WEDDING ADVICE: WHAT'S YOUR WEDDING STYLE?

Let me guess. Like many couples who have just gotten engaged, you've been bombarded with questions about your wedding plans. Where, when and most importantly, what kind of wedding you are planning. Most newly engaged couples have never planned a major party or special event; their wedding will be their first. They have no idea where to start with planning or even have an idea about the style of wedding they want. Even if they have some idea about the degree of formality and number of guests, what comes next is a complete question mark. Answer the questions below and you’ll have some idea about the type of wedding your personal style defines.

Take out a pen and jot down the answer that best describes you. When you are finished, you will have a description of the wedding you want to plan!

1. When you close your eyes, what do you envision for your wedding?

a.   outdoor, casual setting

b.   beach

c.   hotel or ballroom

d.   country club

e.   hip loft

f.    historic setting or city landmark

g.   alternative venue

h.   no idea

2. How would you describe your personal style?

a.   hip, cool

b.   traditional, conservative

c.   bohemian, hippie

d.   eclectic, diverse

e.   modern, sleek

f.    sophisticated, elegant

g.   dramatic diva

h.   country, casual

i.    other

j.    don’t know         

3. What is the one thing that is a must for your wedding?

a.   a unique space, something different than my recently married friends had

b.   completely delicious and unforgettable food

c.   incredible entertainment that makes the party happen

d.   film quality video and magazine quality photos

e.   a to-die-for couture gown for my big day

f.    flowers and décor that make your guests gasp when they enter the room

g.   a cake that people talk about for years

h.   something else

i.    don’t know

4. How would you want your décor to look?

a.   hot, bright and fun: hot pinks, bright greens, orange

b.   cool, calm and serene: aqua, brown, white, turquoise

c.   traditional: pinks and spring flowers

d.   all white

e.   seasonal: Autumn, spring, winter

f.    pretty and soft: feminine colors and lacy touches

g.   striking and bold: red, black, metallics, brown 

h.   follow a theme: farm, summer, 4th of July, beach, etc

i.    over the top and elaborate: use your imagination

j.    funky: Chinese lanterns, lots of pillows, colorful linens

k.   trendy: mood lighting, fabric drapes, conversation pits, etc

l.    highly styled: massive flower arrangements, each element coordinated

m.  monochromatic: one color theme throughout

n.   no muss, no fuss- like no effort was made: long banquet tables, lots of candles 

o.   something else

p.   no idea

5. I would want our food to be

a.   buffet style with lots of choices

b.   seated and served by waiters

c.   passed and served

d.   interactive stations

e.   champagne and dessert only

f.    a combination of these

g.   something else

h.   don’t know

6. I want our party to be

a.   an all out bash, dancing ‘til they throw us out

b.   elegant and timeless

c.   fun for all ages

d.   piano bar style

e.   big band

f.    orchestra

g.   wedding band

h.   just classical background type

i.    interactive DJ with games

j.    club DJ with hip tunes

k.   a combination of these

l.    something else

m.  don’t know

7. I want my guests to remember

a.   our personal touches, the sentiment and how special the day was to us

b.   the rock star party we threw

c.   how fantastic I looked

d.   our “Dancing with the Stars” moves during our first dance

e.   all the details and planning that went into every moment

f.    how much fun we had

g.   all of the above!

If you wrote down your answers, you should have a better idea of what you really want (affording it all is a different story) for your own wedding day.

For example, if your answers are 1. a, 2. a, 3. c, 4. b, 5. a, 6. j, 7. f, the description of your wedding would be: an ultra cool and trendy outdoor party decorated in aqua, turquoise, brown and white with an amazing band that played until the wee hours where our guests dined on multiple choices of food and beverages and everyone can’t stop talking about how much fun it was!

Now fill in the blanks to create a “mission statement” for your own wedding!

EASY CENTERPIECE: GLOBE OR CYLINDER WITH AN OCEAN OR BEACH THEME

Want an easy idea for a centerpiece for your next party? Check out this fish bowl idea. It's an easy and fun addition to your table. It was inexpensive but added a lot of impact and a little whimsy. I put the vase on a candle holder with a wide base and used mounting tape to secure it but it is equally pretty sitting on a table or on a glass block. I'd use a very stable base if you will have cocktails or children at the party.

Elegant and easy...  find a glass block or candle holder to serve as a pedestal for the globe.

All you have to do is to find a glass container. I used a round globe vase but you can also use a tall cylinder or square glass vase.

These guys almost look real but they are pretty, inexpensive glass fish that you might find at an aquarium store. I found these at Pier 1. Sit them on top of ocean colored sea glass for a lovely change to a flower centerpiece.

Add the sea glass in your party color to the bottom of the vase. This not only adds color, it also adds some weight to the arrangement and that helps with stability. If you don't have or can't find sea glass, you can always use sand or river rocks.

I found some pretty glass fish that I used in the arrangement. You could also add coral or anything else that fits your party theme.

Fish $5 each (Pier 1)

Round Vase: $6 (Wal-Mart)

Sea Glass $6 (Target)

TALL CYLINDER VASE AQUARIUM WITH LIVE FISH

I have also made beautiful tall aquariums with live fish for a party. You have to be sure the water is suitable for the fish and that you have a home for them to go to once the party is over. This one was for an oyster event so I used oyster shells and other seashells to the design. Make sure to add the sand first. Then add the water about 1/2 way up. Add your design elements; shells, coral, etc. Then fill the vase 1/3 from the top. Allow the sand to settle before you add the fish.

Sand, shells, fresh water and a few goldfish make a beautiful cylinder centerpiece. Just make sure you have a home for the fish after the party!

TIPS ON HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR PARTY, EVENT OR WEDDING

A good rule of thumb to follow when setting a budget for your party is to estimate what you think you’re going to spend, double that number and you’ll have a more realistic figure.

Parties always cost more than you think they will. As you begin to budget, decide what you can’t live without—your “must-have” items. Put those items at the top of your budget knowing you may have to compromise on other things. You need a party plan and a shopping list to keep you from going over budget. You know how it goes—you head to the store and think to yourself--- “I think I have the right tablecloth, but I should get this one just in case. I can always take it back later.” Then you don’t use it or take it back. In fact, I’ll bet it is in the closet with the price tag still on it. So the best tip for saving money on your next party is to stick to a list when shopping for your party. Don’t pick up any “I might need this” items that aren’t on your list and you’ll keep your budget intact. You can also shave a little off the top with these tips.  

1. GET SOME HELP

Many people don’t hire planners because they think it adds to the bottom line. In fact, a planner can make suggestions and recommendations that will actually save money, time, and mistakes so they are well worth the cost. My good friend Lori Stephenson at LOLA Event Productions in Chicago always comes up with clever, unique ideas that are extremely cost effective. It’s her job. If it’s not your job, get someone like her (or me) to help you and you’ll save yourself money and headaches.

2, PLAN AHEAD

The more time you have to plan, the more time you can take to source the items you need. If you allow time to compare prices and quality, you’ll be less likely to make impulsive decisions which could add to the bottom line.

3. CUT DOWN ON THE NUMBERS

Think about it this way, for every guest you have to eliminate, you save money. Suddenly, the chore of cutting down the guests list just got easier. Cut ten guests at $25 per person and you’ve saved $250.  

4. THE RIGHT PLACE

No matter if you are renting a venue or have the party at home, you need to think about what you’ll need to pull off the party in terms of space, kitchen, and cooking facilities. If you have to bring in tents, ovens, refrigeration units, etc., the costs can explode and kill your budget. Check with the caterer before booking a venue to determine the additional rental supplies required.  

5. TAKE THE DAY OFF

Book your party on an “off day” for caterers, venues, florists, etc. You’ll be able to negotiate better if you book your party on any day other than Saturday. 

6. BAR NONE

Serving a signature cocktail rather than having an open bar looks festive and will save some dollars. You can squeeze 20+ drinks (depending on recipe and serving size) from one large bottle of premium vodka. This is also a an easy way to monitor and control the amount of alcohol served.

7, START THINGS OFF RIGHT

Guests are always hungry when they arrive at a party or event. By serving several inexpensive appetizers as guests arrive, you’ll curb their appetite and can lighten up on the main menu.

8. DON'T DO ME ANY FAVORS

Every magazine shows pictures of celebrity parties with loads of swag. Your guests don’t expect to go home with favors. It’s a nice touch, but certainly something you can eliminate if your budget is already strained.

9. MAKE SOME MUSIC

If you have a good selection of tunes on your MP3, make a mix to last the length of your party and pass on hiring a DJ or band. You’ll never get the impact you would have with live entertainment, but if your budget is tight it is a viable alternative.

10. USE WHAT YOU HAVE

If you look at my various party profiles, you’ll see that I often use both food and beverages as décor. Brightly colored and filled glasses stacked on trays are not only welcoming to a party guest, they are pretty, too. Use lemons, limes, apples, or other food items like tiers of cupcakes as decorations. Just about any type of food or beverage can be creatively presented using unique vessels and lighting so that your food doubles as your décor. All of the top caterers use food to make a statement. You can easily accomplish the same thing by thinking creatively about presentation and display of your food and beverages.