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+ Entertainment, Event Planning, Favorites, Inspiration, Trends, Your Wedding Day

Creative “Save The Date” Ideas

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Creative “Save The Date” Ideas

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Pexels.com

A “Save-the-date” is the introductory letter mailed to your guests announcing your wedding date, but it can be so much more than just a regular invitation! There are so many different ways to break the news with a unique twist on the tradition of sending out these fun invites- & we’re here to highlight some modern favorites!

Magnet Cards

Courtesy of Etsy

Magnet cards are a great idea to give your guests a fun way of saving the date! This will also double as a cute reminder for your guests to keep in mind as the date draws closer. You can choose to make handcarved magnets out of wood, or look for one that’s predesigned on popular websites like Etsy. “Puzzle Piece” magnets are also another popular & trending way to commemorate your day ,with each lovers name on seperate pieces that fit together perfectly when assembled on a fridge or cabinet!

Handmade Candle

Courtesy of Etsy

What’s more romantic & evocative of being in love then candle light? This is a perfect way for you to set the mood early on, and of course has the advantage of functionality. You can find these custom candle makers online at storefronts like Etsy & customize the perfect design, including your name & special date on the front and a special quote on the back that illuminates when in use!

Photo Collage Invite

Courtesy of Etsy

Photo collages are a good idea to include a couple different snapshots of you & your lover in a classic & classy way! This idea is simple & gives the details concisely- while also looking sharp enough to put on display as an attractive reminder in your guests homes.

Passport & Map

Courtesy of Paper Source

The passport option acts as a great suprise for your guests- it’s uniqueness alone will catch their attention and is great on behalf of travel lovers! You can further personalize the inside pages to include a picture of you & your lover, as well as a map showcasing the location of your wedding venue!

Front Page News

Courtesy of Etsy

This eye-catching option is incredibly fun & also a convenient and neat way to display the details of your special day. You can also choose to personalize it further by including your love story in the style of a news column & a cute picture to tie it all together for the perfect front-page Breaking-news!

Bookmark The Date!

Courtesy of Etsy

The bookmark invite is a perfect way for you to help build anticipation in a convient & practical way! Book lovers will surely appreciate the functionality & find a special place to display- you can choose to add a color scheme to match your weddings theme along with a special picture and of course, the date. The tassel can also incoporate the theme as well, such as a fancy horseshoe charm for a shed wedding, or a shell charm for a beach theme.

We are so excited for the upcoming Summer season & the huge number of events we have planned to share with you on our Instagram & Facebook pages! Check out our regularly updated instagram: @njweddingpros, & continue to tune into our weekly blog for more inspiration & useful tips!

XOXO,
Lonny Bierk
NJ Wedding Pros
740 River Rd. Suite 240
Fair Haven, NJ 07704
njweddingpros@gmail.com
http://www.njweddingpros.com
732-747-0900

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+ Entertainment, Event Planning, Inspiration, Services, Trends, Uncategorized, Wedding Highlights, Wedding Ideas, Wedding Reception, Your Wedding Day

Fun Add-On’s For Your Wedding Reception!

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Fun Add-On’s For Your Wedding Reception: Give your after-party a unique and creative twist with one or more of these fun add-on’s that are sweeping the wedding reception scene!

Champagne Wall

An incredibly awesome and unique way to serve drinks to your guests is…through a wall? That’s right! So many couples are opting for a beautiful greenery wall that allows guests to pick up a glass of fizzy goodness right from someone’s hand! This idea has such luxurious vibes to it and will definitely spruce up and add a touch of class to any wedding reception!

Credit: Google on Pinterest

Live Painter

Everybody has photographers at the reception to catch the fun all night long, but what about something a bit more personal? Live painters are all the rage right now! These magnificent artists capture your love on canvas and leave you with a stunning portrait to take home at night when all of the festivities are over. A truly elegant add-on if you ask me!

Credit: Gandalf’s Gallery via Flickr

Ballet Dancers

Following the theme of class and elegance, we have to talk about ballet dancers! Play some classical music like “Swan Lake” or “The Nutcracker” and watch these dancers take the floor with their mesmerizing moves. There’s truly nothing like live entertainment from these professionals who live to perform their impressive (and difficult) routines!

Credit: PxHere

Tarot Card Reader

You don’t have to be an astrology expert to enjoy a reading! Open your heart/mind and let the experts uncover the past, tell the present and predict the future with a colorful stack of divine cards. When guests need a break from dancing their shoes off, they can head on over to learn more about themselves and what’s to come!

Credit: CottonBro Studios via Pexels

Poetry Writer

A simple and meaningful add-on for any wedding reception is a live poetry writer! These inspired poets create unique custom poems immediately for any guests who requests so! Whether they want a specific topic or just say “surprise me!”, these poems are a perfect sentimental keepsake. Remember, you don’t have to be super flashy to make an impact on your beloved guests!

Credit: via Picryl.com

I’m absolutely obsessed with these reception add-on’s! Personally, I really want to leave a lasting impact on my wedding guests that have them remembering my special night for years to come. Whether you choose one of these or decide up something completely new, I’m positive that your guests will be in awe with your totally creative reception unlike anything they’ve ever seen before!

XOXO, Sydney

NJ Wedding Pros
740 River Rd. Suite 214
Fair Haven, NJ 07704
njweddingpros@gmail.com
http://www.njweddingpros.com
732-747-0900

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+ Event Planning, Favor Trends, Inspiration, Trends, Uncategorized, Your Wedding Day

Fall-Themed Wedding Favors

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Fall-Themed Wedding Favors: The best wedding season is approaching! Outside is getting chilly and the beautiful leaves are changing…so why not change it up and surprise your guests with some autumn-inspired goods!

1. Apple Butter

A tasty treat that’s hard to beat…it’s apple butter! One of my absolute fall-favorites is this spreadable preserve made of apples (of course), cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and allspice. This is a delicious way to thank your guests for coming out to celebrate your day of love! You can either make it from scratch, get it online or buy from a local farmer’s market. Either which way you decide, everyone is bound to love it!

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

2. Maple Syrup

Staying on the sticky and sweet side, another tasty option for a fall-themed wedding favor is maple syrup! A perfect option for those guests with a sweet tooth (like me 😉 ). Whether you put it on pancakes, waffles or bake it into other treats; this is the perfect favor to honor the autumnal season. BensSugarShack.com is the ultimate website to grab some maple syrup in the cutest leaf-shaped glass bottles along with some other incredible maple-flavored goods!

Credit: Ian Mackenzie via Flickr

3. Honey Jars

Following the sugar train, we have honey jars! A bee-utiful favor for your special day that is buzzing with love! There’s so many types of flavored artisanal honey’s to choose from which gives you the amazing option of variety. Honey also has incredible benefits such as being an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant/antibacterial agent and so much more thus making it deeply versatile! Reach out to a local honey farm or buy online to get your hands on this tasty treat!

Credit: PickPik

4. Spiced Soap

Not looking to go down the sugar road? No worries, I got you covered! A useful and wonderfully scented option is spiced soaps that radiate all the best fall spices such as allspice, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, apple, pumpkin etc. These are some of my favorite scents which I think are so relaxing and definitely puts me into the fall spirit! Tip: Handmade soaps are the best! Browse through Etsy or local shops to find some and support these awesome soap artists!

Credit: Hippopx

5. Pumpkin-Scented Candles

If you’re like me, you are OBSESSED with candles and autumn! So why not combine the two? Instead of the pumpkin spice latte, try a pumpkin spice candle instead and allow your guests to let the smell of the season light up their home! Everyone knows that Autumn = Pumpkins, so it’s crucial to include this staple scent into your special day. Just like the soaps, handmade candles are the way to go! Scroll through Etsy or check out any local street market to find these makers!

Credit: Людмила Шалимова via Pexels

As you can probably tell, fall is my favorite season! I’m also all about usefulness which is why I will definitely want to use one or more of these wedding favors once my special day comes around. Whether you decide to have your wedding in autumn or just want to try something different, these favor options are sure to impress your guests!

XOXO, Sydney

NJ Wedding Pros
740 River Rd. Suite 214
Fair Haven, NJ 07704
njweddingpros@gmail.com
http://www.njweddingpros.com
732-747-0900

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+ Event Planning, Trends, Uncategorized

Top 5 Creative Guest Book Alternatives

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Top 5 Creative Guest Book Alternatives: Ditch the traditional binded book and try out some fun alternatives to mix things up!

1. Signed Polaroid Pictures

A great way to literally capture the moment! Set up a table with a few instant polaroid cameras, a slotted box, and some colorful sharpies to allow your guests to take their own up-close shots. At the end of the night, you’ll have some heartfelt and silly pics that are signed by all of your loved ones! Amazon, Walmart and Target are a few places where you can purchase these classic cameras.📷

Credit: Shimelle Laine via Flickr

2. Leave a Voicemail

Forget written words, try spoken! One of the hottest new wedding trends is having your guests leave you a personalized voicemail through a retro phone ~ so groovy if you ask me! This type of guest book alternative leaves you with a lasting memory that you can put on repeat again and again. “After the Tone” and “At the Beep” are two companies to definitely check out for renting these devices for your special day!☎️

Credit: PickPik

3. Postcard Letter Box

A really fun option for those who love to travel and see the world is a postcard letter box! With this guest book alternative, a small stand is set up with a variety of different postcards from around the world. Guests can then choose their favorite postcard, write a message, and then drop it into a cute customized mailbox adorned with the happy couple’s names and wedding date. A great alternative choice for those adventurers!📬

Credit: PickPik

4. Anniversary Wine Bottles

Nothing says romance like a bottle of wine! A really creative and fun way to receive messages from your guests is for them to sign anniversary wine bottles for you and your significant other to open and enjoy together when the milestones are met! This can include a variety of special wines laid out to be signed, each representing 1-year, 5-year, 10-year, 20-year etc. or however you may desire so you can enjoy not only the delicious wine but also the sweet messages as well for years to come! Make sure you reach out to a winery to find out which wines are best for this aging process.🍾

Credit: Pxfuel

5. Board Game Pieces

Want something that you can continually use on a regular basis instead of sitting in storage? Look no further! Many couples are using board game pieces such as Jenga blocks and Monopoly boards to represent their playful love. These game pieces will be perfect to play with whether on a rainy day or just a cozy date night in! You will get to enjoy quality time with your spouse while also reminicising on your wedding day with all the beautiful messages left by your loved ones!🎲

Credit: Chris B via Flickr

Whether you decide to stay traditional or try out one of these unique alternatives, I think a guest book is an amazing thing to have at a wedding. It’s a collection of heartfelt messages from the closest, most meaningful people in your life! Be it days, weeks or even years after the wedding day, you will be left with a forever memory that radiates love and joy at your fingertips❤️

XOXO, Sydney

NJ Wedding Pros
740 River Rd. Suite 214
Fair Haven, NJ 07704
njweddingpros@gmail.com
http://www.njweddingpros.com
732-747-0900

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+ Event Planning, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Creating an Environmentally-Friendly Wedding!

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Creating an Environmentally-Friendly Wedding:

Show your love for each other while also showing a little love to the planet in 4 simple and effective ways!

Credit: Hải Thanh via Pexels

1. Send Out Sustainable Invitations

Every year, 250 million wedding invitations are sent out in the U.S. That’s a lot of paper waste! Why not help cut back and use an alternative material that’s both cute, useful and won’t end up in the trash. Seed paper is a biodegradable material that sprouts flowers once its planted in a pot of soil and leaves you with a lasting, beautiful memory embedded with love! Botanical Paperworks and ForeverFiances have a plethora of choices in seed paper to make a lasting impact on both you and your guests.

Credit: Akil Mazumder via Pexels

2. Use Local Flora in Bouquets and Arrangements

Each part of the world has flora that is native to the land and the best way to protect it is by not using foreign flowers and greenery that could be invasive and detrimental to both the land and the wildlife. Protect your love and protect the planet by considering using flora native to your wedding location in order to ensure the welfare of the surrounding environment, especially if you are having an outdoor wedding. The National Wildlife Federation website has a feature called the Native Plants Finder which identifies native flowers, trees, etc. by zipcode for anywhere in the U.S. and will definitely come in handy on the big day!

3. Have Biodegradable Confetti

In many weddings, the happy couple is often showered with rice, flowers, and all different kinds of sparkly displays of affection. Unfortunately these things litter our planet, add on to waste, and risk the health of wildlife that may come along and ingest it. A beautiful and fun alternative exists through biodegradable confetti that is compostable and doesn’t leave a lasting effect on the Earth. Depending on the season and/or your wedding theme, petal or leaf confetti { native to the land of course 😉 } is a great way to celebrate that is both eco-friendly and stunning. You can either buy online or use a hole-punch on some flowers/leaves if you consider yourself a DIY-er!

Credit: Getty Images

4. Incorporate a Tree Planting Unity Ceremony

An interactive and meaningful way to show your love for one another and for the planet is by having a tree planting unity ceremony! The ceremony is done at a table near the altar and just like the name, the couple plants a small tree together to symbolize the joining together of two individuals or the joining of two families. Each partner has their own small bucket of soil & a trowel and together they take turns filling up a large pot that contains a tree sapling that they will then water as a couple with one watering can. This sapling can then be transferred to the couple’s new home where it will continue to sprout and represent their growing love.

Credit: The Knot

As someone who is passionate for sustainability, I know for sure I will be implementing some of these methods when my own big day comes around! My heart will be overflowing with joy and love knowing that I can leave a small positive impact on the Earth with my forever partner right by my side. Remember, even the little things matter!

XOXO, Sydney

NJ Wedding Pros
740 River Rd. Suite 214
Fair Haven, NJ 07704
njweddingpros@gmail.com
http://www.njweddingpros.com
732-747-0900

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+ Vendors

Unique Wedding Venues In NJ

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A unique wedding venue offers an opportunity to create a memorable and distinctive experience for both the couple and their guests. It stands out from traditional wedding venues and leaves a lasting impression on everyone who attends! Unique venues allow for more creativity in terms of decoration, layout, and theme. Adding personalization can make the wedding feel more authentic and reflective of the couple’s personalities and interests. The excitement of experiencing a wedding in an unexpected or unusual setting adds a sense of novelty. It breaks away from the norm and adds an element of surprise for everyone attending. So why not change it up and consider a unique venue! 

1.) The Park Loft. Location: Oceanport, NJ. Capacity: 200 Guests

2.) Porta. Locations: Asbury Park, Montclair, & Jersey City. Capacity: Multiple rooms vary capacity.

3.) White Chapel Projects. Location: Long Branch, NJ. Capacity: 20-250

4.) Maritime Parc. Location: Jersey City, NJ. Capacity: Multiple rooms vary capacity.

5.) House of Independents. Location: Asbury Park, NJ. Capacity: Unknown.

6.) Felina. Location: Ridgewood, NJ. Capacity: Unknown.

7.) Mallard Island Yacht Club. Location: Manahawkin, NJ. Capacity: 250

8.) Updike Farmstead. Location: Princeton, NJ. Capacity: 200.

9.) Davids Country Inn. Location: Hackettstown, NJ. Capacity 200

10.) Sandy Hook Chapel. Location: Sandy Hook, NJ. Capacity: Unknown.

When booking your wedding venue, it is so important to follow your intuition and choose the venue you feel most comfortable and excited about. Your venue should match closely with how you imagined your dream wedding to be, that way you & your fiance’s day is better than you imagined! Nj Wedding Pros is here to help you choose the right venue and even assist you with each and every vendor needed along the way! Lets get planning! 

XOXO, Leah 

NJ Wedding Pros
740 River Rd. Suite 240
Fair Haven, NJ 07704
njweddingpros@gmail.com
http://www.njweddingpros.com
732-747-0900

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+ Uncategorized

Fall Weddings: Adding a Festive Flair to Your Big Day

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Fall Weddings: Adding a Festive Flair to Your Big Day

As the leaves begin to transform into warm hues and a crispness fills the air, there’s no denying that fall is a magical season for weddings. The cozy ambiance and natural beauty that this time of year brings provide the perfect backdrop for celebrating love. If you’re planning a fall wedding, why not infuse it with a festive flair that captures the essence of the season? In this blog post, we’ll explore creative ways to add a touch of autumnal charm to your special day, making it a celebration to remember.

1. Embrace the Colors of Fall

Your color palette is a crucial element of a fall wedding. Opting for warm colors that resemble those of the changing leaves will really set the mood. Think deep reds, burnt oranges, and golden yellows. Consider incorporating these autumn hues into your flowers, decor, or even bridesmaid dresses.

2. Nature-Inspired Venues

One of the most beautiful aspects of a fall wedding is the stunning backdrop that nature provides. Consider hosting your celebration in a venue that showcases the season’s beauty. Vineyards, rustic barns, orchards, and botanical gardens are excellent options that allow you to incorporate the nature of autumn seamlessly into your wedding.

3. Seasonal Flowers

When it comes to flowers, go for options that are in season during the fall. Blooms like dahlias and sunflowers can add a vibrant touch to your decor. Incorporating natural elements like branches, berries, and dried leaves into your floral arrangements can also enhance the autumnal ambiance.

4. Candlelit Ambiance

Lighting is another key factor in setting the appropriate mood for your wedding. In a fall setting, we recommend taking advantage of soft and romantic lighting. Using an abundance of candles will make for beautiful pictures while also creating a warm and homey atmosphere.

5. Serve a Fall-Inspired Menu

Treat your guests to a fun and delicious menu inspired by fall flavors. Incorporate comfort foods like butternut squash soup and apple cider. Don’t forget to include a dessert table featuring pumpkin pies, spiced cupcakes, and caramel treats that capture the essence of the season.

6. Seasonal Stationary and Favors

Set the tone for your fall wedding from the moment your guests receive their invitations. Choose stationery that features autumn-inspired designs, such as leaves or acorns. Extend the theme to your wedding favors with mini jars of local honey, cinnamon-scented candles, or personalized apple cider bottles.

7. Cozy, yet Stylish Attire

Your wedding attire can reflect the season’s charm while keeping you and your bridal party cozy. For the bride, a gown with sleeves or intricate lace details can add a touch of warmth. Consider outfitting your bridesmaids in dresses with deeper shades that complement the fall theme. Groomsmen can don stylish suits in earthy tones to tie everything together.

A fall wedding offers a unique opportunity to celebrate your special day amongst stunning nature and the cozy charm of the season. By embracing the beauty of autumn through nature-inspired venues, warm color palettes, seasonal decor, and a seasonal-inspired menu, you can create an unforgettable and festive celebration that reflects the magic of fall.

XOXO, Nicole 

NJ Wedding Pros
740 River Rd. Suite 240
Fair Haven, NJ 07704
njweddingpros@gmail.com
http://www.njweddingpros.com
732-747-0900