Author: Olga Pomeransky

Olga is manager at Best for Bride since 2005. Currently Best for Bride operates 4 bridal stores in Canada (Toronto, Etobicoke, Hamilton and Barrie). Best for Bride sells wedding, bridesmaids, mob dresses and more. https://www.bestforbride.com/
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Wildly Unique Outdoor Wedding Venues

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While a church is the traditional choice for wedding venues, so many possible wedding venues often are overlooked. More and more people are choosing unique outdoor wedding venues that reflect their hobbies or interests. There are many unconventional choices for those who want their wedding to reflect their love nature. Here are some examples of wildly unique outdoor wedding venues.

Rustic venues appeal to many couples. Numerous country settings rent space for weddings. A popular version is the barn wedding or reception. Across the United States, barns are rented as rustic chic wedding venues. You may be surprised what is available in your area if you do an internet search for “barn weddings.”

An apple orchard wedding is a way to hold the wedding and reception outdoors in the same location. Some apple orchards regularly rent an orchard space for weddings. Some allow the couple to use their apples in their decorations. If the couple wanted a few bowls with apples or small floral arrangements with apples included on the reception tables, they should verify the policy for using apples from the orchard or bring their own apples. Of course, it would be much easier to buy apples that match the kind at the orchard from a grocery store rather than worrying about picking apples.

Natural waterfalls and caverns may offer wedding packages. Businesses offer waterfall weddings in many tropical locations such as Jamaica and Costa Rica. If you are looking for something closer to home, you may want to contact area tourist locations with the features you want for your wedding. Some may not have considered offering a wedding package until you contact them or might not have the packages advertised on their websites.

Butterfly and botanical gardens make wonderful wedding venues. These are popular wedding venues, so you will want to book yours well in advance. As with all outdoor venues, make sure you are happy with the provisions for a rainy day. Consider things like parking and the availability of restrooms.

Love the outdoors but want something truly unique? Why not have a day of glamping for your wedding? Glamping is luxury camping. Some couples create fun glamping spots in their backyard for the big day. Others rent out a camping park that specializes in glamping. Instead of the usual reception dinners, the couple may go with traditional camping food such as grilled food and smores. If roasting marshmallows is your style, glamping may be perfect for your fabulous wedding.

Who doesn’t love animals? If the couple loves animals, why not rent out a petting zoo or space at a regular zoo. Would you love monkeys or penguins as added guests to your wedding? Believe it or not, some zoos such as the Oklahoma City Zoo and Philadelphia Zoo offer wedding packages. Some zoos truly cater to the needs of the couple and offer several possible wedding venues within the zoo. Even if the local zoo does not have wedding packages, many zoos have areas that can be rented for events like weddings. Now, that’s wildly unique!

For more great tips on creating an amazing wedding, check out the Best for Bride blog. We offer many tips and fun ideas to make the most of your special day.

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Are Wedding Programs Necessary?

Wedding programs provide a list of the parts of the ceremony and details such as the members of the bridal party. In a small, casual wedding, the wedding program may seem unnecessary. Perhaps, it is. It’s not right or wrong to have a wedding program. The choice is up to the bride and groom. Wedding programs can be helpful if the ceremony is long or the audience may not know all the members of the bridal party. Some couples include a thank you to the vendors. Are wedding programs necessary?

If the wedding is a large, formal wedding in which everyone in attendance doesn’t know the members of the bridal party, the wedding programs are an initial introduction. The guests may appreciate being able to follow along with a program for a lengthy ceremony. If there are several participants in the wedding ceremony such as a soloist, organist, or other individuals, including their names in the programs is proper wedding etiquette. You wouldn’t want any of the people who help make your wedding special to end up feeling slighted or ignored. Also, guests may want to know who the people are who are participating. It helps create ties that help everyone feel included.

A traditional program lists the components of the ceremony such as the music, vows, unity ceremony, etc. The program does not need to be detailed. Some people take a lighthearted approach to the program and list the events as: “We get married. Everyone parties.”

Wedding ceremony programs can be a beautiful touch to a wedding. Even if you don’t feel like a wedding program is absolutely necessary for your wedding, you may want to look at different types of wedding programs before deciding whether or not to have one. Etsy, the website specializing in handcrafted goods, sells some gorgeous handmade wedding programs. There is a wide variety of styles of wedding programs that can be purchased through Best for Bride.

If you know you want programs, you may want to ask about them when ordering your invitations. The programs do not need to be coordinated with your wedding invitations, but you may like that consistency. The program can be true to your theme. If you browse the wedding programs sold through Best for Bride, you can see that programs can be any style from rustic to classical. Brides and grooms who are having destination weddings or a wedding at a historical location may want to add some details about the location in the wedding programs.

Humorous programs are popular for couples who love to laugh and share the joy of the moment. The programs might include a comic about marriage or joke about the couple. One couple put the line: “So you’re about to sit through a wedding” on the front page of their wedding programs.

Some couples include nice little stories in the wedding programs such as how they met or how he proposed. A favorite program or dedications to deceased relatives might be included. If you are on a tight budget, you may want to consult with the printer to find out how much the printing costs per page before deciding how much to add to the program.

For more wedding tips to help create the perfect wedding, please visit the Best for Bride blog. We have some helpful advice for choosing a wedding gown, selecting invitations, and many other wedding planning decisions.

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How to Hire a Caterer for a Wedding Reception

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Couples recruit several professionals to help with their weddings. Each one plays a part in making the wedding as the couple wants it. The photographer, officiant, florist, and caterer have roles to fill to ensure the wedding becomes the special day the couple has been planning for months. Choosing a caterer is an important part of having the reception of your dreams. Here are some tips about how to hire a caterer for a wedding reception.

The couple may feel pressured to use a friend or family member as the caterer. If the couple is confronted with this situation, they may need to be assertive and politely say they are using a different caterer. A caterer, friend or family member who would be invited to the wedding may be appeased with the couple sharing that they would like the person to be able to relax and enjoy the wedding. The friend actually might enjoy the opportunity of seeing what a competing caterer is doing.

An engaged couple should start looking for a caterer nine months to a year before the wedding date. Some couples rush into hiring the first caterer they meet. Consider holding off on the decision until after meeting several caterers available for the wedding date. If caterers bring samples to the meeting, ask if they charge for them.

Getting caught up in discussing details, such as certain menu items, is easy. While the couple will want to share their ideas, the focus should be on the overall feel they want for the reception for the first meeting. The couple should discuss the caterers specialties and what type of cuisine the caterer would suggest for the style of the wedding. You can learn more at ipantry.com.au about why it is important to choose a caterer who is experienced in the type of cuisine you want for your wedding. Couples can discuss whether they want a formal dinner or buffet and receive suggestions from the caterers.

Caterers usually price the event per person. Before meeting with the caterers, know approximately how many guests you will have. You don’t have to know the exact number of guests at this early stage. However, you may find it helpful to know your budget and an estimate of the number of guests when discussing prices with potential caterers.

Know exactly what the caterer provides. Some caterers provide the tables, chairs, and dinnerware. Others only provide dinnerware. Some caterers only provide the food and serve the guests or set up a buffet. Caterers may have these items and services included in the price or for additional fees. Therefore, it’s important to ask what is included and what services cost extra.

When it comes to the wedding cake, some caterers will charge an extra fee to serve the cake. If you want the caterer to handle cutting and serving the wedding cake, be sure to discuss this with the caterers. A few caterers work with bakers to provide the cake as well.

Planning a wedding involves taking care of many details and making decisions. The Best for Bride blog contains helpful tips for stress-free wedding planning.

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Most Popular Wedding Styles

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Have you been bombarded with different wedding style trends and were not really clear about what they mean? From vintage to rustic chic, wedding styles that reflect a particular decorating theme are becoming all the rage. However, many of the terms get confusing. What’s the difference between retro and vintage? Is rustic chic and country the same thing? These wedding style definitions may help clear up some of the confusion.

Classical vs. Romantic

While these terms are often confused, there are some distinct differences. Classical weddings are described as timeless. The classical style can be defined as simple elegance. Classical weddings are generally very formal and sophisticated. Romantic style is characterized by flowery or flowing fabrics, lace, and floral accents. Romantic styles can have a storybook feel or be reminiscent of an English garden.

Shabby Chic, Rustic Chic, and Country

The shabby chic style is characterized by including worn, well-used items. This can be furniture with distressed wood. The items may be new but made to have an aged appearance. Country style describes the use of items that are typically thought of to be used in a country setting. The style is simple, down home, rugged, and useful rather than decorative. A country wedding may also be held at an outdoor country venue like a barn or orchard. Accents relating to farm life might be including in a country wedding.

Rustic chic combines the decorative with natural and country items. For example, a weathered wooden table partially covered in lace would be an example of rustic chic. It’s common for those who want to emulate the rustic chic style to combine things like mason jars, dried flowers, worn wood, and burlap with roses, lace, strings of pearls, and draped white fabric.

Retro vs. Vintage

Vintage and retro are two terms that are often used interchangeably. In fact, many businesses such as antique stores may have their own definitions of what is retro and what is vintage. One store classifies everyone made before 1960 as vintage. They call things made in the past but after 1960 retro. Another retailer calls anything before 1950 “antique” and anything made after that is called “vintage.” So, as you can see there are different opinions about the uses of these words.

A Retro wedding might highlight a particular period of time in the past such as a 1960s theme. A vintage wedding could display antiques and old-fashioned dishes. Other wedding styles like rustic chic and classical weddings include vintage or antique accents. The way the bride and groom define their wedding is completely up to them.

I hope you find these definitions helpful in learning about the different wedding styles. For more tips about wedding decor, please browse the Best for Bride blog. There you will find helpful descriptions about reception decor, centerpieces, and wedding themes.