I Thee Wed Up Close

As weddings have evolved, so too has the way that guests sign in after arriving for a loved one's wedding. The old-fashioned, traditional guest books are a thing of the past and more personal, fun options for guest books has take a front seat. Take a look these unique ideas to get that signature! For the wine loving couple! Have your guests sign a handful of wine bottles that you can open up on each of your anniversaries. Or save up those corks for the big day and have your guests sign them at your wedding! You can either display them as shown in this pic, or make a cork wreath out of them. Guests can sign a trees of leaves or place their signed hearts in a frame. Photo Credit:  Tracy Doyle Photography A tree full of well wishes! For the more rustic/ natural feel, they can sign part of a tree stump, a reclaimed wooden board or rocks. Why not have them type in their name! Photo Credit: Casey Brooks The classic photo guest book tha...

Your wedding guests have all joined together to celebrate your big day, however, at your reception, they will certainly want to be seated at times, such as when they enjoy their meal, or to take a break from the dancing. Oftentimes, guests find their seats from a place card, displaying their table number, however, the plain and simple cardstock place cards can be a bit boring for some brides, who would rather bring a unique and creative approach to their elements of décor. Because your place cards play an important role on your wedding day, you should consider creating them to be a prominent element of décor, and stand out in a personalized way. Here are a few fun ideas that are sure to catch yours guests attention! ·          Succulents. Everyone loves flowers, however, they can be hard to maintain, but, if you choose succulents to create your escort cards within, you can ensure that the choice will be pleasing to all of your weddin...

Unfortunately, things haven't changed much in the wedding industry regarding the confusion between a venue coordinator and a wedding coordinator. Couples still seem very confused between these two roles and end up not hiring a wedding coordinator after speaking with their venue. Their day ends up in disappointment because they assumed they would have that one, key person to go to and rely on for their entire wedding day. Instead, they have to wait until they walk through their venue doors to receive some coordination by their venue coordinator or banquet captain, who's primary responsibility is to the get the meal out on time and at an ideal temperature. Photo Credit: Leppert Photography So, when you begin visiting venues and you learn that a venue has an event coordinator who tells you that you do not need to hire a wedding coordinator/planner, ask them if they will show up at the hotel while you and your girls are getting ready earlier in the day. Ask if they will be w...

"I've done all my own planning and want a "day-of" coordinator but can't find one who will show up on the wedding day only !  Why?" There's probably a lot of confusion amongst engaged couples because of the term "day-of" coordinator. If you end up speaking to someone who says they will only show up on the wedding day and save you lots of money because of it, please stay clear of them! Many wedding planners may label their coordination as "day-of" wedding coordination, but there is far more involved than just showing up on the wedding day when it comes to a professional wedding planner who knows what she/he is doing. Photo Credit: Estes Images Here are some reasons why a wedding coordinator shouldn't show up  only  on the wedding day: Many planners begin their coordination services 4-8 weeks out because many venues request the wedding day timeline one month prior. A 1 1/2 to 2 hour timeline meeting typically kicks off ...

Thinking about having a winter wedding but uncertain because of weather and limited options compared to Spring, Summer and Fall weddings? We put together some thoughts to consider that might help you decide if you want to say "I Do" in the winter! You may save money with a winter wedding since many wedding vendors and venues are slower in the winter than any other time of the year. Whether large or small, winter weddings tend to lend that cozy, intimate feel with the cold weather outside, but the warmth inside. You won't have to deal with sweat and feeling sticky during a photo shoot with a winter wedding! Many folks opt to have their winter wedding around the Holidays to take advantage of using Christmas decorations that your venue may be decorated with. If considering this, try to pick a day that isn't so close to the Holidays, like early in December before the month gets too crazy for everyone. Mother Nature is taken out of the equation when planning a wi...

With 2017 behind us, this is a good time to reflect on life and remind yourself of the things to be thankful for. So I put a list together of a few things I'm thankful for and what keeps me going in life! Our Lord My Family My Friends My neighbors and the wonderful neighborhood my hubby, kids and I live in Our home Our health Employment All the opportunities I've had working with engaged couples and meeting their families Music! (without it, life would be dull) Wining and Dining in a nice restaurant (I'm a bit of a foodie and wine snob :-) ) Our yard because I love to spend time in it during Spring/Summer Being able to get out and run no matter how fast or slow I am. Having the opportunity to give back when we can I hope 2018 brings prosperity, laughter, love, lots of great memories and good health to you all!!

Here we are....Day 6, our final day of answering your most frequently asked questions here are answers to questions 9 and 10! Question 9: When Do We Mail the Invitations.    Traditionally speaking, wedding invitations should be mailed out 6-8 weeks before the wedding. If you get anxious and mail them 10-12 weeks prior to the wedding, you might be taking a chance with your guests seeing they have plenty of time to respond and put the invitation down with intentions of RSVPing later and then they forget. Only with destination weddings should you mail your invitations 3 months out. Make sure your RSVP date is one month prior to the wedding, allowing you time to call folks who haven't rsvp'd. Part 2: Do We Need to Note the Dress Code on the Invitations?  In many cases your invitation style will depict to your guests how formal your ceremony will be. A beach wedding invitation is going to have a much different style than a more formal, traditional invitatio...

Today is day 5 of us answering your most frequently asked questions! Here are questions 7 and 8. Question 7: What Should I Know About Venue Contracts?  First and foremost, make sure you know what time set up can begin and what time you need to be out by at the end of the night. Are there additional charges like coat check or restroom attendants? Does the venue require that you use exclusive vendors? Is gratuity built into the contract? Is the venue insured? Get a detailed list of all items included in the contract, such as tables and chairs, linens, staging, extra tables needed for gifts/cake/escort cards/favors, dance floor, sound equipment for a ceremony. If a full bar is part of the contract, find out what is included and if accompaniments are part of the bar. Find out what the payment schedule is and when you need to have your final head count turned in. Photo Credit:  513 photography Question 8: Is a Seating Chart or Escort Cards Necessary? Absolutely! Th...

Welcome back to day 4 of answering your most frequently asked questions! Here are questions 5 and 6. Question 5: What Decor Options Will Help Pull Off the Ambience We're Looking For? Without a doubt, lighting is the first that comes to mind. You don't have to spend a small fortune to get nice lighting. If your budget allows, you can work with a lighting company who can provide uplighting around the room, as well as pin spotlights on the guest tables and an accent design for the dance floor. But if this kind of lighting doesn't sound like your cup of tea, string patio lighting, chandeliers and candles, just to name a few, are other options to achieve the ambience you desire. However, lighting isn't the only thing that will help create your ambience. The decor you choose for your tables and accent pieces such as a table runner, unique china or a simple decoration placed on each napkin, can help set the tone for your wedding. Photo Credit:  Geri Ciulla Quest...

We are on day 3 of answering your most frequently asked questions and here are questions 3 and 4! Question 3: I have my date and venue selected, what's next? If you are able to hire a wedding planner, they will guide you through the process with providing you with a monthly planning timeline so that you know what you should accomplish each month. If you are unable to hire a planner, there are resources such as theknot.com that offer more generic planning timelines of what you should accomplish every few months or so. Keep in mind that some vendors book more quickly than others, so hiring your band or DJ and photographer should be the first two vendors to focus on after selecting your date and venue. Question 4: Open Bar or Not? While it's not a requirement to have an open bar, it's certainly a generous gesture to your guests. If you know that a majority of the guests on your list enjoy a beverage or two,  then there's no question as to whether you should hav...

Today is our second day of posting about Couple's most frequently asked questions when it comes to planning their weddings and here is the 3rd question. Question 3: How do I process all the information given to me? Well, if you are a really super busy couple with demanding careers, hiring a wedding planner would be the easiest way to help you sort through all of the information out there. But if you're uncertain about your budget and whether you can afford a wedding planner, then try not to get too wrapped up in all that's available and follow your heart on the things that will make your wedding unique to you both. Of course, you are going to have many people tell you what they think you should do and how to plan your wedding, but try not to let them derail your focus on what the two of you really want! #itheewedplanning #cincinnatiweddingplanner #personalizedweddings Photo Credit:  Loft 3 Photography

Shortly after you become engaged, we know that you have a ton of questions whirling around in your head and before you know it, you're having anxiety attacks over the planning before it's even begun!! So, we thought we'd put together a series of blog posts to answer your most frequently asked questions! Question 1: How much do weddings cost? If you are unsure of what a comfortable wedding budget for you is, or don't know how much weddings cost today, a great way of learning is to contact a few venues that are of interest to you and find out what their food and beverage minimum is. Keep in mind that 40% of your entire budget will be for food and beverage. So, after learning what your local venues are charging, you will be able to come up with an overall budget that you can work within. Question 2: How to Find the Best Venue? If you have an idea of the size of your wedding and location, as we mentioned above, begin calling local venues to find out how large they are ...

Many couples may feel they do not need a wedding planner if there is an on-site coordinator at their venue. So we've listed some differences of each role to help clear up this misperception. The bottom line is that you need both!! 1. When it comes to coordinating the big day, an on-site coordinator can do so much up to a certain point. The wedding planner will be the one with you throughout the entire day, as well as coordinating your the rehearsal. 2.  On-site coordinators sometimes give vendor referrals which is what an independent wedding planner will do too. But, the wedding planner will attend meetings with you and handle most of the communications with your other vendors. 3. An on-site coordinator is at your venue to represent the property but not represent the bride and groom themselves. 4. An on-site coordinator will make sure that you are getting what was promised in your contract, that the kitchen is fully staffed, that the food is coming out on time and...

Are you planning on serving your guests something later in the evening to satisfy that late night craving and help work off the buzz from too many spirits? Well, here in Cincinnati there are more to late night snacks than the traditional candy station or skyline buffet. Take a look at some ideas we gathered to put a creative spin on your late night offerings! No matter what you decide, your guests will appreciate and enjoy having a little something to nibble on late into the evening, not to mention having something to help absorb the libations from earlier in the evening! Graeter's Ice Cream Sunday Station Mini Grilled Cheese Dippers with Tomato Soup Donut Station Smore's Station Mini Milkshakes! Popcorn Station Sweets Station full of Tarts, Mini Cheesecakes and Other Mini Sweets Soft Warm Pretzels with Soda Chocolate Chip Cookie with Milk Shot Dipping Station with Chips Mini Pizza Slices Mini Burgers with Fries ...

If you are a couple who is deciding to see each other before the ceremony, unless you have a 2-3 hour gap of time between the ceremony and reception, you know that you will have more time for creative photography of you and your wedding party. Therefore, don't be afraid to try new things, bring in props and most of all HAVE FUN and enjoy spending the day with your wedding party before you say i-do! If you're a couple who is still indecisive about having a first look, here are some pluses to each that might help you make a decision. First Look: Being able to relax together before the ceremony Having a private moment alone Limited or no photographs after the ceremony More time for creativity from your photographer with a longer sessions before the ceremony Better lighting in the afternoon Time for more than one location No First Look: The surprise factor when the bride walks down the aisle Beginning your wedding day a little later in the morning You won't be g...