Cost Saving Reception Ideas
The results are in. The National Retail Federation commissioned a survey on consumer spending, and the bottom line was summarized as follows: Spend where you need to, save where you can. Good advice for life in general, but when you take a look at that from the wedding angle, there are many ways to save on your costs and take nothing away from your dreams. Being aware of the big picture while keeping each dollar in check will help you save in the right places without skipping a beat. Receptions are one of the most costly aspects of the wedding, so making some adjustments there can really make a difference.
Look for a location that both fits the occasion and requires very little decorating enhancements. Many spots are fine the way they are. Create one large decor element as oppose to several small elements that are scattered around the room. This little trick can be dramatic and budget friendly! As you picture the whole room, remember to focus on what people see AFTER the room is full of people. Decorations on table skirting will only be seen by the first ones in the room. Think “tabletop and up”!
One thing caterers will tell you is that people tend to take less food if it is passed by the wait staff rather than if placed on a buffet table. The same is true of champagne or other beverages. If you go that route, less food can be ordered but your guests will still feel pampered. If it’s important to you to serve a sit down dinner, try ordering half portions of two main entree items instead of just one high-end entree. For instance, combining half protions of prime rib and chicken breast helps bring down the cost per plate while offering guests a selection with depth. What if you ordered sandwiches for your entertainers and servers instead of the full banquet meal and have a separate room where it is set up for them. That way they can “get away” for a break and have food choices that they can grab and go if needed.
Hope we got your “nip and tuck” ideas going! Let us know if you need help!
Your New Beginnings Bridal Studio Team
Bridesmaids!
We LOVE our bridesmaids! Historically, their purpose was (according to culture, of course) to “protect” and/or “intervene” on behalf of the bride. Apparently those darn evil spirits liked to gather at weddings and do mischevious deeds or worse, therefore, bridesmaids came in handy when helping to outsmart those shifty characters. Hmmm…well, thank goodness that these days our friends get to take part in the fun when asked to be in the wedding party, even if there’s a few jobs you might assign them. Please remember though, as the bride, that these girls give up time and money for the honor of witnessing your special day, so pay much attention to thanking them and appreciating their help and care. Keep them in the loop about your plans and events, and if they offer to help you, graciously accept.
As far as their dress selection is concerned, it doesn’t have to be an occasion of drama and conflict. Cost, style, color and accessories are issues only if you let them be issues. If you are able to help financially, by all means…do it (they would love you forever!). Most wedding parties represent a wide collection of sizes and shapes, so work closely with your consultant who can help guide the process seamlessly from choosing the dress to receiving the order on time.
Your maid of honor can/should be the point person for any special instructions. Give her responsiblities, and if she needs to delegate, let her be the one to do so. That way she knows who did what, when, how and where, and can pick up any “dropped balls” should there be any. Your wedding planner will have a “Wedding Day Survival Kit” that everyone will most likely get much use out of, but if you are your own wedding planner, you’ll need to assemble one yourself. A few things to include are needles, thread, 2 sided tape, mints, ibuprofen, straight and safety pins, clear nail polish, and on and on! Most importantly, this is a memory-making day, so make the most of it. Relax…have fun…and be thankful for the fabulous friends that get to share in this milestone of your life!
Your New Beginnings Bridal Studio Team
Invitation Basics
Invitation decisions are one of those details that have the ability to become very tedious and time consuming, and understandably so! These are what reflect the tone of your wedding, and the style, timing and wording of your invitations need to be just right. That’s why it’s a good idea to begin wading through the process early so that each decision can be made with much thought as oppose to frantically on the fly!
There are many choices of paper and print styles available to you. Don’t let it overwhelm you…just take into consideration your style or theme. Is it casual or formal, traditional or out-of-the-box, indoors or out? When you consider your wedding personality you should be able to fairly easily narrow down the options. A specialized stationery business will be able to offer much help in this area, as well as guiding you through correct wording and coordinating of “Save the Date” cards, insert, RSVP and place cards, table assignment charts, menus, programs, and thank you’s. Their advice can most likely save you time and money, especially when considering all the paper products and printing needed and factoring everything into the price.
When it’s time to finalize the order, make sure you order extras of every item. You will also want to double, triple and quadruple check the order. Have someone else quadruple check you. A printing mistake would be very costly to fix, and since most of us operate on a strict budget, this is one expendature that CAN be avoided! Most experts agree that invitations should go out 6-8 weeks prior to the ceremony, so be sure you’ve allotted plenty of time for ordering, addressing and sending.
The inside envelope is where each guest is named individually. If children are invited, their names should be included with the names of their parents otherwise only the names of the parents should be written…that should give them the hint.
Before you send all the invites, take one to the post office and check for proper postage…you wouldn’t want any guests getting a “postage due” stamp on their envelope! You may also want to consider special issue stamps rather than just the ordinary. Send one to yourself as a test, that way you can double check the postage and the timing of delivery.
Hope this gets you goin! Happy inviting!
Your New Beginnings Bridal Studio Team
History of the Cake
We know you’ve been wondering (hehe), so here’s the background behind the tradition of the cake…
- In ancient Rome, the first bites of a wheat cake were eaten by the couple and the remainder crumbled and tossed over the bride’s head like a rain of flour – a fertility rite believed to guarantee the couple lots of kids and a life of plenty.
- There’s a tradition that says a bridesmaid who carries a slice of wedding cake in her pocket until the honeymoon is over will marry soon.
- According to some customs, small silver ornaments can be taped onto ribbons and placed on a plate under the cake. Before it is cut, single females pull on a ribbon end to see what ornament they receive. Each one is symbolic. A wedding ring signifies marriage, a heart – love, and anchor – hope and a fleur de lis – wealth.
- It has also been said that guests who put a sliver of the groom’s cake under their pillows will dream of their future spouses. You have no doubt heard of groom’s cake and wonder if you should serve one at your reception. For a while it was not widely used, but today’s brides seem to be reviving the tradition.
Typically, the groom’s cake is a dark, rich fruitcake. But in these recent years, it is one that is a companion cake to the big, featured “Wedding Cake”, or bride’s cake as it was once called. Both cakes can be available for guests and on display, but some brides have elected to have an iced groom’s cake as the top layer of the “bride’s” cake. Others have chosen to pack slices of the groom’s cake in small boxes and have helpers distribute them for everyone to take home as a sweet momento of the wedding.
Whichever you choose for your cake (or cakes as the case may be), our motto is: there can NEVER be too much cake!
Your New Beginnings Bridal Studio Team
Centerpieces
The good news is that the possibilities are endless!! The bad news is that the possibilities are endless!!! Go ahead…let your imagination run wild. The more different and unusual the centerpiece, the more you’ve just distinguished your wedding from the last. Here’s just a few basic tips to keep in mind while you plan:
- If you’re working with a florist, make sure you fully communicate your theme and color scheme. Speaking of themes, it feels more comfortable and soothing to have it flow from ceremony to reception. That being said, just be aware that if you decide to throw everyone a curve ball and completely change it up between the two, you will probably have some guests feeling a bit ruffled.
- A centerpiece should never block a guest’s view. They should also be in proportion to the size and shape of your table.
- Informal floral centerpieces have a “just picked” look in their arrangements, using wildflowers or seasonal branches. Formal arrangements are usually symmetrical in nature with a triangular, circular or rectangular shape. Be careful that the flowers are never so fragrant that they overpower the food served.
- Flowers don’t have to be used only as the table centerpiece. Try having smaller arrangements at each place setting. Pitchers can make lovely containers.
- How about creating a “still life” with fruits, flowers or vines on a tray. Baskets holding live plants with mossed tucked around them work well also.
- Candles of all sizes in crystal holders and on top of mirrors makes for a shimmery display. Just remember that a flickering flame at eye level is annoying, so make sure they stand above or below that height. Wine glasses also look nice when on mirrors…try a floating flower inside the glass.
- What if your facility allowed you to hang centerpieces? Now I can just hear your wheels turning!
So, with the few “rules” established, we can’t wait to hear your clever ideas!
Your New Beginnings Bridal Studio Team
