Hi Mary:

Traditionally save the date card should go out 4-6 months before the wedding; however, for destination weddings 6-10 months is suggested. If your wedding is happening over a holiday weekend, it doesn’t hurt to give your guests ample time to prepare for travel.

Save the date notices can be really fun both to create and to receive. They can be personalized through custom note cards that match your wedding invitations, place cards, menu card, thank you notes, and of course the wedding website!

Over the years, I have had the privilege to work with so many wonderful brides, grooms, parents and professional wedding planners. Among my favorites are Britney and Adam. Their wedding was themed from the moment I met them.  They are self-proclaimed “old souls.” They wanted a mid-century, modern event. This theme was carried out from the save the date notice until the reception sent them off into happily ever after. Their dress, their food and their Frank Sinatra area music filled a wonderful few days of a celebration of love.

Here are some screen shots of their save the date packets that were sent out to guests. The creative design truly represented the couple, and yours should too! 

The Beauty Bus

Marilyn posted a question about fun & beauty. Two of our favorites things! Here is her question, and our answer.

Where could I go for a good bachlorette party? Where can I go for hair dos for the wedding girls?

Hi Marilyn:

Well, if you are in Vegas you have come to the right town to party like a bachelorette.

For fun bachelorette parties I would first recommend those venues that advertise in Las Vegas Bride and other bridal publications. These companies are investing in the wedding community and are eager to have your business.

In Las Vegas many of the casino resort hotels offer bachelorette parties that include spa experiences, pool/cabana offerings, shows, limos and nightclub packages.

Minor league sporting events frequently will entertain bachelorette parties with their own half-time events. I threw my friend Theresa a really fun bachelorette party that started with a limo pick-up of four of girls that whisked us away to a hockey game where we met the rest of the girls. We had a private room to party and enjoy food, drink and gifts. Then, after watching the first two periods of the game—by now there were about 10 of us—we were escorted to the ice for a fun game. One member of our group even took a seat on the Zamboni as it cleaned the ice. Good times for all and a safe limo trip home.

If you are staying close to home, a good old-fashioned scavenger hunt is always fun and daring. Try it ABC “The Bachelorette” style and see how many roses the bride-to-be can and give out in one night.

For the HBO and movie lover, host a “Sex in The City” Bachelorette Party complete with the sassiest shoe contest, best martini concoction and best impression of Carrie, Miranda, Samantha or Charlotte.

Or if you prefer a more mature party, try a cooking class with the girls.

Whatever you do, don’t forget the tiaras, veils, custom t-shirts, naughty favors and cameras with video.

For your beauty needs, again, be sure to check out Las Vegas Bride magazine. In the new issue, about to come out, you will ready about the Beauty Bus… we highly suggest that you check it out. It’s a beauty salon on wheels!

Hors d’oeuvres and small-plate station receptions are a fabulous way to keep a wedding reception fun, lively and interactive. This type of reception also eliminates the need for assigned seating.    

Here are a few menu tips for best guest satisfaction:

• Tray passing of hors d’oeuvres for the first hour, including sparkling wine, still red and white wines and sparkling water.  Ask the catering/banquet manager or coordinator to save a plate of hors d’oeuvres for the bride and groom to be enjoyed when they arrive. 
• Self-serve small plates are great for petite sizes of salads, entrée meats atop different kinds of potato and rice, grilled vegetables, fruit, cheese and nuts plates.
• Chef-attended stations are fantastic for protein carving such as small portions of beef, turkey, pork and salmon.
• Creative ways to display food such as crudités in martini glasses – see photo attached.

• Beverage bar open for the entire event.

• Elegant citrus water stations available through out the duration of the event.
• Self-serve or banquet staff served stations are excellent for pasta, risotto and warm desserts
• Wedding cake on display until the happy couple does the ceremonial cut, then servers cut cake into slices and returns to self serve station.
• Provide late night snacks that come out an hour before the event ends.
• Add “to go” coffee station with paper cups a half-hour before the event ends.
• Have a table at the exit area for your wedding favors so guests have them to take home rather than having to carry them around during the event.

Guests depart with wonderful memories, their cameras full of photos and their stomachs delightfully full!

Be sure to search as many wedding sites as possible for additional great ideas! 

Happily Ever After,

Lisa Lynn

A great way to save on guest rooms is to negotiate a hotel sales contract for rooms.  Be very careful as to the amount of rooms you commit to, as you will be responsible to pay for them.  A hotel will typically contract for 10 or more rooms. Hopefully doing this early will get you the best rate. 

Also, ask about lowest rate guarantee as sometimes online booking travel companies will publish lower rates than the actual hotels offer. 

Specifically, ask for a “cut-off” date that fits the request your fiancé made.  Your hotel sales manager will explain this process.

You may qualify for a complimentary room for the bride and groom and one complimentary room per 20, 30, 40 or 50 rooms that are booked at the facility. 

In turn, these rooms can be assigned to family at your discretion.

Happily Ever After,

Lisa Lynn

Photo by Imagine Studios

Post your question in the comments area and she will reply to your questions in a new blog post.

Cheers & happy planning!

Post your question in the comments area and she will reply to your questions in a new blog post.

Cheers & happy planning!

Photo by: Imagine Studios

As a bride-to-be, you have so many questions running through your head at all hours of the day. From when to send the invitations to what type of flowers you should order in the summer, to how hot will it really get in Las Vegas, “Ask The Expert” has the honest answers to all of your wedding planning questions.

Lisa Lynn, the Las Vegas Bride resident wedding planning expert, is here to help you with your burning questions, wedding etiquette advice and everything wedding related. With over 20 years of event planning experience, there isn’t a question or a situation that Lisa Lynn hasn’t already experienced in her career.

Here is how “Ask The Expert With Lisa Lynn” works:

• Several times a week, we will create a post looking for your questions. In the “comments” section below, post any burning question that you have about weddings. Whether it is budgeting, finding a gown, guest list challenges, or groom’s gift ideas…Lisa Lynn will have an answer.
• She will respond to your questions by posting a new blog topic. Feel free to comment on the post and the discussion will continue!

Photo by: Imagine Studios

Our goal is to provide you with the ultimate resource in wedding planning from the experts who live and work in the wedding industry. Weddings can be overwhelming, but with the help of Lisa Lynn and Las Vegas Bride, planning your wedding will be a bit less stressful and a lot more enjoyable.