Wedding Etiquette: Requesting Gifts & Cash

This topic is one that comes up with nearly every one of my clients. How do you go about letting your guests know what you want for your wedding gift? Many couples nowadays have been living together for some time before they get married. This means that when it comes to gifts they know what they want, what they need, and what they don’t. And it is often the case that they really don’t need anything at all… and so a cash gift is preferred to help pay for the wedding or perhaps a nice honeymoon.

There’s nothing wrong with knowing what you want… but there are a couple guidelines you should follow in ensuring that you get what you want without breaking some serious rules of etiquette. Here are two big tips to keep in mind:

1. Never inform your guests of your gift preferences yourself.

This is a big one… and it means “in any way, shape, or form”. When you register at some store they will offer you an invitation insert that will tell guests where you’re registered – don’t use these. If you do, you are telling your guests what you want. Don’t post an invitation to your wedding or shower on facebook indicating registered stores or any kind of gift preference (facebook is another matter altogether… but that’s a topic for a different post).

The proper way to let your guests know what you want is to tell your parents and your wedding party. They are the ones your guests will be most likely to ask and they can spread the word for you.

2. Prefer cash? Don’t register.

These days it’s really not uncommon for couples to prefer cash gifts over household odds and ends. So if you fit this category you’re certainly not alone. The best way to let your guests know about your preference for cash is to simply not register with any stores. This sends a clear message in a tasteful way.

However, remember that some people refuse to give cash as a gift and will bring a wrapped present (like it or not). So make sure to have a small gift table set up at the reception for those inevitable packages.

Many couples make mistakes when it comes to gifts… if you follow the guidelines above you’ll be fine.

Happy Planning!

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

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Weekly Wedding Quote

"
I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.

- Rita Rudner

The Birdcage Veil

Hello lovely! I just LOVE the glamour of a gorgeous birdcage veil. Perfect for the vintage bride. Check out some of these fantastic images.

Image from Junebug Weddings

Images by Stephanie Williams

Enjoy!

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

Vendor Selection: The Photographer

Your wedding photography should be given due consideration - quite possibly, above all other vendor decisions. Your wedding photos will be the only tangible record of your wedding day and you want to make sure that the day is captured the way you want it to be. Here are some points to consider:


1. What is your style?
Notice that I'm not asking what the photographer's style is? First, you need to figure out your own style, what kind of photographs really speak to you? You want to make sure that the photographer's photos suit you. Every photographer views the images through their lenses in very different ways so your day can be captured from any number of styles and points of view. Here's the technical jargon to help you sort through the styles:

Photojournalistic
Photojournalism is the most popular type of wedding photography. This approach aims to capture the feelings and energy of the wedding day. The focus is on the "moments" instead of the poses. This would be anything from the bride's nervous anticipation just before walking down the aisle to the father's teary expression of love during the father-daughter dance.

Images from Style Me Pretty

Traditional
Traditional photography refers to the posed photos of the wedding. These typically consist of shots of the wedding party, the groom and his family, the bride and groom looking lovingly into each others' eyes. Wedding albums can contain anywhere from a handful of traditional shots to pages and pages of posed images.















Images from Style Me Pretty

Artistic
The artistic approach is a sort of catch-all category that includes everything from soft-focus lenses and filters to hand-coloured images and unusual camera angles. These images can be fun, modern and edgy but you also run the risk of "dating" the photos once some of the trends disappear.

Images from Style Me Pretty


Many photographers offer all three types of styles. You can get a really good sense of a photographer's dominant style by perusing a few of their wedding albums paying close attention to the type of photo that pops up most frequently.

2. Check in with the budget.
Once you decide on the style you love you'll have to find a photographer that your budget can love too. Most photographers will offer packages and various ranges, choose one that has everything you want and nothing that you don't. Try to negotiate out the things you don't want for a cheaper package price or more of what you do want.


3. Check references!
A photographer's website will give you a great idea of their style but it won't tell you how they'll interact with you and your guests on your wedding day. Check with other brides who have used them. Ask how the photographer managed the photo session. Ask how he/she interacted with the wedding party and the guests. How did the couple like the end product?

Choosing a photographer may be one of the most time-consuming research projects of your entire wedding. But if you invest the time you're sure to be much happier with the results.

Happy Planning!


Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination

Weekly Wedding Quote

Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.



- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Fabulous Bridal Shoes

While browsing some of my favourite blogs today I came across a post on Luxurious Weddings Style Report called Red is the Rebel Bridal Shoe.

Shoes?! I LOVE SHOES!!!

I also love colour... and there's nothing I love more than seeing a bride in a gorgeous coloured gown. It's bold and edgy but some brides aren't ready to make the leap to non-white or ivory bridal gown. So why not spice up your bridal look with a pair of boldly coloured shoes instead? Make your shoes your "something blue" or "go green with a stylish pair of emerald heals. Or be super sexy with a set of fiery red stilettos.

Check out these links for more bridal shoe inspiration:

The Bridal Bar

Santa Barbara Wedding Chic

Sedona Bride

Happy Shoe Shopping!!!!

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

Real Weddings: Renée & Rob

Renée got in touch with me just three weeks before the big day. She had worked out all the plans, selected her vendors, and assembled hundreds of ceremony programs (which doubled as fans for the guests). But as the day approached Renée realized that there were a lot of little details that would need to be managed and she didn't want to have to worry on her wedding day... nor did she want to put the burden on her family. So... she sent me an email.

Luckily, I was still available and up to the challenge.

Renée and Rob did a fantastic job getting everything together for their wedding... which made my job quite a bit easier. We sorted out a few small kinks and had everything ready to go. But the wedding day was busy and full of challenges; the main one of which was the weather.

The plan had been to have an outdoor ceremony on the water at the home of the bride's parents. However, Mother Nature was brewing up other plans as the forecast had been calling for rain the entire week. So we listened... everyday... right up until Saturday morning, but the reports didn't change. There was an 85% chance of rain - those were not good odds.

Regardless, the morning of the wedding had only seen a little drizzle and Renée wanted to wait until the last possible moment before deciding to move the ceremony into the reception tent. So we held out... and just 1 hour before the ceremony was scheduled to begin the skies opened up and the sun shone beautifully across the river.

So my staff and I, along with the help of some very obliging young men, got the ceremony set up as quickly as possible, and although the ceremony started a little late Renée had the outdoor wedding she'd been dreaming of and we managed to get everything back on schedule shortly after the dinner began.

It was a beautiful day filled with so much love and joy. Friends told stories of the couple’s very long courtship (over ten years!) and guests were treated to some great entertainment by the wedding party, and some big laughs (and some tears) from the speeches. Even if you didn’t know the couple it would be hard not to feel touched by the kind words and wonderfully recited stories (I think the entire wedding party had Toastmasters memberships in their wallets).

At the end of the night guests were treated to an exclusive fireworks display put on by the bride's uncle. And despite the rain (that did eventually fall), and the muddy grass that followed, the day could not have been more perfect. I was so honoured to have been a part of it.

Renée and Rob, thank you for including me in your big day. The wedding may be over but it was certainly an event for the books. I have nothing but the warmest of wishes for you both.

All the very best,

Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination

A huge THANKS goes out to Lindsay at Studio409 for providing the images above.