Tickled Pink Brides - Orlando, Florida's Premier Wedding Planner

Stella & Dot Promotion

If you have yet to get familiar with Stella & Dot, NOW is the time!  Girls, this is dangerous.  It's like a jewelry boutique right at your fingertips and they are always coming out with beautiful new pieces.  The Stella & Dot brand incorporates a mix of trendy and classic jewelry, dainty pieces, and big statement baubles.  One of my best friends is a stylist for the line, and having seen (and purchased!) much of the collection firsthand, I can attest to how great the jewelry is.  

Right now, there's a new stylist sign up special going on.  When you sign up to be a Stella & Dot stylist through 5/7, you'll receive either $500 in pre-selected samples, or a $350 product credit to select samples a la carte.

If you're shopping for a fresh take on bridesmaid or bridal jewelry, be sure to check out the online shop.

 

"On Behalf of the Bride" - Dressing Your Groom

Sorry brides, but its time to talk about the Groom! Even though you might be taking care of most of the planning, you may not know where to start when it comes to dressing your groom. I like to encourage my brides to involve their grooms in this aspect of the wedding. After all it is about the both of you, and you want your man walking down the aisle with the same confidence you have.

First thing, is he planning on renting or buying a tux?  Can he afford a nice tux?  Does he expect to attend events that would require one?  Purchasing a tux costs about 3x the average rental, so it can pay off quick. In addition rented tuxes won’t fit as well and won’t be as one tailored just for him. If he is leaning toward renting, make sure he gives himself several days before the big day to see that everything fits correctly and there isn’t any damage or stains.

Above all, make sure the outfit matches the occasion, and that it fits right! Not every style suit fits every body shape. Different tuxes work better with different body styles, so make sure to consult a tailor with questions and have him try several different options on. Here’s a brief intro into the different types of tuxedos.

Cutaway (morning) coat: These are the most formal and have a tail in the back and a single button at the waist.

Traditional: A black or grey suit that comes in several options of lapels (peaked, notch, and shawl) and a variety of accessories. They can be one, two or three buttoned.  Vest or no vest, bow tie, or tie? Suspenders, sure! Cummerbund, why not! This option will really allow you to customize your look.

Men are also stepping outside of the box and expressing themselves in different ways whether it be a cool preppy look, casual beachy look, and anything in between, but remember, it needs to fit the occasion!

"On Behalf of the Bride" - Preparing for your floral meeting

Before going to your first floral meeting, you want to be sure you’ve done your homework. Going into this meeting without an idea of what you want might lead you astray. Here are the things I recommend knowing/having when you go.

1. Inspirational photos and an idea of what you want it to look like visually
2. What types of flowers you like
3. Flowers that could work with your color scheme
4. Swatch from your bridesmaid dresses
5. What style of vessels you like (glass, silver, gold, wooden etc)

Of course none of these things are a requirement, but will really help you achieve the exact look you’re going for. When it came time for me to talk about my own wedding with my florist, I came prepared with pictures and a clear vision of what I wanted everything to look like. When discussing your centerpieces be sure to consider the following:

1.    The height of the room. If you have very tall ceilings then you might want to go for a tall dramatic look.

    2.  Will you be using up lighting? Up lighting can often set off your centerpieces.

3.    Keep in mind what else will be on the table like linens, chargers, table numbers etc.

Charm City Cake's 2012 Summer Collection

Want to see the latest trends in wedding cake design?  Then look no further than Charm City Cake’s Summer 2012 collection. Charm City Cakes is located in Baltimore, MA and featured on Food Network's Ace of Cakes. I absolutely love the show because they're always pushing the envelope and trying new and exciting design techniques. Feast your eyes on their Summer 2012 wedding collection.  And no, we could not narrow down the pictures any more than this because they are all THAT amazing.

Real Weddings: A ceremony at Holy Family Catholic Church

Photographer John Unrue captured some beautiful portraits of Jovan and Allison's wedding in March at Holy Family Catholic Church and the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes.  For now, here is a sneak peak of their ceremony shots.  They honored Jovan's Filipino heritage with a traditional Catholic ceremony complete with the veil, cord and candle, and later in the night they paid homage to Allison's Polish background with a traditional Polish wedding dance.  We love celebrating our couples' unique heritages and finding ways to incorporate classic traditions in their weddings!  Allison was such a stunning bride and I'm so happy to share these images of her and Jovan.  

Jovan and Allison's Same Day Edit Video

Terri and I had the utmost pleasure of working with bride and groom Allison and Jovan on their wedding at Holy Family Catholic Church and reception at the Ritz Carlton, Grande Lakes.  Orlando was the perfect destination for this out of town couple and their extended family and friends.  A beautiful and seamless ceremony, an abundance of delicious food (can you say lobster tail, oysters, and a mashed potato bar...and that was just cocktail hour!), and a ballroom decked out in the most elegant silver and white floral and decor by Lee James were just a few highlights of the day.  Allison was such a gorgeous bride and we all loved watching her reaction to the "same day edit" video that Jovan had planned and videographer Jose Ortiz showed during the reception.  What's even better is that he went back and edited her reaction into the same day edit so that you all can see!  

Same day edits are such a special way for you and your guests to relive the wedding day right away by watching a quick video trailer during your reception.  Talk about instant gratification!

The beautifull SDE experience of Jovan and Allison. Surprise!! from Jose Ortiz Films on Vimeo.

The Not Wedding Orlando Video

Recently, our friends Alex and Samm from Imprint Cinema particpated in a one-of-a-kind event here in Orlando called The Not Wedding.  This unique event is a faux wedding where brides and grooms-to-be are invited to attend a ceremony and join in a dinner reception, while seeing amazing vendors in action just as they would be at a real wedding.  It's really a bridal show like no other, and couples get a firsthand look at what they can expect on their own wedding day as well as getting some major inspiration from all of the artistic displays involved.

I wanted to share the video from The Not Wedding to show what creativity was involved- from the bride and bridesmaids' attire to the table decor and paper goods.  Loved it all!

The Not Wedding 2012 - Orlando from Imprint Cinema on Vimeo.

"On Behalf of the Bride" - Engagement Photos

If you are on the fence about getting engagement portraits, I would highly recommend it! Jason and I had such a great time taking ours, and a lot of photographers are willing to do it complimentary with your wedding photo package. From my experience, it was a great way to bond with my fiancé and really embrace our new engagement. Not only that, but I love the idea of including one or a few of the photos into your save-the-dates. It adds such a cute touch and your guests will love it. We even had our dog Rusty in some of the shots! Here is what we chose for our save-the-date.

Try to find a location that compliments your style as a couple and what you like to do. Maybe you want a really romantic outdoor setting or maybe a quirky indoor art gallery or bar. If you and your fiancé like to be on the water, try taking pictures in an old canoe or fishing boat. These are pictures you will have forever, and you want them to say something about you as a couple, and of course show how in love you are! If you’re in need of some inspiration just look to Style Me Pretty; here are a few that I’m loving…

How To Pin a Boutonniere

On the wedding day, we always take charge of pinning boutonnieres on the gentlemen.  It's come to my attention though, over and over, that this a daunting task for many!  Once you pin a few, you'll be a seasoned pro.  I like to always use two straight pins, one going down into the stem, and one pointing up to give the boutonniere extra security to stay in place.  This video only shows pinning with one straight pin, but is a good, quick reference for anyone who may have this task at a wedding.

View on ExposureRoom

The Friday Five: Springtime Wedding Inspiration

Spring is in the air! The weather is warming up, flowers are blooming, and it’s the perfect time of year to get married. This week is all about finding inspiration for your spring themed wedding. Bright, fun colors and flowers by the plenty come to mind. Here are five springtime items I am loving right now:

Go for a mixed bouquet with bright colors and lots of different textures.

Shoot for an outdoor reception, maybe in a garden or on a great lawn. It will give your wedding that springtime garden feel. Why not play some lawn games while you’re at it? Your guests will love to play a little croquet during cocktail hour.

Go for a dress with feminine touches like flowers and soft fabrics like organza and lace.

 Try to mix some wild flowers into your centerpieces. It will give off that freshly picked from the garden look.

Give your guests spring-themed favors like these mini potted plants.