11

Sep

My First!!!

General, weddings // No Comments

It’s official! The “interns” have officially passed the first milestone, Our First Wedding!!! Thank you so much to Angela and Logan for letting us be a part of their beautiful day!

I was so excited to get up early and go visit with the girls while they got their hair done by Sarah at The Color Room. The girls each got to pick their own looks and they all looked so beautiful!! Getting to know the girls through inside jokes and sweet stories in the morning was the perfect way to start the day.

We were all ready to rock when we arrived at Headley Whitney for the ceremony and reception. I have never felt such a beautiful, crazy rush as when the clouds started to sprinkle on us right before the ceremony and we found out we had a few extra guests come then planned. But leave it to the “A(P) Team” to seamlessly glide through each little hiccup as if it never happened. Umbrellas were on hand until the clouds parted just as the grandparents took their seats and the extra tables and place settings were added with flawless execution! What else would you expect when you put two teams like Always Planned and South Van Events together! Sam and his crew are always exceptional and yesterday was no different!

I am so blessed to get to work with these Crazy, Amazingly Wonderful ladies: Rayna, Mallory and Shelby! This had to have been the best “first wedding” I could have ever imagined!

Thank you so much to Angela and Logan again and to everyone who participated and contributed to such a beautiful wedding!

Happy Planning! Love Always!

 

 

Read full post

07

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 14th!!! 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!

Read full post

06

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!!

Read full post

04

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! (:

Read full post

02

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!!

Read full post

25

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!

Read full post

24

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!

 

Read full post

03

May

Capture the Moment

Uncategorized // No Comments

This past weekend I assisted a bride and her bridesmaids throughout her entire wedding day. It was a fun and exciting experience for me since this was my first time ever directly assisting a bride for her entire big day. Our bride was a joy to work with a she gave me a really great idea. She had a small hand-held video camera that she carried around with her all day long capturing the different aspects of her wedding day. She had the camera at the spa and while she was getting ready, and let all her bridesmaids and family members record little messages. I think this is a great way of fully capturing your special day and having a way to remember it for a long time. You can even give a video camera to your groom and members of your bridal party so they can capture various aspects of your wedding. You can get these hand-held cameras for fairly cheap or even put the cameras on your wedding registry. After your wedding if you want to turn your home videos into a professional production, then give your footage to a videographer and have them put together a video for you. This is a fun way to remember your wedding day and a cheaper option to hiring a videographer to film your entire day!

Read full post

22

Apr

Royal Wedding Countdown

Uncategorized // No Comments

Here at Always Planned, we are obsessed with the Royal Wedding! Every time there is a special on TV or an article about the wedding on the Internet, you better believe I am right there soaking it in (and yes I have  even considered watching the Lifetime original movie “William & Kate” that chronicles their relationship).  To celebrate this royal affair, the ladies of Always Planned will be attending “A Formal Affair Royal Wedding Brunch” hosted by Simply Love Studio. The fun begins at 10:00 am on April 29th and will include a British inspired brunch and complete coverage of the Royal Wedding, including showing of the processional and ceremony footage that will originally air at 6:00 am. We will offer a full commentary of the wedding and enjoy viewing this large event from a commoner’s point of view. So bring your friends and your British accent and join us for a brunch to remember!

RSVP at the event page on Simply Love Studio’s Facebook.

Read full post

19

Apr

Alternative Bouquets

Uncategorized // No Comments

Your bridal bouquet is an important and traditional decoration piece on your wedding day. Your bouquet makes appearances in all your wedding pictures, walks you down the aisle, and serves as a centerpiece on your reception table. Flower bouquets are beautiful and a traditional route to go on your big day, but as soon as your day is done your bouquet quickly fades away. Consider looking atalternative ideas when it comes to creating your bouquet.. Creating your bouquet out of materials other than flowers will give you a unique arrangement and will give you a piece of art to keep forever. Brooch and button bouquets are increasing in popularity among brides. When creating theses bouquets choose various designs and shapes of brooches and buttons in your wedding colors to create a dynamic looking piece of art. Making bouquets out of feathers is another great way to create a more personalized arrangement.

Feathers give a whimsical and more vintage feel to your day, and can really compliment your wedding personality if you are aiming for a classical look. Or if you choose to use feathers and add rhinestones and wrap it in funky fabrics, then you can have a more modern looking bouquet.

 

 

Finally, making your bouquet out of paper or other fabrics is another way to spice up your wedding arangements. Again, chose fabrics or paper in your wedding colors and pick out various textures and patterns to creat a fun and unique bouquet.

Just remember to have fun with your wedding day and choose decorations that compliment you and your wedding style!

Check out Etsy.com to order alternative bouquets and  contact Perfect Posy for wedding decor and design ideas.

Read full post
« Older entries
Newer entries »