I found this handy little etiquette guide while on Pinterest and thought you might like to take a look. These simple rules will help you determine what is appropriate to wear and even help determine a dress code for your next event. I see a “Creative Black Tie” affair in my future!
Happy Planning! xoxo
If only we could practice our wedding day in order to get it absolutely perfect. Unfortunately we can’t but if we could and I could do it all again I would have…
I sent my wedding invitations out last Friday and have been receiving the reply cards in the mail ever since. As exciting as it is, it makes the wedding that much more real.
Surprisingly, I’m not nervous about the actual wedding I’m more stressed about what happens after the wedding. For the past two years I have been a bride-to-be, planning and gushing in the limelight of wedded bliss. My time has been taken up by appointments, fittings and answering questions about color combinations, dinner options and music selections. My stress has been the result of choosing wedding cakes, bridesmaid dresses and staying on budget.
So, what happens after the wedding? Do you disappear and become the old married couple. Do questions switch from “When are you getting married?” to “When are you having kids?” I’m not prepared! I’m not sure I can handle it….
But then again…Is it really even that big of a deal or am I just over reacting…..
Happy planning! xoxo
Last weekend my fiance and I attended the wedding of two friends in Islamorada, Florida. It was a beautiful wedding on a private beach of a rented house – La Playa Estate - and as a soon-to-be bride, my eyes had magnifying glasses on and I made sure to take in every pretty (and not so pretty) detail.
What I learned:
Outdoor weddings are pretty. Mosquitos are deadly! If you are planning an outdoor affair, don’t forget the bug spray.
Welcome your guests with a drink and make sure they know where to go. People swarm to the bar at weddings so try not to set the bar up in a place you don’t want guests. We walked straight to the bar, which happened to be next to where dinner was served, turns out cocktail hour was supposed to be by the pool….far from the bar, but conveniently located by the photo booth!
Gift Tables are a must. Set up a table where guests can drop of their gifts and envelopes. It doesn’t have to be a huge table or even something that takes up tons of space.
Wedding planners are a godsend but they can also be from hell… If you decide to hire a wedding planner make sure you are in the loop of what is going on. I heard the wedding planner hired to plan our friends wedding was fired a few minutes before the bride walked down the aisle. Added stress is something you want to avoid. Research your planner but also have a back up plan because you never know what is going to happen.
Don’t blink. I heard the bride say a few times that everything was all a blur. Although it will probably be hard, don’t forget to take it all in – and also hire an awesome photographer and videographer…because chances are you might miss a few things.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. It doesn’t matter what happens – it’s you day and you should enjoy it. Things are not going to be perfect no matter how detailed you are. Something is going to go astray but don’t fret. No one is going to know that your centerpieces are the wrong color. Enjoy the time you have with your friends and family and make the most of it because the night will go fast!
The wedding was beautiful and a lot of fun! Congrats L and J!
Now that our venue is selected and the date is set, the next thing on our wedding to-do list is to fill the wedding gaps with vendors.
With numerous websites offering their “top picks” and a surplus of companies to choose from, hiring someone to co-host an event can be a tricky task. I have spent hours searching the Internet looking for perfect vendors and have compiled a few tips to help make the hiring process less of a chore.
Crash A Few Weddings: Even before I was engaged I took notes at every event I attended. In fact, the easiest decision I made was choosing my DJ. I pretty much had the company picked out years before I even had a ring on my finger. Seeing a company in action is the best way to make a decision. Anyone can sugar coat a service during a meeting but seeing a company in their element is the best way to see if they are the right fit for your wedding. If you don’t have any events to attend, talk to your venue to see if you can peak in on a few upcoming events to check out different companies.
Meet and Greet: Before you sign a contract with anyone you plan on hiring you should try to meet them in person. Not only will you get a sense of who they are and what their work ethic is like, you’ll also have the opportunity to negotiate services and even different ideas that you may not have thought about. Plus, first impressions are important and if you get a bad feeling about anyone, move on.
Don’t Rush: I have had a few instant connections with vendors, especially photographers, but after the phone calls were over there was something missing. Before you make any rash decisions, make sure you are 100% confident with your choices. Some contracts are hard to break and you don’t want to be disappointed on your wedding day.
Straight From the Vendors Mouth:: Photo Booths
Danielle Nelson from Capture POD, a Miami based photo booth company was kind enough to send over a few tips after reading a recent blog post. The tips are perfect for any bride-to-be contemplating a photo booth. I am still up in the air about having one at my wedding reception but the tips below are definitely helpful!
Get a visual: Many photo booth rental companies don’t post pictures of their booths on their websites. Before a sweet talking sales rep lures you in with a great price, request to see the photo booth in person and test it out before making any commitments. If you’re not able to see the booth in person, then request multiple images, as well as the booth’s dimensions. Photo booths come in all shapes and sizes. A visual not only allows you to see if the booth matches your wedding’s aesthetic, but also lets you see if the booth’s size is ideal for your event space. Some booths are as large as 8′ x 10′!
Consider your guest list: Is your crowd younger or older? Will they know how to operate a photo booth? Will small children be tall enough to be photographed? Ask your photo booth rental company what the start to finish process will be for guests using the photo booth. Testing the booth prior to the event before booking is highly recommended so that you can experience it for yourself. Capture POD booths feature a user-friendly touch screen with step by step instructions for guests, but a friendly on-site attendant is also provided to show your guests the ropes. A photo booth is no fun if no one knows how to use it.
Add a personal touch: Does the photo booth have any customizable features? Most photo booths will let you personalize your prints. Ask to see the designs that they currently have available and what changes can be made to them. Your guests will most likely hang on to their photo strips for a long time so make sure that your prints look the way you want your big day to be remembered. Does your wedding have a theme? If your rental package includes props, find out what they are to see if those props coordinate with your event. If not, ask your rental company if they would be willing to buy some. This way your photo booth will look and feel more a part of your wedding.
If you are interested in learning more about Capture POD call 305-572-1906 or visit their website at http://www.capturePOD.com
Where do I begin…I have been engaged for over a year and have yet to plan my wedding. Why, you ask? Because I can barely pick out an outfit to wear to work and I cannot fathom picking out color palates, table linens, and a venue. Oh, the agony!
Maybe it’s the pressure to create the “perfect” day. What if something goes wrong? Pink may be “in” today but lavender may possibly be the “must have” color tomorrow. Who wants a party that is not up to par? I mean you only get one chance to get it right…Right?
Oh, and the thought of that one guest that you know is tearing everything about your wedding apart piece by piece. “The food is cold.”, “The flowers aren’t full enough.”, “That dress makes her hips look big!” I know exactly who she is too…(I sat next to her at a recent wedding.) But I can’t “uninvite” her because…We’ll I guess I could scratch her name off the list.
And the daily updates from all of the wedding websites don’t help either. Every time I sign on a little screen pops up telling me how many days I have left until the “big day”. 275 days seem like plenty, but the days are quickly slipping by and no decisions have been made.
This may all seem petty, but as a perfectionist, this is a daily struggle! I never thought planning my own wedding would be so hard. I mean, I plan big events by day and I can execute a party with my eyes closed. But this…this is a whole different ball game. Am I a professional failure if I cannot plan my own event? (Don’t answer that…)
I need a magic wand, a fairy godmother, or a wedding planner…. Winning the lottery might help too. Do you know how much it is for a small wedding soirée? The basic package at any wedding venue is more than I make per year!
Yes, I know, weddings are a celebration of love and it doesn’t matter what other people think, who is there, or all of the above. Believe me, this pressure for perfection is beyond chiavari chairs and chandeliers….This is supposed to be the most important day of our lives and I don’t want to be the one to screw it up.
…to be continued
