TIPS FOR SEASONAL WEDDINGS

Wedding Planner's Advice

by Shelley Waugh
The outdoor wedding is more popular than ever, they're very different from the traditional indoor affair and offer more options, with only the weather as a variable.

1. BUDGET: Have an exact budget or specific dollar amount when you meet with your wedding planner. Make a prioritized list of what is necessary to create your wedding the way you envision it. This will help in deciding between calligraphy invitations and live music. It can be disappointing to make big plans and then have to cancel them because they're not affordable.

2. DATE: Planning the date is extremely important. Have several in mind, since popular wedding months such as May, June, September and October may limit the choice of dates. Depending on where you live, winter weddings for better value. They can be spectacular at this time of year.

3. COMFORT: Remember to ensure your guests' comfort by considering weather conditions on the big day. If hot, have ushers offer ice-cold water bottles as guests are seated, or print your wedding program on a hand-held fan to keep your guests cool.  Colorful paper umbrellas shade the sun and add beautiful color as well.

4. BACKUP PLAN: What if it rains? The ideal outdoor wedding location should have an indoor plan just in case. However, an outdoor tent is another option, but only for light to moderate rainstorms. Or, the couple might have the ceremony outside and reception inside as a way to minimize the risk of bad weather.

5. PLAN FOR WIND: Windy conditions can wreak havoc on attire, hair, and décor. If the location is typically windy, avoid fabrics such as chiffons or silks. Also, advise your hairstylist that your wedding is outdoors so she/he can design an appropriate style for you and the bridal party. While unity ceremonies are important, wind can have an ill effect on the traditional unity candle. More recent ideas include the sand ceremony and water ceremony.

6. DECOR: With natural beauty all around, outdoor weddings often use fewer decorations. Some to be considered, however, include an arch or trellis, strings of lights or lanterns in the trees, torches, and luminarias or farolitas. A flower petal walkway dense with deep colored rose petals creates a dramatic contrast to green grass. Note: for weddings on grassy areas, ensure the sprinkler system is disabled so guests don't receive an unwanted shower!

7. FOOD: A reception with food stations with delicious and beautiful options that are prepared and refreshed on a continual basis. Guests can enjoy the reception without worrying if the food is getting cold or that they'll miss a served food course.

8. BUGS: One way to limit bug disturbances is to use citronella candles placed around the border of the event disguised with red rocks or other natural elements just in case.

9. SUNLIGHT: Couples who consider timing their outdoor wedding to a beautiful sunset should ensure that chairs are oriented away from the sun so it won't shine directly in the eyes of their guests during the ceremony.

10. ATTIRE: If hot weather is in the forecast, wear light fabrics to avoid unnecessary overheating or perspiration. Brides wearing trains should consider the ground they will be walking on to avoid grass and dirt. An aisle runner can be helpful in avoiding stains. Consult a makeup professional for makeup that won't cake, streak, or shine and will hold up well for photographs and throughout the event.

Tips and photos courtesy: Wedding Planner at the L'Auberge de Sedona in Sedona, Arizona, that offers luxury accommodations, fine dining, wedding facilities and spa treatments. Visit www.lauberge.com.

Planning a Garden Wedding

by Shelley Waugh

ongratulations, you have just become engaged! When the smoke clears a little, you find yourself wondering, “How in the world do I plan a garden wedding?” What seasonal special features are you looking for? Would you like your ceremony to be held in a garden with lots of flowers in bloom? Do the crisp air and colors of the fall spell romance for you? Or are you more entranced by a candlelit ceremony with bridesmaids dressed in red velvet? Plan accordingly and know that some seasonal features are highly sought-after, which means planning further in advance. Think about the amount of time you need for planning your wedding, and work in your desired season/time of year so that you leave yourself enough time to plan, or adjusting your expectations to account for a shorter time frame, if needed.

Equipment Rental
If you are having a “tent wedding” or a wedding in any place other than a fully-equipped facility, you may need to rent anything from the tent and portable toilets to tables, chairs, china, silverware and chafing dishes. If your wedding is in a high demand season, you will need to make arrangements for these rentals well ahead of time. Often the rental company will have a showroom with sample tables set up, so you can see the selections of dishware and linens all laid out in combinations. Do not forget to think about any rental items such as candelabras or trellises you may need for the ceremony.

Style and Formality
Think very early in the process about what style of wedding you want and how formal or informal an affair it will be. The level of formality is related to the time of day of your wedding and reception. For example, a very formal wedding is not usually held in the middle of the day.

Type of Reception
Indoors or outdoors or both? A garden wedding, sit-down meal, a buffet, or a cocktail reception on the terrace? Do you imagine volleyball and croquet on the lawn, with a barbecue and a keg of beer? These preferences dictate the type of setting you will choose for your reception and may increase or reduce certain limitations involved with the reception facility (whether or not they provide food, service, etc).

Number of Guests
You will need to know the approximate number of guests in order to determine a rough budget and what to look for in regards to facilities and catering. You can start by narrowing it down to a large wedding (more than 150) or a small wedding (less than 50).

Reception Menu Ideas/Style
Talk to service providers to get a feel for costs of various types of food service (sit-down with service, buffet, stations, etc.) and your wedding cake or cakes.

Service Providers
Use magazine advertisers, websites, local wedding directories, word-of-mouth recommendations from friends, and the phone book to get names and phone numbers of providers and begin to contact vendors. You will want to personally meet any vendor that you are considering hiring, and in most cases you will make an appointment to meet them at his/her place of business. In general, it is a good idea to meet with more than one vendor for each type of service to get a sense of what different options you have.

Rehearsal Dinner
Traditionally, this is the domain of the parents of the groom. If you are having a garden wedding, everything should be in place for your ceremony rehearsal.

Items for Planning:
Color Scheme—bridesmaids’ attire, table linens, flower colors, ceremony site and reception decorations
Ceremony—officiator, readings, special features, musical choices
Wedding day schedule—order of events, timing
Reception music and dance music
Flowers and flower arrangements
Final decisions on food and beverage— find out when your caterer needs a final head count.
Marriage License—usually obtained from the town clerk in the town or county where the couple resides or where the marriage will be performed

Budget:
Keep a running worksheet of all expenses that could include:
ceremony site (if different than the reception); clergy/officiator; reception facilities; catering: food, service, tips; cost per plate; alcohol/bar open bar bill, alcohol supply, bartender, service, license fee; equipment rental could include tent, chairs, tables, dishes, silverware (some sites include these); transportation: limousines, horsedrawn carriage, taxis for guests; photographers and videographers; entertainment: ceremony music, soloist, reception music: dj, band, background music; florists including bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages, ceremony and reception decorations; sweet table items; accessories could include favors, guest book, cake knife, toast glasses; health & beauty before the wedding and makeup/hair for the big day; marriage license, wedding insurance, tips, taxes, long distance calls, web site website; apparel for the bride and groom, alterations; invitations: postage, thank-you notes, placecards; parties could include engagement, out-of-town guests' luncheon, rehearsal dinner; rehearsal dinner facility; accommodations for out-of-town guests; gifts for wedding parties; premarital counselling or prenuptials; your wedding night and honeymoon.

Photography: Tomas Ramos, Houston, Texas. Visit www.tomasramos.com

TO DO TIPS FOR A GARDEN WEDDING:
Décor and flower designer, Gabrielle Haasz of the House of Haasz says that “details are very very important.” She advises you to write a “To Do” list and when you think that you could not have missed anything, CHECK AGAIN.

If you are using a wedding planner, make sure he/she has a list of all the rental companies such as tent, tables, chairs, dishes, glasses, cutlery, table linens, food, dessert and cake tables, solid flooring (pebbles and other hard uneven surfaces can be hazardous to women wearing high heels and could lead to serious injury), refrigeration, ice liquor, caterer, decor, lighting, floral arrangements and transportation. Make sure you discuss and write down everything, and do not go ahead without checking with the planner first. Make more appointments with the planner as the months get closer to your wedding date.

1. Find the perfect location — use your imagination.
2. Choose the time of day for your wedding:  morning, afternoon or evening. Each has its own challenges.
3. Make sure that the food tables are located in an area that will not create a traffic jam when the food is served. The bar should be set up in an area free of all traffic. The wedding cake should be prominently displayed but far away from congested areas.
4. If you decide to have candles at your wedding make sure they are protected properly. Candle light is very romantic but can become a fire hazard in seconds.
5. Make sure your elderly guests are properly protected from the heat by seating them in a shaded area. Have bottled water available for them in order to prevent heat stroke.
6. Have a back-up plan in case of bad weather. Make sure it is noted on your invitations.

For further information contact Gabriella Haasz at 905-796-1459, e-mail: Houseofhaasz@rogers.com or visit: www.houseofhaasz.com.