Well, this is it. My last post on iVillage. Before I write today’s wedding planning tip, I just want to say thank you to all the vendors and publicists who are always emailing me information on great bridal products and events. Please keep emailing me at fromiwilltoido@gmail.com. And thank you to all of you who read and comment on my posts. Remember, starting tomorrow I’ll be writing from a new site, the original home of From “I Will” to “I Do” - from-i-will-to-i-do.blogspot.com.

So, where am I going? I’m going to Brides.com and I’m so excited to be able to continue creating informational and inspirational content to help brides plan their weddings.

And now on to today’s wedding planning tip: Making an exit.

If your ceremony and reception are at two different locations a simple idea is to supply guests with flower petals, birdseed, bubbles, flags or sparklers as you and your groom leave your ceremony site and head for the car taking you to your reception.

If you’re planning on having your ceremony and reception at the same location, you can supply these items to toss or wave as you walk up the aisle, as you enter your reception or as you leave at the end of the night.

I know it’s hard to leave before your guests. Every bride wants to savor every moment till the very end, but I’m telling you from experience, you’ll have a better memory of saying good-bye and then running through a crowd of cheers. I found it a little sad to be the last ones to leave the ballroom, all dressed up and holding a box with the top tier of my cake in it. All the tables had already been stripped, the band gone and the dim lights switched to full power. I think the last shot on my wedding video is me sitting on the dance floor in my dress with my groom.

I was so into the party that I never wanted it to end. I didn’t think of how it would feel to be alone in that bare room without our guests and music playing.

So when you’re planning your wedding details, think about your wedding timeline and talk to your groom about making an exit – similar to the entrance you made at the beginning of your reception. It will be a great memory and fabulous photo-op.

The picture above was taken by one of my favorite photographers, Karen Mordechai. You can see more of Karen’s work at her web site: karenmordechai.com

Whether you're getting married in a ballroom, on an estate or in a private home you need to think about what items will need to rent. Your florist and caterer will tell you what you need - linens, china, silver serving pieces, glassware, flatware, tables, chairs, tents, floors, generators, heaters, lighting and floors - are some of the items you may need.

Don't assume that all of these items will be included with your wedding location. In most cases they will be, but if you are getting married in a loft space or a private home you may have to bring everything in to accommodate your guests.

Enter the rental company. A rental company can offer you numerous options to customize and create the feeling and tone you’ve always imagined.

Take your florist to your wedding location to decide which linen color will work best with the flowers and the room, and ask the caterer what plates, serving pieces, flatware and glassware you'll need.  Then visit a local (and recommended) company to determine which pieces to rent.  

Here is a list of few rental companies from across the country:

Be Our Guest, based in Boston and serving New England

Party Rental, serving the New York tri-state area and Washington, DC areas

Snyder Event Rentals and Staffing, Charleston

La Bella Party Rental, San Francisco

I’m sure you heard that gay and lesbian couples can now legally tie the knot in the state of California.  A gay wedding, just like a straight wedding, will need to find the right location, band or DJ, invitations, flowers, a photographer, a cake and a great caterer, as well as a pair of wedding dresses or tuxedos.

 

While many wedding Web sites and planning books cater to a bride and groom wedding, there are a myriad of sites and books that specialize in gay and lesbian wedding planning and related products.  The site GayWeddings.com features planning tips, wedding products, a vendor search engine and real weddings to inspire other couples.  The book Gay and Lesbian Weddings: Planning the Perfect Same-Sex Ceremony by David Toussaint is a great resource as well.

 

The two gay and lesbian wedding cake toppers featured above are both available at GayWeddings.com.  Each bride and groom is sold separately so you can choose the figurine that matches your ethnic backgrounds – African-American, Asian, Hispanic and Caucasian.  These are also great for straight couples looking for multi-cultural cake toppers.

When it comes to weddings there are a lot of traditions brides and grooms include in the ceremony and reception - wearing something old, new, borrowed and blue, breaking the glass and tossing the bouquet are just a few well-known ones. 

Since last Friday we’ve been going through all of my grandmother’s things and we found the invitation to my wedding as well as the program, dance card and her seating card.  I couldn’t believe it.

I was reading through each piece, which I haven’t done in almost five years, and I think I found a typo.  In the program, after everyone’s name in the order that they were going to walk down the aisle, I listed the song that would be played and the author.  For some reason, there isn’t a song and author listed for my grandparents, which gets us to the point of today’s post.

Always have someone other than you and your fiancé review any stationery you’re having printed – invitations, reply cards, direction cards, programs, menus, favor tags – everything. 

At the time of my wedding I was working at Martha Stewart Weddings magazine and asked the magazine’s copyeditor to review all of the elements for me.  I can’t believe we missed something.

So when you get a proof of anything you are about to order – and you want to get a proof of everything – after looking over it yourself, ask a friend or relative to review it to see if they find a typo you may have missed.

 

 

I'm sure many of you will be attending a wedding or two this summer, not including your own.  At each wedding, I want you take a serious look at all the elements: the decor and food, music and details.  Think about what you are planning for your own big day, and take (mental) notes of what you do and don't want at your wedding.

Maybe there's a song you will hear and want played at your reception.  Maybe the cake table was a little too close to the dance floor, so you decide you want yours placed behind the head table.  Or maybe there was a great signature drink and now your fiance wants to hunt down a special cocktail for your big day.

My dad joked that my sister's wedding, held three months before mine, was my dress rehearsal.  Though I laughed at his joke, I knew it was true.  I made sure that David and I paid attention to every detail.

After Torey's wedding I decided that we would not be announced by the MC for our first dance and that we would break up the toasts, so they weren't all held at the same time.

Remember that with weddings, you don't get a dress rehearsal or a second chance, so while you’re enjoying a wedding this summer remember take mental notes for your own.  And don't take out a pen and paper to write things down, leave them in the car so you can write everything down as soon as you leave.

It's common to toss petals, birdseed or blow bubbles as the newlyweds leave the ceremony.  Many of you may remember that rice was originally tossed, a traditional symbol of prosperity, but since learning that rice is harmful to birds, many couples provide birdseed for guests to toss instead.

When deciding what you want your guests to toss, think about the season or theme of your wedding.  For a spring wedding have guests toss petals or flower heads with the stems cut off.  In the summertime hand out sparklers and matches.  Colorful autumn leaves are perfect for a fall ceremony, and you can make your own (paper) snowflakes for a winter wedding.

In lieu of a traditional toss, you can supply small bells for guests to ring, bubbles to blow or streamers and flags for them to wave.  Whatever you decide to use, place them in paper cones or glassine envelopes, and have them distributed to guests as they enter the ceremony site.

You can personalize the toss holder by sealing them with a monogrammed sticker or write a note explaining to guests what they should do with the package - to toss them while you make your way up the aisle or hold onto them until you leave the ceremony site.

Don't forget to stamp the RSVP envelopes you send with your wedding invitations.  A colleague of mine stopped by my desk the other day and asked me if the RSVP envelope she received with her friend's wedding invitation should have come with a stamp already affixed.  And the answer is yes it should have.

 

 

From all the weddings you’ve been to you’ve probably seen dozens of wedding guests snapping photos with their digital cameras.  I’ve even written about it in past posts.  Once everyone emails you their photos you’ll probably have a huge folder on your desktop filled with wedding pics.  (And I’m not even talking about engagement party, bridal shower, bachelorette party and rehearsal dinner pics.)

 

While your first instinct will probably be to share these photos with friends and family, before you open up your email account, attach a lot of large attachments and click send, there’s a better way for you to share your photos, without clogging their in-boxes. 

 

Flash Drives can hold hundreds of your photos and you can easily carry it with you to mom and dads, your sister’s or friend’s house.  Slip the drive into their USB port and in a few seconds all of your wedding photos will be downloaded onto their computer.

 

Now, where to get a flash drive.  I like SanDisk’s Cruzer, available in 3 sizes – 2GB ($24.99), 4GB($39.99) and 8GB($79.99).  I have to admit, the reason I love them is really the case it comes in – black, red or pink “alligator” skin.

 

And once you’ve finished sharing your wedding pics, you can use it for anything else you need to share.  Bring files to meetings, put a presentation on it, etc.

 

I found the three flash drives I mentioned above at a discounted rate on TigertDirect.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can you imagine what planning your wedding would be like without the Internet?  I was married 5 years ago, and the sites, blogs and tools available today were not even around in 2003.  One of my favorite wedding bloggers Christa Terry (author of Manolo for the Brides) just wrote an amazing wedding planning book filled with all of the Web sites you need to know about while planning your wedding.  iDo: Planning Your Wedding with Nothing But 'Net hits stores this month and is filled with hundreds of tips and wedding-related Web sites that will make planning easier, and even save you some money!

 

I asked Christa to send me five of her favorite wedding-related Web sites, and here they are:  

 

When you first get engaged, check out WeddingWire.com

 

Just getting started? Forget the phone book, put away the pen and paper, and tell your mom to stop pressuring you to hire her coworker's son's girlfriend to do the flowers because you'll be shopping around for florists—and doing just about everything else—from the comfort of your desk chair, thank you very much. Go to Wedding Wire to get the lowdown on local vendors from appreciative, ambivalent, and angry reviews written by former brides instead of relying on tired professional pitches. Then, when you're ready, hit up the site to build a slick custom timeline, fashion the perfect seating chart, and choose the ultimate first dance song.

 

When you’re shopping for your wedding dress, visit BrideCouture.com

 

For brides-to-be with champagne dreams and Bud Light budgets, dress shopping can be a mix of exhilaration and heartbreak. Salon shopping can make a gal feel like a princess, until the price tags remind her that's she actually a pauper. There are some great deals out there, particularly if you're willing to travel to a major metropolis, camp out in front of Filenes, and run with the brides, but who has the time? Leave the stampede to the fiancées who don't have better things to do, and buy online. You want to talk about a great deal? How does a size-12 Atelier Aimee gown for $599 sound?

 

For wedding inspiration, visit the Offbeat Bride Web site

 

It's so easy to fall into the "I'll send ecru invitations, wear a white gown, and carry red roses" rut when you're planning a wedding because those are the sorts of products the WIC peddles. Inspiration and support are a lot harder to find when you want to wear a smokin' hot purple gown, you and your sweetheart are vegans, and you think carrying flowers is a stupid idea. Brides-to-be who prefer not to run with the pack can check out the "wedding porn" at this primo blog and chill with their own kind on the accompanying forum.   

 

For creative favors and details, check out Save-On-Crafts.com

 

Your average nuptial accoutrements are manufactured en masse in Asian factories, which means you can buy the same fifty favors and decorative accents in just about every online wedding shop...only the price points differ. If you want to plan an affair that's anything but average—plus you know for a fact that you're a very patient person—you can't beat DIY, and DIY gets a hell of a lot easier when you have a one-stop source for everything from tulle tying basics to plantable petal cones.

 

Just for the fun of it, visit EtiquetteHell.com

 

You pretty much have to embrace your sense of humor if you want to survive the stress of planning a wedding. Besides the fact that you're probably putting the whole shebang together while working, socializing, and getting those fifteen facials every bridal mag recommends, weddings tend to bring out the worst in people. When bridesmaids turn into bitchmaids and dad throws a fit because you want to aisle-walk solo, knowing you can head over to Etiquette Hell and read stories way more horrific than your own makes staying cool that much easier.

 

 

You can find Christa's book in bookstores now, or click here to order it online. 

As promised, here are the rest of Marcy Blum’s wedding planning tips and trends:

 

Eco-Chic: It is now mainstream to be conscious of your carbon footprint in all aspects of your life and certainly for one’s wedding.  Whether it is using recyclable papers and soy inks or serving an organic “100 mile menu" - it’s definitely de rigueur to think green.

 

Nonchalant Themes:  Lightly thematic or playful  elements-such as asking your friends to wear “glamorous” attire rather than just black tie or suggesting a favorite color (Beyonce asked her guests to wear white)

 

Destination Weddings in the US:  The Breakers in Palm Beach, Nantucket and Aspen are all fabulous places where the dollar is the currency and travel won’t break the bank.

 

Smaller Bridal Party: Fewer wedding attendants  or just kids as attendants (obviously goes with the smaller wedding trend) but as brides and grooms are a few years older and have so many friends it’s harder and they are opting for just siblings rather than 12 attendants each.

 

Moveable Feasts:  Walk around dinner parties are back in! More food - both passed and stationary, great music and passed cocktails - no seating!!

 

 

To learn more about Marcy, and get inspired by the weddings she has planned, visit her Web site, MarcyBlum.com.

 

I got an email a few weeks ago from one of my favorite wedding planners, Marcy Blum.  I first met Marcy when I was getting my makeup trial at the Laura Geller Salon on Lexington, and I run into her every now and then at wedding events.  You’ve probably got a copy of her book, Weddings for Dummies, or have read her wedding tips in a bridal publication.  I think she was most recently featured in InStyle Weddings.

 

I asked Marcy to send me the latest trends and top tips for planning a wedding.  Here’s what she had to say:

 

Smaller and more elegant weddings: Many couples who are looking to have an elaborate and highly detailed wedding have attained it by cutting the guest list and spending their time and money lavishing attention on fewer guests.  Smaller weddings enable one to serve better wines (perhaps changing with each course), multi-course meals with more interesting foods and even allow for personal notes to each guest with their parting gifts (a chore some of my brides and groom have taken on that is well worth the labor).

 

Multi-Day Celebrations: Even weddings that take place in one’s home city usually have a rehearsal event for many if not all the guests, the wedding and then a brunch the next day.

 

Some surprise for the guests: Be it fireworks, a change of venue after dinner for dancing or a special performance.

 

Sleeker, less frou-frou wedding dresses: While many brides are opting to change for the later part of the evening, many designers are showing dresses that can “convert” into minis via Velcro or ones that have detachable trains

 

Lifestory Videography: More couples are opting for videos that start by interviewing the couple and perhaps friends before their wedding and then include the wedding and perhaps even include footage from the honeymoon to make the piece more about the couple’s lives rather than just a wedding video.

 

Tomorrow I’ll post Marcy’s five remaining tips/trends.  To learn more about Marcy, and get inspired by the weddings she has planned, visit her Web site, MarcyBlum.com.

 

 

 

 

Have you thought about getting married on a boat?  A yacht or private boat that specializes in dinner/dancing cruises.  I’ll be honest, you have to be careful when you schedule your wedding on a boat that is scheduled to leave the dock at a certain time.  I remember in high school, one of the local schools had their prom on a boat that sailed around Manhattan Island, and unfortunately a limo filled with students literally missed the boat.

 

If you do decide to have your wedding on a boat you may want to arrange for all of your guests to get picked up at a certain location by shuttle bus so you can better guarantee that no one arrives too late.

 

Last week Dave and I had the opportunity to enjoy a dinner and dancing cruise around Manhattan and it was quite lovely.  In addition to the three-course meal, there was also a very entertaining show with singing and dancing.  The highlight was passing the Statue of Liberty at night, which was a great photo-op.

 

If you’re too nervous that some of your guests may not get to the dock on time for your wedding, but you love the idea of a dinner cruise, you may want to consider having your rehearsal dinner on a boat.  You may also want to pack a few Dramamine or other sea sickness medications in case you or any of your guests get woozy.

 

The ship we went on was Spirit of New York out of Chelsea Piers, and is operated by Entertainment Cruises, which manages 24 ships throughout the country including the following cities: Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Weehawken, NJ, Washington, DC and Norfolk, VA.  The boat pictured at the top of this post is Bateaux New York, a glass-enclosed ship which seats up to 300 guests.

Speaking of staying warm.  What is a bride to do if there is a chill in the air or the air conditioning is up a bit too high?  It might be a good idea to buy a wrap that compliments your dress.  If the salon you bought your dress at doesn’t have a wrap/stole to your liking you can find a pashmina or cashmere wrap at a variety of retailers, and in a rainbow of colors.

 

The wrap featured here (for this post) is appropriately labeled, The Wedding Wrap and is available in white, black, pale pink and cherub at WhiteandWarren.com.  This simple and elegant wrap can be worn well after the wedding.  Take it on your honeymoon, or grab it when you’re running out the door for an evening out. 

 

Finding the right shoe is very important.  In addition to matching your wedding dress it should also be comfortable, because you’ll be standing and dancing in them all night long.

 

I learned about a new online shoe store, Piperlime, which has a great collection of wedding day shoes.  The company has partnered with celebrity wedding planner, Mindy Weiss. (I told you about her amazing book a few weeks ago.)  Mindy suggests that every bride should have two pairs of shoes for her wedding: A fantasy shoe and a reality shoe.  The “fantasy shoes” are really over the top gorgeous, perfect for photos, and the “reality shoes” are more about comfort and being able to dance and mingle with your guests all night long.  This way you’ll have one dramatic style for your formal portraits and ceremony, and then slip into something more comfortable for your reception.

 

One of my favorite features on Piperlime is that they offer FREE shipping and returns.  So you can order a number of pairs in time for your first fitting, try them all on and return the ones that don’t work.  Remember your seamstress won't be able to hem your wedding dress if you don't have the shoes you will be wearing.

 

The site also offers these shoe shopping tips from Mindy:

 

• Skip the rhinestones and jewels on your shoes.  They can snag on your dress.
• Don’t forget to break in your shoes.  Start walking in them about two weeks before the wedding.  (This is also a good tip for your groom. -- AC)
• Scuff up the soles of your shoes (and his) with sandpaper so you don’t slip when you’re headed down the aisle (or on the dance floor -- AC).
• Slingbacks can be hard to keep on your foot, so pick a pump or something that goes around the ankle.

The two shoes featured above are examples of the styles available on the website.  Click these links to learn more about this fantasy shoe and reality shoe, or click here to see the entire Piperlime bridal collection.

 

 

Click here for more wedding planning tips.

Since I saw a preview of Made of Honor last week, this past weekend we went to see Iron Man.  If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it, even though it has absolutely nothing to do with weddings.  I’m sure your fiance will appreciate you going with him to a non-chick flick, and I promise you’ll enjoy it.  It was amazing!

 

But if you did get to see Made of Honor this weekend (this is not a spoiler, so feel free to keep reading) you know that the bride is engaged to a Scottish gentleman, and they decide to get married in Scotland.

 

The couple chooses a variety of Scottish traditions to include in the wedding festivities: a pre-wedding sporting event, the menu, attire and music. Whether you’re getting married in a foreign country or not, you may want to include cultural traditions in your wedding.  These traditions can come from your family, the groom’s family, or just pick a tradition you like and make it your “something borrowed.”

 

I love the idea of having music represent a family’s heritage/culture.  From klezmer bands during the cocktail hour to bagpipes at the ceremony, there are a myriad of options available.

 

At a Scotland Tourism event I attended last month I had the privilege of trying two Scottish cocktails – which I’ll write about tomorrow – and also hearing an amazing Scottish band: Red Hot Chilli Pipers.  That’s right bagpipers. 

 

While traditional bagpipers in kilts are not an unfamiliar site at Scottish weddings in the US, this new take on a familiar cultural tradition will definitely add a unique element to your wedding. 

 

And no, I’m not suggesting that you only have bagpipers for your reception music.  Research local bands in your area and hire a cultural band for your cocktail hour or for part of your reception.  Unfortunately, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers are based in Scotland, but maybe you could email them and ask them if they can recommend a band with a similar sound in the States.  Please let us know if you know of a great cultural band, I'm sure other brides would be interested in the information.

 

 

Whenever I go to a wedding I go as both a guest and a weddings editor.  It’s hard not to look at everything and think how I can turn the details of this particular wedding into a blog post.  And that’s where this post came from - the wedding I went to in California last October.

 

Dave and I got there a little early to take some photos with friends, and some how we ended up in the room the bridal party was getting ready/hanging out in.  It was a rather large room with couches and tables and chairs, and scattered throughout were bottles of beer and water, as well as bags of pretzels and chips.

 

I don’t know if the bride and groom, the location or the members of the bridal party brought in the drinks and snacks.  The point is that it’s a great idea to have both snacks and drinks for your bridal party because they will be waiting around all day, helping you get ready, taking pictures, setting up the favors, etc.

 

I came across a company that specializes in creating food baskets just for this purpose and wanted to share their information with you.  It’ll save you time and energy by just ordering what you want instead of having to add “buy food and snacks” to your wedding checklist.

 

 

 

Marrylicious creates gourmet gift baskets specifically for wedding parties.  They have three packages – Tulip, Rose and Orchid – and each comes with a selection of gourmet treats as well as a wedding day emergency kit.  You can also create a custom package if you want to have a themed basket or need to fit certain dietary restrictions.  Prices start at $100.  The company is based in Seattle but ships nationwide. 

 

And brides, remember to drink clear liquids (water, seltzer, vodka) through a straw so you don’t spill anything on your dress or smudge your lipstick before you walk down the aisle.

Have you heard about the new Patrick Dempsey movie, Made of Honor?  It starts next Friday, May 2nd, and I'll write a review of the film that afternoon.  Anyway, one lucky couple won a free wedding, which will take place on the red carpet - they're actually having a pink one - before the premiere.  I had a chance to get some great planning tips from the vendors supplying the details for this lucky couple.  Here they are:

Hair Advice from OSCAR BLANDI:

1.  For preparation, bring photographs of your dress, any hair piece you will be putting in your hair and photos of what you are looking for.  The hairdresser can work with you to find the style that works best for you and your dress.

2.  Get hair cut at least two weeks early for any up-coming fix or trim for the wedding day.

3.  Don't wash your hair the wedding day, but rather one day early. Let the hairdresser work with your hair for long-lasting style. If you wash your hair the same day, the hair stylist will put a lot of products to let the hair stay and that can create too much build-up which may make your hair static or frizzy.

Cake Advice from SYLVIA WEINSTOCK:

1. Always use a reputable baker, board of health approved, with a good track record for professionalism. 

2. Ask for a tasting and design session. Be sure you get what you like. Be aware that some guests will have food allergies (i.e. nuts and nut products).

3. Bring with you some ideas that you want incorporated in the design of your cake (i.e. colors, floral species, pictures of your gown, architectural elements, etc.).

4. Be aware of weather, refrigeration, air conditioning, and make sure you have a sturdy table for the cake.

Makeup Advice from DAVID EVANGELISTA:

1.  The bride should ALWAYS go for a hair and make-up trial so that she feels confident as she walks down the aisle.  No bride wants any surprises on her wedding day!

2.  If either the bride or groom is going to use tanning cream or get a spray tan, be sure to do it at least 2 days prior to the wedding just in case the color is off or uneven, allowing time to do a quick fix.

3.  When deciding on an overall look, come armed to your stylist and colorist with photos of the dress, hair accessories/veil and any jewelry so the hair and makeup can complete the look.

4.  Consider buying the basic makeup items your makeup artist used (press powder, lipstick/gloss, blush) so you have the right tools for touch-ups.

Wedding Dress Advice from Designer SELIA YANG:

1. Be open minded when picking your dream dress, but don’t loose yourself in it. Remember you are the star, but not starring in a pageant.

2. Don’t be shy; make sure you are completely happy and satisfied with your dress before you pick it up.  

3. Walk around the house in your wedding shoes for at least an hour to test drive them; it’s hard to enjoy yourself when you are in a lot of pain.  Also, you may want to have a pair of flats on hand just in case.

4. Pick a wedding dress that not only flatters you but also, compliments the season and your location.  A big, heavy and puffy, satin dress in the month of July will make you miserable and impossible to feel beautiful. 

5. Make sure you have an emergency kit handy, such as a light sewing kit, bandage kit, double sided sticky tape, scissors, etc.

You can watch this real wedding, which will be officiated by Mary Hart, live on Crackle.com.  I’m planning on being there, so I’ll take pictures and post them next week!

 

 

A few weeks ago I received a press release that this week is National Parks Week, and I thought to myself, how fabulous would it be to get married in a park!

 

I did a little research on the subject and found out that ARAMARK Park & Resorts, in addition to providing concessions for a number of national parks, also hosts weddings.  From visiting the company’s Web site, I found some amazing US destinations in almost every state in the Union.  I personally like the Denali Park Resorts, Denali National Park & Preserve and Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.  At Lake Powell you can get married lake side (see photo above) or on a  luxury yacht. 

 

Wherever you are planning – or dreaming – of getting married you may want to check out the national parks in your area.  And remember yesterday’s tip on outdoor wedding locations:  Make sure that the outdoor space has an indoor alternative in case it rains on your wedding day.

 

 

One of your first tasks as a bride is to find the perfect location, which will help set the tone for your wedding.  When you start searching for your ceremony and reception site keep a few things in mind:

 

• Your guest list.  You don’t need the final list, but you should have a rough estimate.
• Your budget.  Having an idea of what your wedding budget is before you go looking will ensure that you’ll find a location you can afford.  You don’t want to fall in love with a space that’s over $250 a head, if your budget will only allow $75 a head. 
• Your wedding’s look and feel.  Do you want to get married outdoors?  At home?  In a church?  By knowing what you want, you’ll be able to narrow down the spaces you schedule appointments at, and won’t waste time looking at spaces you’ll never book.

 

I originally wanted to get married at my grandparent’s home, where my parents were married.  Unfortunately, the space wasn’t big enough to accommodate all of our guests, and my grandmother refused to cut down a large tree in the middle of the yard.  (We ended up having the rehearsal dinner, a BBQ, in the yard.)  When we went searching for locations, I insisted that we find a site that had some outdoor space.  In one weekend, we visited a dozen spaces - country clubs, mansions you can rent, hotels - and of course at the last space we went to was the perfect spot:  a synagogue with a beautiful ballroom (in our color palette, pastels) and a small garden in the middle of the building for photos and cocktail hour.  Needless to say, it was a rainy day in June, and while we did get to take some photos outside, we didn’t get to use the garden. 

 

Anyway, the lesson is: if you are looking for an outdoor space for your wedding, make sure you have a rain plan - either a facility on the property where you can hold your ceremony and/or reception if it’s raining, or reserve some tents and a few days before the wedding have them installed so you’re covered, literally, in case the weatherman predicts rain.

 

For the rest of this week, I thought I’d highlight some unique locations you may want to consider for your wedding, so I may post more than once a day if I come across some other interesting tips and products.  And if you know of a great space for a wedding, please post a comment with a link to it for other brides to see.