Just as there are etiquette guidelines to follow when it comes to wedding receptions and bridal showers, there are also specific rules of conduct for those involved in the bridal party. It is equally important for the bride to be aware of her responsibilities and how she should interact with her bridal party.

To ensure a harmonious and enjoyable experience for everyone, here are some crucial dos and don’ts that should be followed by all parties involved.

The Bride

Don’t choose a maid of honor based on history.

No matter how much you feel conflicted over which of your best friends to choose for your maid of honor, don’t choose one over the other based on guilt. Even if you knew one friend longer or were closer to her at one point in time, don’t assume you have to choose someone based on the history you share. Choose a friend or family member who you are currently close to and who will be able to be there for you during the wedding planning process.

Don’t forget to gift each member of the bridal party. This is bridal party etiquette 101. It is customary for the bride (and the groom) to gift their bridesmaids and groomsmen with gifts before the wedding. The best time to do this is during the bridal shower. You can even make up a wedding shower game to do exactly that.

The Bridal Party

Do make arrangements for the bride’s bachelorette party and/or bridal shower.

Traditionally, the maid of honor or the bride’s closest friend or family member will take the initiative to throw the bridal shower and bachelorette party. But if you’re a member of a bridal party and you’re unsure of these plans, ask the best man or maid of honor to find out if you can help plan the occasion.

Don’t miss fittings or rehearsals.

This might sound obvious, but there’s nothing worse than showing up late or missing your fittings or the wedding rehearsals all together. It’s rude and an inconvenience for the bride, groom, and other parties involved. Be sure to confirm and keep track of your tux or dress fittings, and attend all the necessary dinner rehearsals as promised to keep on the bride and groom’s good graces.

Follow these bridal party dos and don’ts and you’ll get an “A” in wedding etiquette!

The post Bridal Party Dos and Don’ts appeared first on Elegant Wedding.

Your wedding reception dance floor will play host to some of the most important moments in your life, from the romantic first dance with your lifelong partner to an emotional spin around the floor with your mom or dad. Make the moment more remarkable by creating a dance floor you and your guests will always remember.

A custom dance floor is a way to showcase you and your spouse’s personalities — what makes you unique. Creating an original look can be done in a variety of ways. If you want to customize your wedding dance floor, take a look at the six design ideas below.

Plan To Stay on Your Feet

To ensure you enjoy every moment on the dance floor during your wedding reception, it’s crucial to prioritize foot care, especially as a bride. With all the excitement and busyness of the day, taking care of your feet and ensuring they’re comfortable can make a significant difference in your overall experience. Here are some tips to consider:

Consider wearing comfortable shoes with adequate cushioning to support your feet throughout the day and night of dancing. Your footwear choice can impact your comfort and enjoyment, so opt for styles that not only look beautiful but also provide the necessary support for hours of celebration.

In addition to selecting the right shoes, you may want to consider using gel inserts or cushioned insoles to enhance comfort and reduce the strain on your feet. These small additions can make a big difference in how your feet feel after a long day of standing and dancing.

Lastly, don’t forget to take short breaks during the festivities to give your feet some rest. Find moments to sit down, elevate your feet, and relax to prevent any discomfort or soreness from setting in. Prioritizing your foot care will allow you to fully enjoy every dance and cherished moment of your special day.

Add a Monogram

Put a personal stamp on your dance floor with a monogram of you and your partner’s initials, which can be achieved through light projection or a vinyl floor decal. This classy design will look great in photos without overpowering the center of attention — you. It also works well in a reception area that’s heavily decorated. The design is popular at weddings because it can be incorporated into your overall theme, paired with initialized cocktail napkins or wine bottle wedding favors with personalized labels.

Work With Light

Light can be projected on the dance floor to create all sorts of colors, styles and patterns. You can essentially project any custom design your heart desires. A light system also gives you the ability to change things up throughout the night. For example, you can start with something warm and magical, like projected roses for you and your partner’s first dance. By the end of the night, if you want something wild and fun, you can change the projection to jungle vines or cheetah spots.

Share Your Vows

Instead of just a monogram decal, choose something wordier to cover the dance floor. Select a matching color and font to showcase the words that sum up your relationship — something to help you remember why you’re all celebrating. An alternative to vows is a romantic poem, such as Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee.”

Play With Moss

Create an extraordinary experience for you and your guests by adding moss to your dance floor. This natural green carpeting is made even more magical by sprinkling flower petals on top. Invite guests to take off their shoes and dance the night away on a floor guaranteed to feel great on your feet.

If you decide on moss, take care to protect the floor’s material by speaking with a professional about preparation steps. Mats can be used to prevent dirt, grime and other abrasive materials from coming into contact with floors.

Use Twinkling LEDs

These shimmering LEDs can add a magical atmosphere to your wedding, allowing you and your partner to share a romantic dance amid the stars. The lights are incorporated underneath a translucent or cloudy dance floor, giving off the illusion of a fairytale without causing a tripping hazard.

You can customize the design by opting for colored lights instead of white, adding to the ambiance with purple, blue or red hues. Plus, LEDs use 75% less energy than incandescent lighting, making it a more cost-effective choice.

Create an Illusion

Want a dance floor guests won’t soon forget? Turn a reception-side pool into your dance floor with clear acrylic flooring. You and your guests will be able to dance the night away while the water ebbs and flows underneath you, creating the illusion you’re about to fall in. Adults will enjoy the optical thrill while kids in attendance can awe over discovering something new.

How to Customize Your Dance Floor

The dance floor will be home to many sentimental moments on your big day — not just between you and your partner, but also with family and friends. Even if you’re busy picking out the perfect dress and trying to coordinate flower colors, don’t miss the opportunity to customize your dance floor and showcase what makes you unique.

From monograms and light projections to mini-LEDs and moss, you’re sure to find a unique idea to inspire your wedding reception dance floor. Be sure to speak with a professional and prepare things ahead of time to prevent any long-term damage, especially when bringing in outside materials like moss or twinkle lights. You’re sure to have a night to remember.

The post Dance the Night Away: 6 Ways to Customize Your Dance Floor appeared first on Elegant Wedding.

A sparkler send-off is such a spectacular sight to behold! If you love doing things with a bit of extra style and flair, and aren’t afraid of being the center of attention, consider planning for a sparkler send-off! Here are three fun reasons to add this to your reception time-line.

1. Your guests will love being a part of this exciting, crowd bonding experience.
2. You and your new hubby will get to feel like celebrities!
3. The pictures will be fantastic.

Can you think of any more reasons? Leave a comment below! A sparkler send-off is one of those crazy wedding ideas that add a clever modern twist to wedding traditions. I love modern twists on tradition. Do you?

The post 3 Fun Reasons To Have A Sparkler Send-off appeared first on Elegant Wedding.

The Wardrobe

Julia is wearing a classic white laced trumpet dress paired by her faceted white and silver closed-toe pumps that looks wonderful with her bridesmaids wearing light blue gowns. Her light make-up truly shows her asian beauty in modern style, while Baki is wearing a standard black satin tuxedo with a white rose boutonniere. A perfect combination of tradition and elegance.

The Arrangements

This ballroom table setting from The Vancouver Club looks marvelous! Luscious flower arrangements and silver dishwares from Bridal Beginnings Floral & Event Design provides an elegant ambiance to this beautiful venue. Pearl accents from table ornaments and a well-designed seat plan from Chic and Unique Event Design produces this sense of modern style in a traditional class. Look at those exquisite table cloths! It matches perfectly to the golden carpet and the overall grand design.

The Wedding Cake

Another attraction of this wonderful event is a magnificent cake from Sweet Thea Cakes. A white laced multi-layer cake topped with floral frosts totally made this wedding an amazing celebration!

The Decors

Floral decors, framed table arrangements and census notes are some of the brilliant ideas from Smitten Events. These items provided wonderful ways to embellish every detail in this wedding. Even those postcard from the couple’s engagement shoot looks stunning as table decors. And don’t forget about the candles! It is literally everywhere –  great addition to this already amazing ballroom style wedding.

Heed this Advice

Don’t caught up in the little details. Leave extra room in your timeline for things falling behind. Choose vendors that will enhance your day.

— Will Pursell, Photographer

From The Photographer
We are wedding photographers in the Lower Mainland. We travel all over British Columbia and available for destination weddings. Our style is often described as DIFFERENT. Lauren and Will work together as a team for every wedding. Will loves using lighting in his photos and capturing those risky creative shots. Lauren loves capturing people in the moment. You will often find her hiding behind bushes trying to get those in between moments.

Vendor

Photographer:  Will Pursell Photography
DJ: Audio Edge Entertainment
Event Designer: Bridal Beginnings Floral & Event Design
Cinema and Video: Capture the Moment Media
Event Designer: Chic and Unique Event Design
Event Planner: Smitten Events
Cake Designer: Sweet Thea Cakes
Reception Venue: The Vancouver Club

The post Amazing Heritage Style Ballroom Wedding appeared first on Elegant Wedding.

The Venue

The Hyatt Regency Bloomington offers one of the best avenues. Detailed to every nook and cranny, this hotel is styled to give you the finest scene for your dream wedding.

The Decors

The gold and blue color palette is beautifully incorporated to every detail of the wedding decorations. The sky blue table cloth with the gold skimmed show plate frames the porcelain plate and the blue table napkin. Even the inscribed menu on top adds glitz to the arrangement. Everything that the linen designer associated with this table arrangement matches the warm and cool color scheme perfectly!

The Wardrobe

The black tuxedo and ruffled floral white 2-way wedding dress matched seamlessly! The balance of sophistication and elegance simply added personality to this already intimate and romantic event.

The Bouquet

What better way to add style to that already perfect dress than a complimentary bouquet. Bel Fiore really made a wonderful arrangement with these white rose sprays and quinces arranged with green foliage. Simple, elegant and yours!

Vendors

Photographer:  Jeannine Marie Photography
Jewelry: Style by Cia Chloe Isabel
Floral Designer: Bel Fiore
Event Venue: Hyatt Regency Bloomington
Lighting: Ignite Lighting & Entertainment
Hair Stylist: Jen Santoro Rotty Makeup + Hair
Bakery: Miss Sara’s Cakery
Specialty Foods: Nikkolette’s Macarons
Dress Store: Our Shop
Equipment Rentals: Rudy’s Event Rentals
Invitation Designer:T. Aletta
Others: Teeny Bee Boutique
Linen and Coverings: We’ve Got It Covered

The post Styled Shoot | Grand Hyatt Wedding appeared first on Elegant Wedding.

Hand-Painted Art

We just love these little hand-painted canvases on tiny easels and think they’re a gorgeous and very glamorous wedding favor. This is the type of wedding favor a guest is likely to display in their own home long after the ceremony is over. Those with artistic ability can create these, but even without the ability to paint, these can be made with scrapbook paper or templates.

(https://www.theknot.com/real-weddings/hand-painted-art-wedding-favors-photo)

Succulents

Tiny succulents sit in aluminum tins with beautiful thank you notes stuck inside each one. These are just adorable wedding favors that can be enjoyed long past the wedding day, and they’re sure to be loved by each guest. We think this is a clever and unique idea.

(https://www.etsy.com/listing/189747642/12-diy-succulent-favors-thank-you-tag?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_branded-weddings&utm_custom1=5bb72430-de2e-43bd-bc76-91c432978535&gclid=CL3u26OrhMoCFUc2gQodjpECww)

Apple Butter

Homemade or gourmet apple butter is a fantastic and unique favor; it’s just as delicious and useful as honey, but a little less overdone. We love this gift, as it has a very personal touch to it, but it’s also something the majority of guests will enjoy and use even after the ceremony.

(http://www.iherb.com/Walden-Farms-Apple-Butter-Fruit-Spread-12-oz-340-g/41664?CAWELAID=120224250000029555&gclid=CIPykrarhMoCFUc9gQodxCgHuQ)

Gourmet Chocolate Treats

Everyone loves chocolate or edible treats, so any type of gourmet chocolate would be a perfect wedding favor. We love these chocolate-covered pretzel rods and appreciate the fact that they can be covered in a variety of goodies, from sprinkles to candy pieces. Be sure to keep some sugar free treats on hand for those with diabetic issues or restrictive diets.

(https://www.etsy.com/listing/243685900/gourmet-chocolate-covered-pretzels-with?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_branded-paper_and_party_supplies&utm_custom1=5bb72430-de2e-43bd-bc76-91c432978535&gclid=CILe98SrhMoCFYU2gQodhakCTQ)

These are just a few ideas of unique, lovely and glamorous wedding favors, proving that not every wedding favor needs to be a pack of mints or a container of bubbles. Let us know which of these is your favorite in the comments section below!

The post Glamorous Wedding Favor Ideas appeared first on Elegant Wedding.

One thing you will notice about this palette is that it can look extremely elegant and expensive, without costing a fortune. Even the simplest and most affordable elements for a black and white wedding truly have a stylish and gorgeous look. It’s a wonderful route to take for those who are on a budget.

Black and white can be whimsical, as shown in this photo, where the wedding theme is a masquerade. It’s a fantastic way to explore the fairytale style themes that are so popular without crossing the line from elegant to tacky.

This color palette can also be very modern, streamlined and classy. Clean, straight lines, limited ornamentation, and other specific elements can really make this palette very futuristic in style.

Black and white can also be used in a classy, vintage themed wedding. Adding in a soft beige or gold is the perfect way to accomplish this, and adding in a little ornamentation and feminine touches gives it the perfect look.

A black and white wedding palette can be absolutely stunning with simple pops of colors here and there, and one of the best accent colors for this palette is red. It has a classic, gorgeous and very elegant look.

Accent colors like yellow, salmon or lime green can add a fresh and gorgeous look to the black and white wedding palette, and depending upon the color used, can totally change the mood of the palette.

A black and white wedding is truly one of the best and most universal color palettes available. Do you have a favorite color that goes well with black and white? Let us know your thoughts on the black and white color palette in the comments below!

The post The Simple Elegance of a Black and White Wedding appeared first on Elegant Wedding.

Hold Your Reception in the Garden

Few things are more beautiful than a garden reception; provided the temperature is ideal. Holding your reception in the garden of the home is a fantastic way to utilize natural decor that doesn’t cost any additional money, and looks amazing! Also you’ll want a good photographer that will capture the beauty of your big day. For example, if you’re in the Toronto area, we recommend Focus Photography, a Toronto wedding photographer.

Have the Ceremony Near the Pool

If you want to do something a little different, hold the ceremony near the pool and use adorable wooden bench seating for your guests. This is a fantastic and unique idea, and if you want to have the ceremony at or after dark, you can light up the pool with gorgeous floating candles!

Hold a Mismatched, Shabby-Chic Reception for an Intimate Group

If you’re planning on holding a very intimate reception with a small group of people, make it elegant and fun with a mismatched, shabby-chic reception. Mismatched chairs, lace crochet tablecloth, simple floral arrangements and any other fun elements you can think of!

Garden Lanterns

Light your way down the aisle for your beautiful dusk wedding with garden lanterns. They’re a wonderful way to add to the festive look and can be left as-is or cloaked in flowers. They’re also typically available in black and white, and look fantastic with candles in colors that match your wedding color palette.

Move It All Out

If you’re having your wedding at home but you’re nervous about the amount of space for the reception area, storage space or utilize your garage for the day of the wedding and transform your great room or living room into a beautiful reception hall.

A Fun Photo booth

Looking for ideas on how to keep your guests occupied and having fun, rent a photo booth. For example, Focusbooth in Toronto offers a great service.

These ideas will help you find inspiration for creating a gorgeous and fun at-home wedding! Which of these can you see yourself doing? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Elegant Ideas for Your At-Home Wedding appeared first on Elegant Wedding.

1. Figs Prosciutto

Figs Prosciutto makes a delicious hors d’oeuvre for an elegant wedding. If you want to make them yourself, there are a variety of recipes you can go with. We love the simple method of stuffing the figs with goat cheese, wrapping them in prosciutto, roasting them and then adding a dab of honey to each. The combination of sweet figs, creamy goat cheese and smoked prosciutto is a palette pleaser for sure, and these go very well with white wine.

2. Glazed Salmon

The perfect fish entree to delight your guests is glazed salmon, and it’s perfect when served with fresh steamed vegetables or a variety of rice dishes. Salmon is such a versatile dish as well, so you can opt for a tangy glaze of honey and Dijon mustard, a sweeter glaze made of citrus fruit or a spicy glaze with an Asian flair.

3. Spicy Shrimp Cucumber Appetizer

For a cold hors d’oeuvre that packs a serious punch, go for the spicy shrimp cucumber appetizer. To make this one, combine 8 ounces of softened cream cheese with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of Tabasco sauce, a dash of salt and pepper, and a teaspoon of paprika. Refrigerate the mixture for about 15 minutes while slicing fresh cucumbers into ½ inch rounds. Use a small melon-baller to scoop the mixture and place it on top of the cucumbers. Sauté fresh shrimp in butter and season with garlic, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper. Add a small amount of very finely chopped red onion to the top of the cream cheese mixture and then press one shrimp onto each cucumber. Garnish with a fresh sprig of dill.

4. Duchess Potatoes

This delicious potato appetizer features very simple ingredients (mashed potatoes, butter, nutmeg and cream) but goes over very well with any crowd. If you’re planning to create these yourself, you can spice them up a bit by adding a variety of toppings, from bacon crumbles to goat cheese.

These are all fantastic options to add to your elegant wedding menu. Have you tried any of these? If so, what did you think? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 4 Elegant Wedding Menu Options appeared first on Elegant Wedding.

Glitter-Dipped Balloons

Add a little shine and elegance to your balloons by dipping them in glitter! This creates a fantastic look and it’s super easy to do.

Balloons Covered in Tulle

Balloons are instantly prettier when they are covered in tulle. Simply wrap it from the top and gather near the balloon tie. You can add a fabric flower or two for a sweet embellishment.

Double Balloons

A colored balloon inside a clear balloon is instantly more elegant. Plus, you can make sure your balloons match your wedding colors!

Pretty Fabric Tassels

Create pretty fabric tassels to make your balloons more elegant! Add one color, or a variety of colors to

show off your style and personality.

Metallic Painted Balloons

Add a little elegance to your balloons by brushing on some metallic paint. This is a great way to add some of your own flair and style!

These are just a few ways to make your balloons much more elegant and pretty for your wedding reception. With some creativity and inspiration, you can create wildly elegant reception balloons!

The post 5 Ways to Make Balloons Elegant for Your Reception appeared first on Elegant Wedding.