Monday, June 21, 2010

The New Way to Deliver a Wedding Toast

If you are one of those people who is terrified of speaking in front of a room of people for a wedding toast, we may have a solution for you.

Make a rap video.

Adam Welz recently saw someone put together a pretty cool video that was delivered as a toast at the wedding reception.



If you cannot access the video, use the direct link to the YouTube page.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4niKxZ0hus

If you like the idea, but can't pull the video and editing pieces together, contact one of our Videographers in the Central Minnesota Wedding Association.

There are three great videography companies that are part of the group:

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Fun with Flowers

You've scheduled your first meeting with a florist, but perhaps you feel a little intimidated – you don't know anything about flowers. Or maybe you have a few favorites, but are just not sure how to pull it all together. Relax! Your florist will love the opportunity to make suggestions and recommendations for your wedding.


It is important for you to have photos and color swatches of your dress and the attendants’ dresses for your first flower meeting. Seeing your dress helps the florist determine the style of bouquet and types of flowers. Your attendants' dresses can sometimes change your color theme. Make sure you have finalized your color choices for all the dresses, since changes may affect the use of certain flowers.


Aside from your personal preference and style, the location of the wedding and reception are factors to consider when determining your colors. When you have chosen your reception venue, remember its décor – you don’t want your flowers or style of design to clash.


You may find it helpful to think of colors you see in nature and the flowers that are available during the season your wedding is planned. Pinks, greens, lavender and yellows are great springtime colors. The bright colors of summer are deep pinks, reds, oranges, yellows and blues. Autumn colors are rich and fiery reds, orange, turquoise, golds and mahogany. Winter colors shade toward white, silver, green, red, purple and brown.


The color wheel can also guide your decisions, and there are three types of combinations that work particularly well for weddings. Monochromatic is a variation of one color in tints, tones and shades. This is often considered the most subtle and pleasing color combination. An analogous combination consists of any three colors next to each other on the color wheel, and is one of the more popular color groupings. Complimentary colors are any two that are directly opposite each other on the color wheel, and will give you a more dramatic effect.


Orange is becoming increasingly popular – and not just for fall events. It can be paired with many colors, including purple, lilac, lime green, burgundy, magenta, turquoise, sky blue, brown, gold, silver and pewter. Many brides are using bold colors for their bouquets. If bold colors are not for you, look at using shades of white, and bringing in touches of colors that are in your attendants’ bouquets.


Lucky for all of us, there are no rules dictating colors for your flowers. It is all about your personal style and what you like.


When you are browsing Web sites or magazines, collect photos of bouquets or flowers that you like and bring them to your meeting. This will help the florist recommend flowers and materials to match the style and look you desire, while keeping in mind the availability of flowers for the season.


Have fun choosing your flowers. Rely on your floral designer’s creativity and experience to make your wedding florals as individual as you are!

By Debbie Rogers of Distinctly Debbie

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Kids at Your Wedding?

As if choosing your wedding guest list wasn't hard enough with the limitations of space and budget, you face an even tougher dilemma... Should you have children at your wedding?

There is no easy answer to this one. It really depends on you. Are you super close with your nieces and nephews? Does your family party together with the kids on a regular basis? If so, it might be hard to imagine NOT having them as a part of your wedding.

Let's explore some of the pros and cons to keeping the kiddies.

Cons

* Kids are kids. They can be delightful, but then can also be disruptive and noisy, especially during those "quiet moments" in the church.

* The parents of those children will spend the entire night chasing them around, wiping snotty noses and swatting bottoms instead of enjoying themselves.

* You're likely spending more than $20 per plate to feed your guests. The extra expense to feed children who are going to throw most of it on the floor can make you want to scream.

Pros

* Parents will easily be able to attend because they won't have to make special arrangements.

* If you have a close family, having the kids there everyone who is special to you and makes them a part of your memories.

* Kids have lots of energy and energy is FUN. They'll be the first ones on the dance floor and will give the ladies an excuse to get up with them.

* They're just so darn cute! Especially in those mini-tuxedos and flower girl dresses.

Choose what's right for you. If you can't imagine your day without the kids, invite them. If the thought of screaming babies gives you wedding nightmares, make your reception "Adults Only." And don't let your family and friends pressure you.

Make one general rule and stick with it. If you decide not to have kids, don't allow any. This makes it easier to explain. "I'm sorry, we just don't have enough space/budget/patience for kids at the wedding." When you start making exceptions, things can get ugly.

Do yourself and your guests a favor and HIRE BABYSITTERS. Pay someone to watch and play with the children. This way their parents will actually be able to relax and enjoy themselves, and the kids can still be a part of the day.

Give the kids a diversion. Provide a kiddie craft table with coloring books and crayons at the very least. A gift bag stocked with toys can keep them occupied.

What's your take on children at weddings? Leave a comment and share your experience.

Portions of this post came from:
http://www.besthudsonvalleyweddingever.com/how-to-plan-a-wedding/having-kids-at-your-wedding

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Get Me to the Church On Time, In Style and As I Like

As you plan your perfect day, you need to consider your transportation. If you have planned an elegant wedding day with several attendants, the car service that will probably come to mind is limousine. Whether your wedding party is large or small, a limousine is a great option.

Extravagant or economical, there is a package, size and color for every want or need. Other transportation choices may be a horse-drawn carriage, a vintage car, a party bus or your Uncle Louie’s tractor and wagon. Whatever your choice, make it special and memorable for the most anticipated day of your life.

As with any big decision, there are concerns to weigh. The weather may be an issue if your choice of transportation is open air; have a back-up plan in place in case of rain. Also, make sure that you choose a reputable company to provide your transportation. Your next-door neighbor or a friend of a friend may have a limousine or vintage car they are willing to rent inexpensively, but if they don’t show up, don’t have the proper licensing or insurance, you could be setting yourself up for disappointment and frustration. Before booking your ride, do a little homework. Talk with friends and family as to what they have seen, heard, or used. Many companies are rated with the Better Business Bureau. Go online or call them for more information. Ask to see the limousine, car or buggy. Most owners and companies are very willing to show off their rides.

Limousines have become the most popular type of wedding transportation over the past decade. They are usually beautiful and provide a safe alternative to driving, especially if you have chosen to have any type of alcoholic beverage before or after your ceremony. Once a car is chosen for you and the wedding party, it's time to think about your guests.

Wedding-guest transportation is a newer trend, but has become more and more popular. Many brides and grooms are now considering how to get out-of-town guests to and from the ceremony and reception sites. Sometimes out-of-town guests have difficulty finding the reception hall. Also, if you are serving alcoholic beverages to your guests, making sure they get back to the hotel or motel safely is a wonderful idea and will give you and your parents peace of mind. Several local bus or tour companies can provide you with economical mode of transportation.

Whether you have chosen a limousine, car, buggy or tractor and wagon, you can choose from a full-day package or just a ride from the church to the reception – a nice feature that can be arranged far in advance or as a last-minute detail. Whichever you choose on your special day, remember to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Article written by CMWA member, Tami Spanier of Pearl Limousine

Monday, April 12, 2010

New Website...New Blog

After nearly a year of development, we have launched a brand-new website to make your wedding planner even easier. The site has been re-built from the ground up and features new tools to help you find vendors for your wedding day.

The website address is the same as always...http://www.idoido.org/

The blog site will be changing to: http://www.idoido.org/blog

If you subscribe to the blog via an RSS feed, please update your settings to the new address. This blog will disappear on May 1, 2010- so you will need to change your settings.

We hope you like the new design...let us know your thoughts!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Dressing It Up

More than ever, brides are looking for ways to bring an element of individuality to their wedding day. We have lots of brides come in with fun, fresh ideas that ask us, “Can I do that?” Almost always, the answer is “yes!” The old rules are no longer the gold standard for modern weddings. Here are a few fashion ideas and trends seen over the last several months.

Wear one look for the ceremony and another for the reception.
We have sold two gowns to countless brides – one more traditional for the ceremony and another more avant-garde gown for the reception. Have you ever tried on a gown that was super sassy and you loved it, but you could not imagine actually wearing it for the wedding? Instead, it could be a great option for a reception gown. Generally, these gowns tend to have elements that reflect the personal style you display in your day-to-day life – ruffles, a low-cut back, deep-V in the front, lots of sparkles, a killer slit up the side – you name it. The reception dress is definitely a party gown and a great way to show your personal sense of style. With lots of designers pushing the envelope right now, there are lots of choices available.

Another second dress option is to look at some of the tea-length gowns available in bridal stores. You can even find some darling options in the bridesmaid section. There are many companies who offer beautiful, well-made bridesmaids gowns in silk or lace. Many of these companies make these gowns in white or ivory (they are usually a bit more expensive than their colored counterparts). We have seen brides change into an ivory tea length gown and pair it with fun shoes, a sash, bow, or over-the-top jewelry that matches the color of the bridesmaids’ gowns. It's always very cute in pictures. Whichever style you choose, long or short, the reception gown is usually easier to move and dance in.

If wearing two dresses is not for you, you can also achieve this effect by changing up some key elements of your look from wedding to reception. Perhaps your ceremony look is classic: subtle makeup, simple jewelry and a veil. For the reception, swap out the classic jewelry and go for something with a little drama, like a set of chandelier earrings and a big gemstone bracelet. You could add smoky makeup to your eyes, wear a deeper shade of lipstick, or switch your veil for a silk flower or feather comb placed behind your ear. In an instant, you're a party bride!

Choose different gown-styles in the same color for bridesmaids.
Every bride hopes to choose a style of bridesmaids dress that her attendants would love to wear again. Why not choose three to five styles of gowns from a designer that you would like to see in your wedding and let your bridesmaids choose which one suits them best. It is often win-win: You've picked the styles that reflect your day, and your bridesmaids have a little say in how they will look that day, too. Varieties of styles offer a visual interest while the color creates continuity in your wedding-party's appearance.

Match flower girls to the bridesmaids' apparel.
Another trend we are seeing is having the flower girls wear dresses that match the bridesmaids’ gowns and not the bridal gown. There are many bridesmaid companies that offer these tiny dresses. They are a darling way to mix up the status quo.

Article written by Ingrid Kent at Mestads Bridal and Formal Wear

Monday, March 22, 2010

Google Takes On Wedding Planning

Is anyone safe from Google? They seem to be a player in just about every industry. They have recently introduced a new feature through their "Google Docs" that has a number of templates to help you with your wedding planning.

If you are a "do it yourself" bride, a number of free tools are available.


If you have used a Google Doc, you will find these incredibly easy to use. These are nice because they are stored online- and you can allow others helping to plan your wedding access to these documents. The changes are then made in real-time...so there is no more emailing your guest list back and forth with your mother-in-law.

If you have a smart phone, you most likely have access to a Google Doc "app" in which you can access and update your data on-the-go.

This technology does not replace the skills of a wedding planner, but it is a great option for people that are looking to take care of things themselves.