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

"On Behalf of the Bride" - Finding the Perfect Wedding Gown

As a wedding planner, I’m constantly surrounded by weddings; so naturally, I’ve spent a lot of time imagining what I would walk down the aisle in. Would I want something traditional?

Sexy?

Romantic?

Couture?

Finding my dress was the part of planning my own wedding I was most excited about. Over the past few weeks I have been trying to find my dress, so I thought I would give a few tips that have helped me.

1. Do some research and figure out what styles you like. I knew I would have a hard time walking into a store without having done my research, so I started looking at gowns over the internet early on. I first researched the bridal boutiques in my area to find out what designers they carried. Next, I would go to those specific designer’s websites and save any picture that caught my eye. Be sure to save the photos in a folder labeled with the designers name and save each picture with the style number. This way, when you visit the boutique you’ll be able to ask a consultant if they carry any of the dresses you have saved. I did this by downloading the Dropbox application to my iPhone and iPad. Dropbox allows you to save and share files, its free, and can be downloaded onto most smart phones/tablets (use this link to download Dropbox). Even if they don’t carry the specific dresses you have saved, it will still give your consultant an idea for what you’re looking for.

2. Don’t bring too many people to the appointment. Finding your dress can get stressful when you bring too many people along to the appointment with you. Having too many opinions will only confuse you and keep you from ultimately choosing the dress you like.  I would recommend bringing no more than three people. Be sure to pick only the people whose opinions really matter to you. I took my Mom with me not only because I wanted to share the experience with her, but because her opinion really mattered to me most. I knew she would be honest, but ultimately support my decision.

3. Know your budget before you start trying on gowns (don’t forget to include sales tax and alterations). I know not to try on dresses outside of my budget, and still made this mistake! There is nothing more disappointing than trying on a dress, loving it, then realizing you can’t afford it. If you think you might stretch your budget to get that dream dress, try to pull the extra money from another part of your wedding budget.  I have a feeling this is what I'll end up doing.

Best of luck in your search!

The Friday Five: Glitter and Gold

2012 is all about prettiness.  Girly, a little flirty, and a touch of sparkle is what it's all about!  Today's Friday Five are my favorite glitter and gold inspirational items for your own event.  Enjoy!

Pink and gold streamers make a great backdrop for a photo booth, dessert table, or behind the bride and groom's seats.

Bridal designer Lela Rose's ready-to-wear collection sequin skirt on hsn.com is perfect for bridesmaids and wedding guests alike!

Glittery envelope liners by The Woolberry Press really glam up your invites and are oh-so-exciting for guests to receive!

These golden sparkly drink stirrers by dillpicklepicnic dress up your cocktails or gourmet coffee bar.

A gold and pink wedding cake brings the trend all the way through to dessert.                                 

 

 

 

 

Source: sweetandsaucyshop.com via love on Pinterest

"On Behalf of the Bride" - Choosing Your Venue

Choosing a venue for your wedding ceremony and reception will be one of the most important decisions you’ll make throughout the planning process. Your venue should reflect and compliment the formality of your ceremony. Do you envision something classy and traditional? Then maybe look for an elegant ballroom at a high end hotel.

Photo by Binary Flips

Or do you prefer something more laidback and unique? Then shoot for an outdoor reception, maybe lakeside or on a farm.

photo by La Dolce Vita

Before you begin your search; be sure you have figured out a few basic things:

1) How many guests you’re inviting.

2) Do you want to have your ceremony and reception in two different locations or both at the same             location?

3) What is your budget?

Knowing your budget is important because often times the venue you choose for your reception will dictate your food and beverage requirements - this should be approximately 35-50% of your budget depending on what is included (venue rental fee, cake, linen, chairs etc.). Some venues have an in-house caterer they require you to use, some have a list of preferred caterers and others allow you to choose any caterer you want. Be aware of extra fees; it's not uncommon for caterers to tack on a service charge, taxes, and sometimes a cake cutting fee, corkage fee and so forth.

You should also ask yourself how much work you’re willing to do. You may have your heart set on a quaint home wedding, but who is going to rake the leaves, haul in the tables and chairs, ensure there is proper lighting, parking, and- oh yeah- a backup plan in case of rain? If you don’t want to worry about all of those little details, look into hotels, restaurants and country clubs where everything is included.

The best advice I can give is to please be sure to ask questions and don’t assume anything is included. You don’t want any surprises after you’re locked into a contract. For a complete list of questions please click to Download Questions to Ask When Booking Your Wedding Venue.

Color My World

This week we have turned to one of our friends from Solutions Bridal, Kayleigh, for some of the hottest trends right now in bridal fashion. Solutions Bridal is a designer bridal boutique located in Orlando, Florida. 

Trend alert! Everywhere you look, the world of bridal is buzzing with the infusion of color! Bold blush tones, elderberry elegance, glam gold, and minty green gowns were shown on the runways of the hottest designers for Spring 2012.

I know what you’re thinking, “Wedding gowns are traditionally synonymous with white or ivory, champagne at a stretch, and if I choose a gown that strays slightly from the norm in color, will I regret it?” Before you say no to this new trend, consider the following…

Your bridal style should reflect your personal style in every way possible. Are you a color enthusiast in your personal wardrobe? I you don’t feel quite right without a pop of hot pink or a touch of tangerine before you head out the door, consider the importance of color in your wedding gown. Similarly, if you are a classic, girls-in-pearls kind of gal, choosing a Spring 2012 mint green gown with a plunging neckline might not be the best, or most comfortable decision for you.

Dare to be different! But remember, it’s not an all or nothing decision. If you’ve long since envisioned your dream gown as a bubblegum-pink tulle extravaganza, we salute you! Rock that gown without a second thought! However, not everyone is in love with that much wedding day pizzazz. The best part about this trend: There’s no need to go bold or go home! A soft hint of blush is the perfect compromise for the bride that’s both traditionalist and fashion forward. You’ll wow your crowd in this slightly soft hue and still please the parents with your classic bridal glamour.

Ultimately, the fundamental item to consider when selecting your bridal gown is your level of comfort. Choose a style that makes you feel like the blushingly beautiful bride you are: One that showcases the uniquely chic style that is you on your wedding day, and every day. 

"On Behalf of the Bride" - Establishing Your Wedding Style

I find so many brides that I work with have a lot of great ideas, but aren’t quite sure how to reign them into one cohesive style. I too had this problem. I find myself liking so many colors and styles that I wasn’t sure which way to go. After giving it a lot of thought I had to ask myself, what do I really want and what do I want to look back on in my wedding photos? For me it was easy…I’m pretty traditional, love all things romantic, soft and girly and I knew I wanted it to be formal. Next, I turned to my wardrobe for inspiration. What colors did I see most hanging in my closet?  Black, white, lace embellishments and neutral beiges, golds, and pinks. I had to admit to myself I like things simple, timeless but with a unique twist. After having done this I felt confident I knew what style I would go for.

Picture this: a soft, romantic gown, lots of candlelight, fluffy flowers, and colors of white, silver and blush tones. I then started to browse the internet for inspiration. I researched flowers, décor elements, bridesmaid dresses, venues, wedding gowns, shoes, I mean everything!  Sure enough I found a trend. I had saved way too many pictures, so I forced myself to go back through and pick my favorites. I always urge my brides to make inspiration boards. An inspiration board is a collection of photos of various wedding elements used to visually explain the style of your wedding. Seeing all of your favorite photos together will help you clarify the overall direction and vibe of your wedding. They’re also great tools to share with vendors like your florist and coordinator. You can make one in minutes through websites like knot.com and weddingwire.com.  See below for one of my own :)

Establishing your wedding style first will then allow you to narrow down what types of venues to look for, the style of your gown, your wedding colors, what your stationary will look like and so forth. Find your style first and everything else will start to fall into place – I promise! Look for inspiration from stylemepretty.com, knot.com, weddingwire.com, etsy.com and various blogs from wedding professionals. Before you know it, you will be on your way to finding your wedding personality! Also, be sure to check our blog frequently for trends and creative ideas.

Happy planning!

Real Wedding: Sara and Juan at the Courtyard at Lake Lucerne

In October, our Tickled Pink coordinator Terri had the pleasure and honor of working with Sara and Juan to bring together their heartfelt and super-fun wedding at the Courtyard at Lake Lucerne in Orlando. Recently, Becka and Nate of Studio 222 blogged about this wedding and had the sweetest things to say:

"They aren’t afraid to laugh big and laugh hard and be goofy just because there are people with cameras around and we LOVE that because now, when I look through these images from their wedding, the smiles captured are absolutely contagious. You can’t look at a photo of Sara laughing and not smile yourself, because the laugh is so big and so REAL. If ever there was a day to let your happiness flow free, it’s on your wedding day…"

Some sweet and inspiring details were included in this wedding, like Sara's shoes (gorgeous!), the pops of yellow in the paper pom-poms and bridesmaid dresses, and the delicious cupcake dessert table.  Cheers to Sara and Juan and congrats again from the gals at Tickled Pink!

Introducing "On Behalf of the Bride"

    It’s a new year, and we have decided to energize the Tickled Pink Brides blog with new and interesting posts every week- one of which will be written by me every Wednesday!  The blog will provide tips, inspiration, guidance, and anything that might be of interest to brides going through the planning process, but with a twist…

    I recently got engaged over the holidays (yay!) and thought it might be fun to blog about some of my personal experiences from the eyes of not only a planner but also a bride! I have planned my fair share of weddings, but I'm still learning new things all the time, especially now that the shoe is on the other foot. Look forward to my first post next Wednesday about establishing your own personal wedding style.

Sincerely,

 

 

Real Wedding: Stephanie and Patrick's Lakeside Wedding

Some of our favorite weddings are at private homes, and for me, this one really exuded rustic charm, played out the bride's vision, and fit the couple just perfectly.  Patrick's parents live on a lake in Windermere, FL and when Terri and I visited the home for our first walk through, we quickly saw the intrigue and and were so excited to help make the dream a reality.  One of the quirks at this venue was the aisle: The bridal party ended up walking toward the guests in front of them, rather than the traditional entrance from behind the guests.  The concept of "use what you already have" came into play as we worked with the space, and bringing in just the right rental decor and lighting made it somehow feel elegant and cozy at the same time.

Roll Call!

Photography by Studio 222 Photography and check their blog to see more images of this event!

Floral by Lee Forrest Design

Catering by Arthur's Catering

Lighting by Kaleidoscope Event Lighting

The Friday Five

Did everyone have a nice Christmas week?  Any big New Year's Eve plans?  We tend to hang out with intimate groups on NYE, spending time with a few friends at home or at the beach rather than fight the crowds going out.  This year, I'll be home putting my TWO kids to bed before we pop the champagne.  We still cannot believe we are a family of four and are amazed everyday by Saylor and Jack who continuously delight us and keep us on our toes.

One of my faves this week are these really interesting air plants displayed in sea urchins.  I found them while Christmas shopping on Etsy and felt like a few of my friends just NEEDED them.

Whether it's for New Year's Eve, your wedding day, or any old Tuesday, serve champagne and jazz it up with fruit, sugar cubes...even fresh flowers!

     Source: Uploaded by user via Ashleigh on Pinterest

Metallic accents.  Use silver, gold, or bronze to really make your wedding glow (or your house, or your shoes, or your nails... just use metallics somewhere!)

I love love love my new "Hello" notecards from Rifle Paper Co.  Rifle is right here in Winter Park, FL and also does some ah-may-zing and completely different wedding invitations and stationary.

My final "favorite" of 2011...my own Mr. Jack James Sobering.

Happy New Year!

Using 2012's Color of the Year {TANGERINE}

Pantone has announced that Tangerine Tango is 2012's Color of the Year.  We've used tangerine as an inspiration color before for a pretty, springtime wedding here in Orlando (check it out here).  I'm excited to see what else we can do with this color in our 2012 weddings.  Here are some beautiful ways to incorporate this splash of color into your own event!

                                                        Source: asoutherntradition.com via Brittany on Pinterest

                                                               Source: oksugar.com via Brittany on Pinterest

                                                              Source: 100layercake.com via Vivien on Pinterest

                                                                 Source: etsy.com via Rachel on Pinterest