Jessica & Brendan (11.05.11) - TPC Sawgrass Wedding, Ponte Vedra Beach

Jessica and Brendan's gorgeous fall wedding took place at TPC Sawgrass on November 5th 2011. From my first meeting with Jessica and Brendan, l could tell how in love they are with each other. They are such a fun, easy going couple, and l really enjoyed working with them. Jessica and Brendan really captured the essence of the season, choosing rich fall colors like orange, red and yellow. Rose of Sharon created a magnificent floral arbor, which was the focal point for the Ceremony, and amazing centerpieces for the Reception.  Plumb Fun Photobooth provided some fun entertainment and The Cloud 9 Band kept everyone on the dance floor all night long! One of my most memorable moments of the night was the sparkler exit, where Jessica and Brendan hopped onto a golf cart to ride off into the night! Agnes Lopez Photography caught that image and of course many more! Below are some wedding highlights from Jessica and Brendan's big day!

Bridal Show Tips

It's bridal show season! Here in Jacksonville, we have two bridal shows going on this weekend. If you're planning on attending, here are some helpful tips:

• Pre-register if you can.  Often, there will be a discounted admission if you register online, plus you can skip the hassle when you arrive.  Registering will qualify you for some awesome prizes at the show!
• Have pre-printed labels with your name, address, email, phone number, and wedding date.
• Bring your schedule (calendar, Blackberry, iPhone) with you - you may want to schedule meetings with vendors right away!
• Don't be afraid to ask questions!  The pros you meet do weddings all the time, but they know that you're a novice.  There are no dumb questions.
• Wear comfortable shoes.  You will do quite a bit of walking and be on your feet for 2-3 hours.
• Grooms can have fun too!  Most shows have a wide variety of food and cakes to sample.

Did you say you'd like FREE tickets to the Ultimate Bridal Fantasy at Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa? Swing by The Wedding Party during normal business hours (10:00 am to 6:00 pm) to pick up a pair!

Happy New Year!

Thank you for your friendship in 2011 - we look forward to a wonderful 2012!

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man.  - Benjamin Franklin

Best Wishes, Emma, Heather and Melanie

Love Note: Christa & James (10.08.11) - The Lodge and Club at Ponte Vedra Beach

We got a lovely note in the mail today from Christa and James, who were married on October 8th at The Lodge and Club in Ponte Vedra Beach. It's always great working with such sweet couples, and their equally lovable families!

Dear Heather, Thank you so much for helping me plan the wedding of our dreams! You were the perfect amount of help and advice! Everything ran so smoothly, especially on the Big Day itself, and I know that happened because of your expertise! I will absolutely be referring my Jacksonville/St. Augustine friends to you! Thank you again! It was an absolute fairy tale! Have a wonderful holiday season!

Love, Christa and James

Teddi & Chris (10.15.11) - Christ Episcopal Church and TPC Sawgrass Wedding, Ponte Vedra Beach

On October 15th, 2011, l had the pleasure of coordinating Chris and Teddi’s Wedding. The Ceremony took place at Christ Episcopal Church, with the Reception following at TPC Sawgrass.

Teddi and Chris had selected some amazing vendors, Brandy Burridge Photography, Liz Stewart Floral, and Face For Radio to name a few!

Teddi looked absolutely amazing in her wedding dress and long veil, not to be out done by Chris and his Groomsmen who sported some pretty cool bow ties!

The reception room at TPC Sawgrass was stunning, thanks to the décor set up by Liz Stewart Floral. Liz Stewart also made a striking centerpiece for the escort card table, this was one of my favorite décor accents of the day!

Teddi had so many great ideas on how she wanted things to look, and it was so great to see her ideas come to fruition! The best part of the day for me was watching Teddi and Chris dancing together with Teddi’s parents. They were all smiling and beaming with happiness, which put a huge smile on my face! This wedding was elegant, sophisticated and full of love.

Congratulations to the new couple!

Thank you to Brandy Burridge for sharing the below photographs with us!

Love Note: Teddi & Chris (10.15.11) - Ponte Vedra Beach Wedding

Today was a great mail day in our office!  Not one but two lovely thank-you notes, one of which was personally dropped off by the parents of the bride.

"Dear Emma - Thank you so much for helping make Teddi and Chris' wedding so picture-perfect last weekend. I don't know what we'd have done without your expertise, encouragement, and organization. I'm not sure there is any way to make a wedding totally stress-free... but you tried. Thank you!"

- Nancy & Dave, parents of the bride

"Emma, It was a real treat to work with you and Chris and Teddi's wedding. You did an EXCELLENT job! Everything was beautiful and ran very smooth. We look forward to working with you in the future!"

- Brandy and Beau, Brandy Burridge Photography

Brandy and Beau took this adorable engagement photo of the bride and groom, Teddi and Chris, a few month ago. We can't wait to share the images from their wedding!

Becoming A Wedding Planner

I hear it all the time: "I just love weddings and want to be a wedding planner. It must be so much fun!"  Usually the people saying this phrase have no idea what it truly means to "be a wedding planner." With the current economy, lots of people are looking for work - and some decide to start their own businesses.  Which is great, if you know what you are doing.  But anyone can print up some business cards on their home computer and call themselves a DJ, photographer, videographer, wedding planner, etc.

A lot of newbie wedding planners had fun planning their own weddings, and decide that it should be their new career.  And there's nothing wrong with that.  But planning your own wedding, with your own vision and your own style, is much easier than planning someone else's wedding with their vision and their style.  It takes a real knack to be able to listen to what a client wants and make it a reality.

It's also much different to juggle 20+ weddings at once, not just one. Staying organized, keeping track of multiple budgets and task lists, and treating each couple as if they are your only client takes a certain skill level.

So how does someone become a wedding planner? The best suggestion  I can make it to take advantage of apprenticeships and internships. There are several great online courses to teach the basics of running a business and helping a client plan a wedding, but there is no substitute for experience.  Even after 12 years of doing weddings and 15 years in the hospitality business, I feel like I learn something at every wedding.

If you are a bride shopping for a wedding planner, take a look at their portfolio.  Is there more than one wedding shown?  Is it the planner's own wedding?  Be sure to ask questions when you are interviewing planners about their experience level; and as a new planner, be honest with prospective clients.  We all had to start somewhere - but if you lie about your experience, it will come back to haunt you in the end.

Jacksonville Wedding Giveaway Worth $30,000!

How would you like to win a FREE wedding?  Register now for your spot in The Wedding Party's Dance2Wed "Don't Stop the Music" Dance-a-thon!

When: Friday, October 21 9:00 pm - Saturday, October 22, 2011 until last couple is standing

Where: Aloft Jacksonville Tapestry Park

Who: All Engaged Couples & Friends

The Grand Prize:  A wedding valued at over $30,000!

That's right... all you have to do is be the last couple dancing on October 22nd, and you score a free wedding package! The dream wedding prize package includes:

• Ceremony and reception for up to 100 guests at Aloft Hotel

• Catering package from Mai Oui Gourmet

• Photography package from The Wedding and Portrait Photographers and Thomas Lester Photography

• Videography package from In Motion Video Productions

• Wedding cake by Simply Delicious! Cakes

• Stationery from Celebrated Occasions and Kouture Kreations

• DJ services from D'Land Entertainment and Y? Entertainment

• Photo Booth provided by Y? Entertainment

• Hair and Makeup services from A Glamour Bride

• Floral arrangements for the ceremony and reception

And of course, coordination by First Coast Weddings and Events! Find out more details and review the complete rules on The Wedding Party's website. We hope to see you there!

Why You Need a Wedding Planner - From a Photographer's Prospective

Our friend, Christy Whitehead of Christy Whitehead Photography, wrote an excellent blog post yesterday with her view on wedding planners.  I'd love for you to read the full article here, but here is a little snippet:

And now my two cents as the photographer.

The majority of weddings I shoot do not have a planner. Some have a venue coordinator, but in many cases I find that the event coordinator is gone as soon as the food is done being served. Which is when the bride usually turns to me to ask what to do next.

A wedding planner not only helps make sure you arrive on time and gets you down the aisle but helps ensure that at the reception everything is done in a timely manner. Which can mean money saved to you, because many of your vendors are likely charging you by the hour.

Let me put it this way, say you have to pay 3-4 of your vendors to stay an extra hour (happens ALL the time) that is likely to run you $1,000+ easily (And some vendors may have other weddings to go to and can’t stay!). Many day of coordinators start in that range and could have not only helped the wedding stay on time but have been on site all day to ease the tension of stained dresses, vendors arriving on time, and other emergencies that happen at EVERY wedding.

I hope you will consider hiring a wedding planner/coordinator for your wedding day. Not only can they save you a lot of stress, but sometimes the amount of money they can save you could cover the cost of hiring them. And I don’t know a wedding vendor who doesn’t prefer a wedding that has a coordinator in charge, it makes our day go by sooo much more smoothly. I also have someone to go to, should I have any questions, so that I don’t have to bug the bride who likely won’t know the answer for sure anyway.

Wedding Insurance - Protect Your Investment!

Did you know you can insure your wedding?  Of course, we hope nothing would go wrong on your wedding day, but Hurricane Irene churning in the Atlantic has us all thinking about backup plans! 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

Wedding Guest Etiquette, As Seen on WJXT's The Morning Show

I had the pleasure of speaking with Nikki Kimbleton on WJXT's The Morning Show again today - this time, the topic was Wedding Guest Etiquette.  Here are some of the tips we discussed:

Can you wear white to a wedding?

There is no hard and fast rule that says "no," but it is generally frowned upon. However, the bride will never notice what her guests are wearing!

Where do you sit if you are friends with both the bride and groom?

You can sit on either side. We ask our ushers to keep the seating balanced, so sit on whichever side has the fewer guests.

Should you bring a gift to the wedding? Gifts are never required. However, if you choose to give one, it's best to send it ahead of time to the bride or groom, or up to one year after the wedding!

Do you have to stick with the registry? I'm saying, YES! This is one of the biggest pet peeves we hear from brides and grooms. They spend many hours setting up their registry and choosing items for their homes - stick with their wish list.

Is cash better? What is an appropriate amount? Emily Post says, "Let your affection for the bride and groom be your guide." In general, think about the amount you would spend on a gift, and give the same as a cash gift.

What if you are invited but your significant other is not? You should never, under any circumstances, bring an additional (uninvited) guest to a wedding. However, you may want to gently ask the bride or groom to be sure there was not an error.

What is the #1 mistake guests make? Arriving late!  Plan to be in your seat for the ceremony 15 minutes before the time listed on the invitation. If you do arrive late, wait outside the church until the processional has finished, and then slip in a side door or the balcony.

Check out the interview here! http://www.news4jax.com/video/28810496/index.html

What To Put In Welcome Bags

Lately, we have been getting a lot of questions from brides about what to put in their welcome bags. In case you aren't familiar with the term, these are little bags or baskets of goodies delivered to the hotel room of your out-of-town guests. They can be as elaborate or as simple as your budget will allow! The container itself can be inspired by your wedding location, theme, or personalities - we've seen everything from cute beach pails to formal baskets to reusable shopping bags.  If you opt for the gift bag route, you can have them printed with your names and wedding date, or attach a cute tag to the handle.  The bag pictured here  is from FavorsYouKeep.com.

So what goes inside?  The most common items are:

• Bottled water.  An absolute must!
• Snacks.  Something salty, something sweet, and perhaps something with a local flair. (More on this below.)
• Information about the area.  Contact the local visitors' bureau or chamber of commerce, and they will be more than happy to send you brochures and maybe even coupons!
• Information about the wedding.  If you have an action-packed weekend planned, include an itinerary and maps/directions if transportation isn't being provided.
• Contact information.  Assign a local friend to act as your concierge for the weekend to help with last minute questions from your guests.

From the basics, you can upgrade to include bottles of wine, personalized toiletry items like lotion or bubble bath, even slippers!  If you are planning a beach wedding, perhaps a pair of flip flops and bottle of sunscreen.  For a garden wedding, a lovely hat. Just remember that your guests will have to pack these items for their trip home, or leave them behind.

When our brides ask us for "regional" favorites, we suggest:

• Peterbrooke chocolates
• Florida oranges
• Boiled peanuts
• Datil pepper sauce
• San Sebastian wines

What are some of your favorite welcome bag items?

Royal-Inspired DIY Candle Centerpieces

I recently attended a conference session called "25 Centerpieces Under $25." While most of our clients spend a great deal more than that on their centerpieces, I got some great ideas for enhancing floral arrangements, adding a special touch to a bar or guest book table, or perking up the ladies' room.

One idea presented was adding ribbon to the top of vases or candle holders.  While this isn't a new idea, the speakers put a little twist on it by using a pretty lace ribbon.  Lace has been extremely hot since William and Kate's wedding, and what an easy way to add a royal-inspired touch to your wedding!

I found this photo on a blog post over at Wedding Paper Divas.  What a pretty glow!  Even if you are using floral centerpieces, this would be a beautiful additional to the table surrounding your arrangement.

Have you found any cute DIY ideas you will be incorporating into your wedding?

Such An Honor!

Earlier this week, I attended NACE Experience! 2011, the annual conference for the National  Association of Catering Executives.  I have been a NACE  member for 10 years, and on the board of directors most of that time.  I always come home from their conference with a notebook full of  ideas I can't wait to share with the First Coast Weddings team, and our clients. During the conference, I received a huge honor - I was  named to NACE's President's List.  This award is presented for "outstanding achievement and selfless volunteer service."  We have an excellent Northeast Florida chapter, and it's an honor to be recognized by them and the national board of directors as well.

Speaking of our chapter, we  won Chapter of the Year for 2011! We were up against two other great chapters in the "under 100 members" category.  With over 40 chapters across the country, it was so exciting to be selected!

I love being involved with local, national, and international associations for so many reasons - but mostly, I love giving back to the hospitality industry!

Love Note: Shanae and Marlon (07.16.11) - The Lodge and Club Wedding

I just received a sweet email from Shanae's parents! We can't wait to share more details about their wedding at The Lodge and Club.

Heather,

Thank you for all of your hard work during Shanae and Marlon's wedding. Your attention to every detail was impeccable. Your coordination and organization of the wedding was outstanding. You and your staff helped make this an unforgettable event.

It was a joy working with you... You took the stress out of wedding planning....Thank You !

This was one of the happiest days of our families lives

Thank you again for making everything extra special.

Engagement photo by Naturally Photography

Wedding Tips, As Seen on WJXT's The Morning Show

This morning, I got hang out at Channel 4's The Morning Show and share some tips for planning your wedding.  Here is a recap of the tips I discussed, plus a few more we didn't have time for!

Budget-Saving Tips:

• Plan ahead - don't rush your decisions, and spend time comparison shopping. This will also save on rush charges.
• Remember to factor in all aspects of a purchase; for example, your wedding gown may cost $1000 but you also need alterations, shoes, a veil, jewelry, and undergarments. These extras can almost double the price!
• Check websites like Craigslist or Ebay for decorations, centerpieces and accessories.  Brides often sell their decorations after a wedding.
• Consider investing in wedding insurance to protect your deposits and purchases.

Watch out for:

• Additional venue fees, like room rental, bartenders fees, and overtime charges. Sometimes these are included in the menu price, sometimes they are not.
• Large companies that can't guarantee you will be working with on your wedding day - especially DJs, photographers, videographers.  Be sure you can meet with the person you will actually work with to be sure their style matches yours.
• Unlicensed or uninsured vendors.

Some general tips:

• Check the Better Business Bureau, online customer reviews, and actual client references before hiring anyone
• Know your budget before you book anything, and prioritize your wish list.
• If you are ordering a product online, order a sample first (invitations, programs, favors).
• Ask about return/refund/cancellation policies; these should be clearly stated on the contract or receipt.
• Use a credit card to add a layer of protection to your deposits.

Rebekah & Dave (5.28.11) - TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach

We had the pleasure of coordinating Rebekah and Dave's lovely ceremony at TPC Sawgrass on May 28th.  One of my favorite moments was watching Rebekah and Dave share a very sweet and romantic first look with their family and bridal party.  I can't wait to to see the rest of the photos from Corinna Hoffman!  Congratulations to the new Mr. & Mrs! Rebekah and Dave had a great team of wedding professionals:

Photography:  Corinna Hoffman Photography

Music:  Event Sound Entertainment

Flowers:  Kelley's Bloom Room

Officiant: Pastor Cedric Johnson

Hair & Makeup: A Glamour Bride

More photos from Rebekah and Dave's wedding will be posted on Corinna's blog next week!

Love Note: Sandi and Jason (05.21.11) - St. Augustine Beach Wedding

Emma,

Thank you so much for everything with the rehearsal and the wedding. You and your team did an amazing job decorating, running everything so smoothly, and making it possible for us to relax and enjoy ourselves. Several of our guests said it was one of the most beautiful beach weddings they'd ever been to and everything ran perfectly. We could not have done it without you!

Sandi

Lauren & Kevin - Grace UNited Methodist Church and River House Wedding, St. Augustine

I was so excited when I got Lauren's email.  It read: "I interned for Heather in 2007 and she was the first person I thought of when I got engaged!" It was such a joy to spend time with Lauren again, and to get to know her parents.  And to hear all about Kevin.  Since he is in the Air Force, I didn't actually get to meet him until the rehearsal, but I know he  is an incredible man that is perfect for Lauren.

Their wedding day was just amazing, as you'll see in the incredible photos from Brandy  Burridge.  The rest of their amazing team included:

• Ceremony: Grace United Methodist

• Reception: River House

• Photographer: Brandy Burridge Photography

• DJ: D'Land Entertainment (Darrin)

• Florist: Rose Of Sharon European Florist

• Caterer: Valerie Kline

• Wedding Cake: Delicious Designs by Irma Kay Strickland

This was so sweet.  Although they didn't see each other, Lauren and Kevin prayed together before their ceremony from opposite sides of the door.

This is one of the  most amazing reactions I've ever seen caught on camera!

The cake was cut with a sword that Lauren's parents and grandparents used at their weddings!

Love the LED lighting  provided by D'Land Entertainment! These are wireless, can be changed to any color (or even changed during the event), and don't get hot.

Ready to see more?  Check out Brandy's blog post for lots more photos from this wedding!

Words of Wisdom from Randy Fenoli

I recently attended an event in Orlando for wedding professionals featuring none other than Randy Fenoli, star of Say Yes To The Dress and Fashion Director at Kleinfeld Bridal. At the end of his presentation, Randy opened the floor to questions.  I asked, "What is the one thing you wish every bride would do before their first dress appointment?"  After the shouts of  "wear underwear!" from every seamstress and bridal shop owner in the audience, Randy answered the question quite simply: bring  in  pictures!

He suggests pulling  a few pictures (don't get carried away) from magazines of dresses that you like.  He said he can tell a lot from a picture - and it's not always about the actual dress.  It might be the fabric, it might be the look on her face.  So don't be afraid to bring in some ideas when you make your first appointment to try on gowns.

Randy has a new book coming out in November, which you can pre-order on Amazon.com.  It will have tons of his tips - and will feature only photos of real brides in real dresses in every shape and size.  We can't wait to read it, Randy, and thanks for helping make every bride beautiful!