A great new resource has been introduced today for Florida brides!
This new blog is a great resource for real weddings throughout the state. Check it out at http://floridabridesblog.com!
A Wedding Time Out
I moved to Jacksonville seven and a half years ago from Orlando. I was born in Orlando and lived there until I went to college - Flagler College in St. Augustine. I couldn't wait to get back to Orlando after graduation. But somehow I ended up back in North Florida a few years later, and have loved every minute of it. There are so many wonderful things to do in Jacksonville that are free or very inexpensive. I hope that as our brides and grooms are wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of wedding preparations, they take the time to spend some relaxing time together.
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and the Beaches Fine Art Series present a number of free concerts throughout the year. Tonight my mom and I enjoyed the 15th annual pops concert at the SeaWalk Pavilion in Jax Beach.
Riverside Arts Market is a new hot spot for Saturday mornings. Check out awesome art, entertainment and food every Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm under the Fuller Warren bridge.
Cruise the St. Johns River on the water taxi for a quick and inexpensive break. Jump on at The Landing, and cruise over to River City Brewing Company for a bite to eat.
Friday nights during the summer are known for Moonlight Movies in Jax Beach. The best part is that you can bring your own food and drinks (even wine or beer!) and have a picnic before the movie starts.
Enjoy the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens for free every Tuesday from 4:00 to 9:00 pm! Browse the current exhibits or stroll the spectacular gardens.
Art Walk is held throughout the region on various nights: downtown Jacksonville - first Wednesday; Jacksonville Beaches - second Tuesday; St. Augustine - first Friday. These events are free and feature art and entertainment by local artists.
Do you have more ideas to spend time with your hunny without breaking the bank? Post a comment here!
Pictures of Hope: Naomi Williams
Earlier this week, we learned some heartbreaking news about friend and wedding photographer Naomi Williams... please read the information below:
Just one month ago, 29-year-old wedding and portrait photographer Naomi Williams of Ponte Vedra Beach was living a normal life; watching her 2½-year-old son Jake grow bigger by the day, running a successful studio and together with her husband Nik of 8 years, they were looking for a bigger home and hoping for a little brother or sister for Jake.
That was before everything changed. What started as a pain in Naomi’s back led to several tests and surgeries and then, the verdict: Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma - a type of skin cancer which has spread from its original site to other parts of the body, in Naomi’s case into her spine, pelvis and lungs.
The emotional burden of this grim discovery and the journey ahead is difficult enough. We can all offer words of support and our heartfelt prayers, but there’s something equally powerful we can do for Naomi, Nik and Jake. Like so many other, the Williams family lives on dual income. Obviously, Naomi is unable to work causing a financial burden that this young couple simply can’t concentrate on right now.
Pictures of Hope is a collaborative response initiated by family and friends of Naomi Williams. We are trying to raise funds for Naomi and her family who have just begun a very tough and challenging journey. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of currently approved treatments - such as Chemotherapy and Radiation - for Stage 4 Metastic Melanoma are very limited. Should Naomi’s body not respond to her current treatment, she and Nik will be seeking alternative treatment programs abroad which have had greater rates of success but are not covered under insurance.
In addition to this website initiative, we have also designed an event called Picture A Cure which is aimed at raising awareness of skin cancer - so that other families can be reminded of the importance in taking measures in disease protection, living in the moment, and planning ahead if disaster should strike. Picture A Cure is scheduled for June 13th 2009 and will help raise funds for Naomi and for skin cancer research. Tickets will have a suggested donation value of $50 per person. Due to space considerations, a limited number of tickets are available. If you’d like to request a ticket, please email your address and your desired number of tickets to: info@naomiwilliams.com.
Please join us as we support an incredible woman who has had a huge impact on so many lives - through her work as a wedding and portrait photographer, as a mother, wife and as a friend.
Please join us in sending your prayers and well-wished to Naomi and her family, and visit the website at http://fornaomi.com/.
Jill & Michael (04.04.09) - Part 2
Jill and Michael's video teaser is online at InMotion Video Productions!
Danielle & Jay (04.18.09) - Part 2
Danielle's wedding was featured today in the Florida Times-Union! Here is the full text of the article:
When wedding planner Danielle Gregory and her longtime boyfriend, Jay Bamba, decided to marry, they decided they wouldn't let the wedding steal the spotlight from their marriage.
"We didn't want the sentimentality of the day to be overshadowed by a crazy bouquet or a full orchestra," said Danielle, 24, a wedding coordinator at First Coast Weddings and Events.
Danielle knew the wedding wouldn't be elaborate. For one thing, her family is feeling the effects of the recession, which meant an affair on a budget: $10,000, to be exact.
"I actually came in a little under," she said.
Danielle, who loves to read a wedding blog called StyleMePretty.com, saved a lot of money by doing things herself. She screen-printed her invitations and learned calligraphy, so she could address them.
She also saved money on her dress. "I wore a no name chiffon gown from a department store and made my own birdcage veil," Danielle said.
A few days before her wedding day, Danielle turned her refrigerator into a flower cooler and went to Whole Foods to buy $200 in flowers in shades of purple and raspberry. Danielle used tulips and Calla lilies for her bridal bouquet, wrapping them with a piece of crochet made by her grandmother.
Danielle and Jay met in 2001 at Ridgeview High School in Clay County. "I had seen her around school, and I thought she was real pretty," said Jay, 25, a field technician at Comcast.
Jay wanted to marry two years ago, but Danielle's mother said no.
"She thought we were too young," Danielle said. Jay asked again this past Christmas. This time, Mom put up no objections.
"She thought we were ready," Danielle said.
The couple said "I do" April 18 beside the Treaty Oak on Jacksonville's Southbank before 150 guests. Their dinner reception was held at Maggiano's Little Italy.
"Food cost about $6,500," Danielle said. "That was for a five-course meal."
To save money, the couple decided against a wedding cake and opted for the desserts that came with their five-course meal.
They also invited guests to participate in an heirloom dessert buffet. Several days before the wedding, two dozen guests sent Danielle their favorite dessert recipes. She turned them into a recipe book and screen-printed copies of the pages.
Guests brought three batches of their favorite dessert to the wedding and went home with different recipe pages. For Danielle, it was a simple but soulful way to achieve the wedding she wanted.
"I've seen many beautiful weddings," she explained. "But the ones I liked the most were the ones that were meaningful."
Michelle & Jamaal (04.25.09) - Part 2
Melanie and Brad of La Dolce Vita Studio posted some images of Michelle and Jamaal on their wedding day - check it out on their blog!
Danielle & Jay (04.18.09)
After years of planning other peoples' weddings, Danielle finally made it down the aisle with her high school sweatheart Jay. I'm sure that Danielle will post a blog entry soon with her side of the story, but for now, we'll just say CONGRATULATIONS!
Check out more photos from the Oeil Photography blog.
Michelle & Jamaal (04.25.09)
I usually ask my brides, "Are you ready?" before we begin the rehearsal. Michelle's answer was "I've been ready for this day for a long time!" Michelle and Jamaal met in high school, and Michelle has stayed by Jamaal's side through high school football, college football at Clemson, and two NFL teams (the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Atlanta Falcons). Today, she finally got to hear the words, "I now pronounce you husband and wife."
Jamaal is so romantic, he even hired a photographer to capture the proposal!
We only had a short time to plan their dream wedding due to Jamaal's training schedule with the Falcons. So we set our sights on an April date and got to work!
We had several site visits set up before Michelle moved to Atlanta to be with Jamaal, but as soon as she and her mom saw The Lodge and Club at Ponte Vedra Beach, the decision was made. And what an easy decision it was!
Beautiful decor from Anything With Plants and Flowers added to the gorgeous venue and added the vintage-glamour touches that Michelle wanted. Check out the centerpieces, with feathers, crystals and pearls!
La Dolce Vita Studio's Melanie and Bradford Watson were selected as the photographers, and InMotion Video Productions was chosen for the videography.
Brooke Alford provided romantic violin accompaniment for the oceanfront wedding ceremony, and a saxophonist provide background music during the cocktail hour under the trellis.
As a sentimental touch, Edgewood Bakery created the wedding cake and groom's cake - the bakery had also created Michelle's parents' wedding cake for their wedding! The shop opened in 1947, and serves the best pastries and sandwiches in addition to their beautiful special occasion cakes.
A friend of the bride and groom, Rasheen Waring of Dynamic Musician ENT, kept the dance floor packed all night. Congrats, Michelle and Jamaal, I wish you many more happy years together!
(other than the engagement pics, the photos in the post are my snapshots, pro images coming soon!)
New Internship Dates Announced
I've just updated our Internship page with the summer dates! If you are a college student looking for a summer internship, click here.
I Do Radio Interview
Be sure to listen to my interview on I Do Radio this Saturday at 11:00 am! I'll be chatting with host Angela Chester about planning your wedding day to be stress-free.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/I-Do-Radio
The Garden Club - Before + After
Everyone who has been to The Garden Club of Jacksonville knows that it is a blank slate! So I thought I would share yesterday's transformation for Kristin and Sam's wedding. (note: these are my snap shots with my camera, so not great images!)
THE GARDEN CLUB - BEFORE This is what the Garden Club provides, and how the room looked when we arrived.
THE GARDEN CLUB - AFTER Once we set the ivory pintuck table cloths, black chiavari chairs, and coral sashes and napkins, the room started coming together! Add in the ivory and gold china, gold flatware, and menu cards tucked into each napkin, and it starts looking great. Once the centerpieces from Wilson's Ltd. arrived, it was amazing!
Incidentally, so many couples think it is cheaper to rent a space like this than to have a reception at a hotel or country club. If you are one of them, be sure you are comparing apples to apples - look at all the extra costs involved, like renting china, glassware, flatware, bringing in serving staff, linens, bartenders, and catering supplies. You can easily spend an extra $3,000-$5,000 on these items for a wedding of 150 guests!
Elizabeth & Patrick (04.10.09)
Danielle coordinated an amazing wedding last weekend! Since she is busy with her own wedding preparations (CONGRATS, DANIELLE!) I thought I would share this link to a blog post from Oeil Photography about the wedding.
Check out the post for more AMAZING images!
Wedding Wire + Facebook
I just got an email today announcing Wedding Wire's new Facebook application. Here's the details:
With the new App, engaged couples will have the ability to search for local vendors (that's you!) and create a Personal Wedding Blog right on Facebook. The new App will allow engaged couples to share their wedding details with all of their friends, family, and loved ones.
Sounds like this will be fun for our couples to use! Have you checked out our Facebook page yet?
http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Jacksonville-FL/First-Coast-Weddings-and-Events/
New Demo Video!
We have created a new demo video for our prospective clients to get a feel for our work. We'd love your feedback!
Follow Me On Twitter!
It's no secret that I love Facebook. But for some reason, I have fought the urge (and peer pressure!) to join Twitter. But today I finally took the plunge.
Jill & Michael (04.04.09)
Jill and Michael are an eHarmony commercial waiting to happen! They are so wonderful together and their families are too. A highlight for me was getting to reunite with these girls - Jill had been a bridesmaid in Mandy's wedding (2nd from left), and several of the other girls had been bridesmaids too. It was great seeing them all again!
Jill and Michael were married in a traditional Catholic ceremony at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, the church the bride grew up in. Following the ceremony, the bridal party piled into the Hummer limo from Dynasty Limousine to take photos at the beach. Photographer Nikki McEneaney of Photography By Nikki got some incredible images!
The reception at Marsh Landing Country Club was beautiful! Jill chose ivory and gold, with orange accents and touches of hot pink and lime green. DJ David Hanscom of Y? Entertainment kept the crowd on the floor from the first dance to the last. Jill and Michael's first dance was perfectly choreographed to Frank Sinatra's "The Best Is Yet To Come" and was a definite show-stopper!
I can't wait to share the video from InMotion Video Productions!
Tiffany & Drayton (03.29.09)
As a wedding planner, I see a lot of rude wedding guests. I can honestly say that there wasn't a single one at this wedding! Tiffany and Drayton were married in a beautiful ceremony on the lawn at TPC Sawgrass on Sunday, March 29, 2009. Wilson's Limited provided phenomenal decor for the entire clubhouse. Dr. Wayne Faison officiated the touching ceremony flawlessly, despite the windy conditions. The couple united their families with a sand ceremony - each mother, the couple, and their daughter all added sand to a beautiful keepsake vase.
The Fusion Band played beautiful jazz music during the ceremony and cocktail hour. The guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres on the lawn overlooking the world-famous golf course before moving upstairs to the Ponte Vedra Room.
In the ballroom, DJ Carlton McGee of McGee Entertainment kept the crowd dancing throughout the evening. These photos are my snapshots, but I can't wait to see the pics from Sheri Ebert and the video from Simply Wed!
We will really miss having Drayton as a Jaguar, but wish him all the best in Buffalo!
Abby & Ryan (02.21.09) - Part 3
Abby and Ryan are featured in The Florida Times-Union! Here's a little teaser of the article:
For Abby Dwyer and Ryan Beazley, going from friends to more-than-just friends was as easy as working in a restaurant right after college.
The two met in 2003 when Abby was hired to be a waitress at the Ale House in Davie, and Ryan, who already worked at the restaurant, was assigned to train her.
The two enjoyed an instant connection.
"She liked my sense of humor and dashing good looks," said Ryan, now 27, and a designer at Brown Enterprises, an architectural signage manufacturer in Jacksonville.
His height didn't hurt either. Ryan is 6 feet 6 and Abby is 5 feet 8.
"Tall men are hard to come by in Miami, and I was always looking for my tall guy," said Abby, now 28 and the manager of Professional Recruiting at CSX in Jacksonville.
The night after he met Abby, Ryan called his older brother, Chris, in Chicago. "Ryan told me he met this really amazing, vivacious girl," Chris said.
One week later, Abby called her father in Maryland. "I told him, 'Dad, this is it. I've met my future husband,' " Abby recalled.
Hitting the Right Note for Your Wedding & Reception
Bridal Academy is an interactive lecture series hosted by The Wedding Party on the first Wednesday of each month, with the goal of helping brides and grooms make educated decisions for their weddings! This month's Bridal Academy explores what many consider to be one of the most important aspects of a wedding: music!
Please join us to learn everything you've ever wanted to know about entertainment from some of Northeast Florida's top professionals. Bring your questions and we’ll bring our answers for April’s Bridal Academy, "Hitting the Right Note for Your Wedding & Reception."
Guest speakers include:
- From Wehner Weddings, Kyle Wehner talking about violins, string arrangements and even classical guitar and what they can add to your ceremony.
- From North Florida’s premier band, The Faze, Mark Dennison to speak about bands and what they can do for your reception.
- From North Florida’s Top interactive DJ company, D’Land Entertainment, Paul DeLand will be speaking about DJ’s and what they can do for your reception.
Click here to check out our online group and to RSVP! This event is FREE!
Brides Against Breast Cancer VIP Party
Last week I had the pleasure of volunteering at the Brides Against Breast Cancer gown sale in Orlando. It was two days of hard work but also incredibly rewarding. Here are two shots of me at the VIP event on Thursday, March 12th at the Fairwinds Alumni Center at UCF:
Thanks to Allan Saltman of Allan Jay Images for capturing these memories! Check out his blog post about the event: http://allansangle.wordpress.com/2009/03/15/brides-against-breast-cancer-vip-party/
