What do you start with...theme, dress, venue???Susan Madsen Wright
Tutera: The best place to start the planning and design process is with the theme, or as I prefer to call it, the "wedding style". By keeping this in mind, you can ensure that every element you choose, right down to the font on your invitations and the filling in your cake will not only coordinate, but also help develop this style. In terms of priority in the planning process, after selecting a date, I do suggest that you a book your venues first, as this is perhaps the largest element, and generally, the most difficult to replace if already booked. After that, the checklist will differ for some brides as their priorities will start to take over. If you’re a fashionista - maybe the dress is more important than a live band. I do caution all my brides to remember that the comfort of their guests is critical, and that all too often, photography is overlooked when it should be viewed as one of the only elements that will live on long after your day... And don't forget to start your registry as soon as you are engaged!
Maureen Morgison We are planning a steampunk themed wedding in an old (1930s) theater.We would like to have some kind of backdrop on the stage, but we don't know what to use. We are thinking about a screen with gear images project. What would be the best way to get that "industrial" feel?
Tutera: I love your unique direction and it sounds like you already have a clear vision in your head. Bravo! If the theater already has a screen, or another flat surface, a projection is probably the most cost-effective way of creating large-scale room decor and gears would definitely be true to theme. Two interlocking gears (representative of you and your groom) could then become your "symbol" and the icon could be carried over to your printed materials, your cake and so on...
Amber N James I LOVE you David!! I wish you would come to the Pacific NW and visit some of our smaller towns...what a great challenge that would be!! I am having a Rustic Winter Woodland wedding in December and would like to know what you would decorate with to make it elegant, unique, and memorable. No snowflakes here! My decor ideas are antlers, mason jars, old suitcases, vintage crates, trees with crystals, lots of lighting and draping, maybe some owls, snowberries, tasteful use of feathers, etc. I love all things vintage! Please help! This is my second marriage but first real wedding and I want it to be special!
Tutera: Well Amber, many of the items you listed are ones that I would have suggested myself so I think you are well on your way. I might suggest focusing on a few larger elements that will work to tie the whole event together - in this case a plaid pattern might be just the thing. Plaid on your invitations will set the tone for guests right from the beginning, plaid linens on all the tables will help anchor the space and unify the tables, and plaid accents for your bridal fashion (a sash for your reception look, a caplet for your bridesmaids, or bow ties for the groomsmen) will really bring it all full circle. From there, your smaller details; the mason jars for specialty cocktails, stacked suitcases as your cake table will really make sense! I would also suggest that you do a lot with candles - mismatched pewter candlesticks, antiqued pillars and lots of votive candles to add the perfect, soft glow to your Rustic Winter Wonderland!
Courtney Smith I am having a late afternoon garden wedding and was wondering what do you suggest for the reception? I would like to save as much money as possible, but still have something nice. Should I have a full, sit-down dinner or are hors d'oeuvres more appropriate for the garden setting?
Tutera: For a late afternoon, garden setting having what is commonly referred to as a "Cocktail Reception" is not only perfectly acceptable, but also quite fitting! In this case, no sit-down meal would be served, but heavier hors d'oeuvres. I suggest having a nice mix of passed options, but also 3-4 stations (for a garden theme you may like to try a crudité station, a cheese tasting station and a seafood station) as well as 2 bars and wait staff passing specialty, garden-inspired drinks such as cocktails with a tea or lemonade base. Receptions like this will generally last for 2-3 hours, a bit shorter than an average reception, but there can certainly still be dancing and all the other formalities of a typical wedding such as the cake cutting. "Cocktail Reception" should be noted on your invite, so that guests know not to expect a full meal, and adding the term "Garden" might also help them determine what to wear. Close the party with passed desserts and wedding cake!
Laura Bromley I'm british, he's indian, we live in DC, the wedding is going to be at a plantation in Louisiana....... and I'm really finding it hard to blend both cultures, and traditions with a southern twist- any advice?We're trying to add pops of color without it screaming tacky in such an elegant space.....
Tutera: You are in luck! A big part of the southern, Louisiana culture is in fact color! Perhaps you will want to play up the Creole influences so often found in the homes of part of the country as they already perfectly bridge the gap between elegance and color. You could even carry these influences over into your menu and your music which will help to create a unified style. If you are doing a site inspection of your venue, I would suggest doing a little research during your trip, and keeping a binder of the elements that inspire both you and your fiancé. There is no doubt in my mind that you will be able to perfectly blend your ideas...
The questions that need answering during the wedding preparations are so pivotal that they are all that stand between a 'happily ever after' and a 'worst wedding ever'. It's a matter of logistics by which all the unknown variables need to be taken care of before the final day of reckoning. It's a far cry from what used to be.
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