'A Few of My Favorite Things...'

(Photo courtesy of 'Turning Leaf Studios')

Unlike some of our counterparts, Marjorie and I love DIY brides.  We love the creative, personal ideas that they each bride brings to their weddings...all the wonderful ideas that make their wedding uniquely their own.  But more importantly, we love sharing these ideas with you so you can gather bits of 'InnSpiration' as well.  So, here are a few of Addison's 'InnCredible' DIY ideas that caught my eye...

'Fire Flies'...yep, 'fire flies'!  When Addison first came to us, all she talked about were these 'fire flies' that she was 'bound and determined' to have scattered everywhere around the 'Shakespeare Club'.  For the life of us, Marjorie and I could not figure out what in the world these little things were...but we soon found out.  Addison's fire flies were actually little lights that blinked at different speeds.  Magical...simply magical!  And what a hit!  I think every guest at the wedding wanted to know where she got them...and to this day, I still get calls from folks asking where they can get their own.  So, here they are, Addison's little 'fire flies'.

(minus the blue plate...hee hee)

You can purchase them at:  www.partydotsonline.com    Enjoy!

Another one of Addison's 'InnCredible' ideas was having a 'Wish Tree'.  Her mom, Lori, cut out leaves and brushed them with gold paint.

 (Photo courtesy of 'Turning Leaf Studios')

Then we set them at each guests place.  Addison and James asked everyone to write their 'wedding wishes' on the backside of the leaf and then hang them on their 'Wish Tree'.  Even though the picture below doesn't' show it...at the end of the night, there was not a branch left to hang any more wishes on...

 (Photo courtesy of 'Turning Leaf Studios')

Addison put all the 'wishes' in their memory box and she and James will read each and every one on their anniversary as they toast with their celebratory bottle of 'cizer' which has also been tucked away in the memory box.  Such a lovely idea!  And, yes, you may borrow it..LOL!

 (Photo courtesy of 'Turning Leaf Studios')

They also decided they didn't want to have a cake.  I think Addison's exact words were, 'I don't want no stinkin' cake'...LOL.  Instead, Addison and James had a caramel apple bar complete with a myriad of tasty toppings.  Oh my goodness, this went over like 'gang busters'.  Everyone loved it and kept going back for seconds, and thirds...and, well, you get the idea. 

 (Photo courtesy of my iPhone...LOL)

Our newlyweds did the ceremonial 'cake cutting', only they served each other bites of apples.  Oh yum!  If you're not a cake fan, you might want to consider this!  It was loads of fun!

 (Photo courtesy of 'Turning Leaf Studios')

Ok, I've saved the best for last.  I love, love, love this idea. Since both Addison and James are members of the 'SCA', or 'Society for Creative Anachronisms', there was a lot of discussion about what the Groom and his Groomsmen and Gal would wear for boutonnieres.  Well, hello, LEGO knights, of course!!!!!  So Addison had her fabulous florist, Mo from 'Perfect Parties by Mo' take the LEGO knights that they had constructed and make them into bouts.  I loved it!!!  These were so cute and so perfect for this group. 

 (Photo courtesy of 'Turning Leaf Studios')

Each knight was different...and they all rocked!

 (Photo courtesy of 'Turning Leaf Studios')

Even the dad's got their own knights...love it!!!

(courtesy of my iPhone...yikes!)

(Courtesy of my iPhone again...note to self, hold still next time...hee hee!)

I know a lot of planners are opposed to DIY weddings, or even DIY touches in weddings...but Marjorie and I say, bring it on.  The more the merrier as far as we are concerned.  It's these little touches that make the biggest impact and make your wedding uniquely your own.  So if any planner, or wedding professional, tells you to nix your DIY ideas...just say, 'Thank you very much'...and walk away.  Find someone who will embrace your uniqueness and love every idea you have!!!!

Until next time...

Making your wedding InnCredible!

'InnCredible Events'

530.919.4588

(James' amazing 'SCA' shield)

Hazzah...Addison & James Got Married!...

Shouts of HAZZAH! could be heard from all the guests at James and Addison's wedding as the happy couple were pronounced 'Husband and Wife', and their Officiant, 'Murphy' said, 'Mr. Brooks, you may now kiss Mrs. Brooks'.  Hazzah!!!!

 

'Hazzah', you say...what the heck?  Well, by definition, 'hazzah' is "an archaic English interjection of joy" (thank you Wikipedia), or the old world equivalent to 'Hurrah'.  You see, James and Addison met because both are members of the 'Society for Creative Anachronism'.  A fun-loving group of folks who love to dress up in 17th century costumes, fight with swords and drink Mead (honey wine).  So it was fitting that along with applause, exuberant 'Hazzah's' with fists raised were given to the newlyweds as they took their first walk, hand-in-hand, as husband and wife.

 

Addison called 'InnCredible Events' in the midst of her wedding planning.  She had all her vendors lined up, signed contracts in hand, and her 'MidSummer's Night Dream' theme in mind when she found us on 'WeddingWire'.  In the beginning, she was convinced she didn't 'need no stinkin' wedding planners' (her words, not mine...LOL)...until...!  We knew instantly, we had to make her dream come true!  Just look at her, she's a Princess! 

And...well, he's just as cute as a bug!

There were so many wonderful DIY elements to Addison and James wedding that it would take a manuscript to tell you about all of them.  Suffice it to say, we all worked very late into the evening Friday night before the wedding.

The day of the wedding, while the finishing touches were put on the Shakespeare Club, Addison was getting her hair and make-up done, and getting into her absolutely gorgeous dress.  

Oh my goodness, I have to tell you, Addison's dress was so big that it took up the entire back of my SUV with the seats down! The ladies at 'Renfro's Bridal' laughed at me as I tried to lovingly 'stuff' it into my car... (Note to self...next time a bride tells me her dress is BIG, believe her...and bring a bigger car...LOL!)  

Once dressed, our happy couple chose to do a 'first sight'...and it was magical....

Then our 'Daddy's Little Girl' did the most amazing thing...she did a 'first sight' with her dad.  Warning...these photos may bring tears to your eyes.

Once the ceremony was complete, the 'I Do's' were spoken...and the Groomsmen and Gal had strutted their stuff...

And the Bride and Bridesmaids posed so pretty...

It was time to PARTY...and party they did.  This crowd was wild and crazy!!!!

Some wonderful, and embarrassing, toasts were given...hee hee.  Too cute!

And then our darling bride stood up to say a few words of her own.  Addison took the mic and proceeded to look lovingly into James eyes and say, 'In our family there is no such thing as divorce...only funerals'.  The guests went wild!!!!  James blushed...and Addison grinned impishly from ear to ear...hee hee!

Then James escorted his new bride to the dance floor!

After all the 'First Dances', and a 'Married Couples Dance' (most of the guests had been married forever, amazing!)...everyone else hit the floor...

And the best part...everyone, and I mean, everyone, danced like nobody was watching...LOL.  Too much fun!

And just when the guests were beginning to think that things were winding down, Marjorie and I opened the curtains...and SURPRISE!!!  'The Rocker's' began rockin' the house!!!. 

Then the glow sticks came out...You know it's time to call it a night when the 'glow sticks' come out...LOL!  This wedding was too much fun!

Marjorie and I have sooooo many wonderful memories from Addison and James wedding.  Without a doubt, this was one of the 'funnest' weddings we've ever worked.  We met some fabulously fun people, amazing vendors and made new friends.  Mama Lori, we love you and 'The William!  Thanks Addison for choosing us!  We had a blast!  Hazzah!!!!!  And lots of love!

These InnCredible photos were courtesy of 'Turning Leaf Studios' and guests.
To watch the InnCredible video 'Turning Leaf Studios' produced for Addison and James wedding, click this link...Addison and James

A very special 'Hazzah' to all the vendors who worked on this InnCredible wedding...

Caterer:  Coralee Barnes, 'A Taste To Dine For'

DJ:  Mark Hardin, 'A Big-Ticket Sound Experience'

Florist:  Maureen Ward, 'Perfect Parties by Mo'

Photographer: Michele Coomler, 'Turning Leaf Studios'

Reception Venue:  'Placerville Shakespeare Club'

Videographer: Phillip Alan, 'Sheffield Multimedia'

Wedding Planning:  That's us, 'InnCredible Events'

Until Next Time...

Making Your Wedding InnCredible

'InnCredible Events'

530.919.4588

Wedding Planner or No Wedding Planner...???

 (James and Addison Brooks - October 22, 2011)

For some reason at this time of year, every bride I meet with always asks me the same question: 'Why should I hire a wedding planner?'  Well, before I get into the 'nuts and bolts' of all the benefits of hiring a professional to manage the 'biggest day of your life', I'm going to let one of our InnCredible brides, Addison Brooks, give you her two-cents worth on the subject. 

  

  (Photo courtesy of 'Turning Leaf Studios')

This is what Addison wrote in her wedding program and shared with all her guests...(and just FYI, Marjorie and I were flabbergasted and honored!)

"When we first started preparing for a wedding, we thought, 'Eh, we don't need no stinkin' planners." Several months ago we realized, 'Uh yeah, planners would be good." Now we have a duo of wedding planning geniuses and they are heaven sent. Carrell & Marjorie asked the questions we didn't think of, got in contact with people we never thought of, and gave us so much advice while allowing us to not have to change who were are or the vision of our wedding. I'd be a wreck. Mom and I would probably be at each other's throats, and James would be reviewing escape routes. So thank you girls from all of us for keeping us sane, me in control and my mother happy. Cause if Mama ain't happy, we ain't happy."

Well, as you might guess...Mama was happy...very happy.!

So, our 'Number 1' reason for hiring a wedding planner is giving your Mom, and your soon-to-be Mother-in-Law, the luxury of actually enjoying your wedding day without having to worry about all minutia of managing your big day!

But, if you need a more convincing, here are few more reasons...

A wedding planner...

Saves YOU Time...  
On average it takes approximately 250 hours to plan a wedding. If you’re a busy professional you probably don’t have the luxury to dedicate that much time to putting together your dream wedding…but a wedding planner does! They will not only save you lots of time, they’ll also make sure nothing gets overlooked. 

(Franci and Chad Yowell - July 30, 2011)

Saves YOU Money...  
Most wedding planners have established relationships with vendors, and are able to explain pricing to you and make sure you stick to your budget. They’ll also make sure you are not paying for, or getting talked into, things you really don’t want or need. 

Saves YOUR Sanity...
There are so many little things that can get easily overlooked that most brides don’t take into consideration. A wedding planner will make sure these little things aren’t forgotten and your dream wedding comes off without a hitch. Plus…and this is a big one, they’ll be there if you need a shoulder to cry on, or a hand to hold, if things become a bit too overwhelming!

(Photo courtesy of 'Turning Leaf Studios')

Offers YOU Advice... 
Most professional wedding planners have planned and orchestrated a number of weddings so they’ll be able to tell you what will and will not work. They will also help pull all your fabulous DIY ideas together so your ‘theme’ doesn’t get lost in all the creativity, and your DIY wedding doesn’t become your DI-saster!

(Photo courtesy of 'Stellasweet Photography')

Manages YOUR Relationships...
Planning a wedding is very stressful and more often than not, someone is going to get out-of-sorts. A wedding planner will act as your go-between and will advocate on your behalf to handle any stressful situation that comes up, regardless of whether it’s with a family member, friend or vendor. Remember, they work for you and will do whatever it takes to ease your stress.

(Photo courtesy of 'Turning Leaf Studios')

Reviews YOUR Contracts and Prepares YOUR Timeline...
A wedding doesn’t just run itself. It takes a lot of time and effort to put it together. On average a professional wedding planner will take several hours working and reworking a timeline to make sure that every aspect of your wedding happens the way, and at the time, you want. In doing so, they must review all your vendor contracts and coordinate with these vendors to make sure everyone is on the same page. Then they have to put all this information down in your timeline to make sure everyone involved understands their part in your wedding. It’s a lengthy and necessary process and one that you, the bride, don’t want to have to deal with.

(Coralee Barnes - 'A Taste to Dine For' Catering)

Runs YOUR Rehearsal and Orchestrates YOUR Wedding Day... 
The success of your ceremony is based on your rehearsal. A wedding planner will make sure everyone in your wedding party knows their place and what to do during the ceremony. They will make sure everyone shows up to the ceremony on time, make sure the guys ties are straight, the gals hold their bouquets correctly, and that you make a show-stopping entrance. At your reception, they will manage your event according to your timeline so that it’s seamless, and you don’t incur any over-time charges which can be very expensive.

(LaRaye and Andy Emmert - October 29, 2011)

Is YOUR 'Go-To' Person... 
On the day of your wedding the last thing you want is for a vendor, or guest, coming up to you to ask a question, or get your advice on something. A wedding planner is there to field all these questions and concerns, and make sure you are spending your time enjoying your day and having the time of your life.

Manages Unforeseen Crisis...
Every wedding will have something go wrong. The trick is to keep these situations under wraps. A good wedding planner will handle a crisis with ease so no one is aware that anything has happened, especially you.

And most importantly...allows YOU to Enjoy Your Big Day!
Your only job on the day of your wedding is to enjoy yourself, your family and friends. Hiring a wedding planner will allow you to do this. You want this to be the most exciting day of your life, and if you hire a wedding planner you can enjoy the wedding of your dreams, not work it.

(Photo courtesy of 'Jagger Photography')

Remember, it is no longer considered a ‘luxury’ to hire a wedding planner. In today’s busy world, it is an essential part of hosting the killer wedding.

Oh, and one other wee bit of advice: when selecting a wedding planner, make sure they’re a professional and not someone who does wedding planning as a hobby. You want to make sure your dream wedding meets, or rather, exceeds your expectations, so be sure to hire a professional!

Until next time....

Making Your Wedding InnCredible

'InnCredible Events'

530.919.4588

The Name-Change Game...

Happy New Year everyone.  Marjorie and I hope your 2012 is as magical as all of you are!

We have some new things in store for you this year, one being asking our brides to contribute to our blog.  What better way to connect with all of you then to let our brides do the talking...we thought you'd like that!  So, here we go!

Typically, Marjorie and I don't endorse products.  Well, not a lot of products anyway.  In fact, I think there has only been one product we have ever endorsed, and that is 'MissNowMrs', the fabulous company that helps you change your name, if you're so inclined to do so.  We love this company so much we give our brides a 'MissNowMrs' gift card when they sign up for our 'InnCredible Events' wedding planning services.  Makes sense, right!

I know we've all heard horror stories about the trials and tribulations that brides, and some grooms, have gone through to change their names after they say, 'I Do'.  Even I, a wedding planner, listened to the anger and frustration from my son and daughter-in-law as they went through this tedious process.  No fun!  No fun at all!

And since we want to make sure the products we give to our couples, and endorse, meet our high expectations, I asked one of our InnCredible brides, Jennifer Witz, now Jennifer Claiborne, to tell you about her experience with 'MissNowMrs.'   (And, just so you know, we are in no way getting any sort of kick back or perks from the company...this is just our way of giving you good information to help you make informed decisions...because that's what we do!)

(Photo removed at photographer's request)

So, here in her own words is what Jennifer had to say....

"I received a gift card to MissNowMrs from my amazing wedding planner.  Not knowing what it was, I looked it up and discovered a website that makes it very easy to change your last name after getting married all in one spot.  

After talking to other brides, I was not looking forward to having to change my name everywhere and gathering all the right forms and documents.  However, MissNowMrs makes it oh so easy! I sound like an info. ad, but it's true!  It has every place you may need to change your name, from the post office, to the obvious social security, to your bank account and more.  There are a handful of generic forms to fill out on yourself and husband, and then with a click, all the information is sent to every form you may need to change your name.  All I had to do was print out the forms, follow the step-by-step direction they have for each form, and mail them out.  The only one I had to physically go in for was for the DMV, which was easy since they now take appointments.  

After planning a wedding in 3 months while starting a new job and getting my Master's Degree, there was no way I would of had enough time to find each form needed, fill them out, and take them in individually.  MissNowMrs saved me a lot of time and now I am proudly Mrs. Claiborne!"

(Photo removed at Photographer's request)

Until next time....

Making your wedding InnCredible 

'InnCredible Events'

530.919.4588

A Wee Bit of Holiday Cheer...

'It's that time of year when the world falls in love' and we are all anticipating a number of engagements over the next few weeks.  So let me say, 'Congratulations' in advance and may we wish you happy wedding planning.  

As we head into this happy time of year, InnCredible Events will be taking some time off so we too can spend time with our families.  I'm staying here in Coloma and all my kids are joining me for a Christmas celebration, yippee....while Marjorie is in Homer, Alaska with family...brrrr!  It will be a grand time for all. 

As our gift to you...here is a wee bit of Holiday Cheer in the form of InnSpiration Boards for the best holidays of the year....

Merry Christmas!

Happy Hanukkah!...

 

And of course...Happy New Year!!!!

Marjorie and I wish you a very happy holiday season.  Thank you to everyone who made 2011 such an InnCredible year!!!!  We'll see you in 2012!

Our special thanks to Nicole from 'Sweetness and Light Photo' for this InnCredible photo...oh and Santa too, of course...!

All the other pictures are from Pinterest...Love it!  You can follow me at:  www.pinterest.com/carrell_halley, if you're so inclined.

See you in 2012...!!!!!!

InnCredible Events

Making your wedding InnCredible

530.919.4588

Ching Ching!!!!!!

OUCH!

So I was listening to a webinar the other day and the presenter said to, 'always be yourself'...and to go out on a limb and be controversial every now and then.  So here I go...this is my 'now and then'.  Hate me if you will, agree with me if you might, but please read.  And let me know what you think! Thanks!

 

When writing a negative review of a vendor, please remember...we are not perfect...we are human, just like you.  Sometimes we forget things, and sometimes, heaven forbid, we even make mistakes.  So the next time you start to write a review, ask yourself, how would I feel if I received this?  

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for writing reviews...good and bad.  But I'm also for being constructive, not hateful.  We vendors strive to make sure your wedding is perfect, and in most cases, we work our fannies off to make sure that happens...but we can't do that if we don't know something is bothering you until after the fact.  So instead of keeping things all 'bottled up' inside you until after your wedding...communicate.  Don't wait until everything is 'said and done', and your big day is over to drop the bomb on us. 

I'm telling you this because I was just 'blind-sided' by a bride who we thought was very pleased with our services and to whom we'd given 150%.  It wasn't until 'after the fact' that we found out there were things she was dissatisfied with.  Now, I know, 'you can't please all the people all the time', however, if these things that were upsetting to her had been brought to our attention, I would have made sure they were handled.  As it was, I knew nothing, and therefore, could do nothing. 

The 'take-away' for me is that I did learn a lot from this experience because I always look for the 'silver lining'.  And that is, I need to be clearer on what is included, and not included, in our packages...and I also need to check in with how my brides/grooms are feeling on all levels much more often.  And from now on I'll be doing that and more.

So, take it from me, one who just had the 'wind taken out of her sails'...let us know what we're doing right...and what, in your eyes, we're doing wrong.  Most of the time, it's just an issue of miscommunication that can be cleared up immediately.  

However, since there are always exceptions to every rule, in the event that you have tried and tried to work with a vendor and are getting nowhere, either 'fire' them, or write your review.  It might save another bride from your heartache.

Ok...there you have it.  I've gotten that off my chest.  If you'd like to chime in, you can do so here or go to our facebook page...
www.facebook.com/InnCredibleEvents. 

I'd love to hear what you have to say...and would love your suggestions on how, we as vendors, can stay on top of what you, the brides/grooms are feeling.

Until next time...

Making your wedding InnCredible!

InnCredible Events

530.919.4588