Creating Your Wedding Day Details

Even though weddings have been happening for ages and ages, no two weddings are the same. Every couple brings their own personalities into the wedding, so don't worry that your guests have seen this or that before. Maybe they have, but not with your unique twist.

As the date rolls closer, you'll want to start working on the little details ~ from guest book ideas to favors to how to number your tables. The creative ideas are endless, so be sure to brainstorm and come up with a big list to narrow down off of. Perhaps you are known for your different travels ~ try to incorporate that into your table names but using postcards from places you've been together. Or, instead of a guest book, use a wishing bucket {take a wish, leave a wish}, or set out a Polaroid camera and have guests take their own Polaroids to add to an album. There are endless ideas. When it comes to your escort card table, use different mediums to hold your escort cards {for example, my husband loves artichokes, so we had each card placed in an artichoke}. There are tons of wedding websites and magazines that showcase thousands of amazing ideas ... just be sure to choose some that have meaning to you both {i.e. if neither of you drink wine, don't give out personalized bottles of wine as favors ~ your guests won't get it}. When it comes to favors though, edible is best, especially since your guests can have it as a late night post wedding snack.

Be sure that during the week leading up to the wedding that you've already got everything you need in place, you don't want to spend your last few single days cutting wine corks in half for the place cards or making labels for your aunt's strawberry jam. Plan in advance so that you can relax before the wedding day.


{courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings}

This post was originally published on June 27th, 2009

Fabulous Friday: Hot & Humid in NYC

So for those that haven't melted yet in the heat, we've made it to Friday! And, most importantly, thank you to all who've read my Time Out article!

While there have been some fabulous articles floating around the web this week here are two that really stood out to me:

Ipods & Weddings: The potential glitches and how to thwart them - must read if you are going the ipod / itunes route!

How do you feel about styled photo shoots being shown on wedding blogs? Chime into the discussion over on {ELD}.

Happy Weekend!

When Wedding Inspiration Drives You Crazy

I am a huge fan of wedding blogs, I love the knowledge and advice that wedding industry professionals share so freely in order to help educate the engaged. Its remarkable really if you think about it, knowledge and inspiration being shared freely, I love it!

What I am not a huge fan of is multi-fold: when a bride falls in love with a table scape or idea seen on a blog that really is a photo shoot that costs $1000+ to replicate and I have to be the one to essentially crush their dreams that this $1800 table just isn't possible to replicate for their 200+ person wedding when their budget is sub $500,000. I am also not a fan of when brides see so much amazingly beautiful inspiration that they are constantly changing their minds on decor, design, layout, ideas etc.

At some point, you need to stop checking things out on blogs. Or, do what I have been doing since about 4 months before my wedding ~ I bookmark things I find inspiring that I can use for a vow renewal, dinner party, holiday cocktails, outdoor BBQ, birthday, nesting, eventual baby shower and obviously, inspiration for my clients. Basically, I tuck these awesome ideas away for a rainy day; because seriously, you can't keep changing your mind about things with your wedding day getting closer and closer. You will eventually drive yourself and your vendors nuts.

Be firm in your decisions. Stop the madness by constantly changing everything.

What Is Your Version of Luxury?

Almost a year ago, I posted about what your definition of luxury is and how you apply it to your wedding - I wanted to re-introduce this topic since during most wedding planning experiences ... its the little luxuries that get overlooked - and that is just simply inexcusable!

To you, what does luxury mean, especially when it comes to planning your wedding? Is it the luxury of having an amazing photographer there to capture all the details of the wedding day? Is it the luxury of creating an incredible experience for your guests? Is it the luxury of wearing a gown that makes you feel and look gorgeous? What luxury are you including in your wedding day? Is it something as simple as going to a spa the week of your wedding to relax? Is it spending time with out of town guests?

Its so easy during the wedding planning process to lose sight of the little luxuries in life especially when you've got lots of decisions to make and budgets to worry about. For your own mental health, please stop to let the luxury in, it may just be the saving grace for you.

What does your version of luxury look like?

Finding Inspiration In Unlikely Places

The one thing that I have learned being an entrepeneur is that I love learning and finding inspiration in unlikely sources. I've always been a learner. I was the kid in high school and college who always did the homework. Seriously. I've loved reading since the second I could understand the words on a page and my husband can attest to this: I read everything that comes across my path. I always have something to read with me because you never know when you'll have a moment to spare to take in some knowledge. So what's the point of all this reading? While I love the knowledge part, I care much more about the inspiration for my business that reading and education gives me. Essentially, I read so my clients get better service. I read in the hopes that I will get an awesome idea that will help my clients. It sounds kinda lame when I re-read those sentences, but in all honesty, I read so much {and all genres} to make sure that my business is continually growing, evolving and moving forward. I also read so that I personally may grow, evolve and move forward.

Where do you find your inspiration?

Interview with Sara Rue

In one word, Sara Rue is glowing. She’s glowing from her engagement and upcoming wedding and she’s glowing from her fabulous weight loss with Jenny Craig. I was lucky enough to attend an event recently at the Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier where Sara was checking out wedding dresses looking for inspiration for her wedding. We had a moment to sit down and chat about Jenny and about her wedding {and check out her beautiful bling!} and I can say with 100% honesty, this gal is the sweetest and nicest person ever. She described her wedding style as “vintage, antiquey with lots of color and on the more romantic side” with a wedding day that emphasizes "fun, love and no pressure". Since she and her fiance have an affinity for beer pong, it’ll likely be included in the wedding day festivities as well {as an aside, I love this idea – always aim to include a hobby or something you are passionate about as a couple in your wedding day – its your day, do what you want, not what ‘tradition’ dictates}.

She went on to discuss her experience on Jenny Craig and losing 40 lbs in 5 months {girl, you are my role model now!} and she stressed that the program really is a lifestyle, not a diet. She describes it as “dieting for dummies” as you really go back and re-learn the basics – portion control, exercise, and shifting ones thinking away from the emotional eating and more into making smart choices. Sara spoke a lot about her consultant and the constant supply of support that her consultant offers – she said that it has been key to sticking with the program and not getting derailed. As a skeptic when it comes to weight loss programs, I was encouraged to hear Sara say that this Jenny Craig experience has made her “hopeful” and that the program is truly satisfying and easy to include in one’s every day life.

Well, Sara, all I can say is that you are an incredible woman to have met and spent time with – your attitude regarding Jenny Craig and all that you’ve learned is truly contagious and inspiring. I know that your wedding day will be a truly amazing experience for you, your fiance and your guests and I wish lots of love, happiness and success in life.





{images via ABC News & Getty Images}

Sticking With Your Wedding Decisions

I have a theory that I would like to share with you all: Weddings can make even the most confident decision maker wishy washy. Why? Because there is too much inspiration and too many ideas floating around the internet and as soon as you've made a decision about one thing, you see that same idea done better somewhere else and it makes you waver on your decision.

I am here to break the cycle of madness because really, I know its driving you crazy. Every bride I speak with says they read 100's of wedding blogs per day. Every wedding vendor I know says they try to keep up with the 1000's of blogs in their google reader, but let's face it, we all have lives to attend to as well. While I certainly LOVE that there is so much out there for brides to be inspired by, it can make a gal have doubts. And just like 'there's no crying in baseball' there's no doubts in wedding planning.

If you are indecisive in your wedding planning, chances are you'll miss the opportunity to work with the vendor of your choice {how many people has that happened to? you meet, you take forever to decide, you pick one and then they are already booked - in wedding planning, the early bird does get the worm}. While I get that budget is always a factor in wedding planning - stick to your guns when making decisions. Be confident that your decision is the right one for your wedding.

Too many times I have seen brides make a choice and then get deflated when they see something they deem cooler / swankier / better on a blog. Keep in mind that your decision is the right one for you and not everything out there fits every wedding. Or, if you're like me, as soon as your wedding has happened, you'll start planning on your vow renewal so you can use all the cool ideas you saw and didn't use!

What Draws You To A Particular Wedding Brand?

Anyone who has crossed my path in last few months knows that I have become really passionate about branding. As I continue to refine the Anderson Green Events Brand {with new website launching soon!}, I wanted to ask this question: as a bride, how does brand / branding affect the choices you make for your wedding? What is it that prompts you to choose a particular vendor over another {I know price / personality / value / quality all play a factor} but all of those elements are integral to the vendor's brand, so at the crux of it, what is it about the vendors brand that appeals to you?

As consumers, we are all drawn to different brands because they are either visually appealing, follow the same values that we have, invoke certain feelings and emotions - for example, I am drawn to the Gap brand because I am a quintessential jeans and t-shirt gal and they build great basics at affordable prices. But, I also appreciate and love the haute couture brands as well for the quality and artistry that goes into each item of clothing. Do I wear Prada every day? No! But for special occasions when I want to feel simply stunning, I do. There is something about the Prada brand that evokes confidence, class and good style that I find appealing.

So, how does different branding affect your purchasing power? Have you 'branded' your wedding with yours and your fiances style?

New Wedding Planning Resource

If you've been planning a wedding or just starting out in your wedding planning process, you're probably becoming an expert in Wedding Blogs and Wedding Resources. There are so many to find advice, ideas and inspiration that it can be quite overwhelming! But, there's a new resource that goes live on January 1st and its definitely worth checking out. Kate Parker, a fabulous planner in New Hampshire has built a wedding resource site that really is divine. Its got practical advice from wedding vendors, profiles of some of the best and more galleries and images than you could imagine. If you're in need of anything wedding related, check out myKPwedding on January 1st and be prepared to be wow'ed!

{Disclosure: Although I am a paying advertiser on myKPw, I received no financial compensation for this post nor was I asked by Kate Parker to write this post}