How To Handle Controlling Parents

Totally get it, parents can complicate things when it comes to planning a wedding. I’ve had clients come to me specifically because their mother tries to control every aspect and put an opinion into everything, therefore, they need a middle man to control the situation. This becomes even more difficult to deal with when the parents happen to be funding the wedding. Although it is a big deal to see their child tie the knot, it’s YOUR wedding day and YOUR vision is what matters most. It’s my job to remind the parents of this. One thing I suggest to clients is to think about what is most important to you when envision your big day. You could even make a list - most important to least important - and stick true to the things you know mean the most to you, and let your parents feel needed by allowing them to help with the other things lower down on the list. 

Other complicated situations can arise when dividing up the budget between divorced parents. If one set isn’t as financially stable, often times the more capable parent may agree to pay a greater share. Other times it may just be up to the bride and groom to dig into their savings to help assist with the overall cost. BE SURE to tell both sets of parents at the same time with equal enthusiasm! This is so important. By no means do you want to start the process of planning off on the wrong foot by making one parent feel belittled. 

Overall, try not to upset them. This is a big day for them as well. But on the same token, this is likely the biggest day of your life thus far and your wants need to be the first priority. Don’t lose sight of that.

xx

kell  

Everything Etsy

Link Here

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I could go on and on about my love for Etsy but I’ll keep this one short and sweet. This is the perfect site to explore around on when you want to add your own flare to your big day. Not to mention, a cheaper alternative in most cases when it comes to decor. From save the dates, to customized wedding invitations, guest books, cake toppers, centerpieces, this website/app really does have it all. How cute is that table number? All you’d need to buy separately are a few frames to go with it and you’d be all set. 

I linked all of the above photos to their Etsy pages below the picture. Off to the side on the page you will be able to find similar options, or feel free to to browse the hundreds of pages under each category. Warning: it gets’s quite addictive so approach with caution ;)

PS. A future post is coming about Etsy engagement rings, I promise! 

xx

kell

The Dress

Eloise Dress

http://www.annacampbell.com.au/dresses/forever-entwined/eloise

Hayley Paige Collection 

http://www.jlmcouture.com/Hayley-Paige

Olga Bardina

Sophia Tolli Collection

http://moncheribridals.com/collections/wedding-dresses/sophia-tolli/

Once determining the official budget, the dress needs to be one of the first things a bride needs to think about. A good wedding planner should know the local bridal shops and when the best times to shop there are. Talk with them about this. (A lot of bridal stores have sales with their after-season discounted dresses. If you’re on a tight budget, knowing this will come in handy big time). Buy a few bridal magazines, binge on Pinterest for a few hours, and determine the style(s) you love the most before stepping foot in the shop and this will save you loads of time. 

A few tips when purchasing the dress:

• ALWAYS order too big opposed to too small if it comes down to it. The dress can always be altered. DO NOT rely on losing a certain amount of weight in order to squeeze into your dream dress. 
• Unless you’re leaving the store with the dress in hand that day, do not pay full price. Put down the smallest retainer/deposit acceptable (usually this is 50%)
• Once you’ve found the dress for you be sure to leave the store with a copy of all the details promised (style, dress size, color, amount deposed, promised due date, alterations needed, etc.)
• Know what works best with both your complexion and coloring. Redheads and blondes with fair skin tend to look best in silk whites or white with an undertone of coral. Those with a darker complexion typically look best in a bright white.

xx

kell  

The Ring

Found on one of my favorite blogs livvyland.com

Broklyn View Photography via Style Me Pretty

Debebians

Okay fellas, this post is for your eyes too so pay attention. The point has officially arrived in your relationship where you want to spend the rest of your life with the person you love. What are the first steps in figuring out what ring is right to pop the question with??? I’ll go ahead and break it down for you. 

(Think of what’s important to her before you even begin this process. Would she/he want you to ask their fathers permission, etc. If so, make sure to accomplish these details before attacking these next few steps). 

Step 1: Your budget. How much can you realistically afford on a ring? I hate to break it to you, but they aren’t cheap. The national average as of 2014 is $4,000. On the bright side of things, this is a piece of jewelry that will be worn for the rest of their life, so it should be worth a pretty penny. If money is a concern, there are a few alternative routes such as finding a ring via Etsy (a future blog post on this topic will be coming soon, I promise)! Once you have that figure in mind is when you can begin your research. Make sure to be open with your jeweler about what you can afford so they don’t show you options outside your budget.

Step 2: Investigate. Chances are she might have a Pinterest page dedicated to her dream wedding. If so, bingo - look there. Consult a sister or best friend of hers for some advise if you need extra help determining her style. While your investigating you MUST find out her ring size. Be sneaky about it. Steal a few rings of hers for the day to take shopping with you. Look online at similar styles within your budget to determine where you should shop. Compare the prices online before wandering into a bunch of different stores and this will save you lots of time.

Step 3: Think Ahead. What type of wedding band might complement the engagement ring? Is it important to you that your wedding band match the color of hers? And last but not least, how do you plan on popping the question? 

Step 4: Keep Calm & Carry On. I am SO excited for you guys. I’d bet that everyone else will be too. Keep smiling. So many big things are coming your way and keeping a positive attitude about it all is key. When planning seems too stressful, that’s when you can give me a call ;)

xx

kell  

Welcome To The Blog

Hey everyone! Welcome to the blog :) 

First of all, Happy New Year! I cant tell you how excited I am for this. I’ve been working on both the website and the blog months now and it’s a great feeling to finally be able release it to the public. My website will provide an outline for my wedding planning business and the package deals I provide. Here, you’ll find a deeper look at my life and what all goes on behind the scenes. 

This blog will showcase some of my wonderful clients, their love stories and how together we created their dream wedding. It will also have DIY tutorials for wedding decor, make-up and skin care tutorials for the bride to be, dating and relationship advise, as well as tips and tricks I’ve learned throughout this whole process. 

I will be posting something new every Wednesday. So if you’re anything like me you may want to go grab a glass of wine, a notepad to jot a few tips down, sit back, relax, and stay awhile. I can’t wait to share this experience with all of you. Cheers!

xx

kell