Last weekend, I went to the most amazing wedding and reception. It was not amazing due to copious amounts of calla lilies carried by bridesmaids, shiny pin tuck satin linens with perfectly placed complicated centerpieces, or a wedding cake that looked like a creation from The Ace of Cakes. Nor did the bride don a fabulous Vera Wang dress.
Their event had all of the beauty and attention to detail that one would expect on this special day with none of the pretense and over-spending that can come with such occasions. This was a true reminder that a wonderful wedding and reception does not have to break the bank.
Some of the most memorable details included:
The Programs: Printed on brown recycled paper that reflected the aesthetic style and eco-sensibilities of the couple.
The Ceremony: The couple had two friends sing and play guitar to a beautiful original song. Another friend officiated the ceremony. Both were meaningful and cost effective.
The Dress: The bride wore a stunning 1940’s style silver duchesse satin gown embellished with white feathers at the bottom of the dress. Think: modern flapper dress with gorgeous details.
The Bouquets: My favorite thing: Bunches of ORIGAMI PAPER FLOWERS were carried by the bride and her bridesmaids. Perfect example of thinking outside of the box. As a floral designer, I know exactly how expensive flowers can be. I thought this was the coolest idea. Made from recycled magazine pages, they were also eco-chic.
The Centerpiece & Favors: In the reception room, the first thing we saw were piñatas of all types as centerpieces on the tables. We had Godzilla. The table next to us had a monkey. After dinner, the couple told us to bust open the piñatas on the floor to find the party favors. To our utter delight, we found dozens of stick-on mustaches and thick caterpillar-like eyebrows inside. You could not hear the person next to you over the laughter of everyone in the room. We exchanged mustaches, changing from The Frenchman, to The Handlebar, to The Professor. With memories like those, who needs a take-home favor?
The Linens: Rather than splurging on satin or custom linens, they chose to use the basic white cotton linens that the venue provided, and rented colored napkins from a linen company. This is a great way to have an impact without blowing the budget.
The Cake: Carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting were chosen over a wedding cake for a cost savings and a cute modern departure from tradition.
The entire event was as lovely, authentic, and original as the couple themselves. They found the balance between making sure that their guests had a great time while also respecting their own bank account. A great way to start off a life together, I think! I will upload some photos here when I get them.
Consider some of these alternative ‘out of the box’ ideas and others for your next event and remember that ZenGenius can help with events of ANY budget- from $500 to $500,000. Call us to set up a consultation for a brainstorm for your event!
