Engagement Season (part one)

You are in love, so happy and have been talking about marriage. Bliss! You have a romantic weekend away planned and think he may just ask. How exciting!
Do you know what your perfect engagement ring looks like? Have you thrown enough hints?
No doubt your man is wonderful but men generally aren’t great at taking hints and often need some gentle persuasion. Here are a few tips to get the ring you want.
First, make sure he has seen the inside of your jewellery box and knows if you are partial to yellow gold or white gold and platinum. If you are getting dressed for an evening out, mention your jewellery as you are accessorizing and show him a few pieces in your preferred metal and style.
If it is around Christmas time, great. You can bring him shopping and head into a jewellery store on the pretence of a gift for someone else. As you pass by rings (any rings, not just engagement rings), mention what you like and dislike. Big solid centre stones, cut of stones, clusters, diamonds on the band etc. Be specific but casual!
Jewellery is advertised in all magazines. Leave a page open to one you like.
If you have a friend that is recently engaged, mention it and tell your man what her ring was like and why you liked it or didn’t.
Most importantly consider your style. Are you a vintage girl, classic, modern or traditional? Mention your general style as often as you can. You can work it into general conversations about room decor or even clothing but make sure he knows what your style is at the very least. Then a good jewellery shop assistant can help.

And don’t forget, he loves you and wants you to love the ring he has chosen!
Happy hinting!

One Shot Stop

This is so beautiful and natural I just want you to look at it.

Photography by Jose Villa in Southern California

Wedding Websites

I am going through a bit of drama at the moment with my own website (if you have seen it you know what I’m on about) and it got me thinking about how easy it is to set up a personal wedding web page. I do think it’s a great idea and a brilliant tool for all of your guests. Your Aunt Mary is probably more web savvy than you may think so it is a great way to keep all the information and organization together and manage your RSVPs. You can give directions, local information and add some fun bits. Both allow you to post registry information which is good as you absolutely cannot give this information with your invitations.
After a short investigation I have found two. The first is mywedding.com. Very attractive and they have templates that you can match up with your invitations from selected suppliers. – Quite good suppliers I might add. But I found it takes a bit longer to set up. You can turn on and off pages as you need them or add pages that are not already on the template so a bit more freedom.
The other is ewedding.com. Templates are not as good but I like the format and found it really easy to set up. There are a few ads when setting up but ignore them. This one also tells you how many unique visits you have had but not who they are unless they sign the guest book.
Have a look at both. I think they are both very good but must say that my preference is mywedding.com as long as you have the time to play with it.
Good Luck and have fun being creative with these!!!!
Annie
Live, Love, Laugh and Dream!

Etsy Christmas Gifts

Well, I am planning ahead for Christmas this year. I promise! No, Really. I am.
I had already decided that the shopping was going to be done online, but after looking at a few bits from Etsy, I think that is nearly job done as there is so much to choose from and they are so individual. Have a look at some of theses. But if you are a close friend of mine or family, turn away now or you will ruin Christmas. Now! Turn away! Everyone else enjoy…………………………..

Coffee table calender by Spilling Beans
Ooh $14!

How cute! by JRisco €45!

Lovely. Moonovermaize a mere $32!

Great selection of tile coasters by Pinkflowercube 12 Bucks!

And something for the boys who I always find difficult to buy for.

From Micaknobstudios

Cocktails!

Aren’t cocktails fun? You can personalize, colourise and customize them just like all great details in your wedding. But can we move on from the Cosmo? And the Mojito? Yes, they are good (really good actually!) but you can personalize, colourise and customize!
What are your wedding colours? Did you take a holiday and find a new favourite drink?
You can find or create new cocktails to reflect your personalities and experiences or just create an atmosphere. Some cocktails and punches can be lower in alcohol or non alcoholic but still fun and there is one for everyone...............



Is your Husband-to-be an Absolute Hunk? Then Absolute Vanilla, simple syrup, fresh lime and a splash of pineapple juice is your man!



Do you want a Kiss on the Lips? I bet you do! Peach schnapps, Mango puree and Grenadine is the job for you!

Having your wedding on a lovely fall/Autumn evening? Warm up your guests with an Apple Pie Punch. Apple juice, Apple Cider, Cinnamon sticks and Vodka. Yum!



And for you, a Blushing Bride. Peach schnapps, Champagne and Drop of Grenadine!
Enjoy and experiment!

What we do

I love magazines. So pretty and glossy. However I am aware – as everyone should be, that the editorials and many of the articles are paid for by the advertisers so they are very biased with their recommendations. Therefore I was surprised and delighted to read the article in the Autumn edition of Wedding Journal magazine about Leo Callow, a wedding coordinator, who attempted to clear up the misconceptions of what we as Wedding Planners and Coordinators actually do for our couples and that we really can save them money.
I know there is a recession on (hate that word) and some people think a wedding coordinator is an additional expense. It is not. A good wedding coordinator can not only keep you on or under your budget but save you money by coming up with creative ways to fulfill your dream instead of just shelling out for it.
A wedding coordinator will keep you focused and I speak for most of us (I hope) that we can look at a budget and what is allocated to each item and pick out what can be done for less and what may cost a bit more.
These days when money is tighter most couples need this service all the more. Making a wedding fabulous is easily done as long as it reflects the couple getting married. Your happiness, your loves, your quirks and what is important to you. Your family and friends will recognize that and that is what makes the perfect wedding. Not how much you spend on it.
Leo said in the WJ article, 'People are motivated by laughter and friendship, that feel-good factor. That's what a wedding should achieve. That sense of happiness, love and togetherness.' Well done Leo, I couldn't have said it better!

Live, Love, Laugh and Dream!
Annie

Lehr & Black wedding invitations

Can I just take a moment to fantasize?
I love paper products so invitations are obviously one of my favourite things to do with weddings. You can be soo creative with them!
Take a look at these. I am just speechless with how stunning and detailed they are. Lehr & Black have designed the wedding invitations for Britney & Kevin, Eva & Tony, Gwen & Gavin and Ashlee & Pete to name a few.
Have a peek and take the inspiration and run with it because the cost? If you have to ask you can’t afford it.

Love this one!

Inside

Just fab!

More by J. Crew

To follow on from my post below here are the lovely gowns from J.Crew.


This is the one for $395, Great value and it's silk chiffon. Add a broach and some bling........WOW!


I love this one!



Front and back. Lovely!

New by J. Crew

My old favourite is now doing bridal - Yes, J. Crew.
Being J.Crew, the styles are all comfortable and very wearable. The bridal collection begins at $395 and bridesmaids from $165.
Have look.............................................





So Cute! And loads of colours. A few accessories and flowers, perfect!

I love a fall wedding (Autumn for the non Americans). The colours are so warm and welcoming. When browsing invitations (one of my favourite things to do) with one of my brides in mind, I came across these from A Printable Press and thought they embodied everything about a fall wedding-I am also loving grey and yellow colour schemes at the moment.
A Printable Press is also a good budget option as they create the invitation design with a selection of fonts and colours then insert your own wording and send the final on to you either print yourself or bring to a printer. From there you can choose to add any embellishments (ribbon, diamonte etc) you like!
FYI though, they also do custom work so check them out, but in the meantime, here are a few more of my favs from them.








A printable press

What's in a name?

What’s in a name?
I think some people are not sure what to call me, or sometimes, what it is I do – and I think my mother is one of them!
Wedding planner, wedding coordinator, wedding consultant, bridal consultant – we are all of the above. We can be your wedding resource, best friend, personal assistant, advisor and sometimes mother figure –for those of us who are (just a bit) older.
Most venues and hotels have an onsite coordinator and you may see companies who supply decor calling themselves event planners. Big difference! Please don’t confuse us! They work on behalf of their own company/hotel/venue and are concerned with the sales there. And while they are helpful (I hope I was!), we as professional planners are there for you. We work for you in organizing all aspects of your wedding. (Ask your chair cover company to recommend a reading for your service or advice on invitation etiquette and see the look you get). I am certainly not knocking these people. I have a great respect and need for them and have many on my books providing stunning services, but professional wedding planners/consultants/coordinators are a source of information and knowledge with experience and a well needed sense of calm. We have ideas and contacts and will help you save time, money and stress when planning your wedding.
We will help you budget, manage, brainstorm, keep you on track with a timeline and make your wedding day exclusively personal. Not a cookie cutter program or style.
Bridesmaids, mothers and friends are great for wanting to help but don’t you want to spend quality time with them in days leading up to your wedding and enjoy the party on the day?
We will take care of all of the details so you and your bridal party can relax and enjoy the day. Not to be worried about setting things up before the wedding, or the cake not being there at noon.
So Mom, that’s what I do.
You can call me Annie Byrne, Wedding Coordinator
Live, Love, Laugh and Dream!