Weddings are becoming more and more about the style of the individuals getting married. Themes for the big day are becoming a big deal but if you aren’t keen on a wedded day of renaissance wear, Hollywood limelight or sock hop you may just want to plan your day around a special location.

Destination wedding planning can make your big day an enjoyable and memorable experience for you and the guest. Often a beautiful destination isn’t any more expensive then a local hall you just have to plan ahead.

If you combine your honeymoon and ceremony a tropical wedding may be just what you are looking for. My favorite wedding was one in which my girlfriend and her cowboy hubby got married in a very scenic barn.

Pick a place that you love and your wedding is sure to be a day you’ll remember forever.

One of the most exciting parts of wedding planning is sharing your happiness with family, friends and other guests. And the best place to start your wedding planning is by talking to friends and family about their wedding experiences. Wedding planning is crucial to the success of your day.

The key to any wedding planning is making a checklist and following it in an organised fashion. The top thing on your checklist should be your wedding date. Without that there won’t be a wedding day. Other items that may be on your wedding checklist are, choosing a minister to officiate your ceremony, the wedding rings, the bride’s dress, who you want to be in your wedding, where the wedding will be held, invitations, the reception, flowers, music, photographer, wedding favors and more.

If you plan on having an outdoor wedding you need to consider the time year or location so that it will not be too cold or rainy. Also, if your wedding is anywhere near the national average it will cost you or your parents around $3000. Typically, the wedding reception accounts for 50% or more of the total wedding package. This makes the RSVP on your invitations very important.

The time leading up to your wedding day is a very special time but it will go very quickly. And the best part of all that comes from your wedding day is your honeymoon which brings us to a whole other subject for a future article.

By Kathy Crawford

If you’ve ever attended a large event or a party, you’ve probably experienced a catering service and have seen just how helpful they can be with taking some of the stress off the party host. Catering seems pretty straightforward and simple: you cook some food and serve it, right? That is the basic idea, but there’s more to it. In this article, we’ll take you behind the scenes so you know what to expect the next time you hire a catering service. Your vision is paramount to any caterer. With these few simple tips you will be better prepared so the catering service can execute your plan and fulfill your every wish.

The Location

Before you begin anything else, you need to have the location, date, and time completely finalized. Depending on where you are hosting your event, a catering service may be available on site. This can be beneficial because they are familiar with the layout, coordinator, etc. If you have to bring in a caterer, make sure the catering staff is completely aware and comfortable with the location in advance.

The Budget

To decide your catering budget, ask yourself how important the roles of food and drink will play at your party. Are you having formal sit-down dinner with a four course meal or trays of appetizers that are merely there to nibble on? Do you have a theme or style at the event that will be reflected in the food? It is also important to know the following factors: the number of guests, the number of courses or food choices to offer, the cost of the food, the way the food is served (buffet style, seated service, or boxed lunches), and finally, the caterer’s level of expertise. The more flexible you are about these variables, the more wiggle room your caterer has to create the best menu for your budget.

The Catering Staff

Know beforehand whether the catering service will provide their own wait-staff and how many. A rule of thumb is one server for every 10 guests. You also want to make sure the dress code of the wait-staff is in accordance with the dress attire of the guests and the theme of the event.

The Decorations

Food is definitely the star of the party, but it’s only one part of the equation. Many catering services today provide full event planning. As catering services have moved toward the full-service, event-planning model, the focus has shifted. It’s not that food is no longer a focal point, but rather that it is part of a broader vision. Check with your caterer to see if they provide full event planning. If so, they will often supply you with a brochure that details their services.

If you are planning a themed event, this is a great service to make your event special and memorable. From candles to flower, lighting to linens, and dinnerware to music, catering services can make every detail complement the food to create a unified theme. The possibilities are endless but the decorations could be everything. You could have great tasting food, but if it is presented with flair, then it will become the greatest food your guests have ever tasted.

So whether you are planning a baby shower for 25 close friends or a corporate event for 500 guests, the goal is the same: deeply satisfying the guests. Let a catering service accomplish this grand task but leave you with the compliment of being a great host.

For some great information about catering services, please contact Seasons Catering today.

By: Amber Sell

The latest trends in wedding favors are those that create an experience for your guests long after the wedding is over. Unique wedding favors are more than just a souvenir. The most unique wedding favors will engage the senses of your guests and recreate the festivities of your special day. Here we’ll take at five of the hottest wedding favor ideas:

Personalized Cosmopolitan and Margarita Cocktail Mixes
What better way to reward your guests than with a delicious, single serving cosmopolitan or margarita cocktail mix that is sure to put a smile on their face. These unique wedding favors come in glossy foil packets that can be personalized to fit the theme and style of your wedding. Personalized mixed drinks are a top choice for entertainment savvy couples.

Display Tip:

Package these unique wedding favors with an elegant martini glass ornamented with a sheer fabric bow.

Personalized Chocolate Candy Bars
It’s rare to find anyone who doesn’t savor the taste of a smooth, milky chocolate bar. For a unique wedding favor that is sure to please everyone and be truly unique, a chocolate candy bar with a personalized wrapper is great solution. Choose either mini candy bars or full sized candy bars then pick an image and font that fits your style. Full size chocolate bars offer lots of room for customization. Add your names, wedding date, event time, city and state for a highly personalized and beautiful memento.

Display Tip:

Arrange full size chocolate favors on the guest’s plate or fill glass bowls with mini chocolate bars for guests to help themselves.

Personalized Tea Favors
Invigorate your guests with the promise of a cup of aromatic tea, representative of the warmth and comfort of your new marriage. Each tea bag comes sealed in a gorgeous white foil pouch that can be customized with your names, wedding date, and choice of message. With a vast selection of beautiful fonts and images, this inexpensive wedding favor is a smart and delicious choice.

Display Tip:

Place one or more personalized tea bags into an elegant teacup and embellish with an ornate ribbon.

Personalized Coffee Favors
Coffee packets are a gift that everyone can enjoy. These unique wedding favors are packaged in attractive glossy foil and can be customized with your names, wedding date, and choice of wedding message. Choose an image and font that represents your style and you’ve got a fantastic wedding favor that looks and tastes great. Once your guests enjoy the hot cup of delicious coffee, they can hold onto the beautiful packaging as a memento fit for a scrapbook or photo album.

Display Tip:

Insert the personalized coffee favor packet into a personalized coffee mug or packaged in a basket with raffia, hot chocolate, and personalized tea packets.

It is the company of friends and family that make a wedding memorable. Rewarding those who come to share your special day with a thoughtful favor gift is a wonderful way to show your appreciation. Choosing wedding favors that excite the senses give your guests a chance to relive the pleasure of your wedding day.

By:Christine Harrell

I am amazed at how often I am asked about this topic. Most brides are lost when trying to select the perfect favor to give guests. Why? Well, I believe that it has to do with the current changes in the industry. Weddings are becoming less “stick to the formal etiquette” and more personal. Brides and Grooms are older, more established and more fiscally responsible for their own events.

Favors were originally designed to share in the joyous occasion and pass along good luck to guests. They have since evolved to thanking guests for sharing in their event and to provide a memento of the day. So, how do you choose the perfect one? Well, first of all, let’s go over the types of favors generally given to guests and the pro’s/con’s of each.

Types of Favors

Food or Beverages – everything from candy to fruit and from coffee to wine.
Pro’s – This category is filled with thousands of options to choose from. Most items can be easily personalized, through selected packaging and is fairly inexpensive. Most guests are delighted to receive an extra tasty treat to be shared on the ride home or back in their hotel room.
Con’s - Just remember that food and beverage items are perishable, so considerations of weather and storage should be accounted for. As well as, how long before the event these items should be ordered.

Gifts – you can choose to provide guest picture frames, bookmarks, glasses, candles and so much more.
Pro’s – This category is filled with so many options in a variety of styles, colors, shapes and sizes. The gift you select can easily be of a personal nature or have it easily customized to reflect you and your spouse.
Con’s – Sometimes the selection is overwhelming. Many couples want to choose gift that is sex-neutral and useful. Most of the time, gifts will be more expensive than traditional candy. So, watch your budget here!

Donations – this is a great new trend that allows the wedding couple to forgo the favor in lieu of making a donation to their favorite charity and sharing this news with their guests.
Pro’s – most guest are happy to leave the material memento to the wayside in efforts to help others in need. This also saves you time and effort in selecting, manufacturing and staging the favor.
Con’s – this favor selection has no con’s.

Well, now that you know what types of favors are available and their positive and negative attributes, let’s discuss how to present them to your guests.

Ways to Present Favors

At Each Place Setting – They may be placed directly on the plate or near the plate. By doing so, will add additional color to the place setting. This presentation also allows guests to receive your gift before the reception festivities begin and will provide an ice-breaker for conversation.

At An Exit Station – setting up a favor station to provide a small gift as your guests leave adds a little element of surprise. These stations are typically, set-up after dinner while guests are dancing. One thing to remember is to have your MCEE inform guests to take a gift, otherwise you may be left with extras.

At the Place Card Table – using a favor in conjunction with a place card is a great way to save some money, without sacrificing one or the other. The favor is arranged on the entrance table in alphabetical order (so guests can find their name and their seat). By choosing this method, give guests a sneak preview of what to expect from the reception. This method also ensures guests will pick-up their favor. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that they will remember to take it at the end of the night.

As for selecting the “right” favor, that’s up to you. You may want to consider an item that represents you and your spouse, or perhaps your budget will be a deciding factor. Just remember when you are selecting a favor to summarize the expense. The item may seem inexpensive on an individual basis, but when you multiple it by your guest list, that number may be more than you were anticipating to spend. And don’t forget, some favors require additional packaging, so those numbers count too.

Written by Kristi Richardson – www.bloomedtolast.com