Blog – Page 76 – St. Simons Wedding Planner

St. Simons Wedding Planner :: Island Destination Weddings | Blog

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Congratulations, Tara and Robbie!

St Simons & Jekyll Island Weddings

Photo by Scarlett Lillian

Ok, how much do I heart Tara and Robbie? They were an uber-fab couple to work with. Tara wanted a very intimate gathering of family and friends at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. Tara’s ceremony was at the gorgeous Faith Chapel with about 64 family and friends– some who came all the way over from Ireland!

After a beautiful ceremony, the wedding guests were treated to a gorgeous cocktail hour at the reflecting pool and then dined inside the Courtyard at Crane Cottage. Soonafter, it was time to cut a delicious five tier key lime cheesecake that was ornamented with amber jeweled brooches and roses courtesy of the uber-fabulous Heidi of Rosalee’s Flower Boutique. (She’s my new girlfriend 🙂 )

The night moved on to the garden of Crane Cottage, where the Andy Cooney Band played some traditional Irish tunes, where guests danced and “jigged” on Tara and Robbie’s monogrammed dance floor. BUT, not before Tara and Robbie showed off their signature first dance tango to Carlos Gardel’s Por Una Cabesa. For a surprise for the evening, a gorgeous firework display erupted from over the Riverfront Lawn.

Tara and Robbie were phenomenal clients– so creative and SO in love. I can remember remarking to Tara as I watched them practice their tango before the reception, “Wow, look at how he looks at you. He is so in love with you!”, to which Robbie responded, “Yes, I am! I married the love of my life.”

I know. Swoon.

Check out more beautiful pictures and see the slideshow from their wedding over at the other wedding diva’s site– Scarlett Lillian, formerly of Captivating Studios. Scarlett was awesome to work with (finally!). I can seriously say that she was professional and ALWAYS went the extra mile to get the perfect shot while remaining invisible. (Another quote I remember making that night to Scarlett was: “I’ve seen you in more positions than I’ve ever seen in yoga class”) She definitely did what she had to do to get the perfect, creative shot. I heart you, Scarlett! Until we meet again…either at another wedding or over creme brulee at the Ritz Carlton again!

Congratulations, Amy and Izaak!

St Simons & Jekyll Island Weddings

Photo by Ben Powers of Powers Studios

Superfun couple Amy and Izaak were wed on yet another rainy day on St. Simons Island at the King and Prince Resort on September 1st. Even though we moved the ceremony inside, the wonderful florist, Edward of Edward’s on St. Simons, transformed the oceanview ball room. In addition to their wonderful family, Amy and Izaak were supported by great friends with larger than life personalities. Amy, who works at Nike, even brought in a little of her personality: wearing a pair of custom made Nike’s under her dress. (They were sooooooooo cute! Amy! Hook a planner up!)

During cocktail hour, guests were treated to an awesome slideshow of the couple and during dinner were able to view a tape of Izaak’s uber-sweet proposal to Amy atop of a mountain.

Amy’s brother, Brian, composed and sang a song that was played while the couple danced–a phenomenal song that I just KNOW will be on the top of the charts if he will allow us to sneak it to some record executive! Amy’s dad surprised her during their F/D dance by phasing in Dean Martin’s “Always in Love with Amy”, a song that his father used to play for his mother (whose name was also Amy).

Amy and Izaak, who honeymooned in St. Lucia, were an a great couple to work with and we wish them all the best!

Congratulations, Edwina and Nabil!

St Simons & Jekyll Island Weddings

Photo by Susan Morrison of Ehance Photo

Beautiful Edwina married her true love Nabil at a very intimate ceremony of family and friends at the Sea Palms resort on St. Simons Island, Georgia on August 25th. Edwina and I had been working together for a full year prior to her wedding, and she was an awesome bride! (Of course, I’m a bit biased since a majority of her family is from Baltimore 🙂 )

Even though we were rained out for this ceremony, it was definitely an awesome experience. Edwina and Nabil wrote their vows that had everyone in tears. (See, it wasn’t just me coming off of an post-pregnancy hormonal binge). Nabil and his brother (who came all the way from Amsterdam!) performed an Arabic dance called the Dabkeh, which incorporated all of the guests. It was a great time had by all!

This was my first time working with the wonderful Susan Morrison of Enhance Photo and Ed Kinney of Disc Jockeys to Go. They were great professionals who added to the success of the day!

Interning, and learning and blogging, OH MY!

Company News

Hi there! My name is Abby Washuta and just this week I’ve had the honor of accepting a position as an intern with Terrica and the oh-so-fabulous Once Upon Your Wedding, g.k.a. (glamorously known as) “The O.”

I graduated from Boston University in 2003 with a degree in psychology and quickly realized I did not know what I wanted to do now that I was “grown up.” Unlike many of my fellow graduates, however, it was not that I had no idea what to do; it was that I had too many ideas, and apparently not enough hours in the day to be employed as a psychologist, lawyer, writer, restaurant manager and florist. If only I could find one career to fulfill all of my many interests…was there such a thing?

Shortly thereafter, my boyfriend of six years asked me to marry him and I caught a serious case of bride-itis. He was in the army and we had to have a quick ceremony at the courthouse in our jeans, all along promising ourselves (er, well, promising the monster we’d created in me) that we’d have a traditional wedding just a soon as we could…we’ve been married nearly two years now, and I’m still in the process of planning the BIG ONE.

I devoured everything bridal I came across and spent more of my free time than I’d like to admit on the internet researching and planning every detail of the wedding of my dreams. I won’t even mention the countless hours I spent (spend) glued to the various wedding planning TV shows, scribbling down their helpful hints and ideas in my notebook. What developed from all things weddings was, surprisingly, not just a serious obsessive disorder, but an idea for a new career as a wedding planner. The more I thought about it the more I realized that all my interests and talents could be harnessed without having to maintain thirty-seven simultaneous careers. What a relief!

The psychologist in me can spend time talking to people and trying to figure out what it is they want and how best to make that happen. The lawyer in me can scrutinize over contracts and paperwork and negotiate on behalf of clients. I can write, and socialize, and orchestrate events, and discuss food and beverage options, and talk fashion, and flowers and color palettes. The possibilities are endless. I set to work looking for a foot in the door with an experienced planner, and found Terrica and The O.

To date, I’ve helped Terrica out with one very platinum wedding, complete with a DJ, a band, two dance floors, three different venues, and a fireworks display. I have officially written my first blog and will begin my first project in the coming weeks. Needless to say, I have a lot of work ahead of me and a lot of learning to do and I’m super excited to be learning and interning and blogging with The O(h My!)

Let Your Vendors Help Choose Your Reception Site

Terrica Talk

Yep, it’s true! Your other vendors can be of great assistance in choosing a reception site after you choose some of your other vendors. I know some of your books and sites say choose the site first, but there is really some logic to choosing your site perhaps second or third.

Let’s say you contract a photographer that you have been swooning over for a few weeks or months. Looking through her portfolio, you might see a venue that really grasps the vision you are trying to shoot for with your wedding. You can also seek your vendor’s counsel if you are undecided about a venue or would like some ideas as to where to start. Your photographer can tell you what venue has wonderful photo opps to add to your photo album. The same goes with your florist– they can tell you what site is easy to design and decorate. They can also suggest which sites can be complemented well with minimal design or those that can be “re-concepted” from scratch.

There is another reason that this is a good idea– you definitely want your wedding event staff to get along on the day of the wedding. Contrary to popular belief, your vendors are notsecond class citizsens, nor are they serfs slaving away for the glory of your wedding day. Unfortunately, some venues treat wedding vendors this way, causing a lot of disdain and dislike among professionals in the industry. So much so, that man vendors actually blacklist venues– they will not work at a specific venue and will not take your wedding if it is scheduled there.

To spearhead any problems between your vendors and your reception site, when interviewing venues remember to ask additional questions such as: what type of vendor meals they provide, do they “require” vendors to report to anyone in their staff, are they required to use a certain entrance, etc. Find out as much as you can for your vendors as possible. Another great resource is your DJ. He arrives after the setup and is like the “fly on the wall” he sees all and has to interact with the reception site. Remember to get a successful event, everyone has to work together without ego or any air of superiority. It should be all about you– not your vendors.

Party Like A Rockstar

Terrica Talk, Wedding Advice

Hip hop and fashion mogul, Sean “Diddy” Combs had his ultimate annual “white party” this past weekend. Usually held in the beautiful St. Tropez, His Diddiness decided to hold his all white fete at his home in the Hamptons. Unfortunately, my invitation was lost in the mail, but other noteables like Mariah Carey, Donna Karan and Star Jones made it. Billie Joel’s wife wore a shade of cream (the horror!), and was subsequently turned away and told to go change … she didn’t come back to the festivities (boo hoo).

All white weddings are really taking off this season as well. We are seeing a lot of couples doing all white flowers, linens, dresses, etc. This is fun way to get a very classy and elegant look with minimal cost and effort. So go for it! Invite your guests on classic white designer invitations and encourage them to wear white and do it P. Diddy style!

Micromanaging Killed the Photography Star

Terrica Talk

I get the opportunity to work with a lot of fabulous photographers. What makes it so awesome is that you get to see art created right before your eyes, and see a real artist at work. A lot of times (subconciously), brides receive “helpful” information from friends, wedding magazines and books and even their wedding planners.

Recently I came across this awesome article, Kill the Shot List, by a photographer, who has a little secret for brides: You can’t (nor should you try) to micromanage an artist 😉

Enjoy!

Wedding Planning– So Easy, A Caveman Can Do It?

Terrica Talk, Wedding Advice

Don’t get me wrong– wedding planning is great. That’s why I do it for a living. However, I’ve had loads of training, push myself to stay on top of trends, network, market, etc. I can definitely understand how a bride can get overwhelmed very easily with wedding planning. I mean, here we are with the most important day of your life–mix in some strangers, a bunch of money, business, contracts, legal ramifications, family and God knows who else and you’ve got a mess on your hands if it’s not handled correctly.

My husband and I have recently been deviously relishing in episodes Bridezillas. He looks at me and says, “I don’t get it. Why don’t they hire a planner!?” I’m not sure– but a lot of brides realize that they need help, let’s say, two minutes before they walk down the aisle. It’s sad, because that’s when all heck breaks loose.

If you need help– get it. You know the saying–you have not because you have not. Remember– this is the most important day of your life. Don’t entrust it to someone with little to no experience with working with professionals to pull your wedding together flawlessly. Don’t wait until the last minute.

Here are a few suggestions:

Early on in the process, meet with a few planners. Yes, I know, you can do it all by yourself– but if closer to the date you do decide to use someone, you already know who to go to.
Pad your budget for a day of coordinator. They only way you will know how much to save is unless you meet with someone (try to avoid the old “call-and-price-shop” deal. That gives you no idea as to what you are getting or if you will even like the planner).
Ask other vendors about other coordinators. Ask your venue coordinator, your DJ and/or your photographer which coordinators they like to work with. If they can’t suggest one, ask them what you should look for in one that will make their jobs easier not harder.

If wedding planning was easy, everyone would be a planner. 😉

Before You Start Trippin’….

St Simons & Jekyll Island Weddings, Terrica Talk, Wedding Advice

We all know about Trip advisor for desties. But when choosing your room blocks and venues, check Trip Advisor first! It is great to find out what other travelers are saying about your venue or the hotels where you want your guests to stay. Some of the reviews may be a bit testy– but you have to take it as a grain of salt. The important thing is that you get a concept of what you might be in for. It is absolutely horrible to shell out hundreds and thousands of money and receive bad customer service or substandard lodging. You may even be able to find some reviews from brides or wedding guests to make the review all the more applicable to your planning. Trip Advisor also has forums where you can interact with other travelers about your specific area– great to get some unbiased opinions to help seal the deal.

It’s Happy Hour Somewhere…

Terrica Talk, Wedding Sugar

It may be 9:00 a.m. your time, but it’s happy hour somewhere! I just LOVE these uber-cute arrangements from 1-800 FLOWERS. They are the perfect touch for bridal luncheons, bachelorette parties or even an informal wedding. The Strawberry Floral Margarita is a beauty– full of lush stargazers, roses and orchids. Perfect if you are using a lot of pink in your theme. There are other Happy Hour Bouquets: the Margarita and Apple Martini just to name a few.