A great First Dance Song

I got a call while driving to LaPlaya Beach Resort last week.

"I'm callin it!", Clint Wiley says.

Every now and again one of us will come across a new song and just know that its going to be huge in weddings. The BIG song is always going to be the first dance song, and when a new one is called- boy, that's a big deal.
About a year ago I called it with Jason Mraz's Lucky & I'm Yours. Sure enough- I've had at least 8 of our last 15 weddings use them for the 1st dance and recessional songs.

So what is the new song Clint has called? It's by Uncle Kracker and it's titled Smile. I LOVE IT. Not just a little either, a whole lot.
Click here---> to download and love it too.
Oh, what's that? Is this the new Weddings by Socialites theme song? Why yes, yes I think it is. Check it out!

Our Lucaya Resort Changes Owners

As long-time readers of this blog know, we got married at the Our Lucaya Resort in the Bahamas. At the time we got married there, it was Sheraton/Westin property (Starwood Resorts). However, as of July 2009, the Our Lucaya Resort on Grand Bahama Island is now a Radisson property.

Maybe it’s just us, but we’ve always viewed Starwood to be a mid-market to high-end company. They certainly did an excellent job on our destination wedding – it was a relaxed affair, but totally classy. And we’ve always viewed Radisson to be a bit down-market. Radisson’s are the hotels near airports or corporate centers and are typically older properties. Of course, our assessment could be completely off-base, but that’s just our impression based on our travels around the world.

With Our Lucaya changing from Starwood to Radisson, it remains to be seen how this will impact the resort as a destination wedding venue. While we had a tremendous experience at Our Lucaya, we’d recommend asking a lot of questions about this property and its new management (and doing a site visit in advance) if you are considering doing a destination wedding here.

More about our wedding at Our Lucaya:

• Our Destination Wedding
• Review: Our Lucaya in the Bahamas
  

The Mothers Tea

An idea I just love the thought of. As you know, gathering for tea is all the rage. Although I suppose the words "rage" and "tea" are kind of conflicting. Anyway.
So I was sitting here this morning drinking my chai while writing a proposal for a glorious Naples Beach wedding weekend next spring. While listing out all the events planned, I felt like something was missing. In this case, the mother of the bride has been my contact. In fact, I have a feeling she and I will be doing most of the planning together as the bride is quite busy with work. It just seemed to me that the moms so frequently get left out of it after all the work involved in planning. With that, I am inspired to plan for this client
The Mothers Tea.
I imagine it as a small gathering of the ladies: moms & sisters of the bride & groom, grandmas, aunts, moms best friend, and the bride. Maybe also the bridal party if the moms are close to these girls too. I think the event should be hosted by the bride & groom.Its a great opportunity to really spend some quality time with the ladies of the family your moms are closest to, and also to have them all get to know each other and of course its an opportunity to wear a great hat. This would also be a wonderful time to gift your moms with something special for the wedding day, perhaps a piece of jewelry, handkerchief, or clutch?

Do you like the idea? I sent my dear friend Risa of the Partea Planner a message today, hoping she'll send me some photos to share. You can check out her website for Partea inspiration.

Photo credit: the always fabulous Hilary Hopkins

And the winner is...

Jody Taylor-Smith of Good Taste Events! Congrats Jody, you are going to love Cabbage Key and doing nothing but

watching the sunrise & the sunset,
maybe a little island hopping to Captiva, Sanibel, Useppa, and Boca Grande,
fishing and
eating cheeseburgers in paradise

Did you know that Cabbage Key is supposedly where this infamous song was written about?
Have a great getaway!

Last day to win the 2 night stay at Cabbage Key!

If you haven't already, be sure to comment on Tuesdays post to win 2 nights at Cabbage Key. If you're in need of some sunshine, R&R- this is the contest to enter!

Win a 2 night stay at Cabbage Key!

For no other reason than to be totally nice and introduce you to a very cool little island- we're giving away a 2 night stay at Cabbage Key! If you've never been, Cabbage Key is one of the little barrier islands off the Gulf Coast of South West Florida. Many of my wedding couples have hosted 1/2 day getaways for their guests at Cabbage Key. Click here and here to read about them.
Here's the kicker- the gift certificate is only good until September 3rd! So you'll have to be able to visit by then. You can easily access Cabbage Key by boat or ferry leaving from Captiva Island or Pineland.
To win the getaway, just comment below! We'll announce the lucky winner Thursday.

Decadent: Cheese & Chocolate.

Looking to bring something chic to your wedding or rehearsal dinner? Or actually- this is fantastic for a welcome cocktail party.
Now only does it just give such a luxe feel, it is that good. Consider doing a cheese display spread complete with assorted gourmet cheeses, berries and pestos with wine pairings.Then later in the evening have it transformed into a chocolate and cordial presentation. Besides Milk, Sweet, Bittersweet, Semi sweet, and white chocolate; you can also add some scrumptious truffles.

Click on these today. Wedding blog love.

Dear Google Reader,
How did I ever survive without you?
-Kelly

Style Circle. Oh Abby, you have outdone yourself. Yes, I am a long time fan of Style Me Pretty, but now...now I can't get away, nor do I want to. Go, go check it out. If you have any passion for weddings as a bride or wedding pro- you will love Style Circle. It's like a playground for wedding junkies. I haven't had near the amount of time to really dive in yet, but I did make my first inspiration board with the stock images (which are ridiculously lovely).



This wedding that Snippet & Ink featured is so incredibly classic. I love the blue, the yellow, the white. The clean of it all. The amazing photos. The dress I would wear in a heartbeat. Yeah, no wonder they featured it. It's that good.

We're headed to Savannah in a few weeks for a wedding that will be nothing less than Spectacular, so this post from Wedding Bee was a plus. Great ideas!


Remember when I posted about not having your entire wedding party in the same attire? This wedding on Southern Weddings blog beyond proves that it can look phenomenal.

Ruffles. I never in a million years would have ever thought I would one day love ruffles. I.am.reformed. They're so feminine and not plain. I love the attention they garner. Leila at Inspired by This- she's into the ruffles too. Love her collection of ruffle images on this post. And if you like ruffles even a little bit, you will too.

Wedding Photography you might not have known about (but you should)

Your wedding, although its one of the biggest events in your life, literally life changing, passes by in just a matter of hours. There are so many ways to capture more of everything that your wedding means to you through photography. So I called up one of our Wise Bride experts, Audrey Snow to explain all the different wedding photography options that there are. Audrey and her photography partner & fiance Michael are based out of Sarasota.
Looking back, I very much wish I'd had the opportunity to do a few of these, especially the Bridal Portrait. And even more so, I wish I had some of these of my parents. So often we forget to think of the future.
Here are all the various types of wedding photography we could list. The descriptions are all Audreys words- thank you so much Audrey! Check out more of Audreys words and images on her blog

Engagement: The engagement session is a more casual reflection of the bride and groom. While sometimes dressy, it's usually not as formal as the wedding day look. More often the engaged couple will be in jeans or other more casual looks. Another great chance to play around with different locations and styles. With these images, many couples will make fantastic guest books for the wedding, or submit one to the local paper for the engagement announcement. We love engagement sessions so much we include them in all our packages. It gives us a chance to get to know our couples before the big day and all work together.
Pre-wedding Celebration coverage: How much thought and planning goes into the events leading up to the wedding? Engagement parties, showers, rehearsal dinners? Why not round out your wedding image collection by including your pre-wedding events in your coverage? Tell the whole story! This image is from an engagement party/ceremony that took place months before the wedding. Images from this day will likely be included in their wedding album along with images from other events surrounding their wedding.

Boudoir: A sexy photo shoot of the bride done just for her groom (she's likely to be in gorgeous lingerie), the boudoir session is typically done anytime in the months leading up to the wedding, sometimes even on the day of. Smaller coffee table books and fine art prints are wonderful finished products for presentation. Could there be a better gift? Nope, but the truth is it ends up being just as much a gift for a woman to herself. Playing supermodel and having amazing images of yourself to show for it is so much fun.
Bridal Portrait: A bridal session is all about just the bride alone in her dress. Somewhat like the boudoir shoot, the bridal session takes place in the months before the wedding or at the very least, earlier the day of. If the session is planned for an earlier day it can be a fun opportunity to get images in a different location than the wedding/reception location. Some of a woman's most beautiful moments are in her wedding dress, she deserves a little extra press in it! As a photographer I could photograph just the bride all day long. Many of my favorite images are brides alone where they can really shine and take the attention solo for a bit.
Day before/Day after: Concerned about not having enough time to get all your favorite wedding images on your wedding day? A shoot in your wedding clothes the day before or after the wedding can be the perfect solution. This couple did most of their wedding photos the day before to be able to spend more time with their guests they day of rather than spending the time on photos. They were relaxed and had a great time shooting all over town. Important note: If you choose to do the pictures the day after, I still recommend shooting on the actual wedding day everything you would if you didn't have the extra shoot planned. Just to be on the safe side. Think of the day after shoot as bonus images rather than replacement images. And consider changing up your look just a little. Had a tough time deciding on the veil, or his tie, etc? Try this shoot with the runner up goods and enjoy some variety in your images.

Wedding Day:Wedding day coverage usually begins with getting ready moments, and continues to include ceremony coverage, formal photo sessions of family, bridal party, and of course just the bride and groom (all of which may actually happen before the wedding ceremony rather than after), as well as reception coverage. It is likely anywhere from 6 to 12 hours of coverage on the day of the wedding and is combination of true photojournalistic moments and more loosely posed, stylized shots as well as lots of images of the details that make your day unique to you. These are the images to remind you exactly how your wedding day looked and felt for years to come.Trash the dress: A session done sometime after the wedding where you don't worry about getting a little wet or dirty or messing up the dress. Locations might include in the water at the beach or in a swamp. Activities might include anything you wouldn't expect to see someone dressed up participating in. Painting, auto repair... you get the idea. It's about creating fun, daring, unexpected, dramatic images. You don't even have to use your actual wedding dress. Check out a local bridal shop's clearance rack. This gem came from the off the rack sale from a local bridal boutique. We spiced it up a bit with a corset and accessories and had a ball!

Quite a list isn't it? You can catch Audrey and Mike on twitter for more wedding photography tips and tidbits
Quick Tip: Many of these images taken prior to the wedding can be used in your wedding videos and slideshows. Check with your videographer on how you can incorporate them.

Who won the iTunes card?

I didn't forget to pick a winner- I just forgot to announce the winner.
Thanks to everyone who commented on my Pro Series interview. Congrats to Heather Canada!
Need to catch up on the series? Here you go!

Clint Wiley (None Other Band)
Kelly McWilliams (Weddings by Socialites)
Sue Bain (Signature Florals).

The Pro Series: Clint Wiley

There is nothing like a great band at a wedding. Music is one of those crucial decisions in your wedding planning quite frankly because it has the greatest impact on the celebration portion of your wedding day, and that is most likely half of the time your guests will be spending with you. This band you're about to read about is not your typical wedding band because they play the most current music on top of the standards;

"Oh you want to hear Rihanna & Maroon 5? Sure we can do that. Michael Jackson too? Got it. The Cure? Will do. Your mom wants to here Sweet Caroline? Consider it done."

With that said, let me introduce you to one band that has kept dance floors packed at my clients weddings for years now.

What are your company and profession?
Clint Wiley Entertainment. I am the owner as well as singer, guitarist, emcee and DJ.

What’s your name? Should I know anyone else from your company? Clint Wiley. My six piece band consists Lyli, Dom, Chris, Quinn, and Billy. I have other band members for horn sections, percussion, and dancers if desired.

Where do you do weddings?
I offer my services internationally, but a majority of my shows are in the state of Florida. I own a 15 passenger van and 20 foot trailer, so getting to most locations is easy.


Website Link
www.clintwiley.com

How long have you been in business?
The band was formed ten years ago when we were VERY young:) We did our first wedding in 2001. I have been averaging at least one wedding a week for about three years.

Why weddings?
I really like to be a part of 'big' things. I have pacticed my skills for decades, and the opportuinity to use my gifts to make someone's special day the best it can be is very fulfilling. I think weddings should always be about 'the best' of everything, and I find that challenge exciting.

What your clients most often commend you on?
The top comment heard from clients is that I went far above their expectations. Their guests usually say we are the best wedding band they have ever heard. I don't say that to sound cocky, but it is the most common and rewarding comment I hear.

Best piece of advice for brides & grooms?
Do lots of research before picking a band. Make sure the band actually plays the styles you want. Make sure the band has sound/movie clips of what they can do. Some bands will say they can play a style just to land the job. For weddings, I believe the selection should be diverse. Bands that focus on one style or a couple decades can be fun for a while, but it can get tiring over an entire night. Playing music from all decades will involve everyone. 80's songs seems to go over really well with all ages, and adding some modern hits makes the younger crowd happy. Also make sure bands have a good sound system and lighting package. Once you find the band you like, give them a little direction, but let them do what they do best. I've seen some brides empty a dance floor by picking a song list that doesn't work well.

What is one thing that makes working with new clients easier?
Having the client know what they want at least a month before the wedding date. Last minute changes can be frustrating at times. Also, seating the older guests away from the band is ALWAYS a great idea. Otherwise, the older guests wants the music low, and the other guests cannot enjoy the dance music.

What is the craziest request you’ve ever received? Or
What is the craziest thing you saw happen at a wedding?
The craziest thing I saw happen were a group of grown men acting like chickens(sounds and all) in front of the stage because I would not play the Chicken Dance. The bride was very adamant about not hearing that song, or anything cheesy. Evidently the men were cousins who had harassed her since she was a kid, and her wedding day would, evidently, be no exception.

What is something you hope to do in the near future?
I constantly work to improve my show, and part that consists of new staging and lighting. I now own a full intelligent light show with a professional truss and lasers. I hope to be able to use them at a wedding in the near future.

Previous Pro Series Interviews: Kelly McWilliams (Weddings by Socialites), Sue Bain (Signature Florals).
Next up: Michael Schuhmann (Photography by Michael)
Want to be interviewed? Send an email to WeddingTidbits{at}gmail.com

A summer mini wedding

This is the mini of all mini's. I'm pretty sure I could fit all the guests into my car and bring them to the Bubble Room for the wedding dinner in 2 trips. This also happened to be the hottest wedding of the year as well. It was 634 degrees on Captiva that day. My flip flops melted in the sand. {slight exaggeration}

Julie Goodacre shot these images. Something that she did, not sure what, just makes me want to look over and over.
Anyway, I just wanted to share these pictures with you because the images are wonderful and I love them.
I also think mini weddings get a bad wrap. I love the intimacy of them. So I wanted to post of these minis.

Believe it or not, this is 20 minutes after the ceremony was to start.
And everyone always wants to blame the bride for a late wedding...

This is everyone. Yes, everyone. Mini.

Another gorgeous piece by Laura Hooper Calligraphy.

Married.

Caught Twittering

Julie Goodacre caught me twittering at one of our mini weddings last month:

You can catch Julie twittering here.
Some great images from that wedding coming later today.

Schiffon+Dennis=Irie!

"Don't Worry, Be Happy!" is the mantra in Jamaica, and after a whirlwind adventure that included cancelled flights, swine flu scares, and a literally-last-minute switch of wedding location from Mexico to Jamaica, Schiffon and Dennis finally enjoyed their beautiful day - happily and worry-free.

In fact, they were the most relaxed bride & groom I've ever seen! The couple embodied "IRIE" - Jamaican for being at total peace & harmony with the world. The strength of their love and the love of their friends and family who had to overcome so much to be with them on their wedding was tangible throughout the day. And what a great day it was!

First, the details - simple, fresh and fun.





Beautiful bride!



Chillin' with the girls outside her suite at the Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort.

Dennis & the guys.





When it was looking all but impossible for Canadian guests to get to Mexico, I remember Schiffon's father saying that he would be there for her no matter what, "Nothing can stop me!" he told me on the phone while we tried to figure out travel itineraries. It was so wonderful to see him walk his daughter down the aisle.



What a smile for his bride from the handsome Dennis.

Such an idyllic location.



Married!



Love the joyfulness of these next two :)

And they knew how to work it too - Schiffon strikes a pose.



And Dennis looking oh so GQ.

A little off-camera lighting for some extra drama.

The it was off to play by the ocean. My favourite image of the day.



Beautiful Jamaica.





We caught some gorgeous sunset light on route to the reception.

So much love in the room! And a little rastafarian too :)



First dance.



Congatulations Schiffon + Dennis! We loved being part of your destination wedding adventure!