Friday Fun: Twitter

Though it says it was posted by me (Amanda), this post is actually written by Melissa:

This is only being posted for your enjoyment. For those of you who don’t follow me on Twitter (WeddingPlanner1) you are missing out. Back in April I hit my head pretty hard, during a site visit at an amazing hotel… well not only did it leave a nice “goose egg” it started to give me some nasty side effects so, I was forced to go to the emergency room.

My husband was concerned that there could be permanent damage. And my symptoms were getting worse, so, with me kicking and screaming he took me to the emergency room. Fortunately for you, my tweets were apparently pretty comical.

And Saundra at Planning Forever has now dubbed me Thor. (Thanks Saun!)

So back my popular demand, and to give you a chuckle this Friday, here is my play by play at the ER. And I promise you, NONE of this is made up, it’s all based on my actual 8 hour ordeal in the ER wafting room. Don’t worry I am fine now.

April 21st: (the day after I hit my head)

9:21AM- Feels like I have been run over by a Mac truck! And have one day’s worth of work to catch up on- which = a week’s worth (why is that?)

1:53PM - Is at the ER- stupid bump on the head is making me sick to my stomach. Dizzy and blurring my vision- fun times ahead!

2:24PM - Triaged- CAT scan ordered, waiting again! Isn't this fun!

3:22PM - CAT scan check! That was super fun! Now hurry up and wait again!

3:43PM - Why are ER waiting rooms so darned cold! I swear I could freeze to death in here before I see a doctor!

4:20PM - Dear lady in night gown and no shoes, why are you screaming and cursing? You are disrupting the man puking blood and can't breathe lady!

4:48PM - No shoes lady just left screaming to no one- thank you for the sh*tty medical care- fun times!

5:00PM - More fun times at the ER- tattoo all over lady decided to do stand up not so comedy for the whole waiting room- seriously where am I?

5:11PM - Is still waiting at the ER- no shoes and night gown lady is back, and bleeding prom dress girl joined the party!

6:08PM - Seriously! 6 hours in the ER waiting room- is this normal? Puking blood man, bleeding Prom dress girl, and no shoes girl and I are now BFFs!

6:23PM - Just joining the ER waiting room party- 1 ton man, missing 2 fingers man, and boy with 7 missing teeth holding a bloody napkin to his mouth!

6:26PM - A big huge ER welcome to can't breathe crying hysterical girl and black dress blue shoes lady! I swear you can't make this stuff up!

6:54PM - Dear Mom of crying hysterical not sick kid- please leave the ER waiting room, bleeding man and no shoes lady are looking at you funny!

7:14PM - ER waiting room welcoming committee welcomes crying bloody nose boy! I was thinking of faking a seizure- but God knows what is on this floor!! Ewww!

7:30PM - 
New Chinese Water torture - ER waiting room with migraine, dizzy, sick stomach. Fun times!

7:33PM - Oh yes, please kid who's not sick, keep dropping you big ass book on the floor, and your sister singing Hannah Montana, she sucks!

8:00PM - My name was called- now waiting for a doctor while sitting on a bed. 8:20PM - Official diagnosis - big ole concussion!


All THAT for some lousy drugs- and a massive headache!

Then I went home put some frozen corn on my head, and worked on the lap top… until Karry at UY Events yelled at me, and then I went to bed.

I hope you enjoyed my story… it is pretty funny looking back, I swear, I was waiting for those Candid Camera peeps to pop out from around the corner!

Inspiration Board: Winter Wonderland

Another beauty. Mmmm... doesn't this one just make you crave winter? 

Thanks Ashley!

{boots, invitation, kiss, couple, cake, rings, bouquet, bride}

So what do you think? 

Are you ready to ditch your bathing suit and flip-flops for this romantic getaway?

Better than a Bouquet

When it comes to what you carry down the aisle, who says you have to conform to the standard of pretty blooms in a pretty bouquet? Why not mix it up a bit? And with the unlimited realm of creativity reaching weddings today, your options are anything but limited...

Paper Flowers

Wood Flowers

Button Bouquet

Leather Bouquet

Clay Flowers

Crystal Bouquet

Felt Bouquet

Beaded Bouquet

Seashell Bouquet

Crocheted Bouquet

(Source Unknown)

Or if you want to carry something other than a bouquet... consider these options: fur muff, parasol, candle, rosary, bible, fan, lantern, clutch.

So what about you, what are you carrying down the aisle?

Additional Sources:

Source 1

Source 2

My Wedding

A few weeks ago I showed you actual pictures from my wedding that were taken my our "photographer" - really pitiful. You all were so sweet in offering suggestions for us to re-take our pictures, maybe one day! Maybe...

What I failed to mention is that prior to our wedding a local photographer had asked us to model for a class, if John and I would wear our wedding clothes. Now, John and I are NOT models by any stretch of ANY imagination. But I had faith that Powers Photography wouldn't do me wrong.

Plus, there was this super cool new thing that they were doing called Photojournalistic where John and I didn't even have to do anything... (remember this was 1998)

Here's a snippit of what they did for us, that John and I are so unbelievably grateful for!

What do you think, way betterer, right?

Good Graffiti

Why does the word "graffiti" have to have a negative connotation to it? Sure, we love the personalization of gobo lights. But, this takes things a step further. We were smitten when we were sent the link to Wonderful Graffiti.

So what is it, you ask? Wonderful Graffiti makes their graffiti of "very thin pieces of matte vinyl that look 'printed' when applied to most smooth surfaces." The design arrives to you on one sheet of transfer paper and all you have to do is tape it up where you want the design to go, burnish it down, and peel the transfer paper away.

According to Wonderful Graffiti only the letters and graphic elements will be left. And the best part? Wonderful Graffiti is designed to be removed quickly without harming underlying surfaces. So, you could even put it up in your reception hall or ceremony location. Doors, walls, tables, floors... you name it!

According to the Wonderful Graffiti website, "it's so easy, even a nervous groom can do it." Love it!

Inspiration Board: Blueberry

And, saving my favorite for last. When we first discussed the concept of a blueberry inspiration board, I knew it would be beautiful, but I truly don't think Ashley could have done a more stunning job on this one. I love how she captured the fact that blueberries aren't... well... just blue. They are kind of a blue-ish, purple-ish color without really being either. And this board, incorporating the rich midnight tones of both colors is, in my opinion, stunning. Ashley, you really hit the ball out of the park on this one! What do you guys think?

{boutonniere, shoes, cake, couple, invitation, dress, tarts, setting}

Inspiration Board: Green Apple

To balance out the realm of colors, today we have a beautiful green apple board - also made by Ashley. I love the freshness of the kelly green and all the adorable ways to incorporate apples into your wedding! Such a fresh, Spring-like theme, isn't it?

{invitation, dress, cake, centerpiece, couple, bridesmaids, bouquet, placecards}

Inspiration Board: Strawberry Dream

This is one of my favorite inspiration boards ... ever. This statement means a lot for one of two reasons: (1) I am not even that big of a fan of the color red and (2) it was another beauty made my Ashley, who has only ever made a handful of boards. It's perfect, in my opinion. What do you think?

{dresses via Style Me Pretty, drink, strawberry slices, ring shot, shoes, car via Divine Occasions, bride, flowers}

Inspiration Board: Orange Citrus

Creating this board made me realize just how many shades of orange there are and how difficult of a color it is. You see, in searching for it online when you type "orange" you have both the words "orange" as in the color orange and "orange" as in the citrus, which, conveniently is also orange. Phew. 

Anyway, I realized how versatile a color orange really can be. Mix it with dark colors like browns and burgundies and you have a rich warm Fall palette. Mix it with bright hues like hot pink or kelly green and you have a very poppy bright Summer palette. Or, do as I did here and mix it with soft whites and creams to create a subdued look and orange will stand all on it's own.

What do you think?

{invitation, cupcakes, suits, oranges, centerpiece, flowers, mimosas}

Inspiration Board: Lemon

Something very fun and exciting for you all; this week we've declared it FRUIT WEEK! We will post an inspiration board everyday based around a different type of fruit. So, to start us off, we have lemon with a lovely yellow and white collection of images.

Don't you love the fun, light, and summery yellow palette? So bright and cheery!

Thanks for another beautiful board, Ashley!

{lemonade, cake, invitation, shoes, lemons in vase, yellow dress, flowers via Eventfully Yours, tablescape via SD Wedding Insider, bridal dress via Kelly Oshiro Events, clutch, lemons}

So, what do you think?

Inspiration Board: Mint Chocolate Chip

Here is another beautiful board Ashley made entitled "Mint Chocolate Chip." With the soft, light green color and warm chocolate tones, I think the title perfectly correlates to the board.

{cake, bride, save the date, present, dishes, bridal party, drapes, meringues, mint julep}

What do you think? Beautiful, no?

Be sure to come back next week for a week full of inspiration.

Wet DJ!

Once upon a time there was a beautiful bride and a fantastically handsome groom. They were to be wed right outside an amazingly glorious castle hotel on the lawn overlooking the ocean. All of the guests were watching as the bride and groom said those words to one another, promising to love each other until the end of times.

As the photographer looked over his shoulder he noticed these huge dark clouds that were heading towards our lovely bride and groom.

The DJ who had his expensive equiptment set up for the ceremony and cocktail hour had stepped inside, as his job was done for about 20 minutes, the rest of the ceremony.

The minister out of the corner of his eye saw the blackness that was invading our glorious nuptials, decided to hurry up the ceremony as to not leave the guests and our lovely bride in groom in the wetness that was about to occur.

The bride and groom kissed, they headed inside the castle hotel the guests followed. The skies opened up, the clouds parted, and a sea of water hit our beautiful ceremony location, just in time for hte guests to be safely inside.

Although our handsome DJ who was inside still thinking the ceremony was progressing, had no idea that his equiptment just recieved a bath.

UH- OH!

The DJ then had to call his company and get them to get him new equiptment... 45 minutes later... 45 minutes without music.

When hiring your vendors make sure they have equiptment available as a back up, make sure they could even have the ability to play music if something was to happen to their equiptment.

You have to be prepared for the worst of the worst at the very least!

Photo: Corbis

Be a Planner: Class Offering

Thrilled to announce that Be a Planner will be offering another certification class in July in Gainesville, Florida. The class will be held July 25-26, 2009 from 8AM-5PM both days at the beautiful Sweetwater Branch Inn. 

This class is a two day course, basically it is a very intense, but enjoyable, two days filled with everything you need to know about planning an event. It is like having a degree in event planning with a major in wedding planning. We feel that you could walk out of the class with enough knowledge to plan and direct a wedding on your own, or for a company without a second thought. And if you are already in the industry it will give you the credentials as well as some of the tricks to the trade including how to work with a difficult client and how to meet and exceed the needs of your current clients. It is a fun weekend, filled with tons of information that will be super valuable to you whether or not you decide to pursue a career in this industry. We talk about how to handle those simple but unique details to suit even the most extravagant requests, the proper way to cut a wedding cake, how to dress a bride, working with vendors, how to acquire contacts, how to receive referrals, how to work with a client, how to acclimate to new location, how to start a business, and A LOT MORE! This course has been approved through the Department of Education, and we are very excited to bring it back to Gainesville.

So please don't hesitate to contact us at info {at} MasterPieceWeddings {dot} net for more information and to join us in the fun!

Dash for the Dress!

Just wanted to remind you that Gainesville's own Solutions Bridal is hosting their 1st annual Dash for the Dress, a charity bridal sample sale.

The event is to take place on June 27th from 8AM to 12PM and a portion of the proceeds are to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Designer Dresses will be priced anywhere from $99-$699 (dresses that are valued up to $5000)!

And they will also have some bridesmaids and mother of the bride dresses on sale. But the event will be cash only and they are encouraging brides to get there early because dressing rooms will be limited. In additon, there will be a large selection of veils, jewelery, and headpieces!


Brides, if you are still looking for that perfect dress, who knew you could have a designer one fit your budget!? Please contact Solutions Bridal in Gainesville at (352) 367-0070.

My Best Friend's Wedding!!!

My BFF got married last month!!! So, Lauri called me and said here's the deal, Will and I are getting married!!!!

We all kind of knew this was happening eventually, but to hear the words, made it all the more real.

Then reality kicked it, what's my role gonna be?

And then the answer became obvious:

• Wedding Planner (Duh!)
• Matron of Honor (aka, Best Woman)
• Officiant (aka, Hitcher)
• Hair Up-Do'er
• Controller of the Weather
• Cake Baker (although, I delgated this one)

It was so fun! I can't thank Leytham Photography enough, they were amazing to work with! We love you guys and can't wait to work together again soon! (or just hang out)!

Did I mention she got married Memorial Day weekend, the weather was terrible! Like terrible, awful, monsoon like. Luckily, I have a great connection with Mother Nature, and she parted the rain drops for 40 minutes, enough for the ceremony and some pictures afterwards. Perfect!!!

Meet Lauri, my very best friend.

Meet Lauri's new husband Will, and their son Jaxson:

Can't get enough of Jaxson:

Lauri and I, being, well Goofs...

The beach house was across the street from the beach, I love this image, it shows the "Hey, Don't hit us, we are about to be hitched" faces:

The the barefoot wedding:

Okay, but seriously, doesn't her hair look amazing!

Whoooo Hoooo! They are married, now we can play:

Ahhh, oops:

And take some really beautiful romantical pictures:

Then dinner and toasts:

And cake:

A special thanks to KB Kakes for making Lauri's wedding cake so perfect!!!

Hyatt Hotels Gift Registry

Recently we heard news that Hyatt Hotels & Resorts has released their new Hyatt Gift Registry where couples can "register online for a host of amenities, services and accommodations at Hyatt hotels and resorts worldwide. Imagine spa treatments, dinners on the beach, scuba diving or an anniversary stay at a favorite hotel on a gift registry." 

The Hyatt says "it's an ideal option for the couple who has everything" and, to be honest, we couldn't agree more.

For more information on the new Hyatt Gift Registry, please call (877) 798-1472 or visit www.hyattregistry.com.

Wedding Times

Since we love linking to some of the best resources out there for wedding planning and weddings on the web, we thought that sharing one of our new favorites with you, Wedding Times, seemed only appropriate.

We are particularly in love with their splurge vs. steal posts. Similar to what you see in fashion magazines, Wedding Times focuses on two bridal looks and how to achieve the "splurged" look at a fraction of the price.

And, we're especially loving their very helpful and informative posts too! For example, recently they posted a "No Stress Guide" to writing your own wedding vows. In it, they talk about the process of doing it and questions to help guide or inspire the writing process.

So, keep up the good work Wedding Times. And readers, be sure to check out this up-and-coming blog!

And the Winner Is!

Congratulations to:

You have won:

We are so excited for you! We know you are gonna love it! And congratulations on your new venture!!! Contact us directly at melissa {at} masterpieceweddings {dot} net for us to mail you, your new book!

Check us Out!

Amanda and I totally crashed a photo session that K-Gallery was doing for our friends at Unique Designs. While we were there, K-Gallery asked us we begged them to take some pictures of us!

There are a ton more, and here are some of them on K-Gallery's blog... check out how HOT the Unique Designs Team is! And while you are at it, check out their new super fantabulous blog!

So what do you think?

Brides and Bellinis

MasterPiece Weddings in collaboration with Unforgettable Events, A'vie, and the Gainesville Golf and Country Club is pleased to announce our upcoming event Brides and Bellinis.

Please join us for an exclusive bridal reception with the unique opportunity to mingle with Gainesville’s most-raved-about vendors over hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and dinner.

Where: Gainesville Golf and Country Club When: Sunday, June 28, 2009, 4:00pm-7:00pm
Please RSVP by June 14, 2009 Cost $15
Includes Sit Down Dinner and Schmoozing with Fantastic Vendors

Surprise Wedding Reception

Can you imagine heading down to the Courthouse to spontaneously (or not so spontaneously) wed your beloved in a low-budget low-stress kind of way and be surprised with a wedding reception outside, downtown, FOR FREE afterward? Yea, we can't imagine that either. And, apparently, neither could this couple. Tell me this isn't hilarious! So much fun!

Get Married Magazine

Written by Ashley, the intern at MasterPiece Weddings:

Are you all familiar with the wonderful website Get Married? Get Married is a “multi channeled wedding resource” that is launching a brand new bridal magazine. Get Married already features a popular television show on Lifetime with host Colin Cowie and has an online website and blog.

The addition of the magazine will allow brides to “watch, surf and read” all mediums of wedding planning. The first issue of the magazine will be published in October and we couldn’t be more excited!

Email magazine@getmarried.com to request a free copy!

Inspiration Board: Black and White Photography

Here's another beautiful board by Ashley, the intern at MasterPiece Weddings. Inspired by the dramatic impact of black and white photography, Ashley composed a board entirely of black and white shots.

{bride on stairs, getaway car, bride in front of window, flowers, invitation, kiss via Style Me Pretty, just married sign, dress on bed, flower girl} It's striking, isn't it? I love it but what do you think?

Giveaway: Colin Cowie's Wedding Chic

Remember when we talked about how much we loved Colin Cowie? Well, he sent us a copy of his new book and we are thrilled to be able to give it away on the blog! With it's gorgeous glossy pages and beautiful ideas and images gracing every page, this is a giveaway that you DON'T want to miss out on.

To enter, please comment on this post with the reason why you NEED this book. Contest ends Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 11:59 EST. We look forward to hearing all your reasons!

Wedding Jumpstart

MasterPiece Weddings is thrilled to announce that we will be holding another Wedding Jump Start at Solutions Bridal next Saturday, June 13th from Noon to 5PM.

At no cost, brides can get free ideas and advice regarding any of their wedding planning needs!

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Dollar Dance

Here at MasterPiece Weddings we read a lot of blogs. But sometimes, on the ever so rare occasion, certain blogs stand out from the pack. Tim Gill's The Dollar Dance is one of those blogs. While the focus of the blog has been on personal finance since it's inception a year ago, Tim recently made the very wise decision to focus the blog more specifically on small business finance.

In Tim's own words: The purpose of The Dollar Dance is to offer business and financial advice to small businesses, primarily to those in the wedding industry. As a business owner, you need to be able to concentrate on what you do best. Please allow The Dollar Dance to be a resource for you to turn to when questions arise regarding taxes, payroll, accounting, pricing and the like.

With his new focus, Tim has been posting lately on the broad topic "Learning What You Need to Succeed" with specific focuses like learning to manage your time and learning to know your limits. His posts have been very insightful and fabulous advice for new and seasoned business owners alike. He offers a fresh perspective on the world of small business finance and management. Tim, we are so excited about your new venture and cannot wait to see where you go with this.

Tracey and Matt: The Pro Pics

Do you remember when we talked about our lovely (and incredibly photogenic) clients Tracey and Matt? Well, Lindsey from Pure recently posted their pro shots and wow. We could not be more impressed.

Tell me this isn't the most gorgeous dreamy pink wedding!

Paying the Price - Part II of II

In case we had not convinced you on why it is critical to hire a pro to snap photos of the biggest day of your life, consider this: The photos taken on your wedding day are the only thing you will have to remember it by years down the road. So, why not invest in remembering it in the future rather than minor details that may even be overlooked on the day itself? Here are more shots of key events at Melissa’s wedding compared to a pro photographer’s shots at other weddings. While Melissa looks gorgeous nonetheless, the differences in framing, lighting, and angles are astounding.

The Placecards:

From Melissa's Wedding

Professional Shot {Shot courtesy of Jennifer Bowen Photography}

The Father/Daughter Dance:

From Melissa's Wedding

Professional Shot {Shot courtesy of Clark Berry}

Cutting the Cake: From Melissa's Wedding

Professional Shot {Shot courtesy of Jessica Claire}

At my wedding last year we put disposable cameras on each table hopeful that guests would snap a few unforgettable moments on their own. But alas, in every shot the lighting was so dim and angle so poor that most of them are indiscernible.

So what do you think? Do you have any "compare" shots of your own?

Paying the Price - Part I of II

This week, we wanted to touch a little bit on the importance of photography. It seems one of the biggest concerns in planning any wedding is the dreaded "b" word: budget.

And, while keeping within your budget can be extremely important, and sometimes even critical, we at MasterPiece Weddings firmly believe that photography should not be the place to skimp.

Take a look at these photos. These are beloved photos from our very own Melissa's wedding back in the early 1990s. For budget reasons, Melissa opted not to hire a professional photographer and regrets it to this very day.

The sad part is that a fair amount of these people are no longer with us, and these are the last images I have of them.

Instead of opting out of hiring a professional photographer, we suggest hiring the best photographer you can find and just getting their cheapest package.

Do you have any thoughts on skimping or saving with photography?

Dash for the Dress

Thrilled to announce that Gainesville's own Solutions Bridal is hosting their 1st annual Dash for the Dress, a charity bridal sample sale. The event is to take place on June 27th from 8AM to 12PM and a portion of the proceeds are to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Designer Dresses will be priced anywhere from $99-$699 (dresses that are valued up to $5000)! And they will also have some bridesmaids and mother of the bride dresses on sale. But the event will be cash only and they are encouraging brides to get there early because dressing rooms will be limited. Brides, if you are still looking for that perfect dress, who knew you could have a designer one fit your budget!? Please contact Solutions Bridal in Gainesville at (352) 367-0070.