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pinterest for weddings
Sep 08 2015

How Pinterest Will Ruin Your Wedding

pinterest wedding ideas pins boards inspiration wedding ceremony reception

Despite the title, I really love Pinterest. Perhaps that was a bit drastic.

Like most users, I’m addicted to Pinterest.  It’s like Target– I go in for one thing, come out 40 minutes later with a bunch of stuff I didn’t know I wanted.

Pinterest is great for inspiration.  It can show you things you didn’t know was possible or take your vision further than you’ve ever thought.  That’s great.  That’s also a problem.  I can’t tell you how many times brides send us their Pinterest boards or pins for their wedding want “exactly this” , having their heart set on beautiful bouquets, stylized tables and elaborate seating.  Visually, Pinterest is a dream.

bridal bouquet of roses and peonies Jekyll Island Beach Wedding Package

When the quotes come in, it’s a loud wake up call. Pinterest doesn’t tell you:

  • If the flowers in your pins are in season
  • How much the flowers in your pins cost
  • How much the rentals in your pins cost
  • The full scope of the venue

Classy wedding setting

These are some pretty important factors to consider.  In addition to the list above, many photos on Pinterest are styled shoots.  It’s far easier to produce such grandeur on a smaller scale than for 100+ guests. I’m not saying that Pinterest is the devil, don’t get me wrong. It’s a great source of inspiration, not replication.

Here is how to use Pinterest to your advantage–

  • Search efficiently – First, start with a search of your wedding venue to see what has been done there and what works.   Next, search for inspiration ideas with the flowers that are in season. Picking flowers that are in season will help you keep your costs down, as well as your hopes aligned with your inspiration. Don’t know what flowers to pick for your wedding? Get our wedding flowers in season download.   See what you like and don’t like.
  • Reality Check – Make sure the linens, tables and that you’ve found during your search will work in your venue.  For example, if your venue comes with round tables, but your centerpieces that you love are on wood farm tables, the translation will not be the same.
  • Request Quotes – Request quotes from florists and rental companies with the inspiration and ideas you’ve gathered so far. Be sure to include the florals that you found to be in season, as well as your rental needs (chargers, chairs, linens, etc.).  Most importantly, include your budget.  If you’re not sure how much to budget, check out our How Much Do Weddings Cost post.

 

do you need to seat everyone for your wedding? Cocktail wedding reception event party
Feb 26 2013

How to Have an Awesome Cocktail Style Reception

 

 

I’ve been talking to a few colleagues about this growing trend of brides wanting to do a cocktail style reception, yet having very heavy “buffets” that could be classified as a full meal instead of great hors d’oeuvres known as small plates.  We all came to the agreement that some couples unknowingly do their guests a disservice and  “if they have feet, they need a seat

Cocktail Style Reception ideas Photo by Harwell Photography

Photo by Harwell Photography

While I know there are differing opinions on this, but let’s consider the following:

•  If your food requires heavy dinner plates, it’s not necessarily a cocktail style reception, and a table should be offered to accommodate your guests.

•  It is absolutely horrid for guests to arrive at a reception without a seating chart or enough seating.  From someone who sees this a lot– they are very confused and at times frustrated.  From guests who want to sit together may find a table that lacks enough chairs to accommodate their party to being stuck  in an undesirable area that is far away from all the action.  Confusion grows deeper as it is not clearly communicated as to exactly whom is entitled to have one of the coveted tables. People get up and lose their seats which can be even more frustrating.

•  A lot of brides say, “We don’t need seating for every one because… my friends are young” or “they’ll be too busy dancing!” or “I don’t want it to be too formal”.  No one stands the entire time while drinking and dancing at some of the hottest clubs in Hollywood.  Why would you expect them to at your wedding, where they are expected to be treated as guests.  Expecting guests to stand for four hours is unrealistic.

•  It is extremely hard for some guests to juggle a plate of food, drinks, purse and whatever else they are trying to carry and enjoy themselves.  If most of the seated tables and cocktail tables are full, you have guests standing in open spaces trying to find a respite.  With non-wedding cocktail parties, this can work to an advantage, because not everyone is eating at the same time. People may be mingling, dancing, or participating in some other activity. With a wedding, most of your guests will be doing the same thing at the same time.  Be prepared for some guests to leave early.

Wedding Planning Advice Tips Ideas

To be clear, I’m not against cocktail receptions– I think they’re gorgeous, fun and allow for more mingling.  Most cocktail receptions, while lacking formal seating, does offer rest/lounge areas for their guests.  Brides believe that if their venue is small and they overinvite, they can switch to this style seating, under the premise of “not everyone needs a seat”.  A formal seat, no– not necessarily.  Somewhere to sit, absolutely. Here’s how to make it fabulous, but still with the vibrant cocktail party type atmosphere you want:

• You should have tables for at least 75% of your guest list.  You are not just limited full five and six foot tables. Incorporate a mix of different table sizes like cocktail tables, bistro tables  and even a banquet table or two to mix it up.  Offer a few with chairs and stools to give those a break if they need it.

Cocktail Style Reception Ideas

Cocktail Style Reception Seating Ideas

• If you don’t offer seating for everyone, then offer a lounge area where people can still relax, regroup and enjoy a cocktail and food.  Rent lounge furniture or incorporate furniture from your venue.  Make it your own by bringing in your own cushions and centerpieces to complement their furniture.

Wedding Lounge for Cocktail Style Reception

Wedding Lounge for Cocktail Style Reception

Outdoor Wedding Lounge for Cocktail Style Reception Ideas

• Don’t let this become a money issue.  Your guests would probably enjoy being comfortable more than a welcome bag or favor.  When we ask most of our couples what is most important to them on their wedding day, they say, “good food, good music and for everyone to have a good time”.  It can be hard to enjoy the good food from the five star caterer you hired or enjoy the smooth crooning of your 10 piece band if your guests are uncomfortable and frustrated.

•  Have a cocktail style reception because you want to. Not because you have to.  If your space dictates that only a certain amount of people can fit in your venue, be prepared to make the sacrifice.  With cocktail receptions, space and food are major issues.  You need enough room for people to flow in and out of the space comfortably, not spilling out and displaced.  You may have to sacrifice on the full dinner you wanted or cut your guest list down.  If you make the sacrifice, you still have many hearty options available to serve to your guests without them going away hungry.

Mini Burger Mini Grilled Cheese Mini Beer for Cocktail Hour Reception

Mini Fried Chicken and Coke Hors D'oeuvres Cocktail Hour Reception Corn and Crab Salad Hors D'oeuvres Cocktail Hour Reception

• Be sure there is something to do to keep people active and happy.  Naturally, you have your dance floor and your bar.  Some sort of table or seat will keep them busy and give them a place to keep their belongings, but get them to be interactive with games, a photo or video booth, a dessert or popcorn bar  or even a tour of your venue.  The more people have to do, the less they are standing in one spot.

Custom Cornhole for Weddings

Photo by Anna Pociask Photography

Chocolate Dessert Bar for Wedding

Photobooth for Weddings

Great Gatsby Wedding Inspiration
Feb 25 2013

Great Gatsby Wedding Inspiration

With Leonardo DiCaprio’s new Great Gatsby movie coming soon in theaters and Boardwalk Empire still going strong, you can expect to see a lot of Roaring ’20s inspired weddings coming up this year.   Translating this age of indulgence and decadence into a design offers you many options to make your event unique and fun.

Wedding Gown

These gowns from Cymbeline are absolutely to die for.  While being a glamorous homage to this era, it still embraces some of the modern lines of contemporary fashion.

Art Deco Vintage Wedding Gowns by Cymbeline

Flapper Inspired Wedding Gowns by Cymbeline

Vera Wang‘s White Label features deco details, tassel trims, beading and drop wasists, while still giving off an ethereal feel.

Vera Wang White Great Gatsby Inspired Wedding Dress

Vera Wang White Great Gatsby Inspired Wedding Dress
Beauty

Go all the way!  Whether you use finger waves or loose waves adorned with a brooch or feather, these styles shout for attention.  Not wanting to go that formal?  Consider a faux bob that frames your face and features.

Great Gatsby Flapper Inspired Hair

Wedding Invitations and Save the Dates

Here is an opportunity to tell/show your guests exactly the type of wedding they are in for.  These not only set the tone for your wedding, but allows you to flesh out details of the theme that you love and want to carry throughout– the art deco shapes and patterns, fonts, colors, etc.

Great Gatsby Inspired Save the Date

Art Deco Great Gatsby Inspired Wedding Invitations

Art Deco Great Gatsby Inspired Wedding Invitations

Flowers

Take a cue from the flappers and add feathers and/or brooches to your bouquet.  Go for lush florals like peonies, orchids and hydrangeas with a cascading design.

2013-02-25_006

The Wedding Cake

I love these art deco style wedding cakes!  I love the use of color, metal tones and bling that make it a bit more modern.

calla lily bouquet with feathers hydrangea and stock bouquet with feathers black and white

The Experience

The  theme is the overall concept or inspiration for your event. Making it come to life is the experience.  With period piece themes, you actually want to transport your guests into that era through decor, music and lighting.  This is experience can be really easy to duplicate with simple, quality linens in simple colors.  Feather centerpieces would make a wonderful addition to any table, including cocktail tables as they add drama and glamour.  Crystal or tinsel-type curtains do the same to cordon off areas.  Don’t like feathers? Consider leafy palms or clusters of orchids in tall containers.

Speakeasy Great Gatsby Wedding Party Decor Spandex linen

Cigarette Girls Flapper Servers Great Gatsby Wedding

Go interactive!  Hire models, waitstaff or get friends to act as cigarette girls to greet guests with seating chart, escort cards, hors d’oeuvres.

great gatsby wedding inspiration

 

If you’re going for more of the Great Gatsby feel, consider having white jacket waitstaff serve your cocktails during the cocktail hour or champagne during your toast.

Great Gatsby Inspired Wedding

The black and white dance floor with the right lighting could totally transform your event space.

Speakeasy Great Gatsby Wedding Inspiration

Naturally, A central point of a 20s speakeasy was the bar.  Here are some fun ways to customize yours to tie in with the experience:

Vintage Speakeasy Menu

Create vintage style poster of available drinks, as seen above.  Include your wedding date, names and any funny stories about the drinks and what they mean to you. It makes a great conversation starter as guests are waiting in line or enjoying the cocktail hour.

Great Gatsby Speakeasy Bar Inspiration for Wedding Have your bar go vintage! Stage a few prohibition style boxes or crates on or behind the bar full of dark bottles and jugs.  Pair them with custom vintage labeled bottles and  mix and match  jars for an authentic feel.

This is a great place to start for inspiration for your Great Gatsby, Roaring 20s style wedding!

purple cocktail for signature drink wedding
Mar 30 2011

Signature Drinks for Your Wedding by Color: Purple

We’re back once again with delicious signature cocktails for your wedding, this time for those who are in need of purple cocktails!  For other colors such as green and red, check out our other blog posts!

 

purple signature drink cocktail for wedding

The Purple Matthew

Ingredients
2 oz. Absolut Kurant
1 oz. blueberry syrup
Soda water

Method
Stir the vodka and blueberry syrup with ice. Strain into a long drink glass filled with ice cubes and top up with soda water.

(From Destination Wedding Magazine)

reserve de mure cocktail signature drink

 

 

Reserve de Mure

Ingredients

1 oz. Appleton Estate Reserve Rum1 Muddled Fresh Blackberry
0.5 oz. Pom Wonderful Pomegranate Juice
1 oz. Massanez Cream De Mure
1 oz. Whipped Fresh Cream
Cinnamon Grated on Top
Garnish: 3 Blackberries and Cinnamon Dust

Method:
Muddle the blackberry; add all ingredients except the heavy cream; shake and strain into wine glass top with fresh whipped heavy cream; garnish and dust with cinnamon.

(From Girly Drinks)

purple rain cocktail signature drink for weddings

Purple Rain

1 part Vodka
1 part Blue Curacao
2 parts Grenadine
2 parts Pineapple Juice
dash of Lime Juice

or

1 part Vodka
1 part Blue Curacao
1 part Cranberry juice

 

Method
Mix ingredients together with ice, add to a Collins glass.

NewImage

Raspberry Margarita

2 oz Sauza® Hornitos Reposado tequila
2 oz sweet and sour mix
2 oz Chambord® raspberry liqueur
1 oz Rose’s® lime juice
1 oz cranberry juice

Method
Mix in a shaker with ice, strain and add to martini glass.

 signaturecocktailbarsign

Now that you’ve got your favorite purple cocktail, be sure to show it off at your bar with this personalized signature cocktail signalso available in a rustic design or vintage chalkboard.