art 1 of a series on wedding planning and marriage during the pandemic, by guest writer Lena Borrelli

Weddings and Moving in With Your New Spouse During the Pandemic
BY LENA BORRELLI
Updated November 11, 2020​

For many couples, the coronavirus has interfered with even the best-laid wedding plans, and it has brought a once-thriving industry to a near standstill.

“Due to the pandemic, the wedding industry has been as deeply affected as the restaurant industry,” explains Amy McCord Jones, a wedding planner and florist for the past 13 years. She is also the owner of Flower Moxie, an online floral business that sells directly to DIY brides. “The Spring of 2020 was a total loss for all venues, caterers, wedding planners, and related wedding vendors, and they are scrambling to rebook and retain their clients.”

For many couples, there is a serious concern over how to plan a wedding during coronavirus, and moving in together after wedding celebrations presents yet another hurdle to overcome once life after marriage officially begins. These tips will help you stay safe when it comes to planning a wedding and living together after marriage during coronavirus.

How to safely have a wedding during COVID-19

Planning a wedding during coronavirus is an entirely different matter than the traditional wedding. “In many places, gatherings numbers are restricted and many states are taking a phased approach, which leaves couples to face planning a wedding without knowing exactly what restrictions will be in place by the time their scheduled wedding happens,” explains Katie Elder, owner of the Overlook Barn, a premier wedding venue in Banner Elk, North Carolina.

A recent survey by Promoleaf shows that 39% of those polled favored social distancing being enforced at weddings, with 41% preferring that all guests wear masks and 34% preferring an outdoor venue for COVID weddings. The median preference for the guest count is 50 people, with less than 1% of respondents comfortable with 200 attendees or more.

“We’re seeing smaller weddings, more elopements, and those holding on for normality by pushing their wedding another year,” says SJ Meyer, who offers wedding planning and catering services through her business, Lickskillet Catering, in Fort Collins, Colorado. COVID affected Meyer personally, impacting her own wedding plans. She has been forced to infuse innovation and ingenuity when reshuffling her clients’ dream mountain weddings.

The pandemic has made for an entirely different wedding planning experience than most couples and industry professionals are used to. If you’re wondering how to plan a wedding during a pandemic, or even how to move in with your new spouse in the age of quarantine, here are a few pointers.

• Initial wedding preparations
• COVID-safe ceremony ideas
• Preparing for a change of plans
• If you’re thinking about postponing your wedding

 
Initial wedding preparations When deciding how to proceed with your wedding, communication is your best friend. Talk to your significant other about your individual expectations and how best to meet them. This is a very stressful and emotional time, and the additional emotional and financial stress can weigh on your relationship if you are not careful.

To better ground yourself, create a detailed budget for your wedding and stick to it. These are some great resources from sites like The Knot and Wedding Wire that will help you understand and stick to your budget.

Follow CDC guidelines As the country continues to fight the spread of coronavirus, experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization continue to highlight the importance of wearing masks in public to reduce infection. Calls for strict social distancing can impact even the slightest details of your wedding, making things like cocktail hour, reception seating, and dinner service all complicated to accomplish safely.

Elder has really seen the impact of coronavirus on weddings held at the Overlook Barn. “Weddings also look different this year, masks, sanitizing, distancing, a focus on outdoor celebrations . . .” she explains.
She spoke with us exclusively, listing some of the precautions you can take to help mitigate the risk of COVID-19.

• Require masks for all guests and, of course, all of the regular hygiene – regular hand washing, sanitizing stations available, etc.
• Move as much of the wedding and reception outdoors as possible. (For her part, Elder offers a brand-new outdoor pavilion that was built to accommodate coronavirus wedding couples.)
• Consider “guest pods” to reduce mingling in larger groups. These are seating pods of people together who are related or who already see each other regularly to mingle together throughout the event.
• Increase airflow wherever possible by opening windows and adding air filtration in more confined spaces. Elder invested in HEPA filtration for their bridal suites.
• Hand sanitizer has also risen in popularity for many wedding gift bags and favors.

Look into vendor guidelines
It is also important to thoroughly review vendor guidelines and procedures to ensure the safety of you and your guests. Brian Worley, owner and founder of Brian Worley Productions in Atlanta, walks through some of the precautions he and his team are taking.

• Hand sanitizer provided around the venue
• Social distancing the tables
• Limited number of guests seated at each table.
• Individually rolled flatware
• All food stations must be chef attended and guests are not allowed to grab their own food.
• All the bars had Plexi shield guards, much like the checkout at a store.
• We are increasing the number of bars so that the lines do not build up.
• There is only one bartender per bar, where in the past we have had two.

Don’t forget about the fine print in those contracts, either. “The very first thing couples should do is read through their contracts. Hotels have actually been very good about moving the wedding without issue, but I have run into some issues with other vendors who consider it a cancelation and rebooking,” says Keith Willard, President of Keith Willard Events and President of NACE’s South Florida chapter.

COVID-safe ceremony ideas Instead of extravagant wedding ceremonies, many COVID-19 couples are rethinking the traditional wedding approach. Smaller ceremonies are not only more affordable (a boon if you or your fiance were affected by coronavirus layoffs) and easier to manage, but they are considerably safer.

Outdoor wedding SJ Meyer recommends instead moving your weddings to an outdoor tent. And if you happen to already own the land where you put the tent, even better. “Since guest counts are also lower, couples are also finding it easier to throw a wedding in their yard, around the pool or in a garden” says Worley. However, he warns you need your outdoor space to be one that easily accommodates social distancing – and one with shade.

Wristband system Jason Miller, CEO of Promoleaf, comments, “A popular trend we’re noticing is simply a three-tier, plastic wristband system issued to each guest or event attendee based on their own comfort level.”  How it works:

• Red wristband for high-risk guests that prefer social distancing of at least ten feet
• Yellow band for regular social distancing preferences of six feet
• Green band for those who are comfortable with a handshake or hug.

“As long as everyone at the event respects the comfort level of others, this can be a solution allowing you to be inclusive while enabling all of your guests to feel comfortable and welcome.”

Local venues Instead of the traditional church or hotel ballroom, consider new, creative venues that can accommodate your wedding. Places like local vineyards and breweries are on-trend and already institute heightened coronavirus protocols. Plus, they can usually accommodate outdoor gatherings.

Courthouse weddings If you are delaying your wedding reception but don’t want to wait to actually tie the knot, courthouse weddings are a quick, easy way to make your vows official while you wait for a larger celebration to follow.

Wedding Wire provides a handy guide to wedding laws for every state in the country so you can check your state’s laws and requirements before you head to the courthouse.

Elopements For some couples, an elopement can be just the ticket to a COVID-friendly marriage.
“Think outside the box,” says Meyer. “Another option is to elope and plan a party down the road for when there is availability.”

An elopement can be a stress-free way to approach your wedding by foregoing all of the traditional trimmings, such as seating, transportation and pricey venue rentals.

Places of worship Many couples plan to incorporate a specific place of worship into their ceremony. This could be a church, temple, mosque, gurudwara, or synagogue, but each of these may differ in how they are treating the coronavirus pandemic.

No matter what you decide, you should maintain regular communication with your venue to ensure that you are kept abreast of all developments and protocols as the pandemic progresses.

Fun ways to safely include loved ones

• Virtual/ streaming wedding

Ivy Summer, the author of Poise Over Panic: How to Plan a Wedding in a Pandemic, has seen the coronavirus affect engaged couples in many ways. “There are couples who originally planned to host a bicoastal wedding reception, but those plans were inevitably disrupted by shelter-in-place orders and consequential travel restrictions,” she says.

Elder offers a way around this with an innovative new solution at the Overlook Barn. “Provide a livestream option,” she urges. “This allows higher-risk guests to stay home and still celebrate with the couple and also is a way to reduce your guest list of people who will be there in person.”

A lot of wedding videography and photography companies have updated their pandemic repertoire to including livestreaming services. Plus, livestreams are often recorded. These recordings are also easy to share after the fact, forever memorializing your nuptials in a way that you can enjoy again and again.

• Drive-by wedding

Guests can visit a location between certain hours, driving by slowly while they greet the couple from the safety of their cars

Preparing for a change of plans

Flexibility is one of the most important things you can maintain when planning a coronavirus wedding. Says Meyer, “If you’re flexible about having your wedding on a weekday or end of the weekend, you not only save money, but might be able to have all the vendors you’ve previously booked and not have to miss out on nonrefundable fees.”

In case you do find yourself drowning in fees, leading wedding website The Knot has created a $10 million financial assistance program to assist wedding professionals severely impacted by the coronavirus.
Keeping guests informedOne of the most difficult parts of planning a wedding is maintaining communication with all involved parties. Not just guests, bud vendors, too.

Building a free wedding website can be a great way to instantly update all of your guests and vendors, keeping everyone in the loop. Your site will allow you to update all of your family and guests with a single post, freeing up more time for you to plan with your vendors. You can also give specific details and instructions surrounding coronavirus precautions so your guests will feel more comfortable supporting you on your big day.

Read the room
Before you make a final decision, Elder suggests going straight to your guests. “Send a quick survey out to your guests to gauge their comfort level in attending if you do not postpone; this will help you decide if postponement is right for you.”

If you do decide to change your date, Summer recommends that you reach out to your VIPs before setting a new date. “If you can’t imagine yourself getting married without them, then get in touch to ensure they’re available for your new wedding date.”

Wedding insurance
McCord Jones addresses the problems affecting the entire industry. “For vendors, they are in a hard place because their contracts do not address pandemics, and many couples are requesting all deposits and payments to be returned, as they may need the funds due to job losses.  This proves to be a nightmare for the entire industry.”

Wedding insurance could help. There is the traditional form of liability insurance that will protect you from liability relating to wedding-related accidents and injuries. There is also cancellation insurance, which can protect you financially should you have to cancel your wedding for any of the covered reasons.

If you’re thinking about postponing your wedding
When asked about what is missed most about weddings, Promoleaf’s survey showed that over half of respondents (53%) said what they miss most is hugging and interacting with the bride and groom, family and friends. Dancing, buffets and open bars, particularly among male respondents, are also very much missed. Postponing your wedding could allow you the opportunity to save that human interaction by choosing a date in the future.

Give yourself time to process
“A wedding is a huge life event,” says McCord Jones. “My best advice, as a former wedding planner, is to do some soul searching with your fiance on priorities which choice will grieve you most.”

There are also practical reasons for not postponing. McCord Jones says that in addition to the stress, a postponed wedding could impact financial and family planning goals. If you find yourself in the situation where your health insurance may be impacted by postponing your ceremony, consider a courthouse wedding or an elopement and save your celebratory reception for down the road.

Find support
Wedding websites like The Knot, Wedding Wire and Wedding Pro have always been popular forums for brides and grooms, but those forums have evolved into emotional support groups in the age of COVID-19. Websites and social media groups like those on Facebook are an excellent source of support from those who are experiencing many of the same challenges as you and your significant other.

“Take the time to mourn,” says Willard. “You are dealing with the loss of the anticipated experience. Months and years have gone by planning your wedding. It’s important to acknowledge these things and allow yourself to move on.”

Keep your vendors in mind
For many of Meyer’s couples, moving dates and locations have presented a serious issue. “Not all vendors are able to move to their new locations, or they are losing out on deposits from venues,” she says. “It costs more money and is a headache to get rescheduled.”

Work with your vendors to find the best solution for your wedding. Vendor contracts and cancellation policies may vary, but many wedding vendors are committed to executing their clients’ events.

As a wedding planner, Meyer recommends using professional services like hers to help with the rescheduling process. “If you have a wedding coordinator, talk to them and see how they can help.”

Make sure you have all your vendors onboard before announcing anything to your guests, cautions Melanie Levin, the owner and principal planner of LuckEleven Events in Los Angeles. An easy way to track this, Willard recommends, is a group message. “Get all of your vendors’ emails into one message.  This will dramatically reduce the amount of communication that you have to do with each of the vendors.”

Update your guests
Your wedding website can help here, delivering details about travel cancellation and refunds. Your coordinator may also be able to help negotiate hotel room blocks. But you also need to prepare to watch the guestlist dwindle.

Couples are dealing with new limitations and requirements being instituted by both new and old venues. This could mean significant changes to your guest list, whether it is due to space, budget, or illness. And you’ll have to accept the fact that some of your guests are uncomfortable with the idea of attending a wedding in a pandemic.

Reevaluate your budget
A wedding is a carefully balanced house of cards, and the slightest change can have significant bearing on your plans and budget. Regardless of whether you choose to postpone your wedding, you should take this opportunity to reassess your budget.

The average wedding in 2019 cost nearly $34,000, but coronavirus has introduced all sorts of new expenses that can seriously impact your budget. Many couples are using personal loans to help cover the new costs associated with their wedding plans.

Additional Resources

• CDC Considerations for Events & Gatherings
• WeddingPro COVID-19 Planning Resources 
• Minted Wedding Planning Guide During the Coronavirus
• Wedding Wire’s COVID-19 Wedding Advice Guide
• The Knot Official Guide for COVID-19 Wedding Help

Click here to go to Part 2: After the Wedding...

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Multi-Site Events and The Future of Live Entertainment 
In-person and hybrid events can be a key solution in the difficulties that we're facing with human connection and a low sense of morale. One of the most common challenges that event industry professionals have been facing since the pandemic began is figuring out how to host events safely, effectively and efficiently during these uncertain times.

For North Carolinians, the phases of reopening have posed many obstacles for hosting in-person events despite industry professionals' preparedness to enhance event safety measures. For South Carolinians, state restrictions have been more lenient, but safety is still a concern.
 
For everyone, multi-site events can be a game-changer.

What is a multi-site event? Simply put, a multi-site event is a function that takes place at multiple locations simultaneously and offers a similar experience at each, from the decorations to food and beverage, and, our personal favorite, entertainment.

How are multi-site events a safer option? By offering multiple locations, a multi-site event can allow more guests to participate while practicing social distancing and makes it easier to trace the location of guests by assigning them to a venue.

Where does live music fit? Thanks to technology, there's a bit of flexibility in how multi-site events can utilize live music. Because the goal is for each event site to have a nearly identical experience across the board, the first things to consider are the genre of music and number of musicians. Once the genre and size category are settled, you can choose between having a different, yet similar Key Signature musician perform at each event site, or one Key Signature musician stream to all sites remotely from a professional sound stage with turn-key production offered by one of our sound production partners.

Still have questions or want to know what Key Signature is about? Give us a call at 704-568-1968 or visit our website to learn more about Who We Are and what we're cooking up to keep live music alive in the ever-evolving world of Virtual/Hybrid and live events!

Because of the current ban on large gatherings, many couples are considering eloping to the mountains in one of our many forests and parks, with a few family members and friends. Here's the 411 on that. The mountains are not as wild and free as you might suppose. Most of these places do require a permit. (A lot of people try to sneak in and do a quick wedding without a permit, but park rangers are actively patrolling to disburse groups, and there are fines for having events without permits.) Federal parks are stricter than the state parks, especially where alcohol is concerned. Local elopement companies may be able to help you find the perfect spot, but there are also restrictions on elopement companies and professional photographers doing business on public lands. Even with a permit, you do not have exclusive use of the area, so motorcyclists, tourists and other groups will be around. Some popular locations, such as Max Patch, Black Balsam, Craggy Gardens, and Looking Glass Falls, are prohibiting groups due to overuse. And the Covid-19 pandemic has brought a slew of restrictions and closings. Check before you go to assure that your chosen location is not closed due to local or state restrictions, snow/storm damage, or maintenance. Group limits and social distancing rules still apply, even in nature. 

A few tips for planning your outdoor, mountain wedding in 2020 Pick 2-3 places, and be ready to move to one of your backups if your first choice is overcrowded, or if it starts to rain. Be warned that motorcycle and vehicle noise are particularly troublesome at overlooks and spots close to the road. Sites further away are quieter, though they may require a hike. Check the internet for information about the trail and its difficulty (one we like is https://www.alltrails.com.) Email everyone involved beforehand with the timeline, directions, the back up plans, and the post-ceremony meetup location. Instruct guests to print these out since cell phone service is spotty at best. Tell them to proceed to the trail and start hiking as soon as they get there, so there is no gathering in the parking area, and to leave for the rendezvous point as soon as photos are done. You may find restrooms are closed, so go before you go. Needless to say, hiking boots are recommended over heels. (You can put those on once you get there.) And watch out for bugs and bears! (Read more about that and other unique aspects of getting married in W.N.C. here. ) 

Here is a list of the best places for eloping in the Western North Carolina mountains.

National Parks (National Park Service)

Appalachian Trail 
Appalachian National Scenic Trail (U.S. National Park Service)

Blue Ridge Parkway 
You can read information about the process of getting a permit to have a wedding on Parkway lands here: Wedding Permits - Blue Ridge Parkway (U.S. National Park Service). 

Carl Sandburg Home
Permits & Reservations - Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (National Park Service)
Cades Cove Chapels, Cataloochee Chapel, Clingman's Dome, Newfound Gap
Please call (828) 497-1930 for permit information

National Forests (US Forest Service)
Appalachian Mountains
Bridal Veil Falls, Dry Falls
Flat Top Mountain
Hot Springs, Lovers Leap
Pisgah National Forest, Big Ivy
Nantahala National Forest
Roan Mountain (Currently closed)
Shining Rock Wilderness
Whiteside Mountain
National Forests in North Carolina - Event/Commercial Permits

State Forests and Parks (State Forest Service and NC Division of Parks and Recreation)

Chimney Rock, Rumbling Bald, Eagle Rock (Chimney Rock, Lake Lure)
Gorges State Park (Brevard/Sapphire)
Mount Mitchell
https://files.nc.gov/ncparks/north-carolina-state-parks-special-activity-permit.pdf

Dupont National Forest-Currently closed to groups
https://www.dupontstaterecreationalforest.com/Pages/FacilitiesAndPermits.aspx

Grandfather Mountain (a privately-owned attraction near Linville)
Weddings | GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN : Wonders Never Cease

So many brides today are opting to DIY (Do-It-Yourself) at least part of their wedding -- whether it's flowers, decorations, favors, or accessories. And there are so many great ideas out there!  Check any wedding magazine, website, blog, or Pinterest. It all looks soooo easy! And I’m all for it. It lends a true, personal touch to your event, and it can be a fun project for you and your fiancé or friends to bond over. Might even save a little money. But as the person who usually ends up setting up these DIY creations, let me share a few words of advice.

Keep it Minimal Every bride starts off saying, “We're going to keep it simple.” Nine months later, they’ve got 20 things to set up on each and every table. Consider that it takes 3 to 5 minutes to set each element. So for table runner, centerpiece, and candles, that's 12 to 15 minutes per table. If you've got 20 tables, that's going to take a while. Once you’ve found a great idea, check the wedding boards on The Knot or search wedding blogs to see if someone else has done it and read their advice. Send a message to that Pinterest user to get more information. Email the product seller and get specifics about equipment required and set up instructions. Just remember, that the more you add, the more help will be required.

Keep it Light Heavy accessories like glass jars, wood discs, stones, and corn hole games are hard to transport, set up, and pack up. Consider how you're going to move these things in and out. They also require more time to set up. Make sure the venue has hand carts, and that they will allow you extra time to load in and out. If they will let you bring the heavy stuff ahead of time, even better. And if you are depending on someone who is in the wedding to do this, they are going to need time to go home and shower after. It’s hard to look you best after moving 150 bricks! Hiring some extra labor works best.

Keep It Low If you plan to make and hang banners, garlands, lanterns, or lights, be warned that these are major installations that take a lot of extra time. First, check with your venue before ordering. I can't tell you how many times brides have come with bunches of hanging items only to find that staple guns or nails are not allowed. Or there are no ladders, scissors, or hammers to be found. Perhaps the desired effect could be accomplished with something easier -- just one cluster of lanterns hung from a center chandelier, or canned lights that are easily plugged into a wall to project light or color onto the ceiling. This is one area where a rental or décor company might be the best – and safest option. Hungover groomsmen on ladders=bad idea.

DIY Flowers You went to the florist and returned with a bit of sticker shock. So you decided to do the flowers yourself. After all, there are fresh flowers available in the grocery store, the farmer’s market, even online. How hard could it be? Well, it’s not hard, if you have time. And space to work. And tools to work with. It’s not as simple as just plopping some flowers in a mason jar. The flowers need to be sorted, cut, and arranged in a pleasing way. I’ve found that it takes 15-20 minutes to do one arrangement. Bouquets and boutonnieres take even longer. Flowers are perishable, so you can’t do them too far ahead. And sometimes the beautiful pink roses you saw at Sam’s in January just aren’t there in July.  (BTW, the quality of grocery store flowers is also undependable.) Then there’s the cleanup. Who is going to remove all the water, vases, and flowers at the end of the night? That being said, it can be fun to have a flower arranging party with your girls the day before the wedding. Western North Carolina is blessed with some great cut-your-own flower farms. But if Aunt Betsy has planned a bridal shower for Friday, you may not have time to do both. You definitely won’t have time day of.  Does it really save money? Well, to be honest with you, by the time you order all the supplies (at full retail price), DIY flower projects can be costly. So be sure you are taking this on because you love, love, love the idea, and not just to save money. And consider using a florist for at least part of the décor, and DIY the rest. Most are happy to compromise.

Free Favors or Favor Free? The whole favor thing is sometimes blown out of proportion. Remember, a favor is simply a small token of thanks to the guest for coming to your wedding. It does not have to be big, or practical, or useful. It's no thanks to require your guest to carry some heavy jar, plant, or, God forbid, fish, home with them. If you must create this type or favor, don’t make one for every guest.  Wedding guests are favored out – many just won’t take them. It’s better to make simple favors, like a fabric square filled with candy, or a chocolate bar with a personalized wrapper. The time and money spent to create and set up 100 favors might be better spent on décor. Just be sure to thank your guests in person at the event, and in your thank you notes.

The Y in DIY Remember that on the day of the wedding you will be busy getting ready, getting your hair done, getting dressed, getting photos, and, hopefully, getting to hang out with your friends and family. You cannot be the You in Do-it-Yourself on the big day. Relying on family or friends to do it is not fair to them, either. You'll need a day of coordinator or a team of hired hands to do it for you.

One Last Piece of Advice My friend Beth Stickle, florist and owner of Bloomin’ Art, tells a funny story about DIY from her own wedding. She and her fiancé decided to save some money on rental costs by picking up and setting up the ceremony chairs themselves. Because they would not have time to do this the day of the wedding, they asked their friends to stay after the rehearsal to help. So they set up the folding chairs in a lovely spot by a lake and took off. Next morning they returned to find a flock of geese had enjoyed the new “roosts” overnight.  And the friends? Too hung over to make it to the early morning set up session. “So instead of spending my morning decorating for my wedding and getting dressed, I spent it cleaning goose sh** off 200 chairs. Not pretty.” Something to think about!

Trouble finding your wedding style? Your colors? Your theme? No, I’m not suggesting the popular Disney movie Frozen as a theme, but movies can inspire a theme. Here's my advice. Get on Pinterest. Search on “wedding style.” Start pinning. Don’t think about it. Pin whatever jumps out at you. (Tearing photos out of wedding magazines would also work.) Something about these 3 photos really grabbed one bride.

Was it is the color? No, not crazy about yellow or coral. The style? No, not crazy about the dresses. And we’re not near a farm or beach. After pinning, take a break, step back, and look for a common denominator. Then you’ll know your style. While taking a break from looking at these photos, we were interrupted by my daughter. She and the bride got to talking about how they both loved the music from the movie Frozen.  Maybe we had the song “In Summer” in our heads, but when we went back to the montage, we realized that what these photos had in common was summer -- bright colors, casual style, and sunshine. I summed it up as "summer day." There's the theme! Doesn’t matter that it’s a fall wedding. We’re using summer colors. Dresses in blue, flowers with blues, greens, a touch of yellow. Linens in green, blue, yellow and red checked gingham (don’t want to be too matchy matchy). Invitations, favors, decorations with a subtle sun motif. Mason jars, lemonade, iced tea. See it now? No, there won’t be a first dance to “In Summer.” We don’t want to beat people over the head with the theme. But we might be humming it during our next planning session!

One thing wedding planners do for you is keep up on all the latest trends by reading wedding magazines and blogs, attending wedding shows and webinars, and networking with other wedding vendors. A lot of wedding planning sites write about the latest trends. Let me write about some new ideas I've seen in the last week that I think might become trends.

Instead of a massages on mani/pedis, how about yoga?  Your own private yoga group session, followed by a healthy brunch with hot teas,  fruit and finger sandwiches. Talk about stress relief! (Mary, www.cashiersvalleyfusion.com)

Truffles and beer? Yes! Pair your favorite seasonal brew with a custom-made chocolate truffle to match. Think pumpkin beer with chocolate pumpkin truffles. Put them at the bar instead of the favor table for a sure-fire conversation starter.
(Schocolate Artisan Truffles, www.schocolate.com)

An alternative to the photo booth – a live artist doing drawings, silhouettes, or caricatures. If the couple has one
done ahead of time, they can be turned into part of the décor, even a cake topper! (Brian Vasilik, www.weddingcaricatures.blogspot.com)

I’ve written about this before, but it’s so unique that it deserves mentioning again.  A dove release to end your ceremony or
reception instead of bubbles, birdseed, or sparklers. Trained white homing pigeons rise up, circle the crowd, and fly away. It’s spectacular. Kind of like fireworks, but much cheaper. And not to worry, these birds are pros that always get home safely. (Julia at www.ashevillewhitedovereleases.com)

Groomsmen activity instead of golf? Ziplining!  This is a popular activity in the mountains, where the views from the treetops can be spectacular. One company offers group rates and a free “Father of the Bride Zip”, because, “We figure he’s paid enough already.” (Highlands Aerial Park, www.highlandscanopytour.com)

Breakfast for dinner. Think waffle making station, omelets cooked to order, and bacon! More affordable  than the usual
dinner, and more interesting that the rubber chicken plate. (Idea from Cathy Brovet, Sales Manager at the Cliffs at Walnut Cove, www.cliffscommunities.com)

Horse-Drawn Wedding. Not a horse drawn carriage; that’s been done. I’m talking about the whole wedding taking place in a carriage while you cruise the avenues of one of our historic neighborhoods. I’ve seen weddings on boats, hot air balloons, and parade floats, but for an elopement, this seems a lot more romantic (and less dangerous!) (From www.ashevillehorseandcarriagetours.com)

Got a new idea? I'd love for you to post it as a comment. It will be interesting to look back a few years from now and see if any of these new ideas are then old hat!

Thank you to the Sawyer Family Farmstead in Glenville, NC (near Cashiers) for hosting the Blue Ridge Bride Wedding Show last Saturday from whence came many of these ideas!