And the

NATOSHA!!!

Contact me so I can get you your gift card!

Merry Christmas

Hillary

Nashville Wedding and Event Planner

count down til we are married contest

That's right folks, it's time for yet ANOTHER count down contest! We are at 10 months from today until we get married! So excited!



Last month's winner Cassandra won a fabulous dinner and a movie package to Regal Movie Theatres and the Melting Pot! Congratulations Cassandra!

So what is this month's you might ask? Well, another thing that James and I enjoy doing is going to good ol Wal-Mart or Target and Acting like total goofballs!

With that being said, this month's contest if for a $25 gift card from either Wal-Mart or Target.



To enter: Leave us a comment telling us what you and FI would do with your gift certificate and how it would strengthen your relationship. We will randomly select one winner using a randomized method.


(** Entries MUST be posted by 11:59 cst Sunday December 20, 2009 to be eligible. Engaged couples only please.**)

In the mean time, What do you think about this bouquet for a springy outdoor wedding?

Until Next Time,

Hillary

Happy Thanksgiving!

When you are reading this, I will be in Illinois for some much needed family time. Today kicks off what is going to be the busiest month for Your Day of Fairy Tales since opening in 2008. But before the hustle and bustle begins, I would like to thank a few moments to give thanks to those who inspire, support, or are some way involved in the being of Your Day of Fairy Tales.

1. I praise God everyday that I have been given the ability and talent to plan weddings for such wonderful couples. Without him nothing would be possible. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."- Philippians 4:13

2. The wonderful Kristin Kaplan of Simply Stunning Events. She has been an inspiration to me since I started and I had the honor of meeting her this past year and she is going to be helping us out with our wedding next year. :)

3. The fabulous Heather and Eugene of 2duce2 videography. Our 2 hour dinner meeting inspired me beyond belief and proved to me that I am going to be a success!

4. My family. They are the ones who have been supportive throughout all times of my life and I am forever thankful!

5. My Fiance. Words cannot describe how thankful I am to be marrying such a supportive man :)

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and Leave us a comment telling us what your thankful for!

Penny Pinching Bride- Finding the Perfect Budget Engagement Ring

While the holiday season is rapidly approaching us, the engagement season is as well. “Silver Bells” and “Merry Christmas” are familiar phrases of the holiday season, but “Will You Marry Me” is a very popular phrase for couples.

This holiday season will be a penny pinching one for many, requiring many people to get creative in their search for affordable engagement rings. But, there are ways to get a quality ring without breaking the bank. Take into consideration these 5 easy pointers to save money on your soon to be fiance’s engagement ring!

1. Be educated! - You hear everyone talking about the 4 C’s (Clarity, Cut, Color and Carat) engagement ring shopping. If you don’t know what those are, stop reading right here and visit Shane and Co.’s website (shaneco.com) for jewelry education. This website will teach you everything you need to get the best bang for your buck when engagement ring shopping. Going in uneducated on the ins and outs of ring shopping could land you with a bad buy for your money. Know what kind of ring your fiancé wants and what color most of her jewelry is. If she has a right hand ring that is yellow gold, buying a white gold engagement ring could end up costing you more money than you anticipated. Talk to your fiancé’s family and friends about what type of engagement ring she would like as well.

2. Choose a smaller stone to propose with- There is no shame in buying your future fiancé a starter ring and updating the ring on an anniversary to come, such as 1 year or even 5 year. Shane Co. offers this service and also a free lifetime warranty.

3. Don’t be afraid of higher end department stores. Some higher end department stores such as JcPenney, Macy’s, Belk, and Dillard’s offer quality rings at a fraction of the price. When we got engaged last December, James told me that it was a temporary ring and that he wanted to get me a different ring eventually. We were out shopping one Sunday at JcPenney and found a great 1/3 of a carat nearly colorless, small inclusion ring for $300! That was too For example this Blue Nile (www.bluenile.com) ring sells for $1600.

www.bluenile.com

Did you know that you can find similar rings for around $500 or $600. This ring below can be found at Wal-Mart (Don’t cringe, read below) for $398!

Walmart.com

4. Don’t Settle for a Ring that is not “the Ring”- Too many men regret that they did not take longer in searching for the perfect ring for their fiancé. If you don’t find the ring by when you wanted to propose, don’t worry about it. She will still love you if you propose at a least expecting time. Be 100% sure before you buy.

(Bravo Bride.com)

5. Scout eBay, Craigslist or pre-owned bridal sites, like Bravo Bride - Many recent divorcees sell their engagement rings and wedding bands on these websites for sometimes as much as 75% off. Just be on the look out and make sure everything is legitimate before purchasing.

6. Remember- No matter what amount you spend on an engagement ring, it is the love and thought that you put behind it and how happy you will be when you are husband and wife.

Happy Planning!

And the Winner is.....

THE WINNER IS CASSANDRA!

Cassandra is getting married in 2011 and is blogging her way to the alter on her blog http://sassybridesmission.blogspot.com/

CONGRATULATIONS CASSANDRA! I will be e-mailing you for information on how to get your prize to you! :)

Coming up this week..

-Part 1 of Penny Pinching Bride (As featured on Ashley's Bride Guide)
-Wedding Inspiration for winter weddings.
-Vendor feature from Blair at Nashville Party Authority!

Nashville Wedding Planner: Vendor Feature: McCoy Made Photography

I have had the pleasure over the last 3 months to really get to know Mark and Noelle McCoy of McCoy Made (http://www.mccoymade.com). You might remember them from their previous name of McCoy Studio. Their new name and website are very user friendly and I just love their video blog series "Mondays with the McCoy's." In fact, here is the Monday with the McCoy's that we were featured on!




Here are some questions I asked the McCoy's in our interview!




1. Who are you and what do you do?

We are Mark and Noelle McCoy, of MCCOY MADE. We are a husband and wife photography team who travel the globe doing what they love to do, capturing couples uniting themselves in marriage.

2. What budgets do you work with?

We will try and work with anyone! But, we do have a base starting point that we believe is geared towards the bride who is recession savvy but still wants fabulous imagery. We take on a limited number of weddings per year, therefore ensuring that we work with brides who love our work and who like our personalities!

3. How many weddings have you been involved in?

So far for 2009 we have shot 25 weddings and we will 5 more this year!

4. What is one of your strengths in the industry?

Being a husband/wife team, we like to take pride in the fact that we pay just as much attention to the groom as we do the bride! There will always be two perspectives of the same moments, and we can be in two places at once. We have started several new polices for 20

10 here in our studio, one of our favorites is that we will be scheduling your GALLERY PREMIERE within two weeks of your wedding date! So, everything will be completely edited and ready to go shortly after you return from your honeymoon.

5. What makes you different from other vendors in your category and why should a bride and groom hire you?

The most important difference MCCOY MADE has that no one else has, is us. We take our jobs very seriously, but we love to laugh at ourselves as well. We strive to serve people with our hearts, and keep communication lines open.

Our style is simple but we believe that our images speak volumes. We always take time to get to know our clients so that their gallery can be a personal reflection of who they are. While we cover weddings in a journalistic way, we don’t like to limit ourselves by a “genre” of photography. We are hands off and unobtrusive in our coverage, but we do believe that there is a time for gorgeous casually posed images of the bride and groom and bridal party. We understand that family images are heirlooms that record your family in one of the most important events of your life.

6. What areas of Middle Tennessee do you service?

We serve all of Middle Tennessee, and beyond! We have captured a bride and groom in Italy, and at the latter part of the year will travel to Guatemala to cover a wedding!

7. Describe your favorite wedding or special event you have worked with?

This one is hard. I don’t think we’ve worked with a bride and groom that we didn’t fall in love with! Our favorite part of any wedding, is the people. But, if we had to pick just one, it would be a wedding we shot this past summer on a horse farm. The farm was theirs, and the horse drawn buggy the bride arrived to the outdoor ceremony in, was theirs. They all wore cowboy boots, and the groom wore a Stenson hat. All theirs. They were so true to who they are, not a single detail was a forced replica out of the latest magazine. That it made the entire event special (and more fun to be a part of and capture)!

8. Do you have any money saving tips to offer couples planning a wedding?

Do your homework. Hire a coordinator. One option that we offer, is that a bride can register with us! People can buy gift certificates to be put towards helping the bride and groom purchase their pictures or album after the wedding!

9. One more last piece of wisdom for the couple…

Always interview people. For photography, knowing that you “click” is important (no pun intended!). You want to get along, and feel comfortable, with your photographer, as they will be with you all day long. Always ask to look at sample wedding albums so you can get a feel for what you’re signing up for.

Thanks Guys! If you are looking for a photographer, definitely give Mark and Noelle a call! They are wonderful and funny people and even better photographers!

Dinner on us!

One of my favorite things to do as a couple with James is go out to dinner and go to a movie! We LOOOOVE O' Charley's and going to Opry Mill's to see a movie ( I love the girly ones, he likes the Transformers style ones). So every 16th of every month leading up to our wedding next October, Your Day of Fairy Tales is giving one lucky couple the chance to have a date night!

So here is how it will work,
Comment on this blog, telling us where your favorite date restaurant is and what your all time favorite date movie is and we will randomly select one entry to win on Friday!

(** Entries MUST be posted by 11:59 cst Friday November 20, 2009 to be eligible. Engaged couples only please.**)

Oh, Here is an inspiration post to get you thinking on your toes!

Nashville Wedding Planner: Vendor Feature: 2duce2 Videography

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting for supper the fabulous Heather and Eugene of 2duce2 videography this week! Now, if when you think wedding videography, you think of an unsteady, handed camcorder from Wal-Mart, think again! Heather and Eugene have a UNIQUE and fascinating approach to something that was once boring and unattractive.

If you think that you can't afford a videographer, think again. Heather and Eugene's prices are reasonable and are very budget friendly compared to other videographers in the area. Plus, their videos are the best I have seen, so why wouldn't you hire them?

Here is a teaser from a wedding they recently videographed. I love how they captured everything from the beginning of the day til the end of the day when you are exiting.




Check out their website at www.2duce2.com

Ways to Destress with your groom!

The last few weeks have been very stressful for both James and I. I have been meeting with clients and having vendor meetings. James has been working about 45 hours a week for the last few weeks. So destressing has been on my mind most definitely.

Here are a few ways you can destress with your fiance:


1. Only talk about wedding planning one or two nights a week. Guys get overwhelmed by all the color and vendor talk easily and let's face it, but their brain's can't handle as much information overload as a female's does. By only wedding planning with him two nights a week, you are limiting the wedding information overload.

2. Plan a date night every week. Find something you both enjoy doing or a new adventure and go and do it ever week. I was looking at the fab- Gray Photography blog this week and they had a great tip! (http://www.grayphotograph.com/blog/) They had a craft night for one of their date nights! GREAT IDEA!

3. Plan a weekend getaway. Escaping to the beautiful Florida panhandle, or going to enjoy the picturesque mountains of a fall Gatlinburg Day, is a fun and adventurous way to escape the stress from work and wedding planning. Hotels run specials during the week and there is likely to be less people during those times.

And just because every blog is better with some kind of inspiration post.. Here is my favorite inspiration board of the week.

30 Expert Tips and Tricks

30 Expert Tips & Tricks

When planning your wedding, there are things that are nice to know, like that trumpet skirts are all the rage or nosegays are making a comeback. Then, there are things you need to know -- advice so essential that any bride who's lucky enough to hear it thinks, "I'm so glad someone told me that!" If you're wondering whether there's something you may have missed (or even if you've got everything under control), check out our indispensable planning secrets.

1. Guests Come First

Get a grip on the approximate number of guests you'll invite before settling on a venue. This will ensure there's ample space for your crew. As a rule of thumb, allow for 25 to 30 square feet per guest. That may seem like a lot, but it's not if you count the space you'll need for the tables, bustling waiters, the band, and the dance floor.

> Start your wedding guest list here.

2. Investigate Wedding Blackout Dates

Know ahead of time if your wedding date falls on the same day as a trade conference, charity walk, or other local event that could affect traffic and hotel room availability.

> Click here for wedding dates to avoid.

3. Listen to Mother Nature

Heed the weather and other potential annoyances. Guests have been known to skip out early from hotter-than-hot summer tent weddings and improperly heated winter loft receptions. Bugs (gnats, deerflies, and no-see-ums) also swarm in certain areas during certain seasons. Consider renting pest control tanks to alleviate the problem or including bug repellent in guests' gift bags. And if you want a sunset ceremony, make sure you know when to say your vows by checking SunriseSunset.com.

4. Check Your Credit

Take advantage of the high cost of weddings and sign up for a credit card with a rewards program. Whether it gives you airline miles or great shopping deals, consolidating all wedding-related purchases to this card will help you accumulate thousands of rewards points (which could be used for your honeymoon).

5. Pay It Forward

Let one vendor lead you to another. Your wedding photographer can tell you which florist's blooms really pop, and your reception manager should know which band packs the dance floor.

Let one vendor lead you to another. Your photographer can tell you which florist's blooms really pop, and your reception manager should know which band packs the dance floor.

6. Lighten Your List

The easiest way to trim your wedding budget? Cut your guest list. Remember, half of your wedding expenses go to wining and dining your guests. If it's costing you $100 per person, eliminating one table of 10 can save you $1,000.

7. Ask and You Might Receive

Request an extra hour for cocktails or for your band to throw in that Frank Sinatra sound-alike before you sign on the dotted line. Most vendors would rather secure the reservation than nickel-and-dime you early on and turn you off. Later on, though, they may have less of a motive to meet you halfway.

8. Make a Meal Plan

Another unforeseen expense? Feeding your wedding day crew. Before you sign the contracts, make sure you're not required to serve the same meal to your vendors that guests will receive. Otherwise, you could be paying for 20 additional lobster tails. Choose a less expensive (but equally hearty) meal for them instead. You will have to let your wedding catererknow a couple of days before the wedding exactly how many vendors you need to feed (don't forget photography assistants and band roadies) and what you want them to serve.

9. Get Organizationally Focused

In a three-ring binder, compile all your correspondences with vendors, notes you make during meetings, and photos or tear sheets from magazines you want vendors to see. Set up a special email address dedicated to your wedding, and store important vendor numbers in your cell phone.

10. Tend to Your Bar

Typically, you need one bartender per 50 guests to keep the line at a minimum. But if you're serving a signature cocktail that cannot be made ahead of time (or in large quantities), consider adding an extra server designated to this task.

11. Leave Some Room in Your Wallet

Your wedding budget should follow this formula: 48 to 50 percent of total budget to reception; 8 to 10 percent for flowers; 8 to 10 percent for attire; 8 to 10 percent for entertainment/music; 10 to 12 percent for photo/video; 2 to 3 percent for invites; 2 to 3 percent for gifts; and 8 percent for miscellaneous items like a wedding coordinator. It's essential to allocate an extra 5 to 10 percent of your money for surprise expenses like printing extra invites because of mistakes, additional tailoring needs, umbrellas for a rainy day, and ribbons for the wedding programs. Go to TheKnot.com/budgeter for an interactive budget allows you to add your own items.

12. Don't Be Afraid to Beg

With vendors, almost everything is negotiable. And it doesn't even sound insulting. Just say, "I would love to have you, but my budget doesn't allow for this. Is there any way we can make this work?"

13. Wait for a Date

Sometimes, last-minute planning can work in your favor. The closer your date, the more bargaining power you have. Since most people book their wedding sites at least six months in advance, calling for open dates two months prior to your desired time can save you up to 25 percent. And, Friday and Sunday weddings should cost about 30 percent less than Saturday weddings.

14. Manage the Mail

Of course you want the perfect stamps for your wedding invitations. But not all stamps are widely available at every post office, especially in large quantities. Save yourself scouting time by ordering them online at USPS.com. And be sure to weigh your invitation and all the additional paper products before you send them out so you can attach the right amount of postage. Ask your stationer about the need for additional postage for odd-shaped envelopes.

15. Prepare for Rejection

Know that as a rule, about 30 percent of the people you invite won't attend. Naturally, this depends on the location of your wedding (destination weddings are harder to attend), how many out-of-towners are on your list, and the timing of the event (some guests may have annual holiday or summer plans). On the other hand, everyone could accept -- knowing your wedding will be the can't-miss party of the year!

16. Make a Uniform Kids Policy

You have four choices: You can welcome children with open arms; you can decide to have an "adults only" wedding; you can include immediate family only; or, you can hire a child care service to provide day care either at the reception space, in a hotel room, or in a family member's home. To prevent hurt feelings, it's wise to avoid allowing some families to bring children while excluding others (unless, of course, the children are in your bridal party).

17. Prioritize Your People

Pare down your guest list with the "tiers of priority" trick. Place immediate family, the bridal party, and best friends on top of the list; follow with aunts, uncles, cousins, and close friends you couldn't imagine not being there. Under that, list your parents' friends, neighbors, coworkers, and so on. If you need to make some cuts, start from the bottom until you reach your ideal number.

18. Take It One Step at a Time

Put together a wedding planning schedule and do things one by one, in a logical order, so you don't take on too much too fast and end up with everything snowballing around you. Don't hire any vendors before you've confirmed your date; don't design your cake before you've envisioned your flowers; and don't book a band before you've settled on a space.

19. No Ring, No Bring

If your guest list is bursting at the seams, assess the plus-one scenario. Do a faux seating chart in your mind, and imagine whom your single pal would sit with. If it's a table of singles that she knows pretty well, then you're all set. If it's a table of couples (making her the odd one out) or if it's a table of singles where she won't know anyone, consider bending the rules. If asked why you're not allowing single friends to bring guests, size constraints or your parents' never-ending guest list are always good fallback white lies.

20. Release Rooms

As soon as you have picked a date, start to look for hotels in a wide variety of price points. Many hotels allow you to reserve rooms for guests under a special wedding block and a reduced rate. You can then release any unbooked rooms a month prior to your wedding. If the hotels you contact insist upon contracts with cancellation penalties, just say no -- you don't want to be responsible for rooms you can't fill.

21. Provide Accurate Driving Directions

Make sure guests know where they're going. As easy as online map programs are to use, sometimes the directions are wrong -- or there's a quicker, less traffic-prone route to take. Ask your ceremony and reception sites for printouts of recommended driving directions, which they often keep in stock for weddings and will give to you for free, and test out the routes yourself.

22. Keep a Paper Trail

Get any nonstandard changes to your agreements in writing or send the vendor a confirmation email saying, "Hello, just confirming that you'll keep the venue open until 2 a.m. versus midnight." Don't take anyone on his word -- by the time the big day rolls around, your contact may no longer be working there to vouch for you.

23. Schedule the Setup

You must make sure there's ample time for setup. If you're renting a venue and bringing in outside help, ask, "What time can people come in to set things up?" Preston Bailey, author of Preston Bailey's Fantasy Weddings, recommends seeing if they can do it the day before, or at the very least the entire wedding day, before the event starts.

24. Learn About Marriage Licenses

You can check your state's license requirements online, but confirm with a call to the county clerk's office to see when they're open. Even if it's open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., they may issue marriage licenses only during slower times like, say, Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Give a copy of your marriage license to your mom or your maid of honor (just in case you lose yours during the final days before your wedding).

25. Go Over Ground Rules

Be prepared! Ask the manager of the house of worship or site where you'll be married for the list of restrictions (if any). For instance, is flash photography or bare shoulders prohibited? Or, if you're exchanging vows outdoors, are you allowed to plant tent stakes in the lawn (which is often a no-no)?

26. Classify Your Cash

Wedding budgets are all about balance. Start your budget planning by making a list of the crucial details, like the music, your wedding gown, the invitations, the flowers, and the photographer, and assign a number to each -- one being the most important and three being the least. Invest your money in all your number ones and cut corners on your number threes. (But everything can't fall into the number one category!) For example, if a designer gown and fabulous food are what really matter, you may have to choose simple invitations and smaller floral arrangements.

27. Help Guests Pay Attention

Make sure your guests can see -- and hear. If people are seated farther than 15 rows back from your ceremony altar or podium, consider renting a mic and a riser. This could range anywhere from $50 to $100, depending on the equipment used. You'll need to coordinate the delivery and setup with your ceremony space, so put your wedding planner or best man in charge of this task.

28. Write Down Your Digits

Carry an emergency contact sheet on your wedding day. Keep the paper with names and phone numbers of all your vendors in your purse -- it may come in handy in case your limo driver gets lost or you decide you'd like your photographer to take some behind-the-scenes shots.

29. Call the Fashion Police

Don't go dress shopping on your own -- all the gowns will start to look the same after a while and it will be harder to recall which style you really loved. But be careful about who you do bring. If your mom or sibling can't make the trip, ask a friend who is truly honest. This is the time when you really need to know which dress looks best.

30. Be Realistic With Your Time

When it comes down to the last month of your planning (and when you're particularly harried) look at your mile long to-do list and cut three things. Yes, cut three things. Not crucial things that you just don't feel like doing, such as picking a processional song or confirming final details with all of your vendors. Eliminate only the over-the-top tasks like hand-painting "Just Married" signs, or baking cookies for all of the welcome bags. Make a pledge to not think about them ever again.

-- The Knot

Mix up your Wedding Party

I included this as my favorite trend right now in my Ashley's Bride Guide Vendor Spotlight. Figured since I found this blog, I would share it with you.

The latest trends in weddings are changing with the times. Not long ago it was unheard of to have a male as your maid of honor, but today it's more common then you think. Another common trend that is catching on is dressing your bridesmaids in different dresses given each bridesmaid a different look.

I think these trends are making weddings unique and memorable to not only to the bride and groom but also to their guest. Let's be honest, I know I would never forget a wedding where the best man was a women.

Check out some other ways to spice up your wedding party!

Information from : wedzilla