This is a question that has been raised over the past couple of years. Should you have a wedding favor or not? Well, if you think about why you are giving a wedding favor in the first place than you would clearly say yes! The main reason for the wedding favor is to show your gratitude to your guests for being a part of your wedding day. When you think about all that your guests do to be there for you on your wedding day, it is a small gesture of thanks. I say, "Yes" to the wedding favor! No matter how big or small!
Please let us know what you think. We would love to hear the opinions of our brides!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Congratulations to the Newlyweds Jennifer and Jason Black!
This past weekend, we had the pleasure of helping Jennifer and Jason bring their wedding day dreams to life at the Davis Island Garden Club! We were hired as the Day of Coordinator. Jennifer and Jason had so many unique touches to their day, it was such a joy to put everything together! Jennifer is a fashion design student and Jason plays in a band 
and is very musically inclined. We had a special table with two dress forms and one bass guitar to symbolize who this couple was. Their decor consisted of black, white and blush. Their black chiviari chairs contrasted so beautifully in the space with the white table linens. The centerpieces were all made by the bride and the groom's mother. They were a gorgeous arrangement of Stargazer lilies, roses and peonies. They even had a ice sculpture carved into the shape of a Peacock. The outside area was dressed in black linens with a white satin sash with two small arrangements of white and pink hydrangeas. Together it created a warm and inviting lounge area. With an old fashioned photo booth for the guests entertainment, it was a big success through out the course of the night. The ceremony guests were greeted by a string quartet. The music was lovely as the bridal party and bride made their debut! As their guests entered the cocktail hour, we served water at the water table and cocktails at the bar. We handed out moist towelettes with the Bride and Groom's last name initial B on it to help keep the guests comfortable in the June heat. Guests found their name and table numbers on a bed of wheat grass. As the day unfolded, Jennifer and Jason were so relaxed and happy! They enjoyed every aspect of their wedding day with their family and friends. When it was time for the evening to end, we sent them off under a row of sparklers to wish them well in their future together!
and is very musically inclined. We had a special table with two dress forms and one bass guitar to symbolize who this couple was. Their decor consisted of black, white and blush. Their black chiviari chairs contrasted so beautifully in the space with the white table linens. The centerpieces were all made by the bride and the groom's mother. They were a gorgeous arrangement of Stargazer lilies, roses and peonies. They even had a ice sculpture carved into the shape of a Peacock. The outside area was dressed in black linens with a white satin sash with two small arrangements of white and pink hydrangeas. Together it created a warm and inviting lounge area. With an old fashioned photo booth for the guests entertainment, it was a big success through out the course of the night. The ceremony guests were greeted by a string quartet. The music was lovely as the bridal party and bride made their debut! As their guests entered the cocktail hour, we served water at the water table and cocktails at the bar. We handed out moist towelettes with the Bride and Groom's last name initial B on it to help keep the guests comfortable in the June heat. Guests found their name and table numbers on a bed of wheat grass. As the day unfolded, Jennifer and Jason were so relaxed and happy! They enjoyed every aspect of their wedding day with their family and friends. When it was time for the evening to end, we sent them off under a row of sparklers to wish them well in their future together! Thank you to Jennifer and Jason for allowing us to be a part of your special day! It was truly an honor!
These photos were done by Stonehouse Events & More, Inc. We are awaiting the professionals photos!
The Little White Book
Venue: Davis Island Garden Club, http://www.digclub.org/
Photographer: Foto D'Amore, http://www.fotodiamore.com/
Videographer: Tampa Wonderworks, http://www.tampawonderworks.com/
Caterer: Delectables Fine Catering, http://www.delectablescatering.com/
Rentals: PKS Rentals, http://www.pksrent.com/
Photobooth: Plumb Fun, http://www.plumbfun.com/
Cake: Publix
Wedding Coordinator: Stonehouse Events & More, Inc., http://www.stonehouseevents.com/
String Quartet: Alafia String Quartet, http://www.tampastrings.com/
Hair and Make-up: Camposecco Artistry
Friday, May 29, 2009
Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Brooks!
Kim and Joe were married on Sunday, May 24, 2009! This day was full of love and excitement! Kim and Joe and their family's joined together for their wedding and reception at the Tampa Airport Marriott. This was a Jewish ceremony and all were present under the Chuppah. The Chuppah marked a very special piece of the wedding because it was built by the Bride's father. It was decorated by us with gorgeous satin fabric and crystal beads cascading down the sides. It was a beautiful vision that came to life! Since it was so beautiful, we incorporated it into the reception by placing the sweetheart table under the Chuppah. It was FABULOUS! The reception room glowed with pink uplighting (provided by Inspire Entertainment) while the floral centerpieces provided by Lou with The Arrangement, were bursting with colors! The centerpieces held hot pink, coral, blue and green hued flowers with crystal beading draped on the inside of the tall pilsner vase. Alternating the tables with some high and low floral arrangements, the centerpieces were absolutely stunning as they were surrounded by candlelight. The Breezin band and Cary Culp, the DJ kept the crowd dancing all night! On the dance floor, the initials K&J with the date 5.24.09 were lit up as a special surprise for the Bride and Groom. It was an AMAZING day! We were so thankful to have been apart of it! Congratulations Kim and Joe! Photographs to follow soon!A Special Thanks to my wonderful vendors! This day would not have been a success without any of you!
Photographer: Jerry McGaghey Photography, www.jerrymcgaghey.com
Videographer: Voila Cinematic, www.voilacinematic.com
Venue: Tampa Aiport Marriott, www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tpaap-tampa-airport-marriott/
Florist: The Arrangement Florist, 813.886.1518
Cake: Cakes by Nomeda, http://www.cakesbynomeda.com/
Band and DJ: Breezin Entertainment and Productions, www.breezin.com
Lighting & Gobo: Inspire Entertainment, www.inspiredj.com
Invitations: Not From a Box, www.notfromabox.com
Chair Covers, Sashes & Napkins: Connie Duglin Specialty Linens, www.connieduglinlinen.com
Hair & Makeup: Beauty Brought Out, http://www.beautybroughtout.com/
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Budget Savvy Brides Read This!
What do you do when the economy around you has you second guessing everything you want to do for your wedding? Well, you get creative and SAVVY! This is where we come in...we strive to offer you unique ideas to help you look like you had a million dollar wedding by not spending a million dollars. We look for opportunities to make a BIG impact with relatively low cost. We do this by keeping our minds open to all possiblities. There is always more than one way to do anything! Here are some helpful suggestions on how to get the most out of your money.
- Host a signature drink instead of an open bar.
- Hire a FANTASTIC DJ instead of a live band.
- Use only one color for your floral arrangements because depending on which flower you choose, you can control your cost and still create a beautiful atmosphere!
- Of course, hiring a planner can help you get the most out of your money and ease some of the stress as well!
These are just some ways to help you be a Budget SAVVY Bride!
For more information see Colin Cowie's
7 Tips for the Budget Savvy Bride on the pages of www.getmarried.com
Saturday, April 4, 2009
We Love Green!
With Earth day just around the corner, April 22, 2009 to be exact, we feel it is important to start thinking of creative ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. We found some fresh ideas for anyone to make their wedding day an Earth-friendly event!
- Minimize excess paper on your invites by using postcards for the RSVP cards. It is not only less paper but less money per stamp, so you are saving in two ways!
- Select a caterer that uses local, sustainable foods and reduces waste.
- Instead of using an individual menu card per guest, try setting up a chalkboard at each table to display the menu.
- To offset your guest's travel emissions, you can plant trees in their honor. These donations double as unique favors as well!
- Find out in advance if your venue recycles paper goods instead of trashing them and if not ask them if they could!
Information found in the InStyle Weddings magazine, Spring 2009 edition, page 251.
Friday, April 3, 2009
This is Why I Do What I Do!
I just received the nicest letter of gratitude from one of my clients. The fact that the groom took the time to write a thank you in the first place is outstanding! I wanted to share it because it was so touching to me! This is why I do what I do and why we are committed to making every bride and groom's wedding day dreams come true! Much love to Keli and Erik!"Cindy,
I want to start by saying thank you, thank you, thank you! We can’t thank you enough for the absolutely perfect job you did with planning, coordinating, and executing our wedding. I know that our wedding posed a unique challenge given that we live in Utah and you were in Florida but, it was flawless none the less. The year we spent planning this with you was a pleasure. You made everything seem so easy. We honestly thought it would be near impossible to accomplish a perfect ceremony and reception with an out-of-state wedding. I’m especially grateful for the support you provided to my lovely bride during the year of planning. Without you being there for her to bounce ideas off of and many other things I’m sure, my stress level would have been through the roof.
The most unsettling part of our adventure was that we did not have an opportunity to see our ceremony and reception site, taste the cake, see the flowers, etc. All of that anxiety went away when saw (for the first time) the unbelievably gorgeous job you did. It was by far the most beautiful wedding that we could have ever hoped for. It was truly a fairy tale wedding. For weeks after the event we received phone calls and emails from friends and family that said, “that was by far the most beautiful and fun wedding I’ve ever attended”. That means so much to both of us and we will be forever grateful to you for that. I can’t say enough about the wedding. You took care of everything. It allowed us to enjoy every wonderful second of our wedding day. The isle with the sheppard’s hooks and vases, every single thing about the reception room, organizing our rambunctious wedding party, everything was PERFECT! I also can’t thank you enough for helping us select the perfect vendors for our wedding. Our photographer and DJ were much, much more than we expected. People who have seen our wedding pictures are absolutely blown away and we have you to thank for that. One of my favorite things was the way you set up our suite the night of the wedding. The rose petals on the bed, the open and poured glasses of champagne, and of course the wonderful gift basket. I think the best thing about working with you was your attention to detail, consciousness of our budget, and of course, what a wonderful and sweet person you are. Thank you for everything you did for us. We will be recommending you to all of our friends and family. You’re not just a wedding planner, you are truly our friend.
Good luck to you and all that you do. We know that you will have much success in the years to come.
Forever grateful,
Erik & Keli Kramer
PS: We miss you already!!!"
I want to start by saying thank you, thank you, thank you! We can’t thank you enough for the absolutely perfect job you did with planning, coordinating, and executing our wedding. I know that our wedding posed a unique challenge given that we live in Utah and you were in Florida but, it was flawless none the less. The year we spent planning this with you was a pleasure. You made everything seem so easy. We honestly thought it would be near impossible to accomplish a perfect ceremony and reception with an out-of-state wedding. I’m especially grateful for the support you provided to my lovely bride during the year of planning. Without you being there for her to bounce ideas off of and many other things I’m sure, my stress level would have been through the roof.
The most unsettling part of our adventure was that we did not have an opportunity to see our ceremony and reception site, taste the cake, see the flowers, etc. All of that anxiety went away when saw (for the first time) the unbelievably gorgeous job you did. It was by far the most beautiful wedding that we could have ever hoped for. It was truly a fairy tale wedding. For weeks after the event we received phone calls and emails from friends and family that said, “that was by far the most beautiful and fun wedding I’ve ever attended”. That means so much to both of us and we will be forever grateful to you for that. I can’t say enough about the wedding. You took care of everything. It allowed us to enjoy every wonderful second of our wedding day. The isle with the sheppard’s hooks and vases, every single thing about the reception room, organizing our rambunctious wedding party, everything was PERFECT! I also can’t thank you enough for helping us select the perfect vendors for our wedding. Our photographer and DJ were much, much more than we expected. People who have seen our wedding pictures are absolutely blown away and we have you to thank for that. One of my favorite things was the way you set up our suite the night of the wedding. The rose petals on the bed, the open and poured glasses of champagne, and of course the wonderful gift basket. I think the best thing about working with you was your attention to detail, consciousness of our budget, and of course, what a wonderful and sweet person you are. Thank you for everything you did for us. We will be recommending you to all of our friends and family. You’re not just a wedding planner, you are truly our friend.
Good luck to you and all that you do. We know that you will have much success in the years to come.
Forever grateful,
Erik & Keli Kramer
PS: We miss you already!!!"
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Some Celeb Tips to Inspire Your Wedding!
Below is a list of some celebrity-inspired wedding ideas that can make your day uniquely yours!
Welcome your guests to a Destination Wedding - When your guests arrive to the destination and find a welcome basket waiting for them or just a hand written note expressing how happy you are that they were able to attend your special day, they will already feell that their efforts to attend were well worth it! Letting your guests know how important they are to you and how much it means that they traveled all of this way for you is a small gesture that really goes far!
Bridesmaids Dresses With Wiggle Room - Giving the bridal party the freedom to pick out their own dress or at least have a say in what they wear, will allow them to look their best. Of course, you suggest the color and then let them choose the style they will feel more comfortable in. But overall when everyone looks and feels good in what they are wearing it shows on their faces and who wouldn't want their bridal party to look gorgeous!
Make Guests the Photographers or should I say Videographers - That's right the celebrity wedding planners are giving guests disposable video cameras. They cost about $30 each and can give the bride and groom more memories than just a single camera!
Make it Personal - Today it is all about making your day personal and giving your guests a glimpse of who you are together as a couple. This is one of my favorites because it is all of the small gestures that really add up and mean the most. Whether it be naming your tables after your favorite places, teas, people, etc or including your photos during different times in your lives and seeing how they meshed together. It all showcases your personalities and makes everything more memorable every step of the way!
These are just a few ideas but really it all comes down to what matters the most to you and your groom because it is your day to shine!
Parts as seen on Good Morning America, In Style magazine's Amy Goodman.
Welcome your guests to a Destination Wedding - When your guests arrive to the destination and find a welcome basket waiting for them or just a hand written note expressing how happy you are that they were able to attend your special day, they will already feell that their efforts to attend were well worth it! Letting your guests know how important they are to you and how much it means that they traveled all of this way for you is a small gesture that really goes far!
Bridesmaids Dresses With Wiggle Room - Giving the bridal party the freedom to pick out their own dress or at least have a say in what they wear, will allow them to look their best. Of course, you suggest the color and then let them choose the style they will feel more comfortable in. But overall when everyone looks and feels good in what they are wearing it shows on their faces and who wouldn't want their bridal party to look gorgeous!
Make Guests the Photographers or should I say Videographers - That's right the celebrity wedding planners are giving guests disposable video cameras. They cost about $30 each and can give the bride and groom more memories than just a single camera!
Make it Personal - Today it is all about making your day personal and giving your guests a glimpse of who you are together as a couple. This is one of my favorites because it is all of the small gestures that really add up and mean the most. Whether it be naming your tables after your favorite places, teas, people, etc or including your photos during different times in your lives and seeing how they meshed together. It all showcases your personalities and makes everything more memorable every step of the way!
These are just a few ideas but really it all comes down to what matters the most to you and your groom because it is your day to shine!
Parts as seen on Good Morning America, In Style magazine's Amy Goodman.
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