You're Engaged! Now What??

The warmer weather means wedding season is right around the corner! I love this time of year-there are a lot of newly engaged couples getting ready to plan their dream weddings. I have had the pleasure of booking several new "southern brides" and have started planning away for several weddings this year, ooh and a tented reception for next year. I have always wanted to help plan and design a "tented" reception and can't wait to see how it all turns out. The property is absolutely gorgeous so stay posted for updates and pictures!

Congrats on your engagement! You have the ring, but now don't know where to start?? Here are some tips to help you get going.

Find your inspiration....

Start collecting inspirations and start your "tear out" sessions. Sit down with bridal magazines, fashion magazines, interior design magazines, and start tearing out anything that you like. Don't think about it-just tear! Anything you see you like.

Then go through all the pictures you have torn out and see what is striking in each picture. Is it a color scheme, pattern, lighting, or overall mood? This will help you get started in the right direction.

Create you theme....

Once you have your inspiration your theme is the realization of that. Your theme translates your vision into your reality. A wedding with a clear theme flows seamlessly. Every single detail of your wedding should reflect your theme.

I am working with a bride on her theme of "rustic elegance" and she knew her inspiration from the start. She loves the outdoors, wood, antiques, lanterns, etc. It all started with the perfect venue, Luckett Lodge, in Brandon, MS. From the moment I saw it I knew she had picked the perfect place for her dream wedding.

Decide on a season and some possible dates....

Don't just pick one date you have to get married on because that date may not be available. Pick a few dates in the season you wish to get married in case your fist choice is taken.

Hire a planner....

This is the stage in the planning process where it can be overwhelming for most brides. Locating a venue, vendors, etc. when they are working full time or in school and just don't have the 70-90 hours it takes to plan a wedding. Weddings are not cheap any way you look at them so why would you want to invest a huge

Guest list....

It is important that you sit down and start your guest list so you will have an idea of the size wedding you will have. Generally, the more guests you have, the more you will spend. Don't forget to get a guest list from the bride and groom's parents. After doing so you can compile a list together. You don't have to know every single person that you are inviting right away, but get a general idea of how many you must invite so you can get started on the next step...the budget.

Set a budget....

Setting a budget can be very daunting for couples today, but it has to be determined before you can decide on a dress, venue, photographer, etc. before you know who you can and can not afford. I suggest sitting down with your fiance or with whoever is contributing to your wedding and come up with two numbers. One-how much you would ideally like to spend on your wedding. Two-how much you are willing and or able to spend.

Get organized....

It is very important that you stay organized throughout the planning process. A 3 ring binder with divider tabs is a good way to stay organized. You need a place to keep all your inspirations, contracts, vendor contacts, etc. all in one place. SP brides get a customized binder full of timelines, checklists, etc. personalized to fit their individual needs. Make sure you follow a timeline to keep you on track.

Decide on a venue....

Once you have your budget in place you can now decide on a venue based on your style. Book your venue well in advance to ensure you can get one of the dates you choose.

After you have decided on a season and venue all you need to do next is set your date!

And then let the planning begin!

Invitations-The Paper 'Ensemble'

Invitations

Probably the most complex and confusing aspect of the entire wedding is the simple piece of paper called the invitation. Certainly there is more etiquette involved in the invitation than in any other single part of the wedding.

When your guests open the invitations, they get their first taste of your wedding-it sets the stage for your wedding. By choosing textures, type, and wording that express your wedding style, you'll have guests envisioning and anticipating your wedding day as soon as they tear open the envelopes.

A save-the-date is especially critical for destination weddings or events held over a holiday weekend, and it should be sent even earlier than the six to twelve months ahead recommended for close-to-home weddings to give guests ample notice to make travel plans. While both the save-the-date and the wedding invitation will give a hint to your style, the save-the-date can be more inventive, making it perfect for playing up personalized details.

When to Order

Invitations should be ordered as soon as the wedding date and style are determined. If possible, the envelopes should be obtained early so the time-consuming task of addressing can be started before the invitations arrive. Remember to order a few extra envelopes for addressing mistakes. Also, order a few more invitations than needed.

When to Send

Invitations should be sent at least six to eight weeks in advance.

Special Invitations

Some people who should receive invitations often are overlooked for one reason or another. They include:

*The officiant who performs the ceremony (and spouse)

*The groom's parents: Even though it is obvious they are invited, the invitation serves as a memento.

*Attendants: They also should receive invitations as mementos

*Fiance(e)s and spouses: When the couple know an attendant or guest is engaged, they either know or must learn the fiance(e)'s name. The fiance(e) should receive a separate invitation.

Addressing

Both inner and outer envelopes should be addressed by hand. Calligraphy is a nice touch, but adds to the cost. Computer-generated laser-written quality addressing is acceptable.

If an inner envelope is used, it bears only the names of the people to whom it is addressed (no addresses). Some examples:

*A married couple; Mr. and Mrs. Quinn (no first names)

*Several children receiving their own invitations (not included with their parents' invitation); Melissa and Kimberly (no last names, girls first, oldest to youngest).

*

*Close relatives: Aunt Mary or Nana and Pop

*Military Ranks, and titles of educated officials and clergy members should be spelled out.

Lieutenant Colonel and Mrs. Bethel

Senator and Mr. Clinton

The Rev. and Mrs. O'Brien

*Couples living together get one invitation with the inner envelope reading

Ms. Jones

Mr. Smith

or Mary and Bill if the couple is very familiar

*If a guest is allowed to bring a guest, it should read

Ms. Jones and guest

Or Mary and guest

BUT it is always better to find out the guest's name.

The outer envelope contains the mailing address. Several rules of etiquette apply here:

*Even if the bride knows both persons in a couple cannot attend, the invitation is addressed to both: "Mr. and Mrs. Harold Harper." Invitations to an unmarried couple contain both names: "Mr. Phillip Phelps" and "Ms. Nancy Smith." They should be listed alphabetically by last name, not by sex.

To a married woman doctor/ two married doctors: If the woman uses her husband's name socially, the address is "Dr. Jane and Mr. James Long." If her husband is a doctor also, the address is either "The Drs. Long" or "Drs. Jane and James Long."

If the couple is married and the woman uses a different name, then, the female is listed first. The only abbreviations used are Mr., Mrs., Ms., and Jr. Other titles, including military ranks, are spelled out.

*No abbreviations are used in the address; spell out "Street," "Avenue," Boulevard," etc. and the state. The Postal Service, however, prefers the standard two-letter state abbreviation.

Children: Those over thirteen years of age should, if possible, receive separate invitations. Young sisters and brothers may be sent a joint invitation addressed to "The Misses Smith" or "The Messrs. Jones" on the outer envelope, with "Andy, Doug, and Brian," for instance, written on the inner envelope to make it perfectly clear that all are invited. If there are both boys and girls, the outer envelop address may read:

The Messrs. Jones

The Misses Jones

If children are not receiving a separate invitation, their names may be written on a line below their parents' names on the inner envelope and do not have to be listed on the outer envelope at all. However, if no inner envelope is used, their names must be written on the outer envelope, or their parents won't know that they are included in the invitation.

For a widow, it is proper to use her husband's name on the outer envelope, "Mrs. James Smith."

The inner envelope would be "Mrs. Smith."

Welcome to Southern Productions weddings & events

Finally....Here it is! The Southern Productions weddings & events blog is up and running!! It has been over a year now since I decided I should pursue my dream of being an entrepreneur and start my own event planning and event florist business. It all started three years ago when I planned my own wedding, then committed to help someone else coordinate and design all aspects of their wedding. Since planning my wedding in 2008, I realized there were no "wedding planners" in the Meridian area and that there was a big need for us! They are in cities all over the state of Mississippi, even cities smaller than Meridian. I kept the idea in the back of my mind for a couple of years and researched everything I could get my hands on and read every book out there! Then when I finally decided I should pursue my passion, I joined the Association of Bridal Consultants and completed their professional development program for becoming a Professional Bridal Consultant! Now here I am a year later more blessed than I ever dreamed I could be! Thank you to everyone who has supported me! Especially my mother! She has been there with me for every wedding- helping me every step of the way. I could not have done this without her help and support. And thank you to every bride and client that trusted us to make your wedding and event a Southern Production!


I created this blog to showcase weddings & events I have coordinated and been the floral designer for and to provide you with useful tips and inspiration to help any bride who stops by for a look.

I have a lot of catching up to do since my blog is finally complete!