Happy Holidays!!!!

Yes, Christmas is coming…..probably the most stressful time of the year for many of us. So….the trick is to be organized! Are you coming to Saginaw to visit with family? If so, call ahead of time to schedule an appointment with us to discuss detail, floral and invitations. Begin 2010 knowing that you have much of the large detail decisions made!

Want to be unique???

Do you want your wedding to be different from all of the others you’ve attended? Here are some tips for you to make your special day unique:

Looking for unique colors? Think jewel tones….navy, plum, amber, bronzes, and coppers.

If your budget is a bit tight, think about using colored/printed linen instead of white or solid colors, then keep the centerpiece simple.

Smaller wedding cakes are in style…which fits right in with our standard of desserts with all meals. Save your budget, and be trendy at the same time!

Decorate your vases…either with rocks inside, or colored paper around. I have one bride using beautiful bottles as centerpieces….don’t be afraid to be different!

Use creative lighting to add a totally different look to your ballroom . Colored lighting is surprisingly affordable, and will dramatically change the look of your Reception.

I’ll expect to be talking to all of you about what we can do together to make your Wedding Reception like no other!

Specialty Linens?

As you are planning that special day, probably one of the last things on your mind is linens. I think many people decide not to have colored linens, as it's a great place to cut your costs. However, I would like to present this quote from "Michigan Meetings & Events".

"Did you know that chair covers, table linens, runners, sashes and
napkins make up nearly 70 percent of an event's visual decor?
This is just one of the many reasons why chair covers and linens
should be a key element to event planning rather than an afterthought."

So....as you are imagining the beautiful ballrooms at Horizons or Temple Theatre, think in color!!!

From one bride.....

Hello! I received this great email, and thought I would share with all of you! Jennifer is a bride from last fall, and we still keep in touch. If YOU have any great ideas or feedback, please feel free to email me. I would love to put your thoughts in our blog!

"How are you doing?! I miss you! I thought of you a bunch this weekend. I went to a wedding that had the cutest center pieces....they sliced up like a million limes and filled large glass vases (all different shapes and sizes) with the limes, and then had big pink peonies and bright green flowers coming out of the top!!! So great.

I also thought of a great tip for brides....TAKE YOUR VEIL OFF BEFORE THE RECEIVING LINE STARTS! It happened to me, it happened to my sister, and it happened to the bride this weekend. The more hugs you give, the more your hair is ruined by people pulling on the veil as they hug you!

Just thought I'd share. I'm sure you've heard this all before! :)"

Jennifer Lixey Hankinson

Traditional vs. Non-Traditional???

Hello!

I just met with my bride, Tracy and her Mom Lana. We had a long discussion about head tables, so I thought I would share some options with you.

The "traditional" head table consists of several banquet tables placed end to end. Sometimes the table is placed on a riser, and decorations are typically on the front of the table and along the front top edge. The nice thing about this table is that when we enter a Reception, we have been "trained" to look for the long table, and we know that is where the bridal party is going to be seated. Sometimes, however, the bridal party is uncomfortable, as they are limited to only talking to the people directly next to them, and they feel that the guests are watching them eat.

Another table design that has been created here at HORIZONS is our "King and Queen" table. We use banquet tables to create a rectangle, and the bridal party sits around the table. Our florist then places several different vases of flowers, rose petals, and tons and tons of candles on top of the table. The nice thing about this table is that the bridal party feels much more relaxed because even though they are sitting at a beautiful table, they can talk to the bride, groom, and rest of the bridal party. (We call it a party within a party!) This table can easily be placed in the center of the room with friends and family around, or can be placed next to the dance floor so the bride and groom have a place to sit if they choose not to dance all night.

A third table option would be a "Sweetheart Table". The bride and groom sit at a private small table set just for them, with friends and family around. The bridal party typically sits at reserved tables close to the bride and groom.

So.....which table is for you? Call and make an appointment to meet with our florist, and we'll be happy to help you decide!

Stress Free Wedding Planning

The last couple of blogs were on how to keep your wedding planning stress free. Following is the grand finale!

Be organized:
1. Use your wedding planner!!! Save pictures of flowers, cake, etc.
2. Contact your event coordinator, and do as much detail as possible for the reception. (Hotel room blocks, food, beverage, timeline, etc.)
3. Begin planning your ceremony months prior to the date. It is sometimes very difficult to get in touch with your pastor, the church music director, etc.
4. Meet with your vendors to discuss cake, music, floral, invitations as early as possible.


Make the planning process fun:
1. Put a value on your time. If you don’t have to do it, don’t. (Order invitations, programs, guest favors through Horizons.
2. If you enjoy being creative, invite bridesmaids and friends to help you with creating guest favors, assembling invitations and programs.
3. Delegate – allow the people who love and support you to participate in your special day.
a. Mom’s best friend as a hostess
b. Let M.O.G. assign seating for the groom’s side of the family
c. Let M.O.B. coordinate r.s.v.p’s.
d. Let Dad help with menu/specialty wines
e. Let your vendors do what they do best; resist the urge to micromanage, but do keep in touch with them.
4. Don’t put impossible demands on yourself or family.
a. Nobody wants to decorate a hall or ballroom on the day of the wedding, nor do they want to clean up at the end.
b. No, Mom can’t make your cake
c. No, YOU can’t make your own fresh bouquet and other ceremony flowers.
5. Be flexible. Bridesmaid pregnant? Can’t use the music you selected? Expect challenges, and know that you cannot control them.
6. Pick your battles.
7. Know that something will go wrong.
8. Make time for yourself. Do something you enjoy. Massage, Manicure, Pedicure, quiet time, etc.

One of the saddest comments that some of my brides make is “I just can’t wait for the wedding day to be over.” What I really love to hear is “I just can’t wait for my wedding day to be here!”

Enjoy the moment, enjoy the day. You will never have it again

Stress Free Wedding Planning Continued

Here is part two of how to keep your wedding planning stress free.....

Facility:
1. Before visiting facilities, sit down and write a list of what is important to you.
a. Atmosphere
b. Food
c. Convenience for your guests (parking hotel, shuttle)
d. Quality service? (Full time wedding coordinator)
e. Services offered (Floral, invitations, favors, Horizons offers all of the services, as well as placing favors, cake cutter, sign in book, name cards, etc.
f. Attention to detail (Banquet Room Manager)
2. Visit several facilities so you can compare. You like the fact that Horizons offers a full time wedding coordinator. Ask other facilities if they have the same service.
3. Ask the event coordinator what their facility can do for you
4. Did you feel comfortable tour the facility with the coordinator? Did he/she answer all of your questions? Did you feel rushed? Did your coordinator make you feel welcome? If you didn’t get a quality tour, you probably will not receive quality service during your planning.

Communicate:
1. Use e-mail or voice mail. Relay ideas, thoughts, possible problems as soon as you think of them. This will keep you from having to remember (and then forgetting) later on.
2. Even if your groom says he doesn’t want to be involved, he probably does. Keep him informed of detail so that he feels a special part of the day. Most grooms enjoy being involved with food, beverage, DJ or band, tuxedos, and transportation.
3. Have monthly/weekly updates with family members involved with budget to discuss any last minute costs, guest counts, etc.
4. Make time for special moments with your groom without talking wedding.
5. Share your agenda with the bridal party. The more information they receive, the more cooperative they will be.

Watch for part three coming soon!