Engage your guests online!
Okay, so you have that amazing wedding website and the bridal party location changes!!!
How do you keep everyone informed about little details that shouldn't require you to email your whole list of guests?
Using Beamer.
Beamer is a smart and easy-to-use newsfeed and changelog to announce relevant news, latest features and updates.
Beamer is fun too, you can include videos, gifs, and emojis!
Plus your guests can react to everything! You could even use it to take a poll, like "Plain or Colored Plates?"
Check out beamer and use promo code "beamer20x3" for 20% off!
C&C Design Studio / Boston
How to pick the RIGHT makeup artist
With so many amazingly talents makeup artists to pick from for your wedding glam hour, it can be hard to cut down and create a "preferred" list.
To help, here are 5 ways to figure out if a makeup artist is RIGHT for you;
1.
Create a pintrest board of makeup looks you love, then see which makeup artist's work is most like your vision.
2.
Look over all the makeup artist's portfolios and filter down to your top three, do trial sessions and see which one feels and looks the best.
Note:
Makeup isn't all about the look, make sure your makeup artist has a clean setup, uses good products and has good reviews. Miranda Berube wrote an amazing article on this. Check it out »
3.
Do a personality check — give them a call and talk with them for a while (you should schedule this call before hand so they have time) and make sure their personality matches with who you want at your wedding.
4.
Ask them about their setup, as Miranda Berube says, make sure they use disposable tools to keep cleanliness.
5.
Talk to your photographer to ask for their recommendations, they'll have insights into those in your area.
Do I need a travel agent for my Honeymoon?
In This Episode Chris Cardone and Susan Peavey go over the following questions;
How does a travel agent help in the honeymoon planning process? ( 0:25 )
When should brides start planning & contact a travel agent? ( 2:06 )
Best tips for brides looking for an amazing honeymoon? ( 2:53 )
Want to contact Susan? Click here »
Why You Should Kiss Twice
Robin Howard talks about why kissing twice at the ceremony is critcal for that perfect kissing shot!
What is Bridal Coverage?
Robin Howard talks in depth about what bridal coverage truly is and what it consitsts of!
C&C Design Studio / Boston
Why NOT to do mail-in wedding RSVPs
RSVPs are needed for all weddings, however, you get the choice between mail-in and electronic.
Personally, I never suggest mail-in, I love a good paper invite (and so will your guests). However, safe your self some trouble and use a wedding website for RSVPs.
Here's why mail-in is more stressful than it's worth;
First off, your mailbox is going to fill us and things are going to get lost.
Second, this system requires a whole extra system that you need to manually input their RSVP into, when your guests could just be doing that themselves.
Lastly, it's old school – most people don't want to mail things back, think about the last time you were asked to mail something and how long you procrastinated before doing it.
Better Solution
Use a wedding website like WeddingWire or SquareSpace to better organize your RSVPs without the manual labor.
C&C Design Studio / Boston
How to make getting ready for your wedding fun!
Your wedding should be an all day party! So, you can consider your getting ready the pre-party!
Here are my biggest tips for making getting ready a light-hearted and a memorable party;
1. Drinks, drinks, and more drinks
Keep drinks on tap (with low alc. content) so the day starts off easy!
Tip: 1 Water for Every 1 Beverage and you'll be amazing.
2. Keep Drinking the night before LIGHT
Not to be a bummer but the best party ruiner is a hangover. So, keep drinking the night before safe and light :)
3. Have everything prepared and ready
The last thing you want to have to say is "hey, um can you run back to the house and..." come with everything packed and ready to go!
Create a wedding checklist if you need one.
4. Keep calm and push all responsibilities off to your maid-of-honor
Today is your day, have your maid-of-honor help keep things on track, they'll be less stressed when dealing with things. This will keep things running, keep you calm, and get you down the isle faster.
5. Have hair and makeup start EARLY
Hair and makeup needs time, have them begin 1 hour before their suggested start time so they have backup time should anything cause delay.
Also, hair and makeup should be completed 15-30 minutes before photographers show up, this will keep everything moving amazingly.
Want to learn more about getting ready? Click here »
p.s. we don't endorse over drinking – keep it safe, ladies.
C&C Design Studio / Boston
How to keep your wedding kid-free
We love kids just like anyone else, however, some people don't want them at their wedding – some just want adults so they don't have to worry about anyone crying during the reception.
Here are 5 ways to keep your wedding KID-FREE;
Send the invite to the RIGHT name
If you don't want kids don't address the invite to "Doe Family" address "John & Jane Doe" this passive little detail tells people – no, you can't bring your whole family.
Add it to the invite
This sounds like over-kill, however, adding it to the lower left or right corner will just alert parents. But, don't put it in big font, have it just be subtle.
Put it on your website
If you have a wedding website put "Adults Only" on the homepage somewhere!
Put it wherever Your guests RSVP
If they're RSVP-ing online put in a text box that says "No kids, please." or if you're doing mail in RSVP (yikes) put it on the mail back card.
Lastly, do the door-to-door approach
Some don't like to clutter their stationary with "no kids". So, if you want to keep everything clean looking, you can personally email the "trouble families", you know the ones that bring their kids everywhere.
However, emailing 1-by-1 is time consuming and you're dommed to forget 1 or 2.
That's all from us – if you had a kid free wedding, let us know how you kept it kid free below!
C&C Design Studio / Boston
How keep the kids under control for your wedding
Having kids can be stressful.
However, keeping them under control during the wedding is important so you can enjoy your wedding.
Here are our suggestions on how to keep the kids under control;
Good weather? Outdoor games are a must!
You know where the best place is for a screaming match to take place? Outside... so throw together some kid-friendly games and DIY your way to success.
Cell Phone Games?
I know for some parents cell phones are a no, however, having the ultimate kid distractor in your pocket is a serious plus!
Bring the nanny
I know not everyone has an at home nanny, however, if you do consider asking them if they could come along and make sure everything goes well, they'd be a great set of hands in case it gets to the point where they need to go home.
What to NOT do;
Arts & Crafts Table
Okay now this is just asking for trouble – even if it's paint free you're asking for possible paper cuts, messes, and fights over the glue stick.
Candy Table
Weddings usually go till 10pm - 12am, therefore feeding kids candy is going to bring on a rush... and crash. Make sure if you do a snack/candy table the food has low amounts of sugar.
Per pediatricians recommendation, children should stop consuming food with high sugar after 2pm (i.e. soda).
Special thanks to TENOR for the GIFS.
C&C Design Studio Blog is not specifically for moms – we highly suggest Brides.com
C&C Design Studio Blog is not specifically for moms – we highly suggest Brides.com
How to cure bridal acne
To cure acne you need to cleanse it, so I asked our friends at Curology to talk about what facial cleansers they recommend most!
I'll let CEO of Curology, David Lortscher take it away;
First off, when you think of skincare, it isn’t just the act of changing the cleanser you’re using, it is a whole new regime in which you use on the day-to-day. David Lortscher, MD., CEO and founder of Curology had a little input on when brides should make this regime swap; If a bride is looking to try out a new skincare regimen before her big day, she should begin as soon as possible. This is because we can never be sure how someone’s skin will react to a new product or ingredient, so it’s crucial to give yourself some time before the wedding to see how your skin will react. Another important reason to introduce a new routine as soon as possible is because some ingredients/products can take a few weeks in order to see their full benefits. To be safe, I would give your skin around 2 months in order to adjust to a new skincare routine.
© Curology
Of course, with many different skin types I find that those who have the biggest problem are ones like me with sensitive and dry skin, so I asked Lortscher what cleansers people with dry/sensitive skin should use; For dry, sensitive skin, try hydrating cleansers such as CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser or Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser. Some other good options for gentle skin cleansers include Free & Clear Liquid Cleanser and Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser. These cleansers are strong enough to remove impurities, but still gentle enough to avoid stripping the skin or drying the skin out with harsh soaps. I recommend staying away from harsh physical exfoliators, as these can be extra irritating for dry, sensitive skin.
© Curology
Additionally, for oily skin types Lortscher has a few suggestions; For oily skin, look for a foaming cleanser such as CeraVe Foaming Cleanser; Cetaphil Dermacontrol Oil Control Foam Wash; or Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser. Cleansers with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid can work well, although it’s important to note that salicylic acid can cause some dryness and irritation for certain individuals.
C&C Design Studio / Newport
How to create a wedding website
FIRST OFF, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF A WEDDING WEBSITE!
Putting a custom URL with a nicely designed website behind it on your invites is just a good look.
Then, you can ask people to RSVP online, keeping your actual mailbox from filling up and your stress reduced with electronic RSVP responses that you can't accidentally throw away.
Lastly, if details change, you can change them, quickly.
SECONDLY, LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW TO SET ONE UP.
Some of you out there might be savvy with HTML and detailed code; however, I am not, so here are easy website builders anyone could use;
1. WeddingWire
WeddingWire is the all-in-one for weddings, they introduced their latest wedding website tool. The sites look okay, however, the setup is seamless and the features like RSVP sending makeup for any design flaws.
2. SquareSpace
If you love that trendy, sleek look – squarespace is your new best friend. They feature amazing templates with a modern feel and full customization at your fingertips.
3. Wix.com
Wix is a great SquareSpace like drag-and-drop builder, however, wix requires some fixer-up-ing. Especially with making sure it's mobile friendly.
4. Zola.com
Zola is cool for ease of use and amazing templates. They have mastered making the setup extremely easy and the design looking like you spent months designing it.
And, ready for your jaw to drop – it's free.
5. Minted
Minted, this one is pretty cool. Minted features an amazing RSVP process along with registry hosting, and a seamless set of templates that helps couple's websites stick out.
C&C Design Studio / Boston
What is a one-month-out call?
So, you might have heard of the one-month-out call we do with every client, or your wedding planner is talking about this, and you're left wondering what exactly a one-month-out call is.
Brief Description;
A one-month-out call is where you and your consultant run through the whole day's plans to ensure no issues are lurking in the timeline or logistics.
What You Need-to-Know;
For the one-month-out call to be most effective and worth your time the following information is critical to be known;
Hair and makeup start and end
Number of guests
Number of people in the wedding party
List of people who must be photographed
(for caterers) Any meal restrictions
All important events (i.e., bouquet tossing, etc.)
Ceremony length
Driving time location-to-location
All fellow vendors booked & timed
Why This Call is Important;
Our consultants find this call to be the most critical part of the wedding planning since we run through everything and make fixes where needed and ensure that any errors we can foresee are fixed.
This call allows your consultant/planner to coordinate with all your vendors and make sure they are fully aware of the timeline and the needs throughout the day.
Additionally, this call is perfectly one-month-out where we can make changes still without rushing, however, close enough that everything will have been booked and ironed out.
Call Length;
Make sure you have a pen, paper, and a comfy chair. This call is usually 45 minutes to 1 hour long.
What is the C&C Wedding Tips Subscription?
First off, it's a free email subscription where we email you 4-6 times a month. (less than twice a week)
You can unsubscribe at anytime.
Here's what you get;
- Monthly Major Tip
- Bi-Weekly Wedding Q&A
- Weekly Blog Digest
We're working hard to make it so before October you can select exactly which emails you want, however, as of right now that function is a work in progress :)
Not already on the list? What are you doing! Sign up :)
C&C Design Studio / Saphire Estate
Helpful Wedding Planning Apps
We live in the digital age, so here are 8 apps that will help you plan your wedding and relieve some stress!
1. WeddingHappy
This app helps you stay on track with how far along you are in the wedding planning process and the vendors you need to inquire with!
2. Trello
We personally use trello here at C&C internally, we use this for to-do lists, client organization, etc. Trello can be used for almost anything.
Here's what consultant Chris Cardone suggests;
- List of vendors you need to hire
- List of vendors you need to pay
- To-dos
- People you need to invite (personally)
3. Zola
Zola.com is an amazing and powerful website, their website provides an amazing registry and planning helper.
4. WeddingWire
WeddingWire is a one-stop-shop for couples, they offer wedding websites, wedding planning checklists, and so much more even help picking your wedding colors! They have the largest network of wedding vendors for you to look through.
5. Finery
Finery helps you pick out your bachelorette/wedding weekend outfits so the amazement doesn't stop when they see the dress!
6. Appy Couple
Appy Couple is an interactive way to plan your wedding, the app allows you to manage your guest lists, receive a personalized wedding app for guests, a responsive wedding website, custom rsvp forms, and much more!
7. Mint
Mint is a smart budgeting manager to make sure you control the spending on your wedding and have transparency on where each dollar is going.
8. Evernote
You won't believe how many notes you need to take during the wedding planning process, Evernote helps you organize all those thoughts in one search-able place.
Have an app we should know about?
C&C Design Studio / Queen Anne's Loft
What is a Venue Walk-through?
From choosing your venue to confirming final details, here’s everything you need to know about venue walk-throughs.
Why is a venue walk-through important?
A venue walkthrough helps the couple visualize where everything will be during their day and helps then understand what makes this venue stand out from others. A venue walkthrough allows the couple to see all the aspects of the venue and how everything truly looks up close and in person.
What should a couple expect when attending a venue walk-through?
Couples can expect to see all parts of the venue in a tour tailored to what they're looking for along with the policies of the venue and how they run things. Additionally, couples would get the chance to ask questions about the venue, their offerings, and the vendors they suggest.
What will be covered during a venue walk-through?
During this walkthrough, you'll hear about the venue's policies, the setups and takedowns they will be performing and helpful information regarding their pricing and further understanding of how much you'd like included in your big day. Additionally, they'd go over what would be available for you during the day and the preferred vendors in the area.
When should a venue walk-through be scheduled?
Let's go over the process – so, you're engaged (yay!), you should start building a list of venues you love and learning their pricing and deciding which of your "love list" are possible, you might have to inquire to learn about pricing or some will have it on their website.
Also, inquire ≠ walkthrough, you get to pick if you want to continue the booking process.
Once you've got your list of ones you love and are within the realm of possibility, you should reach out and request a walkthrough asap, especially if your date is a Saturday as Saturday dates book up quick.
Do you need to do a walk-through before booking your venue?
In short, no, most venues won't turn down your booking unless they're booked.
However, we highly suggest it, as this is a chance for you to see the whole venue and understand if it's right for you.
Who should be at your venue walk-through?
The people who are making the decisions, here is my recommended list;
- You
- Your soon-to-be partner
- Your parents
- Your bridesmaid whose opinion you trust
What questions should I ask?
We have a blog coming out dedicated to that – click here to know when it's published :)
C&C Design Studio / Boston
7 Types of Wedding Planners and What They Do
Planning a wedding takes a lot of work, but hiring a planner is a surefire way to lighten your load so you can keep your focus on the end result: getting married. If you’re wondering, “what does a wedding planner do?”, the answer is a lot. But while they share the basic responsibilities (i.e. making sure your wedding runs smoothly), not every planner does the exact same thing. There are several different types of wedding planners, so we’ve created a list of what sets them apart and the benefits of choosing each type.
Read more about what a wedding planner does and how you can choose the right one based on your budget and needs.
Full-Service or All-Inclusive
A full-service wedding planner is best for couples who want step-by-step guidance and a professional voice from the start. This planner looks over every detail, from the flowers to the venue, they help book the vendors, plan the timeline, and coordinate the guests. These planners for the do-everythings of weddings planning. Perfect for those with a busy life who don't have time to focus/stress about wedding planning.
Month-Of Planner
Couples who want to do most of the wedding planning themselves should still consider hiring a month-of planner to help ease the stress load during crunch time. Month-of planners are pros at stepping in to handle any unforeseen snafus in the weeks and days leading up to a wedding. They can also help with miscellaneous, last-minute things that need to be taken care of, such as final contract negotiations, making vendor payments and scheduling deliveries during what’s likely to be the busiest time of your engagement.
Wedding Weekend Coordinator
For couples that have multiple days of festivities scheduled and a large number of guests to keep track of, a wedding weekend coordinator is essential to help everything run smoothly. He or she will be the driving force behind the actual wedding day but can also assist with greeting guests and organizing any non-wedding activities, such as the rehearsal dinner or morning-after brunch.
Day-Of Coordinator
A day-of coordinator will chat with their clients a handful of times before the wedding to create a game plan, but their main responsibility is to oversee everything taking place on the actual wedding day — nothing more. Think of them as the professional counterpart to your friend or relative who volunteers to “run” things on your wedding day (which isn’t always the best idea). Typical responsibilities of a day-of coordinator include greeting vendors and directing them to their proper places, managing the wedding decor set up and breakdown, helping the wedding party as needed, and ensuring that the day is running as on-schedule as possible. Prior to the big day, you will be responsible for planning the wedding and tying up any loose ends on your own.
Destination Wedding Coordinator
A destination wedding coordinator is crucial for couples planning a wedding from afar. When you and your fiancé(e) can’t readily visit your wedding location, it’s helpful to have a trustworthy professional there in your place, or someone who is very familiar with planning weddings in your destination. A destination wedding coordinator can help you scout for venues, meet with vendors, and get a firsthand account of everything on your behalf when you can’t be there in person. They’ll also inform you of important, regional-specific information you might not know about, such as weather patterns, local happenings, travel tips, and regional customs.
Vendor Scouting and Referrals
What does a wedding planner do, aside from creating your wedding day timeline and responding to all those emails you sent during one of your late-night frenzies? Many event planning companies will provide couples with professional opinions and advice, even if you aren’t hiring them full-time. The planners can review your wedding contracts, join you on venue walk-throughs or provide referrals to other vendors. Event planners have vast network of industry contacts, from florists to rental companies, and this is a great opportunity to get connected to some of the best in the biz!
Á la Carte
No two weddings are exactly alike, which is why some planners allow clients to create their own à la carte wedding planner services list and pass on services they don’t need. Creating a custom planning package can be a great option for couples who are on a limited budget but still want professional guidance in some areas.
What about event designers or event stylists?
Not to be confused with wedding planners, event designers and event stylists are professionals that will help you exclusively with the visual side of your wedding. This ranges from tasks such as choosing a color palette, creating beautiful tablescapes or finding the perfect rentals to bring your cocktail lounge area to life. Event stylists and wedding planners tend to work hand-in-hand on a regular basis, which means that many planners have developed an excellent eye for design, but your planner may also want to collaborate with a stylist to take your big day to the next level.
What role does my C&C Design Studio Consultant play?
Our consultants act as month-of planners, we aid with everything 1 month out, beginning with your one-month-out call where we send you a temporary timeline for you to review and and for us to go over with you!
C&C goes above and beyond so you don't have to stress about your big day being perfect!
Some content in this post is © WeddingWire.com
Do posed photos always look fake?
Answered by Robin Howard in Episode 1;
Okay, so everyone is looking for that photojournalistic look, however, most wedding photos that you see framed are posed.
We pose in a way that tells a story using body language and lighting. Posed photos only look bad when done wrong, un-posed looks good when an action is happening, however, when people are standing in a group photojournalistic looks.... weird.
We (C&C Design Studio) create images that looks natural, unposed, and makes people stop and look at it.
Watch the full episode!
How long does wedding hair and makeup take?
Answered by Robin Howard in Episode 1;
Wedding Hair and Makeup takes about 30-45 minutes added onto how long it usually takes you to get your hair and makeup done because of the conversations, drinks, and jokes that will happen during getting ready.
If your friend has long amazing hair or anything else that would take extra time make sure to add on timing for that!
We usually suggest adding an hour just incase, worst case you use the extra time for drinking and talking :)
Watch the full episode!
Do I need two photographers?
Answered by Robin Howard in Episode 1;
Two photographers is usually what everyone is looking for and it helps the first photographer be unique and creative while the other photographer captures a photojournalistic point-of-view.
For small weddings (50-100 guests) one photographer can capture everything, however, larger weddings (200+) two photographers is a must!
Watch the full episode!