There are always new trends in the wedding industry. Some I like, some I don't. Some I would never even call trends, I would just call fabulous ideas that more should take advantage of. Below is a list of my current favorite things going on in weddings these days.
1. Secret Vows. It's mentioned below, but the full explanation of it is that along with exchanging formal vows with your officiant presiding, you also take a few moments of quiet time together (with music playing, perhaps after your unity candle lighting) to share your own personal vows only to each other. Marriage is between two people and I thought my couple a few weekends ago perfected this amazingly well. Beautiful. I hope it catches on!
2. The Walk Down the Aisle. Alone. (((Gasp!))) What?? Grandmothers everywhere are clutching their hearts in despair. How could she? Let's face it, today's modern bride may be a bit older, may be on her second marriage, and may very well be Miss Independent. The walk down the aisle alone is one that is breath-taking and poignant. I applaud those of you doing this for whatever reason it might be.
3. No More Boutonnieres! Guys don't typically like flowers. So why are we forcing them to wear one on the wedding day? Buck tradition and go for a coordinating pocket square instead. If you want a class act of pictures, you've got it with that! Mission accomplished. Oh, and your dads, groom, and groomsmen will kiss the ground you walk on for not flowering them. Did I mention the cost savings as well?
4. Seeing Dad for the First Time. We all know how special that first glimpse of the groom seeing the bride is, whether it's down the aisle or a meeting place beforehand. But how many daddy's girls are actually setting aside a special place and time for a father/daughter first glimpse? Not many, I know. That's why when I get to help set the stage for this first meeting, it takes my breath away every.single.time. With the photographer's assistance, those pictures are something to be cherished for a lifetime.
5. What Aisle Runner? Ladies, it's not necessary. Why do so many brides feel that they MUST lay down a piece of plastic or cheap fabric to walk on? And please do not subject the ushers or groomsmen to pulling it down the aisle prior to the bridal party entrance. Want to know why?...imagine the runner getting stuck on itself and now you have an usher or two on the floor trying to unroll it that way. If you must do a runner, go for something unique. Go for a sturdier fabric. Colored fabric! Have the aisle runner laid prior to the ceremony and ribbon off the entrance and seat guests from the side aisle if your venue allows. It's a dramatic entrance this way and much less worrisome.
6. Who Needs a Bridal Party? I am really loving this idea more and more. I love that couples are not finding it necessary to line up 6 women and 6 men in two lines and stand there during your ceremony. I love that I've seen couples get married without a bridal party. I love that I've seen couples get married with their bridal party standing in a semi-circle around them. I love that more and more couples are going with a Maid of Honor and a Best Man and that's it. I love that couples may have all male attendants or all female attendants because those are the important people in their lives.
7. Let Them Not Eat Cake. If you don't like cake, like so many of my clients say is true, don't get one. Save on your budget. Your favorite dessert is pecan pie? Serve that! Love ice cream? Do a sundae bar! Getting married somewhere known for their homegrown apples and cherries? I think cobblers are in order! A special dessert from your heritage? Put some meaning into what you're serving!
8. Keeping Things Moving. So many times couples forget when they are supposed to be introduced, when toasts are to be made, when the first dance is, when the cake-cutting takes place, etc. So I share with you my wise timeline for keeping things going, not losing your guests to lulls in the evenings, and most of all making sure these moments aren't forgotten if that's what you want. Be introduced as husband and wife as soon as your guests are seated for dinner. Proceed directly to your cake for the cake-cutting. Then proceed to the dance floor for your First Dance together. Take your places at your table while the servers serve the first course. While the first course is being eaten get all the toasts done right after another. This means by the time your second course comes out, you're done! You're free to eat, to converse with each other, to relax! Trust me, it works.
Monday, February 25, 2008
An American Club Wedding
I am way late on posting my experience as a Day of Coordinator at the American Club for Jess & Dan's wedding. Busy, busy as always and blogging has been put to the wayside. It was a beautiful wedding ceremony in every sense of the word. I honestly can't describe it to it's full justice. Imagine tall glass vases of varying heights and shapes with a single white rose in it. Now imagine this in mass quantity as a backdrop to your makeshift altar in the ballroom and also flanking the entrance to the aisle. I took pictures, but unfortunately it was too dark so I can't even post them without them looking very understated.
Oh, and the candles. Candlelight in the form of pillars and votives everywhere! It really was breathtaking and it was yet another example of how simple floral with simple vases can be the most elegant, glamorous look of all. I'm not kidding when I say this wedding could have been photographed as a celebrity wedding. It was that classy.
And to all brides who are contemplating An American Club wedding in Kohler, WI....contemplate no further. Seriously, they are fabulous. You have a team of people dedicated to YOU and your family that day taking care of you, changing last minute set-ups, perfecting the lighting, etc. They care and they care a lot. It shows in their "can do" attitude no matter how large the request.
So why was I there? If the American Club is so great, why would anyone need a professional Coordinator the day of? Because you have to keep in mind that although the venue is fabulous, you have also hired multiple vendors to bring everything together for the big day. Take for instance the florist. He had a HUGE job and there was just no way he had time to run to different guest rooms to pin the boutonnieres on the men or to track down the grandma's to pin their corsages. That's what I'm there for. I also am almost always the only person with the master plan for that day. I was the only one that knew there would be "secret vows" exchanged after the lighting of the unity candle and made the logistical arrangements for it. I was the only one that knew that the 2 horse figurines needed to be set at the Father of the Bride's table as an inside joke from the groom. I'm the one with the final play list for the DJ. I'm it. I have more information than everyone else that day. It was a stress-free day for me and with the ceremony and reception back to back, it was a quick day as well. But it was perfect. And it was perfect for the couple.
Oh, and the candles. Candlelight in the form of pillars and votives everywhere! It really was breathtaking and it was yet another example of how simple floral with simple vases can be the most elegant, glamorous look of all. I'm not kidding when I say this wedding could have been photographed as a celebrity wedding. It was that classy.
And to all brides who are contemplating An American Club wedding in Kohler, WI....contemplate no further. Seriously, they are fabulous. You have a team of people dedicated to YOU and your family that day taking care of you, changing last minute set-ups, perfecting the lighting, etc. They care and they care a lot. It shows in their "can do" attitude no matter how large the request.
So why was I there? If the American Club is so great, why would anyone need a professional Coordinator the day of? Because you have to keep in mind that although the venue is fabulous, you have also hired multiple vendors to bring everything together for the big day. Take for instance the florist. He had a HUGE job and there was just no way he had time to run to different guest rooms to pin the boutonnieres on the men or to track down the grandma's to pin their corsages. That's what I'm there for. I also am almost always the only person with the master plan for that day. I was the only one that knew there would be "secret vows" exchanged after the lighting of the unity candle and made the logistical arrangements for it. I was the only one that knew that the 2 horse figurines needed to be set at the Father of the Bride's table as an inside joke from the groom. I'm the one with the final play list for the DJ. I'm it. I have more information than everyone else that day. It was a stress-free day for me and with the ceremony and reception back to back, it was a quick day as well. But it was perfect. And it was perfect for the couple.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Secret Vows
I know I've said it many times, but I just LOVE when I walk away from a wedding with an amazing new twist on things. Glorious "outside of the box" thinking. Different, non-traditional, unique! Call it what you may, but it's what EXCITES me!
At the rehearsal tonight for Jess & Dan, I learned that they are going to do private vows in addition to what the officiant will perform. They will still be in the ceremony room, surrounded by their bridal party with their friends and family sitting before them, but they will take their place at the altar with their unity candle blazing before them to exchange some words that will only be heard between the two of them, things that they are promising each other for life, things that no one else needs to hear....because guess what? This marriage is for them, for Jess & Dan and that's it.
Logistically they asked me how they should work this into the ceremony and after trying a couple things I think we finally came up with the perfect way. I will cry tomorrow, I'm certain. And you can bet that I'm stealing this idea for other couples that may want to incorporate something just as private and sacred into their ceremony as well. I'm in love. I'm in love with new ideas. I'm in love with couples that come up with these ideas and share them with me.
Tomorrow is going to be beautiful. I just know it.
At the rehearsal tonight for Jess & Dan, I learned that they are going to do private vows in addition to what the officiant will perform. They will still be in the ceremony room, surrounded by their bridal party with their friends and family sitting before them, but they will take their place at the altar with their unity candle blazing before them to exchange some words that will only be heard between the two of them, things that they are promising each other for life, things that no one else needs to hear....because guess what? This marriage is for them, for Jess & Dan and that's it.
Logistically they asked me how they should work this into the ceremony and after trying a couple things I think we finally came up with the perfect way. I will cry tomorrow, I'm certain. And you can bet that I'm stealing this idea for other couples that may want to incorporate something just as private and sacred into their ceremony as well. I'm in love. I'm in love with new ideas. I'm in love with couples that come up with these ideas and share them with me.
Tomorrow is going to be beautiful. I just know it.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Winter Weddings
Dear Mother Nature,
Please get your act together. Winter brides in Milwaukee do not need any more of your games. They have dealt with enough stress and frustration during the planning process the least you can do is provide them with a day that is free of a snowstorm.
Kindly,
The Wedding Planner
Seriously though, for my dear readers who are not familiar with what is happening in this fine city I will let you know that as of 7pm last night we have now received over 73" of the pretty white stuff. SNOW! Lots of it. So it is neither pretty nor white anymore. It is ugly and slushy and well, I along with 99.9% of the city's population are just over it already.
Please don't get me wrong. I am all for winter weddings, in fact I think they are ten times more beautiful in essence than summer weddings. I'm the Wedding Planner that tells brides to do what they want, go for a white wedding, bring out the tents & heaters, buy a fabulous faux fur shawl, DO IT! But right now...I'll be honest and say that I am really hoping the snow doesn't fall on Saturday for my next wedding. Or at least not so much of it that I worry if vendors will be on time and whether or not we need to push the timeline back.
So again, my beloved Mother Nature.....KNOCK IT OFF!
Please get your act together. Winter brides in Milwaukee do not need any more of your games. They have dealt with enough stress and frustration during the planning process the least you can do is provide them with a day that is free of a snowstorm.
Kindly,
The Wedding Planner
Seriously though, for my dear readers who are not familiar with what is happening in this fine city I will let you know that as of 7pm last night we have now received over 73" of the pretty white stuff. SNOW! Lots of it. So it is neither pretty nor white anymore. It is ugly and slushy and well, I along with 99.9% of the city's population are just over it already.
Please don't get me wrong. I am all for winter weddings, in fact I think they are ten times more beautiful in essence than summer weddings. I'm the Wedding Planner that tells brides to do what they want, go for a white wedding, bring out the tents & heaters, buy a fabulous faux fur shawl, DO IT! But right now...I'll be honest and say that I am really hoping the snow doesn't fall on Saturday for my next wedding. Or at least not so much of it that I worry if vendors will be on time and whether or not we need to push the timeline back.
So again, my beloved Mother Nature.....KNOCK IT OFF!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)