An Exciting Announcement

Christmas is over, I hope everyone had a great holiday.  Ours was extremely busy, lots of parties and events and family in from out of town.  But now everything has calmed down and it's time to get back to posting on the blog.

I'm happy to say our first post is an exciting announcement.  I am going to be teaching a course for Brookwood Church as part of their Brookwood University. This course is for anyone newly engaged. It is titled How to Plan Your Wedding Like a Pro.  Below is all the information:

How to Plan Your Wedding Like a Pro
Wednesdays, January 24 - February 28, 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Click here to registerfor this class. Childcare is not available for this class.
Wednesdays, March 6 - April 17, 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Click here to register forthis class. Childcare is not available for this class.
This six-week class is for anyone planning or helping plan a wedding withinthe next year. You will learn what questions to ask to find the perfect venue and vendors for your wedding. You will learn how to plan your ceremony and reception to make your day memorable for you and your guests. Most importantly you will learn what costly mistakes to avoid and where to spend your money for the best possible event. Materials fee of $5 per person required. For more information or to register for this class please click on the registration link above.

Recommended Resource: The Wedding Book: The Big Book for Your Big Day by Mindy Weiss
Cost: $13.97

Instructor: Susan Sanford
Susan has over 20 years experience planning events, conferences and meetings in the corporate world. In July 2004, she entered the world of wedding planning and is the owner of Willrich Bridal and Special Events. Susan is a member of two top South Carolina Bridal Associations, Wedding Festivals and Upstate Bridal Association. In 2010 and 2011 she won the Brides Choice Award given by Martha Stewart and Weddingwire. This award recognizes the top five percent of wedding professionals across the country who demonstrate excellence in quality, service and professionalism.

Wedding Postage Problems

Honest Mistake from Alexis & Rafe on Vimeo.

I saw this video today and thought it was a really good reminder.  This couple mailed their invitations without checking for postal rate increases with the post office.  The cost of stamps actually went up after they mailed their stamped RSVP's to wedding guests.   So the return postage on their RSVP's was no longer correct. 

They did come up with a cute way to correct the problem and I especially like the mention that they did not have a wedding planner at the end of the video.  Yep, those are the kinds of things a planner checks.

So make sure, before mailing out your invitations, that you call the post office or check online to make sure no increases are expected.

A Quick Tip for Making Your Wedding Menu Fun

So you have planned a wonderful menu for your reception.  You chose the fried chicken because it tastes just like the chicken your grandmother made for you every Sunday or maybe the dessert is just like the pie you had on your first date.  Why keep these great reasons for your choices to yourself?  Make your printed menu card even more personal and entertaining by including these facts.   Guests will love the information and enjoy the meal even more.

What is Your Rain Plan?

Here in the Upstate of South Carolina, we never do an outdoor wedding without a rain plan.  The weather can change just too quickly to not be prepared.  Normally, we have an indoor area we can move to or have a tent brought in to cover the situation.  But I saw this picture on Jasmine Starr's blog and if no other option is available this makes for a pretty clever rain plan.  They handed out umbrellas for everyone in matching colors and the minister shortened the ceremony to just six minutes.  Very clever indeed!

How Do You Know the Bride?

I saw this really cool idea on Preston  Bailey’s site and I just had to share it.  What a fun idea for your rehearsal dinner or maybe even your reception.  I would think it is a sure fire way to get your guests talking.  Just have a childhood picture of you and one of your groom made into buttons, for team Bride or team Groom.  Have guests pin on a button and start explaining how they know you.  Love it!

(Image via Every Last Detail)

Simpsonville Bridal Fashion Show

Last weekend, I was delighted to direct a bridal fashion show for Carolina Bride and Groom. The show took place at Holly Tree Country Club during the Simpsonville Bridal Fair. I thought you might like to see a few of the beautiful dresses that went down the runway. The models were all customers of Carolina Bride and Groom. Some were future brides and the rest were past brides. All the ladies and the two guys did a fabulous job. It was a lot of quick changes and behind the scenes craziness but it all turned out beautifully. I can’t wait to do it again.

Including Your Pet on Your Wedding Day

We have had pets involved in many of our weddings.  They have walked down the aisle, been carried into the reception and pictured on table numbers.  They can be your flower girl, ring bearer, best man or maid of honor.  Just remember, when planning to involve your pet in a wedding there are several things to be aware of.  First does your venue or reception site allow pets?  Most do not. If yours does, then make sure the pet is well behaved, well groomed and well dressed.  We have done collars of flowers, doggy tuxes and tutus.  Make sure someone will be responsible for getting the pet down the aisle and watching it during the reception.

But don’t despair; if the site does not allow pets there are other ways to include them.  You can use their picture as a part of your table numbers, put their pictures on wine bottles or candy wrappers.  Have them included in your engagement pictures and use one as your sign in mat picture.  Some couples have their pet represented in cake on the wedding day.  Personally I’m a little squeamish about cutting into my pet (even if it is cake) but that’s just me.  Your beloved pet can be included in your montage shown at the rehearsal dinner or reception.  You can even have him as a part of the wedding cake topper. There is no limited to the creative ways you can share your love of your pet with your wedding guests.

Questions about The Charger Plate



Photo Source: Memories by McMillan

I was talking to a florist today and the question came up “how long does a charger plate remain on the table?”  In case you don’t know a charger or underplate is the large decorative plate used to enhance your table setting.  No food is placed on them.  A food plate is placed on top of the charger.

The charger is in place when the guest arrives.  The soup or salad plate may be set in place on top of the charger or the charger can be alone with just a napkin in the center.  The most common practice is for the salad plate to be in place on the charger as the guest is seated.  It will remain in place through the soup and/or salad course and then be removed for the rest of the meal. 

If the charger is important to the overall look of your tablescape you can elect to have the charger remain in place throughout dinner, but it is always removed before dessert is served.

Lamp Centerpieces...Very Cool

Looking for a little different centerpiece for your wedding?  Something a little more funky and cool?  We’ve done lamp centerpieces several times and I love them. They are a huge amount of bang for the buck. Check it out…

photo source: UBloom

What's Hot This Year in Wedding Planning

I ran across this interesting information today and I thought you my sweet readers might be interested.

WHAT'S HOT THIS YEAR IN CEREMONY & RECEPTION PLANNING

• More couples choosing same location to have their ceremony and reception, up almost 10% over 2010
• Couples choosing more unique locations, “Other” same location venues take the lead from Event Facilities
• More couples having their wedding ceremony at a courthouse, private residence, or wedding chapel
• More couples holding their wedding reception at a private residence or restaurant
• With more unique locations on the rise, more officiates are performing the ceremony, a 30% increase over 2010
• Food stations are more in demand than ever before
• While other dessert options are popping up, wedding cake is still most popular at 83% demand
• Cash bar on the rise along with outside alcohol and BYOB
• Photo booth is the only rental that maintained demand, all other rentals down
• The couple is contributing more to ceremony and reception costs
• Couples researching closer to wedding date for venue
• Couples inviting less guests, 144 compared to 152 in the 2010 study
• Couples holding wedding closer to home

Topline results from the Ceremony & Reception Study 2011 by The Wedding Report (theweddingreport.com)

How To Knock Their Socks Off with Your Wedding Colors

I’m asked quite often about flower colors for a wedding.  Should they be bright, more muted, is white better than bright colors?  My answer is to start with the volume low and amp it up as the night goes on. 

What does this mean?  Well let’s say your favorite color is lavender (which happens to be mine).  I would start with ceremony flowers of different shades of white, the only hints of lavender would be in the linens, personal flowers (bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres) bridesmaids’ dresses and ribbons used.

As we move to the cocktail hour, linens would become a deeper shade of lavender; flowers would be white with bright pops of lavender color added.  This makes the transition from the ceremony to cocktail hour connected while building a sense of excitement and expectation. 

Once you enter the reception flowers become all shades of purple from pale lavender to deep royal purples.  The linens reflect the deep richer tones and announce to the guests that this is the PARTY!  The colors are “knock your socks” off dazzling, yet everything about your wedding day connects and flows.

You can check out one of my favorite blogs http://blog.karentran.com for more pictures of this look.

A Great Bridal Shower Idea!

Ok, I love, love, love this idea.  Have a cake decorating party for either a shower or a bridesmaids’ party.  Order small two layer cakes for each guest and have your favorite cake baker come and teach your girls how to decorate their tiny wedding cake.   It’s a creative and original party idea.  Throw in a few signature cocktails for the girls to sip on and this could be a totally fun evening. You could even give cute aprons as the favor. 

Source: Inside Weddings

Megan and Anthony's Mountain Wedding

When we started planning Megan and Anthony’s outdoor mountain wedding we had no idea that the day of the wedding would be freezing cold.  I mean teeth chattering cold.  Luckily, we had a plan B and quickly moved it into place. We rented heaters, built a bon fire, put the sides down on the outdoor area and handed out blankets and wraps. It was enough to hold off the cold and let the guests have a good time.

The couple chose Pretty Place for their ceremony and close by Rainbow Lakes Resort for their reception.  Many of their guests, being from out of town, stayed in the cabins located at the resort.

Megan had chosen a fall theme.  The flowers were rich browns, golds, greens and oranges in birch wood containers.  The linens were chocolate with overlays that had a leaf design. Megan made the table numbers that were post cards of different sites around Greenville, SC.  Flavored water bottles had each guests’ name attached to it along with their table number assignment.  There were fall colored koozies for guest favors. It all came together to make a gorgeous picture along with the mountain backdrop.

Vendors:

Wedding Planning and Coordination - Willrich Bridal and Special Events
Ceremony - Pretty Place
Reception - Rainbow Lakes Resort
Florist - Memories by McMillan
Photographer - Better Tie Productions
Cake - Icing on the Cake
Ceremony Musician - Rahab Hackett and Susan Hackett
DJ - Complete Music Video and Photography
Caterer - Goodlife Catering
Rentals - Proffesional Party Rentals

Mountain Wedding

Here's a picture from our wedding on Saturday.  There will be more to follow this week.

Still Waiting on Those RSVP's?

I saw this today on Off Beat Bride and thought it was absolutely adorable.  They suggested if you are having trouble getting your RSVP's back, email this to those late responders with a link back to you so they can easily give you an answer.  Great idea and way too cute!

Will Your Wedding Guests be "Watch Checkers"?

We have talked a lot on The Willrich Wedding Planner’s Blog about what makes wedding guests happy.  Again and again I have preached timing and flow, the two most important concepts of your event.  Timing refers to your timeline, when are events to happen, how long is each event.  Flow is how you move from one event to the next.  Each event (such as the grand entrance, the first dance, welcomes) should flow seamlessly into the next without any “watch checking”.

I was reading an article about Colin Cowie and he talks about he like to makes sure a new event, or interesting moment happens before the guests have time to look at their watch.  What a great statement. By the time a guest is looking at his watch he has gone from “wow this is cool” to “when is this going to end”.

The biggest complaints by guests are that things just drag on.  If you ever watch the show Four Weddings you know that once those brides start checking their watches, they are going to start finding fault.  “Watch checking” starts when the ceremony does not start on time,  when cocktail hour runs to long (45 minutes at the most, with 15 minutes to get guests inside and seated) when dinner takes too long to start or too long to finish up.  There are always the dreaded toasts that run on and on.  You may think it is sweet but after the second one your guests are bored and watch checking begins.

When setting up your timeline be aware of these things and make sure you have professionals in place to assure an excellent timeline and an enjoyable flow to your event.