Big Ideas for Little Guests
1. If your guest list includes children, you’ll need to make some special arrangements. “Kids don’t necessarily want to be at a wedding,” says Andrea Most Gottschall, co-owner of A Most Creative Affair, an event-planning and invitation studio in Tarrytown. “It’s a long day, and there isn’t much for them to do.” And when kids are bored, watch out! “At one wedding we did, an older kid pulled the fire alarm and the fire department came,” Gottschall recalls. To keep all your guests happy, Gottschall suggests giving the little ones their own table with some very special amenities:
Hire a chaperone: Place a paid babysitter (or two) at the kids’ table. You can’t count on parents seated elsewhere to keep an eye on their offspring.
Forget the flowers: “It makes no sense to have an expensive floral arrangement for kids,” says Gottschall. For a recent wedding at Tarrytown House, Gottschall chose the artful candy centerpiece shown above. You can order a similar one at Candy Bouquet of Tarrytown, (914) 909-1004, www.chernickcandy.com.
Give an activity, not a wedding favor: “Give them coloring books or toys that they can play with during the reception,” advises Gottschall. “At the Tarrytown House wedding, we gave each kid a personalized bag that included markers that only work on special paper—no art work on the white tablecloths!”
Tailor the menu: “Kids don’t want to eat filet mignon,” says Gottschall, “They want chicken fingers.” Give them what they want and pocket the savings.
Let them play: At one recent wedding, a photo booth Gottschall rented for the kids’ enjoyment proved to be a huge hit with guests of all ages.
A Most Creative Affair, (914) 631-7475, www.amost creativeaffair.com Stylish Ways to Take Cover
2. How do you show off that gorgeous gown without freezing to death? Opt for a custom-made creation from Nova Lorraine of Mount Kisco. This talented local couturier will make you a bolero, shawl, or shrug that will complement your gown while providing some much-needed shoulder shelter. The example shown here, an eggshell silk duchess satin shrug, can also be made in pure white and other colors. Prices for this made-to-order piece begin at $600. “The usual turnaround time for our made-to-order is four to six weeks and, for our custom work, ten to twelve weeks,” Nova Lorraine says. “We encourage our clients to see us at their earliest convenience.”
Nova Lorraine, (914) 864-1718, www.nova lorraine.com.
