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.

Escort Cards

I have always loved the use of place cards and escort cards. I just feel that it brings a new level of sophistication and a great way to add those signature elements to make your wedding more your style and a reflection of you.

Escort cards are the alphabetized list of cards that let your guests know which table they will be sitting at during the reception. Here are some fun ideas of presenting these.

-Rows of Miniature potted succulents with each guests' name printed on a little herb garden-style label make for a great Presentation. They are also a nice take-home treat for guests. You could also create a dramatic effect of rows of tall vases displaying a simple orchid or a calla lily. Tie guests' name to each vase or secure them in place with glue dot or double-sided tape.

-Fill an over sized cylindrical vase lined with garden moss with towering branches or curly willow. Write your guests' names and their table numbers on paper leaves and hang them from the branches as alphabetically as possible. This works best when using less than 50 cards. Larger weddings may want to do more than one tree.

-Collect photographs (Most fun to use Baby Photos) of all your guests and string these up alphabetically with miniature clothes pins. It helps to have the guests' names on the backs of the photographs and a table number. You can also use pushpins to arrange them artfully onto a giant corkboard. Allow time for guests to enjoy looking at all the photos as they search for their own. To collect these ask guests to include a photograph of themselves with their reply cards.

-Pick-up Sticks. Attach each name card to a stick using permanent glue. Incense sticks or bamboo skewers can work just as well. You can display sticks in a wooden box of rye grass, or maybe a wheelbarrow, large antique tin washing bucket, small rowboat, or a vintage wagon.

These are some fun easy low cost ways to display escort cards. My next blog will be some ideas for displaying place cards. I hope these ideas are helpful to you guys. Please suggest this blog to others and have them become a follower.

Till next time,

Clay

More Signature Elements

Where is our fall weather, I was so enjoying the cooler temperatures the last couple of weeks. Please come back to us. Okay so Fall Weddings are my most favorite simply for the fact that I love all of the colors of the sunsets this time of year.

I am constantly reading up on the latest trends for weddings and events as well as just everyday floral arrangements. One of the books that I am looking at a lot lately is "Southern Weddings....New Looks from the Old South" by Tara Guerard. It is a great book, I got mine at Amazon.com but I have seen it at other book stores.

My favorite parts of this book are the items under Signature Elements, which as I have stated before is one of the best ways to put your mark on your event and make it all your own.

Here are some of the Signature Elements from Weddings that Tara has done that I absolutely love.

Quilt Trip

Before the wedding ask each guest to mail them a piece of fabric, once you receive the final swatch have those pieces of fabric made into a quilt. That Quilt can be used as the canopy for your arbor, the table cloth for you guest sign in table, great way to include those guests that might not be able to make it, this will serve as a reminder that they are with you on your wedding day.

Best Buds

Because Orchids are edible, use them to accessorize food and drink. For example place a tiny bloom in each champagne glass, and garnish each slice of wedding cake with the same.

These are just a couple of great ways to put your mark on your wedding and make it more personal.

Stay Tuned for more and Happy Planning.
Clay

Signature Elements

Every wedding should have its own signature elements. Here are some great ideas for your Oct/Nov wedding.

Hello Pumpkin!

In keeping with the season display your butler cards (place cards) on miniature pumpkins. It is a fun festive way for guests to find their names and know where they will be sitting. To add to your decoration place a large jar and fill with pumpkin candies in the middle of the place card table, this will set a light hearted tone to the evening.

Sweets for the Sweet

Who does not like candy? You can take jars and fill with candy in the fall colors. Put out some mini bags so the guests can help themselves. I just think this is fun! fun! fun! The children at your wedding will really enjoy this.

Just a couple of cute ideas to bring the season into your reception. Have fun and let me know any ideas that you have used.

Clay

Planning Your Reception Part 2

In planning your reception there are a couple of secrets that I would like to share with you. Just a few things to add to the perfection of the event.

Clean Look

Hiding all your hardware and wires is the secret to a streamlined look-and you can even do it while adding to your decorations. Wrap or have wrapped the chains hanging your chandeliers use the same fabric that you are using elsewhere, disguising the out-of-place chains with a smoother look. To hide the ugly stage equipment place a row of boxwood trees at the edge of the dance floor and string them with lights. Not only will this disguise wires, but will even light up your dance floor a little more.

Sweetheart Table

Most of the time as a bride and groom you guys don't get a lot of time to talk or spend together at the reception. Consider what's known as a Sweetheart Table, a private table for the two of you. This way you can catch up with your new spouse, enjoy dinner without answering a dozen questions between mouthfuls and then get up and make the rounds without feeling rude for leaving other guests at the table.

Just a couple of new ideas that we have used and they do work great. Many more to come. Please keep the questions coming.

Clay

Panning the Reception Part One "The Caterer"

Over the next few blogs I will be discussing the planning of your reception. Remember the wedding reception is your chance to share your happiness with friends and family.

Today's topic for planning the best reception is a discussion on "Helping The Caterer Help You".

The caterer is an important member of your wedding team. You can make your caterer's job easier by viewing the relationship as collaborative working toward the same common goal; the success of the event. Here are a few suggestions and advice on ways to make working with a caterer a positive, joyful experience for everyone.

1- Know your vision and make sure if the caterer can accomodate it. Think it through so you will be able to articulate your goals.

2-Stick to your vision. Speak up and insist on attention to detail. A wedding planner can be invaluable in helping fight for your vision.

3- Recognize the strengths of your caterer. Always ask what the company's signature and most popular dishes are.

4-Always be up front with your caterer on the amount of money you want to spend on your catering and stick to that figure. If you are firm about your budget then it is the caterer's job to work with that figure. Reliable caterers are not in the business of inflating budgets, certainly not at the expense of customer relations.

5-Always let a caterer know up front if there is something you really want on the menu and also let them know the items that you do not want on the menu.

6-Even perfectionists need to know when to pull back. You may have articulated a vision, but you don't neccessarilly need to know exactly how your caterer is going to achieve your vision.

7-Remember that the kitchen and waitstaff, managers, and bartenders are two parts of the same team. You will want to make sure that communication between the two is there so that your plans are carried out.

8-Don't forget to check on any site restrictions before your caterer gets to work.


I hope that this information is helpful, if you have additional questions concerning cattering please let me know.

Clay

The New Wedding Helper: Technology

The Etiquette of E-Mail

Just because you can send an e-mail does not mean that you always should. The more formal the communication, the more appropriate it is to use postal mail rather than e-mail. A good test of whether it is acceptable to send an e-mail invitation of other communication is to ask yourself if you'd feel comfortable extending the same invitation over the phone. If the answer is yes, then e-mail away.

When Not to Use an E-Mail

For Wedding Invitations. E-mailing a wedding invitation, even to closes friends or family is not appropriate in any situation. I am going to use a phrase my mother would use "Tacky, Tacky, Tacky". Take the time to print invitations and mail.

For Thank you Notes. Take the time to sit down and hand write each thank you note and send through the mail. If you have fallen behind on your note writing, however, you can send an e-mail as a stop-gap measure to let the gift giver know you've received his or her gift and will be sending a formal thank you soon. Just remember the e-mail does not replace the actual thank-you note.

Modern Technology is great for the wedding planning processes and will help streamline everything, just keep in mind some things just are not appropriate for e-mail or social networks.

I hope you all have a good day, I am going to get better at my blogs but please send me any questions that you might have.

Why Hire a Wedding Coordinator?

Wow! Congratulations, you are engaged! As you begin the some what daunting task of planning your wedding, consider hiring a wedding coordinator. A wedding coordinator can help you from the beginning with budgeting, where to obtain specialized services, and how to choose vendors. After the excitement wears off and reality sets in, its shocking to discover how much preparation is involved. Couples are faced with everything from invitation wording to planning their honeymoon. Couples often find they want experienced professional help.

Wedding planners used to be thought of more as a luxury and only used by the wealthy. Now a coordinator is essential to the well planned affair. It is not just "trendy" to hire a coordinator it is essential. Coordinators are experienced in contracts with vendors and venues, and can save you valuable time and money. Coordinators can take advantage of discounts not available to individuals and avoid costly mistakes.

The average wedding can take more than 250 hours just to plan. With today's hectic lifestyles you may not have time to compare all of the options, making sure you get the best deal and make sure all the details are in place.

Wedding Coordinators are not here to make all the decisions for you, but to guide and assist you in making informed decisions. Their training and knowledge and experience will turn your dreams and expectations into reality.

A wedding coordinator will save you time and a lot of times money, in most cases the money that they can save you will be more than the fee they charge. They will help you get the biggest bang for your buck.

Trust is the most important factor in making the decision of which wedding planner to choose. You should feel completely comfortable with the coordinator and feel assured that he or she completely understands what your needs are. Your personalities should match.

How Do Wedding Coordinators charge for their services?

There are several ways that coordinators charge for their services. Here are a few ways.

10 to 15 Percent of the Budget

Fee Based on the Number of Guests

Flat Rate Based on the Amount of Work Needed

Hourly Rate Often more than $40.00 per hour

I hope this information is helpful, I have always say that the only things a bride should worry about on her wedding day are; "Will my Daddy Cry?" How will my future husband look at me while I am walking down the Aisle?, and Will I remember my vows? Please give me a call and I will go over my fees for my wedding planning service.

Clay

Commonly Asked Food Questions

Again, I've had some great questions coming in, I love to get questions so that I know what you guys are thinking and wondering. Please keep them coming.

Should we spring for an open bar?

Open Bars maybe the most expensive choice, because the bartenders have to cover all tastes, habits, and preferences. There are some options other than no bar or a cash bar. Trim costs with a limited-time open bar just during the cocktail hour, then shift to wine with dinner. My favorite is offer a signature cocktail rather than the full range, plus wine and beer. The cost depends on the length of time the bar is open, as a general rule, you can shave about 30 percent off the total bill by limiting hard liquor.

Should we serve food at the cocktail hour?

That's an easy, absolutely you don't want guests drinking alcohol on empty stomachs. Discuss the plan with your caterer. You can have these elegantly passed hors d' oeuvers, it may be wise to have a station, too; Such as one with a cheese and fruit display-so hungry guests don't gang up on the waiters.

I hope this information helps each of you. Please send your questions to stevenclaydesigns@fairpoint.net. I look forward to helping you out.

Clay
Steven Clay Designs

How Can We Stop the Cell Phones?

I received the following question or concern. "I recently attended a wedding. Everything was perfect except for one thing: It was interrupted several times by the ringing of a cell phone. Is there a tactful way to tell wedding guests to turn off their cell phones."

I have found the best way to deal with cell phones at a wedding is to stop it before it begins. There are several ways to accomplish this. Print a tasteful little notice in your ceremony program if you decide to give programs to guests. You could write something like: "We wish to remind you to please turn off your cell phone ringer and to refrain from using your phone during our wedding ceremony. Thank you!" or you could notify everyone as they sign the guest book just before they enter your ceremony site. You could put an attractive sign next to the guest book and the sign would have the same message. If you do not have a program and you are not having a guest book, then just have the Minister or Officiant make the announcement.

Please keep your questions coming, I look forward to our next blog.

Clay

Flowers for your Wedding

How to Choose Your Flowers

You should choose your wedding flowers based on the following factors:

1-The formality of your wedding. The more formal the wedding, the more formal the flowers such as formal bouquets, which are traditionally all white and generally one type of flower.

2-The time of day. For an evening wedding, for example, white or brightly colored flowers stand out, especially if the ceremony is held in candlelight.

3-The colors you and the bridal party will be wearing and the color of the table linens. I have had brides actually plan their bridal party colors around the flowers they love.

4-The Season. Flowers in season not only will be the fresher but will last longer and cost less, because they don't have to be shipped from far away.

5-The Interior Design of the wedding site and reception site. A church with a high ceiling, for example, demands taller plants.

6-Whether the site is indoors or out. If you are marrying outdoors, you may need to supplement a blooming spring or summer garden site with only a few flower arrangements here and there and bouquets boutonnieres, and corsages.

7- The unifying theme of your wedding. Are you planning a country-style wedding with baskets overflowing wildflowers and simple bouquets? Or do you favor a traditional formal celebration and see understated elegance carried throughout from attire to decorating? Do you have a color scheme in mind? Or are you considering all white flowers and decorations? Will you have accessory themes? Are you making floral choices based on as much fragrance as on color and texture? If you are having a real theme wedding, you will want flowers and decorations that match the theme.

The Ceremony, How Things should be done.

Today's blog comes after a discussion with a bride over what aisle should be used when the particular church does not have a center aisle. With that said I have decided to do a blog and hopefully answer several questions about what to do and what is etiquette for the ceremony.

Seating Parents:

The parents of the bride always sit in the first pew on the left, facing the pulpit; the groom's parents, in the first pew on the right. If the church has two aisles the bride's parents sit on the right side of the left aisle (As they Enter Church from the back), and his parents sit on the left of the right aisle. This way, they are both seated in the center section of the church.

Seating of Immediate Family:

Behind the front pews, several pews on either side of the center aisle are reserved for Immediate family. The people who are to sit there can be given a pew card to show the usher or the usher my keep a list of guests to be seated in the first few pews.

Seating of Guests:

The ushers show all guests to their places. They should ask any guests they do not immediately recognize whether they wish to sit on the bride's side (the left) or the groom's side (the right). Just as the reserved pews are divided more or less evenly, so should the rest of the church be divided.

In taking the guests to their seats, each usher should offer his bent right arm for the women guests to hold on to, with their escorts walking behind them.

The Ceremony:

Once the bride reaches the front of the church she let's go of her father's arm, transfers her flowers to her left hand and gives or father gives her right hand to the groom.and the brides arm goes through the left arm of the groom.

Just a quick bit of information on the ceremony, based on questions that I am asked frequently and info that I thought would be most helpful.

Welcome Gifts for Your Guests

It is a great idea to have a little something waiting for each guest in their hotel room upon their arrival. You can make up boxes and fill them with goodies and a personalized note. You may also want to provide an itinerary to remind guests of any wedding events, along with a few recommendations for places to dine and sites to see in your area or the area of your wedding. Here are a few suggestions of some fabulous welcome treats.

Welcome Sack

You can get great canvas totes. You can personalize these with the Bride and Groom Initials, or maybe a painted stencil of the Chinese symbol for love. Personalizing with iron-on transfers is fun, too. Fill it full of:

Bottles of Water

Chocolate balls

A Chinese take-out container filled with a decadent assortment of dried fruits and nuts

A little book on Feng shui

Have fun with what you put in each bag.

Hats off to you

Hats can be a fun way to package things, sombreros are great or any straw hat.

Bottles of Water

A bag of pretzels

Bubble bath

A disposable camera

Mouthwatering handmade toffees

All about Orange

Fill a decorative box or a Kraft paper bag with goodies that you've chosen in a specific color scheme.

Tangerine-flavored sodas

Miniature marshmallows

Jelly Belly jelly beans packed in miniature paint cans with personalized label

A pair of tangerines, which are healthy and likely to survive any minor accidental squashing. Present these in burlap bags.

Nostalgic Knickknacks

Bucket of goodies to greet guests.

Salt-and-vinegar chips

Bottles of old-fashioned lemonade (World Market is a great place to find these)

Candies

Gum

A Rubik's Cube for a touch of nostalgia

Other Welcome Bag Treat Ideas:

A deck of playing cards can be personalized with an image or you names and the date. Order them at www.customplayingcards.com .

Sunscreen and flip-flops are perfect for a sunny location

Your favorite novel

A guide to the city

A bottle of wine

Decadent bath products

A pair of terry cloth slippers

Personalized T- Shirts

Travel Puzzles, or maybe a jigsaw made out of a special photo.

What ever you choose will be great. Just knowing that you thought of them will make your guests so very happy.

Gracious Gifts For Parents

You may like to give a special gift to each of your parents to thank them for their love and support and all of their help, or for paying for your wedding! Some great ideas:

A Journal filled with all the wonderful memories you have of your childhood and the time leading up to your wedding.

A photo album embossed with note such as "for the memories to come"

Tickets to the theater or the opera

A weekend away

Jewelry for Mom and cuff links for Dad

It is always important to give Mom and Dad a little token to show your love for them and your gratitude for their support of you.