Monthly Archives: October 2017

Three Evolving Wedding Trends

 in Trends / Weddings  tagged wedding trends by

Evolving wedding trends are interesting to explore, but make sure you pick and choose those that reflect you for your wedding day. If you make choices based on your own personalities, style and interests, you ensure that your wedding day will be personal and authentic, allowing you to be comfortable and have a great time.

That said, here are a few things trending for weddings in our area:
1. Fashion: Bridal gowns with sleeves of all lengths are increasing in popularity, with a decreased focus on strapless gowns. Beautiful patterned chiffons and other floaty fabrics and an increase in A-line silhouettes keep things interesting, too. For bridesmaids the trend is back to long dresses, with more and more brides allowing the women to pick the bodice design that best fits them. For the men in the bridal party suits are holding strong as an alternative to traditional tuxedos, with vests and shirtsleeves being seen as a practical option on very hot summer days.

2. Flowers: Cascade bouquets are making a comeback for brides, especially for those who want a larger, lush floral accessory. The new cascades are less structured than their ’80’s counterpart, and make a great statement coming up the aisle. The use of greenery both in bouquets and table and ceremony decor arrangements continues to grow, especially in barn venues and when going for a more natural vibe.

3. Venues: Outdoor ceremonies continue to be very popular, both at barn venues and at country clubs. Single venue weddings – where the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and reception are all held in one place are definitely the wave of the future. Hotels offer the optimum single venue option with guest rooms available, too. And don’t forget transportation. Both for the convenience of guests and to ensure no one drives after too much celebrating, increasing numbers of couples are providing shuttles, trolleys or buses. This is thoughtful for out of town guests as well as a great safety precaution for everyone.

It’s great to consider wedding trends and to have new options and choices for all aspects of your wedding day. Just remember to make your selections based on your personalities and priorities and you’re sure to have a memorable day.

Come Visit Me at Unveiled

 in Weddings  tagged officiant / unveiled / wedding show by

Come visit me at the Unveiled wedding show at Mayo Civic Center this Sunday, October 22nd. The Wedding Guys from Minneapolis/St Paul are bringing the show here to highlight local vendors across the wedding industry. This is a great opportunity to meet vendors in person, and gather ideas on trends and options for all aspects of your wedding experience.

Some of the premier folks will be there: photographers, florists, reception venues, fashion providers, honeymoon/travel agents, caterers… and me. If you’re planning a 2018 or 2019 wedding this show is a convenient way to explore many options in one place and at one time. Even if you’ve booked some of your services already, this is a great place to check out the latest ideas, and to just get excited about your upcoming day.

Check out the show and order your tickets with the link below, and use the special offer to get a free ticket:
https://theweddingguys.com/shows/unveiled-rochester/
Buy One Ticket, Get One Free

This is the only wedding show I’ll be attending this season, so I would love to chat with you about your ceremony needs. I’ll have my calendar with me, and will be happy to schedule private consultation appointments with couples for the coming weeks. Stop by to say hi, and let’s talk ceremony.

Ensuring your Ceremony Hits the Right Note

 in Ceremony / Music / Weddings  tagged ceremony music / wedding ceremony by

Your ceremony hits the right note when your music is fully integrated and flawlessly performed. When that happens it sets the tone, highlights important ceremony moments, and transitions your guests on to the reception. But music can also hit a sour note, becoming a distraction, leading to awkward silences, and destroying the vision you had for your ceremony.

I’ve had recent experiences at both ends of the spectrum. At one wedding the couple wanted the recorded music played by a family friend. The problem started when they didn’t select that person ahead of time, and did not have the person at the rehearsal so they could see where the music fit into the ceremony. On the wedding day, the person played bits of all the ceremony music while the attendants entered, trying to get to the right piece. The bride actually came in to the recessional song, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”. Then at the end of the ceremony the device had locked up and the responsible person didn’t know the passcode. It was a quiet recessional, and definitely not what the couple envisioned. Note that if you are having a professional DJ play your recorded music, you don’t need to have them attend the rehearsal, but all amateurs need to be there.

A music disaster was barely averted at another recent ceremony. The couple wanted a piece of music that was special to them played during the ceremony. I included an introductory comment about the significance of the music in the ceremony and thought we were all set to go. When I was reviewing the cue sheet I had prepared for their professional DJ however, she was unaware of the song in the middle of the ceremony. Luckily, she was able to locate and download the music to her computer and insert it into her playlist for the ceremony. Everything worked out OK, but this is a caution to make sure you let your DJ know ahead of time about all the music you want as part of the ceremony.

And finally, the positive experience: This couple selected music that was particularly meaningful to them for both the processional and ring warming ritual. They shared the significance of these pieces with me, and I was able to draw the guests’ attention to it, and even wrap some of the lyrics into my opening comments. This kind of information sharing allowed the music and ceremony to be intertwined in a way that enhanced both.

So when you’re doing your wedding planning, remember to focus on the ceremony music you want and take steps to ensure that it hits the right note to start off your wedding celebration.

Taking Your Ceremony Space Up a Notch

 in Ceremony / Decor / Weddings  tagged ceremony decor / ceremony space by

Taking your ceremony space up a notch doesn’t have to be difficult or pricey. With a little thought, planning and creativity you can make your ceremony venue especially memorable. It can be a bit of a challenge to create a special ceremony space in an open area outdoors. You want to focus attention on the space without overwhelming the natural beauty that likely led you to choose the venue in the first place.

Here are some simple, relatively inexpensive ways to define and focus your outdoor venue:
1. If you don’t have a natural “wall” of greenery, stone or other natural material backing the ceremony space, consider creating the illusion by hanging fabric or picture frames from a tree branch. Then position your wedding party in front and you’re ready to go.

Picture frames and simple greenery decorate outdoor ceremony space

2. Inexpensive decor options that define space include satin ribbons or gauzy fabric tied to guest chairs, or ribbons hanging from trees or positioned in a simple large frame. Simple baby’s breath or greenery gathered with a ribbon, raffia or burlap can also be tied to chairs at a fraction of the cost of floral arrangements.

3. Another flexible idea is to use a freestanding door at either the back or front of the ceremony space. Positioned at the back, it can create an impressive entrance for the wedding party. Used at the front, it can frame the ceremony action.

Doors can define the front or back of your ceremony space

4. In a large area, consider signposts to direct your guests from parking to the ceremony space. A large sign or chalkboard with the order of the ceremony can be an attractive focal point at the back of the ceremony space and eliminate the need for ceremony programs.

And finally, there are a couple of things I see at ceremonies that can probably be eliminated altogether: bubbles and bells. These props are supposed to be used to celebrate the couple as they leave at the end of the ceremony, but are usually forgotten, ignored, or intentionally avoided. I suggest you save your money on those items and use it elsewhere in your wedding budget.