Save the Dates!

One of the first major tasks after an engagement is to pick the date of your wedding. It cannot be too soon since you will need to allow ample time for planning, therefore many weddings are set to take place anywhere from 9 months to two years later. It is customary to send out invitations approximately two months before the wedding but for some this can be too short of notice, especially in the case of destination weddings or those scheduled over holiday weekends. Well my future bride-to-be’s, that is where save the dates come in! These handy little pre-invitations, that have only been introduced in the past decade, are becoming more and more popular in the wedding world as a way to let future guests know about your engagement as well as what weekend they should mark off their calendars. They started out simple, just a card with the date, but couple’s are becoming even more creative with so many innovative ideas! Looking through past samples I have seen magnets, picture slideshows, videos, individual treats, buttons, stickers, cards printed on wood or plastic, theme-related props, and just about anything else you could imagine! Some important things to remember with these save the dates is that they should go out no more than a year before your date, and of course everyone who receives one should be followed by an invitation!
Check out these great ideas that have been used by couples!!

This will be your first chance to express your wedding style so have a little fun and be creative!

-Juliana

Behind the Scenes

Working as a Wedding Planner we get to see both sides of the wedding. There is the outside view seen by guests, where all the details have come together perfectly. Then there is the inside view that only the vendors can see. A lot goes on in those short hours before the reception begins. For the wedding of Becky & Dale, myself and another A'vie intern, Lauren, were put in charge of setting up the reception. Although it was a hard days work with many tedious details, it felt great to accomplish everything & get to see the finished look! Here are a few photos I snapped throughout the day to show you all a little bit of what we do! Enjoy :)

Unwrapping EVERY little streamer popper for the Bride & Grooms entrance! 200 in total!

The throw bouquet- so cute!

The reception, held at the UF Hilton, was decked out in pinks, purples, and blues and showcased Becky’s favorite, ribbons!!

The dance floor was found underneath hundreds of ribbons hanging from the ceiling creating a fun setting for the guests to dance the night away with music provided by Mike Collins and Darrin Legree.

Grooms Cake!

Each of the 24 tables was dressed with white linens and interlacing ribbons handcrafted by the Bride! In the center were tall vases filled with water and topped with stunning floral arrangements provided by Petal Pusher in Ocala.

Beautiful toasting glasses!

The cake was made from four square tiers that were wrapped in; you guessed it, more ribbon!

Although it was a large wedding it was the small details that made it unique such as the candy bar that coordinated with their colors, the Photo Booth where guests could strike a pose, and the personalized pictures used as table numbers!

The best part is seeing all of the couple's ideas become reality to make their perfect day!

xoxo

Juliana

Becky & Dale

On June 13, 2009 Becky and Dale were married in a beautiful ceremony at University Auditorium located on the University of Florida Campus. If you have never been to University Auditorium you should know that it is a gorgeous, grand, Cathedral-like setting and the absolute perfect atmosphere for a wedding. Here are a few gorgeous shots all taken by Powers Photography.

Becky made a beautiful bride- I love those earrings!

Here are some pictures taken on site at Univerity Auditorium. The background window makes a great setting for these pictures!

The Wedding Party making some cute shots!

Even though it was pouring outside, the inside looked immaculate! Such a wonderful atmosphere for beginning your new life together!

After the ceremony and between the raindrops Becky, Dale, and the wedding party in tow were able to stop by the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to take some great pictures that show their love for the Gators!

Here is Becky getting down on the dance floor at the reception, held at the UF Hilton. (Another post soon including decorating details!)

Becky & Dale were a pleasure to work with & I wish them the best wishes in their new life together!!

A perfect end to a perfect day :)

~Juliana

Strike A Pose

Although the day of a wedding can be hectic for the planners, somewhere between the introductions and cutting the cake we find a little time to eat and rest up, or in our case take full advantage of the Photo Booth!! Myself, Jasmine, Lauren, Ann Marie, and Caitlen all had a blast working together and I think these pictures display that perfectly :)
Another blog with all the fun details of this wedding coming soon!

~Juliana