Having a signature drink served at a wedding is becoming more and more popular. Brides and grooms come up with their own recipe or take an old favorite that everyone loves and names it something different for the evening. Although most weddings involve alcohol, that doesn’t mean they all have to. Some fun variations to the signature drink idea are to have a coffee bar or a milkshake bar at your wedding. Bring in a coffee company that specializes in weddings or other formal events. They can make hot and cold drinks, regular and decaf. Large coffee chains are popping up with new stores everywhere for a reason - people are addicted to coffee. Whether it is the flavor or the caffeine they crave, your guests will love this idea.
Milkshakes anyone? Having an old fashion style milkshake bar is a great idea. Couples could even come up with a signature milkshake, whether it is a favorite like chocolate or something a bit more daring like Oreo or cookie dough, your guests will think this is a unique, fun way to celebrate. This will also allow the younger guests at your wedding to enjoy every bit of your reception as well.
These helpful tips will help you find the flower arrangements you want on the budget you have.
- In your bouquet, use larger blooms, like orchids or calla lilies. You will need fewer of them.
- Add greenery, such as ivy or ferns, to a bouquet. Greenery looks lush, and you’ll find it’s less expensive than flowers.
- Add ribbon or tulle to an arrangement. It is pretty and makes the arrangement look larger as well as helping keep your expenditures down. This can also help add an element of drama that you cannot accomplish with using just flowers.
- To decorate the ceremony and reception sites, rent trees. They look especially romantic when the branches are woven with tiny white lights or a beautiful ribbon or fabric.
- If getting married in a church, ask to see if anyone else is using the site that same day. If so, contact the other bride to see about splitting the cost of flowers.
- Some florists are creative enough to be able to use your ceremony bouquets as centerpieces for the reception site as well.
- Picking a site that has a lot of natural greenery, flowers and trees is a great idea to help cut back on the amount of items you will need to bring in.
- See what vases or interesting containers your florist has for rent instead of purchasing expensive items.
- Use in-season or locally grown flowers. They are much better value than the varieties that have to be flown-in. Although, that doesn’t mean you can’t have tropical. Believe it or not, you can order tropical flowers at a very reasonable rate.
- Fill empty spots on your table spots with votives or small potted plants that can also be used as wedding favors.
For more on selecting the perfect flowers for your wedding, check out our Flowers WedTopic at:
http://www.wednet.com/wedtopics/flowers.aspx
WEDNET RECAP
This section highlights some articles and features that
have been online for a while but hopefully remain helpful in
your wedding planning.
Military weddings
http://www.wednet.com/articles/wedding-attire.asxp
With Valentine's Day in the air, how about a little romance?
http://www.wednet.com/articles/wedding_romance.aspx
How to word invitations when parents are divorced
http://www.wednet.com/articles/estranged-family.aspx
Can MOB wear same colors as bridesmaids? Black?
http://www.wednet.com/articles/bridesmaid-dresses.aspx
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A Wedding Poem
Shoshone Wedding Song, by Mary Austin, adapted by Robert Hass
Him:
"Not a spirit, not a bird,
That was my flute you heard
Last night by the river.
When you came with your wicker jar
Where the river tugs at the willows,
That was my flute you heard
Calling, Come to the willows."
Her:
"Not a spirit, not a bird
Made the lupine rustle.
That was my heart you heard
And the rustle of my hem
As I walked in the grasses.
That was my heart you heard
When you came to the willows.
Sensual Food
Valentine's Day doesn't have to mean an expensive dinner out.
Try making a special dinner at home, but spice it up with
traditionally sensual foods: Clams, oysters, and other seafood are
great dinner and appetizer ideas for your special night. Folklore
has it that if your sex life is lacking, cook turnips in milk.
Sexual powers are said to heighten from eating vegetable roots,
carrots, and asparagus. Champagne and fruits such as strawberries,
bananas, dates, apricots, peaches, and pears are said to arouse
sexual feelings. Wrap it all up with pumpkin and cinnamon pie,
truffles, and chocolate. Then, go retire in front of the fireplace
and enjoy the company.
Valentine's Day Cocktails
Wine is a perennial romantic favorite, but why not use the
holiday as a reason to try some new and exciting drinks? Try:
¨"BETWEEN THE SHEETS" 1 ounce brandy, 1 ounce Cointreau, 1
ounce light rum, 1/2 ounce lemon juice (optional), and 3 or 4
ice cubes. Add all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake
vigorously. Strain into a cocktail glass.
¨"SEX ON THE BEACH" 1 ounce vodka, 1 ounce peach schnapps,
2 ounces orange juice, 2 ounces cranberry juice. Pour all of
the ingredients into a highball glass almost filled with ice
cubes. Stir well.
¨"MAIDEN'S BLUSH" 1 1/2 ounces gin, 3/4 ounce Pernod, 1 teaspoon
grenadine, 3 or 4 ice cubes. Combine all ingredients in a mixing
glass and stir well. Strain into a cocktail glass.
¨"BRAZEN HUSSY" 1 ounce vodka, 1 ounce Cointreau or triple sec,
1/2 ounce lemon juice. In a shaker half-filled with ice cubes,
combine all of the ingredients. Shake well. Strain into a cocktail glass.
¨"HONEYMOON" 1 1/2 ounces applejack, 2/3 ounces Benedictine,
2 tablespoons lemon juice, 3 dashes curaçao, 3 or 4 ice cubes.
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously.
Strain into a cocktail glass.
Make Every Moment Count on Valentine's Day
A great Valentine's Day doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. It
simply takes some planning. Try leaving little "I love you" notes
all around where you know your honey will be that day. On the
bathroom mirror, on the steering wheel, in the wallet, the
refrigerator, etc. Maybe even a single red rose under the windshield
wiper while he or she is at work. Get creative!
Has Your Honey Got a Sweet Tooth?)
Surprise your sweetie on Valentines day! Roll out a thin layer of
marzipan, cut it into a heart shape with a large heart-shaped
cookie cutter, then coat it with chocolate. Decorate the top with
chocolate writing, sprinkles or even chocolate shavings.
Valentine's Wedding Favors
Valentine's Day is a tough day for a wedding. Try to find a florist
who wants to work a wedding that day! For the brave: if you are
looking for a fun and inexpensive change of pace for a Valentine's
Day wedding, give your guests candy "Be Mine" hearts tied up in tulle.
Make Every Moment Count on Valentine's Day
A great Valentine's Day doesn't have to cost an arm and a
leg. It simply takes some planning. Try leaving little "I
love you" notes all around where you know your honey will
be that day. On the bathroom mirror, on the steering wheel,
in the wallet, the refrigerator, etc. Maybe even a single
red rose under the windshield wiper while he or she is at
work. Get creative!
http://www.wednet.com/wedding_store/favors_romantic.aspx
If I Knew You Were Coming, I'd Have Baked A Cake
A square 8" pan and a round 8" pan can form a perfect
heart-shaped cake. After the cakes have cooled, turn the
square one so it sits like a diamond, then cut the round
one in half and place half on either side of the square.
Frost it up with some pink frosting and write a special
message on it. It's quick and it's fun!
Where are the Gifts?
Be sure to assign someone to transport your gifts from the
reception to your home. Traditionally this responsibility
goes to the best man or the bride or grooms' parents.
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WORDS OF WEDDING WISDOM
"Love one another, but make no bond of love; Let it rather be
a moving sea between the shores of your soul. Fill each other's
cup, but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread,
but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be
joyous, but let each one of you be alone."
Kahlil Gibran
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DID YOU KNOW . . .
Best Man
As marriages were historically accomplished by capture (the
groom would kidnap the woman), a warrior friend was often
employed. This Best Man would help the groom fight off other
men who wanted the captured woman, and would also help in
preventing the woman's family from finding the couple.
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please refer to our Vendor Services page, which you can find at
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