7.02.2009
Guest Blogger
Jen is actually one of my brides who is getting married next year. She have a lovely , quick spirit that I am sure you will see as you follow her writings. Enjoy!
DIY Download: Cello Bag Labels! by Jenny Bryde
DIY projects are really great for anyone who is looking to keep their wedding budget in check or for those couples who want to add a personal touch to the elements of their big day. Depending on the time, money, and know-how for each engaged couple, the wedding can be partially or wholly made up of DIY.
Some DIY projects seem unreal unless you have specialized knowledge or connections to a specific skill. For example, I would not suggest to any bride that she create her own wedding dress unless she had some kind of seamstress or tailoring background. The results could end up being not what she wanted, a waste of time, or a drain on money. If a bride had made complex garments before, however, and decided to make her own wedding dress, she could save a lot of money and have a customized gown with her own personal flare literally sewn in.
Other DIY projects are completely user-friendly for most couples (even for those of us who are not Martha Stewarts). Often couples and perhaps their friends and family may feel comfortable tackling something such as creating fun place cards for their guests to find their seats...maybe white paper bag luminerias...maybe a special favor for their guests to take home as a momento of the day.
Today's DIY project comes to us from a fantastic website called Flights of Fancy. It is an adorable DIY favor project that leaves you with vintage-looking cellophane bags for edible favors that leave your guests with a homespun feel... http://blog.qcweddings.com/
7.01.2009
In the thick of it!

6.30.2009
Last day of special
Throughout the month of June, we have been offering 1/2 off our "Day Of" Coordination for anyone who would like a stress free wedding day. Our company takes your wishes and turns them into reality with smooth sails for the entire day. You have spent months planning the perfect day, invested thousands of dollars not to mention time and effort, it only makes sense to protect that investment with a professional who can head off any problems before they begin!
Interested? I would be happy to give you more information. Just e-mail me at cynthia@weddingsiniowa.com
Happy Planning!
6.29.2009
Amana Colonies Wedding
6.26.2009
Can't do even if you wanted to
1. Under any circumstances, do not - DO NOT - place your registry information on your invitation. Guests will find out where you are registered well enough, they don't need you telling them to buy you a gift.
2. Do not keep your guests waiting for dinner. If your invitation says that dinner and dancing are immediately following the ceremony, then that is what should happen. Plan your day accordingly. Keeping guests waiting without food and drink while you decide to bar hop between the ceremony and the reception is wrong. Even if you have a social hour; the word "hour" should be your hint.
3. And speaking of bar hopping......
4. Don't skip out on paying your vendors. If you have both agreed on a price then you owe them their fair share. Don't make them pay for your wedding just because you decided not to pay the bill. If there is a dispute, then that is an entirely different matter, but whatever the cause, be fair and even minded.
5. Don't ignore your guests. Under any circumstances should this rule not be overlooked. Your guests came to YOUR wedding for YOU! Your guests have plenty of things to keep them busy, so the least you can do is to thank your guests for their time and presence at your wedding. Be gracious at all times, because a gracious bride and groom are ones that are well remembered long after the wedding is over!
6.25.2009
Rosien - Schumacher Wedding Pictures


The couple chose the Scottish Rite in downtown Des Moines to hold their reception in. It is a beautiful old building that has stood the test of time. They have a large ballroom on the lower level that is great for weddings and events. Natural hardwood floors and marbled columns make this a great venue.6.24.2009
Traditions for you to add
Denmark: It is a tradition for the groom to select and arrange the flowers for his bride’s bouquet on the morning of the ceremony.
An eighteenth-century law forbade brides to wear makeup to prevent the grooms from being “fooled” by false beauty.
Cats are thought to bring luck to marriages. One belief if that feeding your cat from an old shoe before the ceremony will ensure good fortune.
Korea: A pair of wooden ducks accompanies the bride and groom in a traditional Korean wedding as a symbol of love and fidelity, because ducks are believed to mate for life.

In some Jewish wedding, the groom is required to see the bride before the actual ceremony – to confirm that she is his betrothed.
Although most modern weddings take place on a Saturday, in English folk rhymes, Wednesday is the best day for tying the knot.
In a traditional Scandinavian ceremony, the bride wears a gold crown. Afterward, she is blindfolded and crowns a bridesmaid – the next to wed.
The superstitious Italian Groom carries a piece of iron on his wedding day to protect him from the evil eye.
In ninth-century Europe, many men broke casual promises of marriage, so the Pope instituted an engagement ring as a symbol of – and an investment in - the couple’s union.
6.23.2009
These are cute

I love anything with a monogram, so these votives scattered around your guest tables would be fun. Very chic and classic! Better yet, buy some in each letter and spell out different words on the guest tables as your "table number signs."

If you are having a beach wedding or water-themed event, then these seashells would be a great way to display escort cards during the cocktail hour. Line them up on a linen tablecloth with a few orchids scattered here and there and you have the makings for a south-seas adventure!

These cork placecard holders would work great for escort cards or menu cards. They would even do duty as bar signs letting your guests know which drinks are hosted and what wines are being served.

You can find all of these favors and accessories at http://emmasfavors.0.kateaspenshops.com/
6.22.2009
It was completely my fault!
Why am I telling you all this? To make a point that if you are feeling stressed about your wedding, having trouble with a particular problem or person, can't seem to make rational decisions, are having trouble keeping up with a personal life, work, family and planning a wedding, take a nap!
Okay, well maybe not like that.... however, I have known brides who try to do it all and fall short with their fiancee, co-workers, or wedding plans and suddenly Bridezilla is knocking on their front door. Taking a day for yourself, a week-long break from the plans, having date night or just simply getting a good nights rest can do a world of good toward your disposition of life on the next day. Sounds too simple, but it is so ever true.
Taking care of yourself is a not a luxury while planning your wedding day, it is a necessity. You won't be effective for anyone if you aren't feeling good for yourself.
6.20.2009
Where did it go?
Even though there may be 24 hours in a day, on your wedding day, it may seem like there were only a few! Time can really escape you and by the end of the night, you won't believe that your day is over! All of those months of planning culminating into approximately 5.5 hours of fun with friends and family (the average time spent with wedding guests averages out to be 5.53 hours).
In the wedding world, this is why you want to hire a videographer because ever second counts and you don't want to miss anything! If you ever needed a good reason, here is a clip from a couple's wedding that I know they will play over and over again in their lifetime because of what their videographer caught on tape. Timeless memories preserved forever:
6.18.2009
An Outdoor Reception
6.16.2009
Pictures from an outside wedding
The rose garden has these beautiful stone pathways and romantic tall pillars that we decorated with vines and flowers.
I love these white chairs for an outdoor wedding.
6.15.2009
Last week's wedding flowers
Thank goodness we have a fantastic crew that understands how important weddings are and all that is needed. Love my workers!
These are the bridesmaids bouquets ready for travel.
6.13.2009
Weddings all over the world

6.12.2009
More Wedding Boards
6.11.2009
Videography is so important!
A photographer will capture a moment; a videographer captures the day. He records movement, sound and reality. Their film will show Uncle Louie dancing the jitterbug, Aunt Maud cat napping with the flower girl, and the laughter of your bridal party. You can show your film on your anniversary, send a copy to out of town guests that could not make your special day or relatives that live too far away and couldn't travel.
Why would you not want to remember every minute of this beautiful day that you planned so perfectly? For me--I wouldn't want to miss every precious moment! Here is a clip from one of my favorite videographers, Lance Harding. His work is everything that you would expect from a professional and more - it is truly magical!
http://hardingvideography.com/video-demo/
6.10.2009
Love these ideas!
6.09.2009
Do moms really matter?
Mothers are very important at a wedding. They are second to be honored after the bride and the groom, they stand in as hosts and hostess and receive well wishes from guests - after all, it is their children that just got married. 6.08.2009
Where does the time go?
Here are some pictures from Saturday's wedding. As you can tell, we are not professional photographers - those will be coming. The photographer was busy all day, so I can't wait to show you his work!
The bride was beautiful and the church simple and elegant. It was adorable to see their initials on the church doors!
6.06.2009
Wedding Day Rain
I have a beautiful wedding today for an adorable couple. They want everything to go just right. It is raining today - could it be any more perfect?
6.05.2009
Just a few pictures
The couple below is every wedding couple---in love and happy for the day that they have created. If there is anything that you could do to make your wedding day a treasure-hold on to each other and relish every minute of the day!

6.03.2009
Dressing up
6.02.2009
Bridesmaids dresses

Wouldn't this be adorable for a bridesmaid luncheon or rehearsal dinner?
I love how the long or the short look equally lovely! I am thinking formal ballroom for one while the shorter would look great in an outdoor garden setting!


This color is gorgeous! Pairing this with an eggplant color would make any wedding memorable.
6.01.2009
Gardening for inspiration

Isn't that what a wedding is about? Creating memories and touching people's lives? Planning a life together and creating future possibilities? I guess I was working yesterday after all!5.30.2009
Waiting to the last minute
I watched the premier of a new wedding show last night about a wedding planning company in New York. They are a high end company that deals with weddings over $200,000.One of the things that I noticed was that their timeline for certain things was dangerously close to the event date itself. For instance, doing escort cards the day before the event? I maybe can understand the printing of the actual cards themselves, but the design and concept the day before? Isn't that cutting it awfully close?
I try very hard to have all major (and minor) details finished up at least 2-3 weeks before the wedding and sometimes even longer before that. I love it when a brides tells me that she "has nothing to do!" the week leading up to her wedding. How great is that? She is actually enjoying the process and feels calm enough to be a guest at her own event.
I understand the need for changes and edits. I myself have cut it close from time to time with last minute additions or corrections, but I try very hard not to make it a habit. One of the key things that I have found that helps anyone planning a special event is a detailed timeline. Getting it down on paper helps collect your thoughts and brings into focus areas that need attention. You should leave nothing to chance on such an important day!
The escort card picture above is courtesy of http://www.weddingfanatic.com/tag/wedding-escort-card/




The florals were provided by 









