What Is The Wedding Party?

As you may know, our office is located inside The Wedding Party.  I thought I'd take a minute to tell everyone what that means, exactly! We are:

• A group of wedding professionals that share office space.
• All independent companies - we are under no obligation to refer/recommend the other businesses that are part of The Wedding Party, although we think they are pretty swell.
• Usually all in the office on a given day, so a bride can drop in anytime to ask a question or get information.
• A lot of fun to be around; stop in and see for yourself!

We are  not:

• A "package" deal... while our Client Concierge can certainly arrange for a bride to meet with all of us in one day, we don't offer a single contract for all wedding services.
• Exclusive in any way - I would love for my fellow wedding planner/coordinator friends to refer their brides to The  Wedding Party's professionals, and invite them to stop by anytime to say hi!
• Scary. Trust me.

You can check out The Wedding Party's website for a photo tour of our office, and for a list of all the companies represented.

Prioritizing Your Wedding Budget

One of the most important aspects of the wedding planning process is deciding what your wedding budget will be. How much "should" a wedding cost, you ask? Well there is no right answer. The wedding budget is as individual as the couple themselves. That being said, the average cost of a 150-person wedding is $25,000-30,000. According to The Knot.com the budget is typically broken down with the following percentages: Reception: 48-50%

Ceremony: 2%-3%

Attire: 8%-10%

Flowers: 8-10%

Entertainment/Music: 8%-10%

Photography/Videography:10%-12%

Stationary: 2%-3%

Wedding Rings: 2%-3%

Parking/Transportation: 2%-3%

Gifts: 2%-3%

Miscellaneous: 8%

To avoid stress, allot about 5% of your budget for a "just-in-case" fund.

If you are paying for your honeymoon yourselves, remember to budget for that as well!

Once you have decided on your total budget number, the next step is determining your priorities. Both the bride and groom should make a list of their top three priorities for their wedding, for example photography, cake and flowers. Once your top three are decided, allocate a little bit more to them; then do the opposite for your bottom three choices.

Once you have your budget drafted, start making phone calls for your top three priorities to see if they are close to your budget. Before you start attending lots of meetings and signing contracts, get estimates on a few things to make sure your budget is realistic. If not, go back to the drawing board before moving forward!

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Taking Care of Your Engagement and Wedding Rings

Often considered one of the most valuable pieces of jewelry a women will ever wear, your engagement and wedding ring should be cared for carefully and properly.  Most women, however, don’t know how to take care of their rings. Use the following tips to ensure that your ring maintains its beauty and luster for many years to come.

• Make sure to have an accurate appraisal of your wedding ring set in case it gets lost.
• Put your rings in the same place everyday in order to avoid misplacing it.
• Store your ring in soft cloth or in a jewelry box away from exposure to dirt or chemicals.
• Take off your rings before cleaning with harsh chemicals to avoid possible dissolve or damage your stone.
• Clean your rings in a solution of water and mild liquid detergent.
• Don’t be afraid to take your rings off. This is especially true when playing sports, working out at the gym and gardening.
• Have the stone in your ring checked at least every 6 months by a jeweler to make sure that the stone has not come loose in the setting.

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FREE Copy of Weddings Unveiled!

Have you gotten your copy yet?

Visit our office and check in via Facebook Places for a FREE copy of Weddings Unveiled Magazine! Hurry - only 25 copies available!

8640 Philips Highway Suite 8 (inside The Wedding Party) Jacksonville, FL 32256

Be sure to visit our Facebook page and become a fan!

Workplace Wedding Etiquette

Soon to be brides should be take heed. Tred lightly when it comes to discussing your wedding in the workplace. Although it is easy to be consumed by the planning and details, it is important to be thoughtful when it comes to discussing every shade of pink, and type of rose with the people in your office. You don’t want to be “that” girl.  Save it for meetings with your wedding planner. For further insight on how brides should navigate the workplace we asked etiquette expert Toni Downs of Etiquette For Success for advice on how to gracefully manage these types of situations:

Q: Should you invite coworkers to your wedding?

Toni D: I believe it depends on how close you are to your co-workers. If you are close to several, go out socially, and if the budget allows it, ask them.

Q: What if there are some coworkers I want to invite, but not others?

Toni D: You may tell your other co-workers there is a limit to how many people you can invite to your wedding.

Q: What if all your coworkers chipped in for a wedding present?

Toni D: If everyone at the office chips in to buy you a wedding present, then everyone should receive a personal thank you note. This is a thoughtful way to share you care about your coworkers.

Q: What if a coworker is angry with me for not inviting them to the wedding?

Toni D.: There will always be hurt feelings with someone, but it is your and your man’s day. Don’t let other people ruin it.

Thank you Toni for sharing your great advice with us!

The Wedding Party on Good Morning Jacksonville

We're proud to be a part of The Wedding Party! Paul Deland did a great interview on Good Morning Jacksonville Saturday, telling all of North Florida what we are all about.  Check out the clip above!

Wedding Bustles 101

With a long history dating back to the 1800s bustles were originally worn by stylish women who wore a frame underneath their dress to support the back of their full skirts. Today brides bustle their dresses in order to lift the long trains of their gown off the floor (not to mention staying clean), making walking and dancing on the big day much easier!! Most bridal dresses don’t come with bustles and are instead added during the alteration process. There are many types of bustles:

• Over Bustle (Ballroom)

Is the simplest and most inexpensive type of bustle. However this type of bustle is prone to breaking during the reception, so brides with long trains or particularly heavy gowns should take this into consideration.

• Under Bustle (French or Victorian Bustle)

This type of bustle is very popular and great for brides who plan to be very active during their wedding. The under bustle is secured in place by tied ribbon.

• Tufted Bustle

This type of bustle utilizes jeweled appliqués at the gathering spots in order to highlight the tufts on the skirt of the gown.

• Pick up Bustle

This bustle is best for wedding dresses with shorter trains. There is only one pick up point selected and anchored much lower on the dress then on other bustles.

When deciding which bustle style to use for your wedding dress, keep in mind the fabric of your dress. If the fabric on your gown is delicate, like organza for example, make sure to choose a bustle style that reduces the weight on each bustle to avoid tearing. Also keep in mind your alterations budget, as bustles range in price depending on the type of bustle, length of train and fabric being used.

Image courtesy of Brides.com

Guest Post: Bridal Party Jewels

This post was written by one of our fabulous former clients, Ashley McCormick Travers.  Now Ashley works for Stella and Dot, and she was excited to share some of the latest looks with our readers. Brides are longing for that fun, creative statement to differentiate their wedding… Stella and Dot makes that happen.  As a First Coast Weddings client I was married to the cookie-cutter look and making sure my girls matched everything head to toe.   Fast forward three years and today I am in love with the mis-matched accessory look – changing up the jewelry and shoes amongst the bridal party.

As a Stella and Dot stylist I have TONS of fun styling brides, bridesmaids, flower girls, mothers of the bride and guests! And not only on the wedding day but showers, rehearsals and honeymoons too!  Our new vintage chic, on-trend looks for spring can quickly style the bridal party in affordable couture pieces they will surely work  with jeans, at the office or with a simple LBD.  Although so many brides’ wedding rings are white gold or platinum, everyone is wardrobing with gold baubles.  It’s the hottest look for 2011!

The Charlotte Charm necklace is under $50.  What I love most is the charms are removable, so I’ve seen each bridesmaid pick her favorite charm and each has a different look.  This also looks great layered with pearls and gold chains.

The Sofia Pearl Bib is my all time fave and biggest selling statement necklace hands down!  Stunning on the big day and perfect with jeans and a tank.

Great gift ideas are the initial charms and birthstone briolette charms.  A friend of mine just did the Glint flower necklace (stud set above) and stud earrings for all her bridesmaids.  A pulled together look in sterling silver for under $80 per girl.

The mini-soiree necklace with matching bracelet is ideal for the Flower girl.

Contact Ashley, your personal stylist, and let her work with you to create the look you want for any occasion.  Want to style your life? Become a stylist. Shop at her eboutique:  www.stelladot.com/ashleytravers

Farewell, 2010!

2010 has been an exciting year at First Coast Weddings and Events!

We had some amazing weddings at the top venues in the area - The Lodge and Club, TPC Sawgrass, and the  Omni Hotel Jacksonville just to name a few.  We've also had some great weddings in the surrounding areas - Amelia Island, Jekyll Island, and St. Augustine.

Our little home at The Wedding Party has continued to grow, this year expanding by 50%!  We've had a lot of fun with our bridal open houses and our vendor get-togethers, and we look forward to more in 2011.

And last but not least, we've had some changes in our personal lives.  Melanie and Emma both had babies this year!  We're excited to start training baby Madison and baby Noah as flower girl and ring bearer as soon as they can walk.  On a sad but happy note, Lauren moved to Hawaii where her love Ryan is stationed in the Navy.  While we miss her terribly, we know she is having a blast settling in to her new surroundings.

So what will 2011 bring?  Only time will tell...

Our New Website Is Live!

We still have a few minor adjustments to make, but our new website is up and ready to receive visitors just in time for the holidays.  Feel free to email us at info@firstcoastweddings.com if you see any issues with the new site!

Under Construction!

No, we're not remodeling our office again. But, starting Friday, we'll be making some changes to our blog.  So over the next week or so, we apologize if you come looking for us and we're not here.  Rest assured, we'll be back and better than ever really soon!  Be sure to visit our Facebook page in the meantime!

Royal Engagement Photos - Theirs and Yours!

Unless you live under a rock, you know that Prince William and his soon-to-be bride posed for their first official engagement portraits recently.  And, as expected, they look amazing!  So how can you get awesome engagement photos without the celebrity photographer?

• Choose a photographer that you get along with.  If you feel relaxed, you will be relaxed in your photos!
• Be yourself.  Don't were ridiculous outfits that have nothing to do with your personalities.  If you are jeans and t-shirt people, by all means wear jeans and t-shirts!
• Along the same lines, think about having a theme for your session.  If you love a certain area of town, a tv show, or have an interesting hobby, why not incorporate this into your shoot?
• Bring a few changes of clothes so that you have some variety to your  photos; just remember that patterns aren't great in photos.  Also remember to bring touch-up makeup, especially lipstick!
• Rely on your professional photographer to get fun and unique shots.  Don't be afraid to do something crazy - it might just be your favorite shot!

Pantone's Color Of The Year 2011

It's official - Pantone has released their 2011 Color of the Year:

Is anyone thinking of changing their wedding (or business) colors to add in this new choice?  2010's color of the year, Turquoise, will always be OUR color of the year!!

It's A Boy!

We're thrilled to announce the second new addition to the First Coast Weddings family this year! Emma and her husband Drew welcomed baby Noah into their hearts last night, and mom and baby are doing great. When Emma first joined our team, she was a recent college graduate. I've gotten to watch her go from dating to engaged to married, and now to mommy. I've also seen her blossom into a top-notch event planner.

I'm so excited to watch her embark on this new chapter in her life... Watch our Facebook page for photos soon!

Virtual Tour of The Wedding Party

For those of you that aren't in Jacksonville, or haven't stopped by to say hi yet, I thought I would share a virtual tour of The Wedding Party.  We are a collection of wedding professionals (some of the best in the business, if I do say so myself), that all share office space. There are other folks out there trying to copy the idea, but they are mostly advertising outlets.  Vendors pay a monthly fee to have their marketing materials on display.  What sets us apart is the actual offices.  We are (for the most part) all here all day, all week.  If a bride walks in, she can easily meet with any of us during normal business hours.  Or, if a bride comes in to meet with our photographer, she might decide she wants to check out our videographer or cake baker while she's here.  It's really great for the clients!

Take a look around - either virtually or in person!

K & L (10.23.10)

I love commitment ceremonies.  Or same-sex weddings.  Or whatever term you want to designate, since we aren't lucky enough to live in state that recognizes them as "marriage."  When today's featured bride came in for her first meeting, she was clear.  This would be a "wedding," and would be treated as such.  We put together an amazing team of wedding professionals, including: Venue:  The Lodge and Club at Ponte Vedra Beach Florist:  Liz Stewart Floral Designs DJ: Y? Entertainment Photography: Kris Graham Photography Videography: In Motion Video Productions Ceremony Music: Magnolia String Quartet Cake: Classic Cakes Linens: Connie Duglin Chairs: Flaire Event Rentals

It was truly a beautiful day!  The weather cooperated, as did the "ring bearer" - the brides' Boston Terrier, Berringer.  Thanks for letting us share your wedding day with you!

Love Notes: K & L

We got the sweetest comments from our 10.23.10 couple!  We'll be sharing some images from this beautiful wedding soon.

"From start to finish, our experience with FCWE was effortless. Vendor selection was made very easy as Heather minded our style, budget and personality. I only now realize how much effort goes into coordintating such a day - the team performed their activities in the background and yet somehow managed to get every detail just right. We are grateful for the talent, experience, professionalism, and heart of Heather and her team."

Megan & Vivek - Video Highlights

We always love seeing the photos and videos from our weddings, and sharing them! Megan and Vivek were married on September 25th at the Omni Hotel Jacksonville. Here's a sneak peak of their video:

Megan and Vivek's Preview Video from In Motion Video Productions on Vimeo.

Wedding Trends: How Do You Keep Up?

I had a great question from a bride last night at The Wedding Party's "Fully Engaged" event - "How do you keep up with all the new trends?"  And my answer was simple: a lot of the same ways you do!

• Magazines: In fact, I have the latest issue of Weddings Unveiled sitting next to my computer as I'm typing this.  Hopefully I'll get to read through it one of these days!  In addition to bridal magazines, I also read lots of industry publications regarding special events, catering, etc.
• Blogs: I have over 200 blog subscriptions in Google Reader right now.  Does that mean I read every one, every day?  No.  But I love reading the headlines, scanning the photos, and if something really catches my eye I'll read it in more detail.  Not all of them are wedding-related either; some are about interior design, some are about fashion, some are about running a business.  You never know where inspiration will strike!
• Conferences and Trade Shows: This one is more unique to industry pros, although you may find ideas at your local bridal show.  Personally, I attend at least two conferences a year, where I can see over-the-top decor ideas, learn about new products, and talk to other event planners from around the country.

But the real answer to the question is this:  We don't keep up with the trends, we create them.

Most wedding magazines are published only two to four times a year.  That means that the weddings in the current issues may be over a year old already.  Which means the details that went into that wedding were planned for at least a year before that.

I keep hearing about trends like "feathers" and "monograms" and all sorts of other wonderful ideas - but we have been using those ideas for several years now.  As an example, check my post about Kimberly and Victor's March 2008 wedding using these "trends."

Re-creating something in a magazine is great, but ask your event designer, florist or planner about creating a look that is uniquely "you!"

Love Notes: Megan & Vivek

I just got a super-sweet note from our September 25, 2010 bride Megan:

"I thought Heather did an amazing job! She found the best people for my wedding and made sure if ran very smoothly.  I could not have done it without her.  I'm so grateful I found her.  Thank you for making my days so amazing, beautiful and special.

I especially recommend her since I was planning a destination wedding.  Excellent job!"

This photo is from Megan and Vivek's engagement session - to see more, check the La Dolce Vita Studio's blog.  More wedding details will be posted soon!