How to decorate the reception tables in a cost effective way when you aren't having a plated dinner but a buffet instead.
Instead of hiring a florist, DIY your centerpieces! First, you'll need to decide what type of look or theme you are going for and then you can begin to choose your centerpieces from there! While you can find hundreds of ideas on our Pinterest board, here are two of my favorite ways to DIY your decor on a budget: Floral in Water: Buy tall thin vases, fill with water, and submerge a single stemmed flower (choose your favorite!) or let it float on the top! You can even dress it up by adding a waterproof light in the bottom to light it up when the lights are dimmed!
Vintage Beauty: A couple of vintage books with a small potted plant or succulent makes the most beautiful centerpiece! And don't worry about having every table match - switch it up and add vintage items such as a birdcage or some pearls to dress it up! And by adding a couple of tea lights to each table, you can never go wrong.
How to choose the flowers and food for a rustic/country wedding in May.
There really aren't any specific flowers that are "supposed" to go with a rustic wedding - you can make any type of flower go with your theme, depending on the look you are going for! My best advice to you would be to chat with your florist about the types of flowers you like, your budget, and what look you are going for, and they will have tons of ideas to get you started so that you can narrow it down!
What to put on a table with your guest book for a rustic wedding.
Some items I love to dress up a rustic wedding are box crates, personal photos in rustic frames, and mason jars with simple flowers. And of course, with a burlap or lace runner, you can never go wrong!
What are the most affordable pink flowers for a Spring wedding?
There isn't really a correct answer to this question, because it all depends on the florist you choose! Some florists have access to every type of flower year round and won't charge you more even if they are "off season". And some florists just don't have that access (typically it depends on where you live) so they may not be able to get some flowers and they may be able to get them at a higher cost. In addition to that, it depends on the shade of pink you are going for! Some are more of a pale pink, and some are more bright so it all depends on the look you are going for and what palette you've chosen! I would speak with your florist about specifics and they can steer you in the right direction!
If you use the "pick a seat not a side" sign for the ceremony, should you still have ushers?
Ushers are never a requirement, but they are a great way to involve friends and family who are not in the wedding party! They can usher grandparents and/or parents to their seats as part of the ceremony, formally walk each guests to the seat of their choice, hand out programs (because wind and programs placed on chairs don't mix well!), or be there to tell guests to take their seats when the ceremony is about to start!
How do you set up a wine table for guests that will be user friendly, with no bartender?
First of all, check with your venue to ensure this is allowed! Some venues only allow this if all guests are over 21, so just be sure to ask before any plans are in place! You would hate to show up on the wedding day and be told that no wine can be served! The easiest and most guest-friendly way to do this is to place two bottles of wine on each table - two is generally good to start! I typically place one white and one red on each guest table at the start of dinner and that way, guests don't even have to get up from their seat and there's no waiting in line! If a bottle is used, have the catering staff or your planner replace it with a full bottle, or you don't need to replace it at all if you want to limit the drinking. From experience, I rarely have to give more wine to tables of 8-10!
How far out in advance should you send out Save the Dates when your wedding isn't until May 2016? I just don't want to send them too close to the invitation.
I am going to answer this question with a question... Are you having trouble narrowing down your guest list? If the answer is yes: Don't send out save the dates. This is the easiest way to narrow down your guest list because the later guests know about your wedding, the more likely they are to already have other plans! If they know two years in advance, then most likely every guest will be attending!
I know this may sound harsh, but if your guest list is at its maximum, then you can pick and choose who you want to send them to! If you're not worried about your guest list, then send them as soon as you're venue is chosen and your date is booked! And when I say booked, I mean a deposit is given and a contract is signed. DO NOT send out save the dates until then...or you may have to re-send new ones!
How much should I budget for alcohol? What's a good formula to figure it out when doing a signature drink, wine, and bear instead of a complete open bar?
This is going to differ based on your family and friends. Do they drink a lot? Or are they lighter drinkers? Are they more of a wine and beer crowd? Or do they go right for the shots? The first step is to know your guests and what you expect them to drink that night and how much! A great resource to use is The Wedding Alcohol Calculator But always remember, you know your guests better than anyone else does. And you can always use leftover alcohol later on!
Are you supposed to tip the alterations person?
Tipping is a tough subject when it comes to weddings but in my experience, tipping your alterations person is not a requirement or expected. Of course, it will depend on your specific area and the shop you choose! The best thing to do is to just ask! They will tell you the honest truth as to whether or not they expect a tip.
What are the best websites for ordering invitations that won't break my budget?
Wedding Paper Divas is probably my personal favorite save the date and invitation site for brides. They have a HUGE variety (almost too huge) for all types of weddings and for brides on a variety of budgets! My close second favorite are the Etsy shops who make invitations.
They personalize your invite, send you the images suite, and you print at home or print anywhere that will work with your budget! This way, you get the personal experience of designing your own invitations, and you'll be able to work on a very tight budget! Also, they can even personalize other aspects of your wedding to match your invites, such as escort cards and favor tags!
Check out great wedding planning advice and much more from Jenn at The Overwhelmed Bride and look forward to more expert advice and planning tips in future editions of The Bride Box. Check by often to read more wedding planning questions answered by Jenn.
What are your wedding planning questions? We will get them answered in our next blog post!