Catering!

I met with a catering company this past Tuesday, August 17th and I just got my sample menus in today! It's pretty exciting planning what we want to serve to our guests, because it says a lot about our tastes and who we are as a couple. Some pairs choose to do a buffet, some do seated and served. We're doing the latter. Others want a mash patato bar with all the fixins, and mini cheeseburgers as hors d'oeuvres. Jon and I want understated elegance; understated may be a bad word, but we want our day to be very formal, mature, artistic, classy, beautiful, simplistic etc. Luckily it's hard not to fit that description when you're getting married in a garden!

Caroline and Jon: Menu Specifications
This company had me tell them the type of menu we were thinking of, and then they created two for us based on our descriptions listed below!

• The meal needs to be light, not heavy since the reception is outdoors and it will be hot
• I don't want anything too experimental, it should be liked by almost any palette (even though Jon and I love trying new foods!)
• It can't contain anything that Jon is allergic to (high citric acid-containing fruits, avocado)
• It can't contain common allergents (i.e. nuts)
• I want the meal to be of one genre (all american, mediterranean)
• I want three or four hors d'oeuvres, a salad, a chicken main course, and a cake
• The hors d'oeuvres should feature other meats, one vegetarian option
• The salad should use a universally liked dressing
• Cheese should be used minimally
• The hors d'oeuvres should be passed by servers dressed formally, in the different tiers of the gardens
• There should be two open bars, one in the gardens during the cocktail hour (6 - 7 pm), then one under the tent during the reception (7-10:30 pm)
• There will be two signature drinks -- a Mr. and a Mrs. (I think I already know what I'm going to call mine! :)
• The meal should be a seated, plated, served meal

Caroline Wedding Update: Colors and a Dress!

Okay, so I have posted in the past that I chose my colors -- pink and burgundy. It is one thing to pick colors... it is another thing to match them to colors offered by bridal salons! And colors look different online than in person -- beware! I was having trouble finding the exact shades of pink and burgundy that I liked. I then floated in between pinks and purples, finding myself hovering over a deep lapis purple for a while, which I did truly like. But there are less options when it comes to purple flowers and I love pink flowers -- it was a conundrum.

I decided to put that aside and shop for my own dress. I went to a very nice bridal salon (which will remain unnamed) and found so many dresses that I loved. And let me tell you -- not everyone has a "Eureka!" moment. I didn't. With every new dress I would try on, I'd think of how it could shape the theme of the wedding. Do I want something classy and ultra-formal for a nighttime wedding, or something a bit aery-er and light, perfect for a garden wedding? It was a tough choice, but I ended up going with an organza dress and a cathedral veil (longer than I am tall!) so it's perfect for a garden wedding, but it still has the high drama for a nighttime wedding. Plus, its not your typical dress. It's a piece of art and nothing ordinary. You will not see someone in a dress like this again. It's perfect.

Anyways, I am going to get my bridesmaid dresses from the same store I am getting my dress from. Because I kept thinking the pink bridesmaid dresses I was finding were too dark or too "bubblegum-y" (for lack of a better word), I decided to look away from pink. Burgundy, on the other hand, was too drab and dark for summer. That's when it hit me that I needed something that was neither of these colors.

That's how I came to pewter. Yep, gray. What is more boring and drab than gray, right? BUT with a black four tulle rose sash that ties in a bow in the back - the dresses are the epitome of elegance and are very dramatic, and will be against the garden scene with pink and burgundy flowers. I fell in love. The one thing I told myself I wanted to avoid when getting married this young was having a very youthful bright wedding. I want something mature and extremely elegant, and very formal. Not something playful. Something dramatic with flair. I think I have found that!

Since my dress has some elements of flower petals and/or feathers (depends on how you look at it) I think I am going to play up on the soft, romantic, yet rustic garden look... and have maybe some bird motifs and/or antique bird cages to hold flowers, cards, and candles.

Best registries

When signing up for registries, be sure to give guests ample time to make their purchases. This is great information to include on a wedding website (mine is under construction, hopefully I'll get it out before school starts! :), which can be shared with friends on a save-the-date card sent out anywhere from 6 months to a year in advance. 

Top 5 Registry Tips

1. Hit all price points: under 50, under 75, under 100, above 100, etc. Guests tend to purchase gifts two weeks before the wedding til two weeks after the wedding, so two weeks before check to see if you need to add anything to give guests more options.

2. Look for perks. Some registries allow you to enroll in a completion program in which you can buy the remaining items on your registry at a 10-15% up to a year after the wedding.

3. Know what you own. See what both of you have together and only ask for what you really need. More into an outdoor grill out than hosting swanky soirees? Maybe those crystal goblets aren't for you. However, still make sure you have all the basics as your style might change with time.

4. The ideal number of registries is 2 to 4. Give your guests options, and consider which stores are available everywhere. Nowadays, online registries seem to be the best option, and the most user friendly with real time updates of what has and hasn't been purchased.

5. Write nice thank you notes no later than a month after the wedding!

Best registries...

for the stepford wife

for the future soccer mom

for the practical one

for the power couple

for the recessionista

www.thebigday.com

have guests sponsor part of your honeymoon!

also see www.honeyluna.com

for the quirky one

for the gift that keeps on giving

for the handy (wo)man

WWCAJD?? (What would Caroline and Jon do?)

We haven't decided, but seeing as we have lived together for the past two years we have collected a bit of stuff, of course no nice china but nonetheless. I want to pick 3 or 4 places and so far I am leaning toward...

Wedding dress shopping!

So I think I may have found THE dress... (FYI not the one above!). It's been Mom, Dad, and friend approved! And let me tell you... you will never see someone wearing a dress like it! No, its not custom made, but its very intricately detailed, a bit over the top (no surprise there), and oh so gorgeous. It's a fit-to-flare style - something I thought would never go with my non-curvalicious body. BUT it actually helped me not look like I am 12! Since it is so crazy I will probably go with a very plain veil with no trim, or a flower in my hair. I am hoping to go to the salon (which shall remain unnamed!) in Atlanta and try it on for the FMIL!

Another interesting bouquet

The Composite Bouquet

This bouquet is handcrafted from many smaller flowers to create a larger than life flower out of many petals. However, this bouquet tends to be very expensive as it has to be hand wired together. If you are looking for a unique, modern, and stunning bouquet - this is it!

Bridal Bouquets 101

Surprisingly, there are a TON of different options when it comes to bouquets, whether it be in the way the flowers are arranged, how they are tied, or how they are trimmed. For a non-traditional look, go for something visually interesting, such as a pomander bouquet. These are especially good for flower girls because they are easy to hold by a ribbon. Check out the pictures below and see what style is right for you!

Types of Bouquets

The Posy Bouquet

This is your traditional round and small bouquet. 

The Nosegay Bouquet

Another traditionally small bouquet, often with more greenery and herbs than flowers. Usually used for bridesmaids or flower girls.

The Biedermeier Bouquet

The Biedermeier bouquet is comprised of concentric rings of flowers, which each ring consisting of a different type and color of flower than the next ring. This style originating in Switzerland in the 1800's, but is again gaining popularity due to its dramatic contrast.

Traditional Biedermeier

Modern Take on the Biedermeier

The Arm Sheaf or "Presentation" Bouquet

This bouquet is comprised of long stem flowers, such as calla lillies, and is held rested against the forearm. Perfect for a more modern wedding for someone craving a slightly different look. Also known as the pageant bouquet.

The Crescent Bouquet

A truly artistic bouquet, with greater flower density in the center and tapered off sides (even or asymetrical). This bouquet generally has a thin bunch of stems and looks best held beneath the waist. Orchid is a popular flower used in this arrangement.

Traditional Crescent

Asymmetric Crescent

The Cascading Bouquet

These large bouquets reached their peak in the roaring 1920s and became scarce as the US entered WWII. Apparently this is the most traditional and formal of the bouquets, and was sported by the late Princess Diana.

1920s bride

Princess Diana's lavish cascading bouquet

Modern day cascading bouquet

The Pomander Bouquet

Also known as the "kissing ball," the pomander bouquet is a flower covered styrofoam ball with a looped ribbon hanging from it. Great for flower girls!

Style your Bouquet!

Tie Breaker : Hand-tied vs. Wired

For an unstructured and relaxed look, go for hand-tied. However, for a more formal affair or nighttime wedding, wired is the standard. If you want a large bouquet but are concerned with the stem diameter and a comfortable hold - wired is the solution. What florists actually do is remove the stems of the flowers and weave a wire through the base of a flower. These wire stems are usually wrapped with ribbon or organza all the way down to disguise the wired look.

Hand-tied

Wired

The Power of Ribbon

Ribbon is the perfect medium for adding another dimension to your bouquet and has such effects as:

Giving a bouquet texture and a different look than most

Allowing the bride to feature a wedding color that isn't a natural flower color

Add a punch of color for a youthful feel

Add volume to a smaller bouquet

Honor family (i.e. using fabric from a mothers or grandmothers dress)

Giving a clean, polished look to less expensive flowers

Add color to an all-white bouquet

 

Must have Wedding Day photos I

Capture the Moment

As most of you know, I am an amateur photographer so photography is one of the most important aspects of my wedding day. That being said, there are just some shots that must be taken... the getting ready pictures, the KISS, cake cutting, etc.

Photographs before the Ceremony? A do or don't

An increasing number of brides are opting for this, albeit some believe it's bad luck to see each other before the ceremony. For someone like me with a nighttime ceremony and reception, doing family/wedding party pictures before the ceremony and newlywed pictures during the reception is a good option. That way, the attendants and family can enjoy the reception and Jon and I can revel in what just happened. Although, Jon hasn't quite agreed to this yet, and insists on bribing me that he'll only do it if I take his last name. Sigh. We'll see. For afternoon weddings with later receptions, however, this isn't as necessary as there are multiple hours between the ceremony and reception, while I will only have one hour between.

Quintessential Photos

A shot list is a great way to ensure that your photographer knows just want you want!

Pre-Ceremony

Getting ready: Doing the Bride's Make-up

Getting ready: Tying the Groom's Tie

The Groom's "Tie-Suit-Bout" (as I'll call it!) Picture

The Dress - before you put it on

The Shoes

The Hairstyle - before the heat gets to it!

A Magazine-worthy shot

The Rings - go for something other than the traditional pillow shot!

Family Moments