Three Ways for an EPIC Cocktail Hour

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Light snacks, simple drinks, and mingling with loved ones between the ceremony and reception is often the most under appreciated part of a wedding. Yes, it might only be 60 minutes, but cocktail hour can be the stepping stone into determining how the rest of the night will turn out. Are you nervous about keeping your guests entertained while you’re swept away to take pictures? Here are our three favorite tips of ways to create the most successful transitioning hour!

Top 10 Wedding Games to Entertain Your Guests

Yard Games

Wedding day games have been seen more often in recent years. Simple additions such as cornhole or Jenga gives guests something to do to pass the time as well as socialize with friends.

Wedding Cocktail Hour Ideas Guaranteed to Wow Your Guests

Customized Cocktails

While beer and wine are the most common offerings, creating a signature cocktail is a great way to show off your personality. Whether it’s your favorite drink or one created specifically for your wedding day, giving your guests another option is great way to liven up the atmosphere (especially for the ones who prefer liquor)!

Photography: Darin Crofton Photography

Photo Booth

Whether you make your own backdrop or rent a photo booth, designated stations gives your guests the opportunity to create keepsakes during your wedding. Bonus Tip: Place an album on a table near the station for your attendees to place images inside for you to look at later!

Remember, cocktail hour is supposed to be a stress free time for everyone. Don’t overthink anything because at the end of the day if you’re having fun your guests probably are too!

Don’t Stress! 3 Tips to Enjoy the Wedding Planning Journey

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Venue: The Orlo House & Ballroom | Photography: Roberts Imagery

Whether you’re in the beginning stages or well into your wedding planning process it is likely that you’ve undergone some sort of stress along the way. Although communicating with numerous vendors and trying to keep everything as organized as possible can seem like a panic attack waiting to happen, here are our three favorite tips to enjoy your wedding planning journey as much as possible!

Hire a Planner

The job of a wedding planner is to provide knowledge, schedule appointments, and communicate with vendors while keeping everything coordinated on a timeline. Hiring a professional to work with you early on will help alleviate the hassle of trying to do everything on your own. You can then dedicate all of the time that you save to activities that make you feel more relaxed such as going outdoors or spending time with loved ones.

Avoid DIY’ing

Decor pieces for your wedding can definitely add up (especially if they’re customized). Your immediate response might be “I can do this myself for half the cost” but did you know that the cost of the materials and time (because yes, time is money!) can actually cost MORE than outsourcing the items? Not to mention having the headache of trying to figure out what to do with the items after your wedding day. These obstacles makes it necessary to set aside money in your budget early on to allow you to get the decor items that are the most significant to you.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

No matter how hard you try, your wedding day is not going to go according to plan. There is going to be at least one hiccup throughout the event that wasn’t anticipated earlier on. We encourage couples to remember that the most significant part of the day is your marriage. Keep your loved ones close by and remember that the small mistakes aren’t worth stressing out about!

Who Gets What? Our Tips for Tipping Your Vendors

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Venue: The Palmetto Club & FishHawk Ranch | Photography: Creative FX Studios

Weddings are expensive. We get it. With the cost of the “little things” quickly adding up, you might think that tipping your vendors will impact your budget too much. Although tipping is never expected, it is a great way to show gratitude to the people who have been helping you along the way. Leading up to your wedding, your vendors are spending countless hours to ensure that everything goes smoothly, so setting aside additional “thank you” funds is a great way to show appreciation.

Decor/Rental Company

Although you’re already paying a delivery fee, it’s likely that cost is going towards insurance and the fueling of the truck. Depending on the amount of labor involved, it is nice to give each of the workers some additional money to thank them for setting everything up.

Tipping Protocol: Recommended

How much? $20.00 – $30.00 per person

Planner/Coordinator

This person has been with you since day one. They’ve likely been available to you at all hours and have dedicated time to not only you, but all of your other vendors to ensure that the setup goes without any hiccups.

Tipping Protocol: Recommended

How much? 10 – 20 percent

Director of Sales

The venue’s DOS is the one who shows off the space before you even sign a contract. Once you’ve placed a deposit, they are with you during a lot of the planning process (e.g. menu selection and tastings). During your wedding day they are there before the ceremony starts and well on through most of the reception. Due to the long and uncertain hours, it is definitely nice to give them some form of appreciation.

Tipping Protocol: Optional

How much? $100.00 – $150.00

Photographer/Videographer

The service of a photographer and a videographer is to provide you with keepsakes to look back on. Although it’s never expected to give them more than their standard rate, it is a great way to show gratitude for the work that they’ve put in.

Tipping Protocol: Optional

How much? $50.00 – $75.00 per person

Hairstylist and Makeup Artist

Tipping is definitely expected in this field because the artists are likely contracted out from another company to provide a service to you. Just like a hair salon, you can anticipate tipping between 15 to 25 percent (and maybe a little extra if they did a phenomenal job).

Tipping Protocol: Recommended

How much? 15 – 25 percent

At the end of the day, any form of gratuity is greatly appreciated from all vendors. It’s a great way to say thank you to all of the work that they’ve done and show appreciation for their services.

Hilton Tampa Downtown Wedding – Lauren & Shane

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Lauren and Shane met in Graduate School while Shane was in his second year of Medical School and Lauren had just started pursuing her education to become a Physician Assistant. They were first introduced by Lauren’s sister, who was also in Shane’s class, but didn’t reconnect until a few months later when Shane became a Teacher’s Assistant for Lauren’s Physiology exam. After offering to help her study for one of her exams (which she ended up not getting the best grade in – haha) they decided to go on their first date.

After a few years of dating Shane decided to pop the question during a family and friends trip to Park City, UT. Lauren was completely unaware that this was going to happen and packed absolutely no makeup and almost left the house for dinner with two wet braids.

While planning their modern and elegant themed wedding the couple’s biggest focus was to make sure that everything came together smoothly and with as little stress as possible. They both originally decided to get married at the Hilton Tampa Downtown due to its occupancy size, but it later became a huge convenience factor since all of their guests were able to stay on site.

Looking back on her wedding day, Lauren said she is SO THANKFUL that she hired Event Design to help her with her decor items. Between the gold chiavari chairs, drapery, chargers, and a high gloss white dance floor (which gives off a similar vibe to a vinyl wrap) the Hilton’s ballroom was completely transformed. Without these items, Lauren believes that her wedding reception would have looked like a typical conference hall but due to these enhancements the couple are still receiving compliments months after their special day!

Venue: Hilton Tampa Downtown | Photography: Katie Hauburger Photography | Drapery, Chairs, Dance Floor, and Chargers: Event Design | Coordinator: Lemon Drops | Transportation: L3 Limo | Cake: Publix | DJ: Tampa Bay DJ Company | Florist: Lemon Drops | Hair & Makeup: Femme Akoi Beauty Studio | Videography: MargoZ Production

Our Tips for the Best Wedding Day Accessories

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Photography: Matlock & Kelly

Every bride deserves to feel like a queen on her wedding day. Once you’ve found the perfect dress, you can add accessories to finalize your entire look. When shopping for your complimentary pieces, consider the following.

Shoes

When deciding on shoes make sure to pick something that you are comfortable in. If you’ve never walked in heels before, we wouldn’t recommend trying them out for the first time as you walk down the aisle. Instead, choose a pair that you can see yourself in throughout the entire night!

Embrace Your Every Day Style

You should feel like a princess on your wedding day but that doesn’t mean you have to dress like one (unless that’s your thing). Choose a dress that compliments your style and wear something you couldn’t envision yourself in.

Don’t Overdo It

Similarly, don’t get too adventurous when it comes to jewelry. Instead, choose something that compliments your dress rather than overpowering it. If you’re wearing a gown covered in rhinestones then it might be best to keep your accessories simple. If you’re wearing something with less bling, feel free to incorporate more statement pieces into your attire.

Consider Your Venue

If your wedding venue is outdoors and you are getting married in the winter you should probably consider incorporating a shawl into your outfit. If your ceremony is on a sandy beach, 9 inch stilettos may not be the best thing to wear either.

Earrings

Consider your hairstyle before selecting your earrings. If you plan on wearing it down, then incorporating studs would be a great way to finish off your attire. If you are thinking about having an updo then you can compliment the look with longer, dangly pieces.

What’s the biggest take away from this? Wearing something that you are comfortable in and can last throughout the entire night. Remember that trends come and go and just because all the other brides are wearing something doesn’t mean that you have to as well!

Be Our Guest! But Don’t Bring One. 3 Tactful Ways to (not) Include Plus Ones or Little Ones

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Photography: Matlock and Kelly Photography | Floral: Event Design | Stationary: Jerry and Julep

Let’s face it, weddings are always going to be more expensive than what you originally planned. With all of the big (and little) things eating away at your budget limiting your guest count is a great way to help cut costs. Although breaking this news to loved ones can seem intimidating, we’ve explained the three most heartfelt ways to do so.

Printed Note

Including an additional note in your wedding invitation is the easiest way to have it formally brought to your guest’s attention. Simple sayings like “we’ve always dreamed of a close, intimate wedding. For this reason, we ask that you do not bring a plus one” or “we are unable to accommodate plus ones at our wedding” will prevent the invitee from questioning whether they’re allowed to or not and hopefully prevent them from asking to do so on a later date.

Address the Wedding Invitation

When creating the wedding invitation, make sure to state the specific person that it’s meant for on the address line. If you are allowing them to bring a guest, include the guest’s name as well or simply state “plus one guest”.

Limit the Number on the Response Card

To avoid any confusion, it doesn’t hurt to fill in the invitee’s name and “number of guests” on their RSVP card. If you write this information in yourself it will prevent them from having the opportunity to invite another person without okaying it with you a head of time.

Navigating these emotional waters can seem a little tricky at first but wanting to limit your guest count is completely understandable. If you include a printed note, address the invitation correctly, or fill in the response card yourself you should be able to avoid the case of uncertainty. If all else fails, have an open and honest conversation with your invitee!

Buffet vs. Plated Meal. What to Consider Before Making a Final Decision

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Caterer: Catering by Robert

Planning the menu for your reception can be brutal. You can spend countless hours trying to figure out what exactly will please all of your guests just to end up even more confused than when you started. Eventually you may start to consider having a buffet so your loved ones have the ability to pick only the dishes that they enjoy. Seems like the easiest solution, right? Although on the surface it sounds great, this route can provide additional obstacles that a plated dinner wouldn’t have.

Plated

A plated meal allows the guest to choose between a few dishes prior to the wedding day. Once the couple receives the RSVPs with the selected meals they then share the information with the caterer who later determines which attendee gets what plate due to the escort card.

Pros

  • Less time is taken up during the reception since the guests will be served rather than individual tables waiting in a line
  • Little to no food waste
  • More sanitary
  • The little garnishes to finish off the dish creates a more appealing plate

Cons

  • There won’t be food available for loved ones who show up without RSVPing
  • Creates a more formal atmosphere which can steer couples away who prefer a laid back reception
  • Less verity in a meal
  • Guests have to choose their meal ahead of time

Buffet

Buffet dinners allow guests to get up from their seats and serve their meal to themselves (or with help from a caterer standing near by). They are able to choose exactly what they want and skip the elements that are less appealing to them.

Pros

  • Guests are allowed to choose their own portions
  • More cost effective
  • Attendees are able to try dishes that they normally wouldn’t without having to commit to an entire meal
  • Creates movement so loved ones can mingle while waiting in line

Cons

  • Takes up more reception time
  • No portion control which can lead to food waste
  • Temperature controlled food (e.g. steak or chicken) can end up being overcooked
  • Guests need to wait in line which can be difficult for loved ones with mobility issues

Traditions: What Do They Mean Anyway?

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Venue: The Orlo | Photography: Demutiis Photography

Wedding traditions are something that we’ve all heard about while growing up. Common “requirements” like saving the top tier of your cake or a father giving his daughter away at the ceremony are details that we still see used to this day. Although they probably seem like the standard “norm” of a typical wedding, have you ever thought about where exactly they came from? Below we’ve broken down a few of our favorites and what exactly they mean!

Venue: Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay | Photography: Jon Montis Photography

Bridesmaids Wearing the Same Dress

Previously, the bride used to travel to the groom’s town for their wedding. At this time brides were considered a valuable commodity to the groom and his family so looters would attempt to kidnap them and hold them for ransom. In order to avoid this, all of the girls would dress the same (this was before wedding dresses were a thing) to confuse the kidnappers during their voyage.

Venue: Tampa Marriott Water Street | Photography: Corey Conroy Photography

“Giving” the Bride Away

This practice dates back to when marriages were arranged. Back then, “giving away” the bride was a symbol of transferring ownership to her husband. Thankfully, women are no longer seen as collateral and is now seen as an endearing moment as the father walks his daughter down the aisle!

Venue: Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa | Photography: Alexis Kline Photography

Candy Wedding Favors

In the 16th century, giving a small box full of candy or sugar cubes showed a sign of wealth. At the time sugar was considered an expensive delicacy and was commonly used as a gesture of thanks to a heartfelt deed.

Venue: Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club | Photography: K and K Photography

Saving the Top Tier of Your Wedding Cake

Although most people believe that the top tier is frozen and enjoyed on their one year anniversary, traditionally it was consumed after their first born’s christening. The reasoning behind this is because many people believed the married couple would have a child within the first year of marriage so by keeping their wedding cake they would avoid the cost of having to buy another dessert to celebrate the birth!

Venue: The Vinoy | Photography: Salvador Robles Photography

White Wedding Dress

When we first think of a white wedding dress we immediately consider it to be a sign of purity. In all actuality, in the early 1800s brides used to wear RED dresses on their wedding day. It wasn’t until Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840 that she decided to go against the grain and wear a lacy white dress which symbolized wealth instead.

Which Bouquet Style is Right for You?

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One of the most meaningful flower arrangements to a bride on her wedding day is her bouquet. The style that she chooses has the opportunity to significantly enhance her dress or take away from her ensemble completely. You may be thinking “oh I’ll just find something on Pinterest” but once you actually start surfing the web, you soon realize that the design possibilities are endless. With hundreds to choose from, we’ve made a list of some of our favorite ones and what wedding style pairs best with them!

Cascading

Venue: Sandpearl Resort | Photography: Edwin Colon Photography

Cascading bouquets often include stems of greenery to create a “waterfall” effect as it falls down and disguises the bride’s hands. This dramatic arrangement is often used as a statement piece and is best seen paired with simple gowns. If you do plan on wearing an elaborate wedding dress, we recommend steering away from this style which may overpower the design and create a cluttered look.

Round

Photography: K&K Photography

Round bouquets often include only one type of flower and avoids the use of greenery to create a simple and symmetrical look. This style is perfect for timeless styled weddings that are going for more of a traditional and classic look. It’s best to avoid this design if you plan on having specific themed wedding such as boho or extremely modern.

Posy

Photography: Darin Crofton Photography

Posy bouquets are extremely similar to round bouquets but on a much smaller scale. The goal of this smaller design is to be able to comfortably hold it in one hand as opposed to the traditional round style which requires two. This style of arrangement is perfect for petite brides or ones with plan on wearing more of a dramatic gown.

Hand-Tied

Venue: Davis Island Garden Club

Hand-tied bouquets include a number of different styles of flowers and greenery and is often tied with a ribbon (as opposed to wire like more precise arrangements). The loose design of this bouquet makes the flowers appear like they were freshly picked that morning. The style of this arrangement makes it perfect to be used in an outdoor boho or garden themed wedding.

Our Favorite Grand Exit Getaways

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After toasts have been said and memories have been made it’s time to conclude your wedding day. Your big exit is one of the few things that all of your guests are able to be included in at the same time. In recent years, couples have customized their grand finale to make it catered toward them and just as impressive as the rest of the day. Here’s a list of some of our favorite ideas that are sure to wow your guests during your final goodbye!

LED Glow Sticks

Venue: Tropical Venue Tampa | Photography: JCanelas Photography

LED glow sticks are extremely versatile for any celebration. Not only can you customize them to make great wedding favors, they are also perfect to use for venues who don’t allow open flames!

Fireworks

Photography: Darin Crofton Photography

Fireworks are one of the most dramatic grand exits to pull off. Instead of worrying about all of your guests lining up and having a send off favor, you are able to light up the entire sky while creating a memorable show!

Bubbles

Venue: Tampa Marriott Water Street | Photography: Corey Conroy Photography

Bubbles are great to use if you’re looking for an easy clean up afterwards. Unlike confetti, bubbles will pop and dissolve in the air preventing any need to pick up leftover pieces at the end of the celebration. Another bonus of using these is that the light reflecting off of the suds create an awesome photograph for both day and nighttime celebrations!

Balloons

Venue: Innisbrook | Photography: Sunglow Photography

Although balloons aren’t as common, their inclusion can add a unique look in the grand exit photos.

Sparklers

Venue: The Gasparilla Inn & Club | Photography: Concept Photography

An oldie but a goodie! Sparklers will always be considered one of the most traditional send offs. While this classic exit may seem overdone, it is a great way to bring smiles to all of your guests faces and memories to last!