5 Details and Tips - Not to forget for the wedding

(1) When creating your invitations get a final proof with all pieces included in the envelope. Take the envelope to the post office and check the mailing price of the stamp that you will need. Many standard invitations are $.65 to mail for a wedding invitation. Based on the style, size, and weight of the invitation this price my increase the cost of mailing your invitation. 

 

(2) It’s never too early to find out the details and requirements to obtain your marriage license for the location that you will be married in. When you apply for your marriage license you will do so based on the location of your venue. You may be getting married in the city, however live in the county. Your marriage license would be for the city

(3) You cannot legally get married without your marriage license on hand. Give this license to your wedding planner either at the rehearsal or on the morning of the wedding. It is also important that once the license is signed that you have a dedicated individual that will be responsible in keeping the license for you. Usually a parent is the best option for this.  

(4) Keep good track of the RSVPs that you receive using a program like Excel. This gives you the ability to sort your list in many options and create your floor plan and seating chart. 

 

(5) If you are leaving for your honeymoon the next day or just do not want to deal with the hassle of collecting items following the wedding day designate a family member to handle specific items at the end of the evening. For example, the sand ceremony vases, memorial candle, etc…

 

A Wedding Day for a Lifetime- Radisson Lord Baltimore

We had a busy Fall 2012 season and now it is time to share and post some great weddings!

I had the pleasure of working with a Bride by the name of Robyn. My email queen *smiles* Robyn wanted all the bells and whistles. We created a great wedding that reflected both the Bride and Groom within their budget. They celebrated the wedding day with 125 guests in rich colors of wineberry, purple, and touches of gold.

The ceremony was held at First and Franklin Presbyterian Church Baltimore, Maryland.  This church is absolutely beautiful and was a great place to have the ceremony. The Cocktail Hour & Reception took place at the Radisson Lord Baltimore.

Please enjoy the pictures, details, and décor.

We did not need to have too much decor as you can see, two altar arrangements and a few silk pomander balls (from Prestigious Occasions) was more than enough for this grand church.

This is a picture of the blushing Bride Robyn....she has just left her bridal suite and we are on the way to the church for the ceremony.  She was so excited and also nervous at the same time, she practiced her vows and now it is time to actually say them out loud to the love of her life.  

 

The ceremony was wonderful and you could feel the true love between the couple as they exchanged their vows. During that time while you exchange your vows the most important person in the entire room is right in front of you, live in the moment and take your time to gaze in their eyes. 

For the first dance the couple danced on cloud nine...they dance on a low smoke haze as they danced to Inseparable by Natalie Cole

 

Here are details for the reception, the flowers were created by Bella Fiori....Roberta is a great florist! The table numbers were pictures of the Bride and Groom from their engagement photo shoot. Each table was named after an emotion and or key words that embraced love. 

We miss you Mr. & Mrs. Hawkins!

Photography Credit: Weddings by Tre'Lynn (www.trelynnpro.com)

Finding your Summer Venue

Summer weddings are fun, but can be challenging to plan when you are looking for the “perfect venue” and have a large guest list!

The visions of a summer wedding are very popular and venues book quickly, in some cases years in advance. It is important to know your maximum number of guests; this will give you a guideline in addition to the amenities that you both are looking for on your wedding day.

If you are available to see a venue during the setup process of another wedding this is also helpful and allow you to envision your day and floor plan in the space. Contact the representative for the venue you have in mind and ask to see the space before an upcoming wedding.

There are many things to consider when searching for your summer venue. If you are having an outdoor wedding don’t just think about a backup plan for rain….also remember the sun. While outdoor weddings can be very nice, think about the location and setup of the venue, the position that the sun will set and other details. Explore the options of renting a tent, this help with shade and shelter case of rain.

Keep good notes on the venues that you visit and include the pros and cons. Always inquire about the food if you have an option between the catering companies or if you must go with their company. This can be a deal breaker if the food is not good.

Just remember to plan carefully and think about the overall logistics before signing your contract.

Happy Planning!

Wedding Ceremony Altar Style

I am currently working with a bride that has a few photography concerns for her ceremony. Her church is beautiful; however the pictures that we have seen during the ceremony are not the best backgrounds and will not complement her colors well. So as an alternative to dress up the ceremony and have a great backdrop for her pictures we decided to move forward with a Chuppah (Jewish tradition) which may also be known as a canopy. The side that will be to the back of the pastor will be hanging to have a clean crisp look in the pictures.

With so many choices available in colors, styles, fabrics, etc. there are countless ways you can create or design your altar.

Here are a few beautiful styles that we will be using and our inspiration and/or possibly choosing from.

Happy Planning!

DIY: Creative Welcome Letter Alternative

If you are looking for an alternate idea for a formal welcome letter for your out of town guests or for a destination wedding......here is a really cute idea from a destination bride.

Print less and save more by cutting back on the multiple pages of information and create a cute informative trifold filled with great local info.

Check out the photos below and the link to the original blog.

Enjoy!

Original Blog Post: http://www.projectwedding.com/wedding-ideas/diy-wedding-challege-welcome-letters-for-guests

Champagne and Cake Reception

When most people think about receptions the first thing that comes to mind is usually a formal seated dinner however there are other options able. One of the most inexpensive receptions is a champagne and cake reception where following the ceremony guess what is offered:



Yes, you got it! Champagne and Cake!

This is a slight trend with younger couples that would like to have friends and family around for their first dance, dancing and socializing. If you’re not able to afford a formal reception, this is an option to celebrate at your ceremony venue or another venue with a nominal cost.

Another option is to add cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres, use high top cocktail tables and an open dance floor for all to enjoy the party time.

Let your style reflect you both and your budget.

RSVP Dilemmas

Handling RSVP cards can be very time consuming and challenging at times. Keep in mind that when sending out RSVP you should have a projected number of guests that will respond to the RSVP card.

Track your cards by having the responses in alphabetical order; an index card box comes in handy with keeping the cards together in one location.

To avoid guests from reserving five seats when you expected them to reserve two you may also prepare RSVP cards based on the specific number of seats you are able to reserve for your guest. To do this you will need to know the person that you are sending the invitation to and the estimated number of seats you will need.

Below is a suggestion on wording the specified number of seats reserved per invitation.

We have reserved two seats in your honor.

M____________________________________

_____ Accept with pleasure _____ Decline with regret

The kindness of your response is requested by September 1, 2010

Shade on a Summer Wedding Day

If you are planning on having a ceremony outside, many people think about the chance of rain…..how about the chance of unbearable sun? Think about your bridesmaids as they stand in the hot sun and your guests while they are seated.

Pass on the boutiques, save on the cost of the boutiques and order personalized parasols for their use following the wedding. Having a personalize parasol can serve as a wedding day necessity to keep your bridesmaids out of the sun, for creative photos, and as a keepsakes. Check out some photos below from http://www.idooriginals.com/ and http://www.pamelasparasols.com/

Oh and don’t forget about your guests! Consider having a program fan to serve as double duty….cooling down your guests and informing them of the details for the ceremony & reception.

Tip: Immediately after the ceremony your coordinator should have water for the entire wedding party while your guests attend the cocktail hour.

Wedding Attendants , The Roles & Duties

Along with selecting your wedding party, be sure to include your ushers and hostesses in the party also. While most brides think about the bridesmaids and groomsmen, the selection of ushers and hostesses should be included and not looked over.

The duties of attendants should be viewed and treated with high importance and responsibility. When selecting attendants think about someone with a friendly charming, energetic persona to assist with seating for the ceremony. This should be well thought out and your selection should be an adult or a responsible teenager. In the event that you have a coordinator this is not a task for your coordinator. The role of your wedding coordinator/planner is contracted to ensure the day runs smoothly and on time.

Ushers & Hostesses should be prepared to provide the following duties and more:
* Escort guests to their seat- This will ensure that the front rows of the church will be filled and you do not have too many guests in the middle or back pews.
* Offer Programs- If you are planning to hand out programs, your guests will be offered a program. This will ensure guests do not walk by the basket and attempt to come back during the service for a program to “keep track” of everything going on.
* Attend to Guest Book- Encourage guests to sign the guest book upon their arrival.
* Accept Gifts and Cards- For the guests that will not be attending the reception this is an opportunity to have attendants accept gifts and cards on behalf of the couple. Tip: Have a card holder at both the church and reception venue.
* Aisle Runner- If the bride plans to have an aisle runner the ushers will be persons to pull the aisle runner for the bride.
* Organized Exit- After the bride and groom begin the wedding recessional to exit the church or to form a receiving line it is beneficial to have an organized exit for all. There will be excitement and guests eager to see the newlyweds, however keep it organized and your guests will typically follow.


Happy Planning!

Hiring Family Vendors-Caution

Hello all, I just want to start out by saying….it is not because I am an event coordinator that I am posting this blog.

I can’t count how many vendors that I have talked to recently that had a bad experience with family members functioning as their DJ, Caterer, Florists, Photographer and other vendors. We understand that the economy and other factors sometimes alter your wedding plans, however be cautious.

Whether you are hiring Cousin Joe to take your pictures or Aunt Sue to bake your cake, please make sure they plan to take your day seriously. One of the great points to working with a coordinator is that they are the glue to keep the puzzle together. Using a professional coordinator gives you the advantage to get a professional perspective of the entire day and the role of each vendor. Think about it ….your coordinator has worked with many brides, weddings, vendors, venue, etc…

Go to a professional coordinator and have them help you before things get out of control, consider their DOC (day of coordinator package). Most coordinators DOC is longer than the actual day of the wedding. Visit http://www.prestigiousoccasions.com/ to find out more about the services we offer.

If you choose to use family members, make sure there is a contract in place. All professional vendors should have a contract in place that outlines their role, services, date, time, cost and other items you have agreed on. Please be cautious, you can have a nice wedding on a budget but please remember that your family will want to enjoy the wedding also….will this affect their delivery of client service?

Contact us and we can offer a complimentary consultation of our services.

Lazaro Wedding Dresses

Designer of the Lazaro Bridal dresses, Lazaro Perez is known for his signature hand-beading and embroidery, Lazaro creates designs that are ultra-glamorous and elegant.

Take a look at the collections below.

For more dress ideas visit www.jlmcouture.com

Calligraphy at its Finest

When you think about a calligrapher over a decade ago, one would think about someone to address your wedding envelopes and RSVP cards.

Welcome to the new world of calligraphy!

I would like to introduce Laura Condouris a calligrapher based in Baltimore, Maryland. Laura loves all of the things girls are supposed to love. She is an artist, calligrapher, designer, collector of vintage clothing, and occasional comedienne. Although Laura is based in the Baltimore area, she works with brides all over the world and offers to ship packages securely and insured.

Laura offers additional services other than your basic envelopes, escort and RSVP cards. Have you thought about incorporating calligraphy in a keepsake map, table numbers/titles or for your readers? Think about framing that special poem, letter or whatever you choose for your reader to read. How great would it be to frame a piece of your wedding day other than a picture in your home as a memento of your wedding day!

Here are a few tips when working with a calligrapher:

Remember to order additional envelopes for the increasing last minute invitations and/or mistakes that may occur.

If you are using Excel to maintain the guest list, it is easier for a calligrapher to address envelopes in the exact format that the envelope will be addressed. Because they must look at each guest’s name and address, it is easier to keep everything straight in a format, here is an example below.

Mr. and Mrs. John Doe

123 Fake Street

Gotham City, IL 12345

Excel spreadsheets may also be exported to labels; this will avoid the addresses to be retyped. It is preferred that our clients provide the exported document in Microsoft Word or any other word processing format.

Think about the color of ink that you would like to use on your documents and how you would like to personalize them. What style do you prefer in alignment?

I spoke with Laura recently and would like to share an excerpt of our discussion below.

How long have you been practicing calligraphy?

I've been practicing calligraphy since I was a child, but I've been doing it professionally part-time for about five or six years and recently transitioned to doing calligraphy and illustration full-time!

How long before sending out the invitations would you require brides to contact you?

For envelope addressing services, I typically recommend booking at least three months in advance.

What is the turnaround time for invitations?

Orders of up to 200 envelopes usually take about two weeks to complete- the turnaround time is a bit higher for orders of more than 200 pieces.

How much of a notice do you need for place cards orders locally?

Since place cards don't take quite as long as invitation outer envelopes to complete, I can sometimes squeeze these into my schedule, but I still recommend booking as early as possible.

Do you offer writing/copying a poem or reading material for the ceremony?

Yes! I've worked on a few poems and recently finished a very pretty marriage certificate for the bride, groom, and all of their guests signed at the reception as a sign of solidarity with the couple.
What do couples do with the maps? How are the used?

Couples have used maps in their invitation, in out of town gift bags, as a keepsake and any other form they choose. A black-and-white map takes about 8 to 10 hours to complete, or a watercolor map, which takes even more time. The price includes the design fee, original, and a high-resolution digital file for you to print yourself at home, or take to your stationer or local printer. I offer small quantities for an additional fee.

Do you create monograms for couples?

Yes! I love doing this- it's like a logo for the union that a couple creates!

To find out more about Laura and Trial by Cupcakes visit: http://www.trialbycupcakes.com/

Photo and Art credit: Trial by Cupcakes