Pink and Grey Wedding Inspiration

If you ask me what my favorite color is, I'd tell you blue because I love the tranquility of the blue skies and blue water.  My home is filled with earth tones; browns, golds, and burgundies.  However, I'm a girlie girl and I love the color pink! I love to wear it and I think it looks great on my skin.  When it comes to weddings, it's one of my favorite colors to work with and it's easily paired with so many others.  Today, I've paired it with grey and put together a pink and grey inspiration board for your viewing pleasure.

Photo Credits: 1) Drink Image: FrogPrincePaperie.com 2) Cake Image: BobbetteAndBelle.com 3) Bouquet Image: StyleMePretty.com  4) Table Image: CalligraphyByJennifer.net

Green & Brown Wedding Inspiration

Considering today is Earth Day and how I was feeling a little woodsy and romantic.  I put together this inspiration board for brides who care about the earth and want to celebrate their weddings at the same time.  Sometimes putting the right colors together for your wedding or event is a challenge for many brides or expressing the ideas that you have in mind.  There are so many beautiful colors and ideas to choose from.  I throughly enjoy creating inspiration boards and hope that you find some inspiration from this one.

Happy Planning!

Spring Bridal Shower

It's the height of wedding season and this year I've decided to do something a little different to celebrate the kickoff of the season!  To celebrate and congratulate the recently engaged, I'm throwing a Spring Bridal Shower, just because.  The event will be held on Sunday, April 21st, from 1pm-4pm, at the Marriott Atlanta Buckhead Hotel & Conference Center, located at 3405 Lenox Road, NE, Atlanta, GA,    30326.

The Bridal Shower will be bold and bright with colors of navy blue, yellow, and pops of teal.  There will be great food, entertainment, decor by me (Enraptured Events), and you will meet some amazing vendors and have the opportunity to chat with each of them about their services and the ones that you may be able to utilize for your own personal showers and wedding day.  From a photographer, a florist, a drape specialist, lighting technician, make-up artist, bartender, baker, a cookie artist, and a candy buffet designer, we have a little something for everybody! 

So, RSVP today for this FREE event.  Come out, dine and mingle with us and other brides and simply have some fun!  What have you got to lose? RSVP by April 17 to Hello@EnrapturedEvents.com 

Gorgeous Ring Shots

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  The weather here in Atlanta is getting warm and the flowers outside my windows are starting to bloom. It's beginning to look and feel a lot like spring!  With that, wedding season is about to be in full swing!

Yes when a woman gets engaged, everyone wants to see the ring.  When you're a wedding planner or photographer, you want to make sure you've captured that ring in the most creative way possible; one that still captures the unique style, personality, and characteristics of the bride and groom.  Today, I've rounded up some of my favorite and most creative ring shots, all of which I hope you enjoy and will spark some creativity when it's time to plan your own wedding.

Image Courtesy of AisleCandy.com

I always love to see rings nestled inside florals and succulents.  This one is no exception!

Image Courtesy of BridalGuide.com

Putting the rings in the back of the dress, inside the corset was just brilliant! This is definitely a picture worth keeping in an album!

Image Courtesy of StyleMePretty.com

I just love this ring shot of the three rings layered between some macaroons!  So creative.

Image Courtesy of AKStudioDesign.com

The rings hanging off of the couples new last initial, atop the wedding cake.  I think this is a great idea!

Image Courtesy of KristinViningPhotoBlog.com

Who doesn't like the look of piano, especially in this classic black and white photo?  This one is classic and modern all at the same time.

Image Courtesy of Izlas.com

For the modern bride and groom, this ring shot is simple and gorgeous.

Whether you're a bride, a wedding planner looking for a great shot, or a photographer, I hope these ring shots have sparked some creativity for your upcoming wedding.  Happy planning!

Outdoor Cocktail Hours

The time has sprung forward, which means that Spring is almost here.  The birds are chirping and flowers are about to bloom; and so is wedding season.  With that, there will be more and more outdoor weddings.

When having an outdoor wedding, people tend to forget the beauty of an outdoor cocktail hour.  If done right, the space can be romantic or show off the cityscape that you call home.  If you can't decide on whether or not to have your wedding indoors or outdoors, this is a great way to have an outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour and an indoor reception and allow your guests to have the best of both worlds.

Image Courtesy of Cocoon Beach Club

Weddings and receptions are about the experience.  Outdoor cocktail hours are ways to add to the experience that your guest will have to enjoy and share with you.  If it's something that your budget can allow, and the venue can accomodate, why not give them that experience?  Besides, it's not like you're getting married everyday right?

Steampunk Exhibit

It's been a while since I've written a blog, but it's time I've gotten back into the swing of things!  Let's start by talking about the great time I had at the Occasions Magazine Bridal and Party Expo.

I was asked to partner with one of my favorite florists, Perfect Petals Design Group, and help design the booth.  I was beyond excited because she and I work so well together and "speak the same language".  She wanted to do something different and came up with the idea of doing a steampunk design.  I was all for it and took the idea and ran with it!

Image Courtesy of ImagesByWinston

Image Courtesy of ImagesByWinston

Image Courtesy of ImagesByWinston

Because the design was all about clocks and gears, we decided that it would be a 50tth birthday party instead of the typical wedding setup, which was appropriate for this expo.  I made chargers into clocks, purchased gears, bicycle chains, and the whole nine yards.  The booth turned out to be fabulous and many people recognized the steampunk design right away!  I even created a steampunk soundtrack to play during the show.

Image Courtesy of ImagesByWinston

Image Courtesy of ImagesByWinston

Image Courtesy of ImagesByWinston

To top it off, we even had a cake that fit the theme of steampunk and had a clock on the top and a ton of gears all around it.  The gears actually looked as if they were supposed to turn!  Everyone that stopped by the booth were in awe of the cake, done by Cakes by Lameeka!

Image Courtesy of ImagesByWinston

Image Courtesy of ImagesByWinston

One Day In December ~What A Difference A Year Makes!

Logo by Cris of Kiss My Tulle

Wow, it's been a year already!  It's truly amazing how time flies and what can happen in just 365 days.  I was excited that us TWIPS (A community of wedding planners and bloggers) wanted to do this chain of recap blog posts again.  In my previous "One Day in December Post, that I posted on my gift basket blog, that you can read about here, I spoke of how one car accident changed my life and it truly did. 

I wrote of how my children and I survived a major car accident and how I ended up losing the job that I hated, because of the accident.  I spoke of how the accident left me unable to speak, so I started a blog and was accepted into TWIPS.  There were so many things that I mentioned, but so many things went unsaid as well, which makes this Christmas extra special.

Image Courtesy of Tumblr via Pinterest

What I did say was was that my world flipped upside down when my SUV did.  What I didn't say was that after the accident, I lost my home too.  I stated that business picked up for my gift baskets and event company, but I didn't say that I really depend on my day job because, although my businesses have picked up, I still don't have enough business to survive solely off my two companies alone.

Image Courtesy of Tumbr via Pinterest

With all of that being said, I couldn't be happier with the way 2012 has progressed.  After seven months of being unemployed, I found a job that I absolutely love, where I get to work with at-risk youth and show my passion for education by day, and at a place where I no longer have to hide the fact that I'm a wedding and event planner.  I'm constantly busy with Enraptured Events, planning and designing, and also busy with Wrapped Couture designing custom gift baskets for various occasions.  I've been able to attend a few wedding conferences out of state and cross those things off of my bucket list.  I've also been featured in Stiletto Woman Magazine for pushing through the pain and overcoming adversity.  I was able to meet a bunch of TWIPS at a meet up here in Atlanta and  finally meet Shafonne of Pretty Pear Bride in at one of the mini wedding conferences in NYC!  With the way 2012 has turned out, 2013 looks to be even better!

Image Courtesy of Tumblr via Pinterest

I heard something on the radio recently: "Do you know how you know that God isn't done with His plan for you?" After a pause from the DJ, he simply said, "He keeps waking you up."  To me, that was a very profound question and it confirmed what I already knew; there's something bigger and better just waiting for me and all I have to do is wake up.  The same goes for you!


For more great "One Day in December" posts, visit Shafonne of Pretty Pear Bride and her recap post  of 2012 from yesterday and tune in Monday for Amanda's 2012 highlights and recap of Baci Designer. 

Hire A Professional & Not Your Friend!

Happy Friday!  I hope you're looking forward to the weekend as much as I am.  Although we're just getting over the Thanksgiving break, I'm ready for another one.

At the request of one of my brides, I'm writing this post.  This is something that many of us in the wedding industry talk about quite frequently, why you shouldn't hire your family or friends to be your wedding planner or vendors at your wedding.  In theory, it sounds good, but in actuality, it only works out in rare instances.  Today, I'm listing my top 10 reasons why you should really refrain from doing so and stick with the professionals.  It may keep you from being a stressed out bride on your wedding day.

Photo Courtesy of The Plunge Project

1. Direction:  A professional offers direction and helps guides you through the planning process.  Even though the wedding planning books can give you and outline of what to do and when, a professional wedding planner is there to offer continued guidance and ensures that you're staying on target with securing your vendors in time for your wedding.  Your friend may not be so cognizant of benchmarks to keep you on task for your wedding to give you the gentle push you need in the right direction.
2. Vision:  A professional helps articulates your vision to other professionals.  One of the things that I do, and most of the wedding planners that I know is to create an inspiration board for my clients, after the consultation.  When communicating with other vendors, it makes it much easier to present a photo.  A professional is able to listen to the bride (or groom) and create a concept, vision, or direction for other professionals to follow.  A friend may not know how to fuse your style with his to create one cohesive vision for your wedding or special event.
3. Budget:  A professional manages your budget and helps you stay on target with your budget while maintaining the vision that you've originally set.  If there is something that you'd like to have, the professional planner knows the budget and whether or not you can afford it.  If your budget is low, a professional can offer creative suggestions to still maintain the original vision, whereas your friend may not..
4. Knowledge:  In this business, trends are constantly changing.  The professionals that I know and work with are masters of their craft; certified wedding & event planner, certified photographers, and certified florists, and so on.  We are always attending conferences and seminars to continue our knowledge of what's going on in the industry so we're always fresh.  Your friend may not have the knowledge, the certifications, and my just look at planning as a hobby.
5. Listening:  Many brides have been thinking of their wedding day since they were little girls.  As a professional, we're able to actively listen to what our clients want and offer suggestions based on what they want and what they can afford.  Your friend may not be fully listening and may be more interested in offering ideas and suggestions.
6. Accountability:  As a professional, we' often hear, "My cousin can do this" or "I know someone who can".  It's difficult for us to get a bride to understand that friends and family members typically want to enjoy the day and aren't looking to work, like a professional would.  Professionals show up to work and get the job done that they were hired to do.  They aren't looking to join the party or have a good time.
7. Quality:  Professionals are not only want to give you the wedding/event you've envisioned but are also concerned about their name and reputation.  They want to produce a quality product that you and they would be happy with.  Your friend may be more concerned with producing a product that you can afford, without offering any options or creative alternatives for what you can afford, often leaving you disappointed; after the fact. as the old adage goes "you get what you pay for"
8. Mediation: As a wedding professional, we are often having to play a mediator between the mother and the bride, or other family members.  If you're a friend or family member, you may be too close to the parties involved to provide mediation.  It's often a great idea to have an outside party.
9. Vendor Relationships:  As a professional, you have the opportunity to build relationships with vendors in all aspects of the industry.  With these relationships often comes added benefits that are passed on to your wedding. Your friend wouldn't have this.
10. Venue Spacing:  As a professional, we aren't always there when the venue is chosen, but we know how to come in and make the space work for what your vision is.  If we're fortunate enough to be there before the venue is selected, we're able to help you choose the one that most fits your vision, budget, and works well logistically.  Your friend may not be thinking of these things and thinking of the venue that looks that best.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

The winter months are cold, dreary, and typically non-eventful.  With the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year's Eve holiday, there isn't much to to look forward to.  Lately, more and more brides are choosing to get married in the winter, which gives us a few more things to look forward to: 

• Winter bouquets: I love snowberries and they are only available during the winter months.  I recommend or use them whenever I get the chance.
• Photo Ops: If you live in the the North or North East, you have the opportunity to have an amazing photo after your wedding.  Take a look at the one below.

Image Courtesy of Silverland Jewelry

Image Courtesy of OffBeatBride.com

• Fabulous Furs: If you're a fashionista, you have the opportunity to wear a fabulous fur coat to cover your wedding dress and keep yourself warm.  Because it's more popular, brides are choosing various colors, styles, and lengths.
• Gorgeous Scenery: Lastly, the winter months in the north changes the scenery and the snow creates a beautiful backdrop for  your photos.

Image Courtesy of  Rachel Smaller Photography

Image Courtesy of Maria Hedengren Photography

Gifts For Your Groomsmen

It's almost always a struggle for the bride and groom to select gifts for their bridal party.  Today, I wanted to talk about gifts for the groomsmen.  When grooms don't know what to give their groomsmen, the first instinct is to give a flask of some sort.  Because I love custom gifts, am a little partial to gift baskets, and feel men are simply overlooked when it comes to gift baskets, I felt the need to show an idea that I so happened to stumble upon.

We all know the old adage, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.  Why not say "thank you" by adding a little homemade goodie to go along with that flask?  This DIY project can even be accompanied with a whiskey for the flask and the homemade treat can even be coordinated to match your wedding colors.  Sometimes, you just have to get a little creative when it comes to saying "thank you".  Besides, your thoughts and actions are often much more appreciated than your money.

Image via Floridan Weddings

Image Courtesy of Flordian Weddings

Looking to make the brownies, below is the recipe.

BLACK & TAN BROWNIES

From Cooking Light, March 2010

Ingredients

Tan Brownies:

• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups lightly packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Black Brownies:

• 3 ounces dark or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup Guinness Stout
• 1 cup ounces all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Place one rack in lower third of oven; place another rack in center of oven. Preheat oven to 350°. Butter a 13 x 9-inch baking pan (making sure to butter the sides), line with parchment, and butter the parchment; set aside.
2. To prepare Tan Brownies, place 6 tablespoons butter and brown sugar in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt, stirring well. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture, beating just until combined. Spoon into the prepared pan coated with cooking spray, spreading evenly with a knife or rubber spatula; try to get as even a surface as possible. Bake at 350° in lower third of oven for 15 minutes.
3. To prepare Black Brownies, melt chocolate and 4 tablespoons butter in a large microwave-safe bowl on HIGH for 1 minute or until melted, stirring after every 20 seconds until smooth. Add granulated sugar, stirring until well combined. Add 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and Guinness, stirring with a whisk until well combined. In a small bowl, combine flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt, stirring well. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture, stirring to combine. Pour mixture evenly over Tan Brownies; avoid mixing into the tan layer.
4. Bake on the center rack at 350° for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into center comes out almost clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack; cut into squares.

Presentation Matters

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  It's Black Friday and many of you are all geared up to get your Christmas shopping started.  Since I'm making custom gift baskets all year long, I'm always looking at baskets and pretty ribbon.  With that being said, since many people will be out shopping, I felt that this was the appropriate time to share some beautiful wrapping paper for the all those gifts that people are itching to stand in line for.

Image Courtesy of Blog.HauteMove.com

Image Courtesy of GraceHouseDesigns.com

Image Courtesy of KelleyMaria.com

Image Courtesy of SaucySprinkles.com

Each year, our Christmas tree has a different color palette, and I let the kids alternate choosing what those colors will be. However, being in the wedding industry, I always insist that the gift wrapping and the angel on top, matches. That's our compromise.  This year, it was my daughter's turn to choose and our colors are red, white, silver, and black.  Our angel will be wearing a white dress with silver embroidery and we're wrapping all of our gifts with newspaper!  We're putting the tree up today, so I'll post it in a follow up.  In the meantime, enjoy your Black Friday and happy shopping.  I'll be trimming my tree and enjoying the rest of the time with my son before he heads back to college.

It's All About The Veil

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday.  Today is Fashion Friday and it's all about the veil.  Although I've never been married before, I've seen how a veil can turn a wedding gown into "the wedding gown", as I've help many brides choose the perfect wedding dress.  

I think veils can give a wedding dress a little bit of drama as well as a little bit of romance.  Today, I have a collection of some of my favorite and most dramatic wedding veils.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Image Courtesy of Style Me Pretty

Image Courtesy of Rosa Clara

Photo Courtesy of St. Pucchi

Photo Courtesy of LambAndBlonde.Blogspot.co.uk

Whether you choose something subtle and romantic or bold and dramatic for your wedding day, your veil is sure to make your wedding gown that much more beautiful!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving to me is about family and one of my favorite days of the year. It's a time where family our family come together and, prior to dinner being served, we have to state what we're most thankful for.  As a child, I used to be nervous when it was my turn and didn't know why I had to do it.  Now, I love the tradition and, of course, my children do it to.

Photo Courtesy of Stephens Lighthouse

Thanksgiving isn't just about what you're putting on your dinner table and how you're decorating it.  Think about what you're thankful for, what you're giving to your community, or what traditions and legacies you're passing down to your children.  When I saw this photo, I thought it spoke the perfect Thanksgiving message.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING from my family to yours!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

As we prepare our Thanksgiving meal and look forward to spending time with our families, this is a time to be thankful for what we do have and remember those that are less fortunate.  Remember to keep those people in your thoughts and prayers as you pray for your family and friends.

Image Courtesy of Sherlocks.com

This is a time to just be.  Just be thankful, just be happy, just relax on the sofa, or just be sitting at the table over indulging on the too much of your favorite food.  Life is too short, we all work too hard, and you've earned the right to just be, today.  HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING from my family to yours.

Contemporary Baby Shower Basket

I know Thanksgiving is tomorrow and I'm finally getting into the spirit!  I was asked if I had ever created a basket for a baby shower or if I could.  Of course, I said yes.  The baby is due to be born on Thanksgiving day.  Although, Thanksgiving is a special day for many of us, she wanted something specifically for her friend and the baby that kept the focus on her being a new and first-time mom.  I completely understood and showed her a basket that I had done last year for a contemporary mom.

Photo via Mobile Phone (Pre-New Logo change)

This basket was created because, during the consultation, it was discovered that the mom-to-be was contemporary and wanted a gift basket that was not full of diapers.  She wanted to put things in the nursery, which were blue and green, and she she also loved fashion

I've always felt that some gifts at a babyshower should include some for the mom to use after the baby is born, since she's often and quickly forgotten about.  With that being said, this basket included a book a stories for the mom-to-be to read to the baby in the nursery, an overall picture frame with a hanger and 12 spaces for the first year of the baby's life, a picture frame, a scrapbook of baby's special moments, a teddy bear, a blue bracelet, and a silk scarf.

Promises, Promises

Promises are made to be kept. Plain and simple.  My children, especially my daughter, and I have always used the word "promise" as something special.  The pinky promise was something extra special and we all knew, barring life altering circumstances, we had to perform.  I came across this picture by one of my favorite photographers, Ross Oscar Knight, and it epitomizes the pinky promises between a husband and wife perfectly!

Photo Courtesy of Ross Oscar Knight

When it comes to promises, I also feels that the promise goes hand in hand with the wedding vow.  I also came across the beautiful DIY project where you paint your vows on a 12 x 24 piece of canvas.  This can be a gorgeous idea and a constant reminder of the vows you took and promises you made on your wedding day.

Photo Courtesy of Melanie Gets Married

Have a Mimosa on Me!

Aside from creating custom gift baskets for weddings, bridal parties, and other personal gifts, I also have to pleasure of creating custom gift baskets for many event professionals wanting to say "thank you" to their clients, after a successful event or simply hiring them in the first place.  I began pitching the idea last year and it took off.  Just like I customize my individual baskets to the clients, the thank you baskets are always customized to represent the company that it's coming from; company colors, type of company, and the like.

One of the event companies that I work with sends out two gift baskets; one for the couple when they hire him, to say congratulations and the other for the wedding planner after the long wedding day, to offer a mimosa after the long day we're all accustomed to  His company colors are navy and silver and he wanted something a little masculine that represented him.

Photo Courtesy of Mobile Phone

The couples basket contains a bottle of champagne, two champagne glasses with blue square stems, and a 4-piece box of truffles from Shocolaate, including a strawberry and champagne truffle!

Photo Courtesy of Mobile Phone

The wedding planner basket contains the same thing as the other but has the truffles replaced with orange juice to make mimosas!  

Either way, they always love receiving the baskets from him and I look forward to continuing to work with him!

Stylish Wedding Bands for Grooms

I am a huge fan of jewelry and love when a the groom get creative with his wedding band.  I've always felt that the groom should have something more substantial and stately than the simple gold band, if he chose, especially since the bride had all the diamonds.  I felt the bands should compliment each other.  I was out shopping one day and noticed a beautiful, diamond-studded wedding band on the cashier.  When I asked him about it, he told me that he picked it out himself.  It was an upgrade to the one his wife had chosen for their wedding day and it was a gift for their third wedding anniversary, because he hated the gold band he had to wear!  I thought it was awesome!

So, for the grooms who may need help looking for some stately and substantial wedding bands, I can across a website, Javda that has some pretty amazing ones to choose from.  Whether you like Platinum, White Gold, or Yellow Gold, there is something to fit your style.

Photo Courtesy of Javda.com

Photo Courtesy of Javda.com

Photo Courtesy of Javda.com

Photo Courtesy of Javda.com

Photo Courtesy of Javda.com

Photos Courtesy of Javda.com

Anemone Inspiration

It's not uncommon to see black during a winter wedding.  What's uncommon is the anemone flower.  When I was contracted to do a wedding on 1.13.13, with a color palette of black, champagne, and green, I knew I wanted to do something a little bit different for this bride, because she "likes clean lines" and elegance.  The anemone is not one of those flowers that you first think of but it's perfect for her, so I created and inspiration board around it for her wedding.  Since the groom loves motorcycles, the brides wants to do something different for the sendoff...

Photos via Pinterest. Will update with Specfics

Georgia Gives Day

Many people aren’t aware that, besides being a passionate full-time wedding and event planner, I’m also very passionate about education and the future of our children and I spend my days trying to better the lives of their future.  For many people in the wedding industry, it’s frowned upon to have a full-time job, especially if it’s not related to the industry. Well, today I’m coming out to say that I have a full-time day job that I love and a full-time evening job that I love just the same, but I’d like to shed some light on the daytime one.

I work for a non-profit organization where we’re determined to level the playing field for metro Atlanta youth by providing quality educational, health, and life skills programs.  The programs that we provide are completely free to the students, but we depend on outside funding to keep the center running.  We obtain most of our funding from the Federal programs and private donors but also depend on fundraisers throughout the year, which brings me to Georgia Gives Day.

Photo via Aliyah Abdurah-Rahman

Georgia Gives Day is a state-wide initiative where you can donate to your favorite charities. With just a small donation, you can help us enhance our programming and sustain as a community.  This is an opportunity to invest in an organization that children consider a second home.

Just to put things in perspective as to why fundraising is important.  As mentioned previously, our programming is free.  The actual cost to run the organization ranges from $5 to $150 per student.  It costs $5 for one day of tutoring and homework support for one student, $40 for one week of tutoring or homework support for one student, $80 for two weeks of tutoring and homework support for one student, and $150 for one month of tutoring and homework support for one student.  Whether you give a little or a lot, it all helps towards giving our children a brighter future.  Please visit https://www.gagivesday.org/c/GGD/a/future-foundationtoday, to help!