//Grey Snail Press//
The Casual Couple
If you’re big day is the type that doesn’t take itself too seriously, feel free to keep it simple! No needs for Mister or Misses here! By simply referring to the couple (or single guest) using first and last names, it’s clear who the invitation is for with little muss or fuss!
//Anne Robin//
The Classic Couple
This is a more traditional addressing; using the husband’s name to address the couple as a whole. Not every wife is super in love with this style, so don’t be afraid to alter it if you think it might offend. 🙂
Mr. Joseph & Mrs. Shirley Cohen
If you encounter widows, use your best judgement on how they would like to be addressed:
Mrs. Joseph Cohen vs Mrs. Shirley Cohen
//Pinterest//
The Whole Family
You love your friend’s little ones, and your can’t imagine your big day without them! While addressing the invitation to the children by name sounds like a plan, that can fill up an envelope in no time! By addressing the invitation to the family as a whole, parents know that their wee ones are welcome. 🙂 Keep in mind, if their children are grown and no longer living at home, plan on sending them their own invitation. (That goes for thank you cards too!)
//A Fabulous Fete//
Just the Grownups
This is probably the biggest question on the minds of many couples; How do we tell our friends and family that while we love their kids, we don’t want them at the wedding? It’s a tricky issue, but the best way is to start with the invitation addressing. Stick with just the names of the parents. In all likelihood, it will lead to questions, which opens the door up for you to have an honest (but nice!) conversation about how you want them to have a great night out without the littles!
//Lettering by Liz//
Doctors and Such
The placement of Dr. of course depends on which member of the couple is the doctor. If the husband is a doctor, address the invitation to:
Dr. & Mrs. Cliff Huxtable
If the wife is a doctor:
Dr. Lauren & Mr. Cliff Huxtable
Or if both are doctors:
The Doctors Huxtable
There are lots of other options for addressing invitations! The possibilities are almost endless. Ultimately, go with your gut. Does your mom just hate it with people refer to her as Mrs. Joseph Chase? Are you proud of your grandfather’s military service? Use titles and wording you know people will be pleased to see as they rip open your wedding invitation with pure excitement and joy. 🙂
Until next time!
XOXO
Elizabeth
// onelove photography //
Find the Right Venue
Finding a perfect venue is so so key if you’re thinking of hosting a standing cocktail-style reception… especially if you have a large guest count. One of the most important things to consider is making sure there’s enough room for guests to mingle and move about without feeling squished like sardines for the entire evening. You also need to look at the venue spatially and make sure it works to have both cocktail tables, food/beverage stations and lounge seating while still allowing space for either a dance floor or at least room for guests to get down and show off their moves if dancing is their thing. Yes, your wedding is about you but keep your guests in mind and as long as there’s room for people to simply “hang” and move about all night, then you’ll be golden!
// Green Wedding Shoes //
Set Expectations
The biggest question I get from couples who are considering this non-traditional route for the reception is, “Will people love it or absolutely freak out and think it’s inconvenient?” My best answer – tell them what’s up! Whether it’s in the actual wedding invitation itself or printed in a cool, hip way for people to see when they arrive to your wedding, then no biggie. Guests will absolutely love that your wedding reception is unique, but they just want to know what’s going on, so simply spread the word and fill them in the loop so no one is wandering around looking for dinner tables that don’t exist. They’ll love you for it too.
// Green Wedding Shoes //
Get Creative with Seating
Just because you’re throwing a cocktail reception and not having a formal dinner, doesn’t mean at some point throughout the event, some people will want to sit. That’s a fact. So make it comfy for them. You don’t have to go all banquet table and linen route – find some funky chairs, poufs or benches and strategically place them throughout the venue for guests to kick their feet up if they get tired. We know you’re willing to rock those killer 6″ stilettos all night but others might not have the same stamina. Plus, it totally goes with the non-traditional vibe and allows guests to mingle, chat and sip their cocktails in style.
// Green Wedding Shoes //
Food that Makes a Statement
People expect to get fed at weddings – it just is what it is. Now that doesn’t mean you’re stuck to offering a plated meal. But if you forgo that route and stick to hors ‘deovures and stations, they better be (a) delish and (b) memorable! Guests won’t be disappointed to miss out on a huge meal when there’s creative and yummy small bites being offered every time they turn around. And don’t be afraid to glam up the offerings a bit – a little sparkle goes a long way and makes a big statement! But trust us when we say, just because you don’t want to have a seated dinner, don’t skimp on food!
// Ruffled //
Still Incorporate Traditional Touches
Even if you’re having a nontraditional wedding reception, that doesn’t mean you still can’t incorporate moments that might seem “traditional” to some but that are still important to you or your fiance. I actually think it’s important to hold true to some of those traditional aspects that might mean the world to parents or grandparents. Keep in mind, that especially for speeches, you’ll want to get creative with both the timing and the location of where/when to make these happen. If it’s a standing-only cocktail style reception, you want guests to be able to see you. So if everyone is standing, perhaps create a small platform (that could still look cute with a rug, etc.) so people can hear and see. It also could be a great way to break up the evening. You could get everyone together right after the ceremony to thank them for coming, open up speeches and allow caterers to get in place for the reception to begin. Or you could also do it after guests have been mingling for awhile and you want to transition into the “open dancing” and dessert part of the evening. Any chance you can create to make it natural and prevent guests from being confused, go for it! But don’t forgo incorporating any special moment that you normally would for the sake of being “different” – remember it’s important!
// onelove photography //
This is just a taste of the creative ideas we dream up for each couple we work with, unique to their style. If you need more ideas, just ask!
XO Stacy
//Phil Chester//
A Planning Pal
If there’s one thing we know about an excited bride, it’s that she tends inundate herself with planning tasks and can become overwhelmed. For this reason, the bride will need your help! First and foremost, you want to be sure to be on and by your bride’s side for all things wedding. Her planning journey will be one of the most emotional, chaotic, yet fun processes in her life, and she will likely need a lot of support from you!
Bridesmaids, especially if there are many of them, can be difficult to coordinate. The bride may first and foremost inform you that you will have to buy your own dress. According to The Knot, “Bridesmaids are generally expected to pay for their own wedding-day ensemble (shoes and jewelry included).” Some brides might choose a dress for all of her maids, and if this is the case for you, you will have to hope that she makes a financially conservative pick. If you’re feeling like you will have trouble paying for your dress, it is perfectly okay to “tactfully work out a solution that suits both of you,” says The Knot.
//onelove photography//
Other brides will have each maid choose her own ensemble, giving each maid more monetary wiggle room. In this situation, you will need to search for dresses and send ideas to the bride as soon as you can according to the details and requirements she’s provided for you. Be sure to exchange dress and accessory finds with the other maids as well!
//onelove photography//
One of the bride’s most memorable moments during her engagement is the moment she picks her dress, but there’s a lot that leads up to that moment. The bride has to pick styles, do her research, visit various bridal shops, and depending on how picky she is, try on lots and lots of gowns. Some brides will invite her maids to accompany her when she goes dress shopping.
As her maid, she trusts you to be honest with her about each dress, but tread carefully! Many maids make the mistake of pressuring a bride to put on a dress she doesn’t like or talking the bride out of a dress that fits the her taste but not the maid. Don’t be this maid! Instead, understand the bride’s taste and what she’s looking for. Popsugar explains, “Although the bride may ask for your advice several times throughout the planning process, she may not always want your black-and-white opinion. You’re one of the people who know her best, so whenever she asks for your input, step back and consider whether she wants a clear-cut stance or support for her choice.”
//onelove photography//
In addition to apparel, the maids are also in charge of planning the bridal shower and bachelorette party. The maid of honor should especially be honing in on these tasks, and although both are not required, they are certainly a lot of fun. The purpose of these events are not only to celebrate the bride and make her feel supported but also to foster bonding and kindle new friendships among the maids. After all, you’ll be spending a whole day working together for your bride, and growing closer leads to better teamwork! Keep in mind that “from the get-go, your best bet is to listen to the bride when she says what she needs. If she’s looking for a low-key bachelorette party, don’t hound her about a wild Vegas weekend,” Popsugar advises. There are plenty of ideas for these events all over the interwebs, but some of our favorites include spa days, brunches, and weekend road trips.
//onelove photography//
Your bride will ask for help and advice for many parts of her wedding. You may find yourself helping search for vendors or being part of the assembly line creating the escort cards, but simply knowing your core duties in the planning process will make everything go much smoother!
Wedding Day Roles
Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette (5th Edition) by Peggy Post lists the following roles and duties for bridesmaids:
-Attends rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, and bridesmaids’ luncheon if there is one
-Supervises the children in the wedding party if asked
-Assists the bride at the reception as requested
-Participates in activities such as the receiving line and a bouquet toss
-Gives an individual gift to the couple or contributes to the bridesmaids’ gift for the couple
And likewise for the maid or matron of honor:
-Helps the bride select the bridesmaids’ attire
-Helps address invitations and place cards
-Organizes the bridesmaids’ gift to the bride and often organizes the bridesmaids’ luncheon if there is one
-Holds the groom’s wedding ring and the bride’s bouquet during the ceremony
-Witnesses the signing of the marriage certificate
-Helps the bride during the reception (gathering guests for the cake cutting, dancing, the bouquet toss)
-Helps the bride change into her going-away clothes and takes care of the bride’s wedding dress and accessories after the reception
//Birds of a Feather//
Although most these long-established responsibilities for the bridal party are common knowledge, many duties are over-looked.
Last minute duties often fall on the maids when the bride is in the hustle and bustle of getting dressed on the big day. She Finds mentions that, “whether it is coordinating a flower delivery, confirming transportation, satisfying [the bride’s] last-minute junk food craving, or helping [her] use the bathroom, [the] bridesmaids should be ready to help out with anything.” Remember to be aware of what’s going on, and help to keep everything on schedule if need be. Along with that, your bride will likely have the classic, apprehensive, ants-in-her-pants feeling right before the walking down the aisle, and it’s your job to keep her calm, cool and collected. Make her laugh, lead some breathing exercises, and assure her that everything will be alright!
As Peggy Post mentioned, you will be part of the receiving line if there is one at the reception, but this shouldn’t be the only time you interact with guests. As part of the bridal party, you should act as a host by introducing yourself and shaking hands, helping guests get to things like the guest book if they haven’t already, participating in the bouquet toss, and encouraging everyone to dance. Make a point to be the first on the dance floor and boogie like you mean it! After the reception, especially if the bride and groom had a send-off, help the couple’s family with cleanup and getting their items safely to their cars.
//onelove photography//
It may seem like a lot of work being a bridesmaid, but we assure you that everything will fall into place. Being in the bridal party is truly a lot of fun, and the bride will appreciate all of your help!
