Your Wedding Advice - StrictlyWeddings.com Blog

Glassware

“Add unusual, beautiful touches to your glassware. Surprise guests with a cut crystal champagne flute for your toast or a black stemless martini glass for your signature cocktail or mac n’ cheese bar.  Even if your hotel or venue provides all of the rentals for you, most will not provide balloon goblets for your red wine. The vinophiliacs will love you.” ~ RSVP Soiree

Save-The-Dates: The Basics

Who Should Send Them?

Couples marrying on a holiday weekend or at a destination wedding should send them.  For others, they are fun, but not mandatory.

What’s The Point? 

They give guests time to think about their schedule and travel plans.

When Do You Send Them? 

Mail at least six months but no more than a year before the ceremony.  Just don’t send them before you finalize your guest list.

What Should They Say? 

Include a short announcement of your impending nuptials, your names, the wedding date, and the words “Invitation To Follow.” Also, provide the name of the city where you will marry, plus your wedding Web site and any hotel and travel information, if available.

Did You Know?

Save-The-Date cards have been a fixture on the wedding scene for 10 years.

Everyday China Basics

Getting Started

In addition to registering for fine china most couples pick out a set of dishes that they’ll use every day. Choose a midprice pattern that you won’t tire of and isn’t likely to be discontinued. If you fall in love with dishes from a seasonal line at a mass-market retailer, ask if you will be able to purchase more later on.

Assessing Your Needs

12 settings of informal china are adequate, unless you know you’ll be entertaining large groups. Think about what you’ll really use. Many couples register for four-piece place settings of informal china, including a dinner plate, salad plate, mug (in place of a cup and saucer, which are rarely used daily anymore) and cereal bowl (in lieu of a soup bowl).

Cost and Quality

Because the cost of everyday tableware is relatively easy on the wallet‚ you can afford to be more creative with the products you register for, and even integrate informal dishes with higher-end pieces.

Notes on Care

Consider registering for earthenware and stoneware, which are made of clay and often glazed or brightly decorated. Earthenware is susceptible to chipping, while stoneware is chip-resistant. Most clay-based china and glass, is ovenproof and dishwasher- and microwave-safe. Plastic, wood and bamboo pieces are attractive additions to the table but generally not heatproof.

Something Extra

Certain accessories (like salt and pepper shakers) look just as nice on a fancy dinner table as they do in the morning at breakfast. Register for such pieces (serving bowls too) that work in more than one setting.

Great Gifts For Groom

Cartier 
Looking for the ultimate classic investment piece? Cartier’s tank style gives off a stately air with bold roman numerals and lustrous stainless design.

Tag Heuer 
The traditional scuba diving watch meets its modern match with a sleek square, onyx face. Keep this one for the office, not the ocean.

Hermes 
Add a pop of color to his wardrobe with this deep cobalt tank watch. With a graphic modern face and a simpler leather band, you can’t miss with this pick.

David Yurman 
If your hubby to be prefers to spend a long weekend at the Hampton Classic over the White Sox game, snatch up a a pair of equestrian-inspired cufflinks.

Say I Do To The iPhone

What will they think of next? The iPhone now counts down your “I DO’s.” This new application allows you to be a bit more obsessed with your date. Now every time someone asks how long it is until the big day you can have an exact answer! Simply enter in your wedding date and time and let the countdown begin. Wedding Day application counts the years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, and even seconds until you say “iDO!” Helpful in planning since every second counts for busy brides and grooms!

Wedding Day applications continues to work even after you say your vows, by tracking how long you have been married. Down to the second! Since your iPhone or iPod Touch is always with you, the countdown is only a click away. Wedding Day is a real time tool and available on the iPhone App Store.

Found on: BridalBarBlog 

Fix Chapped Lips

“A good easy way to exfoliate dry, chapped lips is to use a tea spoon of baking soda along with a dab of water. The baking soda will turn grainy and make your lips smooth and silky soft…and its all natural!” ~ Elan Makeup Studio

Let Them Eat Cake!

Cake connoisseur Sylvia Weinstock shares her secrets to choosing a sensational wedding confection and tells us about her tastiest combinations.

What new wedding cake trend would you like to see more brides doing?

I would love to see more brides incorporating elements from their gown into their cakes. If a bride has personalized embroidery on her gown or veil we can translate it to be piped in icing onto the cake for a beautiful touch…

What process do you take brides through to create their perfect wedding cake?

We like to know their overall taste. We ask them who their favorite clothing designers are to get a feeling for their style. We will want to know where the party is because aren’t not going to want to put a cake that looks like Versailles in a minimalist Japanese-inspired room. Then we will ask about the season of the wedding—maybe lemon curd with fresh raspberry for a summer luncheon and chocolate, mocha and hazelnut for a winter affair. We also will ask about the reception decor for inspiration.

What is the most important thing for a couple to consider when choosing their wedding cake?

They should remember that it not only had to be beautiful to look at, but has to be delicious too.

What are the most popular fillings or cake flavors you are seeing?

Summer brides are looking for something lighter so I am seeing a lot of raspberry, strawberry, key lime, blood orange and mango. In general, sophisticated tastes are also popular now too because a lot of brides are older and have experienced great food so they have a better idea about what they want to serve guests.

How has cake making changed through the years?

I rather hope that it has gotten better. When I started this business 30 years ago cakes were either beautiful but inedible, or delicious and didn’t look like much. Now the combination has improved.

Bonus Question: What’s your favorite type of cake to eat?

I love lemon. My ideal cake would be a yellow butter cake with fresh lemon curd and raspberries, but my husband loves chocolate so if I am making a cake big enough to alternate tiers I try to satisfy us both.

- Cari Wolfert, brides.com

Tip For Entertainment

“To tip or not to tip? That may be your question. Many brides have wondered should they tip the musicians for playing the ceremony or reception. The answer is completely up to you! It is not required to tip your musicians like you would tip your waitress but if you feel so compelled, please do! A standard and much appreciated tip for one musician would be $20-$25. ” ~ DIVISI Strings

Tips on Tipping

It’s customary to give gratuities to your wedding vendors. But to whom? When? And how much? To add to the confusion, some vendors include a gratuity in their contracts, while others leave tipping to your discretion. Ask before you sign, so that you know whether tipping is optional or contractual. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect and what to do:

When Gratuities Are Expected

Waitstaff at the rehearsal dinner

• How much tip? For parties of 20 or more, a gratuity of approximately 20 percent will automatically be added to the bill.

Wedding-day transportation

• How much tip? 20% of the total cost.
• When to tip: Most transportation companies allow the option of paying in advance or on the day of the wedding.
• Give the job to: the best man. He can be in charge of paying any outstanding transportation bills and tips.

Reception staff (including the manager, maitre d’, waitstaff, bartenders, and powder-room, coat-check, and parking attendants)

• How much tip? 18–20% of final reception bill. (This is usually split between the manager, maitre d’, waitstaff, and attendants.)
• When to tip: The bill and tips are usually paid a few days prior to the reception.

DJ/musicians at reception

• How much tip? $20–$25 for each musician.
• When to tip: at the end of the reception.
• Give the job to: the best man. Have cash envelopes prepared in advance.

When Tipping is Optional

Delivery-truck drivers (cake, rental equipment) and workers who set up rental equipment (tents, tables, and chairs)

• How much tip? $5–$25 per person, depending on difficulty of the tasks.
• When to tip: Upon delivery or post setup.
• Give the job to: The person accepting deliveries or the person in charge of setting up the ceremony and reception sites. Have cash envelopes prepared in advance.

Officiant

• How much to tip? $100 and up. It’s common to make a donation to the church/synagogue or to a charity in the officiant’s name in lieu of a tip.
• When to tip: Donations can be made prior to the wedding, presented at the rehearsal dinner or given after the ceremony.
• Give the job to: the best man, if you wait until the wedding weekend.

Organist/musicians for ceremony

• How much to tip? $20–$25 for each musician.
• When to tip: at the end of the ceremony.
• Give the job to: the best man. Have cash envelopes prepared in advance.

Reception-hall manager/maitre d’

• How much to tip? $30 or more for each, depending on the size of the wedding and the final reception bill.
• When to tip: at the end of reception.
• Give the job to: The father of the bride or the best man. Have cash envelopes prepared in advance.

Waitstaff and bartenders

• How much to tip? $20 per person or 10 percent of the total bar tab for bartenders. (Also, instruct the maitre d’ that guests should not be solicited for tips.)
• When to tip: at the end of the reception. If you are tipping a percentage, you will need to know the final bar tab first.
• Give the job to: the maitre d’. Have cash envelopes prepared in advance.

Powder-room, coat-check, and parking attendants

• How much to tip? Each attendant should receive $.50–$1 per guest. (Also, instruct the maitre d’ that guests should not be solicited for tips.)
• When to tip: at the end of the reception.
• Give the job to: the maitre d’. Have cash envelopes prepared in advance.

Hair and makeup artists

• How much to tip? 10-15% of total cost.
• When to tip: at the end of service.

Manicurist

• How much to tip? 15-20% of total cost.
• When to tip: At the end of service.

Masseuse (pre-wedding massage)

• How much to tip? 15–20% of total cost.
• When to tip: at the end of service.

Tips You Can Ship

Although you can always tip or send a thank-you note for exceptional work, these vendors do not generally receive gratuities for their services:

Wedding consultant
Stationer
Bridal shop
Seamstress for alterations
Tux shop
Jeweler
Cake baker
Florist
Caterer
Photographer and assistant
Videographer
Travel agent for honeymoon
– Anita K. Henry, Modern Bride magazine

Something New

Rosewood Crescent Hotel hosted a beautiful event on September 10th for the unveiling of their Something New. The Grand Ballroom was recently renovated and is stunning – perfect for your wedding reception!