Monthly Archives: July 2012

Engagement Photos to Inspire: New Orleans, Louisiana

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Alison in Featured

Want a free lesson on engagement photo sessions? Just keep scrolling. I am totally loving these images from photographer Stevie Ramos and the couple is adorable and just so. in. love.

New Orleans is one of the most charismatic cities I can think of. The photos allow us to hear, smell, and see the essence of New Orleans and a lovely couple who seem to adore each other quite a bit is the icing on the engagement photo cake.

I love how the Spanish moss in the trees plays a part in the background of the photos. It really tells us about where they are. The wardrobe changes are just right: from casual to formal, we really get a feel for what this cute couple is all about! It’s also worth noting that they scheduled the session right: great light for day shots and romantic light for night shots. Some locations are better in the day and others are better at night. But Nawlins, boy oh boy… Nawlins is good at every hour.

Long time readers will know that I’m obsessed with dogs and including them in wedding-related events, so it’s no secret that I’m delighted to see the family pooch featured in this shoot. Dogs just make everything cuter.

Photos submitted via Two Bright Lights!

Yenta-quette: Ask Desiree, Edition 2

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Alison in Yenta-quette

The Wedding Yentas is so excited to bring back another edition of a wedding advice column, Yenta-quette, featuring questions and answers about wedding etiquette from a Los Angeles foodie, social butterfly, and former Real Weddings bride, Desiree Jacobs.

Desiree, more than anything, enjoys coming home from work and putting on pajamas. She loves to eat Mexican food and sushi (not together) and couldn’t live without chocolate. She’s got a penchant for reality tv and 90s music. She lives with her husband Richard and the cutest dog that ever lived, Breaker. She wears a size 7 shoe and would love the entire current Sam Edelman collection and black Louboutains. Feel free to send them her way! Oh and Kate Spade bags are also appreciated. If you love Yenta-quette and you’re like, “I NEED MORE OF THAT” visit her blog at www.bundtsofsteelblog.com.

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How do I address envelopes? What about when the woman in a couple is a doctor? Or what about friends of mine who are single and bringing a date?

It is true that your invitation sets the tone for your wedding, but what do guests see before they see the invitation itself? They see the envelope! Depending on the formality of your wedding, you have several options of how to address envelopes. If you’re having a very formal black tie wedding, you should definitely use formal titles, not “Uncle Bob and Aunt Becky.” It would read: Dr. and Mrs. Robert Goldberg.

Now this is an excellent question when the wife is a Dr. In this case, you would address the envelope “Mr. Robert and Dr. Rebecca Goldberg.” Another tricky situation can be when a married couple does not have the same last name, in which you would address them “Dr. Robert Goldberg and Mrs. Rebecca Weissblatt.” These invitations look great when done in calligraphy by hand and you spell out “Boulevard” instead of “Blvd.” Please note that it is appreciated by guests to use the word “Unit” as opposed to “Apartment” as it encompasses apartments and condos. You may also have an envelope inside the outer envelope that says first names of the couple and contains the actual invitation, though this secondary envelope is not really necessary. If you are sending the invitation to a friend with a date and you know the date, please address the invitation to both of them “Mr. Jeffrey Steinberg and (or use “&”) Miss Lauren Horowitz.” If you do not know the date’s name, you may say “Mr. George Rosenberg and Guest.”

If you are having a very intimate, casual wedding, you can be a little more creative with your address format. It is still nice to address as “Mr. and (or use “&” or “+”) Mrs. Goldstein”, but you can be more playful here and use first names, “Josh and Rachel Goldstein.”

What’s the etiquette on letting my friends bring a date to the wedding? Should my wedding be a Sadie Hawkins dance or is there a set of rules for who can invite a plus-one? And how do I share my decision?

There are a few ways to tackle this one and in the end, someone will always get their feelings hurt. It’s one of the harder parts of determining a guest list as you don’t want friends to feel left out if they can’t bring a date. Unless you don’t have a budget or are getting married in an enormous venue that can accommodate an endless number of guests, you’re going to have to draw the line somewhere and one of those places is by limiting “plus ones” aka “dates.” It is common for couples to make a rule about who gets to bring a date and who doesn’t. Sometimes the rule is that the wedding party can invite dates, another thought is that family members can invite dates, and it is even okay to decide that no one can bring dates.

This was a difficult decision my husband and I made for our guest list and we decided that we would invite significant others of friends if we had socialized with the significant other on a regular basis, the couple had been together for a significant amount of time (for us this was about a year), was living together, or engaged. I felt strongly that I wanted to know every guest at my wedding. I didn’t want to look at wedding pictures and wonder “who’s the guy with Nicole? Was that the week she was dating Josh or Jeff,” or to learn that they broke up their hot two-week-old romance the week after my wedding.

Your friends should pick up on if they are invited solo or with a guest based on whose names are on or are not on the envelope. If it is just your name, then you are the only person invited to the wedding. If the envelope says “and guest” then mazel tov, you just scored a date to the wedding! It might sound harsh to have this cut and dry rule, but creating some kind of guideline about how to handle dates is the fairest way to handle this. Be sure to stick to it to avoid further hurting feelings. Stand by your rule if a friend asks you if they can bring someone and be honest; explain that you have a limited amount of seating in your venue and cannot accommodate dates for all your friends. It’s a tough conversation to have and one many a bride has had to deal with and will have to respond to in the future.

Do I still buy a gift for the couple if I’m in the wedding party?

So you’re a bridesmaid and you’ve already ponied up for a dress, new shoes, perhaps some travel, hair, makeup, a bachelorette party, and who knows what other expense may have come your way in your quest to support one of your best friends on her big day! IT ADDS UP and this is a hotly debated topic. When I have been a bridesmaid I have always given a gift to the couple. I knew when I said yes to being in her wedding that it would be an expensive year. When I was a bride, all my bridesmaids gave me gifts as well. I actually didn’t expect this from them and had they not given me a gift I wouldn’t have been surprised or disappointed because I know participating in a wedding is a big financial commitment. I’m sure if you’re in the wedding, you still want to do something for the couple, so try to get them something thoughtful and a price point you’re comfortable with. If you’re bringing a date to the wedding, you might want to dip a little deeper and give something just a little more because it was nice of the couple to invite your date.

Real Jewish Weddings | Atlanta, GA

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Alison in Real Jewish Weddings

With a smile permanently attached to her face all day, it’s easy to see why Adam loves Elissa. And who can blame him? Everyone loves a happy bride! Elissa is the epitome of classic. Her bridal look is classic and her wedding style is classic. She will look at her wedding photos in 50 years and nothing will be dated because she chose creams and blacks for her wedding colors and her flowers are beautiful pillows of soft textures. And then there’s that cake. Oh, that cake. Definitely too pretty to eat. But what nice Jewish girl would turn down cake? Especially if it’s as delicious as it is beautiful! It’s easy to love a cake with such details as dots and bows.

It’s so easy to gush about a wedding filled with such simple beauty, but it’s also heartwarming to see a wedding filled with tradition. Elissa and Adam got married in a synagogue, and the richness of spirituality is present in the photos. No doubt Elissa and Adam enjoyed a happy day!

Mazel tov, Elissa and Adam!

atlanta-jewish-weddings

Photographer: Robin Nathan Photography
Caterer: Endive Fine Catering
Ketubah: 20th Century Illuminations
Event Planner: The Whole Shebang
Floral Designer: Country Designs Cottage
Ceremony & Reception Venue: The Temple
Dress Store: Bride Beautiful
Cake Designer: Little European Bakery

This real wedding was submitted via Two Bright Lights!

Tips for Writing Wedding Thank You Notes

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Alison in Featured

One of these things is not like the others:

*photos by Eight20 Photography, Mi Belle Photography, Jules Bianchi, Shira Weinberger, David Michael Photography, Beautiful Day Photography

Hmmm, let’s see if we can figure out which one. Okay, we have a wedding couple having fun in, let’s count ’em, one, two, three, four, five, six photos and, oh yes, an exhausted woman working away at thank you notes after her wedding has come and gone.

I think it’s pretty easy to see which one is not like the others. And my guess is that you’d rather be “the others” than “that one.” Most brides would agree, and that’s okay. Getting married is way more fun than writing thank you notes. However, thank you notes are important. And, really, not all that bad.

In case you’re having some thank you note anxiety, here’s a little blog Xanax that may help you stay focused and positive.

Check out Wedding Paper Divas for your entire paper suite which, if you choose, can include thank you notes! Matching stationery is super cute and when you order your invitations, you’ll also be saving yourself a step in your thank you note writing because you won’t have to schlep out to a store to purchase generic note cards when you could be playing with your new Kitchen Aid mixer! I love Wedding Paper Divas because everything is customized. Everything! You select the style and graphics and then you insert your wording. Nice card stock and options for letterpress and thermography help class up your selection in a boutique fashion. Also, when you submit your order, a real live human being with eyes and everything reviews your project and proofs it for any errors and even advises you on wording etiquette! You’ll have final say, of course, but it’s nice to know you have that cushion. Then, you purchase, and a handful of days later, your goods are in your mailbox. It’s such a turnkey service with actually good product. If, for some reason, you already have your invitation suite handled, but you’d like to take advantage of their thank you note products, you can purchase them a la carte and still be able to thank your guests in style.

No matter how or where you order your thank you notes, I beg you do to do the following!

Had a bridal shower? Got lots of goodies there? Awesome. Now, get your thank you notes done before your wedding. I don’t care how close together the shower and wedding are, your wedding guests should not be coming to your wedding, un-thanked from their shower gifting. I actually know someone who gave a gift at a shower and then went to the wedding some weeks later and she had still never received a thank you note from the bride. The lack of acknowledgement sat pretty heavy while she brought a gift to the wedding. Shower gifts and wedding gifts are not two-for-one in the thank you note ratio. Each gift gets a note. Bottomline.
Brides always want to know when thank you notes should be sent. Brides and grooms should wait no more than six to eight weeks after the ceremony to send their wedding thank you cards, but of course the sooner the better!
If you receive gifts before the wedding feel free to send the thank you cards as they come in. You’ll be glad you stuck to this practice after the wedding because then you’ll just have to write notes for the gifts you received on the wedding day and after. It also helps to make a goal and send out so many thank you cards a day.
Creating content to include in the thank you note can be a daunting task for couples, but make sure to greet the guest, express your gratitude, be specific about the gift, and thank them for attending (or for thinking of you if they couldn’t make it). It is also nice to make specific examples of their gift and tell them how you use it. For example, “I love making my coffee every morning in the machine you got us!”
This sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s important! Make sure you spell their names correctly and that you are including the right gift for the right person. If you keep an organized spreadsheet, you shouldn’t have a problem noting who got you what and how to spell their names.
For Jewish weddings, it’s common to receive a monetary gift from someone very close to the couple. It’s not necessary to thank them for the exact amount, but you could simply say
“thank you for your generosity,” or note what it will go toward: “Thank you for your generosity! We have plans to purchase our dream home soon, and your gift will help our dream come true!”
For families, address to Mr. And Mrs. If you are close with them use their first names inside the card or if you are not that close use the same salutation inside.
Make sure to hand stamp every note as prepaid postage techniques are too impersonal.

The days of being tied to a formal thank you note that says “Thank you” in a fancy black script across the front are over! Now, couples are getting creative and stylish with their thank you notes. After all, since the wedding is over they’re the last opportunity to extend the wedding’s theme and style. No matter what, feel free to make your thank you notes a reflection of you as a couple! One of my favorite ways to personalize a thank you note is to include photos form the wedding! This can be snapshots laid out like a pinboard or a cute photo of the couple with a “Thank You!” sign. Thank you notes are also another way you can utilize the adorable engagement photos you took! All of these ideas are also featured on thank you cards from Wedding Paper Divas.

POP QUIZ! Notice a VIP Yenta featured on one of the thank you cards?? She and her husband are a Real Weddings couple and she’s also the regular contributor to Yenta-quette, the helpful advice column on The Wedding Yentas!

Okay, so good news: Want 25% off your order of products from Wedding Paper Divas? The Wedding Yentas is proud to partner with them to offer readers an exclusive code! Just email alison@theweddingyentas.com to scoop up your code!

Fine Print: This excludes letterpress, thermography and 3rd party products (i.e. custom stamps, embossers, photo books, gift certificates and calendars). There is no minimum purchase required. Cannot be combined with any other offers. One time use per customer.

Hopefully this article has helped you calm your spilkes about writing thank you notes! Don’t dread writing your notes. Instead, enjoy your gifts and reflect on all your memories from your special day. After all, each thank you note should be a symbol of all your favorite wedding moments like:

*Thank you to Wedding Paper Divas for sponsoring this post!

Sponsored Post From The Expert: Jewish Wedding Ceremony Traditions and Explanations

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Alison in From the Expert, Jewish Traditions, Planning

Sometimes, we need a play-by-play reminder of what the Jewish wedding traditions and ceremony are all about. If you’re new to Jewish weddings or you need to brush up on the whole event since your the marriage booth at your summer camp’s carnival, this post, sponsored by World of Judaica, will be a total lifesaver! Keep this post bookmarked so you can refer to it as you plan your wedding. Remember, though, that it’s a traditional guide and you should check with your officiant about how your wedding ceremony will be personalized and tailored to you since every couple is different and every Rabbi or Cantor is different! Mazel tov from World of Judaica!

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It’s true that many traditions may vary between the Ashkenazi and Sephardic communities, but no matter the affiliation and heritage, the wedding day is supposed to be the happiest and holiest day in one’s life. This day is considered a personal Yom Kippur for the bride (Kallah) and groom (Chatan).

It is customary for the bride and groom not to see each other for one week before the wedding. This is called the Kabbalat Panim, and is intended to increase anticipation and excitement for the wedding. When the couple first sees each other on the wedding day, the groom will perform the Badeken, veiling of the bride. The groom lowers a veil over the bride’s face because the tradition of veiling goes back to biblical times when Rebecca covered her face before marrying Isaac. (Many Sephardic communities do not perform the Badeken.)

Before the couple heads to the Chuppah (wedding canopy) for the ceremony, they must first sign the Ketubah. The Ketubah, or marriage contract, outlines the groom’s responsibilities and obligations to his wife. The Ketubah must be signed by two witnesses and has the standing of a legally binding agreement. After the Ketubah is signed the wedding ceremony may commence. The ceremony takes place under the Chuppah, which is a symbol of the home that the new couple will build together, and is open on all sides just as Abraham and Sarah’s tent was open on all sides to always welcome guests with unconditional hospitality.

The best man is first to walk down the aisle standing to the left under the Chuppah, the groom is escorted by both his parents down the aisle before he takes his place to the left of the best man. Next comes the bridesmaids walking single file and take their place to the right of the Chuppah. The maid of honor walks down the aisle alone and takes her place on the right side of the Chuppah. The bride is escorted down the aisle by both parents before entering the Chuppah and joining her groom.

Like many Jewish ceremonies, the wedding ceremony begins with a cup of wine. The Rabbi says a blessing over the cup of wine and a second over the marriage. Both the bride and the groom drink from the cup. This portion of the ceremony is called the Kiddushin. During the ring ceremony the wedding ring is placed on the bride’s right index finger, which is the finger most visible to the witnesses. Jewish wedding rings must be made of solid uninterrupted gold, silver, or platinum with no precious stones or holes breaking the circle. The continuousness of the ring represents the hope for an everlasting marriage. After the exchanging of the rings, the Ketubah is read aloud. Once the groom has handed the Ketubah to his bride, they are officially husband and wife.

The second half of the ceremony continues with the Nissuin. A second cup of wine is filled and the Sheva B’rachot, seven blessings in honor of the wedding, are recited. At the conclusion of the ceremony the groom smashes a glass with his foot and the guests then shout “Mazel Tov!” — congratulations and good luck.

For more information on Jewish wedding traditions, other Jewish traditions and Judaica items visit World of Judaica and their Jewish Learning Center today.