I had the pleasure last week to attend an Open House at Camargo Rental in Cincinnati, OH. The rentals they have to offer brides are phenomenal from the glass tents and clear dance floors to the exquisite linens and luxury bathroom trailer. Anything you can imagine or dream up… Camargo has to offer. They even have an in-house florist available whose work was absolutely gorgeous. The staff was a joy to talk to and I believe that any bride would feel welcome walking into the showroom. If you are looking for something different and unique this is definitely the place to go! Below are some of the tables that were set up for the open house….the pictures don’t do them justice.
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Ok… I love my job!! Yes, it gets a tad bit stressful at times, but at the end of the day this is what I love to do! So, being a person who loves to read fiction I was so excited when Nora Roberts came out with a series about a group of women who run a wedding planning business. The series is called The Bridal Quartet which is made up of four books and the last of which is coming out this November. Of course each book has a love story mixed in, but they also talk about the stress of owning and running a business and the crazy happenings that wedding planners deal with on a regular basis. They are a quick easy reads and I would recommend them to anyone in the industry or if you are a bride looking for a good book to take on your honeymoon to read while relaxing on the beach. Check it out!
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For the bride who wants to mix things up a bit…. moving away from the traditional floral centerpiece may be the way to go. One idea is making a centerpiece out of dishes; plates, teacups, etc… It’s very elegant, you do not have to worry about it wilting before the reception begins and when is the last time you went to a wedding where there wasn’t’ flowers for the centerpiece! Each table can have a different theme or color. Just go to your local thrift or antique store and pick up a few different sets. It can even be a fun way for you and your honey to spend a Saturday afternoon…. it can be like a treasure hunt!
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The guestbook is an old and tired tradition, so brides nowadays are always looking for something different to use for guests to sign. A regular guestbook just gets stuffed in the back of the drawer and is never seen. So… what about plates! Go to an antique shop or department store and buy a few different size plates that match the décor of your house. Then have your guests sign them at your wedding. Finally, mount them on the wall as piece or art and décor for your house. You will be reminded of your special day and those who shared it with you every time you walk in the room. An Always Planned bride will be doing just this next weekend!!
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Go Green!
Right now it is all about “going green” and at Always Planned we have been trying to be “green” as much as possible. We have been using a brand called Eco Clean that carries all purpose cleaner, bathroom cleaner, dish wash, glass cleaner and hand wash. All the ingredients are Danish products grown and found around Scandinavia. One of the main ingredients used in all of the products are sugar beets. The sugars used from the beets have very high detergency properties for cleaning and sanitizing. Eco It is child friendly, pet friendly, “green” and even smells good!! What more could you ask for in cleaning products!!! (These products can be found at Alice.com.)
As wedding/event coordinators we never really know what we are going to get ourselves into, so we always have hand sanitizer with us at all times. Clean Well is a naturally based sanitizer that we have been using for the past couple of months. It is the only hand sanitizer proven to kill 99.99% of germs without using alcohol or all of the other toxic chemicals used in everything else. It even leaves yours hands soft!! (These products can be found at Target, GNC, Whole Foods Market and many more!)
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One of my favorite parts of a wedding is the Father/Daughter dance. It is what I believe to be one of the sweetest and most emotional moments of the whole day because you have a daddy dancing with his little girl who he has just had to let go. However, it seems like brides seem to use some of the same songs over and over such as “Butterfly Kisses,” “I Loved Her First” and so on… However, Edwin McCain has come out with an new single “Walk With You” that would be perfect for a Father/Daughter dance that most people have not yet heard. Now I know Edwin McCain has not done much in the past couple of years and I personally think of him as the guy who’s songs were played a lot on the old show Dawson’s Creek, but believe me you should check out the song. It’s a father briefly explaining the life he has had with his daughter and what he wishes and hopes for her and her new husband. The lyrics are very truthful and I believe most fathers have had these same words running through their head in one way or the other on the day of their daughter’s wedding. Perfect song if you’re still looking for something to have that special moment with your dad!
Walk With You
(Edwin McCain, Maia Sharp)
I’ll take this slow sweet walk with you
You’ll let go of my hand to say “I do”
He will discover just how blessed a life can be
I know ‘cause all those years ago someone handed you to me
Every step that we take brings back the memories
Winter snows and horse shows and dancing on the beach
I can’t help thinking that I’m the lucky one
You’re still my baby daughter and now I’ve gained a son
I’ll take this slow sweet walk with you
You’ll let go of my hand to say “I do”
He will discover just how blessed a life can be
I know ‘cause all those years ago your mom handed you to me
Don’t miss a chance to put each other first
Now that you’ve vowed for better or for worse
Don’t let the beauty of this life pass you by
In the times of trouble you’ll stand side by side
I’ll take this slow sweet walk with you
You’ll let go of my hand to say ” I do”
I picture a slow sweet walk yet to be
When you’ll take my hand and say “Daddy come see”
Then you’ll know what it felt like
You won’t believe what it feels like
Then you’ll know what it felt like when she handed you to me.
She handed you to me
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Andrew and I (my darling husband) just celebrated our 5 year anniversary! Can you believe it has been five whole years!!! Ok, so maybe you can, but for me it feels like just yesterday that he got down on one knee and proposed to me in the bathroom… yes, I know – so romantic!! lol Honestly, it was incredibly romantic and even though he made a true effort two weeks later, with a fab diamond ring, I will always remember our bathroom moment. 
That being said, we decided to plan a trip to New York City in honor of our anniversary. It just so happened that I also needed to go to NYC for a business meeting – Woman Entrepreneurs Rock the World conference!!! I had an amazing time; more on that later.
This post is all about NYC and how it can be utterly romantic, fun and exciting! This story will be told in pictures and will be a detailed account of our trip. Enjoy!!
The oh so cool Chelsea Market. We loved it there!! If you are in the Chelsea area you must stop by.
What is a trip to New York City without stopping at Kleinfeld?? Yes, indeed we did go in. We were promptly stopped at the door due to the filming of Say Yes To The Dress. ;(
We took the Staten Island Ferry and got to check out the most famous lady in NYC – the Statue of Liberty. She looked smaller than I expected.
We met a group of very nice ladies and one of them offered to take our picture. We rarely miss a photo opportunity.
More on our wonderful trip to NYC soon!
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OK, I can seriously tell you that I love to be around woman who inspire me. The attendees at Eventology honestly rock the free world and the unbelievable amount of determination, dedication, integrity and sheer girl power at this event is overwhelming, but in the best of ways. I love it!
Here are a few photos to show the relationships formed as well as the beautiful ladies (and one guy) that inspired me. Enjoy!
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We are beyond excited about the grand opening event this Thursday March 25 from 6pm-9pm! I really hope you can make it out for this fun and over the top evening. Of course Always Planned designed it and we are ready to shine… can you say pink carpet, cottton candy martinis and a sugar tree! So much fun and pink my head may explode!
If you plan on coming, be sure to RSVP to info@simplylovestudio.com Oh and if you are a bride interested in this amazing concept in wedding planning feel free to call and schedule your first meeting. Every meeting at Simply Love Studio is completely FREE! So let the planning begin! Their number is 859-317-9023, you can also check them out online at www.simplylovestudio.com.
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Good Morning!
Always Planned is growing and thrilled to be on the hunt for two spectacular people. If you, or someone you know is looking for something that is fun, fast paced and unique then you simply must send us your resume. We are looking for someone who is personal, organized, friendly, honest, fantastic communication skills and willing to learn. If you are up for this fabulous opportunity then send your resume to me at rayna@alwaysplanned.com. Please no phone calls.
We will be conducting interviews immediately, deadline for resumes is March 20th.
Office Manager/Client Services Director
This position is approx. 20-30 hrs per week. You will handle all scheduling and daily office procedures. Organization and development of procedures. Quickbooks knowledge is a major plus! No need to have wedding/event related experience.
Floral Designer
We are looking for someone who is experienced in the floral industry with style and flair! If you have no knowledge of flowers, please do not apply. This position will be required to work weekends and have the experience in the wedding industry.
Always Planned is a Mac based and an eco-friendly company.
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