Question (and poll!)

caraellen23 · May 2010

A few months ago, we decided to add a light "Paris theme" to our wedding inspired by our trip last year. We had been looking for a way to personalize the wedding, and thought this would be good. Our ideas included: tables named after landmarks/places, french postcards for people to write on instead of a guestbook, fleur-de-lis placecard holders, and instead of placecards we would write names and tables on an envelope and inside the envelope would be a map of the room made up to look like the paris metro map (to help people find their tables).

As you know, I've been having a hard time with my mother recently, and I'm considering dropping the theme elements as it will make life easier. I don't have to explain and defend my ideas, promise that it won't be hokey, and in general its just less DIY time together.

What do you think?

ButtonsPepper · May 2010

I was going to either go with C or D. I chose C mainly because to be honest, you won't care about it. It won't matter, at all. And it will save you stress/time. If it's becoming an argument with someone who is shelling out a lot of cash for this, use it to negotiate important things you may want... rather then these little details that people may think "oh this is cute" for a second, and then forget about.

LadyJ10 · May 2010

It sounds like an adorable idea, but ALOT of work (especially the metro-esque map!). The stress to reward ratio just seems too low for me, especially with all of the challenges you've been having recently with a certain Mother of the Bride...

taccoten · May 2010

I voted keep it! I honestly do notice those small personal touches at weddings. I feel like it would be memorable for your guests - and you guys!

caraellen23 · May 2010

Thanks! FI is really hesitant to give up the idea. We are both trying to avoid the "cookie cutter" wedding where its all nice and pretty, but any bride and groom can be dropped in our place without any trouble. What are other ways we can personalize things to us?

nicole8586 · May 2010

I voted C but with your last post you seem like you still really want it. So, I think you can still do the tables names and post cards but drop the map. The map sounds like it would be a lot of work.

A girl I went to high school with had a Philadelphia theme wedding this past weekend. The seating chart table had a copy of the Declaration of Independence the seating chart was printed on tinted scroll paper and other little Philly stuff. Maybe you can do something along those lines?

caraellen23 · May 2010

Thanks Nicole, I go back and forth. I think it would be fun and people would enjoy it. But I also read on another board about someone's theme planning and my first thought was "its a wedding, not a prom" so I started to shy away from it.

nicole8586 · May 2010

I am only going by pictures, but the only things I really saw that were "theme" was the seating chart table and the cake. It was from Charm City Cakes, it was 5 plane white with different designs but the topper was City Hall and it had plumes sticking out of it, the base of the cake had golden slippers. (plumes and golden slippers are mummer related, just incase ya don't know!)

I think with little touches like that it is not over kill and prom theme ish!

ooodsie · May 2010

I voted C, but only because it sounds like a lot of work and you are under a lot of stress right now.

No one at the wedding will know it's missing, so if it makes your life easier to drop it, drop it.

We had a Phila theme that we did incorporate into our wedding - but at one point we just dropped some of the ideas and made it a lot simpler than originally planned. We had wanted to do signature drinks with philadelphia names, make up table numbers around the theme, etc... So we pretty much skipped all that and just did a few simple things:

1. Ice Sculpture with LOVE symbol

2. Our e-pics were also at the LOVE symbol

3. Hotel bags were Phila themed

That was it.. We had a TON of other cute little ideas we had planned on, but prior to the wedding I just had to cut them out.. too much time and too much stress.

So I guess I should have actually voted to simplify it based on what I just said. Can I revote?

nicole8586 · May 2010

ohh they had the LOVE ice sculpture too!

caraellen23 · May 2010

Kim, you also did your rocky/boxing entrance! I loved those pics.

taccoten · May 2010

Oooods - I can't remember who it was, but someone I know was telling me about someone who had a LOVE ice sculpture at a wedding they attended. I wonder if it was your wedding? and now I'm trying to think who it was...

[Deleted User] · May 2010

I think you should keep elements if you have the time.

I would get rid of the map. Name the tables but have numbers as well, so it's easy to find the tables. So Eiffel Tower small no 1.

Are you making or buying the place card holders? Are they really expensive? If they aren't too expensive I say go with them, they are easy.

What are you going to do with the post cards so you can see both sides of them?

How about playing French music during the cocktail hour and have a French wine at dinner or cocktail at the cocktail hour.

LadyJ10 · May 2010

Cara -- I wouldn't worry too much about any of your ideas being too Prom-y. Unless you were planning on incorporating some of these:

Oh, you're not? Okay, just checking.

I think your ideas sound adorable, and little touches are nice, just don't feel like you have to go overboard to personalize your wedding. Incorporating Fleur de Lis elements? Not to difficult! Finding parisian postcards for your guestbook notes? Eh, if looking online for 15 minutes doesn't find you what you're looking for, I would skip it. The metro-maps to tables sound like a BIG investment of time, so I would probably skip those. Does this make sense?

luvdelilah · May 2010

I'm going to vote B and add can you pick a few of your original ideas and drop the rest? I was with you until you starting talking about designing maps of the reception venue in the shape of a Paris subway system...

I like the first three you mentioned (table names, postcards, placecard holders) as an easy way to incorporate Paris into your wedding without going overboard.

We did a lot of DIY stuff for our wedding. Looking back on it there a few things we could have dropped completely (programs!), a few I loved (STD's, invites, placecards), and a few that took 20 mins to put together (menus). If you cut it completely I think you'll regret it.

ooodsie · May 2010

Tacco - I think everyone who gets married in center city has a LOVE ice sculpture, hah. It wasnt incredibly unique on our ends, but our venue does that sculpture very well so we played it safe w/ something we knew they would make look good.

Cara - Yes we did the rocky entrance too! I forgot. Haha. Thank you for knowing more about my wedding than I do.... ;P

Stacylynn702 · May 2010

I'm doing Philadelphia theme. It's where we met and where the wedding is so it fits. I like the idea of a theme. I do think some of your ideas sound great but also a little tricky so I just think you should do what you can and leave it at that. We're doing the same thing for table numbers named after landmarks...I didn't really come up with anything beyond that. I just thought a little touch would be enough. Do what you can before it starts to stress you out. If you notice that it becomes difficult for you, just stop and leave it with what you've got. THis might not be good advice but just my opinion. Oh, I voted B

miguelhilary2010 · May 2010

I didn't vote because I say do what you want

I'm too lazy to do a theme, however if it means something to you (which it does) and you will always remember it and look back at your wedding fondly, then why not. It won't be prom-ish as long as you stay away from metallic eiffel towers and balloons. Just think it through, be subtle but still evident that its PARIS you are going for.

PS - Tell mom to shut it! With love of course.

caraellen23 · May 2010

LadyJ did you steal that picture from my wedding idea scrapbook!?? haha, I kid.

This was really helpful, thank you all for your input, ideas and honest opinions! I agree, the best way to go here is to keep the touches small and with things that we have to do anyway (like table numbers/names) and drop the things that are above and beyond. No one will miss what they never knew existed. I think I'll keep the placecard holders (i have a connection to get them cheap) and leave the table numbers as number/name. I might drop the postcard idea.... I love it, but its been difficult to figure out and might be lost on people. Maybe we'll take our vacation pics and make a photo guestbook (which I never really liked, but could be cute). Anyway, I appreciate being able to talk it through! Thanks!!

MH - I'm going to need to conference you in on all my phone calls from now on, k?

miguelhilary2010 · May 2010

No problem! My mom tends to listen to outsiders more than me... maybe your mom would too.

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