Love Is Timeless | Joti & Jamie | Timeless Wedding Designs | Stuart Wedding Planner

"How we met was pretty unorthodox; I was at a friends house and we were trying to kill our boredom, so I suggested we go on Chat Roulette. For those of you who have never heard of that, it's a website where you can video chat with people from all over the world. We managed to find ourselves talking to a lovely group of guys - my fiancé (Jamie) being one of them. We chatted for hours and decided to get off of that website and Skype instead. By the end of that night, we all added each other on Facebook and every once in awhile Jamie and I would message each other to say, "Hey, check out this song" or, "How are you?" ...Only because it was really cool to know a person from a different country. Messaging every now and then turned into an every day thing, which led to Skyping pretty much any second we had free. To make a long, detailed story short, he ended up visiting me in the U.S. a year later. From then on, he would make visits to me every few months or so, whenever he could.

To give you a taste of some probably boring, but cute details, he was my first boyfriend, first kiss, and first everything. Three years into our relationship, I finally was able to afford a trip to England to visit him and his family. I stayed with them over Christmas and New Years and it was just as cute and cliche as you're probably imagining it. Also being from Florida, it was my first cold winter!

Fast forward to about 5 years into our relationship and Jamie popped the question. On April 25, 2016, to be exact. Leading up to the proposal was a bunch of 'firsts.' In the morning we went to the first beach we ever went to together, then he took me out to lunch to the first restaurant we ate at together, then we ended the day on a romantic walk at the first trail we ever walked on together. At the end of the trail is a gazebo with a cute, little rocking bench and that's where he proposed!

He actually came to visit me a day earlier than I thought, surprising me, of course, which was crazy. The reason behind that was because after he landed at the airport, he went to my Dad's house and asked him for his permission to marry me. (Being all traditional and such.)

Now, we are currently working on our Fiancé Visa so he can live here permanently, and our wedding is scheduled for February 20, 2017. I'm excited that after nearly six years, we won't need to be apart anymore; no more of that rotten feeling in my gut as I say goodbye to him at the airport, or not being about to simply hold hands whenever we want. It'll be a breath of fresh air and we are both excited to start a new chapter together.

To end this, I just wanted to let people know that long distance relationships are not hard. They are doable and totally worth it if that person is worth it. It may suck at some points because you can't always be physically there for that person, but always keep looking forward to the future and think of how amazing it'll be with them when all of this is over. Rid yourself of those doubts and just jump. It takes patience but the reward is a gold mine."

See Joti & Jamie's wedding blog here!

If you are interested in sharing your love story with us, please email Mandy at Mandy@TimelessWeddingDesigns.com with the subject, "Love Is Timeless."

Find out why wedding day coordination is a must have!

Sunsets and Sailboats | Unofficial Styled Shoot in Port St Lucie | Timeless Wedding Designs | Port St Lucie Wedding Planners

So this is going to be a little bit off of the beaten path for the wedding world, but I had a stroke of creativity recently that I just couldn't shake! I was so inspired by the golden hues of the sunset over the fields off of Citrus Blvd as I was driving home, and I just had to design a table piece around the idea! Forgive the photography (I did it myself - definitely not a pro!) and my house in the background.

A Day In The Life Of A Wedding Planner | Fall Cleaning, New Business Card Holders, and A Beautiful Day In Sunny South Florida | Timeless Wedding Designs | West Palm Beach and Wilmington Wedding Planners

Hey y'all. I have had the worst writer's block this week even though my creative juices have been flowing in every other part of my life. I guess it's not too bad of a problem to have, but I thought I would share a little personal look into what my day has been like so far since I can't think of any other great ideas to write about right now! The more I've been thinking about it, the more I figured this may be a good thing to continue writing about since I know there are many people who wonder what it is we do every day as wedding planners. I'm not making any promises, but let me know what you think and I'll see if it is something worth continuing!   

All small business owners and Type A personalities like myself will tell you that there is no one season for cleaning. There are "Spring Cleaning," "Late Spring Cleaning," "Early Summer Cleaning," "Summer Cleaning," and so on. Yet, they never seem to end; we begin the cleaning and tidying up and organizing, and just when you think you're about to be finished, more gets added to the pile.

Surprisingly, cleaning is my happy place. If you're like me, you probably had an, "Oh, same," moment when you were watching The Emperor's New Groove and Pacha's wife got aggravated and said, "I gotta go wash something." And yes, I did just make a Disney reference on a wedding blog. Don't judge me.

As I was cleaning out what has now been deemed my Inventory Closet, I found two little treasures that I bought over a month ago in preparation for the upcoming bridal shows in our area... Vintage business card holders! I found them at Michael's for only $7.00 each so naturally I fell in love with everything about them.

My newest obsession! Photo by Mandy Billings... On my iPhone.

 What's even better is that they almost perfectly match the birdcages that I bought recently, so my fan girl moment has lasted practically the entire day. Oh, the glamorous life of a small business owner! The candle is burning because I burned bacon this morning and there is nothing that gets that smell out of the house better than a soy candle burning for hours. It made a great color addition to my Instagram post, so it got added to the photo. Again, don't judge me.

Now mind y'all, this is all happening while the weather outside has gone from the dreariest day ever to exist to the most gorgeous day in South Florida in all of August so far. I am sitting on the couch now just looking out at the pool wishing it wasn't the middle of a work day... This weather better stick around for the weekend, and for anyone getting married outside on a Wednesday, you made a wish on the right star! Let me know which one it is so I can save up some wishes, too.

E: Mandy@TimelessWeddingDesigns.com

3 Ideas For Children's Activities At Weddings | Timeless Wedding Designs | South Florida Wedding Planner

Photo by Mandy Billings.

Having children at your wedding can be a wonderfully innocent addition to your big day in sooo many unexpected ways. You never really can predict what children are going to do and when, so having activities already prepared for them can hinder any kinds of boredom that little ones can experience at adult festivities! Because yuck, did they just kiss?!  How disgusting!

1. Customized Activity Kits For Kids
   As a teacher-turned-wedding planner, this one was a no-brainer for my company. If there are two things I know, they are kids and weddings! Creating customized activity kits for kids is so super easy and can be a cost-effective way to entertain the youngin's while the adults are mingling and enjoying themselves. These kits often include things like these customized coloring books that I found on Etsy for just $3.33 for a download! Tie together some crayons with ribbon that matches your decor and cover the childrens' table in butcher paper for the kids to color on. Bubbles are a soft and feminine addition to an outdoor wedding for adults and children and can be found at almost any drug store. Whatever your vision for your wedding is, you can surely find small things to match it.
    
2. Yard Games
   Here in the South, this one is kind of a given. Almost all outdoor venues have some type of yard games included in their packages at no additional cost! Two of my personal favorites are Corn Hole and Horse Shoes, and the great part is that if your venue doesn't already include these types of games, you can build them to suit your personal theme and keep them as a memento of your wedding day. Win-win!
   
   
3.  Dance Contests
   One of the most awkward parts of the evening is that dull fifteen minutes or so after dinner when everyone has a full tummy and the first round of exciting activities (read: bouquet tosses and garter removals) has yet to begin. As a wedding planner, I never worry too much about the dance floor because the flow tends to be the same for every wedding, but our clients always get a little nervous about whether or not their guests are having a good time. Trust me, they are! After people have eaten and before they've gotten that first stroke of fun confidence, most of your guests are just waiting for a que about what will happen next. Children rarely wait for ques! In fact, they tend to be the very first ones to hit the dance floor during wedding receptions, so why not get the evening going with a children's dance off? The winner gets a little bouquet of flowers, and the adults don't have to feel so awkward about their dance moves! 

Do you have any other ideas for children at weddings? What kinds of activities did you provide for the kids on your big day? Let us know in the comments... You could get a shout out!

Want more ideas for a flower girl or ring bearer at your wedding? Check out these cute options!

Why We Focus On The Love Story Behind Our Weddings | Timeless Wedding Designs | South Florida Wedding Planner

Photo by RJ Hill Photography.

I am sure that you can imagine that we have truly seen it all as wedding planners. For sure I thought that I had seen it all until I meet with some of my fellow Certified Wedding Planners and they tell me the crazy stories of events they have coordinated; there is no doubt that no two events will ever be alike.

Then I see TV shows like Bridezillas and Four Weddings and I wonder how we ever got to this. Weddings are supposed to be a celebration of love and devotion, but have somehow turned into a show of wealth and entertainment, like most things have in our modern world. The typical bride is nothing like the brides portrayed on Bridezillas, and I would love to meet the guest who sits and judges another person's wedding like the brides in Four Weddings. Sure, these are television shows and are meant to be dramatic and entertaining, but they have truly changed the way many of us feel about weddings.

When I started Timeless Wedding Designs, I can't help but think that I probably felt the same way. I was more interested in the show, the way the venue looked, and whether or not every bride was looking for the type of wedding I was interested in planning. What made me a great wedding designer and planner is also what made me want out of this industry about a year ago, although I am so glad that I did not leave it all behind. Instead, I chose to change the brand of my company to embody my own beliefs and morals, and I knew that those who felt the same way would eventually find me as well.

Although I am not married, I have an enormous network of married friends and past clients who tell me every day how wonderful it is; the pitfalls match the high points and the wonder of being with your soulmate every day is unmatched by anything this whole world could ever offer them. After the wedding comes your marriage, and I wanted to make sure that the clients I was taking on fully understood that their wedding is the beginning of their marriage and not a one day event, and I wanted them to know that I fully understand that as well. We started doing the Love Is Timeless campaign to reflect that and so far I feel it has been a great success. Every day I receive more and more emails from couples wanting to share their love story with us and it truly makes my heart so full to see how many people have found their soulmates in this crazy world.

Find out why wedding day coordination is a must have!

Why Wedding Day Coordination Is A Must-Have | Timeless Wedding Designs | West Palm Beach and Wilmington Wedding Planner

When you were a child, did you ever pretend to get married? What did your wedding day look like to you?

I know I envisioned every single person I loved watching me walk down the aisle with a big, beautiful bouquet of flowers in my hands, on my way to spending the rest of my life with the one person that I knew I would love forever. The setting was always very natural, probably somewhere outdoors, on a brisk day sometime in the Spring where not a single cloud dotted a perfect blue sky. I always saw myself being as calm as ever, smiling the entire time along with all of our guests.

If I am being honest, the child part of me probably didn't come up with that vision as much as the adult part of me did, but that is all part of my job as a wedding coordinator. It is what I want for my own wedding some day as much as it is what I want for all of my clients' weddings.

Unfortunately, though, we are sometimes presented with obstacles that turn our seemingly perfect wedding day sour. What if it had rained on my dream wedding day and I didn't order a tent? What if the florist never showed up (Heaven forbid!)? What if my family and I had just spent the entire morning of the best day of my life setting up my wedding day and we were ready to simply crash? These are all things that I deal with as your wedding coordinator so that you and your loved ones don't have to, and I wouldn't have your wedding day any other way.


W H A T   D O E S   A   W E D D I N G   C O O R D I N A T O R   D O ?

The great thing, in my opinion, about having a wedding coordinator is that your wedding day can truly be the best day of your life without all of the added stress of hosting a large event. I have heard all different kinds of things from brides about this idea, but the one that stands out the most to me is this: why would it not still be the best day of my life if I don't hire you? The truth is, your wedding day should be the best day ever no matter what because you are joining your partner in a vow to love one another forever. Whether or not you have a wedding coordinator, no one and no event can take that away from you. However, with a wedding coordinator, you have someone who will set up and clean up your wedding, someone who will do all of the stressing for you if they need to, someone to manage everyone who you've hired already, and someone to take a final deep breath with you before they send you on down the aisle. You get a best friend who you do not have to feel guilty about giving a job to on your wedding day, and that's the best thing ever.

Let me put it this way - suppose you start a business and you are preparing for your grand opening where there are going to be some very important people coming. You hire six employees to do various tasks and you decorate the store beautifully; you are fully prepared to greet the important people as they arrive and mingle and network. As the time comes and your guests are arriving, you find that you are very busy managing your employees and keeping the shop clean, and are missing out on the opportunity to network and grow your business. If you had hired a manager to do these things while you were busy, the manager could have taken care of these things for you.

Day-Of Wedding Coordinators are those managers. And we are more than happy to make your wedding the very best version of your wedding possible.


M Y   D J   /   V E N U E   I S   P R O V I D I N G   A   C O O R D I N A T OR

The first thing you need to understand is that your vendors are there to advocate for themselves and the companies they work for, not you. (I'm not saying they don't care about your wedding - they've spent a ton of time with you and they probably love you!) What I am saying is that you can't expect your DJ to show up to your venue and start setting up your final details, or your venue coordinator to call your limo driver when they don't show up on time. They are there to do a job that is not about managing the entire wedding, but managing their own smaller aspect of a bigger picture. Can your DJ or venue coordinator create a timeline for your wedding day or try to que the bridal party to go down the aisle at the correct time? Sure! However, don't expect it to be the same as if you hired a wedding coordinator.

On another note, lets say something goes wrong with the venue. The venue coordinator has to go deal with the issue and can't manage the rest of the wedding day because they are not there for you, they are there for the venue. That's why they are called venue coordinators. In addition, venues are known for having high turnover rates, so the likelihood that the person you booked with at the venue and the person that coordinates your wedding day will be the same person is pretty slim.


W H A T   I S   T H E   I N V E S T M E N T   F O R   A   W E D D I N G   C O O R D I N A T O R ?

There is no one answer for this question because every wedding coordinator charges something different, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $900.00 and $1,500.00 for Day-Of Coordination. Like most things, you get what you pay for, so be weary of wedding coordinators who charge significantly less than that.

So now you might be thinking, "Wow, I really see the value in hiring a wedding coordinator but why do you charge so much?" Think about all of the planning and all of the hours you have put into your wedding day... There are a ton of moving pieces and last-minute adjustments that have to be made, right? We take care of all of that, but we have to start at least 30 days before your big day so that we are sure we know every single piece of what you have created! This means hours upon hours of contacting your vendors (and possibly sitting down for a meeting with them), setting up your timeline, making checklists and contact sheets, getting to know your bridal party, getting to know you and your vision, and then coordinating your rehearsal and your wedding day (which by itself could be more than eight hours of work). We do a lot! You can read here about a great emergency kit that my clients get to use on their wedding as well, which is also built into a wedding coordinator's cost!


I S   T H E R E  A N Y T H I N G   T H A T   A   C O O R D I N A T O R   W O N ' T   D O ?

Again, every coordinator is different so make sure you really get to know your coordinator before you hire them. Your coordinator should have their responsibilities outlined in their contract with a little excerpt about what they will not include in your package. If you hire them and you still have some major pieces missing from your planning that you want your coordinator to help you with, you should expect an extra charge for the planning!

E: Mandy@TimelessWeddingDesigns.com

Love Is Timeless | Michele & Casey | Timeless Wedding Designs | Port St Lucie Wedding Planner

"Casey and I met at a friend's house a little over five years ago. There was something about him that intrigued me. His crystal blue eyes had this way of holding my attention, but I honestly don't remember if we ever actually spoke to each other during that encounter. Lucky for me, he and I met again at the same house for a going away party. We (finally) started talking and he informed me that he had recently ended his relationship. "Yes! I have a chance!" I thought.
Casey and I spent almost every waking moment together for the following two weeks. Unsure of what was going to happen when I went back to school in the fall, we decided to give us a shot and make it "Facebook official." I can't believe that was 5 years ago!

Thinking back, I'm pretty sure I knew Casey was the man I was going to marry from the minute I laid eyes in him. I guess being a hopeless romantic who grew up watching Disney's classic princess movies will do that to you. Casey has always been my biggest fan and my biggest hero. He always supports me in everything I do and is there to pick me up, brush me off, and put me back on the right path. The first time I experienced that, I think everything changed.

The night Casey proposed to me is a night I will never forget. Casey picked me up and brought me to the Jensen Beach Causeway so I could sit and watch the full moon dance on the water. While I was relaxing and taking in all of the elements of the night, Casey started walking around. He seemed like he was on a bit of a mission, but I didn't think anything of it and went back to my stargazing. After a while, I noticed Casey was still walking around looking for something. I started looking around the bench, wondering what he could be looking for, and found a pebble. I showed Casey what I found and he immediately took it from me and said "I need that!" That was when I knew something was up. He had never acted like this before. He sat down next to me and asked me to tell him (for the millionth time) why I call him Penguin. After I explained my love for Penguins and how they choose their mate and present her with a pebble, he told me I had to stand up. At this point, I was just getting annoyed. What in the world was he doing? I stood up and as I did, he slid off of the bench and down onto one knee.
I immediately started crying.
I would love to be able to repeat every word he said to me while down on one knee but through all of my tears, all I can remember is him presenting me with the pebble, just like a penguin would, and asking me to spend the rest of my life with him. I don't even think I was able to speak. With a giant smile on my face and tears running down my cheeks, I nodded yes. I was crying and shaking. I couldn't believe it had actually happened. The love of my life had just proposed to me!
Since it was a spur of the moment decision to propose at that moment, I didn't get my ring, which we had picked out in February of that year, until we got back to his apartment. Even with all of the strangeness, I wouldn't change a single thing about that night.

There is so much I love about marriage. I love waking up next to my best friend and our 3 fur babies. I love that I have someone to grow old with, while being able to act like children when the time calls for it. But I would have to say that my favorite part of marriage is having a forever partner in crime; the forever yin to my yang."

If you are interested in sharing your love story with us, please email Mandy at Mandy@TimelessWeddingDesigns.com with the subject, "Love Is Timeless."

Find out why wedding day coordination is a must have!

Unique Ideas For Flower Girls And Ring Bearers | Timeless Wedding Designs | West Palm Beach and Wilmington Wedding Planners

Rick & Jeff served as ushers at Karyn & Bryan's wedding back in February at The Mansion at Tuckahoe in Jensen Beach, but Sebo & Kona (Karyn & Bryan's dogs) served as the ring bearers! Photo by RJ Hill Photography.

With wedding industry trends constantly growing and changing, brides and grooms can go crazy trying to find new and unique ways to make their wedding their own. A recent trend that I have seen is a big change in who gets to be the ring bearer or the flower girl - if couples choose to have them at all.

As I was perusing Pinterest yesterday (okay, every day) I noticed a wedding photo where the flower girls were actually the bride's grandmothers! I thought that this was such a beautiful way to honor the bride's grandmothers; they looked so whimsical and young, like it was also one of the happiest days of their lives. It also came to me that this would be a great way for couples who are choosing not to have children in their wedding ceremony to still have flower girls and ring bearers.

Back in February I had the pleasure of coordinating a wedding at the Mansion at Tuckahoe in Jensen Beach, Florida, that involved a little twist on the traditional ring bearer. Karyn and Bryan have two dogs, Sebo and Kona, that they wanted to involve in their wedding ceremony, so they dressed them up all super cute and made them into ring bearers. The ushers held the dogs at the back of the ceremony until the officiant, the bride's grandmother, said, "Who presents the rings?" At that time, the groom whistled for the dogs and they took off down the aisle to sit next to the bride and groom for the remainder of the ceremony.

Photo by Maryel Rivera Photography.

 If you are a little less than traditional but still want to have a flower girl, consider having her throw something other than flower petals. If you are getting married near the ocean, your flower girl may sprinkle sand or drop starfish on the edges of your aisle, although I do not recommend this for very young flower girls as you will probably be stepping on starfish all the way down the aisle. If you are having an indoor ceremony with a Winter Wonderland theme, consider having the flower girl toss paper snowflakes in the air!

Your wedding is a celebration of love and families coming together as one. Nothing is out-of-bounds at your wedding, so you can keep it as unique or traditional as you like. If you have more ideas for a new twist on the traditional flower girl or ring bearer, feel free to drop them in the comments below! I would love to hear about them.

Want some cute ideas for entertaining children during your wedding? Check them out here!

Love Is Timeless | Megan & Dylan | Timeless Wedding Designs | Stuart Wedding Planner

"Dylan and I grew up in the same neighborhood, literally just streets apart. It wasn't until we were out of school that fate finally lined up, however. We had many mutual friends, and one day I saw his profile online and sent him a message. We texted non-stop for a few days and finally agreed to meet at a local beach. Walking up to this tall, tan, handsome man instantly gave me butterflies and I thought this was way too good to be true. We walked the beach and talked for an hour or two when he pulls out this whole sand dollar from his pocket. It was bigger than my hand! He says, "I found this before you got here and thought you'd like it since you mentioned that you love the ocean and aren't really a flower kind of girl." We started to walk back toward our cars; he opened the door for me and gave me the sweetest kiss! That day was absolutely perfect. The following weekend we were dating and the rest is history! To this day that sand dollar sits on top of sand from that beach in a shadow box on display in our home.

On Christmas Day (my favorite holiday, by the way), we were celebrating the festivities with our families at his grandparents' house. Talk was going on of a fishing tournament and who could catch the biggest fish, so we all gathered along the canal in the backyard to start a little friendly competition. Dylan came out last with the only fishing pole and asked me to bait his hook. My natural response was, "Bait your own hook!" Haha! When I reached out for the line, I realized a beautiful halo diamond engagement ring was knotted to the end in place of the hook. Dylan got down on one knee and said, "You're my best friend; you've been my best friend for a long time. I love you with all my heart and I want to be with you for the rest of my life. Will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?" With excitement and tears I declared, "Yes!" and he swept me up and put his fist in the air and said, "I got the best catch!" The whole family was in on the surprise and there wasn't a single dry eye left. I'm so very excited to always remember Christmas as our perfect proposal and the start of a beautiful engagement.

Is there a way to put it into words? I don't really know... I don't want to say he was made for me or he is perfect because both are not true. He is charming in that any woman could have fallen for him and it's his flaws that really speak to my heart. It's the fact that we both enjoy the same adventures and appreciate one another's strengths while supporting one another's weaknesses. We don't complete each other, we complement one another. We learn from each other. We respect and appreciate each other. I never knew a love like I know with Dylan because he empowers me as a woman while protecting me as his partner. He is my teammate, my best friend, and my lover. He is the first person I call whether it's a tragic situation or good news. He was an amazing boyfriend, is an amazing fiance, and I know he is going to be an amazing husband.

  
We will be getting married on April 28th, 2017, which is the three year anniversary of our first date. The wedding ceremony will be held at Dollman Beach, the beach where we first met. I'm not kidding when I say that's all the planning we have done BUT our honeymoon is completely planned and about to be booked! Dylan and I are going to celebrate our new life as newlyweds in beautiful Costa Rica (tropical places are paradise to us) for five days in the first week of May. Dylan and I have been focusing on a movement called Staying I Do and it's a part of beating the 50% divorce rate. We know that marriage isn't always going to be all puppies and rainbows but we also know that we love each other more than what our pride is worth. We're looking forward to all Timeless Wedding Designs has in store for us during the planning process!"

Photos by Laura Helmke Photography.


If you are interested in sharing your love story with us, please send me an email to Mandy@TimelessWeddingDesigns.com with the subject, "Love Is Timeless."  

Find out why wedding day coordination is a must have!

A New Way For Clients To See What We're Up To | Timeless Wedding Designs | West Palm Beach and Wilmington Wedding Planners

I am constantly trying to think of new ways to bring our clients a better, more interactive wedding planning experience. We recently partnered with a financing company to bring you wedding day financing, a tuxedo rental service to bring you designer brands at a lower cost... and now I present to you our newest partnership with Aisle Planner!

For those of you who are already full-service clients, you will be receiving an invitation to join your wedding via email soon. Once you're logged in, you will be able to see in real-time what we've been up to in relation to your wedding, your timeline so far, our communication with your vendors, your detailed guest list, and a complete breakdown of your budget!

I am so excited to get started with Aisle Planner!

Wedding Day Financing in West Palm Beach and Wilmington | Timeless Wedding Designs | West Palm Beach and Wilmington Wedding Planners

Photo by RJ Hill Photography.

Well y'all, we have some exciting news!

Timeless Wedding Designs is now offering wedding day financing through Promise Financial! You may not have considered wedding day financing before for whatever reason - your credit score, high monthly repayments, or you didn't know this was even a thing.

Our partnership with Promise Financial has ensured several things for those of you who are interested in financing:

- Flexible loan amounts that work for whatever your needs may be.
- Low repayments at a fixed rate.
- Transparent and clear pricing with no hidden fees.

What's great is you don't have to use wedding day financing for just your wedding day; funds can be used to purchase a wedding ring, secure your honeymoon, and even to purchase your wedding gown!

Financing may not be for everyone. Please feel free to email me at Mandy@TimelessWeddingDesigns.com with any questions you may have and I will do my best to get them answered for you! You can also find out more information by clicking this link.

Love Is Timeless | Karen & Breno | Timeless Wedding Designs | South Florida Wedding Planner

"Breno and I went to the same church and we had the same group of friends because of our youth group. All of us always hung out together, movies, camping, Friendly's... you name it. So we were always around each other. Honestly though, at first we didn't look at each other as being more than acquaintances. Since the group was so large and both he and I were more towards the shy side we didn't talk much. Actually my little sister talked more to him than I did, haha!
At some point I did have a crush on him and I'd even try and dress a bit more "rocker" looking since he liked rock music and skateboarding and all that. It didn't go far though. (Side note: I later on found out he did sort of have a thing for me around the same time. That's what happens with shy people though, we don't act upon our feelings much!)
Months later he and a friend of ours ended up going to the gym together early mornings. He worked really early those days so getting up even earlier to work out was tough but says he only went to see me. It was clear we were interested in each other but super difficult because we both were still to shy to just let loose and talk a lot! One of those mornings though he waited for me outside of the gym to ask me out to dinner. Being the girl that I am, I took my sweet time in the showers getting ready for work and he ended up having to leave. So on my way to work he called me instead and told me about how he wanted to ask me in person.

 

It was my first real date ever! So I got a new dress, my nails done and everything. We went to Red Lobster for dinner and it was such an awkward little date! In the end, though, we were both happy with it and continued to date. The rest of our dating time we were mostly surrounded by others though so it wasn't all quiet and awkward! Haha!
We dated for a couple months and he had even spoken to my parents about dating me and all like a gentleman. Then we broke up though... We were apart for about a month or so and during that time we would talk on the phone a few times. We actually talked about what went wrong with the relationship, we talked about our assumptions and about what he held back during our dating time. We talked about a lot of things. That's when our relationship finally started to make sense. That's when there was a true relationship forming, where true communication was going on between us.
After that we never really had a "back to dating" moment it just sort of flowed together. We were seen around together and his aunts asked me at his cousins birthday if we were dating and that's when we thought we might as well make it official. He didn't want to be dating just to date so he has asked me early on if marriage was something I could see in our future. I freaked, because that's a pretty big thing and just asked for more time to process that. Little by little, I was learning about him and learning about what love really was and I became to be interested in marrying him as well.

We weren't the couple to be together for many years and be passionately head over heels for each other with a fairy tale story. We were more the couple that understood God's way of love, the understanding and compassionate kind of love, the kind that forgives and embraces differences, the kind that was seeking marriage not because we felt we knew each other so well and felt we could live together. No, we wanted to get married because we wanted to learn more about each other. We wanted to learn more about each other each day and love each other each day and understood the kind of commitment that was. We knew God's way of love was an every day choice and not just the fairy tale "feeling" many confuse it with. We wanted the commitment to each other, we knew enough of each other's values and of who we truly are on the inside to say "I do" to each other.
After some hinting to him that I was ready for that it became a regular topic of conversation so it was no surprise. I spoke to my parents about it and we chose a ring. So the ring was no surprise, although I didn't know when he was actually going to ask, so I'd paint my nails differently every day to be sure my nails were ready for it! Haha!
Thanksgiving of 2013 he had gotten sick and didn't even dress up much for Thanksgiving dinner so I thought it wouldn't be that day; I just slapped some clear nail polish that day since I didn't expect it. He put together a whole big thing with his cousin and my parents to take me to white city park that night. I thought we were going to help a friend out because I was with his cousin at the moment and she got a call to go there. Walking to the spot I saw my sister run so that's when I got suspicious and put some lipstick on! A candle lit aisle and him all dressed in a vest, tie, dress shoes and all, one of our pastors playing guitar, Breno singing "Stand By Me" and my parents and close family friends all around... He asked and I said yes!
With money scarce he moved to Delaware during the beginning of our engagement to save up so I did most of the wedding stuff without him. But with the months of being apart and him visiting and me visiting him up there our relationship kept somehow growing stronger.

 Marriage has been my favorite part of it all though. I can say that I love him more and more each day than I did the day before. We aren't the awkward two that sat in front of each other at Red Lobster for their first date just smiling at each other because we didn't know what to say. We are alike in so many ways and completely different in others. There's so much to learn from each other. He encourages me with what I do and I help him out with his things and together we're now working on our future careers and it's amazing where we are now looking back at where we were just a few years ago."

Karen and Breno are the owners of Nassimbeni Photography.

If you are interested in sharing your love story with us, please email me at Mandy@TimelessWeddingDesigns.com with the subject, "Love Is Timeless."

Find out why wedding day coordination is a must have!

Love Is Timeless | Hallie & Joshua | Timeless Wedding Designs | Vero Beach Wedding Planner

"Josh and I have known each other since Middle School. He always liked me but I wasn't paying attention; I was too busy being a teenage girl, honestly. We weren't close in Middle School, but in High School we became good friends. He came into my life when I needed him most and he gave me great advice... about another boy and how I deserved better! Then one thing led to another and we were on our first date. I had just turned 16 and my mother wouldn't let me ride in a boy's car until I was 16, so I was very excited! Josh came and picked me up and we embarked on what was the start of the rest of our lives...
Fun fact: We still argue because I believe he ran a red light that day, and he claims he didn't! Haha!"

"I knew Hallie was the one when I saw how easy it was to talk and laugh with her; how she saw me for who I was and loved it. As for me, I do not have a specific time or date when I knew - it was more of how I saw over time that she did not change. It was still easy to talk and laugh with her as time went on; she didn't change from the first date and our first date was the first clue that this was something special. No other girl would have sat next to a lake and talked and laughed for as long and as much as we did that night. I always wanted to find someone who would love the simple things, because I am a simple man. I'm so happy I have found her."
- Joshua

"I knew Josh was the one, as cliché as it sounds, when he kissed me for the first time. We were on our first date together and we went to Tradition [in Port St. Lucie] to walk around and get ice cream. We ended up standing by the lake, him holding me, me never wanting him to let me go, just talking about our dreams and who we are and what we want to become. I had this feeling that he was the one, but as soon as he leaned in to kiss me, I knew. That confirmed it for me, the fireworks went off and the butterflies were flying around like crazy! My world was spinning and I knew from that moment on he was the man of my dreams, the one I had always imagined marrying. And now 6 ½ years later we are embarking on our happily ever after together!"
- Hallie

"Well, after waiting for 6 years, constantly dropping hints and being a little over dramatic and emotional over the idea of marrying the man of my dreams, I stopped dropping the hints and being emotional since my mother told me that I need to have patience and it would happen. On Christmas Day (my favorite holiday) we opened all of our gifts and shared laughs and made more amazing memories with his family. Josh got up and said, "Wait here, I have one more gift so close your eyes..." I didn't know what I needed to close my eyes for, and I was trying to remember what I asked for that was worth such the surprise! When I heard him say, "Okay, you can open your eyes now," there was the man of my dreams, down on one knee, asking me to marry him. I immediately started crying because I couldn't believe it was really happening, finally! We called my Mom, Step-Dad, best friends, Dad, Josh's cousins and aunt... I was shaking when we shared with them the big news! I was so excited I wanted to share it with the whole world. It was the best Christmas I've ever had!"  

Photo by Nassimbeni Photography.

If you would like to share your love story with us, please email me at Mandy@TimelessWeddingDesigns.com with the subject, "Love Is Timeless."

Find out why wedding day coordination is a must have!

Love Is Timeless | Ashley & Jimmy | Timeless Wedding Designs | Wilmington Wedding Planners

Love is timeless.

As a wedding planning and coordination company, we are talking about and thinking about weddings all day long. Everything we do revolves around having the perfect wedding day for every couple who hires us. I got to thinking recently, though, that weddings are about so much more than the flowers and the cake and the rings - they are a true celebration of love.

Our new segment, Love Is Timeless, is going to be about just that. When someone hires me, it's likely that I've already heard their love story and Facebook stalked them to the point of knowing things about them that they may not even know themselves; it's all good! But there's nothing like hearing the well-thought-out response that comes from a person when you ask them, "Why do you love your partner?"

Our first couple that we are featuring is from right here in Wilmington, North Carolina, and we have been planning with them for years now! Yes, years. Ashley and Jimmy will be married in April 2018, but for now, here is there love story.



"Jimmy and I met the summer of 2009, he had just graduated and I was going into 11th grade, but it was not love at first sight. Our younger sisters were the best of friends and I would hang out with them on some occasions; Jimmy and I began hanging out as well, which led to us becoming great friends who would just talk for hours on end while walking around the community we lived in. I went back to Florida but we still talked all the time and upon my return to North Carolina the next summer we began dating seriously.

Five and half years later on a cold rainy December 23rd, 2015 Jimmy asked me to go to The George while I was stuffing my face, watching TV, and eating Baba Ghannoj late that evening. I obliged although I thought it was strange! We arrive to The George but it was closed. So we went to Lula's Pub, which is an underground hole in the wall; we had a few drinks and left. I was cold, so I asked Jimmy for his jacket before we departed the bar and he told me no, which was weird but I thought nothing of it. As we went into the cold rain I mentioned how much water was running down the sidewalk and began walking to the truck. As I grabbed the handle to the passenger door I heard Jimmy say, "Honey, will you..." As I turned around I thought, "I know he is not asking me to marry him!" There Jimmy was: knee on the sidewalk with rain pouring down asking me to marry him! I was so speechless it took me a moment and then some to answer, "OF COURSE!!!"

I know Jimmy is the one because I am happier than I ever even dreamed of being, in my wildest dreams never imagined someone as great as him. I never smiled and laughed as big as I do now before I met Jimmy. He is my best friend and he loves me so whole-heartedly. I thank God everyday that someone so beautiful was brought into my life and now I get to marry him."

If you would like to share your love story with us, please feel free to email me at Mandy@TimelessWeddingDesigns.com with the subject, "Love Is Timeless."

Find out why wedding day coordination is a must have!

Karyn & Bryan | Travel-Themed Jensen Beach Wedding | Timeless Wedding Designs | Stuart Wedding Planner

When I first met Karyn, I fell in love with her ideas for her Travel Themed wedding at the Mansion at Tuckahoe in Jensen Beach, Florida. She and her fiance have traveled all over the world, both separately and together, so what better way to celebrate their love than with a travel theme with an ocean color palette? (Yes, I said ocean color palette!) Her lace wedding gown and the groomsmens' custom map boutonnieres added just the right touch of vintage romance... And wait until you see the custom watercolor map they displayed during their reception!

Yes, indeed, those are custom-brewed beers with pictures of their dogs on them!

Get it? Paper airplane cake decorations for her travel theme! This dainty little cake just steals your heart and looked oh so sweet in the Mansion at Tuckahoe.

How romantic is this venue on the river? The Mansion at Tuckahoe offers so many beautiful places to go while the sun is setting! Inside you can see the uplighting that the DJ provided in the shades of the ocean.

P.S. - Those ribbon wands? I made every single one of them by hand! I just love my job.


VENDORS
Wedding Planner and Coordinator | Timeless Wedding Designs
Photographer | RJ Hill Photography
Venue | The Mansion at Tuckahoe
Event Rentals | Magnolia's Party Rentals
Floral | Giordano's Floral Creations
Caterer | Leftover's Cafe