Since our at-home reception will most likely have quite a few guests (Zach's family alone will be 75 guests)! We are also looking for venues that have a great skyline view of downtown Denver and the rocky mountains. It will need to be able to accommodate 150-200 guests. So far we are thinkingThe Grand Hyatt (first 3 photos), Denver Performing Arts Center (The second 3 photos) or the Museum of Science and Nature (the last 2 photos).

For our at-home reception instead of sticking with our destination color scheme we are switching it to black & white with teal accents. So for our invitations we are doing really classic black and white invites. We're going to send out save-the-dates before we leave for St. Lucia and then when we get back send out the invites, since we are planning on getting marriend in late April and are hoping for a June AHR. That should give us plenty of time to get the invites out and give guests enough of a heads up about timing. Here are a couple that I am thinking about, I really love the falling rose petals from www.weddingpaperdivas.com. I have also added in the Falling Petals STD's, Menu, Response Card, and the Place Cards.

I am going to wear my dress again but Zach and his brother (groomsman) wear black suits. My MOH's too will be wearing black dresses. The good thing about the black and white theme is that everyone in the bridal party already has either a black suit or a black dress, so no one will have to buy ANOTHER dress.

I am planning on wearing the same shoes from our DW wedding and also bringing the sandals just in case my feet start hurting during the reception. For our DW I am going to be wearing a lot of my mother's jewelry. It's kind of a tradition, and I really love pearls and my mother has a lot of them. But for our AHR I want to be blinged out, so I found really cute hair clips, bracelets, and drop earings from Regina B. For images of the shoes please see Wedding Day Attire Tab.

Since we are keeping with a black and white wedding I want to keep those colors in the AHR bouquets and boutonniere. I was thinking black and white anemones and gerber daisys as well as the calla lillies that are such a dark purple they look black and white hydrangeas and phaleonopsis orchids as filler flowers. I also want to wrap the stems in white and overlap in black and pin with rhinestones.

For the cocktail tables I was thinking about covering them in black and white bengaline linens, as well as, black and white orleans damask and tying them with a teal bengaline sash.

For the cocktail tables I am definitely thinking about something simple and low. I wanted to get a black wooden (small) tray and inside put a shallow glass circle bowl filled with water and float candles in the vase. Then in the open area between the inside of the tray and the outside of the vase fill it with our flower choices, mainly white hydrangeas but with accents of black and white gerber daisys and anemones. I've also included some pictures of my back-up ideas that I thought were cute just in case.

For the centerpieces I am definitely going to stick with the black and white flowers that we are using in the bouquets. I know we are going to use the black & white new orleans damask tablecloths from BBJ Linen, as well as, teal bengaline for the napkins and the chair ties and pads. We also want to use Chivari Chairs I just am not sure what will look best black or white (I think I'm leaning to black). For place card holders we are going to use the silver elephants. Elephants are supposed to represent good luck and good tidings. Zach and I also met at a restaurant we both worked at called The Elephant Bar, so it is perfect! We will also use one of the Elephants to hold the table number.  I was also thinking about sticking a white orchid into the pocket of the napkin where the menu will be tucked in. I also found these really cute kissing bells from the same Vera Wang collection but they are REALLY expensive - $25.00 each. I would get them without hesitating but I would get one per table and I feel like they would go unused and be a waste of money in the end.

For our main reception I love the picture of the orange and pink mokara orchids strung and hung inside of tall clear vases. Instead of using the orange and pink mokara orchids, I was thinking of stringing the black and white anemones in one jar seperated though by beads so it goes, flower, bead, flower, bead, etc... I would love to have three vases varying in height and on each table have a different flower in each vase, so there would be a vase with a strand of black and white anemones, a vase with a strand of black and white gerber daisys, and a vase with a strand of white phaleonopsis orchids. On each table I would like them to be switched up so the largest vase doesn't always have orchids in it and the smallest always with anemones. I think it would be really gorgeous to have votives placed all around the table. I have also included different pictures of the back-up ideas just in case my first choice idea becomes too expensive.

So I just saw this really cute idea in the knot's gallery! I found rainbow and black & white swirly lollipops (I'll use Black & White swirly lollipops if I use a teal bengaline linen on the table and I'll use Rainbow swirly pops if I use a black bengaline linen on the table) and stick them in trays that are filled with black and white jelly beans. I might use foam on the bottom for them to stand straight up and then cover the tope with the jelly beans so no one can see the foam. The lollipops have the names of the guests attached to them. So cute and inexpensive! I figured I would put them in black trays. The guest book will also be on the escort card table. I love the one pictured below. It's Vera Wang's Love Knot Collection and it matches the toasting flutes and cake serving set.

For our cake I am trying to stick with our same color scheme. Check out the pics that I think are really cute. As for the flavors I still want something really tasty! For flavors I really like check out the Cake tab! I would like our cake table to have a teal bengaline linen with white rose petals and filled with votives.The cake table picture below actually has a teal bengaline underneath with a purple dahlia sheer over the top (bothe from BBJ Linen). The cake serving set is from Vera Wang's Love Knot Collection. I also posted a picture of the matching toasting flutes that I would like to have engraved. For a cake topper I am thinking about a couple edible black and white anemones like the middle picture with a swarovski crystal "S" (which will be our new last name initial)!

For the music selection I was thinking of just using a DJ. Nothing extravagant, mainly because I already have our playlist figured out but if there are that many people going to be there I don't want to have an awkward DJ. Again we want the reception to extend a little later so the first section of dancing music is geared toward all ages and the second dancing section is geared more towards the younger crown. We are guessing that most of the "older" people will be ready to go home by 11:00/11:30 so then we can successfully switch over. This is the playlist I was thinking.



Cocktails & Dinner Music (5:00pm – 8:45pm)

 

1.      Here With Me – Dido

2.      The Blower’s Daughter – Damien Rice

3.      Fever – Michael Buble

4.      Never Felt This Way – Alicia Keys

5.      Butterflyz – Alicia Keys

6.      (Everything I Do) I Do It For You – Bryan Adams

7.      I Touch Myself – Divinyls

8.      More Than Words – Extreme

9.      Thank You – Dido

10.  Headlock – Imogen Heap

11.  Sweetest Sin – Jessica Simpson

12.  Open Arms – Journey

13.  Apologize – OneRepublic

14.  In The Air Tonight – Phil Collins

15.  I Wanna Love You Forever – Jessica Simpson

16.  Glory Box – Portishead

17.  Stop and Stare – OneRepublic

18.  Sway – Pussycat Dolls

19.  Right Here Waiting – Richard Marx

20.  No Ordinary Love – Sade

21.  Possession – Sarah McLachlan

22.  Ooh La La – Goldfrapp

23.  Kiss From A Rose – Seal

24.  Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover – Sophie B. Hawkins

25.  Wild Horses – The Sundays

26.  Valentine – Scarlett Pomers

27.  Destiny – Zero 7

28.  Rhiannon – Fleetwood Mac

29.  This Love – Craig Armstrong

30.  Cocaine – Eric Clapton

31.  Secretly – Skunk Anansie

32.  She’s Like The Wind – Patrick Swayze

33.  Siren – Tori Amos

34.  Bust Your Windows – Glee Cast

35.  Life In Mono – Mono

36.  Kissing You – Des’ ree

37.  Dreams – Fleetwood Mac

38.  I Dare You To Move – Switchfoot

39.  I Did It – Dave Matthews Band

40.  I Swear – All-4-One

41.  All of Me – Billie Holiday

42.  I Believe – Blessid Union of Souls

43.  The Space Between – Dave Matthew’s Band

44.  Layla – Eric Clapton

45.  I Love You – Sarah McLachlan

46.  Hungry Eyes – Eric Carmen

47.  Gypsy – Fleetwood Mac

48.  Flake – Jack Johnson

49.  Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey

50.  Bette Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes

51.  Dreams Of Our Fathers – Dave Matthews Band

52.  Gone - ‘N Sync

53.  Pocketful of Sunshine – Natasha Bedingfield

54.  Fear – Sarah McLachlan

55.  Crazy – Seal

56.  Everyday – Dave Matthews Band

57.  When Dove’s Cry – Prince

 

Denver Reception (All Dance)

1.      Take My Breath Away – Berlin – Bride & Groom 1st dance

2.      Candyman – Christian Aguilera – Cake Cutting Song

Mother/Son Dance – TBD

3.      Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion – Father/Daughter Dance

4.      Do It – Nelly Furtado – B&G start – all guests join in ½ way through

5.      Wild Thing – Tone-Loc

6.      Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ – Michael Jackson

7.      Need You Tonight – INXS

8.      Could You Be Loved? – Bob Marley

9.      Ain’t No Other Man  - Christina Aguilera

10.  Colorblind – Counting Crows

11.  Take Me Home Tonight – Eddie Money

12.  I’ll Be Seeing You – Billie Holiday

13.  Beat It – Michael Jackson

14.  (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay – Otis Redding

15.  The Way You Move – Outkast

16.  Billie Jean – Michael Jackson

17.  Be My Baby – The Ronettes

18.  Talking In Your Sleep – The Romantics

19.  The Way You Look Tonight – Michael Buble

20.  Thriller – Michael Jackson

21.  Smooth Operator – Sade

22.  How Sweet It Is – Michael Buble

23.  Winning Side – Oingo Boingo

24.  Stay – Maurice Williams & The Zodiac

25.  Somebody’s Watching Me – Rockwell

26.  Sway – Michael Buble

27.  Sweet Dream (Are Made of These) - Eurythmics

28.  P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) – Michael Jackson

29.  Unbelievable – EMF

30.  Come Fly With Me – Michael Buble

 

 

Denver Reception (Late Night)

1.      Let’s Get Down – Tony! Toni! Tone!

2.      Boom Boom Pow – Black Eyed Peas

3.      Poison – Bell Biv DeVoe

4.      Bossy – Kelis

5.      Step by Step – New Kids on the Block

6.      Buttons – Pussycat Dolls

7.      Party Your Body – Stevie B

8.      The Way I Are – Timbaland (Featuring Keri Hilson)

9.      Black Cat – Janet Jackson

10.  Freakshow – Britney Spears

11.  My Humps – Black Eyed Peas

12.  Sweet Dreams – Beyonce

13.  Brass Monkey – Beastie Boys

14.  Dip It Low – Christina Milian

15.  If – Janet Jackson

16.  Roses – Outkast

17.  Genie 2.0 – Christina Aguilera

18.  Ice Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice

19.  Poker Face – Lady GaGa

20.  I’m A Slave 4 U – Britney Spears

21.  Shut Up – Black Eyed Peas

22.  Dancing In Heaven (Orbital Be-Bop) – Q-Feel

23.  SexyBack – Justin Timberlake

24.  Whatchamacallit – Pussycat Dolls

25.  Bust A Move – Young MC

26.  Give It To Me – Timbaland

27.  Lace and Leather – Britney Spears

28.  Fergalicious – Fergie

29.  U Can’t Touch This – MC Hammer

30.  Strip Tease – Danity Kane

31.  Circus – Britney Spears

32.  Motownphilly – Boyz II Men

33.  Meet Me Halfway – Black Eyed Peas

34.  Technique – Rainey

35.  Milkshake – Kelis

36.  Just Dance – Lady GaGa

37.  Disturbia – Rihanna

38.  Save The Last Dance For Me – Michael Buble



 

On top of the lollipops used for the escort cards and the place card holders (the elephant), we also want to give our guests another treat. So we were thinking of chocolate covered strawberries that look like little brides and grooms. I would like them in black boxes tied with white ribbon or white boxes tied with black ribbon and then tags that have our monogram with a short message that says "Thanks for coming and enjoy your night".  This is the front of "monogram" That I made. It's really simple but I don't think it needs to be anything elaborate.