Wedding Favor Suggestions

One small way to make sure that guests remember your special wedding day, is to make sure that you give your guests special gifts to take home with them.   I encourage my clients to give meaningful favors that will last beyond the week of your wedding. There are so many favors that are discarded when guests arrive home. In some cases they are eaten at the reception and the receptacles left right there. With today’s interest in personalized weddings, make sure that whatever mementos you select carry your names and wedding date. These are just a few suggestions for consideration.

You can personalize packets of flower seeds in glassine envelopes with a message from you both that talks about growth and love.

Ordinary mints, sugared almonds or chocolates can be transformed when placed in small personalized collectable boxes or bags. They can also be placed in wine glasses. If you place them in wine glasses, wrap them first in tulle and tie with ribbons matching your color scheme. You should attach a message of thanks to each one.  They can be bunched together in baskets for the guests to take home with them as they leave the reception or they can be placed on the dinner table as part of the reception décor.

More and more couples are creating CDs of their favorite music and providing them for guests to take as they leave the reception.

If you are planning a photo booth at the reception, provide a small frame for each guest to use to take their photo home.

If you are hosting an outdoor wedding, a handheld personalized fan is a fitting option for the heat. A novel idea might be a small potted plant and if it is a beach wedding an opener in the shape of a sea shell works well. If yours is a destination wedding, an appropriate favor might be a luggage tag. 

Some couples prefer a dessert station to a formal wedding cake and instead provide each guest with a tiny individual cake in a personalized box  for each of them to take home.

Whatever you choose, make sure that you take this opportunity to share your joy and thanks with those friends and relatives who have come together to help you celebrate your new life together.

Visit www.triniweddings.com and click on the Beaucoup  link for lovely wedding favors.

Wedding Etiquette 101- Should guests pay to attend Bridal showers?

It seems that there is a growing trend these days for brides and others involved in the wedding planning process to be adopting some very rude and tacky practices. One such practice that comes to mind is that guests are being charged to attend Bridal showers.

 I set about researching etiquette gurus like the Posts – Emily, Peggy and Elizabeth and could find nothing that dealt with this issue. Then I happened upon a comment which stated that the idea was so repulsive and wrong that the etiquette gurus had not even considered writing about it. They likened it to walking into a job interview and not saying good morning.

 Emily Post in her Complete Book of Wedding Etiquette states that “Bridal showers traditionally are friendly gatherings of intimate friends, held to honor the bride and shower   her with gifts.”  It cannot then be reasonable for guests to shower the bride with a gift and also pay to attend the shower. In our quest to host grand affairs which cannot be afforded by those responsible for hosting, we are losing sight of the raison d’etre and essence of the event. As an aside, let me also mention that the Bride and her immediate family are never to host a shower. It is accepted only if the immediate family member is part of the bridal party. Showers can be hosted by aunts, cousins, members of the bridal party, co-workers or just friends.

I am sharing an excerpt from The Knot’s question and answer forum which I found very insightful, along with a picture of me with Peggy Post whom I met and questioned extensively at a Wedding Planning Conference I attended a few years ago.

 

Bridal Shower: Who Pays for Bridal Shower Food?

Q.

My maid of honor (and my only attendant) wants to throw me a wedding shower at a restaurant, and she expects the bridal shower guests to pay for their meals. I told her I would rather have the shower at someone's house with cake and snacks. She said she wants to have it where we can be waited on, which is fine, but my friends would have to pay to attend my bridal shower! How can I handle this without hurting her feelings? She is very sensitive.

A.

It's nice of you to respect her feelings, but she's a little out of control, and she's risking offending people close to you! Guests should never pay for their meals at any party they are invited to, and you need to make that clear to her -- if she insists on having the shower at a restaurant, she'll have to pay for the food! Don't let your MOH hold you hostage; tell her you know she's got great intentions, but she just can't do things this way! One more suggestion: If you're freaked about talking to her directly (though you should try to), ask your mother if she can reason with your MOH.

Some ideas for a successful wedding

·         It sounds like a no brainer, but one of the most important elements of your day is the timeline.  You don’t want to end up paying your vendors overtime charges  or keep your guests waiting because  some element of your wedding  ran late.  Staying as close to the timeline as possible is the key to throwing a successful event.

 

·         Instead of decking your space out in crazy centerpieces and crystals, focus your energy and money on things like creative entertainment elements.  One couple we worked with brought in an artist to paint the party scene.  Another hired a caricaturist and guests took home custom portraits at the end of the night. Yet another had a photo booth where guests were  provided with two pictures. One was a keepsake and the guests were able to paste the other picture in the guest book and write their greeting underneath.  Then again there is the Ad Lib where guests are guided to write fun things about the couple. These kinds of activities really make the experience special for everyone.  They also minimize the waiting time while photographs are taken.

 

 

·         While edible and charitable favors are popular, every now and then we see a very specific favor that works great with a fun story or background.  For instance, there was a couple who met on an airplane and gave luggage tags as favors.  If they’re relevant, small keepsakes can be charming favors.

 

·         As your most photographed accessory, your bouquet should harmonize with your gown.  Different dress styles and fabrics set the tone for wedding flowers.  Think:  delicate florals like peonies or lisianthus for a soft lace gown, and architectural blooms like calla lilies or orchids for a modern dress.

 

·         Choose arrangements that look like they belong in your venue.  Small loose clusters of colorful wild flowers would look out of place in a formal ballroom, while glamorous groupings of all white orchids with crystals would not seem right in a rustic setting.

For more ideas feel free to  arrange a Conultation  with TriniWeddings . Call us at 868 628-9333 or email mwilt@triniweddings.com

Portraits and Pictures

Looking back at the Fall/Winter 2012 edition of the knot.com I noticed that they did a good job of suggesting new ideas for photo ops at weddings.  I am including some of their ideas as well as suggestions from other  wedding planners. 

Wedding photos are THE lasting memory of your special day.  It is so important to making sure that the photographer captures the essence and spirit of the day.  You may wish to review some of these ideas with your photographer prior to the wedding.

·         Though you may not like standing for posed portraits at your wedding, don’t make the mistake of skipping them.  This is a special day that will only happen once.  Everyone is together looking their best.  Even if you think you don’t want them, you’ll be glad to have them after the wedding is over.  You can pare down to five must-take portraits:  the bride and groom together, the entire wedding party, the bride and groom with their parents, the couple with the bride’s immediate family and the couple with the groom’s immediate family.” (theknot.com)

·         Consider photos of the groom and his groomsmen getting ready.  The focus of the pre-wedding pictures  does not have to be on every hairbrush and roller in the bride’s room.

·         If you don’t mind having the groom see you before you walk down the aisle, consider “staging” a “first look” photo on a stair case, in a garden or courtyard.  The point is to capture his reaction to the first time he sees you in your gown.  This can be a special shot especially if you won’t have time between the ceremony and reception for many formal pictures.

·         Consider having the photographer capture the look on the faces of family members as they see you walk down the aisle.  You may not even have noticed those reactions in the rush of the moment but will enjoy them later.

·         Ask the photographer to seek out an unusual vantage point for shooting photos of the ceremony.  Request the same for the reception.  A wide angle shot of the reception area filled with guests will be a wonderful reminder of the entire day.

·         Think of your wedding as a “time capsule capturing the context in which your wedding takes place” (theknot.com).  In fifty years, your grandchildren will enjoy looking at the photos.

While wonderful wacky informal shots from your reception may be recorded on the disposable cameras you have left at every table, you will want pictures from a professional photographer who knows how important they are as a record of your incredible day.  Hire the best you can afford.  They are worth it! Check us at Triniweddings for suggestions of good photographers. Call 868 628-WEDD (9333) or  email mwilt@triniweddings.com

U.S. Wedding Planning Certification Courses Are Now Being Offered in the Caribbean

NEWS RELEASE

                                                               



March 31, 2014 - Weddings Beautiful Worldwide, a US based leader in training and certification for wedding planners since 1968, announced today that they have granted Marilyn Duncan-Wiltshire of Trini Weddings an exclusive licensee to teach the Certified Wedding Specialist course and the Accredited Wedding Planner course in the Caribbean under the name Weddings Beautiful Caribbean. 

Gary Wright, CEO of Weddings Beautiful Worldwide shares, “I am extremely pleased to be bringing our courses to the Caribbean, and I am confident Marilyn, who received her CWS certification from us in 2008, will be eager to share her own experiences from taking the course and starting her own successful wedding planning business.” 

Weddings Beautiful Caribbean will be offering two types of courses, which include the Accredited Wedding Planner (AWP) course and the world famous Certified Wedding Specialist (CWS) course.  The AWP course consists of 10 assignments focusing mainly on coordinating weddings, and is perfect for someone interested in assisting a wedding planner or working as a wedding coordinator in the hotel and resort industry.  The CWS course contains more information on starting your own business.  It consists of 18 assignments and a final exam, and has earned the seal “standard of excellence” in wedding planning.  It will provide novice and aspiring wedding planners with the entrepreneurial and wedding planning skills to run a successful business.   

 

Media Contacts:

Weddings Beautiful Caribbean

Marilyn Duncan-Wiltshire, CWS

868-628-9333

marilyn@triniweddings.com

www.triniweddings.com

 

Weddings Beautiful Worldwide (USA)

Gary R. Wright, CEO

804-342-5880

gwright@weddingsbeautiful.com

www.weddingsbeautiful.com

 

Smart Phones at your Wedding?!

The proliferation of camera phones has raised a new point of discussion for brides and grooms hoping to capture the essence of their wedding through a professional photographer of some distinction.  How to handle wedding guests with cameras in their phones and preserve the privacy and security of the wedding events is a growing challenge. The rules regarding social media are changing especially as it relates to the ceremony. Traditionally the ceremony was about the Bride and Groom. Today social media encourages random acts of mindlessness even though there has been careful detailed planning.  

While some couples may embrace the technology, others wonder “how to keep their vows from going viral”.   This concern has prompted wedding planners, coordinators and consultants to formulate some guidelines covering social media at weddings.

• Recognize that most couples make a distinction between the wedding ceremony and its more solemn aspects and the reception with its feel as a celebration.
• If the bride doesn’t want people to see her in her gown before she goes down the aisle, she needs to make sure her attendants understand that uploading photos of her in that special dress before the ceremony is forbidden.
• Consultants suggest putting a notice in the program itself which clearly states that this is an “unplugged” ceremony.  Reinforce this request by asking the officiant to remind the guests to silence their electronics.
• Some brides have posted signs at the entrance to the ceremony asking people to refrain from using electronics.  Placing a sign at the spot where the guest book is placed is another option.

Social media at the reception seems to be more acceptable.  Photo-sharing sites enable guests to down-load reception photos into a designated wedding album which makes it nice for the couple to see lots of the action at their party.  As one consultant said, the electronics made it possible for couples to livestream their wedding to friends and family who could not make it to the wedding.

Wedding Trends for the 21st Century

 Emilypost.com lists the following trends as increasing in importance for  weddings which are currently being planned.

• Personalized weddings are increasing.  Brides may follow traditional guidelines for the ceremony and reception, but they also want their day to have elements that are unique for the couple and which make the event memorable.  Creating a monogram that is used throughout the process or adopting a signature color or theme are ways to put an  individual stamp on the event.  Invitations may be the first indicator of a couple’s intention to individualize their wedding.
   
• Cost sharing is common.  At one time the bride’s family funded the event, but with couples being older and both employed, wedding costs can be shared or even funded solely by the bride and groom.  What has not changed is the need to have clarity around who is paying for what.
   
   
• High Tech influence is clear.  The internet plays a growing role in registries, vendor research and selection and information sharing related to the wedding.  Maps, instructions and even invitation design are possible with the help of electronics.
   
• Color is appearing in more and more bridal gowns.  Color themes are increasing in popularity and are influencing all aspects of the wedding –flowers, invitations, attendants  attire, reception décor and even food, beverage and cake display.
• Grooms are more actively involved in wedding planning and choices.  Couples often take mutual responsibility for all aspects of wedding decision making – guest list, financing and even writing thank you notes.
  Call us at 868 628-WEDD or email us @mwilt@triniweddings.com to help you incorporate your ideas for a flawless wedding.

Wedding Myths Dispelled

MYTH 1 – IT’S MY DAY!

We spend a lot of time talking about how special the wedding day is but the  need to put it in perspective is important.  Most brides are sensible and know that just because they are being married on one day, the world does not stop spinning on its axis.  The goal is to provide balance to the event. Subtle reminders that life goes on before and after the wedding  can help stop some types of behavior which is  sometimes displayed.  Bridezillas need to be carefully grounded in the reality that life does not stop for the rest of the planet.

MYTH 2 – IT COSTS A LOT OF $$ TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING

Absolutely not!  A beautiful wedding depends on the love of the couple and their families and does not depend on the amount of money they spent.  Beautiful weddings happen at all price ranges.

MYTH 3 – THE WEDDING INDUSTRY IS FULL OF “PROS” OUT TO CHEAT YOU

 There may be an occasional unscrupulous  wedding planner who makes the news. There may be  a florist, photographer or caterer who  fails to follow through. However, they are vastly outnumbered by reputable, experienced professionals whose livelihood depends on their sterling reputation for honesty, integrity and reliability. The client should check out the reputation of a vendor under consideration and before a particular vendor or service is booked, it is worthwhile to ask for references.

MYTH 4 – WE HAVE A YEAR TO GIVE OUT OUR THANK YOU NOTES

Whoever started that myth was dreaming.  The rule on thank you notes is simple – write them ASAP.  Keep up with them throughout the period of showers, parties and gifts sent to the bride’s home.  If a guest has thought enough to send a gift to celebrate the wedding, he or she deserves a thoughtful response which expresses timely and sincere thanks.  If there is a legitimate reason for a delay in writing personal thank you notes, then gift acknowledgment cards are to be sent immediately and followed up by a personal thank you at a somewhat later date – but NEVER A YEAR.

If you are not sure about some wedding do’s and don’ts contact TriniWeddings at 868 628-WEDD (9333) or email info@triniweddings.com. We would be happy to help you sort yourself out!

Creative ways to personalize your wedding

The urge to be unique is increasingly important to modern brides, so I am sharing some creative ideas.

• If yours is a smaller wedding, consider including a personal note with the invitation.
• If you live in the U.S. the US Postal Service can help you can create your own stamp.
• Stats have shown that social invitations are opened more frequently on Saturdays.  Time your invitation mailings to arrive on Saturday if possible.  You’ll receive more RSVP responses.
• Pick a monogram and use it throughout the planning process.
• Choose a unique start time for the ceremony.  For example use the date you met (5:23) or the date you got engaged (7:04) or other key dates in your lives.
• Take lots of photos during your engagement and pre wedding planning period and use them as table decorations at the reception.
• Create an entrance at the wedding – something that says WOW and let’s guests know they have arrived.
• Include your parents by having their wedding photos on display at the reception.  Include grandparent photos too if they are available.
• To keep everything moving, plan a “surprise” for guests at the reception every 30 minutes.
• If you are planning a Dessert Station at your reception, ask family cooks to bring a dozen or two of their favorite treats.  These will add variety to the selection and invest family in the reception.

For answers to your questions, call (868) 620- 6816 or email mwilt@triniweddings.com