Wedding Ideas

The wedding day is a very special day for every girl, something she’s been dreaming about for ages. It comes as no surprise that each bride wants to make this event as unique as possible. There are hundreds of boards on Pinterest, dedicated to wedding trends. And each year brings more and more ideas – creative, innovative, eye-catching. It might be something to make everyone gape in awe and set the right mood for the whole wedding. Although, it might be a tiny detail that brings a special charm and style to the whole ceremony.

Details are important, but of course, first of all, there are some major things to consider. (By the way, this is where our complete wedding checklist will be rather helpful!) But in the end, it is the details that matter. If you find yourself spending a lot of time browsing for the best wedding ideas, this article is for you!

Things To Consider Before You Get Started

Source: Instagram@matrimonioabologna

You have set the date, the venue, received a license (see how to get a marriage license) and are all set to get creative? Think which ideas would represent you as a couple and entertain the guests. Plus, choosing ideas for weddings includes creating the feeling of participation among guests. Your wedding is not only your union – this is the first time two families and two worlds come together. So, think about things that unite your party. Group projects, games, music background, Wedding Dress colors and elements of dress, flower bracelets and button-hole flowers… Everything is to make together very different people during this big day. Your inspiration should help you create the atmosphere you want. No matter it is a chilled backyard wedding or a luxury destination one. Don’t be too serious though – the event itself is quite a ‘grown-up’ step in your destiny.

Try to ease the formality of the moment with a bit of fun. Keep in mind that your wedding is a mirror of your attitude to life and relationships. For example, you might ask your friends and family to throw rose petals or to light sparklers as you enter the wedding reception or leave the church. If you belong to some ethnical group, you could consider some of the ethnical traditions to liven up your party. Ask your elders about their wedding ceremony and try to carry on a family tradition (or start your own!) to make your wedding more original.

Design Ideas To Style Up Your Wedding

Source: Instagram@crokowlove

Each year brings new trends and design ideas never seen before. It might be non-standard bouquets, creative lighting, escort cards, guest books for wishes, signs etc. The styles and design change, accordingly with trendy styles, themes, and colors. For example, this year barnyard weddings are definitely on the rise – which influences everything. Old leather boots as vases for flowers, flower crowns for Bridesmaids, mossy and brownish tones of decorations, etc. Simplicity is very much the thing this year – with its plain ivy branches bouquets and hand-crafted guest books.

By the way, don’t forget that naming is extremely important. There are lots of situations where you have to keep it in mind. Heading of the guest book, carved wood decorations and a photo frame for guests… Would you call yourselves Mr&Mrs or Mr&Ms? This small detail is something you want to consider before you place the order. (By the way, you may want to look up the difference between mrs and ms here). The way you call yourselves will tell your nearest and dearest a lot about you as a couple. Print your names on champagne bottles to give as a wedding favor, or write your initials on napkins. Mare the birth of a new family by carved wooden letters. As a part of the celebration, you might want to give a name to a distant star and keep the certificate as the reminder of this wonderful day.

Source: Floressence Flowers via instagram, Adeline & Grace Photography, Nancy Liu Chin

Music To Get Into The Mood

Source: Instagram@musiccata

Include the option when a groom sings a song for his bride at the ceremony or vice versa.The music is a perfect tool to create the right mood, but different people have different music tastes. It is also a source of inspiration for some creative wedding ideas.

For example, why don’t you ask each guest to share their favorite song title when replying to the invitation. It will make your wedding soundtrack more diverse, and add a feeling of common cause. It would also help to keep each guest satisfied with your music choice. You could also consider some wedding games with the songs: for example, guests might guess who ‘ordered’ which song.
Music is important on wedding timeline day of your party. If you can play music, you might want to include the option when the newlyweds sing for each other. You would make a most lovely duo! Can’t sing? Well, try dancing instead! Bridesmaids or groomsmen could help with that! You might even have a battle of sexes – either in singing or in dancing. Or both – in a classical Bollywood movie style!

Home Celebration Ideas

Source: Instagram@alexiseberle

Probably, you have already chosen the venue If you carefully follow our wedding checklist by months. It is possible that you want to celebrate your wedding quietly at home. Well, don’t worry – there are lots of home wedding ideas. If you have decided to invite only your closest friends and relatives, holding a wedding at home is a great option. It is much cheaper, and makes the ceremony cozier. The money you save on a venue means you will have more to spend on other things, like decor, catering, and honeymoon.

And! As a bonus, you will have your own little place to celebrate your anniversaries – right in your backyard! Isn’t it a great idea to do it exactly where you tied the knot? You could give a try to a ring warming ceremony when guests pass around wedding bands to share their wishes and love. Another example of small wedding ceremonies ideas is hand-made favors. It can be home-made jams, or a farm stand of fresh fruit and baskets to take them on the way our etc. Or you could print funny facts about you and your loved one on cocktail napkins – that would be fun!

The Tasty Part

Source: Instagram@fotograf_lucie_ryglova

Probably the best wedding ideas concern the food. For example, for a relaxed atmosphere, you could rent an ice cream stand, or a cotton candy/popcorn machine. Or you could attach a recipe for any dish if it is a small family-type meal. Why don’t you choose some traditional dishes from local vendors, or include some traditional ethnical cuisine? Little cookies with your initials on the icing would add some romance to the atmosphere.

Non-Traditional Outfit Wedding Ideas

Source: Instagram@nickleungphotography

To make your wedding less standard, you could use a range of non-traditional wedding ideas. For example, your flower girl could wear a blue dress as ‘something blue’ – or you might ask your grannies to be your flower girls.

Bridesmaids dresses might be of a different color but the same style, or vice versa – same color but different style. You could also change the suits and dresses in the mid of event to symbolize changing name after marriage. Another wedding ceremony idea would be to wear converse or leather boots instead of classic shoes etc. Literally, anything can be your source of wedding inspiration

Source: Rich Lander Photography, The Doll House Bridesmaids via instagram , Rich Lander Photography

Entertainment For Partygoers

Source: Instagram@studiodamon

As soon as you have said the words it’s time to relax a bit. This is your party, but it is also important to entertain your guests. (Speaking of guests, you might want to take a look at our wedding registry ideas list). You will definitely need some great wedding ideas to catch their attention. You can make them truly enjoy the event by making a trivia quiz about your couple. It would be great to see how well your friends and family know both of you. You could divide your guests into ‘team bride’ and ‘team groom’ and ask them to guess the answers.

Some more intimate wedding ideas include writing a letter to each other to read before the ceremony. You might also make a charity donation for every guest as a wedding favor. Why don’t you set up a photo booth for guests? Let them seize the moment in front of the camera! Or hire a photographer and send their photos with the thank-you cards. You could play some guessing games like trying to find whose childhood picture is where. It would be fun to set up stations for different lawn games. It is wonderful to give your guests some entertainment apart from mingling, especially if they don’t know each other well. All in all, remember that this is a party for your nearest and dearest. Nobody should feel lonely or forgotten at the wedding.

Your wedding ceremony may be all about you and your groom, but let’s be honest: the reception is all about showing your guests a great time. Of course, it should be a celebration you remember, but it’s just as important that your guests enjoy themselves, too. So to ensure no guest leaves feeling like they had anything but the best of times, here are eight things you should definitely not to do at your wedding reception. Avoid them and we can all but guarantee that everyone has a great time.

Cash bar Sorry, but this cost is on you. Tempting as it may be to cut your spending in this area it’s totally tacky. Guests (who have already bought you a gift, dressed up for you and attended your ceremony) will most certainly not appreciate this added expense.

Play offensive songs No matter what the 30-and-under set is listening to, wedding music should be clean and appropriate for everyone. Yes, you can play popular songs, but anything with vulgarities should be avoided. Older guests will not appreciate any dirty lyrics, and even if they’re ok with it – do you really want your special day associated with, say, somebody’s milkshake?

Disappear for too long. Don’t rush through your visit to the bathroom (we know, it’s a little complicated when you have that big beautiful dress on), but otherwise, make it a point to stay visible. This is just plain common sense – everyone has gone out of their way to celebrate you, and it’s a bummer for everyone if you’re not there to bask in almost all of it.

Get very, very drunk. Actually, let’s take out the verys. It’s ok to get buzzed, but try to stay in your right mind – you definitely don’t want to do anything you’ll regret – or worse, won’t remember – on this specialist of special nights. As the main attraction, it’s your responsibility to keep yourself in line.

Argue with vendors. Leave any conflicts to your supporting cast (i.e. your mother or maid of honor). If you have a wedding planner, it’s his/her job to keep everything and everyone in line on event day. If something seems to be going awry, calmly do what you can to deal with it, and then move on. No party goes perfectly anyways, and you’ll only be frustrated if that’s what you’re focused on.

Argue with guests. Do we even need to tell you why? This sort of follows the old adage of, “the customer is always right.” If a guest is doing or saying something truly offensive, ask your mother or maid of honor to deal with it–because nothing is uglier than an angry bride on her wedding day.

Check out or open the presents Um, tacky! Save the ogling for the comfort of your own home. Your reception is not the time or place to shake presents, guess what they might be, or worse, actually open them. The spotlight’s on you, and greedy is never a good look.

Get there late or leave early. It’s your party… so you better be there! A wedding reception can’t truly start without the bride, and effectively ends when she leaves. Keep this in mind when you’re planning photos and rides, and make sure you’ll be there for as much of the party as possible.

Wedding planning is a pretty unique experience, and it comes with a variety of ups and downs. It’s an exciting and happy time, but it can also be stressful and time-consuming. But it doesn’t have to be! To help decrease those stressful moments, I’ve put together 11 of the biggest wedding planning mistakes – and of course how to avoid them – plus some general tips that will make planning a breeze!

1. Not saving that first ring selfie until after you’ve told important people

You just said yes to the love of your life, and after celebrating you obviously take some pictures to document the moment. You’re going to be excited to share pictures of your ring, but think before you post: have you told the important people in your life first?

Nothing is worse than finding out that your best friend or family member is engaged from social media before they even told you in person. It’s not fun to hear important news second hand, especially from an impersonal post. Whether it’s in-person, on the phone, or even over text, make sure you let important people in on the excitement before announcing it to the internet.

2. Not assigning a wedding talk free night or day

Plan a date night – or a full day – that’s free from anything wedding related. Having this designated time every week allows you to focus back on each other. Especially if you and your fiancé are finding wedding planning to be stressful, this time-out from wedding talk will be relaxing and restorative.

Carry this same thought over to certain hangouts with your friends, as well. Though obviously they want to hear about the planning and help you, I’m sure they’ll appreciate a little breather from the pre-wedding mayhem and the chance to tell you about their lives. And I’m sure you will too!

3. Not getting ahead of your timeline when you can

It’s never too early to get a head start on certain tasks, especially DIY projects –they almost always take five times as long as you think they will. If you find yourself in between deadlines of booking venues and dress fittings, get a jump on other details even if they don’t necessarily need to be accomplished right then. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather have the place cards and favors all ready to go and waiting in my closet than scrambling the day before to get everything done.

4. Making plans before setting a concrete budget

It can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of planning a wedding – and why shouldn’t you, it’s exhilarating! But before you book anything, make sure you set a concrete budget. You don’t want to fall in love with an extravagant venue, only to realize later that it’s completely out of your reach. Sure, it’s not as glamorous as picking out a location and food, but sitting down with your fiancé and hammering out the budget (a realistic budget, mind you) will save a lot of stress later on.

5. Booking before creating a guest list

Along the same lines, booking a venue and caterer after you solidify the number of guests will save a lot of headaches. You don’t want to cram your guests into a small venue, and you don’t want to spend money on guests who don’t actually come. Obviously, you can’t account for all RSVPs or last minute cancellations, but have a rough number of guests so you can make an informed booking.

6. Not having a contingency plan

A major wedding planning mistake is not planning ahead for all sorts of weather. If your special day involves any outdoor components, make sure you have contingency plans in case of inclement weather. For warm weather, have fans and sunscreen on hand for you and your guests, plus tents or shelter if there’s any chance it might rain. For colder months, provide blankets and cheap hand warmers. It doesn’t have to be excessive or extravagant or cost a lot of money. A little forethought about how to solve any weather issues will save a lot of headaches the week before the ceremony when the forecast is less than ideal. You will already have a plan!

7. Writing cryptic wedding invites

Listen, I’m all about calligraphy, typography, and everything else that goes into making a stunning and unique save the date and wedding invite. However, make it as easy as possible for your guests to quickly find the time, date, and location of your ceremony and reception. Your guests don’t want to be confused about the specifics, and you don’t want to field questions from everyone about the venue address or time.

Also (and this is a personal aside) if you decide on an exotic vibe and want to write the date the European way (day/month/year) please just write out the actual month instead. No one wants to be confused about the day and month of the actual wedding!

8. Not asking for references from your caterer before booking

Sure, you’ve tasted the meal and cake and thought it was good, but have you checked with other satisfied customers? Respected establishments will be happy to provide references and recommendations from happy clients but check online as well. Food is one of the major components of any successful party, so make sure you know what you’re getting based on reviews and referrals. This will also clue you into how professional and efficient the company will be on the big day as well!

9. Not creating a schedule of events for your bridal party and parents

Spending a little time before the ceremony creating a timeline of events will save the headache of tracking everyone down for pictures, dances, cake cutting, and anything else you have planned. This will help everyone – including you! – stay relaxed on the big day, because they won’t be wondering what will happen next.

10. Not being consistent with the plus one rules

Not only is it confusing for your guests, it can be a lot for you to keep track of if only certain people have plus ones. While you don’t want to exclude any significant others or not allow single friends to bring along someone to hang with, you should make a rule and stick with it. Give everyone a plus one or only those with serious relationships.  Regardless of what you choose, if you create one rule for everyone it’ll make it easier for you while planning, and it’ll be less confusing for your guests as well.

11. Planning a marathon event

With so many traditions and fun elements, it can be easy to accidentally plan a long event that turns from something fun to something tiring and arduous. The last thing you want is for your guests – and you and your husband – to feel like you’re stuck at a party with no end.

Typically, five hours is the maximum amount of time you can expect your guests to take part in the festivities. Any longer than that and it’ll feel like it’s never ending. However, the five-hour rule isn’t hard and fast; you and your friends might dance the night away and have a ball. However, the key here is to allow your guests to make the choice to leave. Make sure you take care of any traditions early on in the reception, like cake cutting, dances, or anything else you choose to include, so they don’t feel like they have to wait. Allow the reception to breathe and your guests to have fun, and try not overschedule with activities.

El Mangroove one of your top destination wedding choices.

Costa Rica is a country known for its stunning beaches, palm trees, and balmy weather. What sets El Mangroove apart from other properties here is its convenient location, and remarkable beachfront and mangrove forest setting. Located on the Gulf of Papagayo, El Mangroove is close to Costa Rica’s international airport. A quick 20-minute drive gets you from touchdown to the calm, idyllic atmosphere of this boutique resort.

Weddings at El Mangroove

honeymoons at El Mangroove come with an air of barefoot luxury, meaning you’ll get the best of nature and relaxation. The stunning natural beauty of this resort – think gorgeous ocean views, lush forest greenery and warm tropical breeze — create the perfect backdrop for a dreamlike nuptial, while their top notch service and amenities ensure that you don’t have to compromise when it comes to modern luxuries and indulgences.

If you’re planning a wedding at El Mangroove, an onsite team will be at hand to help you find the perfect setting within their celebrated wedding venues (take your pick from ocean view, beach terraces, gardens, beach forests or mangroves), and will work closely with you to see your vision come to life.

Their bridal packages, which can be customized to fit your needs, include ceremony, bouquet, floral centerpieces and cones with petals for guests, acoustic music during ceremony, wedding cake, decoration (7 different styles are available), Polaroid camera with 80 films, appetizers and a plated dinner.

Apart from the outdoor venues, El Mangroove also offers beautiful indoor ballrooms overlooking the gardens, and two onsite restaurants. So, whether you are planning for a quiet elopement, an intimate ceremony with just a few of your closest loved ones, or a lavish banquet for up to 200 guests, the property can cater to your unique needs. Love a casual outdoor soiree under the moonlight, framed by majestic guanacaste trees, or a formal sit down in the ballroom? The choice is yours.

Whether you’re planning for a wedding or the honeymoon, the perfect escape wouldn’t be complete without great food! El Mangroove prides itself for its sensorial gastronomy. A variety of delectable menus is available for rehearsal dinners, cocktail receptions, plated dinners and brunches. Did we mention that one of the restaurants has a sand floor? Nothing says “beach vacay” quite like it!

There are so many sights to see and activities to enjoy around the area: day trips to volcanoes, hot springs, beautiful beaches, water rafting and zip lines, and most are just a short drive away from El Mangroove. Or if you prefer, you could simply chill by the pool or relax at one of their outdoor spas set in Guanacaste’s famed forests and mangroves.

We’re loving the chic and contemporary vibes of their luxuriously appointed suites. Each suite features a living area with a couch or a hammock. Sweet!

Ready to take the plunge and say “yes” to a wedding in a dreamy tropical paradise? Visit wedding packages.