It's Gettin' Hot in Here!

Sweaty shirts. Yuck. Not exactly what everyone wants to look at or see when flipping through a wedding album. Chances are that if you’re planning on having a wedding in a warm location and/or having a boogie down hour (or 2 or 3), your fellas will get a bit (or alot) sweaty in their suits.
I’ve seen more than my fair share of completely drenched male wedding party members; and I may have finally figured out a way to at least make it a little more comfortable for these guys and the photos alot more, ummmm, dry.
How about a change of clothes? Even better, make the change of clothes a gift!

Well before the wedding, purchase all the guys in the wedding party matching shirts that they can change into at the reception after all the formalities and formal photos are complete. This way they still look like members of the wedding party, because they’re all uniform; but at the same time, they are dry and feel oh so much better. Photographs will be “drier” longer into the evening, and they walk away with a nice new shirt that will always remind them of the best party they ever attended. If you want to step it up a notch, have their names or initials embroidered. Perhaps even the date.You can give each of the guys their gifts at the rehearsal dinner. To make things convenient, gift wrap the outfits in a tagged bag that is large enough to hold their suit jackets and wet shirts. Have your wedding planner take the bags and shirts after the rehearsal dinner. Then she can stash the bags under the table at each guys seat so that when they’re ready to make the change, it will be somewhere easy to find, and they’ll have a bag ready to collect all their stuff.

How many people to get bride-ified?

Apparently, quite a few.

1st, there is the support team: Then there's the pros (Fresh Beauty Studio): The mom and sister duo (1st attempt at the sash that wouldn't cooperate): The final touches squad (attempt 2 at the sash): Yep, the bride too (that sash still isn't right): Then of course, you know mom, dad, and the wedding planner all have to get in on it (finally, we got the sash on!): And with that, complete Brideification: Boy that was tiring:
Thank you Julie Goodacre for the awesome photos!

nothing short of an amazing wedding

Photos like this don't just happen. It takes a phenomenal photographer. Let me introduce you to Hilary Hopkins...my best friend today. She sent me just a few photos from this past weekends wedding and my jaw dropped. You can see more of her photos on Boogie-Down Brides Blog I wanted to share a few of them here, because they truly deserve double posting!

Jillian & Jonathan's Captiva Wedding Weekend was 100% gorgeous fun. Four days, Five events, and 60 guests that I'll never forget. The weekend started on Thursday with a welcome reception on Luau beach. Friday morning we cruised to Cabbage Key for lunch, the hook game (I learned the secret!) and a spontaneous game of football on the lawn. Friday night was rehearsal dinner for all the guests on the lawn under what seemed to be a bajillion stars. To make the huge lawn more intimate, we surrounded the tables with market umbrellas on their sides and added some cool lighting. Saturday was wedding day. Cocktails on the lawn overlooking the beach, ceremony on the beach, dinner on Kings Crown Lawn (in what is now the most favorite design I've ever done). It got a bit cool so we had dessert inside the dining room before heading into Boogie Down Lounge to dance the night away. Lastly, a farewell brunch on the quarterdeck over looking the yacht basin. Congrats Jonathan & Jillian a.k.a. Boogie-Down bride. I'll miss you!
Lots more photos here

The Mark of Non-StinkinessBe Gone!

So today I was out shopping with my wedding planner colleague Mark Kingsdorf for some last minute Hollywood Fashion Tape. For those wondering...that's the tape that keeps strapless dresses in place the best. Anyhoo- so right next to the tape, I see a few packs of Gal Pal. "Hmmmm, what's this I see? It looks like something helpful!" Yep.. It is. Inside the pillow box are 2 pink sponges that remove those pesky deodorant marks that you will inevitably get at the worst possible time.

The instructions are pretty easy, wipe the deodorant away, to sum it up.
The 2 pack was $6.99, and when we tested it- they worked! So yeah- totally worth every penny. Thank you to my deodorant mark free model-intern Michelle for posing.

A favor idea I love..to eat.

Favors. Should be so simple, but they can be so hard! There are 5 trillion to choose from and it seems like they've all been done before. You want something different, but you don't want it to be, well, stupid. Here's my rule of thumb when it comes to favors. Only give what you would like to receive. Ask yourself, "Would I be happy if I got one of these?
I had an idea yesterday when Amanda-the-girl-scout came a knocking at my door. I gave her $3.50, and she gave me an entire box of my favorite cookies to eat at my leisure. Ok, so that's a slight lie. I bought 7 boxes. Anyway, can I just tell you how happy I would be of I went to a wedding and found a nicely wrapped box sitting on my chair? And then to open it later and see that I had Thin Mints to eat all the way home? And how happy would I be as a bride to know that my favor purchase also helped a great organization? Very happy!
I think its time for a Tagalong...or six.