Adorn Jewelry In The News

You may have heard about Adorn fine jewelry rental recently on The CBS Early Show, or read about them in USA Today.  If you haven't, here's the deal. You get to wear lots of expensive jewelry on your wedding day, without breaking your budget.

It's that simple.

You go to the Adorn website, search through their online catalog for just the right pieces to compliment your look, and place your order.  Your jewelry arrives two business days before the wedding, and comes with return packaging to send it back.  Best of all, our friends get 25% off! Just use promo code SNAA016 at checkout!!

View the Full-Size Adorn Promo Flyer

Remember, use promo code SNAA016 to receive 25% OFF!!

Tell the Men You Love: Choking Will Kill Them

This weekend, I attended the Association of Bridal Consultants Florida State Conference, where one of the seminars was a CPR certification class.  Almost 3,000 people die in the U.S. each year due to choking.  The good news is, the Heimlich Manuever, the traditional treatment for choking, is extremely effective in saving thousands of lives each year. However, there is one catch:  You have to ask for help!

We were told that more women suffer from choking (probably because we talk so much while eating so fast!) but more men die from choking.  The reason?  Men won't ask for help.  They go somewhere, usually the restroom, and think that they can use their finger to dislodge the food they are choking on.   90% of men who die of choking do so on a bathroom floor, alone.

Please pass this message along to all the men in your life!  If you are interested in CPR/Rescue Breathing/Choking Rescue classes in North Florida, check out the local American Red Cross website.

Hot or not?

What bride doesn't want to have great hair for their hairstylist to brag about on their wedding day? Even though you may not be doing your hair on your big day, it's still nice for the stylist to have an easy-to-work with mane that isn't overdried or full of breakage. There are tons of hair care products that claim to reduce the wear and tear that daily conditions put on your hair. While some of those may actually live up to what they say, you are really in control of the majority of damage that your tresses undergo. You ask, "How is that?" Well, my friend, it all comes down to heat exposure. If you are the kind of gal that takes a hot shower every day, followed by blow drying and straightening and/or rolling, chances are you're hair could stand a break.

You may think you have no other options, but you would be surprised to learn there are actually many alternatives if you get creative. Instead of a hot shower, maybe try warm water. From personal experience, I have found that when I rinse my hair with cool water, after about a week, I had fewer dead ends. Next in the process, you could attempt using the cool setting for drying your hair, just be careful with letting the ends of your hair beat in the wind, as this is also very rough on your locks. When it comes to straighteners and rollers, there really is no easy way around it. If you want straight-as-a-board hair, or you just love having that Barbie bounce, you've got to do what you've got to do. I would suggest testing out a few new styles. I have recently discovered that a side braid is very stylish and doable, but I don't have to actually do anything to my hair before braiding it. Another personal favorite of mine is having tousled hair. Some may be afraid of not being able to pull it off, but if you don't try it, you'll never know!

So, don't forget... you have the power! When in doubt about styling or tips, don't be afraid to search the internet. Fifty percent of the world is made up of women. The chances that some of those women are wondering the same things as you are highly possible!

(photo from TheKnot.com)

Coming Soon: Jennifer & Karl

Jennifer and Karl are getting married in September!  These are some of their awesome engagement photos by Michelle Dearing of Oeil Photography:

Check out more of the fabulous images on Michelle's blog: http://oeilphotography.blogspot.com/2009/07/karl-jennifer.html

Spotlight: La Terra Resort and Spa

Recently, the girls and I took a little trip down to the World Golf Village to re-visit Laterra Resort and Spa.  We did a wedding at this venue back in October, 2006 - how time flies!

The beautiful Mediterranean-style architecture is an elegant backdrop.  Can you imagine arriving under this porte-cochere in a horse-drawn carriage or antique Rolls Royce?

The outdoor lobby area is available for wedding receptions. as is the lawn/pool area.  Ceremonies can be held facing the stunning fountain, or the dramatic arches of the building.

Laterra is a beautiful property, but its only drawback is the lack of indoor space.  If you consider hosting an event there, be sure to consider the weather!

However, the added bonus is that the guest accommodations consist of 1 bedroom-, 2 bedroom-, and 3 bedroom-suites with full kitchens, which are great for families.

And of course, the best bonus is the Spa!  While we didn't take any photos inside, the relaxation room is to die for - a circular room with a water/rain feature from floor to ceiling.  Amazing!  And the floating cabanas over the koi pond look heavenly for a massage.

Laterra does not have on-site catering, so everything must be brought in, including tables and chairs.  For more information about rentals, contact Susan at (866) 828-3772.

Love Notes...Lauren + Jeff (07.11.09)

I just love getting notes from my happy couples (and their families!) after weddings.

Heather, just wanted to offer a big thank you for all your help with Lauren and Jeff’s wedding.  You truly helped us create a wonderful atmosphere and allowed us to enjoy it!  We have had nothing short of unbelievable feedback!

- Les, Father of the Bride

I just wanted to send a quick thank you to everyone for helping make my wedding day so special.   It was the best weekend and it wouldn't have been the same without everyone's help along the way!  I just got back to the office today and have emails, letters and voicemails from friends and family raving about the wedding from start to finish (flowers, hair, makeup, music, food, etc....literally everything!).  Everyone said it was the best wedding and that they had a blast.

I have lots of friends getting engaged so when they ask, I will be sure to send recommendations!

Lauren, bride

(this photo is one of Lauren and Jeff's engagement photos by the super-talented Agnes Lopez)

Love Note: Kristen + Sam

We just got a  comment card back from our wonderful April 18th wedding couple!  Here are Kristen's remarks: Would you recommend our services to others?

Yes

Please tell us about your experience with First Coast Weddings and Events:

Great experience - from start to finish! Heather & staff are professional and available - all appointments happened as planned.  Most importantly - Heather executed on everything we planned and more.  Our wedding looked even better than I imagined! On our big day we had no worries - any issue that came up was handled immediately.  We are so pleased and blessed to have found Heather/First Coast Weddings and Events.

Is there anything particular we can do to improve our services in the future?

Not at all - I felt that everything /every interaction was professional and executed flawlessly!

PS - Thanks to Melanie too for all of your help!

Don't Tell The Bride!

As l am from England,  of course l have BBC America! I absolutely love this channel and have come across a new television show (well new to BBC America anyway!) called Don't Tell The Bride.

This show follows the groom-to-be who has been provided with $20,000 to create his bride's wedding of her dreams. There is one catch however,  which is that the groom only has one  month to plan the wedding, from selecting the venue, invitations, wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses etc. and CANNOT speak or visit with his bride until the day of the wedding,  at the altar!

Throughout watching a couple of these episodes, l have felt excited, anxious, surprised and overwhelmed for these bride and grooms, and l do not even know these people! So this left me with a burning question for you bride-to-be's out there.

Would you let your husband- to- be plan your wedding from start to finish, including selecting your wedding dress?

If you would like to start watching this nail biting television show, the next show airs on BBC America, July 17th at 9.00 P.M.

Happy TV watching!!

(image from BBCAmerica.com)

Lauren & Jeff (07.11.09)

We were so happy to coordinate Lauren and Jeff's wedding at TPC Sawgrass!

The day started with the ladies getting glammed up by hairstylist Casey Powell and make up artist Kimtasha Armstrong.  The bridesmaids all looked amazing in their celadon gowns, but Lauren stole the show in her classic, lace covered mermaid gown.

Every moment was captured by photographer Agnes Lopez and videographer Turner Classic Weddings.  I can't wait to see the photos and video in a few weeks! In the mean time, here are some snapshots that I took with my camera:

The white backdrop and lighting by PRI Productions transformed the Sunset Room into a spectacular ceremony setting.  Even the groomsmen commented on how different the room looked from the day before!

The floral design and decor by Liz Stewart Floral Design was impeccable.  Lauren and her mom chose options that created a vintage, at-home feel, with four different floral arrangements on the guests' tables.  The tables were covered in a sophisticated champagne satin cloth and then topped with the Baccarat overlay from Tablewraps.

Lauren and Jeff had lots of family photos that we displayed throughout the second floor of the clubhouse.

This one is a bit fuzzy but thought I would post it anyway.  The Ponte Vedra Room looked stunning!  More great details to come...

Charity Donations as Wedding Favors

We're busy getting ready for another wonderful wedding at TPC Sawgrass this weekend, and bride Lauren had a question that I thought might good to share.

Lauren and her fiance Jeff are making a donation to a charity, rather than giving their guests favors at the wedding.  So how is it best to let the guests know that they just didn't overlook the favors?

We considered a few options:

• 2 small cards placed on each table around the centerpiece
• a note tucked into each napkin (they were not having a sit-down dinner so we didn't have menu cards to compete with)
• a small sign near the guest book
• a note in the ceremony programs

We finally made the decision to go with the small sign near the guest book, with a few small cards (business-card sized) scattered around the sign for the guests to pick up in case they wanted to visit the charity's website for more information about this special cause.

Do you have other ideas you'd like to share?

Something Borrowed, Something Hot Pink

Have you always been the kind of girl that has dreamed about a traditional wedding? Maybe you've never pictured anything but a modern theme on your wedding day. At either end of the spectrum, it's yours, and you make it what you want. You should never, at any moment, worry about what your guests think. Your wedding should be about you and your future spouse and who the two of you join together to be. Let's take a look at one of the most common wedding phrases...

"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue."

Primarily, "something old" represents tradition. This is often a signification of your mom, grandmother, aunt, sister, etc. "Something old" stands for tradition and memories of the past, and traditions that you are continuing to carry on that will possibly be included in your granddaughter's wedding.

"Something new" is typically the style of the bride. It is what she wants to include in her wedding day that defines more of who she is and her sense of fashion.

A bride can sometimes receive a gift or item from a happily married friend or family member, alas "something borrowed." This may signify good fortune from one bride to another.

As far as "something blue" goes, the color and weddings have gone hand in hand for centuries. Brides in ancient Rome wore blue to symbolize many noble traits, while purity has been associated with the color because of Christianity's dressing the Virgin Mary in the color.

Whatever the theme, whatever the colors, whatever the traditions or lack thereof, your wedding is yours. Maybe your something blue should be something hot pink!

(pink flower photo courtesy of Tibby Dozier Steedly)

Wedding Channel Blog Nominations

More blog nominations!  Check out Wedding Channel's first ever Bridal Blog Awards!  If you like our blog, we'd love it if you stop by to cast your vote!  Here's how it works: 1. Go to our nomination post in the forum: http://forums.weddingchannel.com/main.aspx/bridal-blog-awards_blog-nominations_something-talk-first-coast-weddings-events-blog

2. Reply within the thread and add your reason why you think our blog should win!

Nominations end July 8th.  Thanks for your support!

Featured Vendor Profile!

I am honored to be in the Featured Vendor Profile today on the So You're EnGAYged Blog!  If you aren't familiar with this relatively-new blog, here is a snippet from their website: So You’re EnGAYged seeks to match same-sex and allied couples with wedding vendors who actively support LGBT rights and freedoms, including, but not limited to, same-sex marriage. By highlighting voices from within the LGBT community, So You’re EnGAYged further works to build a community that can dispense advice, recommendations, and support to couples in the wedding-planning process. As the wedding industry has grown larger and more ubiquitous, we hope to serve as a reference for those who seek vendors whose business practices align with deeply held values.

A Few Extra Steps

One of the most important pieces to a bride's outfit on her wedding day is her shoes. While it is common for a bride to wear a pair of shoes she already has, many brides purchase a new pair of shoes for this special occasion. At the end of her wedding day, the last thing any bride would want is a blister. Unfortunately, new shoes are the epitome of such a situation. On the bright side, there are a few ways this unwelcome occurrence can be avoided!

Before purchasing, make sure the shoes you are interested in fit properly. Blisters usually occur because a shoe is too tight or too loose. If a shoe store does not offer the size you need for the shoe you love, ask them if they can check other stores for you. If this does not work, check the internet. Considering that another culprit of blisters is sweating, ensure that your shoe has plenty of breathing room for your foot. These are very important factors to keep in mind before you buy your wedding day shoes.

After making the purchase, wear your new pair around the house for a few hours. This way, you will not only break them in, but you can also make sure they don't blister in places like your heel, or pinky toe. If they do blister, you have two options. You can either exchange that pair for a different one, or arrange to wear Band-Aids in the proper places on your wedding day.

If you plan correctly, blisters and unpleasant foot pains can be easily avoided simply by taking a few extra steps before your wedding.

(photo courtesy of La Dolce Vita Studio, from Michelle and Jamaal's April wedding)

We've Been Nominated!

I'm so honored that we are a BlogLuxe Awards: Blog You've Learned From Nominee! Voting is open until July 6th, and each person can vote once per day. 2009 BlogLuxe Awards will be presented at the SocialLuxe Lounge event at BlogHer '09 in July!

I hope you will stop by and vote for us - and vote often!

Kedai Photo Kiosk

I just got an interesting email from fellow ABC member Lauren Saul about her product, the Kedai Photo Kiosk.  This a new take on the photo booth, incorporating your guests photos into one slideshow and online gallery.

Your guests simply take their memory cards out of their cameras, insert them into the special kiosk, and then choose the photos to add.  Each guest gets their own gallery on the website, and all the photos are compiled into an instant slideswhow.

Check out the website for great step-by-step videos!

Check Out Brides!

Have you seen the July/August 2009 issue of Brides?  I'll be honest, I hadn't read it yet, but then I got this email from my cousin (and bride-to-be) Celeste in Los Angeles: "I just read a quote and at the end it was from you!" If you have a copy, check out page 93 for a tip from yours truly:

"It's always nice to hear that someone really wants to work with you," says Heather Canada, of First Coast Weddings and Events in Jacksonville, Florida.  "If it seems like they are just looking for deals, I'm unlikely to discount."  Canada doesn't slash prices, but she'll throw in extra services or create custom packages for couples with modest means.

What an honor to be quoted in such a prestigious publication!  The complete article, called "How To Negotiate With Vendors," starts on page 92.

Love Note: Michelle + Jamaal

One of the best parts of my job is getting thank you notes from our lovely couples after the wedding.  This morning, I found this note from Michelle and Jamaal in my stack of mail:

Heather,

Thank you for making our day stress-free and perfect.  Your interpretation and execution of ideas is flawless.  You did a great job and made our day that much special.  Couldn't have done it without you.  God bless, thanks again.

Michelle & Jamaal

Diva's Night Out

I had the pleasure of attending the launch party for "Diva's Night Out" last weekend, and let me tell you, what a great way to spend an evening with your girlfriends!

The event started with some yummy hors d'oeuvres and "adult" punch provided by our host, The Omni Hotel Jacksonville.  While we were mingling, some ladies got their makeup done by Patricia Kozack, while others enjoyed a quick, sassy photo session with Jennifer Brum of Peek Romance Photography.  Then it was time for the real fun!

Lynn Maxey of VIP Women’s Dance Parties led the group in some basic belly dance moves, followed by a sexy chair dance demonstration.  But ladies, this isn't just for fun - talk about a work out!  Lynn actually teaches these classes for fitness - one hottie in the group lost a whole dress size after just a few weeks working out with Lynn.

Following our dance lesson, we got to hear about some of the exciting (no pun intended) products from Sugar and Spice Passion Parties.

And of course a diva party wouldn't be complete without some treats!  Edgewood Bakery provided a yummy cake for us to enjoy.

These parties will be great for bachelorette and birthday parties - check out the website for more info!

Fall 2009 Color Trends

I was just looking over the 2009 Fall Color Report from Pantone, and realized that I hadn't posted about it.  Here's a peak if you haven't see the hot colors for fall:

Download the Pantone Fall 2009 Color Report (PDF)

I ♥ so many of these color combinations.  The possibilities are endless!  What are your favorites?  Are you using any of them in your fall wedding?