Must-Have Welcome Bags for Out of Town Wedding Guests

Destination weddings beg for welcome bags as unique as they are. The first thing you may want to do, is to choose a reusable tote with which they can easily travel home. Then you can fill it with everything from local favorites, to items that tie into your wedding theme. Here are some interesting wedding welcome bag options to get your idea juices flowing…

If your wedding ceremony is on the beach, by all means go beachy with flip flops, sunglasses, sunscreen, trinkets made from seashells and maybe even a ball cap with your initials for memory sake.

A welcome bag full of local favorites is a great idea too, especially if your wedding is in world famous Daytona Beach or an adorable beachside town like New Smyrna Beach. Don’t forget the gift cards for an acai bowl in your preferred outdoor café or your local coffee or sandwich shop of choice.

Plus, of course Florida is famous for its citrus. So how about stuffing your welcome bags full of fresh, locally grown oranges and grapefruits?

Or fill it with a bunch of items that will make their hotel stay more comfortable, like fuzzy slippers, an eye mask for a good night’s sleep and a bunch of fancy toiletries…or go casual and pack it full of candy bars, pretzels, chips, sodas, waters, Tums and maybe even a monogrammed beer koozie.

Lean toward the luxurious with a bottle of bubbly and champagne flutes to welcome them with style. If your wedding is held at a winery, wine samples from that vineyard are perfect.

Matching everything to your wedding colors can be fun too. Don’t forget to include a note of thanks for their attendance including how much it means to you!

Guest Book Ideas for Your Wedding

Every element of your wedding should be unforgettable, from your dress to your guestbook. Here are some wedding guestbook ideas that may make your wedding day even more memorable…

It is always nice to have your wedding guests leave a recorded message you can listen to long after your special day.

Or have your guests take an instant photo of themselves on which they can write a message. You will love looking back on these unique mementos which can be fashioned into scrapbook keepsake or a decorative display that’s just perfect for framing.

Speaking of framing, you can ask that your guests add their own signature strokes around artwork which is meaningful to you. It could be an artistry reminiscent of your travels, your pet, yourselves or say, if you met at college, it could be a visual representation of your alma mater.

What if your wedding guests wrote you notes they placed in a time capsule to be opened on your first wedding anniversary?

Or how about “Recipe for a Lifetime of Happiness Cards” on which guests submit their suggestions or well wishes for your long-term bliss?

Your wedding guests could sign quilt squares which you could make into a wedding quilt with sentiments to keep you both warm at night.

If you love wine or hold your wedding reception at a winery, it is nice to have your guests sign corks which you can place in a decorative bowl.

Or tie it into your favorite hobby. Love baseball? Have your guests sign a baseball or if game night is your thing, they could sign playing cards or Jenga blocks. Like to surf or kayak together? Have them sign your surfboard or a kayak paddle. You get the idea!

What To Do After “I Do”

What To Do After “I Do”

  • If your wedding reception is a traditional one, of course you will want to make your grand entrance and be introduced for the first time as a married couple.
  • Then there may be time for cocktails, appetizers and socializing.
  • Most likely, before a delicious celebratory meal, you will also enjoy toasts by the best man, the maid of honor and possibly others you hold dear.
  • As time for dessert draws near, there will probably be a cake-cutting ceremony with or without what I like to call cake-face.
  • Traditional wedding activities also include bouquet and garter tosses.
  • Then most newly married couples usually make time for music and dancing.
  • Typically, there is also a brunch for close friends and family the day after your wedding.
  • After your wedding ceremony, you also need to take care of some important (not as much fun) stuff, including filing your marriage license; legally changing your name (updating related documents as well such as your driver’s license, social security card, passport, financial accounts and payment information at your place of work) if you plan to do so; return suit or tux rentals if that applies; clean and properly store your wedding dress and send your thank-yous.

If this all seems a bit overwhelming and you’d like help with planning, facilitating, as well as your marriage license, you can always elicit the help of Central Florida’s premier wedding planner – Affordable Beach Wedding, expertly serving the Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Ponce Inlet and Ormond Beach areas.

Wedding Dress Keepsakes

Your wedding, one of the most memorable days of your life, will undoubtedly be etched in time with gorgeous photos and video; but what if you could use one of the most important aspects of your wedding – your wedding dress – to create a unique and touching memento?

You can, and it can be done in all sorts of beautiful, incredible ways! What if you preserved a piece of your wedding dress to make a cover of a wedding day memory book or a lovely frame?

Keep it in the family! Instead of passing down your wedding dress for someone else to wear, you could have a ring bearer pillow made from it for another family member or a close friend for a special gift or to use as something “old”. A piece of your wedding dress could also be used to fashion a gorgeous bridal bouquet wrap or even a bridal garter.

Or create a sentimental keepsake such as your first Christmas ornament for your tree, a christening dress or a bassinet liner for your first child.

Preserve a piece of your wedding dress and repurpose it to create a lovely jewelry box, tote bag or formal clutch. It would make a stunning table runner, blanket or quilt. Choose from handkerchiefs, pillowcases or a decorative wreath. You could even frame the entire dress as a piece of art for display in your home.

Tips for Writing Meaningful Thank-You Notes

It’s important to recognize people for their good deeds and a meaningful thank-you is a wonderful way to do just that. Here are some tips for writing a meaningful wedding gift thank-you card…

Be prepared with thank-you stationery at the ready and keep track of the gifts you receive and from whom you receive them.

As with pretty much everything in life, timing is everything. So be prompt with your thank-you notes, as no one likes to be forgotten. Two to three weeks is an acceptable response time if you have a large number of thank-yous to write.

Including specific details about their gift or the reasons their particular gift makes you grateful will make your thank-you more personalized and meaningful. For instance, did it mean the world to you that a special moment or fondness was reflective in their wedding gift?

Try to avoid cliches or overused adjectives. Instead, speak from the heart and use words you would choose in a face-to-face conversation to express your thanks.

Take the time and effort to legibly handwrite your thank-yous instead of sending emails or texts. The extra time you take will not go unnoticed.

Correct spelling and grammar are important too. Just as taking the time to mention details that matter to you and handcrafting your note, make the extra time to ensure that your grammar is correct. Incorrect grammar can appear slopping and uncaring.

How to Plan a Mini-Moon for a Short, Sweet Getaway

The stars don’t always align in life. So, when work is piled high or your other commitments have become overwhelming, but you don’t want to delay your wedding day any longer; instead of an extended honeymoon, many couples are opting for abbreviated excursions that can be just as romantic and indulgent.

The options are endless! Spend the weekend at an enchanting bed and breakfast or wrap yourself in the lavish luxury of a rejuvenating spa. Fill your days with things like tea in a charming English garden or brunch after a round at an elite, championship golf course. Splurge on tickets to that concert or courtside seats you have always wanted. Dine on candlelit balconies, dance at the trendiest clubs or rent a high-end sportscar and drive it like you stole it.

Plus, we live on the majestic coast of Florida, so why not reap its benefits…with glorious sun-filled days on one of the world’s most pristine beaches, paddleboarding along the scenic Indian River, taking a surf class as a couple or a sunset cruise.

Mini-moons can save you money while packing a whole bunch of fun into a short amount of time. You can make them unforgettable and you can make your plans for them right here in the Daytona Beach area.

For more tips on wedding planning, feel free to reach out to the experts. Affordable Beach Wedding is the premier wedding planner for the Central Florida Coast.

Wedding Invite Etiquette: What to Say and When to Send

Since it is typically the first thing your guests will see regarding your wedding day, your wedding invite is one of the most important aspects of your wedding…from the look and feel, to all the logistical details. Here are some tips to help you follow appropriate wedding invitation etiquette:

Traditionally, wedding invitations are mailed six to eight weeks prior to your wedding day, allowing adequate time for mail delivery, your guests to respond and for you to acquire a headcount. Remember to back this up even further to accommodate ample time for printing and addressing. Ideal RSVP timing is three to four weeks prior to your wedding date, but two weeks will probably work if you are pushed for time.

Paper RSVPs are usually preferred over digital RSVPs, as older guests may not be technology savvy. Don’t forget to include postage on your RSVPs, a return address on your invitation envelopes and to reference parents if they are contributing.

For cohesiveness, it is a nice touch to carry your wedding theme through to your wedding invitations. So, when you are choosing or designing your wedding invitations, you may want to ask yourself questions such as, “Is my wedding formal?” “Will there be a theme?” “What are my colors?”

Your wedding invitation should include date, time, location, dress code, wedding website if there is one, but not registry information. Other items to clearly address on your wedding invitations are whether or not plus-ones and children are welcome.

Also order some extras just to be safe.

The Groom’s Guide to Wedding Day Style

It goes without question that each bride should be beautifully accessorized in her dream come true attire, but don’t forget the groom! The groom’s style, which should handsomely reflect his personality and taste, is also a very important part of your wedding day.

There are a wider array of groom fashion choices than you may think…

For instance, the groom can sport a luxurious, velvet jacket or a waistcoat with a pocket watch for a timeless look. If the 80s are your thing, go with a double breasted suit or add a skinny tie for a ratpack vibe. Scottish? How about a kilt? Prefer a suave Italian feel, go sockless with chic leather loafers. Or make a bold statement with bright colors, suspenders or cheeky summer attire.

When planning a groom’s wedding day fashion, there are few you may want to consider:

Ask yourself if his style should hold an elegant, classic appeal. If so, I see a black tuxedo in your future.

If your groom is more chill and a tuxedo feels far too rigid for your special day, a dark colored suit with a wedding themed pocket square may feel more comfortable, while maintaining an upscale look.

If you prefer more casual, a lighter colored suit would be perfect for a daytime affair. A vest or jacket with trousers are fun mix and match style options. Or opt for full-on casual with just a tie (or not) to match the bride.

How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget Without Sacrificing Style

Do you want to know how to have the wedding of your dreams without breaking the bank? Plan a beach wedding along Central Florida’s picturesque coastline, which offers a majestic setting without rival and the perfect honeymoon built right in. It’s genius!

From a simple, yet elegant barefoot beach wedding ceremony with just the two of you and an officiant, to a breathtaking celebration pulling out all the stops, with music, flowers and decorations…and everything in between – and all remarkably affordable.

Imagine hearts drawn in the sand with a unity sand celebration and keepsake or welcome flags blowing in the gentle breeze, lanterns lining the aisles of a sunset beach ceremony, guest chairs tastefully adorned with flowing fabric to match your wedding theme, a four-post, winged canopy ceremonial arch under which you will recite your vows, music of your choosing both before and after, as well as photos to reserve your most cherished memories

As for your honeymoon…you only need to book a stay at one of the many resort or hotel choices which offer a wonderful selection of amenities to meet a wide array of budgets. Then simply spend your days on a world famous beach, followed by romantic dinners in your choice of the hundreds which surround you and revel in an exciting nightlife beyond compare!

There’s also more good news. Affordable Beach Wedding, Central Florida’s premier wedding planner, can help you with it all.

Wedding Planning Timeline: A Step-by-Step Guide

We plan our trips, house parties and for those of us who are meticulous, we even plan out our days, weeks and months, but planning is especially important when it comes to one of life’s most special days – your wedding…

If you can, begin your wedding planning 12 months out, starting with determining your budget, guest list and choosing your wedding style/theme. This is the time that you also want to choose your venue, bridal party, start looking for your wedding dress (Don’t forget shoes and accessories.) and hire your band or DJ, videographer and/or photographer.

At the nine-month mark, decide on your bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen attire, select your caterer, hire your florist, create your wedding website and registry, order save the dates, gather guest addresses and secure your officiant.

At six months, begin to research your honeymoon, order your wedding cake and mail your save the dates.

By four months out, you will want to order your invites, choose your wedding rings and book that honeymoon.

Three months prior, create your seating chart, order your favors and bridal party gifts, meet with your officiant, book your transport, choose your music, create your wedding day itinerary and schedule a hair and make-up trial run.

Two months before, mail your invites.

One month before, schedule your dress fitting, acquire your marriage license, write your vows and take a venue walk-through.

The actual week of your wedding is for those last-minute details, such as practicing your vows, the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. After all is said and done, don’t forget to send your thank you cards.

If you want your planning perfect, the most important step you can take before anything else is to call Central Florida’s premier wedding planner – Affordable Beach Wedding!