Alice in Weddingland

One of the lovelies over at Style Me Pretty came up with what I believe to be one of the most fabulous ideas ever. She designed an inspiration board (made for wedding style/design inspiration) with an Alice in Wonderland theme. I admit that I adore Alice and her curiosity and crazy adventures. I have always loved her! But never did I think that her wonderland adventures would make such an interesting and unique wedding theme. I’ve seen teas and mad hatter parties, but no such event has encompassed Alice and all of her fabulousness! So, to view the inspiration in all of its fabulousness, just take a look!

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Stripes!

Let’s face it. I love stripes. In fact, I love them more than *gasp* polka dots. So, to be fair to my favorite pattern, I had to do a little WeddingFanatic tribute.

Set the mood with the invitations. Stripes often have a formal vibe to them, but mixing up the colors can give them a little funkiness.

Of course, the most delicious part of your wedding day can contain this fabulous pattern. For a more formal affair, try vertical white on white stripes. For a less formal event, keep the white on white and have horizontal or diagonal stripes, or, stick to the verticals but mix up the color.

Why have only cake? Tie in stripes in more than just decoration. These little desserts naturally form stripes. Look for more natural stripes in things like candy and other little treats.

Is there anything better than a guy in formalwear? I think not! If this ties into the look of your day, consider decking out Mr. Perfect in a subtly stripped tux. If you still want him in stripes but the looks just doesn’t work, go for something a little more creative like stripped cufflinks or socks.

Have a wild side? Want to do something different? Like standing out from all of the other brides? Try walking down the aisle in a pair of striped shoes. A ton of brides use their shoes as their “something blue”. If they can pull that off, stripped shoes should be a breeze.

A tip from WeddingFanatic: Don’t overdo it. While yes, stripes are a very good thing, too much can be overwhelming. Think of it like this. If you walked into a room with thirty different floral patterns on the walls, furniture and accents, you’d think to yourself, “Who DOES that?!”. And, be aware of your stripe combination. Don’t use too many at the same time.

Wedding planning is not simple, but finding wedding bands and the best engagement rings can be made simple thanks to Danforth Diamond. They have a huge variety of wedding jewelery and diamonds, and their anniversary jewelry is second to none. Many have positive things to say about their affordable diamonds

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The After Party

Even though you may be prancing off with your new spouse to live happily ever after, all your guests have to look forward to is the upcoming work week. For the guests that want to linger, or those who just don’t want to throw in the towel, think about having an after party for them! After parties comes in more ways than just one. Here are a few ideas if you’re thinking about doing a little somethin’ somethin’ for your guests.

Late Night Lounge
So, dinner is finished and the toasts have been said. You have made your grand exit but your guests just can’t say goodbye! Creative a club vibe and let your late-night guests dance the night away. Mix it up by creating a completely different style than that of your wedding. Pump the music and let the drinks flow.

Coffee Bar
Maybe your reception will be coming to a close just in time for an evening pot of coffee. Or, perhaps, everyone will have partied so late that the morning will get there before they know it. Help your guests get back into the swing of things by creating a relaxed atmosphere and serving some coffee, tea, and some light snacks. Create the space from scratch, or talk the owner of a coffee shop near to your venue into opening up extra early.

Nighttime Picnic
Do you think your guests would like to just kick back, relax and chill out under the stars? For a less formal event when the weather is perfect and the sky is clear enough to see the stars, lay out some blankets and let your guests gaze. Serve a sweet drink or treat and have some sparklers available.

In the end, your wedding and reception are more than enough. These ideas can all be translated into reception themes as well. Hope these get your ideas flowing!

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Gifts For Your Gals

First of all, I am sorry for the delay in posts! The past two weeks have been hectic and believe me, the only thing I truly wanted to be doing was thinking and writing about weddings. Can I get an “Amen”?

So, if all goes according to plan, the posts should be back on their usual schedule in no time. Here is a little something to get us restarted!

A bride over at weddingbee.com recently wrote a post inquiring if she was a bad friend because she got her bridesmaids gifts at an outlet store. Honey, a Coach is a Coach! Who cares where you got it?! In fact, I liked her idea so much, I had to write a post about it.

She found a great deal on some Coach Wristlets that matched the personality of her ‘maids. With the money that she saved from purchasing them at an outlet shop, she is paying for them to get their nails and hair done, too. So, not only do her ladies get a little pampering on and before the big day, they get cute wristlets to sport on their perfectly manicured hands. What could be better?

Lesson learned? Whatever your budget, you can find the perfect gifts for your gals. With some research and creativity, you can give them a little something extra. Happy gifting!

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Polka Dot Cakes

Just a few days ago I watched for the first time “Because I Said So” with a few of my fabulous gal pals. Cute movie. But! I am not here to talk about the movie (although, there just might have been a wedding in it!). I am here to talk about an awesome polka dot cake that I saw in the movie.

Not long ago, we did a post about using polka dots in your wedding. Little did I think of having polka dots on your cake! Perhaps you think polka dots are a little much for your wedding. Try using them on a bridal shower cake or on deserts at your rehearsal. Here are a few cakes we like.

Here is a little somethin’ somethin’ from budgetdreamweddings.com. Looking for something a little more original? Check out these Petit Fours from the same site.

For an easy serving, this is the way to go! Having a crazy bridal shower or lady’s night out? Or just one of those girlie brides looking for something pink? Here is a nice little morsel from cakesvictoria.com.

And for the more traditionalized polka dot bride, this one is for you.

Final words? We love polka dots, whether they are on you or on your cake.

Unique Diamonds are always a wondrous site to gaze at, and nice wedding bands especially tend to be pretty.  If you aren’t at the wedding planning stage yet, browsing through fancy engagement rings should be treated with care.  Fine jewelry has such a vast variety, but diamond engagement rings tend to always catch someone’s eye. Danforth can make the process of finding rings extremely enjoyable.

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22 Questions You MUST Ask Your Florist, Musicians, and Transporation Company

Flowers. Music. Limousines. What comes to mind when you think of these? Weddings, of course! While you can have a beautiful wedding without a single flower, line of music, or limo, you may want one or all of the following. When you are interviewing these vendors, as them these questions. We have provided some things to look for in their answers.

Questions for a Florist

Can we please see your portfolio?
Look to see if their style and capabilities match what you’re looking for.

When will the flowers for our event arrives?
Make sure they are able to deliver your flowers with enough time to decorate your space and distribute them to the wedding party and other important persons.

Is there a delivery fee?
If there is, make sure you know about it and ask if you have other options, like having someone else pick them up for you.

Do you distribute and pin on flowers?
Your florist should know exactly who gets what. If they are unable to service the wedding in such a way, ask if they label the flowers so you know exactly what goes where.

Do you include a toss bouquet?
Some florists throw this in for free. If you want to preserve your bouquet, a toss bouquet is a great thing to have. They also tend to be smaller, and perhaps a little easier to catch.

Will you be doing any other weddings that day?
If a florist takes on too many events in one day, the quality of her work may be sacrificed. Ask about the size of her staff and how much business they can realistically handle in one weekend.

Have you ever done an event at our venue?
If you need your florist to set up or decorate something at your site, such as a chuppah or other special ceremony elements, make sure they are familiar with the space. Again, this will help prevent any wedding day mishaps.

Questions for Musicians

Will you be at the rehearsal (for ceremony musicians)?
It is important that they know that is happening and when. It is important to have them at your rehearsal. If they are unable to be there, make sure your officiant has gone over the ceremony with them and they know when and what to play.

How much space do you need?
Make sure they will fit in the space you have! If not, look for different musicians or other placement options.

How long before the wedding will you be set up?
You don’t want your musicians setting up their equipment as guest start to arrive. They should already be playing music about thirty minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.

Can you play a variety of music? What is your specialty?
Variety is most important for the reception, unless you want to stick to a specific style of music. Make sure your musicians are able to adjust their volume according to the activities (ie. more quiet music during the meal while guests are eating and chatting).

How many people are in your band?
Remember, the more people in the band, the more people that need to be paid. If you are looking for a bigger band, try checking out schools of music. They often have talented students who would be much cheaper and do just as wonderful a job.

Does the DJ have an assistant?
Anymore, an assistant is probably not necessary. All some DJ’s have is their computer, a microphone or two, and speakers. It works!

How long will sets and breaks be?
Musicians need breaks too! While they break, ask if they have a way to keep the music going (something prerecorded, perhaps). Also, make sure you have a place for them to rest. If you don’t want them sitting at the same tables as your guests, make sure they know they have a separate place prepared just for them.

What meals are expected?
Do they expect to be fed by you? Or will they bring their own meal? Make sure you account for them if you need to feed them.

What are your overtime rates?
If at the last second you want them to play another thirty minute set, will they be available for that? And what will they charge?

Questions for Transportation Companies

How many units are in your fleet? How old are they?
Unless you want vintage cars, the newer the better. Make sure you are able to see the ones you’ll be using. Also know if they have enough vehicles to suite your needs.

What happens if the vehicle breaks down?
Check to see if they have backup vehicles and what their procedures are incase of a break down. Get it in writing in the contract just in case something does happen.

What will the driver wear?
Most likely, they will wear something simple and nice. If you want something specific, ask if they can cater to what you want.

What is your policy on smoking in the car?
If you are a smoker and want to smoke in the car, make sure they allow it. If you can’t stand the smell of smoke, on the other hand, find a company that doesn’t allow it at all.

How many hours will the car be available and what are wait time and overtime fees?
This is good to know, especially if things don’t go exactly according to plan. Also, you may find that it is cheaper to rent one car to deliver you to the ceremony and then the reception, and then rent another one to take you to your post-reception rendezvous, eliminating the hours of wait time in between.

Are refreshments included? If so, what?
If refreshments are not included and you would like some, ask if they offer some, or if you are allowed to bring you own.

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Major Wedding No-Nos

So, you all been to a wedding before. Perhaps there has been a time or two when the couple did something you raised an eyebrow to. Something that just didn’t seem right or something you knew for sure was totally tacky. As you’re planning your wedding, try to consider the following list of major wedding no-nos. You may not see these things written in all the etiquette books or bridal magazines, but a little common sense and a general understanding of the way weddings work should help you to see why you just shouldn’t do these things!

Preprinted Thank You Notes
How would you like it if you spent gobs of money getting to a wedding, clothes to wear to the wedding, and a big gift for the newlyweds, and then you got a preprinted note that said “Thanks for the gift. It will be great to have in our new life together. Love, The Newlyweds.” Personally, I would take it to mean that I meant so little to the couple that I wasn’t even worth the five minutes it takes to write a thank you note. Aside from being lazy, preprinted thank you notes are just tacky. DON’T USE THEM! However, the only time a preprinted thank you is ever acceptable is if you plan on an extended honeymoon (or being gone for a long time), but then you must follow it up with a hand-written note of thanks upon your return.

A Cash Bar
While some people claim they only go to weddings for the free drinks, a cash bar is just as tacky as the preprinted thank you notes! Your guests are already spending enough money to come share your special day with you, please don’t make them pay for their drinks. If a bar is a must for you, but a full bar isn’t in the budget, consider your options. You could have soda pop, beer, a small selection of wines, and maybe a signature cocktail. Or, maybe you don’t like the idea of people getting drunk at your wedding. You could cut out alcohol all together. Another option, if your venue allows it, is bringing in your own alcohol. Know all of your options before making a decision.

Inviting someone to a shower or pre-wedding party but not the wedding
If you invite someone to an engagement party, shower, or other pre-wedding event, they will be expecting a wedding invitation. If they never get one, they will assume you were just asking for a gift and didn’t want to front the cash to actually have them there on the Big Day. The only exceptions to this are if you’re having a very small, intimate, family-only ceremony and reception, and possibly if you’re having a destination wedding. With destination weddings, however, the same guests should still be invited. They might just not be able to make the trip. If your situation is one of these latter ones, make sure your pre-wedding event guests know about your plans so they aren’t expecting a little something in the mail.

Putting the stores where you’re registered on the invitation or on anything included in the invitation
This is basically asking for gifts. Surely you don’t want to be known as the couple who told everyone where they were registered just incase your guests wanted to bring you a gift. Let your wedding party spread the word about where you’re registered or what you guys are wanting. But announcing where you’re registered is just something you shouldn’t do!

If your maids or someone close to you us having a shower for you, it is less tacky to put your registries on the invites to the shower, but it’s still something that is frowned upon by some. Family members shouldn’t throw you a shower (unless your sisters are your ‘maids) because this also is like asking for gifts. Be gracious and ask your hostesses not to print your registries on your shower invitations. Instead, have them put the name and number of a person in charge that guests can call with questions.

Asking for a cash gift, or asking for gifts at all
As you may have gathered from the rest of the post, asking for gifts is just not polite! Modern society says that if you’re invited to a wedding, generally, you send a gift. With the average wedding present costing between 50 and 100 bucks, guests don’t need to be asked for a gift. Chances are, they’ll bring one on their own! And even if you prefer to receive cash, never, EVER put it in writing. It is almost inevitable that people will ask those who know what’s going on what you want. So let those people (wedding party and parents) know, so that if they’re asked, they can tell the inquiring minds.

So, if you’re reading this blog, you’re probably on top of things. Hopefully these things were obvious to you from the start! Wedding planning can make a couple go crazy, though, and make them do things they would never do on any average day. So! Remember as you walk the path that is wedding planning, stay away from the things that will make your guests talk.

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Family Pet Fact

According to Guide Post, which took a look at a brides.com poll, 42 percent of brides plan to feature their pets in their weddings. Fabulous!

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Madame Dariaux - Part IV

Our last segment from Madame Dariaux.

On Rejuvenation
“If you really want to be rejuvenated, it isn’t enough to smear yourself with cream or to have your face lifted; you must also refrain from ‘thinking old’. The two best recipes for rejuvenation are: surrounding oneself with young people and trying to understand them; and falling in love, even late in life.”

On Restaurants
“Study men carefully in restaurants, for in these places their characters show up and you can see at once whether a man is timid or sure of himself, generous or stingy, a glutton or a gourmet, attentive or egotistical, witty or boring – in other words, whether or not it would be worth your while to become interested in him.”

On Slippers
“Show me your bedroom slippers and I will tell you how old you are. You start out in life with tiny sky-blue booties knitted by your mother. You start marriage barefoot; but you soon start to sit down to breakfast in slippers. Finally, the day when your grandchildren bring you a pair of fur-lined slippers, you may as well admit that you have grown old.”

On Snoring
“If he really snores like a vacuum cleaner, don’t get angry or play the role of an insomniac martyr; simply go and sleep on the sofa in the living-room.”

On Strangers
“A stranger loses half his charm the day he is no longer a stranger.”

On Strength
“A man may be Hercules on the outside and have the soul of a mouse, or he may be Mickey Mouse with the soul of Hercules. If you ever have to choose between these two types of men, do not hesitate to pick the mouse with the courageous heart.”

On Surrender
“Never forget that the day you surrender to a man is the day of your defeat and of his victory; the suspense is over and satiety lies ahead.”

On Tenderness
“The tenderness one feels for another person is a marvelous sentiment that warms the soul. It is very close to love, but much less demanding and more understanding; in fact it is often the final stage of a great passion, and it is more comforting in old age than anything else I know. Perhaps there is nothing in the world more touching than the sight of a very tender elderly couple.”

On Two
“Two people in bed, in a restaurant, on holiday, and in life in general, is the ideal number, and I have never understood why young people want to multiply it so quickly. They would do better to exhaust all the selfish pleasures for two before becoming involved in the adventure of raising a big family.”

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Bring On The Florists

As we all know, time is money. Make the most of your time with your florist by being prepared. Below we have most, if not all, of the information you should have with you when you meet with your florist. It should make both of your jobs easier! You’re not under pressure to come up with ideas on the spot and your florist already has everything written down. Plus, thinking about everything in advance will help keep you from forgetting things later.

Dates, places, and times are all very important. When it comes to personal flowers and venue arrangements, make sure you have the names of who gets what and the type of flowers you want (or the colors and style you’re going for) for each person and arrangement

The Information:

Wedding Date, Day of week, and Time
Bride’s and Groom’s Information (Phone Numbers and Addresses)
Ceremony Venue (Address, Phone, Contact Person, Set-up Time, Restrictions for the Facility)
Reception Venue (Address, Phone, Contact Person, Set-up Time, Restrictions for the Facility)
Photographer (Name, Phone, Arrival Time)
Notes on your wedding colors and styles

Bouquets
Bride’s Bouquet
Toss Bouquet
Maid of Honor
Maids and Junior Maids (List their names and bouquet flowers)
Hair Flowers (List names of those needing flowers and type of flower)
Flower girls (Names, Ages, and Accessories Needed)

Corsages/Nosegay
Mother of Bride
Step-Mother of Bride
Mother of Groom
Step-Mother of Groom
Grandmothers (List Names and Flowers)
Guest book/gift attendants (List Names, Position, and Flowers)
Vocalist/Musicians/Readers (List Names, Position, and Flowers)
Cake/Food/Punch/Hostess (List Names, Position, and Flowers)
Special Corsages for Friends and Relatives (List Names and Flowers)

Boutonnieres
Groom
Best Man
Groomsmen
Ushers (List Names and Flowers)
Bride’s Father
Bride’s Step-Father
Groom’s Father
Groom’s Step-Father
Grandfathers (List Names and Flowers)
Ring Bearers (List Names, Ages, and Flowers)
Clergy
Special Bouts for Friends and Relatives (List Names and Flowers)

Ceremony Venue Flowers
Altar Flowers
Other Decor (Unity Candles, Candelabras, Program Basket)
Aisle Decor (Runner and Length)
Memory Arrangement
Special

Reception Flowers
Table Décor (Know the size and number of tables, and the flowers you’d like the the arrangements)
Other Reception Needs (Card Box, Cake Flowers, etc.)
Special Room décor

Don’t forget to ask about and get in writing (in the contract) the delivery time and set-up fee for the ceremony and reception!

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