{Guest Posting} 5 Quick Wedding Planning Tips

I have two exciting things to share with you!

Today, you can find me on the Amy Nichols Special Events blog as I share my 5 Quick Wedding Planning Tips & talk a bit about our wedding.  Let me tell you, as a wedding planner, it was hard to narrow my wedding planning advice down to five tidbits.  I did my best!  A big thank you to Amy for inviting me to share my wedding planning thoughts with her readers.  Check them out HERE!!!

And, truth be told, you can find me on the Amy Nichols Special Events blog three times a week as I am the new writer!  I've been working behind-the-scenes for about one month now & today's post is my official introduction :-)  I met Amy forever ago when we worked together as wedding planning assistants in Manhattan.  Since then, I have grown to admire Amy & her special events business more & more.  It's a huge honor to be working with her again!!  I love posting her latest events, features, finds & more on her fantastic blog.  Be sure to visit Amy's blog for inspiration & advice!  

Photography by Timothy Glenn Photographers

perfectly

When it comes to wise words on weddings, I don't think there is much that can top this advice:

TRUTH!

Please keep this quote in your head & heart on your wedding day.  Because the details are really just details.  Brush off the little things like the peonies being the wrong shade of pink & the limo arriving late.  None of it matters.  

Marry the love of your life.  Celebrate with your new spouse, family & friends.  & that, my friends, is wedding perfection!  

Image via

unplugged

Yesterday, it was wise words on weddings from Ryan Gosling.  Today, let's take a look at wise words about an Unplugged Wedding:

This. is. SO. important.

At a recent wedding, a cell phone rang smack dab in the middle of the marriage ceremony.  I cringed. Many of the guests turned away from the Bride & Groom saying their vows to see who was the offender.  The wedding guest silenced his phone quickly.  Clearly, he had no intention of trying to ruin the ceremony, it was an honest mistake.  An easy mistake.  An avoidable mistake.

With just a few simple words in your wedding program or discreet sign posted by the ceremony entrance, you don't have to worry about unnecessary disruptions during your marriage ceremony.  Trust me, you don't want anything to interrupt your vows!  All it takes is a little reminder & your wedding guests will take the time to silence or turn off their cell phones.  

Cameras are mentioned too but cameras don't tend to bother me or my Brides.  That's a personal choice whether or not you want to limit cameras as well.

OffBeat Bride has awesome Unplugged Wedding templates available for your use.  I chose the Modern version here but there are many others like Flowery & Vintage.  Plus they offer more advice on ensuring an Unplugged Wedding so check it out HERE!

Template available & Image from Offbeat Bride

Preach It, Ryan

While the norm around here are pretty images to inspire you & your wedding, I wanted to take a different route this week & feature some wise words on weddings. Today, we have wise words AND Ryan Gosling eye candy.  It's a win-win!!

Ryan's pretty much hit the nail on the head but allow me to elaborate if I may.  Brides-to-be, don't plan your wedding with the goal of being featured on a wedding blog.  EVER!!!!  Create & plan a wedding to perfectly reflect the personality, style & love of you & your fiancé.  The end goal is not being published on a wedding blog; the end goal is marrying the love of your life! Walking down the aisle & saying "I Do!" is the most important detail of your wedding.  The rest is truly icing on the cake & should be treated accordingly. 

If being featured on a wedding blog is important to you, think about it after your big day.  

Hey, are you even reading this?  Or are you just staring at Ryan Gosling?!  For more practical wedding advice from the ever dashing Ryan, visit Practical Ryan Gosling!

Photo via Practical Ryan Gosling

{wedding rings} panicked

Don't get me wrong: this is a very cool ring shot.  The silver rings, green lily pads, the orange fish & the white fish make for a very striking photo.  But it's hard for me to enjoy it much.  

As a wedding planner, I panic at the mere sight of this photo.  It is part of my job to foresee disasters & stop them before they happen or handle disasters & make it appear like they never happened.  And this, well, this spells disaster for me.  How easy, how very, very easy it would be for those rings to slip off the lily pad & disappear into the depths of the pond.  Poof, gone!  

I would be the one to jump in, swim with the fishies & find those rings on the bottom of the pond!!!

Of course, nothing like that happened.  Carry on & admire the daring photo.  

Photo Adagion Studio via

simple blooms

I'll be honest: I didn't have a large flower/decor budget when I was planning our wedding.  My then-fiance & I chose to prioritize & spend the most on our venue/food, photography & music.  As such, the pennies were pretty tight in other areas.  I went really simple with the flowers.*

So it's truly warmed my heart to see more & more reception centerpieces that don't break the bank, yet look quite lovely.  I know it's frustrating when your limited budget doesn't fit your big dreams.  Oh, my dears, there is hope.  Let's admire some affordable, beautiful centerpieces & fuel that hope!

A grouping of cheerful yellow flowers in different vases make for sweet centerpieces:

 Mix lots of greenery with a pop of bright color in a mason jar for a nature-inspired feel:

The small detail of green glass elevates this simple, single bloom & few branches centerpiece:

A fresh-picked centerpiece is just darling in a cute container:

Cherry on top: most of these centerpieces could easily be DIY projects!  As always, I beg you to recruit buddies or hire a day-of wedding planner to transport & set-up the centerpieces should you go the DIY route.  You want to spend your wedding day enjoying every moment with your loved ones, not playing with flowers. 

Are/Were flowers & decor a priority for your wedding?  Do you have any inspiring, budget-friendly decorating tips to share?  

(* I feel like a broken record but I promise more photos of our wedding are coming soon!  There are a few HERE, THERE, EVERYWHERE & HERE TOO if you feel like scouring the entire blog.  I mean, I'm sure you have the free time.)

Photo 1 A & A Photography via Photo 2 via Photo 3 Kelli Hunt Photography via Photo 4 The Wedding Artists Collective via

Over & Out, Winter

The official celebration of winter weddings has come to an end.  I couldn't think of a more fitting farewell than to share my favorite bridal party photo from my winter wedding.  

Due to frigid temperatures & possibility of snow, winter Brides have to select a warm, indoor location for bridal party photos.  You can hope for outdoor photos but there must be a heated, comfortable spot chosen as well.  It's only fair to your bridesmaids & groomsmen.  RZ & I chose the gorgeous Hoboken Train Station for that exact reason.  As we arrived in downtown Hoboken & tumbled out of our cars onto the cobblestone street, Tim suggested a few outdoor photos before we headed inside.  Awesome idea!  Our good-natured bridal party huddled around us, smiling & laughing despite the chilly temperatures.  Absolute troopers, I tell you.

The photo is a total winner in my eyes.  It encompasses so many things I treasure: my husband, our wonderful friends, our hometown Hoboken, our fun vintage taxi &, of course, our winter wedding.  You can bet this baby is displayed in our hallway & will be included in our wedding album.  LOVE!!!!!! 

**Please click on the photo to see it in its full-size glory!  If anyone has tips on how to post larger photos, feel free to share with me via email or comment :-)  UPDATE: Problem solved, thanks to the fabulous Lena of A Crimson Kiss!

I hope you enjoyed this little winter wedding celebration.  Next year, I plan to kick up the celebration a notch to include more & more lovely winter wedding details.  Till we meet again, Winter Weddings!

Happy Weekend!!!!
 
Photo by Timothy Glenn Photographers

Believe

This amazing wedding photograph is oh so romantic, it makes me believe in love!

There's a little lesson here, Brides-to-be.  Whatever your budget, make sure you invest in the very best photography you can afford!  I promise you it is money well spent.  Trust me.

What vendors are/were most important to you on your wedding day?

Photo by Thayer Hearts Weddings via

Take That, Blizzard

If you've hung around Koru Wedding Style long enough, you know I'm a big fan of winter weddings.  Clearly as a winter Bride, I'm biased.  But with fun photos like this, can you blame me for loving winter weddings?

Snow + Smile + Sass = Delightful Winter Wedding Magic.   

A little backstory: this is a wedding day blizzard.  Not just some pretty snow.  A blizzard!

The way I see it, there are two options when faced with a wedding day blizzard.  You can scream, cry & curse the wedding weather gods.  Or you can keep smiling & make the best of it.  Clearly, this wise Bride chose the Option Two.

The Bride slapped on her snow boots, grabbed her umbrella, hitched her dress & made a beeline to the church to marry her Groom.  & did some high kicks on the way!  Ah, the true spirit of a gracious Bride.
 
Brides of all seasons, remember that anything can & may happen on your wedding day.  The key is how you choose to handle it.  Don't let anything ruin the beautiful day you say "I Do!"  

Photo via

Koru Kate Finds: Words of Wisdom

Wedding Planning Wisdom

Image on Pinterest via HERE

Read the Wedding Words of Wisdom above.  

Repeat.  

Let the words soak in. 

Share with every almost-Engaged, Bride-to-be & Newlywed woman you know.

I plan to share the Wedding Words of Wisdom with every Bride that crosses my path, whether it's a beloved friend or dear client.  These words touch upon the things that may drive you crazy during the wedding planning process- the guest list, the menu & the music.  Then these words bring it back to what the wedding is all about- love.  Everyone needs this reminder at one point or another! 

"Spend the rest of your days with the person you love."  The exact reason for a wedding, the basis for a marriage.  Ah, & such a beautiful gift & tremendous privilege. 

It's A Wrap: 21st Edition

Wowza!!!!

Image via Inspired By This

Happy Friday, Koru Loves!  I hope your week has been bright & beautiful.  Inspiration has been plentiful in the blogging sphere this week so I have lots to share with you.  Follow these links for fabulous eye candy & heartwarming messages.  I present you The Koru List:

Flowers to melt your heart 

French, Rustic & PERFECT

Chinchilly has my vote, what's yours?

Take this awesome message to heart

Here, it's a tough place to be but, never fear, 
you already made the best decision

Enjoy!!!

It's A Wrap! 17th Edition

The Pretty Work of Hey Gorgeous Events Images via The Knotty Bride

Hello, Koru Friends & Family! Here we are at Friday again. You know Friday is the day I collect my favorite inspiration from around the web & share it with you. Today is a little different because I'm bringing you two links only, one from months ago & one from this week. Because these posts are important. Really, really important.

I've been honest that my wedding planning experience, while amazing, wasn't all tulle & roses. Oh, the never-ending joy of opininated family! I haven't gotten into the sticky details (someday) but what I can say is I learned to keep loving these people & stop caring what they think. Letting go.

Tough times in wedding planning comes in all shapes & sizes. I hope it doesn't happen to you but if it does, you are not alone. Here, with much more wisdom, grace & honesty than I can muster on the subject is ever-so-fabulous Rhi of Hey Gorgeous:

A Wedding Planning Story: Part One
A Wedding Planning Story: Part Two

Take heart, Brides. ((HUGS))

It's A Wrap! 12th Edition

Color me a rainbow!
Image via The Knotty Bride

There were a few days when I wasn't sure I would survive the week without melting into a puddle but here I am. I did find a few lovelies from around the web to keep my mind off the sweltering temperatures:

Why yes, I adore rainbows too!

Let's hear it for charming New Jersey weddings!

Let's talk about married sex.

Sex again (quite the topic this week).
This one is for the Mommies!

Some lovely little advice about branding your business.

Happy Weekend!

It's A Wrap! 10th Edition

Photography by The Wedding Central Image via The Knotty Bride

Here's It's A Wrap!, the weekly Koru List of noteworthy inspiration & advice:

I am head-over-heels in love with this wedding cake.
Why? A wedding cake in pearls & ruffles is BEYOND.

Brides-to-be, follow your heart & read this post. Seriously.

Is it true? I could make my own letterpress machine?!
Surely I'm not this talented . . . or am I?

How many do you have in your closet? C'mon, it's okay to admit you'll never wear them again. It's time to trade them in & trade them up!

Happy Weekend!

The End {For Now}

Farewell Brunch: Oh yeah, I'm a Mrs. now!
est. 1-15-11

My Koru dears, we have reached the end of my wedding story. For now. You may notice I used TGP's gorgeous, professional photos sparingly & I have my reasons. When I'm ready to share TGP's photos with you, I'll delve into the wedding details like my wedding dress, bridesmaid dress, something blue, bouquets, invitations, etc. Until then, feast your eyes on our wedding photos on TGP's blog HERE & Koru's Facebook album HERE.

I would like to leave you with wisdom & advice gained through my experience as a Bride:

1. This was an absolute shock to me: Some family & friends will not be happy for you, will not support you & will not celebrate with you. They hurt you but I promise, it is okay. In their place, other family & friends (often those you least expect) fiercely love you & stand by you. You quickly learn who your TRUE family & friends are & this is a gift. Accept it humbly & gratefully.

2. Please, please splurge on a good photographer if your budget allows. The TGP team was a gem to work with & their photos of our wedding leave me speechless. Amazing wedding photos are priceless! I look at the fabulous photo of RZ & I during the recessional, freshly married, & it instantly transports me to the exuberant joy & overflowing love of that moment. We will cherish our wedding photos & the accompanying memories forever.

3. Be present at your wedding! Your wedding goes quickly & the best you can do is hang tight & enjoy the incredible ride. Focus on the moment, not the moment that just passed or the moment coming up. Try not to stress about the time, vendors, details, etc. Leave the work, because a wedding is work!!!!, to a fabulous wedding coordinator or a trusted friend. Thanks to Eileen & her crew of An Affair to Remember, RZ & I were able to eat, drink & be merry!

4. Walk down the aisle & marry the love of your life = SUCCESS. Seriously, everything else about your wedding is icing on the cake. If your bridesmaid is sick or your flowers are wrong or the band forgets your First Dance song (I admit, none of these things happened to me but things did go wrong at our wedding), don't sweat it. Your guests will never notice & they will have the time of their life as long as you keep smiling!

5. Record your thoughts & feelings about your wedding. Hey, you have plenty of time on your honeymoon flight, right? Whether you fill a journal or one notebook page, just do it. Your memory will fade & your notes will be precious reminders of that lovely day as your words fill a gap that photos & video can't fill. I happened to share my thoughts & feelings with all of you (read the start HERE) &, luckily, I won't forget one, single thing ever. Share them with your husband on a special anniversary & your future kids someday!

That's all, folks! {For now}