Is It a Wedding Reception or a Frat Party?

In all the years I have been in this business, I have seen some things you probably won’t believe.  Alcohol does crazy things to people.  There was the bridesmaid passed out on the ground, woke up, threw up, grabbed a linen napkin, wiped her mouth and struggled to the bar for another drink.  There were the grown men that throw bottles of bubbles at the bride and groom.  Yep, you read that right, threw the bottles not blew the bubbles.  Then there was the guy and girl that decided it was funny to throw crayons at each other and grind them into the floor under their feet.  Not so funny when the bride and groom have to have the floor refinished for the venue. 

There was the wedding were eight glasses were broken on the dance floor.  Yes, one or two can be an accident but eight is not accident.  Again, that is an expense the bride and groom had to cover.  Oh and let’s not forget the drunken guests who thought it was funny to write obscene messages on the expensive overlays.  Believe me that wasn’t a cheap joke.

So why am I telling you all this?  Because all of this could have been avoided if the bride and groom were a little more careful about whom they invited.  I find it hard to believe that the afore mentioned people had never acted like this at a party.  Sure they are loads of fun in someone’s backyard but do you really want this kind of stuff going on at your wedding reception?  But he’s my best friend you say or she’s my cousin. Well then assign someone you can trust to keep an eye on them throughout the event and remove them if they get out of control. 

Let’s keep the wedding reception fun and happy.  Leave the drunken frat party at the frat house.

Making Sure Your Non Drinking Guests Are Taken Care Of...

Yesterday, we discussed making sure your catering staff stays to the end of the event.  Now, if for some reason you decide not to do this (and let’s hope you don’t, but I understand budget constraints) make sure that you have nonalcoholic drinks available for your guests all evening.  Let’s say your caterer has provided water, tea and coffee for your guests.  So you decide the bar only needs to stock beer and wine. 

Well, your caterer leaves after dinner and takes the water, tea and coffee with him (along with the ice).  This means your guests are left with nothing but alcohol to drink.  NOT A GOOD IDEA!

You need to make sure you have, at the absolutely least, ice water available for your guests throughout the evening. Don’t forget you will need glasses for this ice water too.  So if your caterer is leaving, make sure the bar is stocking plenty of soft drinks and water.

One More Question To Ask Your Caterer Before Hiring

Ok, if you are bringing in your own caterer to your reception (not using the venue’s caterer) then this a tip for you.  Sit down, get a piece of paper and take notes. 
Let’s say you have found a caterer who you can afford, who offers the food you want and is available on your day.  Great, but there is one more big question you need to ask.  How long will they be there on the wedding day?  Are they going to be there to the end of the event?

 I can hear you asking does it matter.  Oh, yes it matters.  Let’s say you are planning a cocktail hour followed by a buffet dinner and then partying the night away.   You need caterers and servers not only for food but to bus your tables.  Otherwise who is picking up the dirty napkins, empty glasses, and empty plates? Same is true after dinner; the catering staff will be the people that remove plates and glasses from the tables. They will be rinising dishes and repacking them to return to the rental store.

Ok, great you say, they need to stay until after dinner and then they can leave.  The answer is no. Once the dancing starts and your guests are getting drink after drink from the bar, if the caterer and his staff is gone, who is going to pick up the glasses?  Who is going to rinse these glasses and pack them back up for the rental company to pick up at the end of the event?  In most cases, it’s not going to be the bartender, he’s just hired to run the bar.  It’s not going to be your buddies who said they’d do it and then started drinking and forgot all about it.  It’s going to be your poor Mom and Dad after everyone else has left and left them with a mess.

Don’t let this happen to your parents.  Hire a caterer that is there to the end to clean up.  It is so worth the difference in cost.

A Wedding in Greenwood, SC

This weekend Willrich Bridal traveled to Greenwood, SC for the wedding of Courtney and Daniel.  The wedding was held at Ware Shoals First Baptist Church and the reception was at Sundance Gallery.  The bride chose navy and orange for her colors and this was reflected in the linens, flowers, bridesmaids’ dresses and even down to the sash on her dress. 

After a three o’clock wedding at the church, there was a small mini reception held there and then later in the evening the dinner and dancing reception was held at the gallery. 

 

The back patio entrance of Sundance Gallery

The Sign in Book and Bridal Portrait greeted guests as they entered.

Personalized coloring books were available for the children.

As guests entered the cocktail hour another bridal portrait greeted them.

Reception room set up

There was a small cake for the bride and groom to cut and cupcakes for the guests to enjoy.



Father/Daughter Dance

Mother/Son Dance

Bathroom baskets to help out the guests.

 I think this was the most excited group of single guys I have seen yet.

A dip and a kiss as they leave for the honeymoon.

A Wow For Your Reception Table

Ok, here is a new trend that is starting to pop up in all the bridal magazines and blogs and I have to say I think I’m loving it.  It’s the use of colored glassware on the reception tables.  Especially popular is the dark cobalt blue stemware, but I’m also seeing shades of amber.  It really makes a table setting and linens pop.  Now, I did call several rental companies in the Greenville area to see if they had colored stemware available and they did not.  But it might be worth purchasing them yourself at one of the discount stores.  Maybe they could be the favor that the guest take home at the end of the night.  It really is a visual WOW!

Source:Southern Bride Midsouth Summer/Fall 2011

Stockings are Back!

Source: Brides

So a new trend is starting to make headway.  What is it you may ask?  Why it is the return of the stocking (or pantyhose).  Ever since the new Princess Kate has been spotted showing her beautiful legs wrapped in hosiery, pictures of women in nude hose are showing up all over fashions blogs.

I know this is something you probably don’t want to hear when the heat is over 100 but for us pale girls who don’t tan, it’s a big YES!  Now these are not your mother’s hose of yester year.  They are very nude with iridescent shine to them.  So the question is, do you want your bridesmaids to wear hose or not?

A Really Cool Idea

Remember the old view master’s you played with as a child.  Well how cool is this?  You can actually have your pictures made into 3D view master type reels.  Imagine having your photo montage put on a reel and a reel and viewer placed on each guest table for your guests viewing pleasure. At only $15.00 for the reel and a viewer this is definitely doable.  For more information check out their website Image 3D .

Thumbprint Wedding Guest Tree

Source: Esty- Lovliday

First there were sign in books, then sign in mats and now popping up everywhere is the thumbprint tree.  Your wedding guest places their thumb on a washable ink pad, then makes a print on the tree with their thumb that looks like a leaf.  They can then sign their name next to the thumbprint.  After everyone leaves their thumbprint you have a beautiful wedding tree to frame and hang in your home.  Pretty cool!