As we promised, this month is all about showers! Today I put together a small inspiration board for the couple who has everything. How about throwing a co-ed “Stock the Bar” wedding shower? With this shower, guests bring gifts such as the favorite wine of the groom and bride-to-be, ice tongs, and wine tags.  How about some tie-the knot toothpicks for the scrumptious hors-d’oeuvres you’ll be serving?  How fun, right? 

Hello my lovelies.  I hope your Thursday is a smashing one!  Can you believe we’ve practically reached the end of January 2011 already?

Team Simply Jubilee Events or (Team SJE) as we affectionately call ourselves, is always on the lookout for fresh and inspiring wedding professionals and products for our brides.  Of course being members of the amazing Houston event industry we get invited to many events and are fortunate to rub elbows with the beautiful people.  So when the invitation arrived in my inbox to attend Ivory Bridal Atelier’s Grand Opening I was excited. 

I must admit before I went to the opening I assumed I would be attending just another bridal boutique store.  I could hardly think of why Houston needed yet another bridal boutique.  However, I was wrong!

I loved everything about the store, from the wide plank, dark chocolate floors, to the sparkling wall sconces.  Ah, but you may be wondering what makes Ivory Bridal Atelier unqiue?  Hold on, I’ll tell you!

First, they have built two large dressing “suites” for the brides.  This creates a wonderful cocoon for you to share with your friends and family when shopping for your gown.  So no more standing on a wooden box for the whole world to see.  Next, they bring champagne, cupcakes, and accessories to the bride while she shops to make it a truly enjoyable experience.

The store is run by two sisters, Ronit and Sharon Levy and perhaps they are the biggest treasure of the store.  The two of them seem truly humble and honored to be a part of Houston’s bridal gown community.  They were gracious hosts and kept thanking everyone over and over for the tremendous outpouring of support.  Even their mother was there looking fabulous and asked me to fix her dress.  What a hoot!  I wish these ladies all the best!

Details:

• 2800 Kirby Drive Suite 218 Houston, TX 77098 in the West Ave Shopping Center of Upper Kirby
• Dresses range from $2800 to $15000
• Website: Ivory Bridal Atelier

Set a Date

Ok, this is a no brainer, right? Not exactly rocket science. However remember that you aren’t the only one who just got engaged. Don’t rush into a date, but give it some careful consideration. For example there are some pretty popular dates floating around in 2011. (i.e. 11-11-11 or 09-10-11) You might have to fight the crowds to get the wedding professional of your choice if you pick a “hot” date.

Set a Budget

Yes this seems pretty straight forward as well but it can become tricky. Most couples have a budget in mind but where do you spend the money? A wedding planner can help you determine what’s reasonable to spend on certain items and when to reign you in if you seem to be heading toward blowing your budget. For example, if your total budget only allows for 3 to 5% to be spent on (XYZ super item) but the cost would require 8% of your total budget, then your wedding planner will help you trim in other places to get that item if you can’t live without it.

Determine a Guest Count

You will probably want to invite everyone you ever met, including your first grade teacher. But be realistic about the number of guests that would actually appreciate seeing you tie the knot. You also might be happier with having a super intimate affair at the swankiest place in town, instead of a huge party in a stadium just to accommodate your huge guest count. Do what your heart tells you.

• Make a list of your priorities for your wedding day. Ask yourself what qualities are most important to you and your sweetheart. These characteristics could be the music, the decorations and style, or the food selection.
• Spend time doing some research. That’s right! It’s time to utilize your very own resources and do some homework. With the help of magazine articles and wedding blogs, this is a sure way of helping you organize your ideas or be introduced to something new.
• Prepare a guest list. For some, this can be a time consuming activity. The earlier you can finalize your list, the better idea of your guest count that you’ll have when you’re looking into your venue and its’ capacity.
• Examine your budget. By taking an earlier look into how much you are working with, you are able to figure out how much you’d prefer to spend on certain aspects of your wedding. This way, you can avoid any surprises and take into consideration some of your must-have items.
• Look into hiring a wedding planner. Already feeling a little overwhelmed with your to-do list? Take the time to search and meet with a wedding planner in your area who can provide guidance and reassurance. The advantages of having someone assist you through the planning process and on the day of your wedding are endless!

Happy Thursday SJE fans!

Today I’m going to introduce you to one of our favorite photographers…Blanca Duran!  We had the pleasure of working with Blanca in October and her husband Alex.  Not only did we love these two, but their love story made us swoon.  Judging from our recent photographer interviews, our brides love Blanca too!  We have 4 brides who have booked her for 2011!!  The image  featured is from the engagement session of our couple Doug and Donielle who were married October 30th 2010.  For more information about Blanca  Duran photography please check her out at Blanca Duran.com

During the month of August, SJE will be posting a variety of ideas on where you and your new sweetheart can embark to celebrate your marriage.

Yes, we all know that the economy has largely affected individuals in more ways than one, but there is no reason not to include your honeymoon expenses into your budget. If you are looking for some ways to save, consider going on a cruise. Cruises are becoming more affordable and are still a great way to share a romantic getaway. The earlier you plan, the better the offers that you can find. Other advantages of choosing to go on a cruise are that most expenses are paid for in advance, you are able to visit multiple places, and of course that you’ll spend every moment of it with your spouse.

So don’t forget to pack your swimsuits and take plenty of pictures as newlyweds!

Newly engaged wedding couples are always looking for ways to “cut back” on their wedding costs. Even after formulating a budget, every couple will have a list of things that are just “must haves.” Depending on your personal preference, you can eliminate the cost of alcohol altogether if you are looking to have a “dry” wedding. However, there are ways you can still save money by being selective on the what drinks are served on your special day.

• Choose to limit what you serve to beer and wine, excluding mixed drinks which can be more expensive.
• Have only soft drinks and/or wine available during dinner. This will allow your guests to limit their consumption, if this is something you are worried about.
• Serve mocktails that look tasty and colorful. Guests of all ages will be able to enjoy these!

One question I get asked almost every time I am working on invitations from brides is whose name they should list? Listing names on wedding invitations today is very different from 20 years ago.  Just because you’re paying does not mean you have to leave off your parents.   Your parents can always be “hosting” the wedding, which is completely different from paying for it.  It also can be a place for you to honor your parents, by listing their names even if they aren’t paying for the wedding.  I know there are also situations where parents are divorced, deceased, or estranged from their kids.  You can always do the invite in the form where you are inviting the guests.  I always tell my bride and groom that it’s your big day and make sure you include what you’d like on your invitation.  Below are some examples of wedding invites:

Bride and Groom Inviting

Bride’s Name
and
Groom’s Name
joyfully invite you to share
in their happiness
as they unite in marriage
on Saturday, the Seventeenth of May
two thousand ten
at six thirty  in the evening
Houston Museum of Natural Science
One Herman circle
Houston, TX 77006

Bride and Groom inviting with their parents

Together with their parents
Bride’s Name
and
Groom’s Name
request the honor of your presence
at their marriage
on Saturday, the seventeenth of June
two thousand ten
at six thirty in the evening
Houston Museum of Natural Science
One Herman circle
Houston, TX 77006

Both Parents name on the initiations

Bride’s Parents
and Groom’s Parents
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Bride’s Name
and
Groom’s Name
Saturday, the Seventeenth of May
two thousand ten
at six thirty in the evening
Houston Museum of Natural Science
One Herman circle
Houston, TX 77006

Bride’s Parents inviting guest to the wedding

Bride’s Parents
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Brides’ Name
to
Groom’s Name
Saturday, the Seventeenth of April
two thousand ten
at six thirty in the evening
Houston Museum of Natural Science
One Herman circle
Houston, TX 77006

Good Morning SJE fans!  June has proven to be hot and rainy so far for Houstonians.  But we’ve come to expect the unexpected here.

The team here at SJE considers NOLA to be our second home.  We’ve spent a lot of time in the great city of New Orleans over the years and the vendors have come to know us quite well.  As matter of fact we’ve had 2 weddings in NOLA this year and we have 2 more in October!

One of our favorite vendors in the Big Easy is Fat Cat Flowers.  Our brides love Fat Cat too!   Often we find that brides who reach out to us in the middle of the planning process have already booked Fat Cat Flowers.  This is a testament to the stellar work and reputation of the team at Fat Cat Flowers.

The photo shown here is courtesy of MQ Photography and features a bouquet from the wedding of Melanie and Peter 04-19-2009 in NOLA!

This month we have been talking about having Plan B for the rain, the unforeseen natural disaster scenario or the unfortunate case where a vendor has to close up shop.  Today I want to talk with you about being prepared for the little items that can be overlooked on the day of your wedding.  Any wedding planner carries an emergency bag with them, which contains quick fixes for your day.  Just in case you may not have a planner present, these are some items I recommend you getting for your wedding day:

• Rubbing Alcohol:  Just in case you get some lipstick on your dress, you can use rubbing alcohol and gently blot that stain out.
• Baby Powder: Can be used to get last minute stains out of that white dress.
• Sewing Kit: Just in case that hem comes out of place and you need a quick fix or one of the bridesmaid dresses is in need of some repairment.
• Masking Tape:  If you’re not a sewer and a hem becomes loose, then masking tape will be your new best friend.
• Bottle of Super Glue: This is a great quick fix for a broken nail, bead work, or jewelry.
• Clear Tape: After taking all those pictures before the wedding , flowers can get a little wear and tear.  Clear tape is great for fixing flowers.
• Bobby Pins: Even though you have a 100 of these in your hair, trust me you always can use more.  
• Clear Nail Polish:  This can be used for a snag in your stockings, a quick fix for a chipped nail or even for a scratch for leather shoes.
• Breath mints or Gum:  This may not seem like an emergency item at first, but almost every bride ask me for a mint right before they walk down the aisle.
• Eye Lash Glue:  If you are getting fake eyelashes make sure you have some back up glue, just in case you start crying and those lashes start coming off.
• Standard Items: Be sure to have Advil, Acid relief medicine, spray deodorant, hair spray, shout wipes, nail polish remover, lady products, tissues, earring backs, brush, and a lint roller.

If you are feeling a little overwhelmed by gathering all these items, don’t worry you can also now purchase these kits online.  Let us know what would be your must-have item for your emergency day kit.

Photo Courtesy of Shop Daily Wedding Blog