The Great Affair

Fall Weddings are coming up now. Sept and Oct. have become two of the most popular months to get married. I personally love fall weddings. The changing colors of the leaves makes for stunning outdoor pictures. Bridesmaids dresses in gold, copper, burnt orange, chocolate against a background of trees with the same colors is awesome. The weather is cooler in most parts of the country and makes it more comfortable to wear, gowns, tuxedos, etc. One thing to be aware of when planning your fall outdoor wedding is that the weather can change quickly. Be sure to have a back-up plan in case of rain. An indoor area, a tent, whatever. Dont get caught without a plan. Use the fall foilage in your table decorating. Bringing the outdoors inside keeps the “fall feeling” going. Have great fun planning your fall weddings. If you have any questions or need help in planning your wedding please give me a call at 847-323-9442. Happy Planning!

After securing your ceremony and venue site you can relax a bit. Shopping for flowers is an exciting and fun experience for most brides. Here are a few things to remember. Flowers not in season will be more expensive, especially if they need to be shipped from other areas. So if you want tulips in December expect to pay a premium to have them shipped from Holland. Also the large centerpieces are just beautiful but remember that at the end of the reception they will need to be moved or given away. Many guests that fly in will not be able to take the flowers with them. So consider this when making your purchase. Table settings can be beautiful with a combination of  flowers, candles, etc. If you do purchase the tall centerpiece flower arrangments be sure to have them sitting atop a tall tray so that your guests can easily communicate with each other across the table. I love shopping for the flowers, its one of my favorite aspect of planning a wedding. Reuse the church flowers at the reception by placing the altar flowers behind or on the head table, placecard table, gift table and so on. The bridesmaids bouquets look lovely adorning the head table. Keep these tips in mind when you shop for your wedding flowers.

Summer is a great time for a wedding but you cannot predict the weather. Whether its hot, humid, raining, hail, tornado warnings, etc. the wedding will go on. Its important to always have a back up plan. If you are getting married outdoors plan where the ceremony will take place if it were to rain. If the temperature is very warm please stay hydrated. You dont want to faint on your wedding day or have any of your attendants do so. Be sure to eat something for breakfast and drink plenty of water. Plan for transfer from limo, etc. to ceremony, reception if it rains. Dont be surprised on your wedding day. Bring umbrellas, water and other essentials to make your day go as perfectly as you desire. Dont let the weather destroy your happy day!

So now you are engaged. What next? A party to announce your engagement? A party to celebrate things to come? It seems once you tie the knot there are endless parties. Bridal party luncheons, bridal showers, bachelor and bachelorette parties, parents get-togethers and so on. Just remember to pace yourself so you do not become overwhelmed…which can happen very quickly. Eat nutriously, exercise, sleep at least 7 hrs a night. Dont overdue on the alcohol and sweets. Your engagement period will be so much more enjoyable if you simply take care of yourself. Try not to plan these events too close together either. You need sufficient time to recoup. This is just one more suggestion to make your wedding planning easier!!

May each of you enjoy the Holiday weekend. Drive safe. Here is a recipe that you may want to add to your celebrations!!

Fourth of July Cocktail
(courtesy of Guy Fieri, Foodnetwork)

Mix together the following:

1 ounce watermelon schnapps
1 big splash cranberry juice
1 very thin slice jalapeno or serrano pepper
1 slice lemon
1 slice lime
1 1/2 ounces tequila
1/4 ounce blue curacao
1/2 ounce simple syrup
Watermelon wedge, for garnish (optional)

When choosing a location for your Destination Wedding consider what type of venue you would like to have your ceremony and reception. Do you want a beachfront resort or something more private? Do you want to be around excitement, ie. Las Vegas or have a more peaceful setting that also offers activities for you and your guests? Couples are traveling all over the world to get married these days. Popular places are France, Italy, Carribean, Las Vegas, Hawaii, California, Florida and others. Consider accomodations and transportation for guests, time of year for that picture perfect wedding on the beach, if venue has wedding coordinator to assist with details, air transportation, etc. Destination Weddings are more popular than ever with so many hotel chains offering discounts and assistance around the world. Sandals and Beaches Resorts, Hilton, Marriott, NH Hotels are just a few of the very reputable companies to choose from. The Great Affair specializes in destination weddings to anywhere in the world. Please call us for a free consultation.

The months of planning your wedding really do go by so fast. Be sure to enjoy the planning and do not get too hung up on details. Let your planner work her magic. Take time for yourself along the way, whether it be a massage, facial, nice walk or just a nap. Find time to pamper yourself. That way you will have the energy you need at those times when you really need it. My motto always has been Have fun along the way. Take it slow.

OK so you are engaged. Congratulations!! The first step in wedding planning after determining how many guests to invite and getting your bridal party together is to locate a venue(s) for the ceremony and reception. Take time to decide if you want to marry outdoors in a church, garden setting, on the beach, in a ballroomm mansion, country club, banquet hall, museum, loft, library, etc. There are so many different types of settings these days. You may want to marry at your home or in a grocery store aisle as one bride recently did as she met her groom there. If you choose an outdoor wedding keep in mind the possibility of rain and always have a back-up plan like a tent or another area under cover. When choosing your home, banquet hall or unique venue consider that you will need rentals, catering and so on. These can add up whereas renting a ballroom usually has everything included in the price. Good Luck with your search and as I always say…Make it fun and enjoyable.

Everyone wants nice photos of their wedding for lasting memories. So its very important to shop around for a photographer who has photos that you like!! Its too easy to get caught up in the planning and lose sight of expenditures. But photography should be tops on your list. You want a photographer who you can work with easily and one who understands the type of photos you want to capture. Prices vary but so does quality so take your time in choosing the best photographer you can to fulfill your needs. Visit their facility and view their photo albums of recent weddings. Ask which photographer on staff worked that particular wedding as some studios have many photographers on staff with varying talents. Good luck and make your search of a good photographer fun and enjoyable.

Weddings have changed so much over the past 20 years and one area that truly stands out is the giving the guest a favor. The typical bride and groom today want to make a statement. Many are giving donations to favorite charities in the names of their guests. This has become a wonderful trend. Rather than giving out the candy box, CDs, etc. the guest leave with a feeling that they actually contributed to welfare of a charity. This fortunate new generation has grown up with an emphasis on community service and giving back and this is one way that they are able to show that and have their guests participate also. I think its a trend that will continue on. What are your thoughts?