Jenny's Illustration Board

My niece, Jennifer Nalus, is getting married in January, 2010.  I was so excited when she asked me to help her plan her wedding.  The wedding is in the Philippines and I am in California, so that is a bit of a challenge.  All my wedding vendors are in the US and I am not familiar with wedding vendors in the Philippines.  However, with my talented sister-in-law and my other nieces helping their sister, everything is working fine.  Jenny’s wedding planning is coming together.

Black and White Wedding Colors

Jenny chose black and white as her wedding colors.  She and her bridesmaids will be wearing white.  The bridesmaids will have black lining on the dresses while the MOH will wear black of the same design with white lining.  The groom will wear a black barong tagalog.  Barong tagalog is a native formal wear. The flower girl will be carrying a black and white basket filled with white petals while the ring bearer will be carrying a black and white ring pillow.

The reception will be held at the elegant Shangri-La Hotel with 200 guests.  The tables and chairs will be covered with black linen accented with white dinner plates and white napkins.  A white pillar candle embellished with white butterfly, white silk flowers and pearls will be the main centerpiece.  White rose petals and silver-wrapped chocolate kisses will be scattered around the centerpiece to give a colorful contrast to the black table top.  The pillar candles will also be surrounded by cute bride and groom votive candles.

Wedding Gown, Bouquets and Cake

Jenny chose a local designer, Olan Roque, to design her bridal gown; and did I say it looks fabulous!  The wedding gown is made with Mikado silk and chiffon with cut beads and stones hand sewn into the halter neckline.  As for the wedding bouquet, the bride will be carrying red roses, her favorite flower, dotted with stephanotis.  The bridesmaids and MOH will be carrying white calla lilies wrapped in black and white satin handle.

The white wedding cake will be decorated with cascading red roses and black ribbons.  Replica dolls of the bride and groom will be added to the base cake tier.  I was told that the cake is designed and will be made by one of Jenny’s friends.  It looks splendid!

Reception Menu

Since Jenny is marrying a chef, isn’t any wonder that the menu is so mouth-watering?  It makes me hungry just reading about it!  Here is the menu:

Salads and Appetizers

• Selection of garden greens with various dressings
• Potato Salad with croutons, bacons and spring onion
• Coleslaw

Soup

• Pumpkin or Mushroom soup

Main Courses

• Lasagna
• Chicken with homemade barbeque sauce
• Sesame breaded snapper with pickled Mayo
• Kingdao Spareribs
• Lechon

Desserts

• Assorted cakes and pastries
• Fresh fruit platters

More details  of the wedding planning  later …

Here are 15 ways (Saving Ways numbers 25 to 39) to cut your food and drinks at your wedding reception. The biggest percentage of your wedding budget will go to food and drinks.  Choose your menu wisely and decide if you are going to offer alcoholic drinks in your reception.  Cutting down on alcoholic drinks will slash you food and drinks budget, saving you money on your wedding reception.

Food and Drinks At Your Wedding Reception

Food and Drinks at Wedding Reception

25. Go for the buffet. By selecting a buffet instead of a plated meal, you’ll save not only on the meal but on the servers as well. This is also a bonus for your guests who don’t have to decide ahead of time what they’ll want to eat that day, and can fill their plate however they want.

26. Skip the filet mignon. Chose chicken, fish, and pasta as your options. Consider including pork or less expensive cut of meats. Steak may seem like a very formal option but it will run up your bill more than it’s worth.

27. Serve fewer courses. You can serve a higher quality three course meal for the same price as a five course meal. There’s no need to over complicate things.

28. Skip the bar. Don’t feel obligated to provide your guests with a bar. Soda, tea, and water will often do just fine. If you have your reception at a hotel there is often a bar nearby that your guests can get drinks from on their own that won’t cost you a cent. Letting your guests pay for their drinks is usually frowned upon by the etiquette police.  Let your guest know that there will be a cash bar through “word of mouth” before the wedding so they would not be surprised when this happens.  They are coming to join you in your wedding celebration; not to have “free” drinks.  Another option, have a reception earlier in the day – during brunch or lunch is often a good excuse to have a dry party.

29. Have friends and family cater. If you don’t mind going for a less formal affair, you can have friends and family cater the reception. If this isn’t quite in line with your reception plans you can also consider doing this for the rehearsal dinner.

30. Have an informal rehearsal dinner. You can save a bundle by having a casual rehearsal dinner. Plan a cookout, potluck, or barbecue. Your guests will still have a great time, and probably enjoy the relaxing atmosphere.

31. It doesn’t have to be dinner. If you move your wedding to an earlier time, you can have the reception at brunch of lunch time. This will allow you to go for cheaper menu options, like fruit and tea sandwiches. If you want a buffet, consider setting up an omelet bar!

32. Save champagne for the toast. There’s no need to keep the champagne flowing all night. You can serve one glass to each guest for the toast, and serve other beverages the rest of the time. For a non-alcoholic toast, consider serving Martinelli’s sparkling cider. It looks like champagne, tastes good and it’s way cheaper.

33. Serve a limited bar. If you don’t want a dry wedding but aren’t ready to spring for a full bar, just serve wine, beer, and soft drinks to cut your costs.  Another option is to serve “signature drinks”.  These could be mixed drinks such as strawberry daiquiris or margaritas with or without alcohol.

34. Shorten your cocktail hour. Though it is called the cocktail “hour” you can limit the time during which you serve drinks and hors d’oeuvres to save a little money, and prevent your guests from filling up before the meal!

35. Bring your own alcohol. Many locations do not allow this, but if you do your research you may be able to have your reception in a place where you can bring your own alcohol. Wine and liquor can be purchased much cheaper by the case.

36. Select a seasonal menu. Try to include items in your menu that are both locally grown and in season. You can really work down the meal price if you select your fruits and vegetables carefully.

37. Use smaller plates. If you serve your meal on 8 inch plates instead of 10 inch plates, you can serve less food while still providing a plate that looks full.

38. Go for the keg. For large groups it will be much cheaper to buy beer by the keg – not the bottle.

39. Cut down on servers. Only hire the minimum number of servers needed. Other than serving the meal, they won’t be doing much besides racking up your bill.

Read All Previous Topics:
101 Ways to Save Money On Your Wedding – Part 1: Wedding Budget

Next Topic: 101 Ways to Save Money On Your Wedding – Part 5: Location and Time

Photo Credit: Polyvore

The most common centerpiece for wedding receptions is undoubtedly an arrangement of flowers.  For a unique touch, try some of these fun and creative ideas.  Not only will you save a fortune on flower alternatives, you’ll also make your wedding stand out and give your guests something to talk about.

The Art of Glass Bowls

Glass Bowl

A simple glass bowl is a commonly overlooked feature for a centerpiece.  There are different shapes and sizes that you can use as your wedding reception centerpiece.

• Use a glass vase as an aquarium – fill with a fish or two and top with live aquatic plants.
• Use a fish bowl and fill it with sand and seashells for a beach wedding.
• Other fillers are potpourri for the wonderful scent,
• Christmas ornaments for a winter wedding,
• coffee beans and candles,  acorns or cinnamon sticks for an Autumn event.

The options are endless.

The Magic of Candlelight

Candle Centerpieces

Candles are the perfect touch for a romantic wedding.  You can use:

• big, thick pillar candles,
• a collection of tea lights, or
• an arrangement of candles in various shapes and sizes.

More candlelight ideas:

• A shallow dish of water with floating candles can create a very modern look.
• Round candles set in a shallow dish of pebbles or stones is another option.
• Luminous mini lanterns add  mystery and height to your table decor.

Place candles on top of circular mirrors to reflect the flickering candle light that will enhance the ambiance of the evening.  However, avoid heavily scented candles or any aromas that may clash.

The Taste of Creativity

Fruit Centerpiece

For a centerpiece that will be a big hit with hungry guests, choose something edible.

Edible Arrangements is a company that specializes in beautiful bouquets made from fresh cut fruit. You can get a variety of fruits, including many chocolate dipped options.

For DIY brides, you can also use a simple dish of fruit or vegetables.  Items such as squash and pumpkin are ideal for an autumn wedding.  Though they won’t be eaten, they will provide a festive centerpiece.

Citrus fruits will give off a delicious fragrance, cut up and floated in a bowl of water.

The Beauty of Shared Memories

Photo Vase

If you want a centerpiece that is completely unique to you as a couple, consider creating one out of your pictures.  You can include baby pictures, childhood memories, or a collage of the two of you together.  Use a rotating box-shaped picture frame so that all of your guests can get a good look.

When you’re selecting the centerpieces for your reception, keep an open mind and visit several craft stores, craft fairs, and even some antique shops.  You can use virtually anything to make a centerpiece.  Look for unique candleholders, picture frames, and glass containers.  With a fun-shaped glass jar or bowl, you can create almost anything by adding beads, marbles, flower petals, glitter, candy, or anything else that will fit inside! Create a centerpiece that is uniquely you and brings out the important elements in your heritage, religion, or wedding theme.

Photo Credits: Your Wedding Company, iStock Photos, Bridal ‘N Beauty

Catering Your Wedding

There are a variety of reasons you may decide to cater your own wedding.

• If you are having a small, informal wedding, having a potluck reception may be just the thing.
• If you can’t imagine your wedding day without special cultural foods or some of Grandma’s famous recipes, then doing your own catering may be the right way to get the exact meal that you want.
• For most, the reason for self-catering is ultimately the cost. Hiring a professional caterer can run anywhere from $40 to $200 per person. By doing the catering yourself, you cut these costs by as much as half.

Planning Your Catering Success

There are some important facts to take into consideration before you decide that doing your own catering is right for you.  First, if you plan on the bride or mother-of-the-bride overseeing most of the food preparation, you should expect for this responsibility to significantly take away from the other wedding day experiences.  The stress of making sure that the meal is executed perfectly can also be a lot to handle.  If you have other friends and extended family willing to take on this responsibility, self-catering may be much more achievable.  You should never plan to cater for more than 125 people unless you have access to a large, professional kitchen.  The smaller the guest list, the easier it will be to do the catering yourself.

You should plan for about three cooks/servers for every 100 people.  If you are preparing the food fresh for the reception, then your cooks and servers should not be people who will want to attend the event.  You may want to consider ordering the cake, desserts, and even the main dish from a caterer and simply providing your own side dishes if preparing the whole meal seems a bit daunting.  A buffet-style meal will be much easier to self-cater than a plated meal, since a buffet only needs to be set out and replenished, rather than served to each individual guest.

Another way to keep things simple is to focus on cold finger foods.  Plates of cheese and crackers, cocktail shrimp, sausage slices, vegetables and fruits with dip, and a variety of salads are all menu items that can be prepared in advance and served with ease. If you want to add a few warm dishes, consider soups, stews, or casseroles that can be set out and kept warm in large crockpots.  If you are having a casual, outdoor reception, consider firing up the grill for a wonderful self-catered meal. You can marinate chicken and steaks ahead of time and all you’ll need is someone to man the grill!

The Proof of the Pudding …

Once you have selected the menu and assigned a staff of friends and family to cook it, arrange for a sampling. Your cooks may be tempted to try new and fancy recipes for your wedding.  This can be a fun idea, but your wedding day should not be the very first time the recipe is executed.  Leave plenty of time to adjust the dishes to your taste and try again if the dish doesn’t seem quite right at first.  Your best option is to select foods that have been prepared again and again and so are less likely to fail.  With practice, planning, and preparation, you can cater your reception like a pro!

Photo credit: The Vault Catering Company

Country Wedding Theme

For the bride who wants warm, relaxed, and down-home wedding, country wedding theme fits the bill.  Country wedding does not mean jeans and cowboy boots, although you can wear these, too, if you fancy yourself getting married in these clothes.  Nothing wrong with that, but what we want to share with you here is the more conservative country wedding – with the gowns, lots of fresh flowers and country music.  Here’s the list:

Location:  Choose a rustic country with open wood beams and large, cozy fireplaces, an old farmhouse or a big barn-style building.

• Gown: Simple, white cotton dress or for elegant country look, white and full with gathered skirts.  For the Bridesmaids, choose bright clean colors or simple dress in plaid.

• Men: crisp white shirt with brown vest, black pants and matching black cowboy hat.  For a more formal look, tuxedos or dark suits

• Décor: Bright reds, yellows and gold colors captured in your bouquet, table centerpieces and favors.  Fill mason jars with sunflower or a bunch or wildflowers.  Hang place cards on a clothes line and secure with wooden clothes clips.

• Menu: Comfort food with a Southern flair – barbecue ribs or chicken, trays of country fried chicken and biscuits or pot roast.  Serve fresh squeezed lemonade or iced tea in mason jars instead of drinking glasses.

• Favors:  Give your guests homemade apple preserves or jelly and attached your personalized label with your names and wedding dates.

With a little bit of planning, you, your groom and your guests will have a great western wedding experience that will long be remembered.

12 Creative Wedding Themes

Photos: Polyvore

Although the thought of a wedding being held underwater came to my mind, too.  But that would be a destination wedding, wouldn’t it?  There’s an idea I can write about in my next post about destination weddings.  But, for now, let’s stick to the original idea of having an undersea wedding theme above water.

Undersea Adventure Wedding Theme

Undersea Adventure Wedding Theme

Location: An aquarium,  yacht club, or private boat are ideal settings.

Décor: Bright blues and greens, lights on the ceiling which give the illusion of water, fish bowl centerpieces; napkins with sea shell napkin rings.

Favors: Seashell candles, seashell bottle openers, sand and seashell tealight holder or sand dollars. Sand dollars can be painted with the date.

Menu: Serve seafood such as shrimp, crab legs, mahi mahi with white wine or a specialty drink like Blue Lagoon (vodka, Blue Curacao liquer and lemonade), or for your non-alcoholic guests, Craberry Punch (cranberry juice, pineapple juice, almond extract, and ginger ale). Remember to include non-seafood and vegetarian dishes for your guests who are not seafood lovers.

Attire: Dresses with a mermaid skirt.  Blue or green for bridesmaids dresses.

Winter Wonderland
Red Wedding Theme
Wine Wedding Theme
Winter Wedding Theme in Blue
Princess Fairytale Wedding Theme
Eco-Friendly Wedding Theme Holiday Wedding Theme

Photos: Polyvore

I’ve always been facinated with Preston Bailey’s designs.  This famous Winter Wonderland on the upper left is the inspiration for this winter wedding theme in blue.  This illustration board shows that you do not need to live in a state that is blessed with winter wonderland to use a winter wedding theme.  Bring the winter indoors with flickering tiny indoor lights in white to simulate the snow and wash the room with blue lights.  The wedding cake, table setting and the bridesmaids’ gown complete the theme.  Last, but not the least, the bride with her lovely flowing bridal gown brings in the warmth to the cold winter night.

Here are the top 3 things to consider if you decide to serve alcohol at your wedding reception:

Location of Your Wedding Reception
There are wedding reception halls that prohibit the serving of alcohol. There are also some who oblige you to take one of the alcohol plans they offer if you will be serving alcohol at your wedding reception.  It is best to inquire before your sign the contract for your wedding reception location.  If you plan to have your wedding reception at home or at your friend’s home, it is still you and your partner’s decision whether to serve alcohol or not.

Strict Drinking and Driving Laws
After choosing the location of your wedding reception, consider the state laws where your wedding reception will take place. Remember, your guests will go home after the party and most of them will drive back home. If you plan to serve alcohol at your wedding reception, consider this fact because you have a responsibility to make your guests go home safely. You will not have any problem if your wedding reception is held in a hotel where your guests are all checked in and they do not need to worry about driving home after the wedding reception.

Open Bar or Cash Bar?
Another issue that you and your fiancée need to decide when serving alcohol at your wedding reception is if you are going to have an “open bar” where the alcoholic drinks are served free or a “cash bar” where guests will pay for their own drinks. Serving alcohol at your wedding reception entails extra cash on your wedding budget. It is true that it will be a little awkward if you will oblige your guests to pay for their own drinks. The safer side for this dilemma is to have some complimentary drinks for the first two hours of the reception and after that the guests will be on their own. This technique will not only save you from the responsibility of your guests’ alcohol consumption but it also enables you to save the extra cash that you would have spent for an open bar for the rest of the evening.