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An Intimate Affair – At Home Wedding Receptions

Are you thinking about an intimate wedding affair? Maybe you or your family have a beautiful home and garden that would perfectly suit your plans for a wedding for just a few friends and family.

In these photos by Elizabeth Messina, the beauty of the location and elegant, old-fashion place settings, make this homestyle wedding go from simple to simply divine.

If you are thinking about a more intimate wedding, you will be surprised (or maybe not) just how many things you can use if you go hunting in the china cabinet or silver drawer of your mother or grandmother. We think they’d be thrilled to share.

Check out the bride’s lace and crystals on her gown and how it’s tied-in to other touches in the decor. The invitations are elegant (but again simple). Just because your wedding preference is “smaller,” does not mean you have to loose any of those luxurious additions.

Bridal tip: Having the reception at your home

• Always make sure there is plenty of room for the number of guests attending the wedding.
• Be careful that the overall aesthetic of the home does not interfere with the color palette and style of your wedding décor. You may want to think about choosing colors that will work with the existing hues or find a space in the home that offers a clean slate for any palette.
• Check in with the city to get info on traffic regulations or permits regarding parking, and if hiring a valet company, confirm that they have somewhere to park all the cars.
• Design a detailed floor plan for your wedding vendors to ensure they’ll have room to get their job done.
• When designing your menu, ask the catering company if they will need access to any stoves or ovens, or if they will be bringing their own heating devices.
• If the event is scheduled to be outdoors, have a back up plan in case it rains. Using tents can require a permit so ensure you have the proper one(s) in place.
• Let your neighbors know as a courtesy since you’ll be taking up street space for hours.
• Budget for a service to clean your house before and after your reception; it’s a lot less stressful on everyone!

Source: Jordan Payne Events

Light Up Your Wedding Night

Looking for that “something” that will really make your wedding feel like a fairy-tale? Look no more, lighting is the answer! This luxury is a small price to pay for a big and bold statement. Whether you’re having an afternoon reception of hors d’oeuvres and mimosas, or a seated dinner affair at 8, the simple addition of lighting can be transformational. Lighting can be used to give a cold room a sense of warmth and glow, or change an elegant ballroom into a personal fashion statement for you and your hip groom.

This couple used Jordan Payne Events to transform The Worthington Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas into an exotic lounge. Fun, Flirty, Creative…Clearly, this was an event no one could forget with such stunning lighting. Absolutely an art form!

Jordan Payne Events provided this classic wedding look shown below as well. Here is an example of more subtle lighting, a look well suited for the simple and elegant bride. With warm golden tones, this lighting will surely make your guests feel welcome, invited and comfortable. Beautiful with all wedding colors, especially those in the warm color family (reds, gold/yellow, browns, etc.), and complimented by the beautiful chandelier in Arlington Hall at Lee Park in Dallas, Texas. Timeless!

Next time you’re brainstorming ways to add that “special touch” to your reception, remember, don’t skimp on lighting. It’s worth every penny!

Source: Katy Brooks

Photography by Gary Donihoo of f8Studio

Photography by Joseph Ellis of Joseph Mark Photography

The Candy Bar – Not Your Traditional Cake

A candy bar, buffet style at a wedding reception is a sure hit and can be a great conversation piece. Plus it’s fun for the guests to pick and choose their favorite sweets.

Color and Size of the Candy Bar Matters
Before you start to purchase the candy, its best to plan the color theme and decide on the amount of candy you will need. I believe cost is just as important as the overall look of the candy buffet. For an inviting and grand look, having a monochromatic theme works best for a candy bar. Many bulk suppliers will let you purchase wholesale orders of things like jelly beans – all in one color. One of our favorite candies, M&Ms can be personalized with photos or words (and right now there’s a promotion going on for a free bag!).

Next, decide on the amount of candy you will need. You do not want to be left with pounds of candy and unnecessary expenses especially when planning a wedding. Figure 5 to 8 ounces per guest. However, this is not a set rule. The amount needed will depend on the type of guests who will be attending your event – kids vs. adults. Something else to consider is if additional desserts will be served. Serving too many sweets throughout the event will be an over kill.

Buying Candy in Bulk
The candy of course is the most expensive aspect for the candy buffet but there are ways to control costs as well. The best option for purchasing candy is buying in bulk. There are plenty of online candy stores that sell at wholesale pricing. Also keep an eye out for sales during holiday seasons such as Halloween, Easter, or Christmas. If your color theme is red, check your local grocery stores or Walgreens right after Christmas. Easter is also a perfect time to get pastel colored candy for very cheap. The most popular candy for a candy table is jelly beans, candy canes, lollipops, Hershey Kisses and M&M’s. All of these can be found in many different colors.

Linens – Make a statement, Set the tone

We’re suckers for beautiful fabric, whether it’s the gown or the linens. And today, the bride has so many options to choose from than the traditional white and pastels from way back when. If you’re looking for ideas or a great resource, check out these table settings from Wildflower Linens.

(Click on each image to see a larger view)

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.

After the Reception – The “After Party!”

Couples engaged to be married often spend a year’s worth of planning for their special day, which often passes in a blink of a lovestruck eye. It’s no wonder more of them are extending the festivities to after parties. These post-nuptial shindigs are about ditching the formal wear, letting the hip DJ spin some loud grooves and perhaps scarfing down taco-truck grub with some of the couple’s closest friends.

Etiquette rules for these events are still in the works. Invitations aren’t necessary; couples can post party details on their blogs, Facebook, or even send an e-mail about the after-hours affair. Count on older wedding guests, such as parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents, bowing out of the evening after the wedding. It’s the younger folk who are ready to rock when the hotel ballroom closes up at 11 p.m.

Venues for the after-parties vary from hanging out at the hotel suite to moving the celebration to the hotel bar to even going to a private residence. Food is essential to the late-night gathering to appease partygoers stricken with the munchies post-reception. Other touches may include cigars and whiskey, mojito bars or theme decor.

If couples stick to tradition, most likely they’ll pay for the event. If the party shifts to a neighborhood bar, then guests may chip in for drinks and snacks. How elaborate or laid-back of an evening will determine the price.

Ask your wedding planner their suggestions or contact one of our StrictlyWedding.com partners.

Father of the bride toast

The “Father of the bride” wedding toast is an important part of the wedding festivities. The day a man walks his daughter down the aisle is a huge day in his life. He is in essence placing his daughter into the care of another man to care for her, protect her and make her happy. After walking her down the aisle he still has a couple duties; the father daughter dance and the father of the bride wedding toast.

Typically the best man gives his speech followed by the maid of honor. Then it goes to the father of the bride to make the final comments of the night before the rest of the festivities begin. This can be a simple “raise your glasses” or a story about watching his little girl grow so quickly and meet the man of her dreams.

Here are some tips for the father of the bride (we know he may not see this post, but one can always print it out and put by his morning coffee):

1. Speak to the guests. Thank all the guests for coming to share this special day with you and your family. Make them feel welcome and part of your family (for those who aren’t already).
2.  Address your daughter and new son-in-law. Be courteous to your son-in-law whether you like him or not. You can make a comment about how he better take care of her, but let it be light-hearted and in good spirits. Then have a moment with your daughter where you wish her the best, say you are so happy for or just express your utmost love for her.
3. Tell a story. Give the guests a little sample of how wonderful your daughter is. Tell a quick story about her, when she was little or just about her growing up through the years. It will be touching for everyone who knows her well and give some insight to those just getting to know her. Plus, it’s always sweet when a dad gets sappy.
4. Speak from your heart, always the best recipe for father of the bride wedding toasts. Just let your heart speak and you’ll be fine. The only restriction with this is; don’t let anything negative slip out. If you don’t like the groom, just avoid the topic of him altogether. 

Above all, keep things joyful and positive. Good luck and silently toast yourself for a job well done!

Photograph courtesy of Andrea Polito Photography.

Ice, Ice Baby

Short on time and ideas today, so just dropping a quick line about including an ice bar in your plans for the reception to entertain your guests.

We’re not a huge fan of ice “sculptures,” but those ice bars where your guests can get their drinks directly from the ice sculpture are really getting my attention.

Besides adding some elegance to your celebration, they are really fun. We’re sure your guests will find the ice bars quite cool, as well as, a unique touch.