WEDDING NOTES – What Should I Do?

At Elegant Beginnings, we gladly help our brides with awkward situations that don’t necessarily make their way into etiquette books. In spite of all the advice available from so many resources, brides like to have an experienced specialist – a knowledgeable consultant, a certified wedding planner- available for face-to-face problem solving. Our staff is available for your unexpected problems and issues. Every wedding is unique and so can the problems presented by the people factor. This is a question we are repeatedly asked.

How do I handle guests who have responded to our invitations and state on the reply card that the number of guests planning to attend is larger than the number invited?

If your count and budget can handle the number of “extras” indicated, chalk it up to bad manners of those guests and just greet them with as much good grace as you can muster. If your count is already pushing you over the budget and you truly cannot absorb the extra folks, we suggest that you turn to your maid of honor, tactful bridesmaid or family member who knows the offending guests well. Ask this person to call the guests in question and explain that the bride would love to be able to expand her guest list, but unfortunately it is not possible. The reason? Budget, time or space concerns! If the person is offended – and some will be – they are not true friends. They are the ones who have overstepped the etiquette boundaries.

Often, the “extras” are uninvited children. You can keep this from happening if the reception card reads, “adult only reception”. Or you can arrange for children to be at a “separate” reception somewhere in the same venue. You provide a number of “sitters”, a giant screen TV, movies, lots of craft items and separate menu handled by family members.

Check out our Pinterest page for reception, decor, and flower ideas! 

WEDDING NOTES – Time Management


Here at Elegant Beginnings we assist our brides with all aspects of their wedding plans.  One of our continuing requests is for help in managing the time between the ceremony and the reception.

v  One of our first suggestions is that the travel time for guests moving from the location of the ceremony to the start of the reception be minimized.  Take it into account when booking the reception venue.  Guests shouldn’t have to drive more that 20-30 minutes.

v  We urge our brides to take as many of their photographs as possible prior to the ceremony and to minimize the number to be taken after the ceremony.   Insure that guests who arrive at the reception site before the wedding party, are greeted by the official host and hostess of the reception.  The names of these hosts should be listed in the program.

v  While awaiting the arrival of the wedding group, the guests should be served beverages and appetizers.  Music should be playing when the guests arrive.  Be sure that a coat check is available, that the gift table is in plain sight with a person assigned to manage the table.  Do have someone available to help with seating plans.

v  Once the bridal entourage arrives at the reception site, the bandleader or maitre d’ or reception host should ask the seated guests to stand while he/she introduces the party. Since the bride and groom are the evening’s stars, they should be introduced last.

v  Introductions and entrances flow in this order:  first the parents of the bride, then the

v  parents of the groom, followed by the “little people” (depending on their ages), bridesmaids and groomsmen, and the maid of honor and best man.  Once the bridal party is in place, then the bride and groom are introduced and make their grand entrance.

v  Make sure that the names are double checked for pronunciation and that information is passed on to the person in charge or reception host.

For personalized favors, gifts, and decor:

http://www.myownlabels.com/weddings/

For beautiful aisle runners:
http://originalrunners.com/

Attention all Brides!


Check out this adorable wedding blog for additional inspiration!


Founded in 2008, The Sweetest Occasion is a wedding and lifestyle blog devoted to event design and details for celebrating stylish events, weddings and special occasions. A devoted following of readers come for content covering a diverse yet highly edited range of wedding ideas, party inspiration, paper and stationery, handmade goods, entertaining, decor and featured events of all shapes and sizes. With a steadily growing readership of brides, newlyweds, young moms, hostesses and paper lovers, The Sweetest Occasion is a go-to source for design ideas and event inspiration.

http://www.thesweetestoccasion.com/about/

Girls Day Out!

Girls Day Out!

Today we had the best time!  

Tami and I decided to get out of the office and visit local Resorts and businesses in the area. We found two new businesses that we had to share with all of you!  Meet Sheri with Sweet Bay Prints, we stopped in to introduce ourselves and we fell in LOVE with her shop.  These are just some of the things she offers:

-fine personalized papers and gifts for adult and child

-custom designs and printing for events

-personalized party supplies and tableware

-wedding party gifts

Santa Rosa Beach

Sheri can help you with all types of invitations, save the date, thank you cards

Perfect programs on a hot summer wedding day!

Welcome gift bags, bridesmaids gifts....

Our Next Stop!

Ophelia Swimwear Boutique

Ladies, if you are looking for the perfect honeymoon swimsuit, cover-up's, hat's or gifts for your bridesmaids this is the place for you!  If you are the Grayton Beach area, be sure to check it out.

TIME FOR BREAK!

Break, lunch, research..... we had lunch at the The Back Porch Restaurant in Destin.  Great place for lunch, dinner, relaxing by the beach or a laid back reception area.  They have an upstairs area that is perfect for the bride wanting to get married on the beach and then have dinner overlooking the beach.  It is great for a rehearsal dinner as well.  Great atmosphere!

Just waiting for a table...

Tami and I doing research.... one of our Brides is looking for a blue drink for her reception... so why not help her look for the perfect drink!  Right?

Look at this view!

Weddings & Receptions

Weddings & Receptions

We coordinate weddings & receptions weekly.  Sometimes, there is time to get some snap shots after set up, so we wanted to share them with you.  We will be posting more!

Tyler and Christina's Wedding 

Rosemary Beach 

Tom & Meagan's Wedding

Rosemary Beach 

Things To Think About

Things To Think About

Tasting for the Big Day-

 This week was SOOOO MUCH FUN! We had two tastings with our Brides. When planning for your reception, there are so many details to consider, right?? Entertainment, Centerpieces, FOOD!! We always suggest when planning a reception be sure to ask about having a tasting prior to the wedding day. During this tasting, share your vision of the day. Things you want for your guest to experience; appetizers, passed hors d'ouves, plated or buffet, bar idea's, champagne toast, linens and staff expectations.

Remember - not all venue's offer tastings, so if this is the case. Ask the venue/caterer for referrals or have dinner at their on site restaurant!

Want a Romantic Feel -

Lighting is the key!  When looking at websites and magazines of the flowers and tables that you love, NOTICE ....  in the pictures... the lighting in the room. You may think you are drawn to just the flowers, but it could be the background lighting... sometimes cheaper!!

      LINENS CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE

The long winter months are over and its time to hang up that drab color palette and get inspired by the blossoming gardens of spring and the long sunny days ahead. This spring is going to be all about color, texture and accessories. Below are staff picks for the 5 spring trends to look forward to this year.
Pantone’s color of the year, see what our owner Michael Davis has to say about the color “Honeysuckle” in Wedding Planner Magazine. Accessorize! bring that last detail to your table with these gorgeous new napkin rings. Just think of finishing off that country themed event with these distressed leather rings or a gala with these new twist rings available in 4 colors. Its all about Texture and nothing says spring like a bright colored burlap cloth. These custom made linens are made out of authentic burlap fabric dyed to perfection. Here are some of the new colors.	Cakes designed to match your linens! Yes just check out this cake designed by Hansen’s cakes for the “hearts bride” on this seasons my fair wedding with David Tutera. It matches the Fuchsia Pucci perfectly. Bold accents of black paired with the bright vibrant colors of spring. Black and yellow is a hot color combo right now. Black also looks great with pinks, purples and even blue hues.