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

Alani and Ian's Wedding Video Trailer

    Alani and Ian's beautiful wedding photos received a great response when I posted them a couple weeks ago.  This week, their videographer sent out the trailer to their video (I hear it's now completed...can't wait to see the whole thing!).  Below is the short version of their wedding day story, complete with the bagpipe music that Alani surprised Ian with during the ceremony.  Turn your speakers on!

Kari and Matt's Engagment Photos

    One of my favorite couples, Kari and Matt, recently took their engagement photos at the beach with Orlando photographer Mike Briggs.  After their first attempt for a beach photo shoot was rained out, this second, and successful, engagement session was worth the wait!  We are all looking forward to their February 2009 wedding at the Mystic Dunes Resort in Celebration, FL.  Enjoy these photos of a genuine and adorable pair!

Perfect Sky Productions "Edit-Off" Competition

And so it begins. Today is our Edit-Off Wedding Videography Competition, brought to you by Perfect Sky Productions. There are two videos, the first by Schuyler, the second edited by Doug. Each feature the same wedding footage, though they are edited differently to reflect each videographer's style.

Please comment on which video you prefer. Your choices may impact the final product that the bride, Erin, receives.  May the best man win!

Jacoby/Walker Wedding Trailer V.1 from Schuyler Osborne on Vimeo.

Jacoby/Walker Wedding Trailer V2 from Douglas Howard on Vimeo.

Sunday Style Tips from Gala Darling

  Style isn't always about fashion or appearances.  Here's a feel-good "Style Tips" post by one of my favorite daily reads, Gala Darling:

Photos by & of my beautiful friend Chloe.

 Take a photo of yourself looking really, really happy. Bonus points: link to it in the comments! 

 Change the way you walk. It seems like a little thing, but it can make a huge difference. I had a friend who used to bounce up on her foot with every step — it was adorable & made her even more awesome than she already was. Or try to move more fluidly, more gracefully. See how it makes you feel.

 Give your friends things that they can wear. There is nothing better than wearing something that someone you love has given you, because you feel a connection to them the whole time it’s against your skin. Give your friend a necklace, knit them a scarf, buy a charm for their bracelet or make them a tote bag, & then tell them why.

 Flirt more. Flirt with everyone, even people you don’t really like or aren’t really interested in. First of all, it’s excellent practice, & secondly, it makes everyone feel better.

 Develop an appreciation for marmalade.

 Adopt this as your credo:

"Edit-Off" Wedding Video Competition

    Perfect Sky Productions, a Central Florida wedding videography company, has begun an edit-off competition after Erin and Mike's wedding last weekend.  The company is home to two creative and talented videographers, Doug and Schuyler, both of whom are putting together different and individual sneak-peak trailers for us to compare.  Please join in the competition-- I'd love your feedback on which style of wedding videography you prefer!  I'll debut the first trailer on Monday.  For now, here is the intro video to kick off the competition!

"Edit-off" for Jacoby/Walker Trailer from Douglas Howard on Vimeo.

Money-Saving Wedding Tips

  

    

    Recently I've heard more brides than I could have expected tell me that due to "this economy" they'll be cutting back and spending less on their weddings.  Sometimes the bride and groom have been hit by the economic downturn, and usually their parents have been hit even harder.  Every morning I open the newspaper and read about financial woes while I drink my coffee.  Today my local newspaper heard all those brides' voices and devoted the Style section to scaling back on wedding spending!  In it, some of our Central Florida wedding planner friends compiled a list of savvy ideas that allow more wedding at a lower cost.

• Establish priorities
• Trim the guest list.  Invite your nearest and dearest only
• Change the day and time from Saturday evening.  Prices are lower on Fridays and Sundays, as well as brunches and lunches rather than dinner.
• Hire a photographer for fewer hours.
• Use online resources for save-the-dates, invitations, programs, menus, etc.
• Accept offers of help or gifts of goods and services, ie. a homemade cake, a friend to make bouquets, etc.
• Get creative with flowers.  Reuse flowers from the ceremony at the reception.  Use fewer flowers, and add more greenery, branches, or candles.
• Cut back on the amount and/or variety of food and drink.  Choose a few less hors d'ouvres and two specialty drinks rather than an open bar.  Skip the champagne toast and let guests toast with whatever is in their hand.
• Hire a dj instead of a band. 
• Skip elaborate decor.  Use LED lighting to set a mood.
• Skip the Rolls-Royce or stretch limo.
• Skip the favors.  Most guests won't take them anyway.

Thanks, Just Marry!, Eventfully Yours, Weddings Unique, and Wonderful Weddings for the tips.

Each of these little tips add up.  Try just a few and you'll save hundreds (or thousands!) on your wedding without sacrificing much.  The first bit of advice is the most important.  Prioritize and spend your time and money on things that matter to you.  Go a little less on everything else and remember, there is no "right way" to have a wedding.  If unity candles, favors, and a fancy wedding cake don't sound exciting, nix them altogether.  It's all about you, your groom, and sharing a day with those you love the most. 

Wedding Grand Exits & Finales

    Forget sneaking out quietly- most brides look for a big bang exit from their wedding reception to finish off the night and leave guests with a spectacular grand finale.  Most of our brides choose sparklers, which guests hold while the bride and groom run through on the way to their getaway car.  Sparklers make for fabulous photo ops, and while I see them over and over, I can't help but to recommend them for brides looking for a special way to end the evening.

  Photo courtesy of Garrett Nudd

    Other exit favorites for the ceremony or reception include a dove release, bubbles, and rose petals that guests toss.  Personalized toss cones are available to store petals in and also serve as a decorative accent along the center aisle during the ceremony.  Surprise your new hubby by hiring a choir or singer to perform his favorite song for the recessional as you leave the aisle, or hire a vintage or luxury getaway car for your big escape!  Some couples choose tiny bells that each guest rings, creating an absolutely heavenly sound!

    This past weekend we ended the reception at Erin and Mike's wedding with confetti canons, which were shot out over the dance floor during the last dance to Bon Jovi's 'Living on a Prayer'.  That finale was so fun and unexpected as colorful confetti rained down on dancers- I'm hoping more brides will choose that soon!

Photo courtesy of Garrett Nudd

    For brides wanting to end the night stylishly, change into a short party dress in white, black or a metallic color to head to your hotel or attend the after-party.  Switch out your accessories to change up your look-- try adding colorful jewelry, remove your veil and add put up your hair with a jeweled clip or hair pins, or add a fur stole or cashmere shrug in cooler weather.

Glitz. Glamour. Reveal. E-Events' Housewarming Party!

    This week E-Events and our officemate, Liga Photography, hosted an incredible housewarming party at our Winter Park, FL office and downstairs courtyard.  Local fashion designer Alisha Zutter debuted her one-of-a-kind collection, featuring recycled and vintage clothing made into entirely custom pieces.  I even got to wear one of her party frocks to show it off!  The party was catered by Moore Fine Foods, who served things like scallops and strawberries (together...yum!).  DJ Carl played the soundtrack for the evening, including the E-Events signature song you'll hear on the slideshow below!

    Thanks to all our friends and families that attended-- the night would not have been the same without each of you there!

Pearl Beach Paperie's Custom Wedding Invitations

   Invitations are the first glimpse your guests will get of the party that is soon to come.  Set the tone for your wedding with custom invitations that reflect your personality and style, just as you are doing with the rest of your wedding details.  Pearl Beach Paperie offers paper goods that can be adjusted and customized as you wish.  Paper diva, Darcy Sang, will create stylish and sophisticated Save the Dates and invitations that will get your guests totally jazzed about attending your wedding.   Below are a few of my favorites.  Contact Darcy for your holiday and event cards, or for a consultation on creating a custom look for your own wedding.