If your wedding was in a magazine, which would it be?

When I'm working with my clients on the design concepts for their weddings I have always asked questions about their personal aesthetic, style and likes.

What movies do you love, television shows you watch, celebrities you like, stores shop at, designers and lines you love to wear...

None of these questions have anything to do with a wedding - but it has everything to do with who they are.  This is important because your wedding should very much be a reflection of you and I want to make sure that we can easily be on the same page. For instance if you said you loved Breakfast at Tiffanys, The Great Gatsby, and Mad Men, Kate Spade and Calvin Klein; instantly I know that we have a connection.  Of course, at some point its great to know where the two of us can find likely sources of wedding inspiration and this is when I turn to the wedding magazines (print & ezines) & their websites (and of course pinterest and blogs).  If someone asked you what wedding magazine or blog was your style, what would you answer?

Martha Stewart Weddings

Grace Ormonde Wedding Style *

Inside Weddings*

Destiantion Weddings & Honeymoons *

Southern Weddings *

Weddings Unveiled

Brides

Style Me Pretty *

Utterly Engaged

Eco-Beautiful weddings

Junebug Weddings

The Knot *

* We've had recent featured weddings or editorial contributions in these magazine publications, websites, and/or blogs

Best Wedding Sites Magazine

Last month we introduced you to the new Style Me Pretty E-Glossy, and this month we would like to introduce you to another digital magazine; Best Wedding Sites.  We are especially thrilled to have one of our photo shoots featured (see pages 24-25). This photo shoot was a big step out of the norm for me- very whimsical.  Thanks to Ashley Brockinton, Signature Florals, and Marina Village Resort for being our partners in this collaborative project. Just click the cover to read the digital!

Are you loving the digital magazines?  We are.  And I will personally love them more when I get my hands on an ipad!

The new Style Me Pretty Magazine

Style Me Pretty.  You know I have always adored the blog.  We have been so fortunate to have our real weddings and tablescapes grace this most famous of wedding blogs over the years.  And now, now they have just blown my wedding soaked mind with STUNNING.  I am enamored in 3 minutes flat.  Ladies and gents, introducing the SMP digital magazine.

 

Congrats to the team at SMP; the inaugural issue is amazing.

Cover Beauty, Weddings Unveiled

I die over every Weddings Unveiled cover.  Until this issue I couldn't really figure out why though.  And then as I was reviewing some notes from a brides panel at a wedding professionals workshop I hosted earlier this year, it hit me.  What I love about it is that its just the picture.  A stunning image.  Weddings Unveiled doesn't cover the photo with all the story headlines- just like our brides confirmed at the workshop, "I buy the magazine if I like the cover photo".  You'll find more about this issue on the Unveiled blog.

Styling: Brooke Thomas and Terri J. Ireland. Photographer: Brooke Thomas Gown: Reem Acra

 So the dress.  Yes, Reem Acra, her designs have always been amongst my favorites for always being glamorous.  I wouldn't mind in the slightest if one of my clients this year waltzed down the aisle in this lovely.  Elated.  That is more likely the emotion I would have.

I love Martha Stewart Weddings

There is no denying it.  I have been a loyal fan for as long as the magazine has been in existence.  When they added the website and blog to the mix- as Rachael Zoe (my favorite celebrity stylist) would say, "I die".  What I love about Martha Stewart Weddings is the uncompromisable standard of quality and loyalty to the wedding world.  I adore that its always been about the joy, beauty, and fun of a wedding.

By the way TODAY is the last day this issue is on newsstands!

Well, the summer issue this year was hands down one of my favorites (yes, I say that every time, but its true).  I was ripping pages out left and right.















One of my favorite reasons I loved this issue was that there was a bit of a focus on my favorite wedding element- cake.  In my opinion, wedding cake is what takes a great dinner party to a wedding dinner.

Somehow classic and contemporary at the same time.  Don't you think?

This one, to me finds a way to be sophisticated and whimsical.

What will be on the newsstands tomorrow?  The fashion issue.
Yes, I am sure it will be one of my favorites ever as well.  Do you have a favorite issue?

The biggest inspiration board ever

This week the kids went back to school, and so I find myself with a bit of time waiting at the bus stop.  I am forever trying to be as productive as possible (sometimes failing and falling into procrastination). So I am doing a twitter series while I wait called #BusStopShots. You can follow along with the same hashtag.

What I wanted to share with you here though was what I do after I rip all these pages of pretty things out of the wedding magazines.  Introducing the biggest inspiration board you've ever seen, the WBS studio bathroom:

See any of your pictures in here?

Hopefully one day you'll have a chance to stop by and browse our studio library.  And if by chance you need to visit this room...it will hopefully be the loveliest little wedding bathroom you've seen. If you do see one of your pictures here; I love it.

Yes, there are ALOT of pictures!

Southern Weddings Volume IISo worth the wait.

It might take 5 visits to 5 different newsstands, but I can assure you its worth it.
This second issue of Southern Weddings magazine...wow. After the last issue being an innovation in the wedding magazine world, I knew the next would be phenomenal.
What I find fantastic about Southern Weddings is that its quite honestly just about weddings and how amazing they are. When I read it, I felt like each and every page was a celebration that was all completely realistic. How thrilled was I that I didn't have to look at yet another 5 page spread of gorgeous wedding dresses on a model with something like an actual birds nest with live birds in her hair, while she was eating a lobster and standing on a log floating down the river? Insanely thrilled. Sounds corny, I know- but when you live in the wedding world (temporarily as a bride or permanently as a professional)...real is what you ache for: gorgeous pictures, plenty of advice and tips (look for mine on page 117), great shopping resources and finds, and candid comments.
Now, Lara, when can I get volume III; because my current copy is already on read thru #8.

Big Tip: Read the Editors Page

It is so tempting when reading the wedding magazines to skip right on through to your favorite parts; the real weddings, the hot trends, the oh so lovely pictures we all crave for. Here's the thing though, the Editors page, sometimes referred to as the letter from the editor, is kind of like a summary and explanation of why everything included in that issue has been selected. Magazines are very much like books with chapters and each chapter has something to do with the next- they're just laid out differently.
I particularly love Grace Ormonde's page in Wedding Style and Darcy Millers page in Martha Stewart Weddings. Read these and you'll understand the thought process for the issue and you'll get more out of everything they've carefully selected for you (more often than not through a painstakingly difficult narrowing process).

Defining a Destination Wedding: Let's Clarify.

Disagree with me if you'd like, and I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts on this, but I have a different point of view than many on what makes a wedding a destination wedding.
Are 85-100% of your guests traveling to your wedding location?
Will all the guests traveling be staying overnight or longer?
Is your wedding taking place at a locale that would be considered by most a "travel destination"?
Are you also staying overnight at the location you're marrying (or where your guests are staying)?
If yes to the above- then YES it is a destination wedding. Even if you (Bride and/or Groom) live in that destination.
Here's why I believe this is the case:
You're going to have to provide all the same information (travel, accommodations, maps/directions, itineraries, etc.)to your guests.
You'd still be blocking rooms.
You'd still do welcome bags.
You'd still plan welcome and farewell events.

Still not quite sure? Read this post from a few years ago (I forgot I wrote about this). Also, Pick up Destination Bride
and a few recent issues of Destination Weddings & Honeymoons magazine and read them. Does they speak to your wedding? If you're reading these and finding a great deal of it really does apply to your wedding; well, if the shoe fits.

Attention Wedding Professionals: Brides don't always know.

Yesterday I was out picking out my husbands birthday gift and I went to his favorite shop. Now here's the thing, I had every intention of buying a gift. Like a Reel or a Rod or something like that. And then, I walked into the store and saw this:

I twittered that after seeing this table of I have no idea what these all are, I quickly became confused, overwhelmed, and ready to run for the oh so not unique gift certificate. A moment later, Monica of The White Box twittered back, "Aghh! Just looking at that kind of stressed me out." This comment instantly made me think,

you know, this must be what its like when a newly engaged bride is trying to decipher the abyss of flowers,fillers & vases; playlists, instruments & protocols; linens, chairs & tables; cake styles, frostings & fillings...

Do you remember when you first realized you had no idea there was so much you didn't know?
So just a reminder to us all, to make conscious efforts to explain everything to our clients, or at least inquire into their knowledge so that they aren't feeling like a chick in a fishing tackle shop when her comfort zone is Homegoods (this would be me).
Here is a great example of a magazine that totally gets it. Bride & Bloom used to include these flower cards. I still use them to this day.


YES! You can follow Monica of The White Box, Bride & Bloom, and me on twitter. Good stuff over there...

Last Minute Giveaway Reminder!

Yes, I totally forgot to pick winners from Wednesdays post. I got all caught up in planning NY brides rehearsal dinner, finding a December South Seas bride a photographer, planning next weeks planning visit, and hiring our new client & vendor relations director, Jessica. Actually, not sure what her exact title is going to be yet, but she is FABULOUS and is going to be a huge asset to the Weddings by Socialites team. Oh, and I'm certain she would be the 1st to remind me that I hadn't picked the winners yet.

Since I didn't place a reminder sooner, I'll hold off until Sunday to announce the winners. Don't shoot me. Rather, I'll throw in the newest issue of Destination Weddings and Honeymoons to the prize pot.

Featured in Brides Florida Magazine

One of the perks of being engaged are the pre-wedding celebrations. Oh how I love to plan these as well! Take advantage of your engagement and enjoy all the excitement that goes along with it.Wedding planners are great to hire for consultation to get the scoop on the best locations, ideas, and ways to make all of your events that much more special than you could have even imagined. No, you do not have to have your wedding shower at Aunt Sue's and your bachelorette party can be swanky without being, ummmm, well, you know.


Look for some of our favorite places in the newest issue of Brides Florida magazine (Page 122). The editors came to Weddings by Socialites for all the great places to host your "other wedding parties". Namely, showers, rehearsal dinners, and bachelorette parties.
Oh, and isn't the cover gorgeous?

Love love love Southern Weddings

And again I say Love Love Love. I think nearly all of you brides and wedding planners will agree with me, once you have the chance to read the premiere issue of Southern Weddings Magazine, that this is what we have been waiting for. FOREVER. Yes, I am screaming that. It deserved a scream.
I have read it 3 times now because I keep finding new elements to love some more. Hello! The true bride confessions- oh my gosh, cutest thing ever. Probably the most obvious fantastic thing about this magazine however, is the fact that there are over 20 real weddings covered! Are you kidding me? I could pass out in inspiration bliss.
If by chance you can't find it at your local B&N or BAM because its sold out, you can order it from the Southern Weddings blog. We also have a couple copies here in our studio if you happen to be local the Cape Coral or Ft. Myers area.

Congrats to Lara and all the editors at Southern Weddings! Love love love

Bouquet ChicI adore this book

A big part of my responsibility as a wedding planner is bringing new ideas and resources to my clients. So I do my best to share inspiration when its presented to me. Boy did I get some wedding bouquet inspiration from this book!

What I love about Bouquet Chic, besides the fact that its more than 150 pretty pictures, is that I haven't seen them before. And the ribbons! Oh the ribbons. Often we say that the handle doesn't matter because its always covered up. Not in these bouquets! Kimberly has some amazing ribbon and handle treatments that are more than photo worthy. They are actually unique & beyond simply creative. For me, this is key. I can't stand a copied wedding. Where's the fun in that?

Also, this book actually tells you all the flowers that are in the bouquet- magazines commonly leave us guessing (except in the case of Bride & Bloom magazine, they're pretty good about it). Oh, and to top it off- should you be a DIY bride who dares to create her own bouquet (You guessed it- I consider this a big NO), this book shows you how.

No Passport Required

Truly, I am a wedding book and magazine junkie. Want proof? Stop by my studio. I swear the sales people at Books a million think I'm a bit over excited about this wedding I've been planning for years on end. HA!
Anyhoo- I picked up the current issue of Destination Weddings and Honeymoons last week and was immediately drawn to one of the featured articles: No Passport Required. Can I tell you how excited I was to get to the article and find 2 of the 8 beach resorts chosen as the best "no passport required" are none other than LaPlaya Beach & Golf (Naples) and South Seas Island (Captiva)Resorts? Both of which are stunning resorts that we frequently plan weddings at. As a matter of fact we had Kim's rehearsal dinner at LaPlaya just last weekend, and this weekend we'll be out at South Seas for Lucky bride and Writer Bride. So yes, I agree with Destination Wedding Magazine, they are two of the best.
What's awesome about both these locations being chosen is that it proves that SW Florida is a prime location for destination weddings. While these two stunning venues are amazing, there are many more to choose from. With an international airport and direct flights from many major metropolitan areas, really- its perfect for destination wedding planning. How lucky am I to be here?

The Martha Stewart Show A Wedding show!

I got cool news in my inbox tonight. This Friday (1/18), the Martha Stewart show will be all wedding. Yahoo! I'll be out on Captiva meeting with clients when its on, but you betcha I'll have the tivo set to record this one. Two Badgley Mishka fashion shows are planned, one with wedding dresses and another for their bridesmaids dress line. I'd take any of them- the preview looks really good (check the Martha website to watch the preview). Also planned for the show- the good stuff, aka cake and dessert. Oh, and it wouldn't be a wedding show without Darcy Miller!

Ooooh, if you haven't read the most recent issue of Martha Stewart Weddings- you're missing out. It's one of the best yet. How do I know? I folded down the corners on more than half the editorial pages. That translates to a whole bunch of stuff I'm dying to try.

How the south does weddings

Most people don't consider Florida as one of the "southern" states. I can agree with that because it really is like night and day between Savannah and Naples. But all the same, there is something to be said for an elegant southern wedding. I came across the latest issue of Unveiled yesterday and realized while flipping through that if this is what they consider to be a southern wedding, then I want Florida to be included.
Seriously, just look at this cover! Gorgeous. I could see this being at any metropolitan area of the US. Then I get to page 66. WHOA! Turns out Florida is included! And not only is Florida included, but this real wedding of Courtney & Ben takes place at LaPlaya Beach resort where my clients Jenn & John got married just last week and we have another gorgeous wedding in the works for next April.
So head out to the newstands and grab this issue. Lots of good stuff.

Destination Weddings & Honeymoons visits South Seas Resort

I was so excited when I walked by the wedding magazine rack today and saw the cover of destination weddings & honeymoons! "Wow, that looks familiar...hmmmm." Yep, its none other than South Seas Resort; one of my favorite places to plan weddings.

This past May, Donna & Jim tied the knot at Sunset Cove (which is in the distance of the cover photo) and then had their cocktails on Kings Crown lawn, followed by dinner and dancing inside Kings Crown. All the bouquets in the article (and Donna & Jims wedding)were by my favorite floral designers on the islands, Floral Artistry.
Currently, I'm in the midst of planning 4 other weddings on South Seas before summer hits, so yeah, you could say its a very popular place. Mostly because it is beyond gorgeous and the food is to die for. Or maybe its because of the dolphins, sea turtles, and manatees. Or maybe its the golf and tennis. Or maybe its the beach and sunset. Or maybe the pool that kicks every other pools arse with the fancy little cabanas and pina coladas. Alright, enough reasons already. The place just rocks.


All 4 of the upcoming weddings are as different as the locations my clients are coming from, and I am truly looking forward to each. I'd love to plan more- call me!

I love Greys Anatomy, but I love a wedding movie even more

Just this past Friday I was out on Captiva Island with my lovely April bride Melissa. We had a wowzer of a tasting feast thanks to the amazing chef at South Seas and lovely Amanda from catering. Anyhoo- during our feast, Melissa springs it on me that she has been a bridesmaid SEVEN times. I thought that only happened in the movies. One thing for sure about being a career bridesmaid- your friends truly love you. Being chosen as a bridesmaid is a big deal, it means "you've been an important part of my life, and now you'll be an important part of our lives" But now Melissa's the bride and is doing everything she can to completely enjoy every minute of planning the celebration of a lifetime. And really- I can't wait for this wedding. Kilts, bagpipers, and a dance I have to look up called the Gay Gordons. Although, Melissa's mom & dad gave us a preview and it looks like SO MUCH FUN!. Yep, it's going to be quite the party.
So what does any of this have to do with Greys Anatomy and wedding movies? Well, when Melissa mentioned her 2nd career as a bridesmaid, I was curious about how many times the average bride is a bridesmaid before they are a bride. I still don't know. But if anyone finds out- let me know. What I did find out during my search was that Katherine Heigl of Grey's Anatomy is starring in an upcoming movie (Due in theatres January 11th)called 27 Dresses. And even better, James Marsden is the leading man. In unison girls, "Ahhhh". To top it off, Modern Bride magazine is having a contest called "Always a Bridesmaid"!


A little info behind the contest: Modern Bride is looking for all current and former bridesmaids to submit in 100 words or less what’s great – or not – about being a ‘maid. Entrants must also submit a photo of themselves in a bridesmaid dress at a wedding and how many times they’ve been a ‘maid. The winner will have their entry published in a future issue of the magazine and will win a trip to the world premiere of 27 Dresses as the guest of Modern Bride’s Editor-in-Chief Antonia van der Meer. The winner will have their hair and makeup done, be outfitted in a gorgeous gown and will have their photo taken with Katherine Heigl.

Melissa- this has your name all over it. I wonder if you can enter 7 times. One for each photo. Ha! Ok, to enter the contest, just click here.

Really now, how can you not like Martha Stewart Wedding Stuff?

I stopped at the PO Box today and found the Fall 07 Martha Stewart Weddings! YEA! I know, I'm a bit of a dork, but I really get excited when it comes. I read 1/2 of it in the lobby at the Ritz (arrived a bit early for our meeting) and I was bending down pages left and right. First of all on page 66 there is an article about Tiecrafters. You can send them fabric and they will make you a tie! This is great for those who want the boys to match the girls exactly. Just purchase additional yardage from your bridemaid dress manufacturer. A little out of budget? No fear, I still swear by SolidColorNeckTies.com (hello, $7 per tie, 52 shades of fabulous).

Then on page 70, there's an article called stir things up. This is one of those little details that costs next to nothing, takes a small amount of effort and makes a big impact. Great use of color. Sorry about the crease in the picture...I really do fold down pages I want to go back to!