Spring cleaning... Wedding planning edition

Attention Elite Brides!
Spring cleaning is not just for your house, car, or overstuffed garage anymore.  It can also apply to your upcoming wedding and the plans set forth to make the day happen.  There can be a lot of cumbersome and anxiety filled decisions to be made that can get in the way of the joy and happiness that is supposed to come along with the preparations of this special day.  As are firm believers that the wedding is for your guest and the marriage is for you, why not have the aspects of the wedding catered to your guests?  Those 150 or so souls that love your more that a plane ticket or hotel fare, the tired and weary bunch that drove 10 hours to be there for you on your special day. Remember them? 
They are the audience to your big show and as such deserve just that, a show.  An evening of good food, good drinks, good music and all the lovely displays of love and romance their hands and hearts can hold.  To achieve this goal, here are some aspects of the wedding that your guests could not care less about. These budget busting staples of any wedding can be totally done away with or modified and your guests wouldn't notice at all.  If you are on a budget, want to splurge on other more important amenities, or just want to ensure a kick ass time is had by your guest at your wedding, get inspired and spring clean your wedding planning!

Centerpieces

• I know it's tempting to go for the gusto with towering over flowing centerpieces but try to keep in mind that while at the table guest will be more focused on their plates.  The remaining time will be spent on the dance floor and mingling with each other and the newlyweds. a better idea is to go with the traditional romantic aesthetics of low candlelight, mirrors, and floral petals instead of entire arrangements.   
  

---

seating chart
one of the most time consuming and stressful wedding traditions. Although we do feel that initial instructions to heard the crowd are necessary, the need for a precise and exact arrangement for seating is a waste of wedding energy. As guests will move from seat to seat and mingle most of the night and or avoid sitting their assigned seat on purpose to avoid unwanted conversation with their assigned sitting partner.   A better idea would be to have a sign like this...

---

specialty linens
Taffeta, crinkle, Satin, damask,  Oh My!  Of course they look good on the hanger in the store and yes it will take your wedding décor to the next level but specialty linens are costly and largely go unnoticed,  Your guests don't care if it's polyester or organza as long as it's available and clean.  Your guests don't want to eat on a dirty table or standing up.  Other than that the linen is the last detail on their minds as they feast.  A better idea would be to choose simple linens that blend seamlessly with your theme.  Play with color instead of texture for  stunning visual effects.

---

party favors
After the financial and time consuming sacrifices made by your guests in order to share your special day touch you both in a special way.  of course you want to send them home with a personalized token of your thanks together as Mrs.& Mr. just married but before you shell out an additional $500.00 or more on a candy buffet, personalized flasks or poker chips with your faces and the wedding date on them try to remember that these things along with other items such as programs and thank you cards will be looked at and thrown out faster than you can say I now pronounce you man and wife.  a better idea would be to use that money to hire a food truck to come by and set up outside the reception for late night snacks or have yummy hot snack passed around by waiters on trays for your guests as the event winds down and your guests start to make their exits,   

---

mad libs & quizzes
the heartfelt notes and answers to the mad libs and quizzes your guests leave for you to read after your wedding can be some of the most beautiful words every written by your family and friends.  Those memories are hard to pass up.  But remember your guests came to celebrate your love union by eating, drinking and dancing the night away in your honor.  Asking them to also fill out survey or answer what should we do on our first anniversary questions feels more like school to your guests and to that end probably won't get much participation from the crowd.  a better idea would be to have a video booth or have a videographer go around and ask guest for well wishes for the happy couple. 

---

For more help in prioritizing your wedding wants and needs click here....