Are you or someone you know interested in our Fall Intern Program?  This could be the opportunity you have been waiting for.  By joining our dynamic team you could advance your career, earn college credit or gain experience in an industry with amazing advantages, even more amazing people and be involved in some of the areas most stylish and unique events.  It’s not all fun and games.  We work, we work hard, and as a intern you will have to do the not so fun stuff like organizing, filing, making calls and shopping.  Somehow we always seem to work in the shopping angle!

As a current intern, I can tell you that there is no better job out there! Don’t be fooled though, all of the fun that we have is only met with working five times as hard! We play hard but work HARDER! Rayna and Mallory are absolutely amazing to work for and it is the most incredible job! Be prepared to have lots of fun but also expect the unexpected and be willing to put in the effort it takes to create such fabulous events!

If you apply, here are some important details:

  • Do not call or send an inquiry via our website.  Clients and vendors call me and potential clients submit an inquiry on the site.  If you want to be associated with Always Planned you must MAIL OR EMAIL Rayna your cover letter and your resume. No exception.
  • This is a NON-Paid position.  It is best suited for someone working towards a college degree and who will receive credit for the hours or for someone wanting to break into the wedding/event field.
  • You MUST be fun, energetic, organized, detail oriented, creative and patient.  If this is not you- please look into other intern opportunities.

Please send your resume and a short note to Rayna at rayna@alwaysplanned.com.  Always Planned is a great company to work for and we look forward to meeting you soon!

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A few weeks ago I met a wonderful photographer who is new to the Lexington, KY area.  While she does not do wedding photography she definitely is the perfect gift for the newly engaged or newly married couples.

Morgan Day Photography specializes in bridal boudoir and glamour photography. As a photographer and advocate for romance, she encourages “bringing sexy back” to marriages new and old.  She loves working with wives and brides to create a sexy and memorable gift to give to their husbands on their wedding day, honeymoon, or anniversary.  She shoots “glossy-magazine” style portraits (as you might see in W, Vanity Fair, or Vogue) and believes every woman should feel like a Hollywood starlet.

Always Planned clients get a special 10% off all boudoir packages. You can see more of her work and hear about special promotions on her Facebook fan page and get information on booking a session and learn more about who she is as a photographer, wife and mother on her website.

I am seriously thinking I may need to surprise my honey with a little something sexy for our next Anniversary!  Oh-la-la!

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Mallory just got married on May 23, 2009 and WOW!  You can imagine how much fun it was to plan her wedding.  She is so beautiful and her wedding day was perfect.  We will have pictures up very soon.  ;)
1.  Where are you from/background: I grew up in the small town of Carlisle, KY. Nobody really knows where that is and you wouldn’t because it is very, very small. I don’t plan on ever moving back there, but I have definitely come to respect it and proud to say that is where I grew up.. My whole family is there, so I visit very frequently. I then moved to Morehead for four years while I went school and I absolutely love that town and miss it very much. After I graduated last May, I moved to Lexington and will now be moving to Louisville next month.
2.  What is your favorite …. place to shop, food, drink, etc..: I have been on a J. Crew kick here lately… I pretty much love all food. If I could eat all of the time I would, but my favorite meal is scalded lettuce, mashed potatoes, bacon, and cottage cheese with some sweet tea. I love good ol’ country cooking. My favorite drink is Cherry Coke, Dr. Pepper or Barque’s Red Cream Soda.
3.  When did you start with Always Planned: May 2008!! A whole year!!
4.  How did you meet Rayna: Well… one night it finally hit me that I was fixing to graduate and head out into the real world and needed to decide what I was going to do. I always had this idea that I wanted to be an event coordinator or wedding planner, so I googled wedding planners in Lexington, KY and up popped the Always Planned website. So, I started reading about Rayna and she had grew up in Mt. Sterling, not far from me.. Something about all of this gave me a good feeling, so I emailed her. She called me and told me I could do an internship and we planned to meet. We met, the interview lasted for over four hours, I hopped in her car and went to Garden Ridge and on a bridal consult, and she hired me…. as an intern. However, that didn’t last long. The next thing I knew I had my own wedding and business cards and have been around ever since. Now, she’s one of my best friends.
5.  What is your specialty at events/weddings: Sometimes, I am the realistic one of the bunch. I think about codes and laws and what we really CAN do compared to what we THINK we can do.
6.  Favorite part of weddings? The bride walking down the aisle and the look on the groom’s face. I cry every time.
7.  Most memorable wedding? My most memorable wedding was probably Megan and Dave’s… it was definitely a learning experience, but turned out beautifully.
8.  Best part of Team AP? We all are happy working together. Our job is fun, but gets very stressful, but we have such a great team that no matter how stressed we are, we get through it together and just laugh together about it… because as some points… all you can do is laugh.
9.  Where do you fit in in the Future of AP? I am here all the way. I hope to get the Louisville branch started as soon as I officially get up there in June and settled in and then hopefully move back to Lexington in a few years and continue to work taking over the world with Rayna and the whole gang. :-)

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At the most recent KY Meeting of the Association of Bridal Consultants I had the pleasure of visiting the 21C Museum Hotel in Louisville, KY.

This boutique property is part of the 9,000-square-foot 21c Museum, which showcases modern works from established and emerging artists. The lobby alone doubles as a 5,000 sq. ft. gallery, and one of the hotel’s signature features is a group of 40 giant red penguins the staff moves around the property. And these aren’t just any old penguins—they are part of a collection commissioned for the 2005 Venice Biennial. The penguins were everywhere, in the guest rooms, event space and even the bathroom.  Oh did I even mention the stylish bathrooms – ranked 2nd best in the nation!  This amazing place was even ranked 16th in Conde Nast Traveler in the Reader’s Choice Awards.  You really MUST see this place for yourself, with the everchanging art gallery, the yummy food and unique atmosphere it is hard to believe you are in Louisville, KY.

Here are some additional details from their website.

For sales inquiries related to Group Room Booking, please call us at (502) 217-6300. To inquire about space or your next event contact Banquets/Catering Department at 502-217-6312.

Facilities

  • More than 8,000 square feet of meeting and event space
  • 7 meeting rooms
  • Board Room with 42″ flat screen for presentations
  • Contemporary art museum galleries available with agreement from 21c Museum Foundation
  • Catering by Proof on Main

Business Services

  • Full service 24-hour business center
  • State-of-the-art audiovisual equipment
  • Hard-wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, complimentary
  • Professional catering & meeting services
  • Mail and package services
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Fall is our busiest time of year for weddings.  This year has been no different and many of our fabulous weddings have been customized by Always Planned.  The wedding of Mary and Billy had many adorable personalized items and their gift bags carried the theme.  Here are some pics and details.

Included in gift bags:

Homemade cookies, two KY bourbon balls, 2 Ale-8′s, 1 Bottle of KY Wine and opener, 2 bags of chips, Directions to venue, Lexington, KY Visiter’s Guide, Tops In Lex Magazine, an area restaurant guide and a personalized notecard from Mary and Billy.  All in green bags with pink/green tissue paper and pink with green dot ribbon.

If you are interested in custom gift bags for your guests, bridal party or out of town guests be sure to give us a call.  Always Planned will gather all items, assemble your bags and deliver them to the designated hotels or venue.

Custom gift bags… another one of the many things we have in our Love-it folder!

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12

Oct

Mary and Billy

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This weekend we had the privilege to work with Mary and Billy.  I met Mary, Billy and Mary’s Mother Kathy at the Feburary Bridal Show and have been involved in planning their special day ever since.  It is hard to believe that it is already October and I will no longer be working with Mary and Kathy. I have loved every minute that I have gotten to share with Mary and her wonderful family.  They are such a joy and it is no wonder why Mary is such an amazing person.

Mary and Billy are so in love, and there were several times throughout the rehearsal dinner and wedding that we all had tears in our eyes.  We will have their love story listed here when we get the professional photos, in the meantime here are some fantastic pics of some decor that my brother, Nick, snapped for us.  Enjoy!

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11

Oct

Always Planned comes in 5th!

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Hey there!  We are so very excited and honored to have come in 5th place for the WLKY.com A List.  WLKY is located in Louisville, KY so this is especially an honor because we are based in Lexington and ranked 5th out of 12 wedding planners.  Thank you to everyone who voted!  We really appreciate it!

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09

Oct

Congrats Danielle and Kris!

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We have been very busy this fall with some of the most fantastic couples and weddings.  Danielle and Kris have been so incredible to work with and I will miss them now that their perfect day has gone off so perfectly.  They have just returned from their romantic honeymoon in Jamaica!  I must say I am very jealous.  I wish them all of the happiness in the world.

Always Planned took care of the reception decorating and management.  The bride came up with all of the decor, the amazing cake was from Caramanda’s, linens from Purdon’s and catering by Bake-My-Day.  The cake was stunning and tasted just as delicious as it looked.  We almost did not want to cut it!  Professional Pics to follow.

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06

Oct

Southern Weddings…

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I am so in love with the blog over at Southern Weddings Magazine.  One of my fav photographers – Todd Pellowe, was recently featured, and besides that they always have some of the most stylish, romantic and completely southern weddings I have ever seen.  I am thinking that one of the fabulous weddings designed by Always Planned should be featured at some pont…. ;)

Until then, check out this fantastic yellow and black themed wedding.  Not only is the bride stunning, but the colors are totally hot together! Check out more images from the photographer, DrewB.

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06

Oct

Budget Bridal Party?

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With the economy is such a scary state at the moment it is hard to ask anyone to fork over hundreds of dollars to be a part of your wedding party.  Let’s face it, most of the time your bridesmaid will never wear that beautiful gown again and the tux rental is just that – a rental.  I think we are all feeling the brunt of the economy woes, why not be considerate of your bridal party, when it comes to their expenses.

This fun dress came straight from Amazon and is a steal for only $67.00.  It is also available in several fantastic colors!

Pair it with these dyeable shoes for only $50 any your bridesmaid is now spending less for her dress and shoes than she would on that designer gown at the bridal salon.  And really, who would know she only paid $117 for her dress and shoes?

Instead of a tuxedo rental, why not check out the vintage suits I blogged about last week?

Still cheaper than a tuxedo rental and if you go with a neutral your usher or groomsmen can actually use it again.  How is that for a budget bridal party!

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