Central Park Weddings - Bridal showers

The wedding ceremony is a symbol and celebration of commitment. The reception is a big party to celebrate the marriage. But there are other events before the wedding that are as lively as any of these. Bridal showers may involve fewer people, but they concentrate a lot of fun in one event.

Bridal showers are usually planned and hosted by the maid of honor. Since she is involved only rarely in wedding planning, a little guidance is called for.

Most will want to select an overall theme for the party. It doesn't have to be as elaborate or all encompassing as a reception or wedding theme. But decorations, gifts and more will go better when there is some integrating theme.

Gifts will cover a wide range. But giving the invited guests some idea of what the bride wants can hold off any embarrassing moments. The gift registry is one way to find out. One friend telling another always works.

Decorations need not be very extensive. But it is a party. A good host will want to give the location a festive air. Have some flowers around. Put out those aromatic candles. Leave enough space for everyone to move around without knocking anything over. That's especially true when you plan to have a dozen chairs in the living room or other spot.

If you plan to have some entertainment, book well in advance. Most professionals are very busy these days. At least 2 months notice is usually required, and often more.

Have a backup plan, too. Accidents happen. People get ill. Make sure the company can handle that contingency. Make sure you have the phone numbers and some recommendations of more than one company. Word gets around, so most companies will do their best not to disappoint customers. It's rare, but it does happen. Being prepared means less stress when something goes wrong.

Prepare the music and games or other activities. Sitting around staring at one another can lead to a very embarrassing situation. No need to rigidly control events moment by moment. But having an outline of how the event is supposed to go can up the odds of a successful party.

When you map those out, know your 'audience'.

Don't plan classical music for guests who only listen to heavy metal and vice versa. Since everyone has different tastes, even among the best of friends, some compromise is inevitable. In any case don't overpower them with the music. It should be background. The prospective bride should be in the foreground.

Ditto on the games. Don't force everyone (or anyone) to play a game they find stupid, boring or offensive. It's a party. Let people enjoy themselves. To avoid that possibility, be creative. Find or dream up some that will hook anyone. Or, you can have none at all. They're not required. They do help break the ice, though, if there are guests who don't know one another.

One popular game can easily get everyone involved and makes the prospective bride the center of the party as she should be: Do You Know Your Groom?

Arrange beforehand to find out about the groom, what he likes, his funny habits, even where he grew up or early childhood events. Get at least two questions per guest (for a party of about 10-20). Make up some flash cards with the questions and answers and grill the bride. Her answers, right or wrong, can produce a lot of laughter when the game is carried out in the spirit of good fun.

New York Weddings - Choosing a Wedding Planner

You may be ultra busy. You may accept that you're not the most organized person in the world. You may simply want to avoid stress. Or, you may be planning a wedding so large that no single person can pull it off unaided.

Whatever the reasons, a professional wedding planner is often a very wise choice.

Note, the word 'professional'. That doesn't mean your mother or sister or good friend, no matter how skilled they may be. Individuals - variously called Bridal Consultants or Wedding Planners, or other terms - do this for a living. Many get awards for doing it well. They know what needs to be done, whom to contact and how to organize all the elements of a wedding while keeping their (and your) sanity.

They'll discuss their services and fees in a calm, professional way and try to give you a realistic picture of what to expect. At the same time, they can help you maintain enthusiasm for a project that is both highly personal and emotional, as well as being full of possible practical pitfalls.

They know what can go wrong when you've set a specific date and the wedding or reception venue or caterer suddenly becomes unavailable. They know how to react in order to keep things on track.

Wedding planners have many contacts throughout the business community. Those long-term relationships help you get good deals, while helping ensure that commitments are kept. When they book a caterer, for example, the caterer will often be more inclined to keep a promise than they otherwise might. After all, you are only one client. But their livelihood depends in part on keeping the wedding planner happy in the future.

The same is true for vendors responsible for the wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses, as well as clothing for the groom's side. It's true of printers who take care of invitations. It's true of all the other things that lead up to your big day. Wedding planners know whom to contact and how to deal with them. Then they contact and deal with them, not you.

A New York wedding planner may take on the whole effort, or only a part. They may subcontract some aspects. They may rely on you and your friends or family to take on certain things. The arrangements differ from wedding to wedding. So, do the fees, naturally.

Since their role can be so critical to the success of your special event, there are a few questions you'll want to ask. Don't be shy or nervous. Like any professional, they expect to have to demonstrate their experience and ability. At the same time, as with any business arrangement, courtesy is expected on both sides. You're interviewing a prospective guide, not a servant.

You'll want to know:

1. How long have you been in business?
2. What size of weddings do you typically plan?
3. Do you work on more than one at a time? How many right now?
4. Can you provide some references I could contact?
5. What are your fees? What do they cover?
6. What should I expect over the next month/six months/year leading up to the big day?
7. When I need to get in touch, how long is it normal to wait for a reply? How quickly am I expected to return emails or phone calls?
8. What happens the day before the wedding and on the big day? What about the day after when there are clean up or post-wedding tasks to do?

Many more questions may occur to you to ask. So long as you are respectful and patient any wedding planner should be happy to entertain them. Keep in mind, though, that they have other clients (hopefully, since it's better for you). Even hiring a wedding planner takes some planning and investigation. Be patient and respectful with yourself as well.

Central Park Weddings in New York

Central Park Weddings, the green oasis in the center of Manhattan, boasts numerous loving and idyllic positions for marriage observance and photography. Choose from the manicured lawns of the Conservatory Garden, Hernshead, Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge, Gapstow Bridge, and Belvedere Castle.

Central Park Boathouse Weddings

The Central Park Boathouse Perhaps the most quintessentially New York spot to get married is Central Park, and where better in Central Park to get married than a terrace or windowed room overlooking the lake.

Capacity - Minimum of 80-165, depending on the evening; maximum of 230 at seated meal with dancing. More space may be available for an additional fee.