Dec 8, 2020
Wedding Planning Tips and COVID – Getting Hitched Without a Hitch
If someone had told us a year ago that custom face masks and color coordinated hand sanitizers would be a critical wedding planning tip and trend, we probably would have laughed! Hopefully we will soon look at these wedding planning tips and trends with COVID in the rearview mirror and with good riddance! But for now, we need to think about social distancing and safety for all in attendance.
We have approached the planning of our events and weddings in a whole new way. We are meeting this challenge by pivoting to small intimate micro weddings and events with open layouts. While we look forward to returning to larger events in the future, we are using innovative ways to plan and design gorgeous celebrations in Lake Tahoe and other destination weddings. These ideas not only keep the wedding design stylish but keep guests safely 6 feet apart while enjoying the festivities.
Catering Magazine’s current issue takes a look at “Getting Hitched Without A Hitch” during the time of COVID. We shared with them our favorite social distancing planning tips. The highlights can be read in their beautiful feature. For a complete rundown of our professional advice, it is right here so keep reading!
Social Distancing at Weddings
Ceremony – Create a modern layout for your ceremony instead of only spreading out the chairs 6 feet apart. Consider grouping your guests’ chairs into little pods of known cohorts. These clusters can have 3-4 chairs, or even a bench or couch mixed in with the layout, that are spaced out appropriately.
Reception – Everyone is familiar with the vinyl markers on the floor telling us where to stand. This is a design opportunity to seize! Consider selecting a color in your wedding palette for the marker. Don’t stop with just an “X”, maybe you have a custom monogram or wedding motif or fun message to mark the spot.
Dining Tables – You can keep the same cohort strategy used during the ceremony with your dining tables. These groups share a table at dinner by varying the table sizes (set for 2, 4 or 6….) to accommodate each household. We are also implementing additional dining tables and seating options set back in case a guest would like extra comfort.
Dance Floor – If your venue or reception space will allow for multiple dance floors, you may consider having 2-3 dancing areas to spread your guests out. Be sure to have extra speakers and sub-woofers to keep the music experience close.
Bar – Another way to avoid a gathering at the bar (a huge temptation!) is to incorporate the bottle service concept found in clubs. Catering staff can set an extra bottle of wine or a carafe of your signature drink on the table. Your guests can dance away right there. This layout option would have the dining tables around the dance floor(s).
This modern challenge is one we will gladly meet to ensure the safety and fun for all guests at our weddings. You too can take some of these innovative precautions to socially distance at your wedding or event. When everyone feels happy, safe and comfortable – it is a beautiful way they will remember your special day!
Yours in Celebration,
Merrily Rocco of
Jan 25, 2020
Male-Friendly Wedding Favors and Gift Ideas
As you know or you may be finding out, it takes a lot to prepare for a wedding. It equally takes a lot of time and money for friends and family to come celebrate with you. This is why wedding favors are a nice expression that you truly appreciate and love having them there with you on your wedding day.
A key thing to note is that not everyone will love the same gift. To be precise, the guys might want something a bit different from what the girls might fancy.
So what do you get them? A truck-load full of beer? Well, not really…
There are a lot of ideas you can select from, even customize. If you’re looking for guy-friendly wedding favors and gift ideas read on for 8 fun suggestions that the men will actually use!
Personalized Drink Stirrer
ETSY.COM: While a truck-load full of beer will be overkill, a personalized drink stirrer sporting each guy’s name will be a gift that will last beyond the weekend. You can have this set at each guy’s place setting, with the gold finish complimenting your wedding style.
You can have party-inspired words form the writing or be a bit more personal and have each guy’s name engraved on it.
Ginger Ray Kraft Matchbox
AMAZON.COM: If you are having a rustic themed wedding, then this matchbox will be a great idea for a wedding favor to give your male guests. They are also budget friendly – but be sure to check with your venue regarding their policy on open flames.
The box comes with a nice thank-you note written on top, so the gentlemen will always feel appreciated anytime they pull out this beautiful matchbox.
Magnet Letters
NOTONTHEHIGHSTREET.COM: There are a lot of ideas and areas where these magnet letters will stick! A great start would be at your reception on a favor table or incorporated into the place setting. These magnet letters are very versatile wedding favors, thanks to their ability to stick on important surfaces where they are a friendly reminder.
Stick them on filing cabinets, fridge doors or anywhere a magnet calls home.
And since they’re designed to spell out words or names, you can get highly specific with this one for a more special touch.
Red Hot Chili Seeds
Since I grew up in the Land of Enchantment (aka New Mexico), this next suggestion is close to my heart and taste buds!
WEDDINGINATEACUP.CO.UK: You can spice up your men’s kitchen by giving them this special bag of chili seeds that they can plant later. The seeds in the bag are for Jalapeno chili, one of the easiest chilies to grow.
The best part is that you can customize the bag with your names and the date/location of your wedding reminding them of the incredible time at your wedding.
Silver Effect Photo Frame
WILKO.COM: This is a beautiful and useful idea! Where will the guys keep the gorgeous photo of himself and his date at your wedding? In this silver photo frame. The frame measures 6 inches by 4 inches and is designed to not only hold photos but you can also make these work double time as place cards at each guests’ place setting or a table number.
Thanks to the simplistic design, it will work well within many home decor styles and give their walls a personalized touch.
Hot Tabasco Sauce
TABASCO.COM: Before the jalapeno chili seeds grow, the boys will surely need something to keep their taste buds spiced up. A good helper for that would be hot sauce from Tabasco.
But isn’t this product already branded?
Well, technically not. Tabasco allows you to add your custom name, brand, and logo to their 1/8oz mini-bottles. This makes their hot sauce a perfect choice for spicy wedding favor and gift!
Flask and Pocket Knife Gift Set
GROOMSMENGIFTSOURCE.COM: Some outdoorsy men would love a wedding favor that they can use while camping or hiking. If that describes a lot of guys on your guest list, then this item is a natural choice!
This gift set comes with a pocket knife and flask, both of which have been made out of high-quality stainless steel. You can have these items personalized with initials or names of the recipient.
Mini Glass Bottle with Cork Stopper
CONFETTI.CO.UK: This is a great destination wedding favor! If your male guests have limited space but you still want them to depart with a gift, then this guy-friendly small glass bottle with a cork stopper might be the ticket. Yes, it can’t hold that much liquor or sand, but it can hold a lot more memories.
Customization Tip – tie a nice token at the neck of the bottle such as a mini rum drum just to spice things up. Even better, you can personalize this item to have your names, date or wedding location written on it.
Tahoe Signature of Style,
Jan 13, 2016
Yummm – everyone loves a warm, just-off-the-fire s’more! And the nostalgic, comfort feeling they instill… Nothing goes hand-in-hand better than Lake Tahoe, the mountains and s’mores but sometimes incorporating these into your Tahoe wedding might be difficult with open fire rules, the thought of dripping marshmallow on fine silk or maybe it just doesn’t go with your wedding style/look for the big day. The rehearsal dinner can be a good option OR how about a s’mores cake!?!
From the glorious kitchen of Canadian baker and blogger Sweetapolita, this sinful 6-layer rich chocolate malted and toasted marshmallow cake will be a crowd pleaser and have your guests coming back for more. The marshmallow filling is full of marshmallows actually toasted in the oven – these little details are what really makes (and takes!) the cake.
6 layers of dark, moist chocolate cake sandwiching alternating rich and fluffy frosting: satiny Belgian chocolate malted frosting and creamy toasted-marshmallow vanilla frosting with bits of actual crispy marshmallow in every bite. Strangely, the finished cake is not really super sweet–it’s more rich, light, and creamy sweet…
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Okay, mouth-watering yet? No more teasing, here is the recipe for an 8″ round 6-layer cake courtesy of Sweetapolita:
Rich Chocolate Cake
This is for three 8″ pans, but the layers will be a bit more shallow if you use the recipe as it is written. If you double the recipe, you will be able to fill the pans 2/3 full, resulting in thicker layers. You will have some remaining batter, with which you can make cupcakes, etc. You can also increase by 50%.
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup Cacao Barry Extra Brute Cocoa Powder (or similar premium brand)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup strong black coffee
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespooon pure vanilla extract
Method:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare 3 x 8″ cake pans with butter and flour or parchment paper. In bowl of electric mixer, sift all dry ingredients. Add all remaning ingredients to bowl with the dry ingredients and with paddle attachment on mixer, mix for 2 minutes on medium speed (you may need the plastic splashguard that comes with mixer) and pour into prepared pans. Batter will be liquidy.
Bake for 20 minutes and rotate pans in oven. Cakes are done when toothpick or skewer comes clean–approximately 35 minutes. Try not to overbake. Cool on wire racks for 20 minutes then gently invert onto racks until completely cool.
Malted Belgian Chocolate Frosting
Ingredients:
1 lb butter (4 sticks or 2 cups) at room temperature
4 cups icing sugar (confectioners’ or powdered)
3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup Ovaltine Classic (brown in colour)
8 oz Pure Bittersweet chocolate, premium brand – chopped and melted
1/2 cup whipping (35% fat) cream
Method:
In a bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine the icing sugar and butter and beat on low speed for about 1 minute. Add vanilla and malt powder, and beat on low until well combined. Add the melted chocolate and beat on medium speed until smooth (about 2 minutes). Add whipping cream and beat on med-high speed for another minute. Best used right away.
*Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Chocolate Frosting recipe
Toasted-Marshmallow Frosting
Ingredients:
16 large white marshmallows
1 cup icing sugar (confectioners’ or powdered)
1/2 lb butter (2 sticks, or 1 cup) at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
8 oz of Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Cream (or Marshmallow Fluff)
Method:
Place marshmallows on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Place on lower rack of oven, and broil marshmallows until nice and brown on top, between 30-60 seconds. Remove pan from oven and gently turn the marshmallows over, and broil until they are golden brown. Be sure to keep an eye on them–they burn very, very quickly. Combine butter and icing sugar in electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, on low until blended (about 1 minute). Add vanilla and mix on high for about 3 minutes. Add marshmallow cream and toasted marshmallows, and mix on lowest setting for about 1 minute.
This is a fresh, stylish way to introduce s’mores into your wedding reception with possibly a groom’s cake or cupcakes or even the showcase wedding cake!
Tahoe Signature of Style,
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Jun 19, 2014
The West Shore and the East Shore of Lake Tahoe each have a special allure that draws visitors to their sunny beaches – some sand and some rock. They also both have a wealthy history dating back to the 18th century thanks to the aristocratic families that weaved their legacy with Tahoe lore. At Merrily Wed® we have found these shores to be memorable locations to hold your destination Lake Tahoe wedding.
George Whittel built a fabulous summer home that he named Thunderbird Lodge. It sits in isolation on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe. This section of the lake is rugged and pristine, in contrast to much of the rest of Lake Tahoe’s shoreline. His failure to allow development on the 27 miles of shoreline that he bought more likely was a result of wanting privacy than being a nature conservationist. Regardless, it has kept this section of the lake from being developed with hotels, homes and shops.
Thunderbird Lodge – photo courtesy of Catherine Hall Studios
Visitors to Lake Tahoe often may not be aware of historical attractions such as Thunderbird Lodge and two other mansions on the western shore that tell a tale of how the fabulously wealthy spent their summers at Tahoe back in the first half of the 1900’s. All three homes are open to tours every summer and two of the three are beautiful venues to host your destination Lake Tahoe wedding.
Landscaping at the Thunderbird Lodge includes waterfalls, pools and streams connected by winding stone pathways and flourishes such as a stone shamrock and other whimsical designs. One tunnel leads to the infamous Card House where Whittel indulged his passion for late night card games and alcohol.
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Thunderbird Lodge – photo courtesy of Catherine Hall Studios
Your wedding guests may even be able to see the Card House on a tour of the famous Thunderbird property during your wedding. A tower was added to the original lodge after Whittel’s death by investor Jack Dreyfus Jr, where today the space is now used for weddings and special events. The Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society manages the proceeds from tours and events to help maintain and restore the property and the 55-ft Thunderbird mahogany yacht.
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Thunderbird Lodge – photo courtesy of Catherine Hall Studios
The Hellman-Ehrman Mansion on the west shore is the largest of these three mansions consisting of 11,703 square feet and three stories. Hellman and his descendants used Pine Lodge from 1903 until 1965 when Hellman’s granddaughter sold it to the state of California. It is now part of Sugar Pine State Park and commonly known as the Ehrman Mansion. Weddings are held on the lawn by the lake and receptions are commonly located on the hilltop closer to the Pine Lodge/Ehrman Mansion.
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Ehrman Mansion – photo courtesy of Brian MacStay Photography
The third historic mansion rich in history and wealth is Vikingsholm just a little farther down the west shore from Hellman-Ehrman Mansion. This was Lora J Knight’s summer retreat whose estimated wealth at that time was $43 million, built in 1929, and sits at the head of Emerald Bay, arguably Lake Tahoe’s most scenic spot. She wanted the mansion to look Scandinavian as the bay reminded her of fjords in Norway.
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Vikingsholm – photo courtesy of Vikingsholm.com
She also owned tiny Fannette Island which sits in the middle of Emerald Bay. A small stone teahouse that she built sits on its crest. She rarely used it because of the difficulty in accessing it. For the same reason Vikingsholm, despite its intriguing beauty, is not an ideal wedding location due to the narrow path one must hike to reach it.
Whether selecting the West Shore or the East Shore, incorporating one or more of these locations would be a great idea for visiting guests to see more of Lake Tahoe’s rich history. And if you are lucky, one historic site may be host to your wedding itself!
Tahoe Signature of Style,
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Oct 29, 2013
Set your wedding table with your own personalized touch of style from customized hand-written chargers to hand-picked colorful mason jars. Here at Merrily Wed® we couldn’t resist these 5 options which look like a million bucks but cost almost nothing to make. Whether choosing three or picking just one idea, they are all an easy way to put your own stylish stamp on your wedding reception!
Chargers
What a perfect way to share your cherished vows or maybe the words to your favorite wedding song on these sweetly inspired DIY porcelain plates courtesy of Ruffled Blog. It is a keepsake that will last forever too!
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Table Numbers
Natural rustic meets the oh-so trendy metallic chalkboard to greet your guests at their tables. Either adorn a simple weathered wood box or hang from an object of your desire… Also courtesy of Ruffled Blog.
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Wedding Cake Stand/Dessert Buffet Pedestals
A perfect pairing for a Tahoe treat (or two)! We just loved this woodsy accent to any decadent dessert display. Once Wed gives the simple step by step instructions on the how-tos!
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Festive Mason Jars
Put a little pizazz in your wedding decor and elevate the mason jar from cute to irresistible with just a spray of paint by 100LayerCake. These beauties can be used everywhere!
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Ice Cream Favors
To temper the summer heat, show your gratitude for your sweet guests with some ice cream in a jar. Check out this recipe of thanks from City Cradle Design that had our mouths watering. With a simple modification you can serve S’Mores in a Jar instead which is always a hit!
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Tahoe Signature of Style,
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Jul 2, 2013
With the long hot dog days of summer here, we couldn’t resist these refreshing and mouthwatering cocktails hand-picked by Catering Magazine to ensure to wet your whistle as well as “raise the bar” at your next summer BBQ, party or even your wedding.
From a lip smacking Kumquat Mojito to a Ben & Jack’s Swimming Pool to a Mango Spice and Ice, you will find something here to quench your thirst and tempt your guests’ taste buds with the exotic.
What is your favorite??
Tahoe Signature of Style,
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