emily james events

Wedding: Susanna and Phil

2011-06-07T20:37:00.000-07:00

After a whirlwind of planning and excitement, on April 1, 2011 I had the joy of coordinating the wedding of Susanna and Phil Latham in Fort Worth, Texas. Following the formal ceremony at University Christian Church, guests gathered at The Ashton Depot in downtown Fort Worth to celebrate with the newlyweds’ marriage. The event was undoubtedly a reflection of Susanna and Phil’s love of Fort Worth surrounded by the dramatic elegance of the ceremony and reception venues and décor.

Wedding: Tamara and Scott

2011-06-05T14:04:00.000-07:00

After many months of planning, on February 26, 2011 I had the pleasure of coordinating the wedding of Tamara and Scott Garrett in McKinney, Texas. The intimate candlelit ceremony was contrasted by bright colorful, and fun elements in the reception. There was no doubt the event’s décor was customized to match Scott’s sensibilities and Tamara’s bubbly personality.

Read more »

Wedding: Amanda and Jim

2011-01-16T06:21:00.000-08:00

This past September I had the privilege of coordinating the wedding day of two of my dear friends, Jim and Amanda C. This wedding was especially fun for me as I had the opportunity to arrange the bouquets and boutonnieres for the bridal party as well as the flower arrangements in the church. From the candlelit ceremony to the whimsical touches of “shabby chic” pearls and lace in the reception, the wedding fit Amanda’s personality perfectly: gorgeous, serious (but only when absolutely necessary), and pink!

Wedding: Abby and Luke

2011-01-11T20:24:00.000-08:00

What a precious couple! It was such a joy and honor to coordinate Abby and Luke's wedding this past fall at the Grand Ballroom in historic downtown McKinney, TX. Their love for each other flooded every moment of the process, making them a planner's dream!

Since the Grand Ballroom is such a gorgeous location, we decided to take the design lead from the color palette given to us, as well as to play up the mixture of elegance and natural elements. Crisp whites and luscious cream florals paired with elegant metallics popped against the natural brick wall.

Details: Personalized Wire Hangers

2010-10-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

I like to remind my brides that the things people remember from your wedding are the small, sometimes tiny, details that make it unique and personal. Details are the difference between a designed wedding and a cookie cutter wedding—and this a detail that is to die for!

These personalized wire hangers I found on www.estsy.com by seller aressa are great bridesmaid gifts and a perfect finishing touch to your wedding dress photos taken on your wedding day. Not to mention, they are a great chance to show off your new last name!

Happy Planning!

Choosing Unique Ceremony Music

2010-09-08T13:11:00.000-07:00

Music. It sets the mood, it fills awkward silence, but most importantly, it is the element that moves people to tears, that makes their emotions swell, that makes them fall in love.

The modern bride is saying “no” to traditional trumpet processionals and boisterous organ music. Don’t be scared to look in some unlikely places for the solution to your musical dilemma.

Music to Match Your Decor
A wedding I just coordinated this past Labor Day weekend(congratulations, Jim and Amanda Connelly!) used beautiful piano and cello duets as the music for the processionals. Its soft backdrop created a fairytale feel and highlighted the glow of the candles in the church. Check out the composer and artist, Brian Crain, here.

Music to Match the Decade
For a stronger nod towards contemporary music, look into the Vitamin String Quartet. They take famous, popular music and re-write the songs into a string quartet work of art. The familiar tunes are of interest to guests while formal seating is still happening and the ceremony has not yet begun.

Music to Match Tradition
My most recent find is a song called “Pachelbel Meets U2” by Jon Schmidt. He blends the beautiful traditional wedding song into a modern day masterpiece. What a great way to maintain tradition with a current twist.

Music to Match the Location
Don’t stop at the song selection itself –select the appropriate musical instruments to play the songs. Have a live band play instead of playing a CD. Take your favorite song and have it re-written and composed to have a long build of volume before the doors open for your dramatic cathedral entrance. Use banjos and fiddles to play your outdoor country wedding march (think: Nickel Creek) instead of pianos and guitars. Customize the music to fit you and your event.

Music to Match the Mood
Whatever you select, think about the overall emotion you want to create in your guests and for yourself. Music can change things from upbeat to serene or from classy to sassy, so make sure you take time to select it just as you did all the décor, attire, and flowers.

Happy Planning!

Planner or No Planner...That is the Question.

2010-08-05T20:51:00.000-07:00

Congratulations on your recent engagement! You just began the wedding planning journey of your life. Perhaps you are one of those women who LOVES to plan, maybe is a little bit of a control freak, and you are DEFINITELY on a budget.

Embrace it!

You’ve already heard from everyone and every website that you should get a wedding planner first. Sidenote: You are wanting me to tell you right now, “Go ahead! Be a Wedding Amazon Woman! Plan it yourself, save money, and take control of your event!”

Unfortunately….I can’t do that.

Now, I understand that you want to plan every detail, and I believe that some women can. However, the part you need to fast forward to is the…..

www.TwoPairPhotography.com

Wedding Day!

Imagine that you’ve planned your entire event: every detail is perfect, every flower in its place, every groomsman in his tux, and every hair perfectly coifed. And then….the limo driver hasn’t arrived, the cake is no where to be seen, the Aunt you asked to put up the reserved table signs forgot, and now you are left standing looking around for a seat.

Ok – so that’s a little dramatic. But you can see how quickly a perfectly planned event can landslide into the shabby side of a shabby-and-now-not-so-chic wedding.

Say it with me:

“On my wedding day, I want to be a bride – not a wedding planner.”

Whoa – take that in. In a day and age where women are uber-crafty, super saavy, and want to do it all, it’s hard to accept that you might not be able to touch the very important last detail of your wedding – the Day itself. But don’t worry, you won’t lose the right to say, “I planned my wedding.”

Having a Day Of Wedding Coordinator will accomplish the following for you on your wedding day:

You will have an advocate who is looking out for you and the event’s best interest.
Any small emergencies can be handled before you are ever aware of them.
You gain the gift of being a bride and getting completely immersed in what is actually going on that day: you are getting married to your best friend and starting a new family.
You gain another set of eyes, ears, and hands to go over every detail before the event. This will make sure that every idea is executed to perfection.

Note: Please do not confuse a Day Of Wedding Coordinator with the venue’s sales planner that is assigned to your event. While they tell you they will “coordinate” the day’s events, what they really mean is that they will make sure the venue lives up to their contractual obligations. They are ultimately looking out for themselves, not for you.

A Day Of Wedding Coordinator goes beyond what is happening at the event, and steps in to run the rehearsal, set-up the ceremony location, set-up and supervise the reception venue prior to your arrival, keep all moving parts functioning as one, serves as a liaison among all parties, and guides your guests and you through each event of the wedding. They also serve as photographer and guest wranglers, cake cutters, production directors, and a listening ear to the Bride.

Ask me more about the Day Of Wedding Coordinator in my Candlelight Package on my website at http://www.emilyjamesevents.com/.

Happy Planning!

Eagles Executive Forum 2010: San Diego, CA

2010-06-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

It’s been a crazy several weeks! We purchased and moved into our first home, my best friend got engaged, I’m planning 11 events for 1st Global, and now wedding season is in full swing! I can’t wait for the Trusty-Bertin wedding in only TWO weeks, the Taylor-Hatteberg wedding soon after that, and then the Goldstein-Connelly wedding in September.

I finally have a second to talk about the AMAZING incentive/educational event we did in San Diego, CA at the historical U.S. Grant.

Upon arrival, I was THRILLED to be in San Diego – I was actually COLD. Anyone who has been in Texas since May knows it’s been a crazy hot summer. After getting everything set-up, the event began with our opening speaker, Chris Gardner. You might be thinking at this point, “Who is Chris Gardner, and why do I care?” You might know him more closely as portrayed by Will Smith in the Pursuit of Happyness.

We got to listen to his incredible life story (and he is funny, let me tell you!) all the while remembering that we have so much to be thankful for. We’re practically BFFs now (see below).

The décor was “Sea Style in San Diego”, so we did cornflower bluer lamour satin linens with sand and khaki napkins. Each centerpiece of white flowers was accented with floating candles. My FAVORITE accent was the seashells at the bottom of several arrangements.

The next day went off without a hitch, and the meeting was in full swing.

The off-site night was such a blast! We rented out a private yacht and held our own personal casino night. We also created a chic lounge on the top deck for people to sit with their drinks and enjoy the beautiful San Diego scenery.

I wanted the look to be very classic casino, so what other than red, black, and white to accomplish that? To ensure that everyone knew it was going to be a fun night, they entered a room full of red boas, champagne, and casino tables.

Red roses don’t have to be boring! Doing a monochromatic accent in a unique way will accomplish a classic, contemporary, and clean look. In love with only one flower? We can make it work! Check out what we did for the buffet tables below.

The other few days of meetings went well, and everyone had a great time. I can’t wait for our upcoming National Conference in San Antonio, TX! It will have a less swanky feel, but it will have a distinctly Texas flavor that will be to die for!

Wedding posts soon to come.

Happy Planning!

San Diego: U.S. Grant Preview

2010-05-21T09:01:00.000-07:00

Many months of planning have finally paid off! I am at the U.S. Grant in San Diego for the 1st Global Eagles Executive Forum 2010, and everything is going smoothly. My fellow event planner, Tonya Glass, and I are having a great time.

I can't wait to share all the fabulous details of this event with you, but until then here is a short preview.

The U.S. Grant is a beautifully restored hotel in San Diego, California that is famous for having 14 U.S. Presidents to have stayed in it's rooms over the years.

Some activities for our attendees include: a Behind the Scenes tour of the San Diego Zoo, Sailing regatta-style on the bay, kayaking in the Pacific, and touring the USS Midway.

Tonight we are having a Soiree on the Bay, a casino yacht dinner and cruise. I am excited to see how the decor and the upper deck lounge turn out!

More pictures and details to come!

Happy Planning!

The Pearl Stables: San Antonio, TX

2010-04-23T13:33:00.000-07:00

During an amazing site visit in San Antonio, Texas this week, I discovered an incredible wedding venue: Pearl Stables.

Once a grand home to the brewery’s draft horses in the late 1800’s, today Pearl Stable provides a unique site for events. This venue, equipped with full-size kitchen, is very versatile as it is perfect for a romantic fairytale wedding, a vintage glamour soiree, or a rustic - but chic - reception. The best part is that the Pearl Stables is practically a blank slate that you can personalize any look, theme or "feel” tailored to your event needs.

From the glass bottle custom chandeliers to the red velvet curtained stage, this hardwood-rich venue has more character than I could have imagined. Faux “stalls” provide perfectly private dining spaces, while still remaining on the main floor. The round layout creates a very intimate feel, while still remaining a lavish event.

While the website suggests it can hold up to 600, for a seated reception I would not put more than 375 on the main floor to maintain a certain level of comfort. The spacious foyer allows room for buffet stations and two large stationary bars, which are perfectly placed for flow of traffic and need no dressing up.

For more information, go to the Pearl Stables website. They have great pictures, information on event space rental, and the history of the venue.

Happy Planning!

The Connection Wholesale Florist

2010-04-13T14:46:00.000-07:00

Are you on a budget and have been known to have a creative streak? Do you want an inexpensive option for flowers? Enter: The Connection Wholesale Florist in Fort Worth, Texas. A DIY bride’s dream! The Connection offers wedding floral design classes throughout the year for $45, which includes all materials and instruction fees. Each session covers how to hand-tie a bouquet, corsage, and boutonniere as well as how to design a centerpiece. Each class is limited to 10 students, so you know you will get tons of one-on-one attention from Texas Master Florist, Virginia Glover, owner of Willow Creations, a wedding and event design company.

Disclaimer: While you might enjoy having a hand in your own flower arrangements, make sure to have a family member or friend around for back-up. If your bouquet unravels in the heat of your July wedding, you don’t want to be the only one who knows how to fix it!

Party Pick: Why not make it a girls night? Grab some of your hard-working wedding supporters, and treat them to this informational and fun event!

Even if doing all the arranging isn’t your “thang,” The Connection has great prices when buying your flowers in bulk. With great deals like the 15-flower “Texas Dozen,” you’ll be sure to find everything you need and still fit your floral budget!

Irresistible Idea: Teapots

2010-04-03T20:26:00.000-07:00

An easy way to add a whimsical touch to your spring wedding, bridal luncheon, or baby shower is to use a unique vase for your floral centerpieces: the teapot. With the revival of Alice in Wonderland, it got me thinking of inexpensive ways to create this fun, customized look at any event.

Quick Fix:
I found an inexpensive white teapot at Bed, Bath & Beyond. For a little more variety in eye appeal and height, you could also grab some cups and saucers. For a classic look, just grab a bunch of assorted flowers, trim at an angle, and place in water in your teapot. Don’t want to design an arrangement? Just grab a bunch of roses – easy, gorgeous, chic!

DIY Project:
Get out your paint pens! Most paint pens you can purchase at your local arts and crafts store (I recommend Hobby Lobby) will work well on a ceramic surface. Make sure to purchase some sort of clear spray seal to protect against scratches. If this idea is foreign to you, ask a customer service representative, and they can help guide you.

For a “ladies tea party”, select some pastels or a neutral color palette. Decorate your teapots with scroll designs, polka dots, or whatever fits your theme. For those advanced DIY-ers, you can get stencil designs and paint on more elaborate designs. For a fun, “mad hatter” theme, choose bold, contrasting colors and big prints (my personal favorites are red, black, and white!).

Takeaway:
For a customized place card, you could write each guest’s name on their cup and saucer. Make sure to make each design slightly different, as this will help create a “shabby chic” sort of feel.

Time Investment:
Elegant ceramic, vintage silver and delicate china teapots are all over antique stores. With so many of them misplaced from the rest of their sets, you can find some unique pieces for low prices if you are watching for them. Mix and match different patterns, sizes, and shapes of teapots, but keep in mind an overall color scheme. Finding enough for your event may take some time, but the overall effect you will create is timeless beauty!

Happy Planning!

Vitamin String Quartet

2010-03-29T09:27:00.000-07:00

So, you’re not exactly what we call a “traditional” bride. You want a pink sash on your dress, a fire truck to take you to your reception, and pyrotechnics to come raining down behind you when you cut the cake. The standard Bridal March isn’t going to do it for you.

You can think outside of the box with your music (and still be classy) if you know where to look. Meet the Vitamin String Quartet. With their string renditions of Coldplay, Paramore, and many other current artists, you will be able to have a touch of contemporary music without upsetting your mother-in-law-to-be. Check them out today!

Headpieces

2010-03-26T14:11:00.000-07:00

Whether you plan on wearing fresh flowers in your hair or an extravagant cathedral-length veil with a blusher, headpieces can completely alter and rev up your look on your wedding day.

Perhaps you are a bubbly bride who wants to have a trendy look on your wedding day, but you need to appease your traditional mother at the ceremony? Simple fix! Purchase a budget-friendly, simple veil at Alfred Angelo or David’s Bridal and then spend your real time and creativity with a sassy hair accessory for the reception.

Try http://www.etsy.com/ and http://www.bridalveilcreations/ for some amazing accessories. Or, for the DIY bride, you could do a quick search for some inspiration, then head out to your closest arts and crafts store and create it yourself!

Your attire and mood will set the tone for your guests, so don’t be afraid to change up your look from ceremony to reception. Try trading a veil for a feisty feather pin or exchanging your cathedral-length accessory with a vintage birdcage veil. Yes, you only get to marry one man, but you don’t have to marry one look!

***You can purchase the pictured stunning, vintage birdcage veil at http://www.usabrideweddings.com/ ***

Happy Planning!

New Pricing on Website

2010-03-23T19:44:00.000-07:00

Check out the services section at http://www.emilyjamesevents.com/ for a new link to event pricing. Contact me in 'ask emily' today for more details!

Happy Planning!

***Photo by Erik Ekroth***

Band Bonanza!

2010-03-17T14:27:00.000-07:00

Almost a Big Girl asked:

I am very interested in having a live band for my reception. Can you tell me how I go about choosing one? I will of course be working with a budget, but how do you choose between a couple that fit it? Do they audition? Send you tapes? Can you visit them? Eek!

An experienced cover band will be able to provide you with some sort of recording, whether that be via website, demo CD or live audition. Please keep in mind, it is NEVER ok to crash someone else’s wedding to hear the band. The only exception to this would be if the bride explicitly invited you, but even then it’s a little risk-ay to do.

Appearance
A good cover band will be able to customize your experience while still keeping its own flavor. You will want to see each member of the band beforehand and be able to select their attire. For example, if you are having an uptown, classy affair, you do not want tattoo-McGee wailing on his axe. Be sure that you can have them in tuxes or in t-shirts…whichever you want!

Selection
Additionally, you want to know that they can play a large selection of music. If you have any specific requests for your special dances, make sure they can play it ahead of time. They need to be willing to learn the song if they do not already know it. Beware if they try to charge extra for learning songs – this is not customary. You will also need to know if they will be able to take requests during the event. Some bands will arrive with a playlist and will not stray. Others require a list of potentials beforehand so they can be sure to practice those prior to the event. The best will be able to play anything at anytime.

Breaks
Take into consideration how long each set will be and what will be playing during those off times. Good bands will bring their own equipment to play some sort of CD in the background during those times. Schedule a good about of breaks and be prepared to provide water and snacks to the band. A full band = a fabulous band!

Finally, you need to remember that you are dealing with multiple people, multiple instruments, and a lot of equipment. Make sure the amount of room at your reception is appropriate for the size of the band.

Tip: Make sure you have one established contact with your band. Do not try to speak with multiple members – things will get confusing quickly. If any member is being fussy, DO NOT BOOK THEM! You will be dealing with the total package the day of your wedding. They need to be flawless!

If you have any questions or band recommendations, post them below!

Happy Planning!

Wedding Wars Wednesday: DJ v. Band

2010-03-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

Every bride gets to a point where she must ask herself the age-old question: DJ or band? Typically the main thing to consider is your budget. Assuming you are able to choose either option, consider the following:

DJ

More affordable (less people and equipment=less money out of your pocket)
Wide selection of songs for request
Can find or play your unique and sometimes obscure song preferences
Takes up less room in the reception space
Will play continuously throughout reception
Since almost anyone can claim he/she is a DJ, the talent can be hit or miss – be careful when interviewing you DJ to make sure his personality will fit the feel and age group of your wedding and that he/she is experienced

Band

More expensive than DJ (several people who want to get paid!)
While good cover bands know a wide selection of songs, sometimes requests can be limited
Takes up more space in the reception space
Can bring a more formal flavor to your event
Might have restricted playing time broken up by breaks
A good band will learn your special songs if they don’t already know them – some can be huffy about it though – steer clear of these bands

After selecting DJ or band, you must be smart in shopping for which vendor to use. In a following post, I will discuss some things to consider when selecting either option.

Happy Planning!

And the winner is....

2010-03-08T12:15:00.000-08:00

Amanda Goldstein!

Congratulations, Amanda! I will respond to your inquiry about band selection in my next post. Additionally, you will receive a $25 Target gift card!

Everyone else, thank you so much for entering! Stay tuned for more fun freebies!

Happy Planning!

fun freebies giveaway!

2010-03-03T08:56:00.000-08:00

In celebration of my new blog, I will be giving away a $25 Target Gift Card to one lucky follower in a drawing!

How to Enter by March 5, 2010:

For (1) Entry in the drawing:

1. You must become a public follower of my blog: http://www.emilyjamesevents.blogspot.com/

For (2) Entries in the drawing:

1. You must become a public follower of my blog: http://www.emilyjamesevents.blogspot.com/
2. You must write one comment on this post telling me (in detail) what facet of events you would like me to write on in this blog: http://www.emilyjamesevents.blogspot.com/
Examples: reception venue selection, budgeting, how to pick a DJ, DIY ideas, etc.

For (3) Entries in the drawing:

1. You must become a public follower of my blog: http://www.emilyjamesevents.blogspot.com/
2. You must write one comment on this post telling me what topic you would like me to write on in this blog: http://www.emilyjamesevents.blogspot.com/
3. You must send me an e-mail via the “ask emily” section of http://www.emilyjamesevents.com/

General Contest Rules

Eligibility: The Contest is open to legal residents of the U.S. who are 18 years of age or older as of February 25, 2010.

Prize Deadlines: The Contest will conclude on Friday, March 5, 2010. Winner will be selected from a random drawing.

Winner Selection and Notification: The odds of winning are dependent upon the number of eligible entries received. Any attempted second entry will be discarded, and the entrant may be disqualified from the Contest. All drawings will be conducted under the supervision of emily james events. The decisions of emily james events are final and binding. Entrants need not be present at the time of drawing to win the prize. Winner will be notified via www.emilyjamesevents.blogspot.com, phone, or e-mail on March 6, 2010. If a winner cannot be reached after a reasonable effort has been made within five (5) business days of emily james events’ first attempt, or if an entrant is found to be ineligible, an alternative winner may be selected.

General Conditions: This Contest is void where and to the extent prohibited by law and is subject to all applicable laws, including, without limitation, federal, state, and local laws and regulations. In the event of non-compliance by any winner with the official rules of this Contest, an alternate winner may be selected. Prizes are non-transferable. Return of any prize or prize notification as undeliverable will result in a disqualification of the winner and an alternate winner may be selected. All prizes will be awarded. Except where legally prohibited, acceptance of any prize constitutes permission for emily james events to use each winner’s name, photograph, likeness, voice, address (city and state) and testimonials, in printed, broadcast or other media, whether now known or hereafter developed, in perpetuity, in any manner it deems appropriate in connection with promoting this or any other Contest and/or promotion sponsored by it, without further compensation to the winner.

Event Season 2010

2010-03-02T11:52:00.000-08:00

Wedding planning season has definitely begun!

The following dates have been contracted or have tentative holds in 2010. If you are interested in any of these dates, please contact me for more information.

*Tentative hold

April 24
Fitzgerald Wedding - Plano, TX
May 17-23
1st Global Conference – San Diego, CA
June 29-July 1
1st Global BMS Conference – Fort Worth, TX
July 1-2
Trusty/Bertin Wedding – Hot Springs, AR

July 23-24*

July 30-31*

August 13-14
Taylor/Hatteberg Wedding – McKinney, TX
November 12-17
1st Global National Conference – San Antonio, TX

What rules do I follow for invitations?

2010-02-28T11:52:00.000-08:00

Fortunately, people are moving farther and farther away from the days of Emily Post's wedding etiquette. While there certain rules most people follow when composing their invitation, you need to consider what best fits your event.

In picking an invitation that best fits you, you need to remember what the point of it is:

Inform people of the time, date, and location
Give people an idea of the formality of the event
Provide a way for guests to RSVP

Anything other than that is just extra!

Remember to include:

Name of the Bride and Groom
Name of the parents
Time, Date, Location of ceremony
Location of reception if different than ceremony (you can do this on a separate card, or some people even do it at the ceremony by printing it on the program)

A few rules of thumb:

Bride’s name always goes before the groom’s name
Always do full names (first, middle, and last) of Father of the Bride, Bride, Groom, and Father of the Groom
Spell out everything completely (Ex. Not 26, but Twenty-six; not Dr., but Drive)
NEVER put the registries on the invitation. Tacky, tacky, tacky!!!

People are going away from tradition now, so you are really free to include whatever you want. Some examples of “extras” are:

Attire desired “Black-tie” or simply, “formal attire”
Note if child care will be offered
Accommodation information (Hotel information)
A photo of the couple
The wedding website address
A card to let your guests submit song requests early
A card requesting each guest send their own piece of marriage advice for the couple

Two Ways to RSVP:

The traditional way requires that you provide the guest with a card to RSVP on and an already-stamped and addressed envelope for them to return it to you. This will ensure that you get the most prompt and accurate responses from your guests. The easier you make it for them, the better!

The green/budget efficient way requests that the guest RSVP via a website or email address. This will save on invitation cost, postage cost, and might even speed up this process in our technology-centered world.

Wording:

There are a TON of different exceptions to the way traditional invitations are written, but the classic way is as follows:

Mr. and Mrs. John Daniel Smith (name of the bride’s parents or whoever is paying goes first)

request the honor of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Elizabeth
to
Preston Bennett Montgomery

son of
Mr. Bob Daniel Short
and
Mrs. Bertha Dolly Short (in this example, the groom's parents are divorced, that is why they get two lines)
Saturday, the Twenty-Sixth of March
two thousand ten

at 6 o’clock in the evening
First Baptist Church Dallas
1234 Main Street
Dallas, Texas 75123

Adult Reception to Follow ("adult" suggests to not bring children)

For some not-so-traditional invitation ideas click here.

There are many, MANY more tips and tricks to what you can, can not, should, should not include in your invitations.
Feel free to comment on this post with any more specific questions!

Happy Planning!

I'm Engaged!!! Now What?

2010-02-23T12:04:00.000-08:00

The first and most frequent question I get from brides beginning their planning process is “Where do I start?”
For some who have been envisioning their special day since the age of 4, this sounds ridiculous. But I would urge even that bride to tap the brakes, and consider the following:

Form a Budget:

Ask yourself the question, “What is the most important thing to me about my wedding?”

For some the answer is “I want the most people possible to attend.” Perhaps it is “I want to have an amazing band.” Another common response is “I want it to be the most stress-free day of my life.”

Whatever your answer is, your budget will be dictated by it. In following our example answers, the first bride would need to decide what kind of food she could afford. This will help the bride decide if she can afford a full dinner or if she should have a cocktail reception. The second bride would need to price out bands, and then form a budget around the band of choice. She might have to sacrifice some on flowers, for example, but that is fine with this bride. Finally, the third bride would want to make sure her budget includes a wedding planner or wedding day coordinator to ensure she doesn’t have to deal with any problems that may arise on the wedding day.

Select a Venue/Save the Date:

Some people declare a date before shopping for a venue. While this is common, you might end up in a situation where the venue of your dreams is not available on that day. If time allows, I encourage shopping venues with a few different days in mind. This will provide you with the most possibilities in venue selection.

A Note on Picking the Date:

Make sure you run the date by any VIPs before signing contracts for that day – bridal party, grandparents, officiant of choice, band, florist, photographer, etc. Don’t let your day narrow down who or what you can have at your wedding. That being said, if there is a day that you know you want, you can definitely start from there, just be prepared for the potential of some people already being booked.

Get Emotional:

Select a few adjectives that you want to describe your wedding. Vendors will ask you this question a lot, so it’s good to have solid answers for them. Examples: Romantic, red, nighttime, candles; fun, celebration, lounge, big band; brief, daytime, casual, blue; elaborate, decadent, purple, lavish, fancy

Disclaimer: So I know the following sounds cheesy, but I promise it helps!

Set up a little meditation session for yourself on your wedding. Play the best sappy love songs you like, close your eyes, and let your mind wander. What do you see when you walk down the aisle? What do you hear? Is it dark or light outside? Are you surrounded by hundreds or only a few close friends? Is there sand under your feet? Are you on the steps of a cathedral alter? Is it cold outside?

Go with your instinct on this – do not think too hard about it!

These broad steps will help you start to develop a direction for your wedding.

Happy Planning!