Attire:  Eggplant is a rich jewel tone that flatters every skin tone.  Bridesmaids in dresses of this dark purple can easily wear their dresses to other events, and even the Groomsmen look good with eggplant-colored ties.  Purple is also a good color for trimmings and accessories.

Flowers:  Whether the arrangements are entirely purple, or it is an accent color, numerous flowers come in purple.  Our Brides’ favorites include irises, roses and tulips.  Good purple accent flowers include asters, purple sweet pea and phlox.

Table settings:  Many of our Brides and Grooms enjoy our elegant purple glass stemware.  For purple Weddings, we also tie a purple ribbon around every folded napkin.  We use cloth napkins for dinner, but some Brides and Grooms order purple paper napkins, often monogrammed with their initials, for the hors d’oeuvres, drinks and desserts.

The fashion of the 1940’s was both practical and elegant, and is certainly still welcome in Wedding Parties today.  Wedding Gowns of the time frequently featured basque waists, sweetheart necklines and large shoulders achieved with either shoulder pads or puffy sleeves.  A Bride who wants her Bridesmaids to reflect 1940’s fashions could have them in knee-length dresses (perfect for doing the jitterbug) and flowers in their hair.  As for the Groom and his Groomsmen, nothing says 1940’s fashion like wide-brimmed fedoras and patterned, colorful ties.

A Bride and her Bridesmaids can also shine with 1940’s glamour through their hairstyles, manicures and makeup.  Shoulder-length and longer hair was popular then, with graceful side parts, pompadours or, later, Victory Roll hairstyles.  Women frequently matched the color of their lipstick to their nail polish, often using vibrant dark reds.

Brides and Grooms who love the 1940’s can look for inspiration from such actors as Judy Garland, Errol Flynn and John Wayne.  As far as music goes, artists like Billie Holiday Frank Sinatra were wildly popular.  American culture was also strongly affected by Norman Rockwell’s Four Freedoms series, the fashions of Christian Dior and the baseball games (and wartime service) of Joe Dimaggio and Ted Williams.

1. Consider your guests’ needs while planning. Between you, your groom and your immediate families, you probably know all the guests well enough to take food allergies and limited mobility into account well before the wedding day. Communicate these needs to your venue, and together, you can take care of it. For example, the Lord Thompson Manor staff is always aware of which place setting requires a vegetarian meal, which plates can’t touch sea food and how many lactose intolerant guests are in attendance. Keeping the safety and comfort of your guests in mind can help the wedding and reception flow smoothly from start to finish.

2. Create a contingency plan for uncontrollable circumstances. If you plan an outdoor wedding and there is a chance of rain, have a nearby Plan B and take into account budget, decorations and transportation. Keep a number of safety pins nearby, in the unlikely but tragic event of a damaged suit or dress. Have a second, more familiar, comfortable pair of shoes to change into for the reception, just in case your feet hurt. The Lord Thompson Manor is always prepared with quick, viable fixes for these and other little potential hiccups in the plan.

3. Put your plan in competent hands. Your job as wedding micromanager should be done by the rehearsal dinner, so you can kick back and enjoy being a bride. You’ve planned the reception, procured the dresses, written your vows, and performed countless other gigantic tasks; your wedding day is not the time to sweat the small stuff. A bride who loses sight of the big picture runs the risk of damaging it. The Lord Thompson Manor’s experienced wedding coordinator is at our every bride’s service, handling all their potential wedding day stressors for them. As a result, we are privileged to see our brides relaxed and smiling from start to finish.

Author Deanna Cassidy

Lord Thompson Manor

A Lord Thompson Manor Wedding Gift Registry By: Michele Neisler

Do you want to play wedding gift roulette, or would you rather lessen your chances of receiving a ceramic sombrero chip bowl or a clapper by taking the time to fill out a wedding gift registry?

A wedding gift registry is the perfect way to let all of your guests know just what you need to start your new life together. A gift registry is a service offered by stores to couples that allows them to compile a personalized gift registry wish list that will help well wishers in choosing the perfect present.

You may even be surprised to find out just how many stores offer a gift registry, both on-line and off. Be sure to fill out a gift registry for both to accommodate guests who prefer on-line shopping as well as guests who like to shop in person.

Gift Registry Made Simple

Whether you plan to use an on-line gift registry or a gift registry at a local store, the process is very much the same for both.

* Ask for a gift registry form at the store or click on the
gift registry link at a website in order to receive a
detailed list of gift ideas.

* Take time to browse through the suggested items to find a
brand that you would prefer for certain items, and check
out other gift registry items you hadn’t previously
considered, or may have overlooked for your gift registry
list.

* Place a check by the gift registry items that you’d most
like to receive, and if applicable, the number you need
such as eight place settings.

* When you have finished, either return your gift registry
list to the store’s customer service department, or submit
your on-line gift registry.

There is one sticky gift registry issue that many couples find difficulty handling. What to do when you’d rather receive money than fill out a gift registry?

Many couples would simply like to receive a monetary gift that will help them pay for a honeymoon trip or the down payment on a mortgage, and skip the gift registry all together. But can you just ask your guests to give you money without seeming rude? The answer is probably not. Why? Because your guests are just that; guests. While receiving gifts from a gift registry is nice, it shouldn’t be implied as a requirement for attending.

The best idea would be to provide a list of stores holding your gift registry list, while simultaneously having your closest friends and relatives ‘leak’ out the information that you could really use a monetary gift much more. This way, many guests will get the message, and you get to avoid the impression of being rude.

Gift Registry Tips

* Register with at least one national chain store’s gift
registry as a courtesy to your out-of-town quests.

* Be sure to choose items in all price ranges on your gift
registry.

* Include a list of stores that have your gift registry list
when you send out your shower and wedding invitations.

Lord Thompson Manor Wedding Cake Designs By: Max Bellamy

The wedding cake design should not only reflect personal style, but also ideally be in sync with the menu and the décor of the wedding reception. The wedding cake should fit in the theme of the wedding reception.

Wedding cake designs can come in many forms, from the usual cream or white icings in conventional designs, to wholly non-traditional designs laced with vibrant artistry.

With the passing of time, wedding cake designs have evolved. Couples are now choosing cupcake trees with greater frequency, which was one of the foremost wedding cake ideas. Yet, some still have a preference for the conventional cakes for their wedding cakes.

The size and design of the wedding cake may depend on a number of things, like the size of the wedding budget or the availability of other desserts in the reception.

Today, one can find pastry chefs who offer infinite wedding cake ideas on icings, decorations, construction, and flavors.

A wedding cake’s design can be a reflection of personal taste. A couple with a passion for cars or motorcycles can have wedding cakes reflecting the same; a small motorcycle accompanying the miniature figures of the couple atop the cake, for example.

The flavor of the wedding cake is another important aspect. No flavor is off-limits for the modern wedding. One can have cheesecakes, mousse-filled cakes, pound cakes, vanilla, chocolate or sponge cake.

Today, one can find competent bakers with the ability to create the lacy look of the bride’s dress with frosting or the use of pearls. With frosting, these bakers can duplicate the look of any part of the reception’s décor. Also, couples can have their initials entwined in the cake with frosting.

In Bermuda, wedding cakes have a little green tree as a cake topping. Following the wedding, the newlyweds can plant the same tree in their garden, and symbolically watch it grow with time.

Then there are other options like adding edible fruits, chocolates or nuts around the cake. This will augment the designs on the guests’ plates. For that matter, one can also use edible roses, lavender or oregano as designs, or non-edible flowers as cake toppings.

Lord Thompson Manor offers six stately guest rooms—three of which are luxury suites, each with a fireplace and private bath—as well as six inviting cottage rooms at our sister property, The Cottage House, well-situated just two miles down the road. During their stay, guests may enjoy relaxing massages and treatments, among other services offered at our on-site spa. Comfortable and convenient, the accommodations at Lord Thompson Manor and The Cottage House help to create a seamless weekend.

Lord Thompson Manor is particularly distinguished among wedding facilities by the careful attention our professional staff gives to every detail of our guests’ three-day stay here. From elaborate floral arrangements to exquisite cakes to romantic candlelit evenings, each element of a Wedding Weekend is uniquely tailored to the Bride’s & Groom’s particular needs. In addition to providing a diverse variety of gourmet menu options—prepared from scratch and cooked fresh on the premises by our James Beard Foundation Celebrated Chefs—Lord Thompson Manor provides full Wedding coordination services, including directing Brides & Grooms to the elite of New England’s Musicians and Bands, Photographers and Videographers, Florists, Cake Bakers, Limousine Services and more. Book your wedding at Lord Thompson Manor and experience an extraordinary weekend that you and your guests will fondly remember for years to come.

Route 200,  PO Box 428 Thompson, Connecticut 06277
Telephone (860) 923-3886 Fax (860) 923-9310  

 email  mail@lordthompsonmanor.com

Lord Thompson Manor Party Songs Author Gen Wright.

Your Wedding Reception is not meant to be anything less than a party and certain songs can insure that it is. If you want a rocking wedding reception that will be talked about for the next twenty years, then you better have some rocking music. Fortunately, there are a handful of tried and true wedding party songs that can get even the oldest people up and dancing. Here are the top five party songs to be played at your wedding reception.Shout (Otis Day and the Nights) – This song was made famous to a generation of people many years ago, and it still has the power to move anyone. Just a few bars of Shout, and you will have people up and moving and the atmosphere rolling. This song has jump started more parties than any other song on this list and for good reason. It has a great beat and rhythm, it is known by every generation, and it asks you to respond throughout the song. It is impossible not to answer!

The Twist ?(Chubby Checker) – The twist is yet another multi-generational hit that gets people moving without them even realizing it. You simply must have the twist at any party, and any wedding reception in particular. It does wonders to let down the inhibitions of the crowd, and get them out of their seats. If your wedding reception is too drab, throw on some Chubby Checker and watch it change instantly.

Electric Slide ?(Marcia Griffiths) ?While many people claim that this classic line dance is tired and worn out, it still gets every single person up and dancing at the wedding party. It is ironic that the people that are complaining about it are usually the first ones to get up and start doing the slide. This is great to get a number of people all at once up and involved. In DJ circles, this is called a set up song. You might play this song to get them to the floor, and then right after while they are out there, hit them with one of the choices above.

C’mon and Ride It ?(Quad City DJ’s) ?One hundred percent beat, and one hundred percent crowd pleaser. This is the number one song to throw on once you have the crowd into the dancing. No wedding reception is the same without at least one choo-choo line dancing to the beat of the Quad City DJ’s. This is one of the songs that simply can not be skipped. It is the ultimate buzz generating song for a party or wedding reception.

Baby Got Back ?(Sir Mix-A-Lot) ?While the words are not exactly PG-13 all the way through, the song is one of the most requested songs at any party, much less a wedding reception. Rest assured, if you are having a reception, some one will ask for this song. After all of these years, the song still has the power to work a crowd and keep them on the dance floor. Do not get caught at a wedding reception without it.

While this list of great party songs for your wedding party reception is far from all inclusive, it is a great start to a list of music that you will want. If you have these five selections, then you are assured of at least five songs that every single person will be moved to dance to. There are a number of different tastes out there, but everyone likes to dance to these.

Anna K. manages Wedding Party Help website and is very passionate about anything related to Wedding Party. If you are also interested in Wedding Party Vendors and Favors than do check my site,

http://www.weddingpartyhelp.com

Lord Thompson Manor Favor Ideas Author Albert Lee.

Choosing a wedding reception favor is an important decision because it’s responsible for creating a lasting impression of your wedding. Here are some favor ideas you can use to wow your guests.1. Wedding Reception Favor Ideas for Out-of-Town Weddings

If you’re having a wedding outside your hometown, you can give away a token that will remind your guests not only of the event itself but also the place where the wedding was held. It can be a typical souvenir or something entirely unique and which would necessitate a brief explanation or story about its significance.

2. Religious Wedding Reception Favor Ideas

If you want to focus on the sacrament of matrimony, here are several things you may want to give away: anything cross-shaped, a miniature rosary or rosary bracelet, a specially published prayer book, or a tiny religious icon.

3. Beach Wedding Reception Favor Ideas

Favors for this type of wedding reception must always be reminiscent of eternal blue skies, fine sand, and crystal clear water. It can be specially made hourglasses containing authentic sand from the beach venue, anything made of native seashells, or frames containing pre-taken photographs of the guests at the venue.

4. Romantic Wedding Reception Favor Ideas

Anything “his and hers” will definitely qualify under this category. In fact, anything under the sun could be slotted here just as long as the newlyweds relay the cute story behind the favors on an attached note. Miniature wedding ring replicas, Cupids’s

bow to resemble true love, and pressed flowers are good choices for romantic wedding reception favors.5. Elegant Wedding Reception Favor Ideas

Elegant favors are impersonal in nature but they definitely have the oomph factor. They need not be expensive but most usually are. Keep in mind that ostentatious is not elegant so don’t go overboard on the expenses. Miniature gold-plated pens with engraved details about the wedding are common. Well-crafted brooches, money clips, and cuff links are all good choices as well.

To learn more wedding reception ideas, visit http://www.weddingreceptionideas101.com

Lord Thompson Manor Venue Author: Simone Icough.

The first thing to take into account when choosing a wedding location is that there are likely to be two parts of your wedding to organise – the wedding ceremony and the wedding reception. As regards the ceremony, a church wedding is still the favourite choice for many couples, and most have a particular church in mind. In this case, the reception must be planned around the wedding service. Factors such as ease of transport from service to reception will be important when planning your church wedding.

If, on the other hand, you’re thinking about a civil wedding, you have the option of choosing a venue that will host both your wedding ceremony and your wedding reception. If this is what you are hoping for, you will need to choose a venue that is licensed for marriage ceremonies. This may come with a higher price tag than non-licensed wedding venues, but has the benefit of minimizing the amount of traveling involved for you and your wedding guests.

The type of wedding you have will depend partly on how big it will be, so here are some things to think about before approaching wedding venues:

• Number of wedding guests. It may sound obvious but many venues will not be able to magic up extra space from nowhere if you add 20 extra guests at the last minute. You should have a good idea of numbers before you start looking at venues.
• Sit-down or stand-up wedding reception? A formal meal will obviously require more space than a stand-up buffet, so a venue whose seated capacity is 100 might well be able to accommodate 200 for a canapé reception. Which do you want?
• How big is your wedding band? Bands and other forms entertainment can take up a large amount of space, as can a dance floor, so decide when and where you want the entertainment to take place, and check with the venue that this can be done in the space available.

A small wedding venue can be beautiful. Of course you should make sure that your guests are not squashed in like sardines, but atmosphere-wise it can be almost as bad for a small number of people to be rattling around in a huge, high-ceiling reception room. Make sure your venue is not too big for your needs.

Any number of buildings can make a perfect wedding reception venue, but here are some of the most popular options:

Historic Wedding Reception Venue

Castles, country houses and stately homes are among the locations many dream of for their big day. If your budget can stretch to it, this offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy the use of a stunning building.

Hotel Wedding Reception

There are so many different types of hotel that there’s likely to be something for everyone, from traditional to ultra-modern. Having accommodation on the spot is, of course, a big plus.

Marquee Wedding Reception

If you have access to spacious gardens or other outdoor space, a marquee could be worth considering. Many people are surprised at how pricey it can be to hire a marquee for their wedding, but the plus side is that you can take control of wedding catering and could save a considerable amount by providing your own alcohol.

Sports or Social Club Wedding Reception

Different types of club premises can be perfect for a wedding reception. Do plenty of research and you could find one that’s in a stunning location, too. For example, some sailing or rowing clubs have picturesque waterside views, and can often be hired at a reasonable price, certainly compared to other popular wedding venues.

Restaurant or Pub Wedding Reception

Food and drink are among the main ingredients for a successful wedding reception, so where better to head than to a lovely restaurant or pub? We recommend TikiTano in Estepona, we have been to this venue many times, the ambience is right and the food is a gastronomic delight! Bear in mind that you’re more likely to find a good match if your wedding party is smaller, and if you’re lucky you might even be able to escape the heavy costs that are often quoted as soon as you mention the ‘w’ word!

Wedding Venue Checklist

Wedding Prices

Over-inflated costs might mean you compromising on other aspects of the wedding. Whether it’s sky high drinks prices or hidden extras in the small print, you don’t want to feel exploited, so vote with your feet if you feel it’s not worth it.

Wedding Venue Staff

Do they seem experienced and professional? Flexibility is another key attribute. Are they willing to adapt to your needs? This will be a major factor in how smoothly your day runs.

Wedding Venue Facilities

Is the venue suitable for guests with a disability, and can it provide appropriate seating for the elderly and/or young children?

Wedding Florist Marbella. Beautiful arrangements and bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids, buttonholes for the groom, vehicle and church decorations.

A wedding is a fun and joyous time to celebrate the bond of two people. You have been thinking about every detail, how the itinerary would flow. Now it is time to start brainstorming those wedding reception decorating ideas. This can be stressful or fun depending on how much work you put into decorating your wedding reception.

Decorating a Wedding Reception

If you search Google, you will plenty of wedding reception decorating ideas and the best way to get ideas is to see what others are doing. Current fashion trends tend to change every season and a majority of brides keep up to date on what’s in and what’s out. Also, depending on how many guests you are expecting will determine the extent of decorating a wedding reception. If you have a theme, it can easily be worked into the decorating process. Also because there are so many wedding reception decorations, I recommend starting a budget and sticking with it. There may be some wedding reception table decorations that are perfect, but they just won’t work nicely with your budget.

Wedding Reception Decorating Ideas

So, what is a bride to do? Well, themes can work great for keeping the vibe of a planned wedding reception congruent. If you feel up to it, you can hand make decorations or have those in your bridal party help you as well. Remember, to delegate responsibility to these people (they are here to help keep you sane). The only drawback with this solution is that it is very time consuming. For those with busy schedules wedding planners are great for over the top or very simple wedding decorations. There are also inexpensive wedding decorations on the market. This is great for cutting costs and allocating funds towards something else.

It can be as easy as visiting your local craft store and purchasing materials to make the decorations out of. Flowers (real or imitation) can be placed in various sized jars with multicolored stones. Be sure to have this color match the one you chose for the wedding reception and brides dresses. These vases can also be used for stunning centerpieces on the guests tables. At these same stores you will find a variety of table cloths that match your desired color for the wedding reception.

Another neat idea for inexpensive weddings where there will be many younger children is to use white cloth paper for tablecloths. Provide them with pens/pencils/pens, and the younger guests will have an area to write notes and stay busy during the formalities of the reception. One of the most common problems with children at receptions is they need to keep busy or they will become irritated. You can save some of these table cloths as mementos of the big day.

Wedding Reception Themes

Typical themed weddings can also be planned on simple and easy budget. Try keeping with the seasons depending on what time of year your wedding is. For spring use wedding reception decorations that include light flowers and fresh colors. All summer themes think bold larger than life decorations and neutral colors. Sunset colors work great with fall weddings, and winter weddings are best to keep with lighter hues and shades. Example, color combinations such as burgundy and hunter, or wine and sky blue are just a couple of the many color choices for more formal autumn weddings. There are also many red, orange, and yellow flowers to go with this theme such as marigolds, apricot lilies, rust and burgundy hydrangeas. Rose petals are also great to use on tables, on parts of walkways or floating on water.

Wedding Table Decorating Ideas

Something overlooked at weddings are the name settings on tables. I recommend keeping all fonts the same and in line with the theme of your wedding. Standard name are done everywhere, try to mix it up and personalize the name settings. Maybe each individual table can have a sub-theme that plays off your wedding decorations. You can incorporate unique candles layouts and this will impress guests. Example satin cloths and greenery make for a romantic setting. While covering the dance floor area with small poles elegantly draped with satin ribbons or garlands of greenery makes for a beautiful scene. Your guests will appreciate the time and energy you put into the small details for the wedding reception area.

This is just a small sample of some of the wedding themes. Others include medieval feasts, ethnic weddings, some of which are absolutely beautiful to behold such as the Japanese and S. Korean style weddings, others are Romeo and Juliet themed weddings or an amazing under the sea themed wedding. Basically any theme that is well thought out can turn out stellar.

Wedding Reception Decorations

As you can see, there is plenty of wedding reception ideas that can be used to keep it average, expensive, or cheap. It is up to you to decide on the trade off between time and money. Basically the more money you spend, the less time it will take to get the desired result and visa versa. You can use help from family, friends, or even hired professionals. Overall, you can keep this fun and get the distinguished look you want. Bottom line, decorating for a wedding reception does not need to be stressful or difficult.

Robert Reno works for Encore Entertainment. His team provides DJs and lighting for Michigan wedding receptions.

Lord Thompson Manor Decorating