The little things count

You would not believe how easy it is to make your guests feel welcome. There is no better way to do this than welcome bags for out-of-town guests. Find gift bags which match your wedding colors. The inexpensive route.....go to the dollar store. You would be surprised at the great selection of gift bags they have. Next, I suggest going to our local visitor's center and collecting maps and/or points of interest flyers for your area. In most cases they will gladly provide these items for free. After that, fill your bags with useful items. The picture above shows a schedule and water bottle set I created for wedding. While the water bottles may seem pricey, them were not. (Sam club water, lime green paper fabric, purple linen paper and a silver sticker from the dollar store.)



Schedules for guests are perfect, especially for weddings which are an all weekend event. We used more of the purple linen paper, silver stickers and used regular lime green printer paper from Staples. This couple hosted a beer and wings night the Thursday before the wedding. Then a Men's outing / golf tournament on Friday while the ladies had a luncheon and day of beauty and shopping. The rehearsal dinner that evening. The shuttle schedule to the wedding from the hotel was included for the Saturday afternoon wedding. And a family brunch on Sunday.

Other items to include in your bags: snacks, a thank you card or card of welcome from the bride, groom and family, toiletry items not provided by the hotel, etc. All of this will help the guests feel welcome and special.

Not your everyday shoes

These shoes happen to be the ones I wore for my own nuptials. However there is a new trend in bridal shoes that I absolutely LOVE!!!! Brides are opting for shoes that are unique and/or have color. Let your shoes selection represent your personal style. This is yet another opportunity for you to add some flare to your wedding.

For a beach and/or beach wedding you could try these.



Step on the wild side with these Ralph Lauren shoes under your dress.



If you are thinking pink and sassy, you might go for something like these.


Some brides even go for blue heels, like this pair from Ben Walk


On more of the traditional side, this pair of Jimmy Choos are great as well.



Need something blue? Why not wear blue shoes.... Like this pair from David's Bridal.



Some brides are going for the metallic look. Like with this pair from Nine West.

Bottoms Up!

Whether you are serving spirits or not............ a signature drink can bring an element of uniqueness to any wedding. Trust me, guests get excited over things like this. If you are having a dry wedding, server a signature punch made with sparkling water, through in some sliced fruit or an umbrella and let the party begin. If you are serving adult beverages a signature drink can add flair to you beer and wine selection. It also can reduce your costs rather than having a full bar. A few of my favorites are from a Bride magazine article. Don't be afraid to ask your reception site if they offer signature drinks within the package or if you may bring your own.

Whatever the case maybe, enjoy it! Trust me, the last wedding I did, the bride and groom served mango martinis and the guests could not stop talking about how wonderful they were. Cheers!!!