I feel that no bride should have to work on her wedding day… however I’m also not paying for her wedding, so I understand if couples need to cut some costs and are willing to work on their wedding day…for the benefits of the savings. That’s why we offer a DIY option for our decorating services. We feel that every couple should have the wedding of their dreams, no matter what their budget. And as a wedding planner I strongly feel that it’s possible to do so, as long as the couple is realistic on what you can get for your money.
So what do you need to take into consideration before you take on this task?
#1. The Time It Takes To Install Chair Covers
On average it would take 2 people, one hour to install 100 chair covers…. or one person 30 mins to install 50 chair covers. Now installation is actually the part that’s not too difficult. Sometimes you can get lucky and ask your venue if you can install them the day prior to the wedding, just before your rehearsal maybe? But the thing that’s not so fun… tearing down at the end of the night (usually around 1-1:30 am) when you’re… a little tipsy… tired from a long day… and esp for the ladies, very sore feet. The nice thing about tearing down though… it doesn’t take nearly as long to tear down as it does to set up. Usually half of the time to tear down that it took you to set up. Don’t forget to count the covers to ensure that none are missing.
#2. Transporting
You need to make sure that you have enough trunk space to transport all the chair covers. Usually chair covers are packed in heavy duty contractor garbage bags. Yes… garbages bags. Why? Because they are the best thing that won’t rip open from the weight of the chair covers. They are a little heavy, so ladies it’s not a bad thing to have a man or two around because you will have to lug the chair covers from the car into the hall. There’s about 40-50 chair covers in one garbage bag, so the average trunk may fit 3 or 4 bags. If your wedding is large (over 200 people) you may need another vehicle.
#3. Pick Up & Drop Off
Most rental companies say to pick up the day before or two days before the event… and to drop off the day after or two days after the event. Things you need to consider are… will you have enough time to pick up the items, will you be running around doing other wedding related errands such as mani/pedis, hair cuts, picking up tuxes/wedding dress, finalizing seating plans, writing out place cards, wrapping wedding party gifts, assembling wedding favours, printing off wedding programs… etc. Also for the drop off… will you be going on your honeymoon right after the wedding? Who will you designate to drop off the chair covers for you while you’re away?
#4. How To Set Them Up
Chair covers are actually pretty easy to set up. For the plain scuba chair covers (as pictured above) … you hold the cover up by the attached chair sash, the shorter fabric side is the back, the part that overhangs and is longer is the front (the part that goes over the actual seat of the chair). You put it on like a pillow case overtop of the chair, then wiggle and pull it down so that the chair legs are covered. Then tie the sash.
So is it worth all the effort? Well only you can really decide. For the least expensive DIY chair covers are usually around $1.50 each (polyester scuba material)… for installation by a company you may be paying between $2.25- over $3 depending on the company. Or you might be able to save a little on installation if you book other services from them… for instance we offer our wedding planning, design and decor package clients scuba chair covers for only $1.75 installed.
So I hope this post has helped you take all into consideration when it comes to you and your wedding party installing chair covers on your wedding day. If you have any further questions regarding our chair covers, please e-mail us info@stephaniethompson.ca.
Template
One piece of paddle fan can be printed on one 8.5″ x 11″ paper. One side (left or right) of the template is the front of the fan while the other is the back. The fans measure approximately 5 1/4″ x 6 1/2″. My template includes 4 different shapes you can choose from.
Adding an image background
Add your image by clicking INSERT from the top menu then PICTURE. You can either insert a clipart or an image file. Select your image by clicking on it. Right click on the image then click FORMAT PICTURE. Click the LAYOUT tab and select BEHIND TEXT under Wrapping Style. Click OK. Now you can drag your image to anywhere you want it. Notice that your image appears behind your texts.
Directions
Cut on solid lines. You may use cutter or X-acto knife for the straight lines. Use scissors for the curved lines. You can use a round-corner cutter for the corners of the basic shape. Do not cut the dashed lines in the middle connecting the left and the right parts. Score and fold on the dashed lines in the middle.
Apply adhesive to one tip of your fan handle or tongue depressor. Insert your paddle or tongue depressor in between the folded fan and press to adhere.
As a wedding designer not only do I get the honour and pleasure of making clients wedding dreams come true, but I also get to meet some really great people. Ashley, Jeff and the Thorn family are no exeception. Ashley’s mom & dad (Char & Bob Thorn) really made me feel like part of the family and not just like a hired vendor. I guess that happens naturally when you work with a client for many months planning their dream wedding day.
Ashley and Jeff’s wedding was our first wedding design clients (meaning wedding decor, florals, rentals, lighting etc as well as wedding day coordination services). Not only was decor one of Ash’s priorities but it was very important to the family that everything runs seamlessly on the day of and that they are truly able to enjoy themselves. Well I’m confident that they were able to do just that. It was a great weekend up in Alliston and I’m really going to miss the Thorn family and we wish Ashley & Jeff all the best of luck in the world!!!
Now onto the design details:
After the set up, I looked around the room and smiled! It was Ashley’s vision, everything we had talked about in our previous conversations… from the lighting to the colour scheme, the head table, the centrepieces and the touches of crystals everywhere. And all of this accomplished on the budget guidelines dad had given us.
Ashley had a few things she really wanted for her wedding decor: lighting, blue hydrangea bouquets with rhinestone buckles and brown satin/pintuck for table linen
We didn’t want to complete with the beautiful wedding garden at the Nottawasaga Inn, so we did simple ceremony decor which consisted of an aisle runner, rose petals and a crystal chain to tie it off. Ashley had lovely fan programs and customized water containers which were a hit with her guests on a rainy, overcast and muggy day in Alliston. For here head table we used some brown satin draping with crystal accents such as our NEW crystal candleholders, bouquet vases and clear rocks, our white pintuck hanging crystal backdrop with white swags and crystal bands as well as our silver manzanita trees with crystals and blue pendants. The cake that was made by www.cakesbydesign.ca was a lovely four tier cake, with hydrangeas made from icing in the middle and ribbon consisting of teal and brown around the tiers (which complimented her invitations). For the guests tables Ashley wanted submergered orchid centrepieces, and to be budget friendly we went with white dendrobium orchids and a floating candle in a cylinder vase, brown pintuck table linens and lots of candlelight. The atmosphere was set with blue coloured LED lights for an evening of magic and fun! Congrats Jeff & Ash!!! Here are some of the pics taken by my wonderful husband Steve.
I’m currently working with Carla and Andrew this great couple who I am helping plan their romantic fall “walk in the woods” wedding here in Hamilton all the way from Vancouver BC. Here is a vision board I came up with and I thought I would share it with you brides to be who are getting married in the fall. What I love about fall weddings are the colours, the crispness in the air, swooshing of leaves and the warmth of wearing a sweater. Something about fall makes you want to cuddle up with that special someone.
Some great colours for fall are aubergine (eggplant), cranberry (merlot), burgundy, orange, burnt orange, rust, copper, and the ever popular brown. Also to complete the theme is selecting some popular natural elements of fall (esp on a walk in the woods) leaves, acorns, chrysanthemums, and pumpkins for instance.
Sometimes it can be a bit of a challenge for a decorator when you have to compete with a large portrait of the Queen of England, but I think we were able to transform the Acton Legion Hall into a vision fit for a princess bride. Check out our before and after shots for this couple who wanted a fun and fabulous wedding featuring the bridesmaid’s dresses colour of “Alfred Angelo Jade”, which to the rest of the world is close to turquoise or a Tiffany blue. The head and cake table were covered with white satin table linens and Tiffany blue (turquoise) table runners with a backdrop with Tiffany blue (turquoise) accents. Our white mitsumata branches surrounded the table dripping in lots of crystal beads to add a bit of sparkle to this legion hall. This couple had nearly 200 guests so in order to keep their decor budget in perspective we recommended one of our $25 dollar centrepieces, which consists of a fishbowl with some hand tied apricot (coral/ orange) gerbera daisies and bear grass, with some coloured rocks to punch it up (and look closely at the receiving table arrangement with features a cutsy little goldfish my 2 year old daughter has named “Orange”). We surrounded some turquoise napkins with our orange polka-dot and floral napkin rings (available for rent $0.50 each).
We had a great indoor rain plan for this couple…fortunately they didn’t have to use it. Today’s wedding of Sarah-Jane & Matt at the Ancaster Old Mill were blessed with not only the love of one another but glorious weather as the 50/50 chance of afternoon showers held off! The ceremony decor consisted of Shepard’s hooks with hand-tied pink peonies, white aisle runner and pink rose petals and of course the beautiful surroundings by the Old Mill. Photo’s taken by Steve Thompson.
We provided ceremony and reception decor for this wonderful couple. Sarah Jane wanted a traditional, elegant and romantic wedding highlighting her colour theme of pistachio green (similar to Apple Green, Chartreuse) with bright pink. We decorated her head and cake table with simple white, traditional swagging. The venue provided wonderful gold chivari chairs so we played them up with apple green organza sashes and gold charger plates. Behind the head table were two lovely and large curly willow arrangements accented with pink roses and pistachio green beads. We wish this happy couple all the best for the future!!!
Traditionally at the end of the ceremony the officiant will announce “You may now kiss your bride”. But wouldn’t it be fun to surprise your guests to do your secret couples handshake or perhaps you prefer high fives, chest pumps or my two year old daughter and my husband’s favourite “boom” first pump.
Episode Description: Bride Nicole and Groom Adam are the perfect pairing and have been dreaming of having a wine themed wedding day! As they are about the take the marital plunge, what challenges will they face when Adam’s ‘ultra cheap’ tendencies come up against Nicole’s budget conscious ways? Being the first of all of their friends to tie the knot, this couple will struggle to pull off a “cheap” wedding that doesn’t “look cheap”. This is no small task especially when you have a groom who feels he can get everything for free!
This past fall we provided decorating service for an episode of Rich Bride Poor Bride… and the time has finally come for the episode to air. On Monday, May 24th at 9pm on the Slice Network our episode where we worked with wedding planners Laura Atendido & Kelly Spinelli and Nicole and Adam on their winery themed wedding at Knollwood Golf & Country Club in Ancaster. I am truly greatful and honoured to have been a part of Nicole and Adam’s vision for their wedding day. It was a fun experience that I will never forget.
As late night buffets become more interesting with the bride and groom’s favourite comfort food, from candy, to pizza… to even late night street meat. Why not consider hiring a hot dog vendor to serve your guests pre-paid hot dogs and sausages versus late night fruit and sweets. Definately something your guests will remember.
I feel that no bride should have to work on her wedding day… however I’m also not paying for her wedding, so I understand if couples need to cut some costs and are willing to work on their wedding day…for the benefits of the savings. That’s why we offer a DIY option for our decorating services. We feel that every couple should have the wedding of their dreams, no matter what their budget. And as a wedding planner I strongly feel that it’s possible to do so, as long as the couple is realistic on what you can get for your money.
(cutter), 
(round corner puncher), 
(adhesive), 
(paper), 
(recycled paper), 
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