Happy Birthday To Us!

On November 8, 2002, I filed the official paperwork creating First Coast Weddings and Events. Whew. I actually had to call the IRS and talk to a real person to get a taxpayer ID number, because they didn't have a way to do it online back then. My, how things have changed!

And talk about changes... sometimes I look back at a file that has my original logo on it. What was I thinking?! And my first website - you don't even want to know what that looked like! It had a marble background, very corporatey looking. Not me at all! I'm so thankful that I learned early on that I needed to be myself, and that I would attract clients that are like me. I am still amazed that I managed to book any clients with that original website - but I did.

As I was typing this, I decided to actually show you that hideous old logo. And it took quite a while to find!

It wasn't on the two external hard drives I normally use for backup/old files. It wasn't on any flash drives. Guess what I finally had to dig out to find it? Yep, one of these bad boys:

The Iomega Zip 100mb. The precursor to flash drives. Now 90% of my files live in the cloud, not even on a physical drive. Mind. Blown.

Well, enough of this stroll down memory lane. I'm happy to announce that our current logo got a little tweak. Not a huge change, but I hope you like it!

I changed the pineapple a little bit and updated the font on the bottom line. I've wrestled with this for a long time - I even hired a designer to create a completely new logo last year. But I could never bring myself to start using it, even though I loved it. So I've been playing around with it for about a year now, and I think I'm finally happy! I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

And here's some other cool stuff that's happened this year - Lauren got married, moved back to Jacksonville, and rejoined our team! Emma give birth to her second child, a sweet little girl that we all adore! And just last weekend, Kari got engaged! So it's been a pretty spectacular year for our team. We can't wait to see what the next year holds.

The 10+ Year Club: Y? Entertainment

Welcome to the next installment in our blog series, spotlighting local wedding companies that have been in business for 10 or more years! Today we feature DJ David Hanscom, of Y? EntertainmentEvent Services. What year did you start your business?

We first started Y? Entertainment, Inc. in 1998 and then converted it over to First Coast Events, Inc. in 2008

What was your motivation? 

All throughout high school I played every sport I could.  Basically, if there was a uniform to be worn, I played the sport.  An unfortunate turn of events found me having reconstructive surgery on both of my ankles before I graduated.  This caused me to focus on the other things I enjoyed in life.  I was always the class clown and loved music so someone suggested me working at the local Radio & TV broadcasting station.  I immediately fell in love with the radio side of it!!! While there, I learned quickly about music programming and the art of DJing.  My first "DJ gig" was my high school Jr/Sr prom.  Yes I admit, instead of attending with a date I offered to DJ.  As a matter of fact, I liked it so much I did it again in my Senior year.  I continued working in radio fro several years after graduating high school but didn't really get into "mobile DJing" until 1997.  It was that year I met a guy by the name of Geoff, who was a local DJ that frequented the CD Warehouse store I was working at and he introduced me to the world of mobile DJing.   I trained with several companies over the next year and then went out on my own in 1998 and have not looked back since.

How has your business changed over the years?

One of the biggest changes, like in many wedding related segments, technology has evolved very quickly.  When I started it was just transitioning from using records and into cassettes,  Boy let me tell you how fun it was to DJ using 6 cassette decks at one time and keeping track of which one was your next song, etc. LOL  From there we transitioned into CDs and eventually into digital media.  Each advancement has provided us the ability to be more "in the moment" with our events.  What I mean by that is that we were able to cut down on the time spent sifting and sorting through music and have more time to focus on what is going on around us.  We are now able to catch those brief moments in time where something happens and it may be that one thing that shows the uniqueness of your client.  Along with those advancements also came a "size reduction".  Manufacturers continue to find ways to make thing better AND smaller.  I personally like this for two reasons.  One, obviously the wear and tear on your body when you (personally) do over 100 events a year loves it anytime equipment is smaller and lighter.  Two, I don't like for our equipment to be a distraction.  It is always nicer when our equipment  can be sleek, professionally presented and not something the photographer wants to Photoshop out of their client's photos after the fact.  Some personal changes for our company have been actually a reduction in DJs working with us,  At first we wanted to have as many DJs as we could possibly have.  It became very evident, very quickly that quantity isn't always better than quality.  We built our reputation on consistency.  Some might not call us "the best" or "the most/least expensive" but when can be said about our staff is consistency, each one is trained in the same fashion and have the same level of professionalism expected of them.  Of course each one has his/her own personality but the foundation is consistent among each staff member.

Looking back, what do you wish you had done differently? 

This is a tough one.  I thought a lot before answering and truthfully I am not sure I would want to do anything differently.  I have been very happy with what we have done each step of the way.  We have done our best to be on top of the trends in the industry, the best equipment and anything else that can help us provide a top of the line service to our clients.

What are you most proud of? 

I am most proud of the length of time we have been able to continue to provide a high level of service to our clients in the community. I am proud that the DJs on our staff have been willing to continue to grow in their craft and not remain stagnant and just treat it like a part time business.  I am proud that my hard work and dedication to being the best we can possibly be in the industry has been reflected in the numerous awards we win as a team annually and the many opportunities I have had to DJ for high profile events all over the country.

Why do you think your business has made it while so many other small businesses fail in the first five years? 

My guess would be our ability to evaluate the market and know where we wanted to be viewed in that market.  Sure our pricing, like for many others, has been adjusted through the down economy multiple times, we as a staff agreed that we would not compromise "quality of service" even though we were sometimes only able to charge half of what we did before the economy crash.  I also feel that the consistency I talked about above is a key component to our longevity.    The wedding industry is a small, tight knit community and it is important to other vendors to typically know what their client can expect when they refer our services.  It also provides them the confidence to know "what they will get" when they work with someone from our staff during an event.

What advice do you have for a business just starting out in your industry?

I would first give advice to the individual about their "performance" and then advice about their "business".  From the standpoint of performance, my number one piece of advice is that the service you provide is really just one more piece of the whole puzzle of vendors that make up an event.  Some say, "A DJ can make or break an event" and to some extent I would agree with that BUT it does not give you permission to think you are "more important" than the event.  A mentor of mine in this industry always reminds me, "Don't believe your own press clippings" and I for sure echo his sentiments.  So many people see the glitz and glamour of being a DJ and in some cases allow it to consume them.  You can be the most talented person at your craft but if people can't stand to be around you it is all for nothing.  Bottom line, be humble, be appreciative that you have an opportunity to work in such a "fun" industry and always strive to be a team player.

From the standpoint of business, my most important piece of advice is if you are going to call you a "Professional" DJ (or any other part of the event industry) understand that "Professional" is not defined by "what" or "how" you do things.  Professional is defined by "what one does as their MAIN source of income".  The average national salary for a "professional" anything is around $40,000 a year.  A simple mathematical equation to understand this point is to take the average amount of money you charge per event and multiply it by the average number of events you can personally do (should not be any greater than 50 - 60 when you are first starting).  Where many people make the mistake is they say, "Well, I took your equation, plugged in my numbers and came up with $45,000.  I am $5,000 ahead of the game!"  While at initial observation this would "make sense" but what has been forgotten is all the expenses necessary to run your business (i.e., equipment, legal music, license, insurance, marketing, advertising, vehicle maintenance, gas to travel to and from events, computer & software to manage events, phone line for your company, website, etc.).  All of that BEFORE you can even consider paying yourself a salary.  You can easily see where your $45,000 (in the above example) can be depleted very quickly.  There is nothing wrong with working this industry "part time", there are many great DJs who do, but if you are going to tout that you are a "professional" then NONE of the expenses mentioned above should be ignored because they "cost too much" nor should you be "making", meaning bringing home personally not charging and bringing into your "business" any less than a respectable salary based on the national averages.  If you are not able to do this, it is usually based on what you are charging for your services.  The amount of events you can do is typically only affected by adding more DJs to your staff or as your reputation grows in a positive way which should lead to more opportunities.

Therefore, you must address this in your pricing.  You are not doing yourself or even worse the "industry" a favor by charging far less than other businesses in your area because you think it will get you more business.  Instead what you do is reduce the perceived value of DJs.  That affects everyone who is working hard to maintain a true "professional" status.  I understand, mainly because I was there myself once, that the common thought is that when you first start out you cannot charge as much as someone who has more experience in the industry or with a specific type of event.  This may be true BUT don't then fall prey to using the "I can offer the same thing they do for a cheaper price" tactic because if you really believed you could, you would be charging the same rate.  Pay your dues, work hard, don't try to be someone you are not yet and when you have the proper experience and confidence to "Go Pro" then do so. Continuing Education is the key.  I have been in the business myself well over 20 years and I never stop learning how to be better.  Never fool yourself into thinking you "know it all".  When (if) you get to that point, it is probably a good time to either take a self re-evaluation or look for a new career.

Do you have a most memorable wedding or funny story you'd like to share?

As I am sitting here typing this there is a tornado and flash flood warning for our area and I couldn't help but think about the wedding I titled "The couple that couldn't wait...In the rainstorm".  It was probably about 8 - 10 years ago and the wedding was at the library in Fernandina Beach, FL.  They have a room for functions in the top floor of the library.  Upon arrival it was already raining pretty steady and I remember being concerned because the parking lot actually slanted down from the main street to the entrance into the library.  At that point the water was draining pretty well.  So, the wedding reception started off like any other typically does with a cocktail hour.  I was setup next to a window so occasionally I'd peek outside to evaluate the weather.  The rain continued and at many times became much stronger.  Then the "untypical" began.  A cocktail hour usually lasts that long, an hour.  However, we were close to two hours into the event and still no site or word from the Bride and Groom.  The wedding party had already arrived, the parents were in the room and even the photographers had finished their photos.

The longer the time went on the more I ran out of "excuses" why they hadn't arrived yet.  It actually got to the point 3 hours in that the caterers decided to let people start eating to prevent the food from going bad.   Finally about 3 1/2 hours into the event the Bride & Groom arrive, no dress, no tux...just regular clothes.  As you can imagine by the title, they decided to make a stop at their hotel to "consummate the marriage" before coming to reception.  I guess they figured the reception was for the guests anyway so no need to rush LOL   The icing on the cake was after the event as I went to load up my truck, as expected the water level rose to just below my bumper of my truck and I ended up having to roll up my suit pants to my waist basically (which still didn't really keep them dry) and carry all of my equipment down and load it barefoot.  All and all it was a pretty interesting evening and more than a few laughs and memories still linger long after my suit dried.

The 10+ Year Club: Christy Whitehead Photography

Welcome to the next installment in our blog series, spotlighting local wedding companies that have been in business for 10 or more years! Today we feature photographer Christy Whitehead, of Christy Whitehead Photography. What year did you start your business?

Around 2000.

What was your motivation?

I've always been a creative person. I LOVE doing crafts. I was working as a journalist and an editor told me to take some photography classes. I LOVED the dark room and the creative aspects of photography. People started asking me to do photography for their families and weddings and now I don't do much of any news work.

How has your business changed over the years?

Everything is constantly changing. I'm always trying to learn and better my technique and learn new things. Equipment is always changing from film to digital, etc. I've learned how to be a better business person and am always trying to keep on top of everything. Right now, I'm moving my studio from a 750 SF building to 2400 SF with a huge shooting space, conference room, sales room and tons of kid friendly areas.

Looking back, what do you wish you had done differently?

Probably gotten more training sooner. Overall, I try not to dwell on the past and just try to look forward and set goals for myself.

What are you most proud of?

Most of my business comes from word of mouth, so that means a lot. I get a lot of people who email me wanting photography advice and such or send nice comments and that is very flattering.

Why do you think your business has made it while so many other small businesses fail in the first five years?

Being a business owner is hard. I'm married and have a child. I don't know that I could do this without my husband working also. But that being said, I've also asked for help when I can't do it all. I'm not playing mommy 24/7 and answering calls, I have people who help me with child care or running errands when I need it so I can focus on my business. But being a photographer, I also work a lot of weekends, so I do take off during the week to spend with my daughter. I love the flexibility. But I've set standards and expectations, because my business is important to me.

What advice do you have for a business just starting out in your industry?

In this industry, there is a lot of negative talk about "momtographers" the moms who pick up the camera and start selling their service and they don't know how to shoot manually. I was at a Professional Photographer Association get together and someone said that what separates a momtographer are the people who WANT to learn. If you want to be taken seriously, LEARN your craft. Ask for help. Pay for classes, pick up a book. I'd say, also, to value yourself. I had a photographer ask me to lunch the other day and she said they were working all the time and didn't have time for their 3 kids. I told her to double her prices. She might lose half her clients, but she'd still bring in the same income. Two months later she told me that was the best advice she had ever gotten and they were now getting clients who actually valued their work and were still booking like crazy.

Do you have a most memorable wedding or funny story you'd like to share?

Not that I can think of off hand. I haven't had any bridezillas, thankfully! I do a lot of ring photos on props and we once tried to photograph the rings on a chocolate mustache. It was the middle of the summer and the ring was melting into the chocolate, it was one huge mess, lol.

The 10+ Year Club: Wehner Weddings

Welcome to the next installment in our blog series, spotlighting local wedding companies that have been in business for 10 or more years! Today we feature ceremony musician Kyle Wehner, of Wehner Weddings.

What year did you start your business? 2000

What was your motivation? 

I have a degree in viola performance and wanted to supplement my income while doing something that I love.

How has your business changed over the years? 

My business has gone from just being me performing solo at a few weddings each month to having over 50 musicians and numerous ensembles working within Wehner Weddings, LLC and providing music to over 250 weddings per year.

Looking back, what do you wish you had done differently? 

I did not use a formal contract system in the first few years of business when I was playing solo. After getting burned on a non payment, I created a formal contract and have not had any problems since. My clients feel more secure with a formal contract on hand as well.

What are you most proud of? 

I most proud of all of my musicians being experienced, full time professionals with degrees in their instrument. I do not use students or hobbyists in my company.

Why do you think your business has made it while so many other small businesses fail in the first five years?

I think that your product is what sells your business along with the way you communicate to and with your clients. Simply stated, if you provide  a consistent, quality product and communicate with your costumers, they will spread the word to others and that is better than any print advertising you could buy. I maintain a quality product by using only professional musicians. I also never turn down an opportunity to work. If I am not personally available, I always have a professional within my company who is available and I still oversee all of the details. My website sound samples have also proven to be a great tool, as many of my wedding clients do not live locally and can still sample my music online before signing a contract with my company. As we all know, having a network of other professionals you trust is also key. That being said, a huge part of my business comes to me in thanks to the coordinators and venues who have worked with me and know my product.

What advice do you have for a business just starting out in your industry? 

Really get to know your market and client base before starting your business. How many businesses like yours already exist in the area and how many potential customers are in need of the service that you provide? What makes you different than your competitors?

Do you have a most memorable wedding or funny story you'd like to share? 

My most memorable wedding happened on April 9, 2002. I was hired to play solo violin for a beach wedding in St. Augustine. The ceremony was set to start at 2:30AM...Yes in the middle of the night, because 2:30AM on the beach was the first time he ever said "I love you" to her. I arrived 30 minutes early, ready to provide prelude music for guests, but there were no guests at this wedding. Only me on the violin, the officiant, photographer and bride and groom. Instead, the bride handed me a bag of tea candles and asked me to arrange them in the shape of a heart on the beach. Keep in mind, it was not a full moon and there was no other light source anywhere near this part of the beach. Also, it was so windy that the tiny candles were covered by sand before they could even be arranged properly or have a chance to be lit. After that, the bride asked if she could borrow my gold pocket watch, as she did not have "something borrowed" for her wedding yet. I gave it to her and she promply dropped it down the front of her dress for safe storage. She also asked me to escort her down the aisle (a long boardwalk with stairs up and down leading to the beach) while playing the theme from Titanic as her processional...I relunctlantly agreed. When 2:30AM rolled around, the groom appeared out of the B&B, handed a 35 page prenuptual agreement to the bride and said we can get on with the ceremony as soon as she reads over the agreement and signs. This process took 30 minutes, so the wedding did not start until after 3AM. I did walk the bride down the aisle without issue (thank goodness I had all of my music memorized because it was too dark to see!). You could not see anything on the beach during the ceremony. You could just hear the officiant speaking and every 10 seconds or so, you would see a bright flash from the camera and your eyes would go numb. The wedding itself only took about 10 minutes, but it was very interesting. The bride retrieved and returned my pocket watch after the ceremony :)

The 10+ Year Club: First Coast Weddings and Events

We're excited to be starting a new blog series! Over the next several weeks, we'll be spotlighting local wedding companies that have been in business for 10 or more years. And naturally, we'll start with ourselves! Here are the questions we'll be asking other wedding professionals, and our answers as given by our owner, Heather Canada. What year did you start your business? 2002

What was your motivation? I had worked in theme parks, country clubs, and hotels for several years after college. I knew in college I wanted to be an event planner, but I saw myself working for a corporation planning their shareholder events, training seminars, and trade shows. Working in catering, I began doing weddings and eventually fell in love with the variety and personalization that weddings offered. I wanted a chance to work more closely with my brides and grooms than I was able to in a club or hotel setting, so First Coast Weddings was born!

How has your business changed over the years? My initial vision was to do a mix of corporate events and weddings - but over the years, I have focused our marketing and attention solely on weddings. We'll do the occasional corporate dinner or social event, but it's usually a spin-off from someone who knows us from the wedding world! We have also grown in size - I started with one assistant coordinator, and now our team includes six planners/coordinators.

Looking back, what do you wish you had done differently? Of course, there are always decisions that you'd like to change - but overall, I'm very happy with where we are today!

What are you most proud of? I'm most proud of earning my Master Bridal Consultant designation in 2012, and I'm also proud to provide educational opportunities and apprenticeships to members of the Association of Bridal Consultants.

Why do you think your business has made it while so many other small businesses fail in the first five years? For wedding planners, there are really no barriers to entry to this industry. It's easy for someone to have fun planning their own wedding, and think they can do it as a career. It's much harder to take someone else's vision and make it a reality - and then multiply that by 15 or 20 brides at once! I think that we provide excellent service to our clients, and we maintain close relationships with other wedding professionals. Referrals are always our number one source of new business! I also attend at least one continuing education conference each year to stay up on the latest trends and products.

What advice do you have for a business just starting out in your industry? Join ABC! I have created amazing friendships, opportunities, and connections over my 11 years as an ABC member. And I know that I have a network of other incredible planners around the world that I can count on when I need something. I also suggest interning or apprenticing with a seasoned planner before  jumping in. And be sure all of your financial and legal ducks are in a row before you hang out your shingle.

Do you have a most memorable wedding or funny story you'd like to share? I have so many wonderful memories! I think one of my favorites was from the photo below. It was after Kimberly and Victor's wedding in 2008; I had spent over a year getting to know Kimberly and her family - both of her parents attended almost every meeting, and were part of every decision! They are a wonderful family full of love and caring. Usually at the end of the reception, we send the bride and groom off in a limo or Rolls Royce or horse and carriage... but Victor and Kimberly and her parents were there in the ballroom long after all the guests had left. Part of it was exhaustion, part of it was just enjoying reveling in the beauty and love of the day. I loved that they took a few minutes to relax and talk on the fuzzy pink lounge furniture before Kimberly and Victor went off to begin their life as husband and wife. So sweet!

The Groom's Cake

The Groom's Cake is a tradition popular in the South, but where did this tradition come from?

In the Victorian Era, the groom's cake was a dense fruit cake. Small pieces of cake were put into boxes and given to the single women at the wedding. The women put the cake under their pillow to bring dreams of their future husband.

While that tradition has gone away, the groom's cake is still generally darker or denser than the wedding cake. Popular favorites include chocolate cake, carrot cake, or cheesecake. And it is still popular to box the groom's cake and give it to your guests as a wedding favor.

We see lots of our couples serve the groom's cake at the rehearsal dinner rather than at the wedding. Usually, the cake is designed with the groom's interests or hobbies in mind. The fun cake pictured here is from Jenna and Andy's wedding, and was created by Classic Cakes and photographed by Fox Fotography.

So do you have to have one? No, it's your wedding - do whatever you want to! But it is a fun way to incorporate a touch of the groom's personality into the wedding day.

Ashley and Matt - TPC Sawgrass Wedding, Ponte Vedra Beach

Ashley and Matt had an amazing wedding at TPC Sawgrass, complete with a little lightning before the ceremony and some spectacular fireworks during the reception!

The bridesmaids' dresses were an amazing shade of blue - paired with the green and white flowers, the girls looked stunning!

This was quite possibly the closest weather call I've made in my 14 years of doing weddings. I made the call to go ahead with the outdoor ceremony, despite a few rain cells on the radar. Minutes before we were supposed to start, TPC's golf course sirens were going off, alerting golfers to nearby lightening! But, we made it without any rain - but you can see the impending storm approaching in this photo!

This was a first at a wedding reception - I don't think I've ever had a groom do a handstand!

And of course, who doesn't love fireworks at a wedding!

Be sure to check out Tonya Beaver's blog for additional photos and details from this beautiful wedding!

Venue: TPC Sawgrass  //  Photographer: Tonya Beaver Photography  //  Videographer: Visual Power Cinema  //  Cake:  Classic Cakes  //  Florist: Rose of Sharon European Florist  //  DJ: DJ Shane  //  Fireworks: Santore & Sons  //  Ceremony Music: Wehner Weddings

Premier Wedding Expo Bridal Show - This Sunday!

Looking for a great way to meet lots of wedding professionals in one place? Stop by the Premier Wedding Expo this Sunday! We have been proud to help produce these great events for many years, and they keep getting better.

• Over 100 exhibitors
• Great discounts and prizes will be available for brides planning their weddings
• Each bride gets a bridal bag when entering the show

The event runs from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the UNF University Center (12000 Alumni Drive). Tickets are $10 at the door, but if  you purchase the online in advance they are only $7! Be sure to visit the show's website, www.PremierWeddingExpo.com, to learn more.

A Great Father-Daughter Dance Song: "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman

Are you looking for a unique father-daughter dance song? I heard Steven Curtis Chapman's song, "Cinderella" on the radio the other day and absolutely loved the idea of using it for this special moment between a bride and her dad.

You can check out the video here, and here are the lyrics:

She spins and she sways To whatever song plays Without a care in the world And I'm sitting here wearing The weight of the world on my shoulders

It's been a long day And there's still work to do She's pulling at me Saying "Dad, I need you

There's a ball at the castle And I've been invited And I need to practice my dancing Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella While she is here in my arms 'Cause I know something the prince never knew Oh, I will dance with Cinderella I don't want to miss even one song 'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight And she'll be gone...

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed She wants to know if I approve of the dress She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away And I need to practice my dancing Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella While she is here in my arms 'Cause I know something the prince never knew Oh, I will dance with Cinderella I don't want to miss even one song 'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight And she'll be gone

She will be gone

Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand Just glowing and telling us all they had planned She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away But I need to practice my dancing Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella While she is here in my arms 'Cause I know something the prince never knew Oh, I will dance with Cinderella I don't want to miss even one song 'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight And she'll be gone

Jenna and Andy - Nocatee Crosswater Hall, Ponte Vedra

How adorable are these two? The smiles on their faces says it all - yep, we're in love! We had a great time coordinating Jenna and Andy's wedding in June.

Jenna and Andy also got to see a sneak preview two weeks before their own wedding, when one of Jenna's bridesmaids got married at the same ceremony venue! The girls shared many of the same vendors, so Jenna and Andy knew she didn't have a thing to worry about on the wedding day.

And speaking of vendors, we got to see one of the coolest things ever at a wedding reception. Visual Power Cinema actually edited footage from throughout the day, and showed the highlights AT THE RECEPTION. You heard me right! Not more than three hours after the ceremony, we were watching the video. Amazing!!

It happened to be the father of the bride's birthday, so we brought out this adorable cake while everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to him!

From the stunning decor to the delicious food to the sparkler send-off, it was certainly a night to remember!

Ceremony Venue: Ponte Vedra Concert Hall  //  Reception Venue: Nocatee Crosswater Hall  //  Caterer: Catering By Liz  //  Photographer: Fox Fotography  //  Videographer: Visual Power Cinema  //  Florist: Rachael Kasie Designs  // Chairs: A Chair Affair  //  Cake: Classic Cakes  //  DJ: Skip Kelly Productions  //  Photobooth: Photobooth To Go   //  Beauty: Paulina Perez

Lindsay and Jordan – TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach

Lindsay and Jordan's wedding was simply stunning! We love getting to work with such sweet couples and their families. I had the pleasure of getting to know Lindsay's mom as we wrapped up the final details for the wedding since Lindsay and Jordan live in Tampa. All the hours spent on each little touch were well spent. Check out even more images on our Facebook page, or on Ron B. Wilson Photography's blog!

Venue: TPC Sawgrass  //  Photographer: Ron B. Wilson Photography, Inc.  //  Florist: Arlene's Designs  //  Stationery: Celebrated Occasions  //  Cake: Classic Cakes  //  Calligraphy: Well-Written Hand Calligraphy  //  Favors: Flippin' Good Cookies  //  Band: Atlanta Rhythm & Groove

Spotight: Hair & Makeup By Paulina Perez

In 15 years of doing weddings, the number one cause I have seen of getting off schedule is found at the beginning of the day: hair and makeup. There are so many reasons to hire a professional hair stylist and makeup artist. But one of the top reasons is staying on schedule! The talented artists that do weddings every weekend (not just work in salons) know how long it will take to do each girls' hair and makeup, and they are great at working with the brides to schedule enough time to get everyone done before the photographer is ready to shoot formal portraits.

One of our favorite companies to work with is Hair & Makeup By Paulina Perez.  Our brides love working with Paulina and her team! We constantly hear how wonderful they are. In addition to doing fabulous hair and makeup, the team is fully licensed and insured - something that is very important these days! They also have an office in Savannah now, and are on their way to world domination.

I personally had Paulina do my makeup for my recent headshots, and I concur! Not only did my makeup look amazing, it lasted for hours in the heat and humidity of a Florida afternoon! Here's a little interview with Paulina where she shared all sorts of great tips and tricks!

What makes your team different from other hair/makeup artists? I think the main thing that makes us different from every other artist in town is that we are literally a one stop shop for our clients and most vendors that refer us! Not only are we all licensed estheticians and cosmetologists but this is a team of some of the hottest artists in North Florida! I think clients and vendors like that they know they can refer our team for hair, makeup, and tanning services and that they know the chances of us turning them away due to not having enough artists is most likely not going to happen!

Also we pride ourselves in the fact that we do have some of the best artist in this region all under one roof! Although the company is named after me (when I started out I never imagined getting to the point of having a team, so the name made sense) I am blessed to not be the only “name” in the company. The girls on my team all have a resume on their own that would be extremely competitive to any other freelance artist. My girls have done hair and makeup for the Emmy’s and the Golden Globes, for contestants on the voice, featured in national and international magazines, are staple artists for Wal-Mart, and even were seen in Russia’s Next Top Model which was filmed while we were doing Miami Fashion Week! We are really blessed with the talent on the team and all get to learn from everyone’s personal experiences which keeps our team continuing to grow! Their sweet personality is just the icing on the cake! ;)

What's your favorite beauty product that you personally use? I have two tools that I can’t live without!!! The first is my Clarisonic brush!! I keep it in the shower and use it with my face wash everyday!!! It really keeps my skin glowing and keeps it from getting dull!! If you don’t have this little device it will make an amazing Christmas present this year!!!! The first time you use it your face will feel like a clean you have never felt before!! I know that sounds weird but to the people reading this that have one they are probably nodding their heads….and now laughing at how true this is!!!

My second favorite tool is my Beauty Blender Sponge! I use it to apply and blend my foundation. I kept hearing about this sponge from all of my makeup artist friends and finally caved in to this…..well, sponge! I was skeptical as I had been taught to only apply foundation with a foundation brush and how sponges are the worst for foundation application. I read how this sponge was SO DIFFERENT and life changing! I read how it was patented and how it wouldn't absorb your foundation like most sponges do. I finally put it to use…. And let’s just say it was like a little piece of heaven on my face! I loved my foundation even more with this little pink egg of a sponge….. and I loved taking picture on Instagram…..with NO FILTER! I swear! They sell these sponges at Sephora just in case you wanted to run….. I mean pick one up!

What is the most important thing brides should consider when choosing someone to do their hair and makeup on their wedding day? Aside from the obvious like making sure you do a trial and are happy with the end result….. also make sure your artist is professional. An easy way to do this is by reading their contract. If they don’t have you sign a contract that would raise an immediate red flag! Two other really important factors to consider is to make sure your makeup artists is at least an esthetician and that your hairdresser is a cosmetologist! These licenses are required BY LAW. Last making sure they have liability insurance. You want someone who takes care of their business as it shows how they will take care of you. If your artist knows all the legal ins and outs and requirements of his/her business and is licensed and insured then you know it is someone who is looking at this for the long haul and not to make extra money on the side as a hobby. Professionals will take the time to invest in their company.

What should brides avoid in the days leading up to their wedding? Honestly in a perfect world the bridal party would not be hung over from their rehearsal dinner and would come wedding day with 8 hours of sleep….. but let’s get real! Rehearsal dinners are full of friends you haven’t seen in years that flew in, family your fiance has not met, and and a family reunion that has not happened since Aunt Carol got married 10 years ago! There will be a party the night before and nothing or nobody will stop that! Hopefully your artist comes prepared with either a hydration mask (depending on the severity -LOL), tons of moisturizer, and if need be oxygen infused facial mist…. My favorite is from Bliss! This with the right formula concealer will make you look like you got 8 hours of sleep you were hoping for!!!

As far as facials go…… most spas will not (or maybe I should say SHOULD NOT) give you a mud facial the week of. Any facial where your impurities are being drawn out WILL and I repeat WILL break you out! Other than that if you just go in for a relaxing facial or massage you should be fine! Just let them know your big day is coming up and you don’t want anything that will bring unexpected friends to the surface!! But go ahead and pamper yourself that week!! With all the wedding duties you have had you deserve it!!!

We Won! 2013 Wedding Industry Expert Awards

The results are in for the 2013 Wedding Industry Expert Awards. We're honored to be selected among the top wedding planners in the country again this year! Winner: Best Wedding Planner - Jacksonville Winner: Top 5 Best Wedding Planner - Jacksonville Winner: Top 10 Best Wedding Planner - Jacksonville Finalist: Best Wedding Planner - Florida - Ranking: 3 of 3 Finalist: Top 5 Best Wedding Planner - Florida - Ranking: 3 of 5

Invisalign - A Wedding Gift For Yourself

I had the privilege of meeting with Dr. Don Alexander this week, and he had a great idea! Why not invest a little cash on yourself as you plan your wedding? Now is definitely the time to do it, before the house and kids and career really take over.

Dr. Alexander offers Invisalign®, but his practice is unique. It's one of six offices in Jacksonville that have the technology to show you your anticipated results in just 15 minutes! The nifty computer screen you see pictured here is what makes it possible. And the mouth you see on the screen is mine! Granted, I had braces as a kid, and my teeth are still fairly straight, so you don't see a huge difference. But in some of the cases Dr. Alexander showed me, even six months of Invisalign® can make a significant change in your smile. It just takes a few minutes to have your mouth scanned, and then it magically appears on the screen and makes the adjustments.

Dr. Alexander is offering our clients a great discount on Invisalign®, plus free teeth whitening for both the bride and groom. I was surprised to hear how affordable it is, even without the discount! Contact our office to get a special invitation to visit Dr. Alexander's office for a complimentary consultation.

Multi-Cultural Wedding Tips

I had the pleasure of attending the Association of Bridal Consultants' Central Florida East luncheon yesterday. The guest speaker was Yehudit Steinberg, the founder of the Jewish Interfaith Wedding Network. She specializes in creating ceremonies blending religions and cultures, incorporating both families' traditions and beliefs. Yehudit shared some tips that you may want to consider when planning an interfaith wedding.

1. Don't rush. Long engagements aren't a bad thing, especially when it comes to blending two cultures or religions. You'll want to explore your families' traditions, and decide as a couple which traditions to incorporate into your wedding, and your marriage.

2. Open communication. Encourage your families to be a part of your wedding preparations, especially in terms of the ceremony.

3. Address ceremony options first. Especially when you are considering marrying in a house of worship, you will want to secure the date with your officiants before planning any other aspects of the wedding.  In other words, don't book your reception venue and then find out it's Yom Kippur and no rabbi will marry you!

Be sure to visit the Jewish Interfaith Wedding Network website for more great information!

Signature Drinks Featuring Pearl Wedding Cake Vodka

At last year's Association of Bridal Consultants' conference, I was introduced to Pearl Wedding Cake Vodka. What a great addition to a signature drink! They have lots of great recipes on their website, but here are two they featured at the conference.

Blushing Bride (shown in photo)

2 oz Pearl Wedding Cake 2 oz Cranberry Juice 1/2 oz Prosecco

Chill champagne glass. Pour ingredients as listed. Garnish with a fresh strawberry and serve.

Tropical Wedding

2oz Pearl Wedding Cake 4oz Pineapple Juice

Pour Pearl in chilled martini glass. Add pineapple juice. Garnish with pineapple wedge.

Do you have signature drink recipe you'd like to share? Post it in the comments below!

Spotlight: Wine and Canvas

Last weekend, Kari and I had a blast creating works of art over cocktails and conversation! Thanks to a Groupon deal, we signed up along with Kari's mom, sister, and a few friends, and were introduced to Wine and Canvas. The premise is simple: you sign up online, then show up at the bar or restaurant where the event is scheduled. You get a blank canvas, paints and brushes, and even an apron to keep you somewhat clean. Everyone paints the same picture, and an instructor paints along with you so you can watch what to do. (That part is definitely easier before the cocktails!) Here's the before:

It's a step by step process, and our class lasted 3 hours. At the end of the event, we all took our paintings with us - some to be displayed prominently in our homes, some to be donated to a charity thrift shop near you.

Not only is this a super idea for a night out, it's a great idea for a Bachelorette Party! We've heard from a lot of you that say you want a fun night out with your friends that doesn't involve a fake veil and strippers. Wine and Canvas offers private parties which could be held at any number of restaurants that have private event space. Plus, you'll have a souvenier of your night with the girls!

Check out the Wine and Canvas website or Facebook page for more info:

Wine and Canvas Website Wine and Canvas Jacksonville - Facebook page

Jacksonville Wedding Venue Tour

We had a great time last Sunday participating in the first Jacksonville Wedding Venue Tour, hosted by our friends at The Wedding Loft. The premise is that brides and grooms visit four venues, all set up as they would be for a wedding, and they get to enjoy food and entertainment while meeting great wedding professionals. It's like a bridal show on wheels!

We were at The Carling, which is an interesting historic venue in Downtown Jacksonville. The building was formerly the Carling Hotel/Hotel Roosevelt, built in 1925; now it's home to gorgeous apartments! Restored architectural features include Palladian windows, terrazo floors, and a beautiful marble staircase to the private event space.

Thanks to J'Adore Studios for the fun photos! To see more photos from the tour, check out Liz's blog post.

The Jacksonville Wedding Venue Tour attendees on the bus!

At the entrance to The Carling

Design and florals by Blush 129

Cake and cupcakes by Choux Bakery

Food by D'Vine Cuisine

Spotlight: The Engagement Ring Studio

This week, I had the opportunity to meet the lovely ladies at The Engagement Ring Studio. As a small studio, they offer a personal approach to selecting the perfect engagement ring. They work one-on-one with grooms to select the ideal ring for his bride, or custom design one if nothing is "just right."

Rather than a sea of glass cases, the studio has open displays where the rings can easily be viewed, touched, and admired. In addition, they have a selection of earrings, necklaces, as well as non-diamond options.

I was impressed that they are dedicated to designing a ring that not only the bride will love, but the groom will be comfortable with price-wise. Before they even start looking at diamonds, they look at budget. Much better than the guilt-trip guys often get at the major chain stores!

Already have the ring? The Engagement Ring Studio can also help with custom-designed wedding bands and bridal party gifts.  Also, check out their seminars, "Beer, Wings & Rings" where guys can learn how to buy the perfect engagement ring.

Celebrating 10 Years

In November, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of First Coast Weddings and Events. I put together a small dinner party for our team, and I'm excited to finally share the photos with you! There were so many gorgeous images from Kris Graham Photography that I had a hard time narrowing it down!

Thanks to Rose of Sharon European Florist, D'Vine Cuisine, Kirby Rentals, and Classic Cakes for making it all happen. And of course, to Emma, Melanie, Kari and Ashleigh for being such an amazing team!