Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Kayleigh and Eric Tie the Knot!


It was such a pleasure for me to be a part of their special day! The lovely bride grew up just blocks away from my family and has known my sister since grade school. They became best friends and even lived together throughout college. The wedding was held at the Pettibone Resort in La Crosse and the view from the venue was gorgeous as it overlooked the water - it sure was cold but the wedding party braved the temps for some beautiful outdoor pictures then retreated inside to warm by the cozy fire.

One of my favorite elements of the day was that the bride's talented mom made - yes, handmade - ALL three of the bridesmaids' dresses and the bridal gown. Those ladies were stunning!


The couple chose a color palette of scarlet and ivory with accents of metallic gold for their intimate ceremony and reception.  The bridesmaids carried bouquets made up entirely of ivory roses with metallic gold wire collars to add a little sparkle, which were a simple and elegant compliment to the girls' scarlet dresses.


The bridal bouquet was designed with classic red roses as well as garden roses which had a lovely fragrance, as well as velvety amaryllis which were the perfect match to the bride's satin gown. She also wore a beautiful red bloom in her hair.


My favorite way to create an intimate, cozy atmosphere - especially on a cold, blustery evening- is to use lots of candlelight. The large banquet tables were the perfect canvas to use dozens of various sizes of glassware filled with votives and floating candles. The weather outside may have been incredibly windy and chilly but inside Kayleigh and Eric's wedding, there was plenty of warmth and celebration!

Monday, November 18, 2013

Congrats! You're engaged, you're a bride!.......now what?

Congratulations! The bling has been placed on your ring finger and you are officially a bride! Are you feeling overwhelmed yet? Having been engaged this year myself, I remember that when the immediate elation subsided (a bit) and I was able to think clearly - suddenly the to-do lists started mounting. As you begin sharing the big news with family and friends the conversation typically switches from sharing the proposal story to wedding talk. Questions about where and when the wedding will be come from everyone - family, friends and maybe even the barista who notices your ring. Advice will start pouring in from every corner and it's easy to get overwhelmed and not know where to start.

As a recent bride and as someone who has worked in the wedding industry for close to 10 years, here is my best advice. Take time to sit down with your fiance and decide these four things; the time of year when you would like to get married, an approximate number of guests, a general wedding budget and the overall feel of your wedding. All of these are important for the first big decision you need to make - your venue(s).

Determining the above criteria will help you narrow down your venue - obviously a park pavilion isn't the best choice if you have your heart set on December nuptials in Wisconsin and knowing whether you need to accommodate 150 or 450 and whether an urban loft space is your dream or a luxurious ballroom fits the two of you will help you choose venues to tour. After you contract with the venue (and caterer if it is not part of the venue's offerings) the next few things that are most important - because these vendors book up quickly - are your DJ or band, floral designer and photographer.

The most popular months for weddings in the Milwaukee area are May/June and September/October due to (hopefully) mild weather and potential for gorgeous outdoor pictures. My clients generally book with me 9-12 months prior to their wedding, especially if their wedding is during those peak times.

While there are numerous resources for searching for vendors for the above items as well as all of the other details for your wedding - the best resources are the vendors ourselves. Once you book with a vendor, ask them who they recommend - who they have worked with and trust. It is part of planning a wedding to shop around for some of your vendors, but it is certainly easier to meet with 2 or 3 videographers instead of 5 or 6. My goal as a wedding professional is to be a part of your dream wedding day and I will give you all of the advice and suggestions I can during the planning process.






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