 When planning your wedding there are many different vendors you have to research, talk to and book - a florist being one of them. Florists usually range from a more affordable option such as a supermarket to a higher end professional florist and everything in between. As there are so many ways to research and find your florist - there are also a number of different factors to consider when choosing your florist. Check out our list below of topics to consider when finding your florist on Cape Cod.
Budget Your budget should be considered when you are looking into any of your vendors, but when finding your florist it is always a good idea to have a number in mind of what you expect to spend on your flowers. If you present that number to your florist ahead of time it can be easier for them to recommend certain flowers, bouquets and centerpieces that would fit in your price range. Past Weddings Most florists will have hundreds of photos they can show you of past weddings they have done. Really look through their website and social media accounts to see that they have done pieces that fit your vision. If you are looking to go a bit outside the box, be sure you see photos in their portfolio that are fun and different, which shows you that they can really accept any challenge and are not always working with roses and hydrangeas! Work with Your Vision As I mentioned briefly above, you want to make sure that the florist you choose is willing to work with you on your vision and can already ensure you that what you are picturing in your head will be your final product. Ask if they can show you something similar to what you want to do - either in photos or with flowers they may have on hand. Personality When booking any vendor for your wedding, be sure that you enjoy their personality. You will be in contact with them many times throughout the whole process so you want to make sure you enjoy having conversations with them! You also want to make sure you feel that they are invested in you and that you can trust them to do their job. Also be sure they show confidence that they can get the job done! Know Flowers and Alternatives When you start to look for your flowers on pinterest or instagram and on other wedding websites, you may find yourself in love with tulips, but with a September wedding it may not work out. Be sure that when you meet with a florist and you tell them what flowers you are envisioning that they can tell you if they will be in season on your wedding date. And if not, they should be able to tell you alternatives for those flowers that would still be beautiful, but would save you money! You usually can get most any flowers at any time of year, but it depends on if they can get the flowers locally or if they have to shop them in from around the world! Read more on Inspired by This: 10 Questions to Ask Your Florist Before Signing on the Dotted Line
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Happy New Year! 2016 is here and we can't even believe it! 2015 was an amazing year for us here at Cape Cod Celebrations and once again I cannot express how grateful I am for the support and love I get from friends, family and vendors in the industry. Here is a look back at some of the amazing things that happened in 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! 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.
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!  Photo Credit: Channing Johnson Who? What? Where? When? Always big questions come up when figuring out who will toast the happy couple the weekend of their wedding. Here are some key ideas to help scheduling your toasting throughout your wedding festivities. Who? Father of the Bride (Mother of the Bride could also do this with the FOB) What? Usually toasts the couple and thanks everyone for coming to celebrate Where? Typically this happens the night of the wedding When? I like to recommend this toast right after everyone has taken their seats (after introductions and maybe even after the first dance). It typically is the first toast of the night Who? Best Man What? Usually toasts primarily to the Groom and their relationship, but brings in great stories about how the couple met and tries not to embarrass anyone….too much. Where? The night of the wedding. When? Can be after the Father of the Bride toast before dinner, or after dinner is complete. Who? Maid of Honor What? Usually toasts primarily to the Bride and their relationship, brings in great stories about hour the couple met. Usually less embarrassing and more sweet. Where? The night of the wedding, unless the MOH would rather toast at the rehearsal dinner When? After the Best Man toast. Who? The Happy Couple What? Usually thank their parents, the bridal party and everyone for coming and sometimes they share words about each other. Where? This is usually at both the rehearsal dinner and the night of the wedding. The rehearsal dinner is to really thank family and bridal party with gifts and the wedding is to thank the guests for coming. When? At the rehearsal dinner or wedding it is typically after dinner has completed. Who? Parents of the Groom What? Usually toasts the couple and the parents of the bride for hosting the next day Where? At the rehearsal dinner if they are hosting When? Before dinner is served Who? Other Random Toasters What? Typically the other random toasts are more like roasts Where? At the rehearsal dinner. It is always good to let others toast you at the rehearsal dinner so that your wedding night is not full of tons of people talking which can take away from precious dance time. When? After all of the toasting by the couple has completed.  Photo Credit: Hike Photography Winter
A beautiful, quiet time on Cape Cod and a great way to save a lot of money! Venues and vendors do deep discounts in the winter for weddings because they hardly exist! So, if you love snow and the cold, and want to save a buck, choose winter for your wedding on Cape Cod. Spring Spring on Cape Cod is a mix of weather - could snow, could rain, could be 70 and sunny. Spring is tricky on Cape Cod, but that does not stop anyone from getting married that time of year! Early spring - March and April - you can find deals at venues as well as at hotels for your guests. Once you hit Memorial Day, rates start to go up and the Cape starts to get rather busy. June is one of the busiest months on Cape for weddings, so if you have your heart set on June, book early! Summer This is the busiest season on Cape Cod due to the weather of course! Beach days galore! Summer is a beautiful time to get married on the Cape, just take note that July & August have the highest rates of the year for hotels and venues and can also have the most traffic. So be prepared and tell your guests and vendors ahead of time about the options they have available to them. September is also considered summer and is also one of the most popular months on the Cape for weddings, so book early! Fall My personal favorite, fall is a beautiful time on the Cape. You can still get a 70 degree day even in October sometimes! Granted it is hurricane season, and one year we did have snow in October, but I would have to say that October is my favorite month for weddings on the Cape. And even November and early December can be beautiful for a fall themed wedding. I highly recommend choosing a venue that does not require a tent though, less stress that time of year due to the possible weather scenarios.  One of my amazing couples from Bourne Farm this year! I am feeling really sappy today and have been reminiscing about all of the years I have been working with amazing couples, their family and friends, and some fabulous vendors and just had to pause to write this post and say THANK YOU. I would not be where I am today, coming up on my 7th Anniversary in September, without all of you. Your kind words that you share about my team and me on wedding websites, to your friends, to others wanting to get married on beautiful Cape Cod are just unreal and I am so gracious for every last word.
And to my awesome team - Ashley, Mandee and Marni - Cape Cod Celebrations would definitely not have grown to where it is today without you. You are all amazing people and your continued support does not go unnoticed. To my wonderful husband and son who deal with my insane schedule every year - Thank you :) Your unconditional love and support makes me who I am and allows me to do what I love. I cannot wait to work with all of our couples this year, one down and a lot more to go! We will be at some beautiful locations with some really different and new concepts which we cannot wait to share with all of you! And don't forget the NotWedding this November! Another amazing opportunity I cannot believe I get to bring to life - Thanks Callie! Thank you so much.  In the seven plus years I have been in the wedding industry planning events for brides from all over the world, I came to realize why every wedding blog says that one of the first things to do after you get engaged is hire a planner. In my job I deal with women of all different personalities and backgrounds - some from different countries with different traditions, some who have lived on the Cape all of their lives and some who have never even been to a wedding before! One thing that they all had in common was that every single one of them, no matter what their background, personality or budget, deserved having a planner. So at Cape Cod Celebrations our motto has become: "Every Bride Deserves a Planner" And by having this in the back of our minds at all times, we were able to create many different packages and pricing options to suit all budgets and needs. We don't want brides to say no to our services because they can't afford them. Now that does not mean we will donate our services to every bride with a low budget, but what it means is that we know life is real, budgets are real and that our services are usually in addition to your overall budget. That is why we always work hard to find you savings in other places - whether that be by using our discounts at rental companies, helping you create DIY projects or even just the savings of time by having all of your answers at your finger tips. So if you are a Cape Cod Bride and you are feeling stressed or just want to be sure that the planning is out of your hands the week of the wedding, call us and we can talk you through your options and create a package that will suit your needs and your budget.  Super excited to announce that we have won a 2013 Bride's Choice Award from WeddingWire.com! This would not have been possible without my fabulous brides and grooms, and even mothers-of-the brides, who took the time to review Cape Cod Celebrations on WeddingWire! A HUGE thank you to everyone who we worked with over the past 5 years - and here is to another year of beautiful weddings and super awesome couples!
 So you have made the easy decision - you want to get married on Cape Cod because it is your most favorite place in the world and you want to share it with all of your closest friends and family. Now when your guests make the trip to come and share in your celebration, it is a great idea to also share with them some of your favorite things to do while on Cape. From visiting the islands andProvincetown, to mini-golf and the Wellfleet Drive-In, there are so many unique things to do here that make the Cape that much more special to you. We have compiled a list of some of our favorite things to do on Cape Cod, but we are sure that there are many things that you have been doing or places you have been going for years either visiting here in the summers or living here all of your life. We recommend sharing your list with your guests either on your wedding website or in your welcome bags as guests arrive to the Cape.
Beaches I know this is the obvious one, but take it one step further and let them know about your favorite beach to visit and why. Tell them about the best spot to sit, the secret parking spots or the best beach for sunset. Favorite Restaurants The Cape has hundreds of great restaurants, and I am sure there are a couple in your favorite Cape town that you have to visit each time you come. Most of your guests will be making a weekend out of your wedding and may not be coming to a rehearsal dinner on Friday or may need a good place to grab a sandwich before your ceremony. Give them a list of the best places to go and recommendations - list the bride and groom’s favorite dishes, let them know if a reservation is needed or if they should call ahead for pick up. Whale Watching The Cape is known for its whale watches so be sure to include information on where they can go and how long it takes to get to each location. Most of the whale watching cruises require reservations, but also offer coupons. If you can, include the coupon on your website or in their welcome bag. The Islands If your guests are making a vacation out of your Cape Cod wedding, they should definitely spend a day on either Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard. Ferries are available to Nantucket from Harwich and Hyannis and to Martha’s Vineyard from Hyannis and Woods Hole. Flights are available to Nantucket as well from Hyannis every hour. I am partial to Nantucket, but both are such unique locations and a great place to explore in a days time. Ice Cream It goes without saying that Cape Cod has some wonderful homemade ice cream shops. Many award winning! If you are not having an ice cream station at your wedding, then be sure that you let your guests know of the best place(s) in town to grab a scoop earlier in the week. My personal favorites are Cape Cod Creamery in South Yarmouth and Sundae School in Harwich & Dennis. Main Streets & Shopping Many towns on Cape Cod are known for their Main Streets and the great shopping, restaurants and things to do. If most of your guests are staying walking distance from a downtown area, or a quick drive, it is great to give your guests directions on how to get there and the best places in town to shop. Even include a Main Street map if available and circle your favorite locations to shop, eat and play. Now every town on Cape Cod and everyone’s experience on Cape Cod are different, so your list may be bigger, shorter or more personalized, but if your list does not include at least one of the above I would be surprised! Just remember, most of your guests have never been to the Cape and would love the inside scoop on what to do. Providing this information ahead of time, so they are not trying to find you while you are trying to finalize wedding plans, is the best way to do it! |
Plan. Relax. Enjoy.At Cape Cod Celebrations, your vision is our brand. Learn more about how we can help you pull together your beautiful Cape Cod Wedding. Archives
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