Three Wedding Trends We Can All Agree On!

bride and groom wedding cake topper

Photo courtesy of Bunches and Bits

Dresses, flowers and venues, oh my! With each and every new year comes an array of the latest and greatest wedding trends and must haves. And like with many things when it comes to weddings and trends no bride has to follows them all. This is the perfect chance for brides to learn about the newest trends, get inspired and then bring their own individuality and style to the table and incorporate what works best for them.

In today’s world a bride wants to be many things but predictable definitely does not fit the bill. Those in the know say that as long as that special day is tasteful then really anything goes. Having said that, when it comes to weddings and trends for 2013, there are lots and it seems it depends on your favorite source. Various professionals, magazines, surveys and wedding planners have some different thoughts and views on this topic. But there are some trends that all the experts agree on.

Wedding Trends  -Have the Wedding YOU Want!

Rumor has it the biggest trend of this year is to throw caution to the wind and actually have the wedding you want. Imagine that! Gone are the days when a wedding is all about the traditions and customs of the day. And now are meant to be all about the couple that are exchanging vows. When it comes to that happy day expect to see less about wedding rituals and more about the personality and individuality of the brides (and okay the grooms). It is no longer about what others have done and now all about what the couple of the day and customization; the invitations, the music, the venue, the flowers, the guest list, the food, etc.

Wedding Trends  – Relax, Retool and Refresh, Reception Lounges

This trend started in 2012 and has continued to grow; Reception Lounges really have become popular and are hitting it big this year. No matter the wedding style or whether your reception is being held outdoors or indoors a reception lounge provides the perfect escape, for guests, from all that wedding madness. It is also an ideal chance for guests to take it easy, socialize and grab a bite, in a laid back atmosphere. A reception lounge can easily be customized but really it’s up to the bride and groom to make it as warm and cozy, elegant and glitzy, friendly and cutting edge as they want.

Wedding Trends – Eating, Eating, Eating, Food Trucks

So many wedding experts agree about this next trend and how IN fashion it is this year. Whether you’re a foodie or not, something that started in the last couple of years and has become so in style this year is Food Trucks. Food trucks really are one of the more scrumptious fads. And if you can name a variety of food it looks like there is a food truck that covers it. From classy to down home; from comfort to cultural food; from finger food to pizza, the options are endless and more importantly delicious. After a night of mingling, dancing, drinking and pure wedding bliss what better way to cap it all off then a snack from a gourmet food truck. I can’t think of a better or more enjoyable way for your guests to call it a night.

Traditional or modern, customary or stylish, intimate or formal, the options are endless. And with so many wedding trends on board for 2013, some questionable and some unforgettable, it will be inspiring year to see what trends and ideas brides and grooms will incorporate into their wedding day.

 

 

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Weddings and Wedding Pictures – Say Cheese!

beautiful bridal bouquet with white flowers

Photo courtesy of TarynMarie

Let’s face it; it takes a great deal of time, money and energy to plan weddings. When it comes to wedding planning there are so many crucial decisions to make and so many details to remember. The big ones include date, location, theme, dress, guest list, cake, what to serve and who to entertain and really the list does continue. At times remembering the bigger ticket items will cause the bridal couple to loose site of the smaller ones. Though I’m sure I’m not telling any bride or groom something they haven’t discovered themselves.

Picture taking is a very important part of the big day. If it’s been said once, it’s been said a million times, the wedding day is one of the most important and memorable days in a bridal couples life. As time passes, every married couple I know look back on this extra special day with the fondest of memories and will continue to look and re-look at their pictures for well a lifetime. Some say that wedding pictures are some of the most significant pictures taken ever.

Weddings and Wedding Pictures – Here Comes the Bride and Groom!

In a perfect world you only get one opportunity to seize that special day. Taking wedding pictures is one of the greatest ways to commemorate and externalize your first step as husband and wife and to remember one of the most extraordinary firsts as a married couple. So whether you go professional or you put someone near and dear in charge of the picture taking you want to be sure that all those details you toiled over are reflected in your pictures. To assist your photographer create a list of must have picture shots. In the end, by thinking this through and providing the list you will be happy you did.

By secretly placing a small camera inside the bride’s bouquet, Ben and Lyubov Horne of San Diego, took matters in to their own hands when it came to capturing their wedding day moments. They ensured the camera was recording during the entire event and they were able to record every single minute of their special wedding day. Now that’s taking things to the next level when it comes to wedding memories.

 

 

 

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Wedding Planning – You Just Never Know! (Fun Video)

red and black pub sign saying Wedding Special Congratulations

Photo courtesy of TheStylePA

When it comes to wedding planning and planning a wedding there’s not one single person that goes into it with the thoughts of disaster or misadventure. Once that oh so special and specific question is popped, we all jump in head first with the hopes and thoughts of having a most perfect day. Really so many brides have been planning this extra special time, at least in their head, for literally a lifetime. But sometimes it makes no difference how much time, money or attention one puts into planning this extraordinary affair “stuff” still can happen.

In some respects the thought is all weddings are the same. And while in some ways that is true in so many other ways not so much. The type of wedding one ultimately decides to go with should be a reflection of the likes and wishes of the bride and groom. And no matter what style of event that is planned; whether it’s formal or casual, at home or at a destination, indoors or outdoors, traditional or non-traditional, religious or civil, weddings can be the most amazingly fun experience. Whenever I am asked for a bit of wedding planning advice by friends and family, I always share the same tip. That no matter how much time and energy they have put into the planning, something most likely will go astray. So the number one tip; is be sure to enjoy their special day and don’t let the small stuff effect or ruin their happiness.

Thanks to YouTube we are given a firsthand look at exactly one of those “something will go astray” moments. Be ready to smile!

 

 

 

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If It’s September Then Wedding Planners Are Busy; Top Wedding Tweets

wedding planners tweets

photo by wordpress-style.net

Anyone that’s involved with planning weddings knows how busy September can be. With the last of the summer breezes upon us, many couples are getting ready for their big day. And wedding planners are also very busy dotting I’s and crossing T’s to make sure that their client’s big day is a success.

Wedding Planners Share Helpful Tips on Twitter

This past week some of the top tweets for weddings include; @Justweddingsmag is offering a complementary “Just Weddings” issue showcasing helpful tips and planning ideas, while this is not exclusive to weddings @Moo_Lolly_Bar takes a look at 10 fun facts about Hershey’s kisses (and come on kisses do relate to weddings…), @twoheartsshoppe shows us a novel idea for an invitation envelope where you can make a Google map into the envelope itself (and it’s a DIY project), and finally a great gift idea via @denimdebutante (okay maybe I’m a bit biased here) for the groom (as long as it’s from his bride that is) – boudoir photography.

 

We hope that these tips have offered you some ideas that you can apply for your wedding. And to all those wedding planners out there tweeting, thank you for sharing such great tips.

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Wedding Planning – We’re Talking Styling Wedding Cocktail Hour

Wedding Planning – First Things First, A Little Proposal, A Big Yes and A Wedding Checklist

two glasses of champagne toasting

Photo courtesy of Viking_79

Two small but exciting words “wedding planning” that include so much more than one would imagine. Until of course that day is here.

Once the question is asked and the person on the receiving end has responded in the most positive way all that remains is the planning, wedding planning that is. And to say that’s an understatement is well an understatement.

When that special moment does arrive there isn’t a bride (and groom) amongst us that don’t imagine a picture perfect celebration. We all think it’s all about the thrill and beauty of the day. But realistically there is so much to consider and plan for. And really it does takes a lot of time, brain power, energy and help to plan that flawless (fingers crossed) wedding everyone dreams of.

While this blog is all about planning a specific part of your wedding and not wedding planning checklists, I cannot go any further without mentioning one thing. First and foremost, whether you have six months, two years or more until the big day, whether you decide to hire a wedding planner (always a good choice) or go it alone, a wedding checklist is your friend, probably your best friend. With so many great checklists available on line and via other resources, before you get started with all those wedding details, find a checklist that will work for you. Once that is taken care of, let the planning begin!

Wedding Planning – It’s All About Planning a Styling Wedding Cocktail Hour

When tackling wedding planning, normally, the cocktail hour is not the first stop on the checklist. But we at plananevent.org feel it can be one of the more significant parts of the experience. Frankly each and every wedding element is important depending on the lens you are looking through. However the cocktail hour is the perfect chance to showcase the bride and groom and their personality, likes and uniqueness. It’s a wonderful way for the bridal couple to add their special touches as guests visit and feel welcomed while satisfying their hunger pains. Simply said, the cocktail hour helps to set the mood and get your guests revved up for what’s just around the corner.

Wedding Planning – Some Tips to Enhancing a Wedding Cocktail Hour

Who amongst us doesn’t just love a cocktail hour? It’s a great opportunity to enjoy a delicious array of tasty drinks and food, with some enjoyable entertainment while visiting with old and new friends alike, the perfect start to any gala celebration but especially a wedding celebration. Here are some tips to help you get stated with those extra special touches for your wedding cocktail party.

Be Consistent – When looking at all the wedding cocktail hour possibilities keep in mind that your cocktail hour likes and preferences are in line with and match the general wedding theme.

Decorations Set the Tone – Following the ceremony, the first look your guests will get is the cocktail hour, providing you with the chance to present your wedding theme, style, design and colors.

Specialty, Signature Drinks – Call them what you like, specialty drinks are a big hit! When guests enter the cocktail hour space, greet them with a specialty drink. By doing this you ensure your guests feel welcome while at the same time you lessen the chance of long lines at the bar.

Food Glorious Food – Your guests will be hungry. So be sure to have lots and lots of delicious nibbles available. There are so many hot food trends and a cocktail hour is the perfect opportunity to be in vogue.

That’s Entertainment! – Music enhances every event and is a wonderful addition to any celebration. However, keep in mind, there are various forms of entertainment including caricatures, dancers, strolling magicians and more. Find what suits your theme and preferences and go with it.

The wedding day is be one of the most special and unforgettable times in a couples life. And will be remembered by all for a lifetime. The wedding cocktail hour is the perfect opportunity to set the stage for what’s to come. So let your wedding plans reveal your stylish, tasteful and oh so romantic side.

 

 

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Weddings, Weddings, Weddings – Best Marriage Proposal EVER!

white and blue t-shirt with the words will you marry me

Photo courtesy of WikiThreads on flickr

Who doesn’t love weddings? I’ve planned a wedding or more for a living. For fun and love, I’ve helped out friends and family with their wedding planning. And I have attended more weddings then I can count or even remember. I am that person that is always lending a hand at others special celebration. Why not like most planners basically I can do it with my eyes shut. And really I don’t mind helping. But much to my Mother’s chagrin, I have never dreamed of that special day for myself. Nope, I have never imagined, fantasized or wished for any part of the wonderful wedding experience. Now don’t go feeling sorry for me, I am a happy woman and have been with the same man for twenty five years. And I really do mean it, I couldn’t be happier. And over the years, I haven’t had a single, not one single, regret.

Now having said that, once in a blue very blue moon while doing research or attending events I will see something that makes me think “what if”. I was doing some research the other day and came across what is being called the Best Marriage Proposal EVER. So for those of you that dream of that oh so perfect wedding, remember that can only come after that oh so perfect wedding proposal. And perfection can mean many different things to different people. So wishing them a lifetime of happiness and with thanks to Isaac Lamb and his finance Amy Beth Frankel get ready to smile!

 

 

 

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Wedding Planning – In a Word or Two: Be Prepared!

cute sock monkey bride and groom

Photo courtesy of Corinna A. Carlson

The big day has arrived. He proposed and you said yes and a rousing round of congratulations a waits! You are floating on cloud nine and you should be, but wait now the actual work begins. Let’s face it, most women (and some men) dream and plan for this most special day, the wedding day to arrive. It’s funny how some people long for this day; they start wishing and dreaming and planning for this time in life at a very early age. My sister just couldn’t wait; growing up it was all about the wedding literally all the time. I promise you by the time she was eighteen I (yes me) could rattle off so many of her wedding details; the venue, time of year, wedding size, wedding decor, dress, cake and even where she wanted to go on her honeymoon.

Wedding Planning –  Wishing and Dreaming and Planning….

Whether you are a person that has longed for the wedding day to arrive or not, lots goes into planning this extra special day. And when the time does finally get here it will speed by faster that you can say “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”. The best way to have the day you dreamed of is as the boy scouts always say be prepared. The foundation to a great wedding is to be yourself, be realistic, budgeting, ask for advice, don’t be afraid to delegate and yes be prepared. It is never too soon for the wedding planning to begin and whether you are working with a wedding planner or spearheading all the details yourself, utilizing a wedding planning checklist will be a huge (HUGE) help. By writing down everything and tracking each and every single item, you will be sure to not miss any details.

Wedding Planning – Don’t Forget to Enjoy!

Once all those oh so important decisions have been made and the wedding planning and organizing has been completed that can mean only one thing -  the big day is here. So now is the time to relax, enjoy and have fun, right! I know what you’re thinking, so, so easy for me to say. Relax…no way is that possible! As we have blogged here many a time, with so much that goes into planning a wedding something is bound to go south (and not in a good way). No matter how many times things are checked and re-check you just never do know what the day will bring. So take a breath, don’t blow a casket and really once the wedding is here there isn’t much you can do about it. Even my sister with all her pre wishing and dreaming and planning had some hiccups, the venue was tardy in setting up and the band was late, to name just a few. But she had it in her mind that no matter what happened she was going to go with the flow, not stress out and had every intention to enjoy this time. And you know what she did exactly that.

Ready for a chuckle? Thanks to our friends at YouTube this video proves you really just never do know.

 

The take away is things most always never go as planned. So remember to enjoy this special day and bear in mind that a wedding is only one day but a marriage lasts a lifetime! So be sure to take it all in and have fun during this extra special moment of joy!

 

 

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Planning a Wedding – I said YES!

casual man propossing to his woman

Photo courtesy of galeria_stefby

Congratulations! He asked, you said YES and then proudly announced it to all your friends and family. And only once you did all that was exactly the moment the terror hit. You’re engaged and truly happy about it and as we always hear, weddings are definitely exciting and fun filled. Though let’s not forget that organizing and planning a wedding is hard work, can be unbelievably nerve-racking and stress filled. Yikes!

So many wedding ideas, tips and details to consider and more importantly remember including budgets, themes, gowns, invitations, food, favors, flowers and the list I promise you will continue to grow as you continue to plan. From start to finish, truly there are so many things to ponder and remember when planning your wonderfully unique wedding.

Planning a Wedding – Say YES to a Wedding Planning Checklist!

Wedding planning checklists were created to help the bride arrange, coordinate and plan each and every detail needed to organize that oh so perfect wedding day. So first and foremost, a few things to keep in mind; starting with it is never, never too early to start your wedding planning, next be sure to utilize all available resources including the internet, books, magazines, family and friends and as I always tell my pals, there will be a blip, something is likely to go astray, so remember the wedding is only one day, the marriage is for a lifetime!

The experts say that most women have thought about and dreamt about this day for … well ever. And the majority of brides I know don’t have an open-ended, unlimited budget right at their fingertips. But if planned with a bit of imagination, mixed with some creativeness and some resourcefulness thrown in, poof a wonderful wedding is in the making. By utilizing a wedding checklist or wedding to-do-list, you are putting yourself two steps ahead of the game. A wedding checklist will assist in guiding you in the right direction as well as assisting in keeping all those wedding plans, timelines and tasks in check. So basically it will help you to keep on top of all the details involved in throwing your perfect wedding.

Planning a Wedding – When Planning, It’s All About the Wedding Planning Checklist!

No matter how much or how little time you have to plan your wedding as the day gets closer you do not want to be the one in a mad, panicked rush. An agitated, flustered bride, trying to get everything accomplished at the last minute is not good. By using a wedding checklist, where you can remove and add items as you plan, will enable you to list all the details in priority order along with the timeline they must be accomplished by. Like a snowflake, wedding planning is very different for each bride and varies based on so many factors starting with the bride and including wedding size, season, location and so much more. A wedding checklist not only becomes your right hand woman, top assistant it really does help in keeping the bride and on top of and accountable to all things wedding!

By utilizing a wedding planning checklist when the big day does finally arrive the bride will be able to take it all in and truly enjoy the fruits of her labor. And really experience this special day in the best way possible!

 

 

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When It Comes to Planning Weddings Love Is in the Eye of the Beholder (Comedy Video)

planning weddingsAnybody planning weddings know all too well that the devil is in the details. Like any event planning, weddings involve a great deal of organizing. There are many details that need to be ironed out and solidified before the big day. Usually the one thing the wedding planner does not have to worry about is that the two main attractions of the big day are already committed to the event.

Or have they?

Wedding Planning Involves Ensuring All of the Small Details Are Attended to

So when the big day comes, pretty much all of the planning has been finalized and now it’s a matter of making sure that everything falls into place. I’m sure many a bride or groom have had those nightmares where they’re standing at the altar and no one remembered to bring the rings.

In the comedy video below, we start out with the groom forgetting the ring. Well the groom sprung into action and made arrangements for a taxi to get the ring to the wedding. Problem solved – until the whole thing backfires when the wife to be falls in love with the stranger that is delivering the ring.


 

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3 Tips for Wedding Planning on a Budget

wedding planning on a budget

photo by wedding-photography -liverpool.com

If it’s spring it must be wedding season. We’re starting to hear the horn honking and seeing the white limos with the happy couple as they embark on their journey as husband and wife. But with wedding planning often comes the financial stress as one realizes that the costs can soon add up. There are ways that you can still have your cake and eat it too (sorry I just couldn’t resist the pun here).

Wedding Planning Tips for Invitation

Invitations are one of the first areas we begin to spend money. Obviously it’s important that you get the invitations out well ahead of time in order for you to have a clear indication of how many people you can expect on your big day. And wedding invitations are not cheap.

One way that you may want to consider reducing costs as part of your overall wedding planning is to consider sending your invitations electronically. Some people may think that an electronic invitation is less personal and, truth be told, that really is a personal decision. But I also know that in today’s world electronic communication is becoming the most popular method, especially for young people. There are many great wedding websites that you can set up quickly and easily. The beauty about these websites is that there is also a mechanism that will allow you to track responses as well as to communicate with people who have not acknowledged the invitation. A great tracking system.

If traditional invitations are a must then the size of the invitation as well as weight are important factors to consider. The size is important as you do not want an abnormal mailing piece which will cost you additional postage. The same goes with weight. Talk to your local post office ahead of time so that you have a clear understanding of what sizes and weights you can work with to keep your cost to a minimum.

Wedding Planning Tips for Transportation

Those white limousines may look fairytale like, but boy do they come at a cost. White limousines are in high demand during waiting season. The cost can be almost double that of the regular colored limousine and availability can be another issue altogether. If your wedding is occurring during high season, you can still have limousine transportation but try and look at different vehicle sizes and colors rather than being stuck on a white limo. You’ll be very surprised at what you be able to get and how much you’ll be able to save.

Wedding Planning Tips for Venues

Today it’s becoming very common for wedding themes to be unique. In other words it’s not your parents wedding planning anymore. There are a number of factors that you can consider when selecting a venue that will help you keep your costs at a minimum while providing you with an exciting venue at the same time.

The first rule would be to look for a venue that has their own in-house kitchen. This will save you a bundle in catering costs as your caterer will not need to bring in extra kitchen equipment and supplies all of which would be charged to you.

Food and beverage can be a huge portion of your overall wedding budget. If this area is of concern, maybe consider having an evening wedding where the format is more reception in style. In other words, have it after dinner and then you can offer your guests hors d’oeuvres or a light buffet. They’ll love the format because it’s not taking up their entire day. And the bride and groom are able to circulate much easier with the reception format.

Wedding planning can be stressful. But there are ways that you can still pull off an exceptional wedding without blowing your budget. Instead of looking at the overall picture break down each component of your wedding and look at alternative ways of addressing those components. You’ll be very surprised the savings you can achieve.

 

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