Manic Monday: Physical Release

Manic Monday: Alyssa Aiola

If you feel like you are alone when it comes to wedding stress we are here to tell you your not, in fact it’s expected.  Between planning, organizing and maybe even the entire aspect of getting married you have a lot to be over whelmed by. A simple easy way to channel all this pent up anxiety can be through something as simple and old school as exercise.  Exercise is proven to relieve all types of stress and there are so many different types and forms that you are bound to find something perfect for  you. Engaging in moderate exercise for as little as 30 minutes a day can improve your mood dramatically statistics show and an added bonus is you will tone up for the big day! Here are a few different forms of exercise that maybe you never even considered would help ease wedding day stress that are not only good for your body but also mental health.

• Yoga: Many people think that yoga is just stretching. But while stretching is certainly involved, yoga is really about creating balance in the body through developing both strength and flexibility. This is done through the performance of poses or postures, each of which has specific physical benefits.

• Hot Yoga: Hot yoga is a vigorous form of yoga performed in a studio that is heated to 105 F (40 C) and has a humidity of 40 percent. The formal name for hot yoga is Bikram. Bikram yoga is a 90-minute program that consists of a series of 26 postures. The postures require lengthy, forceful and well-controlled contractions of all major muscle groups. The demanding nature of the poses and the heat are designed to raise your heart rate and tire your muscles.

• Restorative Yoga: While many forms of yoga offer a relaxing element to their practice, some poses and postures may require a lot of effort to maintain or get into—not exactly something you need to stress over if you’re burned out. Instead of moving from pose to pose, you’ll hold restful positions for a longer period of time, giving your body the opportunity to truly let go and releas

• NIA: which stands for Neuromuscular Integrative Action, is a blend of martial arts, dance, and healing arts. Done barefoot, this workout features a flowing blend of movement that combines deep breathing exercises with moves like kicks and turns to keep your heart rate elevated, your mind relaxed, and your body moving.

• Tai Chi: An ancient martial arts form originally developed in China, Tai Chi is a flowing, meditative series of movements designed to connect the mind and body and foster a sense of calm and serenity. But don’t be fooled by its peaceful nature—tai chi will keep you constantly in motion, engage your entire body, and offer a great mental challenge to stay present and in the moment.

• Kick Boxing: Combines elements of boxing, martial arts, and aerobics to provide overall physical conditioning and toning. Did we mention it is probably one of the best stress relievers if you just want to punch something, and no not your photographer!!!

• Koga: This unique form of exercise takes the best of yoga and kickboxing and combines them! Koga combines the mind-body mindset of yoga with the intense isometric and plyometric movements of boxing into one workout. Proponents of Koga say it increases your flexibility as well as burns fat and tones muscles.

let us know what forms of exercise has helped you cope with your wedding stress by commenting on our blog, writing on our facebook or tweeting to us!!

Manic Monday: Keep Calm at the Kids’ Table

Manic Monday by Corine Brosseau

Though it isn’t always everyone’s cup of tea, sometimes a wedding is simply a lot more special when the treasures children in your life take part, be it your own children, a godchild, or perhaps your nieces and nephews. While this will surely result in lots of aww-worthy photos, it can be stressful for you and simply boring for the kids if you don’t provide some type of entertainment for them.

There are plenty of fun activities you can provide your younger wedding day guests to make sure that they’re having fun and not getting into mischief. One of my personal favorites is a good old scavenger hunt for the little ones. Provide a disposable camera – or an instant print Polaroid – to each kid and give them a list of things to find at the party. You may want to include things like someone doing the robot, a slice of wedding cake, or the bride’s bouquet. This will keep the kids busy for quite some time and they can all compare pictures at the end.

Of course, another easy option is to provide crayons and coloring books for the little ones. You can find personalized coloring books online that prompt the kids to decorate a picture of a wedding cake or recount a treasured memory they had with the bride and groom. At the end of the wedding, have each kid hand in their memories to include them in a guest book or wedding day photo album.

To keep the event even more stress free, keep in mind the following when making plans for littler guests:

– Have an age limit. If you don’t want to hear crying throughout the night, make sure you tell your guests to keep the infants and younger toddlers at home.

– Have some kid-friendly bites available. Let’s face it, most kids are downright picky when it comes to eating. Here’s where chicken fingers and mozzarella sticks come in handy!

– Check with your venue to see if they offer a babysitter or kid’s room for the evening so that your guests don’t have to leave them at home.

– Make sure the kids feel like part of the party. Encourage them to dance and have fun – things like the Macarena are perfect for this.

How did you include kids in your big day? Let us know on Facebook!!

Manic Monday: DIY Do’ and Don’t’s

Manic Monday by Corine Brosseau

DIY projects are all the rage on Pinterest these days and they’ve become more of a trend than a way to save money on your wedding details. Despite all this, DIY can easily become stressful and it’s important to keep a few things in mind when taking on a project for your special day. Here are some of our do’s and don’t’s for wedding day DIY.

– DO inject your fiancé and your personalities into your DIY projects. Making your own wedding decor is an opportunity to really allow your unique love story to shine. You’ll end up with something truly one of a kind that everyone will always remember because of how well it reflected the two of you!

– DON’T bite off more than you can chew. Too many DIY projects can lead to more stress than they are worth – especially if you are still busy with work, kids, or other wedding prep. Make sure that anything you take on is do-able and not overambitious.

– DO check out bridal blogs and sites like Lover.ly or Pinterest for lots of DIY inspiration. I especially love the tutorials on Hey Gorgeous – they’re full of step by step images and really fun, unique ideas.

–DON’T forget to have a back up plan. If something doesn’t work out, it’s important to have a Plan B so you aren’t left with any missing details.

–DO know when to trust the professionals. If you know nothing about graphic design or stationary, you may want to leave designing your invites to someone with the experience necessary to create a gorgeous product. Sometimes it makes more sense to spend a bit more money and save yourself the stress of worrying if the end product will come out the way you want it to.

Did you DIY for your wedding or are you planning to do so? Share your favorite DIY projects or stories on our Facebook page!

Manic Monday: Choosing a Photographer

Manic Monday By Alyssa Aiola

You spend months and maybe even over a year planning your wedding and then within 6-8 hours it is all gone with nothing left to remember it by other then your wedding photographs.  We understand that your photographer could be the most important person you are spending your money on since wedding photographs are cherished keepsakes that are passed down through generations. This passed weekend we attended Bridal Rebellion (a bridal workshop full of vendors and industry related business’s)  where The Lovely Lens lent the audience an interesting point of view on photographers by stating ” Their is no such thing as a wedding photographer, their is only good and bad photography.” This statement really had us thinking and is totally true, you either know how to work with light and your camera or you don’t.  In order to find the right photographer to capture all of the you weddings finest moments we have created a list of key questions you should be asking so you avoid any type of stress or worry or even legal matters.

1. Research: Ask your friends, inquire at bridal shops and with the management of the ceremony and reception sites you have chosen. Also browse bridal websites for information and links to photographers that work in your area.(www.weddingwire.com)
2. Style : In order to receive the exact style of photos that you have in mind you must go though a photographers look book and see their work. Are you looking for more of a traditional style with posed pictures or more candid shots throughout the day, or maybe even more lighthearted and playful shots. You have to see the photographers past work to see if they can match your vision.
3. Examine the Photos: When looking through any photographers look books you must keep in mind and examine the basics of the pictures-such as color, clarity, exposure, graininess and composition. Pay attention to the photographer’s ability to capture the emotion of the day. Does it appear that he has the personality to make his subjects comfortable and happy? Or is she the type of photographer that seemingly takes pictures without much passion.
4. Professionalism: On your wedding day it is important that you feel confident in your photographer in knowing they have done this a lot in the past and have a solid background. Not only should you ask how long have they been a photographer but also how many weddings have they shot. Also ask if they have ever had a wedding at your venue, maybe they are firmiliar with the lighting and space.
5. Budget: Photographer fees, prints, albums, etc. generally come to approximately 12% of the entire wedding budget. This will allow you to quickly discard candidates which you cannot afford.
6. Contract: While you want to make sure you book your photographer for the date of your wedding immediately, make sure you read over the legal details of exactly what you will get before signing the contract. Make sure you are signing for the exact package of photos as well as service you discussed. * Make sure the amount of hours they will be at the wedding/ceremony is written in the contract*
7. Equipment: Although you may not be a professional photographer yourself, you should know what type of camera and equipment your photographer will be using during your event. You may find that you are more particular about it than you think.
8. Package: Create  a custom package with your photographer with every detail in writing. Maybe you only want your photographer to be present for 1-3 hours during the reception or you might want a package that  may include a pre-wedding engagement sessions, rehearsal dinner photographs, bridal portraits and newlywed photos.
9. Quantity of Images: This is another aspect that for liability reasons you should get in writing. Some photographers may provide you with under 100 images to remember your wedding day by. Higher-end photographers often capture thousands of images (generally from 1,000 to 3,000) for you to keep forever.

We hope this list helps you find the perfect photographer for your wedding day and look forward to hearing your feedback! Tell us about your wedding photography experience by either replying to this post, writing on our Facebook wall or tweeting us!!

Manic Monday: Made of Honor

Manic Monday by Corine Brosseau

 

Your best friend since kindergarten just popped the question!  No, she isn’t asking for a lifetime of commitment; this is something a bit more short term.  You’ve just been asked to be her maid of honor.  Now what??

Image courtesy of Wedding Chicks

Being asked to be a bride’s maid of honor is something to be proud of.  It signifies just how much your relationship with the bride in your life is valued.  However, the job comes with a lot of responsibility and lots of different hats that you’ll need to wear.  From therapist to trusted fashion adviser, from cheerleader to party planner, you will be the bride’s point person throughout her engagement and on her wedding day.  Your time as MOH will be filled with a lot of fun and some great memories, but it can also be very stressful.

We want to help make your run as maid of honor as stress-free and utterly blissful as possible. Here are some of our tips on how your experience can be wonderful and not worrisome!

• Know what you’re getting into and don’t commit if you don’t have the time or means.  Traditionally, the maid of honor is in charge of the bridal shower and bachelorette party.  These events take time, and yes, money, to pull off.  You’ll also likely have to go on multiple dress hunting trips, fittings, and other meetings that your bride might need help with.  If you don’t feel 100% comfortable with any of these tasks or if you’re simply too busy (be it with your job, your family, etc.), respectfully ask if you can be a bridesmaid instead.  If your bride insists on having you as MOH, see if the other bridesmaids are willing to go the extra mile to step up when you’re unavailable.
• Be budget conscious.  Get to know the rest of the bridal party – if you don’t already.  Everyone has a different budget and it’s important to see what the ladies are willing to contribute for events like the shower and bachelorette party.  Don’t plan something that is exorbitantly expensive if you’re not all comfortable with that.  The bridal party is a team and you don’t want anyone feeling that they are putting in more or less money than anyone else unless they are 100% certain that they’re willing too.  Finances can be a sensitive subject and it’s important that you, as ringleader, handle them as such.
• Don’t let the title get to your head.  We’ve all seen Bridezillas, but there is such a thing as a Maid-of-Honor Monster, too!  Make sure that you don’t treat the other bridesmaids as if they’re less important.  Let everyone’s voices be heard and you can avoid lots of drama.
• Don’t procrastinate.  Plan ahead!  Saving things for the last minute will generally result in nothing but chaos.  You want to create the best possible experience for all when planning events.  If you wait till the last second, chances are everyone will be able to tell that the shower or party was thrown together haphazardly and nobody wants that!
• It’s all about the bride.  Your bride will surely come to you for advice and more likely, approval, on the wedding details.  If she’s clearly over the moon about something that you’re not so crazy about, understand that it’s her day and if she’s in love with something, she ought to go with it whether you think it’s the best idea or not. Be supportive and if you absolutely have to steer her away from something, make sure you have a strong reason behind it, as opposed to just saying you don’t like it.  Offer alternatives that she’ll love instead of just a negative opinion with no other option.
• Most importantly, HAVE FUN!

Have you been a maid of honor?  Share your experience with us in a comment, tweet, or on our Facebook.

 

Manic Monday: Budget Bliss

Manic Monday by Alyssa Aiola

Lets face it, wedding planning can be extremely fun yet overbearingly stressful. With that being said, sometimes paying for it all can weigh down the future bride and make the entire planning process unenjoyably.  Every couple is working with a budget whether it is big or small, yet all have desires for things that could be possibly out of their reach.  One of the best tips in keeping within budget and preventing any let downs is to know exactly how much money you have and only working with what you have got.  As the budget stress begins to boil up here are a few tips any bride should keep in mind!

Accept that you can’t have it all: We are all guilty of looking through bridal magazines and falling in love with items that are simply way to expensive and out of our reach. No matter what your budget is, there will most likely always be something you can not afford and can only dream of.

Prioritize: Here at Private Receptions we think that prioritizing your budget is the best way to get rid of any type of anxiety you may feel as well as stay organized. When we receive new clients in order to get a better feel of their budget and how the bride wants to spend it, we ask them to take a look at our list of compiled of all things pertaining to the wedding and then have them rate them on a number scale of 1-10 of importance.  Some brides are extremely focused on the music being phenomenal day of the wedding while other brides would rather spend more money on flowers and décor. Finding what is most important to you and planning the budget that way will help bring your wedding dreams to life and also eliminate budget stress.

Be Somewhat Flexible:  Staying on budget for anyone can be an almost impossible task, especially when planning such a huge event.  Just say you gave yourself $300.00 dollars to spend on a cake but actually ended up spending $600.00 after cake tasting, you can fix it! Since you spent twice then what you originally planned, find a way to cut $300.00 from another part of the wedding.  This may mean not sending out save the dates or finding a DJ who charges slightly less then you budgeted, but its all possible as long as you are not spending significant amounts for every vendor.

Anticipate Unforeseen Costs: When coming up with your initial budget I am sure there were tons of things you hadn’t even thought to put into consideration. Until you really begin planning, you don’t notice how many details and components go into the actual wedding planning.  Maybe you overlooked transportation for the guests or sometimes a band requires an overnight stay in a close by hotel, all things you might not even considered.  Double-check your list and try to ensure that every item you’ll need to pay for is reflected in your total sum. But be prepared to add some things down the line that you probably didn’t anticipate in your original cost breakdown.

Be Comfortable:  You are not going to be able to enjoy the big day or shake any type of stress if you are literally breaking the bank. Can’t afford a $30,000 dollar wedding? Then DON’T have one!   You need to discuss with your fiancé what your exact budget is and accept it and learn to work with it.  You can make your day personal and amazing no matter what your budget is; you just have to get crafty!

Let us know some of your key tricks to keeping yourself in line with your budget as well as preventing yourself from getting overwhelmed and anxious when spending!

Manic Monday: Bridesmaid Bliss

Manic Monday by Corine Brosseau

We’ve all seen the Bridesmaids version of Say Yes to the Dress and we’ve seen how the experience of picking out a bridesmaid dress can be a rocky road. From color disagreements to sizing issues to simply a stubborn, picky bridesmaid, choosing the perfect ensemble for your bridesmaids is more often than not a daunting task. There are, however, ways to resolve these issues and ensure that your bridesmaids will look and feel fabulous on your big day.

Color: Choosing a color can be one of the toughest tasks when picking out looks for your bridesmaids. It’s hard to find a hue that flatters everyone and that everyone likes! Don’t feel as if you have to commit to a specific shade. If you choose one favorite color, allow brides to vary their shades to suit their complexion and preference. This can still be tough, as you want to make sure everything still looks cohesive. Another option is to choose two different colors that are complementary and let the girls mix among themselves. This spring, peach and mint make a gorgeous combo for your bridesmaids. Still not feeling all the color confusion? Try a neutral tone like khaki or taupe. Mixing neutrals can be another great way to flatter every one of your bridal party. Color of the year, emerald, is always a lovely color choice to fall back upon this year too!

Silhouette: This can be tricky depending on the figures of your girls. If they are all pretty similar in build, it’s easy to choose one silhouette for everyone. However, if the ladies are of varying shapes and sizes, as they likely will be, allow them to choose a silhouette that flatters their own shape in the same color. This allows for uniformity of color but a more comfortable style option for your bridesmaids. If your girls’ shapes are similar, but they want to differentiate a bit between themselves, choose one dress and allow them to alter necklines or hems to suit their unique sense of style.

Price: Not everyone is willing to spend an arm and a leg on their bridesmaid dress. Be sensitive to people’s budget constraints. If you absolutely fall head over heels in love with a gown that’s out of range, choose that one for only your maid or matron of honor and allow the other girls to don a similar but less pricy style.

Making the choice: When it comes time to pick the look (or looks), make sure that you stand your ground. Don’t be pushy – they are wearing the dresses after all – but don’t let the ladies walk all over you either. It’s your wedding and you need to be happy with the way everything looks.

Let us know what questions you have about picking the perfect look for your bridal party or share your stories of what went right and what went wrong when you made your choice! We’d love to see your bridal party looks – so come share on our Facebook page!

Manic Monday: Compromising

Manic Monday by Alyssa Aiola

One of the most stressful aspects of wedding planning can be when you and your fiancé are on completely separate pages with wedding details and both have different ideas on what the day should be like. After discussing some of the details that you have disagreed on, the next step is learning how to find a balance and a happy medium for the both of you. Maybe you always imagined your wedding in a church while he wants to run to the courthouse or where to even have the wedding his town or yours? The surprising thing is the incredible variety of subjects over which disagreements can arise and how common this actually is. If the decisions are not handled properly it cannot only put a damper on your big day, but also on your marriage. The best way to handle disputes like this is to compromise. As long as you both understand in advance that you wont always see eye to eye on things and you both fight fair, there is no reason why any single dispute or even a long series of disagreements should rock the boat . Here are a few ground rules every couple should set in order to prevent huge blowups on tedious wedding details.

How to Compromise: Before you start overwhelming yourself with who wants what, sit down with your fiancé and start making a list of importance. As far as the ceremony and reception are concerned write down the top 3 things that are important to you. After comparing your lists of importance you will be able to start compromising. If he wants a small wedding but you want a big one, you can always hold a small ceremony with a big after party. Or, if he wants a destination wedding and you want to be home, simply have the ceremony out of town and the reception in your hometown.

World Outside of the Wedding: Now that you are engaged it seems all you can talk about with anyone is wedding details. It is important to set aside time to spend time with your fiancé and remind each other why you are doing this in the first place. Wedding planning can drive couples crazy and you need to learn when to turn the planning on and off so you don’t sabotage your engagement.

Pick One Topic to Fight On: With any type of argument whether it be big or small can have a snowball affect leading into other arguments and disputes. If you start a debate on who wants to have a 5 piece band versus a disk jockey, it is against the rules to turn the discussion into how one person is a tightwad while the other is a spendthrift. It is also not permissible to turn the conversation into how if you didn’t spend all your money on the expensive engraved invitations, you would be able to afford a 5 piece band. Focus on one problem at a time and don’t carry one problem onto the next.

You Both Still Win: Whether your final agreement comes to your groom wearing a rainbow tuxedo or your getting your food catered from the school cafeteria, your both still getting married.  At the end of the day the main goal is just to celebrate two people celebrating a new chapter of life together and regardless of the details that will be accomplished.

It is important to remember that this is the person you are planning on spending the rest of your life with and learning to compromise and communicate now will be a vital task in your relationship. With that in mind take a few deep breaths and learn to give and take, you will be able to find a solution you are both happy with!  Having problems coming to an agreement on your wedding details?! Reply to us and let us know, we will help you see eye to eye!

Manic Monday: Vendors, Vendors, Vendors…

With more and more details being added to weddings these days, it is more important than ever to choose a great group of vendors for your special day. However, it has also become more difficult than ever to make these decisions. Often, brides don’t know where to turn to find the perfect fit for them.

Here are some essential tips for you when you’re seeking your perfect florist, photographer, or any other vendor you may need:

1. The Internet is your friend! Sites like The Knot and Wedding Wire offer plenty of reviews and testimonials about all sorts of vendors. You can run geographic searches to find the best vendors in your area.

2. Take a careful look at vendors’ portfolios. See if their previous work matches your vision or at least the general feel that you’re seeking for your special day.

3. Choose a wedding planner whose tastes match yours and they can do all the grunt work of scouting vendors. Oftentimes, your planner will already have a trusted group of vendors that they’ve worked with and trust implicitly. We have a list of our faves on our website!

4. Try asking your venue if they have preferred vendors – usually they can recommend great local vendors in a variety of price ranges.

5. Friends and family who’ve already gone through this same process can be the best advisors for this process. Just make sure that you like the work the vendor did for that friend’s wedding.

If you have any more questions about vendor selection, reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter, or in a comment below!!!

Manic Monday: 411 on Contracts!

Manic Monday by Alyssa Aiola

One of the most stressful aspects of wedding planning is finding the correct vendors to use and making sure they are capable of meeting all of your expectations while being reliable. Can you imagine waking up on the big day and finding out your limo is not coming or your band is not showing up? Surprisingly this happens more often then not and can all easily be avoided if a contract is signed properly. To guarantee yourself that everything will go smoothly on your wedding day and avoid any last minute meltdowns, you must read and inspect every aspect of a contract before signing it. A legally binding contract will not only protect you but also the vendor and a general guideline that should be followed. Here is a guideline that you should be checking to see if yours follows and entails the same details:

General Contract Terms:

1. The date the contract was drafted should be specified
2. The address, phone # and additional contact info for the company
3. The address, phone # and additional contact info for the client
4. Exact time(s) and date(s) services are to be rendered
5. Exact location(s) where services are to be rendered
6. The total cost for services
7. The amount and date the deposit is due, if required
8. The amount and date that the FULL PAYMENT* is due
9. Type(s) of payment accepted
10. Cancellations and refund policies of the company
11. All items and details included in the TOTAL COST
12. Any additional charges that may be incurred

• Hourly rates if the client wishes to go into overtime
• Charges for assistants and/or extra persons, if applicable
• Mileage costs and travel fees, if any
• Gratuity & Tax

When it comes to specific vendors you need to make sure your contract entails specific aspects to protect yourself. Here are some additional contract terms:

• Pay attention to the exact number of hours your photographer, videographer, DJ, or band includes in the contract.
• Pay attention to exactly how many people the vendor is providing and signing for on the day of event.
• See what vendor is willing to do in case of a natural disaster on day of event, this protects you big time!
• Make sure you understand the difference between what you are buying from a vendor and what you are renting.
• Find out specific tasks vendor is responsible for ( ex. cleaning up, setting up, etc.)
• The specific name of either the Photographer, DJ or Band you are using.

I know reading contracts can be time consuming and boring, but please don’t just sign off on anything without reading it first! If you don’t understand everything you are signing for you might be in for a rude awakening on the day of your wedding.

Do you have any contract gone wrong stories and want to share?! Leave us a reply on your experience!!