Do You Remember Wedding Details? No? Odds Are, Your Guests Will Not Either

Town & Country

Take just a moment to think back on all the weddings you have attended in the past 5 or so years. 

If you are like me, you have probably been to a quite a few in that time frame - I think I have been to 7 or 8 weddings since 2008. I know that almost all of my fiance's best buddies have gotten married, and several of my friends have as well. However, when I think back on all the weddings I have attended there is honestly surprisingly little I remember about any of them.

Did they have centerpieces? What were they? Did I even look at the brides bouquet? Cake? Where was it - I do not remember it? Did we get a favor? Suits or tuxedos? What did I eat for dinner? How many appetizers did I eat? How long did I wait between the ceremony and reception? I honestly do-not-know...

I guess if I had to pick one element of a wedding I tend to remember the most it would be the ceremonies. I do remember almost every - single - aspect of every wedding ceremony I have witnessed. Aside from that, thinking back on all the weddings I have attended it is as if they are all blurred into one big memory. I felt like a total fool the other day trying to think if we received a favor at one friend's weddings and if we did, what it was. I could not remember and neither did my fiance - and he was IN THE WEDDING. Programs? I am sure I was handed one at every wedding I have attended, but I could not tell you a single thing about them. Same with invitations. I thought this was just me - that maybe I was too preoccupied with other things to "take in" everything about a wedding. But as it turns out, this is extremely common.

DIY Wedding Decorations

Apparently, unless some minor element of the wedding strikes a chord with a guest, they will not remember the fine "details" that all of us brides worry over when it is all said and done. For example, someone will recall if the song for the first dance is one of their favorites, but will not have a clue later on if that is not the case. I am guilty of this myself. One wedding I attended had Eric Clapton playing during dinner and I recall that vividly - but I could not tell you anything that was played at any other wedding.

Flowers and bouquets - other than people knowing they were incorporated no one will likely recall if you used roses or peonies or daisies and hydrangeas. To add to this, no one apparently remembers centerpieces at all or things like custom signage, boutonnieres, or fancy escort cards. I took a poll on this and this is an extremely common phenomenon - not to remember any minor details. The sad fact is all those cute ideas us brides to be see on Pinterest and are "must haves" at our weddings will probably not be remembered by the guests after the wedding is over. Oh and chair covers, sashes, or Chiavari chairs - yea, no one and I mean no one will or does remember what they sat on at a wedding or if anything was tied on the chairs. On the flip side I am sure if you used hay bales as seating and guests got chaff stuck to their rears they would absolutely recall that down the line.

Of course there are other "detail" things that seem to be remembered too - when things go wrong or are "out there". In my poll, several previous wedding guests indicated they could not have told anyone the "colors" the wedded couple chose unless something was really off the wall or hideous/mismatched. Same held true for bridesmaids dresses. For the ceremony all eyes are on the bride - so much so that most guests could not tell you what the bridesmaids were wearing. One of my poll takers said the only reason she noticed the centerpieces was because they were leaking and her phone was damaged by water running over the table.

Belvedere

So what do guests honestly remember? 

They will remember, in order:

Food
Bar/Alcohol
Cake
Dancing/DJ/Band

Yes, this is all that anyone will take from your wedding. Now of course they will remember that the bride was beautiful and the ceremony was lovely - but aside from that, guests will probably not recollect any detail about the gown, what was said during the vows, if you did a unity ceremony or not, etc. I do recall one wedding I attended where I was made aware before the ceremony that the bride spent a great deal of money on her gown. However as she walked down the aisle, all I recall was how happy she looked. I could not tell anyone any detail about that gown or what made it any different than any other dress out there.

In my poll it was almost unanimous that the most important aspect of a wedding to the guest is the food followed closely second by the bar. To be blunt, people WILL remember if your food sucked. They will also keenly recall if they were hungry at any time during the reception. I could talk about this all day. I have left weddings absolutely starving before. Actually, I have left most weddings feeling really hungry. I have aversions to a lot of foods (I do not eat red meat and I will not eat anything drenched in butter or cheese due to a lactose issue I have) and that is probably why I leave a wedding hungry. But I do recall if there was something particularly unappetizing served, or if there was a super long wait between the ceremony and reception and the appetizers were inadequate or not served at all.

People also want there to be booze at the weddings they attend - but as it turns out they really do not remember what they drank as long as it was alcohol. Several of my responders said they had no idea if they were served Two-Buck Chuck or top shelf liquor; all they know was if there was alcohol or not. That signature drink you spent a month mulling over? No one will be able recall what it was, but they know they drank something at the wedding.     

Brides

Cake/dessert is something else people will recollect - but not for the reasons you think. Most people will not even look at your cake during the reception. Yes, sorry, but that $1K masterpiece will not be something your guests reminisce over years later. Depending on where you have your reception, some venues will actually keep the cake in their kitchen until about 5 minutes before it is cut by the newlyweds then promptly whisked back to the kitchen for serving. I have been to several weddings where the cake was kept up by the head table, and if I was seated near the back there was no opportunity for me to see it before it was cut.

According to my poll, people will recall if what they ate was good or not. That is it. Special flavors? Signature fillings? Fancy fondant, gum paste leaves, edible flowers? Nope, no one will know/be able to recall what it was after the fact other than if it was tasty or yucky. Guests likely will not even remember the cake cutting, if you smooshed cake into your new spouses face, or what kind of topper you had - just if it was good or bad in taste.

The overall party, ambiance, and atmosphere is another top memory for former wedding guests. I am not big on dancing or partying, and I never have been. However, I do know a bad DJ when I hear/see it and I have been to weddings where the DJ either made or broke the overall feel of the wedding. Most wedding guests like to get up and bust a move at the reception. If the DJ or band cannot get people on the floor and get people dancing it will put a HUGE damper on the reception. When people say they had a "great time" at a wedding that usually means they were having fun dancing late into the night.

The DJ or band also has considerable influence on the "flow" of the wedding as well. If your wedding flows well, people will be more relaxed and more apt to enjoy themselves. I was a guest at a huge Catholic wedding a few years ago and the couple's DJ kept people dancing for about 8 hours - non-stop. They had to kick us out of the reception venue at the end of the night - it was a great time! And it was not a "club atmosphere" at all. The DJ played all kinds of music from all eras so the grandparents were able to get up and waltz and the "youngsters" could do their booty shaking. I have also been to weddings where the DJ was really inexperienced or the band was too loud as well. This is absolutely something your guests will take from your wedding and recall years later.

Weddings Jamaica

The reason I brought up this notion that guests really do not "take away" minor details from a wedding is because I was milling over all the cutesy details I wanted to incorporate in my wedding, but I had doubts that anyone other than me would notice or recall later. Things like upgraded tablecloths, favors, a photo booth, dessert bar, special ceremony elements, aisle flowers, centerpieces, pouches for the silverware, and so on.

Based on the answers I received in my poll, I have decided that plain white tablecloths will be just fine - no one will remember if I upgraded them to green pin-tuck or not (the cost will ultimately dictate what I end up with). I will probably go ahead and make the boutonnieres and pouches for the silverware, but I know now no one will probably make a mental note of this. We are not doing a traditional cake, which worried me a bit at first - but that is okay because what we have chosen is delicious and that is all that matters. Favors? I can make cookies and put them in brown bags with a "Thank You" tag - yea, I am totally not spending hardly anything on favors. I also am contemplating using mix-matched vases I already have for the centerpieces - no one will likely pay any attention if they all match or not.

When guests do remember something from a wedding unfortunately it is because something was bad, went wrong, or it was really over the top unique. People WILL notice if you used upgraded table linens and had $100+ centerpieces IF - IF they find that the food is lackluster and they will wonder why you did not spend a little more on the food and a lot less on decor. Bottom line, guests WILL focus on expensive details if you cheaped out on the food. The same goes for alcohol. If a guest notices that you spent $5 a piece on a wedding favor and yet you opted not to serve wine, they will wonder why you did not skip the favors entirely and get 50 bottles of Trader Joe's wine for people to sip with their entree.

QC Weddings

Aside from people being well fed and having a blast at your wedding, really positive or unique details will be remembered fondly in most cases. Some of my poll takers indicated that photo booths are almost always a HUGE hit because that is not something that appears at every wedding, it gives guests something to do other than dance, AND it doubles as a favor. People also seemed to really like yard games. Again, it gives guests something fun to do, and if they are having fun they will recall it later. I for example have never been to a wedding that had yard games, but we are having them at my wedding. As a former wedding guest that does not really like to dance, I like giving people an option to partake in some friendly competition instead of resorting to sitting pretty at a table all night.

Now, it must be said that NOT ALL GUESTS will find your nuptials to be a blur. Some people rarely attend weddings. If this is the case, they will probably remember almost everything. I am in my late 20's and for a while it seemed like I was attending a wedding every summer and then one in the fall for 3 years in a row. These became the "blur" weddings for me. You must also think that if you as a bride and groom want the wedding to have a certain look for the sake of PICTURES then this is also important. I am not a particular fan of straight up bridal pictures. Yes, I absolutely want that quintessential bride and groom picture framed for my nightstand, but I know 5 years down the road I will not want wedding photos of me in my dress hanging all over the house. What I DO want are pictures taken from the wedding that I can incorporate elsewhere.

I think that a framed photograph of a beautifully set table looks amazing hanging in a kitchen or dining room, pictures of bouquets always look nice in a bathroom, close up photos of games can always be used in a future nursery or in a "man cave" for the basement. For me, to ultimately have these kinds of photos where I can say "yes, these were taken at my wedding" is what I want. This is why minor details are important in my eyes, but probably not anyone elses. Weddings in general are also commonly a blur for the wedded couple as well since so much is going on anyway. So, ultimately I will be doing some of those "cutesy Pinterest DIY" things to incorporate into my wedding "look" because that is something I can and want to do AND I do feel it will help play into the ambiance of the wedding. However, knowing that guests will not really pay much attention I will be scaling back on things like table linens, center pieces, favors, and other "extras" and instead focus more on finding a great caterer, beefing up the dessert and appetizer bar, and finding a great DJ to keep the party going.

Bridal Show Tricks & Scams Plus the Good Stuff - My Personal Experience

Jacques Catering

Ever since I got engaged I have been online and on Facebook looking up bridal shows. My mother and I have already been to several both big and small and they really are a lot of fun. Bridal shows and expos are commonly held in the winter months during the slow wedding season to entice brides with goods and services they might need for their big day. They also bring people in to taste free samples of cake and catering, look at gowns and invitations, and OF COURSE register to win for prizes! Some of the prizes they give away are AMAZING! The big sponsored bridal shows often give away $2,000 worth of wedding rings, $4,000 honeymoons, $2500 for photography, etc. 

HOWEVER, there are a TON of scams and schemes associated with some of these contests and things you sign up for. Most of these scams come from the big, nationally known companies and no so much with local mom and pop shops - but it is beyond annoying when it happens. Below I have listed some issues I have experienced with filling out forms for prizes, making appointments, and going to "extras" - as well as some good experiences at the end! If you want to skip to the actual "good stuff" scroll down; my best experiences were with Jamberry Nail Art and Macy's Sip & Scan Registry Event.

Apple Brides

David's Bridal

Oh, dearest David's Bridal - The biggest/most well known national bridal shop. They have incensed me and I have not even set foot into the store yet! Okay, for one, David's Bridal called my house probably a month after I became engaged. I had not really been looking for dresses on any site other than Pinterest so I was not sure how they got my number. Who knows, I probably filled out something fleetingly while being engrossed in Bride Day on TLC. At any rate, they called and wanted me to set up an appointment. I already found my gown, so I said I was not interested in looking for a dress yet and that was that...

Until I actually made an appointment with them...

I attended the Hendrick's County Bridal Show and David's Bridal had a booth. I spoke to the attendant about bridesmaids dresses because that is something I need to get on NOW since my girls will need to get their dresses on their own, and I will probably not see them before the wedding. The attendant also gave me a coupon to use when I come in just in case I find a reception dress for myself or something my mother could wear. I thought this was great and it would give me an opportunity to look at different styles and compare prices. The day after the bridal show, DB sent me an e-mail confirming the appointment and everything and I thought that was that. Until the phone calls started....

On the Monday following the bridal show I started getting phone calls from a 1-800 number regarding my fiance and I winning a bridal meal package from Dinner 4 Two. Since the call back number was a 1-800, I just knew it was a scam. When I put the number into a Google search, it came back with a TON of complaints. Apparently, in Indiana at least, every time you sign up for ANYTHING WITH DAVID'S BRIDAL - you register online for coupons, you make an appointment in person or online or at a bridal show, you buy something from them, you enter a contest, etc. THEY SELL YOUR INFORMATION. In Indiana, they sell it to Midwest Lifestyle/Dinner 4 Two - it is one of those things where you sit through a demonstration and they try to get you to buy stuff. I looked this up on MULTIPLE sites and I am 100% positive there is a direct correlation between David's Bridal and this phone scam. 

They called the house CONSTANTLY and my mother finally called them back and told them to stop calling or they would be reported. I do not think they have called back since. It is not technically a scam, but it can lure young, unsuspecting brides into buying a bunch of junk thinking they will win something great at the end. On one of the online complaint sites, a young woman was "conned" into buying $500 worth of pots and pans thinking she would win a luxury cruise honeymoon only to find later she would need to attend more "demonstrations" to eventually get anything. This is the same kind of deal you run into with those timeshare demonstrations - they do give you prizes but the "big gift" always comes with a catch. For example, with the Dinner 4 Two, I read a review where a bride did go - she did receive free cookware, but to "win the honeymoon" she would have had to pay the taxes on it, get her own airfare, and go on a specific date. This specific "scam" irked me the most because they would not stop calling the house.

Mary Kay

Mary Kay Cosmetics

My next grumble is with Mary Kay Cosmetics. Mary Kay has had a booth at every single bridal show I have attended so far. I always stop to pick up whatever one-use sample they are handing out because that sample is usually eyeshadow and I LOVE eyeshadow - but I do not buy or use Mary Kay as part of my normal makeup routine. I have also provided my info to win free products but I had never received a call back. However, since I was one of the first people through the door to attend the the Indy Wedding Ideas sponsored bridal show this winter, I won a "secret prize" and that prize was with Mary Kay. I thought I might win a hand lotion or something like that, but I won a WHOPPING $75 gift certificate! I was pretty excited because I knew I could get a lot of eyeshadow for that or a really nice lotion. 

I spoke to both attendants and we looked at some product they had but I did not use my certificate then. I got their cards and figured I would e-mail them later if I wanted to order something. Well, the following weekend we spoke to another MK consultant who had these fliers for National Make Over Day. Apparently, Mary Kay does this every year and it was described to us as a day where thousands of women come and get make-overs for free.

Mary Kay

Well, the gift card I received had a specific consultants name on it - so I knew right then I would have to use the card through her. So, I sent her an e-mail and asked if she would be at the Makeover Day. Surprisingly, she said she would be there and it would be a "big, fun packed event", so I made an appointment. I figured I could at least redeem my gift card. Well, when we walked in - we were the only people in the room - well let me correct myself - we were the only people without a Mary Kay agenda in the room. They had all these trays with pea-sized dollops of various product and we were told to pick out a "makeover bag" that had sample sizes of products and a chart to follow for application.

The Pros:   I did like being able to try out different products like lotions and foundations.
                       It was sort of nice being the only people there, but it was a bit akward.
                       I did buy a lotion with my gift card and my mother got mascara and eyeshadow.
                       Our consultants were very nice and accommodating - they were not pushy with buying a product if we did not want it.

The Cons:  We were instructed to use exfoliant - which required us to SHARE A SINK in an adjacent hotel room - VERY awkward.
                      Our "make over" was self applied - we were provided with brushes and had to do it ourselves. This is not really my idea of a make-over.
                      It was awkward to be told there would be many females there and us be the only ones who came - there was a third consultant there that bought her sister and friend. But when we walked in we thought we were walking into a "buying scam" where you are harassed to buy product.

Overall, the "makeover experience" was fine, but not something I would have done if I had not won the gift card. THE BIGGEST PEEVE I had with all this was the "extra event" they wanted us to participate in the following Monday. When we first came in, they took before and then after pictures of "our makeovers". At the end of the event, they had us fill out a card on how well we thought it went, we were given a red raffle ticket, and asked to circle a product on this chart they gave us. This was not explained, and I did not know what this was for. I of course did not ask because I THOUGHT it was going to be a prize we could win based on the raffle ticket we were given. Instead, they took the charts back and the ticket and invited us to a second event where they promised prizes and a chance to win a $50 gift card. They also said this was what the before/after pictures were for. They said "all the photos from all the makeovers" would be there and we could vote on them and it would be a "big fun event for all the ladies who participated". I thought it would be another deal like the makeover day. BOY was I ever WRONG!

Card I received to invite us to the "Second Event"

On the Sunday before, I received several e-mails AND TEXT MESSAGES from the consultant we met with on Makeover Day to make sure we were coming. I said we were and I thought this would be a thing where we could walk in, vote on the photos, mill around, then leave. Nope! The thing started at 6:30 and we pulled into the venue at 6:45. Between 6:30-6:40 the consultant texted me wanting to know where we were...We walk in and it is a Mary Kay SALES PITCH - I should have known it was coming. We had to sit down to avoid being rude while they gave medals to sales consultants for like 20 minutes. We were then whisked into a room where the "regional manager" asked the small handful of guests if we wanted to become Mary Kay sellers too. This was why my consultant was so eager to get us to come - the more people Mary Kay hounds into becoming a consultant under them, the more likely they are to get a company car for free. Oh and the photos we were to vote on - there were only like 10 of them in the back of the room and the "voting" would not commence until after the guests listened to all the speeches.

This whole spiel was designed to keep us there from 6:30-8:30. My fiance was working late and I needed to get back to make him some dinner and my mother had to cancel an appointment to attend this with me. Had we known this was what it truly was, we would have NEVER gone. When I got home I looked this up online, and like the mess with David's Bridal selling information, it is apparently well known that these Mary Kay people do this kind of thing all the time. Some consultants it seems are WAY better than others, but if you get stuck with a dud of a consultant, you will have a bad time. I read on a forum about how one consultant basically held a group of bridesmaids hostage until someone bought something because the consultant rented a conference room on her own dime and "expected a rate of return". Another thing I noticed in the complaint forums is that many brides had the misconception that MARY KAY SELLERS ARE MAKEUP ARTISTS. They ARE NOT makeup artists! At the end of the night I sent an e-mail to the consultant explaining why we had to cut out early and she apologized for not explaining that it was a 100% sales pitch. I have not heard from her since, but she was a very nice person and I do understand that most Mary Kay sellers are stay-at-home moms who use the business to be able to work from home. Some of their products are very nice quality - however I would just order online if you wish to buy because the mark up IS FIFTY PERCENT if you buy from a consultant directly!

Stella & Dot

Stella & Dot

I knew about Stella & Dot long before I started attending bridal shows. I actually own some S&D jewelry that I have purchased second hand from garage sales. The problem with S&D is that like Mary Kay, it is a sales pitch where they try and get you to host "house parties" to basically coerce your friends and family into purchasing pretty, albeit expensive costume jewelry. Their jewelry is cute I will give them that, but just order it online. DO NOT get involved with a consultant at a bridal show unless you really want to do these parties because the E-MAILS WILL NOT STOP. I swear, I was getting 2-3 e-mails a week about selling and specials until I put them on the spam list. 

Photography Cameras

Various Photographers

Some photographers you meet once at a bridal show, you take their card, and never hear from them again. Others, you fill out a contest or something and they send you a courtesy "remember me?" e-mail, then that is it. Then there are others that use the contest you filled out for to bombard you with adverts, "coupons", or notices that you "won something." The first one of these I got I was so excited because I actually thought I won something. I got an e-mail saying I won a free engagement session. This was something I wanted but we did not budget for nor think was totally necessary. Engagement sessions are very expensive if you get them ala carte from a different photographer than who you will be using for your wedding - between $250-$500 usually. Most of the contests you sign up for with photographers at bridal expos are for "free" engagement sessions or boudoir photos. Well, the engagement session I won was just for the sitting - we would have to fork over $300 for the digital release and this did not include prints. Come to find out, this is how almost all of these photographer contests work - you really get nothing unless you book them for your wedding. I also had to fish for this information through several e-mails, and once they spilled the beans on how this all really worked, I never heard from them again. Since then I have "won", free Save the Date's with the purchase of a sitting (the time you still have to pay BY THE HOUR was in the fine print), "print credits" for boudoir shoots (but you have to pay for the glam up session and the sitting), a "deep discount" on either an engagement or boudoir session (the SAME discount was available in Groupon). You get the idea...

Jamberry Nails

Jamberry Nails

Okay, I must admit, this was fun! Jamberry Nails is just another one of those companies that sells "finger nail stickers". Yes, this is all they are. You can get them at Target, Walgreen's, CVS under various name brands, you can get them from artists on Etsy, or you can get them from specific companies like Jamberry. Again, like with Stella & Dot, if you want it, order it online and do not get wrapped up into a sales pitch about hosting a party unless you really want to. At the Hendricks County Bridal Show there were several young girls at a Jamberry booth that were really fun and they helped put a sticker on my nail. If you do these yourself, you will need help because it is somewhat of a process. But, they are really different and cute! I will probably get some of these from somewhere to include with my bridesmaids gifts since you can get them customized! Furthermore, these run between $8-$15 a set depending on where you order them from and one kit will do fingernails and your toes too! Luckily, I was not bombarded with any e-mails or phone calls from this company - but if you are it will be because they want you to host a house party. The fact that the vendor attendants were so helpful in explaining the product to me was what made me more interested in their product overall.

Wedding Bee

Macy's Sip & Scan

After the disappointing session with Mary Kay I was actually dreading the Macy's Sip & Scan event I signed up for in January. I thought to myself, oh no, this will be another sales pitch, or a thing to get me to sign up for a Macy's credit card, or something ridiculous. I signed up for this event at the first bridal show I ever attended and I had forgotten about it until I received a confirmation e-mail. The reason I signed up for it was because I was clueless about wedding registries and Macy's was not a store I would have ever considered signing up for since I only shop there at Christmas. My fiance was working late so I took my mom with me. I must admit, this was a TOTAL BLAST! It was simple too! You go in, they give you a scanner and a check list sheet, and tell you to have at it! They had a caterer passing out hors d'oeuvres and drinks, a DJ for the whole second floor, and they had like 10 consultants there to help you. They were ALL very knowledgeable and helpful and there were about 8 couples there to boot. It was so unexpected!

I scanned a TON of stuff I never thought I would need - but that in fact I would need. Like a hand mixer, an iron, a set of skillets, plates for Thankgiving, a new comforter, etc. They THEN tell you to have guests who will ultimately buying you a gift to wait until they get coupons in the mail/paper because they can stack coupons with the discount they already get for scanning the registry. Basically, your guests will be able to get you more for less money since there are discounts you can "stack" with the registry. They also gave me a TON of coupons I can use now, a $25 Restaurant.com gift card, a booklet with all this other information. It was really helpful! AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BUY ANYTHING. There is NO CATCH! I was actually so impressed that I plan on returning to the store probably several times to look at more items to add. Since my wedding is so far out, one of the attendants told me I can add clothing to my registry, then scan my own registry at the store, and get an extra percentage off on MY OWN PURCHASES. My mom can do this too. I was like WOW, and proceeded to scan 3 boxes of Kuerig cups so when the coupons come out in the mail, I can get more of a discount! There are actually so many perks to having a Macy's registry you, as a bride, would be foolish not to check it out. YOU CAN EVEN SCAN FURNITURE AND RUGS! You can scan lingerie for your bachelorette party, kitchen basics for your housewarming party, toasting glasses and serving items for your engagement party, pilsner and shot glasses for groomsmen gifts, etc. And the registry is good for quite some time after your wedding as well so you can purchase whatever extras you might need. It was so cool, I was really happy I attended. But again, this is something I would have never known about if it had not been at a bridal show.

The Verdict:

If you receive an offer at a bridal show GOOGLE IT! Odds are, if it is scammy in any way whatsoever, there will be a zillion posts about it somewhere. You can find complaints on most bridal sites as well or other blogs with posts dedicated to specific "scams". BUT, not everything is a scam or con! Like I initially stated, most contests sponsored by local "mom & pop" shops are legitimate and do not come with any sort of catch. Bakers are a great example. If you win a $100 cake - you win a $100 cake. A local bridal shop recently gave away a $600 gown - which could have been a wedding dress, mother of the bride dress, etc. as long as it was under $600 in store. A local restaurant gave away a rehearsal dinner for up to 20 people. Most of the contests you register for are legitimate, just be aware that some come with "catches" or might end up being total scams.

Love & Lace Bridal Show 2014

Ashtin Rae's Floral & Decor

This past weekend my mother and I attended the Love & Lace Bridal show sponsored by Indy Wedding Ideas. The event was held at Pipers at the Marriott which was a rather nice facility. They have grand rooms with chandeliers but the best part was the atrium room that featured a lovely pond. 

The above picture I took of Ashtin Rae's Floral & Decor. I was somewhat bummed because they were the ONLY vendor at the expo that had flowers. I must admit that my favorite part about going to bridal shows is looking at tablescapes and flowers. This show however was rather heavy on the photographers. They had so many in fact that I had a difficult time remembering who was who.

Ace Rentals

One of the most helpful vendors we came across was Ace Rentals. They had a very small display showing the nice chairs they rent (beautifully adorned with flowers I might add), BUT Lisa who was the representative for Ace said they rent linens. Our venue does NOT provide linens of any kind so we were milling over the possibility of buying linens or renting them. Their prices seemed to be quite reasonable and they rent other things like tents, tables, concession stands, etc. We do not really have any decent places to rent items in Anderson so I was having a hard time trying to figure out where to rent from since we knew we would have to find a company in Indy. I have not gotten so far as to find out of they do delivery or set up from Ace, but Lisa was very helpful in her e-mails regarding making an appointment in the future to look at swatches.

Indayani Baked Goods

I must admit, a GREAT display makes a world of difference at a bridal show. Indayani Baked Goods presented the most DELECTABLE spread of glorious treats - oh it was gorgeous! They also had a ton of different treats - macarons, mini pies, chocolate dipped pretzels, cookies, etc. All are gourmet as well. I believe they have a physical store located in Indianapolis, but they also have a great Etsy site and they can be found on Facebook. They had by far the most impressive display in my opinion. You could also tell it was very well received by the visitors, and it was a company that I had never heard of before.

Indayani Baked goods

This photo is also of the Indayani Baked Goods spread, and this could be a fabulous inspiration of how you can do a treat table at your wedding. I think the "tower" pictured is a croquembouche but I am not sure. Croquembouche are becoming the new cupcakes in terms of having non-traditional cakes at weddings. I am actually milling over the idea of doing this with A Slice of Heaven Cakery's famous cake balls, which we will be serving at our wedding.

The Riley Party Barn

I was surprised that Riley's Party Barn had a booth at the expo since they are from Anderson. I must admit, I have heard several not-so-good stories about parties held at this facility in the past. Apparently, the previous manager was a relative who really did not put a great deal of work into marketing the barn or helping people book it for weddings. However, a wonderful young man named Blake is now managing the rentals of the barn. We will be attending an open house next week to check it out, because it might be a great space for family reunions, open houses for graduations, or other events. They do not have what I would call a "scenic" area for an outdoor ceremony, but Blake indicated that they have put a lot of money into bringing the barn up to snuff with other wedding venues. I will post pictures when we go for sure because there are NOT many facilities like this in Anderson at all.

Visit Hendricks County

It really is a shame that Anderson/Madison County does not have what Hendricks County has in terms of services for visitors and couples planning a wedding. Visit Hendricks County is BY FAR the most helpful service I have ever seen for tourism. Not only did they have a specific booth to illustrate wedding facilities located in the county, but the representative said that I can go to their website or call them and they can provide recommendations for food, catering, lodging, rentals, florists, etc. AS A FREE SERVICE. Seriously?! Yes! This is taken from their website: "Let us help with your wedding plans. From finding your perfect wedding reception location, to discounted room blocks at Hendricks County lodging facilities, to offering free welcome bags for your out-of-town guests, we can help make your wedding planning a breeze. Best of all, our services are complimentary." 

Visit Hendricks County

I am getting married in Hendricks County and my jaw about hit the floor when I was told this information. I was fretting pretty badly because I have never spent any time in Hendricks County. My fiance has because he worked a job at their waste water treatment plant for quite some time, but I had never been there before. Now, I am actually really excited to be getting married here because it seems there is a lot of stuff to do in the area. They have a fabulous blog written by locals illustrating various hotspots in the county as well as lesser known haunts. For example I found out about McCloud Nature Park through the blog (as avid hikers my fiance and I have never heard about this park). We are totally going here in the spring and I am SUPER excited! 

Oh Happy Days Rentals

OK, back to the bridal show review... Another vendor I was extremely impressed with was Oh Happy Days Rentals. I was partial to this booth because all the stuff they had, I have pretty much the same stuff in storage. As a vintage dealer I have accumulated quite a haul of similar items - but it is refreshing to see it on display for practical use. All my stuff has been packed in boxes for years because I honestly do not know what to do with it. I must admit some of their items were REALLY adorable and whimsical. 

Oh Happy Days Rentals

They had baskets with mason jars to hold flowers - very unique for a centerpiece. They also had various arches available for rent they can rig with vintage chandeliers. They rent ALL kinds of stuff from doors, furniture, flower pots, watering cans, baskets, trunks, dishes, chairs, etc. You name it, they probably have it. Oh Happy Days will also be at the bridal expo we will be attending this Sunday so I will be sure to take more photos. 

Cakes by Cathy

The final display I was really impressed with was Cakes by Cathy. Cakes by Cathy needs no introduction. She is a multi-award winning cake artist located in Needham, Indiana. The cakes are art...it is simple as that. They had a MASSIVE display with over 10 different cake flavors to taste. I love coconut, so I tried Almond Joy. Oh-my-gosh it was so good! Their cakes are on the high end in terms of price, but obviously you ARE getting what you pay for here. If you want a cake your guests will remember for years to come, Cakes by Cathy is the place to go!

Cakes by Cathy

If you can dream it, Cathy and her team can make it. They had a huge book on display as well of many cakes they have made in the past. They had one that looked like an ambulance that was used as a grooms cake. Too cute! Although we have already found a wonderful baker, I would not hesitate for a second to recommend Cathy because I know she would do an impeccable job for any bride! I also have no doubts that she could make anything you could dream up or find on Pinterest.

Cakes by Cathy

Cakes by Cathy also had a GREAT idea in terms of cake display. They had all these little cakes inside bird cages! It was fabulous! Since we found such an elegant venue, we are tweaking our theme to reflect more of a woodland atmosphere. I am going to use a birdcage for our cards and I am milling over the idea of using branches for center pieces and hanging birds from them. This would be so cute for display, and you simply lift off the lid for cutting. 

Cakes by Cathy

This was a very long bridal show for us. We were early to arrive because we were not sure of how the parking would be handled since there was so much snow. We are glad we arrived early because the parking at Pipers was bizarre. There was a little lot in the front - with no outlet. So, we almost got stuck there. Then, the banquet facility is also an apartment complex so other guests had to park all the way in the back and walk in the snow to get inside. I wished they would have had a parking attendant out there because several people almost got stuck in the front lot since there was no way to get out once you got in. 

On a final note: Everyone who goes to these shows attends in hoping they will win a great prize. Well...I WON something! Inside the gift bags they handed out, we were told to look and see if we had a map with a prize card attached. Mine was for Mary Kay! I won a FABULOUS gift certificate for $75 to use towards makeup or a wedding trial. I think me and my mom are going to use it for a wedding trial just to see. I have never had anyone do my makeup before so it should be a lot of fun! 

I also got an e-mail saying I won an engagement photo session. I was beaming until I realized when you win a "photo session" this does not mean you win the photos. I was SO BUMMED when I e-mailed the photographer and asked about the photos because I was told that while we would get a single printed 8X10, if we wanted the digital photos it would be $300. Yea...sorry but I will not be forking over $300 for pictures taken of me and my fiance in hockey jerseys. My mom agreed that when the weather gets better we will go to Mounds Park and she can use my "fancy camera" to take pictures of us to use for our wedding website. From now on I WILL ASK photographers before I enter contests what "winning" a prize from them really means. I was really disappointed the session would not come with the photos.

Beautiful Beginnings Bridal Show 2014

On Sunday, my mother and I attended the Beautiful Beginnings Bridal Show in Muncie, Indiana. This year, the event took place at the Horizon Convention Center, which is downtown. I had not looked at this facility when I was searching for venues, but this is a VERY nice venue. Although it is not what we were looking for, they DO have a ceremony site outside and a gorgeous interior! We spoke with Melissa at length about the venue and I would highly recommend it! If you want to check this venue out, ask for Melissa because she was super informative! Anyway, I love flower arrangements and the above image I personally took. These flowers were arraigned by Lazy Daisy and I was really impressed with what they offer.

Lazy Daisy had vintage handkerchiefs wrapped around the bouquets and others had lace. They also said they would rent out glass vases for free! The overall feel was very rustic and outdoorsy. I loved their flowers!

This STUNNING lace cake was on display from Under the Sun Bakery located in Frankton, Indiana. I fell in love with the lace and the sprig of green on the top. Mona, one of the owners, quoted this cake at about $100 which I thought was reasonable.

This was another cake on display, which the owner quoted at around $300. I am loving the natural wood cake stand and charger idea. I think I am going to see if my lawn care extraordinaire, Randy, can make me a bunch for the wedding! Their cake was good, however we decided yesterday that we will be using Amy and Kelcy at Slice of Heaven Cakery in Lapel, Indiana.

This picture was taken inside one of the reception rooms of the Horizon Center. My mom and I had a fit over the Christmas lights underneath the tablecloths. Now, no matter what venue we choose, I must do this!

The Horizon Center also had two of these really cool lighted fountains with flowers around them. It was very impressive looking and fun! I think you could also move these around to where ever you wanted.

This was yet another cake by Under the Sun Bakery. Notice the impressions in the icing and all the flowers on top are real. So adorable!

The Verdict:

I would say this bridal show was more successful than the one we went to in Indianapolis. Not only were there far less people in attendance than the one in Indy (the Muncie one had a $6 a person entry fee but the Indy one I reviewed in a previous blog post was free), but there were only about 35 vendors, which made it manageable. It was much easier to talk to individual booth attendants about what they offered and to discuss options and prices. 

AND - I think we found our photographer!

Dale Pickett Photography

Dale Pickett and Sally Wolf had been recommended to me by two different people previously. However, after viewing Dale's webpage, I thought for sure he would be at the top tier of photographers in terms of cost. Their photographs are STUNNING! However, after speaking to Sally at the bridal show she was able to tell me just how flexible they are and how affordable they can be! Most photographers have you pick "packages" where they give you a number of hours and then you must buy prints from them. In other words, you do not have the exclusive printing rights to the photos - which also means you cannot put them on Facebook, e-mail them to friends and family, print your own, have collages made, or anything like that without their permission. Usually this permission will cost you an extra $1000 on top of them simply providing the photo sessions. 

Dale and Sally DO give you the disc of all your photos and you can print at your leisure or they can do prints or books for you. I really needed the option of printing my own pictures or making my own books on Shutterfly because Groupon has a deal about once a month on books or prints where you can get a bunch of nice items for really cheap. This was very important to me because I did meet two wonderful photographers at the Indy bridal show - but their packages were $4,000-$5,000 and then you had to get all your prints, books, and canvasses through them. This is simply not something we could ever afford. Dale and Sally also will do shorter photo sessions to save on the cost. Because honestly, I do not think our wedding will last for 12 hours so why need a photographer for that long?

MCL Cafeteria Catering

Biggest Surprise of the Day:

Did you know MCL Cafeteria does wedding catering? No? Neither did I. They have a TON of stuff on their menu and are really CHEAP! And no, it is not all fried chicken and roast beef. We received a great booklet with pricing from the manager at the Muncie, Indiana MCL. She was WONDERFUL in explaining how they do delivery and you can have a plated meal or a buffet. They even have china and linen options! The way they do their pricing is you pick ONE entree, two sides, a roll of choice, and then you can add salads, desserts, drinks, etc. 

Example: Family style lunch and dinner - where you pick it up and set it up yourself. You pick packages that serve 10, 15, or 25. So, for 150 people that would be 6 packages of 25 - so you could get 3 of one entree and 3 of another if you wanted. Grilled Teriyaki Chicken is $219.98 per package for 25 guests. So, if you got Teriyaki Chicken for everyone it would be $1319.88 - THIS INCLUDES TWO SIDES AND A ROLL. 

Do you have any idea how cheap this is?! It is less than $9 a person! I am almost positive we will be going with a BBQ smoked meats meal for our wedding, but the prices at MCL cannot be beat! For the sides you can order Mashed Potatoes and Gravy (let's face it, no matter how casual or fancy your wedding is going to be, you NEED mashed potatoes because everyone will eat them) and Steamed Broccoli. Or you could do Broccoli Cheese Bake and Cole Slaw. They have 10 - yes TEN side options available. They have 12 entree options as well. You can pick from 5 different rolls...including cinnamon rolls! The only things that this option does not include are salads and drinks. But honestly, drinks are almost always cheaper if you buy them yourself at the grocery.

The difference between this meal deal and the "Full Service" meal plan is that with "Full Service" you get table linens and they deliver to your venue. I think the pricing for the meal deals above is more for like if you are going to pick up the trays of food and set it up yourself with Sterno and all that. The manager however said she can work with anyone regarding any aspect so it was not that big of a deal. However, the pricing for Full Service is still EXTREMELY reasonable at $16.95 to $22.95 a person for buffet or $30.95 for a served meal. For the $22.95 a person buffet, you get THREE entree options! For the $16.95 a person plan you get a salad, ONE entree like stuffed chicken or lasagna (there were 10 options), TWO sides like potatoes or carrots or baked beans (there were 15 options), and a roll (3 options to choose from). With this option you ALSO get DRINKS - water, tea, and coffee. For 150 people this would cost $2542.50. Still, very reasonable for a wedding! Even if you did the top tier of the buffet at $22.95 a person it would be $3442.50. The average cost of the main food for a wedding (not including appetizers, snacks, or extras) is about $4,400.00 according to a recent survey. With MCL being almost $1000 cheaper than that for a 3 entree options you really cannot go wrong!

Overall I would say the Muncie Bridal show was very successful, and luckily I will be able to attend again next year since our big ceremony will not happen until October of 2015.