Happy 2013! It's hard to believe we already in the second half of January! For our first blog of the year we wanted to showcase a NYE inspired photo shoot we did last November! Kira and Tatiana worked with Amanda Doublin Photography and The Bloom of Time to create this gorgeous NYE inspired table setting at Sealegs Wine Bar. I absolutely love the look, and cannot wait to see this shoot featured on Style Me Pretty soon! Enjoy!
What girl doesn't love fashion? And when it comes to weddings, we all know the dress is one of the most exciting parts! For us girls, we have thought about this one item of clothing since we were little, so when it comes for the time to make our dreams a reality, you have to check out Blush Bridal Couture! I originally met Amy from Bridal Blush, one of the owners, when I participated in a photoshoot as a bride through OurTop5HotList and was lucky enough to wear a few of their gorgeous gowns!
Best friends Amy and Anna opened their bridal boutique in Tustin, California, where they offer an intimate experience for their brides that is warm and friendly. They are so passionate about what they do, which you will feel just stepping in the door. "We are so thankful to have Blush as our baby! It's our pride and passion."
Things we LOVE:
Things to know:
We love these girls, and we know you will too! Amy tells me they love staying connected with their bride's via Facebook, "It keeps us in touch and allows us to see how their lives evolve...marriage...babies...life's challenges etc. and they get to watch us grow."
The topic of plus ones comes up so often, I decided to explain the major rules when inviting guests to your wedding. When are you required to allow a guest to bring a plus one? How do you address the invitation for plus ones? Are you supposed to allow guests to bring a date? These are the questions that brides ask all the time, and I have the answers for you.
Who should I allow a plus one? Etiquette states that you must let your guest bring their significant other if they are married, engaged, or living together. Not only is it proper etiquette, but it is common courtesy to want your guest to feel comfortable on your special day, celebrating with you and the one they love.
What if a guest isn't married, engaged, or living with someone? As a couple, you and your groom can decide where you want to draw the line in the sand, when deciding who will be given a plus one. Examples of some rules could be:
Whatever rule you decide on, make sure you stick to it. Bending the rule for some guests can cause more problems than it's worth and hurt the feelings of others.
How should I address the invitation to whom I am inviting? If you intend to allow your guest to bring a date, make sure to have your guest's name first, and their date's name should go next. If you know their name, it is expected to write it on the invitation. It is always preferred to write the name of their plus one, rather than write "and guest".
The invitation dictates who is invited. The way the invitation is addressed tells the guest who is invited. For instance, if you address the invitation "Mr. and Mrs. Jackson" you intend on inviting two people, whereas if you address the invitation "The Jackson Family" you intend to invite their entire immediate family. It is important to remember, however, that whoever is omitted from the invitation is assumed to be not invited. For example, "Ms. Sarah Jackson" would mean only Sarah is invited, whereas "Ms. Sarah Jackson and guest" would clearly let Sarah know she is welcome to invite a date.
When you and your groom are going through your guest list, remember these helpful etiquette tips to help keep the decision making easy and stress-free. You have to remember that this wedding is about the two of you. In the end, a plus one shouldn't be taking the place of a guest that does mean something to you, and wants to be there to celebrate your special day.
Also, I wanted to point out that if you are looking to get invitations or any stationery made, one of my favorite vendors is Jen Simpson of Jen Simpson Design. She is the designer of all gorgeous invitations you saw on this post! Be sure to check her out on Facebook and Etsy as well!
Once the beautiful planning of the wedding is over, it is now time for the bride to change her last name. However, my brides have found this long awaited step in their life, of changing their last name, less then a dream come true. It can be so difficult, and confusing to go through this process, and that is why I wanted to share with you this great company called MissNowMrs.com, making the process of changing your last name a breeze.
This great service has created a 3 step process for brides, making it easy to follow and submit all your documents.
STEP ONE: Once you sign up on their website you are prompted to answer a few basic questions. This will help them calculate the procedures needed to be done, based on your state regulations. It will also help determine the forms they will have you fill out. The best part is if you feel uncomfortable filling out any personal information online, then they allow you to print out the forms and you can simply write in any missing information.
STEP TWO: Next your answers, from step one, will be taken and inputed into the appropriate forms for your review. You can look over all the forms to confirm the information listed is accurate. If you don't have time to look over everything in one sitting, no problem! They give you 6 months to look over all the documents, so you can rest assured that everything is accurate and correct. If you ever have any questions or need help, a professional is available to talk to through email, phone, or live chat!!
STEP THREE: Filing! You will be asked to print out all of the forms you have filled out and will then be given specific, detailed instructions on how to go about filing your paperwork. And there you have it! All done! Once papers are filed it is estimated that you will receive your new documents with in 2-3 weeks, depending on the office.
I completely recommend this to anyone beginning the name changing process. You will thank me! They do charge a small fee for using their service, but MissNowMrs.com have given us 2 free gift cards to give out to our readers! To win, CLICK HERE, and share your proposal story, and my team and I will choose two winners! Winners will be announced next Tuesday, October 30th.
Can't wait to hear from you all! Have a simply sweet day :)
I just recently attended the Wedding MBA conference in Las Vegas, where I was introduced to this great company, Flower Girl World. After visiting their booth I checked out their website, and all I can say is......How Cute!! I remember when I was a little girl it was always one of my dreams to be a flower girl! It always sounded like so much fun! Although I never had the opportunity, I love how Flower Girl World has created a way to make the experience of being a flower girl extra special for the young girls in your wedding.
Flower Girl World has so many different things that I love about them. They sell children's books, telling stories about the fun of being a flower girl. They also teach young girls what to expect, and what her special job is as a flower girl. Their books are great for soon to be flower girls, or for young girls who dream of being a flower girl.
Bridesmaid's gifts are a popular thought among bride's, but Flower Girl World has created a sweet flower girl kit that makes a great gift for your own flower girl.
The kit includes various things such as:
Not to mention, their website is such a great resource for parents and bride's including helpful tips on making the experience of the flower girl the most special! They also provide games to play before or during the wedding, or at any bridal events. The website is a great tool for bride's and parents to prepare their child for being a flower girl. It will teach girls wedding vocabulary, wedding etiquette, and give them an insight into how special their job is as a flower girl.
Check out the Flower Girl World website! I know your flower girl will love it, as much as I do!
Every moment of your wedding day is special, including the getting ready process! So why not spice up the morning of your wedding and make it extra fun? I have compiled some great ideas to not only personalize your wedding morning, but that will make great pictures and memories for the future!
Get Ready In Style. Have all of your bridal party wear matching robes while they are getting ready in your changing room. This not only helps preserve your hair and makeup and hair when you change into your dresses, but it makes for adorable pictures while everyone is lounging around in the morning!
Write a Love Note. Send a letter or present to each other before the wedding. It can be a special card between the two of you that you can share before you walk down the aisle. It's easy to get caught up in the planning of the wedding, so this is a great way to make a moment of the day just about you two whether you are doing a first look or not, plus it makes a great keep sake for the future! Be sure to have your maid of honor, or planner deliver the letters/gift to each of you, and have your photographer snap a shot of you both as you open them!
Personalize It! A great trend right now, that I love, is a personalized hanger with the bride's name written in wire through the middle. A nice touch, is to also have a hanger made for each bridesmaid! This will make for great pictures, and also is a thoughtful idea for a bridesmaid gift. Etsy is a good place to find these types of personalized hangers.
Make Your Changing Suite Your Own. The smallest details can mean so much! Make your changing suite your own with a cute sign to hang on your door. This will help all the girls not only know where you are getting ready but adds such a sweet detail to your space.
Don't Forget the Champagne! While you and your girls are getting ready don't forget this is a celebration, so don't forget the champagne. A nice idea is instead of just doing mimosas, you can spice it up with a mimosa bar. Put out cranberry juice, orange juice, pomegranate juice, and any other blended juices you like. If you want more ideas on how to make a fabulous mimosa bar check out this great post on Kojo Designs. It lays out a shopping list of everything to buy, and everything you will need. So helpful!
So make sure not to forget the morning of your big day! You will be so happy you added these little details, and so will your bridesmaids!
Let me know what you think! Don't forget to leave me a comment below! Also, if you have any great ideas that you did at your wedding, or things you would add share them with me! I would love to hear from you.
We are kicking off a new segment we like to call "Wedding Tip Tuesday." Every Tuesday look out for some great tips from us to help you plan the wedding of your dreams. This week we want to address one of the biggest challenges our brides face...Staying Organized. We understanding how difficult it can be to keep track of everything, so we have compiled 8 tips on the best ways to stay organized, and make the planning process as stress-free as possible.
1. Invest in a Binder!
Whether you purchase a professional binder, or you create your own, it is so important to have one. From magazine tear outs to vendor contracts to checklists you will be able to stay organized and keep everything in one place. Nothing is worse then when you cannot find an important document, or that great idea that you found in a magazine. Here's a list of different sections that every bride's binder must have.
We also found some great Free Templates from Russell + Hazel that you can print for your binder. You'll find checklists, budget worksheets, and more! Click Here.
2. Pinterest. Pinterest will be your new best friend! If you are not acquainted with this website, it is a virtual inspiration board where you can create different categories or "boards," and search the web or the Pinterest website for new ideas, themes, colors, etc. When you find something you like you can "pin" it to your board, and it will automatically save it for you to reference when ever you want. It is a great way to keep track of all your ideas! It is also a way to express to your vendors your style and what you want your wedding to look like. We have started our own pinterest and you can get great ideas from our boards. Check it out!
3. Creat a Contact Sheet. Create a list of all the important people that are involved in the wedding. This would include the wedding party, immediate family, vendors that you are using, and any other key people in your wedding. This will help keep all your contact information in one place, and you can easily share this sheet with anyone in your bridal party or your wedding coordinator so they don't have to bug you, asking for people's email addresses or phone numbers.
4. Use a Calendar! We can not stress this enough. Whether you use a planner, google calendar, or iCal, find a calendaring system that works best for you. I personally couldn't live without my iCal from Apple. I can schedule reminders on appointments, and color code all of my events based on their category. But however you decide to mark down your dates, and appointments, it is so important that you stick with it. Make sure you regularly check your calendar, and consistently update it. This will save you from headache and confusion. We promise!!
5. Guest Seating Chart Made Simple. While browsing through Pinterest we found this great idea, from Once Wed, for making the daunting task of organizing your guests seating arrangements fun and easy! Click here to learn how!
6. Draw a Diagram. The day of your wedding you will be too busy to worry about how your ceremony and reception room will be set up, so delegate! Draw a diagram of the ceremony and reception area and write in where you want your decorations and wedding items to go. This way your wedding coordinator will know exactly where you want everything, and you can rest easy the day of your wedding.
7. Create an Itinerary. Creating an itinerary for your bridal party and immediate family is a great way to make sure everyone is on the same page, and you don't have to constantly answer questions on the "when" and "where" of all your wedding events. I love this Wedding Timeline card we found on Etsy! Check it out!
8. Book Your Planner Early! Nothing can help relieve the stress a wedding can bring more than the help of a wedding planner! Planners can help from the smallest detail such as bustling your dress to packing up your things at the end of the night. As a coordinator, I don't want my brides to have to think of anything other than enjoying her day, and being able to help in the planning and coordination can really help with that. However, if you do have a tight budget, hire a planner at the very minimum for "Day of Coordination." This will still help relieve the stress on the day of your wedding, and can help you stay organized!
There you are! 8 Tips on how to stay organized while planning your dream wedding! Don't forget to stop by again next Tuesday for more great tips from me! Until next time!
I was so excited to participate in the September Look Book photo shoot for OurTop5HotList in FRONT of the camera! It was so fun to be able to work with so many amazing vendors, and people I am able to call my friends! Check out the video here and stay tuned for the full look book next week!
Behind the Scenes of 'Stars & Stripes' Style Shoot
I am so excited that we have launched our new website! Lindsay Nicole Design, who designed our blog, has re-designed our site and blog and made it all in one....no need to travel to two different sites now! Please check out the new site and let us know what you think! More pictures and things to keep coming, of course! Also, if anyone is in need of a re-brand, a new website, blog, or just a site or blog facelift, you HAVE to contact Lindsay! :)
Sweetly, Holly
I was so lucky to work on a series of three stylized photoshoots with the amazing Top 5 HotList vendors. The first look-book comes out this Friday and I absolutely cannot wait to see it! In the meantime, here is an awesome behind the scenes of the Rustic Romance shoot!
our TOP5 Professionals Behind the Scenes of "RUSTIC ROMANCE" a SoCal Style Shoot from our TOP5 hotlist on Vimeo.
After cocktail hour it is time for dinner and to listen to some toasts. As many people know public speaking is the number one fear people have, yes, even above death! Martha Stewart Weddings gives a great article for a guide to toasting!
Who Speaks?
At your reception, only the VIPs should stand up to speck. The time for your sorority sisters to all speak about the many memories they have with you from college is at the rehearsal dinner- that's your open-mic night. Because the reception is larger, and the company is more diverse, the longer, more personal speeches should be kept for the evening before.
The host (i.e. the bride's father or parents) is first up. This is to welcome to groom's family into theirs and thoughtfully acknowledge any guests who had to travel. Also, this address is to say a few touching words to the newlyweds.
Next comes the best man and the maid of honor to speak, in that order. Their words can be funnier, more nostalgic, and light-hearted.
After that one or two other people can approach the mic. If you have siblings or non-hosting stepparents who want to say something this is the time.
When to Speak?
There are limited opportunities to get guests' attention without interrupting the fun. Even though you might be drinking Champagne at the start of the cocktail hour, thats not the best time to make toasts. Its hard to ask people to be quiet when they just came from a quiet ceremony. They want to catch up with friends and you want to get the energy going so its important to match your timing to the style of your meal.
For Seated Dinner
The father of the bride should welcome everyone and give a brief toast as guest first sit down to dinner. According to Martha Stewart the rest of the speeches can come at the tail end of the main course, when everyone is almost finished eating, although I like to do the maid of honor and best men speeches after the guests receive their first course so the couple can visit tables during the entree! The groom and/or bride should step up after the cake cutting.
For a Buffet
The transition between cocktail hour and dinner is the ideal window for the host's welcome. Have others speak after the first dance and save the bride and groom for dessert time.
For a Cocktail Reception
There are no rules, so to speak, at this setup. A good strategy? Ask the host to say a few words at the very beginning, have the rest of the toasts follow his lead, and then get the party started.
How to Make It Memorable
Whether you decide to talk or not, use-or pass along- these helpful hints!
Don't Wing It
Its important to map out what you're going to say- the beginning, middle, nd end. If you have a plan you won't ramble, which will make you feel more confident.
Keep It Short and Sweet
Tell them to aim for three to five minuts tops. Any longer and guest get antsy.
Limit the Storytelling
Remember: Most of the room didn't go to high school with you or the groom. Only tell stories that will resonate and entertain everyone.
Talk About the Couple
For other speakers, it's fine to start with, "I've known Carrie since third grade," but make sure you weave in the groom, too. The day is about both of them.
How to Avoid Trouble
Emotions, alcohol, and a microphone can make an already nerve-racking speech go all kinds of wrong. Here's what to do if...
A Tipsy Toaster Is on the Verge of Sharing Too Much
First, encourage your speakers not to hit the bar until after their moment in the spotlight is over. If it's too late for that, have your coordinator or next toaster on the agenda inch closer to the speaker and reach for the mic. It's not seamless but it works.
Your Maid of Honor Is Absolutely Terrified to Talk
See if she might be more comfortable reading a pre-written poem! Or if the stage fright is too much for her, give something to say. She's your friend and when it comes down to it, no one will know the difference. If sentiment is what you're hoping for, you can always ask her to write you a letter.
I absolutely loved working with Ali and Greg for their November wedding at The Mission Basilica and Marbella Country Club because not did Ali and go to LMU together but we were also in Alpha Phi together! I absolutely adore this highlight video that NR3 Video Productions put together so I am so exited to share it.... Enjoy!
I cannot believe 2011 is over and 2012 is here!! It was such an amazing year and I was so lucky to work with so many wonderful people. Now that we are on 2012, let's look back some of the trends from 2011!
The "It" Hors D'oeuvres
Can I just say I love love love Carina Lindgren and her Flawless Faces team? They are honestly everything you could ever want in a hair and make up team. In addition to doing "Flawless" wedding hair and make up, Carina has a studio where she can do facials and other treatments since she is a licensed esthetician. Check out their website for a full list of services they offer. Not to mention, Carina and two of her girls have done my hair and make up twice and I honestly have never felt so confident....cheesy I know. But seriously, please check them out!
No matter what your budget is for your wedding, there are always ways to lower how much you spend on your big day. This article from Bridal Guide gives some clear cut ways to save some money for other things like your honeymoon!
1. The Guest List
Keeping your guest list trim is so important. But if you;re worried that you;ll offend people by not inviting them, stop now. Of course you wouldn't ;eave out your nearest and dearest family and friends , so just think of all those people who would probably be flattered to be invited but not bothered if they aren't. Your best bet is to make some rules. That is, first cousins, but not second, Spouses and live-in or serious partners, but not dates. Your boss, but not your whole office. These are some great ways to make sure your wedding stays a good size.
2. The Dessert Table
Unless you're having a dessert reception, don't go overboard on sweets. Wedding cake is so spectacular that offering a dessert buffet, a crepes suzette station and mini ice cream cones is just excessive.
3. The Flowers
The first time you gazed upon your reception site you saw veritable fields of flowers, right? It's no surprise though that piles and piles of blooms can ratchet up your costs quickly. You don't need to fill every corner of your venue with flowers for your wedding to be pretty. Work with your florist to use the freshest, most in-season blooms to their advantage, then fill the rest with budget-friendly candles or greenery. The look will still be beautiful! If you adore flowers, check out botanical gardens in your area and you'll have a bounteous backdrop of blooms at your disposal.
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