Wedding Guests: Do's and Don'ts

I miss doing Wedding Wednesday posts so much! Planning our wedding was my hobby the majority of last year and I loved it. I meant to write a post on etiquette for wedding guests a long time ago but never did! These are all things that I personally experienced, or thought would be useful to someone going to a wedding soon.

DO:

RSVP on time! This was a huge pain for me. We of course pay for these RSVP's with the paid postage for a reason, so please send them back. Don't text the bride that you'll be there, she has enough going on that it's better just to see it in writing. Plus, then she will know if you are bringing a guest and your food option.

Show up on time. This was a huge problem for our wedding day. We were ready to start the ceremony when someone ran in and told us we had to wait because someone had to run somewhere but they will be right back. Needless to say, I was't pleased. Show up early and find a spot; the bride and groom will be thankful.

Stay for the reception. It was sad to see how many people came to our wedding and only managed to stay for dinner before any of the fun parts of our reception. The newlyweds and their families have put a lot of time and effort into the reception, so stay to celebrate and enjoy it!

Pay attention to the dress code if there is one. It's just polite. I didn't mind what people wore as long as it wasn't flip flops, tank tops, and jeans. People still showed up in them anyway, and I didn't care much, but it's just nice to follow the bride's lead.

Use the hashtag! I had so much fun looking through our hashtag after our wedding, it helped me get get through until we had our professional photos back.

Don't:

Bring a date if it wasn't specified on your RSVP to do so. If anything, I would say ask the bride if it is important to you but never just assume and show up with someone.

Text the bride a few days before her wedding canceling on her. I had a "friend" text me to say that they couldn't make it to my wedding a couple of days prior because of work. The food was paid for, the seating chart was finished, and it was hurtful that my friend didn't request this day off months ago.

Use your phone during the ceremony, especially if the couple specifically requests not to do so. I can't imagine who you would need to text in the middle of a ceremony that couldn't wait until after so just don't do it!

I'm sure I missed something, but these are things that really stand out to me. What are some of your rules for weddings?

Bishop Wedding Part 4: The Reception (Venue & Decor)

Happy New Year everyone! I'm back for another wedding Wednesday! This has been one of my favorite blogging days since getting our wedding photos back. I am going to be cutting the reception posts into a few because there are so many different things I want to show and talk about that would make for a way too long blog post. This week I am sharing our reception venue and decor. 

As I've said before, I loved that the venue where we got married was all inclusive. I wanted to find somewhere that we could hold both the ceremony and reception so it was easier on our guests and not to waste any time. 

The venue at Riverlakes is so beautiful, not to mention the staff was amazing. We had an outdoor wedding and then our guests were escorted to the reception area which is indoors/outdoors. The entire room had sliding doors that opened out to a large patio that we used for dancing. 

For our gift to our guests, I wanted to make sure that it represented our fall wedding. Of course, Pinterest wins again because we made s'more bags for everyone that were stamped with a sticker saying "sending you s'more love" with our wedding date. 

The napkins were purchased from The Knot website, and I made all of the chalkboard signs. I framed our engagement pictures and our invitations and had them placed around the reception as well.

As you can see, the centerpieces also have curly willow incorporated.

Next week, I'll recap the entire reception!

Here's the rest of our wedding recap in case you've missed any. 

Part 1: Getting ready

Part 2: The ceremony

Part 3: The wedding party

Bishop Wedding Part 3: The Wedding Party

Before and after the ceremony was strictly for taking pictures and getting those done before we lost light. I must say that it was so awesome to have a smaller wedding party because it was really easy to get the pictures finished quickly while still making sure we got amazing shots.

Picking our wedding party from the very beginning was simple, there was really no questioning it. These are the people that hands down are always going to be there to support and love us.

The relationship that Joe has with my family is more than I could ever ask for. He treats my sisters as his own sisters and my mom as his own. It's always been a girls club growing up with my mom and sisters, so when they took Joe in and loved him like family I knew that he was the one.

Through the dress fittings, stress, and planning, these girls were always there to help. I remember when we first got engaged and started the planning process I didn't even remember that it's a thing to ask people to be in your wedding party in a cute and Pinterest-y way because it was just a given that these two would be in our wedding. I am thankful that even after growing up with me acting like a second mom to them that we are still lifelong best friends.

The boys looked so handsome! I was very adamant about these tux's, those colors, and the boutonnieres, so seeing everything put together on them was amazing.

I had at first wanted my mom to be my maid of honor. She's my best friend, and I knew that she had to play a major roll in this wedding. She means the world to both Joe and I. Walking me down the aisle and giving me away was the perfect way to incorporate my mom into the wedding ceremony. Without her, our wedding would not have been possible at all.

After all of the pictures, it was time to make our way into the reception as husband and wife! 

I hope you all have a merry Christmas!! 

Previous posts:

Part 1: Getting Ready

Part 2: The Ceremony

Bishop Wedding Part 2: The Ceremony

We really could not have asked for a more beautiful day to get married. It was sunny and 75 outside which was really just perfect. When we were searching for our venue, we found this one because it's actually right down the road from where I work. We ended up choosing it because we wanted outdoor/indoor space. I liked that we could do the ceremony and reception there and it was beautiful for pictures as well.

As for decorations at the ceremony site, we kept it simple with pink and white rose petals scattered down the isle and I had an obsession with curly willow (you'll see it incorporated in our centerpieces), so we had it added on the arch with fresh flowers on top.

I did my bridal portraits and pictures with my sisters and mom before the ceremony (which I will share in another post) so there wasn't so much waiting time after the ceremony for our guests. As time came close for the ceremony to start, I was hidden away to not be seen until 5pm. Then it was time to get married! 

My mom walked me down the isle, it was the best decision for me. She's my best friend, the one who raised me, and I couldn't imagine anyone else doing it. I walked down the isle to "A Thousand Years"

This was the first time Joe and I were seeing each other, and I was so happy we waited until that very moment to see each other. 

The ceremony itself was very quick, but perfect. Our officiant read the most beautiful prayer at the opening of the ceremony that put an ease in my mind because I was very nervous.

I had no idea how fast the ceremony would feel, it goes by so fast. The only part I didn't love... for about half the ceremony there was a bee on Joe's boutonniere. If anyone knows me, they know that I freak out if I am anywhere near a bee. So it was really hard to just stand still and keep focused, not to mention my soon to be husband is allergic to said bee. Thankfully it flew away and left us alone after that. Just the things you get with an outdoor wedding. The rest of the ceremony was so perfect. All of the worries about everything being set up or all of the little details didn't matter at this point. 

Finally, we exchanged rings and were announced as husband and wife!

I'll be back next week to share more about our big day - bridal party / bride and groom pictures!

Previous wedding day posts:

Part one: Getting Ready

Bridal Shower!

I have no idea where to begin with this post because I am so thankful for everyone that came to my bridal shower this past Saturday. They spoiled Joe and I with such sweet gifts and cards that made me want to cry, in the most happy way possible. My mom and sisters have been spending their past few weekends planning and shopping for my beautiful shower.

My shower was thrown at my maid of honor's house which is my sister, Connie. Everything was perfect. From the food, strawberry jello shots, games, conversation, and of course the famous "hippie juice" we all had a great time.

We played who knows the bride best type games which got some really good laughs.

Picture overload time:

 Gifts for the guests ~ Mason jar cups, and Sees candy chocolates.

My favorite thumb print cookies from Smith's Bakery.

I think my mom refilled this jug of hippie juice at least twice, everyone loved it that much!

Make it at home, you won't be sorry!!

I did may or may not have had four cups of this so called juice. No regrets. If you eat the liquor infused strawberries that's really what will do you in. 

My friend who drove to town just to come for the day! 

My heart is so happy after being surrounded by people who truly love Joe and I. I cannot wait until the wedding when we will all be together again and this time for the big day. It really was a huge reminder how close the wedding is getting! 45 days!

The Details. | Wedding Wednesday

The month of August has already proven to be one of the most productive months of wedding planning yet. We aren't even halfway through the month and I feel like we have all of the major aspects of the wedding planned. Now the little details on the other hand will be the death of me, over dramatic: I know. 

My mom and I were in the car the other day, talking about the wedding of course when I mentioned doing a bouquet toss and needing to order the garters. She said how she had completely forgotten about those two things until I mentioned it. I had too, actually. The smallest of details are the hardest things to remember when I'm trying to remember not to overlook anything major! 

The rest of the list besides paying things off:

-Find hair and makeup person. 

-Order garter set

-Order gifts for reception

-Bridesmaids dresses (happening on Friday)

-Put together bridal party gifts to give at my bridal shower

-Make a complete list of songs for wedding/reception 

-Find shoes, jewelry, veil. 

-Alterations and under garments for dress.  

-Order Joe's ring

-Book hotel rooms

-Decide on seating chart - Table numbers 

-Set up transportation for after the wedding.
-Find a day of coordinator 

The 23rd is my bridal shower and I am way too excited to see this party that my mom and sister have been working so hard at planning. I know it'll be beautiful. Plus some people are coming from out of town for my shower that I cannot wait to see!

If you married/engaged ladies can give any tips or see anything I may be missing please let me know. Being the oldest in my family, and not having any friends that have gotten married I need all the advice I can get! Also, at what point did you take your dress to get altered?

I am vowing to take time this month to relax, focus on my health, my family, and especially my fiance for these special moments before we get married. I know how much work my family is putting into this wedding as well; without them I would be insane. 

At this time next month we will be able to get our marriage licence, how crazy is that!?


Linking up for Wedding Wednesday!

Eighty Days.

Wedding Wednesday is probably one of my favorite days here in blog land lately. With only 80 more days leading up to our big day things are finally starting to come together.

~ Both of my rings have been resized. I picked the first jewelry repair store from Google, and they were about $100 cheaper than the quotes I had called around for!

~ We got our invitations in the mail! I worked with a company through Etsy. I knew I wanted certain things and wording on the invites and she made sure that everything was perfect. The price was right, and everything shipped within a week of the starting process. I cannot wait to share them, but that will have to wait until everyone receives them first.

(A mini sneak peak)

~ Tuxes are ordered for the guys in the wedding.

~ We have an appointment set with a vendor to rent everything else needed for the ceremony and reception.

~ My first fitting will be in a couple of weeks, as well as picking out the bridesmaids dresses. Cutting it close on these but I know it'll get done.

~ Music is really important to both Joe and I so one of the next thing on our to-do list is to make a song list and figure out what our main songs will be. This is such a hard task!

~ I still need to figure out the shoe and jewelry situation for myself and my girls.

~ The hair and makeup problem, is in fact still a problem. My hair stylist will be out of town the weekend of our wedding and I cannot manage to find not one person in this town that is available on the day of. My stylist said she gave out my number to a few girls she works with, so fingers crossed it works out!

~ My sisters and mom are throwing my bridal shower toward the end of August. The only thing I need to do is find a cute outfit which is such a relief!

~ Any ideas on gifts for bridesmaids? I can't seem to find anything that stands out.

Linking up for wedding Wednesday!