5 Steps to Take If You Have to Postpone Your Wedding

If you have to postpone your wedding due to the current state of the world, you’re probably feeling a range of emotions. While it’s normal to feel sad, angry and disappointed, know that you will still have your dream wedding day – there are just a few adjustments that need to be made first.

Please Note: It is better to “postpone” than to “cancel”.

What to Consider When Postponing Your Wedding Day

1.Get a Professional Involved

If you’ve been working with a wedding planner up until this point, this is the first person you should turn to at this time. Working with a wedding planner can help take some of the pressure off when you’re already feeling upset about the postponement. The last thing you want to do is make emotional decisions. By letting a third party help you, it will be easier to make logical decisions about what to do next.

If you are not already working with a wedding planner, you can hire someone on a limited basis to handle this delicate process for you.

2. Get Realistic About the Financial Details

Unfortunately, when there’s a change of plans, it can result in financial losses. You may be able to negotiate with your venue and hired professionals so that you lose little to no money. However, it’s still best to have realistic expectations. There is a chance that you might lose your deposit or need to pay extra to make the necessary adjustments.

3. Get In Touch with Your Venue

If you want to start looking at new dates, get in touch with your venue about availability. Again, it’s best to have realistic expectations and be flexible. If your venue is popular, you will have to work with the dates they have open. If you don’t like the options they have available, you can always look at new venues, but know that you would likely be forfeit your deposit.

4. Get In Touch with Your Hired Professionals

Once you’ve been in touch with both your wedding planner and your venue, you can start making arrangements with each of your hired professionals. If any of then are unable to accommodate your new date, you may need to look for a replacement. There is also a chance that you may incur some losses here if you need to switch vendors. Your wedding planner can help you work with your hired professionals and your venue together if you want to have better chances of finding a date that works for everyone.

5. Send Out Change the Date Cards

Next, you want to make sure that your guests know about the postponement. This is where your wedding website comes in handy. If you haven’t yet picked a new date, you can simply update the website to let guests know that they will find out about a new date soon. If you’ve already picked a new date, include it on your “Change the Date” cards. The sooner you can let guests know, the better… especially if they have to make travel arrangements.

These are the main factors to consider when postponing your wedding. If you’ve already planned your honeymoon, don’t forget to make the necessary changes to your travel arrangements too.

Once you’ve gotten the big adjustments out of the way, you can start looking forward to your big day all over again. If you need assistance with any of these changes, contact Trilogy Event Design for a consultation.

Until next time… I leave you with Glitter Wishes & Unicorn Kisses!

Alternatives to Wedding Cake

There are so many different types of weddings. They range everywhere from traditional to obscure. Whatever type of wedding you want, you can have it.

So, let’s talk a little bit about having a nontraditional dessert in the place of a wedding cake. Don’t just assume that because you’re getting married, you have to have a cake. You do not!

You know how when you were growing up, there was always a dessert that you looked forward to eating? That one dessert that you couldn’t wait to get home to? Growing up in the South, mine was banana pudding. I would literally die for a great big spoonful of that right now. It’s my comfort food. Try to think about what dessert makes you happy. What dessert makes you close your eyes and savor every bite? That’s what you can have in the place of a wedding cake. Talk to your caterer about it. They will give you great ideas about what’s possible and feedback about what is impractical.

I was at a wedding at the end of last year and they had a donut tower. It was awesome! Neither of them are huge fans of cake (something I don’t understand, but there are people like that out there). And both of them love breakfast… so donuts! Eat what you love, not what’s expected. There is a banana pudding shaped hole in my wedding dreams! Only, one thing can fill it.

Photo from SheWearsManyHats.com

If you or your partner are really big dessert fans, there are several things you can do to make your reception the sweet-filled destination of your dreams. On the table where the wedding cake would be displayed, you might want to consider a dessert smorgasbord! A good place to start is your top ten. What ten desserts or sweets do you absolutely love? I’m a huge fan of the miniature dessert. Any excuse I have to get a personal pie and I’m there!

Or, you can ask your caterer for a list of options: pies, cookies, cakes, brownies, candy bars, rice crispy treats, cobblers, cannoli…banana pudding. The list goes on and on. Have everything that you want!

Photo from The Daily Meal

Where and when you are having your wedding greatly affects the type of dessert you may have. If you’re having your wedding outside in the middle of August, ice cream sundae’s might be a bit impractical. Not saying that you couldn’t do it, but you might spend more then you want keeping the ice cream frozen. As much as I hate to say it, practicality is something that you must consider. It will be a lot less stressful for you.

Ice cream toppings table from bluebirdicecreamery.com

At every pre-wedding event, whether it’s a high tea or a brunch, a wedding shower or a rehearsal dinner, there is usually something sweet to culminate the occasion. I am of the mindset that these are not just “throw away” food opportunities! Even if you don’t feel you have time to plan the entire menu for every event, make sure there is at least one item that represents you. The dessert is a great way to do that.

Cannoli Wedding Cake taken from Seabrook Island Weddings

Okay, now that I have spent so much time discussing desserts, I’m going to go and make myself something sweet. I hope this blog post did more for you than just make you hungry! Think about you and your partner and what you love. After all, that’s what weddings are all about.

 If you need help finding ways to personalize your wedding, schedule an appointment to chat with us. We can help you make decisions or point you in the direction of the best dessert creations in the area.

Until next time…

Wedding Shower and Bachelorette Party Ideas

Today, I’m going to talk to the Maids (or Matrons) of Honor. Whether you are the best friend of the bride or the bride’s sister (or an other VIP in her life), you have been charged with the oh so big responsibility of Maid of Honor. And whether you wanted it or not, you HAVE to do a good job. You want to make the wedding experience wonderful and memorable.

There are a couple of duties that are in your job description: facilitating pre-wedding functions, the wedding shower, and the bachelorette party. I’m just going to give you a few ideas for a bachelorette party, a wedding shower and a miscellaneous wedding party event.

The Bachelorette Party

Photo by Sheronda Seawright Photography

When you are looking for things to do for a bachelorette party, the most important thing to do is ask the bride what kind of party she wants.

Of course, there is a typical bachelorette party…party. You go out with your girls for a fun night of debauchery and dancing. There is nothing wrong with this. It’s fun! However, I am of the mindset that you should do everything in your power to make this wedding season less stressful for the bride. Although, a drunken night of dancing and risque behavior is fun, it is not for everyone.

A great alternative is a Spa Day. Whether you book two hours at Le Reve Rittenhouse Spa or a full day at Body Restoration Spa, I guarantee you will not regret it. A massage, a facial, manicure, hot tubs, mud baths, or the works! There are so many options to indulge yourselves. The first time I went to a spa, I got a massage and then sweated out all the toxins I didn’t know were in my body in the sauna. Then we had the best meal ever. It was wonderful!

Check out no more than 3 spas to see what they offer. Most spas offer great packages for events like this. There might even be champagne and cake (I mean that’s all I would need)! If you don’t see exactly what you want, most places are willing to customize a package for you.

The Wedding Shower

Photo source: weddingforward.com

All of the wedding showers I’ve gone to have been, forgive me, lame as hell. You can be traditional without being corny! Now, I understand that wedding showers are about the location as much as the actual shower. Make sure you do it at a place where the guests will be comfortable. People need to feel free to be themselves wherever they are. Even the most beautiful party can be ruined by the wrong ambience. Think about having it in a familiar setting… then transform it into something else for the day. Flowers and candles, people! You’d be surprised how much you can change with flowers and candles.

The most important thing to me is the food. However, I know not all people are as food obsessed as me so I will only say a few things about this. I am not a huge fan of gimmicky food. That is not to say I don’t like a good theme! Colors, designs, flavors…these are all great things you can do with food. Get creative! You can have the guests create their own desserts with different frostings and naked cakes, ice cream and all the whipped cream, cookies and fruit. Or… be more reserved and classic with just one beautiful cake.

Make sure there is a photographer! Whether it is great Aunt Thelma’s daughter-in-law or a professional, you want someone documenting this experience. The bride will thank you.

I am a HUGE fan of games. No matter the setting or group of people, games are always appropriate. At least, I think so. Games are a good way to break the ice and get everyone to know one another. I’m always down for a good game of Find the Guest (every guest gets a checklist with a ton of different facts about each other and they have to match the facts to each guest). If some of the wedding party have never met, this is an innocent and fun way of brushing past the awkwardness of being in close quarters with people you don’t know. You can also get to know people really quickly with a round of Who Can Make the Best Cocktail!

Just a Few More Tips

Being the Maid of Honor is an open-ended commitment. That means you have to be ready for anything. You know the bride very well. You know her personality. You know what to be prepared for. In my previous post, I wrote about starting a Facebook group. That will be so helpful for you to communicate with the other bridesmaids. Also, start a Pinterest board with all of the ideas you have for the parties and other events.

I hope these ideas helped. Maybe it inspired you. Maybe it let you know that you’re going to need to get the rest of the bride squad to help with all of this. Or…Maybe it showed you that you can do it by yourself. If I helped you at all, then I achieved my goal.

If you need any assistance with your pre-wedding event plans, we are here for you. Take a look at our calendar to schedule a free 30-minute call with us.

Until next time…

Wedding Planning: A guide to planning a wedding during the Coronavirus pandemic

Before I begin listing things, I should probably introduce myself. I’ve been a planner ever since I was a little girl. I used to plan elaborate tea parties and invite all of my favorite dolls and stuffed animals. Now, of course I plan real parties for you know, real people but I still have the same attitude. I love creating beautiful spaces with Trilogy Event Design! I guess my parents were sort of clairvoyant because they named me, Jubilee. They must have known that I would love to celebrate!

So, you get engaged and it’s probably the best moment of your life! You’re so excited to begin planning your wedding and share this special moment with the people in your life. Then, wham! A global pandemic strikes the world and everyone’s life comes to a crashing halt. Around the globe, peoples’ lives have changed and the every day things that used to be so normal are suddenly strenuous and grueling. You’re working from home or you’ve been laid off. You’re engaged, but is there going to be a wedding? You wanted a huge, magnificent wedding, but what planning can you do from your home? Well, it turns out, A LOT!

Planning a wedding is stressful in the best of times. During this health scare, it has become daunting and some would say, unrealistic. Never fear! I have worked up a guide for the At Home Wedding Planner. There are so many things that a bride or groom to be can do to be proactive during the Covid-19 pandemic. I am here to help you!

1. Wedding Cake

A chocolate cake with chocolate espresso frosting I made over the weekend

 I am a certified pastry chef and choosing a wedding cake is probably my favorite part of the whole wedding planning process! I have spoken with a couple of bakeries and companies who make wedding cakes. They have informed me that they are still able to do wedding cake tastings BUT you have to plan waaaaaay ahead, at least a month. Because the bakeries are not open to the public during this time, they are scheduling everything one customer at a time. This may seem onerous and foreboding, but it’s actually responsible and safe. Plus, you will have the whole place to yourself! Whether you schedule online or just make a phone call, making an appointment gives you something to look forward to and let’s face it, who doesn’t want to a couple hours to just eat cake?!

2. Wedding Dress or Suit Shopping

Photo from Martha Stewart Weddings

Even as a little girl, I pictured what my wedding dress would look like. And yes, I definitely wanted a fairy tale dress with a poufy skirt and ALL the frills and lace! I mean I have come to my senses…sorta. I still want a fairy tale wedding, but my idea of what a fairy tale wedding actually looks like has changed. Of course, you can order magazines online and there are a TON of different websites to cruise when checking out new styles, but if you, like me, actually have to SEE the dress on you before you know if it’s the one, then you will be happy to know that most wedding dress stores are still available to peruse. Bridal shops, like bakeries, are now appointment only. So, here’s what I recommend. Pick a day when you and MAYBE one other person can spend the day looking at dresses. I would make an appointment at three different places in one day and spend your time trying on dresses and getting feedback on what you like. You don’t necessarily have to buy one, although if you put on that one perfect dress, get it! While you are at the store, if you need to schedule fittings or tailoring for your dress, do it. If you don’t find the perfect dress, schedule an appointment with three other bridal shops. You get the picture.

3. Invitations and Photographers

Invitation by Penned by Pink; Photo by Sheronda Seawright Photography

These two are pretty simple because most paper source stores have all of their samples online. Also, most stores have waived their shipping cost now, so this would be a perfect time to order samples of the invitations you would like to see and feel. There might be a small fee if you want the sample invitations personalized, but it shouldn’t cost a ton.

Photographers are also pretty simple. All photographers have websites where you can look at their different galleries and find a style that you like. Next, email them and schedule a time to talk.

4. Social Media

Photo from fivechannels.com

I think that social media is hands down the best tool to use during this pandemic! Even if you don’t have a Facebook or Instagram account (or Tik Tok, Twitter, etc) YOU SHOULD START ONE NOW! Create a page specifically for your wedding and start posting. Invite the people who are in your wedding party, family members, friends, anyone who you know is going to be at your wedding. Ask questions; look for ideas, ask your friends to post links of people or companies they have used for their wedding or other events. I guarantee people will begin to suggest things that hadn’t event crossed your mind! Your network of friends and family is your greatest resource! Use them. If at some point in the planning process, you feel like you are getting overwhelmed with everything, give the task of maintaining your page to the Maid of Honor or one of the groomsmen. But the great thing about social media is the accessibility. Facebook and Instagram are accessible from everywhere! You never have to feel alone in the wedding planning process. Your friends will help you!

5. Vows

This suggestion is only for the people who are writing out their own vows versus using the traditional vows. During the next couple months, you will probably get reallllly close with your fiancé. Being closed up with one particular person (even if you don’t live with that person) is hard, at least for me! Their little idiosyncrasies will begin to annoy you and the little habits that were once cute will begin to eat away at your sanity. Having said that, if you guys survive this whole Covid-19 thing, you can probably make it through anything! So keeping that in mind, you may want to consider writing your own vows. You definitely have the time to think of all the things that you love about your partner. And even if you don’t ever read them in front of a crowd of people, it’s still great to look back on a piece of paper from a time before you were married when you were very much in love.

I hope this short list helps you out. Planning a wedding should be fun! If you are feeling discouraged or overwhelmed, we are here to help you. Trilogy Event Design is offering FREE 30-minute phone consultations to talk through your concerns concerning Coronavirus delays and other wedding planning details. Schedule your appointment today!

Happy Planning!