Tuesday, June 29, 2010

INSPIRATION BOARD: The Silhouette

I guess I'm in a vintage state of mind. After Monday's post, I put together an inspiration board designed from my "muse" The Silhouette. It's classic and sophisticated.





(Sources: Silhouette by Cut Arts, Van Deusen Photography,Chandelier, KM Photography Weddings, Love Life Images, Invitation by Betsy White, Anemone flowers featured in Brides Real Weddings

Monday, June 28, 2010

I *heart* vintage

If you're a bride that has a flair for retro sophistication, then the item you're after is called the "birdcage veil."

















































































Aren't these veils gorgeous?



(Photo cred: Anne Michelle Heirlooms
Stephanie Williams Photography, Batcakes Couture )

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Get creative with your Save-the-Dates!

It truly amazes me how people continue to reinvent the wheel. Through browsing many websites and blogs I have come across so much creativity! I tried to narrow down, what I thought, was THE MOST creative, but there were too many I just loved, that I had share them ALL (well,a few anyway)!




Here is a Save-the-Date SONG! Yes, a save the date song! Check out the couple's wedding website by clicking here for the lyrics to follow along with the song!


Click HERE to listen




Some other clever ideas to inspire...




















Saturday, June 26, 2010

Bridal Shows... How to survive and get the most out of your experience!

Bridal Shows are an adventure for the soon-to-be bride (or couple). You have an opportunity to meet with many of the local area vendors that are dedicated to making your day as special as it can be. Make the most of your experience by being prepared and arming yourself with some time-saving tips!

1. Create a new email account designated for all things wedding! Keep your personal or work email spam-free by creating a separate wedding e-mail account that is used specifically for your wedding related communication. You can also use this email when you enter wedding contests or promotional drawings.
TIP: Save your regular email address for the vendors you sign.

2. Pre-register before the show to save yourself time & money. Not only does pre-registering allow you to save time from having to fill out all your information at the entrance, but there’s probably a good chance that you can take advantage of discounted ticket prices and early-bird contest drawings.
Helpful tip: Check out the list of vendors exhibiting in the show you will be attending. Often times, exhibitors are given comp tickets to give out to people interested in their services. Call up a vendor that you are interested in hiring and ask if they have tickets so you can come check them out.

3. Do your research and check out the vendors that are expected to exhibit in the show. Visit their websites to get a feel of their style and pricing. This will help you eliminate vendors that don't fit your budget and/or style.

4. Have a game plan - make a list of the wedding services you need and have an estimated budget for each service.

5. Allow yourself time- Be prepared to spend 2-5 hours at the show.

6. Wear comfy shoes- You'll be on your feet all day... keep your dogs from barking!

7. Bring pre-printed labels- include your name, wedding date, wedding location, mailing address and wedding email address that you can have readily available to give each of the vendors you meet.

8. Bring your own tote bag- Carry your own tote so you can put all the brochures, cards and "give aways" from vendors. Be sure to have an oversized envelope so you can tuck away the information of vendors that you were really impressed with and might book, thus saving you time sorting through all your stuff after the show!

9. Bring a notebook and pen- Take notes! Take notes! You'll be getting an overload of information. You don't want to forget any of it!

10. Bring your date book- Know your schedule so you can make follow-up appointments with vendors your want to book.

11. Bring your camera- You will see many things and talk with many people. Have a camera on hand so you can take pictures of some of the things you saw during your visit. Did you see a great idea for table settings and centerpieces? Perhaps there was a great cake on display at a cake designer's booth.

12. Bring your color swatches/theme ideas etc- If you have your ideas in hand, a vendor could possibly give you some ideas on how to pull it all together.

13. After the show, organize all your new information immediately! Then make your follow-up phone calls.

Have fun and enjoy the show!

Friday, June 25, 2010

FAB FIND: "Cootie Catcher" favors

Remember when you were a little girl and made "fortune tellers" in grade school to find out which boy you would marry? Well, now that you found him, why not give your guests a fun and creative favor! These clever little favors crafted by KatsKrafts are a great ice breaker at the tables.

Each cootie is as unique as the couple they are designed for... the possibilities are endless! Kudos to Kat!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

It's cake... on a stick!

I'm loving these adorable wedding cake pops by the ever talented Bakerella.


Some creative ways to use cake pops for your wedding:

What a "sweet" way to ask your friends to be a part of your bridal party!
(The Lollicake Company)

Give to your guests as wedding favors for a delicious treat!
(The Lollicake Company)

Escort cards... what a delicious idea!

(Just A Bite Cake Pops)

Why hire a Wedding Planner?

There are many reasons to hire a Wedding Planner, but here are the three most important reasons why:

1. Save time- Planning a wedding is a full-time job. There are many big and small details to take into consideration, many decisions to be made and hundreds of vendors to choose from. A planner can do all the leg work for you and recommend vendors that fit your style and budget, saving you days of research and headaches.

2. Save $$- In today's economy, everyone wants to stretch their dollars as far as possible; and, when it comes to weddings, now more than ever, it is essential to know how to get the most bang for your buck. A planner can help you obtain the best catering, florist, music, and other wedding necessities that fit your style and budget.

3. Reduce stress and anxiety- A stressed bride is not a happy bride. Your wedding day should be a day where you can relax, and mingle with your loved ones. The last thing you should be doing is making sure your vendors arrive on time and setting up for your own wedding! Having a planner/coordinator on hand will alleviate stress and free your time to truly enjoy your day.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Stepping away from the traditional rose boutonniere.

Often times boutonnieres are an overlooked accessory when it comes to a groom's wedding day style, but it's amazing how much personality can be packed into such a tiny little space. More often than not, a florist will suggest a rose boutonniere because of its amazing tolerance to heat and simply because it is abundantly available. Here are few samples of ways you can add a little flair to your guy's boutonniere.








Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Congratulations! You're engaged. So what now?

Your wedding day is going to be, undoubtedly, one of the most important days of your life! You've dreamed of this day since you were a little girl and have envisioned that everything is going to be perfect. You want to be involved by taking a hands-on approach to the planning of your big day.

It's true, the very thought of planning a wedding is exciting and full of possibilities. But the reality of it is like putting together a 1000 piece 3D puzzle. Putting all the pieces together precisely to complete the design is the task at hand!

A wedding is a lot like a Broadway show, it has to be written, produced, and directed. As a visual feast for the eyes, a wedding has to have a flow and a tempo. It needs to be as pleasing for your guests as it is for you. As the star of this production, could you imagine being the writer, central character, producer, editor, director and also run interference for all the minor details on your wedding day?

If you plan on having more than 50 guests, the thought of working with a wedding planner/coordinator should be appealing to you. As the creative director for this important celebration, your planner will help you avoid some costly mishaps that could potentially ruin your day. Stay tuned for our discussion about how hiring a planner/coordinator will make for a stress free day!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Welcome!

Detail by Detail Event Planning is a full-service wedding and event planning firm in the Richmond Metro area. We are committed to bringing your vision to reality. Our event planners are passionate about each and every event and deliver our services in an irreproachable manner that reflects each client's personality and style!

We are grateful for your interest and look forward to the opportunity to assist you with planning one of the biggest days of your life. From concept to completion, intimate or extravagant, pure and simple... detail by detail.