September 2011

 

Keeping on Track with your Planning

How much cake do you need and cost-cutting bouquet ideas.

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How Big is Big Enough for your Cake?

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Dear Dora

How do I know how big of a cake to have?

Dear Stella,

You can go crazy with this one; let your imagination and budget guide you. Everyone

wants a big beautiful cake but you don't want a lot of cake left over. Fortunately,

your baker can help you decide on just the right size. Talk with them about it -

again, keeping your budget in mind and they'll help you decide. The concept of

leftover cake is foreign to me, though. I am surrounded by people who think it's

a crime to leave any crumbs behind.

Find out more about planning your wedding at www.WeddingGuideNM.com

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Cost-cutting Bouquets

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To save money on your bouquets, think of flowers you would purchase at the grocery

store. Choose less expensive flowers such as a mix of garden flowers rather than

orchids and calla lilies. Be sure to choose a florist who understands your vision

as well as your budget. A gorgeous bouquet can be created that will look beautiful

in your hands and in your budget! There are often other places within your floral

budget that will allow your bouquet to remain the special focal point it deserves

to be.

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A Timeline - are you on track??

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Check out what you need to do next!

6-12 months before:

Decide type of wedding                           Decide budget

Choose location of ceremony                 Select type of clergy

Choose attendants                                    Select gown, veil,accessories

Select attendants' gowns                         Compile invitation list

Select reception site                                 Plan details of reception

Select men's formal wear                        Select photographer

Select videographer                                  Select florist

Select caterer                                             Select bridal registry

Select music for ceremony                      Select music for reception

Discuss honeymoon plans                      Reserve limousines

Order wedding favors

4-6 months before:

Order invitations, stationery...              Finalize honeymoon

Shop for trousseau                                   Find a place to live

Shop for home furnishings                     Set appointment for physical

Update immunizations                            Order flowers

Shop for wedding bands                          Get passport

2 months before:

Select attendants' gifts                            Try out new hair styles

Address invitations                                  Get marriage license

Gown fittings                                             Attendants' fittings

Reserve rental items - ceremony           Reserve items - reception

Order wedding and groom's cake

Call local newspaper on announcement deadline

Mail invitations to arrive 6 weeks before wedding

1 month before:

Arrange for final gown fitting                   Attendants final fittings

Have wedding portrait taken                    Arrange lodging for guests

Buy groom's wedding gift                          Buy attendants' gifts

Confirm honeymoon reservations           Check luggage.

Make reservations for bridesmaids' luncheon / rehearsal dinner

2 weeks before:

Record wedding gifts as they arrive.        Write thank you notes.

Review reception seating plans.                Make place cards

Arrange to move to your new home         Finish trousseau shopping

Arrange for name and address changes on accounts, credit cards, licenses, insurance

policies, utilities

Schedule hair/manicure appointments

Double check attire and accessories for wedding party

Confirm time & date of rehearsal with members of wedding party

1 week before:

Host bridesmaids' luncheon                      Pack for honeymoon

Have final consultations with caterer, florist, musicians, photographer,  and videographer

Give final guest count to reception facility and caterer

Relax and get plenty of rest...the planning is complete, let the festivities begin.

Congratulations, enjoy your day!

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April 2011

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Your flower girl and real petals

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Should my flower girl use real flower petals? This will depend on the venue you

select. Many venues and churches prefer silk petals as they will not get crushed

into the carpet or cause a slip and fall hazard. They are also easy to vacuum up

after the ceremony! Outdoor weddings require real petals that can biodegrade, and

won't cause a choking hazard for wildlife such as birds who are attracted to the

colors.

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When people don't RSVP

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Question: No one is RSVPing, how do I make sure I've got enough food?

 

Answer: Sounds like people aren't up on proper etiquette, but this is a common problem

that the staff at Sandia Resort has experience dealing with. It may be a good idea

to call those folks who haven't RSVP'd and try to get a better idea of attendance.

However, when booking the reception site be sure to ask if they prepare a certain

percentage over what they expect the number of guests to be.

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Cost cutting & cakes

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If you're on a budget, here's an idea when it comes to cakes: Typically, a groom's

cake tends to be less expensive than the more elaborate wedding cake and can help

to serve the wedding guests and thus reduce the overall cost serving cake.

 

If you've got questions, please send Dora an email from WeddingGuideNM.com

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Tossing your bouquet

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Question: When I throw the bouquet, does it need to be my bouquet, or can I use

another one?

 

Answer: This is your day so I say do whatever feels good! A wedding day slips by

so quickly and there's so much to absorb that you will really enjoy your bouquet

more in the few days after the wedding when you have time to "Smell the Flowers."

Do yourself a favor and order an inexpensive throw away bouquet that can double

as decoration for the guest book table.

 

If you've got other questions, please send Dora an email from WeddingGuideNM.com

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A Timeline - are you on track??

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Check out what you need to do next!

6-12 months before:

Decide type of wedding                           Decide budget

Choose location of ceremony                 Select type of clergy

Choose attendants                                    Select gown, veil,accessories

Select attendants' gowns                         Compile invitation list

Select reception site                                 Plan details of reception

Select men's formal wear                        Select photographer

Select videographer                                  Select florist

Select caterer                                             Select bridal registry

Select music for ceremony                      Select music for reception

Discuss honeymoon plans                      Reserve limousines

Order wedding favors

4-6 months before:

Order invitations, stationery...              Finalize honeymoon

Shop for trousseau                                   Find a place to live

Shop for home furnishings                     Set appointment for physical

Update immunizations                            Order flowers

Shop for wedding bands                          Get passport

2 months before:

Select attendants' gifts                            Try out new hair styles

Address invitations                                  Get marriage license

Gown fittings                                             Attendants' fittings

Reserve rental items - ceremony           Reserve items - reception

Order wedding and groom's cake

Call local newspaper on announcement deadline

Mail invitations to arrive 6 weeks before wedding

1 month before:

Arrange for final gown fitting                   Attendants final fittings

Have wedding portrait taken                    Arrange lodging for guests

Buy groom's wedding gift                          Buy attendants' gifts

Confirm honeymoon reservations           Check luggage.

Make reservations for bridesmaids' luncheon / rehearsal dinner

2 weeks before:

Record wedding gifts as they arrive.        Write thank you notes.

Review reception seating plans.                Make place cards

Arrange to move to your new home         Finish trousseau shopping

Arrange for name and address changes on accounts, credit cards, licenses, insurance

policies, utilities

Schedule hair/manicure appointments

Double check attire and accessories for wedding party

Confirm time & date of rehearsal with members of wedding party

1 week before:

Host bridesmaids' luncheon                      Pack for honeymoon

Have final consultations with caterer, florist, musicians, photographer,  and videographer

Give final guest count to reception facility and caterer

Relax and get plenty of rest...the planning is complete, let the festivities begin.

Congratulations, enjoy your day!

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March 2011

 

So, what's next?

And unique flowers + your 1st anniversary cake

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Unique flowers for your wedding

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Looking for unique flowers to use at your wedding? This is where you can really

have fun with your florist. I asked our professionals at Albuquerque Florists and

they said depending on the season, there are endless combinations of lovely flowers.

In Spring, there are flowers that have a short season such as daffodils, hyacinths,

and other unusual flowers grown from bulb plants. From December to May, Peonies

are a treat. There are also many exotic flowers such as Birds of Paradise, orchids,

protease and antheriums. Yes, you too can enjoy a lovely hour or more Googling these

blooms - love looking at pretty pictures.

 

Your florist can also use everyday flowers in unusual ways such as using the blooms

of a gladiola individually. They resemble Hibiscus and make beautiful additions

to bouquets and hair pieces. Fruit is also a fun addition to Bridal work. Tangerines

tucked into a hot pink and orange bouquet, for example, are an unexpected surprise

and emit a delicate uplifting citrus fragrance. And if you get really, really, really

hungry, they make a very healthy snack!

 

hat flowers stand up best to hot weather for outside summer weddings? Most flowers

(with the exception of Gardenias) can handle a brief time in the heat. Make sure

they are stored properly and kept cool until just before the ceremony!

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Cake and your first anniversary

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Question: I've heard that the cake top for your anniversary is never good a year

later, any suggestions for making it last better?

 

Answer: This is a very old tradition however, according to the professional's at

ABC Bakery, cakes do not freeze or taste very good after one year unless they are

full of preservatives. New tradition is to eat the cake at your One-Month Anniversary

and visit your bakery for an Anniversary Cake. Why not create your own tradition?

 

If you've got other questions, please send Dora an email from  WeddingGuideNM.com

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Cost-cutting ideas for your reception

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Question: How can I cut costs on my reception. I come from a large family and I

had five brothers who must have struck terror in the hearts of hostesses throughout

Texas! They were all skinny and didn't look like big eaters but boy they could make

food disappear faster that you could say or look up the spelling of "hors -d'oeuvres."

What can I do to make sure that doesn't destroy my reception.

 

Answer: You might want to consider a lunch reception which is generally less expensive

and reception sites will usually offer a discount if the weddings are held on Sunday

through Thursday. Remember, your reception staff deals with these concerns all the

time and they'll work with you to find a menu that meets your needs.

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A Timeline - are you on track??

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Check out what you need to do next!

6-12 months before:

Decide type of wedding                           Decide budget

Choose location of ceremony                 Select type of clergy

Choose attendants                                    Select gown, veil,accessories

Select attendants' gowns                         Compile invitation list

Select reception site                                 Plan details of reception

Select men's formal wear                        Select photographer

Select videographer                                  Select florist

Select caterer                                             Select bridal registry

Select music for ceremony                      Select music for reception

Discuss honeymoon plans                      Reserve limousines

Order wedding favors

4-6 months before:

Order invitations, stationery...              Finalize honeymoon

Shop for trousseau                                   Find a place to live

Shop for home furnishings                     Set appointment for physical

Update immunizations                            Order flowers

Shop for wedding bands                          Get passport

2 months before:

Select attendants' gifts                            Try out new hair styles

Address invitations                                  Get marriage license

Gown fittings                                             Attendants' fittings

Reserve rental items - ceremony           Reserve items - reception

Order wedding and groom's cake

Call local newspaper on announcement deadline

Mail invitations to arrive 6 weeks before wedding

1 month before:

Arrange for final gown fitting                   Attendants final fittings

Have wedding portrait taken                    Arrange lodging for guests

Buy groom's wedding gift                          Buy attendants' gifts

Confirm honeymoon reservations           Check luggage.

Make reservations for bridesmaids' luncheon / rehearsal dinner

2 weeks before:

Record wedding gifts as they arrive.        Write thank you notes.

Review reception seating plans.                Make place cards

Arrange to move to your new home         Finish trousseau shopping

Arrange for name and address changes on accounts, credit cards, licenses, insurance

policies, utilities

Schedule hair/manicure appointments

Double check attire and accessories for wedding party

Confirm time & date of rehearsal with members of wedding party

1 week before:

Host bridesmaids' luncheon                      Pack for honeymoon

Have final consultations with caterer, florist, musicians, photographer,  and videographer

Give final guest count to reception facility and caterer

Relax and get plenty of rest...the planning is complete, let the festivities begin.

Congratulations, enjoy your day!

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Check out discounts and prizes awarded at the NM Wedding Expo in January at Hard

Rock Hotel Albuquerque and the Northern NM Wedding Expo at Buffalo Thunder Resort

in February! These are the state's premier bridal events. Get all your questions answered by

wedding experts and win incredible prizes!

Go online to register and get in free!

For more info, go to www.WeddingGuideNM.com