Saturday's Wedding ABC's

G.  G is for gifts.  Take some time to decide on thoughtful gifts for your bridal party and parents.  And remember, you'll want to thank your shower hostesses with a small gift.

H.  H is for honeymoon.  If you can't take the time or can't spare the funds for an big trip for the honeymoon, treat yourself to at least 3 days away together.  A honeymoon's purpose is to relax and reenergize after the stress and exhaustion of the wedding.  You will still need that time together to connect and relax.

I.  I is for inspiration.  There is inspiration everywhere.  Creating a college of pictures, tear-outs from magazines, and color swatches will help you communication your vision of the wedding to your vendors.

Dress Your Man

JCrew is a terrific resource for attire for your Groom and Groomsmen.  They have an array of tuxes, suits, and jackets perfect for this very special occasion.

Classic tuxedo pant ($195) and jacket ($450)

Seersucker pant ($98) and jacket ($198)

Linen pant ($128) and jacket ($250)

A great deal for pieces they can wear for years.

Bright mixed with Light

Sunday's wedding at the Grand Lodge was a perfect combination of the Bride's love for bright, sassy colors with her Mother's dream of subtle elegance.

Lauren and Dave were married in the upstairs chapel of the Lodge in a beautiful, romantic ceremony.

Guests then made their way downstairs to the cocktail hour full of bright pinks and greens. The sushi station was a huge hit. The staff from Linwoods Catering kept the bar lines moving and dazzled guests with an wonderful dinner. Our band, Spectrum, were full of energy and kept the crowd on the dance floor.

The ballroom decor was fresh and spring-y with a ribbon detail cloth in a cucumber green color from Table Toppers. The green dot hemstitch napkins were gathered with ribbon and accented with leaves. The napkins perfectly accented the gold ball charger from Party Rental.

The cake was from Snickerdoodles and was exactly what the bride requested. It was full of color, pattern, and fun.

After the cake cutting, guests enjoyed the chocolate fountain and ice cream bar. The dipped and drizzled chocolate over all sorts of treats.

The newlyweds ran through sparklers to make their exit and start their honeymoon.

Congratulations Lauren and Dave!

Perfect Tented Wedding at Home

It was a gorgeous evening for a tent wedding on Saturday.

Guests were welcomed to the reception, held at the home of the Bride's parents, by a signature cocktail and a string quintet.

The tent was opened by a line of 12 string musicians greeting the guests with their beautiful music.

Linwoods Catering served a double buffet of salmon and lamb for the wine paired dinner. The staff served dinner and then stayed for another round of late night snacks and then brunch the following morning.

The tent sparkled with linens from Gala Cloths by Dulany. The perfect color green napkins were purchased by the Mother of the Bride and were gathered in grapevine napkin rings. The napkin was paired with a menu card that also served as a place card for the guests. The combination were placed on an clear shimmery charger plate.

The Sid Miller Dance Band kept the crowd on the dance floor all evening. They played all of the wedding favorites including some Journey and Bon Jovi. The guests loved it.

The cake was designed after Sarah and Ben's favorite mountain in Colorado. They work in the ski and hiking industry and the cake really celebrated their passion for the outdoors.

The guests were still celebrating when the After Party began. DJ Jason Walsh kept everyone on the dance floor while ColdStone Creamery kept them in good spirits.

The overall feeling of the evening was one of great joy and love. Everyone was just thrilled to celebrate the love to two very special people.

Congratulations Sarah and Ben!

Amenities Baskets

We always recommend having an amenities basket in the restroom (at least for the ladies) at our weddings.  It is always used and often saves your guests from one issue or another throughout the night.  So what goes in?

Ladies

Hairspray, Spray deodorant, Feminine products, Lotion, Comb, Bobby Pins, Hair Ties, Mints, Mouthwash, Pain Reliever, Tissues, Antacids, Anti-Static Spray, Safety Pins, Sewing Kit, Nail File, Bandages, Lint Brush

Gentlemen

Hairspray, Spray deodorant, Mints, Comb, Antacids, Sewing Kit, Bandages, Lint Brush

You can add other items if you wish.  Most importantly be sure that the restrooms are clean and  stocked with soap and hand towels.

Spoil your Girls

Spoil your girls with this shower gel set from Philosophy

$30.00 from Philosophy.com

Passport Laws - Honeymooning Abroad?

Passport rules can be confusing.  Here's a primer.

You need as Passport if:

If you're flying by air then you need one to go anywhere outside of the United States.  So when you fly home from Mexico or Canada you will need your passport to get back into the US.  The Caribbean is confusing because some places, like the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rice, are US territories.  Check online for your location to be certain.  Some only require a birth certificate.

For the time being until next year) you can travel by land or sea to Mexico or Canada and come home with just your photo id.

How to get a Passport:

All of the information and forms you need are at Travel.State.Gov.

There are rules about new passports versus renewals and all of the guidelines.

Remember:

The process can take a while so apply early!

Your Passport will be in your maiden name.  Your last name doesn't change until the papers are filed with the state and you begin the name change process.  Your plane tickets should be in your maiden name as well.  Be sure to pack a copy of your marriage license, just in case.  A copy - not the real one!