I’ve seen those little rosemary trees. They are adorable and really fragrant. Maybe too fragile to put lights on? But lights even around the base or across the table (if they were long and rectangular) or something.
Rosemary is pretty sturdy. It could stand up to a small string of lights, no problem. They have those micro or fairy lights which are tiny as well. Of course, the lights would need to be battery operated. Please get the more traditional warm toned ones, though. The cold, blue lights that are newer are a real pet peeve of mine. 
This is what I was thinking of for lights: http://www.amazon.com/Improved-Design-Lights-Battery-Operated/dp/B017EJQKA8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1462885720&sr=8-2&keywords=mini+tree+lights%2C+battery+operated+for+table+trees
Questions for my wise, helpful CC friends:
- At the rehearsal dinner, we are serving Tres Leches cake for dessert. It's the only dessert. The cake will be ordered from an outside vendor (not the dinner venue.). We expect around 42 people at the dinner. The vendor's website says each cake serves 24. Because it's a rather rich cake, I think they are counting on small servings - but they won't be there cutting the cake. Should I order a third cake? Having 48 servings for 42 people makes me nervous.
- Do we need to have ambient music at the rehearsal dinner? Nothing will be piped in by the venue.
- The vases for the reception centerpieces are being borrowed from the florist. What if people want to take the centerpieces home? No problem if they take home the flowers, but I'll be charged for the missing vases. Should I (a) suck it up and pay for any missing vases, or (b) assume that no one will take centerpieces until the very end and by that time the folks will be close enough friends/relatives for us to ask not to take the vases? If (b), should we have paper towels handy for those who want to take the flowers home?
MP - I would assume that people would not take the centerpiece so home unless they were told they could. I like the idea of having paper towels on hand.
I think soft background music at the rehearsal venue would be nice, but not be missed if you chose not to have it.
If we were doing this we would go for the extra cake. You never know who wants a larger piece, seconds or a piece gets dropped.
“Should I order a third cake?” If your family is like mine, yes. Of course, I was raised in a family whose ethnic heritage would worry that someone went home hungry if there weren’t some leftovers. Plus, we like our desserts.
“Do we need to have ambient music at the rehearsal dinner?” not a necessity but I always think music adds to the ambience of any good party or gathering. Pretty easy to do with an ipod playlist these days if the venue has speakers and a system you can use.
Re: vases, how much would the florist charge per vase? If its not a huge amount, I’d probably suck it up and pay in the event someone walked away with some. Perhaps you can snag some of those florist flower bag thingies to transfer flowers into if you want to save them/give them and don’t mind the hassle of dealing with it.
I agree with FG about the soft music. I went to FSIL’s hometown for a large party there last weekend. They had live (loud) music and it triggered a migraine for me. Adding to that, it was not really possible to have good conversation without talking very loudly.
So many weddings these days are using the rehearsal dinner flowers for the reception that I would be surprised if you had many who wanted to take flowers home, but that’s my neck of the woods. I think it’s nice of you to think of a way to be prepared for those who might.
My wedding is further out than yours, but we are getting down to those fine details now. Invitations started arriving in mailboxes yesterday. One of my dear friends called this morning to let me know that her D, the planned vocalist, is not going to be able to sing. This young woman and my D have been friends since preschool, so that is a huge disappointment for both girls. I think we have a good plan B though because one of D’s work friends sang at another colleague’s wedding last fall. Same church and D and FSIL thought this was best option as opposed to getting a stranger.
Alternative to guests stealing flowers: ours are going to pediatric cancer patients at The City of Hope the next day.
So nice. (But you must be paying for your own vases.)
My H sings professionally. Old people love him and he has sung at scores of memorial services. More than once he has been told “Mom is failing and we want you to sing at her service.” It tears him up that he might not be available when mom passes, but what is one to do?
Not saying that is analogous to your situation, but sometimes soloists just aren’t available.
DH spent time putting together a playlist on his ipod for the rehearsal dinner. We played it, but it was at an appropriate volume for ambient music, and I don’t know that we really paid attention to what was actually played. Music is nice to have, but don’t put alot of effort into it. If the rehearsal dinner guests are socializing with each other, they may or may not realize there’s ambient music.
I suggest some easy listening jazz music for the dinner hour. This can muffle the clanging of the dinner dishes, but not distract from the conversation. Soft, background music without words can blend into the relaxing atmosphere. I would not spend a lot of time picking individual songs. Easier to just download a jazz album and be done with it.
Our vocalist is having a medical issue with her voice, MP. Fortunately, she will still be able to attend the wedding, but just can’t sing. We are glad she will be there to share the day even if she can’t share her talent.
Your husband sounds like a gem to share his talent.
So S just sent a text that he and FDIL are doing a father/daughter and mother/son dance at the reception. I hate dancing, especially publicly. I need suggestions for a song that meets my criteria: not sad, too slow or too sentimental and is short (2 minutes would be plenty). S knows all this and says I get to choose so I will be somewhat happy about it all. Ideas?
“you must be paying for your own vases” Not exactly, we are making living arrangements out of moss, succulents, and violets. Thanks for your post—I had no idea that people feel compelled to snatch the centerpieces. I have never experienced this sort of behavior. I will give our guests the heads up!
RE the vases: FDIL’s florist told her she was responsible for providing vases and mason jars for all flowers at the reception and ceremony for exactly this reason! People take/steal them and florist doesn’t want to charge bride or worry about getting them back.
I ended up buying quart and pint jars from Target for about 70 cents apiece that will be used both places.
Your arrangements sound lovely, @musicamusica, and what a great idea to donate the arrangements to brighten the lives of others!
Wow, dent mom. It would never occur to me to take a floral arrangement unless I was asked if I wanted it.
There’s a charity that picks up flowers from really large events and re arranges them for nursing homes and hospitals. Our wedding is not that large( we don’t have enough to make the trip worthwhile) and the City Of Hope is a short drive away so…
So nice, musicamusica!
some of the organizations are: Random Acts of Flowers/Repeat Roses/Flower Angels/Petals with Purpose. They will even take your flowers out of the vases before they cart them away for rearrangement. It might solve the problem of the “disappearing” arrangements. Just put a little tag on the flowers “I’m going to “whatever the charity is” after the wedding!”