Planning Tips :: Creating and Cutting the Guest List

When you begin your journey down the road of wedding planning, the first thing you should begin with is a preliminary guest list. You should have an approximate number so you can establish your budget, know what size venue you need, estimate cost of food & beverage per guest, etc...

My suggestion is always to make an A list, B list and C list. A list of course being family and important people that must be invited to attend, B list being friends and acquaintances that you would love to attend, and C list being people such as co-workers, parent's friends or distant friends who you would like to attend but could be cut if need be without diminishing the day. (You don't need to share this list with folks, just your expected guest count number - just keep your lists in your planning binder or in a spreadsheet on your computer).

If you find yourself over budget, the quickest way to remedy that is to trim down the guest list. Each guest eliminated cuts back on appetizers, meals, beverages, place settings, favors, stationery, cake, desserts, chair cover & sash, or any other items you may have reserved for your day. Cut an entire table and the savings multiply further. If you get into budget trouble, approach the C list and see what kind of cuts you can make to save.

DIY :: In Sickness + In Health Drinking Favors

I saw this totally cute DIY post on Something Turquoise and I HAD to share!!


You might be making a vow of “In Sickness and In Health” but your guests sure don’t have to! Give them a laugh while making their drinking experience the best it can be during your wedding or other wedding related events. One bottle is meant for pre-drinking and one bottle is for post-drinking. Perfect for your bachelorette party, your welcome bags or even for handing out to your guests on their way home. These cutie little handmade favors are sure to impress your friends and family, and show them just how much you care!

Did you know that taking 2 Vitamin B pills a few hours before you drink, actually helps prevent a hangover!? It has to do with something about the B replacing a chemical that the alcohol drains from your brain… a nurse told me that one time and it actually works!

SUPPLIES:

• Mini Water Bottles
• 8.5″ x 11″ White Cardstock
• 1.5″ x 2″ Clear Plastic Bag
• 1″ Circle Punch
• Scoring Board
• Vitamin B
• Twine
• Advil
• Tape

Download our free files at the end of the post and print onto 8.5″ x 11″ white cardstock. If you’d like, you can score the hang tags across the line provided using a scoring board. This adds a professional looking fold to your tag, then cut out each one.

Using a 1″ circle punch, punch out the gray hole in the tag and then trim a notch at the top, so you can put it around the bottle of water.

Fill each 1.5″ x 2″ plastic bag with two Vitamin B (any super complex will do) and two Advil.

On the backside of the tag, tape on each little baggie – ugh, aren’t they SO cute!?

Add the tags and finish with a twine bow!

How To Gift These Favors:

• They are ideal for your bachelorette party!
• Perfect to have in the room on the morning of your wedding
• Put them in your hotel welcome bags
• Have them out near the bar at your reception
• Hand out the Advil ones as your guests leave!

Click here to print the bottle tags

Click here to see the entire project at Something Turquoise

Party Ideas :: Backyard Pizza Party

Here's a fun idea for a dinner/party/shower/reception.....a backyard pizza party where your guests can assemble their own pizzas! They each get a personalized paper bag with their pizza crust inside, and a mini jar of tomato sauce. Then they can load up on the different toppings from the pizza bar display. Supply mini pizza boxes for guests to take-home extras. I love this idea! I can't wait to try this one out!

Get Creative with Cocktail Napkins

Many couples like to have personalized cocktail napkins at their wedding receptions. They're generally monogrammed, in colors coordinating with the wedding, and all look the same. Change it up a bit by trading the monogram or generic picture for something fun! Give the guests something to do and talk about during cocktail hour - - try a scavenger hunt photo list printed on the napkins....a photo of someone eating a piece of wedding cake, the bride and groom kissing, you hugging the bride, glass raised in a toast, a blue dress, a gorgeous flower, etc....

You could also use little known facts about the bride & groom, like in this photo. These funny little cocktail napkins will inspire the guests to mingle and trade facts! (Photo from InStyle Weddings)

These napkins say:

"Did You Know? Christine has worn glasses since age 6. John wore corrective shoes when he was 6. Nerds find nerds."

"Did You Know? Christine was crowned an Acteen Princess. John received a perfect attendance award. No, they did not "peak" in high school."

Cocktail Hour Musicians

The music at cocktail hour welcomes your guests to the festivities and sets the mood for the evening! Make a memorable impression on your guests by having live music! You can find everything from solo musicians to quartets who play in all styles and genres of music. If you're on a budget, a soloist may be a better choice for you; for example, an acoustic guitar, piano or harp.

Rick Iacoboni, Guitar

Photo by Banks Photography

Cecilia Ilg McKay, Harpist

Photo by Michéll Events

One of our weddings had a tropical vibe with seashell décor. To add to the theme, during cocktail hour we had a steel drummer and a conga drummer rolling out the tropical tunes. It was fantastic and the guests were all completely entertained! Nothing brings on a tropical feeling like steel drums!

Flute and piano make a wonderful duet, and a string quartet or trio is always very elegant for formal affairs. Keep in mind that some musicians won't play outside, and some that will play outside will require the added expense of a cover or canopy. Be sure to inquire about your ceremony location with the musicians before booking.

Photo by Michéll Events

Fancy Cocktail Hour "Jelly Shots"

One of my favorite things is an amazing and unique cocktail hour. Anyone can serve champagne or mixed drinks for an hour, but I love to shake it up a bit! These little "Jelly Shots" are the perfect addition! They're yummy, eye-catching and will definitely stand out to your guests. I always say a great event is all in the small details, and this is a perfect example of that!

Now, don't assume these are your typical sorority house jell-o shots....these little guys are fancy! You can work with your caterer, venue or wedding planner to create these for your wedding. Or, if your event is at a venue that allows you to bring in your own liquor, this would be a great DIY project for DIY brides! We've shown some great examples below from the Jelly Shot Test Kitchen blog. Check them out for even more great jelly shot ideas!

Blackberry Cosmo Jelly Shot (purple), Classic Cosmo Jelly Shot (pink), and Pear Cosmo Jelly Shot (white),

garnished with a paper-thin slice of raw cranberry and a little lime zest.

 Mimosa Jelly Shots, cut with an oval cookie cutter and skewered with edible flower petals.

Pineapple Brandy Fix Jelly Shot, a tasty little pineapple-topped bite...

Rainbow Cherry Jigglers, ready to party!

 Watermelon Basil Martini Jelly Shot, skewered and ready for noshing!

White Wine Sangria Jelly Shot, a most amusing amuse-bouche.

How To Write Place Cards and Escort Cards

This may be one of the most common mistakes I hear on a regular basis, so I thought I'd dedicate a blog post to explaining the difference between escort cards and place cards and the proper way to address your guests on each card.

While most people just refer to all name cards as "place cards", there is a distinct difference between the two. It's important to know the difference when you're ordering for your wedding, especially if you're ordering online!

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Escort Cards are generally at the entrance to the reception or at cocktail hour. These are very important, as they welcome your guests and tell them where to be seated. If this isn't done in an organized fashion, the guests can become frustrated immediately upon arriving at your reception, and that's the last thing you want!

Guests names on the front of the escort card, assigned table numbers on the inside.

Moulin Rouge themed wedding in Sandusky, OH

(Note: These are informally addressed escort cards that don't include titles.)

Escort cards by Michéll Events

Photo by Trejo Photography

Informally, you can list the name and table number however you'd like. Formally, these cards should say the guests name and what table they are seated at. "Mr. & Mrs. John Smith, Table 12" or "Dr. Tom Jones, Table 2". If small children are attending, they should be included on the card "Mr. & Mrs. John Smith and Family",  and any children over 10 should have their own card with their own name.

It's best to sort and display these alphabetically by last name (not by table). This way, the guests can easily find their names and spend less time in line at the table searching. Names should be addressed formally, same as the invitation. Include titles such as Dr., Mr. & Mrs, and military rankings (Colonel, Captain, Major, etc.. - military titles should never be abbreviated when addressing formally).

Wine Cork Escort Cards for a Vineyard Wedding
Mon Ami Winery in Port Clinton, OH

Escort Cards by Michéll Events

Photo by Terra Sol Studio

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Place Cards are at each place setting at each dining table. The place card at the table can be less formal if you wish, but titles should still be used. Each card has a guest's name, and that designates which seat the guest should sit at. Place cards can also contain a marker of some sort to let the catering staff know which dinner to serve to that guest (vegetarian, chicken, beef, etc...).

Moulin Rouge themed wedding in Sandusky, OH

Hand Folded Eiffel Tower Place Cards by Michéll Events

Photo by Trejo Photography

Standard Tent Cards with Meal Markers 

Tented Tropical Wedding at Catawba Island Club in Port Clinton, OH

(These show markers for the catering staff signifying 

whether the guests meal should be beef, fish or vegetarian.)