Summer Wedding Ideas

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Mary P Karnes

So you’ve decided to have a summer wedding? There are so many options, from attendants attire to refreshments to decorations. If you don’t know where to begin though, then it might be a good idea to check out this wedding fact sheet here (e.g. did you know that the Australian wedding industry contributes $3.7 billion to the economy?) to give you an idea of what you need to get.

Signature cool beverages can add a delicious way to stay cool as well as a wedding color theme to enhance your decor.

You can also tie in your summer theme with some beachy items to use as place cards.

Please enjoy a few excepts from www.tastycatering.com on some inspiring summer wedding ideas…

Summer Wedding Favor and More Ideas –www.tastycatering.com

Put a variety of flip flops in a basket so that guests in uncomfortable shoes have something into which they can change by the time dancing starts.
Hang up your flip flop offerings on a string between two trees.
Give out sunglasses at the outdoor ceremony as a wedding favor.
Personalize the sunglasses with your names on one side and the wedding date on the other.
Provide a basket of bug spray, especially if your reception will take place near a pond or lake.
Keep a basket of sunscreen for guests to use during your ceremony and reception so they don’t get too much sun.
Include small bags on your sweets or candy table so that guests can fill a bag to take with them before leaving at the end of the night.
Summer Outdoor Wedding Entertainment Ideas
- Personalize a bags set (also called “cornhole”), or several sets, as bags is a popular outdoor game.
- Provide Bocce ball, horseshoes and other casual outdoor games for simple summer weddings.
- Provide bubbles for the kids, and/or host a bubble send-off, where guests blow bubbles as you two leave the reception.
- Turn your send-off into a sparkler send-off, where guests light up the path from the tent to your decorated car.
- Host a bonfire, perfect for a s’mores bar idea in the summer wedding menu ideas.
- Let lit-up paper lanterns go into the sky at the end of the night, a celebration of guests’ well wishes for you.
- Provide an outdoor photo booth with plenty of props and signs for visitors to hold and wear as they get their photos snapped.

Would you like to order your own outdoor paper lanterns? Click on the link below to order from amazon!

Fiesta Paper Lantern Value Pack Party Accessory

Next time…what if you want a Fall wedding???

Image #1 bridalguide.com

Image #2 giantdesign.us

Image #3 busybeedesignstudio.wordpress.com

Image #4 equallywed.com

Image #5 wedding.allwomenstalk.com

Image #6 bridesmaids.com

Wedding Cupcakes??

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Mary P Karnes

Will you have a wedding cake…a fake cake…or wedding cupcakes? We all know what a wedding cake looks like – no surprises there. It’s a beautiful, but very traditional choice. You can’t miss. Everyone loves the pageantry of the bride and groom cutting the cake, feeding each other – and don’t forget the all important pictures.

What’s a “fake cake”, you may ask. You can look for a future post on that one…

Cupcakes are a big deal now. There are bakeries that sell nothing but cupcakes, there are cooking shows devoted to cupcake bake-offs. The advantages to cupcakes over a conventional cake are many. The bride can have many more flavor and frosting choices – something for everyone! There are even vegan options available.

In the photos above, there is a nice combination of “Traditional Wedding Cake” and cupcakes. The top layer is a cake for the bridal couple to preserve for their first anniversary, and the lower levels are for the guests’ enjoyment. I personally love this “Hybrid” option. In the pink cake above, the fresh flowers decorating the delightful concoction make it look like a traditional wedding cake.

If you choose the hybrid option, your price point may be reduced from a traditional wedding cake, thus freeing up some funds for other dessert options. Most caters offer dessert choices on their menu, and not all guests are cake eaters. A dessert bar is very popular on the wedding circuit. KK has never really liked cake. I’m sure she’ll be paying close attention to our caterer’s dessert offerings… And let’s not forget the ease of eating a cupcake…and it can be done on the move…or the dance floor… 🙂

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bliss Fatgirlslim, 6 fl. oz.

Image #1 beyondsignatures.com

Image #2 www.weddingsee.com

Image #3 www.piece-a-cake.com

Wedding Dance Introduction

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Mary P Karnes

Weddings have become so much more polish since I married 31 years ago. One trend, that I love, is the introduction for the bride and groom’s first dance, a tribute if you will. I’m sure by now you’ve all see the glitzy performances bridal parties have choreographed for their opening dance. All one has to do is go to youtube.com and you can find any number of them.

The two beautiful women above have a unique story – and a lovely one. They are twins, and believe it or not, nieces of a young man I went to school with in California – although we just recently made the connection. No, I didn’t attend the wedding, but I sure heard about it. The special introduction dance Mallory performed for her sister, Greer, was the talk of Glastonbury!

A little back story…Mallory, mallorycunningham.com, is a talented actress and dancer (trained at a studio opened and operated by her mother where my own Tess and Julia attended – YES…it IS a small world…). As a gift of love, Mallory wanted to make an extra special introduction to her twin’s first dance with her new husband. In Mallory’s own words, “…I wanted to be able to convey my love for my sister and my dear friend turned brother-in-law-to-be.”

The DJ made the wedding party introductions, and Mallory had just enough time while the newlyweds were being introduced to run off stage and slip on her dance shoes. Again, quoting Mallory, “As the applause for the entrance of Greer and Kevin reached it’s height, “One and Only” by Adele began to play. I slowly took the dance floor and did my best to dance the story of my love for Greer and Kevin and their love for each other…. As the musical swelled towards the chorus, I danced towards the newlyweds, took their hands, lead them out onto the floor and motioned to them that it was time for their first dance as husband and wife. They began to dance and, I waltzed one circle around the couple and off the floor, leaving my twin with her new other half. 🙂

The DJ invited up the wedding party and parents to dance around the couple for the final section of the song. It was a lovely moment because the wedding party has been friends since “forever” as we all like to say- it brought us all right back to our childhoods together.”

I intended to paraphrase Mallory, but I just could not write her story as well as she. I had to quote her verbatim. The Cunninghams have set a high bar indeed with their wedding…

Please enjoy the beautiful photos above.

Photo credits: Jessica Osber Photography osberphotos.com

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Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

Wedding Vendors List

Posted on January 14, 2015January 18, 2015 by Mary P Karnes

Ah…the wedding vendors list… So you’ve booked your ceremony site, the venue, ordered your dress, picked out your colors. What’s next? Choose your florist, then get your DJ, photographer, and photo-booth. But everything does not have to be done yesterday.

I had a quick conversation with some friends of one of my kids this summer. The couple got engaged in June, 2014, with a wedding date of August 2015. In one week, they had booked the venue, DJ, and photographer – all companies acquired from a wedding expo. None included personal references. Yes it is important to get vendors scheduled as soon as possible, but not at the expense of quality. I’m not knocking wedding expos. If one has the tenacity, and strength, much info can be gathered. All may be fine with this couple’s choices, but the unknown is still present. Nothing beats personal references.

Another cautionary tale regarding photos, especially from the photographer and photo booth. The images the photographer takes of you and your guests belong to him/her. If you don’t want them to be their property, that needs to be negotiated in your contract. At least try to acquire some sort of approval over what is published. Once again, read the fine print.

And when you get around to the florist…review that contract carefully as well. Make sure the EXACT type of flowers you desire are notated. Double check that the correct number of corsages and boutonnieres are ordered, as well are the proper color. Ask that each flower grouping is tagged with the recipient’s name. We did not ask for this service with Maggie’s wedding, and not only was I not present when the flowers arrived and were dispensed, I had forgotten what was ordered for whom! It may seem like a little thing…but it will make your wedding day flow more smoothly.

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