Wedding Card Boxes

Everyone's FAVORITE wedding gift can usually fit into a card envelope (unless the wad of cash is just THAT big). Dress up your gift table with one of these amazing card boxes. Not only will it look great, it will keep your cards from "mysteriously" disappearing! (Yes, sadly, I have heard of it happening).

Inside your Wedding Day handbag!

The number one essential for your wedding day handbag is organization. Don't add unnecessary stress to your day with old receipts and gum wrappers flying at you every time you open your bag. Even if you aren't planning on purchasing something new, have a small, clean clutch available to transport the most important items into. Designate one of your bridesmaids to keep track of your handbag throughout the evening. Side note- you may not want to pick the heaviest drinker of the bunch because chances are she will loose your bag and hers by the end of the reception! Your handbag essentials should include:

Lipstick, Compact, Tissues, Mints, Deodorant,Painkillers,

Room key (if your wedding is at a hotel)

Anything else you may possibly want or need- your wedding planner will have! Seriously.

Handbags and Heels

Here are some great handbags and heels to complete your perfect wedding day look! Click on each photo for purchasing information.

Independent Planners vs. Onsite Planners

I read this article on the Weddings by Socialites blog and had to share it with everyone. ENJOY!!

Independent Planners vs. Onsite Planners

"I had 12 minutes before my clients were due to arrive at the florist on Friday, so I was really excited to take advantage of the time and read the new In Style Weddings. It's a great magazine, and their new wedding website is supposed to be launching soon. Anyhoo, I get to the etiquette section and here's what I read:

"I'm having a destination wedding at a venue that employs an in-house planner, and she hasn't consulted me on some decisions. How should I handle this?"
While the answer given was good, it was very much incomplete. Here's why; the answer didn't explain that perhaps what the bride was expecting the planner to do, wasn't at all her job. You see, an onsite (or in-house) planner is typically only responsible for things that happen onsite and that are relative to the site and its staff- and NOTHING else. So, then what's the difference? I'm going to clear this up once and for all. The best way to find out what exactly your "included" planner will do...ask.

Here are a few really good questions. And yes, the crazy seeming ones, I have actually had to do."Hello Onsite Planner (insert name here)! I have a few questions for you. Yes or no answers please."

"Will you...
1. Call all the vendors on your preferred vendors list and see if they are available for my wedding and in my budget? And if not, will you get me 3 more options who are?
2. Create a budget for me for everything wedding day related?
3. Write and hand out both wedding party and guest list itineraries?
4. Compile all the goodies for the welcome bags and make sure all the hotels get them just before guests arrive?
5. Give me stationary and etiquette advice?
6. Keep my mother at the cocktail hour, far from me during photos, with a full gin and tonic and away from crazy Uncle Steve?
7. Schedule and attend all the vendor meetings with me?
8. Review all the contracts I'll have to sign?
9. Prepare a detailed timeline for my day as well as one for all the vendors working at my wedding?
10. Go out and find my new father-n-law size 12.5 brown leather lace free yet wedding appropriate shoes when his sole falls off during the ceremony and make sure that you're back in time for him to be introduced into the dinner reception?
11. Call and confirm all the vendors have been paid, are going to show up, if they need anything further, and that they do in fact know not to say anything about the surprise grooms cake.
12. Find a replacement tuxedo for the best man the morning of the wedding when it arrives blue and not black?
13. Help me create design options for my wedding?
14. Research and find favors, a unique escort card display and super cool fun things for my guests to do at my wedding?
15. Help me plan a welcome reception, grooms outing, bridesmaids luncheon, and rehearsal dinner? Oh, and a farewell brunch too? Oh, but not all at your site of course.
16. Figure out all the rentals I'll need, order them, and then oversee the installation?
17. Stay for the entire wedding and then check under every single table for lost shoes and purses after everyone leaves?
18. Run the rehearsal?
19. Email me when you find flip flops on clearance at Old Navy and then fight with them until they agree to send all 775 to you, even if it does clean out their stock?
20. Have an emergency kit prepared for me and my bridesmaids?
21. Make sure there are hospitality baskets in the restrooms?
22. Politely explain to the make-up artist that my eyes look ridiculous so I don't have to feel awkward?

"Here is one thing I want to make perfectly clear- onsite planners or coordinators are wonderful and very helpful and are responsible for an enormous amount of work that you will never even realize. I just feel that its important to know that what an independent wedding planner such as myself does, is not what 95% of onsite planners do...2 different job descriptions.

Oh, and the 775 flip flops- the UPS guy thought he had seen it all until that delivery. And my husband, well, he "pointed out the 17 boxes in my living room" every day until we were down to 12 boxes. Now, "Remember when we had 775 flip flops? The 600 left seem like nothing huh?""

http://weddingsbysocialites.blogspot.com/2008/01/onsite-planners-vs-independent-planners.html

LOVE your wedding LINENS

With their main focus on the centerpieces, many brides bypass the basics and forget the importance of choosing the right linens for their guest tables. To me, that’s like wearing the most amazing shirt with the wrong bra…it just doesn’t make sense. I know that most venues today offer “free” white or ivory linens with your package but I promise it will be worth it to explore some upgrade options. Check out your local linen warehouse or showroom to explore some fabulous fabrics. Play around with patterns, textures, and colors until you find a combination that you absolutely love. Don’t forget to order linens for the “extra tables” such as the guest book table and the cake table!

Photo provided by BBJ Linens.

The Knot Party- Orlando, FL

The 2008 Knot Market Party on Wednesday evening was such a blast. Wedding vendors throughout the Orlando area gathered at Ceviche restaurant (YUMMM) on historic Church Street, which was the perfect location for this event. The evening started in the main saloon with drinks, passed hors d'oeuvres and a guest speaker. Then from out of nowhere, they pulled back these beautiful velvet curtains and led us to a whole other event space that was even more amazing. Great food, drinks, dessert and music were topped off with a wonderful goodie bag to take home at the end of the night. Oh how I love free stuff!
Photographs (minus the first one) by Brian Adams PhotoGraphics. Visit http://bapg.net/theknot/ for more photos from this event.

Wedding Photography

To me, one of the most important aspects of a wedding is photography. The Tampa Bay area has some of the most talented photographers in the country whose work never seizes to amaze me. Since starting Olivier Events, I have had the pleasure of working with several of the area's "elite", including Limelight Photography. Owners, Mike and Rebecca Zoumberos not only possess unimaginable skill, they are such genuine people who truly love what they do. They are wonderful mentors who help and inspire me daily! Here are some of their photographs of a wedding we did together at The Atlantis Resort in The Bahamas.

The Taj Mahal of cakes... LITERALLY

I recently coordinated a 10th anniversary event at the Edgewater Beach Resort in Panama City Beach, FL. Many elements throughout the event were designed to reflect the couple's Indian culture, including this amazing cake created by Creative Celebrations of Fort Walton Beach, FL. Not only was this masterpiece a "dead-on" replica of the Taj Mahal, it tasted wonderful as well!

Non-floral Centerpieces

Although I absolutely love fresh floral centerpieces, they tend to come with a hefty price tag which not every bride can afford. If you are looking for a centerpiece idea that won’t break your budget or looking for a neat idea to set your wedding apart from the rest- you have come to the right place. One of my favorite non-floral centerpiece ideas is the photo frame that is shown below. It is very easy to make and is something that your guests will truly enjoy. Shop at stores like IKEA or EBAY for glass bowls, containers or vases that will cost you next to nothing. These can be filled with whole fruits, candles, fabulous feathers and more. To kill two birds with one stone, try stacking beautiful favor boxes in the center of your guest’s table. Be sure to leave a note reminding them to take one home at the conclusion of your event. You can also use mini wedding cakes or a tiered tray filled with cupcakes as your centerpiece. Many of these ideas can be used in conjunction with floral centerpieces. Try alternating floral and non-floral centerpieces throughout your guest tables to give your reception space depth, color, variety and character.