September is the Month for Outdoor Weddings!

LOLA did some amazing events in the great outdoors this season, and September has proven to be the best month for weather yet again this year.  One of my absolute favorite websites for planning an outdoor event is weather.com and their wedding planner where you can get lots of great information: http://www.weather.com/activities/events/weddings/

Here are our main reasons why September gets our vote:

1. Lower chances of rain & Gorgeous Temperatures: June is actually the wettest month in Chicagoland while September is better for temperatures (average temp of 76) and precipitation!

2. Less chance for bothersome bugs: Mosquitos are the enemy of the outdoor wedding - bugs are usually less bothersome in September than in June, July and August.  

3. Earlier sunsets: Sunsets in June are late in the day making it difficult to utilize lighting and candles in your decor.  September sunsets are around 7-7:30PM making it the perfect atmosphere for lots of candlelight in your dining centerpieces!

These are all great reasons to say "I DO" outdoors in September in the Midwest, but ALWAYS remember to have a backup plan for rain - this is the Midwest afterall! No rain plan means lots of unneccesary worry in the weeks and months leading up to the big day.  Mother Nature WILL be a guest at your wedding, so plan appropriately.  Nothing is worse than being a guest at an outdoor wedding standing in the beating sun, drizzle or wind!

Cake Tips from LOLA Angie's List Podcast

Check out the great tips about wedding cakes in the Angie's List podcast, featuring the LOLA Pro's!

Wording and Tone for your Casual Wedding Invitation

Not only can it be a challenge to get all the etiquette of a wedding invitation correct - it can be tricky to word your wedding invitation so that it properly reflects the mood and formality of the event… Especially if you are having a more unique reception that may not be the traditional ceremony, dinner, dancing format.  It is important that your invitation sets the correct tone, so that guests can set their expectations accordingly.  It also helps ease their stress on attending something less “cookie cutter” in terms of helping them choose an appropriate gift and the proper attire to wear to the affair.  Here are a few of my favorite client invitations that reflect the vibe of their event perfectly!

 Jade and Raj are having a semi-formal multi-cultural affair, and want to make sure that both bride and groom guests are excited and informed as to what to expect from their ceremony. The design of the invitation as well as the wording and fonts are all reflective of this objective, and it has transformed into one of the major inspirations for the entire event. This invitation was created by Visual Affair specifically for the client.

Mary and Victor had a semi-casual affair on the Chicago Lakefront and created this invitation themselves as a DIY project.  They wanted to make sure guests were aware of the location so they wouldn’t wear shoes or clothing inappropriate to the beach or their outdoor venue.  We also loved that they invited their guests to wear certain colors that reflected the time of day – which inspired the decor for their event.

Lori & Bryan had married in a private ceremony previously, and wanted to host a very casual cocktail reception to kick off the 4^th of July Weekend and celebrate the recent nuptuals. To make sure guests knew what to expect from the evening and keep the mood extremely casual and festive - they got creative with their invitation.  They weren’t serving dinner and wanted to make sure that was reflected as well.                         

Grappling with Gratuities?

One of the most confusing parts of your last minute event expenses can be tipping.  Make sure you set money aside in your budget to thank the people that made your event a success.  Rule of thumb is 10-20% of the food and beverage subtotal (before tax, rental and service charges) for caterers, 20% for transportation (limo, trolley drivers), and 10-20% for other vendors that are on-site at your event.  Check your contract to make sure a standard gratuity isn't already included, and remember that gratuities are for vendors that have gone above and beyond for you in your planning process.  Vendors should be committed to executing flawlessly regardless of gratuity, and should NEVER ask for one.

High Heel Helper

With the weather finally warming up, it's time to pack your Uggs away pull out all of your great peep-toes and strappy sandals. What a better place to show off your fab foot-ware than at that beautiful outdoor wedding that's just around the corner. 

The Bummer: Your hot heel is sinking into the grass and you're trying not to look like you're limping down the aisle.

The Solution: We love these great little finds, The Sole Mates!