Category Archives: For the Bride-to-Be

Jul 21 2011
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Details, For the Bride-to-Be

Details I Love — Wedding Cake Alternatives

Yep, you guessed it…another “breaking tradition” idea with a Details I Love post! 🙂 Wedding cake alternatives are becoming extremely popular…but I bet most people are just thinking cupcakes…

Photo credit: Kelley Finnegan

While cupcakes have become a very popular alternative to wedding cakes, there are many other options as well!  Check out these other alternatives and get creative 🙂

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1) Pie Bar — Remember Adel & Max’s amazing pie bar?

Photo credit: Kelley Finnegan

 Pick some of your favorite pie flavors to share with your guests in lieu of a traditional cake!

Photo credit: Jessica Watson Photography

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2) Ice Cream — Consider serving various flavors of ice cream!  Guests can choose their own toppings, too.  This is sure to be a favorite…especially on a hot day!

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3) Dessert Bar — Having a dessert bar allows guests to pile on a variety of your favorite treats.  Want to save some money?  Consider having family members help out by baking some favorite family baked goods to serve to your guests like Karyn & Joshua did!

Photo credit: Kelley Finnegan

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4) Carnival treats — Who doesn’t enjoy cotton candy, funnel cakes, caramel apples, and so on?  Consider serving these childhood favorites!

Photo credit: Jessamyn Harris Photographer

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5) Chocolate fountain — Last year, I attended a friend’s wedding with a chocolate fountain as an alternative to cake.  She had a variety of fruits, marshmallows, etc. to dip into the yummy fountain 🙂

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6) Other Cake Alternatives — For even more ideas on how to get creative with your wedding dessert:

Photo credit: Martha Stewart Weddings

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Maybe some brides are thinking… “But Kelley, what about the cake cutting tradition?  Won’t I lose out on this experience by having a wedding cake alternative?!”

Don’t worry ladies…if this is a concern for you, consider purchasing a small cake that will simply be used for cake cutting photos:

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Yummmm!!!

Happy Thursday

&

Happy Eating! 🙂

Jul 20 2011
1 Comment
For the Aspiring Event Planner, For the Bride-to-Be, Real Weddings

Real Wedding — Marisa & Scott

This past weekend I worked with The Chef Table Caterers on a wedding at Briar Patch.  It was fun to be at Briar Patch working with Henriette…but we were both working as catering staff!  Definitely different!

Anyways, it was so busy that day I didn’t have a chance to snap any photos at all!  So today’s post was going to go a little something like this:

Colors: Navy & Fuchsia

Ceremony: Outdoors under the tree

Cocktails & Hor D’oeurves: Sangria bar where guests could choose from red or white sangria and add their own fruit + open premium bar; passed hor d’oeurves — antipasto kabobs, crab cakes, bruschetta, meatballs…yummm!

……And the post would have gone on and on so that readers could visualize on their own.

However….

Thanks to the fabulous Amie Otto having some of the professional photos already edited and posted on her facebook page, I can show you what this event actually looked like — and with much better photos than what I usually take on my own!  So, enjoy!  And thanks for sharing Amie!!!

All photos courtesy of Amie Otto Photography.

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Happy Wednesday!

Jul 19 2011
2 Comments
Details, For the Aspiring Event Planner, For the Bride-to-Be

Details I Love — Tall Centerpieces

Tall centerpieces are one of those details that can transform a wedding into something that makes your guests say “wow “as they walk in the room.  You don’t have to have all tall centerpieces — but often having some tall centerpieces on some of your tables really changes the room.  Check out these photos of some really amazing tall centerpieces:

All photos courtesy of The Knot.

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Happy Tuesday!

Jul 15 2011
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For the Aspiring Event Planner, For the Bride-to-Be, Inspiration Boards

Inspiration Board — Lime, Orange, & Turquoise

This week, I read an article about Being a Color Expert.  One suggestion in this article really stuck out to me: “Get inspiration for color combinations from everyday life.”  The author suggests that you use items such as a piece of fabric, a favorite piece or artwork, a favorite dress, or perhaps a decor item in your home that you just love.

So, when working on today’s blog post, I decided to search around on Pier 1‘s website for some “everyday life” inspiration.  Here are the photos that initially inspired me:

After a little research, this is the next photo that sent me over the edge into color bliss and inspiration board insanity:

Yea, freaking amazing.  I love the way the colors pop and accent each other.  Obviously, too much of any of these colors would give guests a headache…but with the right amount of colorful accents, a lime, orange, & turquoise wedding would be absolutely fabulous!  Enjoy today’s inspiration board!

Happy Friday

and

Happy Weekend!

Jul 14 2011
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Details, For the Aspiring Event Planner, For the Bride-to-Be

Details I Love — Brooch Bouquets

Miranda’s Bouquet — Photo credit: US Magazine (via www.blog.wedzilla.com)

Ever since Miranda Lambert married Blake Shelton back in May, I have fallen in love with the idea of a brooch bouquet.  Miranda carried a beautiful brooch bouquet designed by The Ritzy Rose when she walked down the aisle on May 14.  Not only can you make this type of bouquet your “something old” (by perhaps incorporating an old family brooch), but it’s also a fun way to add a little vintage flair to any wedding.  It’s another unique detail that breaks the old-school traditions…and by now, I’m sure anyone who frequents this blog has figured out that I love when brides break traditions to personalize their weddings!  Enjoy these photos of some beautiful brooch bouquets!

Photo via www.ruffledblog.com

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Photo via www.vampalicious.co.uk

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Photo via www.sara-lloyd.blogspot.com

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 Happy Thursday!

 

Jul 13 2011
1 Comment
Details, For the Bride-to-Be, Planning

Wedding Do Good!

Do you and your future spouse already live together and need very little in the way of gifts?  Perhaps you are not a huge fan of being showered with all sorts of home decor items and cooking utensils (Believe me, there are plenty of brides out there like this!).  During the wedding planning process, money will be a constant topic of conversation and there is so much money that goes in to planning your perfect wedding.  Perhaps you’d like to see a bit of this money go to a good cause?

Photo credit: via trueweddingjunkie.com

An idea I love:

Use your wedding as an opportunity to donate to charity.  There are many different ways you can do this!

Photo credit: onewed.com

1) Instead of registering for things for your house, register for a charity instead.  Guests can make gifts to a charity of your choice!

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Photo credit: easybridalshowers.com

2) Donate leftover food.  Local food banks can coordinate with your caterer!

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Photo credit: whitewedding-dresses.com

3) Remember the Brides for Breast Cancer gown sale?  Consider donating your gown to causes like this!

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4) How about donating to a charity in lieu of favors or bridal party gifts?  You can inform your guests in many creative ways or with GiveNow cards!

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There are many other ways that you can give to a cause during and after your wedding planning process.  Visit JustGive.org or the I Do Foundation for more wedding charity ideas!

Photo credit: via US Magazine

On a very cool side note, Prince William & Kate Middleton set up a “Royal Wedding Charity Fund” to raise money for charitable organizations in celebration of their wedding.  They raised $1.7 million to be divided amongst charities that support military families, children, wildlife conservation, the arts and sports and help and care at home (US Magazine).

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Happy Wednesday

& Happy Giving!

Jul 12 2011
3 Comments
For the Aspiring Event Planner, For the Bride-to-Be, Real Weddings

Real Wedding — Nicole & Alex

Good afternoon everyone!  As promised, here are the photos from Nicole & Alex’s wedding last Wednesday.  It was a hot day, but everything turned out beautifully.  I love the way they stuck to a majority of the Jewish ceremony and reception traditions.  Furthermore, check out the decor in this one!  It was so elegant and beautiful — I especially love the gold lace overlays on each table & the chuppah which guests signed before the ceremony!  As always, it was fun to work with Henriette of Buelltiful Events again!

Enjoy!

Photo credits: Kelley Finnegan

Happy Tuesday!

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Coordinator: Buelltiful Events

Caterer: Dahan Catering (Kosher Catering)

Florist: Shelley’s Floral

Band: Free Spirit

Photography: Siobhan McClory

Rabbi: Dr. Rabbi Barry Freundel

Jul 11 2011
4 Comments
For the Aspiring Event Planner, For the Bride-to-Be, For the Wedding Guest, Wedding History Day

Mazel Tov!!! Wedding History Day — Jewish Wedding Rituals (Part 2 — The Reception)

Remember last week’s post on Jewish ceremony rituals?  Well, here’s Part 2 — The Reception as promised!  Also, be sure to come back tomorrow for photos of Nicole & Alex’s Real (Jewish) Wedding!

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1 ) Blessing the Challah — The bride & groom’s parents or another special honored guest (i.e. Grandfather as in Vicki & Mike’s wedding) makes the blessing over the challah, an elaborately braided bread (Source: theknot.com).

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Photo credit: www2.ljworld.com

2 ) S’eudah Mitzvah — The food portion of the reception.  Usually, chicken and fish are served at Jewish dinner receptions.  Kosher meals are often served (Source: theknot.com).  At Vicki & Mike’s wedding, the meals served were not Kosher.  However, one table was served Kosher meals.  Ashley explained to me that those eating Kosher meals all had to sit together and there could not be other non-Kosher meals served at that table.  In addition, Windows was not allowed to remove the plastic from the guests’ plates…they had to serve the plates just the way they came.

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3 ) The Hora — The chair dance.  It is derived from the tradition of carrying royalty on chairs.  This, like the breaking of the glass, is another Jewish tradition that is widely recognized (Source: theknot.com).

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4) Mitzvah Dances — The couple is seated and guests entertain them by dancing in front of them with masks, costumes, and props.  At Nicole & Alex’s wedding, the bridal party had planned quite a few surprise dances for the couple (Source: theknot.com).

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5 ) Mezinke Tanz or  Krenzel — One of the last dances of the night to honor the parents who have married off their last child.  The word Krenzel comes from the word “crown”…referring to the crown of flowers placed in the mother’s hair during the dance (Source: theknot.com).

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6 ) Birkat Hamazon — The blessings after the meal.  Prayer booklets can be handed out to guests.  After prayers, the 7 blessings are repeated and then a “blessing over the wine is recited as two glasses of wine are poured together into a third, symbolizing the creation of a new life together with a new marriage” (Source: theknot.com).

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Check back tomorrow for photos of Nicole & Alex’s Wedding!

Happy Monday!

Jul 07 2011
7 Comments
Details, For the Aspiring Event Planner, For the Bride-to-Be, For the Wedding Guest, Planning, Wedding History Day

Mazel Tov!!! Wedding History Day — Jewish Wedding Rituals (Part 1 — The Ceremony)

Although I haven’t been working in the wedding industry long, I have already experienced three Jewish weddings.  Packed with tradition and ritual, the Jewish ceremony and reception each have so much history behind them.  They are fascinating to be a part of!

"Mazel Tov!"

Like most, the extent of my Jewish wedding knowledge prior to working in this industry was the Wedding Crashers trailer.  However, I have had the opportunity to witness first-hand these various traditions.  While not all of the weddings I have seen have followed as closely to every single ritual, Nicole & Alex’s wedding last night at Briar Patch incorporated almost all of them.  Before posting pictures of Nicole & Alex’s wedding, I think we should review some Jewish wedding rituals (Broken into two parts: Ceremony and Reception Rituals…stay tuned for “Part 2 — The Reception” next week)!

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 1 ) The Tish — The Jewish ceremony begins with the groom’s tish, where he presents the week’s Torah portion while his male friends and family heckle him.  During this time, the bride is entertained in another room by her female friends and family (Source: theknot.com).

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2 ) Ketubah Signing – Following the Tish, the Ketubah, or Jewish marriage contract, is signed by the groom, rabbi, and two male witnesses (Orthodox); the bride may also sign, along with two female witnesses (Reform & Conservative) (Source: theknot.com).  At Nicole & Alex’s wedding, Nicole did not sign the Ketubah.  However, at both Carolyn & Matt’s and Vicki & Mike’s weddings the brides did participate in the Ketubah signing.

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3 ) The B’deken — This is the first time that the bride and groom see each other.  During the b’deken, or veiling of the bride, both fathers and all the males lead the groom to the bride’s room where both mothers and all the women are surrounding her.  The groom places the veil over the bride’s face “indicating that he is solely interested in her inner beauty” (Source: theknot.com).

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 4 ) The Chuppah (or Huppah or Chuppa…) — The Chuppah is a canopy or tent-like structure under which the ceremony takes place.  This is one place where personality can show (Source: theknot.com)!  For example, Nicole & Alex had a fabric chuppah with a big tree on it for guests to sign (similar to the family tree-style guestbook).

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5 ) Circling — The bride circles the groom seven times upon entering the chuppah.  This represents the 7 wedding blessings, the 7 days of creation, and the idea that the groom is the center of the bride’s world.  Sometimes, couples decide to circle each other (Source: theknot.com).

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6 ) Kiddushin — This is the ceremony that takes place under the chuppah, beginning with greetings, a blessing over the wine, and a sip taken by the bride and groom.  This is also the time when the rings are given.  In some Orthodox weddings, it is not permitted to have a double-ring ceremony, meaning that the groom places a ring on the bride’s finger but the bride does not place a ring on the groom’s finger (Source: theknot.com).

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7 ) Sheva B’rachot – Seven blessings either recited by the rabbi or by honoring special guests and allowing them to read or sing the blessings.  In Sephardic weddings, “the parents wrap the couple in a tallis, literally binding them together” prior to the sheva b’rachot recitation (Source: theknot.com).

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8 ) Breaking the Glass — Ah, yes…one of the few traditions of the Jewish wedding ceremony that is known around the world.  This is the time that everyone shouts “Mazel Tov!” and starts partying.  However, it is also “a symbol of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem; a representation of the fragility of human relationships; and a reminder that marriage changes the lives of individuals forever” (Source: theknot.com).

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9 ) The Yihud — Meaning “seclusion,” to remind you of your new partnership.  After the ceremony, the bride and groom will go into a private room for about 15 minutes of personal time.  They may share a small bite to eat together or even a little “action” (if you know what I mean 😉 ).  Whatever they do, it is a few minutes of complete alone time between the bride and groom before heading to the reception (Source: theknot.com).

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Tune in next week for Jewish Wedding Rituals (Part 2 — The Reception) and for photos of Nicole & Alex’s wedding!

Happy Thursday!

Jul 06 2011
1 Comment
For the Aspiring Event Planner, For the Bride-to-Be, Real Weddings

Real Wedding — Katie & Tony (A DIY BBQ-style Wedding)

This wedding was so simple yet beautiful!  It is a testimony to the fact that DIY weddings can still be fabulous.  Katie’s family made the bridal bouquets themselves.  Tables were simply decorated with paper plates and napkins, plastic cups, and oil lamps provided by Briar Patch.  Sunflowers added a pop of color throughout the room.  Red, Hot, & Blue catered various types of BBQ, including pulled pork, beef, and fried chicken — their Hoochie Coochie Hot sauce had Henriette, Aaron, & myself all running for water!  The most beautiful thing about this wedding was the simple truth that Katie & Tony have a love for each other that can be seen from a mile away.  Enjoy the photos of this DIY BBQ-style wedding!

Happy Wednesday!

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Coordinator: Buelltiful Events (Henriette Buell)

Venue: Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast

Entertainment: Basement Media Productions (Aaron Hahn)

Catering: Red, Hot, & Blue

Cupcakes: CakeLove

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