The Pinterest Effect

Pinterest is quickly becoming the social media site of choice for couples planning their wedding.  The digital inspiration boards make image and idea storage simple – with the click of the pin.  But more recently, there has been a backlash against the ideal weddings and photos seen on Pinterest and the wedding stress created trying to attain that dream wedding.  Here’s why that happens and how to avoid it:

Unrealistic expectations.  There are so many gorgeous images on Pinterest, it’s important to remember than many of them were not photographed on the wedding day.  Many professionals are pinning images from studio shoots or separate portrait sessions, where time, lighting and subjects can be controlled.  Somehow it seems that the brides in the most Pinned images are in a perfectly clean room, with a soft light filtering in, hair and makeup completed in plenty of time and all the perfect elements around them.  When they are from real weddings, the pins are being shared most are the best images that have been selected by a photographer’s full body of work, not one entire wedding day.

If your wedding day is like most, you’ll be moving to a very quick timeline and working with friends and family instead of models in the weather or backdrop that you have provided.  It’s best to decide on a few inspiration images rather than a large list of must recreate in great details.  Discuss with your photographer why you like a set of images – is it the pose, the lighting, the enhancement added to the image?

Wedding photo fatigue.  Your wedding day is just that – your wedding day.  With highly images being repinned thousands of times, the uniqueness of the couple gets lost.  When you think about your wedding images, do you want images that look just like everyone else’s or do you want photos that capture the essence of who you are as individuals, a couple and a newly joined family?  Sometimes the images that take you back to how you felt on your wedding day are the unscripted candid moments.  Overly planning a day of Pinterest recreations leaves less space for these to occur.

The creative process.  Your wedding day photography is a collaborative process between you and your photographer.  Amazing things can happen when you show your photographer what inspires you (and even what you never, ever want to do!).  But the next step in that is to allow your professional photographer to use their creative craft to capture and create based upon what you have shared.  Your photographer can look at your unique locations, variances in lighting and work with your personality to create wedding photos that are perfectly you.

Pinterest stress.  Many brides turn to Pinterest with an eye for something unique, personalized or DIY for their wedding day.  But soon after, you find yourself creating table runners of burlap, painting your new monogram on homemade guest favors and wondering where you are going to find 300 leather bound books to go under your mason jar centerpieces filled with the most perfectly blush peonies?!  When you’ve hit that moment, remember that weddings were beautiful long before Pinterest, your guests want to share the day with you, and you’re marrying your best friend.

If you’re going to pin, here are some ideas to help you make the most of it:

Categorize.  Just like in life, it’s important to remain organized on your digital boards too.  Instead of one wedding board, consider separating images by topic.  Popular wedding boards include Invitations, wedding dresses, veils, shoes, flowers, cake designs, hair styles, nails, makeup, bridal accessories, bridesmaids, groomsmen, centerpieces, favors, showers photographyand videography.

Say It AND Show It.  Many of your wedding vendors will be those that work  in a creative field; such as wedding florists,uplighting, photography and videography.  A great way to share your creative vision with them is to pin and share the things you love.  When you meet with them for a consultation you can share your Pinterest boards so that they see what you love.  You may even want to share a board of the things you don’t like, so they know what to avoid.

Much like ripping pages out of magazines, you can also store hair, makeup and wedding attire images too.  The Pinterest mobile app makes it easy to take the images on the go.

Get feedback.  If you are looking for input on the images you pin, consider linking your Pinterest account to yourFacebook or Twitter accounts.  You can then choose to share your pins on your other social media sites.  You can also tag someone in your pin by placing “@” before their user name.

You can also allow others to contribute to your boards.  This could come in handy as you select bridesmaids dresses. Add your bridesmaids under the “Who can pin” section of the board so they can share their favorites with you.

Keep a few secrets.  Guests will be most impressed when they see your whole day come together before them rather than recounted all the things they have already seen on you Pinterest boards.  With the “Secret Board” option, you can keep a few things secret to surprise your guests on the big day.

Don’t worry, we love Pinterest too!  Check out our inspiration boards here.

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Ideas For A Fall Wedding

The rich and vibrant colors of Autumn make it the perfect backdrop for your wedding day and is one of the reasons thatfall weddings are gaining in popularity!  If you are planning a fall wedding, here are some tips:

Outdoor Weddings (and a plan B)

Choose a location with a view of the fall splendor.  Locations that feature deciduous trees such as elms, maples and oaks will provide the most color, but it is often hard to predict the peak color weekend in advance.

Ask the venue coordinator to see pictures from other weddings during that time frame that show other landscape features such as gardens as alternative color displays.
Plan for chilly temperatures.  Gas patio heaters and warm beverage stations, such as warm cider, cocoa and teas, will help to keep your guests comfortable.
State “outdoor ceremony” on your invitations so guests are prepared for their time outside.

Have a “plan B” location in case of bad weather.  You might also consider tent rental.  Discuss this in advance with your ceremony venue.  You can plan on decor elements that can bring that autumn feel indoors in case weather forces you to make a change.

Seasonal elements

Pumpkins, sunflowers, haystacks and harvest fruits are easily incorporated into your reception decor.  These elements can be part of your centerpieces, cake decorations or great scene setters.

Seasonal flowers such as mums, marigolds and dahlias are perfect for a fall bouquet – and budget savers.  Other popular fall flowers are asters, gerbera daisies, and zinnias.

Miniature pumpkin pies are perfect guest favors.  Autumn scented candles are also popular.

Cider mills and barns are great locations for your Romantics portrait session.

Fall weddings are the perfect time for seasonal colors such as orange, yellow, crimson, and berry.

Schedule accordingly

Autumn brings with it a flurry of activities.  School days, football games and other events may determine the availability of guests and should be considered when selecting your wedding date.  Fall wedding dates have gained in popularity in recent years so prime locations and wedding vendors book quickly.

Due to the sun setting earlier, you may want to consider a First Look session to capture the images you want and keep an efficient timeline.  If you choose to capture your Romantics images after the ceremony, you might want to consider and earlier ceremony start time to allow you the most shooting time before the early sunset.

Fall menu

Fall wedding menus often feature comfort foods such as roasts, turkey, potatoes, corn bread dressing and other traditional fare.

Give your bar an autumn upgrade with craft beers and hard ciders.  Many have a decidedly Oktoberfest theme or feature pumpkin flavors.

Warm cider and doughnuts can be added to your dessert stations to continue your fall wedding theme.

Fall treats

Wedding cakes can be created using pumpkin, carrot cake or dark chocolate.

Candy bar stations can include Halloween favorites such as candy corn and caramel squares.  S’mores can also be included.

Fall music

If your wedding date is close to Halloween, your DJ can work with you to include some fun dance mixes with a spooky flair or a fright themed cocktail hour.

Popular choices include:

“Thriller”
“Monster Mash”
“Dead Man’s Party”
“I Want Candy”
“Lil Red Riding Hood”
“Werewolves of London”
“Time Warp”
“Ghostbusters”

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Bridal Show Tips

Bridal shows are a convenient way to see ideas, vendors and wedding suppliers all under one roof (not to mention the freebies).  They can also be a bit overwhelming due to so many people and distractions.  We have some tips to help you get the most of out of the bridal shows you’ll attend.

Pre-register.  If the event that you will attend offers pre-registration, taking advantage of this option will save you time at check-in.  Pre-registration will often save you a few bucks too as door ticket pricing is usually a bit higher.

Dress comfortably.  Wear comfortable clothes and shoes as you’ll be doing quite a bit of walking!  Well attended shows can also be a bit warm, so you may want to dress in light layers.

Bring a bag.  Sure you’ll probably receive bags from vendors at the show, but handled bags can be a pain to carry.  A cross body or messenger bag is perfect for carrying handouts, leaving your hands free for signups.

Bring your wallet.  Many vendors offer show only promotions if you sign up on the spot.  If you find a great deal that you want to take advantage of, you’ll need a form of payment that day.  Don’t let bridal show offers sway you from your budget though.  Great vendors offer deals that last after the show too.

Make labels.  If you’re interested in signing up for additional information, be sure to print your name, phone number and email on labels in advance.  This will allow you to move quickly through the show.

Bring swatches.  If you have already selected your wedding day colors, bring swatches with you to match up to jewelry and accessories that might be on display.

Get cards (and make notes).  You’ll speak with many wedding vendors at the show.  Make a note on their card so that you remember the ones that you want to follow up with after the show.  It’s much easier to do at the time than try to remember when you are going through your bag later.

Ask and listen.  Bridal shows are a great place to ask questions to find vendors that match your wedding vision.  But just as importantly, it’s a good opportunity to see if vendors are truly interested in how they can fit in your day.  Do they ask questions of you?  Are they easy to talk with?  You’ll be trusting them with fulfilling your wedding expectations and working closely with you so be on the look out for vendors you connect with.

Plan your trip.  You can look at the vendors list to see who will be at the show.  If you have already selected your wedding dress, you can move past those booths and plan on talking with vendors whose services you still need.  Booth numbers are usually indicated on the floor plan map.  Planning in advance to concentrate on three vendors or services makes the trip more manageable.

Bring a friend – with instructions.  If you’ll attend the show with someone, make sure that person knows your agenda in advance.  If she is easily distracted or looking at things that you don’t need, she could be more of a distraction than help.  Avoid this frustration by telling her what you hope to get out of the show.

See it all.  If you bounce from side to side at the show, you might miss the booth you really need.  Plan on browsing down one side, then the other of each aisle.  If you notice most people are headed to the right, go left or to the back corner of the show and work your way out.

Come early.  Bridal show freebies go fast and the crowd builds later in the day.  Arriving early can give you more space and time to talk to vendors.

Bring your camera.  See a great idea?  Snap a pic.  This is a good way of saving ideas.  You can also take pictures of booths or cards you want to follow up with later.

Fashion shows.  If you haven’t selected your wedding day attire yet, fashion shows can be a great way to see several looks in a short period.  If you have already made your selections, take advantage of the quieter time when everyone else is watching the show to visit with vendors.

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The Award For Top Guest Goes To…

          

 Looking to add some fun to their wedding reception, Joey and Renee presented awards to the Top Guests.  Mike Staff Productions DJ Kurt made an announcement, at the couples request, that the award for the Top Guest would be given near the end of the reception to the “freshest, livest and most energetic party person to ever exist”.  This led to a fun night with guest requesting songs they could make their own like “Time Warp”, “Rock Lobster” and 90′s hip hop.  The dance floor remained packed throughout the evening as guests cheered when a new contender for the award was announced.

Is this something you would consider for your wedding?

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10 Things To Have Your Groom Plan

While the majority of wedding planning may be tasks the bride will enjoy more (flowers, dresses, jewelry and color schemes) there are a few that the groom will definitely enjoy more than others.    So what are some of the ways a groom can put his personal stamp on the day?

Groomsmen attire.  While brides spend countless hours dreaming of, looking for and trying on dresses, grooms used to go to the store and rent the standard black tux.  Today’s grooms have many more options in color, cut and style; some even electing to don a great suit instead.  Why not have the groom select the suiting for himself and the groomsmen?

The bar menu.  One sure way to get the groom involved in the wedding planning is to put him in charge of the bar menu.  Instead of just the standard liquors, the groom has options when it comes to microbrews, signature drinks and fine wines.  This can be a great way to work in your wedding theme as well, particularly if it focuses on a local theme.

Wedding reception fun.  When grooms take the lead in planning some wedding reception fun, you are sure to get a few surprises.  Shutterbooths, cigar rolling stations, and cocktail entertainers top wedding reception trends.

Groom’s cake.  It’s very common to have two wedding cakes; one for the bride and a separate groom’s cake.  Sports and hobbies are very popular choices for the groom’s cake.  The cake can be served to guests or preserved for your one year anniversary.

Wedding theme.  As more couples plan their weddings together, the groom is putting his spin on the wedding day too!  Color choices, special details and wedding themes reflect more of the couple’s personality than just the bride’s choice.  Be sure to ask your groom if he has any ideas.

The song list.  Many grooms have a definite opinion on what songs they want to hear at the wedding reception.  Choosing the playlist for the wedding reception is a great way for groom’s to get involved.  Work with your wedding DJ to plan the music for the wedding reception you both want.

Rehearsal dinners.  Traditionally, the groom’s family is responsible for hosting and paying for the rehearsal dinner.  More recently, this event has evolved into a special evening for the families.  BBQs, themed catering trucks or sports centered outings can replace formal sit down dinners.

Wedding images.  While we see lots of inspiration images for brides, it’s likely that the groom has an idea of how he’d like to look in wedding day images too.  (Check out this Pinterest board just for the guys!)  Discuss poses that he’s comfortable with (and not) with yourwedding photographer and videographer as you form the plan for yourwedding photos and wedding video.

Wedding day transportation.  If a wedding day is built on dreams, a Ferrari can shift it into overdrive.  When looking for wedding day transportation, a muscle car, Hummer limo or a high-performance sports car are at the top of a groom’s wish list.  Consider self driving the car of his dreams on your wedding day.

Absolute musts.  Even if the groom is comfortable with the bride doing most of the planning, it is important that he be involved with setting the budget, picking the venue, choosing a date and creating the guest list.  The choice between roses and peonies might not be that important to the groom, but the budget should be.  The way you plan your wedding together will begin teaching you how to work on future projects too.  Define some parameters that you both agree on and then let the planning begin!

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Stress Free Wedding Planning

Planning a wedding can be a fun and exciting time, but can also be a source of stress.  Managing stress is crucial to keep the happy in your happily ever after.  So what are the main causes of wedding planning stress and how can you reduce them?

Expectations vs. Reality.  Brides and grooms are bombarded with the idea of the “perfect” wedding day and often compare theirs to the budget-free nuptials of celebrity weddings.  In reality, there is never a “perfect” wedding day.  You can reduce the stress of wedding planning by listing what is most important to you for your wedding and focus your attention there.  If it’s not on your list, you can breathe a little easier at letting the small stuff go.

Becoming uber-focused.  Your engagement should be a happy time as you plan your futures together.  If you spend too much time worrying about budgets, flower arrangements and wedding details, you might forget to spend time focused on your relationship.  Remember to take the time to be present in each other’s lives.

Finances.  Unless you are fortunate enough to have celebrity income, wedding budgets can often be a sore spot.  Disagreements about wedding expenditures, family contributions and the budget in general can impact your relationships with each other and your families.  This is where your expectations versus the reality can get you into trouble.  Open conversation with anyone contributing to the wedding costs, and what that contribution entitles them to is very important.  Look for budget friendly options for your wedding day based upon the things that are most important to you as a couple.

Family members.  In many cases, your parents have had ideas on what your wedding day would be like since you were a young child.  The pressure to live up to those ideas can be strong.  This is when you need to rely on your partner to help you negotiate this potential minefield.  You are planning for your life together.  Make sure you present yourselves as a united front.  Don’t undermine each other by agreeing to things that you know the other many not want.

Bridal party.  Simple things like dress and tux fittings to larger events like the bachelor party can be moments of contention between you and your bridal party.  It is important to remember that your bridal party is making a significant contribution to your wedding party.  Make sure you communicate your wishes and the importance of their roles within your wedding.

Social (media) pressure. Pinterest and Facebook can help you get inspired and keep in touch with family, friends and even wedding vendors. But it can also bring on a whole new level of stress as you compare your wedding day to someone else’s (or a controlled photo shoot). It’s important to remember that you are planning the perfect wedding for you, not Pinterest.

Not having a contingency plan. Things will go awry as you plan your wedding. You’ll forget to include items in your wedding budget plan (click here for hidden wedding expenses), you’ll change your mind and need to purchase a different something, the weather will be too hot/cold/wet…the list goes on and on. But so can your contingency plan.  You can take comfort in knowing you’ve kept some budget on reserve, planned for inclement weather and are working with pros who also have backup plans.

Some simple ways to reduce the stress of wedding planning:

• Stay healthy.  Make sure you start or continue to practice healthy habits like a balanced diet, exercise routine and plenty of rest.
• Find a non-wedding activity you enjoy like yoga, gardening or reading to keep stress at bay.
• Admit when you are overwhelmed and ask for the help you need.  Delegate tasks that you don’t feel the need to micromanage.
• Remember that you have a partner in the wedding planning.  Your fiance should be involved in the process.
• Keep a realistic vision of your wedding day.  It may not be “perfect”, but you are marrying the perfect person for you.
• Hire professionals to work with you.  They are experts at what they do and can help you through the planning process.
• Make a planning schedule to stay on track.
• Make detailed planning lists that allow you to feel a sense of accomplishment when you finish a task.

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Wedding Facts: The Wedding Ring

Nearly all married couples exchange wedding rings in western wedding ceremonies. Have you ever wondered why?  We have the story behind the wedding ring and what you need to do with yours.

Wedding ring trivia:

The history.  Wedding rings were historically worn by women to indicate that she was the property of her husband.  The wedding ring indicated that she was no longer available to potential suitors.  Over time, the engagement ring became a a betrothal gift from a man to his bride to signify his ability to care for his future family.  The size and the precious nature of the stone indicated his social and financial stature.

The engagement period.  Pope Innocent III declared that there should be a waiting period between the engagement and the wedding.  During this time, the bride could not wear the wedding band as it was to be used only for the wedding ceremony.  To indicate that she was off the market, the engagement ring was born.

Caring for you ring:

Insurance.  Your jeweler may offer replacement stone insurance, but that will not protect you in the case of loss, theft or damage.  It is a good idea to get your ring appraised and insured as soon as possible.  Most homeowner’s and renters insurance can add it to your existing policy for a nominal charge.

Proper Fit.  Most showcase rings are size 6.  Unless that is the perfect fit for you, ask your jeweler to fit the ring to your hand.  Your ring may feel tight on warm days and loose on cold.  When having your ring sized, give yourself time to adjust to the store temperature, you can use that extra time to look at jewelry for your wedding day look.

Proper Care.  Some metals and stones require special care.  Your jeweler can advise you on the best care practices for your engagement ring.  A mild soap and water is usually sufficient to keep your ring sparkling.  It is a good idea to remove your ring before putting on lotion, cleaning with harsh chemicals or other damaging activities.  You can also ask about having the ring steamed and polished – especially before your wedding day!

Safekeeping. For the few times that you will remove your ring, keep it in a safe place.  A jewelry box or bag, ring holder or any other place that it won’t get knocked over or misplaced.  Next to the sink is not a good idea unless you have a plumber on speed dial.

Showing it off.  As soon as you announce your engagement, people will ask to see the ring.  Treat your self to a manicure so you can show with confidence!

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