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Who’s Responsible for Hosting the Post-Wedding Brunch?

February 7, 2019 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

The post-wedding, or morning-after, brunch is a nice way to end the wedding festivities. It’s especially popular at weekend-long and destination weddings since guests are already staying over. The brunch gives everyone time to chat in an informal setting, and this event can be held anywhere from a family member’s backyard to the café at the hotel where everyone’s staying.

Since this type of brunch is a fairly new concept—it originated around the late 20th century, long after all the “wedding rules” were set—there is no tradition of assigning hosting duties to any particular group associated with the wedding. Then who does host the meal? Basically, anyone who offers to. Though it’s common for the bride and groom to pick up the tab, it’s also something grandparents might like to do. Or maybe one of the newlyweds’ godparents, an aunt and uncle, close family friend, or the parents of the bride or groom, even if they’ve already hosted other events like the reception or rehearsal dinner.

Though the host is paying for the meal, that doesn’t mean they have to plan the entire event, too. Often the couple will choose the location (if not at the host’s home) and menu regardless of who is hosting, or they’ll work with the host and iron out the details together. As for what everyone will eat, anything goes, from something simple like bagels and muffins to more substantial foods like eggs and pancakes.
But just so you know, throwing a morning-after brunch isn’t mandatory. If no one has offered to host and the bride and groom’s budget can’t be stretched any further, it’s fine to skip this event. It’s a nice add-on but by no means necessary. The most important part of any wedding celebration is the moment you say I do.

5 Benefits of Having a Fall Wedding, According to Professional Planners

November 7, 2018 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Martha Stewart Weddings

Fall weddings have been gaining popularity over the last few years, and for good reasons! Autumn celebrations offer unique color palettes, seasonal ingredients, and bold florals. We asked two top wedding planners—Shannon Leahy and Beth Helmstetter—to share the benefits that come with choosing a fall wedding date. Here, the two pros share their top five.

You’ll get unforgettable photos.

It’s no secret that fall foliage provides a vibrant backdrop for your wedding photos. Highlight the colorful leaves by taking photos beneath voluminous trees, incorporate pumpkins or leaves into your photos, or taking advantage of the fall breeze that makes your veil flow during your portrait session. “In the Northeast you see all the beautiful oranges and yellows of the maples,” Leahy says. “The aspens in the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming are on fire—it’s a stunning time of year for outdoor photos!”

It’s the perfect time of year for an outdoor ceremony or reception.

“You can typically count on cooler temperatures and less direct sunlight, which is amazing for guest comfort. They get to be fully present for the ceremony rather than thinking about how hot they are or if the sun is in their eyes,” says Helmstetter. Leahy agrees, adding that your guests will appreciate being able to spend time outdoors without feeling hot and sticky. “No one wants to be sweating through their formal attire, so waiting until the fall ensures that your guests will enjoy an outdoor wedding in the crisp cool air.”

You’re able to play up cozy textures and textiles.

Fall weddings and a cozy vibe go hand in hand. “Soft blankets at the ceremony can be a lovely touch so guests can cuddle up while you say your vows,” Helmstetter says. You can also use them throughout the rest of your decorations. “Heavy woods, leathers, or wool for your linens, tables, or chair covers all work well. All of these elements may feel too heavy in the spring or summer time, but are perfect to create a cozy fall wedding”

The seasonal ingredients are delicious.

You can take advantage of all the seasonal fruits and vegetables by incorporating them into your wedding menu. Consider serving hot apple cider, cocktails featuring seasonal fruits, squash-based soups, root vegetables, and seasonal flavored pies like sweet potato or pumpkin. “With so many beautiful and delicious fruits in season, it can be fun to incorporate things like figs or red pears into the design of the day. We love to add these unexpected touches to tablescapes, welcome gifts, favors, and more,” Helmstetter says.

Fall flowers are so beautiful.

Consider incorporating colorful dahlias, marigolds, lilies, and even leaves into your bouquet or centerpieces. “We love when our florists bring the changing leaves of fall foliage into an arrangement—it gives it so much more interest and subtle color than simply green leaves,” explains Leahy.

Five Entertainment Ideas for an Unforgettable Intimate Wedding

October 24, 2018 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Bridal Pulse

Having a small guest list doesn’t mean you have to think small when it comes to entertaining your guests. Whether you’re dreaming of a reception that has your guests dancing to the sounds of a live wedding band or you prefer something more subdued like a jazz trio during a cocktail reception, there is no reason an intimate wedding should make you scale back on your wedding entertainment plans.

In fact, with all that money you’ll save on having fewer guests, it will be easier to pull out all the stops when it comes to entertaining your guests. Here are just a few ideas to get your juices flowing:

Mix and mingle artists like close-up magicians are a, well, magical way to dazzle, break the ice, and move the conversation into free-flow mode. Perfect for drinks receptions and wedding breakfasts, where they’ll perform to small and not-so-small groups.

Post-ceremony refreshments? Yes please! A pop-up cocktail bar is a quirky way to stay lubricated. Your bartender can design bespoke cocktails for – and named after – the happy couple, and stock all your favorite beverages.

Solo singers come in all forms, from classical to jazz, swing, and even singer-guitarists, and make a breath-taking accompaniment to your ceremony, drinks reception and breakfast. For a fuller sound, opt for a duo or trio vocal harmony group.

Acoustic bands can be chilled or lively, from fun folk to smooth jazz – the choice is yours! They’ll wander among your guests and some will take requests, perfectly tailoring their set to your crowd.

Stylish and sophisticated, classical musicians like harpists or string quartets can turn their hand from masterpieces to modern chart tracks and movie hits in an instant. They’re perfect mood-setters for your ceremony and ambient atmosphere at your drinks reception and wedding breakfast.

6 Important Tasks to Budget Time for on the Morning of Your Wedding

October 10, 2018 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Martha Stewart Weddings

By the time your wedding day arrives, you’ll likely have the timeline for the ceremony and reception broken down into 15-minute increments. But what about the hours before the ceremony starts? There are several important tasks you’ll need to budget time for on the wedding morning, and having a clear timeline that spells out what you should be doing (and when!) can make everything so much easier. Here, six essential big-day to-dos that you should carve out time for on the morning of your wedding.

Getting Ready

Showering, having your hair and makeup done, and getting dressed take a surprisingly long time on your wedding day. You can typically factor in about one and a half to two hours for hair and makeup, but it’s always smart to ask your artists for their own timing estimates after you’ve finalized the look during your trials. Getting dressed usually takes another 30 minutes, as your photographer will probably ask you to stop and pose for photos throughout the process. Add another 15 minutes at the end for last-minute hair and makeup fixes and gathering your accessories.

Eating Breakfast and Lunch

While you don’t necessarily need to set aside blocks of time for each meal, it’s crucial that you eat both breakfast and lunch on your wedding day. Between the adrenaline rush you’ll feel throughout the day and all of the physical activity of standing, dancing, and greeting friends and family, you want to be sure you’re well-nourished and hydrated.

Enjoying a Little “Me” Time

If you’re able to set aside an hour or two for yourself on the morning on your wedding, your brain and your body will thank you for it. You don’t have to be entirely alone if you don’t want to be, though. Take a long walk with your maid of honor, attend a yoga class, or get a massage with your mom. Whatever your chosen relaxation technique, be sure it’s something you truly enjoy so you can start your day off stress-free.

Changing Hotel Rooms

Most couples choose to have either the bride or the groom get ready in the room they’ll stay in on the wedding night. If you’re not setting things up this way, or if you have to change rooms or check into a different hotel on the same day, be sure to set aside time for the transition as it could take as long as half an hour.

Read the rest here.

Wedding Etiquette: What Should the Groomsmen Expect to Pay For?

August 1, 2018 by aaadmin Leave a Comment

Source: Martha Stewart Weddings

Between paying for everything from the pre-wedding parties to wedding-day clothing, being a member of a pal’s bridal party can be costly. And it’s not just bridesmaids who shell out the big bucks—groomsmen also are expected to pay up. But just how much that is in dollar amounts depends on a few factors, like the formality of the wedding, where you live in relation to the wedding venue, and how elaborate the bachelor party is. Here’s what a groomsman can expect to pay for.

The Tuxedo Rental

If the wedding is formal, you’ll probably be renting a tux. That will cost an average of $135, according to Savvi Formalwear, a national network of independent wedding formalwear specialists. If you go the designer route, it’s closer to $200. You’ll have to shell out more money if accessories like shoes and cufflinks are not included in the price. If you’re lucky enough to own your own tux or if the dress code is more casual, and an outfit you already have in your closet fits the bill, your cost to dress up for the wedding is an enviable zero.

The Bachelor Party

This men-only mainstay could be as simple (meaning, affordable) as a couple of six-packs and video games at the best man’s house one night or as elaborate (meaning, expensive) as a four-day weekend in Cabo. Not interested in either option? There’s also the ever-popular night out in town. Prices vary widely, so expected to pay anywhere from a few bucks to hundreds. Whatever you do, make sure the majority of groomsmen is onboard with the plan before inviting others.

The Wedding Gift

The final expense is the wedding gift, and you can either pick something off the couple’s registry or give cash. And no, you don’t have a year to hand it over—that’s a weird wedding fallacy that’s been kicking around for decades. Give them your gift before the wedding or after the honeymoon.

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