For our Bride: The Balancing and Making Your Dream Wedding Come True

Being a bride is a balancing act in many ways. One of the toughest jobs you have is to keep all of the decision makers involved in your wedding happy. You have to establish priorities as a couple, and decide on what means the most to you. Then…

You need to figure out who else will be contributing to your wedding budget, and what spoken or unspoken expectations come with that financial contribution. Even if there are not immediately spoken expectations, they are there. Your father may be making a small contribution and seem laid back (but he assumes you want him to walk you down the aisle), your grandmother may want to pay for your gown (as long as it’s not strapless), mother may tell you that she trusts you to select a menu (as long as it doesn’t include fish), and his mother may make a passing comment that she knows a photographer (but what she is not saying is that she fully expects you to use said photographer).

Here are a few tips to help you navigate these tricky waters:

• Start the conversation early – the earlier you start to talk about each person’s vision for your wedding, the better. This gives you the most amount of time to find common ground.
• It is your day, be careful how often you assert that – everyone wants you to be happy with your wedding day. The memories will be most vivid for the two of you. BUT, you will surely earn the title of Bridezilla if you overuse that statement.
• Be prepared to make concessions – as you and your fiancé decide what is most important to you, also start to think about areas that you are willing to bend to keep people happy.
• Listen to others’ wishes – while you may be exhausted of listening to others opinions, you never know when someone will offer up a suggestion that you truly are excited about.

The old cliché is true, you can’t keep all of the people happy, all of the time. It is definitely in your best interest to figure out which people are most important for you to please, at least some of the time.

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),

Olivia

Choosing a Centerpiece

Your flowers will be a sizable investment on your wedding day.   Your guests will admire your flowers at the ceremony, but most of all at the reception.  Your reception centerpiece can capture your guests’ attention, with interesting details and beautifully placed flowers. And from experience, we highly recommend to have some sort of florals on the placecard table as well as some accented touches on the high boys and cocktails rounds. And don’t forget the most important area, the sweet heart table on the stage!  Here are some thoughts on designing trendy and creative centerpiece that will captivate your guests:

Collection of Vases

A popular design, as well as budget friendly.  Using a collection of cylinder or square vases of varying heights will give the table dimension.  A monochromatic color palette will give you a sleek contemporary look.

Wrapped Vases

If colored vases are not offered by your florist, choose to wrap them in eye-catching fabrics.  A thick border ribbon, crystal ropes or layering with shimmer paper stock will highlight texture in an otherwise flat vase.

Sparkle

Nothing sets the mood like candles.  Setting pillar candles in a mosaic candle holder, or floating candles in crystal dishes, can accessorize your table.  If possible, use colored votive holders that will match your event color palette.

Potted Plants and Herbs

Beautiful and earth friendly.  This aromatic display of greens can easily be incorporated into any design.  The best part is that the guests can take them home to enjoy and reminisce about your wedding day.

Illumination

As it is at any event, the lights in the room will be dimmed.  This is most certainly going to give you romantic ambiance.  But it is a deterrent to your centerpiece.  Add an illumination box that can uplight your centerpiece, from the bottom up.  If your budget allows, definitely pin spot, at a minimum, your high centerpieces.  After all, it is the crown jewel of the evening.

Your personal touch will brand your centerpiece.  Exquisite details will certainly keep your guests raving about your flowers.  We hope you will take more chances with your centerpieces, we are always inspired by out of the box design ideas.

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),

Olivia

Choosing the Right Transportation

How you arrive and leave your wedding can really say a lot about you and your fiancé and the tone you would like to set for your big day.  In 2013, we are seeing a variety of different ways to arrive and leave in style.  When choosing your transportation, matching your theme and who you are as a couple is very important.  If you are aiming towards a traditional and romantic vibe, then maybe choosing a limousine or a vintage car would be the best choice.  Or if your wedding is more about having a great time and is towards a modern theme, then choosing an exotic car could be the way to go.  In the year 2013, there are no boundaries.  Just make sure that the transportation you choose matches the theme and tone you are trying to set from the moment you arrive, to the moment you and your new spouse drive away to a Happily Ever After. 

The Limousine

                Traditional, romantic and convenient are all reasons to pick a limousine as your transportation to and from your wedding venue.  Even though the black and white options are still available, today they are not just the stretch limousines we have grown accustomed to.  Limousines can come in any shape, size and color you can ever imagine.  Limousines now come in the structure of just about any vehicle, including a Semi!  And not only can you choose the structure of your limo, but you can choose the color.  Have you and all of your bridesmaids pull up to your wedding in a stretch pink limousine, and have your fiancé choose his and his groomsmen’s transportation as well… maybe a black Hummer limo, or even a silver Semi.  Not only do limousines have a plethora or different exterior choices, but they have many interior choices as well.  Limousines can come with anything from having televisions, Champaign/mini bar services, and it is always nice to have your own personal Chauffeur to help with your belongings and to open and close the door for you.  When choosing a limousine, be creative, have fun with this decision, and to always remember the theme of your wedding day.

Vintage Cars

                Vintage weddings have been a major trend in 2012, and continue to be in the year 2013.  Nothing says romance and elegance more than a vintage-themed wedding.  When choosing transportation for this theme, be creative and choose a vintage car.  These gorgeous cars are an attention grabber and will be a car that everyone will want to ride in.  A perfect vintage car would be from either the 1920s or the 1930s.  Or if you are leaning towards an Old Hollywood Glamour theme, then choose a car from the 1940s.  Not only will this get you to and from your wedding venue, this car would make a magnificent prop and would capture breathtaking photographs.

Exotic Cars

                If fun, excitement and uniqueness sound like the vibe you would like to set for your big day, than an exotic car could be the perfect choice for you.  These big, bold and modern vehicles may be a fantasy vehicle for you and your fiancé, but it could become a reality to be able to drive one for your special day.  From a Bentley and a Rolls Royce, to a Lamborghini and a Mercedes Benz, these choices are the definition of luxury.  Not only will this set the mood for your wedding day, but we are sure your husband to be will be very satisfied with this decision. 

5 Advice Tips When Choosing Your Transportation

1.       Make sure to research, research and research some more.  You want a trustworthy company who will provide exactly what you ask for the day and time you ask for it.  So ask your family members, co-workers and friends if they have any advice or referrals.  Go on websites, look at newspaper ads, and read reviews and wedding blogs for any tips or references to a place near you that you can check out.

2.       Meet with many companies ahead of time to compare and contrast many different elements.  When going to these companies, ask to see the vehicle you would like to use and make sure this will be the one that you will have on your big day.  It is  very important to see what you are paying for before you sign any contract.

3.       Read over the contract very carefully. When signing a contract look for many different things.  Make sure the price is reasonable and know the time frame that that price covers.  Also see if gratuity is covered in that price or not.  Know what will be included and what will not be included in your price (mini bar for instance).  And most importantly ask if there is a contingency plan just in case something happens to your vehicle the day of your wedding.  Make sure there are back-up vehicles, and ask if there is a discount or refund if this were to happen.  

4.       Have your fiancé decide his form of transportation with his groomsmen.  The vehicle could be a decision he would like to make, so include him in the process.   Men usually know a lot about vehicles and this could be exciting for him to have his dream vehicle for a day. 

5.       Once again, make sure your vehicle correlates with your wedding theme and the tone you would like to set for your wedding.  2013 is a year of themes, and matching your vehicle to your theme is a very important detail.  

BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now),

Olivia 

Here Comes the Bride...

Ladies, you've found the right guy, he found the right ring, now you must truly find “The One.” Your wedding gown of course! Many brides find selecting their wedding gown the most FUN part of planning their wedding. So, first and foremost, take some time and ENJOY finding your gown, the one that will bring a tears to your eye, and probably mom’s too.

Your dress will set the tone for your wedding so keep that in mind as you hit the racks. As you search here are some helpful hints to know before you hit the store:

Style

All kinds of words are used to describe the shape of a gown. Hopefully this will help you know what you’re looking at.

The Ball gown/Princess shape is traditional, poofy, and what comes to mind when you think of a Princess getting married. There is typically a more fitted bodice but the skirt is big big big. This style is flattering on most and favored by those who want to camouflage their hips.

Empire/Babydoll: This gown will have a “flowing” feel from just below the bust through to the floor. Girls who want to enjoy food on their big day, without worrying about their tummy showing may want to look at this style of gown.

Trumpet/Mermaid/Fit n Flare: This gown is going to be fitted through the body to somewhere between the hips and the knees, and then it will flare out some. Each dress will vary in just how fitted it is and how much volume comes with that flare. This cut can give the look of curves to those with a more athletic build or accentuate the waist of a bride who wants to work her curves.

A-Line: This style is very similar to the Ball Gown or Princess shape, there is a fitted bodice, however there is less volume in the skirt. This is a universally flattering style.

Sheath: This style of gown is pretty fitted throughout the gown from top to bottom. This gown will highlight hips and probably won’t leave a lot of room for enjoying a big meal on your wedding day.

Other things to think about are the style of neckline (strapless, halter, sweetheart, etc.), length of train (if any), and amount of beading and lacework you are comfortable with.

Color:

White, Bright White, Diamond White, Antique White, Off-white, Champagne, Ivory... Who knew there could be so many shades of the color your groom will inevitably call white?

Think about the colors you typically wear because they look best against your skin tone. If you find yourself wearing more cool tones you will most likely find yourself happiest in more of a “white white” gown. If you tend to go warm in your clothing and make-up you will probably want one of the softer versions of white. Many shops will only have a sample gown in one color, but they can order it in a few so try on the sample and look at their swatches.

Party:

I’m not going to dive into Bridesmaid gowns, I’m talking about the entourage of ladies that all want to go dress shopping with you. Remember that every person you bring will have an opinion on what you should be looking for and ultimately buying. Bring a few ladies who are close to you, who will be honest with you, and that’s it. No reason to let all those voices get in your head and sway your decision. You know your style, your body and what you like, you will know your gown.

At the Bridal Gown Salon:

Be open to trying on gowns that are different than what you imagined. You may think you “know” what you want, but you have most likely never seen yourself in an actual wedding gown before. Step outside of your comfort zone and try on something different. It won’t hurt anything and you just might surprise yourself.

Be honest with yourself, and your sales consultant, about your budget. No reason to fall in love with an $8,000 gown if you budget is $1,500.

And finally, as my friends on TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress” would say, think of your dress like your fiancé, once you find “The One” stop looking!

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),

Olivia

Salmon or Sea Bass

How important is the dinner selection for your wedding?  Much time is spent on planning the details of the day, but especially for your guests, the most important part of the day is dinner.  Planning the right selection of hors d’oeuvres and number of courses in the meal will have guests offering accolades.

I have met two couples in the past week that have complained about the food at their wedding. You don’t want that to be you. And after all of your hard work you don’t want your guests walking away hungry, or talking about the dry chicken! 

Here are some noteworthy thoughts to ponder upon while making food selections:

Know your guests:

You may be a foodie, but are your guests?  If you want to showcase the talents of your Rock Star chef make sure to balance the meal.  Offer some trendy palette teaser for appetizers, but you may consider keeping the entrée basic.

Menu Matters:

Spend time with your catering manager to discuss your tasting.  Select items that are in your wedding package, but do not be afraid to ask the chef to be creative.  Never arrive hungry to a tasting.  You will not be able to judge the food for its taste and quality if you are starving. Once the food arrives at your table, give it few minutes before you take a bite.  This will allow you to better understand how the food will taste if it is served during a large dinner service.

Not Happy:

If you are not happy with the quality or presentation, try again, and try until you are happy.  It is your big day, and you want to make sure that your celebration dinner is truly something to celebrate.  You want your guests to enjoy the food, as much as you did at the tasting.  Your catering manager wants to make sure that you are happy, and will be accommodating within reason. 

Teen or Children Meals:

Don’t forget the younger guests at your reception.  They may not care for the lavish artistic meal presentation, but would be satisfied with a less “foofooie” dish.  Do a plan a course for them that is similar to the selection you are offering your adult guests.

Offering a meal choice:

Letting your guests choose between the salmon and steak? This will certainly create more work for you in the tracking of the RSVPs to correctly count the meal selections being made by your guests.  Keep in mind that your guests have selected their meals 6 weeks in advance, and may not even remember their choice on the day of the event.  Some venues may offer “at time service,” which will allow guests to choose their selection once they are seated in the ballroom.  This is the easiest choice for pleasing your guests, but it will most likely cost more.

As you make the final selection of your royal feast, be sure to take pictures of the plates you have chosen.  Do share with your catering manager special notes or comments made during the tasting.  Have all your special requests, temperature preferences and presentation choices written in detail so that the catering manager and the culinary staff are aware of your requests.  Once you have enjoyed your culinary experience be prepared to work it all off on the dance floor.

Happy Feast!!!

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),

Olivia

Vendor Agreements, Do you Need Them?

When entering into an agreement with wedding professionals, as in any business relationship, where there is an exchange of money for products or services, expectations must be clearly defined.  Weddings are a costly business.  Every bride and groom spend thousands of dollars to make their Big Day perfect.  They all rely on surrounding themselves with people that they feel can deliver that to them.  But before entering into a relationship with such person or company, here are some tips on what to expect.

Agreements or contracts must include:

• Full company name, address and phone number of the vendor
• Names of the bride and groom
• Date and time of the wedding and reception (if you don’t have this information at the time of signing, it should be noted that the information will be added at a later date)
• Services or products being provided should be specified, with as much detail listed as possible. (For example, on a floral contract, instead of “ ten centerpieces,” a better idea would be to have “ ten centerpiece arrangements with white miniature Calla lilies, red roses, and seasonal greenery, sized in a pilsner vase with submerged orchids”)

For Services:

• Set- up time, start, finish, and break-down time should be listed
• Name of the person or persons who will be performing the service
• Any electrical or special requirement of the venue
• Additional charges for night pick up or above ground ballrooms.
• Any delivery of products after the wedding (such as photographers or video) should be listed, with a date by which you will receive the product

Regarding prices and payments:

• Amount that is refundable should be listed, with the charges as detailed as possible
• Each item should be priced separately unless it is part of a particular package
• In the case of packages, content should be listed in detail
• If there is the possibility of adding on services at a later date, those prices should be listed so that you have the pricing guaranteed—particularly the pricing for photos and albums.
• Set-up fees should be included in the contract. If they are not listed separately, it should be clear that the price includes set-up and break- down

Taxable products or services:

• All applicable taxes should be listed.
• All rental taxes should be listed.
•  Required gratuities should be listed , and if they are not required but encourage, this information should be included

Special requests:

• Should be noted somewhere in the contract (such as no “Hokey-Pokey” played by the DJ, or         Vegetarian meals provided by the caterer upon request).
• Parking or travel fees
• Overtime fees
• Restriction on lifting and moving of equipment, products, furniture etc must be clear.

Payments:

• Schedule should be listed in detail, including the acceptable forms of payment and applicable penalties (for example, if a personal check is returned.)
• Due date of such payment(s) must be included
• Final payment date and amount must be listed.
• Charges, or penalty for making changes after the final order is placed, must be clearly stated.

Policies:

• Cancellation policies should be included in the contract, with specifics regarding cancellation by either party.
• Deposit requirement and the refund policy must be clear
•  If there are other relevant policies that the vendor follows. They should also be included in the contract.

You should be presented with an original copy of the contract, with two sets of original signatures- yours (or the person responsible for paying) and a legal representative of the vendor. In order to make the contract binding, you will need to present compensation at the time of the signing.

If the contract lacks any of these items, don’t hesitate to request corrections, additions or verification of details. It is in everyone’s best interest to have everything listed in advance. If the vendor hesitates to provide you with a detailed contract, perhaps you should consider a different vendor.

If expectations change, make sure to record the changes in writing.  This will protect you, and validate accepted changes by the vendor.  After all, it is your one and only day.  Surrounding yourself with an event team that understands your vision, and enhances your wedding experience, that is the right team for you.

BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now), 

Olivia

2012: A Year in Review Continued

Enjoy the follow photos as a year in review of our in house design studio! Congratulations to all the brides! We are looking forward to working with all the 2013 brides!

BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now), 
Olivia

A Year in Review: 2012

Oliveaire would like to take the time to thank all the brides and families that we had the opportunity to work with last year. Working with each bride and groom along with their families is always an achievement when we see the smiles on their faces after a successful event! Thank you for letting us help bring that smile to your faces, we sincerely appreciate all of you and letting us be apart of such a memorable day! Congratulations to you all, and we look forward to working with all of our 2013 brides this year! 

Below are some of many of the pictures from our 2012 events! Take a look at the gorgeous transformations Oliveaire created, and imagine what we can do for you! 

BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now),

Olivia

Capturing the Moment: Tips on How to Choose the Right Videographer

Capturing every single moment of your big day will be something you will appreciate in the future.  Hiring a videographer will not only help you see what your day was like but they will also capture the moments that you had not noticed during your wedding day.  From taping everyone’s emotions during the special moments, to having loved ones express their joy and share their hopes and dreams for you as a couple, a videographer will create a video that you will treasure for the rest of your lives.  This video is a timeless item that you will be able to share with those who could not attend and most importantly to your children and to generations after.  This is your Cinderella story, so make sure to hire someone who shares the same vision and someone who is just as passionate about capturing the moments that you will never forget.  In order to find the right videographer for you, we have created a couple tips to have when choosing this person for your wedding day. 

Tip #1:  How to Search for a Videographer

            First things first, start as early as possible when searching for the right videographer for you.  Set up meetings and hire far in advance, because they usually are booked for months to even a year ahead.  For the actual searching process, we recommend that you turn to your friends and family for recommendations and advice.  These individuals know you the best and will know if they have a good match for you or not.  Other various ways to search are through internet research, looking through magazines or attending Bridal Expos.  Make sure to set up meetings with various videographers right away because you never know if you will have a match or not with the first or even second appointment. 

Tip #2: Experience is Key

            Knowledge and experience will be the most important factors to look at when meeting with a videographer.  You want someone who knows everything there is to know about the equipment, editing, your venue, and has created a video for weddings many times before.  If you want something absolutely breathtaking, professional and well edited, do not hire someone who is not experienced.  One more tip would be to look at their physical appearance.  If they take the time when it comes to their appearance, this might indicate that they take their time with creating videos and care what it will look like.  We have created a list of questions to ask during your initial meetings so you will be prepared to know if this person is a perfect match or not.

1.       May I see an example(s) of past videos you have done?

2.       After meeting us, what is your vision for creating this video?

3.       Do you have any creative recommendations?

4.       How many years do you have of experience?

5.       Can you tell me something about the equipment and how many cameras will you be using?

6.       Do you have someone else assisting you?

7.       Do you have back-up equipment and DVD’s?

8.       Have you ever been to our venue or not?  If not will you be visiting the venue in advance to gain ideas?

Tip #3: Style/Creativity and Artistry

            When you watch this video and look back on your day, do you want a straight forward boring video without any effects or creativity?  Or would you like to see various clips, stills, colors and have a possible theme to the video?  Well when paying as much as you are for a videographer, it is important to not only get a video that is worth that amount but to also have a video that’s fits your style and is something that is creatively put together and entertaining.  This is where experience is extremely important.   During your interview, the videographer should ask questions about your vision and who you are as a couple.  A great videographer will want to match how he captures and edits your video to fit your needs and wants while incorporating his own personal style.  We have put together a list of things to pay attention to when watching an example of a past video that he/she has created and be sure to ask multiple questions.

1.       Look for their emotional style and if it fits perfectly with yours. 

2.       Look at important filming elements such as lighting, angles, close-ups, and if it is a good quality image in high definition. 

3.       Also, look at important editing elements such as an incorporation of colors, black and white additions, stills, live video, titles, songs and if it flows all together.

4.       Ask if they can customize it to your exact wishes.  An example of this is adding short clips of your loved ones saying their best wishes and any advice they might have. 

5.       Will they have the option for multi-camera coverage?  And if so, will it cost you more?

Tip #4: Pricing and Packages Available

            The amount of money you are willing to spend on the videographer all depends on the quality of video you would like to receive.  As you can tell from all the various questions, there are a lot of important elements to consider when choosing your videographer.  Make sure to research, research and research different packages available and compare prices for what you will get for the amount of money you are willing to spend.  You want a package that describes exactly what you would like to see on your video and that you are also receiving a videographer that is completely professional with every aspect when he is creating his masterpiece.  One piece of advice we could give is always ask multiple questions and make sure you know exactly what you are getting.  Also, make sure to determine ahead of time how many hours you would like to be filmed so you can determine the amount of time in your contract.  Signing a contract is key when it comes to hiring a videographer in order to ensure you are getting exactly what was agreed upon for the price.  To most, this video is a vital part to capturing every detail of one of the best days in someone’s life, so make sure it is something in the end that you will be pleased with. 

            A videographer can capture every important moment of your wedding day as it is happening.  From getting a close up of the bride and groom saying their vows to one another, to capturing the tears from the mother’s eyes when they say I do.  Seeing the emotions of yourself and your loved ones will really show you just how much you are loved and how truly important your union together is to those sharing this day with you.  This video is a precious keepsake, so make sure you are hiring a videographer that cares about this as much as you do. 

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),

Olivia 

Capturing the Moment: How to Choose a Photographer

Your wedding day is a day you will never forget.  From your dress and the cake to your guests and your very first dance as husband and wife, these memories will last a lifetime.  And even though you will never forget, having photographs will help you relive all the happy moments that you and all of your guests experienced on your special day.  And not only can you relive those memories through photographs, but you will be able to share this incredible day with guests who could not make it and most importantly with your future children and grandchildren.  In order to have these still memories, you will need to hire a professional photographer for your wedding day.  It is very difficult to choose a person that envisions what you envision, so here are some helpful tips in choosing the right photographer for you.

Start Searching as Soon as You Have Picked a Dat
Most professional photographers are booked months to even a year in advance.  Once you have set a date, one of the first things you should do is hire a photographer, especially if you want exquisite photographs.  Researching online, local phone books, bridal expos and getting recommendations from friends and family members can all lead you to finding your perfect photographer.  When researching these photographers, try to find their credentials and if they have been honored, awarded or have any certificates.  If they have not, their photographs or customer experiences have not been on a level that you are expecting.  After finding a couple of photographers you would like to consider, set up meetings with each one to see you who feel is the best choice for you.    

Do You Appreciate Their Style?

Do you dream of your photographs to be unique and daring or traditional and standard?  Your choice of photographer will most likely depend on if you have the same style preference or not.  During your first meeting, ask to see examples of his or her previous work and pay attention to the various elements you should consider.  Look for basics such as colors, clarify, exposure, and composition.  All of these elements will help you decide what exactly you are looking for and if this particular photographer is ideal for your wedding day.

      A Positive Relationship is Important

      Just like in your relationship with your fiancé, you will need to be able to have strong communication, an unbreakable trust, and feel very comfortable with your photographer.  As crazy as it sounds, having all of this will improve the quality of the pictures because of how you will feel while you are being photographed.  If you feel as though your photographer is a stranger, the photographs will not feel natural and you will not be able to express your true self.  Trust is also important because you want to feel secure that they will be there on time and will produce quality pictures that you can cherish forever.  Before you hire your photographer, it is very important to make sure they have media and equipment backup just incase of a technology malfunction.  If you get to know your photographer on a personal basis and they are easily accessible to you and your fiancé, you will be thrilled with the pictures you have always dreamed about. 

      Cost

      When it comes to any element of your wedding, cost is something you are seriously stressed about, and hiring a photographer is no exception.  Depending on what you are looking for, prices of hiring a photographer can range from a couple hundred dollars to a couple thousand dollars.  Quality, amount of photos, amount of hours hired and different styles, all go into determining the cost.  When researching different possible photographers, also research the packages they have available and what you will be getting for your money.  Most likely, purchasing a package deal will save you some money and you will receive various sizes and styles of pictures.  Cost is important to almost every engaged couple, so make sure to do your research and that you are getting a quality service worth the price.     

                Hopefully after reading all of these helpful tips, you are ready to research and find your perfect photographer for your lavish day.  Do not be afraid to ask family members and friends for recommendations because they could be the most helpful source.  Capturing the moments that took your breath away will be something you are so grateful for in the future.  Make sure the person behind the camera is a person you trust to make these still memories ones you will be proud to show your children one day.  

BBFN, 

Olivia

Something Old, New, Borrowed & Blue

This old poem rumored from the Victorian era poem symbolizes five tokens. If a bride holds a piece of each symbol when she gets married, her marriage will be happy and filled with good fortune. We all know getting married is wonderful but the marriage part is a new and challenging adventure for the couple, and they can use any advantage they can get!

The “old” means something from the bride’s past and usually a token from the Bride’s family to continue a part of her family’s history. It could be the Bride’s Mother’s gown or veil she plans to wear on her own wedding day. It could also be her Grandmother’s pearl earrings that she inherited. A new twist to this is to include something you may have something of your Father’s or Grandfather’s. A pocket watch tucked in your sash or the love letter your Grandfather wrote your Grandmother tucked in the bible you are holding in your hand while walking down the aisle.

The “new” part means optimism and hope for the bride’s new life. New tokens or items are easy. It could be the new shoes on the bride’s feet, or new jewelry given to her by her parents or groom. A new twist to this is as simple as getting a new haircut or style that day, or getting married in the couple’s new home.

The “borrowed” tokens usually are from important people in the bride’s life who have had the good fortune of a good marriage, and would like to share that fortune with her. It can be Grandma’s engagement ring attached to her bouquet. A twist to this is a key from her parents’ first home attached to the bride’s bracelet, or to make her feel a part of your special day, something of your mother-in-law’s.  

The “blue” token symbolizes purity. A long time ago, wedding gowns were made of blue fabric, not white. Nowadays, brides use blue shoes, handkerchiefs, a garter, and sashes to name a few.  A twist to this is just simply using a blue ribbon to wrap the bouquet or wearing jewelry with blue gems. Blue sapphire earrings will definitely make a blue statement. Instead of heels, why not blue cowboy boots if you’re a country western bride.

The silver sixpence in your left shoe means money, honey. Financial security may not be the most important thing to hold a marriage together, but it is definitely important, now and more so in the past where women were not allowed to own property. New twists to this are a copper penny in your shoe or have the groom put one in his shoe too. The groom was the original wearer of such sixpence back in old Scotland. Better yet, purchase a keepsake sixpence for authenticity.

During these ultra-modern times, a bride and groom still yearn for the traditional because deep down, they believe in it, but go ahead and put your twist on it.

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),

Olivia

Guide to Tipping

When it comes to your big day tipping your vendors and reception attendants is probably the last thing on your mind.  It is, however, a service industry standard practice.  Luckily there is a simple way to know how much to tip each person.  Before we get to the nitty-gritty of dollar and cents for tipping those who have helped in your special day, there are a few details to take care of.

First, please understand that a tip is never an obligation, unless it clearly states in your contract that a service charge is necessary.  Even though not all contracts will say that a service charge is expected, most vendors will expect a gratuity from you.  It is up to you as to whether or not you would like to tip them.  Remember that you are not tipping the owners of these businesses, just their employees who are actually doing the service such as delivering décor or a cake.  You can, however, tip the business owner if their service goes above and beyond your expectations.  If you do not want to offer a monetary thank you, simple thank you notes go a very long way as well.

Secondly, make sure that you have assigned someone to take care of handing out all of the tips for you.  This can be a maid of honor, best man, a close family member or friend who is not in the wedding party, or your wedding planner if you have one.  Although it may seem impossible to think of relinquishing control over such amounts of money and entrusting them to someone else, it is not a detail a bride or groom should be worrying about on their big day.  The wedding day should be as stress free as possible and you should be doing no running around to find the appropriate people you need to tip. 

Below you can find a brief breakdown of specific people to tip, how much to tip them, and when the person in charge should hand out the tips.

Wedding Planner

This is one of those case-by-case scenarios.  If your wedding planner was exceptional, then you will likely want to tip them.  Be aware that they do not expect anything from you in the form of a gratuity, but even a simple thank you note with professional pictures are always appreciated  If you do want to provide some form of gratuity, then it can be a nice gift or 15% of the fee they charged.  This tip can be done at the end of the reception by the bride and groom themselves or can be mailed after the honeymoon.

The Beauty Team (Hair and Make-up Artist)

When you are getting your hair and make-up done for any event or even just on a day-to-day basis, a tip is always expected.  Your wedding is no different.  In fact, giving a tip to them on your wedding day is even more important than any other time.  You should be tipping them 15-20% and if they have to take care of extras such a fixing someone’s hair or touching up the make-up, then be sure to throw in a little extra.  These tips should be taken care of at the end of your services. 

Delivery and Set-Up Staff

These tips go to anyone who is delivering anything for your wedding or to your suite for the big day.  They should only be about $5-$10 per person depending on how much they are delivering and how far they have to go to deliver.  You can give these tips to the catering manager or to your wedding planner before the event, so they can hand them out as the deliveries are made.

Those who pronounce you man and wife (The Wedding Officiant)

The wedding officiant is never expected to be tipped.  If he or she belongs to a church, synagogue, or temple, then it is customary to make a donation to that place of worship.  If you are a member, this may impact the amount you decide to donate.  If you are also paying to use their venue for the reception, feel free to tip a smaller amount since they are charging you to rent out the space.  If you are having a nondenominational officiant at a non-religious venue, then they will charge you for their services, so no tip is expected. As a general guideline, expect to make a donation of approximately $500 to the temple, church, or synagogue and you can give an optional tip of $50-$100 to a nondenominational officiant if you are exceptionally pleased with their services.  These tips and donations can be done before the wedding, or if the officiant is at your rehearsal dinner, then the person in charge of tips can pass it to them.

Wedding Shutterbugs and Movie Makers (Photographer/Videographer)

You are never expected to tip the photographer or videographer if they are the owner of the studio, but if they are not, then consider giving each person a tip of $50-$200 per vendor at the end of the reception. 

Wedding Reception Staff

The wedding reception staff will include your on-site coordinator, banquet manager, and head waiter.  These people usually have an approximate 2% service fee built in to the contract, but if they do not, then a tip is necessary.  The tip for each should be 15-20 % of the cost of labor for the food and beverage.  These tips are taken care of before the wedding if they are included in the contract; otherwise you need to wait until the end of the reception, so you have the final bill to figure out percentages.

Wedding Reception Attendants

This includes your bartenders, waiters, parking, bathroom, and coat-room attendants if you have them.  Deciding how much to tip them can usually be found in your contract.  You can always tip extra if you feel as though the service was exceptional.  If these costs are not included in your contract, be sure to call ahead and ask how many of each will be at the wedding, so you can figure out the tips beforehand.  Each bartender and waiter should get $20-$25.  Each bathroom, coatroom, and parking attendant should get between $1-$2 per guest or per car.  It is a good idea to pass out these tips before the actual wedding, so it will hopefully encourage them to provide you with outstanding service.

Reception Band or DJ

This is another situation where it is a case-by-case basis.  It all depends on the quality of the service they do and how closely they followed your suggested playlist.  It should be about $20-$25 per musician or $50-$150 for the DJ.  These tips should be given out by the person in charge or your tips at the end of the reception.

Transportation

This is another situation where gratuity is often stipulated in the contract.  If it is not, then a tip is expected assuming they show up on time and do not get lost on their way.  The tip should be 15-20% percent of the total bill.  These tips can be given at the end of the night or after your last ride in them.  If you provided guest busses using a different company, make sure to put someone in charge of providing them with a tip or have the best man do it.

Never feel obligated to give a tip if the service was not what you expected.  The most important thing to remember about some of these optional tips is that sometimes a thank-you note or a personal gift mean a lot more than cash.  

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),

Olivia