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.