Invitation Concerns

Your Invitation sets the tone for all of your upcoming festivities, so along with color, paper, design and font choices you have to figure out how you want to invite all of your loved ones to one of the most special days of your life. And sometimes there are special requests you want to make of your loved ones, and you want to be sure to do it in the most polite way possible. Here are a few tips that will help you avoid any faux pas on your invitations.

1.Always spell out all of the words on a formal invitation, no numbers(i.e. The Fifth of July, Two Thousand and Nine)

2.If someone hasn't responded to your invitation one week past the RSVP date, call him or her and confirm over the phone.

3.Children over the age of 18 get their own invitations.

4.Your officiant and their better half should get an invitation.

5.Send your parents and wedding party invitations as well as a keepsake.

6.You have to put return postage on your RSVP's.

7.Person with an occupational title is listed first, regardless of sex (Doctor, Judge, military, etc...)

8.List children's first names on line 2 of the outer envelope from oldest to youngest.

9.If you would like to have an adult only reception we suggest adding one of these phrases to the bottom of your reply card: Adult Reception or We hope that the (# of) of you will be able to join us

10.Send out Save the Date cards as soon as you know the date of your events, and give family members ample time to plan ahead.

11.Send Invitations approximately 6-8 weeks in advance. Any sooner, and they may forget the date or forget to RSVP, any later and they might not have enough notice to make their plans.

12.Be sure to include No Boxed Gifts please if you don't want to get stuck hauling hundreds of gifts home after your reception. Especially if you are a couple that will be moving to a different city other than your wedding location.

13.If you have a Wedding Registry, don't forget to include it on your invitations!

14.Think as if you were the guest, will they have questions on parking, directions etc, if so, be sure to include the answers on your invitations.

Top Picks from Indian Wedding Exhibit's Bridal Show

Didn't get a chance to go to Indian Wedding Exhibit's Bridal Show? Well here's Fifth Avenue Events' top vendor picks from the expo so you can still draw inspiration for your wedding!

As soon as you entered, the elaborate display of wedding decor was spectacular. L'Ambiance Decor had a stage set up that was warm and colorful. Wedding Design had a stage set up that was beautifully romantic and elegant. And Yaadein Weddings had a more modern and contemporary twist to their stage decor. With all of the flowers, beautiful fabrics and crystals I saw, it was tough to pick out one favorite, but these three certainly stood out.

For wedding cake, our top vendor pick was Indaroma Bakery & Cafe. While offering a full range of Indian dishes on their catering menu, this bakery also makes the most scrumptous cakes. Not to mention they can make any kind of cake imaginable, from classic white fondant covered 5 tiered cakes, to more traditional indian designs, to more quirky or modern designs. My personal favorite flavor was their chocolate mousse filled chocolate cake!

For photography, our top pick was Photographick Studios. Their eye for detail and their ability to capture the genuine emotion of the day is remarkable. From capturing the stolen glances between the bride and groom, to the warm embrace given by the father to his daughter on her wedding day, Photographick Studios helps you to truly keep the memories of your wedding.

Mayla Designs was our pick for all things printed for your wedding. With the flexibility to work with anyone nationwide with an extensive catalogue online, they have a wide range of choices where everything is customizable, from the paper, to the text font, to the designs and the shapes.

Then finally for the latest in bridal couture, Shehnnai is a must. With the latest fashions India has to offer, Shehnnai has colorful, elegant, dazzling wedding wear that will make any bride gorgeous on her wedding day.

Here are links to all of our top picks, enjoy!
L'Ambiance - http://www.myweddingdecorator.com/
Yaadein Weddings - http://www.yaadeinweddings.com/
Wedding Design - http://www.mandapdesign.com/
Indaroma Bakery & Cafe - http://www.indaroma.com/
Photographick Studios - http://www.photographick.com/
Mayla - http://www.mayladesigns.com/
Shehnaai - http://www.shehnaaiusa.com/
PartyLand Decor - www.partylandflowers.com

Bridal Show Season

Its that time of year again, its bridal show season! Discover all of the latest trends in wedding planning, and get inspiration for your own wedding. Here’s a schedule of upcoming bridal shows in the NY/NJ/Maryland area that can help get you jump started. Come visit us at the Fifth Avenue Events’ booth!

August 22nd, 2010 Indian Wedding Exhibit Bridal Show Dulles Expo Center, Washington DC Metro Area www.indianweddingexhibit.com
September 19th, 2010 Shaadi Bazaar Bridal Show, The Dedham Hilton Hotel, Dedham, MA
September 26th, 2010 Fall Dulhan Expo Hyatt Windwatch, Long Island, NY http://www.dulhanexpo.com/home.htm
October 17th, 2010 Fall Dulhan Expo Skylands at Randolph, NJ
http://www.dulhanexpo.com/home.htm
December 5th, 2010 Grand Dulhan Expo Garden State Exhibit Center, NJ
http://www.dulhanexpo.com/home.htm

Tips to Hiring the Perfect Wedding Vendors

It’s one of the most significant and emotional days of your life, and its your moment in the spotlight, so of course you only want the best in the business surrounding you on your big day. Here are a few practical tips to keep in mind to ensure that you cross all your T’s and dot all your I’s before signing on the dotted line.
Keep in mind that there is a vendor out there to suit every budget. Prioritize what you value most, be it décor, food, or entertainment, and set parameters accordingly. It will make the process of selecting vendors much more objective.
Once you have a budget in mind, research, research, research. Select at least three vendors in each category and let them know your specific requirements, and ask for a cost estimate.
When you have a few vendors that fit the bill, explore each one to find the vendor that suits your personal style and taste. Speak to each vendor, meet them in person, ask to see samples of their work, and of course ask for references and follow up with each one with a phone call. A great question to ask some vendors is why they got into their line of work, and what they like best about it. It will give you some insight into what they value most, and will allow to see if its in line with what you are looking for.
Once you have selected your vendors and are ready to sign a contract, be sure to outline each of the vendor’s specific responsibilities as well as the payment method and plan. Avoid vendors who insist on being paid in full up front; most vendors will want an initial deposit and then the balance on the wedding day. Finally, be sure to ask the following questions:
Are taxes and gratuities included in the price quoted? Are there any additional fees that may come up?
Who will actually be managing your event? Will it be the lead event planner, the principal photographer, the main DJ? Be sure that the person you spoke to and approved will be the one handling everything. If the person contracted to be there cannot make it, who will come?
If staff is required, ask how many they will bring. How will they be dressed?
Find out if your venue will be holding any other events on the same day as yours, and whether there will be any overlap. Will you be able to see/hear the other event?
Find out if the venue has any restrictions in terms of décor that can be used. Ask if they plan on doing any remodeling in your event space. You don’t want to fall in love with the site and then have it look any different on your wedding day.
Finally, a good wedding vendor will be upfront and honest with you about their style and capabilities, and they will let their work speak for them. Go with your instincts and choose vendors that work well with your personality. After all, you will be working with them extensively for the better part of a year in most cases. And on your wedding day you want to be sure that you have people there that can carry out your vision without your supervision.

The Reception Seating Plan

The reception seating plan can seem like a gargantuan task for most couples to take on during their wedding planning process. Inevitably couples have to juggle the wishes of so many friends and family members, including their own, and complete the puzzle of where will everyone sit. Here are a few tips to help you through this process.

Seat groups either by their relationship to you or by their ages. For example, seat teens together, aunts and uncles together, friends from college together etc.

Seat anyone you feel will be visiting the bar often close to the bar, so they don’t have to disturb your other guests walking through all of the other tables.

As for the head table, you have several options. You and your better half can sit at a raised table with your wedding party below you. You can have your own table with a table on either side of you with your wedding party. You and your husband in the middle of a long table with men on one side and women on the other, or boy, girl, boy, girl. Parents and grandparents at the table or not, it's up to you!

Stick to table numbers. Famous couples, places you've been, etc., are hard to see from across the room. Otherwise, have table numbers accompany your theme place cards.

Reserved tables are all you need. Once at the table, people like the option of choosing their seat.

It's a good idea to have a "Reserved" card for seats for parents and close family. They are the only ones that need preferred seating.

Follow these rules, and remember its your wedding, everyone there is there to celebrate you, and as long as they have a seat they're happy to be there to be a part of your day!

Wedding Reception Part II

This past weekend, for the first time in a few years, I got to attend a wedding reception as a guest and not as the planner. The reception was to celebrate the wedding of a dear friend of mine, and I saw some great ideas at the wedding that I simply had to share!
The couple was married a few months ago in a huge blowout traditional wedding in Delhi, and so when they returned to the US, they decided they wanted to have a reception here for friends and family that were unable to join them in India.
What I really appreciated were the small personal touches the couple added to showcase their wedding in India, which allowed all their guests here to enjoy their celebrations in India as well. As soon as guests walked in, we got our first glimpse of the grandeur of the couple’s wedding in India. The bride and groom’s wedding outfits were beautifully displayed in huge frames. So many brides sadly store away their wedding dresses right after the wedding with no chance or reason to pull it back out. I loved the idea of framing it for guests to see, and keeping it as a keepsake to perhaps display in their home.
Our next glimpse of the couple’s Indian wedding was on the back of each table number. The couple had included pictures of the bride getting her mehendi done, the groom’s entrance on the horse, the tying of the mangalasutra, and several other poignant moments that happened throughout their time in India.
Then, just before the couple made their grand entrance into the reception, the guests got to watch a video of the couple’s first dance at their first reception in India, it was a special moment I was glad I didn’t miss out on.
All in all the reception here in America was the icing on their Indian wedding cake, and it was a heartfelt and joyous event!
**If you want to take the photo table number idea one step further here’s a great idea for your next intimate party or gathering. Instead of writing the names of your guests on a placecard, use a photo that you have of them and put their table number on the back. It’ll bring back great memories for you and lets all of your guests share in the memories as well!

Sweet Tooth Brides

If you have a sweet tooth like me, quite often, you politely nibble on your dinner, just so you can make it to dessert - the highlight of your evening. Dessert is quickly turning into yet another opportunity for you to incorporate your own touch, and wow your guests. Whether it’s a grand five tiered cake you’re interested in, or an elaborate display of Viennese desserts, here are a few tips for you to keep in mind when deciding.
Don’t feel pressured to have a cake just because it’s a wedding. These days more and more couples are letting go of the notion that a wedding isn’t a wedding till you cut the cake, and they’re embracing more unconventional dessert ideas. If you’ve never enjoyed cake, and would rather have something else, go where your taste buds lead you, its your day!
Cakes are no longer the typical 5 tier, white fondant covered cake topper holders they used to be. These days almost anything can be made into a cake. From having a replica of the couple, to a representation of your favorite past-time, your options are endless. If the shape you choose isn’t conducive to feeding large crowds, then simply have extra sheet cake in your favorite flavors to pass out for the guests. You can also have mini-cakes for each individual guest, or have cupcakes come together to make a picture. Another tip is to be sure to have lots of pictures of the type of cake you want, it leaves much less room for discrepancies between you and the baker in terms of what you want.
If you want to add a personal touch, you can always incorporate something about your story into your dessert. Maybe the two of you met at a carnival, you can have cotton candy displays, funnel cake, caramel pop-corn, and a flavored ice bar. Or perhaps the two of you fell in love over a shared dessert at a favorite restaurant, see if you can bring in the dessert for all of your guests to enjoy. If both of you just love cookies and milk, have warm cookies passed out with shots of flavored milk and cream based liqueurs.
Remember, no dessert is too simple or too unconventional; it’s just another way for you to make your wedding your own unique event.
Bonus tip! Cake Toppers aren’t what they used to be either! Click here http://www.weddingcaketoppersideas.com/handmade-personalized-wedding-cake-toppers.php for a website that will let you submit a photo of you and your fiancé and your wedding outfits, and voila, within a few short weeks, you have a custom cake topper complete with wedding day details, that has an uncanny resemblance of the two of you!