The 6 People You Don't Want to Be at a Wedding|Wedding Guest Etiquette

~The 6 People You Don't Want to Be at a Wedding|Wedding Guest Etiquette is a guest blog post from New Creations Weddings ~

The rules of guest wedding etiquette have undoubtedly evolved over the generations. Some rules have been tweaked and others have been completely thrown out of the window. However, there are still several that are not up for debate. Frustratingly, we continue to see many of these unmannerly moves over and over again and we think it’s time for a lesson in proper decorum. If you will be attending a wedding this Summer, listen up!

To be a model wedding guest, DON’T be these 6 people:

Photo by Tony Asgari Photography

1. Don't be the Non-RSVPer

If you don’t RSVP, there is a chance there won't be a seat or a meal for you. Just showing up can make things awkward for everyone. The couple has most likely made it very easy for you to respond via response card including addressed envelope and postage. Alternatively, they may have created a customized email address for collecting RSVPs. It is important to respond the way the Bride & Groom have requested. It's possible they have someone else collecting RSVPs for them and that person shouldn’t have to hunt down your RSVP across all mediums. 

REMINDER: mention any dietary restrictions at the time of RSVP. Every catering company that we have worked with is happy to accommodate you as long as they have the advanced notice. They will not be very happy if you bring up your gluten allergy as dinner is being served. 

Photo by Affinity Photography

2. Don’t be the guest that shows up with a +1 or children that were not specifically invited

If the Bride & Groom have allotted you a +1, the invitation will be addressed to you and your guest’s name or to you “and guest”. Don’t just assume that you are allowed to bring a +1 and don’t ask the couple if it is okay to bring someone after you have received an invitation. Deciding on the guest list can be one of the most difficult tasks during the wedding planning process. The couple may have had to cut out family members or friends and there's a chance there were tears over it so know that their decision was deliberate. 

When it comes to kids at weddings, preferences are across the board. As a general rule, the invitation will be addressed to the entire family if it is okay to bring your children. If your whole family is not invited or the invitation requests no kids, respect that. Your children are not the exception despite how cute and well behaved they may be. Call up Grandma or a babysitter and treat the wedding as a date night!

Photo from Pinterest

3. Don’t be Mr. or Ms. Too Casual

You know the old saying, “It is better to be overdressed, than under-dressed.”? Well, it’s still true. Be sure to pay attention to to the invitation. Attire is typically stated there. Please don’t wear whatever you feel like wearing. This is the Bride & Groom’s day, not yours. Use this an excuse to get dressed up! Below are some easy-to-follow guidelines.

Black Tie: Gentlemen, you will be going in a black tuxedo and ladies, a long-mid length gown for you

Formal: A suit for the gentlemen. We recommend a long-mid length gown, your classiest cocktail dress or dressy separates for the ladies

Semi-formal: Gentlemen, this is where you can play around with it a little bit. Wear a suit but feel free to rock it without a tie or without the jacket. Ladies, think Sunday best or cocktail attire. Cocktail attire does not mean club wear! Be mindful of the fit, length of skirt, the neckline, etc. (See photo above.)

Casual: For the love of all that is Holy, put the jeans back in your closet. We don’t care who’s wedding you are going to, whether it is at a beach or in a backyard--gentlemen, put on some khakis or linen pants. They are equally as, if not more, comfortable than jeans. Pair with a polo or casual button down. Ladies, just keep it classy!

Photo by Angela & Evan Photography

4. Don’t be the Late-comer

There is a common misconception that weddings always start late. (Obviously these people have never been to one of our weddings.) Always try to arrive 10 minutes earlier than the invite time. Again, this is the couple’s day, not yours. If the ceremony does happen to start a few minutes late (because things do happen) and you have to wait on them, fine but they should never have to wait on you! If you do show up after the ceremony has begun, wait until the processional is over and quietly sneak up a side aisle. 

Something to note--unless the invitation specifically states that you were only invited to the reception, you were invited to both so you should attend both! This is a special day for the couple and they invited you because they want to share it with you. Despite what you may think, they WILL notice your absence. 

Photo by Crozier Photography

5. Don’t Play the Amateur Photographer

Some couples do encourage photos with special hashtags, etc. but if you are not sure whether you should have your phone out or not, err on the side of caution--turn it off and live in the moment. If you do decide to snap a few shots, do so discretely. Please, NO IPADS and do not lean into the aisle or stand up to take a picture. We know you have the best intentions but the Bride & Groom probably spent a small fortune to hire a professional photographer. Don’t give the photographer the tedious task of photo-shopping out you or your giant tablet.

Photo by Tony Asgari Photography

6. Don’t be the 1st one to the dessert dar

There has been a surge in the popularity of dessert bars over the past few years so I know this one can be a little confusing but the same old rule applies. The dessert bar does not open until the Bride & Groom have cut the cake. The couple doesn’t want to take photos in front of a half picked through table. Quite often, this is the first time they will be seeing the dessert bar and/or cake that day. Some couples will opt to do a separate cake and dessert table and will allow guest to eat dessert first but wait for an announcement or an okay from the catering staff before you dig in. If you are not sure, wait!

Bottom line--don’t be a jerk (consciously or unconsciously), follow these guidelines and most importantly have fun celebrating. 

If you are a Bride or Groom that needs assistance planning your big day and hosting your, now perfectly polite, guests contact New Creations for a free consultation today!

Cheers and happy planning!

First thing to do if you're newly engaged

First thing to do if you're newly engaged is a guest blog post by Valley & Company Events

O'Malley Photography

While it’s so much fun to share your joy with everyone, we know how quickly the excitement can turn to an overwhelming and uneasy feeling of we don’t know! We have one sage piece of advice we’ve been telling our couples since 2003 that we wanted to share:

Take a deep breath. Enjoy. And have a serious talk about what’s most important to you both for your wedding and the planning process itself.

After all, your engagement is a journey and one of your first adventures you’re embarking on before you meld your lives together. We encourage you to assess the key details before you settle on a date, tell the world they’re invited, and dive into a budget.

Llanes Weddings

What’s most important to you both can mean a number of things, but consider:

• Location – are you both from elsewhere but live in a city together? Will you bring friends and family to that location and have a fun destination wedding for them and share your new digs? Will you travel and plan from afar to tie the knot in your hometown?
• Ambiance – what do you envision for the ceremony? Something traditional in a church or on a rooftop? An intimate cocktail party where a wedding happened of a beautiful reception party for 400? Do you want guests to come from the weekend and stay together at a resort or on an island?
• Figure out who loves what (or if you both enjoy everything!). We often find that our couples have different interests so one may enjoy planning the look and feeling of the wedding like flowers, the linen choices, lighting, and the visuals. The counterpart may really enjoy great food and cocktails and want to head that up or absolutely love music and want to create a festive vibe through sound and the menu.

Alante Photography

Remember to enjoy the process and have fun with it!

~Aleah and Nick Valley, Valley & Company Events

425 Magazine's 2016 Northwest Wedding Trends-advice from Weddings in Woodinville wedding planners Event Success & New Creations Wedding Design & Coordination

425 Magazine interviewed our founding board member and wedding and event planner, Jacky Grotle of Event Success and guest planner Rebecca Grant of New Creations Wedding Design & Coordination, about what wedding trends they're seeing for 2016. In one word, both experts in their field say "Romance" will be back in a big way.  Read what they have to say and see what other top trends you'll be seeing this year ➛ http://bit.ly/1nq3ITY

Bridal Bouquet Advice from Perfectly Posh Events

The following is a guest blog post from 2015 Weddings in Woodinville guest wedding planner, Perfectly Posh Events. 

BE DIFFERENT WITH YOUR BRIDAL BOUQUET!

Looking at wedding pictures, all the flowers can start to look the same. The standard compact, rounded bridal bouquet with white roses wrapped in a statin ribbon is elegant and beautiful, and is very much in style according to Christiane of Flora Nova Design. However, if you thinking you want to go a little bit out of the box, want something a bit more unique, or are aiming to make a statement with your bouquet, here are some ideas!

1. A Pop of Color

Kemper Mills Fant Photography | Pixie’s Petals (florist) | Jodi Miller Photography and Janie Medley Flora Design (florist) 

Having bright colors in your bouquet does not have to look childish or tacky, but can be a pretty and chic way to brighten up those wedding pictures! I love it because it is a great way to pull in all of your colors for the day and even add some others that did not quite make the cut, without it seeming too busy or overwhelming.

2. A Secret Succulent

Nancy Ray Photography | First Comes Love Photo | Picotte Weddings and Effloresce Florals(florist) | Sublime Stems (florist) | Micheal Radford Photography 

It may seem kind of odd or unconventional, but succulents are a trendy addition to weddings in many ways, including the bouquets! I am not saying to bombard the entire bouquet with stiff-looking cacti, but a little succulent here and there is such a fun accent and a unique way to spice up your bouquet. Additionally, succulents are a great way to create the popular textured look to the bouquet according to Kristal of Sublime Stems. 

3. The Traditional Cascade

Brandi Smyth Photography | Joielala Photo | Barbie Hull Photography and Sublime Stems(florist) 

While succulents may seem unconventional, these cascading— or waterfall, as I like to call them— bouquets may seem too traditional, bringing back what mother-of-the-brides had in their weddings. However, I think the classic look still fits in modern-day weddings, especially if you avoid the white calla lilies. Plus, because it was popular from the ’80s and ’90s, it is no longer cliché today and can be a unique touch to your bridal look. Also, these cascading bouquets fit with the trend Kristal of Sublime Stems described as a “loose, garden style” that is “big, romantic and full, with the greenery cascading down.” Emily from Lola Creative shared that she once got an order for one that was three feet long, took four hours to create, and “weighed as much as a small child!” 

4. A Themed Bunch

Micheal Radford Photography | Jen Finch Photography and Sublime Stems (florist) | Sublime Stems (florist)

Perhaps you have a specific design theme for your wedding that you could include to add a personal touch to your bouquet without being too obvious or cheesy. These different props can be a cute addition to a bridal bouquet whether it reflects the theme, venue, or color scheme. Pinecones are a great touch for a Fall, Winter, Northwest, or Forest themed wedding and citrus accents could work in Spring or Summer weddings for anyone who wants a fun color and texture in their bouquet! Though I personally cannot imagine exchanging flowers all together for a different prop, like with a lantern or fan, as an accent I think these little props are perfect for making a bouquet unique.

5. Fun Flowers

Gladys Jem and Studio Choo (florist) | Anne & Kam Photography | Dianna M. Lott Photography

Another way to spice up your bouquet without going too out there is by including out-of-the-ordinary flowers! Roses and calla lilies may be the conventional wedding flowers, but flowers like these— billy balls, ranunculus, anemone, and king proteas— are so fun and come in many unique colors! 

All the florists I talked to, Emily of Lola Creative, Kristal of Sublime Stems, and Christiane of Flora Nova Design, agree that the bride’s dress and personal preference are major factors when it comes to designing a bridal bouquet look that is right for the bride. With all the different styles of bouquets and types of flowers, there is sure to be a look that is right for you and that can make a statement when you walk down the aisle, so talk to your florist about mixing up your bouquet look.

Wishing you a happily ever after!

~Mackenzie, Perfectly Posh Events

Perfectly Posh Events was featured at The Loft at The Woodinville Whiskey Company/Hollywood Tavern during the 2015 Weddings in Woodinville Tour.

Your Wedding, Your Music.

Your Wedding, Your Music. is a musical guest post from 2015 Weddings in Woodinville DJ's Magnolia Rhapsody:

Love Song PhotoAt Magnolia Rhapsody, we understand the importance of music at your wedding: from the song that you walk down the aisle to, the tunes you groove to during dinner and finally,  the very last dance. And while we love music of all sounds and notes, we like to focus on those that want their wedding mix to be less about what everyone else is doing and more about music that is true to the soul.

Whether your wedding is held in a ballroom, on the beach, or in a barn, it’s a time of joyous celebration and intense partying! But it’s also an unique production that involves many moving parts! And that’s where we step in with a personal approach to our craft. We work with clients closely throughout the entire wedding planning process to ensure we:

1) get our client’s musical vision and

2) sort out ALL the little details of the big day

And on your wedding day, we make sure that you remember us only as the background ninjas who ran your reception smoothly and provided the tunes for the ultimate dance party!

One Love Photo

Magnolia Rhapsody is the brain child of Beaux and Cho Breaux – a husband and wife team who bring their diverse and variegated passions and a ton of experience to bring your event to life.  If you're passionate about music, let's talk because so are we.