Engagement Article from theknot.com

I am a lover of theknot.com, have been since I was planning my wedding over 8 years ago. 
Here's an article I enjoyed and found to be useful for those who are recently engaged and not too sure where to get started!

Once the initial shock of being engaged wears off (and you take a second to peel your eyes away from that sparkly ring on your finger!), you'll need to make a lot of decisions. Don't get overwhelmed -- here are the first nine things you need to do after you get engaged.

• Set a Timetable

The first thing to consider is how long your engagement will be. This will depend on a couple of factors, such as your ideal wedding date and how much time you'll need to prepare. A typical engagement lasts anywhere from six months to a year and a half or more. If you got engaged during the holidays but always wanted a summer wedding, make sure you've got enough time to plan without making yourselves wedding-crazy, and keep in mind that many of the best vendors and reception sites book a year or more in advance.

• Envision the Style

Your wedding style will be reflected first and foremost in the location, whether it's a luxe ballroom or an intimate backyard reception. Discuss with your fiance where your wedding will take place (in one of your hometowns or in the city where you currently live, for example), and then start scouting sites that can accommodate your wedding style. Use theknot.com/local to find reception venues in your area.

• Set Your Budget

In the end, dollars, not dreams, are a main determining factor for the size and style of your wedding. So, what affects the price tag?
Formality: In general, the more formal the reception, the more expensive, considering you'll have to match the site, food, and decor to the overall upscale tone.
Date and time: Saturdays, summer months, and evenings tend to be the most costly times to have a reception.
Location: In many cases, a wedding in a major metropolitan area is simply more expensive than in a smaller town.

• Determine a Date

Choosing a wedding date can be tougher than you'd think. There are a few things to consider: How much time will you need to prepare for your wedding? Do any loved ones having a conflicting graduation, vacation, or pregnancy due date? If you have your heart set on a particular place, caterer, band, or photographer, the availability of these crucial vendors may also play a large part in your decision. Try to avoid dates of big conventions or other events that draw large crowds, since that might make it harder for out-of-town guests to get hotel rooms. Find out more wedding dates to avoid here.

• Make a Guest List

As you begin to build your guest list, you'll need to consider a number of factors. If you have a particular ceremony or reception site in mind, for instance, you're going to be limited by how many people it can accommodate (you can't squeeze 300 people into a lighthouse). Would you rather have one-on-one time with each guest or to throw a once-in-a-lifetime party for all your friends and family? If Mom and Dad are adamant about inviting throngs of friends and family, you'll have to hear them out -- especially if they're footing a major part of the bill. Obviously, the more relatives you must invite, the larger your list will be. And more guests means a bigger bill, as catering costs are generally calculated on a per-head basis. So, in addition to location, your budget will have a big influence on the size of your guest list.

• Consider a Consultant

If you're a super-busy couple, hire a full-time wedding consultant to help you prepare your entire event, from the announcement to the honeymoon. You can also hire a part-time consultant to devise a wedding blueprint -- including budget, schedule, and lists of good vendor and site choices -- before you launch solo into the preparations. Another option is a day-of coordinator (which we definitely recommend), who will make sure everything goes as planned on your wedding day.

• Start Gown Shopping

It's never too early to begin thinking about your wedding dress. Start by figuring out which style will look best on you. How? Learn the lingo before stepping foot in a dress salon. Read up on silhouettes, necklines, trains, and hues that might flatter you. Season will also affect your choice. Getting married in the sweltering summer? Go with lightweight fabrics such as chiffon, linen, or organza. Having a winter wedding? Brocade, faux fur, and velvet fabrics will keep you warm. Satin, shantung, silk, and tulle are perfect year-round.

Thank You Note Etiquette

1. Try to start writing thank-you notes as gifts are arriving, in some cases this may be before the wedding if you choose to open gifts as they are sent to your home.

2. Do not try to do 100 thank you notes all at once. Your sincerity will dwindle and your hand will cramp up!

3. Most brides (and grooms) would love to hear that they have anywhere to 6 months to a year to get thank-you notes done, but this is an inappropriate amount of time to wait to acknowledge your "Thanks". Gifts sent prior to the wedding should have thank you cards sent within 2 weeks and gifts opened post wedding should be done within 1 month. Anything later then a month sends the impression that the gifts and time spent looking for a gift for you and your newlywed spouse were not fully appreciated.

4. When opening the gifts, try to have yourself or someone else describe the gift as much as possible so you will be able to identify the gift you received very well once the time comes to write the thank-you note. You can try to record a positive emotion you felt when you first saw it. People love to hear how much you love their gift choices.

5. If you received money as a gift, thank them for the money and try to say how you and your spouse plan on using it. If you used it for furniture or a new appliance, the giver would love to hear that!

6. Try to write the thank-you note and then immediately after, write the envelope out and place the note into the envelope. You would not want to get the thank you note mixed up in someone else's envelope by mistake.

7. Try to split the task of note writing between you and your spouse. If you don't know your husbands Aunt very well, ask him to write the note instead. This doesn't have to just be a one person job.

8. And lastly, try your best to not "hand deliver" thank you notes. People like to get these kinds of gestures in the mail.

Beautiful Wedding Color Combinations J'adore Loves!

Here are some of j'adore Weddings favorite color combinations when it comes to wedding design:

1. Lavender and Chocolate Brown - You have the elegance of the lavender, but your future spouse will appreciate that the brown gives it a more "masculine" feel. Accent it with cream to avoid the colors from seeing too dark or overwhelming.

2. Deep Reds and Oranges with a hint of Yellow - Perfect for fall. I love the the deep richness that fall gives and and the colors are the reason for that. Think of the leaves in your backyard or local park, there are reds and oranges and yellows. These colors are attractive to the eye when used correctly.
Here is a color combination I stumbled across mistakenly today:

Just throwing the lemons away from my tea and Ella's half eaten strawberries (she has the flu otherwise I would have ate them) gives me a good idea for a bright color combination. Who knew?

3. Hot Pink and... any neutral really - I think for elegance sake you may want to stick with white with a tiny accent of black. This color combination brings the appeal of fun and excitement. Finding centerpieces with hot pink accents will bring attention directly to the guests tables. This combination may not be suitable for those "afraid" of color!

4. Pale Green and Light Creamy Yellow - Refreshing and invigorating, perfect for a Spring or an early Summer event. These colors are light and cool. Centerpieces could include and arrangement of fresh lemons and limes in a clear bowl, with tiny white floral accents.

5. Black, White and Silver - Classy! With a combination like this you can add accents of color and it will not seem overwhelming. This combination never dates and looks beautiful in a wedding album.

                                          (Photo by Jaime Windon)

More then just weddings

What is j'adore Weddings?

Well, its a wedding business of course, 

coordination, managing, consulting, etc.

But, there is more!

j'adore = my loves.

I have included now a very specific, unique, addition to my company. 

Something that I am sure not many other consultants offer. 

Are you sitting on the edge of your seat with anticipation??

Sure you are. 

Well...its...

GIFT BASKETS!

I know. It may not sound all that "unique", but in a way (in my own way) it is. 

I have a gift of gifting.
(yes, you read that correctly)

I take pride in the gifts I buy for my brides and grooms as a "thank you".

A lot of time, research and care go into the selections I make for them. 

So included in a j'adore package is a "Bride and Groom basket". 

For my last wedding, a salad themed basket was created

The bowl was a large bamboo salad bowl.

Inside were matching bamboo tongs

A salad recipe book

An oil and vinegar with seasonings set for bread dipping

Salad bowls

Spring colored tea towels and napkins.

So, as I said. 

This is a gift to bride and groom from j'adore. 

But it doesn't stop there. 

Depending on the size and quantities requested,

gift baskets can be requested to be made and personalized by j'adore

for a fee. 

Don't know what to get the bridesmaids or groomsmen?

What about for your future husband as a little "something" special or vice versa. 

Or bridesmaids...do you loathe having to go shopping for that "perfect" 

gift for the bridal shower? Well just contact j'adore and we will figure that all out for you. 

Just give us a little idea of the person you are buying for and what kinds of things they love or interests they may have.  Then leave the rest up to j'adore!

And don't limit yourselves to thinking that this is only applies to weddings, or showers. 

Think outside the wedding box! 

Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Christmas, Easter, Birthdays, Anniversaries... the list just doesn't end.

GIFT BASKETS

Its amazing what a basket full of goodies does for the gift receiver. 

Feel free to contact me for any inquires or quotes.

Alter

The alter at a ceremony site can look simple to do, 

but sometimes its not. 

For instance

Aisle runners....

These can be tricky. If they are crooked, its noticable. 

And how do you keep it down?

You don't want your wedding party to trip, or the bride to get caught.

For the alter set up above, the runner was very long. 

The bride and groom did not know how long it would be so they left it to me to decide 

when I went to set up.

I discovered there was a lot of runner to go around, so I decide to do it up the steps as well.

With how centered the church was (with the cross right smack dab in the middle there) 

I figured that it just made it look so much more beautiful on the eyes rather then just 

stopping before the steps. 

I thought it looked amazing. 

As you can see. It doesn't look too straight (on the steps). 

I literally did this 4 times to get it just right. 

I never took a finally picture of the finished look (I was too busy), but it looked great. 

I also swapped out the brides table cloths on the two tables (which were short and showed the table legs) out for bigger ones that I asked he Pastor for. 

Not all churches will be so accommodating, but I was lucky to have the option in this case. 

We taped it down at the "important" areas with clear duct tape. The most important parts being at the doorway where the bridesmaids and bride entered, and up the steps. 

Extra tape! 

There were also tealights highlighting the whole stage, which looked beautiful. 

I thought this was a very elegant ceremony set up. 

After the processional, and after the doors had closed, 

I peeked into the door crack to see how it all looked. 

It was unbelievable. 

I generally don't get "floored" by stuff like that, but this looked picture perfect to me. 

Lori and Aaron Beal had a beautiful wedding.

Small, elegant and tasteful. 

Pictures to follow soon.