Vendor Highlight – Memory Makers

While at the Indianapolis Monthly Bridal Show
we stopped by the Memory Makers booth!

(YouTube Video)

Be sure to check out their website @ www.memorymakersindy.com

Ceremony Idea – Wooden Wedding Boxes

Tell us about Wooden Wedding Boxes…
The idea of The Wooden Wedding Box Ceremony was introduced to my fiancé and me before our wedding in 2008, by a wedding officiant.  We looked up additional information about the Wooden Wedding Box Ceremony online and were excited about the unique idea. We were eager to purchase a Wooden Wedding Box for our own wedding, but what we found was that there wasn’t anyone selling Wooden Wedding Boxes.  Therefore my fiancé and I had to purchase the items to develop our own.  We enjoyed personalizing our Wooden Wedding Box together but wished that, in the midst of all that went into planning a wedding, we would have had a place to purchase a finished Wooden Wedding Box. This is where the idea for our Wooden Wedding Box business started.

In the months following our wedding, my husband and I began to develop and plan a website explaining to other couples the origin of The Wooden Wedding Box Ceremony as well as the wording needed to incorporate it into any wedding ceremony. First and foremost, we wanted to give couples the opportunity to make it a part of their own wedding ceremony by offering them the option to purchase supplies from us. We are eager to share it with other couples, and look forward to helping them make their wedding ceremony unique with the addition of one of our Wooden Wedding Boxes.

Where did this idea originate?
The Wooden Wedding Box Ceremony has recently been introduced in the United States but comes from Holland. The couple getting married is to find a strong wooden box that will hold one bottle of wine and two wine glasses.  The couple then writes letters to one another, expressing their thoughts about good qualities that they found in their partner and the reasons for falling in love with each other.   Without reading each other’s letters, the couple is to seal them and put them in the box with the wine and glasses.

The wooden box is taken to the wedding and during the end of the wedding ceremony, the officiant will announce to the guests that the couple has written letters to each other and put them in the box with the wine and glasses.  The officiant will explain that should the couple ever find their marriage in serious trouble, before making any irrational decisions, they must open the box, drink wine together, and read the letter that they wrote to one another to reflect on why they fell in love with each other in the first place.  The hope is that there will never be a reason to have to open the box until the couple’s 10th wedding anniversary celebration.

At this time in the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom are handed nails and a hammer, and each hammers in a nail to seal the box shut.  The rest of the ceremony continues on in the traditional way, but your guests will be talking about what a unique and touching idea this was and will remember your wedding as one that stands out above the rest.

How do suggest couples incorporate this into their wedding and
what are the most important thing for bride and grooms to consider?
I suggest couples first print the information from our website that explains the wording necessary for the officiant or minister in adding The Wooden Wedding Box Ceremony to their individualized ceremony. Couples need to take this information with them to their meeting with the officiant to get things organized for their wedding ceremony.  This ceremony can be used alone or in conjunction with the Unity Candle Ceremony, Rose Ceremony, Sand Pouring, as well as other service additions.   It adds only a couple of minutes of length to the wedding ceremony itself, but adds a lifetime of memories for the Bride and Groom, as well as their guests.  In our own wedding, we added it between the Rose and Unity Candle Ceremonies and simply placed the Wooden Box on the table next to the Unity Candle.

Next, they need to decide what kind of box best meets their wedding needs.  If they are crafty and creative, the couple may want to consider building their Wooden Wedding Box together from scratch.  If they want a refined finished look, we offer our Deluxe Box, which only requires letters and a bottle of wine added for the box to be ready for the wedding day.  A third option would be for couples to purchase our Basic Box, which would allow them the opportunity to add their own personalization to their box without the trouble of starting from scratch.

Finally, I suggest couples make sure they put aside a sufficient amount of time before the wedding to plan and write the letters to each other that they will put into their Wooden Wedding Box.  When writing their letter, they need to relax and write from the heart, making sure to take the time and effort necessary to convey the depth of love and feelings that has led them to wanting to spend the rest of their lives’ with their partner.

Do you know of any “success stories” where the box had a major impact in a relationship?
With our business only being a few months old, we don’t have any success stories to tell about but our own. My husband and I put a great deal of time and effort into the letters we wrote to each other. For me, it was a very touching and enlightening experience. I’ve known all along that he was the love of my life, but seeing all the reasons I fell in love with him written on paper, helped me appreciate what we have together even more. Also, hearing that his letter to me was several pages long was a wonderful reminder that there are many things that have helped us built a strong foundation for our marriage.

My husband and I also enjoyed the uniqueness this added to our own wedding and look forward to opening our Wooden Wedding Box on our 10th anniversary.  We look forward to a lifetime together, but are realistic enough to know that you can’t have too many tools in place when it comes to planning for the unpredictable directions life sometimes brings our way.

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Business Name:  Wooden Wedding Boxes
Website:  www.woodenweddingboxes.com
Phone #: 317-326-1438
Email:  info@woodenweddingboxes.com
Price Range: $75 – $125

Vendor Highlight – First Impression Band

Tell us about the First Impression Band…
In general, we’ve been playing special events for over 15 years, primarily wedding receptions, corporate and country club-type functions. The basic band is composed of six pieces: male singer/harmonica player; lady vocalist and party instigator; sax/flute player; keyboards; drummer/vocalist; and bass guitar player. We are able to expand upon request, adding additional horns and/or vocalists, if your tastes allow. We’re excellent musicians and love to entertain–so lots of positive energy. We also cover ALL aspects of planning and executing your event, i.e., we not only supply great music, from cocktail piano to the final energetic dance song of the evening, but we consult with you beforehand, giving you the benefit of our experience in planning important details of your reception. Then, the evening of, we act as Master of Ceremonies, making all important introductions and announcements, facilitating your whole event with Sophistication and Fun!

What styles of music do you guys offer?
For cocktails and dinner we perform instrumental jazz and pop at a vibrant, though conversation level volume. For the dance portion we play all styles of popular dance music, from the Big Band era, 50s – 60s rock & roll, Motown, Rhythm and Blues, Blues, country, disco, 80s – 90s dance, and contemporary artists such as Dave Mathews, Justin Timberlake and Alicia Keyes.

What are some of the advantages of having a band at your wedding?
Primarily energy and class. The energy is palpable when a group of tasteful, accomplished musicians perform favorite songs before your every eyes, utilizing their talents to fill your dance floor. The bandstand becomes the classy centerpiece of a magical, memorable event.

Should brides have a wedding band & a DJ?
It depends on the effect they’re after. A DJ can perform two main functions: 1) Keep the energy at peak level during a band break, and 2), Play songs the band might not have in their repertoire.

What do you enjoy most about providing music for weddings?
I love turning a formal, solemn occasion, into a roaring memorable bash; observing the transition from quiet cocktails and dinner, to mild dancing, to finally letting it all hang out, all under the spell of our music!

What’s the most important thing a bride should consider when looking for a live wedding band?
One thing that comes to mind is to trust the band to do what it does best—get people dancing. Brides and grooms often have distinctive musical tastes, and thus occasionally have bunches of songs they “don’t want played at their wedding.” I think it’s important to consider that your wedding guests may not share those tastes, and that the most important thing is for “everyone” to have a great time and feel celebratory. The best events we’ve played have been those where the client left it up to the band to choose what to play when, and thus create the best possible party atmosphere.

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Business Name: First Impression Band
Website: www.firstimpressionband.com
Phone #: (317) 598-1151
Email: jnwreed@aol.com
Price Range: $3000 – $4000

Vendor Highlight – Oliver’s Twist

While at the Indianapolis Monthly Bridal Show
we stopped by the Oliver’s Twist booth!

Be sure to check out their website @ www.OliversTwistLLC.com

Vendor Highlight – Goldberg Photography

While at the Indianapolis Monthly Bridal Show
we stopped by the Goldberg Photography booth!

Be sure to check out their website @ www.goldbergphoto.com

Vendor Highlight – Bridal & Formal

While at the Indianapolis Monthly Bridal Show
we stopped by the Bridal and Formal, Inc. booth.

Be sure to check out their website @ www.bridalandformalinc.com

“The Ultimate Bridal Shopping Destination”

Vendor Highlight – Cocktail Sax Jazz Band

While at the Indianapolis Monthly Bridal Show
we stopped by the Cocktail Sax Jazz Band Booth!

Be sure to check out their website @ www.CocktailSax.com

 

Vendor Highlight – Charisma! Fashion

While at the Indianapolis Monthly Bridal Show
we stopped by the Charisma! Fashion Booth!

Be sure to check out her website @ www.charismazionsville.com

Vendor Highlight – Cretia Cakes

While at the Perfect Wedding Guide Bridal Show we heard the vendors chatting about Cretia Cakes and how we HAD to try them!  Sadly, by the time we got to her booth the show was over!  But, Cretia was nice enough to share a little about her business!

Be sure to check out her website @ www.CretiaCakes.com

“You can taste the love!”

Vendor Highlight – Northernlight Filmworks

While at the Perfect Wedding Guide Bridal Show we stopped by the Northern Lights Filmworks booth!

We’ve know of them, but it was great to meet both John & Jennifer Moon.

Be sure to check them out @ www.northernlightfilmworks.com

 

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