Essence of Events, LLC

At Essence of Events, LLC, we have plenty of experience with dealing with brides on their wedding day. We know the ins and outs of what makes the pre-ceremony moments the best, and what (and what not) to do in those hours, and moments, leading up to your walk down the aisle.

With all our knowledge, we wanted to pass some advice on to you. So, whether your big day is right around the corner, not for another year, or you’re looking for some tips to make any pre-event gathering run more smoothly, just read ahead for our best advice.

Gather everything you plan on wearing to your wedding beforehand. This includes the dress, accessories, shoes, shapewear, veil, and any other extras. Once you get to the bridal suite, or wherever you are getting dressed, lay everything out to see if you’re missing anything. It’s always better to be prepared and know ahead of time than be scrambling at the last minute. Lists and worksheets are our best friends here at Essence of Events, so every time you purchase something you plan on wearing the day of your wedding, add it to the list so you don’t forget it.

Have your bridal party wear something similar. For great group shots, have your bridal attendees wear coordinating bathrobes; you can give them as gifts! If you plan on having your photographer present while you’re getting dressed, no one wants their photograph taken in a pair of old sweatpants and college Tshirt.

Don’t try any new beauty products or treatments. This is probably one of the biggest mistakes a bride can make on their big day. Just perform your regular morning routine; clean, moisturize, tweeze, and pamper your skin (just don’t put on makeup). Make sure you don’t put on anything you haven’t already taken for a test run. No red, blotchy, or itchy skin for you!

Eat! Don’t worry; your dress is going to fit! You’ve been eating up until this day, haven’t you? You might be a bundle of nerves, but you have nothing to worry about. Treat yourself to a big breakfast, and then snack throughout the day. Just remember to avoid anything too salty – they make you retain water.

Don’t drink pre-ceremony(or at least pace yourself). You want this day to be crystal-clear in your memory, and this is going to be a long day. If you start drinking at 10:00 in the morning, chances are, things are going to be looking pretty hazy come reception time. Of course a champagne toast with the bridesmaids is fine, but just don’t over compensate for the jitters.

Pack essentials in a small clutch. But have your maid of honor be responsible for it. A bride should never be caught with a clutch, no matter how cute. Pack tissues, lip gloss, oil absorbing sheets, a Tide stain pen, and a comb. Of course Essence of Events always has a Wedding "Things To Bring" List. Remember, being prepared never hurts.

Don’t be the point-person for guests. This is your day, and you should be as relaxed as possible. That's what hiring a Wedding Planner from Essence of Events, LLC is there to take care of. Essence of Events, LLC Wedding Planners can provide checklists for day-of duties and responsibilities to your maid of honor, the groomsmen, ushers, or anyone else who can yield guest’s questions, tip vendors, and handle last-minute emergencies (ideally, you shouldn’t even know about any emergencies!). Make sure your vendors have two contact numbers that aren’t yours, be sure everyone knows their roles, and be quick to ask for help if you need it.

For wedding planning services from Essence of Events, LLC or for any additional information on preparation for your wedding day contact us at 253.292.1482 or contact@essenceofevents.com

Families come in all shapes and sizes, and today’s blog post is going to focus on those kinds of families. Couples who have kids and want to involve them in their wedding might have a few questions about how to go about doing that. Sometimes it might be two families coming together; sometimes it might be one parent and their child with someone else coming in; and other times a pregnancy might be in the mix. Whatever your situation, here are a few tips to make your children feel included:

Refer to it as “Our Wedding Day:” Our means the whole family, when everyone came together and promised to be a part of everyone’s lives.

Involve them in the planning: Let the kids come cake tasting with you (I guarantee this will be their favorite part!) and let them pick out their clothes. You might have your own ideas, so with some careful nudging, you can probably steer them in the direction where you want to go. Let them help with catering choices too. If you’re planning on having a super formal reception, at least provide some children’s options, because kids aren’t going to know what to do with caviar, except know to say “ew!”

Give them a job: If they are old enough, a ring bearer, or flower girl would be perfect for your little girl or boy. This makes them feel important.

Make them feel special on the big day: This is not just your day, but theirs, too. This is when the family becomes officially bonded. Let your little man get ready with the guys, and if you have a girl, I’m sure she would be so excited to get her hair done with you ladies. If you have a little gift for them, you could give it to them at the ceremony (jewelry or something sentimental) to let them know they are in your hearts.

Let them invite a special guest: If you aren’t planning on having kids at your wedding, let them invite a few of their friends. This works out well especially if you know they’ll probably invite the children of your friends. It is also important to make the reception kid-friendly by allowing them to pick a few of their favorite songs to play.

For more tips on how to involve your kids on your big day, and other wedding ideas, please contact us. To set up your free, one hour initial consultation with our planners, email us at contact@essenceofevents.com or call 253.292.1482

Written by Samantha Macrae

Well, if you haven’t heard already, Keira Knightley is officially a married woman. Haven taken on her biggest role to date; wife, she tied the knot to her fiancé of one year, James Righton, on Saturday.

The couple was married in an intimate ceremony at the town hall in Mazan, in a small village in Provence, in the South of France. Knightley, who is known for trend setting, may have just started a big one with her low-key nuptials.

The service was rumored to have only lasted about 30 minutes and was performed by the village mayor, and only about 30 or 50 guests were in attendance. Her small vow exchange was then followed by a more lavish party on the wine-growing farm she’s owned since 2010.

When I saw photos of her on the big day, she looked so happy, carefree, and in love. The way every bride should look on her wedding day. Without a care in the world, she skipped down the steps of City Hall in her blush pink, strapless tulle dress, and classic Chanel jacket. The Ray Bans, flats, and daisies in her loose hair just added to the easy-breezy feel of the moment.

Sometimes it can be hard to remember the importance of the reason behind your wedding day when so much can get out of hand. It can start to turn into a production; the matching bridesmaids dresses, random cousins you haven’t seen since your last family reunion, and a seven tiered cake that just about touches the ceiling, not to mention the bills that can stack up just about sky-high as well.

A City Hall and Courthouse wedding, like this couple, and Carrie and Mr. Big from Sex and the City (pictured above, right) prove that at the end of the day, a wedding should be a celebration of your love, the commitment you are making to one another, and the bond you share.

For help planning any size ceremony and reception, including smaller and more intimate affairs, Essence of Events, LLC will customize services to accommodate to your needs.

Committing yourselves to each other is one thing, but knowing the ins and outs of planning a wedding can be quite another. Whether having a smaller wedding or throwing a rocking big party, we definitely know how to do both!

To get more unique wedding ideas, party tips, or to get all of your wedding and event related questions answered, contact one of our Coordinators.

To schedule your free, one hour initial consultation, call 253.292.1482 or email info@essenceofevents.com

So you've spent months planning and planning, and the big day has finally arrived. You want everything to go perfectly, so chances are you've been sure to spend countless hours planning all the details before your "I Do's". It goes without saying that you haven't forgotten the details regarding your dress, jewelry, hair and makeup. The interesting thing is that one thing most brides forget is a music playlist for their wedding day.

Choosing an ultimate wedding day playlist for getting ready, can be hard work. It can take countless hours and when you have what seems to be a million other things to do, it can be the last thing you want to tackle. So we've compiled a list of the top 25 ultimate wedding day playlist (in no particular order). These songs are sure to make getting ready with the girls a blast!

"Ever Ever After" by Carrie Underwood

"I Do" by Colbie Callat

"Marry You" by Bruno Mars

"Wedding Bell Blues" by the cast of Glee

"Would'nt it be nice" by the Beach Boys

"Glamorous" by Fergie

"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper

"Love Story" by Taylor Swift

"Perfect Day" by Hoku

"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" by Beyonce

"Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield

"My Life Would Suck Without You" by Kelly Clarkson

"Crazy in Love" by Beyonce

"Say Hey (I Love You)" by Michael Franti

"You're The One That I Want" from Grease soundtrack

"I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eye Peas

"This Will Be" by Natalie Cole

"All You Need Is Love" by The Beatles

"Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and The Waves

"Forever" by Chris Brown

"I'm Yours" by Jason Maraz

"Love Somebody Like You" by Keith Urban

Remember when selecting your playlist to keep in mind who will be there. If those getting ready include grandparents, parents and little ones, remember to select songs that will be appropriate and be sure to get the censored version of your favorite songs! Be sure to keep the songs upbeat and consider the theme to inspire your song selection. It will be a guaranteed pre-party in your dressing room. Since everyone getting ready is sure to be giddy and full of anticipation, you may want to keep slow songs out of this playlist, you wouldn't want to change the mood.

Don't forget classic songs, and also feel free to ask those who will be getting ready with you for wedding day playlist suggestions. Try asking those who have been included in other weddings, they may have a good idea of songs that work and which song do not. And of course you will want to think of which songs best suit you and make it more personal to you as the bride. Include your favorite songs, ones that will bring back good memories of your time with family, friends and your fiance.

For additional wedding day playlist suggestions and answers to other wedding and event related questions, feel free to contact one of our Event Coordinators today!

253.292.1482

contact@essencefevents.com

www.essenceofevents.com

Written by Samantha Macrae

Photo credit tieitwithus.com

Copyright 2013 Essence of Events, LLC