This was in our inbox today and we had to share… J.CREW’s One & Only Wedding Event with 20% off now through March 3rd. Gowns, bridesmaids dresses, veils, sashes, and other accessories. Just enter the code LOVE at checkout. Happy shopping!
image via j.crew
We were excited to contribute to this recent article for Gatehouse Media about planning a winter wedding…
“It’s not uncommon for girls to grow up dreaming about their wedding, and for many future brides, their fantasy nuptials often take place on a beach, or under the stars on a summer night.
But the vision of a warm-weather weddding is something brides may want to reconsider. Some planners, such as Boston-based Natalie Pinney, co-founder of Whim Events, calls winter a “fantastic time of year” to tie the knot.
“It’s so magical, it’s so cozy,” she said. “People love to be cozy in winter. … it’s all about creating that cozy ambience.”
In addition to capturing the romance of the season, Kelli Sigmon, founder and principal consultant of Boston’s Swank Events, said couples who wed during winter — the off-season in the industry — have good odds of booking vendors and venues at a discount, cuts that can range from a few thousand dollars to fractions as high as 15 percent.
“It’s kind of a shame more people don’t consider it,” she said of winter weddings. “It can be one of the best times of the year to have a wedding, especially an affordable wedding.”
Just because a wedding happens in winter doesn’t mean it can’t have glamour. Here are some suggestions from wedding planners about how to make a cold-weather wedding an event to remember.
Lighting
One of the perks of a winter ceremony, said Susan Cordogan, owner of Chicago’s Big City Bride wedding planning, is that the season’s early sunsets mean brides can have fun with lighting.
While summer weddings don’t darken until well after dinner, winter allows couples to focus the decor on lighting.
One option is textured lighting, which she says “turns any wedding into a ‘wow’” by creating patterns or shapes on walls, ceilings or floors. She recalls one of her brides opted for textured lighting to create a paisley pattern on the walls of the reception hall that matched her invitations. Other possibilities include water patterns, leaves, snowflakes or bare branches.
“It just adds depth and interest to a room,” Cordogan said.
The season is also ideal for incorporating candlelight, which Cordogan said can be done on any budget. She said candles enclosed in glass — especially silvery mercury or crackle glass — can make a room beautiful. In addition, pillar candles can be wrapped in lace or ribbon, while Pinney said inserting a candle into mason jars filled with Kosher rock salt makes the mineral looks like snow.
Meanwhile, instead of floral centerpieces, Cor- dogan suggested hanging a lit chandelier above every table or choosing long, rectangular banquet tables with lights above each one.
Flowers
When it comes to bouquets, said Jaclyn Fisher, owner of Two Little Birds Planning in Haddonfield, NJ, consider adding unexpected elements such as cotton, mini-pinecones, succulents, dusty miller and antique broaches. Pinney said brides can also “let nature be your guide,” by picking icy white or light pink roses, green eucalyptus leaves or any other blooms in pale, icy colors. Winter is also an ideal time, Sigmon said, to consider alternatives such as bouquets made of feathers or paper flowers.
And for brides who worry that a winter wedding means importing flowers from elsewhere, Jesse Deckard, a senior wedding and event design consultant at Chicago’s Bliss Weddings and Events, said “quite honestly, that’s how the floral industry works.”
“Even in the amazing summer months,” he said, “(flowers) are still coming from New Zealand and South America.”
In fact, he said blooms such as peonies, tulips and blooming branches like cherry blossoms are more readily available and grow better during winter.
Fashions/colors
Deckard, at Bliss Weddings, said one way couples can “embrace the season you’ve chosen” is through colors and fashion. Faux fur, bolero jackets, hand muffs, capes, cloaks and elbow-length gloves can be included in the bride and wedding party’s outfits and can pop in photos.
When it comes to photos, Pinney said couples can get “amazing pictures” by taking the wedding party outdoors, writing a few words in the snow and dressing in earmuffs, mittens, cardigans and scarves.
When it comes to colors for dresses and decor, Deckard said “gun metal” tones are popular — pewter, rose gold, black, white and navy.
And just because a wedding happens during cold weather doesn’t mean couples should exclude pastels. Sigmon said more winter brides are choosing soft hues such as pale gray-blue, lilac and baby yellows and greens.
In addition, Pinney said a blush-colored palette of light pink, coral, ice blue, gray, and champaign “look really gorgeous together,” for snowy weddings, but she said what’s more important than the season is for brides to be happy with the result.
“This is your wedding,” she said. “If you want to wear yellow, who cares if it’s in the winter?”
Comfort cocktails
Instead of an icy drinks, brides and grooms can keep guests warm by offering hot drinks to contrast the chilly weather. Fisher, at Two Little Birds, said hot chocolate, flavored coffee, warm cider, tea or hot toddies can be served as guests arrive at the ceremony. Couples can even create a bar that opens after cake cutting — think a hot chocolate bar with whipped cream, marshmallows, Peppermint Schnapps, Bailey’s and Kahlua. The night can end by serving warm treats such as cider donuts, mini pies or warm cookies.”
image via ashley bartoletti photography
I had so much fun styling South Jersey Magazine’s Spring 2013 Fashion Shoot at Revel last week. The Sixers Dream Team lent us the beautiful models, Dominic Episcopo took the amazing shots, and Joey’s, Erdon, Denim Habit, Emporium, and Revolution Jewelers provided the clothes and accessories. I can’t wait to see the March issue. Here are some behind the scenes shots…
images via south jersey magazine, jaclyn’s iphone and rebecca timms
image via etsy shop named by art
Staying in and making a beautiful meal together can be just as romantic as going out to dinner to celebrate Valentine’s Day. So we asked our friend, award-winning chef, food writer, and cookbook author Lorna Yee to share a delicious dish for two. This tasty slow-cooked lamb ragu recipe comes from her cookbook, The Newlywed Kitchen, which is full of amazing recipes and sweet love stories. Happy Cooking!
slow-cooked lamb ragu
serves 2
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1⁄4 pound pancetta or bacon, cut into 1⁄4-inch pieces
1 medium sweet yellow onion, finely diced
2 ribs celery, finely diced
2 small carrots, finely diced
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
3⁄4 cup dry white wine
1 pound ground lamb
1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt
1⁄4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Small pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon dried marjoram, or 1⁄2 teaspoon fresh chopped marjoram
1⁄2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1⁄3 cup grated pecorino or Parmesan
1⁄4 cup half-and-half or whole milk
1⁄2 pound pasta, cooked and drained
1. Heat a tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook until crisp, about 3 minutes. Remove the pancetta with a slotted spoon, leaving the drippings in the skillet, and transfer to a large, heavy-bottomed pot.
2. Add the onions to the pancetta drippings in the skillet, and cook until golden brown, about 7 to 8 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, and garlic, and cook for 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft. Add the wine, carefully scraping up the brown bits on the bottom of the skillet, and let it reduce for 2 minutes. Transfer the vegetables and wine to the pot with the pancetta.
3. Heat the remaining olive oil in the skillet, and brown the lamb over medium-high heat, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Transfer the lamb to the pot.
4. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaf, thyme, marjoram, and rosemary to the pot. Simmer the sauce, uncovered, over medium-low heat for 21⁄2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes or so. (If you see some orange-colored fat floating to the surface, scoop it up with a spoon and discard.)
5. Remove the bay leaf. Stir in the pecorino and half-and-half, and toss the ragù with the pasta.
image via the newlywed kitchen
We were happy to offer some tips to Erinn Hutkin of Gatehouse Media for her recent story about Winter Wedding Planning…
Once the busy holiday season ends, brides who have wedding dates on the calendar for spring or summer can use the winter lull to their advantage by taking care of the bulk of their planning.
In fact, some wedding planners say winter is an ideal time to plan a weddding for later in the year because vendors and venues often have clearer schedules before the summer wedding rush, which can mean more time and attention for brides and grooms.
Here are a few suggestions from those in the wedding industry about some of the details that couples can take care of during winter before the weather warms and their wedding date nears.
Book your vendors
Jaclyn Fisher, who owns Two Little Birds Planning in Haddonfield, N.J., said there are a lot of “to do’s” that should be checked off before the 4 or 5 month mark. These include choosing your wedding party, sending your save the dates, reserving room blocks, buying your gown and bridesmaids dresses, registering for gifts, and booking most of your vendors. For brides getting married in spring/early summer, she recommends brides start the New Year by crossing some important items off their wedding checklist. In January, they should make their honeymoon arrangements, rent or buy formalwear for the groom and groomsmen, order the invitations, order the wedding bands, and finalize the guest list.
A good planning rule, said Kelli Sigmon, the founder of Boston’s Swank Events, is to book vendors at least five months before the wedding. Meanwhile, she said winter is great time to met with photographers and DJs or to set up food tastings with caterers because it’s the off season, so vendors or managers at venues have time to answer questions, give tours, and make the experience more personal.
Prioritize and organize
To get all the details in order, Fisher suggests hiring a planner or day-of coordinator. She said this takes stress off the bride so she can enjoy being a bride. She also recommends something simple — making lists — either with pen and paper or in an app. To get organized, Fisher recommends wedding-specific apps such as iWedding Deluxe, Wedding Budget, The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner, WeddingScan, Fun Wedding and Ultimate Wedding Planner.
Figure out the details
Susan Cordogan, owner of Chicago’s Big City Bride, said couples can use the slow winter months before the wedding to think about many of the small details. Map out a wedding timeline — what time will rehearsal take place? When will the wedding party get hair and makeup done? When should vendors arrive? Also, start thinking about who you want in
your group photos and when they will be taken.
“Group shots are like herding cats,” she said. “Someone’s always in the the bathroom, smoking a cigarette or at the bar.”
She said to use the time to think of details such as getting a guest book, menu cards, and whether you want to do anything interactive.
And when it comes to music, couples who hire live bands should give the musicians at least three months to learn, practice, and perfect special songs, such as the tune they want to hear during the father-daughter dance. For those hiring a DJ, use the winter to start compiling a list of songs they do and don’t want played and add to it over time.
image via the knot
We are proud to announce that Two Little Birds Planning has been selected as a recipient of The Knot Best of Weddings 2013! After being rated by local brides, we’ve been voted best in the Philadelphia area. The Knot Best of Weddings provides a “by brides, for brides” guide to the top wedding professionals across the country. Congratulations to the other winners and thank you for all of the great reviews!
I was watching Good Morning America this morning and they featured a teaser story to promote their 20/20 Special tonight called “Wedding Confidential.” You can watch the segment here. They start by saying, “If you’re planning your wedding right now, cover your eyes.” Then they go on to show one couple’s nightmare wedding. I’ll be honest, bad things can happen and sometimes they are out of everyone’s control, but most of the things that this particular couple went through could have been easily avoided with a little planning.
So this couple, Ravayna and David, got married outside in New Orleans on October 6, 2012. They arrived in New Orleans three days before the big day, so they were planning from out of town. They checked in with the venue to find that there was no lawn or bushes. The kitchen was closed for renovations. Their flowers arrived mostly dead. David’s suit arrived three sizes too big. Ravayna hit her head on a door. It was a hot day and Ravayna had a lot of dress, so she almost passed out.
All of these things, minus the bride bumping her head, didn’t have to happen. We work with couples planning from out of town all the time. We’ve even helped a couple plan their Philadelphia wedding from Singapore. So hiring a wedding planner in the town they were getting married would be our first recommendation. Their planner would have been able to guide and help them choose reliable vendors, hopefully eliminating the issues with the venue, florist, and suit. Their planner would have reviewed the vendor contracts to make sure the couple was protected in case issues did come up. And a planner would have also been able to deal with these last minutes headaches, so the couple didn’t have to stress in the days leading up to their wedding.
Our next recommendation is to do a little research. Read vendor reviews online and don’t be afraid to ask to speak with past clients. For example, reading the florist’s reviews online could have uncovered that other couples had bad experiences and that this particular florist wasn’t a good choice. A quick visit to accuweather.com shows the weather in any town from last year and the forecast for the next two years in their monthly outlook section. Yes it’s just a forecast, but seeing that the historic average is in the 80’s, you know it’s going to be hot.
This leads us to our next tip… have backup plans. If your planning an outdoor wedding, have a plan b location for the ceremony, reception, and photos. Whether it’s a tent or adding fans, have a plan in place for the different curve balls that Mother Nature could throw your way.
I say all these things not to criticize this couple. They didn’t know better. Like so many couples, this was their first time planning a wedding. But we want to let other couple know that they don’t need to “cover their eyes.” We know firsthand that not everything happens according to the plan, but there is a lot you can do to prepare and it’s easy to avoid most of these wedding day disasters.
The most important thing is to remember to remain calm and enjoy it no matter what. We love that even though everything went wrong, Ravayna had a great attitude and a tip of her own… the wedding is just one day, while the marriage is forever.
We had a blast at Lovesick last weekend! We met so many cool couples and talented vendors, and we were happy to catch up with some of our industry friends. Like the amazing Ryan Tennis and the Clubhouse Band and the gals of Wren & Field Photography, who we want to thank for taking the beautiful pictures of our set up. You can see more pictures from the event on philly.com.
Just like we are always telling our couples about enjoying the process of wedding planning, we really enjoyed shopping and putting the everything together for our “table”. We visited Cape May County’s Antique Alley for inspiration and ideas. The antique doors were rented from Ancient of Days Antiques and the table was borrowed from The Dutch Rose, both on Route 9 in Cape May Court House. The banner flags are from Land of Nod and the flowers (lisianthus) from Mullica Hill Flower Company.
We can’t wait until next year and now we don’t have to. This year’s Lovesick events were so successful, that Tom and Jon already added two more shows this year. “Like” the Lovesick Expo on Facebook for updates on the Wilmington, DE and Asbury Park, NJ shows.
images via wren & field photography
We came across these shots on photographer Pat Furey’s blog and had to share. We love everything about them… the expressions on the little guys’ faces, the bow ties, the boutonnieres, the nest ring holder, the “here comes the bride” and “just married” signs, everything!
images via pat furey photography
two little birds planning 