At first, seating your guests may seem like a quick and simple task, but don’t be fooled as this can be one of the most frustrating parts of planning.

With that being said, start early, this may be a longer process than you expect. You don’t want to be stressing over this the night before the big day, you have more important things to worry about then.

One way to make it easier on you from the beginning is to create a spreadsheet. This way you have all the information you need in front of you. Add a Column to the RSVP list that explains the relationship of that attendee. Knowing the relationship to the bride, groom or other guests will make it easier for you when deciding on where to seat them. If you are more of a visual person, draw it out. Get a large piece of paper and outline your venue and tables, labeling out where, and with whom everyone will be seated with.

When it comes to the actual table set up, get creative. Do not feel trapped by the traditional wedding set up of a large head table facing the guests. Try having a separate table for just you and your newlywed—this is what we call a sweetheart table. This way throughout the hectic day you can still have some time to enjoy each other, after all this is your day.

Another great idea is to seat friends from college, high school, and childhood together creating a great chance for people to catch up who may not have seen each other in a while. Try to avoid creating a table of complete strangers or an all singles table, this usually leads to awkward conversations and unhappy guests. Instead mix in singles with couples they know throughout the seating arrangement. If you must create a table of strangers try adding fun icebreaker games at the tables that have to do with you and your fiancé. A game like “Who knows the bride or groom best” would be a fun way to help strangers socialize and feel more comfortable.

Another important aspect to consider is the dance floor and music volume. Seat the younger people or the people you foresee dancing more, closer to the music and dance floor and reserve the quieter tables for the older crowd.  If you have a lot of children attending consider making a kids table with some kid friendly activities (crayons and paper etc.) to keep them entertained throughout the night.

Although seating guests at your wedding may seem like a daunting task, just remember to start early and follow these simple tips and everyone will have a wonderful time!

Wedding Date: July 11, 2015

Colors: Red and Gold

Jennifer was a beautiful vision in white as she stepped out of the limo with a vibrant bouquet of red roses before her gazebo ceremony.  The bridesmaids were dressed in a hand-crafted red gown with gold accents and head pieces to match.

Grinning from ear to ear, all of her wedding day details were already perfect as Jennifer counted down the minutes until she could finally walk down the aisle to meet Mario, her soon to be husband, and the amazing father of their children!

Jennifer and Mario had the perfect summer day for their wedding! Adorned by lanterns and candlelight, their aisle was romantically elegant during their ceremony service. 

Here are just a few of the many special moments and details captured from their big day!  

At the Canoe Club Ballroom, we have over two acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, and a two-tier gazebo nestled riverside. We believe an outdoor ceremony and wedding is special in so many ways. Here are some benefits with having your wedding outdoors:

·      Natures Beauty: This one right here takes the cake as our favorite and most important part of an outdoor wedding. What’s better then enjoying the outdoors? Enjoying the outdoors and natures beauty in New England, of course! We have dream landscapes and possibilities for all!

·      Photo Opportunities: Beautiful foliage, a river, gazebo, sunshine and a beautiful bridge offers a scene that wedding goers will never forget. Looking back on this special day will remind you that you made the perfect choice.

·      Ambiance: Outdoor weddings have amazing and beautiful ambiances. It is something that is unmatched anywhere, whether it be a couple birds chirping, the sun starting to set or creative and romantic lighting. There is no better way to end your magical and perfect day.

·      Unique & Creative Ceremony: The magical atmosphere of an outdoor wedding is that whether it be fall, spring or summer, you can customize how everything looks. Outdoor weddings have a special place in our heart and we hope you get to experience one as well!

What better way to welcome your out-of-town (or even in-town guests!) to your special day, than by a little wedding welcome bag as they check into their hotel room! Wedding welcome bags have become a recent wedding trend that allows couples to include anything from bottles of water (with custom labels of course!), to snack foods, customized wedding timelines and other personalized items in their welcome bag while checking into their hotel room for your wedding. Welcome bags have become a great wedding touch as some even provide guests with additional wedding location area information such as recommended restaurants to visit, sight seeing opportunities or local attactions! 

Here are a few of our favorite wedding welcome bag ideas! 

1.) Snacks, snacks, snacks! - You can include anything from a little big of chips, assorted nuts, candies or a freshly made edible favor to a bottle of water! Many couples will get creative and have labels made for their bottles of water--to personalize their bags even more! 

2.) Timeline of Events - This is one of our favorites! A cute timeline of events for your day will help your guests prepare themselves for the order of events of your big day! Make sure to include the times of special events (such as a shuttle pickup, ceremony time, cocktail hour etc), so that your guests don't miss a beat! 

3.) Customized Door Hanger - This is another favorite! Customize a wedding door hanger for each welcome bag to include you & your fiance's names and wedding date--so that all of your hotel guests have something to place on their door after a night of celebrating with the newlyweds! 

4.) Area Information - This is a great idea if you have alot of out - of -town guests traveling for your big day! A list of local restaurants, attractions and activities to do will help guests feel more comfortable and they'll enjoy their stay even more!

Wedding Date: June 27, 2015

Color: Turquoise with a little wine inspiration!

It was the perfect June day for Stephanie and Tim’s wedding day! As their close friends and family begin to arrive from the church ceremony, Stephanie and Tim’s entrance was like no other! They arrived in a raised red truck with a little wedding décor strung off the back! (Talk about a great entrance!) Everyone cheered and clapped their hands as they walked past the happy couple into the wedding venue for cocktail hour.

Once their formal wedding photos began in the gazebo and courtyard area, it became clear that this was a very family-oriented couple!  (See the group photo above!) As immediate and extended family members gathered for photos, Stephanie and Tim graciously smiled and welcomed them all with open arms.

Tim is one of many siblings, and Stephanie has now officially become a part of a great big family to call her own!

Here are a few of the many special moments we captured from their big day! 

Wedding Date: June 20, 2015

Color: Turquoise with a little beachy inspiration!

Michelle and Dan wanted their special June day to be perfect in every way, and it was! They had selected the perfect ceremony site (a beautiful church in Plymouth), wedding venue (here at the Canoe Club Ballroom), palette of colors (a soft turquoise blue with hints of coral) and the perfect customized monogram for Dan—a salute to our Super Bowl champs,  a Patriots monogram!

We could not have asked for a more beautiful day for their outdoor formal photos, as they began to arrive from the church. The sky, a beautiful blue, matched the bridesmaid’s dresses. As Michelle arose from the limo, a smile crossed her face—the big day she had planned (and texted us about! ) was finally here. 

As family members arrived for cocktail hour, some snuck over to see the happy couple’s photos take place in the gazebo and courtyard area. One of the groomsmen even captured some extra footage with a GO-PRO camera, just to make their special day a little bit more memorable!

As the wedding party began to line up for their grand introductions in the bridal suite, Michelle’s mother and father were first in line.  “This is his baby, his Cinderella”, her mother said softly as a big smile crossed her father’s face. His little girl would always be his little girl—but today she became Dan’s wife and that was something to be celebrated! J

Here are a few of the many special moments we captured from their big day!

Wedding Date: June 13, 2015

Colors: Hot Pink and Lime Green

Kristin and Peter had the perfect June day for their outdoor gazebo ceremony this past Saturday! As Peter and his groomsmen began to arrive, so did many of their immediate family members in excitement! Everyone was anxiously awaiting the start of the ceremony and of course, our bride Kristin’s arrival! 

As the white stretch limo pulled up to the bridal suite doors, ladies dressed in a beautiful pink began to emerge from the car. Kristin finally makes her way out of the limo, graciously says hello then immediately yells, “I KNEW IT!”. She had caught a quick glimpse of Peter’s aunt who at the last minute was able to attend their special day! The day was already perfect in Kristin’s eyes, but she still had to make her way down the aisle surrounded by her friends and family to her future husband, to Peter. 

Peter didn’t seem nervous, or at least he didn’t to us as he and the groomsmen began to walk down the aisle. Everything was going just as planned….or atleast it was until Peter’s parents began their walk down the aisle. Just as Peter’s parents were able to reach their seats, the best man (sorry! :) ) had accidentally dropped Kristen’s wedding band into the mulch underneath the gazebo! Once we realized what had happened, Stacy (thank goodness!) was able to find the ring and present it back to the best man before the majority of the bridesmaids (and Kristin!) realized what had even happened—talk about a close call! :) 

After their beautiful ceremony had ended, formal photos began on the stone bridge across the river and the guests made their way into the venue to enjoy cocktail hour! What better way to begin your special day, than with a memorable story that will last a lifetime! (We’re pretty sure their cake cutting ceremony also “takes the cake” for greatest cake smash of all time!) 

Here are just a few of the many special moments we captured from their big day! 

Summer Weddings at the Canoe Club Ballroom are always inspired by bright, beautifully bold colors and creative themes! 

Whether you are planning a beachy-nautical inspired theme, a garden-esque affair complete with mason jars and bud vases or a vintage/burlap theme—you have endless opportunities to showcase your theme through linens and table scape decor! 

Here are just some of our summer favorites from past weddings here at the CCB! 

Jaime & Nick: Beachy/Nautical! 

Josh & Chris: Elegantly Garden-esque!

Tina & Michael: Vintagely Beautiful! 

As the beginning of our summer wedding season quickly approaches, we could not be more excited about the emerald green grass and our newly-landscaped courtyard area and grounds! 

What better way to embrace the upcoming season than with bright, beautiful blue hydrangeas and pink rose bushes greeting your guests as they make their way into our venue and courtyard area!

Our newly-landscaped courtyard area and grounds will now include:

• Hydrangeas
• Rose Bushes
• Azaleas
• Shasta Daisies
• Day Lillys
• Holly Trees

....and we are SO excited!! :) 

Here are some of our favorites beginning to bloom! 

Throughout the wedding process and into the wedding, there are many traditions that our couples look forward to enjoying. When your wedding day comes along, there may be no bigger single attraction than the first dance. With the hustle, bustle, and stress of wedding preparations and entertaining guests, the first dance is a crucial time for newlyweds to slow down, embrace one another, and celebrate their union in love. The first dance is not only a special time for the couple but, the mark of dancing and celebration for all in company.

Through the course of 50 plus years of weddings at our venue, the first dance has been transformed from the traditional waltz or formal dance to just about any dancing you can think of. Your wedding is the perfect time to break tradition and choose the song that best represents you and your partner's love! No matter how each couple decides to dance, each couple must choose the song that's most important to them. Need some inspiration?

Here are 10 of Canoe Club Ballroom's "Greatest Hits":

As long as your first dance wedding song has a special place in the couples' heart, it will be perfect!