dearest brides and grooms, 

now, i don't want to rain on your parade {ha}. obviously, no one - absolutely no one - wishes for rain on her wedding day. however, as with most things in life, you should always plan for the worst-case scenario. for your wedding day, that means you need to plan for rain. 

if you have your heart set on an outdoor ceremony and an indoor reception, your rain-plan contingency will be a bit less complicated. the most common rain plan for this situation is to reserve an indoor location, whether it a church or a portion of your already-reserved reception venue, in which to hold your ceremony.  while this is not the most ideal option, it is often the best since the alternative - to reserve a tent under which to hold your ceremony - is both costly and, in most cases, detracts from the outdoor setting that you loved in the first place. you can't exactly enjoy the view of oaks dripping with spanish moss from underneath a tent, you know? 

now, if you have your heart set on an open-air ceremony and an outdoor reception, your best option may well be to reserve a tent to cover the reception space just in case. if you are a week out and the chance of rain on your wedding day is 0%, some rental companies will allow you to cancel on the tent, which you may as well do. if the weather forecast indicates the potential for rain on your wedding day, keep the tent on your rental order. as it takes quite a few hours to put up a tent, you will have to make the call the day {rather than hours} prior on whether or not to raise it. 

either way, trust me on this: MAKE A RAIN PLAN. if you don't have one, it will definitely rain. if you do have one, it more than likely will not rain. 

if you want extra assurance {in addition to coming up with a rain contingency}, check out this southern tradition to ward off the storm clouds on your wedding day: 

"Southern folklore says if you bury a full bottle of bourbon upside down at your wedding venue exactly one month before your wedding day, you will keep rain away. The co-founders of Borrowed & Blue did it before their wedding day &, as you can see, they had bright & sunny skies despite the threat of a hurricane. It can't hurt to give it a try, & is an awesome event around which to center your engagement photos." 

- borrowed and blue's top ten southern wedding traditions

hey there, lovely brides! 

let's discuss bridesmaid bouquet alternatives. while having your ladies-in-waiting clutch miniature, complementary versions of your own lush bouquet is a fabulous option {particularly if you want to reuse their bouquets as table arrangements at your reception}, don't feel limited to that alone. 

{} if you're having an evening ceremony, the perfect way to set the scene for your romantic nuptials would be having each bridesmaid carry a fishbowl votive with a candle inside. as they walk up the aisle to herald your grand entrance, all of your guests will bask in the soft candlelit glow. 

the beauties this week need no written introduction. without further adieu, feast your eyes on...

from ruffled

brides,

perhaps one of the best parts of your wedding day is the time when it's just you and your favorite girlfriends and female family members. maybe you choose to start your day off with a big breakfast, a group yoga class {like our recent newlywed heather did!}, or just sipping on coffee and munching on fruit while you and your ladies get your makeup done. 

either way, most bridal parties like to indulge in a little celebratory drinking at some point during the get-ready process. 

with that in mind, here are some ideas to get you started:

a mimosa bar
a bloody mary bar

mmm, the bloody mary! this is for the bride and her maids who prefer veggies to fruit, savory to sweet, and who don't mind a little vodka before 5pm. these bars can be equally as fun as a mimosa bar but in their own way - think different types of olives, gourmet hot sauces {sriracha!}, and other fun garnishes. it's also particularly excellent if you infuse your own vodka with garlic/shallots/olives and use that when making your bloody mary.


an irish coffee bar

now, this may not appeal to those of you who are saying your vows on a hot summer {or spring or fall if you're in savannah - yikes} day. however, for those of us who love our caffeine {ahem} this is an excellent option. whether you choose to spike yours the traditional way {bourbon, jameson, bailey's} or opt for a twist {vanilla vodka and bailey's, perhaps?} this is sure to start your day off right. even better: serve it all up in a cute personalized cup {maybe a bridesmaid's gift?} and a yummy donut-hole stirrer as pictured above!

next week, i'll discuss groomsmen-specific celebratory libations - be sure to check in!

XO,

jennifer

spring has officially sprung, ladies & gentlemen. 

while that does unfortunately mean a somewhat irritating influx of rainy weather {april is apparently taking its reputation for showers quite seriously this year} it also means a bounty of beautiful blossoms! 

when your venue is naturally gorgeous, it can really cut down on your costs decor-wise. rather than spending a fortune prettying-up your chosen setting with armfuls of flowers, you can let nature do its work and take care of all the decorating for you. 

here's a wedding coordinator skill for you to perfect: 

ladies & gentlemen, 

i can't help but notice a gorgeous ceremony backdrop. whether you're going for a fun, modern fete complete with a stunning ribbon wall backdrop or a lush, romantic floral arch, this is an excellent design area to express your personal style and set the tone for your wedding.