With all the planning that must happen, and all the aspects of a wedding to consider, taking pains to keep the process flowing and your planning more joyful, experts advise brides to consider the following.

1. Make realistic plans at the start. While you might dream of a celebrity style wedding, be real. Design a day that allows you to reach your goal of marriage without undue stress and complications. This is accomplished by looking at who you are as a couple, how much time you have to plan and how much money you’ll have for this wedding. Advise from a certified wedding planner can be a valuable up front investment.

2. Be organized and disciplined. With plans in place, stay focused on your objective and you’ll avoid wasting time, energy and resources. Pay attention to the details. Frequently it is the little things that get overlooked. Deal with them early and keep them from becoming major problems later on.

3. Keep a positive outlook. Brides who are positive and joyful at the prospect of their wedding day are pleasant to be around. They remember what this is really about and make this the true focus. All of the rest of the activity is to support this. Don’t let yourself get sidetracked by meaningless issues. Be thankful for and happy with the help others offer to give you. Remember that you are part of a couple. Share the joy and include the groom on plans and decisions.

4. Make those decisions. Know that this is a milestone event in your life and it requires a myriad of decisions to be made on a wide range of issues. Trust your instincts on many of those decisions, confer when necessary, seek advice on the most difficult, decide and move on to the next item on the list.

5. Be flexible. Remember Murphy? Uninvited, Murphy and his “law” usually attend most weddings. Just be prepared to make changes when needed. Don’t let problems throw you over the edge. Know that even the best plans have ways of coming unglued so be prepared to deal with them as a creative challenge. Let yourself be flexible enough to adjust when faced with the obvious. This is much easier if you have a “plan B” tucked away “just in case”.

For help with your plans, contact us and talk over your wedding ideas and dreams with one of our experienced wedding consultants. We are here to help you have the memorable wedding you have dreamed of.

Photos captured by Amy Hutchinson Photography

You’ll never own anything as beautiful and symbolic as your wedding gown! Here at Bluestone Weddings & Events we’d like to give you some tips on preserving it as a keepsake or for your own daughter to wear one day.

And please know, an overwhelming number of brides do treasure their gowns and preserve them after the ceremony rather than take part in some post wedding photo shoots. Know too that your wedding gown must be carefully cleaned before storing. Food and beverage stains, though invisible at first glance, may yellow later on. The hemline is usually soiled and must be cleaned. Many cleaners may offer to pack your gown in a special box, which offers protection from dust in the air. You can use a special wedding gown preservation service that will take care of all of the steps for you and give you the satisfaction of knowing your wedding gown will be safe for years to come.

If you decide on the DIY route and store it yourself, it is best to place it in a cool dry place, not in the basement or attic. If you choose to store it on hangers, sew straps to the waistline to relieve pressure on the shoulders from the weight of the skirt. Stuff the sleeves with white tissue. Finally, wrap the entire garment in a protective sheet or muslin covering. Do not encase the gown in plastic. You run the chance of ruining your beautiful wedding gown.

Yes, it is true – there wouldn’t be a wedding without you, the bride. However, your goal besides being the center of attention is to host a party that guests will remember fondly because they were treated so well. Over the years we have collected ideas from our brides about what they did that made their guests happy at their wedding. We’d be delighted to share them with you.

Some of our bride’s secrets to happy guests.

• When you create a gift registry at your favorite stores, be sure to include items that will fit everyone’s budget.
• When you select your reception food, keep in mind that a number of foods are universally disliked. Foods like hot chili peppers, liver, Brussels sprouts etc. may be your own personal favorites, but if you serve them there will be lots left.
• Pick reception centerpieces that are lovely and unique but not so big that people can’t see across the table.
• Arrange pre and post reception transportation for those guests who can’t or don’t want to drive.
• Work hard to personally greet every guest at the ceremony or reception. It means alot.
• Don’t forget to feed your photographer and musicians.
• Limit the break between the ceremony and the reception to no more than one hour.
• Have the band or DJ play a wide range of music so that everyone can dance at least some of the time. Some “golden oldies” so that your parents and their friends can take to the floor are a nice touch.
• Consider integrating your single friends into table groups with people who share the same interests. A table of all singles isn’t the best arrangement.

  

  For more tips and ideas to help you plan your wedding, contact a professional wedding coordinator.

Award-winning photographer

Choosing your wedding photographer is perhaps one of the most important decisions you will make while planning your wedding. Photography is the language of memories. A photograph will capture a moment suspended in time, that you will be able to revisit, and remember your wedding day for many years to come. There are so many magazines, websites and options, it can be rather daunting for a couple to know what to look for and how to pick the best photographer to fulfill their particular needs. There are three essential elements to consider while you are in the process of picking a wedding photographer.

The Photographs

This may seem obvious, but it is important to see as many images as possible from each photographer you are considering for your wedding. Take time to meet with photographers and look at as many slideshows and albums as possible. A photographer develops a body of work over time. The more work you view, the better idea you’ll have of the photographer’s style, consistency and sensibility. Do the images you see move you? Do you like the presentation? You should like most, if not all, of what you see. You may get lots of input and opinions from friends and family, but the most important opinion is your own.

The Photographer’s Presence

A wedding photographer will be intimately involved with most aspects of your day. A good photographer will be with you while you begin to get ready, during the ceremony, the first dance and so much more, capturing some of the most special and intimate moments of your life. This is a delicate balance for a photographer, to be present and unobtrusive at the same time. The more at ease and comfortable you feel around your photographer, the more natural and beautiful your wedding images will feel. If you cannot meet in person with your potential photographer, be sure to schedule a long phone call or Skype with them. The most crucial thing to do is trust your instincts. If you like a photographer’s images and feel comfortable when speaking with them, you have only one other significant aspect to consider.

Your Budget

There is a wide range of pricing options among photographers. It can sometimes be daunting to compare one photographer’s pricing to another, as pricing structures can vary as much as their images. The good news is there are talented photographers for every couples’ budget. It is paramount to ask questions and be clear on the parameters of your photography package. More is not always more. The quality and consistency of the images should come before albums or other extras. An album full of photographs you don’t like is not very special. If you have beautiful images you love, you can always find creative ways to display and share them with friends and family.

There are few things you get to take home with you after your wedding day: your spouse, your ring and your photographs. I will never forget an image I took of my 83-year-old grandmother, holding a portrait taken on her wedding day 60 years earlier. The beauty of her old hands gently holding an image of herself as a bride still tugs at my heart. I had seen her wedding portrait displayed on her dresser since I was a child; it is etched in my memory. Photographs that capture the essence of your experience become part of your personal history, a history you will undoubtedly share with your children and grandchildren. As you prioritize your wedding day and how you will distribute your finances, never underestimate the value of photography. Your wedding photographs will become family heirlooms.

Choosing a wedding photographer is in many ways like choosing a mate. Find someone who moves you, someone who speaks your language. Ask questions, express your desires and most important, follow your heart. Luckily, when you find the right wedding photographer — just like a good life partner — you need only one.

Wedding photos by Elizabeth Messina. Follow Elizabeth on Twitter @KissTheGroom

Bluestone Weddings & Events

The history of bridesmaids is time and culture dependent.  However, their main charge seems to have been to “protect” the bride, “intervene” on her behalf and/or help outsmart the party crashers who gathered as a group at weddings and other happy events.

Today’s bridesmaids still fulfill some of those roles, even if the party crasher  happens to be a former boyfriend with too much champagne and too little class, or a college roommate who thinks it would be fun to “steal” the bride between the ceremony and the reception.  Bridesmaids can often be the voice of reason and put a stop to nonsense early.

Bridesmaids give up time and money in return for the honor of being witnesses to the bride’s very special day.  We urge our brides to remember the important role they play in her wedding and to pay attention to thanking them for their help and caring.

Here are some tips we have gathered over the years.

·    Selecting the bridesmaids’ dresses does not have to be an occasion of conflict.  Cost, style, color and accessories can be issues only if you let them.  If you can help financially, by all means do so.  If your wedding party represents a wide collection of sizes and shapes, work closely with a skilled and experienced wedding consultant who knows the best vendors to chose to work with your wedding.  An experienced retailer will work hard to make sure that the shopping experience is rewarding for all, and will insure that what you have ordered is what you’ll receive.

·    Make sure that your bridesmaids are getting enough attention from you.  Keep them in the loop about events and plans.  Accept help if it is offered. Make your experience with your bridesmaids a fun and exciting time for all of you to remember.

·    Make sure they have a clear idea of what to do and what you expect.  Your maid of honor can take on the responsibility of keeping all maids in the loop.  Don’t be too demanding.  Just because your wedding is consuming your every waking moment, bridesmaids do have lives beyond the wedding.

·    Be sure to assemble a survival kit for the wedding.  Work with your personal attendant to make sure all necessary items are in the kit and trust her to bring it to the dressing area of the ceremony location, and to reclaim it after the ceremony. A good wedding planner will always take good care of this.

·    Make sure to thank bridesmaids often.  Thoughtful gifts are appreciated.

Take time to ask questions, share concerns and plan ways to make bridesmaids feel truly a part of this very special day.

Twilight fans can now own their own piece of memorabilia from the fourth movie, Breaking Dawn with at least one wedding gown company making a replica of Bella Swan’s wedding dress available to the masses.

Bridal company Alfred Angelo has already jumped on the replica bandwagon, selling copies of the long-sleeved, lace-back dress that actress Kristen Stewart famously donned in the movie.

Pictured: Alfredo Angelo’s copy of Bella Swan’s wedding dress. Image courtesy of Alfredo Angelo.

We always counsel our brides to be aware of ways to either bring wedding budget costs down or keep them in check.  Done in the right places, there are many ways to save on costs and take nothing away from the wedding they have planned.

Because it is the most costly aspect of most wedding plans, major savings can be realized through reception adjustments.  We recommend that our brides consider these ideas.

•    Look for a location that both fits the occasion and requires very little decorating enhancements.  Many spots are fine the way they are.  If brides wish to add décor, most event planners would agree that creating one large decorative element is not only dramatic, but also more budget friendly than a dozen smaller elements scattered around the room.

•    When considering decorating options, always picture the room full.  We counsel brides not to spend excess dollars on décor items that only the first few guests walking into the room will see.  Don’t waste money on decorating the skirting of any of the tables for instance.  As one wedding planner says, “Think tabletop and up”.

•    During receptions, caterers will say that people tend to take less food if it is passed by the wait staff than if it is placed on a buffet table.  The same is true of champagne or other beverages.  The good news about this is that less food or liquor can be ordered and guests still feel pampered.

•    If it is important to the couple to serve a sit down dinner, we suggest that instead of ordering just one high-end entrée they order half portions of two main entrée items.  For example, combining half portions of prime rib and chicken breast, helps to bring down the cost per plate while offering guests a selection with depth.

•    One consultant suggests ordering sandwiches for entertainers and servers instead of the full banquet meal, and having them set up in a separate room from wedding guests.  It gives the staff a place to “get away” for a break and provides food that they can “grab and go” if needed.

For more “invisible” ways to manage wedding budget costs at your reception, talk with one of our experienced consultants at Bluestone Weddings & Events.

Brides frequently ask us about centerpieces for their wedding reception. The list of options is long and varied but these are some of the most often used by brides.

If your florist is providing centerpieces for your reception, work closely with him/her to be sure that the theme or color thread you have chosen for your wedding continues to the reception area. We have seen weddings where one theme dominates the ceremony and another is chosen for the reception.  If the two are complimentary, it is soothing and welcoming to your guests.  If the choices are worlds apart, it can be jarring to move from one to another.

If you are handling reception centerpieces on your own, here are some ideas to keep in mind.

A centerpiece should never block a guest’s view.

If color has been a theme for your wedding  – introduced in the invitations and save the date cards – it should continue through the reception.

For informal centerpieces arrange flowers to have a “just picked” look. Use wild flowers or branches of seasonal flowers for an unusual impact.

Formal centerpieces are usually symmetrical in either a triangular, circular or rectangular shape.

Create a still life with fruits, flowers and vines arranged on a lovely tray.

Pitchers – used singly or in groups, make attractive containers.

Pretty baskets filled with blooming plants and tucked in with moss work well.

Arrange several crystal candlesticks on a mirror as a centerpiece. Insert candles in you color theme or use creamy white. Just remember that they should be tall enough to be above eye level or low enough so that the flame will not be annoying.

Also grouped on a mirror, consider using wine glasses, each with a flower floating in it.

Contact your local florist, wedding coordinator or event design specialist for more information and ideas.

2.  Invitations set the theme and mood for your wedding. So, keep that in mind when you make your selections.

3.  Invitations should be sent out approximately 6 weeks prior to your wedding date! Give yourself time for R.S.V.P.’s

4.  Check to see if you can obtain free samples of the invitations you are interested in prior to ordering. Check the size, quality and weight of the card stock.

5.  Order 10-20 more invitations than you think you need. It can be very expensive to order additional invitations – and you may not receive them in time! You’ll need extra envelopes for any mistakes made in addressing and extra invitations for any “last minute” additions to the guest list. Don’t forget to keep a few for your wedding memories book!

6.  Review your wedding guest list to make sure that all the names are spelled correctly and addresses are up to date.

7.  Have a friend or family member check the draft or proof of your invitations prior to giving the final “OK” to print.

8.  Children over the age of 16 should receive their own invitation.

9.  Check with your invitation company or wedding planner for the proper format for your invitations and addressing etiquette.

10.  Make sure you have the appropriate amount of postage on your invitations. Take a sample invitation, including inserts, to the post office and have it weighed so that your invitations are delivered on time without “postage due!”