Small Additions = Big Wow

A sentence that I always hear is 'I want something special, but I don't want to spend too much money'. Giving your guests a wow factor is certainly possible with a few simple changes to your decor or set-up.

 Personalize and Specialize

For just a small cost, you can put your new name as Mr. & Mrs. "insert name here" where it will give guests a true wow moment. A step and repeat banner is the perfect backdrop for the perfect photo opportunities. Have the photographer print the photos on site to give to guests for the perfect souvenir. 

A few other places to stamp your name as an official married couple: Aisle runner, napkins or a gobo to light up your dance floor. 

Cheers!

A specialty drink not only cuts costs, but adds a personal touch for guests from you and your fiance. Offer a selection of wine and beer with your specialty drink and everyone will surely be happy. Offer your drinks as guests arrive to the reception, and if you have a small wedding, you can also use the drinks as the most delicious place card substitutes your guests will ever encounter.

Pick a Seat....any seat!

Serpentine seating is not just for the lounge area. A twist on family-style seating, the Serpentine style allows for family style dinners that require laughter and smiles.....everyone knows that.

Creative Fall/Winter Wedding Cakes

Each season brings a different take on wedding creativity. Take a different spin on what is placed on your dessert table and Bon Appetite!

Greens and seasonal fruit are the perfect piece of decoration for this cake

A cheese cake.....paired with fruit, crackers and a great glass of wine, I will be happy to cut this at the beginning of the reception

Chocolate Toffee Naked Cake. Yum!

Everybody loves donuts!

Crepe cake

Cold weather = Delicious pies

Wedding Traditions Around The World

It is always interesting to learn how one culture's traditions differ from another and I often enjoy learning different wedding customs and the reason behind them. Someone forwarded this great link that is an "easy to read" Wedding Tradition Encyclopedia.

Many of these traditions will seem familiar and some have been given modern twists. My favorite are definitely the post-ceremony customs of the Czech weddings which consist of a rope-tied groom, broken dinnerware and a kidnapped bride. I can't make this stuff up.

Click the above link above to read more.

The Mariott Marquis DC: What a hotel!

I had the great pleasure of touring the new Marriott Marquis in downtown D.C. last week, and I think I fell in love.

Before I share more information about the hotel here are some facts about the Marriott family and brand.

1. The Marriott brand evolved from J. Willard Marriott's nine-stool root beer stand that grew into the Hot Shoppes brand.
2. This venture began in Washington D.C.
3. The D.C. Marriott Marquis marks the 4,000th hotel, bringing the Marriott journey full circle
4. A replica of the nine-stool root beer stand has a home in one of the hotel's restaurants

The hotel has 1,175 rooms and ample event space. 14 floors above ground and 14 floors below, this hotel is an architectural wonder. The vast lobby creates pockets for relaxing, working or to be social without getting overwhelmed by other guests. 

The Marquis ballroom is over 30,000 square feet and the hotel has an additional 75,000+ of event space to accommodate meetings or events of any size. 

The hotel has inside access to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, walking distance to Chinatown and metro accessible. 

I can't wait for my next excuse to stay a night in the city. This will be my first choice.

Autumn Bouquet Inspirations

Which of these autumn-inspired bouquets do you like best? Which would you choose?

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Your Wedding Budget Breakdown

Unsure how to budget your wedding needs? Click the chart below for a wedding budget guide. Every wedding is different, but this will help you start.

Honeymoon Destinations

The Caribbean and Hawaii have been the go-to destinations for couples over the years, but here are some great destinations that are becoming a big hit among newlyweds.

Bali

Maldives

Portugal

Quebec City

South Africa

Non-Flower Centerpieces!

Get creative with your centerpieces! Flowers are traditional and can be manipulated into stunning works of art, but that is not your only options.

Moss has an unappreciated beauty. Paired with succulents and birch wood you can keep the elegance without the flowers.

Strung lights make an outdoor wedding picture-ready.

Candles, candles and more candles! Not only are these great lighting options for evening receptions, but they are also an inexpensive alternative to floral centerpieces. Use pillars of different heights, candelabras and lanterns to make this look complete.

We eat with our eyes, so you can be sure that your guests can appreciate the beauty of a fruit centerpiece.

Inspiration Board: Seafoam Green, Melon and Gold

Seafoam green has been rising in popularity among the spring and summer brides. A soft color that is easily complimented by the strong hue of gold, don't count it out for your autumn nuptials yet! Pair the two with  a darker orange color and use light orange or cream as accents for the season change.

Cheers! Creative Food and Drink Idea.

Guests come for the nuptials but stay for the food and drinks! A creative idea is offering individual bottles of champagne, soda or an alcohol of choice. These can be given to guests as favors or for their use during the reception. You will just need to contact the individual companies for more details.

Creative Escort Card Ideas

Add some creativity to your escort card display. Whether guests pick up their cards before the ceremony or during cocktail hour, personalizing your card display adds to your decor. Here are some creative ideas.

This is a great chance to incorporate the ombre trend as well

A key to the magical night ahead

A great way to incorporate mirror into your decor. Simply elegant idea to etch the names on the glass

Hollywood inspired? Use a movie reel to show guests to their seats

One of my favorite ideas is the escort tree. With or without flowers, thick or thin trunks, this decor piece is a show-stopper!

None of these pictures are my own

Fuchsia and Blue Inspiration

Summer wedding mean lots of color! Here is an inspiration board that is bright, fun and whimsical.

Planning Tips: The Reception Dinner

The reception is a huge portion of the wedding budget, mostly due to the cost of food and beverage. Choosing how to use your money is not as simple as couples imagined when they begin their planning process. The hardest decision may be choosing how to serve the meal to your guests. There are three styles that are most popular: Buffet Style, Seated Dinner and Dinner Stations. There are different reasons to choose each and here are some details and tips to help you decide.

Buffet

Although a buffet has the rep of being the most cost-effective option, that is actually misleading. A buffet gives the guests multiple options to choose from, but the caterer cannot account for the size of the portion each guest will take. Caterers typically make more to accommodate, resulting in a bigger price tag. 

When considering a buffet also remember that a line will be unavoidable unless you have a small guest count. As a planner, lines are my event peeves and aesthetically unappealing. One way to shorten the line is to have a duplicate buffet station with all the same options. You should also make the stations double-sided: guests can form lines on both sides of the buffet and two people can help themselves at once.

Seated Dinner

A seated dinner is an option that eliminates the lines and is more formal. The trade-off is that the guests get a limited choice for their meal. 

An option that is becoming more popular for seated dinners are to have them served family-style. Whether the whole meal or just the sides, it is a compromise to giving the guests some options for their meal and encourages interaction between the guests at their tables.

Dinner Stations

This is one of my favorite options. Dinner stations allow for you to get creative with your food choices, and provides your guests with multiple choices and usually the opportunity to customize their meal options. Have fun with your station choices: Chinese lo mien station, Sushi station, Macaroni station,  Satay/Kabob station and a few carving stations. Have 4-5 different food choices. Make sure to have 2 of each station to avoid lines.

This can be a bit costly, so you may consider doing 3 stations for cocktail hour. 

Fashion Friday: Krikor Jabotian

One year ago I discovered Krikor Jabotian and his designs. Krikor previously worked at Ellie Saab's creative department, but his collections are a true representation of his skill that makes him stand out as a designer.

His AKHTAMAR collection perfectly combines the ethereal beauty and strength described as Princess Tamar: his inspiration. Visit his website to see more of his work.