Wedding Advice – Here Comes the Blog

Archive for the ‘Receptions’ Category

It may be a first for you to hear, or maybe you've heard of it before, but the newest in budget weddings is staging a 'fake cake'. Basically there are all kinds of companies out there that rent these super-realistic Styrofoam cakes with fake icing on them. The cakes look gorgeous and can literally cost half the price of a real wedding cake.

How does it work? Well the cake stands as a display on the cake table throughout the wedding reception. The option is to make the top layer of the cake, a real layer that is cut for your pictures and then served to your wedding party. The beautiful 'fake cake' is wheeled back into the kitchen and everyone else gets sheet cake that they'd never even guess was any different than the beautiful display you had for all to see.

Obviously sheet cake from your local baker is going to be loads cheaper, and might even taste even better than you'd expect. The best part about staging a 'fake cake' is the fact that you'll save money and it's something that no one will ever know! (Until you start bragging afterward, of course.)

There are online shops that ship the cakes to you for a fee, or your best bet might be to try to find a cake rental shop locally. This way you don't need to pay for shipping, and you can just pick it up and drop it off.

Another option is to buy the 'cake dummies' yourself and add fondant to make the whole cake yourself to your own style. These 'cake dummies' are surprisingly cheap! You can find some for great prices here... And of course when you're finished you can add your own personal touches like your wedding cake topper or pretty flowers.

Oh yeah, and one last thing. You won't have to worry about your half-cousin's wild nephew knocking over and ruining the cake. Now that's pretty nice.

For more cake ideas, see:

• Black & White Wedding Cake Ideas
• Wedding Cupcake Ideas
• Calla Lily Wedding Cakes
• Wedding Cake Trends
• How to Choose Your Cake Shape

What’s the latest fun trend in wedding photography? The photo booth! That’s right--just like the ones they have in malls and arcades. Couples are now renting photo booths to add to the spontaneous and festive atmosphere of their weddings.

What’s the allure of the photo booth? Maybe it’s that guests love that they get to be themselves and make silly poses inside the privacy of the booth. It’s a time to let loose and show off your real personality. And guests also like the immediacy of the results. They can take their photos with them to remember the event. Another special touch would be picture frame favors. These are great keepsakes that play off each other well.

Sure, you’ll still have your formal photos taken. But you’ll also want to step into the booth and take some crazy pictures as well. Make sure to encourage older or shy guests to get involved in the fun too. And offer to pose with your guests in the booth. After all, you are the star of the day.

So, how do you go about having a photo booth at your wedding? Simple. You can either hire a booth or set up your own.

If you want to hire a booth for the event, just keep in mind that they are expensive. If money is no object for you, then go ahead and contact local vendors who will bring the booth to your reception site. Ask ahead about how long you can keep the booth (you don’t want it being dragged out in the middle of your reception) and how many photos your guests can take. A good photo booth vendor will have all the details for you. You can find these people online by searching ‘local photo booth rental.’ Make sure you get a picture of the booth you’ll be getting well in advance. If it’s ugly and beat up, you may want to select a different vendor.

If cost prohibits you from renting a booth, why not make your own? All you need is a camera with a flash and some creativity. Hang a custom photo booth backdrop or use a white wall at the reception hall. Set up some props like a chair or bench and maybe an urn full of ivy. Put the camera on a tripod and attach a remote to it. (They sell remotes in camera stores or online). People can come by at their leisure to pose and snap their own photos. The secret to making this fun for everyone is having the area somewhat secluded so people can feel free to be themselves. Use a digital camera and have a printer ready to print your guests’ photos instantly. Make sure you have enough ink and photo grade paper to last the night.

Guests will love the idea of doing their own photo shoot rather than being photographed stiffly by your professional photographer. You can keep copies of all the photos just by asking everyone to leave you a print in a basket by the printer.

Whether you rent or set up your own photo booth, you’re going to have a great time with friends and family. Plus, you’ll be right on trend with all the couples in the know who are making this the newest wedding craze. Add a zany personalized and choreographed dance to the reception and you’ve got a hip and happening wedding that’s very 2011.

For fun reception ideas:

• Wedding Reception Accessories
• Personalized Reception Items
• Emcee of the Wedding Reception
• Add a Unique Coffee Bar to your Reception

If you are having a spring or summer wedding, chances are that you've already found the perfect venue for your ceremony and reception....a lakeside gazebo, a garden arbor covered in purple Wisteria or sweetly scented Jasmine, the city's botanical garden, etc.  However, you may not have chosen all your accessories or decided how to set the stage for your guests to be wowed at the reception.  One of the great things about an outdoor garden reception is that you can use the natural surroundings to set the tone, backdrop and color scheme for your tablescape.  While perusing the Weddingstar accessory catalog, I found this great photo of a table set for a garden party.  I love the combination of natural green and outdoor elements.

Here's how you can create this beautiful garden party tablescape:

A lovely wooden teak table covered with a natural tablecloth provide the base for the tablescape.  Use simple pots filled with local grass varieties such as purple fountain and pampas grasses along with wildflowers such as daisies, snapdragons, cosmos, or guillardia to create stunning natural centerpieces.  By using a love bird theme, you can pull in elements such as mini love nest birdhouses and love bird salt and pepper shakers.  Simple white ceramic plates provide the place setting base, but elegant crystal stem toasting flutes provide a bit of sparkle against the otherwise natural base.  A top each place setting is a organic green woven box that was filled with candies and then tied with a palm reed.   Natural polished stone place card holders are cleverly slotted so that they hold a place card perfectly at each place setting.  Finally, oil stainless steel torches can provide some light once evening begins to settle in.

What a beautiful way to celebrate your garden nuptials with a small group of family and friends!

More Garden Wedding Ideas:

• Pretty Garden Wedding Favors
• Color your Garden Purple
• Flower Shaped Cookies are the Perfect Dessert for a Garden Party

I was so impressed with this elegant black and white reception table setting that I saw in the Weddingstar catalog...I immediately thought that I needed to share it with our Here Comes The Blog readers. No color scheme is more elegant than classic black and white and you can see that upscale, elegant look in the photo below.

How is the look achieved?
A simple round table is draped in white satin fabric that is overlaid with an elegant black/silver table runner.  Silver charger plates, silverware, and champagne flutes featuring a silver stem and engagement ring design, and black napkins with silver plated diamond napkin rings provide the essentials for each of the dinner guests.

A beautiful white floral bouquet constructed from white dahlias, white lilies and greenery provides a central focal point that sits directly below the black bead covered chandelier.  The floral centerpiece is further accented with black love votive candles, white tall pillar candles in glass vases and a trio of glass diamond shaped tealight candle holders.

Guests can easily find their tables because a tall silver wire number holder along with the number card is also placed on each reception table.  White tea/coffee cups and white heart-shaped salt/pepper shakers are also place on each table.  Finally, the wedding favors are placed at each place setting. Favors include mini tux and wedding dress favor bags filled with candy and personalized black and white favor tags.  The effect of all these components is simply stunning!

More on Table Settings:

• Indian Wedding Reception Tables
• Dress Up Your Guestbook Table
• Garden Themed Wedding - Setting The Stage

Create a truly exotic and stunning setting at your wedding by combining both Eastern and Western elements in a lush, rich color scheme.   When it comes to the color scheme, Indian weddings traditionally incorporate bright pinks, reds and purples (white is considered the color of mourning so it is not part of the Indian wedding tradition).   Indian wedding dresses normally feature elaborate beadwork and intricate embroidery and the bride wears an extensive collection of accessories such as necklaces, rings and hair ornaments.  This same color scheme and ornamentation can be carried through to the reception tables where bold colors, many flowers, and sparkling accessories can be incorporated.

In the photograph (from the 2009 Weddingstar Catalog), you can see one of my favorite decorated Indian wedding reception table displays.   Purple silk table cloths with sparkling gold table runners are covered with beautiful place settings that incorporate gold charger plates, gold silverware, and red napkins with beaded napkin rings.  A large colorful flower wedding centerpiece anchors the table and a bit of sparkle is added with gold and white love votive candles, an exotic golden beaded lac box place card holder, and beautiful red place cards.  Finally, a 'good luck' wooden elephant favor is presented to guests as a little thank you gift that they can take home. Simply stunning!

For even more great Indian wedding favor ideas and accessories, visit Wedding Favors Unlimited!

Indian Wedding Advice:

• Indian Wedding Inspiration Board
• Indian Themed Wedding Cakes
• Make Yourself A Beautiful Indian Bride

Another great alternative to the traditional guest book is a photo mat where your guests leave their well wishes (be sure to check out my post about wishing trees for more ideas).  Inscribable Signature Metal Mat & Frame Kit like the one shown in the photo from the Weddingstar catalog are available with the couples’ names and the wedding date inscribed.   The great thing about metal mats is that the signatures won’t fade over time like they sometimes can with the cardboard mats (if the mat and ink used weren’t archive safe).  This particular mat is available in 3 sizes and arrives with an easy-to-use engraving scribe.  Guests simply sign the mat and then the happy couple can proudly display it in their home along with your wedding photograph.  This is one keepsake that you’ll cherish forever… the well wishes of friends and family surrounding a beautiful photo of you on your wedding day!

See how great a metal photo mat can be when it is used as a wedding “guest book” on this Youtube video.   The mat can then be framed along with a photo of the bride and groom.  Display it in the home by either hanging it on the wall or on a lovely easel.

Having a green wedding or want to break from the traditional guest book? Consider a wishing tree...one of the hottest alternatives to guest books. Wishing trees a great way to add a unique touch to your wedding. The basic principle is for guests to leave their well-wishes for the couple on small hang tags that they fill out and then hang on the "tree". The hang tags can be square or shaped (e.g. leaf-shaped for fall weddings). Normally the tree itself consists of some branches that are adorned with flowers, crystal garlands or whatever embellishments you want to use to tie in with your theme. If you are fortunate enough to get married in the Spring, you could simply buy magnolia branches with beautiful pink or white saucer cup flowers or branches covered in cherry blossoms. Other times of the year, simply use glass vases filled with colored marbles to hold branches in place (paint them any color you would like) and then attach silk or real flowers that coordinate with your color scheme.

This Wishing Tree photo (from the Wedding Star catalog) shows willow branches that are adorned with orchid flowers. The couple bought square floral place card tags and added simple pink ribbons and a crystal heart confetti to add some sparkle. They placed the hang tags along with a pen on a lovely tray and then set up a tent card asking their guests to "Please Leave Your Wishes on the Tree"....the tent card also thanked the guests for sharing in their special day. Placing a gorgeous decorated wishing tree near the entrance of the reception will get oohs and aahs from your guests. After the wedding, you can create a lovely scrapbook using the cards that guests left on the tree.

TIP - Be sure to do all of the wishing tag assembly prior to the big day. It can take a bit of time to punch gift tags, add ribbon, and add other embellishments. Also at the reception, be sure to have a good place to set-up the wishing tree because once it is set-up and the guests start hanging on their wish tags, the tree can not be moved easily.