Rehearsal Dinner – This is one of the bigger pre-wedding activities – in fact, it’s basically required. Less about actually rehearsing (unless your wedding includes a dance number), this event brings together the groomsmen, bridesmaids and immediate family members of the soon-to-be bride and groom. Usually held at an upscale CT restaurant, the night is filled with drinks, fun and gifts all around. If you’re a bridesmaid or groomsman, consider yourself lucky – this is when you get your gift!

Bridal Shower – Much like a baby shower, this party is all about celebrating the bride and the new life she will be starting with her fiancé. This can be organized by the bride’s mother, sister or even the maid of honor, and usually only includes invites to the closest female family and friends. In many ways, the bridal shower isn’t so much about gifts as it is about having a nice time. However, you may have a bridal registry along with a standard gift registry. This shower can be held at the host’s house or even at a CT banquet hall – whatever you think the bride will like!

Wedding Brunch – Sometimes a bride and groom will forgo the continental breakfast spread at their hotel and splurge on a catered brunch for the bridesmaids, groomsmen, immediate family and close friends the day after the ceremony. This type of event is a great way to bring everyone together one last time before the wedding weekend is over. Having this farewell meal is especially important if many people traveled a long way to come to your wedding – it provides a relaxed setting to say your extended goodbyes.

Take Him Down – There is always a level of humor involved in the toast that the best man gives at a wedding. However, most of the time, these speeches cannot be as frank and raunchy at the banquet facility as they would be normally. For this reason, you might consider having a Friar’s Club-style roast with the groomsmen and other close friends of the groom. This option is inexpensive – get a room at a local CT restaurant – and let him have it.

The Water Beckons – If the groom likes the outdoors – especially the ocean – definitely look into renting a yacht for a shindig. This is perfect for a joint bachelor/bachelorette party and is definitely a luxurious way to celebrate the impending nuptials. Don’t forget some champagne, top shelf liquor and/or your fanciest suits. It’s all about style in the Pacific or Atlantic.

Worst Case Scenario – If worse comes to worse, discuss the bachelor party with the groom and see what he’s looking for. Although I think surprising the groom with the plan is the best approach, you definitely don’t want to plan something he’s not interested in. You may find that your initial approach wouldn’t have worked out.

Fit It In – If you are going to rent a tux or a suit for the big day, make sure the measurements are as accurate as possible. To ensure your outfit is perfect, schedule a fitting a few weeks before the wedding so any alterations can be made with time to spare.

Your Brood – The groomsmen should be as neat and kept as you are. After all, a good portion of the pictures will feature these guys. Before you leave the hotel suite, take a hard look at the suits, ties and overall appearance of your groomsmen. Better safe than sorry.

Get a Cut – Although there are brazen grooms who have haircuts done a day or two before the wedding, we recommend visiting your stylist a week or two before the wedding. This allows your hair to get settled a bit before your wedding. No one really likes that new haircut look anyway.

A Gift – A lot of grooms don’t know about the traditional gifts exchanged between the engaged couple the night before the wedding. Unless otherwise discussed (for budgetary or other reasons) do not forget to get your bride a gift.

The Vows - Ah yes. The all-important vows. Start thinking about your vows at least a few months before the ceremony and make sure you write them down twice. Give one copy to your best man in case you forget yours. You don’t want to be on the spot without the perfect words!

• When you are picking the date you’d like for your ceremony and reception, consider looking at months outside of “wedding season.” Not only are off season weddings less expensive, but they are also unique and offer you and your guests the opportunity to celebrate during an overlooked part of the year.
• Most of us have been to weddings with a ludicrously large dessert buffet. Keep it simple at your wedding. Focus on your wedding cake, coffee / tea, cookies and maybe some ice cream for the kids. This will save you a chunk of change.
• The majority of wedding costs come directly from inviting too many people. In most cases you’ll end up inviting some distant friends who are asking themselves why they are there in the first place. Cut down your guest list and watch the savings grow.
• Everyone enjoys an open bar at a wedding. While this is usually a luxury that all couples choose for their reception, try to set an amount of time that lowers the cost per head. If your venue allows you to bring your own alcohol, pay them for the bartender only.
• Pick flowers and food items that are in season. Having yellow squash in winter will cost you more than it’s worth. Be reasonable with your choices.

• Ditch the limo or party bus for your arrival to the reception hall. Look into getting a horse-drawn carriage to bring you and your new spouse to your reception. Imagine how nice the pictures will look, especially if there is some snow in the background!

• You can really play with an eccentric and beautiful color scheme in the winter season. Although many winter weddings are based around a white palette, add in the colors of your bridesmaids’ dresses and groomsmen’s ties or cummerbunds. This can really pull your wedding scheme together for the reception.

• Make sure you account for the weather on your wedding day. If you build in some warmer clothing into the overall clothing for the wedding party, layers can be added or subtracted depending on the weather. Don’t let your friends and family get too cold or too hot. Give them room to feel comfortable.

• Have the banquet facility put some heat lamps outside for those guests who smoke or simply want to cool off after an hour of dancing. Make sure the heat level in the hall is appropriate too. Find a happy medium in temperature for the guests who are dancing and those who aren’t.

• Discuss your concerns about a winter wedding with the various people who are providing your wedding services for the day. They may have great advice for you.

• Some have said that orange is the color of 2012, but we have a sneaking suspicion that it’s really purple. The darker shades of violet are going to end up in a ton of weddings this summer.
• As inexpensive accessories, crystals and glitter will be adorning the majority of centerpieces this year. They will be keeping the table settings lit up and looking fancy.
• No matter how many celebrities are having small ceremonies with a few close friends and family member, the general trend is leaning towards huge gatherings in the real world. Be on the lookout for some major weddings in banquet facilities this year.
• Get your feather boas ready bridesmaids. These will be the hot accessory added to your après-ceremony getup.
• Going along with the flow of the dessert industry, many couples will be opting for cupcake arrangements instead of wedding cakes. There is a normal cake element to such an array – usually the top is a small cake for the newly wedded couple to save.
• Remember the post where I mentioned that brides were trashing their dresses in the photo shoot? Although most brides won’t go for that, unconventional is the way to go when picking your poses.
• Finally, think about getting a karaoke DJ and a photo booth for your reception. Guests are getting more involved and love being part of the action!

Time, Time, Time – The first thing you need to do is sit down with your fiancé and determine when the wedding should be. Once this is decided upon, you can work on a schedule for the rest of the plans you need to make. Whether or not you plan on getting married in 6 months or 6 years, everything needs to fall into place.

Make a List – Start your wedding planning by making a list of all the things you will need to have the wedding of your dreams. If you want to have a small ceremony, pick out a spot. Large ceremony? Call a wedding banquet facility that can hold everyone. Decide on the food setup you want. The more things you add to your list, the better prepared you will be.

Big Green – As you look over your list, consider the amount of money that you have to spend and how you will budget for everything you want. This is an important decision for you to make and should involve your fiancé and family, especially if your parents are willing to help out.

Let Everyone Know – Find a wedding photographer and have a set of engagement pictures done. Once you receive the final prints, announce your engagement in local newspapers, your college magazine, Facebook and anywhere else you can think of. Your family and friends want to share your joy with you!

Maybe Get Someone – If all else fails and the planning is too much for you – hire a consultant to take care of all the smaller details of your big day.

Do so at Seasons at the Tradition, CT’s premier banquet and wedding facility. This New Year’s Eve, Seasons is hosting an extravaganza to ring in 2012 the right way. From 6:30 PM, enjoy some of the delicious menu offerings from Seasons’ gourmet kitchen staff along with a number of other lavish New Year’s treats:

• Premium Selection Open Bar
• Cocktail Hour Cheese and Fruit Display
• Venetian Table and Coffee Station
• Music from DJ Harry Gambardella All Night

If that’s not enough, the menu being offered will drop your jaw – featuring six stunning entrees including:

• Tomahawk Veal Chop – Stuffed with Black Pepper Boursin Cheese, bacon, and caramelized onions, served with White Truffle Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Root Vegetables Medley
• 8oz Filet Mignon – Topped with Dark Ale Roasted Mushrooms over a Cognac Peppercorn Demi glaze served with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes and a Root Vegetables Medley
• Baked Stuffed Lobster – 1 ¼ lb Lobster filled with Jumbo lump Maryland Crabmeat Stuffing served with drawn butter and Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower

If that’s not enough, you don’t have to worry about a ride back to the hotel – Seasons has a free shuttle running to three local hotels (Courtyard Marriot Wallingford, Fairfield Inn Wallingford, Holiday Inn). To get in on this great night, call (203) 269-6023 ext. 304 – keep in mind that your menu choices will have to be chosen when reservations are made.

For the full menu and all details, visit the link below:

Seasons New Year’s Eve 2012

Here are some tips to help you stay inside your party budget this New Year’s Eve:

Do What You Can – Your house is probably not a mansion, so if your party is going to be in your living room or basement, you need to factor in how many people you can physically fit into the space. Only invite those people who you know will show up and make sure the guest list knows not to tell anyone outside of who’s invited. Unless you want to have your party in a CT events facility (which is a great idea!), keep the invites close to the chest.

Quick and Easy – The food you serve is a major part of any New Year’s party success story. Whether its pizza rolls, cocktail wieners or something a little highbrow, you need to have enough for everyone without spending all of your cash. By keeping your guest list smaller, there will definitely be enough food for everyone. This extends to your beverage selection as well. Many people will bring alcohol as a gift for you, but you also need to have some available as well. Keep the choices low key and under the price you would normally spend on alcohol.

Have a Good Time – Don’t spend the whole party working. Sure, keep the drinks flowing and food stocked, but also have a great time with your friends. No need to fret about the details – it’s New Year’s Eve!

According to the Courier-Post, New Jersey lawmakers are moving forward with two bills that will make it significantly easier to get married quickly in the Garden State:

“One measure, intended to promote the state’s tourism industry, would end the 72-hour waiting period for wedding-license approval. Advocates say that bill, which would also streamline residency requirements, would promote destination weddings at Jersey Shore resorts.”

This does seem like a good idea for boosting tourism, especially for couples looking to skip all of the wedding facility planning. Another law would be of huge benefit to military members with fiancées at home. The second law being moved by assembly is in favor of allowing proxy weddings for military men and women overseas in various areas, the article says:

“Under the bill, a qualifying member of the military could choose someone back home to serve as his or her designee, or attorney-in-fact. The designee and the intended spouse then could obtain a license on the military person’s behalf. The designee also would take part in the [wedding ceremony].”

Currently, the only states in the Northeast without a waiting period are Connecticut and Rhode Island, neither of which seems to be a destination for a fast wedding ceremony. If these laws are accepted by lawmakers, New Jersey will soon be the East Coast spot to get married in 30 minutes or less.