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

Wedding Channel's Bridal Blog Awards

   

    Tickled Pink has been nominated for the Wedding Channel's Bridal Blog Awards!  If you like what you see on this blog, please vote for Tickled Pink Brides.  Simply click the link and leave a comment showing your support for our site!  Thanks, everyone!

Wedding Invitation Etiquette

    I'm often asked what the proper etiquette is for addressing wedding invitations, depending on the formality of the event.  Firstly, remember that your invitations set the tone for what guests can expect at your coming wedding.  The invitation guides them as to the formality, and even helps many guests choose their attire for the night.  For instance, an invitation to an daytime, backyard event may look very different than an invite to an evening dinner reception at a formal restaurant or hotel.  Your invitation does not need to leave guests questioning what is to come, so be sure to use clear language if black tie dress is optional or requested, if you are solely having a dessert reception, etc.

For a formal wedding, consider sticking to white or ivory paper (whichever matches the bride's dress), and traditional black ink.  You can play around with color, but keep the design simple.  Stripes, seashells, or polka dots do not say "formal" or "black tie".

Address labels are, by most standards, not appropriate for a wedding invitation.  Calligraphy is beautiful and elegant for a formal wedding, and printing directly onto the envelope is always a good choice.

Timing is important when sending invitations, especially when some guests are traveling to be there for the wedding.  Guests should receive your invitation about eight weeks from the wedding day, but consider sending a Save the Date six to eight months out if you have many out of town guests, or if you are having a destination wedding.

Don't forget to list an RSVP date clearly on your invitations.  This is typically 2-3 weeks from the wedding date, but check with your caterer or venue to be sure you'll have enough time to turn in your final headcount.  It is perfectly appropriate to call any guests who do not RSVP to politely ask if they'll be attending.  Do this about two weeks from the wedding date.

Include information/direction cards if your ceremony and reception are not in the same place, or if a large amount of guests don't know their way around your city.  These days, it's also appropriate to include the address to your wedding website, which can offer directions, maps, and hotel options.

Many wedding invitations require additional postage, so be sure to visit the post office before mailing them all to be sure you won't end up with a mailbox full of returned invites!  Always self-address and affix postage to the response card envelope. 

Unsure how to word your invitations?  Check with Wedding Paper Divas on sample wording.

It's a Jaime Thing's Custom Canvas Giveaway

    One of our friends in the wedding blog world, It's a Jaime Thing, has launched her new site and is celebrating by giving away a custom wedding canvas.  The canvases, by Geezees, are perfect for displaying engagement photos and special sentiments at the entry of your wedding, or for capturing a wedding photo along with your vows. 

    To enter, you must leave a comment on Jaime's blog post, telling her how you would design your custom canvas should you be chosen as the winner.  The giveaway is open to U.S. readers only and will end at midnight on July 24, 2009.  Good luck, and please show us your design if you win!

Wedding Featured on The Knot

   

    The upcoming issue of The Knot Florida features both my own wedding and that of a friend.  I'm so honored to have our photos chosen (thanks, Garrett Nudd Photography!) and almost a year and a half after our big day, I still love the way our wedding turned out and would do it the same all over again.
Here's a link to the Real Wedding article about my own wedding.

Our friends Jennika and Brandon were also featured in the issue with their natural wedding theme of Kelly green and chocolate brown.  Below is a sneak peek of their images, by Root Photography.

Bridesmaid Dresses by Thread

    For fashion-forward brides and their girlfriends, the words "bridesmaid dress" can sometimes invoke images of dowdy frocks that will be hung in the very back of the closet and have no chance of ever seeing the light of day again.  Lucky for all of us, designers know this and in the last couple years have revamped the bridesmaid dress to keep up with ready-to-wear fashion.  I recently toured Orlando's new Priscilla of Boston store and found dresses that I cannot wait to order for any cocktail event that comes up. 
    Another of my favorite designers is Thread, who makes gorgeous cocktail-style bridesmaid dresses in the most stunning colors.  For absolutely any occasion that a cocktail dress is needed, these dresses are perfect!

THREAD PARTY COLLECTION

THREAD LUXE COLLECTION

 

THREAD COTTON SEERSUCKER



Oh, I just love them all!

A Nature-Inspired Wedding

    A big fan of all things natural and organic myself, this Etsy seller's products are right up my alley.  The "going green" trend has sparked a lot of new wedding ideas and products, and I know many of you are incorporating natural elements into your own weddings.  Using preserved moss, April Hiler Designs offers unique and woodsy decor that is perfect for an outdoor summer wedding, or for bringing the outdoors in.  Below, the mini firefly lantern takes the place of votives and can either be grouped with your centerpiece arrangements or hung from the ceiling or trees for a beautiful, natural glow.

This preserved moss initial is wrapped with twine to hold pictures near the guest book or cake table.  Guests can also write "wishes" or sentiments for the married couple and slip them onto the initial to decorate the couple's home.



These alternatives to the traditional flower girl basket are nature-inspired and tie in your theme as your flower girl precedes you down the aisle.  On the left, a rustic kissing ball, or pomander, is filled with succulents.  On the right, a moss-filled basket will hold pretty petals.



Finally, a moss-covered ring bearer pillow completes your theme and looks adorable holding your rings in pictures.  Choose one adorned with succulents and berries, or keep it simple with plain sheet moss.

 

2010 Wedding Trends

    What goes around comes around, and for 2010, weddings are headed back to the basics, emphasizing the meaning of the event rather than glam and grandeur.  According to Get Married, next year we'll see a return to traditional, home-town events.  This may very well be a result of today's tough economy, since while couples are still getting married, budgets are slimmer and the money families have saved for weddings has oftentimes dwindled along with all of our investments.  What to do?  Look for ways to personalize your wedding (using DIY projects if necessary) to highlight the parts of your relationship that make it unique.  Below are Get Married's Top 10 Trends for 2010:

1.  Attention to detail, not drama
2.  Intimate and personal at-home weddings
3.  Buttercream cakes (rather than fondant)
4.  Thanking your guests with thoughtful favors
5.  Close-to-home weddings rather than exotic destinations
6.  Monochromatic palettes, including vibrant colors, metallics and black
7.  Eco-conscious weddings, and not just in appearance!
8.  Integrating video on the dance floor, for a better view during the ceremony, and current day video montages
9.  HD Videography
10. Hiring both professional wedding photography and videography

Hiring Wedding Vendors: Officiants

    Your ceremony officiant is the person who will legitimize your marriage and make it recognizable to both church and state.  This is a very important piece of your wedding planning, and having the right person officiate will make your day that much more special.  If you are not getting married in a church, consider a friend or family member that might be able to officiate.  Wedding officiants must be notaries and can even become ordained online.  A person who knows you and your fiance is going to word your wedding ceremony much more personally than one who has no knowledge of your relationship.  For this reason, having multiple meetings and pre-wedding counseling with your officiant can make his/her task in writing the ceremony easier and more meaningful.

Questions for the officiant:

• How much will the ceremony outline be personalized to our relationship?
• What type of planning meetings or counseling is required before you will marry us?
• Do we have a choice in saying traditional vows or writing our own?
• How long do you anticipate the ceremony lasting? (Also consider added songs, readings, unity ceremonies, etc)
• When would you like for us to give you the marriage license?
• Will you be mailing in our completed marriage license or do we need to do that?
• (Destination weddings) Is your ordination valid in the place we are getting married?
• Do you plan to attend the rehearsal?

Hiring Wedding Vendors: Reception Venue

    This is definitely one of the very first things to be decided on in your wedding planning (no explanation as to why I did not post this one first!).  Securing your venues also allows you to set your wedding date and time.  Let me be the first to say that deciding on a reception venue can seem daunting and is sometimes the most stressful decision of your planning.  As you tour venues, the biggest question to ask yourself is "Can I see OUR wedding at this location?"  If the venue's style just isn't what you've envisioned for your wedding, keep looking or speak with your wedding planner and floral/design team about personalizing the space into something that fits your style and personality better.

Questions for reception venues:

• How many guests can your venue accomodate?
• Do you have on-site catering or do we hire caterers/bartenders separately?
• Do we have freedom to choose any outside vendors or must we stick to your preferred vendor list?
• What does a typical wedding set-up look like?  May we visit during set up for another wedding?
• What is your site rental fee and what is included in it?
• (If necessary) Do you have a ceremony location on property and is there a separate ceremony fee?
• Does your staff set up all tables, chairs, linens, etc?
• How early can my other vendors arrive on the wedding day to start set up?
• What time must the reception end, and are there noise ordinances that we should be aware of?
• Will permits be required for things like tents on this property?
• Is there ample parking for all of our guests?
• (If catering is included) Will we be able to schedule a menu tasting?

Hiring Wedding Vendors: Florists

  

    Your floral team will create a look for your event that reflects the wedding's theme.  Maybe it looks soft and romantic, or overly opulent, or garden chic...it's your flowers and decor that are going to set the tone.  A good florist will listen to your ideas during a consultation and make suggestions on ways to enhance your vision.  If they have pictures of previous arrangements to show you or can pull specific flowers right out of the refrigerator, even better!  Here are some questions to take along to your floral consultations that will help you to be as knowledgeable as possible about choosing a wedding florist.

• Do you offer a mock-up arrangement before the wedding day, and at what price?
• Can you guarantee that our flower choices and colors will be the same on the wedding day as what we've seen and discussed?
• Are the prices we are agreeing to firm or might they change based on flower availability and pricing at the time of the wedding?
• Are vases and containers used for the arrangements considered rental or sale items?
• Do your fees include delivery and pick up?
• Upon delivery, do you stay to pin boutonnieres and corsages?
• When do our final floral decisions need to be made, such as number of centerpieces?
• How many hours before the wedding do you need for set up?  (Check with venue on what time vendors can begin set up, and make your florist aware of this).
• Do you offer other rental items, such as chairs, linens, lighting, etc?
• Do you decorate the cake if we choose to use fresh flowers on it?
• Do you include a toss bouquet?