Wedding Path NewsWire
WeddingPath News 26th Jan 2007 547 views
I can't believe another week has passed by, time does go so quickly - something to remember when you are planning your wedding! I strongly advise you set up a schedule of things to organize for your wedding, so you know what needs to be done on what date.
I got a couple of thought-provoking emails this week from b2bs asking for advice, so in this week’s newsletter I am going to talk about table centres and guest lists...
When you are deciding on which table centres are for you there are several things to take into account. Are you looking for something classic or contemporary? Do you want something to help break the ice with your guests, or something that just looks beautiful? Obviously your colour scheme and the type of venue you have opted for play a part in the decision.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
To entertain your guests and help them get to know each other, print out little cards with trivia questions about you and your fiance. Questions such as “where did the bride and groom first meet?” work well. You can either announce the answers after the speeches, or leave a sealed envelope with the answers on each table.
Candles make lovely centrepieces. Group differently sized candles so that the flames reach different heights. Don’t overpower your guests with differing scents, though!
Fishbowl-style vases are very versatile. Float tea candles, or flowers in each one, try adding dye to colour the water, or you could even pop goldfish in them, as long as you make sure they have a home to go to afterwards!
For a burst of colour, try hot-pink flowers against white linens, or a brandy glass filled with colourful sweets (jellybeans anybody?).
‘Cold’ fireworks can be hidden amongst flowers and switched on by remote control to produce a jet of silver sparkles. You might want to warn nervous guests, though!
Mini topiary trees can look very sweet and flowers encased in ice are a great effect. Both are more costly options, though.
For an earthy look, pebbles look beautiful, especially when wet. You can place them on a platter, or in a vase, and perhaps sprinkle red confetti hearts around them. Make sure that you use the kind of hearts that aren’t damaged by water, though.
Deciding who to invite can be one of the toughest parts of wedding planning. Unfortunately, it is often inevitable that someone’s feelings will get hurt. This week, a WeddingPath b2b emailed with a fairly typical problem – MIL2b trying to get them to invite unwanted guests.
I went back and reviewed a previous forum post to see how others dealt with this sort of situation (TIP - you can search WeddingPath, including forums - the search button is in the blue border, right at the top of the page).
The consensus seems to be that you need to be tough when deciding on your guest list. Fi, from Glasgow, says “Just remember it’s YOUR day, YOUR wedding and it’s for YOU and your fiance to decide who comes to the wedding.”
Of course, diplomacy and explaining how you feel (tactfully) is the best way forward. Like most things in life, talking really helps clear the air.
One option to consider is to have some people for the meal and then extend the invitation to others for the evening reception. You need to make this clear in the invite, though.
Some basic guidelines for working out your guest list are:
‘Who’s paying?’ does make a difference. If the bride’s parents are paying then they traditionally tell the groom’s parents how many guests they can have. If the couple are paying, you could try splitting the list into thirds: one third for each family and one third for friends.
Start adding those members of your family that you are close to who are ‘definites’. Next, add people you see often, and are important to you. Don’t include co-workers in this unless they are great friends. Don’t invite people just because you feel obligated.
Put yourself in their shoes. Would you really be upset if your cousin or your distant school friend didn’t invite you to their wedding? Remember, you can always tell them why - a simple “we would have loved to invite you but, as we are sure you understand, we need to keep numbers down” works wonders.
As always, if you have a question that you would like me to answer, drop me a line and I will do my best to help. My email is margo@weddingpath.com.
Have a fab week.
Love and apples!!!
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