In the last issue we talked about choosing the right music for your
reception. In this issue we are going to talk about some fun twists on
the traditional guest book.
Did you know that just because you are having a traditional wedding it
doesn't mean you have to have a traditional guest book. Of course you
can purchase a standard guest book and ask your guests to sign it,
but there are so many more guest book activities that are much more
fun and unique.
One very popular option is to have your guests to sign a picture of the
bride and groom. Simply take a picture of the bride and groom (a
formal engagement photo works great) and have it matted with a mat
that is several inches larger than the photo itself. Place a in a frame, but
leave out the glass for now. You'll put it back in later.
Be sure to have a nice Sharpie marker handy and place the picture on
either a sturdy easel or on a table where guests are sure to see it. After
the wedding the picture can be framed as a wonderful keepsake for the
bride and groom to hang on their wall and cherish.
Another option is instead of providing a picture of the bride and groom
to sign, the guests are provided with a picture of themselves! Simply
provide a Polaroid camera and assign someone the job of taking
pictures of the guests as they arrive at the reception. Once the picture
is dry, provide a Sharpie and they can sign the picture, make a note to
the bride and groom or hand draw a silly picture. It can be whatever the
guest wants it to be. This is a unique, and personal, way for guests to
"sign in" at the wedding.
Whoever handles the taking of the pictures should also handle putting
them in an album of some sort. A scrap booker might provide a special
memory book with the Polaroid pictures in it, or the pictures can simply
be placed in a nice album and presented later to the bride and groom.
Many guests don't give a great deal of thought to the guest book. They
whiz by the guest book table more concerned with getting their cocktail
and hitting the dance floor. If this is a concern, provide a "traveling"
guest book. Send each guest something either to sign or decorate
before the wedding.
In this "traveling" guest book, there are several options. One
of the easiest is to send each guest a small piece of paper and ask
them to write something meaningful or thoughtful for the bride and
groom on it. The pieces of paper are returned prior to the wedding (to
ensure a better response, provide a self-addressed stamped envelope
with the paper) and can be compiled in some meaningful way for the
bride and groom and presented to them on their wedding day.
If the guest list is a creative or particularly close group, there is one
other option that is even more meaningful. Again, in a scrapbook
fashion, send each guest a piece of paper to sign or decorate. The
paper should be the size of a photo album, so it might be a 6 x 6 piece
of paper, an 8 x 8 piece of paper, or even 12 x 12, if the guests are up
to that larger size.
In a letter that arrives with the paper, the guests are instructed to create
a memory page for the bride and groom. They might include photos,
quotes, little anecdotal stories, or combine all of these with stickers or
embellishments. It's thoughtful, meaningful and personal and it's an
excellent way to include guests who might not be able to attend the
wedding, but would still like to be a part of it.
Cindy Lieber
Accredited Event Designer
OC Brides Event Coordination
www.weddingplanneroc.com
Cindy@ocbrides.com
(714) 970-6380
P.S. If you are feeling overwhelmed and could use some help planning
or coordinating your day, visit our planning page. We have several
packages to choose from or if you prefer we have reasonable hourly rates!
P.P.S. Did this DIY series help you come up with some new ideas to stay on budget? Is there something I should add to help brides in their DIY
planning process? Please let me know! I love to help!
Of course, the best way to save on your wedding is to make it yourself
or have a talented friend or relative bake it. Consider the cost of some
cake mixes and frosting, and you can see how baking your own cake
can save money.
If you have plenty of time before the big day you can sign up for a cake
decorating class so that you can be sure to create a cake you will be
proud to share.
Remember wedding cakes don’t have to be elaborate, just tasty. When
decorating, consider using fresh flowers. This will add some real class
to the cake and bring in the colors of your wedding too.
The cake topper is another place where you can show your uniqueness
as a couple and save money by having a less traditional and less
expensive topper.
Instead look for something original and less costly. Consider some of
the things that you and your intended share or like to do together.
Maybe you are Nascar fans, football fanatics, enjoy scuba diving or
music. Then begin to look around for, statues, figurines, bobbles or toys
that will work for your cake.
Did you know that there are places that will take photo's of the bride
and groom and turn them into bobble heads for your cake? It may not
be the inexpensive topper that we have been talking about, but it is a
fun and festive way to top a cake!
Be sure to shop around before you decided on the perfect cake, style
and decorations, Remember your wedding cake should be as
individual as you, but it doesn't have to bust your budget!
Make sure you look for your next issue soon. We will be talking about
choosing the right music for your reception, no matter what your budget.
Here are some general tips for your wedding dinner catered by your
reception hall:
It's a myth that a buffet-style meal is less expensive than a served
one. In reality, buffets require more food and more labor so their cost is
higher.
If you are working with a smaller group (say 40 to 70), piggyback
onto another group's menu. This allows the hotel to buy in bulk and
lowers your price.
Consider other main entrees besides beef and chicken. Chefs can
do a lot of things with pastas and the price is usually very reasonable
For halls that will allow you to bring in your own caterer, the key here is
to shop around. Check with a local family restaurant and see if they
have bulk meals they will offer for your reception. Almost all will or at
the very least, will try for the money.
If serving your guests a full meal isn't within your budget, don't worry
there are other options for you to choose from.
All of these options are less expensive than a full meal (whether
buffet style or sit-down) if you don't mind doing a good bit of the work
yourself and you aren't holding the reception during meal-time.
Breakfast is often served around 8:00 a.m., Lunch at 12:00 p.m. and
Dinner at 6:00 p.m., and these are the times in which a full meal is
generally expected by guests. These times also vary depending on your
area. You should hold your reception two hours before or after these
times if you don't plan on serving a full meal.
Let's talk about some of the types of reception in which a full
meal isn't served.
- Cake and Punch Reception.
The most common time of day that this type of reception is held is early
afternoon (approximately 2:00 p.m.), but it can also occur in mid-
morning (approximately 10:00 a.m.). A cake and punch reception
generally consists of the wedding cake and refreshments.
Refreshments can include: punch, coffee, tea, champagne, etc. You can
also supplement the wedding cake with other types of cake in different
flavors and textures.
- Dessert Reception.
This type of reception is one in which desserts are served. Desserts
can include pies, cakes, doughnuts, cookies, pastries, brownies, etc.
Another option, which can be combined with a normal dessert
reception if you'd like, is a sundae bar.
In this type of reception, you serve bowls of ice cream (usually vanilla)
and let your guests choose their topping. Toppings can include
chocolate or fudge sauce, shredded coconut, chocolate chips, crushed
walnuts, whipped cream, fruit toppings, etc. Basically, the same things
you'd find in any sundae bar.
Summer is the most common time of year for a sundae bar. A normal
dessert bar can be used year round though as there are desserts
specific to season. For example, pumpkin pie and apple pie would be
a great choice for fall weddings. This type of reception is also an
example of an inexpensive choice if you purchase the items on your
own.
- Hors-d'oeuvres Reception.
There are actually two distinct types of hors-d'oeuvres receptions. The
first is light hors-d'oeuvres and consists of a lighter fare than the second
which is a heavy hors-d'oeuvres menu.
A light menu often includes items such as: crackers, vegetable platters
with dip, fruit, cheese, etc. A heavy hors-d'oeuvres often includes these
as well as items such as: meat and cheese trays, chicken fingers, egg
rolls, etc.
These types of receptions are also (casually) called "finger-food
receptions" in some areas. In order to save money on this type of
reception, check your local grocery store deli for prices on "meat and
cheese" trays as well as "vegetable" and "cracker and cheese"
platters. Their prices are often very reasonable. Another option is to buy
the ingredients yourself.
- Tea Reception.
This type of reception is a relic from a bygone era. Originally, tea
receptions were meant to reflect the mood of an "afternoon tea." An
authentic tea reception will include items such as petit fours, watercress
sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, scones (biscuits), etc.
Be sure to cut the crusts off the sandwiches and cut in a diagonal cross
(X shape) for an authentic look. If you're looking for a more modern
approach you can also serve coffee with the tea.
You can also serve: bite-size pieces of cake (such as carrot), any
manner of sandwich which is easy to cut, cinnamon rolls, etc. This type
of reception is relatively inexpensive depending on the items you
decide to serve and can be relaxing for both the couple and the
guests.
- Salad Reception.
This choice is becoming more popular and is a viable choice for
vegetarians who don't want to serve a full meal. Items served can
include: green (lettuce, spinach) salads, fruit salads, pasta salads,
potato salads, coleslaw, etc.
A veggie bar (to supplement green salads) can be added as well and
may have such choices as: chopped onions, carrots (baby or sliced),
celery, broccoli, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, etc.
A salad dressing bar can be chosen as well and may include such
choices as: vinegar and oil, Italian dressing, garlic and olive oil,
balsamic vinegar and lemon juice, etc.
Other dressing choices could include: bleu cheese, ranch, French, etc.
This type of reception is also inexpensive if you prepare most of the
items yourself.
Here are some other quick ideas for the food at the reception:
- Try a pasta reception in which your guests are served plain pasta
with their choice of toppings.
- Have a Mexican buffet.
- Provide simple lunch meats and cheeses with bread for sandwiches.
- If you’re a member of a church and will be having your reception there,
check with the ladies auxiliary and see if they'll do the food in exchange
for a donation to their organization.
- Try a local service organization: the Kiwanis, the Jaycees
- Call a community college and see if their culinary students would
cook for you if you provide the food.
Now there is some debate on whether it's a good idea to add a line on
your invitation stating what type of reception is occurring.
Some examples of this are:
- Cake and Punch Reception to Follow Ceremony
- Light ors-d'oeuvres reception to follow at two o'clock
- Dessert Reception Following Ceremony.
My personal opinion is that it makes it easier, not only for the
you, but for the guests as well. It's a clear way to inform guests that a full
meal should not be expected and give them the option of eating a meal
(if needed) prior to or after the wedding.
Make sure you look for your next issue soon. We will be talking about
finding the perfect cake for your special day!
Disposable cameras can be found at bulk warehouse stores or even
online. Shop around for the best price and use them sparingly.
If you don’t want to put the cameras on the table, another idea is to
place the cameras in a basket at the door as guests enter the
reception. The ones who really care about taking pictures will take the
cameras. Have your guest book attendant monitor who takes them or
even have the attendant hand them out to adults only.
When it comes to chic, elegant wedding pictures, nothing beats the
look of black and white photos. Black and white film can be much less
expensive than color film. This tip can be combined with all of the
money saving ideas above. After the wedding, the photos can be blown
up and dry mounted for a long-lasting keepsake.
Now let's talk a little bit about your wedding video.
If you don’t have a lot of money but you would like a video of your
wedding, as with the photographer the best way to find someone is to
talk to people who have recently had an event captured for them. Find
out who they used and whether they were happy with the finished
product.
Consider who do you know that likes to videotape everything?
Maybe you know one person who owns a video camera and has the
artistic ability to edit video already. Tada, you will have your own cost
effective videographer. With the wide variety of editing software
available there is no reason that you can't do the editing yourself and
end up with a beautiful video of your big day.
If you do have a friend or family member do your wedding video, but
don't feel comfortable editing it yourself or leaving the it in the hands of
a novice there are many studios around who can cut and splice parts of
the video together and add background music to create a precious
keepsake. Just make sure that you know your budget and do your
research before you make your final decision.
Make sure you look for your next issue soon. We will be talking about
wedding favors that won't put a big dent in your budget.
Seating at an outdoor wedding usually consists of folding chairs.
These can usually be found at a benevolent association like The
American Legion. As I have mentioned before these are an excellent
place to find seating especially if you’re having your reception there –
churches, or community centers. You may have to pay a few dollars to
rent them, but it will be worth it!
Decorate the ends of the chairs with greenery and flowers to match
your wedding bouquets along with strategically placed ribbon. To set
off the “important guest” area (parents, grandparents, etc.) cover the
backs of the chairs with simple white pillowcases. They are a low cost
alternative to expensive chair covers and they look just as lovely when
tied on with a pretty bow!
Make sure you look for your next issue soon. We will be talking about
photos and videos to remember your special day!
Until then happy wedding planning!
One way to reduce the cost is to order fresh flowers from an online
wholesaler. You can get some of the best prices around. However, as I
mentioned, unlike at a florist, you will be responsible for all of the prep
work of cleaning and trimming them, and keeping them alive until the
wedding.
If you’re going for a simple look, you might want to contact a local
farmer. Where I live, there is an iris farm who will sell you bulk irises at
a discounted rate. Find your local farmer’s market and pick up some
freshly cut flowers for a simple bouquet. Consider also picking flowers
from your own garden.
Did you know that many local colleges offer courses in flower arranging.
Try giving the colleges in your area a call. For a small fee, they may be
quite accommodating in allowing their students to “practice” for your
wedding for a discounted price, often for the cost of the flowers alone.
Of course, making your own flowers is probably the most frugal choice.
But where do you start?
There are plenty of wholesale stores who will sell silk flowers at a
discounted price. Working with silk flowers isn't and can be done by
almost anyone. You or a talented family member can put together all the
bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages for you weddings. Just make
sure you give yourself plenty of time to get the job done.
Tips for creating your own flowers are abundant. A beautifully simple
idea for a gorgeous bridal bouquet is to take several white roses,
bunch them together into a bouquet, wrap the bottom with floral tape
tightly, and wrap satin ribbon around the stems. Attach long pieces of
satin ribbon to flow down as you hold the bouquet and it will be
stunning!
You can use this technique with either silk or fresh flowers, and it
doesn't have to be all roses. For a unique look, try out different flowers
in your wedding colors. You can also buy plastic nosegay holders at
many discount stores that make preparing bouquets super easy!
As far as flowers and plants as decorations are concerned, this can be
a great enhancement to your ceremony. Many churches already have
floral adornments on their altars. If you get married around the time of a
church celebration, you may be able to buy a few flowers and take
advantage of those that are already there.
For example, around Easter, lilies are the flower of choice in most
churches. Many people will buy Easter lilies in remembrance of their
loved ones. Offer to buy a couple of Easter lilies to add to the existing
ones, and you have a beautiful decoration on the altar.
The same applies around Christmas. Poinsettias are the flower of
choice at this time of year. Offer up a few poinsettia plants to add to
those already there and you'll have some beautiful altar decorations.
Large arrangements on an altar will only be seen from far away. Use
inexpensive flowers such as carnations, or large filling flowers such as
snowball mums.
If you are getting married in a church, almost all have some type of
floral decorations. All you need to do in this situation is to add a few
personal touches and you'll have a beautiful backdrop for your
ceremony.
Talk to your venues and see if any other brides have booked for the
same day. If the two of you can coordinate flowers and split the cost,
you'll save a lot of money. I would imagine both of you wouldn't turn
your nose up at saving a ton of money on church decorations and
flowers!
Some party rental places will rent large potted plants such as tropical
palms or fichus. They visually fill a lot of space, and will help frame your
ceremony site or warm up your reception. Best of all, renting a potted
plant is far cheaper than buying large flower arrangements.
Just make sure that you know what you want, do your research and
there is no reason that you can't have beautiful flowers on your big day
without busting your budget!
Make sure you look for your next issue soon. We will be talking about
talk about decorating the sanctuary or venue with beautiful bows while
sticking to your budget.
