Things I took away from the Royal Wedding
In no certain order….
Gigantic boutonnières are a no. Please note how dapper and sophisticated Mr. Middleton looks with his diminutive boutonniere.
Sleeves are always stunning, and surprisingly original, given how popular the strapless white wedding gown is.
Wedding parties look fabulous in white.
You don’t always have to wear your hair up, despite what your mother might say. And, by your mother, I mean my mother. ; )
Classic always wins: green and white flowers, lily of the valley, white wedding shoes, weddings with decorum, and on and on…you get the picture.
And, other things, for which I don’t have pictures.
*Don’t rush your reading! If James Middleton can deliver a reading in front of the entire world without rushing, so too can you!
*Be on time! British punctuality warms my heart.
*Simplicity is elegance.
*Don’t raise your glass when people toast to you. Did you note that the Queen did not taking part in singing “God Save the Queen?” That’s because it was being sung to her.
Image 1 via Racked; Image 2 via The Telegraph; Image 3 via The Telegraph; Image 4 via Racked; Image 5 via The Telegraph
a pretty illustrative guide to setting a table….
by Amy Borrell via Kris Atomic
Menu card inspiration
There are as many ways to present menu cards as there are ways to design receptions. Below are a few ways from classic to modern, casual to formal.
Traditionally, the bride and groom’s name or duogram and the date of the wedding appear at the top of the card, then the menu follows with wine either noted alongside courses or at the bottom of the card. The menu card usually matches the place card, both in the stock of the paper it’s printed on and possibly with the repetition of a motif or monogram (see Kathryn’s invitation below — she used the wreath motif throughout her wedding on printed materials).
Although menus can be shared, they usually go on each place setting, and can double as place cards. In that instance, the guest’s name would be hand calligraphed or printed at the top of the menu (see Kathyrn’s menu for an example).
When outdoors, it’s best to have the menu tucked into a folded napkin or secured in another way so it’s not picked up by the wind.
A classic menu that uses a mix of calligraphy and type, for a rehearsal dinner featured on Snippet and Ink and photographed by Kristen Loken.
A modern calligraphed menu, photographed by Karen Mordechai, by Betsy Dunlap for Sunday Suppers.
Kathryn’s classic wedding menu, photographed by Elizabeth Messina, used the wreath motif that appeared on many printed goods at her wedding. Her menu cards also doubled as place cards — guests’ names were calligraphed by Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls at the top of each card.
A casual wedding menu photographed by Suzanne Christine Photography and featured on Martha Stewart Weddings. The bride and groom used a repetitive stamp motif on their day-of paper goods.
This menu, photographed by Timothy K. Lee and originally featured on MSW, doubled as a napkin band — a great solution for an outdoor event!
creating your wedding budget
Before you set a guest list, choose a date, choose a location, fall in love with a gown, you must craft a budget that is informed by costs in your market. You may begin planning with a total budget of $35,000 and a guest list of 300, with dreams of a seated dinner and open bar. That is not possible in Richmond; trying to force fit your dream reception into an unrealistic budget is a recipe for disappointment. Food and beverage tend to represent 40-50% of total spending. If you know the cost per head for both (because you’ve spoken with your planner, caterers or reception site managers), you can get a general idea of total budget just by knowing what your total spend on food & bev will be.
photo by Don Mears for Ashley’s derby day wedding
monogram etiquette
Monograms are a staple in the south. You’ll see them on cars (yes, cars), pillow cases, embroidered cocktail napkins, and, of course, at weddings. But, did you know that it is a breech of etiquette to use a “duo-gram” (a monogram that uses the bride and groom’s first name initials and the initial of his last name) on any printed materials prior to your marriage? A duo-gram should be reserved for printed materials following the ceremony (cocktail napkins at the reception, like above, or thank you notes). If you’d like to use a monogram on your invitation or programs, it is most appropriate to use the initials of the bride and groom’s first names (see the wooden stirrer above for an example).
photo by Melissa Musgrove via Martha Stewart Weddings
organizing your day of list
Organizing your day of deliveries is one of the most important things you can do to prepare for your wedding weekend, especially if you’re having a large event with lots of moving parts. When we work with clients, we create a detailed production spreadsheet that lists each item coming into the event. Each and every single item that is needed for the ceremony or reception is captured on our spreadsheet along with all pertinent details. For smaller events with less production, you don’t need an elaborate spreadsheet, but you do need to communicate who is responsible for all items during their life at the reception so there is no confusion during installation or at the end of the night.
Photo: loving the way these items are organized via martha stewart weddings; also love these day of organization tips from Ritzy Bee
Three things that will make your party a success (and they have nothing to do with pretty details, although I’m a fan of those too)
1. Your guests and their experience are paramount. Keep your guests in the forefront of your mind as you plan. That means keeping cocktail hour to an hour; starting the ceremony on time; anticipating your guests’ needs — if it’s going to be hot during your outdoor ceremony, have cool drinks waiting for your guests.
2. Edit, edit, edit. Style does not come from adding on. It comes from editing and being true to your vision.
3. Don’t establish a vision for your event and a guest list before you know what things cost in your area. Do educate yourself on what things cost in your market and establish a budget and a guest list based on that information.
photo: Leo Patrone with styling by Merriment and flowers by JM Flora
table runners
One of the chicest ways to add personality and personalization to a very standard event rental — the white table cloth — is to commission a seamstress to create runners for your dining tables. My favorite local sources for fabric in interesting prints and patterns are U Fab and the Williams & Sherrill Outlet.
photos: green and white stripe runner via This is Glamorous via Duet Weddings; second runner via Martha Stewart Weddings; third designed by Eddie Ross
looking back at 2010 part one
2010 has been such a blessing. I feel so lucky to work in this industry with such creative people and fun clients. Let’s look at a few of them…
Above: Natalie in Forest Hill Park for her bridal portraits photographed by Katie Stoops. That was such a gorgeous day, and Natalie was obviously a stunning bride.
Above: Leslie + Jarrod at Lewis Ginter’s Bloemendaal House. Leslie designed the silhouettes used throughout her wedding. And those little pies? Baked by none other than the fabulously talented Jenny West at Sweetest Thing Bakery. Photography by Katie Stoops.
These little flowers at Natalie’s wedding were so popular I’m tempted to take orders. They hung on the wall behind the band at Crittenden Studio. Natalie’s husband is a musician, so they held special meaning and were a big surprise to the bride and groom who had no idea that we’d been cooking up this scheme with Natalie’s mom all along. Photographed by Jennifer Colina.
Ashley and Paul’s classic Richmond wedding captured by Don Mears Photography. Ashley was so thoughtful — she wrote a note to each guest who attended her wedding that we displayed on place settings in the Empire Room at The Jefferson Hotel.
Leslie again. This time with bridesmaids, her mother and me. All of us with laser-like precision and determination buttoning her gown before the ceremony. Crochet hooks are your friend. Photography by Katie Stoops.
Logan’s sweet wedding at her parent’s home in Ware Neck, Virginia. It was a magical night, made even more magical by the golf cart we piloted throughout the evening (necessary when you’re setting up an event of this size on a sprawling plantation). Photography by Worthington Photography.
Our story for Nonpareil Magazine published early in the year. What the story in the magazine doesn’t tell you is that my spaniel ate a stack of these cookies while we broke for lunch. Fail. Baking by Jenny West of Sweetest Thing Bakery. Photography by Katie Stoops.
Megan and James’ wedding reception took place in a beautiful Sperry tent at a private farm, owned by friends of the family, while cocktails and dancing took place here following dinner. That’s the team installing more than 1500 feet of crepe paper. We installed pretty bistro lights here as well.
Part two coming tomorrow…
save the date ideas
Save the dates can be so much fun. Because they deliver just a little bit of information, as opposed to a wedding invitation, which has much more responsibility, you have the freedom to be just as creative as you want to be! The image above isn’t meant to be a save the date, but it could be — such a sweet + simple design. Below is a design by Cheree Berry. And, beneath it, two from the new Martha Stewart Weddings, which is full of fun save the date ideas.
