Wedzu – Like Etsy for Weddings!

Wow, how did I miss this site?! Why have I not read about it on every single wedding blog? (Or have I…? errr…) I just found out about Wedzu, which is literally like Etsy for all-things-wedding-related. Check out some of these gorgeous finds. It’s times like these when I wish I could have another wedding! (Maybe a vow renewal is in order, haha)

I am drooling over these white topaz 14k gold leaf branch earrings… $62. But really, wouldn’t these look fab on your Bridesmaids?

I wasn’t nearly stylish enough to pull one of these off at my own wedding (nor were they “in” at the time) but if I could choose any fascinator now, I would choose this white and gold feather and lace fascinator. For $58!!!

Sob. I really want this too… Darcy navy clutch with the cutest white grosgrain ribbon, $65.

How cute would your ring-bearer look sportin’ this down the aisle? Although this satin embellished pillow ($49) is SO pretty, maybe you should consider having a ring-girl carry this instead.

You love the look of these tissue paper poms a la Martha Stewart, but geez louise, you don’t have the patience to make them yourself… so buy ‘em! 20 tissue paper poms in your choice of colors for $66 (I’m sure you have to fluff them up though, which can be tricky!).

Ok, so this Wedding Tree Genealogy Chart may not be in everyone’s budget at $675… but wouldn’t it be cool if it was?! This custom chart indicates how all of the wedding guests are connected the couple, whether it be family members, college friends, neighbors, etc. It would definitely give guests something to talk about during cocktail hour!

As of now, this Wedzu is nowhere near as big as Etsy, but I have a feeling it will be one day soon!

Happy Shopping!

TIP: Ceremony Rehearsal 101

Are ceremony rehearsals necessary? If you have any sort of bridal party whatsoever, then yes, a huge, resounding YES! Here are some basics:

WHO should attend?
You & Your fiancé (duh!)
The Bridal Party
Flower Girls & Ring Bearers
BOTH sets of parents
Readers
Ushers
Anyone else playing a part or walking down the aisle (grandparents, godparents, sponsors)

WHEN should the rehearsal take place?
Ideally the day before the wedding. The rehearsal is traditionally followed by the rehearsal dinner.

HOW do I tell participants about the rehearsal?
In person
On the phone
Via email
Formal written invitation
(Or maybe all four methods above to ingrain it into their minds!)

How LONG should the rehearsal last?
On average, 30 – 45 minutes. You don’t have to run through the actual ceremony portion (which is why Officiants don’t always attend). This run-through is more so to make sure everyone knows when to walk, how to walk, where to stand/sit, how to exit, etc.

Bonus Tip #1
Tell people to arrive 30 minutes before you actually expect to start. e.g. If you plan to start the rehearsal at 6PM, tell everyone that they need to be there at 5:30 (but don’t tell them you plan to start at 6!) People will inevitably run late, especially since rehearsals often take place on a Friday afternoon/evening, the worst possible time for traffic

Bonus Tip #2
Have a Master Plan. If you don’t have a wedding planner/coordinator, then be sure to work with your Officiant regarding the “choreography” of the ceremony. Determine if the groom and his groomsmen are standing at the alter waiting at the start of the ceremony. Or if the groom is walking both of his parents down the aisle. Or if the bridesmaids and groomsmen are walking down the aisle in pairs. If you (the bride) are walking in alone, or with you father, or both your parents… As you can see, there are endless configurations, so put it in writing and figure it out beforehand.

Bonus Tip #3
If you don’t have a coordinator/planner, then put someone else in charge!! Preferably someone with a slightly authoritative personality :)  Review the walking order and ceremony outline with them, and then, put it in their hands!

  

   
(Personal photos from my own ceremony rehearsal) 

Anyone else have tips for the ceremony rehearsal they’d like to share?

Tip: Alphabetize Your Escort Cards

Brides… please, for the love of all things wedding, PLEASE alphabetize your escort cards! Escort cards (you know those thingies that indicate to your guests which table they are seated at for dinner) need to be pre-sorted by last name of the guest and NOT sorted by table.

And if your escort cards are not cards at all, but something completely untraditional such as bud vases, hanging tags, seed packets, potted plants, or whatnot, sort them into small, manageable groupings and clearly label them as such, “A – F, G – M, N – T, U – Z” (again, by last name of the guests).

The person who is setting this up for you will love you for it, whether it be your catering manager or your wedding coordinator or your friend Susie. Otherwise he/she will be tearing their hair out if they have 20 minutes to sort through 200 names in haphazard order while guests start streaming in. Not good!

For example, if you opt to do something cool like this pic below for your escort cards (potted basil, love it!), you should delicately place all plants for guests with last names starting with A – F (or whatever) into a box or carton in some semblance of order, and then label the box A – F. Easy peasy!

 
K. Holly Photography via Snippet and Ink 

Natalie Norton Photography via Amorology

Oooooh, rocks are tough! It’s hard to keep them in order! In this case, you would make the groupings even smaller, perhaps placing rocks with last names A – E into a small bag, and so on, and then keeping the bags in order... very important!

 
Heather Elizabeth Photography via The Bride’s Cafe 

This version of the escort card table below is actually one of my favorite types of escort cards: mini envelopes with the table number indicated on a matching card slipped inside the envelope. This makes it super easy to make last minute table changes since you only have to switch out the inside card instead of re-writing the whole card. Voila! By the way, who says your table numbers literally have to be numbers?? Your tables can be named after anything you choose… favorite books, cities you’ve visited together, local landmarks… the sky is the limit!

Jen Kroll Photography via Pearls Events 

What are you doing for your escort cards?

The Reception Dress

Yes, you spent hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars on your wedding dress. So why would you spend money on another dress to wear during your reception? I admit, it may not be the most practical idea, but who says you have to be practical on your wedding day?! :) The main reason I support getting a second Reception Dress is: Comfort! I’m sure your wedding gown is beautiful, but for many of you, it’s probably heavy, hot, and perhaps a bit constricting. You want the freedom to move around, relax and dance!

It certainly doesn’t have to be an expensive designer dress. Department stores are a sure-fire place to find the perfect white gown. Also considering finding a bridesmaids dress that comes in white or ivory, although keep in mind you’ll need to order at least 3 – 4 months in advance if going the bridesmaid dress route.

If you are unsure of when to change into Dress #2, consider waiting until after your First Dance and Father/Daughter dance (so that you can do those in your Wedding Dress) and change once the dance floor is open and in full swing.

Here are some fab dresses I found online that won’t break the bank!

This one is sooooo sassy!

  
JS Sequin Sheath Dress, Nordstrom, $138

Adrianna Papell One Shoulder Ruched Rosette Dress, Nordstrom, $188

BCBG Strapless Applique Dress, Nordstrom, $398

JS Boutique Pearl Trim Crisscross Matte Jersey Gown, Nordstrom, $178

 
Silk Tricotine Sophia Gown, JCrew, $119!!!!!!!!

This dress is SO lovely, I would wear it for my whole wedding (if I could actually pull it off, which I can’t) and never want to take it off :)

Chiffon & Organza Dune Gown, JCrew, $850

I don’t have a great full length shot of my own Reception Dress, but here is a candid moment which clearly shows how I was able to get my groove on at my wedding :) The Husband actually found this white satin dress with black beading for me at Carson’s for a whopping $123!

Photo by Dennis Lee Photography

Do you have a Reception Dress, or is this something you are considering? Where are you shopping for it?

Why a Catering Manager is NOT a Wedding Coordinator

Let me repeat that: Catering Manager ≠ Wedding Coordinator

I’ve heard this many times, “Oh, my Catering Manager said I don’t need a coordinator. He/She can handle everything!” And here are my Top 5 reasons as to why this could backfire. Of course all of these do not apply in every situation, but they are definitely valid points to consider when planning your wedding! Please note: I know many Catering Managers who are just awesome and go above and beyond for their clients (and me!). But like I said in point 2, let them do their job. They will love you for it!  

1) Your catering manager works for the venue/catering company, and thus their first loyalty is to their employer and employer’s bottom line. Not Yours.

2) Depending on how much event space is at your venue, your catering manager could potentially be handling multiple weddings/events on your wedding day. There is a good chance they are also overseeing set-up for someone else, so let them do their job: manage the food, beverage and sales. By the way, they inwardly groan when they have to arrange your escort cards and may not have time to set up that 30 piece candy buffet or the meticulous tablescape you planned out with your parents’ wedding photos and faux birds and butterflies!

3) In the event industry, the turnover rate is extremely high, especially when it comes to catering managers, whether it be at a hotel, venue, or catering company. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve called a venue to speak to the catering manager (who I have developed a relationship with!) only to find out that he/she is no longer there, and has moved on to a different hotel/company/etc. So that awesome catering manager who you signed your contract with (and who was a big selling point!)… may not be there in 9 months! And they may have been replaced with someone who you just don’t click with.

4) If you are having an on-site ceremony at the venue (versus a church), who’s going to run your ceremony rehearsal? Probably not your catering manager! If you’ve ever been to a ceremony rehearsal where there wasn’t a designated person in charge and who knew what they were doing, it can be a complete. MESS.

5) The catering manager is not obligated to answer your wedding-related questions about  etiquette, invitations, color schemes, flowers, decor, music, transportation, and all the other 973,298,156 nitty gritty details you may have questions about.

Preview of Last Night’s Wedding at the Drake

I finally remembered to take my camera with me to a wedding! I almost hate to spoil my eventual post with the pro-pictures by showing my own shoddy images… but I can’t resist!

Cocktail hour was in the stunning Palm Court. This was a huge upgrade that the hotel threw in at the last minute. Apparently this room alone rents for $6,500, eeks!

Arranging escort cards on a circular table can be like a math puzzle. I would like to point out that my dear husband arranged all the escort cards below… he did a fabulous job! (I taught him well, hahahaha) 

My bride and groom were breathless when they entered… for good reason, no?

Their coral, gold and white color scheme was perfect in the Gold Coast Ballroom.

I’m rather excited that I finally have the next few weekends off before the next slew of weddings!

TIP: Feeding Your Bridal Party

Brides, this may seem like a minor detail, but have you given some thought as to what you will feed your fabulous Bridal Party on the day of your wedding?

Believe me, a hungry bridal party is a CRANKY bridal party!

So think about where you are getting ready and what you can conveniently feed them. Whether it is bagels, breakfast food, sandwiches, pizza, sushi (ok, maybe don’t want to risk raw fish) whatever, don’t forget that they need to eat… and so do you! Remember to eat something on your wedding day; the last thing you want to do is keel over at the alter!

What are you planning to feed your people?

 
P.S. Sorry for the lack of posts… I am trying to get through my busiest month ever, so I promise I’ll be back to my regular blogging schedule in two weeks or so!