I was reading the Vows section of The New York Times over the weekend and came across an article on the wedding of Allison Palm and Ames Brown, which presumably took the lead story spot because Mr. Brown had once appeared on The Bachelorette. What followed was a simple, charming story of a couple meeting at sea, a long-distance courtship, and a seemingly down-to-earth bride and groom with a fondness for travel. The bride wore a lovely, non-traditional dress for a morning ceremony. And the couple changed into their trekking clothes for a honeymoon in Nepal after the reception. But what stood out to me, in the end, was an idea they put into practice at their rehearsal dinner: “The Empty Chair Idea.”
There was one empty seat at each table, with a place card that read either “Ames” or “Allison” and a certain time. “For instance, at my table the card said, ‘Alison, 8:15,'” said Jane Brown Grimes, the bridegroom’s mother. “At 8:15, Allison showed up and talked to everybody. The idea was to let the different families and friends get to know them, to see them up close. We called it ‘The Empty Chair Idea.'”
It strikes me that the precision might not appeal to some, and that this would be particularly appropriate to a larger wedding (and a larger rehearsal dinner), but it’s a creative solution to a few challenges, common at formal weddings. What’s the best way to get around and say hello to all of your guests (even if you do know everyone)? Is there an alternative to meeting many of the “Plus ones” for the first time at the reception? We had a more intimate rehearsal dinner, but after our ceremony I remember skipping past the table with some of my closest friends to make my way around, knowing I’d be dancing with them later, only to be shocked at how long the “making my way” took! One of my best girlfriends gently scolded me for not stopping sooner.
What do you think of “The Empty Chair Idea”? Have you seen (or employed) any creative solutions to the meet-or-greet-all-the-guests challenge at a wedding?
With new restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops opening every day and a passionate farm-to-fork culture, a new Kings arena rising in downtown, bike lanes criss-crossing public roads and trails to parkways all over the city, fantastic museums and a thriving music scene, a historic old town, and easy access to the Sierras and the foothills, and… I could go on… there’s a lot about Sacramento to love. And residents do love their city—you’ll find a strong sense of pride among those who have been here for years. But it seems to be having a particular renaissance of sorts these days.
Midtown is just a 20-minute drive outside of Davis, but there’s still so much I’ve yet to explore. I wanted to see it from a visitor’s perspective, and meet some of the creative change makers who are setting the tone for Sacramento, a city with grit and passion, and a vibrant collection of entrepreneurs.
Just over a year ago, I took City Scout on a tour of some of my favorite places in Davis, so I turned back to the experts to see if they’d do the same for me: Nicolette Skidmore of City Scout Magazine—a local, culture-focused, online magazine that I often turn to for finding the best of what the city has to offer—served up one possible itinerary for the perfect day in Sacramento. I’d recommend it for anyone coming to check out the city for a day!
I did my best Jerry Seinfeld (à la “Comedians in Cars…”) and picked Nicolette up in an iconic California automobile. In fact, I’d teamed up with Toyota to use their new Prius for the ride: their newly redesigned model fit with the theme of the day, as we hit the road finding some of the city’s finest up and coming small business owners, talking about some of the risks they took to keep their dream alive and build to success. Once quirky, Prius was persistent, and now, it is the best selling hybrid in the world and embraced more than any other car, especially in California. Perfect for a day in the Capitol.
Despite the back-to-school themes filling up your feeds, we are still in the throes of summer; and in many parts of the country, the season’s hottest temperatures are yet to come. Of course, this time of summer is also the stuff of family gatherings, picnics in the park, and late night cookouts with friends.
I am a willing participant to the potluck process and a dessert enthusiast; but do not ask me to bake something for tonight’s get-together when the afternoon temperature will surely exceed 90 degrees. Just the thought of turning on my oven in August makes me sweat. Determined to retain my sweets-connoisseur status, I scoured the Internet for the best no-bake desserts; and let me tell you, what I found is so delectable, no one will think twice about ditching the oven. Keep Reading >
