Wedding Guests: What to Do With Kids?

Deciding to invite kids or teens to your wedding can often be a big decision. You want them to feel included and enjoy the day but sometimes it can be a chore for the parents to keep them entertained. You love your family and friends, but wish — just this once — that they didn't have quite so many little ones. Here are 5 tips that will keep any group of young guests happy — and keep you calm, cool, and collected on your big day!

Activity Bags

Instead of giving your young guests the same favors as adults, create an activity bag for them. These bags can include anything! Coloring books and crayons, stickers, glow sticks, bubbles, little plastic toys, bracelets, activity books like Mad Libs or I Spy Cards, etc. There are a ton of wedding coloring pages and activities that you can print out and put in the bag. Include construction paper for the kids to draw a picture for the bride and groom. A few things to remember: stay away from markers or anything that can make a mess or stain fancy clothes. Also, be sure to label each bag with the kid's names and put the same number of items in each bag. This will (hopefully) eliminate any fighting.

Food

Ask your venue to order kid-friendly dinner entrees. Spaghetti and meatballs, grilled cheese, and chicken fingers and french fries will go over much better than Chicken Marsala. A fun idea for dessert is to give each child a sugar cookie or unfrosted cupcake. Give each kid a small bowl of frosting and put an assortment of candies on the table so the kids can decorate their own cookie or cupcake. This might be a little messy so be sure to include a plastic or paper apron!

Kids Table/Centerpiece

Most likely you will have all the kids sit together during the reception so you should make it a fun place for them. Instead of having a floral centerpiece or candles (not a good idea for young, curious kids!), replace it with a fun child-friendly centerpiece. For example, fill plastic containers with activities and supplies for them to use throughout the evening. Fill a clear plastic jar with glow sticks or stickers. These things will keep the kids entertained throughout the night. Another fun idea is to have a fruit or cookie bouquet for the kid's table centerpiece. Ask your venue if they have any kid size tables and chairs for your little guests. Kids will feel special with their own special furniture for the event.

Kids Room

If your budget allows and your venue can provide an additional space, designate a separate kid's room for your little guests. You can stock this room with fun games and activities. Twister, board games or video games would be a great asset to these rooms. See if you can set up a TV to play movies. Provide popcorn and snacks for a fun movie night. A kid's room will need to have adult supervision for the evening.

Hire a Professional

If you plan on having a lot of children at your wedding, it might be a good idea to hire a babysitter to watch the kids. Hiring a babysitter or professional child care service to watch the little ones, can make the night much more enjoyable for mom and dad! Use this help to supervise a craft table or play games with the kids. They can organize relay races outside, play different games, and help kids with crafts. Another idea is to hire a children's entertainer. Have a face painter, balloon artist, or magician come to a portion of the reception. These entertainers will keep your little guests occupied and entertained.

Wedding Dress 101 Infographic

May3

Feliz Quinceanera!

Apr25

Limerick Golf Club was in for a treat when we helped Carly celebrate her Quinceañera here at The Loft. For those of you who are unfamiliar with what a Quinceañera is, it is the celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday in parts of Latin America and elsewhere in communities of people from Latin America. This birthday is celebrated differently from any other birthday, as it marks the transition from childhood to young womanhood.

A Quinceañera is celebrated in many different ways and varies significantly across countries, with celebrations in some countries taking on, for example, more religious overtones than in others.

Ceremony of the 15 candles

In this ceremony the birthday girl delivers fifteen candles to people who she considers were most influential in her development during her fifteen years. It is often accompanied by a speech, usually dedicated to each of the people that are given candles. This ceremony is also known as the Tree of Life. The 15 candles symbolize the 15 years the girl has "left behind". Each of the candles symbolizes a special memory, a moment shared with any person who is invited to join the ritual.

Carly’s parents both put in long hours to make this event beautiful! As you can see from the photos everyone had such a great time! Along with the food, dancing and ceremonies, Carly also had a wonderful mariachi band to help get the party started! Everyone had such a great time and it was a pleasure working with Carly and her family to plan the big day!

10 Creative Ways To Make A Grand Exit!

Apr20

Nowadays couples are making sure to leave their guests in style and with something to talk about! Whether you're departing from the ceremony or reception, here are 10 ways to go out with a bang!

1. Throw Some Flowers

This classic ceremony exit never goes out of style. You can buy or make simple paper cones and fill them with rose petals, or any other kind of petal you like. Then simply leave them hanging at the end of each aisle or assign someone to quickly hand them out as guests exit the church/ ceremony location.

2. A Silly String Exit

It's not a party until someone breaks out silly string! These newlyweds' guests let them have it as they left the reception.

3. Take Cover

Rain or shine, colorful umbrellas can make for a great photo op! Hand them out to your bridal party to form an arch as you exit the ceremony.

4. Make a Getaway

Nostalgic for the "good 'ole" days? Then why not bid adieu to your guests in a vintage ride, like this one. Just don't forget to deck it out with plenty of tin cans, ribbon, and a homemade "Just Married" sign.

5. Blow a Bubble

If your venue won't let you throw rice, consider handing out cute bubble bottles to your guests for a light, whimsical finish to the ceremony. You can even buy bubbles with personalized labels to display your names or new monogram.

6. Light the Way

If you left the ceremony with your guests throwing rose petals, you simply have to give them something else to do at the end of the reception. Sparklers like these will look great in photos and your guests will have fun holding them for you while you two run under the arch.

7. A Hot Air Balloon Exit

For the wow-factor of a helicopter with a bit more romance (not to mention a lot less noise), opt for a hot air balloon to take you up, up and away!

8. Make a Splash

At the end of their afternoon wedding, this bride and groom led the way by taking a quick dip in the ocean before leaving their guests for the day. If you're having a beachside wedding, going for a swim will certainly make for a dramatic exit. Plus, if you're up for it, this is the perfect time to get those "trash the dress" photos.

9. Get Carried Away

Nothing is quite as romantic as the idea of the bride being carried over the threshold by her groom. While we realize he may not be able to exactly carry you from the reception to your honeymoon suite, posing for a few photos, like this one, will definitely be album worthy.

10. Golf Cart Send Off

The perfect send off for your golf club wedding! The bride and groom can say goodbye to their guests as they ride off into the sunset…or golf course!

Rehearsal Dinner Basics

Apr12

Don't let the name fool you — it's not just a rehearsal. Here's everything you need to know about this prewedding extravaganza.

Here at LGC, we try to make everything nice, easy and stress-free for our bride and groom! Preparing for the wedding day is stressful enough- who needs any added tension?? SO, we not only make the wedding planning process a piece of cake, but we will also make your rehearsal dinner easy as pie! Check out all the details of the rehearsal dinner below! Also, mention this blog and receive 5% off your rehearsal dinner package! To book your rehearsal dinner with us, contact Sandra Visnov at 610-495-6945 ext: 103. We look forward to working with you!

What It Is
The rehearsal dinner is traditionally held the night before the wedding, most often a Friday, and usually starts at about six or seven P.M. This leaves time for attendants who can't take the day off to get out of work to attend the rehearsal itself at around five thirty, and get to the dinner. For a Sunday or holiday wedding, you have more options. Since the rehearsal dinner has become more of a celebration in its own right than just a formality, some couples are holding the event two nights prior to the wedding. This way, there's more time to relax, recuperate, and get ready for the main event.

What It's For
The dinner is a great opportunity for your two families to get to know each other before the wedding day (if they don't already know each other well) in a not-too-hectic setting. Take advantage of the relaxed environment — come wedding night, you'll most likely be pulled in too many directions to put in any real quality time with anyone. The ultimate goal here is to relieve some prewedding tension and make everyone invited feel comfortable with the impending nuptials while not upstaging the big event.

*TIP! Mingle your guests. The dinner is a great opportunity for both of your families to get better acquainted before the wedding day!*

Who Hosts
Traditionally, the groom's family organizes and pays for this celebration, but you two might take matters into your own hands, or both sets of parents may choose to do the honors together. While you as the honored couple may have input on the overall direction, if the groom's family hosts, you should really try to let his mom and dad be the creative directors of the evening. If, on the other hand, you are hosting, you get to choose the location and style, so you'll want to give yourselves enough time to scout venues in order to book one four to six months in advance.

Who to Invite
At the very least, the rehearsal dinner guest list includes immediate family (parents and siblings), wedding-party members and their spouses or significant others, and the parents of any child attendants (inviting the children themselves is optional). You should also invite the officiant and his or her spouse to the dinner (they may not come, but it's the polite thing to do).

What It Looks Like
You can choose to have a formal (banquet or garden party) or casual (outdoor picnic or BBQ) event, as long as you don't overshadow what's to come. Here at LGC we have some creative rehearsal dinner packages to choose from! Since the rehearsal dinner is more informal than the wedding reception, the food and atmosphere should reflect or complement that.

When to Send Invites
If you're sending out invitations, get them out with — or shortly after — your wedding invitations to help everyone keep their schedules straight, book their travel plans, and ensure timely RSVPs. Give distant attendants the basic plans far in advance so they can book flights with the proper arrival time.

New Changes Happening at LGC!

Apr6

LGC has been getting some great press these days! Everyone from the 422 Business Advisor to the Times Herald has been featuring articles on all the new updates and changes happening here at Limerick Golf Club. Take a read hear and then come in and experience all of the fun and exciting changes for yourself! Everything from the Sandtrap to golf and our wedding packages, Limerick Golf Club is evolving into one of Montgomery County's most desirable venues to play golf, come out for great lunch/ dinner and even host your most special day! Take a look!

5 Hot Spring Wedding Trends

Mar22

Are you planning a Spring wedding? Well, this season it's all about updating the classic wedding details with fresh, inspired-by-nature elements! Take a look!

1. Spring Wedding Color Trends

Soft, romantic color palettes made up of barely there hues are big for weddings this spring. Brides and Event designers alike are using lots of pink, lavender, robin's egg blue and green. Pair a soft color palette with lots of texture like warm wood, branches, milk glass and even copper.

2. Spring Wedding Dress Trends

Big, frothy wedding gowns with a fairy-tale-esque aura are all the rage for spring brides. We're talking layers of soft tulle, light draping along the skirt and small organic details like fabric flowers and vines made of appliqued sequins.

3. Spring Wedding Reception Trends

Designers are taking a simple, well-executed and refined approach to table design. Think: long, wooden tables topped off with pretty fabric runners and fresh springtime flowers (like peonies, ranunculus and hyacinths). Also, for Spring- using tons of candlelight for the tables — from small, colored-glass votives to tall, mercury-glass candelabras and even vintage oil lamps!

4. Spring Wedding Stationery Trends

Sophisticated yet down-to-earth elements are hot for stationery. To accomplish the look, designers are creating invitation suites that showcase a mix of paper (like vellum, cotton paper stock and recycled paper) and printing techniques (like digital, hand calligraphy and letterpress). The look is textural and earthy, yet elegant and refined.

5. Spring Wedding Food Trends

Choosing the food for your wedding, in most people’s eyes, is the most important part. You want your guests to enjoy the delicious tray pass items, dinner and yummy treats that you provide along the way. For the upcoming 2013 wedding season, the trend is for brides and grooms to provide their guests with the most unique/interesting food options that they can find. Try adding on a surprise station at the end of the night to really WOW your guests! Limerick Golf Club can offer you a wide range of options to allow your guests to experience something different that they have never had before and will really make a great impression! Try adding an ice cream, soft pretzel or even slider station to really take your reception to the next level!

To host your wedding or book your next event with us here at Limerick Golf Club, contact Sandra Visnov at 610-495-6945 ext: 103. We look forward to meeting you!

Winter Wedding Photos

Mar9

We have had some beautiful winter weddings here at Limerick Golf Club. Here are a few photos from a recent winter wedding who incorporated a lot of beautiful details into their day! Not only did this couple have a beautiful wedding reception here, they also had a special treat for their guests at the end of the night! Can you guess what it was?

If you are looking to book your next wedding or event, contact Sandra Visnov at 610-495-6945 ext:103 to take a look at our brand new packages! Happy Planning!

Top 10 Wedding Venue Questions

Feb21

When selecting your venue there are MANY questions that you may have for the venue/ catering manager when looking to book the PERFECT wedding reception. OR you may not be exactly sure where to start or what questions to ask. Below are the top 10 questions that should be on your list to ask when selecting your wedding venue! These questions are important to ask to ensure a stress free and fun time for you and your guests!

1.What dates are available in the month I’m considering?

(Here at the LGC we only book ONE, yes ONE wedding a day! This is to ensure that your wedding day is perfect from start to finish! Once you put a deposit day on the day that you would like, no one else can take it!)

2. How many people can this location accommodate?

(LGC can accomodate guests up to 190 for a comfortable seated banquet reception. We make sure that there is enough room for all of your guests to move around as well as our wait staff. We also have the ability to utilize our beautiful wrap around deck attached to The Loft as well. This makes for a beautiful space for cocktail hour!)

3. What is the rental fee and what is included in that price? Is there a discount for booking an off-season date or on Sunday?

(The rental fee is included in all of our packages. We make it nice and easy for you to book your wedding or event with us because the packages are very straight forward. We do offer both off-season and Sunday discounted packages as well. So make sure to ask when you book your appointment!)

4. How much is the deposit, when is it due, and is it refundable? What’s the payment plan?

(The deposit at LGC is $1,000.00 and is due at the time of the contract signing and when you pick YOUR day. This is a non-refundable deposit but the deposit is taken off the final amount of the wedding. We also break down a payment plan for you so you don’t have to stress over back-to-back payments!)

5. Can I hold my ceremony here, too? Is the ceremony site close to the reception site? Is there a bride’s changing area? How much time is allocated for the rehearsal?

(You have the choice of hosting BOTH your ceremony AND reception with us here at LGC. You have the option of hosting the ceremony either indoor OR outdoors- whichever you choose. The outdoor ceremony site is located just a short walk or {golf cart ride} away from The Loft. Guests can choose to take a short stroll to the site or be escorted there in a LGC golf cart! Also, we offer a beautiful newly renovated bridal suite to the couple and their bridal party/ family. This is a nice place to take pictures or just step back for a few moments, take it all in and grab a bite to eat! Food and beverages are also provided in the bridal suite as well. The rehearsal usually takes anywhere from a 20 minutes to an hour to run through. Here at LGC we make sure that you walk away from the rehearsal felling comfortable and confident that you have the walk down for the big day!)

6. How much time will I have for décor setup?

(Because we only host one wedding a day, you may do your setup either the morning of the wedding OR if we do not have an event the night before the wedding, you are more than welcome to do the setup the day before!)

7. Are tables, chairs, plates, silverware and glassware provided, or will I have to rent them myself or get them through my caterer?

(All of the tables, chairs, plates, silverware and glassware are all provided! You will not need to supply any of the setup materials- we take care of all that for you…as well as the breakdown too!)

8. Is there parking on site? If so, is it complimentary? Do you offer valet parking, and what is the charge? If there is no parking on site, where will my guests park? Are cabs easily accessible from the venue? TIP: You should have the venue keep track of the number of cars parked for your event and add the total valet gratuity to your final bill so that your guests won’t have to tip.

(There is PLENTY of parking on site at LGC- and it is complimentary! No need to spend extra money paying for parking, we have plenty of spaces here for you! In addition we also have handicap parking with a handicap accessibility ramp. Any of your guests or vendors {with heavy equipment i.e.: DJ or larger items to carry i.e.: bakery may also have full access to the ramp as well!)

9. Do you offer on-site coordination? If so, what services are included and is there an additional charge for them? Will the coordinator supervise day-of?

(When you book with us at the LGC you also have an on-site coordinator included in the package as well! Sandra Visnov is the Event Coordinator at LGC and she will make sure that all final details are taken care of! This includes everything from setting up a tasting for the wedding, any questions that you have along the wedding planning process she can answer for you, setting up a finals meeting to go over all the details, run the rehearsal and be on site the day of the wedding for anything else that may be needed! The good news…there is no extra fee for this! It is already included with the wedding package that you purchase!

10. Can I hire my own vendors (caterer, coordinator, DJ, etc.), or must I select from a preferred vendor list? If I can bring my own, do you have a list of recommended vendors?

(Yes! You are more than welcome to hire your own vendors. However, when you book with LGC you have access to a full preferred vendor list with multiple vendors who all offer discounted prices and rates ONLY offered to LGC clients!

Make sure you contact Sandra Visnov TODAY to set up your appointment to tour The Loft! Please call: 610-495-6945 ext: 103. Happy Planning!

More Tips:

If you really love the site, ask the venue representative to put together a proposal with all the pricing and policies—including the tax and service charge—so you have an idea of the basic cost.
Bring a camera with you to every location you visit, and organize the photos by location name when you get home. After seeing a series of places, it’s easy to confuse them. Having a photographic record will help you remember what was special about each site.
Pay attention to venue as a whole: Check out everything, including the restrooms, the foyer, the dressing rooms, the outdoor lighting and even the kitchen. You want to be sure your vision can be realized at this location. If possible, make arrangements with the site representative to visit the venue when it’s set up for a wedding.
GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING. Your date is not officially reserved until you sign a contract and, in many cases, give a deposit—even if a site contact says you don’t need to worry about it. Once you’ve found THE PLACE, make sure you ask what is required to get your booking locked in and then follow through on satisfying those requirements. And don’t assume that just because the site coordinator said you can have 4 votive candles per table, you’ll get them. Before you sign a contract, read the fine print and make sure it includes everything you and the site contact agreed on. As new things are added or changed in your contract, have the updated version printed out and signed by you and the site representative. Also, document all your conversations in emails and keep your correspondence.

Winter Wedding Florals (on any budget!)

Jan15

Winter wedding season will continue well into the month of February. So we wanted to make sure that for all you winter wonderland brides out there, that we put together a blog on colors of the season and how to do so without blowing the budget! There's no shortage of gorgeous possibilities that reflect the winter season!

Winter Whites:

White weddings have always ruled in winter, but an all-white color palette doesn't have to mean modern, stark white floral arrangements. Brides are now going with a softer look of flowers in creams, ivories, and even very pale blush hues. The florals you can count on are amaryllis, calla lilies, orchids, tulips, and anemones. This combo will create an elegant and romantic look!

Rich, Romantic Reds

Red is in all season for weddings in December through February. The best red winter blossoms: roses, anemones, amaryllis, gloriosa lilies, calla lilies, and cymbidium orchids, just to name a few. Try also using multicolored centerpieces. A broad palette of shades including ruby, deep orange, wine, and plum are combined for a visually rich, intriguing effect.

Beyond Floral Bouquets

Think outside the flowerbed and bring in a few nonfloral elements, such as white snowberries or viburnum, hypericum, or pepper berries, which add dimension and serious seasonal appeal. Some brides are even adding dramatic feathers to their flowers, and most are asking for the boutonnieres to echo their multitextured bouquets. A festive boutonniere idea for the guys' lapels: Use a single white feather and cluster of snowberries!

For the Bride on a Budget:

- Choose blooms that are in season (for your wedding date) and/or locally grown.

- Ask your designer ahead of time how the flowers can be used for both ceremony and reception sites. This way, they're not just used for one hour.

- Ask if your designer if he/she would be willing to transport the flowers from the reception site to the ceremony. If they are not willing to include this in the price, ask a friend to transport them and place them appropriately at the reception site.

- Choose smaller bouquets. Ask your florist to make the bridesmaid’s bouquets smaller in size. These flowers are only seen in pictures and in the ceremony so there is definitely no need for their bouquets to be as large as the bride’s. Creating a smaller bouquet doesn’t have to mean that they are less attractive. Take a look at these amazing bouquets that probably cost half the price of the typical size bouquet!

- Take advantage of filler flowers/berries/and leaves. You can use less of the big-buck flowers while still creating a gorgeous arrangement. Some amazing fillers you could use baby’s breath, berries like hypericum and silver brunia.

The Loft at Limerick

Montgomery County Wedding and Event Facility

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