Wedding Planning Plus is getting great press!!

Wedding Planning Plus has been WeddingWire Rated for 2009!!

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, has just announced that Wedding Planning Plus is officially WeddingWire Rated 2009! WeddingWire created the annual Rated program to honor wedding professionals, like Wedding Planning Plus, for their excellence and to help brides and grooms easily find the right wedding professionals to match their needs.

Wedding Planning Plus has 3 ratings with an average of a 5.0 - PERFECT rating, making us eligible to hold the Rated title on the WeddingWire Network. Each review has been written by our former clients and includes detailed ratings and insightful descriptions of their experiences with our services. These reviews not only enhance our credibility, but also help differentiate our business within the WeddingWire Network.

Wedding Planning Plus would like to thank our past brides and grooms for taking the time to review our services on WeddingWire.

If you are a past client of Wedding Planning Plus and have yet to provide us with your feedback, visit www.weddingwire.com and review our services today.

Also available for feedback and ratings is www.asaratogawedding.com . This site is connected to 3 other local wedding websites so leaving a review on this site actually posts to all 4.

And if you are or were a Knottie then you can leave feedback for us on www.theknot.com . Just log in and look for the page to review your vendors.

Feel free to write one review and paste it into the other sites!

All feedback is appreciated! It helps us continue to do the job we love! Thanks to all our past brides for so generously contributing feedback and ratings on these sites!!!

I love what I do

I don’t usually blog when I get home from a wedding, but after tonight’s affair I have so much on my mind that I feel the need to share. Not in a rant or vent kinda way, but in the spirit of a celebratory happy wedding planner type share. Tonight was the wedding of a bride who will truly stand out in my mind as one of the most special. I know I say a lot of my brides are special – and they are! – but each is special to me in a different way. With tonight’s wedding the bride was special because of the deep relationship we formed over the last year and a half. When I say that this bride called/text/e-mailed/Facebook messaged me every day I would not be exaggerating. I talked to her frequently and often. She had a million questions. And needed reassurance. And advice. And I was happy to give it all.

So when you talk to someone almost daily you get to learn a lot about them, maybe even more than their groom ends up knowing. You get to be more than just a wedding planner to them. You get to be a friend.

Tonight’s wedding was absolutely beautiful, and even though the bride was a bit nervous (not that I didn’t see that coming) she was happy and gorgeous and treated her guests to a wonderful event. Her father got up from dinner to find me and tell me how beautiful the reception was and how appreciative he was for everything I had done to put this wedding together. He talked with me for several minutes. And when he told me how much this wedding was to his daughter and his family, he cried.

At the end of tonight, as I do at every wedding, I went through and said goodbye to key people. I said goodbye to the groom who gave me a big hug and thanked me for everything. Then I said goodbye to the father of the bride who again hugged me tight and gave me a healthy dose of praise. The mother of the bride hugged me so tight and so long that I wasn’t sure I was going to be let go. She poured out her appreciation for putting together such a beautiful event, but mostly for dealing and working with her daughter throughout the whole process. And then I said goodbye to the bride. And it was like saying goodbye to a friend I won’t see anymore. She told me I couldn’t go. And I told her I really wasn’t. Because I know I’m won’t be. I’m never really gone. I’ll always be a part of them as they are of me.

I love what I do. I am a wedding planner. But really I get to be so much more than that. I am a friend. A confidant. I am the expert and the one with wisdom and knowledge. I comfort fears and give a gentle nudge forward when needed. I know about what my couples are most excited about. And what they’re most afraid of. I get them. And their vision. And their wishes and hopes. And I love to put it together.

I don’t think I could ever work at one of those reception locations that pumps out 5 events in a weekend. Because it’s not about the process; to me it’s all about the people. I really do feel like a member of their family, and they become an important member in mine. I stay in touch with a lot of my couples, and I get updates when they return from their honeymoon, when buy their first home, and when they have their first child. I get holiday cards and Facebook updates. I mean something to them and they mean a whole lot to me.

I love what I do. I love being a wedding planner. And what I do is much more than just about the wedding… :)

Happy planning,

Shannon

Wedding Season - so far!

Hello everyone! I know I owe you all an apology, I haven't been blogging much lately and I'm truly sorry for that! But come on people - it's Wedding Season! And we here at Wedding Planning Plus have been very busy! And busy is good. :)

So we are about halfway through our year and have had the most wonderful and beautiful events so far - in spite of the weather. The rain has certainly been an issue for some of our past events but not something we can't handle. We're always prepared with a backup plan and we're ready for just about anything Mother Nature can throw at us. And this year she certainly has been throwing!

Ok, so you were probably expecting something more from this post... this isn't really a blog about anything... more like an apology blog for not being on here much lately... But stay tuned because we will be adding a ton of new posts from our recent weddings so there will be a lot more to look at and catch up on soon! Promise!! :)

Happy planning - and Happy Wedding Season!!,

Shannon

Invitations

Most people know we're the area's premiere wedding planning service, but did you know that we sell invitations and wedding stationery, too? From classic, white and traditional to colorful, fun and funky, we carry whole lines of pieces that fit into every bride's style and theme. A lot of brides are choosing from the collection of ensemble products where the invitations, save the dates, ceremony programs, place cards, table numbers, and favor tags all match in the same color and style. Another popular option is the pockets albums which showcases all of the styles that package the invitation neatly with the response, reception, accommodations, and directions cards. It's easy to set up an appointment to look through our selections! Ordering is simple and quick and prices run across all ranges. Many beautiful options to choose the right wedding stationery for you! Check out some of the sample photos of our offerings below - what are you waiting for - call us to schedule your free consultation!!







Let us help you plan the wedding of your dreams... and find you the perfect stationery, too!

Miller Wedding - June 6, 2009

I work with a lot of special and wonderful couples, but every now and then I meet a couple that has a certain something extra that forever keeps them in a special place in my heart. This is definitely the case with Jackie and Scott. These guys came to me last fall through a recommendation from their caterer. They live in Colorado but were planning their wedding in Saratoga because this area was once home to them. Planning a wedding from out of state has its unique challenges, and they decided to work with me to help them put their event together. They got married at the National Museum of Dance in Saratoga on a beautiful June Saturday. Classe Catering did a wonderful job with the food and the decor setup, as they always do. Kathy is a great Classe coordinator and we work together frequently. Once again, she didn't disappoint. Along with the fabulous photographer Heather Bohm Tallman (http://www.hbtphoto.com/), local videographer Dan Keese, and an awesome band from Canada, we rocked it out and pull off a wonderful wedding for these two. The following photos were all taken by Heather Bohm-Tallman - Beautiful!!

It was a beautiful sunny day and their ceremony was held outdoors along the wooded side of the Museum. To keep guests cool (and to look pretty cool, too) attendants handed out paper parasols to guests as they took their seats. It was pretty neat to look out at the rows of guests and see them all sitting comfortable in the parasols' shade.

The bride's bouquet. A natural and spring-y mix of greens, ivories, and pinks. Flowers by Suzanne Ballet.

Soft colored paper lanterns hung over the dance floor and added a fun and very pretty element to the reception tent. The wedding colors were sage green pale pink, chocolate brown, and ivory, and all four colors were pulled together simply and beautifully in these lanterns.

Jackie and Scott wanted their wedding to depict an elegant take on nature, and brought a lot of creative ways to pull their theme together. These pewter frames of tree bark served as their place cards and favors. As you can see in the place card the guests were seated at tables named for different varieties of trees. The centerpiece on each table was wheat grass grown in beautiful wooden boxes handmade by the groom. Further examples of their use of natural items includes the birch bark canopy that framed the altar for their ceremony, the rocks that were laid out to be warmed with wishes from their guests, and the copper lanterns and birch branches that hung above the walkway into the tent. All of these elements were kept clean and classy, and they pulled together for a cohesive naturally elegant look.



This is genuine happiness on my face here, as I was photographed with the bride and groom towards the end of their reception. Their wedding was beautiful!! And exactly what a beautiful couple like them deserves. Makes me feel like a proud mama. :)

Vote for WPP in the Bridal Blog Awards

I know I haven't posted in a while, and shame on me, but it's wedding season and I get a little busy this time of year. I think about blogging all the time, though, does that count??

Anyway, I just wanted to throw this up here because I know there are loyal fans out there who log on and follow this blog (even when I go a week or two between postings!). I have listed my blog on WeddingChannel's Bridal Blog Awards and I need people to go on and vote for me. I know I'm not going to win but it's fun to be nominated (even though I nominated myself :) and I'd love to see who of you out there goes on and seconds or thirds my nomination. Please vote for me!!

It's easy to vote, just click the link below and write a reply to my posting. That's it!

http://forums.weddingchannel.com/main.aspx/bridal-blog-awards_blog-nominations_vote-wedding-planning-plus-blog

Thank you all for supporting Wedding Planning Plus' blog!!

Bridesmaids dresses

The reception venue, the photographer and DJ, the groom :)... these are all big decisions you have to make when planning your wedding. Another big decision is the color and style of your bridesmaids dresses. This can be a tough choice when you have a large bridal party, have girls of all different sizes, or if you have some vocal ladies who speak up about what they'll wear or not wear. There are lots of options, but make sure you go with a decision that you're comfortable with first, and one that they are comfortable with second. Hey, you're the bride! :) Here are some weddings I've done where the brides have gone in their own direction in terms of style and color and, as you can see, each way works!

(Photo by Holly Greene, Out of the Ordinary Photography)

This is Kim and her lovely bridesmaids. Kim chose to go with a deep red color for her fall wedding. She chose the same style dress for each girl so they were all wearing the same thing. This works well when all of your bridesmaids allow you to choose their dress and they don't give you any grief about it! :) These ladies look beautiful and the style of their skirts matched the style of Kim's dress to pull the whole look together.

(Photo by Shannon DeCelle Photography)

Lindsey went with all the dresses in the same color and length but let the girls choose the style they liked best. You can see there are halter tops, strapless, and strapped tops all in this group. This look can only be pulled off when you choose dresses all from one line from one designer, because going with too many different variables will come of as mismatched and awkward. But here in this picture the overall look is still cohesive because all of the fabric is the same and the skirts all match.

As an added note, Lindsey also pulled in the secondary color of her wedding - the Tiffany blue - in her junior bridesmaid (see the blue sash?) and her flower girl. Too cute!!

(Photo by Jill Kaiser)

Nancy was definitely someone who fit into my "practical bride" category. She had a beautiful vision for her wedding but she kept costs and convenience in mind for a lot of her decisions. This includes the dresses she chose for her bridesmaids. Or should I say "not chose"? Nancy wanted to keep an all-black theme for the girls but allowed them to pick and wear whatever black dress they wanted. And the girls got to shop at department stores instead of bridal shops which made the whole process easier and less costly for them. Even though they are in different styles from different designers the common color and skirt length keeps them looking cohesive in these pictures. These were some happy and comfortable bridesmaids, and girls who will definitely be able to wear their bridesmaid dresses again!

(Photo by Hillary Harvey)

Christie planned a fall wedding and decided to go with four different colors and three different styles of dress for her bridesmaids. Keeping with a fall theme she chose the shades of red, tan, brown, and orange that best suited her elegant and simple affair. Going with a combination of styles AND different colors has the potential to go terribly wrong, but as you can see from this picture they all match quite nicely. This is due to the sheen in the fabric, the length in their skirts, and the fact that they are all wearing the same shoes. Keeping these elements the same in each girl allowed the whole group to match quite well.

________________________________

So I guess the morale of the story, if there is one, is that there really is no right or wrong way to select your bridesmaid dresses as long as you keep a few rules in mind. If you choose to go with different styles or colors just make sure you maintain some commonal elements to tie the girls together. Skirt length is the biggest element to keep the same (since this is what you will see first when you look across your group) so try to keep all the girls with the same length dresses. After that look to keep them the matching with identical jewelry, shoes, sashes, hair styles, etc so they can be recognized by guests as a part of your bridal party and look similar to each other in pictures.

Have fun with it and make sure your girls are going to have fun with what they wear, too. You can stay with all one style and color like Kim did, you can go with the same color but different styles like Lindsay, same color but completely different dresses like Nancy, or one designer in different styles and colors like Christie. The choice is yours! Enjoy!

Happy planning!

Shannon

Planning the wedding that is YOUR wedding

I hear it all the time. "My sister says that my favorite color is no color for a bridesmaid dress so now I'm thinking of going with [insert ugly color here]"... "Even though I hate polka dancing my mom said I have to play a polka song so the family can all dance to it"... "My future mother-in-law said her favorite flower is the carnation so I guess I'm going to have to do all the bridal party in carnations"... "My dad wants to invite all of his work friends and they are all people I've never met"...

Weddings are big events. Especially for you and your fiance... And for your parents..... And his parents... And your extended family... And your friends... And, and, and... But wait!! Who is this wedding for?? Is it for all of them? And how do you please everyone and keep it meaningful to you?

Don't misunderstand me, I fully understand that there are a lot of people involved in this, and a lot of people who care about you, and maybe a lot of people who are paying so the decisions need to consider all of the above... But ladies (and gents), just because your family is vocal doesn't mean they have to decide everything to do with your wedding. You are the bride (or groom)! And it is YOUR day! This is one of those moments in your life when you need to make decisions based on what is going to make you most happy, and stand behind those decisions when others oppose. If they love you they will support you and do what is best for you. Whether your centerpieces have carnations or calla lilies. Trust me.

My best advice when parents/siblings/friends/future in laws start to make you feel like you're going to unravel? Tell them you'll think about their idea, and then... politely... change the subject. Don't say no and insult them, but don't say yes if it's not something you want! Pick a solid planning partner, whether it is your fiance or best friend or your wedding planner and use them as the sounding board to bounce all of these ideas off of. It's important to have a neutral party or one who knows and supports you so you can vent to them and wipe that stress away.

In the end you only get one chance at your perfect wedding and you don't want to look back at your day and think it wasn't exactly yours. These people will love you in the end but they will not be the ones who have to look back on the day and see the polka dances, ugly colored dresses, or the carnations. Stay strong, brides! Keep the peace as best as you can and keep your vision in tact despite others' pressures. And find a kind ear to talk to whenever... things... get.... ya know. :)

Happy planning!

Shannon

More favor ideas

In my last post I talked about some ways to do favors, but I left out one major category - the end-of-the-night-cool-experience-or-goodie-treat kinda favor. Yay!! This has become a popular way to go out with a bang, by leaving your guests with some kind of delicious and fun tasty treat that they can take home with them and continue to enjoy your wedding even after they have left. How have I seen this done lately? The Gilchrist wedding on May 16th (see details in a blog post below) gave out cookies and milk in to-go containers as their guests exited the reception. A wedding I have coming up this fall is doing a full candy bar where guests can fill bags with sweets (in the wedding colors, of course) to bring back home with them. And possible my favorite idea so far? An October wedding I'm working on where they are thinking of hiring a team from Cold Stone to mix up ice cream sundaes on the premises at the end of their reception. Bringing a marble slab with them. And their full Cold Stone uniforms. And all the yummy toppings and fillings. How fun is that???

Or if food isn't your thing, why not go the route of a photobooth? That's right, the old school seashore carnival kinda thing where you go in and the bulb flashes and your get a strip of funny pics of you and whoever you pulled in there with you. These are not just memories from your past - these photo booths are available locally and can be rented for your reception! Your friends go in and act all silly and they leave with these vintage-feel pictures at the end of your reception. And what they don't know? Is that you get a whole set of all the pictures taken in the booth so you also walk away with all the silly pictures of everyone you know. How fun is that???

So, like I said in my last post, there is really no right - or wrong - way to do guest favors, but if you're going to spend the money on something, why not make it something that they're going to say to their friends, "Hey, I went to a wedding this weekend and you won't believe the kind of cool stuff they had there..."

Happy planning!

~ Shannon

Favorite favors

I get a lot of questions from brides about what they should do for favors at their wedding. If you've been to enough weddings you know that most of them get left behind at the reception hall anyway, so practical brides feel that they put themselves at a risk for wasting money by going with something expensive. My recommendation is always to go with something simple and edible since just about everyone likes to snack on something sweet at the end of a good wedding. Food isn't the only way to go, though, and here are some neat ideas from some of my past weddings:

This was a wedding I did back in 2007 and the picture is courtesy of Emma Dodge Hanson. This couple had guests coming in from all over the country, and they wanted to give them each something to listen to on their travels back home. They put together a mixed CD with songs that meant something to them as a couple, and dressed up the CD with a cute picture of the two of them. Once they placed them all in the pink and green cases they fit perfectly with the color scheme of the event. Fun, easy to do, and personal.

These are pictures I've posted on this blog before, but I wanted to bring them back because they are two examples of couples who chose to combine their place card with their favor. It's a great idea because it saves on paper, it keeps you from having to keep track of twice as many items, and it reduces the waste left behind at the end of the night. The top picture with the blue boxes was taken by Shannon DeCelle and the bottom photo is from Niki Rossi. The boxes held candies are were displayed as traditional place cards at the entrance to the room. The bottom photo is a tree sapling that guests could take home and plant in their yards. These were placed at each place setting instead of being stacked at a front table. Two different approaches to the same great idea.

This picture was taken by Hillary Harvey at one of our weddings last fall. What's different about this wedding was that they gave their guests not one, but two favors. Although not pictured, the couple had small maple syrup containers at each place setting. But at the end of the night Katie and I put out these cute to-go containers that had maple candies and other goodies in them. By placing this display right by the exit we were making sure that everyone would see it and take the boxes home with them. The couple also added a personal touch by fixing a sticker with their monogram and wedding date on the top of each box. Cute!

This might be my favorite kind of favor - the one of charitable donation. If you think that buying little trinkets or candies if a waste, then why not make a donation in your guests' honor? This picture was taken by Jill Kaiser at a wedding last fall, and this couple chose the Lance Armstrong LIVE STRONG charity. This is a charity that is on top of it when it comes to wedding donations, because they are already equipped to send out thank you cards that couples can give to their guests that night. As you can see in the picture, the card informs the guests of the donation that was made, and it also come with the signature yellow LIVE STRONG wrist band attached to the back of each card. Perfect packaging and a perfect idea! So pick your favorite charity and put your favor money to a very practical and worthy use.

You are invited to a

Free Wedding Seminar

June 28, 2009 • Albany • 1:00 pm

Hosted by Shannon Whitney, President of Wedding Planning Plus

This Session’s Topic:

Secrets to the Perfect Wedding Day

~ Expert advice on how to give your wedding a real “wow” factor
~ Do’s and don’ts to making your day come together flawlessly
~ Tips on how to let go and truly enjoy your wedding day
~ Plus – Plenty of time to ask your questions!
~ And Free Wedding Books!

Perfect for couples in any stage of their 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
www.USAWeddings.com

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

Mr. and Mrs. Gilchrist - May 16, 2009

This past Saturday Wedding Planning Plus coordinated two weddings in one day, which is nothing unusual for us, except that one of those weddings is what I would call a mega-wedding. This event was a no holds barred, high-end celebration for the bride, the groom, and 325 of their closest friends. This wedding had everything - a cigar roller, custom flooring, raw bar, mashed potato station, cordial station, chocolate fountain, top notch vendors, party shuttle bus - I could go on and on - you name it, it was here. This was a great couple to work with and my team and I had a blast seeing it all come together for them. We truly had the dream team working this event - the team at Saratoga National who ran the show and provided wonderful food and beverage service throughout the night, Joe and JP Elario as photographers, Al Woodard as videographer, Mike Emery and the New York Players as the music entertainment extraordinaire, Kris Ann Blanchette as the florist - this was truly a wedding dream team assembled to create the perfect event for Meghan and Chris. The Elarios just posted some of the pictures of their blog. http://www.joeelariophotography.com/. With their permission, I wanted to throw a few of those pics up on here for all of you to see. Check it out, this was one of those weddings we'll be talking about for a loooong time...

This was a fun group of girls who all loved Meghan and were so happy and proud to be a part of her big day.

Chris and his guys were in this for the party and they rocked it out all night long. Check out the hats!

Who can't resist a little father daughter moment before she walks down the aisle. Sarah and I were out of camera shot here (intentionally, and luckily) but it was super cute to see this exchange close up. Very special.

This was probably the sickest cocktail hour I've ever seen. You would NOT leave this place hungry. Food upon food, and fun activities like cigar rolling and a mashed potato bar kept the crowd very happy and very full.

Check out this tent! Meghan had one request and that was to have a black and white floor in her reception tent. Good call Meghan! This room looked awesome, and the checkered floor and matching table scape made for a very hip, chic, and fun atmosphere.

The bride and groom on their first dance as husband and wife. Always a special moment.

Meghan and Chris were a lot of fun to work with, and my team was truly honored to be a part of their special day. I had a blast planning this event, and I really will remember this as one of the greatest weddings I had the honor of being a part of. On last count I realized that there are two more daughters in this family - O'Callaghans, you know how to reach me when it's time to plan the next one!! :)

Awww... This is Danielle and Nick, my May 16th bride and groom at the Albany Country Club. They're photographer, Tracey Buyce, got me a quick copy of this picture. http://www.traceybuyce.com/. Aren't they so cute?? Love them. :)

And we're off!

Wedding season was officially kicked off this weekend for Wedding Planning Plus with not one, but TWO weddings on Saturday May 16th. The first wedding was for Danielle and Nick at the Albany Country Club. I started working with these guys in February of 2008 so this wedding was a long time in the making. I love this couple, so laid back and fun. They really let their vendors do their thing and they stayed calm enough to enjoy every minute of it. I loved working with them and although I'll miss planning their wedding with them I'm sure I'll see them around, because Nick is not only one of my grooms, but he is also my web designer! Check out his talent - http://www.weddingplanningplus.net/.

My other wedding was for Meghan and Chris at Saratoga National. I met these guys last summer and together we planned an unbelievable event for 325 guests. This wedding had everything - top vendors, elaborate food and beverage displays, a cigar roller, a chocolate fountain, a cordial station - you name it, it was there. My assistants took charge of this one (I haven't quite figured out how to be two places at once) and they rocked it! Thank you WPP planners Katie, Sarah, and Gail. I literally couldn't have done this without you!!

I'm so excited that wedding season is here. This wedding weekend is the first of MANY wedding weekends for Wedding Planning Plus. Keep checking back here to see the pictures of these events!

Happy planning,

Shannon

Green Weddings

Earth Day was just a few weeks back, and now with spring flowers and warm weather around us everyone is dusting off the winter cobwebs and heading outdoors. This time of year you appreciate what Mother Nature has to offer us, and the responsibility we all have to leave as little trace on the earth as we can. Being eco-conscious in our day-to-day lives can have a lasting effect on the environment, but it doesn't have to stop there. Have you thought about how much "stuff" goes into your wedding? What about having a Green Wedding?

Here are some ways you can be earth-friendly in your wedding planning:

Go organic - Pesticides and chemicals have a harsh effect on the environment. Support natural farmers by choosing menu items made with organic foods. There are even organic beverages available, so stock the bar with the "clean" items that taste good and are better for you. And when it comes to the attire of your bridal party, there are organic cotton options available to you, as well.

Go recycled - Any bride can tell you that a lot of paper is used in a wedding. Invitations come with multiple pieces and envelopes. There are menu cards, place cards, and table numbers to display. And don't forget all of those thank you cards! Look for stationery that is printed on recycled paper. Don't be fooled by the 10% recycled options on out; Make sure you go for the highest percentage of recycled paper possible.

Go naturally - Favors are a great way to add a very earth-friendly spin on your party. Why not give tree seedlings to your guests so they can plant a tree in their yard? Or instead give a donation to an eco-conscious organization in the guests' names? Leave that lasting impression with them that you care about them - and Mother Nature.

Go locally - Do you know what kind of an imprint transportation leaves on the environment? Shipping those flowers from South America, ordering the guest book and favors from the west coast, and bringing in wines from across the globe - transporting these items creates pollution that could be avoided if you stay local. This area has so many artist communities and eco-friendly vendors. Seek out local ingredients for your menu, locally grown flowers for your centerpieces, and locally designed items for your stationery and favors. Not only is this environmentally friendly, but it also helps the local economy by giving business to vendors in your own backyard.

Go smart - Ask your vendors questions. Learn about where the meat and vegetables for your entrees is coming from. Ask your florist what is done with all those glass vases when you're done with them. Talk to your boutique about the chemicals used on the fabric of your bridesmaids dresses. The more you talk about it the more aware you become. And, eventually, the more aware all of us become.

Planning a Green Wedding doesn't mean boring or hippie or unconventional. It just means that you are making choices that fit in line with what you want and what is best for the environment. And like everything else you put into your special day - have fun with it! :)

Happy planning,

Shannon


Last year I had a couple who planned a Green Wedding. Their favors were evergreen tree seedlings, and the combined their place card with their favor to save on paper. They made their floral arrangements themselves using peonies from a family member's garden. It was Green, personal, and beautiful.

(Photos by Niki Rossi)

Shaver Ellis Wedding

Mr. and Mrs. Ellis were married on October 11, 2008 at Lanzi's on the Lake in Mayfield. This location in set right on the Sacandaga Lake with a large lawn overlooking the water. The couple picked a perfect day for weather and the fall foliage was just at its peak. With an outdoor ceremony and a fall themed reception the plans couldn't have come together more perfectly. This was especially relieving to me because this couple came to us a few weeks before their wedding due to the parting of ways with their original wedding planner. My assistant, Katie, and I put our heads together on this one and worked extra hard to put the finishing touches in place just in time for their special day. As you can see from Hillary Harvey's pictures, the day came together beautifully. I couldn't have planned it better myself.

This couple lives in Manhattan and has family ties to the Adirondack area. They came up to camp a week before their wedding and used rustic cabins to get prepped and ready on their big day. Here the bride's sister and father and putting the finishing touches to her gorgeous ensemble.

The bride wore dress with a stunning silk bodice and a full length lace overlay. Classically elegant. Her groom looked dapper in a velvety black suit. For their bridal party they went with a range of fall shades for the girls and simple suit jackets and linen pants for the guys.

Here you can see the colors of the bridal party and how it fits so well with the fall theme. The flower colors tied all of the shades together, and the setting sun over the lake helps added that special touch to this picture.










The couple kept their guest list small and enjoyed an intimate dinner party-like feel for their reception. The reception room was laid out with two long dinner tables with lovely candelabra centerpieces down the center of each. Chocolate brown linens and copper organza overlays added richness and shimmer to the tables. Uplighting on the walls and extra candlelight kept the mood swanky and elegant.







Tying in with their fall theme was this beautiful wedding cake prepared by Angelina Tallman. I love Angelina's cakes (she's in a lot of my blogs). She used gum paste leaves to decorate the three tiers which added a bit of fun to the overall design. The couple found a decorative copper tree and Angelina used this as the topper. And believe me, the cake tasted as good as it looked!

Although they used maple syrup bottles as their favors, the couple also gave out little to go boxes for their guests to take home with them. The little Chinese take out containers were dressed with the couple's monogram for a cute and simple reminder of their appreciation.

Even though Katie and I only had a few weeks to get to know this couple, we both quickly fell in love with them! They kept things simple and elegant and allowed us to come in and add our finishing touches to their event. Thanks again to Hillary Harvey Photography for these amazing pictures (http://www.hillaryharvey.com/). It was an absolutely beautiful event on a beautiful day for a truly beautiful couple.

April's Free Wedding Seminar

You are invited to a

Free Wedding Seminar

April 16 - Washington Ave in Albany - 6:30 p.m.

Hosted by Shannon Whitney, President of Wedding Planning Plus

This session's topic:

The Groom's Guide to (Surviving) Wedding Planning

- Talking weddings in terms guys understand

- Knowing how to best help you bride during this planning phase

- Getting a grasp on the groom's responsibilities and how to rock them

- Time for guys to ask (or vent about) anything related to your wedding

- Plus free pizza and wings! Come on, it's a guy thing

Perfect for grooms in any phase of wedding planning

A message from Shannon:

A lot of your brides have participated in these wedding seminars and have had a blast going over various topics related to wedding planning. This time I'm going a little different and catering to your "other half". Ladies, you know he needs it. That's why this session is all about the groom!

This session is open to grooms only. 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...

Engagement photos

As a wedding planner I get asked all kinds of questions about what couples should or should not spend their money on. Engagement photos are a great example of this kind of add-on. Ever wonder if the cost is worth it? In my opinion - Yes!

Think about it:

* Similar to your cake and caterer, an engagement photo session is an opportunity to take your photographer out for a test run. You can get a feel for how interact with you, how they motivate you from behind the camera, and what kind of a professional they are. You get a firsthand account on how long they take to set up a shot, if they are good on the fly, and how they work with the environment around you. And you get actual pictures from them where you can assess the quality and delivery speed of the finished product. And you get all of these experiences before your wedding day. You can learn a lot about your photographer from a simple engagement session - all of which are sure to be good - but if you weren't happy then you may still have time to fix any of the problems. This is a unique opportunity that you don't get with all of vendors.

* Want to put an engagement photo in your newspaper? Add a picture of the two of you to your save the date magnets? Or need an image to put in the signature "guest book" frame at your reception? Instead of using a fuzzy shot from your digital camera you can use one of the professional images from your engagement photo session. Trust me, it will look better!

* Do you want your only formal pictures of the two of you to be ones where you're in a white dress and tuxedo? Most people only have wedding photos to frame and display in their home, but after an engagement photo shoot you will have dozens of great images of the two of you looking more like you do everyday. You can look back on these for years with fond memories, not just of your wedding day but of this special time in your lives.

Plus, these sessions are fun! Some of my couples have done engagement photo sessions and have had a blast with them. Check out some of these images.

______________________________

This is Danielle and Nick, and they are getting married at the Albany Country Club this May. Their fabulous photographer, Tracey Buyce, took these shots of them last summer down around Washington Park and the Empire State Plaza. Tracey captured their personalities beautifully, and you can see the love these two have for each other. How can you not love these? http://www.traceybuyce.com/

________________________________

These shots are of Lindsey and Adam, a couple who got married last year in Saratoga. Their photographer was Shannon DeCelle and they wisely decided on an engagement session with her the winter before their wedding. Shannon did a combination on in-studio and outside shots, and even did a big "family" photo with the couple and their two dogs. Love it! http://www.shannondecellephotography.com/

_____________________________

Here is a picture from the Casey wedding this past November. Michael Grace-Martin was their photographer and he did an engagement photo session with the couple the previous spring. They used one of their engagement photos in the signature frame at their reception. It was beautiful! MGM also took this photo - a photo of his photo! http://www.mgm-photography.com/

________________________________

So if you're considering an engagement photo session I say go for it! It's a great opportunity to work with your photographer before your wedding, and a chance to have some beautiful formal pictures of the two of you. Definitely worth it.

Still not convinced? Or perhaps you have questions? E-mail me! shannon@weddingplanningplus.net

Why hire a wedding planner?

I found this article on the web and thought, alas!, that it was pertinent to post on my blog. Wedding planners have the rep of being a luxury item designed only for the rich and famous but if you asked any of my "regular girl" brides they would tell you that my expertise has saved them time, energy, and money! What bride doesn't need more of that??? Please read on..........

"Planning a fairy tale wedding is probably a dream that most brides-to-be have had since they were in pigtails. The dress, the cake, the bridesmaids, the honeymoon all seem like pretty simple subjects to address when the time comes to begin planning the big day. When and if, it becomes too much too handle, do yourself a favor -consult with a professional wedding planning service. You will save time, money and unnecessary stress.

There is a myth floating around that has people believing that all Wedding Planners are not affordable for working-class individuals. A long time ago, only the elite society knew of and had access to Wedding Planners. Today, Wedding Planners are very common and are hired by celebrities as well as everyday working people. Naturally, Wedding Planners that work with the rich and famous can and do charge through the nose for their services because the clients are able to afford the high-end prices. Misconceptions about Wedding Planners being pricey, comes from wedding shows that air on reality television. The truth is a bride and groom will save more money when working with a Wedding Planner because planners are trained to work within the couple's budget and negotiate with vendors. Whether you are wealthy or not wealthy at all, Wedding Planners are a smart choice when it comes time to plan your special day.

Wedding planners will alleviate stress from the husband and wife-to be, at any stage of the planning process. Many brides and grooms begin to plan their wedding on their own or with the help of family and friends. Before all vendors are even contacted, couples find that they have exceeded their budget. Between running out of money before the big day happens and their loved-ones stressing them out about what they should or should not do for the wedding, brides and grooms are at their wits-end. Once the happy couple contacts a planner, a common practice is to meet for a consultation, which is usually complimentary. At the meeting, wishes, dreams and ideas are expressed to the Wedding Planner who will then create a magical and memorable event complete with dazzling colors and amazing centerpieces. Planners are known for building relationships with reputable caterers, bakers, deejays, hotels, florists, limousines and any other service that the bride and groom desire. Vendor relationships are the key because the planner is then able to negotiate prices as well as make sure that contracts are in order, valuable lessons that are taught in courses geared towards Wedding Planners. During the wedding rehearsal and on the wedding day, planners will be present so that all runs smoothly. This allows the bride, groom and their attendees to relax and enjoy the festivities. That luxury alone is priceless!"