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Junebug Weddings is giving away Aveda products from Caruh Salon
Pizzazzerie is giving away at cupcake stand from Cupcake Stands
Being a DIY bride (or groom) isn’t always just about being on a budget. These days couples are craftier and want to give their weddings a personal touch. What better way to make things personal than to make them yourself?
Once Wed
Elizabeth Anne Designs
Once Wed
Weddings by Dani
Wedding Explore
JJ's House Insider
Majentasdesign
Intimate Weddings
Edward Underwood Photography
Some venues allow you to bring in your own alcohol when hosting an event. This of course feels like a great deal, and it can be, but there are a few things anyone should know before signing up to provide their own bar. First of all, communication with your caterer is key. What are they providing vs. what are you providing? You also want to keep in mind that while it seems like a great way to save you money, consider your time as valuable too. The more you can delegate on your wedding day the better. The less items you are bringing in yourself, have to take home, have to remember the better!
A great way to provide your own alcohol without actually going to the store and buying everything you need and dropping it off is to find a beverage provider or even liquor store who will deliver. Key to this scenario is working with them on exactly how much you will need of everything. The worst possible thing that can happen at your wedding is running out of alcohol (in my opinion)! So you want to work closely with someone who understand how many drinks are needed per person per hour. The second thing to discuss with someone who is going to deliver for you is negotiating that they pick up any unopened bottles and give you a refund on them. This is not uncommon, places like Ace Beverage or Schneider’s of Capitol Hill will do this for you.
Even if you are having your liquor delivered and picked up, you are only half way there, there are many other components to the bar you must consider:
1. Who is providing the bartender and how many do you need?
2. Who is providing the garnishes and what kinds do you need to go with what you are serving?
3. Who is providing ice? You need ice to keep beverages cold and ice to put into the drinks
4. Who is providing the bins for ice? You have to have something to put the ice in behind the bar
5. Who is providing mixers and what kind?
6. Who is providing the glassware and what kind?
7. Who is providing the cocktail napkins?
8. Don’t forget you need linens for the bars
9. You will need garbage and recycling behind the bars
10. Is the bartender licensed and if not, who needs to acquire a liquor license?
All of this should be discussed with your caterer, who can help provide any of the additional items you need, even if they are not providing the alcohol. Also work with your venue on what they can provide. Again, the less you have to bring in yourself the better for everyone. By all means I encourage any way to save yourself some money, just be prepared that rarely is anything all inclusive and you must consider all of the additional logistics as vendors will only provide exactly what they are instructed to provide, nothing more, nothing less.
Alex and Alex were married at Zaytinya and had their rehearsal dinner at Oyamel, they had an entire Jose Andres weekend. Zaytinya was originally built to be an art gallery so lends itself perfectly to a ceremony and reception, plus of course you get amazing food. The father of the bride played his harmonica with the band and their katubah was an amazing paper cut design of everything meaningful to the bride and groom. The couple was so relaxed and happy you would never have believed they were about to walk down the aisle. Despite the rain storm of the century that blew through 10 minutes before their ceremony, soaking guests and blowing away the patio umbrellas, the guests were also relaxed and everyone had a wonderful time celebrating Alex and Alex.
Diana Lewkowicz Photography
Diana Lewkowicz Photography
Diana Lewkowicz Photography
Diana Lewkowicz Photography
Diana Lewkowicz Photography
Diana Lewkowicz Photography
Diana Lewkowicz Photography
Diana Lewkowicz Photography
Planning: Events to a T, Ceremony and Reception: Zaytinya, Flowers: Park Florist, Music: The Mustang Band, Photography: Diana Lewkowicz Photography, Officiant: Rabbi Harold White,
Badgley Mischka Lissa – $196
The perfect something blue!
zappos
Cutting a traditional wedding cake is no longer necessarily the tradition. Cupcakes have become more and more popular and common, but we are also starting to see a rise in the popularity of pies instead of a cake. There is a certain homey feel that pie offers a reception and I think it is perfect for the many rustic weddings which are now such a trend. Plus there is the added bonus of offering multiple flavors. So let them eat pie!
the knot
bridal cookie
gracie pie
martha stewart weddings
weddingbee
coordinately yours
Donate your services to Wish Upon a Wedding’s Blissful Wishes Auction.
Everything Etsy is giving away 101 free printables from all over the web.
Lovely Little Details is giving away 75 custom mason jar save the dates from The Blue Envelope
Bayside Bride is giving away lipgloss (omg i love lipgloss) from Up Do’s for I Do’s.
Sandra Downie Event Design is offering 15% off her new etsy store.
Two Wedding Belles is giving away 25 save the dates or thank you notes from Mayla Studios
The cost of catering is often a budget concern for many couples, so much so that they would choose to self cater or choose a venue with on site catering in order to avoid the hassle and cost. Both of these can be great alternatives, but I want to dispel the “fear” of catering companies. What many people may not know is that catering companies do not just provide you with food. Most quality companies also provide rentals (chairs, linens, etc.), they will set up and break down your venue (even if the rentals come from another company!), they have excellent decor skills, they clean up the venue afterward and work closely with all of your vendors. So you are paying for so much more than just food!
Coming from a planner perspective, the set up/tear down is invaluable. If you don’t have a planner or a good caterer, that leaves you or your family to do the manual labor. Even a planner with a staff cannot set up and tear down as efficiently as the catering staff, it is what they do all the time and they have it down to a science. When I work with a great company, they often have the tables down, stacked up, linens packed up and are vacuuming and moping by the time I have taken care of all of the floral arrangements. Not to mention, working with a staff that is prepared, gets food out on time, clears quietly and nobody notices they are around is worth every penny!
So remember, when you get that proposal from the catering company, you are getting your food but also everything that goes with the food in order to make your event a success.
Other things couples might not know about working with caterers:
1. You may only get to taste the main course, not appetizers (they cannot make their appetizers for 2-4 people, it is not a good use of their time or resource)
2. You will have to choose a limited amount to taste (these cost them money and they cannot cook everything on their menu for you)
3. Venues with on site catering are going to work differently than a catering company
4. They want you to tell them what you think, honestly, even if you don’t like it, it helps them improve
5. They are willing to work with you, move items around from dish to dish, they want you to be happy
6. You will only be allowed a limited number of people at a tasting
7. Often the cake tasting is separate from the menu tasting (it is easier that way)
8. You will have to pay if you want to do an additional tasting
9. You need to know your budget in order to get a proposal from a company (some will not work with you for less than a certain amount)
10. Some companies will require that they are one of two final choices before they do a tasting for you
Many of my brides for this and next year are using gold as an accent color. Next weekend I have lavender and gold wedding, which is going to be beautiful and have heard many brides considering pink and gold. It is such a great way to dress up any event and any color theme. I highly recommend going with this trend, it looks great with most any other color!
WeddingWire
Santa Barbara Chic
Project Wedding
Olive Juice
Things Festive
J & J were married on a beautiful day at the end of April at the GW Mt. Vernon Campus Hand Chapel. The little hidden gem of a ceremony site set the tone for the entire wedding. The Hand Chapel, tucked away in the woods on the Mt. Vernon Campus of GW has sloping angular ceilings, pews that recess toward the upper balcony, a built in pipe organ and floor to ceiling windows that look out into the woods. The bride, bucking tradition, did not walk down the center aisle, but appeared alone outside the window, entering from the front of the Chapel.
The reception, held at the House of Sweden was set up in the basement like a night club with low lighting, black walls, cushioned ottomans set around and high top tables in front of screens rotating pictures of the bride, groom and their families. The cocktail hour was held on the roof, which boasts the best view of DC right on the Georgetown waterfront with dinner looking out over the Potomac on the first floor.
I loved the couple’s laid back spirit and willingness to do things exactly as they wanted them done, not per traditional. They made for such a fun couple to work with. Best of luck J&J!
Kate Triano Photography
Kate Triano Photography
Kate Triano Photography
Kate Triano Photography
Kate Triano Photography
Kate Triano Photography
Kate Triano Photography
Kate Triano Photography
Kate Triano Photography
Kate Triano Photography
Planning: Events to a T, Photography: Kate Triano Photography, Ceremony: GW Mt. Vernon Hand Chapel, Reception: House of Sweden, Catering: Bienvenu, Rabbi: Rabbi Harold White, Florist: Edge Flowers, Music: Andy Kushner Entertainment, Transportation: Linder & Associates, MUA: Melissa Schwartz Jones, Cupcakes: Sprinkles, Videography: Blue Sky Films
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