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Leave a comment with your favorite Beau-Coup product to be entered in our giveaway. We will announce the winner on our blog next week!
-Make a small photo album of pictures of the two of you. On the last page, write your wedding date, leaving room for a photo of the two of you. As she’s looking through the book, and gets to that page, say “I can’t wait to put a picture of the two of us from my wedding day on that page. Would you be my bridesmaid?”
-Wrap a bridesmaid guidebook in pretty paper, and put a note on top saying “This is something you may need soon.” Be sure to tuck a personal note inside the book before you wrap it. She’ll have the surprise and laughs when she first opens the gift, but still be able to read your touching words.
-Send flowers in your wedding colors to each girl with a personal “Will You Be My Bridesmaid” card
-Put together a bridesmaid survivor kit with a compact mirror, a measuring tape (for their measurements for the bridesmaid dresses, each will get two), a pen to write with, a little canvas pouch for their makeup and a personalized notepad. Include a personal note asking them to be in your wedding.
-Send them each a card with a Godiva chocolate cake favor
We love the card pictured above with “Say Yes to the Dress”. You can find it here.
If your groom needs to express himself on the wedding day, consider something completely out of the ordinary - a custom bout from Rosenow Floral.
5 steps to a successful wedding toast
1. Welcome guests, thank the bride and groom and their parents for the incredible wedding.
2. Tell a short, preferably funny, story such as how they met, how you know them, their engagement story or a funny childhood story about either the bride or groom.
3. Include an inspirational quote about love or marriage
4. Ask guests to raise their glasses for the actual toast. Surprisingly, this often is forgotten.
5. Remember that this is not the moment to mention previous girlfriends/boyfriends of the bride or groom.
Debbie Orwat,
Denver Wedding Planner
1. Bride & Groom: You get to practice the processional, learn when to hand off the bouquet, kiss your groom and practice the recessional.
2. Parents & Grandparents: Your parents and grandparents will need to practice their entrance for the ceremony, lighting the unity candle (if applicable), and learn where they will sit.
3. Wedding Party: Your wedding party consists of maid/matron of honor(s), bridesmaids, best man, groomsmen, flower girls, and ring bearers. They will also need to practice walking down the aisle (together or separately), the recessional, where to stand, and how the ceremony will flow.
4. Officiant: The person who will marry you should attend the rehearsal if possible. They will need to know how they are walking to the alter/chuppah and with whom (groom, groom and best man, groomsmen). They typically will do a quick run-through of the ceremony and discuss who will hold the rings.
5. Singers & Musicians: While it would be nice to have them at the rehearsal, they typically are not there unless you pay them for their time.
6. Readers: They will need to get comfortable with the microphone and sound system as well as know where to sit to easily make their way to the front to read the scripture or reading.
7. Ushers: They usually greet your guests, hand out programs, and seat guests. While this doesn’t require much direction, it’s nice for them to attend the rehearsal so that they know exactly where to be, what to do and the tasks you’ve chosen for them.
Debbie Orwat
Colorado Wedding Planner
6. Stranded Dates - Don’t create a painful experience for your attendants’ dates. Seat dates together with the wedding party at the reception.
7. Wedding Party Expenses - There is the cost of bridesmaid dresses, travel costs, shower expenses, bachelorette party and multiple gifts. That can add up to a small fortune. Keep those expenses in mind when planning.
8. Pre-Party Invite Only - Inviting guests to pre-wedding events where a gift is required (i.e. bridal shower or engagement party) and then not inviting them to the actual wedding is a big no-no.
9. Stranded Guests - If your wedding reception and ceremony locations are far apart or far from accommodations, you should provide guest transportation.
10. Using Your Monogram Before Your Ceremony - Technically, you aren’t married until after the ceremony. Using a monogram with your married last name initial shouldn’t be used on invitations, save the dates or ceremony programs.
Debbie Orwat & Gabby Cavalli
Colorado Wedding Planners, Save the Date Events
1. Cash Bars - We realize this is sometimes unavoidable due to budget contraints however, skipping the limo or live band is much better than having your guests pay for their own drinks at your party.
2. Long Wait Time Between Ceremony and Reception - Long pauses between the ceremony and reception are generally very hard on guests. If you cannot book the reception venue immediately following the ceremony, arrange for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at another location.
3. Registry Information On Your Invitations - Do we have to elaborate? It is completely unacceptable to mention anything about gifts or registries in your wedding invitation or enclosures.
4. Money Dance - Your wedding night is not the opportunity to ask your guests to spend more money on you. They have already traveled, bought a new outfit, and gave you a wedding gift.
5. Thank You Notes - You must send handwritten thank-you notes
On Friday, we’ll post the last five!
Debbie Orwat & Gabby Cavalli
Colorado Wedding Planners, Save the Date Events
1. Limo - Traditional but still fun. Who doesn’t enjoy a ride in a limo?
2. Airport Style Shuttle - A bit plain but highly functional
3. A Trolley - You can rent one here in Denver.
4. Horse & Carriage - Arrive in western style
5. A Party Bus - Many of the big limo companies in town rent party buses complete with swank lights and a bar.
6. Classic Car - You can choose from a big selection in Colorado here
7. SUV or Hummer Limo - If you have more than 15 people to transport and don’t want a shuttle or party bus, this is your best bet.
Debbie Orwat, Colorado Wedding Planner
Save the Date Events
What are ALL the expenses that a bridesmaid incurs?
Stats from The Wedding Report indicate that there are 4-5 bridesmaids per wedding on average. Bridesmaids generally spend ~$1000 on all their expenses.
Debbie Orwat, Colorado Wedding Planner
Save the Date Events
Our blog is officially 2 years old! Here are some of the most popular posts from the past:
Debbie Orwat, Colorado Wedding Planner
How fun to give your girls a wine tasting kit? The kit is only $20. Add a few bottles of wine and you have a fabulous gift for your vino loving girlfriends. This would be a great hostess gift as well or a fun start to a bachelorette party or bridal shower.
Since I’m on the wine theme today, how about this instant wine chiller for only $50? I guarantee any bridesmaid or groomsmen who likes wine or entertains would love this.
I can’t help but love this one…a USB beverage chiller. I’m not a fan of keeping drinks close to my laptop but I do love this gadget. It is another unique and inexpensive gift around $50
Save the Date Events is a stylish, innovative wedding planning and design firm providing award winning professional consulting and design service for Colorado weddings and beyond. We provide full service luxury wedding planning, partial wedding planning and wedding day coordination for Denver weddings, Boulder weddings and mountain weddings in Colorado.
