Ok grooms, want to make a BIG impression with your lady on her wedding day?  The night of the rehersal dinner, get a family member or friend to set up a nice little good night gift for her where she will see it before she goes to bed.  A love note saying how you can't wait to marry her tomorrow, a couple chocolates or strawberries, a bottle of champagne, and a couple fun inside jokes would be perfect.

Want to dazzle her even more?  Have flowers delivered to her door the morning of the wedding with a note saying how you can't wait to see her.

Want to go for even more brownie points?  Have a gift for her when you see each other on the wedding day.  It can be something very simple and sweet.  A locket to pin to her dress or a ring that she has wanted for a while to go on her right hand.  Even just a stem of her favorite flower would be lovely.  Tailor the gifts to her personality and tastes.

These simple little gestures will put her on cloud nine and she will remember that romance for years to come.

 

Over this last year, I've had a couple brides tell us that they wanted to get their wedding in a magazine.  Since it had been so fun for them to look at real weddings in both blogs and print, it spurred their desire to be an example to other brides with their own wedding.  I also just attended the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International convention, where having your wedding publised in a magazine or featured on a blog was a common topic. 

So I thought that I would help our future clients out by listing a few things that they can do that will make it more likely that their wedding will be published.  In no way is this a guarantee, but this is (in general) what the publications are looking for...

Lots of details!  Menu cards, signs, layered table decor...anything that ties together the theme and colors of the wedding.

Embrace the Season!  Have your details and theme specific to the season of your wedding date.

Be Happy!  Pictures where the group is having a great time and the bride is glowing is always a plus.

Pictures!  Since the publication industry is a visual one, having stunning pictures is always a must.  Creative documentation of all of the details as well as fun pictures of the wedding party and couple are a given.  Going to a location that shows off the season or local settings helps add depth to the images.  Give your photographer enough time to get those amazing images!

Cutting Edge!  Having an element that is trend setting will make your wedding more appealing for others.  Remember, future brides are looking at your wedding for inspiration, so you want to be ahead of the curve.  Using next year's hot color or dress style (one shouldered dresses, anyone?) or a hip headpiece will not only make your wedding look stylish, but will inspire others that they can embrace their own style as well. 

DIY!  Many blogs love it when you do things yourself.  However, this one is tricky.  You also have to make sure your DIY projects look professional.  So leave the DIY projects to things you really know how to do and enlist help so that you aren't putting together ceremony programs on your wedding day.  Many wedding coordinators will work just on the planning stage to help you tie in your details and plan a cohesive look to your wedding, think about investing in that option to save you time and frustration.

Weddings are one of those once in a lifetime events where you can embrace your individuality and creativity.  Every wedding is different!  I think that is why the magazines and blogs that show wedding details are so popular, they help inspire the next group of brides and fuel our creativity in every day life.  So if you want to become a published bride, use the above guidelines and make sure you submit your wedding!  Many of the blog submissions are from brides that are loyal readers. 

There is so much inspiration out there!  Minneapolis' own The Style Laboratory (www.stylelaboratory.com) is a shining example of how visual we are.  If you want to see some amazing details in full color and get to see examples of some of the industry's leaders, set an appointment there today!  We are so lucky in Minnesota to have such fabulous avenues for wedding and event planning. 

I also just stumbled across a blog that lists the top wedding blogs of 2010 (http://bridetide.blogspot.com/2010/01/top-100-wedding-blogs-and-twitters-to.html),  check out that site to find the blog that energizes your creativity! 

And if you're a former or current bride, let us know if you want to submit your wedding to any publications, we'd love to help you gather your imgaes and complete that process.

I tend to sound like an old person, but I have an issue with "young people these days" and their sense of entitlement.  Maybe it was because I was the poor kid in a private school my whole life, or that John and I spent a few years in Laguna Beach, but the thought of a 16 year old being "owed" a car because that is their "right" bugs me.  Actually, at Laguna Beach High, it was either a car or plastic surgery for your 16th birthday, no joke.  I look at the world and see how much we have in this country, and then think back to when I fought with my parents because my shoes weren't as expensive as everyone else's.  I'm certainly not proud of myself.

Sense of entitlement also relates to business.  I don't feel like I should be owed anything.  I've paid my dues in quite a few ways, but I know that being successful in an artistic business will always be tougher than if I worked a 9-5 office job.  But it is worth the fight.   We are thankful for every client we have and the relationships we have built with fabulous vendors in the industry.  We will never sit on our laurels and coast in our business, we are always trying to do something new and move forward and get better and better.  I pin every thank you note we receive from our clients on our wall as inspiration and when I'm having a tough day, I just have to read through those notes to stay motivated.  John and I get to do what we love.  We get to meet amazing people and make their wedding day a fabulous one, documenting all of these moments and preserving their memories.  It is a responsibility that I hold dear and never take for granted. 

Then, of course, I compare this sense of entitlement with weddings.  Your parents don't HAVE to pay for your wedding, in fact, a growing amount of couples are paying for most of their wedding themselves.  Your guests are being gracious by buying you a wedding present.  Among your bridesmaids and groomsmen, there is probably at least one that is really stretching to purchase the outfit required and travel to your wedding and pay for their part of a bachelor party and so on.  Basically, every bride is told their wedding day is about them (insert big foot stomp here) but it is worth taking a step back and being a bride of grace and humility.  Yes, you have spent a lot of time planning your wedding, getting everything just perfect, but your bridal party are your friends, not your employees.  Your family (even if they are driving you CRAZY) are your family! 

Avoid the "you deserve it" mentality that commercials and businesses push on you and make sure that you are a humble and thankful person.  In NO WAY is this blog entry telling you to do everything on the cheap and have no splurges, it is not saying you should feel bad if your parents are paying for everything, and it isn't saying you don't deserve special treatment on your wedding day...but simply keep people in mind as you're planning.  Register for reasonably priced items as well as that dream gift you ambitiously hope for.  Really talk with your wedding party to get a feel for their financial situation, and if there is one member struggling, help them out a bit so they don't feel such a burden (or give them a different job in your wedding so they don't feel like the odd person out). Be VERY thankful.  A beautiful speach to your parents or a rose ceremony where you thank them for being your support is a wonderful way to give them the appreciation they deserve (even if they've driven you crazy half your life...did I mention family tends to drive you crazy?!?!?).  Hand written thank you notes that are specific is a must if someone gives you a gift, it is simply good manners.

Being a gracious and thankful person versus an "I deserve it, this is my wedding day! (stomp!)" type of person is a pretty easy thing to do.  Just take a few breaths, and remind yourself of the support and love you have from those around you.  Believe me, 10 years down the road, the gifts you received will not matter nearly as much as the relationships you have built and kept. 

When planning a rehearsal dinner, this is yet another chance to choose a place that reflects who you are as a couple. Rehearsal dinners can be as informal as a picnic or upscale as a private room with a specialized menu and wine list. It serves as a nice way to kick back with the friends and family you love spending time with and to relax (hopefully!) for a little while before the big day.

One of my favorite places for a rehearsal dinner is the Downtowner Woodfire Grill in St. Paul. Both rehearsal dinners I've attended there have had lovely custom menues, and amazing food. It was also nicely affordable. If I was to have my rehearsal dinner over again, I would have it in the private upstairs of Cafe Lurcat. It is a beautiful space with delectable food. Another spot that I think would be great for the trendy uptown couple would be Yum! Kitchen and Bakery. With their minimalist yet rustic interior and to die for food (try the steak sandwich with tarragon, holy COW!) it is a fantastic space. They have a main dining room and a private one in the back...and see if they'll make their signature cupcakes with your initials on it!

Have fun with your rehearsal dinner by choosing a venue that your guests will enjoy and creates a relaxing evening. Good food, wine and company, what a way to spend the night before your wedding.

When it comes to DIY Weddings, I'm not a huge fan.  I have experienced how valuable a professional is in many personal and professional experiences.  However, it also seems that couples are either lowering their overall budget, or streamlining budgets and only spending money on their biggest priority.  Though I think floral is one of those places where DIY can easily get out of hand, I just saw a cool option to make things a little less stressful.

Sadie's Fine Floral Design hosts DIY classes!  So, you learn from a well known pro how to put together different floral pieces for your wedding day.  I think it is a fantastic compromise.  You're still able to save money and do it yourself, yet you are given the direction to make sure you know what you're doing.  And who knows, the class may show you how much work it is, and that it is worth hiring a professional floral designer afterall. 

To get more information on Sadie's class, visit their site www.sadiesfloral.com and click on the DIY Classes tab. 

 

When it comes to planning your wedding theme, there are many ways you can go.  I like starting with color.  Choosing a color family can be tough, so looking at the time of year, your aesthetic preferences, and your top venue choices can really help narrow down the scheme that would best fit your personality. 

Having a vintage themed wedding is becoming more popular, especially since fashion elements like Birdcage Veils, gloves, pearls, and Cameos are back in style.  But you don't have to commit to vintage 100%.  Stick with a modern more streamlined dress, maybe with a touch of lace, keep the modern tradition of colored shoes, and have jewelry that is an updated version of an old classic, like five strands of different sized pearls instead of one strand.  Color-wise, a scheme of ice blue, gold, and ivory, has a crisp modern feel while embracing a classic vibe, espeically when using pattern combinations of stripes and damask.

It is fairly easy to incorporate many styles into your wedding, it just takes a practiced eye and the daring to do your own thing!

 

 

Are you planning a 2010 winter wedding and want to do something other than a holiday theme?  There are many different directions you can take on finding a theme for your wedding, it just starts with coming up with one central theme, and tailoring it after that.

Silver and ice blue can be an elegant, etherial design.  Using snowflakes and sparkle to create an obvious winter wonderland theme.  You can go as swanky as having crystal chandaliers and silver chargers with giant plumes of feathers or a more woodsy approach with birch bark candle pillars and ice blue linens. 

Deep jewel tones are always a winter staple, and with 2010's color of choice being purple, you can really have fun with it.  A deep plum purple would look great paired with a light lavender or pink.  You can go with gold or silver if you want to throw some trendy metallics in there as well.  If going with rich colors for your wedding, it is always good to have a lighter color as an accent so things don't get too visually heavy.  White might be too much of a contrast to these tones, so try ivory or a soft pastel.

Yellow and black and white is a great wedding theme as well.  Using patterns with a monochromatic palette and then adding punches of color screams sophistication.  Since yellow will be the color of 2011 (or so they tell me) this is a great way to be ahead of the trend and add some vibrancy to a winter wedding. 

If you already have your colors set but want to just add a touch of winter, try using scent as your accent.  What abount a stick of cinnamon at each place setting, adorning the napkin and menu?  Or cinnamon scented pinecones as part of the decor?  Your floral designer will probably be full of ideas on how to incorporate simple pieces like this in a trendy, beautiful way.  Rock candy in your colors and other items that have an icy look can be a great accent.  As Ashley Fox (www.ashleyfoxdesigns.com) once told me "it is all about layering".  A design looks complete when the eye has many, coordinating things to look at (but make sure things aren't too crowded either!).  One of the recent Brides magazines has a section on winter weddings that gives all kinds of cute ideas, including a blue martini with a white candy cane garnish, be sure to check that mag out!

As always, make sure to have someone that can be a sounding board and honest with you.  A wedding planner is always the best choice, since they've done this before and have an eye for the overall event.  Have fun planning!

Why do we promote client review sites like www.weddingwire.com or www.projectwedding.com ?  Because it is SO important to do your homework. 

Anyone can list themselves as "award winning".  You can pay to enter awards, be awarded an accolade by your peers, or pay for an award.  It is up to the consumer to validate the claims of any business.  I came across this article about checking up on your vendors, and thought I would share...

http://www.cuttingedgedjs.com/blog/2009/04/21/untying-the-knot/

 

I went to a wedding a while back where they lined the snow covered walkway to the reception with luminaries.  The problem was that the wind was strong, the luminaries were weak, the snow got everything wet, and there weren't enough candles to really make an impact.  So basically, they put a lot of time into a beautiful idea, but it was a lack luster outcome.

A few weeks later, I drove up to a friend's house in Duluth and saw the perfect solution.  She had lights in ice rings!  Basically, they were sparkling and beautiful and weather perfect, and inexpensive...the perfect combo!

So I asked her how she made them and here are the directions.  The beauty of this craft is that anyone can do it, and you can make it as simple or complex as you would like.

Take a bucket and fill it with water to the depth you would like.  It is smart to make them deep, so if the wind kicks up, it won't blow out the candles.

After the water freezes, turn the bucket over so the ice comes out and the bottom of the ice block is now the top (it will have the nice curved edges of the bottom of the bucket for a finished look).

Then take hot water and pour it in the middle of the block.  This will hollow out the middle for a space for your candles.  (or, you could get complicated and make a mould with a hollow middle and pour water in that).

Then set the candles inside and light right before your guests arrive.

For maximum impact, have a LOT of these lining the walkway, about every 12 inches or so.  The candle light will sparkle through the ice and they won't melt because of the cold. 

Another tip, make sure to practice this quite a bit before the wedding so you can get it down to a science by the big day.  And have enough help that can set it all up so you aren't pouring hot water on ice an hour before the reception.

I just visited the most amazing site today.  The Dunn Brothers in Eden Prairie.  It is in a beautiful old farm house that is on the historic register and I probably looked like a big dork peeking into all the corners and wandering the house just gaping at the space.

It.  Is.  Beautiful.

And, of course, my first thought is, "someone should get married here!"

As I was waiting for my meeting to start, I turned over the idea of throwing a wedding there.  It would be lovely!  The wide open space of lawn coupled with the twinkle lights on the grapevine covered patio...ahhhh, bliss.  But the wedding would have to be fairly small to fit everyone into the house.  So then I started brainstorming on ways to incorporate a coffee vibe into a wedding.  People have wine-themed weddings all the time, why not coffee!

An easy way is to put coffee beans in vases to use as decor throughout the ceremony and reception.  An extra bonus?  The space would smell great!

Caramel, latte, and dark espresso are currently trendy wedding colors and would pair perfectly with an ivory or cream color wedding dress.

Coffee leaves and berries could be used in any floral arrangements.

Cut up burlap coffee bags (this Dunn Brothers sold them for $1.99 a piece) to surround vases or make placemats...they might be too itchy for table runners, though.

Use a thicker paper for the invitations or programs that have a coffee stain finish to them.  Or go uber trendy and make an actual coffee stain ring and have it be a graphic element in the stationery. 

Bags of fair-trade coffee could be the favors.

A barista at the reception to create artistic nightcaps of espresso would be a lovely touch.

Coffee flavored ice cream and cake for desert would be an easy way to add this flavor to the reception.  As well as a signature drink made from Kaluha.

Researching the history of coffee can lead you down many style paths.  Think of classic brazilian colonial house with pineapples carved in dark wood and large white shutters on a coffee plantation.  Or embrace the style of the bold colorful posters you've seen at many coffee houses.  Or even celebrate your local awesome coffee house with a northwoods theme (think Caribou!)  Sorry, had to have a shameless plug in there =)  Even choosing your favorite coffee drink (it is minty?  carmel?) can give some ideas to start your wedding planning. 

You can keep it simple and home-spun by using the burlap and rafia influences, make it unique with latte art, or glam it up using a coffee color palette and subtle details.  Whichever way you want to take it, you can easily tailor your love of coffee to your wedding style.

For your wedding reception, do you have placecards, but no table to set them on?  Or perhaps you want something simple and don't want to worry about displaying them...

Use a recipe box.

Have tabs for each letter in the alphabet and have your placecards in alphabetical order.  You can decorate the box and cards to be as simple or fancy as you would like, it would be very easy to customize.

Just some food for thought =)

In interior design, the ceiling is called the 5th wall (or at least it was when I went to school).  Ceilings are sorely overlooked and it is a shame, since it is another place to add aesthetic. 

This can easily be applied to your wedding.  When we photograph during the ceremony and reception, we often have the ceiling in our shots.  Whether we're shooting from a low angle or just highlighting details, it is such a plus when there is something pleasing to the eye on the upper half of the room. 

Enter: draping and lights.  This is a way to highlight your ceiling and give your reception hall the ultimate punch.  You can use very simple draping and lights, or go full out with a full tenting effect with multiple layers and colors and washing the walls with a moody hue.

But it doesn't end there...

Think of ways you can dress the upper half of your reception hall using the ceiling.  Besides the obvious of having tall floral arrangements or picking a venue that has pendant lights or nice ceilings, you can really get creative with options.  If you have a buffet area of some kind (dessert, candy, food, gift table) you can add some visual interest by hanging upside down parasoles from the ceiling at different heights.  Or decorate each corner of the room with large chinese lanters, with an larger arrangement in the middle of the space.  Or you can find old wooden chandaliers and spray paint them a vibrant color that coordinates with your wedding and hang them throughout the space.  A curtain all of crystals or a wall of antique frames can be unexpected and lovely as well.  Strip your wedding style down to the basics, find an element that will compliment that style, and go from there! 

As with any tips, make sure you enlist the help of either a professional or very talented friend.  It is too easy to go overboard or in the wrong direction...and things can go in the wrong direction VERY quickly.  Simple is always the classic and safe way to go, but if you're going grand, be sure to layer your designs and lay out the idea before you start. 

Quality prints of your photos are as varied as the photographer that took them.  There are some photographers that have invested thousands on high quality printers and specialty, archival papers and print in house.  There are others that print on the cheapest photo paper from a big box store on a standard ink jet printer. 

I was so bummed when I went into a high end kids portrait studio and saw that they used an $80 printer with the cheapest brand of photo paper out there.  And they sold their prints starting at $45!  But their customers didn't know the difference.  It is up to you to educate yourself.

There really is a huge difference between printing from an online discount lab, to a local big box lab, to a mom and pop lab, to a pro lab.  There are differences of paper used and ink used...heck, most places don't even use ink anymore!  Linhoff Photo in Edina does beautiful Giclee prints and Fast Foto in Edina has this fabulous soft matte paper.  Fast Foto only has two people working on prints, so you get very consistant results and they actually will reprint if they feel the image needs a little tweaking.  National Camera does a fine job on prints as well.  Some pros swear by Costco printing, they their quality of color is spot on (I'm not a fan, but wanted to be truly unbiased, and there are quite a few photographers that send their clients to Costco if they own their negatives).  So it really takes paying attention to where you are printing, and though some prices are outrageous, print quality does tend to fit the mold of "you get what you pay for".

Each professional photographer has their own opinions about where to go for printing.  Photographers are picky about print quality because that is usually how others will see their work.  Word of mouth is so important in this business, so if you have a green toned, horribly printed 4x6 of your baby, and tell someone it came from a professional, it can hurt their business.  That is why a lot of us don't give out the negatives, we want to have that quality control. 

So if you are a client that has been giving their negatives, make sure to ask your photographer where they would recommend getting prints made.  And take their advice!