Wedding Trends: Going Green

No, not green in environmentally green, but green as in the color. The lastest color trend is light green mixed with ivory creams and chocolate browns. From the flowers, to the cake, to even the dress, green is so in for fall weddings. Here are some awesome photos for a little "green inspiration"

Jen and Paul's wedding reception

June 13, 2009
Since Jen and Paul got married in Las Vegas in March, they wanted to have a reception in Michigan. It was held at Townsend Park (I love this location), which is near Cannonsburg ski resort. The day started off raining, but we were hopeful that it would stop. Luckily for us, it did; it turned into a sunny, gorgeous day! The style was very picnic-y and park-like. There were lawn games, people milling about, music in the background, tons of food and drinks... it was very relaxed. The flowers were beautiful, the weather was beautiful, the decorations looked great; everything went awesome! I had a lot of fun with this reception because Jen was so easy going and her mother was great to work with.

12 month checklist

Twelve months plus:
- Select & purchase engagement ring
- Announce engagement
- Select the date
- Attend engagement party
- Hire wedding planner
- Draft a preliminary guest list
- Draft a budget
- Begin bridal registry
- Determine the style & formality of the wedding
- Research & select the ceremony site
- Research & select the reception site
- Research wedding vendors

Ten to Twelve months:
- Select wedding party
- Interview & select vendors
◦ Caterer
◦ Photographer
◦ Videographer
◦ Entertainment/music
◦ Florist/event designer
- Shop for wedding gown
- Upon hiring photographer, schedule an engagement session

Eight to Ten Months:
- Purchase wedding insurance
- Order wedding gown
- Organize accommodation & transportation for out of town guests
- Select & order save-the-date cards
- Organize accommodation for the wedding night (and night before)
- Interview & select vendors:
◦ Rentals equipment
◦ Specialty rentals
◦ Lighting
◦ Officiant (if not marrying in a house of worship)
- Research wedding invitations
- Research honeymoon (ex: passport requirements)

Six to Eight months:
- Begin planning ceremony
- Begin planning reception
- Plan the rehearsal dinner
- Plan the pre wedding & post wedding parties
- Begin dance lessons (if necessary)
- Finalize any remaining vendor commitments:
◦ Hair stylist for the wedding day
◦ Makeup stylist for the wedding day
◦ Valet parking (if necessary)
◦ Pastry chef/select wedding cake
- Mail save-the-date cards
- Research other stationary needs (menu cards, place cards, ceremony programs,
thank you cards)
- Order bridesmaids’ dresses
- Help mothers shop for their attire
- Select formalwear for the groom, groomsmen, & fathers
- Research favor options
- Plan & book honeymoon
- Get passports (if necessary)

Four to Six Months
- Finalize guest list
- Order wedding invitations & announcements
- Order invitations for rehearsal dinner & pre/post wedding parties
- Determine reception menu
- Hire calligrapher for invitations & place cards
- Select wedding day transportation
- Shop for wedding bands
- Shop for bridal accessories (headpiece/veil, lingerie, jewelry, etc.)
- Shop for bridesmaids’ accessories (jewelry, shoes, & purses)
- Research ideas for welcome gifts
- Develop a preliminary wedding day timeline/schedule

Three Months
- Address & assemble invitations
- Research marriage license requirements
- Confirm delivery dates on wedding gown & bridesmaids’ dresses
- Compile music list for reception
- Finalize ceremony details & music selections
- Begin creating ceremony program & order
- Prepare a shoot list for videographer & photographer
- Shop for attendants’ thank you gifts
- Make arrangements for preserving bridal bouquet
- Make arrangements for preserving bridal gown

Two Months
- Mail invitations
- Finalize rehearsal dinner plans & send out invitations
- Attend dress fittings/alterations
- Confirm with bridesmaids that they have purchased lingerie and shoes, & have
schedule/attended their dress fitting
- Schedule wedding day hair & makeup trial
- Complete wedding day time line/schedule
- Finalize ceremony program
- Prepare wedding announcement for newspaper
- Attend wedding showers
- Begin collecting wedding accessories
- schedule final beauty/grooming appointments for the week of the wedding: haircut
and/or color, manicures/pedicures, massage, tanning, waxing

One Month
- Obtain marriage license
- Finalize itinerary with vendors & ceremony/reception locations
- Begin making seating plan for reception dinner
- Pick up wedding bands
- Schedule final gown fittings & date to pick up finished and pressed wedding gown
- Call guests who have not responded to invitation
- Start on/complete thank you notes for any wedding gifts already received
- Break in your wedding shoes
- Prepare welcome gifts (excluding perishable items)

Two Weeks
- Confirm final guest count to caterer/reception location
- Confirm rehearsal dinner guest count
- Begin packing for honeymoon
- Begin making final payments to vendors (payments due from this point up to the
wedding day)
- Finalize seating plan & send seating/place cards to calligrapher
- Prepare an “emergency kit” for wedding day mishaps

One Week
- Pick up gown - try it on at the dress makers for final fit & do not try it on
again at home
- Attend final grooming/beauty appointments
- Call/email venues & all vendors to finalize arrangements, delivery times,
& any other details
- Attend bachelor/bachelorette parties
- Finalize packing for honeymoon
- Arrange to have your mail stopped during your honeymoon
- Attend bridal luncheon

Two to Three Days
- Prepare tips for vendors
- Drop off wedding accessories at venue or deliver to the wedding
planner
- Deliver welcome gifts to hotels
- Pack a bag for the wedding day
- Pick up tuxedos for groom, groomsmen, & fathers. Try on & confirm all articles of
clothing & accessories have been supplied

One Day to Go
- Attend ceremony rehearsal
- Distribute the wedding day itinerary to all parents, attendants, & other
involved parties
- Hand over remaining accessories to the wedding planner, church
coordinator, or other organizer
- Attend rehearsal dinner
- Present attendants with their gifts at the rehearsal dinner
- Go to bed early so you will be well rested for the amazing day that lies
ahead of you

The Wedding Day
- Give vendor tips & payments to planner or best man for distribution
- Get beautiful
- Get dressed
- Marry the man of your dreams

Post Wedding
- Leave for the honeymoon
- Have bouquet sent for preservation
- Send gown for cleaning & preservation
- Complete & mail your thank you cards
- Thank your parents & attendants
- Thank your vendors
- Change name