The Great Pyramid

If you enjoy eating food then you are at least remotely aware of the USDA Food Pyramid, the most widely accepted guide for healthy eating habits. The practice of a government agency dictating what is and isn’t healthy and in what proportions has been around since the early 1900’s. Back when this system began it was geared towards what to feed young children and came as a guide with no reference to an actual pyramid. Over the years this was followed by a series of graphs, maps and geometric forms all designed to help people follow a well rounded, healthy diet.  While some of these guides were complex and difficult to follow others were not comprehensive, leaving out key information or adding categories that probably should have been left out. Food Wheel was introduced by the Red Cross in the mid-eighties and this format eventually morphed into the present day pyramid layout.  The pyramid had already been introduced in Europe and was an effective visual illustration of foundational food groups leading up to the relatively small tip that stressed eating certain foods in moderation. Shortly thereafter another guide was introduced as MyPyramid where vertical bands of varying widths were used and allowed for more categories to be introduced. Currently there are a few variations including the widely accepted MyPlate that was introduced in 2011.

For our own purposes we are going to apply the concept of the food pyramid to the wedding industry.  Like our diets much has evolved over the years but for the most part the basic components of a wedding/ reception have remained the same.  Weddings are a multi-billion dollar industry and for that reason there is a lot of money to go around but that does not mean that everyone has money to burn.  We understand that almost anyone would love a royal style wedding but this is not realistic so we decided to take an informal poll to find out what brides felt was most important to them and then weigh this against what we have witnessed in our years of wedding experience.  We fully acknowledge our bias but when all is said and done we think this pyramid may help guide those who are looking to get the best bang for their buck.

We have attempted to include as many of the necessities as possible while admitting that we may have missed a component or two that may be more important to one wedding party over another.  We will start atop the pyramid where we have prioritized ingredients of a wedding that we actually have an extreme fondness for yet have found that the DIY approach can sometimes be sufficient. We say this despite the fact that we are the first to admire a vibrant, professionally designed floral that can light up a room or add that extra bit of class to an original place setting and let us not forget the bouquet and boutonnieres.  We are also partial to artistic typesetting, being the visual folks that we are, and who doesn’t enjoy receiving an elegant invitation in the mail.  We can also appreciate all of the signage that directs guests to and fro. Whether elegant cursive or flowing calligraphy we certainly love the look.  Heck, I have practiced calligraphy on a lesser scale and it brings me exceptional pleasure when it is done right but you may be able to bypass it without a huge sacrifice. Moving down to the next, slightly more prioritized level, is the dress.  I know this opinion will probably not be met with cheers from many of the brides who long for that Cinderella moment.  The flowing train, the designer cut, the Louboutin stilettos and that final touch, the perfect wedding veil all make for a striking image but all too often brides are anxious to rid themselves of the traditional gown in order to don the Chuck Taylors and hit the dance floor but there can be a happy medium and you can probably find it.

The venue is another matter where you can easily pump out a fistful of dollars if you do not explore all options.  We have done some of the classiest, festive ceremonies and receptions in parks, on beaches and at retro-era halls that cost a fraction of what the major hotels and event venues charge.  We have also found that selecting a venue with a view is a risky proposition which oftentimes backfires.  Too often we have done events where night fell before the guests could take in the view or even worse the dreaded San Francisco fog rendered a priceless view irrelevant.  The fact is your guests will be having too much fun if you follow these guidelines so don’t worry about them looking beyond the room. We are now getting down to the nitty gritty, the components that make the party what it is and one that your guests will talk about for ages.  When it comes down to it you don’t want your guests sitting around chatting and making small talk, you want them up and tearing up the dance floor so make sure you get the right DJ.  Trust us not all DJ’s are created equal and the right one can truly make your party.  You can tell a good DJ when everyone is up and getting down.  Find someone with range who can appeal to all ages and musical tastes whether country, hip hop, R and B, big band, and on and on and definitely don’t forget your multi-ethnic guests.  A great DJ will work with you and try to appeal to everyone and in the end all will go away with sore feet.

Next we get to our department, the Photo Booth.  We realize that many might place this atop the pyramid, at best, but what they fail to get is that a Photo Booth has a multitude of features that make it a must.  One area that it serves is as a feature to occupy the younger guests.  Granted many weddings do not include kids but for the ones that do we are a kid magnet.  What youngster doesn’t enjoy dress up and frankly this goes for most adults.  Not only do we occupy the smaller guests but we also give those with two left feet something to entertain themselves with and we have learned from our experience that most wallflowers can muster up the courage to take a photo or two.  Finally everyone goes home with a memory and nearly each one is of them having a good time.  Many years down the line both you and your guest will be able to reflect back on your special day fondly and as a bonus we think that these photos are the perfect complement to the traditional wedding images in a treasured album.

Alas we come to the foundational elements to any great party, the ones that you should definitely try not to skimp on.  Once again imagery is our bias and great photography is essential.  Hiring a student so they can get experience or picking someone with a run of the mill portfolio is a letdown in the making.  We feel less is more when it comes to wedding photography so make sure you find a photographer who shoots in a style that you appreciate because the wedding is one day but these images will allow you to experience that day for a lifetime.  Ultimately your event will be edited down to a few of the best shots so make sure your photographer is a pro. So far nearly every requirement for a well rounded party is accounted for but lest we forget the fuel and  lubrication as they are the foundational inhabitants of the aforementioned Food Pyramid.  We may not adhere to the guidelines of the USDA, the Red Cross or the Department of Agriculture but we think for party purposes we have food and beverage on the right end of the pyramid and while you definitely want to feed your guests well make sure the dessert leaves a lasting impression since it is the last thing that they eat.  Lately we have seen some absurdly beautiful cakes, truly works of art, but ultimately we advise that you make sure it tastes even better than it looks.  Even if you opt for a budget donut wall get the good ones (But then is there really a bad donut?). Finally lets not forget Bev.  No, not the mother of the bride, we’re talking about the bar.  A craftsman working the rail can make or break a party.  Whether recognizing that someone has overindulged or by crafting a sublime cocktail we want to stress that you invest in top shelf call liquor because not everyone likes Cuervo Gold and Heineken and while you’re at it make sure to include a few special non-alcoholic beverages beyond the standard soda and juice.  Come up with something with a fancy name and even fancier ingredients as you want to make sure everyone goes away satiated.

So that about does it.  We have laid out our diagram of how to build a party that will be talked about well after the lights have gone down and the tin cans have been unfastened from the bumper.  We suspect you may want to shuffle these components a bit but we think that they are all essential to a great event. So good luck, cheers and while you are at it consider getting Buzzed with Buzz Photo Booths.  We will do our best to help you stay within budget while making images you and your guests will never forget.