Tuesday
September 21, 2010
6:30 – 9:00 pm |
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 As your guests arrive to your reception venue, they are accustomed to looking for a tented seating card with their name and table number. The purpose of the seating card is to guide your guest to their table. The cards should be arranged alphabetically and should be in a font that is easy to read. If you are having a guest book, you may want to have the guest book displayed with the cards. Today, as more couples are looking to incorporate a color or theme into their wedding, the seating card dispaly is one of the first opportunities to give your guests their first impression of the reception that follows. Your seating card display can set the tone for the wedding by being elegant, whimsical or colorful.
 Seating boards are becoming more popular. With a seating board, guests cards are either attached to the board or the names are displayed on the board in a particulare sequence (alphabetical or by table number). The guests look for their name and table number on the board and can see who else is sitting with them.
 Black and White Seating Card Display The board can be a simple frame with an enlarged copy of the guest list in alphabetical order or the board can be elaborate, incorporating the wedding’s theme. You can match the material of the board to your wedding colors and even match the paper to your invitation.
The newest trend is to hang the seating cards from the branches of a chandelier trees. The cards are attached to ribbons which are draped on the tree branches. If you have many cards, you can divide the cards into multiple trees and then include a sign at the foot of tree to let guests know which letters are on each tree. Flowers can be added to the chandelier tree as well as crystals to complete the look.
 Chandelier Escort Card Tree A beautiful display will certainly make a memorable first impression and your guests will look forward to what is to come.
Hello Everyone,
This is Martha from Décor and Design by Majestic Gardens and I am a guest blogger today. More and more brides are getting married at the reception site so below are ceremony decor ideas and pictures.
 The most traditional ceremony décor includes pew bows and flower baskets which are usually placed near on each side of the altar table or the front of the ceremony site. Greenery and flowers can be added to the pew bows if you are looking for something more lush.
Another great idea is to use your centerpieces to decorate the ceremony area. Centerpieces can be displayed on columns and can then be transferred from the ceremony to the ballroom. If you have fresh flower arrangement, you must consider the weather in determining if this is an option. This always works if you are doing glass hurricaine centerpieces. Pictured below are hurricaines set for the ceremony which we trasferrred to the reception room after the ceremony.
If you want to do something a bit different there are several options. Rather than pew bows, you can attach small floral arrangements to the ceremony chairs or pews to add a splash of color. If you like the look of draping, you can add draping between the arrangements.
 
For a fresher and more modern look, French flower buckets can be hung from the chairs using ribbons in your choice of color.
 French Flower Baskets For evening receptions many couples are choosing to line the aisles with hurricanes either on the ground or on pillars.
Another way to add color to your ceremony is to add sashes  to the ceremony chairs. The sashes are a great way to coordinate your ceremony with the colors you have selected.
For Majestic Gardens’ brides getting married in the Secret Garden, you may want to consider decorating the gazebo with draping and floral arrangements.
If you are thinking of being showered with rose petals by your guests as you go back down the aisle, then you should consider petal cones. The cones can be placed in the chairs and some couples alternate the cones with ceremony program fans.
 
Rose petals can be used to define your aisle or can be scattered in the aisle. Another alternative is to create a distinctive design with the rose petals. 
These are many more options so look future posts on ceremony decor. If you have any specific questions, you can email the Design and Décor division of Majestic Gardens at info@majesticgardens.com or you can always call us at 631-744-9500.
We want to thank everyone who attended our Summer Bridal Expo this past Wednesday July 14th!!
 Orange Sparkler In keeping with the summer theme, we greeted everyone in our lobby with tasting samples of Mixed Berry Mojitos and Orange Sparklers displayed on our glass-topped cocktail tables. The Mixed Berry Mojito is vodka based cocktail displayed on a bed of lemons and limes. If you are looking for a light and refreshing signature drink, you may want to consider the champagne based Orange Sparkler, displayed on a bed of oranges and orchids.
As always, couples are looking for different cocktail station ideas to personalize their reception. At the Expo, guests were able to sample different stations including the Country Barbeque Grill, the Smashed Potato Martini Bar, and our Clams, Clams, Clams stations.
 Country Barbeque Grill The Country Barbeque Grill is a great addition to a summer wedding reception and features Petite Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Mini Cheeseburgers and Grilled Sausage & Pepper Skewers paired with Grilled Corn & Chipotle Pepper Salad, Watermelon & Feta Salad and Cornbread Squares. The Classic Smashed Potato Martini Bar continues to be one of the most popular stations and it features a scoop of mashed potatoes served in a martini glass which you can then top with Beef Bourguignon, Broccoli & Cheddar, Caviar & Sour Cream and Chili to make your favorite smashed potato martini. For the clam lover, the Clams, Clams, Clams station features three preparations of clams: Clams Rockefeller, Clams Casino and Clams on the half shell.
The stacked wedding cake remains the most popular style for this year. Wedding resources are featuring stacked wedding cakes, in different shapes and colors with fresh flowers, bows and ribbon.
 Stacked Wedding Cake At the Expo, the featured wedding cake was a four-tier stacked cake with alternating square and round tiers with orchid and ribbon accents. Our featured dessert presentation was our A Taste of Heaven Dessert Display which we was paired with our Iced Coffee Bar. For the dessert lovers, the dessert bar includes three different torte presentations, napoleons, éclairs, cannolis, rainbow cookies, linzer tarts, almond cookies and old fashioned ice cream sundaes with chocolate syrup and whipped cream. At the Expo, we served Red Velvet Cake, Italian Lemon Cheesecake and Summerberry Stack as our three choices but there are many different cakes so you can select your three favorites.  For a cool refreshing ending, the Iced Coffee Bar included Mocha, Vanilla, Raspberry and Carmel iced coffees with Shaved Chocolate, Fresh Whipped Cream, and Cinnamon. At the Expo we featured purple, burnt orange and turquoise table linens since these colors are the hot colors for 2010 and 2011. Turquoise is the new chocolate brown and it can be paired with a variety of colors including ivory, green, yellow, red, orange and black to name a few. In addition to turquoise, brides we meet with are telling us that they are incorporating lavenders, lilacs, plums, aubergines and purples into their receptions and are mixing the purple tones with ivory, silver, brown, fuchsia and coral. For the fall brides, burnt orange is a great choice and because of the increase in the number of fall weddings, there are more and more selections available.
Our next Bridal Expo will be in September so keep checking back on our events page for more information.
 One of the most memorable aspects of a wedding ceremony is the magical moment the bride appears, and gracefully makes her way down the aisle to her eagerly awaiting groom. There are many traditions associated with the bride’s journey down the aisle. Some are rooted in superstitious beliefs, some are symbolic and some began out of practical needs.
The use of an aisle runner originated out of superstition. It was used as a barrier, protecting the bride and groom from evil spirits that were believed to live under the church floor. Practically, the aisle runner provided a clean area for the bride to walk upon in early days, when roads were not paved, as guests could track in a lot of dirt and mud. Traditionally, a white aisle runner symbolizes a “pathway of purity” or walking on “holy ground”.
The aisle runner is rolled down the aisle for the entrance of the bride and the bridal party. It commonly extends from the entrance area to the altar and is constructed of fabric, plastic or carpet. It is important that the runner material suits the ceremony venue and is properly secured to avoid slips and trips. If the ceremony is held outdoors on grass or sand, fabric or plastic aisle runners may not be safe, especially if the runner is constructed of light weight material since many times heels will go right through the runner. Also, if the runner is not secured properly, it will start to be pulled out of place during the processional.
A plain white runner may be the classic choice, but more and more couples today are getting creative and choosing to uniquely showcase their aisle runner.
 Monogram Runner from The Original Runner Company www.originalrunners.com You can personalizing the runner by having your name and date, family crest or monogram imprinted on the runner. For couples looking to add a meaningful twist, a scripture, personal quotation or message can also be imprinted.
In addition to a personalizing the runner with names, the wedding date or a monogram, aisle runners are also available in different colors and with patterns imprinted on them.
 Moss and Chocolate Runner from The Original Runner Company www.originalrunners.com If you Google “aisle runners for weddings” you will see how many different websites there are that specialize in custom aisle runners. One site that you might want to visit to see different options that are available is http://www.originalrunners.com. Many of these runners are heavier than a traditional paper runner and are safer for outdoor use.
 Rose Petal Runner A beautiful alternative to using a fabric, plastic or carpeting in an outdoor setting is the use of rose petals. Rose petals are a great way to form or define the aisle area. They are incredibly romantic and can be arranged in a variety of ways to create many different looks. They can be loosely scattered up the aisle creating a flowing, romantic feel or arranged to formerly outline the aisle for a more structured look. For a dramatic impact, some couples are choosing elaborate patterns such as the very popular lattice design. For a traditional feel, ivory petals are most popular, while many brides and grooms chose colored petals to coordinate with their theme or wedding color palette. 
When deciding on the whether or not you are going to use an aisle runner, you should also consider how the runner is going to look with your ceremony décor since the aisle will be featured in your ceremony photographs.
 More and more, couples are looking to personalize their wedding reception so that the reception is a reflection of their taste and style. A great way to set your wedding reception apart is by selecting a themed menu.
This past June 13th, Michelle and Jason had their wedding ceremony and reception at Majestic Gardens and their theme was upscale barbeque. When Michelle and Jason first came to visit Majestic Gardens, they had already decided they wanted to go with a barbeque-themed wedding reception. After spending time with them and listening to what they had in mind, we worked together and came up with a menu that reflected their vision.
 As the guests arrived, they were greeted in the lobby with Pink Lemonade Sparkling Cider Cocktails and Mango Iced Tea. Guests retrieved their escort cards as they made their way to the Secret Garden for the ceremony. The escort cards were placed on beds of wheat grass for a beautiful presentation.
For the cocktail hour, the passed hors d’oeuvres included Barbequed Riblets, Mini Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Spicy Chicken Drumettes, Roasted Vegetable Skewers and Cajun Crab Cakes to name a few. Other cocktail hour selections included the Miniature Vegetable Garden and the All American Station featuring Sliders, Heart-Shaped Grilled Cheese, French Fry Cones and Mini Corn Bread Muffins.
Following the cocktail hour, the guests were invited into the ballroom where the tables had lavender gingham runners, beautiful floral centerpieces designed by the couple and custom table numbers displayed on miniature beds of wheat grass. For the main course, guests had a choice of a Gourmet Sirloin and Short Rib Burger, Bourbon Basted Barbequed Chicken Breast and Pineapple Barbeque Glazed Grilled Salmon accompanied by Twice Baked Potatoes, Green Beans and Roasted Corn.
In additon to the wedding cake, guests were invitied to make their own Cheesecake Martini by adding their favorite fruit or candy topping to a scoop of cheesecake served in a martini glass. To complete the theme, guests were sent home wtih a bottle of barbeque sauce as the favor.
 There are many traditions associated with weddings which we all know about but few of us know their significance or even how the traditions started. Did you ever wonder what the significance of wearing something old, new, borrowed and blue?
After a little research, we discovered that this tradition comes from Victorian times. The “something old” referred to links with the past, including traditions, family and friends which will remain with the bride.
The “something new” represents the future happiness and health of the couple. The “something borrowed” was derived as a way for the bride’s family to give their daughter a token to keep with her on her wedding day symbolizing their love and good wishes while the “something blue” is for good luck since blue symbolizes faithfulness, loyalty, devotion and everlasting love.
Today, most brides continue to incorporate this tradition, with close family and friends giving the bride keepsakes for her wedding day.
Another way to incorporate this tradition is to include a Something Old, Something New Cocktail Menu at your reception. There are so many new cocktails for the Something New, as well as all the traditional cocktails for the Something Old. For Something Borrowed consider “borrowing” a friend’s favorite cocktail or incorporating a cocktail from a different culture. For the Something Blue, you can select a cocktail made with Hypnotiq, Blue Raspberry Pucker or Blue Curacao. The possibilities are endless and you can get really creative in making selections for your menu.
Creating your drink menu is simpler than you think. Think of how fun it will be to get together with your friends to sample different drinks recipes to come up with your four choices. You can mix your favorite spirits and mixes to come up with your own original drinks and names.
Until next time …
This spring has been truly remarkable with beautiful warm and sunny days making it the perfect weather for outdoor garden ceremonies. 
On Saturday May 22, Caitlin and Eric were married in the Secret Garden at Majestic Gardens. Saturday was truly a beautiful day and the willow green and soft pink color schemed selected by the couple was perfect for a spring wedding. For the ceremony, beautiful green hydrangea arrangements accented the ivory draping on the Victorian gazebo and decorated the ceremony aisle chairs. The aisle runner was secured in place and lined with pink and ivory rose petals.
 Secret Garden There were petal cones on each chair featuring the couple’s name and date in green writing with a pink double butterfly accent and pink rose petals.
The tables in the Grand Ballroom featured willow green pintuck linens, elegant ivory chair covers and absolutely stunning centerpieces by James Cress. The floral centerpieces were perched on elaborate gold stands and featured hydrangea, pink peonies and orchids. 
Custom table menus describing the different entrée selections in willow green and pink were included for the guests.
The wedding cake was a four-tier off-set square cake with silver accents and a willow green bow and a monogram cake topper.
 Monogram Cake Topper The monogram cake topper featured the individual initials of the bride and groom in green with the main initial in clear Swarovski crystals.
For anyone considering willow green for their wedding you certainly can draw inspiration from this wedding ceremony and reception.
For the past few years “signature drinks” have been all the rage. Signature drinks are creative cocktails that compliment the color or theme of an event.
 Signature Cocktail Station for Fall Themed Wedding These signature drinks are usually passed around or offered at the bar, and are a nice way to add a personal touch to a wedding. However, many couples are interested in making a greater impact with their choice of cocktail. If you fall into this category, consider a Signature Cocktail Station.
Imagine a table or grouping of tables, beautifully decorated and positioned at the entry of your cocktail hour offering a fabulous cocktail to your guests as they enter the room. This type of station is great for introducing your theme, making a personal statement about an interest or hobby, adding a touch of whimsy or simply enhancing your color palette. In addition to looking great, an added benefit to this type of station is that it eliminates the initial mad dash to the bar as your cocktail hour begins.
The first step in creating a signature drink station is selecting the objective of the table and how many tables you would like to incorporate into the station. To establish her “BLING” theme,  a recent Majestic Gardens’ bride selected one table with gold colored drinks served in elegant gold-rimmed flutes with gold glitter, crystals and engagement rings to embellish the table. We went with black satin linens because we wanted the gold and the glitter to really stand out. If two tables sound appealing, a “his and hers” concept works great. Base one table on something about the bride; a favorite color or flavor, an interest or hobby or a personality trait. The other table based on something about the groom; maybe a favorite team or sport?  This is our Bronx Bomber Martini table and features a gray lamour linen with baseballs and Yankee memorabilia as embellishments.
Once you have come up with your theme and colors, concentrate on the drink itself. It should taste great, work with your color scheme and have a wide appeal. Be sure to maximize the effect of the tables by including a catchy name for your drink, linens that coordinate with your overall color scheme and embellishments that support you theme, color or season.
Cocktail-styled wedding receptions have been increasing in popularity over the past few years with couples opting to create more of a “party” atmosphere for their reception, encouraging guests to mingle and relax.
Over and over, we hear guests comment that the best part of a wedding reception is the cocktail hour and couples who select a cocktail-styled reception are actually choosing a reception that encourages their guests to dance, mingle and dine at their own pace.
The couple who selects a cocktail-styled reception wants a less traditional reception and is confident that this type of event will make an impression on their guests. There are many different types of cocktail-styled receptions and if you opt for this type of a reception, you can design a menu to reflect your vision.
In response to the increasing requests for a cocktail-styled reception, we created a Continuous Cocktail Wedding Reception Menu. This menu is a five hour cocktail menu with the first hour styled after a traditional cocktail hour with passed hors d’oeuvres, hot and cold stations including the Miniature Vegetable Garden pictured below.
Following the cocktail hour, guests are welcomed into the ballroom for a four hour reception that begins with a passed champagne toast and passed hors d’oeuvres. Then, as the guests are mingling and dancing, different stations open in the Ballroom.
Station options include Italian, Seafood, Continental and Asian, as well as traditional stations such as Carving, Wok, Mexican and Sushi. There are also whimsical selections including the Gourmet Burger Bar, the All American Station and the Smashed Potato Martini Bar.
The wedding cake is served at a station together with coffee, capp  uccino and espresso. Continuing the cocktail theme, servers pass dessert and cordial selections throughout the Ballroom. Of course, you can change this menu and many couples elect to have the champagne poured at the guests tables and to have the wedding cake served to the guests.
With this menu, guests are always left amazed because the food just keeps coming. Many times, people think that the reception is going to be similar to a buffet-styled reception but there is very little similarity between the two. The Continuous Cocktail Menu offers an upscale alternative to a traditional sit-down reception and is certainly a trend that is here to stay.
 Today, most couples are looking to make a statement with their wedding cake. Over the past few years, the wedding cake has evolved from a simple traditional white tiered cake to become one of the focal points of the wedding reception. Couples now use colors, shapes, designs and decorations to create a wedding cake that enhances their style and color scheme. This shift in wedding cake design is showcased on wedding themed television programs such as Ace of Cakes and Amazing Wedding Cakes. The designer cakes featured on these programs include a variety of shapes, styles and colors with intricate details and designs. With a little imagination and creativity, you can style your wedding cake to achieve a designer look without the designer expense.
For the past few years, fondant cakes have increased in popularity because of the smooth appearance of rolled fondant. Now, cake designers are able to create intricate designs and smooth cakes with buttercream icing by using new tools and advanced techniques. As a result, buttercream is once again the icing of choice for 2009. The benefits of buttercream icing are that most people prefer the taste of buttercream to fondant and that buttercream costs much less than fondant.
One way to personalize your wedding cake is to incorporate your color scheme into your cake.  To create more impact, consider adding a colored ribbon or a colored design to a traditional white wedding cake. If you are a trendsetter, consider the dramatic impact a colored wedding cake could have, especially if you add designs and ribbons in contrasting or complimentary colors.
A recent Majestic Gardens’ bride wanted a cake that replicated the look of the traditional tiffany blue box and white satin ribbon that is the trademark of Tiffany & Co. The bride emailed us a picture of her dream cake which was a four tier tiffany blue rolled fondant cake with rolled fondant ribbons and bows. The cake was absolutely beautiful but it was several hundred dollars additional for the fondant cake, ribbons and bow. Rather than incur the additional costs, we suggested a buttercream cake with white satin ribbon. Here is the end result:
We were able to achieve the designer cake look and the only additional cost was for the satin ribbon. Keep in mind that if you decide to go with a ribbon accent, you need to consider the width of the ribbon, as well as the material.
Until next time …
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