What's Your Signature?

One aspect of your wedding that could become costly are your beverages, specifically your alcoholic ones. There have been mixed thoughts on if you should have an open bar or if you have a cash bar. Most will say having a cash bar is a big "no-no". If you tend to agree and want to offer free cocktails for your guests there is a way to do that without busting your reception budget. Trying to stock up a bar can get quite pricey so instead of offering all the possible combinations, why not considering serving a couple of signature drinks instead? You can easily pair them with a simple beer and wine service and save on cost.

This is something that is becoming more popular for weddings as well as other events. One might ask "What makes it signature?" The drinks that you choose are reflective of who you are as a couple. You can pick drinks that when people have them they are something that could see the two of you drinking. The nice part about it is that your signatures do not have to be an alcoholic beverage if you don't want them to be.

When thinking of how to pick your signature, there are a few ways you can go with it. One way is to pick a signature that goes with your color scheme. You can make a drink a variety of colors these days by mixing the right things together. Maybe you have decided to go with a tiffany blue color palette, choose a beverage that not only tastes good, but will also display the blue you're looking for. Maybe you have the tropics in mind, pick something that displays the colors of an island get away.

This is your opportunity to be creative both with the look and the taste, and it also gives whoever will be tending your bar a chance to use their creative skills in making something perfect for you.

Another option could be selecting a His & Hers combo. Women tend to like their drinks to be on the fruity side, and most men aren't down for that. So, in order to make you both happy. Choose a drink that will make him and the fellas happy and one that will satisfy the palette of the ladies in attendance. Perhaps bourbon is more his speed and you're move of a vodka or gin type girl. You both can get what you want.

Here's a couple of ideas that might work:
For Her try a Pomegranate Martini and for Him he might like a classic Rob Roy



Now if alcoholic beverages are not your thing, have fun creating some fun and fruity ones. These would be great for any kiddos that might be attending your event. These would be your signature "mocktails" to add some flavor to your celebration. You can still dress them up in a champagne flute or martini class.

Whatever you decide to do, have fun with it. Pick a day for you and your significant other to go do a drink tasting with the bartenders you choose for your day. Maybe you can incorporate it with your dinner tasting if your catering and bar service are being provided by the same company.  Focusing on serving a couple of drinks can save you some money and your guests will still have fun with some refreshing choices.

Be an Appy Couple

In a previous post we talked about a way for people keep up with your wedding via the world wide web and a wedding website. Since we are in the technology age, I figured, why not take it a step further? It seems like everything now a days has an app, so why not take advantage of that and possibly make your lives easier at the same time.

We were doing some web surfing and came across something interesting. There is a website called Appy Couple (hence the title of the blog post). With this website you are able to create and app and a website together. Sounds like a 2-for-1 if you ask me. So we looked a little further into this to see what all it is capable of doing.

• You can tell your guests all of the logistical details
• You can give people a calendar of events
• You can send messages to specific members of your bridal party
• You can share where you have registered
• Guests can share pictures that took with you
• So much more!

Think about those conferences you went to that had apps and how easy it was to get what you needed. Now you can do that for your guests. There is a one time fee depending upon which package you choose and your guests would just download it from the App Store for iPhone or Google Play for Android phones. They put in your wedding code and then they are ready to go. 

Below is a short demo to see it. If you like what you see check out www.appycouple.com to learn more.

Lighting Is Everything

There is a simple way you can add some drama to any event. It's not your linens, which can create a certain level of it depending upon which ones you use. Elaborate centerpieces will catch the eye, however, the one thing that can truly change the ambiance of a space is lighting. Who knew that a few lightbulbs shining up from the floor could give a space that looks way a totally different feel?

The plus side is that lighting isn't as expensive as you may think it is. It doesn't have to be some over the top creation. Placing lighting strategically around the room will give you what you need. There are companies out there that will even let you do it yourself. All you have to do is just go, pick them up and plug them in with the color you choose. Then, after your event, just return them.

Below are some before and after examples of what a little light can do. It can be subtle or very dramatic depending on your budget and your theme. You just need to pick what best fits your personality.

Do We Have To?

When planning a wedding, tradition will always come into play at different times in the process as well as when the actual days arrive. These "traditions" seem to have because unspoken rules as to the things you HAVE to do. I'm sure there comes a time though where you think to yourself "do I really have to do this?" or "Is that really necessary?" By getting rid of a couple of these things, could possibly save you time and save your budget.

Take a look at this list and see if any of these things you've though about nixing all together.

Pick a Seat Not a Side

This is something that I think more couples are adopting. Tradition tells you that the brides friends and family sits on the left side and the groom's friends and family sit on the right side. The history behind this dates back hundreds of years stating that this was because the groom needed his sword arm free in case someone came and tried to kidnap the bride or take her dowry. 

Long gone are those days so the tradition of picking sides can absolutely be done away with. A wedding is an event where two families become one. Why not start that at the ceremony?

Be Gone Wedding Favors

How many times have you gone to a wedding reception and saw the little bag of mints and peanuts in front of your place setting? Or maybe it was a personalized candle or chocolate bar? After the reception, what ended up happening to those items? Did you even remember to take them off the table? In essence it was money that was spent that maybe could've been used for some other purpose. One resolution to this is if you want to give a favor, why not take that money and give to a charity you both love and support. Whether it be Susan G. Komen (one of our favorites) or a program that helps wounded veterans, pick something where the contribution will be worth while, and you won't have to be cleaning up unclaimed favors at the end of the night.

The Bouquet & Garter Battle

So all know that at receptions there's a moment where everything pauses and attention is drawn to all the singles in the room. That one song plays (usually Single Ladies by Beyonce) and the DJ starts calling out all the unmarried women to the flower for the ceremonial bouquet toss. Seems like each time it's like pulling teeth to get women to join in although you do have that one or two that this is the moment they have been waiting for. The count begins and the bride throws behind her and then what happens - a whole of pushing and possibly a tumble or two just to get this bouquet which tradition tells us signifies she will be the next one to marry.

Let's not forget when it's the men's turn. It's even worse trying to get them to come up. Yeah, it's cute watching the groom be a little risqué  when he takes on the task of removing the garter, but then it is downhill after that. If you can convince any of them to come up, they will usually stand with their hands in their pockets and when they see it flying they watch it hit the floor.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love watching this all unfold (notice the key word watching) and this tradition still goes strong with some added variations. The cost of a "toss" bouquet can actually be very variable depending upon what other type of flowers you plan to have. If you hope to have real flowers, the florist will probably mention a toss bouquet. You actually could make your own, it's up to you. If you are a couple who is trying to keep the party going, this might be something you can pass over all together and it might actually not be missed. 

Receiving the People

I think this is a tradition that has also pretty much gone a way - the receiving line. Traditionally after the ceremony, the wedding party would stand outside and great all their guests as they head over to the reception. Of course you would like to greet everyone that has decided to share your day with you. I think in order for this to be effective, your wedding must be on time to the second and we all know 9 times out of 10 that doesn't happen. What seems to be happening these days is that the bride and groom will go around to each table at the reception following their meal. That way they will have a time where they can mingle and take pictures with everyone there. This seems to be effective and won't cut into pictures that may need to be taken after the ceremony.

I'm sure there are other little things that are traditionally done that could be overlooked. Ultimately, your wedding day is about you and your significant other. The bottom line is you want to have a day that you will enjoy and these things don't necessarily have tone done in order to enjoy it.