Premier Wedding Expo 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 and grooms planning their weddings
Each couple gets a bridal bag when entering the show
The event runs from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village. 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.PremierWedding.com, to learn more.
Unique Photo Booth for Jacksonville Weddings
Are you looking for something other than the typical photo booth for your wedding? When Ann Meyer LeFiles, publisher of Premier Bride of Northeast Florida, got married last fall, she wanted to incorporate historical touches into her wedding. And she came up with an amazing idea for the reception - not just a photo booth, but a Moon Booth! How romantic is this?
What's even cooler is that her parents made this moon - you read that right, they MADE it! But what makes this idea really awesome is that your parents don't have to be this creative - you can rent the Moon Booth for your Jacksonville wedding. Want to reserve it for your big day? Email ann@premierbridenefl.com.
Photos by Bec Photography.
Steampunk Themed Photo Shoot
Last summer, I had the honor of working with Ann at Premier Bride Magazine to create a steampunk-themed photo shoot for their Winter/Spring 2015 issue. The magazine is out now, so we are finally able to share the photos with you! Not only did we get to shoot at my alma mater, Flagler College, our photographer is a fellow alum too. It was amazing working with such a talented team of wedding pros on this shoot: zach•thomas•photography, Jade Violet Wedding & Event Floral Boutique, Beautiful Faces by Erin, Jill Stonier, Professional Makeup Artist, Bridals & More, Take One Productions, Flagler College, Brooch the Possibilities, LLC St Augustine FL, The Panama Hat Company of St Augustine, Men's Wearhouse, Southern Charm Events, First Frost Designs and Simply Delicious Cakes.
And here is a great behind-the-scenes video to show how it all came together! It was so fun to think outside the box a bit for this shoot.
Premier Wedding Expo 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 and grooms planning their weddings
- Each couple gets a bridal bag when entering the show
The event runs from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the EverBank Field West Touchdown Club. 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.PremierWedding.com, to learn more.
A Reminder About Wedding Insurance
We've written a few blog posts about wedding insurance before, but here is a reminder: every wedding should have wedding insurance!
As I type this post, fierce storms with damaging winds and enough rain to cause flooding and landslides are hitting California. What if your wedding was this weekend?
Closer to home, a North Florida wedding venue had some issues last month that caused them to tell couples getting married in December that they can't host their events. What would you do if you had 10 days to move your entire wedding? Or if you DJ or photographer suddenly went missing?
Wedding insurance covers so many things that brides and grooms don't want to think about. But saying "it won't rain on my wedding day" doesn't mean you shouldn't have a backup plan. And wedding insurance is the ultimate backup plan.
This article from CNBC illustrates just what a benefit insurance can be. Josh and Kristina paid around $250 for their insurance policy and were reimbursed for roughly $14,000 in deposits they had paid when their Brooklyn wedding venue went out of business. Just like you wouldn't want to drive your $25,000 car without insurance, you don't want to invest that amount (or significantly more) in your wedding and not have protection.
We recommend WedSafe and Wedding Protector Plan for wedding insurance - check out their websites for more info!
Congratulations, Ashleigh and Charles!
This weekend, we'll be celebrating the wedding of one of our own! It's time for Ashleigh and Charles to tie the knot, and we couldn't be happier for them. Ashleigh has written some blog posts during her wedding planning journey, and I'm sure that after some down time she'll share with us what she learned along the way!
I have gotten to witness three of our team members say "I do" - Emma, Melanie, and Lauren - and I'm so excited to add Ashleigh to that list. Best wishes to the happy couple!
Spring 2015 Internship
Does this look like fun?
We are currently seeking smart, professional and outgoing students to apply for our Spring 2015 internship! Interns must be enrolled in a Bachelor's/Master's program at an accredited college or university and provide documentation from their school stating they are able to receive academic credit for this internship. This unpaid internship will run from January through April or May, depending on your school's calendar and/or requirements.
Intern Office Duties:
- Assist with daily office operations
- Email information to prospective clients
- Follow up on inquiries and book appointments
- Create blog entries
- Work on marketing campaigns
- Answer phones in a professional manner
- Respond to emails in a timely manner
- Work with the First Coast Weddings team to create new procedures, promotions, etc.
- Use proper grammar and spelling at all times
- Maintain a clean and organized work area
- Other duties as needed
Internship Requirements:
- Minimum of 12 hours in the office each week, and availability on weekends.
- Dress in business casual attire while at the office, black suit on wedding days. Remember, first impressions are everything in this business!
- Represent First Coast Weddings in a professional and courteous manner at all times.
- Be pro-active and look for tasks to assist with when your assignments are complete
- Willingness to sign a agreement stating that all paperwork, files, vendor information or client data is proprietary and confidential
- Act as a team player
- Failure to report for a scheduled shift without notice (no-show) will result in termination of the internship. If you cannot work your scheduled shift, you must notify the lead coordinator at least three hours prior to your scheduled start time.
Application:
To be considered for an internship, please complete the application by clicking here.
ABC Florida Shine Conference 2014
I had such an amazing weekend last week! Not only did I get to attend the Association of Bridal Consultants' Florida State Conference - shine - but I also got to speak at the event. Here are a few images from Day 1 of the conference, taken by fabulous photographer Claire Pacelli. If you've wondered what happens when a group of wedding planners get together for continuing education, here's a little peek:
My fellow speakers, along with the conference co-chairs: Sharon Baragona, A Chair Affair; Kelly McWilliams, Weddings By Socialites; oh hey, that's me!; Mark Kingsdorf, ABC Florida State Manager; Coach Jenn Lee; Brian Joyce and Richard Streitler, Flourish Floral Productions; Elisa Delgardio, A Flair For Affairs
Oh, and did I mention, another fellow speaker: celebrity wedding planner Donnie Brown?
There are so many more fabulous photos, but this one I think is my favorite:
"The Speaker Selfie." This beauty was captured by Kelly McWilliams (and posted to Instagram) after we posed for a more formal group photo. Love it!
If you work in this industry, and you aren't attending conferences like this, you are missing out! And if you are a bride or groom, as your wedding professionals what they do for continuing education. It makes a huge difference!
Southern Wedding Traditions
Introducing Bowing Oaks Plantation
I've been keeping a secret! Please don't hold it against me. For almost two years, I've been consulting with some dear friends that had a crazy idea to build a new wedding venue in Jacksonville. And now, that crazy idea is a reality! What started as a "simple pole barn" has turned into a magnificent venue with all the amenities you can imagine! Introducing Bowing Oaks Plantation... Plantation amenities include:
Indoor Seating for 200 Guests (with Dance Floor and Food Stations)
Wrap-Around Porches
Two Outdoor Ceremony Areas - Under Beautiful Oak Trees, Or Open-Air Chapel
Bride's Suite and Groom's Cabin
Catering Kitchen
Fully Air-Conditioned and Heated
Indoor Restroom Facilities
Ample On-Site Parking
Secluded and Private Location
Bowing Oaks Plantation is debuting this fall, with our first wedding booked for November 16th. We're also booking weddings for 2015 and beyond! I will be handling all the bookings for this fabulous new venue, so feel free to contact me for more details! Be sure to visit our social media sites for more photos and construction updates: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Having A Detailed Backup Plan For Your Wedding
Here in North Florida, we see a lot of outdoor wedding ceremonies. Most venues have a great indoor space that they reserve as a backup, in case of rain. Which let's face it, happens a lot here, especially in the summer months. (Side note: did you know that Jacksonville gets an average of 14 more inches of precipitation every year than Seattle, which is "known" for it's rain?)
But what if you reception is planned to be an outdoor event? It may not be as simple as "we'll just move inside."
We're working with a sweet couple getting married in October, and planning a "dinner under the stars." Today we met at the venue to talk through all the logistics. As we talked, we came up with very detailed Plan A and Plan B options. Because of the logistics of the space, the two are very different. In fact, quite a bit of the reception schedule will change from Plan A to Plan B.
As you are working through your plans, be sure to think through all the logistics from the guest perspective. Talk to your venue staff about the timing of weather calls, which could be anywhere from 2 hours to 24 hours, depending on the complexity of the setup. And communicate Plan A AND Plan B (and Plan C and D if needed!) to all the wedding professionals that will be on-site on the wedding day. But don't wait until the day before! Preparation is key when dealing with Mother Nature.
Note about the photo above: we were playing beat the clock with a storm rolling in just before this ceremony! Luckily we made it, and Ashley and Matt were married in a beautiful ceremony at TPC Sawgrass.
Love Note: Kyle & Brian (06.06.14) - Ponte Vedra Beach Wedding
What a lovely note in the mail this week!
Dear Heather,
Thank you so very much for all the help, support and handling that you cared for throughout our wedding celebrations. You made all of our planning and our visions just come to life! You cared for all of the little details and helped to ensure it was such a special day. Thank you for bringing it all together in a meaningful way.
Most Sincerely, Kyle and Brian
(photo by Dawn McKinstry Photography)
Honoring Your Dad At Your Wedding
Weddings are often full of very "girly" moments shared between the bride and her mom - picking out the dress, getting hair and makeup done, etc. Dad is usually expected to show up with the checkbook. In honor of Father's Day, we thought we'd look at some ways to make Dad feel extra special on your wedding day.
- Ask your dad for a military medal, a tie you particularly love, or a piece of jewelry you could incorporate into your wedding day ensemble as your something old.
- If you won't be seeing your fiance before the wedding, stage a first look with your dad. Fathers often get very emotional the first time they see their little girl in their wedding gown and veil!
- Take dance lessons with him, and your father-daughter dance will be a big hit.
- Create something special for him to wear. Dads often look like all the other groomsmen or ushers, wearing the same tuxedo or suit. Get a special tie for him to wear, or add something unique to his boutonniere.
- Ask your dad to sign your marriage license as one of the witnesses.
Do you have a special way you are including your father on your wedding day?
(Photo above from Marta and Michael's wedding earlier in 2014 - copyright Deremer Studios)
Kathleen and Robby - Sawgrass Beach Club Wedding, Ponte Vedra Beach
Here's a peek at Kathleen and Robby's brunch wedding at Sawgrass Beach Club! Thanks to Fox Fotography for the slideshow.
Breath of Fresh Art Fundraiser
Weddings aren't all we do around here! I was happy to serve on the planning committee for the Breath of Fresh Art fundraiser last night. The event benefited Wish 2 Breathe, a National Foundation for Transplants' campaign in support of Jacksonville resident Lindsey Miller. The campaign's goal is to help raise money for expenses related to Lindsey's double lung transplant and the lifelong care she will need as a result. The fundraiser was held at one of Jacksonville's newest event venues - The Fountain View Room. Several area restaurants and caterers donated food stations for the event, including Nippers Beach Grille, Davoli's Catering, Renna's Pizza, Red Elephant, Flippin' Good Cookies, and Edgewood Bakery. PRP Wine International also offered wine tastings to the events' guests.
The event also featured a silent auction (with some heated bidding at the end!) as well as an art exhibition by two local artists - Mobarick Abdullah III and Adam Brett. It was a fun night for a great cause!
Personalizing Your Wedding Ceremony
We see a lot of short and simple, get-the-job-done wedding ceremonies. In all honesty, it takes about 10 minutes to actually "get married." But what if you want to incorporate some personality or pizzazz to your wedding?
We've had several ceremonies recently where the bride and groom traveled to Ponte Vedra Beach for their weddings. But rather than hiring a local minister, they brought theirs with them! When an officiant has a personal connection with the couple, the ceremony is so much more meaningful. They can offer little anecdotes, and put the bride and groom more at ease during one of the more serious parts of the wedding day.
Lots of couples chose to include a unity candle or sand ceremony into their wedding. But there are also other options - rose ceremonies, handfasting, seashell/stone blessings, wine ceremonies, to name a few. Ask your officiant if they have suggestions. Also look to your religion or culture for ideas. Even if you aren't have a "religious" ceremony, there may be little nods to your heritage that you can include.
Of course, the best way to personalize your ceremony is to write your own vows! If you decide to do so, be sure to give yourself plenty of time! This isn't something to be rushed. Also, discuss the tone of your vows with your significant other. You don't want to make yours funny while his are super serious. You may also want to ask a close friend or family member to read both sets of vows (if you plan don't plan to read them to each other before the wedding) to be sure they match in tone and length.
However you chose to personalize your wedding ceremony, remember that you are promising to love, honor and cherish your fiance til death do you part. Make it a special and meaningful time for the two of you!
Selecting The Perfect Church For Your Wedding
One would think choosing a church for one's ceremony would be simple, but I found it to be a bit more complicated than expected. It was very important to me to have our wedding in my hometown, Orlando, FL. Picking our reception location was easy; my godparents live on a beautiful property in the Gotha area of Orlando. They have seven and a half acres on a lake, and I knew it would make for an ideal tented, rustic/chic reception location.
I grew up Methodist, and still belong to a Methodist church in Orlando, but Charles was brought up Catholic, and we both decided that we wanted our ceremony to be Catholic. I had to basically start from scratch when it came to selecting our Catholic ceremony location.
I started by looking up all the Catholic churches that were near my godparents' house. The closest church totheir home was a very large and well known Catholic church in the Orlando area. My mother and I attended the Christmas Eve mass to examine the size, look and feel of the church. It was very voluminous and grand, and all of the people who were there seemed to truly love their church. I thought “This could very well be the church!” After Christmas settled down, I emailed the church to gather all the information for having a ceremony there, and what the pricing situation was. I’d always assumed that a church rental for a ceremony wouldn't be more than a couple hundred dollars; this church started at $1,200.00 for non-members. There was also a complication in booking the church. For a Catholic ceremony, you have to take pre-marital classes that last 6-8 months, and this church wasn’t going to allow me to reserve my date until after my classes were complete. I didn’t want to take the gamble of someone else stealing my date, so I decided that church just would not do.
After researching a few more Catholic church options, I stumbled upon a charming little Catholic church that I often passed when I lived in Orlando. The church is also close my reception location, but I overlooked it at first because it was a Maronite Catholic Church, asopposed to a Roman Catholic Church. I did my homework and found that there are many types of Catholic Churches, and that they’re all recognized by the Pope as equal. My fiancé, mother and I attended a mass one Sunday and absolutely fell in love with the people, charm, and most importantly the priest. Everyone in the congregation made us feel at home. We all knew right away that we’d found our church.
Finding the all-important perfect church location for your ceremony can be overwhelming, but just remember to do your research early, attend a service before-hand, and get on the churchcalendar/marriage class roster as soon as your decision is made. Once these steps are underway, you can feel excited that you are well on your way toward your perfect church wedding!
Fun To Do This Weekend: One Spark
Looking for something fun (and FREE!) to do with your sweetie this weekend? Head to downtown Jacksonville for One Spark!
One Spark is the World's Crowdfunding Festival, and it takes place right here in Jacksonville. Over 600 creators are on hand to showcase their ideas in the fields of art, innovation, science, technology and music. Held over 20 square blocks, you can also enjoy the food village and beer village, plus tons of live bands. And where else can you see a giant Goldfish (known as "Colonel Crackers") floating in the Hemming Plaza fountain?!
The 5-day festival started on Wednesday with an estimate 40,000 people attending the first day. Free parking is available at the convention center parking lot, and then you can take the free Skyway (did you know Jacksonville has a Skyway? A lot of people don't!). Or, you can park at EverBank Field and take the free shuttle bus.
You're probably asking, what exactly is crowdfunding? Well, the concept is that great ideas can be found everywhere. But not everyone has the resources to find large-scale investments. So crowdfunding take little donations or investments ($5/$10/$50 etc.) and pools them together to make big things happen.
When you visit One Spark, you can vote for your favorite projects (known as "creators"), and the creators that get the most votes win a share of over $300,000 in prize money. Or, if you see a project you are passionate about, you can even contribute right on the spot.
One Spark is FREE to attend, so why not check it out? Plus, it's a good chance to see how awesome Jacksonville is, in case you might forget. Visit http://www.beonespark.com for everything you need know!
The Most Important Day Of Your Life (And Why Your Wedding Day Isn't It)
I'm about to type something that many people will find controversial.
I know - I spend my days surround by all things wedding. How can I possibly say this?! Because it's the truth. I've had some wedding reality shows playing in the office lately as I've been stuffing envelopes and assembling welcome gifts for some of our spring/summer weddings. I normally don't watch them, and now I know why. They insist on perpetuating this mantra that "your wedding day is the best day of your life" and creating the hype that everything must be perfect. So much emphasis is put on the party that the marriage part tends to get overlooked.
I'm not saying you shouldn't have a gorgeous wedding, but don't forget that there are many more "best" days to come.
The day you close on your first house. The days your children are born. The day your spouse returns home safely from a military deployment. The day you beat cancer. The day you get that big promotion you've worked so hard for. The day you save someone's life. The day you win the lottery. (we can all dream, right?)
Hopefully, your wedding day means marrying your best friend, surrounded by friends and family that mean the world to you. Anything beyond that is just gravy.
