Trending Greenery Wall Ideas for your Wedding

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!

 

Written by Emma Brandt

Ten Tips for a Perfect Summer Wedding

Thinking of getting married in the summer?? Here are some tips that could save you from a heat disaster! 

  1. Dress for the weather! Make sure you and your wedding party aren’t wearing anything too hot if you’re going to be outside!
  2. Take photos early! This way you won’t be stuck outside during the hottest part of the day.
  3. Wear sunscreen under your makeup! If you’re taking photos outside, you don’t want to get burned before you have to walk down the aisle

    Photo by Katie Wilson
  4. Make sure there’s space in the shade so your guests don’t get too hot… or burned!
  5. Start planning early and be flexible! Summer weddings are high in demand, so make sure you’re thinking ahead.
  6. Choose a venue with both indoor and outdoor space (like The Rutherford!). This way, you can enjoy the sunshine without getting too hot. 
  7. Keep the weather in mind when choosing your food. No one wants to eat hot soup in the summer heat!
  8. Plan your makeup accordingly! Avoid liquid makeup that might melt off in the sun. EVERYTHING should be waterproof!!

    Photo by Lanterns and Feathers Photography
  9. Don’t forget about fans. If your ceremony is outside, try to get some strong fans to blow on your guests!
  10. Stay hydrated!! Drink water all day, especially if you’re outside a lot. This will help to save your energy and even to cool down!

Hope this helps you to plan your summer wedding! You can never be too prepared! 

 

Written by Emma Brandt 

The Newlywed Report

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⠀⠀

The Rutherford | Industrial Wedding Venue

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
  • 88% of planning is done online
  • The top wedding date for 2019 was October 19⠀

And on the Big Day

  • 46% of couples had a “first look” before the ceremony
  • 38% wrote personal letters to each other
  • 91% had a first dance
  • 36% asked for guests to “unplug” during the ceremony⠀

The Rutherford | Brick Wedding Venue⠀⠀

Any SURPRISES? Show of hands—how many of our engaged couples are the majority of these true for them?

Trimming Your Guest List

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!

 

  1. 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!

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. 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!

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. 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!

xx The Rutherford Team

How To: Adjust to a New Wedding Season

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!

 

  1. 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 Rutherford | Outdoor Wedding

  1. The trees are still full of leaves, and if you’re lucky, it’ll be colorful for photos.

The Rutherford | Industrial Wedding Space

  1. 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:))

The Rutherford | Industrial Wedding Space

  1. Fall foods are the best! Think: root vegetables, apples, and other warm, hearty foods! Consider serving apple cider or apple pie!

The Rutherford | Alternative Wedding Cakes

 

  1. Take advantage of our farmhouse tables for a rustic feel.

The Rutherford | Industrial Wedding Venue

Looking for more inspiration? Check out some of our previous fall and winter weddings we’ve hosted at the Rutherford!

Randi + Brad’s Wedding

Noelle + JJ’s Wedding

xx The Rutherford Team

3 Ways to Keep Guests Entertained During Your Reception

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!
  • Chef 360 has a Mashed and Smashed Potato 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!
The Rutherford | Interactive Food
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!

The Rutherford | Late Night Bites

What are you thinking about serving for your wedding?

– Audrey

Time to celebrate with your bridesmaids!

Photo by Madison Grae Photography

Getting ready to celebrate with your bridesmaids before the big day?!

Trying to figure out a way to enjoy your bachelorette weekend without doing the same old Vegas trip? No need to worry – there are plenty of unique ways to celebrate with your gals based on your preferences!! We advocate for changing things up and trying something new – whether that means going on an adventure outdoors or simply a spa day in with the girls. This blog gives some amazing suggestions to celebrating with your girls:

https://www.theknot.com/content/new-bachelorette-party-ideas

How to make your wedding more eco-friendly.

Want to send a little extra love to mother earth – especially on your big day?? We believe it is totally feasible to be environmentally conscious WITHOUT sacrificing your wedding dreams! It might require a tiny bit more effort, but there are plenty of simple strategies to keeping your wedding eco-friendly! From your reception send-off plan to the yummy food you serve – there are numerous areas you can switch plans up a bit to make more sustainable choices! Looking for easy suggestions to give a lil extra love to our earth? We suggest hitting up this blog for ways to protect nature while still achieving the wedding you desire:

https://somethingturquoise.com/2018/12/18/sustainable-wedding/