Creative Table Numbers

When numbering your reception tables, why settle for the same old number “tent” card?  A little creativity can add a really great personal touch to each of your tables.  A fun idea to consider, during your engagement photo session, having the photographer take pictures of you and your fiancé holding up wooden numbers (1 through however many tables you have).  Then frame each of these pictures and place the frame on the table.  Much more fun and creative than the boring old tent card.

Another personal touch is to add pictures of you and your fiancé that correspond to the table number.  For example, on table number 1, place an assortment of pictures of you and your fiance at age one.  Table number two…..two year old pictures, and so on and so forth.  That will really get your guests talking and even serve as an “ice breaker” for tables mates who don’t know each other quite so well.

My most recent couple decided to name their tables instead of numbering them.  They chose places and things that held huge signficance in their lives.  For example, in this picture below, the table is named the Forest Hill Bridge.  This is where the groom proposed to the bride.

Along the table name line, one of my clients is celebrating her Bat Mitvah next month.  The theme for the reception is theater since she is very into plays and musicals.  So for the table names, we are using the names of her favorite plays and musicals, many of which she has acted in.  Each name is being printed out to look like the front of a playbill and will be placed in frames on the tables.

If your budget is tight, consider incorporating your table numbers into your centerpieces.  Think of something like those little white trees you see at Easter time (all branches no leaves) and hanging little numbers from the branches.  You could easily cut the numbers from cardstock and then add some embossing powder or glitter to them.  A ribbon hanger in your wedding colors adds the perfect touch.  Sprinkle some rose petals around the table and add votive candles for a finished and elegant look that doesn’t break the bank.

Just remember, don’t settle for the “same old, same old” when it comes to numbering your tables.  A little creativity can really make your wedding stand out from the rest!

Happy Planning!

Karen

Serrano Wedding

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to be the coordinator for Hope and Steven.  The day started with a full nuptial mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in El Dorado Hills.  Immediately following the ceremomy, the reception was held at the equally beautiful Serrano Country Club, also in El Dorado Hills.  The views of the hills and Folsom Lake (especially at sunset) from Serrano’s ballroom are just spectacular.  Some fun, personal touches to the decor included tables names that were significant to the couple (special places, favorite movie, favorite drinks) as well as an adorable wooden birdhouse that the bride’s father handmade to hold the cards.  After the wedding, the couple can take the cards out and use the bird house in the backyard of their new home.  How special is that?! 

Many thanks to all the vendors, as well as Serrano, for working so hard to make Hope and Steven’s day so special and perfect.  Here are some pictures I took with my “less than perfect” camera.  As always, when I get the professional pictures back, I will post them too.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope and Steven, many thanks to you and your family for choosing me as your wedding coordinator.  I wish you two nothing but the best in your life….congratulations!

Fabulous Fall Centerpiece

While sifting through the pile of magazines in Kaiser’s waiting room this week, I came across the latested issue of Better Homes and Garden.  My eyes were immediately drawn to the fabulous and really cool centerpiece on the front cover:

 Here is the URL in for a more close-up picture (I could only get the picture to post so big on my blog): http://www.bhg-digital.com/bhg/200910#pg1

I just LOVE the colors in this centerpiece.  It’s that tangerine orange and lime green color combination that I’m so drawn to.  Yet, it’s done in a somewhat understated way to make it fit perfectly for a Fall theme.  And all those different textures really add visual interest.  These centerpieces would make a HUGE statement for very little impact to your budget.  I really see something like this working perfectly on long banquet tables (several all lined up down the middle of the table).

How perfect would something like this look for a Fall wedding or party?! 

Happy Planning!

Karen

Hotel Del Coronado Wedding

This weekend I had the honor and privilege of being the wedding coordinator for Dave and Melanie’s wedding.  The wedding was held at the world famous and very historical Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego.  “The Del”  has been rated the number one wedding destination by the Travel Channel and I can see why.  What an amazing place for a wedding!   The ceremony was on the Del’s beautiful Windsor Lawn which has a fantastic view of the ocean behind it.  The weather was just perfect, not too hot and not too cold, with a gentle breeze blowing off the ocean.  After the ceremony, the guests enjoyed cocktails and appetizers on the lawn.  An hour later, the guests entered the amazing Ballroom at the Del for the lunch time reception.  The panoramic view from this gorgeous ballroom are simply breath-taking!  Blue ocean as far as the eye can see.  Melanie and Dave were such a wonderful couple and their guests had a great time dancing their feet off at the reception.  They were still going strong by the time it ended.  Not to worry though, there was an after-party bonfire on the beach later that evening to continue the celebration.  Here are a few pictures I took with my own camera.  They aren’t the greatest so I will certainly share the professional ones once they arrive.  Congratulations Dave and Melanie!  May you have a long, wonderful, and happy marriage!

 

 

Waste of Money Items

Having been in the wedding industry for quite a few years now, over and over, I see things that end up being a complete waste of a couple’s money and resources.  For some reason, couples get it into their heads that they MUST have these things at their weddings.  Well, I’m hear to tell you that these MUST have items are usually a complete waste of money.

Number one item on my list……disposable cameras on the tables.  COMPLETE waste of money.  Nine times out of ten, you end up with a bunch of half-used cameras.  You’ll find yourself finishing up those rolls of film on pictures of your pets instead .  Then when you get the pictures back from the developer, you be lucky if you have more than ten “nice” ones (probably the ones you took of your pets, not the ones from the wedding) in the bunch.  Oh, and as guests have more and more to drink, the pictures get weirder and weirder.  By the time you add up the cost of the cameras plus the cost to develop the film, you’ve wasted hundreds of dollars.  My advice, use that money towards upgrading your professional photography.

Favors that aren’t food.  As I’m clearing and cleaning up tables after a wedding reception, if the favor isn’t food, it’s often left behind by the guest.  Trust me, your guests don’t care about your favorite songs on a CD or a personalize picture frame of you.  These items will either get left behind or simply thrown away when the guest gets home.  Now, items that are the exception to this seem to be candles and flower seeds.  Those do tend to be taken by the guest.  When designing your favor, do try to put yourself in your guest’s shoes.  Think about what you would want to take home as a favor if your were the guest.

Personlized cocktail napkins.  They are cute to have at the bar but most guests won’t even notice them.  The drink is usually served with the glass on top of the napkin.  Save yourself some money and just let the venue provide the cocktail napkins instead.

Programs.  Another item that is usually left behind in the ceremony seat.  Programs can be very useful if the majority of your guests are not familiar with your religious or cultural customs.  However, the majority of the weddings I’ve attended do not have this issue.  So, unless your ceremony is a particularly long, complicated one or requires a lot of “crowd participation”, like responding to prayers or songs, then don’t bother with this extra expense.  Use the extra money towards upgrading your invitations instead.

These are just a few ways that deleting some less important items from your wedding can add up to a big windfall in your overall budget.

Happy Planning!

Karen