Tag Archives: bride

Trimming the guest list for your wedding

Posted on by

We know that curbing family guest lists can be tricky. “Sure, Mom may want her coworker who hears so many stories about you to see you tie the knot, but if you don’t know that woman, is it realistic?” Considering your budget and venue space you can only invite the people nearest and dearest to you. So who makes the list??

Keep in mind if any parent(s)are financially supporting this wedding, be considerate of their guest list requests. Regardless of how they fit into the big family picture, seeing someone for big life events such as holidays and birthdays means they should be included in your wedding. End of story.

4FBF18C5-384E-4384-9203-E6E913DCBC6B

But what about every other person on the list? Here’s a few things to consider before sending a Save – the – Date.

1. If you haven’t laid eyes on a person in 12-18 months — or at least had a nice, long phone conversation if they live far away then you probably shouldn’t invite them.

2. If you were at their wedding years ago but have since lost contact, you may not need to invite them. There is no need to reciprocate if you’re no longer close. Only invite them if you really want the person back in your life.

3. My favorite “rule” is “party of 4 rule”. If you could invite the couple to your home for an evening of wine and dine and have a lovely evening full of laughter and conversation then they are added to the list. If you are unsure an feel that you would struggle through dinner and skip straight to dessert, then they are more of an acquaintance than actual friend. This especially comes in handy when considering your co workers and boss.
4. Dealing with the “plus one” – if you have met their finance or long time life partner then you should invite them. If not, don’t be shy about letting them know on your wedding website “In order to keep our guest list on track we are only able to accommodate those guests formally invited on your wedding invitation. Please feel free to e-mail us with any questions!” 34A55347-AB8F-455A-9664-E9DFA03BBB9A
5. Is your Wedding Adults only? Do not feel bad about this decision. However, sharing that decision is not always easy. “We have X seats reserved for you!”
A great way to let people know exactly how many people are invited, this phrase becomes a part of your response card wording. It’s perfect for weddings where you are allowing some children but not all children. BA2036CB-123E-456A-923C-83D90D2CFA6B.jpeg

Wedding itineraries are becoming the new normal

Posted on by

D8B7C597-1A8D-4401-93E6-11E0DAA62372.jpeg

Planning a wedding where majority of your guests have never been? Want to share your favorite restaurants, points of interest and things to do around the area? The best way to get this information out to your guests is by making an itinerary.

With Destination weddings continuing to increase in popularity year after year, we find that weekend itineraries are a must. Even though wedding websites are standard practice now, especially for destination weddings, I’m seeing that people still want to give their guests a tangible way to experience their wedding plans. One of the most popular requests lately, are accordion-style, tri-folded ‘wedding weekend’ invitations that include a welcome cover page, an invitation page, info page, a custom map on the back, as well as a detachable RSVP card that can be torn off and sent right back in the mail. This allows for plenty of colorful illustration to set the tone for the weekend and build excitement for your special day.

Unplugged Ceremony Etiquette

Posted on by
Reply

http://elissarphotography.com

Unplugged, there’s a term you are hearing now at almost every wedding, but still trying to figure out what does it mean??
With most people having a camera on their smart phone, it’s likely someone will snap a photo or get a clip of at least some of the event. However, it’s only appropriate if you have the bride and groom’s permission. If the couple has hired a photographer and or videographers it is safe the say they intend the ceremony and reception to be “Unplugged”. If you create a wedding website we encourage you to post a message there to encourage your guests to be fully present with us at the ceremony and ask that you refrain from taking photos.” If you’re truly worried about it, ask your minister or officiant to give everyone a heads up before the ceremony starts. As long as you’re polite about it, your guests will respect your decision! Another simple reminder is to have an ‘”unplugged” sign at the guest book.

Wedding Flowers with Divine Design by Mandy

Posted on by
Reply

Finding gorgeous flower inspiration is pure joy but actually getting down to business and choosing, designing and coordinating your blooms is a whole other hurdle to jump. How are you supposed to know the difference between a peony Or foxglove? How to maximize your blooms depending on the season—and on a tight budget? That’s where your florist comes in and saves the day and your budget. Not to mention countless hours of second guessing your decisions. Trust your florist, and their expertise.

Many brides will bring photos from magazines and Pinterest to the consultation which is fantastic. However, it’s nearly impossible to re-create an image exactly, so my advice is focus less on replicating a photo and instead be open and comfortable with the fact that all your inspiration is meant to be used as a springboard for a new interpretation and design.

One of the biggest flower mistakes couples make is not being open-minded to color palettes and flower choices. Many times they have a set color palette [and florals] in mind, but don’t know about other cool, rare blooms that happen to be in season at the time of their wedding. The best couple is one who can be loose and flexible with their floral choices, then your florist can find the most beautiful blooms possible to create the perfect bouquet for their wedding day. Your planner will know just the right details to share with your vendors to ensure the overall design concept is complete.

We have asked one of our local florist, Mandy Miller, of Divine Designs by Mandy for some insight. Mandy has been a florist in Oklahoma for over 17 years and brings lots of experience in all things wedding décor to the table.

First look

What ideas can the florist offer to make your wedding flowers unique? “As a floral designer, who specializes in weddings, every piece I design is custom and created for each client’s unique needs. I encourage my clients to think of their wedding flowers as accessories to complement the overall style of the wedding. I try to encourage that my clients make the most of their budget by allowing me to determine the flowers included in the floral collection, based on their color scheme, individual style, and season.”

What is your signature wedding bouquet style? “My design aesthetic is Romantic. I prefer wedding bouquets to be full of gorgeous blooms in shades that either complement the wedding gown or offer a wow factor by using high impact color.”
Mandy 1

Mandy 2

Thank you Mandy for that wonderful advice, and for sharing a few photos of our gorgeous bouquests. Want to schedule an appointment to discuss your wedding day flowers? You can check out her website at Divine Design by Mandy.

 

Designate a “tweeter of honor.”

Posted on by
Reply

Designate a “tweeter of honor.” What’s your thoughts on this Brides??

twitter 3

For all our extreme tweetaholics…Enjoy your day and stay off your phone while still keeping everyone updated.

Your wedding day will fly by, and if you’re on your phone the whole time, you’ll miss out on what’s important. Focus on the guests who have come to celebrate with you, instead of everyone in your social media circles. You can always designate a “tweeter of honor”—it could be another bridesmaid who isn’t your maid of honor (she’ll have plenty of responsibilities already) or you can even hire someone to keep your social networks updated throughout the day so you won’t have to. Another option is to schedule tweets beforehand, so they’re ready to go without the hassle.