Wedding Planning and Where to Start: 5 Things to Do Right Away

Engagement season is just around the corner and many couples will begin to think about their wedding day. They may also consider hiring a wedding planner to keep them organized, and on track, and help them know the things that they don’t know. So before you hire a planner here are 5 questions that you need to ask to ensure that they will be by your side from start to finish.

1. How many times can we meet during the planning stages?
2. Do you help us find all of our vendors?
3. What is included with your services?
4. Do you handle our rehearsal and rehearsal dinner?
5. Are you there for the entire wedding day?

How many times can we meet during the planning stages?

• Depending on the type of planner you are looking for this answer can vary. If you are looking for a month of coordinator (typically known as a day of coordinator), they do not typically start meeting with you until 60-90 days before the wedding. They are assuming you have all the planning under control and are looking for someone to come in at the end and wrap it all up for you and handle their day. Usually, you have 2 sometimes 3 meetings during that time to go over everything. If you are looking for a planner that will really guide you, keep you on budget, handle all the vendors, and handle all the things, a full-service wedding planner is for you. These types of planners are typically all in. They meet with you on a monthly basis, whether that is a check-in call, in person, or visits with vendors. They are your best friend during the planning stages and hold your hand throughout the entire process.

Do you help us find all of our vendors?

• Many planners have a list of trusted vendors that they work with. They have vetted these vendors and worked with them on many weddings and events. If you are looking for a full-service planner, after your budget conversation and understanding your vision of the wedding day, they will be able to make recommendations of the best vendors to handle your day. Typically they will call and verify their availability, send you links to their website and Instagram pages, and wait to hear back from you about your thoughts or concerns about each vendor. Once you make a decision, they help coordinate a meeting between you and the vendor and if the planner is available they will make the meeting as well.

What is included in your services?

• Every planner has a different detail of their services. It is very important that you understand the services that they offer. If you are looking for someone to decorate your entire reception space, many planners do not do that. They will put out your personal items, but leave the decorating up to the rental company and florist to handle all the decorating needs. The scope of your wedding day and the type of planner you are looking for will determine what levels of service the planner will have.

Do you handle our rehearsal and rehearsal dinner?

• The majority of planners will handle your rehearsal. This is the opportunity for them to make sure your wedding party understands their job on the wedding day and help them feel a little less nervous about what to do.
• If you want the planner to handle your rehearsal dinner, you need to have that discussion right away. This is not a normal item that planners handle, and many consider it to be another event and will charge more to include that in their services.

Are you there for my entire wedding day?

• Many planners are there for 10-12 hours on your wedding day. Asking how many hours they give to your day is very important to know. Some allow for 8 hours, and some allow for 12, so know in advance how much time they give to your day.

There are many things to think about for your wedding day. Hiring the right planner to ensure you have the support you need is an important one that you should not take lightly. Take the time to know what you want for your day, what you want to handle and what you don’t want to handle. Know what your budget is for your day. A wedding planner is an investment in your day and an investment in enjoying each moment of your day. Whether you need month-of coordination or a full-service planner there are many great planners out there just waiting to make your wedding day dreams come true.

Blessed Magnolia is a full-service wedding planning company that works with our couples from the moment you say “Yes” until you say “I Do”! We hold our couple’s hands every step of the way. We help them find vendors that meet their needs, have honest budget discussions, handle delicate situations and work tirelessly and endlessly with a cheerful heart. We love what we do and working with couples to make their wedding day dreams come true is what keeps us working hard every day! Are you considering a full-service planner? Let’s talk today. Still unsure? Take our quiz to see what type of planning you need.

Tented weddings are a great option for couples that want to host their special day on family property. Enjoying their wedding day with family and friends at a place that has so much meaning to so many in attendance, is a dream come true for many couples. However, planning a tented wedding comes with a special set of logistical items to consider. Hayly and Richard wanted to have their wedding at her grandparent’s family estate under the 400+-year-old oak tree and tented reception. The obstacles in this area of the property were there was no power, no water, and no restroom nearby. Not to mention the location was also at the back of the 100+ acre estate.

The canvas was beautiful but ensuring that you have all the necessary items to make this area of the property enjoyable for their guests takes a partnership with vendors that understand this task completely. While Hayly and Richard had already contracted with some of their vendors, we needed to bring in the decor team that would help bring us to the finish line. Working closely together with your decor and floral teams allows for the vision to come to life.

Working closely with these vendors allows you to highlight what nature has given us and make it a magical place for your guests to enjoy your nuptials. The reception space was very important to Hayly and Richard, they wanted it to be formal, and elegant, as well as a great place to hang out with your closest family and friends. Every vendor understood their assignment and created an amazing space.

Understanding the space and all the things that were needed to create the perfect tented wedding is very important. Below is a list of all the things that we had to take into account when handling a full build-out for an event of this type.

• Power – generators to handle everything that was on-site, this included lighting, warmer for the caterer, entertainment, and portable restrooms.
• Tent – there are many different types of tents and ensuring that you get the tent that fits your look is important
• Tent Walls – it was a very cold and sometimes rainy day, so we knew we would have to add walls to make sure the guests were comfortable and dry. We opted for clear walls to keep the elegant feel and only covered the side of the tent where the winds were most prevalent.
• Portable Restroom Trailer – we needed to ensure we had restrooms close to the reception space and ones that were also nice for such an elegant event. Power is needed for these restroom trailers, as well as water. Knowing that we did not have water, we had to relay that message to the company to ensure that the water tanks were full for the event.
• Catering work station – this was one of my favorite logistical pieces that Party Time Rentals created for this event. They created a wood wall that fit at one end of the tent where the catering team could set up their work station, along with a warmer to serve the plated meal.
• Bar – creating a bar area where you are able to conceal the coolers with ice and supplies is crucial to keeping the elegant look and feel. Marion Mobile Bar and Bubbles created the perfect bar space.
• Entertainment – knowing that there was no power took some extra planning on the part of the DJ. DJ Karim handled the ceremony with a battery powered speaker and worked closely to let us know his electrical needs for the reception space.
• Photography – communication with the photographer about the space and distance between the getting ready location, ceremony location and reception location was important. Understanding that the celebration was on a vast 100+acre property makes a difference when thinking about the timeline needs to capture all the best photos.
• Decor – creating a space that had all the elements that Hayly and Richard wanted required site visits and communication about the obstacles and requirements that would be needed to make it all happen.

To host the perfect tented wedding it takes a team of professionals that understand all the logistics that goes into creating and building out this type of event. This day would not have been possible without all the great vendors that worked so hard to make it come to life:

Planning: Blessed Magnolia

Photographer: KT Crabb Photography

Large Scale Rentals/Decor: Party Time Rentals

Florals: Graceful Gardener

Catering: LaCassella Catering

Bar: Marion Mobile Bar & Bubbles

Cake: Cakes Come True

Entertainment: DJ Karim

Beauty Team: Lauren Dove and Salon 209 (Kelley)

Restroom Trailer: Sound Exchange

Are you considering hosting a tented wedding? Blessed Magnolia is a full-service wedding planning company that can help you with all the logistical challenges that comes with a tented wedding or event. Give us a call today and let’s get your celebration planning started. Let’s get started planning!

You are about to embark on one of the most memorable days of your life to date. Your wedding day is about 30 days away and if you have elected to not hire a wedding planner you may be feeling nervous or overwhelmed. There are so many things that need to be prepared, thought of, and taken care of. You start to wonder if you have remembered them all and worry that maybe you have even forgotten something very important. As a DIY couple, you have made it through the planning process. You have used all the books, planning guides, and planners that you have found to make sure you have it all together. There is still one more item that needs to be put together for your wedding day and it is the number 1 item to have to make it all go smoothly. The Wedding Day Timeline!!!

There is nothing that compares to a very comprehensive wedding day timeline. This document is the one that will keep all of your vendors on track. This will let everyone know where they need to be when and what needs to be done at what time. Did you know that while your ceremony is happening your caterer is setting up for the cocktail hour? Did you know while the cocktail hour is happening, you are taking after-ceremony photos and couple photos, and then the DJ is running things but then it is time to wrangle everyone up for the introductions? Long before a single guest arrives at the wedding venue, someone has to put out the personal items, make sure the decorations are done or set up correctly, make sure that the vision of the couple is met, and then make sure things are following the game plan. This is where your timeline, the game plan, is the most important document to have on your wedding day.

Do you know what a timeline looks like? Have you seen a comprehensive wedding day timeline? This comprehensive wedding day timeline would include all of our vendors, their arrival time, the times of every moment that happens during the day, and the end time of the night, along with the time that the venue requires everyone to be cleaned up and out. Also known to your vendors as their strike time. Below is a snapshot of a portion of a comprehensive timeline.

All of the items shown in this timeline above are before a single guest arrives and long before the ceremony begins. This document helps to keep everyone on track and ensures that things run smoothly. There are so many items to take into account for your wedding day and so many vendors that it takes to bring it all together. Giving them one document to follow makes it easier for it all to come together. Here at Blessed Magnolia, we are a full-service wedding planner and use a comprehensive timeline for everything we do. We also take this comprehensive timeline and filter it based on the vendor. The beauty team does not need to when the caterer is showing up so we give each vendor what is pertinent to their success on your day.

Are you a DIY couple that is feeling a little overwhelmed? Would you like a professional planner to help you bring together your wedding day timeline? Let’s talk and see how we can be of service to help you build your timeline. Click here and let us know that you would like help building a timeline for your wedding day.

Kayla and Brantley knew that they wanted to have the wedding day they both dreamed of. Surrounded by their loved ones and enjoy every moment of the day. They chose Casa Feliz in Winter Park, FL to celebrate their love. This quaint and charming venue gave them all the things that they wanted for their day.

Gorgeous areas to capture photos, like this image of Kayla having a first look with her bridesmaids. The covered brick walkway lines the courtyard where the dinner reception is held.

The brick made such an impact on this detail shot. One of the big surprises of the day was Kayla’s blue shoes. They were so dainty and beautiful and the pale blue handled something blue for Kayla on this day.

Although they decided to have an outdoor wedding, it was very important to Kayla and Brantley to incorporate both of their religious traditions into their day. The cross at the ceremony and the breaking of the glass right after their first dance were their choices to bring all the traditions together.

The stunning architecture of Casa Feliz made for some truly amazing photos. This is the famous archway where so many couples take their photos. I completely understood why when these images were returned.

Thank you to Eighteenth Hour Photography for all of these beautiful photos from Kayla and Brantley’s wedding day. Blessed Magnolia is a full-service wedding planning company ensuring that everything is handled for your day. We handle all things planning, so you and your family can enjoy every moment of your engagement period and wedding. Let’s talk today about your wedding plans and see how Blessed Magnolia can make your day amazing. Let’s talk today.

You search through Pinterest looking for inspiration photos of everything wedding. Looking for those perfect pictures to give you the inspiration you start to see varying shots of invitations, jewelry, shoes, dresses, florals, and other heirlooms arranged so that they are laying and the shot is taken from the top. These are beautiful ways to take photos of these items. Photographers would call these “flat-lay” photos.

This picture above from Eighteenth Hour Photography is a beautiful example of a flat lay photo. I love the way that they incorporated the florals, jewelry, garter, and invitation suite in this photo. Using the florals helps to bring in the color palette and enhances the photos. The memory of this day will live forever in the beauty of this photo, without even one person being included.

I love, in the photos above from KT Crab Photography, how the shoes and rings were used to get some gorgeous shots, as well as the invitation suite and little touches of florals.

When you start to finalize your photography list with your photographer, talk about these detail photos. Ask them what items they would like you to make to help make them stunning. Below you will find a list of what we always provide to our couples so they are sure to get the best shots of all the details in the least expected items. Gathering these items and placing them in one place will make it easier for your photographer to begin taking shots as soon as they arrive.

• Loose florals – ask your florist to include them in your order, let them know what you will be using the loose florals for.
• Invitation Suite – every piece of your invitations, rsvp card, details card, map, envelopes, save-the-date. Everything!
• Jewelry you will be wearing on your wedding day
• All three rings: both wedding bands and your engagement ring
• Ribbon in your color palette
• Family Heirlooms that you may want to add
• Perfume bottle
• Wedding Shoes

Taking the steps to gather the items noted above will ensure that you get the most amazing detail shots so that you will always remember even the smallest item from your day.

If you would like to talk about your wedding day and ensure that you have thought about all the little details, call or email us today. Here at Blessed Magnolia, we are a full-service wedding planning company that works with our couples to handle every detail of their wedding day. Let’s talk today.

There are so many decisions to make when it comes to your wedding day. You may think that setting the ceremony time would be an easy decision. If you are getting married in a church, the times may be set and scheduled based on the availability of the church. However, if you are getting married at a venue that has both indoor and outdoor spaces, you will want to consider a few factors when thinking about your ceremony time.

1. Do you want a daytime wedding or an evening wedding?
2. Do you want most of your photos taken before the ceremony or after?
3. Will you have a first look with each other prior to the ceremony?
4. What time will the sunset happen on your wedding day?

If you will be hosting a daytime wedding, consider the direction your ceremony will be facing. Will it face the West into the setting sun? If so, the sun may be in your guest’s eyes, making it uncomfortable for them to see. It could also be very hot if outside, to have the sun shining directly on your guests.

This photo taken by Katelyn Virginia Photography was taken prior to sunset. Working together with your photographer and planner makes all the difference in the world for your photos.

If you are having a first look, you will need to consider how early you may have to get ready in order to take photos of this moment and other bridal party photos and couple photos that could be taken prior to the ceremony. Remember that these will need to be completed in time to have the bridal party placed in a location so as to not be seen as guests start arriving.

Depending on the time of year you are getting married, the sun could be setting earlier in the day. Therefore, you will need to consider that your ceremony ends at least one hour prior to the sun setting so that your photographer can have enough light to get the best photos. Below we have listed a few sample timelines to ensure you get the most out of your day and create the perfect ceremony time.

The sunsetting would be one of the greatest factors in considering your ceremony time, that is if you are not on a set schedule already placed by a church or place of worship. If you are unsure what time your ceremony should be, consult with your photographer or wedding planner to ensure you have ample time to get the photos that you want. They will have the experience needed to help you make an educated choice for that time.

Still have questions and want to talk. Blessed Magnolia is a full-service wedding planner, located in Ocala, Florida. Let’s talk today.

So many of our couples know exactly what they want when they think about the subject of a First Look, First Touch, or waiting for the walk down the aisle to catch the first glimpse of each other. Each of them also has their reasons right at the front of their minds why they have chosen to make their decision. Today we wanted to take a moment to share thoughts and reasons from some of our couples to give you insight if you are still trying to figure out what you would like to do.

First Look! Many couples know right away that they need to see each other first before anyone else. They know that the emotion of the day and the anxiousness and anxiety of possibly losing it in front of everyone is just too much. These couples typically go this route. They want to share a private moment with each other, have a moment to take each other in alone, share some words, take a deep breath, and just fall right into the moment. Some couples even opt to read the vows that they have written to each other at this moment, simply because they would not be able to get through them in front of everyone. At ceremony time they bring their vow books to the altar, and the presiding officiant will take them and place them in a memory box for the new Mr. and Mrs. to have and to hold forever.

First Touch! For couples that know they need to get these emotions out prior to the ceremony, but still want to wait for an actual visual until they walk down the aisle. This is typically true for those couples that would like to share a private moment, holding hands around a wall, praying with one another, or reading a letter to each other.

Wait until the Aisle! This is the most traditional of them all. The couples that know they want to have everyone witness the moment that they see their future walking toward them, whether they break down out of pure joy, smile with excitement from ear to ear, or truly start pacing at the excitement of what their future will hold. (Yes, I have truly seen this and it was by far one of the most memorable weddings to date)

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to this subject. Both of you are in charge of this part of your day and you get to choose together what you would like to do. Talk with your planner and let them know what you would like to do, as every decision on your wedding day affects the timeline in one way or another. Timelines are a whole other issue and a future blog will be coming soon.

Blessed Magnolia is a full-service wedding planning company. We handle all the details from “Yes” to “I Do” so you and your family enjoy every moment. Take the stress out of planning your big day and talk with us to see how we can make it the most enjoyable moment of your life. Click here to talk with us today.

So you have booked that amazing venue that you have been dreaming of and then find out that they offer a venue coordinator for your planning process and you begin to check off wedding planner. You have a few phone calls and visit with the venue coordinator and then begin to realize that they are not helping with items that you thought they would assist with. Does this scenario sound familiar? Venue Coordinators are amazing at what they do and will help with many items that deal with the venue. However, if you are looking for someone to take a full-service approach to assist with planning your wedding day, the venue coordinator is not your person. Below we are going to talk about the difference between a wedding planner and a venue coordinator.

Wedding Planners are exactly what the name sounds like. They help you plan and manage your wedding day. They are there from the first day you begin working with them until the day you say “I Do” and based on the friendship you make during your planning time, they are there for you for many years to come. To spell out the difference between the two see the box below for a deeper description:

Venue coordinators are wonderful at what they do for the venue and to keep all the contracted items straight between you and the venue. However, if you are looking for more of a full-service wedding planning experience do not check Wedding Planner off your list. Make sure that you go into the process of understanding the difference between these two great vendors.

Do you have more questions? Would you like to see how Blessed Magnolia could help you with your wedding day? Click the link here and let’s talk today.

Wedding day shoes are always one of my favorite details of a bride’s wedding day ensemble. Every bride is different and has different tastes when it comes to their wedding day shoes. Flats, little heels, tall heels, plain shoes, colored shoes, blingy shoes, and even some keds or converse.

This photo from Eighteenth Hour Photography shows a pair of pale blue low heels that this bride wanted to wear to finish her look. High heels were not her desire but she wanted a heel, so these were the perfect fit. Although Kayla had something blue, these shoes would have definitely fit the bill if she had not.

This fun photo from Eighteenth Hour Photography shows this bride’s fun personality and desire to wear Converse. These were her favorite shoes and when she found a pair that matched the colors of her wedding she knew these were the ones. Anne was able to dance the night away and never worry about her feet hurting. That was truly a very important part of her decision to wear these shoes. I can tell you she absolutely danced the night away and enjoyed every moment of her day.

For Courtney, it was all about the pretty slippers. Courtney and Scott were having an intimate backyard wedding under a gorgeous tree on their property and she could not find the right pair of flats for her day. When she found these slippers, she knew that these were the right shoes for her day. This beautiful picture of her details comes from Brenna Marie Photography.

So there is no right or wrong pair of shoes to wear on your wedding day. It is just all about what your preference is and what you feel are the right shoes for you. If you should decide to go with a large or small heel, make sure you bring a change of shoes for dancing later in the evening so you can enjoy every moment of your wedding day.

Ready to talk about your wedding day? Let’s set up a time to talk about see how we can help you with all the details.

Every wedding is a chance to perfect my skills as a planner and ensure that our couples enjoy and take in each moment of their big day. There are crucial things that have to happen for a flawless wedding day, but what about those extra things that should happen to make it magical and intimate. Here are my top 2 things that every couple should do on their wedding day that are not normally on the radar of those who handle the planning of their day.

1. Take 5 minutes to enjoy your nuptials after the ceremony. You said “I Do”, you kissed, and now its time to take photos. But what if you slipped away after recessing out for 5 minutes to take some time with one another. As a planner, I always ensure that my couples have their favorite drink and some of the hors d’oeuvres from cocktail hour to enjoy this 5 minutes after their ceremony to take in what just happened. Don’t worry, your guests take this moment to move to cocktail hour and your photographer is starting to get everyone ready for photos. So upon your return everyone is there ready to embrace you both in congratulations!
2. At the end of the evening enjoy an intimate, romantic last dance alone in the venue. You have celebrated all evening with your family and friends, it has been a whirlwind of a day, and you are ready to be whisked away to your honeymoon. However, one last dance alone in your wedding reception is just the way to end the evening. As we get everyone ready for your send off, the venue empties out, the lights are dimmed, and the DJ or band will play one last song at your request. This moment to end your evening alone with a sweet dance to remember everything about this day is always a hit with couples.

These two intimate moments are a great way to have special memories that the two of you will share for a lifetime. Whether you are working to plan your own wedding or working with a planner, ensure that you work these into your timeline. These moments are magical and so meaningful, you will not regret making them happen.

Need help planning your big day? Blessed Magnolia is a full-service wedding planning company that helps our couples get from “Yes” to “I Do” by taking all the stress that a family would have planning a wedding day and giving you peace and comfort knowing everything is being handled. It is our motto, “We handle the details, so you enjoy the moment”. Contact us today to see how we can make your day everything you dreamed it would be.