Hand in Hand Offers Calligraphic Services

Announcement!

Hand in Hand now offers Calligraphy!



Check out our website for other samples and pricing.
www.handinhandbridal.com


Contact us for help with your wedding invitations!
handinhandbridal@sbcglobal.net

WHAT A BIG DAY!!!

Today is the day we launch our brand new website!! It's been a long time in the making and it's beautiful!

CHECK IT OUT!!!! www.handinhandbridal.com

In celebration of our launch we're offering amazing deals and discounts!!!

20% off our Month of Services for brides who book with us in May or June!
Month of Services for only $800!!! Grab this deal up right away!!! It doesn't last long!

Check out our exclusive wedding wire deal.
http://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-deals/hurry-2011-deals-springboro/ab30eb146fdc0176.html

10% off the proposal price if half of your contract is paid upfront at the time of signing.


Dayton, Ohio isn't going to know what hit them!!! Give us a call for your free initial meeting! We look forward to working hand in hand with you.

Education is Key

Today we spent the day at Receptions Banquet Facility in Fairfield, OH taking in a seminar hosted by Perfect Wedding Guide called The Wedding Institute.

Cecilia Rose of Eventurous taught the first session about Raving Fans. You know when you've had an experience so amazing you just can't NOT tell someone about it. Have you been a raving fan? It made me think about one of our anniversary trips to the Weller Haus Bed and Breakfast in KY. We had such a wonderful time that we left there telling everyone they absolutely must go there... we were RAVING FANS. It then made me think too about the clients father I had that after a particularly hard last week before the wedding got up during the reception and thanked me personally in front of all of the guests and made me stand for an applause. I was mortified and hoped that would never happen again... but I had created a raving fan.

She challenged me to work towards creating a customer service experience for my clients that is amazing everytime. This can only be achieved through knowing myself and who my clients are. I'm working towards finding this balance and the poor notebook is going to be on fire from all of my note taking and plans for the future.

The Second session was taught by Gene from LGH Designs and/or Details and Designs in Indianapolis, IN. He was just a fun guy but super knowledgable when it comes to event design. He has been in the business for a long time and has built some wonderful contacts and partnerships. His session was intended to teach us how to maximize profit... but I gleaned something totally different.

He inspired me to look into partnerning with businesses to provide services to clients. I have been interested all along in branching into floral design... but knew I would need a ton more education and was really unsure about stocking and cooling etc. We'll be spending the next little bit looking to form a partnership with a florist where hand in hand can provide the florals through another company. This way my design ideas can come through!

I have much to do to get things where I'd like them to go... but I'll keep plugging. Thanks to Perfect Wedding Guide http://www.perfectweddingguide.com/ Cecilia Rose http://www.eventurous.com/ and Gene from Details and Design www.detailsanddesigns.com
for a great day!

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!