Join Us on April 18th!

We are happy to announce that Flawless Occasions will be a featured vendor at the Belleaire Beach Community Bridal Show on April 18th. We hope you will come by and say hello to us! There will be a lot of wonderful vendors, door prizes and it will give you a chance to check out this new venue.

Belleaire Beach Community Center is a beautiful new venue that is perfect for the bride on a budget. It is a great space that can easily be transformed into any type of theme from casual to elegant. They are currently offering a special introductory rate! Check out all the details!

Here are the details on the show!

Bridal Showcase @ Belleair Beach Community Center
Sunday: 4-18-10 1pm-4pm
For more info visit: www.i-do-bridalshows.com

Hope to see you there!!!

Sommer and Kyle part 2

March madness is in full swing in the wedding world. We have 3 weddings in a row starting with this weekend, so we will do our best to update the blog as much as possible. We will also be doing a bridal show in mid April so stay tuned for more info on that!
For now, I wanted to share with you some gorgeous photos from Sommer and Kyle's wedding by their fabulous photographer, Jason Angelini. His wife, Lucia, posted these on their blog last night and I couldn't wait to share them on ours! This really was a wonderful wedding and I think his photos really captured the joy of the day and how the couple could not stop smiling and laughing the whole time. These are a few of my favorties, enjoy!

Sommer and Kyle's Clearwater Wedding

It's couples like Sommer and Kyle that make me love being a wedding planner. Sommer called me a few months ago in need of day-of-coordinating plus a little assistance on tying up loose ends and figuring out a few more details. By the time their wedding day came around, they made me feel like I was part of the family and were so appreciative and generous towards me.

Not only are they so kind, but they were also very laid back and positive when rain threatened to ruin their outdoor ceremony on the water. As Sommer and her ladies were made up by Darla Stafford and Julie at their hotel, we had to decide whether or not we would have to move their ceremony into the banquet room. Well, mother nature was on our side and the rain cleared just in time for Sommer and Kyle to be married on the deck overlooking beautiful Clearwater beach and the marina, with a touching and fun ceremony performed by Pastor Dean Ryder. It was a little chilly out there, but I think all the love warmed everyone up, as cheesy as that may sound.

This wedding came together with the help of some fabulous vendors. Delectables Catering provided delicious food, sleek linens, an ice sculpture, and a superb banquet staff. The beautiful, contemporary florals were created by Dana Dineen and her team. I enjoyed working with DJ and musician Wayne Delair for the first time, as well as Brad and Jennifer from Events Done Bright who made a clean slate into a pink paradise with lighting, lanterns, and gobos. I got to work with photographer Jason Angelini again, and we always have a great time doing weddings together. Sommer and Kyle booked him without even meeting him in person because they were so impressed with his portfolio. I saw him get tons of great shots and the couple gave him a lot of time, which is important, so I can't wait to post some of his professional photos when his wonderful wife and editor, Lucia, sends them to me.

Sommer and Kyle, you were a joy to work with and I wish you the best in your new life together. Thanks for everything and I hope you are having a fun and relaxing time in Mexico... drink a margarita for me, cheers! ;)

Save the Date - Do or Don't?

What is a save-the-date? A save-the-date is a notification of your wedding date to those you are expecting to invite. They come in all forms -- postcards, magnets, engagement photos, emails, etc.

When should you send out a save-the-date? Typically, couples are sending out save-the-date cards as soon as they decide on a date and place. This can be anywhere from 12 months to 3 months out from your wedding date. If your wedding is more than a year away, it is best to wait until it gets a little closer.

Who should get a save-the-date? You can send this to anyone, as long as you are definitely inviting them! It is extremely rude and tacky to send out a save-the-date and then as your wedding date gets closer, realize that you either don't have the budget to invite certain people or you feel that you are no longer in a close enough relationship to invite them. Unless your guest list is etched in stone, it's best to just send a save-the-date to close family and friends who will no doubt be invited to your big day.


Do I really need to send a save-the-date? Although it's not an absolute necessity, it is mainly for your guests to make arrangements, and this is especially helpful for long distance guests who may need to make flight reservations or secure accommodations. If your wedding is on a holiday weekend, a save-the-date will hopefully cause your guests to avoid making vacation plans for that time as well. Because you only send out your invitations within a couple of months of your wedding, sending a save-the-date in advance will ensure that more of the people you love will be able to attend your wedding.

Where can I get my save-the-date? There are many websites out there where you can create a customized save-the-date card or magnet. VistaPrint and MagnetStreet are two popular websites that many of our clients have used. Some photographers offer this product with your engagement photos, and stationary companies and websites like My Personal Artist and The American Wedding make them as well. There are so many types and styles, from an airline boarding pass postcard to a photo magnet, and most of these sites are very budget friendly as well - have fun and happy shopping!
(photos from mypersonalartist.com and magnetstreet.com)

Sexy Sleepwear

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and maybe your wedding day is, too. Personalized undergarments are totally hot right now and a nice way to surprise your sweetheart and make them feel extra special! You can wear these custom pieces while you are getting ready, under your wedding dress, or at the end of the night ;) This is also a great gift for an engaged friend! Here are some great websites to find personalized lingerie and sleepwear.



Cami and boyshorts set from Personalizationmall.com








Lacy lingerie set, "Just married" bling, from AdvantageBridal.com










Cutomized boyshorts and panties, CustomGlamGirl.com

Making it Personal

Incorporating monograms into a wedding is a trend that just doesn't seem to be going out of style. Monograms are a classy way to add a motif or theme to your event without going over the top. You can use it in something like your cake design or your stationary, as well as in fun decor items like parasols or aisle runners. Some people choose to use just the initial of the groom's last name, while others use their two first name initials. There are many options - here are some inspiration photos from TheKnot.com and IDoOriginals.com. If you haven't checked out I Do Originals, they have adorable personalized decor items to make your wedding unique! If you are handy with a graphic design program or other computer program that can make monograms, you can easily do these yourself. However, if you don't have the time, knowledge, or patience, check out this Etsy seller who designs personalized monograms for only $5.00.

Brides Against Breast Cancer Gown Sale!

It's almost that time of year again.. the Brides Against Breast Cancer gown sale tour is coming to Tampa on March 5th and 6th! It will be at the same location as last year, the Howard Johnson Plaza hotel in downtown Tampa. The VIP night is on Thursday and the regular gown sale is on Friday.

I love this charity and am very disappointed that I will be out of town on that weekend because I have volunteered at the event for the past few years. My first year, I even met one of our future clients there as she bought her gown! I can tell you that this is a fabulous event, but if you are interested in a gown, try to get there EARLY! They have some beautiful gowns at amazing prices, and all the proceeds go to the Making Memories foundation which grants wishes to women (and men) who are losing their battle against breast cancer. Many of us, including myself, have known or will know a person who has breast cancer, so this is an important charity for us all of us to support.

If you are not in the market for a wedding gown, consider volunteering at the event. It was always a very rewarding experience for me. Click here for volunteer information, or visit their website by clicking here.

Bride's Choice Award 2010!

We received more great news the other day. For the second year in a row, Flawless Occasions has won a Bride's Choice Award from WeddingWire.com! We are very excited about all of the great things that have been happening so far this year, and the year has only started! All of the winners will be posted on Wedding Wire at the beginning of February, so make sure you check out the website in a few weeks. We would also like to congratulate some of our friends in the industry who also won this award! Here is the email Beth received notifying us that we won:




Dear Beth,

Congratulations! We are excited to announce that Flawless Occasions has been chosen to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards^™ 2010. This award recognizes the top 5 percent of local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service and professionalism.

The Bride’s Choice Awards™ are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds (brides and grooms) through extensive surveys and reviews, which means your past clients have spoken on our behalf and selected you to receive this honor.

What's Hot in Headpieces

When choosing a bridal look, a very important part can be not what you are wearing on your body, but what you are wearing on your head. Headpieces can really set the tone for your entire style, and there is such a huge variety out there right now. Are you looking for something bold and modern like a brightly colored headband? Or are you more of the traditional type, with a veil and tiara. Do you want something with a wow factor, such as a cathedral veil that trails way past your train? Or maybe something short, sweet, and vintage, like a birdcage veil. Don't forget, you can always wear multiple pieces as well, like wearing a long mantilla veil for your ceremony and switching it out for a funky flower during your reception. Here are some of our favorite styles, and info on where you can find them in your budget!

The vintage bride... Lele Photography (Hi girls!) out in St. Louis captured this beautiful image of a bride with a vintage style headpiece with birdcage veil. Want something like it? Check out VelvetOwl's etsy store for custom pieces - average prices $60-$75.






















The bold bride... Another one of our favorite photographers, Carolina Araujo, did an amazing bridal session with this bold and modern style bride who is wearing a black headband. This went with the black sash on her dress, which you can't see in this photo. But who says you need to match anyway? It's your wedding day, so if you want to wear a brightly colored headband and add a splash of color, go for it! Want this look? Check out Forever21.com -- this headband with feathers and beads is $4.80, you can't beat that price!




















For the bride that wants bling... Tiara's bring that classic princess style that many women envision as their bridal look. It can be paired with or without a veil, and there are so many different styles these days as well as sizes. Our friends at Limelight Photography shot this gorgeous picture that showcases a beautiful bride and her bling'in headpiece. Want this look? Check out AdvantageBridal.com - they have a huge selection, with many priced under $100.00. They also have combs and smaller pieces if you decide a tiara isn't your style but you do want some sparkle!




























The natural bride... Not all brides want the bling, but they still want something elegant, classy, and unique. Maybe you are planning a beach or garden wedding, or just have a love for nature and the outdoors. A natural flower in your hair may be the way to go. Not only is it beautiful, but it is very affordable! Just ask your florist which flowers hold up best in hairstyles (our brides have used mums, orchids, and roses, to name a few). With flowers being only a few dollars a stem, this is a very reasonable way to make a style statement. In this photo by Jason Angelini, our bride Kristen is wearing a larger, white mum in her hair which we picked up from the local grocery store.

















The traditional bride... They say the veil makes you really feel like a bride. I think getting married makes you really feel like a bride. Ok, so I wore a veil and it felt awesome when I put it on. But I took it off for the reception and had a little bling in my hair, and I still felt wonderful. So I think it's all personal preference. If you think you are a veil-type-of bride, then you have a lot more decisions to make ahead of you -- length (short, fingertip, cathedral??), style (mantilla, beaded, blusher??), color (white, ivory, polka-dotted??) -- you get the picture. And this picture is from Joelle of Socialite Studios, showing how veils can enhance your wedding photos with their free flowing beauty. Want this look? Check out Delicate Spirits on ebay, with a huge selection and great prices as well as perfect ratings from other buyers.