Happy Tears Weddings

Jaimie and Eric, November 2011

2012-02-21T08:41:00.000-06:00

Photo by Sandprints Photography

Photo by Happy Tears Weddings

Photo by Sandprints Photography

Photo by Happy Tears Weddings

Jaimie and Eric had a beautiful wedding in November and we could not have been more blessed to be a part of it. The ceremony took place on the bay at the Cabana Blue. It was a gorgeous view! The reception was held at the Cabana Blue as well with in-house catering provided. Jaimie’s taste was very simple and elegant. The centerpieces were mason jars filled with Baby’s Breath and little chalk boards numbering the tables all sitting on burlap table runners. A burlap sweets sign hung from the candy buffet and burlap draping was used on the cake table and on the buffet table. Mason jars held straws for guest use on the bar and colored bottles with flowers adorned spaces in between. They opted for a wishing tree instead of a traditional guest book and it was a huge hit! You could definitely see the little touches here and there that made this wedding truly special and unique. Dinner was served on the back patio of the Cabana Blue surrounded by plants of every kind while white lights lit it up. The Cabana Blue is truly a spectacular place for any kind of event and plenty big enough for any size. The staff was amazing and very helpful; we were highly impressed and recommend this venue to anyone! Nicole from Sandprints Photography handled the task of capturing this special day. To see more photos, please visit our website's photo gallery!

Our First Rock the Dress Shoot!

2011-10-26T13:34:00.001-05:00

We were very excited to be able to shoot our first Rock the Dress Session this past Sunday. We shot some photos at the Promenade Mall on Front Beach Road, some on some train tracks in town, The Firefly Restauraunt was kind enough to allow us in for a minute, we got a few shots from a bridge on the bay and some at Richard Seltzer Park on Thomas Drive. Here are some sneak peeks, you can view more on our website. It was wonderful and our ‘Bride’ was terrific to work with. We had a lot of fun on the shoot and hope to have many more shoots like this in the future! If you are interested in doing a Rock the Dress Shoot or just a fun session of any kind, let us know! We will be more than happy to oblige, contact us today to set up your shoot!

Ashley & Royce October, 2011

2011-10-17T09:30:00.000-05:00

A year ago we were contacted by Ashley; a very good friend of our owner, who wanted to have a nice, simple wedding here in Panama City, Florida. Her family was in Georgia and the Groom’s family was in south Florida, so they figured if they done it here it would be in between for both families! What a great idea! So we went to planning. We hired Regina from Cakes byRegina to handle the cake and a special request for the catering as well (although she does not typically cater). The Ceremony was to take place on the dock at the Oaks by the Bay Park, and the reception was next door at the St. Andrews Civic Club. The club provided all of our tables and chairs and the linens and centerpieces were provided by us here at Happy TearsWeddings. Valerie Gill and her husband Anthony Gill split up the day’s photography and Valerie also officiated the ceremony (The bride and groom were very close friends). The day went wonderfully with all of the décor set up and ready to go. We had sand and water filled vases on every table with votives and seashells scattered. The candy buffet and fruit bar complete with chocolate fountain were a big hit, and the large guest sign in photo poster was loved by the bride and groom. We also set up a special memory photo and candle for the groom’s mother who was sorely missed at this special occasion. The day was ready to go, everything was set, until about an hour before the ceremony, when the rain started! So, after waiting for it to stop and not wanting to take a chance, we decided to have the ceremony inside the reception venue. Some rearranging of the tables and we were ready to go. The ceremony went great and there were tears in the groom’s eyes when the bride came down the aisle. After they recited their own vows, I do not think that there was a dry eye in the house. The rain died during the ceremony and the sun came back out to give us some gorgeous photos in the park and by the water. Dinner and dancing rounded out the rest of the evening perfectly. Even with the rain, we could not have asked for a better day or a more wonderful couple to work with. For more photos from Ashley and Royce's wedding, visit our website's photo gallery!

Jenny & Charlie

2011-09-09T13:03:00.001-05:00

Tropical Storm Lee put a slight damper on Jenny & Charlie’s September 4^th, wedding on the beach; but that didn’t stop them from tying the knot! Instead we headed to Regina’s house, tore her living room and dining room apart and had a wedding anyway. They stuck with simple and not so traditional. No white wedding dress and tux for these two! The bride was in a beautiful white sundress with flowers on it and the groom wore some khaki shorts and button down shirt with flip flops. They had no bridal party and only their closest friends to celebrate with them. Regina Mills from Cakes by Regina made them a gorgeous cake and we here at Happy Tears Weddings help with the set up and officiating. It was short, sweet, and simple and just perfect. The guests were laughing and celebrating with the couple and almost everyone joined them for dinner afterwards. It was one of our favorite weddings thus far, it was not stressful at all, no one had any freak outs, everyone showed, and they were both in tears when reciting the vows that they chose to write themselves. We could not have been happier with the way things turned out and I hope that they were just as happy. We are going to take a day in the near future when the weather is a little more cooperative to do a photo shoot for them on the beach, but other than that, it went great! Many thanks to Regina Mills for everything and also to Stephanie, their photographer!

Autumn Weddings

2011-08-26T18:47:00.000-05:00

Fall or autumn, which ever you prefer, is right around the corner! Here at Happy Tears Weddings, we tend to be much busier in the fall than in the summer. I think it has to do with the summer’s being way too hot for outdoor weddings in Panama City Beach. Here in Florida October and November are two of the most perfect months for outdoor weddings. The average temperature range is 65-75 degrees. Sometimes it does get a little cooler or a little warmer, but it’s nothing like the 100s we have in July and August.

With this in mind, I figured some autumn blogging was in store. I love the colors of fall in the north. The oranges and reds are very beautiful and can make a gorgeous theme for your wedding. You can find plenty of items to match this theme at places like Ann’s Bridal Bargains, Oriental Trading, and Jean M. They have autumn leaf print invitations, favors, and décor. Designers are even making bridesmaid dresses to match these colors as well.

Do be sure to keep an eye on the weather though, just because it is warm one day, does not mean that the temp will not drop the next. I always suggest having some of those propane heaters on standby, just in case. Also, be sure that your guests are aware that the wedding and/or reception will be outdoors so that they can dress appropriately as well. And, as always with outdoor functions no matter what time of year, be sure to have a back up indoor place for rainy weather and restrooms.

Summer Wedding Tips

2011-06-01T10:04:00.000-05:00

With summer in the very near future and spring already turning to near boiling outside, I figured it would be helpful to post a few tips and advice for having a summer wedding. Summer weddings can be gorgeous, but they can also be deadly to some. It is important when choosing a summer wedding to consider all aspects, especially your guest list. Most couples choose the summer to have an outdoor wedding, which can be beautiful. You just need to consider the weather, not just rain, but the heat. Heat strokes are serious matters and happen more often than one would think.

If you do choose to have an outdoor ceremony, make sure you have plenty of seating for all of your guests. Having guests stand on the beach in the bright, hot sun without seating, is rude and can be dangerous if someone over heats. It would also be very generous to provide your guests with cold bottles of water. You could set up a table to one side of the seating with a bucket or cooler of ice and waters, your guests will be very appreciative. It is also difficult to walk on the beach or a grassy area in heels, so be sure to let the ladies know that the ceremony and/or reception is on the beach or outside on grass and that they should dress appropriately. If at all possible, try to have some kind of shade for your guests, especially the elderly ones. You could rent a tent, or offer parisols at the entrance. Since tents can be expensive for such a large area, you could opt for a smaller one set up over the water bottles, so guests can mingle in the shade before the ceremony. Fans are very common for outdoor weddings. Most couples choose to have their programs printed on the fans so that they serve double duty and save money.

These are all really good ideas to keep your guests cool and comfortable during outdoor weddings and I encourage anyone who has more to add to post a comment to this blog; we would love to hear your ideas!

Ashley & Blake April, 2011, Post Wedding

2011-05-09T21:05:00.001-05:00

Ashley and Blake's wedding in April went wonderful! It was beautiful and the weather was gorgeous! We were expecting around 200-250 guests and had every bit of them! The Bride was stunning in her gown and the groom was as cool as a cucumber. I could not believe how calm and collected he was all day. Blake was one of the most relaxed grooms I have ever come across. It was a very large bridal party and everyone looked great and the children (there were 6 children in the bridal party) were some of the most well behaved I have seen. Amanda Fagan of Ocean Jewel's Images (http://oceanjewelsimages.com/) took the awesome photos that are featured here on the blog. For all of the contact numbers for the vendors that we mention here, you can contact us or check out our pre-wedding post on Ashley and Blake. For more photos of the wedding, check out our website's photo gallery.

Ashley and Blake April, 2011

2011-04-01T12:59:00.001-05:00

Coming up in less than 2 weeks is one of our favorite weddings so far! We have been working with the couple since November and are really excited about their upcoming nuptials! Ashley and Blake are having a pretty big wedding and have spared no expense in making their day beautiful and spectacular! From choosing the perfect ceremony location, complete with piano, unity sand, and a dove release and reception venue to the tiniest details on the tables, they have pulled out all of the stops. Most importantly, is their choice to use local professional vendors to help make their day run as smoothly as possible!

Engagement Session with Amanda Fagan (Ocean Jewel's Images information below)

They have chosen dark purple, fushia, and lilac for their color scheme. We are draping fabric and tulle from the ceiling of their ceremony venue and hydrangea flower balls will hang from the chairs going down the aisle. Candles and dim chandeliers will light up the reception and dance floor, with purple hydrangeas submerged in tall square vases as the centerpieces.

A preview of the centerpieces

The Doves (from a previous wedding)

The Boardwalk Beach Resort will host the ceremony in their outdoor covered pavillion on the Emerald Beach. Susan Viafora is bringing the doves. The Paradise Palms is hosting the reception in their 5,500 square foot ballroom. Catering by Bob is the wonderful caterers providing the mouthwatering dinner buffet, as well as the hor d'ouerves for the cocktail hour. Paradise Palms is providing the cocktails. Sunshine Shuttle will be there to escort the Bride and Groom in a luxury car from ceremony to reception as well as to their honeymoon suite. Publix has been chosen to make the cake as well as all of the flower arrangements and bouquets being hand done by their resident florist, Julius. The Celebration Place is providing all of the chair covers and sashes to match the color scheme. And last, but not least, the artistic and creative Amanda Fagan from Ocean Jewel's Images (who photographed the couple's engaement photos as well) will be responsible for capturing all of the magic with her cameras!

The photos posted above are just some teasers, the may or may not be from their actual wedding, you will have to wait for the after blog to see all of the majestic images from the big day. I hope you all come back to see what it looks like and how it all went, I am also going to post contact information for all of the wonderful vendors, in case you decide to use them as well!

Boardwalk Beach Resort: 850-230-4630, http://www.BoardwalkBeachResort.com
Paradise Palms: 850-234-5190
Sunshine Shuttle: 850-650-6333
Catering By Bob: 850-832-7074, http://www.cateringbybob.com
Ocean Jewel's Images: 850-691-2843, http://oceanjewelsimages.com

Susan Viafora: sviafora@comcast.net

Publix, 23rd Street (flowers): 850-747-9780

Publix, Thomas Drive (Cake): 850-236-4415

Palms Conference Center Semi Annual Bridal Show, March 6th, 2011

2011-03-06T17:12:00.001-06:00

We were very excited to be invited back to the Palms Conference Center on front beach road for their 3rd Semi-Annua Bridal Show! As always it was a wonderful show with some great vendors and yummy smells from every direction! With this show being the spring show and coming up on beach wedding season, we decided to do a beach themed display. We picked a light baby blue and a brown sugar for our colors and decorated with shells and a sand castle.

Among the other vendors that were present at the Bridal Show were Heather Walker Photography. Her photos are truly gorgeous! Be sure and check out her site for more information if you have a wedding coming up!

Heather Walker Photography
850-319-0529
http://www.heatherwalkerphotography.com/

If you are having any kind of special event and are in the market for the perfect piece of jewelry, then you should certainly check out Stella & Dot!

Leah Margulies, Stella & Dot
850-832-4948
www.stelladot.com/margulies

Of course there were many others that had some fabulous table displays, but we can only cover a few and these are the ones we chose to highlight! We had a wonderful time and will be sure to show at the next one!

Happy Tears Weddings: The Reality of Flower Budgets

2011-02-10T07:40:00.000-06:00

Happy Tears Weddings: The Reality of Flower Budgets

The Reality of Flower Budgets

2011-02-10T07:36:00.001-06:00

As most of you know, Happy Tears Weddings belongs to a wedding website known as Wedding Wire. We love this site because it is soooo helpful for us and for couples planning their big events. You can find any wedding vendor you would need. Just recently I came across a new blog from one of the Wedding Wire Florists. She dicusses the reality of the floral budget and what to expect when you are on a tight budget. She also gives some tips to help stay within that budget and still get beautiful floral designs! Suzanne M. Smith Designs focuses on eco friendly floral designs. I really thought that her blog could help everyone out when it came to flower arrangements for weddings and special events. I hope everyone will check out her blog. I am posting the link below, just click here or copy and paste it! Good luck!

http://smsdes.wordpress.com/2011/02/09/dont-be-a-babe-in-the-woods-reality-budgeting-for-wedding-flowers-decor/

What Comes After 'Yes' Part 2

2011-01-20T10:12:00.002-06:00

Ok, so, they’ve proposed, you said “yes”, and you have told all of your friends and family, so what do you do next? Well, you can go one of two ways, set the date and start planning or start planning and see where you end up date wise.

Some couples have a special date that is memorable to them for whatever reason, others have a location that they love so they pick when that spot is available, still others just go with the flow, and others just close their eyes and pick a spot on the calendar. However you choose to do it is up to you. There is no right or wrong way to go about it, it’s your wedding, so it’s your way. Try to keep in mind holidays and family birthdays or special occasions, you want your family to make it to the wedding and not have other things to worry about. You may also want to send out save the date cards if you have family or friends that have to travel a good distance, just to give them as much notice as possible.

After you have set a date, or decided to wait on setting a date, sit down with your fiancé and really discuss what kind of wedding it is that you both want. Talk about themes, atmosphere, time of year, time of day, inside or out. All of these things are important and knowing what each other wants or doesn’t want can be a crucial part of planning a successful wedding. Don’t be scared or feel overwhelmed, if you do not have the answers to these questions yet, it is ok. Maybe you haven’t made up your mind or do not care either way. That is perfectly acceptable this early in the process.

Next, you want to contact a Wedding Coordinator. They can help with anything and everything. They will be able to answer you questions and help you weigh the pros and cons of your choices. They can help balance the budget, find your vendors, choose your colors and décor, and the list goes on and on. Keep in mind that every coordinator is different and has a style that is unique to the way he or she works, I recommend having consultations with at least three different ones to see which one you feel matches your style and wishes the best. You want a good mesh with your coordinator, since they are going to be your life line to sanity during the planning process. And remember, the earlier you bring them in, the better and easier it will be on everyone. You do not have to hire them to help do everything, just what you need help with, but if you hire them early enough, they can be there for you sooner, before things go wrong.

So, there you have it. Your step by step process after the glow of being engaged is over and you have to get down to work. Following this, begins the planning phase of your engagement. Congratulations and Good Luck!

What Comes After 'Yes' Part 1

2011-01-06T06:48:00.000-06:00

With the Holidays being the official ‘engagement’ season, we thought that this issue of Happy Tears Drops should focus on what comes after ‘yes’. So, you’ve been together forever, he has finally popped the big question, you’ve said yes, you have the most gorgeous ring, but what do you do next? Well, first things first, sit down with your future hubby and discuss how long of an engagement you want.

Do you want a long engagement of about two years or a short one of around six months, or something in between? Once you have decided this, you can move on to the next step; telling your friends and family!

Decide when, where and how you would like to break the news to your family and friends. Do you want to call them, text them, sit down with them, or throw a party and tell them all together. This can be an important step, they will ask questions and expect you to be able to answer them. The first question will be, how did he propose? Then comes, so when’s the wedding? It is ok to not have a date set. That takes time, and we will cover that in the next issue. A simple, we haven’t discussed that yet, or we haven’t made it that far, will suffice. Your friends and family will all want to see the ring and here the story, so be prepared to tell it.

If you have sensitive relatives or people who are not going to be as happy as everyone else, try to tell them separately, this way your excitement and the mood of the party is not disrupted. You may even want to give a few select people a heads up, so that they can carry on the intended mood if unexpected doubts are raised.

Before moving on to the next steps, or jumping right in to start planning everything, take a week or two to really enjoy being engaged! Let the euphoria take you for a while and just relish in the happiness. You will have plenty of time to think about everything else later.

To be continued in Part 2

It's Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!! Engagement Season is Upon Us!!!!!!!!

2010-12-17T08:24:00.000-06:00

So, first things first, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to allllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!

With the Holidays upon us and Christmas right around the corner, I figured I would write something a little up beat and in the spirit of the season!

Twas the night before Chirstmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. The stockings were hung and the presents were wrapped, all except the box that sat in his lap. Butterflys fluttered at the thought of what was to come, would she say yes or high tale and run? He was so nervous, that sleep just wouldn't come. Maybe he should high tale and run. He went over his speech, again in his head and watched her as she slept, there in the bed. Morning would determine the rest of his life, hopefully she would agree to be his wife.

Good Luck and congratulations to all the couples out there getting engaged over Christmas holidays and Happy Anniversary to all those who were married over the holidays in previous years, including my In-Laws, Mr. and Mrs. Gill, who were married many years ago on Christmas Day.

Joanna & Jerry November 6th

2010-11-07T19:35:00.000-06:00

Saturday's wedding for Joanna and Jerry was absolutly gorgeous! It was a little cold and very windy, but very sunny and beautiful. We started out with a lovely ceremony at the Historic Church of St. Andrews. It is small and intimate. It is old and has hard wood floors, it fit the theme perfectly. They were going for a Romantic Vintage atmosphere and pulled it off perfectly. The dress, the hair, everything fit the theme wonderfully. The reception was held across the street at the Oaks by the Bay Park. The tables were placed throughout the trees; which have spanish moss dropping all over. The centerpieces were simple Baby's Breath, vintage items; including a very old microscope; and tins with the serving wear tied up in a brown napkin with a green ribbon. The decor was very simple and elegant and very beautiful. We were happy to be a part of their special day and we wish them all the happiness in the world, they are a lovely couple. Here are a few teaser pics, you can see more at our website's photo gallery.

2010 Semi-Annual PCB Bridal Show

2010-10-25T20:53:00.001-05:00

I know, I know, I am late getting this blog out! The show was October 17, and some of you have already seen some pics in our newsletter. But, for those of you who haven't subscribed yet, here is a little break down of how it went...

The Palms Conference Center on Front Beach Road hosted it's second semi-annual bridal show on Sunday the 17th. It was a great success for us here at Happy Tears Weddings as well as for our sister company Cakes by Regina. There were many vendors there from massage salons to nail salons. We had coordinators, caterers, photographers, dj's, bakers, and a few technology people. We also had a gift basket company and a rental company. Needless to say it was filled with professionals from just about every aspect of the wedding industry to help couples find what they needed.

Vittles Companies catering was set up right next to us, and I must say, I was not sorry at all! They're food was delicious as well as beautifully prepared. Here is a pic of their fruit 'bar' if you will:

Our host, Kathy Barrs of Suite Hospitality Resort Management, was just lovely as always and had a grand show piece of a cake for the center of the room:

Misty Curtis from The Celebration Place was there as well with her ever wonderful rental items! I swear this girl has anything and everything you could need to start your day off right! From tables and chairs to linens and china. She has arches and columns and even cake stands and fountains!

Also, I got to meet Lynne Tanner. She has a wonderful new way to invite elderly or far away guests to your wedding without the hassles. Her company, Com F5, can not only video your wedding, but set it up on a secured site for LIVE viewing! Now great grandma doesn't have to wait for the pictures to come back, she can be apart of it!

Well, of course there were many others there worth mentioning, but I am running out of time and couldn't possibly name them all! It was a great show for us and I hope everyone else enjoyed it as well. I have included website and email links with the people mentioned above if they are available, if you would like to contact one who is not linked, just email me at info@happytearsweddings.com and I will send you the info!

The benefits to Saving before Setting

2010-10-23T16:20:00.000-05:00

It is a simple fact, almost all little girls grow up planning their weddings in their heads (and sometimes on paper). That is a great thing from one perspective, you already know what you want for your big day, so there isn't much deciding to do. However, sometimes we must sit back and consider how much money we actually have to spend on that 'Big Day'. It is very much true that wedding consultants can help you save money in the long run, but you have to be willing to take the advice given first. There are some things that are just not in the budget, and you need to be willing to consider what the most important thing is on that day. Maybe the $1,000 a table floral and crystal centerpieces just aren't as important as the smile on your future husbands face as you walk down the aisle.

If these things are important to you, there are things that you can do before you set a date and begin the planning process that can help you save a little more money to put toward that $2,000 dress. One of those things is to sit down and discuss what it is you want for your wedding with your fiancé. Call around and do some research on prices and consider changes in those for the future, then budget how much money you will need for your dream day! Start saving as much as possible, buy hamburger instead of steak, or Suave instead of the $20 bottle of shampoo. Put saved money into a separate savings account that you can't just transfer when you want. When you have almost reached your goal, then sit down and set a date and give yourself about a year of planning so that you have plenty of search time to find the best deals for you and your future husband. Don't take the first offer you come across, research several different vendors and hire a professional planner to help with your hunting.

And remember to keep in mind what is really important and be realistic with your budget, do not expect a florist to change his or her prices to meet your budget. A discount is one thing, but no business can survive giving everything away for free. The expression 'you get what you pay for' is true, quality is just as important as price. You may find a florist willing to drop prices for you, but is the work going to be as good or the flowers as fresh?

Also, if you save your money in advance, you will not be pressured to meet a dead line or stressed that you may not make that deposit.

Stress, Stress, and more Stress!

2010-10-04T09:13:00.000-05:00

By: Valerie Gill

Planning a wedding can be one of the most stressful things you may ever do in your life! It can be difficult to coordinate 20 vendors, 16 bridal party members, 50 family members, and who knows how many guests into one flowing day. Having a wedding coordinator help with some, if not all, of your planning is a HUGE way to relieve a lot of your stress; after all that is what we get paid to do. Sometimes, though, even with having the benefits of a professional on your side, brides find themselves extremely stressed about one thing or another. So, I have put together a list (with the help of some pros) of stress reducing and relieving techniques that are simple, convenient, and can be executed almost anywhere; the vendor meetings, the venue, the shopping sprees, even on the way down the aisle.

1) Breathe- Yes, I know, you are breathing or you would be dead. I am talking about controlled, focused breathing. Whenever you feel like you are becoming stressed about something, take a step back, close your eyes and take a couple of calming, slow, deep breaths.

"Recent studies show fast breathing rate is linked to high blood pressure

Studies have shown deep breathing benefits asthma sufferers.

Deep breathing reduces stress-if you are stressed, you breath in short, shallow bursts-To relax you do the opposite - breathing deeply

Deep breathing releases endorphins-the bodies own painkillers, into the system. This can help relieve headaches, sleeplessness, backaches and other stress related aches and pains.

Deep breathing helps to clear and focus the mind

Deep breathing strengthens weak abdominal and intestinal muscles"

http://www.path2healthyliving.com/breathing.html

2) Walk Away- When you feel your self getting stressed or frustrated over something, get up and walk away. Go do something different for a while. Take a bath, read a book, turn on the radio, anything to get your mind off of whatever it is that is stressing.

3) Exercise- Get up and go for a walk. Clean the clothes off of the treadmill in the corner and get on it! Exercise is a great way to release pent up stress and frustration, plus it helps keep you in shape and that stomach flat! Whatever you do, don't think about whatever is stressing you in the process, turn on the tv or the radio and think of something totally different, like flying purple elephants!

4) Write or Type- Sit down with a pen and paper or at your laptop and just write. About anything. That ridiculous article you seen in the paper this morning. The awesome pair of sling backs you seen in that window. Your mom, your boss, anything to get you concentrated on something else. Who knows, you may find that you like writing so much, you end up with a novel, get published, and end up with a new career!

Any of these things will help you with handling stress and are healthy and good for you too. Whatever you do, PUT DOWN THE CHEESECAKE!!!! Stress eating, is not your or your dress's friend!

6 DIY DON'Ts

2010-08-10T09:23:00.001-05:00

By Tia Albright

Your Cake: Whether it's a missed teaspoon of sugar or a tilted tier, a wedding cake disaster is hard to fix. Yes, it would be much less expensive to buy a few boxes of cake mix and do it yourself, but the quality in the end could be lacking. Decorating and transporting a wedding cake is quite difficult and best left to someone with the knowledge of how to handle your confection without damaging it.

Your Photos: Your photographs are one of the few tangible things you'll have to remember your wedding. All of your loved ones may promise to capture every moment, but what happens if they get distracted or have a camera malfunction? If it's important for you to have high-quality images and hundreds of great shots, hire a pro. You'll be glad you did when you see your picture-perfect album.

Coordinating it Yourself: You've organized every minute detail so far, so why shouldn't you be in charge on the wedding day? Because you won't be able to relax. Hiring a coordinator for the day can be a lifesaver. While you're getting pampered, they'll be setting up and averting any crisis that may occur. When everything isn't going perfectly, you'll be none the wiser. Trust us -- peace of mind is worth the extra expense.

Your Centerpieces: A beautiful centerpiece sets the mood of the reception. From sophisticated to fun, you can create a setup that will wow your guests -- with a florist's help, of course! Flowers can cost upward of $3,000, depending on your taste and the season. Although it's a larger part of the budget, it's worth every penny. Your wedding florist will ensure that you get exquisite displays filled with the freshest blooms.

Your Catering: Catering a large-scale party is a huge undertaking, even for a culinary whiz. You'll be hard-pressed to get enough food together for a hundred people and keep it hot -- even if you make the best dish in town. And, once you get it made, you'll need a reliable staff to serve it. Caterers are trained to make it happen; they have the support staff to serve you and your guests in a timely manner.

Your Music: It's tempting to rock out to your favorite tunes, and you might think it's easy to do so with an iPod. Not quite. You'll be limited to the music that you love as a couple, not necessarily what everyone else will like, and you'll be stuck with the premade playlist. Music pros are trained to read the dance floor. They can speed it up or slow it down so that your guests are footloose into the wee hours.

http://members.webs.com/manageapp/blog/show/2149418-6-diy-don-ts

DIY- Do It Yourself, DYI-Do Yourself In, DYVI-Do Your Vendors In

2010-08-04T08:57:00.000-05:00

By Holly

http://www.weddingaces.com/2009/11/diy-dyi-or-dyvi/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Weddingaces+%28WeddingAces%29&utm_content=Bloglines

I have seven children, I totally understand the need to save where you can in the areas where you know how. In day to day life, we use our strengths or skills as ways to save. Perhaps your husband, dad, or boyfriend can change the oil, maybe you are a great seamstress and you can make clothing or you can bake breads. All of this is fabulous if you have the talent. If you are crafty and have abilities that will come in handy on your wedding day, by all means put your skilled hands to use. That is the meaning of a Do It Yourself bride.

What scares me is the bride or family who decides, even though they have no prior experience or skills, that they are going to be chief expert in charge of all things beautiful at the wedding. This is what you might call a Do Yourself In situation. Even for experts, designing stationary, baking wedding cakes, arranging flowers, photography, event coordination, and even providing music is a very stressful situation. Our work is very detailed and requires endless amounts of time before the event. Time you would probably rather be enjoying. Nothing is worse than being in the midst of a situation and feeling in over your head. Having too many projects or responsibilities leading up to your wedding can destroy your big day. Here are some things to consider:

Choose projects that you are 100 percent certain your are capable of.

Do a practice run of any designs you are making and time how long it will take for you to achieve the whole project.

Choose projects that you can do in advance.

You will also want to consider how much it will cost to set up a mini shop. The supplies list on most projects is very extensive and you really need to think about every little thing you will need.

Next do you have the space to create and store your project? Make a plan on how the project is getting to the event and who is placing it.

Do you have a vehicle to transport all of your items? You may need to rent a mini or cargo van.

When you’re a DYI bride, it is also important that you remember this key: choose projects that do not require another unpaid vendor to complete. I bolded that last statement because this is where the Do Your Vendors In code or fear came from. On many occasions I have arrived at a reception only to find the DIY centerpieces were not put together or that the catering staff was enlisted to put together the designs. This automatically makes me feel bad because, after all, I am the florist. For instance, I charge a delivery and set up fee. Some brides, choosing to save a bit of money, opt to pick up and set up the flowers themselves, however, if they neglect to do the set up, the work usually falls to the venue, caterer or coordinator. I want to be able to continue offering this option to help brides save, but sometimes I wonder if I should stop. This instance becomes a poor reflection on my services, for I am the florist. If the flowers are not set up, who should be to blame? The first thought would be the florist.

Image by OrangeCounty_Girl via Flickr

Brides, if you have made a prior agreement with your florist or any other vendor to do a task to save money, please complete that task. This way when a vendor works with a bride to help her save they do not end up regretting it later. Most vendors are friends with the other vendors at an event, we don’t want to place anymore work on the already busy staff, yet we don’t want to stop providing you ways to save. It is easy to take advantage of your wedding vendors. You may do this without even meaning to. No qualified wedding vendor would ever leave any work undone even if they were not paid to complete the job. Let’s face it, your wedding is depending on everyone working together.

However all vendors have time lines and have figured out how long it will take on each job. They know how many hands it will take to complete the job successfully and they have charged you accordingly based on those time lines. On many occasions, I have seen countless bags of candles, crafts, favors and gifts arrive and with no one designated (or paid) to do the set up. Another big mistake is to send these items still wrapped in cellophanes with sticklers glaring. It can take hours to get things unwrapped and clean enough to be set out at a wedding. I regret when I discount my flowers or give someone DIY ideas and they let the work or set up fall to another vendor.

In shor,t remember DIY means just that, do it yourself. Do not assume that someone else will pick up the slack. I want the other vendors to love me, love you, and love you’re wedding, but if you aren’t careful the DIY bride can become the DYI or DYVI bride.

Submerged Flowers = Easy Summer Celebration Centerpieces

2010-07-28T11:07:00.001-05:00

Check out this article from No Fuss Fabulous!

Submitted by loralee on June 1, 2009 – 11:26 pm

Photo ^ From june2007bride.xanga.com/502240318/inspiration/

Photo ^ from Hartman/Sauls Wedding, Happy Tears Weddings

http://www.happytearsweddings.com/apps/photos/

love the growing use of submerged flowers as centerpieces. They are kind of the fresh/elegant/fabulous/simple/weird/awesome/modern new look in events. Not only are they simple and inexpensive to make, they create a unique conversation piece. By submerging flowers or leaves in clear glass vases, the flower’s color and details are accentuated and magnified as the light refracts through the water. They are becoming more and more popular at weddings with floating candles, but I love the idea for a summer dinner party as well.

Here are some tips to make the look:

1. In order for your flowers not to float to the top of your vase, you will need to a) attach the stems to the bottom of the vase with aquarium glue or b) use fishing weights. Fishing weights are small silver weights sold at hardware stores. Attach weights onto the flower with clear fishing wire and let it sink – cover up with decorative stones or c) for some flowers simply adding decorative stones or pebbles to the bottom of each vase around stems keep the flowers from floating to the top.

2. If you use regular tap water, bubbles may eventually begin to form on your flowers. Use distilled water to prevent bubbling.

3. Real flowers are recommended. If you use silk flowers, make sure you test them in water to prevent bleeding. I have heard that synthetic flowers work better than silk.

4. If your arrangement starts to look too heavy, try submerging only half of your flowers. I have been to a few events where they only submerged a portion of the flowers and they looked quite lovely. See photo below of flowers not fully submerged.

5. In water, everything is magnified. A floating wire or fraying silk flower will show. Be sure that your pieces are well put together before adding water.

6. Depending on the flower you choose, the blooms can look nice up to a week submerged in water. The length of time your centerpiece will look fresh depends not only on the flower you choose, but also how much jostling will take place. This is something to think about if you are hauling a few of them to a wedding reception or other event.

If you love this article, be sure to follow the link to the original to see some gorgeous pictures!

http://www.nofussfabulous.com/?p=6243

Rehearsal Dinner Do's and Don'ts

2010-07-23T09:15:00.002-05:00

by: Kelley Lynn
Bride-O-Rama

Rehearsal Dinner Do's and Don'ts

The rehearsal dinner. In the world of weddings, it has become a regular and almost expected event. If you are planning a wedding, you have probably dealt with issues such as where to hold the dinner, who should be invited, and who will pay for all of this madness anyway?

Well, although none of these things are set in stone, it can help to have some basic guidelines to follow while planning your rehearsal dinner. First things first: what is the purpose of the rehearsal dinner? Really, there are a couple reasons for this gathering to take place. One is to formally introduce all participating family members to one another, sometimes for the first time ever. The biggest reason for the rehearsal dinner, however; is to properly say thank you to everyone involved in the planning of your wedding. Mainly, your wedding party. And really, what better way is there to thank anyone, than to feed them? No way I can think of.

So, with that in mind, here are some general guidelines to help you out in planning your Rehearsal Dinner for your wedding:

DO invite everyone in your wedding party, and all immediate family members to the dinner. This includes maid of honor, best man, bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers, and any other bridal party members. Your parents and siblings, and sometimes your grandparents; depending on situation and budget constraints, should also be there to celebrate with you. Basically, the rehearsal dinner normally takes place immediately after the ceremony rehearsal; so anyone who is involved in the rehearsal should also be involved in the grub that is to follow.

DON'T get roped into inviting your third cousin twice removed Bertha, your ceremony musicians and their nine children, your fiance's fifteen frat buddies who have just flown in from out of town and are particularly famished, or your mother's lonely office mate Alice; whom you have never even met before.

DO try and save money by being creative with your rehearsal dinner. There are so many things that work, and in general, people are very happy as long as they are being fed. So whether its a pancake brunch after a morning rehearsal, an afternoon cookout at your place on a lovely summer day, or a Chinese buffet at a fun restaurant; just make your guests feel welcome, loved, and appreciated for all the time they spent being a part of your wedding.

DON'T sacrifice your guests in order to save a dime. While it's perfectly fine to hold your "dinner" at your house rather than a restaurant, or to do something a little outside the norm; it is not acceptable or very nice to ask your guests to pay their own way for their meals or food. Your guests should always feel like guests; welcome in your environment.

DO make short speeches as the Bride and Groom, thanking everyone involved for being a part of your wedding. Generally, the rehearsal dinner is the perfect place to give out any gifts you have bought for your wedding party. Some couples also give a gift to both sets of parents, or anyone else who was a large part of your overall wedding planning process that you want to recognize or thank.

DON'T use this opportunity to make a long, drunken speech about how you wish that your mother in law would have minded her own business more; or how you can't stand your fiance's best man. It's also never a good idea to force anyone to speak publicly who might not want to. Barking out orders for what should happen at the rehearsal dinner probably isn't the best idea. Just let things happen naturally, and allow it to be a fun and light atmosphere. People should be feeling relaxed the night before the wedding.

DO choose a different menu than what you will have available on your wedding day. If your choices on the wedding day for entrees include fish, chicken and beef; then perhaps a pizza party; Mexican feast, or an Italian pasta buffet might work better for a totally different atmosphere and food choice at the rehearsal dinner. This is the best way to avoid your guests having to order the exact same thing two days in a row.

DON'T base your menu solely on what your diet restrictions are. If you are a strict vegetarian who lives only on wheat and grain products, good for you. However, please keep in mind that the 20 or so people whom you have invited to EAT may not enjoy a tofu casserole or soy-silk shake as much as you do.

Most of all .. have fun at your rehearsal dinner. Do something different. Some friends of mine invited everyone up to their place in the Hamptons for a pool party, complete with an all day cookout; so much fun! Our rehearsal dinner was held at a really cool sports-themed restaurant called Champions, inside of the Marriott Hotel where all our guests were staying. We sat inside of a mock -ice hockey rink and watched baseball games on the surrounding giant screen tv's.

The wedding day will be about you and your new husband. Make sure that the rehearsal dinner is all about the people who helped to get you there; your Bridal Party and families.

If you have any suggestions for more Do's and Don'ts lists OR any other blog topic, email Kelley at kelleyiskelley@gmail.com

Article from: http://www.brideorama.com/post/2514/rehearsal-dinner-dos-and-donts

Great Gifts-Glass Arts Projects

2010-07-19T19:48:00.003-05:00

By: Valerie Gill, Wedding Coordinator

If you have been looking for the perfect Gift for someone special, either a wedding, birthday, shower, etc. then Glass Arts Projects has just the thing!

"Bridal Platter- Everyone collaborates by making small glass tiles that are composed into one beautiful fused glass platter that the bride will treasure forever. Custom engraving available. Bridal Bowl- Choose either a platter or a bowl, your kit will be customized in consideration of your party size and wedding colors.

We send everything needed to complete a successful fused glass project

You will receive all of the supplies, tools and instructions needed to lead the group in making their individual colorful glass collages. Upon completion you will mail your projects to us in the enclosed mailer and we will assemble and fire them at our studio. Your finished projects will be packaged and shipped back to you ready to display and admire!
Custom engraving available so each guest can be recognized and immortalized

1. Order your Glass Project Kit

2. Send finished collages in the return-mailer box provided

3. Receive the exquisite treasure created by her loving guests!"

If you love these as much as I do, Fireworks Studios is offering a FREE Suncatcher Kit just for the asking, for a limited time only though, so you better hurry! Just go to

http://fireworkstudio.com/promos.html

Also, if you order ANY group project of $250 or more and mention you found them on Happy Tears Weddings Blog at happytearsweddings.blogspot.com, they will include a free 8" Sushi Plate Kit! How fabulous is that?

Alternatives to Cake and Cocktail Hour

2010-07-15T09:13:00.004-05:00

There are many things that can be used in place of one single tiered cake at a wedding reception. Dessert bars and candy buffets are becoming increasingly popular! Martha Stewart has posted several ideas to use instead of a cake at http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/photogallery/cake-alternatives?lpgview=thumb&showComments=true#ms-global-breadcrumbs

I personally love weddings that have dessert bars with several choices in small mini portions. It makes it easier to eat while moving around and mingling and also gives the guests a chance to try more than one selection.

Candy buffets are very eye catching and can add to the decor and theme of a wedding in addition to serving as favors and dessert! Guests can eat at the wedding and then fill little bags to take home.

You could also use the various desserts as your centerpieces to cut down on other costs! Have a pretty cake stand situated in the center of each table with the various selections available right there within reach!

Cocktail hour is a great way for guests to mingle and have something to eat and drink while the bridal party are busy with pictures, however, not all couples want to serve alcohol at their wedding reception.

One idea for a winter wedding is to serve coffee and hot chocolate with biscotti and pirouette sticks in place of cocktails. This idea could also be served with dessert at the reception.

Shirley Temples and Roy Rogers' are some very popular drinks that contain no alcohol at all. Drinkmixers.com has over 700 recipes for nonalcoholic cocktails that are sure to fit anyone's tastes and budgets. You can check out their list at http://www.drinksmixer.com/cat/8/
For more ideas on alternatives to the tradition contact us here on our website http://www.happytearsweddings.com/contactus.htm We would be more than willing to help!

Top 100 Wedding Planning Blogs

2010-07-08T13:29:00.004-05:00

Wedding planning blogs are an excellent source of inspiration for any bride or groom trying to put together a wedding. Whether you’re reading about invitations, etiquette, or just learning about DIY projects, these blogs are incredible resources. Read on to find the best wedding planning blogs that the Internet has to offer.
Finds
The wedding industry is full of things you can buy. These blogs cut through the muck to share the best wedding day finds.
{ritzy bee blog}: On Ritzy Bee, you’ll find stuff for your wedding ranging from cute to useful, as well as helpful advice and real weddings.
Hostess with the Mostess: If you’re a fan of fun, bright, and contemporary designs, Hostess with the Mostess is a great place to find favors, colors, and other inspiration.
The Bridal Wishlist: Check out this blog to find awesome stuff to buy for your wedding.
Etsy Wedding: Find really unique pieces for your wedding through this blog.
Wishpot Wedding Blog: Visit Wishpot’s blog for the latest on wedding supplies and registry items.
Something Old, Something New: This blog is an authority on gifts, trinkets, and tiny little details.
Crafts
If you want to get crafty for your wedding, be sure to check out these blogs.
DIY Bride: Check out DIY Bride for top-notch wedding projects and craftiness.
The Handcrafted Wedding: This blog scours the web for creative ideas and handcrafted wedding supplies.
Practicality
Follow these blogs for a wedding that’s down to Earth.
A Practical Wedding: Meg’s blog focuses on weddings, minus the ridiculousness that often surrounds them.
The Unbride: This photographer is getting married, and has set out to create a really unique wedding.
A $10,000 Wedding: Follow this bride as she plans a wedding for $10,000 or less.
Offbeat Bride: Offbeat Bride offers up profiles of backyard weddings, extreme budgeting, and often, red wedding dresses.
Style & Design
These blogs are full of beautiful and fun ideas for wedding style.
Elizabeth Anne Designs: The girls at Elizabeth Anne have lots of design elements to share, as well as highlights of real weddings.
A Lucky Orchid Wedding: Lucky Orchid features everything from calligraphy to couture.
Style Me Pretty: Style Me Pretty offers loads of design elements, real weddings, and other stylish things they love.
Polka Dot Bride: This Australian wedding blog highlights wedding details that are both fun and beautiful.
Karen Smallbone: Karen Smallbone has loads of great ideas for wedding details.
The Event Essentials: On this blog, you’ll read all about design essentials to make your wedding phenomenal.
Wedding Chicks: Wedding Chicks is branded as "the ulimate wedding style blog," and is a great resource for tips, advice, and connection with other stylish brides.
Perfect Bound: Perfect Bound obsesses with magazines, bridal style, and design.
Manolo for the Brides: Manolo offers fun and frank style advice on this blog.
Design*Sponge: Although not specifically made for weddings, Design*Sponge is an excellent resource for wedding design inspiration.
Glamour This!: Glamour This! has plenty of style and inspiration to go around.
Green
Throw a green wedding with the help of these blogs.
Great Green Wedding: This blog features all of the details you need to have a wedding that’s earth-friendly.
Green and Ethical Wedding: Find ideas for a wedding that’s good for the world on this blog.
Ethical Weddings: The Ethical Weddings blog covers responsible wedding products and services from jewelry to flowers.
Everything Green Weddings: Here you’ll find tips and tricks for putting on a green wedding.
Earth Friendly Weddings: Check out Earth Friendly weddings to learn how you can throw a wedding that is easy on the earth.
Inspiration
Find inspiration in the pages of these blogs.
AisleDash: AisleDash has it all, with a "dress of the day," inspiration boards, destination weddings, and much, much more.
From I Will to I Do: Anne Chertoff’s blog features etiquette, tips, trends, and a lot more.
Southern Weddings: Visit this blog to get the latest and greatest from Southern Weddings Magazine.
Sparkliatti: Sparkliatti will keep you informed of buzz, cool trends, and more in weddings.
IDoSugar: Check out IDoSugar for a healthy dose of celebrity wedding gossip, news, and advice.
Vow Weddings: This blog vows to inspire you for your wedding.
Snippet & Ink: Snippet and Ink has plenty of eye candy and great ideas.
Bridal Bar Blog: Visit the Bridal Bar for a healthy dose of inspirational wedding photos and design elements.
The Pink Book Blog: The ladies at The Pink Book Blog deliver on resources for wedding planning, inspiration, and vendors.
Once Wed: The blog for this site that sells gently used wedding dresses shares loads of real weddings, trinkets, and more.
The Bride’s Guide: Check out this blog from Martha Stewart Weddings for the latest in wedding style and inspiration.
Inspired Goodness: This blog is chock-full of eye candy, even hosting a Candid Eye Candy contest.
The Preppy Wedding: Here you’ll find all of the cool stuff you need to know about for a preppy wedding.
Wedded Bits: Read Brides.com’s Wedded Bits, and you’ll get planning tips, trend coverage, and a lot more.
Our Wedding Plus: This site offers wedding planning, and the blog is full of practical, useful ideas.
WeddingWire: The Blog: On this wedding planning website’s blog, you’ll find news about weddings, lots of advice, and more.
Vendors
These vendor blogs have a lot to offer for planning, style, and more.
The Bride’s Cafe: Janie is a floral designer, and loves to highlight weddings with beautiful flowers.
Oh Joy!: This design specialist has a soft spot for weddings.
Something Blue: Get an insider’s look at weddings from this Dallas wedding planner.
J Sandifer: J Sandifer’s blog is full of wonderful wedding eye candy.
Planning Forever: This blog from an "event engineer" highlights ideas, traditions and trends that are within everyone’s reach.
Junebug Weddings: This group of photographers shares great resources and wonderful images.
Weddings by Socialites: Destination wedding planner Kelly McWilliams shares a wonderful showcase of wedding resources.
Oh Happy Blog!: Event designer Danielle Gregory offers vendor reviews, real weddings, finds, and plenty of eye candy.
Michelle Rago: Michelle Rago is an event planner whose blog is all about signature weddings and inspiration.
The Bliss Blog: This sought-after wedding planning group shares their incredible knowledge on The Bliss Blog.
Bridal Affairs: Wendy at Bridal Affairs attempts to offer a unique perspective on wedding planning.
SJB Weddings and Events: Keep an ear to the ground on wedding trends with this wedding planner’s blog.
Wedding Paper Divas: These invitation mavens have a lot to say about etiquette, style, and current events.
Jessica Claire: Jessica Claire is a terrific photographer who photographs fabulous weddings. Check out her blog to see what some of the most stylish brides are up to.
Blue Orchid Designs: Check out Liene’s wedding design blog for loads of luxurious details.
Masterpiece Weddings: Visit Masterpiece Weddings to take a look at dreamy weddings from the perspective of a wedding planner.
pretty.pretty.paper: Check out this blog to get inspiration for your wedding invitations.
Perfect Memories Wedding Blog: Lauren at Perfect Memories offers polls, guides, and a lot more.
Weddex: Weddex offers an insightful look at the wedding industry.
Critsey Rowe: Critsey is a fabulous destination wedding photographer that shares loads of her gorgeous wedding photos.
Blushalicious: Read this wedding planner’s blog for all of the things that are pretty about weddings.
Advice
If you’re seeking help with etiquette, trends, or just completing projects, these blogs have what you’re looking for.
Always a Blogsmaid: Send your "weddiquette" questions in to this blog to get helpful answers.
Totem Travel Blog: This blog specializes in honeymoon vacations.
Allegro Photography : The images from this wedding photography pair are sure to have you inspired.
Dynamite Weddings: Read advice and inspiration from both engaged and recent brides on this blog.
Bridalwave: Check out Bridalwave for all things wedding related, including thoughtfully written articles.
Wedding Fanatic: Wedding Fanatic covers planning advice, trends, and more.
Our One Heart: Here you’ll find tips for both weddings and honeymoons.
Groom Groove: This blog is an excellent resource for grooms and other men involved in weddings.
Simply Dazzling Events: Simply Dazzling Events is wonderful about answering wedding questions and regularly features wedding eye candy.
Brides & Grooms
Check out these blogs to follow real brides and grooms through their wedding planning.
Weddingbee: Follow this group of brides as they post about their planning and recap their wedding days.
Unveiled: Check out this society of bride bloggers to get ideas and inspiration.
DC Nearlyweds: On DC Nearlyweds, you’ll read about a group of women as they plan their weddings.
The Engaged Guy: This groom writes one of the few guy wedding blogs in existence.
i heart peonies: Read i heart peonies to get a good look at a bride that vows to have a unique and lovely wedding.
Nearly Wed: Margit is an editorial director for RealSimple.com and is getting married, so she’s sharing her journey on this blog.
MakingItHonest: Read along as this groom shares every little detail.
Brooklyn Bride: This bride got married just this spring, and loves to share inspiration for modern and colorful weddings.
Prom to Altar: Read about a bride that’s marrying her prom date in this sweet little blog.
Little Winter Bride: This newlywed shares her knowledge about wedding planning.
An Excited Bride: This bride as a lot on her plate, with a wedding, law school, and plenty of DIY projects.
(Catholic) Wedding Girl: This blog is all about a bride who is planning a Catholic wedding.
A Bayside Affair: Follow Crystal through wedding planning, and enjoy this blog full of eye candy.
That Bride: That Bride offers an entertaining and frank look at wedding planning.
Classic Bride: This classic bride offers up all of the details of her wedding.
HaselBride: Visit HaselBride to read all about a hometown winter wedding in the Midwest.
I Groomzilla…you bride: Groomzilla discusses his wedding plans, including specific ethnic traditions.
With This Ring: Read about details like flower girl dresses, showers, and more on this bride’s blog.
A Bride in the Making: Veronica has her sights set on a Spring wedding in New York.
Kate’s Wedding: Kate has a lot to say about her wedding, and is happy to share all of the details with you.
Tying the Knot: Jessica shares her wedding planning with polls and lots of inspiration photos.
Peonies and Polaroids: Follow the blog of a girl who loves wedding planning, beauty, style and creativity on Peonies and Polaroids.
Jumping the Broom: This bride has lots of inspiration to share. Recently, she has explored a number of different color schemes.
Humor
Get a good dose of bridal humor from these blogs.
Don’t Be That Bride: This blog highlights some of the things brides should strive to avoid.
Cake Wrecks: Check out Cake Wrecks for a hilarious look at terrible cakes from weddings and beyond.
BrideZilla: Visit BrideZilla for fantastic stories of bridezillas, along with some insightful, practical advice.

Want to follow some or all of these blogs? Follow the original article link to get the links for all the blogs! http://www.10bestfreedatingservices.com/blog/2008/07/top-100-wedding-planning-blogs/

Candy Buffets

2010-07-06T13:41:00.003-05:00

We are soooo very excited to introduce our long awaited service of providing candy buffets! We now have inventory in stock to make your buffet of sweets memorable! We do it all from set up to tear down! We have the jars, vases, and scoops available and charge one low, flat rate! All you have to do is provide the candy! We have several companies that we suggest or you can use your own! Just $200 plus the cost of the candy will get you your very own Candy Buffet from Happy Tears Weddings! Set one up for favors, in place of cake and/or dessert, or both! Give us a call today at 850-249-6949 or visit us online at Happytearsweddings.com!

Check out this Popcorn Buffet from Glamour This

http://glamourthis.wordpress.com/category/gifts-favors/page/2/

And this gorgeous Buffet from Elizabeth Anne Designs

http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/2008/07/10/the-reception/

Wedding Thank You Notes: A Complete Guide

2010-07-06T13:39:00.004-05:00

By: Cindy Hobson
http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-invitations/articles/a-complete-guide-to-sending-thank-you-notes.aspx

Think wedding stress ends with "I do"? No such luck. The idea of returning from your honeymoon and, like kids on Christmas, ripping through all your gifts sounds grand. But beware: Your post-present high might be killed when you realize that you have one final chore...thank-you notes. The task of writing a personal note to 180 guests is definitely daunting, but it's not impossible. Here's a survival guide:
Preparation: What You Need to Know
Keep in mind that the wedding thank you note project begins way back when you gather your wedding guests' names and addresses to send the invitations. Do yourself a big favor: Save that list! Make a copy of it at invitation time and put it away. Before you start opening gift boxes, find the list and record each gift next to the giver's name and address.
Getting Started: How to Write a Thank-You
Set up a designated writing area at home. Make sure it's a comfortable place, not too far from the kitchen or bathroom, with a TV or radio nearby.
Buy yourself some great wedding stationery. After the wedding, act like a married person and get the good stuff. Go for the heavy-duty notecards in ecru. Even better: Have them monogrammed with your new initials. That's right, flaunt your married status!
Equip yourself with pens that you like to write with. Stay away from the cheap supermarket variety that make big ink blobs when they're overused. Go for a more grown-up writing instrument -- roller-ball pens are much smoother. Mont Blanc makes some impressive models, if you've got the cash. Go ahead and have it monogrammed, as long as you're in we're-married-now mode.
Writing Them: Tips & Tricks
You had to write one to your grandmother for that scarf she knit for you when you were six years old -- and when you were seven, eight, nine... But after the dust from the reception settles, you need to seriously get crackin' on all those wedding thank-you notes -- one for every dish, every vase, every new scarf you received.
Try to start writing wedding thank you notes as soon as gifts start arriving. This may mean before the wedding, so be prepared.
Don't attempt to get them all done in one sitting; trust us -- it simply won't happen.
The rule is that you're supposed to get thank-yous out for gifts received before the wedding within two weeks of their arrival; after the wedding, within a month after you return from the honeymoon. Well, it's a nice thing to aspire to, but I say if you get 'em all done before (okay, around) your two-month anniversary, you'll be happy and so will your guests.
Traditionally, wedding thank-you notes are written in blue or black ink on folded ivory or white notepaper. If you choose, you can have your married name or monogram embossed on the note (but you shouldn't use notes with your married name on them until after the wedding; if you must monogram, get some notes with your maiden name or initials and some with your married name or initials).
Be sure to write a few words about the gift so you don't get confused. You'll never remember which of the 10 crystal vases your Aunt Alma gave you, so be specific: "Waterford Balmoral vase."
If the gift was money, mention how you plan to use it: "Thank you for the generous check. We are using it as part of the down payment on a house."
Put a big check mark next to the guest's name when the thank-you note has been signed, sealed, and delivered -- this is the part you'll enjoy most.
Expert Examples: Take Note
Sample wedding thank you note for a cash gift:
Dear Aunt Sue and Uncle Tom,
Thank you so much for your generous gift. Lila and I are saving for a new home and thanks to you, we'll be shopping for our dream house very soon. Again, many thanks for thinking of us and for sharing our special day. Love, Derek and Lila
Sample thank-you note for a gift chosen from your bridal registry:
Dear Elizabeth and Albert,
Thank you so much for the crystal wine goblets. We now have a complete set! Derek and I are looking forward to your next visit, when we can enjoy a drink together. Thank you again for thinking of us at this special time in our lives. Warmest regards, Lila and Derek
Sample thank-you note for a wedding gift you really didn't like:
Dear Winona and Leif,
Thank you for the fluorescent lava lamps. You are both so thoughtful! Every time we look at them, we will think of you and this special time in our lives. Again, many thanks for sharing our joy. Fondly, Lila and Derek

http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-invitations/articles/a-complete-guide-to-sending-thank-you-notes.aspx

Engaged? Now What?

2010-07-06T13:38:00.005-05:00

By: Lovely-Unique Weddings
http://www.lovely-uniqueweddings.com/Engaged___Now_What.html

So You’re Engaged, .... Now What?

Most couples don’t have any idea how or where to start planning their wedding once they get engaged. Planning a wedding is a lot like expecting a baby…everyone will have some kind of advice for you, but you don’t have to take all of it. Just smile, and say “Thank you.” Then, use what you want, and discard the rest.
Some people will tell you the first thing you have to do is to set a date. However, that is not always the case. Some couples know WHERE they want to get married, and the date is less important. They book their venue according to availability. But, either way you go, you should have your DATE and VENUE set before you go any further. For some couples, they will need to coordinate with their house of worship for the ceremony, and also find a reception site, while others have their ceremony and reception in one location. This has many advantages, especially if you are inviting a lot of out of town guests.
Then what do you do? Well, start a notebook or file with all your wedding details and information in one place, and start looking into vendors. It’s important that you know your priorities and set your budget. It is easy to want “The Best” of everything, after all, who doesn’t? However, you also have to be realistic. Since you don’t necessarily know the costs of services and products, you need to allow your budget to be fluid. If “X” costs more than you thought, you will need to take some money from “Y”, or vice versa when things come in lower than estimated.
Next on the list should be the OFFICIANT and the Wedding Coordinator/PLANNER. Too often people get all the details of their wedding in place, and forget that the most important part of the day is the ceremony, and they have no Officiant. Also, you should look into hiring a planner/coordinator. They can be invaluable to you in handling the details and making sure everything runs smoothly.
After that, then you need to decide what other vendors you will need. If you are getting married in a park on a summer day, you may not want the traditional white fluffy dress and formal tuxedo, so will not need a bridal boutique. Instead perhaps a sundress and khaki’s are the attire of the day. If you are having a small wedding with no dancing, perhaps a string quartet is more in order for dinner music, than a DJ specializing in dance music.
For the most part, once you have your DATE, VENUE, OFFICIANT and PLANNER (if needed) should go something like this:
ATTIRE
CATERER (if not with your venue)
PHOTOGRAPHER
MUSIC/DJ
FLORIST
INVITATIONS
CAKE
VIDEOGRAPHER
HAIR/MAKE-UP
and the remaining details such as:
Dance Lessons, Favors, Programs, Limo, (or handsome cab in the case of this couple), Chocolate Fountain, Attendant Gifts, Etc.
When you are planning ask yourself what items and services you really need to make your day, and what things are simply “niceities” that may be eliminated if need be. Remember this… a small and elegant wedding can be every bit as beautiful as a large and elaborate one. Keep the focus on you, your relationship, and making your wedding day the first step into your marriage.

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