Royal Wedding Recap

Being in the wedding industry, I couldn't resist getting up at 4 a.m. to watch the Royal Wedding live.  You certainly don't need me to give you low down on the designer of Kate's dress or the tiara that the Queen chose to lend her.  Those details are all over the web right now.  But here are some of the highlights of the big event for me:

Hats, hats, hats: Nearly all of the ladies in attendance at the ceremony wore spectacular hats.

Interestingly, the prime minister's wife, Samantha Cameron, did not wear a hat.  And the prime minister himself who claimed he was going to wear a lounge suit (a regular suit in American terms), in the end, opted for the more traditional morning suit (tails in American terms).

The dress:  No, not Kate's dress.  Pippa's dress was what struck me.  The maid of honor's dress was by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, but the real news is that it was white! Usually, it's a no-no for anyone at the wedding to wear white besides the bride.  But, there certainly was no upstaging this bride, and I think white was the right choice for the maid of honor.  First, her dress was a completely different silhouette than the bride's gown.  And, because Pippa was responsible for carrying the bride's train, if she had worn color, she might have stood out more and broken up the flow of the train. In this case, white worked!

The bouquet:  Kate looked gorgeous in her Sarah Burton gown with long lace sleeves and full skirt.  But what I found interesting was the size of her bouquet.  The bouquet was small and simple created by Shane Connolly.  It contained a sprig of myrtle in accordance with royal tradition, along with sweet william, hyacinth, and lily-of-the-valley.  At first glance, it seemed plain for such an elaborate affair, but it grew on me. And, ultimately, I liked the simplicity.  It allowed the dress and Kate to really shine.

The decor:  I loved that actual trees lined Westminster Abbey.  It definitely created a wow effect, and they will apparently be planted at the Prince of Wales's Highgrove estate as a reminder of the big day.

The royal wedding can hardly be deemed simple.  But if you took away the throngs of people, the royalty, the media, and the spectacular venue, you'd have classic simplicity.  The flowers, the decor, the bridesmaid dress, and the gown were all elegant yet simple -- something that has to be admired for a couple that could have it all.

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Quick Tip: Wedding Entertainment for Kids

Having children at your wedding?  You may be worried that the kids will get bored, restless, or hyper, which may lead to unwanted disruptions on your big day.  Well, the best way to keep the kiddies out of trouble is to keep them entertained.  If you're expecting a group of children that are close in age, you could have a kids play area at the reception with children's books, Legos, etc.  Hire a babysitter to oversee the area and play with the kids.  If that's not in your budget or the children will be more comfortable with their parents, simply providing coloring books and crayons at the kids' place settings will keep them happy and occupied.

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Unique Chuppahs

Chuppahs are traditionally part of Jewish wedding ceremonies, symbolizing the openness of the couple's home.  But "chuppah" literally means canopy and can be a beautiful focal point for any type of wedding ceremony.  Creating a chuppah simply requires four poles and a cloth covering on top.  But, today, chuppahs are often elaborately decorated to provide the primary decor for the ceremony.  I came across these gorgeous, unique chuppahs that are great inspiration for designing a canopy for your own wedding.

Photo courtesy of Anne Appleman Flowers & Plants

From Chuppah Direct

Photo by Caroline Eller LLC;  Chuppah by Andy Boyles

 

Chuppah by Butterfly Floral & Event Design

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Quick Tip: What to do with Centerpieces after the Wedding

By the time wedding day rolls around, you have every detail meticulously planned out.  And while you may have chosen the perfect centerpieces to create beautiful tablescapes for the reception, you may not have thought about what you want to happen to those centerpieces after the festivities are over.

The teardown of the room after the reception happens very quickly.  The venue staff want to be on their way home, so if you haven't specified your plan for the centerpieces and decor ahead of time, they may get lost in the shuffle.

First, you'll want to talk to your florist about what parts of the centerpiece can be taken home.  You may have rented the containers from the florist, but the floral arrangement on top can be lifted off and taken.  So, just be sure you're not taking home any of the florist's supplies. 

Next, decide what you'd like to happen to the centerpieces at the end of the wedding.  Do you want to take home all centerpieces?  Do you want to give the centerpieces to your bridal party or guests? You could even donate the flowers to hospitals or nursing homes.

Once you've made your plan, tell your venue's catering manager so that she can inform her staff.  Then, tell your wedding planner or day of coordinator so that she can step in during the chaos of teardown and ensure that your plan for your centerpieces is implemented. 

Flowers may not last forever, but having a plan in place for your centerpieces will allow you to enjoy them as long as you can.

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Quick Tip: Shy Guys and Wedding Dances

Got a groom who has two left feet?  Does your Dad shy away from the spotlight? You may have been looking forward to the iconic First Dance and Father/Daughter Dance at your wedding reception, but those important men in your life just aren't comfortable with the concept.  If you've got some shy guys on your hands (or maybe you're the one trying to avoid the dance), you don't have to nix the dances completely to accommodate them.  Instead, once the dance has started, have the band leader or DJ make an announcement inviting the bridal party or even all of the guests up on the dance floor to join you.  That way, your shy guys won't feel like they have all eyes on them, as the dance floor is filled with plenty of people dancing around them.

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Tropical Delight: Rebecca & Steven

You can't help but feel transported to a tropical rainforest when you visit the Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier.  I had the pleasure of coordinating Rebecca and Steven's beautiful wedding there in November.  Check out the photos by Allure Photo.

Navy Pier offers some fantastic photo ops!

The ceremony was unique in that we set it up as a "Chuppah in the Round."  The bride walked down the aisle beneath jumping fountains, as friends and family watched from all sides.

Framed escort cards directed guests to their tables

You may notice each escort card has a colored jewel on it.  If you need a way to indicate to the catering staff whether a guest has requested chicken or beef, one of my favorite tips is to put different colored jewels, ribbons, or decorative stickers on the escort cards.  Your wedding coordinator can tell the staff which colors are for which entrees!

Aberdeen's Wedding Florist created these eye-catching centerpieces.

 

The show-stopper cake was made by Jarosch Bakery.

The happy couple!

Congratulations to Rebecca and Steven!

Vendors:

Wedding Coordination - Camille Victoria Weddings LLC

Photography - Allure Photo

Videography - Go Wedding Video

Florist - Aberdeen's Wedding Florist

Officiant - Rabbi Evan Moffic

Reception Band - Momentum

Cake - Jarosch Bakery

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Quick Tip: What to Wear to a Wedding

A few weeks ago Kate Middleton made headlines for wearing black to a wedding.  Indeed, it used to be a fashion faux pas to wear black at a wedding.  But times change and so does fashion etiquette.  Today, it's perfectly acceptable to wear black to a wedding.  The little black dress (LBD) can be a woman's most versatile fashion staple.  The LBD is simple and classy, making it great for a wedding.  You can always add a splash of color with a purse, necklace, or shoes. 

Now, the main fashion rule for guests at a wedding is: Don't Upstage the Bride!  That typically means that you shouldn't wear white or ivory.  No one should end up confusing you with the bride!  I personally also recommend avoiding flashy red dresses, but that's a matter of choice.  Also, be sure to dress tastefully.  Don't wear anything too low cut or see-through.  Keep the attention where it belongs -- on the bride!

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