Tag: RECEPTIONS

Everything You Need To Know About Picking a Signature Wedding Drink

Published on by Bridgett King, Wedding OfficiantLeave a comment

Customizing your wedding with small details is a great way to showcase the unique personalities of both yourself and your partner. While there are many ways to go about this, one simple and effective choice is coming up with a signature drink. Whether you opt for a classic mixture like a tequila sunrise, a clever mocktail, or a completely original blend, the right refreshment can go a long way to bring your big day together.  

Explore the Reasons for a Specialty Drink

Creating a specialty cocktail for your event is a fun way to express yourself, but it’s also very practical. Paying for an unlimited open bar can be a huge expense. When you settle on serving signature drinks, you can limit the liquor that is offered at the bar and save some money without denying your guests options beyond wine and beer. This choice can also be a lot of fun, allowing you to come up with silly and clever names for your drink. 

Consider Your Favorite Liquors

When going about the process of choosing your signature drink, you want to begin with the basics. Namely, you should think about your favorite liquor options. Do you enjoy clear spirits like vodka or gin? Do you prefer darker intoxicants like whiskey and spiced rum? Once you have selected the right alcoholic base, you can start looking at mixers and herbs that perfectly complement your choice. 

Create the Drink Based on Your Life

One way you can create your cocktail is by having it reflect your love story. If you took a walk along the beach on your first date, then consider a bay breeze, which is made with coconut rum, pineapple juice, and a splash of cranberry juice. If you spend a lot of time in a big city together, Manhattan could prove to be a perfect drink choice. This simple mix is made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, bitters, and a maraschino cherry. 

Think About More Than One Choice

If you’re having a difficult time choosing just one drink for your big day, it’s OK to pick more than one signature beverage. People can be particular when it comes to the liquors they prefer, meaning you don’t want to offer only bourbon to a crowd that heavily prefers vodka. However, you don’t want to go overboard and offer too many drinks. According to industry experts, you should have no more than four signature drinks. Offering too many options can put unnecessary pressure on your bartenders and defeat the purpose of serving a limited selection of drinks. 

Play With Names

After you’ve come up with your cocktails, it is time to devise some cute names that describe the drink and reflect your relationship. Puns will be a lifesaver in this scenario, so get as wacky as you’d like while brainstorming ideas. If you’re doing a basic vodka and cranberry, the name could be something like “Berry Much in Love.” Any drink that incorporates mint could easily use the name “Mint To Be.” 

Use Bar Menu Signs

Finally, don’t forget to have signage for the drinks. Guests will need to know what you’re offering, what’s in each cocktail, and the special significance the beverages hold to your relationship. Cute signs that feature the colors and theme of your wedding can help to tie the entire experience together. 

Find the Ideal Drink

Though concocting a specialty cocktail is not a requirement for your wedding, it can be a fun way to enhance the festivities. Consider what ingredients will best encapsulate the relationship you’ve built with your partner and provide your family and friends with a delicious refreshment they will keep coming back to

Tips for Keeping Children Entertained on Your Wedding Day

Published on by Bridgett King, Wedding OfficiantLeave a comment

Whether it’s nieces and nephews, your best friend’s children, or young cousins, sometimes, inviting children to a wedding is unavoidable. While you can always request on the invitation that no children attend, if you want friends and family with children to be able to attend, it may be best to leave this requirement off the invitation. Children are often unpredictable, which does not go well with a wedding day. Here are some things you can do to keep children entertained and well-behaved on your wedding day.

Hire a Babysitter

If the parents of the children are part of the wedding, consider hiring a babysitter or caregiver for the children. The babysitter can tend to the children’s needs and keep them entertained. You might hire someone from the family who is less involved in the wedding or perhaps a professional nanny if you have room in the budget. You can find one online or ask your friends and family with children if they have a babysitter or nanny they recommend.

Designate a Special Area for Them

If you have activities to keep children entertained, they will be less likely to get bored and start complaining or creating issues. Consider having an area that is just for them. Adding a “children only” sign can be a nice touch, making them feel special and more likely to hang out there. Choose some age-appropriate activities that will prevent boredom. Things such as coloring books, crayons, crafts, and board games can be helpful.

Similarly, consider making a personalized pack with activities for the children to do throughout the day. This will make them feel particularly special, and you can include things you know they enjoy doing.

Allow Them To Burn Off Energy

Children are full of energy and need a way to burn it off. Otherwise, you’re just asking for trouble, as they’ll likely be disruptive at the worst times. If the weather is nice, someone can take the kids outside and allow them to run around a bit (while taking care that they don’t get too dirty, of course). Alternatively, many games can be played indoors that will safely allow them to run around a bit and expel some of that seemingly endless amount of energy children have. Some of these games may include:

  • Duck, Duck, Goose
  • Ring Around the Rosie
  • Simon Says
  • Red Light, Green Light

Have Special Snacks

Children love to snack, and their small stomachs often require it. So find some child-friendly snacks that the children can eat throughout the day to prevent their blood sugar from crashing, which may make them cranky. And, of course, you need to talk with the parents or caregivers to ensure the kids don’t have any food allergies. Finally, you will want to choose snacks that do not make much of a mess, so the children don’t stain their wedding clothes.

Make Them Feel Included

Children often want to be involved and feel like they are an essential part of the day. Find a way to make them feel included and special. Girls and boys alike may enjoy being part of the process of getting ready and can even perform little tasks that help with the last-minute wedding preparations.

Above all else, try not to set your expectations high and expect kids to behave perfectly. Children being ornery often make some of the best wedding memories. Doing these things can help the children feel entertained and included, but they will likely still ask questions and want to be a part of your special day. Try to embrace that fact and enjoy having them be a part of your day.

How To Create a Wedding Budget

Published on by Bridgett King, Wedding OfficiantLeave a comment

Knowing how to craft a well-thought-out budget is one of the most important skills you can have as an adult. You’ll use financial planning at many different times in your life, especially for big events such as moving to a new city and getting married. Once you’re engaged, you and your partner might wonder how and where to start with estimating the costs of a marriage ceremony and reception. Here’s a helpful guide you can follow to create a wedding budget.

Determine Your Total Resources

Before you get emotionally invested in a specific vision for your big day, you need to determine the total amount you’ll have in your pool of resources. This figure may come from your salary, what you have in savings, and contributions from your family. 

Be realistic about what you can comfortably afford. You can plan for an intimate ceremony or discuss eloping if you have limited resources. The most effective way to budget is to spend within your means.

Set Your Priorities

Sit down with your partner to discuss your priorities. What aspects of the wedding are most important to you? Is it the venue, the photographer, the guest list, the food, or the entertainment?

Once you’ve identified the things you can’t sacrifice, allocate a larger portion of your budget to these elements. This sets the tone for the entire budgeting process.

Break Down Your Expenses

The most tedious part of the process comes next, where you will create an itemized list of expenses. A traditional wedding involves these categories:

  • Venue and catering
  • Decorations and flowers
  • Clothing and accessories
  • Photography and Videography
  • Entertainment
  • Transportation

If you’re planning to elope, your expenses will look a little different. You won’t have to worry about catering for a large group or decorating a party hall. However, you might spend more getting to a special destination. 

Allocate Funds to Each Category

Next, you’ll allocate funds based on your priorities. This step requires some trade-offs. For example, if your venue and catering are at the top of your list, you might need to trim expenses in other areas. Use a spreadsheet or budgeting tool to keep track of allocations, and ensure that you don’t exceed your total budget.

Research and Comparison

As you navigate your budget, collect quotes and estimates from potential vendors and services. Get multiple quotes and don’t hesitate to negotiate. This is an area where you can potentially save a significant amount of money.

Compare the options available within your budget, and be sure to read reviews and check references for vendors to ensure the quality of their work. You might also discover alternative solutions, such as a friend or family member who can provide a service.

Monitor and Adjust as Needed

A wedding budget is not a static document, and there’s no point in making a budget if you don’t monitor what you spend along the way. The reality of planning a complex event is that there will always be costs you didn’t plan for. Similarly, you may decide to change your priorities along the way. This may be particularly true if you’re planning the wedding over several years. 

Keep track of all your expenses, even small ones, to avoid overspending. Be prepared to adjust your allocations if necessary. Maintain an open mind and stay focused on the big picture, which is the fact that you’re getting married to the love of your life.

Remember that a well-organized budget is the key to a stress-free and enjoyable wedding planning process. With careful preparation and discipline, you can have the wedding of your dreams without breaking the bank.