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Showing posts with label bridesmaids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bridesmaids. Show all posts

Friday, October 28, 2016

Happy Bridesmaids...Happy Bride!

Historically, bridesmaids wore dresses similar to the bride's wedding gown and groomsmen dressed similarly to the groom. This custom began for the couple's protection against evil and not for uniformity. The belief was that if evil spirits attempted to harm the couple, they would be confused as to who was the bride and groom.



Today, rather than warding off evil spirits, bridesmaids have other important obligations. You chose your bridesmaids because they are your nearest and dearest friends, and will be there to offer emotional support on probably one of the biggest days of your life. Other duties they may fulfill include helping you choose your bridal gown and accessories, hosting a bridal shower or a bachelorette party, putting together your favors and standing beside you at the altar when you say "I do".

Feeling Beautiful and Confident!
When your bridesmaids are all wearing the same style of dress, they are probably not all feeling beautiful and confident. Remember these young ladies are there to support and love you on your wedding day and not there to stand beside you to be your own personal Barbie dolls!  Your bridesmaids are more than likely different shapes, sizes and heights, so it is not necessary to have them all wear the same style of dress. If you want to stick to one color of dress, consider allowing each girl to wear the style of dress that best fits their body type and size.  Be assured...if your bridesmaids feel beautiful and confident in what they are wearing, they will look great standing beside you and in your wedding pictures.

Keep Costs Reasonable
Since these girls are your closest and dearest friends, be understanding about how much they are spending to help you celebrate the happiest day of your life.  I know it is easy for you to get wrapped up in how much you are spending that it is easy not to realize the amount of money everyone else is spending. So try hard to keep costs reasonable. The money that bridesmaids spend doesn't stop after they purchase their dress. Remember there are alterations, shoes, accessories, bridal shower, bachelorette party, travel, lodging and the wedding gift.  All of this can easily add up to hundreds of dollars per person.  Think twice before you ask them to get spray tans, professional hair and makeup, manicures, pedicures that adds even more money they will have to shell out. Allow them to feel comfortable enough to say no to all the extras.  If you decide you want the girls to have their hair and makeup done professionally, then it will be your responsibility to pay for it. Another option is for the girls to be responsible for their own hair and makeup.  And, if your friend prefers to do their own makeup and hair, that doesn't make her a lousy person who doesn't deserve to be a bridesmaid. Remember the real reason you chose them to be a bridesmaid in the first place and be an understanding bride.

Be a Friend
Even though you are busy planning for your big day, continue to be a good friend. Make a conscious effort to ask your girls about what's going in their lives.  Don't make it all wedding talk.  Don't just call, text, email when you need something or to remind them of a deadline. Remember they have important things going in their lives that they would like to share with you. Your bridemaids are putting time, effort and money into your wedding so be sure to make them feel special too. List them on your wedding website with photos and a little bit about each. Also, be sure to include them in your program at the ceremony. They are your closet friends so be sure to treat them that way.  They will notice!

Say Thank You!
Above all else, be sure to thank them for all their love and support. Give them a gift that is meaningful and include a personal note.  Put some thought into what you think each girl would like. If you decide to give them jewelry to wear in the wedding, consider getting them each a different piece that suits their personality.  Something that is special just for them.  Remember all the time, money and support they have given to you, so be sure to spend a little extra in the gift that you get each of them.


In the end, when all is said and done, remember the real reason you chose these particular girls to stand beside you.  You want them to still be glad that they said yes!




Monday, August 17, 2015

Spring Wedding on a Family Farm in South Carolina

Beck and I met Miranda and Blair at a coffee shop about 8 months prior to their wedding day. They went over the plans they had already made for their wedding day.   After talking with them for awhile, we knew that we could definitely assist them with their April wedding. Beck and I went over the services we could offer. After some more discussion we all decided we would be a good fit for their wedding planning needs...and that is when our planning and friendship began.

After several months of emails, texts, phone calls and meetings, we were able to pull everything together to make their wedding day the special day that they had envisioned. Everything turned out beautiful for this special couple and we thoroughly enjoyed working with them.
~ Jane White, It's Your Party! Events & Weddings



Please enjoy Red Apple Tree Photography's wonderful images of Miranda and Blair's wedding day along with all the details that Miranda shared about their special day.

Blair and I enjoy spending time at my grandparents' farm in Abbeville, SC.  It's a place that is special to my family as we have many family gatherings and spend Thanksgiving there every year.  We also enjoy hosting our friends at the farm.  We knew the beautiful farmhouse, with its green grass and huge, old pecan trees, would make the perfect backdrop for a spring Southern wedding reception.  I grew up in a Methodist church, so once we visited Main Street UMC in downtown Abbeville, we knew we had found the location for our special weekend!
We added many special touches to our wedding day. The location in itself is such a special place for us! My bouquet was wrapped with a handkerchief that my great grandmother gave me, which my mother monogrammed with my new initials.  
I wore my new mother-in-law's earrings.  My grandfather gave me an old foreign coin which I taped to the bottom of my shoe for good luck! 
One of the diamonds on my engagement ring belonged to Blair's great-grandmother.  I had Blair's band made out of a gold ring that my grandmother had given to my mother years ago, and my mother gave it to me.  

 Blair is very artistic and taught himself how to play the guitar.  We thought it would be nice to incorporate that into the day.  One of my uncles and one of my cousins were so kind to serenade our guests with their guitars as they arrived at the church!

 Blair also loves bagpipe music so we had a bagpiper accompany the organist for the bridal processional.  He lead my father and I down the aisle and also played outside as guests exited the church after the ceremony.
We used a traditional Methodist wedding ceremony and added a reading from the book of Ruth.  The Reverend also added a reading at the end by Dietrich Bonhoeffer that was really special.  

We used light pink, navy, and gold.  I wanted the reception to have an old Southern feel and less of a rustic/farm theme.  Our reception decor included huge crystal chandeliers in high peak tents, and silver and gold bowls, vases, and trays for the table arrangements.  My grandparents opened up the farmhouse for guests to mingle in and out.  There were also plenty of rocking chairs for guests to hang out on the wrap-around porch.  
 The part of our wedding we decided to splurge on was...THE BAND!!!  Our wedding was 4 months ago and people are still talking about the band.  They definitely brought the house down!  

The favorite part of our day was....EVERYTHING!!!! If we had to narrow it down to just one thing though, it was having all of our best friends and family in one place celebrating a very happy occasion with us.   

We wanted to keep everything for the whole weekend right there in Abbeville.  We had our rehearsal dinner and party at the Livery Stable.  Blair's parents surprised us with the decor, so we had no idea what to expect.  Of course, it turned out beautifully!  Our entire wedding party rented out The Belmont Inn on the square in downtown Abbeville.  It was really special having everyone stay there together all weekend.  

Of  course you can't have a wedding without a love story...and here is Miranda and Blair's!


Blair and I met at Lake Hartwell back in 2003 when he was living at his family's lake house and working at a lakeside restaurant.  We became friends and starting dating in 2006.  He proposed on June 8, 2014, at his family's lakehouse... where it all began!  He surprised me with a nice dinner, and when we got to the restaurant our families were there waiting to celebrate with us!
Vendors:
Photographer -  Red Apple Tree Photography
Florist  -  Aimee Cromer
Band  -   Mo'Sol
Rentals  -  Event Rentals
Wedding Coordinators  -  It's Your Party! Events & Weddings
Transportation  -  EastsideTransportation