Binding Your Wedding Memories

So the question of today is - what do I do with all these wedding cards once I've removed the checks and cash???  Your spouse will probably say, "Toss them", but you are thinking, "But I want to keep some of them."  Either this scenario is playing out in reality as you read this post or this conversation will surely happen once you return from the honeymoon.  Well check out this cool and easy idea that will allow you to keep those pretty little wedding cards.

All you need are 2-3 binder rings, a hole punch and ribbon to tie the "booklet" shut.  And there you have it...a keepsake that will take up very little space, but allow you to thumb through your wedding cards year, after year, after year!  This idea would also work fabulously for cards you receive from engagement parties, bridal and/or couple showers and rehearsal dinners.

Until next time...WEDologize!


{repost from December 2011}
(photo credits: www.ththroneburg.blogspot.com)

Oscar Fashions Dejanae Events Style

I'm not a huge fan of actually watching the Oscars because I'm not a big movie-goer, but when it comes to the Red Carpet, I'm glued to the TV right until they make it into the auditorium!  Check out my favs and my major dislikes for fashion at The Academy Awards 2013.

Best Dressed Female -  Charlize Theron in Christian Dior Haute Couture

Best Dressed Male - George Clooney in Gucci

Best Dress Couple - Channing Tatum & Jenna Dewan

Best Bridal Fashion -  Jennifer Lawrence in Dior Haute Couture

Best Accessory - Helen Hunts gorgeous necklace

Best Bridal Hair - Reese Witherspoon

Worst Dressed a.k.a Epic Fail - Anne Hathaway in Prada

Well those are my picks.  Let me know what you think.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits - Getty Images)

Wedding Cake Choices

I love WEDDING CAKE!  I love wedding cake tastings with my clients! I love how all the wedding guests come to see the bride's attire at the ceremony and the fabulous wedding cake at the reception! Again, I love wedding cake!

As you begin the journey of selecting a cake designer to create your reception confection masterpiece, there are some things you want to think about in addition to cake flavors:

• Figure out the shape you want for your wedding cake - square, circle or more modern shapes like a hexagon, oval or heart shaped.  And have an idea on how many tiers you'd like.
• Know your frosting. Buttercream and fondant are the most popular frostings for wedding cakes with fondant being more expensive.  Buttercream does not hold up well in the heat, but if the most flavorful of the two.  Fondant holds it's shape firm and smooth as it's rolled out and draped over the wedding cake.
• Top the cake or not.  Decide on if you want an actual cake topper on the wedding cake or would you like the florist to add fresh flowers to the top tier or the cake designer to create sugar flower blooms?
• Decide how you want your wedding cake displayed - a cake table in the center of the dance floor or on a dessert buffet perched on a silver, gold of jeweled cake stand.  Will you add candles and rose petals around the cake?  Or use vases holding the bridesmaids bouquets to surround the cake?

 

So many decisions to be made...but this is the fun part of wedding planning, in my opinion.  Why?  Because you get to eat cake!  Yep, I love wedding cake!

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit - Project Wedding; The Twisted Sifter Cake Shoppe)

...I Found It, You Pin It...Friday!

Who said that during a wedding reception that you have to walk into the venue and see a wedding cake prominently displayed on the dance floor?  Imagine being presented with a tiny piece of heaven gorgeously displayed on a lavish gold stand with a thank you note attached!  Now that's ART!

Until next time...PIN IT and WEDologize!

(Photo credit - Tim Chin Photography + Design)

Loving The Wedding Day Clutch

 

Now that your wedding gown is ordered, you are on the hunt for those fab accessories to accent your dream dress. Of course your first thoughts are the veil, shoes, jewelry and undergarments, but what about the bag you will carry your personal items like lip gloss, breath mints, etc. Instead of the satin money bag, who's usefulness is for collecting cards, what about a glamorous, but dainty clutch.

Clutches also make awesome attendants gifts! And for the more contemporary bride, consider adding a fresh flower to the clutch and have your bridesmaids carry the that instead of a bouquet.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(Photo credits - Melissa Wedding Art, www.weddingobsession.com; www.thebridalwishlist.com; www.orangeandblossom.com; www.xomba.com)

Staying On The Wedding Planning Track

When planning your wedding, it's a MUST to stay on track because procrastination and lack of focus can take over...or the dreaded BRIDEZILLA could kick in.  Check out some of the "stress-relievers" that could make the planning process flow a little better.

Once you get engaged...SET A REALISTIC TIMETABLE and BUDGET.  Your actual wedding date won't be set until you book your ceremony and reception location(s), but you can select the season, month and year you'd like to get married.  That will determine how long you have to plan this grand event.  Then have the uncomfortable conversation with your fiancee and family about the budget and how much each person can contribute.  It's extremely important to know the budget you are working with before you start planning your big day.

Not everyone you have ever known in life should be invited to your wedding.  Start working on your GUEST LIST as soon as possible because this list will drive a lot of the wedding planning process.  Remember catering and your bar will consume half of your wedding budget so be thoughtful when inviting family and friends.

Make a SEPARATE E-MAIL ACCOUNT for your wedding correspondences.  This way, e-mails won't get intermingled with your business and personal e-mails.  Plus as you begin planning, your e-mail account will become saturated with e-mails from vendors and other wedding-related messages.

Then of course, start interviewing PROFESSIONAL WEDDING PLANNERS to assist you with the wedding planning process.  A planners resources and skills will become invaluable as you move forward with your special day.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit - www.vsphoto.com)

...I Found It, You Pin It...Friday!

I'm in love with the WOW FACTOR created by these kissing balls on Manzanita branches and hanging crystals!  What a GORGEOUS frame to a ceremony altar space or the entryway to the reception. LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!

Until next time...PIN IT and WEDologize!

(photo credit - Stacy Reeves Photography)

Announcing Your Engagement

 

You are now engaged and I know you want to shout it to the world, but more importantly, it's a happy time in your life and you want to celebrate! After the phone calls and face-to-face visits have been made, what can you and your fiance' do to announce your desire to say..."I Do".

 

Consider sending a few of your family and close friends an engagement announcement. Not to get this confused with a Save The Date, the engagement announcement will showcase your names and the date you became engaged, and a photo should you have one available. No information is given about the wedding date because the wedding planning really hasn't begun.

Put an announcement in your local newspaper or online. Many papers welcome engagement and wedding announcements. At minimum it should include: a photo of the happy couple, the date you became engaged and the names of your parents. 

 

You could also have a fun celebration or engagement party. This event is typically hosted by the bride's parents and can be as simple as cake and punch with a toast announcing your formal engagement. This would also be a great opportunity to announce your bridal party should you have already selected them to be in your wedding.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit - www.Zazzle.com; blog.myjeanm.com)

Our Partyscape in Wedding Guide Chicago!

I love Wedding Guide Chicago magazine and their wonderful staff!  And I'm so appreciative of them for asking me to be apart of creating a partyscape to be featured in their Winter/Spring 2013 edition and online.  My Partyscape is named Cocktails With Details.  The inspiration comes from an increase in the number of cocktail receptions to celebrate a couples wedding nuptials.  Rich colors, gorgeous flowers and delicious desserts makes this style of reception over-the-top fabulous!   Check out some of the pictures!

Also check out the video. Thanks to Wedding Connections for capturing these amazing moments!

Again, thanks to my team for bringing Cocktails With Details to life - Eaglewood Resort and Spa; Artistic PhotoGraphics; Jane's Blue Iris Ltd.; Luscious Layers Bakery; CT Designs, Inc.; and Classic Party Rentals.  It was GREAT working with each of you!


Until next time...WEDologize!

...I Found It, You Pin It...Friday!

Who said a wedding bouquet had to be created from all flowers?  The vintage brooches + lush pearls + gorgeous pink-toned roses is not only visually stunning, but would add that additional WOW FACTOR to the woman carrying it down the aisle.  Enjoy!

Until next time...PIN IT and WEDologize!

(photo credit - GatherLove.tumblr.com)

The Bridal Tour Chicago!!!

I'm so excited that an event like this has come of life!!!  I have taught about this type of event for over 5 years, but never did I have a student grab the idea and move forward with it.  I'm then asked...why didn't I do it?  I simply responded, "I just don't have the time to give it my all."  So when I learned that Candace Polk, Publicist and Founder of GlitzPR was going to host this awesome event in Chicago...a HUGE smile came across my face and a sigh of...FINALLY!

Planning for a wedding can be stressful and if couples are not in tune with what their city has to offer, then they will want to attend The Bridal Tour on March 3, 2013.

The Bridal Tour is where it’s all about the bride and groom! An entire day of tastings, private venue go-sees, beauty sampling, one on one’s with some of Chicago’s Exclusive Wedding professionals, and the Bride and Groom will leave with a FAB Swag bag full of bridal and grooming treats!

The Details:
Don’t just read about it… experience this exclusive tour for yourself! On Sunday, March 3, 2013 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Windy City Limousines will chauffeur Brides, Grooms, Maids of Honor, mothers, fathers and best friends to tour our beautiful City via limo bus while sipping Champagne to visit fabulous spaces catering to weddings, taste delicious foods, and smell the aroma of freshly cut florals. The tour is designed to be small in numbers (approximately 50-60) to fully engage the couples as they find the right vendor for their special occasion.

The day winds down (between 3 to 5pm) with a Bridal Soirée at Loft on Lake designed to better understand each couples individual needs and for Brides and Grooms “to be” who are not able to attend the tour.

There are still a few tickets left and they can be purchased at:  http://www.thebridaltour.eventbrite.com.

Congrats Candace on bringing what I know will be a fabulous event to life!!!

Until next time...WEDologize!

Wedding Ceremony and Reception Seating

I think a lot of banquet venues purchase ugly chairs just so the client will rent a chair cover and sash, which could easily start $4.50 per chair (I'll touch on that in another blog).  But for those with a more flexible budget, consider renting chairs with a corresponding cushion for your guest tables.  Although a bit more expensive, they can add a more elegant touch to the ceremony and reception environment.  Take a look at some of the "statement-making" chairs below:

Versailles "Chiavari" Chair

Opera Chair

Contempo Chair

Chameleon Chair

Mirage Chair a.k.a. Ghost Chair

Wooden Padded Folding Chair

And consider these cost-saving ideas should you want to rent chairs:

• Use and reuse.  Use them for your ceremony.  Then have them moved during cocktails and positioned as guest chairs for the reception tables.  It's cheaper to higher additional staff than double the chairs.
• If you cannot afford rented chairs for all tables, think about having them at the sweetheart table, head table or during cocktail hour.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(all photo credits - www.hallsrental.com and www.chameleonchair.com/)

...I Found It, You Pin It...Friday!

I'm in awe of this tablescape!  Not for the magnificent centerpieces focusing on those gorgeous pink tulips. Not even for the pretty glass charges housing the menu cards trimmed in teal.  And not even for the gorgeous, eclectic color palette. But what makes this design a MUST for the PIN IT PIC gallery are those awesome eggplant-padded chiavari chairs! WOW FACTOR!!!

Until next time...PIN IT and WEDologize!

(photo credit - Style Unveiled | Benfield Photography)