• How clear is the ice and how do you get it that way?

Typically, ice carvers will use large blocks that are frozen with water circulating during the process. Each block may take anywhere from 2 – 5 days to freeze. Ask your potential sculpture artist what form of freezing they use and ask how the clarity of their ice compares to the competition.

• How long does an ice sculpture usually last?

Depending on the design of your ice sculpture, you can typically expect it to look good for approximately 5 to 7 hours, when in a controlled 70 degree environment. If your wedding will be an outdoor event, exposure to the elements will reduce the lasting time of your ice sculpture to less than 5 hours. Work with your designer to come up with a design that will stand up to the environment of your wedding.

• How long does it take to carve an ice sculpture?

Depending on the design, some ice sculptures can be carved in 2-3 hours while more intricate and large scale designs can take up to 2-3 days. Different sculptures utilize different carving techniques. Ask your potential ice designer what techniques they use and ask to see examples.

If you’re going to make an investment of an ice sculpture at your wedding, consider where and how long your reception will be and what style of design will support your wedding best. Also consider incorporating the ice sculpture into a major centerpiece for your guests to appreciate – and maybe even include your ice sculpture into your drink service. Something interactive and fun will allow your guests to appreciate your investment and have fun at the same time!

Indoor Wedding Venue Ideas

You have dreamed of your wedding day since you were a little girl, and now your engaged and trying to put together your dream wedding. There are so many decisions to make and one of those tough decisions is whether or not to hold the wedding at an indoor or outdoor wedding venue. This decision affects many other decisions during your planning process. The venue can help you decide the wedding date, your wedding theme, to include decorations, wedding party attire, guest favors and more.

There are pro’s and con’s to choosing both options, and really it comes down to risk tolerance and personal preference. Holding your wedding at an indoor venue ensures that you and your guests are comfortable. You have air conditioning, even flooring, and comfortable seating for all of your guests. You’re protected from inclement weather and you have easy access to rooms dedicated to the bridal party for freshening up. High heels won’t dig into the dirt or the sand, and guests won’t sweat or get rained on. Plus, there are no bugs or critters to worry about. Allergies wouldn’t be a problem, and neither would sunscreen or bug repellant. Lighting would be continuous and even so your wedding photographer won’t have to keep adjusting his lens based on available light, and he won’t have to race the clock so that he doesn’t lose precious sunlight. This is a safe bet and if you don’t want the stress of risking everything there is to battle with the elements then having your wedding at an indoor venue.

If you love the look of an outdoor wedding, but don’t want the stress of possible rain, you can create the outdoor look inside as well. Lighting is a great way of creating ambiance at a wedding and indoor venues allow you to maximize its effect, creating the perfect mood and allowing you to have the exact lighting you desire. Indoor weddings also mean better climate control. The advantages of having your wedding indoors is the year-round aspect. Whether your wedding is during the winter, spring, summer, or fall, there is no issue with weather. There are so many options for an indoor wedding, from historic buildings, stunning hotel banquet rooms, luxurious reception halls to indoor greenhouses, just to name a few. The opportunity of having an “off-season” wedding in an indoor venue is also a plus, as hosting a wedding when venues are not busy may save you some money by the discounts that these venues can offer during their quiet season. Golf clubs, for example, welcome events with open arms and sometimes reduce their rental rates and offer special wedding packages to bring in some business during their off-season.

Submitted by: Dawn Rising — Delicate Designs — www.delicatedesigns-coord.com

What's old is new again

One popular trend brides are leaning towards is revitalizing styles from the 20s and 50s. Gowns are trending towards shorter and more color than the traditional white or ivory. Check out old TV shows or movies from those eras for inspiration for your wedding. Look at renting more traditional or older style venues for your wedding location to fit with a retro theme. You can probably find a great bargain on a “non-traditional” wedding venue rental.

Not only are the look and feel of weddings taking inspiration from the old – but brides are using heirloom items in their decor. Take a look at vintage items to spice up your decor – incorporate photographs of parents and grandparents into your decor. Utilize vintage napkin holders and chandeliers into your decor. Visit antique stores and second hand stores for a variety of old looking picture frames.

Look for other ways to include generational items into your theme as well. Perhaps (with a little altering) you can wear your grandmother’s wedding dress or your mother’s necklace. Your wedding is, after all, a celebration of the creation of your new family. Incorporating traditions and pieces from your family and your new husband’s family into your wedding day can increase the memories and traditions you are building.

Alternate Wedding Dessert Ideas - Utilize Eye Candy!

If you’ve been to a Wedding lately you may have noticed that instead of a cake, there was a whole table dedicated to several desserts and a variety of candy. These displays are a growing trend and have several different names; candy buffets, dessert displays, dessert tables and candy bars. A dessert display is a table filled with trays of desserts and ornate glass jars full of candy that coordinates with the colors of your event or Wedding.

The options for making these displays unique to your Wedding are endless. Not everyone loves cake, so why not try a dessert display full of cookies or pies? You can make your display unique by adding custom candy tags, a table linen that matches your Wedding colors, or your favorite childhood candy. A dessert display also doubles as a favor for your guests to take home. Providing candy scoops and treat bags that can be customized to match your Wedding are a perfect way to get your guests involved and they are a fun, do-it-yourself favor.

Dessert displays are gaining momentum in the Wedding scene and it looks like they are a trend that is here to stay. Presenting your treats in this whimsical way will make your guests feel like a kid in a candy store and it is sure to be the hit of your party. Try a dessert display for your next Wedding or event, it will make a lasting impression and leave everyone talking…when their mouths aren’t full!

Submitted by:

Ashley Carlson
Eye Candy Event Design

208.869.8333
www.EyeCandyEventDesign.com

Do It Yourself Weddings and Favors can be fun and budget savers

Modern Choices:

A contemporary, modern wedding is still big in 2011.  Brides can opt for non-traditional dress choices, such as: beautiful hues instead of usual white or ivory; shoulder instead of strapless; and short cocktail dresses instead of a long gown.  The modern trend can also continue through the décor of your wedding as well, couples can steer away from the customary 10-person round table and opting to mix table shapes and sizes. Couples can also incorporate bright and bold colors, cool lounge setting and after parties; choosing cupcakes instead of a wedding cake and having the bridesmaids choose different styles of dresses in the same color or souvenir photo booth picture strips instead of traditional wedding favor trinkets.

DIY weddings:

“Do it yourself” is a big trend continuing into 2011.  Personalized touches and little details are very important; couples can incorporate their favorite interests, hobbies, places and even sports. It’s a great idea for a couple to plan every detail of their entire wedding. Then on the wedding day assign a trustworthy relative, friend or wedding coordinator, to help with the details so the bride and groom can relax and enjoy their big day.

Contributed by:
Dawn Rising   – Delicate Designs – www.delicatedesigns-coord.com

Going bold with your wedding colors

Selecting your wedding style and colors will be some of your first items to do, helping to set the décor decisions you will make from here forward. Not all brides want traditional wedding colors like white with pale pink or navy blue with silver accents. When you are looking for ways to incorporate the “wow” factor into your wedding, think about using colors with more intensity and boldness. One of the most intense color combinations is purple and red for a wedding with pizzazz.

Purple and red make a strong statement together; they work well for bridesmaids dresses, selecting one of the colors as the focal point and accenting the other. For example: Deep Eggplant Purple could be accented with a red sash and red flower in hair, or a Red dress with a Deep Purple Shawl and strappy sandals to coordinate.  Your bridesmaids will look fabulous and flirty and your groomsmen dashing. There will be no demure looking attendants with this color palette!

These intense colors of purple and red should be accented or layered with a subdued color such as burnt orange or chocolate brown to keep your wedding color palette deep and mysterious. You could also add a lighter color for contrast such as cream, taupe or pale gold. It depends on the time of day, the formality and how dramatic you want your wedding and reception to be.

The modern weddings of today are amazing and the wedding food and drinks served at them can be paired with your color scheme. Signature drinks in purple and reds would look fabulous lined up on the bar for guests to take for a most impressive look.

Every bride and groom wants to express the love and passion they feel for each other, so a dramatic purple and red wedding color scheme is just what you will need.  From the flowers to bridal party attire and the food to the favors; this dramatic color pairing will make for an unforgettable wedding.

Contributed by:
Diane Estey   – Delicate Designs – www.delicatedesigns-coord.com

Consider utilizing wedding rentals for planning resources as well as budget savers

Even if you’re in the beginning stages of your Idaho wedding planning, don’t forget to utilize local wedding rental resources. You might not even know your venue or how many people you are inviting – or maybe you have the day and place picked out but aren’t sure how you want to decorate for your wedding. Don’t forget, the professionals at wedding rental facilities are experts who have helped plan hundreds of weddings – use them for their experience!

If you’re searching for ideas or inspiration, make an appointment and look through books of past weddings they have done. Go armed with questions! Consider asking the following:

• Are there any big trends you are seeing?
• What kind of things can be rented?
• What advice do you have to a bride that’s just getting started?
• How do you calculate the number of items you need?
• Do you have any cost saving ideas?
• Can you work within my budget?
• Do you recommend any particular venues?
• I’ve already chosen my venue – have you had any particular complications or things that worked really well at that venue in the past?
• What important things to people often forget to order?
• Can you handle all of my renting needs?

Want to get started right away? Call up some of our Idaho wedding rental specialists today!

Wedding Invitation Options - Do it Yourself or Hire Help

One thing I hear and see all of the time regarding money saving tips is making your own wedding invitations. While this is not necessarily a bad idea, make certain that you take all aspects into account to ultimately save yourself time and money.

Firstly, consider how many people you are planning on inviting to your wedding. If you’re in the ballpark of 15 total then have at it – let your imagination take over. If you’re talking closer to 100 or more, you need to consider actual costs involved and labor time.

As a general rule, layered invitations using various weights of paper will give you a luxurious and custom feel. Consider for backgrounds using a heavyweight paper, at least 80# cover weight. You can use printer-compatible overlays such as a sparkly paper or transparent vellum to act as your printed overlay. Check craft stores and paper stores for sales and discontinued items you might be able to utilize. As for embellishments, you can stamp, glitter, add accessories, ribbons, etc.

My recommendation to you is to shop for colors and ideas that you like and then take the time to build a “mock up” of what you will want your invitations to look like. This process can be painstakingly long – I would try to spread it out over a couple of weeks to keep yourself on track. Once you have a mockup you are happy with, purchase enough materials to make 10 or so – and time yourself in making them. Then ask yourself the following questions.

• How long did it take you?
• Would it be easier if you had help in one certain area?
• Can you create an assembly line easily?
• What is the actual cost of each invitation?
• What is the cost of your materials you have already purchased and will need more of?
  (Don’t forget glue, printer ink, etc.)

If you can achieve the look you’re going for it might actually save you in costs. Make certain you have enough time to design, assemble, address and mail your new wedding invitations and help you can count on, if necessary.

If you find even after the first step that this might be too much or is more expensive than you originally thought – check out resources online or make a couple appointments with local wedding invitation specialists. With actual numbers in mind, you might find that they can save you both time and money! Check out our Idaho wedding invitation specialists here:

Invitations & Stationery

Custom Wedding Invitations

Planning your Idaho Wedding

It’s no surprise when it comes to planning your wedding, there are a lot of decisions to make. The average wedding couple takes anywhere from eight months to a year to plan their wedding, and a majority of the time is spent visiting reception venues, locating a photographer, and deciding on which wedding style best suits you as a couple. Before throwing yourself into the occasionally hectic world of planning your wedding, take a moment to look at the big picture to avoid making major wedding planning mistakes.

The first wedding planning to-do is to set your wedding budget, from your dress to the reception and sticking to it. Every single decision made while planning your wedding will be affected by this single detail.

Next, finalize your guest list. Until you know how many people you’re inviting, it’ll be tough to know which venues can accommodate your wedding. Your guest list will also determine: catering costs, bar tab, wedding favor costs, and a host of other wedding details, so it’s important to finalize as early as possible (you may account for guest add-ons closer to the event).

Contributed by:
Diane Estey – Delicate Designs – www.delicatedesigns-coord.com

Tipping for Wedding Vendors

With so many expenses, gratuities can really add up for a wedding couple. There is a huge controversy on tipping vendors. Many vendors add into their contracts anywhere from 18%-21% gratuity per event.  As brides and grooms reach deep into their (or their parents) savings accounts for so many other wedding expenses, being expected to hand out even more for gratuities can be a hard to handle.  Well, rest assured; unless a service charge is spelled out in your contract, you’re NEVER obligated to tip a vendor.

However, some vendors expect a gratuity which is why tipping should be considered case by case. Just a few general rules to remember if you decide you would like to tip: Business Owners should not be tipped, but tip their employees (unless the complete business team went above and beyond the contracted agreement), tip vendors who offer exceptional services; a thank-you note is always appreciated.  Always remember to assign the responsibility of delivering the tips to a trusted person such as your wedding planner, a parent or best man.

Here are just a few vendors you may consider for gratuities, if not mentioned in their contracts as a service charge:

Wedding Planner: Will not expect a tip; if yours did a great job you can always offer a token of your appreciation with a non-monetary thank -you such as professional photos of your wedding for their portfolio, this can go a long way.

Hairstylist and Make up Artist:  This is one vendor where a gratuity seems to be expected.  Tip just as you would in a hair salon; consider giving a little extra if you are extremely pleased with their service.

Wedding Delivery and Set up staff:  Give a few dollars to anyone delivering important items to the wedding: Wedding Cake, flowers or sound system – if there are many items needing brought in and set up (Tent, chairs or port-a-potties).  Tipping is not expected, but much appreciated by these staff members.

Ceremony musicians:  If you worked with someone or a group to create your amazing day and they were able to do so without flaw, you may consider showing a monetary thank you for their talents, but it is not expected.

Submitted by:

Diane Estey
Delicate Designs – www.delicatedesigns-coord.com