Tag: summer wedding

Incredible ways to Have the Perfect Wedding Cocktail

Incredible tips to host an easy-breezy cocktail hour on your wedding day to leave a lasting impression on all your wedding guests! Cheers!

Incredible tips to host an easy-breezy cocktail hour on your wedding day to leave a lasting impression on all your wedding guests! Cheers!

 

 

No matter how incredibly skilled you are at hosting cocktail parties, when it comes to wedding day cocktail hour, trust us it is not a cakewalk! There are endless things that need to be considered amongst the long list in order to host a memorable and perfect wedding cocktail hour celebration! Apart from deciding on the vendors and finalizing your wedding guest lists, there are other things that you need to consider. The most important part, when it will be your cocktail hour, is that you won’t be even there for most of it (or maybe any of it) completely depending on your professional photography timeline! So, in short, you won’t be able to play host(ess) the way you would do for any other cocktail hour celebration!

But, you need not stress away! We have got you covered! With just a little pre-planning and nice personalized and simple pro tips, hosting a perfect cocktail hour will surely be an easy-peasy task for you. All you have to do is to employ these easy points mentioned below, and we can assure you that you will have an easy-breezy cocktail hour that your wedding guests will enjoy and remember for the rest of their lives!

Go, Al Fresco, If You Can

If your wedding reception venue has a unique annex or a lovely outdoor space, then congratulations you are in luck! All you have to do is to use the entire space mainly during your cocktail hour! Your cocktail hour is the best time to make use of the entire venue space in every possible way! Well, your cocktail hour is the perfect time for all your wedding guests to mingle and catch up, relish the ambiance, adore the settings, and take a chill pill before the party kicks into full gear! So, make use of all the expansive space that your reception wedding venue has to offer! Balconies, patios, rooftops, poolside… every space can be utilized to the best and to the fullest to have a perfect wedding cocktail hour! If you are planning a romantic and classic outdoor wedding reception celebration then you just got lucky. An outdoor celebration immediately sets the entire party tone while making the entire setting more inviting and romantic! Keep the space available throughout the celebration, so that all your wedding guests can step out for some fresh air or a quick phone call later on!

Comfy Seating Is a Big “YES”

Well, for many of your wedding guests, your wedding cocktail hour will be all about standing and walking around while mingling and having some interesting convos, but some of your wedding guests will want to take a comfy seat while savoring every sip of the fine wine or whisky in their glasses! To offer the perfect combination of both the words, all you have to do is not overcrowd your wedding cocktail hour space with chairs all over the place! Just leave enough space for standing spots and for walking while adding some really comfy seats or by creating a lounge area!

When it comes to seating, there are endless and creative ways to do it! Not only will these creative ideas definitely elevate the entire seating arrangement in order to make your cocktail hour a perfect celebration but will also look stunning in all your wedding videos and photos! You can create some really unique and yes, of course, comfortable seating, just by using the combination of high tops and regular height tables, along with some lounge furniture, low chairs, barstools, floor pillows, and poofs! This way you will be able to give your cocktail hour a different feel than your classic sit-down reception dinner! If you are planning a winter wedding and looking ahead to adding a cozier vibe, you can consider building a virtual outdoor living room with comfy armchairs, rugs, and vintage end tables!

Music To Soothe the Ambiance

As most of your wedding guests will be busy talking, sipping, and snacking during your cocktail hour, bringing in some mood music will surely elevate the mood of the entire ambiance and the crowd too! Adding some soulful music is another simple yet classic way to have a perfect cocktail celebration on your wedding day! Since it is not a casual and upbeat dance party yet, keep the volume turned down and the vibe mellow so that all your wedding guests can chat with ease and savor every sip of the wine in full delight! It does not matter whether you have planned a lively DJ to keep the vibe and energy high throughout your wedding reception, but just for the cocktail hour, slow it a bit down to resonate with the calm and composed ambiance of the cocktail hour! You can consider hiring a jazz trio, quartet, or acoustic guitarist to set a completely unique, distinct, and intensely romantic mood for your memorable cocktail hour! Summing everything up, providing your wedding guests with some really delightful mood music is surely an integral part of hosting a really fabulous cocktail hour that your wedding guests will never forget!

Over-Stocking the Bar & Hiring Plenty of Bartenders is a Good Move

A perfect cocktail hour is all about enjoying drinks and having a good time with each other! With cocktails all around, we are pretty much sure that your wedding guests would be able to get their drinks quickly and without a hassle! It will be an easy breeze for them! The reason we are emphasizing so much on hiring more bartenders is if you won’t hire enough bartenders and don’t stock the bar, there might be chances that your cocktail hour celebration might fall flat pretty quickly! Just imagine the scenario of waiting in a long bar line for an entire hour? Not a good-looking scene, right? As we all know, bad bar service always results in unhappy wedding guests! So, in order to avoid this rookie mistake, all you have to do is to hire two bartenders for about every 75 wedding guests and stock the bar with plenty of liquors, mixers, and supplies! As it never hurts to have some extra, because running out is quite embarrassing, which we are pretty sure you don’t want if you have a planned perfect cocktail celebration in your mind!

If you have planned to serve bottled beer to all your wedding guests, we wanna recommend that you consider placing individual bottles in a big and fancy tub with different shapes of ice cubes and leaving plenty of beer keys for all your wedding guests giving them the option of self-serving! There should not be any reason for your wedding guests to wait in line for a bartender to pop open a bottle of beer! If you’re serving beer from kegs, however, leave it to the pros behind the counter.

Stylish Cocktail Hour Celebration is a “GO”!

We can’t deny the fact that you and your sweetheart had spent ages choosing the reception venue and then some good time to finalize the reception decor to have a memorable and picture-worthy celebration! With these things sorted, don’t let your cocktail hour celebration go by the wayside, especially if you have planned it in a separate and panoramic space! Consider bringing in small centerpieces and some aromatic votive candles to style the ambiance as the combination of these two together offers a great way to finish off the room on a romantic note! For example, if you are planning a cocktail hour under the striking city skyline, followed by an indoor wedding reception in an opulent ballroom, don’t be afraid to vary the decor of the ambiance! Take advantage and make the best use of the natural foliage offered by mother nature. Bring in some string wide ribbons and colorful banners with some lovely string lights from the tree branches to illuminate the entire setting making it cozier and extremely romantic! Well, you can also consider setting up some chic and unique floral installations near the entrance to make a that will leave all your wedding guests in great amazement! These kinds of unique ideas will also give our professional wedding photographers and videographers endless opportunities to capture your wedding day in the best and most creative frames!

A Resonating Cocktail Hour Decor Theme is Must!

Well, the color palette, centerpieces, and the entire table setting always set the theme for a wedding celebration and also the wedding reception! But, if you are planning to host your cocktail hour in a separate location or outdoors, you must try something different when it comes to the decor! You definitely do not need to make all your wedding guests wear leis and Hawaiian-themed shirts, but you can consider serving the tropical cocktails out of coconuts, and some chips with fresh papaya and mango salsa! All your need to do is take your cocktail hour celebration theme to the next level just by expanding it to your music and decor! Step up and twist your decor game and experience the magic through naked eyes and also in the wedding photos and videos! Ease out the whole decor game and just hire a mariachi band and set up some handmade guacamole and churro stations for some extraordinary elements to the overall decor! Or you can simply just have a jazz pianist and singer perform throughout the celebration and consider decorating with some different and chic art deco-style chandeliers and a bold black and white color palette! All-time classic and chic!

Don’t Forget about Signature Cocktails and Non-Alcoholic Drinks!

Well, it is absolutely true that having on-demand liquors behind the bar is important, but don’t forget about those of your wedding guests who prefer non-alcoholic drinks! Make sure there are enough signature cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages for everyone so that they don’t miss out on any moment of your cocktail hour celebration! If you are planning an outdoor summer wedding, make sure you have got a few drink selections for non-drinkers, too! For summer weddings, try water infused with cucumber, melon, and mint with lots of ice to allow everyone to relish the summer vibes in full swing! If a winter wedding celebration is on your mind, try serving cozy and seasonal, like hot apple cider with some cinnamon sticks! The bottom line is that just offer more than just water and soda to all your wedding guests by having at least one mocktail on the menu! All you need to do is work with your caterer or mixologist to come up with something inventive and really chic like a mix of grapefruit and orange juices, or a little coconut milk and a small scoop of orange sherbet on top!

Scrumptious Bites Are a Must Add On!

We know that it’s your cocktail hour menu, but we just want to say that make sure it must be diverse enough so that all your wedding guests can enjoy at least one appetizer to the fullest! If you think you just got lost where to begin, touch on the major tastes: just serve something slightly salty, sweet, bitter, and savory! Keep on offering various other dishes to complement the signature cocktail drinks! Make sure you have kept a note of all the special diets or allergies ahead of time to ensure that everyone has something to enjoy! As a twist and something different, you can consider going ahead and offering all your wedding guests something sweet before they all sit down for the reception dinner! You don’t need to spoil their appetite for what’s to come (so save the chocolate ganache for later), but don’t forget to offer a seasonally sweet treat, like a fruit tart or lemon sorbet, which could be the perfect palate cleanser before the final dinner. You can also forgo typical utensils entirely by offering all bites on edible spoons or in mini crispy cones.

Source of Entertainment is Mandatory to Keep the Celebration Alive

It’s your cocktail hour celebration, so, don’t let the name cocktail hour get you or anyone on the guestlist confused! This part of your wedding day celebration can also include fun activities, games, and endless entertainment along with cocktails and conversations! In fact, it is a great way to keep your wedding guests entertained throughout the celebration. Fun activities and games will give all your wedding guests something to do, especially to those who are quite less comfortable in social situations or just don’t know anyone at the wedding! If you are planning your memorable cocktail hour celebration in the great outdoors, you can consider lawn games such as horseshoes, corn hole, and some others that you think your guests will enjoy to the fullest. And if you are thinking of having your cocktail hour inside, you can consider bringing in a photo booth or a caricature artist on hand to create some really unique and hilarious portraits. Just one thing to remember, don’t be afraid to get creative in order to find something that perfectly fits your style and budget and can make your cocktail hour a memorable celebration for all your wedding guests!

Bring on Personalized Details and Touches

Personalize, personalize, and personalize and don’t let these words go out of your mind if you actually want to host a memorable and perfect cocktail hour for all your wedding guests to remember for years to come! From monogrammed napkins to personalized koozies, or straws with DIY flags, there are indeed endless ways through which you can incorporate personal touches and also bring in your personality or your wedding theme into the cocktail hour celebration alive in the best way possible. Just because it is the in-between time between the two main celebrations on your wedding day, that simply does not mean that it should be generic and not extraordinary! Adding your personalized details and personal touches is nothing but a great way to give all your wedding guests a little peek at what’s coming during the wedding reception celebration!

Summing up, everything! These unique and simple ideas will definitely elevate and step up your cocktail hour celebration game. We can assure you that with these tips, not only you will be able to host a memorable cocktail hour, but your wedding guests will have something to actually talk about for years to come! Cheers!

Over the Top Wedding Ideas We Can’t Help But Love

Check out this wedding blog featuring ideas that are slightly over-the-top but absolutely beautiful for weddings!

 

They say cats have 9 lives and hyenas have 7! Really? You might ask. Well, we don’t know, but we do know that humans get just one life! YOLO! We only fall in love once, and we only want to tie the knot once! So it only makes sense if we want to go over the top on our most special day! But we also understand that not everyone can hang the cost to make their dream of a lavish fairytale wedding come true! While some couples just want to ensure that their wedding is unique within their pre-set wedding budget there are others who want their wedding to be a flamboyant show-stopping affair that their guests talk about for decades to come as if they don’t have a care in the world. Regardless of your wedding theme or location, picking the perfect wedding decorations out for your reception can feel like a never-ending task. From an aisle running through the pool to a walk down the aisle with a unicorn to a one-of-a-kind ceremony backdrop that’ll make you feel like a celebrity, it’s our pleasure to enlighten you with the luxurious wedding ideas we can’t stop talking about. With very few installations and little furnishings, we have come up with some of the most celebrated wedding details that can transform any average wedding day into an epic celebration of extravagance and royalty.

Your sliding door moments with the love of your life have put you both on a lifelong adventure. And the wedding day that would seem light-years away until a few months ago is now coming towards you at the speed of light! We are sure you already have kick-started your wedding planning. Financially, weddings were a challenge but after 2020, aesthetically too, weddings have become a task. This year we saw drastic changes in wedding trends than ever before like large extravagant wedding venues being replaced by small simple backyards and courthouses, magnificent sweeping designer wedding gowns by low-key short wedding dresses, large wedding guest lists of about 500-1000 people by a list of 10-25 nearest and dearest, and grand gala affairs by small intimate weddings like micro weddings, minimonies, elopements, and virtual weddings to name a few. From microgreens to mini cupcakes and even tiny houses, everything seems to be getting smaller. But small doesn’t mean less important or gruey. It’s not the size of the detail that makes it special it’s the aesthetics it is able to exude. Ahead we have rounded up a few unique glamorous #weddingideas that will bring unlimited extravagance to your big event! But before we take a plunge into the sea of our favorite extravagant and clever wedding ideas, allow us to tell a little about the last over-the-top wedding that I personally attended as a guest.

Story Time!

About two years ago when everything was fine and dandy I attended a wedding of my close friend – it was a summer wedding and the venue she chose was a huge banquet hall and almost all the arrangements including the ceremony set-up, which was looking like nothing but a page from a fairytale storybook with a cherry blossom backdrop, were done outdoors. The entrance was decked up with huge beautifully framed couple portraits as far as the eyes could see which were later given away to the family and friends as wedding favors (I also received one which is hanging on the wall of my room). The guest count was huge, around 2000 (give or take) and food and beverage options were endless. I (and I am sure everyone who was present there) couldn’t even taste half of my favorite items as it was a never-ending buffet-style table with mouth-watering food. The wedding photographers and videographers were on their toes with their equipment. Drones were hovering over our heads making sure every single detail was covered from every angle. From entrance to guest tables to aisle, every nook and corner was screaming elegance and extravagance. With romantic flowers and golden uplighting everywhere I looked, I am sure the bride was feeling like walking into a fairy tale while walking down that aisle and the groom was like her prince charming while dancing with her Cinderella under the over-sized cosmic chandelier on the heavenly dance floor full of artificial fog. The day was everything magical, and I am sure it got etched in the memories of everyone present there. I could talk about the wedding till the cows come home! Here’s the catch, I remember the wedding because of those over-the-top details! Couples incorporate these luxe wedding ideas not only for guests to remember the day but also to live the happiest once-in-a-lifetime moment of their lives in an unforgettable way! Brownie points: swoon-worthy wedding photography.

Let floral centerpieces defy the gravity

This one is for those who are madly in love with orchids! And as Susan Orlean (the author of “The Orchid Thief”) said in her book “Orchids seem to drive people crazy,” bazillions of white orchids standing high on the guest tables not only promise tons of aesthetics and elegance but also allow your loved ones to mingle and witness the festivities far and wide through the space provided by tall elevated stands holding the hanging blooms. The joy of joys is that these tall sumptuous floral centerpieces are practical to arrange and only add to the grandeur of your reception. If flirty florals don’t make it to your wedding budget or your eco-conscious heart then let baby’s breath take your guests’ breath away! The baby’s breath adds softness and has romantic, ethereal characteristics. DIY your tall baby’s breath centerpieces and amp them up with seasonal blooms of your choice. A little sprinkling of your favorite ones here and there amidst the tons of baby’s breath in glass vases will do the trick! We don’t see any no-fuss, budget-friendly option that fits practically into any wedding decor more than baby’s breath when it comes to tablescapes’ centerpieces to feel extravagant. You may order your flowers from Sam’s Club or from Costco who sells bulk flowers including Baby’s Breath. You might also want to deck up the guest tables with something that screams luxurious like nothing else and that’s lace. All the more appropriate!

Tons of flowers in the backdrop can upgrade the ‘I do’ moment dramatically

The bride is dressed to the nines and the groom is looking like no less than a movie star. But if the backdrop is run-of-the-mill, don’t you think all their efforts can go down the drain? Don’t let the middle-of-the-road stuff make your extra-ordinary moment a dull ordinary one. Think flower walls! Not as photo booth backdrops but as your ceremony backdrop! No, I am not away with the fairies! Turn your mundane ceremony tent into an enchanted garden with a dramatic, gigantic floral display. You’ll have your guests swooned by this next-level extravagance! For the ultimate over-the-top look, flank the aisle with rustic candles! You may also use creating lighting to project an image onto the outside.

Let the stars light up your tented reception

When you think about it, nature really does offer some of the best décors! Case in point: A starry night sky. You might also opt for an open tent decked up with some drapes here and there to invite the twinkling stars to your celebration. Give your guests a dazzling view of fireworks at the end of the night (only if it made it to your budget). You might want to create an intimate feel by draping the walls or a romantic tent-like atmosphere or choose to deliver an element of luxurious experience by handing your guests out petal poppers or floral cannons, so they can enjoy showering you and your spouse with fresh petals as you walk the aisle as newlyweds.

Nothing can frame your best ever moment as the blooming frame does

The GOAT dream of your life comes true beneath a lush array of your favorite flowers, no wonder it’s a focal point of the ceremony space reflecting the mood of your special day. Whether you’re exchanging nuptials in a Jewish way under a standout chuppah covered in flowers on all four sides making a soft, but major statement, or simply want to kiss as newlyweds beneath a cascading cluster of your favorite roses, ceremony structures are a prime element to wedding planning. Take your “I do” moment notches above with an arbor that is all dolled up like a bride with pastel-colored roses and fronds in abundance. This 14-foot arch was decorated with fresh ferns, gardenias, and spray roses to create an ethereal woodland vibe that complimented the intimate outdoor setting. What we imagine – it would be a little like exchanging nuptials above the clouds below the rainbow. Remember the place where you become husband and wife lies under the shade of the wedding arch, so it must shower the good wishes in all colors straight from Mother Nature!

Let your wedding cake take the cake!

A wedding cake has become more than just a dessert not to mention! Think massive geometric cakes or multiple tiers with intricate details, like fondant appliqués, edible metallic foil, cascading florals, and buttercream frosting featuring ruffles or intricate texturing. Whether it’s a monet-inspired wedding or bohemian-inspired wedding, transform your cake into decor with careful designs and hand-painted accents to take your cake-cutting moment to the next level. These art deco over-the-top multi-tiered wedding cakes are almost insanely beautiful to eat but somehow, we think we’d manage! Make sure your wedding cake table is as opulent as your sweet masterpiece. Look at the larger-than-life cake (quite literally!) in the image above – how beautifully this oh-so-gorgeous six-story wedding cake from Haydel’s Bakery and the classy glass table surrounded with millions of lovely garden rose vases and romantic candles floating in the cute cylinder glass vases where it is placed are looking like MMIH! We can’t our eyes off of this full of out-of-the-world whimsy wedding cake table arrangement! We love how each hand-applied ruffle along with the delicate lace patterns on alternating tiers is matching the color palette and rustic theme. From the moment your loved ones will walk into the reception space until you and your brand-new spouse will cut the first piece together, it promises to serve as a decoration that they will talk about for the rest of their lives!

Nothing stands higher than a castle-like wedding venue in the world of luxury

No doubt your over-the-top nuptials can take place just about anywhere, but nothing can house a gala storybook-inspired wedding quite like a palace can! In fact, a castle-like wedding venue boasting lofty ceilings, gilded elements, intricate architecture, old-world pillars, enticing wall paintings, dramatic staircases, antique chandeliers, and interesting props like a piano is the most relevant venue to flaunt the royalty in your personality and the princess-inspired designer ballgown that you ran to earth! Here, we are not encouraging you to opt for a wedding venue that costs you the earth but to choose one that really highlights your very own and hand-selected aesthetics. There is a cartload of castle-like wedding venues out there that can bring your wedding visions to life without you breaking the bank! Or you could simply find a reception room that is as regal as this one at Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India that won’t need tons of flowers and expensive table linens. Also, there’s something truly special about venues with mountain views, and this historic castle wedding venue at Windham in New Hampshire provides some truly awe-inspiring scenery. For your own version of a royal (or Game of Thrones-inspired) wedding, you could also opt for a magnificent venue with great outdoors so that you can enjoy alone-time with sweetheart overlooking the striking natural beauty in the surroundings in the middle of the festivities to charge up for the remainder of the wedding day celebration and your wedding photographers can capture breathtaking sunset shots while you two are sharing sweet nothings at the golden hour.

Not to mention, a bewitching palace-like venue calls for an over-the-top bridal look

Nothing says glamorous quite like a ball gown! So, channel your inner princess out by walking down the aisle in a stunning designer number with a full skirt. Don’t forget to pair your sparkly princess-y gown with a tiara – an appropriate accessory to make you feel like what you are, and you are going to be – your dad’s princess and your sweetheart’s queen! There are myriad ways to bring elegance to your wedding day look, but we’re obsessed with accessorizing the dress with a wispy long dramatic veil, a crown or headpiece, gold or pearl accessories, and an elegant bridal bouquet! Do not forget to outfit your mother like a queen and ‘maids in glamorous dresses as you will shine like a moon only if they will twinkle like a star! For an instance, choose long solid pink bridesmaids’ dresses made of chiffon for your gals to keep the collective look sophisticated if you are donning a crisp white designer Cinderella-like bridal gown complete with a dreamy sweeping veil and tons of frou-frou.

A bottle full of thanks can elevate the wedding by manifolds

Even your wedding guest favors can get a glamorous upgrade. Add perfect endings to your new beginnings, with the perfect amount of liquid love and enthusiasm! Giving away a bottle of wine or mini bottles of champagne as wedding favors to the guests ensures the celebrating (and luxury) doesn’t stop even after the party is over. Adorn the guest favors with cute ribbons calligraphed with each guest’s name for a sweet gesture. You can personalize the labels using the colors, fonts, and designs for your special day. Consider incorporating the colors and themes from your wedding into a custom label for coordinated champagne or wine wedding favors. For now or later – serve these bottles straight from the wedding reception bar, or include them in a goodie bag as a keepsake. Add your wedding date to the label to have it etched in their memories forever. The 187-ml single serving size makes this a fantastic wine wedding favor that your guests can take home in a bag or enjoy at the wedding.

Dream big!

Brides and grooms on a budget often have to get extra thoughtful when planning their king-size ceremony and reception. But skimping on costs doesn’t mean you have to do away with your dream of having a picture-perfect big day. Every wedding has almost similar rituals and revolves around the same details. It’s only the extravagant decor or details that make it an amazing and unforgettable affair. Let’s face it! It might take a king’s ransom to pull off something different and amazing. And we can’t deny the fact that over-the-top weddings can cost you an arm and a leg but let us tell you that it’s not something that is achievable with a generous budget. You only need to forgo a few elements that are less important to you, or that you could do without! With that stubborn C-virus still breathing down our necks, intimate weddings are de rigueur and the large weddings don’t seem to be back any time soon and whatever savings the small weddings bring with them can be put towards the dream of your larger-than-life, over-the-top wedding. Where there is a will, there is a way!