Wedding Wise Tips of the Day: February 2018

Photo: Up Imagery

I’m posting daily wedding tips on my Facebook page  and on Twitter, and these are last months. Yes, I’ll post March’s on the last day of the month, I promise.  If you would like in depth knowledge on any of this, search for the subject in the blog search above. Wedding encyclopedia, baby!

2/1 – Wedding Wise Tip #32 – Favors? Food or candy are the best bet, anything else gets left behind in droves.

2/2 – Wedding Wise Tip #33- You can get away with one slice of cake per person. There is always leftover cake at the end of the night. Always.

2/3 – Wedding Wise Tip #34- Another way to save on rentals is to have glassware on the guest tables for wine, water and champagne, and (nice) plastic disposables at the bar. But you have to be okay with that.

2/4 – Wedding Wise Tip #35 – FYI, the cost to be a part of your wedding party – clothes, travel, multiple pre-wedding events – can be close to $1,000. Or more.

2/5 – Wedding Wise Tip #36 – guests WILL automatically take flowers and centerpieces at the end of the night, which is a challenge if you’re renting the vases and containers. Spread the word and have someone stand by the door to stop them.

2/6 – Wedding Wise Tip #37 – when you and your pre-spouse get to the end of the aisle, huddle up! In other words, get close. Lots of couples get up there and end up 10 feet away from each other. If you have a bouquet hand it over to your maid of honor, hold hands and lean in. Everything you’ve planned for months has lead to this moment.

2/7 – Wedding Wise Tip #38- if you have to bring in all your glassware, silverware plates etc, take a good look around next time you’re in a restaurant. Count how many plates are set at the table, and what they’re for. How many glasses and what each kind is for. This is what you need to recreate at your wedding.

2/8 – Wedding Wise Tip #38- Your photographer will usually shoot wedding accessory details while you’re finishing up your hair and makeup, so pull them out first thing before they show up: Your wedding rings (both sets), shoes, veil, and, of course, your dress. If your florist can drop off your bouquet at that time, that would be great, too.

2/9 – Wedding Wise Tip #38 -Divorced Parents? Treat them like the adult YOU are, but don’t get amnesia – both of them walking you down the aisle? Yes! Sitting them at the same table for the reception? Nooo.

2/10 – Wedding Wise Tip #39 – Toasts! Don’t let your guests get hangry during the toasts. If you’re having a plated dinner, start toasts once salads are plated. If you serving a buffet, start them once everyone has been through the line. Trust me.

2/11 – Wedding Wise Tip #39 – If your cocktail hour and/or reception is outdoors, price out heat lamps! Especially for #californiaweddings -the sun goes down and the temperature drops. You might not need them, but it’s good to know what it’s gonna take to get them.

2/12 – Wedding Wise Tip #40 – Your ceremony may be 20 minutes away, but it’s going to take at least twice as long to get everyone and all of their (and your) stuff together. Put that 45- 60 minute buffer into your timeline.

2/13 – Wedding Wise Tip #41 -Buffet Tip #2- avoid having your DJ call tables like it’s a bingo game! My assistant and I usually go to each table individually to let guests know it’s their turn, but you can also ask your caterer or venue staff if they have someone who will do that for you. It’s more graceful and a better experience for your guests.

2/14 – Wedding Wise Tip #42 – Happy Valentine’s Day! If your wedding is starting to drive you crazy, take a break. Hang out, have fun, talk about ANYTHING other than the wedding. It’ll be there when you get back.

2/15 – Wedding Wise Tip #43 – You want to impress your family and friends, and, most of all, you want to impress yourself. It’s a lot of pressure and completely unrealistic. The cost of wedding fear is that you focus on what you don’t have and hiding what’s not there. It’s a waste of time. Plus it makes you feel like crap.

2/16 – Wedding Wise Tip #44 – Universal Wedding Rule: Guests will go where you go. Want them to use the photo booth? Jump in the photo booth. Want them to enjoy the donut bar? Grab one.

2/17 -Wedding Wise Tip #45 – More buffet tips, because it can take a while: Two tables, double-sided, on either side of the room. Ask the caterer to serve YOUR meals to your table, so you can finish and mingle while everyone is waiting.

2/18 – #46 It is not ever, never, ever going to take less time to do something than you think. Hair and makeup is going to take as long as the stylist tells you it is. Getting to the venue is going to take as long as it did the last time you went there. If anything, it’s going to take more time.

2/19 – Wedding Wise Tip #47 – DO NOT apologize for any of your wedding choices, to anyone. It makes you sound guilty and you have nothing to feel guilty about. Affirm what you’re doing, that it’s what you want to, and then move on.

2/20 – Wedding Wise Tip #48 – First rule of wedding “friendors” – like your college roommate who’s going to DJ for you – is to ask your venue if that’s okay. Some places will not let you bring in non-professionals.

2/21 – Wedding Wise Tip #49 – The second rule of friendors is to say “Thank you” whenever you can.

2/22 – Wedding Wise Tip #50 – The third rule of friendors is to to go on a site visit with them. If possible. Try.

2/23 – Wedding Wise Tip #51 – If you’re not into champagne, it’s okay for your guests to toast with whatever they’re holding. Bonus: Saves on Champagne glasses.

2/24 – Wedding Wise Tip #52 – @bel_morgan – “Guests pay attention to three things: the food, the bar, and the DJ”. I’ll add that you don’t have to have a lot of any them, but what you have needs to be GOOD.

2/25 – Wedding Wise Tip #53 – Remember to count yourselves in your guest number, too.

2/26 – Wedding Wise Tip #54 – Two things people forget when they’re stocking the bar: Water and ice.

2/27 – Wedding Wise Tip #55 – If you’re looking to save money on flowers, think small, pretty , and in season. Definitely in season.

2/28 – Wedding Wise Tip #56 – …and when I say “champagne” I also mean “sparkling wine”, the non-french version of champagne.

Again, follow Silver Charm Events on Facebook or on twitter @SilverCharmLiz for daily wedding wedding tips. And, if you’d like to talk specifically about your wedding, tell me more below, and I’ll get back to you ASAP to schedule a consultation.

See you at the end of the aisle,

Liz Coopersmith

 

 

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