From the monthly archives:

August 2009

Unmentionables

by Katie on August 27, 2009 · 0 comments

in Honeymoons, Jewelry & Accessories

HELLO!! I’m sorry for my two and a half week absence. I have missed you. :( Alas! I have returned! I’m excited to be back and to share with you a little tip on some unmentionables.

I’ve gotten a ton of emails lately about great wedding lingerie. I’ll post about them eventually, but the emails got me thinking. Just because you’re shopping for “bridal” or “honeymoon” underthings doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune on them.

One of my absolute favorite shops is aerie. Yes, the intimate apparel store for tweens and teens. But, just because it is marketed to a younger crowed doesn’t mean you can’t find something fabulous for yourself! Check out these little numbers that work well for everything from the every day to the honeymoon getaway.

aerie1

aerie7

aerie2

aerie3

aerie4

aerie6

The best feature of each of these? The price tag. Every one of the items above is below $15. Nice!

Share This

{ 0 comments }

Making a difference, one wedding day at a time

by sarahkoci on August 18, 2009 · 1 comment

in Pure Inspiration, Uncategorized

The happiness of your wedding does not need to end when the day is over. We’ve shared ideas for when you’re feeling charitable before. But you can never have too many ideas — spread the love and make a difference. Here are a few ways to be generous to others and kind to the earth on your big day.

Instead of wedding favors, make a donation to your favorite charity. Trinkets are easily lost, but a contribution to a nonprofit can make a lasting impact.

Some brides and grooms list stores at which they have registered on their invitation or website. Add that favorite nonprofit to your list so guests can make a donation in your honor.

Use recycled paper. Invitations, save-the-dates, napkins, thank you notes, programs . . . opportunities are endless!

Use less paper in the first place. Send a simple invite with the date, location and time; direct guests to your blog or website for further event information. Skip the reply cards and ask guests to RSVP via telephone or e-mail.

Eat locally. Ask your caterer if he or she has access to fruits and vegetables from a nearby farmer’s market. You will reduce your carbon footprint and know you’re helping local growers.

The farmer’s market can also be a source for fresh flowers. If you are a do-it-yourself bride, craft the bouquets yourself using those locally grown blooms. Not crafty? Recruit a friend who is!

Share your décor. If you don’t plan to reuse your centerpieces, or components of it, donate the arrangements to a place that could use some brightening. Ask nursing homes, women’s shelters or community centers. The items may give the place just the lift it needs!

Don’t stop here. Let these ideas inspire you to contribute to others, on your big day and beyond.

Share This

{ 1 comment }

By the book

by sarahkoci on August 17, 2009 · 0 comments

in Ceremonies

Hello! I am happy to be joining Wedding Fanatic as a guest blogger. Wedding Fanatic is full of great ideas, and I am excited to contribute.

The guest book is a time-honored tradition and a special memento of those who shared your big day with you. Late last year, we shared ideas for guest book alternatives – we called them “guest projects.” Here are more ways to create a keepsake record of your guests:

  • Photo scrapbook: It was a privilege to be a bridesmaid at a wedding this August! One of my favorite touches was the bride and groom’s unique approach to the guestbook. The bride compiled favorite couple photos and used an online service to create a photo scrapbook, but left about half the photo spots blank. Guests wrote messages in the blank squares, creating a convenient alternative to the traditional cut-and-paste scrapbook
  • Heirloom piece: Handier brides and grooms with a love for heirloom furniture pieces might enjoy a small bench, side table or chair with guest names. Visit flea markets or garage sales for unique furniture items, keeping an eye out for a piece that fits your style.  Strip and prime the piece if necessary, then paint. Arm guests with permanent markers or permanent paint pens and give them free rein! Some may simply sign their name; others may add a splash with a message or drawing. The best part? You know you have one new piece of furniture for your first place.
  • Polaroids: Polaroid has recently stopped production of its instant film, but you can borrow the concept of instant memories for your guest project. Leave disposable cameras at each table and ask guests to take pictures of themselves throughout the evening. Meanwhile, at a separate table, invite guests to sign white cardboard frames, cut to the shape and size of a Polaroid photo frame. After the wedding, get the film developed. Craftier brides can crop or cut photos to the size of a Polaroid and attach with photo tape to the back of the frames. Mount into a scrapbook or frame your favorites.
  • Signature poster: Playful brides and grooms can spread out a roll of parchment paper, distribute markers and let their guests create a work of art. Use a long piece of paper and hang above a couch or along a hallway. Use a tall piece of paper and hang from ceiling to floor to create a vertical effect. The signatures, messages and doodles can be preserved for time in a glass or metal frame.
  • Collage: An intimate wedding is the perfect setting for a guest collage. Present guests with scraps of stationery, old movie stubs, postcards, tickets from baseball games, swatches of paint: any paper item that is a symbol of your relationship can be used. Each guest can sign one piece of paper. After the wedding, use decoupage and overlap the items together for a colorful, abstract, one-of-a-kind piece of art. Frame if you’d like, or mount it on a canvas for a 3D effect.
  • Plate or ceramic: Buy a large glass or ceramic bowl or plate; pick a color that coordinates with your wedding colors or décor style in your new home. Guests can sign the piece anywhere they would like. It can be an instant centerpiece! Just wrap it well for transport from the reception.

Share This

{ 0 comments }

Balloons Balloons Balloons!

by Lilian on August 6, 2009 · 0 comments

in Pure Inspiration

Looking around for engagements pictures inspiration, I’ve notice many couples are incorporating balloons. How fun and creative!! Below are some great images ideas.
{source}benpancoast
{source} CarolineTran
{souce} JillThomas

Share This

{ 0 comments }

Marrying in 2010? Top 5 Vendors to Hire

by AFS on August 5, 2009 · 0 comments

in Resources & Checklists, Wedding Planning

There are plenty of reasons not to stop spending money; the biggest being our economy not being able to improve if consumers stop buying.

If you are set to marry in 2010 THANK YOU for doing your part.  Being smart about how you will spend your wedding money comes down to logic and timing. Capitalism leans heavily on supply and demand, and so in the spirit of saving you money, I offer you the Top 5 vendors that you should hire NOW for 2010 in order to avoid planning snafus and fiscal headaches (seen below in order of importance):

[ALWAYS BOOK YOUR WEDDING CONSULTANT FIRST. THEY WILL SAVE YOU MONEY AND HASSELL.]

  1. Book your ceremony and reception venue(s). Prices for many regularly expensive venues have hit rock bottom and so now is the time to book! If you think that waiting to put down your deposit will afford you deeper discounts you may end up scrambling to find a venue that has not already been taken for all of the best 2010 dates (especially weekends). Booking one year in advance is standard and recommended.
  2. Book your photographer and videographer. Just like venues, many photographers and videographers have either dropped their prices or are offering substantial economy-related discounts. If you ever wanted an upgrade in talent now is the time to find and book the vendors that will tell your story in images.
  3. Book your musician(s) and entertainment. With many musicians finding "day jobs," the pool of available musicians has decreased. First, book your ceremony musician(s) (since the ceremony is the most important part of your event). Then, your reception, and lastly your cocktail hour. If you are opting for an "iPod" vs. a DJ, then be sure to book a qualified sound engineer to hook up and test all of the sound equipment and sound levels.
  4. Book your Officiant. Last year I said to book your Officiant 2nd. However, since it has become common knowledge that anyone can perform your ceremony with a simple online ordination, there are more than enough qualified Officiants to go around. However, do not delay in your search, as the most personable and professional Officiants get booked fast and well in advance.
  5. Book your caterer. If you are working with a venue that requires you use a vendor that they have provided, then go ahead and skip to the ‘bonus’ item below since this entry will not apply to you. **Many caterers can handle up to 2-3 events simultaneously, but as we all know catering is an art form requiring a competent staff. Many of the catering companies that I have met disappoint in one way or another. From commuication and fair pricing to tasting and presentation, secure your catering company now.

BONUS

Book your florist. Many shops are struggling to stay open, and so now is the time to book for maximum ‘fee forgiveness.’  Shops will consider dropping their delivery fees and minimum order requirements, so be sure to ask.

Share This

{ 0 comments }

Tasty Truffles

by Katie on August 4, 2009 · 1 comment

in Sweet Treats & Favors

Who doesn’t like chocolate? I’ll admit, I’m a fruity candy girl myself, but I don’t mind a few morsels of chocolaty goodness now and then.

I also like sparkly things.

Naturally, I wouldn’t pair the two together. However, that’s just what you’ll find in the FABULOUS goodies from Yummy Favours. Take a look at these things!

Strawberries

Don’t they look too pretty to eat?! This chocolate covered strawberry tower is one of Yummy Favour’s offerings. Other treats include truffles, chocolate dipped apples, and chocolaty centerpieces. Check out a few more pictures below.

Centrepiece3

yummu-3

trufflepackage PLATINUM (BEST)

Yummy Favours was created and is currently run by husband and wife team, Andy and Maria Moorhouse. Check out their about page for more info on them (and to look at Maria’s fab wedding gown).

If you’d like to order something from Yummy Favours or get a quote for a special order, just contact Andy Maria!

Share This

{ 1 comment }

I’m on a yacht!

by Katie on August 3, 2009 · 2 comments

in Destination Weddings, Wedding Planners & Coordinators

I’d consider yachts a rather preppy thing. I love preppy things! The best preppy things are those that are both preppy and “wedding”. So! I’m excited to introduce you to Stephanie Ginzburg from FantaSea Yachts and Yacht Club. I had the chance to ask her a few questions which you can find below with, of course, her answers. Thanks, Stephanie!

Stephanie Ginzburg

So you are the Creative Director and Senior Events Planner for FantaSea Yachts and Yacht Club in Marina del Rey? You plan over 200 weddings a year. Tell us how you got started.

Growing up in a small family of creative souls in Dallas, I had imagined myself as the sophisticated single gal, never to be married, a jet-setting flight attendant, forever twenty-something, professional and organized to the umpteenth degree… so not creative.

Something hit me the first time I heard …”Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today”. No, it was not Prince howling from the car stereo, it was at my friend’s sister’s wedding. I had studied the guests from the time of entrance, I peered over the shoulder of the attendants and observed the beautiful details of the swanky lemon escort card table, I gently touched the table linen and I watched in amazement and joy as the bride, clad in a shimmering dazzle of sunshine walked down the aisle. At that moment, I was hooked.

I began planning small events and weddings for private clients.

My husband’s father founded FantaSea Yachts and Yacht club 30 years ago. Over the years working at FantaSea, I have had the fortune of working with hundreds of couples to plan their special day. I love my job. I taken the time to learn more than I ever imagined possible about weddings and what it takes to pull off the perfect day for many a bride and groom.

Who gets married on a yacht?

Committing to Marriage on a yacht means that already, by default, I am working with a savvy couple not on the traditional path. It also means the creativity and the expectations are limitless. I can help guide the nuances of the day without the boundaries associated with a standard facility.

Each couple is given the task of setting out in search of the perfect venue, the perfect vendor selection and the burden of making these choices alone. I consider myself and the services we offer as the wedding compass, a guiding light. Listening is key.

Everyday I enjoy meeting with brides, having the time to be more creatively involved with details of their yacht weddings and working with professional vendors to ensure the day on the tranquil waters of Marina del Rey that they dream of was the most fulfilling path.When you find yourself engaged and blissfully searching for a site to hold your perfect day, come by and see me in Marina del Rey.

How are yacht weddings different than your average “land” wedding?

A wedding aboard a yacht offers you an opportunity to enjoy the surroundings in a comfortable nautical setting. Yacht weddings offer controlled environments. There will not be people on the beach in the background of your shots and strap on the Manolos, there is no sand path to slow you down.

What are some important things couples need to keep in mind when planning a yacht wedding?

Keep in mind that there are few limited private luxury yachts that will accommodate large groups (100-400) such as FantaSea One, with only 52 Saturday’s per year. Booking early is key when you decide on a yacht wedding.

What are some of the obvious and not-so-obvious perks (or downfalls) to having a yacht wedding?

The biggest perk of all, a captive audience! Unlike a hotel ballroom, you have an opportunity to spend time with all your guests. In addition, the fact that so many of your guests have not been aboard a yacht before, the perception of “expense” and “something different” enhance the ceremony and reception. People let loose and enjoy themselves, no matter afternoon or evening.

What do guests need to know and be aware of when attending a yacht wedding?

Don’t Miss The Boat! Fashionably late means not attending. Our couples are aware of the “tardiness” of folks and allow enough timing to ensure all guests have arrived and are onboard prior to shoving off.

Tell us more about FantaSea Yachts & Yacht Club!

FantaSea Yachts & Yacht club has been hosting weddings for the last 30 years. We cater to all types of “Couples to Be” from all over the country and the world. Nestled in tranquil waters of Marina del Rey, FantaSea boasts a fleet of 3 pristine yachts and a yacht club to celebrate your special moment.

We host about 200 weddings a year on our yachts and each one is original and achieves the specific wishes and dreams of our clients. I think sometimes people shy away from a yacht as a venue option for their special day because they think “yacht” or “yacht club” sounds expensive but the truth is hosting your wedding and reception on one of our yachts usually works out to be less expensive than a big hotel and more luxurious. We have done incredible weddings, all inclusive, beginning at $100 per person.

Another benefit in working with FantaSea is the great experience in the planning phase we offer. Once you book your wedding with us, we provide a turn-key operation from start to finish assisting and producing all aspects of your event from floral to cuisine to linens to even an officiant (All of our Captains are also officiants). I highly recommend having a look at our website and what we have to offer.

For questions, you can contact Stephanie at stephanie[at]fantaseayachts[dot]com or (310) 827-2220 x. 10. You can also follow them on twitter or check out their blog or Facebook page via their website. Smooth sailing!

Share This

{ 2 comments }