Detailed Weddings & Events

01/17/2025

Venue in Sumter, SC

01/11/2025

An Alternative To Throwing A Bouquet

Plan your dream wedding with ease! 🎉 Discover the Amazon Wedding List—your ultimate tool to create a personalized gift registry for every style and budget. ...

01/11/2025

CREATING A WEDDING BUDGET

Creating a wedding budget is one of the most important first steps in wedding planning. Before booking a wedding planner, have an open and honest conversation with the groom or bride about how much you can realistically afford to spend. Consider your savings, income, and any potential contributions from family members. It's crucial to set a budget that won't leave you starting your married life in debt.

Here are common categories to consider when deciding how much you both would like to spend:

1. Venue Rental

2. Catering (Dinner & Cocktail Hour) - food and beverages

3. Bar - open, ticketed, signature cocktails, cash & dry

4. Champagne Toast - purchase approximately three bottles of Champagne per each round table with six chairs for a minimum of three toasts each: Welcome Toast (Father of the Bride), Groom's Toast & Best Man's Toast

5. Photography, Videography, Photobooth, and/or Audio Guestbook

6. Wedding Attire - dress, veil, accessories, undergarments, suit or tux, shoes, socks, alterations, your children's or child's attire,

7. Flowers & Decor - centerpieces, personal, vases, tablecloths, table overlays, table runners, candles and or table Drapes

8. DJ for Ceremony & Reception, Musician or Band

9. Stationery - invitations, RSVPs, save-the-date, programs, welcome sign, free drink cards & song request cards, menu cards and place cards or seating chart if applicable

10. Cake - wedding, groom and/or additional sheet or cupcakes

11. Transportation - limousine, horse & carriage or party bus

12. Wedding Planner & Coordinator Fees

13. Personal Care - hair, makeup, feet & hands

14. Officiant & Worship Center Fees

15. Wedding rings

16. Favors & Gifts - Favors for Ceremony Guests and/or Reception Guests and gifts for Bride & Groom to each other and for Wedding Attendants, Parent(s) & Grandparents (optional), presented at the Rehearsal Dinner or on the morning of the Wedding Day.

17. Rehearsal Dinner for Bride, Groom, Wedding Party, Parents, Grandparents, Bride & Groom's Siblings (not in wedding party) & Out-of-town Guests

18. Set-up & Break Down Fees

19. Place Setting Style

20. Venue Insurance If Applicable (some venues require it from the couple & some will use the liability insurance of the business that is decorating, catering or serving as bartender)

21. Bride & Groom Hotel Rooms - for dressing, especially if the Bride is not using the venue dressing room for herself and bridal attendants due to size.

22. Ceremony Arch

23. Ceremony Aisle Decor

24. Backdrop

25. Honeymoon Travel, Accommodations, Activities/Experiences & Food and Beverages

27. Tips and Gratuities

26. Contingency Fund - For unexpected costs

01/02/2025

A list of the best wedding jobs for family and friends, including roles for kids. Help guests feel included while maintaining your vision.

01/01/2025

Cake Baker: Sumter, SC

01/01/2025

Cake Baker: Columbia, SC

Friendly reminder that we close at 4pm today. For those we haven't seen this week or recently, happy (early) New Year!💥

01/01/2025

Wedding Photographer: Sumter SC

Lighting can make or break a photograph, and there's no better time to capture that perfect glow than during the Golden Hour — that magical period shortly after sunrise and before sunset. The sun’s position creates soft, warm light that highlights textures, adds depth, and reduces harsh shadows.

This photo was taken right as the sun was setting!!

01/01/2025

Cutting a Party Cake Hack

12/28/2024

Thank you for the like!

12/27/2024

WEDDING MENU CARD TEMPLATES FOR PLATED, BUFFET OR FAMILY-STYLE MEALS

A Guide to Wedding Menu Cards
By Emily Forrest

Last updated February 5, 2024

You chose a dining style, hired a great local wedding caterer, and selected the delicious food that will be served at your wedding reception. Now, the next menu consideration you need to tackle is the wedding menu cards. If you’re like most couples, you probably have a few questions about wedding reception menu cards: Are they necessary? What should you include on them? What are the display options? Discover the answers and more in our guide below.

1. ARE WEDDING RECEPTION MENU CARDS NECESSARY?
Wedding reception menu cards are not a requirement, but they are great for communicating the details of the meal to your guests. If you’re serving a plated meal with multiple main course options, it’s common to ask your guests to choose the main course they would prefer on the RSVP card. However, in some cases, you may prefer that guests make their choice at the event—therefore it’s important to have a printed dinner menu on hand for them to refer to when making their decision.

If you opt for buffet or family-style service, menu cards are a quick and easy way to share the food options and give guests the courtesy of knowing what to expect. Guests with dietary restrictions and food allergies will appreciate the heads up about what’s on the menu so they can plan ahead and enjoy the meal without stress.

2. WHAT TO INCLUDE ON WEDDING MENU CARDS?
What you include on your wedding menu cards is up to your preference and the style and tone of your event. Feel free to get creative and have fun with your wording, but your menu template should include the following:

a. Description of Courses (or List of Dishes Served)
1.) Plated Meal: Outline the courses or meal options in the order they will be served.

2.) Family Style Meal: List the food items or meal options that will be served to each table.

3.). Buffet Meal: List the food items or meal options that will be served at the buffet.

3. MAIN INGREDIENTS IN EACH DISH
While it’s not required to list every ingredient used in a dish, it is customary to provide a shortlist of the main ingredients, including foods that are common food allergies, such as nuts, shellfish, gluten, dairy and if it contains pork for those on pork restricted medical diets or do not eat it due to religious reasons.

4. A WELCOME AND THANK YOU (OPTIONAL)
Many couples also use their wedding menu cards as an opportunity to welcome and thank their guests. This text is typically very short and is often found at the top or bottom of the card.

5. YOUR NAMES AND WEDDING DATE (OPTIONAL)
To turn your wedding menu card into a scrapbook-worthy memento, include your names and your wedding date on the card.

6. WEDDING MENU CARD SAMPLES

a. Plaited Menu Sample Wording:

APPETIZER

Assorted Empanadas
and
Gazpacho with Fried Almonds

SALAD

Kale Salad with Spicy Quinoa
and
Jicama and Mango Slaw

MAIN COURSE

Skirt Steak with Chimichurri
or
Snapper with Avocado Salsa
or
Charred Street Corn Risotto

DESSERT

Gelato Sundae Bar
and
Local Pie and Tart Bar

b. Buffet Menu Sample Wording:

Thank you so much for celebrating this special occasion with us! Please eat, drink, and be merry.

Braised Pork Shoulder
Bacon, Apple, Sausage, Cheddar Stuffing
Brandied Cream Sauce

Hot Smoked Salmon
Dijon Cream Sauce

Whipped Russet Potatoes
Garlic & Chives

Roasted Local Vegetables
Fig Tapenade

Seasonal Green Salad
Balsamic Vinaigrette

Whole Grain Baguette
Honey Butter

c. Family Style Menu Sample Wording:
Welcome to Our Wedding Reception. Please enjoy this family-style menu as you get to know everyone at your table, and thank you for being part of our special day.

First

Local Cheese & Charcuterie Platter
Olives, Crostini, Apples, Bread & Seasonal Garniture

Second

Mixed Green Salad
Port Wine Poached Pears, Stilton Cheese, Walnuts
Aged Sherry Vinaigrette

Third

Pan Seared Duck Breast
Blood Orange Gastrique

Sweet Potato Gnocchi
Mushrooms, Peas, Parmesan, Carrot Sauce

Rice Pilaf

Seasonal Roasted Vegetables

Fourth

Passed Local Sweets

7. WEDDING MENU CARD DISPLAY OPTIONS
There are many different ways to display your catering menu at your wedding, but here is a look at the main styles you’re likely to encounter:

a. Individual Menu Cards — For formal or elegant weddings with plated dinner service, it is typical for small menu cards to be placed at each place setting. This option adds a nice finishing touch to your design and individually welcomes each guest. In some cases, couples might have the menu card do double duty as a place card by including the guest’s name as well. That way, guests can find their seat, read your welcome message, and peruse the menu in one go.

b. Large Display or Signage — If you prefer not to invest in individual menu cards for each place setting, a great option is to display a large sign at the reception. From chalkboard signage to calligraphy on gilded mirrors, there are limitless ways to get creative and elevate your decor at the same time.

c. Small Buffet Sign — For a sign that gets the job done but is more inconspicuous, many couples opt to place a small menu sign beside the buffet or at each food station.

d. Table Sign — To retain the intimate feel of individual menu cards without straining your budget, we recommend posting a menu sign on each round table, or a displaying a menu per every 4 chairs if you’re using rectangular tables.

Your wedding stationery isn’t really complete with wedding reception menu cards. Follow our menu template above to create stunning and informative paper products that let your guests know exactly what they can or will eat for dinner at your wedding.

https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/a-guide-to-wedding-menu-cards

12/27/2024

WEDDING WEEKEND
Are any of you planning a Wedding Weekend in 2025 and need an activity advice, besides what is listed below as Other events? How about Soap Making! Guests can go home with a souvenir too.:

A wedding weekend is a multi-day celebration that includes events beyond the ceremony and reception. Wedding weekends are becoming more popular, and can include:

1. Welcome party: A welcome drink or other event to kick off the festivities

2. Rehearsal dinner: A traditional event that allows close family and the bridal party to get together

3. Wedding ceremony and reception: The main event of the weekend

4. Farewell brunch or lunch: A relaxed event to bid farewell to guests

5. Other events: Pool days, scavenger hunts, trail rides, spa or golf outings, outdoor games or a wedding recovery day outing

Wedding weekends can be a great alternative to a traditional single-day wedding, as they allow couples to spend more time with their loved ones. They can also be a good option for weddings with a large number of out-of-town guests. However, hosting a wedding weekend can be more expensive than a one-day celebration, as you'll need to source locations and provide food and drinks for all the events.

https://www.virginexperiencegifts.com/at-home-experiences/at-home-diy-soap-making-kit

12/26/2024

Who in Sumter, the Midlands, P*e Dee or surrounding areas, became engaged on Christmas Day? CONGRATULATIONS and we're here if you need us!

12/26/2024

I followed back!

12/22/2024

Wedding Dress Sleeve Style Guide