Finding your Perfect Wedding Dress

--Don't hesitate, start early - Finding your perfect wedding dress can take time. Buying off the rack does require less time, but the rule of thumb is to order your dress eight months before the wedding with plenty of time to make tweaks and additions if need be.

--Who should accompany you - Find a few people, like you mom, maid-of-honor, or soon to be mother-in-law, to come with you to find your dress. Too many people will make your decision much harder.

--Frankness is key - Be very straightforward with your consultant. Telling her about your budget and your style desire will make things much faster and easier.

--Be open to new possibilities - When looking for your dress, don't turn down anything that may not be exactly what you want. Try on several gowns of different styles to see what will look the best on your body.

--The little extras - Don't forget about your shoes, headpiece, jewelry, and alterations. These little things will add up, so don't forget the details!

The Toasting How To's:

Wedding toasts are meant to wish the bride and groom a lifetime of happiness. Here a few hints on how to make the perfect toast!

1) What: Toast's should always be about the bride and groom. Start by mentioning your connection to the couple and end with a wish for all the happiness in the world for them. Make sure to stay clean and upbeat!

2) Who: Most commonly, the best man and the maid-of-honor are the ones to give the toast. However, weddings these days are having anyone speak from fathers, to the bride or groom. Whoever the couple chooses to speak, always plan on the time and order of the toasts to be given - you don't want anything to be left unknown!

3)Where: Standing at the microphone to make your toast, or simply starting to speak at your table are both options for locations to give your toast. Just make sure to speak loudly and clearly so everyone can hear the wonderful words you've chosen to honor the bride and groom.

4) When: When deciding on when to give the toast, consider when you will have your audience's fullest attention. A few good times are right after the first dance, or before the first course is served. Be sure to let the toastgivers know when the toasts are coming so they can be prepared and ready to go.

5) How: Short and sweet is the best way to go! Anything longer than 3 minutes will lose the attention of most guests. Say all your good wishes, great memories, and adoring words, then sit down.

A tip for the Bride and Groom: When someone is giving the toast, stay seated and maintain eye contact with the toast giver. Since the toast is being given to you, dont drink directly after the toast to avoid looking as if you are drinking to yourselves - wait a few minutes and then join along with the rest of your guests.

Seating Cards

People usually confuse escort cards with place cards. Escort cards show guests table assignments and are usually placed near the entrance to the reception. Place cards are more specific and are placed directly on each table with seat assignments.

When purchasing escort cards, try using cards with envelopes, with the name of the couple on the front of the envelop and the table number on the card inside. This is a great way to save time and resources by easily being able to move couples around without having to make new cards.

The names on the cards should have titles for formal weddings, but for a more casual approach you can use first and last names only. Arrange the names by couple, and try to find the names of all "dates" that will be attending, this makes it a much more personal affair for the guests.

Get creative with the placement of the cards. If you are having an outdoor wedding, hang the cards from the lowest tree branches near the entry way to the reception area. You can always stick to your wedding colors by placing the cards on a bed of flowers or candy that match the color scheme. Look into customized M&M's as well as customizing candy wrappers, this way when the party's over the guests can enjoy the arrangement!

Make Your Wedding Flowers Last

Here are a few ways to get the most out of floral decorations on your wedding day:

-Use the natural surroundings to your advantage by getting married in a space already blooming with flowers, such as a garden.
-Always use flowers that are in season, the prices are the most affordable.
-Make the center pieces simple, and use more green in the arrangements; a few flowers go a long way!
-Take advantage of flowering branches such as dogwood, apple, and cherry blossoms; the cost is almost half the amount of standard flower arrangements.
-Get creative...If there is a wedding before or after your party, contact the bride or coordinator of the event and see if the two of you have any of the same interests in flower arrangements, if so, split the cost of the arrangements, and reuse the flowers two weekends in a row!
-By avoiding major holidays, you can avoid the increase in flower prices due to high demand
-In addition to reusing flowers between different bridal parties, you can also reuse flowers involved in the wedding ceremony to decorate the reception area.

These are just a few things that can be helpful when deciding on a budget for floral arrangements, as well as the best way to get your money's worth!

Congratulations Kristen and Rich

Here's a sneak peak of last weekends wedding. Congratulations Kristen and Rich!

The setup was beautiful, with a black and white theme and a hint of apple green, it was quite the celebration. We were worried about the rain getting in the way, but things cleared up just in time for the ceremony to begin.

Alaqua Cinco Fundraiser!

We had a great time yesterday at Alaqua for their first annual Cinco de Meowo! Lots of fun was had and money was raised for a great cause that is very near & dear to my heart. Thanks Alaqua for all you do.......

Beach Ceremony Issues

Here are a couple of beach ceremony things to think about for all you DIY'ers.
~Permits....Please make sure to check local ordinances to make sure you file for any necessary permit. That information can be obtained on the beach locations county website Discovering last minute that you did need one is never a good thing!

~Wind....Beaches can be super breezy! It's best to keep your decor simple and make sure it can stand up to the wind. Discuss your concerns with your florist to make sure your flowers and arbor can withstand a strong wind gust.

~Rain....Plan B is an absolute must for beach weddings. Make sure your Plan B is rainproof for your own sanity (and the sanity of all your vendors).

~Noise....Between the wind, waves crashing, other people on the beach and birds, noise often plays a huge factor with beach weddings. Make sure your ceremony musician has a system that he can use on the beach for all events. Alot of times the sound system will need to be battery operated (there are rarely electrical outlets close by).Also, check to see if there is a wireless lapel mic for your officiant.

~Heat & humidity....During the summer months always consider how long your guests will be out in the sun prior to the actual ceremony start time....especially if you are running a shuttle service. Always offer cold beverages and shade, even if you have to rent a couple market umbrellas or pass out parasols.

~Sandy feet.... I realize the whole point of the beach ceremony is to have your toes in the sand, but your guests will probably not want that same sand in their toes for the entire reception. Set up a shoe valet, pass out flip flops or have an aisle created out of bamboo to keep your guests toes sand free and comfy!