Guest Seating Arrangement Tips

For many couples, guest seating arrangements can be one of the most stressful parts of wedding planning. Here are some helpful tips to get you through the task:

1. Don't wait too long to begin working on your guests seating arrangements. Seating arrangements always take so much longer than anyone ever realizes. My advice is to start working on this at least 1 month in advance, or as soon as the RSVP's start coming in. If you are still missing RSVPs within a week of your wedding date, don't be afraid to pick up the phone and start making calls. You don't want to be sitting around the kitchen table night before your wedding making final edits and changes to your seating chart.

2. Know your numbers. You will need to know: 1) how many people can fit at each table, 2) how the tables will be numbered, and 3) how the room will be set up. Ask your venue coordinator to provide you with room layout diagram.

3. Know the difference between escort cards, place cards and a seating chart.

Escort Cards (or whatever you decide to use in their place) have the guests name and table number written on them. They are usually all arranged alphabetically in a central location and serve to let guests know what table they are seated at, while allowing guests to find their own seats at the assigned table.

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Place Cards on the other hand, are found on each individual table setting. They are usually used in conjunction with seating charts to help guests find their table numbers.

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A Seating Chart is exactly what the name implies. It's a large display-usually arranged by table number-with the names of the people who will be sitting at each table.

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4. Save money by having your Escort Cards or Place Cards double as guest favors.

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For more ideas on Escort Cards, Place Cards and Seating Charts visit A Bride's BFF's Pinterest Board

4 Bachelorette Alternatives: Ditch the Strippers & Do Something New

Bachelorette parties don’t always have to be about strippers, nightclubs and little penis shaped straws. It’s the age of personalizaton – from invitations to ceremony readings to wedding playlists. Now more than ever, the entire process leading up the day of weddings is being tailored to reflect the personalities and quirks of the couple saying ‘I do.’ Here are 4 fun alternatives to consider:

A DIY Party – For the bride with an artsy side, plan a painting party so everyone can help put the finishing touches on your last-minute DIY wedding projects (think favors, centerpieces, escort cards, etc...). Be careful not to take on a project so big that it can't be done in one evening, or one that takes up too much time. You still want to allow time to have fun!

A Cooking Class - If the bride loves trying new things in the kitchen, sign your group up for a cooking class. You can learn some new tips to impress the hubs or have a friendly Top Chef style competition!

A Dance Class – Looking to master some new moves on the dance floor? Why not learn a choreographed routine inspired by your favorite dance movies or maybe something you can try out at the wedding reception?

Paint Ball - Have a group of crazy, adventurous, non-conformist women? This is the ultimate anti-wedding alternative. Find the worst bridesmaid dress you can at a thrift store and go paintballing in them!!!!

Bride Tide

Credits: Confetti Day Dreams

3 Simple Tips to Stay Within Your Wedding Budget

Today on Frugal Fridays: 3 Easy Tips to Help You Stay Within Your Wedding Budget.

26 Non-Floral Beach Wedding Centerpiece Ideas

The great thing about beach-themed wedding centerpieces is that there are so many great non-floral options. This also means they can be assembled way ahead of time. Check out these 26 fantastic non-floral beach centerpiece ideas:

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Seven Stems Design

Kayla Bell Events

Snippet and Ink

Cheap Wedding Centerpieces

Plectrumbanjo

Weddingomania

Weddingomania

Tradesy

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Easy Wedding Centerpieces

if isha foss

if isha foss

Colin Cowie Weddings

Constance Zahn

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Bridal Guide

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Cocktails Details

Juliescottagecrafts

ElaLakeDesign

CeShoreTreasures

shabbyshores

FromTheCoast2TheCity

Want more beach-themed wedding ideas? Check out my Beach Wedding Pinterest Board and let me know what you think!

Real Wedding: Swanky & Sultry DC Wedding

I remember my first meeting with the bride. She blew me away when she described her wedding venue: An Upscale Burlesque Restaurant and Bar in Washington, DC named SAX. I had never heard of the place and to be honest, I could not visualize how this would work for a wedding! But this girl knew exactly what she wanted, and her vision and ideas were very clear right from the start. During our first walk-through of the venue I was immediately blown away by the detail and richness of the decor in this place! It was like Interview with the Vampire meets Marie Antoinette. I immediately saw why the bride had fallen in love with this place. As the weeks of pre-planning went on, we discovered that the unorthodox choice in venue and theme did not come without it's challenges. The ceremony logistics alone were extremely challenging-the bride and groom were to exchange vows in huge glass enclosure right above the bar. But all in all the wedding was a huge success, and everyone had a blast. Congratulations once again to the fun couple, this was truly a memorable experience for all involved!

 

Venue: SAX-DC

Photographer: Charlie Shin Photography

Planner: A Bride's BFF

Frugal Fridays-Cheap DIY Wedding Ideas

Just because you're trying to save money on your wedding doesn't mean it  has to look cheap! Check out these frugal but fabulous DIY money-saving ideas.

Save money by buying a very simple cake and wrapping different widths of ribbon around your cake. Uses complementary colors and contrasting textures to give it a pretty effect. Then, stick the ends together with royal icing and voila!

Brides Magazine

Frame your ceremony program and display it on a table near the guest book or in other locations where guests will easily find it. Saving you money on printing and copying. You can also do this with menus.

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The cost of wedding flowers can add up. Save money on your decor for miscellaneous tables such as sign-in tables, favor card tables, bars, etc... by creating easy summer wedding centerpieces using colorful fruit.

DIY Wedding Decorations

Milk glasses make gorgeous centerpiece vessels. But they can be difficult to find and very expensive! Turn almost any cheap glass vase (think dollar store, thrift, stores and garage sales) into a beautiful vintage pieces with this tutorial by Emmaline Bride