A Good Photographer Makes A Difference

Having a great photographer is key for your wedding. Believe it or not, you will not be able to catch all of the special moments but a great photographer will. The look on your groom's face the very moment he sees you for the 1st time...Your grandmother wiping her tears during your vows...The smiles on your parent's face during your first dance...Your cousins' expressions during the Soul Train line. These are all moments that you will miss as they are happening but won't through pictures taken at the right time. And when they are all combined, they will tell the story of your special day in a way you never thought of.

One of the best photographers in Atlanta that is able to do this is Sky + Carla. Not only are they able to capture the special moments, the final product is amazing. The way they use color turns a great picture to an amazing picture. Now don't forget about their Black and White's, every detail pops in them. They have a very good eye for envisioning a shot and capturing the emotion of the day.

Check out some of their engagement and wedding pics:

I love the colors, especially how the sky is so blue (look at the best man with the ring box)

I really love the detail shots

2010 Wedding Package Contest

To finish up the year, we are having a contest for a lucky couple becoming one in 2010 to win a free wedding planning package! The package being offered includes monthly updates, in-person and phone consultations, wedding day coordination, and budget guidance (valued at $1,000).

To enter the contest, submit a letter to info@onlyinyourdreamsplanning.com answering the 3 following questions: 1) How the couple met, 2) How the couple got engaged, and 3) Why should the couple win the free wedding package. Also, include a photo of the lovely couple, wedding date and location.

The deadline for submission is December 20, 2009. Once all of the couples have been submitted, voting will take place between December 21, 2009 and December 31, 2009. The winners will be announced on January 1, 2010.

Enter Now!!!

Destination Weddings

During my wedding planning, I thought about having a destination wedding however we decided against it for various reasons. One of the main reasons was the number of children in our close families and their school schedules. The timing didn't work for us for our wedding however, we are looking forward to having a destination vow renewal for a future anniversary.

For others considering destination weddings, think outside of the box. Destination does not always mean an exotic location with a beach and clear, blue waters in the Caribbean. It could mean North Georgia Mountains, Disney World, or Grand Canyon. Additionally, you can also think Europe for those wanting to travel internationally. However, a tropical beach wedding is always a great option :) But remember the legal requirements for your marriage license especially for international weddings.

Another thing to consider is the cost, especially in today's economy. However, a good thing with destination weddings is that most locations include a FREE wedding as long as you meet their requirements (normally the number of guests). Also, a wedding "package" may be included which may range from simple floral arrangements and bouquets to full service with all vendors included.

Lastly (but not any less important), research travel costs for all guests. Some airlines and hotels will offer discounts for large groups, think about negotiating for the best price. Your best friend will appreciate knowing all costs before accepting your invitation to be your maid of honor. But remember to not be offended if she declines, especially in today's economy. Hopefully, she will be able to assist in other ways before the big day.

Great Way To Top It Off!

While searching on Etsy, I came across a personalized way to top off cupcakes. Instead of using the typical plastic toppers found in most party stores or sections, try out a personalized topper from sevencupcakes' shop. I love how you can add your wedding colors, monogram, and date with a topper instead of just the colors with the frosting and liners. The toppers are not limited to weddings; they are also perfect for birthday parties (kids or adults), baby or bridal showers.

Getting Personal

When thinking about the details of your ceremony and reception, get personal. And by this, I mean to add some personal touches. Not only will they be fun to come up with but your guests will enjoy them. At my wedding, some of the personal touches were our favorite restaurants as table names and pictures of us growing up through the years on the mantel. We received a lot of compliments from guests about how they felt closer to us, even the ones that have known us for years.

Other personal touches can come from your favorite colors, first date location or events, engagement pictures, hometown favorites, or travel locations. And they can go into the favors, table settings and centerpieces, escort cards, invitations, programs, and table numbers/names. Get as creative as you feel comfortable with and remember that you don’t want to be totally embarrassed so don’t get too personal.

Keep Guests Cool

When having an outside ceremony, one of the first things your guests will want is a fan especially during the summer. What better way to add your creativity to your wedding than to combine a necessity with your wedding program. Program fans can range from one page with a stick to a number of pages attached with an eyelet and ribbon. The design can tie in your wedding theme with seashells, your wedding flowers or the wedding colors. You can add an engagement picture of you and your fiance or just have the ceremony details. The options are endless. Also, they make good "take-home" gifts for guests that love keepsakes.

I had program fans at my outside ceremony in April and all of the guests loved them, especially the ones in the sun. I included our wedding monogram, wedding party, and ceremony details. They consists of two pieces of green cardstock paper with a fan stick in between. Also, the edges were rounded. They were a joy to make and I didn't feel bad about having people outside in 80 degree weather because they stayed cool with the fans.
Here are some samples of other fan programs from Custom Programs:

Wedding Jumping Broom

It is an African-American wedding tradition to "Jump the Broom" before walking up the aisle as the new Mr. and Mrs. The tradition stems from slavery when slaves could not legally marry and used it to symbolize their marriage. After slavery ended, many stopped the tradition in efforts of leaving behind slavery traditions. However, when Alex Haley's Roots came out, the tradition began to blossom again.

In today's weddings, the broom is decorated as simple or elaborate as you would like. Many times the bride decorates however anyone close to the couple can decorate, even an elder of the couple. Also, the couple can shop online for decorated brooms that can coordinate with the wedding colors and flowers. The broom typically includes cowrie shells which are symbols for fertility and wealth.

If you would like to decorate your own broom, both websites below allow you to purchase a undecorated broom (which I did and loved the experience).

Some samples from African American Roots Inc:























Other samples from Stuart's Creations: