Wedding Wednesday: Think Outside the Box

I plan and coordinate about 8 - 10 weddings a month so unfortunately they all run together after awhile.  That's why I absolutely LOVE seeing new ideas and brides stepping outside of tradition and making their wedding and event to remember.  There's nothing wrong with tradition, and I know I've mentioned this before, but your wedding is the perfect time to showcase you and your fiance's personality!  Don't be afraid to be silly or quirky or just different than every other wedding you've already seen...who says Weddings have to be stuffy and conservative??  Here are a few cute/funny/different ideas I've pinned on Pinterest to share with my upcoming brides:

Hilarious 'Day After' Photos of Bride, Bride's Mother and Bridal Party: 



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And how many blank RSVP cards have you seen and have absolutely no idea what to write?  I love this option:



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Or this one:

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Why not skip the traditional Engagement Photo on the Gift/Guest Book Table and get something like this?

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These could also serve as Save the Dates (made smaller obviously) or a great gift to give a couple after their big day!


And we all know hiring a photographer is a must - but why not capture your guests personalities with a super fun Photo-Booth!  These pics are so much better than cheesy group shots at the dinner table...



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Don't forget to add a bag of props and signage to really encourage extra fun!

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Photobooth pics can also be used as a part of your guest book instead of everyone just scribbling their name in a book....are you really going to read a list of signed names for years to come?  I highly doubt it - so why not have the photobooth print out the pics immediately and have your guests write their well wishes next to their funny pics!



And who said anything about your table numbers being numbers?  Why not black and white pics of past Hollywood Actors to give your wedding a very Hollywood/Glam Vibe?

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The above pic actually came from one of the weddings at my place of work:-)


And I'm sorry, but the same tired black suits for the guys are so over-rated...why not try a khaki or gray suit? 

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And last but not least, give your guests favors they will actually USE:

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The orange 'koozies' above read: To have and to hold and to keep your drink cold'...how funny and true at the same time:-)

What other different Wedding Ideas have you seen?

xoxo,

Amanda

Wedding Wednesday: Vintage Glam Inspiration

As Katina's (aka Recipe Gurl) Wedding gets closer (okay it's still 8 months away but in Wedding Time, that will be here in the blink of an eye), we seem to rely on Pinterest more and more everyday to house our constant ideas and inspirations.  For Katina's Vintage Glam Wedding, here is what we have been inspired by lately:

Who said your Bouquet has to be Flowers??  Step outside the box and use vintage jewels instead!

Vintage Frames with Old Family Photos

Rehearsal Dinner Inspiration 

Mixed Matched Votives, a Must for the Centerpieces

Nothing says Vintage like a Lace Gown 

Milkglass and Baby's Breathe - So Sweet

(All Photos can be found on our Pinterest Board)

What has inspired you lately?

xoxo, 

Amanda and Katina

Wedding Wednesday

Where does the time go?  I feel like I JUST left Charlotte/Richmond for Katina's (Recipe Gurl) Engagement Party - even though that was almost two weeks ago!  I know I said I'd do this post last week, but as I'm sure all of you know, catching up on work after a vaca is the worst!  So without further adieu - here are some great pics of us and our friends at her amazing party and fun-filled weekend:


First and foremost, when Katina picked me up from the Charlotte airport, we went straight to the most amazing sushi restaurant called Eez Fusion & Sushi in the most adorable part of Charlotte called Birkdale Village. Whoever said that landlocked cities don't have good sushi has obviously never been to this place.  Hands down, the most amazing sushi I've ever had (and I've had a lot!).

Sitting outside at Eez Fushion (we did not coordinate our outfits I swear)

Katina always gets the Mad Mango-Cado Roll: Shrimp tempura and kani roll coated with tempura flakes, topped with slices of fresh mango and avocado. Drizzled with our signature sweet sauce.......divine!


Since I'm obsessed with anything that has jalapeno in it, I got the Mango Tango Roll:  Albacore tuna, yellowfin tuna, jalapeno and green onion inside. Topped with yellowfin tuna, albacore tuna and tuna mango salsa. Garnished with raspberry sauce on the plate.  Again - absolutely mind-blowing!!


If you are ever in the Charlotte, NC area, I HIGHLY suggest you visit this place and stuff your face like we did.  


Then it never hurts to top off your sushi with several glasses (or bottles) of wine with a friend:

Catching up at Katina's adorable house.  We'll have to blog on her decor and paint colors soon since she did an amazing job with her new home.

On to Richmond, VA for the party....

Katina (Recipe Gurl) and her soon to be hubby, Greg

Katina and me (in the middle) with our awesome friends!!

The weekend was so much fun and I had a really hard time coming back to Florida - but we have plenty of Wedding festivities to keep us busy over the next couple of months!  

xoxo,

Amanda 

Wedding Wednesday: Bridesmaid Edition

I feel as if Katina and I go back and forth more about what accessories her bridesmaids will wear than what she, the bride, will actually wear!  We have truly scoured the internet looking for the perfect jewels and accessories to fit her/our styles.  I'm so sick of seeing the same cheap, crystal dangly earrings and matching necklaces that are purchased from the national chain wedding stores.  I just don't understand why accessorizing the bridesmaids is such an after-thought with so many brides.  Please keep in mind that you shouldn't ask your best girls to wear anything you wouldn't wear.  Have fun with it and allow your bridesmaids to help in your quest that way everyone can be happy.  Here are some of our pics for fab jewels and accessories:

First and foremost, my new fave fashion Bloggers (I am Stylish and Red Soles and Red Wine) have started their own Jewelry Line called t + j designs.  This is not a Wedding Line by any means, but hey, it's okay to think outside of the box and NOT get your jewelry from a Wedding Store. 

Here are my pics from their collection that would top off any chic bridesmaid dress:

Delicate Luxe Rhinestone Necklace

Crystal Encrusted Grey Earrings

Silver Sparkly Knuckle Ring

Now check out Katina's pics for her vintage-glam wedding:

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Any of these items would make great Bridesmaid gifts as well!

Again - my biggest piece of advice to my clients is to HAVE FUN with the planning process and allow your big day to really showcase your personal style.

xoxo-

Amanda and Katina

Wedding Wednesday - Recipe Gurl Gets Hitched

Seeing how I'm a Special Event/Wedding Planner and my best friend is getting married next year, we decided to create a new series called "Wedding Wednesdays'.  Every Wednesday we will post our ideas and tips on all things having to do with planning your own very chic, yet affordable Wedding. 

xoxo- Amanda

First up: INVITATIONS

So for all of you brides out there on a budget, be prepared to follow me on my journey of nickel and diming my way through this ridiculously expensive tradition…

My first tip…make your own invitations. Find super cute templates here.  This website allows you to customize colors and fonts to fit your style all for only $25!!! You can print save the dates, invitations, rsvp cards, envelopes, programs, and more. All you are responsible for is printing them out, which you can do on your own printer at home! There are also video tutorials for how to do it all. Amazing….here is the invitation I picked out, after I customize it I plan to start the printing project in early November. All you need is some bottles of wine, good music, a good friend to help, and you have all of your wedding invitations for $25?! Um, yes please, sounds like a fun weekend to me! I’ll keep you posted on how the project goes and other ways to cheat your way through these money robbing nuptials.   Check out the template I'm currently in love with:

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xoxo - Katina