Dos and Don'ts For Summer Weddings

From The Knot

Food Tips

For Warm-Weather Summer Weddings:

Cool Appetizers
Icy apps can help hot guests cool down during your cocktail hour or reception. Shrimp cocktail on ice is always refreshing. While ice sculpture raw bars remain popular, if that's not your style, consider serving individual shrimp set on cups of shaved ice.

More ideas: Anything miniature is hugely popular for weddings of all seasons. For a summer wedding, think of seasonally inspired options like shots of gazpacho served in carved-out cucumber cups or mini Caesar salads.

Sizzling Entree Selections
Summer is the season for barbecuing, so consider serving a grilled entree for instant seasonal style. Rather than going for heavier fare like steak or pulled pork, stick to the lighter side with chicken or fish. Bringing in fruity flavors will add even more seasonal flair -- think chili-lime rubbed chicken breasts or grilled tilapia topped with mango salsa.

More ideas: Go for upscale picnic-style fare, which is both a low-maintenance and high-style way to go. One example menu we love: coconut-fried chicken served with dipping sauces, red bliss potato salad, and mandarin orange and mesclun salad with raspberry vinaigrette. The options are endless (and delicious!).

Desserts Double as Decor
Serving a dessert in addition to the wedding cake is more popular than ever and a great way to season-ize your menu. Give your dessert double impact by choosing a sweet treat that echoes the ambience of your event. Consider serving a mini-scoop trio of sorbet that mimics the colors of your wedding. With so many flavors to choose from -- melon, lime, raspberry, mango, and more -- you're sure to find something yummy that suits your style. Hmmm.....I like the sounds of that. Using one small scoop of mint ice cream, next to small scoop of black raspberry ice cream next to one piece of brownie with a sprig of mint. The mint and raspberry colors would be close to my color scheme of sage green and purple.

More ideas: Create "dessert gardens" by having your caterer attach small pieces of cheesecake or chocolate to lollipop sticks and displaying them in a fresh bed of wheatgrass. They're as cute and chic as they are easy to eat for a late-night snack to polish off a perfect evening.

SOURCE: Theknot.com

Money-Saving Tips

1) Throw a Tea Party

There's no rule that says weddings must be held on Saturday evenings. Providing an afternoon spread of tea sandwiches and sparkling wine is a sophisticated alternative to the typical dinner reception. Save even more money by scheduling it on a Sunday.

2) Cheat With Sheets

Here's how to have your pretty cake and afford it, too. Buy sheet cakes (ours are from Whole Foods Market) in whatever size and shape you like, and stack them yourself. Use standard cake dowels, available at baking-supply stores, to keep layers from collapsing, then decorate with thick chocolate shavings or fresh flowers and fruit.

3)Keep it Bottled

"One of the hugest wastes of money is the Champagne toast: Fifty percent of people won't touch it, and 25 percent have a sip just because it's there," says planner Cianci. Her advice: Keep the bubbly at the bar to serve anyone who asks for it.

SOURCE: MarthaStewartWeddings.com

Ceremony Decor Idea #1

Since I'm not able to view any photos of any other weddings at the chalet, I'm just kind of winging it on decor ideas and how we could potentially decorate the "alter" area of the upper deck.

So, to give Dave and myself a better visual of that idea, I removed the furniture off the deck using Photoshop and added my own "touches" to the deck. Ironically, I found some flower pots with flowers that are in my color them in them!

Chalet Photos

Some photos that Dori took of the chalet that helped seal the deal on this one for Dave and I. Both links go to the same photo albums, just in different locations.

Chalet in My Gallery

Chalet in Picasa

Booked and Ready to Go!

I got the word from Patti, the realtor, that the owner of the chalet won't be using it next June, so we're go to rent it! Patti will be sending us the lease and my sister, Dori, has already paid the deposit down for us as an engagement present. VERY thoughtful of her. We'll have two more payments in March and May of next year. Now the real planning can begin.

Garden Arch Gift

My sister, Dori, bought us a garden arch yesterday to use at the wedding. Obviously, we'll need to see it first before we decide, but she said she'd send us the photo that's on the box. It's 6.5" tall and is a dark color. I know Dave could built one very easily and make it suitable for transport, but this will be nice. I hope it's something I'll like. Awfully sweet of her to do that. I think she's excited about the wedding and helping me "plan".

Highland Disappointment

Dave and I went to the annual Maine Highland Games yesterday. I had hoped we'd find a bunch of small, cutesy things with his tartan on it that we could use at the wedding, but ended up leaving empty-handed. I know in the past we've seen a lot of ribbons and decorative items with tartan on them. Perhaps they're not as popular, so now I'll need to look around online no doubt. I was excited to have something to really LOOK for throughout the vendor tents, but very disappointed nothing showed up.

Dave DID try on a kilt though. He wanted to see what size he took and how to put one on. He got several good pointers from a few folks. The kilts weren't that expensive, but you'd need so many accessories than the price would no doubt be well over $300 in total. So, renting the entire kilt outfit for $125 is looking more and more like the way we'll go. Not sure.

We also entered 12 tickets into the raffle for a free trip to Scotland. we left before the drawing, but you didn't need to be there to win. So far, 24 hours later, we haven't received a phone call that we won, so I guess we missed it again. :-(

Venue Chosen

We found the chalet where we'll be having our wedding and reception in Ellicottville, NY. With the help of a realtor and my sister Dori, we decided to tie the knot here. There's room not only for us, but for Dave's sister and her friend and for Dave's friend Roger, should he be in the country at the time. We'll be close enough to my family that they can simply drive over for the day.

I think this will work out great. There are two large deck areas to choose from and if the weather is bad, there is room inside for our small 20-person wedding & reception. More details to come, but if you want to take a look at the photos, click the link below.

Chalet

David's Bridal

Ah,ha! I just discovered there IS a David's Bridal in the state of Maine and it's in Portland. I might schedule an appointment once the Johnny's 2010 catalog is printed. Will give me something to look forward to after all of this stress.

David's Bridal
374 Maine Mall Road
Maine Mall
South Portland, ME 04106
Phone:207-772-6366
Alteration:207-772-4159

Regular Store Hours:
M-F:10:00AM - 9:00PM
Sat:10:00AM - 7:00PM
Sun:12:00PM - 6:00PM

Anyone out there?

Does anyone read this blog?

Possible Invitation Design

Based on the color theme we've selected, we've come up with this possible design to use for our invitations, save-the-day cards and name cards at the reception.

Color Theme/Style Picked Out

I have finally decided on what colors to use throughout the wedding, reception and on our invitations: Sage Green, Purple, and Cream

I made up a coupe of collages using those colors as well for inspiration.

I have the sage colored tin pails that I bought for reception favors/decorations and some of the decorations used to decorate at our engagement party were the exact same purple.