Real Wedding Planning: The Venue Search, Part 1

We became motivated to start PDR after planning our first wedding together (Jen's!). Now that we have our own blog and some wedding planning under our belts (unofficially, of course) we thought it would be fun to share some of the major steps for planning our second PDR wedding. Now, although we are starting with the venue search, we are of course skipping some major steps that all couples must broach, including dates, budget, and theme. While some of these questions remain open ended, we had enough of an idea to scope out some venues in order to get a more realistic view of what type of venue can host Saira's gigantic Pakistani / Chinese wedding. Here are the contenders thus far:

Maritime Park in Jersey City, New Jersey

(Images from Katie Osgood Photography)

Maritime Parc was the first venue we checked out, and we have to say that, as of right now, it's everyone's favorite. It was a bit hard putting on our poker face when we stumbled onto a venue that has pretty much everything we're looking for. The space itself is very modern and minimalist -- everything is bright white except for the light wooden floors. There's a ton of natural light (the majority of the walls are windows) and there are wrap around terraces. It's a 3-floor building: the first floor is a lobby with a few plain white sofas; the second floor is the main ceremony / reception area topped with low layered ceilings, windows on 3 sides of the room, a wrap around terrace, and beautiful views of downtown Manhattan; the third floor has an amazing wood cathedral ceiling, windows around almost the entire room, and a wrap around terrace. So let's get down to business:

The Pros

- They accept outside catering! While their own catering menu sounds pretty amazing, it's a huge plus that they allow you to bring in outside help. They do, however, require references for places they haven't worked with before.

- The space itself is like a blank canvas, so you can really create whatever you want with it. They have no restrictions on decorators or florists, so it's really your space to create.

- There is no extra ceremony fee.

- The location is perfect for pictures -- it's located in Liberty State Park, so you have a lot of greenery plus beautiful views of downtown Manhattan.

- There is plenty of ample parking for guests with cars.

The Cons

- The chairs are this dark wooden color. If you wanted delicate gold chairs with white cushions, they cost an extra $6.50 per chair, plus tax and delivery!

- There may be extra costs if you don't use their house linen (which is grey and white). 

- The venue itself is located in Liberty State Park, which is right off the Turnpike. Convenient for our guests who are driving in, but may be an issue for our New York City guests who would be using public transportation.

- You can only come in to set up your event 2 hours before the start time. While this should be enough time it may be cutting it close depending on how dramatic your set up is.

- Because the space is so minimalist, you may need to spend extra in filling it up with candles, flowers and other ornaments so that it doesn't look too sparse.

- Saira's fiance's best friend is having his wedding there this summer -- what are your thoughts about sharing wedding venues with close friends?

The Mezzanine in Newark, New Jersey

(Images from Wayne Yuan Photography)

We have been in love with The Mezzanine ever since we attended a wedding there for our good friends, Mike and Sheryl. The Mezzanine is housed in the National Newark Building. A former bank converted into an event space, the space is incredibly majestic, detailed, and grand. When you enter the space, you have to go up a set of stairs. The second floor is also the main floor, which is broken down into thirds which are separated by glass walls. The central space is generally what is used for the cocktail hour, and the side spaces are used for the ceremony and reception, respectively. When you rent the space, you have use of the whole building, which means you can really customize your wedding. We really liked the open floor plan, the beautiful marble floors, the elaborately painted ceiling -- it's just exquisite. But here's a more critical look at the Mezzanine:



The Pros

- The space is so elegant that we really don't think you need to dress it up much. All you really need are flowers for the table and some well placed candles.

-  There are no extra charges for tables, chairs, or linens.

- The timing of the event is very flexible. You can choose the start and end time, and there is no one there to strictly force you out.

- There is no extra fee for holding the ceremony at the venue.

- They allow outside caterers, and are not as strict when it comes to working with new places.

- The location is extremely convenient for those traveling from New York, as it's only a few blocks away from the train station.

- You can have your event here any time, rain or shine, as there is no outdoor space.



The Cons



- Because the venue is located in Newark, parking can be incredibly difficult. Your options are to make your guests pay for parking, do valet parking for around $3,000, or hope that your guests stay at a hotel (they partner with a number of hotels that provide shuttle service). Transportation to and from the hotel / train station is incredibly important, as you don't want your guests straying around Newark late at night.

- The costs are on the higher side, although there appears to be some flexibility. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to get a set price per head yet, with the event coordinator asking us to name a number rather than giving us an approximate amount.

The Newark Museum in Newark, New Jersey

(Images from Henry Shoots)

We stumbled upon the Newark Museum after doing some research on museum weddings. Unlike New York museums, the Newark Museum is definitely on the affordable side, and appears to be relatively unknown option. Situated near the Rutgers Newark campus, the Newark Museum provides a great alternative to your usual banquet hall. The main reception space is the Engelhard Court, a beautiful open space in the center of the museum. Having your wedding at the museum means your guests can have access to one of the many interesting galleries -- both beautiful and educational! A wedding at the Newark Museum gives you access to the garden and the Ballantine House (a historic mansion converted into a museum) at no extra cost.  Let's examine this option:

The Pros:

- While the Museum itself is not very grand, the Engelhard Court is very beautiful and airy.

- The garden is a true surprise. It has a giant cherry blossom tree in the middle, and is surrounded by subtle structures around the perimeter. Weather permitting, your ceremony and cocktail hour would take place outdoors in the garden.

- The Museum's required rental fee, plus a set-up fee, is actually quite affordable. Of course, these costs don't include catering, but even so, it won't burn a hole through your pocket.

- We love that you have access to the Ballantine House. While this space will not be open to the public, your wedding party plus a few special guests are given space to get ready and enjoy a few relaxing moments before the big day.

- The staff seems to be incredibly helpful and on top of things. You can tell that an event here would be incredibly organized and well-timed.

The Cons

- The Engelhard Court is a beautiful space, but with 250 guests, it will be very cramped. While it can accommodate approximately 250 people, we think the space is better suited for no more than 200 guests.

- If you plan on having your ceremony here, but it ends up raining, your Plan B is to hold the ceremony in an auditorium -- definitely not the ideal romantic setting. 

- Similarly, if it rains you no can no longer use the garden for cocktails. Instead, you would use the space surrounding the Engelhard Court, known as the Vaulted Gallery, which will do the trick, but could lead to a more cramped and difficult to navigate cocktail hour.  

- They are incredibly strict with outside caterers, although they do allow them. Apparently there is a bit of a vetting process, but hopefully your caterer will understand that once they are approved, it will make subsequent weddings at the Museum much more convenient.

- You may incur additional fees for tables and chairs. While they provide white folding chairs for the outdoor ceremony and gold chairs for the reception, they only have 160 gold chairs, which means you'll have to supplement the rest out of pocket at $5.50 a pop.

***

Okay dolls, now that you have a little information about our current contenders, what do you think? Have you had any experience with these venues and have some words of wisdom to share with us? If you could choose one, what would you do? Also, now that you have a glimpse into Saira and Henry's wedding style, do you have any other recommendations for the New York / New Jersey area? We would love to hear what you think!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Love and Literature

A wedding should reflect the tastes and passion of the bride and groom. For some, that means reflecting their love for literature in a subtle but clever way, without necessarily making it a themed wedding (think: Great Gatsby, Alice In Wonderland, Gone With the Wind, etc.) As big readers ourselves, we've thought long and hard about different ways to incorporate works of literature at your wedding. Here are some suggestions:

Before Kindle came around, borrowing library books was a pretty common activity. Bring back the borrowed book love with library card style invitations. We love how you can create a "title" for your wedding and make it look authentic with yellowed paper and crooked typeface. 

If you're having a small wedding, create your old "vintage book" as a wedding program! This will create a unique keepsake and add a lot of charm to your wedding, but it will definitely be a significant project!

The most common way to incorporate literature in your wedding is through your wedding vows / reading. Choose a passage that particularly inspires you or makes you and your loved one laugh. You can go for something sweet and simple, such as e.e. cumming's i carry your heart, romantic and traditional such as Shakespeare's Sonnet 116, or light and quirky such as Ron Weasley's ball of light speech from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Keeping with the library theme, have guests find their seats by sifting through a card catalogue! This a fun throwback to grade school, when we spent hours learning the Dewey Decimal System. It's fun, quirky, and cost efficient, but your younger guests might not quite get it.

We really love the idea of naming your tables after famous writers or novels. Have fun with it by placing your work friends at Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, your girlfriends at Jane Austen's Emma, and your creepy uncle at Vladmir Nabokov's Lolita.

Or, if you want to stick with numbers, do it in a way that is true to your theme. We like these because they serve double duty! Vintage books function as both a centerpiece and way to display the table numbers in a way that is charming and unique.

You can also carve out old books to create unique centerpieces or decor at your wedding. While we're a little reluctant to demolish old books this way, perhaps you could find books that are otherwise damaged and use them.  Either way, it creates a very rustic and creative centerpiece.

Instead of using satin ribbon to add some flair to your wedding cakes, wrap it in some (sanitized) newspaper or vintage print. We also like how the cake toppers are similarly wrapped in print to create a coherent look. Just be sure to use romantic text... no old pages of Play Boy for you!



And they lived happily ever after!



XOXO,



Jen & Saira

Wedding Themes: Green Thumb Love

It's feeling a lot like spring, so let's celebrate the warm(er) weather with inspiration from a favorite spring activity: gardening. Gardening wedding themes can be quirky and stylish, perfect for the eco-chic couple who loves the great outdoors. Plus, gardens come in all types and styles from veggie to rose to wildflower and beyond so you can really use any color scheme you want, and mix and match your plants and flowers to create a very romantic escape.

Show your love of all things green with simple floral invitations. You can create a theme, with your save the date, invite, and thank you cards all portraying a different type of flower, creating an informal but very pretty look.

As a favor / place setting, use tiny potted plants. We think potted bamboo would be a great choice, but you can opt for something more leafy, or floral. This is a lovely way to add some color to your table settings, and give something nice for your guests to walk away with.

Instead of flowers, how about planted grass as a table setting? You can adorn it with smaller flowers, or keep it green and simple.  This is an especially attractive choice if you and your guy aren't into florals, and it has a clean and modern edge to it.

 Have a fragrant walk down the aisle holding a herbal wedding bouquet. We're partial to lavender, but thyme and oregano make equally fragrant and flattering additions to your wedding bouquet. The more green, the better!

Wearing a boutonniere is not every guy's dream, so make it subtle, like this mint boutonniere. Not only does it look chic, but he can chew on this to freshen his breath before the big kiss!

Make your  cake look like something our of a fairy tale with little birdies hanging on delicate branches. We especially like the "tree stump" serving platter, which really brings the look together.

Look like a faerie princess walking down the aisle with delicate flowers adorning your hair in lieu of a veil. This look is especially great with with soft curls or a loose updo, and is perfect for a laidback, carefree bride with a fun sense of style.



XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Minimalist Wedding

Minimalism is a way of life, philosophy, art, and fashion that strips everything down to its most fundamental features. We know a lot of brides who find wedding planning overwhelming, and not exactly their cup of tea. So why not get rid of the clutter and opt for a more simple, discrete style? We're not talking about renting a blank white room and adding no decor (although that's always an option!) A minimalist wedding can be modern, chic, and elegant without going over the top. Take a look!

Gold brocade, textured linen, ornate florals... are we turning you off? Announcing "Somebody's getting married!" doesn't have to be elaborate. In fact, it can be as simple as you like. Rather than covering your invite with patterns and designs, just stick to text only, like this minimalist letterpress design. It includes all the important information, and creates a very modern and clean look.

Many wedding venues come with brocade curtains, giant chandeliers, and hideously patterned carpets (Can we say visual overload?). Instead, choose a wedding venue that will provide you with a lot of wide open space. While not exactly a blank canvas, an art gallery can be a wonderful venue for a minimalist couple, as it usually involves bright white walls, smooth floors, and built in decor.  Don't add too much of your own decor (just some candles and well placed flowers) and you'll have a very modern, edgy space to work with.

Elaborate table settings can be beautiful, but they can also take up too much space! Unclutter your wedding with a simple vase of flowers, maybe few candles, and cut back on the number of cutlery and wine glasses. This will provide for an aesthetically pleasing table that is straight to the point and, did we mention, budget friendly?

Speaking of budget friendly decor, how about the place card table?  Make your place card table look sleek and modern by keeping it totally natural and simplistic.   We love this arrangement of small pebbles and plain white cards.  It may seem plain but it packs a punch as the pebbles and clean straight lines make it striking.

When we say minimalist, we don't mean dull. You can have a colorful, vibrant wedding bouquet, but still stick to the basics. Personally, we think a bouquet of just tulips or orchids creates a very fresh, modern look for a wedding that can still be upbeat and colorful. Tulips are also perfect for spring weddings, and taking out the filler flower just brings the focus on the long, elegant stems.

Okay, so maybe a "true" minimalist wedding wouldn't have wedding cake... but let's just ignore that tiny detail. A simple wedding cake can mean different things, such as less layers or less floral decor. Add subtle decor, such as colored ribbon and a simple topper to create a very chic and elegant dessert.

Choosing bridesmaids dresses can be overwhelming. Will everyone like the style you choose? Will they all fit? Will your best friends look absolutely ridiculous in the photos? One of the best ways to play it safe is to keep it simple. A very simple dress, such as the strapless satin pieces pictured above by Lynn Lugo, are wonderfully low maintenance and classy. Of course, depending on your bridesmaids you may need to go with a different cut, but the basic idea still works.

 Looking for an elegant dress with a no frills kind of look?  A cotton dress like this would be perfect for the minimalist bride with its crisp white and clean lines! Ditch the lace, beads, and taffeta and opt for something a little more suited to your style and overall tone of your wedding. This dress is casual but sophisticated and features just a tiny bit of pleating to make it interesting but not distracting.



XOXO

Jen + Saira

How to Make the Cut: Selecting Your Bridesmaids

While we typically like to spread out our wedding posts, recently so many couples we know have gotten engaged, so we can't help but keep posting on the issues we feel are important to the planning process.  Once you're engaged, all of a sudden you are bombarded with the big questions: when is the date, where are you getting married, what are your colors, and who will be in your bridal party? The last question is something every bride and groom struggle with because the thought of disappointing someone they care about is extremely unsettling. There are many things to consider when narrowing down your list.  Will your BFF from 3rd grade remember your pact?  Can you pick cousin Claire, but leave out cousin Cassie, without causing major family drama? Would your oldest friend be upset if you choose a new friend instead?  Of course you don't want to offend your nearest and dearest, but there are only so many people you can pick to have standing up at the alter with you (unless you want it to look like a parade). First, you'll need to decide how many people you'll have, if any. Once you have that down, then it's time to do some real soul searching.  Sometimes you just know from the start who to pick but for those of you who don't here are some tips to help select your bridesmaids and avoid any awkward encounters:

1. Family Only: Coming from a large family may be overwhelming sometimes, but at least it will help in picking bridesmaids! Rather than choosing from all of your friends, you can just tell them "Sorry, I would love to have you but we are just keeping it family only!" and they'll understand. Plus, sometimes it's that much easier to boss around family, because they can't abandon you post wedding and are pretty much forced to love you no matter how Bridezilla you may get.

2.  Representatives from Each Nation: Okay, so we're not talking about the UN here, but choosing a representative from each group or part of your life is sometimes the safest way to go. If you have a group of hometown girls, college buddies, work friends, family, and a sister-in-law to be, why not choose from each category? Obviously, this will vary based on how many groups of friends you have, how large your family is, and if you or your future hubby have a sister! For example, Jen chose her best friend (Saira!), her sister, her sister-in-law to be, and a like-a-sister close friend from home. Her college friends understood, and a few of her other close friends were asked to participate in other ways so they still felt special.

3. Assign Tasks: If you're a fan of Friends, then you may remember at Phoebe's wedding how Ross, Chandler, and Joey were upset that they weren't groomsmen.  In the end, however, they all were able to be part of the wedding, just in different roles. At Jen's wedding, Tom wanted to involve his college roommate, but had too many groomsmen, so instead the roommate got ordained and was the officiant at the wedding! Jen (as mentioned above) had her hometown friends speak at the wedding, which made them part of the ceremony. There's always having ushers, asking someone to man the guestbook (Miranda in Sex and the City!), or asking a friend or family member to perform or even act as DJ for the night. If you are creative you can easily include lots of special people in non-bridal party roles!

4. Cruel to be Kind: Sometimes, none of these neat little categories will work. So when it comes down to it, choose the number of bridesmaids you want (if your groom chose his groomsmen already, this step is much easier but keep in mind that they don't actually have to match up) and make a list of all your friends who are in the running. You'll want to consider who you have known the longest, you are closest too emotionally, you are closest to geographically, who will help you the most in planning your wedding (especially when choosing your MOH), who asked you to be a bridesmaid as well (tit for tat, baby), whether choosing one girl will make another feel too left out (if so, strike both names) and so forth. It's not exactly a science, but you can get a system going to choose your bridesmaids.

5. Flying Solo:  Sure, it's nice to have help and people standing up for you. But, if you're really stressing about the selection process, why not eliminate the bridal party or maid of honor role altogether?  This has become quite popular in recent years as being a bridesmaid is expensive and time consuming.  Save yourself the worry of hurting someones feelings and save your girls the stress of having to buy a dress, throw a shower, pay for the bachelorette party, etc. Don't want to stand up there alone?  Your parents or guardians have always been there to support you.  So, be a little different and do what this couple did and invite them to share the spotlight with you.

BOTTOM LINE: Choosing bridesmaids, and particularly your MOH, can be a little tricky, but if you're upfront and honest in your decision, your girlfriends will understand. You may actually be surprised how many girls may be relieved not to be chosen -- it is really expensive after all. Explain to your friends how much they mean to you, ask them for guidance in other aspects of wedding planning, and call it a day. After all, your bridesmaids are meant as a source of comfort for you, not stress!  In the end, it is your day and it all comes down to who will be there for you and who is the absolute most reliable.  Who will keep you sane, take charge of tasks and time management, yell at the wait staff for putting all the candles in upside down, and, after seeing you at your craziest, still manage to love you? Those are the girls you want by your side.

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

To Drink or Not to Drink, That is the Question

Today's post goes out to all you couples currently trying to decide on beverage options for your wedding.  People love weddings for many reasons: watching two people form an eternal bond, spending time with friends and families, having an excuse to dress up, the food, and of course... the open bar. Traditionally, weddings have always involved an open bar, but we've noticed a lot of couples debating this issue due to money, logistics, etc. Maybe you or someone you know is currently facing this dilemma and trying to work out what is the best option for them. If you don't drink, and your friends or family don't drink, is an open bar necessary? Here are some options to mull over:

1. Open Bar, Baby! The most popular choice at weddings is to have an open bar. Whether your venue has a bar on site, or you stock your own drinks, most couples opt for this choice because it is the most convenient  and certainly the most appealing to your guests as it lets you friends and family really relax and let loose. So, obviously we can tell you the pros, but the cons? First, when drinks are free flowing it is hard to control how much people take in and can lead to some very drunk guests.  And second, this option is expensive and depending on how you choose to do it, be it included in the cost per person or as a running tab for the night, it can really up the total cost of a wedding pretty quickly.

2. Cash Bar, Ca-Ching! This option works best if you're holding your wedding at a venue that has a bar built in, like a restaurant or hotel and does not let you supply your own liquor. Your guests can drink as little or as much as they want, and there's no pressure on you because you aren't paying for a drop. This option is preferable for a couple who is not into drinking, has friends and family who choose not to drink, or just want to cut down on costs in general. Keep in mind that even though you'll cut costs your guests might consider this to be "cheap" and charging your guests for drinks when they aren't expecting it is a bit rude and tacky. Cash bars are not the norm and if your guests are like us, they won't even think about bringing cash to the wedding... unless it's sealed in an envelope for the bride and groom.

3. Middle Ground: The best of both worlds?  Maybe. A friend of ours went to a wedding where drinks were free during cocktail hour, but afterwards it was a cash bar only. Apparently that didn't go over very well with all the guests, as many of them left after cocktail hour! While those were some very rude guests, switching from open bar to cash only in the middle of your wedding may be a little confusing.  If you do plan on doing something like this, it may be a good idea to let people know ahead of time so they can prepare (wedding websites are great for these types of announcements!!).   Or, a better middle ground may be to provide free champagne to your guests for the toast, or place a bottle of wine or champagne on each table, and then also have a cash bar for anything additional.

4. No Booze! If you and your groom don't drink, and your family doesn't drink, then why even serve alcohol? A lot of couples choose not to serve any alcohol at their wedding due to their religious, cultural, or lifestyle choices. If the wedding is at a hotel or restaurant, where a bar is otherwise available, this is really no different than having a cash bar. But if you're having your wedding at an alternative venue (i.e. museum, garden, park) then this will leave your guests high and dry. While you shouldn't have to change your preferences for your guests you should remember that they are probably shelling out a nice chunk of change to be there with you and it may be helpful and considerate to give them a heads up so they can plan accordingly (pre-game). As long as there is due notice, we don't see having a dry wedding as being a huge problem. After all, in the end, the guests are there for the bride and groom, not the gin and tonic.

Conclusion: We understand how expensive a wedding is, and particularly an open bar.  But, will your guests really have an understanding of costs?  We doubt it... unless they were recently married themselves.  We're a couple of classy ladies over here at PDR and so we think that offering your guests free beverages is the kind thing to do even if you yourself are not a drinker.  But, that doesn't mean that you need to go crazy and offer them Grey Goose martinis. Offering free drinks but limiting the options is the easiest way to ensure that your budget doesn't get thrown to the wind and your guests don't think your cheaping out on them. So, if you simply can't afford to splurge with a full bar, we suggest serving wine, champagne, and beer, and leaving the rest out completely. Or, if you really want to personalize things, you can add a mixed drink as a signature cocktail!  In the end anything you provide will be appreciated and you'll most certainly be seen as a gracious host.

Cheers!

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Light Up Your Love

When planning a wedding, the details matter. One very important detail is lighting... and we're not talking about disco balls. Most of the time, lighting isn't something you can really control, as most venues come equipped with their own form of lighting. Nonetheless, you can still add in your own touches to create a romantic or dramatic atmosphere, and create the wedding of your dreams.

For a dramatic look, add in some ambient lighting. Use colors that fit your theme to highlight certain areas. For instance, you may want to emphasize the dance floor or the bridal party's table, or dim the lighting after dinner to create a club atmosphere. Change in lighting can make a huge difference, so don't be afraid to experiment! 

Outdoor weddings usually involve tents of some kind. While tents are very practical, they can be an eyesore. That's why you should dress up your ceiling with twinkle lights. Depending on how many lights you use, it really doesn't "light up" the space, but it does create a soft glow that is very romantic. We especially love the image above, as the dark tent with the twinkle lights creates a starry night sky, which is perfect for an outdoor wedding.

Whether your wedding is indoors or outdoors, paper lanterns are both functional and lovely. They can light up an event, act as decor, or both! You can fill the ceiling with them, create patterns, or arrange them haphazardly across the ceiling. You can always opt for a simple creme color, or throw in your wedding colors as well to create a fun and vibrant atmosphere. 

We always talk about candles and how they can both decorate and light up a space. These tree tea candles are a wonderful way to create a centerpiece and add some mood lighting. The space looks lovely and magical, plus you'll save money on flowers! 

When you're dealing with a large ceilings it's sometimes hard to fill up the space. Rather than attempting to hang fabrics, lanterns, or flowers form the ceiling, try a light protection, such as this one by Elegant Event Design. It fills up the space, adds some ambiance, and is great if you're having a winter wedding (think snow flakes!)



Lights, camera, wedding!



XOXO,



Jen & Saira

Fall Wedding Tips: It's All in the Details

Traditionally, June has been the favorite month for wedding planning, but we've noticed that fall weddings are becoming increasingly popular.  Perhaps it's the warm colors, the cool weather that keeps your hair looking fierce, or the cheaper venue rental prices, but whatever the reason, we love this trend.  As we always say, details make the event.  With fall weddings, we feel like you can get very creative in planning your wedding and add little seasonal touches to really emphasize your theme.  From food to decor, here are our thoughts on how to make your fall wedding extra special:

We posted before how soup shots are a great appetizer, but how about soup instead of salad as part of your however-many-course dinner?  It's perfect for the crisp fall weather, and you can opt for a traditional type of soups (i.e. Italian wedding) or go for something more consistent with your theme (like butternut squash or pumpkin soup).  Your guests will feel comfy and cozy in no time, and the pumpkin soup looks so yummy we want to bathe in it!

Sticking with food, we've talked about how many brides are choosing cake alternatives for dessert on their big day.  Our favorite non-cake dessert is definitely pie, which is perfect for the fall.  Hot apple pie and delicious pumpkin pie are fall staples that everyone loves, and are best served in the fall.  So forgo the traditional wedding cake and opt instead for a pie table! Or, if you want a little bit of everything, then how about mini apple tarts and pumpkin pies? It's your wedding, so have fun with it. Your guests will definitely appreciate it. 

Instead of coffee with your dessert, try apple cider! It's delicious, goes with the theme, and looks too cute with the cinnamon sticks! Of course, you can always serve this during cocktail hour as well, to help keep your guests nice and cozy. 

While fall wedding colors tend to be bold and vibrant, you can still have a seasonal theme minus the orange and red.  Instead of pumpkins and applies, think harvests and crops. We love this wheat centerpiece, which is so delicate and beautiful, and provides a more muted palette for your fall wedding.

 As for your bridal bouquet, try tying it with some twine rather than with ribbon.  It will give a more rustic, country feel, and add charm to your wedding.  The (slightly major) downside is that twine is so itchy and uncomfortable! Which means while it may look shabby chic, you'll definitely be ready to toss the bouquet at evening's end.  While most brides usually don't carry around their bouquet all night anyway, this is definitely something to consider before adopting this look.

While we do think pumpkins at fall weddings are very typical, be careful not to go too far. Keep it simple with these mini pumpkin candles that help create some ambience around your center piece. It's definitely better than having legit jack-on-lanterns at your wedding, but it adds to your theme and we think it's cute and quirky.  We do think, however, that this look would look better with less bold colored flowers.  Also, use it to decorate the gift table, the card table, or any other surfaces to pull your theme together.

Another fall wedding staple are autumn leaves.  Yes, we know it's fall which means leaves are falling, and it's very cute and all, but we're aware that too many fall looks can be overkill. With that said, we think these tea lights wrapped in bright fall leaves are so beautiful and understated. It works great if your surfaces are light colored, as shown above, because it really makes the color pop without making it look cluttered. 

Here's to falling in love!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Wedding Planning: Cocktail Hour

We've decided to make this week's posts food centered. Why?  Well, we'd hardly call ourselves gluttons but we're certainly not afraid to admit how much we love to eat!  And, when planning a party or event the hardest thing trying to figure out what you'll be feeding your guests. If you have bad decor that is one thing people can forget, but have bad food (or music!!) and your guests will be talking about it for years to come, and not in a good way. Recently we've been to a bunch of weddings and we both agree on one thing - one of the best things about a wedding (in addition to seeing two people celebrate starting their lives together, blah blah blah) is the cocktail hour!

 The cocktail hour tends to feature some of the best food of the night, and is a great way for couples to experiment and really treat their guests to a delicious smorgasbord. The trick to a great cocktail hour is tasty food that requires minimal silverware, can be eaten while standing up, and won't spill all over you.  And, as always, this applies to any event or party, not just weddings.  Think birthdays, anniversary parties, New Year's Eve, casual dinner parties - the opportunities to showcase these fun foods are endless!



Here are a few suggestions on how to make your cocktail hour as yummy as you are:

1. French Fry Bar: While french fries don't instinctively seem to be wedding appropriate, they are delicious, easy to serve, and a big hit among guests. They can be served in a number of different ways, such as the traditional funnel (pictured above), in little shot glasses, in small baskets, or just buffet style. And don't forget to throw in a number of different dipping sauces a la Pommes Frites. 

Ketchup is so passé.

2. Chinese Food Take-Out: We were recently at a wedding where one of the appetizers was Chinese food served in take-out boxes! It was ingenious: chefs prepared either noodles or rice with stir fry veggies, shrimp or beef, dumped them in a takeout container, and voilà! Pure deliciousness AND it's easy eating for the guests -- just grab a set of chop sticks and you're free to mingle.

3. Pasta Bar: If lo mein isn't your type of noodle, how about some penne? A delicious wedding trend is setting up a pasta station, where guests can choose their type of noodle, sauce, and cheese for a delicious pre-wedding treat! While we do foresee potential red sauce disasters, our motto is no stain, no gain. We love this idea because not only are there so many options to choose from, but it's a good idea for guests to start carb-ing up before they hit the open bar!

4. Sushi: Serving sushi for 200+ people can be very expensive, but we just LOVE it so we had to add it to our list. Which means if you happen to have a sushi at your event, pretty please invite us! There's a variety of different types of sushi to choose from, so have fun with it! Just remember to throw in some veggie options for your vegetarian guests, as well as guests who are more hesitant to give raw fish a try!  If you can't afford to supply a whole bar, selecting one or two rolls to have passed would be a great alternative.

5. Soup in Shot Glasses: One idea that we both love, especially for fall and winter weddings, is soup served in shot glasses or espresso cups.  Think how nice it would be to have a warm sip of butternut squash soup on a chilly evening. But to take it a step even further, you can serve small portions of tomato soup with little grilled cheese bites! We think this is very cute and creative, plus very kid friendly!

6. Fried Macaroni Balls: Another kid friendly option is to serve mini fried macaroni balls! Words cannot describe how yummy they are, plus they are perfect finger food. We love old fashioned macaroni and cheese, but if you want to go a little fancier, you can opt for fried risotto balls, which are equally delicious and just a tad bit more classy.

7.  Pretty much anything miniature: Hamburgers, milkshakes, tacos, cheese steaks, crab cakes - seriously anything that can be made into a small finger sized version is sure to be a big hit with your guests.  People love these fattening and delicious staples for meals, but of course no one would eat something large and messy during cocktail hour. Make it mini and you're good to go.  Guests will love the fact that it is tiny and neat plus they'll think your awesome for  including these "comfort" kinds of foods.

XOXO,

Jen & Saira