Frequently asked questions – So Simply Special

Safety Harbor Resort & Spa

April 23, 2010 1 Comment

We are sharing a few details from our First Wedding of 2010… Jessica and Morgan got married at Safety Harbor Resort and Spa on Jan 2nd, 2010. They were an amazing couple to work with and we are pleased with the details we were able to assist them with during the planning process. The most Unique part of their wedding reception was the Cool Wedding Singer that they choose to entertain the guests all night long… If you are looking for a Unique type of entertainment then you want to Check out Colt Clark. He is AWESOME!!!!

Here are a few detail shots from Morgan and Jessica’s Wedding Reception…

Filed Under: Unique Locations Tagged With: colt clark, Frequently asked questions, Safety Harbor Spa, Unique details, wedding reception, wedding singer

6 New Trends in Wedding Reception Design

April 22, 2010 9 Comments

There used to be a time when pretty much all wedding receptions used plain white linens. If it was a wedding, then you used white. Period. Of course nowadays, it’s all about color, texture, layers and personal expression, and really, the options are endless. To spark some creative fire we’ve identified six new trends appearing now in wedding reception designs.

#1– Texture is hot
Texture in weddings – from bridal gowns to napkins – is huge. In linens, this can mean a crushed look, pintuck fabrics, damasks, or other tone-on-tone designs. It can also be expressed through layers, such as using sheer overlays on tables or table runners on buffet tables, and accessories such as beaded candlesticks.

#2– Think metallic
As you may have noticed in the fashion world, metallic is sparkling hot these days! Mixed metals, matte metals and texturized metals are all very current looks that can be incorporated into your wedding reception design, through metallic fabrics, accessories or even the furniture.

#3- Color my world
As mentioned above, color in weddings is huge. Any color family that appeals to you will offer a huge range of shades that are beautiful and current. In fact, there really isn’t any color that’s considered “out” – so the sky’s the limit! Love “blue”? That could mean midnight navy, Tiffany blue, pale ice blue, bright aqua, ocean blue… You get the idea – the list goes on! A few new colors worth pointing out are persimmon – a spicy, vibrant shade of orange; saffron – a rich, deep yellow; and butter – a warm, soft, golden yellow.

#4 – Cool grey is hot, hot, hot
You’ll find that many of these trends are interrelated, such as grey, which can be expressed using metals such as silver, aluminum or nickel. Using a brushed aluminum planter for your centerpieces would actually incorporate three trends: texture, metallic and grey. A wide range of styles and shades of linens in grey tones is also a beautiful, trendy look, and can be accented with other colors such as black and/or white, any shade of red from blush pink to fire engine red, and so on. Experiment!

#5 – Lace is back
In wedding gowns and now in wedding design, lace has made a big comeback after being missing in action for many years. It’s a beautiful way to incorporate a sense of tradition, history and romance into your wedding day. Table linens, especially, have appeared in a variety of tone-on-tone laces, and more colorful options as well. Incorporating a metallic lace over a solid color fabric is another new look.

#6 – Geometric designs offer a modern look
Looking for a clean, modern, streamlined wedding day look? If “no frou-frou” is for you, then consider applying some 1960s-style geometric design elements. If you’re feeling casual and funky then use lots of color with strong geometric designs – like white, bubblegum pink and chocolate brown; or black, white and lime green. If you want a more elegant, formal feel use tone-on-tone designs or a geometrically designed fabric like a pintuck.

A final thought
The best advice, really, is “don’t be a slave to trends!” Follow your heart, trust your instincts, and create your own unique wedding style. Of course, don’t underestimate the help, input and advice of wedding professionals who can make your dream a reality with minimum stress and maximum results. With their professional guidance and years of experience, your wedding day will be beautiful expression of your personal style.

Filed Under: Tips and Trends Tagged With: cool grey, decor, Frequently asked questions, geometric, lace, metallics, new trends, Table top design, wedding colors, wedding reception, wedding trends

Will You Be My Bridesmaid?

November 19, 2009 Leave a Comment

What a great way to ask that special girl to be part of your wedding….. We found these cute gifts at www.favorideas.com … What women does not love chocolate and it can be personalized in your wedding colors or your gals favorite colors……. Click on the link below to read more about them….

Will You Be My Bridesmaid? Gourmet Chocolate Bridesmaid: $12.95.

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Unique Wedding Ideas/Traditions Tagged With: Brides, Bridesmaids, bridesmaids gifts, bridesmaids invitations, chocolate, decor, Favors, Frequently asked questions, Table top design, unique bridesmaids gifts

Pooches at Weddings?

November 17, 2009 Leave a Comment

All these unique trends are coming out for the upcoming year, but there is one that will always be a timeless unique one, your pooches at your wedding. What an awesome way to bring in your entire “family” in the wedding. It’s the perfect way to incorporate a ring bearer or flower girl, if you don’t have any young children in your family.

You can even dress them up!! Put a cute little bow tie or even go as far as a dress! Not only will it look cute for pictures but it’s a way to have one less boutonnière (if you are working on a limited budget). Your guests at your wedding will love the thought incorporated with your dogs becoming members of the party. Just make sure your dogs have relieved themselves before they make the walk down the aisle, so there aren’t any surprises for the most special moment of your life.

Filed Under: Tips and Trends, Uncategorized Tagged With: budget, Family pet, flower girl, Frequently asked questions, Pooches, ring bearer, Unique Trend, wedding party canines, Weddings

Please Hire a Wedding Planner

November 3, 2009 Leave a Comment

Here is an interesting blog entry that I came across from Inspired by This, Wedding insight by Leila Khalil:

For some reason I think its common knowledge… I mean haven’t we all heard from someone, stories at some point of things that didn’t go right at a wedding. They happen at every single wedding no matter who is in charge. I know brides are working with a budget- especially these days but everyone seems to think they can save on costs by “doing it themselves”. I have an idea… Lets invest in a great photographer to capture the moments and the details, lets hire a floral designer to make everything look pretty, lets spend money on linens, favors, and a dessert bar but when it comes to getting a professional wedding coordinator to pull together all the details I just mentioned so all of them work in harmony.. lets skimp on that? Lets invest all of that but then on the wedding day as a bride you can worry or pawn it off on an aunt, mom, or wedding party member (which lets be quite frank-they will be way more frazzled than you). Just to be clear.. I am not saying I am against DIY. I’m not! I like that style BUT I am a huge advocate of bringing someone on board who knows what they are doing to put things at ease no matter the scale of the wedding.
After being in the wedding industry and planning or attending as many weddings as I have, I’ve seen it first hand time and time again. However, the experience I had several weeks ago at a friend’s wedding was so unbelievable.

I now feel it is my duty to share. She got married at private estate and decided to go with the venue coordinator/catering liaison because they ensured her they would take care of everything she needed on her wedding day. Ummm…, NO! I’m mean I was so upset with the way this catering /venue representative treated the bride and the extreme lack of poise, class, and knowledge that I am going to list for you some specifics of the disaster that ensued:

You may want to hire a wedding planner or else:

1. Your “day of stand in coordinator ” could forget to place an order which then leaves it all in the hands of the bride on the day of her rehearsal so that she and her parents are 30 minutes late.

2. Your “day of stand in coordinator” could decide to make a change on one of your vendor contracts leaving you to pay the difference for their error and then when the vendor calls you the morning of your wedding to tell you and you verify it with your “coordinator” they may say, “you are ruining their day?” Really?? Who says that to a bride?

3. Your “day of stand in coordinator” may forget to send the shuttle to one of the hotels and leave 30 guests behind minutes before your ceremony is about to start. Then when confronted with this situation may say “ I don’t give a f***k. Tell them all to take cabs! I am not starting this ceremony late!” OMG!!!!

4. Your “day of stand in coordinator” may not really know how to run a real ceremony and forget to cue wedding party or heaven forbid the musicians to know when the bride should walk down the aisle! What a disaster that can be as the guests all wait while nothing happens but the same song plays over and over again. Oh also they may forget to remove the ribbon that blocks off the center aisle so guests don’t go through it, but when its time for the ceremony procession to start its wise of them to remove it so that a guest from the second row doesn’t have to run in her heels sinking in the grass all the way to the back of the aisle and remove the ribbon seconds before the wedding party walk through while photo and video are rolling.

5. Your “ day of stand in coordinator” who in this case is also the venue coordinator and caterer- might run out of certain types of food and wine because of poor planning AND not even offer a certain dish that is listed on the menu and just tells guests “ Oh, we don’t have that tonight- I’ll just give you a plate of mashed potatoes and veggies instead”.

Can you believe that these elements really did happen all at one wedding? And these were just the highlights? Do you have any stories of your own?

One piece of advice: You get what you pay for! SO when you don’t pay for a friend who is helping you out as your “day of stand in coordinator” OR you find one that is only a couple hundred dollars…. guess what- it may not be that good of an outcome.

I have written this as an ode to all the professional wedding and event planners out there. There is a huge difference between a venue coordinator and a legitimate wedding planner. They have their responsibilities and strengths and wedding planners that actually service brides as a business and not as a hobby are indispensable. Do your research OR you can also check out some of these blogs who have credible vendor directories and recommendations for wedding planners in your area.

Hollar to all planners who know their stuff. You are fabulous and deserve big props but most importantly you deserve to be paid and respected. You help facilitate one of the most memorable days in a couples’ life.
Thank You!!

We agree with Leila…… Well said!!!!!!!!!!

Till next time…..

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: ABC, Association of Bridal Consultants, budget, Frequently asked questions, Hire a wedding planner, professionals, wedding planner, wedding reception, Why Hire a wedding planner

Do I invite my officiant to the reception?

November 2, 2009 1 Comment

This is a common question from many of our brides that come to us for assistance with planning their wedding……

We think this question has many answers……

1. Yes, they are marrying you because you have attended the church since you were a child and will hurt their feelings if you do not extend the invitation to have them celebrate after the actual ceremony…..

2. Yes, because after all, who is going to do the blessing before dinner at the reception?

3. Yes, because they have traveled possibly quite a distance to be there and the ceremony lasted for 15 minutes and now you expect them to leave and go home while everybody else gets to stay and have a meal and celebrate…..

4. Yes, because it is just a courtesy and if they are not close friends of the family. 90% of the time , they will decline gracefully…..

5. No, You have hired them to do a job and they did the job…..

Would Love to hear feedback on your opinions on this subject….

Filed Under: Weddiquette Tagged With: ceremony duties, Frequently asked questions, invitation to reception, officiant etiquette, Officiants, wedding planning

Can You Use Wedding Gifts Before You Get Married?

October 22, 2009 Leave a Comment

This great question comes from a reader that wrote in to Nina Callaway at the About.com Weddings Blog:

Reader Melissa asks:

I just had my first Bridal Shower and we received MANY beautiful gifts for the home and our new beginnings, including gifts at our Engagement party earlier this year. My fiancé and I do not live together, but we just leased a new apartment [where he will live before the wedding]. Is it poor taste to open or set up any of the gifts we received in our new apartment prior to the wedding in December?

Here is Nina’s Response and we totally agree with her on this:

Tradition stipulates that you not open wedding gifts before the actual wedding. Part of that is indeed only tradition and niceties, not unlike waiting until your birthday to open birthday presents even if they arrive early. But it’s also practical. If anything were to happen – such as one of you deciding not to go through with the wedding – etiquette would require you to return any wedding gifts. Thus, superstitious and cautious people especially say that you should wait.

But engagement presents are intended to help you celebrate the period before your wedding. You might have received toasting flutes, photo albums, or other gifts that will be useful now and you should definitely go ahead and use them.

Bridal shower gifts fall into the grey area between the two. Showers are intended to help you set up your new home. If the gifts you’ve received will help you to start feathering your nest early, I don’t see any harm in doing so. But if you’ve gotten gifts of lingerie, or things that feel decadent and special, why not keep them for after the wedding? Having some shiny new things will help you avoid any post-wedding blues and make you feel excited for your new life together.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: bride, Frequently asked questions, Wedding Gift etiquette

Tutera Tips: Using the Internet

October 20, 2009 1 Comment

David Tutera is one of our favorite wedding planners of all times…

Here is a great video we thought we would share with you on Using the Internet for shopping for wedding items…..You can see more of David Tutera tips at www.wetv.com

Click on the link below to be taken to the Video…

Tutera’s Tips: Using the Internet – Tips – WE tv Videos – WEtv.com.

Filed Under: Tips and Trends Tagged With: Beach Weddings, budget, decor, Frequently asked questions, Internet shopping, Table top design, wedding planning

Wedding Etiquette: Cash Gifts

May 22, 2009 4 Comments

As the marriage age grows steadily higher, more and more couples find themselves entering wedding budget marriage with all of the basic dishes, linens, and home goods that are usually listed on a bridal registry. In many cases, the bride and groom may really prefer cash as a wedding gift. While traditional etiquette frowns on this, don’t immediately give in and register for items you don’t need.

Best Way to Ask for Cash Gifts
While it is still considered rude to ask for money outright, there are plenty of more subtle ways to go about doing this. The best way to let your guests know what you want is by word of mouth. Make sure that your close friends and family all know that you prefer to receive money. The bridal party should be in on this as well, as guests may contact one of them (most likely the Maid of Honor or Best Man) to get this information.

In most cases, your guests will understand. Many of the people invited to your wedding are likely to be close friends and family that you are able to be honest with. You should let them know why you prefer money if possible. In many cases this may be because you are saving for large purchases such as furniture, a new house, or a car.

Gifts for Charity
Another option if you prefer to forgo traditional wedding gifts is to have money donated in your names to a charity. If you decide to go this route, select your favorite charity and contact them. They may be able to offer advice on setting up a special fund for this event and can give you specific instructions on how your guests should donate. Though this is still considered a monetary gift, it is a beautiful way to give back and use your wedding as a way to better the world.

Thank You Note
thank you note image Remember to keep careful track of all gifts received. It can be especially easy to lose track if you are collecting several checks. Dedicate a special notebook or spreadsheet to keeping careful track of this information. When it comes to gifts, keep in mind that your guests will appreciate knowing what you would really like. By providing this information in a tactful and polite manner, you will be able to get the type of gifts you want without upsetting etiquette and tradition – lastly, do not forget to send a thank you note to your guests

Filed Under: Weddiquette Tagged With: cash gifts, charity donations, Frequently asked questions, gift registry, thank you notes, wedding planning, Why Hire a wedding planner

Proper Seating Arrangement at the Reception

May 21, 2009 1 Comment

Many brides consider coming up with a seating arrangement for the reception as one of the most difficult tasks in the wedding planning process. While this will always be an important and time-consuming job, there are some tips that can help make the process go a little smoother.

The first thing you need to know before you begin your seating arrangements is how many tables you will have and how many people will be seated at each table. Once you have this information, you can begin making short lists of who will sit at each table.

Head Table
You should start with the head table. There are several options for this. If you have one long head table, the bride and groom sit in the middle. The bride will sit to the right of the groom. Then, your first option is to seat the best man beside the bride and maid of honor beside the groom, in which case you will seat the other bridesmaids and groomsmen in alternating order along the table (each bridesmaid between two groomsmen and vice versa). The second option is to seat the maid of honor beside the bride, with the bridesmaids together along one side of the table, and the best man beside the groom with the groomsmen together along the other side of the table.

When it comes to seating the head table, you should consider the people who are in the wedding party, and which arrangement they will be more comfortable with. Many couples now opt out of having a head table altogether. In this case the bride and groom will sit alone at a sweetheart table for two. You can then seat all of your attendants together at one table, or seat your attendants with their dates or spouses at several tables.

You could do a simple variation of the long head table by making two rows of tables instead of one.

How about having a sweetheart table for the couple surrounded by a few small tables at which the bridal party would be seated?

Or you could forego the head table completely and sit with your guests at long tables instead of round ones.

Parents Table
After you have decided where to seat the wedding party, next up choosing a table for the parents. Traditionally the parents of both the bride and groom will sit together at a table with the officiate and his wife. Divorced and/or remarried parents can make this arrangement a little trickier. If either the bride or groom has divorced parents that would be uncomfortable sitting together, then by all means, seat them with other family members that will make the evening more comfortable for them. The best way to handle these types of situations is to sit down separately with each parent and determine what will make them the most comfortable.

Kids Table

kids table favor idea

Your next consideration may be the other little participants in the wedding – the ring bearer and flower girl. If you choose to have children in the wedding, the best idea for the reception is to seat them either with their parents, or at a children’s table if you have one. If they are sitting with their parents you may seat them all at the same table so the children feel that they are still at an important table.

Guests Table
When it comes to seating the rest of your guests, the most important thing is that they have a good time. Make sure that every person has at least one and preferably two or three people at their table that they know. You will probably have to have one or more tables where your guests will be seated with some people with whom they are not familiar. Use your best judgment and try to put together people with similar interests, or within the same age range.

Seating Plan
Your last task in the seating process is deciding where each table will be placed. The head table should face the rest of the room and remain mostly unobstructed. T he next closest tables should be those with parents and other close relatives. Be careful to seat the more elderly guests away from speakers or the kitchen, as they may not be able to hear very well from these locations. Likewise, children seated near the kitchen may get under the feet of servers.

seating sample

Enlist the help of your parents and attendants during this planning. By following these tips, you should be able to set up the perfect reception in no time at all!

seating arrangement

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Weddiquette Tagged With: Frequently asked questions, guest tables, head table, kids table, kids table favors, parents table, reception, seating arrangement, seating charts, sweetheart table, wedding reception, Why Hire a wedding planner