Your Questions About Centerpiece Ideas For Wedding Receptions

Posted by Susan | Under Centerpiece Ideas Sunday Jan 22, 2012

Betty asks…

2 More Wedding Questions!!!!?

OK, sorry for the constant questioning but none of us knows much about weddings!

Firstly, if you don’t have a wedding planner, who sets up the reception venue? we think my cousin is getting married in a marquee at a hotel and we assume the marquee will be set up by the staff at the venue,
but who puts out the decorations and centrepieces and cutlery and stuff? does the bride do this herself the day before or something?

ALSO… do you have to have a wedding rehearsal? we all hate the idea of having it all pre-arranged as we think it will be less spontaneous… my cousin and her fiancee don’t like things too organised so is it really necessary? if so why?
Thankyou!!
what are the benefits of having a rehearsal?

Susan answers:

The venue should set up most things. The florist usually will setup the flower arrangements. Unless the wedding is at a public venue like a community center hall the wedding party should not have to set up anything. Most places will not let you do anything until a few hours before your event because they may have other weddings/events going on before yours. I would talk to the the hotel to confirm and have a good friend or family member there that day before everything is finalized in case something comes up so the bride does not have to worry about it. She will have enough to worry about.

As for the rehearsal … This is usually done so the wedding party knows where things are and where they will be walking to and from. There will always be spontaneous moments during the wedding and reception.

Sandra asks…

Question about colors that will match dress?

Okay, I have found and ordered my dress. It is ivory and gold. I love it, but am at a loss for colors that will go nicely with gold other than the ivory. I do not know what color to put my maids in? I am fine with just gold and ivory as the colors for the reception (that actually makes things easier), but do not know what color to have the maids in and what color flowers and centerpieces to have? Any ideas or links would be great. Here is my dress…thanks.

http://www.bestbridalprices.com/symphony-wedding-dress-s1820-p-18682.html

Please, no nasty comments or childish remarks, I am asking for help regarding colors for a wedding only. Thanks.

Susan answers:

Your dress is breathtaking; gorgeous. I totally love it.

I would say you can do soft creams, beiges, light pinks or sage green with it.

Lizzie asks…

What to do– Oh What to do…?

So, we originally planned to get married on 08-08-2008. Great day huh! Well, he wants my parents to pay for this great big formal wedding and I don’t think its necessary. We don’t ahve the money (I have a toddler that I raise on my own) and he doesn’t have much of a savings. (I know I know)

My parents are willing to give around 3,000. Here is our breakdown right now
My Dress 350
Alterations 50
Flowers for Bouquets, centerpieces, church: 600
Bridesmaisd gifts 50
Photographer 600
Cake 300
RECEPTION 20.00/person (limited to 100 people)
Invitations 300
and NO honeymoon

But I really want a honeymoon. So I came up with the idea that we elope and go on a honeymoon and come back and have an informal party. My parents are willing to pay for the trip and have my grandparents and his parents pay for the dinner at the party. It wld cost about 2500.00 total. None of the frou frou just whats important, Me Him our closets friends and family.

THis idea also helps include more people
Because we could afford to feed more than 100. Its a lot cheaper to have a BBQ or Pig Roast than it is to have a sit down dinner at a hotel.

oh, and he agreed to do most of this except the date. Which is the point in all of this. He still wants to August and Is aid Honey, its going to be TOO HOT to have an outdoor party in August. So, I said June and he said No, simply becuase he doesnt like june.

I need help coming up with some ideas! On how to please us both. He wants a lot of people to help us celebrate and he wants a wedding. I want a honeymoon and romance.
Thanks ahead

Susan answers:

Try this compromise:
cheap wedding reception venue, like a private club or organization’s party room, could get it for free if a member, or really reduced price. It will be air conditioned, you could have an August wedding.
Nice but inexpensive food, pick one dish like mosstoccoli and salad and bread sticks. Or go appetizers, or small sandwiches. Or even several cold salads[it will be August] and a selection of crackers. Roll in a keg or two, and have something for the nondrinkers. Way less than $20/person.
Do your own centerpieces, try the dollar stores and craft stores for idea and bargains.
Get a cake from the grocery instead of the bakery. Or do cupcakes, even cheaper, and stylish now. Use paper table coverings, they sell rolls of paper cheap.
Then do a three day honeymoon to a romantic spot not far away. There are lots of great scenic spots in my area, with romantic rooms, for not a lot, the highest in the area is $300 a night, for a themed room [like a jungle room] in a hotel, but there are some cabins [think ski resort] near for around a hundred.
I know you would like the romance, but I am afraid someday you might regret not having a wedding and reception.
Gee, a groom that wants a wedding, a rare find, I do not know him or you, but I would take him up on that idea!
Find a cheaper invitations, nowdays the green ecology tree hugger people would love that you did not use the old formal invites with multiple layers of paper..
Consider dumping the photographer for your own pictures, or find someone in the family that does photography.
There is a huge difference in flower prices in our community, the florist a mile from my house would do a nice 12″ high arrangement suitable for a birthday for $40, you could not touch a few carnations in a cheap vase for that at another across town. Shop around, and downsize a little, but even I would not skimp on the bouquets for the bridal party, or corsages for honored guests.
Congrats, hope you both get what you want.