Kristen + Michael

Hello!!! It's been SO SO long since I have posted. Things have been crrrrrazy around here! When you are actually working and taking care of brides, sometimes the blogging gets put on the back burner. If you know me, I'm a total control freak and can't just yet let anyone blog for me. I love to give me little insights on the memories I had with each wedding, so who better else to blog besides yours truly? Anyways, I am back..for now! Fall is approaching and I'm sure things will get crazy again.

This wedding is the fabulous wedding of Kristen and Michael. I cannot begin to tell you how amazingly, wonderful, awesome, loving this bride and her entire family his. Kristen's mother, "Momma Peel", was just a blessing. Having families who are loving and appreciative of our work just makes things beyond amazing. Kristen is a great example of how every bride should be on her wedding day. She left the worrying, stress, anxiety with me and she focused on having a great day. Not only does this reflect in the mood/atmosphere, but you really do have better pictures!!!! I love you Kristen!

Kristen's ceremony and reception were both at The Royal Sonesta. Kristen's fiance'(now husband) Michael is a yankee so Kristen decoded to go with a traditional seated dinner. With 100 guest and full seating, the ballroom looked amazing. Gorgeous, actually! Words can't describe how great everything looked. Let's start with some pictures-

An all bouquet of pink peonies? Yes Please! Fleur Du Jour florist did an amazing job on the flowers.How cute are those shoes? Stevie Ramos Photography always finds creative ways to capture the details.

This dress was perfect for Kristen. It fit her like a glove. It's amazing how you can see a dress and tell who it belongs to. The ruffles captured her personality and the drop waist showed off a little sexy. Love it!

And this would be gorgeous "Momma Peel" that I was talking about. Love that Stevie caught her reaction to Kristen fully dressed on camera.

  No words for this...

And this is Mr. Yankee himself, Michael. He loves Kristen so much..you can see it through pictures later on!

Kristen and Michael decided to do a "first look" session. I love these because it takes the edge off an already nervous bride, helps timeline creation beyond belief, and gets all those other pictures out of the way so you can get to your party sooner than later. Here are a few....feel the love!

Now onto the ceremony. Kristen and Michael decided to write their own vows. Kristen's made everyone(even the strongest of men) break down in tears...and Michael's...well..the picture explains it all! 

So funny! And then we get to him making us all cry too...I love their love.

Sealed with a kiss!

We did a traditional hour long cocktail hour. Kristen and Michael swept away for a few private moments and the rest of the crowd got to enjoying the amazing food and drinks. Kristen and Michael also had a custom logo made just for them (a must) and we used it EVERYWHERE! It's all about tying everything together and making it YOURS! I'll show you a few pictures of the ballroom pre-guest entering. I hope you love them just as much as I do <3

Gorgeous, right? The details were on every table and it all tied together perfectly. So happy with the way everything turned out, and it was even better once Kristen and Michael saw it for the first time. Now onto their first dance. Ah, I normally don't separate pictures like this but their first dance pictures are just to die for. You can really feel the love...

After this, the bride wanted to make sure everyone had a blast. Enough with the seated dinners and cocktail music, they were ready to party! The Bucktown Allstars did not disappoint! Once the party got rolling it didn't stop until the lights went on! 

Kristen and Michael left the reception traditional NOLA style with a secondline, and continued in their after hours party suite. What a wedding!

On a serious note, this wedding really was special. Both sets of families were so welcoming and loving. They are truly blessed to have found one another, and I am so so thankful and honored to have been chosen to help them along the way. It's always hard saying goodbye to a bride, esp one that lives out of state. I'll forever cherish these pictures. This is one of those weddings that truly, truly, TRULY makes me realize just how special my job is. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I promise to blog more as I get pictures in! Be sure to follow us so you can get the latest! In the meantime..Happy Planning!

Merideth <3

Vendors

Planning & Design- Belle Soiree'

Photographer-Stevie Ramos

Ceremony/Reception- The Royal Sonesta

Florals- Fleur du jour LLC

Photobooth- Red Eye Photobooth

Band- The Bucktown Allstars

Hair/Make up- Blush and Bashful

Angelica + Tony

Where do I begin with this wedding?! This particular wedding is very very special to me because this couple found me in my early stages of starting my business. We started the entire planning process from scratch, and with a lot of trust and love we were well on our way to creating the perfect wedding day for Tony and Angelica. Living in Texas, we would consider this a destination wedding. The bride had to have her ceremony/reception at The Royal Sonesta hotel because that is where they fell in love. So sweet right? I am such a sucker for a good love story and a wedding with a lot of meaning. New Orleans is very special to them, so we tried to tie in all the elements of what made them fall in love in our wonderful city. We were the first to get married outside on their terrace overlooking the courtyard. This was not an easy task to get accomplished, but with lots of time and effort we made it happen. They chose March 19th for their wedding day so their guest could enjoy the fun of St. pattys day in the city. The weather was perfect and the sun shined bright on these two on their special day. I was so honored to be a part of this intimate affair and miss the couple so much! Here are a few highlights of their ceremony/reception!

         The bride chose for her girls to carry mardi gras masks instead of flowers. I created a matching flower braclet for all the girls to wear to tie in the traditional flower bouquet.

Seeing each other for the first time. So sweet!

Ceremony decor made by Belle Soiree'

Love this shot..can you see the love?

They had a blast!!!

Vendors:

Decor/Planning: Belle Soiree'

Photography: Stevie Ramos

Ceremony/Reception: The Royal Sonesta

Dj: Jammin J the Mobile DJ

Bakery: Royal Sonest

On Location Hair/Make-up- Just face it

Christine + Gabe

Hello ladies and gents! There are a few reasons why I love this wedding. First, this wedding was TOTALLY destination. The bride trusted us so much, that we did not meet her until a few days before her wedding. Christine, had our full package planning and we took care of every detail for her. She was 100% involved in the process, and in the end we think she had the perfect, flawless, wedding day. I am so excited to share some of her pictures. Her ceremony took place at 1pm in the beautiful Jackson Square, and then everyone met back up for a special surprise. Her entire guest list were all from out of town as well, so we thought it would AMAZING to surprise everyone with a second-line. We passed out the "hankies" at the ceremony and instructed everyone to "Bring it with you!" The guest and the happy new couple met at the Royal Sonesta-Irvin Mayfields Bar and there waiting was a police escourt and the fabulous Storyville Stompers. This second line band was so full of energy it took the experience to a whole different level for me. I personally LOVE second-lines so for me to lead one this energetic and happy just made my night. The guest loved it as well. We stopped in the street in front of Antoine's and had a mini dance party. After all the dancing ended, the guest headed upstairs to the 12th night room in Antoines and continued on with their dinner. All in all, it was a very relaxed fun wedding day with a few twist and surprises. Hope you love the pictures from Marc Pagani Photography. His associate Mike did an amazing job capturing the entire day.

Vendors:
Wedding Planning-Belle Soiree'
Hair/Make up: Canal Place-Aveda
Photography: Mike of Marc Pagani Photography
Officant: Linda Strickland
Second-Line band: Storyville Stompers
Rentals: Event Rental
Reception: Antoine's
Florist: Erin Steen

Wedding Budget: 10 hidden wedding cost

 

It's all those pricey extras that slide in under the radar. With a wedding planner on your side to watch like a hulk these hidden cost are usually not an issue and already considered into the budget.

1. Wedding Band Equipment

Why it's hidden: The cost of the wedding band includes fees for the musicians' time and the minimum amount of equipment needed. If your reception space is extra-large, then additional speakers and microphones could possibly be required to project the best sound quality.The cost: Anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollarsHow to avoid it: Before booking your wedding band or DJ, you need to clearly explain the layout of the space (or have them check it out, if they're willing) so the vendors know exactly what they're working with. If they want to add in extra equipment, you should have them explain why it's necessary before you sign a contract or agree to pay for anything else.

2. Postage Stamps

Why it's hidden Stationers don't advertise the shipping costs; if they did, you might decide to go with simpler (read: cheaper) invites. The cost Oversized, awkwardly shaped and bulky invitations will most often run you as much as $2 each to mail. How to avoid it Skip the fancy boxed invitations and multilayer cards, which can bulk up quickly and cost a lot more than you bargained for.

3. Wedding Dress Alterations

Why it's hidden Wedding dresses are pretty pricey and stores don't want to scare away clients by listing alterations as part of the total cost.The cost A simple hem can be less than $100, but completely rebuilding a bodice or moving zippers can send the price soaring. 
How to avoid it Ask about what the store charges for every alteration you may need before you purchase the gown. If it's too much, don't be afraid to take your dress to a less expensive seamstress to have alterations done. Pearls Place offers alternations free of charge.

6. Rental Transport, set-up, and same day(after hours) pick-up fees

Why it's hidden You'd assume that the rental companies would include these extra fees in the per-item costs (do they honestly think you're going to fit 150 chiavari chairs in your own car?), but surprisingly, they don't.
The cost From $50 up to more than $500 How to avoid it Ask the rental company what their shipping and packaging fees are up front -- if the cost is too high for your budget, shop around a bit. You just might find that you'll actually save some money by renting items from a more expensive company that includes delivery costs at no extra charge.

 

7. Taxes

Why it's hidden Even though these aren't exactly hidden -- we all know that there are taxes on almost everything -- most couples don't think about how much they'll end up owing during the planning process. The cost This will depend on the total amount of money you're spending as well as the location of the event but in New Orleans its usually close to 1,000 and up!

How to avoid: There's no getting around paying taxes, but paying the entire bill in one lump sum can help lower the overall price, especially in the winter when vendors have fewer weddings to cover their bills.

8. Cake-Cutting Fee

Why it's hidden If you use the cake provided by your reception site, the charge is typically wrapped into the cost. Going with an outside baker can jack up the price. Why? Because your venue's workers are responsible for slicing and serving each piece, then cleaning the dishes. This means more work for their staff!The cost From $2 to $5 per guestHow to avoid it Go with the site's cake baker. Don't worry: They'll likely be able to work with your vision. If you're set on a particular cake baker, then call your venue and find out what the fee is before you sign a contract.

9. Coat Check

Why it's hidden When you book your venue in the summer, it's easy to forget just how cold it'll be in winter months like December. The cost The damage starts at around $200. How to avoid it Union rules may dictate the number of people who are required to work the coat check (and the amount they get paid). Have a good approximation of your total guest count when you book the coat checkers.

 

10. Gratuities

Why it's hidden Many couples often think that the "service charge" is a tip for the event staff when it's actually an additional fee that the catering halls charge. For what? To cover their own cost for hiring servers.
The cost Typically 15 to 20 percent of the event's total food and drink fee How to avoid it Once you get the proposed fee, add the service charge percentage so it's already accounted for before the event. The last thing you want is to get hit with an unexpectedly huge bill that just about breaks the bank.

 

Wake up Make Up

February 2nd, 2011

Wake Up Make Up

Good afternoon lovies!
Before you pick up the phone to call your makeup artist and hair stylist for your wedding day, there are a few things you should have on-hand:

1. Number of people getting their hair done – and if they want an all-down style, all updos, or a mixture of everything
2. Number of people for makeup
3. Time you need to be done with hair & makeup by (Note: this time should be earlier than when the limo arrives, you need time to get dressed!)
4. The earliest time you’re willing to wake up on your wedding day

Your wake up time and get-dressed time affects whether you’ll need one artist (may require getting up at the crack of dawn) or multiple artists who can get things done in half the time. And, be sure to find beauty vendors who will come to your location – adding a stopover at a salon creates more opportunity for forgotten items, traffic problems and running late.

Photo courtsey of Stevie Ramos Photography