All posts by Wendy Pettit

Tuesday’s Tip – Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Utah Wedding Venues

Utah Weddings bride ready to ask questionsYou have all kinds of ideas that you have been dreaming of and conjuring up for your perfect ceremony and reception at any of the many wonderful Utah wedding venues.  Your ideas are wonderful because they are yours!  After all, this is YOUR day, not your mother’s or your sister’s.  It’s your enchanting day at your wedding reception venue!

WM Mantel fabric swags IH13 09-28-13 2
This bride asked to create her own swag and decorations on the mantel to reflect her flair. Beautiful!

Some brides become too timid and are afraid to ask about doing certain things or using certain decorations and such at their venue.  Of course using proper etiquette and courteous tones, simply ask your Utah wedding reception center’s coordinator, wedding planner or vendor about your ideas.  Most times the ideas are wonderful and the vendor can oblige exactly as you envision.  Sometimes it can’t be done exactly the way you wanted, but something similar can happen.  Other times, it just is simply against a policy or a building code.  But why not ask?  The worst they can say is “no”.  Be brave.  This is YOUR special day.  Your reception needs to reflect your style and flair.  See some of the unique out of the ordinary styles that our Ivy House Brides have displayed over the past several years.  All they had to do is ask and we worked with them where possible.

wedding venues in Utah with hanging lanterns
The wedding party wanted to hang lanterns and tissue discs. This is now allowed from our lofty chandeliers, so they created this stand to frame their serving buffet tables. Turned out beautiful!

wedding places utah offers with hanging lanterns and discs

Wedding planners at Utah wedding venues should be your most-trusted experts that you will work with in this planning phase.  You should feel free to bounce ideas off her or him and trust that they are giving you honest answers and not just putting you off.  Having honest conversations with all your wedding reception vendors is crucial.  They should be helping you create a wonderful memory of a lifetime while helping you stay within your wedding budget.  So don’t hold back.  Be bold and ask them exactly what you are wishing for and how they can help you make it happen.  Remember to be flexible, but at least you’ve approached the ultimate request.

Utah wedding locations with mirrors and beautiful wedding cakes
Very carefully, this bride hung a wedding portrait from the mirror behind her wedding cake to add another dimension.

So, I encourage you to just ask about the possibilities at reception centers in Utah.  Usually the answer is “What a wonderful idea! We can do that!”  Plus be ready to be creative when compromise is called for.  What an exciting time!  Be brave and make it happen!

salt lake city wedding venues with spiral staircase
Though most do not, some brides like decorating the spiral staircase with lights or flowers or ribbons. This bride chose ribbon and lights. Striking!
utah weddings and pasta bar servers
Pasta bar chefs cooked up each guest’s pasta to perfection! This was a self-catered event.
Beautiful entrances at wedding venues salt lake city
Brides have added decals to our front entrance doors for a special elegant touch.
wedding canopies at utah reception centers
This bride hired a company to bring in a beautiful canopy to set up in the corner with a chandelier in the middle.
clever ideas at utah wedding reception
Picture frames hanging from the balcony to “frame” the cake nook.

Wedding Venues in Utah Real Event – Daytime Ceremony

Salt Lake Wedding venues with daytime eventsWedding venues in Utah like Ivy House Weddings are busy with real events like this one.  This beautiful daytime event is worth highlighting again, especially now that the bride’s photographer shared many of the photos with us.    This bride chose to have a daytime ring ceremony for special family and friends.  It was simple and stunning.  One unique set up feature was Angela set up a guest sign in table in the middle of the room just a bit in from the main entrance.  Their guests could enjoy a piece of carmel taffy and write a special note of good wishes to the new couple.

salt lake wedding venues for a classic daytime ceremony
Simple, classic, and elegant colors

Angela kept the ambiance of this Utah wedding venue in the brown classic tones with an accent of ivory with sashes on the chairs, her wedding gown, and her elegant bridal bouquet.  The groom and his men were in brown suits and the bridesmaids were also in warm taupe summer dresses with elegant white pearl necklaces.  Very classy!  I believe that after the ring ceremony, the wedding party departed for a local favorite restaurant.  What a relaxing beautiful wedding day with close family and friends!

Wedding in Utah
Father escorting Angela to Chase

Angela and Chase’s photographer is Lauren Adams of LaLas Lens Photography. If you like her classic style, contact her for more information at   www.lalaslens.com or lauren@lalaslens.com This event was on June 2, 2012.

reception centers in salt lake city with old world charm
The old world charm of Ivy House Weddings
wedding venues in salt lake city
Elegant Bride in our Elegant Bride’s Room
beautiful brides at wedding venues in Utah
LaLas Lens captures the beauty of this beautiful bride
flower girl at wedding venues in Utah
Flower girl and ring boy after the ceremony

Tuesday’s Tip at Reception Centers in Utah – Guests First!

Weddings in Utah Guest listAfter you’ve chosen a date, or a couple of optional dates, it’s time to get an idea of how many guests you envision and for what type of event.  Are you planning a sit-down dinner or traditional walk-through reception?  Some reception centers in Utah are very small and can not accommodate more than 75 guests for a sit down dinner, and other venues are so gigantic that it wouldn’t fit for a small intimate group.  So, you need to have in mind a rough idea of how many guests you envision as you visit wedding reception centers, and eventually settle on the one best for you!  Be sure to ask questions about the venue capacity for sit-down meals and for flow-through receptions.  How many chairs can be set up for guests to witness your ceremony?  The wedding planners at Ivy House Weddings at Western Gardens Downtown can also give you tips on how to stagger your guests for a walk-through reception style event.   As a general rule, for a sit-down meal, allow about 30 square feet per guest.  This allows for the space you’ll need for a band, dance floor, waiters, space for the tables, etc.

Also, be sure to ask about adequate parking at the venue and the price.  You and your guests will definitely appreciate a convenient parking experience!

If you like reception centers in Utah that have an old world charm, Ivy House weddings can host up to 125 people for a sit-down meal.  For flow-through traditional receptions, we handle up to 500 guests.  With a few highly recommended simple tricks that our wedding planners will share with you, you will have a pleasant less-conjested  evening.

Your adventure of planning your perfect day has begun!  Following some tips from those who have gone before you can save you time, energy, money, and frustration.  You will have a most beautiful relaxed and stress-free day as you newlyweds are honored at your wedding venue in Utah.

Utah wedding venues for beautiful celebrations

Wedding Planners at Wedding Venues in Utah

wedding venues in Utah with wedding plannersBooking with wedding venues in Utah that have in-house wedding planners is worth it.  One way to ensure that you can enjoy your dream day and free yourself from the stress and hassle of preparations and organizing the day itself, is to hire a professional wedding planner or book with a venue that has one. Here are some reasons why a third party planner is worth the expense or better yet, worth booking with a venue that has one.

Two of you – You can not be in two places at the same time.  As talented as you are, you can’t be finalizing the last minute details or solving last minute problems while you are getting your hair done, doing the last minute makeup and hair touched up, or even walking down the aisle.  A separate coordinator, a wedding planner, can take care of all those little things so that you can focus just on you and your wonderful man!

Utah wedding reception venues with wedding planners
You have more competent hands available to help in those crunches just before the ceremony.

Time Saver – It takes time to track down ideas and combine all the details together.  Wedding planners at wedding places in Utah can help point you into the right directions for what you want.  They have already gone through the planning process hundreds of times, so they can help you cut the corners where you can.

Money Saver –  Wedding planners are familiar with other vendors in your area.  They know who offers a good product at a good value and who are professionals.  If your wedding planner is honorable, they don’t accept commissions from those vendors referred by them.  Their best interest should be in you, their client, as they are representing the wedding venues in Utah.

SONY DSCAdded Knowledge – Wedding planners can give you valuable input as you decide on important aspects of the wedding day.  They are already aware of what can possibly happen so that you can prepare for contingencies.  They are full of experience and advice, especially those wedding planners at wedding reception venues in Utah like Ivy House Weddings at Western Gardens Downtown.

Reception centers in Utah have helpful wedding planners
Your wedding planner can give you tips on all the choices you have to make so you get what YOU want!

Time-tested Methods – If you know that you’re not the most organized of persons, a wedding planner is highly recommended.  After all, they are making a living out of being organized — they have their own methods to ensure that things for your wedding reception are planned and implemented well.  Aside from these, wedding planners are also in-the-know with regards to the latest trends in a wedding.

SONY DSCDon’t run yourself ragged and look stressed and tensed up on the day of your wedding.  If you utilize a reception center with a wedding planner, you’ll be more apt to arrive at your wedding reception venue in Salt Lake City feeling gorgeous and relaxed for the best day of your life!  Your wedding day is your day – you deserve to enjoy it to the fullest!

Utah wedding venues for beautiful celebrations

Utah Wedding Venues Can Help Save Your Wedding Budget

HEADER Wedding Budgets for wedding reception venues in UtahThe wedding budget is a common facet that nearly all couples have to consider when planning their celebrations and looking at Utah wedding venues.  Budgets are inconveniently real and can be intimidating and stressful.  If you let it, your budget can ruin the entire spirit of your beautiful day.  Don’t let it!  You can have a perfect wedding at one of Western Garden’s wedding reception centers.

SONY DSCPrioritize Your Utah Wedding Venue Needs – It is important to prioritize what items are the most important to you.  You may be able to cut costs on less important things so you can spend more of your budget on those things that are must haves.  Here are some tips to consider as you plan and work within your available funds.

wedding-reception-centers-in-Utah like Ivy House Weddings1. One way to look at your budget is to see it as a challenge before you.  It’s there to stay.  Make it a quest to work within your limits.

x Bridal bouquet toss at Utah-wedding-venue Ivy House Weddings2. Remain flexible about many of the choices you have to make.  Give and take along the way.  A lot of headache and stress comes when you insist and demand everything little thing.  After all, the most important part of your day will be when you look into the eyes of your man and say “I do!”  

dance floor included in some Utah wedding venues 3. Seek advice from a wedding event planner at the wedding venue you choose.  She has witnessed a lot of weddings and a lot of brides, some with big budgets, some with smaller.  She has lots of ideas to share.

SONY DSC4. The reception venue is the first major cost to incur.  Seek a venue that offers as much as possible in their base venue rental.  Ivy House and Atrium Weddings include just about everything you would need for the venue – linens, tables, chairs, centerpieces, cake cutting tools, beverage servers, parking, etc.  When you book with them, a lot of little details are already included.

sparkler sendoff can be included at wedding venues in salt lake city5. Once you have scoped out all the wedding reception centers and have booked, now it is time to look at your guest list.  You can quickly cut your costs if you invite only people that are your closest relatives and friends on both sides of the family.  If you can cut it down, you will be cutting costs for invitations, food, flowers for the tables, guest favors, and even the size of your cake.

SONY DSC6. Remember there are a lot of details that you can handle personally.  This will save a lot of funds for other things you may not be able to provide, possibly your wedding cake, wedding gown, or special gifts for your bridesmaids, etc.  

Romance 101 at Utah-weddings at Ivy House Weddings7. Don’t forget who this party is for.  You!  It’s to celebrate your union. Keeping this in mind will make it easier to reduce or remove some of the items that can greatly increase your costs. 

Utah-venues include Ivy House Weddings Mr and Mrs welcome8.  Most wedding venues in Utah can accommodate having your ceremony and your reception or dinner at the same wedding location.  This will dramatically cut your costs of paying the minimum for two venues.  This will also prevent the stress of transporting everything from one venue to the next.  Also, if you reserve wedding venues during off peak season or weekday rather than weekend, you can possibly save additional money.  Many brides have booked a daytime ceremony with nice luncheon.  

SONY DSC9. Another great idea is to order a smaller two tier wedding cake and then use a sheet cake to serve guests.  A gorgeous smaller wedding cake gets cut just as much as a larger one.  This is one simple area you can save your wedding budget.

SONY DSC10.  You can save a considerable amount of money when planning your dinner or refreshments.  Instead of a main course, try finger foods, appetizers and beverages.  See if you can self-cater and then have a good friend take charge.  (Your immediate family members will be occupied tending to you and guests, so don’t let an immediate family member take on this task.) A full bar can also take a lot from your budget, so consider offering wine and beer instead.

SONY DSC11. Your wedding favors, menu cards, table signs and escort cards can be handmade.  With today’s technology, these items can be created and printed very easily and look very professional.  Ask a bridesmaid to help you design your stationary needs.    

arranging flowers at reception venues in Utah 5-7-1412. Last but not least, making your own flower arrangements can save you money.  Simple flowers can have a stunning effect on your guests.  Using greenery and flowers that are in season, can also cut costs.  So there are a lot of the little details that you can do yourself or have family help you.  Remember that Western Gardens reception centers include a variety of candlelit table centerpieces as part of your venue rental.  You will not have to spend money on your table decorations.  Many brides add a touch of rose petals or a simple ribbon, or even simply place frames of photos of the couple around the centerpiece.

Sticking to the budget makes bride and groom smileEven when you are planning a wedding on a budget, you can cut costs and not completely destroy your style and flair.  Prioritize what you want your money to go towards, then fill in the rest with help from family and friends.  Choosing a venue that includes a lot in their base price will help save your budget for other items you want to have.  Let the wedding planners of Ivy House Weddings help you plan a memorable wedding.  This is a first step to making Utah wedding reception affordable and just what you have dreamed about.

Helpful Utah Wedding Venues

We are coming into fall, a perfect time to celebrate your love.  Utah wedding venues include Ivy House Weddings (at Western Gardens Downtown) where you can cozy into a wonderful celebration honoring you during your wedding reception.  Ivy House offers everything from allowing self-catering to almost everything a bride needs to prepare for.  Your wedding reception will be one that is stress-free and a beautiful dream come true.

Here is a recent comment from a mother of the bride:

“Thank you for your accommodating manner and style.  It was so comforting to have everything handled with ease so I could enjoy the full experience of my daughter’s wedding.  Thank you for your support & for doing such a lovely and helpful job.  Best – Chandra  (May 2013)

Wedding venues in Utah that have friendly helpful professional staff

Thank You Photos add Personality and Class

Couple kissing with photo cards - great thank you note photo from reception centers in salt lake city

At their wedding receptions in Salt Lake, many couples capture a photo of the newlyweds holding a thank-you poster or banner.  These can be turned into postcards to send to your guests showing a unique thank-you for the beautiful thoughts and gifts they shared with you on your wedding day.

Thank you card photos at wedding venue in Utah

This simple and clever expression shows your thankfulness to not only guests, but also to those who helped with all the details of your wedding day.  After such a most important and grand celebration, many notes of gratitude are in order.  With the newlyweds on their honeymoon and then the limited time afterwards getting back into new routines of married life, this idea helps you create countless notes that in an instant show your personality and also shows that you were thinking and being grateful ahead of time, rather than just a quick note on a standard thank you card.

Thank you card from friends at reception in salt lake Costco printed thank you photo.

Several years ago, my daughter came to me with a thank you postcard from one of her friends.  We have remembered it ever since.  The couple simply posed with a thank you banner while they were actually standing in their wedding line!  The bride’s maid of honor orchestrated the shot and ordered the cards so that by the time the couple returned from their honeymoon, the cards were there waiting for them to write a simple little note, stamp, and send on its way. It was very simple, but very powerful and meant a lot to my daughter!

Many online companies offer the service to print up postcards.  A few of them are CarlsonCrafts.com, Zazzle.com, Shutterfly.com, Vistaprint.com, and many other companies.   

Carlson Craft photo thank you cards for less than $1 per card.So don’t forget to take a moment at your Salt Lake wedding reception center, find a little spot, hold up a sign, and click a most memorable thank you note for all our loved ones.

 

No Regrets for Father-Daughter Dance at Utah Wedding Receptions

Father Daughter dance at wedding reception in Utah

 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.

Dance Parent 2

Reception Venues in Salt Lake City Can Help You Leave Your Worries Behind

Crazy things can and often happen at wedding celebrations.  If you plan ahead and choose good reception venues in Salt Lake City run by Western Gardens, most of your worries will be resolved!  Your chances of experiencing those perfect moments during your celebration is dramatically increased.  Let the wedding professional worry about all the little details and you and your new spouse can focus on the tasks that only you can do!

When you’ve gotten so wrapped up in all the other details of the celebration as a whole, you are more apt to forget those details that only you can do.  My wedding day was wonderful and we had several moments when we had forgotten to do a task that only we could do for ourselves.  For example, my fiancé showed up at the wedding ceremony without having shaved his face!  He has been so nervous doing other things like picking up tuxedos, etc, that he forgot to do “his” task.  At first, I was frustrated with him, but then we laughed and realized how busy we had been and now the day was here and we needed to relax and enjoy each moment.

Do realize that on the day of your wedding, things will happen that are beyond your control.  Take the day as it comes and enjoy!  If you don’t want your venue to be among those laughable moments that you actually would like to cry about, then choose one of the wedding locations in Salt Lake City run by Western Gardens, like Ivy House Weddings or Atrium Weddings.  They will provide you and your guests with a beautiful setting and very little is left up to you to worry about.

Wedding Venues in Utah that Many Photographers Prefer

The photos from your wedding day are priceless treasures, so make sure you capture all those tender and sweet moments with a good wedding photographer who has experience shooting at beautiful wedding venues in Utah.  Many reputable photographers enjoy Ivy House weddings for their spiral staircase and romantic chandeliers that offer unique backdrops.  But more important than just background scenes, a good talented photographer is a must.  

I had two friends that planned their wedding on a tight shoestring budget.  They happened to win a free wedding day photography package from a local company.  Though they loved the work of the photographer who did their engagement photos, the company sent a different photographer for the wedding day events.  The outcome of this story is that the photos were terrible and they didn’t keep even one photo of the day’s events.  Luckily the company arranged for another photographer to come take photos after their honeymoon.  However, there is nothing like the actual day to capture those sentimental moments with family and friends.  My friends did have fun dressing up in their wedding clothes again!

Be sure you hire a trusted photographer and one that has talent and artistic ability.  Wedding venues in Utah can be wonderful backdrops for a good professional photographer.  See some example of good photographers at Ivy House Weddings.  Brides can browse through several photo books of photographers that enjoy shooting at that reception hall.