I love creating little memorable details at weddings that are both beautiful and practical. Maps are a good example of this meeting of pretty and functional. If you’re planning a wedding, whether a destination wedding or a barbecue at your parent’s home– include a map, your guests will thank you!

From Sugarplum Invitations are these gorgeous letterpress maps. Your guests will get to your wedding with ease and have great keepsakes of your day.

From Laura Hooper Calligraphy, these hand drawn maps are whimiscal and feminine. I love the detail of the cows in love!

For those of you on a budget, Moments of Color, can create custom map designs for around $60.00

Catering is probably going to be the most expensive line item in your budget. Many brides will try to save money by cutting down on the number of floor staff/bartenders they have. Having worked in catering and events since I was 19, I know this consistently spells disaster. If you cut down on labor that means your servers will work twice as hard and guests will wait twice as long. I always tell my Brides, if you got to a five star restaurant and get great food, but it takes an hour to arrive and the server never brings your glass of wine, will you go back? Probably not. Likewise, even if your tables are beautiful and the food is delicious if service is bad, that is all your guests will remember.

A wedding should make the guest feel warm and welcome, food and drink should magically appear, water glasses should be refilled without asking and wine should be graciously offered when your glass is low. When service is at this level, there is a sense of ease that permeates your event which means your guests will have a great time and the catering staff themselves will be happy. I always say, if the staff are happy, your guests are happy.