3 THINGS TO MAKE YOUR WEDDING RECEPTION A SUCCESS // B&B WEDDING SERIES

Ok.

I'll come right out and say it; this post is ridiculous for this reason:

 Everyone has their own version of success. 

Maybe your version of success is pleasing just your parents at your reception! Maybe it's every single person Instagramming your wedding cake!
Clearly this post is based on what I think would be a success, so take it with a grain of salt. 

My version of success is everyone having a freaking awesome time. 

Michael, me, our family, our friends.

Everyone leaving feeling sliiiightly bummed to leave because they were having such a good time.

I want it to be like this:

via GIPHY

Anyway.

Here we go, the 3 things that will make your wedding reception a success:

1. HUMOR:

Maybe it's a funny toast. Maybe it's pictures of your and your partner being nerdy little kids. For, us, it's going to be koozies. We weren't going to do wedding favors...but then Michael thought it would be hilarious if we did tacky wedding koozies since our party is at a brewery. 

They are tacky. They are cheap. They will make people giggle. 

Oh, and I mean hopefully we'll give a funny toast. I'm going to rely on Michael for that, everyone thinks he's funnier than I am anyway (it's true).

2. SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE TO DO:

 If you're the guest at a wedding, you're looking for something to do when you need a break from the dance floor when crappy songs come on (I'm lookin' at you, couples that play Norah Jones at your wedding). 

So have some yard games! Or a build your own cocktail bar! I don't know, you can probably google like 100 better ideas, but seriously. 

We're having a photobooth at our party because we freaking love photobooths. People can take as many pictures as they want and get a little souvenir to put on their fridge :) We booked Greg Meir Photography  knowing we'd get great pictures at a great price with a great booth attendant. If you're in the Madison/Sun Prairie area - look him up!

(Photo via Meir Photography) 

3. FOOD.

I don't care if your reception is at 10 am or 10 pm, have food at reasonable times.

You know how you get hungry around the same times each day? SO DO YOUR GUESTS. It's like sometimes when people plan their wedding they forget what it's like to have been guests at other peoples' weddings! 

Have snacks out if you think your meal will start late. Have late night food if your ceremony is booze-filled and going into all hours of the night.

Our party is late-night so we're not having an official dinner, but we'll have plenty of snacks, along with late night pizza delivered towards the end of the night.

via GIPHY

So there.

That's it you guys.

You don't need to have the most Pinterest-y decorations or the most expensive booze.

What did you have at your wedding reception that you really loved?

PLZ TELL ME SOMEONE ELSE HAD KOOZIES!

xo, lp

(ps, see the rest of the #BBweddingseries posts HERE)

6 THINGS THAT WILL SURPRISE YOU ABOUT GETTING ENGAGED (B&B WEDDING SERIES)

Today's post for the B&B Wedding Series is a list of 6 things that will surprise you when you get engaged!

I mean...maybe these things happened to you and you weren't surprised- but I sure was :)
If you missed the first post in the series (our engagement story) you can find it HERE!

To follow along with the crazy wedding planning, find me on..
Snapchat: lpod216
Instagram: @lpodlich

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1. You'll feel about 50 different emotions in the course of the first 48 hours. 

I feel like anytime I've read about engagement stories all people talk about is how elated they are...which I mean, totally makes sense! Of course you're going to highlight the happy emotions- but chances are you'll feel some other more confusing ones too- and DUDE that's normal. Once I shared those feelings with some friends who are already engaged/married they all came back with a resounding "ME. TOO!"
Just a few examples:

Excitement to start a new chapter in your lives.

Sadness that the most recent chapter of your lives is over.

Joy to share the news with your loved ones.

Nervousness of how people will react.

Giddiness to find a dress/venue/etc

Stress of the thought of  wedding planning

via GIPHY

2. You'll somehow be totally exhausted but not able to sleep all at the same time.

All those emotions that I mentioned above, mixed with celebrating, calling your families, and jumping up and down (no? anyone else? just me?) will WEAR. YOU. OUT. (In a good way, just to be clear! I wouldn't trade that worn-outness for anything!) But...then..you'll go to fall asleep that first night and you won't sleep because you are so freaking jacked. The excitement and adrenaline kept me up all night...aaaand the night after that :)

via GIPHY

3. Some people will react better than you thought they would.

There are some people you KNOW will react exactly how you want. They're the Leslie Knopes in your life and you know they will make your heart swell. Then there are the people that will kind of come out of left field and pleasantly surprise you! I had a few people that when I told them the news we got engaged I expected a smile and a casual "congrats!"...but they shocked me with a ton of excitement and questions and joy. Thank those people profusely because you'll remember their reactions the most.

via GIPHY

4. Some people will react more poorly than you thought they would.

I wrote a post recently about people who try to steal your joy and man did it come at a good time. It's important to remember that everyone takes news differently, and everyone has things going on that you don't know about. Maybe on another day in their life they'd be really happy for you, but on the day you tell them, they don't have the emotional capacity. And it stings, I won't lie. It hurts to share news you're really happy about and have them react in the same was if you told them it was cloudy outside. In those times it's important to remember the people who have been insanely supportive and most importantly, remember all that matters is your & your partner's joy. 

via GIPHY

5. People might ask you what your dress will look like

Ok. I expected "when's the big day!?" or "how did he propose?!" because I've totally asked those questions to other people...but this one caught me off guard. I took zero offense to the question, I just realized I had absolutely no idea what my dress might look like! To one person I literally answered "uh...short? or maybe long?" which for suuuure made me sound like a total tool. Fail.

via GIPHY

6. Someone WILL ask you carat weight or cost of your ring. 

Ohhh the tackiness. If you're going to be tacky, just come out and be honest and say "Hey! I'm nosy and I want to judge the amount your fiancee/you spent on your ring!" I still won't give you the answer, but at least I'll respect your honesty. *eyeroll*

via GIPHY

If you're engaged/married, what are things that happened or were said to you that surprised you?

Come on, I want the good, the bad, and the ugly!

xo, lp



(psst, let's be friends! find me here)

LIFE LATELY: ENGAGED!

You guys.

B&B is BACK. IN. ACTION.

I repeat: BACKINACTION!

Life has been so busy. We've been traveling a lot lately and life kind of took over, ya know? 

If you're annoyed with me, I have a good excuse other than being "busy".... about 2 weeks ago we got engaged!!! I had some blog posts ready to go but the last 2 weeks have been a complete whirlwind of celebrating with family and honestly enjoying our own excitement about wedding planning and what the future holds. 

I'll actually be documenting some wedding stuff because we are going outside the "norm" and I know that while we've been planning I wish I had more resources- so I'm hoping someone else who has a similar idea will be helped out. We're eloping to Italy & Greece in October, and then having a late night bash at a brewery in November when we return and we could NOT be more thrilled!

More details to come :)

Here's life lately:

1. ENGAGED. Story and details to come, but here we are grinning our faces off:

2. BACHELORETTE is back. You bet your sweet butt I watch this show. It's a guilty pleasure and I have an awesome group of ladies I watch it with. 

Initial thoughts:

Jojo is the prettiest bachelorette EVER. Hands. Down.

Guys seem really unattractive this season, amiright? Poor casting, ABC. 

 3. NEW IG LOGO: I dunno, it's kind of growing on me? I still can't decide. I painted this image of the new logo and asked your opinion and most of you said you haaaaaaaaaaated the new logo. I definitely don't like it as much as the old one...but it's not..the worst ever?

4. NEW ROCKSBOX: I can't get enough of the Loren Hope that's been in my last few Rockbox sets. SO GOOD. If you want to try out Rocksbox for summer events/weddings, get your first month free to see if you like it or not by using code "beautyandbeardxoxo" when you check out. (yes, actually a month free. yes, i know it's hard to believe since nothing is free these days).

 5. SUMMER. Holy crap it's hot in Wisconsin. Like high 80s OY. HOT. OY.  Hoping wherever you are it's not so toasty! I'm sad to say goodbye to spring tulips but am ready for pool season and summer kayaking/camping!

What's new with you lately?

Any exciting summer plans coming up?

xo, lp

See (a lot) more of what we've been up to lately HERE!