Tag Archives: SLC Utah reception center

December 8, 2011 Wedding Receptions in Salt Lake City

One of the newest reception centers in Utah, Ivy House was filled with family and friends to celebrate this new couple’s union.  The children’s room was well used and guests felt so comfortable to linger longer to enjoy the spirit and atmosphere of one of the finest wedding venues in Salt Lake City.  The bride’s favorite refreshments – waffles – were the refreshment served with the most stunning fruit bouquets.  Ivy House was the most perfect of all wedding locations for this beautiful couple.  Many comments were made by the bride and family…  

“Our overall experience was fabulous, way better than a Church gym!”  

“Ivy House definitely exceeded our expectations.  This was the most affordable of the wedding places in Utah that we looked at.  It had many “extras” included in the base price.  These ended up being a big deal.”  

“Your staff is extremely professional and friendly.  Helpful when needed, but stepped out of the way enough to allow the family to do their thing.  We appreciated that.  Your staff was the best!”  

“The sparkler send off was perfect!”  “

We consider Ivy House as one of the upscale wedding venues Salt Lake has to offer.”

Kisses for a beautiful bride at Ivy House Wedding reception in Salt Lake City A delectable bouquet of fruit at Ivy House Salt Lake City

Ivy House is a wheelchair accessible reception center in Salt Lake downtown Happy faces at the Ivy House in Salt Lake City Words of love at a Salt Lake City wedding eventSparker send off from Salt Lake City's Ivy House Weddings

Making Wedding Cake Dreams Come True

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.

A quick guide to writing your wedding vows

“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.

 

Wedding Budgeting and Etiquette Basics

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.

 

 

What Happens in a Wedding Ceremony?


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!

 

How a Wedding Planner can Help Create Your Dream Wedding

A wedding is actually one large project with a lot of mini-projects. You will have to manage these mini-projects to ensure that each one is according to your specifications and requirements. Depending on how involved you want to be for your wedding, a lot of your work and time will be eaten up by the all the wedding preparations.

For instance, you will have to keep track of your gowns (as well as the suits and gowns of your entourage), your wedding favors, your wedding invitations and the guests’ responses, the food and cake, the marriage license and all its legal requirements, the bridal registry, the flowers, booking the wedding reception location, the caterer’s tableware and linen, hair and makeup trials and booking, the musicians or DJ and so much more. Whew! Does the list make you dizzy just by reading it?

A wedding organizer or wedding planner may just be the ticket. A wedding planner can actually be a bride’s best friend as a wedding planner will work to make things easier for you. Your wedding planner can be as involved as you want – if you want to retain decision-making and control, you can still do so, only without having to do the legwork.

Here are some benefits to working with a wedding planner:

A wedding planner saves you money. Wedding planners have great relationships with wedding-related suppliers – such as seamstresses, caterers, wedding venues and so on. They can work out better deals –not just with the monetary cost but also on the quality of service.

A wedding planner saves your sanity. Going at it on your own can be a challenge. If you are inexperienced, you may end up making mistakes that may cost you. The stress and tension of the preparations may also chafe on your emotions and even affect your relationship with your fiance. A lot of fights between couples during this time will have something to do with the wedding preparations. Indeed, wedding preparations can be chaotic. Here is where a wedding planner can come in. Forgot something important at the last minute? The wedding planner will most likely have thought about it and will come up with an alternative. Do you have a stain on your gown? The wedding planner will have the tools to fix these mishaps. With a wedding planner, you can actually reduce your stress level and have peace of mind, knowing that someone is there to take care of the details.

A wedding planner guarantees can help create a flawless wedding. A wedding will need a lot of “backstage preparations and emergencies”, especially on the wedding day itself. With a wedding planner running the show, you have an increased chance of better coordination and implementation of each part of the wedding.

A wedding planner helps save you time. Instead of you taking time out to research suppliers, try out possible vendors, choose the decorations for the wedding reception location and so on, what you need to do is simply to appear and decide. The wedding planner will iron out the small details for you.

Simply put, a wedding planner will help you achieve the kind of wedding you want without you having to exert much effort. All you have to do is to make your choice and the wedding planner will make sure it is ordered, produced and delivered according to specifications.

A wedding planner can give you valuable advice. Since they plan weddings for a business, they are already aware of possible pitfalls to avoid, as well as the latest trends you can choose. How will you set up the wedding reception venue? Just how many extra plates should you add to your current list to allow for breakages? What kind of flowers did Kate Middleton have for her royal wedding? What are the latest innovations and trends in wedding favors – is there something that others have not yet tried? These are the kind of questions that a wedding planner can help you with.

Help with getting a wedding planner

To hire a wedding planner, you can ask for referrals from friends and coworkers who have already married. That way, they can give you feedback on the performance of their wedding planner. You can also book with a Utah reception center that also offers a wedding planner with the package.

The Ivy House is a SLC, Utah reception center that provides not just a wedding planner but also other essential services and providers such as the baker, caterer, floral arranger and photographer and videographer. The Ivy House provides you with these choices for a hassle-free wedding where you can fully enjoy your big day.