Suggestions.

Devs Reena

Okay so I am getting married at The Elements and Nidhi the coordinator there has been so helpful! Yst when we met she showed me pictures yesterday of different things people have done and there are two things I couldnt stop thinking about last night. I LITERALLY WAS UP ALL NIGHT THINKING ABOUT THIS! My theme is Choc. Brown, Pink, Ivory, and a Fall orange. Center Pieces - Fish tanks (i saw pictures of two different weddings she has done this with) I would have to provide the stuff, but has anyone done this? I want it to be a fun wedding what do you think? Has anyone seen this? Do you think the fish will live? Second she has a bride that is doing a "Cincinnati Theme" wedding. Now we both are diehard cincinnati fans, so last night Dev and I were thinking what if we did, Larozas, Skyline, Greaters, and as a favor gave out reds themed I know that I am stealing someones idea, but thats okay right? is that cheesy? is that not elegant enough for a wedding? but it should be about us right? Your thoughts? Also I finalized yst Flowers from fassler, Photo from Michael bambino, Cake from J'anettes, Dj from dj butlers. Any thoughts or ideas from any of them? Thanks! Reena

hrparker

Fish centerpieces?  No, just no.   For so many reasons.  First and foremost, fish are living creatures, not decoration.  Second, no, most of the fish will not live through the reception, let alone past that.  Do you really want your guests staring at dead floating fish while they're eating?  Third, fish poop.  A lot.  Do you really want your guests staring at that while they're eating?  And lastly, for those lucky few fish who survive, what would be your plans regarding what to do with them afterward?Again, just say "no" to the fish.In terms of your favor ideas, I think a lot of ladies here have used a Cincinnati-theme as part of their wedding decor, their favors, or as gifts in their OOT boxes (we did the latter).  If it fits your "style", I don't see a problem with it.  As for as not being "creative," well, I'd wager a guess that nothing anyone on here suggests or is doing has never been done anywhere before.  But that hasn't stopped any of us from throwing a great wedding, so I don't think you should let it stop you.In re: your vendors, I haven't heard of your florist; I've seen some really good work from your photog; haven't heard of your bakery; and I've heard a lot of brides say good things about the DJ.gl with your planning.p.s.  Stay away from the fish! 

jeremy.teresa

Honestly, I think if you want to do fish as centerpieces, you should do it.  It depends on what fish you plan to use.  Beta fish generally last pretty long and they don't require anything more than being in a small bowl.  They are inexpensive and I think very beautiful.  We have one now and we have had him for about a year and he gets more beautiful with his colors the longer we have him.  They are low maintenance, too.  You feed them once a day.  That's it.  If you plan on giving them to your guests or keeping them and taking them home, it should be okay.The Cincinnati theme has been done by quite a few brides here.  Some just the reception, rehearsal dinner, OOT bags, etc.  You should do whatever you and your FI are comfortable with.  The day is about you two.I don't have any personal experience with anyone but the DJ.  DJ Butlers has a lot of different DJ's in different price ranges.  We had planned on using them b/c my brother used them and their DJ was awesome.  However, when we were deciding to book, they were trying to put us w/ a DJ that admitted he was not talkative, not outgoing, etc.  So we decided to go another route.  We just didn't feel like they would work with us.  No matter what, they just kept trying to push that one person on us and when I asked for someone else, they acted like I didn't say anything.HTH!

thoward298

I think it is very unique!

aWb

I now of a bride who did this.  She used red betas, very colorful but not a good idea.  Getting the fish there and in the vases no problem, but when it was time for her family to clean up it posed a little  bit of a problem.  Male betas can not be placed together in the same bowl.  Someone put a few fish together in a plastic bag for transport and you can imagine what happened.  Not a good thing, I am with pp, just say no to fish.  The only vendor you are using that I know is Fassler.  So far I am very pleased with them.  They were the only ones to take the time to show me the difference in flowers and help me pick what I would like.  My wedding is in October so I will let you know how everything turns out.

onlymels

I like the fish idea but spend a little extra cash and get some good quality fish cause the feeder fish that you win at fairs don't live long at all.

SpiritedFirefly

I'm joining a few members of the crowd and voting NO to the fish idea. That has bad written all over it.Forget the logistics of transporting the fish and set-up, how about the fact that they're living animals..not decorations that can be discarded at the end of the night?Even if you plan to send them home with guests, that's a lot of responsibility/prep that most people aren't equipped to take at the drop of a hat. It's not like giving people a potted flower. They need to have a tank..etc..etc.Cruel and unusual punishment IMO.As for the Cincinnati theme, go for it..if that's what you want. Your wedding...not their's.

stosha1

Personally I'd think fish tanks were weird if I saw them on the table. This is why: if one fish died and or I saw a fish pooping in the bowl while I was trying to eat dinner, I'd freak out.I mean, most people have, what, say 15+ tables at their wedding. What are you going to do with the fish afterwards? I mean, it's not like you can have 30 betas in your house.As for a Cincinnati-themed wedding: I say do what you want. PERSONALLY (my own personal opinion disclaimer here) says that while I'd think that the Cinci theme would be okay for a rehearsal dinner, I would never in a bazillion years do it for a wedding. Never. But, that's just me. I think weddings are about love and friendship and sharing with family. I love romantic weddings. When you 'theme' anything out, I think the original message gets lost. I hate anything 'themed' anyways. Remember, this is only my OPINION. If you feel super strongly about doing it, then by all means, do it!Since you have OVER a year to plan, I'd suggest not just blanketly taking the ideas of only your wedding planner. Come up with some of your own ideas that reflect what you and your FI like.As for your other vendors, since you've already 'finalized' with them all, I'm sure that if you've done your due dilligence and research,  you will get what you pay for.

mrs.dilligaf

Please don't do fish.  It's just not right, for all the reasons PP mentioned.  I crossed Newport Aquarium off my list as soon as I saw most of the menus had fish on them- that's kinda cruel. The wedding is about you, yes.  The reception is the party to celebrate.  Don't have your attendants carry Reds pennants down the aisle and you should be fine.  We had sort of a Vegas theme (engaged and honeymooned there), and most people loved it.  We did the gaming tables and didn't go overboard- no showgirls  .  If you add touches of Cincinnati (like table numbers from different Cincy locations, Graeters with the cake, maybe a Bengals grooms cake, etc.) it would be fun.  GL!

Devs Reena

Wow so many opinions. Well my FI went ahead and decided "NO" on the fish idea. So I guess that works. As far as the Cincinnati theme, I like how one of you said do it at the rehearsal. We were going to do our rehearsal dinner at a friends house in the backyard in a tent so i can really get creative with that. I guess im back to planning my whole wedding and thinking of new themes and ideas. Feel free to suggest some!

kam2210

I agree with everyone on this fish thing, but I love the Cincy themed wedding. I just went to a reception recently where they had a lady making mini cheese coneys. That was the only Cincinnati touch, but I think something small like is a great way to personalize your reception.

stillwaiting12

on the fish idea... I think if you want it, it's fine! I know you already said your FI said no so it's out of the plans anyway, but a friend of mine had little ivy bowls on each table and 1 person was in charge of bringing the fish a few hours before the reception and just putting them in the individual bowls. she bought cheap fish at Pet Smart and I am pretty sure every one of them lived the entire night...all except for one of them which got swallowed by the drunk groom....thats a whole different story though! After the wedding they went back in the 5 gallon bucket that they wee brought in and taken to a family member's fish pond. There is nothing cruel about that!On the cincinnati Theme... I would agree that I wouldn't do it for my wedding as the only food, but I was a Madison Bride and they offered a coney station that they brought out an hour before the reception was over as a sort of 'night-cap' if you will. I think that's a great way to introduce the cincinnati food without it making your wedding any 'less classy'. Plus you could carry that theme in to your decorations, monograms, centerpieces, colors etc... There are definately classy ways to make Cincinnati your theme without serving pizza and coneys for dinner! Think table numbers being names of landmarks or something like that instead of actual numbers. Things along those lines.

jbifro

On 08/20/09 at 5:07pm, there is a post about J Annette's Cheesecakes. I responded to that post. Their cake and cheesecakes are awesome and I consider myself picky when it comes to good cake. If you get cheesecake, you should get it with icing on top. I know it might sound like too much sweetness, but it makes it that much more amazing. Sorry if I repeated any of this in the J Annette's post from the 20th.