Heather's Glen offers the finest in Houston TX wedding venues in Conroe, Montgomery County, Texas

Tasteful or tacky?  This author asserts it’s tacky.  Here’s her defense:

http://www.aisledash.com/2010/05/28/tasteful-or-tacky-the-bouquet-toss/

Did you watch the video?  While I agree that the bridesmaids’ behavior is tacky (yes, both of them, the one crawling and the one pulling), I think it’s still fun.  Something to keep in mind, however:  if you’re doing your own flowers, don’t forget to make a “toss bouquet,” otherwise you’ll be throwing your actual bridal bouquet.  Also, know your party.  If your bridesmaids wouldn’t be caught dead trying to catch it (today’s culture that celebrates being single makes some women avoid the tradition), then consider opting to forego it.  If a couple of your ladies are hoping to get engaged and giggle at the idea of catching it…maybe it would be fun.

What about the garter toss?  I think that’s super tacky!  But only because I hate watching the groom take it off the bride’s leg.  I’m a prude like that. 

What do YOU guys think?

I love that pale pink wedding gowns are on trend!  The softer, the prettier, in my opinion.  Not sure if it’s for you?  You’d be surprised- just try on a gown (look for colors like “Shell Pink” or “Blush”), and you might just find the perfect hue!  Check out some pictures below:

When I got married 2 years ago, my husband’s brother was in charge of the toast.  He was the best man, and he had just turned 20.  I was very concerned about what he might say, so I firmly explained to him that he had to keep it short and simple.  Only about half of the guests had received their champagne when he grabbed the mic and muttered something to the effect of “To Anne and Jimmy, here’s to a lifetime of fun.”

That was it.

Which is fine- it was better than the other extreme: a long-winded and embarrassing speech. But the toast should be neither extreme, and with a little bit of effort, should be somewhere in the middle.  I’ve looked up some guidelines about how to make a great wedding toast.  So print this out and leave it at your best friend’s house.

A couple of DON’Ts:  Don’t be too short or too long.  Too short is one sentence.  Too long is more than 3-5 minutes.  Don’t reference inside jokes or assume all of the guests know your history together- introduce yourself, and any stories you may tell with a little background info.  Don’t mention any past exes (seems obvious- you’d be surprised), and don’t joke about when the couple will (or won’t) have kids.  Don’t offend the guests- be clean! Don’t be drunk, and DON’T EVER tell embarrassing stories!

And of course, some DOs:  Do mention how lovely or touching or memorable the service was.  Do prepare and practice.  Be sure to keep the focus on the bride and groom, not on yourself or your relationship.  Do mention why you’re fond of the bride and groom, and be warm and sincere.  Most couples have their weddings filmed, so any slip-ups will most likely be recorded (no pressure)!

Tons more info can be found in books or on the web.  A little bit of preparation will go a long way!

Cheers!

Great news, everyone!

I’m pleased to announce we’re having an Open House Wedding Party!  Save the date: Friday, June 11th from 6-9pm.  Come by and enjoy some cocktails, taste several selections from our caterers’ menu, and enjoy some music.  This will be your chance to crash a mock wedding here- except it won’t be supremely rude because WE’RE throwing it, and WE’RE inviting you!  All the fun, and you don’t even have to bring a gift.

We hope to see you there!

A couple got married today in Tokyo.  Their minister was a robot.

I’m serious.  It was the first wedding in history with a robot for a minister.  The robot is 4 feet tall and has plastic pigtails, flashing eyes, and its name is I-Fairy.

Really!  Read the story for yourself!

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100516/D9FNSMU00.html

What do you think??

Alright, I know I promised this blog a couple of weeks ago, but I’m finally getting it together!  Better late than never, right?

Right?

For those of you new to the blog, let me tell you a bit about Bonnie.  She’s one of Heather’s Glen’s absolute favorite brides.  Bonnie was an intern for us last year, and knows more about wedding trends than anyone I have ever met!  Most of my blogs are ideas that she’s passed along to me.  She and Chris were married on April 24th, 2010 in Huntsville, Texas.  Here are some awesome pics (courtesy of Heather!) and some of the awesome features at her wedding.

First, let’s just look at these cakes.  The bride’s cake has strings of pearls on them, because pearls are her favorite.  Very elegant, very lovely.  Now look at that groom’s cake!  It’s a Home Depot apron!  You’re thinking, he likes to buy tools, right?  Well, I have no idea if he does or not, but Bonnie and Chris met one summer between semesters while they were both working at Home Depot.  Notice the nametag part: it says, “Hello, my name is TAKEN.”

Let me first apologize about the quality of the next photo.  My dinky little digital camera didn’t get a great shot, but this is an Amish marriage certificate (not to be confused with marriage license, brides!)  Everyone who witnesses the vows signs it, and then it’s a beautiful keepsake.  Pretty much beats a sign-in book because you can have it hung in your home rather than in a box in the attic, like mine!

Next to the Amish marriage certificate was a table with framed photos of Bonnie and Chris’ relatives at their weddings!  I love this sentimental touch.

Here’s a shot of Bonnie’s mother walking her down the aisle.  This is when I think everyone teared up.  Okay, this is when I teared up.  haha!  Check out that gorgeous spring bouquet by Cheryl’s Flowers- just beautiful.

Something I haven’t found a picture of yet (sorry, my camera batteries bailed 10 minutes after the ceremony), is a picture of the coffee bar.  To really personalize their wedding, they served something they both love, coffee!  A display of coffees, syrups, along with some Bailey’s and Kahlua tied in with their crystal Waterford Irish coffee “toasting” mugs.

Congratulations to Bonnie and Chris   Heather’s Glen wishes you a lifetime of joy together!

The date of the YEAR just became available at Heather’s Glen!  The couple booked to marry that evening eloped in Vegas- so we now have 7pm available!  Call to ask about an appointment to tour or if you have any package questions!

Did anybody else see this article?  This New York couple called off their wedding.  Well, according to the article, the bride called it off- and doesn’t want to return the ring.  But the ring is worth $17,000!  Read the article and tell me who YOU guys think should get the ring!

http://www.lemondrop.com/2010/05/03/woman-calls-off-wedding-but-wont-give-up-17-000-ring/?icid=main|main|dl3|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lemondrop.com%2F2010%2F05%2F03%2Fwoman-calls-off-wedding-but-wont-give-up-17-000-ring%2F

Nathan Cooley remembers the moment he knew he would marry Erin Phillips: the two were working together at a children’s museum in Lubbock when Erin made an awful joke.  A few months later, they went on their first date to have drinks and hit up a nearby park.  One year later, Nathan took Erin to the very same park where they had their first date, and with his grandmother’s wedding ring, he asked her to marry him.

Erin and Nathan set out to plan their wedding with a couple of goals in mind.  They wanted a wedding very personal to them, they wanted their friends to dance and have a great time, and they wanted a spring garden wedding.  The beautiful gardens at Heather’s Glen was the perfect venue for their dream wedding, and their lovely ceremony was performed at the gazebo on a perfect April evening.

Their simple and elegant invitations were black and white, and were printed and given as a gift by the bride’s grandparents, who own a printing company in West Virgina.  The couple chose an Antoine de Saint-Exupery quote for their invitations:  “Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.”

To make their ceremony unique to them, their dear friend David officiated the wedding.  Erin remembers their wedding vows to be the most special aspect of the wedding, because Nathan surprised her by reciting his in Spanish, Erin’s field of study.  “It was the sweetest and most special gift anyone has ever given to me!” she recalls.

The bride wore an ivory, strapless Phillipe Matthew gown.  “I love my dress, but the really exciting story is about my veil,” Erin explains. “I never thought I wanted to wear a veil until I saw a birdcage veil and then I knew I had to have it.  My godmother is amazing with a needle and thread and made it for me all on her own.”  Erin asked her bridesmaids to choose their own gowns, requiring that they be any shade of green and knee length.  Her sisters were her maids of honor, and they, along with their mother, wore matching hand-made necklaces.  The groomsmen’s attire was also unique yet coordinating.  They were simply asked to wear black suits with a green tie:  any shade, any pattern.

The ladies carried spring bouquets by Cheryl’s Flowers, made up of tulips, green hypericum berries, and oncidium orchids.  Each bridesmaid carried tulips in a different color, and then Erin’s bouquet was made up of all of the colors!  Erin chose tulips because they have been her favorite flower since she was a little girl and called them “lips.”  Erin raved about Cheryl’s creations and how fun it was to work with a florist so excited about her own favorite flower.

During the reception, Erin and Nathan shared their first dance to the Louis Armstrong version of “La Vie en Rose.”  They chose this timeless version because it is from the movie WALL-E, one of their favorites.

Congratulations to Erin and Nathan!  Heather’s Glen wishes all of the luck for a lifetime of joy together!  Pics to come soon!

Just some updates:

1.  Bonnie (our 2009 intern) got married last night!  Congratulations to Bonnie and Chris!  Bonnie gives me 97% of the material on this blog.  Pics and details will surely be up this week!

2.  The jasmine is now blooming, and if you’ve ever been to Heather’s Glen, you know how lovely and fragrant it is. If you haven’t…well, you need to make an appointment!

3. I want to post a website I find hilarious.  It’s called www.wedinator.com, and the deal is they trash weddings.  As in, make fun of ridiculous wedding pics that people post.  If you like cakewrecks.com or awkwardfamilyphotos.com, you will love this.

http://wedinator.com/