Wacky Wednesday: Hot Air Balloon Weddings!

Featured on today's Wacky Wednesday blog post is Hot Air Balloon Weddings! I myself could never do this as I am terrified of heights, but for adventurous couples, this is a great and memorable way to get hitched. Some hot air balloon companies offer a pilot who is also an ordained minister. Check out this Texas hot air balloon company's FAQ page.

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The sky's the limit!!

Paying for the Wedding: Gray Area!!

With the current economic condition, people do not have a lot of spare change. Traditionally, the bride's family is supposed to deal with all the cost of the wedding. However, traditional lines have been blurred. 75% of couples who get married live together before the wedding. They usually have their own income source. So when it comes to paying for a $20,000 or more wedding, what should be the determining factor in who pays what?

The Knot offers this breakdown.

Ceremony

• Bride and family pay for church or synagogue, sexton, organist, etc.
• Groom and family pay for marriage license and officiant's fee.

Clothes

• Bride and family pay for bride's dress, veil, accessories, and trousseau (read: lingerie and honeymoon clothes).
• Groom and family pay for groom's outfit.
• All attendants pay for their own clothing (including shoes).

Flowers

• Bride and family pay for arrangements for church (including huppah if a Jewish wedding ceremony) and reception, plus bouquets and corsages for bridesmaids and flower girls.
• Groom and family pay for bride's bouquet and going-away corsage, boutonnieres for men, and corsages for mothers and grandmothers.

Honeymoon

• Groom and family pay for complete honeymoon.

Photography

• Bride and family pay for all wedding photos and video.

Prewedding Parties

• Bride or groom's family plans and hosts engagement party; if there is more than one, bride's family hosts the first one.
• Groom's family plans and hosts the rehearsal dinner.
• Bride plans and hosts bridesmaids' luncheon.
• Groom hosts and plans bachelors' dinner.
• Maid of honor and bridesmaids host shower.
• Best man and ushers host bachelor party.
• Friends may throw additional engagement parties or showers.

Reception

• Bride and family pay for all professional services, including food, drink, decorations, and music.

Rings

• Bride and/or her family pay for groom's ring.
• Groom and/or his family pay for both of the bride's rings.

Stationery

• Bride and family pay for invitations, announcements, and wedding programs.

Transportation

• Bride and family pay for wedding transportation of bridal party to and from ceremony and reception.

This is just a suggestion. In no way does it have to be followed. I wanted to post this to show what was traditional. Money is always a sensitive issue with families. The best advice is to have an honest talk with your significant other, their family, and your family. 

Furry Friends!

If you are anything like me,  your pet is a part of your family even more so than some of your actual family members! So then why should such a vital part of your family be excluded from your special day? The good news is they don't! Of course, it depends on what venue you choose, but most outdoor venues will let you bring along your pets to enjoy your special day. Plus having your dog or cat in some wedding photos make great keepsakes! After the ceremony, I would suggest having your pet stay home as a reception is not really the place for them.

Here are a few tips:

1) There should be one person who will be in charge of the pet. This person will keep an eye on him/her and give water when necessary.

2) Don't expect perfection. With all the excitement and all the people, chances are your dog will not behave normally. They are still animals, so they are a little unpredictable.

3) All dogs are different. Some will be able to wear a cute outfit and be the ring bearer where others will just be able to walk down the aisle. You know the personality of your dog. You want them to be comfortable! So select a role for them that you know they won't mind.

4) Considering hiring a photographer who has worked with animals before. They will know how to get your dog's attention so he or she will look at the camera!  In addition, hire an officiant that is not afraid of dogs, that could produce a lot of problems if they were afraid!!

5) Have your dog come to the wedding rehearsal! That way they can get a feel for what will be happening the next day!

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Seating Assignments

The one piece of advice I will give to any person having an event is to have a seating chart! I have been at an event with no seating chart and it was mass confusion. The beauty of having a seating chart or seating cards is that everyone has a place and no one has to awkwardly ask around if they can sit here. In addition, you can separate people who you know do not get along. There are two different ways of creating seating assignments: Place cards and a Seating Chart. The choice is purely up to you.

Place cards
Each have to be individually made with each guest's name and table number printed on it. Once that is done there are two options: have a table set out with all the cards on it where the guests can grab the cards or have the cards preset at each table. A problem with the second option is that guests have to roam around the venue and look at each table to find their names, which might take a while and this might delay food service. If you do decide to have place cards, make sure someone at the wedding (ie. Wedding Planner) has a copy of the seating list with the names and table numbers, because if a place card gets misplaced off the table that person won't know where to sit! Place cards are wonderful because you can be so creative, but they can be a lot of work. Keep checking my blog for more ideas on making creative place cards!

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Seating Chart
This is the quick and easy method to organizing seating arrangements. Basically, you make a document with two columns, names and table numbers. The guest goes to the chart finds their name, which should be in alphabetical order, and sees what table they are at. If you are having 150 people or more, I would suggest having two of these printed. Stores such as Office Max, Office Depot, local copy stores offer printings of posters this size. You can decorate the poster by adding frills or things that go with the theme of the event. For weddings, you can add pictures of yourself! After the poster is printed, buy a frame that fits it and a stand to hold the frame and ta da! You are done with the seating chart!  

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Here is a tool from Wedding Wire that will help you organize your seating arrangements: Click Here

Do It Yourself Wedding: Dollar Tree

Every girl wants to have a magical, unforgettable wedding, but in current economic times, paying for that wedding can be a burden. However, there are a lot of DIY (do it yourself) projects that can be done to save money on your wedding. A great place to find items for weddings is Dollar Tree. A bride that I just planned a wedding for bought all the plates and vases for the reception from Dollar Tree. It was actually cheaper to buy 130 plates than it was to rent them. Now you ask what would you do with 130 plates after the wedding? Sell them on Ebay of course! 

Dollar Tree has a special section just for weddings! There are many craft items that you can buy there to make centerpieces and add other touches to your decorations without spending a lot of money. No guest will be able to tell that you got these at a dollar store!! Why not save a buck and put that money towards a house or the honeymoon?! 

From Dollar Tree's Website

Ideas from Dollar Tree's Website

From Dollar Tree's Website

Other stores to keep in mind are Goodwill and any thrift shops. You never know what treasures you could find!  

Kissing Games!

Clink- Clink -Clink!  Oh no, now the Bride and Groom have to kiss! You know the customary tradition of clinking the glasses to get the newly married couple to kiss, but do you know that there are other things you can do?

Your guests are there to have a good time! Challenge them with games to make you kiss!

1) Hula Hooping
    - A guest has to hula hoop for 30 seconds to make you kiss.

2) Corn hole
    - A guest has to sink a bean bag into a board with a hole cut in it to make you kiss.

3) Love Song
    - A guest must sing a song with the word love in it to make you kiss.

4) Scavenger Hunt
   - A guest must produce an item from the list that you left on the table. Examples of items that could be on the list: pen, mint, 1958 penny, toothpick, q-tip, matches

5) Who wants to be a Millionaire
    - A guest must answer a question about the couple correctly to make you kiss.

6) Mini Golf
   - A guest must putt a hole in one on a portable putting green to make you kiss.

7) Copy Cat
   - Two guests must demonstrate to you how to kiss, then you and your hubby have to copy.

8) Operation
    - A guest must pick a card from the Operation game and take that piece of the body out without having the buzzer go off to make you kiss.

9)  Joke
    - A guest must tell a clean, appropriate, and funny joke to make you kiss.

10) Dice Roll
   - A guest has to roll a big custom made dye with 6 sides. Four of the sides can have number 2, 3, 4, 5 and the other 2 sides had pictures of lips. If some one wants you to kiss, they have to roll the lips, if they roll a number they must kiss that many people in the reception. It's a great way to break the ice. You can also put other things on the side of the dye instead of numbers, like the word dance or hula hoop, where if they failed to roll lips then they have to do a funny dance or  hula hoop for 30 seconds. The possibilities are endless.

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If you are afraid that none of your guests will volunteer to do these fun activities, then have a basket with all the names of the guests in it, and every 15 minutes or so, pick a name out of the basket! With encouragement from the crowd, the selected guest will surely have the guts to attempt these unique games!

Cupcakes or Cake?

Some brides are now forgoing the traditional wedding cake to go with a more modern look of wedding cupcakes. At most of the weddings I have helped plan or planned myself, the bride has chosen to go with cupcakes! To me, I cannot fathom this for my wedding. I love new innovative decorating ideas, but to get rid of the traditional wedding cake seems like breaking a cardinal rule. After being exposed to the cupcake wedding idea, I have learned to not loathe it as much as I used to. I think a pros and cons chart is necessary for this!

Cupcakes
Pros  (I do's)                                      Cons (I don'ts)
- Cheaper                                          - Non traditional
- Cleaner                                           - No cake cutting ceremony
- Modern                                        
- More flavor options

Cakes
Pros  (I do's)                                     Cons (I don'ts)
- Creative                                         - Expensive
- Memorable                                    - Messy
- Cake Cutting ceremony                  - Lots of leftovers (sometimes)

In the end, I will always choose Wedding Cake over Cupcakes, because I love the traditional cake cutting ceremony! The best of both worlds would be to have two layers of wedding cake and the rest of the tiers be cupcakes. That way you can save the top layer for the one year anniversary and cut into the second layer during the reception!
                                                              Best of Both Worlds!

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                                                                         Cupcakes

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Dresses I Love!

Being a wedding planner and a newly engaged woman gives me an excuse to browse wedding dresses and bridesmaids dresses online. I found two bridal dresses and one bridesmaids dress that I absolutely love, so I wanted to share!

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The bridesmaid's dress is from David's Bridal and comes in a variety of colors! I love this dress because the bridesmaid can definitely wear it again!

Pipe and Drape

I discovered a whole new world of decorations when I started working for Keith Watson Productions. I was introduced to pipe and drape. According to a Michigan Event Designer, Pipe and drape refers to the method used for hanging the drapes in the most fashionable way that is considered suitable for the particular event; Pipes are used to support the drapes. Pipe and drape can be used to highlight a certain area or hide particular items in the room that are unappealing to the eye. You can even pipe and drape the whole room if the wall coloring does not match your theme. Drapes come in varieties of fabrics, colors, and patterns, and event designers can even make drapes specifically for your event if you find a fabric that you must have!

 Here are some examples of pipe and drape:

The white curtains also known as drapes makes this reception seem exclusive!
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These next pictures are examples of pipe and drape that I helped set up with Keith Watson Productions.

This was the backdrop for a Salsa dancing competition. 

This was the background for a autograph session. 

This was the sweetheart's table. The pipes are covered in branches and flowers. 

Another option with drapes are to hang them from the ceiling.

Pipe and drape offers you many different decorating options. It can really enhance the mood and look of your event, especially if you add lighting (refer to my previous blog post to see lighting ideas).

Unique Wedding Bouquets

Recently, I saw a show where a budget bride made her own bouquet out of brooches she had been given throughout her life. Her reasoning behind her decision not to have flowers was that flowers die within a week, but this bouquet will last forever and it was free! There is no mandate stating that your wedding day has to be traditional. Going outside the box makes the event memorable and unique! Personalize your wedding to you - I have seen a "hippie- 70s" bride make her bouquet out of organic fabric with little VW van buttons!!

In addition, I went to a flea market today and saw these pine cone flowers. I thought to myself  how neat would that be for a Northwoods/Rustic wedding theme to have a bouquet of pine cone flowers! I could not find a picture on the internet that had the same design as the flea market. If I go again next week, I will surely get a picture.

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The possibilities are endless! Be creative! The internet has lots of ideas and instructions on how to do it yourself.

Cory and Annie's Wedding Video Preview

This is a short clip from the wedding I planned back on July 2nd. The videographer, Mark Hicks of One Giant Leap Productions, did a great job really capturing the bridesmaid's personalities.

Wedding Lighting

One of the easiest things you can do to add mood to your wedding ceremony or reception is to add lighting. I was watching Four Weddings last night and one bride had a winter wonderland theme. Her decorators lit the room with blue lighting. The venue room itself did not have much decoration, but the lighting truly made it feel like a wonderland. This works with any kind of event. For example, at my internship we did a Valentines Day fundraising gala for the American Heart Association, the event designers shined red light on the all walls. It really took the event to the next level.

You can go to Home Depot or even Walmart and purchase lights that shine up on the walls. To get the color, you can buy colored light bulbs or you put "gels" on the top of the lights to shine whatever color you think will accent your theme. I.E. Princess Theme - pink,  Forest Theme- Green. Another option is to hire event designers or event lighters.

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Princess Wedding Inspiration!

At one time or another, every girl wants to be a Princess. Besides Halloween, the only other time to dress and act like a Princess is your Wedding Day.  I made this inspiration board while I was interning with a Wedding Planner.

Sources: rings, boutonniere,  cake topper, tables, dress, sign, flowers, party favor, invitation

Happily Ever After's do exist!

Couldn't resist posting this story! Can you believe they are going to wait to live together until after they're married? So cute and old fashioned!

A Missouri woman is getting ready to tie the knot for her first time ever with her one true love. Why is this marriage so notable? This particular Missouri woman happens to be 87 years old.

Elizabeth Tucker and her fiancee, 88-year-old Eugene Schmidt, will be saying “I do” next month! Tucker was a nun for most of her life and Schmidt was previously married for 56 years until his wife passed away.

Tucker said that she never expected to fall for anyone, but now she and Schmidt are blissfully in love.

Schmidt said, while laughing, “I got down on two knees and proposed to her. And I said ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be able to get up.’”

The couple does not plan on living together until after they are married.

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Wacky Wednesday: Dolphin Wedding

My sister works at a radio station that does Wacky Wednesdays every week. Basically, they go on location and broadcast, so for the Wednesdays on my blog, I will post a wacky or unique venue to host a wedding!

My first venue is Marineland in St. Augustine, Florida. I had to choose this as my first venue, because Dolphins are my favorite animal!

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The more I looked at these pictures, the more I want to have my wedding here!

Citrus Centerpieces

One of my favorite ideas for a centerpiece, especially for summer weddings or weddings with bright color schemes, is to include citrus fruits within the vases.

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These next three picture are from my internship with Keith Watson Productions. These were the centerpieces for a Key West theme party we did. It was my idea to add shells and star fish into the centerpieces. 

There are so many different options when adding fruit into centerpieces. Keep checking back to my blog for other great ideas on how to incorporate fruit into your centerpieces. 

Computer Minister?

What do you all think about this?


Couple To Be Married By Computer

Published July 29, 2011    Associated Press

HOUSTON –  You could call it "My Big Fat Computer Geek Wedding."

"After a Houston couple couldn't get a friend to serve as the minister at their wedding, they decided to create their own. When Miguel Hanson and his fiancee, Diana Wesley, get married on Saturday, a computer will conduct the ceremony. Well, technically, a computer program Hanson wrote will serve as the minister. During the wedding, to be held in the Houston home of Hanson's parents, the couple will stand before a 30-inch monitor in the backyard. In a robotic voice, the computer will greet the guests, say how the couple met and go through the ceremony.

The ceremony won't be legally binding. The couple will still have to get a justice of the peace to sign their paperwork."

In my opinion, I do not like this. Weddings are a human affair. Having a computer read the ceremony in the monotone voice takes away from the warmth and personal feel of the wedding. The computer program is nice because it will make no mistakes, but to be human is to make mistakes. Other than that positive point, I am completely against this type of program. Now another idea is if your friend could not be there to serve as a minister, then you could use the computer to connect to skype and then your friend give the ceremony via web cam. This opinion is still personal and now someone who loves you marries you and not some mechanical contraption.