TIPPING VENDORS this subject is sometimes confusing.

Colorado Weddings by A Memory Lane Event

When planning out your event or wedding, be sure to allow an additional amount for tipping. Here is a general idea on the amounts you should set aside for different event & wedding vendors.

Remember, these amounts are not set in stone. Plan according to your budget and the type of service you receive from each.

Caterer and/or Banquet Manager - 15% for extra special service. ·  Bartenders - 15% to 20% of the liquor bill. · 

Event &/or Bridal Consultant - 15% for extra special service. · Powder Room and Coat Room Attendants - 50¢ per guest. You could arrange to pay a flat tipping fee. · 

Clergy members - $20 or more donation, depending on the length of the ceremony. · 

Civil Ceremony Officials - $10 and up. However, look into this first. Some judges cannot accept money. · 

Florist - 15% directly to the driver who delivers the flowers. · Photographer - 10% to 15% for extra special service. · 

Videographer - 10% to 15% for extra special service.

Cake Decorator - 10% to 15% for extra special service, or for a difficult/very large cake. · 

Musicians or D.J. - 15% for extra special service. · 

Limousine or Party Bus Driver - 10% to 15% paid directly to the driver.

Colorado Weddings with Jennifer Lane, A Memory Lane Event

Fees - Clergy

Most clergy do not have a "fee" but instead ask for a donation. In this case, anywhere from $50 - $100 or more. A lot depends on how well you know them and whether or not counseling sessions were involved.  If you are still unsure what the appropriate amount should be - then talk to the church secretary and ask for an "acceptable range" for a donation.

Family Advice From the moment you say yes and accept the ring....  you will receive all types of advice from all directions. You will get lots of great ideas, some better than others, some will make you cringe...... Wedding planning takes time and energy and is very emotional......but one thing to keep in mind; It's your wedding. A flawless wedding is possible all right. It "happens" when the bridal couple knows how to mix practical detail with the emotional insights and special kindnesses that make their wedding memorable for its warmth.  It also helps when you hire a professional with years of experience who can step in and intervene on your behalf when needed.

Top 5 Wedding gifts

Colorado weddings from Jennifer Lane, A Memory Lane Event

1.     Money – Yes it's true; while it may seem impersonal or uncreative, money is my number one recommended wedding gift. Most young couples are saving for something big – a house, a car, a piece of furniture, or are still paying back their student loans. Money may also help them have an extra-special honeymoon or let them order that extra photo for their album. While it's rude for a couple to ask for money, it is never rude to give cash. If you still want to give a personal wedding gift, combine the two: attach a check to a beautiful picture frame, a kitchen gadget, or a long letter detailing your wishes and advice for their marriage.

2. An expensive item off of their registry – Often the more-expensive items on a couple's registry are dream wedding gifts that they don't think they're actually going to get. Whether you're wealthy enough to buy such a wedding gift on your own, or you organize other guests to all chip in, you'll be making dreams come true. Putting funds towards the amazing photo album done by their wedding photographer, or paying for upgrades is always a great bonus for the couple.

3.A luxurious hotel room for their first night as a married couple – Start their marriage off right by giving them a night to remember before they take off for their honeymoon. Check with the bride's mother or the maid-of-honor to ensure reservations have not already been made, and give your gift early so that they'll be able to include it in their plans.

Destination weddings by A Memory Lane Event

4.A wedding gift to stand the test of time– Whether it's a bottle of scotch or fine wine with instructions to open on their tenth anniversary, a gorgeous vase, or piece of art, give a gift on which the couple will be able to look fondly and say "Our friend John gave us that for our wedding." Other ideas include the couple's wedding invitation in a beautiful frame, a handmade quilt or tablecloth, or an antique piece of furniture.

5.Make their honeymoon extra sweet - If you've ever been to the place where the couple is honeymooning, use that knowledge to get them a gift certificate for your favorite restaurant or resort activity. You could also upgrade their plane tickets to first class, give them a camera to help them take great pictures, or give them some spending money tucked inside a guidebook of the area. 

What are all the inserts for Invitations & What are they all used for???

When you do not use formal invitations every day, all of the different inserts can be overwhelming.  Here's a basic break down of what the invitation inserts are for.  

Invitation - provides your guests with their first glimpse as to the style of your event or wedding--whether it be a garden or formal affair, the invitation plays an important role in the festivities.

Announcement - the perfect way to announce your special occasion news to those not invited to your wedding--it can be printed on the same paper stock as your invitation and should be mailed the same day or immediately after your wedding.

Reception Card- informs guests of the reception location and time. These should be used with any type of event that has a ceremony before hand... i.e. Bar or Bat Mitz vah.  This card would be enclosed if the reception information was not included on the invitation itself.

Map Card- provides directions for guests to the location of the ceremony and/or reception. You can use both sides of the card for maps,  if using two locations.

Respond Card - essential in planning for your food service--lets you know how many guests plan on attending the event or wedding. An envelope with a printed address and stamp should accompany this card.

Informal Note - can be used for social correspondence and thank-you notes. It's normally printed on paper that matches your invitation and is personalized with your names or monogram on the front.

Printed ReturnAddress - saves time and effort to have your return address printed on the flap of the invitation/announcement envelope. It also ensures that undeliverable mail will be returned to you.

Lined Envelopes - colorful lining adds a touch of color to your inner envelopes.  

If you´re inviting two people who live at the same address but have different last names, list their names on separate lines on the invitation, in alphabetical order.

Top Candy Buffet Questions:

Q: What size scoop should I use?

A: Keep in mind, scoops will scoop. BUT, will the scoop fit inside the containers opening? Smaller scoops are great for small containers / bowls. Small scoops will also aid in "quantity control" A 2 ounce scoop is equal to 4 Tablespoons or 1/4 cup.  

Q: How much candy should I purchase?

A: I wish there was a hard fast rule to this question. Some say 1/4 LB per guest, others say 1/2 LB per guest. But it's all about the way your candy looks. Plan by how you want the display to look, not how many guests are coming. Having enough candy is crucial in making your candy buffet look good.  

A tip: "Take your candy buffet bags/containers that the guests will be taking home with them to your local grocery store and fill them the types of candy you will have for your event. Then weigh them. Multiply by how many guests, then you will get an idea of the pounds."  

Tip: Add something salty or sour: Yummy! Salt or sour GOES with SWEET. Your candy buffet doesn't have to be all candy. Add potato chips or pretzels maybe some sour balls. Fresh fruit and cheese work great as well. 

Q: Do I need a scoop for every container?

A: Rule of thumb: If the candy is wrapped, then no scoop needed. Anything you DO NOT want hands or fingers to touch, use a scoop or tongs.

Events by A Memory Lane Event, Jennifer Lane

Diamond "4 C's"

The quality and value of diamonds are usually measured by the "4 C's" Color, Clarity, Carat weight, Cut. 

  

Carat weight: The weight measurement used for diamond is called "carat". One carat = 200 milligrams. Diamonds are sold by weight not by size.

Color: Refers to the body color of the diamond. The absence of color is most valuable.

Clarity: Refers to the purity of the diamond crystal. Most diamonds will have some inclusions and irregularities in their crystal structure.

Cut:Sometimes called "Make" refers to the 1 Proportions 2 Symmetry 3 Polish Color and Clarity are graded, based on standards and systems widely accepted by the diamond and jewelry trade.  Evaluation of Cut is much more complex. There is no widely recognized cut grading system that can be used to objectively compare diamonds for quality of cut

Wedding Ceremony Music

It's the moment you've been waiting for - you and your bridal party making a grand entrance and walking down the aisle. But what will you choose for your wedding ceremony music? Music has the power to set a mood, evoke emotion, and give a moment cohesiveness. Are you a traditional Wagner's "Here Comes the Bride" and Pachelbel's "Canon in D" type of couple? Or are you more contemporary, looking for a song that captures your spirit like Norah Jones's "Come Away with Me"? Here is a list of both classic and contemporary wedding ceremony music. Many of the songs can be used for processionals and recessionals, and/or serve as prelude music (when your guests are finding seats and waiting for the ceremony to begin) or postlude music (when your guests are exiting, and/or waiting in the receiving line).

Traditional Wedding Ceremony Music

Bridal Chorus from Lohehgrin (Richard Wagner) (also known as "Here Comes the Bride")

Cannon in D (Johann Pachelbel)

Guitar in D Major (Antonio Vivaldi)

Air (from Water Music Suite), (George Frederic Handel)

The Prince of Denmark's March (Trumpet Voluntary in D major) (Jeremiah Clarke)

Procession of Joy (Hal Hopson)

Rigaudon (Andre Campra)

Wedding March (from The Marriage of Figaro), (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) Prelude from "Te Deum" (Marc-Antoine Charpentier)

Trumpet Tune and Air (Henry Purcell)

Trumpet Voluntary (John Stanley)  

Colorado weddings by A Memory Lane Event

Other Classical Wedding Ceremony Music

Coronation March for Czar Alexander III (Peter I. Tchaikovsky)

Overture (from Royal Fireworks Music), (George Frederic Handel) Promenade (from Pictures at an Exhibition), (Modest Mussorgsky)

Sinfonia (from Cantata No. 156), (Johann Sebastian. Bach)

Cantata No.29 (Johann Sebastian Bach)

Prelude and Fugue in C (Johann Sebastian Bach)

Toccata (from L'Orfeo), (Claudio Monteverdi)

Romance from String Quartet (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)

Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major ("Elvira Madigan") (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)

Trumpet Tune in A-Major (David N. Johnson)

A Midsummer Night's Dream, incidental music, Op. 61 Wedding March (Felix Mendelssohn)

Winter Largo or "Spring" Allegro (from The Four Seasons), (Antonio Vivaldi) 

Colorado weddings by A Memory Lane Event, Jennifer Lane

Contemporary Songs Appropriate for Wedding Ceremonies

At Last (Etta James)

Only Time (Enya)

Come Away With Me (Norah Jones)

Appalachia Waltz (Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor)

Unforgettable (Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole)

It's Only Time (Magnetic Fields)

The Look of Love (Dionne Warwick/Burt Bacharach)

The Vow (Jeremy Lubbock)

Come What May (Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor)

Storybook Love from the movie

The Princess Bride (Willy DeVille)

Wedding Processional (from The Sound of Music) (Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein)

Can't help falling in love (Elvis Presley)

What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)

When I'm Sixty-Four (The Beatles)

Creative and Personal Wedding Gift Ideas

Colorado Weddings by A Memory Lane Event

It's getting harder and harder to buy a wedding gift these days. Especially since so many couples have already lived on their own, so they don't need too much. But that doesn't mean you have to buy another boring present! Here is a great wedding gift idea, along with tips on making your present feel personal and unique.   You might think, "Pillows as a wedding gift? YAWN." When I was young, like my 20's, and going to weddings, I thought the same thing. But that was before I spent the night in a luxury hotel. The linens there were so soft and awesome that if I hadn't already been lying down, I would have swooned. It certainly took a lot of effort to get out of bed to go sightseeing.   Help your newly married friends feel like they're still on their honeymoon with truly luxurious sheets and pillows. They'll make the bed a relaxing and decadent place to be. Choose sheets with an absurdly high thread count, and a smooth finish. Include a note that says, "May all your dreams together come true," or be a bit more spicy and write, "Here's to many happy hours spent together in bed."

Family Advice in Event or wedding planning

Colorado weddings by A Memory Lane Event

Family Advice From the moment you say yes and accept the ring....  you will receive all types of advice from all directions. You will get lots of great ideas, some better than others, some will make you cringe...... Wedding planning takes time and energy and is very emotional......but one thing to keep in mind; It's your wedding. A flawless wedding is possible all right. It "happens" when the bridal couple knows how to mix practical detail with the emotional insights and special kindnesses that make their wedding memorable for its warmth.  It also helps when you hire a professional with years of experience who can step in and intervene on your behalf when needed.

TIPPING VENDORS

When planning out your event or wedding, be sure to allow an additional amount for tipping. Here is a general idea on the amounts you should set aside for different event & wedding vendors.

Remember, these amounts are not set in stone. Plan according to your budget and the type of service you receive from each.

Caterer and/or Banquet Manager - 15% for extra special service. ·  Bartenders - 15% to 20% of the liquor bill. · 

Event &/or Bridal Consultant - 15% for extra special service. · Powder Room and Coat Room Attendants - 50¢ per guest. You could arrange to pay a flat tipping fee. · 

Clergy members - $20 or more donation, depending on the length of the ceremony. · 

Civil Ceremony Officials - $10 and up. However, look into this first. Some judges cannot accept money. · 

Florist - 15% directly to the driver who delivers the flowers. · Photographer - 10% to 15% for extra special service. · 

Videographer - 10% to 15% for extra special service.

Cake Decorator - 10% to 15% for extra special service, or for a difficult/very large cake. · 

Musicians or D.J. - 15% for extra special service. · 

Limousine or Party Bus Driver - 10% to 15% paid directly to the driver.

Fees - Clergy

Most clergy do not have a "fee" but instead ask for a donation. In this case, anywhere from $50 - $100 or more. A lot depends on how well you know them and whether or not counseling sessions were involved.  If you are still unsure what the appropriate amount should be - then talk to the church secretary and ask for an "acceptable range" for a donation.