Etsy Find - You're a Feyoncé

Congratulations to all the newly engaged couples! Check out this fun sweatshirt on Etsy! You're a Feyoncé!

Surviving Your Partner’s Family This Holiday Season!

Tis the season for meeting the parents and family of your partner! Here are a few tips on how to survive your partners' family this holiday season. I've pulled a few rules of thumb from the following sources, Glamour, Madame Noire and She Knows. Make sure to click the links to view the full articles.

Quiz your partner about his/her family
Learn as much as you can about your partners family before you arrive for family dinner.  This will help you be ready with questions to help keep the conversation flowing, as well as, prepare you for family dynamics. (Source: She Knows)

Be yourself
People can tell when you're being disingenuous, so don't pretend to be someone you're not.  Let your personality shine, so the family can see why their loved one cares so much about you. They'll appreciate you being genuine. (Source: Madame Noire)   

Don't be a clinger
"Allow your partner to navigate through the room without you hanging on his/her arm the entire time. You're an adult with a great personality! Try to show some interest in getting to know his family. Some family members are probably dying to get to know you."  (Source: Madame Noire) 

Make yourself useful 
"One of the easiest ways to smooth over any awkwardness, or to make the time go faster, is to offer to help out. The more you're doing to help, the more your partners mom will enjoy having you there and the less out of place you'll feel." (Source: She Knows)

Don't get too chummy
"If you don't go into work on Monday morning and share with the president of your company that you lost your wallet and dignity over the weekend while tripping drunkenly out of a cab, then your significant other's parents probably don't need to hear it either. Having the kind of respect for yourself and for them to be honest while retaining the foresight to censor inappropriate miscellany will get you far in the family-dating game. They'll want to get to know you, but this isn't confession." (Source: Glamour)

Go with the flow
Any ideas you have about what the holidays should be like when you arrive to your significant other's parents home should be dropped. Families celebrate the holidays in many ways.  "The more you let go and embrace his/her family (even if they are wackos, by your standards), the better time you'll have and the more his/her family will warm up to you." (Source: She Knows)    

Celebrate! - Party Dresses

I always encourage my brides to fully enjoy the wedding planning process and to take full advantage of celebrating this life milestone, which means there will be an engagement party, bridal shower, bachelorette party, bridesmaids luncheon, rehearsal dinner and more!

What will you wear to these celebrations? Here are a few of my pics. I LOVE a great party dress!  

ASOS

ASOS

Top Shop

BCBG

BCBG

Etsy Find - Gold Foil Balloons!

It's all in the details! How cute are these "Cheers" gold foil mylar balloons for your wedding getaway car! Etsy store Oh Shiny Paper Co. can also create custom orders.

Inspire Weddings and Marriage

Are you newly engaged or a newlywed? Then you must check out Inspire Weddings and Marriage magazine. Launched in 2013, this magazine inspires beautiful weddings and prepares couples for successful marriage.

This past summer we had the opportunity to design and produce a styled shoot for the magazine in the Savannah area. Check-out the feature on pages 46-57.

Photography by Monica Reid Photography

Full of Thanks!!!

Image - Euclid Street

I am thankful for an amazing 2014 event year!!! I always say this, but I absolutely have the best clients and creative partners!!! THANK YOU!! 

Have a wonderFULL Thanksgiving Holiday!!! 

Be Inspired - Protea

Protea is a flower that is in season all year round. I love the look of protea! It adds a very unique and modern touch to a rustic style wedding.

Etsy Find - Custom Bottle Opener Keychains

These custom bottle opener keychains from Big Yellow Dog Designs on Etsy are great party favors!

Weddings by Style Perfect Events - Peninsula Yacht Club

Photographer: Smitten and Hooked Photography

Menguin - Revolutionizing the Tuxedo Rental

One of my favorite business blogs is Sage Wedding Pros  and last week they interviewed the owners of Menguin. Menguin, a different type of tuxedo rental company, allows the groom in just 10 minutes the ability to customize a tuxedo and get measured all online.  

As a wedding planner, I absolutely love this concept! Often times, I accompany my couples when shopping for the groom and groomsmen attire and it's never a simple task, although it should be. Service is never consistent with the big box stores. Some days they're awesome and other days not so much. 

I love the idea of being able to offer my couples another option for tuxedo rentals!

Check-out the interview with Justin Delaney, Menguin CEO on Sage Wedding Pros.   

Wedding Flowers that are Always in Season

Check out these 4 wedding flowers that are always in season.

Orchid

Calla Lily

 Rose
 

Protea

Etsy Find - Accessory Junkie

I'm just a little obsessed with Etsy, so each month I'll provide you with a few of my fave Etsy finds!

Today I have more than one find because I am an accessory junkie and I LOVE these jewelry pieces that I found on Etsy.

Real Charlotte Wedding - Quarry at Carrigan Farms (Laura + Parker)

Today is the first post of the 20 week blog challenge and we're going to provide you with a little "Real Wedding" inspiration from a wedding we coordinated at the Quarry at Carrigan Farms this past May for Laura + Parker, which is featured in the current Charlotte Wedding magazine.

Photography by Smitten and Hooked. View images from the wedding on their blog.