Once you’ve decided to marry, the real work begins.  Of course, your upcoming nuptials will need to happen somewhere, but how do you choose where?  Deciding where to marry is where the fun begins.  Have you discussed what your dream wedding looks like with your soon-to-be spouse? 

When looking for wedding venues around Lafayette, Louisiana, nothing is out of bounds. Your nuptials can happen in the backyard at your parents’ home, in a cathedral or house of worship, standing in front of a judge at the courthouse, or in a grand wedding venue suited to your taste and budget.

Deciding where to hold your wedding is probably the most essential and defining decision you and your bride or groom will make; every decision after will define the wedding process.  If you have not gotten this far, don’t worry, we’ve put together a few steps below to help get you on your way to happily ever after.  

Choose the City
If you have already decided the city you want to marry in, you skip this part; but if you have not, this is the next big step.  Unless you and your prospective met in the same hometown and are not planning a destination wedding, some guests will likely need to travel to attend your wedding. 

Make a list of the cities you are considering for the wedding, assign a page for each town, and then write the names of all out-of-town guests, those who must travel to attend, on each page accordingly. You may find that one or more cities on your list place too significant a burden on those you would like at your wedding.  This step could help narrow down the city you choose to marry in.

If the number of guests at your ceremony is paramount, choosing a city where the bulk of your guest list lives will likely decide your location. 

If, however, family is most important, consider a city closest to the most important guests.  Chances are, some on your list will need to travel to your wedding, and their expenses will likely include hotel rooms, airfare, gas if the distance is drivable, and meals, so take that into account when deciding on a city.  

When Choosing Your Wedding Venue Work Backwards
More than any other aspect, your wedding venue sets the tone for the ceremony you will have.  Choosing a venue usually requires you and your intended decide on the ceremony style you want; consider the feel, the look, and the size before looking for a venue or setting a date.  Most women have been considering their wedding day well before the prospective groom came into the picture, and the groom may have had a thought or two about what his nuptials would look like. So now is a great time to discuss those ideas without thinking about practicalities.  Make a list of what is important to each of you and the non-negotiable things. You will be surprised at how easily the venue decision makes itself.  

Churches and popular venues usually book out several months and even a year or better in advance. So, unless you both are up for a long engagement, some venues will naturally eliminate themselves.  You will make modifications based on the priorities you hold close, i.e., a church or beach wedding.  Knowing you want a particular venue can influence your wedding date.  Learning that your combined guest list is 250 people deep means you need to choose a location that can accommodate that number.  Remember that compromise is essential; getting your way during planning can have consequences on the wedding day.  Making sure you both agree on important details will help avoid stress and emotional meltdowns at the ceremony.  

Consider the Costs 
Virtually every venue has an upfront rental cost, and from the base cost, you can decide on the extra details.  Remember, everything has a price.  For example, an outdoor venue may require audio equipment, seating, and tents in the event of bad weather.  A country wedding at an exclusive farmhouse may mean you need to shuttle your 250 guests to the venue.  Not all costs are literal, consider the comfort of yourself and guests if your desired remote venue doesn’t have bathroom capacity, and you need to reserve port-a-lets to accommodate your numbers.  

In summary, planning the perfect wedding day starts with finding the ideal wedding venue.  Booking the ideal venue begins with knowing what your perfect day looks and feels like.  Discussing the ceremony with your fiancée, and others involved is a great way to hash out the right wedding venue while providing an immeasurable learning opportunity in prioritizing and compromising.

If you your ideal wedding includes European ambiance, chandeliers, and one-of-a-kind elegance, be sure to add Le Pavillon to you must see wedding venue and reception halls in Lafayette, Louisiana. 

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​The morning of your wedding is a very special time, and can easily set the mood for the rest of your day. A bridal suite at your wedding venue allows for quiet moments with your family and wedding party, serves as a fueling location, and can be a calm refuge from the hustle and bustle on the other side of the door. We list a few of the benefits of booking a bridal suite for your consideration below. ​

​Your bridal suite allows for quiet time with the extraordinary women in your life.  Where you dress is the space your closest friends and family view your transformation into a bride. Whether your bridesmaid’s number in the 10s or just two – your bridal suite is a place to find serenity, laugh, relax, or pray with loved ones.

Le Pavillon’s Bridal Suite is picture-perfect and a photographer’s dream.  Our suite is decorated with elegant antique furniture and open spaces; allowing for picture-perfect moments from any direction. Bridal suites are where many photographers capture precious, intimate images, such as your wedding gown, jewelry, shoes and bouquet; it’s also the perfect backdrop for intimate photos of you and your bridesmaid’s.  ​

​The ability to dress and prepare at your wedding venue offers a host of benefits, none more important in the South than flawless, fresh hair and makeup unaltered by humidity.  While we can’t guarantee you won’t perspire, it will not be from transferring from one location to another to another.  You and you’re your loved ones can pomp and primp on-site, with the added bonus of easy touch-ups when you need to reset your powder, blush, or lips after pre and post-ceremony pictures, food, and drink; you simply pop into the bridal suite.

Preparation for your wedding day can feel a little overwhelming; you can easily go hours without eating or drink.  The wedding reception will be packed with those who will want to congratulate and toast you, you may find you have not stopped to eat.  Your wedding suite offers a private space where you can take refuge, refuel your body, hydrate, or sip a cocktail and enjoy an intimate moment with your newly minted spouse.  Your caterer can provide a special spread with the bride and groom in mind.

Booking a bridal suite as a wedding day sanctuary for you and your loved ones will prove invaluable. Are you planning a wedding in Lafayette, Louisiana?  Put Le Pavillon at Parc Gardens wedding and reception venues on your must-see list.  With three exquisite event rooms, a luxurious bridal suite, and the grand colonnade, you may find that Le Pavillon perfect backdrop for the wedding of your dreams. 

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Speak with a Wedding Planner First
You might not think of involving a wedding planner before you look at event spaces, but planners are far more likely to be familiar with venue options throughout the area; venue layout and capabilities, and the décor and time necessary to transform the space into your dream wedding and reception venue. 

Choose a Venue That Supports Your Vision
While this seems an obvious statement, many brides start with a specific venue in mind only to discover the cost of decorating to match your vision cost more than choosing a venue with the correct bones charges to rent.  For example, if your vision is of a more contemporary reception, consider an art gallery, modern restaurant, or a warehouse.  On the opposite side, a wedding integrating natural elements is better suited to an outdoor wedding and reception venue such as a beautiful backyard, park, riverfront, or ranch.  Finding a venue with the structural bones of your vision will assist in connecting your wedding and reception to the space.

Ready Your Guest List
Knowing the maximum number of guests you're inviting before shopping venues will help save you time and heartache.  Venues have a max capacity, and if you set your heart set on a specific venue that is too small for your list, it will lead to unnecessary stress and heartache.  The guest list is key to budgeting and venue choices; we suggest couples have the guest list conversation early.   

Consider Your Budget
Most wedding and reception venues charge a fee to lease their space; however, venues with in-house catering also charge a price-per-plate per guest.  In addition, décor such as floral arrangements and accessories, need to be included in your budget.  Knowing your budget ahead of time will serve you well when it comes to choosing your venue.  Suppose you decide on your venue first, only later to realize the expense consumes most of your budget. In that case, you are in for an uphill battle trying to stay within your budget when you have yet to hire your photographer, videographer, music, and possibly more.  

​Consider What is Included
If you are comparing venues that offer full service (tables, chairs, linens, etc.) and others that do not, start pricing rental fees.  While venues that offer full-service charge more, you may find that renting these items closes the gap on pricing.  

Keep in mind that rental items tend to be very basic designs and quality, with options to upgrade. So be sure you are getting a quote for the quality of rental items you really want, and not just an over-the-phone starting at price.  Furthermore, in-house food and beverage catering may not share the tax and gratuity on their quote, be sure to carefully review your quote and add an additional 25-30% if this line is missing.   

Are you investigating elegant wedding and receptions spaces in Lafayette La?  Be sure to add Le Pavillon at Parc Lafayette ​to your list, or call to schedule your private viewing 337.371.1076.

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​Planning a private event during a global pandemic can prove challenging but not impossible.  With a little guidance from the CDC, our astute planner, and our private event venue in Lafayette, Louisiana, you can still pull off an impressive soiree, be it a little scaled back.  

While the CDC does not impose a specific limit on the number of attendees of events, they encourage event organizers to focus on methods to limit individuals' contact with others.   Event planners and organizers need to determine the suitable number of guests for their venue size in collaboration with Louisiana Health Department recommendations.  Parish and city rules may differ from state restrictions depending on current infection rates in the area.  Your private event venue in Lafayette, Louisiana will be aware of current and expected limits. 

As a rule, the permissible number of guests allows individuals to keep at least 6 feet apart from each other.  Rather than focusing on a model number, event venues and organizers should concentrate on the venues ability to limit contact between staff, attendees, and other vendors.  The model indicates the more individuals you interact with, the closer you interact with them, and the longer the interaction, the higher the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19.  Indoor venues are more precarious than outdoor venues due to ventilation and spatial restrictions. 

The CDC also offers recommendations and strategies for maintaining 6 feet distance; for instance, planners can:

Limit attendees and seating capacity to allow for social distancing based on venue square footage, or host events appropriate for smaller rooms in larger rooms.
Section off rows of seating to space guests 6 feet apart.
Utilize various entrances and exits to discourage congested waiting areas.
Eliminate participation in lines or queues, such as buffets or bars, when possible, and encouraging guests to remain apart by providing signs or additional visual cues, i.e., tape or chalk marks. Other physical guides include floor and wall placards, 6 feet round tables, and directions for creating one-way paths.

Select outdoor event venues, where social distancing is easier to maintain, as often as possible.
Offer digital attendance options in addition to physical attendance to reduce the number of guests.
Consider restricting the number of guests who occupy the lavatory to allow for social distancing.
Do not permit lines to form near the lavatories.  Take unique actions to ensure that individuals maintain 6 feet apart from others.

The CDC does not recommend requiring a negative COVID test of guests and staff before allowing them to enter a venue. Testing such as this has not been systematically studied. It is unknown if this type of testing provides an additional reduction in transmission of COVID-19 above other preventive measures (such as cleaning and disinfecting frequently, social distancing, wearing cloth face coverings, and handwashing).

The CDC does however, recommend health checks such as temperature screening and symptom checking of guests, staff, and vendors respectfully and safely in accordance with privacy laws and regulations.

The CDC urges guests. others to wear masks in community settings and when in the presence of others who don't live in their household, especially when social distancing measures are difficult to enforce.  Event organizers should also require staff to wear masks and encourage guests to bring and wear masks in advance of the event.  While masks offer some protection to the wearer, masks are intended to protect those around the wearer in case one or the other is unwittingly infected.

Masks are enthusiastically encouraged in settings where guests might raise their voices to be heard Advise enforcement staff that masks should not be mandated on:

• Children under the age of 2 years old
• Those with trouble breathing
• Someone incapacitated, unconscious, or otherwise incapable of removing a mask without assistance

In general, guests and staff should be encouraged to take routine preventive measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  Measures include:

• Washing hands often or using hand sanitizer when washing is unavailable.
• Avoid close contact with the sick and those outside of your immediate household.  
• Encourage guest to stay home if unwell or know to be sick.
• Covering sneezes and coughs with the inside of their elbow or a tissue.
• Disinfect and clean communal surfaces.

Strategies to maintain healthy environments, include the following:

CLEANING AND DISINFECTING:

• Commonly touched surfaces at the venue daily and in between uses as frequently as possible (door and sink handles, support bars, hand railings, and frequently touched vertical surfaces).
• Disinfect, clean or replace shared objects between uses (countertops, tables, bars, payment terminals, and condiment holders).  Consider shutting off areas like drinking fountains where adequately cleaned and disinfected cannot be maintained during an event.
• Use disposable gloves when handling garbage, used plates, glasses and cutlery.  After use, throw disposable gloves out in a lined trash can.  Do not try to disinfect or reuse the gloves.  Wash hands following the removal of gloves.
• Consider serving pre-plated meals and pre-poured drinks, or provide seated dining where meals are served to your guests.  

If you are struggling to find a private event venue in Lafayette, La to accommodate your soiree while protecting your guests, call Le Pavillon at Parc Lafayette to schedule a tour.   Hannah will guide you through the meticulous protocols she and her team undertake to ensure the safety and health of ours and your guests.  

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How do you plan your special day without breaking the bank or going into debt?
Deciding on a wedding budget is not an easy task. Your wedding will likely be the largest celebration you will have hosted at this point in your life and probably the most expensive. To set a budget, you'll need to consider your savings, create and maintain a comprehensive spreadsheet so you can budget during the planning process. Budgeting is solid work; however, putting forth the time and energy early will ensure you enter your marriage "wedding-debt" free.  
 
First Step: Tally Your Cash
Your wedding budget is generally derived from three sources of money:
 
Personal savings: While it sounds as simple as how much cash you have in the bank, in a perfect world, you both will have set aside three months of living expenses in case of employment loss or a health setback. Subtract the emergency fund dollars from your banking balance, and what is left is presumably money you could spend on your wedding. 
 
Wedding savings: Considering your existing debts first, start setting aside a percentage of your earnings every month. Then establish a wedding banking account and start making direct deposits into it for wedding expenses. 
 
Family contributions: While many families are happy to contribute to their child's wedding, never assume parents or family members are willing and able to help.  
 
Second Step: Track Your Spending
Start a four-column spreadsheet: Column 1 - Name of the Expense, Column 2 - Estimated Expense, Column 3 - Modified Expense, and Column 4 - Actual Dollar of the Expense. The numbers under the Estimated Expense Column will be derived by doing market research on costs in your area. The numbers under Modified Expense will come from the vendor proposal you chose. And the Actual Expense numbers are derived from the money you have paid to the vendor.
 
You can adjust your estimates after calling the vendors for prices. It would be best if you considered starting with the wedding and reception venues because these two consume the largest piece of the wedding pie. The wedding venue will dictate how many guests you can invite, or vice versa; the number of guests will dictate the size venue you will need. Ask for estimates and verify if tax is included. If not, ask for the total or you can do the math yourself and adjust your spreadsheet proposal accordingly. 
 
You may wish to add a fifth column for gratuity. When you speak with the wedding or reception venue, caterers, etc. ask if gratuity is included. If not, they will usually inform you of the percentage they add to the proposal. Note that gratuity is usually paid in advance.
 
Consider adding a line item titled "Extras". This dollar amount should equal roughly 15% of your total budget. "Extras" is a cushion for things you did not think of or will likely forget to include, such as postage for invitations, security or valet parking attendants, or for unanticipated expenses such as corking and plate fees. Do not dip into this line item early in the process; you will need these funds for incidentals that arise later. 
 
Third Step: Prepare for Surprises
Diligently read the vendor contracts before you sign. The fine print is where you will find the extra expenses. Many vendor proposal totals exclude standard fees. Vendors know you are shopping and want their proposals to make the cut; to avoid sticker shock, they will leave out gratuity or other standard charges. 
 
Out of Town Vendor Transportation
If you are hiring an out-of-town photographer or band, you may need to pay for travel expenses, including a rental van or airfare. Read the contract carefully to understand exactly what is covered.
 
Setup and Breakdown Fees
While setup fees can be included, cleanup is not consistently covered. You may also incur overtime rates if the reception runs late. 
 
The Bar
What would a wedding celebration be without cocktails? Signature spirits and drinks can add another $3,500 plus dollars to a wedding of 200 guests. 
 
Photographer - Digital Files
Many photographers offer digital access to view and share your wedding images online, but this convenience comes at a price, $1,200 - $1,500 is relatively common. 
 
Wedding Planners
A full-service event designer will either have a flat fee or charge a percentage of the total budget. Before you enlist a professional planner, you should know roughly what you have to spend on the wedding and factor in that rate or fee. Some wedding reception venues require you to contract with their in-house wedding coordinator or bring in an outside wedding planner.
 
Fourth Step: Use Charge Cards Responsibly
It is very tempting to increase your cash flow with credit cards; if you must, do so cautiously. It would be best if you did not charge anything on your credit card that you cannot afford to pay off in 30 days. 
 
Fifth Step: Find Ways to Save
Are you over your budget? Consider these ideas to help reduce your spending.
 
Change of Venue
Raw spaces require more décor to make them wedding appropriate. If you have always wanted a barn or outdoor wedding and the venue is not an established wedding venue, you will need to bring in everything from tables and chairs, linen and serving ware, restrooms, air conditioning or heating. If you are set on a raw venue, start totaling the cost of making it wedding appropriate and compare those costs to a venue that includes these basics.
 
Budget with Time
Many brides would prefer to prolong their engagement than to settle on the details. When you have time to plan your wedding, you are in a better position to negotiate. Negotiating with vendors is more difficult when you are running out of time.
 
Multi-purpose the Venue
Host the wedding and reception at the same location. 
 
Sacrifice the Live Band
A well-established band can run thousands of dollars, while a reputable DJ will cost a fraction of the cost and often provide a wider range of music.  
 
Order Your Own Paper Items 
Today, creating and ordering your wedding invitations, thank you cards, place cards, and such is a breeze. Online technology has made it this task easy to do.
 
Avoid Upgrades
Unless a base package is unacceptable, say no to unnecessary upgrades. Or choose a vendor with an acceptable base package or with the least number of upgrades possible. For example, upgrading linens (table cloths, chair covers, napkins) alone can increase your budget by thousands of dollars.  
 
Use Fewer Vendors
Many photographers also offer videography services and offer discounts when you choose both services. DJ's will often offer lighting services as well.  ​

Shopping for the perfect wedding and reception location in Lafayette Louisiana?  Be sure to add Le Pavillon's special event venues to your list. 

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Bridal showers are a wedding tradition with origins dating back to 16th-century Holland.  When a young woman's father refused a dowry to a marriage he disapproved of or the engaged couple came from a poor background - town folk would get together and offer gifts to help the young woman start her home.  The tradition has, to a certain extent, held over the years, as we now shower the couple with gifts that pertain to starting a new home.  

Etiquette for bridal and wedding showers have changed over time and can be a little confusing—questions about who throws a bridal shower to what you write on a bridal shower invitation.  We endeavor to answer these and other popular questions below. 

What Is a Bridal Shower?
Bridal showers are a daytime, usually women-only event in celebration of the bride's upcoming marriage. Conventionally, it is an occasion for guests to give the bride gifts to help set up her new home.

Bridal Shower Etiquette
What Happens at a Bridal Shower?
Contingent on the bride's taste, the hostess can arrange entertaining games for the guests to play, or the hostess can skip this tradition.  The universal outline is the same:  Drinks, food, merriment, and the opportunity for the bride to open shower gifts surrounded by her friends and family.  If you choose to include games, popular ones include designing a wedding dress using only rolls of bathroom tissue, gift bingo, or the day activities could include spa day or calligraphy lessons.   

When Do You Throw a Bridal Shower?
Typically, bridal showers are held two to six months prior to the wedding.  Choose a date that is convenient for both the bride and her guests, whether that means a date closer to the wedding or planning it to coincide on the same day with another event such as the bachelorette party.


Who Throws a Bridal Shower?
Traditionally, the bridal shower is hosted by the maid of honor, bridesmaids or bridal attendants.  While anyone can plan the shower, make sure the who is communicated clearly to ensure there are not two separate showers being planned - unless you intend to hold more than one.  Etiquette holds that relatives, including mother of the bride and mother in law, should reframe from hosting as it can may that they are openly asking for gifts.

Family members can help plan the event; if none are available to help plan, bridesmaids can step in helping take care of the arrangements.

Bride Involvement in Planning?
Unless the shower is a surprise shower, the bride will generally provide details they would like at their shower. The host should ask about theme selection and additional details such as location, date, time, and activities to get a feel for of where to start.  Then it is up to the hostess or hostesses to use to bring the shower to life.

Who Do You Invite to a Bridal Shower?
The guest list should include only those who are also invited to the wedding.  If you don't intend to invite a guest to the wedding, you should not invite them to the shower.  Do keep the guest list manageable, if you are planning multiple showers don't invite the same people.  

Bridal showers are considered intimate. The guest list usually includes the bridal party and close friends and family of the couple.  How many you invite depends greatly on how large the wedding will be.  If you plan to surprise the bride with the shower, the maid of honor and bride's mother should work together to create a guest list they believe the bride will be happy with.   If you are not surprising the bride, have the bride assist with the guest list, but leave her out of the planning.

When Do you Mail Bridal Shower Invitations?
Preferably, invitations should be mailed out a month to six weeks before the shower, either by traditional mail or email.  Include the bride's name, date of the shower, time of the shower, the location, registry information, dress code, preferred method of RSVP, and the hostess(s) names.

Dress Code at a Bridal Shower?
Bridal showers can be as casual or formal as you would like.  But do indicate your preferred dress code on the invitation.  When in doubt, always dress up rather than down.  If you would like your bridal shower photos to look cohesion, you will want to advise your guest of a color scheme in the invitation.

Where to Throw a Bridal Shower?
When the bride lives close to home, consider holding it in her hometown.  If the bride resides in a different state, it may be more convenient for the guest if the bride to travels to her shower - instead of asking the bulk of the guest list to travel to her.  The location depends greatly on the type of shower and the host's budget.  Possibly a family member or friends home, a local restaurant, or if you have chosen a theme, it could be held at a spa, wine tasting room or special event center.

To Theme or Not to Theme?
Bridal showers don't have to include a theme, but it's a fun way to add personality to a party.  The theme can be as simple as rustic décor and attire, or as defined as a day at the spa day.  Favorite themes include a traditional tea party, Great Gatsby, nautical-inspired, or a beach party.

Is a Bridal Registry Necessary?
The wedding registry can also function as the bridal shower registry unless you have designated it a lingerie bridal shower.  Clearly, this would require a separate registry.  A lingerie registry can help guests with appropriate sizing.  

Steps to Planning a Bridal Shower

Create a Shower Budget
The most important step to plan a bridal shower is to create a budget for the event.  Your budget should include venue, food, drinks, photography, décor, flowers, rentals, and any other vendors and expenses incurred while planning.  Depending on the theme and the bride's taste, a typical bridal shower can cost somewhere between $20 to over $100 per guest.

The Date
Consult with your bride to choose a date that works and within the wedding timeline; usually, four to six weeks before the wedding.  Remember, many brides plan their bridal shower the same day as their bachelorette party to limit the number of times out of town guests need to travel.  So the time frame may only be a week or two out from the wedding.

Creating the Guestlist
Consult with the bride on a must-invite list and continue to work with her as you create the full list.  Do have the bride review and approve the list before you send out invitations.

Choose the Location
Often the hostess offers their home for the bridal shower.  If this option is unavailable, ask your co-planner if she has available space.  Or consider special event venues that correlates with your theme; a spa, micro-brewery, a restaurant, or hotel, or rent an Airbnb or VBRO for a beach-themed weekend.

Send the Invitations
Give your guests as much advanced notice as possible.  Giving them time to arrange attendance and to purchase gifts.  Invitations should be sent out four to six weeks before the shower date.  This means you should start looking for and purchasing invitations at least a month prior to the mail-out date.  It is also good form to include an extra line on the RSVPs for guests to note dietary restrictions.

Plan the Menu
The menu depends on the time of day and the shower theme.  If you are hosting a brunch, stock up on mimosas ingredients and brunch foods.  Make sure the menu includes dishes the bride likes and options for guests with dietary restrictions mentioned on their RSVPs.

Plan Shower Décor
If you have hired an event designer, you are done here.  If however, you are the decorator, this can be argued the best part of planning a bridal shower.  Whether you have designated a theme or not, think about the personal touches you can provide for the bride.  Lovely floral and balloon appointments, but do include a picture-perfect photo backdrop.

Plan Games and Activities
Activities are great icebreakers for the guest, especially if they are not acquainted with one another.   Many traditional shower games require just a bit of creativity!   Check out Etsy for fun shower games, if budget permits.

Create a Playlist
Music sets a mood at any event, be sure to select fun or theme inspired music.  Have the bride send a list of some of her favorite songs, and included love songs and cheerful tunes for background music.

Would you like help planning a bridal shower party?  Consider the experience special event planners at Le Pavillon at Parc Lafayette.  This private event center in Lafayette Louisiana can arrange all the details allowing friends and family of the bride a stress free day of merriment.  

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Planning your wedding is a challenge under normal circumstances but doing so during a pandemic presents a unique set of obstacles.  You might be entertaining the idea of putting the wedding off or trading your dream wedding for a courthouse wedding.  

It is safe to say that weddings in 2020 will look a bit different, whether it is limited to a guest list of 50, as it is in Louisiana, or postponing it until you can have the one you dreamed of later on.   Unfortunately, COVID-19 has disrupted the wedding industry as a whole.

To help you prepare for your wedding during COVID, or postponing it, we have spoken with local planners. Their overwhelming advice is to be prepared, follow the state and local news closely, and keep an open dialog with your vendors and guests.  Their best advice is to hire a planner; as they can help you navigate this overwhelming balance of meeting state and local mandates and planning the perfect wedding    

"Where there is a problem, there is always a solution."

No matter your situation, it's essential to keep your eye on the goal.  As always, self-care is essential; it is alright to cry. It's okay to be angry or to feel other emotions associated with a loss. 
This big day you have been planning will come. It may just be a matter of when.  No matter the concession you have to make, when the day does arrive, it will be amazing.  

Here is what you need to know about corona-virus wedding planning

If you are planning a wedding in the U.S. in 2020.
Regulations vary by state and sometimes by county or parish, so it's important to stay informed on the latest guidelines at your chosen wedding location and where your guests are coming in from.

To make the best decision, and for the safety of your guests, consider the following.
Schedule a team consultation.  Arrange a virtual conference with your team and ask them to have their calendars with them, including the wedding planner, venue, catering, musicians, video, and photography; Zoom makes this possible.   A conference call will allow you to establish a date everyone is available, or find a backup date if state or local regulations shift.
Keep in mind, chances are slim that your entire team and plan will be carried out without any changes.  The goal is to plan your big day with the least amount of changes and financial impact as possible.  Speak with your fiancé about non-negotiable details prior to the team conference. 


May we suggest hiring a planner.
If you have not enlisted the help of a planner, consider this an essential step.  The planner will have relationships with vendors involved in every facet of a wedding.  Their contact list is generally worth every penny you will pay.  Especially in our current situation, their established relations will absolutely be invaluable.  

Once you have hired a pro, be ready to move quickly on decisions.  As you can imagine, the environment is fluid, and obtaining confirmation is imperative to your wedding day's success.  Wedding planners' other clients are your competition for dates and vendors.  There as so many love birds in the same boat as you.

Moving Forward with a Date this Year
In addition to guest limitations, you will need to implement safety precautions.  Event centers and vendors may require thermometer scans, sanitation stations, masks, and possibly waivers of responsibility for guests to sign.  Inform guests of the precautions you are taking on your wedding website or Facebook group will give them confidence in attending.  


Following CDC Guideline
If you have your date, vendors, and venue set, you will need to pay attention to what the national and local experts suggest and heed their advice.  If you have followed our advice and enlisted a wedding planner, they will be abreast of changes in mandates and help you navigate accordingly. 

We understand that it is your wedding, the most anticipated day in your life, but the shaded memory of celebrants leaving your wedding sick will not make lovely reflections of your special day. 
 
Design with Availability in Mind
Our current climate may impede the florist's ability to deliver your choice of flowers, depending on where they are sourced.   While flowers are sourced worldwide, a corona-virus outbreak could shut down vendors overseas or imports to the United States.   

Consider Sourcing Local Goods
When searching for items for welcome bags, consider working with a local vendor and supporting a small business!

Consider a Virtual Wedding
For your elderly guests or those who cannot travel to the wedding, considering live streaming your wedding.  You can speak with your videographer about setting this up; technology and necessity have made this once crazy idea quite plausible to arrange.  

Wedding planning teams all over the U.S. have dreamed up attractive offers to allow love birds to execute a miniature version of their dream wedding.  If you are adamant that your wedding will be held this year, contact local wedding venues in Lafayette, Louisiana and speak with their event planner;  you might just be amazed at their ingenuity.  

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Are you celebrating your fifth-year anniversary, or are you attending a celebration at one of Lafayette Louisiana's Wedding Anniversary Venues?  Even more important, are you wondering which gift to give or exchange at this particular milestone celebration?  Below we have covered some of our favorites traditional, with a twist, 5th anniversary gits.

What is the traditional 5th-anniversary gift?
Tradition holds that a couple receives and gives a gift of wood for their 5th anniversary, symbolizing their union's strength.  A modern twist on this tradition is flatware, this also seems a little tricky when choosing a gift, but fear not - we've found some unique prospects for you to consider.  In addition,  the gemstone sapphire is also associated with a 5th anniversary, and as an extension - the color blue.

5-Year Anniversary Gifts for Them

Cutting board
Sound a little dull?  Clearly, you have not been shopping for cutting boards lately.  Today, cutting boards come in all variations of exotic and mixed wood designs, with ornate handles, and even custom engravings.

Engraved spoons
Were you considering a modern twist on the anniversary gift?  Consider gifting silverware even if the couple has a basic silverware set, what couple could not use an additional serving set for entertaining.  Then, there is the combination wood and serving ware – salad tossing set.  The set usually involves a large spoon and fork used for tossing the salad in dressing.  Today you can find these useful items in exotic wood, making the gift even more unique.

Rustic holiday decor
A simple wooden holiday ornament could prove the right addition to their holiday tree and make a beautiful heirloom for generations to come.  

Cocktail ware
While cocktail ware isn't exactly silverware, the addition of silver to stemware, shaker or a serving tray surely counts as a gift in the spirit of the celebrations.  If you prefer to be a stickler, consider cocktail mixing utensils such as tongs or a long mixing spoon.

Wine in a wooden box
A bottle of wine is almost always appreciated as an anniversary gift, by upping the ante with a wooden gift box you will have certainly given the nod to the tradition.

Cork holder
Another twist on the gift of wood is a beautiful cork holder - a shadow box.  Consider having it engraved with the couple's name and wedding date.  This can serve as an elegant way to display the corks from celebratory anniversaries. 

Coasters
Engraved wooden coasters personalized with the couple's initials offer an affordable yet personal gift for couples that entertain.  

Bottle opener
From friends, Mrs. to Mr., or vice versa – a customized wall mounted bottle opener could strike the right chord.  Especially for those couples that enjoy sports and entertaining. Doesn't everyone need a beer bottle opener near the bar-b-que pit?

Hammer
Sticking to tradition, who does not love a useful, if not practical gift.  Once again, you can personalize this gift by engraving the wooden handle with a quote about building your life together.  Very simple and yet super sweet.

Dock organization station
A wooden organizer is yet another practical gift nodding to the traditional gift of wood.  Perfect for stashing his belongings when you walk through the door, and for her a wooden keepsake box to place special gifts or jewelry. 

Wood carved figurines
A statue of a lovers embrace his or her favorite animal.  Our personal favorite with a node to the next generation is a wooden Winnie The Pooh.  

Jewelry
The whiskey barrel wooden watch has set off a huge trend in non-traditional jewelry gifts.  Now available from multiple vendors, these watches are available in exotic woods, even mixed woods, and every shade of wood you could desire.

Sapphire
Is the traditional stone given for the 5th wedding anniversary?  Your imagination and budget are the only things holding you back on this gift.  Do a simple search on your phone for sapphire gifts for him and her and you will see what we mean.  

Wind chimes
Is there anything more calming than the sound of wind chimes while relaxing in the backyard?  Beautifully arranged in varying sizes and décor, wooden wind chimes are a thoughtful gift to the couple celebrating their 5th year anniversary.  

At the start of the reception, you will enjoy your first dance as a couple before savoring small bites with your guests. Immediately after the champagne toast and cake cutting, you will get to celebrate your milestone moment with family and friends before finishing your day with formal photos.
 
Conveniently located in Parc Lafayette, Le Pavillon is next door to the Hilton Home 2 Suites, and near many stores and eateries.  Le Pavillon features grand french architecture, three exquisite event spaces, and elegant décor, our reception venue is sure to exceed wedding venue expectations.
 
If you would like to have your celebration, business meeting, wedding, or special event at Lafayette’s premier reception venues, please contact Sue Beaullieu Bayard  at 337-371-1076 or email her at events@LePavillonLafayette.com!

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