0 Creating A Successful Thanksgiving Wedding

No holiday brings family together like Thanksgiving. True, much of it has to do with the overabundance of delicious food, but we think a lot of it has to do with the overwhelming gratefulness we feel for all we've been blessed with over the past year and in life in general.

Besides Thanksgiving, what other celebration has the power to bring families together to give thanks for love that’s been found? You guessed it: a wedding. A time when two families become one because of the powerful love shared between two individuals.

The concept of a Thanksgiving-weekend wedding, however unconventional it may seem, is not actually as uncommon as you might think. It’s a two-for-one special the way many see it, and two fantastic reasons for families to join together. If you plan on holding a Thanksgiving wedding next weekend, next year, or in years to come, here are some things you should be aware of beforehand to avoid disappointments and help make your Thanksgiving wedding a success!

Guests:

When it comes to guests who aren't of any relation to the bride or groom, or those with large extended families, be aware that attending your wedding may be a difficult commitment to make. As Thanksgiving is held on a Thursday, you will most likely receive the most positive response if you choose to hold your wedding on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.

Invitations:

Be mindful that this is a special holiday that people typically share with close family; most already have annual traditions in place. If you plan on asking friends and family to stray from the norm to help celebrate your wedding day, give them as much time as possible to plan in advance as you possibly can. As soon as you have a date in mind and book your hall, send out the save the date cards. This could mean you’re asking people to plan a year in advance, but that is going to give you the greatest probability of receiving the most ‘yes’ responses.

It’s also recommended to keep tabs on relatives and let everyone else know who plans to spend their Thanksgiving with you. This way, it is publicly understood that this is a family-oriented event and the holiday is still going to be celebrated; there’s just a little extra love in the air! You can let everyone keep in touch a few ways, I recommend utilizing social media by creating a group where members can fill in the rest of the group members on their plans, travel arrangements, etc. Setting up a group email is also a great way to keep in touch, but has the potential to get slightly more annoying as the responses pile up in inbox's.

Advantages:

For one, you have your theme all picked out! Fall weddings are already some of the most beautiful and fun-to-plan weddings of the year and now you have a theme for the cuisine, as well! Thanksgiving feasts are elaborate and enjoyable, so make a large focus of your wedding the food; everyone will definitely appreciate your consideration for the holiday.

In addition, if you have a lot of friends and family who may be traveling from out of state to celebrate with you, most employers give long weekends for Thanksgiving, so asking off from work is a non-issue, making traveling much easier.

No matter what way you look at it, combining a celebration as fun and full of love as a wedding with a wonderful family holiday just seems like a good idea after all. From all of us at The Springs Events, happy wedding planning, happy Thanksgiving and bon appétit!

0 Thanksgiving at your wedding: Showing gratitude to your guests

Thanksgiving at your wedding: Ways to show gratitude to your guests.

Though Thanksgiving only comes around once a year here in the US, remembering the holiday year-round when planning your wedding is a good way to make sure your guests feel your gratitude. We often forget the effort and expense it takes many wedding guests to celebrate with you at your wedding. You invited them to your wedding for a reason, so take a cue from Thanksgiving and remember to be thankful. A sweet note, yummy treats, fun favors, a big ole' sign...here are some little ways you can show gratitude to your guests at your wedding.

 

0 Bonding with your in laws at Thanksgiving

4 Tips for Bonding With Your Future In-Laws at Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving -- one of the most family-centric holidays -- is often the time when you realize your engagement isn't just a shiny diamond ring and a good-looking fiancé. While those things are nice, it is much more than that -- it's a time to prepare for the joining of two families and communities.

The Norman Rockwell version of Thanksgiving conjures up images of a glistening roasted turkey, beautiful side dishes, and a perfectly set table. But underneath the yummy food and lovely table settings are family dynamics that can be wonderful...or can be rather difficult to handle. Here are some tips to help newly-engaged couples navigate their first family holiday together and help set the stage for their upcoming wedding.

1. Be positive.

Arriving at your in-laws' home for Thanksgiving with a smile on your face really sets the tone for the day. People tend to respond better to others who are positive and loving. It's important to let your future in-laws know that you're really happy to be spending the holiday with them and to become a member of their family.

2. Be patient.

Not everyone has good social skills or knows how to tactfully introduce himself or herself. If people are awkward or struggling to make conversation, try to have empathy for them and be as gracious as possible. 

3. Get involved!

Offer to make something to bring to the meal -- perhaps a side dish or dessert. Your future in-laws will be thrilled to see you pitching in. You could also help by clearing the table or doing the dishes. On the other hand, don't go overboard trying to do so much that it makes them feel uncomfortable. Others in the family will want to contribute as well.

4. Try to learn about the dynamics of the family in advance.

That way, you'll better understand what's really going on and who has an underlying agenda. It's best not to get involved in heated debates or discussions, even if this is typical for your fiancé's family. A good rule of thumb for the holidays (or for any dinner party for that matter) is to keep the discussion friendly, light, and pleasant. And always try to remain civil even if some sparks fly. Basically, if someone acts up or says something provocative, don't take the bait and engage.

What are your best tips for surviving your first holiday with your future in-laws?

0 Thanksgiving Week Pt 1

Creating a Thanksgiving Inspired Wedding

With the stunning fall colors and delicious cooking, Thanksgiving is without a doubt one of the most remarkable times of the year! From the beautiful hues of browns, reds, yellows and oranges to those mouthwatering dishes of turkey, savory mashed potatoes and delectable desserts, creating a Thanksgiving inspired wedding is a great and unique way to incorporate this amazing time of the year into your very own nuptials. We, at WeddingBlvd, have a few fun ideas on how you can transform your Thanksgiving favorites into a gorgeous wedding theme everyone will love!

Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

The Wedding Attire

With a Thanksgiving inspired wedding it’s essential to showcase autumn colored attire! For the bridal gown, choose a soft ivory or off-white dress adorned with a brown, beige or orange belt to incorporate that autumn look.

For the bridal party, the guys can dress in tan or chocolate brown suits wearing with a variety of seasonal colored ties, such as blood orange, golden yellow and merlot red. For the bridesmaids, outfit them in the same shades as the guys’ ties for a stunning display of autumn colors!

And for the flowers, think of dark red dahlias, golden black-eyed Susans, yellow and orange calla lilies, yellow sunflowers and orange roses. Then, you can incorporate that Thanksgiving touch by adding details, such as acorns, green berry sprays, sprigs of seeded eucalyptus, or clusters of hypericum berries.

 

The Wedding Menu

Thanksgiving is certainly one tastiest meals of the year! Transform your favorite dishes into a wedding-worthy menu with these delicious ideas!

 

Cocktail Hour

• In place of green bean casserole, serve crispy fried green beans in mini cups or paper cones.
•  How about the sweet potatoes? Dish up sweet potato fries or tater tots in paper cones. You can also create sweet mashed potatoes shooters topped with marshmallows, pecans and cinnamon. Yum!
• With a Thanksgiving menu you must have turkey, right? Include passed mini-turkey sliders or turkey and cranberry finger sandwiches. 

Mini Turkey Sliders

Main Course

• To incorporate butternut squash, try a savory and healthy quinoa and squash salad. Or, if you want something a little warmer, serve fresh butternut squash soup in a squash rind bowl. It’s not only a tasty dish, but it also adds that extra Thanksgiving harvest theme.
• Love mashed potatoes? Set up a spud bar with different toppings, such as cheese, bacon bits, sour cream and chives. Serve the mashed potatoes in a martini glass for an upscale “mash-tini!”
• More turkey! For your main course, serve roasted turkey with an orange zest cranberry sauce, corn bread stuffing and pumpkin ravioli. Delish!

 

"Mash-Tini"

Desserts

• Who needs a wedding cake when you have pie? Dish up a variety of pies flavors, such as pecan, blueberry, peach, strawberry and cherry. You can also give out the extra pie filling as a wedding favor!
• What’s Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie? Set up a dessert bar with pumpkin pie shooters, cake pops and cheesecake bites to incorporate this Thanksgiving favorite.
• Love apple pie? You can also consider serving apple pie shooters, mini apple crisps and apple pie cake pops.

Pumpkin Pie Shooters

Cocktails

• Cranberries anyone? Have a cranberry fizz cocktail with vodka, ginger beer and fresh cranberries as your signature drink. For something a little sweeter, try cranberry-spice cocktail with fresh cranberries, crystallized ginger, Aperol, hard cider and Cranberry-Anise Bitters.
• Want more pumpkin? Serve a pumpkin martini, pumpkin spiced punch or a pumpkin ale.
• And for the vino lovers out there, include spiced wine with ginger and cinnamon or spiced apple sangria with Spanish red wine, spiced apple cider, orange juice and brandy. Cheers!

Cranberry-Spice Cocktail. Photo by Johnny Valiant

0 wedding shoe trends

Wedding shoes have an enchanting history that continues to influence the look of the footwear 

that today’s brides choose for their stroll down the aisle.

Famous Footsteps

Cinderella, the most famous princess bride, married her prince wearing sparkling glass slippers. 

Catherine de Medici, one of the first brides in history to walk down the aisle in high heels, inspired a fashion trend that continues today. Anglo-Saxon brides tossed shoes rather than bouquets to bridesmaids who hoped to be the next to marry. Brides in merry old England followed the directive that they wear “something old, something new,

something borrowed, something blue — and a sixpence in her shoe” by tucking coins into their wedding slippers.

Queen Victoria inspired millions of modern-day brides by choosing a white gown and white shoes for her wedding in 1840.Until then, blue was the color of choice for bridal ensembles. Princess Diana, a statuesque 5 feet 10 inches tall, chose low-heeled, pearl-encrusted, ivory silk flats for her wedding, so as not to tower over Prince Charles.

Contemporary Styles in Wedding Shoes

Today’s brides make the journey from once upon a time to happily ever after in all manner of magic slippers — high heels, low heels, sandals, pumps and even bejeweled flip-flops, says Anna Pezik, senior editor at Brides.com.

“These days, wedding shoes make a real fashion statement. No one wants a cookie-cutter look,” says Pezik. “Brides are choosing their gowns and their accessories to reflect their own individual style. They’re taking bridal shoes a step further than the traditional white satin pump.”

In response, designers such as Vera Wang, Jimmy Choo, Stuart Weitzman, Kenneth Cole and Manolo Blahnik

have filled shelves with wedding pumps, slingbacks, sandals and ballet flats in bronze, silver, gold

and pewter metallic shades and soft pastels, as well as ivory and white. Detailing includes bows, beading, 

embroidery and lace. Heel heights and silhouettes range from flat to stiletto. Toes can be open, closed, pointed, rounded or squared.

“Are you planning a romantic wedding? A glamorous event? Bohemian rhapsody? Beach casual?

A destination wedding?” Pezil asks.

“Your gown and your shoe choice will help create the atmosphere. Wedding shoes are so gorgeous that no one wants to wear them for just one day and then put them in the closet,” Pezik says. “Brides are choosing shoes that they can wear again.”

Brides planning beach weddings have stylish choices that go beyond the humble rubber flip-flop.

“Stuart Weitzman makes an adorable jelly sandal with crystal accents and kitten heels,” Pezik says. “You can also find bridal beach footwear with wedge heels and platform heels.”

Even for the trendiest brides, tradition still plays a role. Several designers, including Fifi, line bridal footwear with azure-colored fabric to meet the “something blue” requirement.

0 Creating a registry

In addition to the wedding and reception, many couples will also have a bridal shower. If not, many guests will bring gifts to the wedding itself. However, it is not always easy for guests to choose gifts for the happy couple, nor is it always easy for couples to come right out and ask for specific items. That is when creating a bridal registry is a good idea. Bridal registries allow the couple to ask for specific items that they will need when starting out their new life together, while giving guests options to choose from based on their personal budgets or wishes for the couple. Many larger department stores will offer bridal registry services, as well as local boutique shops.

What do you have already?
The first thing to do is go through what you and your fiancé already own before creating your bridal registry. Take a look at the items that you already have that are still in good condition, as well as items you will need.

What do you need?
If you are not living together prior to the wedding, then your living situation will definitely change once you get married. Even if you are living together, you may decide to purchase a home or move to a larger apartment once the union has become “official.” Take into consideration the items that you will need to live comfortably together. For instance, you both probably already own dishes, but a new set big enough for both to share, as well as guests, can be a useful item to add to your bridal registry. Pots, pans, and cookware are other common wedding registry items. Do not forget about the smaller things that you may need, even if they seem nonessential. If you really need a vacuum cleaner, add it to the list. Often this will give your guests a better price range for options so they do not have to feel pressured to spend more than they can afford.

What do you want?
Once the needs are out of the way, you can also add on things that you will like to have. This is one of the few times in your life where you can go all out and put big items on their wish list. Some family members or friends may choose to go in together on a gift, or decide to go a little over the top to help the new couple celebrate.

Some couples creating their wedding registry find that this is easiest to do while walking around the store they have chosen to register at, giving them ideas that they might not have thought of otherwise. Consider something fun for the two of you – like a new entertainment center, camping gear for two, or another activity that the two of you enjoy. You can also add items to the bridal registry that are just for the bride or the groom. For instance, if he wants a new set of power tools and she wants designer linens, you can add both to the list.

Make the registry
Many department stores will have an easy way for you to create your  bridal registry. Often, this will involve carrying around a hand held scanner or sitting at a kiosk to input items. The store may also have a checklist of “must have” items to get you started if you have not created your own list. If you are too busy or pressed for time to stop in the store and do the bridal registry in person, many of the larger stores will also allow you to create or edit bridal registries on line at their website.

Tell your guests about the registry
Tell your bridal shower host or hostess where you are registered. Many stores will also give you cards to stick in with the invitations to tell your wedding guests where your bridal registry is set up.

Creating your bridal registry is a fun experience! You get to shop, while all of the presents arrive at your wedding. Enjoy the wonderful time, which lasts from the shopping and planning throughout years of your married life together.