Category Archives: Inside Scoop

Chairish Your Day & Love Your Chairs!

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Alison in Featured, Inside Scoop, Inspiration Boards, Planning

When it comes to where your guests sit their tushies on your wedding day, why should you bench your ideas? Believe it or not, the chairs you use in your reception can spice up your party or extend your style!

I absolutely adore this styled shoot from photographer, Gretchen Moore, that was styled by Eclectic Hive and Chairished Vintage Chair Rentals at Lazy J Ranch in Vail, Colorado.

The theme is clearly rustic, sticks to a smart and snappy color palette of turquoise and buttery gold, and is furnished with damask details and crystal accessories. It’s almost like we could all pack our bags and go glamping together. (Really, dear Yentas, is there any other kind of camping? Oy vey.) (Confession of the day: I’ve never been camping — surprise surprise. I don’t go anywhere where I can’t plug in my flat iron. Ya hear?).

OK, so back to the chairs. Here’s what I love: because there is a clear style, it’s completely okay — and flippin’ adorable! — to have mismatched chairs. Are they really mismatched? Well, they’re all different styles, so it appears that the answer would be yes, but upon further inspection, they all come from the same family. They are white. They are wooden. They are laced with ornate detail. So while they are each different, they are like cousins. And cousins are family. So consider the chairs at this styled shoot to be co-mingling at the 2012 Glamping Family Reunion.

Moral of the story: lace a theme throughout your mismatched chairs and overall wedding style. It’s okay to spice up the party with some texture and make the chairs fraternal instead of identical. If you’re planning this ever-popular-for-good-reason rustic/chic/vintage/glam wedding reception, then this is how you do it.

chairished-vintage-chair-rentals-by-gretchen-moore-photography

Should I Invite Kids To My Wedding?

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Alison in Inside Scoop, Planning

It can be a touchy subject: do you or do you not choose to have kids at your wedding?

Some brides and grooms feel they have to in order to satisfy their guests’ needs. Other couples say “absolutely not.” And then there are those who are open to hosting children and welcome them whole heartedly. There’s no right or wrong answer. It just depends on your venue, your guests, and your personal vision for your wedding.

But still, the subject may come up and you might find yourself in an awkward situation, asking your best friend to get a sitter for her wee ones. Many couples believe that weddings are too formal and should be kept an adults-only occasion. If a guest asks to bring her children, you can simply state that you don’t believe it’s appropriate for them to be there. You don’t have to defend yourself or keep yourself up at night worrying about pleasing people against what’s best for you on your wedding day. Hopefully, your adult guests will understand and respect your wishes. Some guests may indicate that either the kids come, too, or the whole family doesn’t come at all. Well, that’s unfortunate, but everyone has their priorities. So, this would be one of those cases you agree to disagree and continue to enjoy your bridal experience.

To avoid these conversations, you can cover your bases by indicating that your wedding day is an adults-only event on your wedding web site or save the date. You can spread the word via your friends and family, too. Being proactive will help limit these kinds of discussions with guests. It’s always important to let them know that it’s nothing personal; you love their children and you’re not intending to exclude only them. There really shouldn’t be any arguing, but if there is, just apologize and be as graceful as possible.

If you are completely happy to have kids at your wedding then you might want to consider keeping them occupied. Some parents who know their kids might get too wired or conk out early will (hopefully) (usually) leave the kids at home anyway. However, for those who still bring them per their invitation, it might be helpful to spend a few extra bucks at the dollar store to supply a “safe” kids area. Coloring books and crayons, some picture books, and maybe even disposable cameras will help to keep the children happy and occupied while their parents enjoy a nice night out at your wedding. This also helps the kids stay busy with appropriate activities. As much as you may not mind them dancing their tushies off on the dance floor, you don’t want to discover that they’ve made mummies of themselves with toilet paper in the restroom or that they’ve experimented with cocktail napkins inside lit votive candles.

You may also consider providing a kids menu for their meals. This should be at a lower cost than your regular adult dinners, and satisfy the kids’ bellies. Win-win! No kid would say no to pasta or chicken fingers. Actually, there are probably some adults who would enjoy that meal, too!

It’s your wedding day and it’s up to you to make these decisions. Never feel obligated to change your rules because of resistance from guests. Those who love you and respect you will understand and attend your wedding with smiles plastered on their faces like kids in a candy store.

Modern Sparkly Table Shoot by Yasmin Khajavi Photography

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Alison in Featured, Inside Scoop, Inspiration Boards, Planning

There’s nothing I swoon over more than a photo shoot of a tablescape. Sure, the subjects don’t pose and smile, but boy do they inspire! Absolutely loving this blush, cream, and champagne color palette that is both romantic and warm with just the right sprinkle of feminine. The textured and fluffy floral arrangements suggest playful elegance while details like ghost chairs and lucite labels for drinks and table numbers bring a modern and sophisticated vibe to the mix.

This tablescape could definitely work for any event location whether it’s a country club, urban space, or rustic venue. And it doesn’t only work for weddings! The style can be woven into showers for both baby and bridal, anniversary shin digs, and birthday festivities. Nothing is too wedding-ish that it can’t work for other celebrations that are worth showcasing beautiful and carefully designed details! So get party planning!

modern-tables-inspiration-by-yasmin-khajavi-photography

From Yasmin Khajavi Photography: When Hailey Bernstein and Astrid Mueller, both contemporary creatives with a shared love of fashion and modern design, put their heads together, amazing things were bound to happen. For this styled shoot, they envisioned a fashion-forward, style-savvy couple planning the ultimate modern loft celebration. The look is clean-chic but full of warmth with soft, feminine sparkle. Hailey and Astrid decided on a light, neutral palette — tans, champagnes and mixed metallics with hints of blush and ivory. The light, breezy colors soften and brighten the raw loft space, offering a neutral canvas for some fun, fashionable and uber-chic details.

Sequin linens added unexpected glamour and sparkle, emphasizing the clean table lines yet luxurious texture. We alternated between tan sequin linens for tables, and tan and white chevron sequin linens for standing bistros, which brought extra variety and interest to the space. We designed a laid-back, yet luxurious tablescape with an abundance of soft and fluttery peonies, mixed metallic mercury glass votive holders, mirrored vases and tons of floating candles for ambiance. For the menus, table number and design pieces, illustrator Astrid Mueller, normally known for her delicate, fashion-inspired illustrations, took an abstract design approach and worked with minimalistic, circular design elements, inspired by architecture and the round shape of peonies. She devised a new, unique idea for this celebration design by introducing personalized, laser-engraved, perspex drink disks for the seating and cocktails. She also chose to create cool, urban-inspired but lavishly-printed stationery, lush and soft to the touch. The menus were artisan-printed and hand-debossed by Digby & Rose, creating a beautiful architectural effect. All details and were beautifully captured by the contemporary, Portland-based photographer Yasmin Khajavi.

Photography: Yasmin Khajavi Photography
Photo Shoot Venue: Castaway Portland in Portland, Oregon
Styling, Tablescape, Floral + Event Design: Zest Floral and Event Design
Invitation Design + Engraved Perspex Design Details: Astrid Mueller
Stationery Printing: Digby & Rose
Linens: La Tavola
Ghost Chairs, Table Settings + Glassware Rentals: West Coast Event Production

Designing Your Sweetheart Table

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Alison in Inside Scoop, Planning

In this election year where we are listening to candidates pontificate their opinions and policies, I would like a turn to step up to the podium and ask my fellow Americans (and all other non-Americans who read The Wedding Yentas) to stand with me on this ever-important topic; this movement; this debate: To sweetheart table or not to sweetheart table? The answer, my friends, is to sweetheart table. Thank you. May G-d bless you. And may G-d bless America.

After making such a bold statement in support of marriage between newlyweds and a sweetheart table, I will have my cabinet on standby to take calls from the press, but allow me to continue with a state of the sweetheart table spiel (p.s., this year, I say all news outlets should hold spiels instead of debates. Much more entertaining).

Why am I in favor of sweetheart tables?

Three reasons:

You have your own personal home base. You won’t be sitting much anyway, but when you are, it’ll be nice to have a little turf you can call your own. Your guests who want to offer you mazels and hugs know where to find you to have an intimate chat sometime between the salad and the entree. This takes some of the pressure off of you to have to get up and make the rounds in a small amount of time. People can come to you and they won’t mind.
You’ll have another opportunity to extend your style. Props like “Mr.” & “Mrs.” signs, decked out chairs, or flower arrangements can furnish your sweetheart table, thereby making it a vehicle to tie in your theme, color scheme, or any additional design concepts.
You get the best seat in the house! Normally, sweetheart tables are placed in front of the dance floor and in a position where you can look out and see all your guests surrounding you. If you are at a long banquet table with your bridal party, the placement of the table is not as flexible as a small, intimate table for two. Having the best seat in the reception hall is ideal during speeches, watching special dances, and generally taking it all in. You’ll be the focus of the reception area and why shouldn’t you be?

Photo by Orange Girl Photographs

However, it is important to make your sweetheart table tasteful. Setting it apart from the rest of the tables is fine; those few, subtle touches that declare the table special and unique to the bride and groom is totally acceptable. On the flip side, decking it out in gaudy drapery or an over abundance of flowers that make you look like Tarzan and Jane in the jungle is not the way to go.

Bottomline: The sweetheart table should complement the main tables, not appear to be out of place or swallow you up in the general world of your wedding reception ambiance.

Okay, I’m just going to leave it at that.

Moving on…

While it’s nice to have the home base of a sweetheart table, that also doesn’t take you off the hook of doing the right thing and making the rounds to see your guests. At a time that feels right for you (this is usually at some point during the salad or entree), you should really make sure you visit the tables to say hello and thanks to your guests. They will think you are both a lovely couple: a gracious bride and a mensch of a groom. The concept of you home base is to give you a semi-private place to enjoy each other’s company as newlyweds, but you should definitely not ignore your guests altogether.

Needs ideas for sweetheart table design? Look below for some sweet eye candy!

Stacy & Drew by Rosie Hernandez Photography

Desiree & Richard by Heidi Ryder Photography

Jackie & Danny by Photography by Verdi

Erica & Adi by Duke Photography

Jaynee & Sean by Mi Belle Photography

Serene & Mike by Ashleigh Taylor Photography

Naomi & Andrew by Phototerra

Top 5 Reasons You Should Have a Wedding Website

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Alison in Featured, Inside Scoop, Planning

When Motel the Tailor and Tzeitel got married in Fiddler on the Roof, they didn’t have a website. After they tied the knot, they revealed their pride and joy, Motel’s new sewing machine, and while that sewing machine was pretty snazzy for 19th century Old Country, the sewing machine was their only piece of technology and it did nothing for their own piece of real estate on the web. That’s probably because there was no web except for the ones built by spiders, but I digress. I wouldn’t want a sewing machine to make clothes anyway. Hel-lo? That’s what Nordstrom and Bloomies is for!

So, here’s what I say: don’t act like you’re a babushka-wearing, cow-milking, old school, nice Jewish girl. Welcome to the 2000s. You’re a modern, mainstream bride! Create a wedding website. Why? Here are the top 5 reasons!

1. Learn About The Couple!
It’s unlikely that 100% of your guests will know each of you intimately. Here’s your big chance to share who you are and other obvious reasons why you love one another. The more details, the better! I personally enjoy reading about the bride and groom (or the bride and bride or groom and groom — whatever!) and like when details about their background and current lives are included in the write ups. If your Uncle Murray hasn’t seen you since you tap danced in the talent show at the Catskills family reunion and he’s never met your fiance, here’s where he can make up for lost time before attending your wedding.

2. Registry Information
You’re going to get presents for your wedding and it doesn’t suck. For those who decide not to cut a check, you’ll receive something tangible, but if you’re taking the time to register, you may as well make sure people know about the coveted list. Your website is the perfect place to house this precious information as it automatically links to the stores’ sites and your registry. Two clicks and your Internet savvy friends and family are on their way to gifting your gravy boat. Groovy. Where does registry information NOT go? Your wedding invitation! It’s a no-no. And since your registry information should be included on your wedding website, the wedding website should not be on the formal invitation. I know, I know, here I am preaching the registry gospel, and I’m telling you to leave it off the formal invitation. It can be on shower invites, save the dates, and even rehearsal dinner mailers. And if you must include the website in the formal invitation suite, put it on a separate card, but never on the actual invitation with the “Mr. & Mrs. So and So invite you to the marriage of their daughter” yada yada part. It’s considered pandering for presents. Otherwise, go nuts posting your wedding URL on all other methods of communication. And enjoy your registered gifts!

3. Personalize Your Style
Many wedding websites come with options to customize the artwork and format in which details are displayed. This is a great opportunity to give a clue about the style or theme of your wedding. Other than the formal invitation or save the date, there are really no other pieces that wedding guests see to clue them into what your wedding might be like. A formal black tie wedding might have a clean and elegant website design. Likewise, a rustic, vintage, shabby chic event might be a little more casual and flowery online. Here’s one more place you can tie in your colors, style, and personal touches like a logo or quote.

4. Talk Up Your Wedding Party
You didn’t rent bridesmaids and groomsmen, right? They are people that you actually know and even like, correct? So gush about them! Include a list of your wedding party and maybe even write up a blurb about them. Go the extra mile and include photos. They’re the supporting players in your big debut as husband and wife, so make sure they have a little time in the spotlight. Plus, they’ll be VIP the day of the wedding and your guests might want to know a little about the people who make you happy and keep you from going meshuga.

5. Details Of Your Big Day
Just in case your disorganized pals lose your $4.00 invitation (grrrr), they can at least get the must-know details of your wedding day online from anywhere. Make sure to include your date, location or locations (if there are separate venues for ceremony and reception places), time of ceremony (usually the time on the invitation should be about 30 minutes before the actual walk-down-the-aisle-it’s-go-time-there’s-no-turning-back-now time), and dress preferences like black tie or resort wear. Your out-of-towners will especially appreciate hotel information and if there are room blocks you’ve set up for them. The details of such accommodations should be included on the website. Your guests will thank you for making it less stressful to attend your wedding. I mean, travel these days is so annoying. Aunt Marilyn will be too busy worrying about condensing her Jean Nate body splash in a 3 ounce bottle in her carry on. Don’t make her start kvetching about how she doesn’t know if there’s a group rate at the Marriott. All of these details are a must. Additional details like local airports, transportation options, popular destinations and things to do are great additions to your wedding website.

Do a quick Internet search to find out about wedding websites. There are many free resources available (6. another reason to create one: it’s usually freeeee!) and The Wedding Yentas loves the many great sites on MyWedding. There’s even an option for designs inspired by your favorite Jewish wedding planning website (ahem!) so, ya know, you might want to check that out.

Have fun with your website and enjoy your own little piece of property on the web!