Memorable New and Classic Wedding Ideas

Now that the annual engagement season is over, wedding planning is surely full steam ahead for many couples. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to attend, be in, and coordinate quite the variety of weddings over the past four years. While each wedding that I’ve been a part of has been wonderful in its own way, here are some sweet ideas that I have particularly enjoyed.

1. Throw lavender at the bride and groom as they exit the church: there’s no smell like it, plus it’s ecofriendly.
   
2. Do a yoga class the morning of the wedding with any interested wedding party members, friends or family members.
3. For a summer wedding, design a classy and useful combination program and fan.
4. Incorporate the phrase “Eat, drink and be married.”
5. Share different spice mixes as favors: love is the spice of life. The wedding I attended gave out a choice of barbecue mix, Italian herbs, or chai spice. I’m still enjoying mine!
   
6. Incorporate eucalyptus into your wedding flowers—it's hardy, beautiful and it smells great. As with lavender, you also get some nice aromatherapy.
7. Have the parents of the groom pray over the bride and the parents of the bride pray over the groom during the ceremony.
8. If you have musical skill or perhaps a hidden talent, surprise the class by sharing it on this once-in-a-lifetime day! I’m thinking of a particularly great evening where we got the groom to do an encore of Bennie and the Jets after serenading his new bride with a love song.
9. Play the couple's dance game to see which couple has been married the longest. I was truly impressed by the married-for-75-years grandparents at the most recent wedding.
10. Place infused water dispensers around the ceremony and reception to keep everybody hydrated and happy throughout the celebration. Try cucumber, lemon, mint, raspberry, grapefruit or almost any fruit combination.
11. Green tea cupcakes. I’m not going to offer any explanation.
12. As you’d like, incorporate groomswomen/a best woman and bridesmen/a man of honor: if the bride has a best friend that's a guy and the groom has a beloved sister, put them in the same clothes as the groomsmen and bridesmaids, but let them stand on the most appropriate side.
    
13. Start a train, ideally one led by a grandparent or an elementary-aged cousin—you won't regret it.

Happy 2017 wedding season to all!

Photo credits go to my wonderful former Furman University photography classmate, Hannah Woodard Lockaby of Hannah Woodard Photography. See more of this beautiful wedding day of my sweet friends here.

Going to the Chapel: Wedding Season Tips (Originally for Greenville Pulse)

Everyone gets married in the summer, and I love it. The enthusiasm, the first dances, the dresses, the hashtags, the favors, the themes, the travel, the sparkler-lit farewells: it’s wonderful, but it certainly can be overwhelming for attendees and couples alike.

Last year, I attended six weddings and two bachelorette events: from rural Vermont to California Wine Country to Florence, Alabama to Simpsonville First Baptist Church. Recently, I realized that the last six movies that I had watched either centered around or included a wedding (from 27 Dresses to Wedding Crashers to Mamma Mia). On the first weekend of May, I was in a wedding party for the first time. My sorority big sister married the perfect guy for her. We wore purple and carried peonies down the aisle of a D.C. Catholic church. The reception (complete with Beef Wellington and an open bar) served the dual purpose of college reunion.

As I wrote this blog, the things at the top of my to-do list were "decide on shoes," “iron bridesmaid’s dress” and "pack Lily’s shower present.”

Make your life a little easier during the upcoming nuptial-filled months by embracing a few of these ideas:

1. Organize your theme and ideas with a Pinterest board. You can easily share with your bridal party, family, or vendors.
2. If, like me, you can easily get distracted by wedding photos or fun ideas on Pinterest, find a method to limit wasted time. For example, choose to only log-on once a month, limit the time per session, or download an app like StayFocused.
3. Save money on flights, dresses, and gifts: Set up Kayak flight alerts, and book flights, car rentals and hotels through sites with a lowest price guarantee and a loyalty program. Sign up for a free Ebates account, google “coupons for Macy’s” (insert generic registry store of your choice), and buy gifts and dresses during sale weekends (hello there, holiday weekend sales): I've bought some really nice gifts using all three methods together!
4. Borrow or rent your outfits (for example, from Renttherunway, or Men’s Wearhouse).
5. If you’re in the wedding party for a faraway event, make sure you carry-on anything that you couldn’t live without if your checked bag doesn’t make it as planned.
6. Uber and carpooling: just do it. Your budget will thank you, plus you might get a free designated driver out of the deal.
7. If you’ll be standing for more than a few minutes, don’t lock your knees. It’s simple yet essential to remember.
8. Use the occasion to try that new fashion trend you’ve been eyeing: an elegant undo, a funky bow tie or those bright blue heels. Check out The Knot’s guide to wedding attire to keep things appropriate.
9. If you’re having a hard time getting excited about going to another wedding, try to embrace the family/college reunion or networking aspect. If all else fails, people-watch.
10. Befriend a few of the couple's childhood friends or extended family members: you're bound to hear some great stories and you'll help make the wedding festivities more enjoyable.

Now, eat, drink and be married!