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

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

Bridal Events in January

Image: Google Images

Let the wedding planning begin! Newly engaged brides here is a list of upcoming bridal events in Charlotte.

Friday, January 3rd - Friday, January 31st
Say "Yes" to the Dress - 10% off your purchase
Classic Bride and Formals
20910 Catawba Avenue
Cornelius, NC 28031
Call to make an appointment, 704-896-3655

Friday, January 3rd - Saturday, January 4th
Romona Keveza Trunk Show
Nitsa's Apparel
6700 Fairview Road
Suite 113 at Phillips Place
Charlotte, NC 28210
Call to make an appointment, 704-940-1999

Sunday, January 5th
Perfect Wedding Guide: Winter Expo 2014
1:00pm-4:00pm
Hilton Charlotte University Place
8629 J.M. Keynes Drive
Charlotte, NC 28262
Tickets: $10 at the door, $5 online
www.charlottebridalshow.com 

Thursday, January 9th - Saturday, January 11th
Jennifer Leigh Veils Trunk Show
Hayden Olivia Bridal
221 S. Tryon Sreet, Suite 200
Charlottem NC 28202
Call to make an appointment, 704-333-0377

Friday, January 10th - Saturday, January 11th 
Alyne by Rivini Trunk Show
Nitsa's Apparel
6700 Fairview Road
Suite 113 at Phillips Place
Charlotte, NC 28210
Call to make an appointment, 704-940-1999

Friday, January 10th - Saturday, January 11th
Junko Yoshioka Trunk Show
Ladies of Lineage
1419 East Blvd.
Suite E
Charlotte, NC 28203
Call to make an appointment, 704-376-3006

Friday, January 17th - Saturday, January 18th 
Victor Harper Trunk Show
Nitsa's Apparel
6700 Fairview Road
Suite 113 at Phillips Place
Charlotte, NC 28210
Call to make an appointment, 704-940-1999

Sunday, January 26th 
The Bridal Showcase
12:00pm-5:00pm
Charlotte Convention Center
501 S. College Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Tickets: $12 at the door, $10 online
www.thebridalshowcasenc.com
*PLEASE NOTE THE NEW DATE*
Due to the recent Carolina Panthers win and home field playoff advantage on Jan 12, we have moved the Jan 12 Bridal Showcase to Jan 26. If you have already bought a ticket, it will be valid on Jan 26. If you have any questions, please contact info@TheBridalShowcase.com.

Wednesday, January 29th
Charlotte Wedding Magazine: Best of Weddings Awards Party!
6:00pm-9:00pm
Charlotte City Club
121 West Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Tickets: $10 at the door, $7 online
www.charlottemagazine.com

Wedding Costs Brides Forget to Budget For

Image Source

Last week on the Huffington Post there was an article about "30 Unexpected Wedding Costs Brides Forget to Budget For". The list is comprehensive and all newly engaged brides should bookmark the article, as they begin the wedding planning process.

Here are 5 items from the list with a few additional pointers from Style Perfect Events!

1. Welcome Bags 
It's always a nice gesture to have welcome bags if the majority of your guests are traveling from out of town. The welcome bag or out-of-town gift bag may include water, snacks, wedding weekend itinerary, welcome note from the bride and groom, city may, etc. You'll need a line item in the wedding budget for your welcome bags and also make sure you check with your guest hotel to see if there is a service charge for them to disseminate the gift bags to your guests. Most hotels do not charge extra if your guests receive their gift at check-in, but there's typically a fee if you want the gift bag inside each guests' room.    

2. Sound
The wedding ceremony is the most important element of the wedding day, but many times guests are left in the dark because they can not hear the officiant or the couple exchange vows. If your DJ is not providing the sound for your wedding ceremony, make sure you look into renting a sound system.    

3. Vendor Meals
When providing your caterer with your final meal count, make sure to include your photographer, videographer, wedding planner and wedding band in your count. These vendors will be on their feet for 8+ hours and will need to refuel. A vendor meal is typically cheaper than a guest meal and your band will include their meal requests in their contract.
 
4. Wedding Coordinator
DO NOT wait to the last minute to book a wedding coordinator. On the wedding day you will not be able to or will you want to take calls from your DJ or baker, while you're getting your makeup done.  It's imperative that you turn the reins over to a professional to ensure your wedding day will run smoothly and that you and your groom, along with your family and friends will have a memorable time as a guest.

5. Sales Tax and Service Charges
Read over your contracts carefully to ensure that sales tax and any service charges are in included in the quoted price. Many venues and vendors charge an 18-22% service charge for the administration side for producing your wedding. Service charges are not the same as gratuities. Also, the plus plus "++" in a quote means you will also need to add service and tax on top of the quoted price.

Wedding Inspiration - In the Blogs!

If you just got engaged check out this great list of the Top 100 Wedding Blogs in 2013.

Click here, Top 100 Wedding Blogs.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Style Me Pretty
Intimate Weddings
Belle the Magazine
Wedding Insparasi
Munaluchi Bride


Happy Planning!

Wedding Planning Tips: Let's Get Started!

Source: Google Images

Check-out this great article from the The Knot, which gives 30 expert planning tips and tricks. This is a must read for newly engaged couples! Here are 5 of my favorite tips from the list.

1. Investigate Wedding Blackout Dates

Does your proposed wedding date fall on the day as a trade conference, charity walk, or other local event that could affect traffic and hotel room availability? Charlotte is a hot spot for conferences, so if you plan to marry in Uptown Charlotte, make sure to inquire about events around town.  

2. Lighten Your List

The easiest way to trim your wedding budget is to cut your guest list. 40-50% of your wedding budget goes toward winning and dinning your guests, so there is really no way around it. 

3. Take It One Step at a Time

Put together a wedding planning schedule and do things one by one, in a logical order, so you don't take on too much too fast. Wedding planning should be fun! Take your time. 

4. Pay It Forward

Let one vendor lead you to another. Your wedding photographer can tell you which florist's blooms really pop and your reception manager should know which DJ/band packs the dance floor. 

5. Don't Be Afraid to Ask

Your wedding vendors should be your go-to, most-trusted experts during the planning process. When working with them, you should feel free to really explore what it is you want. Their job will be to tell you what you can and can't make work given your wedding budget.

Read more: Wedding Planning: 30 Expert Tips and Tricks 
Source: The Knot