Wedding Ideas

Wedding Reception Checklist

Posted by ACM on Mar 6, 2012 in Wedding Ideas | 0 comments

After helping many couples with their receptions, we have put together a list of mandatory items that should be considered when putting together a wedding reception.  Making sure you are organized and keeping an open line of communication with your vendors is key to a successful event.

Twelve to Nine Months Before

• Start a wedding folder or binder.  Begin leafing through bridal, lifestyle, fashion, gardening, design, and food magazines for inspiration.
• Work out your budget. Determine how much you have to spend, based on your families’ contributions and your own.
• Pick your wedding party. As soon as you’re engaged, people will start wondering who’s in.
• Start the guest list. Make a head count database to use throughout your planning process, with columns for contact info, RSVPs, gifts, and any other relevant information. (Want to keep costs low? The best way to do it is to reduce your guest list.)
• Hire a planner, if desired. A planner will have relationships with—and insights about—vendors.
• Reserve your date and venues. Decide whether to have separate locations for the ceremony and the reception, factoring in travel time between the two places.
• Book your officiant.
• Research photographers, bands, florists, and caterers. Keep their contact information in your binder.

Eight Months Before

• Hire the photographer and the videographer. No need to talk specifics yet, but be sure that the people you hire are open to doing the shots that you want.
• Book the entertainment. Attend gigs of potential acts to see how they perform in front of audiences, then reserve your favorite.
• Meet caterers. If your wedding venue doesn’t offer its own catering service, look for one now and hire the service this month or early next.
• Purchase a dress. You’ll need to schedule time for at least three fittings. Veil shopping can be postponed for another two to three months.
• Reserve a block of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests. Pick three hotels at different price points close to the reception venue.
• Register. Sign up at a minimum of three retailers.
• Launch a wedding website. Create your personal page through a free provider such as weddingwire.com. Note the date of the wedding, travel information, and accommodations. Then send the link to invitees.

Seven to Six Months Before

• Select and purchase invitations. Hire a calligrapher, if desired. Addressing cards is time-consuming, so you need to budget accordingly.
• Start planning a honeymoon. Make sure that your passports are up-to-date, and schedule doctors’ appointments for any shots you may need.
• Shop for bridesmaids’ dresses. Allow at least six months for the dresses to be ordered and sized.
• Meet with the officiant. Map out the ceremony and confirm that you have all the official documents for the wedding (these vary by county and religion).
• Send save-the-date cards.
• Reserve structural and electrical necessities. Book portable toilets for outdoor events, extra chairs if you need them, lighting components, and so on.
• Book a florist. Florists can serve multiple clients on one day, which is why you can wait a little longer to engage one. Plus, at this point, you’ll be firm on what your wedding palette will be.
• Arrange transportation. Consider limos, minibuses, trolleys, and town cars. (But know that low-to-the-ground limos can make entries and exits dicey if you’re wearing a fitted gown.)
• Start composing a day-of timeline. Draw up a schedule of the event and slot in each component (the cake-cutting, the first dance, what the guests will be doing during pictures).

Five to Four Months Before

• Book the rehearsal and rehearsal-dinner venues. Negotiate the cost and the menu. If you’re planning to host a day-after brunch for guests, book that place as well.
• Check on the wedding invitations. Ask the stationer for samples of the finished invitations and revise them to suit your needs.
• Select and order the cake. Some bakers require a long lead time. Attend several tastings before committing to any baker.
• Send your guest list to the host of your shower. Provided you, ahem, know about the shower.
• Purchase wedding shoes and start dress fittings. Bring the shoes along to your first fitting so the tailor can choose the appropriate length for your gown.
• Schedule hair and makeup artists. Make a few appointments with local experts to try them out. Snap a photo at each so you can compare results.
• Choose your music. What should be playing when the wedding party is announced? During dinner? To kick off the dancing? Keep a running list of what you want—and do not want—played.

Three Months Before

• Finalize the menu and flowers. You’ll want to wait until now to see what will be available, since food and flowers are affected by season.
• Order favors, if desired. Some safe bets: monogrammed cookies or a treat that represents your city or region. If you’re planning to have welcome baskets for out-of-town guests, plan those now too.
• Make a list of the people giving toasts. Which loved ones would you like to have speak at the reception? Ask them now.
• Finalize the readings. Determine what you would like to have read at the ceremony—and whom you wish to do the readings.
• Purchase your undergarments. And schedule your second fitting.
• Finalize the order of the ceremony and the reception.
• Print menu cards, if you like, as well as programs. No need to go to a printer, if that’s not in your budget: You can easily create these on your computer.
• Purchase the rings. This will give you time for resizing and engraving.
• Send your event schedule to the vendors. Giving them a first draft now allows ample time for tweaks and feedback.

Two Months Before

• Touch base again with all the vendors. Make sure any questions you or they had on your first draft have been answered.
• Meet with the photographer. Discuss specific shots, and walk through the locations to note spots that appeal to you.
• Review the playlist with the band or deejay. Though you probably won’t be able to dictate every single song played, you should come prepared with a wish list.
• Send out the invitations. The rule of thumb: Mail invitations six to eight weeks before the ceremony, setting the RSVP cutoff at three weeks after the postmark date.
• Enjoy a bachelorette party. Arranging a night out with your girlfriends generally falls to the maid of honor. But if she hasn’t mentioned one to you by now, feel free to ask—for scheduling purposes, of course!—if a celebration is in the works.

One Month Before

• Enter RSVPs into your guest-list database. Phone people who have not yet responded.
• Get your marriage license. The process can take up to six days, but it’s good to give yourself some leeway. If you are changing your name, order several copies.
• Mail the rehearsal-dinner invitations.
• Visit the dressmaker for (with luck!) your last dress fitting. For peace of mind, you may want to schedule a fitting the week of your wedding. You can always cancel the appointment if you try on the dress then and it fits perfectly.
• Stock the bar. Now that you have a firm head count you can order accordingly.
• Send out as many final payments as you can.
• Confirm times for hair and makeup and all vendors.
• E-mail and print directions for drivers of transport vehicles. This gives the chauffeurs ample time to navigate a route.
• Assign seating. Draw out table shapes on a layout of the room to help plan place settings. Write the names of female guests on pink sticky notes and the names of male guests on blue sticky notes so you can move people about without resketching the entire setting.
• Purchase bridesmaids’ gifts. You’ll present them at the rehearsal dinner.
• Write vows, if necessary.
• Get your hair cut and colored, if desired.

Week of the Wedding

• Reconfirm arrival times with vendors.
• Delegate small wedding-day tasks. Choose someone to bustle your dress, someone to carry your things, someone to be in charge of gifts (especially the enveloped sort), someone to hand out tips, and someone to be the point person for each vendor.
• Send a timeline to the bridal party. Include every member’s contact information, along with the point people you’ve asked to deal with the vendors, if problems arise.
• Pick up your dress. Or make arrangements for a delivery.
• Check in one last time with the photographer. Supply him or her with a list of moments you want captured on film.
• Set aside checks for the vendors. And put tips in envelopes to be handed out at the event.
• Book a spa treatment. Make an appontment for a manicure and a pedicure the day before the wedding. (You might want to get a stress-relieving massage, too.)
• Send the final guest list to the caterer and all venues hosting your wedding-related events. Typically, companies close their lists 72 hours in advance.
• Break in your shoes.
• Assemble and distribute the welcome baskets.
• Pack for your honeymoon.

2012 Spring Wedding Colors

Posted by ACM on Feb 22, 2012 in Wedding Ideas | 0 comments

With the spring wedding season upon us,  Anderson’s Country Manor, your vintage inspired wedding venue, wanted to take the time to look at this years color trends for Spring 2012.

According to Pantone’s report, some of the standout shades for spring include:

Tangerine Tango - an enticing juicy orange, is a vivacious and appealing refresher to enliven anyone’s outlook this spring.

Solar Power – a deep, but bright shade of yellow, radiates warmth and cheer.

Sodalite Blue -  a classic maritime hue, brings order and calmness to mind. Like an anchor to a ship, this dependable shade works with every color in the palette.

Cabaret –  is a sensual and intense rosy-red — an excellent choice for summer clothing and cosmetics.

Cockatoo -  a tactile blue-green, is sure to make your spirits soar. This unusual hue adds a whimsical touch to the palette and will surely make a statement this spring.

Bellflower, a distinct ornamental purple, exudes uniqueness and creativity.

Sweet Lilac evokes the fresh scents of summer. This delicate pinkish lilac adds a touch of romance to any wardrobe.

Margarita - a piquant yellow-green, lifts spirits with its refreshing and stimulating glow. Reminiscent of a blossoming garden on an early spring morning, fragrant Sweet Lilac evokes the fresh scents of summer. This delicate pinkish lilac adds a touch of romance to any wardrobe.

Driftwood - an adaptable blend of beige and gray with a slightly weathered feel.

Starfish is a perfect warm summer neutral.

For an ultra-bold vibrant wedding look this spring, try mixing Bellflower with Tangerine Tango and Cabaret.

Combine Margarita with Sweet Lilac and Cockatoo for a subtle alternative, or combine Margarita with Sweet Lilac and Driftwood for a more practical variation. Solar Power is best juxtaposed with Sodalite Blue. For a safer bet, add a natural neutral like Starfish to the mix.”

So, practically speaking, how can these trendy colors be incorporated into your wedding look? The sky is the limit! Invitations and save the date cards can give your guests the first clue about the featured colors for your event.

Next, visit your florist with swatches of your favorite shades. She will most likely be able to suggest the best floral interpretation of your dream palette!

Venues will be able to advise you about color options for table linens, chair sashes, table scaping and lighting. You might be surprised to learn just how many fabulous colors are really available!

Even food can be colorful! Talk to your cake designer about creating a colorful masterpiece in your selected hues. Even candy buffet artists can base their work completely on color preference!

Finally, color can (and should) be utilized in your bridal party’s fashion choices! If you cannot select just one color, create a beautiful palette by putting bridesmaids in different colored dresses! How about Tangerine Tango, Solar Power and Cabaret for a bold, citrus-y look or Cockatoo, Margarita, and Sweet Lilac for a more subdued, sophisticated look? Of course, the groomsmen’s accessories could be selected in colors to match!

Don’t be afraid to embrace unique colors and combinations when planning your wedding, it can truly allow you to create a memorable visual masterpiece!

Source for color descriptions and information on Pantone: Pantone Fashion Color Report, Spring 2012.

Andersons Country Manor Vintage Wedding

Posted by farmhouse on Oct 7, 2011 in Outdoor Weddings, Spotlight, Wedding Ideas | 0 comments

Anderson’s Country Manor was the perfect setting for a Spring Vintage Themed Wedding. The bride was stunning in her form fitting bridal silk gown with details like her hand tied rose bouquet that was adorned with her great grand mother’s vintage cameo. Her feathered fascinator and rhinestone shoes polished off the look.  The groom and his grooms men wore matching tuxes in black and turquoise.  The ceremony was held in a backdrop of green under our gazebo adorned with sheers and antique shutters. Harpist VeeRonna Ragone provided a beautiful rendition of “Marry Me” by Train for the couple’s wedding march. The couple’s photo session at Anderson’s Country Manor included some breathtaking shots in our 2 acre orange grove.

The reception included touches of antiques from books, an old type writer, bird cages, clocks and succulents. The dessert table filled with cupcakes, brownies and lemon bites was a hit with the kids. The couple decided to go low key and brought in barbecue and homemade root beer. The night was finished off with a Barn Dance to the music of “Take Cover”.  Guests went home with Smores Bags filled with Chocolate, Grahams and Marshmallows. It was a beautiful day and magical night for Ross and Carey.  Thank you to all the vendors Hootie Hoo Photography, Take Cover, and Hey Bartender.

Gazebo Wedding Decoration Ideas

Posted by farmhouse on Jul 7, 2011 in Outdoor Weddings, Wedding Ideas | 0 comments

This singular architectural element adds drama and prestige, intimacy, focus, and shade to even the most modest gazebo wedding ceremony.

But the elements of a gazebo are only the beginning.

When you’re ready for the little touches, those that reflect your presence and personality, you’ll want creative ideas for adding unique embellishments and decorative gazebo wedding accessories.

So what could be more creative, dramatic, unique and decorative than a white dove release as your gazebo wedding grand finale?

And trust me. You cannot make a mistake with garlands, wreaths, and tulle.

Add a crystal chandelier. Create a high end atmosphere using outdoor decorative lighting, along with white fabric flowers on the trellis supports, and flowering container gardens all around.

The fabric flowers, garlands, wreaths, and tulle dress up a gazebo and soften its edges all while hiding its imperfections like nothing else.

Garland and wreaths also make useful foundations for a theme gazebo wedding.

A fall gazebo wedding might call for the artful placement of pumpkins and other bounty coordinated with fall leaves peppering the garland and sprinkled down the aisle.

Use flowers of the period like gladiolus, mums, lilies, and gardenias.

Then dress the wedding gazebo posts and rafters with strings of faux pearls.

And any gazebo wedding decorations worth their weight ought to be able to easily function as a reception area.
Then add a round table dressed with elegant table linens and topped with a wedding cake.

Hang lighting from the gazebo roof and rafters.

And wrap string lights around the gazebo posts.

Votives, candle pillars, gazebo lights, and other decorative outdoor lighting fixtures add elegance and ambiance for guest and better light for your wedding photographer.

Decorate gazebo wedding tulle with appliques, flowers, and bows in your wedding theme colors.

Use tulle as you would any gazebo netting.

Tulle draped across a gazebo frame, then gathered and tied at each post gives even the most inexpensive gazebo that wow factor your gazebo wedding decorations need.

Whatever your dream gazebo wedding, start an idea file. And let it serve as inspiration for you and direction for your gazebo wedding planner.

Some of your ideas, especially if you desire high end wedding gazebo, might seem out of reach. But but with a realistic schedule and budget and the right gazebo wedding decorations, you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve. Anderson’s Country Manor can help you achieve the wedding of your dreams. Contact us for a personal tour of our grounds a consultation to help you put together the perfect day.

At Anderson’s Country Manor, we believe there is no one fit’s all package for every couple, we help you develop all the elements that will fit your desires and budget.

Congrats and good luck!

Rustic Wedding Theme Ideas

Posted by farmhouse on Mar 21, 2011 in Outdoor Weddings, Wedding Ideas | Comments Off

Rustic wedding theme ideas add a casual country flair to your big day. Provide a shabby chic atmosphere, a southern-style hoedown or a simply elegant wedding look with rustic ideas which incorporate unique floral, decor and design elements. A rustic wedding theme is very budget-friendly, and a good solution for do-it-yourself (DIY) brides who want to use a lot of homemade items and ideas.

Rustic Wedding Colors
To bring your rustic ideas to life, choose a color palette that fits with the wedding theme. Earth tones in deep yellow, gold, sage, celadon, rust, tan and cinnamon are perfect when you want to create a rustic, country look. Neutral earth tones still create bold pops of color, and match well with rustic flowers and decor.

Rustic Venues
The setting of your rustic wedding is every bit as important as the theme itself. It might be hard to create a rustic look at an elegant cathedral, so choose a venue that will match well with your wedding ideas. Look for local barns and open fields where you can bring your rustic theme to life. Natural scenery creates a stunning visual element, giving you a palette from which to work with all your other ideas and design elements. Anderson’s Country Manor provide the natural scenery that will compliment your rustic theme.

Rustic Flowers
Choose flowers with large blossoms and petals that naturally grow in earthy colors to create a rustic look in your floral arrangements and bouquets. Flowers which are associated with natural gardens, as opposed to hothouse blooms, create a more natural, rustic look. Sunflowers, black-eyed susans, daisies and lupine can help bring your rustic theme to life.

Place floral arrangements in watering cans, baskets, mason jars and clay pots to add another decorative country element. Add dragonflies and butterflies to bouquets and arrangements to include more rustic touches. Clusters of berries create another natural style element in bouquet and floral arrangements.

Flowers aren’t the only way to create a country, rustic theme for your wedding. Corn stalks, dried earns of corn, pumpkins, apples, cinnamon sticks and sprigs of lavender are easy to find, affordable and attractive. Wheat stalks and branches add more rustic elements to your decor.

Reception Ideas
Your wedding event isn’t limited to the ceremony alone, so carry the rustic theme to your reception as well. Create a picnic, barbecue or potluck-style dinner with iced tea and apple cider to give guests a relaxed, down-home rustic feeling. Red and white checkered tablecloths will help bring the rustic theme home. Cornbread, apple pies, pulled pork and other country favorites should be included on the menu. After-dinner square dancing and bluegrass music will add even more rustic elements to your wedding reception.

Your rustic wedding theme should incorporate simple decor. Place floating candles in clay pots, and fill mason jars with popcorn or dried beans to create pretty country decorations. Use baskets and natural fruit (apples, cherries and pears) to make unique centerpieces. Anderson’s Country Manor, an outdoor event and wedding venue in Mesa, Arizona can provide a beautiful setting for your rustic wedding ideas.  Contact us today to schedule your private tour. 480-202-9574

Hand Blessing – Wedding Ceremony

Posted by farmhouse on Mar 3, 2011 in Wedding Ideas | Comments Off

Couple  face each other.  Join your right palms and then left palms.This forms the “infinity symbol” with your hands. Meaning that your love will go on forever.

Shakespeare said, ” Now join your hands, and with your hand’s your hearts”.

Look into each other”s eyes and read the following:

These are the hands of my best friend. They are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear and grief wracks your mind.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

May these hands always reach out with love, tenderness and respect.

May these hands continue to build a loving relationship that lasts a lifetime.

With eyes locked, and hands linked, this blessing is a beautiful symbol of the union of two hearts, two lives and two souls.