Posts Tagged ‘Reception’

Last week I posted A Groom’s “must haves” and thought this was too good of an analogy to leave out…

Rule No. 2: You’re the evening’s cruise director. Your guests look to you to set the tone.

Let me paint a picture: you’ve just stepped onto a family-free, 10 day oasis of post-wedding bliss that is your honeymoon cruise. As you leisurely float from one activity to the next, take a moment to consider this: does the cruise director get involved in setting up the buffet, handing out the daily programs, or even in cuing the fireworks show? NO! But he seems to be everywhere at every moment, smiling constantly and chatting with everyone. (seems like a decent job!)

Now back to reality — you’re wedding is 2 months away and the wedding details are still up in the air. Something is wrong here… this doesn’t make sense. Why are things so stressful leading up to the wedding that you need 10 days of ocean and sunshine to recover? The cruise should be the “icing on the cake”, not the “two xanex and call me in the morning”!

In the cruise director model, the cruise directors (aka bride and groom) whisk into the room with a large smile, excited to see each guest and chat about the fun night ahead. It is the cruise directors’ roll to get the party started with dinner, dancing, and drinks but, every so often, provide a show (your first dance), feed guests well (with a yummy dinner), and offer something fun to make the experience memorable (photo booth, fireworks at midnight, cigar rolling, etc…).

So, if you want to enjoy your wedding as you should — the cruise director style — how do you do it?

1. Plan ahead. Anything you want can be accomplished, so long as you start inquiring far enough in advance.
2. Prepare. Hire the right vendors who understand your vision and will transform it into a reality. If you decide to “do it yourself”, purchase everything necessary and explain your plans thoroughly to your wedding planner.
3. Delegate. Delegate. Delegate… to your wedding planner! Your wedding planner is the best source of stress relief/extra hands/advice so utilize this resource! Even for couples on a budget, additional services can be negotiated so you can afford some wedding planning time off.
4. Smile. Guests really do look to the bride and groom to set the tone for the evening, so be gracious and have fun — others will follow right behind you.

{ allegro photography }

Keep smiling!
__Jessica

Theknot.com has some great ideas from some of the most precious weddings.  Even something so simple as table numbers can bring originality to your reception.   When conducting a large or even small wedding, there will be many guests that are not aware of and your fiancé’s romantic, cute, quirky, or even inside secrets.  So, show them!  With the idea of table numbers the bride and groom are able to share their story and help their guests to grasp a better understanding of their relationship.  Many couples around the country had decided to use original table numbers that are significant in their relationship, here are a couple great ideas that other brides and grooms had across the country…

A bride and groom from New Hampshire decided to use street signs,

each of the street signs used on every table had a special meaning to the couple.

Chalkboards as table numbers are a cute idea for brides and grooms in the educational field.

The guest are immediately drawn to what is important in the couples lives.

Gathering old black and white photos of both you and your fiancé

from when you were younger is adorable and another way to distinguish each table.

Can’t decide on what flowers to have at your wedding? Have them all!

By placing each table centerpiece with a different flower you are able to have all of your favorites.

A good way to show both yours and your fiancés fun and outgoing side

is to make your own table numbers.  This couple from Kentucky took different snap

snots of them holding each table number.

Personalize your own table numbers and have fun with them!

Enjoy,
Jessica F.

While flipping through GQ (information is everywhere!) there was an article on hosting fun and manageable parties. It seems like an interesting article — as much as I love hosting events it seems like the details of a small dinner party can so quickly get away from you if you don’t plan, prepare, and smile.

The article’s premise is a good one: a good party has good food, drink, and entertainment; a great party has the same, plus a happy host.

Rule No. 2: You’re the evening’s cruise director. Your guests look to you to set the tone.

This should be Rule No. 1 for your wedding day… but that is another conversation for another day.

With all of this in mind, what are a groom’s “can’t-live-without-would-rather-just-elope” wedding items? GQ has this to say:

1. Drinks. Something good but not too complicated. A house drink is nice but don’t try to be a mixologist. Don’t forget to offer at least one interesting option for those who forgo alcohol — the only option shouldn’t be sparkling or flat!
2. FOOD!! A meal that is not only coherent across courses, but also doesn’t shout “Martha Stewart is in the kitchen”. Keep with the core of simple appetizers, a meal with good variety, and end with something sweet. This means you must order a great cake!!
3. Entertainment. And don’t skimp! Receptions typically have two phases: dinner and dancing. The meal won’t carry your entire experience, so hire a great DJ or band and leave your iPod for your marathon training.
4. Classic touches. Guys could care less about the bows you painstakingly tied to each favor, but they will notice and appreciate wine service at the dinner table, dinner plates served from the left and cleared from the right, and a gorgeous classic get-away car.

It truly is that easy to keep the groom happy. He doesn’t want to think about how to cut the cake or when to ask you for your first dance. Follow his advice and hire someone else to worry about the day-of details. After all, will you really be that relaxed if your aunts are asking you wedding-related questions every 2 minutes?

Cheers,
__Jessica

The second part in the series on Roger Williams Park… the Casino!

Part II: The Casino

The Casino is one of the first buildings you see when entering Roger Williams Park. This beautiful historic building was fully restored and has been converted into event space. Surrounded by trees and forty acres of land (aka great photo space!) it is a great venue.

(these are the chairs that come with the venue rental, and the table isn’t ready yet, so ignore the decor for the moment) As guests approach the front door there are sprawling, wraparound porches on the first and second floors. When the weather is nice guests can enjoy cocktails out here, or even just appreciate the grounds. If you have a string quartet I may suggest placing them out here in an attempt to draw guests outside in lovely weather.

Immediately as you enter the front door the large, open parlor is perfect for cocktail hour or a ceremony. The fireplace is something to highlight with candle or floral decor, but definitely needs some lighting. Because the entire casino is surrounded by wraparound porches, and the decor of the first floor is so dark, the natural lighting inside is a bit diminished.

When it is time for dinner guests will be invited up this staircase…

…where they will catch the first glimpse of the space that awaits them!

My eyes were immediately drawn to the rich ceiling of the space, and then back down to the coordinating chairs. At night, the chandeliers cast a nice glow and compliment the ceiling decor. At the left of the photo is the stage, which can be used for head tables or a band.

The stage is being set for two head tables for the bride, groom, and bridal party, as well as a cupcake table (just on the right).

The second floor of the Casino spans the entire width and length of the building, seating 150 for dinner and dancing.

The Bandstand

If you walk around the Casino you will spot the bandstand, an option for an outdoor ceremony.

Paved stairs and walkways lead to the bandstand, allowing guests to easily move between one space and the next. If the weather permits, utilizing this space for the ceremony would allow you to host cocktails in the first floor and veranda of the Casino. I would decorate the railing of the bandstand with floral decor and seat the guests around the base of the bandstand — it will be beautiful and intimate.

How close is the Bandstand to the Casino? This picture was taken from where the guests would be seated,  so very close.

For more information on the Casino and Bandstand read more at the Casino’s website and information page.

So far we’ve explored two very different venues at Roger Williams Park: one trendy and one historic. Next, we will take a look at the Botanical Gardens.

Have a great week!

Cheers,
__Jessica

Roger Williams Park is an interesting and beautiful location tucked away in Providence, but because there are few photos or details online about the extensive event space we have a three part series to highlight some of the great venue options the park has to offer.

Part I: The Carousel

If your style is casual, fun, and maybe a bit vintage, the Roger Williams Park Carousel is a fantastic venue. After meeting with a friend and fellow wedding planner who is planning her August wedding at Glenn Echo Park I was inspired to highlight a New England carousel as a unique wedding location. We’ve all seen the cocktail hour activities like photo booths, but why not encourage your guests to take a ride on the carousel?! (I’m pretty sure it is safe to drink and ride)

During the day it sparkles, but think about the twinkling lights at night. With some decorative lighting around the room, if only to add color and bring a balance to the bright lights of the carousel, this space would be far more beautiful and sophisticated than the typical kid’s parties.

Housed in a nondescript but well maintained building, this is the first thing you see when you approach the carousel. No, your guests will not be dining on picnic tables! Instead, look at the large patio — the entire building is surrounded by a patio that could comfortably hold a large tent (a tent being the perfect blank canvas!).

The carousel consumes the majority of the interior of the room, so cocktail hour is best in the pavilion. Guests can grab a drink, take a ride, and maybe get their cotton candy favors. There is enough space in the pavilion for cocktail tables and a bar, but dinner in a tent would be perfect. Working with great rental and decor vendors would allow you to carry the whimsical feel into the tent without sacrificing comfort.

As the patio wraps around the pavilion you can see the Japanese gardens. I took these photos before everything started to bloom, so imagine leaves on the trees and blossoming branches. But even in the colder months this is a serene place for some post-ceremony photos or for guests enjoy between dances.

We’ll be featuring the Roger Williams Casino and Botanical Gardens next week. See you then!

Cheers,
__Jessica

Last week I met up with Michelle Reid and she gave me the grand tour of the Hampshire House. It is a quintessential Boston venue with spectacular views of the Boston Garden. It was a treat to get a chance to look around!

It was a nice afternoon so before my meeting I walked around Beacon Hill and the cute little shops on Charles Street. What a nice area for photos! And with the Boston Garden across the street you can even sneak in a few “typical Boston” photos.

I met Michelle in the lobby (which, if you have ever been then you will know, opens directly into Cheers). Don’t worry – when wedding guests arrive all doors into the restaurant are closed and only your guests are allowed to enter. It will be a peaceful and elegant entry: watercolors of the Garden are hung and the stage is set for your event.

We set off for the third floor event space that was set for a cocktail reception. This is the largest room which is currently set for approximately 20 seats at cocktail tables and a cheese display in the middle of the room. House linens (tan and cream) are part of most social events, but the Hampshire House wedding packages come with a selection of linens and great options for menus.

A neat  detail is that the carpet is really just an area rug! It is easily removed to expose a beautiful dance floor, so this could double as both a cocktail and after-dinner dancing space.

Just off of the main room is this smaller sitting room. I’m standing in the doorway that connects with the main cocktail space, and just ahead is the entryway to the bar. Each of the rooms have a fireplace that can be lit in the colder months.

This will give you an idea of what the bar is like, but it really is better in person. Full bar service, including beer on tap, is available. Guests can enter from the sitting room or the second floor landing.

Our next stop was the second floor. The library is the largest room in the house, with dinner seating at a max of around 80. The carpet can also be removed to expose a dance floor, so intimate wedding can have both dinner seating and dancing in this room without the need to “flip” the room (remove tables/chairs). Check out some of their Real Wedding pictures on their My Boston Wedding brochure!

The library experience wouldn’t be complete without a stately bar – and this one is incredible. It reminds me of a pre-prohibition bar, elegant without being overstated. They are still setting up for the reception (so ignore all the extra “stuff” that is out) but I like the simple touches of the apples in a vase.

Thanks for the touch, Michelle!

So on my way home I stumbled upon the fabulous Rugg Road Paper Company. I’ve been interested in visiting their shop and am glad I did. Their quaint space is so inviting, with everything from Lilly Pulitzer note cards to custom designed wedding invitations, so I had to take a look.

From custom paper for DYI invitations, to the best that Crane and Co. have to offer, there is a little something for everyone. They even have a selection of small gifts, so stop by and check them out!

Enjoy the weekend!

Cheers,
__Jessica

This week has been busy, in a great way! One thing I’ve learned is that many venues aren’t open for visits over the weekend – I understand that working on Saturdays isn’t fun, but this is a bit of a hassle for many couples. Who wants to take all of their vacation time to scout out wedding venues?

But we are here to help! Grab you coffee, snuggle with your laptop, and take a tour of the Commander’s Mansion. Thanks to Rae and Tammy for showing me around!

As you walk up to the Mansion you can see it has two porches and lots of windows into the space. The porch on the left side of the house wraps around and attracts lots of guests.

This is the view as you enter the front door. The main event space is through all of the doors on the right. (My camera was acting up a bit, so some of the pictures are disproportionally dark while others show how beautifully light this space is.)

Here’s the view of the front door (as seen from the foyer).

As you walk in the foyer, the stair case is on the left and the main event space is on the right. I think this little alcove would be perfect for hiding out before introductions. This is the main event space on the first floor where you can host almost anything. You can have cocktails here, then flip it during dinner for your dancing and cake cutting. Or it can be the main space for dinner. In the warmer months (when the tent is up) you could utilize this as a cocktail lounge, with fabulous furniture or just the home of your guest book, gift table, favors, and cocktails.

Marble fireplaces are in nearly every room of the Commander’s Mansion. Perfect for displaying family photos, engagement shots, or just votive candles.

As you move upstairs the second floor landing is large enough for all of this pretty furniture. If it doesn’t fit your style you are free to have it moved – a great spot for a bar.

On the second floor there are a series of rooms perfect for guests to mingle in, and even some space for the bride and groom to get ready. This little room overlooks the front of the house and is in between the bride and the groom’s rooms.

First, the bride’s room. It is a soft pastel and white color palette that quite spacious. The adjoining bathroom is also large enough for a whole flock of bridesmaids. Several brides have their portraits taken from this couch.

The groom’s room is also fantastic – more of a hunting/manly feel for this space. Not quite as large as the bride’s room, but plenty of space for 6-8 people and with it’s own bathroom.

Just down the hall from the 2nd floor landing is this additional room. The photo shows only about half the space, so it is large enough for almost anything you would want to put in there. It is typically a kids party room for a bar/bat mitzvah, so if you plan to have children at your wedding this would be a good space for kids activities, movies, or generally a place for them to run around. There is another room on the second floor, the Lavender Room, that good for just about anything.

I took a peek out the windows and found a preview to the patio…

Speaking of the patio! Rae took me on a tour of the outdoor space we well, and I am thrilled to say that it is GREAT! This is the patio where, during the summer months, they have a large tent for outdoor receptions. Tents are such a perfect, blank space for just about anything (especially lighting!).

Just beyond the patio is this grapevine arbor ceremony space. Surrounded on all sides by the trellis and vine it is quite and lush in the summer, with shade provided by the tree. The arbor is fully covered by the vines, so the bride and bridesmaids can hide on one side without ever being seen by guests!

Doesn’t this look perfect for some cute bridal party photos?! (when it is in bloom, of course)

Just one last thing – the Technical Considerations:

• Complimentary parking is available throughout the property
• The entire building is handicap accessible

Hope this helped you narrow your venue search! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Cheers,
__Jessica

What are your plans for the day of your wedding? Are the guys golfing and the ladies being pampered? If so, get them together (and keep them together) in a comfortable, convenient location by hosting them at a bed and breakfast.

{ Captain Farris House, Cape Cod }

Many of the couples I’ve worked with choose to say goodnight after the rehearsal dinner, then see each other at the altar. The night before the wedding, the bride and her friends spend some quality time together, while the groom and his friends do the same. They can pretty much do this anywhere, hotels included, but the comfort and privacy of a B&B is better than many options out there.

The fun is in reserving an entire house for the ladies, and another (just down the road) for the guys. On the morning of the wedding everyone is free to roam the house without worrying about curlers in your hair or *accidentally* seeing the bride before the ceremony.

{ Cliffside Inn, Newport }

If your wedding is set in a city there are bed and breakfast options there, too! There are several gorgeous brownstones that have an intimate and elegant style. The best part about a bed and breakfast in the city is that everything is just outside your front door and it is easy to take a cab anywhere (for when you run out of hairspray and the bridesmaids need to make an emergency trip to Rite Aid).

{ Charles Street Inn, Boston }

Hosting your bridal party will be fun – and practical – so have a blast!

Cheers,
__Jessica