Wedding Planner « One Beautiful Blog

Bridal Fashion, Styling and Unveiling Oh my!

June 8th, 2011

This event is sure to be a fabulous one! Will we see you there?

add comment link to this post send to a friend

How to Raise The “Bar”: Q & A

March 29th, 2011

Our bar is turning out to be extremely expensive. What are some ways we can cut back without looking “cheap”?

While a bar at your wedding can be costly let’s go over a few tips that can make it more manageable. The best way to get a bang for your buck when planning you’re wedding bar has been well noted as offering a “Signature” drink. The simple reason for this is that you will pool all of your bar resources into a few simple ingredients. A great example is a Mojito which is traditionally made of five ingredients: mint, rum, sugar, lime juice and sparkling water.

If limiting your bar selection is not your top choice another great option is to purchase the ingredients for a great bar from a local super store. Costco and Sam’s Club offer a great selection and at very fair prices. One of the highlights of purchasing from a wholesale store is the generous return policy. Worrying about the tab during the evening will be a non-issue because you have the ability to return any unopened bubbly and will have predetermined your maximum spent. The same is true with a great non-member wholesale store, BevMo! but with a nice plus they deliver! Again, limiting the selection will save you money and with less options (three hard top shelfs, one red and one white) you can keep your guests interest longer, and keep your overall budget down.

One other pointer that I think is important to keep in mind is the actual bar staff. You can give them guidelines on pouring, for example, a full to-the-brim glass is unnecessary. Also, offer non-alcoholic refreshments when guests arrive and before the ceremony. After the ceremony offer an open cocktail selection and with dinner offer wine. If you are a fan of champagne toast absolutely offer one. However many pre-poured glasses go un-sipped so instead let guests toast with what they are already drinking.

A last sage piece of advice is to only offer what you feel comfortable serving (some brides love tequila but others have seen their guests get rowdy after a round of shots).

Cheers!

Photo credits: Amy and Stuart Photography, Hazelnut Photography

add comment link to this post send to a friend

A Cookie or A Cake…

March 18th, 2011

Are you bracing yourself? I don’t really like cake–gasp! I know, it’s a sin! I mean, please understand, I’ll eat cake in order to get my sweet fix, but I prefer other desserts. I’d rather have a gooey chocolate brownie or a soft peanut butter cookie… maybe some fresh strawberries dipped in melted chocolate. I can’t be the only one! So what do I do when I’m “supposed” to have a wedding cake to cut into?!

Tradition, be thrown into the wind! There are plenty of other ways to satisfy my (and my guests) sweet tooth while still maintaining the allure of a beautiful cake. These are some of my favorite creative ideas. Warning: you may get very hungry while looking these over!

add comment link to this post send to a friend

Style Me Pretty Feature!

March 2nd, 2011

We are delighted to be apart of a wonderful feature on the ultra fabulous Style Me Pretty blog!

add comment link to this post send to a friend

Coulda, woulda, shoulda… been a wedding dress! (Oscar Recap)

February 28th, 2011

The glory and absolutely staggering site of starlets on the red carpet truly takes the world by storm. Not only those getting dressed for a big night out (you’ll see knock-offs of Oscar dresses on the rack soon, promise!) but brides look to see what beautiful creations may inspire the seasons of weddings to-be. So which gowns this year coulda, woulda, shoulda and heck- may soon be inspiring our brides? Take a peak. While some are in color, in my minds eye I can see a soft white or clever cream could clearly make magic.

So here they are… the star and the bride she could be!

Sandra Bullock- classic bridal (in white)

Halle Berry- glittering city bride and top notch modern princess

Mila Kunis- summer bride, garden wedding

Gweyneth Paltrow-modern fabulous, golden dreamy (tall drink of water)

Hailee Steinfeld & Mandy Moore- a princess and queen look both with golden sparkle

add comment link to this post send to a friend

The Ring Finger: Where Did That Tradition Come From?

February 23rd, 2011

Photos via Amy & Stuart Photography and Beaux- Arts Photographie. Two photographers from our 2010 summer weddings. Last photo via Getty Images.

Your partner is down on one knee holding onto your left hand and about to place a beautiful ring on your ring finger. That same finger gets more attention on your special day with the wedding band. Definitely the strongest finger on your left hand with all that weight! ;-)

So why does this ring finger get so much attention in the wedding world? While there are many traditions culturally and religiously, one of the most well known is the tradition of wedding ring placement. Here in the United States, it’s the ring finger.

This tradition dates back to Ancient Roman times. They believed the fourth finger on your left hand was the only finger that had a vein connected directly to your heart. They named this vein “Vena Amoris”, meaning the “vein of love”. By placing a ring on this finger it was (and for most still is) the ultimate symbol of love.

add comment link to this post send to a friend

Portfolio Piece

June 30th, 2009

I was recently asked to bring my portfolio to a meeting. They wanted to see a summary of my work, my resume. For me this was a challenge. How can I show my work that will be a true reflection of who I am and what I do? Some people tootled in with big fancy binders, some with old leather books but I brought my trusty Mac. I explained that sharing ten-years, in an industry I fell in love with long before that, was not something I could do on paper alone. So… I created my visual portfolio.

I thought to share it with you as well… enjoy!

You can see some of the detailed version on www.itsyourbeautifulday.com and www.cassandrasantor.com

add comment link to this post send to a friend