Discussion: Receiving Line

When I was planning wedding, I remember reading about the receiving line and as I got involved in the wedding industry I would still read about the receiving line. The problem is, that in all the weddings I worked at or attended as a guest, I never saw anyone do that. I just figured it was a tradition that was old and no longer used. I was still confused on how they work. That was until I attended our friend's wedding last week.

After the ceremony, all of us guests get up and we all see the bride, her groom and the parents line up by the door to the reception hall. I'm thinking, "What are we doing?" I just assumed we would head to cocktail hour as they would sprint off for pictures. It was actually very nice, and even nicer that the bride and groom still took the time to go to each table to say hello and thanks to their guests. :-)

It was nice to say hello to the bride and groom, congratulate them, but it was pretty awkward to say hello to the other family members I didn't know. "Hi. Congrats? Thanks for this wedding? It is beautiful?" Needless to say that I didn't know what to say, lol. I have to say though, it is a nice touch and if there is time in your itinerary for the day, and there aren't a ton of guests, go ahead and do it! I think it is something that makes guests feel welcome!

Source: oncewed.com via Melina on Pinterest by Jonathan Ong

Now if only we can get those talkers to understand that they can't hold up the line to catch up with one of the family members in the line! Lol

So let's discuss! I'm curious to know if you have been to many weddings with receiving lines or have yet to experience one? Are you or did you have a receiving line for your wedding? Are you glad you did it? Do you wish you had cut it out to save on time?

Comment below or take the conversation to the Wedding Pickle Facebook Page!

Dialogue: Guests in Color

We all know that the bridal party will usually be dressed up according to a color palette or in strictly the colors of the wedding. What I love about that is how it unifies the bridal party and how pretty it looks for the wedding photos!

Source: stylemepretty.com via Hannah on Pinterest

Now, how about take that a step further? Would you ask your guests to dress according to a color palette? 

It probably would be annoying to expect all your guests to show up wearing pink and yellow, but it would be cool to see everyone in black and white, or all white, or all neutrals? To make it easier, guys can come in black and girls in the color of choice.

Some colors don't lend themselves well to being in people's wardrobes, but some do! It kinda would be cool for photos that pan the event of everyone, it would feel festive and I know I would have a blast seeing what versions of a color others are wearing to the wedding. 

So, what do you think about this idea? Is it too much to ask? Would you do it and make it mandatory or optional? What color would you do if you did do this?

Discuss in the comments below or carry the conversation on the Wedding Pickle Facebook Page!

Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. - Psalm 119:1-2

How to Have a Jeans Friendly Wedding

I seriously have been getting amazing guest post submissions! Last week we learned about how to take the best shots of your wedding dress and this week I got a great post for you brides out there wanting to have a casual, jeans-friendly wedding and don't know how to do it. It is a wedding and weddings are a formal celebration but who cares! These days it is all about bringing your personality to your day to tell your love story to your guests. :-) Suzanne is a writer for Lucky Brand Jeans and I am excited to share her article with you today!

You and your fiancé have a story completely unique to the two of you – how you met, how you fell in love, and how you got engaged. How you get married should also be unique and not every couple is a 5-foot train down the aisle of a cathedral type of couple. If you’re the kind of couple that would like to see your guests wearing jeans and flip flops rather than chinos and loafers, then follow these tips for making your entire wedding a pro-jeans zone.

Source: greenweddingshoes.com via April on Pinterest photography by Braedon Photography

Have your bridal party wear jeans

Rather than have your bridesmaids wear a dress that they will simply hide in the back of their closet after the wedding, put them in dark skinny jeans with a brightly colored empire-waist mini dress and a pair of black flats. Not only will it set the tone for the rest of the guests, but you as the bride will stand out even more against their fresh and modern look. And how cute will your ring bearer look wearing a pair of dark jeans and Converse?

Don’t have a reception – have a gigantic party

Have your reception at a venue where beach volleyball, croquet, and bocce ball are strongly encouraged and a part of the fun! On the invitation make sure your guests know that your reception will be a full contact sport and they should dress accordingly. No one will wear a suit and tie when they know that the cuisine includes BBQ ribs and that the bride and groom will be initiating a boys vs. girls softball game.

Source: stylemepretty.com via Monica on Pinterest photography by Elle Photography

Put the dress code on the wedding invitation

We’ve all received the wedding invitations that say “black tie encouraged” or “black tie required”. Play off the wording and write “board shorts encouraged” or “black tie forbidden.” A few of your guests might get confused and call you asking if it’s a typo, but this will provide you with a chance to spread the dress code word of mouth.

Provide a dress up box for those that want to feel fancy

Photo booths that utilize dress up boxes are all the rage, but why reserve the feather boas, mustaches, and bow ties for the photo booth? Make sure each table has fake pearls, plastic top hats, and tacky cummerbunds so that when the naysayers (like your cousin Janice) scoff at the lack of class that your jean clad bridesmaids exhibit, you can conga line past them – while wearing a sparkly purple top hat. Now that’s classy. 

The most important thing to remember is to plan a wedding that encapsulates your personality as a couple. While having a ceremony that is simultaneously planned down to the detail and casual might seem like a contradiction in terms, you and your fiancé get to write the story of your wedding. So be you! It’s your wedding…wear jeans if you want to. 

Suzanne is a blogging Seattlile with a healthy obsession with denim. She loves helping her friends with wedding ideas that are unique to their couple personality.

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Pickle: 3 Options for Scheduling the Rehearsal Dinner

When you begin booking your venues for your wedding, you may or may not have thought when you will also have your rehearsal. It is something to make a priority as well because of the fact that your venue is where your rehearsal will take place. You gotta make sure it is available.

The Pickle: Your venue is booked the night before your wedding for another event so you cannot host your rehearsal the night before. You could move it a day earlier but it can be a problem for your out of town guests, family members and bridal party members.

The Solution: The obvious way to avoid a misunderstanding of time is to ask the venue at the time of booking if the night before is available. And if it isn't? Think about these options:

• A casual day rehearsal, let people freshen up and see the town during the day and get dolled up for a nice dinner. Put together a packet for everyone of places to see, fun places to eat, and shopping. The time during the day can be great for the old gang to hang out before the big day.

Source: parisapartment.wordpress.com via Sonja on Pinterest

• A nice morning rehearsal with a brunch to follow. Rehearsals make people hungry so you can have food to follow just like you would for the rehearsal dinner. Have mimosas, champagne, and bloody mary's to satisfy the party factor without making it inappropriate. Don't forget coffee and tea! It is brunch after all! I love the option below of creating different flavors for the champagne.

Source: centsationalgirl.com via Melissa on Pinterest

• Day rehearsal with early dinner. Dinner for me is alway after 6 o'clock, but when I got to know my husbands family, dinner could be 4 o'clock. So in this option you can still have your rehearsal dinner and get it done in time to relax before the big day. 

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. - Matthew 6:5-6

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Guest Post: Tips for Destination Weddings

I am so excited to have another guest poster for you today all the way from India! I have to say, I am always in awe at how the internet brings the whole world closer to each other. I’m happy that this is another post topic I haven’t covered because I have no experience in destination weddings, though I am hoping I someday will get to when I start my business in the hopes to help military brides :-) While I’m still without my belongings thanks to a horrible moving company, I am happy that I am only days away from having internet again! Than I will be back with full force again instead of trying to get by with hotspots and my iphone! 

Candice of Marry Me- The Wedding Planners plans Indian weddings that have a lot to planning to them, but the tips she provides are so great for all destination weddings!

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Destination Weddings are gaining popularity with couples that want a unique and memorable wedding celebration. In India, Rajasthan for its forts and palaces and Goa for its beachfront venues are the most popular destinations for weddings. Other destinations like Kerala and Hyderabad are also gaining popularity.
Destination weddings involve a lot of research and planning. Once you have your location and venue finalized, you can then start putting together the other elements that will complement your celebrations. Indian weddings, being extremely elaborate, often have much more planning and coordination that goes into a destination wedding.

Here are some tips:
~ In keeping with the theme and the destination, choose an invitation that is apt. Think a scroll for a royal wedding or a message in a bottle for a beach wedding. Your invite could also be fairly simple, but accompanied with a gift, characteristic of the wedding destination; you could give your guests a little taste of the destination in advance! Also, don’t forget your save the dates! Try and send them out as soon as possible, so guests can block their dates!

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~ In many cases, destination weddings require minimal décor as the location is most likely naturally picturesque and ideal for an intimate wedding. Using props and colors that highlight the natural beauty of the surroundings would be a good idea.

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~ Since your guests have travelled from far and wide for your wedding, consider a welcome gift basket in each hotel room. You can add an itinerary, map, local sweets, snacks and chocolates even! Maybe some bath & body products could also be a good idea. And if it is a beach wedding, don’t forget the sunscreen! What about taking this one step further and placing a couples of chocolates and a good night card in each room at turn down? You guests will be just thrilled!

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Don’t forget about your guest hospitality! Your guests may have travelled from far and some, not so far places to be part of your celebrations. It is of utmost importance to take care of them and be attentive to their needs. Pick up and welcomes at the airports must be well coordinated. How about a welcome with garland, cold towel and a refreshing drink before commencing their journey to the hotel? This extra step and thoughtfulness will definitely make your guests feel welcome! Another thing you could do – ask your planner about setting up a hospitality desk at the hotel where you guests will be staying. This is especially helpful if you have large numbers of guests. So at a chaotic time like pre wedding, guests who require help with appointments for their hair, sari drapes, pinks, nail polish remover or even first aid kits can be assisted. This desk can also help with other guest queries like venues of specific functions, dress codes, local shopping information, tours, booking of transport and more.

~ Think about local entertainment options, which can help liven up your event. Some kind of local entertainment may also be a good idea for guests during welcomes and check-ins at the hotel. Also, if you have a days break between parties – don’t forget about your guests! How about setting up a destination tour or even a shopping tour to keep your guests occupied?

~ Every detail about your wedding will be discussed and remembered for a long time. The food is one of the most important factors of your wedding celebrations. Ensure that you have sampled the food prior to your function so that the menu suits your guest’s palates. While it would be good to have local delicacies as part of the buffet, be sure that there is a variety of options available for those who have certain dietary restrictions.

I hope these tips are useful when planning your destination wedding! Most importantly, remember to enjoy the planning process!


About us
Candice Pereira is a wedding planner & blogger in Mumbai, India. Her international exposure, design style, attention to detail, and personalized service ensures that couples will enjoy their special day. Every detail of the wedding from décor to legalities, from clothes to transport is managed with ease by her company - Marry Me - Wedding Planners. She loves all things weddings, and her focus is on delivering elegant & one of a kind celebrations.

Dialogue: Allow Dates for the Bridal Party?

Well, I got bored, as one would be without internet so I typed up this dialogue post inspired by a friend’s recent wedding with incident. On my Mcdonald’s wifi trip I decided I can quickly get this post copied and pasted for today! This is the first post I’ve written since I moved to Florida so it feels so good to write again!

P.S. Can you believe that the nearest Starbucks to me is 30 minutes away and that there is no Panera nearby at all so that I have to camp out at Mcdonald’s? I feel like a loser hanging out there when the place is hopping with teenie boppers while I am seriously trying to get work done! I miss Starbucks! I miss internet! lol. 

Source: goldynfotografika.pl via Jo on Pinterest

Okay, now on to the dialogue. In a nutshell, the best man brought his uninvited girlfriend to the wedding, she was asked to leave by the bride’s mom, thus making the best man decide to leave his best friend’s reception. I now worry how it will affect their friendship now that this happened.

My thought was, why wasn’t the bridal party if not the best man and maid of honor allowed to bring a date? Wouldn’t that be the courteous thing to do considering all that they do for the wedding? Spouses of guests are usually invited, I understand it can be a rule that not everyone can bring a date if not married, but can it be or should it be okay to allow the bridal party to bring dates? I thought this would make a great discussion topic!

I actually allowed my bridal party and my special out of state guests to bring a date. I know decisions can be made based on etiquette, on budget or just plain what feels right. I understand that circumstances are always different.

So, what are your views on this? What are you doing or what did you do for your wedding in regards to dates for your bridal party?

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. . . – Psalm 27:4

Dialogue: Guests in White

Anytime I went to a wedding I always felt inappropriate wearing white out of disrespect to the bride. On last week's episode of Real Housewives of New York City (yes, I watch all the Real Housewives), one of the women had a conversation with her friends about two of the other women on the show who wore white to the wedding they all attended.

The two ladies in white by the cake. {Photo via Bravotv.com}

I first saw their dresses and thought, those are pretty dresses! Then when the wearing-white-at-a-wedding topic came up in the show, I thought, "Oh, yeah, they are wearing white! How terrible!"

This also got me thinking, I didn't even notice anyone wearing white if they did for my wedding. I had better things to think about. My groomsmen wore white tuxes and I felt like it only complimented me. Also, who really notices and who is really that important that they can steal the thunder from the bride? (unless that person is a celebrity)

I thought the men looked dashing in white! {Photo by Piperbella Photography}

My question for you brides-to-be is how do you feel about people, guests or bridal party, wearing white on your wedding day? How much white in an outfit is okay? (ex. like in prints) Or do you care at all?

The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. - Revelation 3:5