“I Do” ..But I Don’t Want to Serve Dinner
Perhaps one of the hottest dining trends right now is tapas. Serving tapas at your wedding reception opposed to a full-course meal may be just what you want and need.
Tapas are essentially appetizers or little snacks. But when you provide a wide variety and hefty amount of tapas, they can become just as filling and substantial as lunch or dinner. The possibilities are truly endless with this option and you can delve into many cultures to find inspiration for foods.
Of course, your tapas will taste amazing, but along with that, their aesthetic value is priceless. They will become a talking point for your guests and we’re sure it will reflect positively on you!
Where to Find Inspiration:
- Restaurants- it seems so obvious, but if you spend a few nights out at some restaurants with your husband/wife-to be, you will really see what all the buzz is about and generate organic ideas. “I like this about the ___ but didn’t like the ____.” That will allow you to adjust the recipe to make it unique to you and your love.
- Pinterest- search “tapas” in Pinterest for an hour or so focus on what catches your eye (and what makes your mouth water). Those are the tapas that you’re going to want at your wedding. You will also be able to find great ideas for presentation!
- Cooking Shows- power on the television and get cozy with the Food Network. More likely than not, you’ll find a recipe that perks your interest. You can modify most dishes to become tapas so don’t feel limited.
Of course, there are many more options for finding inspiration. We want your wedding day to be perfect and for the food choices during your wedding reception to leave a lasting impression on guests. If you are in the market for a limousine, do consider Lasting Impressions Limo Services. We are dedicated to insuring the utmost happiness for our clients and want to make your day perfect.
“I Do” ..But I Don’t Know About Cakes
Before you are a blushing bride, you need to make some decisions. This one is a sweet one, so pucker up.
You’ve got everything timed out properly by now, right? Good.
So you know that you don’t need to book with your cake-maker until about 6 months until your wedding.
Naturally, it takes some time to make a final decision on what exactly you want out of your wedding cake, so allow plenty of time (a few months) of planning, browsing, and taste-testing.
Challenge yourself to choose a flavor that will really stand out. If you’re craving a classic vanilla, maybe you’ll want to surprise your guests with an elaborate floral frosting or perhaps an unexpected color. There are a wide variety of styles and themes to choose from, so just feel confident to know that you won’t come up with nothing. More likely than not, you’ll have to choose one style out of maybe two or three.
Tiered cakes are and always will be stunning but if your eyes are tired of that look, by all means, change it up! The Knot has some great suggestions for statement-making cakes that will provide a tasty joy.
Gather up all the details about your perfect cake and head to your desired cake-maker!
We would love to hear what you have to say about cakes and what trend you think is hot right now.
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“I Do” ..But I Don’t Know How to Budget
If you’re a part of the norm, that means you’ll need to be deciding a budget for your wedding. Don’t look at this as a bad thing, either! We’re here to help you figure out some things that may not be necessary on your wedding day because of their cost.
Of course, there are many websites that may provide you with budgeting tools. We encourage you to seek those out because we spotted a few that have printable budget sheets that break down each aspect.
- Certain days, months, and times of day are more expensive than others– this may seem obvious but it’s important to really think about how necessary that ‘ideal’ day/time is. Maybe it’s not so ideal for you, after all.
- Stick to one invitation per household. Pretty simple, right?
- You may not be willing to compromise as far as budgeting for your wedding gown– we vote ‘acceptable’ on that. So, let’s move on to the DJ, or lack there of. Make your own playlist! You will save money, and crafting a playlist with your love sounds like a great date night to us. If your concern is about the fluidity, just do your research on tech items that will make the music as easy as possible to control.
- Cut out unnecessary decorations. For example, chair decor. Pinterest is a great source for cultivating ideas and aesthetic choices for your wedding day, but often times, we can get carried away with what we may want but not need, especially on a budget.
- So you’ve already chosen to have alcohol at your reception. Perfect! Now, if you are cringing at the bill, opt for just beer and wine.
- Test the waters with local businesses for food and flowers. Family-owned companies may provide better deals or just have lower prices in general.
There are many resources out there for you if you are struggling with budgeting. We believe in you!
And we hope that you believe in Lasting Impressions.
“I Do” ..But I Dont Know Where to Start
First and foremost, congratulations! You’re engaged.
So.. now what?
- The best thing that you can do first is to determine your budget with your fiancé. Of course, this may or may not be the most obvious or most difficult part of the planning. Which is why it is important to put it out on the table and come to an agreement. Remember, the wedding is about your love, not your money.
- We love the idea of heading to an online source like TheKnot to organize your thoughts for your big day. Sites like this will provide you with experienced professionals who know how to plan a successful wedding. Also, you will find many ideas that you probably never thought of.
- What you wont find on those sites though, are the names of the guests you want to be invited to your wedding. What could be easy is figuring out who your “VIPs” are; these are the people that initially pop into your head or the individuals you’ve already figured would be a part of your wedding party. From there, go into your family tree and friend group to decide who’s going to make the cut. Keep in mind, the amount of people (usually) directly affects the price of the dinner.
- Once you have determined your head count, finding your location becomes pretty black and white; either your party will fit at a certain location, or it will not.
- The fun never ends! Continue on with searching for your dress, caterer, florist, limo service, photographer, band/DJ, etc.!
“I Do” ..But I Don’t Want to Leave My Dog Out
Your pet can be a guest-of-honor at your wedding day. But he/she may require a little more attention. If it’s important to you and/or your future hubby that the dog or cat be involved in the ceremony, go for it! But make sure you know what you’re doing.
We stumbled upon this blog on HuffPostWeddings that really captures what you need to be aware of before blindly bringing your pet to your wedding.
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Yes, it’s going to be absolutely adorable to have him/her in your photos.
Yes, it’s going to be fun to shop for that special outfit.
But is it a guarantee that he/she will behave as you wish? Well.. no.
The number one thing you can do to assure that there will be no worst-case-scenario: hire a professional pet sitter. Yes, they exist!
If you choose to have your pet in your ceremony, make sure that you pack a bag of all of your pets favorite things. I.e.: toys, treats, bed, food, water.
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We are here to provide you with a Lasting Impression on your wedding day and other special occasions. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions at all or about our limo services.
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“I Do” ..But I Don’t Want to Spend a Fortune
So you’re engaged! And nothing should hinder your excitement about that, certainly not money.
If you’re not willing to spend a ton of money, don’t give in.
We’re here to help and provide some tips to sprucing up your wedding, on a realistic budget!
Smaller, more intimate weddings can be a fun opportunity to focus in on the little details. Setting the stage for your beautiful day can be your responsibility, so make it you and make it fun! With the help of this blog– we encourage you to head to some estate sales, yard sales, garage sales, and any other type of shop that may have exactly what you need for exactly the price you want.
- If you’re going for that country-style wedding, seeking out a couple of vintage wagons could add a lot to your ceremony and/or reception. Intimate Weddings suggests the concept of using a wagon for a too-young-to-walk flower girl or for beverages!
- Collecting a variety of materials to use as a ‘backdrop’ for a photo spot is especially adorable. Using a bit of imagination, you can really make this your own and have it fit right in your wedding day theme.
- While at a sale, it really wouldn’t hurt to ask the host if there are any mason jars stowed away. The possibilities are truly endless with those little guys.
What may help is checking out Pinterest as well. For those who aren’t internally designed to be DIY masters, a little inspiration goes a long way.
Saving money can be exciting and we hope that you find exactly what you need.
If you are on Pinterest, go ahead and follow us. We love posting things that help our customers, clients, and friends.
Connect with us on Twitter and Facebook as well. We’re very interactive and strive to make our couples happy.
“I Do” ..But I Don’t Know About Flowers
Getting engaged means having to make decisions, decisions involving the most beautiful day of your life. You found the one you want to be with forever so now you just need to figure out the aesthetics.
Not only are there many styles of bouquets, but you should be sure to choose a color theme that you adore. Whether this means going with something classic; like white and red, or choosing something a little more personality-driven.
Here are some helpful steps to attaining that brilliant bouquet:
- Figure out the color theme for your wedding- classic colors, fun and bright, mood colors, etc.
- Decide on the season that you will be getting married- season impacts the entire vibe of your wedding day and of course, will effect the availability of flowers.
- What will the location of your wedding be? For example, some flowers may not be well-suited for a ceremony on the beach.
- Know what your priorities are.
- The Cascade: this variety is reminiscent of a fountain or waterfall. Flowers of your choice will gracefully flow and flutter over your hand. TLC reports “large-petaled blooms like roses, calla lilies, lisianthus and orchids are very popular because they give the impression of abundance and drape most naturally.”
- The Nosegay: this dainty bundle is quite classy. Often times, there is a ribbon wrapped around the stems and can really drift into casual and formal. “You’ll see a lot of irises, tulips, lilies and roses in nosegays,” TLC wrote.
- The Arm Sheaf: this bundle is the baby of the wedding bouquets. Meaning that you cradle the long-stemmed bouquet against your inner arm. TLC notes, “Orchids, long-stemmed roses, gladiolus, delphiniums and calla lilies are often used in these bouquets, which, despite the fact they’ve been around for more than a century, are still considered perfect for chic and modern ceremonies.”
- The Flower Bracelet: hands free type of gal? This variety of bouquet will steal your heart. The flower bracelet resembles a wrist corsage, being a small group of flowers which are “usually orchids or roses” according to TLC.
“I Do” ..But I Don’t Want to Invite Kids
“Are you inviting children to your wedding?”
Well, it’s up to you. And it’s a tough decision. We’re here to help you out, take a look at both sides of the decision, and how to handle each decision’s potential confrontations with guests.
We have combined forces with Martha Stewart Wedding‘s advice and “Popping Another Question: Invite Children?” from the New York Times, along with our own insight and humanity.
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First and foremost, this is the decision that is best made early. Close your eyes and picture your wedding. If you’re seeing angelic little guests donned in pink dresses; or the other end of the spectrum, you’re seeing wild, chocolate covered monsters throwing food– well, you already know the answer!
But let’s get realistic: IF children are at your wedding, there should be someone to monitor them (part of this can be under your control, if you wish) if they are under a certain age. Thus, no chocolate monsters.
Now, depending upon your budget and formality of your wedding, it may not even be appropriate for children to be there. What this means: daytime/casual weddings may prove a little more difficult as far as convincing your guests that its not a good idea that their children attend. If you are having a very formal, evening wedding, you may not need to explain why the little ones aren’t welcome.
*If you’re having a destination wedding, you can almost count on your guest’s children coming.
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Let the invitations do work for you. Martha Stewart Wedding offers the idea that it is generally not in good taste to list your presumed husband and wife, then “and family.” Allow clarity to be your friend. If the child is under the age of 18, list their name under their parent’s names. This will lessen the chances of unexpected guests showing up to your wedding. The New York Times article on this subject shared the story of a woman who did not clarify whether children were invited or not, and received an RSVP card back with an attached note of children’s names.
Make a phone call to guests with children, simply put, it can only really help. Getting the guest on the phone is your chance to explain your reasoning behind why children are not invited, or the opposite, work out a childcare plan for at the wedding.
“Should I invite some children and not others?” if this is popping into your head, don’t worry, it’s a valid, fair question. If you’re fine with having some children at your wedding, but you don’t want things getting out of hand, then your answer is yes. Limit it if you want to. What’s recommended is immediate family, i.e. your nieces and nephews.
With that in mind, the children in your immediate family should be the prime contenders for your Ring Bearer and Flower Girl.
*Martha Stewart Weddings notes that the traditional etiquette is that these two should be between the ages of 3 and 7.
Also that, ”It’s not an easy task, both emotionally and logistically, for parents to dress up kids in fancy clothes, prod them to do their given jobs, then tell them they have to miss the party. The thoughtful thing to do is to invite them to the reception.” Now, with that said, if you are really set on an adult-only reception, a quick fix would be to offer to find a babysitter.
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If the kids have made the cut, it’s best to offer up a children’s menu. Often times these choices are inexpensive and easy, i.e chicken fingers, mac and cheese, spaghetti, etc.
You may be overwhelmed at the idea of “now I have to work out some sort of entertainment for the kids?” Or you may be ecstatic! Jane Bliss, with Martha Stewart Wedding’s article admitted, “My favorite part of the wedding was shopping for the kids’ table!” While a skeptic with The New York Time’s article lingered on the thought that, shouldn’t the bride and groom be the focus of every guest’s eye, rather than the adorable children? The point is, yes, you will have to provide some type of entertainment or set up a side room in your reception venue to designate to the kids.
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Your wedding is about you and your partner, and your desires. Don’t lose sight of that.
We hope this helped you, and we would love to continue to help you! We offer limo services in the MD, PA, and DC area. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.
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‘First Dance’ Wedding Songs
The first dance song can be the most romantic moment in your wedding reception. So naturally, you want to choose the best, most romantic song.
Hot off the press, you’re married!
So what song do you dance to? One you have both loved throughout your relationship? Or one that is a classic representation of “first dance song”? Or will it be the one your parents danced to?
However you do it, make sure you choose one that you and your partner both love. Hopefully, you can both get lost in the moment during that first dance as a married couple.
Martha Stewart Weddings posted an article featuring 56 songs that Real Couples danced to. We chose 15 to pass along to you, and include our unbiased opinion on the message that given song sends (if that matters to you!)
- L-O-V-E by Nat King
This is a great song, there’s no doubt in that. It’s a classic, but may lack intimacy if that is one of your priorities. - For Once in My Life by Stevie Wonder
This upbeat song can absolutely work. It’s upbeat, therefore will either fit the vibe you’re trying to achieve or it won’t. Again, it’s not really couple-specific. - That’s How Strong My Love Is by Otis Redding
The sweet voice of Otis is undeniable. This is a respectable choice, also, a very common ‘first dance’ song. Four of the couples featured on Martha Stewart Wedding’s article chose this. - Kashmir by Led Zepplin
Choosing this song would provide a great opportunity for an epic first dance. Of course, Zepplin isn’t everyone’s style. But if you and your love dance well, challenge yourselves and rock on! - Somewhere Over The Rainbow by… anyone
This is a great choice for a theme-based wedding. The song ties into a very dreamy, whimsical feeling. You’ll know right away if it’s a little too Wizard of Oz for you and your partner. - At Last by Etta James
This is such a beautiful song that it’s hard to imagine it being misplaced. We would love to see this with a well-choreographed, and well-practiced slow dance. - The Way You Look Tonight
Whether it’s Sinatra’s original, Tony Bennett, Steve Tyrell, Harry Connick Jr., or Michael Bublé, we love this song. Be aware of how common it is used in romance films, though. All it takes to make this perfect is adding your own flare! - Better Together by Jack Johnson
This choice is very bubbly, make sure to have fun on this one. This may mean less “getting lost” in each other’s eyes. - The Zephyr Song by Red Hot Chili Peppers
This is the perfect example of a song that the couple may just really love. Your ‘first dance’ song does not necessarily have to scream “love” as long as you and your partner have a connection with it. - Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis
We can’t really dispute The King. Go ahead and get lost with Elvis! - No One’s Gonna Love You by Band of Horses
This sweet tune gives us goosebumps and has it all, really. - She is Loved by Parachute
This newer song gives off, again, that very bubbly feel. We imagine this song paired with a handful of bride-spins. - Sleepwalk by Santo & Johnny
If you love this song, go with it. We recommend adding some attitude or spice so your guests do fall into a slumber! - Say by John Mayer
We are surprised with ourselves on this one. After taking a second listen, with ‘first dance’ in mind, we can imagine this fitting perfectly. Because of it’s connection to a marriage rule- ‘say what you need to say’, we think the message is sweet and clear. - Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen
So you’ve had enough of the tears? Set the reception-tone with a fun-loving first dance. Careful of those who may not be able to help themselves from jumping in!
And here’s just one more for good luck:
Three Little Birds by Bob Marley
Do we really need to explain? This beautiful melody has calming capabilities! What a sweet reminder after (most) of the stress has subsided that ‘every little thing is gonna be alright.’
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We hope that we have helped or provided some new insight to contenders for your ‘first dance’ at your wedding.
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Intruder Alert: Wedding Woes
You’re the bride. It’s your wedding. So why are there people trying to call the shots?
Well, we may never be able to understand that.
But The Knot has provided some solutions for the 5 potential individuals who may try to take over your day.
There’s helpful insight, and then there’s controlling. Don’t forget, many of your honored VIPs might just be trying to help.
In case they aren’t, here’s what you can do:
- Bridesmaid
She just can’t meet you halfway with her bridesmaid dress and she wants the opposite that you do. We all know that sometimes people just wont be comfortable in certain prints or a certain amount of exposure, but it’s all about the compromise. As long as you’re clear in what color scheme you want to stick with, there should be no dispute. Her comfort level is important, too. - The Guest Who Has a Degree in Wedding-Pinterest-Surfing
Alright, she is coming off like a “know-it-all” or just wants her opinion heard. Rather than losing your head, find something constructive to distract her with. You’re a bride-to-be, and a lady, keeping your cool is more important than creating drama. - The Guest Who Thinks She’s a Party Planner
The internet is a budding environment full of “events”, your wedding guests should not be taking it upon themselves to invite whomever they want. (Unless you have granted them that said permission.) Hey, maybe you can assign guest #2 the task of seeking out uninvited guests. If all else fails, explain your stance. - The Help Hungry
Sometimes, friends of your guests may get overly excited when they hear about your wedding. That, in turn, may cause the individuals who “know people” (performers, photographers, music, etc.) to offer endless assistance. Chances are, you already have that taken care of. We know, you “don’t even know them” and “how could they”, yes, it’s frustrating. Keep calm and wed on. - The Family Package
Don’t feel bad if you didn’t invite children to your wedding. But often times it has been the case that ‘Uncle Jack’ or ‘Aunt Jill’ will threaten not to attend if they can’t bring along their kids. Here’s where “Kill Them with Kindness” can take part: offer them help in finding a babysitter, paying for a babysitter, or see if your venue can provide a private room for the little ones to do their own thing, and bring that said babysitter. If you show that you are willing to accommodate them, maybe they will change their minds about ditching your wedding day.