Bridal Bouquets

Happy Friday!!!

I know it's the weekend for most of you, which means it's also time to get back to the wedding planning.  

The bridal bouquet is something that you can really express yourself with.  Whether you want real flowers, fake flowers, no flowers, a trailing bouquet, a posy bouquet, etc.  It is one of the few things that will completely and specifically be designed for you.  Surprisingly enough, the bouquet needs to match your dress, in color and style, and can really affect the way you look on your big day.  

So here are some things to keep in mind:

1.  Choose your dress before the bouquet.  You can have an idea of what you'd like, but style makes a huge difference, and the dress you pick, may not go with the style bouquet you had always imagined.

2.  There are a million different colors of white out there.  Bring a swatch of your dress to make sure, if you're having any white flowers, that they do not clash with the color of your dress.  

3.  Also, bring swatches of your other color(s) as well so they can match it.  Especially when it comes to your bridesmaids bouquets, they need to match their dresses too!

4.  If you do want real flowers, consider which ones are in season.  If you want flowers that are out of season, they will be much more expensive, if they're even available.  For summer months, look into some sunflowers, hydrangea, or star gazers.  For Spring, orchids, cherry blossoms, or freesia.  For winter months, roses, holy berry, or carnations.  And for Autumn, irises, zinnias, or chrysanthemums.  Some flowers are not really affected by the seasons; lilies are one of these.  

5.  If you are going a different route with it, like a brooch bouquet, make sure there is a very clear understanding of what you want, and what kind of a look you want to stay away from. 

Here is an example of a beautiful nontraditional bouquet.  It was from a bride who had her wedding here at The Orion, and it was made up of brooches and fake flowers.  Probably one of my favorites, so far.

6. This is also a good place to put your something old or borrowed.  If you've got a family heirloom, like a handkerchief, or a brooch that you want to add to a floral bouquet, see if your florist can incorporate it.  Most of the time it's added to the stems, and can make for a beautiful, and very personal, addition.

7.  The more traditional you're going with your dress and wedding in general, the more traditional your bouquet should be.  So you'll probably end up with a round/posy bouquet or maybe even a teardrop.

8.  If the focus of your dress is on the bodice, don't go with a round bouquet; that'll just draw attention away from your dress.  Look into an arm or trailing bouquet.  Both are very beautiful but sit a little differently so your dress can still be seen.  

This was my mother's cascading bouquet for her wedding.  I just love these and it goes great with a dress that has a detailed bodice.

9.  Make sure to take some pictures of it beforehand, especially if you have a specific place to put it during the reception.  You're photographer is going to have plenty of things to take pictures of that night.  

10.  Also, keep in mind that you're going to be holding on to it pretty much all night, so make sure it's comfortable for you.  Make sure it's not too heavy so it doesn't hurt your wrist and that it has a soft fabric around the stems so it doesn't poke you or irritate your hands.

11.  Take the time to see what each flower and color represents, and match it to how your feeling.  For instance, roses represent love, white chrysanthemums are for truth, ivy for fidelity, and if it's your first and only love, put some lilacs in it.  The world around you may never know, but you and your best friend, will.

12.  Different flowers work better with different arrangements.  Longer stemmed flowers, like calla lilies, tend to work better with cascading or arm bouquets, where as irises and tulips work a little bit better in the posy bouquets.

13.  Consider your body shape as well.  If you're really tall, try and stick to a longer bouquet to help elongate yourself and to keep with the line.  If you're really short, stick to something a little smaller and compact.  

These are just a few things to keep in mind when you are picking out your bridal bouquet.  Sometimes I like the idea of just the bride having one, and then having your bridesmaids hold on to something different.  Makes it a little more special, and you have a little bit more money to spend on it.  :)  If it's something you plan on preserving, you don't have to throw it!  It's yours.  Do with it what you like.  Consider getting a small, simpler bouquet to throw and then you won't have to worry about it.  

Brooklyn Hicken

Special Events Coordinator

The Orion Ballroom

My Wedding To-Do List

It's Saturday once again, and that means we all made it through another week in one piece.  

When you first get engaged, it seems to be proper for you to immediately start planning the wedding.  But in my opinion, you're missing out on an amazing part of your life together if you do that.  Why not enjoy your engagement a little bit before you go bonkers and start stressing out?  Why not celebrate the fact that you're going to spend the rest of your lives together, instead of spending all of your time worrying about one day?  Not to say that your wedding day isn't a big day, it's a huge day!  But don't let it get to you.

I've looked at a lot of time lines people suggest for when you get engaged, for when to start looking for a venue, when to order you cake, your invitations, etc.  But they all seem to have items on their to-do lists, that I just don't think are necessary, or may be in the wrong place on the timeline.  Now, I will agree that at least a year is a good amount of time to be planning the wedding, not including your blissful, "We just got engaged!" phase together.  :)  The more time you give yourself, the less stressed you'll be, and the more time you'll have to save up some money.

So with that, here is my version of a To-Do List:

First off, get your engagement photos taken during your blissful stage, before all the planning.  This will produce some of the cutest pictures and you will have plenty of time to get them printed and back to you before you send save-the-dates and invites.  Don't have this feel like just another item on your check list to get done.  This is a sweet and wonderful time full of happiness, so take advantage of that!

12 Months Out -

*Get a wedding binder - This is for you to be able to keep track of everything you'll be needing and going over; contracts, quotes, pictures, etc.  Have this include a calendar of some sort so you can keep track of all your appointments.  This is something you should be doing whether or not you have a coordinator.

*Work on your budget - This is very serious and very important.  If you do not sit down with your significant other, and decide on a budget, it could open up a whole other door of complications.  Together, decide what you can afford and what some absolutely necessary items would be and what some things you can live without are.  Without a budget, you'll never know when to stop.

*Write down a preliminary guest list - You will at least need to have an idea of how many people you will be inviting, because this has a lot to do with your budget.  If you know how many people you'll need to feed, you'll know how much money that will cost; the less people, the less the food cost.

*Choose a wedding date - This one may be a little obvious but sometimes you'll need a couple of different dates.  So sit down together and discuss at least 2 or 3 dates in case you find the perfect venue, and they don't have your first choice.  Sometimes even just a month and day of the week would be enough to give you the freedom for whatever venue you fall in love with.

*Start looking for ideas - At this point, you should have your budget, so you will know if you're going to be making your decorations yourself or having someone else do them.  Start browsing around the internet and see all the different ideas that are out there.  Pinterest is great place to start and be sure to check out Beyond the Box's page too, they do our catering here at Orion and I'm on there all the time.  
*Start looking for your dress - At this point, we don't expect you to find THE dress, but you should at least start to look at places that are affordable for you.  There are hundreds of places to get a wedding dress and you don't want to miss out on anything because you don't have time to try all the places you'd like to.
*Pick your bridal party - If you want to do something cute to invite your friends to be in your bridal party, now is the time to do it.  I'm sure a select few would know it's coming, but it shows your appreciation, if they accept, if you go out of your way to ask.  It is a not a small commitment for your made of honor and bridesmaids to say yes.  And the same goes for your sweetheart.  Make sure you both know how many you want in the party and that he asks as well!
*Pick your venue - You will need at least a month to shop around for venues, so start now and you'll have a better chance of finding your date.  Once you find the place you want to get married, DO NOT HESITATE!  If you hesitate to book it, someone else will take it right out from under you.
9 Months Out -
*Save the Dates - Pick and send out your save the dates.  I love the idea of a picture of the couple for save the dates but keep in mind the extra cost on the photos.
*Gift Registry - Go ahead and start registering.  Sometimes this can take quite a while, so give yourself plenty of time and don't feel rushed, but don't overwhelm your guests either.  Find a happy medium. :)
*Pick and order your dress - You may have already found the one by now, but in case you haven't, it's time to get crackin'!  Every bride wants to look their best on their wedding day, but don't go crazy.  Make sure that once you have your fitting, you're at a size you plan on being at, and maintain that.  Be comfortable with yourself and don't work out too much.  But also, don't go overboard at those cake tastings.  Don't try to make your body fit the dress, make the dress fit your body.  You will look much more beautiful if your dress fits you perfectly!  
*Block out rooms at a hotel - If you're going to have a bunch of out of town guests, you'll need to have a block of rooms at a hotel that is decently close to your venue.  Hotels do not charge you for this and will give you a lower rate for the block.  Try and find something that won't be too expensive either, they are already spending money to fly or drive to your wedding destination.  Also make sure your guests get the information for the hotels you have rooms at.  
*Shop for bridesmaids dresses - This is something that can get very stressful, if you let it.  It is good to have your bridesmaids go with you, so you can see what style dress looks good on them.  But don't let them sway your decision completely and stress you out.  Try to keep the cost down on these dresses as well.  If you do it far out enough in advance, your friends may have more time to save up for the dress, but it is still something they will probably only wear to your wedding.  In the end, you probably won't be able to make everyone happy, but try your best.  :)
*Book your honeymoon - Take some time and look into different air fares and hotels.  Be sure and make this fun and exciting!  Don't stress out over it.  Go somewhere fun that you'll both enjoy and can afford.  Also, don't forget about a hotel the night of your wedding if you are leaving in the morning.
*Shop for and purchase your wedding rings - If your engagement ring was bought as a set, it will probably be easiest to go back to the same place.  But you don't necessarily have to, and you don't need to get his there either.  Look around and what other places have to offer.  Make sure it's something you love, because you'll be wearing it for the rest of your life!
*Book your DJ, Photographer, Florist, Cake, etc. - This is probably the part that will take the biggest hit to your pocket.  Now is the time you'll need to start putting down deposits to book your musicians, photographers and videographers, day of coordinator, etc.  Make sure you have done plenty of research on someone before you give them your money.  Look into their past events, make sure it's something you want, and make sure you have good chemistry with your vendors.  Don't book someone that you don't really get along with.  If you are doing your decorations yourself, start buying all of your products to make them, and start working on them.  Give yourself enough time in case an idea doesn't work, or you end up needing more of something.  Making the decorations can be extremely stressful, so don't procrastinate it and recruit some free help. ;)  When it comes to your cake, please, please, please try many different bakeries and their cakes, check into many different prices, and look at past cakes they've done.  It is a horrible experience to have your cake be dropped off hours before your wedding and it be wrong (Yes, I have witnessed this happen.  We fixed it up a bit, but the couple was still unhappy the situation and it really stressed them out, that's not something you need).  
6 Months Out - 
*Book the rehearsal dinner - Make sure you get your guest list for the dinner and everyone gets an invite.  Don't forget to invite them to the ceremony rehearsal as well.  :P
*Look for and rent groomsmen and groom's tux - This is not nearly as painful of a process and finding the bridesmaids dresses, but it is just as important.  Make sure to give yourself enough time for it.
*Order the rest of your bridal accessories - Now is when you should be getting your cute extras.  Order your veil, gloves if needed, undergarments for the dress and afterwards, *wink wink*, and don't forget your shoes (or to break in your shoes).
*Finalize your guest list - Sit down with your honey and make some more cuts, if necessary, or add a few more people you hadn't thought of.  Try to get a good idea of how many invitations you'll need before you order them.
*Select and order your invitations - Invitations are very important, so make sure you order plenty of them and with enough time to get them sent out and get your RSVP's back.  It can also be very time consuming because you'll have to address every stinkin' one of them.  And again, some help is always appreciated here!  Go check out my blog from last week on how to save a little money on these.  
2 Months Out - 
This is the time for you to start to finalize everything.  You're now in the home stretch!  So make sure everyone is on the same page and everything is being paid for!
*Order your cake - This is something you are allowed to be picky about.  Don't be afraid to express exactly what you want and make sure there is no confusion and no questions when you leave.  
*Check in with your wedding party - Give them a little nudge and make sure they have everything that they need.  Just be nice.  :)
*Get your marriage license - Find out what requirements there are for obtaining your marriage license and make sure you get it done.  And don't forget to pick it up once it's ready. :)
*Send out thank you cards for the engagement party - You should have already ordered your invitation set, and hopefully your thank you cards as well.  Make sure you order a few extra to send for the gifts you received at your engagement party/bridal party/etc.
*Finalize day of transportation and jobs - You can easily get caught up in all of the fun details like decorations, dresses, make up, and invitations, but it would be quite embarrassing if you had forgotten about how you'll get to your ceremony or how you'll be sent off as the newlyweds.  Some venues, like The Orion, has rooms for you to get ready in, day of, so it takes a little stress off of you.  You won't have to worry about getting in the car with your dress or having your make up sweat off.  But what about the send off??  Don't you want to drive off into the night with an old classic car that says just married?  Don't forget about the transportation!  Also finalize what everyone will be responsible for.  Whether someone is in charge of making sure you don't forget a shoe, or that all of the party favors get to the venue.  Also make sure someone has a job for the clean up.  A lot of places won't clean your decorations for you, so delegate someone to take them home, or make sure your decorator knows when to pick them up.  
*Start to pay off your vendors - The sooner you can start to get some things paid off, the more it takes off your mind and the less you have to do closer to the big day.
*Pick your hair and make up stylists - Don't go into this blindly.  Look around at different stylists, or maybe you have a friend that can do it.  Either way, make sure you have a trial run!  This way, you can discuss everything in much more detail when it's actually being done.  If something doesn't work out, you know not to do it again.
*Mail out your invites - You could do this earlier, just be sure and give your guests plenty of time to clear their schedules and ask that the RSVP's are back 3-4 weeks prior to the wedding.
1 Month Out - 
*Finalize vendors and pay them - Some vendors don't require final payment until a couple of weeks out, but the sooner you get it done, the more stress it removes from you. 
*Pick up your rings - Make sure they are correct, whether there is an engraving, or the size is right, etc.
*Write your speeches and vows - Make sure anything you want to say at the rehearsal or the wedding, is down on paper somewhere.  It helps to write it down and get it out, that way you can tweak it if you want.  And if you lose it, it will probably be easier to remake.  Have someone read it too, or read it to them, and see if they have any suggestions.  The vows are very important and should be taken seriously.  You are making one of the biggest commitments you will ever make in your life.  Don't go into it lightly.
*Something old, new, borrowed, and blue - Make sure, if you're going the traditional route, that you have your something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.  And be sure and keep track of them!
*Purchase guest book, cake cutting set, champagne flutes, etc. - Go ahead and get your small items like this.  This gives you enough time to look around for the cutest sign in book and cake cutter.  
*Check in with those that haven't RSVP'd - This is not going to be fun, but you need to start hunting down those, hopefully only a few, people that still haven't RSVP'd.  You have to know a final guest count for your food and so that your venue knows how many to seat for.  
*Schedule a final dress fitting - It's crunch time!  Make sure it fits!!
*Put together a timeline for the night - Your vendors will need a timeline so they know when to set up and be ready and when to come back and pick everything up.  If you have a coordinator, she may do this, but do it with her and make sure you're both on the same page.
1 Week Out - 
*Finalize any due balances - Make sure everything is paid for and there are no lose ends!
*Pick up your dress - Yay!! It's time to go get your dress!  This should be a simple enough exchange, just make sure you keep the dress clean!
*Confirm any last minute details - If you have a limo, make sure that is confirmed.  Confirm drop of and pick up times for your vendors.  Confirm reservations.  Any small detail that could go wrong, make sure it's going to go right!
*Emergency kit - Put together an emergency kit for yourself and your bridal party.  Extra bobby pins, safety pins, sewing kit if you've got a someone who can sew, hair bands, tissues, band-aids, anything you can possible think of that you might need.  If you think about it and decide against it, you know you'll need it, so just put it in the kit too!
*Go get pampered - Treat yourself to a mani/pedi, or a facial, or go full out and have a spa day.  After how stressed you've been, it'll be nice to just relax right before your big day.
1 Day Before - 
*Pack all necessary day of items - Make sure you don't forget anything.  If you need to make a list to help you remember everything, then do it.  Especially don't forget the rings, license, or the cake cutting set!
*Attend rehearsal dinner - Now would be a good time to test out your new waterproof make up.  If you plan on giving out any gifts, now is also the time to do it.  But most importantly, have fun!  Enjoy some good food and good company before the big day.
*Go to bed early - You may not be able to fall asleep for a while, so make sure you get in bed early.  And if you can fall asleep right away, well than you'll just be extra rested for your wedding. :)
The Day Of - 
*Eat a healthy breakfast - Eat something that will give you energy without making you shaky; something that has lots of fiber and antioxidants.  Get your day started right, and the rest of day will go smoothly!  
*Double check - Double check everything you've packed up, including your honeymoon luggage and necessary items (passport, tickets, etc.).  Double check that everyone knows what they're responsibilities for the day are.  Double check that you don't forget that amazing waterproof mascara.  Double check anything and everything that could possibly cause you more stress if it went wrong.  Take the time to do it in advance, and you'll be glad you did.
GET MARRIED!!!!!!
And have fun doing it!  It's a celebration of a huge step forward in your life with the one person you love the most.  

So there it is, that's all I've got for you.  Just remember, keep your stress as low as possible, it's not healthy to be stressed.  Don't procrastinate because you think you have all the time in the world, but it'll be here before you know it!  And love.  Love so unconditionally it hurts.  If you do this, you and your special somebody will have an amazing life together.
:)


Brooklyn Hicken
Special Events Coordinator
The Orion Ballrom

Invitations Time :)

Happy Saturday!!

I know we all welcome the weekend and the rain we've had the past week!  

But just because it's been raining, doesn't mean any wedding planning has stopped!  How about a nice rainy day to help keep us inside, writing out the invitations for the big day! :) 

No one ever realizes how much it would cost to send out all of the invitations, until you're actually having to do it, and then all you want is something you can procrastinate with.  Whether that procrastination be your dog, or a good book, or even cooking!  But we all know it's something you're going to have to do eventually, and it's something you're not going to want to pay for.  So how about some ways to save a little bit, so it doesn't feel like such an inconvenience?

Don't look at just one place for your stationary.  Look around at many different places, including Costco and Kinkos.  You'd be surprised at the cute cards and envelopes they have!  The more places you look, the more options you have, and the more you know how little, or how much you will need to spend.  If you check into a place like this, and it's just not something you're wanting, keep looking!  But keep in mind a few things to stay away from.  

For instance, you don't want something that is going to be very large; most people think that as long as your letter doesn't weigh more than one ounce, you're set!  But that's not necessarily true, and usually your envelopes won't be less than an ounce anyway.  The size of your envelope makes a difference in the price.  A good rule of thumb that I learned from doing a little research, is if the length divided by the width is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5, you will be paying more.  Whether or not there is something sticking off of it and if it makes a bump in the envelope also has an effect.  All the cute little extras are cute, yes, but will end up costing you so much more in the end.  If you do them yourself, you have to buy a million little trinkets, then keep track of them, then glue them, then pay for those heavy, bumpy envelopes to be sent!  If you order them online and they have all the little extras, then you're paying someone else to do it; and everybody knows you'll pay more if someone else has to do the minuscule details.  You can make your invitations cute without having to add on a bunch of small items.  Get some cute stamps, cut and paste a couple of pictures on to the paper, and get creative!! 

Here is a beautiful, yet simple invitation a couple did themselves.

Another way to save a lot of money is not to have a separate card for your reception location.  Here at the Orion, we have a ceremony space along with the ballroom, so you don't need to go anywhere!  There would be no point in sending a separate invitation for the reception, when you can just say, "Reception to follow".  

Send you're RSVP in the same envelope as your invite or save the date, and save on extra shipping, and you don't have to worry about anything getting lost.  Look!  "Reception to Follow"!  No need for a extra envelopes!

Proofreading is something that you would think would be a no-brainer, but no body wants to send or receive an invite to your wedding, with something spelled wrong, especially their name.  And to go along with typos, order extra cards and envelopes.  I know you're thinking that this is a little bit contradictory, but in the end it will save you a lot of time, stress, and money.  You wouldn't have to be sitting there pulling out your hair or paying to have anything rushed to you, all you'd have to do is simply go get another one.  :)

Another simply beautiful invite.  Also keep in mind to order your 'Thank You' set from the same people.  They should give you a package deal!

Take a look around.  Look at obvious stores, like Michael's or a cute craft shop you know of.  Look at not-so-obvious stores like Staples or Sam's.  Look online and see if you can find something cute and inexpensive.  The wedding invitation is important, yes, but after your wedding, that won't be what everyone remembers, they'll remember how beautiful the evening was and the fact that they got to share an amazing moment with you.  

Brooklyn Hicken

Special Events Coordinator

The Orion Ballroom

Wedding Cake...Yum!

Happy Friday Everyone!!! :) 

July is here, along with it's infamous heat, and in full swing with back to back weddings every weekend!  One item that is very important to your big day, but is also usually a big hit to your pocket, is your cake.  But it doesn't have to be that way, there is hope!  :)  

Did you know that the average cake in 2013 costs $451?  I don't know about you, but I don't have $451 to shell out on something that's going to be eaten in one night.  The #1 way to save money on your wedding cake, is to get fake layers.  This is also the most commonly known way to save money, and rightfully so!  Here at Orion, we will cut and serve your cake for you, so your guests will never see anyone cutting anything except what you newlyweds will be eating.  So make one layer real, make the rest fake, and get some sheet cake of the same flavor to have the venue's staff cut and serve; no one will ever know *shhh*.  Also, if you do some fake layers, you can bring in another kind of small dessert like brownies, cupcakes, mini pies, etc, and those can help to dress up the cake table and account for the missing cake! 

A beautifully done cake by Sandra.

If you really don't want to have fake layers, there are still some other options to help you save a little bit.  First one would be to get a square cake.  Square cakes feed more people and usually take less labor on the cake decorator; unless, of course, you have an extravagantly designed cake.  The rounded edges on circle cakes or even if you wanted a custom shaped cake, are much harder to ice then a square.  Sometimes being a square isn't all that bad!  Another factor is what you want for icing.  Buttercream, for example, tends to be less expensive than fondant.  Also, if you go with a deconstructed cake, you will save some money because a lot of bakers charge a stacking fee.  If you chose to have them separated and arranged beautifully, you will not have to pay so much and it would still be just as beautiful and unique!! 

Here is a beautiful example of a deconstructed cake.

Most of what you are paying for when it comes to the cake, is the labor.  So just remember, the simpler the cake, the less expensive it will be.  Play around with it, have some fun, and do something different!  And why not save $451 while you're at it? :)

Brooklyn Hicken

Special Events Coordinator

The Orion Ballroom

Veil Picking Time!!

Everyone loves getting to pick their perfect wedding dress, right?  Well what about the red headed step-child in the situation?  Picking the right veil for your dress, your face, and your hair style is just as important as picking the dress itself.  

I know what my favorite type of veil is, the birdcage (partially for my short hair style), but what about you?  Do you have short hair, long hair, medium hair length?  Square face, heart shaped face, round face, or long face?  How are you going to do your hair for the big day?  Up-do, long and wavy, half up-half down, or none of the above?  And the last thing to consider, is the style of the dress you've chosen.  All of these factors play a part in deciding what veil length and style would look the best.  I know you're thinking, "Geez, what have I gotten myself in to?" but it's really pretty simple.  :)

First things first, you need to know what your face shape is.  There are many different shapes; round, heart, oblong, rectangle, square, triangle (I know, who brought kindergarten math into weddings?).  Once you figure out which one you're most similar to, which is easy, just pull your hair back and cross check with the features listed here, and then you can get a good idea of what will look the most beautiful on you.  Should you go with multiple layers, short and around the face, long and flowing on your back?  Take a look and see what they say. :)

See if this helps!

 The next thing to consider, is your hair.  Do you have short hair, medium length, or long hair?  And then depending on that, how are you going to have your hair done for the big day?  Unfortunately, how you are going to do your hair has a huge effect on what style veil you should have.  Long, heavy fabric, or a veil with lots of designs would have to have a hair style strong enough to hold it.  Some veils are also made to sit farther back on the head, or even farther to the front, which will also affect your hair style; you just need to know what you want.  If you want to leave your hair down, make sure your veil is longer than your hair!  This definitely helps to keep a nice, simple, and beautiful line.  Take a look at what the Wedding Channel has to say!  They make it so simple. :)

Last, but certainly not least, is matching your veil to your dress.  This is a pretty obvious one, but I bet you didn't know how wrong this could go.  Most, if not all, wedding experts say to bring a swatch of your dress with you when picking out your veil, or check to see if the bridal shop has your dress.  It would be quite awful to fall in love with a veil and have it not match the dress you also fell in love with; wouldn't it?  The ladies over at The Pretty Blog do a great job of explaining the different styles of veils and how to use that to your advantage, very simply.  Also check out eHow style!  Just keep in mind that if you have a dress with most of the focus on the bodice, you'll want either just a headpiece, or a long and simple veil so that it doesn't detract from your dress.  If, for instance, you have a Princess style dress, maybe find something that ends around your elbows so it keeps that shape you wanted when you picked the Princess dress.  

I know a lot of planning goes into your wedding day, and sometimes it can be overwhelming.  But just try and focus on the big picture; you are marrying the person of your dreams, or as a groom once told me, the woman of his reality.  You get to spend the rest of your life with them and that's all that really matters.  

:) 

DIY Centerpieces

Thank goodness it's the weekend!  All of us here at Orion will be hard at work making sure all three weddings this weekend have gone, and go as seamlessly as possible.  Seeing a lot of my brides making most, if not all, of their decorations, gives me hope for us crafty, low budgeters.  So for those of you who love our space and are on a tight budget, let's see what we can't do to help make your dream day a reality!  

If you're looking to save some money on centerpieces/decorations, you should check out Martha Stewart's Pinterest!  I know, I know...everyone is on Pinterest, and Martha Stewart??  Well, you should go look and then come back and tell me it wasn't a good idea.  For instance, this is an absolutely beautiful yet simple decoration that would cost you very little: http://joyfulweddingsandevents.com/blog/2010/05/10/urban-loft-tablescape-for-utterly-engaged/.  All you need are balloons, string, fabric stiffener, and a little kid who loves popping the balloons you just spent all your breath on, blowing up.  (You may want to make sure you stay seated while doing this, though, or you might not remember it.)

Another way to get something similar, a way that is one of my favorites (although I'm a little biased when it comes to lace, I just love it!), would be to use lace doily's instead of string: http://www.glamourandgraceblog.com/2011/diy-doily-lantern/.  I just cannot get over how amazing these look.  Something else that would make this better, although who knew it could get better, would be to dye the doily's before you set them.  That way they can be whatever color you want to match your colors and pop against our white walls!

And don't be afraid to use fake flowers!  More brides do it than you think and they still look just as beautiful as real ones but will be taking a much smaller hit towards your wallet.  

I promise you, Martha knows what she's talking about.  Take a look and see if you can't find a way to save some money on your centerpieces!  http://pinterest.com/MarthaWeddings/diy-centerpieces/.

Exciting Changes!

June is on it's way with many events along with it!  Weddings every weekend, sometimes even 2 or 3!  The Orion Ballroom is such an amazing place to hold one of the most important days of your life.  It's amazing how simple and beautiful everything is.  All of the white walls with a wooden dance floor that gives the space that much more character and looks over the Dallas Skyline.  You can do any kind of decorations you want!  Every color you can think of looks amazing against the white.  The ballroom is illuminated by the beautiful chandeliers and city lights, and once you add your friends and family that are there for you to celebrate your big day, it just gets that much brighter.  With amazing food and people ready to have a great time, you're bound to enjoy yourself!  

This summer also brings you a new and improved Orion Ballroom.  With new prices, new menus, and a new Sales Manager (Yours Truly), there's nothing we can't do for you.  Our website has been completely re-vamped, so go take a look!  www.theorionballroom.com 

5 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Venue before Booking

We know planning a wedding can be extremely stressful and take great deal of time.  We also know that planning a wedding can be very expensive.  One of the biggest and costliest decisions will be your reception venue.  You can ease your stress by knowing which questions to ask when shopping for a venue.  Being prepared with the right questions can also save you significant amount money.  Here are five questions to ask when searching for a venue. 

1.       Does the Venue Supply Tables and Chairs?

This is an important question to ask your venue.  There are several venues out there that do not supply tables and chairs for your event.  If the venue does have chairs, what type of chairs are they?  Chiavari chairs are the most common and most desirable for weddings.  Chiavari chairs can run up to $10 per chair to rent.  White garden chairs are another common wedding chair which can run around $4 per chair.  120 inch round tables seat 10ppl and typically run about $10 to rent.   As you can see, renting tables and chairs is no small expense and can add up very quickly.  It will cost you about $11 per guests to set them up with chiavari chairs and round tables of 10.   For 150 guests, that is an additional $1650. 

2.       Does the Venue have China, Glass and Silver?

Most independent venues do not supply china, glass, and silverware.  This can get extremely expensive and is not always presented at the beginning when getting a quote from the venue or caterer.  China, glass and silver can cost $5 to $10 per person depending on what type of event you are having.  For a 150 person wedding, that can be an additional $750 to $1,000. 

3.       Does the Venue have a Dance Floor?

Your guests are going to want to dance.  You can expect to pay about $1000 for a 20 foot by 20 foot dance floor. 

4.       Does the Venue Supply Table Linens and Linen Napkins?

If the venue does not supply tables and chairs, it is likely that they do not supply linens either.  Linens for a 120 inch table cost about $17 each.  Napkins start at around 75 cents per napkin.    Keep in mind that you are responsible for covering more than just the tables for your guests to sit. You have to add buffet tables, cake tables, gift tables, and registration tables.  On average, you will need one table for every 10 guests and an additional 8 tables for other items.  For a 150 person wedding, that is 22 tables and 150 napkins.  This could cost an additional $486.50. 

5.       Does the Venue Charge for Parking?

If you are having your reception in or near downtown, there is a good chance your venue either charges for parking or requires valet service.  This could cost anywhere from $5 to $15 per car. If you calculate one car per two guests, a 150 person wedding would have 75 cars.  On average, that is an additional $750. 

  You can see how fast these items add up.  If you don’t ask the right questions, you could be facing thousands of dollars in additional charges that could have been avoided.  Be informed, save money.