Posts Tagged ‘planning tips’

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A Surefire Way To Ruin Your Wedding

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013

Micromanaging is the biggest saboteur of wedding day bliss. When a couple is “in charge” of too many details (or people to check up on) the joy starts to get sucked out of the whole experience.

If there is one piece of advice I can offer it’s this:

You have to enjoy your wedding day!

Sound advice, right?

Sooo….

Here’s how you’re going to do it:

Consider yourself a guest at your own wedding.

 

You may have planned this shindig, but you are the guests of honor. Guests of honor don’t put out unexpected fires.  Centerpiece for black and white wedding

Hire pros you trust.

Cross the “to-do’s” off of your list.

Delegate.

Go with the flow.

Don’t worry.

Enjoy your wedding and soak it all in because the day will be here and gone before you know it!

Do you know a micromanager who could use this advice? Share the love with a friend by passing this post on!

Tell me in the comments how you are going to ensure that YOU enjoy your wedding day!

 

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Why You Shouldn’t Buy Anything For Your Wedding Before Hiring A Designer

Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013

Once you set a date for your wedding it may be tempting to start shopping for wedding decor, but it can be a huge mistake.

Talk to your florist, event stylist or wedding planner before buying any sort of wedding props.  They probably know more about what works in your chosen venue and what you really need.

Plus they may already have items you can rent or they’ll know where you can get all those lanterns, wooden place card holders and votive candles you may otherwise spend hours sourcing.

You don’t really want to own 25 birch table numbers, do you?

If you like this post share the love with a friend, “like” it, tweet it or leave a comment below!  Did you make any big decor purchases for your wedding day?

Pink and white centerpiece at The Round Barn

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How To Make A Centerpiece More Expensive

Tuesday, April 9th, 2013

Want to know how to make your centerpieces more expensive?  Add candles.  Candlelight is so hot this year {pun intended!} and I’ve had more requests for “lots of candles” than ever before.  The reality is that candles aren’t cheap.  And if they are inexpensive it’s probably for good reason (like they won’t burn for very long, or the wax is scented).

Whether you purchase candles from your florist, wedding planner, or buy them yourself they should be considered in your decor budget.

If you have your heart set on “a ton of candles” you can easily add $50-70 per table for the romantic aura.  Larger pillar candles in glass can cost $20+ a piece.  Votive candles range from $3-7 each.  Floating candles in vases of various sizes can start at $15-20 and the larger the vase, the higher the cost.  Love mercury glass?  Cha-ching!  Even faux-mercury glass will easily add $15-20 per candle.

Here’s a quick tip to keep your candle costs in check:  the first thing to do is ask your venue if they provide votive candles.  Many venues will provide 3 to 5 candles per table for no charge.  But sometimes you have to ask to find out what’s included so make sure you know what is provided.

If candles are essential to your wedding day ambience then perhaps the cost will not deter you!  Enjoy the allure of amore and light up the night!  Oh yes, that’s another thing…don’t put a huge emphasis on candles if you’re having a reception during daylight hours.  It’s far more elegant at night!

silver julep cup

Pictured here is a faux mercury glass julep cup filled with flowers for a cocktail table.

Tip:  Water in the bottom of the votive holder allows the wax to be easily removed.  These small votives have ice cubes in the bottom which will melt and allow the wax to come away from the glass.

 

 


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How To Define Your Wedding Day Style

Wednesday, March 20th, 2013

As a designer whose job it is to interpret your ideal style and meld your favorite looks into one cohesive theme I’ve found that the things you don’t like are just as important as the things you do like.

Perhaps you have found images you like, but there is no clear “vision” or your color palette is iffy and you have no idea what flowers you like which leaves you feeling like you don’t know what you want.  Here’s what I suggest you do; take notice of what you dislike.

Are you not into bright, bold colors?  Dislike many different flowers and textures mixed together in bouquets?  Think hydrangea are too fluffy?  Callas too formal?  Blue seems too “blue” for you?

Believe it or not your dislikes can help paint a very clear picture of what you actually DO like.  Never fear.  You have a wedding style…even if you don’t know it yet!

For the wedding bouquets pictured below the bride told me specifically no roses, but we established that tulips, anemone and grape hyacinth were blooms she liked and the rest was up to me.  A classic case where a bride’s dislikes revealed the nature of her true style.

lavender, white and purple bouquets

Do you have any major style dislikes or flowers you want to avoid on your wedding day?

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The Wedding You Want vs The Wedding You Can Afford

Wednesday, February 27th, 2013

I saw a fellow “pinner’s” quote that read, “I have two wedding boards, one for the wedding I’m planning on Pinterest and one for the wedding I can afford.”

It’s kinda funny, a little bit sad and so true!  In a world of endless wedding inspiration couples are all too aware of the many options, endless DIY details and must-have-luxuries that they may or may not be able to swing for.  You can start out thinking…I HAVE to have THAT!…until your heart sinks when you find out the price tag that’s attached to it.  It may feel like you’re pinning your hopes and dreams.

Every detail adds up when planning a wedding.  The venue and food costs are just the beginning and once you add flowers, favors, photography, music, linens, dessert, table numbers and stationery things start to get real.  And don’t forget your wardrobe.  Wedding day attire is a huge detail and there is always one more thing you need to complete your ensemble…veil, shoes, the “right” undergarments, jewelry, an adorable bolero or pashmina!

Don’t get bummed out by the “must-have’s” of wedding inspiration boards, magazines and blogs.  It’s better to spend wisely than to simply spend muchly!  (You can tweet that and bring it to the bank.)

When all is said and done the most important things to keep in mind are the comfort of your guests, the quality of their experience (I’m talking ample food and drink here people!) and cherishing the fact that you will soon be wed and that’s what truly matters.  Truly.

Kathleen-Landwehrle-43

Photo by Landwehrle Photography

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Wedding Planning Tips: Your Vermont Wedding

Wednesday, February 20th, 2013

Whether you’re planning a destination wedding in Vermont or you’re a local couple getting hitched close to home there are many details to address and I think a few short-cuts through the process wouldn’t hurt anybody!  Today I’ve put together a collection of some of my personal planning tips to help you cross your t’s, dot the i’s and hopefully avoid a few faux pas along the way. 

No matter how far along you are in the planning process you’re bound to find a tip or two (and hopefully more!) that can help you personalize your big day and introduce your guests to the beauty of Vermont.  You may want to bookmark this page so you can revisit these tips later!  

♥ Here are 7 tips to keep in mind when meeting with floral designers.

♥ Advice for choosing your personal bouquet style.

♥ I suggest you order boutonnieres and corsages for these VIPs.

♥ Some things to consider when hosting out-of-town guests.

♥ …And here’s how I think you should introduce your guests to Vermont.

♥ Want to really add a few special touches to your big day?  Gild the Lily!

♥ The mother of the bride may need a few tips as well.

♥ Last, but not least, add a touch of green with eco-friendly inspired tips.

Would you like some advice on planning your wedding?  Leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail.

Spillane-0641-Orchard-Cove-Photography

Photo:  Orchard Cove Photography, Location:  The Inn At The Round Barn

groom holding bouquet- Photo ©Daria Bishop

Photo:  Daria Bishop Photographers, Location:  Stowe Mountain Lodge

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Wedding Planning Mantra Of The Day

Thursday, January 10th, 2013

I am inspired by clients and potential clients to post these Wedding Planning Mantras and this one is SO important to keep in mind in a world where bigger, better and “more” wedding inspiration can potentially make you feel inferior.  Mediate on this one for a moment.  Be at peace with your budget.  Zen, baby.

orchid photo on moss

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Color Board Inspiration: Eggplant, White and Green

Thursday, December 20th, 2012

Whether you call it eggplant or aubergine, burgundy or purple, or you’re having a black and white wedding, this palette is both modern and elegant.  It transcends season to accompany a spring, summer, fall or winter affair.  It’s sophisticated, without feeling snobby.  If you love texture and you love deep purple or burgundy and you also want to keep a classic white and green element to your palette then this color combo is for you!

burgundy and white color board

Photo top right courtesy of Landwehrle Photography.

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Color Communication

Wednesday, June 13th, 2012

When talking with couples about their destination weddings it’s important to make sure we are on the same page when it comes to color palette.

Is “yellow” a light, buttery yellow or a bright, goldenrod tone?  Is blue a dominant color in your floral palette or an accent tone to complement or contrast the rest of your colors?

A bride recently sent some paint swatches to communicate her color preferences to me and it’s truly a wonderful way to collect tones that closely match the tones you envision.  Whether you have fabric swatches, a stationery sample or paint chips from your local hardware store color sharing is a great way to communicate your style to your designer.

This bouquet has some similar tones to the paint samples, however, the flowers I’ll create for this couple will represent more blue tones and less of the lavender spectrum.  Stay tuned in August for the finished product from that wedding.

How do you talk about color with your floral designer?

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Wedding Planning Mantra Of The Day

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

In every life a little rain must fall and if it happens to fall on your wedding day you have to be able to roll with it and enjoy yourself!  Here’s a mantra for the day:

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