Destination Wedding Rule #6Save the Dates & Wedding Website

Send Save the Dates and Set up a wedding website. This should have probably been rule 1 or 2, but well, I didn't do it that way.

Save the dates have become the norm, but when planning an event that requires your guests to travel, it is imperative. Your save the date should at the very least include:
~Your names
~The date(s) of your event
~The city and state (and/or country for international affairs)
~Your wedding website address

What I also find helpful(and so will your guests):
A summary itinerary: If you're planning multiple events over several days- let everyone know!
Basic travel information: How will most guests arrive? Give info on airports, drive times, car services, etc.
Accommodation information (where you have rooms blocked at). Include Addresses, phone numbers, website, and a little info if its more than just a "hotel"

Here are a couple of our client favorites...

Monique Lhuillier Fine Paper CollectionI am in love.

The UPS man came today and I was giddy with excitement as I saw him walking towards the studio with the big white box in his hand. "It's here, I know that's it!" To preface, I am nearly as addicted to fine paper as I am weddings. This book is one I have been waiting to receive for what seems ages. Monique Lhuillier has been a favorite of mine since I believe 2005 when Sarah wore one of her stunning gowns down the aisle at her Sanibel Island wedding (that was a gorgeous wedding). So naturally, when I found out that she had a line of wedding invitations, I jumped at the opportunity to carry the line for my clients.

Grab your tissues (if like me, you begin to druel at the sight of exquisite stationery).

Letterpress makes me happy

A touch of beach, right up my ally

Hello lovely thick soft paper, hello.

Perfect for 3 day affairs.

Could you just die? Love seals. Love love love them.

Remind you of something?

Wedding Tidbits Presents:The Pro Series

Over the next several weeks I'll be posting interviews with both local and national wedding professionals. To start the party off, I did my own interview (below). If you're a pro who'd like to be interviewed, send an email to our blog email: weddingtidbits{at}gmail.com

Here's mine!:

Photo by Sam Brockinton at the Summer 09 We Wed Brunch Photo Booth.

What are your company and profession?
Weddings by Socialites, Wedding Planning & Design
I am also a confessed weddingaholic.
What’s your name and title?
Kelly McWilliams, owner and “The Planner”
Should I know anyone else from your company?
Yes, always by my side and equally addicted to weddings are Michelle, Jackie, Kandice, and Whitney.
Where do you do weddings?
From Sarasota down to Key West. Favorites are Boca Grande, Captiva Island, Sanibel Island, Bonita Springs, Naples, Islamorada and Key West
Website:
Weddings by Socialites
Blog Title:
Wedding Tidbits, Kelly McWilliams’ Blog
How long have you been in business?
Officially I think we’re at 7 years. Unofficially, a long time.
Why weddings?
For me, the wedding process and wedding days are amazing. I love seeing all the pieces come together slowly. I love the anticipation, the excitement and the emotion involved. I love how one day involves so many people from the professional’s standpoint and the incredible reactions from the wedding guests. Yep, I adore it.
What your clients most often commend you on?
Three things: How smooth the day went, and how much better it was than any wedding they’ve ever been to, and how much they appreciated all the honest advice I gave them along the way.
Best piece of advice for brides & grooms?
Let your professionals do their jobs. Tell them where you want to go (or not go) and let them tell you how to get there.
Also, do get products/services that will help you enjoy your wedding day more. Such as hire someone else do your hair and makeup. One less thing for you to do and stress about.
What is one thing that makes working with new clients easier?
The more specific and upfront they are with me, the easier it is to plan and develop for them.
When it comes to the creative side, it’s easiest for me to have some images to start with. Then let my imagination roll.
Can I find you on Twitter?
WeddingTidbits
What is the oddest request you’ve ever received? Or
What is the craziest thing you saw happen at a wedding?
Odd request:

“Can you build a wall at the reception to keep my dad from seeing my mom?”

Crazy happening:
I don’t think most would believe the craziness I’ve seen. Nearly every wedding something completely insane happens with guests. Typically it’s inspired by a few too many drinks. But the top on my list:

I once had to drop an entire wedding cake into mulch.

Anything you'd like to share?:
As my special thanks for coming back each week to read all the Pro Series, I’m giving away a $25 itunes gift card to download some of your favorite songs to listen to while getting ready for your wedding day.
Just leave a comment with your twitter name or email address and you’re in the drawing. This is open to all readers, brides & pros alike.
What is something you hope to do in the near future?
A tradtional Indian wedding! I just love what I’ve learned about the culture, ceremonies, and décor and I very much hope that I’ll have the opportunity to plan one soon.

Exactly what do you mean by "Budget"?

Lately I've been hearing so much about budgets. So much confusion. Frustration is all you get out of confusion. So let's spell it out for everyone. By everyone, I mean Brides & Wedding Pros.
I'm going to use flowers as an example again (its just the easiest to explain).

Brides: Be specific and don't be nervous about giving an amount. Let's say you've determined that you have $3,500 to spend on all your wedding flowers. However, you would really feel more comfortable only spending about $2,500, because you really want a cigar roller. Tell the florists you meet with that this is the case,

"I have a maximum budget of $3,500, however I prefer to keep it under $2,500 if at all possible. Any suggestions you have to keep me under this price would be greatly appreciated. But if it's going to compromise the integrity of the designs you have in mind, by all means say so and we'll go from there."

Floral designers:
It is so helpful when you ask for a budget up front in the consultation, not at the end. That way you can only make suggestions along the way that are going to be possible. Also, if you're going to make suggestions that are available in a range, show/explain what the range is!

"A centerpiece like these photos you brought are going to be in the $75 to $200 range. $75 would get you roses in a shallow 5 inch vase like this, $200 gets you Cymbidium orchids in a celebration vase like this. To get it in the middle of your comfort zone, we could put the roses in a celebration vase."

Here are some other read worthy budget posts I've written.

I really like these blogs!

I spent all this morning reading new blogs. Well, new to me that is. I highly recommend you check them out. Some are simple and some are big guns. All, I like.
Wedding blogs have really become amazing over the years, and I know there are so many more I haven't come across. So, if you know of a few I should visit- please let me know via a comment. Just the blog address is fine, but I love chit chat too. So feel free to leave some of your thoughts as well. And yes, if you are a blogger, you should 100% tell me about your own blog!
Cool blogs & my thoughts...
100 layer cake: I want to do that (all of them).
A Practical Wedding: I love her writing.
Lucky me: I can't believe I haven't been reading this one.
With this ring: Pictures...so many pictures.
Masterpiece Weddings: Read her ER post from 7/10. Hilarious.
Little Black Book Blog: The little sister of Style Me Pretty. This is a little sister who gets attention!

Becky+Noah=Epic!

This blog post is about the love story of Noah & Becky on the day they vowed to be together forever on the island of Kauai. It was a perfectly beautiful, light-bathed, emotion-filled, love-blessed wedding day...and it was a dream for us to photograph!

Noah and Becky planned everything just right, which is why this blog post could also be a little helpful hint guide on how to make your wedding day totally ROCK!

Tip #1: choose a great location to get ready. Kauai photographer & ultimate host (thanks for having us, D+S!) Dianne Reynolds, generously shared her gorgeous plantation-style home with the couple. That meant Becky and her bridesmaids (all twelve of them!) had lots of room to primp & prep & prettify together and we had lots of options of where to photograph all her details.





Tip #2: No rushing! Leave yourself lots of time to get ready so you can be as calm, serene, and beautiful as Becky was the morning of the big day. And have some time for bridal portraits.

Isn't she stunning?!

What a smile! She's so excited to see her future husband!

Or you could use that extra getting ready time to work out - like Noah :) The guys got ready just a few minutes away from the girls, making it super-easy to shoot everyone in the morning.

Hot groom alert!

Tip #3: consider having a First Look. The moment the bride & groom see each other is always special whether it's at the altar or not, but having a First Look is always so meaningful. It allowed Becky & Noah to have a private confirmation of their love together before the public celebration at the ceremony. And it also means more time for photos together before the wedding which means more time for fun with the guests right after!

I love this image of Noah praying before he's about to see Becky for the first time.



The joy of the moment!





Tip #4: bring your own sun-swatter. Just kidding! But I had to find a way to include this shot of Noah using California Sunbounce's great diffuser (btw, they are lightweight & easy-to-use).

But lighting and weather are things to consider - you can't control them but you can be prepared: parasols for shade if it's sunny, umbrellas for showers, and a nice hotel room for downpours. And if having an outside ceremony, maybe bump it to later in the day when the light is soft & flattering.



Luckily, Noah ordered up a perfect weather day for his wedding.

Tip #5: choose amazing friends & family to be in your wedding party! Ones who are super-helpful, super-fun, super-happy for you & who don't complain even if they have to balance on a rickety fence for a photo!



Tip #6: allocate time for photography. It's one of the biggest investments in the wedding as well as the only thing from the day that lasts forever! So allow for lots of time so we can go to all the cool locations we want to shoot at! If the day is super-busy, consider having a YOU+ME session on another day.

Noah grew up on Kauai & now the beautiful island is California girl Becky's home as well, so we really wanted to create images with a strong sense of place.



These two could not stop smiling at each other - they are so natural & happy together!

My fav of the beautiful Becky.

Chris' fav of the day.

And the most important tip of all: Live your wedding day fully & completely!

When we talked to Noah the day before the wedding, he, like most grooms was a little nervous and a little stressed about the seating arrangement, decor, lighting, and parking logistics...But come morning, all that was forgotten.

Noah and Becky experienced every moment of their day with hearts wide open.

Their ceremony, personalized and performed by Becky's father, was filled with laughter and joy.





I just like how Chris framed this image.

Married!

Now this is what I call an aislewalk - see fun-loving wedding party tip #5 :)

Oh, happy day!

Classic family portraits never go out of style (especially with this kind of scenery).

The couple's reception was simple and fun. First Dance.

Becky & Noah's fathers had everyone's attention with their heartfelt song & speeches.



Noah's sister, surfer extraordinaire Bethany Hamilton, beats out all the ladies for the bouquet. Becky directed the award-winning documentary Heart of a Soul Surfer that tells the incredibly inspiring story of her new sister-in-law Bethany.





Can you say FUN!



And a little romance from the end of the night.

Noah, so glad you sat beside us at that Oahu workshop so many years ago & we were able to document your epic day! Congratulations, Noah + Becky!