What are the HOT wedding trends in 2011?

29th
March 2011
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Well the first quarter of 2011 has come and gone, but boy did it leave its mark on wedding trends! So in these past 3 months, what trends have been popping up in weddings?

 

1)      Mason Jars – a funky centerpiece alternative to traditional clear vases. These jars have also been seen in colored glass for a pop of color. I also have to add that mason jars are being used as fun glasses for a signature cocktail or for lemonade before the ceremony. Here is a beautiful idea from a wedding featured in Martha Stewart Weddings.

2)      Lanterns – what a great way to create a romantic ambiance for your big day. Lanterns are a nice alternative to the traditional floral centerpiece on a table. TheKnot.com featured this striking image of a lantern centerpiece with bright accents for a nice budget friendly idea.

3)     Personalization – Ok, so obviously this isn’t a new trend but it’s still hot in 2011. There are millions and millions of different opportunities to leave a personal touch in your wedding design. Check out this AMAZING article from Brides.com with 75 ideas to personalize your wedding: http://tinyurl.com/49zeh3r

Keep your eyes on Black Chandeliers. This trend is quickly making its mark and will definitely be seen a lot in the future as a posh addition to wedding design. Check out www.black-chandelier.com/ for more ideas!

Looking forward through 2011 and into 2012, the Royal Wedding on April 29 is sure to create lots of new and exciting trends. So excited to see Kate Middleton’s dress (and train)!


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The Cliffs Notes to Your Venue Selection

23rd
March 2011
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Once you get engaged the decision making begins. For those who do not enjoy making decisions, this can make the planning process stressful. Well take a deep breath, because there is a method to the madness. Here is a sample questionnaire to help guide you. One of the first major decisions will be choosing your venue. Here are some things to consider in order to make the process easier.

1) Do you want your ceremony and reception in the same venue? Have you always dreamed of being married at the place of worship that you attend?

2) Location, Location, Location! Do you want a city wedding? Do you envision the natural beauty of a scenic garden? Have you always dreamed about getting married on a beach?

3) There are many different “types” of venue spaces. An abbreviated list includes: ballrooms, hotels, gardens, wineries, historic mansions, and country clubs. It may be easy to narrow down your venue selection by which “type” of space you envision or which space you can’t envision.

Once you have a general idea of your venue, there are a few more criteria:

1) Size- Can the space accommodate a large wedding? Will it suit a small and intimate affair if that’s in your plan?

2) Food – Let’s face it, people always remember the food. Is there an on premise caterer or will you have to choose one? What is the reputation of their food?

3) Price- Is this venue within your price range? What’s included for the price? Each venue’s package will include different features. Also, you may have to include a site fee, gratuity and tax into your budget.

I would also like to throw out there that weddings have been done in just about any place you can think of. Brides today are spending time finding unique locations such as museums, art galleries,  lofts and even rustic and romantic barns. As far as I’m concerned, if you can dream it; it can be done.

A professional Wedding Coordinator can help guide you as you are faced with big decisions like your venue or the smallest detail of your special day. A Wedding Coordinator will also work with the staff of the venue (as well as all the other wedding professionals who are hired) to ensure that your wedding runs smooth and stress free.


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Dare to Be Bold: Feathers

8th
March 2011
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I have a confession. I have recently developed a small obsession with feathers.

A few months ago, a newly engaged coworker was sharing the details of her upcoming wedding and how she pulled her inspiration from peacock feathers. She showed me a few arrangements of feathers and flowers and I was simply stunned at how classy and bold the combination.

So of course this isn’t a new idea, but it truly is an endless one.  Most brides don’t realize that there are many different types of feathers that can be used in just about every aspect of their wedding from the invitations to décor to fashion.

Some brides use feathers as a stylish accessory. I absolutely adore headpieces that are embellished with a few feathers. Other brides choose a more subtle approach by adding them into a boutonniere or even on shoes.

Feathers in floral arrangement vary in look and feel. Some brides choose bold and beautiful peacock feathers that pull in a gorgeous array of colors, while other brides choose softer ostrich feathers as a finishing touch.

Whatever your vision, a few feathers may be a stylish and organic addition to your décor or ensemble.

 


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A Regal Event – Women in Weddings

11th
February 2011
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2011 is really starting off with a bang! Last night I attended the Women in Weddings networking event hosted by Drexelbrook Catering and The Wedding Pavilion.  I am always up for a night of girl power with some really strong women in the wedding industry.  
The event was held at The Wedding Pavilion in Paoli, PA. It didn’t take long to see why The Wedding Pavilion and The Van Cleve Collection were voted “Best Mainline Boutique” by GoPhila.com. The bridal gowns that owner Deborah Van Cleve Phelps carries are truly breathtaking. The Wedding Pavilion carries some of my favorite high end bridal gown designers such as Badgley Mischka and Pronovias Barcelona. The store is beautiful and the dresses they carry are spectacular.  The Wedding Pavilion is the perfect place for the trendsetting fashionista bride!
2011 Costura Collection by Pronovias Barcelona
Next to The Wedding Pavilion is it’s sister store, Van Cleve Collection which carries gorgeous formal wear from such designers as Carmen Marc Valvo, Alberto Makali and Mignon.  The dresses that are carried in the store were so stunning that I had a hard time leaving because I just wanted to stay and study each unique detail of these high end dresses. I was in designer dress heaven!
The food for the evening was provided by Drexelbrook Catering, and true to their reputation, it was delicious! They happened to serve my favorite dish, which is chicken with wine sauce and wild rice with yellow raisins and cranberries. Mmmmm….it was yummy! I was able to catch a minute with Gene Blum who was telling me all about the new ventures Drexelbrook is undertaking. I am so impressed that even though Drexelbrook has become a leader in on-site and off-site catering, they are not slowing down and only continue to raise the bar to better serve their clients.
The Women in Weddings event was a great night! Thank you to all the wonderful sponsors. I’m already counting down the days till the viewing party for the Royal wedding on April 29, 2011.  Will Kate’s gown and train be as breathtaking as Diana’s?

For more information about Just Be The Bride, please visit our website: JustBeTheBride.com. 


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Article from December Newsletter of Association of Bridal Consultants – New Jersey

13th
December 2010
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I am a proud member of the Association of Bridal Consultants. They provide great professional development opportunities such as a fantastic 3 day annual conference each November. I make it a point to attend every year. I honestly feel like it would be a wasted opportunity to pass it up. I wrote an article for the December newsletter of the Association of Bridal Consultants – New Jersey about my experience at this year’s conference. I feel like I left out so much (like David Tutera!) but would have filled the whole newsletter if I included everything. Here is my article:

Business of Brides Conference Proved to be HOTT in Phoenix
by Caitlin Boshnack

For me, attending conference is like a power surge. I’m not just talking about the amount of energy the conference has on it’s own, but the bolt that always seems to be the jump start that I need.  If you’ve never had the opportunity to attend, let me explain. It is 3 full days of non-stop learning, networking, brainstorming, sharing and more learning. I was constantly coming up with new ideas to bring my company to a new level. The 2010 Annual Business of Brides Conference in Phoenix, Arizona from November 7-9 surpassed all expectations.
Let me first tell you about the meals, because like weddings, you always remember the meal. One of the best parts about Conference is that every meal is like a mini-reception with it’s own theme which carries through to the food, flowers, linens, centerpieces, colors and music. The ABC Phoenix team did a great job of showing new and innovative themes that can be translated into novel rehearsal dinners, bridal showers and receptions. Some themes were Red Haute Couture which was a swanky cocktail with red and black décor and finished with red velvet cupcakes, a Haute Water lunch which was a tropical theme featuring an amazing steel drum player and bright fruit centerpieces submerged in water, and a Haute International Luncheon with food stations from different eastern regions and tables set with golden textured linens and complimenting chair covers.
There were so many great sessions; it really was hard to choose which to attend. Gadgets, Gizmos and Great Little Ideas by experts Mary Dann-McNamee and Elise Enloe who shared resources like a free website that will make a video for you if you upload jpegs (www.animoto.com), how to use Microsoft tags (www.microsoft.com/tag), and an attachment for your cell phone that you can use to charge a credit card that even e-mails the receipt (www.squareup.com). NJ State Coordinator, Candice Benson’s Wedding Tech session revealed time saving apps for your Smartphone such as Super Planner which quickly can calculate how much a venue will be per person including tax and tip and how many people can comfortably fit into that space given the dimensions. Queen of Hearts Mark Kingsdorf’s session entitled “We Are Not the Enemy!” gave planners recommendations about how to build lasting relationships with catering sales managers and banquet managers that will make your job a lot easier.
Great news! Next year’s conference is just a quick drive south. Get ready to Be Charmed and Be Dazzled in Baltimore on November 6-8, 2011 at the Tremont Grand. Register early and save! For more information, visit www.businessofbrides.com.


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Meet Your Wedding Day Coordinator

9th
November 2010
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I have decided to be productive on the plane to the ABC (Association of Bridal Consultants) national conference and finally write my first blog. My name is Caitlin Boshnack and I am the owner of Just Be The Bride. I have been coordinating events for about 5 years, but I have a PASSION for weddings.

What makes my company unique is my specialty in month-before/day-of wedding coordination. My brides have vision and enjoy planning their weddings. After investing lots of time (and money) into their big day and are ready to kick back and enjoy it! I truly believe that no wedding can run smoothly without a wedding day coordinator.

On their wedding day, the bride and groom should have no other responsibility but to be the guests of honor. Their parents should not do any more then to be great hosts of the day. I’ll take care of everything else!

Wondering whether you want to invest in a wedding day coordinator? I’m here to tell you that you truly can’t afford not to!

Call today for a complimentary first meeting and feel the stress melt away (516.404.3635). You’re in good hands. Now it’s time to “Just Be The Bride.”


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