Tip Of The Week: Drink Stations

Happy Monday morning to you!  I hope you all had a fantastic Mother's Day with your families - I know I did!  I also hope that you got a lot of your wedding planning taken care of.  For those of you getting married this summer, make sure you are rereading your contracts and verifying things with all of your wedding vendors.  You should have your flowers chosen, venues for sure, decor figured out, and you should know which drinks you will have for your pre-ceremony and cocktail hour drink stations.  I bet most of you didn't even think about this - did you?  I HIGHLY recommend, at least, a pre-ceremony drink station.  Your guests will start to arrive about 1 hour prior. If your celebration day is outside, they will start to get parched, especially if it is a hot day. 

There are a number of ways you can go about setting up a drink station.  Here are a few of my suggestions:

1. Set out a simple cooler or some galvanized tubs full of water bottles and a table with some wine bottles, openers and glasses.  This is fast, easy and very economical.  Though you may not have put much time and effort into this, your guests will really appreciate it.

2. Hire a couple of bartenders through a catering company.  Purchase some wine, champagne, water and soda.  Set-up an 8ft banquet table, put a nice linen on it, a couple of simple flower arrangements {even just one flower head floating in a vase}, and have the bartenders greet and serve your guests.  This is still a very economical way to go about something that your guests will look at as quite eloquent.  Hiring bartenders for 1 - 2 hours is pretty cheap...

3. Do you have an old canoe, or some wheelbarrels?  Fill them with ice and drinks, put up a chalkboard telling your guests to help themselves and voila!  A fun, unique and appreciated drink station.

4. Buy, rent or borrow a few dispensers.  Make lemonades, iced teas and flavored waters and fill them up!  Add the fruit to the drinks for a little extra ooomph.  Spread glasses on the table and there you have it.

5. Are mason jars your thing?  Fill a bunch up with a signature drink with a super fun name.  Pre-ceremony you could have a non-alcohol drink and your cocktail hour could have both drinks with alcohol and drinks without.  Put a fun straw and a cute ribbon and label with your monogram on the jars and it is a perfect "Signature Drink Station".


Some things to keep in mind are:

1. If you want your guests to "help themselves" make sure there is a sign somewhere that will let them know this.

2. Give all of your drinks a fun name.  I mean, a dispenser with "Lemonade" is not quite as fun as a lable that reads something like "Marital Mimosa" or "Sassy Sangria"...just sayin...

3. Place your drink station in an easily accessible area.  This is where your early arriving guests will most likely "hang out" so keep it nearby.

4. You don't have to do a lot to the area, but do dress it up a little.  Even just to add a linen and a flower in a vase {you can buy some flowers at the grocery store and borrow vases from friends and family if you need to}, is all you need to do.

5. Always make sure to have water on hand.  Not everyone likes soda, and not everyone will want to drink alcohol right away, but water will quench peoples thirst.

6. Designate someone to keep an eye on the ice situation.  If it is going to be a hot day, it would be a good idea to have a few coolers around specifically for ice bags.  It should be this person's responsibility to make sure the water is dumped and fresh ice is added.

Are you having a drink station at your celebration?  What are you serving up?  How are you designing it?  Please leave a comment and share your ideas.

Tent Weddings: Tips and Ideas

I absolutely love tented weddings!  To me, they are a blank canvas that you can transform into whatever you can dream up.  These are also the most difficult weddings to plan.  There are so many things you need to know and think about to make everything go smooth.

Here are some tips and ideas for you to help keep the big surprises away.

1. Check with your city's sound ordinances.  Make sure you know when the music needs to be ended and any laws on serving alcohol.  If you are having your wedding at your home, I suggest to, maybe, bake some goodies and deliver them to your neighbors informing them of the upcoming nuptials.  You know, an ounce of kindness goes a long way!

2. Have a contigency plan for inclement weather.  If your ceremony will be held outside the tent, be prepared to move it under the tent if necessary.  You could easily set up a little draping to separate the two areas if you wish.  This could also include umbrellas for your guests, or making sure you can move to an indoor place if needed.  Watch the weather channel!

3. Hire a professional.  Find someone that has done outdoor weddings before.  This is your best bet.

4. Make sure to announce on your invitations that your are having an outdoor wedding.  Your female guests might choose to forgo the heels for something a little flatter.

5. Prepare the site for bugs.  This could include a spray, but a fun little trick I learned is to use "fish" cat food.  Put it around the perimeter of your area and your stinging pests will be more interested in that than what you have going on.  Citronella candles and bug zappers are good options too.

6. Don't forget about restrooms.  Even if you are having the celebration at your home I would guess you really wouldn't want a few hundred people tramping through your house.  There are some pretty nice "Restroom Trailers" available that offer a larger stall for the bride with a large dress. 

7. Make sure you have enough power.  Talk with your band/ dj, caterer, restroom company and lighting to ensure you won't have a black-out.

8. Verify that there is enough parking for your guests and that it is well lit.  You could set up "painters lights", luminaries, or hand out flashlights for favors.

9. Keep your guests comfort in mind.  Set up a beverage station with ice cold water available.  Use your programs as fans and maybe even offer sunscreen or mosquito wipes.

10. Consider using a sunset as the backdrop for your nuptials. Keep the sun at your guests back rather than in their eyes {they'll appreciate it!}.

Are you having an outdoor wedding?  Do you have any tips you'd like to share?  Leave a comment and let us know.

The Fit Bride: Juicing to Good Health

I recently watched a great documentary name "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" and learned a lot about juicing.  When I talk about juicing I don't mean putting needles in your butt to get huge.  Obviously that's not the look you are going for on your wedding day.

Juicing your own fruit is a great way to stay away from processed juices in the store that are full of sugar and preservatives.  The volume of micronutrients you can get from your own fruit and vegetable juice goes above and beyond any amount you can get from store bought juice.  Those vitamins and minerals help our body with so many processes that will help you look and feel your best on your wedding day.

After watching this documentary I decided to try it for myself.  It was absolutely the best juice I have ever tried in my life.  I ran apples, strawberrys, pineapples, oranges, pears, carrots and various other fruits and vegetables through my juicer and everything tasted great.  I had more energy and less allergies after a few days of drinking my very own juice.

Homemade juice would be a great way to add a healthy snack and make sure you are getting the micronutrients needed.  This will help you feel vibrant and look great for your big day.  If you have any direct questions about juicers or recipes please check out the website for "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead"  or email me at andy@hfhonline.com

www.fatsickandnearlydead.com

Get Healthy and Juiced!!

Andrew

www.facebook.com/tntpersonaltraining

Keep the Party Going: Breakfast at Midnight

It's getting late and your guests have had the time of their lives.  You've given them a day full of celebration, a delicious meal and an evening full of dancing and laughter, but now they are starting to feel exhausted, and nobody is really ready to go home.  It's time to bring out more food. By giving your guests a little something to energize their bodies with, the party will be going on long past midnight!

A good time to think about offering a late-night snack is about 9:30pm, if your reception is until midnight.

One suggestion I have for you - a Breakfast Buffet.  YUM!!! Below are some ideas.

Yes, that's bacon!

Is there really anything better than Bloody Mary's to go with a breakfast buffet?

Fruit and Yogurt Parfait

Mimosa Bar

Espresso {this will take your guests out of their comas!}

Egg and Bacon Muffins

A Crepe Station

Here's a yummy menu for you to offer up in the late hours.

• Fresh Orange Juice

• Seasonal Fresh Fruit and Berries with Maple Yogurt

• 5 Oz. Center Cut Filet and Scrambled Eggs with Grilled Tomato and Cheddar Cheese Potato Soufflé

• Assorted Breakfast Bakeries

• Sweet Butter and Preserves

• Freshly Brewed Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, and a Selection of Herbal Teas

Are you having late night snacks at your reception?  Tell us what's on the menu.

The Fit Bride: Easy Healthy Dinner

I was eating dinner last night and was thinking that it was the perfect meal to put on this blog.  Eating is one of the hardest things to to today!  Eating HEALTHY that is.  Everyone is looking for quick and easy and that usually ends up being processed garbage.  Below is a meal I make on a regular basis that can be modified to be different each meal.  I will write what I had last night and some options to add.


3 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Clove Garlic
1 Cup Fresh Snow Peas
1 Cup Fresh Cut Broccoli
1/2 Cup Fresh Cut Carrots

(other veggie choices: Mushrooms, Peppers, Cherry Tomatoes)

Season to taste with:
Basil
Oregano
Pepper
Paprika

Throw in frying pan and cook vegetables about half way.  While cooking vegetables boil a small amount of whole wheat or vegetable pasta!

When veggies are cooked about half way add some sort of lean meat...  I have tried these below and cooking times vary!

Lean Venison Steak
Shrimp
Scallops
Chicken

Toss everything together and enjoy!

Eat Healthy,
Andrew

2012 Wedding Color Trends

A new year has arrived and so have some new, fantastic, color trends for this year's weddings!

I love these colors!!  What do you think?

Make sure to watch the rest of this month for some fun Inspiration Boards using the trendy colors for 2012.  Here's one to get you started using Tangerine as accents.

Are you getting married this year?  What are your colors?

Bridal Shows: And the winners are!

Another Bridal Show weekend has come and gone, which means ~ MORE WINNERS!!

As you've heard before, and most of you heard this weekend, I am all about Stress Relief!  Hence, the wine giveaways from Signature Events by Shelly.

And, since Bridal Shows are where you all go to get some serious wedding information and ideas, it seems appropriate to giveaway something useful, so read on to see who the lucky winner is of some custom created invitations by Shelly!

Here we go...

Dana Senn and Rayleen Tritt

Jennifer Sorgel and Brenda Nelson

Trina Klukas and Jessy Loughrie (? sorry if the spelling is wrong)

Lynsey Nelson and Hayley Arndt

Kelsey Lau and Melissa Jones

and Danielle Barnaby. 

There is a number 12 winner, and I am sorry I missed you when you stopped back to pick up your bottle. I hope you enjoy!!

AND...the lucky winner of 100 FREE INVITATIONS IS... {drum roll please}

Christy Hansen!!!

Congratulations to all of you lucky winners!  I am looking forward to bringing you a bottle of sunshine.  And, Christy...keep your eyes open for invitation ideas.  Check out my website and look at all of the samples...if you see something you like, write it down.  I'm excited to work with you on creating your invitations!

Happy Halloween everyone!

Theme Thursday: Eco-friendly Weddings

Going green with the "Green Bride"

According to my friend, Sandy Stringer, owner of Strings and Champagne Events out on the west coast, couples all across the nation are adding a personal touch to their weddings.  It doesn't surprise us to see that the eco-factor is also very important to our brides and grooms in 2011.  A green wedding is any wedding where th ecouple tries to decrease the impact of their event on the planet-and there are many ways to do it without sacrificing style or elegance!  Green weddings are eco-chic and just a s amazing and beautiful as your "regular" wedding.  You minimize wast while not sacrificing style.  Nature's elements and beauty help us design events that compliment the environment.

If you think about it, every little detail of your wedding can carry a "shade of green".  You can start with wearing a silk or vintage dress, serve organic, locally grown foods and decorate your venue with bamboo and potted plants.  Every choice will make a difference!

Here are some ideas on "Going Green" for your wedding!

*Offer an organic signature cocktail and toast with your local, organic wine

*Have your bridesmaids wear cute purses decorated with gems and rhinestones

*Use local vendors.  Have your local wedding bakery bake an organic cake

*Decorate with soy candles at your reception.  They not only last longer than the other candles, but are also better for the environment.

*Save some paper when creating your invitations.  At Signature Events by Shelly, we use recycled papers and eco-friendly printing processes for all of your paper needs.

*Instead of printing escort cards for every guest, surprise them with white gloved ushers to guide them to their seats.  Don't have ushers?  Print your guests names on a stone as an alternative.

*Edible favors are a great way of adding that special touch to your table setting. 

*Registries!  Instead of registering for a bunch of items that you don't need, you can register for charities!!

*Your jewelry can even be "eco-conscious".  Find a jeweler that uses recycled stones and metals to create one of a kind jewelry.

*Search out a "green" salon for your wedding day.  It will be much better for the environment - and your health!

*Make sure your photographer uses our wonderful digital technology

*Go romantic and use a white horse and carriage, a joyful ride on that antique bicycle or cross the lake on a canoe.  All of these transportation ideas can reduce the air pollution if chosen instead of the traditional limousine.

  

I hope I inspired you with some of these ideas.  Happy green wedding planning!

Sandy Stringer, Owner of Strings & Champagne Events

www.strings-champagne.com

www.facebook.com/strings.champagne

Thank you, Sandy, for such wonderful suggestions!  Have you decided to "Go Green" with your wedding?  What did you do to be eco-friendly?  Share with us and help to inspire.

Tent Weddings: Tips and Decor

Well, the leaves are falling, I might be done mowing, the windows are closed and the wood boxes for the fireplaces are full...fall is here!  I love the changes of the seasons, and though my summer wedding season is done - the next one is on it's way.  Weddings are wonderful no matter which season they are in {I also love the "winter wonderland" type of weddings}, but when you are lucky enough to be able to use the natural beauty of the outdoors, that is the best!  There definately is something about green grass, colorful flowers {that you don't have to pay for}, big full trees and birds singing that make people happy.  Then add a wedding on top of that and you have a wonderful day for a celebration. 

Enough of my rambling, now it's time for business. 

When you are planning to have your wedding outdoors, keep in mind that you will not only be working with your vendors, but you will also be working with Mother Nature - and unfortunately, her wishes trump everyone else's.  When I have a couple that is planning their wedding to take place outside - a backup is a must.  Tents are my favorite!  It's like starting with a blank slate and being able to turn it into anything you can dream of.  There are no limitations.  Rustic, trendy, elegant, sit-down dinner, buffet dinner - with the right vendors you can have it all.  You do have to keep some things in mind, though, when putting all of your thoughts together.  Here are 10 tips for you to have a perfect outdoor wedding.

1.  Invitations
When you are considering the wording of your invitations make sure you mention that this will be an outdoor ceremony/ reception.  People might choose to wear "flatter" shoes and lighter clothes - or bring sweaters...

2. Comfort
If your ceremony is taking place under the hot sun, you might want to consider a smaller "ceremony" tent.  Something that is easier for the tent company to put up that will cover the chairs.  Other options are: umbrellas, water and fans (which can double as programs). You will want to make sure to know which direction the sun is coming from at the time of your ceremony.  Have it at your guests backs, not in their eyes.  Also, offering items such as sunscreen and bugspray is a nice idea.



3. Bugs
I am not much into spraying bugs {I just really don't like chemicals}, but I've noticed and increase in bees and gnats lately, so sometimes it is necessary to go the chemical route.  It's not a bad idea to get some Raid and spray your entire ceremony and reception areas about 3 hours before people will get there.  You can also contact a local pest control company and have them come out and treat the property a couple of days before any set-up will take place.  Also, one of my favorite "natural" ways to control these pests...place cans of open cat food around the outside perimeter of the tent - bees love this stuff!  Who knew?!

4. Favors
When deciding what your wedding favors will be keep the heat level in mind.  Chocolate will melt, milk will get sour...you get the idea.  Some of my favorite ideas are: flip-flops, jarred preserves or honey from your local farmers, flower bulbs or seed packets, small saplings wrapped in burlap.  Basically, natural things are great for outdoor weddings.

5. Sound
When you are reciting your vows to each other and saying your "I do's" your guests will want to hear everything you say.  If there will be a larger crowd, talk with your DJ or Band and discuss a sound system for the ceremony.  Most will have this option for you.  If not, talk with your tent rental company...somebody will be able to set this up for you.

6. Permits
If you are having your wedding at a park, or other public place, make sure you contact the local city parks department or other government department to get any permits needed.  Be sure to ask about trash removal, open flame rules and pre-wedding photography.

7. Food
Whether you are having your food professionally catered in {very highly recommended!} or family is providing everything...stay away from perishable foods.  Mayonnaise is an item that should definately be kept out of the dishes being served, or at least brought out at the last minute.  You will also want to consider the frosting on your cake. It should melt in your mouth...not on the table. Instead of the buttercream frostings go with the harder tops like fondant or marzipan.

8. Bathrooms
If you are having your wedding in your parents back yard you might want to keep your 200 guests from going in and out of the home to use their bathrooms.  Renting a Bathroom Trailer is a wonderful way to go.  They come in a variety of sizes, they have running water, and some even have a larger stall for the bride {and all of her gown}.  These are not the porta potties at the county fair!

9. Electricity
Make sure you discuss this very important issue with your venue, rental company, caterer and entertainment.  Chances are that you will need a generator and electric cords so you will need to verify with everyone how much power they need.  After you have that information discuss with your venue and rental company to guarantee that you will not have a "black-out" at your wedding.

10. Lighting
If your celebration will be going into the late hours of the night, you probably won't want your guests fumbling around trying to find their seats.  Talk with your tent rental company for suggestions on lighting companies that they have worked with before.  You will want your dance floor lit up, the food areas, and parking areas. 

Are you having, or have you had, a tented wedding?  Let us know your details!

Keep watching for more tips, tricks and decor ideas to help you have a flawless, beautiful tented event!!