Special Moments has worked with many vendors over the years, and thought we would spend some time sharing some of the vendors we have worked with and clients just rave about… We have many clients that want to have the live music style feel of an event, but do not want to pay the big bucks for a band. Here is a solution that works for some people. We have had the opportunity to work with Chuck Weirich from TampaBayDj.com on several occasions and our clients and their guests love the fact that he can play the trumpet to the music also. Here is a video that was made of Chuck’s performance for an event. Enjoy!
5 Fun Dessert Bar Ideas
August 28, 2009 4 Comments
Candy and Dessert bars are becoming very popular at wedding receptions for the guests to be able to indulge in a variety of treats at their own pace and taste…. Why not add a twist on the interactive candy bar or pre-made dessert bar and offer your guests interactive dessert stations, where the guests create their own dessert from the various components displayed…
Fun idea # 1
Candy Apple Station
A candy apple station is a fun dessert station idea for a fall wedding. The guests can dip the apples in melted caramel, candy or chocolate and then in various additional toppings and wrap and take home or enjoy there.
Fun Dessert Idea # 2
Banana Split Station with all the fixings… If you are not a banana fan, then have a Sundae bar with ice cream cones or if that is not retro enough.. Then offer a coke float station…
Banana Split Sundae Bar
Ice Cream Cone station
Coke Float Station
Fun Dessert Idea # 3
Smores Dessert Station is another fun idea for guests. There are many ways to set-up this station. 1 way would be outdoors with of course a campfire for the guests to toast the marshmallows around the fire.. What if you do not have that option. Then you will love the inspiration photo below:
Smores Dessert Station Ideas
Fun Dessert Idea # 4
Fruit and yogurt parfait station is a fun dessert idea and a healthy alternative to all the sweet ideas we have already suggested. The picture below shows how elegant you can set this type of station up with martini glasses or champagne glasses and let the guests design away..
Fruit & Yogurt Parfait Station
Fun Dessert Idea # 5
Cupcake station is another unique interactive dessert station. You can have the various flavors of cupcakes already iced and let the guests add toppings or sprinkles to them.. Here are a few photos below to make the cupcake station fun…
Cupcake station
cupcake station idea
ice cream cone cupcakes
How to set a Formal Table
August 25, 2009 1 Comment
Ever wondered how to set-up a formal table or want to have a dinner party and not sure where everything goes on the table or the proper angle, distance for the knife, fork etc…? We have included below a step by step way to set a formal table setting from the charger to the dessert silverware.
Happy Tablesetting!
Formal Table Setup
1. Place decoration plate at intended seating location on the table one inch from edge of the table.
2. Place soup bowl in the center of the decoration plate.
3. Place the dinner knife one inch to the right of the decoration plate with blade facing the left.
4. Place seafood knife one-half inch to the right of the dinner knife with blade facing the left.
5. Place soup spoon one-half inch to the right of the seafood knife.
6. Place the meat and salad fork one inch to the left of the decoration plate.
7. Place seafood fork one-half inch to the left of the meat and salad fork.
8. Place dessert fork one inch above the decoration plate with tines pointing to the right.
9. Place dessert spoon one-half inch above the dessert fork with the bowl pointing to the left.
10. Place the white wine glass one inch above the knives five inches to the right of the dessert fork.
11. Place the red wine glass one-half inch above and to the right of the white wine glass.
12. Place the water glass one inch above the red wine glass.
13. Place the champagne glass one-half inch to the left of the red wine and water glasses.
14. Place the bread-and-butter plate to the left of the dessert silverware and above the meal forks, one inch away from the decoration plate.
15. Repeat steps 1-14 for each guest attending.
Decoding a Formal Place Setting
August 21, 2009 2 Comments
Have you ever sat down at a table and wondered what all of the silverware and glasses were for?Did you not know where to start with your sliverware or what glass is yours? We have inserted below a image with all of the elements that make up a formal place setting and have numbered each item and what they are for you and what course they are used…
Chargers or not?
August 20, 2009 Leave a Comment
You can dress up your reception dinner tables by adding a charger to each place setting. Chargers are an item that can be rented for only a few dollars per guest place setting or can be used for just the head table to add a special touch to the extra special people that are sharing your day with you. Chargers create a sharp elegant touch to dinner tables, giving the impression that no detail has gone unnoticed and no expense has been spared. They dress up the décor and add the finishing touch at any reception, but particularly at plated dinner receptions when place settings are bare until dinner is served.
This is a table set-up without chargers on the place settings.
Below are some table set-ups with chargers on each place setting. I am sure you will agree there is a difference in the appearance of the table. There is one down fall to chargers also on the tables. They do take up more room and if you are trying to maximize the number of guests at the table, it will start to look crowded…
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- Table set up no chargers
The New Candy Buffet AKA Popcorn Bar
August 18, 2009 2 Comments
There has been a huge craze for candy buffets, but have you considered an alternative? We introduce to you a flavored popcorn bar… a.k.a. the new candy buffet.
Candy bars and buffets are very popular and have become an integral part of today’s wedding receptions. We don’t see any signs of this trend slowing down, either. We can see what’s great about it, though:It looks good as a part of the decor for the receptionIt’s interactive for the guests
Candy is a wedding favor that 95% of your guests will enjoy
So put a twist on the been-there-done-that candy buffet: why don’t you offer a gourmet popcorn bar at your wedding?? It will still engage your guests, it can look fantastic inside your venue and it’s tasty!
To figure out how much popcorn you need, we would probably allot 1/4 to 1/3-gallon of popcorn per guest.
To save on costs, I would look for original and unique glass containers in places like Michaels, Ikea, thrift shops and antique stores. And there’s always the option of renting containers. One trick that many miss is to limit the size of the containers. I would only use small to medium containers, with only one or two large containers. Five to seven small or medium containers definitely give the look of more goodies as opposed to three large containers, although it’s holding the same amount of popcorn. Remember–presentation is everything!
We would liven up the table by adding linens or table runners that match the colors and scheme of the rest of the reception. Votives, flower petals, seashells or scattered gems would also liven up the buffet. You really do
n’t want it to look bland. It should be inviting and appealing to your guests. It should almost scream out: “Come scoop me. . .” Gilded frames for the signage would be beautiful touch, as well.
We would stage the containers at different heights on the table using lifts/risers. This makes access to the popcorn goodies easier, but it also adds drama to the table. We would definitely stage the favor bags and boxes, too, because they are a part of the presentation as well. Stainless steel or silver scoops would round out the look for my gourmet popcorn bar.
Your gourmet popcorn bar is sure to be a success at your next special event or wedding reception. Who doesn’t like to pick and choose their own delicious take-home treats?
What different ideas do you have for bars or buffets? We’d love to hear your ideas!
NEW Invitation Series
August 17, 2009 Leave a Comment
We added 11 invitations to our Wedding Invitation Website, which feature the couple’s new initial. These invitations have a die-cut “buckle” that is personalized with a single initial. One version of the buckle is stamped in foil to emulate pearls surrounded in gold and is available on bright white and ecru papers. While another version emulates rhinestones surrounded in gold and is available on bright white paper. Included Satin Ribbon Strips are available in a variety of colors to coordinate with many color schemes.
To find these NEW invitations, search by the word “Buckle” on our wedding invitation website you can click on the link below to go directly to our wedding invitation website, which offers a 10% discount on the invitations and free shipping directly to the address you choose , along with Free printing of your invitation return address also thru October 31st, 2009.
http://www.yourinvitationplace.com/Default.aspx?WebName=specialmomentsinvitations
Buckles New Invitation Series
To Change Your Last Name or Not?
August 14, 2009 Leave a Comment
For hundreds of years it has been customary that the woman change her last name to the last name of her husband after their wedding ceremony. No one really questioned why the woman should change her last name to that of her husband’s, and no one considered the options of keeping their maiden names or using a hyphenated last name.
There are pros and cons to the woman changing her last name to that of her husband’s after getting married. If you and your fiancé are planning to have children once you are married, then it might be easier to go ahead and take on your husband’s last name because any children you have while married to your husband will have his last name. Naturally, it would be easier if your entire family had the same last name especially when the time comes for your kids to enter school and you begin interacting with your children’s teachers and other classmates. It might be very confusing if you have a different last name than your children do.
There are some women today who just aren’t comfortable with changing their last name. The reason for this might be because they feel that they would be trying to change who they were, maybe feel anxiety over the thought of losing their identity or at least a part of their identity by changing their last name. Another reason some women don’t want to change their last name is that they are in a high profile career where their name is very established, and they don’t want to cause any confusion by changing their last name. Some women could also view changing their last name as being old fashioned or too traditional, and that is not the type of person they are.
You might be asking then what can be done, or whether there is an easy compromise. The answer is yes. You could hyphenate your last name using your maiden name and your married name separated by a hyphen. Your husband will most likely just leave his last name as it is but there have been cases where the husband takes on the hyphenated last name as well. Another suggestion might be for your husband to take on your last name. Now, let me tell you, this does not happen very often as most men would never consider this, but it is an option.
I would definitely recommend that if you have an issue with changing your last name after getting married, that you and your fiancé discuss this before the wedding. You both need to be in agreement as to how you are going to handle the name change issue.
Wedding Vows-Traditional VS Non-Traditional
August 12, 2009 1 Comment
Will you love, honor, and obey, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, forsaking all others, til death do you part”?
I am sure that everyone recognizes the above excerpt as being the traditional wedding vows that you and your fiancé say when getting married. There are a number of variations of the wedding vows, one being the omission of the word obey and another one being replacing the word love with the word cherish.
Today, many people stick to using the traditional wedding vows for their ceremony, but there are also many people who choose to use non traditional vows instead. Some people write their own vows telling each other just how much they love each other, more sentimental vows. Other people recite their favorite poem or excerpt from some other favorite quote to use as their wedding vows. And, some people offer up a short but simple promise to be the best spouse they can be as their wedding vows.
When planning a wedding most people tend to forget about the wedding vows and whether they should be traditional or non traditional. They are much more concerned about decorating the church, picking the perfect music selections, and making sure that everyone is where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be there. I believe that the wedding vows are probably the most important part of the entire wedding ceremony and more emphasis should be placed on the vows. After all, the wedding vows are the couple’s promise to each other and to their family and friends to love each other no matter what happens in their life. The wedding vows symbolize the strength of the couple’s commitment to making this marriage work.
When you begin to make the plans for your wedding day, the most important day of your life, start by discussing whether you both want the traditional wedding vows or non traditional wedding vows to be a part of your ceremony. If you decide to choose non traditional vows, then you will need to allow plenty of time to decide exactly what each of you wants to say to the other. You will need to decide whether you want to read the vows you write or whether you want to try and memorize them. Writing them down might be the best option because if you choose to memorize them, you might end up forgetting them due to nerves. If you do choose to write them down then you will need to make sure you keep them in a safe place so you won’t lose them and have to try to make up new vows.
Here’s when you wouldn’t hire a wedding planner
August 10, 2009 Leave a Comment
We ran across these great article by Julie Hinton and knew we needed to share it:
In these economical times we are all trying to cut back. This concept even applies towards your special day. Weddings that used to be lavish events are now turning to simplistic trends.
One thing still rings true: whether you are trying to conserve or splurge, there is a long list of to-dos before you can say, “I do.” These lists can sometimes feel endless and take away from the excitement during your engagement. This is where a wedding planner eases the pressure.
Is a wedding planner right for you, your budget and your overall event?
Do not hire a wedding planner if you want to spend more money. You heard me right, you can save money with a wedding planner. In the past, planners have been perceived for only indulgent couples with money to spare. This is not the case these days.
Wedding planners are becoming affordable and can even get you discounts and special rates by consulting through them. Wedding professionals build up relationships with each other and will sometimes give benefits for referring them.
On multiple occasions I have seen free services thrown in by a vendor or a price even deducted in half because they went through a wedding planner.
Planners can also help you get more bang for your buck. They know how to cut back on certain expenses to make your event look like a splurge even though you might be on a tight budget.
Another reason you would not hire a wedding planner is if you can be in two places at once. Brides have a large roll. That is, of course, being the bride. On a wedding day it is not uncommon to have a 16-hour work day, a mop in one hand and an iron in the other.
The last thing a bride needs to do is to be steaming linen or polishing silverware before she is about to walk down the middle aisle.
Finally, don’t hire a wedding planner if you already spend eight or more hours a day reading, writing, researching and dreaming about weddings.
Wedding planners are professionals that obsess over weddings, daydream about wedding and are always scheming new trends for weddings. They are full-time wedding guru’s that have been doing this for years, not just for a few months of engagement.
By tapping into their skills and involving them from the beginning of your initial planning, you will be amazed at the creations that will come to surface giving you the wedding you did not even know was in your reach without breaking the bank.
Julie Hinton is a wedding designer and coordinator with Forevermore Events. Log onto www.forevermoreevents.com for more information about Julie and her company…
