Why Post-It Notes Will Never Be Obsolete

Friend R. recently pointed me to this idea for planning seating at your wedding, which I think is an excellent tip, especially for all you visual people out there.  R. had 250 guests at her weddding, and so determining seating for her group was quite a task.  Overwhelmed, R. turned to a friend in fundraising, who recommended using pink and blue post-it notes to plan the seating.  Apparently this technique is quite popular for planning benefits and fundraisers, and it makes total sense.  With so many guests, I think it was the perfect approach- and it’s the kind of thing that literally anyone can do.  Here’s how it worked:

Here’s what she did:

Step 1:  R. blew up an image of the room layout which had been provided by her venue, and had it printed on large paper.

Step 2:  R. cut out smaller pieces of paper in the shape and size of the tables in her layout. 

Step 3:  Using post-it notes in pink (with ladies’ names on them) and blue (with the men’s names), R. started by affixing post-it notes to the “tables.”  She played with varying combinations until she had her guests all “seated” into the right groups.

Step 4:  R. Then put the tables onto the big sheet of paper in different configuations, until the locations of various tables worked perfectly.  R. made sure to take into account things like the location of the bar and band, the location of her family members, and so forth.  In her case, she tried to keep generations together, and family members together.   Of course, there are many ways to seat people, but this worked for her group!

Step 5:  When all was said and done, R. assigned the table numbers based on the room layout. 

R. says the biggest challenge in her planning was dealing with all of the different stakeholders in the process- mothers, in-laws, friends, fiances- they all had opinions and she knew she could never make everyone 100% happy.  So at the end of the day, she did what all smart brides do- she did her best and then cut herself some slack!

What other tips do you love for figuring out tables and seating?

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A Compendium of DIY Pinwheel Love

I was recently reading a post about pinwheels over at $2000 Wedding, and ever since I’m been stark raving mad about paper pinwheels.  There is something so utterly romantic and playful about them!  And I feel like they have so much hidden versatility, not to mention their absolute customize-ability and cost-effectiveness!  So far, I’ve come up with 10 potential ways to use them, many of which could save you considerable cash:  

  

- Have guests waive them in lieu of bubbles, rice or birdseed when sending you off! 

- Incorporate them into floral centerpieces. 

- Or, forget the flowers altogether and use a bunch of pinwheels AS the centerpiece! 

- Write guests’ names and tables on them, and use for escort cards. 

- Top cupcakes with mini-pinwheels for a playful cake table. 

- Leave them on the kids table for the young and young at heart. 

- Tuck them into the napkins at each place setting for a whimsical favor. 

- Give them to your flower girls to carry during the ceremony instead of a basket. 

- Put your pinwheels on extra-long sticks and plant them in the ground for a festive aisle runner. 

- If you really want to get creative, you could even make your invite with instructions for how to turn them into pinwheels. 

  

Anyways… I clearly have no life… if you want to learn how to make your very own adorable pinwheels, the blogosphere is filled with great tutorials!  I’ve compiled some of my favorites to share but if you know of more, I’d love to hear them!  What would you do with pinwheels at a wedding?   

via Paper Source

via BHG

via Intimate Weddings

via Style Me Pretty

via Once Wed

 

Why Am I So Obsessed With Wooden Flatware?

This is why.  This gosh-darn adorable set of wooden cutlery spied at Kate’s Paperie.  In a sewn paper pouch, with a cloth napkin, it makes me think of picnics and summer, strawberry shortcake and potato salad!  But at $5 per set, it might be best to use these for a dinner party and find something else for a wedding.

Good thing there are affordable alternatives out there!  Jessica over at Budget Savvy Bride was the first blogger to call my attention to wooden flatware, and she made her own cutlery sets for her wedding.  She found them to be quite sturdy and perfect for her guests.

Look how cute hers turned out!

A little wooden flatware, a little paper, a little baking twine or yarn, and you’ve got yourself an easy DIY that is as cute as a button!  And did I mention that this stuff is biodegradeable and compostable, unlike their plastic counterparts?  Earth friendly!  I’m TOTALLY stealing this idea for my brother’s engagement party cookout this summer.  A quick google search will find you some affordable flatware from a great many retailers.  Quick tip: buy in bulk  (BSB got hers in cases of 1000 from Ecoware Biodegradables for $56.99 which includes shipping) if you’re planning a wedding.  But if you have a smaller crowd, you can buy sets of 100 wooden forks, knives or spoons for $6.49 at the Web Restaurant Store.

So all this is quite excellent and lovely.  But my crush was taken to a whole new level when I saw these over at Totally Tabletops: monogrammed, personalized perfection.  This sort of personalization doesn’t come cheap, but it sure is cute.  And you can find them, for example, at Neiman Marcus (36 pieces for $64).  But the crafter in me has to wonder- don’t you think you could do this yourself with a little custom stamp?  I’d love to hear if you’ve tried!

Who needs boys when you can have these?

Do you love this flatware as much as I do?  What would you to to personalize it?

Ok, one more adorable example for you, from the Bride's Cafe!

Seating Logistics- Who Knew?

One of the very last things I’m doing for the wedding is making escort cards.  The reason I’ve waited for this: I wanted to wait until the last possible minute so that any late changes in our guest list would be included in our work.

Of course, all of the materials for the escort cards have been long ready.  I have had a general plan for tables for months.  But deciding who will sit at each table has been harder than I expected!  After all, where guests sit (and who with) often dictates how much fun they will have.  And as host and hostess, J. and I certainly want to encourage conversation, mingling, and also comfort for our guests!

So here’s my anecdotal list of things I thought about when determining a seating plan; I will have to let you know how it works out!

- Spouses always sit together, but I often sat their kids separately (we have some teens attending) if I thought different groupings of people made sense.

- I tried very had to put even numbers at tables (under the theory that conversations happen in pairs) but if it didn’t work out, this was one criterion I sometimes ignored.

- As the child of divorced parents, I had each parent host their own table.  Knowing they are comfortable will make me a more comfortable bride!

- Attendants were split up.  We’re not doing a head table, and there are so many different worlds where my friends come from, so I sat them according to where I thought they would have fun and not necessarily together.

- I tried to make sure singles were never sat in a way that might make them feel uncomfortable.  This means no “singles table” and it also meant I did not sit singles with people who would be so “in your face” couple-ish that it would get old for the single person.

- I tried to be sure that everyone knew at least one other person at their table.  In a few instances where the guest will know nobody else at the wedding, my fallback was to seat them with gregarious, fun people who would be inclusive (I hope!)

- I also tried to distribute the really good conversationalists throughout the room.  In fact, I specifically identified my “social chameleon” friends before I even started.  I sat those folks last, since I had the most options for them.

- After doing my best, there were certain instances where I couldn’t follow all my rules, and it wasn’t quite perfect.  But it seemed I had done things in the best way… so I decided to cut myself some slack and move on.  All you can do is your best, right??

Do you have any good tips for seating wedding guests?

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Guest Book Sneak Peek

Today is a short and sweet post, because I just so happen to be busy getting ready to get married! 

But I couldn’t just leave you hanging!  So here’s a sneak peek at our framed photo-guest book.  We took one of our favorite shots from the engagement session, blew it up on metallic paper (which does amazing things for the colors) and had it framed at Michael’s with a 50% off coupon (which was still expensive, but slightly less so with the coupon).  Michael’s did a great job, and even agreed to leave the glass out so people can sign the mat at the reception; afterward, we’ll bring it back to have the glass put in.

We have a “wedding wishes” book which will be put out with this photo too– the wishes book has cards in it where guests can write us a note if they wish.  For both items, I purchased archival quality pens, so that there won’t be fading years later.  I think its going to look great!

Bridal Brew

My friend P. recently turned me on to this amazing idea that I just HAD to share with you all…  have you ever thought about brewing your own beer and giving  it as gifts to your bridal party or serving it at your wedding?!  I’m not talking about the kind you make in your garage (though I’m sure that is a viable option), I’m talking about going to an actual brewery and working out your own special blend.  How cool would it be to serve your very own customized bridal blend as part of your nuptual celebration?

The place P. and I are so psyched about is called The Brewer’s Apprentice (images are all from their website).  Apparently, it is the first place in New Jersey to offer “brew on premises” services, and it seems to have been quite popular!  As an aside, I also love that this is a women-owned business!!

The Owners of The Brewer's Apprentice

So here’s how it works.  First, you pay $15 to get your brewer’s permit from the great state of New Jersey.  Then, you choose a recipe, selecting anything from light lagers and pilsners to rich stouts and porters.  If there is a commercial beer you usually like, their staff will help you find something similar in their selection.  Next, you are given the ingredients, instructions and a kettle (yes, a kettle!) and you brew away!  Finally, the staff helps you put the beer into tanks where it ferments for two weeks.  When it’s ready, you come back and bottle the beer.  They will work with you to select a label, or you can customize your own, so that its perfect for whatever use you have planned. 

Yes, they seriously give you your own grain to work with.

Oh but wait, that is not all.  They do WINE too!

So sweet!

Pashmina Valet- a Good Idea Gets Even Better

Flip Flop Valets- Hot or Not?

Alright, I’ll just say it up front, I vote HOT.    Flip flop valets are among the latest and greatest in wedding trends, and I have to say, I’m all about them!  You could easily and inexpensively make one of these for your own wedding- Old Navy has a sale every spring where they sell flop flops for $1, Jack’s $.99 store near me sells them, and Michael’s and Target often have them in their discount crafty bins for $.25-$.50.  If you live in NYC, you could also buy inexpensive Chinese sandals from vendors on the street and use them the same way.  What a fun easy way to personalize your wedding!  And think of all the cute little puns and sayings you could come up with for your basket sign.   From “sole mates” to “dancing shoes,” the sky might just be the limit!

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 Of course, if you love this idea but would prefer to pawn off the work, or don’t feel creative enough to pull it off on your own, Kate Parker Weddings would be glad to make a flip flop valet for you… just be prepared for the accompanying price tag (starting at $225).

Hello Kate Parker Lovelies!

 What do you think?  Do you love it?  Would you do it?

Wedding Painting

I just had an amaaaazing weekend in Ohio, celebrating a hometown bridal shower with some of my favorite peeps!  And I promise, recaps are coming.  But in the mean time, frivolity!  Can we talk for a second about what you should have at your wedding if you possibly can?  If I had unlimited budget (or at least more money to spend than I currently do) I would definitely hire a painter to paint at my wedding.  Yep, seriously, you really can do that.

My friend P., who is always finding new and creative ideas for weddings, sent this my way and I’m sold on the concept, hook line and sinker.  Apparently, there are vendors all over the United States who will do such a thing, but we’re currently obsessed with the work of Martin Hardy.

His rate is $1200, so he’s pretty reasonable when you consider what you’re getting.  He paints in acrylic on a 24 x 36 canvas, which makes sense because no one would want fumes from oil paint at their wedding.  The way it works is that he positions himself close to the dance floor, and will paint a scene of your choice (first dance, cake cutting, toasts, you name it).  And the best part is that his painting is complete by the end of your event – though he cannot guarantee that it will be dry (which seems fair to me).  Can’t you just imagine your guests captivated, watching a painter at work at your reception?!

Absolutely loving the colors and his feature of the architecture.

This one is even more impressionistic to me, absolutely capturing the movement of the group and the joy of the event! And PS, I would like to be invited to a party with acrobats on the ceiling please.

Would you consider hiring a painter to document your special day?

All images from Mr. Hardy’s website, http://www.hardyboyart.com/id1.html

Naming the Tables

Now that J. and I are starting to get closer to the wedding, I have been focusing on wrapping up easy projects that can be done in advance so that it can all be done by the week of the wedding.  So one of the easiest things I have gotten out of the way is making signs for various wedding elements.

The first set of signs I made were our table numbers.  J. and I have done a bit of moving around as adults,  so early on, we decided to name the tables after places we have lived.  It seemed like another easy way to add personalization to the wedding.  So I hit my local dollar store and came up with a plan.  Now I admit, I’m very fortunate to have a dollar store with an entire aisle of scrapbooking supplies, which is where I found gold rub-on transfer lettering in a lovely font!  I ended up buying ten packages along with a supply of cream colored card stock, and used both for many other wedding elements too.

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I also found inexpensive gold frames from the same store at 2 for $1, so I snapped up 16 of them.  The quality wasn’t great, but it didn’t have to be for this project, so I decided not to worry about it.  I set to work as soon as I got home, first applying the lettering to plain white card stock to spell the names of places.  I then cut out the table name and applied it to a rectangle of gold wrapping paper I had on hand using my trusty glue stick.  Finally I added a third layer of cream card stock and put the whole thing into the picture frame.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

(PS, sorry about the photo quality, it was raining when I took the pics and the lighting was terrible!)

Are you doing anything nontraditional for your tables?