Saturday, June 26, 2010

The most important part of your wedding day: The ceremony

The flowers. The cake. The uplighting. Weddings have gotten away from what really matters and moved more towards the superficial of what is "expected at weddings."
    I'll be the first to admit to you, that I am (or was) the same kind of bride. I work in the wedding industry. I research wedding trends A LOT and I read A LOT of blogs. But today, I had a revelation. It's not just about the whole wedding. It's about those 10-15 minutes that most people just want to get through so they can get to the party.
      Brides! This is the most important 10-15 minutes of your life and you are trying to rush it! Savor this moment with your one true love. Does it matter if the aisle runner is really straight or if the flower girl makes a fuss? No, what matters at the end of those 10-15 minutes is that you and your now husband are married. savor the moment. Look in each other's eyes. You will never have a wedding day with each other.

   I had every intention of turning this into a planning your wedding ceremony post, but after reading a blog post from Lara Casey, I am going to go transparent and just put it all out there. I met with one of my brides today and I have to tell you, she truly is a blessing sent from above. I rarely put my spirituality out in the open, just because as a planner and maybe a future educator, I want to appear transparent and open to all religions and types of ceremonies. I am still that same planner.
    My faith is strong. Always has been always will be. In the last year since I graduated college, my faith has definitely been tested. I never in all my dreams imagined that I would not have a "9-5" job after a year. Never imagined that God would truly bless me with some of the best clients and some clients who would test me as a coordinator and planner. "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 NLT.

My bride today asked if we could have prayer before we left. Okay. Fine. Great! Man. Talk about an unexpected 10 minute prayer making such an important impact on you. I have been thinking about who I am as a planner, who my target bride is and what it is I want out of life since I left Mt. Juliet today. I want to be the type of planner who serves brides that care more about the ceremony than they do getting drunk and wanting the most important 15 minutes of their live to fly by so they can hit the bar. I want to be a servant to my clients and serve them, but not be taken advantage of. I want to grow relationships with my clients and form friendships that last well beyond their wedding planning days. I am tired of the craigslist bride who takes advantage of you for your Month of Coordination or a bride who tries to wheasel every service out of you for full planning of $2000. I want to make a difference and I want to put God first in everything I do, even my wedding planning business. "I can do all things through Christ who Strengthens me." Philippians 4:13.

A sermon that the pastor who is marrying us preached a few years ago sticks with me every day. The scripture comes from James 4:13-16.

 13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil."

We don't know where our lives will be a year from now, let alone tomorrow. Make the most out of what you have now and make things happen while you have the time! I am ready to make things happen!

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Monday, June 14, 2010

Engaged since 2008, but why 2010 to get married?- 4 months to go.

To give you a little background, James and I got engaged on December 12, 2008.  I was still in college and attempting to finish in 3 years. To view our entire engagement story visit here...Clarksville Brides: Hillary and James

But why 2010 to get married when I could have easily planned our wedding in a year? Here is why. 2010 has been an exceptionally busy, but exciting year in the Capes household.  In April, we celebrated my grandparent's 50th anniversary. This event was truly special and celebrated what I consider to be the essence of making a marriage last and true love.




(Circa 1960)


Here are some pictures from their event:



Our family is super talented so everything was completed by us for the event! My sister, Courtney, took the photos, my grandmother made her own cake and catered the event and my mom and aunt, Sonja, did the flowers!

 Yesterday, we celebrated my mom and dad's 25th anniversary. A wonderful surprise celebration was held at my mom's office suite here in Charlotte!


(Circa 1985)
Today is their real anniversary and also the anniversary of the day we moved to Tennessee 15 years ago from Illinois on their 10th wedding anniversary!

So why 2010? We believe that with having these VERY special events in 2010 resulting in long lasting marriage is an omen that ours will be a long lasting wedding as well! 
Why did you pick your wedding date?
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Monday, June 7, 2010

Real Wedding Inspiration: Pink!

I don't know about every other woman or girl, but when I was a little girl, I LOVED Barbie dolls! In fact, I still get a new Holiday Barbie EVERY Christmas! But what I loved infact was the pinkness of the dolls! Everything was pink and all her accessories were pink.  Now what I love is a Bride who utilizes every shade of pink and pulls it off fantastically!






Look at the variety in these flowers!


The Bride wanted a beautiful floating gerbera daisy arch to be married under!




Beautiful Favor Table Display incorporating varying shades of pink

Beautiful Cocktail table arrangement. Notice the fushia uplighting provided by Nashville Audio Visual


Check us out next week for some more wedding inspiration!
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