Many people opt to have a signature cocktail or two on their wedding day for guests to enjoy and I fully support this decision. Not only is it a great way to save some money if you wish to limit your bar, but it’s a fun way to connect to your guests. ESPECIALLY if you make them personal.
How to Personalize Your Signature Cocktails
If you wish to have two cocktails available, pick two drinks that each represent you. It can be your favorite drink or something you come up with. The most important thing is what you name it. Use your Alma Maters, your favorite TV shows, your Hogwarts House or even just your names. Call it something that people will see and immediately relate it back to you.
You can also just have a single cocktail option and then name it after something that represents you as a couple. The sweetest version of this I have seen was a cocktail created with the couples two favorite alcohols and then titled “The Barretts”.
Top 5 Signature Drinks
Here are my personal favorite signature drinks for your wedding day. They are simple, classic and easy to incorporate. You can find these recipes and more on my Pinterest page too.
Mojito
Everyone loves a Mojito. It’s refreshing and tastes great, but it’s also light. There are so many flavor options you can add to it too.
Apple Cider & Fireball
So simple, few ingredients which keeps the cost down, and it perfect for a fall wedding.
Mimosa
Again, many flavor options to pick from so it doesn’t have to be orange juice. Especially because orange juice can become heavy. This one with pears is unique and light on the tummy.
Whiskey Sour
My personal favorite is Whiskey, and you cannot go wrong with a Whiskey Sour. Add cranberry for the holidays or keep it classic.
Anything Themed
From Halloween to Christmas to something Patriotic, you can find any yummy signature cocktail themed to match.
As we have all learned more about how our everyday lives impact the Earth, a lot of us have started to change our ways to have less of an impact. But large gatherings like weddings can have a huge impact on our environment. Even a simple change can help so much. Here are my top 5 tips on how you can make your wedding more eco-friendly.
Avoid Single-Use Paper and Plastic Items, Rent or Use Biodegradable
Paper plates and napkins are very common for more DIY weddings because of their cost and ease of use. But renting dishes can still be affordable and removes a lot of extra waste. If your caterer is providing paper or plastic, ask them for biodegradable ones. Skip the cocktail and dessert napkins, they’re extra and not really needed. Or again, cloth or biodegradable ones.
Flowers left at the end of the evening make up a considerable amount of trash and they could easily be recycled. In Cleveland, there is a fantastic company called Big Hearted Blooms that does just that. They will take your flowers and then repurpose them into arrangements for those in care facilities in need of a lift. Let your wedding flowers live longer and bring happiness to others.
Engagement Announcements, Save-the-Dates, Pre-Wedding Party Invitations, Wedding Invitations, RSVP Cards, Thank You Cards…..all adds up to a lot of waste. But you don’t have to go digital if you don’t want to. Just make sure to shop with eco-conscious brands or ones that use recyclable materials. Another option is plantable paper. Not only is it gorgeous as an invitation, but your guests can plant it and have beautiful flowers after. Lastly, if you’re not worried about a paper invitation you can create beautiful PDF invitations to be emailed to your guests.
Choose Caterers that Support Local Farmers & Businesses
It’s important to eat locally all of the time as that helps reduce the carbon footprint of shipping food across the states. It also helps support your local economy and small businesses. Spice Catering Co is a local catering company that not only supports other local businesses but has their own farm where they get food and inspiration from for their dishes. Also if you can find a caterer that composts their waste (or is willing to bag it for you to add to your compost) that has an even bigger impact on your wedding waste.
Skip the Favors, Offer Food Items or Make A Donation
At the end of your wedding day, when everything is being cleaned up, all of the favors that were left behind end up in the trash or boxed up for you to take back home. And it happens A LOT. I always recommend for couples to just skip the favor. If you still would like to give your guest something I highly recommend something food-based. People will eat it while they’re at their seats before dinner and it won’t go to waste. If that’s not your thing then make a donation in your guest’s honor to an organization you wish to support and make sure that your guests know. A simple sign for them to read or if you are doing a thank you speech, make sure to mention it.
Just think if you changed nothing, how much garbage and waste would end up in the landfill? Weddings create a lot and the bigger your guest list the more waste created. There are other options and ideas I haven’t even listed here. Take a few moments and think about where you feel the biggest impact can be made on your wedding day, and come up with some ideas on how to change that. Need more ideas? Reach out to me and set up a complimentary consultation and we can come up with ideas together.
Choosing a bridesmaid dress for the females in your wedding party is no easy task, but it can be one of the most fun parts of the wedding planning process. Inviting the special women in your life to be your bridesmaids; your sisters, your lifelong friends, your cousins, and special family friends; is a way to seal important friendships during this very special time in your life.
Naturally, it’s the couple who will be the focus of attention on the wedding day, but it’s important for the bridesmaids to look gorgeous too. Choose something simple and not overdecorated or detailed, but which will make your bridesmaids look elegant and sophisticated.
It’s important to choose a dress style which will flatter everyone’s figure. This is never an easy task, but empire waists and A-line or princess skirts will tend to suit most shapes and sizes. A very nice alternative, and one I recommend, is to choose the fabrics and colors and allow each individual bridesmaid to choose her own dress style. Separates are definitely an option too. Mixing and matching separate tops and skirts makes it easier to find a style that suits each individual bridesmaid.
Always keep a budget in mind for your bridesmaid’s gowns. Some times you can find sales or dresses even cheaper if you go to the right store. If you have your heart set on a more expensive gown, or one of your bridesmaids is financially unable to purchase the gown, you might consider helping out or give another dress option. Having someone be a part of your big day is more important.
Classic Looks for Bridesmaids
Any kind of formal gown, semi-formal, or evening dress can be chosen as a bridesmaids gown, so you have literally thousands of options. Satin, organza, chiffon, georgette, tulle, lace, brocades, and crepe are all classic fabrics for bridesmaid dresses.
You should think about the time of year you plan to hold the wedding, and how this will affect your gown choices. Choose lighter fabrics for summer, and a sleeveless or even a strapless dress style. If your wedding is planned for a cooler time in the year, long skirts and sleeves are best, or include a shawl or wrap as a gift.
Though a lot of people tend to choose their colors according to the time or season of the year, it’s not really necessary. If you want a color that isn’t typically seen in the winter, do it anyways. My only recommendation is to make sure they match your floral choices so your gowns will tone in nicely with the bouquets. Discussing your color ideas with your florist will make the job of choosing colors much easier. In the end, black never goes out of style.
The simplest look will tend to work best, so accessories should best be kept to a minimum. Often a simple pair of earrings or necklaces are all the jewelry you’ll need. If you want to give a gift and keep things uniform, you can also gift jewelry to your bridesmaids to be worn on your wedding day.
Keep comfort as well as style in mind when you choose shoes for your bridesmaids. Very high heels may be uncomfortable to stand in for any period of time. I once wore 3.5″ heels and personally was in pain because I don’t wear heels regularly. So keep that in mind as well as the fact that the bridesmaids will most likely be wearing the shoes for the wedding ceremony and the reception. Choose shoes which will be comfortable to wear all day, then dance away the night.
I know you’ve been looking forward to your wedding day for some time now. Planning has taken you months, if not years. From your venue to your first pick photographer to the DJ that will keep the dance floor hopping. The perfect stationery and the flowers to match. The hairstyles, the outfits, and even the favors. Everything has been meticulously picked and put together to reflect your vision.
As the day gets closer you start to get back your RSVPs and you get a little more excited with each one. You slowly start to see everything coming together and everyone there that you love celebrating you two. Then one day it’s all gone.
My Heart Goes Out To You
This pandemic has come at the worst possible time for weddings in Ohio. It impacts so many and you are one of the hundreds if not thousands of couples who will be affected by this. Whether you have already made the choice to postpone or are patiently waiting to hear if your wedding day will move forward. My heart goes out to you.
I know you are probably working through so many emotions right now. Anger, frustration, disappointment, and sadness. You are crushed and at the same time feel guilty. Your wedding day is the most important day for you right now, but people are losing their jobs and even their lives. Don’t get me wrong, yes it can seem trivial in the grand scheme of things, but you are valid in your feelings too.
I can also tell you that it’s going to be OK. Your perfect person will still be there with you at the end of this. Your big day will still happen. It may not be on the date you picked, but it will still be on a perfect day. Your family will have even more reason to celebrate with you. You will come out of this stronger and even more ready to get married.
I know it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel and that things seem really hard and heavy right now. I know that you’re heart may be breaking, but take a step back and breathe. Look over at your perfect person as you read this and remember the real reason you are doing this. To marry them. Although it may not be exactly as you have envisioned, it will still happen and it will be just as perfect.
When planning your wedding the music you choose for your first dance can be a daunting task. It must be just perfect and reflect you as a couple, not to fast and not too slow. Something you both like and can dance to. Maybe something that’s not too long for those who don’t like to dance in front of others. There’s a lot that can be taken into account when picking.
My first recommendation is to look at songs that are meaningful to both of you. Something you may have danced to before or maybe something you sing together. A song that comes on the shuffle and it always makes you think of each other.
If all else fails you can find many examples of songs to pick from with a simple Google search. The problem with that is, although you may think Christina Perri or Ed Sheeran are amazing picks with the most beautiful songs, so does everyone else getting married.
To help with that, here are some songs that I pulled together that are not overplayed every weekend. Some are songs that I love and knew I wanted to share. Some I just happened to find and thought were perfect.
Top 10 Picks for First Songs
I Get to Love You by Ruelle – This is by far one of my most favorite first dance songs and not many people have found it yet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1mkYWkoXyo
Beyond by Leon Bridges – A song from a man to a woman explaining why she is so important to him and hoping that she will be their everything. It has a simple beat and easy to sway to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELPOCJvDz3w
Lover (First Dance Remix) by Taylor Swift – Remixed specifically for first dances and just recently released. Will this be the song of the 2020 wedding season? Beautiful, enchanting and completely meaningful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmT4Y8w1nho
You’re My Best Friend by The Once – As a big fan of Queen I love the original, but this is such a beautiful cover that it cannot be overlooked.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8aUHv0Newo
Speechless by Dan & Shay – By the video itself you can see that it was made for weddings, but you must listen to truly see why it can truly be perfect for your first dance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UoP9ABJXGE
I Choose You by Ryann Darling – Your Mine and all the reasons why. So simple and elegant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXN-m49MHO0
I Choose You by Sara Bareilles – I little more upbeat than a traditional first dance song, but not everyone wants slow. It’s still easy to sway together or choreograph a dance to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjE5D9cHiOk
Forever Starts Today by Tim Halperin – Piano lead with beautiful vocals talking about this moment and how it begins your forever together. Very heartwarming and makes my heart smile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljLCAsnTzEo
Come What May by Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor – Starts soft and romantic and grows into something epic. A beautiful song just waiting for some special choreography to make it come to life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YsMvzgeSuI
Love Someone by Lukas Graham – You’ve probably heard this song on the radio at some point. It’s simple and true and with a good beat to dance together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN44xpHjNxE
Bonus First Dance Song
Be My Forever by Christina Perri (feat. Ed Sheeran) – I know I said that these two are overplayed at weddings. But this song that they did together is not only catchy and a little upbeat, but I have yet to hear it used for a dance. So if your up for a little faster paced first dance, this one might be for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awMQlSqI564
Our First Dance Song
I thought as a fun tidbit I would share my husband and my first dance song. He hates the spotlight, so we wanted short. There were many options we discussed, but this movie is a favorite of mine and we always talk about growing old together. So it was just perfect.
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