Wedding Venue
The champagne toast has become an important cog in the wheel of a wedding reception. The toast gives the people closest to the newlyweds to say something and show their appreciation. In most cases, the best man is the first to toast, followed by the maid of honor, but this is not cast in stone.
The bride or the bridegroom can ask anyone to toast the champ, dip in nostalgia over old memories and bring a tear to heartfelt sentiments.
Several people wish to raise a toast for the bride and groom, and in the absence of a solid plan, everything can go up in the air. Therefore, each toast should not last more than a couple of minutes.
The Basics of Raising a Toast
You’d wish you had a written speech when you rise to give a toast, and all eyes are on you with anticipation. To avoid the little embarrassing mishaps and uncomfortable chuckles, have a notecard where you write and refer to the important points.
Make sure that everyone has their glass before you start with the pleasantries. If the champagne is in bottles, let the attendees know that they can now fill their glasses before you start with the walk down the memory lane.
Test the microphone and make sure it is working alright and review your notes before you begin. Throw an acknowledging glance at the couple to refresh your memories, and then start with the pleasantries. Go slow on the exaggerations and humor. It could turn embarrassing.
The rest of the toast should be delivered by glancing at the couple, your notes, and the crowd. After your speech delivery, ask everyone to raise their glasses to the couple as you raise yours. Tap it with the glasses of those close by. Hug the bride and the bridegroom if you are close to them, and then pass the mic to the next in line to toast as well.
Villa Ragusa has the amenities and champs to make the wedding reception the most memorable event. Our caterers are always ready to give a hand whenever necessary.
Banquet Hall, Wedding Venue
Traditionally, it was the responsibility of the bride’s parents to host the rehearsal dinner. Still, surprisingly, couples are gradually taking over these pre-nuptial parties and customizing them to fit their needs and budgets.
That means it may be up to you to make it a completely casual affair or an intimate one. But whatever direction you choose, keep the following in mind.
Responsibility for the Dinner
As mentioned earlier, hosting the pre-nuptial dinner can be done by the couples themselves or either side of the family. Sometimes, it can even be by a family friend or a friend of the couple. But if the couples and their families are super traditional, the groom’s side of the family will foot the bill.
Keep it Simple
The night before your big day is not usually the time to go on a celebratory spree. Keep it simple and leave the best for the wedding day. You don’t want to tire everyone or treat everyone to a celebration that overshadows the main event.
Invitations
The rehearsal dinner is an entirely different affair from the wedding. This also applies to the invitations, as they don’t have to be too formal. Use phone calls or word of mouth, but make sure to send out invitations between four and six months before the event.
Decide on a guest list before sending out the invitations. Do you want family members alone or with a few friends in attendance as well?
Other people to include in the wedding rehearsal list include the ushers, officiants, and some out-of-town guests. What size of the crowd is sufficient? Keep this at the back of your mind when drawing up the list. If you are not careful, the bridal party and some families can add up to quite a sizable crowd.
But all in all, Villa Ragusa has the amenities and services to accommodate a wedding rehearsal dinner crowd of up to 600 people. Talk to us today!
Wedding Venue
We all have an idea of what the perfect wedding looks like and what we would want when walking down the aisle. But as most find out, planning a wedding is easier said than done.
Typically, the activity demands a higher level of attention to detail and patience, which most people cannot afford with so much on their plate.
Hiring a wedding planner is an excellent way of getting around it, and the best part, you may get a movie-perfect wedding.
So, which are the benefits?
Get Value for Money
Wedding planners that have been in business for a while know what’s important, even for the wedding of your dreams. They can work with your budget to get the best bang for your buck. Wedding planners know the best vendors, and their relationship with these vendors puts them in the best position to negotiate for better prices.
Keep Everything on Track
An experienced wedding planner understands your vision and budget, and so they work to accomplish everything to satisfaction. All attention is on your big day and they make sure every detail is according to plan.
The bride and bridegroom’s desire is to actualize their dream wedding and a wedding planner can make it happen.
Reduce Stress of the Big Day
Keeping things stress-free and streamlined in a wedding is the primary goal. As the days grow closer, tension mounts for the couples and their families. Anything that could go wrong at such a time usually does, if not handled appropriately.
A professional wedding planner has numerous wedding events organized under their belt, and they have the right state of mind to keep everything flowing smoothly.
At Villa Ragusa, you are free to bring an outside caterer, and you can pick the brain of our event organizers. We understand how important the day is to you and our event space services are designed to make it a success.
Wedding Venue
Every wife-to-be desires a picture-perfect wedding, with pomp and splendor. Katherine Heigl in the all-time classic, 27 Dresses, epitomizes the kind of bridesmaid attire that every bride wishes they had, well, maybe at least at the time. The contemporary bridesmaid dresses are trendier, more visually satiating and chic.
There are several full-on stylish dress options you can pick for the bridesmaids to make the whole event visually spectacular and memorable for a lifetime. If you are short on ideas, the following suggestions may help.
The One-Shoulder Dresses
The asymmetrical detail dresses are at the top of the bridesmaid dress trends list, and it screams perfection. There are several colors to pick from, ranging from the elegant gunmetal, soft neutral, classic navy, bold and vibrant hues, royal purple, and dark shades.
Preferably, the bouquets should complement the colors of the dresses. For example, the plum jewel tone on monochromatic dresses goes well with bouquets adorning a lighter shade.
The same dress style, such as the elegant, bold hues, gives the event some sense of sophistication for all the bridesmaids. Let every maid pick the color of their shoes to let individual personalities shine through.
Mismatched Gowns
A mismatched bridal party has its place on the big day. For example, the Carolina Herrera dresses, or other styles with touches of the classy and sassy, are incredibly adorable, similar to shades of coral and poppy for any wedding event.
Different necklines, unique patterns, and shades of neutrals or the bohemian style dresses are also easy stand-outs. And of course, we all know that one girl who loves everything shiny. Sequins will definitely lift their spirit and of everyone, and which is the main idea.
Skirts in prints announce class and good taste. They deserve their very own photo-op, and why not?
The charm of European architecture, natural woodwork, and marble columns at Villa Ragusa are the final touches to make your nuptials a ‘princess affair.’ We will also throw in some professional and experienced help to make it a successful wedding that you deserve. Contact us today.
Banquet Hall, Wedding Venue
There is a whole lot to think about when planning for the day you will walk down the aisle. It’s your big day, and you want the best experience out of it, regardless of what is happening in the world. You deserve it.
In this coronavirus era, there are many moving parts, which can sometimes overshadow the big day. Currently, there is a broad vaccination campaign, and the expectation is that up to 70% of the population in the US may be vaccinated by October, and a sense of normality will be back.
That means things should be looking up as we move to the tail-end of the year. Here are a few points to help you plan for your wedding next year.
Play it Safe
The expectation is that things will start to go back to normal within a couple of months. However, it is crucial to consider the current restrictions that may still be in force on your wedding day.
For example, decide at least six months to allow your guests sufficient time to modify travel arrangements. This is also vital for the mental health of everyone.
For some people, the bigger the wedding, the merrier. Nonetheless, you may have to trim the guest list and consider social distancing rules.
Consider Your Guests
Where your guests are coming from is a huge consideration. Decide how much time they will need to make travel adjustments, considering that each state may have its own restrictions in place.
If most of your wedding reception crowd is local, then the adjustment period reduces significantly. We are talking about two to three months.
It is essential to voice your concerns to your venue and know what your options are going forward. At Villa Ragusa, we have experienced events staff, and we can help you with other logistics and other stuff to make your wedding successful.
Be Open with Your Vendors
It helps quite significantly to have a one-on-one with your vendors about the worst-case scenario. Discuss a game plan with them about the available solutions should you want to postpone the event.
Here at Villa Ragusa, we are hopeful that everything will change for the better, and you can finally have the best wedding experience. We are flexible, and our staff is at your disposal for brainstorming.
Reserve your space now!
Wedding Venue
Weddings are some of those important events that tend to linger in everyone’s mind for a lifetime, and admittedly so. This is because they are the most talked about, and it is imperative that everything comes out perfect. If you plan on a traditional wedding dance, it is vital to dance the right way and in order.
Nonetheless, you should not limit yourself. Customize the dance according to the tastes and needs of the wedding couple. After all, it is their big day. The desire is to make it unique and memorable, not uncomfortable.
The Order of the Traditional Wedding Dance
The first honor for the dance goes to the groom and bride. The couple must practice the dance several times before the big day. Remember that everyone will be watching, and any missteps might take a long time to forget.
The bride’s father is the next to take the floor with the bride, and the mother of the bride with the groom. Next, the bride’s father dances with the mother, and the groom extends his hand to his mother to dance. The groom’s parents are next in line to dance with each other.
Thereafter, the best man and each groomsman may dance with the bride, and the groom with the bridesmaids. Depending on the length of the wedding reception, this dance can be for partial or full songs. Lastly, wedding guests are allowed to join in.
Of course, the traditional wedding dance’s primary goal is to have fun, and if necessary, everything is editable to achieve it. Some variables, such as a deceased or disabled parent, may affect the traditional wedding dance order, but be sure nobody is excluded because of a disability. Keep in mind that the wedding dance order is not cast in stone.
At Villa Ragusa, there is plenty of room for traditional wedding dances, and our staff is at your disposal to help make the reception successful.
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