Stacey and David's Wedding - 9-10-11

The Grand Plaza Florida on St. Pete Beach was the perfect setting for the wedding of Stacey and David on 9-10-11. Although their wedding date was a popular one this year, this wedding was full of unique elements to make it a very special day, not only for Stacey and David, but also for their guests, who traveled from across the country to witness their nuptials.

The beach ceremony began at 10am, with guests enjoying the warm breezes of the Gulf of Mexico and harp music provided by Jessica Cardwell. The bride thought of everything, and provided flip-flops for guests to slip into and cold water for them to drink as they entered the beach. The bridal party was appropriately dressed, with the gentlemen attired in linen (including custom made shirts by Ya-Ya’s Little Secret), and ladies wearing sunshine yellow one-shouldered short dresses perfect for the beach.

Following a moving ceremony, guests were escorted to the Presidential Ballroom for light appetizers and drinks, including the bride and groom’s signature drink – frozen Blue Hawaiian. Tables were named after beaches the couple has visited or plans to visit, including Ft. De Soto Beach, Vero Beach, and Clearwater Beach.

The afternoon rain did not dampen the spirits of the newlyweds or their guests. Guests enjoyed their choice of main entrée, followed by wedding cake provided by A Piece of Cake. The groom’s cake highlighted his love for the game of chess. Following a sumptuous meal, guests then danced the afternoon away with entertainment by DJ Ron of Universal Music Entertainment (in fact, there is a pair of shoes that, as of this writing, still has not been claimed by a wedding guest!)

In addition to the partners listed above, many thanks to Streets and Streets Photography and Video Productions, Patrick Burley Photography, Nicole White Photography,  makeup artist Lorretta Taylor, and Jonathan’s Flowers for helping make Stacey and David’s wedding day one they will cherish for a lifetime.

Top Ten Questions to Ask a Travel Agent

As you begin to plan your honeymoon or destination wedding, consider these important questions!


Are you a licensed travel agent?
This is an important question! You want to ensure you are dealing with a professional and someone who is credible. There are too many travel scams out there that are after your money!

Do you specialize in honeymoons?
A honeymoon is more than a vacation...it's a trip that kicks off the beginning of your married life. Seek out someone who has experience in planning honeymoons and has insight into what newly married couples want to do.

Do you have honeymoon packages?
This question is closely related to the one above. Ask about what honeymoon packages may include (champagne upon arrival, breakfast in bed, etc) that can make your trip extra-special!

Do you plan destination weddings?
If you are considering a destination wedding, you want to work with someone who has experienced in this area. They should be able to coordinate room types and rates for your guests, help you plan your ceremony and reception, and guide you regarding the marriage laws of your particular wedding location.

What types of vacations do you handle (cruises, resorts, spas, etc)?
If you are looking for a specific type of venue (cruise ship, all-inclusive resorts), consider working with someone who specializes in them. They can share with you the unique features of each so you can make an informed decision.

Do you have special relationships with particular vacation vendors?
Again, this goes hand-in-hand with the previous question. Many travel agents are certified with particular vacation vendors (Sandals and Royal Caribbean for example), and because of the special relationship they have, may be able to offer you specials. And because of their certifications and special training, they can tell you what ships or resorts best suit what you are looking for.

Have you visited the destinations you are recommending?
There is nothing like first-hand experience, right? Travel agents certified with a particular vendor are required to visit the properties, so they can provide great insight!

Can you assist me in obtaining travel insurance?
I always recommend obtaining travel insurance. If your luggage is lost or your trip is delayed, travel insurance can come in handy. Talk to your travel agent about the specifics of what is covered in a policy.

What forms of payment do you accept?
This question is an obvious, but important one. Ask it before you decide to go with a particular agent.

Are you able to book airline reservations also?
If they are able to do this for you, find out whether or not they can accept any frequent flyers miles or points you may have with a particular airline. Also, do your homework....maybe you can book your own flights at a better rate via travel websites or directly with the airlines.

Your Planning Assignment
When meeting with a travel agent, ask these questions. Compare the answers of a few agents before you make a final decision. Happy Planning!

Wedding Budgeting: Six Tips to Avoid Stress and Debt

Money, money, money! Thoughts of finances can cause us to stress out and lose sleep, right? Investing such large amounts of money, as with a wedding, can cause even more distress. But the time leading up to your wedding is supposed to be a fun and exciting, and not stressful, right? Follow these tips so that wedding budgeting is not a chore, but will help you stay focused on your goal….starting your marriage with little or no wedding debt!


Take time and develop a budget before doing any other planning
Before you go dress shopping or honeymoon planning, sit down with your fiancé and determine how much you want to, and are able to, spend. Be honest with yourself…..do you have other debts like student loans you are trying to pay off? Do you want to buy a house after you get married, or will you need a new car soon? All of your financial obligations must be taken into consideration when you plan your wedding budget.

Include all elements of your wedding
Don’t forget to include such smaller things as gifts for your bridal party and extra trips to the hair salon for your trial runs. These items may seem insignificant, but they can add up and possibly blow your budget if you’re not careful.

Determine if family members will contribute to your overall budget
Find out from family members if they are planning to contribute to your wedding budget, as early in the process as you can. If someone is not able to give you a significant amount of money, they may be able to take care of your cake or favors (for example). Every bit can help!

Keep your budget in mind when visiting vendors
Now that you’ve taken the time to develop a budget, use it! As you visit vendors and shop for attire, remember what you agreed to spend on a particular item. If the two of you agree to go over your budget on one item, you should make adjustments with another item, so your bottom-line figure remains about the same. Also, adjusting a budget line item should be a joint decision, not one made by just the bride or just the groom!

Don’t make rash purchases
The local craft store is having a great sale on wedding items….do you rush over and buy everything you see? Just because it’s on sale doesn’t mean it’s a wise purchase for you. Again, keep your budget in mind and don’t rush into a purchase. If you don’t do this, you may find yourself with lots of purple ribbon and no use for it!

Use tools to help you
There are many free tools available to assist with budgeting. One I like to suggest is http://costofwedding.com. This is a site that will give you, based on your zip code, average wedding costs in your area. This can help provide a frame of reference for you. Also, a great tool for calculating your individual budget is http://www.weddingplanningonabudget.com/my-wedding-budget.php. Just enter your estimated overall budget, and the spreadsheet will calculate how much you can spend on each category. You can adjust the percentages assigned to each category based on your own preferences.

Your Planning Assignment
Make the time to develop your wedding budget. Block time on your calendars if necessary, but do whatever it takes to get this done. This task is too important to be ignored or rushed through. As always, feel free to comment on this article, 'like' it, and share it with a friend.  Happy Planning!

Custom Invitations: Four Important Things to Consider

Courtesy of wedding-beauty.com

You’ve set your date and chosen your venue. You’ve also decided on the type of wedding you going to have as well as the theme. So what’s next?? Invitations! We’ve talked about invite wording in a past article (visit our blog if you missed it), so this week we’re going to explore custom invitations.


Custom invitations are uniquely you!
Vendors such as Carlton Craft and Invitations by Dawn offer very beautiful choices in invitations. But if you and your fiancé’ want something that’s totally unique to you, consider having them custom made. They can fit your theme, colors and style to a “T”, and no one else in the world will have the same invites as you do.

Contemplate hiring an invitation designer
DIY is always an option for you (check out your local craft store), but consider hiring a professional designer to translate your ideas into something tangible. They are experts on typesetting, colors and paper…and, they are SO creative! They can also help you tweak your wording so it reads and flows effortlessly. Lastly, if you like, they can take the burden of addressing and mailing them off of you!

What about budget?
As with anything custom and unique, these invitations may be a little more expensive than DIY or non-custom ones. If having invitations that are all your own are a priority for you, consider adjusting your budget to allocate more money for this and less for something else.

How long do they take to complete?
Again, because your custom invitations are designed with you in mind, the turnaround time to complete them may be a little longer. Find out from your designer what the options are for rushed availability if needed (don’t forget, they still have to mailed so that guests can respond in a timely manner). Your wedding planner can work with you to ensure you stay on schedule with this (and other) wedding tasks.

Your Planning Assignment

Choosing your wedding invitations is a task that is not to be taken lightly. When your guests receive them, your invites will set the tone for your special day, and give your guests an idea of what to expect. Whether you go custom or not, this is a very important decision. Happy Planning!

Tiffany and Kyle's Wedding - September 10, 2011

Bride Tiffany and I have a mutual friend, and when she got engaged and started planning her wedding, our mutual friend suggested she contacted An Elegant Affair to help plan her wedding. There was an instant connection between Tiff and me, and I consider her to now be a friend, not just a past client.


Tiffany and her fiancé (now husband) Kyle met about 4 years ago when they were attending a job training session. They share a mutual faith and are definitely made for each other! I especially love how close their families are!

The hot pink and green color combination was a favorite of the bride, and looked great on the bridesmaids! After a meaningful ceremony at Northwest Tampa Church of God, the guests and bridal party moved the celebration to The Columbia Restaurant, a very popular and well-loved restaurant in Tampa. Guests enjoyed traditional Cuban fare….Arroz con Pollo, yellow rice, and flan.

Check out these great pics, courtesy of Rachel O’Brien Photography.

After their wedding, Tiff was kind enough to share these words: “I was very satisfied with the service I received from An Elegant Affair. Their services were worth every penny. The day of my wedding I didn't have a care in the world. I didn't have to worry about a timeline or make sure all of my vendors were paid. I didn't have to worry about finding seating for last minute or uninvited guests. Instead of being concerned with so many last minute details, I actually enjoyed the day (and it was beautiful). Everything ran so smoothly I couldn't believe it. My only regret is that I didn't hire An Elegant Affair to plan the entire wedding. I TOTALLY recommend them”

Many thanks to these fantastic wedding vendors: Rachel O’Brien Photography, The Columbia Restaurant, DJ Dollar of Diamond Events, Diana Jerzek of Di’s Delights, and Carrollwood Florist.

Should I Hire a Professional Makeup Artist?

Courtesy of Project Wedding

As you make decisions about your wedding attire, don’t forget to think about your face! Wedding pictures will be the memories of your wedding day, so you want to ensure you look flawless. I recommend to brides that they consider hiring a professional makeup artist. Why? I’m glad you asked! :-)

A makeup artist is an expert in all skin types
He or she will assess your skin to determine the best type of makeup that will work for you. They will know which products are best for your skin type (oily or dry for example) or your ethnicity.

A makeup artist can help create the look you want
He or she wants to make sure you look your best! If you have a particular look you are shooting for, he or she can help make that happen for you. But if you don’t have a clue, don’t worry….a professional makeup artist can give you a look that fits your personality and your wedding type (informal, semi-formal, or formal). If you’re not into makeup, don’t be concerned about being overly made up….that’s why a professional offers a trial run makeup session!

A makeup artist will consider the lighting and setting of the wedding
He or she will take into consideration whether you are having an outdoor wedding (with lots of sunlight) or a candlelight ceremony with very little lighting. These are important factors to know when coming up with your bridal look.

A makeup artist will come to you and can be available for touch-ups on wedding day
Unlike going to the makeup counter at the mall, your makeup artist will meet you where you are to enhance your beauty on wedding day. In addition, they can be available to touch up your makeup for post-ceremony and reception pictures (this is particularly important if you are having an outdoor wedding in warm weather).

What about the groom?
No one wants to look washed out on wedding pictures….not even the groom. If he’s interested, a professional makeup artist can ensure he had even skin tone and a great look for those important photos!

Don't wait until the last minute to start thinking about your wedding-day makeup.  When you meet with your makeup artist for the first time, share with him or her your wedding colors, venue, setting, and well as a picture of your wedding dress. Happy Planning!

Should I Get a Second Wedding Dress?

Any of you watch “Say Yes To The Dress” on TLC? That is one of my favorite shows! Sometimes a bride has narrowed her choices down to the top 2, but is stuck trying to determine which one is ‘the’ dress. She loves them both equally and finds herself in a quandary….which dress do I choose? For some, there may be option of choosing both!

Why should I have a second wedding dress?

Different look – You may want to go with one look for the ceremony and one look for the reception (something more traditional for the ceremony, and something more casual for the reception, for example). And if you really want to party the night away at your reception, maybe a less formal dress for the reception is on order (shorter, no veil, etc.)

Wow Factor – Surprising your guests (and even your new husband) with a wardrobe change can add even more excitement to the day! They’ve already seen you look one way, and now they will get to see you look another way….the entire time being the glowing bride. And for those who really enjoy being the center of attention, a wardrobe change will put even more spotlight on you!

Just can’t make a decision – If you absolutely cannot choose between dresses, this could be an option for you (if your budget allows)

Consider something that can be worn again – In my opinion, your second dress should be different from the first one (what’s the point of changing when both dresses are, for example, ball gown styles?). So that you can get more wear out of it, choose a second dress that can be worn again (at a formal ball, after-five event, party, etc).

Why shouldn’t I have a second wedding dress?

It’s not in your budget – Weddings can be expensive, and so can wedding attire. Don’t stress yourself out if you can’t afford more than one dress. Those monies could be better used on your new life after the wedding!

Wardrobe changes takes time – Your wedding day will go by very quickly, and you want to be able to enjoy every minute of it. Changing dresses will take some time away from your guests. If you decide to do this, work closely with your planner or coordinator to determine when during the day you will change, where you will change, who will help you change, etc.

Your Planning Assignment
Ponder the pros and cons of a second wedding dress, and weigh your priorities before you make a decision. Happy Planning!