Why Assign Tables?
Just when you think you’re at the finish line of wedding planning you remember something—you were planning on assigning guests to tables. So you find the motivation, get your chilled glass of rose, and get ready to settle in for a night of fun. And you start. And you get about 5 minutes in before you realize this is the worst thing ever. You think, do I have to really do this? Well, I’m some circumstances no; you can get away with an open seating plan, but only sometimes. Trust me, sometimes you will need to buckle down and really assign your cousin Joe to sit with your friend from work to fill a table and that’s okay! But when is it appropriate for open seating and when is it not? Read on to find out!
To Open or Not to Open Gifts at the Bridal Shower
Photography by Justin B. Hankins
Why do we open gifts at bridal showers? It seems like there is a weird shift that happens at some point because I feel like 98% of us are raised with the thought process indoctrinated in us that we don’t open gifts at parties. We don’t talk about gifts, we don’t ask where our gift is, we ignore the gift as we see our friends and family walk in with them; it’s like we have an uncomfortable relationship with gifts as kids. We love them and they are exciting but then we have to treat them as if they are fast food…something we love in private but have to tell the world we don’t like. But then suddenly we grow up, get engaged, and then talk freely about gifts! What are you registering for? Let’s open gifts at the shower! What kind of card box are you having at the reception? Like so confusing! Do we have to open gifts at the bridal shower? Ultimately, the decision is yours, but read on and see both sides of the coin.
Ring Maintenance
I am willing to bet your engagement ring is probably one of the most valuable pieces of jewelry, if not the most valuable thing in general, you own. And it was gifted to you by your wonderful fiancée (isn’t that a fun word to say?!) and now you have to take care of it. Surprised to hear that? Yes that shiny ring on your finger deserves a little TLC from time to time. Read on to learn the tips and tricks to keep that rock sparkling forever.
Insure it
How many articles does this come up? From the second that ring is in your possession, make sure there is some sort of insurance policy on it! Add it to your homeowners or renters and know that you’re covered. Also, jewels and precious metals appreciate over time. Appraise it and adjust the value of it every 5 years or so to make sure that you are insuring it’s full value and not take an unnecessary hit if something does happen to it.
Summer Wedding Myths
Show of hands, who thinks time of year is the be-all-end-all in determining your wedding theme/colors/style? It is important and can help for sure. It may raise an eyebrow to decorate with flamingos and pineapples in January while a snowstorm is going on…but if that’s your style and how you’ve always envisioned your wedding, go for it! There’s a few myths that have come about with summer weddings too and we are here to say they are just that—myths.
1. Summer weddings need to be outside or you’re doing it wrong
Hash Tag #Help
Social media is not going away any time soon. Whether you embrace it with all your heart or avoid it like the plague, your guests as a whole will be using it on your wedding day. Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, all the things! What is an easy way to gather the media in a collective spot? Use a #hashtag!
What are some things to keep in mind when determining your unique hashtag? Here are some tips:
1) Avoid the generators
More likely than not, online generators will just spit out generic #MrandMrsSmith type deals. The point of the hash tag is to be memorable and unique so when you’re searching through Instagram you can isolate just your day.
Setting Boundaries During Wedding Planning
In all the months leading up to your wedding, you will have a roller coaster
Summer Jean Photography
of emotions. Some will be wedding highs! You found your perfect dress and it was 20% off, your favorite DJ was available the day of your wedding, everything fell into place at your venue…all good things! But unfortunately, you will inevitably have some lows too. Your favorite, most perfect stationary blows the budget by, well…a lot, none of your top preferred photographers are available, you’ve seen so many shades of blush and cream you want to change your whole color palette just so you never need to see those colors again. How can you make the madness stop? Well, the short answer is, you can’t. Until you say, “I do,” and run through your sparkler send-off none of this will go away. Doesn’t that sound fun?! No? Okay, well in the meantime, here are some ways you can cope:
You Got Engaged Over the Holidays!!!….Now What?!
Happy New Year! We’re a couple days late getting this week’s blog out but we’re back!
Poll: Who got engaged over the holiday season? Fun fact: Thanksgiving actually starts the beginning of engagement season that extends through Valentine’s Day. Between the pretty snow, ample opportunities to see family and friends, and built-in time off work, makes sense that’s when the question gets popped.
So you said, “YES!” OMG your engaged! Look at that rock! Pop the champagne and squeal excitedly and do your happy dance! Feel good? Breathing getting back to normal now? Okay, so what now?
Did the realization kick in you’re going to be planning the biggest weekend you’ve ever had to plan so far? It’s okay! Just take it one-step at a time and you’ll be golden. Here are some tips for the time immediately after you’re engaged:
Save-the-Date Tips
Alrighty…let’s run through the reception check list
Found your person ✓
Picked your venue ✓
Picked your wedding date ✓
Solidified the bridal party ✓
Now what?!
Well, if you’re within 8-10 months of your wedding date now’s the time to be thinking if you need to send a Save-the-Date in the mail.
Is the step really necessary? Do guests really need a heads up or will a formal invitation suffice? Here’s some things to consider:
• Is the wedding a destination wedding? (Which for our sake here, let’s say a destination wedding is if the couple, immediate families, and majority of the guests have to travel to the location where the ceremony and reception are taking place and can’t reasonably make that trip in one day so they have to stay overnight)
• Is the wedding date on a holiday weekend?
• Are there a lot of friends/family in your age range getting married around the same time as you and there will be a lot of overlapping guests?
Taylor Swift Songs for Your Wedding
For those of you who may not know, Shadowland’s event manager is a MAJOR Taylor Swift fan. And in honor of her birthday today (and the fact that 2018 Reputation Tour tickets are secured), we’ve compiled the top 10 Taylor Swift wedding songs. No, she’s not just all break ups and heartache…T Swift can set the tone for the romantic, whimsical, fun night you’ve been dreaming about. From cocktail hour to the last song of the night, Taylor Swift’s anthology should not be overlooked when crafting that perfect play list.
The Great Debate: Fresh or Fake Flowers?
Timeless Expressions Photography
How many of you out there are torn between what kind of floral you want to incorporate into your big day…and budget? It’s a fair concern! What comes to mind when you think of fake flowers? Visions of scratchy, dusty, faded fabric bulbs in Grandma’s living room? To be fair, that’s what fake flowers were for many years and so the connotation that comes with fake can be cheesy, low quality blooms. But, alas! Fake flowers have really come a long way! There are some artificial flowers out there that even upon the closest of inspections, most people won’t be able to tell they did not once grow in the ground. So why go with one bloom over another?
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