Weddings In Rockford

Closing

Sorry ladies; i tried to hang in there as long as i could but there are not enough of you asking me/hiring me to keep me open.  I have really enjoyed working with you and all of my wonderful vendors.  All of you have truly been a blessing to me.  Special thanks to:

Ryan Nelson at Sound Productions; Kevin Harvey at Photography by Harvey; Julie at Anderson Japanese Gardens; Beverly at Tinker Cottage and so many more for your kindness, patience, guidance and love of the wedding business.  Thank you also for your professionalism and joy.  Thank you all i will not forget you.

 

 

After The Reception

It has become a favorite practice of many couples to continue the reception fun after the official party has ended.  Because so much time and effort and planning has gone into the wedding event parties, the ceremony and the reception more and more couples are electing to plan smaller and more intimate parties after their guests have headed home.  Usually included in these events are parents (if they are still in the party mood), members of the wedding party and close friends.  While couples are anxious to spend time alone, they also want to keep the party going on a slower pace.  Here are some ideas for your "after party".  Be sure to let those close friends and family know about this "after party" so they can plan their time accordingly.  You can include a special invitation inside the wedding invitation or send one separately.  it would be wise to let these invitees know that the after party is "exclusive" so they don't "spread the word".  If your wedding is in a hotel and you are staying there, the natural gathering spot is your suite of rooms, or a smaller party room in the facility.  Make those arrangements at the same time you are booking your reception.  Maybe there is a small, intimate jazz club or cigar bar or all night breakfast spot that is a favorite of yours.  Arrange with the club management for your party to arrive at a specified time.  Arrange for special foods.  Select food and refreshments that are quite different from those served at your reception.  You can do wine and cheese, hot hors d' oeuvres, fondue (chocolate and fruit or cheese and bread).  If you would like more ideas please call or email me.

 

A Prime Location

I believe that the secret of planning a fabulous stress-free reception begins with finding the right venue.  Let me offer some advice to help you avoid costly mistakes.  As soon as the date is confirmed with the clergy, contact should be made with the manager of preferred venues to check on availability.  If you do not have a place in mind, consider options such as hotels, banquet halls, historical sites, parks, art galleries or museums.  In choosing the location, the convenience of guests must be kept in mind.  By car, the location should not be more than half an hour from the ceremony site.  Be sure that the site you have chosen is large enough to comfortably accommodate the number of guests you expect as well as provide the best seating arragements.  Check to see how many events will be taking place at a multi-event location or how much time is allotted between events scheduled the same day.  Review any restrictions the venue may have regarding the type, volume and duration of the music.  Is there a public address system in house or do you need to provide one.  Is there an adequate power supply for speakers, instruments and amplifiers?  Does the facility provide a coordinator to cue the musicians for the first dance, toasts, cake cutting and the bouquet and garter toss?  Just to insure that the details are covered you may wish to appoint a couple as assistant hosts to greet guests and manage the various events so that you and your parents are free to enjoy the party.  And if you have seen to these details up front, you will enjoy your evening.

 

It's Show Time

Most couples will want to have either a DJ or a live band playing at their reception and through the evening for the dance.  You will of course, want to hear the band play and see how they interact with a crowd.  As you interview bands for your party, do try to catch them at a live event.  Check out the kind of music they play and ask about their repertoire.  Don't be afraid to ask how they will be dressed.  If yours is a formal wedding you really don't want a band in jeans and torn tees.  If yours is a wedding party with a strong cultural theme, consider hiring ethnic performers for the cocktail hour.  To honor your scottish heritage consider a bag piper to pipe you into the reception.  Some talented irish dancers can be hired to entertain if that is your heritage.  Dancers from a local ballet company could perform for your guests.  To extend the music even further, match it to the activity.  You'll likely choose a DJ or dance band for later.  You may wish to consider quieter, more subdued and elegant music for guests as they dine.  Pianists - solo or as a duo can entertain at cocktails and through the dinner.  Some couples have hired artists to create caricatures of the guests as they sip cocktails and wait for the bridal party to arrive.  Magicians can provide an interesting diversion as well.  Ask me about other terrific ideas to make your reception truly memorable.

 

DIY Ring Bearer Pillow

Here is a new blog for the do-it-yourselfers out there.  Ruffled, they have a cute ring bearer pillow that looks easy and fast to do.  Let me know if you attempted it, and send me pictures!

Jilted Bride Files Lawsuit Against Groom

ABC News

By:  Susanna Kim

 

Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned," playwright William Congreve wrote.

In a suburb of Chicago, fury has overtaken a jilted bride who is suing her former finance' for the wedding costs.  Dominique Buttitta, dumped four days before the wedding was to take place, is seeking damages of $95, 942.00 from Vito Salerno to cover wedding expenses and the cost of the lawsuit.  More...

Your Bridesmaids are not your slaves

When your best friends sign on to become your bridesmaids they are not signing on to become your own personal wedding slaves.  Here are some helpful tips from Aisledash on what exactly your bridesmaids are suppose to do.

Fabric and Paper Flowers

I found some helpful hints on fabric and paper flowers for you do-it-yourselfers out there over at Elizabeth Anne Designs.  I hope it helps in your search for the perfect bridal craft.

Bridal Party Introductions

Brides often ask me to explain the proper way to introduce the bridal party at the reception.  My first suggestion is to insure that the post ceremony pictures be taken as quickly as possible so that guests can be greeted without a long delay.  Guests should be served appetizers and something to drink while they are waiting for the bridal party to arrive.  If both sets of parents are going to be held at the church for a bit, it is wise to ask a couple who are friends or relatives to serve as host and hostess until parents and the bridal party arrive at the reception site.  Once the bridal party arrives at the reception, the bandleader or DJ asks everyone to stand while he introduces them.  Since the bride and groom are the "stars" of the event, they are introduced last.  Parents of the bride, parents of the groom, the bridesmaids, groomsmen, best man and maid of honor are then in this order.  Be sure to check names for correct spelling and pronunciations when providing the information to the person in charge of introductions.  If you need more ideas or if you have any questions please call or email me.

The Expo is coming!

Rockford's Own Bridal Expo is coming to Giovanni's on Sunday, September 12, 2010.  For more information and to register go here...

While I have been gone . . .

My email has piled up.  So please be patient.  Thanks!

Ask Mrs. C

Hi Mrs. C;  My parents are divorced, but my mom kept her married name.  How should the invitation be worded?

Try this example:

Ms. Mary Smith

Mr. Sam Smith

Happily/Joyfully/Proudly invite you to attend the wedding of their daughter

Sarah Ann

 

Mrs. C is a seating chart really necessary?

Unless you want mass confusion to reign at your reception.  Take a moment to plan table assignments.  That way it will eliminate the chaos that comes when couples do not make table assignments.

 

Mrs. C i am going to be a second time bride.  Is it acceptable for me to wear a veil?

Of course you can wear a veil.  It is your wedding you can wear anything that you want to.

 

True Confessions

Sometimes we need someone to go to unload.  Wouldn't it be nice to be annonymous?  That way you can really be truthful?  Well now you can.  You can go to  Truu Bride Confessions.  Here is a place you can tell the truth about your future mother-in-law, your mom, bridesmaids, maid of honor and more.

Which Photographer is right for you?

By:  Aaron Tokarz

White Shutter Photography

 

You are engaged.  You have your wedding date and the budget is set (at least for now).  You know you need a photographer and now is the time to start looking.  Where do you begin and how do you choose?

Word of mouth is the best place to start.  If your friend loved the photographer at their wedding, they've probably already told you about them.  As most of us already do, start with google.  Check out as many websites as you can.  Most good photographers will have a wide selection of images for you to peruse.  The majority of photographers are now blogging to constantly update you and show off their most recent work.  This really allows you to get a feel for their company and their shooting style, not only their top images from their website.  Dig deeper, check out the archives of their blog posts, you should really be able to get a good feel for whether or not you are interested in that particular company.

Once you have found a photographer ( or a few) that you like, contact them.  Send them an email, give them a call, reach out and let them know you are interested.  Then take notes on the little things ... how quickly they return your request, what information they provide you, and how you connect with them.  Check out their pricing and what they have to offer.  Obviously pricing is usually the number one factor in whether or not you can choose a certain vendor.  Keep in mind that will have these images for the rest of your life, not just that day.  Set up an interview with them.  If possible you should meet your photographer before you book with them and definitely before your wedding day.

You may not realize it, but you will spend more time with your photographer than anyone else on your wedding day.  Make sure you connect with him/her.  During your initial meeting, look at more than just albums and pictures, pay attention to their personality and how they make you feel.  People vastly underestimate how important this is.  You want the entire experience with your photographer to be great, not just the pictures they produce.  And if your experience is great, it is sure to show in your images.

Most of the time you should be able to tell right away if a photographer is a good fit for you on your wedding day.  If not, take all of that information and think it over.  Meet with a couple of photographers and compare your notes about each one.  Then, get a hold of the one you like the best and book them, soon.  A lot of photographers will be booked about a year in advance, so it's important not to put this off for too long.

With anything in life, you get what you pay for.  And yes, photography is a big chunk of the budget.  Remember this at the end of the night:  The food will have been eaten, the flowers will be wilting, the music will come to an end, and the dress will be shed.  But the images will have been captured and forever remain yours.  That is until you pass them on to your kids and then their kids.

 

The Bride Wore A Diaper?

  I have seen discussion of this on other wedding related blogs and chat rooms and at first i thought this was some bizarre cyber myth.  I still do.  I cannot imagine, not even for a moment that a bride anywhere, at anytime would consider this option.  To wear a diaper on her wedding day.  A day that she has been dreaming about and planning with all consuming passion, that she would decide, rather than to take a moment to use the ladies room, she would rather pee on herself.  What do you think ladies?  Would you use a "bridal diaper?"  Uggh!

 

 

Research:  Urbandictionary.com  Thefrisky.com  Onewed.com/forums