All posts by Wendy Pettit

Wedding Reception Décor

November 19, 2011 Wendy Pettit Leave a comment

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.

Ceremonies, How-To Tips

Making Wedding Cake Dreams Come True

November 16, 2011 Wendy Pettit Leave a comment

Western Gardens Ivy House is an all-inclusive Utah wedding reception center located in Salt Lake City.

Selecting a wedding cake that reflects the theme of the wedding and the couple’s personalities can be a challenging, yet creative task. Ivy House works directly with Carrie’s Cakes, an exclusive pastry expert that specializes in creating magical wedding cakes.

Wedding cakes reflect personal style. While the exterior of a cake can reveal a classic elegance or perhaps an eclectic, artistic flair, the most important aspect of selecting a wedding cake is the base flavor of the cake. Guests travel from everywhere to attend weddings, so it is important that they eat a cake that is memorable in appearance but also imparts a delicious flavor. From selecting chocolate, vanilla, cheesecake, carrot cake, red velvet cake, to any flavor of the imagination, the very essence of a wedding cake helps give guests a more memorable experience.

The beauty of multi-tiered wedding cakes is that several different types of cake can incorporate into the structure of the cake. Layers vary in shape and size, ranging from the classic round or square tiered cakes delicately stacked atop one another, to those that incorporate small columns to distinctly differentiate each layer. Salt Lake City wedding venue can help determine the precise size of the layers, as the size will accommodate the number of guests in attendance.

When selecting the number of tiers, it is always important for the bride and groom to remember that preserving the top layer of cake is customary. The cake is typically frozen, thawed and eaten on the first wedding anniversary, allowing the couple to recall fond memories of their wedding and reception. When selecting the type of cake, it is important to select a cake type that will accommodate a yearlong deep freeze.

Decorating a cake is simply a work of art. It is a custom reflection of the wedding theme and the personal tastes of the couple. Decorations are endless; the most popular include incorporating fresh flowers, creating sugar flowers, adding delicate pearls, incorporating vibrant colors from the wedding theme and some are even whimsical, artistic masterpieces.

The delicate frosting that seamlessly combines the cake’s layers is as important as selecting the variety of cake itself. Frosting ranges from the common flavors of chocolate, vanilla, cream cheese, butter cream and fondant. Fondant is in a class of its own as it is a sugary substance that is rolled out much like dough, draped over the cake and form fitted. This gives cakes a seamless appearance, though for some people the texture and taste are less desirable.

The typical tradition for wedding cakes is that the couple cuts the first slice and takes turns feeding each other. A long-time wedding tradition, it symbolizes love, appreciation and trust for one another.

Western Garden has two reception centers in Utah, one in Salt Lake City and The Atrium Western Gardens in Sandy, Utah. Both locations are eager to help create a couple’s dream wedding cake and can coordinate and work together to create a cake masterpiece.

How-To Tips

A quick guide to writing your wedding vows

November 13, 2011 Wendy Pettit Leave a comment

“I choose to cherish you.”

“I promise to make you your favorite milk shake and make you chicken soup when you get sick.

“I promise to laugh with you but not roll my eyes at you.”

“I take you as my friend, my partner, my one true love.”

“You are the best gift ever given to me.”

These are just some of the words spoken when a couple exchanges wedding vows. The moment the bride and groom say their vows is a magical moment. It is a moment filled with joy, hope and expectancy. It is also an important moment because as vows, these are not repeated again and again. Rather, these are cherished and remembered, particularly during times when these vows are tested. Over the years, your mind’s eye will go back to your wedding venue where you stood and faced each other as you shared these promises.

As important this is, you may decide to write your personal vows, rather than use the traditional (though beautiful) wedding vows. You may feel that you are stuck with getting the words just right. Here are some quick and easy tips to help you:

– Decide if this is what you both want. Your future spouse may be reluctant to get this “personal”, especially with a crowd watching. Be sure that you are both comfortable with saying your own vows. You should also decide whether you want an element of surprise, whether you will write it together or if you will have the same vow.

– Your vows should reflect who you are. Your vows should sound like you – they should be a reflection of your personality. Are you serious and formal, or do you have a dry wit? Let that show.

– Keep it short. Avoid the temptation of using 20 words when 10 is enough. Ideally, your wedding vows should be 1 to 3 minutes long.

– Focus on the details, not on generalizations. “I will love you forever and ever.” may be too general. Instead of dwelling with generalities, focus on the key elements of your relationship. How will you also continue to build that relationship in specific ways?

– Some questions to guide you. To help you synthesize what you love about your partner, fill in the following blanks:

– The day we met, I thought that you ________________________…

– You are my ____________…

– I knew you were the one when __________________…

– Thanks to you, I knew ____________________… or, you have shown me how to ______________…

– Together, we will ____________________…

– For me, being married to you is __________________…

– Avoid the clichés. “You complete me.” or “You decorated my life.” may be too clichéd. You can still use a famous line from a poem, movie or song but try to personalize it so that it doesn’t sound too much of a line.

– Borrow ideas. Although you should avoid clichés, it doesn’t mean that you can’t borrow some ideas from experienced wordsmiths and romantics. Take a look at other people’s vows (the internet is liberally peppered with them). Pick the ideas that appeal to you but avoid copying word for word – make the words your own.

– Don’t overdo the “personal touch”. Your vows are very personal but try to avoid being overly suggestive or telling details that your partner may not be comfortable revealing to others.

– Practice, practice, practice. Call the help of a trusted sounding board – a loved one or a friend who will honestly give their opinion of the vow. Go through the vow with him/her listening and explore areas you can still improve on. As much as possible, memorize your vow.

– Have a back-up. Even if you have memorized your vow, make sure that you have a written copy nearby (assign your maid of honor or best man to hold on to some cue cards) in case you blank out at a crucial moment.

– Get your officiant’s opinion. He or she may have valuable advice. There may also be some restrictions that the officiant knows of.

Now, as you have given careful thought with your vows, you should also take a good look at other elements of your wedding ceremony. Remember, your vows should ideally be said in a beautiful backdrop so your choice of wedding location is important. Make the moment even more magical with a fabulous wedding venue.

If you are thinking of holding your wedding in Salt Lake City, Utah, be sure to take a close look at Western Gardens’ The Ivy House. It is one of Salt Lake City’s premiere wedding locations. We understand the importance of beautiful moments and we have carefully thought about our facilities to make sure that as your exchange your vows, it will be as magical as you dreamed it would be.

Beautiful Celebrations

Pianist Joy

November 11, 2011 Wendy Pettit Leave a comment

I wanted to let you know, I just played your beautiful baby grand piano for Hannah and TJ’s reception on October 7th. The Ivy House‘s surroundings, environment, and piano were amazing. I had the best time doing it!

How-To Tips

Do you need a Wedding Program During the Ceremony?

November 10, 2011 Wendy Pettit Leave a comment

The details are what make weddings more special. You can actually do without them but they do add a little something to your wedding. One of these details would be a wedding program.

To do or not to do?

Do you actually need a wedding program? It really depends on what type of ceremony you want but here are some reasons to include this in your to-do list:

– Wedding programs tell the guests what to expect in the ceremony.

– Wedding programs can be used as a way to explain certain ceremonies you opt to include in your ceremony. There are some ceremonies that may be grounded in you or your fiancé’s culture and will need some explanation so that guests can fully understand the significance of such a ceremony.

– Wedding programs are a great way to thank and acknowledge people who helped.

– Wedding programs make great mementos for your scrap book!

What does a wedding program contain?

So if you have decided to make wedding programs to be given out on the Salt Lake City wedding venue, the next step would be to determine what these programs will look like.

– The Paper and overall design. There are a lot of stationery stores that sell quality stock paper that you can use for your program. Choose paper that matches your color motif or your theme or will be a good backdrop for designs that match your motif. There are also a lot of websites and computer applications that help you design your wedding program as well as other printed accessories for your wedding.

– The Cover. Try to also go with your theme. For instance, if you are having peacock feathers for your overall look, incorporate peacock feathers on your cover design to tie all your wedding accessories together. The cover should contain the names of the bride and groom, the wedding date and time, as well as the wedding location. You may also want to incorporate your photo and other design elements.

– The Order of the ceremony. The program should contain the order of the ceremony. This gives the guests on idea of which part of the ceremony is underway. The order of ceremony includes when the following will happen: prelude, processional, honoring of parents, officiant’s welcome, readings, charge to the couple, exchange of vows and rings and so on. The program should also contain the names of the bridal party. For each item of the program (where applicable), it is also best to name who is doing that part of the program. This is especially applicable to performers (the band, singer, or readers), as well as the title and composers/authors of the piece they are performing.

– Explanation of special ceremonies in your wedding. You may opt to have an explanation of the special ceremony you want to incorporate in your wedding, especially if you have guests that are not familiar with you or your spouse’s culture. For instance, one unity ceremony that has African roots is the jumping of the broom, where the couple takes hold of a decorated broom and has to jump over that broom. People from other cultures may not understand the significance of the ceremony so it will be helpful to explain it to them so that they, too, will appreciate that special moment in the program.

– Acknowledgements. This lists the names of the people you wish to thank who helped you prepare for the wedding. You can also acknowledge loved ones who have passed on or who are unable to come but you still wish to remember on your wedding day.

– Reception directions. It will also be helpful to include directions to the wedding reception location and the time they are expected there.

Other reminders.

– Before you print out a large batch of the programs, make sure that you like the overall look of the program. You can make several samples and decide on the one you like best. You can also explore other media and get creative. You can incorporate the program into a fan that the guests can use to cool themselves during the ceremony, you can roll up the program like a scroll and so on.

– Be sure to print-out one copy for proofreading.

– Carefully check that spellings (especially of names) are accurate.

Ceremonies, How-To Tips

Wedding Budgeting and Etiquette Basics

November 7, 2011 Wendy Pettit Leave a comment

Weddings are, by and large, social events, which have certain expectations on etiquette, especially when it comes to financial responsibilities. Questions like, who will pay for the SLC, UT wedding venue? Who will cover the entourage’s clothes? These are based on culture, as well as your beliefs and preferences as individuals. These financial etiquette basics can serve as your guideline to help you decide how to go about your wedding planning.

Financial responsibilities

Traditionally, the bride’s parents, especially the father pays for everything, including the gowns, the wedding location, the reception and so on. Now, in modern times, the bride, the groom and their respective families are expected to pay for specific items needed for the wedding. However, in more modern times, some brides and grooms have amended these to suit their personalities. For instance, some couples decide to shoulder all the expenses.

Below are some of the usual financial responsibilities. These may vary, depending on culture/traditions:

The Groom: The groom is usually expected to pay for the engagement ring (unless his mother passes on a family heirloom such as her own engagement ring), the wedding ring for the bride, the expenses to get the marriage license, the male entourage’s gifts, accessories and accommodations, the honeymoon, the flowers for the entourage and the fee/honorarium for the officiant.

The Bride. The bride usually pays for the female entourage’s accessories/gifts and accommodations, as well as the wedding ring and gift for the groom.

The groom’s family. The groom’s family will pay for the wedding clothes, lodging and travel expenses (where applicable) and for the wedding gift for the couple. The groom’s family will also host the rehearsal dinner.

The bride’s family. The bride’s family, on the other hand, will cover the expenses for the wedding gown and trousseau, the printed materials (i.e. invitation and mailing costs), the reception (including rental of the wedding reception location), as well as for the videographer, photographer and other costs related to the ceremony. The bride’s family will also hold the bridesmaids’ luncheon.

The entourage. The best man, maid of honor, groom’s man and brides’ maid typically shell out for their own clothes and travel expenses, and expenses for hosting a stag or hen party. The attendants typically also provide one gift for the bachelor/bachelorette party and one wedding gift. However, some couples decide to pay for the entourage’s outfits and accessories as part of their gift to their attendants.

With regards to financial responsibilities of the groom, the bride and their respective families, tradition has varied so that the families may sit down together and decide on how they will handle wedding expenses. For instance, the families of the bride and groom may decide to foot half of the set budget each. This is particularly true if the families are on equal footing, financially. If one family can also afford to contribute more, it is now okay for them to contribute a larger percentage of the wedding budget. Or, the families may decide to cover the wedding expenses for each guest they want included in the wedding party.

The important thing is that each one involved in the wedding understands and agrees to his or her part of the wedding.

How-To Tips

Wedding Don’ts to Remember

November 4, 2011 Wendy Pettit Leave a comment

All brides, attention please! Your wedding is a time of great joy and delight. It is also a time when you can be stressed out. It is perfectly understandable that you want each detail of your wedding to go just as you have planned – and you can work towards achieving that. But be careful – there is a line you may have crossed unawares where people are starting to call you a Bridezilla. (You wouldn’t want that, do you?)

Here are some pitfalls to steer clear of:

– Don’t center everything on your wedding and wedding preparations. Of course, you’re excited about your wedding, but don’t let every conversation with friends and loved ones revolve around your wedding. When someone asks about how the wedding preparations are underway, keep your answers short and sweet. Refrain from launching into the detailed search you have made for that perfect gown or how difficult it is to find that cute cake topper and so on and so forth.

– Don’t try to do everything on your own. With the many details that go into the wedding, there is one mantra you need to constantly remind yourself about: “delegate, delegate, delegate!” This is the secret to keeping your sanity (and poise!) during the wedding planning days and the wedding day itself. You don’t want to look harried and harassed on your wedding day, do you?

Your maid of honor and bridesmaids, as well as loved ones can be a big help during your wedding preparations. But, you can also consider getting professional help – such as hiring a wedding planner. There are also a number of Utah wedding venues that offer not just their facilities but other services you may need for your wedding. For instance, Western Gardens’ Salt Lake City wedding location, The Ivy House makes things easier by providing you the option of getting in-house vendors including photographers, caterers, florists, invitation printers and linens.

– Don’t expect too much from your maid of honor and your bridesmaids. Traditionally, your wedding party is there to help you with the planning. However, be reasonable with your expectations – you can’t expect their world to revolve around your wedding and your wedding planning requirements at all times. Remember, these are loved ones and friends who are there to support you. They are not errand girls who are there to do your every bidding. Also, be considerate about their financial capacity – can they afford the outfit you want them to have? There are horror stories of some brides expecting their bridesmaids to wear hair extensions on the day of the wedding (and you know how much that costs!) on top of paying for their gowns.

– Don’t make your guests waiting for too long between the wedding ceremony and reception. Ideally, the longest waiting time between the two would be two hours, including travel time to the wedding reception location, if this is different from the location of the wedding ceremony. Of course, you may need some time after the wedding ceremony for more photos, as well as to change into your reception dress and freshen up but avoid giving your guests too long a waiting time. If you have to extend the time between the ceremony and reception or if the reception venue is far, provide entertainment as well as transportation.

– Don’t make the wedding too difficult or complicated for your guests. It is natural that some guests will have to take time off to go to your wedding, especially if these guests are from out of town. But also be considerate about how convenient your wedding date is for your guests. If you are planning a destination wedding, think of how guests will cope up with your plans. Are your elderly guests up to a trip to that deserted beach (which involves a good 20-minute walk from the nearest road?) Will it cost your guests an arm and a leg to go to your wedding in Bali?

– Don’t focus on perfection. Work at having the “perfect” wedding but be ready for some things to go awry. Smile, it’s your day so enjoy it rather than focusing on the fact that the flowers are a shade off than your color motif or that one flower girl fell asleep and was not able to walk down the aisle.

– Don’t be a DIY Diva. With today’s tough economic climate, it is good to try to cut corners and save money on your wedding by going the do-it-yourself route on some items for your wedding. But consider your resources – the time and skills you have. If you are new to sewing, it may not be a good idea to sew a quilt as your gift to you and your groom’s parents. Also, making your own favor boxes may sound cute but not if you need 200 of these within a week. You’ll end up sleeping at 4 a.m. and having unsightly dark undereyes on your wedding day. If you can, buy or borrow items that you need. You can still go the DIY route but don’t overdo it.

How-To Tips, Receptions

What Happens in a Wedding Ceremony?

November 1, 2011 Wendy Pettit 1 Comment

A wedding is filled with many precious moments. And most of the times, these moments are to be found in the wedding ceremony – where you kiss as man and wife, when you say your vows to each other, when the groom sees his bride in her gown (presumably for the first time).

The question is what happens during a wedding ceremony? Oftentimes, when we attend weddings, we get caught up in the romantic moments that we don’t really get into the details of which part goes where, what happens during which part and so on. But when we’re planning our own wedding, it is important for us to know and understand what happens in each part of the wedding ceremony.

There are a lot of variations to a wedding ceremony. You can find many pre-set traditional wedding ceremonies or you may craft your own unique wedding ceremony. Or, you may go for a mixture of traditional with your own personal touch.

To give you an idea of what happens in a wedding ceremony, here are some of the more traditional elements:

The Entrance

– Seating of the guests. Guests, assisted by ushers, enter the wedding venue and take their seats. The prelude or pre-ceremonial music will be played during this time.

– Seating of the Parents. The groom’s parents and the bride’s mother are accompanied to their seats. If the bride opts to have her father give her away, the father would enter later with the bride.

– Entrance of the groom and other attendants. The officiant, the groom and the best man either enter through a side door or also march down the aisle. Then, they take their places in front.

– Entrance of the rest of the wedding party. This includes the bridesmaids and groom’s men walking in pairs, followed by the ring bearer, the flower girls and the maid of honor. The officiant instructs everyone to rise for the Bridal march. Here, the bride enters the wedding location, usually with her father (or other close relative).

– Giving away of the bride. This is an optional part of the program, where the officiant asks who gives the bride to be married. The parents of the bride will answer, “We do.” Sometimes, in modern ceremonies, the officiant instead asks, “Who supports the couple in this marriage?” and both sets of parents will answer, “We do.”

The Address

This is the “meat” of the wedding ceremony.

– Welcome remarks and statement of purpose. The officiant says welcoming words to the guests and the wedding party and states the purpose of the gathering. In some instances, the bride or the groom may wish to include a loved one or a friend who has passed away or are unable to come. This part is where they can be acknowledged and recognized.

– Charge to the couple. The officiant gives some advice about marriage and how it is to be founded not just on romantic love, but also on respect, friendship and trust. The officiant will remind the couple of the challenges and joys of married life.

– Question of Intent. This is where the officiant asks, “Do you, __________, accept ____________ as your lawfully wedded husband/wife?”. This question is asked to the bride and the groom individually and they each should answer, “I do.”

– Saying of Vows. This is where the bride and groom pledge their vows to each other. The officiant may dictate the words. One of the more common vows go,

I, _____________, take you, _____________ , to be my wedded (wife, husband), to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; in joy and in sorrow; to love and to cherish, as long as we both shall live. I give you this ring as a sign of my promise.

The bride and groom may opt to write their own vows beforehand.

Unity Ceremonies

– Blessing and exchanging of rings. The officiant briefly explains the meaning of the rings and their significance in the couple’s union. The bride and groom then exchange rings.

– Optional unity ceremonies. The couple may also add a unity ceremony at this point. The most popular is the lighting of the unity candle. Two smaller candles are each held by the bride and the groom. Other unity ceremonies are the rose ceremony (where the bride and groom exchange roses) and the sand ceremony (where the bride and groom pour different colored sand to symbolize their union).

– The Pronouncement. The officiant will declare the newlyweds as officially man and wife.

– The Kiss. Another much-awaited part of the ceremony is when the couple kisses as husband and wife for the first time.

The Closing

– The Presentation. The officiant presents the bride and groom as Mr. and Mrs. The introduction depends on your preference – would the bride like to take on the groom’s last name or does she want to keep her own last name? Or, would the bride go for a hyphenated name?

– The Recessional. The newlyweds lead the wedding party down the aisle.

When crafting your own wedding ceremony, it is important to remember that this is a reflection of who you (as a couple are). The ceremony ideally reflects your values, beliefs and intentions. It is best if you and your fiancé feel comfortable with each part of the ceremony. You should also carefully consider your choice of wedding venue or SLC wedding reception center. This will provide an excellent backdrop to the beautiful wedding ceremony you have prepared.

When planning a wedding in Sandy, Utah, check out Western Garden’s The Ivy House. It has all that you need for a dream wedding – a beautifully decorated hall, exquisite chandeliers giving your wedding the extra sparkle, plants, artwork and classic-style furniture. The Ivy House makes a perfect Sandy, Utah wedding venue for your dream wedding!

Beautiful Celebrations

Utah Celebrations Catering

October 30, 2011 Wendy Pettit Leave a comment

UTAH CELEBRATIONS CATERING company was begun by a Utah grown culinary master. Chef Steven Swallow is a remarkable culinary artist who has training and experience from many phenomenal certified executive chefs and pastry chefs worldwide. After seeing a greater need in Utah for exquisite cuisine at more affordable pricing, he decided to create Utah Celebrations Catering company. They offer exceptional food at realistic prices displayed in impressive presentations.

Along with Chef Swallow’s Hawaiian hospitality training, you will be pleased with his NO HIDDEN CHARGES guarantee. We are confident you will become one of his many satisfied customers. The motto of Utah Celebrations Catering? We do all the Work; You Enjoy the Wedding!

For a stress-free beautiful day, choose Utah Celebrations Catering. CLICK HERE to browse their delightful menus.