While it’s customary for guests to bring gifts to the wedding, it seems by the time the wedding takes place, the bride and groom have received most of the gifts from their registry. What many couples just starting out need, especially in this economy, is money. There is an old tradition—at least in the South where I’m from—of giving the bride and groom a “money tree” at their wedding reception.

Now, this can be accomplished in many ways, but the basic idea is to have a table specifically set aside at the reception with a “tree” on it—usually a large branch—that is in the center of the table. Paper clips and small envelopes are provided so guests can clip their bills or envelopes to the tree. By the end of the reception, the tree is filled with monetary gifts to help the couple as they begin their life together.

The money tree can be a decorative focal point at the reception. The branch can be placed in a large container, weighted down with rocks and covered with moss. The branch could be sprayed white or silver, and you could even put mini white lights on it for a beautiful effect. If you’re having a wedding near the holidays, a miniature Christmas tree would work great.

I think this is an especially helpful idea if the couple has just purchased their first home. Gifts from the money tree could actually pay their first month’s mortgage.

This traditional wedding reception idea was brought to you by weddingandpartynetwork.com, your number 1 source for wedding planning.

Whether you’ve been to a wedding in Atlanta, thrown several, or planning your first one, you know that Atlanta Georgia weddings have to be special. Georgians pride themselves on their rich traditions and southern heritage. Incorporating these things into a fantastic wedding is all part of what makes Atlanta weddings so fun to attend.

If you’re planning a wedding in Atlanta, you probably already know what guests expect and what will have them bragging about your stylish tastes for ages. However, many brides often overlook or wait til last to find the most simple but essential ingredients to any great wedding. What’s that, you ask? Wedding rentals.

What would a wedding be without tables and chairs? It’d be a bunch of frustrated people standing around looking bored. What would a wedding be without glasses filled with delicious beverages or tables lined with food? It would be a bunch of frustrated people standing around looking bored and hungry. Do not let this happen to you!

The melodrama ceases here but the reality is that wedding rentals such as tables and chairs, silverware, dinnerware and glassware are important parts of what makes the wedding reception so fun. A lot of other things are added to the mix but the comfort and style of your wedding reception depends on the rentals that you choose. Wedding rentals can range from places to sit (tables and chairs) to where the reception is being held (tent rentals). One thing is for sure, the comfort of the night depends on your choice of wedding rentals.

Don’t wait until the last minute to find the supplies that you need. The finest wedding Atlanta GA has ever seen is yours and will be forever etched in their memories thanks to the rarely renowned but always appreciated wedding rentals.

Ask The Celebration Advisor: I’m looking for bulb-strand lights, with a candelabra base (similar to ones found and fairs and festivals, also on the Movie HOPE FLOATS) Anyone know where these can be rented? ~ Elly in Wichita KS

The Celebration Advisor: As luck would have it (or knowing a lot of cool lighting vendors), I do happen to know of a great place to find bulb strand lights with candelabra bases! Oogalights.com has pretty much all of the commercial and festival lights you could want. They give you several options of colors for the strand lights with candelabra bases as well. Choose from red, green and black. PartyLights.com also has strand lights with candelabra bases (view C7 Strings & Bulbs). While I’m not sure that either will rent, strand lights are a versatile purchase that can be used for other affairs or resold after the wedding.

The “Hope Floats” look is really popular for intimate outdoor weddings. In fact, we did the same thing for my friend’s wedding a few years ago. Oogalights.com gives you a lot of options so that the wedding is celebrated with a bright and cheery atmosphere. I hope you find what you’re looking for! Don’t forget to stop back by Wedding And Party Network with photos to let us know how it went. Thanks Elly!

Is An At-Home Wedding for You?

Whether you’re saying ‘I do’ in your living room, or you’re having a backyard wedding, at-home weddings are a challenge. A couple of weeks before our at-home wedding, our neighbor placed a big, honking boatlift on his beach. This wasn’t any old boatlift. It was a rickety, rusty eyesore.

I wouldn’t have cared. Honest. It’s just that my husband-to-be and I spent months getting our lakefront home ready for our backyard wedding. This involved adding flowerbeds, planting a truckload of ever-thirsty impatiens (more on those later), power washing, and even painting.

I envisioned my guests mingling on the spotless deck, cocktails in hand, a soft breeze from Lake Erie cooling their sun-exposed skin. I pictured sailboats in the distance, a beach free of garbage and smelly dead things and an unobstructed view of Fermi II (that’s the nuclear power plant across the lake). I did not forsee a rusty, contraption of a boatlift to be part of the picture.

So, I traipsed on over to my neighbor’s house and told him we were getting married and we were having an at-home wedding. And by the way, can you move your boatlift, because it won’t look nice in my wedding photos? (The nerve of me!)

Our wedding day came and went, and the boatlift didn’t budge. And you know what? It didn’t matter. Not a single bit. I did not harbor bad feelings towards my neighbor, and he did not hold my temporary lapse of reason against me. In fact, the day before our wedding, he offered us the use of a wooden platform that we ended up using it as a stage for the Irish band!

Looking back, I can’t believe that I was so petty. But that’s what planning a wedding can do to you. Even a small wedding. It can make you crazy. Unrecognizable. The evil twin sister you didn’t know you had can suddenly rear her ugly head. Heck, there are even TV shows about this kind of thing.

And having an at-home wedding can intensify the symptoms -especially if you are a perfectionist. There are so many extra details involved with planning an at-home wedding that it can be overwhelming for anyone – but especially those who have a penchant for perfection.

Not only will you be running around like a hen with her head missing trying to cross off the zillion things on your to-do list, you’ll also want to make sure your home is extra-tidy, extra-lovely, extra-special for your extra-important big day. And that will take Effort. (Note the capital ‘E’ for emphasis.)

One of the first things Darin and I did when we decided to have a backyard wedding was head out to a local nursery to load up on flowers, and other bedding plants. In fact, we spent the entire spring and summer landscaping our property, which included planting dozens of flats of impatiens, as well as an assortment of perennials.

Through it all, I discovered a new passion – gardening, and I lost weight without even trying! (Hauling wheelbarrows full of earth day after day will get you in shape pretty fast!)I also discovered that impatiens and a scorching hot summer climate make for a very LARGE water bill.

Even though we were having our at-home wedding outdoors, Darin and I decided not only to landscape the yard – but also fix up our house before the wedding. This included stripping wallpaper, painting, stripping more wallpaper, and did I mention stripping wallpaper? We had plenty of help from family, but Darin and I truly busted our behinds trying to get things in order.

Of course, not all couples planning an at-home wedding spend months fixing up their place. Some people don’t lift a finger on home improvements. If that’s the case, planning can be a whole lot easier.

However, there are still things to keep in mind if you are planning an at-home wedding.

1. Toilets. It’s probably the least romantic thing about your wedding, but it’s probably one of the most important. No matter where you decide to have your wedding, you’re going to need at least one. If you are having your wedding at home, you might decide that guests can use the washrooms in your home. But after giving it some serious thought, you might change your mind. If you are having an outdoor wedding, do you really want your guests traipsing in and out of your home? Can your plumbing system take the wear and tear? Is it possible that your septic system will be overstressed, causing a plumbing nightmare on the biggest day of your life? (Ever see Meet the Parents?) After doing some research, we discovered that port-a-johns definitely aren’t what they used to be. There are new user-friendly models in a variety of colors. Not only are they more pleasing to the eye, they have sinks and flush toilets. Even though they are more expensive, they were definitely worth the splurge.

2. Neighbors. Warn them in advance and give them a heads up closer to the big day. They might even offer up their driveways for parking – or a portable stage! Be extra kind to them as you get close to your wedding day, so that they will put up with potentially high noise levels from your happy wedding guests.

3. Invite your caterer over before the big day so s/he can scope out your kitchen. S/he’ll need to know how much space there is to work in – as well as fridge and stove details.

4. If you are doing the outdoor thing, rent a tent. That is, unless you have a huge tolerance for risk. (Which I do not.)

5. Hire a cleaning person to clean your home thoroughly prior to your wedding – not to mention after your big day. Unless of course, you have a lovely friend or relative who has kindly offered to take on this task.

6. Have bug spray handy. Citronella candles might provide ambiance, but they are useless when it comes to fending off hungry ‘mossies’.

7. If your guests like to over-imbibe, be prepared: some might want to crash at your house. We had a pretty tame crowd at our wedding, but like any good party, there’s a chance this will happen at your wedding. If you’re not equipped for sleepovers, be smart and call a cab.

8. Enjoy the journey. Easy for me to say – I got married eight years ago. But, really, try not to sweat the small stuff – like boatlifts.

9. Give yourself a pat on the back for pulling it off. Planning a wedding at home is no small feat, but it’s one of the most rewarding things you will accomplish. Raise a glass to yourself – (and to your neighbor) for a job well done!

Christina Friedrichsen is the author of Intimate Weddings: Planning a Small Wedding that Fits Your Budget and Style and owner of IntimateWeddings.com, a website dedicated to small weddings.

A special thanks to:

Photography by memoriesINtime, a Milan MO photographer, for the beautiful photo of a wedding ceremony in front of a lake.

Hollyhock Flowers, a Weare NH florist, who create the fabulous flowers decorating the wooden bridge in the second photo.

Petals-a-Florist, an Atlanta GA florist, who designed the sensational pew markers in the third photo.

Did you know that the average wedding costs over $23,000? While there is no shame in spending more or less than this, the averaged wedding costs can still add up quickly. Most brides overshoot their wedding budget goals by as much as 15%! To avoid breaking the bank with your wedding planning, here are some budget-friendly tips for brides-to-be!

Wedding Budget Tip 1:  Avoid The Busy Season

The majority of weddings occur between May and October. In fact, October is the new June. Late fall weddings and winter weddings are beautiful and allow brides to reduce costs by catching vendors and wedding supplies when they’re not in great demand!

Also, consider marrying on a Friday or throughout the week. Marrying on a weekday may be less traditional, but it’s a fun and unique way to make your ceremony special (and save money!). Weekend weddings are great but reception halls charge the most for Saturday evening weddings. By marrying on a Friday, you’ll be able to save on the reception costs, enjoy great options for the ceremony location, and spend a three day weekend with your groom!

Wedding Budget Tip 2:  Pass Up The Dessert Tray

Wedding cakes are a huge reception expense. Since this is the most important piece at the reception, no bride wants to cut it out completely. Instead, opt for a smaller wedding cake. Also consider a cupcake wedding cake. This tasty trend allows guests to enjoy a small portion of the same great flavor. The biggest treat for you? Cupcake cakes usually run about $60 compared to hundreds for a traditional wedding cake.

If a smaller version of your dream cake won’t feed everyone, consider having a sheet cake of the same flavor along with your wedding cake. An evening of dancing, drinks and good food doesn’t leave much room for dessert. Consider passing up extra dessert options which quickly add up (on the hips as well)!

Wedding Budget Tip 3:  Go Green With The Wedding Flowers

Opt for more greenery in the reception arrangements. Most guests won’t know which flowers are in or out of season so trim the cost of your wedding flowers by using more greenery. The wedding ceremony flowers are a beautiful addition to the ceremony but remember that this is where guests spend the least amount of time. Most spend more time at the reception so consider putting the budget emphasis on your wedding reception flowers instead.

Wedding Budget Tip 4: Go Green With The Wedding Invitations

In the age of technology and conservation, eco-friendly wedding invitations are a big perk. If you want to send standard wedding invitations, consider replacing the RSVP cards with a note on the invitation that asks guests to RSVP at your wedding website. Wedding websites will save a ton on less important wedding stationery. (Oh, and invitation liners are unnecessary. You’re breaking no etiquette by opting out on these.)

Wedding Budget Tip 5:  Double Up With Wedding Favors

Wedding favors are a must-have for most brides according to traditional wedding etiquette. Wedding favors can be practical and functional though! Consider favors that double as place cards or serve a purpose after the wedding. Personalized bottles of bubbles serves as wedding favors and can be used instead of tossing rice or bird seed after the ceremony.

Wedding Budget Tip 6:  Opt For A Cocktail Reception

This is a good way to glam up your reception without spending lots of money on food and decorations. Waiters carrying trays of hor d’oeuvres is a glamorous look and a frugal choice for brides. Many wedding caterers have their own wait staff, so consider hiring a local caterer with wait staff for a glamorous but easy-on-the-wallet reception.

Wedding Budget Tip 7:  Buy The Music, Not The Band

A band at the wedding is always fun, but consider a single musician or a dj instead. Going this route with wedding reception entertainment will save costs simply because you’re paying for one person instead of multiple people.

Wedding Budget Tip 8:  Share The Menus

Instead of giving each guest a menu at the reception, opt for one or two per table. These can look elegant when placed between beautiful table settings or when stood on either side of the table’s centerpice. This saves paper and printing costs plus adds to the decor of the table.

While at a wedding Saturday, my husband asked me why the bride stands on the left. Traditionally, you will see the bride stand to the groom’s left during most American & Western wedding ceremonies. My reply was “it’s a tradition.”  Then I stated wondering where this wedding tradition came from so I did a little research on the subject.

History points to the “marriage by capture” era as initial reason for this wedding tradition.  Then the middle ages seem to have played at large part in the solidifying the tradition.  In the early age of civilization, people lived in tribes.  Often the men in these tribes would steal women from the other tribes and force them to marry. The stealing tribesmen would fight off the “bride’s” tribesmen with their right hands whilst holding the “bride” with their left.  In the middle ages a knight wore his sword on his left side to be able to draw it with his right hand.  If he needed to draw his sword during the wedding ceremony, the knight would not want to draw his sword toward his bride but away from her.  Hence, the bride had to be to his left.

Biblically speaking we could attribute it simply to the idea that women and men were separated in the early churches.  The woman sat on the left side of the church and the men on the right. Some say that scripture could be interpreted that the bride should be on the left.

It seems that this wedding tradition has been claimed by many with a variety of reasons.  It may have begun the moment men and women sought a commitment to each and continues on today many, many millions of wedding ceremonies later.

Ask The Celebration Advisor: Hi im looking 4 a justice of the peace or a clergy member to join my coomon-law and I in marriage, I recently chatted with a woman who did this at her own home for $150, and i have misplaced her information, I really would like the ceremony small us, and 2 people 2 stand up for us, perferably somewhere in Sherwood Park, AB, Please if u can send me some info that would be great, I really need 2 book something asap, NOTHING FANCY AT ALL Thankyou again, Cindy Buzzep

The Celebration Advisor: Thanks for your question, Cindy! If you’re not looking for a religious wedding officiant, the Alberta government page has a list of marriage commissioners who are licensed in Alberta to perform weddings.  Since you’re in Sherwood Park AB, I recommend taking a look at the official website that lists licensed marriage commissioners in Alberta with a whole section for Edmonton wedding officiants. Just click on the link and scroll down to the Edmonton listing. There’s contact information listed for each wedding officiant on the page. Don’t forget to let them know that you found them through Wedding And Party Network!

If you’re looking for a religious wedding officiant in Edmonton AB (Sherwood Park district) but don’t see one that you’re interested in, simply write back and I’ll be happy to find one for you! Thanks again for your question, Cindy!

Ask The Celebration Advisor: I need to know who can make me a Halloween wedding cake, as well as favors and Ideas, and decoratons for my wedding. Most particularly the cake. for 200ppl? and a price in Calgary. Thank you. ~ Carmen Turning Robe, Calgary Alberta Canada

Celebration Advisor: Of course you can find all of that and other great wedding supplies in Calgary AB!

In fact, I know of a few places where you can find theme cakes, wedding cakes and (imagine this) theme wedding cakes in Calgary. For starters, try Cake Creations. They’re incredible! Their wedding cakes are elegant regardless of the theme. All you have to do is ask! Theme cakes as well as wedding cakes come in all shapes and sizes so be specific about what you want. Just let your wedding cake bakery know the size, general theme, and amount of people eating the cake and you’re good to go!

As far as wedding favors and ideas go, that’s greatly dependent upon the type of ceremony that you are having. It sounds like you’re having a really fun Halloween wedding–congrats! That sounds like so much fun! I would start by speaking with the professionals at Claudia’s Mementos. Though not located in Calgary, wedding favors from here are bound to be awesome. They always do an incredible job of hooking you up with the wedding favors that YOU want.

If you want a cool idea to start with for your wedding favors, try this one that my friend is using at her Halloween wedding this year. Our wedding favors are placeholders which are going to be little skulls, monsters, and ghosts with our names written on their heads. It took her a long time to choose those over chocolate cupcakes with vanilla icing decorated like webbing and our names written in red icing over that. Somehow I knew she’d go with the haunted cemetery wedding favors instead! *grin* I’m sure these will taste great with the wedding cake. Have guests bring a sweet tooth!

Wedding decorations aren’t quite as tricky. The only thing you really need to figure out is whether you want this to be more like a Halloween wedding or a Halloween party. If you’re wanting the more upscale, ask a local Calgary wedding planner to help you come up with something that will celebrate the holiday and the occasion at the same time. If you want more of a party atmosphere, go all out with black tablecloths, creepy decorative lighting, blood-colored punch and other party foods, jack-o-lanterns and other spooky decorations. It just takes a little imagination! If you want some ideas, check out these great Halloween party pictures.

Together, your choices of wedding cakes, wedding favors, and wedding decorations is immense when you use the local  wedding suppliers that you have right there in Calgary!

Thanks for your question Carmen. I look forward to seeing the pictures of your wedding!

There are many things involved in selecting the right catering services for your event. Wedding catering services require a high level of quality because it’s the biggest party of the bride’s life. Party catering can range from a simple buffet meal to an elegant sit down reception. Regardless of the type of event, there are several things to keep in mind when working with a local caterer.

What’s Your Vision?
Do you want your service to be big, small, elegant, simple? Know the answer to this before meeting with your caterer. Your caterer will want to discuss this with you at the first meeting because this determines the type of catering services that you will need for your event.

Stick To Your Vision
It’s your wedding so do not be concerned with asking for things to be catered to your specific requests. While there is some give and take to be expected, it is ok to speak up about your preferences.

Know Your Caterer’s Strengths
What are his or her most popular dishes? What type of service (wedding, party, large, small) does your caterer prefer? Knowing these things or learning these things early on will make this part of the process much simpler.

Be Candid About The Budget
Do not be afraid to discuss the food services budget with your caterer. A good caterer will find ways to work within the constraints given or let you know up front of any major changes.

Speak Up About Foods You Do / Do Not Want
It is very valuable to discuss the foods that you prefer. However, it is just as important to discuss the foods that you do not want included on the menu. For example, note any food allergies that you are aware of.

Don’t Micromanage Your Caterer
Most people want to see the Eiffel Tower but don’t care how it’s built. It is important to be available to answer any questions that your caterer may have, but allow him or her to work comfortably without unnecessary interference. Once the right caterer is chosen, you can trust their work without the need to be constantly available.

Encourage Communication Between Catering and Wait Staff
The kitchen and the front end work together so encourage fluid communication between what should seem like one group. This may be less necessary when hiring party or wedding catering services that include bar and wait staff. However, hiring a separate company for wait staff may present an issue if communication is not encouraged.

Ask The Celebration Advisor: Please settle an argument between me and my mom. What is the best wedding dress style for a late afternoon fall wedding in Niagara Falls, NY? I want a strapless wedding dress but my mom says it needs to have sleeves. She says it’s tradition for late-year weddings. Is that still the proper etiquette for wedding dresses or can I get away with wearing the one that I want? ~Nancy, Niagara Falls, NY

The Celebration Advisor: Nancy, I hate to admit this but you’re both right! Traditional etiquette says that a full-length skirt and small jacket or sleeves is appropriate for a wedding ceremony during the cooler times of the year. This has a lot to do with what was socially acceptable at the time. Just as much of it was to  keep the bride comfy. Also, a small wedding dress jacket can easily be removed for the reception but is seasonally appropriate attire. Sleeves can’t be removed but no one said they had to be stiff and bulky.

In your defense, the modern wedding is all about the bride and which wedding dress style she prefers. While traditional values are still appreciated, there is no standard etiquette that brides are holding to these days. Most simply try to coordinate their hairstyle with the neckline of their gown, the style of dress they want with the formality of their wedding, the type of dress with the location and other important considerations. If it makes you comfortable and you think it looks good, it’s perfectly acceptable in a modern wedding.

Consider These Beautiful Wedding Dress Styles for Your Fall Wedding

If you really want to go along with your mother on this, there are many beautiful wedding dresses with light jackets. Also consider lace sleeves or something similar. A long skirt can be gorgeous with many of the wedding dress styles of today.

• Mermaid style wedding dresses are form fitting through the upper thigh but then loosen into a more flowing train.
• Empire wedding dresses are usually made of lighter fabrics. They have a very short train that gives the bride a semi-formal look.
• Column style wedding dresses are very simple. They are usually floor-length gowns without a train. These are usually the preferred dresses for second weddings and semi-formal affairs. These can be easily accentuated with a light jacket and still maintain a very beautiful appearance.
• A-line/Princess wedding gowns are arguably the most popular style for modern brides. These are simple enough to allow the bride to move freely without 15 attendants for her train. However, they are also gorgeous and rather formal. They present the best of both worlds.
• Ball Gown style wedding dresses are exactly what you’d think they are. Picture Cinderella’s wedding and you’re on the mark. These have full, elaborate skirts and a less dramatic bodice. You really are the queen for a day in a wedding gown like this.

If you want to hold your own in the debate, you are right also. Modern weddings have less stringent traditions. The brides of today are able to wear whatever they want. Many are even wearing colorful wedding gowns! If your  mother’s argument is mostly that “it’s traditional,” you can respectfully disregard that advice. The modern bride’s wedding is all about her and what she wants.

If you want to wear something sleeveless, that’s fine. If you want to  honor your mother’s wishes and wear sleeves or a light jacket, that’s great too. I recommend column, a-line, or empire styles if you opt for a jacket. All styles can benefit from one but these seem to be the most suited and popular. (That means easier to find!!)

My best recommendation is to find a compromise. Ask your mother if a sleeveless wedding dress would be ok with her. Perhaps something with thin straps but not strapless (works great with an empire style). This way you can still choose a neckline, satisfy your mother, and look beautiful on your wedding day.

Let me know which dress you pick! If your mother is anything like my mother, you’ll look beautiful in a wedding dress with sleeves. *grin*

Before I forget…A shout out to the wonderful people who let me use their photos!

* The photo of the bride wearing a wedding dress jacket was provided by Photographs by Lawrence, a wedding photographer in Marietta Oklahoma.

* The photo of the bride wearing a strapless wedding dress was provided by Prange’s Florist in Gainesville Florida (she provided the gorgeous bridal bouquet also seen in the photo).