8 Hot Ideas to make your Wedding Sizzle!

If you’re one of our southern brides, we know that the summer heat has hit and brought it’s friend, humidity, with them! If you’re a northern bride, you’re still soaking in the last reminisce of spring and hoping that the weather starts to dry and warm up. Most of our couples that choose summer weddings, prefer the summer weather. Now, depending on your location and climate, summer temps may range from the 60s to 100+ degrees. As you plan, you’ll want to keep the weather, sun, and those UV rays in mind. Grab your favorite summer beverage and let’s talk about ways to help your guests say refreshed and enjoy the sparks of your wedding day. 

01: Say hello to the tropics! 

One of our favorite ways to tie in the summer theme or your climate is to create a tropical or summer theme. As you design your theme, think about your location. You can say a quick nod to summer with a coastal or tropical theme. The best part about these themes are they fit a variety of brides. Tropical or coastal can be fun, elegant, sophisticated, modern, or even boho. 

You can keep it simple and utilize color palettes that fit the theme, or you can dive into adding patterns such as monstera or coastal stripes. 

02: Beat the Heat at the Ceremony 

We cannot tell you how many weddings we’ve sat at where we had to wipe the sweat away. A not so glamorous portion of holding your wedding in the summer heat, is that your guests and vendors may glisten a little bit… with sweat. The last thing we want your guests to feel is sweaty and uncomfortable. And often, the ceremony is the time where your guests do the majority of waiting. Guests may need to travel to the venue, they may plan to get there early, or want to ensure they find the venue. Due to many factors, your guests may be sitting in the heat, sun, and UV rays for 30 or more minutes. We love it when our couples opt to have items for their guests to beat the heat. We love, love, love the idea of sun hats, paper fans, program fans, cool misters (yes – you can rent these), cooling fans, parasoles, and iced water while your guests wait for you to make your debut. Ensure that your guests are comfortable and find a way for them to get relief if they need to. 

03: Get Creative with Cuisine!

If you’re from the south, you may love a good crawfish bowl. Or, if you’re from the eastern states, you may enjoy a good clam bake. Whether you choose to have your favorite summer dish at your reception dinner, or have a laid back dining experience at your rehearsal dinner, tying in your favorite summer recipes is sure to make a splash. 

04: Make Splash with a Water Station! 

Let’s face it, summer weddings can be hot. The sun is shining and your guests may be overheating. Adding a simple, but effective, infused water station to your ceremony and reception is a great way to keep your guests cool and hydrated. Your water station is a great cost effective, non-alcoholic, addition to your wedding day. You can add a twist to your water with some fun simple recipes with some of our favs like: strawberries, lemon and basil; blackberries, lemon and rosemary; or pineapple, coconut and lime! 

05: Create a Summer Grazing Table 

One of your favorite trends this upcoming summer is grazing tables! A grazing table is fun and colorful way to incorporate your appetizers during your cocktail hour. Guests can simply pick and choose food at their leisure and graze. Grazing tables can offer a variety of appetizers that will fill up your guests without overindulging. And, when it is hot outside, offering light and bright choices for your guests’ palette is the way to go. Fill our table with delicious cheese, fruit, and veggies 

06: Incorporate Summer Garlands and Fresh Blooms

Summer garlands and fresh seasonal blooms are a fun way to tie in summer. If you’re having your wedding outside, chances are that your location and outdoor scenery will speak for itself. We love the idea of neutral linens and flowers, with pops of color incorporated throughout. Don’t be scared to be a little daring and incorporate summer garlands. These garlands can be incorporated about tables, your ceremony space, or adorn the reception dance floor. A few of our couples have used hanging garlands and blooms and trust us, they are STUNNING. 

07: Simplicity is Key with your Dessert

Dessert hits differently when it is summer. Bring in or ask your caterer for a dessert station such as cold ice cream or gelato. If you’re opting for a traditional cake, talk to your baker about what will work best in the heat (especially if your wedding is outdoors). We’ve seen a few cakes melt and slide in our days, so if you’re opting for buttercream, ensure that you have the facilities to keep it cool and keep it indoors until it’s time for the cake cut. Naked cakes, or cakes with simple designs will keep your cake light and cool and ensure that it lasts through the cake cut. 

08: Welcome Bags

If you’re hosting a destination wedding or even a local event, gifting welcome bags prior to your wedding day is a fun way to greet your guests. You can create guest bags that prep your guests for the big day! Adding some of your favorite essentials, such as your favorite sparkling water, savory protein snack, bug repellent, a fan, etc., is a great way to help your guests prepare for your wedding day. 

Summer weddings are memorable. From the gorgeous scenery, hot summer days, and dancing the night away, there is nothing quite like a summer wedding. Summer weddings also bring the heat, but follow our simple tips to help your guests dance the night away. If you’re looking for more fun ways to incorporate into your wedding planning and budget, but don’t know how to get started, a member of our team would love to help you create and execute a summer fun idea.

---

Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Tacoma Wedding Planner with over 18 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.

7 Ways to Say Yes to Citrus!

One of our favorite parts of wedding planning is helping our couples choose their theme and select all of the details. Your selection of visual elements play a huge role in your wedding decor. And oftentimes, these details can add up to be a large part of your wedding day budget. Using something unexpected and affordable such as citrus fruit can not only add pops of summer color to your wedding palette but is affordable and sustainable. And boy, do we love sustainable wedding swaps! So, look no further, if you’re looking for an affordable way to make a statement with your decor for your summer wedding, you’re going to want to stop and read.

01: Citrus Inspired Color Palettes

When we think of citrus we think of fresh color with a hint of fun. Mixing neutrals with pops of citrus hues for accents is a fun way to add a fresh element to your wedding day. Whether you choose to tie in citrus colors in your linens, candles, or additional tablescape elements, we love the idea of creating a citrus color scheme. And no, if you opt for a citrus color scheme, your wedding doesn’t have to scream Florida oranges. Think about adding different depths and shades of colors to create dimension and really allow your pops of color to shine. 

02: Citrus as Decor 

Summer weddings can incorporate citrus as a fresh twist on your table decorations and centerpieces. Fruit such as oranges, limes, grapefruit, and lemon can be used to create your table centerpieces. If you’re wanting to use the fruit and repurpose it post wedding reception, you can use full pieces of fruit with cut flowers, such as a magnolia bloom, and contrasting greenery as a table garland. You can use cut citrus to line your floral arrangement vases or even your floating candle centerpieces. Whether you choose to use the whole fruit or slices, fresh citrus is budget friendly and adds hints of color throughout your table decor. 

03: Beat the Heat with a Citrus Cocktail

If your wedding is outside and you plan on having your guests dance the night away under the stars, you’ll want to ensure that you have plenty of refreshments for your guests. If you’re hosting a bar, we encourage you to keep your cocktails fresh and even add hints of citrus throughout your cocktails or as a garnish. Your guests will love a fresh sparkling limoncello cocktail, or a classic lime moscow mule. 

04: Citrus-Inspired Escort Cards

Swap out traditional escort cards and opt for something sustainable and fresh, like citrus escort cards. You can use real citrus and add names using cardstock or you can order, or bust out your cricut and create citrus visuals. Not only is this a fun way to incorporate the citrus theme, but it can also be an affordable option.

05: Decorate with Citrus Trees

Although this is a little bit higher up on the budget scale, using citrus trees such as lemon and orange, can be a fun way to brighten up any ceremony or reception space. Citrus trees can be potted in decorative pots that can line your ceremony aisle, add a fresh pop of color to your altar space, or become decorative touches to your reception table centerpiece. The best part of this idea is that you can plant these in your yard or send them with your guests as a parting gift. 

06: Create a Citrus Infused Water Station 

Summer can bring some harsh UV rays and heat for not only your wedding party but your guests. One of our biggest concerns during summer weddings is keeping your guests cool and comfortable. You will want to ensure that your guests stay hydrated with some much needed H20. Adding a water station is essential for any couple opting to hold their nuptials outside. Add in some citrus for a fresh and flavorful twist that won’t bust the budget, but will keep your guests hydrated throughout the day. 

07: Add a Fresh Twist to your Menu 

When it comes to creating a menu with your caterer, for summer weddings, you want to keep your food choices light and fresh. Savory, heavy meals can leave your guests feeling sluggish, especially during the hot heat. There are so many delicious citrus recipes that will not only leave your guests wanting more, but give them a boost of vitamin C. Add a punchy citrus vinaigrette to your salad, or opt for something fresh like ceviche. Be sure to check with your caterer on some fresh summer options to add to your menu. 

Citrus is a versatile touch that you can add to your wedding day. It’s an affordable, sustainable option that can be used in your drinks, food, color scheme, and even your decor! It is the perfect option for our summer brides that are wanting a fresh twist to their wedding day. These fruits are the perfect pop of color to brighten up any space and will leave a cheerful effect throughout your big day. 

---

Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Tacoma Wedding Planner with over 18 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.

Hello, June Brides!

June is almost HERE. Wedding season is in full swing and we are dusting off our emergency kits and clipboards in preparation for our summer couples! In May, we challenged our brides to complete a few tasks for us. Let’s do a quick check in – how did those tasks go? Were you able to schedule your hair and make-up trials? And how did that date night go with your hunny writing your vows and selecting your music? And of course, did you set your beauty regimen for the next couple weeks?

These little tasks were all suggested to help you stay on track and tackle a few tasks, to ensure that you stay according to schedule and stay calm throughout the final weeks of planning. Many of our couples are June, July, and August brides, so as you read our next wedding “to-do” reflect on what you’ve done or what you can refine. So, snag a piece of paper or reach for your calendar and let’s tackle a few more wedding items during the month of June! 

Week 1: 

It is time to review your budget with your fiance and/or wedding planner. As your wedding day approaches, it is important to keep a detailed track of your wedding finances. This week, if your budget is not up to date, spend some time ensuring that receipts have been imputed and you determine final payments. About one month before, your vendors will have final payments due. Reach out to those vendors or coordinate how you will make those final payments. Ensure that your budget is up to date and that there are no outstanding balances. 

Week 2: 

Now is the perfect time to pre-order your thank you cards! If you haven’t checked out our blog on thank you cards, and the etiquette of thank you cards, we highly suggest you do. Many couples say, well we are going to order thank you postcards. We urge you to select a meaningful thank you card that can be personalized for each guest. You can always pre-order thank you cards and then print off a wedding photo to add in the envelope. 

Week 3: 

At this time, you should have received all RSVP’s for your wedding. If you haven’t, ask for your wedding party’s support in reaching out to guests that haven’t responded. Sit down with your wedding coordinator or planner and begin to arrange your guests into their final seating arrangements. We suggest getting a poster board and drawing your table arrangements on the board. Cut or use small post-its to arrange your guests around your table. Keep in mind a few tips when arranging your guests – do not over pack your tables. You want your guests to be comfortable and not overcrowded during the reception. Be thoughtful about where you place your guests. Think about individuals that may spark conversations with one another or may encourage others to get out of their shells. Most importantly, plan the seating chart together. You want to make sure that you both approach the seating arrangement before it is finalized. 

Week 4: 

This is the perfect time to organize all of your wedding related things! We highly suggest that when you pack your items for the ceremony and reception that things are grouped together and labeled. For example, if you have specific items for the altar space, pack these in a clearly labeled box together. Or, if you have specific items for the sweetheart table, pack these away in a box together clearly labeled. Whether your wedding and event team is setting up, or your loved ones are pitching in, having organized and clearly labeled boxes is KEY. You want your supporters to know where everything should go, have access to a labeled layout, and be able to knock out tasks in a timely manner. Most importantly this will decrease your stress on your wedding day and allow you to focus on getting ready. So, spend time this month organizing your wedding and reception items. Everything should be purchased by this time and if it’s not, we highly recommend gathering your final items to pack up. 

We will be honest, these last few weeks prior to your wedding day can often feel like a whirlwind. But, we definitely want your whirlwind to be in your control and cause the least amount of stress. So, print off this to-do list for June and knock these items out. If you’re able to tackle a little bit each week, your wedding day will run smoothly and be a success. 

---

Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Tacoma Wedding Planner with over 18 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.