Atchison County Mail

Page 8

February 19, 2015

10 Ways to keep your wedding from being

by Sean Cunningham Source: theknot.com

1. Make introductions the

night before

A wedding brings together two families and sets

of friends which usually means a big group of
people who dont know each other awkwardly
attempting small talk. The solution? Invite relatives
and out-of-town guests to the a special dinner
the night before to break the ices. By the time the
wedding rolls around, your guests will have met
in a more relaxed atmosphere the evening before
and (hopefully) keep the conversations going at the
reception.

2. Stick to the schedule

No one expects things to run with military precision

(especially when it comes to rushing your older
relatives), but you dont want to force your guests
to idle around while you take your formal wedding
pictures. This is where the cocktail hour comes in.
Set up a lounge or shady courtyard for your guests to
mingle, and equip the area with snacks, drinks, plenty
of places to sit, and even a little music to set the mood
and keep the party atmosphere alive.

BORING

6. Work your seating chart

Theres nothing more uncomfortable than being the

one couple at a table where you dont know anyone
and everyone else went to high school together
particularly if you can see friends laughing it up five
tables away. A well-played seating chart is a cost-free
way to make sure your guests spend time with people
they like or even to set them up with someone new!

7. Put a time limit on toasts

Yes, its nice to hear words of encouragement

and well wishes, but unless your friends are
moonlighting as stand-up comedians, an overly
long toast can easily go from sentimental to
excruciating. Limit the number and length of
toasts to a few key guests (think: maid of honour,
best man, your parents), and let everyone get
back to the party.

3. Dont let guests go hungry

Two words: hors doeuvres. Even if you plan on

serving a full dinner at your reception, its a good
idea to have a few nibbles for your guests to nosh
on while they wait for you and your new spouse to
make your grand entrance lest your guests get
bored and cranky. Mini empanadas, soup shooters,
vegetable skewers, even fried arancini balls are all
great options (go for one-bite canapes so guests
can chat while they snack). Your guests will be
refreshed from the ceremony and grateful for
the sustenance.

8. Bring in theclowns?

Remember that scary clown/magician from your

eighth birthday party? Todays specialty performers
are nothing like that. The options for wedding
entertainment span from tricked-out DJs to belly
dancers to singing waiters these people are pros at
making sure weddings arent boring.

4. Plan an exit strategy

9. Think beyond wedding

cake

If you really want guests to be able to enjoy themselves

at your reception, arrange for transportation to get
them home safely afterward. Some couples choose
to throw their reception in a hotel banquet hall and
block off rooms for their guests, while others hire a
shuttle service to run throughout the night. This extra
consideration gives guests the freedom to relax (drink)
without worrying about getting home safely when the
party wraps up.

5. Consider your venue

Of course, your budget will be a huge factor in

determining where you throw your wedding, but
picking an interesting reception site can go a long
way toward keeping guests entertained. Many
museums will let you rent out their exhibit areas, and
zoos often have banquet areas with the animals in
full view. Even an otherwise bland reception space
can be dressed up with dramatic decor or specialty
entertainment (like a photo booth), so be sure to talk
to your site manager about your options.

Wedding cakes are still a staple, but consider

expanding the selection for those with a sweet tooth
were talking a full dessert bar with everything
from apple pies, truffles, cupcakes, lollies, along
with local delicacies like fried Mars bars or homemade cookies. The dessert bar can double as your
wedding favour by setting out gift bags or boxes for
your guests to take a snack for the road.

10. Relax seriously

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but when the day

arrives, everyone will have more fun if you can overlook
any little mishaps (and theres always something that
goes slightly awry) and let loose. Think about it: Do
you have fun at parties where the host is incessantly
on edge? To avoid sabotaging your good mood, assign
any last-minute tasks to a bridesmaid, relative, or your
wedding planner and designate a friend who, if
they observe you getting stressed, will ply you with a
cocktail or two.

Youll remember
this day the rest
of your life...
RIVER INN RESORT
Brownville, Nebraska

Create Memories.

(402) 825-6441

www.River-Inn-Resort.com

Your Full Service

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RO
GO

Grooms cakes make a comeback

Guests and well-wishers expect to see at least
one cake at wedding receptions. But wedding guests
should not be surprised if they attend a wedding
and notice two cakes sharing the spotlight on the
dessert table.
Groom's cakes have existed for generations but
have fallen out of favor in many parts of North
America since the 1970s. Now groom's cakes are
experiencing a resurgence in popularity.
A groom's cake traditionally represents something
masculine, providing a contrast to the oft-feminine
features, such as floral bouquets and frilly gowns, that
dominate many weddings. Groom's cake designs often
reflect a particular hobby or interest of the groom's.
Historically, groom's cakes are chocolate, a sharp
contrast to traditional wedding cakes, which tend to
be vanilla and white. Tradition once called for single
women at the wedding to take home a slice of the
groom's cake to sleep with under their pillows. It
was believed the cake would help them have sweet
dreams of the man they would eventually marry.
Women today are likely no longer snuggling up to
fondant and mousse cake slices at night, and wedding
cakes are no longer relegated to vanilla cake with vanilla icing, which may account
for the waning popularity of groom's cakes. Yet with wedding cake bakers showing off
their creative prowess on television or through their own artistic bakery displays, it's
no wonder that couples looking for something unique are once again embracing the
tradition of groom's cakes.
Couples who are mulling whether or not to add a groom's cake to their menus should
consider the following tips.
Make sure it is highly personal. Groom's cakes typically reference hobbies, affiliations
or interests of the groom. Some men may want their cake to showcase the logo of their
favorite professional sports team, while others may want a cake inspired by a favorite
superhero.
Involve the groom in the process. Despite the name, groom's cakes may not always
involve the groom. A cake may be designed or selected by the groom's bride-to-be or
his mother. Some forward-thinking brides may want to encourage their grooms-to-be
to select their own cakes and offer input on their designs.
Find a bakery that has experience in whimsical cakes. Groom's cakes are very often
intricate structures and sculptures. The groom's cake may be more labor-intensive than
the traditional wedding cake, so couples may want to shop around for a cake chef with
the experience to pull off the design they desire.
Experiment with flavor combinations. Because the groom's cake is all about that
special guy, the flavor of the cake should be centered around what he would enjoy. The
sky is the limit on flavors and can include traditional chocolate, candy bar-inspired
flavors, coffee, coconut, or even a bacon-infused cake.
Consider serving the groom's cake at the rehearsal. Some couples prefer to serve
the groom's cake at the rehearsal dinner rather than having two cakes at the wedding.
Guests may not be able to fit two slices of cake after a large wedding meal, so serving the
groom's cake at the rehearsal
dinner may be the best of both
worlds.
The bride - and her cake typically steal the show at the
average wedding. Therefore, a
groom's cake can be a special
touch that allows the groom to
bask in his own wedding-day
spotlight.

Rent one and get the

second 1/2 price. Rentals
must be booked by March 31.

HOWARD

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709 W. Sheridan Ave. Shenandoah, IA (712) 246-1639

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