I have to take a minute to brag on my sweet boy a minute!! I spend so much time planning other events and weddings, it was a fun change to plan a party for my son…who was turning 6. His party was this summer, but I am just taking the time to upload the pics and share some info about it

He invited 6 friends, since he was turning 6 (and Katelyn had a friend too!)

We had a fun dinner, photobooth, and cake at the house…and then took all 9 kids to the circus! They had so much fun!

Here are some pics from the party. The photographer was Amy Halstead of Different Perspectives and she did a wonderful job!!

Extra costs…people can forget. This List below can add an additional $2407 to a budget!

Postage stamps for invitations $198

(say 225 invitations with rsvp cards= $198 in stamps….but if your envelope is an unusual shape, it will be more)

Dress alterations $300

(a simple hem could mean they have to take it up from the waist meaning $300)

Dress “extras” $700

(undergarments meaning a great bra and some much needed Spanx for $100, a veil $275, a reception headpiece $125, shoes $125, jewelry $75, etc. could be an additional $700! Keep this in mind when buying your dress)

Extra photographer time/prints $350

(Usually runs about $150 for an extra hour, and then you usually order at least $200 in prints for gifts after the weddings; but prints/extra cd/packages can increase your cost drastically)

Welcome Bags for Guests $139

even a standard bag for about 12 guests will run you about $139- that’s not for a fancy box of a custom monogram bag…just a regular paper bag with plain tissue paper/goldfish/bottled waters/cookies

($14 for pack of 12 bags; $35 on tissue paper and ribbon; $8 bags of goldfish; $12 bag of cookies; $4 bottled waters; $20 specialty item; $25 for a welcome info packet, $20 tax/extra stuff…honestly though, you’ll be exhausted by this point. You will most likely send out your dad to do this task. So he will go to Sam’s and spend at least $135 on just “stuff” and then you’ll have to buy the bags/tissue/bows/cute welcome packet info and spend about $65 on that, truthfully! That’s the way it usually happens)

Bridesmaids Gifts $245

($35 each for a necklace for 7 girls is $245)

Save-the-dates $475

(even at $1.50 each, plus $0.44 for stamp, plus tax/shipping for 225= $475)

So excited to get this new website going…now, if only we were more understanding of computers!! I think this may require a lot of Tylenol!

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

We love helping our brides and know some people struggle with understanding “what does a wedding planner do?” So….we took notes at one of recent weddings to show the list of tasks a planner does in a day.

Wednesday-

Pack the car with any last minute items: extra vases, emergency kit, tool kit, etc.

Thursday-

8am- leave for the site

Arrive at site to review and make any final adjustments to floorplan before delivery

Give rental company directions to venue

2^nd pick-up of rentals before actual delivery

Rental company arrives for setup

Oversee whole rental setup (make sure tent is set in right spot, ceremony chairs are in correct area, tables are in proper locations, custom lights are hung in proper spots)

6:30pm- arrive back at the hotel to get dinner and early to bed

Friday-

8am- Finalize welcome bags, add name tags to each bag, deliver to the front desk

Get flower delivery for rehearsal dinner and view florals for Saturday

Assemble flowers for rehearsal dinner

Deliver flowers and table assignments to rehearsal dinner; setup- to help the bride and groom’s families

Drive back to hotel, get ready and head to the rehearsal

Do the rehearsal (greet and instruct musicians, review with minister, and organize wedding party)

Drive back to hotel

Assemble programs: fold, cut ribbon, make holes in each one, tie ribbons on each program

End at 9:30pm

Saturday-

9:30am- Leave the hotel for the reception site

Meet helpers to organize their to-do list – start them on setting up ceremony chairs

Start setting up alter/chuppah area (add draping, flowers)

Start putting out furniture to certain areas (also get other décor items)

Eat a quick lunch!

Organize helpers to start hanging lanterns, and finalize flowers

Finalize vignette areas, setup cocktail tables, cake tables, cakes arrive

Call catering company and give directions and get ETA for catering/bar

Put out beer, help fluff food tables, put out table arrangements, put on tablecloths

Photographer arrives, give him instructions and start putting on bouts

Bring the bride her bouquet and check on her status of being ready

Couple’s first look- assist in handing off gifts for each other and getting them set

Caterers arrive – get beverages from bar on ice first thing

Assist photographer in some pics

help organize family and wedding party for pictures

Move cakes from inside to out and finalize cake tables

Finalize every last décor item, light candles, etc.

Make sure guest book and pens are out

Give ushers/groomsmen last minute explanation of duties (remind to hand out programs)

Start seating guests; instruct guests to take their seats

Get grandmother/mothers organized

Start seating grandmothers, followed by mothers, wedding party (cue the musicians the whole time)

Bride walks down the aisle

Take additional décor shots myself during ceremony to get all the shots before guests get to reception

Alert caterer that ceremony has begun

Direct wedding party away from reception area

Assist guests in reception area

Help photographer organize additional shots

Assist in signing the marriage license

Get the bride’s dress bustled

Cue the back they are about to be introduced

Lead the couple back to the reception for introductions

Open the buffet, insure all guests are being cared for, buffet is full

Get a plate for the couple to have a bite

Put the bouquets on the cake table

Get photographers, family and couple ready to cut the cake; cue the caterer to be ready to cut the cakes

Cut the cakes

Cue the band about to do dances (remind them songs, names, etc.)

Get the couple, family and photographers ready

First dances (wanted them at sunset)

Start gathering cake toppers, flutes, etc. to get safely back to the couple

Get photographers to take certain shots the couple requested

Hand out all checks to vendors

Make sure all the votives are lit

Assemble leave items (take wrappers off and assemble candles, sparklers have to be removed from boxes and individual wrapping)

Make sure the caterer has to-go food for the couple

Make sure their suitcases are in the leave vehicle

Make sure all food is out and full, guests are happy, cake is being replenished

Get additional shots of the couple and assist photographer in getting décor shots at night

Tell the bride and groom about to do garter/bouquet

Cue the band, get a chair for the garter

Do the garter and bouquet

Start gathering the “leave” items and lighter, tell the photographers

Make sure the leave vehicle is working, there and ready

Tell the band last song and then leave announcement

Announce Last song

Line up guests to leave, instruct them light their candles (leave item)

Pick up the remaining candles

Assist in caterers cleanup

Have leftover plates for the band (they decided not to break during the reception as planned)

Make sure rented items get returned

Put bride’s bouquet in water

Get all bouquet vases and vases that need to be returned to florist

Load up all items to be returned to the office

Give final instructions to the bride’s family where every item is

11:30pm- Get back in the car and head home….arrive home the next day J

Think it’s exhausting seeing it…it is as exhausting doing it. We do love it, but it sure is a lot of work. We do it because it is a passion and a gift…that makes our job less of a job and more joy!

Instead of traditional centerpieces or one main table arrangement…there is a huge change to doing “vignettes”. It can be a great way for a photographer to shoot an extra special shot, it is the use of more furniture and household items, and it can be a great way to get amazing decor shots. It makes the wedding have more of a photo shoot element. Notice all the amazing pics on these fabulous blogs and websites? These vignettes allow each wedding to look as amazing as the published features!

Every notice that most featured weddings showcase not only vignettes, but decor shots?! It is a MUST that your photographer capture those. You may give them a list of certain family photos to take (don’t miss Aunty Mary, or Granmommy, etc.) But be sure to express the importance of decor shots. Every bride works hard on the details and they should be showcased. Whether you ordered collegiate pom poms, monogrammed chocolates, taffy favors, or a custom lit monogram…make sure they are all captured in the photos afterwards.

Don’t know what a vignette is? Take a look below to see examples of amazing vignettes:

pic sources: greenweddingshoes.com, ohdarlingwedding.blospot.com, nineseventeeneleven.blogspot.com, ribbonsandrust.wordpress.com, celebrationsathomeblog.com

One thing about most southern brides…we love the south! The south has it’s own way of doing everything. We let college football and hunting season determine wedding dates. We consider sweet tea and diet coke standard drinks. We also have a very distinct southern drawl, that seems to add a innocent touch to every sentence said. Mostly though, we also have a unique way of doing weddings.

What’s more southern than mason jars?!?!

They are so useful and we can’t wait to show you the different ways to use them. You can hang them from a large tree with candles inside, use them for mint juleps or a lemonade, favors, or even clustered together for floral centerpieces. They add the perfect southern touch to any affair!

Happy Viewing!

Source of pics: Intimateweddings.com, Thriftyfun.com, Boards.weddingbee.com, Flikr.com, and Kathrynleachhome.com

So many wedding are going vintage/rustic right now! We just blogged about the handkerchief invitation…can’t wait to show the finished product!

If you can’t make that happen, we have another great idea… The Telegram! We are doing the handkerchief invitation, but also a directional card enclosed that looks like a telegram. You could also use it for a Save-the-Date, RSVP, or as tags on the hotel welcome bags! While it’s printing, I thought I’d show where we got the inspiration:

http://dave-douglass.com/?p=173

from greetdesign.com

http://www.petite-fete.com/gallery.html#prev

http://www.etsy.com/listing/58921177/telegram-wedding-invitation-letterpress

Thanks for viewing!