Greenery walls are such a fun photo backdrop, but what are some unique ways to spice it up?
Photo by Kylie Marie Photography
Putting a couch in front of the wall is perfect for posing in photos!! And putting flowers up adds such a natural touch.
Photo by Katie Wilson
NEON SIGNS!! We can’t get over how amazing this looks, especially in the dim lights. Such a perfect photo backdrop, and the extra hanging greenery adds even more dimension.
Hello wedding cake backdrop!! If you’re looking for a unique background for your cutting-the-cake photos, this is the perfect place!
Photo by Sabrina Fields
Loving this “Mr. & Mrs.” sign! There really are endless possibilities of what you can do with a greenery wall. From a wooden sign, to red flowers, to a cake table, everything looks good here!
You may struggle with making sure everything is perfect. But no wedding day goes exactly as you plan it to. Having to adapt to constant changes may lead to a lot of stress, especially when everything doesn’t seem to be working. If you find yourself worrying about your day, just remember – a wedding is about the people you’re with. And make sure to hire a wedding planner!
If you’re a two…
You care so much about other people, you may end up accommodating their opinions too much. Remember that your wedding is your special day, and you are the one who gets to choose everything (not your mom or your friends). Make sure to choose the decorations that you love! It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.
Photo by Josh Rigsby Photography
If you’re a three…
Like twos, you tend to care a lot about what others think. You may find yourself choosing a venue or a dress simply because you think your friends would be impressed. But your wedding day is not about how awesome everyone thinks you are! Remember to make decisions based on what you really want, not just what you think others would like.
If you’re a four…
You love being unique. It’s likely very important to you that your wedding is different from everyone else’s. Like twos and threes, you also might need to remember that your wedding day is about you, not your friends or anyone else. Unique weddings can be so much fun, but make sure you’re doing what you really want – not just the opposite of everyone else.
If you’re a five…
You tend to be very independent, so wedding planning may be a struggle for you. Dealing with everyone’s opinions, and having to talk to so many different vendors might be really draining for you. Remember to take some time for yourself everyday to get away from all the craziness. And if you don’t want to deal with any of it… you can always elope!
If you’re a six…
You might struggle with making decisions and tend to look to others for guidance. This may be the easy option in the short term, but when it comes to your wedding day, you might feel like it’s not even yours. There’s nothing wrong with talking to friends and family about their opinions, but make sure to form your own opinion before making any decisions.
Photo by Jessie Modlin Photography
If you’re a seven…
You probably don’t enjoy long-term planning. You may struggle with staying motivated to plan your own wedding, so remember that you can ask for help! Definitely hire a wedding planner to keep you on track and don’t be afraid to ask friends or family for help if you’re really struggling. This way, you can have fun thinking of ideas, and other people can bring them to life!
If you’re an eight…
You tend to have very strong opinions, and may have difficulty working with people. Although it’s so good to stand up for yourself, some plans are going to have to change. Remember that nothing happens exactly how you plan it, and that’s okay! Don’t forget to delegate at least some tasks, so you don’t end up with the stress of doing everything yourself.
Photo by Jessie Modlin Photography
If you’re a nine…
Making decisions is certainly not your strongest trait, so wedding planning may be a challenge. Like sixes, you often prefer to let others decide things for you. But your wedding day is your day! You may be perfectly fine letting someone else handle all the specifics for you, but try to really take time and think about what you want. Even if it’s just a few things, make sure you stay strong in what you want.
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!
Every month, we bring in some of our favorite vendors and dress up for an evening in our favorite place! Our After Hours are one of our most popular ways to show off the Rutherford to potential clients, our booked bride, and their friends and families (and to try all of the yummy samples our featured caterer brings in)!
Our After Hours events offer YOU the opportunity to meet with vendors at one time and hopefully help you in booking and planning different aspects of your wedding. We know that there’s so much that goes into each and every wedding, and we want you to have as much time and as many options as you need to plan the perfect day! You’ll also get to see the space partially set up for an event, (and filled with people) helping you to visualize your evening!
One of our favorite parts of After Hours? Getting to see the courtyard under the lights. Most of our events continue well into the evening, so visiting the Rutherford at night will allow you to see what your event will look like under the stars.
Already well into wedding planning? Come bring your friends and family so they can see where you’re celebrating your big day! This way everyone feels a part of the planning process and you get to feel at ease knowing that your closest confidants approve.
Our next After Hours is March 16th from 5-7pm, so be sure to stop by and say hi!
Looking back on 2019, it’s hard to comprehend how much growth The Rutherford has seen in the past 12 months.
This past year, we’ve hosted countless weddings, corporate events, and functions. And it’s easy to get caught up in the numbers. But what we remember most is the details from every event. From the luggage tag name tags at a travel-themed wedding to the wedding party that came straight from their ceremony at Pretty Place, each event is unique.
At The Rutherford, we get to see all the moving parts that go into each event and we get to see how they make people feel. Each event is unique—they all have their challenges and their own flair. But at the end of each event, our favorite thing to see is the happy couple or hostess walk away with a smile on their face.
Community has always been a core aspect of our business and reflecting on the past year, we’ve seen that continue to grow. Vendors, new and old, come into The Rutherford and continue to amaze us with their talents. Our open house and showcases give us the ability to connect with them and help our clients plan the event of their dreams. It truly is a team effort and we’re so thankful to be a part of it all.
Along with expanding our outside community, we’ve also grown internally this past year, adding Wallace on as our Director of Sales. She’s a dream to work with and truly understands how to make each of our couples’ dreams come true. Every time she gives a tour, we can’t help but fall in love with our space again! Our intern program has also grown this year, with four new faces from Furman and Clemson. It truly takes a village to create a space like the Rutherford, and we love our team and all the fabulous work (and fun!) they do.
We’re so excited for another year at The Rutherford filled with weddings, parties, and other events. Here’s to ringing in a new decade and a year of possibilities!
She’s in charge of all of our bookings, coordinating with clients, and keeping us all caught up on the Bachelorette!
A recent Clemson grad, Wallace has experience in special events and event sales coordination from across the Upstate area and knows her way around an event!
If you’ve toured the Rutherford recently, you probably met Wallace and explored the space with her. Learn a little bit more about her and why we’re so excited to have her working at the Rutherford!
Dream job as a child?
Ballerina
Favorite space in the Rutherford + why?
Our Brick Room (the upstairs space)! There is SO much you can do with our upstairs space, and I am a sucker for wood floors!
What’s something you always have on your desk?
A Dr. Pepper – always necessary!
Early bird or night owl?
Night owl – I get my best work done at night!
Digital or paper?
Paper, I’m old school.
Go-to lunch order?
A Mr. T bagel from Sully’s Steamers 🙂
Favorite TV show right now + why?
Handmaid’s Tale for sure! It’s not like any other show and so interesting!!
Best part of working at the Rutherford?
This is a very hard question, but I would have to say the best part of working at the Rutherford would be having the privilege of working alongside of the owner, Yasha Patel. She is such an incredible mentor!
A fun fact you’d tell at dinner parties!
I have been to 2/3 National Championships that Clemson has won! Go Tigers!
Hi I’m Camille, and I’m the fall intern here at the Rutherford. I’m entering my senior year at Furman University as a Business Administration major. Throughout my time in college, I’ve dabbled in public relations and sales, but I am so excited to gain more experience on the business side of event execution.
Originally hailing from Hanover, New Hampshire, I am a little bit Yankee and little bit Y’all. I grew up in New England as the Yankee grandchild to all of my southern relatives. But to my New England friends, I will always be the southern belle rocking cow boots and a flannel.
Sleep is a foreign concept to me—most days I’m taking a 5am Orangetheory class and staying up way too late wrapping up homework for my HR or marketing class. During the in-between hours, I’m in charge of Furman’s Relay for Life as well as active as the Vice President of Member Education in my sorority. You can also find me baking up plenty of sweet treats—gluten-free of course, as I “Glucant.”
During my time at the Rutherford, I’m hoping to gain skills in event coordination and work more in-depth on the business side of a small company. After a summer in PR, I can’t wait to use my verbal and written communication skills to work with both clients, as well as vendors, on executing flawless events.
We’re so excited to have you on the Rutherford team!
