Rolling Pin Productions (www.rollingpinproductions.com) make the most stylish, sweet, creative cookies going in a multitude of original shapes and designs. They make great favors for the shower or the wedding; beautiful decorations, and even invitations (check out their, “Will you be my bridesmaid?” cookies!)
They can also do custom work, using your monogram, your dog; your ideas are the limit! What fun!
There are other ways to serve dinner than just a sit down style dinner or buffet stations. When you’re thinking about your reception, you might want to consider having one course served “family style”, just for fun. A beautiful salad with luscious toppings or pasta course that can be passed around will give your guests a chance to break the ice and get to know each other. Sharing a meal together is part of the fun of the party!
If you’ve always dreamed of a home wedding, nothing is more exciting than planning the most important party of your life in a place that is near and dear to you. There are many considerations that come into play when you’ve decided that this is your venue. Some involve cost, some involve logistics, some involve weather. I’ll cover a lot of facets in the next few weeks, a little at a time!
After you’ve set a date and made a tentative list, the next question is usually, where are we going to put all these people? If you have a huge house, a barn, a nifty garage or a greenhouse, you may just be set, but most home weddings involve tenting of some sort, whether it is for the cocktail hour, dinner, or as a staging area for simply cooking and cleanup. It is wise to call your tent company soon in the process for two important reasons. First, they can advise you on a realistic head count based on your space. Second, tenting, lighting, tables and chairs will be a significant part of your budget, and it’s good to get at least an idea at the very beginning. Both of those pieces of information may change your format, your guest list or season.
My friend Ron Hunt had a suggestion for a couple he’s working with. He told them to make all the tasks along their one year road to their wedding, events to look forward to. Addressing invitations? Chill a bottle of champagne and chocolate dip some strawberries. Making up the guest list? Go to a park or public garden, pack a picnic and enjoy the day.
You get the idea; make all the way stations en route to your wedding pleasurable reminders of the joy of the day!
How will you get to the altarspace at your ceremony? There are a lot of ways to do that and they all send subtle messages to your guests. Will you walk up by yourself? Will one or both parents accompany you? Will you and your fiance race up the aisle together? Each approach is different, and for every couple one will resonate.
The idea of a parent or parents “giving you away”, may not feel authentic to you; you may want to “give yourelf away” and honor your parents in a different way during the ceremony.
You may want to acknowledge your history as a couple by entering this important moment together. Just some things to consider!
And your guests have traveled to be with you for this important day. What a nice touch to welcome them to the church, temple, field or backyard with a nice cold glass of something. At a recent wedding, there was an antique wooden wagon stocked with jars of iced tea, lemonade and water. Maybe a light sangria or punch. Your thoughtfulness will be so appreciated!
Looking for a wedding or shower present? Totally stumped? I can fix that. Kitchenaid has a line of pink products in all price ranges (the fabulous Santoku knife is 25 bucks; the gorgeous standing mixer is 349 and there are lots in the middle. Ten percent of your purchase price goes to the Susan G. Komen foundation to support breast cancer research.
When you go to their website, www.kitchenaid.com, you can also download a whole kit for a pink dinner party. What a fabulous and meaningful way to have a bridal shower that counts in so many ways.
Your centerpieces don’t have to be the same; you might want to use different vessels and vases, different combinations of flowers, different heights. There should be something that holds it all together; maybe all terra cotta vases; maybe all pink and white flowers. But having some variety will add spice to your room, and add a conversation topic for your guests.
June is a tough month! It’s happy and busy, and I’ve been up to my eyebrows in weddings, which I love. Would that mean I’m down to my ankles in Blog? Maybe. Apologies. I’ve been all over New Jersey; in lovely restaurants, classy backyard gardens, at “da shore”, in the mountains, and coming up; at a campsite. Can’t wait. I’ve had flower dogs, flower girls, and flower babies, (pulled in a Red Flyer wagon, too cute for words). I’ve been in parks with six different bridal parties on the runway; I’ve done a beautiful ceremony for 10 guests in an antique home. Does anyone have more fun than I do at work. Not likely.
What have I learned from this June? Weddings take all kinds of shapes and personalities, and when yours looks like yours, it’s the best experience ever. You may have been dreaming of an elegant ballroom or a cool rustic summer camp; both will be real treats for your guests. So dream big, but dream as yourself!
Happy July,
C
