A Blue and Green wedding in "Paris"

An evening in Paris was the theme for a wedding I coordinated this past weekend at the Contemporary Arts Center in VA Beach. The couple wanted a low key, elegant affair filled with family, friends and a touch of Paris, which is where the couple will be going for their honeymoon. Navy blue with a pop of green along with beautiful trees lit with white lights, gave the room the romantic and still toned down look that the couple was looking to achieve. What was my favorite part of this event? All of the personal touches, from the homemade cupcakes in a jar that were given away as favors, to the place cards and menu's, this couple put their stamp on it all! Another fun idea that we did in this wedding was that the table's were not numbered but named after places in France. Personal touches always make a wedding more memorable! A Blue and Green Wedding in Paris is in the spotlight!

THE ROYAL WEDDING

Oh to be a bride meeting your prince at the alter...... the stuff that great Disney Movies are made of! Yes I woke up in the wee hours of the morning to witness the historic wedding of the future king of England prince William to his Kate Middleton, and it was awesome. From the thousands of people lining the streets to catch a glimpse of the couple, to the bride stepping out of the car revealing her gorgeous gown, this was an event to remember. I couldn't help but wonder what it must be like to know that you are about to marry the future King and adopt a lifestyle of privilege, tradition and duty. Talk about pressure! Oh yea and the fact that approximately 2.5 billion people from around the world witnessed this event! And I was nervous walking down the aisle in front of 105 people on my wedding day! As for the guests at the wedding, all I can say is "check out those hats". Some were fabulous and other's were, well, interesting, to say the least. Well tonight I will go to sleep with grand visions of horse drawn carriages and the Queen dancing in my head. So, if your invitation to the big day got lost in the mail or you simply were not able to see this event live, no fear, the highlights are sure to be on every news channel, entertainment show and magazine cover for weeks to come. So congratulations to Kate and her Prince William, this was truly a spectacular wedding fit for royalty! The Royal Wedding is in the spotlight!

Bridal Show Extravaganza!

I recently attended the "Uniquely yours bridal show" in Norfolk VA. It reminded me just how helpful and fun bridal shows can really be! It is a cornucopia of Vendors, samples, bridal fashion and more. You might even run into a celebrity or two like world renowned wedding planner David Tutera who was the host of this particular show. Most wedding shows will let the bride to be's in for free, otherwise there may be a small fee, around $10. There is nothing better than being able to meet vendors in person and be able to see samples of their work and ask them questions. Many vendors will give some sort of discount for their services for stopping by their booth. A great wedding show is an opportunity to get inspired! So look out for some shows in your town and let your inner planner get to work. Bridal Show Extravaganza is in the spotlight!

Wishing on a Wishing Tree

Gone are the days of sign in books sitting on a podium waiting for a signature..well not really a lot of people still rock the wedding guest book, its classic! However there seems to be a new trend sweeping the wedding world. The wishing tree. Yes the wishing tree is a modern and romantic way to get the guests involved on your wedding day...even I used this in my wedding! The idea behind it is for people to write a personal note, thought or wish they have for the happy couple and hang it on the tree. This way instead of just a signature you can get advice and best wishes from your friends and family..pretty cool huh? Not to mention that the tree ads another decorative element to your room. Considering you may drop anywhere from $20 to $50 on an average sign in book...the elements you would need for a tree are really not super expensive.. nice paper with string to hang it with, a vase or pot...some branches, spray painted if you wish or just stop by Michael's and get creative. Otherwise most event rental places have wishing trees you can rent for the night. The notes can be put in a memory book or put in a cool design in a frame after the wedding. Not to mention it is really fun when you get a chance to read all the notes the next day! Wishing on a wishing tree is in the spotlight!!

Something Blue

Enjoying the Process

Lets be real....planning a wedding can be a magical experience full of excitement and anticipation but it can also be the beginning of the demise of your sanity. Decisions, details, etiquette oh my! Suddenly once the date gets closer, panic can set in...sometimes about random little details and sometimes about serious issues you may have to deal with among family and friends and sometimes you are just bombarded with advice and opinions from every person you have ever met. My personal motto for myself as a bride and the advice I like to bestow upon my clients is to take a deep breath and always remember why. Why you are getting married, why you are in love with this person, and what is actually important in the long run. Once you answer these questions it may be a little easier to step away from that one extra expense that you really do not need or stressing out over a detail that in the end is not going to make a big difference. This is a day to remember and to cherish but do not make it more complicated or harder than it needs to be. Remember to enjoy the process....don't let others take your joy away....make decisions that are smart and know that all it truly takes to have a great wedding is a couple in love.

ENJOYING THE PROCESS IS IN THE SPOTLIGHT!

A CANDLE LIT WEDDING/ Ellie Bolton photography