Archive for the ‘Wedding Trends’ Category

Unique Ideas for Assigned Seating

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

Looking for another way to make your reception a little more fun, personal, and unique? How about getting a little creative with your assigned seating! Many people overlook the way they designate seats for guests, as it is often so much work just to assign the seats in the first place, but with just a little more you can make it so fun and cute that your guests will always remember your reception because however you decide to design your assigned seating, it will always feel personal and creative!

 

In their West Garden Room reception this past weekend, Amber and Kyle put a single, different flower on every table and then gave each guest their name cards attached to a vase with a flower in it. The guests then matched the flower in their vase with the flowers on the tables. This not only doubled as a wedding favor for guests, but it also decorated the room and gave each table a unique arrangement!

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Ditching the traditional seating cards and table, this couple made their own fountain in our West Courtyard and filled the bottom with polished rocks, each with the name and table assignment of each guest.

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This couple chose to name each table in their Queen’s Tavern reception by a common northern Michigan tree, including a picture and a description of each tree on the tables, and assigned guests’ seating cards by the different trees.

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Another great, personal idea for assigned seating is to mark tables with your own pictures, either from trips, parties, or just a variety of pictures of you and your groom, then assigning seating cards by the different pictures. We’ve seen this many times at the Castle, but it is still always unique and fun!

For their winter wedding in the Knight’s Castle, this couple took pictures of them holding giant numbers and used those as table numbers.

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In their Queen’s Tent reception, this couple named each table by a location they had been to together, then had fake plane tickets printed for each guest with the destination being their table’s location.

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Cheers!

Monday, August 16th, 2010

A unique way to say thank you to your wedding party is to treat them with something special that they can use the night of and many years to come. Being part of a wedding party means a strict timeline, lots of smiling for continuous pictures, and meeting lots of old relatives. Suprising them with wedding party gifts is a great way to say thank you for being there on this special day and reminding them that you care.

Dan & Amanda were married at the Castle this weekend in the Queens Courtyard with a reception to follow in the Queens Royal Tent

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As all the Brides Maids were announced and made it up to the head table they were greeted with personalized wine glasses!

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Each glass was a little different and unique for each of them

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At Kendra and Joey’s wedding in the Knights Courtyard and reception in the Knights Castle they had beer mugs and wine glasses engraved with each persons name in the wedding party. This became helpful when people lost track of their drinks they always knew whos was whos!

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Even the Bride and Groom had them!

 

And the specialty glasses dont stop there! Extend the personalized treats to ALL your guests as a party favor to take home!

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It May Not Be Traditional, But It’s Still Delicious!

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

As the idea of a traditional wedding and reception becomes more and more a part of the past and new, creative modern ideas become more common in today’s weddings, many couples are also deciding to ditch the idea of a traditional tiered wedding cake and go for something more personal, fun, and different. Having wedding cupcakes instead of a cake has become very common in weddings today, especially here at Castle Farms, but it hasn’t stopped there. We continue to see new, interesting ideas to replace the traditional wedding cake dessert, including dessert bars and individual cakes, and we’d like to share some with you!

Here are some of the reception cupcakes we’ve seen at the Castle, where the bride and groom decided to have a variety of flavors and decorations on their multiple cupcakes instead of having one wedding cake. Whether these cupcakes are placed at individual tables or on one table, they are sure to give the guests a pleasant and delicious surprise!

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If you still want to be able to have the cake-cutting ceremony at your reception, you can follow what these couples did: they chose to have an abundance of different flavored cupcakes for their guests but also had a small, traditional-looking wedding cake make just for them so they could still do the cake-cutting ceremony and have their own cake to take home at the end of the night.

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Instead of having just one wedding cake, even if it is a tiered cake with different flavors, many brides and grooms have chosen to have multiple, smaller cakes so that they can include as many different flavors as there are cakes, giving their guests an abundance of options for desserts and making take-home and storage of the left-over cake at the end of the night much easier.

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Scrapbooks GALORE

Friday, July 30th, 2010

 Scrapbooks have become a staple memory to every childhood. Not only will you always have the memories of constructing this work of art with family and friends or buying the newest accessories, but you will have something for the rest of your life to look at.

Scrapbooks act as a creative reference to any big moment in your life, so why not have one at your wedding; I think that qualifies as a BIG mement!

Tara & Mark will have quite the memory from their wedding at Castle Farms

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The asked people to please share a short message that they can take with them as they embarke on this new journey of marriage, and will always have this book to hold close to their hearts.

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The table had all different premade sheets to choose from, stickers, and colored markers. Along with signing they got their picture taken to put in as well!

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Here’s one of the sheets decorated with wedding cake and ready for a photo of the guests.

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This page complete with sweet words of wisdom and signature from guests waiting for a photo

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Lynn & Scott didnt make a scrapbook at their wedding, but they included their childhood book and other photos to make their wedding more personal.

Cuttin the rug at the Castle

Monday, July 26th, 2010

We applaud all the Newlyweds who have the courage to get out on that dance floor in front of a ton of people and share one of their first moments as man and wife.

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photo by: Elizabeth Conley

Your wedding dance is a meaningful moment for 2 newlyweds so take the time to think about your song choice and go for one that really means something to the two of you. Some couples even go as far as to take dance lessons or have an instructor help you choreograph a totally unique first dance.

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Lisa & Jordan shared a romantic dance in theQueens Royal Tent

 Photo by: Tom Kachadurian 

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Holly & James couldnt keep their eyes off eachother during their first dance

Photo by: Karen Walker

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Bart made sure Cheryl knew his dance moves were top notch at their wedding in the Queens Royal Tent

Photo by: Tom Kachadurian

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Kerri & Eric shared and intimate dance that took everyones breath away in the Knight Castle

Photo by: Ben Harrison

Even if your not great dancers on your own, together you’ll dance beautifully

 

 

Sand VS Candle

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Sand Ceremony VS Unity Candle

Marriage is the idea of 2 becoming 1. To express this bonding partnership there are many ceremonies that help make your commitiment to each other special.

The Unity Candle has typically held the the spotlight for an expression of commitment and bonding, but The Sand Ceremony has become very popular as well. Two great additions to your special day how to decide on just one? Heres a little information to help make your decision!

Candle Ceremony

At the beginning of the ceremony both the bride and the grooms family light the tapered candles on each side to symbolize the love and allegiance to family. Then the Bride and Groom use the side candles to light the larger candle representing all the love and unity of one.

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Photo by E. C. Campbell Photography

Sand Ceremony

Each individual has a separate container of colored sand that represents who they are as a person taht they combine in one large vase. Once poured together you can still see the separate colors representing the individuals in the relationship, but they can never be separated, they are forever intertwined.

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Pros of Unity Candle

The unity Candle and use of light hold more of the religious ties adding a spirtual richness to the union. The flame representing the light within and without has been used for hundreds of years symbolizing the strength and brightness love can bring to two people.

Pros of Sand Ceremony

Every unity vase is different just like every couple is different while still capturing the meaning of two lives becoming one. Once the wedding day is over and the candle has burnt out you will have nothing to show, where as the unity vase will be forever a part of your lives, and especially for outdoor weddings you dont have to worry about your flame blowing out!

 

If you hold tight to tradition and you want your marriage to display the same hundreds of years of wisdom then the Unity Candle is perfect for you!

 

If you want to combine the old tradition with the new fresh idea the Sand Ceremony is the way to go!

Great ideas that we have seen at the Castle to help personalize your wedding!

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

The Brides at Castle Farms find all different ways to personalize their wedding. Including your names initials, and wedding date on items for your ceremony and reception are a great way to create a custom one of a kind wedding day that is filled with meaningful touches for the bride, groom, and guests!

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Jennifer and Mikes wedding in the East Garden Room was filled with creative touches. When guests first entered they were greeted with a beautiful antique sign with their name and date of their specail day.

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Along with the personalized welcome sign Jennifer and Mike thanked guests as they were leaving with another antique sign and jazzed it up with a floral arrangement

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My personal favorite part was on their seating card table they had beaufiful flowers, glowing candles, AND PERSONALIZED M&MS. Not only were they labeled and dated, but they were in initial dishes!

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At Sonja and Benjamin wedding in the Kings Great Hall they wanted to make sure they everyone knew that they were now Mr & Mrs with this simiple but elegant sign and floral arrangement.

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Last month in the Queens Tavern Eric and Courtney created a personalized dance floor for their guests to dance the night away on!

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The West Courtyard was glowing for Ammie and Paul’s wedding in the West Garden Room. They displayed their initials in a creative way by using candles to show the outline of the letters

 

With a little brainstorming and help from our blog photos you can come up with creative ideas that wow your guests!

 

Give the Kids a Special Spot During Your Special Day!

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

We all know kids can get bored pretty easily, especially during dinners at wedding receptions. What’s one way to help avoid this problem? Making a special kids table! With special candy, decorations, and activities, you can keep the kids feeling recognized, important, and entertained throughout the night! Also, by putting all the kids at the same table, they have each other to play with, which gives their parents a break to catch-up with relatives and friends. Here are some kid’s tables we’ve had at the Castle, each decorated in unique ways to entertain the kids and still match the reception!

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Jessica and Clay made this special lolli-pop centerpiece to top their kids table in the Knight’s Castle, bringing the kids together for endless candy!

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Making the kids feel extra-special, Jami and Blake made this mini-table right next to their head table in the East Garden Room.

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In their King’s Great Hall reception, Andrea and Derek made this lolli-pop tower for their kids table and put crowns around to make their kids feel like royalty!

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Pamela and Aaron gave kids at their King’s Great Hall reception a variety of activities at their table with crowns, coloring books, and glow sticks!

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Complete with coloring books, crowns, candy and individual gift bags, this couple gave their kids a very special table in their West Garden Room reception

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In their East Garden Room reception, this couple made a special kids table with card games, colored pencils, candy, and stickers!

 Just like the rest of your wedding reception, kid’s tables can be decorated as simple or extravagant as you want and can have any activity you can think of, and will always keep kids happy and entertained!

 

 

Get Your Man Involved with a GROOMS Cake!

Monday, June 21st, 2010

Grooms cakes are quite a bit different than your traditional white wedding cake, they are smaller, more fun, personal and a little out of the ordinary! While they might not go perfectly with your wedding colors or theme for the evening, the different shapes and sizes that he comes up with all represnt the man in your life. They are a great way to make him feel part of the wedding planning and he can get as creative as he wants!

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At Megan and Bryans wedding they had a little of everything, a beautiful elegant wedding cake for the Bride and the Grooms Nintendo themed cake

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Close up of the Nintendo cake with Mario and Peach toppers!

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At Theresa and Glen’s wedding the Groom didnt just have a cake, he had a giant mascot shaped cake!

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Not quite as extravagant, but still shows our that our bride and groom Amy and Brian were true Spartys!

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At Melisa and Jeff’s wedding, Jeff showed his devotion to his job as Firefighter through his grooms cake

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Aurelie and Chris also had their own cake, Chris’ showing his love for music

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This groom Rudi was crazy about his Bride Carrie and State Baseball! 

The possibilities are endless!

Let Your Personality Shine…through Cake Toppers!

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

Traditional cake toppers are becoming less common in weddings, and couples are beginning to find more and more ways to show their personalities and interests through this small yet significant decoration. In fact, many iconic characters now have cake topper versions of themselves, from cartoon characters such as Looney Tunes or The Simpsons, to more classic characters such as Precious Moments figurines. In our Knight’s Castle wedding of Laura and Shaun on May 23rd, the couple went for a slight twist on the traditional bride-and-groom cake topper with their topper showing a bride and groom doing a classic James Bond back-to-back pose! Before cutting their cake, Laura and Shaun even did a pose identical to their topper for cameras!

Laura and Shaun showing their fun side with this "James Bond" topper!
Laura and Shaun showing their fun side with this “James Bond” topper!

Couples can even get more personal with their topper by having it custom made, as we have seen a few times here at the Castle. In Christine and Brandon’s wedding on May 24th, 2009 in the Knight’s Castle, the couple had a cake topper made showing the two of them with each of their snowboards, showing their number-one hobby. In Sandra and Brian’s wedding on May 14th of this year in the Knight’s Castle, the couple had a cake topper from the same company showing the two of them with their loved dog, who was also pictured at the center of every table!

This topper shows this couples favorite past-time, snowboarding!
This topper shows this couples favorite past-time, snowboarding!
Sandra and Brian wanted to include their best-friend in this topper!
Sandra and Brian wanted to include their best-friend in this topper!

Toppers such as the ones above can be found on Etsy.com.

Here are some other fun cake toppers we’ve seen at the Castle. Each is incredibly unique, and shows a glimpse of the personalities of the bride and groom!

This couple pulled their personality into their Queen's Tavern reception with this unique cake topper!
This couple pulled their personality into their Queen’s Tavern reception with this unique cake topper!

 

This couple chose a small thimble for their topper, sharing the significance to their life with guests.
This couple chose a small thimble for their topper, sharing the significance to their life with guests.

 

Sonia and Hobie brought in their personality with these cute little pigs!
Sonia and Hobie brought in their personality with these cute little pigs!
Instead of using a traditional bride and groom, this couple chose a glass basket of flowers to top off their beautiful cake!
Instead of using a traditional bride and groom, this couple chose a glass basket of flowers to top off their beautiful cake!

 

Michigan Wedding Blog