Forever and Always

Dressing Your Bridesmaids

2009-08-06T12:53:00.009-04:00

Bridesmaids dresses can sometimes be a sensitive subject, of course the bride should stand out but that also doesn't give her the right to put her friends in yards of bright pink tulle that may or may not resemble a dress (we have all see 27 dresses, right?) When choosing what your ladies in waiting will don on the big day keep in mind that these girls are not only going to be the ones helping you throughout the day but they are most likely your loved friends and family! Putting them in dresses they will be uncomfortable in will just make for some unhappy bridesmaids and who wants that?? The dress style and color should match the wedding theme and complement the brides' dress which will make a beautiful picture for your guests and photographer. With all the selections out there you can be sure to find some fabulous dresses that you and your ladies will love! Check out some of these great designs by Watters- all of which are available in custom colors!

xoxo

Juliana

A Fan-Tastic Idea!

2009-08-04T14:30:00.002-04:00

A summer wedding in Florida is a dream for some couple’s, with the beautiful beaches and breezy palm trees, but the reality is that most outdoor events are just downright hot. Well instead of letting this obstacle get in the way of your vision, let it be inspired! A popular wedding website GetMarried.com is now offering an item that can double as favors and a way to keep your guests comfortable in the hot heat. With prices as low as $1.00 you can receive an elegant Asian white paper fan. The best part is that these fans are simple and can easily be adjusted to incorporate your theme. A few suggestions that GetMarried.com recommends are using a stamp or calligraphy for personalization, weaving colored paper through the spokes for place cards, or attaching ribbon, the possibilities are endless! And don’t forget about all the great pictures you could get with this fun little accessory :)

~Juliana

Celebrity I Do's: Kendra & Hank

2009-08-03T11:28:00.006-04:00

Last night on E!, star of reality show Girls Next Door Kendra Wilkinson was married to NFL Eagles player Hank Baskett. Although I am not huge fans of either celebrities their wedding was definitely one for the books. The decor was simple and elegant with all white everything. I loved the pristine white aisle which they walked down as well as the huge outdoor tent that was set up at the mansion with all white floors and flowers. Kendra's dress, that she designed, was a beautiful satin princess style with a lovely long veil. Here's a few pictures I found online of the new couple!

~Juliana

Save the Dates!

2009-07-30T13:11:00.006-04:00

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

2009-07-26T18:14:00.019-04:00

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

2009-07-26T17:58:00.017-04:00

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

2009-07-08T10:09:00.004-04:00

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

Katie & Amir

2009-06-21T20:06:00.001-04:00

On May 30th, 2009 Katie and Amir were married at the beautiful Thomas Center. The Jewish ceremony took place outside in the Turtle Courtyard while the reception was inside the Spanish Court Room. Even with the constant Florida rain we have been encountering we were lucky enough to have the sun shining all day long. The aisle was lined with flower balls hung on the chairs and the flower girl holding a similar arrangement. Although the day before had been extremely hot, Saturday was breezy and beautiful, we couldn't have asked for a better day!

Inside the Spanish Court room each round table was draped with pink linens. The floral centerpieces were provided by Joan at Pranges Florist. They were beautiful arrangements and added a touch of green to the atmosphere.

Catering provided by Terranova was a delicious buffet of salmon, fillet, vegetables, potatoes, and breads. My favorite part were the pre-served salads of organic baby field greens with goat cheese, cranberries, red onions and toasted almonds and a garlic red wine vinaigrette- so delicious!

The inside of the Thomas Center was a tight squeeze for almost 120 guests but the beautiful window ceiling really opened up the room!

The picturesque cake made by Cakes by Jenny was three tiers and featured sour cream pound cake with orange filling and chocolate cake with raspberry filling.

Coffee table- love the added bouquet!

Angela adding some last minute touches!

Myself & Benay (another intern). Having fun wtih our trusty clipboards & pouches!

Myself & Angela

The best part of the night was provided by Jay's Entertainment and their DJ Darrin. He played great music & encouraged everyone to dance the night away! After the bouquet and garter had been thrown Darrin blindfolded the guy who caught the garter while he was sitting in front of the girl who had caught the bouquet with instructions to put the garter on her--using his teeth! Little did he know that while he was blindfolded there had been a little switch.....

I did not get any pictures of when Darrin took the blinfold off because of lighting but let's just say he was a little surprised!!

Katie's dress was a beautiful white satin, strapless, sweetheart neckline. This was the only picture I got of her but you can check out all of her pictures by JS Photography (here). I loved loved loved her hairpiece which was a little feather adornment that was tucked into her side-swept bun. It was so cute but elegant and perfect since she was not wearing a veil. Katie's hair was done by Graceful Strands.

In all the whole day was definitely a success- even with my Publix runs for forgotton items!

At the end of the night all of us at A'vie were tired and had very sore feet but it felt great to have pulled off the whole night!

From left to right: Myself, Benay, Angela (Lead Planner), Jasmine, and Jessica

This wedding was definitely one that I have worked the hardest at but I think it made me enjoy it even more :)

Congratulations to Katie & Amir!!

~Juliana

The Accidental Proposals

2009-06-21T14:16:00.001-04:00

I found this link on my AOL Homepage today- Hilarious!

Proposals Gone Wrong

....Just a word to all those guys out there...marriage is probably something you should talk about BEFORE you buy the ring!
(My favorite is the little Asian boy :)

~Juliana

I won!!

2009-06-18T00:21:00.002-04:00

I know I haven't updated in awhile which I apologize for. I have been working a lot of events in addition to my other job but don't worry I have lots of fun pictures coming your way!
But for now I wanted to tell everyone that I just found out I won the Masterpiece Weddings Give-Away for the fabulous "Wedding Chic" book by Colin Cowie! I am so excited!!! Thank you to Masterpiece Weddings & Colin Cowie! I can't wait to start looking through it!
Isn't it beautiful???!!??

~Juliana

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

2009-06-04T19:41:00.001-04:00

So I could seriously sit at my computer and look at wedding photos for HOURS. I love seeing all the different ideas people can come up with!!
One of the current photographers I have discovered is Jasmine Star. She was named one of the Top 10 Wedding Photographers of 2009 and is known for shooting destination weddings and the fact that each session is unique! If you're like me and love pictures, check out more of her work at jasmine-star.com, You won't be disappointed! Here are a few of my favorites :)

~Juliana

This Just In...

2009-06-04T18:33:00.002-04:00

Here are some of the great professional pictures that were taken at Kristen & Alex's wedding! All pictures taken by Katie Leonard. I love her creativity, especially with the ring shot! Enjoy... :)

~Juliana

Courtney & Bill

2009-05-31T14:19:00.002-04:00

Courtney and Bill were married May 24th, 2009 on the beautiful lawn at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, FL. The site was beautiful on the outside and inside, not to mention their very helpful staff! Even with the steady rain Florida has been having we were blessed with a very sunny day! Here are all the pictures I took!

Angela steaming Courtney's beautiful dress!!

SO GORGEOUS!

All of the bouquets provided by Floral Design. Loved the white!

Angela fixing the cake table. I learned how to do this as well!

Bride & Grooms Sweetheart Table.

The cake designed by Classic Cakes was three tiers of delicious red velvet and cheesecake filling. Yummy!

The placecard setting table. I set out the cards :) I really loved the centerpiece for this one! The groom's idea!

Each table held centerpieces provided by Floral Designs. With thirteen tables the centerpieces alternated between small bouquets and tall vases both containing gorgeous white and green floral arrangements.

With the bridesmaids in black and Courtney in white it was a vision of elegance.

The reception was held upstairs in the Ponte Vedra Room.

This picture is a little dark but one of the highlights of the night was the Best Man’s speech. Bill’s best friend started off with reminiscent stories and jokes but ended by stripping down to his old wrestling uniform and challenging Bill right on the dance floor! It was quite the surprise but provided for a fun and spontaneous show.

All 120 guests danced the night away with music provided by The Mystery Band. At the end of the night friends and family sent off the happy couple with a runway of sparklers bringing their big day to a fabulous end!
Congratulations Courtney & Bill!

~Juliana

Gowns Galore

2009-05-28T09:50:00.001-04:00

My current obsession is Wedding Gowns..Here are a few I absolutely love!
Isn't the bow just adorable?? JasmineBridal.com

Since I plan on getting married in a Catholic Church I will be needing a dress with sleeves- Who knew there could be such beautiful ones as this? Even better is that on most designs the top lace layer is removable to reveal a completely new look for the reception after! AlfredAngelo.com

Want to feel like a princess on your big day? Check out Kirstie Kelly's Designs inspired from each Disney Princess! DisneyBridal.com

Courtney (this past weekend's bride) wore a gorgeous trumpet-style dress! Pictures of her wedding coming soon!

~Juliana

Kristen & Alex Tie The Knot

2009-05-27T18:57:00.001-04:00

On May 16th, 2009, Kristen and Alex were married at the Baughmen Center on University of Florida campus. The bridesmaids were matching in cherry pink dresses and mint sashes while the groomsmen wore mint green vests under their suits. I had never been to the Baughmen Center before and I loved the intimate yet grand feeling it portrayed, absolutely perfect for a wedding. The grandeur continued on into the reception, held at Plantation Hall at Haile. Each table was complete with mint green tablecloths, pink linen napkins, and alternating tall and short floral arrangements provided by The Plant Shoppe Florist in Gainesville.

The cake, made by Ms. Debbie's Sugar Art, was four tiers of delicious white cake alternating between pineapple and strawberry filling. My favorite part is the monogrammed toppers! So cute & original!

Every detail including the place-card table at the front made this wedding unique and special.

This was my official first wedding working with A’vie and I absolutely loved it. It is great to see everything come together and be there to witness the love and good times of family and friends. I look forward to the rest if the summer and all the weddings I will be working.

Congratulations to Kristen and Alex!!

~Juliana

Bridal Blogging

2009-05-26T12:28:00.001-04:00

Check out my latest A'vie blog..about blogging!

We already know you love to read our blog, so for you brides-to-be out there, why not start one of your own? Starting a blog a few months before the big day can keep family members and friends in the loop with important details as well as fun facts! Taking the time to write down what you have and have not completed will also be a great way to keep yourself organized.
Don’t think you have enough time? There is no reason blog entries need to be long. Just a short and sweet update every few days is more than enough. Letting your close ones know you have found the perfect dress or decided on a venue will make them feel as though they are involved in the process without having to call each and every one of them. Being prepared and counting down to your special day will make it even more unforgettable!

Updates from the past 2 weekends coming soon!

~Juliana

Traditional vs Modern Bridal Hair

2009-05-15T11:29:00.001-04:00

A fabulous hair-do can be the finishing accessory for any bride on her big day. Although it is traditional to wear a veil, you may see more and more modern-day brides giving that up for a creative headpiece. Ranging from tiara’s to flowers the perfect accessory does not have to be large or expensive. A few original ideas can include baby’s breath, feathers, ribbons, or just about anything else you can imagine! If you still want to stick with the traditional, many of these items can be incorporated into veils as well, depending on your style and taste. A unique ornament in your hair can just be one more way to stand out on your special day!

{Check it out on A'vie's blog here}

~Juliana

From This Day On...

2009-05-14T17:32:00.001-04:00

I have officially begun my journey to becoming a Wedding Planner! Today I started my intership at A'vie Wedding and Events where I will be spending my summer planning, coordinating, and experiencing all that goes into a wedding. I am already so thankful that I was able to get an internship early in my schooling so that I will really be able to see what the field is like and how I feel about it as a full-time career.
Today I did not have too much to do in the office. All of us interns were trained earlier in the week on all of the documents and how to fill them out, etc. I did have my first briefing meeting for the wedding I will be working this Saturday. We went in-depth covering every detail from the flowers to what the bride and groom would like as their beverage :) The ceremony will be at the Baughman Center on campus which I am excited to see. The reception will be held at Plantation Hall at Haile. It is not a big wedding, about 75 people, but it will be great to be behind the scenes first-hand!
As of right now I am scheduled to work weddings the next 3 weekends, in addition to going to Connecticut for my brothers graduation so I shall be quite busy!
I will try to keep this blog up to date on all the weddings and events I work and I will definitely put up some pictures as well as some of my own stuff!
One assignment I did have today was to create a fun blog for A'vie's blog "Moments We've Celebrated." I wrote a little piece on veils vs. hairpieces, I'll be sure to post it later!!

~Juliana