November 23^rd, 2011

Christmas Deposit Specials!!!!!!!!!!

Hello gorgeous brides! At Belle Soiree', the one thing we know how to do best is take care of our brides. For the next week, we are running a “Christmas Deposit Special!” No matter the package, price, date, whatever….your deposit to book us is $300 dollars. We find that during the holiday times finances get in the way of planning your dream wedding…but not here! Visit our website and contact us today for details! We can’t wait to hear you…Happy Holidays!!!

~The Belle Team~

November 18th, 2011

The laws of a Louisiana Marriage License

At Belle Soiree', we have quite a number of destination brides with quite a number of questions about how our wonderful state proceeds with the law of a marriage license. Here you will find the most common questions(and problems) that in state and out of state brides come across! 

Here's what you need to know and what documents to bring with you before you apply for a Louisiana marriage license. We recommend getting this legal aspect of your wedding out of the way about a month before your wedding date, if you are in town. 

ID Requirement in Louisiana:
Louisiana requires both bride and groom to provide a picture ID along with a certified copy of your birth certificate. You will both be asked for your social security numbers so be sure to have this saved in that brain of yours as well. Please also have the following information on hand as well: both mother's maiden names, parent’s full names, and the states in which you were born. 

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF LOUISIANA TO OBTAIN A LOUISIANA MARRIAGE LICENSE!

Previous Marriages:

If previously married, you will need to show proof of how the marriage ended, I.E.; a divorce judgment or a death certificate. These must be certified copies. 

Waiting Period in Louisiana:

Louisiana requires you wait 72 hours before getting married. The waiting period for state residents can be waived by a judge. Out-of-state couples can get married in New Orleans without the 72-hour wait required for locals. 2003 Press Release from Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals
Important note: You can only apply and receive your marriage certificate 30 days before your wedding. Please don't get it a year in advance, it will not be valid!

How much does this cost? 

The cost varies parish by parish. The prices range from $25 plus, and some parishes only accept cash so don't leave the house without it! 

In some states, a blood test is required to obtain a marriage license but not in Louisiana! 

Now...what to do after I obtain this certificate...hand it over to the lucky man or woman who is marrying you! They will know what to do from here and also keep it safe and sound. You will receive a beautiful certificate in the mail a few weeks after, then its the name change time! Look for a separate blog entry on this!

I hope this answers the most common questions about marriage license! When doing research myself, I found a few variations of each rule so I know how confusing it must be for all the destinations couples!  Please visit us again to find all the answers to your planning needs along with DIY projects, money saving tips,fresh color combos, and much more! Happy Planning!

November 14th, 2011

Why hire a wedding planner?

Hello loveies! Of course, we might be a little biased on this subject. If we WEREN'T wedding planners...we'd probably still tell you they are a must have, anyways! 

A theme is more than a bunch of sticky notes put together!

Yes, your ideas are fabulous. But they are only the foundation of your theme. Remember they are only ideas and pictures ripped out of magazines. Brides have ended up blowing their budget on one item to the detriment of the whole wedding. This is where your wedding planner becomes your magician. Knowing all the tricks and resources, wedding planners can create a theme that runs through the whole event. They see the whole picture. If budget is a constraint, they will advise you how to economize and still achieve a similar look.

Is your budget a guideline or a blueprint to bankruptcy? 

A budget is an essential part of your wedding planning. Even a million dollar wedding has a budget. A budget will give you perspective and it will center you. It will be a great comfort to you when you want to know where you stand financially. Expenses tend to mount up quickly and your budget will always give you a realistic assessment. I have witnessed brides being so out of control that they end up randomly buying items that have no rhyme or reason. That money could have been spent elsewhere to make the wedding a better experience for the guests. Being realistic about your budget is essential. Don’t fool yourself with a figure knowing you can go over it. You will hurt your chances of selecting the best possible vendors. Your wedding planner is your accountant and will believe the budget you give them. She (or he) will honestly try to work within your parameters. So decide on a realistic figure so your wedding planner can recommend the vendors who will deliver the best work within your budget.

Your wedding planner is your fairy godmother.

When the event manager from your venue tells you they can do your wedding planning, they are not lying. They will do everything under the sun to oversee everything they are ‘responsible for’. However, they are ‘not responsible’ for 90% of the details that go into your wedding. Some brides are shocked when things go wrong. They thought their venue person would be on top of things. Not necessarily. If they have several events that day, they can’t be held responsible for letting you know your flowers haven’t arrived or your Best Man is held up in traffic. Imagine walking into a bald room instead of the floral intensive ballroom you paid for. Your wedding planner is your overseer. Their job is to make sure everything arrives on time and complete. If you have 15 tables, 13 centerpieces just won’t do. They will get the florist to fix it. If the videographer does not show up, they should be able to find a replacement for you. Things happen, but it is your wedding planner’s job to see that things are fixed and end up perfect. Your wedding planner is your fairy godmother.

The tedious stuff....yeah, we love it!

Checklist. Do we know anyone who likes them? And timelines. “Who has time to think of these boring things, I’m getting married!,” I recall one bride saying. Actually, you might not be getting married after all if the Minister does not show up. Timelines are critical. Timelines are necessary. And timelines keep your wedding planner sane. They thrive on them. You, however, should never be subjected to them. These are the things a bubbling bride should be kept far away from. They will certainly kill the excitement. But in the end...they make the day flow flawlessly...if done right!

Frazzled is not fabulous!

Wedding planning and the events that lead up to your day will be stressful. You should have one job only. Keeping yourself relaxed and living in the moment. You need time to take in and enjoy this special day. Be with your loved ones. Be happy. Be kind. And mostly, be assured that your wedding is going to be the most fabulous day of your life. Yes, all weddings have glitches. And yours will too. But your wedding planner will make sure you never have to deal with or see them. You may never even know anything out of the ordinary happened. And that is the sign that you are a genius at wedding planning. You started out with great ideas, hired a wedding planner to bring them to life, and sat back like a pampered princess on your wedding day accepting all the accolades that you deserve.

 Photo courtesy of Stevie Ramos Photoraphy.

 Hope this gave you a little more positive information as to why every bride needs and deserves a wedding planner. Visit our website to view more package information and details about what we offer! Happy Planning!