Charles and Megan's September Wedding!

Charles and Megan 

Took Their Leap of Love 

On One Gorgeous September Sunday! 

Photography: Swearingen Photography

I love this First Look Idea where they resisted actually "looking" 

they did share an private moment just before the ceremony. 

Color Scheme: Shades of Fall  

Decorative Details: A beautifully Drapped and Lighted Backdrop was secured though   The Executive Event Center.

Tall Eiffel tower vases are included in many Wedding Packages from The Executive Event Center

 while Table Flower arrangements were special made by Sonya from Pat Catans!

A beautiful choreographed First Dance by Charles and Megan kicked off the party!  

Reception: They partied hardy with us at The Executive Event Center, Canton, OH

Menu: For Dinner, guests were served their choice of  Grilled Citrus Marinated Chicken Breast

or Petite Cut Prime Rib, Au Jus both accompanied by Oven Browned Red Skin Potatoes and a Sautéed Vegetable Medley.

Cake: Layers of Almond, White, and Chocolate Cake, Topped with Butter cream icing and adorned with lavender swirls was a crowd pleaser. Made by AA Executive Catering of course!

So many 

Magic Moments 

that day!

We thank Charles and Megan for celebrating with us and hope you enjoyed viewing their beautiful day as well to join us for your unforgettable day! 

Call (330) 477-8588
Ask for me, Lea
The Wedding Planner

Share your vision and we will make it happen.

You are invited to Indulge in the Possibilities at the Executive Event Center Catered by AA Executive Catering! 

Free and Fabulous Wedding Websites

There are many options to choose from when searching for the best personal (free) wedding website provider to display your love and keep you organized. Now the question is which site is best to use? Have no fear we did all the research for you. Take a look at these 5 sites and decide what might work best for you! I personally gave a ranking of my favorite sites in order from recommended to MOST Recommended taking design, function, and other site advantages into consideration.

#5 Zankyou came in as a good contender because it is short and sweet.

This site is simply just a website with basic designs and minimal tabs as you see on the left of the image above. It covers the basics without bogging you or your guests down with more than you need to look at. Having a gift list and RSVP with maybe a few engagement pictures makes it easy to use while still being personal. What you won't find is access to vendors and idea boards. Zankyou only provides you with a free site which might simply be all you need. 

#4 Might come as a shock because Project Wedding is what I consider a wedding idea mecca. Which posses the problem of focus. Because project wedding has such a broad website there personal website tool is just a tool among the rest therefore there are a few over looked aspects. 

You have great access to ideas, blogs, real weddings and vendors although the personal create-a-site is extensive with options it is lacking an RSVP option. Having a website with an RSVP tool is one of the main reasons a wedding website is used. I highly recommend Project Wedding as a information source for your wedding research but not for your wedding website.  

#3 Wedding Window is not as well know as other sites yet they have become a very sleek contender. Their designs,idea boards, DIY projects, and a small shop that you can purchase accessories from make their site appealing in a uncluttered way. 

Their site has everything you would want presented in a clean fresh way. Their planning tools also are a bonus to keep you organized with your budget, and more during the planning process. Check out Wedding Window for some great giveaways as well. 

#2 The Knot ties everything together (I had to say it, it's true). From the wedding to having a home and starting a family The Knot is there for you though it all. 

The Down side about The Knot is that is can get quite busy as shown above. There are menus upon options upon different popups and ads all at once which can make it slightly difficult to get focused in, but once you know what you are looking for and how to look for it you will find endless options. 

#1 Hands Down Best Wedding Website 

goes too....(drum roll)...Wedding Wire!

Wedding Wire has continued to impress me for all of it's attention to detail. If you want a wedding website this is the place to go. Their designs first of all are well, designer created by Vera Wang and other top designers and graphic gurus and their focus is on you and assisting your needs.

Wedding Wire knows what you need in a personal wedding website as well as a wedding resource. They have guest seating and room schemes in their tools along with budget keepers and invitation trackers. As for the personal website it is even possible for your guests to request songs they would like to hear at the reception so you know the beats will be crowd pleasing. 

The site is formulated around you so that you as you can see the first tab is called My Wedding to make sure you come first, not vendors and advertisements. 

There's the scoop.

I hope this overview helped you choose your wedding website provider. 

At AA Executive Catering we will help you design your site and all of the details of your big day!   

Call 330-477-8588 to set up an appointment today!

Tent My Wedding!

Backyard Weddings are stepping it up with the opportunity to be more high scale than a grad ballroom or as casual as a cookout, the possibilities are endless with all the tent options available. Being at home and having total control over the use of your space is what makes tent receptions fabulous for adding your personal touch and getting that down home comfort. Outdoor weddings are not as scary with a tent to keep you safe from the unpredictable weather while giving you the ambiance of being indoors. Let's explore some details of having a tent reception that are often over looked.

Lay of the Land: Finding level ground in the location you were hoping for may or may not be tricky. You know your land best so keep in mind the ground below the tables, chairs, and dance floor  should be as flat as possible so that everything it stable.

Size Does Matter: When considering how large of a tent to have it is important to consider what all will be under the tent. You want to seat your guests comfortably while assuring maneuverability between tables (especially for a served plated dinner). Allowing space for aisle ways and other elements like lamps, bar setup, buffet, dance floor, DJ etc. is crucial. Do not be afraid to ask questions when speaking with your event coordinator that is why they are here to help and you will receive many questions as well concerning what your vision is. Trust in your event coordinator and be open with your interests so that your reception will be precisely what you were envisioning.

Party Power: Creating an outdoor party does have it's electrical requirements. Lighting, Dj Setup, and heating or cooling elements all require electrical outlets. If the tent is not placed close to the home or another building with an adequate power supply, generator reinforcements are then needed.

Restrooms: Considering the number of guest in attendance it is not always the most desirable option to utilize the household as the restroom facility. Accessibility to the tent and demand all at once tend to make that arrangement difficult. Restroom options have come a long way from port-o-johns to fully designed, stall trailers with running water, granite sinks and flushing toilets. There is no longer a need to feel embarrassed by having a less than desirable blue bin restroom option when you can have all the luxuries and privacy of being at home right in your yard.

A Place to Park: Having a reception at home can get tricky when identifying how much space is needed overall. Parking can use up a lot of valuable flat land and is it good to have a plan not only for an area to park but also a parking scheme that will maximize the number of cars able to fit in the space you have available. Offering valet parking to your guests may be used if the parking area is not as walker friendly or if the spacing and car angles need to be a certain way. BONUS: Valet parking also assures no guest leaves too intoxicated. Having a hotel reserved near by is always a good precaution.  

Climate Control: Spring and Fall have become the new competing "it" seasons for weddings the past few years. Weather during those transitioning seasons can often be unpredictable. Even in the dead of summer the heat can be a great concern when it comes to a tent reception. Having a climate control plan is important to give your guests comfort and assure the party will go on no matter the weather permitting. Tent walls can assist in creating the perfect temperature if you are worried about a temperature drop on a fall evening or forget the walls all together and enjoy the breeze in the summer time. If more drastic weather conditions are in the forecast, exploring heating and cooling options is never a bad idea.
DON'T FORGET: Generators might be needed when fans or other high powered climate control options are being used. Ask your event coordinator what option they feel would be best for you.

Kitchen Quarters: For the most part a caterer can work easily out of a garage with a few outlets and lighting. If a structure is not close by then a separate tent or structure may need provided. Keep in mind the accessibility the caterer needs when deciding on a tent location. If the tent has walls be sure to allow a back or side entry for caterers to work through without disturbing the main guest entry.

At AA Executive Catering we can assist you with all of your event needs. 

Call 330-477-8588 for assistance from your personal event coordinator. 

Indulge in the Possibilities and be a guest at your own event with AA Executive Catering! 

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Then and Now Wedding Traditions Revealed

Then vs. Now 
Wedding Traditions Revealed

Why do we toss the bouquet and what was the best mans original purpose? 

It all leads back to tradition.

When I think of traditions I am comforted by the familiarity of just doing what we know to do. The why part of tradition is usually not as important. When peeking into the past it can be quite comical to think that we still hold to certain routines that traditionally have very different purposes then today. 

Bridesmaids: 
Then: Bridesmaids dressed identically to the bride in order to trick any evil spirits who may be present attempting to ruin the marriage. 
Now: Serve as our support system throughout the wedding journey and when times get hard. Also, let's not forget that differing from past traditions, no one is allowed to wear white except the bride.

Carrying Flowers:
Then: Flowers were a semi necessity. When a large number of people gathered (without the opportunity for daily bathing, and of course no air conditioning) the fragrance made the occasion more enjoyable. Symbolically flowers represented fertility as well. 
Now: Although we don't so much need to cover up any odors, flowers are a wonderful way to decorate the bridal party and reception with pops of color or simple elegance. 

Tiered Wedding Cake:
Then: In the Anglo-Saxons time guests used to bring little cakes and place them on top of each other. Eventually a French-man decided to design a cake that had smaller cakes on top known as the tiered wedding cake. 
Now: Although cupcakes are making a stand the tiered idea remains a traditional wedding shape. 




Best Man: 
Then: In ancient times men would have to physically capture their bride to be  from her home. This required him to choose a strong and loyal friend to be his "best man" during the capturing process, warding off any of the brides family resistance. 
Now: The ladies are no longer captured therefore the best man, like the maid of honor is a representation of support through out the couples marriage journey. 

Bouquet Toss: 
Then:  Back in England women attending weddings would attempt to rip the brides dress or snag a flower from her bouquet in order to gain some of her good luck. 
Now:  The superstition has not changed much but now we are more civil to the bride. The fight to catch the bouquet might be vigorous but the superstitions reward of being the next to be married is worth it! 

Giving Away the Bride: 
Then: When arranged marriages were common, giving away the bride represented the  the father passing the property of his daughter onto the groom. 
Now:  Arranged marriages still exist although giving away the bride more commonly represents the fathers approval and support in the marriage.  The bride leaves the guardianship of her family and joins her husband in this new chapter. 

Bridal Veil: 
Then: The veil was another tool used to protect the bride from evil spirits. Eventually the veil symbolized youth, purity, and fertility much like today. 
(Rumor also has it that a veil made it difficult for the groom to run away during an arranged marriage if he could not see what his bride looked like)
Now: Veils are mostly optional and used as an accessory although there is still a soft glow and sense of purity when a bride wears a veil. 

So, who knew that our traditions we still hold to today were originated so long ago with actual purposes. Over the decades weddings will continue to be altered as the times change although some traditions will hold strong as well.  

Are there any traditions you still question how they got started? Ask about it in the comment box and we will see what wedding lore we can reveal. 

Thank you for stopping by AA Executive Weddings Blog 
and we hope to feature your wedding soon! 

Give us a call at 330-477-8588 and Lea will help you plan your big day! 

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