Love Note: Lauren & Kevin (05.07.11)

I got the sweetest card from Lauren's mom:

Dear Heather,

I could not have been so relaxed this week without you.  You have made this day even more special. I really appreciate your attention to detail and organizational skills. It has been so much fun getting to know you.  Lauren spoke so highly of you and you have impressed us greatly.

Thanks so much, Jim and Debbie

We love Lauren, and her parents too!  (And her photographers, Brandy and Beau of Brandy Burridge Photography... we swiped this image from their blog!)

Wedding Planners Don't Just Work On The Weekends!

Yesterday, I had the honor of attending the first ever Executive Women's Day at The Players Championship. It was a terrific day filled with networking with powerful women, inspiring discussions from a panel talented female executives, and an entertaining and informative keynote address from MSNBC's Contessa Brewer.

I thought it was interesting when one of my fellow attendees asked me what I would normally be doing if I weren't at that event.  It made me realize that not everyone realizes that being an event planner, specifically a wedding planner, is a full-time job.  So I thought I'd make a little list of some of the things I handle on a daily basis at the office!

• Call and email vendors for upcoming weddings to finalize the wedding day schedule (about 10 hours per wedding)
• Create wedding timelines, inventory lists, bridal party mailings, and other day-of paperwork (about 10 hours per wedding)
• Check availability with vendors for my clients (about 20 hours per wedding)
• Gather pricing information and submit it with analysis to my clients (5-10 hours per wedding)
• Meet with clients as they interview prospective vendors, and then as they begin to finalize details (about 20-40 hours per wedding)
• Follow up with clients to be sure they are completing their to-do lists for the month (3-5 hours per month)
• Return emails and phone calls to discuss details with clients (2-3 hours per day)
• Meet with potential new clients regarding their wedding (3-7 hours per week)
• Create proposals for prospective clients (3-7 hours per week)
• Send out contracts, set up online binders, create files for new clients (2-3 hours per wedding)
• Assorted bookkeeping and accounting tasks (2-3 hours per week)
• Assorted marketing tasks, like uploading photos to our blog, website, Facebook, Flickr, etc. (5-10 hours per week)
• Meet with potential new vendors and check their references (2-3 hours per week)

I'm sure there is a lot more - maybe my fellow wedding planners can add some of their favorite tasks in the comments?

Love Note: Jessica and Brian (04.16.11) - TPC Sawgrass, part 2

Thanks again, Melanie, for making Brian and I's wedding day so special. The ceremony was flawless and know that wasin large part due to your work and planning. Really appreciate your work and please let me know if we can every be a resource or reference moving forward.

All the best,

Jess

Love Note: Jessica and Brian (04.16.11) - TPC Sawgrass

Melanie,

Thank you so much for you and Emma’s help in making our daughter’s wedding everything that she wanted.  We appreciated your professionalism and your seamless way of making sure everyone was where they were supposed to be.  It was a pleasure working with you both.

Jeanne, Mother of the Bride

Royal Wedding Tips: Flowers

While we still don't know exactly what the flowers for the royal wedding will look like, it's been reported that Kate has been very deliberate in her choices.  According to Shane Connolly, floral artistic director for the wedding, "One of the things that has been very important to Catherine is the meanings of flowers and the language of flowers."  Some of the flowers planned for Westminster Abbey include azaleas, the Chinese symbol of femininity, and lilacs, which represent first love. During the Victorian Era, flowers were sent as coded messages, allowing individuals to express feelings which otherwise could not be spoken.  What are some other flowers the "speak" of weddings?

• Calla Lilies:  "Magnificent Beauty"
• Chrysanthemum: "Wealth, abundance, truth"
• Gardenia: "Purity, joy"
• Hydrangea: "Understanding"
• Orchid: "Love, beauty"
• Stephanotis: "Marital happiness"
• Sunflower: "Pure thoughts"

But stay away from yellow roses, which symbolize a decrease in love, and petunias, which signify anger!

Royal Wedding Tips: The After Party

Prince William and his bride Kate will certainly have a busy wedding day!  Immediately following their wedding ceremony, Queen Elizabeth will be hosting a reception for the newlyweds.  Then in the evening, 300 of the couples' closest family and friends will dance the night away at Buckingham Palace.  But what about the after party?

Prince Harry has that covered.  He is said to be hosting a breakfast at 6:00 am for those still on the dance floor.

The concept of an after party has grown in popularity over the past few years.  Some couples choose a nearby bar for a more intimate celebration with their friends after the reception ends.  Others create a whole second reception!

We've seen couples transform a smaller ballroom at the same venue into a trendy dance club, complete with lounge furniture and mood lighting.  Often, another round of food is served - the "late night snack" that includes everything from mini-pizzas to sliders to McDonald's French fries.  The photo above is from our friends at Room Service, a great source for lounge furniture rentals.

How will you be continuing your wedding celebration?

Royal Wedding Tips: The Guest List

With the royal wedding just days away, you may have heard talk of who did, and didn't, make the guest list.  While most brides and grooms don't have to deal with the political protocol that William and Kate do, there can be tricky situations when creating you wedding guest list.

How do you decide who to invite?  Maybe one of you has an extremely large family while the other's family is very small. Maybe your parents want to take over and invite their business associates from across the country.  Maybe your venue can only seat half of those you'd like to invite.

Family: Start with your immediate families.  Next add your extended family - grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins.  Many of us have friends that we are closer to than our family; they should be next on the list.

Friends and co-workers: I often tell my brides to imagine watching their wedding video or looking at their photo album in five years - will you still be friends with that person?  If you were having a small dinner at your home, would you invite this person? If the answer is no, then cut them from the list.

The Plus One: Does every person have to bring a guest? No. If they are married, engaged, or living together, then they need to be invited.  But your frat brother doesn't need to bring whatever girl he picked up the night before!

Lastly, don't feel obligated to invite someone just because you went to their wedding. Relationships can change over time, and you shouldn't feel awkward about it.

Royal Wedding Tips: Traditions

Yes, THE wedding is almost here! It's finally the week of the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton.  So we'll be doing a series of posts with things you can learn from the royal couple. First up, we'll look at traditions.  It's been reported that William and Kate have been in charge of all aspects of their wedding  day, unlike most royal weddings in the past.

Kate chose  her wedding cake and its baker, reportedly a multi-tiered cake  with cream and white frosting with scrollwork, leaves and flowers.  The couple have  also chosen the charities that will benefit from donations in lieu of gifts.  And the choice to have the wedding in Westminster Abbey, a "small," intimate venue that only seats 1,800 was reportedly their choice as  well.

So if William and Kate can break with family traditions, why can't other modern couples?  Many brides and grooms find themselves torn between two families, two cultures, or two religions.  But a wedding ceremony should truly reflect the couple getting married, and who they will become as a new family.

It's always best to try to incorporate little  touches from each  family, but there is no reason for the bride  and groom to give in to every whim!  Start early, 6-9 months before the wedding, by asking each set of parents  (and grandparents, if that's  important to you), what traditions they would like incorporated into the wedding day.  Make a list,  and then prioritize them.  Be sure that equal priorities are given to each side of the family, and then begin exploring ways to include those traditions.  If there  is something you feel strongly about, be honest.  But remember that in the end, it's YOUR wedding day!

Escort Cards vs Place Cards: What's the difference?

Often mistakenly interchanged, escort cards and place cards actually serve two distinctive purposes.  Simply, escort cards let guests know where they are sitting. In effect they escort guests to their seats.  These cards are often seen creatively displayed on a separate table just outside the dining area.

Alternatively, place cards sit on each table and indicate the specific seat where a guest will sit. In addition they are often used to indicate to the catering staff which meal you guests have chosen, if they have been given a choice between two or three items.

And what if you have open seating? Well then cards aren't necessary at all! For the couples who to choose to use escort and pace cards, use it as an opportunity to enhance your decor! For example escort cards can be hanging from a tree or enclosed in an envelope. Place cards can be placed inside a frame or attached to a single flower. Don't be afraid to get creative!

Tom & Lydia (03.27.11) - TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach

Tom and Lydia were married in a beautiful ceremony at TPC Sawgrass on March 27th.   We were so happy to share their special day with them!  Our amazing vendor team included:

• Photography: Kris Graham Photography
• Music:  The String Group
• Cake: Classic Cakes
• Florist: Rose of Sharon European Florist
• Officiant: Rev. Craig Grandstaff, Sr.

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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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!