Cape Cod Celebrations | Blog - CAPE COD CELEBRATIONS

Happy New Year 2020!

1/6/2020

Happy New Year and New Decade!

We love to take a minute after the holidays and festivities settle, to reflect on all the wonderful things we accomplished in 2019. It was such an amazing year for us here at Cape Cod Celebrations and once again we cannot express how grateful we are for the support and love we receive from friends, family and vendors in the industry.

Here is a look back at some of the fabulous things that happened in 2019!

Photo Credit: Organic Photography

30 Tented Events from
Plymouth to Provincetown

Photo Credit: Mercedes Baker Phorography

9 Other Celebrations
Rehearsal Dinners, Big Fake Weddings,
Non-Profit Events, Oh My!

Attended The Knot Gala in
New York City!

Photo Credit: Jenny Maloney Photography

59 Happily Married Couples
from Boston to Provincetown

Photo Credit: Kelly Dillon Photography

17 Featured Weddings,
Planning Advice & More!

Won The Knot
Best of Weddings 2020

To Post or Not to Post...Social Media Tips for Today's Wedding Guest

4/5/2019

We were recently asked to share our thoughts on the "unplugged ceremony" for a recent blog post from our friend Christine of Salty Broad Studios. Talking about social media and the wedding ceremony and getting ready for the first weddings of the season in a couple of months got us thinking it's no better time to talk about social media on the wedding day. Here are tips for maneuvering the "etiquette of digital" when you are a guest at your friend or family member's wedding.

1. Pick Up THE CUES:

Spotted the signage asking for an "upplugged ceremony" and your friends haven't announced their engagement on social media? Maybe sharing pics of their wedding day is not their preference. Or if you see signage with the couples hashtag, and step-by-step instas of their wedding planning, chances are they would love for you to capture and share their wedding weekend.
Pay attention to the clues about how your friends, the couple getting married, want to treat their wedding day.

Photo: First Mate Photo

2. Remember FOMO IS REAL:

Consider guests who may not be able to attend the wedding due to any number of reasons. Some couples are up against room maximums or budget constraints and may not be able to invite everyone they would like to their wedding day. Keeping details like venue and time under wraps, is a good way to help your friends out and be sensitive to those who may not be able to attend.

3. Wedding Planning has it covered:

Keep in mind the wedding couple have most likely been planning for a long time. Many couples put a lot of thought into who will be their photographer and videographer for the day of. The professionals do their best to capture all of the moments the couple wants on the day of as beautifully as possible. Look out for the professional vendors especially during the wedding ceremony, it's sometimes hard to work around your cellular device in the ceremony aisle or grand exit!

Photo: Price Burr Phtography

4. SAVE SOME FOR LATER:

Love live streaming every moment of your day? Maybe take a minute and step away from the device and take in all of the details the wedding couple has created for your guest experience. Also, your friends may want to be the first ones to share live moments of the wedding day or pick and choose which moments from the wedding they want to share. #latergram is a thing and we're all about it!

5. Make it nice:

The lighting is off, the picture is blurry? Keep those images for yourself. Be just as selective as you would be on your wedding day when choosing images to share, the wedding couple will thank you for it!

Still not sure?

If you aren't sure, then don't! On the wedding day may not be the time to be asking the couple if you can share on social so, let it sit if you aren't sure and connect with them post wedding.
We done mean to discourage pics of gorgeous details, selfies of you and the couple or hashtagging your heart out but, we do encourage responsible sharing!

Photo: First Mate Photo

Happy New Year 2019!

1/1/2019

Happy New Year!

We love to take a minute after the clock strikes midnight to reflect on all the amazing we had in 2018. It was such a wonderful year for us here at Cape Cod Celebrations and once again we cannot express how grateful we are for the support and love we receive from friends, family and vendors in the industry.

Here is a look back at some of the amazing things that happened in 2018!

Photo Credit: Ali Rosa Photography

26 Tented Events from
Sagamore Beach to Provincetown

Photo Credit: First Mate Photography

14 Other Celebrations
Bridal Showers, Proposals,
Non-Profit Events, Oh My!

Renovated our new office
at 358 Main!

Photo Credit: KML Photography

54 Happily Married Couples

Photo Credit: Katie Noble Photography

17 Featured Weddings,
Featured Advice & More!

Named to The Knot
Best of Weddings
Hall of Fame!

CAPE COD COUPLES TELL ALL | Annie & Brian | May 28, 2017

5/28/2018

Next up on "Cape Cod Couples Tell All" - meet Annie & Brian! Jamie had the pleasure of working with them in 2017 at Chatham Bars Inn and it was a weekend to remember! Even though it has only been a year (Happy Anniversary!) we thought it would be fun to catch up with them and get their thoughts on their Memorial Day Weekend wedding! Enjoy!

Cape Cod
1. What made you choose Cape Cod for your wedding?
Cape Cod was actually a special place for both of us. Annie’s parents honeymooned on Cape Cod in 1974 and she spent the summer at their house in Harwich for her entire life, and always envisioned getting married on the Cape. Separately, the year before Annie and Brian met, Brian’s parents discovered Chatham Bars Inn and decided it was a great place for the family to come together for Labor Day. Once Annie and Brian started dating, Labor Day on the Cape became a joint family tradition, and, three years later, Brian proposed at Chatham Bars Inn, with both families present, over Labor Day weekend. So, getting married on the Cape was a fairly obvious decision!

2. Why would you tell future brides and grooms to get married on Cape Cod?
The Cape is an “almost” destination wedding. It lets guests be fully focused on the wedding, but it is not too far away from Boston, New York, and other major cities. So it is easy to get to but still feels remote and special. Further, there are so many fun things to do on Cape Cod! We had a blast putting together our website full of recommendations, and sending guests on various trips on the Saturday of our long weekend wedding!

All Photos by Bello Photo

Your Wedding!
1. In a three words, how would you describe your wedding?
Us. Love Yellow

2. Was your wedding exactly what you had envisioned?
It was even better! We really wanted it to feel down to earth and rustic, yet classy and true to the Cape. We also really wanted to take care of our guests and make sure that everyone had an amazing time (particularly because every single person had to travel to be there!).

3. What was your biggest concern in planning your wedding?
Honestly, we were just really worried about making everyone happy. We didn’t want anyone to feel excluded or bad, and we wanted to create an environment that made every single person feel like they were part of the fun. We also had a lot of moving pieces, so we were always worried about everything coming together coherently!

4. What was your favorite part of the planning process? What was the most difficult part?
The most difficult part was definitely the guest list! It is never fun to prioritize some people over others, and we were doing that across our own friends and our families. Our biggest piece of advice is that if there are 1 or 2 people on the line invite them! You will never regret having them, but you might regret not inviting them.
Our favorite part was thinking of all of the personal details – what song we would walk in to, getting customized “Brannie” corn hole, etc. We really liked taking the formula and making it scream “us”.

5. What was your favorite part of the wedding?
It is a tie. The first look was definitely a highlight. It was the only time that day (until we got back to our hotel room at 2 am!) that we got to spend alone together, and it was just really fun to take a pause and laugh about the whole ordeal, eat some ice cream (we did our first look at Schoolhouse Ice Cream in Harwich!), and then to pile my wedding dress into our car and drive to CBI, and show up for the actual thing together as a team. We also just had SO much fun after dinner at our wedding when we totally let loose and danced with our friends and each other and just celebrated!

6. Looking back, would you change anything about your wedding? If so, what and why?
This is super minor, and probably speaks to the fact that there is not really anything we would change. But, if we could change one thing, it is that it was REALLY cold at the (outdoor) ceremony, and we wish we had asked the groomsmen to give the bridesmaids their jackets…both because then the girls would not have been actively shivering the whole time AND because that would have made for some pretty cute pictures!

7. Who was your favorite vendor?
Ummmm, Jamie Bohlin and Cape Cod Celebrations, obviously. I mean, in all seriousness, Jamie and her team made wedding planning a joy. I had so much fun working with Jamie and she made all of the decisions feel very manageable. Working with her and her team was hands down the best decision that I made in the whole process (other than marrying my husband, of course!).

But, if I have to pick a vendor other than Jamie, I think I would say Kate Mann and team at Chatham Bars Inn. Honestly, I was really nervous when we selected the venue that the wedding would feel “cookie cutter” because they do so many, but in the end it felt more personal and true to my husband and me than most other weddings we have been to. We could not have done this without the dedication of Kate, the Chef, and everyone else who listened to our vision and absolutely made it happen.

8. What do you think your guests would say their favorite part of your wedding was?
All of it?? I mean, everything except for the cold ceremony! People really liked our pre-dinner dance set, because it broke up the eating between our long cocktail “hour” and the dinner. They also just loved the band and the dancing in general.

9. How would you title your wedding?
“How many fun things can we squeeze into one weekend?!”

Wedding Planner
1. Why did you decide to hire a wedding planner?
Honestly, Chatham Bars Inn actually required that we have a coordinator because we were doing a tent wedding. I think we would have wanted a planner anyway, just because there were so many moving parts, but I didn’t start seriously looking until I had to.

2. For upcoming brides, why do you think it is important for them to consider hiring a planner?
This was literally the best decision we made. She did many things for me (and I was in grad school so had a lot of time, so I wasn't really offloading to her, she added value beyond that). Most importantly, she:

Thought of random things I may not have (e.g., we had a vintage pair of skis as our "guest book" which was super awesome) and just made sure I didn't miss anything
Recommended vendors, although I ultimately chose them (she weeded from the world to 5ish options, then I would pick from there)
Managed the various vendors for me, particularly in making sure that we had everything we needed, getting the prices as reasonable as possible, and, mission critically, just making sure everything was ready to go in that two week before period and managing EVERYTHING day/weekend of
Was an overall thought partner...told me when I was being silly and when I wasn't, helped me prioritize things in terms of budget, etc. Also, frankly, helped me think through some of the weird family things that came up and was a general person who knew the industry and what I was experiencing and I could talk to whenever.
Orchestrated all of the day of stuff-- literally, one of our buses got in an accident and we NEVER HEARD ABOUT IT. She just took care of everything. YOu DO NOT WANT TO BE THINKING ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE DAY BEFORE OR OF YOUR WEDDING. TRUST ME. Even if you think you are that chill cool got it together couple, just trust me, weddings bring out the crazy in you and everyone you know. It is just better if you aren't worried about whether the hors d'oeuvres are going out on time when you are trying to manage pictures with grandma and a nutty photographer. Also, you don't want to have to move flowers from one place to another or make sure the ceremony programs are in place or ANY of that stuff. You just want to do you that day.

3. What was it like working with a planner? What was your overall experience like?
Jamie is so down to earth and straight forward that working with her was incredibly easy! My experience felt like Jamie gave me a high level “work plan” (as in, we should be thinking about flowers, photographer, and a band this month), I gave her some thoughts about my vision for those things, she came back with some options, and I overanalyzed each option and made a decision. She let me be controlling and picky while making sure I checked all of the boxes and helping me find vendors and ideas that really fit with my vision. It just made me feel like no balls would be dropped, but I could still plug in as much (or as little) as I wanted to.

4. Why would you recommend Cape Cod Celebrations over other companies?
I can’t imagine a better thought partner than Jamie – she is smart, funny, thoughtful, and totally “gets it” when you explain your vision. Also, she knows EVERYONE!!! She used to work at Chatham Bars Inn, so she easily navigated working with them, and she clearly has fantastic relationships with all of the other vendors. I can’t tell you how many vendors absolutely raved about Jamie in side conversations – I just think that by working with her you get a leg up internally because she is amazing AND you get a leg up externally because all of the other vendors love her and will work with her to create your vision.

Wedding Advice
1. What advice would you give other brides about planning a wedding?

Give your husband tasks! With timelines! Don’t do it all yourself, because planning together is actually really fun and romantic.
Stop worrying about other people! It is your day! Try not to offend anyone, and then make the day / weekend about you guys.
Pick the 3 things you care about the most and then over-invest in those things, and don’t get worked up about the others. For me, I really cared about the band, so I was neurotic about selecting the band and sending them every song I liked and didn’t like, etc. I did NOT care about flowers, so I forced myself to be more relaxed about those and not engage as much except for the high level vision.

2. What was most helpful to you in the planning process?
Jamie and her timeline. I had my own timeline, but she knew when things had to get done in order to be right for the wedding, so made sure that we didn’t miss anything along the way.

How’s married life!?
Amazing! In many ways, very similar, but in many ways much more chill and familial. We have a puppy now – who is AMAZING – and learning about each other as “parents” has been a whole new adventure! We love being a pseudo little family and finally just stepping back and saying, hey, if all we want to do on Friday night is cuddle our puppy and watch Star Wars, let’s just do that!

View All of the fabulous photos of
Annie & Brian's Wedding Here!

To Tent or Not to Tent Your Wedding on Cape Cod

6/16/2015

One of the best things about planning a wedding is putting together an event that really reflects you and your soon-to-be other half! A tented wedding can be the perfect way to show off your style and tailor the details of your big day to you and your beau. You may have your childhood home, the place you first met, or the place you used to summer vacation that stays with you both and you cannot think of another place that would have all the pieces you love and mean so much to you both...so, let’s have a tented wedding!! We have put together a few tips to making sure that tent in the backyard is really the way to go.

1. Space-
Creating a venue for your guests can be a lot of fun and comfort is key. The bigger your guest list, the more space you will need. Don’t stop at just square footage but also consider the geography of your space. Is it flat? What’s underground? A tenting company can come to your site and give you an idea of what can be safely be done at your location.

2. Power-
Lights, band or DJ, cooking, restrooms, all of these items require a power source. If there is not power near your venue, generators are available through most tent companies but keep your budget in mind. Many weddings can be done on the power from a home or structure on property but, if it’s an older home or you have a 10 piece band, it may not be sufficient.

3. Restrooms-
Your wedding is a 5 or 6 hour event with the bar open and drinks flowing. If there is a house on site, it may be equipped for your event. Many times, you will have to bring facilities in. We usually recommend portable bathrooms for parties over 50 people. Anyone remember, Meet the Parents?

4. Police-
Many towns and villages (on Cape Cod especially) have strict sound ordinances. Give your local police station a call and inquire about their sounds rules. Better to know that to get a visit on your wedding day! If you are near the water, you may also want to consider the town across the water from you. Sounds travels!

5. Neighbors-
No matter the time of day, those who live near you can also bring a halt to your event. Before you get too far into your wedding plans, check in with your neighbor. They’ll appreciate that you considered them!
6. Parking-
Some of the most beautiful locations are down tight roads or on highly populated streets. Whether you shuttle from a nearby location, or provide a valet, keep in mind roads should remain clear.

7. Weather-
Whether you are having all of the parts of your wedding in the same location or just cocktail & reception, weather is a factor. Have a Plan B & sometimes even a Plan C for where your guests will go if it’s raining or windy. And rain isn’t the only things to consider, the heat and sun can affect your guests as well.

8. General Impact-
If you are using your neighbor’s or even a rental home’s manicured lawn, keep in mind there are tables, chairs, dance floor & tent being built on those beautiful grounds. They can have an impact. Always make sure the owners of your site understand the scope of your event.

9. Budget-
Tented weddings can allow for incredible freedom in your wedding planning. You can get creative and really customize your wedding to your vision. While there may be ways to save by purchasing your own alcohol and creating your decor, etc., remember you are creating your venue from scratch. The cost can add up quickly if you haven’t created a budget for yourself.

10. Insurance-
A private, tented location can be very intimate and comfortable. You and your guests create some amazing memories in this relaxed, outdoor atmosphere. Lots of pieces go into making a great tented wedding, make sure you're covered for the unforeseen. Peace of mind is worth it!

-written by our Senior Planner Stephanie

Let's talk about getting married!

4/15/2015

You are newly engaged! You have a new accessory that you cannot stop staring at. You’ve told your family, friends, Facebook… you are on cloud nine! This is one of the most exciting times of your life. You are taking the next steps with that person who’s the one. Now what’s on your checklist? First step, picking a date, booking your venue, then booking your wedding planner :)

Full steam ahead with wedding planning! It’s so easy to get lost in the whirlwind of the amazing experience of being engaged and planning what some consider the best day of their lives. We want it to be the best day of your lives but, take a beat. Take a breath. Remember that marriage is a commitment for hopefully the rest of your lives together.
While more and more weddings are non-traditional (not in a church), it’s easy to get swept up in the planning and skip a step that can solidify WHY you are getting married in the first place. Premarital counseling may seem like a thing of the past for many, but you are planning a huge life event, and we recommend at least having a conversation with your fiance about life and where it will take you. These questions may help you ease into the conversation...

What does being married mean to us?
Where are we going to live?
Where do we spend holidays? Special Events?
Are we having kids? How many? Who’s caring for them?
Are we going to practice a religion or spirituality? Are we okay with having more than one religion?
Career? Am I happy where I am or am I going to make a change?
Finances? Prenuptial agreement? Savings?
What do you want for your self 5, 10, 20 years down the line?
What do we consider unfaithfulness?
How do we handle arguments?

Take a weekend... Take a trip together... Have the conversation… Then back to the world of planning… We’ll see you there!

- written by our Senior Planner Stephanie

Cape Cod Wedding - The First Dance

3/11/2015

Some couples look forward to it, and some couples just want it to be over, but the first dance is a really beautiful moment for the couple and for the guests at any wedding. When it comes to planning your first dance we have a couple of recommendations to get it done and get it done right, even if you are deathly afraid of dancing in front of a crowd!

Timing
We normally recommend that the first dance is done right after cocktail hour once guests are seating in the tent. If you choose to do introductions of your bridal party or just the bride and groom, right after that announcement is the perfect time to share your dance with everyone and then enjoy your dinner. Some couples choose to save the first dance for after dinner, which is also acceptable.

Length
Just because your first dance song is six minutes long doesn’t mean that the band or DJ has to play the whole song for you. Talk with your band and/or DJ and let them know how long you want the song to be and when a good time would be to fade it out. If you do want to dance to the whole song, think about inviting your bridal party or other guests to the dance floor half way through the song so that you don’t lose everyone’s attention.

Song Selection
When you start thinking about your first dance song, compile a list of songs that remind you of each other or songs that have really played a role in your relationship. Then sit down and play all of the songs you came up with and do a “First Dance Test”. If you can’t really dance to the song then it makes it easier to take that one off the list and move on to another one. Now, not all dance songs have to be slow songs! I have seen many couples dance to songs that are more upbeat like Hall and Oates “You Make My Dreams Come True”.

Dance Lessons
While I think dance lessons are a great idea for couples to get down the basics for their first dance, I am not an advocate for a choreographed first dance. The main reason for this is that when you are sharing your first dance with your new spouse, you want to be focusing on him/her and the moment you are in, instead of thinking about the dance steps and what one you may forget. If you want to do a fun, choreographed song, save it for later in the night and have it be a surprise with less pressure!

Cape Cod Wedding Favors

2/27/2015

A lot of my clients get hung up on favor ideas, so I thought I would share with you some ideas that I typically share with my clients. Now there are a ton more ideas out there that you can definitely consider, but the following suggestions are ones that I know have gone over well at weddings.
First, some basic favor requirements.

The favor should be able to fit in a small purse. Do not make your guests carry out large favors!
I recommend that the favor be located at the table, in front of each guest so that they see it and do not forget to take it with them
That being said, try to do one favor per person, not per couple
Typical price range for favors is $3-$5

Make it Edible
Edible favors are my person favorite. There are lots of ideas that you can do here locally or from your home town. We have done a lot of chocolates from the Chatham Candy Manor or other local candy shops and we have also seen some really unique edible ideas from our client’s home town like maple syrup and hot sauce! Another fun and popular edible idea is a candy station! Let your guests choose from multiple candies - whether they are your favorites or just fit your color scheme, guests love filling their bags with candy! With these edible options, your guests will either eat it there that night or will be so happy when they get home to snack on it before bed!

Photo Credit: GH Kim Photography

Keep Their Beer Cold!
Koozies are also another very popular favor. You can find all sorts of clever sayings on etsy or pinterest like - “To have and to hold and to keep your beer cold” or “Let Love Brew”. If you’re not big beer drinkers or are going to be serving beers in pint glasses then I probably would not recommend this. Typically these are handed out at the bar with beers and are also in a basket for guests to take them.

Photo Credit: Lara Kimmerer

Double as the Escort Card
One great way to ensure your guests get their favor is to attach it to their escort card! In order to find where they are seated they will have to pick up their name with their favor attached. We have see these attached to compasses, starfish, jars of cape cod bath salts, keys and more!

Photo Credit: emilie inc.

Donate
If a favor really isn’t your thing, then consider doing a donation of some sort to a cause that means a lot to you and your fiancee. You may have had a friend or relative pass who you would like to honor with a donation. I recommend putting this information on the menu or thank you card at the tables so that your guests know you made this donation on their behalf. Another cool donation type favor I have seen was the replacement of their guest’s carbon footprint to get to their wedding, which was a really unique idea and also helps the planet!

Eloping on Cape Cod

1/30/2015

If you are not the type of couple that is looking to have a huge wedding ceremony and celebration, but you love the look and feel of getting married on the beach, then Cape Cod can be the perfect place for your elopement!

I have worked with a handful of clients throughout the years who have wanted to have a smaller private ceremony with just the bride and groom and sometimes with just immediate family and there are a lot of perfect locations on Cape Cod to do such a thing.
Ceremony
The ceremony is typically held on a beach on Cape Cod and there are so many to choose from! For a small elopement for 2-10ppl I would say that a permit is really not required for a beach ceremony, especially if you are not using chairs or any decorations. Other places we have seen elopement ceremonies are:

By the fireplace in Chatham Bars Inn’s South Lounge with a private dinner to follow in their restaurant STARS
In the backyard of a private home or rental property with a chef cooking a private meal after the ceremony
Boardwalk in Sandwich or Yarmouth Port

Dinner
The clients that we have worked with in the past are usually looking for very nice, private dinner after they get married. We recommend places all over the Cape, but here are some of our favorites for a nice dinner to celebrate together:

Vendors
Most elopments do not need to hire many vendors for their ceremony, but most consider hiring the following vendors so that they can enjoy the day and capture beautiful memories.

Photographer - depending on the day of the week and time of day, most photographers will do an elopement package for you. Just try to avoid Saturdays in the summer!
Florist - some of our clients wanted to carry a bouquet and have the groom wear a boutonniere so we recommended florists that could accommodate a small order.
Wedding Planner - To find the most special locations on the Cape and to easily find vendors to help you, hiring a wedding planner will making the planning process easier and much less stressful!
Hair & Makeup - Even though it is a small event, what girl doesn’t like getting dolled up?!

Wedding Formalities - Cake Cut, Parent Dances, Toasts, and More!

1/23/2015

Photo Credit: Alanna Scully Photography

So I am a firm believer that every wedding is unique in its own way and that all couples can really make the day reflect their personalities, but there are certain formalities that every planner, venue manager or catering manager will ask about. It doesn’t mean that you have to include it in your day, but these are the most typical things that we see at events and we won’t judge you if you want to remove it from your day or even add something else in that is more special to you and your family!

Introductions
Once the guests have been seated there is usually some sort of formal introduction. This can be the entire bridal party including parents and grandparents, it could be just the bridal party or could even be just the bride and groom. If you prefer not to be introduced that is fine too! If you do choose to have an introduction, you will need to know how you would like to be introduced - Mr. & Mrs., by your first names, by your nicknames, whatever you choose! Your band or DJ will be in touch with you about the specifics, have fun with it!

First Dance
After the introductions is typically when the bride and groom will have their first dance. You may have taken dance lessons and this is your time to show off your moves, or you may hate dancing and will ask your bridal party and/or other couples to join you halfway through. Whatever makes you comfortable!

Toasts
There are many toasts that can take place on the wedding day from the host giving a welcome toast, to the maid of honor and/or best man and even the couple. You will need to discuss with your family who would like to toast and when. Sometimes it is more appropriate for certain family members to toast at the rehearsal dinner instead of the actual wedding day. On the day itself I recommend keeping it to 4 toasts or less - that would include a welcome toast (typically given by the father of the bride), the maid of honor toast, the best man toast and a thank you toast from the couple.

Cake Cut
As dinner is winding down the couple will typically cut the cake before the party really gets started. This can be announced with a song and everyone’s attention on you or it can be what I call “stealth” where just the parents and the photographer/videographer are invited over to witness it. Obviously others will see it happen as well, but it will not be made a spectacle.

Parent Dances
A great way to open up the dance floor after dinner is with the parent dances. This is where the bride will dance with her dad and the groom will dance with his mom. We do see a lot where just the bride will dance with her dad or where they will share one parent dance together. Another fun idea is to invite other father/daughter or mother/son pairs that are there that night to join halfway through the dance
.
Bouquet or Garter Toss
Although the bouquet toss and garter toss are not seen too much at weddings anymore I still wanted to include it. This is totally up to you and is usually based on your crowd. Do not do a bouquet toss if only 2 people there are single! Maybe consider giving your bouquet to the couple there that has been married the longest or present it to a grandmother or your mother.