What to Wear to the Wedding {Dress Codes De-Coded}

As we continue into the most popular season for weddings, it’s inevitable that you have received at least one invitation to attend a wedding celebration.  And depending on the location and timing of the event, you’ve probably also had at least one moment of panic as you wonder what you are going to wear.

With so many things to consider- tradition to climate to formality to terrain- it’s no wonder the etiquette for wedding guest attire has gone cloudy for most. So when the men’s clothier Paul Fredrick contacted us to weigh in on the subject we jumped at the opportunity to join in the conversation!

This infographic is a handy reference guide Paul Fredrick put together in conjunction with a team of stylists, wedding specialists, and the like. At first glance you can see how the formality progresses as the day goes along.

We thought we could elaborate on this even further by discussing the fine line between tradition and our thoughts on how to dress your best for every style of wedding- for both men and women.

Formal- After 6p

Wedding ceremonies beginning at 6p or later call for your most polished duds- and even more so if the invitation indicates Black Tie. A tux will always be the way to go in either of these situations, polished black shoes, and we agree with this graphic that the traditional bow tie (ala Bond) is the only way to go (and besides, ladies do you not agree the men look so dapper in a bow tie?).

Sara + Dylan Photography

Ladies you’ll want to pick out a dress, tea-length to floor length (black tie), to really seal the deal at a formal wedding. If you have straps, bring a shawl or bolero to cover your shoulders if the ceremony is held at a church. And let’s weigh in on the debate over whether you can wear white or black to this affair. In short, we think black is chic and is completely acceptable. White? Though times have changed a bit and traditions have loosened we still agree with etiquette and say let the bride be the only one shining in white.

Semi Formal- Before 6p

Ceremonies beginning at 5:30p or earlier call for a less formal look, though by no means casual. Guys look cool and polished in a dark suit- think dark navy or gray. A slim tie or vest (with a jacket over top) is acceptable in this situation too.

Ampersand Studios

Ladies will look for what we call cocktail attire for this style of event. With the exception of a floor length gown, you can often intermix the attire requirements for a formal and semi formal event. One rule we live by- for cocktail attire, keep the hemline at the knee, longest at the calf. We are not clubbing so let’s leave the super short dresses at home, ok?

Casual- Before 6p

If the wedding invitation clearly states a casual celebration, don’t overdress for the occasion. Men can look to lighter fabrics like khaki, poplin, or seersucker (tradition holds this to Memorial day through Labor day only if you’re really by the book).  A sport coat would be the way to go here, though guys can even get by with a nice dress shirt, tie, and slacks sans the jacket (Paul Fredrick has a great selection of looks here), loafers or other less formal dress shoe, and a smile. And by no means are you allowed to wear jeans to a wedding.

Ampersand Studios

A more casual wedding can also be considered “garden party” attire for the ladies. Think summery fabrics (cotton, linen, light silks), and getting a little more colorful in patterns is acceptable (and don’t worry- it doesn’t have to be florals). The most important issue to note here is the terrain.  Most of our garden party or casual weddings have included grass or other nature to contend with, so consider wearing flats or wedges to avoid sinking or other ankle rolling debacles.

Resort Chic- Anytime

With more and more destination weddings becoming the go-to celebration, we’ve found a lot of would-be guests struggling to find the right seaside look. Unless Black Tie or other formality is indicated, much lighter fabrics and styles of dresses (ie: we would find the maxi dress totally acceptable in this situation) are the norm. Depending on the locale, men would even be good to go in flat-front khaki shorts and a button down shirt with loafers.

And there you have it- the complete thought list on what we think your guests should be wearing. We would love to have you weigh in on the discussion- what are your thoughts on wedding attire and formality?

Featured | Riley & Grey {Limited Edition Wedding Websites}

A luxury website for your wedding? Why not is what we said. After all, in the grand order of things, your wedding website is likely the second peek into what your big day stands for. We've long been advocates for easy-to-remember URL's, simplistic designs that don't bog down the details, and user-friendly platforms. But now that we've discovered Riley & Grey we're on the make everything about your wedding custom bandwagon.

The site is instantly different donning a gorgeous home page photo from none other than Jose Villa. From there, invitation-only email status is how you are ensured only limited-edition, well-designed website templates unique to you. A few designs being featured now are below. In the meantime, we want to know- would you spring for a custom designed wedding website? Do tell us in the comments and happy Friday! 

Room to Wedding | Textured Statement

Split faced travertine is one of my favorite statement making finishes. The focal wall in this dining room has a texture that demands attention without being too garish. Instead of using bold colors or patterns to make your statement, you can use bold textures! These examples are simple by definition but the different textures make them stand out creating a unique and impacting look!

Room | Ring Pillow | Wedding Dress | Treats

Happy middle of the week!

Enjoy!

Some History Behind Wedding Traditions

I am a sucker for history and as we blaze through wedding season and I witness all of the amazing wedding day highlights, I find myself wondering why some of these traditions exist. Here is some insight into a few of those significant little details that make your wedding day so very special.

1. The Bridal Bouquet

Brides used to walk down the aisle with different herbs to ensure that she was protected against anything that would create bad luck or sickness. Unfortunately, those herbs included dill and garlic which didn't have that great of an aroma. Brides modified this tradition and started to use beautiful floral arrangements making the bridal bouquet what it is today. The flowers also stand for fertility and happiness and well smell a bit better too!

Photo | Info

2. The Wedding Ring

The wedding ring dates back to Roman times, although the whole diamond aspect didn't come along until the 1920s. It is one of those traditions that has stood the test of time. The Romans believed that the ring finger had a vein in it that went straight to the heart and that the circle represented eternity. Now how romantic is that!!

Photo | Info

3. The Best Man

The meaning of the best man is somewhat different today than it was in the past. In history, the best man was a strong and reliable fighter chosen to guard the groom so as to ensure no other man could steal the groom's bride. When the women became scarce in certain towns, the bachelors would become quite desperate. Thank goodness those barbaric ways are in the past!

Photo | Info

So when planning your special day keep in mind all the great stories behind those little details.

Happy Friday!

Inspiration | Day of Makeup

I love these looks because they are timeless! Whether you opt for a retro red lip, smokey eye or you go for a natural look, remember to keep your signature personal touches. You can make each one of these your own!

From left to right: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Happy planning!

Inspiration | A Celebrity's Vision

As I was searching for inspiration this week, I came across photos from actress Blake Lively's wedding. Her sweets table and bouquet are a classic way to portray this theme. The other photographs are just some added ideas to create your own French Country style wedding. A great new trend is the use of antique furniture. Available for rent from local vendors, you can use these pieces to create a unique look and feel for your special day.  

Sweets Table | Flowers | Hair | Cherry Blossoms | Cake

Happy inspiration hunting!

Inspiration | Hairstyles

Here are some wedding hair styles that are in vogue this spring and summer. Whether your hair is short or long there are several options that you can pull inspiration from. Create your own trend with a beautiful hair piece or a floral element that couple with these untied soft looks.

From Left to Right: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Enjoy the rest of the week!

Trending | Bridal Bun

The comeback of the ballerina bun has been gracing the likes of wedding photographs and Pinterest boards lately, bringing with it it's iconic sophistication and style. From its sister looks including the chignon, messy bun, and top knot to the most popular sock bun, we are loving the simple elegance any of these looks will bring on a wedding day (or every day, for that matter).

For example, our bride Samantha had all of her bridesmaids in buns for her wedding this past September- a perfect touch to the already vintage feel of her wedding:

Photos by Ampersand Studios

White bridesmaids dresses from Jcrew

Flowers from Flowers At Will

We've put together some more inspiration below to help you decide if it's the look for you or your girls too: 

And you can view a handy How-To tutorial here...

Messy Bun on Pinterest

Classic Chignon

Another Messy Bun up high

What do you think? Do you love it for a wedding, or prefer it for a more casual look? 

Last Minute Halloween + Our Newsletter Launch!

After many months of planning and preparing, we're thrilled to finally present Volume 1 of
Soiree Unveiled, our newsletter. Our vision for the newsletter, and the name, was to "lift the veil" off the ins and outs of party planning, lifestyle, weddings, and more, and simply serves as an extension of our blog.

This issue, coming to you a week and a half before Halloween, can hopefully be inspiration for your gathering this weekend, more fall decor, and if you're planning an October wedding for next year.

The newsletter will be continually changing with the seasons- some months will be packed with wedding tips and advice, others with party planning tips, and still others with just ramblings about the goings-on at Soiree. So don't miss out- Until we have the signup link active on our blog and website, please send us an email at contact@weddingsbysoiree.com with the subject line
"Newsletter Signup" to be added to our list. Thanks in advance for your support and happy planning!

Xo,

Bridal Beauty | Interview With Lunchbox Wax Salon

A few weeks ago Stephanie had the opportunity to interview Debi Lane, owner of Boise's LunchBOX, a wax salon featuring all sorts of services guaranteed to have you smooth, silky, and looking your best. We decided to interview the salon because, well, we were interested in this kitchy new business in downtown Boise (we know you were wondering about it too), and we thought it would be a great place to refer brides and their bridal parties to get really ready for the big day. LunchBOX offers more than just typical waxing, too- from speed waxing to eye lash extensions- and we couldn't wait to ask Debi what they were all about. Not to mention, wouldn't you agree that there is a certain mystery that comes with preparing for and choosing waxing services? And if you're anything like me, maybe a little frightened about the whole experience? Without further adieu, we hope you enjoy and that this interview will shed a little light on the subject!

Soiree: You perform a wide array of skin treatments including a Body Buff and Bronze. This could be perfect for a bride who wants that sun-kissed, glowing look. How long does the bronzed effect last on the skin? How many days before the wedding day should a bride book an appointment for this?

Lunchbox (LB): Facial Treatments require a consultation with the Bride 3-4 weeks prior to determine which treatments would suit her skin type and desired results. Then, we usually see the Bride once a week for brightening and tightening 30-minute facial treatments. We also have plans for Brides who have acne concerns or sensitive skin.

Body Buff and Bronze are best done three (3) days prior. This way the bronzer can completely penetrate and activate, with time to shower a few times so it won’t come off on garments.

Soiree: The eyelash extensions and lash/eyebrow tinting sound great for brides wanting to swim, snorkel, and sunbathe on their honeymoons all while looking naturally beautiful. How many days/weeks do all these applications last for? Do you have any special recommendations for making them last as long as possible?

LB: Eyelash Extensions are by far the most popular way to go for Brides. Our expert application will enhance the eyes for pictures, the big day (and weeks after), and they are cry-proof! We go over care of the extensions, but generally, to make them last as long as possible we recommend not touching them and keeping oils away from the eye area.

Eyelash and Brow Tinting are fabulous ways to also enhance the eyes. Eyelash tinting will dramatically darken the eyelashes, however, will not lengthen them. It is great for a more natural (but enhanced) look. Tinting usually lasts about 2-3 weeks. Brow Tinting is a fabulous way to get a really finished look to the brows. We custom blend the colors so that we match the skin tone and hair color of the client for a perfect match. No Groucho Marks Brown, promise!

The most requested brow service we provide is our ultra-popular Brow Makeovers. A Brow makeover should be booked about 6 weeks prior to the event. The first appointment with the Bride will include a consultation, looking through our Brow Book to decide which shape and color best compliments her face, makeup application training and a plan to have them in perfect shape for the big day!

Soiree: Is there one of the chemical peels you would recommend over the others for brides who want to look fresh faced on their big day?

LB: We usually recommend our Bright-White Peel. This gentle solution is formulated primarily for sensitive skin, but very effective for all skin types. This peel will strengthen and brighten the skin while helping to treat sun damage and other forms of skin discoloration. This multi-faceted treatment also provides anti-inflammatory, anti-blemish and antibacterial action, making it an excellent choice for Brides. This peel should be followed by our Oxygen/Antioxidant Hydrating Treatment. This treatment helps stimulate respiration and circulation within the skin. It helps promote healing and rejuvenates sluggish, stressed skin depleted by toxins, pollutants, allergens, and solar damage. She should start this treatment duo about a month prior to the big day. This combination will make the bride absolutely GLOW!

Soiree: All of the providers are certified in Speed Waxing, what exactly is that? How does it differ from regular waxing?

LB: Speed Waxing is a specific waxing technique whereas the Waxologist spreads a thin layer of wax over a large surface area and uses a special technique to quickly remove hair and wax. This make the process much quicker, and actually, much less painful. Our Waxologists are Board Certified Estheticians, but then go through 3 months of hands on training in speed waxing from our LunchBOX Trainer. This ensures that no matter whom a client sees, their service will always be consistent and fabulous!

Soiree: Do you offer any group packages for bridal parties who want to come in for facials, massages, waxing, eyelash extensions, etc.?

LB: Yes! We do many Bridal parties! We can either have them come in as a group and make it a special event, or the Bride can make a list of the Bridal party and we will give them a special discount.

Soiree: All of the services would make great gift ideas. Does LunchBOX offer gift certificates?

LB: YES! We can customize a Bridal Package or any dollar amount. They are wrapped and present beautifully.

Many thanks to Debi for taking the time to meet with us and share your insight about all of the services available. LunchBOX currently has three locations- Downtown Boise, Eagle, and a store in Ketchum as well.  Visit their website for more information on services, hours, and to make an appointment!

Xo,
~Brandi

Before and After | Kurt + Brandi's Inspiration to Reality

As promised, we are starting a new little series we're calling Before and After- where we'll share some of the inspiration and behind-the-scenes ditties about the weddings we do. We're often asked how we start with designing a wedding and how the finished product comes to be, so hopefully this will give a little insight into everything. As always, we approach each wedding a little differently simply because each idea, bride, and starting point in the planning process is different. Therefore, each Before and After series will be focused on slightly different elements, depending on the nature of the wedding. Sound good? First in this series will be Brandi and Kurt, and their Cathedral of the Rockies ceremony and Boise Train Depot reception, originally featured last week.

To begin, let's take a look at their inspiration board:

Let me also start by saying this was the final and approved design as this was actually idea #3. We went through a few color changes and style shifts before we all swooned over this one, so that brings us to point number 1: The first try is not always the final try. And we're ok with that, because it actually lets us get to know our bride even better. By process of elimination Brandi found a style, color palette, and a feeling that she absolutely loved.

Once we had the colors and style of the wedding down, we began sourcing everything and making the inspiration board come alive...but with more of the Brandi and Kurt twist.

The flowers were one of the most important elements to this wedding. Brandi wanted them to be lush, romantic, with a slightly vintage appeal to them. We combined mercury glass, silver flute vases, moss, and even honeysuckle vine to give that sweet shabby look. Hydrangea, French tulips, garden roses, and stock were all some of the varieties we used.

We should also mention how we decided to design the Depot reception. While a gorgeous, historic venue with Spanish touches, it's also a pain to work with (sorry historians). Original train benches flanking the sides make for a slightly narrow event space and things like fire lanes make positioning tables and chairs a little hairy. So in Brandi and Kurt's case, with a larger guest count, we chose to maximize our space by creating a cocktail reception vibe. Smaller bistro tables were placed against the train benches, higher cocktail tables were used around the bars- we had two bars to eliminate extreme bottle necks and lines- and we used a few traditional round tables to accommodate bridal party and our elderly guests.

By deliberately setting the reception this way, we also made sure to design the menu specifically as well. One-bite style foods for the cocktail hour and a flowing buffet made it easy for guests to come and go as they wanted.

Finally, the cake. Gone are the days that your cake sits in a corner only to have attention when it's time to cut. We are all for making sure it's a statement piece and in a highly visual spot the entire evening. To us, the wedding cake is a piece of art and when done correctly, can be a beautiful summation of the entire event.

We used a Grecian style table with a glass top, underneath of which had rows of moss, hanging amaranthus, and other pretty flowers. The vintage glass door was a perfect backdrop for Brandi and Kurt to cut their cake; and guests couldn't stop talking about the cake all evening long.

So there you have it- a little behind the scenes look into inspiring a wedding day. What do you think? Do you like how the inspiration went to reality? Many thanks again to the lovely Tana Photography for the beautiful snapshots from the day.

~Happy Tuesday!

Xo,
Brandi

Free Download: Wedding Day Time Sheet

As you go through your planning, you'll find that not only will there be a lot of numbers to keep track of, the further you get into it the harder it is to keep everything organized. We have this handy little sheet that we put in the front of our files- as we learn arrival, departure, and other specific times pertaining to the event we just jot them down here. Then, when it's time for a timeline update, we'll take all of these times and input them on to the final timeline. Saves on sticky note madness and keeps important times all in one place- and we thought you might like it too. Here's what ours looks like:

And here's a free download to get you started. Feel free to add or customize the sheet to your needs and hopefully it will help keep you organized!

Happy Tuesday,

~Brandi

On Destination Wedding Planning

 Beautiful Shore Lodge

This year we've really been honing in on what we love and what we want to do as wedding planners. They say that sometimes you're in the right place at the right time, and other times when we just relax our calling really is heard. In our case, we've learned that a destination bride is like whipped buttercream icing on lemon poppy seed cake in the summer (just ask Stephanie). Don't get us wrong- our local clients have us just as giddy, but we've had so many destination weddings (and destination, for us, encompasses both a wedding outside of Boise and clients planning their weddings from out of state or country) that we've adapted and created unique tools and processes to serve those clients specifically. In fact, over half of our clients are currently planning their weddings from out of state. This year we've been getting a lot of questions on how we've gotten into planning weddings from afar, so I thought this would make a perfect post; hopefully it will give you some insight on how we service these clients and guide them through the process.

Understand The Element of Emotion: Any bride is naturally going to be feeling some level of stress during the planning process. A bride that is planning her wedding either from out of state or planning a destination wedding will feel that even more so. As a planner you have to understand this and be proactive to it. The more information, contact, and communication you can give the better. We send our clients monthly updates on their checklists (this calms them knowing what has been done and who has completed the tasks) along with weekly, daily, and sometimes hourly emails and phone calls. Yes, we spend a lot of time with our clients, but for us, it works.

We also really had to streamline our back end processes. Every time an agreement is signed or a vendor hired, important dates are inputted into our systems; little things like being able to remind your client a meeting or payment is coming due can mean the world.

Take a Full Service Approach: For our destination clients, we rarely allow them to work with us on a level any less than full service. Why? Because we have just found this works the best. Believe me- we've tried it both ways; by managing and negotiating the contracts, hiring the vendors directly, and being the main point of contact throughout the process, it makes a world of difference in time and stress. And then consider the fact that we have to take care of everything on the client's behalf (sometimes we only see our brides once before the wedding!). Imagine the back and forth between two and sometimes three people (if parents are paying the bill)? For us, we found it was inefficient and added more stress than what was needed. This also puts us in control, and not in a control freak kind of way- more on this later!

Quality Over Quantity: Did I mention we spend a lot of time with our clients? This is exactly why we prefer the quality over quantity mentality. We purposely limit the number of weddings and events we take per year, and per month. If you have a bigger team, you may be able to take on more of a work load, but regardless, can't stress enough that if your client feels neglected, it is magnified by 1000% because they are feeling helpless and 2000 miles away.

Guests Are A Big Deal: One of the biggest differences between a local wedding and a resort or destination wedding is how big of a part the guests play. In any wedding, guests are traveling and scheduling, taking off work and pulling their kids out of school. Throw in the fact that now they have to travel to a remote location, it becomes more difficult. We have tailored our services to include special attention to guests attending the event, and they never go unnoticed. From welcome gifts to travel updates to a cookie on their pillow, brainstorming ways your company can help make their experience more meaningful will go so far. More on this in a later post as well!

What questions do you have about planning destination events? Was this helpful? Leave them in our comments and we'll answer any questions in a future post! 

Finally- we have a question for you. We want our business and planning tips to become a regular session here on the blog, and we'd like to call it something more creative other than "Tips". We love Jasmine Star's Shooting Star series and Justin and Mary's Pancake Sessions... Have any ideas for us? Would love your input in the comments!

XX,

~Brandi

Links From Around The Web

As we continue to play catch up from our short week last week (McCall weddings will do that to you- four day office weeks!), we stumbled across these links from around the web to peruse as you go into your weekend:

* Think Splendid is conducting a National Wedding Survey as well as a Honeymoon Survey- each will give insight as to how brides are buying and making their decisions regarding their plans. The honeymoon survey is open to anyone that has ever been on a honeymoon regardless of when you were married. So if you have some time on this rainy Spring weekend, grab a cup of your favorite beverage and spend 10-15 minutes filling out the surveys.

 Originally found via

* Love this post from Aestate on how to cozy up a guest room. Most of our brides are planning their new homes along with their weddings- this is a good place to start as you register for each room in the house.

* This tipping sheet and tipping etiquette post from Southern Weddings Magazine is just great, and right on.

* Norah Jones is coming to the Idaho Botanical Gardens in August, and tickets go on sale today. We'll be there- hope to see you too!

Any big plans for this weekend? Do let us know in the comments if you know of anything we shouldn't be missing!

~Happy Friday!

Trending | Mismatched Groomsmen

I have a thing for all things not so matchy matchy. At Soiree, like a good color palette, kitchy patterns, and we just love surprises. I also think the grooms tend to be forgotten..but they are almost as photographed as the bride is. Which is why I love it when the men switch it up:

 What kinds of things are your groomsmen doing to make a statement?

Inspiring Photo No. 38 + The Knot's 2011 Engagement Ring Stats

Well the Christmas holiday is over, and we're guessing quite a few happy couples were engaged over the weekend. Were you one of them?


A lovely wintry photo of the happiest couple, via

We also found these interesting statistics from The Knot about the average engagement ring and wedding band buying process....so you can see what your fella had to go through to find the perfect sparkle for the perfect you.

2011 AVERAGE ENGAGEMENT RING & WEDDING RING STATISTICS


Engagement Ring Cost: $5,200


Carat Size: 1 carat for center stone; 1.4 carats total stones


Most Popular Engagement Ring Shapes: Round (53%) and Princess (30%)


Most Popular Engagement Ring Metal: 73% of rings are made of white gold


Time It Takes for Groom to Find Engagement Ring: 3 months


Wedding Band Cost: $1,126 for brides; $491 for grooms

Most Popular Wedding Band Metal: For brides, 70% are white gold; for grooms, 34% are white gold


The Luxury Ring Segment: About 12% of couples spend more than $8,000 on the engagement ring


Luxury Engagement Ring Cost: $13,500


Luxury Engagement Ring Carat Size: 1.5 carats for center stone; more than 2 carats total stones 

The  Knot also goes into trends for proposals and other such goodies all brides in their current giddy state will find interesting, so be sure to check out the entire article here. 


And if you are a newly engaged bride with a perfect new sparkle on your finger, let us be one of the first to say, "Congratulations!"


~Happy Tuesday,


Brandi

5 Tips On Small Spaces

We mentioned that this past Saturday we hosted Matt + Carlie's winter barn wedding, and what a wedding it was. However, it wasn't handed to us on a platter of roses by any means- while the barn setting was absolutely perfect for the event, it was also a little cozy for the amount of guests that attended the wedding. So, in an effort to make lemonade out of lemons, we decided to design the wedding and the flow of the evening around the venue. Here are 5 tips we applied to this weekend's wedding to ensure the best experience for the guest while working with, rather than fighting, the space we were given:


Via

1. Direction, Direction, Direction. Can't stress this enough. This was the first and foremost point we made; your guests love direction at any party over 10 guests, and it was needed even more so with a non-traditional style of wedding. We had programs and menus designed together in one document the guests could carry around. This explained the flow of the evening, the passed mini foods menu, and the places throughout the barn they would find more goodies. Think of it as a map: our guests knew they where they would find all the stations, bars, dessert displays and even the restrooms downstairs.

2. Consider Your Menu. Rather than fill an already over-filled space with even more tables for buffets, we instead hired lots of staff, reduced the food on the menu down to adorable conversation-starting one-bite appetizers, and had 90% of it all passed. Yes we paid more for staff and for the added labor of making the cutest little morsels like itty bitty grilled cheese and tomato soup shooters. But it was absolutely necessary and added to the experience for the guests- imagine their surprise when they realized food was going to be continually passed all evening long. Just stand there and food will arrive. Genius! The less trying to get around in a cramped space, the better.


3. Get Creative With Space. Again, with the menu, we opted for almost all of it to be passed to save on space, but we also re-purposed one of the high counter-bars built into the barn for one food station upstairs and cleaned out a horse stall downstairs for the other station. This eliminated the need for lines since guests could either wait for a passed item or take their time as they passed one of the stations.

4. Welcome Non-Conformity. Not all brides love the idea of having guests seated at tables for the ceremony. But, in this case, we tried to keep the ceremony special and heartfelt, even though some of the guests were already seated at long tables. There was simply no way we'd be able to turn over the room after the ceremony, and it also ensured the guests would enjoy the gorgeous table displays all evening long.

5. Seating Charts. This goes along with direction again. In our case, we had some guests seated, and some standing. Even if you loathe the idea of creating a seating arrangement, you must for any reserved seating you may have. If we wouldn't have had the family reserved tables outfitted with place cards, we would have had mass chaos on our hands- your guests are already going to naturally be a little confused with the lack of seating. Have a wedding planner or other authorized (sober) person on hand with the seating chart to help direct your guests either to their seats and to explain the style of seating for the ceremony. It makes all the difference and saves you from angry guests.


Hope this helps if you're finding the perfect venue is a little cozy for your guests! Have you had a similar experience? What have you done to counteract the lack of space? Do tell!

After The Wedding

Via Everything Fabulous

If you had a summer wedding then you're either still floating on wedded bliss or you're starting on the descent back to reality, and if you'll be having a fall wedding you're so excited for the big day yet not wanting it to be over at the same time. There are actually statistics on what has been called the wedding blues- not so far away from the baby blues even. After all, a typical engagement rivals a 9 month pregnancy, and just like a soon-to-be mommy, a  bride has spent all of those months focusing on one thing only. So, now that the day is over, besides back to work, what to do? Here are some tips to help ease you back into every day life:

1) Develop all of your photos from the honeymoon. Yep- get started on that honeymoon album right away. Get your sweetie to help you arrange and pick them out- it will be fun to reminisce. Plus your life will only get busier from here on out.

2) Throw a dinner party. You just received oodles of really nice cookware. Serving dishes from the likes of Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel are itching to be used, and it will be nice to spend time with friends without boring them with having to talk about wedding plans.

3) Sell any remaining wedding paraphernalia. Sites like preownedweddingdresses.com, Emmaline Bride, and 100 Layer Cake all have market places for brides to sell their gently used wedding items.

4) Start focusing on something else. Start looking at interior design blogs, Pinterest, and/or nesting blogs to begin settling into your house and life together. Even if you lived with your fiance before the wedding, you now undoubtedly have new accessories, towels, bedding, etc to play with. By focusing on designing your home, you're making a smooth transition from wedding design to life design. Can actually be quite exhilarating.

5) Allow yourself to be on the wedded bliss train for a while. It's ok to still be excited and careening from the best day of your life. Just trying to stuff the feelings in a drawer and heading to work is just going to backfire. In fact, we give you permission to continue following wedding blogs and to wear your designer heels you bought for the big day to work one day too.

What was your experience after the wedding? Were you happy it was over? Sad to see it go? What did you do to keep yourself busy once the planning was done? Do share!

Your Wedding Album | Getting All The Detail Shots

There are only a few things that make me sad about a wedding. One of those things happen to be when there is a lack of detail shots. The small details are usually the parts of a wedding that take so much time, and sometimes... blood, sweat and tears too. They're also usually the most personalized aspects of the day, so why leave them out? Some photographers naturally lean toward shooting more portraits and including lots of people candids, and that's fine if that's what you want too. I personally believe a wedding album should tell a story and document the wedding day in its entirety, and getting that result takes a few steps. Here are 3 tips to ensure you have a well-rounded album that showcases all the details of the day:


Via Ampersand Studios

1) Revise that must-take shots list. We've touched on this before, but really, your professional photographer should know how many people are in your bridal party. What you want to make sure they know are the details- the favors, escort cards, the brooch on your bouquet.

2) Have a great time line. A good rule of thumb is to aim for all of your pre-ceremony photos (and all the set up) to end one hour before the ceremony. This not only gives you time to freshen up, but gives your photographer time to snap all the details.

3) Bring an extra invitation suite. This is one that is left out too much, but when it's included is such a nice touch. The invitation is your guests' first preview to the wedding day to come, so it's nice to have a stylized photo of your invite included in your wedding album too.

What other tips do you have for brides?