Yellow, Grey, Champagne Wedding Inspiration

When we start the design process of a wedding, we look for inspiration...then make it our own. Here is some inspiration for a the color palette yellow, grey, champagne.

Click Here

Bridal Pilates

In Newport, weddings always turn in to "wedding weekends" Most couples want to share this great city with there guests, so we at Couture Parties are always looking for fun things to share with our couples and their guests. I worked with T & her Mom F to plan an awesome weekend of fun for their bridal party and guests. Here is one aspect of their wedding. The "ladies" of the bridal party had a pilates instructor come in and do pilates & yoga with them the day before the Sunday wedding. This took place in the courtyard of the hotel. Fun right?!

 The Groom peeking a look. 

         

Maharaj Photography 

Decorative Cocktail 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.  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/ 

Taking a Moment

Sometimes planning a wedding can take two years of your time and energy, others two months. We all want the perfect wedding, just remember why you are having that wedding. The joining of two people who are standing before family and friends committing to one another. So while planning, take a minute, make sure you are doing it for you as a couple. I have compiled a few "words of wisdom". How are some ways that you relax during the planning process?

How to be a GREAT wedding guest

On average, I spend about 150 hours with my brides and mother of the brides, really this is not an exaggeration, from emails, to phone calls, to text messages, to in person pow wow sessions, to vendor meetings, I spend a lot of time with my clients.  (I wouldn’t have it any other way) Unless you have actually planned a wedding, you have no idea how much time has been spent planning this special day.  As a guest of a wedding, the couple’s main goal (besides exchanging vows) is to give you an experience. Let it happen. Every couple is different, and every wedding is different.

I am going to share a few insider tips on things that I have learned producing events and weddings…you know, to get you some Brownie points.

RSVP in a timely manner – Most invites are mailed out at least 6-8 weeks in advance, and now a days, couples also send out Save the Date cards, so you know the wedding is happening, clear your calendar, look at flights, or kindly decline as soon as you get the invitation. Why do they need the RSVP card so badly? Because they need to know how many tables, chairs, linens, centerpieces, china, staff, transportation, favors, menus, place cards, escort cards, and food to provide. Vendors have deadlines to get this all in order. Some items take a month to produce. So the sooner, the better.

Look at who the invite is addressed too – Couples work with stationers, so they know the proper way to address an invitation. If they did not put “and Guest” please do not fill in the blank that you will be bringing someone with you. Besides, if you are single, you will have way more fun on the dance floor with your buds then trying to introduce your date to all of your colleagues. Also, if it does not say “and family” it is probably an adult only affair, so ask Grandma to babysit, or if it is a destination wedding and you have to take junior with you, bring a babysitter to watch them during the wedding. Again, respect the couple’s decision to not allow children.

Enjoy cocktail hour- there is no need to run to the escort table and grab your card to see what table you are at, it will be there in an hour after you have a drink and a few munchies, besides this is when the vendors are mastering the room, florists, planners, band members, photographers, and caterering staff are running around to make sure the big reveal (when the couple see’s their reception for the first time) is “picture ready”. You placing your purse or coat jacket on the table is just something we have to move out of the way so the couple does not have to see it.

Be happy where you are sitting- it is 2 hours tops that you have to be seated in the seat you are assigned, don’t ask to be moved. The couple has spent weeks trying to figure out where people are going to sit. Just sit there, enjoy your awesome meal, then dance with your friends that you were not seated with. Besides, it’s always fun to meet new people right?

Don’t wear white- I know, some brides do not care, but really why do it? Let the bride have her spot light for 6 hours, wear the white dress to a non wedding event.

Go to the Ceremony – If you are invited to the wedding, then go to the actual wedding not just the reception. The reason for a wedding is to unite two families together, the party afterwards is an added bonus, see the vows, you may even shed a tear it is so nice.

Be a conscious drinker – Just because you think it is “open bar” rest assure that someone is footing the bill. Most times, couple’s base bar tabs on consumption, which resembles open bar. So if you order a drink, take a sip, put it down to jump in the photo booth, and walk away and say “oh I will just get another drink, it’s open bar” in Newport, that is $9 you wasted.

Take your Favor- I know you are thinking “another picture frame”. Just take it, they spent the money. If the favor is really good, like something edible, just take one. Couples only order enough favors for each guest or each couple.

If there is a couples website; read it – Couples create wedding websites for a reason. It is great resource to see what is going on for the wedding weekend, hotel accommodations, gift registry, directions, addresses, contact numbers etc. Check it periodically, for things come up. It is the best way to be on top of what is going on.

Leave the Centerpieces- Most of the time, the vessels the flowers are in are rentals from the florist, so walking off with them is not the best idea. If the couple would like people to take the flowers, someone will announce it or ask if you would like to have one.

Any other tips you would like to share with your wedding guests?

DIY Embossed Monogram Napkins

It is no secret I LOVE a monogram. My kids clothes, personal stationery, and my clients weddings.  I was using my own embossing stamp on the back of some stationery, you know the kind that looks very fancy because it raises the paper, and had an idea for the wedding cocktail party....embossed cocktail napkins! (subtle detail, but oh so pretty) and you can use the embosser after the wedding for your personal stationery. 

Supplies

2 Ply Paper Napkins (cocktail size or dinner)

Personalized Embosser Stamp (mine is PSA Essentials) 

Open the napkin up, the end with the point facing down that has no crease is the end you would like to use (closed seam on your left)

Insert Napkin in to embossing stamp (centered in lower corner) 

Press down hard

release

remove napkin

repeat until all napkins are complete.

No kids allowed at your wedding

Just because you have decided you do not want kids at your wedding, does not mean you are setting your future up of bad parenting. Kids are cute. You dress them up, you ask them to be on their best behavior for 6 hours straight, they shout out during the vows, and they dance the chicken dance and all the guests clap and say how cute they are.   Do not worry; they have not been put on this earth to ruin your wedding day.

If you decide you want your wedding to be an adult only affair, you need to let the parents know. Here are some ways to let guests know that that they need to let grandma babysit for the evening.

• ·      Address the inner envelope with parents names only, do not add “and family”, if you do, that is an open invitation for guests to bring their children, any age.
• ·      On the reception card write, Please Join us for an Adult Only Reception.
• ·      Include it on your wedding website, say ‘We adore children, but we will not be able to accommodate them for our wedding”
• ·      On the RSVP cards where it has M_______________________ pre fill it in with the guests that you would like to attend.
• ·      Word of Mouth. Tell family members to start spreading the word early; so guests can find sitters or  be ready to decline their presence.
• ·      Be prepared that some guests may not be able to attend because they do not have a babysitter.

Most important, you cannot feel guilty. It is your wedding day, it is about two people committing to one another, guests that are invited should be people who adore you and want you to be happy…. whether there are children there or not. 

*image Couture Parties