Friday, June 10, 2011
Many wedding days are stressful, for a variety of reasons. But, Heather and Peter's was just the opposite. We're told that they laughed, mingled, enjoyed and every moment of their gorgeous purple wedding at Cedarwood. Maybe it's because Cedarwood handles so much of the wedding planning or maybe it's just Peter and Heather's temperament. Either way, stress-free weddings days are what we love!
They were all smiles and their photographer, Erin of The Collection, was there to capture and share with us the key moments of their day.
Enjoy!
Heather Yuill + Peter Brown
Wedding date ~ 4/17/2010
Ceremony/Reception location ~ Cedarwood
Guest count ~ 150
About the couple:
Heather and Peter appeared so calm the day of, they just seemed to be soaking it all in and truly enjoying their day and each other. Heather and her bridesmaids were so fun together and seemed very close. One made faces at Heather just before she started her walk down the isle just to help her relax. During their photographs you could tell how genuinely happy they were. Peter definitely used that time to goof off for the camera though. The recessional was "All You Need Is Love", describing perfectly the feeling of the day. Their family and friends are very important to them which is obvious looking through their photographs, babies are being hugged and carried around, guests having a great time, especially during the reception. Everyone had a blast including the couple who was on the dance floor throughout the entire night. They had a DJ spinning vinyl. I don't think I will ever hear "Werewolves of London" and not think of their wedding!
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Their wedding theme:
The wedding theme was slightly modern with tall vases of orchids in water and floating candles, chinese lanterns, and bright colors everywhere but it still had the southern flare that Cedarwood does so well. Deep purple and wine tones ran throughout the wedding day decor. The bridesmaids dresses and florals all centered around the color, with accents of yellow, pink and white thrown in. Mason jars lit with candles hung from the trees like fireflies. On the tables candles were floating in tall vases filled with water and purple and pink orchid stems floated in even taller jars in the center of those. There were signature drinks served on the front lawn in mason jars, and the cake was trimmed with ribbon and more flowers.
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Heather on her special moments:
That day went by so fast but I just remember how I was amazed at what a beautiful job Cedarwood did with everything from the decorations to keeping the whole day go smoothly on schedule. What made it special was having people that really knew us involved to make it personal. The officiant was one of my bridesmaid's husband and the DJ was one of Peter's good friends from college. The Collection did an awesome job too at catching lots of the special moments like my nephew running down the aisle and Peter dipping me as our first kiss as husband and wife.
Couple's Dream Wedding Team:
Gown: Mikaella
Men's Attire: Street Tuxedo in Cool Springs
Bridesmaids: Melissa Sweet Vineyard
DJ: Dr. G
Cake: PattiCakes
Caterer: Chef Christopher
Photographer: The Collection
Floral design: Cedarwood
Planner/Coordinator: Cedarwood
Lighting: Cedarwood
Rentals: Cedarwood
Transportation: Road Runner Limo
Hair: Melanie of Surreal Hair Studio
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
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Thursday, June 9, 2011
Hi, It's Ashley of iHospitality {not to be confused with Ashley of ABG}. I offer green consulting and sourcing services. What's that mean? I can advise you on your green event or help you find great green supplies and vendors.
Okay, so this month I went on the hunt for a green minded invitation & stationary company in Nashville. This search was way more daunting than expected, but I can now say I found one. Actually, I found a pretty awesome company along with including one of my favorite event planning company's and a pretty cool Georgia wedding.
Arboreal Paper (ArborealPaper.com) - provides lovely, earth-loving wedding invitations
Contact: Erin Pfister
Email: hello at arborealpaper dot com
Twitter: @arborealpaper
ABG adds - We loved Aboreal at first sight! We saw their work at The Bride Room's party and believe us, it's even prettier in person.
Arboreal is an invitation & stationary company based right here in Music City. I definitely feel my search was worth the wait because I absolutely love their products. Erin Pfister is the brains behind the company and the designs. She really has a knack for merging eco-friendly paper with upscale, sleek designs that brides will love. She credits her knowledge of all things paper to her days at Social Graces in Hillsboro Village. Erin’s role at the store allowed her a chance to really listen and learn what brides were looking for. She realized they did care about the environment but still wanted great looking invitations that did not have the usually flecked or “dirty” paper look as you see with many eco-friendly style papers. So, in December 2009 Arboreal was launched right inside Erin’s Nashville home with a focus on eco-friendly paper, soy inks and great design. Of course, the great design was effortless as Erin has been a graphic designer for over 10 years.
When I first found the Arboreal site, I was clicking through like a kid in the candy store…uncovering a new style of eco conscious stationary & invitations. I sent her a quick email then waited and hoped she would have a teeny bit of time to chat with me. Thank goodness she did! Erin was a wealth of knowledge and I could truly tell how much she loved what she did. She also wants to sit down and chat with each one of her brides to make sure they will love their custom invitations. Erin kicks it into high gear delivering flawless custom invitations meant just for your big day. Personalized service and her ability to add “green” to her projects is what sets Erin a part from the crowd. Arboreal also carries a full line of stationary and recently introduced journals & hang tags in several boutiques in Tennessee, Alabama & Florida.
dandyLion Events (DandyLionEvents.com) - a sustainable event planning company
Contact: Lindsey
Telephone: 615.439.0652
Email: Lindsey at dandylionevents dot com
Twitter: @dandyLionevents
dandyLion Events is a sustainable event planning company and one of the first true green event vendors I encountered in Music City. They offer floral design, photography, event design & planning with sustainability always in mind. Lindsey Huddleston is the owner and I actually meet her when she did a blog post on my little ole company back in 2010. Lindsey has a great spirit and even greater ideas, just check out the company name (yes the lowercase “d” is on purpose). This company is perfect for the bride looking for a unique wedding day experience.
dandyLion started in February 2009 and this 3 women team creates experiences for their clients by incorporating reclaimed, recycled & upcycled items while encouraging clients to use their own home decor pieces in their event. They are all about taking a blank canvas and transforming it from top to bottom. Being green is also part of their core operation as they operate paperless and use local vendors. This will also not be the last post on dandyLion, as I think the owner is great plus they have several green inspired events coming up, including a Nashvegas inspired wedding along with a dark carnival theme wedding. Stay tuned, I definitely can’t wait.
Green Wedding Inspiration
I thought it only fitting to highlight one of dandyLion event weddings as our Real Green Wedding feature this month. dandyLion put on a sweet, simple wedding on April 30, 2011 at The Solarium in Decatur, GA. Brent & Jessi Cerrato choose dandyLion for their design and event planning. The couple went with local vendors for each aspect of their wedding including locally grown food at their reception. I love the handmade paper cranes incorporated in the ceremony décor.
Their invitations included a perforated rsvp card that could be mailed back as a postcard (how flipping neat is that). They also incorporated personal items for their reception décor along with reusable pieces. The exposed duct work and wood floors provided a great palette for their paper lantern inspired design. Brent & Jessi really dove head first into making their big day absolutely memorable and green.
If you are a wedding vendor in town that incorporates green into your mix, I want to hear from you! Contact me at ashley at ihospitalitytn dot com or visit www.ihospitalitytn.com. Seeking green vendors for your event? See how iHospitality can help.
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Posted by Green Nashville Weds |
Filed under: Eco-Friendly Weddings, Invitations & Paper Goods, Luxury Nashville Wedding Finds, Wedding Planners & Coordinators, Wedding Resources
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Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Once some of the big wedding details are figured out, many couples start looking into planning the honeymoon. There are so many options out there, and depending on what kind of trip you are looking for, it can be very overwhelming. We talked to Mary Alice Sublett of A Delightful Day Event Planning to get some advice on honeymoon planning. Not only does Mary Alice plan amazing events in the Nashville area, she is also a Sandals Certified Travel Specialist, which means she can help couples with every last detail, down to the honeymoon!
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ABG: How far in advance should a bride and groom begin planning the honeymoon?
Mary Alice: Depending on your engagement and the amount of time prior to your wedding, I would suggest booking a honeymoon anywhere from 6-9 months in advance, sometimes further in advance depending on the location, resort, and size of the resort that you’re most interested in. Also, when considering different locations, consider the season for that location and if hurricanes would be an issue at all. Resorts and airlines will not reimburse you for this should you not be able to travel, and there is honeymoon insurance, however Sandals does now offer hurricane insurance should this be an issue for your travel dates. This gives you the ability to travel on alternative dates, if needed.
ABG: What types of things should a couple think about when choosing a destination?
Mary Alice: When choosing the right location for you and your soon to be husband/wife, consider what locations you both or individually have been to at one time or another. Do you want to revisit one of those locations? If not, what areas of the world are you both interested in? Also, consider how much time you both have off of work, as you might not want to go to a location that requires extensive travel therefore taking time out of your relaxation time. When your time of the year has been chosen, also consider if the location you want to go to is prone to hurricanes. The typical hurricane season time is June 1st through November 30th, however there is never a guarantee that a hurricane will hit during those specific dates. One other thing to decide is whether you want a location that is all about relaxation with beach, cocktails, and spas, or do you want something adventurous.
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ABG: What are the most popular destinations?
Mary Alice: With the couples that we have choosing Sandals resorts, a lot of them are most traveling to St. Lucia, Antigua, and Jamaica. Other couples are choosing locations such as the Dominican Republic, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Belize.
ABG: Are there certain times of year that are more popular for honeymoon travel? Are there times that are cheaper to travel?
Mary Alice: Certainly the most popular times are those that coincide with the most popular wedding dates, May-July and you will have your popular Fall dates as well. For cheaper times of travel, that will depend on the location and it’s always good to invest in a travel agent that can make suggestions on cheaper times to travel depending on air fares and an on or off season time for the location.
ABG: Is it OK to plan a honeymoon without a travel agent? What are the benefits to using an agent?
Mary Alice: It is certainly okay to plan without a travel agent, however they can certainly be a guide as to what locations to choose and when, if someone has had a bad experience at a location, and can provide guidance for discounted or reduced rates at different resorts and times of year.
ABG: You are a Sandals Certified Travel Specialist – what makes Sandals resorts more desirable to honeymooners?
Mary Alice: Being that the Sandals resorts are all-inclusive, that is their biggest selling point! A groom can contact us and say these are the dates of travel and this is the location we want to go to. From there, the honeymoon is planned with ease. He can choose excursions that the couple would like to partake of, romantic dinners on the beach, couples massages on the beach or in their suites, spa trips for his new bride, etc. With the resorts being all-inclusive, there isn’t a need to go off site for things other than excursions. When you have had the stress of planning a wedding for months at a time, you want the simple ease of your honeymoon and not having a stressful travel experience. Sandals takes care of the stress that planning a honeymoon could involve.
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ABG: If a resort is all-inclusive, what does that generally include? And what types of things might cost extra?
Mary Alice: For the Sandals resorts, the all-inclusive pertains to your lodging, food/beverage, and tips. Most all-inclusive resorts operate under this inclusivity. Under the Sandals resorts, if your reservation/room is in the Butler category, this also includes your butler tips. Also, if you’re at a Sandals location that includes exchange privileges with another Sandals resort, you have the ability to enjoy other genres of food and nightlife under your all-inclusive incentives. Other extras to consider would be: transfer from airport to resorts, water sports, spa trips, and any off resort or off island excursions.
ABG: Are there different levels of Sandals resorts? If so, what are the differences between them?
Mary Alice: There are a variety of Sandals resorts and they each have their own individual incentives and themes. The resorts are located in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua, and the Bahamas. For the resorts, they each have their own particular levels of stay, however the levels are mostly the same at all resorts. There are some resorts that are butler category only, meaning that you have a butler available to you 24/7 for the remainder of your stay. They offer one-bedroom suites, villas, and plunge pool suites, beach-front suites, and the Millionaire suites for those have no limit to their honeymoon budgets.
ABG: What papers or documents should a couple take with them on their honeymoon?
Mary Alice: Every location is going to be different, so certainly make sure to check with your destination location to see if they require something different. However, for the Sandals resorts and their honeymooners privileges you need to have a copy of your marriage certificate and/or fax a copy of your wedding invitation, as this will get you a night of turndown service and a breakfast in bed. For all overseas/out of the country traveling you need to take with you a copy of your marriage certificate, passports, visas (if needed), some locations will require vaccinations, travelers cheques to prevent cash or cards being stolen, any foreign currency if needed, all of your flight and honeymoon confirmations printed, and any travel guides/books that you might need. Also, be sure to share all of your itinerary and travel information with several people at home so that they know where you are and what you’re planning to do for “just in case”.
ABG: You are a Sandals Certified Travel Specialist – what makes Sandals resorts more desirable to honeymooners?
Mary Alice: Being that the Sandals resorts are all-inclusive, that is their biggest selling point! A groom can contact us and say these are the dates of travel and this is the location we want to go to. From there, the honeymoon is planned with ease. He can choose excursions that the couple would like to partake of, romantic dinners on the beach, couples massages on the beach or in their suites, spa trips for his new bride, etc. With the resorts being all-inclusive, there isn’t a need to go off site for things other than excursions. When you have had the stress of planning a wedding for months at a time, you want the simple ease of your honeymoon and not having a stressful travel experience. Sandals takes care of the stress that planning a honeymoon could involve.
ABG: What things should a couple keep in mind when traveling internationally?
Mary Alice: It’s always good to research ahead of time about the location that you’re traveling to and any tips/suggestions to keep in mind. I think some good tips would be; respect the land, people, and customs of the country that you’re traveling in; be cautious about who you travel with and who you trust to get you from place to place; make sure to fill in your emergency information in your passport and travel information should it be needed; talk to your insurance companies about overseas insurance, as you never know when an accident or sickness might occur; familiarize yourself with their local laws; don’t make yourself a target, don’t carry large amounts of cash or wear lots of jewelry, as that can only entice.
All image courtesy of Sandals.com
ABG: What do you think about travel registries instead of gift registries?
Mary Alice: Sandals offers a honeymoon registry option for their guests and I certainly think it’s a great idea, especially if you’re a couple that is older and has a lot of the “household” items you might receive from family and friends, or have already lived together for a while and have made your home, and you want to have a wonderful honeymoon instead! It gives you the ability to know that you have cash to spend while you’re away or use it for activities or paying for portions of your honeymoon.
We hope this information will help you plan the honeymoon of your dreams!
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Posted by Newlywed Sara |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Destination Weds & Honeymoon , Grooms, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Okay, so you’re searching for the perfect venue. And you’ve been to all types of weddings at all the typical locations: the ballroom, the church gym, the neighbor’s backyard and the destination wedding in the sand. Fortunately for you, we’re in the South. We can choose from some of the biggest antebellum-style mansions to the most charming Victorian-style houses. Here are some stand-outs if you’re looking outside-the-box for your wedding celebration.
Picture by McCoy Made
Front Porch Farms
Address: 1188 Ben Collier Road, Charlotte, TN 37036
Telephone: (615) 394-1838 (Ask for Kathy)
Website: FrontPorchFarmsTN.com
Capactiy: up to 250 (outdoor)
I’ve gushed a bit about Front Porch Farms before – from their beautiful landscaping to their main house and 3400 square foot pavilion. I went back to their website and drooled over some of the pictures in their wedding galleries – they’re just a special “something”, a little extra oomph, a little extra sparkle that gives this venue a cozy, family-feeling. Not to mention, for a southern belle who desires the quintessential southern wedding this house is the perfect place to be.
Cedarwood
Telephone: 615-876-9999
Address: 3831 Whites Creek Pike, Nashville, Tennessee 37207
Website: CedarwoodWeddings.com
Capacity: 175
Although I’ve never myself had the opportunity to visit Cedarwood, it’s got to be one of my favorite venues just from the pictures. The 1830’s home is as beautiful as the surrounding land. And okay, so we’ve all seen The Notebook, can’t you picture Allie and Noah getting married there? Don’t forget that Cedarwood offers all-inclusive packages to keep brides’ stress to a minimum.
The Red House
Telephone: 615-435-3503
Address: 138 Third Avenue North , Franklin, TN 37064
Contact: Heidi Tucker, Event Coordinator
Website: OurRedHouse.com
Capacity: 150 guests
The Red House is 130 years old packed with that “special” feeling. It may be a historic house but the inside is filled with modern, trendy décor. Outside, you can have your sweet, southern ceremony and on the inside you can have your slick, chic party. And let’s not forget the rock’n’roll memorabilia on display throughout the house for those with an edgier appeal.
Lillie Belle’s
Telephone: 615-595-9557
Address: 132 3rd Avenue South, Franklin, TN 37064
Website: LillieBelles.net
Capacity: 200 guests
Pictures by Lillie Belles
Lillie Belle’s is a historic, Victorian style house with a drop of fairy-tale charm. It reminds me of the dollhouse every little girl always wanted, but instead of your Barbie dolls marrying Ken, you can have your own real-life, enchanted wedding here. There are several different packages to choose from to suit brides with all different needs.
Spring Haven Mansion
Telephone: 615-826-9702
Address: 545 East Main Street, Hendersonville, Tennessee 37075
Website: SpringHavenMansion.com/History.htm
Capacity: 200+ guests
Getting married at Spring Haven would be like getting the chance to be Scarlett O’Hara for a day. It’s a plantation home with a pre-civil war history and they also offer an array of packages to fit all brides’ needs. And their suggestion, of using the on-site cabin as an overnight retreat for you and your bridesmaids the night before the wedding was the dealmaker for me.
Ambrose House
Telephone: (615) 228-7649
Address: 122 South 12th Street, Nashville, TN 37206
Website: EventsNashville.net/ambrose/
Capacity: 60-85
This house looks like it was plucked straight from a Charlotte Bronte novel. It’s one of those houses that exudes warmth and affection. Whether you want to use the house for a rehearsal dinner, engagement party or for the “I dos”, it’s not a problem. The house was designed by the Ryman Auditorium’s architect, Hugh Cathcart and is the absolute essence of a Victorian-style inspired wedding.
The Baber House at Kennesaw Farms
Telephone: 615-452-8484
Address: 1000 Kennesaw Boulevard, Gallatin, TN 37066
Website: KennesawFarms.com/getdoc/666f15a1-504b-4033-a3a0-fc817fcc6a9e/Weddings
Picture from the Baber House online
Elegance, sophistication and flawlessness. Those are just three of the words I would use to describe The Baber House. Its history of once being a thoroughbred horse farm just adds to its charisma. With its original floors and every sleek, clean and historic touch, it’s a perfect place for an everlasting memory.
Riverwood Mansion
Address: 1833 Welcome Lane, Nashville, TN 37216
Telephone: 615-228-8892
Website: RiverwoodMansion.com
Capactiy: 250 maximum
Riverwood is one of middle Tennessee’s “grand” mansions. Its eight-acre grounds are filled with lush gardens and they have a wide variety of rental items on-site. It’s another great place for a one-stop shop, with their professionally-trained staff and Nashville’s only tented pavilion.
CJs off the Square
Address: 218 3rd Ave. North, Franklin, TN 37064
Telephone: (615) 216-7576
Website: CJsOffTheSquare.com/
Capacity: up to 135
Picture by Gray Photography
What I love about CJs is although it’s known for its summery-spring garden weddings – they have a beautiful historic home AND can accommodate winter/fall brides as well. They’re very much into personalization and attention to detail – just go read some of their client reviews, you’ll be more than impresses. One word that you’ll see over and over again is “intimate”. Could there be a more perfect word to describe the most romantic day of your life?
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Posted by Grace |
Filed under: Wedding Venues and Locations
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Monday, June 6, 2011
Yes, we're on this subject again. No, we can't stress enough how much a difference (and a good one at that) a wedding planner makes. Not only is there someone there to discuss ideas without bias unlike, say, your mom or girlfriends, but on the day itself when you're busy trying to get yourself into a dress that cost more than your venue deposit and your girlfriends are wondering what they're to do next, you want someone there to be able to take charge and make sure everything goes right so you can enjoy yourself. But don't take my word for it, today we are fortunate to have Kristin Kaplan of Simply Stunning Events as a guest blogger to fill us in on how she, as an experienced, professional wedding planner, has managed to put out proverbial wedding fires for her brides.
Wedding Planner 911 - Guest Blogger, Simply Stunning Events
In the last few years I’ve been planning and coordinating weddings, I’ve truly seen everything on a wedding day; joyful tears, emotional vow readings, lovely brides dancing with their fathers, fantastic music, amazing dance moves, and families and friends all coming together with pure happiness to celebrate the joining of two people in love. But most often it’s the not–so-beautiful side that I get asked about, as in what happens behind the scenes of a wedding? Do things ever go completely awry? What’s the craziest disaster you’ve seen occur?
And my honest answer is always: Yes, things do go wrong, but at the weddings we plan and coordinate, it never leads to a disaster scenario. Why not? Because the couples we work with had the foresight to hire an experienced wedding coordinator to keep the day running smoothly and to handle any unexpected situation that may arise. What sort of situations can wedding planners assist with? What exactly can a coordinator do for you?
{Picture by Krystal Mann}
Knowledge + Experience = Skill
First, experienced coordinators have seen and dealt with a lot, and they know what to expect and how to put additional plans in place to protect you. They know how to create a solid rain plan, find a great vendor at the last minute, and create an effective and useful wedding day timeline. I’ve had couples hire me a few weeks prior to their wedding and often we’ve had to play some serious planning catch up or fix issues they were having. One couple had a venue fall through less than two weeks prior to the wedding date and we were able to make calls and secure them a new reception location immediately. We’ve had couples come to us with no rentals or linens ordered only several weeks prior to the wedding date and we were able to create a room layout, and get them everything they needed for their party.
ABG Notes: Consider all the logistics involved in this reception set-up and how much a planner can help piece it all together for you! {Picture by Image Trick}
When Things Go Wrong (and They Almost Always Do)
Second, wedding coordinators can deal with all those unexpected problems on a wedding day and the best part is, they can do so without you even knowing about it. A planner will know who to call if your cake collapses and how to get you a replacement before you even arrive at your reception or what to do if the wrong sized linens arrive. We once received news at a wedding that the catering truck had been in an accident (they were not at fault) while bringing all the entrees to the reception. We were able to work effectively with the catering staff to tweak the timing of the reception activities while they worked quickly to replace the food that was lost. The couple and their guests never knew a thing. If there is no wedding planner on site during these types of situations and decisions need to be made, who do you think will get the phone call? Most often it’s the bride or groom, and that is not the type of stress that anyone needs on their wedding day.
ABG Notes: When there's no stress, the smiles and laughs are easier to come by. (Picture by The Collection)
Bearing the Brunt
Lastly, it is the wedding planner’s job to manage the entire team of vendors and to make sure everyone works together smoothly so that you get exactly the type of service that you paid for from everyone involved. We make sure to give every vendor more than enough information before the wedding day (full timelines, important names and phone numbers, room layouts, and more) so that they know exactly what the plan is. We are also there to answer their questions, keep them on schedule, and occasionally intervene if someone isn’t doing the their job or providing the services the couple has paid for. In the past we’ve had to step in when vendors didn’t return phone calls or emails to the bride, promised one thing and delivered another of lesser quality, and even when vendors have trouble getting along and working together on a wedding day. It happens, and as the bride, you don’t want to be the one handling such things.
Above: A picture from Kristin's own big day. I asked if she hired a planner, to which she replied, "Oh yes, I knew I didn't want to be stressed out on my wedding day. So I
speak from true experience that having at least a day/month-of coordinator
is worth it." {Picture by McLellan Style}
Let’s face it, weddings are expensive, and a great way to protect such a large investment made into one day is to hire someone that can pull your vision together, help you plan for the unexpected, handle any issues that may arise, and most importantly give you peace of mind so that you can truly relax and enjoy every minute celebrating with those you love most.
Big thanks to Kristin Kaplan and Simply Stunning Events. Ladies (and gents) I hope this post helps you make up your mind on whether or not a planner is something you want. We understand that it's not always built into your budget but being able to enjoy your wedding completely stress free, well, you can't put a price on it.
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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