Lighting 101

One of the elements essential to great design for a wedding is lighting. It can pull your attention to different design aspects creating a much more beautiful effect than just the design elements on their own. In my opinion, you should always allocate money for lighting at an evening wedding.

At the very minimum, you should use up-lighting around the perimeter of the room or event space. This warms the room up and gives it a different feel than what the existing lights can give. You can wash the walls with different colors that compliment your color theme, or stick with a neutral Auburn/ Amber color to give the room a warm glow.

Pin-spots are used to focus light on certain design aspects, such as your table centerpieces, cake or head table. Depending on the venue, these lights will be hung from the ceiling or sit on top of poles raised high above your heads. They break up the room and focus your attention on whatever they illuminate.

A GOBO is a term used for a custom template or pattern that can be projected using the light. These are often used a design element projected on any of the walls, ceiling or dance floor. It can make a normal ballroom look like a mystical place!

To become more familiar with lighting, watch this short video clip:

PLANNING TIP: If you have something in the room you want to hide (like the patterned floor carpet) illuminate other things to draw attention away from it!

Feeling Overwhelmed?

Hire a Wedding Planner!  It might just be the money you feel best spent when planning your wedding.

The average time spent planning a wedding without a wedding planner can reach between 120 and 200 hours. YIKES! Who has that kind of time when you are working and carrying on your normal life?  How would you like to slash that figure to less than half AND get a better value while you are at it?

A  wedding consultant can assist you from the beginning stages of planning or join in at any point in the process.  You will have the benefit of having someone who can guide you through the labyrinth of decisions that need to be made, making the process much simpler on everyone involved.

I liken planning a wedding to building a new house.  You would not attempt to do either without a plan, nor should you risk trying to do either on your own. While it is possible to plan a wedding or build a home on your own, a skilled planner or general contractor can save you from making costly mistakes and wasting your valuable time.  You’ve got one shot to make it a success, why not have someone on your team to make sure that everything turns out great?

I came across a wonderful article entitled, “Hate the details? Hire a wedding consultant” that was full of great information on whether or not you should use a consultant to help you with planning your wedding.

Plan with confidence! Build your team and make the day of your dreams a wonderful one!

Invitation Etiquette

The following are general examples of correct invitation wording, so if you don’t see your particular situation outlined below, take the appropriate information from a close example and inquire about the remaining specifics with your stationer, or check an etiquette book such as BRIDE’S Book of Etiquette, available for purchase at our bookstore (condenet.com/books).
Traditionally, the bride’s parents are the hosts of the wedding, and are named at the top of the invitation. Hosts do not necessarily pay for the event, but are simply honored as a sign of respect.

When the bride’s parents host the wedding:

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Thomas Chrzanowski
*request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter, Colleen Marie
to
Ryan Michael Cronin
Saturday, the twenty-third of May
at four o’clock
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church
New York, New York

When the groom’s parents are included on the invitation:

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Thomas Chrzanowski
*request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter,
Colleen Marie
to
Ryan Michael Cronin,
son of
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Rigby Cronin
Saturday, the twenty-third of May, etc.

or

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Thomas Chrzanowski
and
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Rigby Cronin
*request the pleasure of your company
at the wedding reception of their children,
Colleen Marie and Ryan Michael
Saturday, the twenty-third of May, etc.

Generally, when a bride’s parents are divorced, the invitation is sent by the parent who raised her.

When the bride’s divorced parents are both listed on the invitation:

Diane Jean Chrzanowski (or Mrs.Robert Cheney, if remarried)
and
Daniel Thomas Chrzanowski (or Mr. Daniel Thomas Chrzanowski)
*request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter,
Colleen Marie to
Ryan Michael Cronin, etc.

When the couple would like to host the event themselves:

*The honour of your presence
is requested at the marriage of
Miss Colleen Marie Chrzanowski
to
Mr. Ryan Michael Cronin
Saturday, the twenty-third of May, etc.

A simple way to add everyone when the couple would like to include their families (divorced or married) and host their own wedding:

Colleen Marie Chrzanowski and Ryan Michael Cronin
together with their parents
*request the pleasure of your company at their wedding, etc.

*Only ceremonies taking place in houses of worship should have the phrase “the honour of your presence” used on the invitations. Otherwise, it’s appropriate to use “request the pleasure of your company.”

Source: Brides.com

Wedding Cakes 101

Did you miss Martha Stewart on the Today Show in January? If you did, you won’t want to miss this short clip on the basics of selecting your wedding cake.

 I love a good wedding cake. It makes for a lovely focal point at the reception. Your cake should reflect your wedding style using your theme or design elements to make a statement.

PLANNING TIP: Before you meet with your baker or pastry chef, be sure to pull photos (and bring them) of cake designs you like to make the meeting more efficient.