In the Media -- The Knot Florida Spring/Summer 2010

Have you picked up your latest issue of The Knot Florida magazine? We were informed before the holidays that Flawless Occasions had won 2010 Best of the Knot, however we did not know we would be featured in the actual magazine. We were very excited to find ourselves on page 22 of The Knot Spring/Summer 2010 issue. We were 1 of only 5 planners who won this award for the entire West Coast of Florida, and we were the only planning company who won from Tampa. It is just such an honor and we know that this is a sign of great things to come in 2010 for us. We want to thank all of our clients, past and present, who voted for us to win this award. You can also see the winners on The Knot's website by clicking here. And go pick up the newest issue of The Knot Florida magazine, on newsstands now!

Jen and Corey's Winter Wedding in St. Augustine

Jen and Corey were married on Friday, Janaury 8th at the White Room Loft in St. Augustine. I first met Jen and Corey last spring when their plans were to have a long engagement and have a wedding in the local area. In October, they contacted me again to let me know they were ready to move forward with planning. Things had changed since our initial consultation and they were now planning an intimate January 2010 wedding in St. Augustine! I was so excited that they still wanted to have Flawless Occasions help with the planning.

In just three months (not to mention the holidays mixed in) we were able to get everything planned and their day turned out amazing. The only small issue was the weather which we obviously couldn't control. We all made the best of the record low temperatures though and Jen & Corey still had the wedding of their dreams.

The day was not only cold, but it was also rainy. Miraculously, the rain stopped just in time for their roof top ceremony. The White Room staff (Thanks Shannon and Courtney!) pulled out their heaters to help keep guests warm (plus Jen had purchased hand warmers for her guests). David Tagliaferri from River City Weddings did a personalized ceremony that had guests laughing and crying. The roof top overlooks the water so it is a naturally beautiful location but the floral arrangements from Dana Dineen , the chivari chairs provided by the White Room, and the damask aisle runner that Jen made really created a stunning ceremony site. It all turned out simply gorgeous!

Darla Stafford made the trip from Tampa too and did an amazing job on hair and make-up for the girls! You can always count on Darla!!

After the ceremony, the guests were able to enjoy the delicious food served by the White Room and the great tunes played by DJ Carlton McGee of McGee Entertainment. Guests were seriously on the dance floor from the very first song to the very last song!

Each guest table had a centerpiece with about 8 vases filled with water and floating candles plus about 10 votives and 10 tea lights which really made the room feel romantic. The pintuck linens and napkins (provided by Linens By The Sea) added to the elegant nature of the White Room and were complimented with pretty gold chargers.

Instead of traditional cake, Corey and Jen decided to have cupcakes which were from Defore's Cake Design. The guests were all raving about the delicious treat! Later, Jen and Corey surprised their guests with a late night snack of barbecue chicken bites and an ice cream bar. With all the great food, the little surprises and the awesome music - the guests had a fantastic time. I heard they even continued the party after everything at the White Room was over!!!

Below are some pictures I took at Jen & Corey's wedding. In the near future, I also hope to have some professional photos from Kris and Kate of Kris Graham Photography to share too.






















The relaxed bride!




They used a Where's Waldo book as their guest book!


The delicious cupcakes!!


The steps that lead to the ceremony site and the patio.


Hand warmers so the guests could still enjoy the patio. The temperatures were down in the 30's!





That's the ice cream buffet behind the ring bearer! It was SO yummy!




I even had my own place card and was able to enjoy dinner with the guests and other vendors!






I truly enjoyed working with the White Room Staff and all the other vendors that were part of Jen & Corey's wedding day. It seemed like all the guests and the vendors really enjoyed the night.

Jen and Corey are a really fun, loving couple and I am thrilled that I had the opportunity to work with them. Jen and Corey - Congratulations and best of luck to you!

New Year's Resolution: Become a Buff Bride

Is your New Year's resolution to lose weight before your big day? Many of us have that resolution regardless of whether or not we are getting married in the near future, however it seems to go into full force in those months before a big event like a wedding. Here are some tips from WeddingChannel and InStyle Magazine on how to get in shape the healthy way:

"The formula for weight loss is a simple one: Calories burned must exceed calories consumed. So it makes sense that the best way to begin your new lifestyle is by shaping up your diet. To keep your energy level high enough to plan your wedding, choose a safe, healthy eating plan that targets a loss of 1 to 2 pounds a week, which, for most of us, means consuming about 1200 calories a day. If you have a significant amount of weight to lose before the wedding -- say 20 pounds -- you'll need to start your diet between 5 and 6 months before the big day.

But because you want to lose fat weight -- not just body weight -- keeping your calorie intake hovering at 1200 isn't your only concern. Here's why: According to fitness expert William D. McArdle, PhD and Professor Emeritus at the Department of Family, Nutrition and Exercise Science at Queens College at CUNY, when you diet without exercising, your body uses lean muscle mass for energy. But if you add exercise to your daily routine, your body will turn to those pesky fat stores for fuel."

Wedding Channel gives some ideas on how to the "fat weight" in a safe way -- not crash diets or psycho workout regimens. Here is a summary:

1. Cardio exercises like swimming, running, biking, etc. should be done at 15 minute increments starting at 3 times a week. As your endurance improves, you can increase the time.
2. Stretching is important before and after workout sessions because it improves your overall fitness.
3. Add a multivitamin to your diet of lean meats, vegetables, fruits, and dairies, because when you start exercising, your body will start to crave more nutrients and this is a way to offset that without taking in more calories or binge eating.

InStyle Magazine also created an "Ultimate Bridal Workout" schedule:

Repeat this routine each week for a total of four weeks.

Monday to Friday: Cardio Begin with a five-minute warm-up, followed by stretching. Then choose one of these: power walking, jogging, spinning or any cardio class or machine. Alternate activities each day, and do what you enjoy so you'll stick with it. Beginners should continue moving at their target heart rate for 20 minutes; intermediates, for 45 minutes; and advanced exercisers, for up to 60 minutes. End with a five-minute walk and more stretches.

Saturday: Yoga You can take a class or do it at home with DVDs such as Jenkins's The Hollywood Trainer Yoga ($20; thehollywoodtrainer.com).

Sunday: Spa day Reward yourself with a manicure, a massage, a facial or a bubble bath. Really! A day of rest lets your muscles get stronger and helps prevent injuries that might throw you off schedule later.
These are all great tips, but if you are like many women, it is difficult to get motivated and commit to working out. So here are a few of my own personal tips on getting back in shape.

~Set realistic goals of how much weight you want to lose and when.

~Do not weigh yourself more than once a week, and in the beginning, do not weigh yourself at all! Remember, muscle weighs more than fat, so if you are gaining muscle and getting rid of fat, you might not notice a weight difference on a scale for awhile.

~Take classes at the gym for your cardio. Most gyms offer classes that are about an hour long. This will force you to stay the entire time instead of cutting a workout short if you were doing it alone. It is also fun, relaxing, and social, which you need when you are planning a wedding and full of stress!

~Switch it up. Break up the monotony of doing the same cardio or exercising every day. Maybe one day take a spinning class, the next day a yoga class, and the following day go for a swim.
Good luck, you can do it!
To view the entire WeddingChannel Article, "Wedding Dress Shape-Up", click here.
To view the entire InStyle Magazine Article, "Ultimate Bridal Workout", click here.
photos from InStyle Magazine

Top 10 Wedding Trends in '10

Last year, when it became 2009, I blogged about upcoming color trend predictions which I found on Completelyweddings.com. Those predictions ended up being pretty on target, as we did many weddings in those trendy colors of the year. This year, I went to GetMarried.com, a great resource for wedding information, to see what the experts were predicting for 2010. I definitely agree with some of these, and as for the others, I can't wait to see if these predictions turn out to be true! I can already tell you that #5 is right on, as Beth gets ready to head to St. Augustine for a destination wedding for a local Tampa bride. I also really like #1, and we are working with several great clients right now who seem to be going by that same mantra. So here are the 2010 wedding trends according to GetMarried.com -- let's see what happens! :)



1. Back to Basics
Events will focus on the attention to the details, the foundation of the event, not the drama or grandeur of the evening. Consider spending more on the lasting memories than the showmanship of the event. Spend a bit more than the average budget allotment on photography mediums rather than abundant floral. Or consider a bit of a longer stay on your honeymoon and a little less of a party at the reception and you’ll be grateful for your decision in the end.

2. Home Weddings Hit Home
Intimate and personal affairs in the backyard are bigger than ever. Going home incorporates the continued trend of personalizing the wedding day experience.
Smaller size guest lists, more intimate settings, grass roots weddings, elegant and detail driven, but in no way small on what counts.

3. Buttercream on the Big Day
Fondant is falling behind, buttercream corners the market.
Tools and techniques now allow for buttercream to look as smooth as fondant when applied by a skilled artist. You have the option of better flavor, more natural ingredients, and less costly cakes that no longer suffer or lack in design.

4. Favor Comeback
Personalized appreciation is back. The effect that an event has on the guests is more noticeable than ever before so the importance of a favor is felt more than ever. Be sure to appreciate to those in attendance - it’s not just an afterthought, omission, or generic item. Think local artisans, locally grown products, personal mementos, and on-the-spot print outs.

5. Nearby Destinations
Nearby destination weddings are taking flight over the exotic and far off locales. The ever popular destination wedding will remain but guests will get out of town by car (within driving distance) so couples can create a weekend, guests get an escape, but no one breaks the bank. Enjoying the US destination locations, spend within your own local economies, create a greener effect, experience undiscovered backyards, and stay sensible about cost while you’re at away.

6. Colors
Monochromatic palettes - this doesn’t mean muted colors, just single color bunches. Vibrant Colors: Orange, green, yellow, and pink. Metal Colors: Gold, silver, copper, and pewter. And black is definitely the new black. Break the rules and show off the darker side of your event.

7. Greener Conscience
Immerging will be the newest phase of eco-conscience: A better understanding of the gray shades of green. You will see more emphasis on the smaller changes that are less recognizable to the guest (i.e. cleaning green, composting, solar and LED lighting, no more oasis in floral arrangements, less catering waste). It’s no longer about making the event appear “organic” – it’s about understanding how things are made, disposed of, and where/when events take place. Learning to make better choices that are unseen by the guest are just as important as those tree-free invitations everyone is talking about.

8. Video Integration into Events
We’ve all seen the photo montages of your childhoods during dinner but the next phase in video at your event comes in several different forms. Video DJ’s are immerging, allowing your dance party to dance to the visuals of the music videos; ceremonies are being broadcast on screens for better viewing from the back; and time lapse photography is being shot and integrated into video for current day montages of you and your fiancé. Love to party? Set up crane camera and project the event as it unfolds on screens around the dance floor (budget permitting of course).

9. HD Video
Videographers have already gone hi-def. But next year all or most will make such a transition, making HD and even Blu Ray the norm in wedding videography. Upgrade now and appreciate the quality later. This also means smaller cameras on site and less intrusion into your event, all around a better (though more costly) option on the big day.

10. Visual Combinations
Professional grade still photo cameras like the Canon 5D Mark II DSLR are being released with HD video capabilities included. It is recommended to have both a videographer and a photographer at your wedding to capture every moment of the big day. Tech-savvy brides looking for a new experience, may like to experiment with a visual professional (videographer or photographer) who has this technology. In the future, you will begin to see an emergence of two-in-one companies. Companies like Engaging Films and Video Keepsakes of Beverly Hills in Los Angeles will shoot video and take stills, but use only one piece of technology.

source: www.getmarried.com

2009 in Review - Best of Flawless Occasions' Weddings

2009 brought us so much success and joy, it will be hard to top it in 2010, but I have a feeling it's going to be a great year. We are even starting off the New Year with Beth coordinating an out-of-town wedding in historic St. Augustine, Florida. There are many things to look forward to, but before we move ahead, we are going to look back on some of our favorite times of 2009.
We had the honor of planning and coordinating so many amazing weddings and events, and we wanted to do a little recap for the blog. But instead of just showing some pictures and reminiscing, we decided to give out a few Flawless Occasions awards! So - for the first time - we present the Best of Flawless Occasions' Weddings of 2009!




Best Magazine-Cover Potential -- There is something about this photo that looks totally out of a magazine. I think it is a combination of the hotness of our couple, Holly and Ryan, and the talent of their photographer, Shem, from Blue Lane Photo. Either way, this photo from one of Beth's October weddings could and should end up on the cover of a magazine one day.



























Best Reception Exit -- Amy and Griff had a very elegant wedding at the Mirror Lake Lyceum in May. Their sparkler exit was executed flawlessly by Beth and the staff at the Lyceum, and captured beautifully by Joelle of Socialite Studios.

















Best Ceremony Exit -- 2009 was a year of firsts for us - this was our first military wedding. As a nod to his army career, Christian and his bride, Mercy, exited St. Brenden's Catholic Church under a sword salute by his fellow army members. Thanks to Carrie from a Fly on the Wall Photography for catching this moment on film.


























Best Bouquet -- Megan's bridal bouquet by Dana Dineen was breathtakingly beautiful in shades of purple roses, white orchids, and stephanotis.


























Most Unique Guest Signing Idea -- Stephanie and Louis had guests sign one of Louis' guitars, which was a great way to personalize their wedding.























Best Wedding FOOD -- Everyone who knows me knows my obsession with food. Since we usually spend at least 10 hours at each wedding we coordinate, we always make sure to eat a meal during that time. Otherwise, we just would not even have the energy to last that long. So I can honestly say that I have had a LOT of wedding food. The best food of our 2009 weddings would probably have to be the meal we had at Kristen and Jeff's Island Way Grill reception. It was a filet, king crab legs, and wasabi mashed potatoes. I liked it so much that I went back a few months later for my birthday I ordered the same thing. :)













Most Unique Getaway Car -- Meagan and Ryan are a special couple, and they wanted to leave their reception in a unique mode of transportation, so they rented a pedicab. It was an adorable way to leave their wedding and photographer Jason Angelini got a great picture of their last wedding day kiss!














Best Way to Deal with Florida Heat on Your Wedding Day -- Farrah and Paul traveled to St. Pete Beach from England to have their beach ceremony and reception. I'm not sure if they anticipated how hot it would be in May, but they definitely figured out how to deal with it... they (along with the rest of their bridal party) ended their wedding by all jumping in to one of the Tradewinds' pools, wedding clothing and all. Luckily Beth caught some of the craziness on camara.













Best Candy Buffet -- Ariel and Ricco's candy buffet was both beautiful in looks and in meaning. It was pink and white, and it was dedicated to the bride's mother who had recently passed away from breast cancer prior to their October wedding. It was created by Chic Sweets and provided a wonderful treat for the guests as well as a way to honor such a special person.















Best DIY Project -- Chastity and Paul's May '09 beach wedding at the Tradewinds resort featured a unique card box: a treasure chest complete with gold coins, jewels, and a treasure map on burnt and aged paper. This was a DIY project done by the bride's sister, and it was a unique and fun feature.

















Best Bride and Groom "Look" -- Kristen, one of our March '09 brides, looked amazing in her white taffeta gown. Her hair and makeup were done by the talented Darla Stafford, and as a last minute addition, we ran to the store to pick up a white flower to add the finishing touch to Kristen's stunning look. Jeff looked very handsome as well in his tan suit, which was perfect for their elegant beach wedding and reception at Island Way Grill.















Best Centerpieces -- Ashley and Nate hired Botanica Florists to design their large and striking centerpieces of gold orchids, branches, and hanging votives, which made quite a statement in the Rusty Pelican Ballroom for our first wedding of last year.















Best Mini Bride and Groom -- Ruth and Greg had a Labor Day weekend wedding at the Rusty Pelican coordinated by Beth. Their cake featured a very unique topper created to look just like the bride and groom. Even the bride's dress details were replicated!























Best Hardcore-Party Guests -- Athena and John's wedding in February was a fun time, even after the party was over. As the DJ was packing up and I was cleaning up, guests were out on the patio of the St. Petersburg Women's Club doing keg stands (even the bride in her gown!). Another highlight of the evening was when the groomsmen stripped down to just their vests and did an impromptu lip synch to "It's Raining Men".















Best Theme-Without-Going-Overboard-on-a-Theme -- Sarah and Aaron's wedding, our last of 2009, had a lovely underlying theme that was classy and not overdone. Lovebirds made an appearance in a few places throughout their wedding, including their cake, wishbowl cards, and favors. It was tasteful and cute.










Best Color Scheme -- When Amanda and Caton were married in May at the famous Don Cesar hotel in St. Pete Beach, they went for a tropical color scheme that popped against the bright pink of the historic building. Their white and bright orange flowers and decor looked so great together, along with the orange bridesmaid dresses from Jcrew.













If you are one of our blog followers, we would love to know what you think the best wedding was from our blog in 2009. Please post a comment and let us know your favorites! We wish you all a happy and healthy 2010, and thanks for continuing to support us and Flawless Occasions!