Sunday, March 27, 2016

WEDDING NOTES™ - Unique Gift Ideas

For those who can't bear to give traditional wedding gifts or are not enchanted with the items listed in the couple's registry, here are some gift ideas we have heard about from wedding planners and consultants.

*Give a couple's favorite wine in a special decorative wine box.  If you can, give at least three bottles with a note that wishes them to celebrate their special day.

*If the couple have arranged for cards or notes to be on all of the guest tables at the reception, give the gifts of an elegant wooden or silver or acrylic memory box for all of the notes collected.  You might have them all printed on individual card stock that will be custom fit for the memory box you've chosen.

*Give the gift of luxurious bed pillows or a set of truly elegant bed linens.

*High on the list of many brides is the hot current KitchenAid mixer in fun colors.  Add to the gift a collection of family favorite dessert recipes.

*Give sets of tickets for special dates for the couple - tickets to sporting events, movies, stage plays, concerts, or orchestral performances.

*If you are a craft person, consider creating a book of wedding memories for the couple - a wedding scrapbook.

*Create a gift basket of the couple's favorite foods and beverages and have it delivered when they return from the honeymoon.

*Give gift cards to the couple's favorite restaurants or furniture store or art gallery.
Do you have to send a gift prior to the ceremony?  Nice if you do, but  it's possible that time and distance will delay your gift.  A general guideline to remember is that you have up to one year after the wedding to send a gift.  however, it is best to do so within two months of the ceremony .

Sunday, March 20, 2016

WEDDING NOTES™ - How Much to Spend on a Wedding Gift

Although it still remains the guide for many people, most experts today would urge wedding guests to forget the "Price-per-plate rule".  Your gift is not the ticket for admission to the event.  It is your present to the couple and should be tied to your relationship to the bride and groom - not to how much they paid for your meal.

One recent bride made the news - both broadcast and email - by sending a bill for two dinners to a guest at her wedding who RSVP'd in the affirmative but then did not attend due to a family emergency.  Who could have guessed that bad manners are that prevalent?  Not me!

Here are some guidelines that are pretty well endorsed for today's guests.

If you are attending the wedding of a coworker or boss - suggested gift level - $75 - $100

If it is the wedding of a neighbor or casual friend - $75 - $450

If it is the wedding of a friend or relative - $125 - $1,000

If it is a close friend or relative - $100- $175

If you have to spend money on airfare and/or hotel - you can spend less on the gift.  ($50-$100)

As a guide, $50 is the usual minimum.  Of course, different areas of the country may have different norms.  Important to remember - It still is not ok to ask for gifts of money, but it is acceptable to give money.

Monday, March 14, 2016

WEDDING NOTES™ - Fall and Winter Weddings

Seasonal weddings offer brides wonderful ideas for themes, places, colors and decor.  And Fall and Winter weddings offer special  traditional and unique looks and themes.

Fall Weddings
Places:  Look for vintage spots, rustic barns, mills, orchards
Decor:  Use sheaths of wheat, gourds, pumpkins, leaves
Flowers:  Mums, roses, leaves, succulents, grasses
Colors:  Rusts and browns, subdued shades with brights to accent and pop.  Dark brown with hints of turquoise.  Use jewel tones for bridesmaids.
Food:  Comfort food, hearty meals with seasonal veggies and roasted meats.  Serve warm apple cider with cinnamon sticks or spiced wine.  Serve traditional deserts like pumpkin pie and apple streusal next to your wedding cake.  Choose a spiced cake with creamy frosting.
Favors:  Give bottles of maple syrup, oatmeal cookies in custom boxes, sachet of mulling spices, or homemade preserves.

Winter Weddings
Places:   Look for historic mansions, inns with fireplaces, any location with a cozy feel.
Decor:  Lots of tiny white lights, mini evergreen trees, candles on pine branches for centerpieces, white poinsettias grouped, red cranberries and candles floating in glass bowls.  Now is the time for an ice sculpture as the focal point of the reception area.
Flowers:  All white bouquets with silver accents.  Consider a crystal bouquet for the bride.
Colors:  An all white wedding  or  the bride in white with attendants in shades of silver and grey.
Food/Beverages:  Serve egg nog, spiced wines, hot chocolate with liquor or have waiter pass trays with champagne.  Have a snow white frosted cake with silver trim.  Consider a snow globe with a bride and groom inside as a cake top.
Favors:  Monogramed Christmas ornaments or miniature snow globes that match the cake top.

Friday, March 11, 2016

WEDDING NOTES™ - I Propose

This is a wedding note to slip to the groom to be.  Use it in your tuxedo department as a giveaway.

There are the traditional ways to propose marriage and then there are some unique ways grooms have "popped the question".  Here are some ideas we have heard from wedding consultants and planners.

In general, be sure that you don't just ask before you've both talked about marriage.  You want the answer to be an enthusiastic "yes", not "I'll think about it."

Whatever you decide, practice saying it before you ask her.    Do propose on one knee . Don't hide the gorgeous ring in food - too unpredictable, and find the right ring.

Where and what?

1.  Go where you went on your first date and lead in with "We've come a way together......."

2.  If you propose at Christmas, hang the ring box like an ornament on the tree.

3.  Wrap the ring box is a series of even bigger boxes.  As she unwraps the last box, propose.

4.  If you play trivial pursuit as a couple, ignore what's printed on the card when it's your turn and instead ask, "will you marry me?"

5.  Propose in an unusual place.  Have a pre printed sheet inserted into the morning paper, ask the question using alphabetical refrigerator magnets, write it on the bathroom mirror using lipstick.

6.  Have a custom jigsaw puzzle created with the words "will you marry me" included in the design.

7.  Most movie theaters have paid advertisements prior to the coming attractions.  Pay for an ad, but be sure to get to the theater early so you don't miss it.
8.  While we don't suggest hiding the ring in food, you can work with restaurant management to have the words printed on a plate and/or have the waiter or  deliver the ring on a silver platter.

Sunday, March 6, 2016

WEDDING NOTES™ - Invisible Budget Ideas

Wedding experts have always believed that planning a wedding requires more than just money.  What gets remembered is creativity and the unusual.  We can help you plan a memorable event without putting dents in your budget.   Here are some tried and true budget savers from brides we've worked with.

1.  Avoid peak season dates.  Being married mid week instead of a weekend or in less popular months can save upwards of 20% off location costs.

2.  When you make adjustments to the guest list, make cuts in groups.  For instance, if you are planning round tables that seat 8 or 10 guests, cut by that number or multiples of that number.

3. Try to find a venue that hosts both ceremony and reception events in one place.  Look for an all inclusive venue.

4.  Have a smaller wedding party (VIPs) - have two instead of six bridesmaids.

5.  Serve four appetizers instead of ten.

6.  Stop photographer at a specific time.  Tell him when it's over rather than expect him to stay till the last guest turns out the light.

7.  Make a grand entrance or a grand exit but don't pay a limo to stay for both.

8.  Consider earning extra cash to assist in paying for the wedding.  Get a part time job, sell some items on EBay or Craig's List.  Don't use plastic!!!!

9.  Save on postage by including a post card RSVP

10. Make choices based on your personal style - choose a cocktail party reception rather than hosting a sit down dinner.

We have helped scores of brides create memorable days when they have more beauty than budget.