Doing it Differently. Non-Traditional Wedding and Event Planning in New Jersey by Karma Flowers Part 2

Hello. Thanks for joining us again.

As promised we are going to offer some ideas for incorporating unique touches into your attire, escort cards (seating charts) and favors. Of all of the aspects of a wedding, these three areas have the most room for personal flair so let's ditch the expected and wow your guests with your originality.

Attire
Recently a colleague posted in an industry forum her frustration with what appears to be a dominant  strapless wedding dress trend. Is the strapless trend popular? Of course. Is it always appropriate and flattering? Definitely not. So, I thought it was worth mentioning that there are a TON of sleeved wedding dress options...you just have to look (and dare to be different). Claire Pettibone and Jenny Packham  {personally, my two favorite bridal designers } offer plenty of designs that incorporate sleeves in varying lengths. Check out some of my faves {all Claire Pettibone from various collections}...

 

And for gosh sake's grooms, stand up for yourselves. Let's ditch the penguin suits for the gentleman. Unless you are truly having a black-tie affair (and even then you have options), you CAN divert from the vest and tails. Suits are a clean, refreshing way to show your man's style and in navy, gray, and even seersucker in the summer, they are super hot. May we even suggest drawing some influence from It's a Brad, Brad World {yes, I watch it. don't judge...}

So I am sure you think I would have something to say about bridesmaids dresses. Listen, they have made major motion pictures based off how silly of an idea it is to have your best friends dress in matching outfits on your big day. If you still think it's a good idea, I am not going to convince you otherwise. And for good reason. It's a tradition and sometimes traditions prevail. But, I would think about selecting a color or a palette and allowing your girls to chose dresses that flatter their own figure. If you are sold on identical dresses, look for them in unexpected places like Anthropologie. Better yet, let your besties wear what they want and honor them with a matching floral boutique or shawl.

Escort Tables (Seating Charts)
Yay. One of my favorite parts of a reception. Why? It totally sets the tone for the rest of the night. Think about it. You only get one chance to make a first impression and that little card with your guests name and table number communicates to them how the next five hours of their lives -and your wedding- will go. The white folded cardstock with a generic font doesn't scream you. In doesn't even say you. Be creative.

Now I gave you a real doozy in yesterday's post under entertainment. But here are a few more I adore.

The Directory

Fun and Sassy

Open Seating {love!}

The Favors
Long after you've popped the bubbly and got your grove thing on, your guests will retire to their rooms or homes with sore feet, photo booth pics, and a small token of your appreciation. Let's have that token NOT BE a small picture frame or the wine bottle stopper thingy. Instead, give a gift that keeps on giving...

Make a donation.

Who doesn't need a chalkboard horse?

And now for the shameless plug...sorry. had to. we just think it's so cool.

The Seed Buffet

Well friends, that's all for now. See you tomorrow with photography, videography, and FLORAL AND EVENT DECOR!

Doing it Differently. Non-Traditional Wedding and Event Planning in New Jersey by Karma Flowers Part 1

Time and time again we get couples that come to us for their floral and event decor needs and say
"We want different, so we came to you."
Call us different. Call us quirky. Call us non-traditional - we love it. {and hey, we are just happy that you are calling us}

To know us personally is to know that we design the same way we live our lives. A little high end, mixed with a lot of budget bargains. A little city (where we work) and a lot of country (where we live). A little refinement and a whole lotta homemade. . .but all in all, definitely different.

So we thought we would share with you some of our favorite wedding and event details that can make your big day a little less like everyone else's.  We intend on delivering these ideas in three parts throughout the week {venue, entertainment, attire, seating charts, favors, photography, videography and flowers and event decor}

Venue
Last year we designed a wedding ceremony in a bookstore in Brooklyn {a store that was open to the public 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the ceremony.} We also did one at an inn and on a farm. All of which had their own quirkiness and personal anecdotes that made them anything but a traditional wedding.

This year, the docket is similar. The venues include a lake house, a farm, two apple orchards, a barn, and a vineyard. We couldn't be more thrilled. People are stepping outside the typical wedding venues and saying their vows in more intimate, personal spaces. And too think, not one of those weddings is more than a half hour outside of the Garden State. Be still my ♥.

Here are a few suggestions for thinking outside the traditional wedding venue {none of which we are currently working with, we don't intend to give away our bride's secrets just yet}...

The Barn

The Raritan Inn, Califon, NJ

{what do I have to say? with a real barn, the possibilities are endless. you have use of the inside and outside which can be hard to find at a more traditional wedding space}

The Museum

The Hunterdon Art Museum

{imagine changing out some of the art with pics of you, your fiance and the fam! if you are an artist or just an art lover, think of a museum or library for your big celebration}

Your  Own Backyard
{Look how spectacular you can make an at-home wedding}

http://greenweddingshoes.com/real-wedding-catie-bens-vintage-inspired-backyard-wedding/

{the homemade touches in this wedding tie in perfectly with the fact that it takes place at their home. even the most barren backyard, when done correctly, can feel like an oasis}

Choose a place that means something to you and your fiance, someplace that says something about you as a couple, as individuals and that will set the tone of the evening for your guests. You will be amazed at how quickly your creative juices will start flowing when you are INSPIRED by where you will be married.

Entertainment

Now I am not talking about the music. That is a whole other ballgame. What I am talking about are the extra elements you add to your big day to keep guests entertained. No garter toss necessary here! (whew)

The Photo Booth

SoCo Foto
{yes this is a vintage airstream converted into a photo booth. and yes this just intensifies my obsession with all vintage air streams. i swoon. someone please bring this to the east coast}

Yard Games

{yes, you can do corn hole. and what a fun game it is. but mix it up with something super original and one that your friends haven't already mastered!}


Involve Your Guests

http://greenweddingshoes.com/category/real-weddings/backyard-wedding/

{engage your guests in the decorating. this is a great seating chart idea where guests are asked to bring their escort arrangement to their table to help decorate it! it gives your guests a sense of involvement and the creativity will begin}

Yay for different! Look how refreshing it can be. Do not underestimate how even ONE of these original, personal touches will stick with your guests long after you are back from your honeymoon. And it makes the whole day -and all of those dollars- really worth it.

Tomorrow we'll share attire, seating chart, and favor ideas. See you then.

Karma Flowers and RSVP to Me Launch The Seed Buffet™- the perfect wedding/shower/party favor!

We have been patiently waiting to share this one with all of you...Karma Flowers and RSVP to Me (with the help of DHM Photography) are delighted to bring you the newest edition to your wedding, party, or shower...

The Seed Buffet

photographs by Dana of DHM Photography

What on this green earth is a seed buffet?

So glad you asked! The Seed Buffet is a buffet of small colored balls that are packed with wildflower seeds and encased with 100% recycled paper to protect them from mother nature and curious critters while they wait to bloom. All you have to do is find a place that needs a little flower-lovin', throw your seed balls and go! (and then come back to see your beautiful wildflowers) They can be tossed outdoors between spring and fall or in a container garden in your home.

How can I use them at my event?

This is the fun part! What better way for you and your event guests to celebrate your special occasion than to be reminded of the day with the beauty of fresh flowers? And it doesn't hurt that you are helping to replant the earth a bit too.

Kelly of RSVP to Me has teamed up with us to deliver this fresh and new favor idea. We will provide you enough seed balls in your choice of color(s) for each of your guests, the customizable favor bags for them to fill up, the signage to explain proper care and handling of the seed balls, and a beautiful display that complements your event decor. Guests can choose their favorite blooms and rush home to watch them grow.

Pricing

 Please contact us at Karma Flowers for pricing. There are packages depending on the amount of guests and the amount of customizations you would like for your buffet. We promise the prices are comparable to more traditional favors.

http://www.karmaflowers.com/

karmaflowerdelivery@gmail.com

609-558-2655

 *Toss Responsibly*

Karma Flowers believes this is a great eco-friendly way of giving a little back to the planet, however you must give back on our own property. We do not condone tossing the seed balls on private property!

Photography: DHM Photography

Stationary: RSVP to Me

Seed Balls and Design: Karma Flowers

The Seed Buffet™ is a trademark belonging to Karma Flowers, LLC. All rights reserved.

Juggling Polar Bears or Wedding Flowers? Making the Most of your Wedding Floral and Event Decor Budget... By Karma Flowers

When we started Karma Flowers, we had an idea. We would provide a service and grow a company, and we would do it our way. At the most basic level, our humble company wishes to bring you flowers. We wanted to bring something beautiful into your life, small touches during your most coveted moments that will enhance your celebration. Something that highlights your style and your ideas. Something that makes you, your guests, or whomever you gift your flowers to, feel good about themselves. 

At the core of our business model, we have principals that we have vowed to adhere to. We believe in living live vibrantly, beautifully, but also with purpose, reason and meaning. We reject wastefulness. We appreciate frugality when done tastefully, and understand indulgence when done with good intention. We identify best with couples or organizations who share this philosophy.

With that said, brace yourself, because this is going to sound counter-intuitive, but it drives us bananas (bananas!) to hear brides say that flowers are unnecessary at a wedding. The dreaded three W’s in our business are wilted, withered and waste of money. I say, hey, if flowers aren’t your thing, that’s okay. You say you want to entertain your guests with a juggling polar bear instead? Cool. Do what makes you happy!

Believe us, we get it. Flowers die. And it’s hard in these times to justify spending money on something that you know has an expiration date, be it the food that isn’t eaten, the band you can’t take home at the end of the night, or the dress you only wear for one day.  We understand how hard it is to know that that money is going towards just one day. We know that every decision is a trade off and sacrifice of something else. 

But if you, like us, are one of those people who appreciate the texture, the nostalgia, and the story a flower tells (and therefore you know they will be a part of your day) then make sure your expense is worth it. Those flowers should capture the essence of who you are, project your distinctive personality and sense of style. 

So how do we make sure that this expense counts and is worth it? Keep these tips in mind: 

1. Ambiance, Ambiance, Ambiance. 

Ambiance is the special atmosphere or mood created by a particular environment. When people look back at your event, they will remember the mood or the feel of the whole day. If you did it right, they’ll remember beauty, and smiles, fun, and emotion. If the event had no soul, they’ll only remember the coconut shrimp.   

2. Floral and event decor may cost less than upgrading to a more expensive venue.

All couples would love to book their dream venue, but per-head prices and budgets do not always match. That’s why a more money-conscious alternative to dishing out the dinero for the pricey venue is to add ambiance with flowers and warm, personal decorative touches to the more affordable space. It’s the collective of things that create ambiance. Think about it, the popular bridal blogs and websites are full of stylized pictures of couples getting married in fields. Fields are free. Fields do not have oversized chandeliers or skyline views. It's the vintage couches, garden-picked flowers, and creative bunting in those fields that has every bride swooning. It’s the feeling that those places invoke.


Unfortunately, many of us don’t have the money for the stone castles or access to the English lavender fields. So a style secret: Decorations create ambiance. The ambiance is an extension of your taste and style. It’s your opportunity to teach your guests something about you and your relationship. Whether its your creative floral display in the center of the table, the delicious cheesecake in a jar we tirelessly assembled with your escort cards, or the favor of your donation to a local charity…it all matters. All of these small details put together create your ambiance.

3. Flowers and decor elements will live forever in your pictures. Yay. 

Remember, your bouquets, boutonnieres, centerpieces, and ceremony flowers will be photographed throughout the duration of the day.  And it's important to look back on those memories and know that your choices were complementary to the beauty of the dress, bridal party and venue. You can also preserve the event decor as well. If you read my blog post about my own wedding you already know that I hand-stamped wooden napkin rings with our monogram on them, and I still use them to set our table when we entertain.  The possibilities are endless as to what decorative elements you include in your wedding design that will translate nicely into home decor afterward. Heck, the very containers you use to display the flowers are the simplest way of reusing wedding elements without being too literal.

Whether you need help in creating a mood, a certain ambiance with flowers, or a statement with fresh decor elements, our personal service can help you. You want to make sure that your expense is worth it, because we believe that things should be meaningful, and purposeful, and convey a sense of beauty and intention. At the end of the day, we want to help you add that little bit of extra to your special event.