Beauty for your Bouquet!

Let's not leave one detail uncovered. When it comes to planning your wedding the sparkle is in the details. Details all the way down to the wrap around your bouquet. For a rustic wedding try using canvas, raffia, or vintage lace.

Pile on the glitz!!!! Swavorski crystals adorn this gorgeous bouquet.

There are so many wonderful options. With 90% of bouquets these days being hand-tied stems it's a great way to add a little personal touch to your wedding day!

Try ruffles like these:

I love the addition of the feathers in black.

Try ribbon loops:

Consider also all the ways you can personalize the bouquet. For example... use a scarf from grandmas closet, or a hankie from Grandpas top drawer. Try wrapping pieces of a silk necktie your FI wore to your first formal evening out. Lockets with pictures of deceased family members is always a great way to bring them to the memories of the day.

Bouquet wraps are a great way to introduce touches from that wedding gown your mom has still hanging in the closet. Remove a strap or take out the hem and remove. The possibilities are endless and willl an extra hug from mom on your wedding day.

Remember it's about incorporating things that are special to you and your loved ones. Enjoy wrapping those lovely flowers in something sentimental!

Fan- tastical Fascinators!

Say it with me... GOooooRGEOooooUS! I can't tell you how lovely a bride is with a gorgeous flower in her hair especially when it's sprinkled with beads, diamonds and a birdcage veil.





A photographer friend and local makeup artist decided there just weren't enough choices for the chic bride out there. And we at Hand in Hand agree.





So they came up with Pin Me Up Couture.
Check out their etsy store!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PinMeUpCouture




I have to say I just love this one on the left. It's so magical and fancy... and we all know I love anything fancy.

Couple that with Tracy's amazing ability behind the camera and looking at the etsy store is just as fun

as flipping through the pages of a high end fashion magazine.

Pin Me Up Couture can customize to your specific wedding colors or design... and will work with you to create that perfect fascinator or birdcage your dreaming of. They also have store locations throughout the Dayton and Cinci area.

Check out their blog to hear stories of brides who have purchased some of these yummy hair treats. http://www.pinmeupcouture.blogspot.com/

Also, check out Tracy's website at www.picturesbytracy.com.

She books up fast so snag her if you can!

It's an Etsy Fest!

So this morning I got this crazy idea! Wonder if I could create a whole wedding right from etsy? Dress and all? Well here it is!

I started by searching for the gown. I was surprised to find that there are really beautiful newly made gowns there along with artisans who will create the gown of your dreams. I however fell in love with this gorgeous 1920's gown. It's vintage appeal is what set the tone for the other elements. The vintage lace bridesmaid dresses is also from the 1920's and was what set the tone for the color choices.

I just love this old world feel. I imagine the use of flower pots and vintage stamps on the invitations. Old glass pieces with a touch of feathers. I even imagine the flower girl using a vintage hat turned upside down to be used for a basket while the little boy carries the rings tied onto a vintage book strap.

If you haven't been to www.etsy.com you absolutely must go quickly and waste hours and hours of time becoming inspired and awed by the amazingly talented artists and the unique items you might find there. Happy Etsying all!

Dollars Schmollars! Weddings don't have to break the bank!

For a while now I have been involved in a wonderful chatting community of brides and occasional grooms. It's always so awesome to hear their ideas and plans for their weddings. I love watching a bride come in to the forum in the beginning of the planning stages and share with us her wedding plans as they unfold.

Most are DIY brides trying to be sure their hard earned dollars stretch as far as they can. There's always wonderful advice given and some of them are google geniuses. They work together to help each other create wonderful weddings that are totally unique. They share their favorite DIY projects. Or their latest inpsirations. Many come back after their wedding to share pictures of the projects the've spent so much time creating.

I'd like to share with you some of my favorites.

Here is a great idea for activities to do at your reception. Especially if you're not planning on dancing or serving alcohol.

A DIY photo booth with picture frames we all expect but when you add cute chalkboards or better yet letter magnets you can have a world of fun and a very interesting scrapbook of wedding guests well wishes.

Or how about a fun board where guest can write their names on tags and pinpoint the year they met you. Such a simple but super fun idea for cocktail hour especially.

The next picture is a table runner. One of these amazing brides is marrying a screen printer! Sounds like a talent to use and abuse!! So she saw these amazingly cool table runners after learning she scored old woood tables at her venue! What a great DIY plan!

Remember when planning a wedding the possibilities are endless. I like to pretend it's like taking all of your favorite sights, sounds, smells, tastes, feelings, people, and moments all crammed into one event. I mean how could it not be a success.

It's not about the money.... it's about the time taken to create an event that represents you and your love.

That is what this community of girls is all about. And I'm so glad to be a part of them. And I'm so glad they let me give advice and tid-bits of imformation. It's a wonderful part of my day. Thanks CL girls!

The Brides Calling Card!

Hot New Trend!

We all know brides
are a busy busy
bunch of ladies!

Statistics show that planning a wedding takes right around 300 hours! Since it's just like having another part time job. Why not have the card to prove it.

Hand them to vendors you meet with. Use them at a bridal show so you don't have to spend hours filling out your name and address. Drop them in the drawing box with ease!

Give them to family members that just HAVE to be in the know! Or share them with your wedding party to slide into their purse so they can reach you whenever they might have a question.

What a great way to subtly introduce the color scheme or theme of your wedding. Infuse the design with your monogram or even your engagement pictures!

Whatever you do! Have fun with these cute new bride calling cards!

Au Revoir for now!

All things bright and beautiful!

As I work on this blog I want to be intentional in putting out there the plans for moving ahead for the coming year. This way the world knows it and I'm accountable for it!!

A few more of the steps in the next year are going to be a total revamp of our website. We are looking into software that will allow us to manage and operate the website ourselves so we can have regular updates and post pictures quickly after new events. If you have recommendations for a program that would be great to use feel free to leave a comment.

Next, we are looking into floral design classes and are in touch with the Floral Design Institute in Portland, Oregon. The option to design and create my own floral work would greatly increase the business and separate Hand in Hand. Doing flowers has always been something I've loved and had a knack for. Now whilst learning the mechanisms behind the art I can create some of the new and fascinating ideas I have swirling around in my head! I haven't spoken with wholesalers yet but I'm also hoping that I will be able to pass on some of my savings to my clients through these services.

We are also looking for ideas for places to volunteer our event planning services for the 2010 year. If you know of an organization or corporation looking for this kind of help please leave me a comment.

This year will definitely be a huge venture. But we are looking forward to the endless possibilities that some of these changes will make to the foundations of Hand in Hand.

Au Revoir for now!

*Thanks to Cady from Flowerman in Centerville for this gorgeous bouqet! She is awesome!

TA DA! Hand in Hand has entered the world of the Blog!

Hello Big World!

We're just getting our toes wet! It's our very first blog ever! We'll keep it brief and share just a bit about the upcoming year of plans for Hand in Hand Events.

Well, first of all we've semi-changed our name! We've always been called Hand in Hand Bridal. While wedding planning is a huge part of our company we have spent the last year branching out into other events. Thus the new business name. Hand in Hand Event Planning Services!!!

In the next year we are working on creating a network of wedding vendors that live and work right here in my town of Springboro. There's quiet a good number of us and I would love to get us all together to share knowledge and wisdom in regards to the industry.

We are also in the process of launching an educational and fun event called "Night With The Pros". Brides will be able to join us for a night of wedding planning tips and tricks, face to face time with experts in the local wedding market, and a step by step DIY instructional time. Everyone goes away smarter, savvier and with tons of great inspirations. Keep your eyes/ears open for more news and dates!