IH Blog

SPECIAL AND MEMORABLE:

We meet with dozens of couples every month. Universally, each couple wants their day to be Special, Unique, and Memorable.

Here are some of the most popular trends we expect to see for 2019:

Attention to Detail (Our Specialty). Find those little touches that represent the two of you, a custom monogram, tables named for your favorite places as a couple, favorite flowers incorporated into your decor. 

Hats: Styles this year are incorporating Hats. Gorgeous and fun, hats offer many color and style options. Romantic, Edgy, Sophisticated...whatever your choice, you and your wedding party in hats will make your day Memorable and Fun!

Hand Painted Cakes or Custom or Illustrated Invitations: A unique way to make your special day stand out... Remember, you don't have to "do it all". Choose one or two special details to make your day special.

Black Accents: Black adds sophistication to soft tones and creates definition in photographs. 

 

70's Vibe: Rust and coral, Lucite and Velvet, Ruffles or Fun Jumpsuits. Add a touch of Funk to add that 70's vibe to your wedding.

Fun Foods: Our "All Inclusive" wedding package offers fabulous stationary hors d'oeuvre choices. Choose from the "Mac and Cheese Martini Bar", the "Mashed Potato Martini Bar", the "Sweet Potato Martini Bar", or the "Nacho Martini Bar" and more.... Beautifully presented with the appropriate toppings, these interactive stations will get your guests up and moving. Finish with our "Ice Cream Sundae and Mousse Bar", or the "Gourmet Cookie Bar"...include your Special Wedding Cake, and you have "Special and Memorable" (And...delicious!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

AFFORDABLE ELEGANCE

You can afford the wedding of your dreams by making some smart choices:

-Avoid guest list "bloat". Invite only the people that are truly special to you. Cousins and relatives that you barely know, or work acquaintances, do not need to be on your list. People truly do understand that your are keeping to a budget. Independence Harbor offers some dates with guest minimums as low as 100.

-Go minimal with flowers and centerpieces. "IH" offers glass hurricanes with ivory tapered candles. Add a ribbon with bow to coordinate with your wedding colors and you have a budget friendly centerpiece. You can still add the "wow" factor in your wedding party bouquets and boutonniere's.

-Why not consider buying your dress "off the rack". Nearly all fine stores carry wedding dress options OR choose a dress that you love and make your own statement. No Rules, choose any color and style, be a trendsetter. Choose a dress color and length for the girls and let them select a dress that is flattering and can be worn again. Consider having the groomsmen buy a suit in your selected color. You can gift the ties and socks to style your wedding "look", and the guys will have a suit that they can wear later.

-Choose a Date other than a Saturday Night: Why not consider a Thursday Night? On Thursday Nights,"IH" offers Free Rental, reduced guest minimums (100) Winter Menu pricing (our lowest pricing structure) the option for a complimentary photo hour with your photographer prior to the ceremony, and state of the art uplighting programmed to your color scheme. Give your guests advance notice and they can anticipate your wedding and enjoy a long weekend. We also have some "Last Minute Savings Dates" offering significant savings...Same Great Food, Same Beautiful Property, and just a Fraction of the Cost!!!

-Our All Inclusive Package Menu. Our "All Inclusive Wedding Package Menu" includes Stationary and Passed Hors D'oeuvres, Entree (Full Service or Buffet), Champagne Toast and Dessert Station or Full Service Dessert along with our "Thirst Quencher Bar". "HAVE IT ALL" without the cost of pricey add ons.

-Plan, Plan, Plan. Planning ahead allows you to stick with your budget and not make impulse decisions. Stay on track and Enjoy the Process. You are planning your special day with the person that you love. This is supposed to be Fun.

Experience the Magic of an Independence Harbor Wedding with our Special Savings Dates. "Last Minute Savings Dates" offer Reduced guest minimums (just 100), Free Rental, and "A" Pricing (our lowest pricing structure). Also included: a Free Fireside Wedding Ceremony and a Complimentary Uplighting Package programmed to compliment your color scheme. Some dates offer a Complimentary "First Look Photo Hour" prior to your ceremony. Save Thousands from your Wedding Budget. Same gorgeous gardens, Same Acclaimed Cuisine and Service, and.... Our "All Inclusive" Wedding Menu is second to none!!! Availability changes frequently, particularly at this time of year. Why not schedule a tour today.

 

Our stunning perennial gardens are planned to showcase ever changing flowers. April is Daffodil Season, May offers Hundreds of Tulips and Stunning Flowering Trees and Shrubs, June is lush with Poppies, Iris, Shasta Daisies and Peonies along with Thousands of Annual Plants offering amazing garden color. July with its Astilbe, Liatros and multi colored border plants will Wow your guests, and August and September offer Gardens that are Full and Fabulous. October offers Chrysanthemums in the jewel tones that you dream of for the Fall Season. Garden Videos are now available on our "ihweddings.com" Web Site and on our Facebook and Instagram and You Tube pages. One look will have you aching for winter to be over!

Mother Nature decided to send us one last blast after a relatively easy winter. Our Monthly Brunch held on March 3rd was well attended in anticipation of the storm. Our St. Patrick's Day theme was so much fun. Our chefs outdid themselves with a wonderful Brunch menu accented by their fabulous food art carvings including the proverbial "pot of gold". Flower arrangements felt a little like Spring...Yellow and White Tulips, White Roses, Fragrant Bells of Ireland, and bright touches including Yellow Calla Lilies. Our Brunch is held Monthly on the first Sunday, offering a great opportunity to celebrate a special event with those closest to you or...planning a wedding?? Why not make a reservation and come check out our beautifully remodeled Dining Room and sample our food and exceptional service. Hope to see you soon.

MORE 2019 WEDDING TRENDS:

As 2019 takes shape, we start to see what trends are popular. This year, both the men and women in the wedding party will have more RELAXED choices.
FASHION: Why not choose a color and length (and maybe a designer for continuity) for your Bridesmaids and let them select a dress that flatters them, select a suit or blazer for the guys (navy is always a classic look) and tie that together with a gift of ties and socks. Best of all, they can wear it again.

COLORS: Burgundy, turquoise, and emerald green continue to show up everywhere. Couple with "garlands of greens" for the head table. The rich color tones that "Dahlias" offer will make it the "go to" flower this year. Creams, blush and champagne colors will always look elegant and incorporate one of the "moodier" colors (think burgundy) to stay on trend.

STATEMENT INVITATIONS: Choose an invitation suite that best represents the "two of you". This will tell your story from color scheme to important events in your lives. Tell your story with "special table numbers" and "seating cards".

REMEMBER: You are marrying the person you love. Make it YOUR OWN, but have fun with it

It's February. Mother Nature has gone easy on us so far this winter. So many engagements happen between Christmas and Valentine's Day. This is the perfect time to schedule a private tour of Independence Harbor and select your Special date. Most couples choose a wedding date within one year of their engagement. 

Every season is SPECIAL at "IH":
SPRING offers daffodills, tulips, hyacinths, and flowering trees and shrubs.
SUMMER offers our perennial gardens at their prime,enhanced by thousands of colorful annuals, manicured lawns and trees and beautiful views of the Assonet River along our East Bank.
FALL offers rich colors of endless chrysanthemums and gorgeous NE foliage.
WINTER offers beautifully decorated sleighs and carriages and thousands of miniature white lights creating a magical winter landscape....and BEST of ALL, Winter Wedding Savings!

We have recently added videos of the Independence Harbor Gardens by the month to our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and You Tube accounts to help you envision the perfect time of year for your Special Celebration.
Our newly remodeled dining room sparkles with warm, organic, neutral colors, champagne chiavari chairs, and the dining room's window wall enclosures create an intimate and spacious elegance with beautiful views of the renowned "IH" landscape. 
Our "All Inclusive" Wedding Package Menu is also impressive, and affordable!

Call us today to schedule YOUR private tour of "IH", and select YOUR Special date!

Our Sunday Brunch is always held on the First Sunday of each month. The date for our February Brunch fell on Super Bowl Sunday. It did not take too much thought to decide to use the New England Patriots for our decorating theme. Flowers, Fabrics, and Balloons were in Red, White, Blue and Silver. Our chefs really stepped it up with their amazing food art paying tribute to both Valentine's Day and our beloved Patriots. Best of all, the Patriots won the Super Bowl!!!
Why not make a reservation for our next brunch and explore putting our Independence Harbor Team to work for Your Wedding!!

WEDDING TRENDS 2019: 
A study in contrasts, wedding trends for 2019 include Alternative Engagement Rings (think pink/blush sapphire or multicolored stones)... Simple Gowns with clean lines (think Meghan Markle),...toned down Natural Makeup (show off those freckles)...Velvet, Opulent Wedding Cakes, and Natural Greens along with Ornamental Grasses incorporated into bouquets, centerpieces and accents.
Full Service Seated Dinners are back, and this will be the year of the "Gin" cocktail. 
Living Coral is the 2019 color of the year, but deep moody hues in florals continue to trend, set off with metallic accents. 
Entertainment will include DJs with Bands or Musicians incorporated into the mix.
The BOTTOM LINE? No rules...make it your special day!

TREAT YOUR VALENTINE: February is Valentines Month! Why not surprise your sweetheart with reservations to Independence Harbor's February 3rd Sunday Brunch. With a Valentines Theme, our sumptuous Brunch Buffet is sure to WOW! For further details and full menu, see our website at: www.ihweddings.com/brunchmaster/february3