From the category archives:
I’m excited to share this new venture from a group of MBA students/entrepreneurs at Columbia University. Olapic gives couples and guests a place to upload and share photos after the wedding. After all, while the pro’s pictures are great, guests often capture moments that your photog misses. Olapic makes seeing and sharing those guest pictures a breeze. Check out the website and watch the super cute video the explains the service.
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Think you need an expensive design program to design beautiful invitations? Not true! The new Office Mac 2008
I have a graphic design background, and when it came to my wedding invitations I had to design them on Photoshop and Illustrator. As much as I love them, they cost and arm and a leg and are not practical for the everyday users. Microsoft Office 2008 allows you to not only assemble things like save-the-dates, wedding invitations, and place cards with their new layout feature, but you can make wedding budget trackers. And it’s easy to use! None of this vector confusion. And, if your super ambitious, you can do a PowerPoint love story with photos and music you can project from your laptop at your reception… wouldn’t your guest love that!
For tips on using Microsoft Office Suite 2008, go to www.artofoffice.com.
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This post is LONG overdue!! Sometimes, being a wedding guest can be just as tricky as being part of the wedding party or even planning the wedding itself! That’s where Guestiquette comes in.
The website, started by the lovely people in the Hilton Family, has been working with Samantha Goldberg, the fabulous planner often seen on “Whose Wedding is it Anyway”, to provide information for the all-too-important wedding guest.
We had the opportunity to ask Miss Samantha herself some questions we thought might benefit our readers! Here are our questions (and their answers) for all of you Wedding Fanatics. 
1. In today’s economy, what do you see couples doing to save a few pennies? What are your tips and ideas for couples on tight budgets?
Sticking to a budget doesn’t need to be overwhelming! Check out my easy-to-use, downloadable budget tracker available on Guestiquette, where you can record your expenses to stay on track as you plan. In addition, here are my top five ways to save in today’s economy:
1. First, book and manage your wedding room block online with Hilton Family’s easy tool to save time spent calling hotels during work hours.
2. Second, plan your wedding during an off-peak time like Sunday to lower the cost.
3. Third, ask talented friends to “gift” you your wedding services (flowers, photography, etc.)
4. Fourth, look for more inexpensive dress options. Don’t be afraid to buy the dress right off the rack or even rent your gown (a great way to wear the designer dress of your dreams, without the hefty price!) Also, keep an eye out for trunk sales from your favorite designer which can save you 50-70% off retail (this can also be a great way for bridesmaids to get a great deal on their dress)
5. And finally, consider a destination wedding with fewer guests that also serves as your honeymoon.
2. As someone who has worked with tons of weddings and couples, what is the absolute best part for you?
I think the best part for me is being able to help someone create their wedding day vision. Many people are visual, which means they have to actually see props instead of looking at a drawing or floor plan, so I love helping couples make their ideas tangible, thus bringing those ideas to life.
There is truly no better reward than seeing a couple’s faces when they walk into their ceremony/reception and know it was even more than they had expected!
3. What are some major problems you find most couples struggle with while planning their weddings? How do you prepare your couples for these situations or deal with the issues as they arise?
Often, the fast-pace and trying nature of wedding planning can cause couples to forget to keep their lines of communication open, which can make the wedding planning process more complicated than it needs to be. An easy fix for this is to have each party list their wedding wants and needs at the beginning of the wedding planning process, thus making sure each voice is heard and nipping any potential miscommunication in the bud.
When I meet with my couples, I always ask both the bride and groom what they consider to be the most crucial elements of their wedding. That way, I can take those elements that a couple disagrees on and show them how it’s possible to find solutions that incorporate both of their tastes. You can get more information on dealing with tricky wedding situations here.
4. What are some of the best things a couple can do to ensure a smooth planning process?
It seems like planning a wedding is comprised of a million different details and to-do’s, which is why having them all in one, convenient timeline is incredibly useful in helping you stay on top of your wedding planning (and maintain your sanity!) Check out my comprehensive wedding planning timeline available on Guestiquette, which leads you through every step of the way, starting from a year before your wedding right through your big day.
Also, I think a great way for couples to make things more organized for themselves is by keeping a binder of wedding elements that have inspired them, including magazine cut-outs, photos, and other notes you’ve accumulated throughout the planning process. The binder will help provide each couple with the inspiration to create their own unique wedding style. Also, when each couple meets with their vendors, they will be able to use the binder to show their vendors the color and fabric schemes they have planned, to help inspire other choices. For example, it’s useful for the florist to see a swatch of fabric from the bride’s dress!
Thanks so much for the great tips, Samantha! Check out Gold Events for more info on Sam and Guestiquette for more tips on being a fabulous wedding guest!
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Yes you can! I got emailed about this and thought I would share it with all of you. It’s for 3 nights and the giveaway ends May 20th and the drawing is May 22nd.
When I was searching for a honeymoon destination it never occurred to me to try to win one. Now that I’m on the other side I see there is a lot of opportunities for brides to win things for their wedding. So why not, sign up for everything, what have you got to loose?! I see now that I could have had so much more for practically nothing!
You can sign up for the Sandal’s Giveaway <<here>> .
More info about the resort: You can win a three-night Dream Honeymoon for two at one of Sandals tropical resorts. Sandals has been voted World’s Best Honeymoon Resort for the past eight years in a row. Imagine scenic settings where the ultimate of everything is within your reach. Including the most luxurious rooms and suites with exquisite views, along with thoughtful amenities. Each Sandals resort features a wide choice of international gourmet dining experiences, complimented by free-flowing premium spirits, served by a staff whose greatest pleasure is making you smile.
One other thing to note, I was informed the winner will have to pay a $25 per night room fee, but who cares $75 for 3 nights at a top resort, it’s a steal!
Good luck and happy winning!
xoxo Siena
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Here is some great-to-know information from an insurance expert. Read up!
Cake- Check, Reception Hall- Check, Invitations Sent- Check…. you planned the big day perfectly and thought everything through hundreds of times, but did you overlook something that you and your spouse will need the rest of your life ?
Thinking about insurance is never something terribly exciting, at this point you would rather plan for your life with your new partner, your honeymoon, your new home, not something as dull as insurance but it should be one of the first things you should plan for to ensure that you and your spouse are covered from the moment you say ” I Do.” At some point in your life you have likely had to use your insurance it may have been just to get some medicine or for something more serious but you know how helpful having that coverage has been. If there is any incentive outside of that you can take joy in knowing that you will be saving money by having insurance plans together compared to being single.
Health Insurance
One of the biggest areas you can start to save money by pooling your plans is through affordable health insurance. It is very likely that there is a decent discount by either moving to your spouse’s policy or having them come to yours. If you are on an individual medical insurance plan, there is typically a discount to add additional family members. There is a good chance that one of you has a group plan from your workplace, if that is the case, check out what needs to occur in order to get your spouse on the policy and what kind of increase it will cause to the premium. This can be done either by looking at the policy yourself or contacting the insurance company itself or perhaps the HR department at your office. If both of you have a group plan then it becomes necessary to see which will provide the best coverage at the best rate and then drop the other policy. The process of adding another member to a policy is generally pretty straight forward and relatively painless.
If neither of you are insured at this point, it would be a good idea to look into individual health plans.
It should also be noted that if you are a younger couple getting married, and you are still on your parent’s health coverage, you will be dropped by that plan when you are married.
Home Insurance
If you are moving into your spouse’s house (meaning not buying or renting a different house than either of you lived in before), it is important to look at the policy in place for the home. As you will be bringing all of your possessions as well, the value of the goods within the home will be much higher and thus you will need the appropriate level of coverage. Whichever partner is moving needs to make sure that they cancel their current policy at their home or apartment. If they plan to rent out the place they should contact their current company and switch the status to married and see about getting a landlord’s insurance.
Auto Insurance
Insurance companies consider those who are married to be more responsible, meaning more economically stable and mature, and will typically have lower premiums for couples. For a young couple this particularly good news as young men typically have higher premiums as they are considered higher risks. The odds are you both drive and thus both have insurance , a policy together will generally allow for discount auto insurance.
Life Insurance
If at this point you and your partner are without life insurance this is the perfect time to look into it. Policies can be very affordable for a young couple. It may not seem like a good time to get life insurance but in this new phase of your life you will be relying on both of your incomes. Having a life insurance policy in place allows for financial protection if something ever happens to you or your partner and helps to ensure that they are taken care of. There are two types of insurance, term- which means for a period of time, and whole – which means for the whole life, and depending on your age one may be a better choice than another and thus you should look into both as an option and make the appropriate decision.
And Now For the Honeymoon !
Your wedding went off without a hitch and now you can go off to your honeymoon knowing that you have everything sorted out with your coverage. As you are now married, you will be paying less for coverage than if you were still single , per person, as you can get joint policies or family policies that meet your needs and allow for a good discount.
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Hola! Check out our newest feature, the Books and Planners page, on the right! Here we list some books we own and love, have read, or want to read. As you’ll see, they link to Amazon where you can purchase the book new or used. We use Amazon’s affiliate program to make posting books easy. We do make a tiny bit of moolah on each sale, but we’re doing it as an easy-to-use resource, not a source of income. Check them out!!
Have books that you think should make the list? Tell us about ‘em! Post a comment or email us at weddingfanatic {at} gmail {dot} com.
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Congrats to the gals at Southern Weddings with the launch of their FABULOUS new magazine! They lunched on January 6th and I’m happy to hear it is already a hit! It’s not surprising, considering their blog has been full of inspiration and other such good things.
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I am often surprised at the creativity of my clients! Today, while walking the grounds of a museum where she’ll marry in March, my client introduced me to yet another idea which will act as her alternative to a guest book . Many of my clients and acquaintances feel similar – guest books are now becoming antiquated . Creative "guest projects" are now preferred.
In the spirit of alternatives and trends, below you will find a list of the most interesting guest book alternatives that I have "found", heard of, and recommended.
Just a hint: If you have invited two groups to your wedding…one group for the ceremony + reception, and one group for ceremony-only, you may wish to consider using a traditional guest book to register attendance for your ceremony, then use the alternatives below for the reception (where guests will have more creative time to spend).
1. [This idea is from today's client meeting... ] The Guest Tree
(Note: After researching this idea is also sometimes called a "Wishing Tree")
This idea combines the idea of a guest book and a "best wishes" guest area. (A best wishes guest area may be defined as an area set aside for guests to write personal thoughts for the couple. Today, many brides still use photo mats for guests thoughts and signatures.)
Hint: You may wish to place a card containing directions for the less-creative-minded guests. (Being told how to complete the project is often times helpful.)
2. The Wedding Canvas – A work of wedding art
3. The Wedding Vase
If you are the type to place flowers in your home, consider purchasing a vase for your guests to sign. (Again, you may wish to leave a card printed with helpful directions to the guests.) If you are going to choose a dark vase, use a light paint pen , and vice versa.
4. The Wedding Quilt (Important: This requires sewing)
Have you ever seen patchwork quilts? Well, the premise of a patchwork quilt is to take squares of fabric and sew the edges together to make a quilt. Imagine then squares of fabric cut for guests to write well wishes or thoughts for the couple on with a permanent fabric pen ! You would want to have a table set-up with fabric squares, directions to the guests, permanent guest pens, and a "finished" box or bin where guests could put their finished squares. You could go shopping for your favorite fashionable quilting squares, or you could just purchase a generic set online.
A bit of Caution
Giving gifts to the couple that are used in daily life, such as aprons or plates, makes for a sad day when the markings wear-off when being laundered or washed. Although aprons and plates are cute ideas you may be happier with an item that isn’t used as often or as regularly.
Best,
Alisha Forrester Scott, Owner
La Ruche. event design studio.
You can reach AFS by e-mailing: studio@enterlaruche.com.
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“Going Green” is not just for a select group of people who care about the earth anymore. It’s “catching on”, so to speak, with everyone (well, perhaps not everyone, but a lot of people). And one particular event people are paying particular “green” attention to is, you guessed it, weddings.
With this interest in green lifestyles and green weddings, a wealth of information and resources have popped up – and thank goodness for that! Today I am so excited to share with you a fabulous new book on green weddings, by environmentalist and recent bride, Kate L. Harrison – “The Green Bride Guide”.
The book was officially released on December 9th, so if you haven’t already picked up a copy, get to it! I’m a big fan of books (and websites) with valuable information and ideas in them. Information that I can actually use, ideas that I can execute using the resources I have, resources that will actually lead to other valuable information and ideas, and generally useful. This is exactly how I would describe “The Green Bride Guide” – valuable.
Kate does a great job of helping earth-friendly couples put being green at the top of the wedding planning to-do list. Her book includes a monthly time line, tons of great, doable ideas, and one of my favorites, “Sustainability Worksheets”. She also includes a recommended reading list as well as a few resource page – all with valuable information on them. Some other features of the book include:
**Price indicators ($, $$, $$$) to help you get an idea on how much things cost
**Markers by information that is expanded upon on The Green Bride Guide website
**Side notes with FYI and idea-sparking tidbits and traditional wedding alternatives
**A whole chapter on “Planning an Eco-Fabulous Honeymoon”
So, if you’re a green person through and through and in the process of planning a wedding, I’d definitely recommend this book. But, I’d also say it’s a helpful resource for the “green” environmentally friendly couple, new to the idea of leading a green lifestyle together or planning an eco-chic wedding. You can go wrong with showing a little love for the earth!
Before you go, check out The Green Bride Guide website to find even more ideas and advice. You can also find eco-products, peruse real green weddings, learn from the lessons of current and recent brides, and grab a list of great reads.
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I have just recently come across two very, very fabulous sites.
I’m sure I’ll mention these in following posts, but I just had to share them with you now! Save On Crafts has SUPER great deals for all of you DIY brides (or wedding professionals) and Bravo Bride has some fab finds for wedding items that have been used and are no longer needed. Check out both before you purchase another single thing for your next event!
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