Cookie Bar

C is for cookie, that’s good enough for me. Cookie, Cookie, Cookie starts with C!  Is it because I am a Mom, that when I hear Cookie I think of that song?!  Well, no matter how you sing it or say it, Cookies are fantastic! Have them show up at your next party or wedding as the take home party favor.  “Cookie Bar’s” are popping up at all types of events. Milk and cookies have so much nostalgia behind them.  My memories of cookies are from my Grandma who had a cookie jar on her counter ALWAYS filled with Italian Cookies.  My favorite that she makes is thumb print cookies rolled in walnuts with a cherry in the middle. YUM!  She is such a believer that cookies bring families together she showed up at my formal wedding reception with an aluminum tray filled with Italian cookies (I thought the caterer was going to jump from his chef’s coat with her bringing her own dessert for 225 guests :) but, he was a good sport and set up the cookies next to the ice cream sundae bar) 

            A great way to incorporate family traditions at a wedding thru cookies is to have a Cookie Bar with favorite cookies from each side of the family.  (you could even get your bridesmaids to help with the baking) A great take home memory (along with the variety of cookies) would to be to print out the brides and groom’s favorite family cookie recipe on recipe cards so each guest can take one and add the recipe to their recipe library. Every time they bake that cookie, they will think of the great time they had at your wedding.

My Grandma's cookie jar.....which is now mine :)

*photos credits {Martha Stewart} {Brilliant Ice Sculpture} {Flickr} {Drew B Photography}{My own mad skillz :) }

Boutique Wedding Tents

Newport is a very desirable wedding location.  My guess would be because of our beautiful historic Mansions and Beaches.  Outdoor celebrations go hand and hand with Newport.  Why not celebrate your next outdoor fiesta with a trully unique atmosphere. If you have been following my blog or website , you will know I LOVE details.  When I came across Boutique Tents I feel in love.  These tents are GORGEOUS! How amazing would it be to have one of these at your wedding as a cocktail lounge for your guests? (Picture big oversized couches, tons of fab pillows with cocktail in hand!) Or you could even turn it into a dessert bar room! The possibilities are endless!  If you live in the warmer states, you could just have it poolside as your pool cabana.  Even cuter, is they make mini ones. This could be a outdoor play tent for the kiddies, SO FUN! Custom colors and designs are also welcome.

*Photos and Availablity at http://www.boutiquetents.net/

Wedding Ring Tradotions

Wedding Ring Traditions

Being engaged to get married has got to be one of the most exciting (and a little bit overwhelming) times of anyone’s life. The first thing people say when you tell them you are in engaged is hands down “Let me see the ring!” I know that when I got engaged, 9 years ago, I would clean my ring every day, talk with my hands (more than I already do!) and honestly just look at it because every time I did, it reminded me of this great man I was going to marry and the tradition that came along with it. No matter the size, metal, shape, family heirloom or where it came from (My dad won my Mom's engagement ring at a poker game!) an engagement ring and wedding band is a symbol of a couple’s commitment to one another. Here is a little history for the tradition of the wedding rings I found on The Wedding Channel:


In 3rd century Greece, the ring finger was the index finger. In India, it was the thumb. Today's western tradition began later with the Greeks, who believed that the third finger was connected directly to the heart by a route they called the "vein of love."

In early Rome, a prized gold band came to symbolize everlasting love and commitment in marriage. Roman wedding rings were carved with two clasped hands. Some had a carved key through which a woman was thought to be able to open her husband's heart.

In 860 AD, Pope Nicolas I decreed that an engagement ring becomes a required statement of nuptial intent. He insisted that engagement rings had to be made of gold, which signified a financial sacrifice, by the prospective husband. An engagement ring containing your birthstone is said to bring good luck.

Although commonplace today, it was not until the 16th century that men consistently began to wear wedding rings. In America, the double ring ceremony gained importance after World War II, symbolizing love and partnership in marriage.

Below are some photos from the creatively talented Faith Dugan of Faith Dugan Photography here in Newport, RI. ( In every wedding she photographs, she does something special and creative to showcase the couple’s wedding rings, giving them the attention they deserve. Here are a few of my favorites:

This one I think is my FAVORITE!

Faith inspired me, so I took a photo of my rings, eternity band that Paul gave me after I had both of my children, engagement ring, and my wedding band.

How are you going to have your photographer showcase your wedding rings?

Vendor Gratuities

My couples always ask "Should I be tipping my vendors"? The only people who are "counting on it" are hair/makeup and transportation drivers. The rest is completely up to you! Here is what I tell couples if they are looking to tip above and beyond the service fee (again not necessary, but GREATLY appreciated!) 

Delivery Staff (Flowers, Cake, Rentals etc) $10 each

Officiant $25-$50

Band/DJ $50-$200

Florist $25-$75

Hair/Makeup 15-20% of bill

Transportation 15-20% of bill

Photographer $50-$100

Videographer $50-$100

Ceremony Musicians $20-$25 each player 

Wedding Coordinator $100-$200

Event Manager/Venue Manager $50-$200

One of the BEST gifts for any vendor is a hand written note, word of mouth praise, or online reviews. 

The Knot Magazine Ipad App

When I was in NYC, I was fortunate enough to go to The Knot gala at the New York Public Library (more on that party soon!) When I was there, I spoke with Carley (founder of the Knot) and Miles Stiverson (who is also the developer of this awesome app) and they were telling me about this awesome new app they had coming out for the Ipad (which, by the way me and my family are addicted too!) Well it is here! and you NEED to download it, it is a magazine but it is also interactive, like you are instant messaging other brides in real time, cool right?! So be sure to download it here, and spend the $4.99 for the upgrade, your wedding planning sanity will thank you.

{abc's of wedding planning} Bridal Luncheon

Bridal Luncheon…what is that? When I meet with my brides I like to help with any other activities they may have planned for the week of their wedding. Whether it is a welcoming BBQ, Golf outing, Clambake or a Spa day just to name a few! But most of the time when I ask “Are you having a Bridal Luncheon?” The brides look at me as if I am wearing linen after Labor Day! So this post is going to explain the Bridal Luncheon. Though it is not mandatory, a Bridal Luncheon usually is hosted by the bride at a venue, backyard or a home in the town they will be getting married. It is a VERY casual lunch/brunch that consists of the bride and bridesmaids (Feel free to invite whomever you want, but to keep it intimate stick to the females of the bridal party). This lunch is a great way for the bride to thank her bridesmaids and give them their gifts for participating in your special day. It is also a great way for the bridesmaids to meet each other and share stories how they all know the bride. That way the day of the wedding there isn’t any “Oh hi, I am Sarah I went to URI with Kara” “Oh really my brother went to URI do you know Mike Smith?” “Yeah he dated Meghan” ….then it could get ugly! It makes for a better time when you get all that out BEFORE walking down the aisle to support your friend. Let the bride have her time to shine! Do you plan on having a bridal luncheon?

{ABC's of Wedding Planning} Accessories

You have the gown, now what do you need?! Accessories! Here are some tips on what you may need on your wedding day when it comes to accessories.

-Get your accessories AFTER you purchase your dress, matching a dress to a necklace is much for difficult then matching a necklace to a gown.
-Veil vs. Headpiece. Some brides opt to wear a veil during the ceremony and switch to a beautiful pearl/rhinestone incrusted hair clip for the reception.  Have one of your bridesmaids go with you to your hair appointment so they can assist in this transformation and learn from the stylist how to remove the veil and insert the clip.
- Lingerie- purchase this after you have found your dress but before your first fitting.  Having your wedding day undergarments for this appointment helps securing the proper fit of the dress.
-Shoes- these can be purchased before the gown if desired, just bring them with you when you try dresses on. If you do not purchase the exact ones you will be wearing on your wedding day, bring a pair with a similar heel you would like to wear.
-Wrap/Shrug- If you are getting married in the cooler months, make sure you get something that will keep you warm when going to your ceremony, ceremony to reception and reception to where you will spend the night as husband and wife.
-Garter- some brides use this as their something blue, and it is not necessary to do a "garter toss", keep it for sentimental value.
-Purse- a clutch style purse for your wedding day is the best option. Just big enough to hold your lip gloss and room key in.
-Necklace/Rings/Bracelets- look in your families jewelry box. Wearing "something old" from grandma's collection is a nice way to start a family tradition.
My last piece of advice for accessories is, make sure you switch your engagement ring to your right finger just before you walk down the aisle.  Your wedding band is ALWAYS supposed to be closest to your heart.

{photo credit The Knot}

Personalized hangers

It's your wedding day......You are with your bridesmaids sipping mimosa's and getting your makeup applied. At the corner of your eye hangs your wedding dress ready to be worn to walk down the aisle to marry the love of your life.  You probably spent a good 6 months oohhing and aahhing over your perfect wedding dress.  Of course the wedding dress looks best on you, but while it is waiting to be worn why not hang it on a custom wire hanger. For me it would have said Mrs. Grimm, that alone brings a smile to my face. Lila Frances makes stunning custom hangers. Make sure your photographer gets a photo of your dress hanging on this unique detail, you will be happy they did.

{photo credit Lila Frances}

{ABC's of Wedding Planning} Aisle

I thought it would be fun to start a new series of wedding planning ideas, ABC's of wedding Planning.  First up... Aisle. It does not matter where you are getting married, a church, a synagogue, at the beach, in your backyard or at the court house....there will be an aisle for you to walk down.  The question I am asked the most about the aisle is "Do I have to decorate the aisle" Of course this is not a necessity, but a little added something would always make it extra special.  Some ideas to dress up the aisle could be, flowers in buckets, mason jars tied with fun fabric with an electric candle in it, paper pinwheels hanging on the ends of the aisle chairs, loose flowers bunched together secure with a satin ribbon, a satin bow, or a custom aisle runner.  Just be aware you need to ask your place of ceremony if they allow any decorations on their pews or chairs (some have restrictions) What are some fun ways you are dressing up your aisle?

{photo credit HK-Photography}

Rain, Rain Go Away on my Wedding Day!

Well, if you are getting married in Newport this weekend, you have been watching the weather channel religiously because all it has done is rain for the past 3 days! (don't worry, it is going to be gorgeous this weekend!) But what if it does rain on your wedding day?  My advice as a wedding planner is, always have a plan B. Make sure the tent is water sealed, bring the tables at least 8 feet away from the sides of the tent due to drainage, put the band/DJ in the middle of the tent (because the party must go on!) and have some indoor locations on back up for photo opportunities.  In Newport, there are a few indoor spots that will let you take pictures (these ALL need permission beforehand and their may be a fee involved) but some great options would be the Newport Art Museum, Edward King House, Newport Marriott, The Chandler, The Rotunda Carousal, and Ochre Court at Salve Regina. Keep your sprites up, invest in some fun wellies and umbrellas, and pass out some plastic ponchos to guests with a note attached that says "It's raining, who cares...we are STILL getting married!"

{photo credit} Connerton Photography 

Newport Wedding Map

A very FUN addition to your wedding is a map of your wedding festivities.  Because Newport is a destination place, and many guests are from out of town, you should include a little guidance for your guests.  Yeah I know there is GPS in every car, but these are WAY more fun and they can be used as a keepsake of your wedding day.  It can also can be made bigger by the artist so you can frame it and hang it in your home.  The picture below was hand painted by Kristy Rice of Momental Designs. (It can also be changed to what ever venues you are using)  She is an amazing artist, who can also hand paint your invitations. She offers an array of stationery for your wedding needs, but of course the map caught my eye being Newport and all!

{photo credit Momental Designs}

City Themed Rehearsal Dinner

Newport is a HUGE destination wedding location. So why not bring your city to our city by the sea.  Have you ever thought about theming your tables at your rehearsal dinner?  Instead of just naming the tables after favorite destinations why not create tables that resemble favorite cities you and your soon to be spouse travel too, or better yet places you want to travel too.  I am not talking about all the tables to look alike either, why not have 5 different themes? So fun! It is also is a great way for guests to get up and meet one another because they will be intrigued to walk around the room to look at the different city tables.  Are you incorporating your state in your wedding plans?

NYC themed table

{Photo by Vanessa Tierney} 

It's all about the shoes

Traditionally....you would wear white or ivory shoes on your wedding day.  More and more brides (and grooms) are opting to kick off tradition and wear something different.  I have seen every color in the rainbow, converse sneakers, flip flops, and cowboy boots!    In this photo, a bride wanted to keep tradition but wanted to incorporate her nautical theme from her wedding. Love it! Are you going to wear non traditional shoes on your wedding day?

{photo credit Sarah Bastille Photography}

Ten Tips for having a FUN Rehearsal Dinner

It is the day before the wedding, you rehearse for the ceremony, now it is time to relax before the big day!  Here is a list I created to assure you will have a fun rehearsal dinner.

1.. This is the time where all the running around has come to an end and you and your fiancé can sit back and have a few laughs with your closest friends and family.  Traditionally, the people who are invited to the rehearsal dinner is the couple, their parents, immediate family and the wedding party.  Some couples also invite out of town guests. There is not a “rule” who you need to invite to the dinner.

2. Keep it casual.  More and more couples are doing fun, unique rehearsal dinners.  A New England clambake is a fun way to relax before the wedding.  Do a traditional red and white checkered tablecloth and use lobster pots filled with potted geraniums as the centerpieces. A backyard BBQ Bash is also a favorite, and also cost effective.  Have family members make their favorite BBQ specialties, fire up the grill and hire someone to man the grill. It will be the best money spent because everyone can interact with the guests and you won’t have to worry who gets stuck cooking on the grill.

3. Hire a photographer.  When you hire your photographer for your wedding, ask if they would be willing to come to the rehearsal dinner for an hour.  They will be able to capture the moments leading up to your big day. It is a great keepsake to look back on.

4. Chose a location that you are familiar with.  Look at locations that you and your fiancé love to dine at. Do they have the best truffle mac and cheese you have ever eaten?  Be sure to add it your menu so your guests can experience some of your favorites.

5. Invites.  Invitations for a rehearsal can be as fun as you want.  The invite usually sets the tone of an event, so go with something that will reflect the setting you are trying to perceive.  These are usually sent out 4 weeks in advance.

6. Don’t forget the kids. More and more couples are including kids in their ceremony.  Most out of town guests are not comfortable hiring a babysitter locally, so include a table for the kids.  Hire a family babysitter or ask your wedding planner for a great recommendation.  Set up a table with crayons, paper and stickers and be sure to ask the venue for kiddy menu items for them.

7. Dessert.  This is a great way to incorporate the couple’s love for each other.  Did the couple meet at college?  Have a baker great a cake resembling their school mascot.  Did you grow up together in the same neighborhood? Serve ice cream treats you would get from an ice cream truck to bring back the nostalgia.

8. Table Seating.  Most of the time you would say, “let them sit where they want” but honestly it is better to have assigned seating.  Generally people sit with people they know, guide your guests to mingle and socialize. Mix the group accordingly.  You and your fiancé are merging as a family; your guests should be too.

9.Ice Breakers.  Sometimes a rehearsal dinner is the first time families meet.  Create 10 trivia questions about you as a couple.  Eat table is a team. They will have to come together to try and come up with the correct answers. This is a great way for the guests to interact with one another.   Great a slide show of some of you and your fiancé’s baby photos leading up to you as a couple.  Try to include photos of you with your guests that are present.

10. Toast.  Be sure to thank everyone for making your wedding the special day it is going to be.  Most important, enjoy your time with your guests, and get a good nights sleep.

Dreaming of your wedding day....

How many times have you dreamt about your wedding day when you were a little girl?  The ball gown white dress, the long veil, the prince in the black tux, the beautiful scenery, walking down the aisle holding a bouquet of gorgeous flowers. You get the picture.  But in other eyes, some little girls never dream about their wedding. Truly, that is OK.  You fall in love with your spouse and that dream you had as a little girl has now changed into reality.  That is the great thing about reality, it is not a script. (Though some TV shows make you think it is!) You and your partner choose together how your wedding day is going to be, as a couple.  Maybe now you want to wear a slip dress instead of the ball gown, your flower bouquet now has changed into a button bouquet and your prince wants to wear a linen shirt with flip flops.  There are no rules to YOUR wedding day, make it about you as a couple, not something you were told it was supposed to be.  This photo by Brian Lima Photography captures the true innocence of little girls on a couples wedding day.  One day dreaming of her day, and the other wondering when it is over and she can dance!

{photo credit} Brian Lima Photography

Welcome to Newport Weddings

Welcome to the new Newport Weddings blog by the Knot!  I am Stephanie Frazier Grimm of Couture Parties were I plan, design and style one of a kind weddings and events, specializing in Newport, RI.  So you are thinking of getting married in Newport.  What better place to get married!  We have every venue possible that you may want to get married at.  We have tents, beach views, historic Mansions, orchards, vineyards, hotel ballrooms, and of course views of the iconic Newport Bridge everywhere you turn.  If you are looking for authentic clambakes, we have it.  Black tie platted dinners, we have it.  BBQ style, we have it.  We even have a few RI iconic staples that can show up at your wedding…perhaps a Newport Creamery Awful, Awful or Del’s Lemonade?  Being a true “islander”, I look forward to sharing all that Newport has to offer for your wedding.  What are some RI things you will incorporate in your Newport wedding?

{photo by Couture Wedding Design}