Cocktail Party Basics

If you'd like to have a party but don't want the hassle of a dinner party, much less a blowout, think "cocktails." Invite up to 30 good friends, stock up at the liquor store, put together the easy appetizers below, and you'll be set to throw an elegant soiree.

Quick Appetizers

Keep it simple but don't skimp on appetizers. If your guests are drinking on an empty stomach, your elegant cocktail party could become a frat-style bacchanalia pretty quick. (Save that for your first-anniversary toga party.) Present your apps with flair -- think unusual containers and unexpected garnishes -- to disguise their humble origins. Some easy, quick hors d'oeuvre ideas:Cheese and Bread
Yep, the classic. The bonus is that this requires absolutely no cooking or preparation, yet it looks gourmet. Offer a variety of cheeses. Colin Cowie, entertainer extraordinaire, suggests serving three ripe cheeses: a triple creme cheese (like brie), a blue cheese, and a goat's milk cheese. Another unusual option is sheep's cheese: It's creamy and subtly delicious. Serve with crusty French bread -- don't cut it into slices, just leave out a serrated bread knife. Set out small jars of different mustards for an additional treat.

Fruit
Don't bother with an elaborate fruit salad: Just display some munchable fruit, such as strawberries or grapes, in a swank bowl. It's a nice break from standard stick-to-your-ribs fare.

Sausages
Cowie also suggests serving sausages with mustard at an elegant cocktail party. Just buy a variety of sausages at a gourmet shop or supermarket (go for turkey-apple or chicken varieties if you want to stay away from ultraclogged arteries). Grill 'em and slice 'em up. Serve with the same mustard and bread you've put out for the cheese.

Olive Paste with Toasted French Bread
Buy an extra loaf -- or six...bread is always good to have on hand -- of the same crusty French bread you're serving with your cheese platter and slice it into bite-sized pieces. Lightly toast in your broiler. In a blender, mix black olives (any pitless variety will do), a few tablespoons of olive oil, juice from half a lemon, and pepper to taste. Voila! Instant olive paste. It looks gourmet but takes less than a minute to make. Make the paste a few hours in advance -- it gets better as it mellows.

Cocktails

As the title "cocktail party" implies, cocktails are crucial to the success of your event. What type of cocktails to supply? First off, forget beer and froufrou frozen drinks, though you can stock up on wine, water, and juices for those who don't want to imbibe too brazenly. Check out our Bartending 101 article for some classic cocktail recipes, but feel free to experiment and create -- and name! -- your own signature drink. Some more unusual choices:Blue Moon
2 parts Finlandia vodka
1 part pineapple juice
Dash blue Curacao
Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well until chilled and strain into a martini glass.

Wave Cutter
Equal parts Bacardi rum, cranberry juice, and orange juice
Pour all ingredients into a highball over ice.

Coco Vanilla Martini
2 oz. Stoli Vanil vodka
1/4 oz. dark creme de cacao
1 oz. melted chocolate
Pour vodka and creme de cacao over ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake well until chilled and strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed with the melted chocolate.

Purity
2 parts Finlandia vodka
1 part peppermint schnapps
1 sugar cube
1 mint leaf
Pour vodka and schnapps into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well until chilled and strain into a martini glass. Drop in a sugar cube and garnish with a mint leaf.

Tunes

Go elegant with some classic jazz (you can't go wrong with Charlie Parker) or with some of that Ol' Blue Eyes. Or make it smooth with some cool R&B. See our piece on party music for more ideas. The goal is to keep your guests relaxed and the conversations flowing.

Décor

No need to go overboard with the decorations. You can make your living room look chic on the cheap.

• Buy one bouquet of flowers and distribute the blooms among several vases scattered throughout the room and in the bathroom.
  
• Light a dozen votive candles (a few bucks for 20 at most drugstores) and place them on saucers throughout your living room for a warm and festive glow.
• Buy some cool paper cocktail napkins and coasters. You know, the kind imprinted with martini glasses or tiki gods or perhaps emblazoned with the phrase, "Your place or mine?" They'll do double duty as conversation starters and groovy décor.  

Aloha Summer!

Aloha and welcome to summer! In this post I will go over some ideas to host the perfect luau, without all of the over-done aspects and cheesiness that have become the standard for this ever popular trend.

Food

If you've ever been to a traditional luau in Hawaii, you know that the main event at a luau is the pig roast. You can do this over an open fire pit (for the dramatics) or build a traditional Imu (earthen oven). Here's a link for instructions on how to build an Imu. 

Oh, you don't want to dig a big hole in your backyard and wait hours for a pig to cook? Don't worry, me either.

One of my favorite burgers at Red Robin is the Banzai burger; I feel like this burger encompasses all elements of a luau between 2 simple buns. And I think it's just heavenly.  The burger is marinated in teriyaki sauce and comes with sliced pineapple.... please excuse me for a moment while I wipe the drool from my mouth. Like the Banzai burger, though, your luau food should revolve around tropical fruit. Whether you make a fruit salad full of it, put it on kabobs mixed with teriyaki grilled chicken or make marinades with it. There's no such thing as too much fruit at a luau. Some of the popular choices are: pineapple, coconut, mango, banana, kiwi and papaya.

 

 

 

To go with your yummy food you will of course need some libations! Again, go with the fruit! Pina coladas and mai tais should be staples. Serve up some fruit punch for the kids and put the little paper umbrellas in every glass.

 

 

 

 



Décor

With grass skirts, palm leaves and fresh cut flowers, how could you go wrong? I love to use grass skirts along table edges, who says you have to wear them? Instead of placemats, lay palm leaves or cut up banana leaves on the tables. Scatter some shell necklaces or loose shells throughout. The beauty of the luau is that you can do it up as much as you want or leave it low key and on the reserved style with just a couple tropical elements. Either way, the theme will get across to your guests and it leaves room for adjustment to your personal style. Make your fresh fruit serve double time as food and décor! I love this idea:

 

 

How pretty does that look? Still have some of those old tiki torches just sitting around in your garage collecting dust? Perfect! Use them to provide light, atmosphere and keep the bugs away. If you want some fresh flower arrangements, go with arrangements that  include tropical flowers such as orchids, hibiscus or birds of paradise.

 

 

 

 

Instead of buying those cheap plastic leis that fall apart the moment you touch them, buy fresh flowers and have your guests make their own! They will love to take them home and you don't be stuck with a million fabric leis and no use for them (unless this is an annual party you host and you can reuse them year after year).

 

Check out Oriental Trader for some great buys on party supplies and inspiration!

 

 

That's all the ideas I have for now! Below are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing when planning your own luau! Leave a comment if you have a question or any ideas of your own!!  

 

I love the bamboo wall and coconut shell glasses here!

 

 

 

 

 

How pretty is this??

 

 

 

 

Multi-purposing!!

 

 

 

 

Hello good time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer BBQ Season

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the flowers are in full bloom. Memorial Day weekend was the kickoff to summer BBQ season and the season is now in full swing. In this month's posts, I will go over some fun BBQ ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

Let's start off with a good old fashioned country western BBQ.

 

 

 



Food

Food is the most essential part to a BBQ, duh! If you have access to a slow cooker, making authentic, delicious BBQ is a piece of cake. If not, don't worry! It's still doable! Some traditional dishes include pulled pork, ribs, potato salad and corn bread.

Here are some links to some of my favorite BBQ recipes:

Crockpot BBQ Ribs

 

 

 

 



Pulled Pork Sandwiches






















Classic Potato Salad

Buttermilk Cornbread

Not feeling the BBQ sauce slathered feast or looking for something a little easier? Set up a hot dog bar! Grill up a bunch of dogs and assemble a variety of toppings so people can make their own creations. Some favorite creations: The Italian {Pizza Dog}: Pour pizza sauce into a hot dog bun. Add shredded cheese, pepperoni slices, and olives. Top it with a freshly grilled dog, and enjoy. The kids love these!!  The Mexican: This is my favorite – Mix some taco seasoning into your mayo, to make it spicier. Schmear a bit on your bun, add your hot dog, then sprinkle with a mexican blend cheese, jalapenos, and salsa. Sooo good!  The Russian: This is always a favorite with the guys… Spread a  bit of cream cheese on a toasted bun, then add your hot dog. Smother it with a pile of sweet relish, and sauerkraut. It’s messy, but they tell me it’s good stuff!

In addition to the above ingredients, you’ll want to make sure to have basic condiments like mayo, ketchup, and a few types of mustard. I also like to have a crockpot of chili, shredded cheese, relish, sauerkraut...etc. Different bun types also add a nice touch. Stuck on what you want to put out for your hot dog bar? Think about the last time you went to the ballpark and all the options you have there, you can't go wrong.




Décor

The décor element for a country western BBQ can be as simple or elaborate as you choose. I love décor that serves double duty! Bring in the country western flair with bandanas and mason jars and have the bandanas serve as napkins while the mason jars serve as drink ware.

I love this idea; wrap silverware in bandana napkin and place in the mason jar. You can set these out along a table for people to grab up while they're filling their plates or attach a chalkboard tag to mark seating placements at individual's seats.

 

 

I like to make my own citronella candles for summer time as well. There are a variety of ways this can be done to match your personal taste. (Here's my favorite tutorial on making your own citronella candles).  Make these bad boys and pour them into recycled tin cans, mason jars or baby food jars then place throughout your party to help keep bugs away and your guests more comfortable. When the sun goes down, they also help provide lighting. String up some old white Christmas lights or outdoor string lights to add to the ambiance.

 

 

Keep the Party Going

 

What's to be done after everyone has filled their bellies with your delicious BBQ creations? Party! Keep the true country western flair by playing country western music throughout the night. Lay some plywood boards on the grass under the string lights and let your guests 2 step and line dance the night away! 

 

Here's a sample playlist:

 

I Love This Bar - Toby Keith

Friends In Low Places - Garth Brooks

Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffett
Boot Scootin’ Boogie - Brooks & Dunn

Any Man of Mine - Shania Twain

What Was I Thinking - Dierks Bentley
Heads Carolina, Tails California - Jo Dee Messina
Achy Breaky Heart - Billy Ray Cyrus
I Feel Like A Woman - Shania Twain
I Like It, I Love It - Tim McGraw
There’s Your Trouble - Dixie Chicks
Two Pina Coladas - Garth Brooks

Chattahoochie - Alan Jackson
Sold! The Grundy County Auction Incident - John Michael Montgomery
This Kiss - Faith Hill
Bye, Bye - Jo Dee Messina

Don’t Rock The Jukebox - Alan Jackson

Boondocks - Little Big Town
Alcohol - Brad Paisley
Beer For My Horses - Toby Keith with Willie Nelson
Redneck Woman - Gretchen Wilson
Save A Hose, Ride A Cowboy - Big and Rich

 

Need to brush up on your line dancing skills?? Go HERE for some step sheets to popular line dances.  

 

 

 



 

10 things to know about the wedding industry

I came across this article online through pinterest and thought it summed up all of the key points in a fantastic manner.

1. “We could go out of business before your big day.”

Wedding spending tumbled 32% during the recession, from an average of $28,730 per event in 2007 to $19,581 in 2009, according to market research firm The Wedding Report. After recovering somewhat, spending now seems to be flattening out — in 2012, the average wedding cost $25,656, an increase of just $25, or less than one-tenth of 1%, over 2011. And the continuing tough economy, experts say, has some vendors languishing in the red. Or worse. Toronto police last month charged a bridal shop owner with fraud for closing without notice earlier this year, taking brides’ dresses and deposits with her. Travelers, an insurance company, reports that of wedding insurance claims filed last year due to “vendor problems,” 21% involved caterers going out of business and an additional 11% were related to deejays going out of business or not showing up. “We do attribute that to the recession,” says Chantal Cyr, vice president of personal insurance at Travelers.

Businesses aren’t apt to announce they’re having financial trouble, so it’s on couples to protect themselves, says Anja Winnika, site director for TheKnot.com. When possible, she says, put deposits on a credit card: The Fair Credit Billing Act offers some recourse for a refund if services or items paid for aren’t delivered. (Just pay off the bill in full to avoid interest charges.) “Smaller vendors may charge a credit-card processing fee,” she says. “But I think it’s worth it for peace of mind.” A wedding insurance policy can also be beneficial, Winnika says. Depending on the coverage and when the problem crops up, an out-of-business vendor might be replaced, your money refunded or the wedding party reconvened for replacement photos.

2. “Inspiration boards? More like unrealistic-expectation boards.”

Couples say the growing abundance of planning websites and online inspiration boards have piled on more pressure for a standout Big Day.

Such sites have become a big draw for brides: On traffic leader Pinterest.com, which received more than 30 million unique visitors in March, two of the 10 most popular boards are wedding-related, with Wedding Gifts (No. 9) and DIY Your Wedding (No. 10) each garnering 2.4 million followers, according to analysis site Repinly. Weddings also represent 4.9% of popular pins, many of them featuring photos that set the fashion and décor bars very high for the soon-to-wed.

Part of the problem: “handmade” favors and decorations that show up on inspiration boards are in many cases crafted by a team of wedding stylists — not the bride, says Meg Keene, author of “A Practical Wedding” and editor of a planning site by the same name. “But the language and the way it’s presented makes you think, ‘I can do this myself,’” she says. A week before her October 2012 wedding, Colleen McKenna was in her parents’ garage in Chicago, “covered in paint and freezing” as she prepared frames to hold reception menus. “Pinterest is the best, but the worst, too,” McKenna says. “You see what other brides have done and you think, ‘Why can’t I get my s*** together?’” The often caption-less images also don’t disclose that a beautiful bouquet or enticing cake were part of a six-figure budget, says Elizabeth Robinson of Denver, who as part of her Edwardian-themed July wedding commissioned double-breasted vests on craft marketplace Etsy.com and designed period labels for bottles of lavender water as a save-the-date. “We’re $10,000 over budget — we’ve lost it here,” she says. But, she adds, “You only get married once.”

Inspiration boards can help kickstart ideas, says Winnika of TheKnot.com, which itself has features that let users save “loved” details and create inspiration boards. But she suggests brides and grooms focus on a few big elements — like picking a talented photographer, or finding a gorgeous venue that doesn’t need much decoration — and avoid getting bogged down in little details for every part of the celebration. “Step away from the inspiration boards when it comes down to knocking things off your checklist,” she says. Couples who want to do DIY projects should also stick to ones that can be completed well in advance. “Anything fresh or floral or baking, leave it up to the pros,” Winnika says. “You don’t want to be doing that on your wedding day.”

3. “We’ll punish you for those heightened expectations.”

Even as the industry pushes couples to obsess over details, more vendors are charging for those heightened expectations. Prices often have a 20% to 25% “marriage markup” compared with the cost to, say, rent the same space for a Sweet 16 or to buy floral centerpieces for an anniversary party, says Alan Fields, co-author of “Bridal Bargains.” “It’s lose-lose,” he says. “The industry creates this bridezilla character and encourages that behavior, and then says they have to charge you for it.” In some cases, the fee is more explicit. Loring Pasta Bar in Minneapolis has a “bridezilla clause” in its contract, charging overly detail-oriented brides and grooms $5 per email or $12 per 15-minute increment of time required to respond, whichever is less.

The restaurant did not respond to requests for comment, but in 2011 Loring told MarketWatch the clause, which had yet to be enforced, was a safeguard against couples taking up too much of employees’ time. “A bride once called my cell phone with an emergency: To ask what potatoes go with pork loin,” Jamie Radich, Loring’s sales and events manager, said at the time. “She wasn’t getting married for another year.” Florists, venues and other vendors have expressed similar observations about the frequency of communications from betrothed clients compared with others, Fields says. Fair or not, the markups and fees make it all the more important for couples to compare costs at several vendors.

4. “Tax and tip not included.”

At a venue tasting earlier this year, Wayne Gurnick, owner of Los Angeles-based event planning service Moments by Wayne Gurnick, had to give his client — who was considering a $12 per person menu upgrade — a spoonful of bitter budgeting reality. “I said, ‘You know that’s plus-plus, right?’” Gurnick recalls. As in plus sales tax and plus service charge, making it, in that client’s case, a $15.72 per person charge. The combo can raise total cost by as much as a third, depending on the state and vendor, but it may not enter the conversation until it’s time to sign a contract. “When you start adding all these little components together and you’re thinking only about the base price, that plus-plus adds up to thousands of dollars,” he says. Service charges can also be confusing. Although they are automatically added to many vendors’ contracts, only sometimes are they a gratuity, Gurnick says. It’s on the couple to ask, or risk a last-minute scramble for cash to tip the banquet manager, servers and bartenders.

5. “The ballroom you chose only permits ‘approved vendors’ — that cost more.”

Searching for an Indianapolis wedding location in 2010, Holly Little and her fiancé noticed a trend: “All of them had some sort of approved vendor list or exclusive vendor list.” But Little says they didn’t see it as a problem until, after paying a $500 venue deposit, the exclusive caterer refused to budge on its price. “The location also had an exclusive deejay, an exclusive baker and an approved florist,” says Little. “We had no negotiating leverage.” After assessing the numbers, the couple decided to forgo their deposit and plan a more budget-friendly destination wedding in Savannah, Ga., instead.

As Little found, arrangements between wedding vendors can push costs higher, by reducing couples’ ability to negotiate or by adding fees that one pro might charge another for the referral. “Sometimes it’s because somebody is getting a kickback, unfortunately,” says Danielle Bobish, founder of Curtain Up Events in New York. Bobish says she doesn’t pay or receive commissions, referral fees or other such charges -- and suggests couples be blunt in asking planners and venues if they do, and how they source the vendors they work with. “We refer our vendors because we love to work with them, they’re team players, and we stand behind the quality of their work,” she says. Sometimes, there are logistical reasons, too. For example, a venue that has unusual acoustics may make an exclusive deejay arrangement to ensure the right equipment is used and avoid client complaints, she says.

6. “Hope you’re running on schedule. We’ve overbooked.”

Brides and grooms may like to think theirs is the only wedding that matters on a given day, but that may not be the case — particularly during the peak summer wedding season. Couples filing insurance claims over no-show vendors (see No. 1) don’t specify what led to the problem, but overbooking is one contributing factor, says Cyr of Travelers. Among the other problems that can cause: You might not get the quality expected, if a florist throws together the centerpieces, say, or a cake baker hands off decorating to an assistant, Winnika says. With venues, schedules can also be surprisingly tight, Gurnick says. For example, if a hotel has other events, your vendors may not be allowed to arrive well beforehand to set up. And if there’s another wedding at that church or ceremony location afterward, there may not be much wiggle room to delay the ceremony if guests are delayed by a traffic jam, say, or the wedding party has a fashion emergency. Failure to hold to the schedule could result in overtime fees or simply less time spent actually celebrating, he says.

To keep such small snafus from becoming big budget problems, ask how many weddings a vendor takes on per day or weekend, says Kim Forest, the editor of review site WeddingWire.com. “Vendors know their own workload,” she says, and some can legitimately do several weddings a day, with serious organization and help from assistants. Read reviews or ask for references to ensure that such wedding jugglers haven’t dropped the ball in the past.

7. “This award isn’t exactly an Oscar.”

Couples searching for a great venue, stationer or cake baker may be pleasantly surprised to find they have a number of award-winning candidates to choose from. WeddingWire.com has “Bride’s Choice Awards,” The Knot.com has “Best of Weddings,” and local chambers of commerce and bridal vendor guides also often bestow awards. But winners aren’t necessarily the best. “What the industry doesn’t tell you is that vendors can in some cases buy those awards,” says “Bridal Bargains” author Fields. The pool of entrants may be explicitly limited to advertising vendors, or cultivated that way through the use of “editor’s picks” rather than votes from brides and grooms. Even if the vote is based solely on wedded couples’ votes and reviews, as with other fields, fake ratings abound, he says.

At TheKnot.com, awards go to vendors that have regularly received positive reviews from real brides on sister site WeddingChannel.com, says Winnika — which can result in a lot of award-winners. “That’s not to say that just because someone has an award, that they’re the perfect vendor for you,” she says. Keep looking, she advises. “You haven’t hit the holy grail of wedding vendors yet.” WeddingWire.com says its awards are limited to the top 5% of vendors, based on recent reviews from couples that have signed contracts with those businesses. “It’s good for engaged couples to see those badges,” says a spokeswoman – but the site encourages couples to delve into individual reviews as well.

8. “Do sweat the small stuff — or at least the price tag on the small stuff.”

Weddings have become increasingly stylized, with magazines and planning sites pushing small details like monogrammed petite four, elaborate place settings and letterpress invitations. Too much attention to detail can quickly become a budget buster, though, says Keene. Couples spend an average of $322 on table centerpieces, $294 on reception decorations, $206 on favors and $70 on escort place cards, according to The Wedding Report. On resale site Tradesy Weddings, former brides and grooms try to unload past purchases, recently including a window-pane seating chart ($500), a birdcage to hold well-wishers’ cards ($125) and decorative twine balls ($400). “There are lots of layers of tradition, fake tradition and wedding-industry-sell-job,” Keene says. The way “weddings are presented is in a lot of these little details, because that’s what you can sell.”

Just as with couples who are overwhelmed by inspiration boards, the best approach may be to simplify and focus on the big picture. “Let the rest go,” Keene says. If family members are helping foot the bill, it’s worth having a conversation about their expectations and the resultant costs for including “traditional” must-haves like a designated “toss bouquet,” a unity candle or favors.

9. “We’re eying your bling.”

A flashy engagement ring can lead to a bigger wedding bill. “Sometimes there aren’t price tags, and vendors craft the proposal based on what they think you need,” says Fields. “They judge you by your ability to pay, and perhaps steer you toward more expensive things.” Or they decline to work with you, if they see richer prospects. Marissa Palin of Davis, Calif., thought a $10,000 budget for her September 2013 nuptials was “a huge amount of money to spend on one day.” But although she and her fiancé want a family-reunion vibe — with beer floats in recycled mason jars and home-sewn napkins —Palin had a hard time finding vendors willing to work within her low-key expectations. “They sort of snubbed me because my budget was so low,” she says.

Even if you aren’t driving up in a beater or wearing designer clothes, says Fields, vendors can get a sense of your finances from the church or reception site you’ve picked. Plus, many buy data on your finances from companies you’ve done business with or bridal shows you’ve attended, where welcome forms often include questions about income, wedding budget and who’s paying. Fields advises couples to keep their personal finances out of the conversation, and be firm about what they are expecting to spend.

10. “Every artist was first an amateur, and many still are.”

Just about anyone can hang out a shingle as a planner, photographer, florist or other wedding pro. That means there’s a good chance that some of the vendors couples will come across in their hunt haven’t worked many weddings or have little or no professional experience, period. Review each vendor’s resume, looking for details about years in the field, training completed and professional associations joined, insiders suggest. Ask for recently married couples to speak with as references and meet the vendors face to face before you sign any contracts, Gurnick says. “It’s too easy these days to put up a beautiful website that looks professional,” he says. “It’s always best to meet in person.” On the other hand, even relative newbies can be a great option, if they know their stuff, says Winnika. “Oftentimes the price reflects that [lack of experience], and that’s fine.”

 

The Past, Present and Future of Wedding Trends

Five years ago chocolate brown paired with pastel colors was all the rage. Décor was pretty minimal with accents of monogrammed items. Centerpieces were simple, typically featuring floating candles and submerged flowers. Brides were wearing a-line ball gown silhouettes with elaborate beading and skirts full of pick-ups.

Thanks to popular wedding magazines, blogs and planning websites (hello, pinterest?!) brides are finding it easier and more accessible to create more stylish, personal weddings. Currently the hot color is gray, in any shade. Vintage is the hot style word and brides are mixing vintage elements with modern ones to achieve the styled wedding look we are seeing everywhere. Food being served at weddings is also taking a personal turn with Indian inspired cuisine, family style Mexican and upscale Italian topping the trend currently. Food trucks as well as comforting late night snacks are also making quite the appearance. The traditional multi-tiered cake has been replaced with dessert bars featuring bite size treats such as mini-pies, cupcakes, macaroons and milkshake shots. Thanks to the royal wedding, lace is all the rage when it comes to wedding dress trends which is ideal for brides looking to keep a vintage feel to their wedding.

Wedding trends of the future look bright with unexpected color palettes and unique patterns. The current popular vintage look will slowly be replaced with events centering on unique floral design details such as hanging centerpieces and one-of-a-kind vases. Cakes will be making a comeback as a décor element and focal point with multiple textures, patterns and materials. Food is going to be a dominant part of the reception. Watch out for entertainment-style catering, mixologists, food stations and table side cooking. Future brides will be making their walk down the aisle in a sleek, modern silhouette with versatile dresses that can be worn one way for the ceremony and a different way for the reception gaining in popularity.

 

Do you see a different wedding trend emerging? Have a current trend I didn't cover? Please be sure to let us know by leaving a comment below!

Bride Profile: Jenae Hull (Married December 31, 2012 in Grand Junction, CO)

Name and Location: Jenae Hull from Grand Junction, CO

 

1) What attracted you to your husband?

I met my husband in middle school but we lost touch in high school and several years later he found me again on Facebook. It was so great to reconnect with an old friend, and surprisingly we still had a lot of mutual friends which made our get togethers comfortable and fun. I was initially attracted to his natural leadership (people are always looking up to him for advice and to make the plans), his humor (constant joker and notorious pranker) and of course his stunning tall, dark and handsome muscular figure. But we always say our relationship is so strong because we were such great friends first; and to me the most attractive quality about my husband is that first he was my best friend.

 

2) What 3 words would you use to describe your wedding?

Country, Chic, Sparkle

 

3) What was your first dance song choice and why did you choose it?

Our first song was "Remember When" by Alan Jackson. We heard it at a country bar one night while we were dancing and the lyrics seamed to fit our "reconnected" relationship. It completely melts our hearts every time we hear it. A few years before Alex proposed he told our friends he already knew what song he was going to dance to at his wedding, gave me a wink, and I knew I wasn't going to let this one get away!

 

 

 

 

 

 

4) If you could do it over again, what would you change about your wedding?

Double check, triple check, quadruple check. We had an extremely short engagement (99 days) and surprisingly our planning and coordinating was extremely easy. I should have taken that as a warning sign that something was bound to go wrong. We were both so relaxed the day of the wedding, and everything was on schedule, that I didn't bother to check if I had my master wedding notebook with me at the venue. I am still waiting for our wedding video and I can NOT wait to see the look on my face as I am standing with Alex and our officiant, in front of family and friends, and realize that I forgot our marriage license, and my vows..... My stomach dropped to the floor and then jumped up my throat. Luckily, I have been blessed with an incredible memory so I was able to "wing" it. But my first advice to every next bride is to appoint one person to worry about these types of things in case you forget. Make a list and give it to them the night before to check off on the day of.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5) What advice would you offer on wedding planning to recently engaged couples?

Do it for you. Pick the venue YOU want, the wedding party YOU want, the attire YOU want, etc. Looking back at our wedding, I am so glad we picked everything according to our taste and style. It was unique and memorable, and not cookie cutter like everyone else. It might not have been what our parents or friends and family expected, but they enjoyed our unique touches throughout the night.


 

Wedding Etiquette as a Guest

The snow has melted (or if you're from Colorado, keeps falling!), the flowers are blooming, summer is just around the corner and love is in the air! All of this adds up to the fact that wedding season is officially upon us. Nowadays, weddings come in all shapes and sizes and traditional wedding etiquette certainly does not always apply. Here are some basic guidelines that should help you navigate through the season, no matter how formal or informal the event may be.

RSVPs

Be sure to ‘respondez s’il vous plait’ by the date requested on the invitation. The bride and groom need to know how many guests will be attending their wedding in order to plan for seating, food etc. While it is considered bad manners to respond after the RSVP date, it’s even worse to show up at a wedding after having not replied at all. Never assume the couple already knows whether you are attending or not.

 

 

 



(Clear direction is given for RSVP.)

 

 

Plus 1

The envelope for the invitation will indicate if you are allowed to bring a guest. If there is no indication of a reserved spot for your plus one, assume that you cannot bring anyone. This includes leaving your children at home. Because the responsible parties have to pay by the head, they may not be able to afford to invite extra people. It is also considered bad manners to ask the couple if you can bring a plus one; a lot of people are too nice to say no when directly asked so please don’t put your friends/family in this awkward position.

 

 

 

(Here the outside of the envelope states to whom the invitation adheres to.)

 

 

What to wear?

The big question! A good rule of thumb is to ‘dress like the invitation.’ If the invitation has a casual and light-hearted aesthetic, chances are you can dress that way as well. Likewise, if the invitation is formal and fancy, your attire should match that. Also keep in mind the location and what time of day and year the wedding is. If it is an outdoor, summer wedding, a whimsical colorful dress if probably appropriate. Be sure to pick something that is not too sexy, you should dress quite modestly for attending a wedding. Everyone knows that white is not appropriate, so steer clear of it. Many say black is not okay either and some cultures consider it a sign of your disapproval. That aside, I say go for it so long as you don’t look like your getting ready to attend your great aunt B’s funeral or for an audition to join the Addams family. Gentlemen have it a bit easier, lighter colored suits for morning and afternoon weddings, darker colors for evening.

 

(Here's a good looking group that clearly demonstrates good taste in wedding apparel.)  

 

Gifts

When it comes to buying gifts, it is usually best to stick to the registry. While it can be fun to go out and buy your own unique gift for the bride and groom, they put the things on the registry for a reason. Of course it is not a requirement to use their registry when buying a gift, it is strongly suggested though. Feel free to go in on a gift with a few people that are also attending the wedding. Couples typically add a few larger ticket items with the expectation that this may happen. Lingerie gifts should be saved for the bachelorette or lingerie party solely. If you must decline the invitation, it is proper etiquette to still send a gift. It is understood that some people simply cannot afford to send a gift; if this is the case you should still at least send a congratulatory card to recognize the couples union and thank them for thinking of you when it came to the guest list.

 

 

 

(The all telling purple and white box of a Bed, Bath and Beyond gift.)

 



General Behavior Guidelines

You would think that this is a given, but you’d be surprised at how many people don’t know how important it is to show up on time! It is incredibly rude to show up late to a wedding. If you for some reason must show up late, skip the ceremony. You’re not supposed to be walking down the aisle with the bride and entering once the ceremony has begun can be quite a distraction for everyone.

It is considered rude to be taking pictures during the wedding ceremony. Let the hired photographer take care of photos during the ceremony. This especially applies to indoor spaces with low lighting that requires flash photography. Snap away during the reception, just check with the bride and groom to make sure it’s okay to post them online before they have a chance to post pictures of their own wedding.

Be sure to be social and introduce yourself to other guests. If you were assigned seating for dinner, be sure to sit in the seat you were assigned and get to know the people at your table if you don’t already. Be sure to be respectful and quiet during speeches and announcements (no matter how long and drawn out they can be, speaking in front of any kind of audience is nerve wracking enough). If there is a DJ, the bride and groom have most likely provided him/her with a play list; this isn’t your party and isn’t your time to request songs, unless of course the DJ has asked for special requests. In that case, make sure to keep your song choices classy and appropriate. No one wants to listen to sad, slow break up songs at a wedding and parents will certainly not appreciate their children being exposed to curse word laden or inappropriate subject matter songs.

If there is drinking at the wedding, keep your alcohol consumption to a classy, healthy medium. Nobody wants to take care of a drunk person at a wedding (or ever really…). Don’t forget that there will be a photographer and/or videographer there to capture your not so flattering moments on film.

A traditional but still relevant rule is ‘don’t leave before the cake is cut.’ After the cake has been cut, you can leave as you please. Before taking off, try to thank the parents of the bride and groom as well as congratulate and thank the bride and groom. While you certainly don’t want to leave too early, you don’t want to be the guest that has to be forced off the dance floor or peeled away from the bar at the end of the night either. Many wedding locations have very strict rules about when guests need to be off the premises and they charge for going over that pre-set time limit.

 

 

(Have fun, let loose!! Just do it all in good taste.)

 



I’m sure this doesn’t cover everything, but I hope it gives you a good head start to covering the basics of etiquette when a wedding guest this upcoming wedding season. Feel free to leave a post in the comments section if you think of something I missed or you have a question.