they would like to use some big blooms, they don't want to break out in hives either.
There are so many alternatives to using the tall centerpieces with overflowing roses. Depending on the theme of your wedding, as well as the location, you can use just about anything.
For instance, pictured here is a rustic lantern that our bride wanted to use for her late November wedding last year. She was more interested in keeping the warm fall and holiday feeling, and felt that flowers wouldn't give her guests what she was looking for. Plus, she was able to design the centerpiece herself and then keep all of the lanterns which she now uses in her garden at her home. I'm personally a big fan of buying items that you'll be able to use again as husband and wife.
If you're having an outdoor reception, take a look around at what Mother Nature is offering you. Perhaps there are large oak trees nearby, and you want to work the branches into the centerpieces. If you're at a vineyard, consider working grapes into anything from the altar to the bouquets. Fruits and vegetables provide a nice twist on the everyday centerpiece and will give your guests something to talk about. Any florist will be able to pull some beautiful green moss to add to a garden like wedding.
Flowers are always a good choice, and while there are many to select from, they aren't for everyone. So think outside the box, because it's your day and you can have anything you want!
Once you sign a contract, you are bound by it. For this reason, you should read everything before you sign it. If you need time to review it, ask to take it home, and be sure to ask questions when you need clarification.
Recently, one of our brides got burned by a contract that she signed. She was blind-sided when she was asked to pay a final amount that was much higher than what she remembered. Unfortunately, the cost had been previously explained before the contract was signed, and even before a deposit was put down. The obvious conclusion is that she did not read the contract.
It's hard to argue with black and white, especially when one of the last pieces of black, is your signature. You will not be able to go to court and state that you didn't read the contract. The judge will simply assume that you didn't care, and you will be held accountable for the terms in the contract. All that ever matters in negotiations, especially those involving money, are the words on the paper. We beg that every couple reads every last word on every last piece of paper that they sign.
When we work with couples, we have a copy of every single contract that has been signed. This is done to protect the couple as well as the vendor. We'll remind couples when payments are due, deadlines in contracts, and anything else that we think they need to know. However, we make no claim to read the contract to the couple, and assume that they have taken the time to read the document before they sign it.
Bottom line: if you signed it, you agreed to it. No other argument is even valid after that point.
You have your signature drinks, and then you have how you choose to serve them up. Our last blog post was about swizzle sticks, and helping your guests enjoy their drinks and your special day. Now we present to you ways to really wow your guests.
Anyone can put out a bottle of wine, a keg of beer, or a punch bowl. But when is the last time that you went to a party and poured a watermelon cocktail out of a keg...made of watermelon?
Whether you're having a backyard engagement party, or a tented event, this laid back way to have some fun cocktails will surely keep your guests talking. Perfect for anytime in the spring or summer, this takes a little bit of DIY effort and a lot of love, and then everyone can sit back and enjoy. Similar to carving out a pumpkin, just take the melon out, run it through a food processor in batches, and replace it into the watermelon. What you choose to add into it is up to you! Anything from vodka, to seltzer, to rum, there is no right or wrong. Just make sure you have enough to go around.
Watermelon isn't the only holder of fun drinks. If you're hosting a fall event, consider the great pumpkin as a centerpiece. Simply cut open the top of the pumpkin and take everything out from the inside. Place a glass or plastic bowl inside and fill it with anything you like. You could choose to fill it with ice and add some bottled drinks, or simply make a fun fall punch in the bowl.
Looking for a way to let everyone have their own personal drinks? Use strawberries as shot glasses as seen above. Since strawberries would make a mess, consider making the inside a jello shot so people can just pop them in their mouths and enjoy. What a great way to get the party started!
Creativity is key here, so just let your imagination run wild and have a good time! Don't forget to send us pictures of what you come up with and let us know what your guests have to say!
