One Fine Day Wedding Consultation Blog

allergies

It's a lovely Derby Weekend here in Kentucky and I've got lots to do...but these silly old allergies are getting the best of me....man oh man...These beautiful trees out my window are amazing...

but they are killing me with their pollen and all the pollen everywhere. I had my windows open this week and well, let 's just say I'm paying for it. There was Yellow Pollen Dust everywhere in my house! Awful! But, that's what you get I suppose. It really is pretty, I just have to remind myself that ...think happy Spring thoughts! So I'm thinking I need this...

I've now gone past the tissue boxes that I've used all up in our house with my constant runny nose...so, I need this! Yes, I am taking Claritin but apparently that's not working...any helpful remedies you all can pass along to me? I'd be super grateful?!

Thanks! Happy Derby!

return address

I think these Return Address Stamps are so cute! There are a couple different places I found them: Stationery Studio has these font options, along with many others:

And then there is also Expressionery that has several cute options too....and they are having a current promotion with 30% off AND free shipping...that's always nice too!

Both companies have Embossers too if you'd prefer embossing to stamping! Fun stuff! So many great options!

Have a lovely day! 

French Lick Springs Resort

Man, oh, man! If you are looking for a "local" destination wedding...French Lick is THE PLACE! Truly, I was amazed when I saw it! My assistant Pam and I went to French Lick this past week for their Wedding Destination Preview and WOW, I just can't say enough nice things about our Amazing experience! Not only did they pamper US as the wedding planners (a rare treat as we're usually the ones behind the scenes taking care of the preparations) but we also toured the properties that included ENDLESS  options for Wedding Ceremony and Reception locations.

(this is West Baden main entrance)

The resort has SO MUCH to offer with 2 historic hotels (French Lick Springs & West Baden Springs), 3 golf courses, a Casino, 2 Phenomenal Spas, Several Restaurants and a Horse Stables for riding...to name a few! We stayed overnight at the West Baden Springs Resort property and it was UNBELIEVABLE! It underwent a huge renovation and reopened last July and it is breathtaking!

(A view from my room's balcony!)

(This picture of the bedroom is better than my picture...I had already taken over my room by the time I thought about taking a picture! ugh!) It was so stunning and Comfy too! Here's the Bathroom:

The wedding sales team at French Lick & West Baden were terrific and would be great to work with. I can't wait to have a wedding there!

(Dee, Kathy, Liz & Melody from Left to Right)

They really wined us and dined us to give us a taste of what they would do for their Bride's and they do it right! We were greeted at valet & the front desk with extremely courteous & helpful staff then we were whisked away to the incredible spa at West Baden for their Signature Massage! Heaven! Our massage was followed by a yummy lunch in the Atrium you see above (one option for a ceremony or reception or both-you can block off part of it or if your party is large enough you can reserve the whole thing, and you can have amplified music in that atrium past 9pm if you book all of the interior rooms (97 rooms) which isn't hard to do if everyone is traveling in...my opinion)

This is another view of the atrium at night with the cool lighting:

We had a lovely cocktail hour overlooking the beautiful venue location of the Main Lobby at West Baden-which can be blocked off to be made private. LOVE this option! Dance Floor could be in the center of this round room. Love that...and you could do cocktails in all sorts of options-outside in the gardens, on the veranda, in the mezzanine above...the list goes on and on!

Then we tolley'd over to the French Lick Resort Event Center for a YUMMY gourmet 5 course meal in the beautiful Windsor Ballroom! And the creme de la creme were the individual wedding cakes they served to us for dessert! So tasty and pretty. They were all different! What a treat!

After we were stuffed we hung out with our wedding planner friends for a bit and some headed to the casino but we were exhausted and headed back to our comfy bed for the next days fun tours!

This is a picture of the French Lick side of the resort (well part of it...you can see the casino that of course has to be on water...)

The Royal Treatment was continuous...I could get used to that! In Room Breakfast Dining with Blueberry Pancakes...my FAVORITE!

I loved our Welcome Gift Basket too! Thank you Frenck Lick Sales & Catering Team!

We hated to check out of our rooms but I've saved the best for last...the tour! It makes me so excited for a hopeful wedding there in the future! The Gardens at West Baden are a PERFECT setting for a Ceremony! (Any size really...perfect places for small or large)

Isn't that view of the West Baden so pretty!

(I'd love to go back in a few weeks to see all the flowers in full bloom!)

Rain options abound too from this pretty Hygeia (spelling?) building that would make the cutest Wedding Chapel! to the great many porches that are normally filled with rocking chairs but can easily be transformed to a ceremony location!

We then went over to the French Lick properties and saw some of their pretty options for ceremonies and receptions...a few favorites were:

And the mezzanine of their really pretty refurbished lobby at the French Lick Resort is so nice:

Then we saw some of the beautiful rooms and suites at both properties...I of course was smitten with the Presidential Suite at West Baden but who wouldn't be with over 3000 Square feet of living space in it!

To top it all off we had a lovely lunch at the 1875 Restaurant that was decorated so beautifully in silver leaf- I think it would be perfect for a rehearsal dinner or Bridal Luncheon!

So, a few more things that excite me about French Lick...they have the "Stables" at French Lick as well that offer horseback riding and a really fun Chow Wagon Dinner Party with Hay Ride...now wouldn't that be a fun and different Rehearsal Dinner and it's right there on property! I'm loving that too! There is so much more that I could tell you about...the horse drawn carriages, the old timey cars, the pluto springs, not to mention that every morsel of food we ate (and we ate a bunch) was DELICIOUS! Seriously! I was very pleased with everything!

The next thing you may not know is that French Lick is a hop skip and a jump away from Louisville. We made it just at an hour from Louisville! Seriously!! How perfect is that...not far away at all! In my opinion...it's GREAT!

Well, if you can't tell from this post...the folks at French Lick made me a very happy wedding planner...can't wait to go back! You must try it out...if not for your wedding, be sure to think about a fun bachelor/bachelorette weekend or even go there for a honeymoon...it's just wonderful with so much to do!

See how happy Pam and I were at the West Baden!!

 

sarah's cinematography

This post was placed in February by www.stylemepretty.com (probably the most fabulous wedding inspiration blog out there-I read it all the time!) So, I'm not sure how I missed this post, but my beautiful bride Sarah (from September 2007) wrote to me to tell me about it, and I LOVE this video clip from her wedding and was so excited to share it with you!(I just copied and pasted the whole post because it was so well written-I couldn't have said it better myself!) I concur completely with the author's words about the cinematography importance, unfortunately, it *is* one of the things that is "cut" from the wedding budget most frequently because to many it's not a necessity but I think this beautiful work of art by Portal Films shows how necessary it is! So wonderful! I love hearing the vows and the words from the minister...over and over again...so nice. Love the movement and it's so romantic!                                                                                                The Post by Style me Pretty:

Wedding Cinematography

Wedding Cinematography is one of those things that may or may not make it on to your wedding checklist. I debated whether to hire a videographer for months, as the added expense seemed to tip the scale just a bit too far. In the end, we did hire someone to film the wedding and to this day....I think that it was the best decision we made throughout the planning process.

I've probably watched my wedding video twenty or thirty times since I got married. Every time, I see something different, something that the photos didn't catch...a small expression from my dad, or an insanely awkward dance move from my aunt. The video reminds me of my day in a way that photos simply can't.

Today, I wanted to share with you a few more clips from some of my favorite cinematographers, just to give you an idea of how creative and completely beautiful wedding films have become. The first is by  the incredibly talented artists at Portal Films...

This wedding was in the "back yard" of the family's private estate in Kentucky, using Super 8mm film to capture the pure beauty of the day. Isn't it one of the most beautiful things you've ever seen...I teared up about ten seconds in.

I have a few more clips to show you throughout the day. Make sure to wear your headphones so your boss doesn't get mad!

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Then Sarah also sent me this link to this video clip...which is equally amazing in different ways, I do like hearing the words from the first clip above but this clip is enhanced with the AMAZING photographs by Sarah's wedding photographer Parker J Pfister. Oh, I'm just in love with both of these pieces of film art! So excited to share with all of you! It was a BEAUTIFUL wedding and I was thrilled to be the chosen planner to help bring Sarah's wishes to life!

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But, more than that post and these video clips, something else I LOVE is when I hear from my former Bride's!! It makes my whole week or month even to hear wonderful updates from past client's...so happily married and with such great memories of their wedding day...nothing is better than that! (Even just a quick email to say Hi!) But, lucky me, I'm hopeful to get to see Sarah and catch up even more later this month! Hooray!

Wedding Cinematography is one of those things that may or may not make it on to your wedding checklist. I debated whether to hire a videographer for months, as the added expense seemed to tip the scale just a bit too far. In the end, we did hire someone to film the wedding and to this day....I think that it was the best decision we made throughout the planning process.

I've probably watched my wedding video twenty or thirty times since I got married. Every time, I see something different, something that the photos didn't catch...a small expression from my dad, or an insanely awkward dance move from my aunt. The video reminds me of my day in a way that photos simply can't.

Today, I wanted to share with you a few more clips from some of my favorite cinematographers, just to give you an idea of how creative and completely beautiful wedding films have become. The first is by  the incredibly talented artists at Portal Films...

This wedding was in the "back yard" of the family's private estate in Kentucky, using Super 8mm film to capture the pure beauty of the day. Isn't it one of the most beautiful things you've ever seen...I teared up about ten seconds in.

I have a few more clips to show you throughout the day. Make sure to wear your headphones so your boss doesn't get mad!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  - - -  - - -  - - -  - - - - - -  - - -  - - - -  - - - - -  - - - -  - - -  -- - - - - - -

Then Sarah also sent me this link to this video clip...which is equally amazing in different ways, I do like hearing the words from the first clip above but this clip is enhanced with the AMAZING photographs by Sarah's wedding photographer Parker J Pfister. Oh, I'm just in love with both of these pieces of film art! So excited to share with all of you! It was a BEAUTIFUL wedding and I was thrilled to be the chosen planner to help bring Sarah's wishes to life!

- - - - -  - - - - - - -  - - - - -  - - - - - - - -  - - - -  - - -  - - - - - - -  - - -  - - - - -  - - - - -  -- - - - - - - - - - -

But, more than that post and these video clips, something else I LOVE is when I hear from my former Bride's!! It makes my whole week or month even to hear wonderful updates from past client's...so happily married and with such great memories of their wedding day...nothing is better than that! (Even just a quick email to say Hi!) But, lucky me, I'm hopeful to get to see Sarah and catch up even more later this month! Hooray!

spring shopping

Happy Spring! Sorry no posts in so long! Whew! Time flies when you're having fun!

In case you are looking for some cute personalized wedding party gifts. One Fine Day has some cute things to offer.

As seen recently in Bride's Magazine, these adorable monogrammed Umbrellas (several colors available)

They are PERFECT for my favorite bridesmaid gift theme: Thanks for being my friend "rain or shine" and that goes perfect with some cute sunglasses or a beach towel (monogrammed of course...we have those too!)

And for those that like the spa days with their girls:

Embroidered matching slippers and Embroidered Bath Wraps...I just think it would be so cute. And a great picture moment while you all are getting ready together on the big day! This picture is from the weddingbee (I think):

I also love these cute square silver monogram engraved picture frames...perfect for hostess gifts too! (FYI-A hostess gift is a gift you the bride gives to the hostess or the person throwing you a shower.)

But of course...all of these fun gifts would look even better in a great little monogrammed tote from One Fine Day too!

All of our One Fine Day gift items come gift wrapped and ready to go! Mark that off your to do list!

quote of the week

Sorry I'm not posting much...I'm trying to dance my way through this busy wedding spring season. So, a quote that has helped me recently look on the bright side of things...

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass,
It's about learning to dance in the rain.

                                        Author Unknown

Have a great day!

Guest Books

A discussion I've been having lately with my bride's is what do you want for your guest book?

I love unique and original! And I also love personal and useful! So, to me a boring blank book with lines that will sit on your shelf forever to collect dust...well, that's not my cup of tea. But, that's just me...some people may like it.

I like ideas outside the box...and no, these are nothing new that I've dreamt up but just wanted to pass them along for you to be thinking about them. (I've found many of these pictures I'm posting on www.weddingbee.com and www.theknot.com on some cool bios.)

A favorite of mine is to incorporate your guests faces along with their signatures. Polaroid Guestbooks or Photobooth guest books are a great way to do that.

I think it's lovely to have a signature portrait  as a guest book (a matted photo where guests sign their names on the matte) and then it becomes a nice piece of framed art to hang in your house later.(This photos is one from one of my weddings I did a few years ago--Kelly & Sean)

Now, if you love your engagment photos and can't possibly narrow it down to just one for a signature matte...how about an engagement portrait photo album. You know...those cool coffee table books, but instead of all pictures, leave lots of blank spaces so that you can have guests sign on the pages around the pictures. Here's a sample album I found on a photographer's website. I like it bunches!I've done some like this at several weddings...but at this minute I can't put my finger on an image of mine....how sad! Because they are so cool!

Then I also love the idea of signing different objects...

Like for wine lovers: Do bottles of Wine! Then you can drink them on your anniversaries...fun!

Or I thought this was cool of signing a guitar...and then hanging it in your house someday...

Signature Platters are cool for your China cabinet also. I love an engraving pen too! A little noisy but what a great guest book to have forever and ever...on a silver platter!

Then how cute is this adirondack chair! See it's all about UNIQUE and Personal!

And if you want words of wisdom from your guests rather than just their signatures. You can always do a place for well wishing cards.

Have a great day! If you have a favorite guest book idea, I'd love to hear it...share it in the comments please!

C-R-U-N-C-H!!!

Oh no! Say it ain't so...

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Mother Nature paid a visit to our house a week or so ago AFTER all the tornadoes came through Kentucky, but we were just sitting there in the kitchen, eating lunch on a nice but slightly windy day, and we watched this pine tree as if it was in slow motion come crashing down right on the swingset monkey bars, playhouse and slide! So, that stinks...but, it can always be worse...at least no one was hurt, it didn't hit our house and the "swings" are still able to be used until we can put together a new one! yuck!

But, while we're talking about the wrath of mother nature, let me tell you about my intern...whom I ADORE!, she really is wonderful...Megan...was in a horrible accident during the ice storm at the end of January. She was driving along and all of a sudden a TREE came crashing down on her car...while she was driving. When I look at these pictures of her car post crash...I'm just AMAZED that she's alive. And she is...and well(she had some staples in her head but they are out and she's great-thank goodness)! Her boyfriend pulled her out through the sunroof. I struggle just to find the sunroof!

I'm truly thanking God that no one was hurt! Wow!

Life is precious! Go hug the ones you love the most!

WedAlert

Hello! Wanted to pass along a great tip I learned about from another planner at our local Assoc. of Bridal Consultants meeting last week.

It's WedAlert.com and they have the coolest resource on their site for wedding music. Ceremony or Reception with all kinds of music clips so that if you need help in deciding which songs to pick for your ceremony you can click on a couple samples to help you out rather than having to listen to many different CD's. So, wanted to pass that along to you in case you are trying to narrow your choices down as well!

I'm also liking the idea of ceremony music by a guitarist. There are some beautiful samples on this site as well for just guitar music.

Happy Listening!   

Blogs I love...

Since my blogging frequency isn't the most reliable as 2008 is posing to be quite a busy year...I thought I'd share some of my favorite blogs that I love to read if I get a free minute here and there. (*I said a minute, not a couple of hours, which is what some of my blog posts seem to take me to write and compile... :) )

It goes without saying I think the WeddingBee Community for Brides is a great resource. I love staying fresh with what Brides are loving and hating and needing educated on so that I can help my Brides to the best of my ability as well! If I were a Bride, I'd definately be on Wedding Bee!

You all know I love Melanie Mauer Photography, well her blog is just as sweet and delightful as she is. Sure, she includes pictures of past work(borrowed the pictures above from a wedding we recently worked together -Jamie & Kevin and the one below from another great wedding we did together: Cassidy & Justin's wedding) that we can all swoon over. But she also puts great content on there for Brides. I'm loving this one post regarding wedding music!

Another local Photographer's Blog that I love reading and admiring his work is that of Todd Pellowe. I love that he includes names of locations where the ceremony and reception were (usually) so that if I haven't yet been inside, it's a fun sneak peak for me too! Great stuff! Including this one from Lauren & Bruce's wedding we did together this past summer.

I'm also loving the blogs of other wedding planners.

Emilie Duncan is a planner that lives in Columbus, Ohio now (she used to be a Bluegrass Girl not too long ago too). She tells it like it is and I love her post article on others that want to be a wedding planner. It's nice to have camaraderie in this business, someone who feels my pain. :)

I also really love Kelly McWilliams blog. She's a Destination Wedding Planner in south-west Florida (one of my favorite places ever) And I love her tell it like it is style too. This blog post of hers about the difference between your on-site coordinator and your wedding planner is SPOT ON! I love it!

So, if you are up for some good reading, make sure you subscribe to their blogs too! I get lots of inspiration from these blogs and 150 others...hope you come to love them too!

Have a lovely day!

how sweet it is...

How sweet it is to be loved by you! We love our Bride's & Vendors too. But, wanted to take advantage of this great day of love to say Happy Valentine's Day to all of you out there! And lots of love sent out to my one and only true Valentine, my husband Brad!

But, while we're thinking sweet lovely thoughts, I need to show you some sweet lovely things! Brides magazine has a new issue out on shelves now and my *favorite* cake baker in Lexington, Martine Holzman of Martine's got some much deserved publicity for her incredible cakes! She is listed among some of the best of the best in cake design (and rightfully so) across the country in the feature: The Most Beautiful Wedding Cakes, America's 50 favorite confections from coast to coast. (*note: Martine's Cake picture is in the second gallery of 25 in their online spread, it's at the bottom of the online page) Congratulations Martine!! We're so glad the rest of the world gets to know how wonderful you are like we here in Kentucky already knew!

A few other pretty cakes that I liked from other designers across the US that are in the magazine feature:

While we're talking about cakes let me tell you some other things I'm REALLY into right now...

CAKE STANDS! I'm "over" the silver plateau's...and I'm wanting to see some more cakes on cake stands. Aren't they beautiful! My only worries as a planner is placement (Where I'd put it/on which table) and stability making sure that it won't knock over...but, I think that's totally do-able and can be solved! Probably more so on smaller cakes than larger ones. But, I'm anxious for the opportunity. Found some great resources for cake stands on that Bride's Cake Gallery too if you're looking. These next two are super affordable supposedly from Crate and Barrel according to the Brides.com site.

Obviously the other trend I'm loving lately is "colored" cakes...I just love a blue cake. Isn't it divine! I also love that Yellow cake. OOH! It looks so HAPPY!

Well, I hope you have a WONDERFUL and super "sweet" Valentine's Day!