Leave a Comment

Posted on July 31, 2023 by Kristin @ Capriotti's

Written by Bri John

Perhaps one of the first things a bride starts to consider once they’re engaged (if they don’t already know) is what color scheme am I going with? But with so many options, how does somebody simply choose just one color family for their wedding colors? 

Indeed it’s a big decision – it’s one I have pondered since I was only a little girl (and I’m not even engaged!) Additionally, it’s one of the most exciting details in my opinion about planning a wedding. Simultaneously, so many different directions to go without completely clashing – the flowers, the wedding colors, the lace, the sparkles! Do I even want sparkles? Sparkles are my thing, but are they too much? Rustic themes are so pretty and they’re SO in right now. Then for my flowers: Real or artificial? Basically, if I stick with real floral arrangements it is the traditional route… but they’ll be dead in a few days. 

Get Started…

Trust me I get it! We get it. That’s why we’re writing this. To begin, let’s circle back to a common theme in all of our blog posts: know your vision. However, if you don’t know exactly what that vision is, it’s okay! Trends change and tastes evolve.

Stay calm, grab a notebook and brainstorm. Write down a list of everything you like. And when I say everything, I mean everything. Furthermore, it’s okay if they don’t coincide with each other. This will help map out all of the ideas inside your brain and eventually start to eliminate ideas you aren’t exactly feeling. You might even be surprised at how mapping out your ideas could help you think of fun and unique ways to blend different themes and wedding colors, creating a personalized wedding ambiance that truly speaks to you and your fiancé

You can also check out this fun online quiz to help determine what wedding vision might suit you the best!

Did you know?

Here at Capriotti’s, we try to incorporate everything into our packages so that you have to use outside vendors as little as possible. Overall, we strive to help alleviate stress and provide you with an all-in-one experience. From the wedding cake, to your open bar, to your menu… we’ve got you covered! Each package includes a day of coordinator that will be alongside you to help you out with any of the nitty gritty details. Otherwise if you decide to choose a venue that might not include all of those things, Pinterest will be your best friend! (Don’t worry, we still LOVE Pinterest here at Capriotti’s too). 

When booking your date at Capriotti’s, we strive to make the planning process as stress free as possible. By scheduling multiple appointments ahead of time to ensure we meet crucial deadlines, you will be on track to executing the most perfect wedding day.

Mood Boards

Check out some of the mood boards we’ve created out of weddings that we have executed, offering visual aids for a variety of wedding color schemes. Sometimes, a little visualization is all you need to bring your dream wedding to life.”

Photographers: Alexandria Marolo & Amy Pcolinsky – Kylin Lyons
Photo Credit: Rheanna Young Photography
Photo Credit: Diane Kivler – Kelly Knaub
Pictures by: Nikki Slivka – Alex Marolo & Amy Pcolinsky
Courtesy of: Bugge Productions – Kylin Lyons

Undoubtedly, it certainly is exciting to share some of the beautiful wedding mood boards we’ve created out of past weddings at Capriotti’s. Hopefully, these mood boards will not only inspire you but also bring a sense of excitement to the planning process. Lastly, here’s to a riveting wedding planning journey! Cheers!

Leave a Comment

Posted on June 22, 2023 by Kristin @ Capriotti's

Written by Bri John

When it comes to planning your wedding, money is no doubt a leading factor. When it comes time to plan your special day, it is important to create a wedding budget that will help you to include everything you want, but most importantly, everything you need without breaking the bank. 

Evidently, couples spend roughly anywhere from $30,000-$60,000 on a wedding with a guest count of 200 or more guests. Now of course, this varies based on a few factors: location being an important one. Check out this article on various expenses to consider when budgeting for your event that explains pricing breakdowns based on location. Some other details that may contribute to this price range might include the following:

  • Final headcount
  • Amenities included 
  • Decor
  • Outside vendors (photographer, videographer, DJ)
  • Catering cost
  • On-site ceremony VS. off-site
  • Additional upgrades

This brings us back to our key point that we always talk about here at Capriotti’s. KNOW YOUR VISION going into the planning process. Don’t know what that vision may be? Here’s a few questions to ask yourself when deciding what is important to you for your wedding day that will help you with setting up your wedding budget:

Big or small wedding?

Some couples have large families and having a space to accommodate a large group of people is important to them. Consequently, this is one of the biggest expenses when it comes to a wedding budget. The higher the headcount, the higher the pricing will most likely be. Conversely, some couples prefer to have a smaller guest list to celebrate their love and vows. They might prefer to have just those closest to them to create a more intimate, tight-knit celebration. It differs for everybody. Knowing the ideal size of your wedding will be a great starting point when it comes to the planning process.

What are your must haves?

For those outdoorsy couples, locating a venue that has outdoor accommodations available to you might be one of those must haves. For example: an outside bar/patio for guests to mingle; an outdoor ceremony site; or a scenic area for pictures to remember this special moment. For others, finding a venue that is available to accommodate your guest count comfortably indoors may be important. This would include having space for other activities such as on-site ceremony, dancing, photo booths, and a nice areas for taking pictures. Luckily for those reading this, Capriotti’s offers it all. Oftentimes, using different locations may be an upcharge, so it is necessary to know how important this detail is to you and your significant other. 

Private cocktail hour.

This is becoming more and more popular. Many couples love the idea of having a separate space for guests to mingle during cocktail hour before entering the main reception area where dinner and dancing will take place. Make sure if this is one of your must haves you do your research on your venue to ensure that they offer this feature. Capriotti’s offers a private cocktail hour in our Cappella (also available for ceremonies) which can accommodate roughly 200 guests during cocktail hour and helps to give guests a comfortable area to hang out and eat great food to kick off the night.

Bar package included?

Having an open bar at a wedding could also up your cost a pretty penny. To avoid getting bombarded with bar costs, try to find a venue that includes the bar package directly in with the per person pricing. This will save you not only money, but also time and stress. 

Food!

Undoubtedly, catering is another factor that is one of the most expensive details to consider when planning your wedding budget. Again, this is when your vision comes into play. What style are you looking for? Classy and traditional? BBQ style? Food trucks?  Here at Capriotti’s, we offer a variety of options to please your guests. Anywhere from a dip station during cocktail hour to various late night bites – we’ve got you covered! View our Wedding Collections.

Decorating:

How important is decor to you and your significant other? Perhaps you want to keep it simple, classy and elegant. Maybe you want to go all out with extravagant decor, floral arrangements and so on. It’s important to understand just how much decor matters to you, as you will most likely be responsible for setting up and breaking down any decor you choose to use at most venues.

If you do not want to be responsible for decorating, you may want to hire a decorator (if your venue does not already provide one). This is yet again, another one of those details that many people forget to consider when it comes time to budgeting for their wedding day. If a decorator is just not in your wedding budget, try finding venues that offer an all in one package. Here at Capriotti’s, we include not only set up and breakdown of decor in all of our wedding packages here on-site, but also real china, silverware, table linens, charger plates, open bar package and even your wedding cake! Click here to see what else Capriotti’s has to offer to help make your day perfect!

Moreover, these are just a few key details to keep in mind when discussing the wedding budget for your special day. Different costs could certainly add up over time, so it is important to first understand the items that you feel you need to have to execute the perfect wedding day for you. 

Leave a Comment

Posted on May 1, 2023 by Kristin @ Capriotti's

Looking for the perfect Wedding Venue? Join us for a virtual tour of our Venue…Capriotti’s in McAdoo, Pennsylvania. View our outside scenic property, including 2 patios, the onsite ceremony building – The Cappella, and our Ballroom in the Palazzo. With neutral tones, our venue is customizable to coordinate with your wedding theme.

 

Picking a Wedding Venue walking hand in hand

Leave a Comment

Posted on April 5, 2023 by Kristin @ Capriotti's

Written by Bri John

Let’s face it – wedding planning can cause a lot of stress if you let it.  Surprisingly, the influx of small details alone can put a damper on your mood. However, choosing your wedding venue should not be one of those stressors. When it comes to planning one of the happiest days of your life, surely you should be excited!

So, we’re not here to sugarcoat things – the small details do add up and oftentimes, choosing a wedding venue can be difficult. Therefore, here are a few tips to help you during the process of choosing the perfect venue for your big day!

Get Started

Know your VISION – this is SO important. What kind of day are you envisioning? Rustic and boho? Elegant and classy? Simple and casual? Also, what time of year do you want to get married? Do you want an outdoor ceremony or inside? Surprisingly, knowing this going into the process will help…especially when deciding to tour venues and help lock in a location.

Elegant Venue
Outdoor Venue
Boho and Rustic Venue
Size Matters

Draft up a guest list. Have an idea of how many people you might be inviting so you know that your venue can accommodate that amount of people. If your guest count is significantly higher than the max capacity, then you can eliminate that venue.

Equally important is touring venues. Once you know what your vision is, visit venues, meet with the staff and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Do they offer on-site ceremonies? How long can the reception go until? What are some policies that the venue has? 

What’s Included?

Ask your venue what all they include. This is MAJOR. Otherwise, you may end up running around looking for items from all different locations. Are linens included? What about flatware? Chairs? Does your venue have any decor available for use that you can utilize with the rest of your items? Is the catering provided through the venue or do you have to hire an outside caterer to come in? Additionally, are there any preferred bakers in the area for the wedding cake or does that come included in your package? Comparatively, Capriotti’s Wedding Packages list all the details for our on-site and off-site weddings.

Find out if you are entirely responsible for the planning process. Obviously, some couples prefer to take care of the details themselves. While that is completely fine, it is important to keep in mind that there are a lot of details to balance. If you are looking for a day-of coordinator, find out if your venue includes one or if you are responsible for hiring an outside coordinator to keep things organized along the way.

Wedding Planner
Compose a Guest List
Set a Wedding Budget
Set a Budget

Accordingly, ask for charges ahead of time. Evidently, this step goes hand in hand with knowing what’s included. No one wants to be bombarded with a million charges that you weren’t expecting when choosing your wedding venue. Nevertheless, there are a few key questions: Is the per person price just for catering? Is there an upgrade charge for renting linens/chairs through the venue? Does the venue charge a facility fee for utilizing the space? Lastly, is the gratuity included in the pricing? Generally, these are some questions that will help you to stay in your budget. However, you can Read more about some tips on wedding budgeting.

Overall, think of your must haves. What do you absolutely NEED to have on your day of?

Have Fun!

Lastly, despite all the questions, choosing your wedding venue doesn’t have to be stressful. By utilizing these simple tips, you can basically save yourself time and enjoy the planning process. So finally, have fun!

 

Table seating guide for wedding reception

Leave a Comment

Posted on January 30, 2023 by Kristin @ Capriotti's

How to arrange tables for a wedding reception

Before deciding on the layout of your reception, first to consider is the size and shape of tables. Each table shape has advantages and disadvantages. The decision of circular, rectangular, oval, long-rectangle, or small-square tables will depend entirely on the venue and the general style of the preferred table arrangements. These are considerations that are important to keep in mind for your banquet table seating guide.

The next decision is whether you want to be in a head table setup with your chosen close family and wedding party or separately in a sweetheart table setup with just the bride and groom. If you opt for the latter, the family and wedding entourage tables will preferably be set up closer to you. These tables typically have special decorations different to guests to emphasize their importance. Either way, the most important thing to remember is that the newlyweds should be facing the guests.

When deciding on the layout of the reception festivities, also consider the grand entrance as newlyweds, cutting the wedding cake, the first dance, and wedding toasts. Arrange tables to make enough space for all this to be possible and visible. Your dining table seating guide is crucial to help your guests enjoy their shared meals and the wedding reception in general.

Other things to take into account are miscellaneous factors such as a DJ or a live band, a dessert table, an open bar, a photo booth, and other things that you might want to include in your wedding. When planning your layout, keep in mind that these will also need their own space. Ideally, these must be spread out across the venue to avoid crowding obscuring pathways.

How to seat guests at a Wedding Reception

Seating your guests will be the hardest part of creating your wedding’s table seating guide. To make it less stressful, start with immediate family and closest friends. You can branch out from there.

Parents will typically sit together in one table which is the closest to the newlyweds. In the case of complicated family situations, they can be put on opposite sides of the table or at separate tables.

After the parent’s and immediate family are sorted, the nearest table to the newlyweds would be the wedding entourage. Bridesmaids and groomsmen can sit in one table. Or they can sit separately depending on the arrangement of tables and the number of people that fit in one table.

You can opt to seat your guests by groups – your work friends, high school friends, college friends, and extended family. You can also opt for a mix of these groups for all of them to get a chance to get to know each other.

Basic Etiquette for Wedding Reception Seating

Considering the diversity of the people on your guest list, it’s important to be considerate of where you place them. You can group them by how you know them – school, work, extended family, etc. Or you can mix it up and decide who you think could get along well with who.

Traditionally, the groom will sit to the right side of the bride. The best man will sit on the left side of the bride. Meanwhile, the maid of honor sits to the right of the groom. All other special guests are seated near the couple depending on how large the table is.

It’s also important to keep in mind a few considerations. Make sure you don’t place people who may have conflict next to each other to avoid possible drama. Also consider the accessibility of guests who might need it. Elderly or persons with disabilities may need extra accommodations to ensure they have a fun time.

Additionally, if children are allowed at the reception, a Kids’ Table is a good idea to keep them in one place. This will occupy them while the function is happening. Ideally this table is near to their parents or their line of view.

If you don’t want to have to go through the trouble of placing each guest in a specific seat, you can opt for assigned tables instead. Guests will have the option to sit where they want in a table assigned to them. This way, you don’t have to painstakingly decide the placement of each guest but they won’t be in chaos trying to look for a seat.

Coming up with the Best Table Seating Guide

Your wedding day is a milestone worthy of celebrating with all your dearest family and friends. Coming up with a proper table seating guide will help make your big day go off without a hitch.

This article gives the basics of how to achieve the best seating arrangement for your wedding guests, how to properly seat your guests to give them all a good time, and the basic etiquette for every wedding reception seating. You can even opt to create a wedding reception seating chart for easier planning.

For other wedding matters, you can also opt for other wedding planning tools online. There are many online resources to help you plan your wedding.

Once your seating arrangements are ironed out, you can get on with planning your wedding reception decoration to give your guests a dining experience in style. Get high-quality linens at affordable prices by ordering wholesale tablecloths, chair covers, and other wedding decorations.

Keep these guidelines to help you navigate the tricky task of creating the perfect wedding seating arrangement. Following these tips in planning your table-seating, you’re sure to give your guests the time of their lives at your wedding reception.

 

Capriotti’s Blog
Contact Us
Big Game Promo
Big Game Promo
Christmas Take Out Menu

Powered by WordPress.com.