Bridal Shoe Dilemma Revisited

     A few months back I wrote about how difficult it was to find the perfect wedding shoes without spending a fortune. If you missed it, you can read about it HERE. While I've been lusting after these beauties from Cole Haan, I simply can't justify the $400 price tag. 

     So I kept looking, and somehow I have now ended up with three pairs of wedding shoes...yes three! First I bought a pair from the Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose collection for because they were very affordable ($44.99 to be exact). And I like them, they were somewhat comfortable, but I didn't LOVE them. So I kept looking for something better. 


     Next, my good friend Adriane, who recently got married, happened to find a pair of never worn bridal shoes at her house. She had originally bought them to wear for her own wedding but later found a pair she liked more so she offered them to me! They are actually quite cute and VERY comfortable and they could be my "something borrowed"!

     But alas, I wasn't done yet. I recently got a fabulous pair shoes by Bandolino at TJ Maxx (love that store!) and they were soooo comfortable. So on a whim I checked out their online store to see if they had anything that might work for a wedding and came across these beautiful strappy heels. So I bought them too (hey they were only $39.99). 

    And that's how I ended up three pairs of bridal shoes sitting in my closet. Obviously I need some help so which do you think I should wear??

Themed Engagement Shoot - Don Yeager Photography

      I had to feature this awesome engagement shoot by Donald Yeager for two reasons. First, the couple, Jim and Kelly, are our very close friends! Jim is actually a groomsman in our wedding and Brian will be a groomsman in their wedding! Second, they decided to do a themed engagement shoot which is such a cool idea. Instead of doing just a regular old shoot, they really wanted their photos to have a vintage, WWII era feel to them, so they dressed up and headed out with Don! I really think he did an amazing job at replicating the look. Here are some of the images:

 

    So I challenge all you brides and grooms to get creative with your engagement shoot! Brian and I didn't exactly have a theme, if we did it would have been "really big waterfalls" or "hiking through a really humid forest" but we wanted a unique location and for the photos to look different from every other engagement shoot. Fortunately the Mclellan's had some great ideas about where to shoot so I think we accomplished it. For a couple of the photos you can check out a past post about it HERE. Have some fun with it! Get some photos that you'll really enjoy 20 years from now. Did anyone else out there do something unique or cool for your engagement shoot? I'd love to hear about it! And for more of Donald Yeager's great work, visit his website!

Raina & Jeff - June 27th, 2009

     My wonderful Boston couple, Raina & Jeff, were married Saturday at Belmont Heights Baptist Church followed by a rocking reception at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. There were a few reasons that I was especially looking forward to their big day. First, they are from Boston...my hometown, as were many of their guests, and how could you not love a room full of Red Sox fans? Next, I was eager to  witness a reception at the Hall of Fame since the next time I see one, it will be my own! And finally, they were just a super-sweet, really FUN couple to work with. They had so much enthusiasm and I will always remember our many long-distance conference calls fondly! Once again, I was fortunate to work with the incredible Evan Baines who photographed the day and I'm excited to post a full re-cap in the next few weeks! 

Creating a Wedding Playlist with your DJ

     Many things go into creating the right mood at your wedding reception, the decor and lighting are obvious examples, but often overlooked is the choice of music! It's important for the DJ to not only play songs that you and your partner love, but also songs that will resonate with the whole crowd. Many couples make the mistake of handing a huge list of their favorite songs to the DJ and saying "just play these, in this order, thanks". But that's forgetting the most important people at your wedding (besides you of course)....your guests! 

     I often advise couples to make 3 lists for their DJ prior to the wedding day. First a "Must Play" list which should include the biggies like your first dance song, and father-daughter dance song, and also some of your absolute favorites that you know you'll want to dance the night away to. Next, an "Absolutely Do Not Play List" which should include any songs you despise such as for example the Chicken Dance, or the Macarena, or the Electric Slide, etc.  Also make sure to let your DJ know that the songs on this list are not to be played under ANY circumstances, even if people request them. Other songs you may want to add to this list are songs that remind you of past relationships since those might be a bit awkward to hear at your wedding reception. Finally, put together a "Possibly Play" list of songs that you both like and certainly wouldn't mind hearing. You can even get some requests from close family and friends to add. This will help the DJ get an idea of the styles of music you prefer and what kind of crowd he'll be playing to. 

    Once you've handed off your lists, leave it up to the professional! Wedding DJ's work hundreds of wedding receptions and they know which songs typically get tons of folks on the dance floor and which songs will clear it quickly. Even if you may not love oldies music, it's usually a big hit with the older crowd. The best parties I've seen include a wide range of music, usually some jazz and Sinatra during the dinner hour, followed by really well known songs to get the crowd up and dancing, then a good mix of oldies, classic rock, and current top 40 hits, followed by some hip hop and more pop hits towards the end of the evening. DJ's are also great at reading a crowd and taking note of which songs seem to be working and which aren't, so trust the person you've hired to do their job and you're sure to have happy guests and happy memories. 

     What music will be playing at our wedding reception? (which is now in less than 100 days by way and I'm starting to have panic attacks, but I digress). LOTS of Bruce Springsteen! Not only is he my favorite musician but many of Brian's relatives are from NJ and are big fans as well. I also love most classic rock hits and pretty much anything that can be defined as "pop" music. Brian loves Pearl Jam so I'm sure there will be some of that as well. We also have to include some country music since we are in Nashville! And finally, I will definitely request Bon Jovi's "Livin' On a Prayer" because for some reason I always smile when I hear that song at wedding receptions...it just makes me happy. :) Stay tuned as next week I'll let you in on some of our plans for the ceremony music!

    What songs do you love to hear at wedding receptions? 

Full Wedding Recap - Jenny & Tim!

     Jenny and Tim were one of my favorite couples to work with! They were so relaxed and open to ideas and just wanted a beautiful wedding and for their 160 guests to enjoy some good food and good times. And that they did! Jenny and Tim were married on June 6th at the Owens Chapel Church of Christ in Brentwood with a reception following at Travellers Rest Historic House. Evan Baines photographed this wonderful day and did a fantastic job capturing so many little moments!

     

     I love the moments that Evan is able to capture in his photography. At this particular time, I had to hide Jenny by the side of the church since Tim was walking his mother down the aisle and they did not want to see each other prior to the ceremony. It turned out to be a sweet moment between Jenny and her Dad while the rest of the wedding party was lined up and ready to walk into the church. 

     If you look closely, you can see me cueing the flower-girls as the ring-bearers proudly head down the aisle! All the kids were adorable and so fun to work with!

     This is one of my favorite shots of the day. Jenny looked absolutely stunning as she entered the church! You can also see in this photo the door wreaths made of green hydrangea and the pew markers made of silver tin pails filled with hydrangea, hypericum berries, and ivory and green roses. 

     Jenny's style was very natural and she loved ivory, cream, cornflower blue, and shades of green. Rachel Short Designs did a beautiful job creating various centerpieces of square vases filled with cream florals, hypericum berries, apples, and tea leaves, tall branches with hanging votive candles, and finally lanterns surrounded by sheet moss. The bouquets were comprised of green hydrangea, white hydrangea, and ivory garden roses and the men wore boutonnieres of mini green hydrangea. 

     Nashville Event Lighting did a wonderful job with can lights around the perimeter of the barn and string lights between the columns. The rentals were provided by Music City Tents and Events and consisted of natural wood folding chairs, cornflower blue table linens, and ivory napkins. Menu Maker Catering provided a delicious buffet of mixed green salad, carved beef tenderloin, herb-crusted chicken (aah-maa-zing by the way!), green beans almondine, glazed baby carrots, and a mashed potato bar (are you hungry yet?). 

   

     The cake was a sour cream and almond cake with vanilla buttercream by Maples Wedding Cakes (one of my personal favorites!). It was a simple four tiered round cake with cornflower blue ribbon at the base of each tier to match the linens. 

Congratulations to Jenny and Tim! I wish you the best!

Tips for Creating a Wedding Registry

As promised, here are some helpful tips for creating a wedding registry that will be sure to please you and your guests!

1) Register early! Don't wait until your invites have already hit the post office. Begin creating registries at least 6-9 months before your wedding. Not only will you be less busy during this time, but any guests who may want to send a gift early will appreciate you planning ahead.

2) Choose more than one store. Anything more than four is a bit overkill but choose places with different price ranges for items and add some variety! There are now photography registries, honeymoon registries, even mortgage registries so mix it up!

3) Only register for what you will actually need or use (this is something my fiance and I had some issues with). You might think you need that juicer so that you can make fresh pineapple juice every morning but really examine whether you'll have the time for that (and whether you'll want to deal with cleaning the thing after every cup of juice). Keep in mind you don't HAVE to register for kitchenware or bath supplies. Love camping? Register for camping equipment! Do you travel often? Register for new luggage or set up a travel registry. There's no point in getting gifts that will end up collecting dust in the attic someday.

4) Keep gift costs reasonable and register for items in a variety of price ranges. This concept is really really important. There's no faster way to anger your guests than to have them pull up your registry only to find the least expensive item is $100. Try to mix and match more affordable options with a few splurges. And don't ask for 12 sets of $300 china place settings. Most likely you'll end up with two and you'll have to buy the rest yourself to complete the set.

5) Make it easy for your guests to find your registry. Now, this does not mean you can include it on your invitation....no....never....don't even think about it. The best place is on a wedding website with the rest of the information about your wedding. Create links on your site that direct your guests straight to the store's website. And for your older guests who may not be computer-saavy, make sure your parents have your list of stores on hand so they can readily give out the information when asked.

6) Check your registries once in a while to make sure items have not sold out or been discontinued. Also, definitely check your registries often around the date of your wedding since most guests will buy gifts in the two weeks prior to your wedding date or in the two weeks after so be sure that there are still plenty of items to choose from in a variety of price ranges.

7) Write thank you notes promptly! I know some say you have until your 1st wedding anniversary to write your thank you notes, but personally I think that's far too long and just rude. Find the time within 2-3 months after your wedding and send them out!

Ashley & Trey - Engagement Photos!

     I absolutely adore this couple, they are so sweet and I am very excited for their Nashville wedding next January at the brand new Hilton Garden Inn! The incredible Phindy Studios (yes I talk about them a lot, because they are awesome) shot some beautiful engagement photos last month. Take a peak:

To see more work by Phil and Mindy of Phindy Studios, visit their website! And if you're looking for an affordable hotel for your wedding reception or for your guests to stay, visit the new Hilton Garden Inn in the Vanderbilt area. The hotel is opening in July and they are currently offering some great deals!

Thoughts on Wedding Guest Seating

     I've been working on a variety of different types of wedding receptions lately, from buffets, to plated dinners, to cocktail style parties. Many brides are often confused on how to manage where the guests will sit and whether they even have to assign tables at all. Here is some tips and ideas to think about as you plan your reception seating.

Q: Do I even need to assign seats for wedding guests? 

A: Short answer, no, you can let your guests choose their own tables and seats but it will make things more complicated for everyone. First off you will need more seats than you have guests because people won't divide themselves up perfectly with 8-10 at each table. Some tables may only have 7 guests, while some might squeeze 12 chairs at a table. This also creates more work for your guests since they may have to walk around for a while asking "Are these seats taken?" before they can find a place to settle. It also creates awkwardness for any guests who may not know anyone else at your wedding. Honestly, most guests like having some direction of where to sit, but the final choice is up to you! If you do decide to forgo seating arrangements at least make sure you designate a table (and chairs) for yourselves so that you have a place to sit and eat. 

Q: What is the difference between seating cards and place cards? 

A: Seating cards (or escort cards) designate a particular table for your guests to sit at. These cards are usually arranged at the entrance to the party and guests pick them up on their way in. Place cards on the other hand are placed on the tables and inform guests which particular seat to sit at. These days many people opt for just seating cards and assign everyone a table but let guests pick their own seat.

Source

Q: How do I decide who to put at each table? It's really up to you whether to you group people by family and  social circle, or to mix things up and try to get everyone to meet a few new folks. Just be sure to put each couple or person with at least one other person they know at a table so they don't feel isolated. Try to put younger wedding guests closer to the dance floor and older guests further from the blaring speakers. They will appreciate the thought. 

     And finally, some advice for the wedding guests: Please sit where the bride & groom place you! I have seen guests move chairs, even whole place settings, and re-group tables at plated dinners! This completely throws off the caterers who now have no clue who ordered the chicken and who ordered the beef or how many to bring to each table. It also doesn't look so nice when there are half empty tables since a few guests decided to squeeze extra chairs at other tables. Please be considerate of the bride & groom's wishes, they most likely put a lot of thought into who should sit where, so graciously accept your seating card and take the correct seat. Who knows, you might meet some great new people!