Planning Checklist for the Bride
The moment has come, she looks one last time in the mirror, takes a deep breath, smiles and 
imagines herself as a little girl dreaming what her big day would be like. It has arrived.
At the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa your dreams come true. Nostalgic, Memorable and Romantic is how you feel when married at this Arkansas Icon.
For those of you that have over 100 guests , we have developed thoughts for when it’s your turn to see what “Your Wedding Day” could be like at the Crescent Hotel… Enjoy our recommendations
The Perfect Location
For the rest of your life, friends and acquaintances will say “ You were married at the Crescent Hotel… wow” Our Crescent Brides love the location of the Eureka Springs. The Hotel, tucked away high atop the Ozark Mountains includes beautiful views, delicately manicured gardens and a great valley below. This is what will be in your wedding photos creating a beautiful backdrop for the Bride and Groom to be featured. Featuring a wide variety of options for both inside or outside wedding ceremony and receptions we always encourage a site visit before decisions are made.
Y
our Site Visit
Planning your big day can become very overwhelming and support from your wedding partners is important. At the Crescent Hotel you will meet a sales manager that coach you, make suggestions and will guide you through all the steps of your wedding plans while at the hotel and with our supporting vendors. Attention to detail is important and with so much to do with the wedding as a whole, support on the spa, lodging, ceremony and reception is important. We care about your dream and we pride ourselves in that It feels like you have a personal friend taking care of all the big plans.
The New Moon Spa & Salon
Only at the Crescent Hotel can brides and their bridesmaids enjoy getting ready inside the hotel and at the salon. The New Moon Bridal Studio offers a private, relaxed Living room, three faceted full length mirror, bridal closet and bath making it easy for the bridal party to get ready together while enjoying one another’s company. Much larger than any hotel room or suite, you also have the option of having a catered luncheon.
The Ceremony
Romantic Ceremonies with beautiful settings are a special feature of any event in the Wedding Capital of the South. The Crescent Wedding Sales Managers recommend for Wedding Ceremonies over 100 attendees- four options.
The Crescent Fountain Gardens has been expanded and improved in 2013 to further its status as the premier outdoor ceremony venue.
For a Downtown and indoor event with a historic flair, The Basin Park Hotel’s Barefoot Ballroom is a 2300 square foot ballroom surrounded by stained glass windows, large stage and still has its original pine flooring.
World Renown Thorncrown Chapel, only 3 miles from hotel, is one of the most impressive glass chapels ever built. Standing 48 feet tall with 425 windows and over 6,000 square feet of glass, this makes for a special one of a kind wedding site.
For events up to 300, The Thorncrown Worship Center, located adjacent to the Chapel is equally as stunning. Designed by the E Fay Jones, the worship center creates a incredible backdrop to what is the most impressive bridal march available. The Worship Center can hold up to 300 people.
*SPECIAL NOTE — The Crescent Hotel is the only wedding partner that can book a year out with Thorncrown Chapel and the Worship Center.
Memorable Receptions
For your reception you might choose an evening sunset ceremony in the front of the fountain garden and the wedding reception in the Conservatory and Gazebo Boardwalk. Decorations are put in place and evening candles light up the Conservatory room for a romantic, intimate setting.
With over 100 g
uests you decide on a plated dinner as you were offered a tasting from the Chef prior to your wedding date and loved that special Chicken Boursin.
You could decide to go with the wedding vendors that the hotel offered to include an acoustic guitarist for your walk down the aisle and a fun DJ for the reception party. You offered your guests a couple of cakes to choose from, both a grooms cake and a wedding cake as well as an open bar with champagne for toasting. The staff are professionals with a lot of wedding experience as you will find them very attentive and helpful in making your day stress free. When the last song has played, you will find yourself thanking everyone for coming, however equally as thankful for your bridal suite and 
comfortable bed located just upstairs. The next morning you meet everyone again for the Crescent’s famous Sunday Brunch in the Crystal Ballroom. This added a special moment to reconnect with the stress fleeting and great memories instilled. After brunch you say your goodbye’s and your off on your honeymoon. Nostalgic, Romantic and Memorable to say the least. Make plans on coming back to the Crescent Hotel to celebrate your 1 year anniversary as this grand Historic Hotel of America is now a significant part of your lifetime memories.
Reception Options at The Crescent Hotel
This is the best place for a large outdoor garden wedding. The fountain area makes a perfect backdrop for a ceremony as the bride makes her way through the garden path. The gardens have recently been expanded to hold up to 350 people. A big garden tent would make a romantic enclosed area for an outdoor garden reception.
An elegant room surrounded with windows on three sides of the room overlooking the gardens, hardwood floors and delicate chandeliers set this room off as truly one-of-a-kind. A boardwalk and stairwell leads out to a gazebo and fountain gardens, perfect for a garden ceremony. Brides and families enjoy having the garden access for a ceremony and an intimate room for a reception.
Walking into this grand ballroom will take your breath away not only by the size but the historic, romantic setting of this room. With the ability to fit 300 people you definitely will not be limited on space for a grand wedding. Hardwood floors, granite top bar, and chandeliers make this room a perfect setting for a fun and memorable wedding.
Step right outside of the hotel onto the East Lawn with a scenic view of the Ozark valley below. The East Lawn has a gazebo backdrop, perfect for an outdoor ceremony or the lawn provides an intimate area for a garden tent reception.
The Crescent Hotel has been in the wedding business for many years and averages about 250 weddings a year so they have many local and regional wedding partners to help you out on your big day if you want ideas on cakes, flowers, music etc. View the Wedding Partners of Eureka Springs.
HOT DATES for Weddings in December
Book a“12/13/14 Wedding” – The Perfect Date for a Spirited Wedding Celebration
The package, named appropriately The Spirited Wedding Celebration will include:
“These spirited celebrations will be scheduled on the hour and are a perfect choice for couples and small parties.” All for only $349 inclusive of tax and service charges.
Eureka Springs, long known as the Wedding Capital of the South regularly celebrates more weddings in one year than people that actually reside in the town. Internationally recognized sites such as the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa and Architectural treasures such as Thorncrown Chapel, The Great Passion Play grounds, Downtown Eureka Springs and now inside the Christmas Forest make wedding pictures in this town unique and special.
The Crescent and Basin Park Hotel boasts that it will host over 400 wedding events in 2014, however is quick to point out that every event is unique and special.
For full details, one should call 800-903-4940 or email lindaboxsales@gmail.com
#1 Book your venue once you have established your date
Not booking
early can cause heartbreak and disappointment if your dream venue is booked on the date you anticipated being yours. (BONUS TIP: You and your fiancé should have several discussions with family and friends so you can choose the date most accommodating to most of them.)
#2 Take into account the time of year of your event.
Many brides will theme/color coordinate her wedding to the current season. Time of year should also be considered when choosing wedding party wardrobe. Sleeveless, strapless bridesmaids’ dresses might be uncomfortable for an outdoor wedding in late fall or early spring. Although Eureka Springs traditionally has mild summer temperatures, some days can be downright hot. Your groom, his groomsmen, -and your dad- will appreciate not having to wear a wool tux coat and vest midday under an August sun. (BONUS TIP: One recent trend for outdoor weddings has been coordinated casual ensembles for the wedding party; comfortable and fun.)
#3 Consider a location that can have a large tent.
A beautiful, white wedding tent can be perfect for the ceremony and/or the reception. It protects guests from the sun and should the unthinkable happen (whisper “rain”), everything could be moved under cover since most tents offer optional window-like side-panels. For cool evenings, lighting and well-placed heaters can be added. (BONUS TIP: Unity candles do not work well out of doors or even under an open tent; the flames blow out with the slightest breeze. Unity sand might be an alternative choice.)
#4 Arrive a couple days early for a destination wedding.
This way you can recoup from the travel and get comfortable and familiar with the property. Have your bridesmaids also arrive early and opt for a wedding day eve morning massage. It will relax minds and bodies for the rehearsal later in the day and the wedding the next. (BONUS TIP: Remember that your wedding is also a family reunion and most hotels can give you a special rate for any family and friends who would like to arrive a few days early.)
#5 Make spa and salon appointments months in advance.
This way you know that your massage, makeup and that “up-do” hair appointment will fall precisely within your schedule. And remember, moms (and grand-moms) enjoy looking nice for the wedding, too, so think about scheduling -in advance- a hair appointment for them as well. (BONUS TIP: If you would like to have a facial before your wedding, estheticians highly recommend having it at least 48 hours before your event.)
#6 Hire a florist to prepare simple reception centerpieces.
Most reception rooms are beautiful and require very little additional décor enhancements. However, should centerpieces be part of your “vision”, a local or area florist that delivers and sets them in place will take one more task off your wedding day list. (BONUS TIP: Be sure to give your florist the list of corsages and boutonnières needed.)
#7 Live music for the wedding is an elegant touch.
A wedding savvy single musician (or ensemble) should be able to play both your selection of ceremony songs on his/her cello, violin, guitar, keyboard or similar instrument as well as vocal accompaniment -with at least one rehearsal- should they be part of your ceremony. Reception music is usually determined by the kind of reception you are having. Live music -like that of your ceremony- makes the perfect enhancement for a sit down dinner. If the reception is more finger food and open bar, a more upbeat-style band or deejay works best. (BONUS TIP: Most deejays can also serve as your reception’s emcee.)
#8 Think of your personal well-being when scheduling.
Designate an agenda that will get you nourishment and hydration during the time/days leading up to your event. Many brides, unfortunately, say, “I’m too busy to eat.” or do not drink enough water which leads them to feeling weak and faint on their wedding day. (BONUS TIP: If need be, ask a friend or bridesmaid to be your “nourishment coach”.)
#9 Assign friends special tasks.
In addition to your personal “nourishment coach”, another could be “the guest herder” making sure family and friends follow the agreed-upon schedule. But perhaps the most important assignment will be “the keeper of the cell phone”, a discerning friend protecting you from well-meaning and curious friends and relatives who, during those final hours just prior to the wedding, will bombard you with frivolous calls and text messages. (BONUS TIP: Just prior to the ceremony, have an usher or family member ask the congregation to please silence their cell phones.)
#10 Don’t forget the marriage license!
This is easily
achieved by clearly outlining your plan for securing it, presenting it to the minister just prior to the ceremony and returning it -before the deadline- to the county office that issued it. Get firm answers -far in advance- to such questions regarding where do you purchase a license, what documents are required, the cost, the payment method (cash only? Exact amount required?), where is the courthouse, when is it open, how do we get the signed license registered after the ceremony, etc. (BONUS TIP: If your wedding event is on or around a holiday, call and find out -for sure- the courthouse’s hours and days of operations around that holiday.)
Here are some ideas for MONEY SAVING and PLANNING TIPS for your WEDDINGS RECEPTION:
t we suggest liquid at hand; cutting out the room-wide champagne distribution can really be a savings.