Tips for a Successful Wedding at Home

If this isn’t your first wedding, or your budget is on the outs, you may be thinking that having your wedding at home is your only option. If you’ve explored other possibilities, and a home wedding is what you want, we have some tips to follow to ensure HOME WEDDING SUCCESS!

Take it from Melannie & Ricardo who recently married on August 8th (8-8-08)… home weddings can be fun, as long as certain guidelines are met:

Tip #1- Unless your home looks like it was taken out of “Beverly Hills 90210”, keep your guest list small and simple. Close family members and those that would have been bridesmaids/groomsmen only. Trying to squeeze hundreds of people into a typical size home isn’t realistic and you’ll end up blowing your budget by having to move things out or renting a tent. For Melannie & Ricardo, they stuck to the essentials and invited the 42 people that meant most to them. Parents, siblings, close relatives, and a handful of friends.


Tip #2 – Don’t scrimp on the linens, table rentals, and florals. Just because your wedding is at home, doesn’t mean it has to include plastic silverware, plates, Costco flowers, and people sitting on furniture all around the house. Use an area of your home to be a blank canvas and build the couture wedding of your dreams!

For Melannie, we used her parents’ pool patio as her wedding ballroom with one long banquet table and several hi-top tables for cocktail mingling. We accented the color of her non-white fuchsia dress (Who says the bride has to wear white anyway?!) with fuchsia napkins, chair ties, and place cards and tied this together with Apple Green bengaline table linens and chair pads.

We brought in more of her favorite bright summer colors with mango oranges in her centerpieces, along with more fuchsia, apple green, and white flowers.

Also remember, just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you have to resort to your PC’s printer. For Melannie & Ricardo, we enlisted the work of Sarah Hanna, artist and calligrapher to the stars to finish off her intimate look with silver inked fuchsia place cards.

Tip #3- If you’re trying to save on budget, try to have your wedding on an off-day and not a Saturday evening. You vendors are more likely to cut you great deals to book business on an “off-day” because that’s just extra money in the bank for them. Most vendors would rather be working than sitting at home, so be bold like Melannie and Ricardo and say “I do” on a Friday. Don’t worry your guests will still be there! Remember, a small guest list means that these people are the most important to you, and they won’t miss you becoming a Mrs.! …P.S.- We hear that 9-9-09 is on a Wednesday next year.

Tip #4 – Don’t try to cook a meal or bartend yourself. There are plenty of great companies out there that can come in and provide a lovely meal and can keep the party going at the bar. By hiring a professional catering company, you will keep down your own stress, and your wedding will have a much more professional, and seamless timeline.

Caterers Tony & Onofere and their masterpiece Paella!

Tip #5- If you ask Melannie and her family they’ll reply, “Hire a wedding planner!” With all the money you save on location rental fees, consider putting this towards a wedding planner to help with all the details. Having a wedding at home can be tricky; especially when you’re the only person that understands the location. Enlisting help of a professional coordinator will eliminate wedding day phone calls asking where you want tables set up, and annoying questions about deliveries and time schedules. Plus, like Melannie, you may find a way to squeeze space out of places that you never thought possible.

Read all about it!

Amongst all the hustle and bustle of wedding planning and room designs, we find some time (very little!) to write articles about the ins and outs of weddings. Just recently, an article we wrote, Time Check, has been published in Central Florida Bride. Make sure to pick up a copy of this fab magazine or click HERE to read the article online as it is the featured article on the magazine's website.

Also as a BoNuS......the wedding of one of our favorite couples, Leeya and Jeff, has been featured in this edition as well! Check it out!!!!!!!!!!!

An inside look...

Be swept off your feet as you watch Erika & Liam say I do... CVP did an amazing job of capturing the allure of this gorgeous couple!

Grab a box of tissues and watch:
http://www.cvpexperience.com/features/erica_liam.htm

Details, Details, Details!

When the Brits invaded this 4th of July holiday, a new type of bold wedding emerged that Americans had never seen before. The wedding of native New Yorker, Erika Quinones, to British raised soccer phenom, Liam Rosenior, took Central Florida by storm. During the summer of 2007, Your Fantasy Affair began working with Erika on a wedding design that would knock her guests’ socks off. We dared her to be BOLD. We dared her to show her guests an event that had never been done before, and one they would not be likely to see again. How did we pull it off?? Attention to DETAIL and thinking out of the box.

How many ballroom weddings have you been to that consist of a room filled with square and/or round tables with some ivory linens and a simple arrangement of roses? We encouraged Erika to get creative, so instead of circles and squares we went to the next dimension – OCTAGONS! Tables, crystal risers, and the dance floor were all shaped as octagons, with crystals dripping from everything we could keep held down. Seen columns before in a ballroom? Sure you have… Now how about this: Ever seen a column of open air Plexiglas risers, dripping crystals, and exotic lush florals? Ah hah! We got you! Your Fantasy Affair and the team from Raining Roses worked hard to implement designs that would leave guests talking for decades (not years) to come.

Yearning for more details? How about the new ice chiavari chairs… some covered in white shimmer sheer and white payettes, and the others with custom tied turquoise ribbon and crystals? Half our tables had silver iced branches with dripping candles; the other half had a bold modern arrangement of solid gerbera daisies and hydrangea.

How did the Ritz-Carlton play to Erika’s need to be different? They implemented two completely separate menus of course. One menu of decadent poached lobster tail and filet mignon for our guests from the UK, and another Latin fare of plantain encrusted Chilean seabass and jerk chicken for Erika’s family of Puerto Rican descendants. “Let them eat cake?” Nah… the Ritz added zest to their service by a full fondue station with homemade marshmallows, fruits, and Erika’s favorite macaroons.

Of course we didn’t skip the tradition of a wedding cake. We do have SOME wedding standards… but did Erika and Liam have your everyday white cake with accenting florals? I think you know the answer. Bake Me a Cake created a masterpiece confection of layer upon layer of uniquely custom designs that towered over the couple. Raining Roses finished this off with a custom cake canopy of Asian rice paper and suspended crystals from the canopy center.

How did we spice up the ceremony? Raining roses created custom Plexiglas risers with engraved monograms and led lit candles.

Bands of hydrangea and gerbera daisies were hung from the beautiful Ritz-Carlton wedding gazebo, along with tied back sheets of shimmer sheer fabric. Forget “Here Comes the Bride,” Erika entered her ceremony to a quartet playing the famed Italian ballad, “Con Te Partiro.”

How do you change entertainment from your regular DJ or band? How about an illusionist that performed mind boggling tricks and fantasies while guests enjoyed cocktails, fireworks, and an outdoor swanky lounge?

Erika and Liam also loved the Asian themed clubs from the U.K. so an after-party was created in this image with separate grooves and beats to keep guests guessing what was to come next. Famed disc jockey extraordinaire, DJ Infrared, turned the Ritz-Carlton Tuscany ballroom into a swanky lounge straight from the London underground.

All of these details and more created the “It Factor” that makes Your Fantasy Affair one of the top design and coordination companies in the country. However, what wowed guests most were the dazzling bride and her doting new husband. The love of Erika and Liam filled not only the enormous Ritz-Carlton property, but spilt all over Central Florida. When all is said in done, Erika & Liam’s guests will never forget the way Liam’s eyes filled with tears as he snuck peaks at Erika as she entered the ceremony; how her eyes filled with emotion as they said, “I do;” and the pure moment of joy when the couple enjoyed that first kiss in front of God as man and wife.

Your Fantasy Affair has to thank the amazing vendors we worked with that made this event possible:
-The Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes
-Raining Roses
-Damon Tucci Photography
-Bake Me A Cake
-Kids Nite Out
-Room Service Rentals
-Quest Drape
-American Audiovisual
-Dragonfly Custom Design
-CVP Videography
-BBJ Linen
-Uniquely United’s Reverend Randall Miller
-Famed illusionist, Guy Bavli
-Panache Rentals
-Dale Dees Hair & Make-Up Design
-DJ Carl
-DJ Infrared
-Absolutely Fitting of Winter Park

-The Collection
-Beautiful Music

**Keep an eye out for a feature on Erika & Liam’s wedding in the upcoming issue of top magazine “Desination I Do” **

Save Your Budget

The situation with the U.S. market economy is bad; and at the moment the light at the end of the tunnel is still beyond reach. Lucky for the wedding world that whether the market is good or bad, people keep getting married! However, as the housing and stock markets continue to plunge, we’ve seen a few squeezes on our bride’s budget. As planners, I think the most important thing that needs to be conveyed to brides and hosts is not to panic. Just because your budget has been diminished a bit, doesn’t mean that you can’t have a fabulous wedding and trick guests into thinking you spent twice the amount. Here’s a few tips:

1 – “BIGGER ISN’T ALWAYS BETTER.” This little saying applies to weddings in more ways than one.
First off, keep in mind that with each person invited/attending your budget will significantly rise. So let’s use an example of a bride that originally planned to spend $35K on her wedding, but because her fiancé and dad had some stock market troubles, they think it better to not spend more than $25,000. For a total budget of $25K, you will expect to spend about $12,500 on the reception. Most of this will go towards catering. The difference of 10 people at a wedding is the difference of: 10 meals with beverages (typically $100 per person for a country club wedding or nicely catered outdoor affair), a full table of rentals (chiavari chairs for 10 ≈ $90; chargers, flatware, and place settings for 10 ≈ $100; linens: table cloth, napkins, and chair pads ≈ $90 = $280), and centerpieces ($75 to $150+). When the bride, groom, and family can eliminate 10 people from their guest list, the savings can be around $1400 or possibly more. At Your Fantasy Affair, we’re seeing more and more small lavish affairs for 100 guests, as brides are becoming less willing to compromise on their beautiful designs to accommodate Dad’s business clients. With the U.S. market issues facing all Americans, occasional friends and acquaintances are more likely to understand why they missed the invitation due to wedding budget constraints.

“Bigger isn’t always better” with your arrangements as well! Yes, we’d all love to have lush florals that reach the sky, but the more bloom power on your table the higher your cost. Tall vases will require larger arrangements, so take a tip from the pros and spring for gorgeous bud filled low arrangements and fancier linens and lighting. When looking at your reception room the first major impacts will be the color and texture of your tables and the way light plays up the drama of your event. Secondly the eye will go to the arrangements, so don’t scrimp but don’t blow all your budget on floral.

2 – DOES THE RECEPTION HAVE TO BE ON A SATURDAY EVENING? The cost of dinner is much higher than the cost of a Sunday Brunch. The cost of a Saturday wedding is also much higher than the cost of a Thursday. If you’re able to discuss your date with your most important people (close family and bridal party), and those that love you most will come no matter when the wedding is held; consider booking a weekday wedding or Sunday Brunch.

By having the wedding on an “off” day, you most likely will also eliminate the extra guests that aren’t crucial to attendance. For instance, Mom’s boss is more apt to stay home with his wife and kids on a Thursday evening than stay up late boogying on your dance floor. If you still want to make sure everyone can come, than Sunday Brunch is a great alternative. Your guests won’t be working over the weekend, and any out of towners can fly home Sunday evening.

3 – TYPICALLY WEDDINGS AT HOME DON’T SAVE MONEY. Unless you’re envisioning a backyard barbeque with hotdogs & hamburgers, a la George Banks (“Father of the Bride”), typically a wedding at home will end up costing you more money than if you had rented a nice space close by. Why’s that? Think of the logistics: 1- Most homes aren’t equipped with enough bathrooms for all your guests. So many home weddings have to bring in port-o-pottys. 2 – Most rooms in a home won’t accommodate more than one to three tables, so if you have more than 30 people you will have to move the wedding outdoors. 3 – When playing with the weather and a backyard wedding, it’s often recommended to rent a tent which can eat at your wallet. 4 – When trying to accommodate guests in a home, you’ll often have to move around furniture or even move it out. Even though the housing market is down, the cost of moving companies is not. At the end of the day, you’ll also find the ease of keeping the wedding out of your home was worth the $750 rental fee of popular close by location.

4 – WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, JUMP ON A PLANE.

Ever dream of getting married on a mountain top in Aspen? Or maybe having your first kiss as man and wife under an olive tree in Tuscany? Well what’s stopping you?

If your budget is being squeezed, but you still want to have the event that’s talked about for years to come, consider a destination wedding. I know you’re thinking, “But then my parent’s neighbors and high school friends won’t be able to come.” It is a legitimate concern… but remember: those friends and family that love you most, will be there no matter what. At the end of the day, those you spend the most time with on your wedding day are close family members and your bridal party. Why not enjoy a whole weekend with them without interruption and distraction?

Celebrity Wedding Under the Stars...

Every once in awhile, we are honored when a celebrity chooses us to coordinate their wedding… and while we will keep the names of the bride and groom “to protect the innocent” we cannot help but gush on the beauty of this event and the undying love the couple had for one another.

The bride and groom couldn’t stop looking at each other, nor stop giggling the entire evening. Guests came to Cypress Grove and were greeted by white gloved service of lemonade and ice tea. They then were seated among the trees and a rose petal carpeted aisle for a ceremony filled with love and devotion. Flourish built a rose, orchid, and dahlia chandelier for the couple to say, “I do” under; and stunning floral arrangements paved the aisle way. To beat the heat, YFA and our bride provided Asian parasols and fans to guests.

Now the reception…just picture it, the sun going down among the cypress trees and lake… hot oranges, reds, pinks, and lime linens that shone with the setting sun. A stunning bride dressed in Monique Lhuillier lace. Flourish outdid themselves with low centerpieces of roses, dahlias, orchids, and daisies. Instead of your typical tent, YFA and our bride opted for South Beach looking umbrellas and lounge furniture with colored up-lighting on the cypress trees. Guests tore up the dance floor to the Latin salsa beats of Orquesta Los Soneros, and took breaks by snapping photos in a unique custom picture booth. To beat the heat, Puff ‘n Stuff served guests with ice chilled lavender oil towels. It was a wedding that any celebrity would be jealous of, but Your Fantasy Affair took a posh event and made it welcoming to folks of all ages and backgrounds. Stay tuned for more pictures to come from NuVision!

Our 'Family' is growing right before our eyes!

Just another update on a growing part of our extended 'family.' Baby Ashton (who isn't such a little baby anymore!) is the adorable son of one of our favorite couples, Jessica and John. They stopped by the amazing Meg Baisden's and ended up taking some great candid photos of their beautiful family.
Thank you for letting us continue to be a part of your growing family!

Visit us on Facebook & MySpace!

Your Fantasy Affair joins their brides in the online networking supernova!

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http://www.facebook.com/pages/Orlando-FL/Your-Fantasy-Affair/9698466635

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http://www.myspace.com/yourfantasyaffair




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Dare to different, you'll be so glad you did!

For most of your wedding guests, the engagement photos will be the first glimpse they will get of you and your new fiancé! Not only that, but most couples these days are sending them out as part of their ‘Save the Dates’ and invitations so these unique shots can help get your friends and family even more excited about your BIG day! For this reason (and many more!), we are loving the great new ideas some of our favorite photographers (Castaldo Studios and Meg Baisden) are using to create these truly original engagement photos.

There are many ways to showcase yourself in your wedding, so why not start by showing off your love for the outdoors, a favorite beach or even the place you met your 'soon to be!'

To pull off these candid shots, our tip to you is: Don't take yourself too seriously! Enjoy each other and the love that brought you two to this place in your lives!

Now the key to these types of shots, is that you can't be afraid to stand out in the crowd! Be open to being a little wild and you'll find that being spontaneous can sometimes produce the best photos. In these instances these couples found themselves in the middle of city streets, and atop laundry carts! Dare to be different, you'll be so glad you did.

One thing the ladies here at Your Fantasy Affair strive to do, is to bring in personal touches of the couple in every aspect of their wedding. Bringing things that you love, and those things that make you the couple that you are, can make a huge difference in creating completely personalized photos.

Good luck in creating your engagement shots that are uniquely you!