Wedding Plan Secrets » Reception

Finishing Touches for Your Wedding Reception

Jane Martin — Tue, 18 May 2010 13:44:55 +0000

When planning your wedding day it not only has to be perfect, but a day that you will remember forever. You want your guests to leave your wedding remembering every little detail, and talking about your wedding for days after. The finishing touches to your wedding day will ensure that you achieve this; the small things will make all the difference. From the beginning of your day, until the last moment you can have touches that are guaranteed to give the WOW factor to you and your guests.

Your table decorations can be as spectacular as you want. These are one of the most important things to get right at your reception, as the guests will notice the tables and decor, before anything else. There are many different types and styles of table decorations to choose from, including candles, flowers, balloons and chocolates. Disposable cameras are very popular to have on the centre of the tables, meaning the guests can capture every moment of the reception. They will be guaranteed to take some interesting pictures.

Candles can create a very romantic mood, with a display within a bowl of water and some delicate rose petals scattered around the edge it will add a pretty finish. Long tall candles are an elegant addition to the table and can be decorated with ribbons or flowers and are a timeless decoration to have. Flowers play a huge part in your day, and can be added to any element of the day to make it look fantastic, flowers in the church will make it look brighter and smell wonderful. For that extra special touch, rose petals scattered down the aisle is always a classic touch. Flowers in large vases are becoming more popular for the tables, but any design or style of flower display will always look good at your wedding, and can even be used alongside other ideas.

Ensuring the linen, tableware and chairs look as amazing as the rest of the decor is important, choose colors that compliment your theme or look. Chair covers are a simple and inexpensive way of making your reception look stunning. You can have them in various colors, but it is often advisable to have them in a neutral color like white or ivory. Then be bold with a chair bow in your chosen prominent color, this also works for table skirts, and swags for the top table. Having one color that works well is better than having a mixture of colors.

You may choose to theme your wedding, with one of the many themes available. Having personalized favors, mats and even chocolate bars to match your theme are always an amazing touch. Many brides choose a fairytale theme for their wedding day. This theme can include a horse and carriage, red carpet, fairytale favors and a princess wedding cake, the list can go on and on. If you are going for a theme then ensure the theme runs throughout the day, and is noticeable with its quality. There are many personalized items you can now purchase for your wedding day, and some brides choose to have every item personalized right down to the confetti. Remember whatever you choose for your finishing touches, the day should be all about you.

Create a Memorable Wedding Breakfast with a Hog Roast

Jane Martin — Tue, 11 May 2010 13:27:06 +0000

Deciding what food to have at your wedding is one of the hardest decisions. You have to please so many different people, different age groups and different tastes. Not only do you have to choose the type of food, but the style in which it is served. Do you opt for a formal sit down meal, or a more relaxed buffet option? Many brides are choosing the more relaxed options for their wedding and some are even brave enough to choose a totally different idea, by having a hog roast feast and barbeque.

In medieval times hog roasts were very popular, you would not have been to any function or banquet without seeing a hog with an apple in its mouth. Gently turning and roasting, whilst being admired by all the guests. Until recently the hog roast was not seen that often, but it is making a return. Having a hog roast at your wedding, is a low maintenance meal to have. There is very little preparation involved and can feed a small army of people. A whole hog can feed 120-150 people easily, ideally for a whole hog to be worth roasting you would need at least 50 guests at your wedding breakfast. For smaller wedding parties, it would be advised to opt for a smaller animal, like a lamb.

There are two ways of cooking your hog, you can either choose to leave it to the professionals and hire a team to deal with it all or cook it yourselves. If you choose to hire professionals then they will do everything. They will set the equipment up, cook the hog, and clean up at the end of your wedding. This option does take the worry away from you, and although more expensive, it will give you peace of mind and you can enjoy your day.

If you decide to do it yourself, cooking a hog roast is very simple; the golden rule of spit roasting is that the heat source has to be 12 inches away from the hog. Any closer and you will be serving char grilled instead of roasted hog. Many spit roast machines do come pre fitted at 12 inches so you do not have to worry. The heat needs to be constant, as the hog turns. The whole hog should take at least 7 hours to cook to perfection, and then you will need to take into consideration the carving time. It is a very slow process, but it is relaxed cooking method. Your guests will be watering at the mouth watching their dinner slow roasting, and will make your wedding memorable.

When deciding how best to serve the hog, it is totally down to personal taste. Some people opt to serve it with potatoes and vegetables in a more formal sit down style, with the guests being served by waiting staff. Or simply turn it into a good old fashioned barbeque with other meats, salads, fish and vegetables available. The choices are endless with something so simple. Vegetarians will need to be catered for and you could offer them stuffed peppers, quiches or nut cutlets as an alternative. Hog roasts can be done at any time of day, from sunset to sunrise.

How to Keep Children Entertained At Your Wedding

Jane Martin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:49:37 +0000

Many people feel that a wedding is a huge family event and children play a big part in their day. Deciding the best way to keep the children amused can be a challenge, but there are some simple things you can do to make the day as stress free as possible.

Children get easily bored, especially at weddings as there can be long periods of waiting around with not a lot to do. Bored children can be a nightmare, and parents will become stressed, and not enjoy the day. Entertainment is the key, make sure that the children are being entertained or kept busy throughout the day. By making the children feel like they are involved in the day, and have a part to play, will mean they are less likely to get bored. Placing children on their own table is a great option, a children’s table is usually designed for 3-12 yr olds. Younger children will need more attention and help during dinner, and may feel more comfortable sitting with mum and dad. Ask the venue to dress down the children’s table, remove the glassware and fancy tableware. Children will feel more comfortable knowing they can’t break things. Have special name cards made just for them and decorate the table with the children in mind.

Supply wedding favors and party bags designed for children, these will amuse them during the meal and speeches. There are many different designs of children’s party bags and wedding favors available, including pretty princess and boyish bags. All have games, toys and often puzzles in them. You could also supply coloring mats and pencils, and have a coloring competition to see who can color the best picture. Included in the party bags, it might be an idea to have some sort of snack, adults can wait longer for their meals but children if hungry will become restless. A decorated bag of cookies is always an ideal filler before dinner is served.

The actual meal should have the children in mind; they are more likely to behave if not being forced to eat something they either do not like or want. All venues will cater for children, and will have children’s menus available for you to choose from – usually at a lower cost meaning you save money as well. If you are having an outdoor wedding then a picnic might be the solution for the children, they will love the idea they are doing something completely different to the adults.

After the meals, having a specific children’s entertainer on hand, either a magician or a face painter, is a good idea. Both are always loved by children. If there are smaller children attending your wedding then supplying a crèche might be an idea. The guests can leave their children with a qualified team of childcare workers, enabling the parents to relax and have a fantastic time at your wedding. Ensure your DJ is child friendly and has a good selection of party tunes and dances for the children.

If you take a little time to plan how best to keep children entertained at your wedding, you’ll find you can create a wonderful family occasion, for all to enjoy.

Creating a Spectacular Fireworks Display For Your Wedding

Jane Martin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:42:21 +0000

When you are thinking about starting your marriage off with a bang, make sure that you consider what your options are going to be when it comes to fireworks. Fireworks are amazing explosions of color and light in the night sky and when you are thinking about something truly dramatic that will delight your friends and family, fireworks might be the best choice. However, fireworks at a wedding do require a fair amount of planning, so make sure that you have all the details in place!

In the first place, contact a pyrotechnics expert. This is the professional that is going to be setting up the fireworks for you, and they will be providing you with a service much the same way that the caterer and the venue will be. Remember that they are going to have the information and knowledge regarding the safety of a good fireworks display for you. Do not try to create your own fireworks display unless you happen to be an expert.

The pyrotechnics expert will be able to tell you if the wedding venue that you have chosen or your reception site is appropriate for a fireworks display. Considerations like distance, city ordinances and the conditions of your site all need to be taken into account. If you are set on making sure that you can have fireworks at your wedding, remember to speak with the pyrotechnics expert before you start planning the wedding venue. Not all venues are going to be appropriate when you are thinking about setting off fireworks. Fire codes and city regulations are two key things for you to investigate.

Remember that a fireworks display can add a significant amount of money to your wedding budget needs. They are usually priced by the minute and the longer the display is, the more expensive it is going to be. Make sure that you are going to be able to budget for this display.

Think about the timing of your fireworks display. Fireworks are best viewed in full dark, so think about when you want them set off. Having them set off during your wedding is an option if you are having a night wedding, but remember that having them go off during your night reception is another option that you might want to consider. The darker it is, the more dramatic the colors will be, so take your time and consider what your options are when you are thinking about moving forward and getting the right kind of display and timing for your wedding.

The pyrotechnics expert will also be able to help you decide on what colors are appropriate. They will let you know what is available, and you might choose a color scheme that matches your wedding or you might choose one that involves a wide assortment of colors.

Think about whether fireworks at your wedding is the right thing for you. It can definitely make an impression and it can help you make some amazing memories. Fireworks are wonderfully loud and dramatic, so think about whether they suit your wedding!

Creating the Best, Best Man’s Speech Ever

Who Should I Invite To My Wedding?

Jane Martin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:25:06 +0000

Choosing who to invite to your wedding is no easy task. Some couples find they don’t have enough money budgeted to invite everyone on their list. This leaves room for people to become offended and this can cause serious rifts in relationships, even amongst close relatives. Then there’s the issue of whether or not to invite co-workers, certain friends who may just be acquaintances, or maybe you’re stuck with the dilemma of whether or not to invite your boss even though you’d really rather not. Would the latter cause tension at work?

Don’t worry. This doesn’t have to be as stressful as it looks. The first thing you should do when trying to decide who to invite to your wedding is write down everyone you can think of who you may consider inviting. Then, put them in order of importance.

It may seem cruel to grade some people in your life as more important than others. However, when it comes to your budget, this is very necessary. It’s not as hard as you think. Your parents, for instance, will likely come before your co-workers. And your sister or brother will probably come before your best friend. When you’ve created your list, decide how much it’s going to cost for each head. You’re going to be feeding and entertaining these people. That takes money. Once you have a figure in mind, divide it amongst all the people on your list and you’ll soon see whether or not you have to cut anyone.

When it comes to cutting, start at the bottom of the list and move your way up. If you’re worried about offending those people, just tell them the truth; you didn’t have that big of a budget or that you just wanted a small wedding. They never have to know. You can also perhaps just invite these people to any evening celebrations, and just have close family to the ceremony and wedding breakfast.

When it comes to invitations, etiquette says that you should invite everyone in your family and your friends. You don’t need to invite co-workers if you don’t want to, and you certainly don’t have to invite your acquaintances if you don’t want to. Most people will understand wanting a small ceremony or even budget problems, as most of them have probably faced the same dilemma themselves.

Children

One other hurdle you’ll likely face is whether or not to allow children to be present at your wedding. Children can become unruly and can quickly interrupt one of the most important days of your life. However, you may end up offending parents who may think you’re assuming their kid will be unruly. On the other side they can also bring light and life to the proceedings, making it a real family affair. The basic rule with this is to remain consistent. Don’t allow one person to bring their child if their child is normally docile and then not allow another person to bring theirs. Make one rule and stick to it. On the other hand, kids make great flower girls and ring bearers.

These are just a few ideas to keep in mind when deciding on who to invite to your wedding; a task that doesn’t have to be as hard as it seems.

How to Keep Children Entertained At Your Wedding

Easy Wedding Food

Jane Martin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 10:01:52 +0000

Forget any cringing thoughts of boring potlucks and lukewarm deli dishes! It’s possible to keep your wedding food simple, easy and still have it be tasteful and memorable.

Appetizers come first and your guests will appreciate a small assortment of snacks that are tasty but not messy. For this reason, anything with a great deal of liquid is a bad idea. Vegetable platters are good place to start, and any vegetable platter can be dressed up by adding a really knock-out dip. This is also a good place for cheese. While you might want to avoid the Super Bowl-party cubes of cheddar, a variety of small cheeses with herbed crackers can make a tasteful addition to the table.

Quartered sandwiches with the crusts cut and artfully arranged is a regular crowd favorite, and you can surprise your guests with interesting fillings. While ham and cheese are popular, you might want to try chicken salad, crab and cream cheese, and tomato and basil. Try to suit the food to the weather as well; during a summer reception, your guests will thank you for those cool cucumber sandwiches!

For a more international feel, if your budget allows, you might want consider sushi rolls. You can roll the sushi yourself, substituting regular tuna in place of more exotic fillings, and provide your guests with a fascinating new experience.

For a sweet finisher, a fruit plate with in-season fruit is always a winner. If you live close to any farms, you might consider seeing if they have anything they can provide you with; fresher is always better, and if you can get fresh, in-season strawberries at your wedding, it’ll be one the guests will remember for a long time. For the winter months, try something a bit richer.

For affordable wines, look around your area for good ideas and bargains. You can often get some discounts if you buy several cases from the same seller. Especially if your wedding party is larger, you may want to consider shopping online; there are some wonderful bargains available if you know where to look. You can also have a completely non-alcoholic wedding party as well, substituting sparkling grape juice; then pregnant mothers, children and non-drinkers and can enjoy it as well.

Between things like the clothes and the venue rental and the flowers, it can be easily to forget how much the food for a wedding adds up. Depending on how large the wedding party is, it is possible for the food costs to spiral up to thousands of dollars. Luckily, there are many ways to cut costs and still have a great time!

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How to Dress For a Traditional Summer Wedding

Jane Martin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:41:19 +0000

A summer wedding is both enchanting and beautiful especially if it is held outdoors. But as a bride, the hot and humid weather can make you feel very uncomfortable. So, you would not want to select a dress that could make you feel uncomfortable or could end making your wedding day in utter misery. There are many stylish and comfortable wedding dresses options for you to select from.

The typical designs offered in summer wedding dresses include strapless, halter styles, short sleeves, and spaghetti straps. However, you have to make sure is that the weight of the dress does not overheat you. So, this is where selection of the tight fabric becomes important. The fabric, design, length, and decorative details add to the weight of the wedding dress. The weight of the dress, plus the heat may make you feel uncomfortable when you least want it.

Don’t get forced into wearing a short dress, because that is something you don’t want to wear on your wedding day. You can select a full length gown and have it tailored to knee length. In stores, there are many options for lightweight full length wedding dresses. Wedding gown designers know very well that a bride does not want to curse the dress she is wearing on her wedding.

Try and avoid fabrics such as silk and satin for wedding dresses. They will tend to cling to your body, and thus may make you feel uncomfortable. You can choose a synthetic fabric that looks like silk but is lightweight and will not cling to your body. A ball gown style dress is also a possibility. A lot will depend on the fabric that you select.

If there are any hoops or under skirting to be worn with the wedding gown, remember they will add weight. In choosing an under skirting, choose a fabric that is lightweight and allows the body to breathe. Any beading or ornate detail should also be carefully explored. The lesser the better, it can look beautiful without being heavy.

Remember, trying a wedding dress in an air conditioned saloon and wearing it outdoors are two different experiences. So, be careful, and ask the sales staff as they should be able to offer you very sound advice. Choose cool fabrics as they also make you look beautiful apart from just making you feel comfortable. You will hate to see yourself sweating profusely on your wedding day. If you can get advice from a friend or relative who has been married in summers, then take their advice.

If it’s a typical summer wedding taking place indoors, then you can select silk or satin wedding gowns. After all, it’s not every other day that you get to wear a wedding dress. You could also choose a blouse, or a skirt with a short jacket.

The typical wedding dress has to be in full length, flowing with silk or satin, and in white colour with a veil. The dress can be decorated with ornate or any other decorative pieces. A lot depends on where the wedding will take place, the wedding reception, any photo sessions, and also on the time of the wedding. If it’s a late morning outdoor wedding that will extend to the afternoon, your wedding dress should be light in weight and of cool and non clinging fabric. Also, avoid a wedding dress that needs under skirting or hoops.

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Creating the Best, Best Man’s Speech Ever

Jane Martin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:20:45 +0000

The best man doesn’t believe he is important. He thinks the bride and the bridesmaids are the main focus. That is completely false. The best man is an intricate part of the wedding ceremony. That is why the best man’s speech should be precise and on key. The best man has been handpicked by the groom.

The honor and privilege of being the best man is the best reward you could ever receive from a best friend. The best man’s most challenging obstacle is to prepare a speech to celebrate his best friend’s new journey in life. You want your speech to be the greatest thing ever written. We know their is a lot of alcohol in sight. We don’t want a drunken master to recite a slurry speech. You don’t want to tell some controversial stories not suitable for the reception either.

Before the wedding reception, take some time and write out your oratory. Full preparation of your favorite stories, jokes that won’t offend anybody. Write down ideas of what to outline before you write the final draft. Think of your favorite stories, tell the crowd how your best friend and wife met. If you don’t know, ask your buddy. You are promoting how great a couple they are. Keep in mind, your best friend has to look good as well. Tell everyone how great a guy he is. It’s all about celebration!

When you make your speech, you have to be sober. The wedding reception is a party for the ages but you have to behave yourself! This is not the "wedding singer", You don’t want to pull a Steve Buscemi. A drunken fool telling things he should have never told. Try to stay on your best behavior. You don’t need to humiliate yourself or the groom! He would probably take you around back and punch you in the mouth. This is the groom’s most important day of his life. Make it special!

You have to show gratitude toward the bride and groom’s parents. Call them out by name and express how they raised fine children. Toast their parents. Thank the guests for coming to the reception. Tell a story that connects your friend with his future wife. How he can’t possibly find someone with her qualities. You could also say how the two of them balance each other out. Do not tell any inside jokes that only you and him find funny. Leave the controversy for the local comedy club. Tell jokes that keep the crowd on their feet.

Tell a joke that makes the groom laugh all the time. This is not a roast. Leave those type of jokes at home. When you brainstorm all of your ideas and write out your speech, keep it short and simple. No one wants to sit there and listen to your rambling. People want to dance. People want to loosen up. Keep it short and to the point. It will leave everyone happy. When you wrap up the speech, end it with a quote. "Life is a roller coaster and the groom is on the best ride of his life!" The end.

Here comes the best part! Raise your glass and propose a toast. Say something meaningful and memorable. Writing the best best man speech ever is in your hands! Have fun!