featured
Friday Weddings
Photo SourceAre you thinking of hosting a Friday wedding?
I say go for it. In fact, what better way to kick-start the weekend than having an evening wedding on Friday?
Think about it! The majority of people head out with their family and friends on Friday anyway. Therefore, I think it is a more than appropriate day for many people. Say with me, “food, drinks, entertainment, and an evening of laughter and dancing.”
Previously, I discussed the reasons why bridal couples choose to have a Sunday wedding, as well as, some pros and cons. Now, I would like to offer a few suggestions for Friday weddings.
To start with, if you are planning a Friday wedding, I strongly suggest that the start time is no earlier than 7:30 that evening considering it is a workday. In this way, you are giving your wedding guests time to get home from work and get dressed for your special occasion.
Upon stating that, I would also like to suggest that instead of your wedding ceremony starting at 7:30 have your cocktail hour first. There is no rule stating that you must have it after your ceremony or just before your reception.
By hosting your cocktail hour before your wedding ceremony, you allot time for any guests who may be running late to get there in time for the ceremony. In addition, I am confident that your guests will be highly appreciative of being greeted with a signature drink, hors d’ouevres, and entertainment upon arrival.
After the cocktail hour, you can move on to your wedding ceremony. Following, your guests will be invited into the reception area. Please note they should already have their seating cards, which they should have collected during cocktail hour.
Once all guests have been seated at the reception and it is time to introduce the wedding party, I suggest that you go straight into your first dance. Following the first dance, your parents can dive into the welcome speech, and then the blessing of the food and so forth. Happy Planning!
Read MoreSunday Weddings
The most popular day of the week to host a wedding is on Saturday, but there is no rule stating that you must get married on this day. Excluding holiday weekends, you may save some money by choosing a day other than Saturday to host your wedding.
So, what other days are bridal couples hosting their weddings?
Sunday weddings are the next popular wedding day to get married. There are a couple reasons why bridal couples choose to get married on Sunday. The most likely reason is that they have a specific weekend and venue in mind that they wish to get married, but the venue they wish to host their nuptials and celebration may have already an event for Saturday, so the couple opts for Sunday as the alternate day.
Another reason couples may chose Sunday for their wedding is that many wedding venues offer special rates for events hosted on non-competitive days of the week. So, if you are working with a tight budget, choosing a non-competitive day like Sunday to get married is one way to get the best for your money.
One thing to keep in mind about Sunday is that it marks the start of the week for the majority of people, so do not be surprised if your wedding ends earlier than anticipated, especially if it takes place in the evening or if your RSVP count is low because people are unable to attend. The most logical explanation as to why guests leave early is that they have to get ready for work the next day or to get back home to get the kids to bed for school.
If you want your wedding guests to fully enjoy everything you have planned and of course in consideration of your out-of-town guests, I would suggest hosting your Sunday wedding early in the day. For example, you could have a late morning or noon ceremony, followed by a luncheon reception. In this way, out-of-town guests can travel back home late that afternoon or early evening and be back home at a decent time to get ready for work the next day. In addition, you will save more money by having a luncheon reception in lieu of an evening dinner reception.
One last thing to note about Sunday weddings, particularly if you want a church wedding, is that you will be restricted to certain times, considering worship service take place on Sundays. Of course, if your church has multiple services, this is another thing to take into consideration, which poses a challenge for event logistics–setting up your ceremony decoration in between services and having to break it down and clear the area before the next service starts. My suggestion: you will need a team of professionals to work both your wedding locations and equally important, who are great with event logistics.
{Original article published in August 2009 and content has been updated.}
Read MoreSerpentine Wedding Tables
Serpentine tables are most commonly used for buffet and open bar displays at weddings. However, they can be used sparingly as part of your wedding design for seating.
Photo from Wedding Style Magazine
If you choose to use serpentine tables for seating your wedding guests, I strongly suggest that you apply the “less is more” approach. In other words, it’s is not a good idea logistically speaking to use solely serpentine tables, especially if you do not have adequate space.
Even more, your event design will look better if you mix in different tables. In essence, serpentine guest tables should only be used as a focal point to create some contrast and interest inside your event space. It should not take up the entire space.
Photo from Enchanting Events
Of course, serpentine tables work very well for head tables and you can shape them a number of ways, including arranging them into semi-circle guest tables.
This look designed by Colin Cowie for Oprah’s 50th birthday a several years back would work beautifully for an intimate wedding reception, as well. So, what do you think about using serpentine wedding tables as part of your event design?
Read More 
