Making Sure Guests Are Comfortable

Plenty though goes into the design elements of planning a wedding, but what about the comfort of your guests as they spend at minimum an 8-hour day of celebrating with you and your soon-to-husband. Consider some of the ideas below, especially if the ceremony and/or reception is outside.


How about a water station set-up before or after the ceremony especially if it's a hot day.


Consider giving guests suntan lotion if the days activities are going to be outdoors...and they can double as wedding favors.


Use Parasols when the ceremony is outside to shade away the bride sun.


How about placing fans on the ceremony chairs and depending on the design, they can double as wedding programs.


Place a basket of Flip Flops near the DJ for the ladies who want to dance the night away, but their heels might prevent it from happening.


Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits: www.lunabazaar.com; www.paratinovia; www.theknot.com; www.tgkdesigns.com; www.shorechic.com; http://www.nuanceoccasions.com/; www.kaboodle.com)

Blending Families

I was involved with a wedding yesterday and was so inspired by the involvement of the couples children. Many couples are merging families and the adjustment for the child can sometimes be difficult. With all the wedding planning, they can feel left out and it's very important to make them feel included during the planning process and on wedding day.

I've listed some suggestions below that just might help alleviate the "sad face":

Allow the child to be involved in a few of the planning meetings and give their opinion.

Give the children perimeters, but allow them to select their attire for wedding day.

During the unity candle lighting or sand ceremony, have the child join you both at the altar and make them apart of this important ceremony.

Ask the children to come the altar before the pronouncement of husband and wife, and ask the minister to pronounce you as "Husband, Wife and Family".

During the ceremony, present the children with a loving token like a necklace or bracelet to show them they play an important role in the new family.

Include the children in the engagement photo session and display not only couple photos during the reception, but photos showcasing the "new" family.

Have a kids table with goody bags and treats during the reception.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit - www.intimateweddings.com)

Holding The Bouquet

Brides spend plenty of time making sure the flowers that make up their wedding bouquet are just as perfect as their dream gown. But you want to make sure that you select the most flattering "holder" for your hand-tied wedding bouquet.

After alterations, you may have some material left over. Give that to your florist and allow them to make a wrap for your bouquet. Stones, similar to your gown, could be added as embellishments.


For the bride with an old Hollywood or vintage style, consider using a mussy tussy as a bouquet holder. This unique holder comes with a holder for the bouquet to sit in once the couple is seated at the reception.

For the bride who wants the stems exposed, consider a unique ribbon and brooch to add flair to your bouquet or dual colors tied in a unique design.

The jeweled bouquet cuff has to be my favorite and adds elegance and major drama to a beautiful wedding bouquet.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits - http://www.theknot.com/; http://bouquetbridal.blogspot.com/; http://www.simplyelegantsimone.com/; http://www.marthastewart.com/; http://weddingadvices.com/; http://www.weddingaccents.com/)

Venue Spotlight: Holiday Inn Crystal Lake

I had the wonderful opportunity to check in with one of my former students who is now the Catering Sales Manager of the Holiday Inn Chicago-Crystal Lake Conference Center. My visit of this great location was not only educational, but delicious!

The Holiday Inn specializes in weddings and special events and is minutes away from great shopping, golfing and other fun activities such as the River Boat, Six Flags and museums. With 19 event and meeting spaces, they can just about accommodate any size event. They have a great restaurant in which I had the pleasure of having a wonderful lunch, a gorgeous outdoor deck, a bar that stays open until 11 and a really hip black and white lounge that stays open until 2:00am for the night owls.

Now for the couple who wishes to host their wedding ceremony and reception in the space, they offer some really nice amenities to name a few:

• Personal on-site coordinator;
  
• Award-winning Chef on staff;
  
• Champagne toast;
  
• 4-hour bar; and
  
• Discounted accommodations for your guests and I must say, the rooms are really spacious and comfortable

The per person price is reasonable as well starting at $51.95, minus tax and gratuity. And additions like the wedding cake and speciality linens can be added for a nominal fee. Oh and their provided centerpieces are not the flower in a bud vase, but a really nice hurricane vase that can be used to enhance your decor.

Contact Lena Marnell at 815.477.7000 or lene.marnell@pillarhotels.com for more information and a site tour. She's awesome and won't let you down

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits: www.hicrystallake.com)

A Royal Opps!

Now that the Royal Wedding has now passed and Wills and Kate are moving along with their lives, we must too. But I will say this, I was one of the billions awake at 3am CST to watch the very moments of that beautiful, well-crafted day...BUT!

What were they thinking by using Post-it's on the guests chairs???? I was 100% mortified by seeing this at the wedding of the century! HELLO! Where was their wedding planner or was this a mere oversight??? Can't you see the person sitting in that seat now walking around with a post of their name stuck on their back?!?!?! Okay...enough venting.

I wrote a blog in January about reserving seats for the wedding ceremony - http://wedologize.blogspot.com/2011/01/this-seat-is-reserved-for.html - this may have been a good one for the Royal's to glance at before assigning seats.

Regardless of how you assign guests their seats, it's always classy to have an usher or hostess escort them to their seat. Or should you want to let the guest know where they are seated before hand, include a "within this row" card inside of their invitation ensemble.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit: www.facebook.com/ThinkSplendid)

Aisle Style! WOW Style!

My favorite moment of the ceremony is when I fluff the bride's train, position her bouquet and whisper, "Walk when you're ready"! Now imagine that moment heightened by a rose petal aisle masterpiece. The photos speak for themselves!!!

But don't fret should you not be able to have the designed creations above, you could always blanket the aisle with rose petals. But whatever you decide, make sure to have your center aisle roped off before the start of the ceremony to avoid some curious guest walking down the aisle before you do.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits: http://pics.boards.weddingbee.com/; http://the6chicks.com/; http://www.weddingsbygeorgia.com/; http://www.wishspecialevents.com/; http://www.kristenweaverblog.com/; http://www.theknot.com/; http://www.maharaniweddings.com/)

Dry Your Eyes!

There are two moments during the wedding ceremony when you will see people dabbing there eyes trying to prevent the waterworks...when the bride walks down the aisle and during the vows, especially if they are personalized. I sometimes need to dab my eyes when I fluff the bride's train and send her down the aisle escorted by her dad. It's such a "Happy Tears" moment and I NEVER have a tissue!

So instead of having the large Kleenex box on the 1st pew of the church or it being passed down the aisle to tearful guests, consider adding another signature element to your wedding...personalized tissues. I'm not speaking of the brand "Swankies" that offer small packets, but of a DIY project that simply takes a tissue or two and places them in a holder or envelope. Then have the tissues passed out by your ushers, offered in a basket by the guest book or placed nicely on the ceremony chairs. Your guests will try appreciate the gesture.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits - http://www.a-weddingday.com/; http://www.beau-coup.com/; http://www.theknot.com/)

This Seat is Reserved For?

Traditionally during the wedding ceremony, your immediately family will be seated in the first rows on both the left and right side. Of course there are exceptions based on remarriage, but featured on those rows are your parents and grandparents. Having an usher escorting guests to their seats before the start of the ceremony is always proper, but you could also accent those honored seats or rows with a little extra flair. Consider some of the following ideas to add yet another signature element to your wedding day.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits - www.allconsumedbride.com; www.yinvivo.etsy.com; www.projectwedding.com; www.photovanbeek.com; http://www.panettascatering.com/)

Time Alone on Your Wedding Day

The wedding day, although one of the most happiest days of your life, will also be the one day in which you have to share your groom with all the invited guests. Now this can be a little frustrating at times when you want to steal that personal moment to gaze into each other's eyes.

So should you want a little private time with your new husband, consider doing the following...or planning this time into the wedding day schedule:

• Right after you have exited the ceremony, dash off to one of the dressing rooms for about 10-15 minutes instead of staying with your bridal party. While the ushers are exiting guests out of the church, you and your groom can share a tender moment and talk about when you first looked into each other's eyes during the ceremony.


• During cocktails, make a brief exit and walk around the grounds of the reception venue or stand out on the balcony absorbing the day.


• And after you have greeted your guests at their tables, when it's time to freshen up, ask your groom to come along...I'm sure he'd enjoy helping.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits - www.weddingleague.com, www.allegrophotography.com)

With This Ring...I Present

You know that cute little guy...the one who gets shy going down the aisle, runs for his dear life, or woes the guests with his devilish smile...Yes, I'm talking about the Ring Bearer. The Ring Bearer, a custom derived from Latin culture, has the little boy paired in a tuxedo (or costume) much like the groom carrying a pillow that holds the wedding bands. Today's tradition hasn't swayed much for the little guy other than he won't have the actual wedding bands. That's an assignment for the Best Man and Maid of Honor :) But with the millennium bride wanting to put a spin on some of the ceremonial elements, the ring bearer is carrying much more than a pillow these days.

In wanting to make the ceremony more "signature", consider having the ring bearer carry one of these alternatives:

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits: www.outoftheordinary.com; www.lovelovemedo.com; www.scissorpaperstone.com; www.perfectweddingguide.com; www.abeautifulwedding.us)