Eloping: Not Just for the Money

Many young girls spend a lot of their time dreaming about having a big, elaborate, beautiful wedding. Usually, as they get older, these dreams remain the same. But more and more women are choosing to have small, intimate ceremonies – or no ceremony at all.

In the past, eloping has sometimes been looked down upon as a way to avoid a scandal. Today, it’s becoming more acceptable, and much more practical.

Perhaps the most common reason to elope is to save money. It’s no secret that weddings are expensive. Renting a venue, catering food for hundreds of people, paying a professional photographer, and everything else really adds up to a big bill. Eloping means you can spend more money on your honeymoon – or save more for the future.

You’ll also be helping other people save money. You won’t have a bridal party who will have to buy dresses or rent suits. You won’t have guests who have to buy gifts for you. Your guests won’t have to spend money on travelling.

There are quite a few more valid reasons to consider eloping.  There can be a lot of drama with weddings. Family members not getting along, friends feeling excluded, and stepping on the wrong person’s toes can all be avoided by keeping the guest list to just the two of you.

An elopement also increases the intimacy of your marriage. A big ceremony often ends up being a big show for your guests. When it’s just you and your partner, you can focus on each other and your love and commitment to each other. 

If you’re concerned about money, or any of the other examples listed above, but still want to celebrate with a large group, there are ways to do that. You could have a small ceremony with just your immediate family and then have a large reception. You could also elope and have a reception when you return from your honeymoon.

The most important thing about eloping is to make sure you and your partner are both in agreement. Talk through all of your options and make a decision together!

Image Credits:  'We Eloped' Couple on Beach, Eloping is In, Elopement Ceremony

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes for My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as creates multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.

Introducing...The Bridal Party

Everyone knows the wedding is about the bride (and maybe a little bit about the groom). But the bridal party plays a huge role, mostly behind the scenes, and they deserve to be recognized for their hard work.

 

There are easy ways to make sure the bridal party gets this acknowledgement, but there are also creative, fun ways to introduce your closest friends and family to all of your guests.

 

Traditional Introductions

Make sure your MC or DJ knows the correct order the bridal party will be entering in the reception, as well as how to pronounce their names. The minimum the DJ should say is their first and last name and role in the bridal party. Something else you can consider adding is how they each know the bride or groom. Another fun tidbit to add is just a fun fact about each person. For example, “John Doe is the best man and was the groom’s roommate and wingman in college—he’s the one who introduced the groom to the bride!”

 

Don’t forget to introduce the ring bearer and flower girl!

 

It’s common to put information about the bridal party in the program for your guests to read, and while this is helpful, it can be impersonal and doesn’t give them a chance to put names to faces.  Consider putting in a small photo next to each member of the bridal party along with a short bio.  Weddings are about joining two families, but the bride and groom need to facilitate this, and the best way to start this is to introduce the bridal party.

 

Other Tips for Formal Introductions

 

Make sure your bridal party is comfortable with each other. Even if they don’t know each other before the ceremony, encourage them to spend some time together, since they will be walking and dancing together all day.

 

Enter the reception hall excited. When your guests see you and your bridal party having a great time, they will be more excited and will participate in the festivities more eagerly.

 

Communicate well with your DJ or MC. If you have hired a professional, he or she will have lots of ideas for how to spice up your introductions and can facilitate the whole procession.

Creative Introductions

 

Encourage your wedding party to do something fun as they enter your reception.  Choreograph a dance routine and have the members of your bridal party waltz, tango, or wobble their way into the reception hall. Let each couple decide individually which dance they want to use for their entrance.

 

Use props: find toys or other props that fit your theme and have your bridal party use them during their introductions.  This bridal party entered to the song Thrift Shop sporting their best thrift store attire.

 

 

Still not sold with these introductions? Consider this:

 

 

At this wedding, the bride and groom put together a meet the bridal party table. All you need to do is put each person’s name, picture, and some information about them in a picture frame. Here are some ideas for what to include in the information section:

• How they know the bride/groom
• Where they’re from
• A fun fact
• A funny quote from them that was said at some point during the wedding planning

These picture frames don’t have to be for just the bridal party, either. You can include the parents of the bride and groom, the ring bearer, the flower girl, and anyone else you think deserves one!

 

However you choose to do the introductions, make sure you include a big thank you to all those who helped to make your day special.

Image Credits: Wedding Party Photos, Wedding party booklet, Thrift Shop Entrance, Meet the maids and grooms

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes for My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as creates multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.

 

Ethical Engagement Rings by Brilliant Earth

If you haven't heard of the folks over at Brilliant Earth, than you are in for a treat.  Brilliant Earth offers only the finest crafted jewelry using the most ethical harvesting practices.  And with such a commitment to socially and environmentally responsible practices, you can bet they will put just as much passion and enthusiasm into crafting your perfect diamond engagement ring.

Brilliant Earth was founded by Beth Gerstein and Eric Grossberg in 2005.  Beth and Eric truly believe that luxury goods need not come at great human or environmental cost.  "It is with our customers' help that we are cultivating a more humane jewelry industry, one stunning piece of jewelry at a time."

And if this company couldn't get any more perfect, Brilliant Earth donates a share of their profits to support underdeveloped communities ravaged by the jewelry industry.

Check out some of these recently purchased beauties from Brilliant Earth's customers.  To see more gorgeous pieces, visit their site at http://www.brilliantearth.com/

A web designer, photographer, mother, wife, lover of the outdoors and all things crafty, Allison is the marketing director for and regular contributor to My Wedding Reception Ideas where you can find more helpful wedding tips, advice and ideas from Allison and other wedding experts.

How to Create a Tasteful Memorial at Your Wedding

A wedding is a beautiful ceremony celebrating the union of two people, but it’s also so much more than that. A marriage brings together two families. This is why it is so important to honor your deceased family members in some way to celebrate the part they've played in bringing you to this moment.

 

Recently, couples have set aside a small part of their ceremony to light a candle. Typically, this candle has the names of the departed persons and a short verse. While this brief memorial service is beautiful and appreciated, it is also a solemn break from what is otherwise a joyous day. Your guests who are not family or who did not know the people you are remembering can often feel interrupted or confused, simply because they don’t feel the same way about your family members as you do.

 

Other Memorial Options

 

There are many other ways to remember these special people without causing any kind of break in your ceremony or reception.

 

• Place a single rose in the bride’s bouquet that is a different color from the rest. This is more
  

  

  effective if the bouquet is only one or two colors, because the memorial rose will stand out from the rest.
• Attach a picture of the deceased to the bride’s bouquet in the form of a memorial buckle. If other bridesmaids are related, they can each have a picture of someone.
• Write a short statement in the wedding program (typically seen placed on the back or at the end of program):

  “Today we would like to remember our lost loved ones who cannot be here with us to celebrate. 

  First name, relationship to bride/groom 

  Gone but not forgotten”

• Reserve a seat for each deceased family member by placing a single rose and a name card on the chair.
• At the reception, set up a small table with pictures of each person you want to remember, a short poem, and a candle. In this situation, a battery-operated candle may be better than a wax candle, since you won’t be able to watch the open flame during your reception.

 

If you are having a small wedding with family members making up the majority of the guest list, you might want to stick to the memorial candle tradition, since it will mean more to the guests. If you decide you want some sort of memorial service at your wedding, choose to do something that will be meaningful to you, your partner, and the loved ones you are honoring. Your guests, whether they know the deceased or not, will appreciate a small but significant memorial display more than an extravagant presentation.  For other ways to incorporate memorials into your wedding, come check us out here.

 

 

Image Credits: Memorial candle holder, Memory bouquet charms, Memorial table setting, Memorial ladder

 

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes for My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as creates multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.

Difficult Engagement Situations and How to Deal with Them

You may expect everything to go smoothly while you are engaged, and it will for the most part. You and your fiancé will be blissfully in love. Unfortunately, you’ll also get a lot of unwanted questions, suggestions, and criticism from everyone in your life. Here’s how to deal with some of them.

 

1. I’m going to be in the wedding party, right?

 

This assumption could come from almost anyone you know: your younger, too-cool-for-you brother or your roommate from your freshman year of college. The first thing for you to remember is to not let anyone pressure you. It’s your wedding, so you make all the decisions. If the question persists, it is best to try and let the person down easy from the beginning.  Don't drag it out longer than necessary.  Tell them you are taking your time with the decision and that you are considering a small bridal party.  You can also consider including that person in a different way in your wedding.  Such as, making them a reader at your ceremony or an usher.  Your friends and family don’t have to be in the bridal party in order to play an important role!

 

2. Let me help with the wedding planning!

 

This statement can be a huge relief when it comes from someone close to you, but you will hear it often from people you don’t know very well. It’s fine to accept help from anyone who offers, but be sure that they are trustworthy and will actually follow through with their offers.  Also, any helpers will need to know your expectations for the wedding and tell them that you get the final say in any and every decision. Don’t hesitate to say no if the planning takes a turn you don’t want it to.  It is very easy for wedding ideas to spin out of control when there are too many opinions in the mix.  Be firm on this one.  Your helpers will actually thank your ability to delegate in the end.

 

3. The traditions you start with your fiancé now will stay that way forever.

 

Getting married means combining ones lives for better or worse.  Living arrangements are simply something many couples don't consider.  This goes from the big, extended family traditions to smaller things like who does which chore. Choosing between families for holidays can be a difficult decision, but you can always alternate by year. This year, go to his family’s Thanksgiving dinner and her family’s Christmas party. Next year, switch. If you are able to, consider going to both families’ parties. Another option is to host your own holiday meal so both families can come together to celebrate.

As for smaller traditions that you set, don’t fret! Try making a chore calendar for you and your partner to follow in the beginning.  Eventually, you both will get used to each other's habits and which one of you prefers the dishes over the laundry. More importantly, though, you’ll need to learn to just go with it. Your lives will change as the years go by. You’ll become a team and be able to deal with situations like this together.

4. The wedding is all about the bride, right?

Throughout your engagement, your friends and family are going to be making a huge fuss over you as the bride.  Between the wedding dress, the color palette, and the decorations, people are going to be looking at you because let's face it, the wedding is all about the bride right?  Well, no.  This is simply just not true.

A wedding is about the bride and groom coming together in love as one. The day is just as important and significant for the groom as it is for the bride. Be sure to make your fiancé feel included in any way you possibly can.  Put together a special date night before the big day to relieve wedding planning stresses.  Consider putting together a little just because gift to let him know you are thinking of him.  Include him in the planning by letting him choose the wedding party gifts, the flavor of the cake, and the guest favors.

Your wedding is about you and your spouse starting a new life together. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and there’s a good chance it won’t be the perfect day either of you want, but it will be beautiful and special and that’s all that you really need.

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes for My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as creates multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.

Winter Wedding Menu Ideas

Between the warmth of indoor heating, a roaring fireplace, and winter apparel, sometimes your typical catered wedding menu can leave guests feeling tired and sluggish.  Making kicking off their shoes and dancing the night away the last thing on their mind.  To keep the party going at your winter wedding, you’ll want food that warms your guests without being so heavy that eating wears them out.

Main Dishes

This means you’ll need to skip the greasy and fried foods which are prone to making you feel sluggish.  Keep your menu items high in protein and low in fat.  Think steak, chicken, fish, and veggies or try appetizer-sized dishes instead of large courses.  If comfort food is a must at your winter wedding, make it miniature! Serving bite sized portions is adorable and will allow guest to fill up on other less heavy alternatives.

Also, remember you still want most of your items served hot to keep guests warm and cozy in the winter chill.  A broth based soup and salad bar is a sometimes a better option than a heavy meat or side dish because it will fill your guests up without producing after-dinner sleepiness.

Drinks

A must-have at your winter drink table is hot chocolate. Put candy canes, marshmallows, and other toppings in small dishes next to the cups so people can make their own cocoa creations.  Serve glasses of baileys or milk with coffee ice cubes in them.  Warm apple cider and eggnog are also seasonal favorites.  Consider setting out tea with honey, coffee, or a hot toddy station for a lightweight option that will give guests a pick me up.

If you have one, a Keurig machine would work well for this sort of a set-up. You’ll need hot chocolate, coffee, and tea K-cups with extra pitchers of water to refill the machine. You can put all of your toppings and add-ins on the table next to it.

Dessert Bar

Don’t go easy on the chocolate or the food dye, here. Chocolate-covered anything screams winter party and red and green will make your dessert table look festive for a holiday wedding. If you’re trying to avoid a Christmas theme like the plague, stick with browns, blues, or deep/icy purples with silver or gold accents.

A soft pretzel station or roasted chestnut station is a cute twist on traditional dessert bar ideas.  Candied almonds, or any kind of nut, are great for guests to snack on because they’ll get energy from the sugar and protein from the nuts, so they’ll be on the dance floor in no time!

Favors and Guest Gifts

A great favor for a winter wedding menu is a cup of hot chocolate or coffee with a donut hole to-go. Especially if the reception ends late or if your guests have a long drive, they’ll need a pick-me-up to get home and are sure to appreciate the gesture.  Be sure and include personalized to-go cups or cup cozies to let guests know to take one with them.  (more cup ideas here)

Along the same lines, a pre-mixed hot chocolate kit packaged in a mug or mason jar would make an adorable take home gift idea.  Pine tree saplings, tree ornaments, and personalized throw blankets or mittens are cute favors as well and will ensure your guests have something to help them remember your wedding in the upcoming months, rather than just that night.

Image Credits:  Hot chocolate bar, Wedding menu sign, Mini pot-pies, Kale soup, Grilled cheese and tomato soup, Hot chocolate bar, Milk and coffee cubes, Hot toddy station, Chocolate candy buffet

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes for My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as creates multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.

How to Choose Your Wedding Colors

One of the biggest decisions you will make when planning your wedding is picking the color scheme. The dresses and tuxes, decorations, flowers, and sometimes even the venue depend on the colors you choose.

Follow these easy steps to make the best decision concerning the colors for your wedding:

1. Use your favorite shade. Start with a color you absolutely love, and then find accent colors that complement it well.  Choose either tonal shades or a contrasting pop of color.
2. Consider the setting. What does your venue look like? What color are the floor, walls, curtains, and other decorations? If there is already a strong color scheme, you should consider working with those colors. If you’re set on a particular color, look for a venue with a more neutral color scheme.
• Tip: Older historical buildings tend to have strong patterns that may clash with your own colors, so make sure you pay attention to those factors.
3. Prepare for multiple color schemes. Sometimes the location of the ceremony and the location of the reception have very different colors or tones. You may need to have two color schemes for decorations or two major colors with accent colors that connect the two locations.
   
4. Pick colors based on your favorite flower or bouquet. If you don’t have a favorite color, but do have a favorite flower, use the flower to decide on a color scheme. Pick the color of the bloom that you like best and then choose accent colors to match.
5. Choose colors bases on your style. Are you a vintage bride?  Vintage color schemes tend to be more muted or rustic.  Modern aesthetic?  Modern weddings infuse bright pops of colors and bold patterns.  Romantic? Choose colors that are soft and feminine.
6. Consider the season or time of year. Similar to number four, look at the colors in nature at the time of your wedding and pick a color scheme that complements what you see outside.
• Tip: You’ll have to plan in advance for this one!
• Tip: Pastels and bright colors look best during the spring and summer while variations of one particular shade are better for fall or winter weddings.
7. How many colors should you have? Up to five colors is fairly normal for weddings. However, multiple color schemes take careful planning and you need to make sure you aren’t overwhelming your wedding with too many colors. Two shades of one color and one complementary color tend to be the best option if you want multiple colors.
8. Remember the clothes. Some colors just don’t look good on anyone. When you are picking a color scheme, remember you will have to pick dresses for the wedding party in at least one of those colors.

If you want your color scheme to match your personality, consider these descriptions of colors:

• Red: passionate, loyal, impulsive, luxurious, dramatic
• Orange: spicy, zesty, fun-loving, spontaneous, boisterous, trendy
• Yellow: spiritual, cheerful, sweet, outdoorsy
• Green: wise, balanced, harmonized, affectionate, refined
• Blue: tranquil, patient, wise, balanced, lovable
• Introspective: royal or pale blue
• Extroverted: turquoise or aqua
• Purple: outgoing, tolerant, witty, charming, sweet, passionate
• Pink: compassionate, sweet, feminine, demure, romantic
• Black: elegant, classic, mysterious, dignified, sexy, sophisticated
• Rainbow: trendy, unconventional, fun, playful

If you’re having a seasonal or holiday-themed wedding, you might want to stick to theses tried and true seasonal color schemes.

• Spring: pale, not much contrast: think of the first blooms of the year
• Shades of purple, pink, or green
• Use soft palettes of watercolors and pastels
• Summer: hot or bright pops of color: think of your favorite parts of summer, such as swimming, fireworks, and popsicles
• Avoid all-over neon which can overwhelm the senses
• Use paler colors with bright accents instead
• Autumn: earthy tones: think of falling leaves, bare trees
• Persimmon, dark mossy green, deep marigold
• Neutrals with chocolate browns
• Winter: rich tones to contrast the bareness of winter: think of the holidays – Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day
• Rich shades of red, blue, or purple
• Metallics

Lastly, don't forget to check out wedding inspiration boards on our blog here or at places like Pinterest.  You can also consider using a website like Design Seeds which automatically puts together pretty palettes for ideas and inspiration.  Whatever color scheme you choose, make sure it’s one you love. Don’t just pick the colors that are forecasted to be hot or popular this year. Remember, it’s your wedding and you get to make all the decisions.

Image Credits: Hanging bridesmaids dresses, Fuchsia and orange bouquet, Tonal bridesmaids dresses, Rustic barn venue, New Year sparkle palette

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes for My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as creates multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.

10 Wedding Flowers that Thrive During the Winter

One of the most common words people use to describe foliage during the winter months is bare. We don’t usually think of winter as the time for beautiful blooming flowers.  When we do think of flowers that bloom during winter, however, most people tend to think of poinsettias first. If you’re anything like me, poinsettias aren't your typical wedding flower – they belong in Christmas decorations.  Listed below are flowers that are perfect for winter ceremonies, accent colors and decorations. Some of them may even surprise you!

1) Cyclamen - With their deep colors and frosted tips, cyclamens are so close to a perfect winter flower it’s scary. The blooms come in different shades of white, pink, and red and have heart-shaped leaves. These flowers look great by themselves or with small light-colored flowers as an accent.

2) Iceland Poppy - Iceland Poppy flowers come in a variety of colors and bloom on long slender stems. Shades of orange and pink, yellow, cream, and white coordinate nicely with clusters of small blooming flowers, such as ranunculus, garden spray roses, seeded eucalyptus, or baby's breath.

3) Calendula - These flowers tend to run from orange to yellow in color, including apricot and cream. The color scheme provided by these flowers looks great together, especially when trying to add a pop of color to bouquets.

4) Candytuft - Candytufts have long stems with small blooms and are pure white with evergreen leaves.  Candytuft has a soft, feminine quality and looks great with clusters of smaller flowers, such as Erica (heather).  They also create a statement when paired with larger blooms like roses, cosmos, or poppies.

5) Hellebores - These blooms are usually bell or cup-shaped and can be any color from white to green to purple, or even a combination of those colors.  Pair hellebores with seeded eucalyptus, roses, ranunculus, stock or simply use on its own for a statement bouquet.

6) Stock - This feminine flower is great as a filler or accent flower. It also works well in centerpieces because it grows wide rather than tall, which means your guests will be able to see each other over the decorations.

7) Winter Jasmine - With its vine-like appearance, winter jasmine will add whimsy to a winter bouquet.  Seen with bright yellow or white blooms, add this into your bouquet as an accent or filler flower. 

8) Kale - This unexpected vegetable will add a punch to any winter bouquet.  If choosing ornamental kale for its giant, frilly blooms, you can opt to use the flowers or decorative foliage itself. The flowers bloom in lavender, rose, and yellow. Use long-stemmed single-bloom white flowers to fill your bouquet.

9) Pinecones, Nuts, and Berries - So, these aren’t flowers, but they can still look stunning in a winter bouquet. Consider dipping the tips of pine cones in glitter to give your bouquet sparkle. Nuts and berries are a festive accent to any winter bouquet and should be considered as a must-have filler item for any of the flowers listed here.

10) Dusty Miller - While not necessarily a thriving winter bloom, dusty miller can easily be found all year round through any florist and it's striking silver color lends perfectly to the season.


Image Credits:  Winter berry bouquet, Cyclamen, Iceland Poppy, Calendula, Candytuft, Hellebores, Stock, Winter Jasmine, Kale, Pinecones, Dusty Miller

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes for My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as creates multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.

Kick off your marriage with a sports-themed wedding

Stereo-typically, guys are the ones who love sports, but there’s no rule that says a girl has to be all dresses and lace.  Girls can love sports just as much! If you and your partner are sports fanatics, consider having a sports-themed wedding! There are many great ways to incorporate sports into your reception and plenty of ways to keep your guests entertained with this theme. You can choose almost any season, depending on which sport you pick, of course!

Color Palette

It’s easy to pick a color scheme for a sports themed wedding.  Simply pull from your favorite college or pro team! And since most teams’ colors don’t clash, you won’t have to worry about overwhelming your guests’ senses with color.  Be sure to stick to two main colors and limit your accents colors to ensure your palette is cohesive throughout your wedding.

Favors & Decor

You have tons of options here: sport-shaped cookies, baseball cards, peanuts and cracker jacks, or even hacky-sacks as a nod to college. Homemade treats like chocolate buckeyes are a great way to tie in the name of a sports team such as the Ohio State Buckeyes.  Don't forget the decorations.  Try to incorporate as many team related details as possible.  The cake, banners, streamers, tablecloths, flowers, and napkins all come together to tell a story.  For a unique twist, items like personalized cups and team pennant banners double as both decoration and guest favors.

Invitations

Start out by ensuring your guests are prepared for a sports theme: design invitations or save-the-dates to look like tickets to a sporting event or baseball cards.

Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties

Make team jerseys with names like bride, groom, maid-of-honor, and best man.  Have both parties go to a game together and then split up for the after party.

The Guest Book

Instead of having your guests sign a traditional book, have them sign a football/basketball/soccer ball, jersey, or helmet. This will look great displayed on a mantel after the wedding!

Location

Consider having your wedding and/or reception in a stadium. Imagine getting married on the 50 yard line or on home plate. You won’t have to worry about decorating, the menu (most stadiums require you to use their own caterers), or having enough space for everyone. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to reserve the stadium at least a year in advance.

Reception

Have plenty of games for your guests to play – backyard football, cornhole/bags, and Frisbee are all great games your guests can enjoy.

If you’re getting married on a game day, consider having a TV in the reception hall so you can all cheer on your team. You’ll have to schedule your first dance, cutting the cake, and other traditions for the commercials, though, so make sure your DJ plans for this.

Image Credits: Redskins Jersey, Football Cups, Bachelorette Jerseys, Baseball Wedding

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes for My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as creates multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.

Wedding Inspiration for the Southern Bride

Are you a southern, country gal at heart? Do you love the home of country music, drawling accents, fried chicken, and farming? Let your wedding reflect the best of Dixieland!  Of course, there are many more aspects that give the south the dynamic environment that everyone loves. Here’s how to find the southern finest and mold it into your dream wedding.

Southern Wedding Bouquets

Light colors:

1. Peonies
2. Hydrangeas
3. Astilbe
4. White Anemones
5. Viburnum

Bright colors:

1. Sunflowers
2. Black-Eyed Susans
3. Orange Calla Lilies
4. Snapdragons
5. Ranunculus

Southern Wedding Cakes

1. A monogrammed wedding cake is a classic look in the south, and generally looks best with simple decorative icing and no topper.
2. Follow the Peach State’s lead and garnish your cake with this delicious fruit!
3. If you don’t like peaches, try strawberries and blackberries, or other berries that are in season.
4. For a wedding in a rustic setting, decorate the cake to look like a bird’s nest, with two birds on the top in place of bride and groom figurines.
5. Show off your gardening skills with a cupcake garden. Match the cupcake designs to your bouquet or compliment it with other Southern favorites from the list above!
6. Pearls are one of the tell-tale signs of a southern lady. Wrap a strand of pearls around the base of your cake tiers to give it a sophisticated look.

Tips for the Reception

1. Hold your reception in a barn. The high ceiling will make the space feel more open, there are many options for decorating, and you’ll still have a simple, relaxed feel.
2. Burlap tablecloths give your tables an organic, on-the-farm feel.
3. You can also use small burlap sacks for bags for your favors.
4. Home-cooked meals are one of the first things people think of when they describe the south. If you can, serve food that is homemade. If you can’t, stick with familiar, comfort food.

Most importantly, remember that one of the things the south is best known for is its warm, welcoming hospitality. Keeping your wedding simple.  Using things that remind you of home are the best ways to capture the heart of the south.

Image Credits: Citrus bouquet, Peach wedding cake, Nebraska barn wedding, Bridesmaids, Burlap favor bags, Couple with dogs, Groomsmen, Rings on rope

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes for My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as creates multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.

Dance the Night Away at Your Wedding Without Looking Like a Headless Chicken

Although very few people are actually born with two left feet, this seems to be our favorite excuse for not getting out on the dance floor. Whether we’re nervous, scared, or actually just a really bad dancer, we’ll do just about whatever it takes to stay in our seats or against a wall.

It can also be intimidating to watch professionals dance, whether it be in a competition or in a music video. Remind yourself that they have been training and dancing for years and years. You don’t have to be a professional to have fun on the dance floor.

There is no shame in taking dance lessons with your partner before you’re married. In fact, it’s a pretty great idea. You’ll become comfortable with dancing together and you’ll be able to rehearse your dance so you know exactly what to do. If you take private dance lessons, you’ll be able to dance to the song you chose for your first dance, which will make you even more comfortable on your wedding day.

For dancing in general, there are some things you can do to make you feel better about your dancing.

• Start simple: step out with your left foot and back in, then out with your right foot and back in. Keep your steps in time with the music.
• Keep your knees slightly bent and your arms loose and relaxed.
• Watch yourself in a mirror. That may sound terrifying, but you’ll be able to see which moves look good and which moves you should avoid. However, if you find yourself feeling too self-conscious or embarrassed, just forget the mirror.
• If you do feel self-conscious while dancing, remember:
• Don’t take people’s criticisms seriously. Many of them are only being critical because they are embarrassed of their own dancing.
• Focus on the movement and the music rather than the technicalities of what you are doing. This will allow you to stop worrying and develop “muscle memory.”
• You can watch videos to learn dances. Some songs (such as the Electric Slide or Cupid Shuffle) have specific dances that you can easily learn from the video. Other music videos will have moves that are generic to that type of music.
• Dress well! If you are confident about your appearance, you’ll be more confident about your moves.
• Take a friend. It’s always easier to do something you’re nervous about when you have a friend with you.
• If the crowd on the dance floor is sparse, stand somewhat close to someone who is drawing a lot of attention. Everyone else’s focus will be on that person.
• Look like you’re having fun. Smile, laugh, make eye contact with others, and act like you know what you are doing. Even if you’re nervous, no one will be able to tell and your confidence will make others more likely to copy your moves.
• If you don’t think you can act confident enough to do your own thing, just watch what the people around you are doing. Don’t copy one person the entire night, but pick up a few moves from others and use those.

As long as you’re having fun, no one will care that you think you don’t know what you’re doing. Weddings are celebrations, so show everyone you are celebrating by dancing the night away however you want to.

Come back next week for traditional wedding dances you can try your new-found confidence on!

Photo Credits: Bride and groom dancing, Ballroom wedding dance, Wedding line dance

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes for My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as creates multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.

How To Make A Courtesy Basket

Styling a reception bathroom is perhaps one of last things on a brides mind and not the most appealing.  Luckily for you, with one quick addition it’s easy to turn a bland bathroom in a little retreat for your guests.  Cue wedding courtesy baskets.

Courtesy baskets are small baskets full of toiletries and other necessities for your guests to utilize during their trips to the restroom.  To start, you’ll need a medium-sized basket and decorative fabric or ribbon. Either a square or a circle basket will work just fine, as long as the opening at the top is wide. Use the fabric to cover the bottom of the basket or tie the ribbons on for a splash of color.

Next, put the courtesy items in the basket.  Don’t overcrowd them, because the basket will get messy as guests use the items throughout the night.

What to include in your baskets

There are many things you could include in your courtesy basket. What you choose to add will depend on your setting and budget. Here’s a list of some ideas for your own basket:

The Basics - Add the following items to baskets for both the men and women:

• Advil/Tylenol
• Cough drops
• Kleenex
• Mouthwash/gum/mints
• Toothpicks

• Safety pins/Sewing kit
• Mini first-aid kit
• Lint roller
• Hand sanitizer
• Tide-To-Go pen

For the Women you will also want to include the following necessities:

• Deodorant
• Tampons/pads
• Bobby pins/hair ties/clips
• Hair brush
• Perfume

• Lotion
• Hairspray
• Lipstick/chapstick
• Clear nail polish for pantyhose snags

Men will appreciate a few extra comfort items of their own including:

• Deodorant
• Comb

• Razors
• Cologne

Well-stocked - A well-stocked bathroom basket should also include the following items for both men and women:

• Rolaids
• Tums
• Q-tips
• Eye drops
• Floss
• Contact solution

• Tweezers
• Manicure set
• Extra band aids
• Bug spray
• Sunscreen
• Dryer sheets (to remove deodorant stains)

There are, of course, many other things you could include. It’s up to you to pick and choose to decide what your guests might need.

The finishing touches

Set your full basket on a small table or stool next to the toilets. You might like to include a note or small sign explaining the basket to your guests and requesting that they only use what they need so that everyone can utilize the basket. This note could be as simple as a piece of cardstock folded in half, or you could put a piece of paper in a picture frame to make it a little more formal. You could write a sentence or two or you could write a short poem, such as one of these:

~~~~

So happy you’re here sharing our special day
But just in case something should go astray:
Please help yourself to the contents within
Mouthwash, hand lotion or ibuprofen
Use what you need, and just leave the rest
For it may be useful to some other guest!
Repair the damage that may have been done,
Then quick!  Hurry back and join in the fun!

~~~~

If your skin feels dry, your hair out of place,
Your throat is parched, or whatever the case.
We've put this together to help you along,
Now get yourself out there before the next song!

With so much happening on your wedding day, it’s easy to miss little details like this, but your guests will be so grateful when they see that you’ve thought of their every last need.

Image Credits:  It Weddings Florida, Weddingbee

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes for My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as creates multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.