How do you know you found the right officiant for your wedding by Reverend Arlene Ponack

Having the right officiant for your wedding day is a very important decision as this is the person who is not only marrying you but is setting the tone for your entire day! There are many officiants to choose from but do you want someone who just reads “cookie-cutter” vows and helps you exchange the rings, or do you want someone who will help you create a personalized, custom ceremony that will tell the story of your love?

A question that also pops up in my mind is; “Do you want someone who is professional and knows how to speak in front of an audience?” I think this is important because if your ceremony is exactly the way you want it to be, will your family and friends be able to hear and understand the words that are spoken? An officiant should not only be able to project their voice, but will speak clearly so everyone can hear and understand the story being conveyed in your wedding ceremony.

Wording is also important in your wedding ceremony especially if you are striving for a beautiful ceremony that you always dreamed of! I think it is important to find a wedding officiant that will be able to come up with just the right words to express feelings of love and joy, as this is the way to tell the story of your love.

You also need to find a wedding officiant who will be receptive to your preferences and personal style. Your wedding officiant should be open and willing to incorporate your ideas into your ceremony. It is your wedding and the ceremony should be no different than any other aspect of your wedding. Do you plan to give a DJ full vein on what songs to play? Are you going to let your your baker decide the flavor of your cake or what your cake should look like? Are you going to let your caterer decide what food is going to be served at your wedding? Why should the words spoken at your ceremony be any different? The wording should be exactly how you want and there should be no surprises during your ceremony!

To help you decide if an officiant is the right choice for your wedding, I have three important tips to keep in mind:

1. Is your wedding officiant flexible, accommodating, and open minded? This is especially important if you want a non-traditional wedding. Traditional weddings are not for everyone. What if you want to have a steam punk wedding, infuse some rock and roll into the ceremony, or want to throw in something geeky or goth, or have a special theme in mind for your wedding ceremony. Do you want a more traditional wedding but prefer to write your own vows, some couples have told me there are wedding officiants that do not allow the couples to write any part of the ceremony including their own vows. Vows can be very personal and every couple should be able to write their own if that is what they choose. Do you want a special reading that is read or even sung by family members and friends. Do you want to include children into the ceremony? Do you want the children to stand at the alter, will they sit still and be quiet during the ceremony? Depending on their ages, probably not, so you want a wedding officiant that can “go with the flow” and adjust any part of the ceremony that may not go exactly as planned. Do you want to include your pets into the ceremony? What is you choose to have a “dog bearer” for the rings, does your wedding officiant have a good sense of humor as pets will not always be as quiet as you anticipated. Or perhaps you are still having a traditional wedding wedding but you want to infuse your religious beliefs or combine two religions, is your wedding officiant experienced in combining different religions? Are you a same sex couple, is your wedding officiant LBGT friendly? What if you want to incorporate your heritage and wear traditional attire such as a kilt, a sari, or a kimono. Some couples prefer to wear nontraditional attire such as a black wedding dress, jeans and a t-shirt, or a costume for a themed wedding. Will your officiant wear a costume or dress according if that is what you desire? A good wedding officiant does many weddings that may be unique, different, and is used to performing ceremonies when the “unexpected” happens. The ideal wedding officiant will listen to your personal preferences and style and will tailor the ceremony accordingly. It is YOUR wedding and YOU want a wedding officiant that will make your ceremony beautiful and memorable!

2. Is your wedding officiant experienced and professional? Remember that old saying “you get what you paid for”? It is important to have an experienced and professional wedding officiant. Some couples try to cut corners but a bad choice in a wedding officiant could turn months of planning into a wedding disaster that you will regret forever. What will your wedding officiant be wearing? Will the wedding officiant show up dressed professional? You are probably paying a lot of money for a good photography and/or a videographer. Do you want your wedding officiant's attire to ruin your wedding pictures or video? How comfortable is your wedding officiant in speaking in front of an audience? Will your wedding officiant just be reading from a script? Anyone can read a script does your wedding officiant's voice have inflection and tone or is it mundane and boring? A true professional wedding officiant can bring the words to life! The personality of your wedding officiant can also have an impact on your ceremony. Someone with an upbeat, friendly nature can perform your wedding ceremony with style and grace. An experience, warm and friendly wedding officiant can put you at ease. Weddings are stressful but a warm, friendly, and caring wedding officiant can put you at ease even with just a smile. Reliability is also an extremely important factor when choosing your wedding officiant. A professional wedding officiant will show up early and be prepared. A good wedding officiant is flexible and can adapt to any changes made the day of your wedding. Most weddings do not go exactly as planned and sometimes they may start late. How does your wedding wedding officiant react to surprises and changes that may happen last minute. I have been asked by many photographers how I feel about flash photography or if they get behind me or right next to me to get “that shot”. I think it is important to hire a wedding officiant that does not mind a photographer doing his or her job. It is the couples' wedding and the couple is paying the photographer to get “that shot”. A professional wedding officiant should be there for you for any questions or concerns from the moment they are first contacted by you and every moment right up to the ceremony. Will your wedding officiant answer your questions and concerns in a quick and efficient manner? What if a few weeks before the ceremony, you decide to change part of the ceremony, will your wedding officiant be accommodating?

3. Free Consultation – Does your wedding officiant offer a free consultation? A consultation can be done in person or on the phone. You need to ask questions to decide if this is the right wedding officiant for you. While speaking to the wedding officiant, listen to the quality of his or her voice. Is their voice filled with inflection and tone or is it flat and mundane? Does this person speak clearly and professionally? If you are meeting him or her in person, is this person dressed professionally? Does he or she sound interested in your ceremony and does he or she care about your ceremony? How enthusiastic does he or she seem to be about your wedding ceremony? Is he or she listening and understanding what you want for your wedding officiant? How would you know the answer to any of these questions if you do not meet your wedding officiant or talk to your wedding officiant on the telephone?

These are just a few tips from Reverend Arlene Ponack on hiring the right wedding officiant for your wedding. I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post as much as I enjoyed writing it. I hope you enjoy further blog posts and ask me questions anytime by phone, email, text, or in person. Please comment on this blog post and let me know what you think.

Thank you,

Arlene

WEDDING OFFIC IANT

A trained, experienced, professional wedding officiant can help you design a wedding ceremony that is right for you. It is important to find one that is not just willing but is eager to perform the kind of ceremony you dream of.  You need to find an officiant that is willing to work with you to design, write, and edit your ceremony. A wedding officiant sets the tone for the entire wedding day.  Couples should have a ceremony that is memorable and meaningful. 

alwaysandforeverflweddings@gmail.com       

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Reposted from The Knot http://wedding.theknot.com

10 Hidden Wedding Costs

It's all those pricey extras that slide in under the radar. We've asked the experts to clue us in on their insider secrets for avoiding those little-known financial pitfalls and sticking to your wedding budget.

1. Wedding Band Equipment

Why it's hidden The cost of the wedding band includes fees for the musicians' time and the minimum amount of equipment needed. If your reception space is extra-large, then additional speakers and microphones could possibly be required to project the best sound quality.
The cost Anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars
How to avoid it Before booking your wedding band or DJ, you need to clearly explain the layout of the space (or have them check it out, if they're willing) so the vendors know exactly what they're working with. If they want to add in extra equipment, you should have them explain why it's necessary before you sign a contract or agree to pay for anything else.

2. Postage Stamps

Why it's hidden Stationers don't advertise the shipping costs; if they did, you might decide to go with simpler (read: cheaper) invites.
The cost Oversized, awkwardly shaped and bulky invitations will most often run you as much as $2 each to mail.
How to avoid it Skip the fancy boxed invitations and multilayer cards, which can bulk up quickly and cost a lot more than you bargained for.

3. Wedding Dress Alterations and Steaming

Why it's hidden Most stores don't include alterations (or steaming!) in the price of the wedding dress, and they're not doing it for free -- it can take up to three hours just to alter the bustier!
The cost A simple hem can be less than $100, but completely rebuilding a bodice or moving zippers can send the price upward of $500.
How to avoid it Ask about what the store charges for every alteration you may need before you purchase the gown.

4. Overtime Costs

Why it's hidden Your band, DJ, wedding photographer and videographer are booked for just a certain amount of time, so if your wedding runs a little longer than you expected, they'll charge per hour.
The cost Starting at $250 per hour
How to avoid it Factor in additional time for getting dressed and taking photos; that way, you can book your vendors for a more realistic timeline. Get overtime costs in writing (they shouldn't be more than 50 percent more per hour than the regular rate) so you'll know what to expect if you decide to keep the party going.

5. Welcome-Bag Delivery

Why it's hidden Most hotels don't factor in a welcome-bag delivery fee when you block rooms. And they may fail to mention the rate unless you ask -- they'll just add it to your final bill. Inquire within; they may even charge you a fee for holding the welcome bags if you drop them off before the guests arrive!
The cost Up to $7 per bag
How to avoid it During the booking process, ask about the hotel's policy on receiving and delivering welcome bags to guests' rooms. It may be free or cheaper if they hand the bags out at the counter as guests check in. If you don't want the extra charge, you can distribute them at the rehearsal dinner.

6. Rental Transport

Why it's hidden You'd assume that the rental companies would include these extra fees in the per-item costs (do they honestly think you're going to fit 150 chiavari chairs in your own car?), but surprisingly, they don't.
The cost From $50 up to more than $500
How to avoid it Ask the rental company what their shipping and packaging fees are up front -- if the cost is too high for your budget, shop around a bit. You just might find that you'll actually save some money by renting items from a more expensive company that includes delivery costs at no extra charge.

7. Taxes and Gratuities

Why it's hidden Even though these aren't exactly hidden -- we all know that there are taxes on almost everything -- most couples don't think about how much they'll end up owing during the planning process.
The cost This will depend on the total amount of money you're spending as well as the location of the event (taxes vary in different areas).
How to avoid it There's no getting around paying taxes, but paying the entire bill in one lump sum can help lower the overall price. A safe bet: Tack on an extra third of your total costs to your budget for tips and taxes.

8. Cake-Cutting and Corkage Fees

Why it's hidden If you use the cake or booze provided by your reception site, the charge is typically wrapped into the cost. Going with an outside baker or vino can raise the price. Why? Because your venue's workers are responsible for slicing and serving each piece, then cleaning the dishes. This means more work for their staff!
The cost From $2 to $5 per guest for the cake; from $1.50 to $3 for every bottle the venue opens
How to avoid it Calculate the cake-cutting and corkage fees before you decide to go with an outside source for either.

9. Cleanup and Breakdown Costs

Why it's hidden Many brides spend so much time planning the actual day that they forget to budget for what happens when it's all over.
The cost While a full-service venue won't charge for these things, if you're paying a flat fee to rent the space only, anticipate fees for garbage removal (up to $250), freight elevator use (up to $150) and cleaning (up to $500). And even most full-service venues require same-day setup and cleanup. So if you're getting married on a weekend, expect to pay time and a half for labor, and if your party goes into the wee hours of the morning, you may face extra charges for late-night pickup and cleanup.
How to avoid it Read your contract carefully -- the setup and breakdown costs should be included in the labor charge.

10. Non-Approved Vendors

Why it's hidden Some venues require you to use caterers or florists from their preferred vendor list -- and tack on a fee if you don't.
The cost Usually an extra 20 percent or more
How to avoid it Stick to the list, or choose a venue without one.

What Do Wedding Planners Do?

Not convinced a planner is for you? Here's a list of the general tasks planners can handle.

• Setting up a realistic wedding budget


• Devising a wedding master plan that maps out all the little details, from ceremony music to favors


• Showing you the best and most original locations in the area, considering your wedding size, budget, and vision


• Finding the top florists, photographers, caterers, bands, DJs and other vendors in your price range


• Cutting you choice deals: Consultants bring volume to favored vendors, so often the vendors will reciprocate by slashing prices or throwing in extras


• Reading over all your vendor contracts to make sure everything is there, correct, and in accordance with your best interests and negotiations any amendments on your behalf


• Creating a day-of (or weekend-of) timeline that tells everyone involved in the planning process -- vendors, members of the wedding party, you, and your families -- when to do what


• Handling the invitations, from the wording and ordering to the addressing and mailing, as well as tracking RSVPs


• Counseling you on proper etiquette as well as what's hot on the wedding front


• Managing the wedding day: supervising vendors, setup, and delivery; handling emergencies; and soothing nerves


• Serving as your spokesperson, conveying your every whim and desire to vendors or family members when you just can't deal with doing it yourself


• Helping to plan and book your honeymoon (yep -- most planners will handle your travel plans too!)
• reposted from the Knot

Wedding Vendors: Tipping Cheat Sheet

With so many wedding expenses, gratuities can add up. Here are the wedding vendors you need to tip.

When you're already dipping deep into your (or your parents') savings for so many wedding expenses, shelling out gratuities on top of that can be hard to handle. Well, rest easy: unless a service charge is spelled out in your contract, you're never obligated to tip anyone.
However you can't ignore the fact that some vendors will expect a gratuity, which forces tipping to be considered on a case-by-case scenario. Some general rules: Don't tip business owners, only tip their employees (however, you can/should tip an owner when the service exceeds expectations); tip vendors who offer exceptional service; thank-you notes are always appreciated; and assign the responsibility to a trusted deputy such as your wedding planner, a parent, or the best man. For a breakdown of what's customary for each vendor, read on.

Wedding Planner

Wedding planners won't likely expect anything; however, if yours did a great job you can always offer a token of your appreciation. (Note: Non-monetary thank-yous like professional photos of the wedding for the planner's portfolio can go a long way too.) Approximately 50 percent of couples do tip their planners -- typically those with more opulent weddings.
Protocol: Optional
The $tandard: Up to $500, or a nice gift
When to Tip: The bride should hand off the envelope at the end of the reception, or, she should send a thank-you note with photos or a check after the honeymoon.

Wedding Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist

This is one area where a gratuity is definitely expected. Tip between 15 - 20 percent just as you would in a hair salon, and consider giving a little extra if there's a crisis, like one of your bridesmaids has a meltdown over her updo and it requires a redo at the last minute.
Protocol: Expected
The $tandard: 15 - 25 percent, depending upon the quality of service
When to Tip: At the end of your service

Wedding Delivery and Set-up Staff

Slip a few dollars to anyone delivering important items to the site (wedding cake, flowers, or sound system). And if a lot of gear needs to be brought in and set up (tents, chairs, or port-a-potties), the workers deserve a tip too.
Protocol: Expected
The $tandard: $5 - $10 per person
When to Tip: Drop off cash envelopes the day before the wedding to the catering manager so the person accepting deliveries can turn the tip.

Wedding Ceremony Officiant

If your officiant is affiliated with a church or synagogue, you're often expected to make a donation to that institution. If you're a member you'll probably want to give a larger amount than if you're not. However, if you're getting married there and they're charging you to use the space, feel free to give a smaller amount. If you're using a nondenominational officiant, no tip is required because they will charge you for their time.
Protocol: Expected (depending on officiant)
The $tandard: Donate $500+ to the church or synagogue, or, for a nondenominational officiant, an optional tip of $50 - $100
When to Tip: Most ceremony fees are required prior to the wedding. Otherwise, have the best man pass the cash envelope at the rehearsal dinner if the officiant is in attendance.

Wedding Ceremony Musicians

If you worked with a mini orchestra to come up with the perfect score for your service (and they pulled it off flawlessly), consider showing some monetary thanks for their talent. However, you probably don't have to tip the solo church organist who was required to play.
Protocol: Optional
The $tandard: $15 - $20 per musician
When to Tip: At the end of the ceremony.

Wedding Photographer/Videographer

You're not expected to give your shutterbugs any dough beyond their normal fees. Yet if the wedding photographer or videographer doesn't own the studio, consider tipping each person (or give a certain amount with a thank-you note to disperse to staff).
Protocol: Optional
The $tandard: $50 - $200 per vendor
When to Tip: At the end of the reception.

Wedding Reception Staff

This type of staff includes the on-site coordinator, maitre d', and banquet manager. A service charge (typically 2 percent) is almost always built in to the food and drink fee, so check your contract. If the gratuity is not included, tip as follows.
Protocol: Expected
The $tandard: 15 - 20 percent of the food and drink fee (based on labor, not the cost), or $200 - $300 for the maitre d'.
When to Tip: If it's covered in the contract, the final bill is typically due before the reception. Otherwise, have the father of the bride or best man hand the envelope to the maitre d' at the end of the reception since you will need to know the final tab to calculate the percentage.

Wedding Reception Attendants

When it comes to bartenders, waitstaff, parking, bathroom, and coat-room attendants the rules of tipping are dictated by your contract. If the service fee is included, consider doling out extra only if the service was exceptional. If it's not included, ask ahead of time how many attendants will be working your wedding and calculate on a per person basis.
Protocol: Optional, based on contract
The $tandard: $20 - $25 per bartender or waiter; $1 per guest for coat room and parking attendants; $1 per car
When to Tip: Although tips are traditionally passed out at the end of the event, you could alternately distribute them at the beginning of the evening, to encourage all the workers to give you great service.

Wedding Reception Band or DJ

Whether you hire 12-piece swing band or grooving to a DJ, tipping musicians is completely optional. (Depending on the quality of the job and how willing they were to follow your ideal playlist!) And don't forget about any sound technicians they bring with them.
Protocol: Optional, yet preferred
The $tandard: $20 - $25 per musician; $50 - $150 for DJs
When to Tip: At the end of the reception, by the best man.

Wedding Transportation

Again, check your contract, as gratuity is usually included. If it isn't, plan to tip provided they show up on time and don't get lost!
Protocol: Expected
The $tandard: 15 - 20 percent of the total bill
When to Tip: At the end of the night or after the last ride. If you used a separate company for the guest buses, designate a bus captain to hand the driver a tip, otherwise, this duty falls to the best man.

reposted from the Knot

Wedding Receptions: A Traditional Wedding Reception Timeline

So you want your wedding reception to be the most talked about of the century -- but don't know the first thing about throwing a good party? The crucial thing to scoring a fabulous wedding celebration is knowing what's supposed to happen when. So we've strung together a timeline, based on a traditional cocktail hour and a four-hour reception, to give you an hour-by-hour guide to the day's postceremonial events. Get your stopwatches ready -- the wedding reception countdown is about to begin.

00:00 | The Cocktail Hour

After being pronounced husband and wife, the newlyweds are often the first to leave the wedding ceremony, heading off (with photographer in tow) for pictures together before the partying gets under way. Your guests will head to the reception site for cocktails. Depending on the logistics of the event, your cocktail hour will begin immediately (if the ceremony and reception are held at the same venue), or it might start more than half an hour later (if there's travel involved). Cocktails will kick off your reception and will last for at least an hour. During this time the staff will serve stationary or passed appetizers and drinks, which will get people mingling and in the mood. Don't forget: Greeting your guests is essential! It's customary for the couple, along with their parents and the wedding party, to form a receiving line outside the ceremony site to greet guests before the escape. Many couples these days are opting for this postceremony receiving line, rather than going from table to table during dinner. But if you haven't done so, you should form one now.

01:00 | Newlyweds' Arrival/First Dance

Here's the part where the bride and groom make their grand entrance. The coordinator will usually make sure guests are seated before the emcee alerts them to your imminent arrival. Generally, both sets of parents and the wedding party are introduced, followed by the announcement of the couple for the first time as husband and wife. In many cases, your newlywed first dance will begin as you step out onto the floor and into the spotlight after being announced. Find your first dance music. Alternately, you can wait until after the first course of the meal is served, but since everyone is already cheering you as you enter the reception, use the applause as encouragement enough to skim away any shyness and step on out.

01:20 | Cheers & Toasts

Following your first dance, you might want to take the opportunity -- while all eyes are still on you, since hopefully no one yet has had too much to drink -- to thank everyone en masse for taking part in your wedding. A family member, often a parent of the bride, will say a blessing (depending on the families' faiths). Then, since toasting signifies a transition in the course of an event, the mother and father of the bride will thank guests for attending and invite everyone to enjoy the celebratory meal. Keep in mind that the toasts given by the best man and the maid of honor should occur between courses, to spread out all the high-emotion, much-anticipated moments and keep guests in their seats.

01:30 | Mangia, Mangia

Time to dig into the main course. Get wedding reception food ideas. If you're having a seated meal, the band or DJ will play subdued, conversation-friendly background music as the waitstaff makes the rounds. If you're having a buffet, your coordinator, DJ, or bandleader will dictate how the rotation will work by calling each table when it's time to head to the front of the line. Just remember: The bride and groom need to do everything possible to take their seats and eat!

02:45 | Party Time

Monkey-see, monkey-do is how this game is played. Guests are going to follow the lead of the bride and groom. Once dinner dishes are cleared, the newlyweds should be the first ones on the dance floor so people know it's time to start partying. Find wedding music suggestions. Throughout the jammin', the music will stop for any extracurricular activities you've planned (also known as the bouquet toss, the garter toss, the centerpiece giveaways, and whatever else you've dreamed up). If you do choose to toss the bouquet, make sure to get a tossing bouquet from the florist so you can keep your original one as a memento.

04:00 | Cake Cutting

About one hour before the conclusion of the reception, when the party starts getting a little too rowdy and the bar starts getting a little too empty, your waitstaff should start preparing tables for coffee and dessert. Since the cake cutting generally signals guests that it's okay to leave soon thereafter, be sure not to do this too early or things could start wrapping up before you're ready.

04:15 | Shake a Leg

Once the cake is cut, the band or DJ should start right back into swing and rock music for those wanting to trade in their slices for another turn on the dance floor.

04:45 | Last Dance

End your wedding on a high note and choose a dance song that will leave a lasting impression. You'll want everyone to have a chance for one last twirl, so select something fast and festive.

05:00 | Final Farewell

Now the time has come to say good-bye. Your coordinator will usher everyone into the foyer or onto the steps outdoors so that as you make your grand exit from the reception, friends and family can blow bubbles, light sparklers, or toss rose petals -- and cheer to your successful celebration and future together. 

reposted from the Knot

Read more: Wedding Receptions: A Traditional Wedding Reception TimelineTheKnot.com - http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/planning-a-wedding/articles/a-traditional-wedding-reception-timeline.aspx#ixzz2cKLsUeUC

Sprue up your wedding site

Wedding Receptions: 17 Ways to Spruce Up Your Site

Want to know a little secret? Weddings aren't just about getting married -- they're about showing off your style. Flowers are certainly the easiest and most dramatic way to perk up a room fast. Rule one: sweating the often overlooked small stuff -- a pathway, for example -- will make your site something special. It's big-ticket embellishments tied together with often inexpensive details that really put the sizzle into your space. Read on for more of our favorite reception decorating ideas.

1. Match the mood

First things first: Whether you're a city sophisticate or a laid-back beach bride, your site will influence most of your design decisions. If you haven't yet decided on a decorating scheme, look to elements of the room for cues. A historic mansion is perfect for an all-white wedding; a wood-walled ballroom calls for 1920s elegance. You get the idea.

2. Create a common chord

Many brides shudder at the word "theme," but we like to think of it as a subtle touch of style -- a repeated design element that will make a lasting and personal impression on the space. Don't get stuck on Chinese food containers and lanterns. A theme can be as loose as your color palette -- a chic, natural way to unite a site. Plus, it will give you a great focal point to start your planning.

3. Make everyone look perfect

Carefully conceived lighting will brighten any room -- and give your party a dramatic glow. Hire a lighting designer to focus guests' attention where you want it (on the cake table, off an ugly dance floor). Trust us, it'll be worth it. Colored gels will alter the intensity of the light stream to create a softer, more natural look. Think Cameron Diaz looks that good under halogen lights?

4. Look up

Stuck with an unsightly ceiling? Cover it up! Try draping hundreds of tiny white lights, swags of greenery, or coordinating fabric. Or go for the gusto and look into renting chandeliers. They'll distract from the ceiling and give your room added radiance.

5. Look down

Don't let a brown shag carpet dissuade you from booking your dream space. Hide that floor with ground-sweeping linens. Or cover it with a nice rental carpet, or a rented parquet wooden floor.

6. Furnish a spare space

An all-white, empty loft space may seem like the perfect blank canvas to work with, but keep in mind you're starting from scratch. So yeah, it's going to cost. Here's a hint: Hit up tradition and go for something borrowed. We know one bride who used antique furniture from the shop she works at to fill the space with historic flair. Look to a movie prop company for cool finds like mirrors, chaise lounges, and filled bookcases.

7. Toil with texture

Think you've got the touch? Interesting materials and nature-driven accents are helping to turn boring ballrooms into designer showcases. How? Adding texture is one way: Faux fur, grapevines, and branches are just a few ideas. Huge kissing balls, tall trees adorned with lights, and bamboo shoots also help satisfy the senses.

8. Call for the wild

Brides are really warming up to outdoor weddings -- probably because Mother Nature has taken care of the decorating budget! Take note of the surrounding wildflowers and choose your wedding blooms accordingly. Keep the carefree outdoor vibe in mind when styling your flowers -- a tightly packed modern centerpiece might look totally out of place.

9. Think outside the space

We're crazy for alfresco accoutrements like clothesline escort-card holders, mason jars filled with candles (collect them from garage sales throughout the year), hanging flower baskets, and 4-foot-high twig chandeliers. Here's how: Bundle about 10 large sticks per chandelier, bind them together with wire, and string tiny twinkle lights all around them -- you'll turn a traditonal space into an enchanted forest.

10. Make a good first impression

Impress your guests with a grand entrance. Floral wreaths on doors, colorful candles (votives are great) atop every table, hurricane lanterns hanging from trees, luminaries lining the walkways, and other beautiful embellishments will give guests a lovely welcome to your event.

11. Monitor the hall

A real detail-oriented to-be-wed will even make over the hallways. Potted plants, trees, floral garlands, and trellises help to create a big impact on your space. There's a trend for small, dramatic flower arrangements placed on the ground. One idea from an actual wedding: arrange huge amounts of tightly packed pansies to line the hallway leading to the bathroom.

12. Beautify the bar

Chances are the bar will be the hot spot at your wedding (you'll have the bill to prove it!). So why not dazzle the rowdy revelers with colorful rented barware? Or go for over-the-top opulence and construct an entirely new bar -- add bamboo, tropical parasols, and frozen drink machines. But whatever you do, don't disrupt the bartender's duties. Flowers on the bar will just get in the way.

13. Size up your tables

Peace-loving brides are turning to long banquet-style tables that evoke a more family-style feeling and lessen seating arrangement stress (a bit). If your room is more Marilyn than Twiggy, go for a mix of square and round tables in various sizes. Eclectic table arrangements allow you to seat groups of people much more easily because you're not stuck with 10 to a table.

14. Take care of the chairs

The challenge: oh-so-blah burgundy chairs. The solution: chair covers. There's nothing new about this idea, but funky fabrics are a great way to bedazzle a room. You could even dress your chairs with silk flowers, tulle, or leafy swags. Just make sure the seats are still comfortable to sit on!

15. Liven up the loo

Give bathroom-bound groups something to talk about. The restrooms will need a little attention, but you don't have to go overboard. Think subtle sophistication: A centerpiece-evoking flower arrangement (like bunches of sweet-smelling lavender in small vases or wildflowers bundled in baskets), heart-shape soaps, or monogrammed hand towels will go a long way. Spruce up the women's stalls with antique perfume bottles filled with your favorite scent, or a fragrance reminiscent of your bouquet.

16. Don't get lost

If your reception site will also be home to the ceremony and cocktail hour, make sure there's a natural flow between the spaces. Try to walk around with a partygoer's eye. You may need to design cute signs that direct guests to where they need to be or to point out the restrooms. Here's an idea: Attach your signs to a stake and stick them in big pots of darling wheatgrass for inexpensive, fun -- and funky -- markers.

17. Mind your manners

Much more than crumb-catchers, napkins are an easy way to add that extra little something to your reception tables. Using your wedding-day palette and choosing personalized napkin rings will definitely enhance the design, but we're hooked on the art of folding: From a springlike tulip fold to the more difficult pocket fold that holds your menu card, origami cloth treatments equal elegance.

reposted from the Knot