Fun Day of Delivering Cake!

This past Saturday I had the pleasure of being part of the Eileen Carter Creations delivery team!

It was so much fun! It was one of her classic cakes with curly willow and beautiful orchids and roses! It was interesting to see the inside workings of another wedding business! From the pick up, to the directions folder, to the delivery and stacking in the cake! It was quite the outing with a beautiful result!

Emily & Joseph

Emily and Joseph were married on a beautiful Saturday evening at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Buckhead. I would like to thank Laura Stone of Artstar for these and all of the fabulous pictures she's given me!

Emily was an absolutely stunning bride, and she picked the perfect colors of pink and green to beautifully accent the bridal party dresses!

The church was tastefully decorated by Southern Bouquets. They used so many beautiful green hydrangeas to add some color to an otherwise exquisite church.

They had a stunning bridal party!

Following the ceremony, the reception was held at the Wimbish House, which is a beautiful downtown location for a wedding.

Here are some of the centerpieces:

Their cake was baked by the marvelous Eileen Carter. Admittedly, this was one of the tallest cakes she's ever made!

Here is a look into the ballroom before guests made their way downstairs.

The caterer, Affairs to Remember always does a fantastic job with decorating their buffets to meet the feel of your events. The food is always delicious, and their service is top notch!

This was an idea that Emily had early on in the planning process. They took pictures of their grandparents, and from their parents weddings and put them on the mantle. Just an idea for those of you having your reception in a location with a mantle!

Emily also made sure to take care of her guests with a candy buffet filled with pink and green candy!

Back to Blogging!

After quite a long hiatus, we're back to blogging! I thought we could start by sharing pictures from one of our stunning summer weddings! Hope you enjoy!

Event Lighting

Are you faced with a bland ballroom? Besides adding flowers to the n'th degree, there aren't many options for jazzing up a ballroom. Here is one of my best suggestions, and usually one of the least expensive: Uplights! You can rent them in the Atlanta area for about $40 a piece, have your coordinator set them up for you, and they can really spice up a room!

Lighting is available in all different colors, above you can see reds, below blue, but they also carry greens, yellows, pinks, oranges, purples, and just white. Hopefully you can find something that will work for you and your event space!

When picking out your lighting, be sure to consider how it will look on the walls. If there is a choice of two color reds, and you have yellow walls, go for the deeper red if you want red, otherwise, you might get orange!

You can also get fun shapes! They add a lot of texture to the ballrooms, and can really make a tent stand out! I suggest borrowing the light for a short period of time to try it out in the room to see if you like it. Also see if you can borrow a few different color screens to see what works for you space!

Budoir & Bubbly!

Looking to get some beautiful boudoir pictures for your fiance to give as a wedding gift? Are you married and want to give your husband a special Christmas gift with a wink? Come out to the Risqué Launch Party! You'll be able to meet the photographer, Meredith Wullkotte, while sipping on Champagne and tasting some wonderful hors d'oeuvres! It's sure to be a great event!

Mark your calendars for this Thursday at 6pm at Andrews Upstairs! See you there!

Where have I been?

So people have been asking: What have you been up to? Why haven't you been blogging?

I apologize. My computer time has been spent building my new website, and here's a sneak peek just for you!

I promise, the blogging will pick back up- and I've got a ton to share of the weddings we've had this year!

Tented Weddings

At times, there is a misconception about tented weddings, and I just wanted to show you how great they can be. With the ceiling draped in white fabric, you can rent lights to give it even more texture and it can be absolutely stunning!

Sure, you've got to worry about the weather just a bit, but with sides on the tents that look like large windows, it probably isn't too huge of a deal. And those sides don't have to be down unless it starts raining, otherwise you get a wide open feel that many people look for. What also adds to the open feel is the fact that you have such high ceilings and that you can do so much to tem! Another thing that you can do to the ceilings is have paper lanterns hang. They give it depth and can be truly beautiful while bringing in the colors of your wedding.

Website of the Week: Wedsite

Are you looking to create a website that gives your guests information about your wedding?

Wedsite gives you that opportunity! Tell your guests about the two of you, how you met, things you've done together and how you got engaged. Then tell them a bit about the bridal party, a who's who? if you will. You can tell them about the ceremony location and the reception location, give directions and timing of all the events. Give the out of town guests information on the local airport, hotels, and things to see while they're in town! It's a great way to get them all of this information and can definitely save some paper! The best way to get the website info out there is to send it on your save the date.

It's so much fun!

Programs Part II: Style Inspiration

Whether you go for the simple single fold program, or a multi layer program, it's a really easy way to incorporate your wedding colors and style into the ceremony!

If you're creative with powerpoint, you can easily come up with a monogram, or if Photoshop is easy for you, an ornate wedding logo can also tie it into the invites!

The most important thing is that it reflects you! Have fun with it, add some ribbon, a bit of color or a special poem. It's a personal choice what you do with it.

Also- if you're expecting some kids and want to keep them occupied during the ceremony, a great program is the kids coloring program.

Programs Part I: What's in Them?

Well, as spring wedding season approaches, this is one of the last tasks to get completed. So I figured I'd give a little insight on what you can include, and then come back to give you some style inspiration!

First off, programs are popular but not a necessity. Don't feel like you have got to have them. They are probably the most popular thing to be left behind at the end of the night. So if you don't have the time, or the space in the budget, then no worries.

If you do have the time and the budget, they can be a nice touch. Here are the things that I suggest having in your program:

1. Welcome: To all of the guests whether they traveled 5 miles or 5000 miles, it's nice for them to feel welcomed.
2. Introductions: Of the bridal party, the parents and grandparents. It is usually best to put this in processional order so that guests can play a little game of Who's Who?
3.Ceremony Order: Not completely necessary, but sometimes when it is an interfaith marriage it can be a nice touch.
4. Readings: It's nice to give people something to read along with. If you have space, Great! If not, it won't kill anyone to have to listen.
5. Explanation of Traditions: Again important if you're marrying someone of a different background, it will help both families understand what's going on and why it's important to the both of you.
6. Thank You: It's a good time to put your thank you to your parents, family and friends in writing. **This is not in lieu of a traditional thank you after the wedding**
7. Directions: You can stick a piece of card stock in the back with directions to the reception, or you can simply write them into the last page of the program. Either way, it's nice to ensure guests won't get lost!

Like I said though, they're not mandatory, but a nice touch. And these aren't rules you have to follow, you can include anything you'd like!

Website of the Week: HoneymoonUp!

Looking for more honeymoon advice? HoneymoonUp is one of my favorite Blogs! I wish that I could travel more often, and I would definetly go to some of their favorite stops. They give detailed info on many romatic destinations.

Flower Quotes: What they need

When you meet with a florist, it's a good idea to have the numbers ready: the number of corsages you need, the number of boutonnieres you need, the number of bouquets, the number of tables you'll have centerpieces on, and finally, your budget! Also make sure that you bring them pictures of flowers that you've seen and like the style.

When you leave that meeting, you should have a quote in hand, or an agreement to have a quote via e-mail. Here are some things you want to make sure that quote has:
1. Description: This should be as detailed as possible, contain information like size, number of stems of each type of flower, as well as color of the flowers.
2. Number of Items: It should have a tally of how many you need of each style and size.
3. Price Per Item: It should itemize each item you're purchasing. It doesn't need to be itemized down more than that, but this is a MUST.
4. Design Fees: If they charge for their creativity and labor, they should list it here. It should be on the quote, and not ambiguous.
5. Delivery & Setup Fees: Normally between $75 and $150 depending on the location.
6. Tax: In GA it should be 6% of the flower total.
7. Total: This should hopefully be under your budget! :)

Donation Favors

You didn't think I'd leave without giving you something wedding related, did you?

Let's be honest, in many cases, if you don't have an edible favor a few are going to be left behind. (Trust me, I've seen it) So here's a suggestion to combat being left with 20 candles with your names on them:

A new popular trend is to give a donation in the names of your guests. Whether it be "The Guests of the Haggerty Wedding" or each guest individually (They may not let you unless it is over a certain amount).

You can give the donation in any name, and for any amount. You don't have to donate a certain amount per guest, you could just do a blanket donation of $x. To tell your guests, you could have a small frame on the guestbook table, telling them about the charity you've donated to. You could also have small cards made up at each place setting telling them about your donation. I've even seen a bride give out bookmarks that have the information on it.

THON 2009!!!

Every year in mid-February, I am left in awe of what college students with a mindset can do. I know this isn't wedding related, but this is something that always knocks me out of my socks. Students at Penn State are given the opportunity to give back, by giving up weekends, beer money, and time. It always amazes me what they can do!

THON is the largest philanthropic effort by a college and has been for many years. Students have designated weekends where they spread throughout the Northeast, holding cans, and asking anyone who passes for a donation "For kids with cancer." On weekends that they're not canning, they are calling corporations and sending letters. It is through this effort that they were able to raise $7,490,133.87 in the past year, which is up nearly $.7M from last year's efforts.

So where does the money go? It is donated to the Four Diamonds Fund, which operates out of Hershey Medical Center in Pennsylvania. The Four Diamonds Fund supports the families of children with cancer who walk through the doors of Hershey Medical Center. If their insurance doesn't cover the full amount of the medical bills, Four Diamonds covers the cost.

This past weekend, I was able to watch 700 students stand for 46 hours straight, without sleep, without sitting. They stood there "For The Kids." It's a pretty amazing sight within a time of recession that people were willing to put their hands in their pockets and donate. I am still in awe and get choked up when I think about it.

Wedding Insurance?

Wedsafe is a site that provides both liability insurance (Up to $2M) and cancellation/postponement insurance. For a $25,000 wedding in GA, you can purchase protection for $350. If it's something you're concerned about, it might take some stress out of the day for you if you purchase the minimum coverage. It may just add that bit of peace of mind.

Some Quick Honeymoon Tips

Starting to plan your honeymoon? Here are a few quick tips to get you started!

1. Set your budget, and stick to it! Make sure you plan on how you're getting to the airport, or parking at the airport. Don't forget gratuity.

2. Decide on warm or cold, beach or mountain, land or sea.

3. Know what the weather is. It's important to know if it is the rainy season in Hawaii(November-March) or if it's Hurricane Season (June-December)

4. It's also important to know whether it is the off travel season for the country you're going to. In most of Europe late August through September is a light season and sometimes they even close some of the local restaurants. But no worries, the main tourist activities and best restaurants are kept open. Just make sure to check on limited hours of operation.

5. What do you want your budget to include? Meals? Drinks? Multiple locations? Activities?

Website of the Week: NNichols

Are you looking for some great bridal party gifts or perhaps some favors. Well here's a site that will give you plenty of options at probably the best price out there! NNichole!

My personal favorites from their site are their tote bags. They start at $7, and are actually really great quality. I purchased them back in 2007 and I know that the 3 teachers in my bridal party are still using them as their tote bags for books, papers and all the other stuff they have to carry to and from school. They've got totes in all colors, makeup bags, and more. They also offer free monogramming on many of their products.

Types of Bustles Part II

As promised yesterday, here is the info on the second type of bustle:

The French Bustle

The French bustle is currently the more popular bustle for a lot of reasons, the first of which is that it is the safe way to go. If someone steps on it, it's much less likely to fall apart. It is distributes the weight of the train a bit more. It also carries the weight a bit lower and not on your waist=MORE COMFORTABLE!

It does cost a bit more, but is well worth it. Here are a few tips that I've picked up along the way:

1. It is better to have ties than to have loops and hooks.

2. It's good to have the ties numbered or lettered so that it's quick to bustle.

3. Have someone attend your final fitting so that someone knows exactly how it is put together.

Types of Bustles Part I

Are you trying to figure out what type of bustle you'd like to have on your dress? In this two part blog, I'll be talking about the two different types of bustles, the overbustle or "English Bustle" and the underbustle or "French Bustle."

The English Bustle:

There are three main reasons, besides the look, that one would select an English Bustle. The first of those reasons is that if the dress is made of a delicate material such as tulle or lace. This bustle protects the material because the bustle is formed by looping a reinforced section of the material to the bottom button on the back. The second reason that someone might want to have an English Bustle is to show off any beading or crystals at the bottom of the train. It's also a bit less expensive than an underbustle.

One of the major downsides of this type of bustle is that if not strongly reinforced, it can be torn and completely ruined if one person steps on it. Make sure to double check the reinforcement of the bottom button as well. My suggestion is to make sure you have many safety pins available and even diaper pins which are the strongest of the safety pins.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post on the French Bustle.

Writing Your Own Vows

Are you thinking about writing your own vows to one another? If so, here are a few things that you should consider first:

1. If you're getting married in a church, do they allow it? If not, you can still write them to one another and read them to each other after the ceremony, or exchange them in the morning.
2. Will you be able to get through them while still being understood. If you know you're going to cry, sometimes it's easier (and doesn't leave your face all red and splotchy) if you repeat after the officiant.
3. Make sure you practice. Your hands may be shaky, you might have a glimmer of a tear, and you might get a bit choked up. Practicing will definetly help.
4. Have a backup plan. If you thought you could get through them, but during the ceremony you feel too choked up, or you are getting a bit too nervous, have a sign with the officiant to show them you'd like to go with his version of the vows.

If you're going to write them, start early. One bride came up with a great way of writing her vows, and I don't think there was a dry eye in the house! She got a small notepad and wrote down every time her fiance made her feel special, and how exactly she felt. After about 6 months of notes, she was able to skim through and pick the perfect words for how he made her feel. She then gifted the notebook to him.

I thought that with this romantic holiday ahead, some brides might be able to begin a notebook.

Mashed Potini Bar!

Another favorite food trend of mine is the Mashed Potini Bar. I've seen it featured in so many weddings, and is always a hit. If you're thinking about doing a buffet and this isn't on the menu, you might want to think about adding it!

So what does it typically include?

-Regular Mashed & Sweet Mashed

-Toppings Galore!

For the Regular Potatoes:

1) Sour Cream

2) Shredded Cheese

3) Bacon

4) Onions

5) Ham

For the Sweet Potatoes:

1) Marshmallows

2) Brown Sugar

3) Cinnamon

The best part: They're served in a martini glass, so it adds a fun modern twist on an old fashioned favorite!

Website: Wedding Chicks

So one of my favorite wedding sites is Wedding Chicks. They've got great inspiration boards, and even have a local site that lists vendors in different categories. If you have a second, I'd totally check them out.

New Stamp Price!

I know it's a bit late in the afternoon, but for anyone still keeping up:

The price of stamps will be changing this May 11th, up by another $0.02/stamp. If you're mailing out invites with RSVP envelopes that will be returned to you in May, I'd suggest purchasing the Forever Stamps. They are still widely available at Post offices. To learn more about the change go to the website for USPS. They also have plans to up them every May from now on. Those of you in the very early stages of planning, keep this in mind.