How To Start Planning Your Wedding

So you recently got engaged. First of all, congratulations! Now the planning begins.

If you’re like most couples, planning your dream wedding can seem like a daunting task. Don’t sweat yet. Take a couple deep breaths, recruit the help of your friends and family, and follow these steps. Your wedding planning will be off to a stress-free start.

1. Celebrate as a Couple

Sometimes in wedding-planning craziness, couples forget to take time to themselves to celebrate together. Take a thousand photos. Dance in the living room. Shout, “We’re engaged!” Stare in awe at the engagement ring. Grab dinner at your favorite spot and just soak up this exciting time in your lives.

2. Tell Family and Friends

Now that you’ve sufficiently celebrated as a duo, it’s time to tell the people you love about the good news. We suggest starting with your parents. If you live in the same area as your parents, plan a nice quiet evening somewhere when both you and your fiancé can be present to spill the beans. They’ll love seeing the excitement in person. If you don’t live nearby, set aside some time to video call so they’re able to see you and your new fiance—trust us, video makes all the difference!

Once you’ve told your parents, it’s time to move on to other family members and close friends—preferably starting with people who will most likely be in the wedding party.

3. Announce the Engagement

Everybody important already knows about your exciting news and now it’s time to tell the rest of the world. Announcing your engagement can be done a few different ways: face-to-face, phone calls, social media, or an engagement party. If you’re super-enthusiastic, do all 4!

4. Buy a Journal

These next few weeks, months, or years of planning will fly by quicker than you expect and will be full of exciting moments, tough decisions, and a million memories. Writing it all down in a journal is the perfect way to vent about the tough times and remember the great times, all while ensuring you’ll have those memories for years to come.

5. Decide on a Budget

The dreaded B-word. It’s no secret that weddings are expensive, but you can save yourself a lot of stress by setting a budget from the get-go and deciding how much you’re able to spend on a venue, a dress, catering, and other wedding essentials.

If you plan on asking your parents for help, here’s a great resource on how to spark that conversation. Paying for a wedding all on your own? No worries, beautiful affordable weddings are totally doable. If you plan early and stick to the plan, any wedding is possible—you just may need some creativity.

6. Set the Date

Love can be celebrated any time of year, but if you’re looking at a specific location or need to plan around work, vacation, or prior commitments, now’s the time to figure that out. Not only is picking a date one of the most important parts of your early planning process, everyone will be asking you, “When’s the wedding?” and it helps to have an answer.

Picking the perfect wedding date doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, it should be one of the easier parts of planning. You may want to start with a couple of potential dates until you officially pick the venue. That way if they’re booked on one of your dates, you’ve got a back up.

7. Find Your Venue

Securing the perfect spot for your dream wedding is key. You want to make sure the space accommodates your guest lists: both for the ceremony and the reception. St. Cloud Country Club has open dates in 2019 and we’d love to help you celebrate the greatest day of your life! Give us a call at (320) 253-1331 ext. 102 for more information.

These are just the beginning steps to planning the biggest party of your life. Remember: your wedding day is about you as a couple and the love you have for each other—not fretting about getting everything perfect for everyone else.

Is an Outdoor Wedding Right for You?

The popularity of outdoor weddings is easy to understand. They result in beautiful pictures, scenic views, and an airy, open experience.

Sometimes, however, they do not quite turn out as expected. In addition to weather changes, the bride and groom must consider amenities, food, and decor when hosting an outdoor wedding.

Weather

We don’t want anyone to stress at their own wedding! Prepare for bad weather ahead of time and be ready for the weather taking a turn for the worse. One way to deal with this is having a stash of umbrellas ready to go.

Since the reception takes up the majority of your wedding, you definitely need to have a shelter available. When you host your wedding at St. Cloud Country Club, this shelter is our beautiful clubhouse. The clubhouse will keep your guests comfortable and dry.

Amenities

An outdoor wedding requires just as many - if not more - amenities as an indoor wedding. Before determining where your wedding will take place, consider what you’ll need: electricity, restrooms, parking, decorations, seating, and more.

Everything you need will be readily available at the St. Cloud Country Club. When we host an outdoor wedding, you get all the same benefits as an indoor wedding.

Food and Decor

Outdoor weddings have their own unique and beautiful look. Whether you want something rustic or romantic, we have a wedding planner to make your dream become a reality. We remove stress from your wedding day by setting up everything so you don’t have to worry about the logistics and deliveries that sometimes come with outdoor weddings.

St. Cloud Country Club also gives you and your guests with a memorable, delicious meal. After a complimentary food tasting, our five-star chefs will give you with the menu of your choice. You won’t have to worry about transporting, heating, or serving the food.


If an outdoor wedding is for you, look no farther than St. Cloud Country Club! Our beautiful space, which can accommodate up to 200 people, has everything you need. Visit the website or call to book a tour for your 2019/2020 wedding!

Choosing Wedding Flowers for Summer Weddings

Planning your wedding can bring about enough decisions to make your head spin! Let us help you decide decor with information about wedding flowers that will be in season during your summer wedding.

Choosing wedding flowers that bloom during the month you are marrying reduces cost and ensures your flowers are fresh and fabulous! Here are the beautiful blooms to choose from in June, July, and August.

June Flowers

In early summer, you are a bit limited with choices. Tulips are perfect for an early June wedding, peonies for big bold blooms, and irises for height and elegance. If you prefer wild flowers for a bohemian themed wedding, this is a great list of native species that would work well in a cascading bouquet.

July Flowers

In July, many blooms open each week and there is much beauty to choose from! Roses, lilies, baby’s breath, phlox, orchids, poppies, and other popular wedding flowers are all great bouquet choices! Read about the plethora of July blooming wedding flowers here.

August Flowers

During late summer, wedding blooms include mums, dahlias, zinnias, and carnations. During August many ornamental grasses go to bloom as well which can make for interesting and ethereal wedding decor. A trendy choice for 2018 is sunflowers which are perfect for late summer weddings!


Another great guide to logistics around planning your wedding flowers is theknot.com’s tips and tricks article. Also, when choosing your flowers, it can be symbolic and special to learn the traditional history behind your flowers.

It is also good to keep in mind that St. Cloud Country Club is the perfect venue for your wedding! We will work with your florist to ensure the wedding flowers are all set up as expected and the day goes off without a hitch. To learn more, visit here!

Winter Wedding Planning Tips

Winter weddings are becoming more and more popular for many reasons. Many vendors will offer lower prices during the colder seasons. If it’s snowed recently before the wedding or even flurries during the wedding, it makes for perfect photo opportunities. Here are our top tips for planning your winter wedding.

Work with Your Caterer or Venue to Create a Winter-Themed Meal

There’s no need to have a heavy entree; you can still have light, winter-themed meals. Work with your caterer or venue to decide on savory soups and delicate appetizers. Instead of champagne, think about having mulled wine and ciders. At the end of the night, treat your guests to a hot chocolate bar.

Pick Flowers that are in Season

Although you will save money on most vendors for a winter wedding, florists are not one of them. Since the majority of flowers are in season during the spring and summer, the cost of flowers can increase significantly during the winter. If you choose to go with real flowers instead of faux, pick flowers that are in season to help keep costs down.

Create a Cozy Reception

To keep your guests comfortable, provide pillows and throws throughout the reception. Instead of turning on the bright lights, keep your lighting low and use lots of candles. It will help create a romantic environment, and the warmth from the candles will help keep it cozy.

Send your Save the Dates Early

Although it’s not the summer, people may be just as - if not more - busy. If you want a majority of your friends, family, and colleagues to make it to your winter wedding, send your Save the Dates early.

Don’t Get Obsessed with Tracking the Weather

Although you’re less likely to get rain on your wedding day, you will still be obsessed with tracking the weather. You’ll likely check each day before the wedding to ensure a snowstorm doesn’t happen on your perfect day. Plan for bad weather and make your plans early; the weather will come no matter what, so all you can do is let it happen.



St. Cloud Country Club can help you plan a fantastic winter wedding. Contact us today to learn more.

DIY Wedding Decor for Fall Ceremonies

Are you planning on getting married this fall, but you’re still struggling to decide on the decor? We have the perfect DIY decor that will catch the eyes of your guests on your special day.

Here are the top 7 DIY decor ideas for your fall wedding:

1: Altar

Having an altar to your wedding is a must for your wedding. Using a one-of-a-kind piece such as a vintage buffet will be unique and cost-friendly for your wedding.

2: Chair Ties

Add a rustic touch with a Mr. & Mrs. chair ties. Burlap is a must-have texture at a fall wedding. Dress it up with a touch of lace for an elegant addition.

3: Rustic Beverage Sign

Create a rustic sign using chalkboard paint and chalk markers to let your guests know the drink options. You can also collect decorative frames from thrift stores and paint them to match your wedding theme. 

4: Personalized Cake Topper

Adding a simple cake topper will make it more personalized and give your cake that extra pizzazz. Instead of the traditional plastic bride and groom, go for a personal sculpture, wood plaque, or wire-wrapped accent to make your cake a one-of-a-kind.

5: Bark Centerpieces

Put your favorite fall flowers in a vase wrapped with bark. These centerpieces will add a beautiful fall touch.

6: Mini Caramel Apples

Candy buffets are a recent trend for weddings of any season. Take it a step further and offer your guests a sweet surprise at cocktail hour with mini caramel apples.

7: Flower Girl Leaves

Instead of the traditional flower petals, use leaves! This adds a beautiful, rustic touch.


Now that you have some decor ideas, it’s time to choose your venue. St. Cloud Country Club offers professional wedding planning and we are ready to answer all of your questions. Our goal is to give you a stress-free planning experience. From our first conversation to the last departing guest, we assure you we will execute everything to ensure the day is one you’ll cherish forever.

For more information about the venue, call Paige Bremer at 320-253-1331 ext. 102 or visit our website.

Love at the Club: Host Your Wedding at the St. Cloud Country Club

Engaged couples can surely attest to the challenges and immense responsibility and commitment of wedding planning. We at the St. Cloud Country Club aim to make that process easier for our clients by taking some of that stress off of their shoulders. We offer dedicated service and commitment to creating a wedding that is personalized to your individual preferences.

Our event planner, Paige, will work with you from the very beginning to determine just what you’re looking for in your reception or ceremony. From there, we ensure all of your needs are met when it comes to catering, decor, and wedding coordination on your special day. Quality service with a personalized touch is our specialty.

The St. Cloud Country Club Offers

• Region’s Best Room Rental Value 
• No minimum for Food & Beverage 
• No membership required 
• Included in Your Wedding Reception are: 
• Table centerpieces 
• Cake cutting services 
• Customized menu planning 
• Food tastings for up to four people 
• Table linens /skirting

With a perfect area overlooking the Mississippi River, our classic Clubhouse is nestled among the rolling hills of our championship golf course. We guarantee that your wedding will have gorgeous views from your reception and backgrounds for your wedding photos.

Our venue has won the Central Minnesota Wedding Association’s award for Vendor of Distinction for the past three years in a row. Come see for yourself if our venue is right for you by setting up a consultation with our event planner.

Contact our event department at 320-253-1331 ex. 102 or email Paige at paigebremer@stcloudcountryclub.com. For more information about our venue services, visit our website.

Wedding Themes that are Perfect for Fall

Are you in the middle of planning a fall wedding? Well, congratulations! As the leaves turn and the weather cools down, autumn makes for the perfect time to share vows. Find inspiration in the beautiful shades of the season, and relish in the warmth and comfort of the season. Explore some of the themes below for some wedding inspiration:

Back-to-School

Whether you are both teachers, met on the school playground, or share a deep love of literature, a back-to-school theme could be an A+ idea! You could take this idea literally and add accessories that play off pencils, chalkboards, and cherry red apples to take it back to the classroom, or you could find inspiration from your favorite books. Are you Harry Potter fans? Throw a Hogwarts-inspired wedding with wands, robes, and potion bottles. More of a Tolkien fan? Have your wedding party and guests decked out in hobbit and elf ensembles. The possibilities are endless!

Harvest

For a more toned down celebration, take advantage of the full beauty of Fall with a harvest wedding. Infuse your wedding venue and reception with hay bales, pumpkins and gourds, wildflowers, and cozy elements. You can easily incorporate rustic and country elements for a romantic flair. Serve heart-warming comfort foods as appetizers and serve warm apple cider to really bring out the best of this season.

Halloween

For fans of this late fall celebration, why not go all out? Incorporate a black and red theme for gothic and vampy vibes. Schedule a zombie-themed engagement photo session. Go playful with orange, greens, and purple for a kid-friendly event. Play up these themes with whimsical candles and sophisticated versions of Halloween décor for a spooky and romantic affair. Take inspiration from The Nightmare Before Christmas for a fun, pop culture-infused celebration!

Earthy and Inspired

With the beauty of the season, take inspiration from the great outdoors! Infuse earthy elements like pinecones, cranberries, and mosses for nature-inspired décor. Choose earthy autumnal shades for your wedding colors, like burgundy, maroon, purple, orange, and gold. Incorporate soft amber lights to let the textures and warm colors of the season shine. Use the changing of the colors for truly beautiful and memorable wedding pictures.


Whatever theme you choose for your upcoming nuptials, get inspired by the season, and let the St. Cloud Country Club help you plan the wedding of your dreams. For more information, reach out to the St. Cloud Country Club for a beautiful and stress-free wedding.