OUR TEAM 

Wednesday
15Jul2009

DIY Wedding Flowers? To do or not to do?

If you are in a money crunch and trying to save on your wedding budget, this is an option some today brides are considering...Try DIY wedding flowers! There are downfalls of DIY flowers for the wedding day 1) EXTRA STRESS-You can not start making the arrangements until one or two days before the wedding which can put alot of stress just before your big day. 2) Sacrifice Quality-You may not get the quality or overall expert design you would truly want. 3) LOTS of TIME-The time to figure out costs, what you will need to order, picking up all the items and assembling may not really be worth it. The upside however is you can SAVE. So if this is your main objective and you are OK with the possible negatives then check out this helpful tool to figure out how much a certain flower costs per stem. Real Simple has done some of the work for you where they have priced out 28 different flower stems.

www.weddingonthebrain.com

~Jenny~

Wednesday
15Jul2009

The newest in Save-the-dates!

Image by 2duce2 Cinematic VideographyLately, save-the-date cards have gone from formal cards where the parents of the couple announce the engagement of their children, to magnets with an engagement photo, and newly released....VIDEO! This is an excellent way to go-green with your save-the-dates by e-mailing them to family and friends! Also, it is a great way to test out your videographer for your wedding. They will essentially be creating a 3 minute short film that can give you a taste of their style and what they can create for you for your big day! It can be a 'dramatically funny trailer', one that coincides with your engagement photos, or can be more of a video slideshow, or something completely different that fits your personality best! To check out more videos, go to Vimeo or YouTube and type in 'save the date trailers' or 'save the date'!

Happy filming! :)

Megan

www.weddingonthebrain.com

Wednesday
15Jul2009

Kids are special guests too!

Some people love having kids at their wedding and others opt for a no-children policy. Either is fine- However if you opt for the kid-friendly wedding, here are a few pointers to help make sure the kids have the time of their lives too!

 

Don't want to worry about the kids during the ceremony?  Along with programs have a smaller basket of kid programs with coloring pages and crayons to keep them entertained. Another idea is place picture books, bubbles, wedding finger puppets and small stuffed animals dressed in wedding attire in a basket for them to take.  Flower girls and ring bearers-depending on their age- can either stand with the bridal party or sit with their parents.  They are very curious and love to check things out anything (look at this little attendee- piling grass into a small cup) If you take the time to give them something special to do it will help insure little disturbances at your wedding ceremony!

 

Kids always love toys and things to keep them entertained!  A few ideas are hire a babysiiting/nanny service who will bring games, keep the children entertained and contained to a specific area!  One great business we have worked with in the past is The Little Guest.  You can also hire a babysitter or two. (get referrals from people you know and have used the babysitter for their own children-a good rule of thumb is one sitter for every 6 children) Supply the sitters with age appropriate activities, toys and snacks! If you are able to get a different room adjacent to the reception hall-Consider hiring a magician or setting up a tv with kid friendly movies, bowls of popcorn and big fluffy pillows. Make sure you let the parents know prior to your wedding, that following the dinner, their little ones will be invited for a fun night planned just for them!

Kids can be in pictures too!  They take beautiful photos and their childish wild side give them the best faces for pictures, especially if you tell them to smile big!  The photgrapher will most likely capture moments you miss, and how curious they can truly be at a wedding! Thanks to Jessie Cho for all these great images from Debbie and Jun's wedding.

Happy planning!

Megan & Carrie

www.weddingonthebrain.com

Monday
13Jul2009

Props for your pictures!

Image by Ben Blood Photography of Seattle, found on Stephanie James CoutureAlthough detail shots and romantic pictures of each persona individually and the couple together are absolutely beautiful, sometimes adding a few props or a theme to the pictures can take your photos to the next level and turn them into art that can be oooo'd and ahhhhh'd over forever!  You can choose from the list below or definitely use props/themes that have meaning to the two of you!  Here are some ideas for colorful, classic, and unique props you could use in your photos!  Be sure to also ask your photographers- they are immensely creative people and can help see what would work best through the lense.

A big bouquet of balloons (in the colors of your wedding or black and white)

Mirrors (behind you, below you, above you, etc. for reflection pictures)

Pets (clean and nicely groomed, of course!)

Bubbles

Cars (your getway car or a classic car of a friend)

Minnie and Mickey Mouse ears

Umbrellas/parasols/Asian paper umbrellas

Soda shop theme (complete with coca-cola and an ice cream sundae)

Oversized 'Thank You' sign(s)- (can be used as your thank you cards/postcards)

Musical instruments (especially if you love to play!)

Sunglasses/hats

Bicycles (especially beach cruisers)

Various shoes (rain boots, tennis shoes, colorful socks, glass slippers, etc.)

Nature (trees, leaves, bushes, fields, etc.)

Sparklers

 

Don't forget to smile! :)

Megan

www.weddingonthebrain.com

 

Friday
10Jul2009

Honeymoon Packing Pointers!

Weddings are overwhelming things in themselves, but adding honeymoon packing to the list of a million things to do during the busiest week of your life can be exasperating!

Compiled are a list of reminders to help make your packing experience more efficient and less frustrating!

  • Do your laundry in advance, and pack it up early! An inventory list is always recommended so you remember to get everything you need to take! The earlier you pack, the better your chances are of remembering to throw in items you may have overlooked. 
  • To avoid those nasty wrinkles, roll & don't fold! Rolling also helps you make more use of the limited luggage space. 
  • Pack an empty duffle. Chances are you'll pick up some souvenirs on your honeymoon excursion, and will need someplace to put them! 
  • Don't OVER-pack. The last thing you'll want is for your bag to be over the weight limit. Trust me, your wallet will thank you! 
  • Share the basics. Are two tubes of toothpaste really necessary? ;) Cut down on the excess so you'll have space for other things you really want to take! 
  • Make sure you pack certain essentials in your carry on bag (ie: toothbrush and toothpaste, small snacks, small sealed-bottled water, etc). Delays are nasty occurrences, so at least you'll be a little prepared with some needed toiletries if they occur. Knock on wood!

-weddingonthebrain.com- Allison 

Tuesday
12May2009

Location, location, location...

Everyone is always looking for somewhere fun to have their wedding, in Orange County there are so many different great places, but what about ocean view? The City of Dana Point has over 23 beautiful parks thart are available with beautiful ocean views or outside weddings! To check out some of these great locations go to the www.danapoint.org You can see all the locations along with the details on how to reserve the location for your wedding! And don't worry there will be blogs to come on some of our favorite wedding ceremony locations!

www.weddingonthebrain.com

~Jenny~

Tuesday
12May2009

Another fun favor

Another fun favor for your wedding is these great bride and groom biscotti biscuits! Why not have your guests leave your wedding with not only a cute reminder of your big day but something they will be able to enjoy as well! These biscottis are from memoriesinchocolate.com and are available for $3 a set and you are able to customize the ribbon color to match your wedding colors!

www.weddingonthebrain.com

~Jenny~

Tuesday
12May2009

New Wedding Favors

Everyone has been to a wedding with chocolate covered strawberries, but what about chocolate covered cherries? Candyblast.com has these adorable chocolate covered cherries that make a great wedding gift or favor for any wedding!

www.candyblast.com

www.weddingonthebrain.com

~Jenny~

Monday
11May2009

Hyampom Valley

Everyone loves wine and most people serve it at their wedding, so we have a great offer to extend to brides, Hyampom Valley winery is offering specials on wine! They have a 48 bottle wedding package in which they give you 24 bottles of their award winning 2001 Merlot and 24 bottles of their 2005 Chardonnay, helping to ensure that both white and red wine lovers get their fill at the wedding! This great wine package is discounted to $499 (usually $789.60). To make sure that this wine is what you want to be serving at your wedding, Hyampom is offering a wedding sampler package with two Merlot and two Chardonnay bottles for $49.95!

www.rmerlo.com/store

www.weddingonthebrain.com

~Jenny~

 
   
Friday
01May2009

These will knock you socks off!

 

Now days brides are getting a little bit funky with the footwear underneath their dresses, we have seen converse, cowboy boots, bright colored shoes, sneakers, and flip flops. Here is one more fun thing to add to the mix, Wedding Party Tube Socks. These are great gifts for your bridesmaids or even have a baseball game with the wedding party. These cotton blend tube socks have a sporty style and customize text to your liking. These fun socks can be found at the Wedding Stand. Don't hesitate to set your wedding party up with something fun!

Happy Planning~ Rachel

Monday
20Apr2009

Money Savings Tips

Everyone wants to save money on their wedding expenses, RIGHT? One way to save is with your photographer. If your photographer offers online or printed proofs, request only online proofs. Also if you are getting married in the off season, you can save by asking your vendors for any discounts they may have. Some venues will offers discounts on Thursday or Sunday weddings as well!

www.weddingonthebrain.com

~Jenny~

 

Wednesday
15Apr2009

Wedding or Bridal Favors

Browsing the internet the other day, we stumbled upon amazing homemade soap. This soap is something I can go on and on about, not only is the soap 100% vegan (not made from animal fat at all or tested on animals) and homemade, which helps to retain the natural glycerin and has lots of shea butter to make it mosturizing, it is beautiful. Who doesn't like or need soap? A great favor or gift!!! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18822124

The bottom portion is colored with French green clay and iron oxides and is scented with spearmint essential oil. The top portion is colored with cosmetic grade colorant, scented with lavander in essential oil, and then topped off with lavender buds. The green clay provides a wonderful silkiness along with super-fine exfoliation.

www.weddingonthebrain.com

~Jenny~

Monday
30Mar2009

Here’s Your “Something New”, Yet Timeless…

Atlanta-based jewelry company, Echo d'Amour is giving you just that with their custom jewelry featuring the work of their top designer, Chad Rullman.

Commisioned to make a piece for a client using a simple initial monogram, Rullman’s fascination with symmetry in all forms turned what was once a traditionally simple object into a work of symmetrical exquisiteness.

Their customizable designs provide beauty in the combination of a bride and groom’s initials. The letters are mirror images of eachother, providing an ‘echo’ throughout the piece.

Aside from jewelry, the monogram designs are placed onto a digital file for uses in areas such as cake toppers, invitations, and various types of bridal party gifts.

 

Echoed, Timeless Beauty!

-weddingonthebrain.com- Allison

Friday
27Mar2009

Best Tropical Travel

Planning your honeymoon can be a lot of hard work! There are so many things to think about; from budgeting to airfare and even location… sometimes it’s better to have some help from professionals. If you’re looking for a tropical honeymoon, then Best Tropical Travel can be a great resource for planning your first vacation as husband and wife. Best Tropical Travel will help you with finding the perfect resort, location, and country for your honeymoon, specializing in getaways to Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, the South Pacific (Tahiti, French Polynesia, Fiji, Micronesia), as well as Italy and other parts of Europe. So instead of stressing about having to plan a honeymoon on top of a wedding, let the experts at Best Tropical Travel help you out by giving you a stress free honeymoon!

Happy Travels!

Cassie

www.weddingonthebrain.com

Monday
16Mar2009

Romantic Quotes

A romantic quote can be used on invitations, favors, programs, in the ceremony.....

 “To love deeply in one direction makes us more loving in all others.”

 ― Anne-Sophie Swetchine

 

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same.”

― Flavia Weedn

 

“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”

 ― Kahlil Gibran

 

“Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.”

― Franklin P. Jones

 

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.”

 ― Thornton Wilder

 

www.weddingonthebrain.com

~Jenny~

Monday
16Mar2009

Saving Money on the Bar

Everyone wants to save money these days on their wedding...if you are fortunate enough to be able to bring in your own alcohol, then a good way to save money is to make a menu of certain drinks. This way you can plan ahead for what alcohol and what mixers you will need to buy. You can come up with cute names for the drinks (Cate's Capt and Coke, Jerry's Gin and Tonic) and even have certain special drinks. I had a friend who had fortune tinis at her engagement party, because her fiancé had proposed in a fortune cookie. Making a menu of the drinks can help guests to choose their drinks and help you and your fiance to save instead of buying tons of different mixers and ending up with a alot of leftover soda water, cranberry and what not.

 www.weddingonthebrain.com

~Jenny~

Monday
09Mar2009

Splitting the Tab-The Traditional Way

There are many different ways to pay for weddings these days, sometimes the bride and groom pay for everything, sometimes it is split between families, sometimes one family pays for all, but that a lot of people like to just go back to the basic and find out what is the traditional way for splitting the wedding tab.

Bride

•·     Couple's personal stationery and thank-you notes

•·     Wedding programs and guest book

•·     Gifts for bridesmaids and flower girl

•·     Lodging for bridesmaids

Groom

•·      Bride's engagement ring

•·      Marriage license

•·      Officiant's fee

•·      Rental or purchase of his formal wear

•·      Gifts for the groomsmen and ring bearer

•·      Lodging for groomsmen

 Bride and Groom

•·      The wedding bands

•·      The honeymoon (In traditional families, this is still considered the groom's expense.)

Bride's Family

•·      Engagement and wedding pictures

•·      Wedding invitations

•·      Wedding planner

•·      Bridal attire

•·      Ceremony fees (including rental of chapel, chuppah, aisle runners, and other decor items)

•·      Flowers (arrangements for ceremony and reception, as well as all bouquets, corsages, & boutonnieres)

•·      Reception (site fees, caterer, food, bar, gratuities, decorations)

•·      Music (ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception)

•·      Bridesmaids' luncheon

•·      Transportation for bridal party to ceremony and reception

Groom's Family

Rehearsal dinner (or other expense they elect, such as all beverage/liquor service, limos, music for  reception, photography and/or videography)


Bridesmaids

  •     Bridal shower

•·      Bridesmaids' dresses and shoes

•·      Bachelorette party

•·      Any traveling expenses

Groomsmen

•·     Bachelor party

•·     Rental of formal wear

       Any traveling expenses


Flower Girl's and Ring Bearer's Parents

 

Attire for flower girl and ring bearer

 

 

~www.weddingonthebrain.com~

Jenny

 

Wednesday
04Mar2009

Scrap this, scrap that!

Image from Blurb wedding bookstore

Use this new tool to create a more personalized wedding album as a high quality, published book!  No matter how creative you are, you get total control on the design of your book!  Upload photos, add text, graphics, etc. and keep your wedding memories alive from engagement through honeymoon.  Check out the Blurb bookstore to see how other couples have used Blurb to capture their memories!

 

Happy Blurbing!

 

Megan

 

www.weddingonthebrain.com

Wednesday
25Feb2009

Mmm Chocolate!

Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a little chocolaty goodness in their life? Totally Chocolate is a delectable company bringing some chocolate creativity to favors, invitations, and even course menus! They provide customizable printed and edible bars that your guests will adore and devour! Whether you’re a dark, milk, or even white chocolate fan, Totally Chocolate will help to make your big day a little sweeter for you and your guests.

 

There’s a wide array of products they provide that will fit most any budget, and it’s a great customizable take-away gift for your friends and family.  (Not to mention a great gift to their sweet tooth!)

 

 

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Chocolate! 

- weddingonthebrain.com- Allison

Tuesday
17Feb2009

Strolling Cocktail Tables

Looking for an indredibly unique and fun idea for your coctail reception?? Well....you will certainly dazzle your guests with these strolling cocktail tables.  These unique strolling cocktail tables will keep your guests entertained and talking about your wedding for years to come.  These cocktail tables are anything but ordinary, in fact the beautiful lady in the middle  of the table serves your cocktails and hor d'oeuvres rights off her gown! The women's gowns are matched to your theme and will give your guests an experience that will not soon be forgotten!!! For more info on how to get these lovely ladies at your reception visit www.champagneshowgirls.com

 Happy Planning!!!-www.weddingonthebrain.com-Danielle Graven