The saying is true: Your wedding day will fly by and will be over before you know it. All of your guests will want at least a few minutes of your time during your reception – your wedding planner will occasionally steal you away from conversations to keep the event flowing and make sure everything happens that is intended to happen in the timeline. When contemplating how you will handle greeting all of your guests at your wedding, know that there are a few different choices you have to ensure everyone has a chance to briefly spend a few moments with you.

Option 1 – Traditional receiving line after the Ceremony:
This is the most efficient and quickest way to ensure that you greet everyone and thank them for attending your wedding. Typically the bride and groom, as well as their parents, will stand in a line immediately after the Ceremony in the lobby area of the Ceremony site – and all of the guests line up and offer hugs, kisses and congratulations to the happy couple and their family. The standing order is typically the bride’s parents first (if they host the wedding), bride and groom, and finally groom’s parents. If grandparents are able to stand for a long period of time, they could also be included. The bridal party can be included in the receiving line as well; however it can be awkward for guests who do not know them. A traditional receiving line is considered ‘etiquette’ if your guest list is over 50 guests.

Option 2 – Dismiss individual rows from the Ceremony:
This works similar to the receiving line, except that it is not a very quick process. Everyone remains seated until the bride and groom release their row. Guests tend to become restless, waiting for their row to be excused, if you have a large number of guests attending. This option would work best for a small wedding.

Option 3 – Greet guests at their tables during dinner:
Greeting guests while they are seated during dinner is my favorite option. This is a less formal option than the traditional receiving line, and while conversations must be brief, the bride and groom still have the opportunity to greet everyone. Something fun to incorporate is to have the Photographer follow the bride and groom around to each table to take a photo of the bride and groom with each table. Then they will have a permanent memory of each person that attended their wedding.

Option 4 – Mingle around the reception during the cocktail hour:
Mingling works best for a small group of guests, not a large group – otherwise it is very possible that some of your guests will never be greeted. You will need to keep conversations short and be prepared to let guests know that you need to visit with others. This process can be a bit more stressful than the others since it is possible that you may not be able to visit with everyone.

Tools and Materials

• Spray adhesive
• Decorative paper
• Card stock
• Template
• Pencil
• Scissors

Floaty Butterflies How-To

1. Spray-mount paper onto card stock or paper that’s colored on both sides; fold in half. Place butterfly template on paper with flat edge of butterfly’s body flush against fold; trace.
2. Cut out butterfly along inside of the traced line and cut out V-shaped notch along the folded edge. Open slightly. Slip notch over rim of glass to hold butterfly in place.

Ribbon-Belt How-To

1. Print template onto white card stock.
2. Cut at crop marks using a metal straight edge and a craft knife (don’t cut all the way to the paper’s edges; this will leave the crop marks intact for each subsequent cut). Write or calligraph guests’ names on cards. (If you want to print them using a desktop publishing program or Microsoft Word, import the full-size PDF into your document as an image, and layer text boxes over it. Then print out, and cut into cards.)

For Each Place Card

1. To cut the slits for the ribbon “belt,” first measure the ribbon’s width (we used a ribbon that was 36 mm or 1 7/16″ wide). Use a craft knife and a metal straight edge to cut slits at the ends of the card about 3/8″ in from the colored border; the slits should be only slightly wider than the ribbon itself. (Use the tip of the craft knife to make small indentations to mark the beginning and end of each slit, if you are uncomfortable cutting it freehand.)
2. Cut the ribbon into a 12″ length. To notch the tails, pinch each end of ribbon in half, and cut at an angle to make a deep V. Slide the ribbon ends through the slits in the card from the back, and adjust the spacing. (Use a spare napkin the same size as your dinner napkins to estimate the positioning of the card.) Fold the ends of the ribbon back away from the card, and finger-press along the fold. If the ribbon doesn’t lie flat, use double-sided tape under each tail to secure.
3. Slide the practice napkin out from the middle, and make the rest of the napkin “belts” following your first sample.
4. To slide the “belts” into place just before your wedding, bend the folded napkin slightly along the middle, and slip it into the ribbon loop, then flatten it back out.

One fun idea is to create program pockets for your ceremony programs. They are very simple to make. I would recommend finding a fun double-sided paper that coordinates with your wedding theme and colors, in the scrapbooking paper section of your local craft store such as JoAnn Fabrics & Crafts and Michaels. Create a master pattern for the pocket, making the pocket just slightly larger than your program so that it slips in and out somewhat easily. As in the photo, you can hang them from the chair with ribbon, by punching a hole at the top and securing the hole with a grommet. Another idea would be to display the program on each seat, or have your ushers distribute them at the door. You can also use this pocket idea to display menus at the reception.

Monogram letters of your initials is a personal way to decorate the entrance to your ceremony, and is rather inexpensive to include in your design plans. Many craft stores have a section with unfinished wood items – including letters and numbers. I would recommend using 1 to 1-1/2 inch satin ribbon to hang the letters, without wire in it. Satin ribbon is smooth, and easy to manipulate and tie a simple bow.

Entirely covering your center aisle with rose petals is a beautiful, romantic and whimsical visual effect. I especially love the large clear hurricane vases filled with water and rose petals, with lit floating candles. This would especially be wonderful for an outdoor garden wedding. The vases could be re-used later as decorations on your reception tables, lining the edge of an outdoor patio, or on your buffet and guest book tables. If you transfer the vases with candles, make sure to have an extra set of candles available for each vase, as floating candles will not re-light once they have water mixed in with the wax.

Red Letter Events recommends renting a large quantity of vases instead of purchasing, unless you plan to re-sell them to another bride at A Grand Wedding. We support brides who would like to ‘Go Green’ with their wedding, and we are glad to re-use some of the decorations from your Ceremony at the Reception.

Dear Friends,

We’re on an important mission to rekindle the holiday spirit and we need your help.

Quite simply, we’re asking America to believe. This holiday season, join Macy’s and the Make-A-Wish Foundation® to help collect a million reasons to believe.

What is the Believe campaign? Beginning on November 6, children across the country are invited to drop off their letters — stamped and addressed to Santa at the North Pole — in the Santa Mail letterbox at any Macy’s store. For each letter received, Macy’s will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, up to $1 million dollars to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. We’ll be picking up letters from our local Macy’s and getting them on their way to the North Pole.

What is the Make-A-Wish Foundation? The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

Be an inspiration. You are in a unique position to really make a difference. Write your own letter to Santa and drop it off at your local Macy’s store today. Inspire your children, peers, family and friends to get involved by writing their letters, too.

This is Part 3 in our 3 part series on saving money while getting the wedding you want. There were great ideas long before these, and there will be more tips after this series – but we hope that some of the info in this series has been a help to you in planning your wedding. If you find yourself in need of some cost saving or trendy ideas, or you need help on your wedding day, please call or email us – we’ll be right there for you.

Videography: Limiting the events that your videographer captures will save room in your budget. Instead of having them film from the time you start getting ready to the time you ride of into the sunset, you could have them capture just the ceremony and the formal events of your reception.

Wedding Cake: Instead of getting an elaborate cake for display and eating, you could have a small 2-tier cake made for display, and then have a sheet cake made that will be served to guests.

Favors: You can save on cost by making your own classic favors from scratch. Buy tulle circles (or cut them out yourself) and wrap some Hershey Kisses or Jordan Almonds with ribbon tied around it. Other affordable favors might include paper fans, coasters, candles, or handmade chocolates.

Hair & Make-up: Depending on the look you want, hair and make-up are easily done by you or a friend. More complicated hair styles will require someone with some expertise, though.

Wedding Planning & Coordination: With enough time and enough organizational skills, you can plan your own wedding and save the money for day-of wedding coordination. Having a professional wedding planner coordinate your wedding day allows you, your family and friends to enjoy your wedding day instead of working. We have the experience with vendors and venues to make sure that your wedding day looks just like you imagined it.

One of my favorite new ideas this season is from Martha Stewart – glittered pumpkins! This would be relatively easy to make on your own with real pumpkins and squash, or you can buy them pre-made from Martha’s website. If you make your own, I would recommend using tacky glue or spray glue and clear or iridescent glitter. Even better is spray paint or spray glitter!

Placing a few leaf votive candle holders on each guest table around your centerpiece will shimmer, reflecting shadows on the table cloths when the lights are dim. Utilize seasonal flowers, berries and branches as a centerpiece to each guest table. Not every centerpiece needs to look the same either! You can make each one unique by using a different vase, varying height of the arrangements, having clusters of small arrangements at some tables but a single large arrangement at others, and utilizing different varieties of flowers, leaves and berries for each arrangement.

Top off your autumn themed wedding by serving hot spiced cider served with a slice of Carrot or Spice wedding cake smothered in Butter cream frosting. As a wedding favor for your guests, create small packets of mulling spices and provide instructions for making their own spiced cider at home.

Whether or not you get to visit this bridal show, we thought we’d give you a sneak peak at some of our favorite things at this year’s show.

Favorite Unique Idea: Directly to the left and right of one of the entrances to the main hall where vendor exhibits are located sits Adam’s DJ Service showcasing these unique and cool inflatable lights from Air Sculptures. They come in various shapes and sizes – some hang from the ceiling, some sit on the floor, and there’s one that can act as a wall or divider. They’re all lightable in just about any color imaginable and make for really neat lighting.

Favorite Fun Idea: Straight down the center aisle from Adam’s DJ Service and those inflatable lights is Justin with Party Outfitters. Our favorite idea to add some fun to your reception, as well as some touching and crazy moments, is their photo booth. It’s been a common tradition in recent years to provide your guests with disposable cameras, so that they can take candid photos of your reception.

Not saying you couldn’t still do that, but how fun would it be to have a photo booth set up so your guests can take unlimited serious, silly or outrageous photos of themselves. And this option comes with instant gratification – within a minute, a strip of photos is deposited into their hands to take as a momento of your wedding. Not only that, but you get a copy of every photo taken in the booth at your event.

Party Outfitters will deliver the photo booth to your venue, set it up, and pick it up after the reception is done. You even have the option to have the photo booth manned by a staff member to assist your guests in taking photos – great for the technologically challenged guests. They even have all kinds of arcade games and billiards too.

Tastiest Treat: Since our center of referrence today is the inflatable lights, we’ll stick with it – just to the left is our favorite treat of the event, Affairs Chocolate & Desserts. If you get within five feet of Gay’s table, you’ll start to smell and see why. The plesant and intoxicating arroma of chocolate draws you closer. Gay places a small truffle in your hand. You place that truffle in your mouth. You book your wedding date with her. Then about five minutes after you leave her booth, you wake up from your chocolate-induced trance. I’ve got a feeling you won’t regret what you did though.

Favorite Decor Idea: Betta Mansions‘ variety of center pieces featuring all shapes and sizes of betta fish definately qualify as one of our favorite unique ideas, but we love the spandex chair covers that they have. They are form fitting and don’t hang on the floor – so no fabric to trip on – and when you swing around in the chair, the snug spandex fit keeps the fabric in place. They’re sleek and they’re practical, and they come in fourty-seven different colors. We really like the look, and we think you will too.

This is Part 2 in our 3 part series on saving money while getting the wedding you want. Why a series? Because trilogies are cool and too many tips at once can make you sick, like too much wedding cake in an hour. Read on our weary friend:

Transportation: A handsome new stretched limo can add a fun dynamic to your wedding. Instead of picking up everyone in your wedding party and taking them to the ceremony, then to the reception, you can save a bit of money and still enjoy the ride by renting it just for your send-off.

Reception Venue: Having your reception at a friend or family member’s home will save you the most money, by far. But, if that’s not a possibility because of guest count or you just don’t know anyone that can accommodate, look for venues that have a low minimum hour expectation, and then limit the total time for your reception. You don’t have to party until midnight to entertain your guests. Half your guests will leave after the formal dances are done anyway. You can make a rockin’ reception in just a few hours.

Catering: Feeding your guests can get expensive - period. A low end estimated cost for a catered dinner is around $30/per person plus tax & gratuity (18%) is approx $5,800 for 150 guests. To scale down the cost of food, you could have a late evening or early to mid-afternoon wedding so that it does not fall during a meal time, and just serve your guests hors d’oeuvres and drinks.

Reception Music:  Hiring a DJ that does an exceptional job at keeping guests entertained with music – no matter the age or background – and serving as your master of ceremonies is incredibly important. There are many people that do it, but few that do it well enough to get repeat or referral business. As with any hourly vendor, limiting the time of your reception can save you some money, but hiring the cheapest DJ is not a valid way to save money. With any DJ you hire, make sure to check references and ask for a sample of their work – either a recording, or to stop by an event and see them in action. Don’t expect to get to come to a wedding they’ll be at though – would you want a stranger at your wedding? It’s rare you’d get to tag along at a reception.

Photography: You will have your wedding photos forever, so choose your photographer wisely. Like hiring a DJ, the least expensive photographer isn’t always the best choice. Ask for referrals and look through their portfolio. Asking for custom package quotes and limiting the number of hours that you require them to be with you can save some money you can put into other areas of your wedding..

Look for Part 3 coming soon. And if you have any tips that you’ve used or like but don’t see here, please comment and share.

More and more brides and grooms are asking us how to fit all their dreams and desires into their wedding day on a budget that isn’t as big as it once was. Here’s the good news – it’s totally possible to have the wedding of your dreams on a limited budget – you just need to think outside the box to get there. Sounds like a good time for a quick tip series. This will be Part 1 in a 3 part series – because trilogies are cool and too many tips at once can make you sick, like too much wedding cake in an hour. So here we go:

Ceremony Venue: Set up your ceremony in a large back yard of a friend or family member, or have it at a local park ($50-150). Rent chairs from a party store such as AA Party Rental or Alexander Party Rentals for approx $300 including delivery/pick-up for 150 chairs. Metro Parks Tacoma offers the Rose Garden at Point Defiance during the summer for $400 for 2 hours (chairs included).

Bouquets, Boutonnieres & Floral Arrangements: Local farmer’s markets are a great place to meet growers and florists, and are a wonderful place to find flowers in the summer-time, as long as you aren’t particular about the colors. You might contact a local grower early in the year before they plant their seeds and see if they will grow specific flowers or colors for your wedding. Buying in bulk from a grower will save you big money too. You and your friends could make the flower table arrangements and bouquets during the last couple of days prior to the wedding. You can also find affordable vases at your local dollar store. Talking to a florist early about flowers that are in season during your wedding will help make better decisions and save you money.

Officiant: The cost for an officiant is generally around $200 – if you belong to a church or synagogue, you might ask your pastor or rabbi if they’d be willing to officiate your wedding for free as a gift.

Stationery: Buy make-it-yourself kits from Michaels craft store for around $40 for 50 invitations ($120 for 150). Generally you can find matching place cards, table numbers, thank you cards, and more in the pattern you’ve chosen. They are easy to make and print from your own computer. If you’d like to have raised lettering, you can purchase embossing powder and an embossing heat gun to create raised letters immediately after printing.

Attire: Attending a bridal dress show like the South Sound Wedding Show can net you deep discounts on designer wedding dresses. Or, choose a dress from David’s Bridal in their online outlet section.

Look for Part 2 coming soon. And if you have any tips that you’ve used or like but don’t see here, please comment and share.