Celebration Advice: A Long Overdue Celebration

Every now and then, I get fun, interesting questions from people who are anticipating their celebrations.  Sometimes, when I answer these questions, I think- "Wow! someone could write an advice column about parties, weddings and creating personal celebrations!" Well, the other day, I realized that perhaps, at least occasionally, I could be that person!  Don't worry, if you ask my advice, I'll never publish it without your permission!


Hey Marilee,
My nephew and his wife just moved back to Madison. They are buying a house and wanted to know how to invite people to their house warming, and what's the proper etiquette for letting people know where they are registered. They were married by a justice of the peace in TX and never had a reception, etc. So, they kind of want to combine the house warming/celebrate their marriage. They've been married a couple or more years. They got married just before she shipped out to Iraq. I'm working on them to use you as a celebration planner.

Aunt C


Dear C,
I'm so glad you wrote!

I think the first step is to be clear about what they're celebrating. It sounds like they're having a long overdue wedding reception in their new home, not really a housewarming. This should be clear at the beginning. If some guests understand they're celebrating the wedding and others think they're coming to a simple house warming, there will be some awkward moments. The guests who are celebrating the open house are likely to come with a bottle of wine or a nice candle which probably won't even be wrapped. They'll feel pretty schmucky as they watch other folks arrive with wedding gifts... talk about feeling out of the loop!

Given their circumstances, I would definitely use paper invitations. Invite guests to the celebration taking place in their first home together. Mention the wedding date and invite people to a long overdue celebration.

Gift registries should never be mentioned in the invitation- it's one of the very few firm etiquette rules. They should tell their family and closer friends where they are registered. Those people can then "spread the word" The invitations can also direct guests to a website where they can include information about many things as well as the list of registries.

I would be delighted to work with them to create a lovely celebration. It sounds like they have many things to be joyful about!

-Marilee

Repost: Hair and Dancing!

Photo Courtesy of Anda Marie Photography

I just found this great article about coordinating your hair do with your wedding entertainment! 


These are the types of details that can really make your celebration "pop".

Check out this article from Gigmasters.

Wedding Hair Wedding Planning

2011's Hottest Sustainable Wedding Trends

If you're at all interested in having a sustainable wedding (and who isn't?), this is a great article from RecycledBride where brides buy and sell gently used wedding dresses. Fire and Ice by Planned Spontaneity Many of my clients have helped set these trends! How are you creating a sustainable celebration? Are you using any of these ideas? Do you have other ideas you're using? Please share your ideas in the comment section at the bottom of this blog. At Planned Spontaneity, we specialize in creating celebrations that fit with your personal values. We've used many of these ideas and more to produce beautiful, fun, sustainable celebrations. As public awareness grows about sustainability, the wedding market is seeing dramatic shifts in the values and purchasing habits of brides, grooms, and their guests. Excessive spending and wasteful extravagance are out, while eco-friendly choices like paperless invitations, cocktail-length wedding dresses, and locally sourced menus and gifts are in. Weddings in 2011 are all about simple elegance, creative DIY projects, and attire and decorations that can be used again after the big day. "A sustainable wedding is one that includes elements which have a positive social and environmental impact. It's incredibly exciting to be at the forefront of sustainable wedding trends and to observe how couples all over the world are making beautiful, ethical choices for their celebrations," says Tracy DiNunzio, founder and CEO of Recycled Bride. "This year's sustainable wedding trends are going mainstream, with more couples than ever incorporating eco-friendly elements into their weddings." Eleven Sustainable Wedding Trends for 2011 Moonstone Engagement Ring Turtle Love Committee 1. Diamonds are no longer a girl's best friend: Inspired by the sapphire ring that Prince William gave to Kate Middleton, alternative gemstones are all the rage for engagements in 2011. Brides will express their individual style -- and avoid conflict diamonds -- with rings made of colored stones like sapphires, emeralds, and rubies, and sparkly diamond alternatives like moissonite and synthetic diamonds. 2. Chalkboard chic: Stylish slate signs will take the place of paper wedding programs, seating cards, and menus. Chalkboard signs can be made to look elegant and fancy or sweet and rustic, and can be created inexpensively at home using scavenged picture frames, chalkboard paint, and a little creativity. Reducing paper waste at your wedding never looked so stylish! Nutshell Catering 3. Weddings go local: Farmer's market menus and locally sourced favors and gifts are hip as can be this year. By doing their wedding shopping locally, couples minimize their carbon footprint, support their local economy, and delight guests with unique details they won't find elsewhere. This trend caught fire after Chelsea Clinton's locally lovely wedding in Rhinebeck, New York, and will continue well into 2011. 4. The "staycation-moon": The popular staycation trend meets the honeymoon as couples skip the expense and carbon footprint associated with honeymoon travel in favor of romantic hometown adventures. Picture a week of museum visits, local theater and sporting events, park picnics, bucket-list adventures, and romantic dining -- no luggage required! 5. Intimate weddings: Weddings with small guest lists create less waste, offer more warmth, and give couples tons of flexibility when choosing a location. Intimate wedding celebrations range from elegant multi-course dinners in hotel penthouses to backyard barbecues featuring local bands and brews. 6. Cocktail wedding dresses: Short wedding dresses are all the rage, and just about every major bridal designer has debuted a knee-length collection for 2011. A cocktail-length dress can be worn again, and many are just as formal and elegant as a long gown. Look for tons of short and sweet styles for sale on Recycled Bride right now. 7. Paperless Invitations: Electronic wedding communication is easier and prettier than ever, with companies like Glo offering stunning, interactive online save-the-dates, reply cards, invitations, and more. E-mail invites are less expensive than paper and help to reduce wedding waste. Tea Length Wedding Dress by Recycled Bride   8. Greener Gifting: Registries have gone green, with tons of new options for brides and grooms who want to receive ethically-made gifts and support the sustainable economy. Two of our faves are the Green Bride Guide Shop and The Knot's Gift Registry 360, which lets couples create one centralized registry with products from any online retailer they choose. And green donation gifts, like Bluebell Giving Cards, will be popular as both wedding presents and guest favors. 9. Face Forward: Long veils are sitting on the sidelines this year, as brides forgo them in favor of birdcage styles and unique hair accessories that can be worn again. Expect to see 2011's brides in headbands, vintage hair clips, flowers, and chic tiaras. 10. Flexitarian Feasts: Another trend inspired by Chelsea Clinton's veggie-conscious wedding is reducing the amount of meat on the menu. This year, more couples will offer vegetable- and grain-based meal options for their guests in an effort to save money and save the Earth.   11. Wedding Recycling: More brides, grooms, bridesmaids and guests than ever are shopping and selling on sites like RecycledBride.com. Smart users enjoy the financial, environmental, and social benefits of wedding recycling, and discover the joy of sharing, saving, and passing on treasured wedding items to other happy couples.

About Recycled Bride: RecycledBride.com is the world's largest wedding marketplace. Members buy and sell everything from designer wedding gowns to reception decorations, bridesmaids dresses, shoes, and wedding gifts. Reselling new and gently used wedding items on Recycled Bride lets users minimize their carbon footprint and maximize their budgets. Recycled Bride is owned byRecycled Media, Inc. and was founded in 2009 by Tracy DiNunzio in Santa Monica, California. An eco-conscious business, Recycled Bride donates a portion of its advertising revenue to Global Green USA.

Repost: Something old, something new - Wausau wedding planning | Examiner.com

I love following Kelly's examiner articles. She's full of great ideas and information. Since one of my passions is delving into the meanings of our traditions, I thought you might enjoy reading about the significance of our "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue"

There's also a final line that I hear less often

"And a sixpence in your shoe"

The sixpence represents good fortune and wealth in your marriage. Read Kelly's article for the rest!

Something old, something new - Wausau wedding planning | Examiner.com