Sit back, Relax, and enjoy the Bridal Shows!

Right after the new year we are heading into bridal show mode! We are attending 4 bridal shows this upcoming year, 3 in January and 1 in February. For all you newly engaged brides I would highly recommend attending some shows for great information and vendors to help perfect your wedding. Our first big show is the Southern New England Bridal Show on Sunday January 3, 2010 at the Rhode Island Convention Center.

http://www.southernnewenglandbridalexpo.com/ check out their website to see all the exhibitors and the fun things they have planned for us!

It is open to the public and there will be approximately 145 wedding related exhibitors along with two professional fashion shows, very exciting! Now don't be overwhelmed when you first arrive, there is a lot to see but a lot of important information you will gather for your wedding planning. Also don't forget to look out for the Rhode Island Wedding Group Booth where we will be representing many different vendors in the wedding industry. It is a one-stop-shop to plan your entire wedding! learn more about us at: http://www.rhodeislandweddinggroup.com/

Our second bridal show we will be showcasing at is "La Bella Bride" on Sunday January 10th 2010 at the Hotel Viking in Newport RI. The intimate, boutique hotel style show offers seminars, intimate settings to meet and greet with vendors, as well as bridal overnight accommodations.

http://www.wedalert.com/bridal_show/A_Newport_Wedding_Showcase/?id=1615&state=RI&showid=2890&showdate=1/10/2010&show=NewportWeddingShowcase. Here you can register yourself as well as search for other bridal shows in RI.

Still more shows to talk about...on Sunday January 17th from 12pm-4pm at Venus de Milo there will be The Grand Bridal Show. This show is returning for its 3rd year and they will have everything from florist, catering, video, photography, limos, invitations, MYSELF and much more! There will also be a fabulous fashion show featuring the latest styles in bridal gowns and formal wear as well as free samples, giveaways, and prizes to enjoy!

http://www.venusdemilo.com/events-weddingShow.htm

Our last show we will be attending is the Newport Life Show at Rosecliff Mansion in Newport RI on Saturday February 20th 2010. http://www.newportweddingexpo.com/welcome.htm Newport is the perfect location for a romantic get-a-way or an elegant wedding reception, so plan to spend the weekend with your fiance. Also if you're staying in town, in Newport, Feb. 12 -21 is the annual Newport Winter Festival offering a unique winter experience combining food, music, and entertainment. It should be a fun weekend!

Here are some tips when attending the show:

1. Don't be overwhelmed! We know there are a lot of people to talk to but we have your best interest at heart!

2. Don't be afraid to tell vendors "no" they are looking for business and its OK if you don't like what they are offering.

3. Get business cards and brochures if you are interested!

4. If you are interested in a vendor, ask right then and there if you can schedule an appointment with them so you can check out their locations and services.

*Don't forget to look for Planned to Perfection at all of these shows! We would love to meet you!

Happy Holidays!

Here at the office we have been super busy; but we are so excited to be apart of the NBC Channel 10 Free Wedding Giveaway! The big winners are Jennifer Coliflores and Eic Rosenthal who will be married in January at the beautiful Crowne Plaza Hotel at The Crossings in Warwick RI. Be sure to check out the NBC channel 10 website to see all the great prizes they won for their wedding, including Jen’s dress, Eric’s tuxedo, reception menu’s, wedding favors and much more!
http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/lifestyles/wedding_contest
You can also check out the previous winner from last years wedding, Jen & Eric’s entry video, all the sponsors of the wedding, and great wedding planning tips for your big day!
For the last month we have been going on many appointments with the sponsors of the wedding along with Jen & Eric; including a fun tanning trip to 2nd to the Sun where the couple has won a one month unlimited tanning package for themselves and their bridal party.

To follow all the fun of the wedding preperations, you can follow Jen & Eric on facebook at, http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/JenEric-Wedding/182907915795
Here you can check out pictures from the tuxedo fitting at Carl Anthony Tuxedo, the winning dresses from Party Dress Express, Jen’s cute hair-du from Celebeautique Hairspa as well as fun updates from the bride and groom!

We have also been working on our 2010 brides and making sure they are on track with scheduling, appointments and vendor agreements. Planning a wedding is hard work and here at Planned to Perfection we are always up for the challenge! As we all know the holidays are just around the corner so we hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday with their friends and families!

August Weddings

This past week we worked at two great weddings! We were at Keri and Mike's wedding on Thursday at the Glen Manor House in Portsmouth. They had a green wedding and it was great to be a part of that. Keri and Mike were also featured in the Providence Journal so please check out the article on green weddings.

http://www.projo.com/lifebeat/content/lb-green_wedding_08-11-09_EPEN13V_v31.2936fe8.html

Their guests ate local and organic foods provided by Blackstone Catering as well had gorgeous locally grown flowers and herbs from Conceptual Image Designs. Sin Desserts created an organic cake that was absolutely amazing.. In lieu of favors, a donation was made to Amnesty International and guests arrived in style in a trolley from Rockstar Limo that reduced the amount of cars on the road and also is eco-friendly. Congrats to Keri and Mike!

On Saturday, we headed over to Beavertail for the ceremony of Laura and Juan. The day was absolutely gorgeous for this ocean side ceremony. We only had about 10 minutes to set up the ceremony and we were off and running. Rev. Michael Egan performed the ceremony which even included a large cruise ship sailing off into the distance! After the ceremony we headed off to the Johnson and Wales Inn, for the reception. Laura had chosen chocolate brown and red as her colors, she put together all of the centerpieces herself and in conjunction with the gorgeous linens and chiavari chairs from Rentals Unlimited, her tables looked spectacular. Jason Citrone provided uplighting for the room and the monogram that was displayed the entire evening. Luke's Disc Jockey Service did an outstanding job keeping everyone on the dance floor the entire evening and we even got to see a traditional Laotian dance. Congrats to Laura and Juan!

Working hard to get it all done!!

Matt & Shelby's Wedding

This weekend I was so excited to head to Connecticut for Matt and Shelby's wedding. Their wedding was at Matt's uncles house which I was told had this amazing landscape but I was completely blown away but how amazing it actually was. There are no words that can explain how absolutely magnificent this property was. The ceremony was held in one portion of the yard that looked like it was made for wedding ceremonies.

The tent and rentals were all done by Rhode Island Rentals and Jess's Country Flowers did an amazing job with all of their Floral Designs. Cocktail hour was held pool side and Kim Praast stole the bridal party away to take some great shots throughout the property. The amazing cupcakes were provided by Sugarbelle and the crowd danced all night to music provided by WRIK. Best wishes to Matt and Shelby for a lifetime of happiness!

The Rhode Show!

On June 22, there was a segment on the Rhode Show regarding wedding etiquette, and I had the pleasure of being a part of it!
http://www.foxprovidence.com/dpp/wildcard_7/wildcard_70/rhode_show_the_buzz_20090622

One of the topics covered was whether or not the bride has the right to ask her bridesmaids to change their appearance and the extent to which they can do so. Other topics included how to handle the “plus one” situation, mow much a guest should give, and how to handle those guests that do not answer well to RSVPs. There are also many other aspects and situations that may call for use of proper wedding etiquette.

As far as the bride’s relationship with her bridesmaids goes, there should be a mutual understanding on how much too much is to ask of each other. The bridesmaids are expected to understand that it isn’t their special day, but the bride’s. The bride should also keep in mind that the women she chose to be her bridesmaids are either family or close friends. Because of this, she should refrain from asking her bridesmaids to make drastic changes such as losing weight, changing their hair color or covering up tattoos. She should be accepting of her bridesmaids’ individuality.

Aside from situations concerning the brides and bridesmaids, there are always questions coming from the guests’ point of view. The “plus one” is a popular question. It is a given that a person invited can bring their spouse, fiancé, or even a long running significant other. However, for those who are single, should they find a date or go stag? There usually is no problem with going stag. The majority of the time, the party attending will know the family or friends so it will not be as if they are lonely the entire time. Every person and situation is different so if unsure ask the bride or somebody else who will be attending for a second opinion. Ideally, one should bring the cost of the plate which can usually be estimated around fifty dollars. Is bringing a guest worth that amount of money?

A common occurrence in planning a wedding can be acquiring a guest count. From those “plus one” ambiguities to those who seem to never RSVP. The RSVP is very important and timely. There are vendor deadlines that must be met. When there is a guest who seemingly forgot to RSVP, it is alright to call or email them to check up on their decision. Always be friendly about it. One never knows if there is a legitimate reason or if the guest simply forgot. There is still a slight possibility that they never even received the invite.

Have a great week!!!

Wedding South Beach Style and Big Move!

Welcome to Wedding Season 2009!! There will be much more blogging this season about our weddings so keep checking out the site! Our most exciting news is that we have moved to Newport! Our office is located at 129 Bellevue Avenue, so if you are in the area please drop by and visit.

On to the weddings...

We had the honour of being a part of Jen and Craig's wedding this past weekend at Astor's Beechwood. They brought South Beach to the old style mansion, which looked fabulous!

Broadway Florist did an outstanding job with creating a lounge in the ballroom and the lighting from Bentley Meeker was absolutely incredible. Congrats to Jen and Craig!