Q & A: How Can I Avoid Running Behind on My Wedding Day?

{Brown Paper Parcel via 100 Layer Cake}

Happy day loves! I cannot believe that our weekend is almost here! Just the thought gets me excited. Any exciting plans for your weekend? How about a little Thursday's Q & A session for a pre-weekend celebration? I thought so.

Q. We are on a tight schedule the morning of our wedding day. Once the ceremony is over, we can relax a bit more with time at our reception. How can I avoid running behind on our wedding day?

A. Don't run behind. ha! Just kidding. I do have a few helpful tips that I can offer:

1. Make sure your wedding party is informed. At your rehearsal, make sure that you stress the importance of being prompt. Encourage the wedding party to even be early. Provide times and addresses for each of them. Make sure you include your groom in on details and don't forget to discuss your expectations for the weekend.

2. Make an itinerary of your entire weekend. This is a must for each bride that I work with. Most coordinators or planners push brides to have an itinerary but if you are not working with a coordinator you still need to complete one. List all addresses, locations, times and a break down of what happens when. Pass along this itinerary to the wedding party and all vendors. It helps the flow of the day and keeps everyone on the same page when it comes to important times.

3. Make a shot list. If you are doing large group shots with your photographer or even multiple family photos, create a shot list to keep the photographer on track. It helps every one be organized and know which shot is next and who should be in it. A shot list keeps things moving forward.

4. Day of Coordinator. I highly suggest hiring one if you don't already have a planner. A day of coordinator answers all questions, gets the wedding party where they need to go, keeps everyone on schedule and deals with all your vendors. They are a must!

5. Have things completed. Regardless of if you are a DIY bride or not, make sure your decor and details are completed. You want all projects done and ready for your wedding weekend.

5. Don't stress. Things are going to happen but ultimately you are marrying your best friend. Keep a positive outlook for your wedding day. If you are overly worried about running behind, chances are you will. Enjoy your day and remember to take 5 minutes by yourself to soak it all in. It is so important to relax!

I hope that you find these tips helpful. I cannot wait to see y'all back here tomorrow!

Planning Your Ceremony, Part 2

Last week we tackled one of my biggest insecurities while wedding planning, the ceremony. The ceremony made me draw a blank. I knew that I wanted sweet and intimate moments but where do I start? Before we get to the lovely list that I prepared I have a little prettiness for you...

Love Ala via 100 Layer Cake

1. Selecting Your Vows. Whether you are using traditional vows or writing your own, I think every couple should know what vows they will be reciting before the ceremony. This is your promise to each other and that my friends should always remain present in your marriage. 

2. Order of Service. We had a outline that our pastor followed so that helped in making our order of service. Regardless if your ceremony is very traditional or more modern add touches that showcase your love for one another. Bro. Dwain let us add things that we wanted, making our ceremony traditional but personal. It was something that I will never forget.

3. Selecting your music. This was one of the easiest parts for me. I love music that moves you. Your wedding music should reflect your style and make your ceremony that much better. I was once a part of a wedding where the bride played Come What May during the lighting of the unity candle. If you haven't heard this song, go listen now. As in now. It was such a forever memory from her wedding. I think I could write a whole post on the importance of a good wedding soundtrack. If you need help with selecting your music visit Colleen from Soundtrack to I Do. She is crazy talented! Whether it be music for your ceremony or for cocktail hour at your reception, she can help.

4. Decorations. I love a simply decorated ceremony. Don't get me wrong. I do love a colorful backdrop or ivy & flower altar but simple touches make for the best decor. Make sure that you carry out a theme with your decorations. DIY is always fun to mix in with your decor as well. Don't be afraid to ask for help when it comes to picking and setting up your decor.

5. Designing your programs. I was very lucky to have a mom who saved wedding programs from recent weddings she attended. Programs have come a long way. I also asked advice from bridesmaids who were already married. Your program, just like your decor, should carry out your theme for your big day. I have to be honest. I am one of those guests who follows along the order of service in the program versus paying attention to what is right in front of me. If you think you may have guests like me, you don't have to list the order of service. I do recommend including a note saying thank you to your loved ones and friends for their help in making your big day possible.

6. Look at each other and relax. Bro. Dwain was sure to remind us of this. I thought it was odd to stare at each other but it turned out to be very intimate. You should give it a try! It makes your ceremony that much sweeter. You are marrying your favorite person & that friends is the best reason to relax. The rehearsal also helps calm nerves a bit plus work out any ceremony kinks.

At the end of the day regardless of how well you plan, things will fall into place. Remember that if you forget the vintage guestbook sign for the ceremony or the cake table runner it doesn't matter. You are marrying your best friend and soulmate. That is all that matters at the end of the day. Isn't life grand?

Planning Your Ceremony, Part 1

Hello there friends! One thing I have to say about wedding blogs is they are full of pretty imagery. I have a tad different approach. I like to show you pretties plus give you real bride/friend advice. Even though I had been apart of other weddings and helped in planning, you never know the full extent of wedding planning until you are the bride. Sometimes you have questions. Where do you turn? Who to trust? Who is right? I cannot guarantee that I will be right but I can tell you what I have learned. It is my promise to you to help at every turn.

What I wanted to start discussing today is one thing I needed help with, the ceremony. Do you just pick music? Do you really need a harp? Do you have to write your vows? Do you have to mix sand or light a candle? How do you know what to do? Ladies, I am here to help or at least point you in the right direction. First though is that eye candy that I promised you.

Lane Ditto Photography via Wedding Chicks

Ooooi, it hurts my eyes. Kidding! How neat to have palm trees be the backdrop of your wedding altar. Before you start the fun stuff like selecting that goosebump causing song for your walk down the isle, you need to begin with a bit of ground work. With these easy tips you can easily start planning the ceremony of your dreams. Let us begin part one!

1. Start with family traditions. I love family traditions. I think they are sweet, timeless and an unique gift for your loved ones. Ask family members of traditions that have transcended generations. Keep in mind you do not have to do what your family has done but you are more than welcome to. Talking with family also gives you ideas of their wedding ceremonies. They may mention an idea that you would like to incorporate or put a new twist on.

2. Select your type of ceremony. Before you even start planning your big day deciding on a theme for your wedding is important. Like I have mentioned before Rusty and I wanted to make guests comfortable, spend time with everyone the entire weekend and throw a fun party to celebrate. Your ceremony should reflect your style. Not just your personal style but your couple style. Rusty and I had a very personable wedding ceremony. Make sure your ceremony is a good balance. Wedding ceremonies can be traditional, religious, full of tradition, unique, extra sweet, emotional and fun. Make the ceremony your own.

3. Selecting your officiant. I knew without a doubt who our officiant would be. My Pastor is someone who raised me. He was able to make jokes,  genuinely smile and show emotion. I cannot begin to tell you how many people complimented Bro. Dwain and our ceremony. Bro. Dwain stuck with the traditional Baptist ceremony outline but let us add touches we liked. Your officiant should make you feel confident and comfortable as a couple. If you do not know the right officiant try turning to friends. It is very easy to have a family member become your officiant. Take the time to pick the best officiant for you both.

4. Paperwork. After picking your officiant and discussing plans for your ceremony make sure get the right paperwork completed. Not only do you need a marriage license (call your local courthouse for more details) but make sure to discuss premarital counseling. Each officiant may have a different take on the topic but I never think it hurts. Rusty and I spent an afternoon in counseling before the wedding while other couples spend a few hours each week leading up to the wedding.

4. Brainstorm/research ideas that you like. Regardless of your type of ceremony, you should always feel free to add your own personal touches. If your ceremony is very traditional try incorporating a new tradition. With typical religious ceremonies the officiant has a guide for your ceremony but most times you can add touches like your favorite song or one of my new favorite things, wedding bells. I am in love with the idea of having guests receive a bell before the beginning of the ceremony. As the groom leans in to kiss the bride, guests ring their bells. Talk about a picture perfect kiss and a sweet way to start your first moment as husband and wife. It is your day so make it your own!

This post is just the beginning of all the goodness I have to share. Don't worry friends. I promise to get to the more fun stuff soon! I hope that this post helps jump start your planning of your ceremony. Happy day loves!

Tips for Having the Best Reception...Ever

Photo Source: Ronin Studios

Tuesday morning folks! Are you awake yet? If not, pour another cup of coffee and enjoy. If you are hey hey hey!

Sorry for the absence on the blog yesterday. I was down and out (badly) with the stomach virus. Apparently it is going around San Antonio. If you are in the area watch out. Wash those hands people! I am happy to report that I am feeling somewhat better but still taking it easy. I love how a virus hits when you are the busiest. Just how things work!

I hope that everyone had a great weekend and is rounding down their Christmas shopping. I am sure it is like this everywhere but traffic and the amount of people out and about this time of year is sometimes overwhelming. Lines are long, kids are a little more hyper, people are sometimes not as kind especially when take the last Jenga on the shelf. Jenga you say? Hey, it was the first thing to come to mind.

One thing I do love about this time of year are the engagements. Everyone is getting engaged! Wahoooooo! Two of my friends from high school got engaged recently. The one who got engaged this weekend well her love took her to the Christmas ice display and had will you marry me carved in ice! I have never seen anything like it! I love the idea and I can honestly say they are the first people I know to have a proposal carved into an ice sculpture. Genius!

To any brides preparing to plan a wedding I wanted to give you a few easy tips for your reception. Every bride and groom's intentions are different for their reception. Regardless of what your overall conception is these tips will help keep your guests happy and make a reception that is unforgettable (in a good sense).

It is a list. Who would have thunk it?

1. Research. Before you can follow any of the steps listed below you have to research. How are you wanting to feed guests? Buffet or plated dinner? Band or DJ? Open bar or just wine and beer? Any DIY projects you are wanting to tackle? Think things through. Imagine your venue and where you want everything to go. Build upon your floor plan. I drew my space (a bad drawing - I am not good at that kind of stuff) and put spots for tables, chairs, dance floor, bar, gift table, welcome area.... Seeing it on paper always help. You can always find tons of inspiration from other wedding blogs, websites and Pinterest (it will suck you in - hey, I warned you).

2. Organization. I cannot stress this tip enough. If you are not good at organization set aside funds to get a professional planner or have a friend who has been married help out. When planning your reception, a majority of your budget and time goes into planning the shindig. At any given time you could be juggling a band/DJ, a florist, a caterer, a baker, the venue staff, a bartender and more. I don't say these things to scare you but the better organized you are the better off your big day will turn out.

3. Timing is everything. When filming a wedding I am always aware of what is next on the agenda. Make sure your timetable is accurate. Yes, you can plan to cut the cake at 6:15 on the dot but you may start a bit earlier or a little later. Be aware of your guests. If you have guests arrive 5pm for cocktail hour but don't serve dinner until 6:30 pm, your guests will be hungry and bit drink happy. When planning your reception timeline put yourself in the guests shoes. Make key times flow and not seem choppy or like the reception lagging. A steady flow is key to making guests happy and you not stressed.

4. Make a list of importance. When starting to plan your reception, make a list. Yes, at first this list will seem a bit long but slowly over time you will mark each thing off. The list keeps you focused, organized and on a timeline. It also allows you to hand out tasks to people who are willing to help. For a starting place on creating a well rounded list, click here.

5. Now check the things on the list off. Plain and simple. This helps you feel a sense of accomplishment and see how everything is coming together.

6. Make guests feel comfortable. I cannot stress this point enough. Guests have taken time out of their hectic day to spend 1 to 5 hours at your wedding. Yes, a lot of them do not see it that way but you should always show guests a good time. Provide plenty of seating and enough space to comfortably move. At Nikki and Jordan's wedding they had shuttles to transport guests to and from their venue. Guests didn't have to worry about the drive into the woods or how they would get back after drinking. I love photos of brides who provide buckets full of flip flops. Little things like this are so thoughtful and whether you know it or not, guests love that sweet touch. Keep them feed, quench their thirst, get them dancing and have them make life long memories.

7. Make sure there is something for everyone. If you know a lot of kids will be in attendance at the reception, make an area just for them. Set up a table with crayons, paper, bubbles and glow sticks. This helps their parents still have a good time and not worry about little Bridget throwing a temper tantrum because she is bored. If you have a handful of guests who do not drink alcohol make sure there are plenty of other beverage options. You do not have to go over the top but make sure your guests is satisfied.

8. Give them instruction. I cannot count the number of times the bride says that they do not want to serve the buffet until after the first dance but people fix their plate anyway. If you have specific instructions, ask the staff at the venue to kindly enforce them. Guests may be frustrated at first but then once you take the dance floor they won't mind. People need instructions and want them. Sometimes guests feel lost or unsure what to do at your reception. Point them in the right direction.

9. It is your big day! Whether you remember any of the pointers you read above, it is your wedding day. You owe yourself memories. If you are true to yourself, everyone else will love your party. If you are happy and excited,  your guests will be too. You can plan the perfect reception. I believe in you!

For more tips on having a great reception + inspiration click here, here, here, here, here and here.

For a few reception DIY treats click here and here.

What things do you worry about when it comes to planning your reception? Are you an organized bride? Are you having any surprises for guests? These tips are just one way to make things run smoother.

Goals for December

Happy Monday and I hope you all are recovering from all the turkey, stuffing and pie. Thanksgiving seems to have gone by so quickly. Now onto today's post:

Don't let this title scare you. The more and more I look at my blog and videography business I am surprised at how quickly it is really turning into a business. With that being said, I guess it is time for me to start getting in the business mind set. The biggest thing about starting this journey is I am learning as I go. I really do learn a lesson a day and am blessed by the people who have helped me along the way.

I have created a list (shocker) of things that I want to complete by the first of the year because the first of the year is bringing even bigger goals. So...here goes:

1. Be organized financially. I have receipts out the wazoo and only about half of them recorded. I desperately need to sit down and organize my files. I need to record every transaction. Before I know it tax season will be here. Eeeek!

2. Legal Jargon. This weekend marks my first Texas wedding. That means that I am officially out of the friend zone and into weddings with complete strangers. I need a legal contract for each bride to sign so both the client and I feel secure.

3. Study more videos. I am constantly doing this but I want to make sure I find inspiration everywhere. Not just inspiration in video but photos, songs, relationships, blogs, Pinterest and every day life. Inspiration is just waiting to be discovered at every turn.

4. Take more risks. I want to take more risks with blogging and editing. I want to continue to try new things. I want to discover more things I love and cross off things I do not.

5. Schedule a haircut. Yes, this is not a business goal but I need one. Badly. Surely with it on the list I will get this done.

6. Refuse to settle. This stands alone. I promise to keep pushing my self and others in the wedding industry.

7. Truly let loose and be me. Sometimes I think (especially with blogging) that you have to do things a certain way. I feel stifled sometimes by the norm for writing and posting. I truly want to write a post and have every ounce of my personality show through it. At times I am witty, extremely bubbly and over the top positive but I shouldn't have to apologize or hide that those traits are who I am. Time to be me 100%. It feels good just saying this!

8. Make up my own rules. Who says I have to only blog about weddings, weddings, weddings? I do love weddings but I also love home ideas, simple craft projects, new recipes and more. I hope to start including more of these ideas that not only help a bride-to-be but also a newlywed or any woman interested in reading this blog. Throw caution to the wind (wink)!

9. Update my video and FAQ pages. Simple enough but putting it on the list is a must. I get emails  asking questions and I figure I can cut down on response time by updating my FAQ page.

10. Remember why I do what I do. I can never lose sight of this. If I do I am not doing what I set out to do, be a good writer and even better videographer. Each reader should be inspired while every bride should be ecstatic about watching their videos.

On a more personal note I want to wish my sweet niece happy 13th birthday! We officially have a teenager in our family.

Isn't she gorgeous? I can remember when Savannah was born. I was in 5th grade. (I know!) She amazes me and is truly one of the most talented individuals I know. Her future is so bright and I love that she made me an Aunt. Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Tips to Avoid Stress While Wedding Planning

We have all been around one, a bridezilla. Maybe you were a bridesmaid in her wedding or sadly, you were one. Let's be honest. Planning a wedding is hard with or without a professional planner. You are constantly in the spotlight, always making decisions and planning one of the most memorable days of your life but don't actually see it put together until your wedding day. I am getting stressed just thinking about it!

To start things off enjoy this little clip:



I WANT MY CHOCOLATE CAKE! Boy oh boy! haha Let's jump start things in a positive direction and avoid any cake smashing. Put the cake down ladies. Now surely none of you have decided to smash a cake or yell at a vendor but their are moments of pure panic. I know that sometimes I am a rainbows and sparkles kind of girl but I for no reason think any bride should be pushed to this limit (minus the tad bit of crazy this girl might have already been). We all think about things to cut down on pre-wedding stress but let's just review a few...just in case:

1. Give yourself realistic timelines. If you want to have a year to plan your wedding then give yourself a year. Realistic time lines are important. Some brides require more time than others and their is nothing wrong with that. If you are wanting to have a wedding full of DIY details, make sure you set goals as to when things should be completed. The biggest thing with DIY weddings is plenty of cute details but sometimes not enough time to complete them. Make your day happen on your timeline!

2. Delegate wisely. This is SO important. Simply stated, you cannot do this all on your own. You have responsibilities to family, friends, work, other events and now a wedding. Ask for help! Bridesmaid and family should already be knocking at your door asking what they can do. If they aren't then kindly ask for their assistance. Their is no job too big or too small. If you need a girlfriend to help you punch holes in favors and loop in ribbon, ask her. This is your day and you will return the favor or may already have for them. Keep in mind to delegate tasks to appropriate girls. Do not ask a non dependable friend to make your invitations. You need girls you can rely on. Do not hesitate to ask for others help. I promise they want too!

3. Positive words. I know this may be silly but I find it very helpful. Try writing down positive quotes or sayings. Stick them wherever you wish. You can put them on your bathroom mirror, throughout your calendar or on your phone. Positive reinforcement whether visually or from others always helps. You are going to make it to your wedding and mostly enjoy your day! Keep up the good vibes!

4. Stick to your guns. I have to be honest this one is tough. When planning your wedding others will have a LOT of suggestions. Some of them you will like and other ideas you will not. That is okay. Make sure to politely turn down any ideas that you are not wanting. This was really hard for me. I wanted everyone to feel included and loved but some ideas I did not see for my big day. Kindly tell them thank you for the suggestion but you are going to try something else. They may seem disappointed at first but I promise they will be over it quickly! If for some reason you have a family member or friend trying to control your big day in ways that you do not like stand firm. If they persist, send them to me. ha!

5. Enjoy your Engagement. The second you get married people start asking when is your date? My husband and I didn't discuss marriage and plans after our engagement. We just knew wanted to get married! Take time to bask in your newly engaged status. Have an engagement party or family get together to celebrate. Their are no rules as to when you have to start planning! If you already have your date and venue ready when you get engaged, you are one step ahead! Celebrate the now!

6. Write down monthly goals. This is so helpful. You should always write down what you want to complete for the current month. When first planning you tasks will be large things like selecting a venue or hiring a band but closer to the wedding you will have a lot of smaller tasks to get completed. You can always count on the help of online planners or bridal books. (You can find some great examples here.)

7. Remember what all this is about. This is the most important thing on this list. Never lose sight of what this whole planning process is for. When I meet with brides the morning of their wedding I always tell them not to worry about anything else. If something isn't ready then who cares? It is your day and the whole goal is a lifetime of happiness with the one you love. Marriage is a blessing and no wedding planning blues should take away from that.

I hope these few reminders help when planning your big day! Have you ever had a bridezilla moment or thought you couldn't handle another day of wedding planning? What do you do to de-stress?

Guest book Inspiration + Exciting News

Has anyone watched Dance Moms on Lifetime? I caught a few episodes last night and my oh my...that show is ridiculous. If you haven't seen it don't start now! It sucked me in. I couldn't turn away from it. I am amazed that these mommies complain about Abby "The Dance Teacher" and how she treats their child unfairly and with no manners. Ummm hello? If she doesn't treat them well find someone else. It is like a bad relationship were you know you are dating a bad guy but you love him so you don't leave him. Yes, Abby may be the best of the best but I am sure that your child's well being at another dance academy will set a better example and I don't know...make sure they are happy. Just a thought. Well now that my soap box has been disassembled after that rant, let's move on.

I have exciting news to share with you! I had a meeting yesterday to sign up for the San Antonio Bridal Extravaganza. I like to shout the last word...Extravaganza! I just imagine how an announcer would say it. My booth is located next to a bakery. Score on free cake samples! I am also located close to the main isle next to the stage. They are projecting 1,000 brides. 1,000 brides people! I am so blessed to have this opportunity to grow my very small business.

Since it did cost a bit to sign up I have given myself a $30 budget for decor. I am determined to make it work. I have no banner so I am making my own. Yes, I am craft challenged. This should be fun! I am wanting to make my booth resemble fun touches of a wedding. I have a lot of ideas running through my head that I am constantly writing down. I have a lot of burlap on hand so most of my inspiration is coming from that. I am browsing pinterest constantly. Just thought I would show you a few sneak peek photos for the booth:

These are Iphone picture so I apologize for the quality. Please ignore the plaid print and white smudges of paint on the burlap. I was just toying around with ideas for making my bunt banner. I promise to take a lot of pictures of my booth and am even contemplating making a how to video with the poms. They are fun!

While browsing the many insanely fabulous pictures on pinterest, I was inspired by the unique guest book ideas. I love the fact that couples are branching out and not using the basic sign your name here. The biggest things about your wedding and any wedding is that this industry is always changing. One trend picks up while the another is being retired. With that being said, no matter a trend make sure you are staying true to what you love. You want to have a photobooth even though you have been to 12 weddings that already had one. Who cares? If it makes you happy it can't be that bad. Did you like that Alanis Morissette reference? Smiles! But seriously do what makes you smile. It is your once in a lifetime day!

Here are a few guest book ideas that I thought were fab:

1. A giant letter for guests to sign. I am a big fan of a wedding keepsake to proudly display and this one is perfect! This idea I just love. Guest can sign their name while offering words of encouragement. I may try to incorporate this at a wedding/baby shower.

Photo Source: Pinterest via Style Me Pretty

2. Puzzle pieces. Once again this is a keepsake idea and a fabulous one at that. Try making puzzle pieces and having guest sign a piece. They can also include a little note if the pieces are large enough. After your wedding you can complete the puzzle and frame the pieces. I know walking past this hanging piece of art would make me smile every time.

Photo Source: Pinterest via Jesi Haack

3. Thumbprint tree. At our ceremony we did have a guest book that guests signed. At our reception we had a thumbprint tree. I had never seen one but my maid of honor who is a wonderful artist put on together for us. It is such a wonderful gift/keepsake. I love our thumbprint tree and our guests did too!

Photo Source: Pinterest via Etsy

Remember that you can always branch out from the traditional book. Make it your style and enjoy! Happy Thursday loves!

Save the Dates

Happy Monday! One thing that I didn't get to do with wedding planning is pick Save the Dates. We planned our wedding in four months so the idea of spending money on save the dates was not realistic. With not being able to have these fun announcements, I find myself looking at them a lot. I love Save the Dates. L-O-V-E them. I am amazed at how a simple reminder of your upcoming nuptials can come in so many forms. Your save the date could be a postcard, magnet, movie poster, photo strip, small movie, CD cover, photo and any other creative idea you can think of.

While writing this post I had so much fun looking for creative ideas. Some are so fun while others are truly romantic. I love when you can see just how happy a couple is. Remember that your Save the Date is important. It is the first glimpse guests see of your wedding style. When thinking of ideas for your Save the Date remember to keep the invitation in mind. If you have not thought about what you your invitation will look like this is the perfect time. The two should correspond and compliment one another.

Regardless of your personal taste, make the Save the Date reflect your style as a couple. If you are fun, make your Save the Date show off your goofy and quirky side. If you are a more serious couple, show off your romantic and loving side. Be yourself! That is probably the number ONE wedding tip because who you are is the best bride and groom you can be! Enjoy all the pictures. I know I did!

Photo Source: Here

Photo Source: Here via Here

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This one is my favorite. Photo Source: Here

Does she look like Hilary Swank to you?  Photo Source: Here

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Only a few more hours before our big giveaway is over. The winner will be announced at noon! Thank you to all who participated!

Picking the Venue

Where are you getting married? The million dollar question. After asking when the date is where you are getting married is the most asked question. I can remember the pressure of finding the perfect venue. It can be a nail bitter but you can do it!

I thought I would give a few tips that others gave me or I realized myself. These tips are here to help!

1. Write down what you want most. I knew that when I got married that I wanted to be married by a lake or body of water and wanted the reception under the stars. Knowing these things helped me cancel out other venues that didn't meet the criteria.

2. Consult your groom. I know. Most grooms don't care about the details of planning your wedding but still ask him his expectations. Most brides think this day is just about them but the grooms ideas are important too. When I talked to Rusty about what he wanted for our wedding day he told me he wanted to make sure everyone had a great time. Simple enough! Together we decided that our reception should entertain everyone while being comfortable and laid back.

3. Go visit them all. You never want to disregard a place until you visit it. Give each place a fair chance when it comes to picking your location. Trust me when I say you will pick the perfect place. If you are busy working, try having a bridesmaid or your mom visit the place and take photos. Make sure they know exactly what you are wanting. Make sure they have a list of expectations and are not afraid to ask questions. You do not want to cross a venue off your list without giving it a fair shot. No what ifs!

4. Remember your budget. This part is important. You can argue that you found a great place but once everything was said and done you would be over budget. How is that fair when finding the right venue? My words of advice: Do you really think picking a place that will put you way over budget is the right place? On your wedding day do you want to think about how much money you could have saved going somewhere else? Having a budget is crucial to your wedding day and your sanity.

5. Ask questions. Ask them! I have a hard time with this. Throughout wedding planning, my mom taught me how important asking questions can be. For example, she asked one potential venue (it was a resort) if we could get a discount if a certain number of guests stayed at the lodge. They told us they would cut our costs in half if we had 25+ people reserve a room. 25 people covered just my family! What a steal! Our venue went from $1,200 to $600. Holy cow! $600 is a lot when planning a wedding. Asking the right questions help!

6. Enjoy the process! This one is important! I stressed when it came to finding my venue. I mean was a worry wart. This never helps. I had narrowed my choices down to two amazing places. I really thought about the advantages of both and it clicked with me which one I wanted. Once we called to book the place, we got our date and started looking at the menu. Things just started falling in place. Picking the venue turned out to be the hardest thing for me. Remember to relax! As long as you know what you are looking for, everything will work out. I guarantee it!

If you have any tips or advice for brides on picking their location, email me @ lovebirdproduction@gmail.com or comment below! I would love to hear from you!

Party Time: Being a Maid of Honor: Part 4

Part 4...yeah I could go on and on about being in the bridal party. I know that some people may know everything their is to know about being a bridesmaid but I have been a bridesmaid six times and I still feel like I learn new things.

Today's topic is F-U-N! Drum roll....Bachelorette Party Time!

Planning the bachelorette party is something that I loved doing for Summer. I also had the help of all the other bridesmaids and close friends! Between that many girls you are destined to have a GREAT time! My bachelorette party (pictured above) took place in Nashville. We danced, hung out poolside, had fabulous fruity drinks, giggled and relaxed. You too can plan an awesome bachelorette party with these helpful tips!

1. Consult the bride. Asking the bride what her expectations are is very important. For my party I wanted to get all the girls together in one location because we were all scattered around. I also wanted to do something small with just my closest friends and have my lingerie party then as well. It is important to know exactly what the bride wants. Does she want to visit a big city? Does she want to keep it low key and just do dinner with her closest friends? Is she expecting a weekend getaway or a one night shebang?

2. Who Plans and Who Pays? The role of planning the bachelorette party relies on the entire bridal party but the maid of honor normally takes the lead. When it comes to who pays, the bridal party is responsible plus the consider all the women who attend. With my party, all the girls split the costs of the rooms once a final RSVP count was done. Also consider paying the brides way. The party is about her and even though you have bought numerous gifts and hosted showers you should still cover costs for the bride.

3. Who is Invited? The bridal party is always included. This ranges from the bridesmaids to the ones who hand out programs. You should also include any family members i.e. the grooms or brides sisters. When it comes to close friends who are not in the wedding party consult with the bride.You want to make sure you have a good mix of friends!

4. Invitations. Invitations for a bachelorette party are not a necessity. I would suggest invitations though if you are going away for a weekend or are having the lingerie party during the bachelorette party. You can always send invitations through the mail, via email or social networking. Regardless of how you send them, remember to include the date, time, location, the brides sizes (if having lingerie shower) and dress attire. For example, if you are starting your day at the spa and then having a fancy dinner tell guests to dress very casual for the day and bring a change of formal attire for dinner. Also, if you need a head count include an RSVP cutoff date.

5. When do we have the party? This is up to you! Most bachelorette parties are held one to three weeks before the wedding. If you are going out of town, the schedule is up to you and the bride. If the guests of the party all live far away, you could have the festivities mid week before the wedding weekend begins. Try to have the party the same time as the bachelor party so the bride is not sitting around wondering what the boys are doing! Also, remember not to have the party before a big event like bridal portraits or the actual wedding.

Here are some fun themes and party ideas:
1. Colorful wigs - I LOVE this idea. How fun is it to not worry about your hair and have a different identity for the night? LOVE!

2. All black for the girls and colorful for the bride - As you can see from the picture above that is what we did for my bachelorette party and I thought the idea was genius! All the girls wore black while I got to add a pop of color! Their cute crowns matched me perfectly which was surprisingly unplanned!

3. Go Boating - Rent a boat and head out on the water! Pack dinner for everyone or even get someone to cater. Relax on the water, go for a swim plus catch some rays!

4. Go to the Races. I love the idea of getting dolled up with fun jewels and big floppy hats while sipping martini's at the horse races.

If staying Home...
1. Spa night - Everyone can come over dressed in their pj's while you ladies drink wine, get a facial plus sit around and giggle together. You can even have an old fashioned sleepover. When is the last time you did that?

2. Backyard Cookout - Invite the girls over for a nice family dinner. Divide up who brings what side dishes and desserts while you grill out in the backyard. This is fun and so memorable!

3. Boys Night - Say what? I mean do boy things like sit at home, play poker and drink scotch. Maybe even chest bump?

No matter what type of bachelorette party you plan for the bride you are guruanteed to have a blast!

If you have any suggestions or advice on the perfect girl party, email me @ lovebirdproduction@gmail.com or comment below!

Wedding Shower Hosting 101: Being a Maid of Honor: Part 3

Well this week is flying by! Like I have mentioned any and all tips that I have shared this week can be used for bridesmaids and Maid/Matron's of Honor. I think when you are asked to be apart of the bridal party you should do your best but sometimes we just don't know what to do. Don't stress! These tips and reminders are to help you. So far we have covered finances involved with being in a wedding here and a checklist of tips for playing the part here.

Today I wanted to discuss throwing the best wedding shower ever. When being the maid of honor, your responsibility is to host the wedding shower. You can always have close friends of the bride and the other bridesmaids help with hosting but you are in charge. Grab your clipboard, make a game plan, hand out responsibilities and get your wedding shower face on. It's time to plan!

The wedding shower should leave the bride with fabulous gifts and a lots of fun memories. With these type of expectations, where do you begin? First, try to decide what type of event the bride would enjoy most. What type of bridal shower fits her personality plus the needs of the bride (as in the gifts she needs)? For example, if the bride is really into cooking, hosting a pounding or a kitchen themed shower is where to start. It doesn't have to be the same ol' boring shower. You can make any theme fun and creative!

Second, location, location, location. Their is nothing wrong with hosting the shower at your house or a friends home but make sure that the potential number of guests will be accommodated for. You want guests to have plenty of space to park and move around in your home. If you have pets, even though they will not be making an appearance at the shower, make sure that the bride and guests are aware of pets. Some are highly allergic to pets even if fluffy is the cutest dog ever!

If you are wanting to host the shower somewhere else here are a few ideas. You can try a historic landmark building if you live near a neat one or even an old estate. Old estate homes are perfect and full of southern goodness. How about a boat? Yes it is extravagant and daring but I think it is such a fun idea! You can try an art gallery or the rooftop of a building in your downtown. Regardless of the venue you chose you need to make sure you follow a few rules of thumb.

1. Never book a place you haven't toured. You want to make sure the place is just right and the Internet may not be a good judge of character.

2. If you choose a restaurant, make sure you sample the food if you choose their catering. With some restaurants, if you do not choose their catering it can be more expensive to bring someone in to do the food.

3. Make sure you get privacy at your venue. Plus know exactly where your party will be in the venue. You do not want to have a shower right in the entrance of the restaurant and have onlookers watching the bride open gifts. Awkward!

4. Make sure if at a restaurant that you have your own wait staff. This is important no matter the size of the shower. Also, if their is a final bill, make sure they discuss it with you discretely.

Now that you have your theme and location, let's cover a few other things that are important!

1. Guest Lists - Before you pick the venue, already have an idea of how many guests are on the bride's list. Even though everyone will not attend make sure you can accommodate everyone. Also have an idea of possible guests because if it includes around 50 people, dinner at the brides favorite restaurant may be out of the budget.

2. Who pays? If you are hosting the shower, you pay. If 10 women decide to help host, split the costs 10 ways. This helps so much! Even though you are all contributing financially to the shower, you still needs to give a gift either individually or as a group. Have the hosts keep their receipts and crunch numbers once the guests have left the shower.

3. How long should the party last? You do not want to watch the bride open gifts for hours so set a scheduled time and include that on the shower invitation. Most showers are two to three hours long.

4. How do we decide on the theme of the shower? Theme is very important. To help decide the theme, coordinate with the type of shower the bride needs. When deciding the theme, remember to think of a few things. What type of wedding the bride is planning? If she is planning a fun and quirky wedding, the wedding shower theme should correspond. What is the personality of the bride? If she is really shy, embarrassing games are not appropriate for her shower. How did she meet the groom? You can always incorporate how they met with the location and theme.

5. Timeline of sending out the invitations - You should send invitations four weeks prior to the event. A written invitation by mail allows guests to see the theme plus RSVP. It is also is a great keepsake for the bride. Designate one person to handle RSVP's. Most invitations include a number or email address. Your invitation should also include the words "wedding shower" somewhere on it, the location, bride, time, date by which to RSVP and the host names are optional. Some people say it is bad etiquette to include where the bride is registered but it is up to the hosts.

6. Make sure you set things in stone.  Things that need to be finalized are location, theme, hosts, menu, gift from hosts or yourself, time, invitations, cake, guests lists plus RSVP's and decorations.

7. Have fun! Make sure to enjoy this time. With planning in advance and organization, their is no reason you shouldn't enjoy your time with the bride!

These tips are just a few for planning the perfect wedding shower! Feel free to include any other tips or advice for brides, bridesmaids and the maid of honor!

Being a Maid/Matron of Honor: Part 1

I'm Back! That is right! Have no more Monday worries because I am now able to post all the time. It has never felt better to login to blogger and start typing. I have a large smile on my face and am dancing around the room. You are welcome for that mental image.

This week I wanted to focus my attention on one leading lady crucial for most weddings, the Maid of Honor. Most girls have been bridesmaids but being a maid of honor has some higher expectations. Yes, that is me with my dear friend Summer. Even thought I have been a bridesmaids numerous times, I have only been a maid of honor once. I wish I could say that I was a professional with my utmost title but I feel their are still lessons I am learning from my best friends wedding. When Summer asked me to be her maid of honor, she gave me a helpful handbook written by Kathy Passero. I have taken a lot of advice from this book and am hoping that the tips I share with you can help in your abilities to be your best in all weddings.

Some of these tips are pretty simple but always a good reminder plus they can also be applied to all bridesmaids too! Not every wedding has a maid of honor.

Prewedding Tips:

1. Attend all events - This includes the engagement party and showers. The bride will need you to be by her side helping her through each event. Most brides have three plus events which means you can help with picking out her outfit, assisting with advice on hostess gifts, providimg a record of who gave what gifts and even help with thank you notes.

2. Remain positive and upbeat - Lets face it. Planning a wedding is stressful. Help the bride with encouraging her! Each time she calls, remain positive and cheery. She needs it plus you are the one she chose to be a bridesmaid and/or maid of honor! Duty calls!

3. Take the lead in organizing a shower - Any maid of honor should expect to host a shower. You can recruit the other bridesmaids to help in expenses and planning.

4. Show up for your fittings plus pay for all your expenses - These expenses can include your dress, shows, accessories plus any other expenses like hotel accommodations for the wedding. Attending any fittings that the bride has scheduled for your dress is important. Make sure you are prompt and eager to help with her fittings and your own. By being active in the wedding planning process, your bride can feel your support and know that she is important to you.

5. Be ready to step in whenever needed - Yes, even if the bride has called 7 times already in the past hour. If she needs you to help address invitations or select wedding favors, get to it. She needs you. You are her sanity.

Wedding Whirlwind Tips:

1. Attend rehearsal and rehearsal dinner - For most, this is a given but make sure you are early as well. Never be the reason the bride is having to wait to start her rehearsal.

2. Make a toast at the rehearsal (Optional)

3. Run any last minute errands or perform any last minute tasks - For example, if the bride forgets to assemble the place cards for the reception let her know that you will take care of it. The night before weddings can be stressful but most brides have things completed. Occasionally you have a chaotic bride and end up creating the wedding program at 2 a.m. then going to a 24 hour Kinko's to make copies. True story. Right Laura?

4. Again stay positive - You have your bride dressed, are posing for pictures in uncomfortable heels, dealing with the crying bridesmaids but keep that smile on. The bride needs your upbeat spirit to shine through!

5. Keep the bride calm - On my wedding day, people kept coming in and out of the brides dressing room. I was a nervous wreck and the last thing I wanted were people coming in and out, in and out. My bridesmaids, without a word from me, put a stop to it. Do whatever the bride needs. It is surprising what bothers you or adds more stress the day of your wedding.

Ceremony:

1. Straighten the bride's train and veil - It drives me crazy when wedding parties do not do that. The bride can't see to do that. You do not have to make a big distraction but gently fix things.

2. Hold the bouquet during the ceremony - Make sure to return it for the recessional too!

3. Perform any tasks in preparation for the reception - If your bouquet is going to be used in a centerpiece, make sure to take all the bridesmaids bouquets, transport them to the reception and placed in the proper vases.

Reception:

1. Bustle the bride's train

2. Participate in wedding party dance if asked to - Shake your groove thing!

3. Try to stay sober and help with any situations that arise - Yes, more than likely someone is going to spill their drink or drop their glass on the dance floor. Be ready to help out and clean up!

4. At the bride's request, take her gown to the dry cleaners - This is such a big help!

5. Transport any gifts after the reception - A lot of people bring gifts to the wedding. Make sure you help get them to the bride's house or you can keep them until the bride gets back from her honeymoon.

I hope that some of the tips are helpful. Tomorrow I will cover the costs of being a bridesmaid. I promise to make it fun!

Happy Monday!

How to Register and Keep Your Sanity

Earlier this week I showcased a few stunning summer gifts that are perfect for any occasions here. Today, I want to touch on the overall registering process. I can guarantee that when you register for your upcoming nuptials that you will get overwhelmed. You have multiple stores to choose from, different gift ideas floating through your head plus a small fear that no one will give you any gifts. Along with these emotions, I can also guarantee that you will survive and registering can be fun! Even fun with your love! Who would have thought?

In anticipation of registering, let me give you a bit of advice that will help make this daunting process seem relaxed and simple.

1. What do you really need? This is the most important part. Take 30 minutes to sit down with your significant other and decide what you are needing. For younger couples, you will need complete dish sets, an ironing board and a blender but for those couples who are getting married at a later age those things may not be necessary. You may be more interested in larger gifts like a new grill or new candlesticks for your dining room table display. Whatever your needs are establish them early on.

2. Make a list and check it twice. Just wanted to throw in a Santa reference but it never hurts. Do not freak out about making a list if you realize that you need a kagillion things (whew, that is a lot.) When I was getting married, I needed a lot of things. We had no matching dishes or silverware. To help calm my fears, I used various websites that provide a basic wedding registry list. You can print the list off and take it with you when going to the store. You can also mark off things that you do not need to make your list match your lifestyle. Here is one from Martha Stewart Weddings. Are you surprised I chose Martha? Didn't think so!

3. Pick Three Stores. I always suggest to brides to chose three stores that reflect the needs of the bride. My suggestion is to find a big national chain (You will be surprised at how many people send gifts online) and consider a local store. I have always been taught you need a low end store, a medium and a large to accomdate all budgets.

4. Get it all. When I registered, I immediately felt guilty. I looked at my numerous page registry and thought we need this stuff but it is too much to ask for. Get over it. First, it is the one time out of two (think baby) when you can create a registry for yourself and no one minds! You are the bride. You are fabulous and you need materials to start the next chapter with your beloved. Number two, people feel honored to shower you with gifts. I love giving gifts to brides and seeing the excitement on their face. And three, you will be surprised at how many things get marked off your registry. Make sure that you have enough items to cover all of your showers. Most registeries allow you to update and add new items.

5. Set aside time but you do not have to do it all in one day. Register as soon as you can. The proper time is around 4 to six months before your big day. Registering should not take all your efforts or distract you from the task at hand, getting married. Make sure you have plenty of time to register and are not being rushed to get to another appointment. Rusty and I spent a whole Saturday afternoon registering at Bed Bath and Beyond. We had fun walking around and really bonded. Realize that you are picking out things for your future together. How awesome!

6. Dress comfy and eat a good meal. Fuel up with a healthy meal, pack a little snack and dress appropiately. If you are registering at your high end store then dress accordingly but make sure you dress for comfort. You will be on your feet!

7.  Have fun! Registering is exciting! Like I said, these gifts represent your future as a couple. The white platter you loved at Dillards but thought was too expensive might be just the gift your employees are wanting to get you. Do not deny yourself but keep a steady head too! This is something that should bring you and your sweetheart closer plus is a fun thing to do together. Brides you plan 98% of your wedding. Let the groom help out! Enjoy each other! Make it fun by packing camphange and strawberries in the car to celebrate once you are through.

If you have any questions about registering or suggestions for other brides, email me.

Organization Smorganization

Congratulations!  You are engaged.

Now, when is your date?  Location?  The color magenta or fuchsia?  How much do you plan to spend?  Have you asked your bridesmaids yet?

Yes, these questions will hit you the second you get that gorgeous stone placed on your finger and from personal experience you may want to hide in the corner of your room while rocking back and forth.  Have no fear lovebird!  I have some simple tools to keep you organized and to give you a gentle nudge in the right direction.  I also promise not to ask any questions.  Just think of me as your wedding fairy Godmother.

When my best friend got engaged, the first thing I did besides hug her and cry was go out and purchase a giant three ring binder.  Yes, this may be old fashioned to keep a binder but she was prepared.  We added dividers and made the cover of the binder really cute by adding photos and doodling. Summer would print off things, take notes, rip out pictures from magazines and glue them onto paper to remember her favorite ideas.  This notebook was her inspiration, notes and hard work. Plus once the wedding was over it was a great keepsake!

Some of you may be a more technological bunch and want to keep up with things online. Below are some wedding websites that have great organizational tools to keep you on a timeline.

This first organization checklist is from The Knot. This checklist includes everything that you can think of plus it also allows you to add new items to customize it to your style of planning.  You add something as simple as start teeth whitening strips at 3 weeks prior to the wedding or something larger like research honeymoon destinations for the best deal.  Another added bonus is you can set reminders. Each reminder can be customized as a scheduled alert for a specific date and time.

I love the advertising here.  If you look closely, you can see the Slim Fast ad.  Nice.

Next we have a checklist from mywedding.  This was the website that I used plus my own notebook.  Mywedding's website is clean and not cluttered.  This checklist used my style of marking through what you have completed.  It gives you a sense of accomplishment.  It also allows you to add tasks to your list plus gives you the option to print off a PDF of your checklist.  It makes for a good visual reminder.

Lastly we have a checklist from Martha Stewart Weddings. Oh Martha, I love you. With this checklist you can edit the task on the list to make the text reference things for your wedding.  Their are even coupons on great deals at the top of the list for other sites. You can search for a task by category, month or assignee.  Yes, they give you the option of assigning tasks to other people. This can be helpful for encouraging your groom to look into groomsmen gifts or decide what food to have at the rehearsal.  Another feature is being able to export, email and print your list. This can help by emailing it to your maid of honor and bridesmaids for assistance in getting things completed.  It also tells you the percentage of items that you have finished.

Always know that regardless of how large your checklist may seem, your wedding is about you and your fiance. You should have the time of your life! Organization is key but should not be a stressful thing. Just look at it as a helpful way to assist you in making your wedding a beautiful reality.

I hope that everyone is having a great Saturday with loved ones!

 (P.S. - If you ever have questions, please email me:lovebirdproduction@gmail.com.  Even if your question is about a flower type or how to get your mother-in-law to back off, I want to help!)