Creating your seating chart is one of the most daunting aspects of wedding planning. Thankfully, our friends at Commins & Co. made this handy infographic that makes planing seats a breeze. Get our your notebook and pen, and start taking notes!
Category: The Reception
All the Glitz for a NYE Wedding
Christmas is just a few days away! New years plans are in the making and that means LOTS OF SEQUINS!
If you as me, the best part of New Years Eve is all the glitz and glam, sequins everywhere. Whether you’re looking for a NYE inspired wedding or just some fun ideas, you can’t go wrong with some gold sequins. If these ideas are just the beginning, check our Pinterest board for more NYE inspiration!
The Best Wedding Planning Websites
The world wide web is wonderful for giving information on any and every subject imaginable. Sometimes, that much information can be over whelming especially when it comes to planning your wedding. With thousands of options for everything from napkin colors and ribbons to types of aisle runners and envelope liners, there are almost too many choices. With the bridal party sometimes spread out over multiple cities, states, and even counties, online resources can be a great way to keep everyone involved and on the same page. Over the years we’ve developed a list of the websites we think are the most useful when planning your wedding. Let us know what you think!
Wedding Apparel + Accessories
Weddington Way – They have a fantastic variety of dresses that come in similar color lots for easy mix and match. Brides can invite their bridesmaids to join a virtual showroom where girls can suggest dresses and accessories, and even vote or comment on the ones they like best. This seemingly little feature allows for seamless communication between the bride and her girls.
BHLDN – With everything from bridal and bridesmaid gown to gifts and accessories, BHLDN is like an online bridal boutique with a little of everything. Their pieces are beautiful and timeless, there’s something for every bride.
My Glass Slipper – This shoe only site has every style and color you could hope for. They carry the big designers and known brand names along with some lesser known brands that just make amazing shoes. If you are looking for that special pair of shoes, this just might be what you’ve been looking for.
ModCloth – Known best for their quirky vintage style, ModCloth has a wide array of clothing, accessories, and shoes. Whether you are just looking for the perfect accessories or you want a non-traditional wedding dress, you should definitely peek around their website. With everything from tea length gowns and feathered fascinators to crystal clutches and glittering earrings, they have unique one of a kind pieces that are sure to stun guests and the groom alike.
Plum Pretty Sugar – Offering a discount version of all the most popular wedding accessories like floral robes for your the girls to get ready in and sweet little personalized gifts, Plum Pretty Sugar is the perfect spot to find gifts for your bridal party.
Fritts Rosenow – For the inventive and creative groom, these boutineers are made of everything but traditional fabrics. Their creative takes on the usual boutineer are fun and playful. They take custom orders so if you have an idea on improving one of their beautiful creations, let them know!
Invitations and Paper Goods
Minted – Minted has every kind of stationary from flat print on flat white to letterpress on pink flowered paper. Every step of customizable down to the exact color of the ink, envelope liners, even word placement. They also can address the envelopes for your so all you have to do is slap on a stamp. As an extra bonus, each design on Minted is created by an individual private designer who submitted their design to Minted. By purchasing through Minted you are supporting the local businesses of independent designers across the country. Many invitation designs also have a matching save the date or ceremony program layout for a cohesive feel from start to finish.
Wedding Paper Divas – Adorable, beautiful, and with lots and lots of options, Wedding Paper Divas is a bit more afforable than Minted but still has a wide array of options and customizable features. Many design suites have an array of wedding paper goods available from save the dates before, ceremony orders during, and thank you notes after.
Bella Figura – With eco friendly paper, vintage and modern designs, and everything from letterpress to foil, Bella Figura has a little bit of everything. They sort by design types like modern, vintage, metallic, beach, etc. making invitations easy to sort through.
Decorations
Shop Sweet Lulu – Shop Sweet Lulu was born out of love of fun colorful boutique party planning materials. They carry everything from paper straws and cake toppers, to mini milk jugs and wedding favors. They carry quality products that are sure to wow your guests. They even do custom orders!
Save On Crafts – Prefect for the DIY bride, Save on Crafts offers discounted craft and crafting materials. Think Michaels but bigger and with better variety.
For Your Party – This site sells every party accessory you can think of from matchboxes and sparkler sleeves to cocktail napkins and drink stirrers. Everything can be personalized with your monogram or wedding hashtag.
Do you have a favorite online resource not listed here? Share in the comments below!
The Best Way to Decorate the Reception Tent
Tent weddings are a beautiful way to bring the outdoors into your party. Depending on how you decorate them, the tents can feel like anything from a free form garden party to a elaborate glamorous affair. It’s all in the decor. The best way to instantly dress up a tent is to make use of the ceiling space. Many couples hang decorations to add extra charm up above. We love the idea and put together some of our favorites. Which one do you like best?
(Header: Rock Creek Country Club 1. Wedding Chicks 2. Charleston Event 3. One Fab Day 4. 100 Day Wedding 5. Style Me Pretty 6. Martha Stewart Wedding 7. Brides of Adelaide 8. Style Me Pretty 9. Elegant Wedding Invites 10. Adorn Magazine 11. Weddings with Zsazsa 12. Maven Bride 13. Snob Fashion Blog 14. Brides)
Sugar and Spice, and Pumpkin and Apple
Fall is for pumpkin pie and apple cider. Cocktail hour is no different. These festively themed drinks are all about the fall flavors. A drink with spiced cider you say? Consider it served.
Honey Bourbon Apple Cider by Hello Natural
Hot Buttered Rum by Epicurious
Cranberry Cinnamon Cocktail Rum by Horrible Housewife
Pumpkin Pie in a Glass by Kitchen Meets Girl
Bourbon Maple Apple Cider by Freutcake
Holiday Mule by Home Sweet Jones
Apple Cider Mimosa by The Cookie Rookie
Cranberry Gimlet by Food Fanatic
Boozy Maple Orchard by The Fitchen
Spiced Pumpkin Eggnog by Produce on Parade
For more cocktail hour favorites, check out our Cocktail Hour board on Pinterest!
Candlelight For the Big Day
Everyone looks better in candlelight. It’s flattering at every angle, it makes everything sparkle, and it’s easy! Many brides use votives to enhance their table decor. Putting the sparkly power to work in other places only spreads the warmth. Candles are an elegant choice where ever they are from the ceremony to the reception. Don’t believe us? Take a look, we think these pictures might change your mind.
(Header:Wedding Deer Pearl Flowers 1. Colin Cowie 2. Mod Wedding 3. Wedding Deer Pearl Flowers 4. Bridal Guide 5. Belle and Chic 6. Colin Cowie 7. Mod Wedding 8. Style Me Pretty 9. Belle the Magazine 10. Weddings in Iowa 11. Wedding Chics 12. Style Me Pretty 13. Lucy Dlyan Wedding 14. Style Me Pretty 15. 7×7 16. Wedding Bee 17. Weddingomania 18. Colin Cowie Wedding 19. Wedding Wire 20. Rock My Wedding)
Pearls, Pearls, Pearls!
Pearls are created from a tiny grain of sand that is carefully tended until it turns into a beautiful shining pearl. Seems like there’s a metaphor for love there… Anyway pearls are a classic choice for brides to wear, might as well make it the classy choice for decor!
(Header: Female Network 1. Love My Dress 2. Want That Wedding 3. Elizabeth Anne Designs 4. Etsy 5. Southern Living 6. Bridal Guide 7. Cedar Wood Weddings 8. Wedding Dash 9. Yanni Design Studio 10. Botanical Brouhaha 11. Chic Studios 12. BHG 13. Your Wedding Company 14. The Knot 15. Style Me Pretty 16. Disney Weddings)
Glitter and Gold
Gold is the color of royalty. It shimmers, it shines, it says “look at me”! For the bling loving bride, gold is the color of choice. It creates an instant party atmosphere perfect for the big day. Gold can be incorporated into every aspect of the tablecloths and silverware to head pieces, bridesmaid dresses, even what the flower girls drop. Get creative and make it sparkle.
(Header: Bengali Marriage 1. Style Me Pretty 2. Wedding o Mania 3. Chic Vintage Brides 4. My Wedding Reception Ideas 5. South Bound Bride 6. Mod Wedding 7. Southern Weddings 8. Run Away Apricot 9. Indulgy 10. Flickr 11. The Every Last Detail 12. Blogger 13. The Every Last Detail 14. 100 Layer Cake 15. Etsy 16. Deer Pearl Flowers 17. Style Me Pretty 18. Etsy 19. Houston Wedding Blog 20. Etsy 21. Etsy 22. Austin Wedding Blog 23. Botanical Brouhaha 24. Etsy 25. Britt.Co)
Fort Adams – Historical Wedding Venue
Built in 1799, Fort Adams is a historic venue right on the water in Newport. Creating its own little peninsula, the fort has sweeping water views on three sides. Visitors see the Newport Bridge, the harbor, and perfect golden sunsets. It’s picture perfect. Boasting venue spaces that hold anywhere from 30-350, Fort Adams can accommodate a wedding of any size. The rich texture of the bricks makes for a beautiful backdrop.
Weddings can be hosted inside or out, in a tent on the grounds outside the forts walls, or inside the fort’s facilities. The North Lawn is just outside the walls of the fort. Holding anywhere up to 600 people, this space holds the most people and has gorgeous views of the Narragansett Bay and Newport Harbor. Similarly, the Parade Field inside the forts walls holds 600 people, but the views are of the forts beautiful architecture. The North Casemates is a unique indoor space composed of three white-wahsed brick rooms. The vaulted ceilings make the space feel elegant and roomy for 200. The West Lawn, overlooking Jamestown and the Narragansett Bay, this space has beautiful sunset views for 23-125 people. The Barracks Dining Room is a renovated space within the forts inner buildings that looks out over the parade field. The brick walls and polished hardwood floors have a homey feel. The room comes with beautiful hardwood banquet tables and benches for up to 40 people. The Harbor Lights Lawn overlooks the city of Newport, Brenton Cove and Newport Harbor. With the city just across the harbor, views of twinkling lights and chic yachts will amuse around 125 guests. Whatever space you choose, guests will love the rich architecture, beautiful views, and the deeper sense of history.
(Header: Family Zip 1: Lisa Rigby Photography 2. Style Me Pretty 3. Wedding Chics 4. Fort Adams 5.Fort Adams 6.Fort Adams 7.Fort Adams 8. Borrowed and Blue 9. Borrowed and Blue 10. Adeline and Grace 11. Rebecca Arthurs 12. Adeline and Grace 13. Fort Adams)
Inspiration for a literary wedding
The literary classics tell tales of great romances. Elizabeth and Darcy, Romeo and Juliet, Rhett and Scarlet, Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester, maybe Peeta and Katniss? If books are your passion, bring that love to your big day with some library-inspired decor.