How To Avert Wedding Day Disasters

After you’ve spent countless hours planning out every little detail of your wedding, it feels reasonable to think that everything is going to be flawless! But, unfortunately, sometimes things don’t always work out the way we’ve planned, and the emotional stakes at weddings are particularly high!

But in our experience, the truth is that there is no such thing as a “perfect” wedding! After all, you and your fiancé will never be able to control every single aspect of how the actual day will unfold, meaning that even the most organized events may encounter a few bumps in the road. But, a couple of bumps along the way doesn’t need to derail the entire day!

The best thing you can do when coming up against a wedding day snafu, is to remain composed and speak calmly. The moment may already be charged with feeling, and getting swept away in the emotion of the moment will not help you to find a solution. Instead you want to focus on seeking out family, friends, members of the wedding party, onsite vendors or venue staff to help you find a solution to your problem. 

After all, professional vendors are experienced and equipped to defuse disasters and find a solution before the problem will affect the wedding! Here’s how to diffuse some of the most common mishaps encountered at weddings!

You’ve Planned An Outdoor Ceremony, And Now It’s Pouring Rain

If you’re hoping for an outdoor ceremony then generally the hard work of forming a back-up plan is done by the venue on your behalf. The majority of wedding venues also have indoor spaces, or alternate plans for moving the ceremony at short notice.

If however, you’ve opted for a venue with outdoor only options, then the venue (or wedding planner) will often have gazebos or tents that can go up quickly as needed, or have a stash of umbrellas for your guests to use! Remember, a fine mist or drizzle is probably okay (for everyone but your DJ or String Quartet), and isn’t likely to be seen in photos.

You’re Hosting A Outdoor Wedding, And Now It’s Scorching Hot

Our first recommendation in case of a heatwave, is to bring in extra bottles of water and plenty of alcohol free refreshments for your guests to enjoy, from the time they arrive, until they depart! The last thing you want is your big day being cut short, because guests are wilting in the heat, or worse, developing heat exhaustion. 

Think, giant tubs or coolers overflowing with bottled water, soda and ice, or big dispensers full of lemonade, iced tea or fruit infused water, or a visit from an ice cream truck or popsicle stand in between the ceremony and reception, or as part of the festivities during the dance. 

Another idea is to buy foldable fans, and get your ushers to hand them out when guests arrive for your ceremony, or supply a stash of small parasols to offer the guests some shade.

Oh No! My Wedding Dress Just Ripped!

Imagine that you’re getting your dress on right before the ceremony and you suddenly hear a loud rip or the zipper breaks! Don’t panic! In our experience guests expect the ceremony to run a little late, which will likely give you enough time to come up with a solution!

First things first, be sure to pack a sewing kit as part of your emergency supplies, and you might want to put your own little kit together with a roll of all purpose thread that matches your dress, a pair of scissors, a selection of needles, and maybe even a few different fasteners that match or complement your dress. 

Also, remember that it’s not just brides who are victims of rips and tears, grooms have also been known to split their pants or have wardrobe malfunctions from time to time, as are members of the wedding party and honored guests. 

So, when you’re picking your wedding day attire, make sure you choose it in your actual size, and purchase it from reputable designers and stores that are known for quality. And, if you do have alterations made, hire a reliable seamstress with excellent reviews, then ask for as many fittings as you need to feel truly comfortable.

Awkward Family Drama, yikes!

First things first, all families have unique dynamics, and are prone to some ‘drama’ from time to time. That being said, it is important to be upfront and honest with your wedding planner or venue coordinator about any sticky family dynamics or issues that may arise so they can do their best to diffuse the tension, and ensure it doesn’t spill over and affect the wedding.

This might also involve taking the time to have separate conversations with both sets of parents, siblings, etc. in advance. During which you can let them know where they will be seated for the wedding ceremony and reception and the expectations of them on your big day. That way everyone is fully aware of where they need to be and has time to get comfortable with the decisions that have been made. And, when it comes time for family photos, work with your photographer to ensure that everyone (including recently divorced parents of the couple) has an enjoyable photography experience… This may include planning a more set timeline/order for your formal family photos.

Cringey Or Long-winded Speeches & Toasts

While it’s typical for the emcee to give a welcome toast, along with speeches from the maid/matron of honor, the best man, the parents of both the newlyweds, and of course, you, the newlyweds, it best to give them all a little direction along the way, and to seek out some advice on speech writing for yourselves!

A few basic tips are: give them a time limit that is definitely less than five minutes, make sure to discuss your expectations regarding the subject matter of the speech, and the acceptable language to be used in the speeches.

It’s also important to let whoever is emceeing your wedding know your expectations about spur-of-the-moment toasts. That way, if others inquire about speaking, your emcee can politely let them know that though you are honored, you don’t want the evening to turn into a free-for-all, and you want to keep the formal portion of your wedding brief, so you can get to the party!

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What To Know About Dancing The Hora At Jewish Weddings

The Hora dance, also sometimes referred to as the chair dance, is traditionally performed at Jewish weddings. During the Hora dance the newlyweds are lifted into the air while their family and friends dance in circles around them, while the couple holds hands, or each person holds one end of a handkerchief or napkin to signify their union. It’s very high energy and can go on for hours at some weddings, it also takes stamina, but it’s lots of fun and is generally considered one of the big highlights of the wedding celebration! 

A Little History Of The Hora

It surprises some people to find out that, the hora was not actually a Jewish dance at all until it traveled to Palestine from Romania, where Zionist pioneers, or halutzim, adopted it in the early 20th century. The word “Hora” comes from the ancient Greek word khoros, which also the root of words words such as “chorus” and “choir.” 

And, traditional circle dances that have derived their names from the Greek word khoros can be found all over the Balkans and southeastern Europe!  The dances include the Turkish and Romanian hora, the Bulgarian horo, the Montenegrin and Macedonian ora, and the Russian khorovod. The dances all have a long history and are danced in a similar style. 

The hora as we know it today, dates back to 1924 when a welcome hora was performed for the Jews that were settling land in Palestine. The Hora dance became associated with joy and has since been performed at special occasions like weddings, both in Israel and America. In more traditional Jewish communities men and women still dance the Hora separately in their own circles, while in more modern Jewish communities men and women dance together in circles with the couple in the middle.

When Should The Hora Be Performed?

The hora dance is generally performed during the wedding reception; however, there is no set rule for when in the festivities it should be completed. Many couples opt to dance the Hora as soon as the couple is introduced to the guests as part of the grand entrance, and many couples wait until after dinner is done, and dance the Hora to open the dance floor for the evening.

Who Joins In On The Hora?

The short answer is everybody who wants to and is able to join in! And, because all the guests are encouraged to join, it is recommended to have a large dance floor and enough space in the ballroom to accommodate the Hora dance. 

Who Is Lifted Up On Chairs During The Hora?

While the couple (of course) is always lifted on chairs, sometimes other special wedding guests also join in! For instance, sometimes the couple’s immediate family members such as parents, and siblings are also lifted on chairs into the middle of the circle.

Who Does The Lifting?

Anybody can get in on the fun and do the honors, as long as they are strong enough! After all, It can be hard work, so it’s quite common to swap people in and out as the dance goes on. Sometimes lifters are decided beforehand while other times, lifters spontaneously run into the middle of the circle to do the honors.

Who Plays The Hava Nagila, And For How Long?

The couple can choose either a live band or a DJ for the music for the hora! They will just make sure to plan in advance and discuss the details with the DJ or the live band, i.e.: when they want the hora to take place, what music they would like for dancing the Hora, and the crucial detail of the length of the dance as well! All of these factors are variable when it comes to dancing the Hora!

But, no matter how the couple chooses to dance the Hora at their wedding, our wish for them will remain the same! May today’s joy continue to fill your life forever! Mazel Tov!

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Wedding Traditions From Around The World

So much of what we think of when we think of weddings, is based on the culture, community or country of our origin, and of course, it’s influenced by what we see in mainstream western movies, media and now, social media.

That being said, what wedding traditions do you and your sweetheart plan to embrace? Will your wedding include nods to your cultural heritage, either shared or completely different? How can you do this in a way that feels sincere and meaningful even if you’re new to embracing your heritage?

After all, most wedding traditions have a long history so it’s paramount to research the nuances of the traditions in mind of given customs, as many customs have a specific purpose, and not properly researching has the potential to lead to being unintentionally disrespectful to the culture] of origin! A great resource is to chat with your family and your future in-laws about their/your culture and heritage in order to more fully understand the how, and why of the way weddings are celebrated in your family.

There are so many ways to say “I do!” and “I love you!”. And, we think that’s amazing! Love is Love! So, without further ado, here is a very small sample of incredible wedding traditions from around the world!

China

The wedding traditions practiced in China and at Chinese weddings mainly deal with bringing good luck to the marriage while also honoring and respecting the elders and even ancestors. First, the date of the wedding is of utmost importance, and you’re unlikely to see many Chinese weddings in what are considered the unlucky months of March, July and September. When it comes to the wedding day, the color red and the double-happiness symbol are both considered lucky and are often threaded throughout much of a Chinese wedding as a way of bringing luck and good fortune. Chinese weddings also often include a tea ceremony; during which the couple will serve tea to their parents as a sign of honor, deep gratitude and respect, and parents generally reciprocate with red envelopes with money as a wedding present, to start your new lives together as a married couple. 

The Philippines

In the Philippines and at Filipino couples’ weddings, often i4 notable traditions are included: the cord and veil ritual, the exchange of 13 coins, known as arras (representing the couple’s sharing of worldly goods, for richer or poorer), the candle ceremony, during which, the ninong (godfather) and ninang (godmother) would light the couple’s candles, who then light up a, middle candle as a sign of unity, and lastly,at  the handaan (reception), the newlyweds are expected to hold their first dance, during which guests tape or pin paper bills on their clothes as cash wedding gifts. As a final note, some more traditional Filipino weddings also release a pair of doves to symbolize the couple’s eternal love. 

France

At Weddings in France it’s quite uncommon to see bridesmaids and groomsmen as part of the event, as a wedding is more about a bringing together of two families, rather than solely centered around the bride and groom. So, though a couple may have many close friends in attendance, they are there just to enjoy the day, and not play an official role; in fact, in France is is considered proper etiquette to let both sets of parents know about the engagement and spend some time together before announcing to the rest of your circle. Then comes the food! It should come as no surprise, when talking about a French wedding, but, food of course, is of utmost importance. And, if you’re thinking of a very formal affair, consider a truly French meal served mise en place, meaning, everything in its place. For meals served mise en place, each course is served, in proper order meaning: appetizer, soup, main course, palate-cleansing sorbet, salad, cheese, dessert and coffee, and a cordial, which is indeed quite an undertaking and would require a French trained chef or restaurant to pull off!

Nigeria

When it comes to Nigerian weddings, they are definitely not a one-size-fits-all celebration! There are an estimated 371 tribes in Nigeria, and each tribe has unique and meaningful traditions, but there are a few traditions that are common across the majority of Nigerian weddings. Some of those traditions are traditional attire like aso-ebi (the word aso in Yoruba means cloth and ebi denotes family, so  by extension, Aso-ebi means family cloth, and is usually worn during memorials and ceremonies), and gele ( a woman’s head wrap that can be as simple as a scarf,  head-tie or bandana, to as elaborate as the train of a peacock). Another Nigerian wedding tradition is the money spray at the reception, and symbolizes showering happiness, good fortune, and affection on the couple. During the Money Spray, the couple are ushered into the room and dance behind the wedding party, while the guests encircle the couple and come forward, placing bills on the couple’s forehead, thus allowing them to “rain down.”

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Wedding Entertainment – Thinking Outside of the Box

When you think of ‘wedding entertainment’, I’m sure that many different things spring to mind! Perhaps you think of a wedding band or singer, or maybe even a DJ – hint, hint – and, maybe a photo booth makes your list too, but what we’re seeing at events offers a lot more variety than that! Here are a few of the fun – outside the box –  entertainment we’ve seen at receptions lately!

Open Air, or ‘Plein Air’ Painters

We’ve been to numerous weddings that are offering ‘Plein Air’ painters as part of their wedding entertainment, and we think that’s a beautiful thing! Live, on site Artists are certainly not an alternative to hiring a photographer or videographer for your big day, but offer a unique perspective of the day, and are fascinating to watch! They can be a beautiful accompaniment to your wedding, while also creating a one of a kind, meaningful and gorgeous keepsake! A keepsake you can enjoy for a lifetime! In an age of ever increasing digital saturation, it can be particularly wonderful to have a tangible, fine art memento hanging on your wall.

Turn your Guests Into Cartoons, with a Caricature Artist!

If you hire a caricature artist (a team of them) for your wedding, you’ll be giving your guests a unique opportunity to see themselves through the eyes of an artist! And with a caricaturist making their way through the crowd, or situated somewhere people can congregate, you’ll be adding to your wedding entertainment. Even better, you’ll be doing it in a way that fits unobtrusively into your reception and makes your guests smile all night long! 

When you’re hiring, you want to make sure to inquire how many portraits the artist can complete in an hour, and how different options affect portrait turn around time. In our research we found that most professional caricature artists can complete 15-20 black and white faces per hour, while color drawings took significantly longer. Turn around time is an important  consideration, especially with very large weddings, which may require 2 artists or more! 

Sashay Shante!

Hiring Drag Queens to perform at your dinner and dance is one of the fun wedding reception trends we’re seeing this year! Drag performers are known for their ability to bring an element of campy fabulousness – and a huge fun factor – to parties, and that can include your wedding reception! It doesn’t matter if you’re a part of the LGBTQ+ community, or simply consider yourself an ally… this year might just be the perfect year to embrace your inner diva and bring the fun, by hiring a drag performer to dazzle your wedding guests. One thing’s for sure, it’ll definitely put your guests in the party mood! Who can resist smiling when Drag performers put on a dazzling live show full of cheeky banter and beloved songs, with a side of camp! After their performance, your guests will be chomping at the bit to get up out of their seats and break it down on the dance floor!

The Sky’s The Limit!

We’ve only just scratched the surface here, but, truly the world is your oyster when it comes to your wedding reception entertainment! You could also hire a fancy mixologist, live magician, an acrobatic troupe, some burlesque dancers, a bagpiper or two, an incognito opera singer ready to belt a gorgeous tune, a Celtic drum line, a troupe of Celtic dancers, a custom fireworks display to end the night, a game show host to lead your guests through a fun and interactive wedding game, or maybe even host cocktail hour, or late night karaoke! Embrace whatever floats your boat, makes your heart go pitter-pat and makes you feel alive! Follow that simple principle and your guests won’t be able to stop themselves from getting in on the fun!

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What Kind of Photo Booth Should You Hire For Your Event?

Nowadays there are so many choices in photo booths, it can be hard to know which would be best suited to your specific needs/wants. Let us help by walking you through today’s most popular photo booth experience options, and why they might be a good fit for your event! Also, if you’re planning a party in the New Jersey area, we’d be happy to answer your questions, so reach out! There’s even a request for information form right on our website. But, now, onto the photo booth info!

Mirror Photo Booth

What’s a mirror photo booth, you ask?! Well, it’s really just as it sounds, a full, floor length mirror in a beautiful gold gilded frame, that also happens to be a photo booth! The camera and guts of the booth are all behind a thick pane of one way glass, allowing your guests to see exactly how the photos will turn out, while fun animations lead them through the whole process. It’s also handy for giving your outfit a quick once over, or reapplying lipstick in a pinch. If the process of the Mirror Booth still isn’t clear, we have multiple videos on our website where you can see a mirror photo booth in action! Truly, whenever it goes out, people rave about it!

Lounge Or Open Air Photo Booths

A Lounge or Open Air photo booth is a great option when you want to have large groups in the booth at one time. Both Lounge and Open Air booths allow for groups of up to 12 guests, meaning both options allow lots of space for a LOT of fun inside the booth, and the prints will be available almost instantly once the session is complete! The main difference between the two is that the Lounge Booth is a private enclosed space including a customized backdrop, and the lounge photo booth open to the party, but also comes with its own custom backdrop. Both booths create truly beautiful photos, so the choice comes down to preference! If you want to see a demonstration, there is a video of the Lounge Photo Booth in action, right on our website!

Social Booth

A Social Booth is an all-digital photo booth, set up to take pictures just like a regular photo booth as well as being able to animate them into fun GIFs and Boomerangs for your guests to enjoy. Kind of like a modern day flip-book, you guests will love seeing themselves in action! Also, Social Booths come with a ton of available filter options and are easily shared to your guests via text or email! A Social Booth is a great option for anyone looking for something different than a traditional photo booth, for party venues with space restrictions, or for parties with budget constraints. If you have questions, you can see it in action on our sister Snapshot Photobooth Instagram @hellosnapshot

360 Spin Photo Booth

You might be asking yourself, what exactly is a 360 Spin Photo Booth?! Well it’s a slow-motion 360 degree video experience! How it works is, you step up and pose on an elevated platform while the camera slowly spins around you, catching every angle! If you have a tech-savvy crowd looking, or a group that’s looking for something different than a traditional booth, this option could be for you! And, you can see it in action right on our website.

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Surprise Wedding Costs and How to Navigate Them

Weddings are among the most expensive life events, and really the sky’s the limit on how much you can spend. But, when you’re deciding how much to spend and how much money to allocate to certain things, it’s important to also prepare for unanticipated wedding expenses. There are actually quite a few unforeseen costs involved in hosting a wedding that you might not have given a second thought.

The Wedding License

While many couples focus on the ceremony itself, it’s important to remember that the legally binding part of your marriage is your actual wedding license. You’ll need to give yourself enough time to apply for, pay for and complete your marriage license. While fees vary by location, a marriage license typically costs between $50 and $100, not a huge amount, but you want to include it in your budget.

Permits

If you’re planning on hosting your wedding at your home, at a local park, or even on a beach, you may need to apply for a permit with the town or township where your wedding will occur. Generally the cost to obtain a permit is typically low, around $50, but the cost can increase to $250+ depending on your state and where you are planning on hosting your wedding. And, no, it’s not in your best interest to not apply for a permit! The relatively low cost of the permit comes with the peace of mind, to be able to legally host your guests in your chosen locale without fear that authorities may put a stop to the festivities.

Wedding Insurance

Wedding insurance policies typically cost under $100 and can increase from there. But…Without a doubt, the cost is worth it! Wedding insurance policies typically include General Liability Insurance, which is often the main requirement that venues may insist on, in order to host your event. Your wedding Insurance protects your venue from a lawsuit if any of your guests get injured (highly unlikely, but it’s best to plan for every possibility). Policies also offer you financial protection for any property damage to a venue during an event (again, we know this is highly unlikely but has been known to happen). Sometimes policies even include wedding cancellation provisions that will help to protect the financial investment you have made into your wedding, in case of any unforeseen mishaps.

Postage… Yes, Postage

This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but it’s often an easily overlooked wedding expense! Many couples forget to factor the cost of invitation postage into their wedding budget. Not to mention the cost of mailing out save the dates and thank you cards after the big day. Also, wedding invitations often cost more to mail because they typically weigh more, or are a different size or shape than traditional mail, which also increases postage cost. Make sure to keep this in mind when budgeting for your overall stationery total.

Meals for the Vendors

When you’re totaling up the final RSVPs to get a final headcount, make sure you don’t forget to add in the vendors who’ll be at the event. Typically your vendors are considered guests in terms of your total headcount and they will require a meal. Your wedding planner, photographer, videographer and entertainment are vendors who are often on-site for the full wedding day or reception and it is expected that they will receive a meal. After all, no one does their best work hungry and you don’t want your vendors to have to go offsite to grab dinner.

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SCE Wedding Highlight: Miami Dolphin Wedding

We know we always say this, but we have some pretty awesome wedding clients. Just recently we had the ultimate honor of working with Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki and his fiancé (now wife) Halle Proper! 

The Happy Couple  

Originally from Jersey, Mike and Halle met and fell in love during their time at Penn State University. While they both currently reside in Florida, they wanted to have their wedding in their home state of New Jersey so that friends and family could easily attend.  

The Venue 

If you’ve ever been to a wedding at The Ashford Estate, you know that this Allentown-based venue is unlike any other… Set upon hundreds of acres of preserved farmland, the expansive estate is a balanced blend of quaint and sophisticated. It features a barn chapel for onsite ceremonies, a conservatory for cocktail hour, exquisite accommodations for the wedding party and a magnificent reception ballroom. In essence, the sprawling property is equipped with all the makings for an extravagant celebration. 

We were thrilled that Mike and Halle chose this stunning property for their big day! The Ashford Estate was the perfect option for their extensive guest list, onsite ceremony and need for a centrally-located destination.   

Event Enhancements 

We were honored that this happy couple chose us at SCE Event Group to help carry out their matrimonial vision! Like most couples, these two wanted to throw the party of a lifetime. For us, that meant taking the reception to the next level with our top-of-the-line event enhancements. 

We worked with the newlyweds to create custom production services that matched the energy and vibe of their celebration. Mike and Halle’s add-ons included: lighting solutions, spark fountains and live performances from a drummer and saxophone player. 

Check out the video below to see some highlights from the big day! 

Soundscape

If you can’t tell from the video, there was never a dull moment at Mike and Halle’s reception. These guests knew how to party! Halle and Mike wanted an energetic, danceable playlist for their celebration – so we were sure to blast a mix of 2000’s, today’s top hits and classics. In homage to the couple’s shared collegiate experience, we even made sure the Penn State Zombie Nation anthem made its way over the sound system… 

Let’s Make Your Day Happen! 

Ready to throw a party as epic as Mike and Halle’s? With our team at SCE Event Group, anything is possible. From our à la carte event enhancements to our full-time professional DJs, we have the creativity and resources to give you the wedding of your dreams! 

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