<p>Unfortunately, I’m upstate so going to the nearest TJs would be hours away. And I won’t be traveling anywhere until my honeymoon, either. </p>
<p>And yes, I definitely see how expensive ribbon is. I bought some narrow ribbon very cheaply for other purposes but the wider organza ribbon is definitely pricey. Unfortunately I did confirm in person that the Morex teal is really too dark.</p>
<p>If you can find an Offray color in a craft store that matches what you want, you can buy that online much more cheaply, also. Let me know.</p>
<p>I’m waiting for a client to get back to me with comments again, so I thought I’d check in. Below there is a link to a red wine that would be GREAT with your menu and is from a New York vendor that ships. At $5.95, it is a little higher than Two-Buck Chuck (which is actually $3 these days), but you might want to consider it. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.empirewine.com/wine/bodegas-borsao-tinto-2011/[/url]”>Empire Wine & Liquor - The Tasteful Way To Save;
<p>Look for ribbon at Micheals. Tell everyone you know that you need 40% off coupons…buy the ribbon with the coupons. Make multiple purchases in one trip–depending on the cashier, you may have to go through the line a couple of times.</p>
<p>I asked my friend in the wine biz what white wine he would serve at a party if he wanted a wine in the ultra-bargain range that was easy to find almost anywhere. He suggested Frontera Sauvignon Blanc, which around here is about $8.50 for a 1.5 liter size (two regular bottles). At about $4 a bottle, sounds like a pretty good deal. I haven’t tried it myself, at least knowingly. (According to my friend, it is a staple at receptions and art openings and the like, so pretty much everyone has tried it at one time or another.) It’s a grocery store jug wine, apparently available pretty much anywhere.</p>
<p>Consolation - Continued thanks for your expertise on ribbon. CCers know everything!</p>
<p>nottelling - That does look really promising. I may just order some, though I’m not sure how much. I also have a wine loving friend who just relocated to Albany so I made sure to tell her about that place too. </p>
<p>Mom2M - That’s been where I’ve been checking, and they had the best selection of ribbon. I have a couple hookups for the 40% off coupons. :D</p>
<p>Thinking about wedding alcohol, I’m wondering what I should provide in terms of selection. I basically know that there are red and white wines, and that they can be dry and they can be sweet. That’s basically where my knowledge ends. I know I want some dry white because that’s what I know some people prefer specifically in my family, but any recommendations as to what sort of ratio and selection to provide? What about beer?</p>
<p>One dry white, one dry red. No sweet. And beer. That’s all the alcohol you need, unless you are going to have a sparkling wine/ champagne. People usually drink more white than red, but I don’t have any specific suggestions regarding ratios. In terms of quantities, I’d probably plan on 1/2 (to 3/4?) bottle per person (counting wine drinkers only) for a four hour party. (NOTE: Based on 750 ml bottles.) Less if your crowd consists of light drinkers; more if they are heavy drinkers. For beer drinkers, you should probably plan on 2 to 3 beers per beer drinker for same time frame. Again, adjust accordingly for your crowd. If you have extremely heavy drinkers, all bets are off. </p>
<p>Often, stores will accept returns on unopened bottles (a reason to buy locally and not through a place you have to ship). If you find a store with that policy, I’d buy extra just to make sure you have enough.</p>
<p>One tip --have little stickers and markers so people can put their names on their glasses. You’ll go through much less wine that way.</p>
<p>Also, I don’t think you need a designated toasting beverage. People can just toast with whatever they are drinking. I’ve only been to a couple of weddings where champagne is passed specifically for the toast, and it seemed to require a lot of waiters and seemed to end up with a lot of wasted champagne. Just give a bit of notice before the toast, and people will refresh their own drinks. You can have bottles of wine and water at each table if you’d like; that makes it easy for people to refresh their drinks. If you were going to have a sparkling wine or champagne, I think it is much nicer to have it available on trays when people first arrive at the reception. But then again, it is an extra that you don’t need at all. </p>
<p>With your delicious Arnold Palmers, people may drink less alcohol. Make sure to have plenty of water.</p>
<p>And coffee for after dinner. I get cranky if there is not Diet Coke available, but that’s just me!</p>
<p>Frontera is a Concha Y Toro sub-label. I think that’s an excellent selection for this purpose. It is actually a couple of steps above a “jug” wine–we’re not talking Gallo or Corbett Canyon or Franzia :)–but palatable and very reasonably priced. For that matter, one of their reds would be good, also. Maybe Zinfandel (RED, not white!) or Malbec or Cabernet. Concha y Toro/Frontera is available almost everywhere, and since you are going to want to take advantage of the ability to return unopened bottles I would buy it locally. It comes in both the standard 750 ML size and the “double” bottles. I’d get whichever is cheaper. The big bottles make for less opening time.</p>
<p>In my experience, you need about twice as much white as red for a large party. My guests always seem to be heavy drinkers, so I would want more than half a 750 ml bottle per person, since it is returnable. If you have 100 total attendance, and you figure that 20 of those are beer drinkers, I’d buy 60 bottles of wine, or 5 cases. Say 2 red and 3 white, or if they will let you mix them, 1 1/2 red and 3 1/2 white. The likelihood is that you will end up returning some of it, especially if you keep pitchers of ice water on the tables and other non-alcoholic drinks available, but it is better not to run out.</p>
<p>Someone else will have to tell you about kegs. We have great microbreweries here, and H and his friends were always in charge of purchasing mini-kegs of various varieties. None of them would touch a “lite” beer or Bud. On the other hand, H’s brothers drink only that kind of thing and find microbrews too “heavy.” You know your crowd.</p>
<p>The other thing is that most soda drinkers only drink diet soda. And seltzer. Flavored seltzers are often popular.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input on the wines! I know I will have to buy a long continuum of beers for my guests. I have guests who are used to Milwaukee’s Natural and Best (Beast :D) Ice, and others who won’t touch that kind of stuff and only drink more expensive lagers. I wish money were no object because there is a microbrewery in the town I’m getting married in that I’ve heard good things about (but beer tastes super gross to me so I would have no basis to evaluate it myself). I will say that I think most of my guests who are big drinkers are pretty easy to please.</p>
<p>You are really under no obligation to provide a plethora of choices at your wedding. Don’t worry about those who “only drink more expensive lagers.” This is really not your responsibility. And remember that beer isn’t usually even an option at most weddings, and somehow beer drinkers cope. Choose something that fits in your budget and that you have some basis for thinking will please some people and don’t worry about it.</p>
<p>^^^ I was thinking the same thing! Less is more! I use to be almost addicted to Diet Coke (clean now for 5years :)). I still would not have expected it to be at a wedding. If people like something so much, they can always have it at home.</p>
<p>This is the most fascinating conversation. I read the entire thread last night – slow Saturday, lol. Must’ve been living under a rock all of these years as so many of these wedding traditions were new to me.</p>
<p>“Covering the Plate” is a wholly new concept and I was raised in the land of Debutante Balls and Junior League. Is this just an east coast philosophy? According to the link, DH and I should give $255 to my son’s former teacher as a wedding gift this coming summer. </p>
<p>Had to google the Viennese Hour. Looks amazing, but wow… </p>
<p>Still unclear on the multi-room cocktail hour/s. Does this take place just prior to the wedding? After the ceremony, but before the dinner?</p>
<p>Julie, your wedding sounds amazing and I wish I could fly out and help you organize. Being a wedding planner has always been a secret wish of mine. I love organizing events. But it appears you have it all in hand with the help of CC :)</p>
<p>Consolation, I’m local. Where is your shop? We’re huge Moonstruck fans but are always open to change.</p>
<p>Moreover - I was/am addicted to coke classic. I still have it occasionally at restaurants or at my parents’ house but I’ve tried to make an effort to switch to drinks with less sugar. Still can’t live without a sweetened drink though. </p>
<p>Agentninetynine - It seems like the wedding traditions/expectations are constantly evolving. I’m glad you are enjoying reading about my planning process and I’m really hoping it will be a fun day that everyone can enjoy with as little drama as possible.</p>
<p>I have another question. I found a reputable business where I can rent LED accent lighting for $19 each, free shipping both ways. Is this too modern for the venue, or if I have the money might it be a fun way to highlight/decorate certain areas without breaking the bank? The TV would have me believe that having some amount of lightscaping is the norm nowadays. I also believe that the suspended whale skeleton above the dance floor area is lit with shades of blue once it gets darker.</p>
<p>What kind of mood do you want to set? I think the whale skeleton lighting (never that I’d ever type that, lol) sounds romantic and perfect for an evening event. Rent the lighting if that’s what you want. Don’t feel pressured by those wedding shows.</p>
<p>Forgive the bluntness, but don’t rent the lights. You don’t have the time, money, expertise, or manpower to execute a decent lighting scheme. A few random lights poorly placed will look much, much worse than no lights at all. </p>
<p>Anyway, you don’t need lighting for the walls; you are in a museum and the lighting is already designed to light up with walls. It sounds like the museum has already worked out the lighting for the whale skeleton.</p>
<p>Have lots of votive candles on your tables (but even that requires someone to light them). Are you having a DJ or a band? They should be bringing a spot that can be used to light the people giving toasts if necessary. You are not having elaborate centerpieces, so there is no need for pin lights to light those up. A pin light on the cake table would be nice if you had an unlimited budget and a professional lighting designer but you don’t.</p>
<p>Take the money you’d spend on the lights and put it toward bouquets for you and your attendants by a professional florist. That’s worth the cost. Or a classical guitarist for the ceremony. or something like that. </p>
<p>As for beer, I agree with those who say you don’t need multiple options. I’d get a decent but not extremely pricey beer in bottles (not cans!). Like Heineken or something, which is often on sale for the same price as Bud. Like Bethie, I’ve never hired a keg, so I can’t advise you on whether that would be a good option or not. It seems like it would cause a back up when people first arrive at the reception after the ceremony and people want to get drinks quickly. But again, I have no experience with that. </p>
<p>Anyway, sorry for being so blunt on the lights but it really is a misguided idea! PS If you are getting a DJ make sure you tell him/her that you want NO emcee-ing; just music. But have them bring a mic for toasts.</p>
<p>I may be completely wrong about this as I don’t really know what LED accent lighting is, but my guess is that it may take some trial & error to get it just right. Would you have the opportunity to bring an LED lighting fixture to the museum to try it out before you order a full supply? Unlike Agent99, I have not read the entire thread (but instead keep interjecting) so I don’t know if you live near the museum and have access, and I don’t know what time the reception will begin. I thought the wedding was early June, which means it will be close to the solstice and have lots of daylight.</p>
<p>I know that you will be setting up during the daytime hours so you would want to know in advance how the lights would bounce/where they would land. Can you use hundreds of votives instead or are you trying to go for a different look? They are so inexpensive and I think you could order inexpensive holders in bulk. I used a place called Quick Candles a few months ago when I need three hundred ivory one inch candles.</p>
<p>We used mirrored squares in the center of the table and placed roses in silver mint julep cups on the mirrors with a dozen plus votives scattered. While the lighting effect was cool, the combination cast some strange lights on faces for posed flash photos. Shooting w/o a flash might have eliminated that problem but it wasn’t one I would have considered in advance. (This was for the engagement party my sister and I hosted for my brother. She borrowed the mirrors from a friend. It wasn’t anything I would ever have thought of and would not do it again, but am mentioning b/c of the lighting question.)</p>
<p>In terms of decorating the venue, is there any way for you to view photos taken at the venue? While attempting to hire a photographer for my own wedding, I looked through many albums of local photographers. This process gave me so many ideas for wedding photos, b/c some of the photos were taken at the same church or in nearby gardens.</p>
<p>As always, I agree with notelling. Simplify, Julie, simplify. Votives, yes. Complex lighting schemes, no.</p>
<p>Thanks again for talking me down, guys. I have seen way too many wedding shows and the damage is done. Now I just can’t get over this complex that my wedding will have too little decor and be boring. I know I’m wrong and what I’ve seen is not representative of real life.</p>
<p>An interesting thing with the candles - the museum requires that any holder come up two inches over the top of the candle. Otherwise I can’t have them. So this is another challenge I need to work around.</p>
<p>I feel like I’m again at loss with the centerpieces. I bought a cheap pot and faux flowers and tried to make a mockup of what I was thinking and just couldn’t get it to where I was happy with it. I’ve kind of lost the vision. Does anybody have any other revisions or idea for the centerpieces? I just don’t have a design eye and I never have. Maybe if I let someone else have a go at it who is better with these things? </p>
<p>I really like the look of the cylinder glassware with the floating candles and whatever inside but the glassware is pricy and will be hard to transport without breaking. I’d really like to keep the centerpieces to $10-$15 each and I don’t know how to take up a lot of real estate on the table without a lot of money and time. My bridesmaid and best friend can attest that I’ve spent entirely too much time thinking about this. I think maybe I’m overthinking it and that’s the problem…</p>
<p>Don’t lose sight of what the wedding is. It is for you - not to impress your guests. I don’t think I’m unusual in saying that I have never been to a wedding that I left thinking, “gee, that was a bust.” If you have good company there who enjoy being with each other and want to celebrate your happy day, they are not going to care what is on the table. I went to a wedding that had big lollipops sticking in a flower pot full of candy hearts as a centerpiece. It was cute and one of the few I remember. </p>
<p>And - don’t you dare apologize to anyone for not doing something as elaborately as you would if you were a millionaire. Love whatever you choose and don’t let yourself say “I wish I could have done …”</p>
<p>Happykid does the occasional event lighting gig. If you decide you need lights, ask at the museum about the local companies that do the best job. Or call the local theater groups for a referral. Truly, that isn’t something you want to tackle on your own. Personally, I’d vote with the no extra lighting folks. What you’d have to pay the designers I know for you light job surely could be spent on other stuff that you want more.</p>