Invisalign - A Wedding Gift For Yourself

I had the privilege of meeting with Dr. Don Alexander this week, and he had a great idea! Why not invest a little cash on yourself as you plan your wedding? Now is definitely the time to do it, before the house and kids and career really take over.

Dr. Alexander offers Invisalign®, but his practice is unique. It's one of six offices in Jacksonville that have the technology to show you your anticipated results in just 15 minutes! The nifty computer screen you see pictured here is what makes it possible. And the mouth you see on the screen is mine! Granted, I had braces as a kid, and my teeth are still fairly straight, so you don't see a huge difference. But in some of the cases Dr. Alexander showed me, even six months of Invisalign® can make a significant change in your smile. It just takes a few minutes to have your mouth scanned, and then it magically appears on the screen and makes the adjustments.

Dr. Alexander is offering our clients a great discount on Invisalign®, plus free teeth whitening for both the bride and groom. I was surprised to hear how affordable it is, even without the discount! Contact our office to get a special invitation to visit Dr. Alexander's office for a complimentary consultation.

Multi-Cultural Wedding Tips

I had the pleasure of attending the Association of Bridal Consultants' Central Florida East luncheon yesterday. The guest speaker was Yehudit Steinberg, the founder of the Jewish Interfaith Wedding Network. She specializes in creating ceremonies blending religions and cultures, incorporating both families' traditions and beliefs. Yehudit shared some tips that you may want to consider when planning an interfaith wedding.

1. Don't rush. Long engagements aren't a bad thing, especially when it comes to blending two cultures or religions. You'll want to explore your families' traditions, and decide as a couple which traditions to incorporate into your wedding, and your marriage.

2. Open communication. Encourage your families to be a part of your wedding preparations, especially in terms of the ceremony.

3. Address ceremony options first. Especially when you are considering marrying in a house of worship, you will want to secure the date with your officiants before planning any other aspects of the wedding.  In other words, don't book your reception venue and then find out it's Yom Kippur and no rabbi will marry you!

Be sure to visit the Jewish Interfaith Wedding Network website for more great information!

Signature Drinks Featuring Pearl Wedding Cake Vodka

At last year's Association of Bridal Consultants' conference, I was introduced to Pearl Wedding Cake Vodka. What a great addition to a signature drink! They have lots of great recipes on their website, but here are two they featured at the conference.

Blushing Bride (shown in photo)

2 oz Pearl Wedding Cake 2 oz Cranberry Juice 1/2 oz Prosecco

Chill champagne glass. Pour ingredients as listed. Garnish with a fresh strawberry and serve.

Tropical Wedding

2oz Pearl Wedding Cake 4oz Pineapple Juice

Pour Pearl in chilled martini glass. Add pineapple juice. Garnish with pineapple wedge.

Do you have signature drink recipe you'd like to share? Post it in the comments below!

Spotlight: Wine and Canvas

Last weekend, Kari and I had a blast creating works of art over cocktails and conversation! Thanks to a Groupon deal, we signed up along with Kari's mom, sister, and a few friends, and were introduced to Wine and Canvas. The premise is simple: you sign up online, then show up at the bar or restaurant where the event is scheduled. You get a blank canvas, paints and brushes, and even an apron to keep you somewhat clean. Everyone paints the same picture, and an instructor paints along with you so you can watch what to do. (That part is definitely easier before the cocktails!) Here's the before:

It's a step by step process, and our class lasted 3 hours. At the end of the event, we all took our paintings with us - some to be displayed prominently in our homes, some to be donated to a charity thrift shop near you.

Not only is this a super idea for a night out, it's a great idea for a Bachelorette Party! We've heard from a lot of you that say you want a fun night out with your friends that doesn't involve a fake veil and strippers. Wine and Canvas offers private parties which could be held at any number of restaurants that have private event space. Plus, you'll have a souvenier of your night with the girls!

Check out the Wine and Canvas website or Facebook page for more info:

Wine and Canvas Website Wine and Canvas Jacksonville - Facebook page

Jacksonville Wedding Venue Tour

We had a great time last Sunday participating in the first Jacksonville Wedding Venue Tour, hosted by our friends at The Wedding Loft. The premise is that brides and grooms visit four venues, all set up as they would be for a wedding, and they get to enjoy food and entertainment while meeting great wedding professionals. It's like a bridal show on wheels!

We were at The Carling, which is an interesting historic venue in Downtown Jacksonville. The building was formerly the Carling Hotel/Hotel Roosevelt, built in 1925; now it's home to gorgeous apartments! Restored architectural features include Palladian windows, terrazo floors, and a beautiful marble staircase to the private event space.

Thanks to J'Adore Studios for the fun photos! To see more photos from the tour, check out Liz's blog post.

The Jacksonville Wedding Venue Tour attendees on the bus!

At the entrance to The Carling

Design and florals by Blush 129

Cake and cupcakes by Choux Bakery

Food by D'Vine Cuisine

Spotlight: The Engagement Ring Studio

This week, I had the opportunity to meet the lovely ladies at The Engagement Ring Studio. As a small studio, they offer a personal approach to selecting the perfect engagement ring. They work one-on-one with grooms to select the ideal ring for his bride, or custom design one if nothing is "just right."

Rather than a sea of glass cases, the studio has open displays where the rings can easily be viewed, touched, and admired. In addition, they have a selection of earrings, necklaces, as well as non-diamond options.

I was impressed that they are dedicated to designing a ring that not only the bride will love, but the groom will be comfortable with price-wise. Before they even start looking at diamonds, they look at budget. Much better than the guilt-trip guys often get at the major chain stores!

Already have the ring? The Engagement Ring Studio can also help with custom-designed wedding bands and bridal party gifts.  Also, check out their seminars, "Beer, Wings & Rings" where guys can learn how to buy the perfect engagement ring.

Celebrating 10 Years

In November, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of First Coast Weddings and Events. I put together a small dinner party for our team, and I'm excited to finally share the photos with you! There were so many gorgeous images from Kris Graham Photography that I had a hard time narrowing it down!

Thanks to Rose of Sharon European Florist, D'Vine Cuisine, Kirby Rentals, and Classic Cakes for making it all happen. And of course, to Emma, Melanie, Kari and Ashleigh for being such an amazing team!

Happy Holidays!

2012 is almost over - can you believe it?! We've celebrated our 10th anniversary, we've added two amazing ladies to our team, we've moved to a new office, and we've celebrated the weddings of some spectacular clients! We wanted to take a moment to thank you for your friendship and love this year, and we look forward to many more joyous celebrations in 2013.

How Long Should My Wedding Reception Last?

We often meet with clients that think their wedding reception should last ALL night long. And in some cases, they are right. But more often than not, less is more when in comes to wedding receptions.

Here in Jacksonville, the typical wedding reception lasts between 4 and 5 hours.  There are some factors that will influence your reception length:

• The type of meal being served. If you are serving a 5-course meal, your dinner will last longer than an hors d'oeuvres reception.
• How long your cocktail "hour" will last. Many couples have a "cocktail hour" that lasts longer than an actual hour.
• Your guest list. If most of your guests are from out of town, and are staying at or near the reception venue, they may be more likely to party later.
• Venue restrictions. There may be sound ordinances you need to comply with, or your venue may have a limit on the number of hours in your rental fee.

Some reasons to end your reception a little earlier include:

• The send-off. If you'd like to have a grand exit, you'll want to leave before all your guests do.
• You'll be exhausted. You've spent a year planning every detail of this day, and the butterflies in your stomach may not let you sleep the night before!  Plus, you'll usually be up very early on the wedding day to start hair and makeup.
• It's easier on the budget. The longer your reception lasts, the longer you will have to pay for food, drinks, and entertainment.

If you'd like a longer reception, consider staging an "after party" in a different space at your venue. Create a unique setting, and have different entertainment. Or, keep the post-reception casual by meeting at a nearby bar. Just be sure everyone has safe transportation home afterward!

November In A Nutshell

So... I haven't been blogging very much this month. Sorry! But here's what has been going on this month. First, we celebrated our 10th anniversary. We had an amazing company dinner at a beautiful riverfront home at sunset. I don't have the professional pics yet, but here's a little sneak preview:

Huge thank-yous to D'Vine Cusine, Rose of Sharon European Florist, Kris Graham Photography, Classic Cakes, D'Land Productions, and Kirby Rentals for making it all happen.

A day later, I left for Colorado to speak at the Association of Bridal Consultants' Business of Brides conference. I always love getting to see my fellow wedding planners and friends at the annual conference. We got to hear great ideas from industry leaders Donnie Brown and Rebecca Grinnals, see new products and trends, and learn about all sorts of topics. I met a wonderful woman, Yehudit Steinberg, from the Jewish Interfaith Wedding Network, who specializes in creating custom interfaith ceremonies for brides and grooms. Plus, I attended a session called, "Special Needs Weddings for Visually, Hearing, and Mobility Impaired."

To make it an even better trip, I got to spend a few extra days in Colorado, enjoying Estes Park and Vail.

Before I knew it, Thanksgiving was here, and now it's already November 30th! This month has really flown by - I hope yours was as great as mine was.

We're 10!

Today is a very special day - it's our 10th birthday! Sometimes it feels longer, sometimes it feels like just yesterday. It was November 8, 2002, when our corporate paperwork was officially filed and legal. We've seen hundreds of weddings, lots of our couples have children now, and some of our brides and grooms are doing amazing things! We love to keep up with everyone, and it's so much easier with Facebook and Twitter.

We've worked with so many talented wedding professionals over the years that it would be impossible to name them all. Having a great team really makes our job a lot easier!

And we've added to our own team over the years - including a some babies of our own. We're celebrating with a small dinner party this evening, but we'll be sure to share photos soon. It's been an amazing 10 years, and we look forward to many more! Cheers!

10th Anniversary Sale!

This month, we're celebrating our 10th Anniversary! As a special gift, any bride or groom that books a wedding with us between now and November 8, 2012, will receive 10% off their service price. Contact us to schedule your consultation!

The Fine Print: Contract must be signed and deposit received by Thursday, November 8th. Wedding must take place in 2013, based on availability. Valid only for new bookings.

Beach Wedding Tips

Even though summer is winding down in most parts of the country, here in Florida it is still perfect beach weather! I personally don't recommend having the ceremony on the actual beach, for several reasons: the on-looking public, noise, wind, sand everywhere, not to mention Speedo-guy in the background of your photos. We have several lovely locations here in North Florida and South Georgia that overlook the beach while minimizing some of these issues. But, if you do choose to have your ceremony on the beach, here are some things to consider:

• Always have a backup plan. Weather in Florida is so unpredictable, and the soft ocean breeze can easily become a tropical storm force wind in a matter of hours. While a tent may be an option, it may not be the best solution.
• Think about access for older guests. Can your grandparents walk easily in the sand? If not, designate a family member (not someone in the bridal party) to help them.
• Warn guests that ceremony will be on the beach. Make it clear on the invitation that guests should be prepared to remove their shoes or wear sandals for the ceremony. Nothing is worse than high heels and panty hose on the beach.
• Have water available for your guests. Even when the temperatures are in the 80's, it can be hot in the sun. Remember that your guests will begin arriving about 30 minutes before your ceremony time, so have a water station to quench their thirst. Add some cucumber to the water for a fun treat!
• Have towels to wipe off feet. As I mentioned previously, there will be sand everywhere. It's a nice touch for your guests to be able to clean up before entering the reception.
• Rent a sound system. The sounds of the surf are romantic, but they make it difficult for your guests to hear what is being said during the ceremony. Be sure to ask about battery-operated systems, since chances are you won't have a power outlet nearby.
• Provide sunscreen in welcome bags. Some of your guests may be sensitive to the sun, even if your ceremony is at sunset. Add some sunscreen to your welcome bags, or have it available at your water station.

(photo from Shanae and Marlon's wedding at The Lodge and Club at Ponte Vedra Beach, by Naturally Photography)

Custom-Tailored Shirts and Ties For Your Groom and Groomsmen

The rented tux is pretty standard for weddings. On occasion, it might be a suit instead. But men's attire doesn't vary that much from wedding to wedding. Have you considered having the dress shirts custom-tailored to go with the rental?

For the grooms, this is a great way to have a special memento of the wedding day. And did you know that a special fabric can be sewn to the under-side of the cuffs, so that we you're out there dancing and rolling up your sleeves, you have a stylish surprise! Or check out the groom in the photo - he and his groomsmen all wore these great Gator shirts under their Air Force uniforms.

As a special touch, have his monogram embroidered on the cuff.

If you can't afford to buy custom shirts for all the groomsmen, think about having ties custom-made. Not only is that a great way to get the exact color or print you are looking for, but it's a great groomsman gift.

Whether buying shirts for all the groomsmen or just the groom, you'll need accurate measurements. There are also a variety of fits and collar types, and your tailor should be able to help you make selections based on body type. There are also fabric choices - not only in color but also thread count. Similar to buying sheets, higher thread counts tend to be softer.

A top-notch tailor will help you through all these decisions. If you are in Jacksonville, we recommend that you visit The Tailor Shop for expert guidance.

Planning Your Wedding Menu

When you begin planning your wedding menu, there are many more decisions to make that just sit-down or stations/buffet. Here are some tips to consider: Think about what foods are in season at the time of your wedding. In-season fruits and vegetables are more budget friendly too!

Choose foods that will pair nicely both in flavor and in presentation. Monochromatic may work as a wedding color scheme, but it doesn't work well on a plate. Be sure to choose a variety of colors and textures for your meal.

Avoid overly spicy foods. There are few things worse that heartburn during your wedding reception!

Ask your caterer about alternate meals for vegetarians, vegans, and those with food allergies. They will usually offer an alternate entree that will meet all these needs.

Consider printing menu cards that detail the meal and include them at each place setting. If someone does have a concern about a menu item, they can ask their server.

Don't be afraid to ask your caterer about incorporating a family recipe into your menu. Most chefs love to try new recipes, with enough advance notice.

(photo by La Dolce Vita Studios)

Do You Need A Professional Makeup Artist?

YES!

(Ok, I'll elaborate...)

Many brides, especially those on tight budgets, are quick to think, "I look pretty good on a daily basis, I can do my own makeup for my wedding." And while, yes, this is true, there are many reasons to hire a pro:

• Being on time. Think back to your senior prom, when you did your own hair and makeup. Did things go exactly as planned? Usually not.
• Less stress. Why not sit in a chair for an hour and relax while someone makes you more beautiful? Much better than standing in the hotel room's bathroom.
• Play up your best features and hide any flaws. Just because your photographer can photoshop that zit, he or she doesn't want to have to do that in 1,000 photos. A professional makeup artist can hide any little imperfections without making them more obvious.
• Long-lasting coverage. You'll be sweating, dancing, kissing, and eating during your wedding day. And from the time your makeup is done in the morning to the time you leave your reception, that can be a 10-hour day.
• Proper intensity for photographs. We've all seen those photos of brides whose face looks three shades lighter than the rest of their body, or they look like they aren't wearing makeup at all. Just like models have more dramatic makeup, you'll need to step it up a bit for your wedding day too. A professional makeup artist knows how to achieve this while still making you look like "you."

The most important step in hiring a makeup artist is scheduling a trial run. You'll want to be sure you're happy with the results, but long before the wedding day. In fact, having your makeup done the same day as your engagement photos kills two birds with one stone! Then, if you aren't happy with the look, you have time to make adjustments rather than having a melt-down on your wedding day.

Photo from Megan and Vivek's Wedding - Makeup Artist: Kimtasha (be sure to check out the before and after photos on her website!) - Photographer: La Dolce Vita Studio

Bridal Show This Sunday!

Looking for a great way to meet lots of wedding professionals in one place? Stop by the Premier Wedding Expo this Sunday! We have been proud to help produce these great events for many years, and they keep getting better.

• Over 100 exhibitors
• Great discounts and prizes will be available for brides planning their weddings
• Each bride gets a bridal bag when entering the show

The event runs from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the UNF University Center (12000 Alumni Drive). Tickets are $10 at the door, but if  you purchase the online in advance they are only $7! Be sure to visit the show's website, www.TicTocEvents.com, to learn more.

DIY Wedding Maps

Chances are, you'll need a map to include with your wedding invitations. If you are having your invitations custom designed, you graphic artist will probably create one for you. But what if you aren't? There are lots of websites and artists that can create pretty maps for you. But did you know you can do it yourself? I didn't really believe it either, so I made one for our office location! Here's how it works... {Word of Caution: Don't rush this project! Give yourself plenty of time, and work on it over a few nights. If you lack patience, consider hiring someone instead.}

Step 1: Find your locations in Google Maps, Mapquest, Bing, or another online source. If you will have multiple locations, be sure to zoom out wide enough to show them all. You'll be tracing this map, so be sure you are happy with its size, zoom and position. Use Print Screen to capture the image.

Step 2: If you have access to a drawing program, like Adobe Illustrator, open it up and paste your map into a new drawing. If you don't have Illustrator, you can accomplish the same thing using Microsoft PowerPoint! Paste your image in a new slide to get started.

Step 3: Use the drawing tools to trace the main streets on your maps. If you are using PowerPoint, use the Curve tool to trace most roads. You can also adjust the thickness for major roads, and add text boxes to add labels. Remember, it doesn't need to be exact, as long as all the roads are where they should be. Once you have all the roads traced, delete the original Google map and check out your design!

Step 4: Add icons to your map for your ceremony and reception locations - Google "free wedding clipart" to find some cute images. You could also add rehearsal dinner locations, or any other places your guests will need to find.

Step 5: In PowerPoint, use the Select All command to select all the elements of your map. Once everything is selected, right click and choose the Save As Picture option. A dialogue window will open allowing you to save your map as an image file.  Depending on the size your printed map needs to be, it may be better to save the file as a PDF.

That's it! This is my finished product:

Not too bad for a couple hours work!

Our New Planning Studio

It was recently brought to my attention that there was not much fanfare when we moved to a new office earlier this year. Since the move took place in May, when we were in the midst of our busiest wedding month of the year, we had other things on our mind. Forgive us? Even though it's been 3 months already, we are still in the process of unpacking, decorating, and making the new space "home." But, I thought I'd give you a peek in case you haven't had a chance to stop by yet!

What will you find in our office, you may ask? Here's a little taste:

• Dozens of wedding-related books, including six Emily Post's Etiquette books dating from 1940 to 1965
• Lots of photos from 10 years worth of weddings
• Linen samples from all the major rental companies
• My Master Bridal Consultant plaque, the biggest honor of my career
• A collection of glass vases and candle holders
• A freeze-dried flower petal display
• Random left-overs from weddings we've coordinated (extra bubbles, favors, paper stock, etc.)
• My wedding-movie DVD collection, including the original 1950 version of Father of the Bride starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor
• An autographed photo of Randy Fenoli of Say Yes To The Dress (just because he's so darn cute!)

And of course, you'll find us hard at work helping our clients find everything they need for their weddings! We hope you'll stop by and say hi.

Mira & Matt - Wedding at Home, Jacksonville

Matt and Mira are such a sweet couple, and both have such amazing families!  They met in college and have survived the years through medical school and now residency as they begin a new journey as husband and wife.  Because of their hectic schedules, Matt's mom was responsible for most of the wedding plans - we think she did an incredible job! In addition, she and her husband hosted the wedding and reception at their beautiful riverfront home.

This photo by Agnes Lopez truly captures the love that the bride and groom have for each other! Be sure to stop by her blog to see additional images from this wedding.

These adorable programs were printed by Whimsical Prints, with layout and assembly by the First Coast Weddings team. The gorgeous flowers were done by Rose of Sharon European Florist.

Tables, chairs, and linens were supplied by Beachview Tent Rentals, with the First Coast Weddings team doing all of the setup and breakdown.

The wooden bowl pictured above was handmade by friends of the family, and held the rings during the ceremony. It was passed around during the ceremony for the guests to offer a blessing for the couple.

The menu, created by Karen Glenn, was a buffet of French-inspired Southern favorites. Some highlights included Chinois Grilled Lamb Tenderloin with Cilantro Mint Vinaigrette, Shrimp and Grits, and Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread.  Oliv'r Twist provided bar service, where local favorite Bold City Kiler Whale Ale was served alongside Labatt's Blue in honor of the bride's Canadian heritage. The signature drink was a Lemon Drop, the bride's favorite!

The lemon-flavored cake, to compliment the Lemon Drop Martinis, was created by The Cake Shop of San Jose. The super-sweet forks, engraved with the wedding date, were a gift to the bride and groom.

The bride and groom departed their afternoon reception with our favorite photo opp - the ribbon wand send-off. We just love this colorful and fun exit.

The best way to leave a riverfront reception - by boat! We love the special flag that the mother of the groom ordered, as well as the pretty streaming ribbons and floral wreaths by Rose of Sharon European Florist.