Allegro Entertainment

By Marie Davis

Involve All Your Parents

Walking Down the Aisle

The bridal entrance is traditionally escorted by the father of the bride, but in some cases sharing that moment with your stepfather is just as important. You could even do a halfwalk, where a step parent walks you halfway down the aisle, and your biological parent can take you the rest of the way.

Pledge of Support

Have each set of parents pledge their support, meaning that they have a speech during the ceremony stating that they support your decision to marry.

Parent Dances

You can include step father/mother dances to incorporate them in a special moment at your reception.

Planning

Have everyone have a little hand in a project that has to do with your wedding, so everyone feels included and loved.

Boutonniere and Corsages

Everyone should have flowers because they are all your family. If you want to make them a special part of your wedding, this is something that will show them a little extra love. 

Dress Shopping

Try to include your step-mother/father in your dress shopping plans because it’s the little things like inviting them to pick out the dress of your dreams that will melt their hearts.

Invitations

When writing in the mother and father, include the step-parents names if they want to be recognized. They are just as much your parent if you would like them to be.

Toast

Make sure to recognize everyone that got you where you are today, including step or biological parents because they are always there for you no matter what through thick and thin.

By Marie Davis

Winter Wedding Tips

Make sure to have a signature drink or food item that relates to the holiday feel, it will give your wedding a little extra holiday cheer! 

• Egg Nog Martinis
• Cranberry Spritzers
• Pomegranate Splashed Champagne
• Wreath Shaped Spinach Pastries
• Holiday Cookie & Cocoa Bar

You could also consider having mini stockings stuffed with mints or other goodies as your wedding favors!

Give major heads up to your guests 

A lot of people plan trips or even just have other family plans around the holidays so beware of the possible low amount of RSVP’s 

Everything might be a little pricier around this time of year, so remember to take this into consideration when booking your venue, and solidifying hotel blocks

 This is also vacation season, meaning hotels, airfare, etc. Will be at an all-time high. 

Holiday weddings should be black tie events

Make it more formal, gives it a special part of your day and gives everyone to dress up for a big fun event! 

If you’re planning a NYE Wedding, be sure to host until at least 12:30am

This way you can celebrate the new year with not only a new spouse but all your family and friends as well. 

Make your décor celebrate the holiday but also you 

Including sparklers, some fake snow, and even some holiday colors! 

By Marie Davis

Day of Emergency Kit 

Double stick fashion tape 

You never want a wardrobe malfunction, so use this tape to prevent that stay bra strap or securing your wedding dress 

Sewing kit 

Get a kit that has mini scissors, thread, and needles. This will allow to you make quick fixes, cut off loose threads and snip off tags 

Safety pins 

Buying a kit with assorted sized because you never know when you will need one 

Stain remover pen 

This is the end all be all!! You never know what is going to happen! 

Anti-blister balm 

Got those new shoes just for the wedding? Prevent them with anti-blister balm 

Portable steamer 

Not having to lug around a big heavy steamer will save you some time and energy 

Lint roller 

Using a lint roller will get rid of all that pesky hair that falls on you while you are getting ready! 

Hair spray 

Just some touch ups to keep your hair nice and tidy 

Pain reliever 

Just in case you have cramps or just a migraine your wedding day should not be stressful 

Blotting papers 

Getting the oil off your face before you walk down the aisle to make those pictures look perfect! 

Tissues 

You will probably shed a few happy tears so make sure to have some tissues handy! 

Deodorant 

Just to make sure to stay refreshed and not sweating while walking down the aisle! 

Lip gloss 

For touch ups, and have pretty lips for that big I DO kiss 

Snack 

You won’t be eating a lot because of nerves, and then you’ll be starving! So pack a snack!!! 

A Shot 

Calm your nerves and knock one back! 

Bobby pins 

Just in case anything falls out or needs to be put back in place. 

Mints/gum 

Have fresh minty breath when going in for the newlywed kiss! 

Imodium  

I know, I know, BUT you’ll be glad you have it with you if your nerves decide to mess with your tummy pre-vows. 

By Marie Davis

Wedding tailgate 

Have a good time with friends and enjoy your day. This will include all the fun things of a tailgate; you can even walk through like a parade. You have all the good food, and amazing people but just a bit more fun for a smaller group. 

Custom Masks 

Have customs masks made for your wedding day! (Check out YippeeWear for your own custom creations!) This will allow you to be safe but also be gorgeous/handsome on your big day! 

Cute Deck Décor

If it is just you two for a wedding, do something special like a lit up/decorated porch to surprise your spouse. This will allow you to have some time to enjoy the very sliver time period where life doesn’t seem crazy. 

Have some preordered speeches ready to play? 

This means when it is just you two celebrating at home you can have people send in their best wishes/speeches to make up for not being able to celebrate in person! This is awesome for family to tell the person getting married about good memories! 

Drive Up Wedding 

Finally, my favorite would be a drive-up wedding. Everyone pulls into a lot in their car and the light will all point at the bride and groom. This adds a fun touch of romance, but also having some friends doing silly things with you helps. This could include popcorn and slushies even!! 

By Marie Davis

 

Flower/Grass Walls 

This year has been a huge hit on Grass and or Flower walls with neon signs on them. It has been going on for a while, yet we have seen an increase in the Midwest. This trend is a gorgeous idea, can add a lot of depth to a venue, and is great for pictures! However, they are not the most cost-effective thing to have at a wedding unless you DIY it all yourself. 

Bright Colors: 

People have been moving away from light pastels and neutrals and going with a pop of bright color with cool tones to tone it down. This is a refreshing take on wedding colors compared to the Rose Gold & blush trend in the past years. This pairing has made an enormous difference in weddings as it makes everything more exciting and just that more gorgeous 

Small Guest Counts, Big Celebrations 

This year since Covid has hit a big trend is having small gathers but celebrating to the fullest. This could mean from a virtual point of view or in person. People are starting to take multiple days to rest and recover from weddings and making it apart of scheduled wedding events. 

Eco-Friendly Weddings  

People have been increasingly conscious about the earth and what they can to promote less waste and people are including this on their wedding day as well. This means having recycling bins, using real dishware, just making sure to thrift their wedding décor and just being more aware of what they are wasting in one day. This also includes caterers who only will work with you if you are using biodegradable utensils/plates. 

Non-Traditional Wedding Dresses 

This year people are opting more either an extremely simple look or a over the top style. This meaning people are sticking with basic satin a very royal looking, or something with a lot of detail, sparkle, poof, the whole 9 yards. 

Switching Up the Food 

A lot of people are moving towards nontraditional food items. This would include hiring a private chef to do everything for the night and have a personalized dinner for your special day. Another very popular thing is Food Trucks. Brides are hiring different food trucks to come to their wedding venues and serve food for a couple of hours, allowing them to have different and easy options. 

By Kathy Beaver Photography

Head Count 

Make sure you know the number of people attending the reception before setting the “perfect” design for your wedding cake this is so the baker can get the size and quantity right for you! 

Matched Baked in Heaven 

Find a baker who connects with you and has some of the same style. This will ensure that they fulfill the true aesthetic of your wedding. However, you must communicate and be honest with them if you want it your way! 

Questions 

Make sure to ask all the right questions! This includes: What custom designs will you do? Are they extra? When are my deposit or fees due? Do you include set up and stands in the fees? 

Save your Money! 

Using a smaller budget is okay, just figure out how you want to fit it into your cake/desserts! A budget friendly alternative is to have a small personalized tiered cake, then either have cupcakes or a dessert table! 

Different Desserts 

Include this unique take on a “cake table” and instead do a dessert table. This could mean donuts, mini pies, cookies, etc. This is a great alternative and can give people so many options to choose from! 

Cakes Don’t have to be traditional 

This can mean that you can have a different flavor cake, and even different flavor layers. This would put a spin on things and give you the option of choosing something specific to you on your wedding day! 

Match your theme 

Make sure to communicate with your baker and match your cake to your theme, this will help tie everything together on your big day! 

Weather 

Consider the weather into your big day if you’re having an outdoor wedding. Buttercream will melt like nobody’s business if not kept cold. So, allow time for the baker to bring the cake out closer to cutting the cake. 

Let the Professionals Do the work! 

Have them do all the work; it is your big day you should not have to worry about a thing except getting married. This means communicate with them beforehand about setup locations, how, when, and where! This will allow everything to run smoothly. 

Keeping the Wedding Spirits Alive 

Remember that after your wedding you’re supposed to keep the top tier of your cake in the freezer and eat it on your 1^st anniversary for good luck! 

10 Tips On Choosing A Wedding Cake | 50/Fifty The Art of Dessert

By Marie Davis

 

Use faux flowers to your advantage!

-Real flowers are expensive. They cost so much more than faux flowers, yet they look just as gorgeous 

-There are so many kinds of faux flowers, this includes silk flowers which are very natural looking for your center pieces or your bouquet 

-You can rent faux flowers. This allows you to check a catalog and figure out exactly what you want, and they ship them to you. You only must ship them back after your wedding! This is a cost-effective way to have gorgeous flowers, and not wasting anything. 

-More than likely your guests will not be able to tell the difference, unless they go up and smell/feel them, and even if they do, they aren’t as focused on the flowers as they are on food and music. 

-You can buy in bulk online which is a huge help 

-You can keep your flowers forever without them dying 

-You can order these months in advance so you’re not spending every ounce of money at once 

-Faux flowers are more durable, so they will not fall apart on your big day! 

-Never worry about your flowers being in season! 

-Allergen free 

-Get them in any color you want!