The Great Affair

The months of planning your wedding really do go by so fast. Be sure to enjoy the planning and do not get too hung up on details. Let your planner work her magic. Take time for yourself along the way, whether it be a massage, facial, nice walk or just a nap. Find time to pamper yourself. That way you will have the energy you need at those times when you really need it. My motto always has been Have fun along the way. Take it slow.

OK so you are engaged. Congratulations!! The first step in wedding planning after determining how many guests to invite and getting your bridal party together is to locate a venue(s) for the ceremony and reception. Take time to decide if you want to marry outdoors in a church, garden setting, on the beach, in a ballroomm mansion, country club, banquet hall, museum, loft, library, etc. There are so many different types of settings these days. You may want to marry at your home or in a grocery store aisle as one bride recently did as she met her groom there. If you choose an outdoor wedding keep in mind the possibility of rain and always have a back-up plan like a tent or another area under cover. When choosing your home, banquet hall or unique venue consider that you will need rentals, catering and so on. These can add up whereas renting a ballroom usually has everything included in the price. Good Luck with your search and as I always say…Make it fun and enjoyable.

Everyone wants nice photos of their wedding for lasting memories. So its very important to shop around for a photographer who has photos that you like!! Its too easy to get caught up in the planning and lose sight of expenditures. But photography should be tops on your list. You want a photographer who you can work with easily and one who understands the type of photos you want to capture. Prices vary but so does quality so take your time in choosing the best photographer you can to fulfill your needs. Visit their facility and view their photo albums of recent weddings. Ask which photographer on staff worked that particular wedding as some studios have many photographers on staff with varying talents. Good luck and make your search of a good photographer fun and enjoyable.

Weddings have changed so much over the past 20 years and one area that truly stands out is the giving the guest a favor. The typical bride and groom today want to make a statement. Many are giving donations to favorite charities in the names of their guests. This has become a wonderful trend. Rather than giving out the candy box, CDs, etc. the guest leave with a feeling that they actually contributed to welfare of a charity. This fortunate new generation has grown up with an emphasis on community service and giving back and this is one way that they are able to show that and have their guests participate also. I think its a trend that will continue on. What are your thoughts?

What a great weekend to get married! WIth all the excitement going on in and around Chicago – it just makes the atmosphere so much more festive! When planning your wedding always check with your local areas to see what big event may be happening on your special day. This could impact guests flying into the city, parking, traffic patterns and so on. Also make sure to reserve your room blocks, transportation and rehearsal dinner site early enough to avoid any worries. Make sure that nothing gets in the way of your wedding plans.

I have assisted with many weddings where the bride and groom acknowledge their parents, grandparents, deceased close relatives during the ceremony. I think that this adds such a wonderful gesture to the ceremony. This can be done in many different ways. A rose or other flower can be presented to the mothers, grandmothers by handing it to them or by leaving it on their individual seats. Acknowledging the children of the bride and groom is also a wonderful gesture and helps in this transition for them. I have seen the use of sand in different colors – one for the bride, one for the groom and one for the children where they each pour their colors into a single vase symbolizing the union of each of them. However you decided to acknowledge your close relatives and children is up to you but I strongly feel that it is that final touch that makes a wedding more meaningful and complete.

You are engaged! This is one of the best times of your life so planning your wedding should be enjoyable. You should never lose sight of the fact that all this leads up to your MARRIAGE! Dont get caught up in the minor details or stress yourself out over where Aunt Bonnie should sit.  Thats where a good wedding planner comes into play. A good planner can ease your stressful feelings by handling all those minor details for you – this is what we love to do.  Be sure to exercise regularly, eat nutritiously, do yoga or other relaxation exercises along the way so that you are able to enjoy fully the days leading up to your wedding.  Just remember that you are marrying the person of your dreams and leave the planning to a capable wedding coordinator!

I am noticing the nice new colors that bridesmaids are wearing these days and I love it! Yellows, oranges, some new aqua color,  purples, blues, greens and many others.  I also like it that the bridesmaids are deciding to choose the dress style that best suits their figure.  It makes for a much more comfortable and happy bridesmaid! Please blog what you think of these new color trends and styles.

Another boring, administrative post, but I figure it ought to be said.

We’ve been contacting photographers who helped out at many of The Great Affair’s weddings, trying to get digital copies of their stunning photos. This has been a longer-than-expected process, and we’re still gathering photos, but check out our gallery and take a look at what we’re able to show so far! Over the next few weeks, we hope to showcase several more weddings we’ve helped create.