{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

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

Here Comes A Break!

Hi!  Hello?  Are you still there?!  

Oh, how I miss your beautiful faces.  Life is getting pretty, pretty busy.  On Wednesday, my Mom arrived from California for a visit & we're having lots of fun.  On top of that, my first 2012 wedding is coming up on February 4 & I've been working hard to make sure it's absolutely perfect.  Next week looks like more of the same.  Plenty of daughter & wedding planning duties, both of which I adore.  I promise I will be back soon with tons of wedding & crafting fun.  Until then, take care!

Try not to miss me too much :-)

Photo by Brooke Boling Photography via

Koru Kate Finds: Put Your Stamp On It!

Happy Monday!  I hope your week is off to a brilliant start.  After the Halloween theme & the wedding break, I'm baaaack!  Things are returning to our regularly scheduled programming here on Koru Wedding Style.  So sit back & relax as I bring you my latest Koru Kate Finds!

Location Custom Stamp

Image via & Available at Paper Source

Hands down, Paper Source is one of my favorite stores.  Paper Source is a dreamy slice of paper heaven for a girl like me.  I regularly pore over their web site, catalog &, not as often as I'd like, Brooklyn store for inspiration & supplies for weddings & craft projects.  I just plain adore one of their newest products that I have chosen as my latest Koru Kate Finds: Custom Wedding Stamps!

Custom Wedding Stamps are absolutely fabulous for you crafty, creative, DIY Brides!  What better way to personalize your wedding than to literally put your stamp on it?!  

How about this bold style for a sleek, loft wedding perhaps?

Big Ampersand Lines Custom Stamp

Image via & Available at Paper Source

Perhaps this style for a formal, modern ballroom wedding?

Anniversary Date Custom Wedding Stamp

Image via & Available at Paper Source

I chose two of my favorites to feature today but trust me, whatever your fancy & style, there is a 

custom wedding stamp perfect for your wedding.  Choose your style, customize it & use it anywhere & everywhere at your wedding.  Just imagine the possibilities here.  Stamp your wedding heart out: your programs, escort cards, table numbers, menus, favors & more!!  

& the first stamp shown above?  Make your own save-the-dates!!!!

The custom wedding stamp is easy, affordable & stylish!  Does it get much better than this?

Gone Wedding

RED, the color of Saturday's Wedding

Image by Jonathan Ivy Photography

via The Knotty Bride

Koru Family & Friends, here's the deal: the blog will be silent for the remainder this week.  Why?  Because I'm thoroughly & happily entrenched in wedding planning this week.  Saturday is the BIG day!!! 

I met this sweet Bride back in December when I was in the final stages of planning my wedding.  She had bright, beautiful ideas for her Fall wedding day.  It's been a true honor & absolute privilege to see those ideas grow & blossom.  I can hardly wait to help bring those very ideas to life on Saturday to celebrate this happy couple's positive new beginning!

Before Saturday, there are schedules to be finalized, details to solidify, vendors to confirm & much, much more.  So consider me Gone Wedding. 

As for you & me, we'll meet again next week~

It's A Wrap! 26th Edition

Spooktacular Wedding Invitations

Image via You Stir Me

Hi there!  Is that a smile on your face?  Yes, me too- it's Friday!!!  I've been in my true element this week as I worked on a wedding planning job & took a wedding invitation order.  Loving it but still loving my peaceful, no-work-allowed weekend :-)  Before I go, here is the Koru List of wedding loveliness just for you:

A spooky, chic collection of Halloween wedding & party decor

What will you be saying about your wedding & marriage two years later?

A bright & cheerful wedding to put a smile on your pretty face

Hey Mister DJ!  How about some of these indie songs for your wedding?

Oh happy, cheerful wedding day!

Three cheers for a colorful Brooklyn fete!!!

Did I miss something good?  Do tell!  & have a wonderful weekend~

It's A Wrap! 25th Edition

This photo has nothing to do with this post.

It makes me smile though & isn't that enough?

Image by Our Labor of Love

via 100 Layer Cake

Hi.  Please raise your hand if you're happy it's Friday.  Yes, me too.  This week has been a bit, well, trying.  I am beyond lucky & blessed in life & I never lose sight of that.  Still.  Sometimes things are not so smooth or happy.  The grey, rainy weather hasn't helped any, although it has perfectly matched my mood.

& my mood has affected the weekly Koru List.  I like to bring you plentiful wedding eye candy from the likes of Style Me Pretty, while sprinkling in musings on weddings & marriage from the likes of A Practical Wedding.  They are my top favorite wedding blogs as different as they may be.  While the eye candy this week was as gorgeous as always, my stormy, brooding mood was drawn to two posts this week that made me think.  A lot.  About what wedding blogs I like & support, about the value in my sweet wedding planning business.

So I present you those links:  

Dear Wedding Bloggers, You Suck     

Price Is Not The Same As Value  

Well worth the read, ladies.   

Where The Heart Is

Wedding Guest Group Photo: Yay or Nay?
Image by W. Scott Chester

via Ruffled

That gem of a wedding photo up there?  I love it.

My wedding planning self isn't the biggest fan of Wedding Guest group photos.  Those go down a little something like this.  Due to a lack of big, open fields in the NJ-NY area, the most common spot to take such photos is on the church steps after the ceremony.  Sweet notes are included in the program to kindly ask guests to stay behind & take a "quick" group photo.  About half the guests are happy to stay behind but they make a beeline to congratulate the Bride & Groom & lose focus on the photo.  The other half of the guests are quite intent on getting to Cocktail Hour to have a drink & don't appreciate our security guard-like moves to keep them in place.  Once everyone is indeed in the right spot, you have to attract their attention, pose them & make them smile.  Wedding Guest group photos are hardly ever quick or fun.

I mean, family & bridal party photos are enough.  

As such, we didn't entertain the mere thought of a Wedding Guest group photo at our wedding.

But wow, I adore the sweet sentiment of a Wedding Guest group photo.  Even if your group is too large for each & every face to be distinct in the photo, it's quite something to see one photo that includes each & every person who celebrated your marriage.  You wouldn't remember how long it took to find Aunt Nancy who had wandered away or how Cousin Andy grumbled about missing the raw bar.  You'd simply see the faces of those you love on your wedding day.

The heart-shaped happy couple & wedding guests photo is pure group photo perfection.  Beautiful setting, happy couple, smiling guests AND a heart.  Love, love, LOVE!

Will (or did) you take a Wedding Guest group photo at your wedding?

Koru Kate Finds: Carnation Glory

I've said it before & I'll say it again: I like carnations.  Carnations come in a gorgeous rainbow of colors, don't cost a fortune & easily last from getting ready to the last dance- yup, I'm a fan.  I did lots & lots of research on chic carnation arrangements when I was planning my wedding.  Almost one year later, I'm pleased to run across new wedding inspiration for carnation-lovers.  Today's post is dedicated to those Brides who share the carnation love with me.

The Carnation Topiaries would look beautiful in any color to match your wedding decor:

  Image via Luxe Finds

I can envision these pretties lining the aisle, decorating cocktail tables or, with a few at varying heights, serving as a reception centerpiece.

This Carnation Cake would add a simple, sweet look to any wedding reception:

Image via Luxe Finds

I believe this cake would look quite lovely in any carnation shade.  Plus add more tiers, square tiers &/or a patterned linen for more pizazz!

For more fabulous carnation inspiration, please visit Luxe Finds.

What do you think about using carnations for a wedding? Yes or no?

It's A Wrap! 24th Edition

Getting Dressed: Unforgettable Wedding Moment

Image via A Cup of Joe

Hip hip HOORAY- it's Friday!  Time for us to check in & catch up.  How was your week?  Good, bad, lovely, ugly?  Let it go, breathe.  Everything seems better & brighter when Friday is here.  I am so, so excited because we're going to meet our friends' one-month-old daughter tomorrow.  Yes, I love me some newborn baby time! 

Now, for your pleasure, here is the weekly, official Koru List of wedding inspiration:

What's your most unforgettable wedding moment?  

If it's a Smog Shoppe wedding, I'm sure to love & adore it

Roaring Twenties Inspiration: Art Deco, Jazz, Flappers & More

Pure genius: custom stamp wedding invitations!!!!

Friends & Family planned the wedding, Bride & Groom simply showed up

(The Bride showed up in an awesome blue gown I might add)

The most gorgeous PAPER flower table decor I have ever seen

Mismatched Maids: Yes or No?

I vote YES!

Want to dress up for a FREE BOUDOIR SESSION

with a killer photographer? 

Enjoy, Koru Family & Friends!

Facelift Blog-Style

My Winter Wedding

Image by Timothy Glenn Photographers

Welcome to the updated, beautiful space of Koru Wedding Style!

After 340 posts in the span of almost two years, it was time to make changes.  Mostly minor tweaks here & there.  I chose a pretty script font for the blog & post titles to add a softer touch.  I switched up the font color scheme to gray & shades of purple for more contrast.  I added a sweet, sparkly background to the sidebar as a fun touch.  And the biggest (& my favorite!) change . . .

A new photo for the header!  I chose one of my favorite wedding photos to represent Koru Wedding Style.  This blog is a lot weddings, a little me.  This photo represents both nicely.  It's just perfect.

In this photo, it's dusk on our winter wedding day.  RZ & I are fresh newlyweds, officially married for about one hour.  The vintage taxi whisks us away from our church ceremony & parks on a charming cobblestone street outside the Hoboken Terminal for our photo session.  RZ & I spill out of the taxi to wait for the rest of our bridal party to catch up with us.  Tim starts snapping photos.  & this is one of them showing me & my husband in our beloved hometown on our beautiful wedding day.

& I love every last detail- the dusky sky, the city lights, the cobblestone street, the pile of snow, the vintage taxi & the happy couple.  Just as everything in this photo means something to me, everything I post here is meaningful to me.  Everything.

I hope you enjoy the facelift of this sweet space.  Let's continue have lots of wedding fun & inspire each other :-)

Koru Family & Friends, What do you think of the new design?  Like?  Love?

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. 

Good Tired

Too Tired To Yawn
Print available on Etsy in ElleJW's shop

How does a wedding planner feel after a wedding? One word: tired!

But it's a special tired.

True, I feel tired to the bone, to my very core. After 12+ hours of quick thinking on my feet, it's a wonder I can function. Sometimes I can barely remember which end is up because I've spent so much time & energy keep every last wedding detail straight.

Yet it's a triumphant tired. I may not have finished a marathon but I've coordinated another successful wedding. I've had a hand in making a special day even more special & wonderful for a beautiful Bride & Groom. There is true beauty & joy in that for me. I've accomplished my goal & exhausted myself in the process.

& this is exactly how I'm feeling right now after Sunday's beach wedding. I'm good tired, a feeling I wouldn't change for anything in the world.

Oops

OOPS!
Available at Etsy in BremeloPress' shop

Oops. I messed up.

That says it all! I've been largely missing in the blogging world lately; I haven't had the time to read others' blogs or write Koru's posts. Sigh. I'm sorry. I've been loving the long, lazy days of Summer a bit too much. Also, I've been prepping & working a few wedding planning jobs. While my days have been filled with plenty of things I love & adore, I haven't had the time to share them with you. I promise to make more of an effort!

Thanks, Koru friends & family, for hanging in there with me. Mwuah!

Tomorrow, there is a great It's A Wrap! coming your way :-)

Shiny & New

I am excited & proud to announce the unveiling of lovely, updated pages on the web site of Koru Wedding Shoppe! New copy & fresh photographs were added to better showcase Koru & everything Koru offers for Brides.

First, let me introduce the new Invitations page:

The Invitations page replaces the former Boutique page & describes how we can help Brides design the perfect wedding invitation. Here is where we detail anything & everything wedding stationery related, such as the invitation companies we carry, the wedding stationery we provide & the additional services we offer like assembly. Last but not least, there is a direct email link for Brides to make their invitation consultation.

The Ring/Invitation photo was formerly on the Shop Koru page & I loved it too much to lose it. Of course, this beauty was taken by the talented Timothy Glenn Photographers.

Next, here is the updated Planning page:

The Planning page now proudly lists our planning packages to give Brides a better idea of exactly how we can assist them with their wedding. I made a point to include "Custom" on the list so Brides realize we can do anything wedding-related that their little heart desires! The other copy remains the same but the subtle change is an important one.

The Bride & Groom Kiss photo is brand new to Koru's site. & guess what?! It's from my wedding!! I couldn't help but infuse a little bit of my wedding on Koru's site. We have Timothy Glenn Photographers to thank for this one!

&, finally, let me show you the revamped Contact Us page:


The Contact Us page gives Brides the numerous ways they can easily contact & find Koru Wedding Shoppe. Koru is here, there, everywhere! Koru's phone number is listed, as well as links to our email, blog, Facebook & Twitter. There is no way you can miss us with the new Contact Us page!

The Bride & Groom Just Married photo is my absolute favorite photo from my wedding. Again, I couldn't resist adding more of my wedding to Koru's site. Another beautiful photo by Timothy Glenn Photographers.

I'm beyond happy with the updated site for Koru Wedding Shoppe. Much has changed in the six years since I started the business (hello, Twitter!) & I'm pleased the site represents the Koru of today. Many thanks to my wonderful web designer Kate of Bella Mi Design Boutique for designing the new pages & my amazing photographer Tim of Timothy Glenn Photographers for providing the new photos. Take a look & let me know what you think!

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}

The Look

The Look of Our Winter Wedding
Ivory Linens, White Flowers, Glowing Candlelight
(Photo by Friend)

There are countless ways to approach the design of your wedding. We took the venue-driven route. We chose venues that, among other things, were so stunning they require little to no decor. We wanted to keep things simple & elegant to enhance, rather than distract from, the venues' true beauty. Simple & elegant became our wedding mantra. If the idea didn't fit simple & elegant, it didn't belong at our wedding.

The snapshot of our sweetheart table & wedding cake best showcases our wedding look. The simple, bunched carnation bouquets with ivory swirl ribbon. My long, sleek calla lily bouquet with ivory swirl ribbon. Striped ivory linens with simple white napkins. Votive candles glowing. Magnolia menu cards with peony purple backers & matching shades of peony purple ink, including our swirl motif. Our pretty purple toasting flutes. Our square, white wedding cake with orchids spilling down the side. All set against the glittering backdrop of Manhattan. Simply elegant!

Now I realize some of the things I'm describing, you can't see well in the photo above. I'm working with guest snapshots to tell our wedding story; later, I'll go into every last design detail with TGP's crisp, beautiful photos. But you get the idea hopefully.

The Manhattan Ballroom took my breath away when I saw it for the first time. I was so happy to see our design ideas come to life so beautifully. But in the end, it wasn't the flowers or the linens or the menu cards that mattered. Our friends & families who celebrated with us made our wedding shine!

One Moment

Continuing the photo theme this week . . . Another Sweetheart Table Photo! (Photo by Friend)

Weddings pass quickly, like a shooting star in the night sky. There is nothing you can do about it. The best advice I received from married ladies was to be present & enjoy every moment.

I rocked that gem of advice like it was my job. I didn't worry about how fast our wedding went or panic about how little time we had left. I stayed in the moment, focused on the joy & love present.

One of my favorite parts of our Reception was when RZ & I paused & appreciated a special moment together. I believe this happened during the First Course, perhaps the second. We were seated at our sweetheart table with its expansive view of our Reception. Our friends & families were seated around us at the simple, pretty tables with twinkling candlelight. Our awesome band played soft, dinner music. NYC glittered across the river as the ultimate backdrop to our evening.

This was our Reception. This was our positive new beginning. This was all we'd dreamed of for eleven months & it was beyond perfect.

We breathed it in, every last detail washing over our grateful hearts. We counted our blessings & voiced our gratitude.

Then the action started again & we were swept away into the night. But that little pause, that little moment to appreciate our celebration? It's one of my biggest memories.

Calling Jersey Girls!

The honor of your presence is requested at the "Jersey Shore" house!

Oh yes, my dears, it's true: the "Jersey Shore" beach pad is available for weddings!

Or engagement parties, bridal showers, rehearsal dinner or any other event you'd like to host at the summer home of Snooki & the Situation. The Seaside Heights home is being touted as perfect for the non-traditional Bride & Groom. All with killer tans & Jersey accents must apply. Dream come true or nightmare?

I have to admit I have never watched "Jersey Shore" but I knew I had to pass along this gem when a fellow Jersey Girl sent this info my way. I don't live under a rock & I know the show is hugely popular. Perhaps some have been anxiously awaiting a "Jersey Shore" theme wedding. Any takers? Let me know, I'd love to help with the wedding planning!!