Tips in the Journey of Wedding Planning

Spring is here, friends! And with it is a whirlwind of wedding planning happening here. My niece traveled from Japan with her new husband to celebrate an American wedding with family and friends in April. She had already married in Japan a year earlier, but a need for an American wedding placed an event here in the plans.

A call last fall was a simple request for me to help. She knows me…my history with planning weddings and events…and wanted a pretty, drama free event to celebrate and introduce her new husband’s family to us. What an honor…

It began with her 4 aunts…sisters of her Dad…reserving the location and working together to make this event happen.

Off to the races we began with the wedding planning checklist!

First tip for wedding planning…

The couple used a Zola registry to invite guests. This is a wonderful way to send and receive RSVPs online since most of the guests were in America. So easy to make the count for planning a breeze! It also helps in knowing food allergies and issues to take into consideration when planning food for the event.

It began as a simple American version of vows, favorite scriptures and a real American wedding dress (per her Mother in Law’s request). My niece ended with selecting to wear her mother’s wedding gown. A sweet gesture that honored her mother.

Then a lunch was planned, colors of decorations, which evolved into a wedding cake, dance, favors…you know ALL that takes place in planning a wedding…right?

For those who know me, I could do this in my sleep. But, 16 hours difference in times from Japan to Kentucky, work schedules and sleep made planning a bit of a challenge.

But, in the end, a beautiful bride and handsome groom shared their joy and introductions with all of us.

So, of course, I had to share all of it with you.

The Wedding Weekend Beginning

In order to meet the Japanese family, an invitation was extended to have them to dinner to begin the weekend. A special request by my niece’s new husband that was a joy to provide for them. Although we had already met and were in love with the groom, meeting his parents was a joy.

This time of year we always have our home lit for the Dogwood Trail. Our guests loved this tradition and the dogwood and snowball trees in bloom.

A wonderful introduction to our home and evening.

A menu, approved by the bride, of grilled steak, green bean bundles, fresh corn, deviled eggs, a salad and biscuits began the dinner, followed by homemade ice cream and peach cobbler. Just click on the links to find recipes of what we enjoyed.

Although his parents knew very little English, my niece and husband assisted in translating. The love for them was immediate. When my brother brought my blog up in Japanese using Google translate? Well, joy overflowed with tears for me.

The following day began the preparation and set up for the wedding.

Here are a few DIY ideas for wedding planning:

The NEXT tip is to give yourself time for set up. This was a huge one! If possible, give yourself plenty of time to set up before the event. Benefits? It will help with sound, lighting, and physical energy to go the distance on the day of the event.

With a 3 day rental, it gives you time to:

• set up table and chairs and room arrangement and even sound systems and technical equipment the first day;
• decorate the second day;
• and then add the fresh flowers and food for set up on the third day.

For an early morning arrival the day of the event—this is a game changer.

It’s a luxury not to overlook. It might just make your event go far smoother than imagined to have extra time, if costs and location rental allow.

Regardless, make sure that you plan a wedding planning timeline with those assisting for set up and clean up.

Guest Register

Since my niece and her husband now live in Japan, taking home a completed guest register book with pictures of those who celebrated with them was her choice. Polaroid photos were taken of each family group and added to the book with warm thoughts written on the pages by guests. Pages were completed as soon as guests entered. Gel colored pins and stickers were available for decorating the pages created by guests.

Programs Creation Tips

Create programs that will help guests follow along and have as a keepsake of the celebration.

Print programs front and back and include a QR code for guests to load photos and videos for the couple to keep is a great option.

TIP: 5 x 7 card stock and printing programs on a home computer can produce great results at a huge savings.

Canva was so loved in creating the design for these. The photo of the bride in traditional Japanese dress set the color scheme to make the spring colors mix with the teal, eggplant and blue that she requested work.

Aren’t they the cutest???

Seating Chart Simplified

A part of wedding planning is often creating a seating chart for guests. Since this was a small gathering of family and friends, only 6 tables were needed making this design perfect for the event.

Here’s how you can make the seating chart:

• Simply print 6 – 5 x 7 photos at Walmart, CVS or Walgreens.
• Frame prints in Dollar Tree frames.
• Print out each table’s seating on 5 x 7 card stock and add to frames.
• To save the photos and seating charts, arrange them on the floor and take an overhead photo.
• Send photo to CVS, Walgreens or Walmart to create a canvas of the seating chart.
• Display on an easel by the entrance to your event.

TIP: Photos can be printed in less than an hour at Walmart for only $1 per photo. This is a great savings from having to buy photo paper and print them at home.

To keep the photos for the bride to take with her, and to avoid the hassle of having to stabilize the frames once glued together, take an overhead photo of the seating chart and send it to have a canvas made that will sit more easily on the easel.

Much easier option that gluing or mounting frames together on the back.

TIP: Look for coupons at CVS, Walmart or Walgreens to print the seating chart. Printing with an 80% off CVS coupon gave us a 16 x 20 canvas print of the seating chart.

This choice also allows the actual framed photos to be used to help decorate the event.

Adding in photos from their Japanese wedding was enjoyed by all of the guests.

Favors

The favor list kept growing longer as we went. Here are some of her ideas that were added along the way.

• Gift bags of goodies from Japan were a gift from my niece to guests.

• Hershey kisses with labels provided an easy addition to the tables.

• Jordan almonds in white gift boxes, tissues and other favors were provided by the bride’s mother.

Decorations

As wedding planning continued, the bride chose midnight blue, eggplant and teal to be added in touches for decorations.

Navy tablecloths grounded the tables. White chair covers wrapped in teal ties gave a nod to the teal the bride requested.

TIP: Ordering tablecloths from Amazon can be less expensive than rentals. You may have to reorder if the order gets “stuck” in transit. The second order of tablecloths from a different seller coming within two days was a great decision when the first order got lost in transit.

TIP: If you know someone who has items that they are okay sharing, it can often save you time and money. The chair covers, ties, overhead lights and easel for the seating chart were from a wedding here the weekend before. Great additions to the event!

Fresh flowers for the wedding planning checklist.

Since this was a spring wedding, finding flowers in colors that would mix in with teal, eggplant and midnight blue, fresh spring flowers became the next item added to the checklist.

The photo used on the program was a perfect tie in to make this all work.

Two farm visits provided beautiful double daffodils and these tulips from Tulip Lane. It was pure joy to gather and pick them from the farm.

TIP: Look for flowers that are in season or in your yard–for us, that was tulips, dogwood, snowballs, and double daffodils–to keep costs down for flowers. Flowers that could be planted after the event, such as, ferns were also included. Buying tulips and double daffodils from local farms that I loved were beautiful touches.

TIP: Natalie, at Tulip Lane, advised that I keep the tulips refrigerated in water or outside if cool enough to keep the tulips from opening up. Emi, at Emi Henny Farm, also suggested we do that with the double daffodils, too. The snowballs, redbud and dogwood from my yard were picked the day before the wedding to help hold blooms.

After the arrangements were made on site the day before the wedding, vases were all tucked into the side by side refrigerator overnight. Setting them out the day of the wedding helped them to look their best.

Place Settings

Programs added to each place setting were the perfect touch to tie in colors that the bride had requested.

Since the bride requested disposable dinnerware. each place setting had white disposable Martha Stewart plates with silver edges placed on top of silver round placemats. The heavy silverware was so beautiful it was difficult to believe they were disposable.

A simple white paper napkin was the perfect addition to the table setting.

In the center of each table were the glass vases filled with fresh flowers on mirrors.

Each table also had place cards and a table number correlating with the seating chart at the entrance.

Toasting flutes were added to each place setting. The clear beverage cups were added to the beverage serving area for making beverage decisions during the buffet.

Jordan almond boxes were placed behind each place card for guests provided by the bride’s mother.

The addition of Hershey kisses on the table with different sayings printed in teal and purple was loved by the bride and groom.

A QR code to send videos and photos to was added to the program AND table cards so that the bride and groom had one location for all of the photos and videos everyone took from their phones.

Here’s the link for having that at your next event…be it planning a wedding, shower, anniversary, birthday party or event.

A much less complicated way to capture photos and videos at an event.

Silk Flowers

Silk flowers were requested for the bride’s bouquet, small bouquets for the mothers and grandmother, and bouts for the groom and fathers. This made them easy to transport home to Japan as a keepsake for them all.

Bridal bouquet and the groom’s bout were created from silk flowers from Hobby Lobby.

Small bouquets were made for the mothers and grandmothers to carry and keep.

An extra bouquet was created for a bouquet toss. Additional boutonnieres were made for both the father of the bride and groom.

TIP: Look for bouquets and bouts that are already made and then add to them to get a more personal and professional look.

Adding sill flowers to the round arch that served as the backdrop for the ceremony tied in the decorations and bouquet colors…while fresh potted ferns softened each side. Simple, but effective to tie in colors and spring. The addition of silk tulips, lavender, and dogwood tied the silk flowers to the fresh ones on the tables.

Her bouquet became the centerpiece during the vows held by a crystal vase in front of an antique family candleholder for the unity candle ceremony.

TIP: Hobby Lobby proved to be a great place for the silk flowers with many discounted and the rest at 40% off. Watch for their sales to get the best deal. Check out Dollar Tree to find flowers to add to the backdrop to match the fresh flower arrangement centerpieces.

Family Photo Table

Next on the checklist the bride requested a remembrance table. As planning evolved, instead of only including those who were no longer with us, adding in photos of the bride and groom’s parents and grandparents, along with a photo of them was a better choice.

The lantern being topped with the same sheer teal as the backs of all of the chair covers is an easy way to tie in decoration colors.

Celebration Ideas

One of the most important things in sharing the event with both Japanese guests and American family members and friends was the inclusion of both interpretations either verbally or on a slideshow. Inclusion was so important to them.

So, from the vows to the games, all guests were able to see or hear in native language.

During the luncheon, a slideshow created by the bride, was captivating. A sweet video set to music of videos and photos when both the bride and groom were babies til adulthood was perfect.

I promise that adding a video will provide more than a few tears and much laughter and joy.

The Wedding Cake

The wedding cake made by the bride’s cousin was stunning AND delicious. As the bride said…”it was the BEST cake she had ever had”!

You might choose to set the cake on a table by itself to showcase it as we did. The bride chose the topper for her cake. A sweet nod to the travel between continents.

Wedding Luncheon

The timeline for the wedding was perfect for hosting a buffet wedding luncheon.

Planning a wedding buffet of chafing dishes for hot dishes, followed by a table set with salads and fruit, gave options for the many food needs of guests.

My niece, the bride’s cousin, created the fresh flower arrangement for this table and the table centerpieces which were beautiful.

Fruit and vegetables were added to the center round table between the table filled with chafing dishes for hot foods and the rolls and beverage serving table.

TIP: An easy option for beverage service is simply filling cups with ice for drinks on the beverage table.

TIP: Add flutes to the tables to have ready to fill with sparkling grape juice for the toasts.

Reception

A solution to having no bridal shower with the fun “get to know the bride and groom” activities? Adding some sweet activities to get to know the couple brought much laughter to everyone at the reception.

Cutting the cake, toasting the bride and groom, traditional speeches, and dances completed the event.

Look for traditions that include all family members. A Japanese tradition is always a group photo…so a group photo of all in attendance was done before the dance began and guests might begin departure.

Lots of music and line dancing ended the event with energy and laughter exuding!

TIP: Create your own Spotify list to be played instead of hiring a DJ. Perfect! Also, if you have a light machine to use, add that in for more fun.

Where to find some of our wedding finds…

Here are a few of the links of things to use for your next event.

This event was full of sweet moments, laughter and cherished time that had to be captured since it may be years before the couple are home again.

As hosts, we provided the building and the coordination of it all for them and my brother and sister in law.

From the set up, decorating, sound, lighting, cake, flowers, DJ, guest register, game coordinating, food preparation, serving, and clean up…the family involvement was priceless.

TIP: Don’t forget to include as many as you can in the planning, preparing, set up and clean up of the event. You might look for talents among those guests to see those who may love to be involved and included.

Teamwork truly will make the dream work!

May you take the time to create moments and memories for those in your life. Hoping this event gives you a tip or two about celebrating others.

Angela and Daiki, our prayers are for a long and happy life and marriage for you two. Until your feet are under my table once again…know how very much you are loved.

Thanks to you all for sharing in the celebration!

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