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

Personalized Art Designs by WPP

Some of you already know that WPP is partnered with an amazing graphic artist, Adam Anson, who creates beautiful wedding posters, escort boards, table numbers, and now personal gift items that bring lots of impact to the typical wedding gift table.  

Here are two examples of recent designs that I have worked with Adam to produce:

The first is an artistic version of the bride and groom's wedding vows that they said to one another during their ceremony.

The second is a vow exchange as the bride and groom had written their own vows to one another.  The purple text represents the words the bride spoke, and the green are the words the groom spoke to her.

This kind of graphic art can be used for a number of different wedding gifts, such as the lyrics of the bride and groom's first dance song, the versus of a reading from their ceremony, or the last lines of the best man or maid of honor's toast.  Or maybe this would be the perfect anniversary gift to bring the very words from a bride and groom's wedding back in their memories.  The traditional first anniversary gift is paper so what better way to gift a very personalized paper item to the bride and groom?

Today's brides and grooms are looking for personal touches to bring to their wedding celebration, which is exactly why this kind of personalized graphic art is the best expression of love to give right back to them.

For pricing and product options be sure to contact us at info@weddingplanningplus.net.

Jen and Ian - May 18, 2013

Jen and Ian were married at Oak Hill in Hudson on May 18, 2013.  They are one of the sweetest couples I have ever met and the love they share between one another is electric.  You will see in these photos that these two share a emotionally cosmic connection and are truly each other's soul mate.  It was so much fun for me to work with them as their day-of wedding coordinator and share in their very special day with them.

Oak Hill is a property that sits right above the banks of the Hudson River and has an old manor home and a beautiful new barn in back.  The barn is fantastic because it looks old and historic but it is actually a newer construction with all the modern amenities you want in a wedding venue (aka electricity, heat, and indoor plumbing).  This was the perfect venue for this couple because they are city folks by residence but they have the effortless energy of two people who feel a lot more at home in nature.

Jen and Ian had so many fun touches for their guests to enjoy such as lawn games, fun cocktail hour signs, and a dessert bar that was to die for!  I absolutely loved going through all of the photos from their wedding and reliving all of the amazing moments from that day!

Joining me on this wedding was a photographer I loved working with, Kent Meister.  Kent is based in the city and this was my first time working with him but he clearly nailed it with these photos!  Carlucci Simons Catering provided all of the yummy food including the all-Mexican dinner buffet.  Mara and her team were such a joy to work with!  The DJ for this event was a friend of the couple and brought a very eclectic mix of vinyls to play which added a super cool vibe to their party.  The flowers were provided by Park Delicatessen, a shop in Brooklyn that Jen and Ian know well.  The beautiful cakes were provided by Piece of Cake Bakery, and the addition desserts were made by Verdigris Tea and Coffee Bar in Hudson.  The rest of the vendor team comprised of Arielle Toelke who did hair and makeup, Rev Diane Epstein who officiated the ceremony, Coxsackie Transportation who provided all the bus shuttles for guests, and Columbia Tent Rentals who provided all of the rental items for the ceremony and reception.  

Jen and Ian are such special people and I feel truly blessed to have had the chance to play a small part in their big day.  Best love and wishes to you guys, and thank you again for choosing me as your wedding planner!!

xoxo,  Shannon

Jane and Patrick Review Erin Dewey!

Jane and Patrick were married at Oak Hill in Hudson on September 28, 2013, and they used WPP Lead Planner Erin Dewey as their wedding planner and day-of wedding coordinator.  Jane just posted this review of Erin online and we are all so appreciative of her feedback and kind words!

To read the rest of our reviews on Wedding Wire CLICK HERE.

We worked with Erin Dewey for our day of coordination and consulting for about a year prior to our wedding. Erin is very positive and upbeat, extremely dedicated, the best problem solver, and super flexible. Working with her prior to our wedding really helped to keep us on track and took a lot of stress off. The day of our wedding was extremely smooth, thanks to Erin, and in the weeks leading up, it was Erin who handled the schedule, confirmations with vendors, etc. I highly recommend Erin! She is amazing and was such a pleasure to work with!

Now Hiring

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

-  Social Media Coordinator Intern/Temp
-  Planner/Coordinator Interns for the 2014 season

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

shannon@weddingplanningplus.net

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

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

Laurie and Ray - August 31, 2013

 Laurie and Ray were married at Fort William Henry Resort on August 31, 2013.  This was a total destination based wedding as our couple is from Virginia and it couldn't have worked out better for Laurie & Ray! Choosing a resort like Fort William Henry is so nice for destination wedding weekends because everything wedding-related can be in one location which makes things super easy and convenient for guests. 

Laurie and her girls got jazzed up by the amazing Lauren at Make Me Fabulous and their personal hairstylist, Carolyn. They all looked incredible. Once Laurie slipped into to her gorgeous gown, we all headed down to the Gazebo at the resort for their First Look. A First Look was so perfect for this couple as it really calmed jitters and made everyone feel so comfortable. The fantastic Upstate Photographers, Brenda and Paul, worked so hard and captured these really fantastic images. Following the First Look, we took bridal party & family photos and then got ready for the ceremony to begin. 

The threat of rain was apparent all day but the ceremony went off without a drop of rain. Horray! Jim Manuel from We Marry U did a wonderful job as always. Jim's laid back demeanor always make a bride and groom feel at ease. The lakeside ceremony looked so pretty as it was decorated to perfection by Renaissance Florals. Stunning! Renaissance also adorned the ballroom with absolutely incredible arrangements. 

Following the ceremony, cocktail hour immediately commenced and it was so great that Laurie and Ray were able to join right into their cocktail party and visit with all of their guests! Rhonda and the Staff at Fort William Henry did a spectacular job; the cuisine was tasty and beautifully presented. The wonderful Hi Definition Band definitely kept the dancing going all night. An added bonus: there were fireworks on the lake that night that were fully visible from the reception. It was so great that guests got such a nice treat at the end of the night (as if cake and pastries from Lake George Baking Company weren't enough :) !

I was so happy to be a part of Laurie and Ray's most special day. Thank you so much Laurie & Ray for choosing me as your wedding planner!  I hope I see you next year at the track! 

Love, Erin 

Maria and Brian Review WPP's Erin McKee!

Photo by Images of U Photography

Maria and Brian were married on July 12, 2013 at the Hiland Park Golf Club in Queensbury.  They worked with WPP planner Erin McKee as their wedding coordinator and just left this glowing review of Erin's services!  

To read more of our Wedding Wire reviews CLICK HERE.

"Erin from Wedding Planning Plus exceeded any expectations I had for our day of coordination. Erin was a delight to work with from day one. She listened to what I was expecting and was extremely helpful with the last minute details. When the day finally came, I can't imagine it running as smoothly as it did without Erin being there. One of the nicest things I heard was from my dad. After we all came down from cloud nine of the wedding I was talking with my dad and he commented on how nice it was to have someone at the wedding that was coordinating everything. From the processional, to letting him know it was time for the father/daughter dance he was extremely impressed with the professionalism, organization, and attention to detail Erin portrayed. I would highly recommend Erin and the entire WPP team for any bride."

Jennie and Andrew Review Shannon at WPP!

Photo by Kevin Demassio Photography

Jennie and Andrew were married at the Albany Country Club on September 1, 2013.  These guys came to me in April looking for help in planning their entire wedding from start to finish in just 4 months!  We worked very hard together and the results were nothing short of amazing.  I had a great time working with these two and I'm so honored that they left this review of me online.  

Click here to read more of our reviews on Wedding Wire.  

"We had the pleasure of working with Shannon of Wedding Planning Plus. Our wedding was planned and executed in just 5 months time! She has a large network that she has built strong connections with so it was very easy to find quality vendors quickly. She is very organized and made our wedding day a breeze!"

Shannon Is At The Wedding MBA!

Starting today I will be in Las Vegas to participate in the Wedding MBA, an industry leading conference for all of the top wedding professionals in the country.  I am so excited to learn from premiere wedding innovators, network with amazing vendors from all over the USA, and absorb tools, tips and tricks along the way.  Watch out world, when I get back I will be raring and ready to go!  Look out 2014 - WPP is coming for you!

~ Shannon

Whoa - We Have Been BUSY!

For pretty much forever we have stayed up on blogs even in our busiest times but this summer we reached a level of wedding season crazy that was unprecedented!  Full wedding months of June, July, and August, and then we have THIRTEEN weddings in the month of September!!  Although we kept up on all of our clients' needs we clearly left things like our blog and our social media on the back burner.  I just wanted to leave a message to all of you to stick with us as we get through all of these amazing weddings and then soon we will be able to share them all with you on here!  Stay tuned!!

~ Shannon

Mary and Brian Review WPP's Erin McKee!

Erin McKee had the distinct pleasure of working with Mary and Brian on their September 7th wedding at Pat's Barn in Troy.  She came on board with them as their wedding day coordinator about a month before their big day and they all had such a great time working together!  Mary and Brian were so kind to leave a review online of Erin's services which is posted proudly here for all to see!

To read more of WPP's Wedding Wire reviews CLICK HERE.

When my husband and I started planning our wedding, we had discussed hiring a day of coordinator, but we had tabled the idea. My bridal shower changed my mind. It was a great shower, but it was a complete whirlwind! I hadn't participated in any of the planning or coordinating, I just showed up and afterward I felt as though it was a compelte blur. Between trying to talk to everyone and take it all in, I hardly remember the details. That is when I realized that if I tried to be the point person for our wedding, it would turn an already fleeting day into a stressful one as well. I also knew that our work and personal schedules were on track to be especially busy in the month leading up to the wedding. I had spoken to Shannon Whitney at Wedding Planning Plus at the beginning of our planning process when we were considering our options. I reached out to her about her day of coordination services and it was exactly what we needed. She was responsive and attentive and put my mind at ease during our discussions. She set us up with one of her coordinators, Erin McKee. Erin provided us with her services in the month leading up to the wedding, helping us put together our day-of schedule and tie up any loose ends. On the day of the event she made sure that the event ran smoothly and seamlessly. She made it so that my husband and I were able to be the guests of honor, while she took care of all the details. She was professional and did an amazing job! My husband and I can honestly say that our wedding day was the best day of our lives. We would definitely make the decision to work with Shannon and Erin again if we had the chance. They come highly recommended!

Chelsea and Chace Review WPP!

Chelsea and Chace were married on the shores of Lake George in Ticonderoga this June and I had the pleasure of working with them as their day-of wedding coordinator.  Upon talking with them on their first call I learned that Chelsea went to my high school and knew both of my brothers, but more interestingly, Chelsea is a wedding planner herself and runs her business in Aspen, CO.  So pressure was on for me to do my best work to execute a wedding planner's wedding day!  Thankfully their wedding went amazingly well and Chelsea was kind enough to post this review of me online.  Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience with other brides, Chelsea!  And thank you for choosing me as your wedding coordinator!

To read more of our reviews CLICK HERE.

Wow, where do I begin! Shannon and the Wedding Planning Plus team were amazing throughout the entire wedding planning process. I am an event planner in Aspen, CO with quite high standards and Shannon never let me down. On my wedding day there was flash flooding and my tent was underwater. Shannon and her team did everything they could to help with the situation that was out of everyone's control. They were truly amazing. I would recommend Shannon and her team with 100% confidence. They exceeded my expectations!