Lauren and Eric | Boston Public Library
Lauren and Eric’s wedding at the Boston Public Library has left us reeling from this evening, and we wanted to show just a glimpse of what’s to come from this romantic evening! We love planning weddings ….. and this is why …
Wedding CupCAKES
If you’ve never really envisioned yourself in front of a wedding cake with a camera snapping pictures of you and your new spouse while everyone stands waiting, a fun option is to create a tower of cupcakes. By thinking outside the “cake box,” you can create the same visual delight—with a gorgeous tower of stunning wedding cupcakes. Ice them all one color with accents of florals or relevant decor in vibrant colors to complement your theme.
Alternatively, have each tier feature a different color and flavor so you’re sure to get all your favorites. The overall look should enhance your vision and complement your wedding style.
If you want to add a dose of extravagance and drama, a platter filled with cupcakes—each with a single lighted candle—is a fun idea that would be enjoyed by all. It’s a wonderful way to create a sweet and happy ending.
At the reception, when it’s time for the traditional cake cutting, that’s the moment you should also be ready to say a few words. Have waiters ready with pre-poured glasses of champagne. It’s fun, romantic, dramatic and unexpected. It’s the ideal time to thank everyone for coming and to make a special toast to one another. Of course, also thank everyone that’s helped you make the wedding of your dreams possible, from your parents to the wedding planner and the band or DJ if they have kept the whole room on the dance floor. Be gracious, speak from the heart and cherish the moment.
Venue offering Special Pricing for Saturday Weddings
Still searching for your wedding venue? The Granite Links Golf Club in Quincy is offering special pricing on three remaing Saturdays for 2010. This venue boasts of spectacular views of the Boston skyline, an outside deck perfect for watching the sunset, and with Gourmet Caterers as the exclusive caterer you know you will have exquisite cuisine and service.
To discuss these last three Saturdays, please contact Linda Blackmore at Granite Links at 617.689.1900.
What to Include When Sending Invitations
We’re constantly asked what is appropriate to include when sending your invitations. Invitations are meant to deliver the right amount of information to announce your Wedding Day and serve as a first impression as to what guests can expect! Sometimes information can be communicated in ways other than your invites!
Direction / Map Detail
In this day of in-dash GPS units and online map services you can easily embed into your wedding website, a paper map for a single location may seem unnecessary and wasteful. (If you decide not to enclose a map, be sure to include the street address on the invitation.) But when you want to tell your guests about the neighborhood (great restaurants for lunch, the best place to park, sites that are of a particular interest to you), an edited map can be a charming addition and there are terrific resources on www.etsy.com to personalize them.
Reception Card
When the reception will be held at a venue other than the ceremony site, a reception card lets you move extra information like the address onto another sheet — this is especially useful if you want to include the address. Reception cards used to be enclosed when some guests were invited to the ceremony only; those invited to the reception as well got the card tucked into their invite. But this option is generally considered not to be polite anymore.
Your Website
In the technological and ecological age, mentioning the wedding website on your invitation is completely acceptable. Place the web address, or URL, in the lower left corner of the invitation, in the spot traditionally used for noting R.S.V.P. information. If your invitation is getting crowded, a business-card-size enclosure can convey this integral information!
Attire Card
Guests sometimes wonder what to wear to a wedding; you can give them a subtle hint by including a line to the lower right corner of the invitation indicating “black tie” or other information. If your reception is outdoors, you can also include “outdoor reception” or “tented reception” in case guests may want to bring lawn-friendly shoes for the party!
Hotel and Travel Information
Locating a hotel (or two) that’s convenient and affordable for your out-of-town guests is a common courtesy; you can pass this along using an insert card, list on your website, or include on your Save The Dates. No need to include all the features; just give the basic room rate, plus contact information. Guests are more resourceful than you may think!
Related Wedding Events
If you’ve planned extra events for all the guests — a welcome dinner, rehearsal dinner, a beach day on Saturday morning, a post-wedding brunch just to name a few — it’s a good idea to put this information into the invitation as well. This information can also go on the wedding website, but that that’s not a substitute for a direct invitation.
However, if not everyone is invited to everything, use separate invites. Including those events in the invitation may lead your guests to think that everyone is invited, creating awkward situations when a conversation reveals that someone was left out.
Reply Card
Perhaps the most convenient method for obtaining such pertinent information such as guest count, menu selections, and special needs. If you decide to use one, opt for a separate card with self-addressed envelope, or even a postcard. List a deadline, and a place to write their names and whether they’ll be attending.
Things to Never Include in Your Invitations
The slips of tissue paper that find their way into invitations originated when all invitations were properly engraved (the ink can smudge, and the tissue paper keeps things neat). People who chose other printing methods included the tissue paper to camouflage their choice. If your invitation isn’t engraved, leave these out.
Even if your store provides them, do not include little cards that contain information about your registry. And don’t add the registry information to your invitation itself in any other way. It’s impolite for you to start the conversation about gifts. Even if some guests find it convenient, others will think it seems greedy. Ask family and friend to spread the news when people ask; you can also put this information one level down on a wedding website, and mention it to anyone who asks you directly.
There’s One Month to go ….. OMG!
So … you have nearly made it! Your gown is selected, your bridal party is chosen, your invitations have been sent and now it’s almost time. Are you ready? Is your stress building? Are you more anxious than ever? Most Couples enjoy the planning phase, the months (and sometimes years) leading up to the most important day of their lives, the “browsing” through the countless websites and magazines to ensure that every detail is just right! And then you enter …. the Month Of Your Wedding! If your date is quickly approaching, then you undoubtedly know what we’re referring to! It’s the “Oh my gosh, it’s almost here, what else do I need to think of?” phase!
The important thing to always remember is that your Wedding Day will come and inevitably something unexpected will present itself. You need to prepare yourself that things will indeed happen, albeit small, and that your idyllic day will indeed go on and more likely than not, you will be the only one who even notices!! So be prepared to just let the small stuff go by without a blink of your beautiful eyelash and get back to being the star of the day!
How do you ensure that every last detail is addressed, all items will be where they they should be and that no stone is left unturned? Be sure as you enter the last phase of your planning, that your Wedding Planner goes through a detailed checklist with you of all last-minute items, who will be providing them, whose responsibility it is to bring them to the venue, who will be packing them up at the end of the evening, and so on.
During our final phase with our wonderful Brides and Grooms, we try to approach the “final details” earlier than necessary and some of the items we address include:
Guest Book … What style and theme will be used?
Gift Vessel … What do you plan to receive your gifts in?
Favors … Where will these be placed and when will they be handed out?
Seating Chart and Floorplan … Perhaps the most dreaded task of the entire wedding planning itself!
Seating Cards … How will you distinguish which guests are eating which entree?
Table Numbers vs. Table Names Options
Gift Packs for Special Guests such as Children, Great Grandparents, Guests who have travelled extroadinarily long distances
Programs, Menu Cards, Table Signage
Setup of Guest Tables
Placement of Decor
These are just a few of the last-minute items that you will want to address before saying your I Do’s! Don’t forget that by keeping accurate, detailed lists and going through the entire day in your head, minute by minute, you will prevent as many mishaps as possible!! Happy Planning
Stephany and Tim | Boston Public Library
Most of you already know that Marrero Weddings and Events love all weddings … we love the planning that goes into weddings, we love the details that take a wedding from simple to spectacular, we love all of the infinite options that Boston has for weddings, and we especially love when couples take that extra time to really decide which venue is “the” venue for them! Thus was the case with Stephany and Tim, a Manhattan couple that originally wanted to celebrate their nuptials in Italy but eventually saw The Boston Public Library and “just knew”. What follows is just a peek into the magnificent day they began their lives together as one.
Marrero Events is WeddingWire Rated for 2010
Danvers, Massachusetts – July 7, 2010 – WeddingWire, the nation’s leading site for wedding reviews, just announced that Marrero Weddings and Events is WeddingWire Rated 2010 for Wedding and Event Planning. WeddingWire Rated is an annual award program for wedding professionals based on hundreds of thousands of recent wedding reviews.
WeddingWire Rated, the industry’s first formalized review program, is the most recognized and trusted brand among engaged couples looking to locate wedding businesses. The award program recognizes wedding professionals across the country, like Marrero Weddings and Events, that have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to service.
Marrero Weddings and Events has recent reviews on WeddingWire. These reviews have been written by past clients and include detailed ratings and insightful descriptions of the newlyweds’ experience. From quality of service to overall level of professionalism, these reviews showcase the high level of service newly engaged couples can expect from Marrero Weddings and Events.
“We are excited to unveil WeddingWire Rated, now in its fourth year, as a way to recognize wedding professionals for their commitment to service,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s CEO. “WeddingWire Rated allows wedding businesses to clearly differentiate themselves in their market, while providing engaged couples an easy way to find the best services for their wedding.”
Marrero Weddings and Events would like to thank their past clients for sharing reviews of their weddings on WeddingWire. Reviews for Marrero Weddings and Events can be found across the entire WeddingWire Network, which includes WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee.
For more information, please visit Marrero Weddings and Events at www.marreroevents.com.
About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire, the nation’s leading technology company serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 100,000 local wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives local businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. Businesses that join the WeddingWire Network appear on WeddingWire.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com, ProjectWedding.com and Weddingbee.com (both part of eHarmony), and Celebrations.com (part of the 1-800-Flowers family of brands).
2010 Wedding / Catering Trends
As you embark upon the process of selecting just the right caterer/menu and creating your perfect Wedding Dinner, here are some of the hottest trends for 2010!
Hors d’oeuvres…. The trend for 2010 continues to be “mini”-sizing! Petite passed plates, Soup “Sips”, and smaller portions of larger favorites, such as mini grilled cheese with soup sip of tomato poblano soup, short rib over a dollop of mashed potato, sautéed sea scallop atop truffled risotto.
Soup … Depending upon the season, warm, comforting and spicy soups such as Butternut Squash Brulee or Roasted Eggplant and Red Pepper Bisque with Pesto Crème Fraiche satisfy during the cooler months, while cold, zesty soups such as Cucumber Soup with Peekytoe Crab Timbale or Chilled Golden Beet Soup remain popular for the summer months.
Entrees … In a word - DUETS. The overall trend for 2010 continues to remain focused on offering wedding guests more variety. Seated dinners are a very cost-effective option for weddings, but couples are sometimes hesitant to offer seated-style dinners because they feel it affords their guests minimal choices. The solution is Entrée Duets. The ever-popular surf and turf duet may offer short rib and crab cake instead of the traditional filet and lobster, Sky and Surf offers guests Crisp Roast Chicken Breast with Shrimp and Kalamata Olive Skewer, over Celery Root Puree and Garlicky Swiss Chard with Marjoram Chicken Jus, as well as Petite Filet of Beef and a Serrano laced, grilled Scallop Skewer with Creamy Risotto, Baby Burgundy Carrots, Red Wine Demi and Lemony Watercress.
Signature Cocktail … I always try to convince each couple to create and offer their own “Specialty” Wedding Cocktail. Not only does this offer guests a unique, couple-inspired concoction, but this also allows a unique and simple addition to the beer and wine-only crowd. A signature cocktail can be one of the couple’s favorite drinks and simply renamed to reflect the couple! This is also an excellent way to maximize your bar budget!
Desserts … Dessert Stations continue to be a popular trend, but again focusing on the “mini” aspect is a fun way to sample many different items. Miniature version of decadent desserts can be passed or displayed on stations. I like to have my couples offer a minimum of four to five petite desserts such as Petite Mocha Pot de Crème, Petite Strawberries Romanoff, Mini Crème Brulee in tiny skillets, Mini- Bite Sized Chocolate Dipped Goat Cheese Cakes or Lollis, and even a mini Key Lime Pie “Cocktail” served in a tiny martini glass!
Late-Night Eats … The late-night station near the end of a wedding reception continues to satisfy those in search of good, old fashioned comfort food such as black angus sliders with hickory smoked bacon, gourmet mini hot dogs with an assorted toppings bar, four-cheese mac and cheese served in espresso cups, and miniature Shepard’s Pies.
Vegetarian Options/Organic Options … It’s always important to include a vegetarian option in your wedding dinner, regardless of how many guests are vegetarians. However, vegetarian options have come a long way and are often requested by the most discerning of non-vegetarian guests. Favorites such as Swiss Chard and Ricotta Torta with Pine Nuts and Golden Raisins, Over Warm Creamed Leeks with Baby Carrots and Fried Sage garnish, Roasted Mushroom and Truffle Bread Pudding with Cannelllini Bean Ragout and Brussels Sprouts, and Tart of Leeks, Potatoes, Cured Olives and Goat Cheese accompanied by Grilled Asparagus, Cherry Tomatoes and Truffle Dressed Baby Frisee and Red Oak Lettuce are popular additions to many menus!
Whatever the newest “trends” are, don’t forget that this is truly your day … make it yours!!! There is no limit to what you can do!
Emily and Alan at the Boston Public Library
One of my very favorite venues is the Boston Public Library so I was thrilled when Emily, one of the most engaging (no pun intended) and sparkling brides I’ve ever had the honor to work with, decided to have her and Alan’s wedding reception there. What follows is a story of love, laughter, a touch of the old world and a dash of the new …. Congratulations Emily and Alan. You both are so deserving of each other; thank you for allowing me to play a role on your very special day!
Photography by: Monica Z Photography
