Ok Im going to make a Wedding Planners mistake..My secret guilty pleasure..theme weddings! I love them..I know its horrible. Most wedding planners will try to steer you away from a theme..especially if they think it can only be kitschy. I personally love nothing more than going all out for a theme. Little details are key..not EVERYTHING needs to be part of the theme..but those little touches make a fun and whimsical difference. For Instance:

Are you surrounded by golfers? Embrace it..It could be beautiful!

Get married on a Golf course near a water feature.

Perform a sand ceremony using sand from a bunker of your favorite course!

Give your guests monogrammed golf tees and golf ball shaped cake balls. 

                              
TheKnot.com has some more great idea for a golf theme

C'Mon...who doesnt love Alice in Wonderland?

Use red tipped white roses centerpieces with topiary.

Have the reception outside and play croquet!

Top hats are a MUST and you could make a great bouquet from old pocket watches! 

The point is...Dont be afraid to make your wedding your own! Own it, have fun with it. AND if you are considering having a themed wedding..Im your girl..I may even offer a discount LOL.

Many brides I meet these days tell me "I dont want a seating chart, I want people to sit wherever they want". NO!! What couples do not realize is that your guests WANT to be told where to sit. When your guests first walk into your reception space its a bit overwhelming, especially if they are one of the first to arrive. Your guests will meander around and wait for people they know to arrive in order to sit next to them. The problem with that is, Aunt Kittie and cousin Marlon will sit together and have 5 other kids with them...leaving 1 empty seat..who wants to sit there?  Having some organization and control over your reception is a good thing! By creating a seating chart you are saying to your guests "We love you enough to have a special place for you". There are lots of ways to create a seating chart, the one below is my favorite. All you need is a piece of poster board and the little thin post-it notes in a few different colors. Let your guests know how much you care, Create a seating chart OR contact us and we will help you seat your guests.

90% of the weddings that Quest plans are outdoor weddings. Does that make this our niche market? Perhaps. I love a wedding by the lake, in the woods or in a gorgeous garden. Its so easy to take that breathtaking scenery and make an event magical. Here are a few tips to help take your outdoor wedding to the next level.

Shepherd hooks! Who know how versatile they were? Big or small these little contraptions make great aisle runner additions. You can hang pomanders, jars of candles, little galvanized buckets or your favorite cowboy boot filled with flowers!

Lights, Camera...Lanterns!
Create a romantic atmosphere by adding twinkle lights, paper or glass lanterns or something like the twig balls in this picture! These are simply made from vines..wrapped around a giant balloon..puncture the balloon and Voile` a giant pretty ball to weave lights around and hang from trees! Your pictures will have a gorgeous glow and your guests will feel like they are in an intimate settings.

Outdoor dance floors are a MUST if you want guests to dance the night away without getting high heels stuck in the dirt. Plus it keeps grass stains off your dress. Most local rental companies can rent you a dance floor at an affordable price...If not..make sure the area your guests will dance in is free of debris, holes and weeds.

Have a back-up plan. Outdoor weddings are a gamble. Watch the weather all the way up to the big day...if there is even a chance of rain..make sure you rent a tent or nearby building in case of emergency. Nobody wants to ruin a $200 chiffon bridesmaids dress by falling in a puddle.  

In the end, outdoor weddings give the kids room to run, provides a beautiful backdrop and allows the couple to decorate any way they choose.

If you need ideas on location in your area. Feel free to give Quest a call for recommendations!

Want to save a little money and have a little fun at your event? Why not serve everything...on a stick! Go elegant or rustic, its easy when you put them on a stick.

    And dont forget....photo props...on a stick!

Dear Future Fiance`s

Did you know that 18% of all engagements happen over Christmas?

Dont fall into the cliche of putting a ring in a cupcake! Not only are you asking for a huge dental bill...but its been so over done!

Here are a few tips to make your proposal...memorable.
 

 HAVE A RING and a plan.
Not every girl wants a 2 carat emerald cut engagement ring. Find out what her tastes are. Does she prefer a marquise cut (diamond shape) Emerald cut (rectangle) or maybe she prefers a pear shape! Is she eclectic and unique..perhaps she would like a saphire ring! If she is a girly girl...PINK diamonds are big this year. 

 Dont go into your proposal without really thinking through with what you want to say and how you want to deliver it. Do you want to get down on one knee? Will you ask her to open the box, or will you present the ring to her? You can sneak a ring from her jewelry box and take it with you to the jewelers. They can size that ring to ensure you get the proper size engagement ring. Do something unusual...propose in a park, on a carriage ride, on the beach...Take her to the place you first asked her out...Propose at a Christmas light display. Saying "Hey lets get married"....I promise wont win you any brownie points...but saying "I want to spend the rest of my life hearing you laugh" while holding a ring...down on one knee in the snow at her favorite place...thats a memory that wont fade.

My final piece of advice? Have someone there to photograph your proposal and her face when she sees the ring. This will be a treasured moment for the rest of your life. DOCUMENT it!

Good luck on your Holiday Proposals!

Why spend hundreds of dollars on fancy embossed napkins when, if you have the time, you can do it yourself?
 For the bride on a shoestring that still wants the elaborate feel of custom envelopes, napkins and ribbons...consider purchasing an embosser. Have the company use your monogram! For approximately $60 you can get a 5/8' embossing stamp that you can use on cheap napkins, invitations and thank you cards PLUS any future correspondances. Follow the link below to order your embossing stamp.

Purchase Stamp Here

What will the backdrop to your special day look like?

Setting the scene can sometimes set the mood and theme for the whole day. Really take a little time and design your ceremony space. Maybe you like a tropical feel...decorate with potted palms...Is it a western theme? How about some hay bales and boot? Are you going for romantic and elegant? Shoot for lots of draping fabrics and some pillars.

We cant all live at 1313 Mockingbird Lane, but for the entire month of October we get to decorate like we do!

You can set the scene for your party with creepy spider webs, skulls and lots of candles!

 Make a Bubbling Potion Drink!
You Need:
Large glass jars or beverage containers
Brightly colored drink of your choice(Kool-
Aid or Fruit Juice)
Dry Ice (1 pound per gallon of potion)
Heavy-duty gloves and/or an oven mitt and tongs

Prepare drinks if necessary in the beverage jars. Otherwise, pour the drinks into the jars.

Carefully break up the dry ice with a mallet or a hammer. Add one piece (about 4-6 inches somewhere on the piece) per gallon at a time to the drink containers and replenish the dry ice as necessary. Serve immediately, ladling the juice into cups and leaving the dry ice in the large containers.

Note: The 1 pound per gallon rule will give you about an hour’s worth of potion. If you need 2 hours, you’ll need 2 pounds per gallon, and on and on. :) (It is perfectly safe to drink liquids with dry ice in them. Just do not try to eat the ice)

Set up a place for photos!
Stage an area with creepy decorations, Gothic photo frames, Cemetery props...etc! Then upload those pictures to a share site so your guests can print them off!

No matter what you have planned, whether its a SPOOKtacular event or a fun harvest picnic, remember to have a good time.

DOLLAR TREE!
Who doesn’t love candy, right? Candy buffet tables are a fun wedding trend being used in different ways by brides. Some brides just want to add some whimsy to the reception, while others have the candy buffet do double duty as the guest favors. Some couples are opting out of serving an expensive wedding cake altogether and putting their creativity into a candy and dessert table (while saving money, too). Whatever your reasons, your guests will love it, and you will love the look. Here’s a few tips and ideas to help you put on a cool and colorful candy buffet:

• While it’s not a must, most brides choose candy and desserts that complement their color schemes. Use several colors together, or different hues and shades of a single color. It also adds interest to use a variety of different candies (both wrapped and unwrapped) that have different textures and designs.
• Use different sized containers to create height and depth that will give your table a unique look. If using unwrapped candy, be sure your containers are safe for food.
• If you want, add other small desserts like trendy cake pops, cupcakes & cookies to round out the dessert offering.
• Labeling each candy and dessert selection helps the guests know what they’re getting, but also adds a decorative touch. You can even trim the containers in ribbon and add other decorative accents to the table, such as a centerpiece, pretty linens, embellishments, and more.
• Use your beautiful candy buffet for guest favors... this is fun for the guests and will save you money, too! Just add a tray of favor boxes or a basket of favor bags to the table and let the guests fill them with their favorite selections.
• Everything you see here is available at your local Dollar Tree