Engagement Parties

Congratulations! You're engaged! It's exciting to share your news with everyone but it's also fun to celebrate with them. One way to show off your new sparkly ring is to have an engagement party. It's also a great time for your families and friends to be introduced to each other and meet before some of the wedding events. Not everyone has an engagement party, but if you are thinking about having one, here are some tips to follow. 

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Who hosts an engagement party? 

Traditionally, the bride's parents would host the engagement party. However, in today's changing times, this is not always the case. The bride and groom may host the engagement party for themselves or a close friend or family member may volunteer to host it. Just be sure to check with the bride's family, you don't want to step on any toes by offering to host the party. 

Who do I invite?

Keep in mind this is not the wedding, so you will want to keep the guest list to close family and friends. The guest list should consist of those people that are closest to you and will definitely be invited to the wedding. Don't invite anyone who you do not plan on inviting to the wedding. Don't invite out of town guests, unless they are close family/friends. They will be traveling for the wedding, no need to make them travel multiple times. Also, keep in mind your budget for the engagement party, the smaller the guest list, the less expense. 

When should I have an engagement party?

There is no rule for this but you should plan to have your engagement party one to three months after the engagement or about a year before the wedding. You don't want to hold it too close to the wedding for couples with shorter engagements. 

Should I register for gifts for an engagement party?

Gifts should not be expected for an engagement party. Some guests will bring gifts to the party but you should open them at another time, not during the party. If you do receive gifts, don't forget to send a thank you card!

What kind of party should it be (formal/casual/etc.)?

An engagement party can be as casual or as formal as you want it to be. The main factor will depend on your budget. You can have a formal dinner out at a restaurant, a cocktail party with hors d'oeuvres or a casual summer BBQ at home. 

How should I invite guests to an engagement party? 

This depends on how formal your party is going to be. You will want to send a formal invitation for a formal event, however, if it is a casual, laid-back party at home, a simple phone call or evite invitation is acceptable. 

If you decide to have an engagement party, enjoy it! This is a great time to celebrate with your new fiance and your families!

-Nicole

Teaser Tuesday

Emily and Bryan were married at the beautiful Deerfield Golf Club. Their colors were navy and dark pink which they carried throughout their whole wedding from bathroom basket signs to their table numbers and other stationery that we created for them! It gave the event a very nice cohesive look. They also had a candy buffet of some of their favorite candies for their guests to enjoy. East Coast Event Group got the party started and kept guests dancing all night. At the end of the night Emily and Bryan treated everyone to pizza from Grotto's Pizza Truck, upon their exit of the reception. Joanne Beecham Photography took these wonderful shots you'll see below. We can't wait to see the rest of the images!

Kelly and Paul were married on Sunday at Cairnwood Estate. It was a hot day but nothing could stop their wedding day from being anything but picture perfect! The girls started their day with Meghan from Hair by Meghan and Emily from Cheekadee. Their touching and personal ceremony was held in the garden in front of their closest friends and family. Long tables were set on the veranda for dinner and Brittany from Petals Lane did an incredible job creating the arrangements! They were a mix of long low arrangements and tons of candles. We created their stationery that was a blush pink with touches of gray. Love Jones Band had all of the guests dancing the night away and Tangerine Media Group was on hand to capture all the fun on film! Justin & Mary Photography sent us these teasers and to say they are amazing would be an understatement! We can't wait to share the rest of this wedding with all of you!!

Choosing the Right Dress for Your Body Type

Most brides hope for that special moment or feeling, when you just know that this is YOUR dress. Here are some style guidelines for picking the right dresses for your body type to hopefully make that moment easier to get to. 

Knowing the Terms and Silhouettes:

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Ball Gown: Fitted bodice and waistline that lead to a very full skirt. 

A-Line or Princess: Cut close to the hip with a slight flare (creating an A-shape). 

Empire: High waistline (right under the bust), which falls to a slimmer skirt. 

Mermaid: A body-hugging silhouette that flares below the knee. 

Trumpet: An understated mermaid. This fit-and-flare skirt begins a gradual flare mid-thigh. 

Sheath/Column: A slim silhouette that closely follows your body's lines. 

Knowing Your Body Type

Hourglass

Do you have a big chest, wide hips, and a thin waist...in other words, curves in all the right places? Try an A-Line dress, or a drop waisted skirt. A sweetheart neckline will accentuate the bust line. 

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Or try a Fit-and-Flare style, like a mermaid or trumpet to highlight your curves.

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Short Waist

A drop waist will lengthen your torso, and an empire waist will diminish proportion lines to elongate your body.

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Full Figure

A ball gown dress will flatter your figure, as well as and A-Line silhouette, which speaks to any figure.

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Halters and strapless necklines work great. Typically avoid spaghetti straps.

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Pear Shape

Like the fruit- smaller on top, fuller on the bottom. A ball gown will cover your lower half, while and empire waist hugs and accentuates your top half. A-Line dresses will also flatter you. Fit-and-Flare dresses like Mermaid or Trumpet styles will draw attention to your hips and bottom. Sheaths typically would be not very flattering. 

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Thin and Tall

Almost all silhouettes will flatter you, but stay away from off the shoulder or halter necklines, they can make your neck look thinner or bonier. You can also pull off sheath dresses, which most figures cannot. 

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Petite

With your small frame, you don't want the dress to be wearing you. A-Line dresses will flatter you and you can pull off a sheath as well. Although almost all silhouettes will look good on you but a big ball gown might overwhelm your stature, as will too much detailing in the dress. 

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No matter what your body type, you will find your perfect dress. Take these guidelines for what they are, an overview of what works best for most figures, not all. If you find a dress that calls to you and gives you that, "This is the one" feeling, go for it!

-Gina

Nails for the Big Day

Even if you aren't a usual salon goer, having clean and manicured nails is crucial on your wedding day. You will be shaking many hands, holding a bouquet of flowers that everyone will be looking at and of course your hands will be popping up in many of your professional photos, so having primped hands is key. 

Whether you keep it all natural or get nail extensions, there are still many options you should consider. And don't forget to have a test run a few weeks before to make sure your nails come out just as you picture. 

Type of Manicure

Regular Manicure/Pedicure- A regular manicure and pedicure is always a safe bet when it comes to your wedding day, and always looks the most natural. Whether it's a simple color or a French manicure you can never go wrong. 

Gel Nails- If you want something a little more professional and longer lasting, you may want to opt for gel nails, which is a gel polish coating that goes right over your own nail. Although getting gel nails doesn't change the length of your nails, they do make your nails thicker and smoother and have a nice glossy appearance. Gel nails also typically last three weeks and don't chip! Plus, they're odorless. 

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Acrylic- Everyone knows what acrylic nails are, but if you don't know, they are slowly becoming a thing of the past. Out of any type of nails you can get, acrylic are the most unnatural and look the most fake. So if you've had them before and like them, go for it, but you may want to opt for something more natural looking for your wedding day. 

Pinks and Whites- Pink and white are another form of acrylic nails that are used to make French pink and white manicures. A light pink color is used as the base of the nail and white is obviously the tip or extension of the nail. Just like regular acrylic, pink and white nails include a thick tip that is placed on top of your regular nail to make your nails longer. The main downside of pink and white nails is that they often make the white part very long the first time you go so they can just file it down when you go for a refill- so don't get a fresh coat of pink and whites on your wedding day!

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Dips- Dips are another form of acrylic nails that are newer to the market. What makes them much better than regular acrylic and pink and whites is that they are much lighter and don't have that usual acrylic smell to them. You can still get the usual pink and white or do just a solid color. The nails are much smoother and don't leave you with heavy stiff feeling nails, which is the best part!

Picking Your Color

French- This classic look is always a winner for wedding days and is often the most common. It goes well with any dress or any wedding look from vintage to modern.

Pink- Nobody is saying you can't go with the hot pink look, but sticking to something more subtle is always more fitting. Light pinks, beiges, and some peaches also work well with all looks. 

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Red- If you're feeling a bit bold, red is often a good pick if it works well with not only your color scheme, but also the feel of your wedding. If you are also a girl that typically gets red nails and you want to feel most like yourself, then stick to what you're used to, it's all about feeling comfortable on your big day. 

Blue- Still looking for your "something blue"? How about getting blue nails- light blue of course! Again if the color works well with your personality and with the colors in your wedding, then light blue can be a very fitting wedding nail color choice. 

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Many companies also have nail polish "wedding collections" that they debut each year, like these from Essie and OPI. You'll love the colors and their names!

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Whatever type of nails you choose and whatever color, sit back, relax, and enjoy being pampered!

-Caitlin

Featured Bride Friday

Names of Bride and Groom: Marcy and Dermot

Wedding Date: June 23, 2012

Ceremony and Reception Location: Bride's childhood home in Haverford, PA

How did you and your fiance meet?: I went to school with his little sister from 3rd-9th grade and always had a little bit of a crush on her very cute older brother. When his sister switched schools after 9th grade we lost touch. It wasn't until about 15 years later when we friended each other on Facebook and started chatting. What I thought, at first, was just a hopeful reconnection with an old crush quickly grew into a wonderful relationship that I don't think either of us could have expected.

Tell us about the proposal: Dermot tried hard to surprise me with what he knew I wanted more than anything for Christmas (an engagement) by pretending he was actually getting me the other thing I was really wanting (a puppy). Unfortunately, however the surprise was spoiled when I came across the ring box in his coat pocket the day before Christmas Eve. We had agreed to exchange presents between the two of us on Christmas Eve morning because we had so many other family engagements throughout the rest of the day. So when I came downstairs that morning he had wrapped a dog crate and tried to distract me with all kinds of puppy noises but when I turned around after finding the dog crate empty, he presented me with the most beautiful ring I have ever seen and made me an exceedingly happy woman.

What is the overall theme of your wedding?: The overall theme is an elegant modern garden party in purple (if that can be a theme). I have loved using Pinterest for my inspiration board. 

What has been your favorite part of planning?: I have loved the time that I have spent with my fiance as well as the things that we have been able to learn about ourselves and each other through the process. I also really love design and flowers and so figuring out tablescapes has been really fun too!

What has been your fiance's favorite part of the planning?: Learning that as a couple we can do anything together and still have fun while doing it. 

What are you looking forward to most on the wedding day?: I am really looking forward to seeing my fiance for the first time that day and having a little alone time with him. I am also looking forward to letting go and having a blast with our family and friends!

What is your fiance most looking forward to on the wedding day?: I am most looking forward to seeing her for the first time in her dress, and being able to spend our day together with friends and family. 

Which vendor has been your favorite to work with?: This sounds like I am just saying it- but really, it has been Erin- she is so enthusiastic and fun, we felt so comfortable with her from the beginning- I know that my wedding is in good hands with her!

What is your biggest worry about the wedding day?: I am worried that I will be too worried about other people and not be able to be in moment and enjoy myself. 

What makes your wedding unique from all the others?: Two words: Donut Bar

Give three words to describe what you imagine you'll feel like the day AFTER the wedding: Happy, tired and peaceful

Where will you be spending your honeymoon?: Antigua 

Megan and Andrew's Wedding

Megan and Andrew were married at Glen Foerd Mansion this past December. By looking at these pictures, you'd never guess it was December! They really lucked out and had the most incredible weather and got to do a lot of their formal pictures outside! Megan and her bridesmaids started the day at Four Points by Sheraton with hair done by Jill, from Up Your Do, and makeup done by Kelly, from Face the Occasion. The ladies looked amazing! Megan's lace gown was a perfect fit for the venue and so were the bridesmaids floor length black gowns. Megan walked down the aisle to music played by Wilmington String Ensemble and guests participated in the couple's candlelit ceremony in the conservatory. When the ceremony was over, guests headed inside the mansion to enjoy a delicious cocktail hour prepared by Conroy Catering. The newlyweds had their first dance and toasts in the mansion, where guests also enjoyed dinner. Nature's Gallery Florist created the bouquets and centerpieces  for the tables that consisted of evergreens, white hydrangeas and berries- perfect for a winter wedding! Synergetic Sound and Lighting did an amazing job uplighting the conservatory and adding a dancefloor wash. And when it was time to get the party started, they packed the dancefloor and had all of the guests out of their seats! Instead of a traditional guestbook, they asked guests to sign a wine box with their last name on it. A huge thanks to Tony and Amy of Hoffer Photography for these wonderful images! 

Congratulations Megan and Andrew!