Fall Weddings

Traditionally people would plan their weddings for the summer months when the weather was hot and the sun was shining. However in recent years we have seen a shift toward fall and winter weddings. November makes a great choice for a wedding date because you can combine it with Thanksgiving and still not interfere with your Christmas plans. There are numerous November wedding ideas available and possibilities are endless for this type of wedding. The key to having the perfect fall wedding is to keep it simple and use vibrant colours.



The easiest way to create a fall themed wedding is to choose the perfect colours and of course these colours are oranges and reds. However you are not forced to use the exact colours of autumn. Instead you could go with a theme such as summer in autumn or winter in autumn and you could incorporate some of the colours from those seasons. You could even mix up some colours and use the bright colours from autumn and mix them with some lighter colours from spring or summer. Adding some olive green can make your wedding seem even more elegant.



The wedding gown that you select for a wedding during these months can also make a huge impact. Traditionally the colour of the gown has been white, but for autumn wedding brides often choose a diamond white gown or they may go with an ivory white. Many people find that these colours work harmoniously with the autumn colours and the fall theme for a wedding. If you are less conventional then you might want to consider purchasing a coloured gown that would match your wedding theme and colours. It is important that the colour of your wedding dress complement the colours of the wedding, but if they do not complement the bride, they will not work. It is the bride that wants to look perfect.



A wedding in November allows for some great ideas for centerpieces for the table. This is where your choice of colours can really make an impact on the look and feel of your wedding and your wedding reception. For example if your wedding is in early November you could have small pumpkins decorated and placed around the room and tiny pumpkins could be used as the place markers. However, it is important that you not go overboard as well. Sometimes it is better to keep things simple and elegant. A nice choice for a centerpiece for a wedding in November is to use the fruits of the season in a nice decorative bowl in the center of the table, or smaller bowls at each end of the table.



Wedding favours can really be creative at this time of the year. For example ,you might want to try giving your guests candies or chocolate wrapped in the shape of a maple leaf or a pumpkin. If you were looking for something simpler then you might want to give your guests small scented candles which give off a scent or look like the colours of the season. The possibilities are endless.



Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/weddings-articles/perfect-november-wedding-ideas-for-a-fall-wedding-585379.html#ixzz148heasMY
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How to Work with Your Wedding Florist
Tips and advice for creating the perfect floral scheme
By Lisa Milbrand

A good floral designer can hear the details of your wedding—your setting, your dress, your menu—and craft the perfect floral scheme to fit your personality and style. Here’s some smart advice to help you and your florist work together so you can make the most of her talent and your budget.

Give Your Florist the Scoop
Share as many details about your wedding as possible: swatches of the bridesmaids’ dresses, photos of the sites, your vision of the big day. That will help your florist get a sense of your taste.

Ask How to Maximize Your Budget
Many floral designers can come up with creative ways to stretch even the tightest budgets. Give your florist your figure in the initial meeting, and see how she can work within it to achieve your vision.

Consider What’s in Season
Locally grown flowers are fresher (and less expensive) than ones that are imported. Ask your florist what will be readily available on your date.M.

Look Beyond the Blooms
Mix unexpected ingredients with your flowers—anything from fresh fruit to vintage jewelry to tufts of feathers—to give your flowers extra personality.

Consider a Market Buy
If you don’t really care whether it’s dahlias or daisies that fill your bouquet, authorize your florist to find the best blooms in the market that suit your color scheme. You’ll get lusher flowers at a lower price.

Ask About Hardiness
Some blossoms can take a beating (and go for hours without water) and still look fresh, while others are more fragile. Ask your floral designer to use sturdier flowers in boutonnieres and other arrangements that risk being crushed during hugs.

Mix It Up
Your bouquets and centerpieces don’t have to be carbon copies of each other. Ask your florist to change it up from table to table or bridesmaid to bridesmaid—different styles, colors or flowers can make each arrangement stand out.

Study the Scents
Some flowers, like gardenias, lilacs and peonies, have beautiful fragrances—great for your bouquet, but not as heavenly on your tables, where the scent may interfere with the flavors of the meal.

Sign on the Dotted Line
Get the nitty-gritty details (dates, times, colors, amounts, payments) in writing. You may even want to give your florist a list of specific flowers that may be substituted for your chosen blooms, in case they aren’t available. Order one or two extra boutonnieres and corsages, to have as backups if necessary.

Two Beautiful Weddings as We Say Farewell to Summer

Our hotel was fortunate to host many wonderful weddings this summer and the two that we would like to feature today helped us to close out the summer wedding season.

Congratulations to Steve and Lindsey! Steve and Lindsey are a fun loving couple who put a lot of work into planning their very special day. From the start Lindsey and Steve contemplated a variety of ideas and adjusted their color scheme once, and settled on coral and ivory, a beautiful combination. The wedding guests were invited to our hotel for a cocktail hour on the Outdoor Courtyard followed by the reception in Salon AB of the Grand Ballroom. The cocktail hour was lovely, and decorated with coral linens and small hydrangeas in cube vases to accent the tables. Lindsey and Steve's day of coordinator, Karla from Kelly Cannon Events was on hand to make sure guests enjoyed cold cocktails in the hot afternoon sun. As the guests moved to the reception they picked up their coral and black place cards and our staff invited them into the ballroom. The ballroom was warmly lit with soft pink uplighting and alternating coral and ivory linens on the guest tables, accented by silver chivari chairs. The room also popped with color from the high and low floral arrangements in the colors of pink, green and white. Lindsey and Steve elected to have a sweetheart table, which worked out beautifully as they faced all of their guests. The newlyweds were "toasted" by the bride's 2 sisters and a very lively and comical best man. All of the guests in the room could feel the love and the dancing after dinner made for a great party! The sweet ending to the reception was a cake from Edibles Incredible in Reston that was displayed for guests to select their flavor. Edible Incredibles is a crowd pleaser every time.

Best Wishes Steve and Lindsey!

Another great couple that we had the pleasure of working with were Elliot and Erin.

Elliot and Erin started their planning journey a number of months ago as they selected our property as the venue for their ceremony and reception events. Married on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, Elliot and Erin's family and friends had the opportunity to have their rehearsal and rehearsal dinner on Saturday, wedding events on Sunday followed by a great brunch on Monday morning in our Washington/Jefferson room. It was a fabulous weekend of events, and was a perfect way to accomodate the many out of town guests. Sunday's ceremony was held in the Outdoor Courtyard for 144 guests. Erin and Elliot chose Foxglove Florist to decorate the white arbor, aisle and aisle runner. The couple's colors: blue and white were a great accent amongst the flourishing greens in the Outdoor Courtyard. We loved seeing Erin right before she walked down the aisle, as she and her dad seemed so happy to get down the aisle to see Elliot.

As the ceremony concluded we prepared for the cocktail hour in the Grand Ballroom Foyer. The string quartet that played at the ceremony traveled to the Grand Ballroom Foyer and provided some light cocktail music to set the mood. While the guests enjoyed a bountiful cocktail hour, Elliot and Erin were out and about with their photographer, Rick Loesche, just as the sun was setting. They made it back just in time to relax in the Private Dining Room with their bridal party before guests entered the Grand Ballroom. Elliot, Erin, their bridal party and parents entered the reception to the roar of a lively crowd, and the laughter and cheers continued on for hours. The reception decor was lovely, as the couple selected alternating blue and white tablecloths and napkins, along with blue and white flower arrangements in the hotel's martini centerpiece glassware. Very cute! The wedding reception proved to be memorable night for all of those in attendance and especially for myself and Amanda Cruz who were present at the event. Everyone in the room offered congratulations and hugs to the newlyweds and the night continued with toasts, dancing and more.
Congratulations Elliot and Erin, we hope that your special day was all that you dreamed and more! Best Wishes!

Come check out our booth at the Washington Bridal Showcase held at the Dulles Expo Center from 11 AM-5 PM on Sunday, September 12, 2010. You will find everything you need to make your wedding amazing, from a variety of vendors, to a fabulous fashion show. Visit our booth and enter to win a one of our prizes! We look forward to seeing you there!!

http://www.bridalshowcase.com/

Don't forget to become a fan of the Hilton Alexandria Old Town on Facebook, we like to give away prizes there too!


Some tips from our friends at IntimateWeddings-

Here are some tips that will help you get the most from your bridal show experience.
Pre-register before the show. When you register before the show, some shows offer a discount toward the purchase of your ticket. It saves you time at check-in, and often a few bucks.
Research the show ahead of time to see what vendors will be there. Look specifically for the one's you need. Many vendors offer discounts on their services if you book them at the show. Making a checklist of required services, accessories, the most important elements needed to complete your wedding plans and design questions that will streamline your efforts and help speed things along.
Decide to concentrate on one vendor (Minister/Officiant, floral designer, photographer, deejay, etc.) and do your research ahead of time. At the show, gather info from other vendors too, but spend most of your time talking with the ones whose services you need.
If the bridal show has a wedding fashion show, check the times of the shows when you arrive, so you don't miss out. Arrive early. Seating is often first come, first serve.
Bring a list of questions to ask. Don't just rush by booths that have services you still require. Don't just listen to sales pitches. Don't be afraid to ask the hard questions. That's what the vendors are there for. They want to help you and you are under no obligation to buy from them, so find out everything you need to know.
If their product or service is one you need and they are busy talking with someone else, stand close and just listen or wait until you can ask any questions you may have.
It may seem a little overwhelming at the show, but most vendors love to spend time with you and answer your questions. They will talk to you about their products and services in as much detail as you want. However, the shows are very hectic and noisy, so if you find a vendor that you like, it's best to set up an appointment and meet with them later.

Advice from the experts on picking a wedding venue-


Start by asking yourself: “What type of setting do we want for our wedding day?” Have you always envisioned walking down an aisle created by rose petals on a freshly manicured lawn or is the drama of a grand staircase from which you descend more in line with your bridal fantasy? Perhaps there a location or part of town that speaks to you as a couple (met at the beach, proposed at the beach – get married at the beach!) Maybe its logistics for your guests or the vision for the whole weekend that will dictate the venue style and location. Maybe you don’t have a vision yet and need to explore options. Fair enough! Then consider the time of year and what that might dictate – want a winter wedding? Better opt to avoid garden ceremonies. Unless that garden is in Hawaii.

We think you should come check out our fabulous hotel!!