Today, we are starting a great series by Uniquely Yours lead planner and designer, Sara Shoemaker.  Sara has put together a series of personal reflections on her own wedding, detailing the ups and downs of planning as well as mistakes made and learned from in the process.  As a planner, she brings the knowledge of her personal experience to the table to help her clientele avoid making costly decisions.  We hope you enjoy this series, and we look forward to your comments.

Smart Planning for a Simple Wedding

As a wedding planner, people often ask what my wedding was like. Well, I wasn’t a planner when I got married so I didn’t have the knowledge that I have now. My wedding was special in its own way, and I wouldn’t change it for anything, but I did learn from my experience and use the knowledge gained to help brides plan smarter.

I, as most brides, had no idea what I was doing. Not only was I young, but my family and friends didn’t have any recent experience planning a wedding so they went along with whatever I wanted.  While it all happened in the end, I see a lot of things that I could have done that would have been much easier and much more cost effective.

I have a lot of points that I will be sharing over the next few days. I hope you enjoy!

When DIY becomes A DIY Don’t

Trying to keep things on a tight budget, I went for the DIY way for everything. I thought of myself as very crafty and enjoyed projects so I found it only  natural to want to do everything myself. I did the Save the Dates, invitations, well wish cards, place cards, favors, bubbles and centerpieces all myself. For the stationary I ordered special paper and printed everything on my printer. Overall, it turned into a frustrating project that did not warrant the quality results I wished for. The paper kept jamming in the printer, the ink would run, it wouldn’t print right, the paper wasn’t cut straight, and my ribbon would fray and the issues continued with each of the projects. Today you can find beautiful stationery options at your local stationery retailer, online, and through custom stationery designers that will fit your budget, and save you the time and frustration I experienced.

Meaningful Favors & Gifts

My favors were candles with a DIY label and ribbon on them. As I think back I’m not sure what the purpose of the candle was. There are all kinds of favors,  but I’ve learned through my planning experience that the best favors are ones that have a meaning and purpose. Something someone can eat is always great! Or consider something that tells part of your story. Think of what you like to do together or consider something that goes with your overall wedding theme. For example, a recent favorite of mine was a display of baseballs signed by the bride and groom because the groom was a baseball player. Another client decided to do an ice cream station from Cold Stone because she and her fiancé went there every Friday night. When you start planning,  just remember to keep things personal, fun, and relevant. And as you go about your daily life something will come to mind.

Centerpieces

My wedding centerpiece was a glass bowl with a floating candle and colored rocks on the bottom and it all sat on top of a mirror. I think I was looking for something cheap and I didn’t see it as anything important. Now, on the contrary, I understand that a centerpiece makes a large statement when it comes to the overall look and decor of the reception. Also, I have learned that a floral centerpiece can be cost-conscious and beautiful. Afterward, I was stuck with a bunch of bowls that had burn spots from the candles and sat in storage where half of them broke. A meeting with a florist is complimentary, so it doesn’t hurt to sit and talk to them about what you would like, just be clear about how much you have to spend.

Tomorrow, I’ll share my lessons learned on flowers, linens, and catering.

I was doing some online shopping yesterday when I came across a link for The Wedding Shop at Macy’s.  We refer brides all the time to Macy’s for their registries and for gifts, but I had no idea that part of their online shopping site was dedicated specifically to weddings. Well, I checked it out and came away impressed. The Wedding Shop at Macy’s offers a variety of products to complete your wedding day look, including bridal gowns.  Now, don’t expect to find a huge selection of gowns. What they offer are a small, yet tasteful selection of simple, beautiful gowns and dresses perfect for intimate and destination weddings. They also offer a number of options for bridal party attire, party dresses perfect for rehearsal dinners or after parties, suits for the groom and his groomsmen, cute flowergirl and ringbearer attire, shoes, and a nice selection of jewelry and accessories.  Here are a few of my personal favorites from The Wedding Shop:

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Happy Shopping!

We get several inquiries every week from students and individuals seeking a career in wedding or event planning. As an experienced educator and teacher leader, I believe education and credentials are two of the biggest keys to success in any career field. There are many groups and instructors out there that claim to give you the keys to the wedding planning kingdom if you will just attend their course or seminar. Unfortunately, many of these people lack the education and credentials themselves to be a professional planner. much less teach a course, and some have very little to no experience in the industry at all.  Given the tough economic times, most of these “instructors” are out to make a quick dollar on unsuspecting people who have wedding planning stars in their eyes and are all too willing to give their money away to learn the ropes. As a result, those attending these courses are left with an incomplete picture regarding how to run a business and often walk away with skewed knowledge of the industry and a worthless certificate of completion.

Before I started down my own wedding planning career path, I spent several months researching and learning all I could about the industry.  I also spent time interviewing and shadowing a diverse group of wedding professionals in order to see the business through their eyes and their individual crafts.  This is a tough industry, one that is focused on one of the most important celebrations in the life of a couple.  Organization and communication are critical skills necessary for navigating the planning process with clients.  You have to be able to juggle many tasks at once and handle issues with tact and grace.  Then there is the entire business side to worry about as well.  Knowing how to write a business plan, file for corporate status, set up an accounting system, write a legally binding contract, establish a workable and affordable start-up marketing plan, and networking are all very important to the success of your endeavor.

Fortunately, there are internationally recognized professional associations and organizations  committed to building the profession through certified instruction and adherence to a professional code of ethics and business practices. One of these organizations is the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants (ACPWC).  I am a proud graduate of the ACPWC program and earned my Professional Wedding Consultant credentials through the ACPWC.

Through training by experienced professionals, continuing education programs and an ongoing industry recognized certification process, ACPWC provides uniformity and accountability thereby ensuring business integrity is maintained and supported well beyond the original training process. ACPWC graduates are prepared to start their own businesses after completing the training and quickly become leaders in their community of wedding and special event professionals. Since its establishment in 1990, the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants (ACPWC) has set the standard for excellence in wedding consulting nationwide offering the only professional training and certification program for wedding consultants registered by the Department of Consumer Affairs.

Courses are offered throughout the year across the country, and one of those courses is coming to the Central Florida area.

The Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront is hosting the next course August 2 – 6.  You can learn more about the course offerings by contacting The Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants at 408.227.2792 or by visiting the website at www.acpwc.com.  A quality, recognized educational program is one of the smartest investments you can make as you embark on a new career.

It has been quite a busy spring and early summer season for the Uniquely Yours team. Now that we have a few weeks before the fall season starts up, we are excited to bring you several new blog posts! We have so many creative ideas, products to share, and of course, beautiful weddings to feature.  But before all of that, I thought it would be nice to introduce you to our new studio space, “The Living Room”.

We have always wanted a creative space in Orlando to meet with clients, and this past April that dream came true as we partnered with a fantastic group of professionals for the opening of “The Living Room”.  Here are few photos of the new space. The space design and decor was done by none other than the super talented Becka of Studio 222 Photography.

Isn’t it sweet? We love it here!

This month we hosted our Summer Open House at the Living Room. It was wonderful having a space to greet and mingle with engaged couples and professionals alike.  We hope you will stop by for a visit soon.  Just give us a call or send an email first as we schedule meetings by appointment.

All Photos Courtesy of Studio 222 Photography

If you have not had a chance to stop by the studio at “The Living Room” for our special Summer Open House, tonight is your last chance.  If you are curious about the types of services planners can offer, have questions regarding your current plans, or just want some advice on various aspects of your wedding then you definitely want to stop by and meet the Uniquely Yours team.  Brides attending the Summer Open House are also eligible for a special promotion that we are offering. We look forward to meeting you tonight from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM so make plans to drop by and say hello.  For more information such as location, directions, and registration click here. See you soon!

Uniquely Yours Wedding & Event Specialist is hosting three open house nights this month at our studio in Winter Park. If you are engaged, or know somebody who is, please stop by to ask questions, learn more about our services, get advice, and mingle.  We look forward to seeing you there!

With the Fourth of July weekend upon us, we are dreaming of red, white, and blue inspiration.  Such classic colors, whether they are used alone or together, provide a simple, yet adaptable palette as evidenced by these gorgeous boards created by The Perfect Palette, one of our favorite daily reads.

Source of Inspiration Boards:  The Perfect Palette

Recently  I was invited to attend an intimate gathering of trend setting destination planners from around the country for an exclusive look into some of the wonderful destination properties found in sunny and luxurious Vero Beach.  The Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce hosted the first “Come Discover Love” event in early May.  This was a great opportunity for the attendees to “discover” all that Vero Beach and the Treasure Coast has to offer brides desiring a destination wedding in Florida, the number one destination wedding location.

The welcome reception was held at the chic Vero Beach Hotel & Spa, a beautiful oceanfront, boutique property.  We enjoyed seeing many familiar faces and meeting new ones while at the reception.

An after party followed at the ever popular Capt. Hiram’s resort where we were given a venue tour and had more time to mingle and meet the other attendees.

The next day featured a leisurely ecology cruise on the Indian River courtesy of River Queen Cruises. We were fortunate to sight a few dolphin on our tour of the most biologically diverse estuary in North America.

Our next stop was Gloria Estefan’s modern Costa d’ Este resort where we enjoyed a wonderful lunch and had the pleasure of hearing destination wedding expert, Susan Moynihan, editor in chief of Destination Weddings & Honeymoons magazine.  It was so refreshing to hear that Florida is tops among preferred destination wedding locations.

Dom Perignon was one of the lunch sponsors.

Photo Source: Ray Santana Photography

Creative floral design for the luncheon was provided by the talented and gracious Andres Aguiler of Mystique Flowers.

Photo Source:  PS Photography

After lunch, we were able to hear and meet none other than Grace Ormonde of Wedding Style Magazine.  Grace discussed the magazine and her current book tour showcasing her new book, Grace Ormonde Weddings.  Everyone in attendance received a copy of Grace’s beautiful tome, “Being In Love Never Goes Out of Style”, courtesy of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce. The book is filled with beautiful images from the magazine, Grace’s personal reflections, tips, and photographs and stories of real weddings from around the world.   I was thrilled to meet Grace in person, and have her sign my personal copy. The book is unlike any other with its focus on the love and commitment of couples which is central to what we do as planners.

That’s Grace Ormonde signing my personal copy!

Photo Source: Ray Santana Photography

The lush and tropically inspired Caribbean Court Boutique Hotel was our next stop.  This is a gorgeous property featuring a variety of indoor and outdoor settings perfect for intimate weddings.

Our group traveled on from the Caribbean Court to McKee Botanical Gardens where we learned more about the garden’s history and the beautiful areas of the garden that are available for weddings and other social occasions.

The Great Hall at McKee

The evening ended with a sumptious dinner back at Costa d’Este poolside where we glimpsed a stunning setup by renown designers, The Event Firm. Unfortunately, it was just a glimpse as everyone quickly moved indoors as a storm approached.  Fortunately, our friends Patty and Susy of PS Photography were able to capture the scene beforehand.

The Event Firm did a great job recreating their designs indoors for the backup plan.

Our final day in Vero Beach concluded with sunrise yoga and brunch at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort where we heard from none other than Rebecca Grinnals, expert consultant to the wedding industry and founder of Engaging Concepts. Rebecca’s presentations are always informative and inspiring, providing plenty of food for thought on how to manage our business and best serve our clients.

Come Discover Love offered a wonderful retreat and it was a pleasure attending the property tours and getting to meet so many fantastic planners and talented professionals from across the county with whom I will be corresponding.

Vero Beach is the perfect location for brides seeking  privacy and luxury in an intimate setting that is so close, yet far removed from the bustle of Orlando. The Uniquely Yours teams looks forward to working with future destination clients as they discover all that is to love about hosting their wedding celebrations in this exquisite Florida location.

Note: All photos are courtesy of PS Photography unless otherwise noted.

After a fun bride and groom session with Concept Photography on the beach, Suzy and Mike’s wedding celebration at the Crowne Plaza Melbourne Oceanfront continued into the hotel ballroom.  Here again, Thallo Floral Design carried the vibrant jewel tones and peacock feather accents throughout the room.

Here you can see the tree motif that Suzy looked to bring into her design.

The wishing tree was a big hit with guests. Throughout the night, guests added their sentiments for Suzy and Mike to cards and displayed them on the tabletop tree.

A “creative” wish by one of the younger set in attendance who took the “wishing tree” concept to heart. I love it!

Suzy and Mike’s reception featured an incredible 80′s cover band who kept the dance floor packed all night!  The festivities drew the attention of hotel guests and guests from another wedding who kept trying to steal a sneak peek through the door.  Suzy and Mike, we loved getting to know you and work with your families.  We wish you all the best for a wonderful life together!

Mike and Suzy’s wedding ceremony and reception were held at the Crowne Plaza Melbourne Oceanfront in Brevard County.  The day could not have been more perfect. Sunny skies, a lovely ocean backdrop, and soft breezes provided a natural setting for the ceremony which was held at the gazebo on the Crowne Plaza’s property.  The Uniquely Yours team has done many weddings in this particular location and the space is adaptable to a variety of styles from elegant to beach rustic.  Suzy kept her design simple to keep the focus on the ceremony.  Here are a few of our favorites from the ceremony and the bride and groom session which followed as captured by Jason and Sara Martin of  Concept Photography.

Harpist, Victoria Schultz, played a variety of music that was not your typical wedding fare.  Selections included “Have I Told You Lately”, Adam Sandler’s “Grow Old With Me”, “Orinoco Flow” and “Song of the Chanter”.  Victoria followed up the ceremony with a cocktail repertoire that was focused on show tunes.