"Royal" Blue Engagment Rings

When I say to you that I am bursting with excitement that the Royal Wedding is right around the corner, I truly mean it. I'm pretty sure this event calls for an all-nighter, considering I am notorious in the studio for my insomnia, this shouldn't be a problem.

Every time I see the ring Kate wears, I am giddy.  I had wanted a sapphire engagement ring since Lady Diana got married.  It was the very first wedding I ever saw and it is forever embedded in my mind as the most perfect. However my amazing husband surprised me with a diamond ring, and I could not have been any happier to receive such a gift.
As much as I am obsessed with the Prince William & Kate Middleton's Wedding I am equally obsessed with our client Martha's Wedding. Not only is planning her wedding fabulous but she also has a Sapphire Engagement Ring, sounds like royalty to me.
Since Matha's wedding is approaching so quickly we decided to interview her about her beloved Sapphire Ring. So here's the scoop:

Before Tom proposed to Martha they decided to make a custom design of her engagement ring, a friend of theirs who happens to be an architect made a 3-D model of the exact ring she wanted, how fancy is that! Martha loves the color blue and decided that diamonds were not her style, therefore Sapphire it was! Little did they know the the Royal Couple would follow suit shortly after.

Martha was laughing about this when we were chatting earlier saying that it so frustrating that everyone thinks she copied the royal couple. I asked her how often people relate her ring back to Kate's and she replied "ALL THE TIME." She likes to joke with her friends and family saying "I designed my ring first and at least it is all Sapphire, no Diamonds for me!" Even though she wishes her ring was completely unique she totally does not mind being compared to a princess. 

Needless to say I adore our bride Martha and am counting down the days for not only her wedding but also Prince William & Kate Middleton's.

We're covering more Royal Wedding starting tomorrow over at It's Pretty Splendid.  Pop on over when you have a few.

You really should ask these wedding planning questions

This spring & summer I managed to see a few weddings, mostly destination weddings, from an outsider perspective, but one who knows better.  Basically, while I was attending tastings, floral consults, and venue site tours, I also saw wedding chaos.  Some chaos that should have never happened and some that there was no controlling but wasn't being handled.  I felt sick watching some of these things happening.  So here are some questions you can ask your wedding coordinator, planner, day-of director, site manager, florist...WHO EVER it is that says they will take care of "coordinating" for you.  This is especially great to ask venue or site coordinators who are included in your package.

1. Will you help me set up room blocks at another resort?
2. Will you help me secure and schedule transportation to these other resorts for my guests staying off property?  How about for wedding events not on your property?
3. Will you help me plan events off your property?  Like a shopping and luncheon and a golf tourney day?  Not just phone numbers...plan it.
4. Can you recommend anyone outside your recommended vendor list?  If no, why?
5. Will you tell me if I'm about to make a big mistake hiring a particular vendor?
   
6. Will you review all my contracts for me?
   
7. Are the subcontracted companies on your property answering to your company, or is there a financial commitment there?  Or if I have an issue with them are you representing me and my best interest?
8. Will your A/V company work with my band or DJ to ensure that their lighting doesn't interfere with each others?

   

   Aren't these not-too-nautical welcome bags cute?

9. Will you research, purchase, assemble, customize and deliver the welcome bags and guest itineraries?
10. Will you create wedding party wedding weekend itineraries?  How about the guest guides?
11. Will you track my RSVP changes and make necessary changes to the escort and place cards?
12. Do you offer etiquette and stationery advice?
13. Will you schedule and plan our planning visit with all of our vendors so that we can get everything done in 2 days and still go to the beach for at least 2 hours?
14. Will you give me room design options to see for my reception?
15. Will you offer me anything other than standard options for linens, centerpieces, lighting, and china? Do you add any cost to these items, or is it the same cost I would pay if I did it myself?
    
16. Will you communicate with all the vendors I have under contract to compile a timeline so that they all know whats going on when?
17. Will you let the florist, photographer, videographer, and hair and makeup people know where I am and my fiance are?
18. Will you pin all the boutonnières on the grooms party and dads?
    
19. Will you make sure both our parents are in the room and have a view of the cake cutting, 1st dance, and bouquet toss?
20. Will you be on site for the entire set up for all the vendors, available to me and my wedding party for anything that comes up, and there until the reception is over?

I was going to stop here, but I might as well head on just a bit.  But then I'll stop before 100 completely reasonable questions....

I must say, these are really cool along the perimeter of a tent.

1. Will you find 17 of these chandeliers for me?
2. Will you convince my mother that its actually okay not to have a receiving line?
3. Will you schedule the hair and makeup for me and 7 others in the getting ready room so that my fiancées mother is not there during lunch, and so that my sister can go feed her baby after her blow out but before her makeup, and so that I am done just in time for pictures, with 15 minutes to get dressed, and nobody has to be there before 10am?
4. Will you help bustle my dress and fix it if and when it breaks?
5. Do you have a bridal room kit and an ER kit? Whats in it?
6. Will you make sure the room is completely set on time (ask the photographer what time) and the band isn't loading in when the photographer comes in to take shots of the room because I really want to be on my favorite wedding blog?  Also, will you make sure I get to see if before everyone else?
7. Will you hand out our final payments and tips to vendors?

Please know that I am not trying to scare anyone.  I am saying however, that there is more to a wedding weekend than meets the "our wedding coordination package includes" when you care as much about your wedding; and that you have a priorities:
1. You get to enjoy your wedding weekend
2. Your guests having a great experience
3. Your wedding is being executed as beautifully as it is aesthetically beautiful.

Wedding Ceremony, Brunch, then party at Sunset

Have you ever noticed that the pages you're ripping from magazines are pictures of bright sun shiny weddings? Yet, so many brides and grooms plan evening events for their destination weddings. Hmmm. Well, I noticed. So, here are my thoughts.
Consider an early ceremony, between 9am and 10am. Then, have a brunch celebration followed by an evening dinner party. Brunches are typically the least expensive meal to serve, but are also usually one of guests favorites because there is such a grand offering. You can go much more understated on the decor, because the natural lighting and surroundings are the scene stealers. Perhaps something like some stunning potted Phalaenopsis Orchids.Since the dancing will be at the party that night, you can just have a cool saxophonist (or continue with the string trio you had from the ceremony) playing for ambiance. Getting married at the beach? How amazing would brunch next to the shore be? Yep, really amazing.

Think about the times you've eaten outside, next to the water. Wasn't it a great feeling? There's a reason why sidewalk cafes are so popular. Eating outdoors is a refreshing break from the norm.

Later for the dinner party, skip the cocktail hour and go right to dinner and dancing. What to do inbetween? Enjoy the day with all your family & friends!

Our New Website is Live!

Check it out! We are so excited. Let us know what you think: The Weddings by Socialites Website
Oh my gosh- so excited.
A few more changes to come (fun pictures of us), but couldn't wait any longer to share.
Many thanks to all the photographers who contributed their stunning images of our weddings:


Ashley Brockinton
Impact UK
Jason P Smith
Impressions Photography
Michelle Reed
Hillary Hopkins
Shari Bare
Julie Goodacre
Gigi Hamlett

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?

Mountain Wedding+Showcases+Studio= Busy

How this much time got away from me is still to be figured out! Hopefully I'll be back on the daily post this week. I have showcases and news on my new Planning Studio and Bride's Library
to share with you, and some great photos from Montana where I currently sit looking at some rather amazing mountains. Quite the change of scenery from the lovely beaches at home to say the least.
Montana? Yep. I came out to help my dear friend Nicole of RSVP Shindig (Denver) with an unbelievable destination wedding in Bozeman. There is no lack of scenery, beautifully designed wedding, or Dom Perignon around these parts.
We got quite behind on the showcase (sorry), but promise to get all the info out to every who inquired asap. Some of the showcases that came in already are AWESOME and more than I had ever expected.

Melissa & Chad: Another great directors cut

I have a good 4 weddings to catch up & post about- its been a great spring season! But we've got 3 more still to come before we wrap it up and have a few hours to get all the great photos posted. In the meantime, here's a sneak peek at Cool Calm Cheerful Brides GORGEOUS Scottish wedding at South Seas. It was one of the largest destination weddings we've done this season(just under 200). I'll be posting more about this incredible wedding really soon.
I can't say enough about Rob and the crew over at AMC Video. These directors cuts are just amazing. How they manage to get 8 hours of fantastic wedding into this 3 minutes is beyond me.
Here's the link to the video

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!

Your mom will sob like a baby

And your dad might too. I gotta say, this is one of those parents gifts that will go a long long way. I absolutely adore digital photo frames and the price has come down on these over the last year and now they are finally affordable enough for you to buy a couple to give as parents gifts.

Here is why I think they're great. 1. You can start working on this way before the wedding, and have it done months in advance. 2. After the wedding you can add on to the gift- give Ma & Pa another memory card with all the wedding photos on it.
I tested it myself of course. It's very easy (technically) to get it set up. Depending on how many photos you load, it'll take you less than 15 minutes. The hard part is picking the photos. That part- took me like 6 hours. Me being the type who is forever taking pictures, I had hundreds and hundreds of photos to go through. I laughed myself to tears looking through some of the pictures, and the memories it brought back- oh my gosh.
I found good selections of the digital photo frames at Target, Best Buy, and Amazon; priced between $60 and $400.

Lovely. Pretty. I want it.

I'm not having a wedding again anytime soon, but if I were, I could say that I found my cake. I saw it on the TODAY show the other morning, and I think I began to druel a little. Ha!

The cake is so simple, but grand at the same time. Truly though, what makes it, is the gorgeous wreath of flowers around it. I just adore it. I love the flowers, the colors, the size, everything. I searched up and down the TODAY show and Martha Stewart Weddings websites looking for a photo of it and couldn't find one. So I vowed not to watch anymore of the TODAY show Martha Stewart Wedding segments. Yeah right. I'd make it like 1 day. Who am I kidding? No I wouldn't. So rather than swear off wedding tv, I commented on Darcys blog to ask her if she could find a photo of it and today she posted it. Thank you Darcy.
Oh, and the designer is Matthew Robbins. He's fabo. I wonder if he's available for the wedding I'm not having.

Real Weddings Online

I do my best to get a few photos at each of my weddings so that I can share some real weddings with everyone. I think showcasing these weddings is fantastic because you can see what's going on in the real world. Well, the wedding world anyway. Anyhoo, during my fit of insomnia last night I realized that there are so many wedding magazines that now have real wedding sections online! Here's a short list for you...for when you get insomnia or need a wedding fix.

Grace Ormonde
Together In Style
WedLuxe
Inside Weddings
The Bride & Bloom

Today Throws a Martha Stewart Wedding

HUGE NEWS! By far, I'm sure this is going to be the best Today wedding to date. I am so excited. I logged on to the Martha Stewart Weddings website today (I usually do this about once a week) and found this really exciting news. Click here to get the scoop on how you can maybe be the lucky couple to win this wedding.

"TODAY producers and TODAY talent will also search for TODAY’S next wedding couple in Las Vegas, Miami, Chicago and New York. Talent, intellect, a good personal story and creativity will be sought out in the couples applying. Four couples will be picked and America will decide, by vote, who will be the next TODAY show wedding couple."

The application is online, and it does look really lengthy, but um- who cares? Totally worth it if you win! Really important- gotta apply by July 27th. That's right around the corner.

Some of my favorite spring '07 photos

Picture 1, Amanda. This photo was caught during a moment of outright laughter during the ceremony. The wind was coming at just the wrong direction and Amanda's parachute, ummm, I mean- veil proved to be a constant source of laughter through the ceremony. Fitting, because Amanda was the most hilarious client I have ever had. She really should go on a comedy tour. She had me in stitches for nearly a year. Photo Credit: Impressions Photography

Picture 2, Traci & Steve. Ok, I know everyone does this shot, but there was something about Traci & Steve when they were spinning about. They were totally lost in each other- and it totally came through in this image. Photo Credit: Julie Goodacre Photography

Picture 3, Jim showing off his newly adorned ring finger to friends. Ok, hands down, this is the most memorable shot and it is SO Jim. Jim was one of those grooms who came to his wedding excited to marry his bride and totally ready to celebrate his marriage with his closest family and friends. Susan & Jim's wedding was just down right fun. Photo credit: Gigi Hamlett Photography

Thank you fabo photographers for sending me images!

I goof off a little

Last weekend while photographer Gigi Hamlett was busy taking romance shots of Becky & Mike, I grabbed one of her back-up cameras and took a few photos myself. I do this every now and again. She usually just ends up yelling at me for not focusing or "bouncing" off the wrong wall. Bouncing is a fancy lighting term I still don't get. Her camera is too complicated. But still, its fun for about 10 minutes. Being a photographer is so much more difficult than it appears. Besides taking pictures for like 6-8 hours, nearly non-stop, then there is the editing process. HOURS and HOURS and HOURS editing photos at a computer. Nope. No way. You couldn't pay me enough.
Anyway, I received an email from Gigi this morning. Here is a photo I took of Denise and myself while Gigi was chasing Becky and her dog Sami down the beach for this cool shot. Denise has worked with me at almost all the weddings in the last year- she rocks. Denise also married one of our dearest friends, Kenny (I set them up!),last Christmas night at a surprise ceremony.
I love weddings.

Pimp Your Flips

This past weekend was Becky & Mike's wedding weekend. It was such a great time! Clint Wiley entertained both Friday and Saturday and let me just tell you- there were people who never left the dance floor. For all I know, they are still there waiting on another encore. You can check out the short video of little ringbearer Cole dancing to Banana Pancakes at the rehearsal dinner on Becky & Mike's wedding blog. Have I ever mentioned I love Jack Johnsons music?

Anyway, let me explain the photo here. I shoulda known something was up when Becky asked me for my shoe size and favorite color in my wardrobe (hot pink & black). She surprised me, and I think all the girls in the wedding party (moms too), with a pair of these customized Reefs. Her sister Kelly embellished each pair for all of us. Oh how they sparkled in the sand. Very cool. Yes, I'm still wearing mine. Kelly is considering taking limited orders for her Wedding Flips, if you're interested, send me an email.

Fuschia & Orange

No longer do I live in fear of Orange or Fuschia! This weekends destination wedding events were great. Lots of color, great music, fantastic entertainment, and a very happy bride & groom. Click here or on Susan & Jim on the sidebar to go to their wedding blog.

The Truth about your wedding menu

The truth about your wedding menu: Nobody cares what it is as long as it's hot and tastes good.
Consider all the weddings you've been too. Is the meal what you remember most about them? Doubt it.
Think about the BEST wedding you ever attended. Was the meal what made it? Doubt it.
Chances are that the best thing about your favorite wedding was the great time or feeling you had there. It's probably the memory of a band so amazing that you were dancing for so long your feet were swollen into your shoes. Or your lack of memory due to a really great signature drink. Or maybe it was how incredibly romantic and intimate the night was. Or perhaps it was how gorgeous the ceremony & reception looked and made you feel. But like I said, chances are- it wasn’t the meal.

My point is this, don't stress about what you put on your wedding menu. It's one of the elements of planning a wedding that I have noticed clients get more stressed about, and they just don't need to. So with that said:
***Feel free to serve chicken. These days, you can get some mighty good chicken! Chefs are amazing with their accompaniments and presentations, let them kick it up a notch and get creative with it. Why chicken? It is almost always the least expensive entree on a catering menu. Those savings mean you can bump up your budget on the things that really do make a huge difference in your wedding memories (the band, the flowers, etc.).
***Have a shorter dinner. Go the 3 course route rather than the 4 course. Again, there is the cost savings. Even better though, the time savings. That 4th course could easily eat up another 30 to 40 minutes of your "party" time.
***Do go all out for dessert. It's consistently a big hit when it’s done, and because it happens later in the evening- guests do remember it.
Cool ideas: add a dessert buffet, candy bar, Venetian table, or fresh doughnut bar.

Subject: Random Question #2516

Client:

Toasts for RD and Reception…
I’ve read it’s tradition for the groom’s parents to toast the bride’s parents at the RD, and for the bride’s parents to toast the groom’s parents at the reception…. Is that true?

Me:

Oh my gosh, you are so hilarious. I just realized you're numbering the questions. THAT is so funny.
There's tradition, and then there is what really happens. Tradition, yep- just what you said. What really happens...depends on the style and formality of the wedding and the kinds of guests you have. Here is what I will say for sure. Get as many of the toasts out of the way at the Rehearsal dinner. Ask everyone you think will want to say something, if they plan on saying something- before the weekend comes. Then ask them to do it at the event that you feel is most appropriate. This way you'll probably have more time to party/dance at the Wedding. Toasts and speeches on wedding night, on top of the other traditions (cake cutting, parent dances, bouquet toss, pictures, etc.) really cut into the time you actually get to just let loose and have a good time.

The Wedding Podcast Network

As if this week couldn't get better...The Wedding Podcast Network selected this blog to syndicate their wedding podcasts! There's a link off to the right, in the sidebar. Not just anybody gets to offer the syndication, so I am honored.
Some of you might be wondering what the Wedding Podcast Network is. Well, it's cool, and you should for sure check it out. Basically, its "The largest most comprehensive collection of original wedding talk radio programming for couples planning their wedding. Conversations with newlyweds and wedding professionals sharing their first hand experiences." Yeah, I took that quote right from the WPN homepage. It is the best way to describe it. The content chages regularly, so check back often.
You can listen to podcasts on your ipod, your computer, or --- burn them to a cd so you can listen to them in your car, while flipping through Grace Ormonde Wedding Style as you are waiting in traffic on the way to Naples, while sipping on your Chai Tea Frap. from Starbucks.

TIE-dy up that budget!

There is nothing more that I love than a great deal. A couple weeks ago I searched up and down 3 cities trying to find satin finish chocolate brown neckties for the groomsmen in one of next months weddings. I had ZERO luck. I ended up buying yards of fabric and dropping it off at a seamstress. What did I find today? A GOLD MINE. Check out SolidColorNeckties.com.
Not only are the ties extremely inexpensive, but they have about every color under the sun, and every type of tie: standard ties, skinny ties, bow ties, cross over ties. LOVE it.

A cool idea? These ties are so cheap ($3.75!!!!) you could outfit all the catering staff in your wedding colors! How awesome would that be? Just order one tie per table of guests, and you should have the appropriate number to cover the servers and bartenders. Check with your venue in advance of course.