Moments By McKnight :
Weddings & Design
Top 5 Themes, color combos & trends
Themes
1.) STRIPES: add this design element to your invitations, favors, linens, ribbons and more.
2.) FLORAL: Floral dishware, floral centerpieces and floral motif on your invites.
3.) DOTS: Dot's on your ribbon, stationery, accents pieces even your cake!.
4.) LETTER/ MONOGRAM: It's all the rage in every aspect of wedding planning.
5.) FLORISHES: Scrolls, Fleur-de-lis, symbols, these add a great personal touch to your event
Color Combos
1.) Aqua & Chartruse with hints of white on accent pieces
2.) Blush & Mauve with hints of mother of pearl or ivory
3.) Lavender, Creme & Chocolate
4.) Garnet & Tangerine and hints of gold
5.) Lemon & Celedon look sharp with creamy white or antique accents.
4 HOT Trends going...
Bring the outdoors in
Have floral, leaf, scroll motifs added to your stationery to match your venue. Add textures to your invites with twine, ribbon and silk. Die-cut invitations also make a nice unique touch
Herbal Bouquets
Herbs hold meanings just as flowers do:
- Chives = Good fortune
- Sage = Long life & Domestic bliss
- Mint = Wisdom
- Thyme = Courage
- Rosemary = Rememberance
- Basil = Love
Feather accents
Peacock make an elegant touch to floral arrangements, votive holders and more. White feather boas add fun and whimsy which look nice if you are trying to achieve a "Winter effect" or "Angel" touch.
> Candy Buffet
Still a rage for 2008. This allows your guest to make their own favor take home treat and it's a nice addition if you have children attending your event.
Tips & Tricks area:
Here is a small selection of "Tips & Tricks" that I have used, I hope to add new ideas every so often so please check back regularly.
- Number those reply cards! Many a bride has a huge headache on her hands when, as sometimes happens, the occasional reply card is sent back with no names filled in. Clearly an oversight on the part of the guest who sent it, but how do you figure out who on earth it came from? Here's a little trick which will ensure that you avoid this problem all together - place a small, inconspicuous number on the back of each reply card before enclosing it with the invitation. Use a list to record each guest's name along with the number on the reply card you are enclosing for them. That way, if someone should forget to fill in their name, a quick glance at your list will tell you precisely who the reply belongs to.
- Making your own invitations? Save money by using reply postcards instead of the usual reply cards with envelopes. Postage rates for postcards are about 13 cents less than the rate for stamping envelopes (Remember, you must pre-stamp the reply cards for your guests!) Plus, by using postcards you'll also save the expense of envelopes. Simply print the response information on one side of the card, and your address on the other side.
Seating Chart "How-To's"
 Your Aunt Carole and Uncle Earl have been feuding since the 80s, your last single girlfriend is hypersensitive to being seated at the "wrong" table, and you have one couple coming from out of the country who only know you. Or perhaps your parents are divorced. How can you please everyone? Seating dilemmas have cost brides and grooms many sleepless nights before the big day. You want every guest to feel special, but if you have to rearrange that seating chart one more time, you're going to lose it. What to do? With a little tact, diplomacy and common sense (along with those deep breathing exercises you learned in yoga), you can create a seating plan that will make almost everyone happy. Why A Formal Seating Plan? You may feel that you're not up to the task of developing a formal seating plan. After all, we're all adults, right? If you provide enough seats, can't everyone just figure it out on their own? Those of you who have been to a wedding with no seating plan (and survived the mass trampling) know that no matter how mature everyone appears to be, this type of situation reduces us all to children. Remember the school lunchroom, where everyone desperately vied to sit at the "popular" table? Except for the cafeteria meatloaf, it's not a whole lot different. Taking the time to develop a plan will greatly reduce anxiety among guests -- no one will have to worry about finding a seat. On the other hand, if your wedding is small, you may not need to develop a seating plan. Speak to your caterer or wedding coordinator to determine this. If not, you might simply designate the bridal table with place cards, and allow the other guests to seat themselves. Some couples opt to have a cocktail party or buffet with a few tables, in hopes that guests will "alternate" sitting and eating. If this is what you plan to do, make sure that your elderly guests have a place to sit down, possibly even by designating a separate table for them. Who Sits Where? The Bridal Table. The bride and groom may sit at a long rectangular head table or round table at the focal point of the room, or alternatively, at their very own "sweetheart" table. Some couples choose to have no table at all, but to leave a few seats empty at every table so they can mingle throughout the reception. No matter which configuration you choose, the bridal table is usually set apart from the others by some type of decoration, such as flowers. Classically, the groom sits to the bride's right and the best man sits to her left. The maid of honor sits to the groom's right. Depending on how large the table is, the other attendants should be scattered around. In the old days, spouses and significant others were relegated to different tables, but let's think about that for a minute… It seems rather unfair to separate couples during an entire wedding dinner and dance, so be sensitive. If you can only fit the best man and maid of honor -- along with their significant others -- at your table, do so. Seat remaining attendants and their "other halves" at another table. Family Tables. Often, the parents of the bride and groom sit opposite each other at a large family table, with grandparents, the officiant, and other close friends. An alternative is to have the bride and groom's parents "host" their own tables, consisting of their family members and close friends. In the case of divorced parents, each parent may also host his or her own table, smoothly diffusing any awkwardness or discomfort. Mix or Match. As for the rest of your guests, should you put friends together or seat them with "new" people? The answer is a bit of both. While it is a great idea to mix in a few new faces at each table, remember that people are most comfortable when they know some of their dinner companions. Be considerate. Not even your most gregarious friend will want to sit at a table full of complete strangers, so put acquaintances together when you can. If you have guests who don't know anyone, seat them near guests with similar interests. If you have a group of friends that cannot fit at one table, split them down the middle, and fill in each table with other guests. Whatever you do, don't leave one of the gang out. If you have no idea what to do with your parents' friends, let your mother and mother-in-law arrange those tables. They will be thrilled to be involved, and this may keep them from trying to control of the rest of your seating plan. Singles v. Couples. If you've been dying to fix your old roommate up with your fiancé's cousin, you might take this opportunity to discreetly seat them next to each other. Resist the urge to create a separate "singles" table, though, as this might embarrass your guests. By the same token, don't seat that unmarried girlfriend at a table full of gushing newlyweds. A little sensitivity and some good old common sense are the best guides. Children. If you have several children at your wedding, seat them together at a separate kids' table. If your flowergirl and ringbearer are the only children present, seat them with their parents. Place Cards, Escort Cards or Seating Chart? You've finally solved the headache of figuring out where to put everyone, now you must decide how to get them to their seats. Place Cards. These tented cards can be used alone or with escort cards. Displayed near the entrance of the reception in alphabetical order, they usually include the guest's name and table number. Once at the table, guests usually select their own seats. Escort Cards. Used in the most formal seating plans, escort cards usually contain the guest's name on the outer envelope, and their table number on the card inside. Place cards await guests at each table, designating their seats. The Seating Chart. Usually displayed alphabetically in a pretty frame near the entrance of the reception, seating charts are lists of guests' names with their designated tables. Additional place cards may be used at each table to designate assigned seats, if you wish. Nametags. This is a wedding, not a convention, so skip the nametags, as irresistible as they are (especially plastered onto silk). Your guests are capable of making any introductions you haven't made previously. Note: Guests should never alter seating arrangements or "switch seats" at a wedding reception, but it is perfectly acceptable to mingle at different tables after dinner. Before creating your seating plan, it is a good idea to obtain the floor plan and make several copies. This way, you can experiment with various different arrangements before making your final decision. When in doubt, trust your instincts. And no matter how perfect your final seating plan seems, you will undoubtedly receive at least one last minute phone call begging you to change something to make a guest (read: your mother) happy. Try to be accommodating, but don't let it make you crazy. It's your wedding. Besides, why worry? After all, you're sitting at the popular table. |
It's the little things:
Whenever I have the chance to help out someone with party planning I do my best to make the ideas short, sweet, and simple. I would on the other hand know exactly what your talking about when you say "Bishop sleeve" on the window swag or "Cross the room" with the table runners...other's may not respond at all but rather just appear with a blank stare on their face. Keeping details within the ability of the client or myself is most important and this is not to set limitations but realistic expectations that one will fulfill and be happy with rather then disapointed when plans fall through.
When I attend a function you can bet I have my "Planner" eyes on, looking for details and finishing touches that I would add or that the host has done. Inspiration can come from a multitude of elements, you might look at something and see it as only it's main purpose but I see Possibilities!.
Take for instance a shower curtain, would you think of using it as windows curtains? How about as a table cloth? a room divider, fabric to make something else like a handbag or convert into a change table pad.
It's the little things people notice at your event, the lighting, the smell, the welcoming feeling they get or an ambiance that tells them there is reason to celebrate. Little details go along way and they can be simple like; napkin folding. Have your silverware or plastic ware wrapped in a napkin for your guests, it makes things easy for them to hold while piling food on their plate. Separate your paper plates with napkins in between so that it's easy for guests to grab. Always offer your guests some items in your bathroom to spruce themselves up, deoderant, mints, hairspray and hand lotion just to name a few. This is nice especially in the cold months when you can add "Static guard" for those pesty fly away hairs or static charged sweaters. In the summer months have some SPF suntan lotion and body spritzers to freshen up. Guests go "Ga-Ga" for this and it's easy, even if it's your but put on the counter for them to use they will love it.
I like to think of myself as a natural frugal hunter, always trying to use items for multi purpose and to think "outside the box". When you think about your arranging your next function try to think about me, the fellow party planner and all the unlimited advice, guidance, & creativeness I can bring to you.
