Real Wedding: Chandra & Carl

To date I think this is my favorite couple.  I hate to say that because I love all of my brides.  I mean after spending 9+ months with someone, you're kinda forced to have a relationship with them.  LOL!  But Chandra and Carl were different.  From the start Chandra knew EXACTLY what she wanted.  I love this wedding because there was no detail left out, down to the monogrammed hand towels in the bathrooms next to the monogrammed jars of mints to make sure your breath was minty fresh on the dance floor.  Akeem Clayton Design did a magnificent job on décor and Scobey Photography captured every moment beautifully.  Check out the Fall/Winter 2013 issue of The Knot Georgia to see this wedding featured.

 

 

 

 

 

The WEDucator

Every now and again, we have a chance to sit down and talk to some really wonderful and insightful people.  This week we had lunch with the Weducator, a colleague and former wedding planner herself. She has now stepped into a new phase in her career and is now educating brides who are starting out on their planning journey.  These are just a few things we discussed:

3 Reasons Every Bride Needs a Wedding Planner

It is exciting to see more brides hiring Wedding Planners than the number that did so 15 years ago when I started planning weddings. Back then, a Wedding Planner was considered more of a luxury than a necessity. But today's weddings have become big and bold productions that put brides and grooms on full blast. So what was once as simple as "momma and them" getting together to help a bride prepare for the big day is accomplished with the skill and talent of a small army of professionals.

As weddings become more detailed, the tasks associated with the plans and the decisions that need to be made are more demanding. But when a bride chooses a Wedding Planner that really understands their role, and is able to focus on the people, logistics, and time (PLTs) of a wedding ... much of the brides stress can be eliminated. So here are my top 3 reasons why every bride should hire a Wedding Planner: 

1.     To protect relationships.

If I had a dollar for every bride who shared a nightmare experience about a family member that didn't come through, or a friend who backed out and left them hanging ... I would be rich. It seems like a good idea (and let's be honest ... A CHEAP WAY TO GET HELP), but friends and family should be helping you to celebrate ... not in on the work of planning. No matter how excited they are for you and how much they "want" to help, when it comes down to it ... and especially the day of the wedding, they want to be guests and participate in the fun. So let them!

2.     To save time.

Planning a wedding takes a lot of time, and the time investment you make is physical and mental. Even when you aren't DOING something for the wedding, you are THINKING about it. Sure there are checklists out there to follow, but they don't come with the 1-2-3 instruction you need to know how to complete a task or where to find things. Even going out to 'search' for vendors is time consuming when you begin to add up the number of hours you spend meeting with them. Wedding Planners can cut your time in half because they already know what to do, when to do it, and who can help. So put your time in finding the right Wedding Planner and hire them to guide you through the rest.

3.     To save money.

Unlike your friends and family, a professional Wedding Planner doesn't have an emotional investment in your wedding, so they can help you carefully weigh your decisions without bias. As such, they should be able to help you control expenses with great budgeting techniques. They should be current enough to share the latest trends, but financially savvy enough to show you creative ways to achieve the same look without breaking the bank. Not to mention, the vendor relationships professional Wedding Planners have sometimes come with savings opportunities.

Want more tips from Tia? Visit http://theweducator.com/dear-bride.   

Summer Trending | Tie the Knot in Style

Another season hits the wedding day aisle, and this month (and the months to follow) is sure to be filled with some of the fun, vibrant and ridiculously creative things we’ve got on tap.

Before you lock down your ideas into contracts, consider some of these fun, new ways to say, “I Do” in style.

Flower Balls – Lush, simple pops of color make these alternatives to traditional bouquets perfect for hot, summer weddings, where a petal can wilt faster than your curls. Especially for a preppy, outdoor wedding, these add dimension and personality to an otherwise simple design scheme.

Boots, Sneakers and Sandals – It’s hot. Feet sweat. They swell. And you know no one dances to their full potential with sore toes. So, consider adding some funky flair to your wedding day with matching sneakers on the men, fun boots on the girls, or even an airy pair of sparkly flats for the bridesmaids to don down the aisle. Your friends’ feet will thank you.

Gatsby – It’s all about Gatsby this year, no matter what season it is. Headpieces, glitz and airy fashion just about makes any celebration reminiscent of the roaring 20’s. Gift your bridesmaids with something fun to add to their hairstyle, or swap your groomsmen’s silks for linen bow ties. Use candlelight to add drama to the reception and think about doing your dance party outside, where your guest can boogy as hard as they did in the West Egg.

Now you're ready... set... and gone with style! :)

Real Wedding: Candace & Kofi

Candice and Kofi are one of the sweetest and most genuine couples I've ever met.  Their Ghanaian + American fusion wedding was a blast.  They took the season's hottest colors, coral and navy, and made them their own in this cutieful rustic wedding.  Nothing says rustic like hanging lanterns, farm tables and moss.  Lacey with Scobey Photography was right there to capture every detail... 

 

A absolutely gorg ending to this Ghanaian + American wedding! 

What’s Black, White & CORAL all over?

Coral is one of this season's hottest colors and what better way to make it pop than to put it against this fab black and white pattern!  Bolu and Ken wanted a black and white wedding with a modern twist so they added coral and did a great job pulling it off with black & white stripes.  Photographed beautifully by Milanes Photography.  Take a peek and see why we fell in love with this wedding... 

Our beautiful bride getting ready, everything looks fabulous from her dress and shoes to her make up!

This classic black and white wedding was enhanced with the beautiful touch of coral that was seen everywhere from the flowers to the table arrangements. The coral was a stunning and unexpected against the black and white stripes displayed on the tables and center isle.  Perfect, right? I mean what girl doesn’t love anything close to pink?

Even the candy bar and the guest table had the pop of coral that just tied everything together flawlessly!

Better Safe than Soggy… and other quips on wedding venues

So, you’ve got the ring, you’ve set the date and everything is falling into place… except the space. Often a stressor of everyday wedding planning, it’s without a doubt the first place to start and the foundation to the entire big-day process!

I always say, “location, location, location.” And it really is THAT important. Where you choose to say your “I Do’s” it's not only the biggest decision you'll make but will set the tone for the entire celebration.

Then you can worry about the lights, the colors, the parking situation… and for those of you brides anxious to blush under the oak trees and in the meadows of your favorite towns, you’ve got to think about the rain… and the wind!

For the latter, few things come close to a flawless outdoor fete. A springy field packed with wispy wildflowers and the cutest DIY details just about guarantees adorable pictures. But, when choosing an outdoor venue, make sure you have a rain plan. Be it a tent, a nearby venue or the cutest bulk order of umbrellas you can find, rain isn't the end of the world, but it’s sure better to be safe than soggy!

For the weather conscious and trendy, but traditional brides, when you're choosing an indoor space make sure it matches the look and feel of your wedding (without the décor ideas).  This means, don't choose a traditional venue and try to modernize it with the decor.  You will end up spending more to change the look. Find a space that already stands for what you’re style is and get inspired to enhance that with your personal touch.

Bottom line? Don’t sweat the precipitation or the ballroom palette – your wedding day is about the beginning of a beautiful love story that can only gain sentiment with funny stories later about the carpet or the thunderstorms.