If you have a passion for wine, just remember to save the bottles because there are so many ways to incorporate wine bottles into your event!  For Instance, you can reuse an old wine bottle by painting them different colors, or tying some ribbon around and turning them into the perfect vase for an flower arrangement.  It definitely gives a fresh homemade crafty touch to any event. 

One could even take a wine bottle and print out their own labels and make them the table numbers for the wedding!

Also, another great way to incorporate wine bottles into the event is by designing your own wine label!  This is a great idea to get both the bride and groom involved. It acts as a great personalized wedding favor as well!

Once you have finalized your own creative wedding label, turn the wine bottles into your own guest book and have your guests sign the bottles! It is a great idea for a wonderful keepsake.

Hey everybody! I am Laura and I am most recent intern at Viva L’Event in North Carolina! As you can tell, I am thrilled to have been given this opportunity and I cannot wait to start.

Right now I am finishing my home stretch at North Carolina State University and I will be graduating (finally) on May 12. I am graduating with a B.S. in Textiles Fashion Brand Management and Marketing.  About half way into college I decided I liked Textiles, but it was not what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Over the last two years, my world has been crazy. The craziness of it finally made me realize my passion for the wedding industry and here I am at Viva L’Event! The Viva L’Event girls are great and I know I can learn so much for them.

As of now, I am a Facility Manager at North Carolina State University’s University Recreation. The best part of my job is the people and building relationships with them.  I am excited to meet and build relationships with the Viva L’Event clients. Events mark some of the most memorable moments in people’s lives.  Being a part of the team who transforms events will be an amazing journey for me and will teach me so much, I can’t wait!

Mini Bouquet Centerpieces:

A great idea that is popular this year is the idea of combing your centerpieces by also making them a great wedding favor for your guests to take home! The flowers featured are mums, chamomile, and lady's mantle; but of course you can easily switch out the types of flowers to fit your color scheme!  The flowers are placed together in small plastic floral tubes filled with water and then placed in a large pretty round vase.  It's a great do it yourself project too!

Mini Potted Plant with Message:

Super simple low budget project that is also a great way to get friends and family involved in prepping for the wedding!  Just buy some small pots and fill the container with potting soil, then place the single plant in the pot and make sure you water it a few times a day.  At the end just add a cute personal message or saying that represents you and your future hubby!

Monogramed Vases:

Easy homemade vases that add a little personal touch to the floral centerpiece!  Just take a small clear glass vase and then glue different colored ribbon, or whichever color best matches the color theme of your wedding around the vase.  Then at the end cut and paste a monogramed letter in the middle and there you have it.  You could also place a candle or anything else that you prefer more into it and may also use this as a table number reference for your guests!

One word that is extremely important in events especially weddings is details.  Details can include organization, décor, theme, punctuality, and so much more.  Couples often spend so much time thinking about the details of their wedding, that they forget the night before—The Rehearsal Dinner. 

The Rehearsal Dinner is a great pre-wedding festivity that should be capitalized on.  It is an opportunity to add some fun and creativity while taking a much needed breath of fresh air before the big day.  I put together some great ideas that might be interesting to anyone wishing to put a little extra “umph” into their Rehearsal Dinner.

BBQ/Picnic

Who doesn’t love an old-fashioned gathering with the red checkered linens, the smell of a grill, and eating good home-style food?!  Have your grandmother cook her famous chili or prepare your favorite strawberry shortcake recipe as a simple dessert.  Play some fun games like horse shoes, bad mitten, or toss a Frisbee.  Encourage everyone to dress casually and maybe pull out an old flannel shirt or some overalls of your own. 

Bowling

Personally, I am one who favors the old Grease movies where the T-Birds and Pink Ladies spent their nights out at the bowling alley having a great time.  Reserve a bowling alley to play a few games with your wedding party, friends, and family.  Decorate your areas in a 1950s theme and to finish it off, wear a poodle skirt and serve root beer floats.  Don’t bowl much?  Instead of the bowling alley, make reservations at an old diner with a jukebox and some great burgers. 

Vegas!

If you couldn’t afford to splurge on the bachelor/bachelorette party experience in Vegas, then bring some of the Las Vegas to your dinner!  Host a casino night with card games, bingo, and other games.  Add a personal touch by ordering decks of cards with your wedding date on the back, and serve a signature cocktail with the ice cubes that look like dice.  Your guests will be feeling lucky to have come to such a fun night!

Baseball

Since my fiancé Eric is a baseball coach and fanatic, I felt it was necessary to blend my love of events and his “love of the game” to create a “Field of Dreams” Rehearsal Dinner.  (Insert Kevin Costner montage here)  I have considered renting a designated area at our local Durham Bulls Stadium to have our dinner at.  What a cute way to include your fiancé’s favorite sport without having to hand out baseball wedding favors at your reception since they really weren’t cohesive in your grand theme anyway.  Dress up the tables at the ballpark with baseball centerpieces, serve cracker jacks and hot dogs (Ball Park Franks of course) and have a great night enjoying our country’s favorite pastime.  

Southwestern

I saw somewhere that a bride-to-be had in-laws from Texas.  To involve their southern culture, the Rehearsal Dinner was a Fiesta.  On the menu were all kinds of Mexican food from chips and salsa, to tacos, to Texas size Margaritas!  Personalize the event with a unique piñata, decorate with bright colors, and put on a pair of cowboy boots with your dress.  Be sure if it’s outdoors, to bring some tiki torches and insect repellent.  No one wants to be covered in mosquito bites for their big day!

Dave & Busters

After watching Kendra Wilkinson marry Hank Baskett on their E! Wedding Special, I was in love with their Rehearsal Dinner!  They chose Dave & Buster’s for their location.  It is a bar, restaurant, arcade, and more.  For people who like to play ski-ball, air hockey, and any other arcade game while enjoying some awesome food, this is the place for you.  The guests will have a good time kicking back for a relaxing night of fun and taking everyone’s mind off any wedding-stressors.  An idea to personalize the experience is to set up a trivia game to answer questions about the couple or give out cute favors as prizes that your guests can redeem their winning tickets for.  You could even utilize their photo booth for a personal touch.

These are just 6 amazing ideas for Rehearsal Dinners.  Be on the lookout for more here in the future.  As far as your Rehearsal Dinner, the sky is the limit!  Take an idea, make it yours, and have a great time!  The memories will be worth it.  Good luck, and be sure to send us any ideas or pictures you have from awesome Rehearsal Dinners.