Archive for 'Real Wedding'
I’ve given you tips from my planning experience thus far, now here’s some advice from the pros. Former brides, planners, photographers and vendors learn so much when putting a wedding together. Whether you want a referral, have a budget question or want to know what colors look best together, they truly are invaluable resources. I have received amazing advice on everything from candles to spa treatments.
Here are my top-ten favorite words of wisdom I have received. They are in no particular order and yes, some of the tips will be a little random but hey, it’s better to know these things a head of time!
1. Do NOT get a massage the day of your wedding. I was told by a former bride that she made this mistake and felt “too relaxed” during the ceremony and the reception. She was rushing around all day, forgot to drink water and was incredibly dehydrated.
2. Instead of a massive wedding cake, order a small cake to display and a sheet cake, made with identical ingredients, to serve the guests. It’s a huge budget saver that doesn’t require you to sacrifice anything.
3. Remember to wear a top that does NOT need to go over your head when you’re getting your hair and makeup done (ex. a button-down shirt).
4. If you’re decorating with candles, Ashland Basic Elements Pillar Votives burn for 12 hours!
5. Tell vendors what you can afford to spend up-front. Not only does this save everyone time and back-and-forth emails but most vendors are actually more than happy to work with your budget.
6. Ebay, for new and pre-owned items, and Etsy are great spots for all the little things; cake toppers, money envelope holders etc.
7. For lovely and free printable save the date and wedding invitation templates, go to weddingchicks.com, loveandlavender.com and domestifluff.com.
8. Break in your bridal shoes before the big day.
9. Wedding favors are nice but not necessary. At the end of the day most people forget to take them or lose them.
10. Don’t do anything to your hair (cut, color, Keratin Treatment etc.) any sooner than 2 weeks before the wedding day. One of our vendors shared a terrifying story about a blond dye job gone bad.
- Lauren G.
Top 5 Tips When Planning Your WeddingThe ring goes on your finger, your eyes fill with tears and the two of share a beautiful moment together as you mark the beginning of the next step in your lives. OK, that moment is passed and now it’s time to get your planning on.
#5 – Like a Game Show, Know Your Stuff
When we started inquiring about locations, we’d call or send venues casual (and excited e-mails) that said, “Hi! We are interested in having our wedding at ________ sometime in September. Would you mind sending pricing and information?” The responses were always the same; “What in your wedding date? Will you be having your ceremony on-site? How many people? What time?” Woah! I have no idea! First of all, I always thought you chose a month or season when you wanted to get married and your date depended on when the venue was available in that time period. Apparently, many couples have a specific date in mind ahead of time. Who knew?
Tip: Prior to visiting or contacting venues, talk with your fiancé and make a preliminary guestimate on head count, date etc. It will help speed up the process and get you more precise information.
#4 – Create Pinterest Limits
I can’t tell you how many times I hear people say, “I can’t imagine what planning would have been like if Pinterest was around when I was getting married.” Well, they don’t realize that, when it comes to weddings, Pinterest is a blessing and a curse. Yes, you’ll browse hundreds of amazing images and ideas but think about what that does to decision-making. Every time I think, “this is what I want,” I see a pin that makes me second-guess my decision. I am currently stuck between rustic/bohemian and vintage/romantic décor themes. It’s too hard to decide!
Tip: Give yourself Pinterest limits. If you’re recently engaged and haven’t really started planning then browse away! However, if you’ve already started planning don’t go crazy by over-immersing yourself in ideas. Login from time-to-time to see fresh visuals but that’s it!
#3 – The “W” in Wedding Doesn’t Stand for Woman
I met up with a friend and her fiancé last year, just as they had started making their initial wedding plans. As we chatted and I asked questions it was clear that her fiancé didn’t know any of the answers. In fact he had a surprised look on his face after everything she said. When I ran into her one month before the wedding she was running around finalizing everything and he was playing golf. She had a breakdown in the middle of Shop Rite. P.S. The fella referenced in this story is not a jerk. The bride never asked him to help, so he assumed she wanted to plan everything by herself.
Tip: It’s completely understandable and fine if the bride wants to plan the wedding alone, but that doesn’t mean she needs to be alone while she plans the wedding! If the groom isn’t opinionated about center-pieces or doesn’t really care about invitations, that’s fine. However, don’t miss out on spending time together in the process.
#2 – “Don’t Worry so Much About Supposed to.”
Have you ever seen the film, Chocolat? I love this quote and it is a useful thing to remember when wedding planning. These days couples are making new traditions. Think you need to have a sit-down dinner even though you want to throw a cocktail party? Think again!
Tip: As the quote says, don’t worry so much. There are no rules or “supposed to’s” anymore!
#1 – Repeat After Me, “It’s One Day”
Weddings can not only be expensive, but they can stressful. It’s a day that you think about forever and then all of a sudden it’s here. This concept causes a lot of pressure, especially for the bride, to create perfection. You’ll feel like you need to be in the best shape and look the prettiest, that the food, décor and music need to be spot-on and that if it rains or snows the world is over.
Tip: It is (almost) exactly 6 months to my wedding day. A few months ago I had an epiphany; I am about to marry the man of my dreams and it doesn’t matter what shape I’m in, whether the food at the reception is soggy or if there is torrential downpour.
 |
| Boutonniere by LovelyGirls Events and photo by Sanderson Images |
And a dream they are! When it’s come to wedding flowers, baby’s breath might just be the new carnation this past wedding season. Like carnations, baby’s breath is not exactly glamorous, but has a lovely fragrant scent. This seasonless flower available all year long has a reputation for being a cheapo filler flower, but en masses and monochromatic – stunning! This stand alone flower is now used for wreaths, bouquets, boutonnières, ceremony décor, event décor, and beautifully staged tablescapes. You will find blogs nationwide showcasing this trend that has seem to take over the hearts of the vintage inspired bride.
Just this past fall, the Knot.com event in
As seen on the wedding report and written by *mwaa*!
nicole brennan . 302.545.0412 . nicole@lovelygirlsevents.com . wilmington
The first time I ever met with Chelsea and George, I met them for a consultation at the University and Whist Club in the City of Wilmington. I had never been so impressed to be an invited to the members only club and then had the opportunity to dine with Chelsea, George, and Chelseas mother Melanie! Melanie and myself were enjoying trying the new fare that the chef was sending out to our table, and I enjoyed watching as Melanie ordered for both Chelsea and George, knowing what the both of them would want to order. She was the most gracious and attentive of mothers. And of course, Melanie and I were able to reap the benefits of keeping an open mind and enjoying the caviar on crisp wontons with mango since Chelsea and George would not even dare to sample. I knew we would enjoy ourselves during the planning process when they decided during dinner that LovelyGirls would have the opportunity to work with Chelsea and Georges family! I am so glad that we did. Chelseas mother, Melanie, had the biggest heart! Chelsea had a huge fondness for candy, so Melanie arranged for limousine pickup at their house, and arranged for Chelseas entire bridal shower be moved to Dylans Candy Bar in NYC. Could not have asked for a better day. Well, in hindsight, maybe for the DVD player to work! All in all, Chelsea could not have been more surprised.Chelsea and George held their wedding at the beautiful St. Hedwigs in the City of Wilmington. Chelsea dressed her bridesmaids in beautiful sage green Bari Jay floor length dresses while they carried a full bouquet of lush fuchsia peonies and roses by Le Sentier Flowers. After being whisked away by their convertible Rolls Royce, they were taken to the beautiful University and Whist Club where Chelsea had wanted a very PINK wedding. Pink linens, pink sashes, pink peonies, and beautiful pink rose petals around the base of her three tiered buttercream cake by the University and Whist Club. Each tier was adorbed by a ribbon of rhinestones, and the candlelight from the table just made it sparkle from across the room. You would have thought there was a disco ball on the dance floor! Dominique Ho of Le Sentier Flowers was amazing to work with and the bouquets of peonies and roses, and the centerpieces of hydrangea were stunning! If you ever have the opportunity to make it to the University and Whist Club, we suggest asking for the Basil Ice Cream (even if it is not on the menu). It is worth second, thirds, and fourths in my book! Enjoy the images courtesy of Clair Pruett Photography (and a course a few our ours mixed in)!
Devon and Ethan were such a great couple to work with over the course of their planning! I had known Ethan through a friend of a friend, who had a friend from around ten years ago… you know the story! So, we were thrilled when Ethan introduced us to his bride-to-be and said they needed a little extra help having things come together. They held their ceremony at the Golden Sands Club in Ocean City Maryland the weekend of May 7th, and had a theme of black and white damask print (which we brought in through table runners by Longrunners on Etsy) with touches of hot pink in their bouquets, floral centerpieces, and even in the bridesmaids shoes! To bring in touches of the beach into the reception, Devon wanted to incorporate fuchsia orchids and river rocks with some floating candles into centerpieces.
It was such a beautiful weekend, and Liza and I spent most of our first evening in our hotel room stripping roses and making bouquets. The morning however… wow, we had the most spectactular view of the sunrise over the ocean and then it was off to get some DD to keep our day going strong, as we had a 9:30am start time. We really heart long days that start with extremely beautiful visuals! Devon and Ethans ceremony was in the sand on the clubs grounds, but as the sun started to set behind the condos, so did the temperature, so the cocktail hour was quickly moved up and into the reception space. The team at the Golden Sands did a great job of getting set up very quickly and getting the party started. We had the pleasure of working with Teri Pozniak of tPoz Photography, and she was a blast all day and evening! She kept it light and fun and was able to catch some great shots of Devon and Ethan that you can check out here:
I was so thrilled when a previous little league teammate of mine, Katie, reached out to me to help plan her wedding last summer. Katie and her fiance, Chris, had been winners of the 2010 Christiana Hilton Free Wedding Giveaway where they won a variety of services by some of Delawares talented local vendors! We were a little late to the punch, but we were so excited for the opportunity that Katie and Chris were extending to us, and the new vendor relationships that we would be forging! Katie and Chris held their ceremony at the St. Margaret of Scotland RC Church, with the reception following in the Christiana Ballroom at the Christiana Hilton, and after party in the Hunt Club! I could not imagine any other way to kick off our 2011 wedding season. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Yandell!The girls at Gloss Salon, where Katies sister Jamie is a stylist, came to the suite for the morning for the bridal party hair and makeup. Their work is amazing, and it was fast and efficient! Katie had one request, that her sister Jamie style her up-do for the wedding. It was elegant, beautiful, and we could not have thought of a better sister, MoH, or stylist to pull off that creation!
Katie and Chris decided upon a movie premiere themed wedding complete with popcorn, red carpet appearances, movie ticket escort cards, and a popcorn bar with ten different flavors! They even tied their theme into their florals by using white hydrangea in a tall square white vase by Creations for Celebrations so that it resembled popcorn in boxes… it was the small things that brought their theme to life! They were so fortunate to have Dave and Donna Shoemaker of Life Images Inc. documenting all of these great ideas by Katie.
Katie and Chris also went to stationery designer, Greenleaf Paperie, for their custom invitations and they absolutely loved every inch of them, as did we! Hands down, our favorite detail to the wedding was the three tiered ice sculpture with the tulip vase topper and custom monogram by the Christiana Hilton team. The staff at the Hilton was nothing short of A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Oh, and did we mention that each table was a theatre number with a coordinating movie playing? Yes. Pair of movie tickets given away by the bride and groom at each table? Double YES!
Katie and Chris also went to stationery designer, Greenleaf Paperie, for their custom invitations and they absolutely loved every inch of them, as did we! Hands down, our favorite detail to the wedding was the three tiered ice sculpture with the tulip vase topper and custom monogram by the Christiana Hilton team. The staff at the Hilton was nothing short of A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Oh, and did we mention that each table was a theatre number with a coordinating movie playing? Yes. Pair of movie tickets given away by the bride and groom at each table? Double YES!
Dana McDonald from WSTW rocked the house all night long, and even prompted some impromptu table dancing by Katies uncle (which we hear is a family tradition at Gallagher weddings!). Everyone rushed the room, and needless to say, we enjoyed it! Peter Marroni and his crew from the Wilmington Photo Booth Co. also kept the party going all night long. I have to admit, I freeze when I get in those things (and I feel like I am the crazy one of our bunch)… but no one else did! The bridal party even used the props for their bridal party entrance.
Enjoy the detail pictures below, because there are so many fun ones and I really had difficulty choosing!
nicole brennan . 302.545.0412 . nicole@lovelygirlsevents.com . wilmington
February 01, 2011
|
I knew Caitlin when we were in high school, but as the story goes, Caitlin joined the ARMY, fell in love with this great guy named Rodney while stationed in Iraq, and decided to marry. Classic story of girl meets boy, girl falls in love with boy, and boy proposes. But there is a twist! Caitlin and Rodney were married by proxy on September 11, 2008 while in Iraq so that they could continue to serve their deployment together. Proxy meaning that while they were in Iraq, there was a ceremony held in Montana and a couple (of whom they never met) stood in for each of them! In July of 2009, Caitlin reached out to me in regards to planning their Catholic wedding back in the states! Their ceremony was to be held at St. Thomas the Apostle R.C. Church and her reception to be held at the Winterthur Museum and Gardens, and I was ecstatic… It was great to be able to reconnect with an old friend and help her plan the wedding of their dreams! After hearing their story, I suggested to Caitlin that they should submit their love story to the Philadelphia Wedding Project. It was amazing news in October when she found out that they won six fantastic photographers from the Philadelphia Area that would visually tell their story all the way through their vendor meetings, bridal shower, hair trial, engagement session, and wedding day. Through this amazing opportunity, they were able to connect with such great vendors as Synergetic Sounds for their DJ and Lighting needs, as well as Beautiful Blooms for all of their floral centerpieces and bouquets.
 |
|
Caitlin chose a color pallet of teal, aqua, and lime green
|
Caitlin and Rodney wanted to originally have a beach wedding, but decided that they would instead bring the beach to Winterthur Museum and Gardens! And they did just that with elements such as sand, starfish, coral, driftwood, and orchids. Take a look for yourself how their story played out through our teaser pictures that LovelyGirls captured during their special day! Stay tuned later in the week for a preview of their wedding invitation by Greenleaf Paperie!
Ceremony: St. Thomas the Apostle R.C. Church
Venue: Winterthur Museum + Gardens
Floral: Beautiful Blooms
DJ + Lighting: Jason of Synergetic Sounds
Stationery + Invites: Greenleaf Paperie
Cake + Catering: Restaurant Associates Catering
Hair + Make-up: Town and Country Salon
Transportation: Daves Limousine
Photography: Philadelphia Wedding Project – Sofia Negron Photography, LeapFrog Photography, Ryan Estes Photography, Jennifer Childress Photography, 217 Photography, and Joy Moody Photography
Photography: Philadelphia Wedding Project – Sofia Negron Photography, LeapFrog Photography, Ryan Estes Photography, Jennifer Childress Photography, 217 Photography, and Joy Moody Photography
nicole brennan . 302.545.0412 . nicole@lovelygirlsevents.com . wilmington
November 01, 2010
|
For our first meeting, we met at this great little coffee shop in Rittenhouse Square. We immediately fell in love with Mythris fun, care-free spirit and how Prakash just adored her! She was prepared with all of the necessities… samples of her invite, favors, even one of her sample overlays. With guests flying in from Texas, San Francisco, Switzerland, India, and all across the world (literally), we had to make sure that they had the best day ever. Mythri was very clear with the theme of their day. FUN. With two ceremonies (one in front of a carousel), a parade, and a reception at the Please Touch Museum… you could say that they did just that. Palace at the Ben and Max & Me Catering put together a traditional indian menu for all of the guests to enjoy!
Each wedding comes with its own complications, so the only snafu was only three weeks out when Mythri + Prakash had to part ways with their florist due to creative disagreements. Liza and myself were happy to step in and save their day! We packed up and loaded all of the elements that Mythri had purchased for her centerpiece vision… peacock feathers, purple and teal ostrich feathers, floralytes, butterflies, eiffel tower vases, overlays, and the list could go on. We were ecstatic after receiving a phone call from Prakash two days after Mythri viewed the mock ups we put together for her to view, and how she loved them!
Now sit back, and count how many outfits that Mythri + Prakash change into throughout the day… if you count 3, you missed one, but its okay because the fourth isn’t pictured here. For Mythris last outfit of the evening… (drumroll please)…. Mythri changed into black yoga pants and a vintage t-shirt. She danced the night away and did a number of numbers. She was the entertainment! All of these amazing pictures were taken by Sofia Negron Photography.
Christian Ceremony: Church of the Holy Trinity in Rittenhouse Square
Hindu Ceremony: Carousel House at the Please Touch Museum
Reception: Memorial Hall at the Please Touch Museum
Photographer: Sofia Negron Photography
DJ + Lighting: Jiten Patel of JP Entertainment
Centerpieces: LovelyGirls Events
Mandap: Mandaps Etc.
Buses for Guests: Wertz Motor Coaches
Limousine: Global Limousine
Hotel Accomodations: Raddison Plaza - Warwick Hotel Philadelphia
October 13, 2010
|
Working with Liza was so much fun! She was so DIY and absolutely had a fabulous taste for great vendors and photography. When Liza and I had originally spoke, she wanted to host her wedding at the Central Library branch of Philadelphia Free Library on Vine. Beautiful facility. Downside, it was not going to be big enough to host Liza and Toms 200+ guest list. So, onto searching for a new facility. Liza had a modern flair. Loves Philadelphia. Even a flair for the dramatics. So, what did Liza and Tom find as their best option? The Adventure Aquarium located just across the Delaware River in Camden, NJ. With its modern decor, panoramic view of the Philadelphia skyline, and the ever dramatic shark tanks in the Currents Ballroom, it was almost like Cinderella putting on her glass slipper at the ball. Well, at least you would have thought with the amazing shoe selection worn by the bridal party! The best part about the wedding was having such a great team to work with such as Pat Furey Photography and Synergetic Sounds + Lighting. Here are some photo teasers compliments of Pat Furey!
 |
|
photography by Pat Furey
|
 |
|
photography by Pat Furey
|
 |
|
photography by Pat Furey
|
 |
|
photography by Pat Furey
|
 |
|
photography by Pat Furey
|
 |
|
photography by Pat Furey
|
 |
|
photography by Pat Furey
|
 |
|
photography by Pat Furey
|
Ceremony: Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church
Reception: Currents Ballroom at Adventure Aquarium
Dress: Enzoani Couture, ”Desiree”
Hair & Make-up: Danielle + Natasha from Sapphire Salon & Spa
Shoes: Michaelangelo for ceremony… fun blue shoes by MIX No6 from DSW
Groomsmen Tux: Chaps by Ralph Lauren
Bridesmaids: Davids Bridal
Floral: all done by the bride
DJ: Chris of Synergetic Sounds
Trolley: Philadelphia Trolley Works
Cake: Brendenbeck’s in Chestnut Hill
Photography: Pat Furey Photography
Invitations: Whimsical Prints
Seating Chart: Sealed with a Kiss in Haddonfield, NJ
Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Center City
Reception: Currents Ballroom at Adventure Aquarium
Dress: Enzoani Couture, ”Desiree”
Hair & Make-up: Danielle + Natasha from Sapphire Salon & Spa
Shoes: Michaelangelo for ceremony… fun blue shoes by MIX No6 from DSW
Groomsmen Tux: Chaps by Ralph Lauren
Bridesmaids: Davids Bridal
Floral: all done by the bride
DJ: Chris of Synergetic Sounds
Trolley: Philadelphia Trolley Works
Cake: Brendenbeck’s in Chestnut Hill
Photography: Pat Furey Photography
Invitations: Whimsical Prints
Seating Chart: Sealed with a Kiss in Haddonfield, NJ
Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Center City
Like what you see here? E-mail us at hello@lovelygirlsevents.com { nicole }
September 19, 2010
|
After our first meeting with Kara, we knew that she was going to be one of the coolest brides ever! After all, our planner, Nicole, could barely speak. She had laryngitis and the doctors had given her marching orders not to speak for the next 48 hours. However, that didn’t stop her from arriving with Trisha with her laptop in hand, as she ordered a Vanilla Chai from Presto on Washington St. She proceeded to meet with our newest bride, Kara, even if she could only muster a few words (and maybe some grunts). It must have impressed Kara with our dedication, because she had decided that we would be the perfect fit! After all, Kara had the perfect vision for her Appleford Estates wedding that was to be held on a sunny afternoon in Villanova, PA. Kara and Marcs line-up of vendors was just spectacular! They were working with the amazing Donna O’Brien from Beautiful Blooms and the ever-so talented Laura Novak from Novak Photography, as well as GreenLeaf Paperie, Blue Hen Video Productions, Timmy D Productions, and Evoluer Image Consultants. I guess that is what happens when you have great taste!
Venue: Appleford Estates
Floral: Beautiful Blooms
Stationery + Invites: GreenLeaf Paperie
Photography: Laura Novak Photography
Cake + Catering: Jack Francis Catering
Hair: Perry Anthony Salon + Day Spa
Hair: Perry Anthony Salon + Day Spa
Make-up: Evoluer Image Consultants
