Rite & Fete

Catering vs. DIY Food for a 50+ Guest Birthday

There is a moment in every big birthday plan when you realize the food is not just a line item. It is the pacing of the party, the comfort of your guests, and honestly, your ability to enjoy the person you are celebrating. For 50+ guests, the choice between catering and DIY comes down to three...

Sweet 16 on a Strict Budget

A Sweet 16 does not need a ballroom budget to feel magical. In my event planning days, the parties guests remembered most were not the ones with the biggest price tags. They were the ones where the birthday teen felt truly seen, the music was right, and there were a few intentional moments that...

21st Birthday Party Checklist and Timeline

Twenty-one is a milestone with sparkly energy and real-world logistics. A truly epic 21st birthday is not about doing more. It is about deciding what matters most, planning early, and building in safety so everyone actually enjoys the night. Think: valid IDs, clear reservations, and a...

15 Low-Key 40th Birthday Celebration Ideas for Introverts

Turning 40 can feel tender in the best way. You have stories, preferences, and a much clearer sense of what you do not want. If a loud party, surprise gathering, or packed itinerary makes your shoulders creep up to your ears, you are not alone. Here is my planner truth: connection is always more...

Planning a Romantic, Legal Elopement

Eloping is not “doing less.” It is choosing exactly what matters most and giving it your full attention. When couples tell me they want an elopement that feels romantic, calm, and intentional, my first reminder is always the same: connection is more important than perfection. The second reminder is...

10 Questions to Ask on Your Wedding Venue Tour

Venue tours are a little like first dates. Everything is polished, the lighting is flattering, and it is easy to fall in love before you have asked the important questions. As a former boutique planner, I can tell you this with my whole heart: a venue is not “the one” because the ceremony spot...

8 Tips to Manage Wedding Planning Stress

Wedding planning can be tender and thrilling, and also weirdly stressful in a way that sneaks up on even the calmest couples. One minute you are daydreaming about vows , the next you are debating chair rentals at 11:47 p.m. and wondering why your chest feels tight. As a former boutique planner, I...

Meaningful Wedding Vows

When I planned weddings, I watched the same moment unfold again and again: a couple takes hands, the room goes wonderfully quiet, and suddenly the words matter more than the flowers, the lighting, or the timeline. If you are staring at a blank page right now, you are not behind. You are right on...

Destination vs. Local Wedding: Which Is Right for Your Big Day?

There is a moment in almost every engagement when the conversation stops being Will we get married? and becomes Where will we do this? A destination wedding can feel like a romantic escape, with built-in honeymoon energy. A local wedding can feel like a homecoming, wrapped in the people and places...

Cut Your Wedding Guest List Without Ruining Relationships

There is a moment in wedding planning when the guest list stops feeling like a list and starts feeling like a set of relationships you are afraid to disappoint. If you are there right now, I want you to hear this clearly: you are not a bad person for having limits. You are a person hosting a real...

25 Wedding Registry Items You Will Actually Use

If you have ever stared at a registry checklist and thought, Do we really need eight serving platters? you are in good company. The best registry is not a museum of “nice things.” It is a set of tools for everyday life and a handful of splurges that make your home feel like yours . My planning rule...

12-Month Wedding Planning Timeline and Checklist

When you are planning a wedding, time has a funny way of speeding up and slowing down at once. One minute you are calling your mom to share the news, and the next you are wondering how it is already time to send invitations. This 12-month timeline is the planning version of taking a deep breath. It...

Lab-Grown vs. Natural Diamonds

Choosing an engagement ring should feel like a love story, not a graduate-level research project. And yet, the lab-grown vs. natural diamond decision can bring out everyone’s opinions: your best friend’s budget spreadsheet, your aunt’s “heirloom only” stance, and your partner’s quiet hope that it...

15 Non-Traditional Wedding Ceremony Ideas for Modern Couples

After twelve years of planning intimate weddings, I can tell you this with my whole sentimental heart: the most memorable ceremonies are not the most elaborate ones. They are the ones that feel unmistakably like the couple. If you want a ceremony that is modern, personal, and a little unexpected,...

A $10,000 Backyard Wedding That Feels Like You

Backyard weddings have a special kind of magic: the comfort of a familiar place, the softness of outdoor light, and that wonderful feeling that everyone is truly together. They can also come with hidden costs and a few logistical surprises. The good news is that a $10,000 budget can absolutely...

About Elise Montgomery

Welcome , I’m Elise Montgomery, and I’m so glad you’re here. If you’ve ever stared at a blank calendar thinking, We should do something , then felt your shoulders tighten at the thought of planning, you’re in exactly the right place. Rite & Fete presents Personal Celebrations & Life Events , my...