Gifts You Give

   There are many special people who help make your wedding day a success. It is a nice token to say thank you for their help or their presence. Brides come to us for advice on what to give to members of the bridal party, to families and to guests. We have plenty of ideas that we are happy to share with our brides. Here are some of our guest gift favorites.

• Some of the most popular wedding favors are edibles. Wrapped chocolates or truffles in an attractive box that is imprinted with the couple's names and date are a big favorite. Also popular are chocolate covered pretzels, nuts, fruits as well as chocolate hearts. In many areas, couples choose to give cookies frosted in wedding colors and packaged in tulle or color matched gift boxes. Some brides have chosen to give small wine bottles with personalized labels with or without wine charms that bear the wedding date and/or names of the couple. 
• Couples are also giving living items that bloom and grow like your marriage. Weddings with garden motifs, environmentally themed weddings and ceremonies in outdoor or rustic settings choose favors like potted plants, seedlings, flower seed packets and miniature bamboo shoot plants. 
• Other brides prefer a permanent keepsake that is both useful and attractive. Some of the favorites are picture frames, candles and candle holders  glass bowls filled with colored sand or rocks, small books or albums, CDs with favorite songs, ornaments for Christmas weddings, coffee mugs with coffee or hot chocolate packets tucked inside. 
• Some couples are choosing to make a donation to a favorite charity rather than provide a gift item. In that case, a printed card is included in each place setting which informs the guest of the donation. 
• Be sure that each item has a thank you note attached. They are likely to be pre-printed although handwritten notes are lovely as well. 
• The placement of favors depends on space available. Many brides have the favors arranged on a separate table near the exit for guests to make their own selections. Or you can ask a friend or friends to help with the distribution as guests leave the party. 
• Grouping the favors in the center of the table in an attractive basket or on a mirror does double duty. It insures a centerpiece without incurring the cost of flowers, and thanks the guests for sharing in your special day. 

Engagement Photographs

   As more and more couples choose to have engagement photographs taken, the opportunities to depart from a formal studio posed photo grows. Engagement photos can be used in newspaper announcements, on save-the-date-cards, or as part of the wedding day decor. Working with a photographer on engagement shots also gives the couple a chance to see how they like the photographer and his/her work before they sign a massive contract for wedding photos.
   If the couple is game, these photos can be more colorful  fun, and creative in the sites chosen. Some of the themes chosen for engagement photos can be introductions to the wedding's theme or just a fun expression of the places and things that mean a lot to the couple. Discuss your ideas with your photographer.

• This is a chance to try some vintage shots. Use a prop like an old car or antique bike or wear vintage clothes. 
• Pose with suitcases, next to planes or trains or boats to show your mutual love of travel. 
• Take advantage of sites in an urban setting. Shot against a skyline or against an old brick or masonry wall can result in photos that will be different in look and feel from your wedding day pictures. 
• For a change of pace, have the pictures taken at night. Outdoor lights can be shot on timed exposures, or consider candles, holiday lights or night lights in active parts of town. 
• Nature shots provide an opportunity for wide ranging activities. If you have a love of the out of doors, have photos taken as you canoe, fish, water ski or skate. 
• If you love carnivals, have your photos taken on a roller coaster or Ferris wheel or in bumper cars. 

Role Models ~ Just What are Your Attendants Supposed to Do?

Taken from "Bridal Guide" July/August 2012

   So, you've established who's going to be in your bridal party - that's great - and they'll all have specific jobs and obligations to fulfill. Here's a rundown of who does what.

Ladies First
   Your maid of honor (matron of honor, if she's married) is the key bridesmaid. She signs your marriage license as a witness, and offers the most help as you plan the wedding. It's her job to coordinate dress fittings, take charge of bridal shower and bachelorette party plans and keep the other bridesmaids in the wedding loop. On the day of the wedding. she will help you dress, arrange your veil and train during the processional and recessional and hold your bouquet during the ceremony. Your bridesmaids help you with tasks like addressing invitations and will help plan the shower and bachelorette party (and contribute to the cost). The maid/matron of honor and all bridesmaids pay for the own attire, as well as transportation and lodging if they travel to the wedding from elsewhere.

Hey, You Guys!
   Just like the maid of honor, the best man signs your marriage license as a witness. In addition, he brings the wedding rings to the ceremony and holds the officiant's fee until after the ceremony. Other tasks: coordinating the groomsmen's formal wear fittings, organizing the bachelor party and delivering the first toast at the reception. The groomsmen, also known as ushers, assist the best man in planning and hosting the bachelor party (and help finance it). Groomsmen greet and seat the guests on the wedding day. They pay for their own attire, and are responsible for being fitted for and picking up their clothing from the formal wear shop. As well, they pay for their own travel and lodging expense.

Children's Hour
   The flower girl (between the ages of 4 and 8) walks ahead of you during the processional, usually scattering flower petals along the way or simply carrying a pretty bouquet or basket. The ring bearer (also between the ages of 4 and 8) walks down the aisle either alongside the flower girl or right before her, carrying the ring pillow with two wedding bands tied to it (most couples use fake ones lest the little guy lose them). The parents of the flower girl and ring bearer are expected to pay for their attire and are invited to attend the rehearsal dinner.

Tween Scene
   A girl between the ages of 9 and 13 is often considered too old to be a flower girl, so she is typically known as a junior bridesmaid. On the wedding day, she wears a dress that's usually more demure than those the adult bridesmaids wear, in the same color and fabric. Her male counterpart is a junior groomsman or junior user (he wears a tuxedo). These "tweens" neither attend the bachelor/bachelorette party nor are they held to the same financial obligations (though their parents will be).

You Have Duties Too
   Don't forget your responsibilities to this fantastic team.

• Be flexible. If most of your bridesmaids don't love their dress, consider another style or color. 
• Be sensitive about the time commitment your bridal party is making. Decide on dates for showers and parties as soon as possible so they can clear their schedules. 
• Be budget-conscious. Don't assume that everyone can afford a bachelor/bachelorette party in Las Vegas, a $300 outfit or pricey spa treatments on the day of the wedding. Also, expect that you won't receive expensive gifts from them - after all, look how much they're already spending on the big day. 
• Be a good sport! Let them embarrass and tease you a little. They know your limits, so just go with the flow. 
• Be grateful - extremely grateful. Honor them in the ceremony program, tell a member of the staff to pay special attention to them at the reception and give them a fabulous thank-you gift with a heartfelt, handwritten note. 

Classic Venue ~ Full-Service Hotels Can Handle All Your Nuptial Needs

Taken from "Weddings in Cleveland" December 2011

   Unless you're a professional party planner, chances are planning your wedding has been anything but easy. There are vendors to interview, colors to match, cakes to taste, and guest lists to manage. There is one part of your wedding plans that could keep your hassles to a minimum: the location.
   Where you choose to hold your wedding will shape the mood of the entire day. And whatever mood you're striving for, a hotel can provide everything from catering to guest accommodations to event planning assistance: all under one roof.

Where to Start Your Search
   If you've read this far then you probably know that one of the best places to find a hotel to help with your wedding is right here in Weddings in Cleveland magazine. The ceremony and reception section is filled with the area's best locations to help you sort out all the details. If you don't see exactly what you're looking for within these pages, ask friends and family members for recommendations. Jot their ideas down along with what they liked and disliked about the locations so you'll be able to ask detailed questions when you interview the different properties. It's a good idea to have a date in mind when looking at hotels, along with a general idea of the number of guests you'll be expecting. Both will help narrow down your hotel choices and give you a realistic idea of which property will provide the best fit.

What to Look For in a Property
   Finding just the right location in a sea of hotels can seem like a daunting task. Begin with your guest list: if it's on the large size, check out area properties that boast convention centers, meeting facilities, and ballrooms. If your list is smaller, a boutique or historic hotel might be a better choice.
   Once you've narrowed down your locations, decide which services you'd like to hotel to provide. The catering director or event planner will be able to give you all the options and work with you to create a plan that fits your needs and your budget.
   Don't be afraid to ask questions or request a articular item or service that's not in their initial proposal. You never know until you ask and they might be willing to negotiate in order to gain your business.
   If you're planning to use the hotel's ballroom as your reception site, you might also want to check out other areas of the property for the rehearsal dinner, after party, and host wedding brunch. It might be a convenient and cost effective alternative to plan all your pre- and post-wedding events at one property.

Why a Hotel is a Good Idea
   There are so many details to manage when planning a wedding that it can be very hard to keep everything straight. When you hold your celebration at a hotel,  you'll be working with professionals who assist brides every day in planning the wedding of their dreams.
   You can hand off an outline of the specifics you'd like for your celebration, and someone at the hotel will take care of the details for you. They'll work with the caterer (in-house, in most cases), coordinate with a linen supply company, contract servers and bartenders, and make sure that the room is set u to your specifications. And when it's all over, they'll even take care of the clean u. Add to that the ease of on-site guestrooms for all your out-of-town guests and a honeymoon suite for you, and you've got yourself a location that's convenient for you and your guests.
   A hotel can provide as much or as little as you need for your wedding day. Professional event planners, award-winning catering, to-of-the-line accommodations, and an elegant venue are just a few of the perks that come along with booking your celebration at a hotel.

Your Ceremony

   He asked you to marry him and you said yes! Congratulations! If you know that you will be married in a church ceremony, as soon as you have shared the good news with close family members, it is time to think about when and where you will be married.
   Once you have determined when, lock in the ceremony site and the reception venue. Then other plans can fall into place. As soon as possible, meet with the officiant and/or his/her representative to determine the "rules" guiding ceremonies in that church or synagogue. With that information in hand, you can begin to formulate your own personal touches with the goal of creating a beautiful setting that helps to establish the mood for your ceremony to come.
   As guests arrive, the setting - candles, lights, flowers and music can create a lovely atmosphere.
   Instruct ushers to make friendly small talk with guests as they arrive and as they are escorted to their seats. This is truly welcoming and helps guests to feel at ease. If yours is a small wedding, ushers can present a single flower to female guests along with a note from you welcoming them to the wedding. A welcome flower can also be presented along with the programs.
   Consider having ceremony hosts welcome guests at the entrance doors. Choose one from each family - someone who is likely to recognize the majority of the guests as they arrive. Your parents may be mingling with guests at this point or may be needed with the wedding party.
   If you have music playing as guests arrive and are seated, be sure someone is ready to cue the music to change tempo or volume or both so that special music plays as the parents of the bride and groom are seated. More and more couples are choosing to have a card or note from them along with a single flower or small wrapped gift  waiting in the pew for parents as they are seated.
   Consider having the music change again as the groom and his best man take their places. Then as the processional begins, the music should change again for the bridesmaids and flower girls.
   The bride should make an entrance cued by more dramatic "announcement" music. If the church or facility can manage it, consider dimming the house lights and turn on pre placed lighting aimed at the aisle just before the bride begins her walk to the altar.
   Above all remember that the ceremony that the ceremony is the cornerstone of the day and the reason the guests have gathered. The reception celebrates what has happened in that church.

 

Centerpiece Choices

   Seen at current weddings - a wide variety of centerpiece options which complement the theme of the wedding and/or reflect the couple's search for "something unique"!
   For fans of traditional floral arrangements, there is the assurance that given the right color combo and size, guests will feel right at home with the idea of flowers on the table that complete the look of elegant special occasions. Flowers work beautifully as long as the arrangements are either low enough (under 12-14 inches) or high enough (at least 30 inches) so that guests can converse across the table - or at least see each other. Formal arrangements in glass or silver containers send one message, while daisies or sun flowers in canning jars send another.
   With the changing view of wedding cakes, many brides are opting to make desert the centerpiece of guest tables. Cupcake trees, lollipop cakes, cookie and dessert bar assortments and miniature versions of the bridal cake make perfect centerpiece options.
   Guest favors artfully arranged on clear plastic or glass trays work well when accompanied by thank you notes from the bride and groom.
   Candles of varying height and shape arranged on mirrors make a wonderful centerpiece for each table and their accumulated impact is wonderful. However, be sure to check the reception hall's heating/cooling system. If a lot of air is going to be blowing over the tables, your candles won't last long. If your reception is in a tented area, think about LED tapers that look almost real.
   Some brides have made the wine being served with dinner an integral part of the centerpiece. With some greenery and/or wrapped cheese miniatures the different bottles make an intriguing focal point.
   Collect a variety of glass serving pieces and fill them with beverages (or water) the theme color of the wedding.
   Photos of the bride and groom as children framed and grou♂2ed in the center of the table, work well as centerpieces and conversation starters.
   For more good ideas, give us a call at (419) 626-8539 or better yet, stop in and see us! We're at the corner of Rt. 4 and Perkins Ave. in Sandusky, OH. We'd love to see you!

"Here Come The Bridesmaids"

   Taken from "Bridal Guide" May/June 2012

   When you select your bridesmaids - whether one or a dozen - you are choosing people you truly care about, who share a deep connection with you. And just as your bridesmaids have specific wedding responsibilites, you my dear bride, have a responsibility to your girls.

Choose Wisely
   Now is not the time to make any bridal party decisions you may regret. If you are choosing between someone you knew in college and a new sibling-in-law, remember that a party of your new life as a spouse-to-be is to put family first - including his. Your friends may not be there forever, but your sister-in-law will be. So if you are pressured to choose a family member (even if you would rather not), bend. You will thank me later when she's not give you the look over Thanksgiving dinner table, still upset that you did not give her the honor of wearing the lavender dress or ask her to fluff your train. That is your first priority is your new family is something everyone will totally understand.

Be Upfront
   Once you've decided on your bridal party, ask each potential 'maid individually. Ask with kindness and respect. This will set the tone for the wedding planning to come, and serve as a preview to how the experience will play out for all of you. Clearly lay out the groundwork as you see it. A bridesmaid can't just show up one day and be in the wedding! Have all your information in place, so there will be no uncomfortable moments as the months unfold. Are you, my bride, paying for the bridemaids' attire? If not, what will your bridesmaids be expected to lay out for the fabulous dresses you have your eye on? What about hair and makeup services on the big day? If you're thinking about a bridal shower and/or bachelorette party, who in the party will be taking the lead in handling all the details and logistics - and what are the financial expectations?

Be Nice
   My grandmother always said, "Treat others the way you would like to be treated," - and that is precisely what you, dear bride, should be doing for your bridesmaids. Get off to a good start with a fun and festive dinner or spa get-together. Bridesmaids' gifts are always appreciated, especially when they are unique to each girl. Include your 'maids in planning details, but let them breathe. Okay, so maybe the tasting you just had wasn't quite up to snuff, or the flowers you had your heart set on are out of season. Go ahead and vent to your bridesmaids for a moment, then move on. They are members of your bridal party, and while they are a support system, they are not your indentured servants!

Universal Truths
   It should go without saying that you should look for bridesmaids dresses that flatter all body types, as opposed to look more at home on a runway. Take individual style into account, rather than insisting on a cookie-cutter approach to hair and makeup come wedding day. Finally, always remember that your girls are giving up a significant amount of time to be in your bridal party. So make it count in the best way possible.

New Bridal Trends

   This season's bridal gowns are reflecting new looks that one fashion writer termed "More Kate and less Kim". Many gowns are reflecting more traditional looks and a bit of classic charm.
   Gowns are showing more coverage. Not necessarily Kate Middleton's long sleeves, but cap sleeves are being shown along with illusion necklines for those brides who want more coverage than strapless gowns provide.
   Longer veils are back in vogue after being absent for a period. In a survey of brides 75% reported they plan to wear a veil with preferences for floor length or longer.
   Many brides are selecting plainer gowns with less "bling" and focusing on fabulous accessories like jewelry and expensive shoes. More and more brides are choosing colored shoes with blue and popular choice.
   Some brides are including "costume changes" in their selection of the wedding gown. One gown is chosen for the formal ceremony and either adaptations are made in that gown for the reception and dance or a second and more informal gown is worn for the reception.    We are also seeing bridesmaids in white thanks to Pippa. All white weddings have been appearing in areas, but more brides are choosing the mono theme for spring and summer.
   Brides continue to create a personalized wedding with signature color(s), monogrammed items, and motifs to set and reinforce the theme of the event.
   What is your view of your ideal wedding gown?

Some Planning Tips

   As one wedding planner put it, "Just because you have planned something, doesn't mean it is going to happen." Here are some tips from professional planners to help insure that everything works well at your wedding.

• Getting Ready. Of course you want to look your best on this big day. You may have booked a hair stylist for yourself and your bridesmaids. Maybe someone is doing makeup for all. In order for everything to flow, treat this as a salon appointment and require everyone to be on time for the appointments. Work with the stylists to establish a sensible timeline and insist that your wedding party be on time. A lot goes on before you walk down the aisle, and you don't need to add undue stress to the list.
• Photographs. Every couple wants the album of perfect pictures from the wedding. Check out several photographers and insist on seeing their work. Some specialize in formal shorts and others are masters of creative vignettes. Some do both. Make sure that everything goes smoothly by giving the photographer a list of the people you want to make sure tare included in your wedding album. Appoint a friend to run interference for the photographer and make sure that each of those persons is available for photos. The photographer should spend his/her time shooting pictures, not searching out the people you want in the photos.
• If you are planning a cocktail reception, make sure that the caterer has wait staff ready with trays of cocktails as the guests enter. For the first five to ten minutes staff should focus on getting beverages into guest's hands. Once that has been done, then they can start passing canapes. Stress the importance of this to the caterer. You don't want lines at the bar if you are having an open bar. Appoint someone as host/hostess at your reception and introduce them to the caterer before your event. They  an make sure that guest's are not standing in lines waiting.
• Order of Service. Think of your guests. If you have elderly relatives, make sure that they are served first. Unless you feel strongly about it, consider having the head table served last. That gives the couple a chance to chat with guests and socialize.
• Be aware of "down time". Weddings can lose energy after the food course. Guests are at different points in the meal. This can be a good time to introduce one or two toasts. But have the best man announce that toasts need to be kept to a minimum of 3 - 5 minutes.

   For many other helpful ideas to keep your party flowing nicely, stop in and talk with one of our experienced consultants.

Contemporary Traditional

   Do those two terms seem contradictory? At one time they may have, but more and more couples are looking for ways to place their personal stamp on their wedding plans. The term "unique" is heard more and more as brides search for ways to make their weddings memorable for them and their guests.
   Our consultants have lots of ideas on how to do just that, so do stop in to chat with them about ways to personalize your wedding ceremony and reception.

• Consider replacing the traditional bachelor or bachelorette party with a get together that combines both events. Consider a hike, beach party, bike ride, cook-out, softball game or evening out at a skating rink or bowling alley.
• Rather than hold the rehearsal dinner at a typical restaurant's party room, book an art museum, a university facility, a park or a historical building to serve as a special setting for your event.
• Supplement your florist's handiwork and create reception decor with native wild flowers, leaves, twigs, fruits and herbs from a local grower or farmer's market.
• Some brides have decided to let their bridesmaids select their own gowns based on a color scheme and degree of formality. This works well when you admire their taste in clothes. It is wise to set some guidelines - degree of coverage desired, tailored or fluffy, plain or elaborate, length etc. But within those parameters, maids can choose their own wearable outfits. Many bridal salons have several designers who can work to truly individualize a bridesmaid's gown within the "look " of the wedding.
• If you have a unique reception venue chosen, consider hiring a local chef you admire or a culinary school to put a special spin on your reception menu. Think about including family food traditions that may be important to both the bride and groom. If you can't afford a sit down dinner, there is nothing wrong with having a desert reception or a small plate limited cocktail reception and wedding cake.

Photographs and Memories

   On your wedding day you will know how celebrities feel. You will be photographed from every angle and in many settings. You will be the centerpiece of shots from your photographers as well as every family member who has ever clicked a shutter. To make sure that the pictures are perfect and what you want, take time to pre plan their role on your day.
   Consider these questions.

1. How much do you want to spend? Have a figure in mind, as you approach professional photographers. If you want the one with the most impressive portfolio or is considered the best in town, be prepared to pay accordingly. By the same token, don't settle for minimum shots on a low budget if photos and memories are important to you. Consider if you want to split the budget between still shots in an album or video - or both.
2. How do you want to remember your wedding? What is your preferred style of photographic memories? Are you fans of formal portraits and posed pictures or are you fans of more casual and candid shots? Do you want a nice mixture of both? Be sure you talk over these preferences with the photographer you've selected. Most photographers want to know about your shot preferences and will appreciate a list of those "must have" relative shots. More and more families are choosing to have family portraits taken that day since all are present and looking good.
3. Find out if the photographer you have chosen will have an assistant along that day to help attendants assemble for the group shots. It is always helpful to have another eye scanning the group for dress mishaps, dropping boutonnieres, crooked ties or smeared makeup. If you have a personal attendant, he or she might be able to provide that extra eye- providing the photographer knows who she is and there is an agreement on her role.

   Talk with our professional consultants about other creative ideas for capturing the memories that will last a lifetime.

Guest Tips

   Your college roommate is getting married in June. Your cousin is getting married in July. A co-worker is planning an August wedding. While the bridal couple may be knee deep in planning, guests have a role to play in helping the couple have a wonderful wedding. Guests are invited to provide public witness to the legal ceremony taking place and to help the newly wedded celebrate the importance of the steps they have taken. Marriage is a public statement indicating the new legal status of the couple.
   While there aren't many "rules" about what it means to be a wedding guest, there are some time honored expectations and one question - what should I wear to the wedding - is real. While our culture may seem more casual than in decades past, this is still an important event that one honors by dressing appropriately. Check the web page of the couple for clues to how formal the wedding is likely to be. Ask members of the bridal party if you know them. Here are some guidelines to help you decide.

• Don't dress to stand out. Remember that the bride and groom are the stars of this production.
• Men should wear a tie (unless the wedding is at a beach somewhere).
• When in doubt, it is usually better to overdress rather than under dress.
• Avoid any low cut, tight and/or skimpy dress. Watch the sequins and the glitter.
• A black cocktail dress is OK, while white can be iffy. If one does choose white, it is necessary to make sure that it looks nothing like a wedding gown. Creamy white and simple style that is totally different from the gown is better.
• If the wedding is to be "informal" nailing down appropriate apparel can be touch. Ask around to get a feeling of what other guests are planning. Take a cue from where the ceremony is being held. If it is in a large cathedral that will tell you one thing. If it is in a party room at a horse ranch, you know that informal means something else. If you get no clue from the ceremony location, try the reception spot next. A country club cocktail reception will mean something quite different than a reception where beach volleyball will be the main entertainment.
• If the wedding is semi formal, it means that men should wear a suit and tie. At one time dark suits were indicated, but that is relaxed now and tan or khaki suits are OK. Women should wear a suit, a tailored dress or pant suit. She could add some "bling" but don't overdo it.
• If a wedding is clearly a formal affair, men should wear tuxedos and women should wear cocktail dresses - long or short.

   Whatever level of dress a guest decides upon, the other item to include is one's best manners. This is an important day in life of a couple and one honors them by behaving well. Wearing one's best behavior is always in style.

Using Technology

   Brides Who are used to communicating with electronic "tools" may be tempted to "do it all" with technology when they think of wedding planning. We caution our brides to take a careful look at the world of Eplanning. There simply are times when the bride needs to leave the keyboard or apps and do some of her planning face to face.
   The Internet will be a help in searching out reception sites that may fit one's budget, but a bride simply must check it out in person. She may be able to hear music played by a band she is considering, but nothing beats meeting the group in person.
   Cake makers can show photographs of some of their creations on line, but until you've tasted the actual product, how can you decide?
   Ordering your wedding gown or bridesmaid's dresses on line is also a bad idea. Sizing and quality can vary widely so you and your maids should try on your gown choices before making a purchase. to assure that gowns will be in on time, don't risk ordering from an online resource. Shop a reputable store that stands behind its merchandise.
   Before registering online for wedding gifts, we recommend that you meet with an expert sales associate at a major retailer. They have years of experience helping couples select registry items.
   Brides may be tempted to send "virtual invitations", but once again we caution brides against that. Use the Internet to enter pertinent information about your wedding but plan to send printed invitations. As one bride put it, "I may be old fashioned, but there is a touch of class I want associated with my wedding and an electronic invitation doesn't cut it."
   We advise our brides to be careful about disclosing information about their weddings on the social networks. Here we feel that "less is more". Certainly share the joy of the upcoming wedding but don't constantly post updates on the status of your plans. Don't go overboard posting photos. A select few are a nice touch. Too many will leave a bad impression.
   By all means use the Internet as an information resource to get ideas and lists of vendors to visit. But make the key decisions in person with family input as appropriate.