Ideas for the Groom When Making a Speech at Your Wedding

Groom  
• Appropriate story about how he met his bride
• What this day means to you 
• Thank your bridal party 
• Mention how wonderful the bride looks
• Mention/ thank the bride’s family, or tell a story that relates to them (first meeting?) 
• Thank all parties involved in the wedding 
• Mention/ thank your family  
• Mention any members of the audience that are special or have traveled a large distance
• Thank the venue for the dinner  
• Thank the MC for keeping the night rolling

Guest Seating

A feature that I love on WeddingWire.com is the guests seating feature. This free online program allows for you to design the layout of your wedding reception and decide where each of your guests will sit. It is one of the best programs that I have found and it makes planning your guest seating a breeze!

How to Save Money When Purchasing Your Wedding Cake

• You can opt for a smaller wedding cake and purchase a sheet cake as a less expensive option to serve all your wedding guests. • Your cake doesn’t have to be real, just one slice does. If you’re not serving your wedding cake to your guests then have a Styrofoam cake decorated and have one piece be real or a cake behind the fake cake to do the traditional cake cutting. • If you’re not serving your wedding cake for dessert you do not need to order one slice per person because if you’re serving it at the end of the night, not everyone will eat it • Most venues do charge a cake cutting fee/ plating fee to serve a cake not made by their catering staff • Use cardboard circles stacked together to give your cake the desired height you want, or you can purchase a cake stand from companies such as Raise the Cake. www.raisethecake.com

Raise the Cake

• Decorate the dummy cake just like a real cake • Want more servings then make your base larger or add mini wedding cakes which makes the cake table look extravagant

It's All In The Details

When deciding what is most important for décor at your reception, remember that the table is the main star in the room. First begin with your linens. A textured linen with color is visually inviting and automatically adds character to your table.

The Special Event Show 2010

Resource One, Inc.

Second are your chairs. Whatever you do, do not us e the traditional banquet chairs without chair covers . You will be amazed at the difference a chair cover, wooden folded chairs, or chiavari chairs can make to the overall look of your reception. Currently our favorite chair design are the Chameleon Chairs which we blogged about in a previous post. The Third most important element of your overall design scheme is lighting. Brides are usually apprehensive about this cost, but one they see the difference lighting makes to their event they are amazed and have to have it. Surprisingly, this is a very affordable option to add extra character to your fantasy affair. This includes uplighting, gobo designs, pin spotting and candle light. I personally love candles and believe that candle light is quintessential in creating a romantic ambiance, something I try to incorporate in all my designs.

Fourth, and don't be mad floral designers, but flowers are not the most important element of a tabletop design. I have noticed that many of my Brides are not as interested in floral centerpieces as they once were, but are now more interested in centerpieces that tell a story or relate to the theme of their wedding. Floating candles in tinted water are also very popular.

Designs by Cornelia, LLC

The fifth element to tabletop design are your chargers and glassware. Your napkins and/or menu cards really pop against the chargers and can make quite a difference in the look of your table. It fills space and when we're talking about a 60"-72" tabletop, there is a lot of space to fill.

Special Event Show 2010 Resource One, Inc.

Last but not least, are your accessories: menu cards, favors, napkin rings, and anything related to your theme.

Special Event Show 2010 Sasha Souza Table Top Design

Happy Planning!!!