You’re Engaged, So Now What?

Getting engaged can come in a whirlwind and often times knock you right off your feet. You don’t know how to start planning because you don’t even know what to begin with, and it can spiral out of control into stress overload from there. Never fear our beautiful brides-to-be and handsome almost-husbands! Elegant Affairs is here to help you map out your big day beginning with the basics. There are a few key areas we want to spotlight for you two that will make everything else that follows SO much easier.   

Notify family, friends, and the rest of the world! First thing’s first…take a deep breath and call everyone you know.  All your loved ones want to be included in this monumental event and they also want to be aware that there is a wedding in their future!

Choose a date. This doesn’t have to be immediate because there is absolutely no timeline on when you decide to tie the knot. It could be in 6 months or 2 years; it’s completely up to you and yours. Just remember that you’ll want to send your Save the Dates as soon as you can to secure that time frame on guest’s calendar. So, as soon as you do decide on a date, get those calendar markers out there. Serious planning and strategizing will begin to take place after you take this step.

Brainstorm. Everyone is different. Some people have been dreaming about their weddings since they were a little kid and others could care less as long as the respective parties are there signing the correct legally binding documents. During this stage, let your ideas get the best of you. Go through magazines and pluck out the pages that inspire your creative side, it doesn’t even matter what it is. Maybe it’s a color you really love or a scene of a field of wildflowers. Let yourself add anything you see and like to your list of décor, venue, food, beverage, dress, dessert, etc. ideas. You can sift through all of this when you start getting more serious about details.

Rings. Get that finger-sized and pick out a ring with your fiancé that you’ll look forward to wearing for the rest of your life. This is a simple step but often gets overlooked because of that very reason, sometimes on the verge of almost forgotten. Note for the day of; make sure you have a responsible ring bearer.

Engagement pictures. Not everyone takes engagement pictures and you certainly don’t have to if you don’t want to. However, if this is something you plan on doing, the sooner, the better. These photos can be sent with your Save the Dates if you’d like, which are always important to send out as soon as you set a date so guests can mark it on their calendar. They are also another added expense, so it’s better to spread out the wedding costs to make them easier to keep up with.

Last, but certainly not least, hire your girls at Elegant Affairs! 

Okay all, after you get these small tasks marked off on your to-do list, planning can really take off! The beginning always starts off a little rocky, but as soon as the basics are under your belt you will feel so much better and excited to continue planning. And don’t forget; Lori and her team are always here to help if you need the extra hand! Happy planning! 

Fine Tuning Your Special Day

Last week we looked at live music options for your wedding day. So, today we are discovering what the music world has to offer in the opposite direction. Ultimately, there are two options to choose from: DJ or iPod. There are advantages and disadvantages to each, so let’s take a look at the full spectrum of each.

DJ. If you don’t want the responsibility of changing music or directing guests, a DJ is an excellent choice. Compile a list of music highlighting specific songs that you want played at certain times throughout the night and give them to your DJ. If you don’t have a preference toward specific songs, just give him or her a genre and general guideline for the flow of your big day. The great thing about a DJ is they double as an MC that can direct your guests throughout the night as the festivities shift from one to another. For example, he can rally everyone to gather near the cake table for the cake cutting, the dancefloor to watch the couple’s first dance, etc. Choosing a DJ can be tricky though. If you hire a DJ that you don’t click with and his or her personality doesn’t mesh with you and your fiancé, it can most definitely create frustration throughout the celebration. You need to be on the same page as far as the music you like and your expectations of his or her tasks throughout the night. Part of the reason you’re hiring a DJ in the first place is to reduce the amount of worry and work on your part. It’s important to make sure it’s the right fit when you make your final decision. A DJ will be more expensive than using a playlist on your iPod, but it is worth it if you want to reduce worry and responsibility on your part. 

iPod. Creating wedding playlists on your iPod is an easy and inexpensive way to keep the party going on your wedding day. Not only is it much less expensive than a DJ, but you also have complete control of the songs you want to play and when you want to play them. One downfall to this, however, is that you need to keep up on the music throughout the entirety of the event. If you create a couple different playlists ahead of time, this won’t be an issue; you will just need to make sure the songs are continuously playing throughout the celebration. Aside from keeping track of the music yourself, which works great for some couples, you also need to either designate someone to MC the event or help to maneuver your guests throughout the celebration to the correct locations for the bouquet toss, and other events of the like throughout the event yourself. This can be the most taxing and worrisome disadvantage for the couple choosing an iPod, as most are caught between chatting with guests, trying to eat, and taking photos. Adding another responsibility onto the plate can be exhausting and stressful, and may take away from enjoying the moment for most couples. Therefore, an iPod works great for smaller gatherings where there are less people attending to visit with and round-up for cutting of the cake as well as other elements of the like. It is also much easier and quicker to fix any musical errors when you aren’t running around trying to connect with over one hundred people in only a few hours! An iPod is perfect for a smaller and intimate setting.

Music is an important element of your big day because it sets the mood and atmosphere of the event. Mull these positives and negatives over with your significant other before making any big decisions, and consider the live music options we proposed on Tuesday as well. Choose what is best for you as a couple and you can’t go wrong! 

Selecting the perfect live wedding musical act!!

Music can be a tough area to address as wedding planning unfolds, and it’s difficult to identify what will suit you and your fiancé best. Today we’re exploring live music options with you to uncover what sparks joy in your heart musically. There are a few different routes you can go with if you are interested in having live music on your special day. Let’s go through a few ideas to help you find the right ensemble that fits best for you! Does one of these ideas make your heart sing?

Band. If you want a live band at your reception, you might as well utilize the band you choose for your ceremony as well. This creates a perfect flow from your vows to the dancefloor, and the lead singer can double as a bit of an MC also. You don’t have to worry about who has the mic next or the order of events if you decide to choose a reliable band to play on your special day.

String ensemble. A string quartet consists of a viola, cello and two violins. This is an elegant choice for your ceremony, even for a cocktail hour before and/or after if that will be the order of events. If you are looking to stay low key at your reception, all string quartet options are beyond suitable, especially if you add a vocalist.

Duos. String duos are composed of a combination of violins and cellos. As with the classic string quartet, this choice creates a simple, whimsical, and romantic ambience that can be enjoyed before, during, and after your ceremony. It is a low-key version of the string quartet.

Trios. As you can probably guess from the description of a duo above, a trio is simple an extra violin to accompany an already existing violin and cello. A step more intricate than a duo, but still less intricate than a classic string quartet. This is most couple’s sweet spot, especially if you add a vocalist as mentioned before.

Harp. Harps are especially lovely outside because the sound carries so effortlessly across large, open spaces. You can accompany the harp with a violin or something of the like if you’d like to expand the ensemble for a larger crowd, but this is especially beautiful for a small garden wedding. Harps always add a little bit of magic to any celebration.

Harpist Susan W. Haas and Cellist Nichole Williams. Photo by Crozier Photography

You can take these ideas and modify them to reflect anything you want—it’s your day! These are simply a few thoughts to get your mind inspired. Go with a band of your choosing or explore an ensemble. Or, go a step further by adding a vocalist to any of the instrument ensembles listed above to give your music a little extra pizazz. Choose whatever musical combination that makes your heart happy!