Archive for the ‘Advice’ Category

One of our brides wanted to offer a selection of dresses to her bridesmaids, but needed to communicate clear boundaries and offer tangible color samples. We found chic cards and helped her create a keepsake, like the ones below, that will help guide her long-distance ‘maids through ordering their wedding attire.

{ green wedding shoes }

The feedback from the bridesmaids so far: “THANK YOU for making my shopping sooo much easier!! Can’t wait for the wedding!”

Allowing bridesmaids to make their own dress selection can be scary – for both the bride and the bridesmaid – unless the expectations are clearly communicated. With one mailing we freed this bride from dozens of questions, and gave her ‘maids all the information needed to shop with confidence. Happy shopping!

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Sotheby’s latest landmark auction of  jewels owned by The Duchess of Windsor brought amazing pieces before the public eye. If you missed it, know that from the greatest love story of all time developed the greatest jewelry of all time.

So if you are lucky enough to have inherited family jewels, or are marrying into them, the question arises: how can you incorporate heirloom pieces into your ensemble?

Maybe you are lucky and the style compliments your taste and attire. Maybe you had warning, and planned your attire around the jewelry. If not, your gracious smile and creativity will make both you happy and your family thrilled!

{   sash |   purse }
{   dress |   hair |   bouquet }

How To Wear Jewels You Hate {don’t like} from the Family You Love

On your dress
Simple dresses benefit from ornate accessories, and a brooch works well either centered on a v-neck or at the tie of a sash. Earrings also work well in these locations, as they can be secured easily and are often just enough sparkle.

On your purse
This is the best location for a piece that, well, isn’t something you would have purchased. Best for a brooch, any handbag is enhanced by beautiful jewelry. Truly, this is gives you the best of both worlds: meme will see you enjoying her jewels and they won’t be in every wedding photo!

In your hair
This is for the piece that you like but is not perfect. Maybe it has a missing stone, or maybe it the wrong fit against the fabric of your dress. With the backdrop of an impeccable hair style it will be impossible to see minor flaws.

On your bouquet
Equally great for a brooch, pendant, or bracelet, your bouquet is a proverbial canvas – accent it as you like. Ensure that everything stays in place by working with your florist. He/she will know how to best secure any item to your bouquet.

When the planning for your big day becomes stressful or tiring, just remember, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. After all that wedding planning, not only do you marry your best friend, but you get to have the biggest party of your life, and then go on a romantic getaway with your new partner.

Here are some tips for planning the perfect honeymoon.

{  J William Photo LLC }

Discuss a budget with your partner: Before you do anything, make sure you and your partner are on the same page with how much you are willing to spend on your honeymoon. This is your honeymoon and it will only happen once, so make it awesome! At the same time though, you are beginning a new life with your partner, make sure you are realistic with expenses. You can still have an amazing honeymoon on any budget. For example, plan a trip during the off season at the location you are going, or fly in the middle of the week instead of the weekend.

Decide on a location: Do you want to relax on a beach for a week or be adventurous? Each couple has their own idea of a ‘perfect’ honeymoon, so decide what yours is. Have you always seen yourself in Europe, the Islands or skiing in Canada? The sky is the limit, so think about what would best suit you and your sweetheart.

Pick a time: Do you want to go on your honeymoon right after the wedding or wait a couple months? Sometimes weather can impact your decision. For instance, if you want to go to Europe when it is warm, taking a honeymoon in February or March might not be the best time of year. Also, sometimes jobs and circumstances only allow you to take a vacation during a certain time of the year.

Research: Once you and your fiancé pick a budget, location and time of year, start looking for deals. Typically, the earlier you buy the better price you will get; however, this isn’t always the case. Research the place you want to go and time of year you want to go there. If you can be flexible and fly out on a Tuesday at midnight instead of a Sunday or Monday, you might find a better deal. Look into hotels or bed and breakfasts you want to stay in, and how long you want your trip to be. Do you want to go for a week or five days? Do you want to go to multiple places in that time or stay put? So many questions, but they all lead up to an amazing honeymoon with your special someone.

Book your trip: Booking the plane/train/bus and hotels right away make your life a little less stressful. Don’t leave anything to last minute, because you might forget about it, or it might not work out how you envisioned it. If you are planning on doing a lot of site seeing, start thinking about what you want to do and when you want to do it so you have time for everything. If you want to just relax and not make plans that is also quite alright, as well.

Pack your bags and relax: With the wedding under your belt, you are now officially married-enjoy it! You already celebrated with friends and family and now your honeymoon is the time to celebrate with the one you love. Enjoy every second of it. Don’t stress about packing, if you forget something you can always buy it wherever you end up going on your honeymoon.

We want to know what you think. Where is your ideal honeymoon? And do you think it is better to take your honeymoon right after the wedding or wait a little bit?

Cheers,

Jen

Music is crucial for creating ambiance. It sets the mood for cocktail hour, enhances dinner, and develops an energy that brings your reception to life – so once you’ve identified the “feel” you are looking for, it is time to hire the perfect professional.

The editors of Brides Boston magazine asked us for advice on which local vendors are perfect for reading a crowd, giving off an old-school vibe, or creating a club atmosphere.  Without a wedding planner it can be challenging to find the right entertainment for your wedding, so don’t hesitate to contact us – our extensive vendor list will bring your party to life.

If you haven’t picked up your copy of the Fall/Winter Brides Boston issue, here’s a sneak peek…

Our network of regional vendors is the key to finding the perfect fit for your wedding style. Let us help create the perfect atmosphere for your big party – schedule your complimentary consultation today!

Cheers,
__Jessica

In reading the Beantown Bride post featuring RC Uplighting this morning I was struck by the impact lighting has on wedding decor. Earlier this week I spoke with a bride who is looking for a dramatic, romantic feel for her reception and really encouraged her to consider putting some of her decor budget into lighting – and this photo gives another great reason to do so.

{ beantown bride }

The simple flowers in this centerpiece have additional color and warmth because of the pinspot lighting. Lighting also lends to the overall atmosphere in the reception space, so it is far more cost effective than covering the room in flowers.

And what about crystals? If you are looking for a dramatic look and plan to incorporate crystals in your decor this photo really shows the impact lighting will have!

{ the knot }

My recommendation: create a stunning look and party ambiance through lighting and you will be happy you did.

Cheers,
__Jessica

Last week I posted A Groom’s “must haves” and thought this was too good of an analogy to leave out…

Rule No. 2: You’re the evening’s cruise director. Your guests look to you to set the tone.

Let me paint a picture: you’ve just stepped onto a family-free, 10 day oasis of post-wedding bliss that is your honeymoon cruise. As you leisurely float from one activity to the next, take a moment to consider this: does the cruise director get involved in setting up the buffet, handing out the daily programs, or even in cuing the fireworks show? NO! But he seems to be everywhere at every moment, smiling constantly and chatting with everyone. (seems like a decent job!)

Now back to reality — you’re wedding is 2 months away and the wedding details are still up in the air. Something is wrong here… this doesn’t make sense. Why are things so stressful leading up to the wedding that you need 10 days of ocean and sunshine to recover? The cruise should be the “icing on the cake”, not the “two xanex and call me in the morning”!

In the cruise director model, the cruise directors (aka bride and groom) whisk into the room with a large smile, excited to see each guest and chat about the fun night ahead. It is the cruise directors’ roll to get the party started with dinner, dancing, and drinks but, every so often, provide a show (your first dance), feed guests well (with a yummy dinner), and offer something fun to make the experience memorable (photo booth, fireworks at midnight, cigar rolling, etc…).

So, if you want to enjoy your wedding as you should — the cruise director style — how do you do it?

1. Plan ahead. Anything you want can be accomplished, so long as you start inquiring far enough in advance.
2. Prepare. Hire the right vendors who understand your vision and will transform it into a reality. If you decide to “do it yourself”, purchase everything necessary and explain your plans thoroughly to your wedding planner.
3. Delegate. Delegate. Delegate… to your wedding planner! Your wedding planner is the best source of stress relief/extra hands/advice so utilize this resource! Even for couples on a budget, additional services can be negotiated so you can afford some wedding planning time off.
4. Smile. Guests really do look to the bride and groom to set the tone for the evening, so be gracious and have fun — others will follow right behind you.

{ allegro photography }

Keep smiling!
__Jessica

On your wedding day, all eyes and cameras will be on you, and you want to be looking your absolute best. But finding the perfect wedding hairstyle can be extremely difficult and time consuming if you do not know where to start. But you don’t need to worry about that; whether your personal style is glamorous, romantic, or classic, there is a perfect hairstyle for every bride. The first step in finding your hairstyle is to identify your personal style.

All pictures taken from Brides.com

Glamorous

Dramatic, leading lady, jet-setter: With a style that’s sleek, chic and a little bit dramatic, you adore the spotlight and all the glitz it garners.

Romantic

Feminine, Princess, Dreamy: You have spent a lifetime dreaming of your prince, the castle, and the fairytale ending. Your closet of frilly confections celebrates your feminine side.

Classic

Timeless, elegant, ladylike: Your fashion sense is refined and traditional, much like Jackie O, Audrey Hepburn, and Grace Kelly.

Modern

Minimalist, trendy, simply chic: You are slightly unconventional but always fashion forward, and you are the gal who is always setting the trends.

Bohemian

Ethereal, earthy, free spirit: You are a little bit of a wild child and somewhat zen with a very earthy and pretty look. The style you sport is uniquely yours.

Beach Casual

Relaxed, breezy, pure: Your style is easy and pure. Your clothes show a little skin for an innocent and sensual look.

I hope you enjoy! And look for my next post, which will be all about finding the perfect dress to go with your personal style/hairstyle!

- Abby

At your first gown alterations appointment, ask your seamstress to save any remnants from your gown. A tip I learned from Edison of Madison Floral is this: to match/coordinate the stem wrap on your bouquet to your dress, Edison uses extra dress fabric. This way, there isn’t the need to distinguish eggshell from off-white.

If they are able, the bridesmaids should do the same when having their dresses altered. Difficult to match colors like teal or aqua will be true throughout the florals with an sample swatch. It’s even better than using Pantone colors!

{ martha stewart }

{ martha stewart }

If your dress alterations left you will little “extra” fabric, ask your florist to compliment the color with an accent ribbon. It will pop against the dress and will stretch the minimal amounts of fabric you have.

Enjoy the weekend!

Cheers,
__Jessica