Personalizing a Destination Wedding

I read in an issue of Martha Stewart Weddings that the key to making your destination wedding unforgettable is to think of it as a blank canvas. Yes, you will be surrounded by snow-capped mountains, palm trees, crystal clear water, or whatever - but your wedding is the star of the show and you should treat it that way. Here are some ways to make your destination wedding more personal and memorable for both you and your guests.

- On your wedding website, include a special section about events your guests can anticipate, advice on what to pack (sunscreen, ski goggles, etc.), and local attractions. This is a good idea for any bride - no matter where your wedding is taking place, guests will appreciate being well informed.

- If you want your wedding decor to stand out, find creative ways to use materials that are easy to pack & transport, such as paper and balloons. I love what this couple did with giant white balloons.


And check out these adorable DIY paper flowers (with how-to instructions) from Green Wedding Shoes:

- At your reception, choose food, beverages, and music that compliment your surroundings. You don't need to go overboard with your theme, but if your guests feel connected to their environment, they'll feel even more comfortable and so will you.

- It's crucial to find vendors that you trust, especially if you're not familiar with the area. (That's something a wedding planner can help you with!) On your wedding day, the last thing you need to worry about is if the flowers will be delivered on time or if the deejay needs help setting up the dance floor. Do your research before selecting vendors for your wedding so you don't have to sweat the details on your big day.

When planning any wedding, a good rule of thumb is to make choices that reflect who you & your husband are as a couple. Because no matter where you venture for your wedding day, it's important to remember why you're there - to share the rest of your life with the person you love.

My First Bridal Show

Hello Friends!

This post is a bit delayed, but I received some pictures from Bustle Event Design's very first bridal show and had to share...

Here I am, waiting for the brides!



{All photos in this post were taken by Lemongrass Photography}

I attended The Indy Area Vendor Showcase at the Sheraton in downtown Indianapolis on Sunday, March 29th. It was SUCH a great experience and I made many connections with potential clients & other vendors. Erika from e-vents: a wedding and event planning boutique was the brains behind this event and she did an excellent job making it a success!

I worked with Pam from Entertaining with a Flair to order my linens for the table (through BBJ Linens), which definitely made my booth stand out a bit from the other booths.



The florist that created the arrangements for my wedding (back in August) - Shana Schutt - offered to make an arrangement for my booth, and it was stunning! Not only was it gorgeous, it smelled fabulous, too! Side note: Shana just launched her new website for Shana Schutt Floral Design. You should check it out!

Overall, I had a great time and was very happy with the turnout. :)

P.S. A special thanks to John from Enthusiast Apparel for donating the vinyl my husband and I used to DIY my framed sign!

Crate & Barrel/Real Simple Registry Event

I just received this invitation today & had to pass it on to you!






{Source; Click here to register for this event at your local Crate & Barrel}

My husband and I attended one of these events when we were engaged and didn't know that we would actually be registering for things that same day. We thought it was an informative session on what to register for and nothing more! When the Crate & Barrel people passed out the registry scanners and gave instructions for how to use them, we looked at each other like, "What the heck?" We were NOT prepared to register! We did it anyways, though, and it was pretty painless.

The session begins when the store is closed, so you have the store to yourselves (the only people there are other engaged couples) when you start registering. It's less overwhelming that way! I highly recommend going!

Sneaky, Sneaky: Tips on Reducing Your Guest List

I laughed out loud when I read Planning... Forever Events' blog post about reducing your guest list.




{Image Source}

Funny, yes, but a very valid post (sometimes you just have to make it more difficult for people to RSVP "yes").

Saundra's tips are excellent (and the comments below the post are hilarious)!!!

Here's the link to her blog post: http://planningforever.com/blog/2009/01/26/easy-tips-on-reducing-your-guest-list/.

Enjoy!!

Our Floral Order

The florist we hired for our wedding called me last night to ask if I could send her some pictures to use on her website, and that got me thinking... Maybe I should share my florist order with you, in case it helps you out when thinking of how many arrangements you'll need for your wedding. Of course, your wedding will most likely differ from mine, so this is just a starting point.

[By the way, my florist's name is Shana from Petals & Pots. E-mail me if you'd like her contact information! All images below taken by Lemongrass Photography.]

{Above: My bouquet... TR's boutonniere...}

{Above: Bridesmaid bouquet sitting in a vase @ our headtable... Flower girl's pomander...}

Ceremony Floral Arrangements (Role, Type of Arrangement, Quantity)

Bride - Bridal bouquet - 1

Bridesmaid - Bouquet - 5

Flower girl - Pomander - 2

Groom - Boutonniere - 1
Groomsman - Boutonniere - 6
Ring bearer - Boutonniere - 1
Usher - Boutonniere - 3
Father of the bride - Boutonniere - 1
Father of the groom - Boutonniere - 1
Step-father of the bride - Boutonniere - 1
Grandfather of the bride - Boutonniere - 1
Grandfather of the groom - Boutonniere - 1
Godfather of the bride - Boutonniere - 1
Godfather of the groom - Boutonniere - 1
18 total boutonnieres

Mother of the bride - Wrist corsage - 1
Mother of the groom - Wrist corsage - 1
Grandmother of the bride - Wrist corsage - 1
Grandmother of the groom - Wrist corsage - 1
Godmother of the bride - Wrist corsage - 1
Female Greeter/Guestbook - Wrist corsage - 5
Female reader - Wrist corsage - 2
12 total wrist corsages

Guest book table - Vase arrangement - 1

Reception Floral Order

Centerpiece worksheet:

Total # of guests including wedding party (predicted) = 195

• # guests at head table = 13
• # in regular tables = 182

Regular table seating capacity = 10 people

182/10 = 19 tables

19 Centerpieces

6 vases on head table for bridesmaid bouquets

Choosing Your Wedding Date

In light of the fact that it is now DECEMBER (!!) and many young couples out there will soon become engaged over the holidays (aw!), I thought I'd make a list of pointers for choosing a wedding date. This is likely to be one of the first things you do together as an engaged couple, and it's important to do some research before you tell everyone on earth when you're getting married.





{Limited Edition 2009 Birdie Desk Calendar: Joom's Etsy Shop}

DISCLAIMER: These are only guidelines. If your heart is set on a particular date, go with that date! These are just some things to consider for you and your guests' sakes if you are worried about travel costs and/or lodging availability.

#1. How long do you want your engagement period to be? Some couples get engaged knowing they want to remain engaged for quite some time - say, when one person is finishing up school - while other couples want to get married within a few months. Hopefully, you and your fiance have talked about this prior to getting engaged, so deciding where to start your date-search is not a big deal.

#2. If you are having a short engagement (i.e. 6 months or less), try to avoid Saturdays in the months of May, June, July, August & October (the busiest wedding months). Given that many venues book events well before a year in advance, you might run into issues securing a location in these busy months. If you do decide to get married in a busy month, consider a Friday evening (what I did) or Sunday afternoon ceremony. If you are set on a Saturday evening wedding during a busy month, think about alternative locations for your ceremony & reception (i.e. a park or cool library or a relative's home).

#3. Holidays = Expensive! Some couples are dead-set on having a Valentine's Day wedding, but if your budget is at all a concern, you might want to reconsider! Holidays are not only more expensive in terms of venue rental, but also in terms of transportation & even flower costs (hello?? roses on Valentine's Day??)!

Here is a list of 2009 holidays and the day of the week each falls on:

New Years Day = 1/1/09 (Thursday)
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day = 1/19/09 (Monday)
Valentine's Day = 2/14/09 (Saturday)
President's Day = 2/16/09 (Monday)
Ash Wednesday = 2/25/09 (Wednesday)
St. Patrick's Day = 3/17/09 (Tuesday)
Palm Sunday = 4/5/09 (Sunday)
Passover = 4/9/09 (Thursday)
Good Friday = 4/10/09 (Friday)
Easter = 4/12/09 (Sunday)
Mother's Day = 5/10/09 (Sunday)
Memorial Day = 5/25/09 (Monday)
Father's Day = 6/21/09 (Sunday)
Independence Day = 7/4/09 (Saturday)
Labor Day = 9/7/09 (Monday)
Rosh Hashanah = 9/19/09 (Saturday)
Yom Kippur = 9/28/09 (Monday)
Columbus Day = 10/12/09 (Monday)
Halloween = 10/31/09 (Saturday)
Veterans Day = 11/11/09 (Wednesday)
Thanksgiving = 11/26/09 (Thursday)
Hanukkah (1st day) = 12/12/09 (Saturday)
Christmas = 12/25/09 (Friday)
New Years Eve = 12/31/09 (Thursday)



#4. Even if you aren't a sports fan, your guests or members of your wedding party might be! You should check out major sporting event dates, and avoid having your wedding on those dates if you want these guests to show up! Hopefully, your guests think your wedding trumps any sporting event, but they would probably appreciate your consideration in avoiding the date if at all possible. If your city will be hosting any large sporting event, that could also cause lodging & transportation problems.



Here are some sporting dates to consider:



Superbowl XLIII = 2/1/09 (Sunday)
March Madness = 4/4/09 (Saturday)
Indianapolis 500 = 5/24/09 (Sunday)
World Series = 7/14/09 (Tuesday)

#5. Make sure to check your city's calendar of events to make sure conventions and other large events will not cause lodging availability or transporation issues.



#6. Will you be having a destination wedding? If so, consider college & high school spring break dates. The last thing you want is for drunken co-eds to be stumbling through your beach wedding ceremony in Cabo!



#7. Are you in school? Are you a teacher? Do you have kids' school schedules to plan around? It could be that the only convenient time to get married is during a school break (i.e. Christmas, Spring Break, Summer vacation).



Like I said, these are only guidelines. Choosing your wedding date is an exciting step in the planning process, so enjoy discussing it with your fiance!



One last tip: Try not to involve too many people in the decision. This is your day, and there most likely be at least one person who can't make it to your wedding for one reason or another. Trying to please everyone is a great way to burn yourself out on wedding planning!