The Quick List: Creative Save The Date Ideas

I was a bit conflicted writing this post because I am very against the wedding industry forcing couples to be competitive.  I want couples to be inspired by the creativity of the save the dates that I selected and look outside the box to choose a STD that is best for them.  I know, I totally just wrote STD.  It is actually a very acceptable term in the wedding world and it still makes me giggle a bit every time I use it.  Anyway, back to the save the date ideas... enjoy!

#1. You absolutely do not need a blockbuster budget, go simple and memorable! 

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#2. Go old school and create a 3D message. 

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Wedding Or Party?

Go ahead... give your best guess!  Let me know how well you did on the FCW facebook page!

Wedding or party? Here is the answer.

Wedding or party? Here is the answer.

A Remembrance Of Loved Ones

Many couples want to incorporate their loved ones into the big day and celebrating the life of those who have passed is no different.  There are various ways to highlight these loved ones in both the ceremony and reception, I have picked a few of my favorites ways for some inspiration. 

#1. Photos.  Probably the most common and the most diverse way to remember loved ones, photos can be used in many ways throughout the wedding day.  This bride kept her loved ones close by putting a photo locket on her wedding dress' belt while others choose to attach a photo locket to their bouquet.  Another way is to set up a special space at the reception with photos and rememberance candles, which a FCW client did for her wedding in April 2011. 

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Williams wedding 4.2.11, photo credit: KRR Photography Ltd.

#2. Ceremony.  It is such a nice gesture to include a short note about all the loved ones both you and your future spouse will miss on this special day.  Another idea is to include any readings or songs that remind you of these people.  Some couples choose to incorporate rememberance into the wedding ceremony by set aside single white roses (or any flower you choose) to give to the direct family members of those who have passed on or simpy having a rememberance table.  If you have immediate family members who have passed on, leaving an empty chair is a powerful gesture.

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#3. Reception.  Having a dessert bar?  Use some of your favorite family recipes and share Grandma/Mom/Aunt Becky's delicious treats with all your guests!  Favors are another special way to honor loved ones with a donation to a favorite charity or cause.  Some charities like the American Heart Association will even gift you special favor cards to explain to guests where the donation is going and why.

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FCW Favorite Finds: April 2012

Keeping up with the wedding & event planning blogs feels like a full time job itself but the reward definitely is worth it.  I am so inspired daily by other event planners and real weddings that I have to share my favorite finds every now and again.  Enjoy!

How adorable are these handkerchief invitations!  Oh and the bride designed them herself.  Talk about a sweet keepsake. Frame this baby in a shadow box with other day of stationary and maybe a wedding photo- hello parent gifts!

Guest Post: Military Bride Part 3

Welcome back to the third installment in a three part series of one military bride's story.  If you didn't catch the first two posts, here is the link to part 1 and the link to part 2.  Abby was a FCW client in October 2010 who has a pretty incredible story that started in a grocery store in Blacksburg, VA and ended up halfway across the world living in Guam.  She keeps updating her adventures on her blog, Seaweed & Sassafras, so check it out to see the latest.  This last post is about the formal wedding planning.  Enjoy!

We quickly settled into our little beachfront Condo. How many couples come home from work and walk the beach, or meet with friends to play volleyball? It was heaven. After a few months we decided we were ready to tackle planning a wedding. Now remember, Guam is a good 14 hours ahead of the East Coast, USA. So if it is noon in Maryland, it is 2am in Guam. Plane tickets cost about $2000 and it takes about 26 hours of flying to reach Maryland. It was obvious all of our planning was going to be done via internet and phone calls. After a few talks with my Mom, we realized we needed help; someone to help keep us organized and on track. Enter, Felicity. The first step was prioritizing what we needed to get done and when. We knew Chris would be deploying from November until June, so we started searching for a venue. Being 10,000 miles away from our venue meant no walk through for this girl. I had to trust in my heart to know it when I saw it. It helped to have Felicity and my parents visit the top choices and send me photos. I fell in love with Swan Harbor Farm the moment I saw it on the internet. It had sweeping lawns, grand old trees, overlooked the Chesapeake Bay, I swooned. We took whatever opening they had. In the mean time, Felicity and I would trade emails of decor ideas, colors, etc., trying to pinpoint some design elements. Chris and I share a mutual love for the outdoors and wildlife, so we decided to incorporate that into our theme.

When Chris deployed (for the first time) it was very hard, especially not living in the same country as my friends and family. But I did what every military wife has to do, pick up the pieces and make the best of it. We stayed in touch through email, a few port visits and just the anticipation of the day he would come home. He was always supportive, but let me make a lot of the decisions.

I was able to come home for the holidays. Three weeks turned into a whirlwind of wedding meetings. Felicity and I were finally able to sit down in person and talk through ideas, advice, tips, etc. This trip was also my only chance to find a wedding gown! There’s a little added pressure in finding a wedding dress knowing this is pretty much your only chance, but it didn’t take away from the special moment. We didn’t get everything done, but I left feeling like we had really made progress.

The Quick List: Sweet Decor On The Cheap

I'm always on the supreme look out for awesome deals on decor.  Always.  Especially when the decor can personalize your event.  Here are a few recent finds that are low on cost and high on fun.  Enjoy!

#1. Show off your love.  Pinhole Press makes it affordable to personalize your wedding day champagne or wine with your own photo to utilize as table numbers, favors or add to the beautiful table decor.  At $8.99 for 9 labels, this is a price that will definitely give you the most bang for your buck.  Fun extra: use these labels on champagne at the engagement party or order labels with a special wedding photo to put on your favorite wine to open on your first 9 anniversaries.

#2. Blow UP your love.  I'm super in love (pardon the pun) with these adorable heart shaped balloons from Mignon Kitchen Co.  I've seen a bunch of weddings with balloon decor and what says "hello, we're in love" more than these cuties?  Great for engagement, anniversary, birthday and Valentine's Day parties as well!

#3. String UP your love.  How freakin' easy is this adorable heart board?  Green Wedding Shoes posted the full instructions for this DIY heart which can easy take other shapes to match the wedding theme or even use the couple's initials. 

Favors Your Guests Will Love (And Actually Take Home)

Favors are a tricky area of wedding planning.  There are not required but have become so mainstream that many couples feel obligated to gift their gifts with something extra... you know, in addition to a lovely ceremony, (free) cocktail hour/ dinner/ dancing, etc.  Because favors are just that, something above and beyond what is expected. 

Now favors are popping up at lots of pre-wedding events too which actually makes more sense to me.  My preference for favors if couples want to give them is to choose either edible items or make a charity donation.  However there are always exceptions to the rule.  I have found a few great ideas for favors outside of my typical guidelines.  Never feel pressured to buy favors, but if you are so inclined, are a few more suggestions.  Enjoy!  

#1. Wedding cake flavored vodka airplane bottles.  While this is not the perfect favor for every guest list, if your nearest and dearest love cocktails, they will love this fun idea.  Pearl Vodka's wedding cake flavor is not just for the wedding though, this would be a great add on to any pre-wedding festivity; engagement party, bridal shower or bachelorette party.

#2. Instagram magnets.  Talk about personal and useful!  Using the instagram app you can make magnets of your favorite photos!  I like this idea much better than save the date magnets which looked dated after the actual wedding has passed.  You can use engagement photos (extra points for holding 'thank you' signs) or any photos that go with your specific theme. 

#3. Personalized lollipops.  No, not lollipops with your beautiful faces on them.  This fabulous idea from I Do Crafts is to use your engagement photos to create the illusion that you and your love are holding a lollipop for each of your guests!  Confused?  Check out this post with a full explanation or just look at the adorable finished product below.  This is taking the edible favor an awesome step farther and I think your guests will really appreciate your creativity and attention to detail.

The Quick List: What You Need To Know About Wedding Dresses

Most brides will not try on wedding dresses until they are engaged.  Which means that all of your wedding dress experience is based on movies, bridal shows, gossip and what you always HOPED your magical dress shopping experience should and will be. 

Well, there is a lot more to this than just picking a day and a few stores to shop.  I've pulled a few awesome articles that give brides the full picture of what goes into buying a wedding dress.  Enjoy!

#1. When To Start Shopping For Your Wedding Dress - The Knot

#2. How To Shop For A Wedding Dress Online - Geek Sugar

#3. 5 Things Nobody Tells You About Trying On Wedding Dresses - The Broke Ass Bride

#4. Another 5 Things Nobody Tells You About Trying On Wedding Dresses - The Broke Ass Bride

#5. What No One Admits About Wedding Dresses- Huffington Post Weddings

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Putting A Spin On The "First Look"

About a year ago I wrote a post on first looks, which have only grown increasingly popular.  In the past few months I have seen some great twists on this idea and I can't wait to share them.

#1. The "Not Really" First Look.  I adore this photo of the couple holding hands but not seeing each other before the ceremony.  Too.Cute. 

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#2. The Father-Daughter first look.  As a bonafide daddy's girl, I will definitely be using this idea. 

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#3. The "First Look Breakfast".  A sweet & private way for the couple to connect without the fuss first thing on their big day.

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Guest Post: Why Giving Your Photog More Time Is Key

Do you want good photos at your wedding or do you want jaw dropping, breathtaking, phenomenal ones?  My name is Cicely Procopio and along with my husband Jason, we are Procopio Photography.  I think we can all agree that on your wedding day you want better than good pictures, you want to have the best portraits your photographer can produce! What you as the client can do to get these stunning pictures is to give your photographer enough time to photograph you. I can’t emphasize this enough, the more time we have alone with the couple, the better and more creative the pictures will be.

Every photographer is different so I would recommend asking your wedding photographer how much time they would like with the two of you. We typically shoot the couple on their wedding day for an hour. Some clients give us more than an hour, but on average it’s an hour of shoot time with just the two of them.

A First Look is key, which is when the bride and groom see each other privately before the ceremony. Don’t cringe! A first look is actually so much better than seeing your spouse to be for the first time at the ceremony. We have found that first looks are more intimate, more personal and much more emotional. The only people at your first look are you, your fiancé and your photographer. If you don’t do a first look you will be seeing each other for the first time with all of your guests at your wedding is staring at you.

Also, a first look will make it easier for you to have a relaxed and fun wedding. Think about your wedding day. You have to fit in this hour of portraits of just you and your fiancé, you have to do bridal party pictures (that take 30 min) and family formals too. If you see your spouse to be before the ceremony, that opens the door to being able to do the hour of portraits of just the bride and groom right after your first look. You can check that off the list, done!

Then there are the “bridal party all together” pictures. Again, every photographer is different so be sure to ask your wedding photographer how long they need with your bridal party all together. We spend a half hour with the entire bridal party all together. So you do a first look, roll right into the hour of couple’s time and then a half hour of bridal party pictures. Done, done and done before your ceremony even starts! Whew!

Then, the only other type of posed pictures you will have left on your wedding day is your family formals. Some couples decide to tack this on before the ceremony as well. You know what that means? You can actually attend your cocktail hour or have private time with just you and your new husband/wife and relax after your ceremony. Or, if you are up for it, you can do more pictures of just you and your spouse for as long as you like during cocktail hour. Basically, if you do all your pictures before the ceremony, cocktail hour is no longer mandatory picture taking time, it becomes whatever you want it to be.

Any angle you look at it, we prefer first looks and our clients do too. They are private, more emotional, and they also open up your time line immensely for whatever the bride and groom want to do. Our advice for brides that still aren’t sold on the first look idea we highly recommend scheduling two hours of cocktail hour (not including travel). That way we can accomplish the hour of bride and groom portraits, a half hour of bridal party all together pictures and then a half hour of family formals.

Depending on how the day flows, some couples will choose to split up their hour of portrait time (of just the two of them) into two 30 minute sessions or three 20 minute sessions. It all depends on how their day flows and what they want to do. Whatever is best for you as a couple is fine, just make ensure that you give your photographer enough time to capture the images you have been dreaming about your whole life.

Enjoy!

-Cicely
http://www.procopioblog.com/
(All images credited to Procopio Photography)

Guest Post: Military Bride Part 2

Welcome back to the second post telling the story of one military bride's journey.  Here is the link to the first post in case you missed it.  This post is about the civil ceremony Abby & her husband planned before they were stationed in Guam and her introduction to being a military wife.  To keep up with her fascinating life, check her personal blog.  Enjoy!

THE CIVIL CEREMONY

We chose to have it in Maryland because it was faster than Virginia, and the courthouse was a stone building with a lot of character in a Historic District. My mom and I shopped for a white dress, my wedding dress. At the time the only wedding dress I was sure I would be wearing. I wanted something not too formal (there was still hope for a wedding gown later) but serious enough for the occasion. As soon as I put it on I knew. It was fitted, with ruching, knee length and a cute little criss-cross in the back. Nicole Miller had hit the mark. I came out to oohs and ahhs, I gave my mom the look that this was it. I double checked that it wasn’t too sexy and given the okay we bought it. The love for this dress is equal to that of my Wedding Gown. But I can wear this one all the time! This was shortly after the first Sex and the City movie had released and it just so happened that I had a pair of hot pink Manolo Blahnik shoes which I had purchased (on sale) with my first Big Girl Job paycheck. Oh yes, I wore them. My mom gave me her diamond necklace as something borrowed and my best friend gave me sapphire earrings as something blue. I was set! The groom’s outfit was probably picked out in less than an hour, but he looked incredible in sand colored slacks and vest, with a baby blue shirt and tie. I was impressed. And let the flip flops slide.

We decided to have a few wedding like elements. We went cake tasting and ordered a small cake decorated with a beach scene to represent Guam. We picked the Chart House in Annapolis for dinner after; his father had attended the Naval Academy so it was a nice touch as well. The staff there was fantastic and had menus printed with Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. H. They even ushered the family to a small corner of the lounge/bar when we first arrived as a make shift cocktail hour. Growing up, my mom and I would go to a florist every Wednesday to get flowers for the house, so the ladies there were more than happy to help us pick out some flowers for me to put together in small vases. They also surprised me with my Yellow Calla Lily bouquet wrapped with ribbon and pinned with pearls. How could you not feel like a bride? We also put together little favors of snack-sized bags of chips to represent where we first met and a few other favorites. We used my mom’s rice basket from my parent’s wedding as part of the decor which was a beautiful finishing touch.

Introducing Felicity C Weddings LLC Consultation & Gift Certificates!

I have wanted to be a wedding planner since I was 15 years old.  I love the logistics (it takes a special person to utter that phrase), all things wedding and most of all, I love helping people.  I have been so blessed to work with so many great clients and their families in the 2.5 years since I started my company.  But I still understand that hiring a wedding planner is not a financial option for many couples.  Couples who still need direction and professional assistance in perfecting their wedding vision.  

Well, I have found a solution!  I am super excited to announce the introduction of the professional consultation service for Felicity C Weddings LLC!  I am offering my planning services by the hour, so that I can meet with couples to discuss the specific areas of wedding planning that are giving them the most trouble.  It could be overall organization, wedding budget, contract review, vendor selection, site visits, decor choices, ceremony and/or reception logistics, timeline of the day, etc.  I will also be offering my planning documents a la carte to the hourly consult clients.  The consultation prices are $65/hour for phone or skype meetings and $75/hour for in person meetings.  Please see the FCW website for specific details.      

In addition to the consultation, I am also adding gift certificates!  Let your friends and family buy a portion or all of your package for you!  Of all the gifts on your registry, wedding planning should be on the top of your list- this is an incredible gift from a bridal party or the groomsmen.  Or if you are reading this and know of a recently engaged couple, give them the gift of peace of mind.  This applies to all clients; consultation, day of coordination, partial and full planning.

As a special discount to introduce these exciting additions to Felicity C Weddings LLC, I am offering a discount for anyone who contacts me and purchases in the month of December!  $15 off your first hourly consultation fee and $20 off any gift certificates!  This discount is not advertised on my website, so it will only be honored for those who mention it when contacting me.  Spread the word to family and friends then please contact me at felicitycweddings@yahoo.com to get started! 

The 411: Kids At Weddings

I'm sure that most of us have some foggy memories of going to a family wedding as a child.  There was a lot going on, we were in uncomfortable clothes and everyone was really tall.  The idea of including kids in a wedding reception has mixed reviews across the board.  But if you do decide that you want the magic that only children can bring to a wedding, read on for a few tips to make sure that everyone has a great time! 

#1. Keep kids in mind, always.  For the ceremony, make sure there is a clear exit for guests with small children who may not be able to make it through a full sitting-still ceremony.  Bonus for supplying a small book or QUIET toy to keep kids occupied.  Also confirm that there is a place for parents to take kids out of the reception room too, just in case.

#2. Make sure there you provide a kids menu for the cocktail hour and for dinner.  We all know that kids can be picky eaters, make sure you talk to the parents and your caterer before the wedding to discuss any allergies and the final kids menu.  Parents may bring cereal just in case but if you can minimize what parents have to bring, all the better.

  

Photo credit: Procopio Photography, Ford wedding

Trendy Wedding Signs & New Sign Inspiration

Personally & professionally, I have a love-hate relationship with trends.  Trends are a good thing.  They move society forward, one idea can be interpreted in many ways and can spin out into 50 ideas.  But when a trend makes everyone feel forced to follow, that's when I'm over it.  I really believe that your style should be a mixture of ideas, inspiration AND your personal style. 

This is no different for your wedding day.  The wedding industry is not exempt from falling into trend ruts (hello 'rustic' decor).  It's not that wedding trends are bad, but I always encourage my clients to personalize their wedding as much as possible.  This means taking something meaningful to you and using it in your wedding- a favorite poem, lyric, pet names, etc.  I've also included some creative signs that I really like, hopefully they will inspire couples to create their own wedding style. Enjoy! 

Trend: Eat, Drink & Be Married



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Trend: Just Married

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Guest Post: The Military Bride Part 1

Military couples have the 'normal' stress of weddings plus a whole 'nother level- civil ceremony only? ceremony and reception for friends & family? when? where? before deployment or after?  My first military bride in particular is unforgettable- we planned together for a year and a half... while she & her Navy husband were stationed in Guam!  Throw in the fact that planning with my Guam bride included a 14 hour time difference, her husband was deployed for part of her stay and she conquered a few tsunamis just to name a few reasons why this is one planning process I will always remember. I've asked her to share her amazing story and she happily obliged.  You can follow her adventures on her own blog and on here as this is the first in three posts on her wedding story.  Enjoy!     

“Do you see him?” I whispered to my best friend, trying to discreetly point out the cute boy on the chip aisle of the grocery store. Casually leaning against the shopping cart talking to his two friends, his hoodie, with “Surf Rescue” printed on the back, caught my attention. And when I saw him turn a corner riding the cart, you know how we all used to -- both feet on the bar in the back, enough weight in the basket to counterbalance you -- I knew I had to meet him. Fortunately, one of his friends noticed my sideways glances and made sure they got behind us at the checkout line. My girlfriend and I giggled and glanced, but I wasn’t sure what to do. Would he be turned off if I approached? The cashier handed us our receipt; it was do or die. My friend nudged me, handing me a pen, and said “Just go!” Scrawling my name and number on the back of the receipt, I walked the long 3 feet closer to him and found myself frozen by the deepest brown eyes I’ve ever seen. I have no idea what I said or what he said to me, but he had my number and, embarrassed, I walked away certain I’d never hear from him again.

My phone rang late Saturday night and the next morning I listened to a voicemail fueled by liquid courage and decided he sounded normal nice enough. Sunday afternoon, after flopping on all of my roommates beds and debating every detail, I called him back. Pacing around my room on my cell, we talked for about an hour. He was part of the Corps of Cadets which didn’t phase me, my dad was a Colonel in the Army. My dad had also been in the Corps of Cadets at Virginia Tech, and met my mom there. I knew what the military was about. Chris was a Navy brat and was hoping to be a pilot. Our first date led to a second, a third and soon we were officially a couple. My first experience with how the military would play into our relationship was his summer cruise. He was sent to San Diego for a month to learn about life on a carrier. I stayed in Blacksburg taking summer classes. It was only a few months into the relationship so I honestly wasn’t too affected by it. He came back to Blacksburg for the rest of the summer and our relationship grew. A year older than him, I graduated in December of 2005. This began our long distance relationship. He graduated in May 2006 and was accepted into Flight School. In the following 3 years, he would move every 6 months, to Florida, Oklahoma and back to Florida. I stayed in Maryland working and going to visit every 4-6 months. He asked me to move in with him when he moved from Oklahoma back to Florida, but the timing for me was off and I had to say no. I wondered if I had missed my chance. He became a helicopter pilot and got orders to Guam. I was crushed. No that doesn’t do it justice. I curled into a ball and sobbed thinking I was losing my best friend. He was going to be training in San Diego for 6 months before going to Guam and I decided to go with him. I figured the time together would help me decide whether to wait for him or call it off when he moved to halfway around the world. We packed as much as we could into his Camry, I sold my beloved 1994 Honda Civic and we drove across the country to North Island Coronado Navy Base.

DO NOT Come On Irene!

Weather is just one of the few details that a bride/ a planner/ mere mortals cannot control.  I have had a few close calls of rain in the morning but stopping by ceremony time and then I have had two weddings that had windy/rainy weather pretty much the whole day.  The show does go on but leading up to the big day can be extremely stressful if you have a less than sunny forecast.  While rain is one thing, the incoming Hurricane Irene is quite another.  I am going to a friend's wedding as a guest on Saturday evening, just as Irene is forecasted to hit the East Coast HARD.  And since I'm sure that my friend is not the only bride to be for this weekend, I've come up with a few suggestions to ease everyone's minds.

#1- Your planner/site coordinator has a back up plan but being flexible is key.  The back up plan includes not only moving any events that were outside to the inside but also securing a back up generator.  Being flexible may mean getting ready earlier to get outside before the storm hits for photos.

#2- Your guests love you. No one blames you for this hurricane. Ideally your guests have common sense and if it is safe to attend, they will and they will bring umbrellas.  Don't waste energy asking everyone if they are having fun, focus on enjoying the big day yourself!

#3- If there are food, drinks, people and lots of love then it will be a great wedding! If you have a large guest list coming in from out of town that can't make it, safety is always first.  I've had a blast at a 20 person wedding.  Don't focus on what is not happening or who is not there, focus on everyone who is there to celebrate with you!

And last but not least, there is this bride who had rain, hail and lost electricity for 3 hours of her reception but still had a great time at her wedding.  I found a few cute photos of weddings in rain, if Irene lets up enough for some photo time outside, take advantage!

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Balancing Your Wedding Planning In Our Digital World



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While I am completely for the technological evolution that allows people and ideas to be shared almost instantly, I wanted to take time out to advocate for stepping back from the keyboard during wedding planning.  Keeping bridesmaids updated on group emails, skyping dress fittings with out of town VIPs and of course subscribing to wedding blogs for inspiration are the key highlights to be connected online.  I've seen people on facebook sending out requests like "looking for a great caterer/DJ/photographer/site in this city. any referrals?" which is a really great use of getting real client reactions.  Yes, there are many advantages to the social media outlets we all use daily. 

My concern is that brides may be obligated to share every detail and photo on social media which can create many problems.  Here are three basic rules to keeping your sanity in this over-sharing social media world.

1. Limit the information you are sending out
Your betrothed, your families, your wedding party and your wedding planner are the people with whom you should spend the most time discussing wedding plans.  Constant oversharing is already rampant on facebook ("today I ate a turkey sandwich", "I hate when it rains", "I hate traffic, boooo!") much less oversharing of wedding plans.  Offbeat Bride even has a post "how to talk about your wedding on facebook without pissing people off".  How can this be a problem?  Do you have a huge friend/ acquaintance list that may include people who are not invited but assume they are invited since they receive all the updates?  Or are you not inviting everyone to the pre-wedding parties & feel awkward posting a status & photos online for everyone to see?  Posting photos of your linens, the bridemaids dresses or sharing too many details online not only leaves little to the imagination for guests, but it opens up a portal for every 'friend' to give his/her opinion.  There is a delicate balance to this, since I've also heard a lot of brides that complain their out of town relatives ask repeatedly for wedding updates on facebook so they can feel connected.  Each couple has a different comfort level with how much information they are putting online.  Make sure you speak with your beloved before posting wedding info to avoid any unnecessary stress.

2. Don't let social media turn you into a bridezilla
Whether it was on purpose or just an accidental effect, the wedding industry has created this overwhelming competition aspect to planning a wedding.  In addition to scouring wedding blogs, looking at your friends (and friends of friends' friends) wedding photos online can turn any calm, well intentioned bride into feeling like "I must out-do this wedding" or "my wedding is so lame compared to this one".  Every wedding is different because it is a personal reflection of your tastes, families, friends, cultures, religions, and overall couple style.  That is what makes wedding so fun to go to for guests, each one is a new experience.  Step away from the rat race and focus your energy on the aspects that will make your wedding special.

Variety IS the Spice of Life

If you can plan a wedding...you can plan anything.  It is a common truth in the event planning industry and after planning corporate events, social events, and weddings, I can honestly tell you that weddings are the most involved planning experience inside & out.  No matter which package my clients choose, weddings have an enourmous amount of details and required communication between multiple people (the couple, the parents and all their vendors).  Then you add in the emotions that come with wedding excitement and working with vendor timelines and schedules, weddings are the largest events in every area imaginable.  And call me crazy, but even with all the hardwork involved, I do love weddings because they truly are the most rewarding events to plan. 

But it is nice to get the opportunity to scale down and plan other events.  The only way I can describe the difference would be the difference between preparing for & hosting a huge holiday (Christmas, Hanukkah or Thanksgiving) at your house versus celebrating family birthdays throughout the year.  For 2011, Felicity C Weddings is already working on a weekend soccer tournament, an anniversary party, and a few corporate events.  I must say that it is nice to switch things up.  I feel so grateful to be a part of such a varied roster of celebrations and I think I keeps me fresh for weddings to work in other event planning areas.  I felt drawn to event planning since I was in high school- my love of organization and attention to detail kept my nose buried in wedding magazines & my mind focused on getting into the industry.  And in my personal life I never give up an opportunity to plan something special for the people that mean the most to me.  I know my posts are usually industry information-driven but I wanted to take time out to talk about what Felicity C Weddings has in store for this year.  Stay tuned & thanks again to everyone that supports my passion of event planning!

Love makes the world go 'round.

Credit: Lindsay MacDonald Weddings

Inspiration Station: St Patrick's Day

Although March is not officially wedding season yet, many couples choose to have weddings this month and some choose to incorporate St Patrick's Day themes.  This also works if you or your spouse-to-be is of Irish heritage and you are looking for ways to honor your families with great details, not matter what month your wedding.  If you don't want a full blown Irish wedding, choose just a few details like the garter or the shamrock in the boutonnieres.  I'm sure many wedding blogs will be putting out Irish inspiration boards today, but here are a few of my favorite details to add to your big day.  Enjoy! 

 

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Thinking Outside the Country Club

To quote Dave Matthews, "it's not where but who you are with that really matters".  Hotels and country clubs are such an expected wedding site that when couples choose to branch out for their venue, people take notice.  USA Today recently featured an article about a couple who had their ceremony & reception in the last place anyone would connect with weddings- a funeral home. Yes, you read that correctly.  A lot of couples are choosing to have their ceremony and/or reception in a place that reflects them such as on top of a mountain, a BMX bike park, a museum, ceremonies while biking, and even an aquarium to name a few unique sites. 

The important details to focus on when planning a ceremony or reception at an atypical site are the logistics.  Make sure that the facility is equipped to hold a ceremony- bathrooms, accessibility, and parking are obvious concerns.  And for a reception there are obvious catering concerns in addition to overall space.  If you find a great offbeat site but it does not have a site coordinator or someone who will sit with you to discuss logistics, keep looking.  And if you are not sure if your potential site will fit for your wedding, you can always find a wedding planner who will be happy to lend expertise.  Enjoy!  

 

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