2011 Bride's Choice Awards

We are very pleased to announce that Simply Perfect Weddings has won the Bride's Choice Awards 2011 for the 2nd year in a row! Thank YOU to all of our fabulous 2010 clients for your love and support - you guys ROCK! Much appreciation & love! xoxo

Here is the official press release :: 

Pittsburgh, PA – January 26, 2011 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Simply Perfect Weddings has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for Wedding Planning!

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Simply Perfect Weddings stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Simply Perfect Weddings for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Simply Perfect Weddings is among the very best wedding planners within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today.

For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

Insightful Blog Reads for the Newly Engaged

With all of the hustle and bustle of the New Year, I thought I would share a few insightful blog reads that I stumbled upon this week. These reads are great for all engaged couples, but may be particularly helpful to the newly engaged couple who is just beginning their wedding planning journey. 

Curious to know why wedding planners "cost so much"?! A must read by an industry veteran explains why we charge what we do. For an even more in-depth look into wedding planning pricing, check out this insightful read.

In the process of looking for a wedding photographer? If so, you won't want to miss this read for help on questions to ask yourself before you begin interviewing photographers. 

Trying to calculate your reception budget and compare venue/catering pricing? Here is a great read on how to discern catering service charges.

Confused about where to start first in the wedding planning process? Check out this informative read that breaks it down step by step according to Emily Post.

Unsure of when to send out save-the-dates and invitations? Here is a great read that includes a timeline for all of your stationery questions. 

Happy Planning!

One Wed Unveils Top 10 Wedding Trends for 2011

Onewed.com, one of the largest online wedding planning resources available to brides, recently unveiled their predictions on the top 10 wedding trends for 2011. Below is a look at their predictions. 

1. Sophisticated Elegance Returns

It's back to basics with elegant, sophisticated style in 2011. Wedding decor will be simple and understated, with modern design elements trumping DIY touches. Scripted calligraphy, custom monograms, and classic wedding cakes embody this trend. Brides will wear pearls, and grooms will ditch the Converse in favor of more tasteful wedding day kicks.

2. Outdoor Venues - Where It’s At

Couples tying the knot in 2011 will gravitate toward outdoor ceremony and reception venues. The raw, minimal backdrop of an outdoor setting leaves room for personalization and customization, a major perk for creative, hands-on nearlyweds. Lakeside venues, vineyard locations and spaces situated alongside sprawling mountains will dominate, and they’ll be spruced up with personalized touches that represent the bride and groom. You'll find some serious outdoor weddings inspiration in our real weddings blog category!

3. Grey is the New Black, Crazy for Navy

Gloomy no more, grey is the neutral IT color for 2011 weddings. Organic and natural, shades of charcoal, dove, stone, oyster and shell will be incorporated liberally into wedding color palettes and paired with vibrant hues to make the colors pop! And while grey remains the talk of the town for 2011, navy blue (and other deep blues) are definitely on-trend for the coming year. Wonder if Prince Will's royal wedding has anything to do with the crazy for navy trend... what do you think??

4. Mad for Metallics & Bold Color Palettes

Whether it’s two bright hues with a metallic accent, or several metallic shades used together, brights and metallics will be popular choices for wedding color palettes in 2011. Gilded gold, shimmery silver, and sparkling champagne will used alone or with accents of yellow, purple or teal. And since metallics make such a bold statement on their own, couples will scale back over-the-top decor in favor of a more restrained style aesthetic.

5. Big Ball Gowns are Back

Dramatic ball gown wedding dresses floated down 2011 bridal catwalks in droves. Wedding dress designers draped, ruched, and layered clouds of tulle, power netting, and chiffon to fashion wedding dresses with limitless volume. The outcome? Fairytale-inspired bridal style and whimsical wedding dresses for 2011 I Dos.

6. Grooms Take a Walk on the Stylish Side

Grooms are taking a stand in the name of fashion. Their tux choices will no longer be dictated by some “rent 5, get 1 free” deal. Instead, they’ll chose formal looks that represent their unique style. Bow ties will replace classic long neck ties, and embroidered dress shirts, engraved cufflinks, stylish lapel pins and the color of the season- grey- will grace the white aisles.

7. Wedding Invitations Go Green

The green weddings movement continues full speed ahead in 2011. From totally paperless wedding invitations and save-the-dates, to stationery printed on 100% recycled paper, invitations have truly gone green. Couples can find all they need with sites like WeddingPreParty (enabling online RSVP and party planning) and Nearlyweds.com (offering coordinating stationery and wedding websites).

8. Luxurious Textures-- from the Dress to the Tablescape

Luxe textured fabrics will bring a sumptuous, opulent vibe to 2011 weddings. Wedding dresses will feature 3D applique, layered light fabrics (tulle, lace, chiffon), romantic ruffles, oversized florals, and illusion fabric with eye-catching beading. Textured linens will be layered to dress up reception tables, chair covers may be embroidered or beaded, and branchy centerpieces and floral arrangements will captivate wedding guests.

9. Ethnic Influences, Cultural Wedding Details

At long last, brides and grooms are embracing and showcasing their unique cultural traditions and ethnicity. Whether it’s a religious wedding ceremony ritual, traditional wedding day garb, cultural cuisine infused throughout the reception dinner, or wedding decor with bold, ethnic prints, you can’t help but embrace the unique cultures and ethnicities of couples in 2011.

10. Revved-Up Wedding Receptions

Who wants the best day of their lives to end? Not couples and guests in 2011, that’s for sure! Couples will plan a post-reception after party lasting into the wee hours of the night with drinks, entertainment, dancing, and snacks so that wedding guests can party all night long!

Content courtesy of One Wed.

Contest :: Get Married in Times Square

ATLANTA, September 13, 2010 –– Get Married Media, a national multi-media wedding planning and lifestyle resource, today announced that it will host the first wedding ever live in New York’s Times Square during New Year’s Eve 2011 by partnering with Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment, producers of the world’s most famous New Year’s Eve celebration. By submitting entries online at GetMarried.com now until October 1st, one lucky couple will have the chance of a lifetime opportunity; to win the wedding of their dreams, with the historic background of New Year’s Eve in Times Square, while sharing planning details and nuptials along the way with the Get Married online audience. The wedding will be witnessed by million people in Times Square and seen by millions of viewers around the world.

On New Year’s Eve 2011 before the annual Ball Drop, Get Married will host and broadcast live a truly unique and spectacular wedding event—Get Married in Times Square—for one deserving couple selected on www.GetMarried.com/Times-Square. As part of its mission to engage an interactive audience, Get Married will enable its online audience (www.GetMarried.com) to vote on key wedding elements provided by participating sponsors, including bridal gowns, bridesmaids gowns, tuxedos, wedding bands, wedding invitations and wedding cake. Each wedding component will be part of a virtual gallery of images and videos on GetMarried.com, providing information about the details its audience votes on, with the highest number of votes ultimately determining the wedding details for this extraordinary wedding in Times Square.

“We are ecstatic about hosting the very first wedding in the epicenter of New Year’s Eve excitement—New York’s Times Square—and we are looking for one special couple who wants to experience a true wedding adventure,” said Stacie Francombe, founder and editor-in-chief of Get Married Media. “Get Married promises the wedding of the decade and, with the iconic, vibrant and celebratory backdrop of Times Square, we welcome the opportunity to put one couple’s ‘I do’s’ in the limelight and in the hands of the passionate GetMarried.com audience.”

As the big day approaches, Get Married will fly the winning couple to New York City to meet with vendors, narrow their selection of wedding details, create webisodes showcasing voting options, and conduct media interviews about their unique wedding experience. The day of the wedding, Get Married will videotape the couple’s wedding preparations and various wedding elements—walk down the aisle, wedding vows, ring exchange, recessional—and by partnering with Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment, co-producers of New Year’s Eve in Times Square, will broadcast it live for the world as well as on the large LED screens around Times Square. Immediately following the wedding, Get Married will host a reception for the couple’s friends and family at Hard Rock Cafe New York in Times Square.

“As part of this year’s global tradition of New Year’s Eve in Times Square, we are thrilled to help bring together two exciting celebrations into one magical and romantic occasion, both for the happy couple and the viewing crowd,” said Tim Tompkins, President, Times Square Alliance. “With the flashing lights and the unmatched energy of the excited revelers, this will surely be one of the signature moments of the 2011 New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Get Married Media to celebrate the biggest event of the year,” said Jeffrey Straus, President of Countdown Entertainment. “The first wedding ever on New Year’s Eve in Times Square will be witnessed by the million revelers on site and broadcast across the globe via our TSTV pool feed and worldwide webcast.”

Now through October 1, 2010, Get Married is accepting applications from couples across the country who have a great story to tell and also deserve this once in a lifetime opportunity.

For consideration, couples must read the eligibility criteria, application information as well as acknowledgements, consents and releases on www.GetMarried.com/Times-Square and their application must be legible, complete, and signed.

Submission process

• Log onto www.GetMarried.com/Times-Square
• Review eligibility criteria, application, consent forms
• Complete the entry form
• Upload an image of you and your fiancé
• Upload a video of you and your fiancé (optional)

Good luck! 

Press release & photo from Get Married. 
 

"Like" us on Facebook

Are you a fan of Simply Perfect Weddings on Facebook yet? If not, head on over to our Facebook page and "like" us to receive daily wedding planning tips. Starting today, we'll be posting quick and simple wedding planning tips, advice, & insight on Facebook, as a thank you to our awesome fans! 

Have a topic that you'd like to see featured on our Facebook page? Email us, and we'd be glad to share our advice!

Happy planning!

After The Wedding Day :: Love, Milk & Honey

Today I wanted to feature one of my new favorite daily reads...Love, Milk & Honey. Love, Milk & Honey is not just a blog, it's an online community for couples beginning their journey together after the glitz and the glam of the wedding day is over.  

Lauren Kelly, who also happens to be a wedding planner is the author of Love, Milk & Honey. In her words, "This site was started because I frequently see those couples deep in the wedding planning of it all lose sight of what comes after the big day. Couples need to spend just as much time preparing for days 2 – the end, as they do for day 1. The whole point of a wedding is to celebrate a MARRIAGE. Are you preparing for it?"

Well said, Lauren! I wholeheartedly agree! I highly encourage all engaged couples, as well as newly married couples to check out Love, Milk & Honey. A wide variety of topics are discussed weekly...everything from health and fitness, work-life balance, communication, and my personal favorite, what makes a "we". All things that many newlywed couples struggle with in the beginning of their journey together.

So, what are you waiting for?! Head on over to Love, Milk & Honey and start reading! : ) 

Recent News!

Good morning! Hope everyone is enjoying the arrival of spring here in the 'burg...I know, I am! I just wanted to make a few announcements this morning since we've been a little MIA on the blog as of lately...not to worry though, regular blog postings will be back this week. 

First up...I'm very pleased to announce that the Simply Perfect Weddings team for the 2010 wedding season is finally complete! Please give a warm WELCOME to Meghan and Danielle! I hope to introduce them to you all very soon.

Next, check out some of our recent press:

Last week I was thrilled to receive an email from Patty Bell, owner of On Location Makeup here in Pittsburgh saying that she wanted to interview little ole' me! Patty is highly respected in the wedding industry, and I was honored that she asked me for an interview. You can check out the interview here! 

Last week I was also excited to hear that I had been selected to be featured on "Be a Planner", a blog and wedding planning certification course in FL run by Melissa Margarita-DiStefano. Check out the "Be a Planner" feature here.

Lastly, don't forget to book your one-on-one consulting session by the end of March to receive the introductory rate of $150! More info about the consulting sessions can be found here.

Casting Call for Brides :: Get Married TV

Are you a bride-to-be interested in appearing on TV? Get Married’s national wedding program is looking for passionate brides to appear on its television show. Throughout the half-hour program which airs every Saturday at 9:30am ET/PT on WE tv, host Stacie Francombe—Get Married’s CEO and founder—helps brides identify and match their personality with their unique bridal style. Brides are guided through an array of bridal experiences and participate in inspiring challenges with wedding professionals and experts.

Interested brides-to-be are encouraged to apply by visiting www.getmarried.com/omg where additional details are posted. Brides across the country could be saying "OMG! I’m going to be on TV!"

We're Now on Skype!

With many of our clients living out of town, I decided to take some time on this snowy Saturday afternoon to see what Skype was all about. After a brief tutorial and lesson, I'm very happy to announce that Simply Perfect Weddings is now signed up for Skype! Since most of our clients are out-of-town, and are coming "home" to Pittsburgh for their weddings, I spend a great deal of time on the phone holding planning meetings and consultations. Several of our clients have already asked us about Skype, and from this point forward will have the ability to hold meetings through Skype if they so desire.

In addition to Skype, you can also stay connected with us on Twitter and Facebook.

Valentine's Day Inspiration from Amy Atlas

If you don't know who Amy Atlas is by now, be sure to head on over to her website and blog for some serious eye candy! As someone who has a mild obsession with Valentine's Day (& dessert!), I just couldn't stop myself from gushing over these fantastic dessert ideas put together by Amy herself. Love the concept, love the color scheme, love it all!

Happy (early) Valentine's Day! ; )

{Click on image to enlarge | Photo Credits as seen here.}

Introducing a New Consulting Service for Pittsburgh Brides

Here at Simply Perfect Weddings, we understand that beginning the wedding planning process can be an overwhelming and daunting task for many brides. We've recently received quite a few phone calls from brides in need of some guidance to get them on track with their wedding planning - the only catch was that they couldn't necessarily afford to hire a full-service wedding planner. These phone calls have inspired us to offer a new level of service to Pittsburgh brides!

While we do currently offer hourly consultations, along with full-planning and wedding day coordination services, we've decided to add a NEW cost-effective & convenient one-on-one consulting package to our service menu. We realize that many brides can greatly benefit from sitting down with a professional wedding planner for a few hours to "pick our brains" about their ideas and answer their questions, regardless of their budget. The consulting package is not only for brides who are just beginning the wedding planning process, it's also for brides who may be "stuck" in the middle of their planning, and just need someone to answer their questions and guide them in the right direction. The consulting package is a one-on-one "coaching session", and includes the following items:

• (1) two-hour consulting/coaching session with Sumer Schmitt {owner & principal wedding planner}
• $100 credit towards the purchase of our comprehensive 'Complete Wedding Management' or 'Wedding Day Coordination' service levels
  
• Simply Perfect Weddings "swag bag" full of wedding planning goodies, vendor recommendations/discounts, helpful wedding planning checklists, and more!
  

Consulting packages are currently being offered at an introductory rate of $150 for the month of February.

Consulting sessions are scheduled by appointment only. As weddings are our full-time job, we do have weekday availability, as well as evenings and weekends. Prior to our session, you will be asked to fill out a pre-consultation questionnaire to help us better understand you, as well as your wedding day vision.

If you would like to obtain more information about our consulting sessions, or would like to book a session, please contact Sumer at sumer@simplyperfectwedding.net, or check out our website.

We look forward to hearing from you! Happy Planning! : )

Wedding Insurance 101

Due to the state of our current economy, I've gotten quite a few questions from brides & grooms lately regarding wedding insurance. I personally think that wedding insurance is a wise decision for many reasons. The article below is written by a personal finance journalist for USA Today, and offers a very detailed explanation of wedding insurance.

4/30/2007 - Your Money :: Wedding Insurance, By Sandra Block, USA Today

If your idea of the perfect wedding venue is a drive-through chapel in Vegas, this column is not for you. If, however, the wedding of your dreams involves a June ceremony with a dozen attendants, a sit-down dinner for 400 guests and an open bar, perhaps you should consider wedding insurance.

Wedding insurance will cover your losses if bad weather, airport delays, a military call-up or a sudden illness prevents you or your intended from getting to the church on time. If your caterer is shut down by the local health department, most insurance policies will cover the extra cost of finding a last-minute vendor to feed your guests.

Travelers Insurance added wedding insurance to its product line in February. Fireman's Fund Insurance plans to announce this week that it will expand its existing policy for weddings and other special events. WedSafe, a unit of Aon, also offers a wedding insurance policy.

The growth of these policies reflects the rising cost of weddings. The average amount spent on a wedding in 2006 was $27,852, according to the Condé Nast Bridal Group. Nearly a third of couples pay the entire cost of their wedding, and 36% end up spending more than they had planned, according to Condé Nast. Premiums range from $95 to more than $1,000, depending on the size of your wedding and the level of coverage you buy. Some costs that wedding insurance will cover:

Liability. Liability coverage will protect you from lawsuits if an exuberant guest slips and falls in the conga line. Some reception venues include liability in the rental cost, but many of them require you to have your own coverage, says Rob Nuccio, CEO of RV Nuccio & Associates, program administrator for the Fireman's Fund policy.

Sudden death or illness. If the groom has an appendicitis attack the day before the wedding, wedding insurance will cover the cost of non-refundable deposits. Likewise, insurance will cover your expenses if a parent's death or illness forces you to postpone the wedding.

Lost or damaged formalwear. If the bridal store files for bankruptcy before you pick up your Vera Wang gown, wedding insurance will cover the cost of a new dress. Alan Tuvin, vice president of product management for Travelers, says lost or damaged wedding dresses are the most common types of claims Travelers has received since it started offering wedding insurance.

Photography mishaps. Your wedding photos are supposed to provide a lifetime of memories, but what if they're all out of focus? Or the photographer simply disappears? Wedding insurance policies will cover the cost of reassembling your wedding party and retaking the photos or videos.

Stolen or damaged wedding gifts.

There are also some things wedding insurance won't cover, including:

Change of heart. Traditionally, wedding insurance has excluded deposits forfeited because of runaway brides or reluctant grooms. Wedding insurance is intended to cover events that are out of your control, such as a hurricane that makes your wedding site inaccessible, Tuvin says. "You have control over change of heart," he says. Insurance companies say the exclusion is also necessary to prevent fraud.

Fireman's Fund, however, plans to announce this week that it will provide "change of heart" coverage under certain circumstances. To qualify, Nuccio says, a policyholder would have to show that he or she was an innocent party.

For example, if the father of the bride finances the wedding and the groom gets cold feet, the policy would cover the father's losses, Nuccio says.

Existing medical conditions. If your mother has a chronic health condition that worsens before the wedding, your policy probably won't cover the costs of postponing the event. "If somebody has a heart attack, and it's their first one, that's covered," Tuvin says." If it's a pre-existing condition, that's excluded."

Limiting losses

Even if you don't buy wedding insurance, there are other ways to protect your investment. The Better Business Bureau offers these recommendations:

Research vendors thoroughly. Get references from relatives and friends and obtain a reliability report on prospective vendors from the BBB.

Keep your deposit as small as possible. Because most deposits are non-refundable, limiting the size of your deposit will protect you from a large loss if you cancel or reschedule your wedding.

Use a credit card for as many expenses as possible. That way, you can dispute charges for unsatisfactory service. When you pay with a check, getting your money back is much harder, says Paula Fleming, spokeswoman for the BBB. Save your receipts so you'll have documentation to support your case.

Things to Do in Pittsburgh

Need some fun activities for your out-of-town wedding guests?! Here is our list of the top 15 things to do while in Pittsburgh:

Andy Warhol Museum
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
Carnegie Science Center
Ducky Tour
Duquesne Incline
Gateway Clipper
Heinz History Center & Sports Museum
Mount Washington
Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
The Rivers Casino
Shadyside
Southside
Station Square
Strip District

In addition to these tourist attractions, your guests will definitely want to stop in and have lunch at Primanti Brothers, or perhaps take in a football, hockey, or baseball game.

What do you think of our list? Did we miss anything?! We want to hear from you with your suggestions!

2010 Bride's Choice Awards

It's already been an amazing start to 2010, and yesterday, I was delighted to find out that Simply Perfect Weddings was chosen as a recipient of the 2010 Bride's Choice Awards! Below is the official press release.

Wedding Wire Press Release

Pittsburgh, PA - 1.21.10 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced Simply Perfect Weddings has been selected to receive the WeddingWire 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for Wedding Planning and Coordination!

The annual Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

Simply Perfect Weddings is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada. Awards were given to winners across 19 different service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the success of the top wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “The annual Bride’s Choice Awards program has given us the unique opportunity to highlight the best wedding professionals in each region as reviewed by brides and grooms who have utilized their services in the past year.”

We are happy to announce that Simply Perfect Weddings is among the very best of wedding planners within the WeddingWire Network, which includes WeddingWire and Martha Stewart Weddings. We would like to thank our past newlyweds for nominating us for the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards!

For more information, check out our WeddingWire Storefront.

My Dream Wedding Design :: A Southern Garden Affair

Several weeks ago I introduced The Wedding Shoebox to you, a blog dedicated to showcasing what the wedding pro's would do for their own wedding. Last week my dream wedding design, "Southern Garden" was featured on their blog! Valerie Metrejean {mastermind behind The Wedding Shoebox} did a fantastic job putting my inspiration board together! Those of you who know me, know that I am happily married to my husband of nearly 2 years; however, I often tease my husband that we should have a wedding every year! If I had to do it all over again (there's always a vow renewal, right?!), my wedding would look something like what is pictured above...an afternoon southern garden affair.

Inspiration ::

My inspiration for my dream wedding design comes from growing up in the South. There’s something about spring time in the South that makes my heart melt! The smell of fresh flowers in the garden, birds chirping, and chimes floating in the wind…ahhh…there’s nothing better in my opinion. Late afternoon as the sun is just beginning to set would be the ideal time of day for my outdoor garden wedding.

Details ::

I love the southern charm feel to the wedding design as a whole. I consider myself to be a girly-girl, therefore, it was important for me to include feminine details throughout the design. Lace, beautiful blooms, and shades of pink are all key elements that I wanted to incorporate.

To see the entire blog post, including photo credits, visit The Wedding Shoebox.

Press :: Pittsburgh Weddings Magazine

I was thrilled to find out several months ago that one of our August 2009 weddings (Christina & Richard) would be featured in the Spring/Summer 2010 issue of Pittsburgh Weddings Magazine! This past week the magazine hit newsstands! Christina & Richard incorporated some truly fabulous details into their wedding design, so it's no surprise that their wedding was chosen to be featured.

If you have a copy of the magazine, then flip to pages 36-37 to check out Christina & Richard's wedding feature! In addition to Christina & Richard's wedding, there are 10 other 'Real Pittsburgh Wedding' features to check out - all of which, are equally fabulous!

To see more photos from their wedding day, check out photo album entitled 'Christina & Richard 8.8.09' on our Facebook fan page.

{Click photos to enlarge}

Wedding Day Decorate + Setup Package

It's the week of your wedding...you've got everything meticulously planned, your vendors are contacted & confirmed, and your timeline is finalized, but then you realize who the heck is going to set up all of my decor?! There's 100+ seating cards, menus to be placed, candles to light, favors to be displayed, and the list goes on and on! These exact thoughts went through my mind the week of my wedding. And although I was lucky enough to have family help me out the day of the wedding, I wasn't thrilled that my family (and soon-to-be husband) had to rush around and take care of these details the morning of our wedding.

This situation made me stop and think that other brides were probably going through the same thing. So, last year I added a 'Decorate + Setup' package to our service menu. I understand that hiring a wedding planner or day-of coordinator isn't for every bride; therefore, I wanted to create a smaller, affordable option for brides who were in need of someone to set up all of their details that they had worked so hard on the last 12+ months. Our 'Decorate + Setup' package starts at $350 and includes the following items:

• (1) one-hour face to face consultation to discuss your setup details
• Up to 5 hours of set-up time on the day of your wedding (includes both your ceremony and reception sites)
• Decorating help from Sumer (owner & principal planner), and one additional assistant
  

Here's what our previous brides have said about our 'Decorate + Setup' package:

"When we got engaged I decided that I was going to take care of everything myself - DIY decorations, vendors - the whole nine yards. Unfortunately, there was one thing that I couldn't do, set up the reception decorations. This is where Sumer and her brilliant decorate and set up package came in. Sumer set up all of the centerpieces, the place cards, the card box, and every other little decorating detail, so that when our guests arrived the reception was perfect! I can't explain how pleased I was with the decorate and set up package, it was exactly what I needed at a great price and it turned out beautifully. Thank you Sumer - everything was beautiful, you did a fantastic job! All of the centerpieces looked exactly the way that I wanted and I couldn't have been more pleased! Thank you again for everything!" {Danielle & John}

"Thank you for all of your help and expertise!! It was such a comfort knowing that you were there and taking care of all the details! You and your husband make a great team!!" {Kelsey & PJ}

For more information, or to set up a complimentary consultation, please visit our website.

Eco-Beautiful Weddings Magazine

If you're planning an eco-friendly wedding, then this is definitely a magazine you will want to check out! Eco-Beautiful Weddings is the first online magazine dedicated to eco-friendly weddings. The premier issue of the magazine was just launched on December 15th, and can be found here. I have to say that the magazine is truly fabulous, as I've spent quite some time browsing it! :)

In addition to their gorgeous magazine, they also have a daily blog that features real eco-friendly weddings, green wedding tips, free giveaways, and eco-friendly product spotlights.

The Wedding Shoebox

A few weeks ago I was asked by Valerie Metrejean {owner of Southern Fete in Lafayette, La.} to be apart of a new wedding blog showcasing what the wedding pro's would do for their own wedding. What a great idea I thought! Today, The Wedding Shoebox was officially launched! In Valerie's words, she describes The Wedding Shoebox as "Imagine seeing an interior designer’s house or grabbing a book off an author’s bookshelf. The Wedding Shoebox gives a look into what wedding planner's would plan for their own big day. They'll take their experience and know-how, edit gobs of inspiration and create a palette or theme they consider to be the perfect wedding plan." I've already submitted my wedding vision + inspiration photos to Valerie, and can't wait to share it with all of you when it comes to life on The Wedding Shoebox!

P.S. Follow The Wedding Shoebox on Twitter to receive daily wedding planning tips from the pros.

10 New Year's Resolutions for Every Bride

Happy New Year and welcome to 2010! I recently came across this great article on The Knot, and immediately knew this was something that I had to share with our readers. I'm not usually one to set New Year's Resolutions for myself, as I believe that if you want to make a change in your life that you should start that very day {that's an entire different topic to be saved for another day}; however, I very much agree with the points in this New Year's Resolution list. Whether you share my philosophy on New Year's Resolutions or not, I encourage all brides to read these 10 bits of advice when it comes to planning your wedding. Enjoy, and happy planning!

1. I will not do anything...before the guest list.

It's not the most fun part of planning (and we'll be honest, it's one of the most likely to lead to a fight or two or twelve), but you shouldn't make any wed-day decisions before you have your wedding guest list somewhat firmly in place. Why, you ask? Well, do you want to have a nonrefundable deposit down on that cozy restaurant room that fits 75 when your mother-in-law's additions bump your list up over 200? Exactly. Once everyone's in agreement, then you can move forward. That said, this means that one of the parts of your wedding you can plan immediately (or at least talk over with your fiance) is what kind of atmosphere you'd like for your wedding. Do you want an intimate, close friends and family-only affair, or do you want to throw the event of the season for 300-plus people? Later, when you're in the guest-list trenches, this bit of planning will help back up your gut instinct about whether to say yes (or no) to guest-list additions.

2. I will not end up on YouTube for the wrong reason.

Adorable processional dance? Totally acceptable path to stardom. Bridezilla freak-out on the florist who delivers hyacinths instead of hydrangeas? Not so much. On your wedding day, all eyes (and camera phones) will be on you, meaning your every move is subject to instant Internet infamy. Mind your manners and keep your panic attacks quiet to avoid the wrong kind of publicity. But that video of your dad doing the worm during your father-daughter dance? Internet gold.

3. I will not realize that grape isn't my color -- with two months to go.

You should feel free to rethink, redo, and revamp any element of your wedding that you want -- unless you've accepted a ring from it (just kidding). This doesn't have to mean yet another huge investment or reneging on a bunch of contracts -- you'll be surprised how easy it is to make simple additions or subtractions and change your whole style. Already ordered those pastel bridesmaid dresses? Think about adding a bold sash or accessorizing with chandelier earrings to liven them up a bit. Unsure about the color scheme you chose? Pay an extra visit to your florist and work out changes to your bouquets and centerpieces -- adding new blooms in all of your arrangements will introduce a new color throughout the room. Same thing if you've already ordered the linens -- spice them up with bright table runners or overlays. If you decide you really can't live with it, chances are you can go back on your first choice -- just remember that it will have a cost. A good rule of thumb is that if you've already signed a contract or seen a proof, you will have to pay extra for any changes or additions you make. But if it's still relatively early in your planning process, don't be afraid to make the change. Remember, you're getting married to your husband, not your centerpieces.

4. I will not use my Facebook status as a personal wedding journal.

Okay, we know you're excited about planning your wedding, but that girl from your college history class couldn't care less that you finally booked a reception band (not to mention understand that passive-aggressive comment about the best man). We're not saying the everyday details aren't interesting -- we'd just recommend a different platform. Instead of overloading your Twitter feed with wedding details, create a wedding-planning blog for those who want to keep tabs on the ups and downs.

5. I will trust my vendors.

Before you start micromanaging every decision your wedding planner makes, remember one thing: You're paying them for a reason. Consider their experience and expertise an opportunity for you to relax. They want you to love the result (after all, your recommendation hinges on it!), so they're going to strive to please. And wouldn't you rather help someone who trusts your abilities rather than second-guesses everything you do? There's no harm in giving a good amount of direction at the outset, but asking for daily progress reports is overkill.

6. I will not feel guilty about having an adults-only wedding.

Whether you're worried about babies crying during the ceremony or just can't afford to seat entire families for dinner, it's your decision whether or not you want to invite the little ones. As long as you're consistent about this rule (no exceptions for your closest friends!) and upfront in your invitations and on your wedding website, you shouldn't feel bad if you have to tactfully put the kibosh on your second cousin who tries to RSVP for her toddler triplets.

7. I will attempt (at least a little) DIY.

Even the least crafty bride can undoubtedly personalize a few details of her wedding, and the bragging rights -- not to mention the savings -- will be well worth the effort. Try your hand at creating your favors or ceremony programs. If those tasks seem to daunting, keep it simple: Put your excellent penmanship to use and write out the escort cards, or make your own welcome bags for out-of-town guests with maps of the area and a few local goodies.

8. I will acknowledge that some people might not want to be the "guest book attendant".

You can't put all your friends in the wedding party, but there are usually a few people left over that you still want to honor...so you create "special" jobs, like cake servers and guest book attendants. Our advice: Unless your guest book is especially complicated, an attendant probably isn't necessary. Honorary jobs are still jobs, and chances are, they'll have a much better time if you just let them enjoy the party rather than having them stand guard by the guest book.

9. I will actually eat the dinner at my reception. (That includes cake!)

Make sure you take time with your new husband to really enjoy the party you worked so hard to plan. If you spend your whole wedding day directing the photographer and making sure the bridal party makes their entrance on cue, you'll be missing out on a lot of amazing memories. Even if you don't hire a day-of wedding coordinator, put a trusted relative or bridesmaid in charge of making sure things go smoothly on the big day.

10. I will look on the bright side -- no matter what.

Did your outdoor ceremony get rained out? Instead of panicking, throw on some cute rain boots, grab a big umbrella, and start posing for some adorable rainy-day photographs. The DJ played the wrong song for your bridal party's entrance? Chances are no one else noticed. After months of obsessing over the details, it's easy to get lost in them. Loosen up, keep in mind what's important (you're getting married!), and we promise that, even if the caterer serves twice-baked potatoes instead of mashed, it'll all be great in the end.

Content courtesy of The Knot.