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The wedding cake is always an anticipated site for guests. It’s the center of the reception. It’s a forever tradition. It’s the official sweet you’ll share for the first time as husband and wife. Cakes come in all different shapes and sizes, but are best when they reflect your personality and style. Here are a few ways to make your wedding cake your own.
- Use a family heirloom as the cake topper. Use a one of kind find from your grandmother’s home or your parent’s cake topper from their wedding years ago.
- Use your initials or monogram.
- Incorporate your colors, theme and season. Your cake is the cherry on top at your reception. It should compliment the decor and style of the room. It is also a great idea to get inspiration from your wedding gown.
- Have the baker use a family recipe. It doesn’t get more personal than serving your favorite cake that has been at your every birthday and graduation.
- Choose your favorite cake flavor. The cake tasting is the best part of planning for most couples, for obvious reasons. If Red Velvet is your favorite flavor, be sure to try a couple different bakers to get the flavor best for your palette.
{Photo courtesy of Jennie Slade Photography}
{Photo courtesy of The Emerics}
{Photo courtesy of Mike L Photography}
We know you have all thought about it. It is a common thought when planning your wedding. When the day arrives, you are finalizing your payments with vendors and you think, “Should I tip them?” Well, let Scheme Events answer that question for you.
We hope that this blog will help you as much as it has helped us when we tell our brides when they ask us the question. Keep in mind that these are not rules that are made to be followed, it is simply a recommendation on how you should tip.
First of all, take a look at the invoice or bill. Some vendors may have already included a gratuity into their bills so take a look back at their contract and bill to double check. A tip is not always appropriate for professionals who own their business, but it is appreciated… even a personal note or a gift are a sign of saying thank you to the professional.
Bartenders: 10% of the total liquor bill to be split among the bartenders. However, keep in mind that many venues have a bartender fee, that is included in their packages.
Bathroom Attendants: $1-2 per guest is adequate. Here in Las Vegas it is not unusual to have a bathroom attendant when you walk into the restroom. They have all the supplies your own home bathroom has if not more! Items ranging from mints, tooth floss, a large selection of perfume to kleenex can be selected from while in the bathroom. Honestly, it’s a great amenity to have when you are in need of a little powder room touch up. Make sure if you use their products, that they are allocated for in your tip.
Catering Managers: This is not an unusual person to tip as they are the main contact for all of the wait staff the night of your reception. A $200+ tip or a personal gift is a great way to say “Thank you for all of your hard work and serving my guests and I.”
Chef: If you have a close relationship with the chef or the chef does something a little extra for you the night of your reception, a $100+ tip is great!
Coat Check Attendants: Should you be at an event with a coat check attendant or have one at your event, a $1-2 tip per guest is appropriate. As the host of the event, you are not responsible for tipping for each person, guests should know that they are the ones doing the tipping.
Hairstylist/Makeup Artist: For those of you brides that are really amazed by the beautiful work these professionals have done, tip them 15 to 20% of the total bill.
Limo or Bus Driver: Of all the tips, we recommend this one as a must as they are there to make sure you get from point A to point B safely and in a timely manner. Please tip drivers 15% of the total bill.
Musicians or DJ: Many of you might have several different musicians or entertainment at your wedding. For ceremony musicians 15% of the fee is generous. Reception musicians or entertainment a $25 to $50 tip per person is recommended.
Photographer/Videographer: You generally are going to be paying them a flat fee for their services the day of your wedding with no overtime included. A $100 tip is great for your photographer and/or videographer.
Valet or Parking Attendants: Just as you would tip a valet driver in Las Vegas when they bring your car around, a $1 to $2 tip per car is perfect. Should you want to take care of the gratuity of the drivers for your guests, a gratuity of 15% of the total bill will cover the drivers.
Waiters: This is definitely something that you can add onto the final bill, however many venues have a service fee included that is distributed between the staff. If you feel a certain staff member did an outstanding job or the entire staff did a job worth tipping extra, we would recommend $20 and up per staff member. Hand these tips to the catering manager or the maitre d’.
Wedding Planner: As wedding planners, it is hard to say, “Yes, you should tip us.” However as you are paying a flat fee for the service, a 15% tip of the overall fee or a personal gift is a great way to say, “Thank you for all of your hard work and helping us plan our day.”
If you have any further questions on tipping, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@schemeevents.com.
You are amidst planning your wedding and you remember the rehearsal dinner and have no idea where to start. Scheme is here to help you with the details of this rehearsal dinner as it has “become a popular tradition of the wedding-party weekend” according to Emily Post. You want to celebrate with your family and friends and not have the pressure of the next day’s ceremony and reception. The rehearsal dinner is a great way to get your closest friends and family together and celebrate in a more personal and private atmosphere.
Photo courtesy of JD Photography.
When is the rehearsal dinner held?
There is no exact time you are required to have your rehearsal dinner, but generally it takes place the evening before the wedding. You may have a wedding rehearsal at your ceremony location and want to hold the dinner somewhere close to make it easy for friends and family to get to. However, if you and your fiance have a favorite restaurant or just want to have the dinner be at a special location, that is a great way to share something with your loved ones.
Does the rehearsal dinner have to be a “dinner”?
There is no rule that says it has to be a dinner. You can hold a brunch or luncheon.
Does the rehearsal dinner have to follow the rehearsal?
Generally, this event takes place following the rehearsal, however, if you have an early morning wedding rehearsal or just want to host the before the rehearsal, that is more than okay. You are welcome to make your own version of this event. Remember… it is your wedding!
Who hosts the rehearsal dinner?
It is customary for the groom’s family to host the rehearsal dinner. The bride’s family can choose to host the rehearsal dinner if the groom’s declines or the bride and groom can host it themselves as a “thank you” to their friends and family. You may also have both families host the dinner together as a joining of the two families.
What will the host need to know from the bride and groom?
- Recommendations for places to host the dinner
- The time and location of the wedding rehearsal
- The style of the wedding reception– colors, size and formality
- Names and addresses for the guest list
Who is invited?
The guest list should include members of the wedding party and their spouses; the officiant and spouse; the parents; stepparents and grandparents of the bride and groom. Any siblings of the bride and groom who are not in the wedding party may attend the rehearsal dinner as well. If there is a member of the wedding party that is single, they are invited to bring their date if they would like to the rehearsal dinner.
What type of invitation should be sent?
Invitations to the rehearsal dinner should be sent three to six weeks in advance. Depending on the size and formality of the event, invitations may be printed, written on informal or fill-in cards, phoned or emailed. A physical invitation serves as a tangible reminder of the date, time and address of the rehearsal dinner. Who doesn’t love getting good old fashioned snail mail and being able to open up an envelope for an event?
It is a good idea to include directions to the wedding rehearsal and dinner and RSVP information.
What happens during the dinner?
The focus of the dinner is for the wedding party and the two families to relax and enjoy their time with you and each other… and obviously to celebrate the bride and groom. This sometimes is the first time the two families meet and it is important for the couple and their parents to make sure that everyone is introduced to each other. This dinner is traditionally highlighted by many toasts.
Who gives a toast at the rehearsal dinner and what is included in these?
The wedding party’s toasts may include jokes, tales, songs and poems about the bride and groom– as long as they are sentimental. Sometimes, the bride and groom speak; even if they don’t, they generally end the toasting by proposing a toast first to their parents and then their friends and family that are there.
Do you give gifts at the rehearsal dinner?
The rehearsal dinner is the perfect occasion for the maid of honor and best man to present the wedding party’s gift to the bride and groom, followed by a speech or toast. The bride and groom may also give their gifts to the wedding party members and thank them with a speech or toast.
Scheme offers various packages to help with your planning process. Should you or your family need some advice on the rehearsal dinner, contact us for a complimentary consultation!
You’re engaged and what better way to share your engagement with your friends and family than a beautiful photo of the two of you. Your engagement photos are a documentation of your love and journey together as a couple. They can be as fun as riding the ferris wheel at your local carnival or as sweet as holding hands on the pier. They can be as romantic as reenacting his proposal or as creative as mimicking your favorite romantic movie couple. Whichever way you take it, your engagement photos should have the most meaning to the two of you.
Finding the right time to schedule your engagement session greatly depends on the timing before your wedding and what you will use your photos for. Scheme typically recommends six to eight months before your wedding. Scheme also recommends securing your photographer for your wedding before taking your engagement photos. Some photographers offer a complimentary engagement session or offer a discounted price with their wedding packages. It’s also a great opportunity for you to establish confidence in your photographer before your wedding day.
Check out where these Scheme couples took their engagement photos in Las Vegas:
The Neon Museum Las Vegas Photo courtesy of Sheryl Maier Photography
Dry Lake Bed Photo courtesy of AltF
Back Alleys of Fremont Photo courtesy of Orange Soda Photo
Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Le Photography
Tivoli Village Photo courtesy of Orange Soda Photo
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