Bouquet of the Week

Rose with plumes bouquet by Lucky You Productions.

Photo: Chris Croy Photography

Bouquet of the Week

Cute as a Button
Sweet hand-tied bouquet with button adornments by Thorn Studio.

Photo: Under Grace Photography

Bouquet of the Week

It's been awhile, but this rainy St. Louis day calls for some pretty flowers!

Fall bouquet of roses, calla lilies and orchids was created by The Special Event Florist Tina Barrera.

Photo by: Clary Photo

Must-have iPhone apps for wedding planning

Are you planning a wedding? Do you own an iPhone? Well, here’s how you can use it to your advantage to help you plan a fantastic event. We gathered a couple apps that may be helpful to you.

First off -- let's talk about my favorite -- and the one I use constantly.

Evernote is a free amazing app that syncs to your iPhone, your online account and your desktop program. No matter what computer or phone you are on, you can save any email, picture, vendor information that you find useful and retrieve it from anywhere. It acts like a digital notebook to save all your inspiration for your special day.

iWedding Deluxe is not a free app but well worth the $7.99 price tag. If you check out the features, you will be as impressed as I am. It includes checklists, notes, budgets and everything is customizable. You can track your RSVPs, add meal options, you can even organize your vendors’ information to find their contact information easily.

If you find the iWedding Deluxe app too overwhelming, My Wedding might be a better fit for you. It is a simpler app, priced at $3.99 that provides you with a reasonable amount of to-do lists. You will realize right away that the features of this app are pretty basic, but it still allows you to handle your RSVPs, and track your budget.

iBridalGown is priced at $3.99 and could be of great help during dress shopping. Designed by a bridal salon owner, it can help you narrow your search down to the perfect dress. While shopping, you can save information on every dress you try, including location of the salon, pictures of you in the dress and any detail you wish to save.

To complement the pure wedding planning applications, there are a couple fun ones that you will find very useful as well.

Let’s start with Wedding Scan, a very smart wedding registry app that enables couples to register at different stores and it then uploads the items on their online account. I find this concept to be genius and we love that this app is only $0.99!

And let’s not forget the YouTube free app. It is not a wedding app per-se, however, it can be very helpful and allows you to listen to songs you might be considering for your dances, tosses and cake cutting. You Tube will also allow you to listen to different versions of a song so you can pick the perfect one for your day.

Are you using one of these? Are you using them all? How do you like them? We’d love to hear from you so please leave us a comment!

Yara Holt owns and operates Plume Events, a full-service wedding and event coordination company. Known for her enthusiasm, an emphasis on service, a strict attention to detail, as well as strong work ethics, Yara is committed to making a bride's special day unique. Growing up in Europe, Yara’s unique background gave her the perfect blend of creativity, flexibility, and organizational skills. Yara specializes in modern urban weddings.

Be Contract Savvy

What to Know Before You Sign on the Dotted Line

Contracts can be confusing and sometimes they are an overwhelming jumble of jargon. But a service contract with a caterer, reception hall, wedding liaison, florist or whomever is meant to protect your rights as much as those of the pros. Don't agree to a contract that is too vague. Lack of specificity leaves room for vendors to make changes or tack on extra costs.

Everything should appear on paper, including:
~ Dates of Service
~ Times (including set-up and clean-up times, if applicable)
~ Locations
~ Prices - Plus Taxes and Gratuities
~ Payment Plan
~ Delivery Schedule
~ Number and Names of Professionals
~ Expected Attire of Professionals
~ Refund and Cancellation Policies
~ Any Overtime Fees

The contract must also specify any vendor-specific details. For example, a videographer's contract should specify that she'll have back-up equipment on hand in case of malfunctioning; a florist's should name the specific flowers he'll use.

Also make sure that any details or extras discussed during meetings are noted in the contract. If you photographer says he'll throw in an extra portrait for your parents, get it in writing. Don't take anything for granted. Ask questions, and if you feel something has been left out, have the vendor write it in. Both parties should initial the change.

Don't be pressured into signing on the spot. Vendors should let you take a contract home and fine-tooth-comb it. Pinpoint any unfamiliar terms and get them clarified to your satisfaction and, if possible, have a third party give it a glance. A wedding coordinator or attorney is ideal, but anyone who has recently planned a wedding can eyeball it. Then be sure to keep in touch with the vendor after you've signed and put down a deposit. Follow up on contract details as the wedding date nears, and call vendors to confirm services one to two weeks before the big day.

Protect Yourself with Clear Contracts
~ Never sign a contract until you understand every word, and are confident that it covers.
~ All relevant details. Before you sign, think through all possible (or at least likely) conflicts and crises and make sure they're addressed.
~ Contracts exist to protect both you and the wedding professional equally. If any vendor refuses to provide or sign a contract, walk away.
~ Remember, even the best contract can't prevent problems from happening, but they can give you legal recourse to at least recover financial losses.

Carolyn Burke - Wedding Liaison has been in the event planning industry for 10 years. She is a wedding planner and an event location specialist with resources on 425+ event venues in the area with more than 900 photographs.

Gown Purchasing Timeline

When it comes to buying your wedding gown or your attendants' special occasion dresses, an easy rule of thumb is to purchase when you find it. If you wait too long to begin your search, you may run in to extra charges for rush delivery. All special occasion gowns are made to order and are not sitting in a warehouse awaiting your purchase.


Here is an easy guide for your attire purchases:

Wedding Gowns

• Begin your search 12 to 9 months prior to your wedding day
  

• Purchase at least 6 months prior

Bridesmaids Dresses

• Begin searching after you find your gown - approximately 9 months out; make sure the bridesmaids' dresses compliment yours, not the other way around
  

• Purchase them about 7 months prior to the wedding

• Your bridesmaids will appreciate not having to pay for a ton of things at the last minute.

Mothers Gowns

• Begin the search 9 months prior to the wedding
  

• Purchase 6-7 months prior - this will leave the moms a few months to lose any weight if need be
  

Flower Girl Dresses

• Begin searching 6 months out
  

• Purchase 5 months before the wedding

• Make sure you select a size that will accommodate a sudden growth spurt

Jamie Sherman is the manager of Blushing Bride, a bridal salon in Shiloh, Illinois.

Live Music at the Reception

Planning a wedding is a major undertaking for anyone and there are myriad details that need to be addressed. You quickly learn that it’s never too soon to begin thinking about the details and planning for the music is a significant part of the process. Most individuals have never coordinated music for a large event such as a wedding reception and aren’t familiar with all of the features that an experienced band can provide to make the reception a success.

Having experienced musicians working for you is like having an on site wedding coordinator to make sure all of your details are addressed during the reception. When you provide specific details, the entertainers you hire can be much more than simply a source of music. They can perform emcee and additional functions such as:

* Introducing the wedding party
* Announcing toasts and present the person to deliver the blessing
* Coordinating with the caterer regarding instructions for the serving of meals
* Synchronizing with photographers and videographers to ensure great pictures from the reception
* Announce special events such as the Bride & Groom first dance and all other special dances
* Coordinating the cutting of the cake
* Orchestrating the tossing of the garter and/or bouquet
* Highlighting the newlywed's departure to begin their new life together

As far as selecting the band, we’re very lucky in St. Louis because we have several great options so have fun doing your research. Some questions to consider might be:

What is your musical vision for the reception? Your tastes might lean toward jazz, swing, pop, Motown, rock, country, hip hop, R&B, or all of these styles? If you select a band that can only play a few of these styles “authentically” then you’ll likely lose your guests early in the reception. Selecting a band with a diverse capability will ensure that all of your guests hear something they enjoy and they will want to stay all evening. Simply put, consider your guests' anticipated musical interests in addition to your own.

Is what you hear on the demo CD representative of a live performance? Ask if the vocalists and musicians are going to be the ones that you’re hiring. Ask if all the instruments you hear on the CD are going to be part of the band at the reception. For example, if you like the sounds of Motown, R & B, and swing music then the band needs to have a great horn section. Some bands have a group of vocalists and musicians that play in different combinations so you don’t want to be disappointed if the band that shows up isn’t what you expected. You should also make sure the band is capable of playing any special ethnic material, e.g., traditional Jewish songs, if that’s something you will need.

Does the band have a male and female vocalist? The repertoire of songs expands a great deal when there is both a male and female singer and songs can be done more authentically when you have a male and female vocalist. As good as a vocalist may be, it can get tiresome to hear the same voice the entire evening.

Is your friend’s suggestion right for your wedding vision? It can be helpful to learn of bands that friends had at their weddings, but don’t let someone else’s insistence be the reason you choose a band. It may be a great band, but not the right one for you. Try to be open-minded when you start your search.

Finally, does the band have liability insurance to protect you (and them) if something unexpected should happen?

Some venues require their vendors have insurance so it's best to check this ahead of time to avoid any future issues.


Tim Callihan is a member of the Federation of Musicians and manager of The Spectrum Band in St. Louis.