Wedding Tips and Tricks: Part V

Wedding planning can be stressful and rife with questions. My latest installment of Wedding Tips and Tricks will, hopefully, help to alleviate some of the uncertainty and help you to feel more confident in your wedding planning endeavors! 

1. If you are detail oriented, make a master list of tasks to be done on your wedding day and then delegate. You do not need to do anything on your big day! Your friends and family are there to help you. 

2. Keep a chart of which vendors need to be paid when. Some want final payments in the weeks preceding your wedding, others want to be paid on the day of. Have someone else handle the payments if it is on the day of. You don't need the stress. 

3. Try to keep your guests dietary restrictions in mind when it comes to the catering for the reception. If you have several vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or non-dairy friends and family, make sure there is an option for them. They will feel well cared for and have a blast at your wedding because of it. 

4. Check with shop where you buy your dress about their policy regarding holding your dress for you. Some shops will hold it for you at the store for no charge so you don’t have to worry about anything happening to it, or anyone that is not supposed to see it (cough, cough, your fiancé) stumbling upon it. 

5. If at all possible, hire a day-of coordinator, especially if you didn’t use a wedding planner. Do not make one of your bridesmaids or your mother take care of the little details on the day of your wedding. Hire someone so that the people you love can relax and be there for you! 

Were these tips and tricks helpful to you? Do you have any tips and tricks you would like to pass on? Leave it in the comments! 

With love,

Whitney

Wedding Stories: Jessica & Jack

This beautiful couple had an equally beautiful wedding day! For Jack and Jessica's wedding, I wore a very different hat from what I usually do. I was their day-of-coordinator, and it was certainly an adventure. Here is Jack and Jessica's wedding story!

It was an absolutely gorgeous May morning and I already had a huge to do list. I met with Jessica, the bride, as well as her family and bridesmaids for breakfast. We also did a final rundown of what was going to happen that day. After enjoying a delicious breakfast, I headed over to the venue, The Lighthouse in Hendersonville, TN, to begin setting up all of the decorations.

I put all of these together, and hung them up from the ceiling, myself!

Antique windows that Jessica, the bride, collected herself. 

Luckily, the venue is already beautiful, so there wasn't a whole lot to add. Except for the dozens of paper lanterns, antique windows and homemade cookie favors (made by the bride herself!) Jack, the groom, was sweet enough to come and lend a helping hand.

Homemade cookie favors and sparklers for the grand exit! 

After getting the venue ready, the bride and her bridal party showed up, as well as the amazing photographers, Psalm 27 Creative. They did an amazing job, and they certainly made my job for the day much easier! I was running around making sure all of the other vendors were accounted for and assuring that everything was set up according to plan. 

I snuck a quick picture before the ceremony! 

Jessica's precious niece and flower girl, Story

Finally, it was time for the ceremony to start. To the glorious strains of music played by violinist, Kristin Weber, the guests began to show up in all of their early summer wedding finery. Needless to say, it was a stunning wedding. I got quite emotional, as both bride and groom are close friends of mine. It was amazing to see them finally become husband and wife! 

A delicious dinner, catered by The Lighthouse, was served after the cocktail hour. Each table was graced with gorgeous flower arrangements by GreenFinch Floral Design. Dinner was followed by dancing, music provided by j'adore DJs, and scrumptious cakes by The Rolling Pin. The guests and newlyweds danced the night away, paper lanterns swaying overhead and a summer breeze drifting through from the veranda. 

Delicious cakes, provided by The Rolling Pin, and flowers provided by GreenFinch Floral Designs

The bride and groom's first dance! I apologize for the dark and blurry picture! 

A sparkler exit topped off the evening of what was one of the most delightful weddings I have ever attended. Even though I had much more responsibility heaped on my shoulders this go around, I would not have changed that evening for anything. Congratulations to the happy couple, Jack and Jessica. 

If you have not checked out their engagement story, you can do so here! 

With love, 

Whitney