sentimental fool

As I've mentioned in the past, the first thing you need to think about when planning an event is how do I want this to feel? It holds true for every event possible, but for bigger events it may only be the beginning, for instance when planning your wedding I would suggest starting with that and then moving into what pieces are the most important to me? and what do I want to remember most? 
 I do believe it's true that every girl dreams about getting married from the moment she sees her first bride, but recently I've been taking a look at how different those dreams could be. While some girls are dreaming about looking into the mirror and seeing that perfect princess dress and just the right accessories, others are dreaming about walking into the reception space to flickering candlelight and the sweet scent of hundreds and hundreds of flowers filling the room. Still others dream of that first dance and all the people that will be happy for them. I would dare to say that what you dream about FIRST is what is most likely your biggest priority. If the first thing you think of is your dress that is something that you won't want to put on the back burner. Every girl is different, therefore every set of priorities is different, and therefore every wedding budget LOOKS different.
Today I want to share a couple of ways to make the things that matter most last. I personally am ridiculously sentimental! No lies I still have a box that holds memories from elementary school! Each item has a story and I love that! So it's no surprise that I found ways to lace items with a story throughout my wedding.
If a priority for you is how you LOOK on your wedding day find ways to tie a memory into your outfit. Whether it be the way you found your dress or who you went shopping with or the accessories that your dad bought for you. Things that have meaning matter more and last longer (they're also much more fun to tell your kids about).

A hug from my mom after officially deciding this was THE dress!

My Aunt Marianne has helped me pick out every important outfit and dress I've had so of course I invited her along on this trip. No surprise when the dress I picked was one she had taken off the rack! We decided this was our biggest success yet!

My dad and I went on a "date day" just a few weeks before my wedding where he helped me pick out my jewelry for the day. I was blessed with a great dad and this will always be a sweet memory for me!

The brooch I wore in my hair was a gift from my Aunt Marianne and is a replica of a piece made for Jaquelin Kennedy, a woman whose fashion and poise still inspire us.

My flowers were made by a good friend of ours. My Mom had her add two charms that held photos of my Grandmothers on their wedding days. Both of my Grandmothers were very special to me and were not able to be their for my wedding, have that was a little bit like carrying them will me all day and is easily one of my most precious memories from that day.

Making the things that are most important to you memorable is a very important part of making your wedding day unforgettable. So decide what matters and make it happen. Don't let anyone tell you not to spend money that way or that you're being silly. It's not their wedding and not their priorities, make sense? I am NOT suggesting spending beyond your means I am merely suggesting that you put your money into the things that will last for YOU!

matters to me

It seems that a good place to begin talking about events would be with the big events in my own life. The most recent being my wedding. I was blessed with a lot of amazing people and ideas and an AWESOME photographer who managed to catch it all on film so I could share it with you.
When outlining what I wanted to share from my wedding I came to the conclusion that the only logical place to begin was the the MAN that made it happen; my wonderful husband. He is the most amazing fit for me; while it sounds terribly cliche he makes me the best possible version of myself.
When we first began preparation for our wedding we decided that we really only wanted three things: for our guest to know we loved and appreciated them, that our wedding would be a testimony to our story and how blessed we were, and to GET MARRIED! I believe we managed all three (for sure the last one) and it could not have been a more perfect day.

We opted for an evening wedding and chose to take pictures before the ceremony. We created our own moment when we first got to see each other in the foyer of our church.

 

Long story short I love him and am SO glad to be his wife. I promise my next blog will actually have something pertinent that you can use for your next event, but I had to share a little about my love first : ) 

All photos taken by Macey Cegler

too early to revamp?

So as you may have noticed I pulled my long, difficult to pronounce, fairly cheesy blog title and have replaced it with, well nothing! I decided it was better to have NO title than to have a lame title that didn't really express what I wanted it to!
The more I think about the things I want to share in this blog the more I fight to know where to START but I've decided that since this is supposed to be a creative outlet, and therefore should be FUN I am going to keep it very simple and true to ME!
On that note I have some exciting posts just around the corner! I recently got my AMAZING wedding pictures back from our fabulous photographer Macey Cegler (website and contact information coming soon!) and will be sharing some insights from my own wedding! Also on the docket a bachelorette party that combines the glamour of a girls night out with the fun of a pajama party (come on ladies you know we all still LOVE them)! I'm excited to share ideas and some great DIY items that YOU can use!
I will also be continuing with the ideas of creating emotion with every event! Should be an interesting ride! I'll try not to lose you ; )

in the beginning

Blogging . . Wow where to even begin? I must admit I've been wanting to do this for awhile and just haven't known where to start. So here I am: totally making it up as I go.
In the last two years I have had several friend and I myself get married. In that time I have realized two things: 1) EVERYONE needs a wedding planner and 2) the most important (and first) decision you need to make about your wedding is not listed on ANY wedding website, planner, or show that I have seen.
The beauty of having an event planner is the idea that they are less emotionally involved. They can more easily separate the important from the unimportant, catch the logistical details, and keep you ON TASK and following a schedule. Too many brides don't know how to organize tasks, delegate projects and then prioritize what needs to be done with the time they have.
The most important and first thing you should ask yourself when you start your planning is 'how do I want my wedding to feel?'.  Most wedding planning guides and shows that I've witnessed will give you a long 'to do' list, and maybe even a timeline based on a year long engagement. Choose a dress, choose colors, choose a theme, order your invitations . . the list goes on and on. The thing I feel they're missing is HOW to choose these things. The way you want your wedding to FEEL can so greatly influence the way you choose and, I believe, take your event from 'just another wedding' to 'the best wedding I've ever been to'. The thing about any event is that at the end of the day the colors, decor, and even food, are not the strongest memory you take away from them. The impression that is left is nearly 80% the emotion it evoked in you.
Weddings are not the only event that are remembered by the way they made you feel, this theory can be applied to ANY event and will always add that special 'something' that everyone is looking for.
More on this to come