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Let's Dish: What Are Your Wedding Pet Peeves?

partysugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:50:46 -0700

When I chatted weddings with Gail Simmons a couple of weeks ago, she shared her tips for hosting an eco-friendly big day and let me know her wedding pet peeves. "When the wedding doesn't reflect the personality of the couple, that really bugs me." Also on her list: a menu that lacks creativity, and dessert buffets. "Twenty-foot-long tables covered in cakes and desserts - it's so wasteful, people take one slice and don't really need or want more than that."

I agree with Gail to an extent, I've never been a fan of buffets - but not because they're wasteful, because they promote overeating! My biggest pet peeve at a wedding reception, however, is a bad Champagne toast. Oh and running out of alcohol is a big no-no.

How about you? Now's your chance to get them off your chest: what are your wedding pet peeves?

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DIY: Elegant and Rustic Wedding Decor

partysugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:50:38 -0700

A friend of mine recently got married at a San Francisco restaurant with 25 close guests in attendance. The ceremony was held in a private room, and afterward, everyone sat down at one big table for a three-course dinner.

Since the couple threw together the "elopement" on short notice, they recruited friends to help; a friend and I were asked to do the flowers. I was surprised by how cheaply we were able to fill the room with blooms. Since the restaurant has exposed brick walls and a rustic feel, we decided to go for the same look with the arrangements. To see my tips for achieving a similar scheme, read more.

Know the space. Get a feel for the room you'll be working in and talk to the restaurant about any decor (such as candles and tablecloths) they'll have on hand or any restrictions that may apply.
Become a jar collector. To echo the rustic modern vibe of the room, I rounded up mismatched glass jars from my cupboards and friends' kitchens. They're free of charge and oh-so-hip.
Go wholesale. Many cities have flower markets that are open to the public. If you can, find a wholesale card to get better prices; I borrowed one from an event coordinator at a local nonprofit. Even if you can't get a wholesalers' discount, you'll still be able to get better bulk deals than you would anywhere else.
Mix and match. Splurge on some pricier statement flowers to anchor the arrangements - we went with purple hydrangeas, white tulips, orchids, and dahlias. Then, fill them out with cheaper filler in complementary colors: try mums, alstromerias, and assorted greenery.
Light it up. Place votive candles in smaller jars and use them to surround the floral arrangements. This will give the flowers a grander appearance without actually needing more flowers.

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Eat Your Heart Out, Andrew Lloyd Webber!

GiggleSugar — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:00:00 -0700

You know the scene in My Best Friend's Wedding when the dude pretending to be with Julia Roberts breaks into song while smack in the middle of a speech, and as Hollywood would have it, the whole table joins in? The peeps below made the scene a little less Hollywood and a little more Broadway. They had a fantastic performance, but I wanna know how everyone in attendance at this wedding (even the father of the groom!) had a voice fit for singing. Uh, Twilight Zone much? (Thanks, College Humor!)

Wedding Music: Tips for Building Your Playlist

BuzzSugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 07:30:58 -0700

When you're planning your wedding day, the playlist you hand over to your DJ (or give to your wedding band, or cue up on your iPod) can be one of the most fun details to develop. Music is a great way to reflect your personality and set the tone for a party, whether you want an old-school feel or a modern, clubby vibe.

Your first inclination when picking the music for your reception might be to reach for your favorite college dance party mix, the latest Fergie song you've been jogging to, or the top hits from the '80s. But most weddings include guests from all age groups and walks of life, and your music choices should be sensitive to their needs. Some of your favorite songs might seem harmless enough on your iPod, but they could make for some awkward situations when played for a big, age-diverse crowd. Think about chatting with your grandfather with Madonna's "Like a Virgin" on in the background - not so fun. Accidentally including the explicit version of a song that seemed so innocuous on the radio could also make things uncomfortable.

I've been thinking through some of the best weddings I've attended, and often, the music was a big part of what made them so special. I've come up with some great playlists from a variety of genres that I'll be sharing throughout the week, but for now, to check out a couple of easy tips for music that will help guarantee a memorable day (not to mention get people out of their chairs and onto the dance floor), just read more.

If you're hiring a DJ or band, be clear about your likes and especially your dislikes. No "Electric Slide" or "Macarena"? Make it known - in writing.
Think about the kind of feel you want your reception to have. Is it a high-energy party? Go heavy on the up-tempo tunes. Want a dreamier, more romantic tone? Include your favorite love songs from a variety of decades.
It's usually impossible to please everybody, but music is one area where you can try. Know that your aunt and uncle love salsa dancing? Ask them to recommend a few tunes - and make sure they're willing to show off their moves. You could even include a spot on your response cards for guests to suggest their favorite dancing songs.
Have a song that you absolutely must have at your wedding - but fear it could baffle or even offend older relatives? Save it for late in the evening, when most of the remaining revelers will be your friends.

Have you experienced any fantastic wedding music moments - or, on the other hand, any awkward disasters? Remember, you can check out more wedding coverage at IDoSugar.

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10 Ways to Turn Your Wedding Into a Foodie Fantasy

YumSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:18:33 -0700

Are you a pair of foodies who are getting hitched? If so then check out these tips we've come up with to make sure that your wedding shows off your food personality. From kitchen bouquets to dessert bars, we've thought of 10 things that will turn your wedding into a foodie fantasy. Source

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What Should You Ask a Caterer?

YumSugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:21:11 -0700

Are you tying the knot anytime soon? If so then you may want to check out these 17 Questions to Ask Your Caterer. The folks at theknot.com have put together a pretty intensive list, but here are some of the highlights.

Do they specialize in a certain type of food, and can they arrange for a tasting?
What is their price range, and is there an all-inclusive rate available?
Will they be able to provide tables, chairs, linens, silverware, etc.?
Can they include a recipe you provide, such as a sentimental family dish?
Can they ask for variations for specified guests such as vegetarian, vegan, or kosher meals?
Where is the food prepared, and how long will it travel?
Do they do alcohol, if so is there an all-inclusive rate? How about a corkage fee?
How about cakes? Do they do cakes?
Do they have photos of their work? Just because it tastes excellent, doesn't mean it's going to look great. See photos and get references.

These are just some of the tips the knot offered up. Do you have any others? What would you recommend?

Want more wedding coverage? Check out more articles over at IDoSugar.

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Best Wedding Reception Ever

GiggleSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:52:27 -0700

Remember, it's the first day of the rest of your lives together. Drink life to the fullest.

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Home Away From Home: The Madonna Inn

CasaSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:30:01 -0800

Looking for a kooky, kitschy hotel experience? Then check out San Luis Obispo's own Madonna Inn. This 51-year-old hotel is an absolutely unique experience for visitors, featuring an overwhelming pink color palette and rooms with themes including "Love Nest," "Caveman," and "Portugal."

If you're in the market for a unique wedding reception venue, the Madonna Inn can handle your reception. Fully equipped with a steak house, day spa, convention center, and bar, the Madonna Inn can supply all of your needs - especially if those needs involve gaping at the Swiss-Alps-meets-Old-West decor. One last piece of advice: don't forget to direct your male friends to the rocks and waterfall urinal if they need to take care of business - it's apparently a tourist must-see.

Take the full tour.

50 Strangers Throw Couple Surprise Wedding Reception

TresSugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:15:00 -0700

The improv gurus behind No Pants Subway Rides teamed up this week to throw a surprise wedding reception for a random, unsuspecting couple. Fifty wannabe guests got dressed in their matrimonial attire, and headed down to Manhattan's City Clerk's office.

One couple was selected and led to tents that had been borrowed from a just-finished job fair. The guests (again, all strangers) cheered during the couple's first toast, watched them share their first dance, and boogied down with them for a couple of hours. One stranger gave the best man toast, and the bride and "maid of honor" met for the first time. After the gifts (mostly gift cards), the couple hopped in a pedicab complete with "Just Married" signage and took a ride around New York City.

Would you be happy if this happened to you, or would you have a hard time celebrating your wedding with strangers?

How-To: Create Slideshows and Movies For Your Reception

GeekSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:05:10 -0700

If you haven't noticed, it's wedding season here on the Sugar Network and I've been busy telling you how to keep up with your own wedding website, pick out the perfect photographer, and manage all those photos - yours and your guests - after the big day. This week, we're moving into the wedding planning stages, and today I'm talking about slideshows. But this isn't the after-the-event, it-was-such-a-beautiful-day slideshow, this is the slideshow you play during your reception, usually packed with photos of you and your betrothed throughout your relationship together.

Although I've already given you some tips on what you should consider when putting together your slideshows, you may not know where to begin once you have all your photos chosen. If you don't have a Mac (I know I've talked your ear off about the simple joy of iPhoto), you can still make professional-looking slideshows and videos with your PC. Who woulda thought, right?

Find out what software you should consider, and what to do with those stacks of (nondigital) photos when you read more.

If not all of your photos are digital, it's OK - you can scan your photos, get them onto a CD and ready for uploading just by toting them down to your local Walgreens (or similar drug store that offers photo developing). And you're on your way to getting all your treasured pics into a slideshow.

Once you have all your photos uploaded to your computer, all you have to do is choose your software to start putting it all together. With any of these programs, you can arrange your pics, choose your (optional) background music that will play during your slideshow, and will even let you add in video clips if you want to switch things up. My first love is iPhoto, mostly for its ease of use and ability to export to not only a DVD but to your website, mobile phone, and iTunes to enjoy later.

But for you PC users out there, software like DVD Picture Show, My Memories Suite, and MediaShow 4 will get you the same great results, accommodates photos and video clips, and will export online or to a CD/DVD.

Do you have a photo program you'd like to recommend? Let us know about it in the comments below!

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