Your Wedding Advice - StrictlyWeddings.com Blog

Custom Designed Stationary Suites

For some, the wedding shower and/or wedding invitation is the first piece of communications to friends and families about your wedding. It can set the tone and generate excitement for whole experience. If this is you, then you might consider contacting a custom paper designer. The cost will be higher, but the impact will certainly leave its mark.

At Dallas-based Paradise Design Co., Alyssa Reeves designs 100% custom paper goods for weddings and all types of events. Her goal is to design with you in mind, so each piece is truly reflective of your personal style. “I love to meet with a bride and get a sense of her personal style, her bag, her shoes, even her hair and makeup give me a sense of what I would design for her, whether it’s classic & tailored or funky & fresh or some of both!” She also works hand-in-hand with your event designer or coordinator to make sure all her pieces compliment the event design, the flowers, the vibe of the whole event.

Specializing in designing a “stationery suite”, Alyssa loves to collaborate with the bride from day one, getting started with save-the-dates or travel books then wedding weekend pieces; from out-of-town guest gifts to wedding programs to favor packaging. “It makes such a strong statement to have all your paper pieces coordinate, it really does make an impression on your guests—they will see how thoughtful you’ve been of each detail. The best compliment I get is when a couple tells me ‘you wouldn’t believe how many raves we’ve gotten about the invitations and paper pieces!’.”

Paradise Design Co. has designed for weddings all over the country and is available for consultation by appointment only. For more details call her at 972.234.3722 (the web site is just a holding place at this time.)

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Ceremony Etiquette You May Not Know

The first thing you can do for the wedding couple is to arrive on time. It doesn’t matter that most weddings don’t begin at the exact hour indicated in the invitation. It is still good manners to show up on time. If you are going to be late or arrive after the appointed time, you can do the following:

• If the processional is underway, don’t stroll down the aisle at the same time as the wedding party. If the processional is underway, wait in an area outside and/or out of the way until the processional has been completed.
• Exercise discretion: you may prefer to be up front, but this time, you should sit in the back to avoid drawing attention away from the ceremony underway. Enter and seat yourself as quickly and quietly as you can.
• If you are attending a religious ceremony of a faith other than your own, be respectful. Be discreet in your non-participation.This is not the event for making a political statement.
• If you are unfamiliar with the religious rituals, go with the crowd. Watch what others are doing and do you best to follow along or blend in.

Honeymoon Hot Spots – Croatia

Croatia has been added to the list of one of the World’s most romantic destinations for lovers. Here you will find hidden treasures of untouched nature, three thousand years of history waiting to be discovered and Croatia’s stunning coastline is on the Adriatic Sea, one of the cleanest, most crystal clear seas in the Mediterranean and wonderfully warm. Browse marble paved streets, and explore monasteries and cathedrals which began in the 7th century. Dine in the fine restaurants or just stop for a drink in one of the many café-lined squares.

The best way to experience all of Croatia’s rich culture is to embark on your new life as Mr. & Mrs. by taking a voyage on an extraordinary SeaDream yacht voyage, which was ranked in 2008 as “Exclusive – Above Luxury Award” by Berlitz Ocean Cruising and Cruise Ships. What could be more romantic than sailing the Mediterranean from the Southern coast of Croatia to Venice, Italy on an intimate cruise ship that is “yachting, not cruising.”

Perhaps you would prefer to explore Croatia on land. If so, indulge at Novi Spa Hotel & Resort, where luxury meets nature. This five star resort located only 20 minutes from the nearest International airport, Rijeka, offers a plethora of first class amenities, dining and entertainment, and is perched along the Adriatic Sea. Now that Croatia is being rediscovered, more airlines are flying from major US airports at inexpensive rates if booked a couple of months in advance. Discover history. Discover Croatia.

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Source: Signature Travel (StrictlyWeddings.com’s Travel Partner)

Budgeting for Flowers

It is common to allocate approximately 10 percent of the total wedding budget to flowers, but you may choose to spend more or less, depending on your priorities. When you meet with florists, be honest about your budget from the very beginning.

The florist should be able to give you a good idea of what can be accomplished within your budget and offer you helpful advice and alternatives if your requests are unrealistic. If you’re not satisfied with one estimate, shop around; prices can vary widely among vendors.

Cutting Costs
Here are a few ideas to stretch your budget.

• Buy flowers that are in season: For an August wedding, asters and phlox from the farm down the road will be significantly less expensive than peonies, which are out of season at that time.
• Use less-expensive varieties. For example, thousands of daisies can make a wonderful display for the cost of two or three elaborate orchid arrangements.
• Find ways to make flowers do double duty. Bring the arrangements from the church to the reception, or place the bridesmaids’ bouquets around the cake table. You can even use pots of flowers from the bridesmaids’ luncheon again at the rehearsal dinner.
• Avoid a wedding date that coincides with holidays such as Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day, when flowers are at a premium.
• Choose simply constructed arrangements, which are more affordable than complicated wired bouquets.
• Don’t limit yourself to cut flowers; instead, consider garlands, foliage, potted plants or herbs.

Check out previous postings for additional ideas.

Hosting Your Wedding Reception Under A Tent?

Although hosting a tented reception comes with a unique set of concerns, it is not an overly difficult undertaking. Available in a variety of sizes and styles, tents furnish a chic space that is cost-effective and often blends seamlessly with existing architecture. Adding to the allure, tents offer a choice of vinyl fabrics — from total block-out, to peek-a-boo translucent. You can simplify your party planning by ordering wedding and reception tent packages. Most vendors include the installation fee with the total price, and you get the tent of your choice plus tables, chairs, and coordinated linens.

One important thing to consider is how to maintain the right temperature. Unlike an ordinary building, tents do not come complete with air conditioning and heating. If you’re hosting your wedding during the hot summer months or in the wintry cold, you’ll need your tent vendor to bring in the right equipment to keep your guests comfortable.

Here are some equipment options to factor in if you think temperature will affect your tent reception.

• Portable air-conditioning units
• Outdoor heaters
• Tall patio heaters with propane
• Floor heaters with propane
• Portable battery operated misters
• Misting fans
• Portable swamp coolers

If you need advise or a wedding planner, contact one of our StrictlyWeddings.com partners.

Wedding & Shower Recipes

We couldn’t pass up sharing one of our FAVORITE web sites for getting recipes – MyRecipes.com. This is a great site for the new and experienced cook. The recipes are simple and consistently good.

Just got this in my email today about Wedding & Shower Recipes and thought to let you know. I can’t tell you how many young people I have personally helped learn how to cook. Personally, there’s nothing like a home cooked meal, no matter how simple … your fiancee/husband and eventually children will appreciate that you can cook. Or if you man is the cook in the house, share this with him.

Four Bridal Registry Rules You Need to Know

Registering for wedding gifts is fun, but most brides have questions once they actually start the process. Here are some of the questions that might be the most pressing:

1. When Should You Register?
   Your bridal registry should be one of your first tasks after your engagement. You want close family and friends to have plenty of time to “get the word out” about your registry. Also, guests will need gift options for both your bridal shower and your wedding. Complete your registry at least four months before your wedding date. That means that your registry can be a work in progress – start it right away and finish it later.
2. Where Should You Register?
   Beware! Not all registries are the same. First, pick a company with products you love. (And yes, you CAN register with more than one company, but it’s best to limit your registries to two.) Second, look at the registry benefits. The best companies will offer you:
   • Personal service throughout the registry process. Usually direct sales companies (the ones with sales consultants, like Princess House or Tupperware) will give you better service than retail. That’s simply because having a consultant is similar to having a personal shopper.
   • Online purchasing capabilities (a “must” that makes your registry more convenient for guests). A completion discount. This allows you to buy remaining items on your registry (after your wedding) at discounts of up to 20%.
   • Free products. Some companies offer you free buying credits based on the purchases made from your registry. This is even more convenient than you think, because there will almost certainly be “must have” items left on your registry that you’ll want.
3. What Should You Register For?
   This is pretty simple – register for what you need! No two couples will need exactly the same thing. But there are some general rules to follow:
   • Go from room to room in your house, creating a list as you go so you’re less likely to forget something.
   • Don’t hesitate to register for multiples of items like casserole dishes, sheets, etc.
   • Most guests will spend around $50-$100, so make sure there are lots of items in that price range.
   • Bridal couples traditionally register for 12 settings of formal china, but registering for 16 is becoming more popular. And yes, you SHOULD register for formal china. If you don’t, you’ll be sorry when your first dinner party or holiday get-together rolls around.
   • Register for everyday dinnerware, too. Stoneware is a popular and durable material to choose for your day-to-day dishes.
   • Everything else is up to you. Register for what you need, and don’t hesitate to “over register” so guests will have plenty to choose from.
4. How And When Do You Let People Know Where You’re Registered?
   • There are several notification methods you can use:
   • The most formal method is word of mouth. Make sure close friends and family have your registry information, because they will almost surely get calls about it.
   • Put the information on or with your save the date cards. Most companies will provide pretty bridal registry inserts that you can include in save the date card mailings or with your shower invitations. (If your budget only allows for the wedding invitation, then you could add an insert into the invitation, or if you have a “wedding web site” include the URL at the bottom of the invitation and have your registry information on your web site.)

StrictlyWeddings.com Bridal Registry Partners

My parents don’t know about my tatoo. How can I hide it?

Q: I’m a grown woman and  my mother and father don’t know that I have a tattoo and I’m afraid for them to find out.  My dress will DEFINITELY leave part of it exposed.  Any thoughts on how to cover this up?

A: Even though we suggest honesty is the best policy, you can cover everything up for the fitting with a Tattoo Cover Kit. The kit is around $25 and, while it sounds to me a bit complicated to actually execute, it’s probably good enough.

For the wedding day itself though, you might consider getting more serious and bring on a professional make up artist for the day. While anyone can cover your tattoo really well, the best bet is definitely airbrushing… it tends to not rub off on your dress or on others and can tolerate the heat.

Out of Town Welcome Baskets

In our search for “all things wedding related” we came across Wedding Planner, Kate Parker, with a line of Out of Town Welcome Baskets.

Imagine your guests arriving at their hotel after a long day of travel to discover a custom out-of-town basket in their room. Each basket is filled with locally-made products and information pertaining to your wedding weekend, including a personalized map highlighting your event locations from the rehearsal dinner to the reception site.

This site has a 25 basket minimum, which may be a bit steep from some. But it’s a great idea with lots of possibilities for pulling something off yourself.

The Tale of Tossing the Wedding Garter

We’re a bit lean on entries this week so we thought we’d offer you some insight on the tradition of the wedding garter. You’ll either impress someone with your knowledge or get one of those “too much information” looks. We did find some lovely images of custom made garters (source below).

Today, the bride wears two garters; one as a keepsake garter and the other for the throw away. Both garters are worn on the right leg just above the knee. Before the removal of the garter, the bride first throws her bouquet to the single women.

After the garter is removed, he then throws it to the single male guests. The male guest then takes the garter and places it on the leg of the single female guest who has caught the bouquet (or that’s what tradition says).

The keepsake garter is meant to be removed later in private during the honeymoon night.

The garter tradition originated back to the 14th century. In parts of Europe the guests of the bride and groom believed having a piece of the bride’s clothing was thought to bring good luck. They would actually destroy the brides dress by ripping off pieces of fabric. Obviously, this tradition did not sit well with the bride, so she began throwing various items to the guests – the garter being one of them. It became customary for the bride to toss the garter to the men. But this also caused a great problem for the bride….sometimes the men would get drunk, become impatient and try to remove the garter ahead of time. Therefore, the custom derived at having the groom remove and toss the garter to the men. With this change, the bride began to toss the bridal boutique to the unwed girls who were eligible for marriage.

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue … Did you ever wonder where the custom “Something Blue” derived from? Wearing something blue dates back to biblical times when the color blue was considered to represent purity, faithfulness and fidelity. Back then the bride would wear a piece of blue clothing or a blue band around the bottom of her dress. The ancient Roman maidens also wore blue on the borders of their robes to symbolize their love, fidelity and modesty, while the Christians associated it with the purity of the Virgin Mary.

Images from DiFrancia Bridal Collection