LovelyGirls Weddings + Events: Real Wedding

Showing posts with label Real Wedding. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Diary of a Future "Mrs." - Part 2

I've given you tips from my planning experience thus far, now here's some advice from the pros. Former brides, planners, photographers and vendors learn so much when putting a wedding together. Whether you want a referral, have a budget question or want to know what colors look best together, they truly are invaluable resources. I have received amazing advice on everything from candles to spa treatments.

Here are my top-ten favorite words of wisdom I have received. They are in no particular order and yes, some of the tips will be a little random but hey, it's better to know these things a head of time!

1. Do NOT get a massage the day of your wedding. I was told by a former bride that she made this mistake and felt "too relaxed" during the ceremony and the reception. She was rushing around all day, forgot to drink water and was incredibly dehydrated.

2. Instead of a massive wedding cake, order a small cake to display and a sheet cake, made with identical ingredients, to serve the guests. It's a huge budget saver that doesn't require you to sacrifice anything.

3. Remember to wear a top that does NOT need to go over your head when you're getting your hair and makeup done (ex. a button-down shirt).

4. If you're decorating with candles, Ashland Basic Elements Pillar Votives burn for 12 hours!

5. Tell vendors what you can afford to spend up-front. Not only does this save everyone time and back-and-forth emails but most vendors are actually more than happy to work with your budget.

6. Ebay, for new and pre-owned items, and Etsy are great spots for all the little things; cake toppers, money envelope holders etc.

7. For lovely and free printable save the date and wedding invitation templates, go to weddingchicks.com, loveandlavender.com and domestifluff.com.

8. Break in your bridal shoes before the big day.

9. Wedding favors are nice but not necessary. At the end of the day most people forget to take them or lose them.

10. Don't do anything to your hair (cut, color, Keratin Treatment etc.) any sooner than 2 weeks before the wedding day. One of our vendors shared a terrifying story about a blond dye job gone bad.

- Lauren G.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Diary of a Future “Mrs.” – Part 1

Top 5 Tips When Planning Your Wedding

The ring goes on your finger, your eyes fill with tears and the two of share a beautiful moment together as you mark the beginning of the next step in your lives. OK, that moment is passed and now it’s time to get your planning on.

#5 – Like a Game Show, Know Your Stuff

When we started inquiring about locations, we’d call or send venues casual (and excited e-mails) that said, “Hi! We are interested in having our wedding at ________ sometime in September. Would you mind sending pricing and information?” The responses were always the same; “What in your wedding date? Will you be having your ceremony on-site? How many people? What time?” Woah! I have no idea! First of all, I always thought you chose a month or season when you wanted to get married and your date depended on when the venue was available in that time period. Apparently, many couples have a specific date in mind ahead of time. Who knew?

Babys Breath... a Wedding Budget Dream!

Boutonniere by LovelyGirls Events and photo by Sanderson Images

And a dream they are! When it’s come to wedding flowers, baby’s breath might just be the new carnation this past wedding season. Like carnations, baby’s breath is not exactly glamorous, but has a lovely fragrant scent. This seasonless flower available all year long has a reputation for being a cheapo filler flower, but en masses and monochromatic – stunning! This stand alone flower is now used for wreaths, bouquets, boutonnières, ceremony décor, event décor, and beautifully staged tablescapes. You will find blogs nationwide showcasing this trend that has seem to take over the hearts of the vintage inspired bride.

Just this past fall, the Knot.com event in Philadelphia used baby’s breath throughout the event; staged in beautiful urns on pedestals and on small cocktail tables as centerpieces! At around $4.00 for 10 stems (in Delaware), you could get a bouquet and about 3-5 boutonnieres for your bridal party. It is a wedding budgets dream! We just used baby’s breath in Jess and Bryans wedding for the boys’ boutonnières and secured them with twine. It was the perfect vintage pairing that the couple was seeking during their fall affair! In the winter, secure pomanders of babys breath above the dance floor in resemblance of snowy clouds... just add a dusting of sparkle with some glitter spray and you could also place bundles of baby’s breath in birch sleeves for the perfect wintry feel!

chelsea + george | 5.28.11

The first time I ever met with Chelsea and George, I met them for a consultation at the University and Whist Club in the City of Wilmington. I had never been so impressed to be an invited to the members only club and then had the opportunity to dine with Chelsea, George, and Chelseas mother Melanie! Melanie and myself were enjoying trying the new fare that the chef was sending out to our table, and I enjoyed watching as Melanie ordered for both Chelsea and George, knowing what the both of them would want to order. She was the most gracious and attentive of mothers. And of course, Melanie and I were able to reap the benefits of keeping an open mind and enjoying the caviar on crisp wontons with mango since Chelsea and George would not even dare to sample. I knew we would enjoy ourselves during the planning process when they decided during dinner that LovelyGirls would have the opportunity to work with Chelsea and Georges family! I am so glad that we did.

devon + ethan | 5.07.11

Devon and Ethan were such a great couple to work with over the course of their planning! I had known Ethan through a friend of a friend, who had a friend from around ten years ago... you know the story! So, we were thrilled when Ethan introduced us to his bride-to-be and said they needed a little extra help having things come together. They held their ceremony at the Golden Sands Club in Ocean City Maryland the weekend of May 7th, and had a theme of black and white damask print with touches of hot pink in their bouquets, floral centerpieces, and even in the bridesmaids shoes! To bring in touches of the beach into the reception, Devon wanted to incorporate fuchsia orchids and river rocks with some floating candles into centerpieces.

It was such a beautiful weekend, and Liza and I spent most of our first evening in our hotel room stripping roses and making bouquets. The morning however... wow, we had the most spectactular view of the sunrise over the ocean and then it was off to get some DD to keep our day going strong, as we had a 9:30am start time. We really heart long days that start with extremely beautiful visuals! Devon and Ethans ceremony was in the sand on the clubs grounds, but as the sun started to set behind the condos, so did the temperature, so the cocktail hour was quickly moved up and into the reception space. The team at the Golden Sands did a great job of getting set up very quickly and getting the party started. We had the pleasure of working with Teri Pozniak of tPoz Photography, and she was a blast all day and evening! She kept it light and fun and was able to catch some great shots of Devon and Ethan that you can check out here:

katie + chris | 4.9.11

I was so thrilled when a previous little league teammate of mine, Katie, reached out to me to help plan her wedding last summer. Katie and her fiance, Chris, had been winners of the 2010 Christiana Hilton Free Wedding Giveaway where they won a variety of services by some of Delawares talented local vendors! We were a little late to the punch, but we were so excited for the opportunity that Katie and Chris were extending to us, and the new vendor relationships that we would be forging! Katie and Chris held their ceremony at the St. Margaret of Scotland RC Church, with the reception following in the Christiana Ballroom at the Christiana Hilton, and after party in the Hunt Club! I could not imagine any other way to kick off our 2011 wedding season. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Yandell!

caitlin + rodney | 8.13.10

I knew Caitlin when we were in high school, but as the story goes, Caitlin joined the ARMY, fell in love with this great guy named Rodney while stationed in Iraq, and decided to marry. Classic story of girl meets boy, girl falls in love with boy, and boy proposes. But there is a twist! Caitlin and Rodney were married by proxy on September 11, 2008 while in Iraq so that they could continue to serve their deployment together. Proxy meaning that while they were in Iraq, there was a ceremony held in Montana and a couple (of whom they never met) stood in for each of them!

mythri + prakash | 9.10.10

For our first meeting, we met at this great little coffee shop in Rittenhouse Square. We immediately fell in love with Mythris fun, care-free spirit and how Prakash just adored her! She was prepared with all of the necessities... samples of her invite, favors, even one of her sample overlays. With guests flying in from Texas, San Francisco, Switzerland, India, and all across the world (literally), we had to make sure that they had the best day ever. Mythri was very clear with the theme of their day. FUN. With two ceremonies (one in front of a carousel), a parade, and a reception at the Please Touch Museum... you could say that they did just that. Palace at the Ben and Max & Me Catering put together a traditional indian menu for all of the guests to enjoy!

liza + tom | 7.17.10

Working with Liza was so much fun! She was so DIY and absolutely had a fabulous taste for great vendors and photography. When Liza and I had originally spoke, she wanted to host her wedding at the Central Library branch of Philadelphia Free Library on Vine. Beautiful facility. Downside, it was not going to be big enough to host Liza and Toms 200+ guest list. So, onto searching for a new facility. Liza had a modern flair. Loves Philadelphia. Even a flair for the dramatics. So, what did Liza and Tom find as their best option? The Adventure Aquarium located just across the Delaware River in Camden, NJ. With its modern decor, panoramic view of the Philadelphia skyline, and the ever dramatic shark tanks in the Currents Ballroom, it was almost like Cinderella putting on her glass slipper at the ball. Well, at least you would have thought with the amazing shoe selection worn by the bridal party! The best part about the wedding was having such a great team to work with such as Pat Furey Photography and Synergetic Sounds + Lighting. Here are some photo teasers compliments of Pat Furey!

photography by Pat Furey

Ceremony: Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church
Reception: Currents Ballroom at Adventure Aquarium
Dress: Enzoani Couture, "Desiree"
Hair & Make-up: Danielle + Natasha from Sapphire Salon & Spa
Shoes: Michaelangelo for ceremony... fun blue shoes by MIX No6 from DSW
Groomsmen Tux: Chaps by Ralph Lauren
Bridesmaids: Davids Bridal
Floral: all done by the bride
DJ: Chris of Synergetic Sounds
Trolley: Philadelphia Trolley Works
Cake: Brendenbeck's in Chestnut Hill
Photography: Pat Furey Photography
Invitations: Whimsical Prints
Seating Chart: Sealed with a Kiss in Haddonfield, NJ
Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Center City

Like what you see here? E-mail us at hello@lovelygirlsevents.com { nicole }

Sunday, September 19, 2010

kara + marc | 6.26.10

After our first meeting with Kara, we knew that she was going to be one of the coolest brides ever! After all, our planner, Nicole, could barely speak. She had laryngitis and the doctors had given her marching orders not to speak for the next 48 hours. However, that didn’t stop her from arriving with Trisha with her laptop in hand, as she ordered a Vanilla Chai from Presto on Washington St. She proceeded to meet with our newest bride, Kara, even if she could only muster a few words (and maybe some grunts). It must have impressed Kara with our dedication, because she had decided that we would be the perfect fit! After all, Kara had the perfect vision for her Appleford Estates wedding that was to be held on a sunny afternoon in Villanova, PA. Kara and Marcs line-up of vendors was just spectacular! They were working with the amazing Donna O’Brien from Beautiful Blooms and the ever-so talented Laura Novak from Novak Photography, as well as GreenLeaf Paperie, Blue Hen Video Productions, Timmy D Productions, and Evoluer Image Consultants. I guess that is what happens when you have great taste!

Venue: Appleford Estates

Floral: Beautiful Blooms

Stationery + Invites: GreenLeaf Paperie

Photography: Laura Novak Photography

Cake + Catering: Jack Francis Catering
Hair: Perry Anthony Salon + Day Spa

Make-up: Evoluer Image Consultants

Videography: Blue Hen Video Productions
DJ: Timmy D Productions

melissa + eric | 6.13.10

So, with many countless days of work leading up to Melissa + Erics nuptials, I am sad to say that the soiree is over. However, the couple can finally be announced as Mr. + Mrs. Eric Coady! With 90 degree temperatures and humidity as thick as cotton candy, the ceremony went off without a hitch. The Heritage Shores Golf Club, is a beautiful facility with its two tier porches adorned with rocking chairs that overlook the golf course. It made for a great view of the gazebo strung with orange gerbera daisies at the ceremony site. All that was missing was an ice cold glass of lemonade! GreenLeaf Paperie always does an amazing job with the stationery. We just love working with her (pretty much every wedding!) Our brides fall in love with her as soon as they see her portfolio! All of the pictures were taken by long time friend Brandy Bouyea of Brandy Bouyea Photography.