Wedding Wellness: 7 Quick Steps on Surviving COVID-19

Planning a wedding can be challenging and stressful.  Whether you have completed your wedding plans, in the middle or just starting, throw in the fact that our country is currently in the middle of an historic pandemic, wedding planning at this point can be downright scary.  While we don’t have all the answers and we have no idea how much longer this will impact our country, the first suggestion would be to follow all of the CDC’s recommendations about keeping yourself, your family and your friends safe.

Depending on the date you’ve chosen for your wedding, the second thing you will want to do is review the current state of your planning process and work with your planner on putting a game plan in action.  At Enraptured Events we are here to help you navigate this unfamiliar territory. We’ve come up with a few quick steps to help you navigate this unchartered territory as we’re in this together.

1. Breathe: I know it may sound simple or maybe even a little crazy, but it works. Breathing allows a form a calming and clarity.  As you think about your wedding and all that you’d like to accomplish, take a deep breath or two and remind yourself that change happens and that adjustments can be made. 

2. Relax: In order to be your best, you must first take care of yourself.  While this may seem like a cliché, it is, however, the truth.  Your mental health and wellbeing can make all of the difference.  Take the time to pamper yourself and put your mind at ease.

3. Get Ahead: As businesses will be attempting to bounce back from this currently strained economy, now is the time to take advantage of any discounts vendors may be offering. Also, you may have more time to browse Instagram and get a look at DJ’s and bands you may be interested in as they are posting unique videos and live performances, during this time of social distancing. This makes is easier to see vendors you may not have been previously able to. You can also take this time to tackle the little things on your list such as your guest list and seating arrangements.

4. Prioritize: When your mind is clear, you can begin to focus and prioritize the things that will mean the most to you on your special day.  Perhaps your original wedding date caused you to have to give up some things you really wanted.  Now is a great time to review those things and possibly have them included on your new date. 

5. Be Grateful: Remember, there is always something to be grateful for. We may be in a time of uncertainty, but you still have each other and many things to be appreciate. It is also a great time to reconnect with your partner.  While you both may be feeling some angst during this time, take a moment to remind each other of your love and devotion to your partnership.

6. Stay Calm: Don’t panic. Think positively!  Focus your thoughts on the things that can happen, not on what can’t happen.  It’s going to be ok and COVID-19 won’t last forever. You will be ok, your wedding will be ok, and your wedding will be beautiful!

7. Cheers: Finally pour yourself a glass of wine or brew yourself a cup of your favorite tea. Take this time to unwind, if only for a few minutes.

Here are the links to help you on your way to wedding wellness.

1. Click here for Yoga for Anxiety.

2. Click here for Nail Art tips.

3. Click here for Wedding Ideas.

4. Click here to reach me via my contact form.

5. Click here for tips on gratitude.

6. Click here for tips on staying calm.

7. Click here to fill your glass!

From inception to execution, Enraptured Events is here to help you with every part of your wedding. With budget management, concept creation, floor plans and layouts, check lists and assignments, as well as timelines and itineraries, we’re here every step of the way, to help tell your story through the details!

The Most Common Misconceptions When Planning A Wedding

Besides shoe shopping, reading romance novels and traveling, planning weddings is definitely one of my favorite things to do in this world. It's what makes up most of my business, and it is by far what I am the most passionate about. Seeing clients get married and having the opportunity to map their love stories out through beautiful details never ceases to amaze me. I truly love what I do and I wouldn't change my career for anything. For these reasons it pains me to see clients fall victim to any of the many misconceptions that the wedding world (unfortunately) has to offer. 

I see clients budgeting far too much money on their dream venue alone, leaving little to no funds for things like food and beverage or floral and décor.  I see clients forget to budget their time correctly and end up rushing so close to the big day, and worst of all I see clients try to plan their own weddings and end up with way too much on their plate and stressing out before they can even say "I do". At Enraptured Events, we want our clients to know exactly what to expect and what to plan for, so we're going to debunk some common misconceptions in the wedding world! 

Image Courtesy of Social Shots Photography

Misconception 1: Silk flowers are cheaper than real flowers. Brides tell me all the time that their mother, aunt, or best friend, said that they should use silk flowers instead of fresh ones to keep the décor costs down. Up front, they are not cheaper! Silk flowers that look real costs the same as real flowers, if not more. In the short-term, silk flowers aren’t cheaper, because you’re going to spend approximately the same as you would on fresh flowers. In the long-term, silk flowers will be cheaper because you can use them again and again, as fresh flowers will die, therefore costing more because of the one-time use you’ll get out of them. This is the biggest misconception where flowers are concerned.

Image Courtesy of Social Shots Photography

 Misconception 2: Hiring a day of coordinator will save you money on wedding planning. I have brides contacting me all the time because they’ve tried to plan their own wedding, thinking that in the end, they’ll just hire a day-of coordinator. Well, if you haven’t done proper planning and asked the right questions up front, that day-of coordinator that you may be looking to hire will end up putting out fires, on your behalf, and won’t save you any money at all. In fact, you’re likely to spend more money because some of the things you didn’t know you needed from the beginning, you’ll need before your wedding day, causing you to spend last minute dollars, which could result in rush fees. When I did day-of coordination, this was often the case.

Misconception 3: That you can have a wedding for 200 guests with $20,000. I get calls from brides on a daily basis with a large guest count and small budget. I have to be the one to say that mathematically, this just isn’t feasible, after adding up all of the major costs of a wedding, such as the venue, catering, flowers, photography, not to mention all of the details that make your wedding YOUR wedding, such as the dress, your invitations, the cake, just to name a few. To touch on this misconception a bit more, I did an interview with Mark Brown of For Goodness Cakes, speaking a little more about it.

So, there you have it! Those are some of the most common misconceptions I see almost on a daily basis. My job is to educate my brides, be upfront and realistic with them, and to help them get from concept to execution in the best way possible. As always, I’m Delighted by Design and Inspired by You. Happy Planning!

Questions To Ask When Hiring A Wedding Planner

Image Courtesy of Sophia Barrett Studios

When looking for a wedding planner, you need to ask more in-depth questions than the cost of services. Far too often, I’ll get an email inquiry asking about services and pricing, just to get a response that I’m out of budget. Even if that’s the case, you should do a little more inquiring to know and understand what you’re getting for the price. There are a lot more questions to ask when hiring a wedding planner and I’m going to share my top 7 with you so that you can be better prepared when interviewing wedding planners for your big day!

Is the planner certified? I have gone to school to become a Certified Wedding & Event Planner and continue mastering my craft with wedding conferences, seminars, and webinars. The industry is constantly changing and one of the first things we learn is to never become complacent.

Is the planner insured? I carry two policies, one being a general liability and the other a professional liability. Just like I protect my home and car, I protect myself against anything that could potentially happen on your wedding day. If something were to happen to something that you had to rent for your wedding day, I’m able to cover it under my policy and I’ve been able to add venue and larger items such as venues and Cadillac car bars as riders on my policy.

Image Courtesy of Inije Photography

Does the planner have a full-time job while planning full time? I used to be a planner that held down a full-time job while building my business. While I was good at jugging both full-time responsibilities seamlessly, not everyone can handle the stress of both worlds so easily. If your planner has a full-time job, ensure that he or she can devote adequate time to planning your wedding and the stressors of their career. After all, you’re hiring a wedding planner because you’re too busy and your job is too stressful. Right?

Image Courtesy of Sophia Barrett Studios

How much experience does he or she have? Are you meeting with someone that has just planned their own wedding and now wants to plan yours? Will they be learning on your dime? Becoming a skilled wedding planner takes time; a lot of time. I worked with my mentor almost four years before launching Enraptured Events. I learned to master the art of logistics, work with a well-choreographed staff and team of vendors, all while honing my creativity.

Are they using someone else pictures on their website or social media outlet? If they haven’t had their company or been in the industry long enough, it’s not uncommon for a new planner to “borrow” a more established planner’s images as use as their own. You want to make sure that they have a proven track record that they can easily produce via reviews or references.

What happens when Plan A becomes Plan B? Inevitably, something will not go according to plan, regardless of how well and thought out the plans are. We can’t predict the weather, people, and things go wrong from time to time. An experienced planner takes control of the situation and deals with it. If you choose to enlist a family member or hire someone with not as much experience, you could be adding more stress to your wedding day.

Image Courtesy of Made You Look Photography

Do they have vendor relationships to help realize the wedding of your dreams? Being an experienced wedding planner comes with the adding benefit of building and cultivating relationships with some of the best people in the industry. Often times we can call upon at the last minute, late at night, and get things done in a manner that may be a bit for difficult without having that relationship.

Cost is important but should not be in the top three consideration of whether you want to work with a particular planner or not. You want to make sure you’re able to mesh well with the planner, find one that will go to bat for you when it’s time to stand up for you in your absence, one that will be responsive, and one whose creative vision is in line with your own and the services that they provide. These questions to ask when hiring a wedding planner will help get you started on the right path to choosing the best wedding planner for your big day!

From The Boardroom To The Altar

Image Courtesy of Inije Photography

Being pharmacists, attorneys, doctors, nurses, teachers, and businesswoman, many of my brides are busy, working professionals, with very little to no time to plan a wedding. They come to Enraptured Events to get help planning the wedding of their dreams. They reach out to me with only a vision in mind, typically having no idea where to begin. Whether I’m given 100 days or 18 months to plan, in the United States or abroad, I always welcome the challenge of taking my brides from the boardroom to down the altar.

Image Courtesy of Romanza Wedding Photography

Navigating the wedding planning process is no easy feat. When you’re already juggling a busy career, a fiancé, an active social life, and sometimes a family, it makes sense to hire the right professional to take the helm of one of the most important days of your life. The Enraptured Events bride has a vision of what she wants, is looking for guidance to help create that vision, and has no time, nor desire for DIY projects. At Enraptured Events, you and your desires will be 100% catered to and taken care of, with a great attention to detail.

Image Courtesy of Social Shots Photography

I have a knack for understanding what it is that you want and the vision you have for your wedding day, even if you’re having difficulties articulating it. My abilities to clearly see the details of your love story as you’re describing it and then turn that into a beautiful wedding and reception is truly what I was meant to do.  As your full-service wedding planner, I’m with you every step of the way throughout the wedding planning process, steering you in the right direction.

Image via mobile phone

I negotiate contracts before you ever have to deal with them, I have cultivated vendor relationships after 14 years in the industry, and I can tell your love story through the personal and intricate details. I shoulder the brunt of the planning so that you can focus on your busy lifestyle and enjoy being engaged. At Enraptured Events, we take you from the boardroom to the altar. I take care of the logistics, the design, and the overall look and feel of your wedding day so that essentially all you have to do is show up. The Enraptured Events bride will not only have a beautiful wedding day, but a pleasurable and hassle-free wedding planning experience.

5 Ways To Incorporate Something Blue Into Your Wedding

With everything that goes into planning your special day, it’s sometimes difficult to remember to creatively and originally bring that traditional pop of blue into your wedding. Fortunately, we have a few ideas that might make choosing your something blue a little bit easier!

1. Shoes!

Adding that bit of blue on, in, or under your shoes makes for a perfect addition to your wedding day ensemble. Your shoes are typically covered with your dress, so this is a wonderful chance to let your personal shoe personality shine through! Choose a lighter shade or add blue rhinestones, blue lace, or even solid or patterned blue to the bottom of your shoe! If you love sneakers, you can opt to wear those too!

Image from ModWedding Courtesy of Spotso Photography

Image Courtesy of Janet Howard Studio

Image from Offbeat Courtesy of Disney Fine Art Photography & Video

Image Courtesy of B Street Shoes

2. Blue Mascara or Eyeliner

Blue mascara is always a subtle addition to any makeup look, but adding a few swipes of blue to your lashes for your wedding day makes for a nice and noticeable pop of blue. This makeup look doesn’t hide your “Something Blue” like putting blue on the bottom of your shoe might. Blue mascara or eyeliner adds a small and beautiful detail to the face without taking too much attention from the rest of the makeup.

Image Courtesy of Instagram

Image Courtesy of Maryam Maquillage

Image Courtesy of The Best Wedding Idea

3. Blue Garter

There are many ways to personalize your garter! Some might add their wedding date, their fiance’s name, or their grandmothers pearls to their garter to make it more custom and personalized. Another way to add personality to your garter is to choose a blue one. You can have a garter with blue ribbon, one made of blue lace, or perhaps even your favorite movie or tv show. A blue garter is hidden from sight for most of the wedding, and when it’s time to remove the garter and toss it to the groomsmen, everyone will be in for a blue surprise and maybe even a cute message!

Image Courtesy of Weddbook

Image Courtesy of Etsy

Image Courtesy of Wedding Chicks

Image Courtesy of Etsy

Image Courtesy of Etsy

Image Courtesy of Weddbook

Image Courtesy of Moncheri Bridals

4. Blue Nail Polish

Getting your nails done before your big day is always a fun treat and time for relaxation, but it’s also the perfect opportunity to bring incorporate your “Something Blue”! Using a pale blue nail polish on the fingernail is a great way to keep it subtle but if you’re looking for something extraordinary, a darker shade of blue will work beautifully. You can choose to add sparkles, sequins, or other fun nail art techniques if you want something even bolder! You can even paint the underside of your nail with a little blue for an original twist on the idea. (And don’t forgetthe toes!)

Image Courtesy of Modwedding

Image Courtesy of Instagram

Image Courtesy of Kitty B Photography

Image Courtesy of Good Housekeeping

Image Courtesy of Made 2 Style

5. Blue Embroidery

Adding a little something to the inside of your dress in a blue thread is a very trendy and elegant way to incorporate that traditional something blue into your wedding. This option is subtle because only a few people will know it’s there, and it is extremely customizable; you can choose to have whatever you want embroidered into your dress. A few options are: your wedding date, the date you first met, your couple name, a favorite quote, a heart, the words: “I do”, etc. The possibilities are endless!

Image Courtesy of Style Me Pretty

Image Courtesy of Disney Fine Art Photography & Video

Image Courtesy of Southern Living

Incorporating something blue into your wedding can be fun, while still honoring an age old tradition. Happy planning!

A Mother's Love

A mother’s love is like that of no other. It’s an unconditional love, often with an unmistakable bond. As a wedding planner, I’ve had the opportunity to bear witness to some very special moments when it comes to the love shared between a mother and her daughter and the bond shared between them. Being a mother of a daughter myself, I know first-hand how special those moments truly are. On this Mother’s Day, I wanted to share some of those special moments between mothers and daughters on her wedding day and beyond. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms who are making a safe haven for their children, long after they’ve grown up! To the mothers that are there to see their daughters become wives and support them as they become mothers themselves. We salute you! 

Image from Candice & Alvin's Wedding; Courtesy of Taun Henderson Photography

Image from Ashley & Brandon's Wedding; Courtesy of Michael D Images

Image from Ashley & Brandon's Wedding; Courtesy of Michael D Images

Image from Alisha & Ron's Wedding; Courtesy of This Modern Love Photography

Image from Kristina & Aaron's Wedding; Courtesy of Matt Yung Photography

Image Courtesy of Sophia Barrett Studios

Image from Petrina's Baby Shower; Courtesy of This Modern Love Photography

Image from Candice & Alvin's Wedding; Courtesy of Taun Henderson Photography

Wedding Guest Etiquette

So, you’re a guest at a wedding and you’re not quite sure if you can bring your new boyfriend, what gift to buy your best friend, or what you should even wear. As a planner, I’m asked similar questions all the time and I’m often advising my brides and grooms on wedding etiquette from the planning perspective. Today, I wanted to turn the tables a little and offer some advice to the wedding guests and help answer some of your burning questions as well.

Image Courtesy of Sophia Barrett Studios

1.       The Plus One: When it comes to the invitation, it’s addressed to the people that are invited, whether to a couple, family, or a single person. Typically, if the guest isn’t married, the plus one is considered and often reserved for those that are engaged or in long-term relationships as opposed to someone who simply wants to bring a date so that they don’t have to come alone. The invitation will be addressed to Mr. & Mrs. John Doe or Mr. John Doe and Guest. This way, the message is clear as to who’s invited. If there’s no “and guest” on the invitation, you can assume that your plus one isn’t invited and it’s impolite to ask the couple if it’s ok to bring someone that wasn’t invited.

2.       The RSVP: One of the biggest issues with the guest list are the responses, or lack thereof. When receiving a wedding invitation, it’s polite to send your response by the deadline indicated. Your response helps determine the final guest and meal counts, total number of tables needed, and so on. When you fail to respond by the deadline or fail to respond at all, you can make things a lot more difficult for the bride and groom.

Image Courtesy of Sophia Barrett Studios

Image from Black & White Editorial; Courtesy of Michelle Davina Photography

3.       The Children: As much as we love the little people, it’s no ok to assume that yours are invited. You’ll have to look at the invitation to determine just who was invited. Was the outer envelope address to Mr. John Doe and Family? Does the inner envelope have everyone’s name listed on it? If so, it’s safe to assume that you and your children were included in the guest count. If not, the invitation was meant for just you.

4.       The Gift Registry: Of course it’s nice if everyone decided to bring a gift to the wedding. However, it’s not required that wedding guests bring gifts. If you want to know where your friends are registered, you can do one of two things. If they have a wedding website, you can check there. Couples are likely to include any pertinent wedding information, such as hotel accommodations, important times, and any gift registries. Secondly, you can ask their immediate family members or the bridal party. They’ll typically know often disseminates the information to the wedding guests on the couple’s behalf.

Image from Trudy & Conrad's Wedding; Courtesy of Neville Simpson Photography

Image from Derrick & Joel's Wedding; Courtesy of Knight Weddings

5.       The Ceremony Time: The invitation states what time the ceremony starts. If you’ve been to a dozen weddings and they’ve all started late, it’s still not ok to arrive to someone’s ceremony late. I’ve done countless weddings and guests have shown up 20 and 30 minutes late and nearing the end of the ceremony. It’s best to arrive on time and wait for the ceremony to begin than be disruptive by trying to find a seat after the bride has already walked down the aisle. If you live in a high traffic area, allow yourself extra travel time.

6.       The Unplugged Ceremony: In today’s modern and social media frenzy world, everyone wants to take pictures or record everything to post on various social media outlets. Because of this, a lot of couples are opting to have unplugged ceremonies, instructing their guests to not take photos during the ceremony.  If you see a sign asking that you keep your camera put away, it’s best to honor the couple’s wishes and not take any photos. You can surely understand them not wanting their first kiss plastered all over the internet before they’ve had a chance to look see any of the photos.

Image from Ashley & Brandon's Wedding; Courtesy of Social Shots Photography

Image from Kristina & Aaron's Wedding; Courtesy of Matt Yung Photography

These are just a few guidelines to help you be a stellar wedding guest. You may be thinking “this stuff is self-explanatory.” But, you’d be surprised as to what I see and the questions that I’m asked. So, get dolled up and enjoy your friend’s nuptials!

Choosing The Right Photographer For Your Wedding

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life and happens once in a lifetime. As a wedding planner, my job is to help my couples select the best vendors that their budgets will allow. When it comes to wedding day photography, it’s not something that should be skimped on, because at the end of the day, after the food is eaten and the music stops, your wedding photos are all that you have left of your wedding day. The photos should instantly take you back to the mood and feelings that you were experiencing on your wedding day. Choosing the right photographer for your wedding day is a major decision and one that should be made with great consideration.

Image from Kristina & Aaron's Wedding; Courtesy of Matt Yung Photography

When looking for the right photographer, there are some questions that you should ask, which would aide you in making the right choice.

1.  Style: What style of photography are you looking for your wedding day to be captured? Are you looking for something more traditional? Photo journalistic? Or, something more bold and edgy? Whatever your preferred style, ensure that the photographer can comfortably shoot within it and capture your wedding day the way as you’d like.

2.  Portfolio: Does the photographer have wedding portfolios that you can review? How recent is the work? Can you visualize your wedding photos in this type of album?

Image from Alisha & Ron's Wedding; Courtesy of This Modern Love Photography

Image from Kristina & Aaron's Wedding; Courtesy of Matt Yung Photography

Image from Ashley & Brandon's Wedding; Courtesy of Michael D Images and Social Shots Photography

3.  Quantity: How many weddings have he or she done? Photographing weddings require a great attention to detail, logistics, as well as a creative eye. The photographer has to be able to manage the timeline of the day’s events, while being able to capture the necessary shots that are needed to tell the story of your wedding day. Anyone can take a picture. It takes a true creative to take an awesome picture, with the right angles, staging, and background.

4.  Social Media: What is their social media presence like? Are the photos more of a personal or professional nature? Are you able to get a sense of the photographer’s style and creativity? It’s ok to see images that showcases one’s personality but you want to make sure that you’re seeing a profile that’s not bombarded with an overwhelming presence of selfies, food, or other images that distract from wedding photography.

Image from Candice & Alvin's Wedding; Courtesy of Taun Henderson Photography

Image from Derrick & Joel's Wedding; Courtesy of Knight Weddings

Image from Ashley & Brandon's Wedding; Courtesy of Michael D Images and Social Shots Photography

5.  Creativity: What distinguishes this photographer’s work from another’s? Are their photos more creative? Do they have varying angles and lighting? Have they captured the tiniest of details? Consider the wedding that you’re planning, down to the smallest detail. Will this photographer be able to capture the image you see in your head? Will this photographer be able to capture the unexpected images?

6.  Turnaround: What’s the turnaround time in which you will receive your pictures after the wedding? The average turnaround time is 6-8 weeks. Depending on the season and busyness of the photographer, this time can be lessened or extended. You want to be sure you know ahead of time so that you can plan accordingly. If you want to use images in your thank you cards, see if you’re able to get a few sneak peek images that you can choose from.

Image from Ashley & Brandon's Wedding; Courtesy of Michael D Images and Social Shots Photography

Image from Derrick & Joel's Wedding; Courtesy of Knight Weddings

Image from Candice & Alvin's Wedding; Courtesy of Taun Henderson Photography

7.  Editing: Will the photographer be editing the images in-house or be sending them out to be edited? If they’re being sent out, will that effect the turnaround time?

8.  Images: How will you be receiving your images? Via an online gallery, USB drive, or DVD? Will the images be high or low resolution? If you’re planning on printing any images or creating your own wedding album, you’ll want to have high resolution images so that you can print in many sizes without worry of pixelated images. If you’re posting online or to any social media sites, you’ll want to have high resolution images that are web ready. They’re larger files but small enough for easy loading onto website and social platforms.

Image from Ashley & Brandon's Wedding; Courtesy of Michael D Images and Social Shots Photography

Image from Trudy & Conrad's Wedding; Courtesy of Neville Simpson Photography

Image from Leslie & Jamaal's Wedding; Courtesy of Michelle Davina Photography

These are just some basic professional questions that you can use to get you started on the right path to choosing the right photographer for your wedding day. You also want to make sure the photographer is someone that gels well with your personality and that you can easily get along with. After all, you’ll be spending a great deal of time with this person and sharing some intimate moments, especially during your engagement session, possible boudoir or bridal session, and on the wedding day itself. When you hire someone that’s personable and professional, it makes for a much better working relationship. Happy planning!

Choosing The Perfect Wedding Venue

Awesome events don't just happen.  They have to be planned.  When getting married, there are a lot of things to consider. Things such as theme, colors, budget and of course, the dress!  Also, on that list should be the venue. However, many brides and grooms don't consider the venue as a whole when selecting it for their wedding. The venue holds the power to make or break the perfect wedding.  The venue will help that theme to stand out, those colors to pop and that dress to shine.  Choosing the perfect wedding venue is more than just its location and picturesque views.

Hyatt Midtown Atlanta: Image Courtesy of Ross Oscar Knight Photography

Hyatt Midtown Atlanta: Image Courtesy of Ross Oscar Knight Photography

Ashton Gardens Chapel: Image Courtesy of Taun Henderson Photography

The Piedmont Room: Image Courtesy of Ross Oscar Knight Photography

Choosing the right venue takes some skill. When considering where to host your big day, you have to think about several key factors to make the right decision.

• Guest size: Will the venue hold 200 guests or is its maximum 150 guests? Will your guests be comfortable enough to eat dinner and mingle after you add the dance floor?
• Parking: Will your guests have a difficult time parking? Will they have to pay to park or will you have to get parking passes for them? Does the venue require you to have valet parking for your guests?
• Inclusions: Many wedding venues offer tables and chairs with your rental. Do they have enough tables? Do they have the type and color chairs that you want or will you have to rent different ones? With traditional seating being a thing of the past, it's important to know if your chosen venue has enough tables and the type of chairs to accommodate your design.
• Vendor Deliveries: The venue may be gorgeous but what's will the delivery be like for your vendors? Is there a service elevator or will they have to navigate stairs? Is the delivery area large enough for multiple delivery trucks or will the deliveries have to be coordinated to allow for the ease of your deliveries?
• Rental Time: With every rental, you're given an allotment of time. Typically, you'll have a six hour event rental; a half hour for your ceremony, an hour for your cocktail reception, and four hours for your reception. However, this isn't the case with every venue. Some only offer enough time for a three hour reception and may charge additional for more time. How much time is allowed for set up and break down? If you and your wedding planner have come up with an elaborate design, an hour or two to set up just won't be enough.
• Hotels: Are there hotels near by for your out of town guests? Will your guests have to travel a great distance from their hotel to your venue? With the traffic in your city, will arriving to your wedding venue be easy or somewhat of a challenge for your guests?

Payne-Corley House: Image Courtesy of Matt Yung Photography

Rhodes Hall: Image Courtesy of Sophia Barrett Studios

The Ritz Carlton Downtown Atlanta: Image Courtesy of Michelle Davina Photography

The Wimbish House: Image Courtesy of Bri McDaniel Photography

Choosing the perfect wedding venue is no small feat. Location definitely matters, but as you can see, there are other things that you must consider as well. Working along side your wedding planner will definitely help you make the right decision for your wedding, helping you have a perfect wedding day. Happy planning!

Whose Wedding Is It Really?

There’s often a fine line between the wedding you’ve always wanted and the wedding that your mother never had and the one she’s always dreamed you’d have because of it.  Many mothers-of-the-bride are more than excited for their daughters, while at the same time, living a bit vicariously through her. This is all fine and dandy, until what she wants and what you want are almost polar opposites.  As a wedding planner, it’s not uncommon to be faced with this scenario and many times we may have to step in as “counselor” because of it.

Image Courtesy of Matt Yung Photography Click here for more wedding images.

Who’s wedding is it really? Well, as much as I’d like to say it’s your wedding, we have to also take mom’s opinion into consideration. When your mom is footing the bill, she definitely feels that her opinion should be heavily considered. Today’s brides are accessing blogs, Pinterest, Instagram, and dozens of new magazines for wedding inspiration, further creating distance between the old and the new. It’s my job to create the perfect wedding while keeping your interests a priority and also striking the perfect compromise so that ultimately, the you get the wedding you've always dreamed of.

Image Courtesy of Sophia Barrett Studios

If you’ve found yourself in this situation, there are a few things that you could do to make it a little less stressful.

1. Communication is key. Let mom know what you’ve always dreamed of for your wedding. You should look back at your wedding day and be happy with the photographs and have the same feeling on the day that you took them. You greatly appreciate your mom by your side throughout the planning process, but a gentle reminder that it’s your wedding should help.
2. Include mom in the decisions where you value her opinion the most, such as purchasing your wedding gown. This makes her feel as though she’s helping and is a part of the planning process.
3. Utilize your wedding planner. As mentioned earlier, your wedding planner is a great buffer between you and your mother. If things get too difficult for you to say, your wedding planner can and should take on that task for you.
4. Put mom to work. When your mother is occupied with specific tasks and details of your wedding, such as the bridal shower or RSVP’s, she’s less likely to interfere with the choices you’re making.
5. Contribute to the cost of your wedding. When you’re footing a portion of the bill, mom is less likely to dominate and make the decisions during your vendor meetings. She’ll understand that she’ll have to relinquish some control.

Image Courtesy of Ross Oscar Knight Photography Click here for more wedding images.

Hopefully these tips will help you have the wedding of your dreams while including your mom along the way. Happy planning!

Wedding Day Rompers and Jumpsuits

Being stylish and comfortable is really what it’s all about. As trends continue to change in the wedding industry, there are more opportunities for you and your bridal party to have some comfort on your wedding day. With wedding day rompers and jumpsuits, your bridal party can be extra comfortable as they’re getting ready for the wedding. The rompers are just as pretty and appealing as the bathrobes that many brides and their bridesmaids are choosing to wearing today. They’re also great for taking pictures in and make great gifts for your bridal party to have long after your wedding day.

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Another trend that’s growing these days are the wedding day jumpsuit. We’ve all heard story after story of bridesmaids not liking the dress that they have to purchase for your wedding. Depending on the time of year, wearing pants may be more suitable and a lot more comfortable than wearing a dress. This is where the option of wearing a wedding day jumpsuit may come in handy. They’re just as formal as a traditional bridesmaid dress and you may even have greater buy-in from your bridal party. Lastly, a wedding day jumpsuit can serve as your second outfit to wear as you dance the night away or as you say goodbye to your family and friends as you’re getting in your getaway car.

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Alfred Angelo Pantsuit Image Courtesy of: Bridal Cottage

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 Whether you’re wearing a wedding day romper to start the day or a jumpsuit to end the night, you and your bridal party will be stylish and comfortable. Happy planning!

Two Easy Ways To Have Radiant Skin On Your Wedding Day

Your big day is coming up soon and there’s probably still a lot of last minute things to do. The good news is that you can leave all that last minute running around to your planner and spend these last few days taking care of yourself. This Wednesday, we’ll be focusing on keeping your face bright, clear, and photo ready! Here are a couple of very simple things that you and your bridesmaids can do together to make sure everyone has a face that's looking smooth and relaxed for your wedding day.

Egg Mask

This one is great for oily skin, it helps tighten your pores and it adds some brightness to your skin. It only requires two ingredients: an egg and fresh lemon juice!

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What you’ll need to do is separate your eggs into whites and yolk. Next, you’ll need to take the whites and beat them until they are frothy. Then, add lemon juice. Clean your face with warm water and pat dry. Apply mixture evenly over your face and allow to dry. Once it dries, peel or rinse it off. After that, your skin should feel tight, bright, and refreshed!

Olive Oil and Honey Mask

Before you boycott this one, let me just say that this will not clog your pores or make your skin oily! It actually does kind of the opposite. The molecules in olive oil are too big to fit in your pores. This combined with honey makes for an amazing hydrating mask for dry skin, and like the title says, you only need these two ingredients!

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To make this mask, you’ll need two tablespoons of honey and one of extra virgin olive oil. After that, you’ll mix it together until it’s thoroughly combined and then heat it in the microwave for 20 seconds. Next, smear the warm mixture over your face and wait for a few minutes. When it cools, rinse it off, and voila! You’ll be left with smooth, healthy, and hydrated skin. 

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You can also use this mixture as a means to treating your dry or damaged hair. Apply the mixture to damp hair, letting it sit for approximately 45 minutes, then wash with a mild shampoo. Make sure you have radiant on your wedding day. Happy Planning!

Nardos Imam Bridal Gowns

I'm a lover of fashion and totally smitten with bridal gowns! I may be totally oblivious to not have known about Nardos Imam before now but I just found out about her and her amazing custom gowns.  I find that Nardos Imam bridal gowns are a bit etherial with an elegant flair, whether a modern or a vintage style. When brides go shopping for their wedding dresses, they often hear of the most common names; Vera Wang, Marchesa, Reem Acra, Carolina Herrera, Watters, and Ines di Santo. Rarely do we hear about Nardos Imam, a North African beauty.  Today I have for you a few of her wedding gown for you to feast your eyes on.  They may very well help you on your quest for your wedding gown. Happy planning!

I hope you've enjoyed this preview of Nardos Imam bridal gowns.

All images are courtesy of NardosImam.com

Fashionable Bridal Headpieces

When it comes to wedding fashion, it's not just the dresses that I love.  I absolutely adore bridal headpieces and the way they accentuate the bride's wedding gown.  Many bride's have opted out of wearing veils and have chosen to go with a headpiece that fits more into their personal style, be it Bohemian, vintage, or even 1920's Gatsby inspired. I tell my brides to celebrate you the way you'd like to celebrate and if wearing a veil isn't you, I have some great great headpiece options to inspire you to just be you on your wedding day!

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