Category: Weddings

According to the most revered Brunch historians (aka, Wikipedia), brunch was invented in England and took a staggering 30 whole years to migrate to the U.S. What kind of Americans took 30 whole years to appreciate the beauty of brunch, we may never fully understand. That’s because in 2015, brunch is almost universally popular. It’s equally perfect for a morning-after hangover breakfast as it is for a formal Easter meal with your entire family.

In fact, the meal is so popular that it’s fast becoming a staple of many U.S. wedding weekends. So if you’re on the fence about planning a Sunday brunch after the wedding, here’s some questions to guide your decision making…

Is there room in your budget?
With the average budget of a wedding ceremony plus reception costing more than $28,000 this year, not everyone wants to spring for abrunch after the wedding, too. And let’s not forget the rehearsal dinner (average price: $1,184). Even so, in 2013 brides and grooms spent an average of $457 on a Sunday brunch after the wedding, well within the average wedding budget. If you do decide to host a Sunday brunch after the wedding, most cities offer a wide range of options.

How many out of town relatives do you have?
One of the most joyous parts of any wedding is finally getting all your cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, extended relations, and, yes, even that one uncle who sometimes drinks too much all together in the same place doing the electric slide. But weddings can often be expensive for your out-of-town guests. If you plan on having a lot of friends and family fly or drive into town for your nuptials, then a brunch after the wedding might be very much appreciated.

Does your venue offer brunches?
Some of the best places to have a wedding and reception also regularly host brunch buffets. If so, then you can probably plan a delicious day after wedding brunch brunch without going through the lengthy process of finding yet another venue and caterer.

Finally, do you want a brunch after the wedding?
This might seem basic, but it’s important to stop and ask how you really want your special day (read: special weekend) to go down. If you really have your heart set on a wedding brunch, then you deserve the best brunch of your life.

And since most couples won’t find much time to eat during the reception, the brunch after the wedding is essential.

This year, the average couple will spend an average of $28,385 on their wedding, which includes about $1,184 on the rehearsal dinner alone. Throw in a Sunday brunch for those out-of-town relatives at an average of $457, and it’s clear why brides want everything to be just right on their big day.

And while churches have long been a popular choice for wedding ceremonies, they’re often hard to book, have strict rules, and aren’t open to all couples. That’s why more couples are choosing to book golf club events for wedding ceremonies, rehearsal dinners, receptions, and Sunday wedding brunches. So why choose golf club events over the alternatives?

1. The Great Outdoors
Golf club events have one huge advantage over other potential spaces: they have a large amount of outdoor space at your disposal. And since Hudson Valley Weddings reports that 35% of modern weddings take place outdoors, that’s a must-have for many brides and grooms. Even if you choose to say “I Do” indoors, outdoor settings are essential for truly memorable wedding photos.

2. Stately Architecture
Golf club events are popular destinations for their superior architecture. Romantic wedding places don’t just provide a plethora of picture perfect moments, they also improve the environment of your whole day.

3. All In One
Many wedding planners book one venue for the rehearsal dinner, another for the ceremony, and then yet another venue for the reception. And ferrying around grandparents, young kids, and visiting friends can turn a happy day into a logistical nightmare. Fortunately, golf club events offer flexible spaces for any occasion, from dinner and brunch spots to gorgeous ballrooms for grand receptions destined to end up on all your friends’ Pinterest boards!

4. Dedicated Wedding Specialists
Most golf club events have an entire team of staff members who specialize in creating perfect events. That means you’ll have a professional, experienced team to make sure everything turns out just the way it did in your dreams.

While other wedding venues might be able to offer one or two of these benefits, only golf club events can offer brides and grooms everything they need in a single package.

The average wedding budget costs brides and grooms (and the parents of the bride and groom) $28,385. Plus, couples also spent an average of $1,184 on rehearsal dinners and $457 on morning-after wedding brunches. So how can you make sure you’re maximizing your budget for the happiest day of your life? Take advantage of the hottest 2015 wedding trends to get the most out of your wedding experience.

2015 Wedding Dress Trends
For Fall of 2015 especially, deep-V and halter top necklines are all over the latest bridal collections. And the operative word in that sentence is “deep,” like, really deep. And for brides that want to show off their shoulders, 2015’s latest crop of wedding dresses should be right up your alley. Feathers and fringes have also appeared in designer bridal collections this year. Plus, metallic colors have carried over from many 2014 collections.

2015 Wedding Trends — White Glove Affairs
Since at least 2010, casual wedding themes have reigned supreme, with laid-back wedding theme ideas like “Wild West” and “Rustic” topping many lists. Inventive guest entertainment options like photo booths and disposable cameras became standard at many receptions, replacing button-up events. This year, more brides are opting for white glove ceremonies and receptions, and so more traditional themes are making a comeback.

There’s nothing wrong with a casual, laid back wedding reception, but there’s nothing wrong with going formal for the most important day of your life, either.

For The Indecisive Bride — The Three Wedding Dresses Trend
If you’re incredibly indecisive (and you can afford it!), some 2015 brides are choosing NOT to find the absolutely perfect wedding dress. Instead, they find three dresses — a formal gown for the walk down the aisle, a thin sheath for the reception, and a fringe-covered or feathered dress for the after-party.

Of course, even if you just limit yourself to two dresses, wedding traditionalists might still think you’re overdoing it.

Gay Weddings
Now that the Supreme Court has legalized gay marriage in all 50 states, you might face some extra competition when trying to book wedding venues and vendors. Although certain liberal states have long been a destination for gay and lesbian couples, states that only recently started issuing same-sex marriage licenses will see a backlog in gay weddings in 2015 and 2016. So make sure you make reservations further in advance for the next few years.

Beautiful Wedding Places — Outdoor Weddings Still On The Rise
Although this trend usually peaks in the summer time, more and more brides and grooms choose to say “I Do” at an outdoor venue. In fact, Hudson Valley Weddings estimates that up to 35% of wedding ceremonies take place outside at romantic wedding places.

Ethnic-Inspired Wedding Brunches
Although pancake, bacon, and egg lovers might be disappointed, fusion cuisine is taking over brunch in 2015. As morning-after wedding brunches become standard at most weddings, brides are rushing to outdo each other with exciting new menus for wedding brunches.

Brunches! Not only are brunches delicious — but they can frequently be cheaper options, as well.

Weddings are supposed to be the happiest day of your life. In fact, they’re often such joyous occasions that many Americans end up getting married two or three times. As the cost of planning a wedding continues to rise, brides are more interested than ever in finding fun yet affordable eating options for their receptions.

While many brides still spend their post-proposal days flipping through the pages of bridal magazines, the modern bride is much more likely to plan her dream wedding online — we’re now living in the Pinterest Age of wedding planning.

But that perfect dream wedding doesn’t come cheap. So just how much are brides spending in 2015?

The average wedding ceremony and reception budget is $28,385, which is sometimes more than what many newlyweds make in a year. But, of course, there’s also the rehearsal dinner of your dreams. In 2013, U.S. brides spend an average of almost $1,200 on their rehearsal dinners, up from about $1,100 the year before. And in 2015, morning after wedding brunches are also popular among brides.

Many couples plan a three day affair (okay, poor choice of words). Three day nuptials include a rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception, followed by a Sunday brunch buffet. On average, those after wedding brunch dishes cost up to $450 in total.

However, because almost 35% of weddings are now held outdoors, according to Hudson Valley Weddings, many summer brides are choosing morning ceremonies. Holding a morning ceremony can help brides book in-demand, unique wedding places, while also avoiding the sweat-inducing (and makeup destroying) summer sun.

So for couples that say “I Do” right after sunrise, a Saturday or Sunday morning brunch buffet makes more sense than a traditional dinner. And in 2015, ethnic-inspired brunch dishes are the latest “hot trend” on catering menus. For example, Asian-flavored syrups, Chorizo scrambled eggs, or coconut milk pancakes and crepes can add a touch of class to plain old breakfast items.

For brides and grooms who opt for a morning ceremony, or who don’t want to plan three days of wedding festivities, then a Sunday brunch buffet is a popular solution.

After all, everyone loves brunch, and what brunch wouldn’t be improved by mimosas and wedding cake?

One of the biggest decisions a couple has to make when planning their wedding is choosing the venue. It’s one of the largest expenses and plays a huge role in setting the tone of the wedding itself. Whether you’re looking for traditional or unique wedding places, there are a few things that you should keep in mind when you’re picking the place you’re going to tie the knot. Here’s a short checklist of things to look for in the best places to have a wedding.

1. Is the venue going to suit the theme and feel of your wedding?
You should absolutely visit any venue you’re thinking about before you make any decisions to be able to get a good sense of the mood and the atmosphere of the place. When you do, you should be thinking about the feel you’re going for with your ceremony. Is it small, intimate, and informal? Or is it big, solemn, and formal? The overall feel of the wedding should inform your choice in venue.

2. Can the venue accommodate all of your guests?
When you visit a venue, you should also make sure you’re thinking of logistics. What kind of altar are you going to need? How many people are you going to seat? Are any of your guests going to need handicap accessibility? Make sure that you go over all of these things with the manager of the venue to make sure that they can accommodate you. Some of the best places to have a wedding reception and ceremony have an outdoor space — 35% of weddings are outdoor occasions, according to Hudson Valley Weddings. Outdoor spaces are more adaptable than indoor spaces.

3. Can you hold both the wedding and reception there?
It’s also worth considering whether or not you can hold the wedding and the reception there. The average budget for the ceremony and reception alone is upward of $28,000 and most venues that can accommodate both are less expensive. Additionally, places that can do both a ceremony and reception can provide the catering as well, which is also generally less expensive than the average $1,184 spent on rehearsal dinners and the $457 spent on wedding brunches.

What are you looking for in a wedding venue? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!

Weddings are, in some ways, becoming less and less traditional as more couples opt for experiences that are unique and suit their preferences exactly rather than adhering to tradition. One of the ways this is happening is a growing trend of brunch weddings, which focus on a morning-time ceremony and meal rather than the afternoon or evening. If you’re considering going this route, here are a few things to note.

1. Don’t Curb the Cocktails
One thing to note about having a wedding brunch rather than dinner reception is that it does not mean that you cannot serve cocktails. In fact, cocktails are a staple of any Sunday brunch, and are light enough to pair with brunch dishes. Common brunch cocktails include things like mimosas, which are champagne and citrus juice, like orange. Bloody Marys are also a popular choice, which are made from vodka, tomato juice, spices, and hot sauce. Either way, just because the meal is a mid-morning affair does not mean you have to skip the alcoholic beverages if you don’t want to.

2. Brunch is Not Synonymous with Informal
Another important thing to note about opting for a wedding brunch is that it does not mean it has to be informal. Though the most popular way to serve brunch is a brunch buffet, you can still opt for individual servings and fancy decor. Of course, since the morning sets a more informal tone to begin with, make sure that you temper that with the service and decor if you’re going for a more formal feel.

3. Timing is Everything.
When is comes to planning wedding brunches, timing is very important. The trick is to plan the ceremony at a time that is not too early so that people have time to get ready and attend, while still planning the meal before it gets too late. Brunches are usually served in the late morning, but can go through the afternoon if necessary. If this happens, you may want to include some heartier menu options to tide your guests over.

Do you have any questions about planning a brunch wedding? Feel free to ask us in the comments section below.

Wedding trends have to start somewhere. For example, the age-old tradition of wearing a white wedding dress hasn’t been around forever. In fact, Queen Victoria began that trend in 1840, when she wore a lavish white wedding dress. If you are planning to make it official within the next year, know the very latest in wedding trends. Here are the highlights of 2015 wedding trends.

It’s The Year Of Plentiful Greens

This year will be all about sustainable living and going green — and that trend is going to stay strong during wedding ceremonies and receptions. “Herbs like rosemary and mint, lemon leaf, magnolia leaf, ivy, smilax and maidenhair fern are being strung together and used in surprising ways — as table runners or chair swags, to frame cocktail menus, to redefine tent ceilings or to give chandeliers a soft edge,” Bridal Guide writes. With that in mind, green venues and outdoor wedding places — such as country club weddings and golf course weddings — will be very popular this year. And brides and grooms won’t stop there. Green living will play a role in more than just the bouquet and venue. Modern wedding menus are also more likely to include fresh, locally farmed selections, a trend most commonly called, “farm-to-table dining.”

More Wedding Cakes Go Naked

The most recent wedding trends aren’t just about the various places to have a wedding reception. “Wedding cakes without any icing are becoming quite the trend for rustic, casual weddings,” according to Wedding Wire. And that’s not the only thing that’s changing, when it comes to wedding foods and drinks. More couples are keeping it strictly casual, with a brunch buffet or with a cake and punch wedding. A cake and punch wedding entails serving smaller portions, such as appetizers and petit fours, instead of a full-fledged meal. What are the trendiest wedding ideas of 2015? Go green with creative, herbal bouquets and decorations, and break out of the norm with a low-key meal, such as a brunch buffet or a cake and punch reception.