By Georgina Clatworthy

1. Use the same floral arrangements at your wedding reception as you used at the ceremony.  Ask your best man or the ushers to transport them for you.  Use pedestal arrangements as they have lots of impact with a minimum of flowers.
2. Double up on things like wedding cake & wedding favors by using cupcakes to act as both.  Wedding favors can also double as place cards.
3. Ask your friends & family to help you make decorations for the reception such as bunting or blowing up balloons.  This gives the day a personalized feel.
4. Consider an alternative to champagne for the toasts.  Sparkling wine works just as well or buy every guests a glass of whatever they are drinking at the time.
5. Hire in chair covers which can transform the look of your reception for minimal outlay.  Choose plain covers & a color coordinated sash to tie around.
6. Choose a wedding date that falls within a holiday period such as Valentines or Christmas as it is likely your venue will already be decorated.
7. Cut back on your transport costs by organizing a car pool amongst your guests.
8. Pick out a favorite photograph of yourselves & have it blown up bigger, then ask your guests to write their good luck messages on it.  This will save on the cost of a guestbook & you can frame it afterwards.
9. Have your wedding breakfast later in the day so that you will only have to splash out on one big meal rather than two.
10. Create a vintage look to your tables by scouring charity & thrift stores for china plates, cups & glasses.  This is perfect for an country style wedding or afternoon tea reception.  An alternative is to hire everything in.

By Georgina Clatworthy

When it comes to putting together your wedding theme, your choice of location for your wedding reception is an integral part.

As your wedding theme will be mostly played out at your reception you will want to use the same ideas as you have expressed in your wedding stationery & your ceremony.  Your reception should be a fun place to be, free from all the formalities of the ceremony, so you should aim to make the reception as comfortable & as welcoming as possible.

To create a unique wedding reception you need to think outside of the box & search for an unusual & creative location.  If you want to wow your guests then the local town hall probably won’t do it, no matter how much effort you go to with the decorations.  Finding a unique location will help unleash your inner creativity & help you to produce a reception that is totally your own design.

However, there are some essential details that you have to consider when it comes to planning your reception, no matter where you host it.

1. Weather / Environment - is the wedding reception inside or out?

2. Setup - If it is a non-traditional location then think about the following:

Power supply?

Parking?

Distance? Will your guests be prepared to drive there?

3. Cleanup, setup - A traditional wedding venue will have a system for cleaning up in place.  Make sure you enquire about this when you book, if they don’t have any system in place, then you will need to make arrangements for it to be done.

4. Theme - Will the location fit with your chosen theme? You don’t have to have a theme of course, but having one does help you to design the whole feel of your wedding.

5. Wow Value - If the wow factor is important, will this location give it? If you are not sure, then take some friends back with you for another visit & gauge their opinion.

Truly Unique Wedding Reception Locations

Cleared corn fields. For a rural, country or rustic theme this would be ideal.  Imagine it set out with a marquee, dance floor & a country & western band.

Sports Venues. If you or your partner have a favorite sport why not hold your reception at a sports ground? Look at golf, football or baseball grounds. 

High Rise Roof. Hold your wedding on the top of a skyscraper for an exhilarating & memorable party.  It maybe pricy & any guests with a fear of heights may be reluctant to attend!

Your choice of venue doesn’t have to be so unusual it will cost you a fortune to hire or worse still you will probably never find it.  There are plenty of more common venues that can have just the right blend of uniqueness & wow that you are looking for.  Try gardens, museums, beaches, lakes & mountains, farms, barns & vineyards.

By Georgina Clatworthy

As a small girl you probably dreamed of your perfect wedding.  Maybe you kept a scrapbook & planned every little detail, right down to the last one.  Eventually that day arrives & it is the most important day of your life so far.  So it is natural to want to capture every moment in some way & create memories that will last forever.

At most weddings you will find a guest book, simply a landscape book with blank pages in which your guests can write personal messages to you both.  Along with your wedding photographs & video, they make a lovely memento of your day.  But did you know of other alternatives to the traditional wedding guest book?  Read on to find out.

1. The Instant Guest Book – An instant guest book is a combination of a photo album & guest book in one. The idea centers around taking Polaroid photos of your guests, inserting them into a guest book & letting your guests write a message alongside. You could also hire a photo booth, which is becoming a popular trend with weddings at the moment.

An instant guest book is great fun & gives you an instant snapshot of your day.  If you don’t want to hire a photo booth, ask your photographer if they could take Polaroid snaps for you, or ask a member of the wedding party to do it for you.  The great thing about an instant guest book is that it can be worked for all your special occasions – from your engagement party, to your first born’s christening.

2. The Wish Bowl – This is a great idea & will cost you next to nothing to set up.  The idea revolves around asking your guests to write their wedding wishes on slips of paper & then place them in a large decorative bowl that you have provided.  If you would like something more formal or want to keep the wishes secret, then provide mini envelopes for guests to slip the paper into first.  Match the paper to your wedding colors or theme.  After the wedding, you can sit in delight as you open each one & read what your guests have written, then slip them in to an album or scrapbook.

3. The Wish Tree – This is similar to the wish bowl, however, your guests will pin or peg their wishes to a ‘tree’ instead of placing them in a bowl.  Set this up with some tall branches in a large vase or planter, you can make it as decorative or a simple as you like.  Provide pegs, clips or pins so your guests can attach their wishes.  Try some branches of twisted willow, silver birch or even metal branches.  A variation on this is a washing line complete with pegs & I have seen decorative screens which have fret work or are made in metal scrollwork, used to the same effect.  A wishing tree is a great addition to your reception decorations & won’t cost you much to put together.

4. The Signature Platter – These have been about for a few years now & are growing in popularity.  The idea is to have a large (or several small) plain china plates, provide your guests with special markers & they can write their messages directly onto the plate.  You can choose to have one large plate or place a small one on each table.  After the wedding you simply fire the plate in your oven at home.  A variation on this is to provide your guests with glass markers & ask them to write on to the champagne or wine bottles served at the wedding.

5. The Framed Signature Mat – Similar in nature to the signature plate.  A signature mat is a large, mounted photograph of the couple taken before the wedding.  It is displayed during the reception & guests can write messages on the picture surround.  After the wedding it is framed for the couple to hang in their home, they can also replace the ‘before’ photograph with one from the wedding day.

6. The Typewriter Guest Book – This is a Martha Stewart creation & is a great alternative to a traditional wedding guest book.  Look out for an old fashioned typewriter, try charity shops, flea markets or Ebay – just make sure it works first!  At the reception, set it out on a table of its own & load it with long sheets of paper.  The idea is that your guests can then come & type their good luck messages to you.  Afterwards you can frame it or simply roll it up, scroll like, & tie with some ribbon.

And Saving Lots of Money in the Process

By Georgina Clatworthy

When it comes to planning the wedding reception, it pays to know exactly what your budget is.  The good news is that no matter what the size of your budget, large or small, there is a perfect reception venue available for everyone.

As a guide, your wedding budget should allocate 30% of the total to your reception.  Where costs can really start to mount is in the smaller details such as decorations, rentals & outside catering.  Here are some hints & tips to help you cut the cost of your reception food & drink, as well how to throw your reception on tight budget.

Renting a Hall

If you choose to rent a hall or large room for your reception, then there are several things that you will need to take in to account beforehand.  For example there is the cost of hiring the room, using their servers (many will have them include in the price & may not be negotiable), then there is the cost of decorations, flowers, food & beverages.

With hiring a hall there are several things that you will have to pay for, such as decorations & beverage. But some hall venues will give you a range of options to pick & choose as you like. 

Your choice of hall type will also have an impact on your budget.  For example a grand banqueting hall will typically cost more than a community hall.  Another consideration is if your budget is small to start with, then renting a hall could leave you with more effort & fewer options than booking a package with a different style of venue.

Here are some tips about renting a hall & keeping your costs down.

1.  Halls should only be considered if you have 50 or more guests on your list.

2.  Choose between an open bar or a cash bar for your reception, when renting a hall.  An good alternative is to provide beer yourselves & have a cash bar for those want a mixed drink.

3.  Choose a hall you can decorate yourselves.

4. If you need servers, then choose a hall that has them included in the price or one that will let you bring your own.

5. Make sure your choice of hall will cater to your needs & budget.

6. Avoid extra costs for catering & hire a hall that will let you supply your own food.

7. Save money on your catering with finger foods, vegetable & fruit trays.  This will also cater to the vegetarians among your guests.  

8. A casual style buffet reception will be cheaper than a formal sit down meal.  

9. Have a cash bar as an alternative to giving a wedding gift. It is a great way to accommodate your guests & will save you money on the hall hire.  

10. Choose a midweek wedding date as weekend dates are always more expensive.

11. Good rates can be had for winter time weddings.  

12. Pay by cash & negotiate a deal on the price for doing so.  Most venues will have to pay a charge to accept payments by credit cards so they are more likely to agree.  

13. You can save on your catering costs by holding the reception in the daytime & offer just canapés or snacks, rather than a formal evening meal.

Having a hall wedding reception needn’t cost you the earth, particularly if you pull some of the tricks I have mentioned.  Also consider holding your reception outdoors.  Some may think that an indoors reception is more elegant than an outdoors one, but this needn’t be the case & an outdoor event can be more fun & cost you less.

By Georgina Clatworthy

You may have started out with what you thought was a reasonable wedding budget, but quickly discovered that it wasn’t enough, leaving you raiding your savings to make up the shortfall.  But you can have a low budget wedding without demolishing your savings or leaving you drowning in debt.

Firstly, planning the wedding yourselves will save you a huge chunk of cash.  Hiring a wedding planner or coordinator can be very expensive, so ask yourselves if they can achieve anything that you yourselves cannot.  Keeping a record of all your wedding planning will also make for a lovely family keepsake in years to come. You can gain huge satisfaction from the fact that you have created your dream wedding, from favors to flowers & cake to catering, all yourselves. 

Producing a super-low budget wedding can take time & energy & a lot of creativity on your part, but you will reap the rewards when you realize the huge amount of money you have saved. This can then be invested in something more permanent in your lives, such as a house deposit or new car.

Having a lower budget doesn’t mean that your costs will break any different to having a pricier ‘do’.  There will still be scope to save money in every element of your wedding, but in order to do this you must do one thing – avoid the grand, formal wedding.

So where do you begin to cut costs?  Firstly you should realize what the most important part of the day is to you both.  This should be the ceremony & the actual ‘getting married’ part.  If it isn’t then I would seriously think about whether or not getting married is right for you both!  One way you could reduce costs quite significantly is to forgo the wedding reception & instead have an intimate dinner party with family & friends after a simple civil ceremony.  Plan to renew your wedding vows in the future & at a time when you could afford a larger, more formal affair.  Renewing your vows is a popular trend at the moment & it would be a very romantic way to mark a milestone or anniversary in your relationship.  I would suggest you seriously consider this, particularly if you are footing the entire wedding bill yourselves & the idea of beginning married life saddled with debt horrifies you.

However, for many their wedding is the biggest day of their lives & they want to splurge on a big day.  So if you’re budget is saying ginger beer rather than fine champagne then you will need to conjure up some magic if you don’t want to break your budget.  If you’re prepared to try every trick in the book then here’s an idea that could save you a fortune.

Focus on the Venue

An extravagant wedding reception will break your budget on its own, if you are not careful & rein your idea in.  One of the most obvious ways to save money would be to edit the guest list down.  You may also discover that your choice of venue will cost you a hefty sum, especially when all the essential ‘extras’ are added to the bill.  Take some time to find & secure a venue that is free or as good as ( after taking into account rental costs for chairs, tables etc).

Examples of a ‘free’ location would be your home or if that isn’t big enough, that of a family member or close friend.  Another option would be hiring a church or community hall.  These are usually very cheap to rent & can provide you with adequate kitchen facilities for preparing & serving food.

Ask around local eateries & see if they will offer a low cost wedding reception package.  These could include food & a limited amount of beverage, or rental of a function room with the option of a reception package.

Your venue will the key to saving a large portion of your budget, so it will pay to thoroughly research all your options.  Ask family & friends for recommendations, check out the internet & local press.  Look at unusual venues such as gardens, museums & vineyards as they may be able to offer you a low cost reception package.

Keep a record of all your findings, including the venue, package options & cost.  This way you will be able to work out which venue will offer you the best package for your money.  Remember, the cheapest option may not be the best.  Paying a little extra could get you twice as much as the cheapest option was offering.

Beating the Biggest Budget-Buster of All

Sadly, in today’s world the mention of one of two words is likely to push costs sky high – they are wedding & baby.  Commercialism is a massive part of the wedding industry today, with the majority of vendors hiking their prices for weddings because they assume you will naturally want to spend a huge amount of cash for such a special occasion.  Often this means that you will actually be paying over the odds for something.  Test my theory out by contacting a large venue & asking about their wedding reception packages, then ring back & ask about packages for a milestone birthday party.  I bet the packages are virtually identical with the exception of the price!

An example of this is the catering for your wedding.  The cost of feeding your guests can be more than the hire of the venue itself, so getting a good deal here & cutting the cost down is really a must.

However, a few ham sandwiches & cocktail sausages will not suffice. Your guests will more likely leave before the speeches & will slate your wedding day for all eternity!  One solution for those with a minute budget is to throw a potluck reception.  In essence you ask your guests to bring along a dish instead of a wedding gift.  It may sound absurd, but a potluck reception was once quite the done thing & is more traditional than the bride & groom forking out for expensive catering & 3 course menus.  They are also the best way to throw a fabulous party & have your guests leave feeling sustained.

If you are somewhat embarrassed about asking your guests to ‘feed themselves’ then dress it up as the ‘Old Time, Traditional Wedding Celebration’.  This naturally suits a potluck reception & no-one would think to question it.

Continue the theme in your decorations, flowers & favors, look to the 1920’s, 30’s or 50’s which are all in vogue at the moment, but fit the traditional theme nicely.

So how do you go about asking your guests to bring a dish with them?  Well, you could slip a note in with the invitation, such as this:

Our reception will be an “Old Time Traditional Celebration” with a potluck dinner.

____  Please check here if you would like to bring a dish for the reception in place of a wedding gift.

We kindly request a call for dish suggestions.

Ask them to call you & let you know what dish they plan to bring.  This way you will still have some say over the menu & can avoid any over duplicating on dishes.  Incidentally, no one is obliged to participate but you could be surprised by how many will.

It is also likely that many of your guests will go to town & will create some fabulous, unusual & extravagant dishes to grace your tables.  You may also find an element of competition arising between guests, as to who produces the best & most talked about dish on the day! Just make sure it doesn’t get out of hand!

By Georgina Clatworthy

A black & white color scheme for a wedding is nothing new & has been a firm favorite amongst brides for many years, only occasionally dipping out of favor.  But recently the scheme has come back with a vengeance, & is once again a popular choice for today’s brides.

However, I am not talking about plain & boring black & white.  Today’s scheme’s are far more textural & involve sophisticated prints, clever combinations & eye-catching designs.  Black & white schemes at today’s weddings are the height of elegance & sophistication & which provide a feast for the senses.

Creative bride’s are thinking outside the box with this choice of colors & have learnt to combine a splash of color to great effect.  Plain fabrics are out & instead brides are choosing pinstripes, damask or baroque prints for their linens.  Splashes of red or yellow brighten the look, & deep red or purple give a more gothic feel. 

A Star is Born: How Black & White Hit the Big Time

Some color combinations are timeless classics.  Black & white is one of these.  For some years now chocolate brown has been the color of choice, but the Art Deco feel of black & white has always had appeal & has never strayed out of fashion. 

Many brides are opting for a clean modern look rather than the frilly affairs of old.  Vintage has been a craze within fashion & interiors for a number of years now & that look & feel of retro style has spilled over into weddings too.  40’s glamour is a big hit & brides everywhere are achieving it with a classic combination of black & white.

Sultry Sirens & Classic Cars: A Fantasy 40s Wedding

A black & white scheme does lean very much towards old Hollywood & the golden years of 40’s film making.  Sultry is the key word & the advice is to keep the look pure, avoiding accents except for shimmer & classic red.  Metallic’s work really well & you can add a splash of color with arrangements of classic red roses.

When it comes to wedding attire choose elegant silk gowns, gloves, jewels & cocktail dresses with crinoline skirts.  Have your men wearing white dinner suits & black bow ties, for a Casablanca look, or even choose sharp pinstripe suits.  And, when it comes to transportation it has to be vintage cars.

By Georgina Clatworthy

If you have never done a menu for a large event before, the prospect can seem quite daunting.  Don’t worry – here is an easy step-by-step guide to planning your wedding reception menu with some money saving tips included.

Here’s How:

• 1. Time of the Wedding Reception Think about the time of year & the time of day when you will have your reception. Will you have a delightful meal on a summer’s afternoon or an elegant feast on a winter’s evening? This decision will be important & will also depend on the availability of your chosen venue.
• 2. Cost Refer to your wedding budget & make sure your meal choices are within it. Fillet steak may not be an option if your budget is restricted. Remember the more dishes & choices you include on your menu the more expensive it will be. If you are working with a very tight budget, you may want to consider a cocktail party with trays of hors d’ oeuvres or an elegant afternoon tea party with sandwiches, cakes & fancy pastries.
• 3. Caterer Recommendations ask your caterer what they would recommend. Work with them to produce a menu that is within your budget yet to your liking & that of your guests. If you are catering your wedding yourself, choose recipes that are a sure crowd-pleaser.
• 4. Offer variety Set out tables laid with finger foods including both hot & cold. Also have some waiters walking around with trays of hors d’oeuvres. This will give your guests the option to help themselves from the tables or simply wait for the waiter to pass by, particularly if they are deep in conversation!
• 5. Special Touches Your menu should reflect something of your own tastes & personality, so you may like to ask your caterer if they can include dishes you both like or if they can incorporate a family favorite or recipe.
• 6. Heritage If your wedding is bringing together different cultures then try to include dishes from each culture within your menu. It will help guests to bond over shared experiences & bring in a touch of your own cultural heritage. If the cultures involved are so distinctly different that they couldn’t possibly share a menu together, consider dividing dishes between the main meal & cocktail hour or the evening buffet.
• 7. Change Things Up Think about providing something different for your reception meal. In recent times, there has been a trend towards having a dessert buffet rather than a formal sit down meal. This is great for guests with a sweet tooth & is a great budget saver.
• 8. Try It Out Always arrange a tasting. It will help you refine the menu with the best dishes & it won’t mean any nasty surprises on the day. Most caterers will provide this free to the bride & groom, but ask if other members of your wedding party can attend too, such as your parents. They can give their opinions on the dishes & can help you finalize your menu.
• 9. Be a Considerate Host Some of your guests may have certain dietary requirements, which you should find out about prior to finalizing your menu. Check that your caterer can provide dishes to these requirements. In many cases couples add in vegetarian options to the menu, but check that the vegetarian option is not just a bland nut roast or mushroom soup!
• 10. Double Check Get you menu written out in it’s entirety before you finalize it. This way you can see if anything is missing or if you have perhaps included too much – for instance how many side dishes do you really need? Do you really need to offer so many options for dessert or starter? Be sure to meet your caterers deadline when it comes to making the final decisions or you could find yourself increasing your costs & with a very stressed caterer on your hands!

By Jason Hennessey

A pre-reception is an event that takes place during the time between when the wedding ceremony is over and the actual reception party. The purpose of preparing a pre-reception is to keep the guests busy before the start of the reception. It has been noticed in recent times that many people are opting for pre-receptions, so as to cover for any delays that may be caused by the wedding couple, other guests or even other reception arrangements running late.

Many people have preferred serving cocktails or light food such as fruits, ice cream, cheese and cakes so as to take care of the guests’ stomachs. Music can also keep the guests busy on their feet and also in setting the mood for the evening of fun and partying. To ensure that your guests are kept happy and busy while some delays are being sorted out, here are tips on how to make your pre-reception area fit well with the main reception event.

Maintain the theme
Unless you want to change from the main wedding theme to a different reception theme, make sure you maintain the original theme. If the wedding theme was Victorian, you can have foods and drinks served by waiters donning Victorian costumes. However, if you decide to change the theme to a different one, then this may be the best place to introduce it to your guests.

Food and drinks
The choice of the drinks and foods to be served should be done carefully. Avoid making bad combinations of drinks and foods that may not go well together. You don’t want to upset your guests’ stomachs.

The décor
The pre-reception area should be well decorated. The décor should actually give the guests a sneak preview of what to expect at the main reception. The color scheme of the wedding can be used, however in a slightly different shade. This can be done on the table cloths, curtains and other decorations. You can also include favors on the guests’ tables. Be sure to label the table by guests names so as to avoid confusion.

Keep video memories
To keep the guests busy and involved, you can organize for cameramen with video cameras to record the guests while they make their wishes to the couple. The cameramen can move around the pre-reception area or their camera set so that they can record while the guests are entering the area. The guests can give their best wishes and they can be later edited and stored for future memories. The video shots can also be shared with some of the important guests as keepsakes.

Use the same venue
If you can’t get enough space to separate the pre-reception and the main reception, you can use the same venue but be sure to add a few alterations. The same space can be used to serve cocktails for a start. You can also include a buffet style light meal at one corners of the room. Try to have the guests entertained by music and even poetry. You can hire a poet who will recite nice poems that are relevant to the occasion.

By Jason Hennessey

Contrary to previous perception, a wedding can be done on any month, any season. Some thought that winter would be too chilling for a wedding while others thought summer would get everyone sweaty and uncomfortable. With good planning, no month or part of the year can be an off-limit to a wedding ceremony. Once aspect that can have a significant impact on how adaptable your guests will be with the weather is the kind of drinks you are going to serve. Whether a summer wedding or a winter reception, you can make your wedding ceremony the hottest festivity ever by just choosing the right drinks for the occasion. In addition, they don’t have to be alcoholic.

For an outdoor summer wedding reception, serving cool and refreshing drinks as the celebration continues will keep everyone focused on the thrill of the festivity. If your wedding is religious driven, you can choose a wide range of non-alcoholic drinks that can suite various weather conditions and keep your guests refreshed and lively throughput the occasion. There are a number of non-alcoholic drinks out there that you can choose from.

The madras
Madras is a well-liked drink around southern parts of United States. It is made up of a combination of cranberry and orange juices to make a light refreshment drink; much like vodka but without alcohol. The madras is best enjoyed if served in an iced champagne flute or a spitted garnish cherry.

Tom Collins
The Tom Collins drink is a very popular and old gin drink since early 20th century. To enjoy this classic swallow you can serve it with lemon soar mix, some carbonated soda water and some simple sugar in a tall sleek glass. Some carbonated soda water is to add some fizz to the drink. A slice of orange or a maraschino cherry spitted in the drink can also give it a better garnish.

The Cosmo
Since its launch on the popular Sex and the City, the cosmopolitan has enjoyed wide consumer acceptability. It has non-alcoholic brands which include a dash of orange syrup, cranberry juice and a dash of lime juice. To enjoy the full refreshment of the Cosmo, serve it over an ice, with a lime garnish in a rocks glass.

The tequila sunrise
Tequila sunrise is yet another good drink that can pep up up your guests throughout the occasion. This drink is made with cherry syrup, orange juice and blended with grenadine. Serve it in tall sleek glasses, preferably over ice with a slice of orange or spitted garnish.

Neon lemonade
Neon lemonade is popular with the kids. So if you have some children in the event you can give them this vivid blue drink to feel thought after in the occasion. Neon lemonade; otherwise lemon sour mix is made of a blue drink pigment like the blue tinted fruit punch. It is best served in a tall glass over ice, with a slice of orange or a spitted cherry.

Long island iced tea
This non-alcoholic drink is made up of soar lemon or lemonade and a brown cola. You can serve it with lemon garnish in tumblers.

The Right Touches For a Perfect Spring Wedding Theme

By Georgina Clatworthy

Spring rates as the third most popular season, behind summer & autumn, in which to marry.  The advantage of marrying in spring is that you are more likely to get the venues & suppliers of your choice as they are less busy at this time of year.  If budget is also an issue then a spring wedding could provide you with a cheaper alternative to summer as rates tend to be lower & you may be able to negotiate some discounted rates particularly for travel.

When it comes to planning a spring wedding, begin by considering your favorite parts of this time of year.  If you like the idea of crocuses & snowdrops poking through the snow then book your wedding for early in the season.  Or you may prefer to wait till a bit later when the snow & frosts have passed & the season is in full swing.  Whatever your choice, here are some hints & tips to help you.

When to Have a Spring Wedding:

For a church wedding, you could save money by getting married at Easter when the church will be already decorated. Spring is also prom season so book tuxedos & limos early.

Spring Wedding Dresses:

Most wedding dresses are perfect for spring weddings.  Many dresses with large skirts are too big & heavy for a summer wedding & strapless gowns are too cold for later in the year.  However, spring weather can too be unpredictable, so accessorize with a wrap or shrug in case it gets chilly.

A spring wedding gives brides an ideal opportunity to add a hint of color to their wedding attire, such as a pastel colored sash or delicate embroidery.

Attire for the Wedding Party:

As mentioned before, spring weather can be unpredictable, so give your bridesmaids wraps or shawls so they can stay warm should the weather turn chilly.  

Let your bridesmaids choose their own dress color & style.  In spring bridal ranges are often full of pastel colored bridesmaids dresses, although this doesn’t always suit all tastes.  Letting them choose them own should result in fewer complaints!  Dress the men in tan suits with colored shirts & coordinating ties.

Be wary of April showers & avoid satin shoes.  Make sure there is a supply of large umbrellas available too, just in case! If it does rain don’t despair, a spring shower provides a romantic setting for a bride & groom under a large umbrella, looking into each others eyes.

Spring Wedding Menu Ideas:

Keep you spring menu fresh with seasonal vegetables such as baby carrots & asparagus, new potatoes & sugar snap peas.  For an Easter wedding have your wedding cake made in chocolate & coconut icing or carrot cake with cream cheese icing.  For fresh fruits choose strawberries, rhubarb & apricots.  For main courses lamb, chicken or fish work well.

Decorations:

When it comes to spring color schemes it has to be pink & green.  These colors are evocative of spring & perfect for a wedding.  Use polka dots & ginghams on your tables.  For a more formal look combine celadon green with white & use accents of silver.  Forgo the traditional confetti & ask your guests to throw flower petals or bird seed.

Spring Wedding Flowers:

Seasonal flowers include roses, tulips & daisies.  Multi-colored calla lilies are a popular choice for spring arrangements.  For your centerpieces use wicker baskets filled with spring garden flowers or try inexpensive terracotta plant pots & fill with ivy & narcissi.

For your bouquet have a hand-tied arrangement with polka dot ribbon or pretty pastel color ribbons.

Spring Wedding Favors:

Excellent spring favors include packets of seeds or seasonal bulbs.  For something different give small birdhouses, which can be bought inexpensively at dollar stores or garden centers.  If you are getting married at Easter give chocolate bunnies or eggs.