Preparing for Those Rainy Days in Summer

From where I sit right now, we are experiencing heavy rain and possible severe thunderstorms later in the day.  What better time to give you some tips on preparing for your outdoor wedding should the weather take a turn for the worse on your special day.

I can't say it any better than from what Colin Cowie just posted about this very subject.  So, I have included the link here for you to read and consider using some or all of his tips in preparing for your summer outdoor wedding.

Happy planning!

Photo credit:  www.the-egallery.com

Simplify Your Wedding Plans with These Three Apps

In this digital edge we live in, more and more wedding "things" are being handled through digital means.

A few of the newest are these three amazing new wedding apps:

1.  PaperlessPost - This app is an event management digital e-card company working with high-end designers, such as, Kate Spade and newly added, Oscar de la Renta.  They have full wedding suites from which to choose to include save-the-dates, wedding invitations as well as all the "before" parties such as the bridal shower and bachelorette parties.   These beautiful wedding suites are as elegant as the traditional paper ones, but a lot more affordable.  This app also can track your RSVP's.  You will be able to view all your responses and replies from your guests, plus much more.

2.  WeddingParty - This is a custom app for your wedding to give guests all the details as well as being able to instantly take photos from your wedding and post and share them immediately similar to Instagram.  I actually was just introduced to this app for my niece's recent wedding.  It was great to take a photo at the wedding and post it immediately.  I love the digital age.

3.  WeddingHappy - This is the ultimate digital planning app.  This would take the place of your huge, heavy wedding binder.  No need to carry that thing around anymore with this app.  All your details will be in the palm of your hand on your phone.  WeddingHappy is your digital organizational tool.  You simply put in your wedding date and it will automatically build your customized task list with suggested due dates.  It has a wedding day countdown, calendar and will notify you when tasks are due, plus much, much more.  You can upgrade for only $3 to add additional custom tasks - well worth it.

What are you waiting for?  Download these apps now.

Have fun!

Wedding on the Farm

Ashley and Jim hired me to be their day of coordinator.

Their wedding was this past Saturday, April 13 on a beautiful horse farm at Serra Valley Farm in Mt. Airy, Maryland.  You could not have asked for a more beautiful day for an outdoor ceremony.  Their wedding was small and intimate with the closest of their family and friends in attendance. 

Ashley is very organized and a great DIYer.  She, along with help from family and friends, either made or put together all the little details that made their wedding their own.  Ashley also is a baker and made her own wedding cake and individual cups of ice cream in a variety of flavors to serve with the cake.  This bride is talented!  The cake was Tiramisu, celebrating her new husband’s Italian heritage.  They even had wine from a distant family relative’s vineyard in Italy.  All the little details made this wedding unique and their own. 

For the ceremony, Ashley had arranged flowers in a variety of Mason jars and hung them on the end of the chairs along with lace-wrapped sprinkles (because they love ice cream) for guests to sprinkle them as they walked back up the aisle.  After the ceremony, I hung the flower-filled Mason jars in the Barn on horseshoe hooks for the reception.

The reception food was tapas served family style by Isabella’s Tavern & Tapas Bar.  From the comments I heard, the guests really enjoyed all six courses. 

There was dancing and toasts and at the end of the reception, guests were invited to After Hours S’mores by the fire.  A great ending to a wonderful day and evening.

Congratulations,

Ashley and Jim!

Sources:

Location:  Serra Valley Farm, Mt. Airy, Maryland

Catering:  Isabella's Tavern & Tapas Bar

Photography: Yetta Olmstead

Rentals:  Premier Event Rentals

Music:  Shew-sical Entertainment Services

Wedding Coordination:  Patti Wilson of Smooth Weddings, LLC

CONTEST

I thought it would be fun to do a little contest.  I don't know.  I was just in that kind of mood.

Here are the details:

We will randomly select one winner to those who have answered correctly until 5PM EST TODAY for a chance to win a beautiful Lillian Rose Scattered Pearl Ivory Ring Bearer's Pillow pictured above.

HERE'S THE QUESTION:  What six items are usually included in our personalized wedding party goodie boxes?  You will need to go to our website at:  http://www.smoothweddings.com to find the answer.

Record your answer in comments below.

Please share this with anyone you know who is currently engaged.

SIMPLE RULES:  You must be currently engaged, wedding must take place in Metro DC area and only one entry per person.

HAVE FUN!

Win a Love Story from Suburban Video

Suburban Video, located in Rockville, Maryland, is holding a Love Story Contest.  Send them a video – less than three minutes long (with or without your sweetheart) telling your love story; like how you met, your first date, most romantic moment, why you’re so good together, the proposal or any detail that others may find interesting or compelling. Use a cell phone camera, Skype or film it with a home camcorder – whatever can be uploaded on YouTube. Suburban Video will then post your video on their website and Facebook page. They will also send out a tweet! The video with the most “likes” wins!

To find out more information on how to enter this great contest, click here.  You can also see a sample video as well as an award-winning love story to get your inspiration and ideas.

All entries must be submitted BEFORE February 10, 2013.  

The winner will be announced on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2013 on Suburban’s website, Facebook and they will also Tweet it! 

Follow these easy steps:

1. Film your story.

2. Upload your video to YouTube.

3. Email the link at LoveStoryContest@SuburbanVideo.com along with your name and contact information.

4. Suburban will post it to their Facebook page.

Share this post with your friends and family and encourage them to vote for you by “like”ing your video on their Facebook page.

What will you win if your video receives the most “likes?”  You will win one of Suburban Video’s Love Story Films – a $1,500 value!

All entrants must be engaged to qualify and enter.

Don't delay!  Film today!  Remember, you only have until February 10 to submit your entry.

story and photo credit:  Suburban Video

Wedding Trends for 2013

According to hundreds, if not thousands, of wedding professionals surveyed by Bridal Tweet, here are their predicted top wedding trends for 2013.  Click here now to see what they predict.  

Dear Brides, will some of these trends be a part of your wedding this year?  Please comment and share.

credit:  Bridal Tweet
photo credit:  Pinterest  

Bloomingdale's "Pre-Wedding" Wedding Party

Newly engaged?

Come on out on Wednesday, January 16 from 6pm - 9pm at the Bloomingdale's Tysons Corner, Virginia.

Scan your registry, enjoy libations, sample savory Hors d'Oeuvres by RSVP Catering, and indulge your sweet tooth with cake tastings.  Let the experts from Engaged Magazine inspire you with great tips for creating your dream registry and planning your wedding, plus, take home a fabulous gift bag.  Think of this as partying with a purpose.

Open a registry at Bloomingdale's during the event and enter to win a luxurious 3-night luxurious stay at the Hotel le Bristol, Paris, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.

Please reply to 703.556.4640.

info courtesy of:  Engaged Magazine

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I will be taking the rest of the year off to enjoy and celebrate the holidays with my family.

I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and Happy New Year!

Looking forward to a great 2013!

photo credit:  Patti Wilson

How to Find the Right Wedding Professionals for Your Unforgettable Wedding

Here are eight “must ask” questions to ask ALL your potential wedding professionals prior to booking:

How many weddings do you do per year?  How much experience do you have?

This is an extremely important question.  Ideally, your wedding professional should have ample experience specifically with weddings.  Not only will they be more skilled in their craft, this also makes them a valuable source of information and ensures that your wedding day goes smoothly.

Exactly how do you work your fees?
Price is often relative, especially when you factor in experience, reputation and expert skill.  Do not base your decision solely on the price.  Generally, the most talented professionals have a higher price tag because their value far outweighs their price and are worth it.

Is a deposit required to hold the date?

What specifically is included in the cost?
Because packages often vary, it’s likely that you won’t be able to compare one vendor exactly to the next without doing a little figuring.  The lowest cost isn’t necessarily the best deal; some higher quotes include services that you have to pay extra for in other packages.  Make sure you take this into account.

What happens if I cancel?  What happens if you cancel?
Find out if your deposit is refundable under any conditions.  Does the wedding professional have a back up plan if something happens to them?

Do you use a contract?
If the answer is “No,” run!  A contract is designed to protect both you and the wedding professional.  Don’t settle for a verbal agreement that won’t hold up in court.

Are there any additional fees?
Taxes, service charges and travel fees can add up quickly.  Make sure you understand exactly what is included and if there are any other fees you’ll have to pay.  This should be clearly defined in your contract.  You don’t want to hear “Oh, by the way, did you know you have to pay for…”

Do you carry liability insurance?
The answer you’re looking for here is “Yes.”  This protects you in case an unfortunate accident should occur on your wedding day.  It’s also a sign that this is a reputable business, since most “fly by night” operations don’t invest in insurance.

One final bit of advice: read your contract.  Make sure you understand everything that's written and ask questions if you don't.  There IS no stupid question...except the one you don't ask.  Make sure you know the price as well as cancellation and refund policies.

Go with your gut.  If something feels "off" about the wedding vendor...you're probably right.  Make sure you feel comfortable with him/her, you like him/her, and that his/her personality will be a good blend with your guests and reflect the tone of your wedding.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wish everyone a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

I will be taking the rest of the week off, but thought I would share with you a little blurb about the history behind us celebrating Thanksgiving Day on the last Thursday every November. I know I usually post this every Thanksgiving, but it is well worth repeating. Enjoy!

In the fall of 1863 the Civil War raged across this country taking the lives of the best young men that this land had to offer and threatening to tear the nation in two. In the midst of such chaos and bloodshed it would have been easy for the country's leader, President Abraham Lincoln, to raise a defiant hand toward heaven and question the wisdom of God. But, that is not what President Lincoln did, instead, he sat down and penned the following words.

"The year that is drawing to its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of such an extraordinary a nature ... (that) No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It is seemed to me fit and proper that they should solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens ... to set apart the last Thursday in November ... a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings ... and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and Union."

Happy Thanksgiving!

photo credit:  Food Network

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

As you are aware, October is breast cancer awareness month.

If you are looking for a great charity to donate to or participate in, I suggest Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, supported by the American Cancer Society.

Direct from their website:

"Every Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk is a powerful and inspiring opportunity to unite as a community to honor breast cancer survivors, raise awareness about steps we can take to reduce our risk of getting breast cancer, and raise money to help the American Cancer Society fight the disease with breast cancer research, information and services, and access to mammograms for women who need them. Since Making Strides began 20 years ago, breast cancer death rates have declined more than 32 percent."

You can donate directly through their website or get involved personally by participating in one of their walks.  Find a walk near you at Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

You may be able to find a local fundraising event in your area as well.  One of my friends is hosting a Pampered Chef Fundraiser where up to 30% of the sales will be donated.  I'm sure there are many more like this in your area.

Get Involved!  Think Pink!

photo credit:  Making Strides Against Breast Cancer