Planning an Amazing Rehearsal Dinner

The rehearsal dinner is part of your wedding celebration that allows those closest to you to get together in a more relaxed setting. However, it's not enough to just get everyone in a room and put some food down.

Along with a great meal, you should also consider having some entertainment. This can be a DJ, band, or something fun like karaoke. This will allow your guests to relax and have a bit of fun after the meal. It can also help break the ice for family members who might have met before.

The other thing to think about is who to invite. Traditionally, the guest list for the rehearsal dinner is limited to the members of the wedding party, immediate family members, and the officiant. This keeps the group small and allows for a more intimate event.

Just like the rest of your wedding, your rehearsal dinner takes planning. You should make sure you have an excellent venue to host it. This can be your wedding venue or another local spot that is right for the event. If you're planning a wedding and want to find a fantastic Philadelphia venue. To find out more about what we offer, give us a call today!

Photo: Flickr/Rona Proudfoot

Keep Guests Refreshed at Your Summer Wedding

Summer is here and so are summer weddings! If you're planning a summer wedding, you'll want to keep your guests refreshed.

Keeping guests refreshed can help everyone enjoy your wedding much more. Summer in Philadelphia can be very hot, and some of your guests might not be prepared for the temperatures here. If you're planning on having all or part of your wedding outdoors, the heat can quickly become too much for elderly guests and babies.

The best way to beat the heat is by offering shade and drinks throughout your wedding day. A tent can be a great addition to an outdoor ceremony, or offer guests a selection of parasols for individual shade.

When it comes to drinks, make sure you offer plenty of water. Infused waters, lemonade, and iced tea are all great for keeping guests refreshed while offering plenty of flavor and even some color.

For more tips about keeping guests at your Philadelphia wedding cool, or to find out how to use the Flourtown Country Club for your summer wedding, give us a call today!

Photo: Flickr/Ryan Polei

Three Things Your Dad Should Do at Your Wedding

Fathers are an important part of any wedding. For the father of the bride, there is plenty to do. Traditionally, this included paying for the whole affair! While this might not be the case today, there are still three things that your dad should plan on doing at your wedding.

1. Walk you down the aisle. This bit of tradition can be a special moment for you and your dad. Even though he might not admit it, he's probably thought about it since you were a little girl dressing up as a bride. Beyond being tradition, though, it's a way of your dad standing in for your entire family. It's a way of giving the family's blessing to your marriage.
   
2. Give a toast. When it's time for the reception, the father of the bride should say a few words. While this should include thanking guests for coming and otherwise making people welcome, it can also include an anecdote or two about you. Let him have his moment talking about his little girl and how far she's come, but don't be afraid to put a time limit on him, either!
   
3. Dance with you. A father-daughter dance is a great addition to the special dances at your reception. Usually done after the first dance, and sometimes alongside the mother-son dance, this is a way of symbolizing that even though you're now your husband's wife, you're still your father's daughter. Be sure to have your maid of honor ready with a tissue, though, as it can be an emotional moment!

These are just a few ways your dad can be involved in your wedding. If you want to include him in the preparation, why not bring him to check out the beautiful Philadelphia wedding venue we offer. Give us a call to find out more!

Photo: Flickr/tearsxintherain

How to Choose a Wedding Color Palette

Do you know what your wedding colors are going to be? If not, don't worry. It's easy to choose the perfect wedding color palette.

A wedding color palette should be made up of your main color, a few shades of that color, a complementary or contrasting color, and a neutral tone. This gives you and your wedding designer the basis for a rich, vibrant wedding style.

For your main color, think about your favorite colors or the colors of your favorite team. Alternatively, if you've found a decorative item that you want to use in your wedding, this can be a place to find a color. Pick out one color and set this as your main color.

Your main color will generally be used for things like the bridesmaids' dresses, the groomsmen's ties and vests, and other big splashes of color. By adding in a few shades of the color, both lighter and darker, you can give depth to your wedding color.

A complementary or contrasting hue is a way to give your wedding an even more impressive style. This will make your main color really pop, too. This color can be added in across your wedding in small ways, such as in the centerpieces, napkin rings, or other details.

A neutral tone is essential as a background for the rest of your colors. This can be white, but also consider an off-white or grey for some color combinations to really look their best.

Another way to get inspiration for your color palette is to look at your venue. If you're looking for a truly inspirational Philadelphia wedding venue, give us a call today!

Photo: Flickr/Timothy Marsee

Planning Ceremony Seating

When your guests arrive at your wedding, they will need some guidance about where they should sit. Whether you follow tradition or not, you’ll need to make plans for your wedding ceremony seating.

Traditionally, a wedding ceremony would have a bride’s side and a groom’s side. This would be behind them as they stood at the front. In times when the bride and groom did not have friends in common, this was an easy way to arrange guests.

However, most of today’s couples share friends. This means that many of your guests might not easily fit on one side or the other. You can accommodate this fact in a few ways.

The first option is to stick to a bride’s side and groom’s side for most guests and have ushers who seat everyone else according to where there is space. This keeps both sides of the venue even, but still has a nod to tradition.

The second option is to invite guests to sit where they like. This means that family members may also mix and mingle so there really are no set sides. In this case, an usher can still help keep the guests evenly spread through the room.

A final option is to do away with sides altogether by removing the aisle. This means a creative entrance for the bride and bridal party, but can ensure that everybody feels they are there for both of you.

A great way to start planning your ceremony seating is to work with an excellent Philadelphia wedding venue. If you want to find out more about having a wedding here at the Flourtown Country Club, give us a call today!

Photo: Flickr/peteandcharlotte

Who Should Toast?

Your wedding reception is a time for great food and good fun. Part of that fun is listening to the toasts. As you plan your big day, you will need to decide who will be giving a toast.

Traditional choices

The traditional choice is to have three toasts. One from the groom, one from the father of the bride, and one from the best man. The groom's toast thanks guests for attending, thanks the wedding party and parents for their help, and says a few lovely words about his bride. The father of the bride will also thank the guests, welcome the groom into his family, and perhaps tell a story about the bride. The best man thanks the couple and says a few words about them, with a focus on the groom.

Common choices

In addition to the three traditional toasts, many couples also have a toast from the bride and her maid of honor. The bride's toast will have similar content to the groom's, while the maid of honor's toast will mirror the best man's toast.

Additional ideas

Depending on family situations, it can be a good idea to either cut back on the toasts or add extra toasts. For instance, if the bride has both a father and step-father, it could be necessary to have both give a toast. If you are worried about toasts going on too long, or there being conflict, you can limit it to just the bride and groom's toast.

Another way to limit the time toasts take is to split them into two sessions. One can be delivered with the meal while another set is given after the cake is cut. You should also be comfortable giving each person a time limit. 

Having great wedding toasts is just one part of having the perfect wedding. One big part is finding the right venue. To find out more about why the Flourtown Country Club is the Philadelphia wedding venue for you, give us a call today!

Photo: Flickr/pudgeefeet

Entertaining Your Wedding Guests

Along with your venue, one of the big ways that you can set the tone for your wedding is with your entertainment. There are lots of options, but you should always include music so your guests can dance the night away.

For music, the decision is generally whether to have a live band or DJ. A live band can add a great atmosphere to a wedding, while a DJ will be able to play a wider range of songs. In either case, they should be able to include the special songs you want for your dances and keep guests having fun.

Many couples also look for other entertainment to add more fun to their wedding day. Popular choices include magicians, who can walk around the reception performing card and other sleight of hand tricks for your guests, and caricature artists. Like photobooths, a caricature artist can give guests something to take home, too.

Whatever entertainment you choose for your Philadelphia wedding, you will want to have an amazing venue for the day. To find out about using Flourtown Country Club for your big day, give us a call!

Photo: Flickr/Chris Schroeder

When Should You Take Wedding Photos

As you plan your wedding day, you’ll come up with times for the ceremony and reception, but there are many other elements that also need to be scheduled. Along with deliveries to your venue, meal times, and when to have your first dance, you’ll also need to figure out when you’ll have your wedding photos taken.

Many photographers will work with you to create a schedule for photography. This can include your preparation photos and other photos before the wedding. However, the posed photos of you and your wedding party are generally taken during the wedding. As your guests are already there, this can cause a disruption if it isn’t planned right.

The most popular time to take wedding party photos is during the cocktail hour. Your guests are kept entertained and you aren’t missing because you haven’t yet arrived at the reception. This is also an ideal time because you will be looking your best. There’s no risk of a stain from a dropped bite of dinner hitting the front of your dress if you get the photos done before the meal!

When you plan your wedding day schedule, you’ll want to think about where you have your photographs taken, too. A beautiful Philadelphia wedding venue will offer you many locations to choose from, all of which will be perfect backdrops for beautiful photos. A venue that offers both ceremony and reception locations, such as the Flourtown Country Club, is an excellent choice because you can spend less time travelling for your photos and more time celebrating with your guests.

To find out more about having your Philadelphia wedding at the Flourtown Country Club, give us a call today!