It is important that the company you choose for your wedding reception delivers a personalized service. There are so many small details involved in the success of a reception, that it can be hard to over look what matters the most… YOU! Any company you decide should maintain focus on your happiness and comfort with all aspects of your itinerary. Below, I’ve listed a basic time line for what happens when. Just as a reminder, any of the steps below in your wedding reception checklist can be taken out or rearranged. You should have complete control over what happens. Think of yourself as president of the big day.

Before Your Big Day

* Drag and drop songs online as must play and do not play

* Fill in your wedding reception time line and itinerary details

* Pre-event consultation 1 week prior so there are no surprises

Package Setup

* Arrive 1-3.5 hours in advance depending on your scheduled package

* Hide and tape down cords (cords and tape are black)

* Wireless mic check behind the head table (ensures reception and gains)

* Perform functional test on all equipment before guest’s arrival

* Replace battery in wireless microphone if necessary

* Double check center piece pin spots are not in guests eyes

* If you have a name monogram: Aim behind head table or on dance floor

* If you have lighting design: Adjust fixtures for maximum saturation of clients color

* If you have photo booth:  Do a test shot to check custom message area

* Change into company uniform (black tux, platinum tie, name tag)

Before Guest Arrival

* Make sure the house music is turned OFF

* Verbally run through names of bridal party for announcements

* Write notes on itinerary & label last minute questions for client

* Familiarize self with client songs & re-categorize into possible sets

* Create wait-list of all important client songs for quick access

* Run through agenda with the head matradee of the banquet hall (check dinner start time)

* Confirm location of facility dimmer switch to be adjusted during dances

* Find out seating arrangements for the bridal party to let them know where they will be sitting

* Test all special requested songs by client, have a backup version available

Cocktail Hour

* Walk the room & listen to the music as the guests would. Make sure volume is appropriate

* Keep a look out for wedding vendors, go over the agenda with them as they arrive

* Ask photographer/videographer if they want the bridal party to stand behind the cake for a nice backdrop

* Locate person leading the prayer and inform them on how to use the microphone

* If champagne is all tables make sure staff is pouring it

* If Champagne is head table/family tables only announce guests to grab something to toast with

* Make sure there is a serving knife, plate, and napkin at the cake table

* Introduce self to guests, encourage requests, take photos for the Glam Cam

The Grand Entrance

* Announce that the bridal party has arrived and for guests to take their seats

* Hold open door in lobby, congratulate client, and introduce self to bridal party

* Ask the bridal party if there is anything they would like for me to take to their head table

* Instruct bridal party here to walk to

* Instruct those toasting how to use the microphone

* Remind bridal party to remain standing until the bride & groom are seated

* Bring up any last minute questions to client

* Accommodate last minute changes to entrance (parents/flower girls)

* Play song while conducting grand entrance in either a high energy or low key format

Toasts

* Give a heads up to those speaking so they do not leave the room

* Verify that the photographer and videographer are ready to capture the memories

* Stand behind client and announce guests to give them a round of applause

* Formally introduce those speaking, after they have spoke thank them on a first name basis

Dinner

* Announce the meal procedure (plated, buffet, family-style, hor dourves)

* Start dinner music as requested by the client (work in their requests)

* Ask head table if they need any more bread or drinks

* Ask bride and groom how the music volume is

* Ask bride and groom if they would like make any changes to lighting color

* Ask bride and groom if we can take a photo of them together

After Dinner Mingling

* Start dimming the facility lighting

* Slightly increase the music volume

* Ask bride and groom if they are ready to do the cake cutting/dances

* If the client would like to mingle more, then perform another follow-up shortly after

* Remind all important people involved in the dances they will begin shortly

* Follow-up with photographer and videographer, tell them when the dances will start

Cake Cutting

* This can happen either after the grand entrance, after dinner, or after dancing

* Double check that your photographer and videographer are ready and in place

* Direct everyone’s attention to the cake table, invite them to take photos

* Remind guests to leave room for the professional photographer

* Take Glam Cam shots of the client during cake cutting

* Have their cake cutting song cued, and ready to go

Formal Dances

* Visually confirm that all VIPs are in the room

* Double check that the photographer and videographer are ready to begin

* Announcing the first dance with energy and poise

* Announce any significance in song selection the client has for the parent and bridal party dances

* Take Glam Cam shots during the dances

* Invite others to join if requested by client

Bouquet Execution

* Locate the bouquet to be tossed

* Double check with photographer on their preference for the toss & if they like to do a fake count

* Make sure client has all the single ladies she wants to see participating in the toss

* Avoid any chandeliers or other obstacles during the toss

* Ask guests to help count down the toss

* Get the catcher’s name from groom, congratulate them, hold for photo opportunity & Glam Cam shot

Last Dance

* 10 Minutes before the end, check with client to see if they want to keep the party going

* Visually confirm that all VIPs are in the room

* Instruct guests to form a circle around our guests of honor for a nice send off

* Privately invite guests to join the bride and groom on the dance floor

* Top off the night with a farewell announcement and special congratulations to the guest of honor

And since we luuuuv our clients, we always take a Glam Cam shot with them!

Cakes are always special usually because they are celebrating a special event in someone’s life. Many brides’ love flowery cake tops in place of the traditional bride and groom and flowery cake tops are perfect for bridal showers, baby showers, and people who simply love flowers. It is very easy to learn how to do crepe paper flowers for your special cake. With the knowledge you have you can create any type of paper flowers you want to decorate a cake.

In this article, we are going to look at a few different ways you can decorate a cake with flowers and if you do not know how to make paper flowers for your special cake you will learn quickly!

Let us first look at a wedding cake it seems like this would be a great place to start as we mentioned many brides and grooms are choosing the flowery look over any other type. Especially celebrities they are unique people in their own right and so are you.

A bouquet of flowers is very popular for any size or shape wedding cake. The crepe paper bouquet is made without the holder and simply placed on top of the cake and in some it replaces the bride and groom. However, it can also surround the traditional bride and groom. When you make the bouquet make the center part with a small opening to insert the bride and groom cake topper. This is easier to measure accurately if you have the cake topper available when you make the flower bouquet arrangement.

The flower garland strand is also popular for smaller cakes that do not use tiers but simply sit on top of one another it consists of a number of flowers that wrap around and lay on each layer of the cake. If the cake is sitting on a large round plate then flowers are also set around the entire outside of the cake.

Both of these methods can be used for any type of event. For a bridal shower just use, the color theme for the wedding and the type of flowers you will be having in your bouquet. You can even make a mini bouquet that looks just like your larger bouquet that you will carry down the aisle.

For a baby shower if you know if the baby is going to be a girl or boy you can use the same bouquet style and use pink or purple with a little white for a girl and blue or green and white for a boy. If you do not know the baby’s gender then yellows and light pastels in neutral, colors will make for a very pretty crepe paper flower cake top.

If you are not a paper flower maker yet, you will need to pick up a book and some crepe paper and spend a little time practicing making your flowers. It will not take long before you have a beautiful crepe paper flower cake topper!