Destination Weddings

Becoming overwhelmed with planning your wedding? This article gives us several reasons as to why Destination Weddings are becoming so popular. While reading, keep in mind that Destin, FL would be a great place for this type of wedding! Enjoy!

Destination Weddings: Why Marry Away?

Don't have a year to plan your wedding? Dreaming of a surfside ceremony? Here are six practical and personal reasons to wed away.

Photo by Stewart Pinsky Photography

In the past, marrying away from home usually meant eloping. The couple would steal away in the night to flee family disapproval or expectations and tie the knot on their own terms. Today, the idea has shed its stigma and a growing number of couples are hightailing it away from the traditional formal affair to a casual, intimate occasion in their dream honeymoon spot.
These destination weddings involve just the couple; the couple and a select handful of friends and family (often just another couple); or the couple plus enough guests to constitute a bona fide weeklong family -- or college -- reunion. Then, the just-marrieds can take a second week to disappear on their own. The "reception," if any, is more like a big party and held when the couple returns home. Why are destination weddings a growing trend?

1. They're Virtually Stress-Free

Pop in the classic movie "Father of the Bride" and you'll soon understand why destination weddings are so popular. They are almost guaranteed to be simpler (and faster!) to plan than a traditional wedding and reception for two main reasons:

Even some tourist boards are jumping on the bandwagon, with brochures listing ceremony sites and local wedding vendors in their area. Even governments are working to ease restrictions and attract to-be-weds.

• Honeymoon-happy resorts and cruise lines around the world have made it easier and more appealing to wed on-site. Many have full-time wedding coordinators on staff who are familiar with that country's marriage license requirements and who offer wedding packages that take care of all your ceremony essentials (photographer, cake, minister, etc.). You step off the plane and sign the papers; they take care of the rest.


• If you're not getting married at a resort, you can hire a stateside wedding planner who specializes in destination weddings, contact a wedding planner in the town you plan to wed, or start early and do it yourself. Either way, you won't have to plan a reception, and won't that be a relief?!

2. No Family Drama

The second reason destination weddings rule? No scene-stealing family drama.
For Jennifer and Marc Schwartz, the initial family strategy session began to foreshadow a very large get-together of extended family and business associates. Predictably, each set of parents had their own ideas. One set thought the wedding should be held in New York City because most guests were from the area. Another set had a problem with the expense of a big-city wedding. Jennifer says that she and Marc never stopped feeling that the event is, first and foremost, about the two people getting married. "It's great if the two families are in rapport, but if not, who needs all that negative stuff?"

3. They're Cost Effective

The affordability of a destination wedding has many couples speeding off to the airport faster than you can say "I do." For instance, a couple can fly to an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica, get married, and stay for a deluxe weeklong honeymoon for a few thousand dollars, including lodging, meals, drinks, and airfare. Compare that with your average 150-guest wedding costing about $22,000 -- which can easily skyrocket to more than $100,000 in big cities -- plus a few extra thousand for a honeymoon. To ease the financial burden, many couples opt to travel to a place where they can get married, have a honeymoon, and still have some money left over to start their new lives together.

4. You Call The Shots

While formal weddings hold meaning for many couples, linking them to the traditions of their ancestors and culture, others want the experience to be unique, with a ceremony and location that reflect their true colors. Perhaps an "Out of Africa" experience? A snowy mountain-peak ceremony? The world is your altar.

5. They're Simply Perfect for Second Marriages

Been-there-done-that couples who are getting married for the second or third time choose destination weddings because they're simple and private. Either the bride and/or groom have done the Hollywood-scale production before and want something quieter or less expensive this time around, or they want to be someplace anonymous, without the watchful eyes and whispers of the hometown crowd. (Get married at a kid-friendly, all-inclusive resort or cruise to help your new Brady Bunch do some solid bonding.)

6. They're a Once-in-a-Lifetime Reunion Opportunity

At a typical wedding, you're on the run, meeting and greeting. Destination weddings are on vacation time. You're usually required to arrive a few days early to fill out the paperwork, so by the time your wedding rolls around, you've had two to three days of fun with your sweetie, family, and friends. How often do you have the opportunity to spend no-rush quality playtime with dear, far-flung friends? This is your chance.

Top 10 flowers

This one comes to us from TheKnot.com! Having a hard time deciding on flowers for your special day? Don't stress! This article gives you the most popular flowers to choose from along with a detailed description of each. Whether you are wanting bright and cheerful or soft and sweet colors, this helps everyone no matter what your taste is!

1. The Rose

Long considered a symbol of beauty and love, the rose figures into many myths and fairy tales. Romantic writers and poets have used the flower as a metaphor for emotion, beauty, passion, and true love throughout the ages. An all-star in the world of weddings, the rose is far from boring, particularly when it comes to color -- the rose is available in solid colors and bicolor varieties, and there are striped roses and tipped roses as well. More than three thousand varieties of roses are grown commercially, many available year-round and that are surprisingly affordable. And though roses are associated with luxurious fragrance, not every rose is scented. Three main types are likely candidates for your wedding flowers: hybrid tea roses (the classic, uniformly-shaped commercial roses generally seen at your local florist), spray roses (a rose with five to 10 small heads on each stem and a "natural, garden-grown" look), and garden roses (expensive, old-fashioned varieties with bushy, open heads and delicious scents).
Learn more about roses -- the quintessential wedding flower!

2. The Tulip

Although it's most often associated with the Netherlands, this flower is actually a native of Persia. Representing "consuming love" and "happy years," the tulip can be a meaningful wedding choice. The flowers are grown in a wide range of colors, including white and cream; pastels like pink, yellow, and peach; and vibrant hues like magenta, red, and purple. Available during much of the year, the most common tulips are very affordable, though rare varieties can be expensive. The versatile tulip can enhance both elegant wedding settings and more casual venues, and work well in almost any permutation -- from bouquets to boutonnieres to table arrangements. Three main varieties are commonly used: Dutch tulips (typically seen at neighborhood florist shops and in gardens), French tulips (expensive and elegant, with extra-long stems and large tapered blooms), and parrot tulips (noted for their ruffled, striped petals in intense colors).

3. Calla Lily

Also known as the arum lily, this elegant, trumpet-shaped blossom originated in Africa and symbolizes "magnificent beauty" in the language of flowers. The calla lily's distinctive form has been depicted in Art Nouveau and Art Deco works, in addition to twentieth-century photography. Two types are commonly available: a large-headed variety with a long, smooth stem and suitable for tall arrangements or presentation-style bouquets, and a miniature version ideal for nosegays and boutonnieres. Creamy ivory is the most popular color, but calla lilies also come in yellow, orange, mauve-pink, and dark purple.

4. Lily of the Valley

With bell-shape florets dangling from a thin stem, the lily of the valley is sometimes called "the ladder to heaven." The fresh, perfumed scent from its tiny flowers is unmistakable. In Norse mythology, the flower is linked to Ostara, the goddess of springtime, and while most plentiful during this season, it remains available -- and very expensive -- most of the year. So while a fistful of lily of the valley might be your dream, a more affordable alternative may be to use just a few stems to infuse a bouquet or centerpiece with its wonderful fragrance. Most people know of the white variety, but lily of the valley also comes in a very rare rosy-pink.

5. Hydrangeas

With its big bushy head and intense shades of pink, blue, burgundy, and purple, it's no wonder that the hydrangea represented "vanity" in the Victorian language of flowers. One of the most popular varieties changes in color as it grows from bubble-gum pink to sky blue, depending on the acid level of the soil. A stem or two of this moderately priced, scentless shrub flower helps fill out arrangements and bouquets, and a few sprigs make a charming boutonniere. You'll find the hydrangea in white and shades of green, pink, burgundy, and blue.

6. The Peony

The peony has a large, full head, strong perfume, and bright color. But despite this outward showiness, the flower acquired the Victorian meaning "bashfulness." Cultivated in Asia for more than a thousand years and developed further by the French, the peony is available in two main types, the herbaceous and the tree peony (the latter's flowers do not last as long when cut). A bouquet made solely of peonies can be gorgeous; the flower can also be used to create beautiful centerpieces and arrangements. Grown in single- and double-flower styles, this expensive bloom is seasonally available from late spring to early summer but can be imported in the fall.

7. Ranunculus

Looking for a cost-effective alternative to roses or peonies? Try the lush, multi-petaled ranunculus, a relative of the buttercup. First seen by Westerners in the Far East around the thirteenth century, this mild-scented flower features several blossoms on a stem with fernlike foliage. To carry ranunculus is to tell your partner, in the Victorian language of flowers, "I am dazzled by your charms." A natural for the bridal bouquet or bridesmaid nosegays, the ranunculus also makes a whimsical boutonniere and is available in many colors including white, yellow, orange, and pink.

8. Stephanotis

The Victorian meaning for this flower is "marital happiness," making the dainty white Stephanotis an obvious choice for weddings. The star-shape, waxy florets actually grow on a flowering vine; each must be individually wired or placed onto a special holder before it can be arranged. A bouquet of stephanotis blossoms is one of the most traditional a bride can carry, and a stephanotis boutonniere is a classic choice for a formal wedding. Mildly scented, moderately priced, and available year-round.

9. Sweet Peas

The sweet pea, which signifies "lasting pleasure," was first brought to England from Sicily in 1699, and the English have had a love affair with this delicate flower ever since. Its candy-like scent and ruffled blossoms make this an old-fashioned favorite in bouquets for the bride and her bridesmaids. The sweet pea's many colors range from white to intense pinks and purples, and its scent can be strong and sweet.

10. The Gardenia

Surrounded by dark green, waxy leaves, the exquisite gardenia exudes a sultry, heavy scent. It was this intoxicating fragrance that captivated an English sea captain traveling through South Africa in 1754, prompting him to bring home one of the native plants as a souvenir. Gardenias are lovely tucked into a bouquet or floating in a low bowl as a centerpiece, and a single gardenia makes a wonderful scented corsage. But be gentle: the delicate, creamy ivory petals of this expensive flower can bruise easily. Large three- to four-inch blossoms, as well as a miniature variety, are available.
Adapted from The Knot Book of Wedding Flowers (Chronicle Books, 2002).

-- The Knot

Read more: Wedding Flowers: Top 10 Wedding FlowersTheKnot.com - http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-flowers/articles/top-10-wedding-flowers.aspx#ixzz2THvIK1rS

Trash The Dress

When you think of a wedding, the first thing that usually comes to mind is a bride in a white dress. After all of the work of salon visits, fittings, and alterations, it's no wonder that many brides want to do everything they can to keep their dress in its pristine condition after the wedding day. But some brides are taking a VERY different approach: They're wearing their wedding dress once more, with much less caution, for a dramatic photo shoot, better known as "trashing the dress.”

The wedding dress isn’t necessarily ruined. If you decide to give this a try, you and your wedding photographer will discuss just how trashed you want your dress before the damage has been done. The concepts are to relax after all the stress, let your creativity flow, and enjoy wearing your dress one last time in a liberating way. Some girls take a much gentler approach for their photo session by walking through the woods or swimming in a pond, while other girls go a bit more extreme by heading to a paintball field, changing greasy car tires, or rolling in muddy puddles. Brides who have embraced the trend say that they feel the shoot gives the gown new life instead of simply sitting in the closet. Plus, they'll have photos in their wedding album that can look as though they're straight from the pages of a high end fashion magazine. Who doesn’t want that, right!

The concept was born when Las Vegas wedding photographer John Michael Cooper became bored with more traditional wedding photo sessions, so he began asking brides to pose after their wedding day in unusual settings. The sentiment among many photographers is the same: Given the unique photos that result, it's a win-win opportunity for brides and photographers. Plus, it’s fun!

Easiest way to manage your budget!

When you look at your budget, the easiest way to cut down on your budget is my controlling your guest count. Most couples struggle with who they should and shouldn't invite, and they can't seem to find a good place to draw the line. Do you invite your entire office? Your Mom's sister's best friend? Your babysitter's family? Once you look at your bottom line, making the guest count manageable becomes a big priority.

 

The guest count controls the amount of food, wait staff, seating and rentals that you will need for your wedding. These factors all bring up the cost very quickly, so we came up with a few ways you can make your guest list a bit more manageable:

-For quicker responses from guests, include postage for RSVPs. They are more likely to throw it back in the mail if it doesn't require any extra effort from them. Anything that makes it easier for them to respond is a must.

-If you have guests you are unsure about inviting, wait until you get some responses from guests who are unable to attend. Once you have a base count, you will have a better idea of how many of your "possible extra" guests you can invite. Phasing your invitations is smart and it allows you to send a second round.

-If you are trying to keep a small guest count, do not include an option on RSVP cards for additional guests. Make sure that the invitation doesn't infer that people can bring a date. If it is for a family, just be sure to address the envelope to the family, or the individual it is intended for, and keep a count of how many people were invited. 

-If your RSVP date has passed, simply call your guests to see if they will be able to attend. It is a little extra effort, but it is always better to be safe than sorry. You don't want to end up paying for guests that will not be there. If your going to pay the price, you might as well have someone else in their spot.

There are always easy excuses for not inviting guests, such as budget and venue constraints, and most of the time, that is an issue anyway! It’s your wedding and you need to enjoy your company, so don’t feel obligated to invite anyone you don't want It should be a memorable day with your best friends and family! Happy planning!

Just when you think the hard part is over...

My elders have always told me that getting married is the easiest part…the difficult part is changing your name and everything that comes afterwards haha. Many people make the process out to be much harder than it actually is, so I am going to give you a step-by-step guide to changing your name without all the hassles that everyone seems to talk about. Just take things one step at a time and the changes will be made before you know it.

Marriage Licenses: Before you start the name changing process, make sure you have at least 3 certified copies of your marriage license.

1. Social Security Card - The first thing you should change is your Social Security Card. To apply for a new Social Security Card, complete an application online (http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber/ss5.htm) and mail it to your local Social Security Office.
2. Passport - Next, I recommend updating your passport. This is how you can get around state laws that restrict two middle names on drivers' licenses. Some DMV’s require you to list your name on your Drivers' License exactly as it appears on your Passport, so if you update your passport first, the DMV has to list your name that way.  Fill out the correct forms and mail them in as directed. (http://travel.state.gov/passport/correcting/ChangeName/ChangeName_851.html)
3. DMV - Then, change your name with the DMV. Contact your local DMV to find out what the paperwork requirements are, but I would recommend bringing every form of identification that you can find (birth certificate, marriage license, old license, passport, etc.)
4. Everything Else - Most of the other changes you will need to make can be taken care of by completing this process. .

1. Open up a word document.
2. Use the Following Template:

Date:

«Company»

«Address», «Address_2»

«City», «State» «Zip»

Re: Request to change name on account # «Account_»

Dear Sir or Madam:

My account is carried under my maiden name: <     >. However, I have recently married and now am legally known as: <     >.

This letter is my formal request that you change your records of my account to reflect my new name. Below I have listed the pertinent information you can use to update my account record:

Pre-marriage information	Updated information

If you have any questions about these changes, you can contact me by mail at my new address or by telephone at .

I am enclosing a copy of my marriage license. This will verify my name change and ensure accurate spelling on my updated account record. 

Thank you for your prompt attention to my request.

Sincerely,

Enclosure: marriage license (copy).

3. The letter can be updated to include other information that may need to be changed.
4. Include a photocopy of your marriage license with each letter (do NOT sent your certified copies unless it is specifically requested).
5. Mail the letters and you're all set.

Items that may be handled (some of these items may require additional information) include (but are not limited to):

• Employer information
• Credit Card Accounts
• Financial Accounts
• Mailing Address
• Utility Companies
• Homeowner/Rental information
• Attorneys
• Medical accounts
• Voter Registration
• Schools
• Insurance accounts
• Subscriptions

 

Budget Battle

Each and every wedding is different, and requires very special attention...especially to the budget! We have compiled a general list of how the budget should be distributed, and a few tips to help keep you on track! :)

Wedding Budget Breakdown:

·         Reception (Food, Beverages, Rentals, and Site): 40 percent to 50 percent

Flowers: 10 percent

Photography/Videography: 10 percent

Bride's and groom's attire: 5 percent to 10 percent

Music: 5 percent to 10 percent

Planner or Coordinator: 10 percent to 15 percent

Miscellaneous (Favors, Transportation, Etc.): 10 percent

Cushion: 5 percent to 15 percent

Budget No-No’s

1.       Never go into debt to pay for a wedding. Instead, consider throwing an intimate gathering and put off the big reception until you've saved up for it.

2.       Don't charge your wedding bills unless you can pay off the balance in full as soon as you get each statement. Credit-card interest rates and finance charges can add hundreds, even thousands, of dollars to your bill, even if you carry a balance for only a month or two.

3.       Don't agree to any upgrades (colored table linens, fancy chair covers) without first asking if they cost extra.

4.       Don't spend more than you'd planned in one area unless you can cut that cost in another area.

5.       Don't budget for fewer guests than you invited. It's better to overestimate

How to Stay on Budget:

1.       To arrive at a realistic budget, start by researching the price of weddings in your specific area. The average varies wildly across the country—from around $20,000 to $75,000-plus.

2.       If you have your heart set on a specific site, florist, or band, call that vendor to get a sense of their fees. During this preliminary planning stage, you'll also need a ballpark figure for the number of guests you'd like to invite. All this early deliberation and fact-finding will give you a more accurate estimate of how much your fantasy wedding will cost.

3.       You and your fiance need to have an open, respectful talk about how much you can actually afford. Whether to include others in this conversation depends on who will be contributing to the wedding. If your families are willing to open their checkbooks, it's crucial to get their input up front, and to be mindful of your hosts' limits and gracious about their choices.

4.       Once you've settled on a hard number, the next step is setting your top priorities. Perhaps your top priority is a gourmet dinner, a breathtaking location, or mind-blowing live music. Once you can determine that, it will tell you where you should put most of your budget.

5.      Although it's always tough to realize you can't have everything, there are all kinds of creative ways of saving money that don't look like you're saving money. Some of them are sneaky and simple, like cutting down on the number of tables at your reception, which translates into fewer expensive centerpieces. Some of them aren't quite so pain-free.

6.       Remaining within your budget also means staying organized. Track your expenditures by saving receipts and recording your spending. File copies of every vendor estimate in a folder so you can refer to them if need be. And remember to keep a cool head and just say no to things you can't afford.

Finding the Perfect Place for your Big Day!

So you’re engaged, now what? First things first…where are you going to get married? Finding the perfect venue is usually the first step in the planning process, and then the rest of the wedding details will easily fall into place! When you are looking for a venue, there are a few things to keep in mind:

·         A Roomy Fit. This may seem like such a logical concept, but having a room that is large enough to hold your guests is essential!  It’s important to keep in mind that a space looks much larger empty. All of the wedding details- dance floor, bar, tables, chairs, cake tables, etc-take up a lot of space, and you want to allow the guests to have some extra room to move around. The best way to judge the size of a room is to see it set up for an event similar in size in the same room. Many times venues will allow you to stop by early on the day of a wedding to see how it looks all set up.

·         Areas for eating, drinking, and dancing. There should always be separate places for these activities to take place. When you’re standing in the space, try to imagine where each activity would take place. You want the party to flow. If the room is a strange shape, or it is just too small, the wedding will feel cramped! Try to think of what would block guest’s views, or what activity should be located next to another.

·         Privacy. This is something that is more important to some people than to others. If you would like to have your wedding in a public park or on the public beaches, it is important to keep in mind that people may be walking through during your wedding. If you prefer something more private, opt for a private beach or pay for a venue that is exclusive for events.  Some restaurants and smaller venues may allow you to buy-them out, to accommodate guests only. Also, make sure to ask about the security they provide, if any. Some venues hold more than one event at a time, and you may hear them. If this is something that you prefer to avoid, try to schedule your big day when there isn’t something else going on next door!

·         Lighting. This may seem to be a very miniscule detail, but lighting can make or break your wedding! If you’re getting married during the day, make sure that the venue has lots of windows. If it is taking place in the evening, make sure that the room isn’t too dim and check to see if the lighting can be controlled for the big entrance, dancing, and dinner. If the wedding is outdoors, are candles allowed? Where can you put them? Always be sure to visit the site the same time of day as your wedding. You want to make sure that you are pleased with how it appears visually to both you and your guests.

·         A Great View. It is always a plus to have a beautiful backdrop. Guests will love it, and it makes for beautiful pictures to remember your special day! If there isn’t a view necessarily, look at the place’s décor or architectural details- all of these things give the venue a little something special.

·         Ample Outlets. Be sure that you do a walkthrough of the room to make sure that there are plenty of places to plug things into. The entertainment will use the majority of the outlets, so make sure that their area of the venue has plenty of places for them to hook up. If the venue doesn’t host many weddings, be sure to find out their policy on bringing it outside electricity!    

·         Good Acoustics. Make sure the venue doesn’t echo too much. That could cause the band to sound funky, and it could also make it difficult for the guests to hear each other speaking! It’s good to remember that a tile or wood floor tends to amplify sounds, whereas thick carpet will muffle them.

·         Plenty of Parking. Make sure the site is near a parking lot, garage, or big empty street that allows parking. If parking is a problem, look for other ways to get everyone to the party. Can a shuttle bus or vans take guests from the ceremony to the reception?

Good Luck Venue Hunting! Have fun with it. This is where you'll spend the most important day of your life :)

What, When, & Wear?

Years ago around Christmas time, a miscommunication led me to wear a cocktail dress to an engagement party that was supposed to be a "drop in and out for a quick drink in between Christmas shopping in your sweats" party. 

.....Needless to say, I dropped out faster than Cinderella at midnight.

Awkward moment #okayI'velostcount: That feeling of walking into a room to notice you are severely under or overdressed. We've all been there.

I thought of this story the other day after I received a text from a panicked girlfriend asking what to wear to a wedding she was attending as a date. She really liked the guy and was going to know no one there, so her wardrobe decision was critical. As we swapped pictures of potential outfits, I realized just how to tricky weddings can be when it comes to what to wear. I began to think about all of the weddings I've attended and how often I see women dressed improperly dressed for the occasion.

Choosing proper attire is all about taking into consideration the season, time of the wedding, and the venue where it is taking place.

1. Season: Spring or Summer
Go for a fun floral dress. You want to wear something colorful. Stay away from black or navy. Too dark you'll look like you're going to the office. Most importantly, do not wear white.

 Winter and Fall

During these seasons you can tone your color down. Anything too bright will draw attention and take away from the bride, which we never want to do. 

2. Time 

Rule of thumb: the later the wedding, the more formal. 

Most use 6:00 p.m. as the standard before and after time (before 6 p.m. is casual, while after is more formal.)  

3. Venue: 

The Venue plays a huge part in what to wear as a guest. If it's a backyard or beach wedding, a casual dress with flats would work perfectly. If it's in a church or more elegant setting, go for a nice "After 6" dress with heels. If the ceremony is in a church, wear something with a sleeve or at least wide straps. This may seem "old school" for some, but you can spare a few nasty glares from grandparents this way. ;)

Get these down, and you'll be flawless. Happy attending :)

Your Top Tier on Your One Year

I've talked to numerous friends about the tradition of the Wedding Cake. Most of you know the deal- boxing up the top tier after your wedding, freezing it, and eating it on your first anniversary. Adorable idea right? Imagine: a romantic dinner over candlelight, sipping champagne with your special someone while indulging in decadence that sends you on a buttercream-filled journey back to that beautiful day.....ahhh, could not get much better. As wonderful as that sounds, that journey can take a "chilling" turn from warm and fuzzy to, well, cold and still fuzzy-when you unwrap your cake to find a freezer burned mass with the consistency of a week-old toasted bagel in front of you.
We've done some research, and have found what we think is the best way to preserve your cake so it can be delicious 365 days later.

Here at the EP, we always delicately box up your top tier and send it home safely with you. Once it's home, our friends at The Knot recommend that you should do the following:

1. Remove the sugar flowers and set them aside.
2. If your cake is on cardboard, remove and put on a plate, or wrap the cardboard in plastic wrap. This will prevent your cake from tasting like cardboard. (Yuck!)
3. Chill the cake well before wrapping it up so that the icing hardens. This way it won't stick to the plastic wrap and make a mess.
4. Wrap the cake in several layers of plastic wrap -- not aluminum foil, which can cause freezer burn. Make sure to wrap it as tight as possible. Some bakerys recommend getting a sealing device for the best results.

Remember:

Some cakes freeze better than others. The more delicate the cake ingredients, the drier your cake will become in the freezer. Cakes with a longer shelf life: Chocolate, hazelnut, almond, and carrot cake. Cakes that may not last as long in the freezer: white cake, cake with fresh fruit, and cakes with whipped cream fillings.

Consider Ordering A Copycat Cake

If you have a cake that won't hold up in the freezer, do as many couples do and order a fresh cake tier in the same flavor as your original wedding cake for your one-year anniversary. Even if you have a heartier cake, Sylvia Weinstock, of Sylvia Weinstock Cakes in New York, recommends storing cakes for no longer than two months, and forgoing the first-anniversary tradition. Like anything else, after a year in the freezer, any cake will be a bit stale. If you do decide to save your cake for the full year, focus on the nostalgia, not the flavor. 

*for more ideas on preserving your wedding cake, visit www.theknot.com. 

As always, happy planning,...and happy eating! 

What a wonderful day for the the girls at EP! We are excited to announce that we are officially Wedding Wire rated for 2012! We are thrilled to be starting off the 2012 wedding season with a bang. Thank you to all of our amazing brides for showing us the love this year!

Here are just a few of our newest reviews from some pretty outstanding brides. We are so happy that we could be apart of making your day perfect!

Read all of our Wedding Catering, Wedding Coordinators Reviews at

Make sure to check us out on Wedding Wire & read all of our reviews!

The Bride's Guide to Plan B

In the spirit of the inches upon inches of rain mother nature decided to bless the southeast with this past week, we figured it was the perfect time to blog about something all brides should be aware of: Plan B.

We're talking about B, as in back up plan, & its something every bride should have. It is always smart to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. We've put together a few tips so you can have smooth sailing on your special day, rain or shine!


1. Location: choose a location that will beautiful, rain or shine.
2. Venue: If you are having an outside reception, make sure there is enough room in your rented space to bring in a tent, just in case of any last minute showers. 

3. Have an idea of where you will hold the ceremony if rains. Do some research, and look for a place close to your original ceremony location so it will be convenient for guests.

4. Invitations: It is never a bad idea to include a rain card with the invitations, or put the alternative ceremony location on the lower right-hand corner of the invitation.

5. Most importantly: DONT panic. (Tears dont mesh well with make-up :) Rain on your wedding day does NOT mean your marriage is destined to fail (dont believe us? Take a look: http://www.dasinfo.com/rain-on-wedding-day) See, told ya :)

We dont like to accept this unfortunante fact, but we cant control the weather. In that case, just be prepared, take a deep breath, and have fun with it! Happy planning!

It always helps to hire an awesome wedding planner like The EP ;). We always have your back. This is from  on of our weddings on a rainy weekend. In case you were wondering, the bride and father stayed dry. Tammy? Not so much haha

For the Overstocked and the Overspent

Save Green and BE Green with Recyled Bride

Do you really have a need for 150 battery operated tea lights? This question is for you ladies planning on a budget (who very well may need 150 tea lights), OR those of you stuck with truckloads of decorations that you will never use again, and it could possibly be the coolest things we have seen since sliced bread. 

It's called Recycled Bride, and online marketplace where brides can buy and sell gently used as well as new wedding decorations, dresses, and much more.

Through Recycled Bride, you can purchase items such as battery operated candles and votives, assorted types of garland, centerpiece supplies, and more for much cheaper than in stores. When you're wedding is over, simply sell it back, along with any other wedding decor. Simple as that! We think it is genius, and hope you will too. Visit today, and as always, happy planning!

http://www.recycledbride.com

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Much More than Maids

Show your bridesmaids some love! 

I'm sure many of you saw the motion picture "Bridesmaids" this year. Though we laughed at the ridiculousness of each situation and enjoyed the comedic talents of an award winning cast, did you find the situation relatable? Many of us have been that bridesmaid. No, your bridemaids will probably not get food poisoning while dress shopping, and we can HOPE that no one in your wedding party gets tackled by an air marshal and detained in an airport, but don’t be fooled. Weddings can be stressful on your bridesmaids, and it's important to remember those special ladies who work so hard to make your wedding perfect. 

Bridemaids gifts are a perfect reminder of your appreciation for their time and attention before AND after your wedding day. While shopping, keep each individual maid in mind by choosing imaginative and stylish gifts that come from the heart that will fit each of their personalities. Here are some unique ideas to get your wheels turning. Happy shopping!

Getting your bridesmaids something that they can wear or use on your wedding day is especially popular. 

Bridesmaid's survival kits are great gift ideas. They are customizable and show just how much care you took into putting together each gift. 

Find these towel wraps along with many other personalized accessories at http://www.exclusivelyweddings.com/Weddings/Wedding-Party-Gifts/Bridesmaid-Gifts

Adorable custom invites from the talented Ms. Paige Burton. Visit her Etsy page to order and make your invitations one of a kind, just for you!