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.  More information about our Mini Weddings packages is available at southerncoutureweddings.com/mini-weddings.
 
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 decor, 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 Hannah Trahan at 337-371-1076 or email her at hannah@lepavillonlafayette.com!

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Le Pavillon Reception Venue - Rescheduling your wedding plans.
Over the last few weeks, “unprecedented” seems to be a popular term to describe situations and events that have never been witnessed in a lifetime for several people.  Accompanying the unprecedented COVID-19 are stress, panic, hysteria, and uncertainty in the heavy silence in the air.  While being directly affected by the needed closures brought about by the novel corona virus, our Le Pavillon Family and Team are honored to serve our clients and patrons.  We are committed to easing the added stress, to the best of our ability, in an-already-stressful-time of planning a special event.

We have been working diligently to take care of our clients affected by the pandemic.   The majority of our clients who have followed these tips have had a successful reschedule of all vendors with absolutely no additional fees!  While we cannot guarantee success across the board, we want to share our knowledge with you!

1. Reschedule.  Don’t cancel!  We have found that all vendors are being extremely kind and workable by allowing postponements. Cancellations have resulted in lost deposits and payments that have been made. Most of our clients have successfully rescheduled all vendors.

2. Contact all vendors and get all open availability for July-December.  Create a spreadsheet so that once all information is gathered, a guide is created to figure which date is available for all or majority of the vendors.

3. Consider July, August, and September!  Due to the heat in Louisiana, summer months are traditionally slower for weddings and special events.  The most open dates are available during these months which will be helpful as you navigate securing a new date.

4. Be Flexible and Kind. This is hard on everyone, including vendors.  Most vendors are trying very hard to accommodate their clients’ requests.

5.  Gratitude!  Perspective and reflection are key to centering hope on the important things in life.  Thank you, to ALL of our Le Pavillon Family, Team, Clients, Vendors, Patrons, Servers, Managers, Directors, and Guests for your patronage!  We wish you all health and safety!

Once special events are back in business, Le Pavillon can provide the ultimate experience including custom decor, planning, and catering services.  Not only can our team handle the planning of your special event from start to finish, but we can also CATER your celebration with a custom culinary menu designed by Chef Paul Gibson featuring high-end, flavorful dishes with a Louisiana flair.
Here is a sampling of our popular menu items offered by Le Pavillon Catering:  Praline Chicken; Chicken & Gouda Flatbread; Shrimp Stir-Fry; Fruit Display; Charcuterie Board; Roasted Brussel Sprouts; Crab Pearls; Catfish Roulade; Coconut Shrimp; Jalapeno Bacon Burger Sliders; and Candied Bacon Deviled Eggs!

Conveniently located in Parc Lafayette, Le Pavillon is next door to the Hilton Home 2 Suites, and near many stores and eateries. Featuring grand french architecture, three exquisite event spaces, and elegant decor, Le Pavillon is sure to exceed all of your expectations.
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If you would like to have your celebration, business meeting, wedding, or special event at Lafayette’s premier reception venue, please contact Hannah Trahan at 337-371-1076 or email her at hannah@lepavillonlafayette.com!

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​Late spring is the ideal time to shine a light on your student’s exceptional academic, athletic, and artistic achievements. Recognizing those achievements at an awards banquet not only provides student recognition but creates motivation for your students to keep up the excellent work for the next school year. If this is your first year planning and finding an awards banquet hall, fear not, we have created a ten steps guide to help you plan.

1. Establish your budget. Your budget will help determine where you can hold your awards banquet, the menu, décor, type of awards, and invitations. If you plan ahead, you can consider approaching local businesses to help sponsor your event; in return, you can mention them in your awards program.

2. Determine the date of your awards banquet. Make sure your dinner or lunch doesn’t conflict with school or athletic commitments. Consult with your school’s various committees, to avoid overlapping dates.

3. Choose an awards banquet venue. First on your list should be your awards banquet venue. If your school gymnasium or cafeteria is the location of choice, parking should not be an issue. If you choose an offsite location, make sure the venue can meet the parking needs of your students and their families. If you have your heart set on a specific venue, call early to reserve your date. Most banquet venues book well in advance; you will want to call as early as possible to reserve your date.

4. Choose a menu. Your budget ultimately determines your menu, and how formal or casual the awards banquet will be. Banquet venues often have multiple catering services you can use. If your banquet is held onsite at your school, you will probably need to hire a catering service. Regardless of the venue location, don’t forget to include a vegan option for those who do not eat meat.

5. Send out invitations. This vital detail will include RSVPs and will help you gauge how many students and guests will be attending. Knowing the number of guests determines how many tables, dinners, and possibly awards you need to order. Invitations are invaluable and can be as casual or formal as budget allows.

6. Seating arrangement. Create a visual seating arrangement, assigning students with their parents or guest, and staff to tables can help you stay organized. A seating assignment can also avoid chaos, including students wanting to sit near their friends.

7. Planning the program. The awards banquet program is a simple outline with the sole purpose of creating an organized timeline for your planning committee. It can also serve as a formal printed program. Printed programs are great keepsakes of the evening. A few essential details to consider are mentioning keynote speakers, presenters, the order of the awards, sponsor ads, and possibly how long each presentation will be. Including a program also allows the guest to break away if necessary, without missing their loved one’s award acceptance.

8. Ordering your awards. The type of award you present can vary greatly depending on your budget. Awards can range from traditional trophies and ribbons to medallions, certificates, pins, gift cards, electronics, and more. Be sure to order awards at least a month in advance–especially if you are ordering custom awards.

9. Plan and order decorations. An often-overlooked detail is the décor. Most award banquet venues only provide the landscape, think tables and chairs. Decorations, such as table covers, table skirts, and centerpieces are probably your responsibility, ask the venue if these are included or if you need to arrange for these. You might want to consider a photo station with a logo backdrop, dramatic balloon arches or other creative decor.

10. Create an awards banquet schedule. Give yourself and assistants time to decorate, test the sound system, arrange tables, speak with the caterers and wait staff, arrange awards in order of presentation, and other last-minute details that are sure to arise.
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Need help finding your awards banquet hall in Lafayette Louisiana? Consider calling Le Pavillon and allow Hannah and her team to take the stress of finding a venue and planning your awards banquet.

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Are you celebrating New Year’s Eve with a party this year? We curated a few festive ideas to help decorate your party venue in Lafayette Louisiana. Whether you are hosting an elegant soiree or a casual get together, your event can benefit from one or more of the glitzy ideas below.

1. Party Table – Get inspired by a mirrored disco ball centerpiece, clock collection and candles (many of which you can find at the Dollar Store). This elegant table will be sure to wow your party guests!
2. Mini Bow Ties (DIY style) – Try adorable bow ties with adhesive color gemstone buttons to dress up champagne glasses. The color can identify to whom the flute belongs on New Year’s Eve. 
3. Elegant Table Scapes – While white, silver and gray tend to be the color scheme for New Year’s Eve, you could pull in any trio of colors using Christmas tree décor. Light or dark, consider layering in party hats and horns for the count down. Silver or Gold tinsel ribbon tied around cocktail napkins add a festive touch and sprinkle the extra tinsel around the tables for a glitter effect when the lights dim. 
4. Black & Gold – This color duo brings elegance and drama to any table. Adorn your chairs like a gift-wrapped present — wrap chairs with iridescent fabric for that extra wow factor.
5. Festive Themed Party Table – Add stylish leopard plates either on top or bottom of a solid color appetizer or dinner plate. Consider an elegant clock-face runner adorned with pearl throws as party favors. Clear glass votives with vintage glass ornaments will add sparkle.
6. Glam & Glitz – Try do-it-yourself gold leaf chargers and sprinkled gold confetti around the table.
7. Elegant Clock Plates (DIY) – Find a clock face or faces to print. Use clear glass dinner plates and place the cutout of clock faces between a gold, silver or black charger and the transparent glass plate. 
8. Table Centerpiece(s) – Decorative plates featuring a mix of silver, black, white, clear or gold décor create a festive, eye-catching focal point.
9. Glass Bottles – Transform an array of old glass bottles into a simple centerpiece. You will need gold, silver, white and black spray paint. Use four glass bottles and four large numbers to add the new calendar year (one number on each bottle, or all four numbers on one bottle leaving the others simple painted in your color scheme of choice. Spray each bottle a different color, using a complementary color for the numbers. You can use a stencil for the numbers or you can free-hand paint them.  
10. New Year Wall Décor – Ring in the New Year with a festive wall for photo ops. Consider a printable banner with the New Year or eclectic rosette fans either wall mounted or hanging, include tassels or streamers for filler. Any elegant color trio will work for this masterful photo backdrop. 

The following are excellent suggestions for color combos that create real impact regardless of a dark or light theme:

• Spring Mix Jumbo Party Confetti Coins (pink, blush, and gold)
• Mini Gold Foil and Grey Appetizer Party Plates
• Metallic Mix Jumbo Party Confetti Tissue (gold, black and silver)
• Gold Strokes Black Cocktail Napkins
• An assortment of cupcake or dessert toppers – with the words Cheers, Yay, Celebrate, and Let’s Party to place randomly throughout the dessert trays.
• Gold, Black, Silver, Grey, or Blush colored foil paper fans.
• Hurricane candle holders – for floating votive or pillar candles.

When you are planning a New Year’s Eve Event that requires a large elegantly-appointed private event space in Lafayette Louisiana, consider Le Pavillon at Parc Lafayette. ​

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With last year’s bohemian minimalist influence on its way out you’ll notice a stark difference in brides-wear this fall.  Think beach bride turns more fairy nymph, and Louis XIV meets ‘70s disco minimalist.  Look for statement pieces that catch the eye with a dash of color strutting reception venues in lafayette this fall. .

Perhaps it’s lingering majestic inspiration from The Duchesses of Sussex and York, or a reverse reaction to the increasingly casual take on street style, but this is the year of exaggerated swelled sleeves, high ruffled necklines, and confection bottoms.  Envision Victoria Era inspiration all around.

Necklines are high this fall, using a range of texture and finery.  Silk and satin ruffles, lace and tulle, to feathers and fur.  Necklines and sleeves have taken a dramatic turn.  The return of sleeves is not for modesty or warmth, in stark contrast they are a statement. Giving new life to the description big, bold and beautiful.  Sheer sleeves create a longer line while showing skin and far from traditional, they are ruffled or swelling at the wrist and are often detachable.

Capes too are making a comeback.  Sheer or ruffled, embroidered or embellished, long or short, these fresh and innovative designs are quite stunning as an entrance and exit accessory or to provide an element of cover to exposed skin or minimalist style. A classic chic style we are please has found its way to the scene.

Bohemian Replacement – Tulle layered skirts, feather accessories and wide-brimmed hats don the bohemian replacement – the fairy nymph.  More structured than its predecessor, this effortless and polished look is rather reminiscent of the modest middle-class Victorian Era than regal.   It’s an ode to the past, a visit to traditional sensibility.

Top hats wrapped in tulle or wrapped in a veil and cocktail headwear finish our list of fall wedding attire.  Many of the fabrics and finery listed above are incorporated into wedding venue décor as well.  Adding feathers of varying size and tulle to floral arrangements and arches for photographs, while the top hats and exaggerated headwear are playing double duty as cake table adornments.

If planning nuptials is in your future, consider touring Le Pavillon at Parc Lafayette, the premier wedding and reception venues in Lafayette Louisiana.  With grand French architecture and a traditional colonnade, it’s sure to impart a lasting impression for your fall wedding.  Their team of wedding professionals will take the stress of planning the momentous event of your plate.  Le Pavillon boasts a team of hand-picked preferred vendors that can execute a simple casual affair or a full-blown all-star experience depending on your needs.   No detail is overlooked when partnering with our wedding team, call (337) 371-1076 for more information or visit our website for additional information on our reception venue.

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Are you tasked with organizing an annual holiday work party? It can be a lot of fun if approached the right way. As with any event, the focus should revolve around the attendees. The party venue should also reflect your guest. If the guests have a great time, your event planning will be remembered as a success, even when some details were accidentally overlooked. The great news about planning a holiday party is that everyone wants to enjoy it, so your job is essential to keep the energy going.

Some of the best ideas for work parties are the ones that encourage attendees to laugh and smile. A successful party need not cost a fortune, but you do need a budget, so start there. Once your budget is established, ask your co-workers to participate in generating creative ideas. Below are a few ideas to get your creativity flowing.

Guess Who’s Santa
Simple, yet fun, and guaranteed to garner laughs. Enlist a co-worker to dress up as Santa. After your guest have arrived invite Santa into the room to deliver gifts and introduce him or her to the crowd. During Santa’s introduction, ask your guest to raise their hand if they know who it is. Offer a present to the first to recognize Santa.
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Door Prizes
If your budget doesn’t allow for gifts for everyone, consider door prizes. Crowd favorites are paid day off or gift certificates to local restaurants and coffee houses. For additional fun, offer prizes for guessing the number of candy canes or Hershey’s Kisses in a vase.

Christmas Around the World
Spice things up, consider an international Christmas menu. Traditionally, Mexican, Asian and Italian make this list, but don’t overlook unusually ideas such as Polish, Finnish, or Tai cuisine. For additional international flair, consider decor and traditions from each country.

Special Causes
Holidays are a time of giving. While everyone is the spirit, many companies include charitable giving to their holiday celebration. The company holiday party is a great opportunity to recognize those involved in charity work within the company. If your company is so inclined, consider collecting presents for the less fortunate in the community, or consider sponsoring a family for the holidays. You could supply a list of the sponsored family’s needs and allow volunteers to purchase items on their wish list.

Local Entertainment
If budget permits, hire a local entertainer to liven up the evening. Bands, comedians or local radio or tv personality can bring the event to the next level. Do limit the time your entertainment will be the focus. Remember that the idea is to have a company social where employees have an opportunity to visit.

White Elephant Gag Gifts
People find it easier to purchase funny gifts than traditional presents, especially when working with a range of personalities. More popular ideas for this type of gifting include prizes for the worst gift under $10 or $20. Be sure to establish gag gift rules to keep it clean and HR friendly.
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If your holiday party planning requires a corporate event venue in Lafayette, la, consider Le Pavillon at Parc Lafayette.  This beautiful venue has ambiance and hand-picked caters that relish in exceeding your expectations.

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​Every bride imagines perfect 75-degree weather for her outdoor wedding, not too sunny with a few clouds for pictures. But what happens when it doesn’t work out that way? Planning is everything, and it is in your best interest to prepare for whatever Mother Nature throws your way. While some things can’t be controlled, having a contingency plan in place can help with the disappointment and likely frazzled feelings that are sure to arise.

Always speak with your potential venue about back up plans. Before booking your dream venue, ask about contingency plans should the weather decide not to cooperate. Will they have an indoor space available, or can they provide tents or a temporary structure? While you are probably looking at their space for the outdoor features, you’ll want to understand what will happen should the weather not participate. If what you see is what you get from the outdoor venue, you might be able to secure tents and platforms from a wedding rental vendor. If the contingency options are not satisfactory, you may want to forego the dream outdoor wedding venue for a more flexible venue.
Plan ahead.

A week or two before your wedding is not the time to start your contingency planning for foul weather. If an outdoor wedding is your dream, start the backup plans while planning the perfect wedding. Don’t allow your contingency plan to leave you feeling like the day wasn’t perfect due to lack of preparation. All wedding plans take time to put together, your contingency plan is not an exception.
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Put it on paper.
So that your backup plans don’t feel like backup plans, have it in writing that way all involved can help to execute them without undue stress. Provide a step-by-step action plan should need for execution arise. From where the food and beverages will be stationed to where the floral arrangement will look best now that your wide-open space has been reduced. Anything that you planned for the dream day should be taken into account for the contingency.

While rain is the typical culprit, it is not the only trick mother nature has up her sleeve. Prepare for all weather aberrations. Extreme heat and unseasonably cool weather are also typical weather concerns. Do you need to secure fans or heaters? Can these be rented from your venue or do they need to be outsourced? Are there electrical outlets for these accessories or will you need to bring in a generator and commercial extension cords? These questions and more are the sort of details that need to go into contingency planning.

Keep your guest in the loop.
Every outdoor wedding is subject to weather events, if your heart is set on one be sure to keep your guest in the loop by including a rain card in the invitation and on your website. Remind them your intent is to hold an outdoor wedding and what you believe the temperature range will be. For your out of town quest, remind them to dress appropriately and to pack additional items for slightly cooler or warmer weather. The more you can share with your guests the happier and more comfortable they will be.

The contingency space.
Mirror the intent and feel of your dream outdoor wedding venue in Lafayette, La while planning the backup. Include the dance floor, seating, photography area etc. Doing so initially will help you avoid disappointments in design if you are incorporating the details for your dream space.
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One often overlooked consideration is event insurance. On the off chance a natural disaster occurs, event insurance can help protect your financial investment. Event insurance coverage varies by carrier, so call your insurance agent to understand better how it can protect you.

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Planning a summer outdoor wedding? You are probably searching for exceptional ideas to make your big day unforgettable? Well, we are here to help. Below are our curated favorites for your perusing pleasure! From seasonal flowers to refreshing reception drinks, these ideas are sure to get your creative juices flowing to pull off a cool summer wedding and reception.

First in line when it comes to planning an outdoor summer wedding is keep your guests’ comfort in mind, remembering that they will be dealing with extra-high temps and UV rays. Creative cocktails – such as champagne popsicles, sangria stations, and coconut margaritas – can help guests battle the heat and will satisfy their thirst. You can also exchange the conventional wedding cake for gelato, tiramisu, or tres leche to give guests a cool sweet treat at the reception.

Recipes:
Champagne Popsicles
INGREDIENTS
1 bottle Champagne
1/4 -1/2 cup of agave syrup (sweeten to taste)
mixed berries
fresh mint or lemon basil
OPTIONAL – simple syrup to sweeten
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INSTRUCTIONS
Choose your popsicle molds. Pour champagne into a measuring cup or small pitcher, allow the bubbles to settle. If you want sweeter popsicles, add in simple syrup to taste.
Place a few berries & mint or lemon basil into the molds.
Fill the molds with the Champagne, leaving about a 1/4 inch at the top of the mold for expansion, so they don’t spill over.
Freeze a minimum of 3 hours or until frozen.
Remove from the freezer a couple of minutes before serving so they release easily from their molds.

Coconut Margaritas
Cream of coconut and water, the kick comes from tequila blanco (silver tequila) and triple sec, while its tang comes from freshly squeezed lime. You can use toasted coconut, a slice of lime or both to top it off.
INGREDIENTS
1 (15-ounce) can of Coco Lopez Cream of Coconut
1 cup of tequila
1/2 cup lime juice
1/4 cup Triple Sec
1/2 cup toasted coconut
1 cup ice

INSTRUCTIONS
Combine Cream of Coconut – tequila – ice – lime juice – Triple Sec and 1 tablespoon of toasted coconut in the blender. Blend until smooth.
Place additional toasted coconut on a small saucer. Rub a lime around rims of glasses and then press rims into the saucer of coconut.
Pour coconut margarita mixture into the glasses.

Sangria
Sangria is made with fresh fruit, red wine and brandy, this classic red sangria recipe will be spot on and is easy to make. Recipe yields 1 pitcher; enough to fill six glasses.
INGREDIENTS
1 bottle of affordable Garnache, Pinot Noir or other low-tannin fruity red wine, chilled
1 large orange
1 cup of thinly sliced seasonal fruit (such as apple or pear, peaches or nectarines, pineapple, consider a combination of fruit)
1 lemon, sliced into thin rounds
½ cup brandy
1 or 2 tablespoons maple syrup to taste
Ice, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS
To prepare sliced oranges. Squeeze the juice of half of the orange into a pitcher, then thinly slice the remaining half to place into the pitcher.
Add the sliced fruit and lemon. Add the brandy and 1 tablespoon of the maple syrup. Pour the wine into the pitcher and stir. Taste for sweetness, add an additional tablespoon of syrup if not to your liking.

You may serve immediately or allow to marinate for 2 to 8 hours for a more fruity flavor. Serve over ice in wine glasses.

Note: Maple syrup may be substituted with sugar (brown or white) or simple syrup instead. For a lighter bubbly sangria add club soda to the pitcher before serving.


For UV protection
Consider chic straw hats as favors for your attendees, which can also double as escort cards! And what southern wedding couldn’t benefit from parasols or fans during an afternoon nuptials.
Now that you’ve covered the basics, it’s time to move onto the fun stuff, summer wedding decor. Get creative while you are at it! Create a monogram to hang from a tree or placed on a wall as a backdrop for photos of your guest. If your wedding reception is pool or fountain-side floating floral arrangements. greenery, colorful blooms, string lighting, candles and a chandelier hanging overheard make for a glamorous summer wedding that’ll capture guests’ attention.

Floral Arrangements
When it comes to summer wedding floral arrangements, we love the idea of clear glass vase lined with sliced or whole fruit and or berries as centerpieces. Also, lighted branches, twilight trees, lighted lanterns, potted ferns, small potted trees, and shrubs add exceptional ambiance to an outdoor wedding (think butterfly trees, magnolia trees, hydrangeas along with potted plants that can be reused at home after the wedding). The options are truly endless.

If you are planning summer nuptials and looking for elegant outdoor wedding venues in Lafayette, La that boast outdoor wedding setting, consider Le Pavillon at Parc Lafayette. Hannah and her team will delight in helping you execute your dream wedding. If planning your wedding is turning into too daunting a task, Hannah and her dream team excel at taking over the details.

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