Color has infused weddings in amazing ways~ spicing up any style formality and introducing elements of surprise in a bold new way.  Repeat a time-honored yet gorgeous, classic pattern throughout your wedding and partner it with your favorite color(s).  The result… a blend of traditional with a twist of modern bride and groom.  Nothing short of stunning!

And, the theme of your bold, fav color and lovely patterning can easily be carried to your reception tables…

These darling silhouettes on these mini cakes can be made in your likeness~   Sweetness!

Are you doing something similar?  Leave us your comments… I LOVE comments!

Thanks so much for reading.

Images: Invitation, Table Number cards: MagnetStreetWeddings and images: 2,3,5: Brides.com

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Fairy tale weddings DO happen.  It’s every brides desire that this day be just how she wants it to be with as few hitches to the plan as possible.  Planning, of course, is key to making that happen and there are all kinds of resources available to help the modern day bride plan well.  But, whenever us humans decide ahead of time that we want something, anything, to be PERFECT, we’re going to worry at some point about the outcome.

Your groom will probably worry less than you and may even frequently tell you to relax more, but it’s likely he’ll have a few “what if” moments of his own.  The big question is how you can handle your wedding day worries so that when you finally walk down that aisle, you are absolutely gorgeous, relaxed, and look as happy and peaceful on the outside as you feel on the inside.

Let’s get real for a moment.  In the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty, I bet the beautiful princess never planned on being asleep that long, so it’s a good thing to remember that even with the best laid plans, everything might not go as planned. Life is like that, and I think that’s okay because it helps us focus on what’s really important and let the details be, well, just the details.

The good news of the Sleeping Beauty story is that after she finally woke up, her life was great . . . the moral is that even if your big day isn’t perfect, the marriage is what counts.  Someday you’ll look back at any wedding day fiasco’s that happen and, you know . . . smile.  After all, the perfect part isn’t really summed up in the events, as great as they may be.  Instead, the day is perfect, no matter what happens, because you and your man are perfect for each other and this day is for declaring that and celebrating it!

Here’s a little tip, a system if you will, that my husband came up with to help he and I navigate through our worries . . . I think it could work for brides and grooms too as you plan for your wedding day and as you experience it.  It’s called the worry factor plan.

Whenever something goes wrong, we take a step back and assign it a number on the worry factor scale.  If the issue isn’t a huge one, it might get a worry factor of a 2 or 3, whereas a significant problem would get a much higher factor, like an 8 or a 9.

Why do we go through this silly step?  Because sometimes just taking a step back from a problem to briefly evaluate it puts it in perspective and clears our head to come up with workable solutions. Also, if a problem crops up when we can’t discuss it right away, we can shoot each other an email or text message with the topic and the “WF” rating.  That lets the other know that something needs to be addressed and how important it is.

My husband came up with the system because he isn’t real fond of coming through the door at the end of the day and being “surprised” by a problem.  It gives him some time to prepare to deal with an issue, and knowing the ‘worry factor’ ahead of time actually keeps him from becoming obsessively concerned.

What do you think of the worry factor system?  Or, how do you handle it when things go wrong?  Please share your ideas in the comments!

Best,  Cheryl

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

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As I was playing my music way too loud on the way to work this morning, singing and fully enjoying the ride, I was also thinking just how powerful of an effect music has on us.~ setting the tone, lifting our mood, etc.

Considering the tone, style and musicians for your event?  Finding yourself wondering where to start? Relax.  Keep reading for a few suggestions to help you find the right musicians and to capture and set the tone ~ at the ceremony and reception, whether that’s casual, traditional, non-traditional, formal affair…

First,  consider your style and the feeling you want to evoke through your musicians and play lists.  Hiring classical musicians for a formal wedding or garden wedding is incredibly lovely but is that for you?  Match the style to the tone you want.  Consider the moments during your ceremony where you may need music …seating guests during the Prelude and during the Processional as the bridal party walks up the aisle.  You definitely want to change up the music as YOU walk up the aisle.  Consider Interlude music to highlight something special during your ceremony.   And, of course the Recessional music~ You’re married!  (If I could do it over again, I’d play something fun like “I feel good” by James Brown)  And concluding the ceremony is the Postlude music.  How about the music for your reception?  Still, where do you start?

Tips to Choosing your music and your musicians:

1. Plan early: Good musicians will be booked quickly.
2. Decide the tone you want to convey. Which style do you prefer: traditional, casual, formal… classical, pop, country…
3. Know your musical likes and dislikes. Visit Wedding Wire or iTunes, etc. and spend time sampling the different genres.  By the time you talk with prospective musicians, your wedding vision will be solid providing you with great questions to ask of them.
4. Finding Musicians: seek referrals, look online, ask wedding planners recommendations, talk to your church.  Interview the musicians and hear them play. Budget tip: Inquire at the music department for students looking for experience at a nearby university.
5. What to ask prospective musicians: After you’ve researched genres and styles, ask if the musicians are comfortable with your choices.  Can they perform what you would like them to perform?  You can’t expect them to play Taylor Swift when you’ve hired them for Bach.  Communicate your desires!
6. Additional musicians? Are you planning on having your best friend sing during the ceremony or play alongside your hired musicians?  Make sure your prospective musicians are comfortable with that scenario.
7. Communicate the specifics of where the ceremony will take place: outside, indoors, etc. Clue your musicians in on the acoustics.
8. Equipment: What do your musicians need for set up: chairs, amps, etc.
9. Inquire about restrictions: Before you hire your musicians and plan your playlist, ask your officiate if there are any restrictions that you need to be aware of.
10. Be accepting of the suggestions from your hired professional musicians.   If you’re hiring them, be confident of their abilities and judgments.
11. Contract: Make sure to ask and get in writing, all costs including hidden fees, start and end times, overtime fees, breakdown of costs.  Make sure equipment needs, start and end times as well as break schedules are in the contract as well.

Can you think of additional suggestions that would help out a bride and groom looking for musicians?

Source: Rachelle Streeter Independent Music Professional and MagnetStreet Weddings Customer Care Specialist

Thank you for reading!

Heidi

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This is so fun.  I just created this tag cloud for Truly Engaging based on words from current posts.  I was able to change the font, color and layout.  Love a retro-font and this one is called Grilled Cheese BTN.  I was inspired to create one after I saw the cloud that Pink Galoshes created for their blog (whose tagline reads: irreverent hot hip tips for the slightly naughty bride ~  uh-huh, check it out).

The program is Wordle and I’m thinking there are endless possibilities to creating wedding day tag cloud fun keepsakes… print unique wedding programs, favors, place cards, a poster for your guests to sign (a tag cloud of their names)…

What do you think?  Let’s hear your ideas?

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