Your Wedding Planner’s Top 10
When we say “we’ve seen it all”…you have to believe us! We co-ordinate over 100 weddings every season, and there is not much that can still surprise us. We love all the great ideas and fun activities our creative brides come up with. There are some things that we would totally recreate at our own weddings, but there are also somethings that even though are traditional, we would skip completely!
We’ve put together this top ten list of things we would keep, change, or reconsider based on our experiences…
Skip the Wedding Favours
we can’t begin to tell you how many wedding favours we have pitched in the trash after the guests have gone home! Forgotten, discarded, or just unwanted, they are really a waste of money and time in many cased. If you really do want to offer your guests a wedding favour why not offer a donation to a charity near and dear to your hearts! Canada Helps is a great place to start https://www.canadahelps.org/en/donate/
Hire a Great DJ
WE CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH! A DJ can make or break a reception. They are responsible for much more than just playing music. They work with your venue to keep you on time from the reception, grand entrance, speeches, first dance and whatever else you have planned for your nearest and dearest! We’ve all been to (or co-ordinated) that wedding where the DJ just wasn’t in sync with the crowd and guests were sat around or left early. Take the time to speak with your DJ beforehand and be clear about your goal for the night – if you want to create a jazz lounge feeling, or you want to have the dance floor jumping – have a plan, and remember to let the DJ do their job! If you have a playlist, go over it in detail…you would hate to have your father daughter dance song mixed up with your first dance song!
Speaking of First Dances…
we love when couples go straight into their first dance as soon as they make their grand entrance. Your guests are already excited and all on eyes on you. Doing things in this sequence is really a great way to kick off the evening, capturing your guests attention before too much wine has been consumed and also kind of lets the rest of the evening just flow organically.
Spend Money on an Amazing Photographer and Videographer
your wedding is a day, but your photos will last a lifetime…you want them to represent you. There are some phenomenal photographers in the region, be sure to do the research and ask to see tons of samples of their work. Remember, this is a big decision, take the time, and don’t be pressured into signing an agreement until you are really sure. Your videographer is the same – remember you will want to watch that video with your kids and grandkids one day. This is one aspect of your special day you will not regret splurging on!
Late Night Snacks
this is another great area to splurge on – you do not want the last thing your guests eat to be forgettable! Make the late night treat memorable, and reflective of your personalities. If you are the Taco Tuesday kind of couple – get some braised brisket tacos with fresh masa tortillas, if you like burgers and fries – have personalized happy meals, your caterer or venue should be able to work with you to create a custom and signature dish to really go out with a bang!
Have a Small(er) Bridal Party
sure – photos with 12 people in matching dresses sounds great in theory… but that’s 12 egos, opinions and preferences to contend with…we’ve seen some bridal party drama, and trust us, you don’t need that on your wedding day (or even the months leading up to it!) Ask 2 people you know will have your backs and don’t worry about hurt feelings, people will get over it and this day is supposed to be about you anyway!
Splurge on a Dessert Bar
while we love a gorgeous (and tasty) wedding cake, our mouths water when we see a donut wall, or a cake pop stand, even a cheesecake bar – ask us about this, it’s as exciting as it sounds! It’s such a fun way to add some variety to your reception and create an interactive element. You can still do a wedding cake or get one with false tiers and just a small tier of cake for you and your partner to enjoy.
Hire a Planner!
Based on the title of this blog, this should seem obvious, but many people still try to do everything themselves. This is another area we would spend the money on. At Orchard View, our weddings come with a planner, so you never have to worry that you are going through it alone. We are here to lean on, to talk to and to take some of that burden from you!
Ensure a Staffed Bar
there is nothing worse than a long line at the bar, make sure your bar is well stocked, and staffed. Even if you are doing a cash bar, at least ensure there is an extra bartender. We usually recommend 1 bartender for every 50 guests. If you are having craft cocktails, you might want to hire an extra bartender on top of that, as they take more time to build.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff!
things might not go exactly according to plan. Weddings can be unpredictable but remember, it’s your day, enjoy the moment and don’t let the small stuff weigh on you.
Let us know in the comments if you agree or have any other great ideas.
until next week!
Invitations and Guest Lists
It all begins with an idea.
January 27, 2021
You have probably already nailed down a list of guests that you were happy with, but with the uncertainty of restrictions and COVID regulations you are wondering how and when to decide what to do next.
Here are some of our top tips for helping you strategize and manage your guest list grief!
By now you’ve spent hours debating over who to invite and you are faced with the difficult task of lowering your guest count.
Our first suggestion is to create two lists - one list should consist of your deal breakers, these are the people who have to be there - your parents, siblings, your university roommate who got you through your degree with sanity intact! If you close your eyes, picture your wedding day, the people who you see should be on that list. The second list should consist of everyone else, the friends you adore but haven’t seen in three years, the cousin who lives in Vancouver and you only get updates through your mom…let’s say the B-list folks.
We know it can be difficult to pick and choose - of course you want everyone to celebrate with you, but it is important that you and your fiancée have a plan to ensure that the people you really need to be there for you can have a seat.
For the first 6 months of 2021 we suggest you plan your guests lists based on the restrictions that were implemented last summer: 50 people inside and 100 people outside. If you are getting married at Orchard View, the ample outdoor space makes a 100-person guestlist much more doable. We have acres of beautiful green space, our pristine lake backdrop and our summer tent feels like an escape from the city to the destination wedding of your dreams!
Another great tip is to keep track of your guest list. There are many resources out there to help with this, our favorite by far is on The Knot. It is a online wedding planner and has terrific references to help guide and keep you organized, and the best part is… ITS FREE 😊
https://www.theknot.com/gs/guest-list
One of the most important steps in navigating the COVID waters is keeping an open line of communication between you and your guests. You want them to be aware of what is going on and be able to easily send a message. Always keep your guest contact info up to date. This is not only important for you to be able to reach them, but also important for any contact tracing that may need to be done. Here are some other awesome tricks and tools to help you out:
Send out Save the Dates
You can inform your guests ahead of time about your wedding date so they are informed about your special day and this way, it allows you more time to be flexible on when you are to send out your wedding invitations in case any of your details change.
Include a COVID Update
Include a COVID update in your wedding invitation! List the details of the venue and the precautions they are taking as well as any rules that must be followed! (Mask policies, flow of event, hand sanitizer stations etc.) It allows for you to communicate what you are doing to keep your guests safe but also gives your guests the chance to research the venue and feel more comfortable.
Create a Wedding Website
We love this idea regardless of COVID planning. Creating a wedding website allows for you to communicate with your guests in real time! You can list updates about the event and other protocols that you are taking. It also allows you to tell your story and tell you guests about all the amazing aspects of your wedding - you can include information about accommodations, directions & information about your venue.
When to send out your wedding invitations:
There’s no denying it’s tough to know exactly when to send your official wedding invitations out. With the current Stay at Home Order & gathering restrictions, WHEN is the right time?
Well… it really all depends on when you are getting married…we recommend sending invitations out when you are comfortable with continuing the wedding planning process.
Normally wedding invitations go out about 4 months before. If this leaves you feeling uneasy, then waiting a little longer is a great way to gain confidence in your planning. It is also a great way to gauge your guests comfort level too. Once you have an idea as to who is comfortable coming, discussions with your venue should be more straightforward.
What about sending two batches of invitations?
We love this idea as it combines the best of both worlds. Sending out invitations to your “deal breaker guests” allows you to make sure your nearest and dearest are accounted for in your guest list. By sending batches of invites, it allows for you to add people as you feel comfortable or as restrictions ease up.
What if you end up having to cut down the guest list?
Well.. as much as we hate this, it could happen! With the provincial guidelines continuously changing, it is a possibility that you may have to face. In this instance, we suggest being open and honest. Be transparent, and try to make it light hearted. COVID changes everyone’s plans, so do not beat yourself up! If you are looking at some tips on how to do that, please read the article below!
https://www.brides.com/how-to-uninvite-wedding-guests-5084756
At the end of the day just be yourself. Your guests will understand. If the lines of communication are open, it is one less thing you need to worry about!
Finally, remember that we are all in this together. Talk to your venue, talk to your coordinator, talk to your photographer. We are all here to help guide you and create a memorable day.
Until Next Week!
We’re Here for You!
It all begins with an idea.
January 20, 2021
You have been thinking about this day your entire life, envisioning what it was going to look like, what you would wear and the joy of sharing this moment with your loved ones. You finally meet the person you are going to spend the rest of your life with, and excitedly begin planning your dream day...your venue is booked, your photographer is lined up and you've tasted all the cakes Ottawa has to offer!
Now, it's the countdown to the big day! Then, out of the blue - life throws you the biggest and most unbelievable curveball….. A Global Pandemic. All your plans have changed and now you must navigate this whole new world.
We already know wedding planning is stressful enough under the best of circumstances, but when you add masks, lockdown, restrictions and who knows what else, it can be truly overwhelming.
If there's one thing we can promise you it's that you are not alone. All of our couples are going through the same thing, and to be honest -- so are we.
When reading our dairy, please consider the following:
We want to ensure you that your health and safety as well as your guests is our number one priority.
Orchard View follows all guidelines to create a safe environment during your time here. Take a look at our current safety measures we have in place
https://www.orchardview.ca/covid19
We are all in this together - and that’s the way it should always be! We want to keep open communication with everyone so call us! Anytime!
Stay healthy, positive and always remember to take care of yourself!
Thanks for trusting us.
We look forward to making your dreams come true.
At Orchard View, It's Your Wedding Your Way!
Until Next Week!