Top 5 Guest Book Alternatives

Guest Books are a keepsake for the Bride and Groom as a reminder of the family and friends that shared their special day with them. The guest book can sometimes get lost in the corner or pushed off by guests until "later". A popular trend is to eliminate the traditional guest book for more creative and personal alternatives. These are my top 5 guest book alternatives:

1. The Engagement Photo: Display engagement photos in a book, or one main picture on an easel, and allow guests to write their names and a quick message to the bride and groom.
   
2. Puzzle: The Puzzle Piece or Jenga Blocks are fun and quirky. Allow guests to write messages and set up the pieces after the honeymoon. Have fun reading the messages as you put the puzzle together, or take the Jenga tower apart!
   
3. Envelope Guest Book: I know I said alternatives to guest books, but this is very different from the traditional guest book. Guests write well wishes to the happy couple and insert it into an envelope on the page. The notes are private, only for the bride and groom to open and receive. 
   
4. Wish Tree: The wish tree allows guest to hang their well wishes for the bride and groom and their future, while creating a piece of art. Wish Trees are gorgeous decor pieces that continue to grow as guests add more wishes. A great way to preserve these wishes is to frame them. They make a gorgeous piece, that all of your guests helped to create for your home.
   
   
   
   
5. Fingerprint Tree: This is my favorite alternative. Guests press their fingerprints, in whatever color you choose, onto a tree template (or any other template like below), slowly creating the actual artwork. Guests can also initial their fingerprints.They can be customized with the names of the bride and the groom and the wedding date. Since no two fingerprints are the same, this will truly be a one-of-a-kind piece of art.
   

Maid of Honor Duties

Choosing your Maid of Honor is a difficult decision that many brides spend hours contemplating. Being the Maid of Honor is more than being the best friend; the Maid of Honor is support for the Bride, logistical support and emotional support. It is a true honor to be asked to be the Maid of Honor, but it is also a responsibility. Here are some duties that are traditionally expected:

• Direct the other bridesmaids through their duties. This includes ensuring that everyone has gone to their dress fittings, are knowledgeable of the hair-style, accessories and shoes  needed for the wedding, get to the rehearsal and ensure all bridesmaids get their hair and makeup done.
• Offer support to the bride with her pre-wedding tasks: Numbering escort cards, stuffing envelopes, deciding bridesmaid dresses, etc.
• Lend and ear for any thoughts or decisions the bride is having trouble making. Whether it is choosing where to register, or an emotional crisis, the MOH remains a confidant and advisor.
• Host of co-host the bridal shower and/or bachelorette party.
• Hold the groom's ring during the ceremony. (Your thumb is the safest place. Just don't forget!)
• The MOH ensures that the bride's train and veil are adjusted before she walks down the aisle. The MOH is also in charge of bustling the train of the bride's dress before the reception to allow her to dance with ease.
• The MOH holds the bride's bouquet when the couples exchange vows.
• The MOH's signature is required on the license as a witness, as well as the best man.
• Most important make sure the bride laughs and enjoys her wedding journey!

David Tutera for Mon Cheri Trunk Show NYC

If you didn't know, I am glad to share this piece of information with you. MissesDressy Showroom in Long Island City, NY is hosting David Tutera for Mon Cheri Trunk Show January 31st - February 2nd. Celebrity wedding and event expert, David Tutera offers his own line of gorgeous dresses with the help of Mon Cheri Designer Martin Thornburg.

David Tutera knows exactly what a bride wants, and his designs reflect that. Lace is the star fabric in most designs, but if you are not a lace fan, there may still be something that catches your eye. Contact the showroom for more information.

Here are some of my favorites from is his Spring 2014 collection:

Bridal gowns with some color are going to be very popular in 2014. Pink is a predicted favorite!

Reminds me of Audrey Hepburn's dress in Funny Face

Pump Up The Music!

A crowded dance-floor, an energetic DJ and a party atmosphere is the perfect scene that most brides and grooms aspire for. A great playlist is the first step to ensuring that this dream becomes reality (plus a great DJ). I prefer a blend of hits from different eras, providing the perfect energy and plenty of favorites that everyone will enjoy. I personally love to mix classics with current Top 40 Hits, but today I will focus on the past ten years to avoid my own Top 100 list. Here are some hits from the past decade that will get your guests on (and keep them on) the dance-floor!

I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas

Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO

Dynamite - Taio Cruz

Give Me Everything (Tonight) - Pitbull feat. AfroJack, Ne-Yo and Nayer

Tik Tok - Ke$ha

Just Dance- Lady Gaga feat. Colby O'Donis

Applause - Lady Gaga

Sexy and I Know It - LMFAO

California Girls - Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg

On the Floor - Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull

I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) - Pitbull

Shots - LMFAO feat. Lil John

Raise Your Glass - Pink

Teach Me How To Dougie - California Swag District

One More Time - Daft Punk

Sexy Back - Justin Timberlake feat. Timbaland

In the Ayer - Flo Rida feat. Will.I.Am

Single Ladies - Beyonce (Perfect to get the ladies up for the bouquet toss)

Hey Baby - Pitbull feat. T-Pain

Wake Me Up - Avicii

Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke feat. Pharell and T.I

Work B**ch - Britney Spears

Timber - Pitbull feat. Ke$ha

Can't Hold Us - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Thrift Shop - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Do What You Want - Lady Gaga feat. R. Kelly

Royals - Lorde

"I Do" Spotlight: Nimble Well

A Chicago based company, Nimble Well provides vintage china, cake stands and decor items for any event. The fine china and available items are perfect for a birthday party, engagement brunch, or a wedding celebration. Whether you want elegance, or something unusual, mixing vintage pieces with your decor makes your overall event unique. Nimble Well has a bounty of cake stands! Over 100 different types in their inventory as well as tiered stands. I would love for one of my brides to consider using Nimble Well to decorate their dessert bar. There is plenty to explore on their site, but here are some pictures to give you a peek:

Adult Twists On Childhood Favorites

Although we are adults, we still appreciate those treats we loved as kids. Those Hostess treats, and Little Debbie are brands that resonate with everyone, and their treats are childhood favorites. Why not take Childhood treats that everyone loves and give them an adult twist for your wedding? Your guests will enjoy age appropriate twists on their nostalgic favorites. Who wouldn't be happy with these delicious ideas?

Cotton Candy Martinis are the perfect whimsical signature drink. This is the perfect amount of sweet! Have fun with different flavors. Green Apple, Watermelon, Pomegranate, or Grape! Get creative and give your guests a treat at cocktail hour: Dessert before dinner!

What is better for cooling you down in the spring/summer than a Popsicle! An adult twist to these summer-time favorites is a simple upgrade in flavors. Create a Margarita, Pina Colada, and/or Daiquiri  Popsicle. Adding them to a glass of Prosecco adds some elegance to the cocktail treat, and the melted Popsicle will flavor the drink. 

Cake Pops have become very popular over the past few years, and have even replaced the cake sometimes! Make them even more unique by adding some adult flavor. Baileys and Chocolate, Patron and Key Lime Pie or Brandy and Banana Foster Cake are just a few delicious ideas. 

Who doesn't love a good milkshake? A spiked milkshake is a great late night surprise to cool your guests after a night of dancing.

Wedding Welcome Bags

A wedding is a time for family and friends to come together and celebrate the bride and groom. Sometimes the wedding occurs right in your "backyard" and other times travelling is required. Whether it is a few out-of-town guests, or you are having a destination wedding, the celebration should begin as soon as the guests check-in to their hotel. A great way to show your appreciation and help them start the fun, welcome bags are a personal care-package from the bride and groom. Here are some tips for making the perfect welcome bag:

1. Keep in mind that the welcome bag (or container) can be something that guests will want to re-use over the length of the wedding festivities, or longer. If it is not re-usable, don't worry! The bag is nice, but what is inside is a real treat.

2. Don't be afraid to personalize! Have a thank-you note written on a canvas bag, or a sticker with the bride and groom's initials to seal the welcome packages. Color, design and material choices add the personal touch that represent the bride and the groom and their wedding. If you are in Paris or a midnight in Paris theme, incorporate a picture of the Eiffel Tower, or tags with "Bonjour" on each bag. Little touches are what make the guests feel the thought you put into their bag.

3. Always put a bottle of water, or two, in your welcome bag. We know how expensive buying water at a hotel can be! You can personalize the bottles with stickers as well, adding your wedding colors into the bag. Don't be afraid to venture outside water. In Seattle? Add a can of Starbucks coffee to the bag.

4. Snacks and treats are a must-have on any trip! You can give the tourists a taste of the area with snacks representative of the local flavor. A mixture of sweet and savory can never go wrong. If you are in my city, New York, give guests a black & white cookie, bagel crisps, a bag of nuts and an apple; A perfect welcome to the Empire State. If you want to add something other than snacks, a MetroCard and a map encourages guests to explore the city on their own.

5. Last, but not least, a schedule of events is a great way to ensure your guests are on time. A kindly reminder, especially if the wedding is not near the hotel, is always helpful.

You can have the bags waiting for the guests in their guest room or they can be given to guests by your coordinator at your very own welcome desk. Be sure to discuss how each guests will receive their welcome gift in advance. Your guests will be surprised and ready to celebrate!

Tipping Cheat Sheet!

Tips are not an obligation for the Bride and Groom, so do not consider it mandatory to provide one. A tip is a token of gratitude for wonderful service, beyond what is contracted of the vendor. Make sure you read your contract thoroughly; Some vendors and caterers include gratuity in their final cost. Most company owners do not expect a tip, they are normally reserved for employees. A personal note, glowing online review or a professional wedding day photo is a wonderful gesture of gratitude instead.

Plan to budget for gratuity when creating your list of expenses. Plan to distribute the tips at the conclusion of the event. Prior to the wedding, ideally the night before, allocate the funds into individual labeled envelopes and trusted to a bridal attendant, trusted family member or the wedding coordinator.

Here is a Tipping "Cheat Sheet" to help you with any tipping confusion:

Wedding Planner: Tipping your wedding planner is optional, based on service. Situations in which you may want to tip as a "thank you" include the planner going above and beyond their obligations, or a large discount you may have received. 10-20% of their contracted price is a great number.

Caterer: 15-20% is an appropriate range if gratuity is not included in the contract. You can also offer $50-100 to the chef and $20-50 per server.

Photographer and Videographer: Tips are not expected if they are the owner(s) of the company. $50-200 is a nice gesture if they do not own the company. $50-100 per shooter if there are more than one. The amount of shooters will be stated in your contract.

Officiant: Officiants normally do not accept tips, but a $100 donation to their church is a wonderful way to say thank you. If the Officiant is non-denominational, consider giving them $100 as a tip.

DJ: Most DJs carry their own equipment, transporting it to the location of the event. 10-15% is a great way to show appreciation for bringing the energy to your reception.

Band: $25-50 per musician/band member

Hair and Makeup: Like any professional salon visit, a tip of 15-20% of the total bill is expected but not mandatory.

Transportation: 15% if not included in the contract.

Floral and Decor: Florists do not expect a tip, but if they do an exceptional job, you can consider giving a 10-15% tip

Thank You!

With my graduation from university only a month behind me, my concentration has turned to my future in events. This blog is something I started a while ago, but never had the time to really commit to. Now, as my page gets more views, I have become more excited. I truly hope that my posts are beneficial to those who read it.

I have updated my blog to accept followers. Just click the menu on the side of my blog, and you will get notified when a new blog post is published. Please, share with friends and family as well. Some are planning for their special day, and some just love all things wedding like I do.

Thank you for reading the blog, and please continue to do so. Please comment or request a post geared towards a specific question you have.

Keep This In Mind When Choosing Your Venue

Finding your venue is an exciting step in your planning process. Once you find what you and your bride/groom believe to be the perfect location for your event, it is easy to forget some important questions that need to be asked and details to remember. 

Each couple is different and the process of choosing a wedding date is unique to each. Some couples go to different venues with an exact date in mind. Others are more flexible with only a certain month as their criteria.  Whichever couple you are, have an idea of your wedding date when exploring possible venues. You will be able to find out the availability right away, and that may immediately effect your choice.

Looking for that perfect venue can be overwhelming, but  the choices are easily narrowed down by your guest list. Make sure you have a number for your guest list before you start your search. You want to make sure that your venue has the proper capacity to hold your guests. Ask the capacity of each room if you plan on using more than one for your ceremony and reception.

You have your number, and are touring the space, but don't forget that your guests are not the only number you have to keep in mind. Make sure to ask how many guests can fit in the venue comfortably seated for the ceremony, and with tables for dinner. Do not forget the dance-floor! For example, you will need at least 448 square feet (16' x 28') of dance-floor space for a wedding with 150 guests.These tables and the dance-floor take up more space than you may originally realize, and a room that fits 150 people, will not fit that same number after all the decor is set up.

Pricing is always important. Ask about the pricing structure and what the price entails. Is there valet parking? What is the type of lighting installed? Is catering in-house or is there a list of approved outdoor caterers? What type of chairs, tables and tableware are available from the venue? Will you have to order some on your own? What are the bar options?

Logistical questions about access to venue for vendors, restrictions and the amount of staff available that day are acceptable questions to ask as well. You can never have too much information. 

Some couples decide to find their venue before they hire their wedding planner and do not know what to ask. Make a list of important points you want in your venue and keep notes on each venue you visit. You will find the perfect venue for your special day.

Winter Wedding Wonderland

Winter weddings are synonymous with "wonder" and "romance". To create a winter wonderland for your special event, pay attention to details that will bring your event to another level and will have your guests gasping in awe.

Colors are a big part of any event. To translate the beauty of winter, a mixture of gold, silver and metallic colors create a gorgeous palette for any event. White is always great for winter-themed events, but to add something special, incorporate some metallic place settings, or alternating overlays in silver and gold.

Lighting can make or break an event, setting the mood for the night. Candles, chandeliers and up-lighting can add more to your decor than you may think. Add some coziness with some candlesticks in crystal candlestick holders, or cool down the decor with some unique chandeliers.

Don't limit yourself to satin and polycotton linens. Incorporate fur, sequin and suede into your decor. Using fur as your table-runner or as your chair covers is a small change that adds an elegant look to your event.

A unique centerpiece resembles falling snowflakes.

The blue light creates a winter wonderland, creating a winter forest indoors.

The tablecloth is a perfect amount of sparkle to this white place setting.

Using unique chandeliers and fur chair covers have turned this into an elegant winter affair.

"I Do" Spotlight! Romona Keveza's Spring 2014 Collection

It feels fitting that I feature Romona Keveza's Spring 2014 Wedding Collection since I discovered her line almost exactly one year ago (Spring 2013 collection).

Romona's couture bridal collection premiered 5 years ago and took everyone by storm with her innovative designs that set bride's hearts pumping. This collection is utterly romantic. Surrounded by an abundance of flowers, perfect lighting and the venue of their dreams, brides in these creations will feel like they are in a dream.

How To Incorporate Social Media Into Your Wedding: Very Easy Tips!

It is amazing how technology is a natural part of our lives today in comparison to 10 years ago. Social media websites such as Twitter and Instagram and phones like the iPhone and Android makes connecting with friends and family easy.

Professional photos of your wedding ceremony is a must have in my opinion, but some of the best pictures a bride and groom may like are the amateur pictures taken by their friends and family that show the moments that the photographer may not have seen. These candid moments are reflective of the people you love and invited to share your special day.

It only takes a few steps to implement the use of social media into your wedding:

1. First, download Twitter and/or Instagram. These applications are free to download with your smartphone, but use pre-existing accounts for less hassle. Instagram allows you to take photos, add cool effects and share with friends. It is like a Facebook, but with pictures only.

2. Next, you and your significant other should determine a wedding hastag. This helps to filter pictures on Instagram just as it filters tweets on Twitter.

3. You must then decide where you want to filter all of your pictures. Dropbox and Flickr accounts are two of my favorites. They are easy to access and have large storage availability.

4. Next, you connect your social media outlet to your storage area with the use of your "recipe" through ifttt.com. Create an account on ifttt.com which means IF THIS, THEN THAT. This account will create a chain reaction that allows you to establish that IF THIS hastag is used, THEN THAT photo is automatically downloaded into your Dropbox/Flickr account.

5. Last, but not least, SHARE your plan with guests. There are many creative ways to share your plan with your guests. Whether during your engagement announcement or on the wedding day. Signs on the bar, notes on the table during the reception, boards displaying the hastag, or the information written on personalized napkins are creative ways to share the information. You can also include the information on your wedding website.

You will see the wedding journey from many perspectives, not just the day of, but leading up to the wedding day. The photos may be blurry, but they will show the laughter and love that day between family, old friends and new friends. This is a great way to incorporate the guests into your wedding day, letting them get involved. You will have a great laugh and even more smiles when you look at these photos with your new husband/wife.

Open-Bar versus Consumption Bar

Bride and Grooms are faced with a lot of decisions during their planning, but an unexpected decision couples encounter is deciding between a Consumption Bar or Package Bar. 

Choosing a Consumption Bar, you are charged a confirmed price per each drink that is consumed during your event.  You only pay for what you and your guests actually drink.

Choosing a Package Bar, you are commonly given a price based on the amount of guests for your event and the total amount of hours your event will be. This price is charged regardless of the amount consumed during the night.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself when contemplating which bar suits you:

1. How comfortable are you with not knowing your bill until the end of the night? Consumption bars are not totaled until the end of the event. 
2. What is your guest list like? Are there more young adults? Children? Does your family like to party? If you have a group that like to drink, a flat rate would be best to avoid any surprise costs at the end of the night.
3. How long is your event? Guests will typically consume on average 1-2 drinks an hour. You can consider closing the bar at a certain time of the night (i.e for dinner, instead serving wine and/or champagne for toasts).

Another option for controlling costs, is to request a limited selection for the bar. You can choose beer, wine and a signature cocktail for the night, instead of a full bar of top shelf liquor. 

Radiant Orchid - The Color of 2014

As we move on from 2013 and luxurious emerald, 2014 introduces a new "color of the year" : Radiant Orchid. A rich purple color that is vibrant and alluring, Radiant Orchid is complimented by shades of purple, pinks, cream, gold and silver. The color of royalty, just a small amount of Radiant Orchid incorporated into your wedding day will stand out in a good way! You can incorporate the color within the wardrobe, the decor, the food, or use the color as the base of the invitations, menus and programs. Look out for some creative use of this color in events during 2014.

A teardrop bouquet of orchids is eye-catching against a wedding dress.

Shades of pink with Radiant Orchid.

Lighting in Radiant Orchid adds a soft glow to a reception.

Make each arrangement a different color and a different flower for a striking constrast.