Imagine planning your wedding for over a year, spending hundreds of hours picking out floral arrangements and bridesmaids dresses and decorations, only to be forced to postpone this carefully organized day… twice! Imagine the excitement and relief when you can finally have your dream wedding a year later.
COVID-19 has been hard on everyone these past few years, including those who had been planning for a wedding. Jenna and Todd wanted to have their wedding over a year ago, but because of COVID complications, they weren’t able to get married until last Sunday.
They had planned to have their ceremony outside, in the beautiful courtyard, but of course there was a tropical storm! Fortunately, because The Rutherford has space for both an indoor and outdoor ceremony, they were able to hold out hope for a sunny wedding until the day before. Even though it ended up being inside, the decorations and florals were still stunning, and the brick walls made a perfect background for all their photos.
Weddings never go as planned, and this one was no exception. But no matter how many plans we had to change, their wedding day was still magical and seamless. We were able to be flexible and accommodate everything that came up, and everyone appreciated having both an indoor and outdoor option. At The Rutherford, there’s nothing that we love more than making everything as perfect as possible for our couples on their special day. Flexibility, especially now, is one of our most important roles.
We’re taking a look at all the things that lead up to your big day, straight from Wedding Wire’s 2020 Newlywed Report. Check on all the facts and figures and see how you compare to others!
The Love Birds
Based on 25,000 couples married in 2019, here’s what we know about our married couples to-be⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
71% date 2+ years before getting engaged⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
88% have spoken about future finances⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
41% have traveled outside of the US together⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
27% own a home together⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
49% have a pet together⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
27% grew up in different regions of the country⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
1 in 4 met online⠀⠀
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Prep + Planning
And since many of you are in the planning stages of your wedding, we’re breaking down what goes into it for couples all across the country!
Nearly 60% of couples increase their budgets along the way
79% of couple use a wedding website to share details with their guests⠀⠀
On average, couples hire 15 vendors for their wedding day
Weddings are expensive! From food to flowers and drinks to decorations, costs add up very quickly. You want the day to reflect everything that’s important to you but also not break the bank. So how to keep costs lower and stress less about your bid day?
Consider trimming down your guest lists!
Everyone from your parents to your future in-laws to your siblings have opinions on who to invite, but ultimately, it’s up to you to decide who you want to celebrate with and whose presence means the most to you and your partner.
We have some tips for trimming down your guest list below!
Make sure that you and your partner are on the same page and stick to the rules you make! This is the only rule there is!
Have an “A” list and “B” list. Go ahead and send out your invites to those you must have at your wedding. If you receive around 10-20% regrets, start to send out more invitations to those who you’d still love to have (colleagues, more distant friends), but didn’t make the first round for whatever reason.
If you or your significant other has never met them before [hello your parents’ friends!], consider not sending an invitation. Especially if you are the one footing the bill for the wedding.
Don’t feel like you own anyone an invitation. Haven’t spoken to them in three years? Don’t worry about it! They invited you to their wedding but you’re no longer close? It’s okay!
Keep the guest list of adults only! And don’t feel bad about it—it’s your wedding, and while your cousin on your mom’s side might be upset, feel free to call and explain your decision.
Only send out plus ones to those who are married, engaged, or are in a committed relationship. You might even take the stress off of singles who would feel the need to bring a date.
Whatever you do decide to do, your wedding is about celebrating the love between you and your significant other! We’d love to hear how you strategized your guest list!
We know it’s hard to have any definite plans about your wedding with constant changes in social distancing guidelines.
But we’re over here daydreaming about how your postponed wedding could become a fall wedding and all the fun that goes along with September, October, and November weddings!
The number one reason? Makeup doesn’t sweat off your face!
All the (more serious) reasons we love fall weddings!
The weather’s still warm, but not sticky and sweaty! Hello, outdoor ceremonies! And no more frizzy hair! Cross that worry off your list.
The trees are still full of leaves, and if you’re lucky, it’ll be colorful for photos.
Unique flowers and color palettes are all the rage. This is your explicit permission to try something out-of-the-box (if you weren’t already doing it:))
Fall foods are the best! Think: root vegetables, apples, and other warm, hearty foods! Consider serving apple cider or apple pie!
Take advantage of our farmhouse tables for a rustic feel.
Looking for more inspiration? Check out some of our previous fall and winter weddings we’ve hosted at the Rutherford!
You’ve had to postpone your wedding—and all your friends and family are texting you about your plans. You’re overwhelmed with all the communication and coordination.
Sound familiar?
Don’t worry! We know this is an emotionally taxing time, but we’ve got some cute and budget-friendly (!) ideas on how to spread the word about your new wedding date.
@dodidoodles
^^^This made us laugh a bit – hopefully you do too:)
Here are some of our favorite ideas to update all your guests on your new celebration!
Use (or create!) your wedding website to keep your guests updated and collect RSVP’s there instead of spending more money on a new invitation.
Consider using your website to send an email to all your guests to that everyone is on the same page. Minted has some great ideas on how to word your message, depending on if you’ve picked a new date or not!
Many stationary vendors have graciously created free editable “Change the Date” PDF’s for you to use. @papermintpress @jesmarried and @polkadotpapershop have some great options!
Brides.com rounded up a list of Etsy vendors who have made customizable templates to send out! Consider supporting local and small businesses if you can.
For your friends and family who aren’t as tech-savvy, consider a good old-fashioned phone call. We’re sure they’d love to hear from you and might have some sage advice on how to get through these tough times.
Don’t worry about having all the details figured out! Get inspired by new trends and Pinterest your heart away so that you’ll be ready to party when this is all over! Fall and winter weddings are some of our favorites to host – stay tuned for more ideas!
To our Rutherford brides (and all the other brides out there!),
This week has been challenging, full of uncertainty and ever-changing rules and regulations. We’re right there with you in this time of uncertainty and confusion.
But the wedding industry is also always full of hope. We believe in making miracles happen, and while that miracle might not be having your wedding as planned, we’re still here to help you navigate postponing your dream day.
All of your family and vendors and everyone else important for your wedding is here for you. The love that you and your significant other have for each other is still there and we want to celebrate that love with you as soon as it’s safe to!
Since the wedding timeline you found on Pinterest about a year ago is no longer relevant (*insert winky face*), here’s a new game plan to pick your new wedding date + make sure the rest of the stars align.
Our Tips
Loop in your important people on what’s happening to make sure everyone’s on the same page. Parents, sisters, other important friends—lean on them for support and help through this!
Get in touch with your venue (us!) to discuss 3-5 dates that might still be open. Be sure to ask about any increases / decreases in pricing!
Reach out to your vendors with those dates and find out their cancelation policies as well as how soon they require cancelation notion. We recommend calling for a quicker answer!
Wine! Chocolate! Walk your dog! Whatever you need to get through this!
Create a spreadsheet, Google Doc, plan on a notepad of which vendors are available on what dates and their fees. Compare / mix-and-match to decide what works best for you.
Need to reschedule your wedding date? Give us a call and we’d be more than happy to help you find a new date!
In the meantime, keep searching Pinterest for ideas because your wedding is going to be full of love and happiness when it does happen—and people are going to be more than ready to celebrate.
Here at the Rutherford, we’re always inspired by how our couples use the space for their big day.
But one of our favorite spots in the space to play with is the greenery wall in the Warehouse! We’ve seen Mr. and Mrs. Signs attached, lights strung up, and a perfect photo backdrop. Check out a few of our favorite ways we’ve seen the wall personalized for weddings!
Cake Table Backdrop
The cake is the main feature of any wedding, right;) Why not dress it up and put it in front of one of our favorite backdrops?
Photo Hotspot
If photographing all the desserts in front of the green wall is so popular, it’s no wonder that our couples also choose to take some of their first married photos together here! From couches to custom wall signs, we love the personalized touches.
Photo Booth
Why not dress up the wall so your guests can document your event? With a photo booth or even polaroid cameras, the green wall makes the perfect backdrop for your favorite people.
Feeling inspired for your next event? Schedule a tour to see the space for yourself!
One wedding trend that we’re excited to see continue into 2020 is reception entertainment. While dancing is still the highlight of the evening, it’s fun to change it up and add in a few extras to spice up the night!
A Few of Our Favorites
Photo Booth
Help your guests remember the night with a photo booth! Selfie booths have become popular in the past few years and you can either have printed or digital options for your guest to keep. Customize it even more with a frame or filter just for your night!
DiPietro Photography
Interactive Food Station
Guests take their food seriously, especially if a long night of dancing and celebrating are ahead. Interactive and customizable food always excite and amuse people.
Some of our favorite caterers have A-MAZ-ING food options
Good Life Catering offers a made-to-order grilled cheese station and a liquid nitrogen ice cream sundae bar!
And if you’re in the mood for pizza, Coastal Crust uses their food truck at weddings—which we love to see in our courtyard!
DiPietro Photography
Late Night Food
Keep people happy with late-night food. Pizza, French fries, and doughnuts are all popular options. Bringing your favorite food is also another way to add a unique touch to your wedding (Bite Squad delivery?) Maybe even throw in a coffee bar so people have the energy to keep dancing all night long!
For some incredible local options, check out Chef 306’s After Burner menu. Yes, you read that right—breakfast for dinner!
What are you thinking about serving for your wedding?
Nothing says a wedding like a tradition cake exchange between the two love birds. But sometimes it’s fun to mix it up and try something else of the sweet variety. Or maybe y’all are just not big cake fans.
Whatever the reason, we’re rounding up some of our favorite alternatives to the traditional wedding cake
1. Donut Wall
One of the biggest trends in wedding desserts right now is the donut wall. Use it as an accent to the main cake or treat it as the main event! What’s even more fun? There are so many play-on-word options you can use with donuts!
A “Hole” Lotta Love
Donut You Want One?
Donut Know What I’d Do Without You
Doughnut Leave Without Dessert
2. Cupcakes
Everyone loves miniature versions of the real thing, so why not serve mini cake aka cupcakes! With cupcakes, you can have multiple flavors to appease both bride and groom. Bonus points for arranging them to look like a real cake.
Meredith Beck Photography
3. Ice Cream
Ice cream conveys a nostalgic memory so what better way to throw back to your formative years than an old-fashioned ice cream bar? Have an ice cream truck (our courtyard is perfect for this) come and serve your guest or DIY your own ice cream bar!
*via Style Caster
4. Pie
Are you having a fall-themed wedding? Try a pumpkin pie or apple pie as the main dessert! We love seeing this used in outdoor weddings, especially when served on our farmhouse tables.
You’ll be sure to please anyone with a sweet tooth!
Your wedding day is all about you and what YOU want the day to look like! Most couples usually put a lot of thought into flowers, food, and friends. But an out-of-the-box way to personalize another part of the celebration with your own cocktail!
Where to Start
What’s your typical going-out drink? Do you prefer a simple gin and tonic? Or something stronger like an old-fashioned? Perhaps you and your significant other bonded over a certain IPA. Why not serve that at the reception? It’s all about creating a day that you love!
Madison Grae Photography
Tie It to the Theme
The devil is in the details, and we love a subtle element that incorporates the overall theme of the evening.
Sometimes the glass in which the drink is served can spice up the drink and fit the mood of the evening. Tags and stirrers can also add to the visual appeal of a drink. It’s also an easy way to tie in your color scheme without having to dye the drink.
DiPietro Photography
Consider the food you’re serving and maybe incorporate a drink to compliment it! If you’re having a shrimp and grits bar, consider a southern-inspired cocktail.
Advice From the Pro
We chatted with one of our favorite bartenders, Jared, from Southern Libations, about how to get the most out of your bar!
First, a bit about what he does:
Southern Libations was founded on the idea that temporary bar set ups could be more than your typical line up of beer, wine, and spirits. They found a void and decided to be the company that offered specialty drinks for reasonable prices from a bar that would be an experience for the guests who saw and interacted with it. The drinks are an important part of any wedding reception but often couples and party hosts have no idea what to serve.
DiPietro Photography
At Southern Libations, we provide a unique mobile bar service and enable guests to enjoy delicious custom cocktails made from fresh ingredients. We do a lot of weddings and have been able to add a unique touch to the couple’s day with our stylish mobile bars and custom drink selection.
Signature Cocktails
He suggested that when it comes to crowd pleasing drinks, everyone has a different palate so to create at least two signature cocktails.
Signature cocktails are a great way to add a personal touch to the bar at an event. For weddings, couples can customize the names to reflect their personalities. Where you really have the chance to go deeper and allow your guests to engage with your menu, is when you make a drink personal to you, your company, or the people you are gathering within celebration.
DiPietro Photography
This can also be turned into a “his and her” feature on the cocktail menu. A popular example would be a Moscow Mule (Vodka, lime, ginger beer) for the bride and an Old Fashioned (Bourbon, sugar, bitters) for the groom. From this selection, guests can still do standard two ingredient drinks with the spirits listed like bourbon/cola, vodka/tonic, etc.
Full open bars can provide guests with too many options. Focusing on 2-4 interesting cocktails makes the selection easier for the guests and makes the drink menu more personalized to the event. People will be more satisfied if they can start with a fairly limited number of high quality options, and go from there.
Get Outside the Box
One unique concept that Southern Libations offers is putting cocktails on tap. Serving cocktails on draft speeds up bar service and ensures consistency with each drink. Many cocktails can easily be put on draft.
They love using Cannonborough All-Natural Craft Sodas out of Charleston—their line up includes Ginger beer, Raspberry Mint, Honey Basil, and Grapefruit Elderflower. From there, they combine your spirit of choice to the soda keg to create a unique cocktail on tap that can be served in under 6 seconds. Couples usually combine the cocktails on draft with a bubbly or beer on tap, or both.
DiPietro PhotographyDiPietro Photography
Having these drinks ready to serve straight from the tap cuts down on drink preparation time and keeps the line moving throughout the night. This also creates much less waste at the end of the night.
Let us know what you’re thinking about for your signature wedding cocktail!
