Thursday, June 10th, 2010 | Filed under: Party Planning | author: By admin,
By Preston Postlethwaite, Banquet Director, The Manor
When love blossoms, flowers often mark the occasion. That’s why the floral selection is such an important part of wedding celebrations, and why so much time and attention is devoted to their selection. Usually the choice of flowers is based on the season. So with the end of winter in sight, let’s take a moment to talk about flowers for a spring wedding.
Of course the availability of flowers depends on where you live as well as the seasons. We’re assuming that anyone reading this is in the New York tri-state area and has access to great vendors like Crest Florist and Betina’s at Parkview. Of course some flowers are appropriate and available for a wedding any time of year. These include popular flowers like Roses, Lilies, and Gerber Daisies. But if you really want to say spring with your flowers, consider choosing Lily of the Valley, hyacinths (which are nice and fragrant), peonies (which have great volume, making them a great value), and Forsythia. Want to add something a little different? Think about using herbs as part of your arrangements – like lemon verbena, basil and the like. That’s a fresh idea that’s ideal for putting a seasonal spin on your floral displays for a spring wedding.
By Laura Madden, Senior Sales Manager, Pleasantdale Chateau
Move over, Mom! The bride and groom are taking center stage in making wedding plans.
Mothers have traditionally taken a large hand in planning their daughter’s weddings. And Moms’ plans and those of their daughters haven’t always been in sync. But today, many mothers seem more comfortable deferring to the bride- and groom-to-be when it comes to making planning decisions, from what kind of wedding ceremony to have, to where to hold the reception.
Several factors are behind the change. Couples are getting married a little later, so they’re often more established and independent to begin with. Mothers themselves are more likely to be remarried or single, and be less concerned with reliving their own wedding through their daughter. And society as a whole has loosened up a little, so Moms are often less rigid about protocol or concerned with what other parts of the family may think if their daughter or future son-in-law wants to do something untraditional.
This is saving a lot of wear and tear on many mother-daughter relationships. Wedding planning can be a stressful time under any circumstances. Experts tell us that weddings represent a big change in the relationship between mother and daughter. After years of watching out for her little girl, mothers, consciously or subconsciously, can fear losing that relationship. And daughters can feel that their Moms are being too stifling, and are often eager to show their independence. Additionally, mothers and daughters often view what the wedding is about differently. For mothers, the wedding is a statement about the family, while to the daughter it’s a statement about the bride and groom.
Whatever the extent of their involvement in wedding planning, both Moms and daughters should remember that this can be an emotional time. Work together, and those emotions can be ones of joy. We should know. Our restaurants have been helping couples and families have joyous weddings since 1953.
By Roman Bienkiewicz, Banquet Manager, The Manor
Looking for a way to keep the cost of your wedding in check? Rethinking the plans for your reception dinner can provide some significant opportunities for savings, without skimping on the hospitality you offer guests. Consider a buffet instead of a formal sit-down meal. A multi-course sit down meal is more expensive than a buffet for two major reasons:
First, the server-to-guest ratio is much higher for a sit down meal: the wait staff has to be large enough to make sure everyone is served their courses almost simultaneously. Secondly, the food selections can be pricey for a sit down meal, if guests are offered choices like steak and lobster, seafood appetizers and other premium items. With a buffet, the size of the wait staff can be considerably smaller. That alone can save significantly on costs. If you want to save even more, you can choose a menu that provides lots of variety and ample quantities of food at a lower cost per person than a surf and turf meal, for example.
But buffet doesn’t have to mean “budget” in the menu department. For example, here at The Manor, we’re well known among regular customers for our Lobster Buffet evenings. And now the Lobster Buffet is becoming a popular choice at the wedding receptions we host. There are additional reasons beyond cost that can make a buffet a good choice. Your guests can serve themselves as much or as little as they want, unlike a sit down meal where all portions are the same size. It can also create a more informal ambiance. And by encouraging guests to move about the dining room and serve themselves, it can get guests to interact with each other more. And a buffet is also a festive display in its own right. Even though it costs less than a comparable sit down meal, a buffet looks impressive – and mouthwatering! So when it comes time to plan the menu for your reception, talk to your caterer about your buffet options, and you’ll have some tasteful, money saving ideas to consider.
Welcome to The Art of Reception, a blog about everything to do with weddings. The Knowles properties (The Manor, Highlawn Pavilion, Pleasantdale Chateau and Ram’s Head Inn) have been hosting wedding of every size, style, nationality and budget since 1953. That’s more than five decades of experience, something few others can claim.
As a result, we have some of the finest, most capable bridal experts both in-house and as preferred vendors. This blog will feature the expertise and helpful hints from our in-house bridal experts and occasionally we’ll hear from our preferred vendors too, on trends specific to their line of work. Here’s a Who’s Who of our blogging wedding experts… Read more…
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 | Filed under: Party Planning | author: By admin,
By James Levinsky, Banquet Manager, The Manor
A wedding reception is a wonderful occasion to eat, drink, and be merry. But often, with all the toasting and revelry, someone has a little too much to drink. So here are some practical tips to deal with over-imbibing:
If it’s you that has had too many, remember to drink water. Then drink some more. It won’t cure what ails you, but you’ll feel a little better come the morning. Listen and believe your friends, family or (gasp) your new husband or wife if they tell you, “It’s time to slow down on the drinks” or “Sit this next dance out.” (Then follow the advice above about drinking water.)
If it’s a family member that’s partying a little too heartily, remember that it often happens – no reason to be upset or embarrassed. Have an appropriate family member intercede. If you are the bride and your uncle has had too many, ask your dad or mom to intervene.
If it’s a friend, ask them if they’re having fun. They’ll likely respond with a “Heck yeah” or something even more emphatic. Your response of simply “I can see that” might be enough to send a strong message of moderation. It’s okay to use nonverbal clues like eye rolling to let a friend know if they’re getting a little too wild and crazy, too.
If it’s your boss, let him or her get totally crazy, and then they’ll owe you one. Just kidding! Handle him or her like a friend (just leave out the eye-rolling).
Whatever the relationship, don’t let tipsy guests drive. Have the telephone number of a local taxi company that can take guests home or to their hotel if needed. That’s an idea everyone can raise a glass to!
Monday, March 22nd, 2010 | Filed under: Party Planning | author: By admin,
By Patti Carlin, Banquet Manager, Ram’s Head Inn
You’ve heard the old adage about the best laid plans going astray. Well, sometimes things don’t go according to plan on your wedding day. Maybe an important vendor doesn’t show up. Believe me, we’ve seen it happen. What to do? The first rule: Stay calm. Don’t panic. Turning into a Bridezilla certainly won’t help matters.
For example, let’s say the limo hired to take the bride to the ceremony doesn’t show up. First, have a friend who’s not in the wedding party call the limo company. Chances are they got stuck in traffic or got a flat tire, and are just a little delayed. If it’s a bigger problem, go to Plan B: Call any traditional car service. They’ll likely be able to send someone very quickly to pick you up. Don’t worry about appearances, either – few people actually ever see the bride arrive at the church or other wedding ceremony location.
Anticipate potential snafus beforehand and have a backup plan to deal with them. And rest assured that if your wedding is like the overwhelming majority of them, it will all come off without a hitch.
By Paul Keenan, Banquet Manager, Highlawn Pavilion
A band, a DJ, or an iPod? You’ve got a lot of options in choosing the musical entertainment for your wedding reception. In terms of protocol or etiquette, there is no right or wrong choice. However, some rooms or locations are better suited acoustically or logistically for DJs, and some for Bands. There are other factors to consider as well in choosing the musical entertainment:
DJs:
DJs, on the average, are slightly less expensive than bands simply because of the number of performing individuals in a band vs. the single DJ. Another plus: DJs are far more willing to customize your song selection than ever before. And they’ll honor your “do not play” list no matter how many times your Aunt Edna wants to request the Electric Slide.
Bands:
Live music can add a real kick to your reception. Remember though, the more people in the band, the more money the band usually charges. And don’t forget – you pay for their meals. If possible, be sure to see the bands performing in person (either at a friend’s wedding or at a bridal expo) before hiring one, so you have a real sense of their sound and style.
IPod:
The iPod is arguably the most contemporary and lowest cost option, but it is not a good one unless you have an incredible sound system to plug it into and someone willing to make sure it doesn’t run out of batteries. Anyone who has an iPod knows what I’m talking about!
With a little forethought, your musical entertainment choice will be one of the high notes of your reception.
By Christopher Gellings, Banquet Manager, Highlawn Pavilion
The rehearsal dinner guest list is always a matter of discussion. Who should you invite? The answer depends mostly on your budget and the size of your wedding. Certainly all bridesmaids and groomsmen, as well as anyone who will be speaking or performing a reading during the ceremony should be invited. You might want to include close family members from out of town, giving you a chance to actually sit and visit and spend some quality time with them, which you probably won’t have on your wedding day.
But even with a large party, you can keep costs of your rehearsal dinner down. Remember, it doesn’t have to be a fancy, sit down affair. It can be as simple as a BBQ in your own backyard. The facility where you’re having your wedding reception may also be a good option for where to hold your rehearsal dinner. They may even offer packages that provide a discount for this meal, since they are also hosting your reception.
At the Manor and Highlawn Pavilion, two Knowles properties in West Orange, New Jersey, we offer private dining rooms for rehearsal dinners, or simply accommodate the wedding party in the Terrace Lounge at The Manor or the Main Dining Room at Highlawn Pavilion.
With a little thought put into your guest list and the location, your rehearsal dinner can be one of the most memorable events of your entire wedding.
Friday, March 19th, 2010 | Filed under: Party Planning | author: By admin,
By, Caitlyn Bradley, Banquet Manager, Ram’s Head Inn
Flowers are an important part of every wedding, signifying life, beauty, and new beginnings. That makes the choice of flowers for your ceremony also very important. Here are a few things to keep in mind: First, your options will depend on both the season and where you live. But even if you’re having a winter wedding, you will have a wide selection of available flowers to choose from. I’m assuming that anyone reading this is in the New Jersey/New York/Connecticut Tri-State area and has access to great vendors like Crest Florist and Betina’s at Parkview.
Fortunately, wedding favorites like Roses, Lilies, and Gerber Daisies are available all year long. Even popular tropical flowers like orchids and amaryllis are available in the dead of winter from greenhouse garden nurseries or imported from warmer climes. But why fight the season? Consider going with a holiday theme for your flowers, choosing Poinsettias and holly, for example, for your winter wedding. (That could make for an interesting boutonniere!)
A good florist can provide lots of help in choosing your flowers, and in making sure they are top quality, so they’ll look fresh and lovely as long as possible. That will help you and your guests appreciate your lovely floral arrangements no matter what the season.
As much as they love you, attending a wedding can be an expensive proposition for your guests: gift, transportation, maybe a new suit or dress. Saving them money might get some who are undecided about your invitation to come. Some guests might be traveling from great distances. They’re going to need a place to stay. One great way to save them money and also make the festivities more fun is by partnering with a hotel near the site of your ceremony. You can arrange for discounted rates by blocking a set of rooms. This also makes it easy for your guests to socialize before and after the ceremony as well. The facility where you’re having your reception may have an arrangement with area hotels. For example, a wedding at any of our three West Orange, New Jersey properties – the Manor, Pleasantdale Chateau or the Highlawn Pavilion – will get you top priority at our local Residence Inn.
You may also be able to arrange shuttle transportation with the hotel to and from the wedding, saving your guests wear and tear as well as money – and making it easy for them to celebrate safely. Remember, don’t drink and drive!
Here’s something else you can do when you designate a nearby hotel as “action central” and book a block of rooms: You can put together great welcome packages for guests with snacks, a bottle of wine and information for local things to do in the area. This is a great way for out of town guests to feel special and appreciated!
