Wedding Tips

Love is in the air, and as more couples aim for a green and eco-friendly wedding, the commitment to sustainability becomes a heartfelt part of their special day. Integrating eco-conscious practices into your wedding planning is not just good for the planet—it also adds a meaningful layer to your celebration. Here are several sustainable wedding ideas that are both chic and green. 1. Eco-Conscious Invitations: Begin your wedding journey with a sustainable first step. Opt for digital invitations to cut down on paper use, or choose physical invites made from recycled paper. Companies like Paper Culture offer elegant designs on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, helping to reduce your wedding’s environmental footprint right from the start. 2. Sustainable Wedding Attire: The dress and suits for the day can be both luxurious and eco-friendly. For brides, consider renting a gorgeous gown from services like Rent the Runway, or purchase a pre-loved dress from boutiques that specialize in upscale resale. Grooms can look sharp while being eco-conscious by taking advantage of an exclusive offer from The Modern Groom. Using the code GODOY30, grooms can own a complete outfit—suit, vest, shirt, tie, and pocket square—for just $210, shipped directly to their door. For the groomsmen, the same complete outfits are just $240 each when three friends join the purchase. 3. Locally Sourced and Seasonal Cuisine: Celebrate your love with a menu that honors the local agriculture. Choose caterers who prioritize local, organic ingredients, reducing the carbon emissions associated with food transport. Discuss with your caterer how to incorporate seasonal delicacies that highlight the region’s best offerings. 4. Green Venue Choices: Select a venue that aligns with your environmental values. Outdoor venues like botanical gardens, farms, or even beachfronts typically use less energy and look stunning with minimal décor. Alternatively, look for indoor venues that practice sustainability through energy efficiency, waste reduction, and other green initiatives. 5. Zero-Waste Décor: Decorate with the planet in mind. Rent décor items from companies like Something Borrowed Blooms, where you can find beautiful, reusable floral arrangements. For table settings, opt for real dishes, glasses, and cloth napkins instead of disposables. 6. Sustainable Floral Choices: Choose floral arrangements with a lower environmental impact by selecting local and seasonal flowers. Discuss with your florist about sourcing from local growers, or consider alternatives like potted plants or succulents that guests can take home as favors. 7. Carbon Offsetting: Minimize your wedding’s carbon footprint by investing in carbon offset programs. These programs compensate for your event’s emissions by funding renewable energy projects or reforestation efforts, making your big day part of the solution to climate change. 8. Sustainable Registry Options: Set up a wedding registry that reflects your eco-friendly lifestyle. Include items made from sustainable materials, experiences over products, or options for guests to donate to environmental charities in lieu of gifts. Check out our Pinterest board for more Chic Sustainability ideas. Planning a sustainable wedding doesn’t mean compromising on the beauty or significance of your day. By choosing eco-friendly options, you not only celebrate your union but also demonstrate a commitment to the well-being of the environment. Let these ideas inspire you to weave sustainability through every detail of your wedding, ensuring that your love for each other also extends to the planet.

As we step into the new year, the wedding industry is poised for an evolution in trends that promise to redefine the landscape of nuptial celebrations. Let’s take a sneak peek into the wedding trends anticipated to shape the matrimonial scene in 2024. 1. Micro Weddings with Macro Impact: The intimacy and charm of micro weddings are expected to endure, allowing couples to focus on creating meaningful moments with their closest loved ones. Personalized touches and attention to detail will be at the forefront, making every aspect of the celebration uniquely significant. 2. Sustainability Takes Center Stage: Eco-conscious weddings will continue to gain prominence as couples opt for sustainable practices. From ethically sourced decor to zero-waste catering, expect to see weddings that not only celebrate love but also contribute to a greener, more sustainable future. 3. Technological Integration: 2024 will witness a seamless blend of technology and tradition. Virtual attendance options for distant guests, interactive digital invitations, and augmented reality elements incorporated into wedding experiences will add a modern flair to the celebration. 4. Bold Color Palettes and Unique Textures: Couples are anticipated to embrace bold and unconventional color choices, steering away from traditional palettes. Vibrant hues and unique textures in floral arrangements, attire, and decor will bring a fresh and distinctive aesthetic to wedding celebrations. Recently announced was the Pantone Color of 2024 – Peach Fuzz. Can you picture this color in your wedding palette? 5. Inclusive and Diverse Representation: Weddings in 2024 will celebrate diversity and inclusivity more than ever. Expect to see a broader range of cultural traditions and inclusive ceremonies that authentically represent the unique love stories of couples. 6. Reimagined Ceremony Spaces: The traditional ceremony setup is set for a transformation. Couples are exploring non-traditional venues and reimagining spaces to create immersive experiences. Think botanical gardens, art galleries, and unconventional outdoor settings that reflect the couple’s personality. 7. Sustainable Fashion Choices: Eco-friendly fashion will be a key focus in 2024. Couples will seek sustainable wedding attire, from ethically produced wedding gowns to suits made from eco-friendly fabrics. Vintage and second-hand fashion will also play a significant role in reducing the environmental footprint. 8. Interactive Food and Beverage Experiences: Culinary experiences will be elevated with interactive food and beverage stations. Couples will opt for chef-curated menus, artisanal cocktail bars, and immersive dining experiences that engage guests and create lasting memories. 9. Artistic Installations and Backdrops: Expect to see weddings adorned with artistic installations and captivating backdrops. From statement floral walls to personalized neon signs, couples will use these visually stunning elements to enhance the overall ambiance and provide unique photo opportunities. 10. Experience-Driven Entertainment: 2024 will witness a shift towards experience-driven entertainment. Couples will invest in memorable performances, interactive games, and unique entertainment options that captivate guests and make the celebration unforgettable. 11. Documentary Style Cinematography: Cinematography will take on a documentary style, capturing the raw and authentic moments of the day. Couples will opt for storytelling through film, creating a cinematic experience that immortalizes the emotions and narrative of their love story. 12. Nostalgic Aesthetics: A wave of nostalgic aesthetics will sweep over weddings in 2024. From vintage-inspired decor to retro fashion choices, couples will infuse their celebrations with elements that evoke a sense of nostalgia, adding a timeless and sentimental touch. 13. Mini Moon or Grand Honeymoon: Couples will weigh the option of a grand honeymoon against the trend of choosing mini-moons. Some may opt for intimate getaways immediately after the wedding, saving for a more extensive honeymoon experience later. This choice allows for a more personalized and flexible approach to post-wedding adventures. As we embrace the dawn of 2024, these emerging wedding trends promise to infuse celebrations with creativity, individuality, and a sense of purpose. Couples are set to redefine what it means to say “I do,” making their wedding day a true reflection of their love story.

As the echoes of wedding bells fill the air, the importance of a well-coordinated and seamless celebration cannot be overstated. You might have heard the terms “wedding coordinator” and “venue coordinator” tossed around, and you may wonder, are they interchangeable roles? The answer is a resounding no. In the intricate tapestry of wedding planning, each plays a unique role, and understanding the distinction is key to crafting the perfect day. 1. Comprehensive Planning: – Wedding Coordinator: Imagine a maestro orchestrating a symphony; that’s the wedding coordinator. From the first notes of vendor selection to the final crescendo of the last dance, they conduct every aspect of your wedding. – Venue Coordinator: Their expertise lies in the venue itself, managing the logistical dance of setup and breakdown within their facilities. 2. Vendor Coordination: – Wedding Coordinator: The liaison between all vendors, ensuring a harmonious collaboration and flawless execution. – Venue Coordinator: Primarily concerned with vendors linked directly to the venue, like catering and sometimes decor. 3. Timeline Management: – Wedding Coordinator: Crafting and executing a meticulous timeline for the entire wedding day, from the first light of dawn to the last dance beneath the stars. – Venue Coordinator: Focuses on the venue-specific timeline, encompassing setup, meal service, and cleanup. 4. Personalization and Design: – Wedding Coordinator: The artist behind the scenes, infusing the wedding with the couple’s vision, from color schemes to intricate details. – Venue Coordinator: Centers on the aesthetic elements within the venue, potentially overlooking the broader design aspects. 5. Problem Solving: – Wedding Coordinator: The troubleshooter extraordinaire, handling unexpected issues that may arise to ensure an unblemished experience. – Venue Coordinator: While adept at venue-related challenges, they may not be equipped for broader wedding-related issues. 6. Ceremony and Reception Coordination: – Wedding Coordinator: The seamless conductor of both ceremony and reception, ensuring a harmonious transition between the two. – Venue Coordinator: Focuses predominantly on the logistics within the venue, especially during the reception. 7. Personal Attention: – Wedding Coordinator: Offers personalized attention, understanding the couple’s unique needs and preferences to tailor the experience. – Venue Coordinator: Concentrates on the venue’s logistics, potentially missing the broader vision the couple envisions. 8. Flexibility and Adaptability: – Wedding Coordinator: An agile navigator, ready to handle changes or unexpected situations, adapting seamlessly throughout the planning process and on the big day. – Venue Coordinator: Primarily concerned with the venue’s facilities and services, their flexibility might be limited regarding broader wedding-related changes. In summary, while a venue coordinator is indispensable for managing venue-specific details, a wedding coordinator is the mastermind behind the entire symphony of your wedding. Hiring a wedding coordinator provides couples with the peace of mind and support needed to turn their wedding vision into a beautifully orchestrated reality.

Planning your dream wedding should be a joyous experience, not a stress-inducing one. Follow these tips to navigate the planning process with ease and ensure that your journey to the aisle is as smooth as can be. 1. Set Priorities: Begin by identifying your top priorities as a couple. What elements of the wedding are non-negotiable? This clarity will guide your decisions and streamline the planning process. 2. Create a Realistic Timeline: Break down your wedding planning into manageable tasks with a realistic timeline. This not only prevents last-minute rushes but also allows you to savor each planning phase without feeling overwhelmed. 3. Build a Support System: Enlist the help of friends, family, or a professional wedding planner to share the load. Having a support system ensures that tasks are distributed, and you can lean on others for guidance when needed. 4. Budget Wisely: Establish a budget early on and stick to it. Allocate funds to different aspects of the wedding and prioritize your spending based on what matters most to you. This will alleviate financial stress down the line. 5. Embrace Flexibility: Wedding planning often comes with unexpected twists. Embrace flexibility and be open to adjusting your plans. Remember, the goal is to celebrate your love, and sometimes detours lead to the most magical moments. 6. Self-Care Matters: Amidst the planning hustle, don’t forget to prioritize self-care. Take breaks, indulge in activities you love, and ensure you’re mentally and physically well. A healthy mindset leads to a stress-free planning experience. 7. Communication is Key: Open, honest communication is crucial. Discuss your expectations, concerns, and dreams with your partner regularly. A united front will make decisions easier and strengthen your bond throughout the planning process. 8. Celebrate Milestones: Celebrate each planning milestone, no matter how small. It could be choosing your venue, finalizing the guest list, or even selecting your wedding colors. Acknowledging these achievements keeps the process positive and enjoyable. 9. Let Go of Perfection: Perfection is an illusion, especially in wedding planning. Embrace the uniqueness of your journey and don’t let the pursuit of perfection overshadow the joy of the moment. 10. Enjoy the Process: Above all, savor the planning process. This is a special time in your life, filled with anticipation and love. Pour yourself a glass of wine, set date nights with your partner to check off the fun tasks, and make every appointment an experience to remember. Enjoy the journey, and remember that the most beautiful weddings are the ones where the couple genuinely enjoys the process. Bonus Tip:  For a stress free planning experience that romanticizes your journey – reach out to Godoy Events for a copy of their 12 Month “Ultimate Personal Wedding Planner“. It’s the perfect way to seamlessly integrate your busy lifestyle with your new list of wedding to-do’s. Complete with wedding checklists, pro tips from an actual wedding planner, customizable pages to commemorate the journey, monthly and weekly calendars, and more, we know you’ll love our passion project.

Wanna take a SHOT at an open bar? 🥃 Trust me, an open bar doesn’t need tequila pockets. 💸 (Get it, tequila… to kill ya). When it comes to offering your guests drinks on your big day, you have plenty of options that won’t leave you feeling like you made POUR decisions. 🫗 From a limited bar offering a smaller selection of alcoholic beverages to a timed bar where you cover the costs for a portion of the reception, there are tons of ways to minimize that beverage expense. We can help you come up with a full PROOF plan to ensure your guests get a nice buzz while guaranteeing your bank account isn’t left feeling thirsty. 🍸 Here’s our list of money saving bar hacks 🍹 🔹Provide your own alcohol – If your bar vendor or venue allows you to bring your own alcohol and you’re on a budget, do it. Ask them how many bottles you might need based on your guest count and then go to your favorite wholesaler. Places like BevMo will even provide a refund for unopened bottles and for an extra fee deliver the alcohol so you don’t have to pick it up! 🔹If you’re guests aren’t heavy drinkers, consider a Consumption Package. This means, rather than paying a fixed price, you’ll pay at the end of the night based on the total amount consumed. But, if your guests like to party, this might come back to bite you. 🔹 Beer + Wine Only Packages could help cutdown costs significantly. 🔹Signature Drinks can help reduce costs if you are only offering the spirits that go in those drinks. This is also a fun way to personalize your wedding! Create one, two, or even three signature drinks that capture the essence of you as a couple, you as individuals, or perhaps highlight your loving pet! Guests will love getting a true taste of your personality. Add your signature drinks to a beer + wine package and it’s like you’re offering a full bar with an even better experience! 🔹Downgrade your bar package by cutting out the premium spirits. Ask your venue or bar vendor how to cut down costs and explore all of their package options. 🔹Wine Service at dinner is not a necessity. If it’s something you must have, then try offering only one type of wine for the dinner service rather than a white + red. 🔹Champagne toasts are also not necessary. You can have guests toast with their drink in hand – just make sure someone announces that toasts will start in a bit and to grab a new drink if they’re running low. Or if you always dreamed of a classy champagne toast or a trendy champagne welcome wall, opt for Prosecco instead. It’s way cheaper and most people can’t tell the difference anyways. 🔹Time Bar (or Partial Open) can help cut back costs by only providing an open bar for a certain amount of time. After 1-2 hours (or more), you can switch to a cash bar or consumption based package. 🔹Last Call + shutting the bar down an hour before the end of the event (or earlier) can help save big and also help some of the guests sober up a bit before continuing on with their night. Hopefully these tips put you at ease! As you can see, there are plenty of options to help you provide a great bar experience without breaking the bank. Now that is money WELL spent 🍻

Saying “I do” is the easy part but… writing your own vows might be a little harder than you imagined. 😅 After all, you don’t want to say the wrong thing and miss the “I do” part all together. Here are some of our tips for the best personal vows! 🤍 🔹Be inspired! Look for examples from weddings you’ve attended, advice from friends, or the scenes from your favorite books and movies. 🔹Talk with your partner ahead of time to set the right tone. Whether you want it to be funny and light, or stoic and deep, it’s nice to have vows that complement each other. 🔹Tell stories to really showcase your partner and relationship. Add some personality and details that your guests are sure to understand, even if they weren’t there. 🔹Remember, people are watching! Definitely include sweet and funny stories, but keep in mind that granny is watching. Don’t embarass your partner or mention anything you wouldn’t want dad to hear. Pro tip: Avoid too many inside jokes, or else your guests won’t understand. 🔹Be vulnerable. Get lovey dovey, And tell your partner just how much you love them. 🔹Describe what your future together looks like. Make meaningful promises. This is a part where you reassure your partner you’re with them forever. Pro tip: you can add some humor by including something about your partner that slightly annoys you. “I promise to love you even when you steal the blankets at night.” 🔹Have a solid conclusion. Reiterate the parts that you want your partner to remember the most and wrap it up with a strong ending. 🔹Practice. Say your vows aloud leading up to the big day. You can say it during your daily commute, in front of your best friend or parents, or in the mirror. This helps take away all the nerves. Pro tip: video record yourself practicing your vows. Comment below if you have any tips you’d like to add! Happy vow writing! #tipsandtricks #weddinginspo #weddingideas #weddingtips #newlyengaged #weddinginspiration #socalweddingplanner #godoyevents #weddingplanner #socaleventplanner #eventplanner

Ready to start planning your big day but don’t quite know where to start? Here’s our list of the first 6 things to do when planning your wedding 💍 🔹THE VISION. Sit down with your partner and write your own lists of what’s important for your wedding. Based on your lists, come together and prioritize what matters the most. This is how you start creating your ultimate vision for your big day! 🔹THE GUESTS. Start making your guest list. Some people know exactly who they want to attend their wedding and others might have a hard time keeping their list to a minimum. If the latter sounds like you, prioritize your guests on a scale of 1-3. One | They absolutely must attend, Two | I would like to have them there, Three | It’s okay if they miss out. Also, think about your guests’ experience. What do you want them to feel at your wedding? This could look like ensuring there are heaters if it’s an outside venue, a buffet vs. plated dinner service, etc. Envisioning your day through the perspective of a guest will add to your overall vision and priority list. 🔹THE BUDGET. Based on your vision, start putting together your budget. Your budget depends largely on your ideal guest count. Keep in mind that your venue, food + beverage, and florals + decor will likely be your 3 largest expenses. This can change depending on the things you value most – like if you want a specific band to perform or a full scale video production team. Also expect that you will go over budget. With that in mind, throw an emergency fund into your budget so that the “overdraft” amount isn’t too overwhelming. 🔹THE ESSENTIALS. Focus on your 2-3 big ticket items. 1. Venue and date 2. Wedding Planner/ Coordinator. Your wedding planner can give you a list of vendors to choose from and help you stick to your overall budget. They’ll keep you on track and will help take away a lot from your to-do list. Your 3rd big to-do should be based on that list of priorities you made. Maybe it’s the catering or the photographer. Securing your top 3 is the biggest step you can take in the planning process. 🔹THE DREAM TEAM. Now it’s time to reach out to your favorite vendors. If you have a family photographer that you love, send an inquiry. Friends that provide specific services, ask if they’re available. You really like the vendors your planner recommended? Let your planner know that you’re ready to move forward. If you know what you want and you have the place, date, and time, get those vendors SECURED!  They are the people that make all the magic happen on your big day! 🔹THE DETAILS. Now that you have the large tasks done, it’s time to have fun with the details. Picking colors, designs, fonts. Sending invites, trying on different suits + dresses, making a registry. The details are often what can be the most overwhelming and seemingly most important, but they can also be the most fun if you work together with your partner and involve your favorite people. Hopefully this list has broken down the basics and gotten you excited for your big day. The most important thing to do along the way is take your time and enjoy the journey! Feel good about every decision that you make together, celebrate the wins, and make memories throughout your planning adventure! And if you need some help, we’re here to take the stress away.