guest blogging with Aleah and Nick of The Good Life Special Events

Today I'm joined once again by Aleah and Nick of The Good Life Special Events with their great list of tips to help us kick off the official summer wedding season.

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Summer has arrived! It's officially time for warm summer celebrations, wedding events, and spending time with loved ones. We are excited to lend you our Top 5 Tips to help you treat your guests to a memorable and comfortable summer wedding celebration.

1. Offer guests numerous drink stations during the festivities. Don't let them go thirsty pre-ceremony. Let them self-serve tasty cucumber or citrus-infused ice water. Provide pitchers of lemonade and set out fun accoutrements like rosemary and raspberries guests can add to their drinks.

2. Have fun! Arrange for lawn games that guests can play during the day. Croquet, bocci ball, and other easy-to-play games make for an enjoyable environment. Bring out apres-dinner ice cream or gelato stations as a tasty treat and a cool-off for your guests. {see today's earlier post for a great gelato/sorbetto choice}

3. Keep cool. We so often hear clients say that as the weather is expected to be hot for their wedding they don't need to worry about providing tents as a back-up plan to rain. On the contrary, we strongly recommend having a tented or shaded area with guest seating {this can either be lounge seating or dining tables, or a combination of both}. Offer guests an area to retreat from the sun and direct heat.

4. Think outside the box. Plan a menu that takes guests somewhere unexpected. Nix a more traditional and heavy plated dinner or buffet and create a mouthwatering menu featuring local fresh seafood, summer salads, and lighter fare. Be sure to provide an abundance of stations and food so as to not skimp on food. 

5. Be thoughtful. Place paper parasols and bamboo fans around your ceremony site for guests to use during the ceremony. If your venue is on the ocean or lakefront or an area where it gets cool at night, provide charming crates filled with shawls or blankets for guests. In addition, don't forget the heat lamps!

It's all about providing you and your guests with a comfortable and fun environment that encourages a celebration that lasts well into the night! Happy Summer! Aleah + Nick

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Thank you Aleah and Nick for sharing these great summer tips with my readers today.

About Good Life Events
Known as the dynamic duo, husband and wife Nick and Aleah Valley plan and design weddings and events along the West Coast, nationwide, and abroad. With a company in Seattle and one in San Diego, they've been bringing their strengths and resources together since 2003 to create truly amazing events. Visit Aleah and Nick online here: The Good Life Special Events in Southern California and Fine Line Management & Events in Seattle

Image Credits:
croquet photos from White Box Weddings, ice cream station from The Knot {photo via Jonathan Canlas}, sweet and tangy melon slaw from County Living, cucumber water from Wisteria, parasols from The Knot, bamboo fans from Shore Chic, tented lounge area from CocoCozy

Guest Blogging with The Good Life Special Events

While attending the Wedding Bootcamp in NYC that I wrote about in the previous post today, I met up with the husband and wife wedding planning team, Aleah and Nick, of The Good Life Special Events. They are based in San Diego, CA with a satellite office in Seattle, WA, so it was such a pleasure to be able to meet up with them while they were on the opposite coast of where they live. This was the week that I wished I lived closer to the city so I could have attended all the amazing events that took place (including the Eco-Beautiful Weddings launch party and the Preston Bailey book launch party).

Today, Aleah and Nick are joining me to share with your their top 5 tips for picking and booking a wedding reception venue. To see each tip in more depth, please visit their "Monday Coffee" post here. {photos showcased here are from weddings that Aleah and Nick have planned}

1. Make a list of your favorite places in your wedding town. Maybe it's a favorite hotel, a little inn, or even a restaurant. Be sure to check with these places to see what they can handle in regards to your estimated guest count.

2. Discuss Budget. Most of the time, there's will always be room to negotiate the minimums. For example, you can ask the catering manager what they could throw in. Maybe chivari chairs? Maybe waive the cake cutting fee? Some places will even waive the ceremony fee if the reception is being held at the same place.

3. Talk about minimums. Be sure you understand what a food and beverage minimum is. The minimum is the minimum price you agree to pay. So, for example, if your minimum is $15,000 but your guests/food/drink count only reaches $12,000, you are responsible to pay the $3,000 difference (plus tax/gratuity).

4. It's all about location. Be sure to have your location close to hotels for your out of town guests (or just a short taxi ride away).

5. Check with your venue. You will want to know how many weddings they have going on at one time.

Thank you to Aleah and Nick of The Good Life Special Events for sharing these great tips with my readers today. To read each tip in more depth, please be sure to stop by their blog.

About The Good Life Special Events
Known as the dynamic duo, husband and wife Nick and Aleah Valley plan and design weddings and events along the West Coast, nationwide, and abroad. With a company in Seattle and one in San Diego, they've been bringing their strengths and resources together since 2003 to create truly amazing events. Visit Aleah and Nick online here: The Good Life Special Events in Southern California and Fine Line Management & Events in Seattle