May

11

Fall Internships

Company News  Posted by

As experienced planners, we feel an obligation to help out those that have a passion for wedding planning. We offer two internships a year, one for the spring semester and one for the fall. We are currently accepting applications for our Fall 2012 internship; interviews will begin in July.

Interns must be enrolled in a Bachelor’s/Master’s program at an accredited college or university and provide documentation from their school stating they are able to receive academic credit for this internship. The internship requires a minimum of 12 hours in the office each week, and you must be

In addition to these internships, we also offer apprenticeship opportunities to our fellow members of the Association of Bridal Consultants. available on weekends.

You may be asking, what’s the difference? An internship is designed for a student to shadow in the office and during events for 4-5 months. An apprenticeship is an intense, hands-on two-day experience designed for those that have already completed coursework or have worked in the wedding industry.

For more information on these opportunities, please visit this page: http://www.firstcoastweddings.com/internships-and-employment/

May

03

Wedding Insurance – A Good Idea, Always!

Helpful Tips  Posted by

Did you know you can insure your wedding?  With the recent news of a popular wedding venue closing today, we are reminded that EVERY wedding can be protected by wedding insurance.  Lost Deposits can provide coverage if a vendor goes out of business, declares bankruptcy before your event, or simply fails to show up. For example, if your band or your limo provider fails to show up, this coverage can reimburse your lost deposit.

We thought we would re-post an article we wrote on the subject not too long ago on the other benefits on wedding insurance.

There are several companies that provide wedding insurance, but here is some information from Wedding Protector Plan.

Some of the things that can be covered by wedding insurance include:
  • No Dress. You can get repair or replacement cost if the bride’s wedding gown or groom’s tuxedo is lost or damaged.
  • Lost Rings. You can receive repair or replacement cost if the bride or groom’s wedding bands are lost or damaged.
  • Severe Weather.  If severe weather (such as a hurricane) forces you to postpone your wedding, we can provide reimbursement for non-recoverable expenses.
  • Call to Duty.  If the bride or groom is unexpectedly called up to active duty, or has her or his military service leave revoked, forcing you to postpone the event, we can provide reimbursement for non-recoverable expenses.
  • Damaged Gifts.  You can get repair or replacement cost if your wedding gifts are damaged.
  • Sudden Illness.  If the wedding needs to be postponed because sudden illness prevents the bride, groom or their parents from attending, you can receive reimbursement for non-recoverable expenses.
  • Venue Requires Insurance.  As an additional option to your policy, you can add liability coverage to protect yourself in case a guest is injured or causes damage to property.
  • Liquor Liability. As an individual liability option to your policy, you can add this coverage to protect yourself against liability arising from alcohol-related occurrences (subject to policy conditions and exclusions).

Rates start at $165 for this company, and other companies offer similar prices.

If you would like to see a brochure, click the link below:
http://www.protectmywedding.com/pdfs/Wedding_Insurance_Information_Wedding_Protector_Plan.pdf 
And for rates, click here:
http://www.protectmywedding.com/pdfs/wedding_event_insurance_rates_liquor_liability.pdf

Apr

27

Destination Weddings

Helpful Tips  Posted by

Stephanie Ashwell Photography

Destination weddings have grown to be extremely popular in the wedding world. The fun of the destination allows a couple to combine the best of an adventurous honeymoon with their ceremony and reception. A big pro to having a destination wedding is that it creates an enjoyable atmosphere for your guests. Weddings bring together the people closest to you, so why not extend the time everyone’s going to spend together?

An ideal example of a wedding destination is the Florida Keys. To be even more specific, the Islamorada Key is a location many couples have experienced their weddings. Islamorada is perfect because it is a laid back and a relaxed destination with commercial amenities, tucked away in tropical landscapes and surrounded by clear, clean, blue water.

Here are a few  tips for having a picturesque destination wedding in Islamorada:

  • Select a resort that will fulfill all your wedding needs that all your family and friends can stay in. An ideal resort is Le Siesta Resort and Marina. It has plenty of rooms, and has multiple locations to choose from for your ceremony and reception.
  • Be sure to have welcome bags filled with fun treats that represents the Florida Keys that your guests can use during their stay.
  • Make sure to have a timeline for all the events that will be taking place. Your guests will need to know when they’ll have time to relax and when they’ll need to be at important events.
  • Be prepared for all types of weather. The Keys can definitely have it’s fair share of heavy winds and rain, so plan to have a backup plan just in case.
Apr

19

Polaroid Escort Cards

Little Touches  Posted by

Image from theknot.com

Today escort cards can be found in all types of shapes and sizes. They can be placed on fruits and vegetables like limes and pumpkins, objects such as keys or horseshoes; the possibilities are endless. It’s very easy to make your escort cards fit to whatever your wedding theme is.

One fun trend that couples are using is hanging their escort cards by string and mini clothespins. After the guests have taken their cards, they’re asked to replace their cards with a Polaroid of themselves taken in a photo booth. This is a fun way for new guests to see who’s already arrived by their pictures.

Apr

11

Wedding Day Do’s & Don’ts

Helpful Tips  Posted by

Everyone wants their wedding day to run smoothly, so to insure that everything goes accordingly, it’s important to plan ahead. Here are some tips to be aware of to guarantee  a successful day:

  • Don’t consume alcohol before the ceremony. If you do want to partake in the bubbly before you walk down the aisle, only drink  half a glass. If you drink too much your buzz will show on your face for all your guests to see and will show on your wedding photos.
  • Arrive early to your venue. If it’s possible, get ready at the venue, because if something were to happen and you’re late to your wedding site, it could cause the whole schedule to run late.
  • Don’t forget to take any regular medications. It’s easy to forget taking a pill when there’s a hundred things going on.
  • Make sure to eat and drink plenty of water. You need to be hydrated to prevent headaches and fainting. Make sure to eat foods that won’t make you feel bloated.
  • Don’t go crazy and start taking your stress out on others. If you’re yelling at your vendors, wedding party, or family because things aren’t going your way, that’s all anyone will remember when the day’s over.
Recent Weddings

After Ceremony: Karli + Michael

Hug: Karli + Michael

First Dance: Karli + Michael

Ceremony: Karli + Michael

Sign : Karli + Michael

Reception Decor: Karli + Michael

Lantern: Karli + Michael

Ribbon Wands :: Megan and Vivek

First Dance :: Megan and Vivek

Cake :: Megan and Vivek

Centerpiece :: Megan and Vivek

Ceremony :: Megan and Vivek

First Look :: Megan and Vivek

Parade :: Melanie and Eric

Cake :: Melanie and Eric

Flower Girl :: Melanie and Eric

Program :: Melanie and Eric

Ceremony :: Melanie and Eric

Ribbon Wands :: Denise and Michael

Bouquets :: Denise and Michael

Ceremony :: Denise and Michael

K and L

Bouquets :: K & L

Silhouettes :: K & L

Cake :: K & L

Table from above :: K&L

Table Decor :: K&L

Sweetheart Table :: K&L

Centerpiece :: Michelle and Jamaal

Bridal Party :: Michelle and Jamaal