Spring weddings are truly special. The air is a little fresher, the grass is a little greener, and all the flowers are at their brightest. But don’t count on the weather to cooperate, especially in the early spring. Following these tips will ensure a great and memorable celebration.
Outsmart Mother Nature. Don’t bet everything on a perfect sunny, warm day. If you’re having an outdoor wedding, rent a tent, so a spring shower doesn’t wreck your plans. Also, plan for chilly weather by providing throw blankets for your ceremony guests. And start on time. Don’t leave your friends and family waiting in the cold for the benefit of a single late-arriving guest.
Make the venue fit the party, not vice versa. Don’t book a massive ballroom if you’re having only 50 guests. Your party will look and feel like a failure. By the same token, don’t book a small, cozy venue where you’ll have to place your dinner tables 3 inches apart to fit everyone in. Ask a venue to give an honest assessment of how many people each room can accommodate comfortably for dinner and dancing. Then pick the room that fits your needs. If a restaurant doesn’t have enough room for a dance floor, find somewhere else, unless you’re having only 20 guests for a cocktail reception.
Contrast is your friend. Spring colors tend to feature a lot of soft, gauzy pastels. And that’s nice, but you can go overboard trying to create a neutral background. Consider pairing a pastel pink with a bright pink or bold purple when you’re choosing bridesmaid gowns or florals. Try the same idea with other primary or secondary colors.
Let there be light. To create a warm atmosphere, consider candles on your dinner tables, and perhaps votive candles on your walls. Spring is also a great time to add elegant uplighting to your reception. Sunset comes early, and warm columns of light, matched to your décor, can really pull your color scheme together. And the best uplights can be animated for dancing, to electrify the entire room when dinner is over. For more uplighting ideas, visit this page.
Be honest about your budget. Not every couple can afford a grand gala at a 5-star hotel. But the success of your wedding will actually depend on how well you weave your love story into your day and share it with the people closest to you. Your guests will forget your color scheme, your fashions, your food and your favors. They’ll remember the experience of spending time with you, making new friends, and sharing some great fun on the dance floor.
Anything from a barn to a picnic pavilion to a museum can be a great wedding venue, and at a very reasonable price. Set your ideal budget for each vendor — photographer, DJ, florist, baker, etc. — and see what’s available in your price range. If you want something beyond what’s being offered, you may have to budget more money, or give up some unnecessary frills to make room in your existing budget.
A festive spring wedding will get everyone’s entire year off to a great start. Follow these tips, and everything else will take care of itself.
© Fourth Estate Audio, 2017 – Jay Congdon is president of Fourth Estate Audio, a professional Chicago DJ and Chicago Wedding DJ company.
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