Archive for the ‘Wedding’ Category

Your Dad!  He has been the main man in your life for many years.  He was the first man to love you and the first man you loved.  If you can, don’t miss out on a special moment with the first man in your life.  The Father-Daughter dance is a tradition that creates a special moment for any loving father as he gives his little girl away to the man who has promised to be her partner for life.    For many, this dance is an important part of many Utah wedding receptions and can’t be missed.  Don’t have any regrets by not doing it.

For Sharae P., a mother in Draper, Utah, she feels that this dance is “a symbol of a father who has loved and taken care of his daughter for so many years, and now is saying his goodbyes and passing her on to a new man who will assume the duties of making sure she is loved the rest of her life.”

Carolyn G. from Salt Lake City, Utah, never had such a moment with her father but now that she has a daughter of her own, she looks back to her wedding and wishes she would have shared this tender moment between her and her daddy.  She feels this special dance is “a way to recognize that [daddy-daughter] relationship and let the father have that last moment where he is his daughter’s ‘handsome prince’ before turning her over to her husband.”

I asked my mother if she had a daddy-daughter dance with her father.  She said she didn’t even think about having one.  She didn’t have anyone help her with the planning of her celebration so it totally passed her thoughts.  She regrets not having that last dance with her dad, especially since he passed away a few years ago.  

Ivy House Weddings and Atrium Weddings are two Utah wedding venues that help make dreams come true on a bride’s special day. If she dreams of having such a tender moment with her father, they have dance floors and wonderful sound system are provided to help make this moment everything she imagines.

For the most part, planning weddings in Salt Lake City is exciting and fun, but at times it can seem rather overwhelming. When you feel like it is just too much for you to handle, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether it be picking up tuxes, hemming bridesmaids dresses, serving food, or picking out centerpieces, there will always be someone who is willing to help. The best people to ask are friends and neighbors who may have watched you grow up and care a lot about you. 

In my neighborhood growing up, there were always women around who were willing to help with anything they could. They would make sure every young woman getting married was thrown a bridal shower, they would help with serving the food at the wedding and moreover volunteer their daughters to bus tables. When a bride was in need, they would willingly get to work. 

This was especially true for one young woman in the neighborhood. About a year or two before her wedding, her mother passed away. Knowing that she would need some extra help, a few women showed up at her door asking what they could do. She wasn’t exactly sure what she needed to be doing herself, much less know how these women could help her. Since most of them had daughters of their own and knew a little about planning weddings, they were able to help her along the way. One helped with dress alterations, others helped put together the menu and gather all the food, others did the centerpieces and most all helped to serve and bus tables at the reception. She had very little to worry about in planning her wedding. Not only did she get a lot of help with her wedding, she learned that there were many women in her life who loved her and were willing to step in as mother figures when her mother was not there. 

In planning your special day, remember that there are women and men in your life that will be more than willing to help with whatever you need. If you plan to have your event at Ivy House Weddings located in Western Gardens downtown Salt Lake City, you have the option of self-catering which can save money and provide an opportunity for others to help with your wedding. 

When planning your wedding celebrations, communication is key. It is important that everyone involved in planning the event is on the same page.  Even when you book with any of the beautiful wedding venues in Salt Lake City, like Ivy House Weddings at Western Gardens Center downtown, make sure they know what needs to be done and how you would like it. Make sure people know what you want or you might be surprised with something you didn’t want. For example, a cake may show up when you thought you had been quite clear that you did not want one.

This is what happened at my reception. I wanted nothing to do with having a cake because the idea of having it shoved in my face did not sound appealing. I also thought that it was a silly tradition that no one really cares about (you may have a different opinion and that’s okay). I made this clear to everyone except apparently my own mom. While she was at her friends house asking for a little help with the wedding, I guess they had a conversation about a cake and how my mom really loves the pound cake that her friend had made for her daughter’s wedding and that it would be good to have at my wedding. Upon returning home, my Mom told me about the conversation and I responded that I did not want a cake so her friend did not need to worry about making one. I guess my mom never told her friend because to my surprise a plain frosted cake showed up at the reception. When my florist arrived to bring all the flowers, she saw the bare cake.  She drove back home to get the leftover flowers to decorate the cake with and make it a little more presentable. I was a little upset that the cake was even there and did not even want to cut it. It wasn’t until after we had changed and were about to leave that we were told we should cut it just to please the friend that brought it.

Just remember that communication is key, but don’t be surprised if something is not quite as you had planned. Also, if you are unlike me and do want a beautiful cake, Western Garden Center’s wedding reception centers in Salt Lake City provide excellent suggestions for cake designers.

Salt Lake City wedding ceremonies are beautiful at Ivy House Weddings at Western Gardens Center downtown.  This wedding ceremony and dinner were planned from 1000 miles away.  Ivy House wedding venue includes so many options that this bride and her mother could easily plan the event, then fly in from back east a few days before the wedding and finalize all the last details with our preferred partners. 

Ivy House creates a majestic yet warm ambiance without being in a cathedral.  From the balcony, the photographer took beautiful photos looking down on the memorable scene below.  This bride chose to have her ceremony promenading down a center isle toward the majestic fireplace.  Ivy House wooden screens were places between the ceremony area and the dinner area.  She also used a white carpet runner to emphasize her walk to her soon-to-be spouse.  After few words from the officiator and exchange of wedding bands, the couple kissed as husband and wife.  The twinkle in Maren’s eyes were witnessed by all as guests congratulated the newlyweds.   

The bride chose a 3-tiered blue cake with classic and lacy white frosting and pearls created by Ivy House preferred baker Carrie’s Cakes.  A special wedding couple figurine adorned the cake.  Another preferred partner created her wedding bouquet and flowers for the event.  Hillside Floral is very friendly, professional, and reasonably priced.

Dinner followed with dear friends and family.  Again, the mother of the bride had confidence in Ivy House preferred caterer Utah Celebrations.  The food was artistically presented, tasted divine, and was served by their friendly workers.

RLT Photography was the Ivy House preferred partner that the wedding party chose to snap those lasting memories.  RLT photos are indicated.

Giving a ranking of 5 out of 5, the bride’s mother, was so pleased that she wrote these comments about her experience with Ivy House:

Everyone here at Ivy House was so friendly and helpful.  There is no way we could have planned a wedding from 1000 miles away if it had not been for Ivy House Event coordinator and her crew of preferred vendors.  It was a beautiful day.  Thank you so much!  – SallyAnn

Ivy House is one of the only wedding reception centers in Salt Lake City that lets you make the choices in all your planning; but then again, if you choose, try our preferred partners.  They are wonderful, especially if you are planning your event from out of state!  

One of the first decisions made and a most important attribute of any wedding is the color scheme a bride will use in her reception halls.  Many Utah brides started at a very young age dreaming of their Utah weddings with certain favorite colors.  The color the bride chooses will radiate the kind of woman she has become and the kind of ambiance she wants her guests to feel at the celebration honoring her and her husband.   

Factors that should be considered in completing your color scheme are simple:  1) Obviously, a color that you love,   2) the season for the celebration, and  3) the wedding venue you’ve chosen.  

#1 – The color you’ve been dreaming of is most important.  However, be prepared to have it be the main bold color or possibly an accent combined with other complementary colors.  For example, red is a beautiful autumn and winter color for weddings.  Spring, not so much.  However, red coupled with yellow and a hint of orange is a beautiful combination for a spring wedding.  Your color can serve as the main event or as a beautiful accent.  

#2 – The season does make a bit of difference on your color palette.  Again, be prepared to have your favorite color coupled with others to create that ambiance for a complete event.  Spring colors like baby blue and pale yellow can work in the winter by adding some accents of black or browns.  The atmosphere you create inside will compliment the outside.

#3 – Sometimes the wedding venue you choose will have a bearing on the color tones you finally put together.  You want your colors to make a statement.  Remember, you are creating a feeling and a flow for all your guests to experience.  If your venue is a garden type with plants all over, then kelly green might not make a statement but rather blend into the green already there.  Maybe a waste of money.  However, a soft green coupled with white would be stunning.  

View the color wheel found at Budget Brides.  It is complete with seasons, the meanings of the colors, and easy to see visual of complimentary colors (two colors that lie directly opposite each other on the color wheel), and tertiary colors (three colors of equal distance from each other on the wheel).  These color schemes are pleasant to the viewer.  There are other color schemes.  For example, monochromatic colors – using different shades of a color for a more dramatic effect. 

Many wedding reception centers in Utah, like Ivy House Weddings at Western Gardens downtown, lends itself to any color scheme.  From bold reds to soft pastel peach, most color schemes will work beautifully in well put together wedding places.    With your creative touch, your expressive personality, and the right reception venue in Utah, your wedding celebration will be most memorable for you and for your guests.

Our experience working with the Ivy House was excellent.  The staff absolutely exceeded our wishes.  They were great and gave us all the help we asked for.  The facility was excellent and we had a wonderful celebration.

   Florist – Hillside Floral

Caterer – Eaglewood Country Club

You were wonderful to work with us.  The evening was perfect and everyone enjoyed the Ivy House.  

Caterer:  Utah Celebrations          Cake:  Carrie’s Cakes     

Wedding and reception floral arrangements are an important focal attraction of a wedding and reception. Western Gardens Utah wedding reception recommends Hillside Floral as a preferred florist, both for their designs and for prices that accommodate any budget.

There are varieties of floral arrangements that are customary for the wedding ceremony. These include the bride’s bouquet, maid of honor’s/matron of honor’s bouquet, bridesmaids’ bouquets, groom’s boutonniere, best man’s boutonniere, groomsmen’s boutonnieres, corsages for each mother, boutonnieres for each father, a hair piece for the flower girl and rose petals for the flower girl to gently toss down the aisle.

The wedding reception typically includes centerpieces, the customary bouquet that the bride throws, flowers on a gift/guest attendance book table and cake flowers.

A wedding’s theme and colors incorporate into the flower selection process, including types of flowers, flower colors, ribbons, greenery and accents. Flowers are a beautiful reflection of a couple’s personality, albeit it the exotic orchid to timeless calla lilies. Flowers also help capture the theme of a wedding, from romantic, timeless, elegant, rustic, modern, antique to simple. A bridal bouquet reflects the essence of the bride’s gown and is an accessory that completes her attire.

To help keep the flower budget at a reasonable cost, it is always less expensive to select flowers that are in season and locally grown. This may mean improvising and coordinating colors and flowers around certain seasons, but it also means that a couple can afford more flowers if they are open-minded and willing to work with the local expertise of a florist, instead of having their hearts set on certain varieties of flowers that require importation.

It is easiest to coordinate with a florist who can accommodate both the Salt Lake City wedding venue for the ceremony and Salt Lake City Utah reception center venue flowers. This allows the florist to help form a cohesive theme. Florists are professionals and are able to provide guidance and advice about what flowers will work best with themes and colors. Many times, they can supplement flowers in bouquets and centerpieces with more greenery, feathers, pearls or artistic elements.

It is important to inquire about vases for centerpieces, if they are rented through the florist, if the florist provides the service of setting up centerpieces, aisle runners, potted plants, etc. Another query is if the florist allows guests to take the centerpieces home as gifts and if the florist cleans up after the reception. These are all important questions to ask and items that should be readily addressed by a seasoned, professional florist.

Many brides want their bouquet preserved and some florists provide this service. Inquiring ahead of time will help save the bride significant time and allow her to preserve her bouquet while it is still vibrant and fresh.

Weddings have evolved into a celebration of marriage, which typically includes dinner, cake and beverages. Western Gardens, Utah wedding reception center specializes in creating beautiful, special moments that both newlyweds and guests will fondly remember.

Food is the essence of our culture, drawing people together throughout the ages. When food is at a wedding it helps guests mingle, get to know one another and provides valuable time for families to become acquainted.

There is a variety of food options available for receptions. If a couple has a larger budget to work with, a multi-course sit down dinner is an excellent option. Another option is a buffet menu, which is less formal than a sit down dinner, promotes more mingling and typically offers a larger variety of food. If couples have a smaller budget, they can still accommodate guests with a cocktail or dessert reception with hors d’oeuvres, drinks and wedding cake.

Some of the most common types of food served at receptions are beef or pork tenderloin, smoked salmon, chicken and a vegetarian dish. It is always important for couples to remember that guests may bring a significant other who has special dietary preferences so offering a variety is advisable. It is best to keep the menu simple, not overcomplicate things or place unusual items on the menu, as this will accommodate most guests and leave them with pleasant memories of the Utah wedding reception at the Ivy House.

It is also important when serving alcohol to make sure that as soon as the reception begins, the food serves immediately so guests can enjoy their dinner and drinks on a full stomach.

Of course, the location of the reception is important when deciding what to serve. If the reception is outdoors, it may be more appropriate to serve hors d’oeuvres. If the reception is in a smaller indoor area, it may be more practical to have a seated dinner versus guests mingling in a buffet line.

Western Gardens Salt Lake City wedding reception works with several catering companies, all offering a variety of affordable menu options that will likely work with any budget. Hiring a caterer makes a significant difference in the quality of food and the ambiance of the wedding reception. It is important that all guests feel relaxed and have an enjoyable time. It is never appropriate to burden guests or family with assignments that include making food. While it is the couple’s special day, it is also a memorable day for family and friends, who all want to share in the celebration and have a truly unforgettable experience.

Sampling a caterer’s menu is very important. Every person has different expectations, taste and it is vital to find a caterer that can help make the food menu an extension of the wedding theme and the overall experience.

Western Gardens is an all-inclusive Salt Lake City wedding venue that seeks to help brides and grooms create an ideal wedding and reception experience with fond memories that last a lifetime.   

While many couples hire a professional wedding decorator or wedding planner, some brides have the organization and talent to create and decorate the wedding of their dreams. However, it is far less stressful for a bride to focus on other aspects of wedding planning and leave the decoration and décor to Western Gardens. There are certain factors a couple must keep in mind when creating an ideal Utah wedding venue. The most important aspect is setting and following a budget. If a budget is not adhered to wedding decorations can easily run over budget and take away valuable funds from other allocated wedding details. Western Gardens focuses on helping people adhere to their budget while creating an inviting, warm reception area.

Color schemes are a vital starting point to planning decorations. Some couples prefer to incorporate their wedding ceremony colors throughout the reception, to create a cohesive flow. Others prefer to express their artistic flair and seek to invent a creative adventure-filled theme.

The number of people attending the wedding will help determine the size of the reception room. The types of tables and chairs, the setup for the reception area, etc., are determined by how the couple prefers people be seated, etc. This also determines décor and decorations, including tablecloths, centerpieces, etc. Linens and chair décor are available, as well as organza bows tied around chairs to help color themes flow throughout the reception.

It is traditional to incorporate the same flower variety and theme from the wedding ceremony into the reception flowers and centerpieces. This helps keep the theme cohesive and flowing. Some people prefer soft lighting, whimsical tea lights that cast dancing shadows over the tabletops or softly strewn flower pedals.

Dinner plates, glasses and silverware should match the theme and tablecloths. Simplicity is best when selecting plates because it helps draw guests’ attention to the centerpieces and décor.

The area surrounding the reception hall should also have a décor that flows with the wedding theme. This helps create a unified theme, making guests feel warm and welcome. Plants, flowers and pictures are an excellent way to grace the perimeter of the reception area.

Western Gardens is a premiere Utah wedding reception center that focuses on accommodating a couple’s desires and dreams to help create their perfect once-in-a-lifetime wedding reception.