Reaching each other: Woohoo! You’ve announced your engagement to your families and friends, but now what?  Traditionally, the groom’s mother would call the bride’s family to arrange a get together and celebrate.  Nowadays, your announcement is much more important that who does what; you’re getting married!  So it could be the groom’s family, the bride’s family, or as a couple you and your groom can invite both side’s of the family to a gathering where everyone can meet, congratulate, and welcome you and yours to the family!

Ryan Weeger Photography

Money Matters:  Financials are always a very personal and sensitive subject, so proceed with caution. Traditionally the bride’s parents paid for  majority if not all of the day of wedding day arrangements and the décor as well as the engagement party.  Traditionally the groom’s parent’s paid for everything that leads to the wedding day with a few additional décor costs “(the rehearsal dinner, the bride’s engagement and wedding rings, the marriage license, and officiant fee, and the flowers).”

Today, wedding expenses and finances are divided up in any way that best fits everyone’s budget. It important though to give everyone notice prior to discussing the finances of your wedding. As the bride, who wants only the best for your big day, keep in mind that they are supporting you and you may need to compromise with some of their wishes.  Never expect someone to financially support your big day, be grateful for those who can and those who can’t, either way you will be with the ones you love.

Lines of Communication: After your parents meet your future in-laws, encourage them to communicate directly with one another! This will make planning and coordinating with both sides of the family much more simple and fewer questions for you to answer!

Proper Attire: Your mom and mother in law will of course want to look fabulous on your big day. Traditionally the mother of the groom will ask the mother of the bride what she plans to wear, giving her the option to choose first. Regardless, your mothers should wear their personal preferences; but colors and styles that complement one another, and the wedding colors are always a plus!

Ryan Weeger Photography

Roles on the Big Day: On the day of the wedding, your parent’s and the groom’s parents should act as hosts throughout the day. They should all be included within the procession at the ceremony and greet guests at the reception. Your parents and in laws should also prepare to give a toast as well (usually father of the groom at the rehearsal dinner and father of the bride at the reception).  This will be a very happy day for them as well, so be sure they enjoy, have some bubbly, and celebrate with all the guests.

Ryan Weeger Photography

The post Wedding Etiquette for the Parents of the Bride and Groom appeared first on Simply Sweet Weddings & Events.

“Be the first to say “I do” at the newly reinvented Center Club in Costa Mesa!  Orange County’s premier private business club has gorgeous new decor that would accent any wedding or event. They have recently announced a multimillion dollar make-over that includes: an upscale bar, that would be a wonderful place for your guests to grab a drink and mingle before you and your groom arrive, a brand new outdoor terrace, lovely for taking newly wed photos that provide an intimate touch, and a new ballroom, perfect for anydécor or wedding theme!”

“Truly unrivaled to other wedding locations in Orange County – Center Club’s new Symphony Ballroom featuring elegant and sophisticated surroundings, floor to ceiling windows offering a view of a tranquil water garden, unsurpassed service and award-winning chef and culinary team creates a perfect and unforgettable wedding day. Have your special wedding day at Center Club and experience an incredible, unparalleled private club atmosphere that will be the perfect backdrop for the most memorable day of your life. Bring your wedding ideas and your creative touch to the Center Club and have your dream wedding!”

The post Venue Spotlight: Center Club in Costa Mesa appeared first on Simply Sweet Weddings & Events.

I have fallen in love with Sara C. Accessories! Her customizable purses add a unique touch to any bride’s special day. Flipping through her catalog, I can’t help but want to purchase them all! As a wedding planner, I love to see bride’s put their own unique, personal touch into planning their wedding day. With Sara C’s purses bride’s can easily do this.

When you order one of Sara C’s handbags you can immediately begin personalizing your very own purse. Sara tells me you can “customize your purse by selecting color, hardware color, lining color, and adding up to two short lines of embroidery text.” If you want to take your custom order a step further, you can email Sara, and she will work with you to make all your ideas come to life.

Sara started her purses in 2007, creating tote bags and handbags for her friends and family. After realizing how much she loved designing purses, she decided to take it online. She the created her Etsy store where she started receiving requests for bridal clutches. Sara soon turned her attention to bridal designs.

“I love that my customized purses make great bridesmaids gifts and are pieces that the bride and her girls can use long after the wedding is over.”

I love the personalized embroidery that can be put on the inside lining of the purse. They make such beautiful keepsakes and add a unique flare to a bride’s wedding look.

Make sure to check out her ETSY STORE, and like her on Facebook! Order your clutch through us and mention this blog post to receive 10% off your custom clutch!  E-mail holly@simplysweet-weddings.com for more information!

The post Vendor Spotlight: Sara C. Accessories appeared first on Simply Sweet Weddings & Events.

1. Where did you meet?

2. Where did you go as kids (summer camp, family trips, studies abroad)?

3. What did you do on your first date?

4. Where was your first vacation together?

5. What time of year do you love most?

6. What colors do you gravitate toward?

7. Are you obsessed with a certain flower?

8. What family heirloom would you cherish carrying on your day?

9. What song lyric or poem moves you most?

10. Do you have a pet?

11. What’s the bar where everybody knows your names?

12. Do you play a sport or root for a team?

13. What’s your go-to food?

14. If you could eat at only one restaurant, which would you pick?

15. What guilty pleasure do you share?

16. What are your hobbies, or do you collect anything?

17. How would you describe your dream date night?

18. What are your nicknames?

19. Do you have a desert-island book or a favorite quote?

20. What’s your No. 1 film?

The post 20 Questions To Personalize Your Big Day appeared first on Simply Sweet Weddings & Events.

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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:

• They offer beautiful designers such as Mathew Christopher, Hayley Paige, Enzoani, and Tara Keely
• Great value for how gorgeous and high quality the dresses are!
• Allow clients to take pictures of their dress before purchase
• Flagship store for jewelry designer Haute Bride

Things to know: 

• Open Tuesday through Sunday
• Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged
• Saturday and Sunday visits require an appointment
• Wear a strapless bra into your appointment (if you forget they do have ones to borrow)
• Make sure to keep an open mind.
• Be mindful about how many people you bring, and who they are.

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 post Vendor Spotlight: Blush Bridal Couture appeared first on Simply Sweet Weddings & Events.

Jen Simpson Design

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.

Jen Simpson Design

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:

• Only allow guests to bring their significant other if you have met him or her
• Allow dates if they have been together for a set number of years (choose a number and stick to it)
• Allow anyone who has a significant other to bring him or her

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.

Jen Simpson Design

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”.

Jen Simpson Design

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.

Jen Simpson Design

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!

The post Wedding Tip Tuesday: Invitation Etiquette – Plus Ones appeared first on Simply Sweet Weddings & Events.

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.

Marianne Wilson Photography

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!!

Mathieu Photography

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.

Focus Photography, Inc.

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 :)

The post Vendor Spotlight: MissNowMrs.com appeared first on Simply Sweet Weddings & Events.

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.

Ron Levy Photography

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:

• Practice Petals
• Practice Basket
• Glitter Flower Stickers
• Official Flower Girl World Certificate
• Wedding Day Activity Book
• Memory Scrapbook
• Collectible Bookmarks
• Crayons
• Kit Folder

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!

The post Vendor Spotlight: Flower Girl World appeared first on Simply Sweet Weddings & Events.

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!

Mike Larson Inc. – Sophie

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.

Focus Photography Inc.

Jennifer Wilson Photography

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.

Marianne Wilson Photography

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!

Kojo Designs

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.

The post Wedding Tip Tuesday: Spice Up the Morning of Your Wedding Day! appeared first on Simply Sweet Weddings & Events.