8 Tips for Wedding Reception Seating

Just like any formal dinning situation, formulating the perfect seating arrangement at your wedding can be quite tricky. Whether you have table assignments or specific seating arrangements, here a few tips to think about when designing your seating lay out...

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1. Even if you (the bride & groom) do not have your own table, make sure you are centrally located so everyone can see you throughout the reception.
2. If you have elderly guest make sure they are seated far from the speakers, but close enough to still see  all of the main events.
3. Place tables in groups with other table where guests know each other. This will promote cross table mingling.
4. Will you be having a buffet service? Allow for elderly guest to see near the buffet stations so they do not have walk as far through a maze of guests.
5. Make sure each guest knows at least one other guest at their table. (Just because you have a group of single friends, it does not mean they are all social and you don't want anyone feeling left out)
6. Allow for enough access on and off the dance floor. (Give a little more room between tables that are located on the perimeter of the dance floor)
7. Will you be using escort cards? Make sure the cards are neatly arranged in alphabetical order  so it easier for your guests to find their name.
8. Will you be using place cards? Make sure you have a clearly marked chart or map at the entrance of your reception so guest can find their table quickly.

Hope these few tips help you with your table arrangments!

Bathroom Amenities Baskets – Thoughtful and Classy

In our last blog post, we shared how sometimes it's the littlest details that can give the biggest impact and truly make a wedding unique. A bathroom amenities basket for your guests is one of those little touches that will surely be noticed! This thoughtful and classy gesture will truly come in handy for those “I wish I had brought….” moments. By the end of the night you will find that your baskets went to good use and were greatly appreciated by your guests!

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Below is a list of a few items to think about including in your baskets. Although some of the items repeat, there are two separate lists for the Lady’s Room and Men’s Room. 

Already have your bathroom amenities baskets planned out? 

Check out our bonus items to see if we found something you may not have thought of!

Lady’s Room: 

~ Mints                                  ~ Hair Elastics

~ Hairspray                          ~ Bobby Pins

~ Tissue                                 ~ Tide-to-Go Stick

~ Spritzer/Perfume           ~ Lint Roller

~ Mouthwash                       ~ Q-tips

~ Dental Floss                      ~ Clear Nail Polish

~ Hand Lotion                      ~ Mini Sewing Kit

~ Feminine Products         ~ Scissors

~ Blotting Sheets                 ~ Tums

~ Band Aides                        ~ Imodium

~ Moleskin                            ~ Eye Drops

~ Safety Pins                         ~ Advil or Ibuprofen

Something you may not have thought of: Earring backs & Double Sided Tape

Men’s Room:

~ Mints                                  ~ Lint roller

~ Hair Gel                              ~ Safety Pins

~ Tissue                                 ~ Mini Sewing Kit

~ Cologne                              ~ Scissors

~ Mouthwash                       ~ Tums

~ Dental Floss                      ~ Imodium

~ Hand Lotion                      ~ Eye Drops

~ Band Aides                        ~ Advil or Ibuprofen

~ Tide-to-Go stick

Something you may not have thought of: Instant Hem & Cuff Fabric Tape

Want to add an extra “little touch”?

Included a framed engagement photo, poem or note next to each basket addressed to your guests. Below are a couple of more well know poem examples. 

So happy you’re here sharing our special day
But just in case something should go astray:

Please help yourself to the contents within
Mouthwash, hand lotion or ibuprofen

Use what you need, and just leave the rest
For it may be useful to some other guest!

Repair the damage that may have been done,
Then quick!  Hurry back and join in the fun! 

~ Compliments of the Bride & Groom ~

Dear Guests,
Whether your skin feels dry or your hair out of place
You're not feeling so fresh or whatever the case
We've put together a basket to help you along
Now hurry back out before you miss the next song!

~ Compliments of the Bride & Groom ~

Bridal Fair 101

The hustle and bustle of the New Year is here and it’s time to set our calendars for the year ahead. If you are planning an upcoming wedding, this could mean fitting in Bridal Fairs into your already busy schedule. Often times these fairs can be very overwhelming with a wide variety of information, special offers & new ideas being thrown at you all at once. Below are a few tips we have found useful to help simplify the process and maximize your bridal fair experience!

Bridal Fair Tips:

1.     Try to Attended at Least Two Bridal Fairs:

Be sure to attend at least one bridal or wedding fair close to your wedding location to help you find great vendors that work in your area. It’s also a good idea to attend a second fair in a nearby big city to see new trends, specialty ideas and of course to enjoy the celebrity status feel!

2.     Bring Contact Information Stickers:

Many vendors offer great show specials and raffle drawings at their booths that are usually only obtainable at the show itself. In order to enter these drawings you are often required to enter some basic contact information, which can be very time consuming. To help streamline this process brings a few sheets of address label stickers with your name, phone number, email* and wedding date. This way you can simply stick on your sticker to their information card and you are ready to go!

*Additional Tip: Create a new email account just for your wedding. This will help you keep everything organized in one area and avoid filling your personal/work email with wedding details.

3.     Attend the Fashion Shows:

Even if you already have your attire set, fashion shows are a great way to get inspiration for other aspects of your wedding (i.e. floral designs from the bouquets they are carrying, color palettes from the bridesmaids dresses, accessories, hair designs…etc).

4.     Visit Every Booth:

Take the time to visit every booth for at least 30 seconds, even if you already have booked the service they are offering. They may have new ideas you have not thought of and great give–aways that you can benefit from! Keep in mind what booths stand out to you most. Then after you have “scouted everything out”, return to the booths you were most interested in to ask additional questions and gather more information.

5.     Bring a BIG Bag:

Whether it’s pamphlets, cards, samples, favors or prizes, at the end of the day you will have received a mountain of material from all the different vendors. Bring a large bag with at least TWO pockets to help carry and sort everything. Use one side as the “everything” pocket and the other as the “very interested in” pocket. (If you have three pockets you can use them for “everything, maybe, and must have!”). This process will really help when you are sorting through everything later trying to remember what is what.

6.     Ask Vendors About Other Vendors:

If you are hesitant about using a certain service or vendor (i.e. you are not sure if you want use a wedding planner), ask some of the other vendors at the fair what they think. They work with these professionals every day and know first hand the qualities they can bring to your wedding.

7.     Mark Your Calendar!

Most vendors welcome arranging a time to meet outside of the hustle of the show atmosphere. These are usually no-obligation consultations and can often lead to additional discounts on their services. Bring your calendars so you set these meetings and benefit from these specials.