The Blog of a Burlington Wedding & Event Planner
15 Ideas for Mother-Son Dances
November 10th, 2009Think of traditional wedding dances and what comes to mind? First dance…father-daughter dance..what else? How about the mother-son dance?
Here my ‘kick at the can’ for 15 popular slecetions for mother-son songs:
1. Billy Joel – She’s Got A Way
2. James Taylor – How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
3. John Lennon – Woman
4. Nat King Cole – L-O-V-E
5. Andre Bocelli & Celine Dion – The Prayer
6. The Beatles – In My Life
7. Ben E King – Stand By Me
8. Celine Dion – Because You Loved Me
9. Jann Arden – Good Mother
10. Jerry Vaille – Mama (Italian)
11. Kenny Rogers – Through The Years
12. Elton John – Can You Feel The Love
13. Rod Stewart – Have I Told You Lately
14. Josh Grobin – You Raise Me Up
15. Enrique Eglasias – Hero
Thank You Cards…
October 2nd, 2009Viewed as a chore, a challenge, or possibly both, all wedding couples face the same daunting task of putting a pen to paper and writing out their thank you notes or cards. However, there are simple ways to make this essential after wedding task a breeze.
The key to thank you note writing is good organization and planning. Before you even being to open your gifts, make a list of all the people who you invited, including those who didn’t attend as they may still send a gift. Next to their name, make a column for their address, another column to check off if they attended the wedding, and a final column for you to jot down notes including what gift they gave to you. Keep this list handy, whether it is in an organization book or in your address book, you will need it to write out your thank you notes. This task is essential to ensure the right gift giver is thanked for the right gift.
Couples usually handle the opening of their wedding gifts in either one of two ways: either they open them the minute they arrive, or they wait until after the wedding and open the stack all at once. No matter which method you decide to open your gifts, use the list you made to check off who sent a gift and what the gift was. If it is something unique, make sure you jot it down on your list, this way it will refresh your memory when you actually write out your thank you notes. If two guests sent you a similar gift, but one was engraved, make not of that so you can mention that in your note. If writing down everything is too time consuming between gift opening, ask one of your wedding party attendants (who has legible handwriting) to help you.
When writing your thank you notes, not only thank them for the gift, but also thank them for attending your ceremony and being a part of your special day. If the gift giver travelled or had a special role in your ceremony, make sure you mention your gratitude first before thanking them for their gift. When writing your thank you notes, add a personal touch to them, specifically mentioning the gift they gave you and how you plan on using it. For example, “The crystal vase you gave us is beautiful and adds a wonderful sparkle to our dining room”, which is much more personal than, “Thank you for your thoughtful gift”. This personal touch will be noticed by your gift giving guests.
Timeliness is just as important as the note itself. Wedding thank you notes should be sent out no later than four weeks after the wedding. However, it is impossible to do so because many photographers can take months before your wedding photography is ready. In this case, make sure you mention the reason for the tardiness of your thank you note so people do not think the delay was due to tardiness or laziness.
The proper etiquette for thank you notes is a handwritten note. It may be time consuming task, but it is one that is very necessary. Your thank you note acknowledges both the person and the thought behind their gift.
Erica Tevis is the owner of Little Things Favors Little Things Wedding Favors. Visit them on the web and check out their large supply of wedding favors, themed favors, invitations, and wedding accessories.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Tevis
Music to Cut Cake By…
September 27th, 2009Cake cutting music? How ’bout these?!
1. Open Window – Sarah Harmer
2. When I’m 64 – The Beatles
3. Ice Cream – Sarah McLachlan
4. Sugar Sugar – The Archies
5. Love and Marriage – Frank Sinatra
6. Build Me Up Buttercup – The Foundations
7. The Sweetest Thing – U2
8. How Sweet It Is – James Taylor
9. I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher
10. You Make Me So Very Happy – Blood Sweat & Tears
Wedding Tradition – Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
September 27th, 2009You have probably heard the popular wedding tradition saying before, but not every bride to be knows exactly where it originated from or what the meaning behind the saying is. It is a darling saying and is one of the only wedding traditions in today’s society which makes some sense. It is a cute tradition – one which is performed to bring good luck to the newlywed couple.
The traditional saying is:
Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in her shoe.
A sixpence is a coin that was minted in Britain from 1551 to 1967. It was made of silver and worth six pennies. This wedding tradition can be traced back to England, and many sources say that it began sometime in the Victorian Era. Each item in this sort poem represents a good luck token for the bride – if she carries them, it is said her marriage will have good fortune.
Something Old: The old item has several different meanings, but one general theme: a link of continuity from the bride’s past. Some say this is a desire to remain connected with your family even after you established a family of your own. Other sources say it represents the life you are leaving behind. Another idea is that the tradition of family values and the connection family brings is being passed down to you. It is safe to say that all of these assumptions are correct; the bride is leaving behind her past to start a new beginning, but not to forget where she has been. Things you can use for the something old theme are: jewelry from your mother, grandmother or great-grandmother, an old wedding photo from your family, a love letter from your father to your mother, a picture of your parents in your purse, an old handkerchief, a childhood pillow to hold your rings, a piece of lace sewn into the hem of your gown.
Something New: means optimism and hope for the future. It conveys the message that you and your husband are creating a new union that will endure the test of time. Many brides choose to use their wedding gown, flowers or rings to symbolize the “something new” in this tradition.
Something Borrowed: Again, there are several meanings behind borrowing an item from a friend or relative. Some sources say borrowing something is borrowing happiness from a happily married woman, so that their happiness will carry over to the new bride. Other sources have said it is symbolizes the love and adoration you have for the person from whom you have borrowed the item from. If you borrow an item from your happily married grandmother or mother, you can fulfill both of these meanings. Doing this lets your parents (or grandparents) know that you admire their marriage and the respect they have for each other and that you hope to have an equally happy marriage. The borrowed item also signifies to the bride that she can always count on her friends and family for support. Items that can be used for the something borrowed theme could be: family jewelry, a prayer book from your mother or grandmother, strands of pearls, or your parent’s cake cutting set.
Something Blue: The color blue has been connected to weddings for centuries as a symbol of love, modesty, fidelity, good luck, purity and loyalty. Many brides incorporate this color into their clothing, by either wearing a blue stoned jewelry item or wearing a blue garter. However for a modern spin, you could use blue toe nail polish, blue eye shadow, a blue ribbon tied into your flowers, blue underwear, even wear light blue shoes! The possibilities are endless and limited only by your imagination.
A Lucky Sixpence: A sixpence in the bride’s shoe represents wealth and financial security. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be worn in the left shoe. This tradition may date back to the Scottish tradition of the groom placing a silver coin in his shoe for good luck. Many companies sell keepsake sixpence pieces for weddings.
Brides have been honoring the something old, new borrowed, blue tradition for centuries. Although these items are supposed to bring good luck to the bride, many brides are following this tradition to honor people close to them on their wedding day.
Erica Tevis is the owner of Little Things Favors Little Things Wedding Favors. Visit them on the web and check out their large supply of wedding favors, themed favors, invitations, and wedding accessories.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Tevis
A Bride’s Guide to Tipping Wedding Vendors
August 28th, 2009When planning your wedding, you may wonder how much of your budget to put aside for gratuities and tips. You may not be sure who gets tipped or how much is customary to tip. Be sure to read all contracts that you sign with your vendors to make sure that you are aware if tipping is optional (at your discretion) or contractual. Some vendor contracts will automatically add a certain percentage to your bill to cover the customary standard gratuity.
Here is a breakdown of who you should tip and how much you should tip. Note these are only standard guidelines, you may choose to add more for exceptional service. You should prepare envelopes with the proper amounts already in them, addressed to the proper vendors.
Rehearsal Dinner – 20 percent of the total bill, many restaurants will add this onto the bill on larger parties.
Hairstylist / Make Up Artist / Nail Technician – It is customary to tip 15 to 20 percent of the total cost and should be paid once services are completed.
Musicians for the Ceremony – Standard tipping is $20 to $25 dollars per musician and is expected at the end of the ceremony. The father of the bride or the best man presents the envelope to the musicians.
Officiant for the Ceremony – Customary of $100 and up, or make a donation to the church or synagogue in which you are getting married. This contribution can be in addition to or in lieu of a tip. If tipping, have the father of the bride or the best man hand the envelope to the officiant right after the rehearsal or the ceremony.
Delivery Truck Drivers / Reception Set Up – This could include the cake delivery and set up, the floral set up, decoration set up, tent set up, etc… if the set up staff who is setting up is not a part of the reception staff. It is customary to tip $5 to $25 dollars per person depending on the difficulty of the set up. The person accepting the delivery should hand out the tips. If you will not be there during delivery or set up, you should tip either before or after, to the appropriate vendor.
Reception Staff - normally is eighteen to twenty percent of the final reception bill. This amount of tipping may seem like a lot to pay, but remember this is divided among all the staff who worked your event. It is usually paid when the balance of your reception bill is paid and is normally included in your contract. You may choose to give added gratuity for exceptional service on the day of your event after the reception.
Reception Musicians or DJs – Customary to tip 5 to 20 percent of the total cost. The father of the bride or the best man presents the envelope to the musicians at the end of the ceremony. You would tip a band 5 percent per musician (20 percent total for 5 musicians) and a DJ up to 20 percent of the total cost.
Reception Hall Maitre d’ – $40 or more for each of these staff members, depending on the amount of guests and total reception bill. The father of the bride or the best man presents the envelope to the Maitre d’.
Reception Bartenders – In addition to the amount specified in the contract, 10% of the total bar bill should be tipped to the bartenders. Have the cash in envelopes in advance and have maitre d’ pass along the tip.
Powder Room / Coat Check / Parking Attendants – Should receive .50 cents to $1 per guest attending. Have the cash in envelopes in advance and have maitre d’ pass along the tip.
Transportation – It is customary to tip 20% of the total cost. Many limousine companies can offer you to pay in advance or to tip on the day the service is completed. Have the best man in charge of turning over the cash tip you prepared in advance.
Finally, the following vendors do not typically receive gratuities but you may certainly add them to the list if their service is outstanding: photographer, videographer, caterer, baker, jeweler, wedding consultant, seamstress, and florist.
Erica Tevis is the owner of Little Things Wedding Favors. Visit them on the web and check out their large supply of wedding favors, themed favors, invitations, and wedding accessories.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Tevis
Keeping Your Wedding $$$ Safe from Bankrupt Vendors
August 20th, 2009Recently, a new client brought a newspaper article to my attention. It was about a Toronto-based planning and decorating company, Affairs with Flair, who have recently gone bankrupt, leaving many couples with no refund and no promised services. Logically, this made my client nervous.
Today’s crazy economy and the thought of something like this happening to you on your wedding day are enough to make anyone worry. But it got me to thinking – How do couples protect themselves from something like this?
1. First and foremost – Make sure you have a contract. A contact with dates, details, responsibilities, payments, etc. signed by you and your potential wedding planner. Make sure their information – address, web site, GST number, etc., is included on the contract.
2. Make sure they are a real business. Not just doing this as a hobby or a part time basis. They should have a business license, GST number, etc. Are they part of the Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau, etc.? Do they have a real web site? Real businesses have to spend money to make money. Look for clues like how much advertising they are doing, how active they are, etc.
3. Ask for references. And actually contact the references. Ask questions – were they on time? Did they meet all obligations? Would they hire them again? Were there any surprises? You get the idea.
4. Go with your gut. If it feels fishy, it probably is. Listen to your instincts.
5. Ask how long they’ve been doing this. Experience speaks volumes. Those who have gone to school and have learned all about how to hypothetically handle wedding planning may not fair as well financially in the long run as those who have actual experience dealing with the highs and lows of real wedding planning.
I hope this helps. Its a horrible thing to have to worry about, especially on your wedding day!
By the way, I’ve been doing this for more than 10 years, have a GST number and belong to the Oakville Chamber of Commerce, in case you were wondering.
How to Establish Your Wedding Budget
August 10th, 2009No one likes budget talk. The fun of planning a wedding seems to evapourate pretty quickly when money talk rears its ugly head. But when it comes to a wedding, you have to know the dollars and cents of your planning.
One of the questions I get asked time and time again is “Am I spending too much?”. The answer really depends. Depends on what your overall budget is, what is important to you, how many guests you’re having, etc.
But there are those couples who are ‘foodies’ and MUST have great food at the reception. Or those who are passionate about music, for who a DJ won’t do. Those couple know that they are willing to devote a large chunk of their budget to getting the perfect details to suit their passions.
But many couples feel that yes, the food and music must be good but aren’t sure where to start in the budgeting process. For them, I would recommend the following breakdown by percent of their wedding budget:
Reception (45%)
Planner (12%)
Bride’s Attire (5%)
Photography (5%)
Flowers/Decor (5%)
Entertainment (5%)
Videographer (3%)
Transportation (3%)
Stationary/Invites (3%)
Wedding Rings (3%)
Wedding Gifts (3%)
Ceremony (2%)
Cake (1%)
Hair & Make-up (1%)
Groom’s Attire (1%)
Accessories (1%)
Accommodations (1%)
Miscellaneous (1%)
So for a wedding with a total budget of $25,000 it would look like this:
Reception (45%) – $11,250
Planner (12%) – $ 3,000
Bride’s Attire (5%) – $ 1,250
Photography (5%) – $ 1,250
Flowers/Decor (5%) – $ 1,250
Entertainment (5%) – $ 1,250
Videographer (3%) – $ 750
Transportation (3%) – $ 750
Stationary/Invites (3%) – $ 750
Wedding Rings (3%) – $ 750
Wedding Gifts (3%) – $ 750
Ceremony (2%) – $ 500
Cake (1%) – $ 250
Hair & Make-up (1%) – $ 250
Groom’s Attire (1%) – $ 250
Accessories (1%) – $ 250
Accommodations (1%) – $ 250
Miscellaneous (1%) – $ 250
And if the list above has things that you aren’t including, like a videographer, remove that line item and either add it to another category or put it back in the bank!
Hope this helps!
Wedding Toasts & Speeches – No Decoder Ring Required!
July 31st, 2009As you could imagine, I’ve been to a lot of weddings and have heard many toasts and speeches, both good and bad.
You can always tell who has done a little legwork in preparing their speech. Those that do use humour, love and plain old common sense.
I think the worst speech I have ever heard was from a groom’s brother, who proceeded to read a list of inside jokes that lasted (and I’m not exaggerating) at least 20 minutes (which is a LOOONNNGGG time when you are sitting ther listening). His list included things like ‘a red sock with a hole in it, chocolate chip cookies, road trip to Ottawa….’ and on and on it went. The only people who knew what heck he was talking about was the groom and maybe a few friends. The other 100+ guest just sat there waiting for the monotonous list to end.
So if I could offer a work of advise, make your speech or toast personal, but not so personal that you need a deocoder ring to understand it!
On that note, here are a few humourous/distinctive/smart quotes you might include in your speech:
“Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction” — Antoine de Saint-Exupery
“Do you, Marge, take Homer, in richness and in poorness” –poorness is underlined — “in impotence and in potence, in quiet solitude or blasting across the alkali flats in a jet-powered, monkey-navigated”… [consults the notecards] … and it goes on like this. — Homer Simpson
“There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.” — George Sand
“Your looks intoxicate me,
Even though your folks hate me,
There’s no one like you Elenore really,
Elenore gee I think you’re swell,
And you really do me well,
You’re my pride and joy etcetera.”
– The Turtles “Elenore”
“Later that day I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love the you you love, well, that’s just fabulous.” — Carrie, Sex & The City
“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” — Mignon McLaughlin
“When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” — Billy Crystal
“No, I don’t understand my husband’s theory of relativity, but I know my husband and I know he can be trusted.” — Elsa Einstein
“I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.” — Rita Rudner
“When you love someone, all your saved up wishes start coming out.” –Elizabeth Bowen
“You know that when I hate you, it is because I love you to a point of passion that unhinges my soul.” — Julie de Lespinasse
“The idea behind the tuxedo is the woman’s point of view that men are all the same, so we might as well dress them that way. That’s why a wedding is like the joining together of a beautiful, glowing bride and some guy. The tuxedo is a wedding safety device, created by women because they know that men are undependable. So in case the groom chickens out, everybody just takes one step over, and she marries the next guy.” — Jerry Seinfeld
Happy planning!
Part Seven – Seven Things to Cut From Your Wedding & Save Your Budget
July 29th, 2009Here is the last of seven tips of what to cut from your wedding budget that is unnecessary:
7. Saving The Top Layer of Your Wedding Cake for X… – The top layer of they wedding cake has traditionally been saved and not served to your guests. ‘Saved for what?’ you ask – well, it depends who you ask but its usually stuck in the freezer for at least a year. Often saved for your first wedding anniversary, or birth of your first baby, or their baptism. This tradition started a long time ago when cakes were make from fruit cake and had a glimmer of possibly, maybe surviving the long year.
Nowadays, not many people would not even consider fruit cake and often, the year old cake, certainly stale and likely freezer-burned taste pretty gross. So why do it? Why pay for that top layer so you can wrap it up, seal it in 3 ziplock freezer bags and a tupperware container only to throw it out in a year? Heres a better idea. Save the money and when the occasion comes around (first anniversary, first baby’s birth, etc.) make a special trip back to you baker and get a small replica make of your cake that you can enjoy while still fresh?
Hope these tips help! Happy planning!