Planning a perfect wedding - Continued from Page 1
Catering and Cake
If you are having your reception at a banquet hall or a golf club, for example, your catering will usually be taken care of, as well as your cake. I would highly recommend going with such facilities, as they would simplify your event. Whether you decide to go with your own caterer or use the packaged deal, think of the menu that everyone will like, that is seasonal and looks good. Don't forget to sample everything and invite your future in-laws to share some opinions. Wedding cake is typically part of the package, but you may choose to pick your own, since package cakes often carry some limitations to what you can do. You can look at some local bakers or ask around and sample, sample, sample! When selecting a cake, think about how it fits your wedding theme, whether you want to decorate it and how (flowers, toppers, etc.), which flavors you and your guests would like best, and if you need one or more cakes. Many couples these days add a groom's cake to go with the main wedding cake. Many go with more quirky options, such as cupcake cakes. Whatever the choice, pick one that tastes good and looks good in pictures.
Themes
You don't have to have a theme for a wedding, but picking one makes it more entertaining. Some popular choices and corresponding table name ideas include:
- A place where you two met. You can make the table names with that location's popular sights and give something related to the place in everyone's goody bag. One friend I know met her now husband in San Francisco, so they named everyone's table with different San Francisco memories - from the Trolley to the Pier to Godiva.
- A place where you fell in love. I know a couple that used to spend all their days in a coffee shop, so they felt that it was coffee that brought them together. They named their tables after different coffee drinks - Latte, Mocha and such.
- Something you both enjoy. Jim and Marla are sports fanatics; they never miss a ball game. They named their tables after different ball parks. Trent and Nicki both share a passion for rock-n-roll, so their tables spotted the names of different rock bands and artists.
The list goes on and on. Now think of something that unites you two and go from there.
Invitations and Thank you cards
You will need to send invitations a few months before your wedding, so plan on ordering them accordingly. Many websites, such as www.mygatsby.com, offer easy customization of nvitations and quick delivery - a convenient and frequently less expensive choice. You may also decide to go with a local print or card shop. Again, think of the theme/style of your wedding and the tone you want to set (formal, casual, etc.). Make sure you order some extras - for you to keep and in case of any envelope errors. It's a good idea to get your thank you cards early, so once you get the gifts, you will be ready to thank people for them.
Registering
As we are on the subject of gifting, offering clues to what you like best will save you and your guests some precious time (no returns for you and no guessing game for your guests). Many department and specialty stores offer wedding registries. Some of the more popular include Target, Macy's, Crate & Barrel; most large stores have this option nowadays. When you register, it is easiest for you to pick one store as your main registry but then also give people other store options as they may be closer to one or the other. Do a quick inventory of what you two may already have and what you need for your life together - select the most important items, as you are sure to get the gifts you didn't expect. Note that majority of gifts will be probably purchased for your bridal shower, which happens within a month before the big day.
Honeymoon
Depending on the season when you have your wedding, you may need to book this one in advance, so you have a convenient flight and get the date that you want. I would advise against having your honeymoon the day after your wedding - recover for a day and then start your life together. Some of the more popular honeymoon options include cruises (such as a Caribbean cruise), trips to Europe (such as Italy), vacations in an exotic destination (such as Vietnam), and adventure trips (such as skiing in Colorado). Use your local travel agent, or better yet, go online - Travelocity, Expedia, Orbitz, Cheaptickets offer easy search and booking options for any trip. You can find some trip ideas on CafeYak Vacation pages.
Destination wedding
Perhaps you read the above and think it is too complicated for you. Or perhaps you don't want to or can't wait for the time it takes to plan a good wedding. In that case, I would recommend a destination wedding. Las Vegas and Caribbean are popular choices. Las Vegas weddings are a business, so things will be easy, fast and as expensive as you like. Any place in the Caribbean will be a nice sunny spot but may be harder for your guest to get to, so your wedding may be smaller though more personal.
Whatever your choice of wedding, go with what you really want and enjoy every minute of it!
