Check out all of our past “Planning 101″ posts. We’ll be doing more of these in the future, so if there’s a specific area in which you’d love to get some advice, drop us a comment and we’ll try to incorporate an article to answer your questions!

Planning 101: Florist Tips

Planning 101: Wedding Planner Lingo - Revealed

Planning 101: Who needs a Wedding Planner?

Planning 101: Choosing your Venue

Planning 101: Creating a Fab Lounge Space

Remember, we’d love to write about issues you need assistance with. Let us know some topics you’d like to see in upcoming “Planning 101″ posts!

xoxo,

Cassandra

Bon Voyage Readers, I will miss you all for the next week!

Yesterday, September 21st was my very own 6 month wedding anniversary to my Husband!

Tomorrow, September 23rd is my husbands Birthday!

So, we are celebrating in style by taking a much needed vacation on a BIG OLE’ Cruise Ship!!

I am so EXCITED! We have lots to share when I return, and Cassandra will pop in to say hello while I am away!

Have a happy week while I am away!! Lets just pray I do not get swine flu from some crazy passenger.. just kidding!!

Your floral design is an extremely important part of your wedding planning. Flowers largely contribute to the mood of your wedding. Your flowers can make or break your event design. But with so many florists out there, how do you know who to choose? And, once you’ve met with a florist, what should you base your decision on? Price? Style?

We’ll help you figure out some of these answers in our upcoming “Planning 101” posts. Today, we’ll focus on defining your floral style and choosing a florist to match.

First, you need to define your bridal style, and therefore your floral style.

Some common styles: traditional, vintage, contemporary, modern.

After choosing on of these broader categories, try to narrow it down a bit with some descriptive terms: beachy, garden, sleek, European, tropical, etc.

After defining your own floral style (and obviously, use blogs, magazines, and photos if you need inspiration or aren’t sure), your task is to find a florist that matches.

When evaluating a potential florist, look at a few things.

• The Florist’s storefront displays: Are the displays something you are drawn to? Does it look like something you’d display in your own home? Keep in mind that while you may not like certain colors, or textures, the overall style of the designs should resonate with you.
• The Florist’s presentation: Does she use general floral supply catalogs? These are okay for reference’s sake, i.e. showing you shapes and flowers, but if this is all he or she has for you to look at, you’re not getting a realistic picture of the florist’s designs.
• The Florist’s creativity: While it’s definitely your wedding and your vision, a good florist will take your ideas and run with them. If she or he needs pictures of everything you want, it may be a sign that he or she is afraid to take risks or hasn’t really grasped your event vision.
• The Florist’s personal style: While not the most important on the list, take a look at how the florist presents herself. Her attention to detail is often reflected in her own appearance/style.
• Above all, don’t forget to “go with your gut.” If you have an awesome connection with a particular florist, that can go along way towards your communication with your vendor, which will most certainly lead to a better final product for you.

Brides: share with us! Any tips that you used when selecting your florist?

A new Magazine hit the stands last month for its first Fall Preview, Wedding Event Style. It is a drop dead gorgeous publication geared to the High-End Luxury Brides in North Florida, Orlando, and Atlanta!

The Publisher is the Publisher of Jacksonville Luxury Living as well and has broadened her brand just beautifully!

Kathryn Gray Perlmutter is  a great Publisher and brought us just the Magazine we have all been wanting, Thank you Kathryn!

S&R photography got to shoot their launch party last month, and we just had to show you pictures!

You can pick up Wedding Event Style at your Grocery or Barnes and Noble! You must check out the awesome juicy spreads in this issue, it is to die for!

AND, want to know something funny? The gown the Cover Model is wearing is the same designer gown I wore to my own wedding! Too funny!

We want to start something new here on The Florida Brides Blog. We want our Bride Readers to be involved at another level. We would love for you to show us off, brag, and talk about us on your own personal blog, Knottie page, or website!

If you are a Bride planning your wedding in The Sunshine State we would love to feature your story to our readers and fellow Brides. What do you think? Would you want one of these cool buttons on your Blog or Website so that the rest of your readers and followers can be jealous?

If so, Email us @ danielle@floridabridesblog.com and we would love to give you more details! We are just waiting to hear and share your story, and then at the end of your Journey, share your wedding with everyone just like the rest of the weddings featured on The Florida Brides Blog!

I just wanted to take a minute and let you all know 3 of our new Florida Brides Blog Vendors:

Ashira Photography

Corinna Hoffman Photography

Candice K Photography

You can see and view all of their information here on our Vendors Section: FBB Vendors -Photography

We can’t wait to preview more and more of there work each and every week! We love our Vendors! If you are interested in being one of our Vendors, e-mail us @ danielle@floridabridesblog.com and you can post of these cool buttons on your BLOG!

In our last “Planning 101″ post, we broke down the different names for wedding planners, and what services they provide.

Today we’ll discuss what brides are the best candidates for needing planner services.

Who needs a planner? Brides who are planning their wedding from another distance, and brides who work full-time and can’t devote many nights or weekends to planning are obvious candidates. But what about other brides? Local brides, or brides with lots of spare planning time? Could they still benefit from hiring a wedding planner? Most definitely.

A planner can usually help you do several things.

1) They’ll help you maximize your budget. They’ll help you develop a realistic budget and prioritize your spending. A good planner will make it look like you spent a lot more than you actually did.

2) They can occasionally help you get discounts or complimentary services and upgrades due to their relationships with vendors. This is not always guaranteed, but it’s a fun plus when it happens, and can help off-set the cost of the planner’s fee.

3) They will help your event have a cohesive, put-together look, where every element is intentional. Many times I have brides in my office who are hiring me for “day-of” coordination (ours is a Day-of “Plus, called Wedding Week Coordination.) They start to show me various event elements, and tell me about different decor things they’re using, and I discover that their vision is all over the place. Aunt Sally may have picked up the favors on her way home from work, and while it’s an entirely thoughtful gesture, the favors seem a bit random, or worse: tacky. Other wedding decisions are made on a random, or spur-of-the-moment basis, and the result is a very dis-jointed event concept.

4) A biggie: they will save you time. If your photography budget is $3,000, a fairly average photography budget here in Florida, they’ll automatically know who can accommodate that, and who is out of your range.

5) They’ll act as a liaison with your vendors — communicating on your behalf. (This reason shows why it’s extremely important to have found a competent planner you “gel” with; they’ll be representing you to your vendors and it’s important that they “get” you and your event.) Often, in tense vendor situations, a planner is able to smooth ruffled feathers on both sides, acting as a mediator to keep all parties happy, but especially, being in the bride’s corner and protecting her interests.

6) They’ll be an immense comfort to anyone else who’s feeling stressed, or overwhelmed, and really just needs assistance to stay sane.

Who doesn’t need a planner?

1) Anyone working with a very limited budget. As a general rule, a planner’s fee will range from 10% to 20% of your overall budget. If the fee they’re asking ends up being more like 30% to 40% of your budget, a wedding planner might not be the best use of your funds. (Not all planners will agree with me on this, but this is my opinion.)

2.) Anyone who is so controlling they will hinder the planner’s effectiveness with their need to be in control. Sounds unlikely? You’d think so, wouldn’t you? Hmm.. Watch a few of those bride TV shows out there and you’ll see some of these situations.

3.) If you truly do have all the time in the world, are very design-oriented and creative, I have no doubt you would be able to plan a fabulous wedding. After all, it’s not rocket science. You are, however, the perfect candidate to hire a planner to manage your wedding day. More to come on that in our next “Planning 101″ Post.

4.) Finally, some brides who are having very small, simple affairs might not need full service wedding planning.

Now for the million-dollar question: Well then, if I don’t need a full-service planner, should I hire a planner to manage the wedding day?

For all but a few cases, I’m going to say yes.

Next Planning 101 post, I’ll give you a list of “Quiz questions” to ask yourself, teenage magazine style. If you have mostly A’s …..

Tune in next week for Day of Coordinator quiz time!!

With all the terms thrown around today regarding wedding planners, brides can get very confused. There are wedding planners, wedding coordinators, bridal consultants, day-of coordinators (DOC’s), and event designers.

Brides wonder: Are these terms interchangeable? If not, what do they mean?

Today we’re going to break these down for you, so you can know what to look for, and what questions to ask if you are considering hiring a planner.

A wedding planner is an all-encompassing term for someone who does a majority of planning tasks for the couple; assisting with finding and booking vendors, some design assistance, etiquette advice, and more. This is probably the most common term.

A wedding coordinator is a bit different. While coordinators can often be planners too, a coordinator’s role is to pull together all the planning elements. If you plan your wedding, (choose your vendors, design your details, lay out your timeline) but still need a contact on site to help you facilitate your planning, a wedding coordinator is for you.

The term coordinator breaks down into further positions. Many times you have a “church coordinator.” This person works for the church, and while they may assist you with your ceremony details (pinning boutonnieres, facilitating the processional, etc.), their primary allegiance is to the church — making sure that the guidelines are followed, protecting the church’s property and more.

You also may encounter a “venue coordinator.” This position is a bit more nebulous, and definitely depends on the venue as to how it works for you. Many times, the person a couple is meeting with at a venue prior to the wedding is actually a sales individual. This person’s job is to book sales and event business for the hotel. Sometimes they are on-site at the wedding, sometimes that’s another individual, known-as a banquet captain. “Venue Coordinators” rarely stay through the end of the night, and as with the church coordinator, their primary allediance is to their employer, the venue. They’ll make sure the rules are followed (by both you and your guests), they’ll coordinate the prep, serving, and clean-up of the food and beverage, and with any additional time they have, they can try to coordinate the details of your wedding. Again, ask specific detailed questions if you are counting on this person as your primary coordinator.

What about bridal consultants? It’s an old-fashioned term, still popular mainly due to the organization ABC (the Association of Bridal Consultants.) A consultant’s role is to provide information — trends, etiquette, vendors, etc. They are a living resource for your bridal planning. Be careful though about this term — many “bridal consultants” are popping up in all kinds of wedding-related fields. The sales agent at the bridal salon is now your “bridal consultant.” Many floral companies have their wedding contact, known as their “bridal consultant.” As before, if you are hiring someone with any of these terms, ask many questions and never assume.

A day-of-coordinator (DOC) is basically a wedding planner or coordinator that a bride hires to manage her wedding day. Most reputable planners refuse to do true “day-of” management — just showing up on the wedding day to execute the brides plans. Almost every planner will want to meet with the bride before hand, either in person, or via phone/email, to go over the plans and ensure that nothing has fallen through the cracks. A majority of planners who do offer this type of service offer a bit  more than the bare-bones “day-0f,” primarily as a protection, both for their company and for the brides. At the end of the day, a planner’s name is on your event; the guests don’t know who booked the DJ, or who drew the floorplan. Planners are careful about the situations they walk into, so that the result can be pleasing for everyone.

For a good discussion on DOC vs. DOC “plus”, visit this Wedding bee link.

What about event designers? An event designer does just that: they design your event. They will work hand-in-hand with floral designers, perhaps being floral designers themsevles. They will be very hands on with designing the look of the event: choosing linens, designing lighting, bringing in specialty table decor, and more. Many planners will do event design as well, but not all, so be sure to ask. Furthermore, when you are looking at a planner’s portfolio, ask them to differentiate what type of service-level they offered for an event. Was it just a day-of booking? Is it one of their full-planning weddings, complete with event design services?

Do all brides need planners? Probably not. Should every bride have some type of coordinator for the actual wedding day management? Well, it depends, but for all but the simplest of weddings, a good coordinator will make everyone’s lives easier.

Look for our next “Planning 101″ post, which will outline more specifically who should hire a planner and who shouldn’t, as well as some disaster stories from brides and consultants.

Well, I have been travelling all over Southern California with my husband! He was raised in California and his close family still resides there! We had a wonderful trip, and have some amazing memories! I wanted to share with out what we did! We visited a Los Angeles Dodgers game. Watched my Little Sister-in-law Graduate from High School. Went to Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles and went sight seeing in Hollywood and The Hills. I was in HEAVEN! It was my first trip to California and it was more than what I expected! I had a stinkin blast! Of course I could not leave Los Angeles with out a infamous shopping trip to Downtown L.A. to the Fashion District and snagged a BUNCH of wholesale bargains with my Buyers License. I also found a SUPER cool and fun Husband and Wife SOCAL photog team that was available to shoot some FUN California style pictures of us while we were there. You have to check out our photo’s. Thank you, IL Mare Photography for your great shots!

Oh yah, and of course I can not forget the crazy cheering and riots I saw in the streets of L.A. when the Lakers beat the Orlando Magic. It was SO hard for me to cheer for my favorite Orlando Magic when I was in L.A. but you better believe I did! Even though I did not care I was surrounded by a SEA OF PURPLE! We will do it next year Magic, but don’t let my husband see that!

Well, enough is enough, and here are some fun pictures to prove how much fun I did have!

First off a couple teaser shots from IL Mare Photography of our fun shoot!

Then some fun snapshots of the two of us:

I hope you enjoyed a look into my life!

Love,

Danielle

One of the first major planning tasks for the newly-engaged is securing a venue for the ceremony and/or reception. But before this can be done, you and your groom need to identify the “feel” of your wedding, or find your “bridal style.” This step is crucial to choosing the right venue. Different venues have different feels, and you need to have a basic idea of your event vision, so that you can find the right venue.

Here are some possible event visions and the venue types that would be perfect for them.

The Modern Event — A couple going for this style wants a sleek, chic event with bold colors, lighting, and daring decor. Possible venue types to consider: Urban Lofts, Art Museums, Skyscraper Lobbies, Rooftops or Penthouses.

The Traditional Wedding — This wedding will have it all: a 10-piece band, a sleek stretch limo, a huge bridal party, and a guest list of 200+. Think “Father of the Bride” style. Possible venue options include: private mansions, golf and country clubs, grand hotels, a tented affair at a private home.

The Nostalgic Wedding — This style is defined by its love of all things vintage. Definitely consider a venue with history: a historic home, a woman’s club, a plantation house, a historic hotel. Check with your local preservation society for more historic options.

The Beach Wedding — Nothing beats the casual, relaxed elegance of a beach-side soiree. Obviously, appropriate venues will have that ocean frontage, but think outside the box as well. Hotels on the beach would be amazing, but also think about renting public parks and pavilions, private homes, restaurants, and marinas.

Of course, these are just suggestions to get your started. Most brides don’t fall 100% into a single style or design category. The best weddings have mixed elements and touches of surprise.

But, be sure to define YOUR bridal style with your fiance, figure out the “feel” of your event, and choose a venue that fits perfectly.

Debbie came to The Florida Bride’s Blog for some assistance with selecting her wedding vendors for her upcoming wedding in the Destin area of Florida. However, we are still putting the finishing touches on our vendor list, so we’ve decided to enlist your help for Debbie!

In order to help you make better recommendations, we asked Debbie a few questions to help you all get to know her and her fiancé Andrew, and their vision for their wedding.

The Florida Bride’s Blog: Tell us about the proposal.

Debbie: Andrew & I were in Panama City, FL for our long awaited vacation, which was actually our first vacation we ever had by ourselves.

On our second day there, Andrew had asked me if we could go over to the marina to watch the boats come in for the day and grab a few drinks.  I thought nothing of it because Andrew just loves boats.

When we got there, Andrew said he had played a trick on me and that he had chartered a sailboat to take us on a sunset cruise.  I was speechless.  I knew I had mentioned wanting to go on a group dolphin tour or sunset cruise when we were down there, but nothing came of it.  I couldn’t believe he had actually done all of this for me!

We got all set on the boat and headed off on our cruise.  It was a beautiful evening and Andrew and I were enjoying our time relaxing, having a few drinks, and chatting.  I do admit, I couldn’t help but think that this would be a perfect time for Andrew to propose (after 3 years of dating).  BUT, I had to get that thought out of my mind because if he didn’t, I didn’t want to be all disappointed and ruin the wonderful surprise Andrew planned.

Well, when Andrew and I ran out of drinks, he went to go grab a few more.  When he got back, he told me I needed to stand up.  Obviously, I knew what was going on then and was just ecstatic.  Andrew got down on his knee, pulled the ring out of his pocket and just made the most wonderful proposal.  I was sobbing and Andrew was trembling, and we were both just so happy.  I could not have asked for a more perfect proposal!

The Florida Bride’s Blog: What an incredibly sweet proposal! We’re already thinking of ways to start incorporating some of those memories into your wedding celebration. Have you chosen a date yet?

Debbie: June 2010 on a Friday. If there isn’t a reception venue available in June, we would be open to July if need be.

The Florida Bride’s Blog:Okay, we know you’re looking at Destin or Sandestin, FL. What vendors are you looking to receive recommendations for?

Debbie: We need recommendations for the following:

Photographer

Videographer

Florist

Ceremony/Reception location

Rehearsal Dinner Location

The Florida Bride’s Blog: Our readers are a creative bunch. Tell us a bit about your theme ideas so they can give you the perfect recommendations!

Debbie: I want a simple, yet elegant wedding. I want to incorporate the beach into the wedding, but not overdo it.  Some things I want to incorporate the beach into are: the invitations, the place cards, the centerpieces, etc. I’ve already decided I want white flowers for the wedding, and my accent color will probably be a royal blue, which will also be the color of the bridesmaid dresses. The groomsmen will wear khaki linen pants and white dress shirts. The groom will wear a khaki suit. I want to have the wedding ceremony on the beach around sunset with a canopy with flowers on it, white chairs, and some flower petals down the isle/runner.  And for the reception, we’re thinking about moving that inside in a ballroom.

The Florida Bride’ Blog: As you know, when looking at potential venues, it is very important to consider the size of the guest list. Tell us a bit about your guest list, and any other ideas or thoughts you may have.

Debbie: We are inviting probably 150 people or so to the wedding, but we know a lot won’t do the travel for it, so we don’t expect to have over 100 people there, probably about 75 will go.  We want to have the wedding and reception at the same resort venue.  And as for the resort, we would ideally like it to have a golf course there and a spa/salon so the bridal party won’t have to travel around for the golf day and getting ready.

There are still lots of smaller details that I haven’t thought a ton about yet like: music for the ceremony (I do want a DJ for the reception), buffet or plated dinner, linens, etc..

The Florida Bride’s Blog: Great! Thanks so much Debbie! We can’t wait to see what our readers come up with for you.

Now, readers, if you’ve got a recommendation for Debbie, please leave it in the comments section, and we’ll make sure she sees it. In addition to the vendors she needs help with, if her thoughts gave you a wedding inspiration or idea she could possibly incorporate, feel free to comment with that as well.

As a way to thank you for your time, one reader who gives advice or a recommendation will receive a $10 Target giftcard, courtesy of The Florida Bride’s Blog.

Trend How-to: Creating a Lounge Space for your Wedding

Glance through any bridal book or magazine, and chances are you’ll see more than one posh “lounge” area. Lounges have been all the rage for the past few years or so, and with good reason. They give your guests an area to kick back, relax, and enjoy the show so to speak. They are a way you can truly provide your guests with all the comforts of home.

The following five tips are some general guidelines to creating a fabulous lounge space at any event!

1. Choose the physical space.
   

   For some reception venues, this may be easier than others. Perhaps your venue already has a separate little enclave that would be perfect for a tucked-away lounge space. But if you’re dealing with an enormous ballroom, you’ll have to get a little bit creative. Try using pipe and drape to delineate a separate area for your lounge. Or group your dinner tables in one section, and place your lounge area in its own corner of the ballroom.
   

   For reception venues with outdoor space, this is the perfect place to put a lounge, provided the weather will be comfortable. The comfortable furnishings and outdoor breezes will definitely inspire your guests to put your lounge area to good use!
   

2. Select your furnishings.
   

   Your furniture is the foundation for the entire look of the lounge. Typical lounge furniture items include sofas, loveseats, benches, and ottomans. You can mix and match these items to create a customized space all your own. Most major metropolitan areas have a rental company that provides these items, so try googling “wedding lounge furniture” and see what you find. Your event planner should have connections as well, and may even be able to offer you a discount!
   

   Some tips for your furniture: I love to keep the furnishings all one color. This way you can create a neutral base for your accessories, which helps them really pop. I also like to match the styling of your furniture to the overall feel of the event. For example, for a shabby-chic wedding I would choose Victorian-looking furniture with curved backs, rolled arms, and carved wooden feet. For a modern wedding, try all-white leather, and geometrically shaped pieces.
   

3. Pick your pillows.
   

   Almost every successful lounge area uses pillows to create “pops” of color and to customize the space. Depending on your overall look, you could get away with just a few pillows, or you could use tons of them. Typically, your rental company has these; but you can also find great pillows at home-décor stores, often at prices comparable to or less than rental prices. Use your pillows to tie the space to other areas of your reception, and to incorporate your wedding colors. Look for pillows with unique textures and embellishments. You may also consider pillows made of luxe fabrics, such as dupioni silk or tucked taffeta.
   

4. Accessorize the space.
   

   Don’t forget the little touches that add character and personality to your space! Think residential elements: carpets, lamps, candles, floral arrangements. Incorporate the unexpected. If your lounge space is outdoors, don’t neglect your overhead space. Can you string lights or paper lanterns above? If your space is near a tree, think pomander balls or votive lanterns hanging from the branches.
   

   One caveat when adding accessories: keep it simple. You don’t want your sleek space to become cluttered.
   

5. Light up your lounge.
   

   Last but not least, add lighting! It may be as simple as groupings of votives or pillar candles on “coffee tables.” Or you may want to rent elaborate par can lighting. For those going for the modern look, some rental companies are offering LED “glow cubes” and benches. For a beachy theme, the tiki torch really sets a mood. You want your guests to bask in a sultry glow in your lounge space. Leave the lighting low enough to be romantic, but don’t leave your guests in the dark!

Check back for Part 2, and we will share with you more  pictures and where to rent lounge furniture in Florida!

{image credit}

(Note: this article, written by Cassandra Cherneski, first appeared as a guest post on “Just Dandy.” When reprinting this content, please give appropriate credit.)

Welcome to The Florida Bride’s Blog! We are so thrilled to announce our official launch today.

The team here at The Florida Bride’s Blog has been working very hard over the past few weeks to begin building an exciting new resource for Florida Brides. Click through our archives to see the Real Florida Weddings we’ve featured, as well as adorable details and inspiration.

What’s coming in the next few weeks for The Florida Bride’s Blog? Vendor and venue recommendations, planning articles, contests, give-aways, and of course, more fabulous eye-candy from talented Florida photogs and event planners.

If you are a Florida Bride, please let us know via email or comments, and we’d love to provide you with a “Florida Bride Badge” as well as a reciprocal link.

Florida Photographers, Planners, and other Vendors — we’d love to feature your work! Please email us with your submissions!

Also, please go ahead and subscribe to The Florida Bride’s Blog by clicking on the RSS symbol near the top of the blog or subscribing here http://floridabridesblog.com/?feed=rss — we promise to bring you fabulous Florida inspiration and planning tips.

Thanks so much and we look forward to connecting with you,  our Florida Brides!

The Florida Brides Blog Team

Danielle and Cassandra

Real Florida Wedding | Florida Vendor | Florida Find