Reasons to Schedule a Site Tour

Scheduling a site tour of possible venues can be extremely helpful when deciding where you would like your wedding to be held. Your wedding planner can help you narrow down your choices and schedule appointments for a walk through, as well as check the availability for your specific date.  Read below for something to think about when touring a venue.



1. Meet with the event coordinator at each venue.A face to face meeting will allow you to ask questions, tour the facilities and visualize the layout. Tour the bridal suite and restrooms, is there enough room for you to get ready? Is the space large enough to accommodate all of your guest? Do you envision your wedding being held there? You will also get information on menu options and cost if using the in house caterer. This meeting will also allow you to know who you and your planner will be working with throughout the planning process.



2.Check out the parking lot. Is there enough parking for all of your guest? Is there offsite parking? Will you need to hire transportation for your guest?

 


3. Will it be difficult for your guest to find the venue? What measures would you have to take to make it easier for your guest to find? Driving to the venue will allow you to iron out any obstacles.



4. Most venues advertise their best features. Visiting in person will allow you to see for yourself the things that may not have been photographed for their website or brochure.







 5. Ask about lighting inside and outside of the venue. Visit during the time of the day that you will hold your ceremony especially if it is an evening wedding and/or outdoors to make sure there are spots for photo ops.



6. Take a notepad with you to write notes for each venue to compare later and to discuss with your planner as you make your final decision.

How to choose the right flowers for your wedding day

From bouquets, to headpieces, to centerpieces and more, flowers have long been an important aspect of a wedding day. Knowing which flowers to choose and designing an arrangement can be an overwhelming task but there are many resources to help you make your selections. Your most valuable contact is your florist. They will know which flowers will be in season for the time of year of your special day, as well as cost. When meeting with your florist, make sure to bring fabric swatches of your gown and bridesmaid dresses as well as photographs of bouquets and arrangements that you like. Looking ahead to Fall 2015/Spring 2016, beautiful colors and classic looks are in the forecast!

FALL 2015 TRENDS

Navy and Blush for a classic, elegant touch

Marsala brings glamour and sophistication 

SPRING 2016 TRENDS

Blush, Beautiful, Bling

Simply Stunning

What is Your Plan B for your Wedding Day?

So many details of your wedding can be planned and executed days, weeks and months before your special day. Unfortunately, you can't predict the weather but you can prepare for it.

Most venues offer an indoor location for your ceremony and are equipped to use it if necessary. If an indoor option is not possible, is a tent an option? Speaking with your planner and the venue coordinator ahead of time can eliminate a lot of worries.

Rain, although one of the biggest concerns of any bride and groom is not the only issue that can arise. Wind, heat or cold temperatures should also be considered and planned for ahead of time. From hairstyles that are secure to tents that are sturdy, these are all the things to consider. What about having sunscreen available as well as fans?

Letting your guests know in the invitation what to expect will allow them to enjoy the day with you!

Wedding Tips As you Begin Planning Your Wedding

Tips for Brides to Be

1.    Start planning early to give yourself and fiance plenty of time to make decisions. This is one of the most significant days in your life, it’s important to make sure you both take the time to figure out what elements you want to include that are most important to each of you. Planning early can eliminate stressful situations.

2.    Accept that you can’t make everyone happy. Family and friends will have opinions on every detail from favors to what shoes you should wear. Remember, it is YOUR day!

3.    Be present and enjoy each moment. Don’t look back at your wedding and wonder “what the heck just happened?” or “I don’t remember that”. It’s important to be clear with your planner and vendors with what you want your day to look like and how you would like it to flow.

4.    Enjoy the day with family and friends. Thank those who have supported you throughout your life and in your relationship as a couple.

5.    Most importantly, take time away from planning to enjoy each other as a couple and remind yourself of all of the wonderful qualities that made you fall in the love!

Vintage Inspired Wedding

Brides, more so than ever before, are inspired to put a unique twist on their special day. With the many choices, one theme stands the test of time, and that is a vintage inspired wedding. 

Whether simple or over the top, personalizing your day can be integrated in many ways. Some brides get their inspiration from an heirloom dress or piece of jewelry handed down through the years. 

Where some are simply inspired by a picture seen on Pinterest or a television show such as Downton Abbey. The possibilities are endless and the final product can be amazing!

Timeless bride and groom photo for a lifetime of memories

Beautiful vintage gown with lace gown

Vintage car, tea length dress and birdcage veil

cake with vintage details

From a rustic barn.........

to a tranquil garden.....

to a museum or castle, a vintage theme can be brought to life!

Wedding Stress - Don't Be a Super Bride!

Planning a wedding can be stressful with the many decisions and details that it entails. The reality is that the planning stages should bring you closer as you make important decisions together. 

Do not let planning the wedding consume you, your family, and friends. Remember it is also important to just be you and take breaks from planning the wedding.

Here are a few tips on reducing the stress while planning:

•  Prepare a budget to use as a guide; there are plenty of templates available. If you are registered with Wedding Wire or The Knot they both have this tool.
• Date your fiancé – this keeps the romance going…this is how you got the ring in the first place! Don’t be lost in the wedding planning and not prepared for the marriage.
• Communicate – It is important to communicate your ideas, vision, and have an open dialogue with your fiancé and whoever is playing a role in your wedding.
• Plan & Think Thoroughly- Plan your ideas on paper and think every detail through from the start to finish. Too many times I meet/see Brides plan to do thing themselves because ‘no one else is going to do it right, or the way they want it done’……big mistake! As a Bride you cannot do it all.

• Enlist Professionals – I cannot stress enough that you should secure professional vendors with contracts for each person. There is no rewind button for your wedding day so invest and enlist professionals. If you think you cannot afford one, please call and discuss the services you are looking for with them. Invest in quality for your wedding.  There are other options to the ‘packages’ listed on the website. 

For Example:

Photography- I really love you work…but I don’t need eight hours. No problem let’s see what we can do for six hours coverage.

Wedding Planner/Coordinator- I feel really good about selecting vendors, I just need help with the design and the weeks leading up to the wedding. Sure we can customize these services for you.

Happy Planning!

 

Planning a Wedding in a Different State

Planning from a distance can sometimes be challenging, whether you are planning a destination wedding to an island or to another state. Hey let’s face it planning an event in the same state can be a bit much! 

We are no strangers to this concept, so far for the 2014 year we have completed three weddings with Brides that live in another state and have traveled to Baltimore to tie the Knot! This happens for a variety of reasons; they may have met the love of their life in Baltimore or simply grew up in Maryland before relocating. Let’s face it planning a wedding in a different state can be stressful if you do not have a good plan in place and great support (family and/or your wedding team of vendors). 

Our most recent wedding was with a wonderful couple that resides in the state of Texas. We worked with them on planning their wedding with a good amount emails, phone conversations, and other forms of communication. There were in person meetings when they traveled in town during the nine months we worked together. 

By the time they arrived into Baltimore a few days before the wedding, they were in very good shape with minor items to take care of. 

If you are planning a wedding from a distance, do not stress it can be done.

Here are a five tips to help you plan your wedding in a state you do not live in:

1.      Start planning as early as possible by creating your own detailed planning agenda. While there are many online tools to help you stay on track, those tools do not know when you will be traveling to the state you will be getting married in. This may mean booking your photographer at 5 months out instead of 8 months. Side note: choosing a good photographer is very important!

2.      Do not rely on online sources for everything, this is very helpful…but sometimes this may sway your decision of quantity vs. quality. Use online as a tool and dig a little deeper in what wedding professionals have to offer in their areas of expertise, not all details and portfolios fit online.  

3.      Consider hiring a planner ….you should consider meeting and hiring a professional planner that is very knowledge of the industry and the market. Since you are planning from a distance, their communication must be GREAT!

4.      If your venue has a planner some things you should keep in mind are: will the venue planner assist you will identifying vendors, negotiating contracts, schedule appointments, and attend meetings? These are things should consider and will be beneficial with an outside planner assisting you along the way.

5.      When you plan on traveling into town, plan weeks in advance…most vendors are working on events for the weekend. If you can schedule all your appointments within a 5-15 mile radius this will be helpful for you. Tip: If you planner has an office, schedule a full day of appointments at their office so you can get lots accomplished without traveling. 

There are so many things that you will need to know, research as much as possible until you have a good understanding, be as organized and detailed as possible when contacting vendors and planning overall. If this is too stressful or you just need some help, considering interviewing at least two to three planners.