The OurWeddingDay Blog

Celebrity weddings and glamorous bridal magazines are a lot of fun, but nothing’s more helpful than learning how real brides plan their big day.

Meet OWD's Real Brides: real OurWeddingDay.com Brides-to-be sharing their experiences.  It’s not about the “right” way to plan; it’s about each bride planning the wedding that’s right for her.

Sam from Sudbury, Ontario writes:

Unlike most girls, I haven't dreamt about my wedding day since I was five and when I played with dolls. It never crossed my mind to have them play wedding. But after being in some wedding parties and going to family and friends weddings I started to figure out what would probably work out best for me.

I always pictured having a nice sit-down family dinner with round tables and it being a little fancy. When my fiance and I started talking about the little stuff about the reception, one item that actually caught me off guard was the fact of having round tables.

He came up with some good points: With rectangle tables you could fit more people and would probably need fewer centerpieces. Although with all his points I still could only picture our big day with round tables.  They just make it easier for the two families and friends to mingle and hopefully get along.

Talking it out, we decided we would first see what the reception hall provided: if we didn't like what they had and we had the extra money, we would rent tables. Turns out the hall came with round tables and linens included in any colour. I'm not going to say that was the main reason why we picked our hall but it definitely hit it out of the park. :)

We just updated our new Baltimore Wedding Guide with a new article about finding the right reception caterer for your Maryland wedding.

Baltimore is known for many wonderful things, among them its glorious food. Seafood’s the specialty, but in Maryland’s most cosmopolitan city, anything goes. For your Baltimore wedding, finding the perfect caterer should be as exciting as your celebration on this sea-of-love town. Read on for coastal tips.

Start searching for your Baltimore caterer about 9 months’ prior to your wedding, even earlier if you have the time. You don’t need to have your Baltimore reception site picked out, and the best caterers get booked up far in advance. Prices for Baltimore wedding caterers vary tremendously, depending on the size of your wedding, the site, and your personal style. Expect to pay anywhere from $15,000 to $50,000... Check out the full article here.

And if you're not planning on marrying in Maryland, check out one of our Wedding Guides: the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex,  Houston, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Miami, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Chicago.

Your wedding reception will be fun and beautiful, but it will also be hectic.  Friends and family will be pulling you in a hundred directions, all wanting to talk with and congratulate you, not to mention vendors and pictures, and...

Well, we're here to help you enjoy your party.  We just uploaded a new article all about making it through your reception, from when to eat to how to get out of overly-long conversations.

Check out the full article here.

We just posted a new article with expert advice on choosing your wedding reception wines!

Wedding wines are a chic, elegant part of your momentous occasion. Should you be an expert on all things grape, follow your nose when making decisions. However, if you’re Napa-impaired, take a few vino tips from Chef and sommelier (or, wine expert) David Brian Sanders. Your guests will be as impressed with your vintages as they are with your dress.

Check out the full article!

We just posted a new article considering the pros and cons of a buffet-style wedding reception dinner.

A buffet meal will create a far more casual “vibe” at your reception, and generally speaking will be more cost-effective than a seated dinner. (On average, a buffet meal will cost $15 per person as opposed to $25 for a seated dinner.)

Check it out! Come and get it!

We just posted a new article about food tastings with your prospective caterers.

Food-tastings are offered by catering companies, usually after the first or second meeting. It’s a free service, and you are not expected to tip.  It's a helpful (and yummy!) way to check out a caterer's abilities before you make your final decision.

Check it out!

We just posted a new article about planning the cocktail hour of your reception.

There are several advantages of incorporating a cocktail hour into your reception: they give your guests a chance to loosen up and meet friends and relatives that they haven’t yet been acquainted with, and to catch up with old pals. Should you be having a formal dinner, guests will have time to relax after your ceremony, and before being seated again.

Check it out!

Implementing unexpected dances at weddings has become the hot new thing (see: ubiquitous video of the Minnesota couple dancing down the aisle to Chris Brown).  We've seen lots of surprising first dances in our day, but this one takes the cake.

Aaron and Pernel decided to switch it up and break out in a seriously professional-looking swing dance!  The bride changed into a shorter dress and put on some swing dancing shoes and the couple took to the floor.

We wholeheartedly approve of spicing up the first dance if that is your style... bring on the unexpected! For more photos from Aaron and Pernel's gorgeous wedding, check out their photographer's blog here.

Check out this hilarious blog which features regular fast food fare made up to look like high cuisine!

It's called Fancy Fast Food, and it reminds us that 'Yeah, it's see how good it can look!'

There's something to be learned here: If disaster strikes your reception caterer, maybe a little KFC can work in a pinch -- with a little imagination.

We just posted a new article about considering a vegetarian wedding reception.

No matter if a vegetarian or vegan (or pescatarian!) reception is being considered for religious, health, moral or taste reason, they require specific planing and advanced notice.

Check it out!