Dress Shopping: Appointments in NYC!

I was up in NYC for a few weeks over the summer and had the chance to do a few private bridal appointments. I chose two boutiques that featured many designers that I love and I trekked out to find a dress I love!

The first boutique in Manhattan had many options and I was quite overwhelmed by the number of dresses I ended up LOVING at this stop. It was a bit of a chore to awkwardly have to explain, "no, so sorry, I can't buy today before I've done a fitting with my mom and bridesmaids," but I understand day-of buying is the name of the game in the wedding dress industry, so I tried not to let that effect my experience. There were some gorgeous options that caught my eye, but there wasn't one that really stuck out to me as a top-contender.

I love a good, lacy train!

The second boutique was deep in Brooklyn, and being such a wonderful place to shop on my own! The woman who was helping me was capable, comfortable to talk to, and really listened to what my preferences were. I always thought I'd want a super densely-lacy wedding dress, but the lady helping me helped me realize that more sparse, delicate lace details is what I prefer more so. It felt like shopping with a good friend. I found two dresses that are my two favorites that I've tried on so far... I'm so excited to have a few "keeper" options in my mind!

I loved getting to romp around the city and try on dresses, have dinner with friends, and experience the energetic vibes of NYC.

End of Summer Wedding Update!

Hi Y'all!

I have SO many plans to share from a summer FULL of wedding planning progress! Here's an overview of our most recent strides.

First off, I’ve found that having my wedding plans laid out on paper has been a great tool to organize my thoughts. Having a separate page for each component of the day is helping me tackle all of the necessary logistics for our wedding!

Now about the vendors...

Photography - We've booked a highly recommended Nashville wedding photographer. I love her style and look and I'm so excited to work with her. I think that the photos we have from are big day are going to be some of the most special details to me for years to come.

Videography - Similarly, we've booked a stellar videographer to create a highlight film and ceremony film from our wedding. I get such a sweet rush of joy whenever I watch wedding videos, so I'm over the moon to be able to hire a pro!

Bridesmaids and Groomsmen - We have selected our wedding parties and will be inviting them to stand beside us very soon. I've already made the cards and am working on envelopes and writing messages to each of my girls!

Music - We are in the final stages of booking a DJ for our post-dinner wild dance party! I'm also in discussion with a few musician friends to see if we can have some live instrumentals for the ceremony. We shall see, exciting options though!

Guest List - We are working hard to narrow down our guest list and have begun collecting addresses for...

Save the Dates - I've long-since designed these babies, and am working with a local printer to see if we can't have some sort of fancy printing options. I've got my envelopes picked out and am ordering them as soon as we solidify our guest list!

That’s all for the moment! Lots in the works and I’m so thrilled to be moving forward with our plans! Thanks for reading, until next time!

Nine Essential Tips for Creating Your Wedding Day Timeline : Part 3 : You & Your Man

Welcome to the third and final installment in my series on creating your wedding day master timeline! Since it is YOUR wedding we're talking about here, it's important to craft your timeline to ensure your comfort and enjoyment on your big day. Here are a few tips!

Shall we?...

Consider a Pre-Ceremony Buffer for YOU

The last thing you want to be on your wedding day is stressed and rushed. Plan for the unpredictable and give yourself an extra 15-30 minutes before the ceremony starts. You can use this time to rest, pray, meditate, or give your family an extra hug before embarking on your new life.

Set Aside Time for Portraits

Plan for plenty of time to take photos! It will be such a joy to look back not only on the in-action candids of your big day, but also the more formal portraits! Think about...

Pre-Ceremony

• Getting ready photos with your girls
• Family photos
• First look shots (if you choose to have one)
• Romantic alone-time shots with you and your boo

Post-Ceremony

• Bridal portraits and groom portraits
• Couple's portraits
• Combined family photos
• Photos with his family
• Photos with both bridal parties
• Consider different locations: outside your ceremony venue, inside the ceremony space, stopping in a nearby park or riverfront, outside the reception space, etc

Mid-Reception

• When the dancing is in full swing, take advantage of different aspects of your gorgeous reception venue and get a few more formal portraits!
• Also consider getting more candid poses with your dancing guests. These can be fun, goofy, and extremely memorable.

Plan Some Quality Time for You and Your Man

Whether it be after photos and before the reception, or even the day before your wedding, be sure to set aside some time to connect with your guy. I've heard from just about every couple that the big day goes by SO quickly, so why not budget in some slow time to connect to and savor the day with your man?


I hope these ideas and tips are helpful to you! I know it can be overwhelming to juggle so many factors, but it will absolutely be worth it on your big day. If you have all of these factors figured out beforehand, you can pass off your coordinating responsibilities, sit back, and enjoy your big day to the fullest! Happy planning!

Nine Essential Tips for Creating Your Wedding Day Timeline : Part 2 : Your Vendors

Welcome to part two of my three part series about things to remember when creating your wedding day timeline! Last week we talked through four important timeline factors to think about that will directly effect your guests' experience on your big day.

So now that your guests are nice and cozy, let's talk about some of the more logistical details concerning your vendors. When you've got all of these factors in order before your big day, passing off your work to the professionals should be a breeze! Having a clear timeline in place will allow all of the various moving parts to fall into place, leaving you at ease to enjoy the day with your loved ones.

Let's get going!

Keep Your Timeline in Mind When Booking Vendors

Think about how much time you need with each vendor. Do you really want your hair and makeup stylist present the moment you start getting ready for your big day, or do you want some time alone with your bridesmaids first? Maybe your fiance isn't too keen on the idea of having a camera in his face while he's getting ready. Perhaps you've already hired a musician for dinner and you don't need a 5 hour dance party afterwards with your DJ. It's important to have a sketch of what your timeline might look like in place before you begin booking vendors.

If there are several factors up in the air, and you don't have all of the details on exactly how long your vendor will be necessary, reach out and explain the situation and see if you can put a deposit down to save your date without having figured out all of the package / timeline details. I'd recommend giving a minimum and maximum of what you'll be booking if you're in this situation.

For example...
"We know we want to hire you for at least 6 hours to capture 1 hour of getting ready, our ceremony, dinner, and dancing, but we're not yet sure if we are going to have a cocktail hour and how long our dance party is going to be. We can guarantee we will hire you for 6 hours minimum, and up to 9 hours maximum... are we able to put a deposit down to save our date and work out the details later within these parameters?"

Chances are your vendors will be willing to work with you even if you are waiting for factors out of your control to fall into place.

Think Through Each Vendor's Timeline

How much time does each one of your vendors need to set up? If they have to set up before their time, is the break time in between their setup and when they're needed included in what they offer?

For example, let's say your guests and vendors have to pass through your dinner space to get to the dancing space. You don't want a live band or a DJ milling through your dinner reception while people are eating to setup their equipment. Figure out how much time each vendor needs to setup, when they'll set up, and when they'll enter the space as to not disrupt any part of your big day.

Don't forget about break down time and any time restrictions your venue has! Consider this before you book your vendors for a set number of hours!



I hope these two quick tips are helpful in coordinating your vendors' needs and your own master timeline! The pro's know what they're doing and will do everything they can to make your day as easy for you as possible... as long as you are clear and detailed about exactly when and where they need to be! Good luck, and happy planning!

Next week, we'll go through a few tips to consider for YOU... and by YOU I mean the you and your beau! Scheduling in little pockets of time to amplify your experience of the day will help you savor this special time with the ones you love! Check back soon and all the best!