One of the planning details clients and I often discuss is what type of guest book they would like to have at their wedding. Some clients prefer the traditional guest book where guests sign their names as they enter the church. Others clients have asked guests to sign a picture mat that will later be framed with a portrait of the bride and groom.
There are lots of new twists on the traditional guest book and the ones that I prefer most are those that create some interactivity, conversation, and “buzz” among the guests.
This idea from Martha Stewart does just that. By setting one of these “conversation starter” books at each table, guests can not only share their personal well wishes for the bride and groom, but they can also chat with their table guests about the question posed and ask their thoughts on how they would answer. It offers a great way for the table to connect.
The format Martha suggests is beautiful (as always) but could easily be altered to meet a bride’s color scheme and taste.
Why not add a little levity when giving your next wedding shower gift or wedding present? Attach to your present these trivia books designed to test the bride and groom’s knowledge about their new spouse, like “Has he ever shot a bow and arrow?” It’s bound to create some laughter (and hopefully no fighting!).
Newlywed Quiz Books available from www.spoonsisters.com
With every wedding there are a few bumps along the road. For Patty and Jasper, one of those “bumps” included the original wedding reception venue not living up to its end of the bargain. Ultimately, we had to void the contract and move the reception to another location. That “bump” turned into one of the best things that could have happened for their wedding day. The new location, Hotel Helix in DC, proved to be the perfect space for the club-like feel the couple was aiming for.
Patty and Jasper celebrated the traditional Korean wedding ceremony, the paebaek, the day before the wedding. The next day, they had a traditional ceremony at St Andrew Kim Catholic Church followed by a reception there for parents and the church community. Following that reception, Patty and Jasper’s friends all went to Hotel Helix for food, drinks, and dancing for the rest of the night.
The party at Helix was high-energy and hip, and included lots of fun food, a vodka bar, and amazing music spun by local deejay Russell Belicek with Chris Laich Music.
A few months before the wedding, photographer Ethan Yang went to New York City, where the couple lives, to shoot some engagement shots. Urban and incredible!
The paebaek ceremony was colorful and symbolic. Elders on the groom’s side of the family offered words of wisdom to the couple and the ceremony included a tradition that predicts how many children the couple will have. They ceremony was both joyful and meaningful.
The marriage ceremony took place at St Andrew Kim’s Catholic Church in Olney, Maryland.
The bride and groom and the entire wedding party had a great time throughout the day, enjoying each moment including the dance-filled party at Hotel Helix which lasted late into the night.
flowers by Petal's Edge; photo by Holland Photo Arts
Much of the wedding planning process focuses on the fun elements of the reception: food, music, decor… In the excitement of thinking through those items, it can be easy to overlook some of the necessary logistical plans, like where should the bride and groom’s personal items (e.g. gifts, candles, guest book…) should be packed or taken to at the end of the evening? Another important thing to think through is what the bride and groom would like to do with the flowers at the end of the evening.
Reception flowers are generally a fairly significant chunk of the wedding budget and, for most brides, it seems wasteful to not do anything with them once the party is over. Brides can think through some of the following things when figuring out their flower plans:
1) What is the tradition among your guests regarding flowers? For example, in some communities women “elders” feel the right to take the flowers at the end of the night — sometimes without asking. If you suspect your guests fall into that category, plan for that.
2) Are any of your vessels rentals belonging to your florist? Make sure that guests do not walk off with those rented vases, but only the flowers. Depending on the arrangement and flowers, you might want to have plastic floral bags for guests to use when taking home the loose flowers.
3) Think of local friends or family that would enjoy the flowers. Obviously, out-of-town guests would have difficulty taking them with them.
4) Provide a list to your planner of whom you would like to receive the flowers at the end of the night. He or she can help ensure that the right people receive the flowers.
5) Consider what the flowers could be used for the day after your wedding. Should some of them be brought to an after-party? Are you having a post-wedding brunch? Are family members getting together for a party that weekend? Maybe you know of a friend who is hosting a personal party at their home the next day?
6) Some brides wish to donate flowers to nursing homes or women’s shelters. This is a fabulous idea but needs to be well-thought out and organized.
Contact the organization well in advance and ask them if they have a need for the flowers. Determine when and where the flowers can be dropped off. How many would they like? What size arrangements can they accommodate? Let them know if the flowers will be in vessels or if they need to have their own on hand.
Then consider who will take the flowers, how they will transport them, where they will store them overnight, and how they will be dropped off the following day. Ask your florist the “shelf-life” of your flowers as some last longer than others, especially depending on how they are arranged. You wouldn’t want to donate flowers that were wilted and quickly dying.
7) Know that even if you do not have a plan to give the flowers away or re-use them, they will not go to waste. Catering staff often appreciate being able to take an arrangement home and it is another way to thank them for their hard work. Not once have I seen flowers go in the trash so trust that they will be enjoyed and not wasted.
It’s no surprise that I have a soft spot for good baked goods. Pies, tarts, cakes, cookies… I am not picky! So I was particularly excited to find a bakery that not only creates delicious sweets, but also gives 15% of each purchase to a charity you choose.
Baking for Good is an “online bake sale that supports great causes.” They offer a variety of treats, ranging from cookies to bars to granola and they all look delicious. Their margarita shortbread, for example, is calling my name.
margarita shortbread from Baking for Good
They even offer gift packs and suites of themed iced sugar cookies. The cookies would be fabulous for a party, a baby or wedding shower, or an engagement party.
iced wedding-themed cookies
How fabulous would it be to share with guests that each bite they take of their sweet treat goes to an even sweeter cause like First Book (one of my favorite non-profits) or The American Cancer Society.
Here’s to all the charitable sweet tooths out there!
We’re remodeling our kitchen in a couple of weeks and so I’ve begun the process of cleaning out cabinets and drawers in preparation for the new cabinets. It’s amazing what kitchen tools we’ve accumulated over the years. As people who love to cook, we’ve become “gadget and appliance freaks,” always loving to try new tools.
But the process of purging and sorting has really made me think about what the essential tools of the kitchen really are. What are the things that I could not do without? Here’s a list of my essentials — which I’d highly recommend adding to any registry!
All Clad Measuring cups and spoons — I am in love with these measuring cups and spoons and am still grateful to the friends who gave them to us as a wedding present! I love that the 1 cup measuring cup has marks for smaller quantities like 1/4 cup and 3/4 cups, that way I don’t have to dirty multiple measuring cups. They are also very sturdy and feel substantial in the hand.
All Clad measuring cups and spoons
Kitchen Aid Mixer — Makes the perfect batch of chocolate chip cookie dough. Need I say more?
Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer
Heat-resistant silicone spatula — I use this when I cook, when I bake… it is my go-to mixing spoon and I love that I never have to worry about it melting.
OXO heatproof silicone spatula
Nesting bowls — I use these every day. Ev-er-y-day! I keep them in the cupboard in two sets so that they are easier to lift out.
glass nesting bowls
Colander — I prefer this type of colander to the large mesh colanders as the latter are very hard to clean — especially after draining pasta.
Footed Colander
Creamer — My Apilco Creamer comes in handy for not only serving up cream with coffee, but also when making small batches of vinaigrettes or for serving sauces.
Apilco Porcelain Creamer
Zester — We use this microplane zester way more than I ever would have imagined. It is easy to use and washes fairly easily, too.
Microplane Rasp Grater
Whirly Pop — OK, this may not be an essential, but I really can’t live without it! My husband and I love homemade popcorn and the Whirly Pop makes the best popcorn we’ve ever had.
My iPhone is chock-full of apps: Epicurious, Zagat, Dragon Dictation, Scrabble, ESPN, OpenTable, Nike+, Shazam, Pandora…. I suppose apps say a lot about a person. (Apparently, I am a food-obsessed word nut who likes to workout to music while keeping up with her favorite teams?!?!)
There is one app I am sure every bride-to-be is feverishly downloading these days: the Tiffany & Co. Engagement Ring Finder. The app allows you to browse Tiffany’s settings, view carat weights, and find the perfect ring size. The ring sizer is so easy to use — just hold up one of your rings to the screen and adjust until it matches. And, of course, for those whom subtlety eludes, one’s favorite customized ring can be e-mailed. Hint. Hint.
I had such a pleasure working with Kristin & Carl as they prepared for their recent wedding at The Mayflower. Yes, they were planning a beautiful wedding which was fun to work on, but the real joy for me came when I saw not only how they loved each other, but also how evident it was that they really are each other’s best friend. They were kind to one another, laughed heartily together, and showed great love to both of their families. A sweet couple!
I also loved the way they made their wedding personal to them — right down to a Mets groom’s cake and processional music that the bride had been dreaming of for years and years.
The parents and grandparents entered to “Like A Prayer” and the processional, including the bride, walked in to “Don’t Stop Believin’” — both played beautifully by the Cherry Blossom String Quartet. The bride wanted to enter at a certain point in the song and we were able to time it perfectly so that the doors opened and the beautiful bride processed down the aisle. Later at the reception, one of the bride’s closest friends sang a toast to the tune of “Don’t Stop Believin’” — a fitting tribute!
Monogrammed tote bags are a perfect gift for bridesmaids. Brides can pick a bridesmaid’s favorite color and then have a bag personally monogrammed for her.
I find personalized bags to be particularly helpful on the wedding day so the bridesmaids can put all of their personal belongings in their bag and not mix up items in the frenzy of pre-ceremony preparations.
The totes aren’t only perfect for weddings, though. They would make a great gift for a girlfriend, sister, mom…. You can even get creative with the monogramming: “Beach” for a friend with a beach house; “Yoga” for your sister who is mastering downward dog; and so on!
Caren and Ed are two of the loveliest people I’ve had the privilege to get to know through Rex & Regina Events. One need only to have seen the joy, respect, and love their friends exhibited toward them at their wedding celebration to get a small glimpse of how special they are. Caren’s girlfriends went so far as to sing a special musical number in Caren’s honor and Ed’s siblings and parents each gave a very special toast/roast to celebrate him and his new wife.
Caren & Ed’s wedding was not only fun and joyous, but reflective of their personalities and passions, as well. They are the proud parents of two adorable cats, Bago and Goon, who, while not present at the wedding, were amply honored. They are also passionate about cars and their Alfa Romeo Spider provided a sporty backdrop for some of their photos.
The wedding was captured beautifully by Anne & Bill Holland of Holland Photo Arts and came to life courtesy of some amazing vendors, named below.
Congratulations, Caren & Ed!
Caren & Ed
aisle runner flanked by hurricane candles nestled in wheatgrass
vine-wrapped chuppah with white floral accents
the ceremony under the chuppah
wheatgrass and tulip floral centerpiece as guests entered
escort cards were later nestled in the wheatgrass arrangement
special roasted coffee beans with Bago & Goon's photos were set in the wheatgrass at the end of the evening for guests to take home
the centerpieces reflected the wedding's light green and cream color palette
children's meals were marked in a whimsical way on the escort card
the cupcake tower was topped with a custom small cake for the bride & groom to cut
a kiss during the cutting of the cake
a stunning bridal bouquet
the mothers carried small, hand-tied posies
a surprise musical number performed by the bride's friends
When coordinating wedding rehearsals, I often like to bring practice bouquets for the bridesmaids to use. Having bouquets helps them to practice holding the flowers at the correct height; coordinate the hand-off of the bride’s bouquet; and walk with a groomsman or collect their dress as they go up stairs while holding the bouquet.
Just in case, I often bring a practice bouquet for the bride in case she is not using the traditional ribbon bouquet compiled from her bridal showers.
The bouquets can be a thoughtful gesture for the bride to bring to the rehearsal as one more way to show her bridesmaids how thankful she is to have them as a part of her wedding.
Recently, I was inspired to create practice bouquets made from herbs in my garden.
ornamental sage bouquet
lavender practice bouquet
The bouquets are simple, but practice bouquets do not need to be elaborate. Creating an herb bouquet for your bridesmaids can be cost-effective, too. Snip some herbs from your garden or a family member’s garden and voila! They also smell wonderful. Just remember not to cut them too far in advance of the wedding rehearsal as many herbs wilt quickly and do keep them in water until they are ready to be used.
Other ideas for practice bouquets include small bouquets of inexpensive flowers (think the ones you see for 3 bunches for $9 at your local grocery store) or tootsie pops tied together with a ribbon.
