Haft Zima Wedding - July 11, 2008

The Zimas got married last July at the Washington Inn in Saratoga Springs. First meeting on their internship at Disney, this couple knew they were meant for each other. They had this beautiful wedding in this cute bed and breakfast that sits on a hill overlooking Broadway. I was brought on by the request of her mother because she lived out of town and wanted to know that her daughter had some extra help in the last few months before the wedding. Catered by the always wonderful Classe Catering, this wedding had style and grace and old fashioned family charm. Thanks to the fabulous Shannon DeCelle for her photography expertise. She is so much fun to work with, and as you can see, takes some damn good pictures in the process, too. http://www.shannondecellephotography.com/

When you hold a wedding at the Washington Inn you work with the event coordinator on site, Ginny. She is warm and welcoming and never hesitates to lend a helping hand. This is a wonderful location because it is one of the few that you can have family and friends stay right on site throughout the weekend so their love and happy energy is never too far away. Lovely!





Lindsey and Adam had one of the most beautiful ceremonies I've ever seen. Honestly. Rabbi Anna Sugarman officiated and did an amazing job of keeping the spirit high and the focus on the couple and their Jewish traditions. She was entertaining and charming and wonderful. Hands down one of the best ceremonies I've ever been a part of.






The couple chose chocolate brown dresses in all different styles for the girls, and classic black tuxes for the guys. Their accent color was Tiffany Blue which they brought into the flower girl, junior bridesmaid, and the bouquet ribbons. The bride even wore a chocolate brown sash at her waist to coordinate with the girls. Lovely!







The reception area was beyond beautiful. Classe dressed the tables in chocolate brown tablecloths, Tiffany Blue napkins, the bride's home made floral centerpieces, and the Inn's gold Chivari chairs. Place these in a crisp clean room with honey wood floors and walls of windows and you have the beauty of the Washington Inn.





Carrying on the blue accents, their wedding cake was a true work of art. Made by the bride's sister - can you believe it? - this cake stood out as one of my favorites from last year. And although you can't see it, the bride's sister frosted little Mickey Mouse ears onto the white frosting details in honor of the couple's beginning. Amazing.

I can't say enough about this couple or the professionals I worked with that day. Although not pictured, I have to give accolades to Russ from Piano Man DJ who is always a pleasure to work with. He is a gentle soul who did a great job of keeping the party going for these guys. Also Kathy from Classe was a wonderful partner throughout the reception and the food from Classe never disappoints. Yum! And lastly I have to thank Shannon DeCelle again for these amazing pictures. I could've gone on and on with this blog just because I had so many spectacular images to choose from. Fantastic!

Enchanted Wedding Expo this SUNDAY!

"Visit Saratoga's Premiere Bridal Expo! Food, Fashion, Music and More... Featuring the region's top wedding vendors and an exclusive runway fashion show. A show so big it could only be held at the City Center, and so fashionable it had to be held in Saratoga Springs."

Sunday February 22nd from 12-4 at the Saratoga City Center

This is a great bridal show! I'll be there (along with my mom!) so swing by the Wedding Planning Plus table and say hello!

USA Weddings store in Colonie Center

The USA Weddings store is back in Colonie Center!!!

Ok, so we've actually been open for a whole month, but better late than never!

USA Weddings is back in our same great location upstairs next to Boscovs. Sure we let Hickory Farms sell a few cheese logs from our spot during the holidays, but it's all ours from January to October. Think of our store as a bridal show that is always open and never requires an admission fee. If you haven't been in then you should just stop by and check us out. We have great vendor information from photographers, dress shops, florists, limo companies, bands and djs, videographers, stationery suppliers, cake bakeries, tux shops, calligraphers, ceremony musicians, officiants, and, of course, wedding planners! ME! :)

I run the store every other Wednesday night so stop in and say hello! I'm happy to give any free advice so take advantage of the opportunity and pick my brain! And if you're in the market of hiring a planner or coordinator then this is a great way to get to know me and see if you like me! :)

Contact me if you want to schedule a full consultation at the store. See you there!!

February's Free Wedding Seminar

You are invited to a
Free Wedding Seminar

February 26, 2009 • Wolf Rd in Albany • 6:30 pm

Hosted by Shannon Whitney, President of Wedding Planning Plus

This Session’s Topic:

Budgeting: The How-To’s to Affordable I Do’s

How to create and stick to a budget
Creative ways to get more and spend less
Tips for negotiating prices and getting the most out of your vendors
Plus - Plenty of time for you to ask questions pertaining to your wedding

Perfect for brides who are in the early to middle phases of wedding planning!

Space is very limited. Registration is required. Call 518-269-1243 or e-mail Info@weddingplanningplus.net to register.

Brought to you by USA Weddings and Wedding Planning Plus

Let us help you plan the wedding of your dreams...

Tramontana Wedding - October 12, 2008

What a fun couple! The Tramontanas were all about having a good time, for themselves and for their guests. And luckily their wedding planners had fun with them, too! Katie rocked this one, and she had nothing but great things to say about the vendors, family, and the bride and groom themselves. Married on October 12th at Top of the World golf course in Lake George, and a reception following at The Inn at Erlowest on the lake, this was a wedding just as beautiful as the special couple. Thank you to Holly at Out of the Ordinary photography for these amazing pics! www.outoftheordinary.biz



Top of the World is a golf course set high above the southern end of Lake George. Kim and her team did a nice job with the setup of this beautiful ceremony. And in the fall the foliage is amazing! A perfect location for this perfect union.

Check out that first kiss! Yowsers!

A classic car from the groom's family served as their chariot and "Just Married" car, and transported the newlyweds from their ceremony site to their reception.

The cocktail hour and reception were held at The Inn at Erlowest. A beautiful mansion on the shore of Lake George, this location has a beautiful ballroom and a stunning stone patio that looks out to the water. Stunning!

The Tramontanas had a beautiful fall wedding in beautiful Lake George. Katie wants to pass on her thanks to Andy Pratt for playing some great tunes at the reception and keeping the party going all night long. And of course to Holly for Out of the Ordinary photography, she and her assitant really rocked it with these pictures. Beautiful!

And... ok... a few postings back I got to flaunt a few pictures of me in action at a wedding (Casey Wedding, November 29, 2008), so fair is fair. Holly got a few cute pictures of Katie bustling the bride's dress and she deserves to get a little blog coverages in here, too. Go Katie! :)

D'Allesandro wedding - June 28, 2008

These two were so sweet, especially the bride who came to me a few months before their wedding looking for help with their day-of coordination. They are both lawyers and people who have their stuff together, but she was wise enough to know that even after all the hard planning she needed to hand the reigns and responsibility over to someone else so she could relax and enjoy her big day. I was so happy she found me - and I think she was happy, too!

The photos here are from Tom Panko at Foothill Photography. He was a pleasure to work with, very laid back and easy going. Thanks Tom!




These two got married on June 28, 2008 at the Albany Country Club, one of my favorite wedding venues. Kim and her team do a fantastic job right through from the start of the ceremony down to the very last dance of the evening. I love this location!







The ceremony was supposed to be outside on the patio, but unfortunately the rainy weather had other plans for the day. In the end it worked out fine, as the Albany Country Club has a lovely indoor ceremony space. A little air conditioning and rain cover proved to be a lot better than a downpour and humidity this day.





Here is the reception room, decorated beautifully in the couple's colors of white and sky blue. The dining room has impressive chandeliers and a curved wall completely lined with windows. On a clear day you can see all the way down to downtown Albany. Stunning!










This couple worked with David at Renaissance Florals for their ceremony and reception decor, as well as their gorgeous bouquets and boutonnieres. David is absolutely wonderful, one of my top florists and go-to guys, and he pulled off a wonderfully classy summer look in this space.









A little Villa Italia cake is always a great way to end the evening, and even better when it's topped with some of Renaissance Florals lovely hand-tied arrangements. Yum!















Thanks again to Tom with Foothil Photography, Kim at Albany Country Club, David at Renaissance Florals, and Villa Italia bakery. Although not pictured, I must say that TS Ensemble did a terrific job of keeping the party going all night. Not only did they provide a jazz trio for the cocktail hour, these guys had a full band rockin and rollin all night long. They left no space open on that dance floor. Al and his band were wonderful! All in all it was a wonderful wedding, and a really special time for my bride and groom. Thank you guys for letting me be a part of it!

My Ladies' Wedding - October 28, 2008

A year before their wedding my favorite two ladies came to me looking for a planner to help them with their commitment ceremony. I'm so glad they found me - these two were so wonderful to work with! They got married at Birch Hill on October 12, 2008. The pictures are all from John Bagdovich from Finer Image Photography. Great pics!

They had one of the most beautiful ceremonies I have ever seen. Honestly. Even after witnessing dozens of people recite vows these two made me cry genuine tears. It was wonderful. It's rare to see love so real and true.

Look at these two. Isn't their innocence and beauty precious?

These two had the most supportive bridal party. It was so great! This whole group of ladies, plus one ring bearer, kept the two brides feeling as important as ever. Which is good, because they deserved it!

Some highlights of the event were being able to work with Erin Dewey at Birch Hill. She is so wonderful and such a joy to work with! These two hired one of the greatest bands I've ever worked with - Bill's Toupee out of Poughkeepsie, who rocked it out for the entire reception. Mike and his team were AWESOME! Many kudos to the band! And again, thanks to John from Finer Image Photography for capturing these beautiful moments on film. Great night! :)

I love these two. They love each other in an unabashed way that only few can enjoy. They were a true joy to work with, and I had even more pleasure seeing them realize their special day. Much love, and best wishes!

Casey Wedding - November 29, 2008

This was one of my favorite weddings and certainly one of my favorite couples. I spent a year working with the Caseys in putting together this big event. They got married at The Full Moon Resort deep in the Catskill Mountains and went with a Harvest Moon theme. Wedding at the Full Moon are three day wedding weekends where family and friends stay right on property from Friday to Sunday. It makes for a really special time for everyone, and a wonderful experience for the lucky bride and groom. All of these pictures were taken by Michael Grace-Martin. He really captured the beauty of this wedding and this couple.

Their rehearsal was on Friday night. That's me in the middle taking charge! :) The whole bridal party was such a fun - and cooperative! - group.

Rehearsal dinner in the cafe area of the main house. The bride and groom were gracious enough to invite me to share this time with them. :)

Their ceremony took place in an old barn. Most of the guests fit in the seating area on the main floor, and there was standing room for others in the loft above them. The "screen" in the background was decorated with a wreath in the same colors and flowers as the bouquets and reception centerpieces. The guys wore brown tuxes and the girls wore brown dresses with a Moroccan blue pashmina.

Instead of the typical place cards this couple had each guest's name written on a card under a large river rock. The sign on the table explained that the guests were to hold the rock and think of a special wish for the newly married couple. Once the rock was warmed with their well wishes, they placed the rock into the glass container. At the end of the night I brought all of the warmed rocks back to the bride and groom's room. They now have a display of all their guests' wishes for them in their home.

The reception took place in a tent and was beautifully decorated with Moroccan blue, chocolate brown, and wheat colored linens. Instead of floral centerpieces the bride chose the go with bundles of wheat wrapped in a chocolate brown ribbon. To go with the Harvest Moon theme the tables were all named with different moons (full moon, harvest moon, rose moon, etc). Accents of copper were seen in the base of the centerpieces and the stands for the table numbers. It was a really stunning setup!

I had so much fun working with these guys, and I'm so glad that all of their hard work paid off in this absolutely gorgeous wedding. My time with some couples ends at the end of their reception, but with these guys I know we'll be seeing more of each other for years to come.

In addition to Michael Grace-Martin (http://wedding.mgm-photography.com) I also had the pleasure to work with my FAVORITE DJ, Greg Frasier. I didn't put any of the dancing pictures up here but it's not because there weren't great ones to choose from! Greg rocked this wedding, and he kept the party going all night. A true professional and all around great guy, he's truly a pleasure to work with. Also involved in this wedding was Rich Deitlien from Capital Videography. Rich is a stand up guy who gets in there without getting in the way. I can't wait to see their video! Her dress was from Immortal Beloved in Saratoga and they did a wonderful job for her. Hair and makeup was done by Alayne and her partner from Make Me Fabulous. She looked so beautiful!

Here are just a few more pictures that I get a kick out of. I am never in any of the film from my weddings but I seemed to pop up a few times in this one. Just because I never get to do this I wanted to throw a couple pictures of me in action! :)

The pic to the left is me helping the bride put her veil back in after it pulled out, picture to the right is me checking on the timing of the cake cutting with the head wait person. And the picture of me above was taken by the maid of honor - it's me and the beautiful bride!

Butler Wedding

The Butlers got married in June at the National Dance Museum in Saratoga. The Dance Museum is a beautiful and elegant location for a wedding, as you can see from some of the pictures. I worked with some of my favorite vendors at this event - Niki Rossi, who took these amazingly beautiful pictures, Russ from Piano Man DJs, and Angelina Tallman who made their unique cake.

It was super hot out that day, but everyone kept their cool and had a great time. Special thanks go to Niki Rossi for capturing these special moments in beautiful still pics!

Niki really captured the beauty of the Dance Museum as the day was turning into dusk.

This couple had an eco-conscious wedding, with organic menu items and real trees as their favors. The cake Angelina made was cute and fun, along with being delicious!

Recap of 2008

Over the next few days or weeks I'll be posting recaps of some of our favorite events from the past year. Keep coming back to check them all out!

Wedding Seminar - Only a few spots left!

I am holding a free wedding planning seminar tomorrow night in Albany and I have a few spots left. The topic for this session is "Wedding Planning 101" and we'll be going over planning timeline, creating and sticking to a budget, and where to start on booking vendors. This is a FREE session and is perfect for brides in the early stages of wedding planning. Registration is required, and with only a few spots left I recommend contacting me ASAP to get in. Register by sending me an e-mail at info@weddingplanningplus.net or calling me at 518-269-1243. Happy planning!

Free Wedding Seminar - January

You are invited to a
Free Wedding Seminar

January 14, 2009 • Wolf Rd in Albany • 6:30 pm

Hosted by Shannon Whitney, President of Wedding Planning Plus


This Session’s Topic:
Wedding Planning 101

Developing a wedding planning timeline
How to create and stick to a budget
Tips to find the best venues and vendors
Plus - Plenty of time for you to ask questions pertaining to your wedding

Perfect for brides who are in the early phases of wedding planning!


Space is very limited. Registration is required. Call 518-269-1243 or e-mail Info@weddingplanningplus.net to register.


Brought to you by USA Weddings and Wedding Planning Plus

Let us help you plan the wedding of your dreams...

Desmond Bridal Show - this Sunday!!! 11.30.08

Calling all brides! The area's biggest and best bridal show is happening this Sunday the 30th at the Desmond in Albany. It is a huge event with over 50 different vendors - it's a one stop shop for all things wedding related! And the admission is free!

Wedding Planning Plus will be there - Shannon and Sarah to be specific - so stop by our table to say hi! You can use this time to ask questions of us, get wedding advice, and pick up some cool ideas for your big day. And if you've been thinking about hiring a wedding planner or day-of wedding coordinator, what a great way to get in a quick consultation!

We look forward to meeting you there!

http://www.capitaldistrictweddingshow.com/
The Desmond Hotel, Sunday November 30th from 11-3pm

Oh no! Issues with the contact form on my website!

I don't know how long this has been an issue, but it appears that the contact form on my website is not sending the messages to me. So if you have submitted information on there and never heard back from me please send me a direct e-mail instead! I sincerely apologize for all the people who think I'm a b*tch because I didn't get back to you. It wasn't my fault! I just found this problem yesterday but it's probably been going on for a looooong time.

So please forward all communication to us through here for now:

info@weddingplanningplus.net

Thank you!!!

New location!

Hello everyone! It's been a little while since I last blogged but it's mostly because I've been on the move! I bought a house in Rotterdam which will serve as the new "headquarters" for Wedding Planning Plus. Nothing else has changed, just the mailing address and the fact that I have a fun new office space to work in. :)

If you need to send me any mail just shoot me an e-mail and I'll get you the new address.

Happy fall and happy planning!

Destination Wedding Spotlight - Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is truly the best of all worlds. As an American we can travel to our sister island for sun, surf, and no need for passports or currency exchange! Fly down without the hassle of customs, get off the plane and speak the language, and don't even worry about switching that cell phone coverage because chances are good your phone works there. Puerto Rico is a beautiful island rich in history, culture, and tropical flair. Rum production facilities, a rainforest, and plenty of white sand, this truly is an American tropical paradise. And if you are thinking of hosting your wedding in a Caribbean location why not stick with an American territory and keep things simple by getting married on the island? Seems like the best of all beautiful worlds to me.

Want to know more about my trip to Puerto Rico? Just e-mail me at Shannon@WeddingPlanningPlus.net