Photos from Emily & Brad’s wedding reception at Lake Nona Country Club – November 2011.

Photos courtesy of Marc Harmon

The ballroom at Lake Nona Country Club never looked lovelier! Floral, lighting, linens and decor came together seamlessly to create a dramatically elegant reception in shades of plum and rich purple. (I was so glad that Marc Harmon captured Emily’s reaction to the gorgeous ballroom during a private reveal!)

A trio of centerpieces created by Lee Forrest featured orchids, roses and hydrangea, accented with votive candles and black feather plumes; hanging crystals provided extra sparkle.

TIP: Favors at each place setting served a dual purpose: Favors were tagged with a guest name as well as their dinner selection. Combining favors and placecards is also a terrific way to reduce tabletop clutter.

TIP: A regular dinner plate can serve as an excellent alternative to renting chargers.

Lighting provided by Soundwave Entertainment enhanced the overall ambiance of the ballroom, while dance lights and a custom gobo created a party mood in the lounge area.

A sparkler exit capped off a perfectly wonderful evening for this fun-loving couple!

Featured Wedding Professionals:
Planning and Coordination: A Flair for Affairs®
Photography and Photobooth: Marc Harmon
Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: Lake Nona Country Club – Orlando FL
Entertainment and Lighting: SOUNDWAVE ENTERTAINMENT® | djsoundwave.net
Floral: Lee Forrest
Chairs: A Chair Affair

See Lake Nona County Club | Real Wedding Photos – Part 1

In my next life I think I will come back as a wedding photographer. It would be nice; people have suggested it to me and I might actually have what it takes… Especially when it comes to identifying – or even helping to create – the moments that will be treasured for a lifetime.

There’s no debating that we live in a DIY world: Technology has made many things possible. It seems that everything is readily available, more affordable, and of comparable quality. This is somewhat true. Nevertheless, I must point out that: 1) knowledge and experience remain indispensable, and 2) you get what you pay for.

What to do with that wedding disc:

Many couples opt to receive a disk – typically a DVD – in lieu of a traditional wedding album. Now what? For those content to view the images on your computers or television screens, this tip is not for you. However, if you’re traditional and appreciate the nostalgic aspect of wedding portraiture you will be interested to in this pro tip – courtesy of Reed Photo:

Print on quality photographic paper.
“This means professional paper. Not the over contrasty, over saturated non- neutral stuff you get from drug stores, discount marts, warehouse/membership stores. This means use a good pro lab. Not Costco, not Wal Mart, not Walgreens, not Drug Emporium, etc etc etc.

The papers you get from consumer mini-labs are purposely manufactured to NOT have accurate color. Yep, they make it screwy on purpose. You see, Joe Consumer likes prints with colors that aren’t real. They want more saturation and contrast for that extra snap. In most cases, their photos benefit from that assistance to help the snap-shot look a bit more appealing to the eye.

Professional paper is manufactured to very exacting standards to achieve neutral balance, neutral saturation and excellent skin tones. Pro papers will handle extra saturation if you really need it for your “look”, so add it if you wish, but at least you have the option. And get this, just by using pro papers, you get an additional stop of shadow detail! The missing shadow range in the consumer papers is another reason they look so “snappy”. A properly exposed, correctly white balanced image with great composition that is printed on professional photographic paper won’t need the false extra punch to look good.” -by John Harris, ReedPhoto.com

Timing is everything

Speaking from experience, you can never have too much time scheduled for wedding photos. Plan on extra time, and then add more. Why? Because you have no control over time. Anything can happen: Limo gets a flat, grandma and grandpa get lost, flower girl is crying, bridesmaid zipper fail, flowers arrive late, unexpected rain – are you starting to get the picture? The trick to this timing thing is adding (using) the extra time in a way where your guests won’t be affected.

I found a great blog post written by Traci Turchin describing a variety of wedding photography timelines – including modern and traditional scenarios.

The Reveal (aka First Look)

I love this one! Many of our couples have done this and all have been thrilled with the outcome! A number of them even commented that it’s a tension reliever. One of the benefits I like most is that it makes for amazingly unscripted candid shots. From the perspective of the couple it is especially romantic, and they can be more intimate and relaxed since they are not surrounded by dozens of guests. This is how we typically stage it: We lead the groom to a place that is semi private, and he is turned away from the direction of the bride’s entrance. The bride walks toward the groom, and taps him on the shoulder to signal him to turn around and face. (sigh!) It’s so cool to watch this special moment unfold! Sure, it’s a break from tradition but wedding photography has evolved so much in the 20 – 50 plus years since your parents and grandparents were married.

Ultimately, the choice is yours so discuss the pros and cons ahead of time. I sincerely believe that you should be open to any approach that reduces pressure or stress on the wedding day. In my experience, the private reveal / first look works particularly well if the wedding and reception are at the same location – such as a hotel, B&B or country club. It is most definitely (in my Martha Stewart voice) “a good thing”.

© 2011 E. Delgardio All Rights Reserved

Reason #852 to Hire a Wedding Planner:

Last weekend I provided day-of wedding coordination services to a darling couple who were married at Mission Inn Resort. Bride and Groom were both in the the military and had planned their wedding from Afghanistan with the help of the Mission Inn’s Wedding Catering Manager, Tammy. For all intents and purposes you could classify theirs as a destination wedding since most of the guests were from Georgia and Colorado.

Everything was going super smoothly the morning of the wedding, except that a number of guests seemed to be running late. After a few phone calls, the party was located but we soon realized that they would be in transit for at least :45 minutes longer. The couple was upset that the ceremony was being delayed, but in this case, it just didn’t seem right to start the ceremony before the lost guests arrived – after all, everyone had traveled such a great distance.

Quick! What should you do? What can you do? As the wedding coordinator I was looking straight on at an hour delay, and needed to improvise an alternative plan ASAP! I approached the Groom and suggested that the time waiting would be better spent taking photos with his lovely wife-to-be and my counterpart Tammy agreed. Tammy and I approached the bride to suggest a “private reveal” photo session for the couple. All at once we’re checking with the photographer, notifying the banquet captain, okaying plans with the Minister and so on. In a few minutes time, we had changed the course of events.

I sincerely believe that this couple’s day could have been ruined had I not been present. And I must share credit with the entire team: I was fortunate to be working with seasoned pros – all of whom were focused on making this day the best it could be for the couple. In the end, it worked out like it was planned that way from the beginning.

This is a small example… nothing earth shattering, but when you get right down to it, do you want to be crying anything other than tears of joy on your wedding day? I didn’t want our bride walking down the aisle angry or upset because her guests were not present; nor was it worth hurting family by starting without them. (Remember, this is supposed to be a celebration!)

For more insight into the benefits of hiring a wedding planner, be sure to read “Do you REALLY Need a Wedding Planner {Wedding Advice from a Caterer}” and “Things to Consider When Hiring a Wedding Planner”

I would also like to recommend Leila Khalil’s recent article which appeared on HuffingtonPost.com, “Hire A Wedding Planner…. Or Else“… And I encourage you to read the comments as well.

Just wanted to share a few pics (sneak peaks) from last weekend’s wedding!  I can’t believe that Errol Colon has already begun editing (!) and naturally I was thrilled to receive previews so soon after the event!

Ok – so I was busy as a bee last week working on special touches for a wedding that took place at Dr. Philips – a historic B&B which is part of the Courtyard at Lake Lucerne in downtown Orlando.Our client was looking for something natural and zen-ish that would work with the classic elegance of the estate house and I was delighted to guide the design elements and create finishing touches.

The color palette for the ceremony was ivory, fern green and gray, and the interior palette for the reception was amber, fern green and rustic red.  Linens were selected from BBJ Linen.

As I was shopping for ribbon and supplies to create the the programs, signage and decor elements, I came across “vine wire” and had the idea to use it in lieu of printed table numbers.  Thus, we formed all the table numbers from the vine wire and then glued them to cardstock table tents.  The look was clean but earthy, and everyone loved it!

The place card display – which I envisioned as vertical – worked out perfectly as we implemented scroll photo holders purchased from Pier 1.

Can’t wait to share more about this wonderful event!

I expected that this post would be quick easy to write, and then my thoughts began to run wild.  As I recalled some of the most bizarre, distressing and implausible conversations I’ve had with both clients and potential clients regarding the “B”-word, I realized that talking budget is never easy.  { Truth be told, I am not alone in what I’ve experienced. When the wedding planner convention comes to town, stories about wedding budgets will be shared.}

Wedding Budget Advice

My best advice regarding a wedding budget is: have one.  The second piece of advice is: be sure it’s realistic.  This is where things get a bit sticky.  “Why?” you ask.  Because realistic is a subjective term – that’s why.

It’s always interesting when people ask me how much I think their wedding will cost.   Or conversely, they will ask if $XXX is enough to cover their wedding.  Seriously – it happens all the time, and typically on the first phone call.  It’s an impossible question.  “Why?” you ask.  Because I don’t have nearly enough information about the client’s situation or expectations to provide a reasonably accurate or relative answer.   Occasionally we receive the answer that every event planner loves to hear: “We don’t have a budget” or “Money is not an object”.  Unfortunately,when we ask if they are comfortable with a 100k working budget, more often than not, they answer no.

All weddings are not the same.  Even if you had two weddings with the same number of guests at the same location the final tabs would likely not even be close because there are so many variables.

I wanted to share this nifty wedding trivia and bridal budget infographic.  It highlights some average costs which I find to be pretty much in line with typical central Florida wedding expenses.  Can you have a wedding in Central Florida for less than $26,984? Absolutely!  Is it possible that you wedding will cost more than $26,984?  Absolutely!

click to view larger

Getting Started

Before you can do anything, you need a figure to start with.  Most planners with a few years experience have developed a few budget calculating tips.  For example:  Take a look at that number of $194 per guest.  $194 multiplied by 50 guests is not the same wedding as $194 multiplied by 150 guests.   While a smaller guest list will, or should I say can, result in lesser food and beverage costs, other expenses (DJ, photographer, wedding gown) will remain constant – meaning they are unaffected by guest count.  That being said, I can tell you my thoughts on what I think $194 per guest will buy you, and you can let me know if that’s what you had in mind.  (Alas, that’s where the free advice ends.)

I think people are reluctant to give a budget figure because they have some impression that the planner will make them over spend or charge a higher fee.  This could not be further from the truth.  An ethical planner is looking out for the client’s best interests, regardless of their budget, and wants every client to have the best wedding or event they can afford.

Destination weddings are so much fun!

Last week we welcomed Stacy and Matt from Ann Arbor to sunny Florida!  In a few short months we designed all the elements of their destination nuptials which took place in the town of Celebration.   It was an intimate affair, but the energy was high – there was no doubt everyone was ready to celebrate!

{Pro pics are forthcoming}

Bride Stacy was stunning in her figure flattering wedding gown, and her attendants looked breezy and beautiful in aqua tea length dresses.  Professional hair and makeup styling made the ladies picture perfect!

Gorgeous floral was a key element for this destination wedding.  The bridal bouquet was exquisite, as were the floral trees which were used at both the ceremony and reception.  Guests enjoyed a fabulous plated dinner followed by dessert and dancing.  The couple made a grand exit with a classic car.

Loved our team for this wedding: Raining Roses, Horizon Entertainment, Rhodes Studios, Visual Effects by Seth, Your Wedding Makeup, Party Flavors, and the Bohemian Hotel Celebration

It’s no secret that Florida is a popular destination wedding location – statewide we offer historic hotels, glorious gardens, beautiful beaches and amazing attractions!  Should you be considering a wedding here, we’ve prepared a few Destination Wedding Tips to help you get the most from your out-of-town wedding:

1. Marry off peak. Weekday weddings are by far the most affordable.  Don’t compete with the locals for prime dates and Saturdays; opt for a weekday instead. Vendors and wedding professionals often reserve discounted rates for mid-week weddings.
2. Whenever possible, decor should be ‘multi-purpose’.  For this wedding, two of the floral trees were used at the wedding ceremony and then moved to the reception
3. Work with what you have. The venue was so well appointed, there was little need to bring in linen, decor for the cocktail reception, etc.
4. Don’t leave anything to chance. You can’t simply rely on websites (things are not always as they appear).   Working with an experienced Planner will give you piece of mind; trust them to advise you and guide you to qualified wedding professionals.   (We’re so glad Stacy & Matt chose A Flair for Affairs; if we can help you please let us know!  Otherwise, the Association of Bridal Consultants can be an excellent resource.)
5. Keep It Simple Sweetie. Don’t bog yourself down with too many things to pack (such as cake knives, or favors, etc.), and don’t over-schedule yourself – leave plenty of time for last minute errands, driving to and from various locations, and photo sessions.

James Allen

Your wedding day is your day to shine!   You’ll want to pay close attention to the details – especially since everyone else surely will!

Rock that bling!

Clean your wedding jewelry and engagement ring a few days before the wedding so it sparkles like brand new!  This is simple enough to do at home – here are some great tips that will work great on gold jewelry and most precious gemstones:

1. Soak the jewelry in small bowl of warm sudsy water with a mild liquid detergent.  A soft toothbrush can be used to gently brush the jewelry while it is in the suds.  Rinse jewelry items in warm water and pat dry with a soft lint-free cloth or tissue paper.

2. Soak the jewelry in small bowl of cold water and household ammonia (half and half) for thirty minutes.  Once again a soft toothbrush can be used around the mounting.  Swish in the solution again, then rinse and air dry on a soft cloth.

3. Use a brand name liquid jewelry cleaner and follow the instructions given on the label.

4.  Using a baking soda, add a small amount of water to create a paste.  Brush on the paste with a soft toothbrush, rinse under warm running water and let air dry.

Some people swear by a solution of vinegar and warm water, while others prefer to use vodka.  I have also read about using toothpaste as a cleaner, but jewelers seem to discourage this. (Note: Toothpaste and other abrasive substances can scratch your jewelry.)

Swarovski bridal necklaces are very popular as they are much more affordable than diamonds and precious gemstones. Cleaning of your Swarovski crystal jewelry should be done on regularly basis by using warm soapy water. You can also use ultrasonic jewelery cleaner on occasional basis. After this, it should be rinsed with warm water and air dried. It’s recommended that you keep your Swarovski bridal jewelry away from make-ups, hair sprays, perfumes and other strong chemicals.

Sparkling Crystal and Glass

I have seen so many incredibly gorgeous crystal and glass pieces at weddings: from Tiffany and Wedgwood to Baccarat and Swarovski! It always surprises me that these items are often not properly cleaned before they are displayed at the wedding ceremony or reception.

All of your personal items – unity candle sets, champagne flutes, picture frames, candy decanters, etc – should be cleaned of finger prints and filmy residue, and all stickers and tags should be removed.

Tips for removing tags and merchandise labels include GooGone (my favorite), WD-40 (be careful where you use this) and the age old ‘soaking’ technique. Heating the labels with a hairdryer is also helpful in loosening the adhesive glue. Whenever possible, use cotton gloves to handle the items.

Note: Take special care when cleaning heirloom pieces. When in doubt, consult a professional jeweler.

© 2010 E. Delgardio All Rights Reserved

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Q & A with Wedding Planners as seen in Orlando Wedding Magazine

Orlando Wedding 2010

The debut issue of Orlando Wedding magazine is absolutely enchanting! I would even go so far as to declare it a ‘must read’ for engaged couples in Central Florida!

Among many terrific articles and features was “Q & A with Wedding Planners” by Megan VanWaus.  Not only was I delighted to be quoted in Megan’s piece, I was elated to be featured alongside fellow Association of Bridal Consultants members Kerline Docteur (Joie de Vie Weddings and Events) and Heather Snively (Weddings Unique). I’m proud to share a common bond with these ladies:  Heather and I are both Senior ABC members, and Kerline and I regularly work together on  ABC meetings and projects geared toward educating local association members and wedding professionals.

Good things come in threes they say, and in this case I certainly agree!

The Preferred Vendor List

(c) fotonuova.com

In it’s simplest form, a Preferred Vendor List is a compilation of vendors and their contact information. Naturally, one would assume that the vendors featured on the PVL appear to have the endorsement of the preparer, and are intended to help the recipient (client, consumer, etc.) select qualified and reputable vendors. But is there more here than meets the eye?

What You Need to Know
The reality is that the actual purpose or genuine validity of the list may not always be clear to the recipient. Generally speaking, the caterer or venue where your event will be held will likely provide a Preferred Vendor List or an Approved Vendor List. Or you may receive one directly from your wedding or event planner (we hope you are fortunate enough to have one!). It’s also common for other vendors – such as a photographer or DJ – to present a client with a list of their preferred vendors.

5 W’s of Preferred Vendor Lists

Who: It’s imperative to understand who is on the list and why. It’s always a good idea to ask “How do you select the vendors on your list?” or “What is the criteria for becoming a preferred vendor?” and “Do you have personal experience with each of these vendors?”

What: Is the PVL a select list of  tried and true vendors?  Or is it something else?  Try to assess the type of PVL.  Some vendor lists are “pay to be included”  (advertisers) while others are more akin to a list of “favorites”.   In my opinion, the first type is the best.  The second two list types have little if any value. Why? Because they are not based on specific criteria or qualifications. You can’t possibly know whether a vendor is on a list because they wrote a check, give or receive a referral fee, or have a cross referral agreement (I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine).

When: “How recently has this list been updated?” The answer may surprise you!

Where: Where are the vendors located? Some lists are based proximity (such as nearby to the venue)… But how convenient is it for you to meet with them? You may prefer to hire someone who is based closer to where you reside.

Why: If you are able to qualify the list as a good resource, then it’s wise to give strong consideration to the vendors listed. Why? Consider this example: My company prepares a custom list for each of our clients based on budget, personality, style and positive past experiences. I feel that it’s extremely important to tailor my PVL to the client because no two clients have the same needs, personality or style.

PROS and CONS of Preferred Vendor Lists

PRO: Vendors on a PVL may offer you a discount; you should always ask “Do you offer special pricing or exclusive promotions to couples getting married at Such-and-such Hotel?”

PRO: Vendors on a PVL typically have better knowledge of a property. They won’t get lost, they know where to go once they arrive, they know who to speak with if they need something (instead of coming to you with their issue) and what is expected of them. Hence, you won’t find a flip-flop wearing DJ, chronically-late officiate, or a beer-guzzling photographer on a PVL.

CON: Vendors on a PVL may not be the best bet for you IF the person who created the list is not in tune with what today’s couple’s are looking for. (This problem is more common if you are not in a metropolitan area.)

CON: Sometimes venues and hotels are reluctant to work with vendors they don’t know (and with good reason). You may need approval from the venue in order to bring in ‘outside’ vendors.

PRO:  If the PVL is comprised of vendors who have built a relationship with the caterer, venue or planner, then you can rest assured that you are being referred to trusted professionals.

CON: If the PVL is comprised of paid advertisers, you certainly would want to know that up front, and that information should be disclosed to you.

Related post : Hello – I’d like to be added to your Approved Vendor List

A Flair for Affairs is a preferred planner and coordinator for many Central Florida wedding locations, including Mission Inn Resort and Club, Wydham Orlando Resort, Casa Feliz, Buena Vista Palace, Isleworth Country Club, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort and many others.

© 2009-2010 E. Delgardio All Rights Reserved

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Welcome to 2010!  A whole year has elapsed since I last blogged about the importance of keeping your website content fresh and relevant.  My previous post – Website Tune-Up – focused on strategies to keep your website current and favorable to the search engines.  Today, I hope to share some equally important tips to optimize your website and online presence this year.

1.  Make the most of social media. Over the last twelve months I’ve enjoyed a significant increase in traffic to my website and blog as a result of social media.  Active participation in Facebook and Twitter has reinforced our web presence and generated many new leads and relationships.  If you have social media profiles, be sure to link those profiles to your website.

2.  Blog! Blogging offers great benefits due to easy to index regular content. Add a few basic SEO skills and you’re ready to go! Take your blog a step further: Host your blog on your own website instead of using a free hosted blog. Why? When you host your own blog your blog posts supplement the content of your website, thus increasing the quality and vibrancy of your site. Adding an RSS feed button to both your website and blog will make it easy for readers to subscribe to your feed and keep up with your posts. Additionally, RSS features can help make your online (internet) marketing strategies more effective.

3.  Don’t be anonymous. One of the primary goals of your website is to build trust and credibility. Does your website give potential customers the information they need? Is your name, photo and contact information prominently displayed? If you are a service provider you should make every effort to make a personal connection with your visitors.

4. Never underestimate the power of a well designed website. If your website is more than two years old, a revamp alone could boost your SEO ranking. HTML and CSS are the most common technologies used in making web pages, but there are also other ways to go. Flash is known for it’s excellent multimedia capabilities but is generally believed to be less search engine friendly than CSS. Some businesses have even abandoned traditional websites in favor of blog-based sites.

5. Use high quality images. Website images should be carefully selected; ideally they should represent your own work and style to help you connect with your audience (target market). Some vendors may use stock photography as part of their start-up promotions, but in the wedding and event industry I’d advise moving away from this option as quickly as possible (or risk possible damage to your reputation). By the same token, amateur photos will not adequately show even your best work – so select images with a discerning eye.

5.5 Upgrade to Video! If a picture is worth a thousand words than video is worth a million. Video is fast-rising as the newest ‘must-have’ feature because it helps build brand, it’s more engaging than static, printed text, and it’s easier to effectively demonstrate your product or service.

There is virtually no cost associated with these tips – especially if you have the ability or capability to edit your own website. Many resources and tutorials are available online if you need additional information. Otherwise, consider hiring someone to assist with migrating your blog or updating the look of your website – it will be money well spent.

© 2010 E. Delgardio All Rights Reserved

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