Répondez S'il Vous Plaît!

A reply to attend or not to attend a wedding or party is always appreciated. It is good etiquette and good manners.

Once upon a time in a land not so far away, response cards didn't exist. When a guest received an invitation, the polite way to reply was with a hand-written note. Unfortunately, frustrated hosts were making numerous follow-up phone calls to forgetful, or inconsiderate, guests. All this frustration resulted in the invention of the response card! However, in these technological times we live in, some hosts will opt to accept RSVPs via email; and believe it or not some hosts still abide by that time honored tradition of not including response cards with the invitation.

So, if you receive an invitation with no response card or an email address to respond to, here is the correct way to write your formal RSVP.

Always mirror the original layout and formality of the invitation. Hand write, or type in the case of an email, the response and refer to yourself in the third person. Abbreviations are never used. Everything should always spelled out in full, even the date.

Mrs. Ashley Lynn Houghton
accepts with pleasure
the kind invitation of
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Raymond Bradley
for Saturday, the first of May

*or*

Mrs. Ashley Lynn Houghton
regrets that she is unable to accept
the kind invitation of
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Raymond Bradley
for Saturday, the First of May


My last bit of advice? RSVP, ASAP! It is considered bad etiquette to leave your response to the last minute.

No More Cold Feet!

Looking for the perfect gift for your fiancé? These super cute socks will warm his chilly feet on your wedding day.

"These are a MUST for your soon to be hubby on the big day!"

You can purchase the socks in black or brown here.

Destination Weddings Within Your Reach.

Ahhh, the sugary, white sand of the beach. Do you wish you could get married on powdery sand with the Florida sunset as your backdrop? Well, you can because its totally affordable! Sarasota Wedding Company now offers Destination Wedding Packages with the budget bride in mind!

The first package we have to offer is Sugar Sands. Everything is included from the ceremony, to hotel stay for the bride and groom. A 3-course dinner reception for you and 10 guests is included also.

The cost for this package is $3000, all tax and gratuity included!

Click here for more information, or call 941-374-2060.

Wedding Invitations Decoded!

Shopping for invitations? Do invitation websites make you feel like you're reading stereo instructions? I am here to help!

Engraving & Thermography:

Engraving is a very formal printing style for invitations. The copy is pressed into the back of the invitation, causing the wording to be slightly raised from the paper and an indentation on the back. Thermography is a less expensive alternative to engraving. It is a process that causes the ink to be raised off the page similar to engraving.

Embossing & Debossing

This one is easy. When a motif or initials are pushed up from the invitation, that is called embossing. When a motif or initials are pressed into the invitations, its called debossing. There is no ink or foil used in either, so they both would be used for decoration.

Something else have you stumped? Send me an email!

These beautiful taupe and sky blue invitations are thermographed with your words under a taupe ribbon. $292 for 100. Available from Sarasota Wedding Company.

Check Your Calendars! Pick the Perfect Wedding Date!

Planning a wedding in 2010? make sure you take into consideration these dates which could:

• Distract from your celebration

• Cause trouble for traveling guests who need hotel rooms

• Require guests to cancel holiday plans with family
  

• Interfere with religious holidays

Keep in mind that certain holidays such as Mother's day and Valentines day are very busy for florists.

January 1, 2010 - New Year's Day
January 18, 2010 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 6, 2010 - 12th Night and Epiphany
February 7, 2010 - The Super Bowl in Miami, FL
February 14, 2010 - Chinese New Year and Valentines Day
February 15, 2010 - President's Day
March 14, 2010 - Spring Forward
March 28, 2010 - Palm Sunday and Holy Week
March 30, 2010 - Passover
April 1, 2010 - April Fool's Day
April 3 and 5, 2010 - Final Four/March Madness
April 4, 2010 - Easter Sunday
May 9, 2010 - Mother's Day
May 18, 2010 - Shavuot
May 31, 2010 - Memorial Day
June 11, 2010 to July 11, 2010 - The World Cup
June 20, 2010 - Father's Day
July 4, 2010 - Independence Day
August 12, 2010 - Beginning of Ramadan
August 13, 2010 - Friday the 13th
September 6, 2010 - Labor Day
September 8, 2010 at Sunset, until nightfall, September 10, 2010 - Rosh Hashanah
September 18, 2010 - Yom Kippur
October 11, 2010 - Columbus Day
October 24, 2010 - John Deere Convention in Sarasota
Mid to Late October - The World Series
November 7, 2010 - Fall Back
November 25, 2010 - Thanksgiving
December 2, 2010 at sunset, until nightfall, December 9, 2010 - Hanukkah
December 25, 2010 - Christmas
December 26, 2010 through January 1, 2011 - Kwanzaa

Summer Days Drifting Away...

I know summer is in full swing when my brides are wearing flip-flops and I have to vacuum the sand out of my car every week.

Sunset weddings on the beach are so romantic. Although a beach wedding can be casual and intimate, a lot of coordination is needed to make it look perfect. You can't tell the sunset to wait because you are running late, or worse, your officiant is.

Here are a couple of pictures of beach weddings from this summer. This album will be very full in a few weeks.

I Promise to Love You, and Take Out the Trash Every Tuesday...

I read this article on www.WQMagOnline.com and had to share it with you!

Discussing these 5 question with your fiancé before the wedding will give you a jump start on 'happily ever after.'

"Many brides and grooms to be focus on the wedding day preparations and plans, spending more time on planning one day than on considering the commitment to each other that is going to be made on that day. While the wedding day is a lovely, special time of celebration of your love for each other, it is only the start of your marriage. Asking these five questions and discussing the answers with each other before you say “I do” will help you both to prepare for the marriage, not just the wedding day.

Question 1 – How will money be spent?
Many couples end up fighting over how money is to be spent. Discussing the issue before you get married helps you to avoid many arguments and upsets within your marriage. Decide whether all income will be shared and placed automatically into joint bank accounts, or whether some money will be allocated for individual’s discretionary spending.

Discuss the priorities for deciding how money will be spent in the future including who has responsibility for ensuring bills will be paid. Discuss a household budget and consider how much money will be allocated towards savings and investments. Talk about money issues now and save arguing in the future.

Question 2 – How will disagreements be sorted out?
Right now, you are very happy together and cannot imagine having major disagreements. However, even two people who are still deeply in love with each other will find that sometimes disagreements occur. You will not always agree on every single idea. What happens when a disagreement about what age your child should be allowed to go shopping, or which holiday is better to take the family on?

Decide on some rules for solving disagreements right now, before you actually say “I do”. One good rule is to keep to the issue at hand, and do not bring in old arguments or fights. Some happily married couples advocate discussing the issues until a compromise can be reached, others suggest not fighting in front of the children. Decide now what you will do when disagreements occur and prevent the disagreements turning into full blown fights.

Question 3 – How many children will be ideal?
If one person does not want children at all and the other one is dreaming of raising a football team, there will be plenty of arguments. Before you get married, discuss how many children you both feel would be ideal. Also discuss when you would like to start trying for children – from the honeymoon, or a couple of years later?

Question 4 – How will children be cared for?
Your marriage may not automatically play out like your parents’ marriage did. Your fiancé was raised in a different family and will have a variety of expectations about how children should be cared for, that may well differ from your own views. You may not agree on everything now, but having some similar ideas about how children will be raised will show compatibility in your marriage, whether or not children eventuate.

If you strongly believe that one parent will stay at home to provide child care, this will need to be discussed early on. Remember that this decision has financial implications for the household, such as living on one income. Discuss ideas about raising children now, such as private versus public school and expectations of parenting roles.

Question 5 – How will household chores be accomplished?
This is probably one of the most important decisions you can make as a couple. Who will cook, clean, mow the lawn, and maintain the house? Discuss the division of labour now, so that you both have clear expectations of what you need to do.

Often newlyweds have difficulties because these tasks are not clearly discussed, and each individual expects that the other person will automatically complete the task. Just because your father always mowed the lawn and your mother cooked every meal, does not mean that this will be the way household chores are divided in your new family. Discuss how the household chores are distributed, especially if both people are working full time.

By asking these five questions and taking the time to discuss your answers with each other before you actually get married will help you to decide if you really do want to make that commitment together. These discussions will also help you work through the process of learning to compromise and to live happily together as one family unit.

Your marriage relationship is more important than getting the right flowers or dress for the wedding day, so spend some time putting into place the guidelines and ground rules for your relationship. Enjoy your entire marriage, not just the wedding day, by putting some time in planning and discussing these important relationship issues now."

By Hayley Hunkin

Thanks for the great advice, Hayley!

Neutral is the New Pink Chiffon

If you are anything like me, when your best friend asked you to be in her bridal party your initial reaction was fear. She had good style for the most part; but it was something about those pink, striped lucite heels that had me concerned about what I would have to wear at her wedding.

Fortunately for 2009 and 2010 the trend winds are blowing towards neutral dresses with splashes and pops of color. Greys, black, creams, browns, and tans with a bright color accent in bridesmaid dresses and invitations are in every magazine. They look great, and a neutral dress can be worn again! Your friends will love you, and the pictures of themselves in your wedding album.

My favorite combo of the moment is grey and lemon, like in these invitations from Carlson Craft.
They are neutral, modern, and chic! Perfect for a wedding at Selby Gardens!

Click here to order, or to get a better look.

Click her for more grey invitations.

Sarasota Brides Had a [Beach] Ball at the Wedding Workshop!

The Wedding Workshop on Sunday was so much fun!  Brides came from all over Florida to learn how to plan a fabulous beach wedding, while saving a buck or two.

Brides and their families, friends, and fiancés enjoyed free hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and cake.  There were 5-minute massages to help brides relax, and makeup and hair consultations to help them get their perfect beach-bridal look.  

As always, local vendors were there to give brides tips and inspiration to help with the planning process.

Check out the photos here.

Check out the story our local ABC7 did on the Wedding Workshop here.  

(The story starts at 5:35, after the weather)

Brides Walk the Runway at Elaine's Summer Fashion Show

Yesterday I attended the grand opening of Elaine's Bridal Boutique (5275 University Parkway Suite 106). There was a fashion show featuring gowns from the latest collections from some of the top bridal gown designers. All the models looked great! They really showed a wide range of styles, all perfect for the Florida weather.

There was food and refreshments served for the attending brides and their friends. It was a very casual show, and I saw everyone having a good time eating, mingeling, and checking out beautiful dresses.

Click here for more photos!

Teenage Vampires Party at the Beach

I recently coordinated a Twilight themed bat mitzvah reception at the Lido Beach Resort. I thought it was so cool! I really love doing themed events, especially when the theme is something you can really take off with! Twilight is so popular, and it was really fun putting together decoration ideas, and transforming a story into a party.

The colors were red, black, and white (the colors used on all 4 book covers), and the room was covered with elements from the story. Red apples on the buffet tables, character cutouts by the dance floor, red and white variegated carnations in the centerpieces, and cookies decorated to look like the book covers! The coolest thing, in my opinion, was the poster we had made. It was the young lady photoshoped in with the Twilight cast.

I really think the kids had a great time! Twilight goodies were on all the guest tables. The kids got to take home Twilight bookmarks, buttons, key chains, and vampire teeth. I even saw some of the adults pop the plastic teeth into their mouths! Hope you enjoy the pics.  Click here!

The Wedding Workshop | May 31, 2009

The Wedding Workshop: Beach Brides on a Budget
Sunday, May 31, 2009
at Tommy Bahama - St. Armands Circle
stop by from 1:30p to 4:30p

The choices are endless and even the most organized bride has a dozen decisions to make at any given minute, and many are wondering how to keep the costs down. The Wedding Workshop: Beach Brides on a Budget is a free, practical workshop designed for brides-to-be wanting to learn more.

The workshop features experts from a variety of traditional wedding service providers who will offer tips and advice on planning that perfect Sarasota beach wedding.

Nancy Taussig, a wedding officiant of Barefoot Weddings tells brides how to survive that special day. Ashley Clarke of Sarasota Wedding Company gives planning pointers and wedding photographer Lisa E. gives suggestions on how to select the right photographer. Floral and decorative designs will be provided by Suncoast Florist and Sand Petal Weddings, while Ana MolinariMariée. While learning the ropes of planning this special day, workshop attendees – brides, bridesmaids , mothers, sisters, friends and even the fiancés can sample drinks and horsd'oeuvres from Tommy Bahama and wedding cake from Thompson's Cakes. Gifts will be raffled off to brides who attend.

For more information about The Wedding Workshop, email info@SarasotaWeddingCompany.com.