A Wonderful Wedding Website
In the last few years, creating a wedding website has become a standard practice during the initial stages of planning. Here are a few things you should always have front and center:
The wedding’s location, address, date and time – Seems simple, right? But you’d be surprised how many times guests have had to hunt down the pertinent details of a celebration.
Lodging deals – Many hotels offer discounts when booking large blocks of rooms. Ensure your guests know where to look.
Things to do – If you’re inviting plenty of out-of-town guests, take a bit of time to provide a listing of outings around town.
Any specific scheduled events outside the wedding – If you have a farewell brunch, cocktail hour or other inclusive events for all guests, get those on the front page.
Dress code requirements – Even better, give examples! Dress code vernacular is muddled these days.
Your wedding party – A small bio about each member of your wedding party, and how you met them, adds a personalized touch.
Picking Your Party
Choosing people to join your wedding party can be a tough endeavor if you’ve got a number of close friends. The Knot offers a few tips to make those choices a bit easier:
Consider the size of your wedding – If your celebration is on the smaller side, it may be smart to scale back on the number in the wedding party.
Take your time – Once you ask someone to be a bridesmaid or groomsman, you can’t take it back. Don’t make impulsive decisions in the excitement of a new engagement.
Mull over the requirements – Being included in a bridal party has its duties. Ensure the people you ask will have the time, energy and resources to devote to the big day, along with other events like showers and bachelor/bachelorette parties.
Look into other duties – For friends that didn’t make the big cut, alternative responsibilities and roles can ensure they feel included. From ushers to singers, ‘house party’ attendants or even the officiant, there are several ways to make people feel loved.
No ‘quid pro quo’ – Just because someone asked you to be in his or her wedding party does not mean you’re required to have them in yours.
Trend Forecast
Another year, another set of trends. What can we expect from the wedding landscape in 2022? Well …
First off, experts believe 2022 will welcome a ‘wedding boom’ – meaning celebrations will be at an all-time high. The reasoning? Many couples postponed their nuptials because they wanted a blow-out celebration – something not really feasible in 2020 and much of 2021. Venues, florists, caterers and bakers will likely be maxed out this year – so plan your day accordingly.
While neutral color schemes have reined supreme in the last few years, more and more couples are deciding to go bold in 2022. From deep jewel tones to a return to metallic, bright colors are making a comeback.
‘Sequel weddings’ is a hot term these days, but what does it mean? Essentially, couples that had small weddings in the pandemic era (or even just a trip to the courthouse) are having larger celebrations with a bigger group. It takes the pressure off the couple – because they’re already married – while allowing for the party everyone wants.
Mixing up the wedding parties has been slowly but surely making an appearance in nuptials over the last decade. So you’re a bride, but your best friend is a man? Who cares? Wedding parties can consist of men and women on both sides.
Pre-wedding toasts are surging in popularity. While listening to anecdotes at a wedding can be fun, a lot of the time people lose interest quickly when an uncle or childhood friend rambles on. That’s why many are being instructed to give toasts at the rehearsal dinner, while day-of toasts are reserved for a select few, like parents or the maid of honor and best man.
Stay in Favor
Wedding favors, while exciting, aren’t an expected staple at every celebration depending on your budget, time constraints and other factors. If you opt to provide wedding favors, here are some ideas to mull over:
Cocktail kits– Your guests can take home some of the whimsy of your nuptials with this fun idea. A few tools you can include are a strainer, muddler, jigger and shaker. If you want to go smaller, a pair of customized glasses and some shooters of your favorite liquor will do the trick.
Candy – Everyone loves candy, and after a wedding reception, guests might have a hankering for something sweet. Why not help them out by proving a take-home snack? Customized chocolates, gummies or other sweet treats will do the trick.
Savory snacks to go – Small bags of assorted nuts, sauces, soft pretzels or kettle corn will likely be a big hit.
Candles – You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who isn’t happy to receive a candle … so why not offer them as favors? A small, single-wick creation with a signature scent is the perfect parting gift.
Mugs – Custom-made coffee mugs, replete with your wedding date and names, is both an adorable and useful gift. Bonus points for a small bag of ground coffee or hot chocolate mix thrown in.
Potpourri– Along the same vein as a candle or mug, potpourri is an economical and useful gift that most would enjoy.
Sleep masks– A small luxury many wouldn’t get for themselves, a sleep mask bids your guests farewell with the added bonus of a great night’s rest.
Personalized Touches
In the wake of a busy wedding season, celebrations can sometimes blend together. If you want your big day to stand out, tailor-made touches can help.
The celebrant – Have someone you love marry you and your soon-to-be-spouse. Not only will this add more love to the day, but anecdotes and camaraderie will make the ceremony all the more special.
Custom scent – For those with a bigger budget, a ‘custom scent’ can act as a wedding favor or a bonus gift. Guests can take home a small bottle of the scent you and your spouse created together – thus cementing a sensory memory for years to come.
Monogrammed touches – Including your initials in subtle ways – like napkins or coasters – is a small but thoughtful way to punch up a celebration.
A wedding painter – A one-of-a-kind piece of art that showcases the beauty and joy of your wedding, created the day-of by an artist, is the perfect bookmark to the day … and something you can keep forever.
Writing your own vows – One that many people already follow, but creating and reciting your own vows is a concrete way to showcase the unique love you have for your partner.
Involve the animals– For couples whose pets feel like family, involving the animal in the celebration – either as a ring bearer or just a beloved guest – will have visitors talking for days. (Just make sure your furry friend is comfortable in crowds!)
