What Venue Best Suits You?

Your venue is literally the backdrop to your wedding and should be selected for its style or openness to create any style. Not only do you want to think logistically about the location of the venue, but also the size and restrictions that come along with it. Be sure to find out what is included when you book the venue, and if there are select vendors that are required for use.

Some questions to ask yourself when selecting the venue that best suits you:

When you are on vacation, what type of restaurants do you select?

What would be the style of your ideal dinner party?

What is your favorite restaurant, and why?

Are you more of a nighttime or daytime person?

Do you prefer the indoors or outdoors?

I hope that today's blog is helpful for you, I was doing some research and reading David Tutera's book "My Fair Wedding" and ran across this information that I thought would be helpful.

Keeping Guests Informed

When organizing your wedding it is very important that you provide guests with everything they need to know in order for them to plan accordingly, and to be able to dress appropriately. This is the time to introduce or hint to at your wedding style, through color and designs. You can start disseminating this information as early as 6 to 8 months in advance with your save the date cards. Information that your guests will need is the wedding date of course, location, and specifics such as whether the dress code is black tie or white tie (Ultra Formal). You don't want to overload your guests with too much information, so disperse information as needed, and then continue to update with logistics as you move closer to your big day. A great way to provide this information is through a personalize wedding website. Many sites include a wedding blog, where your guests can post comments and feel free to do so, as if they are traveling along with you on your wedding journey.

Here are some great Personalized Wedding Websites:

WeddingWire.com

www.theknot.com

www.elegantweddingwebsites.com

"Toast Time"

I the five years that I have been in the wedding industry I have seen many things during a wedding reception. One of parts of the reception that I love is "Toast Time".

I can not imagine a wedding without toasts. Whether your reception has alcohol available or not. Toast are a great way to honor the bride and groom, the wedding, and the guests. A great toast will make you laugh, cry, and bring back special memories. I think it is always a lovely gesture when the bride and groom make a special toasts to their guests. Toast time is also an appropriate time to pay tribute to any family members that have passed away.

Here are some Toasting Guidelines:

-Toasts are given during the reception, not the cocktail hour. The best time is once all of the guests have been seated.

-Each set of toasts should be announced in a professional manner, by either the DJ or the Band Leader.

-Break up toasts within your timeline, so you can create "special moments" throughout the evening.

-Follow the Traditional Toast order:

1- Bride's Parents (Typically the father of the Bride will give the toast)

2-Groom's Parents

3-Best Man and Maid of Honor

4-Bride and Groom

-Remember toasts are not speeches. Keep them short and sweet.

-The toasts themselves should include, in this order. A welcome, a thank you, and a special heartfelt sentiment.

-Don't forget to practice your toast. Rehearse it.

-Be prepared, know when and where your toast will be made.

The toast can be a beautiful part of your reception or it can be an awkward depending on if you follow just a few guidelines.

Happy Toasting!

Clay
Steven Clay Wedding and Event Designs

What Style are you?

I love when I get my hands on a good book that truly inspires me. I am so loving my newest book of inspiration. "My Fair Wedding" by David Tutera is the object of my newest book of Inspiration. If you have do have this new book, please go purchase, download, or buy on line as soon as possible. It really is a great book, and if you are getting married anytime soon then this book is a must have.

The topic for today's blog was actually inspired by this book. Today it is all about what style you want your wedding to be.

A wedding style is the "story" of your wedding. Your wedding should tell a story of both of you as a couple as well as individuals.

To determine that style David Tutera's book suggest asking yourself the following questions:


What Season do you like the best? Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter?

What is your dream car?

Look around your house and at your wardrobe. Do they suggest a particular style, such as classic, modern, vintage, beachy, or earthy? If they do this is your style.

What style is your everyday hair and make up? Do you keep it the same or change it regularly?

What is your Ideal vacation? When you have free time, what is your favorite thing to do?

What is your favorite clothing store?

In answering these questions you will be able to determine the style that your wedding should be, and should be a reflection of who you are. You always want to feel comfortable and look natural in your wedding surroundings.

Till next time.

Clay

Location Questions 2

After yesterday's blog I had a couple of more questions from followers that I thought would be helpful to everyone.

Question: Am I responsible for cleaning up at the end of my reception?

No matter where your wedding is, find out if you need to hire somebody to take care of the cleaning after the event. Most venues will cover this (for a n additional fee).

Question: What is the role of a facility director at a venue space?

Sort of serves as the man behind the curtain at the reception. This person is responsible for things like time the food presentation and escorts from the hall at the end of the evening. Since this person works for the facility he or she is your go to person.

Commonly Asked Questions about Locations

I am so excited about 2011 I just know that it is going to be a fabulous year, in spite of me turning 41 this year. I can not believe that I can now say that I am in my 40's, but I just feel that it is going to be a great year for everyone.

One of my favorite things about the new year is just that, the newness of everything. It is almost like a new beginnings and that sometimes is a good feeling. I am not one that puts much stock into new year's resolutions, I would rather try and constantly be on the path to improve my life in all areas and aspire to be better than even the day before. Some days that works and some days.....not so much.

An area that I am passionate about is my blog, I have set my goal of three blogs per week or more but at least three per week. I read and think about weddings all the time and I know there are lots of questions that people have and they want answers. So I guess maybe instead of a new year's resolution, I will just say that I am passionate about weddings and events and want to be a source of help to everyone and I am going to strive for paying closer attention to my blogs each week. Please keep sending me questions and helping with choose topics that cover the areas where most questions are. So without any more delay, today's topic is based on questions that I have received about Locations.

Commonly asked questions on locations.

1-Do I have to use the vendors that have deals with my chosen wedding/reception venues?

Some venues expect you to use their own caterers and florists etc. You can sometimes veer away form this but at a heft cost. You might have to pay a fee to the "house vendors" for not using them, in addition to paying your own vendors.

2- How do I find out about the venue's policies so they are not sprung on me at the last minute?

Ask for a list of rules detailing all the dos and donts. Some of the most popular things to ask, What types of alcohol can you bring in to the establishment? What types of lighting is allowed, Candles for example are not always accepted. The biggest question "How early can you and your team get into the venue to set?

3-What should I do if the weather doesn't cooperate on my wedding day?

Make sure you have a contingency plan in place and use it.

4-Am I expected to pay for guests if I am having a destination wedding?

You are only expected to pay for the wedding-night dinner and the morning brunch, if you have one. There are many extra events you could shell out for but no guest will expect a free flight and hotel stay.

I hope this information proves to be helpful to each of you and please follow my blog and tell your friends. Till next time.

Stunningly Simple

It has been a little bit since I have updated my blog. I guess I have gotten caught up with the whole Christmas Season. My Christmas Season thus far has been a really good one, I have decorated about 12 houses this year. I love helping people spread the Yule tide through out their homes. This time of year is almost as magical as the wedding season, which by the way is right around the corner. I am excited and I have been booking a lot of weddings for the 2011 season and I am looking forward to booking more, hence the blog I have missed bringing my joy and passion about the wedding industry to each of you. I hope that you enjoy today's blog and find it helpful.

Your wedding celebration, with all the planning, family politics, stress, and finances involved is already complicated enough. Sometimes the number of options and decisions can become overwhelming and frustrating, but there are lots of ways to pare down and simplify your wedding while still creating a stunning atmosphere filled with meaningful unique touches. I am going to share a few ideas with you today.

Let your surroundings inspire every aspect of your wedding. Honor the space you have chose with well-placed, timeless details. If you are at the beach, let the water inspire your party. If you are in a traditional space include classic details and a bit more formality. If your space is filled with a more modern feel with lots of glass and metal, then use elements in a more minimalist approach in your centerpieces and invitations.

It is always important to consider the flow of your wedding. As you are choosing your location and throughout the planning process, keep in mind how your guests will transition from one space to another during your wedding. Provide clear well lit paths and rain plans and make arrangements for any guests who might have any disability issues.

Create a color story for each space. Remember this simple stunning principle. Limit each room to a maximum of three colors in your design. This gives your event a more cohesive look and more dramatic.

There are so many tools out there that can help you when planning your wedding, as I always say it is best when you have a wedding planner to help keep you and your vendors focused on the same vision, but use the Internet, local chambers of commerce, and advice of friends and family to help you make sound choices for you location, vendors, and timelines.

When working with a vendor or venue for your wedding always have a detailed written contract or agreement with every location and service provider you use, and keep them organized.

All in all it is your wedding and you can do things the way that you want them done, these are just suggestions and I hope that they are helpful.