General | Lexington, KY Wedding Planner and Event Designer - Always Planned

Sep

Simply Love Studio Presents…!!!

General, vendors, weddings // No Comments

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Just wanted to update you all about Simply Love Studio’s Bridal Benchmark Series that is beginning NEXT WEEK, Wednesday, September 14^th!!! Many of you already may know, but Simply Love Studio is an incredible complimentary resource for any bride who may need help finding a vendor, venue or just about anything else to make your wedding fabulous! Bridal Benchmark Series is a 6-Week Complimentary Educational Series for Brides! Each event will prep you for your upcoming day and give you a chance to meet vendors and find new resources for your big day! Many of our highly recommended, talented vendors will be here to answer questions for you and show you what they are made of!

Oh and did I mention there are PRIZES involved?!?

There will be weekly prizes at each individual event but for Brides who attend all 6 evenings, you will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $1250 floral credit for your wedding from A Perfect Posy! How much better can it get?!

The girls here at Simply Love Studio and Always Planned would LOVE to invite you to come out, enjoy yourselves and hopefully find some great resources for your wedding!

Click on the Picture Above and it will take you straight to the Facebook Event Page where you can RSVP and contact us about the event!

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Sep

Choosing dresses THEY will love!

General, weddings // No Comments

So you’ve found your dress; that beautiful, one of a kind, once in a lifetime dress and now you are given the task of choosing the fashion for your beautiful attendants. This can be a daunting task going into it, but never fear. If you are anything like me, dressing just one person in the morning is stressful enough for many reasons, let alone multiple people! But don’t let this overwhelm you! As a rule, we girls tend to either have too many options we love, or sometimes you just can’t find that one thing that fits just right.

The last thing you want to do is put one of your amazing friends in the position of really disliking the dress or being uncomfortable in the dress she is wearing on your special day. As the recent trends in weddings have leaned towards personal touches, vintage affairs and eclectic style, new “rules” for bridesmaids’ dresses have followed suit. Consider choosing a color, fabric and length and giving the girls the option to choose their own style that they love. Brides have even gone as far as to pick a style and a few different colors or shades and let their friends choose a hue of their liking, (perfect for an outdoor vintage setting in pale pastels maybe?). Finding a dress that could be worn outside of the wedding would be an added bonus to any friend who is contributing financially to her own dress.

This day is about you and your honey, and your girls getting to stand beside you when you say “I do” is an added bonus and a special moment you will all share forever! Making sure they look AND feel great, while creating the “attitude” you want for your wedding will ensure that they are able to relax and enjoy those special moments with you!

Happy Planning!!

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Sep

eos = yum!

Corporate, General, honeymoons, weddings // No Comments

Every bride knows that on her wedding day it is vital that her skin be soft and silky smooth and her lips be utterly kissable. Mallory and I are always trying out the latest in products and services so we can report back to our brides. We recently discovered eos and must admit, we are in love. First they got us with the adorable packaging of their lip balm, then we tried their lotions and shaving creams.

I love the fruity fragrance and Mallory loves how cute they are! It’s a win-win for everyone and the price is great too! Easy to find at Walmart, Target,Walgreens or online at evolutionsofsmooth.com. This line of products make great gifts for your bridesmaids and the perfect stocking stuffer for the upcoming holidays!

Make Hands Happy

Say goodbye to dry, chapped hands forever and smooth on the eos Everyday Hand Lotion. These handy lotions, available in Everyday (floral) or Cucumber, leave skin feeling soft, supple and healthy long after you apply it. Dermatologist tested. Hypoallergenic. Paraben-free.

Key Ingredients:

Aloe
Oat
Shea butter
Vitamin E & C

Price: $3.99 (each)

Smile Like You Mean It

Can a lip balm make you smile? We think so. That’s why we invented this one. The eos lip balm smooth sphere is 95% organic, 100% natural, and paraben and petrolatum free. Packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, soothing shea butter and jojoba oil, eos keeps your lips moist, soft and sensationally smooth.

Flavors include:

summer fruit
emon drop spf 15
strawberry sorbet
honeysuckle honeydew
medicated tangerine
sweet mint

Price: $3.29 (each)

See Ya, Stubbles

eos, Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream is the ultimate in soothing, smoothing and shaving. Made with natural aloe, oat, shea butter and antioxidant vitamins E and C, this non-foaming cream boosts skin’s moisture level and keeps it silky & soft long after you’re done shaving. So moisturizing, you can shave wet or dry. Paraben-free.

Scents include:

Price: $3.49 (each)

Smooth On

The eos lip balm smooth stick is 95% organic, 100% natural, and paraben and petrolatum free. Packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, soothing shea butter and jojoba oil, eos keeps your lips moist, soft and sensationally smooth.

Key Benefits

Long-lasting moisture
Shea butter & vitamin E
Paraben-free
Petrolatum-free
Phthalate-free

Flavors include:

vanilla bean
pomegranate raspberry
sweet mint

Price: $3.29 (each)

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Sep

Enchanting Estate or Avant-Garde Affair?

General, weddings // No Comments

In my most humble opinion, I believe that the most luxurious weddings are held at illustrious estates in the deep, vast countryside. What is more enchanting than a lush, ambrosial setting stationed away from the busyness of the city streets?

This most intimate setting mimics the antique feel of days past, of the simple times, and most importantly – the true love that radiates from a soon-to-be bride. The rosiness in her cheeks, matching the blush of the lacy peonies in her bouquet. The light breeze that awakens the old oaks, lining the drive. The fresh scent of recently trimmed bluegrass.

The thought of it all makes me so giddy! (: I can just see it now – swaying tree branches, light wind chimes, the smooth hum of the crickets – eek!

But – while this may be MY dream come true, it could very well be another bride’s worst nightmare. For example, my best friend’s ideal wedding would take place in a Grand Ballroom of a very swanky hotel in downtown Chicago, with her reception following in the Penthouse Suite. Forget being outside, there would be eight feet of snow on the ground! (brr). She wants a very modernistic wedding, without many floral pieces or patterned linens. Clean lines and classy corners are what she is all about. And you know what? I love it!

Although my best friend and I have very different tastes, there is no way that I would allow her to be swayed by my opinion. When deciding on a venue for your wedding, don’t feel pressured to choose based on what others think. Talk with your fiance, make a pro/con list, discuss indoor/outdoor options with your planner – but make your final decision with your heart. Let yourself feel a connection to the location, and keep reminding yourself of that feeling as you continue your planning process. And though it may be stressful at times, remember – YOU’RE IN LOVE! (:

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Sep

Registering Your “Couple Style”

General // No Comments

What girl doesn’t love to go shopping? Especially when you are getting to make your dream wish list of items to begin your new life with! The task of registering can be a fun afternoon outing for you and your fiancé, but the most important thing (and personally I believe, the hardest!) to remember is to keep yourself from going “Scan Happy”.

When thinking of your new home, a million and one things may come to mind that you would love to decorate with, add to the kitchen and so on and so forth. It is important to keep in mind the important things and not forget the special things! Using wedding registry checklists you can find online is a great tool to help you pick and remember the basic things you would need but also stay true to yourself and your couple style! For example if you love to be outdoors more than inside cooking, add more sports or camping equipment for those romantic hikes or weekend getaways.

This registry is about you as a couple so it is most important to take your time, do this together and remember to stay true to who you are!!

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Aug

New Intern Jitters? Not Necessary Here!

General // No Comments

Hey yall!

My name is Shelby Willen, and I’m the new baby intern here at Always Planned! I’m a Sophomore at THE University of Kentucky here in Lexington, but I hail from just north of Cincinnati, Ohio. Kings Island is literally in my back yard! While I’m the youngest of the Always Planned family, I am the oldest of three children, as well as the proud owner of my dumbo-eared rat, Cayenne, and the newest addition to my apartment, Rex, my rambunctious 10 week old kitten..

Back in July, I found Always Planned and immediately fell in love with Rayna and Mallory before I even met them! I think that I may have read every page on the AP website, twice. I knew that if I wanted to gain knowledgeable experience and credibility in this field, I had to become a part of this amazing team. (:

My marvelous and talented mother is who has inspired me to really chase my dreams of becoming involved in wedding planning. She started her own graphic design firm right out of college and has been growing her business ever since. While most consider graphic design to be all about logo creation, her company is so much more than that. Together we have hosted silent auctions and galas, and even created 7′x7′ giant stuffed spiders to hang on the Kings Island sign during the Halloween season! She has given me the ambition to really pursue what I want in my life, and for that I am eternally grateful!

Being in the Always Planned studio yesterday, I started to get chills thinking about how amazing this opportunity is for me and how truly blessed I am to have been offered this position. Wedding Planning is my true passion, and to see how much effort Rayna and Mallory put into each wedding demonstrates that it is their true passion as well. Seeing this compassion, I know that my semester here at Always Planned is bound to be one of the most rewarding experiences I will have in this business, and I cannot wait to truly begin!

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Aug

Outsmarting Mother Nature in Style

General, weddings // No Comments

Favors don’t just come in the shape of a small box or cute bag at your reception; you can also incorporate a little keepsake for your guest at the ceremony for an extra special touch! The ceremony is the moment of your wedding when all eyes and ears are focused on you and your beloved and you wouldn’t want anything to distract from that. In an outdoor wedding what a better way to help “beat the heat” by providing small fans that coordinate with your décor or maybe even provide small shawls or blankets for friends and family to snuggle up in during the evening hours. A cute pair of flip flops or small painters brushes would take a beach wedding to the next level so your guests could transition from ceremony to reception sand free. Flip flops could also be used as sweet relief for those tired feet while dancing all night long! With the focus of the day on you and your honey, you would never want to have a silly thing like Mother Nature distracting from any of those special moments. Adding a cute little touch in the form of a favor could make the ceremony experience even more special and flawless for you and your guests!

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Aug

So Excited to Join the Team!

General, Uncategorized // No Comments

Hey! My name is Stephanie Carlon and I’m so excited to be joining the Always Planned team as an intern this fall!!! I’m from right here in Lexington and I am beginning my third year at the University of Kentucky. I am studying Hospitality Management and Tourism at UK with the dream of making a career out of my love for planning and design!

Growing up, both of my parents worked in the customer service and entertainment industry and I was lucky enough to get to be the little kid running around backstage. Watching the details and passion that went into each of these amazing events, it inspired something in me. I knew from a very young age that I would love nothing more than to be able to work in this industry and help someone else to have their “Perfect Day”!

I feel so blessed that Rayna and Mallory have given me this opportunity to work with them and I can’t wait to learn so much! I’m so excited about working with such a sweet and amazing team! I can’t wait to see what is in store for me this semester and can’t wait to get to help create a beautiful experience for you all!

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Aug

Real Wedding- Stacy and Chad

General, weddings // No Comments

We got an email from Stacy a few months ago after she had become a little overwhelmed with the planning since she was living in California, but getting married here. Her sweet mother (who the whole AP team fell in love with) was helping her with a lot of it, but we came in and gave them all a little more peace of mind. The day was just as beautiful as the bride with perfect weather except for being a little warm:-) The ceremony was very traditional held at Crestwood Christian Church and from the reception followed at Keeneland where guests, family and bridal party danced the night away. Below are the vendors who made this day happen and some absolutely gorgeous pictures from Stacy and Chad’s wedding taken by the amazing SB Childs Photography.

Church: Crestwood Christian Church

Venue: Keeneland-Entertainment Center

Coordinator: Always Planned

DJ: Bluegrass Beat

Florist: Crist Creona

Photographer: SB Childs Photography

Cake: Sweet Magnolia

Transportation: Thoroughbred Limousine

Band: The Swells

Hair/Makeup: Cha Chas