Wedding Planning Timeline | Three Month Mark

In-between six months, and three months before the wedding, there tends to not be much to do. You got all the big things- the venue, food, photographer/videographer, DJ, wedding planner/day of coordinator, florist, and dress -handled, and at the three month mark it’s time for all the little details! 

1. Start looking at wedding bands for you and your fiancé, and order them so they can be in, and sized in time. 

2. Finalize your guest list, and get your wedding invites ready to be sent out in the next couple of weeks. 

3. Schedule your cake tasting, and order your wedding cake (or another dessert if you’re not doing cake). Side note: it is normal for bakeries to charge for tastings! 

4. Set up the tasting with your venue/caterer and finalize the food, and drink selection. 

5. Book your rehearsal dinner location! The earlier the better with this if you’re getting married in “wedding season”!

6. Start your wedding registry! Go prepared with a list, and give yourself a whole day! ENJOY! This is one of the funnest parts of the planning process!

7. Decide on your hair and makeup artist, and schedule your trials. It’s normal for there to be a charge for this, too!

Check out my other posts in my wedding planning timeline series! 

xo, Val 

perfectlyplannedbyval.com

Jen and Mike's Wedding | July 11, 2014

I had the pleasure of working with Jen only nine months after I helped her older sister Rachelle with her wedding. Being laid back is something that runs in the family! They both cared about getting married, and the rest of the details didn't matter much!

On the day of the wedding, Jen- who's already gorgeous- was STUNNING!! She would have loved to have her wedding outside, walk barefoot through a field, and put fresh flowers in her hair.  But being Catholic, that wasn't really an option for them.  She settled for a beautiful church wedding, a great pair of shoes, and a lovely crown of fresh flowers (and bouquet) from Chris' Floral, in her hair.  

Jen and Mike's First Look with Gra Photography, and the reception took place at St. George Fellowship Centre in Akron.  

Right after they their first look! So happy!!

I'm so happy I got a picture with the newly weds!!! 

Jen and Mike were such a pleasure to work with.  They are so in love and couldn't stop smiling the entire night!! 

XO, Val. 

The Perfect Fall Wedding!

When you think of a fall wedding, you might think rustic, and a red, orange, yellow and brown color scheme, but it can be much more than that! When I think of a fall wedding, I of course think of the beautiful changing leaves, and crisp fall air, but I also think of rich colors, and hearty food!

Fall weddings have always been a very popular time to get married.  If you’re having a fall wedding, don’t think that you have to have bales of hay, pumpkins, and burlap.  It also doesn't mean you have to have a halloween themed wedding!!

Instead of putting your bridal party in orange, try plum!  Orange, yellow, and red flowers will really pop!

Some couples think that since they are having a fall wedding, they need to have part or all of their wedding outdoors.  In Ohio the weather is VERY unpredictable! If you have your wedding in early fall- september, and early october- you could have nice weather to be outside, but the leaves probably won't change by then.  If you wait until mid-October into early November, you'll have a much better chance of beautiful fall leaves, but it could be 30 or 40 degrees and there could even be snow by then!! Everyone wants that perfect 60 degree day with the beautiful leaves, and the slight chill in the air.  The chances of getting that are, unfortunately, very rare.

You can still have the feel of a fall wedding without being outside.  Your centerpieces can have fall colors, you can have pumpkin flavored desserts, or your favors could be a delicious caramel apple.  You can even have a "candy bar" where guest fill a bag with candy!  It's like adult trick-or-treating! YUM!!

fall wedding by vebullock featuring fall home decor

As you can clearly see I LOVE fall! It's my favorite time of the year! If you can't/don't want to have your wedding in fall, it's also a great time to do engagement pictures!

Happy Planning!
Val



Red Arrow Photography

Fall home decor
etsy.com

Fall silk wedding bouquet in rust and burnt yellow, bridal bouquet
etsy.com

Wedding Trend | #WeddingHashtag

Hashtags are nothing new when it comes to social media. It's also not new for couples to have a hashtag for their wedding.  There are definite pros of wedding hashtags, but there are also cons! I for one love them, but I understand why people have a problem with them. Getting the guests perspective is nothing new! Remember when everyone had disposable cameras on every  table at their reception? It's like a modern version of that!

The Pros:

• It's a fun way for your guests to feel involved during your wedding!
• You and your new spouse get to see some wedding pictures the next day easily by just looking up your hashtag on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
• You could get to see a moment of the wedding that your photographer didn't get. (Not that your photographer would miss anything important, but most of the time photographers don't stay until the end of the reception!)
• You might end up getting one of your favorite candid shots from the wedding that a guest just happened to catch! 
• If you don't choose your own hashtag, guests will try to make up their own. It's best to have one posted somewhere at the wedding so there's not 4 different hashtags floating around with your wedding pictures. You could put it in your invitations, in the program at the ceremony, or somewhere at the reception. 

The Cons:

• Depending on the ages of your guests, some people might not understand the concept of hashtags, and will just be confused by the whole thing.
• You could get really disappointed that only a handful of people post pictures.  You might see 12 pictures of your cousin and her boyfriend,  and one blurry picture of you walking down the isle. 
• People might want to take and edit pictures during the ceremony and reception, so they might not be paying attention during important parts of the wedding.
• As a photographer it can get REALLY annoying when all the guests are trying to get pictures and might get in their way! If guests are using flash, it's even more annoying for them!
• The first picture that ends up on social media of your wedding could be a very unflattering picture of you. Do you want that to be the first picture people see?

Advice:

• Research your hashtag before hand! Make sure you don't have the same one as another couples wedding!

Are you having a hashtag at your wedding?

xo, Val.

What to do When a Friend is in the Wedding Industry?

So you're getting married and your close friend is a photographer, or your cousin is a DJ, what do you do?

It's a difficult situation because on one hand it's their profession, and sometimes it's their business, so you want to give them the job.  On the other hand, you want them to enjoy themselves and be a guest at your wedding.  

Here's my advice: Talk to them about it and give them the option.  Say "we'd love for you to be our DJ, but it's up to you if you'd rather be a guest and enjoy the night!" 

Saying it this way shows you think they are good at what they do,  and they will appreciate the choice.  Most of the time they'll be working every weekend during wedding season, so it will be nice for them to be able to relax and enjoy a wedding for a change! Make sure you give them plenty of notice on the date of your nuptials, so they don't book another wedding for that day!

If they'd rather not be your vendor, they can help you find someone they recommend and trust.

If you do have someone close who is a photographer, ask them to shoot your engagement pictures.  That way they still get to be involved.  

Hope this helped!!

xo, Val.

Red Arrow Photography.

Hi everyone!

I wanted to take a minute to talk about the amazing photographer who shot the pictures I am currently using for my cover photo; Meghan Meeker of Red Arrow Photography.  I worked with Meghan for the first time in May of 2013, and when a bride was looking for a photographer for her October 2013 wedding, I knew I didn't need to look any further.  Meghan is one of the nicest photographers I have ever worked with. She has the best of what it takes to be a wedding photographer.  She has a vision, and makes that vision happen, as well as effortlessly controlling the bridal party and family so she can easily get every picture that is needed in a timely manor. 

I am so obsessed with the pictures from this wedding. 

This wedding was just amazing over all.  It was great to work with Meghan as well as my long time friend Maddy Hastings at her second shooter.  it was also effortless because the bride and groom were so easy to work with! They weren't demanding or controlling at all.  They cared that they were getting married and that it all; it made everyones jobs so much easier. There was such an abundance of love and that's all that mattered.  

Hope you enjoyed!

XO, Val