Toasts have been part of the wedding reception since the 17th century. Duties of the Maid of Honor and Best Man include raising a glass and saying a few words that will hopefully raise the spirits of all attending the festivities at the wedding venue. Traditionally the Father of the Bride and the Groom also offer some words in the form of a toast. The modern bride many times chooses to express herself with a salute as well.
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The tradition of toasting is referenced by Shakespeare, in the Bible, and in the diaries kept by social secretaries of European royal families. Some say the act of speaking a few choice words and giving well wishes for health and happiness to the wedded couple gets its name because pieces of grilled bread (toast) was dipped in wine and consumed at the end of the speech given at the opening of the reception when the host welcomed all to the party.

Regardless of the origin of the name and who exactly started the custom of sharing verbal regards to the happy couple, the practice is alive and well today. The Father of the Bride usually gives the first toast at a wedding reception as the host of the gathering. If the newly married couple throws their wedding reception, it is perfectly acceptable for them to offer a toast welcoming and thanking guests for attending and inviting them to enjoy the time spent celebrating their nuptials.

After welcoming guests with a toast, the festivities continue and time to cut the cake arrives. Close to the time of serving the cake is when the Best Man and Maid of Honor share congratulations, best wishes, and some personal antidotes about the Bride and Groom whom they have usually known for a while, some since childhood.

The concluding toast is traditionally given by the Groom or jointly by the newly wedded couple to thank their attendants and guests for witnessing their nuptials and joining in the good wishes of their community. At the conclusion of the toast, the chiming of crystal glasses touching sends a beautiful song through the air.

Whether a toast is practiced or off the cuff, it should be something that is heartfelt, genuine, and personal. Here are some toasts offered by the above-referenced wedding party members:
Father of the Bride:

The day my daughter was born was the happiest of my life. Thank you, guests, for being here to share in her joy today. Raise a glass with me and join me in wishing this beautiful couple a life filled with fond memories, happiness, and laughter.

Best Man:
May your laugh, your love, and your wine be plenty. Here’s to my friend and his beautiful bride.

Maid of Honor:
To my childhood friend, may the best day of your past, be the worst day of your future.

The Bride and Groom:
Thank you, guests, from near and far who came to share in the love and laughter of our day. Blessings of safety, health, and prosperity are wished to you today and always.

Cheers to the toast givers who plan the perfect words. Are you planning the perfect wedding, business meeting, or special event? Consider Lafayette’s premier event center Le Pavillon.

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​Summer brings heat and thirst and many gathered at event centers and reception venues will be craving refreshing non-alcoholic drinks. Tried and true summertime drinks can quench cravings and make impressions when served with popular modern twists.
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Lemonade is the most requested summertime drink. Easy to make and being refreshing to boot are just two of the reasons to mix up a pitcher of fresh, homemade lemonade.

To make lemonade you will need two cups of lemon juice. If you are squeezing your own, you will need 12-15 lemons. Make a simple syrup by taking one cup water and one cup white sugar and heating it in a pot over medium-high heat until the sugar melts and you have clear, lump-free liquid. Stir in the two cups lemon juice. This combination is a concentrate that you can store in the freezer or refrigerator. Make lemonade by the glass or pitcher by simply adding water to taste to the concentrate.

For a healthier lemonade, substitute local honey for the white sugar. Use the same proportions and directions and you have a drink that also helps build your immunities to local allergens.

Fruit lemonade variations are always popular choices for thirsty people. Make strawberry, blueberry, or raspberry lemonade simply by adding fresh fruit either wholes or pureed.

Iced Tea is a southern summer staple. Southern sweet tea is a traditional way to enjoy this standby or for a twist try Sunshine State Tea. This is tea with that has Florida Orange slices and a splash of juice added. Mint leaves are another refreshing choice to add to iced tea. A popular choice for children is to make Keep the Doctor Away Tea. This is half iced tea and half apple juice.

To stay hydrated, water is the best go-to beverage. To dress water up, infuse with cucumbers, mint, lemon, peaches, ginger, strawberries, and limes. Any seasonal fruit can add flavor and color to a refreshing glass of ice water. For a variation and to add sparkle, use seltzer water.

Sherbet punches are popular party choices and can be made with just two ingredients. Take a gallon of orange sherbet and place in a punch bowl. Add a chilled two-liter bottle of pineapple soda and you have a two-ingredient punch that is colorful and delicious. Raspberry sherbet mixes well with lemon-lime soda and lemon sherbet with fruit punch soda makes a tasty choice too.

For a punch with a few more flavors, try this lime sherbet-based delight: Chill a can of pineapple juice and a can of apple juice that is the same size as the pineapple juice. Mix the two together in a punch bowl. Add a half-gallon of lime sherbet. To that add 8-12 ounces of lemon-lime soda. Stir and enjoy. As the sherbet melts the punch becomes frothy.

Don’t want to mix your own drinks but want a delicious treat. Head to Borden’s for an old-fashioned ice cream soda or float. It’s a Lafayette landmark.

Another venue in Lafayette destined to become a landmark is Le Pavilion. This event center and wedding venue can be seen by appointment calling 337-371-1076 or email bookings@lplft.com.

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​June seems to be a month filled with weddings. You will likely find yourself at a wedding venue sometime within the first 30 days of the summer season. How did this tradition come about? Historians offer a few of the reasons that June became a popular wedding month.

Who wouldn’t want a marriage protected by the force of a goddess? Juno, the goddess that the month of June derives its name from, is the goddess that was/is the protector of women. Her powers were particularly strong and effective when it came to protecting fertility and love.

It is said that love leads to marriage which then leads to a baby carriage. Centuries ago marriage nearly always led to child bearing. Due to this expectation of women, most married in the month of June (Juno) to honor this extraordinary goddess to have their love and reproductive efforts protected by her ultimate force.

Another motive historians found was that weddings held in June correlated with preferred birth dates. Most brides were expectant mothers within the first month of their nuptials.  If you become pregnant in June or July that means your baby would be born between February and April.

Babies that are born in the Spring time of year, or planting time of year, didn’t interfere with harvest time in the late summer and early fall.  The women were able to help on the farm bringing with the crops if they had a child in the Spring.

Another prominent reason that couples opted to marry in June is because it was annual bath time.  You read that right. In the 14th century people bathed annually. Once a year you had your bath, or the first of a few baths, in June when the weather was once again warm.

The tradition of having bridal showers and flowers stems from the practice of having an annual bath time.  Flowers were first used to decorate and for the bridal party to carry or wear to mask the aromas of taking a bath just once a year.

Bridal showers, somewhat self-explanatory, it was a gift to bathe before the nuptials. Showering the couple with needed things became synonymous with the actual cleansing ritual of soaping up under running water.

Fast forward to the time where we bathe regularly, sometimes multiple times a day, and June is still a popular month for weddings.  In fact, there are still more June brides than in any other month.

The popularity of June nuptials was represented in movies like June Bride and in the song by the same name in the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.  If a movie and song weren’t enough to continue to influence brides in choosing a June date for their wedding, there are a few common-sense reasons in modern times.

Modern reasons that many couples opt to hold their ceremony in June include school schedules, the warm weather, and the month of June is the only summer month that doesn’t have a major holiday.
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No matter the month you plan to wed, put Le Pavilion on your wedding venue list.  With a stunning outdoor Colonnade and three exquisite ballrooms, you are sure to find the reception space of your dreams  Visit their website for more information on the opulent wedding and reception halls to host your special day.

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When planning a Summer wedding in Louisiana, cocktails are a central consideration.  When searching for a reception venue, you’ll want to be certain that your bartender has adequate space to create tried and true, and even new fun drinks for you and your guests.

Summertime heat calls for refreshing cocktails that can be made by the pitcher to share with a group while you are beating the heat. Some tips to remember when you are the drink mixer/master:

Use fresh juice—great cocktails come from great ingredients, so use fresh citrus and top-quality liquor.

Know how to free pour— it doesn’t have to be exact, you can avoid using a measuring cup or shot glass if you learn to eye-ball some basic amounts of liquid ahead of time.

Learn a recipes basic proportions—classic drinks, like a margarita, are easy enough to commit to memory, and you’ll impress your guests when you mix like a pro without pulling out a recipe.

Get some basic bar equipment—a Boston shaker, large pitches, stirrers, a hand juicer, and a jigger (if you decide you are more comfortable measuring) are very useful items that are worth the investment.

You’ve got your bar set up and now you are ready to mix cocktails. Whether fruit or vegetable based, here are a few popular summertime drink recipes to try:

Margarita (by the glass):  2 shots tequila, 1 shot Cointreau, ¼ shot lime juice. Mix together with ice in a blender for a frozen drink or mix and pour over ice in a salt-rimmed container.

Green Tree Frog (by the pitcher): 4 ounces vodka, 8 ounces lemon-lime soda, 12 ounces lemonade.  Mix together and pour into a large pitcher that you have filled with ice and sliced limes.

Purple Tree Frog (by the pitcher):  4 ounces vodka, 8 ounces grape schnapps, 12 ounces lemonade. Mix together and pour into a large pitcher that you have filled with ice and sliced lemons.

Blondie Marys (by the pitcher): 4 pounds of yellow tomatoes (cut into chunks, food processed and strained for the juice), 1 cup vodka, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 tablespoon horseradish, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon Tabasco. Mix everything in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into a pitcher and refrigerate at least 2 hours so flavors can blend. Fill glasses with ice, pour Blondies into glasses and garnish with a celery stick.

Berry Sangria (by the pitcher): 1 bottle sparkling white wine, 2 ½ cups white cranberry juice, 1 cup coconut rum, ½ cup each blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and chopped strawberries. Mix all in a pitcher. Chill for 2 hours before serving over ice.

And, in homage to a favorite New Orleans tourist drink:
Hurricane Punch (by the punch bowl):  32 ounces red fruit punch, 12 ounces frozen limeade thawed, 6 ounces frozen orange juice thawed, 1 2/3 cups light rum, 1 2/3 cups dark rum.  Stir all together and serve over ice.

No matter the concoction, be sure your guest drink responsibly.  Encourage guest to designated a driver, you could arrange for a few designated drivers, or create a list of numbers to the local uber and taxis services.

Le Pavilion is the perfect wedding venue that includes a spacious bar area. Tour the beautiful facility by appointment. You’ll lift a glass to toast yourself for finding the perfect reception venue.

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