It’s my turn to take the helm of our Ask the Experts column, and today I’ll be answering three questions from three lovely readers!
First up is Allie, who wrote:
“I absolutely loved your blog post on cowboy boots! I am from Indiana and am getting married this October on an old historic farm. So my question is what do you or your readers think of using hay bales as seating for the ceremony? It will be taking place on the front lawn of the old farm house with the reception in the barn. We are trying to keep things very rustic and casual.”
Image credits, from top to bottom: Love Me Do Photography via Green Wedding Shoes, Tec Petaja, and W. Scott Chester via Southern Weddings
Allie, we are all for using hay bales as seating — how perfect for the farm fresh wedding you’re planning! There are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind:
— Nice hay bales can actually be expensive (they are food, after all!), so I’d inquire with a local horse farm to see whether they’d be willing to lend you a few bales for the day rather than buying them. You might have to pay a bit more to have the farmer cart the bales to your site and then haul them away afterward, but I’d say that would be money well spent.
— Hay is stiff and itchy, and can be uncomfortable to sit on. To ensure guest comfort, I’d recommend accessorizing the bales with quilts or blankets (something with some heft). You can go super casual and simply drape the fabric, or tie it off at each end for a more polished look. We’ve also seen long boards laid across the tops of bales, which might not be the most comfortable option for a long ceremony or reception, but would cut down on poking hay.
— Keep in mind that some of your guests might either be allergic to hay, or have back problems. It would be a nice gesture to offer some alternative seating — a folding chair or two at the end of each row should do the trick.
Readers, if you’ve been to a wedding with hay bale seating, we’d love to hear about it in the comments! How did it go?
Our next question comes from Robin. She writes:
“Hi ladies! I love the website and have been using it constantly while planning my wedding. Something that has been on my mind lately is escort cards. Should I do one per couple or one per guest, and do I need to do them for the wedding party, as well?”
Image credit: Cooper Carras Photography
Hi, Robin! In my opinion, you can absolutely use one escort card per couple! Not a problem at all. Whether you do cards for the wedding party is up to you, but I would say that you should — I’m sure your guys and girls will be able to figure out that they’re supposed to be up front, but adding in a few extra cards for them requires minimal work and expense on your part and could cut down on questions and confusion at the reception! Plus, some people (most likely the girls!) like to save things like escort cards as a souvenir, particularly if they have their name written out in beautiful calligraphy.
Our last question comes from Erin, who writes:
“I was wondering if there are any current traditions on the first homemade meal a bride makes for her new groom? This may seem a little old school, but I LOVE to cook–and despite how much my fiance likes to cook, I have been widely known to go Betty Draper on him, kicking him out of the kitchen, giving him a beer, and telling him to watch everything he’s missed on the DVR. Anyway, I’m getting courthouse married in just under three weeks, before the fiance deploys, but we’re having a ceremony/reception in September 2012 as well. I was wondering if anyone had ideas, tips, or “been-there, done-that” stories about the first homemade meals they’ve made for their new husbands so I can get pointed in the right direction for my less-than-three-weeks-away wedding!”
Image credit: Smitten Kitchen, a veritable treasure trove of delicious recipes!
Readers, I’ll largely leave this one up to you! What’s your favorite meal or dessert to enjoy with your hubby or fiance? Leave a link or comment below! I have to admit that I don’t do much of the cooking in my house — John loves to cook, so I simply get to enjoy most of the time! I will say that my favorite meal he makes is Giada de Laurentis’ Chicken Piccata with Jacques Pepin’s green beans. How about y’all — any advice for Miss Erin?
That’s it for this week’s installment of Ask the Expert! As always, feel free to email your editors a question at any time.
LOVE this! such a sweet idea!
What a cute idea! I like the inclusion of a pre-dinner drink, too! A little “self-serve,” interactive escort card!
Love the sweet peach tea! Makes me thirsty for some right now…
Absolutely LOVE this idea! What a cute way to display the names and the tea at the same time!!
LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. Southern Fried Paper makes the cutest stuff!!!
Love! love love! I could go for a glass right now!
I love love love this idea! It almost makes me want to reconsider our buffet dinner without assigned seats, so I can use escort cards
So cute! I love the straws and the fresh sliced apples!
Such a clever and creative way to use the namecards!
What a darling idea and beautiful presentation!
Great idea! I love that it’s not just a plain ‘ole name card … and who doesn’t love sweet tea!?
Love these! Chelsey is so talented!
This one definitely gets my vote!
LOVE what Southern Fried Paper & After Yes have put together. Love me some Southern Sweet Tea :)
They are great and their invites are amazing!
What a great idea! Just another example of the extraordinary work that Southern Fried Paper does.
Really nice, like the southern style!
Chelsea from Southern Fried Paper!!
can’t get any more southern than that! Darling!
Oh my gosh!! This is adorable!
I love me some Southern Fried Paper!
What a nifty idea! You would’t soon forget the wedding you attended with sweat tea escort cards!
great set up reminds me of back home… classic southern weddings!
Great set up… classic southern wedding!
Nice, very niiiiice! Very talented.
What a great idea!!
OH…..love this idea! Loving me some peach tea and wanting some right now!!!
What an awesome idea! I got married this summer and I wish we would have seen this before hand..would have fit right in our reception.
Southern fried paper makes the cutest things. I have ordered from them a couple of times and LOVE their work everytime!
I have ordered from Southern Fried Paper different items for my wedding. I loved everything they did and will continue to order from them!
Awesome looking invitations. Would be more than happy to have this at my wedding.
GREAT!
Brilliant Idea, looks great!
What a fresh and creative new idea using an old Southern theme!
What a creative idea! Unique and full of personality and creativity, but still functional. Love it.
thesecardslookawesomecantwaittogethitchedandusethem!!!!
Great idea, beautifully put together. Who doesn’t love sweet tea? I’m using this entire setting when I plan my wedding. After Yes, we’ll be in touch!
I am the event manager for my company and I am always looking for new and innovative Invites. Once I found Honey Bee Invites I was absolutely hooked. If you have never experienced Honey Bee Invites you are missing out. I give them 2 thumbs out .
Love this idea! I’ll be DIYing this soon!!
Love the bow times. Bow ties are in style again. My husband wears them all the time!
I don’t think you can get more southern than this! Great job Southern Fried Paper!
I think this is the ultimate southern idea. Creative, homey, casual yet elegant. The epitome of southern style. I vote for Sweet Tea.
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I cannot tell you how much I wish I was a Southerner!! Alas, I am from New Zealand and fell in love with your blog a little while ago : ) Is there any way you can send me a recipe for good sweet tea? It looks SO yummy but every time I’ve tried to make it I fail miserably…
Laurien: Hi Laurien! I am from Australia, and my mum is a Kiwi! she lived in the deep South for about 6 years as a young lass (and was legally adopted by a Southern family) and so consequently I have grown up with alot of Southern traditions, cooking, stories and memories! I feel a kinship, and so consequently I am going to have a few select Southern touches at my wedding in March. Sweet Tea will be one of them!
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