So, can I just tell you how complicated it is to plan a wedding in Utah when the bride is in Idaho, the groom is in Canada, and the bride's mom is in Florida?
We did have some success in our whirlwind wedding planning adventure last weekend. We were successful in the search for a dress, a photographer, and a venue for the reception.
I was somewhat surprised at the number of vendors who told us we were coming late to the party, given that BD#2 has only been engaged for 2 weeks. Still, I think it can be done, and done well, even on a budget.
Now we need -
a caterer (complete with linens, china, silverware, etc.)
a wedding cake (and groom's cake)
flowers
bridesmaid's dresses
decorations for the reception venue and food tables
So, I'd love it if you would share your recommendations for any of the above.
Now, for the fun part...
Several weeks ago, before all the wedding madness began, I promised another giveaway from all my Quilt Market loot. So here's your chance. If you leave me a comment, you will have a chance to win a mini charm pack of Aneela Hoey's Little Apples, along with the instructions to make the cute embroidered pillow from Quilt Market (you can see the pillow on my daughter's blog, here). Adorable, huh?
So, if you live in the Salt Lake area, and you can recommend a baker or florist or caterer, that would be so very helpful. (It's really hard to choose if you aren't from the area and don't know ANYONE, by reputation, or otherwise.) If you don't have recommendations for those, how about a great tip for an elegant and inexpensive idea for table decorations or for the space itself (indoors or out) - think large space and blank canvas.
So, please leave a comment with your recommendation, suggestion, or hint. If you're a follower, or become a follower, you can leave another comment for a second chance to win. This Giveaway will close Saturday night at midnight, and I'll draw the winner sometime Sunday afternoon.
Thanks for your help, everyone! I'm looking forward to some great new ideas!
PS: Be sure I have a way to contact you if you win... If you're a "no-reply" blogger, I don't have a way to contact you.
I have planned two out of three daughter’s Weddings. One is only 15, we have a while yet! Last summer our middle daughter got married at the Zoo. It was so much fun. Appetizers in the great ape house. (had AC) a tram ride and then a beautiful banquet hall over looking the zoo. We had a candy buffet and she choose the colors yellow and pink, so all the candy was in that color scheme. I also made pink and yellow napkins for the reception. They made there own invitations, and they were so pretty. For out of town guests we made hotel bags full of goodies. A basket for each of the bathrooms at the reception, full of necessitates. Band-Aids, safety pins, breath mints, disposable toothbrush, hairpins, etc. Hope that helps a little, it is such a fun time, remember to enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteMy sister has done several out of area weddings. I live in Idaho and she planned my wedding in Hawaii. Another good friend of mine got married here in Idaho and she planned it from California. You could call her for advise. http://www.staceyandcompany.com/ Hope she can hep!
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't have any recommendations, however, I read the blog of a lovely young lady from Salt Lake City who loves to promote her city. She blogs at cjanerun.com perhaps you could shoot her an email. She is very knowledgeable in all things "party and celebration". Good luck and have fun!
ReplyDeleteFor my daughters wedding last summer we made origami flowers for all the tables. We covered crystal light containers with scrapbook paper in coordinating colors to use as the vases. Then we hot glued the flowers to the heads of pens and placed them in the vases,guests took them as wedding favors when the reception was over!
ReplyDeleteAt a wedding last year the path to the marquee was edged with paper bags of sand with a tealight - so effective!
ReplyDeleteI'm a follower!
ReplyDeleteFor my previous comment the anti-spam(?) word was bless!!
Just remember that your guests still need to see each other - I always find it awkward to have tall flower arrangements that are beautiful, but makes it so that I can't see who is on the other side of the table.
ReplyDeleteI can't help with the caterers etc, but for my table decorations I hired some round glass mirrors, places a single bud vase on top with some fake pearls in blues and creams in them and a white lily (real) as lillies were part of my wedding flowers. I then added some little tealights in IKEA tealight holders and a scattering of black hearts (my colours were ivory, black and blue). This was cheap - no massive floristry bill as it was just 8 single stem lilies, effective and didn't clutter up the table - I agree with Sarah W about guests wanting to see each other, also remember the women will have bags and everyone will have cameras etc so they need to put their stuff on the table, add to that favours, place cards, menus, wine glasses and food and it doesn't leave much room!
ReplyDeleteI can't help since I am on the other side of the world! My brother did all my flowers and table centre pieces, it was certainly economical!
ReplyDeleteI am a follower too!
ReplyDeleteI did all of the flowers for my own wedding. I bought 250 roses from http://www.bigrose.com/. It cost me 200$ for all the roses. For the tables I arranged them in vases bought at Ikea and I did simple bouquets for myself and for my matron of honour. It's a bit of work, but totally worth it for the price and selection of colours they have!
ReplyDeleteI'm a new follower!
ReplyDeleteI have no suggestions. Other than my own wedding 24 years ago, I haven't planned any. I suppose silk roses are out now? I think they went the way of big hair & bows on the behinds of our dresses, thank goodness! I can't wait to hear more of he plans unfold
ReplyDeleteoh and I am a follower, would love to make Aneela's pillow, been eyeing up her embroidery patterns!
ReplyDeleteWhen our DD got married, we gave her a set amount of money. That way she could decide how to spend it - if there was any left over, she got to keep it. If she went over, she had to pay the difference.
ReplyDeleteI'm a follower. Thanks for the giveaway. The pillow is so cute!
ReplyDeletePhew, sounds totally exhausting but what an amazing thing to do...there are so many choices to make...as for me I had restrictions of time and budget...had to be resourceful but it all came together beautifully in the end and it wasn't my doing...things just fell into place, e.g.Prior to my engagement I had purchased 30 meters of a textured cream fabric at Ikea for next to nothing, glory to God, which covered my tables and that was only the beginning...my sister a trained photographer was able to take the pearl of wedding album even the day itself was heavenly so I'm trusting the same will happen for you and that choices will not be a stress but a delight if love has anything to do with it. It will be just wonderful, remember to relax and float a little between the hard yards.
ReplyDeleteOn your list!
ReplyDeleteFor simple we have done a single gerber daisy that is tall and stylish. Also for a relaxed rehearsal setting, a simple terracotta pot with a linen napkin in the color and then a geranium.
ReplyDeleteTry not to worry, everything usually falls into place at the last minute with these things. Calm calm calm :) PLease enter me in the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteYou know, sometimes good dollar stores are a lifesaver for vases, decorative colored stones, etc.
ReplyDeleteWell, we got married in Houston, but very similar situation... I was in Idaho and he was in Utah!!! 4 month engagement. -- I would suggest renting out a neighborhood club or we did ours at a golf clubhouse and they catered... my mom went that route for us because she did my sister's wedding at a church building and it was A LOT of work. HOWEVER, having lived in Utah, I know that you can find photographers pretty cheaply who actually let you have all the digital prints! It might be worth doing your own flowers or asking around for a cheap florist because those were expensive! Also, we bought our invitations blank and had them printed ourselves and that saved us a lot. We also bought our favor supplies (small boxes and ribbons, etc.) from Uline.com. They were cheap. Hope this helps! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteAn idea for memories is to have fabric leaves and flowers cut out and pens so people can write something to the couple on the day and it can be made into a quilt or pillows or wall hanging later...
ReplyDeletefor the centrepieces, raid your neighbours recycling and spray paint wine and beer bottles and then use them as vases for single flowers or as candle holders...
Oh! Another idea... don't count this one as an entry though since I already entered LOL... buy some glass paint and wine glasses from the dollar store... paint the guests names on them (double as place settings and as a gift)
ReplyDeleteSome of the best wedding I have been to were the simplest where it wsa about the people and not about the stuff. I think simple table linens with a low arrangement of flowers and maybe a few low candles surrounding. That way the guests can see each other.
ReplyDeleteColleen, cyarnell@mindspring.com
BTW anyone having trouble commenting uncheck remeber me when you log in.
My neice recently got married and they got the cake from Giant Eagle. It was very pretty and so much cheaper! Don't forget the grocery store bakeries!
ReplyDeleteOf course I am a follower!
ReplyDeleteBTW Gorgeous Dress!
I have an idea as you are in the Salt Lake City area
ReplyDeletewhy don't you create a salt lake on the tables with little mirrors (water) salt and pebbles and somme green plants or leaves
I did something similar on my brothers wedding and it was a big success
and I'm a follower
ReplyDeleteWIsh I could help you, but I don't live in the area. Good luck with the wedding plans. Please enter me in your giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI'm not from your area so I can't make suggestions (although I do empathize with you having people from all over). I can, however, offer a tip. Designate a photo area. Not to say that photos can't be taken wherever. Rather, it's a place that will be free from people walking in the background, bumping into you or having to duck around obstacles. One of those wired arches with satin draping the back and the front and sides of the arch decorated with tulle, ivy and flowers makes such an inviting area and the pictures are beautiful. Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a follower too. Thanks for the chance!!
ReplyDeleteI have been wracking my brain for ideas just so I could get my hands on that fabric....for my wedding, my mother made little topiaries (styrofoam balls with dried flowers glued to them atop dowels painted white for trunks with ribbons tied at the top of the dowel hanging down. They rested in a terracota pot filled with moss.) I think simple potted plants would be nice too.
ReplyDeleteI follow!
ReplyDeleteI'm a Florida girl, so no suggestions, but I'd love to win some cute little Apples! :)
ReplyDeleteFollower! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lovely giveaway! good luck w/ the wedding. I am in Mich. so sorry - no help :(
ReplyDeletei am a follower too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great giveaway! While I don't have any vendor recommendations (I live in California), have you considered incorporating moss into your centerpieces? I recently saw a beautiful moss-wrapped vase that would look lovely at a wedding: http://pinterest.com/pin/40334696/
ReplyDeleteIm already a happy follower :)
ReplyDeleteI've been to a good share of weddings and there was one that had the cutest idea of having a candy table. The wedding colors were this Tiffany's blue and white and black, and they got a bunch of little chinese take-out looking boxes painted in those colors and put a sticker on them with the happy couple's initials and this really elegant design. Then, they had all of these containers filled with blue, white, and black candies (I know on the M&M's website you can order candies of one or two certain colors). So, all of their guests were able to fill up a little box with candies to take home with them, and the boxes were cute enough to keep and re-use if they wanted. I talked to the bride about the great idea and she said that it wasn't very expensive at all, and all the guests really seemed to like it!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the wedding planning!
I'm sorry even though my inlaws live in Park City I don't know the area so well... But I DO know that the best mexican restaurant I've EVER been to (including mexico :) is El Chubasco in Park City.
ReplyDeleteFor our wedding we did big bouquets of farmer's market flowers (gerber daisies, Lily's, HUGE amounts of color!, random assortment of flowers) in big Ball mason canning jars. The effect was so stunning against white table cloths!
For favors? We did locally picked apples (picked by us!) and jars of local honey. The baskets of apples looked great as did the little jars of honey. My favorite part of the wedding, the one that I'd do over and over again is the favors, I was so happy with them!
At my reception, we used ribbon and fake ivy as centerpiece/table runners (we only had 8' long tables for everything). We got engaged at Thanksgiving and married in May, so after Christmas I pored through stores for post-holiday sales on both. A crew of us did all the decorating the day before to keep it cheap. One or two globe candle holders with sand and a tealight candle were on each tale too.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't mind about matching everything perfectly, freecycle can be a great way to gather supplies too!
I would not be of much help from Florida - however, my favorite wedding favor ever was a small tin tied with a ribbon and filled with minty candies. After the candy was long gone, we are still using the little tins for our quilting items - presser feet, pins, buttons, all kinds of things fit in them. LOL
ReplyDeleteI had a fall themed wedding, so we filled large glass bowls and vases with red apples, used garlands of fall leaves, and had tons of warm toned candles. We even made travel candles in small gold tins as favors for all our guests. Good luck with the wedding preparations!
ReplyDeleteI moved to CT from Cape Cod, MA. I was supposed to get married on a beach here, but family illness moved the wedding date back to make that impossible. We recreated a beach here at the house (trucked in TONS of sand LOL) and had a beach theme. Our centerpieces were very simply mason jars with sand & shells and a votive or tealight. Simple, but easy enough to change out and dress up or down. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteMy sister just got engaged & we're thinking about using those big, round paper lanterns to add atmosphere to a barn reception :)
ReplyDelete