ABC Conference Part 2

Day 2 of the conference was the first look at our main stage - a giant orange slice that matched our orange/lime/lemon motif.  Motivational speaker Jacques Weisel got us off to a great start, reminding us to visualize our goals to stay on track.  After a several breakout sessions, it was off to our Floribbean themed lunch, with amazing tablecloths and chair covers by Wildflower Linens. 

The highlight of the day was "Tabletop Reality" - a competition where the grand prize was front row seating for David Tutera's presentation the next day.  The attendees were divided randomly into groups of 8, and were given a round table, 6 chairs, and a paper bag.  The bag contained several related items (3 sombreros, for example), and all the items in the bag had to be used in the final table display.  The teams had 5 minutes to choose tablecloths, chair covers, sashes, flowers, vases, candles, and other accents, and then had to create a spectacular table display in 15 minutes.  I was amazed at the creativity! 

Monday evening's off-site event was held at Pirates Dinner Adventure, just a few blocks from our host hotel.  Our "pirate" from the night before arrived in the hotel lobby, and after a quick group photo he led the way to the attraction. 

ABC Conference Part 1

For the past 14 months or so, I have had the pleasure of working with some of the best ladies in the state on a very special project.  We have been planning the 2007 Association of Bridal Consultants' Annual Conference, which started today in Orlando.  Our committee of 10 people from Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and Orlando has met monthly to make this year's conference a truly unique one, not to mention breaking last year's attendance by over 100 people! Today's activities started with the trade show, where I met lots of great people and learned about lots of exciting products and services - more about those later!  Then it was on to the Welcome Reception, a true slice of Floridian flair!  From the glowing palm trees to the yucca fries (yum!) to the pirate mingling with the crowd, it was a great start to the week.  I always love re-connecting with old friends from around the country and making new connections, plus I got to chat for a few quiet minutes with celebrity wedding planner Mary Dann, who will be speaking to the group on Tuesday. 

Jillian & Jason (10.19.07)

       

With the success of the book "Offbeat Bride," and the spawn of DIY Weblogs, a new generation of indie brides are whipping out their sewing machines and craft supplies in hopes of an Etsy-worthy wedding.  While I have seen some frightening DIY projects, and it is my experience that this very special occasion is best left to the professionals, every once in a while a bride is able to manage the perfect balance of personalization and sophistication.  Such was true with the wedding of Jillian and Jason.

Jillian is an uber-talented indie fashion designer, with her line of SIMONE all over Etsy.  Jason is equally accomplished in his love of music, playing percussion for a local band.  Together, they are one talented rockstar couple- and anything but your typical bride and groom.  Thus, they took cues from their relationship and a little guidence from great vendors... making a destination wedding to remember!

Their 80 guests travelled from as far as Boston to be a part of the Sunshine State wedding- and by some grace of God... the rain held out.  It poured for miles and miles for hours and hours- and then the clouds parted just in time for their 5 o'clock ceremony- and it was nothing but blue skies, sunshine, and rainbows for their vows.  Guests were greeted by bagpiper, and invited to toss their heels aside for the barefoot beach ceremony.  The ceremony was officiated by the couple's close friend... and the highlight of the whole day was seeing Jillian walked down the aisle in her hand-made wedding dress.  It was stunning!

Guests were then treated to a casual reception at The Finch House... just a brisk walk from the beach.  Here, they dined on a tropical-inspired menu created by Smashing Pans atop tables with custom linens sewn by none other than the crafty bride.  They ooed-ahhhed over the cake (Publix) which was designed by- you guessed it- the bride!  The ecclectic blend of reggae, punk, and rock and roll love ballads (One Voice Productions) were so indicative of the evening's lighthearted mood... with guests lining up to leave their well-wishes in the retro polaroid guestbook.

As the evening drew to an end, and Arte de Palm Photography prepared for their money-shot... the couple danced to one last song all alone.  This was my favorite part of the entire night... the bride was so giddy with glee- the groom in his yellow and black nike sneakers and tux... dancing to "You are my sunshine"... and then they made a mad dash down an aisle of sparklers to their antique get-away car (Majestic).  Off to St. Lucia for the honeymoon!

Heather & Nick (11.03.07)

This weekend, I traveled to Crawfordville (just outside Tallahassee) to share Heather and Nick's wedding day with them.  Heather and I were maid- and matron-of-honor respectively at my cousin's wedding last June, and she said I just had to be there to help her on her wedding day.

Heather has always been an earth goddess, and was environmently-friendly long before it was trendy.  What better place for her wedding than a green* hotel?  The Inn at Wildwood, an "eco-friendly, nature based lodge" according to their website, is a beautiful setting for a wedding.  Heather told me she picked this location long before Nick even popped the question! 

As the guests gathered for the ceremony, Nick's cousin provided background music with his saxophone.  The big surprise, though, was that the bride's arrival was announced by bagpiper Mike Bailey.  Heather planned this special suprise in honor of her grandmother.

After Heather and Nick's sweet wedding ceremony under the arbor, the guests moved next door to The Bistro for a wonderful Southern reception. The menu included individual fruit and cheese platters for each table, yummy gumbo, and a chicken and beef duet entree. The wedding cake by Myra Jean was to die for!  The bride designed the table centerpieces with fall gourds and candles, and each table had a unique look.  Personal flowers by The Flower Peddlers added the perfect fall touch to the decor.

Heather,

Thank you so much for the endless advice & endless answers!  Our wedding day would not have been as beautiful (and stressless) without you.  We are so grateful for everything you have done!

Thank you!

Nick and Heather

(That's the groom with his adoring bride and her bridesmaids!)

*If you want more information about green lodging, check out the Florida Department of Environmental Protection website.  The Florida Green Lodging Certification Program acknowledges and promotes lodging facilities that demonstrate water and energy conservation, waste minimization, recycling, indoor air quality, environmentally preferable purchasing, program sustainability, and pollution prevention.

Ellie & Tim (10.20.07)

 

What a special weekend in Ponte Vedra Beach!  Ellie and Tim celebrated their marriage with 19 of their closest family members and friends with a full weekend of activities.

The weekend began with the arrival of the guests at The Lodge and Club at Ponte Vedra Beach.  After settling in to their rooms on Friday, the group gathered for casual cocktails and a Southern barbecue buffet dinner overlooking the ocean.

Saturday was an early morning for the bride, who was already having her makeup done by the wonderful Kimtasha Armstrong at 7:00 am!  After a trip to The Spa, Ellie was ready for her close up with photographer Nikki McEneaney of Photography By Nikki.

At 11:00 am, a beautiful wedding ceremony was performed by Cheryl Raby of A Vow, Two Keep.  Ellie and Tim personalized their ceremony with meaningful vows that they are sure to treasure.

After cocktails under the oceanfront trellis, the party moved into The Conversatory for a wonderful lunch.  The simple and contemporary floral decor was supplied by Floriade in Jacksonville Beach.

The gorgeous chair covers and table linens included a custom-made 20' runner for the center of the table.  Michelle and Melissa at Royalty Events worked with me to find just the right shade of green!

And what wedding would be complete without a yummy cake from Classic Cakes.  Ellie and Tim chose chocolate cake with chocolate ganash filling for both layers, but couldn't decide between fresh raspberries or strawberries - so they had both!

Fletcher Class of 1957 Reunion

This weekend, I took a break from the normal wedding scene to help with the Duncan U. Fletcher High School Class of 1957 Reunion. My next-door neighbor happens to be the committee chairperson, so our meetings consisted of me walking a few steps to her front door or stopping at the mailbox to chat while I walked my dogs! The reunion weekend kicked off Friday evening with a reception at the brand new Courtyard By Marriott in Jacksonville Beach. Lisa, Emma and their staff did a great job making sure everything ran smoothly, even though the hotel only opened two weeks ago! The poolside hospitality suite was the place to be Friday, since the weather was the best we've had in weeks!

Saturday night was great fun, with a dinner-dance at Marsh Landing Country Club and balloon decor by The Balloon Construction Company. The band included two classmates, one of which played with Elvis Presley, so it goes without saying that the joint was rockin'! Photographer Jean Moree of Endless Memories captured some great shots, including a wonderful group shot of all the classmates.

The 50th reunion was even newsworthy enough to garner coverage by the local newspaper, The Florida Times-Union.  Congratulations, class of '57!

How To Hire a Wedding Photographer

The following article was originally published in our e-newsletter, before we had a blog.  It's great information - enjoy! How To Hire a Wedding Photographer Resources, Questions to Ask and Tips

By Jennifer Brum, Certified Professional Photographer http://www.jenbrumphotography.com |  phone 904.382.7255

For many brides, the wedding photography is often the most important part of the event. After the music has stopped, the cake has been eaten and the guests are gone, the wedding photos are all that remain of your wonderful day. For that reason, hiring a wedding photographer can be one of the most important and yet, nerve wracking decisions you’ll make.

But, don’t stress! There are many resources available to brides-to-be including local and national professional photographer associations and many experienced, well-trained and professional photographers in Jacksonville. Even your friends that are former brides can be an excellent referral source for you. 

Did you know that there is a local association for professional photographers? The Professional Photographers Society of North Florida (PPSNF) is an organization of photographers committed to helping photographers achieve career success and professionalism through education and networking. They have an excellent website, www.ppsnf.org that includes a complete member listing. Brides can view member websites, preview a gallery of work and contact the ones they would like to meet. 

On the national level, many photographers belong to the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) which provides similar resources, but also includes an explanation of the certification process for photographers. The PPA website is www.ppa.com. 

Most importantly, interview many photographers in your area to find the best match for you. After checking their credentials, does their photography style match how you envision your day? Do your personalities get along? What about references? 

Ask about their experiences at your location. What type of equipment do they use? Have they been trained in various lighting styles? What do they need from you to provide the best images possible? What type of albums and packages do they offer? 

After you have hired your photographer, communicate with them often. Let them get to know you. An engagement session is the perfect opportunity to get better acquainted in a relaxed setting. 

Lastly, remember to plan your day so that you can relax and have fun. If you are enjoying your day it will show in your images. So, try to accomplish as much as possible before the big day, delegate tasks that can’t be done early and focus on you and your groom.

Very Special Bouquets

To add a special touch to your bouquet, have each bridesmaid carry a bouquet of one type of flower that is in your bouquet.  It's a neat little preview of your bouquet and looks great in pictures.

If you have your wedding dress made for you, have your seamstress save material to wrap around the stems of the bouquets.     

Happy Birthday, Danielle!

A very happy wish to event designer and coordinator Danielle... have a great day!

Jen & Mike (10.06.07)

  Many warm wishes to "The Mr. and Mrs."  Jennifer  and Mike  (both of Channel 4) were such a delightful couple to work with over the last month.  Their courtship has spanned over six years, as they met while working at a tv station in Michigan.  Their families traveled from all over (12 states in total) to be a part of their special day, and to get a glimpse of the "sunshine state".  While the weather was less than cooperative, the wedding was such an amazing event- one of those really special occasions where you can see two families weaving into one right before your eyes.

 The week began with a welcome party at the couple's residence on Thursday.  The festivities continued with a Rehearsal Dinner at The Sawgrass Marriott, hosted by the Cabana Club.  While the showers forced the party indoors, the staff at the Cabana Club did such a wonderful job accomodating the large group (nearly 180) on such short notice.  The Champions Ballroom was transformed into a tropical paradise, complete with cabana umbrellas, Mai Tai, and music via Steel In Motion.  Festive beach balls, sunglasses, sand pails, and welcome bags greeted guests.

The ceremony was held at Holy Family Catholic Church, where Father Dan moved the entire congregation to tears with his touching homily.  The bride was escorted by both her parents and her adorable grandparents offered the gifts.  The entire mass was so very personal and indicative of their strong family ties.

While the monsoon poured outside, guests were escorted to the Sawgrass Marriott via limos courtesy T & T East Coast Limousine.  Phyllis did such a wonderful job of keeping our bride dry and our groomsmen on time! 

During the cocktail hour, guests were invited to find their seat via sand dollar escorts, beautifully penned via Calligraphy by Joy.  Jen and Mike had such fun with the table numbers, opting to do years that were of importance in their lives- giving a brief description and then fun facts of other events occurring that same year.  It was a lovely conversation starter for their destination guests who were not be familiar with one another.

Guests were then ushered into the Masters Ballroom, where a beautiful palette of ice blue and subtle shades of lavender were laid by Rose of Sharon, Jax Stage Lighting, and Aloha Interior Plants.  Each of these vendors did their part to really make that ballroom amazing!  After a wonderful plated dinner, guests put on their dancing shoes to the sounds of KTG.  As always, KTG delivered an amazing performance. 

The entire night was captured through the lense of the ever-so-talented Leah Powell, with a superstar second shooter (Darice Michelle).  --- pictures to follow shortly----

To round off the weekend's celebration, guests were gathered for one last hoorah brunch on the Cascades Deck, perhaps the first rays of sunshine all weekend. 

It was such a pleasure to work with this couple, as they were so organized and sincere.  Their love was ever aparent with the never-fading smiles on each of their faces.  It further touched me to meet the lovely families that Jen and Mike are so fortunate to have... and the fact that 180 of their 250 guests traveled from nearly 12 states is testiment of the impact that they have of each person that they meet.  Mike actually had guests representing every year of schooling since preschool AND every job that he has ever had... how impressive.

Ashley & John (10.06.07)

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs.! Ashley, John, and their families were such fun to work with over the past year. Despite the rainy week, this destination wedding would be one to remember!

A beautiful wedding mass was held at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, where the bride and her mom were very involved during the time they lived in Ponte Vedra Beach. As a very special touch, the bride's grandparents acted as "ring bearers," adding a touching and personal moment to the ceremony.

To get the party started, the guests boarded a trolley to Sawgrass Beach Club - Angie and her staff are always such a delight to work with! The tropical but sophisticated decor created by Liz Stewart Floral Designs set the tone perfectly.

After a wonderful meal of crab cakes and filets, the crowd danced the night away courtesy of Diggin' Rhythm and Brass. The highlight of the evening though was the sparkler-surrounded exit of the bride and groom on their tandem bike!

Mark and Joi of Pennington Photography and Design shot some amazing pictures that Ashley and John will treasure, including a great group shot of all the wedding guests on the pool deck. Jeffrey Stoner of Jeffrey Stoner Video rounded out the "dream team" of some of the best wedding vendors in the state.

Wedding Insurance

With the storms we've experienced in Northeast Florida this week, I have been thinking a lot about Wedding Insurance.  If you are not familiar with this service, I encourage you to check it out! There are two primary companies that offer Wedding Insurance:  WedSafe and Wedding Protector Plan.  Both offer similar coverage and pricing.  Types of things that are covered include:

• Loss of deposits
• Severe weather
• Damaged gifts
• Ruined photos
• Call to duty
• Illness or death
• Lost rings
• Wedding dress

The one-time cost for a policy is as low as $145.  The fee is based on the amounts you expect to spend on certain items, and both websites have charts showing the different levels of coverage.

Wedding Maps Made Easy!

If you want to share a great map with your wedding guests, be sure to visit Wedding Mapper!  You can create a free interactive map that includes the ceremony and reception sites, plus hotels, airports, attractions, restaurants and more!  You can even upgrade to a map with no ads, a personal web address, and additional links (such as your registry information) for a one-time fee of $9.95. 

As an added bonus, Wedding Mapper has partnered with Distinctive Directions to give you 10% off when you turn your online map into a printed version.  The graphic they create can be used for programs, map/direction cards in invitations, welcome basket letters, and more!

20/20 Vision For A Successful Marriage

Rev. Craig Grandstaff of Clergy Wedding Services was nice enough to share these thoughts on having a happy marriage, not just a happy wedding!

• Express your love in all ways.

• Hold hands no matter how old you are.

• Remember your wife is a lady.

• Do everything you can together.

• You can lose the battle and win.

• Complete trust is a must.

• Share your best ideas.

• Always agree on the big decisions.

• Practice real forgiveness.

• Remember one day at a time.

• Always talk things out.

• Never go to bed angry.

• Clearly define roles.

• Leave the small stuff behind.

• Spend time in the moonlight.

Rev. Grandstaff is available to perform wedding ceremonies, including interfaith and non-denominational services.  Visit his website at www.clergy4weddings.com for more details about his services.

Kathleen and Tony in Jacksonville Magazine!

One of our cutie couples was featured in the fall issue of Jacksonville Magazine Bride.  Congratulations to Kathleen and Tony, who were married in a beautiful ceremony at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church.  The reception at the Sawgrass Marriott Resort and Spa was one to remember, especially with the bridal party's kick-line entrance into the ballroom!  Congratulations to the happy couple for getting to share their big day with all of Jacksonville!

Click here to view the page from the magazine!

The Last Dance

My new favorite wedding tradition was suggested by Darrin Franz of Deland Entertainment for the wedding of Mandy and Zeus.  

When it was time for the last dance, all of the guests were asked to leave the ballroom, leaving only the bride and groom. Even the vendors and venue staff left the room after photographer Nikki McEneaney snapped this pic. (Okay, I'll be honest - we took turns peaking in through a tiny window!)

What a romantic way to end the evening.  And when the dance was over, the guests were all positioned outside to send the bride and groom off.  What new or unique "traditions" can you start at your wedding?

What Do You Do With Your Wedding Dress After The Wedding?

You spent months searching for the perfect wedding dress, and also quite a bit of money! The wedding day has come and gone, and you looked absolutely perfect in your dress, and now it is a little bit dirty, hanging in your closet, holding lots of wonderful memories. What are you going to do with that fabulous wedding dress? The first thing to do would be to get the wedding dress dry cleaned. Many bridal shops provide a free dry cleaning gift certificate with the purchase of a wedding dress. Also some bridal shops offer a wedding gown preservation process. This process enables a bride to preserve the beauty of her wedding dress for years and years. Another great idea for your used wedding dress would be to donate the dress to a charity of your choice. One example is the Making Memories Foundation's Brides Against Breast Cancer. By searching online or maybe even speaking with the bridal shop where you purchased your dress, you will be able to find out lots of information on what to do with your wedding dress after the big day.

If you or someone you know is interesed in donating a wedding gown to Brides Against Breast Cancer, contact heather@firstcoastweddings.com.

Mary Ann & Jack (08.11.07)

I had the priviledge of spending the day at the wedding of Mary Ann and Jack.  The ceremony at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Orange Park was lovely, thanks in part to Father Boddi and the wonderful music of Wehner Weddings.

The lunch reception at Club Continental was elegant, despite the near-100-degree temperatures outside!  It was a great day to be indoors overlooking the beautiful St. Johns River.  Mary Ann and Jack ventured outside with photographer Wesley Lester just long enough to snap some great shots like the one above.

Mary Ann shared this comment when she and Jack returned from the honeymoon in Italy:  "I just wanted to thank you again for making our wedding wonderful. Our friends & families complemented on everything and most importantly Jack and I loved the entire experience."

Meeting a Legend

While attending the NACE Educational conference in Houston, I had the opportunity to meet Sylvia Weinstock,  the famed "cake lady of SOHO."   Sylvia's cakes are as famous as those she bakes them for - Donald Trump, Oprah Winfrey and Catherine Zeta-Jones just to name a few. Sylvia was gracious enough not only to make a special cake for the NACE 50th Anniversary, but also spoke during a breakout session.  I was mesmerized by the way she described shipping a cake across the country with such ease - I would be a nervous wreck if I were on the receiving end!

At a time when wedding cakes tasted bad but looked beautiful, Syliva made it her mission to make a cake that not only looked gorgeous and elegant but tasted wonderful too.  I share the same passion for planning events - your party shouldn't just looked great, it should be fun and memorable too. 

Don’t Stress Your Wedding Day Away!

When it comes down to the final weeks before the big day, the last payments are due, family is starting to arrive from out of town, and the final preparations are underway, many brides stress levels start to rise. There are so many emotions going through the bride those final, critical weeks, it is no wonder that some brides can definitely fall over the edge. Luckily there are many ways to subdue that pre wedding day stress, just by following some simple steps: 1. Be organized. Have documentation, preferably an excel file, of all payments that have been made and all payments that still need to be made for the wedding. This way you will easily be able to stick to your wedding day budget, and you will be able to follow the payment progression.

2. Relax and unwind. A couple of weeks before the wedding, book a massage or facial at your local spa. This way you can spend at least one hour pampering yourself and relaxing your mind and body.

3. Exercise. If you are too busy to hit the gym, try taking a 20 minute walk or jog around your neighborhood. This will help you to work out any tensions and frustration you may be feeling.

4. Don’t stress the small stuff! Worrying about how the weather maybe on the wedding day, or how Aunt Sue may react to seeing Uncle Bob, are minute details, that do not need to be fussed over. Relax and take comfort in knowing that your wedding day will be magical, no matter what happens.

An important thing to remember when the wedding day is near by is to ask for help. Family and friends will be there for you, and would probably love to take over any tasks that maybe causing you stress.