Megan and Harry - September 21, 2013

I had the distinct pleasure of coordinating Megan and Harry's wedding in September. I am so lucky that I work with most fabulous couples in the world and Megan and Harry certainly upheld my luck! They were so laid back, kind and truly embraced the notion that this very day was really about their marriage. They didn't get caught up in things that didn't matter and they let their professionals do their jobs - I really admired that about this couple!  

This dynamic couple got very lucky as well- with the weather! It was a perfect September day, sun shining, super comfortable temperature. But near the end of the reception, it started raining lightly which allowed for some absolutely stunning night shots by the incredible Matt Ramos! 

Megan + Harry's wedding day started at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Saratoga, where the girls got beautiful by Lipstick N Lashes. I don't think I have ever seen such a calm getting-ready room! The girls were so awesome. The groom party was just as awesome- they got ready at a nearby Inn in Saratoga and were just as cool and calm as can be. Once personal flowers arrived, everyone was set to go, so we all headed to historic Congress Park for the First Look.

Following the first look, Matt Ramos once again worked his magic for bridal party and family photos in the Park. This worked out so well because all photos were completed with enough time to spare for Megan + Harry and bridal party to head into the Casino and have a glass of champagne and some hors d'ouevres prior the ceremony. There was no rushing at any time of this day so everyone involved was so calm. Speaking of calm, I need to shout out HUGELY to Jennifer + the Mazzone Hospitality team who was the caterer at the Casino. This team was spot on for each and every detail, was so professional, friendly and just overall lovely. As always, the cuisine was delicious and presented beautifully. 

The ceremony was officiated by the Honorable Steven Hemstret and DJ Michael Timko kept the tunes rolling for both the ceremony and the reception. Matt Ramos' photo booth was also provided for the reception was a really great time for all! The guest tables were adorned with centerpieces by Central Market Florist Saratoga and the Casino looked really pretty. The Candy Bar that the bride provided really capped off the night with something sweet for guests to savor!

Megan + Harry, you are both wonderful people and I wish you nothing but the best that life has to offer! Enjoy!

Erin Rossi

Hiring

We are currently looking for exciting and motivated individuals to fill the following positions:

-Planner/Coordinator Interns for the 2014 season

There are a few spots open for interns to shadow lead planners and assist them in the coordination of real events.  This is an unpaid position and requires attendance at weekend weddings throughout the 2014 season (average of 10-15 events).  Highly successful interns may be offered a paid position with the company when the season is over.  

-  Social Media Coordinator - Intern

Social media is where all the brides are and we are looking for a tech savvy individual to get us up to speed on all the hottest sites, blogs, and apps.  The perfect candidate is someone who is well versed in electronics and technology, and has a solid understanding of how to maximize our business potential on sites such as Pinterest, FB, Twitter, Instagram, blogging, and the like.  This is an unpaid position that will last the winter months, with the majority of work being able to be completed at home.  Job references and letters of recommendations will be available to those who are successful in this position.

Qualified applicants should send their electronic resume and cover letter to:

shannon@weddingplanningplus.net

All questions can also be sent to Shannon at the same email address.

We are gearing up for our best year yet and can't wait to add some fantastic people to our team!

Jennifer and Daniel - June 22, 2013

Jennifer and Daniel were married at the Inn at Erlowest on June 22, 2013.  This was a very special wedding for me because Jen's family owns Erlowest and I felt especially honored to be asked to coordinate this very important day.

Jen and Daniel's ceremony took place at the waterfront point overlooking Lake George.  The weather was great for their big day, and they lucked out and didn't get the rain that most of the rest of our June weddings had.  Jen has the sweetest sister who was right by her side to attend to her needs all day, and Dan's twin brother shared that role on the groom's side.  After the ceremony they took out Erlowest's hacker craft boat, Miss Erlowest, and spent some alone time out on the water.  They had a big bridal party and their colors were shades of soft pinks, hot pinks, and creams.  It was a stunning day and stunning event!

Beth Kaiser was their photographer and kindly shared these images with me.  Josh Rask from Clark+Walker shot video and provided a photobooth, David Michael Schmidt and the team from Renaissance Floral Design provided all of the florals, and guests rocked out to the music of Body and Soul late into the night.  Also joining me on this wedding was officiant Jay Krehbiel, Changes Salon who did all the hair and makeup, Ray Alexander who played the ceremony and cocktail music, Rain or Shine who supplied all of the rentals, and DJ Mark Brenneisen who kept the party going after hours with a late night DJ set.

Congrats Jen and Daniel!  Thank you for choosing me as your wedding coordinator and allowing me to share in your wedding day!

Jessica and Gabe Review WPP!

Photo by Casey Connell Photography

Jessica and Gabe were married on October 19, 2013 with their ceremony at St Mary's Church in East Greenbush and their reception at River Stone Manor.  Jessica left a review of me online and said the sweetest things!  This bride and groom are amazingly thoughtful and kind and I very much appreciate them taking the time to post this!

To read our other reviews on Wedding Wire CLICK HERE

When people complement our wedding or seek wedding-related advice, the first thing I tell them is that I couldn’t have done it without a day-of coordinator. Yes, Pinterest and The Knot are great for inspiration, but who is going to make sure your dream wedding is perfectly executed? Shannon Whitney of Wedding Planning Plus, that’s who! When my husband and I started planning our wedding, we never thought that we would need day-of coordination. We had booked almost all of our vendors and pretty much knew exactly what we wanted. For a year we planned and planned and planned. But I didn’t want to be a wedding planner on my wedding day --- I wanted to be a bride. I wanted to enjoy our special day without the stress (or, let’s be real, as little stress as possible). I wanted our friends and family to enjoy being guests at our wedding. When you put so much time, money, and effort into an event such as a wedding, solid backup is a must. And I couldn’t have asked for better backup than Shannon. From day one, I knew we clicked and that she was Team Bride & Groom all the way. It was such a relief knowing that there was someone always on our side and looking out for our best interest. Shannon, we love you and couldn’t have said ‘I do!’ without you!!!

We Reached A New Level Of Wedding Wire Rated

Erica and Joe's review of WPP's Erin Dewey put us at 50 total reviews on Wedding Wire, which earns us a shiny new badge.  Thank you to all of our past clients for sharing the love and taking the time to leave us such wonderful reviews!!!  

To read our reviews on Wedding Wire CLICK HERE

Erica and Joe Reviewed WPP's Erin Dewey!

Photo by Scott Kretschmann Photography

Erica and Joe were married on October 12, 2013 and held their reception at the National Museum of Dance.  Erin Dewey was their planner and coordinator and had a blast working with these two!  Erica was kind enough to post a review of Erin's services, and we very much appreciate the kind words!  Can't wait to post their full wedding recap - soon!

To read more of our reviews on Wedding Wire CLICK HERE.

We debated hiring a wedding planner for so long when thinking about our wedding. I knew as soon as I contacted Wedding Planning Plus I was in great hands and it was the best decision we made! I was lucky enough to work with Erin Dewey from the months leading up to our wedding until the day of. Erin's bubbly personality and enthusiasm made planning our wedding so much fun and stress free! Her experience, knowledge of the industry, and advice were truly invaluable. She handled everything with ease and went to bat for us when were were stuck or had difficulty contacting vendors. When she took control in the weeks before the wedding I couldn't believe how stress free I was!! I was thankful for this because I enjoyed the time before our wedding with friends and family so much more knowing the we were in great hands. Our day went PERFECTLY and I truly believe without Erin that would not have been the case. When I look back on the day I will always remember how much work and heart Erin put in to help make the day so wonderful. I HIGHLY recommend Erin and Wedding Planning Plus for your big day. Seriously, you're crazy if you don't hire them :)

WPP Promo Video!!

Now Showing - WPP's Promo Video!

I have been looking for a way to share behind the scenes footage of how WPP Planners execute our perfectly flawless weddings.  I contacted my friend Will Beyer of Nuvue Cinema and we quickly teamed up to make a video of all of the things brides and grooms don't get to see us do on their wedding day.  Will followed me on several weddings and compiled this promo video from the footage he shot.  Will and his business partner John are amazingly talented videographers and I thank Nuvue Cinema from the bottom of my heart for making such a lovely video for us to share!!

Wedding Planning Plus from Nuvue Cinema on Vimeo.

Kristine and John - September 28, 2013

Kristine and John were married at Saratoga National Golf Club on September 28, 2013.  To say that I had an amazing time working with these two is a complete understatement.  What first started with a phone call from Kristine's mom looking for a wedding planner for her daughter ended up as a beautiful friendship that I now am happy to share with these two.  Who knew that when they hired me as their wedding planner back in February of 2012 that we would all get so much out of our time together.

Kristine and John are completely wonderful people each possessing a heart of pure gold.  They both love each other so much and I was actually surprised I was able to keep them apart the morning of their wedding!  Their first look was absolutely amazing, and I had to include a series of photos from that moment just so everyone can see how genuine and real they reacted to seeing one another for the first time.  You can see in all of these images that they have a true and deep connection to each other and when you are around them you can just feel the love they share.  This wedding day meant a lot to them not just because of the fun party but because they officially got to start the rest of their lives together.  And they couldn't have had a more beautifully sunny day to do this.

It is no surprise that two people who share so much love with one another were raised in families that possess the same caring qualities.  Kristine picked her only sister to be her maid of honor, and John chose his only brother to be his best man.  During the ceremony their parents each held on to one of the wedding bands in what is known as a Ring Warming Ceremony, a silent blessing of the wedding rings that John and Kristine later placed on each other's finger.  And for Kristine's something blue she had a section of one of her dad's old blue shirts cut into a heart and sewn into her wedding dress with her wedding date embroidered into it.  It was so touching to be there to watch her dad's expression as he saw the blue heart for the first time.  

In addition to all the thoughtful pieces, Kristine also incorporated a lot of fun details into her wedding.  The purple and green color scheme is a great choice for fall, and going with flowers that have a lot of texture is the perfect match for the season.  They had custom signs made for their ceremony space as well as matching escort board and table number for the reception room.  Guests were treated to an amazing array of food and their signature cocktail was a super cute "Something Blue" martini.  Their reception tables were dressed in a soft sage green linen and their wedding cake was topped with an adorable hand made pennant flag that read "Just Married".  They even had some fun with sparklers and surprised their guests with a full spread of sliders and fries as a late night nosh station.  This wedding had everything - plus some!

This wedding could not have been possible without the help of a team of talented wedding vendors.  Traci, Kristi and Sarah from Saratoga National were AMAZING to work with and made sure every last detail was executed perfectly.  Niki Rossi brought her photo and video team for this event and it's always a blast working with Niki, Ray, and the crew!  Adam Conway from Piano Man DJs kept the dance floor packed all night.  Adam you rock!  Hair and makeup was done by the fab ladies at Make Me Fabulous, my girl Jessica Rowell performed their amazingly personal ceremony, and the flowers were done by Kris Ann Elario and team from Fleurtacious Designs.  And for transportation we had Today's Limousine for their limo service and Upstate Transit for shuttling the guests back and forth.  

I am so happy that I was home to answer the call from Kristine's mom 16 months ago, because if I had never connected with her I would never have met Kristine and John and formed the wonderful friendship we share now.  I was so happy to work with them as their wedding planner and even happier that I get to call them true friends for years to come.

xoxo,

Shannon