Timeless Wedding Designs: April 2017

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Wedding Dresses To Obsess Over | Timeless Wedding Designs | West Palm Beach and Wilmington Wedding Planners

The best part of being a wedding planner? Why, I'm so glad you asked!

W E D D I N G D R E S S E S !

I don't just get to receive iMessages with photos of my gorgeous clients trying on dress after dress, searching tirelessly to find "the one;" NO, I get to spend a ton of time looking at styled shoots with drool-worthy gowns and - to be quite frank - I love all of them. Below are some designer gowns that I thought I just had to share with all of you, like now.

Y A S M I N E Y E Y A C O U T U R E

I have been head-over-heels for Yasmine Yeya Couture for years and have secretly cyber-stalked her every design since I discovered her pretty wedding dresses in 2013. Just the shapes of the gowns alone are enough to make the Egyptian designer stand out from the crowd, but they don't come cheaply... You can get your own Yasmine Yeya gown starting at just $8,000.

S T E L L A Y O R K

What girl hasn't seen a flowy Stella York gown in any bridal magazine and immediately starting swooning over her own wedding day? There is something whimsical about the photographs of the smiling brides that just makes you gush over the beautiful dresses they are wearing! Before I became a professional wedding planner, I actually picked out a Stella York dress for my own pretend wedding.

M A G G I E S O T T E R O

If you pretend that you don't watch Say Yes To The Dress religiously, I'm calling you out. If you pretend that you don't secretly always vote for the bride to choose the Maggie Sottero dress, you've got to me kidding me! Maggie Sottero is the epitome of sophisticated and feminine style, and that's why her designs definitely made my list.

A N Y F L O R A L W E D D I N G D R E S S

When Belle came out at the end of the live action version of Beauty and The Beast in a floral wedding dress, I about lost my mind! I have been a huge advocate for floral wedding dresses for years, and I am sooo happy that they are becoming a thing. I can't wait to plan a wedding where the bride wears a floral wedding gown, and these two are some of my favorites.

What are some wedding dresses you obsess over? What did your own wedding dress look like? Share with me in the comments below!

Tips & Tricks For Attending Bridal Shows | Timeless Wedding Designs | Orlando Wedding Planners

If you are newly engaged, the idea of getting to attend your first bridal show can be so exciting! A few of my favorites include The Big Fake Wedding, the Perfect Wedding Guide Wedding Show, and smaller, local shows. Here are a couple of things that you will want to keep in mind for visiting your first bridal show, and I even included a cheat sheet of questions to ask potential vendors at the end!

H A V E A N I D E A O F W H A T Y O U R V I S I O N I S

At most bridal shows, you will see a plethora of different styles of vendors! Most vendors cater to a niche market but will work with all types of visions, so keep that in mind when you are looking at booths. For example, when Timeless Wedding Designs did our first bridal show, we catered to the vintage market, but worked with all kinds of brides and grooms. I set up our booth to reflect what I had to offer to the market at the time. You will find that you are attracted to booths that match your vision, but remember to keep an open mind when you are wandering the lanes of vendors!

G E T T O K N O W E A C H V E N D O R ' S P E R S O N A L I T Y

It can be overwhelming walking into a bridal show, like any trade show! Spend time at each booth, talking with each vendor and understanding their personalities; if you choose to work with this person, you will want to ensure that they are friendly and professional, and can conduct themselves in a professional way when being approached by several people at one time. In addition, the vendor's booth should be a reflection of who they are as a professional and the vendors themselves are a reflection of who they are as a person. A great connection could save you a ton of stress down the road!

G I V E A W A Y S A N D S H O W S P E C I A L S

Because I was new to the industry when I did my first bridal show, I decided to do two giveaways: a gift certificate for a spa day at a local spa and percentage off of my Day Of Management package. Many vendors will do similar giveaways and show specials at their booths, so visiting each booth could save you some mega money in your planning process! It is important to follow the guidelines given when entering a giveaway, however, as vendors will check to ensure that the winner followed the rules!

C O L L E C T B U S I N E S S C A R D S A N D P A M P H L E T S

Remember to collect business cards and pamphlets from vendors that you really felt you connected with and organize them so you don't lose them later! This could save you sooo much stress later on when it comes time to choose!

Q U E S T I O N S T O A S K

How long have you been [insert vendor-specific item, such as planning] weddings?
How many weddings have you done?
Is there a place where I can look for reviews of your past work?
Do you have a portfolio that I could look at?
What is the average investment that couples can expect to make on your services?
Do you offer a complimentary one-on-one consultation? If so, how do I set one up?

Remember to keep your questions precise and not to ask too many questions, as the vendor will need to split their attention between the many guests to their booth! The final question regarding complimentary one-on-one consultations will invite the vendor to reach out to you and sit down for more in-depth questions later on if you are interested in their work.

Find out why wedding day coordination is a must have!

Monday, April 17, 2017

5 Unique Guest Book Ideas | Timeless Wedding Designs | Orlando Wedding Planners

Photo provided by Maryel Rivera Photography.

Is the idea of having guests sign a book that - let's be honest - you probably aren't really going to look at again making you feel queasy?

I get why guest books are important, and I am sure you do too! Of course you want to remember who attended your wedding and collect words of wisdom and advice from those you love oh, so much. I have seen some pretty awesome guest book ideas over the past few years, and I've put them all together here to get your little thinker thinkin'!

P O S T C A R D S

Photo by RJ Hill Photography.

Are you a travel aficionado dreaming of a wanderlust themed wedding? Or are you traveling abroad to tie the knot? Karyn & Bryan were! Even if you have only dreamed of traveling to far away places to start your happily ever after, having your guests sign post cards is always a favorite. Often your guests will write you messages on the back, too! For an added bonus, have your wedding planner collect them at the end of the night and mail them to your house while you are on your honeymoon! Who doesn't love getting post cards in the mail?

A G L O B E

On another traveling note, having your guests sign a globe is a fun way to remember your wedding and your wedding guests while adding to the decor of both your wedding and your office! Plus, globes come in many, many different colors, sizes, and metals, so there is no doubt that you can find one to match your style.

W A L L D E C O R

Photo by Maryel Rivera Photography.

Naomi & John had their guests sign this pretty anchor at their seaside themed wedding! Guests left them fun and loving messages as a reminder of their wedding day that they will get to see every day. Other items that have caught my eye are records, custom pieces with the bride and groom's names, and maps!

B O O K S

Is Belle from Beauty and The Beast your spirit princess? If you're a bookworm like me, having your guests sign an actual book could be right for you! The wonderful thing about this one is that it will fit into almost any vision for your wedding. The older and more antique-y the book looks, the better it will be!

P O L A R O I D P I C T U R E S

Another unique idea that will also entertain your guests is a Polaroid Picture album! Leave out a Polaroid camera, some colorful pens, and stickers for your guests and the result is endless fun and a book full of memories for you to look at for years to come. Plus, imagine looking at this book at your 50th wedding anniversary! Ha!

Photo by Tiffany Danielle Photography.

What kinds of interesting guest books have you seen at weddings?

Learn how to create your own wedding day emergency kit here!
Or discover some great ideas for entertaining kids at your wedding here!

Monday, April 3, 2017

Joti & Jamie | Mansion At Tuckahoe Wedding | Timeless Wedding Designs | Stuart Wedding Planner

Lovers that literally traveled across the globe to find one another! Reading Joti & Jamie's Love Is Timeless answers back in November really made me take a step back and remember why I do what I do for every Timeless couple. I am so incredibly blessed to get to witness such extraordinary love all of the time.