Info for U -The Bridal bouquet

Did you know that the bride's bouquet was traditionally made up of scented bunches of garlic, fruit blossoms and herbs. The bride would carry a bundle of these items to ward off evil spirits and impurities.
Over the years, the herbs and grains were replaced by flowers because it represented a sign of happiness and helped promote fertility.

Choosing Your Wedding Planner

If you have decided to enlist the help of a professional wedding/event planner to assist with your wedding, you want to make sure that you are hiring the best.  Schedule an interview with him/her and ask important questions.  The answers to those questions will help you decide whether or not this person is right for you.  The certified wedding planners like Marilyn Duncan-Wiltshire of TriniWeddings, are likely to be the standard against which you evaluate the planners you interview.  It is suggested that you review this list of questions and ask those that are important to you before you make your final selection. 

·         Have you worked with any of the vendors or venues that I have in mind?  If yes, what do you know about them?  If no, are there similar vendors that you would recommend?  Why?

·         How many weddings my size have you done?  Can you tell me about one or two of them?

·         Who are your favorite caterers, florists, DJs, etc?  Why do you like them? 

·         Please show me a portfolio of previous weddings you have done.

·         What is your role?  What is mine?  Who has what responsibility?  Who has the final say?

·         How often do you expect to meet with me before the wedding?

·         How many hours do you work the day of the wedding? 

·         How many weddings can you handle in a month?  Do you have the staff to handle them all?

If staff members will be involved in my wedding, can I meet them first?

·         How do you charge?  Is it a flat fee or are there add ons?

·         What kind of experience do you have?  How long have you been planning weddings?

·         Tell me how you handle emergencies or dicey situations?

Wedding Trends for 2013

According to several sources, including emilypost.com , brides this year can expect to see weddings that reflect the following changes and influences.

·         Personalized Weddings continue to be important to couples who are looking to include elements that have personal meaning to them. Ceremonies and receptions can reflect multi –cultural and/or inter-faith statements.  Monograms remain important and reflect the couple’s first names.

·         The Internet continues to play an important role in wedding planning.  High tech access is used in vendor selection, gift registries, information sharing, guest information sources and communication with members of the wedding party.  Note:  Emailing invitations and thank you notes is still not considered correct or classy.

·         The importance of color continues in bridal apparel.  While white and ivory remain favorites, wedding gowns are showing color touches, shoes are colorful (with blue the odds on favorite) and floral decorations carry the color theme throughout the wedding plans.

·         The role of grooms in wedding planning continues to grow.  There are more and more joint decisions being made by the couple (who tend to be older and funding their own weddings).

·         While the formal structured wording of the wedding invitation is still customary, more couples are choosing to individualize their invitations with colorful papers, ribbon trims and unique wording.  It is important to note that even if the format of the invitation is unique, it should still contain all the information guests need plus be grammatically correct.

Brides need to remember that no mention of gifts, even “no gifts, please” is ever made on a wedding invitation.  It is acceptable to mention a website on an enclosure card and that website can contain information about gift registry options.  The phrase “black tie” may appear on the reception invitation, but is not printed on a wedding invitation.

For more ideas about making your wedding plans unique, contact us at 868 624 4015  or email  mwilt@triniweddings.com.

Wedding Favors

There are many special people who help make your wedding day a success.  It is a nice to give a favor or token to say thank you for their help or their presence.  Brides come to us for advice on what to give to members of the bridal party, to families and to guests.  We have plenty of ideas that we are happy to share with our brides.  Here are some of our guest gift favorites.

·         Some of the most popular wedding favors are edibles.  Wrapped chocolates or truffles in an attractive box that is imprinted with the couple’s names and date are a big favorite.  Also popular are chocolate covered pretzels, nuts, fruits as well as chocolate hearts.  In many areas, couples choose to give cookies frosted in wedding colors and packaged in tulle or color matched gift boxes.  Some brides have chosen to give small wine or other liquor bottles with personalized labels  that bear the wedding date and/or names of the couple.

·         Couples are also giving living items that bloom and grow like your marriage.  Weddings with garden motifs, environmentally themed weddings and ceremonies in outdoor or rustic settings choose favors like potted plants, seedlings, flower seed packets and miniature bamboo shoot plants.

·         Other brides prefer a permanent keepsake that is both useful and attractive.  Some of the favorites are picture frames, candles and candleholders, glass bowls filled with colored sand or rocks, small books or albums, CDs with favorite songs, ornaments for Christmas weddings, coffee mugs with coffee or hot chocolate packets tucked inside.

·         Some couples are choosing to make a donation to a favorite charity rather than provide a gift item.   In that case, a printed card is included in each place setting which informs the guest of the donation.

·         Be sure that each item has a thank you note attached.  They are likely to be pre printed although handwritten notes are lovely as well.

·         The placement of favors depends on space available.  Some brides have the favors arranged on a separate table near the exit for guests to make their own selections. Some incorporate them with the table settings and others ask a friend or friends to help with the distribution as guests leave the party.

·         Grouping the favors in the center of the table in an attractive basket or on a mirror does double duty.  It insures a centerpiece without incurring the cost of flowers, and thanks the guests for sharing in your special day.

Work with TriniWeddings for more ideas on ways to thank wedding guests and special friends.

Engagement Photographs

As more and more couples choose to have engagement photographs taken, the opportunities to depart from formal studio posed photos grow.  Engagement photos can be used in newspaper announcements, on save-the-date-cards, or as part of the wedding day décor.  Working with a photographer on engagement shots also gives the couple a chance to see how they like the photographer and his/her work before they sign a massive contract for wedding photos.

If the couple is game, these photos can be more colorful, fun, and creative in the sites chosen.  Some of the themes chosen for engagement photos can be introductions to the wedding’s theme or just a fun expression of the places and things that mean a lot to the couple.  Discuss your ideas with your photographer.

·         This is a chance to try some vintage shots.  Use a prop like an old car or antique bike or wear vintage clothes.

·         Pose with suitcases, next to planes or trains or boats to show your mutual love of travel.

·         Take advantage of sites.  Shots against a skyline or against an old brick or wooden wall can result in photos that will be different in look and feel from your wedding day pictures.

·         For a change of pace, have the pictures taken at night.  Outdoor lights can be shot on timed exposures, or consider candles, holiday lights or night lights in active parts of town.

·         Nature shots provide an opportunity for wide ranging activities.  If you have a love of the outdoors, have photos taken as you swim, fish, fly kites or walk.

·         If you love carnival, have your photos taken in your carnival costume.

For more ideas about unusual engagement photos, stop in at TriniWeddings for a chat or email info@triniweddings.com.

Planning Mistakes To Avoid

Experienced wedding planners offer advice to brides because they love what they do.  They have lots of great ideas for creating a fabulous wedding, but they have also learned a number of things they advise their brides to avoid.

1.  Remember that you have invited guests to a party to celebrate this important day in your life.  Don’t punish them for accepting your invitation to the ceremony and reception by having a big time gap between the two events.  If you want to be married in your childhood church in the country but want a city reception, reconsider the time lag and distance between destinations from the guest’s point of view.  It can be hard to plan a seamless schedule especially if you have your heart set on locations miles apart or have ceremony and reception times that don’t line up, but if that’s what you end up with, consider providing transportation for all guests between locations or find a spot between the two where guests can “hang out” and be comfortable while they wait.

2.  You may want a destination wedding in an exotic spot, but before you book it consider whether or not your family, wedding party and guests can afford to get there or are able to get there.  You may think that declaring your vows on the edge of an active volcano is highly symbolic of your relationship with the groom, but the likelihood of grandparents making the trek is minimal. As one planner says, “Destination weddings can be terrific, but as with any wedding, it is not only about you, it is also about your guests.”  Where possible select locations that are easy for everyone to reach.  A well traveled spot for example is a good choice.  Plan the wedding well in advance so that potential guests can make arrangements to attend.  Provide travel information and group rates where possible.

3. Try to stay in charge of the guest list.  Once the wedding budget is established, you’ll have a good sense of how many guests can comfortably be invited.  If your budget is a six-figure event, relax and let parents invite whomever they feel they must.  But if your budget is more real than imaginary, the list will probably need trimming.  Start early and ask both sets of parents for their preferred guest list in order of preference.  That way you can cut from the bottom if necessary.  Try negotiating the outcomes.  It is a great skill to learn.

4. Do not forget your fiance’.  Yes you are planning a gorgeous wedding – but remember who you are marrying.  Involve him in the planning process.  There must be an area of special interest to him that he’d like to organize.  Honeymoon plans, transportation, music – ask him what he’d like to do.  You do have a life outside of this wedding, so talk about it, make plans for your future together and remember why you said yes in the first place.  It is not all about crab cakes and caviar.

For ideas or answers to your questions call TriniWeddings at 624-4015 or email mwilt@triniweddings.com

Musts for the Bride to Be

As plans ramp up and your focus is THE WEDDING at the expense of other aspects of your life, take the advice of many wedding planners and Practice Self Care. Do whatever you need to do to unwind, relax and sleep well.  Take your vitamins, get healthy exercise and find emotional outlets for the stress you are under.  Remember your groom.  Do fun things together and plan together.  This is not the time to get run down and “catch” the bug that is making the rounds.  You need to be healthy and strong and resilient.

Get and stay organized. Start early and document every decision made around your special day.  It doesn’t matter if you have high tech records or sheets of paper clipped together or in file folders or paper bags.  Whatever system works for you- implement it early and keep it current. 

Set a budget and stick to it.  From the start, the couple should sit down together and decide how much they can afford to spend on the wedding and where they feel it should be spent.  Agree on priorities.  Talk honestly with parents about their willingness and ability to contribute to the wedding.  Look at the major expense items – reception costs, honeymoon, clothing, photographs, entertainment, and flowers. Working within those guidelines makes other decisions easier.

Remember to be grateful for all that you have and all that others are doing for you.  You will get gifts, good wishes and offers of assistance.  Remember to thank everyone for their offers.  Weddings are joyous affairs and people want to be a part of a positive and exciting event that a marriage truly is.

Remember your plans and don’t be derailed.  You’ve set your budget and made significant decisions.  Don’t be tempted to play “one up manship”.   You’ll go to other weddings while planning yours and see lots of ideas.  Some you’ll want to copy and others you won’t but before you do, remember your budget.  This is your wedding – not a copy of your friend’s big day.  She had her event.  You’ll have yours.

Let go of bridal guilt.  No one can make everyone happy all the time.  Worrying about it takes up far more time and energy than is deserved.  Sometimes guilt is good.  It can help us deal with the feelings of others.  But most of the time, we are afraid we’ve let someone down.  Do your best to be aware of the feelings of others and honor them when you can.  But on the wedding day, you are there to please yourself and your groom as you begin your new life together.

For ideas and or answers to your wedding questions call TriniWeddings at 868 624-4015 or email  mwilt@triniweddings.com