Laura and Chris' Wedding

Laura and Chris were married last May at Valley Forge Military Academy. I've (Lisa) known Laura since about 6th grade and was really excited to be coordinating an old friend's wedding! We met with them about a month before their wedding to help tie together all of the last minute details for their wedding. Laura and her bridesmaids- many being old friends of myself, as well!- started the day with hair and makeup at Laura's Aunt's house. After being pampered for the morning and enjoying some mimosas, the girls got into their navy blue floor length gowns and helped Laura into her gorgeous wedding gown. Meanwhile, Chris- a Marine- and his groomsmen were prepping for the day. Their ceremony was sweet and personal and after they were pronounced husband and wife, Laura and Chris walked through the traditional Arch of Swords Ceremony. Over in the ballroom, we were busy prepping the space for the guests! The tables were topped with an ivory damask linen and to finish off the look, their florist brought in beautiful gold candelabras that were decorated with candlesticks, greenery, and roses- it looked magnificent! Instead of a traditional guest book, Laura and Chris asked their guests to sign bottles of wine that they will enjoy on their anniversaries. The dance floor was PACKED the entire night! I know we say that a lot but this was one big dancing crowd and they had a blast. Enjoy the images below from this wonderful wedding!

Congratulations Laura and Chris!

A big thank you to all the wedding professionals that made their wedding day beautiful:

Ceremony: The Chapel of St. Cornelius the Centurion

Officiant: The Wedding Pastor, Andy Mahaney

Reception: Valley Forge Military Academy- Mellon Hall

Caterer: Day by Day Catering

Photography: Michele Corbman Photography

Florist: Long Stems

Entertainment: John from EBE Entertainment

Cake: Stock's Bakery

Ceremony Programs: Paper by Proud

Coordinators: Lisa, Amanda, and Jen

Tattoo Cover Up

That Winnie the Pooh tattoo you got on your back when you were 16 or the butterfly on your foot you got when you were 18, might not be the look you want to portray during your wedding day. Though you should start by looking for dresses that might cover your unwanted tattoos, if the winning dress shows it off, there are still ways you can cover it up. Whether you have just one or two, or more than a few, you can go tattoo free during your wedding even if you're actually branded. 

Though different types work for different brides, there are many high-level tattoo concealer products on the market that can hide your tattoo completely. Start by trying one of these:

Dermablend Leg and Body Tattoo Primer

Tattoo Camo Kit

Make Up For Ever

Mehrons Tattoo Cover Up

Kat Von D Tattoo Concealer

Also remember if you're hiring a professional make-up artist, many of them are skilled at tattoo cover up, just be sure to let them know in advance. Airbrushing is most often used as a resource for make-up artists to cover your tattoo up completely! 

If you're thinking about this early enough, and our wedding is the trigger for you to want to remove your tattoo altogether, products like Wrecking Balm, work well at fading and removing your tattoo. 

Wrecking Balm

Lastly, there is also the option of getting a new tattoo over your old one that might be more appropriate for your wedding and your new life together. This will take time and some thought, but if you think about it enough in advance, it could be the perfect compromise. A few hours and you could turn that butterfly into something meaningful for your new life adventure!

-Caitlin

Annemarie's Wedding

Jimmy and I were married Saturday, November 26, 2011- Thanksgiving weekend. Although many people would steer clear of a holiday weekend when planning their wedding, we decided it would be best since so many of our family and friends had to travel. Since he was a kid, Jimmy spent his summers in Sea Isle City, NJ and I began to do the same thing when we started dating. We have made so many friends and great memories in Sea Isle that we decided that we wanted all of our wedding guests to join us there in creating another amazing memory. 

We traveled down to Sea Isle with our immediate families at the beginning of the week and spent the Thanksgiving holiday there as well. Sea Isle is not your typical shore town with a bunch of hotels, instead the island is made up of houses for rent. We decided to rent houses for our guests to stay at throughout the weekend. One of the rented houses was right on the beach with the most beautiful view of the ocean. This is where my bridesmaids and I got ready for the wedding. We started early in the morning getting our hair and then makeup done by Nina from Cheekadee. The bridesmaids wore long black dresses of their choice. I had decided long ago that I wanted my bridesmaids to be comfortable, so they all picked different style dresses and looked absolutely beautiful the day of the wedding. I wore a strapless gown by Allure Bridal.

Erin and Lisa, from Proud to Plan, showed up shortly after to help coordinate the day. Once we were all dressed, the bridal party and our mothers lined up on the beach to watch Jimmy and I during our reveal meeting. Jenn and Joey, of Jennifer Childress Photography, captured all of our beautiful pictures from the day and one of my favorites is of Jimmy when he first saw me. 

After the reveal, we made our way to the Abbie Holmes Estate where our ceremony and reception were held. Our ceremony was performed by The Wedding Pastor, Andy Mahaney. My little sister read a short poem by Shel Silverstein called "The Romance". A few years ago, I read the poem and thought it was hysterical and gave a copy of it to Jimmy. It was Jimmy's idea to include it in our ceremony. Our ceremony was held outside of the Abbie Holmes Estate under their gazebo. Afterwards, we joined our guests for cocktail hour inside the Estate. 

Our reception started with Jason from Synergetic Sound and Lighting introducing the bridal party. Shortly after, guests enjoyed dinner which was a selection of flounder, pork, and manicotti, served family style. Our cake was made by The Cake Studio of Ocean City, NJ. The entire weekend was more than we ever dreamed. After the reception, we asked all of our guests to join us at the Dead Dog Saloon to continue the party, which we did until the bar closed.

The next morning, we asked our family and friends to join us one last time for breakfast at a small breakfast place called Rick's. I decided that wearing my wedding gown for only one day wasn't enough, so I put my dress back on and went to breakfast!

As a full-time event planner, the coordination of the day was an essential part of the success of our wedding, which is why we relied on Erin and Lisa from Proud to Plan. They paid attention to the details of the day so we could spend our day celebrating and enjoying one another. Our wedding would not have been so perfect if it weren't for all of the vendors we worked with, but a special thank you goes to Erin and Lisa. 

-Annemarie

If you'd like to see our post on Annemarie and Jimmy's wedding with a ton of pictures, you can go here. 

Wedding Suits and Tuxedos

Once you "say yes to the dress", your soon to be hubby must also find his dream suit or tux. Though we can assure you the process is much faster and more streamlined, choosing a suit or tux for the wedding day can seem like an arduous task, especially for the fashionably challenged. 

Just like you have to choose between lace, satin, bows, jewels, and more, the men must also make their own  decisions: length of jacket, color of jacket, color of vest, number of buttons, shoe type, tie color and more. This may actually be the only day that men have more options in their wardrobe than women!

Here is a 10-step guide that you can give to your fiance to help him pick out his perfect ensemble:

1. Suit vs. Tuxedo

When making this decision, be sure to think about your wedding venue along with the theme and feel of your wedding. If you're getting married at a private club versus your parent's backyard, the choice will be obvious. Also, consult your bride, don't ever ask to see the dress, but get a feel if her dress is more formal or more simplistic and casual, that will also give you a great clue. Be sure to review all of this before you even head to the store or rental store.

2. Number of Buttons

Will it be one, two, or even three? This all depends on the look and style you prefer. Then when it comes to buttoned or unbuttoned, most jackets today are actually made to fit so that the bottom button remains open. Keep the rest buttoned up until you go to sit for your meal, then it's acceptable to unbutton the rest. 

3. Lapel Type

Your choices include notch, peak, or shawl, so choose wisely. Though notch lapels are the most common and traditional, there are a few variations that can help you get out of the ordinary, including a narrower notch lapel, which is more trendy in today's standards. Peak lapels are best with more formal suits and are often seen in double breasted suit jackets as well. Shawl lapels are the most formal lapel and are mainly used in tuxedos. 

4. Suit Color

When choosing the color you will also want to consult your soon to be bride to get a feel for the color scheme of the wedding. Also consider season and time of year, formality of the wedding, along with colors that are most flattering on you. You don't want to be too bold on your wedding day, but also remember you don't need to stick to just black. Grays, browns, and tans can all work if paired with the right elements. 

5. Shirt Color and Style

The color of your shirt should also complement the colors of the wedding along with the new suit color you just chose. Though solid colors, especially white, are most common, don't be afraid to go with a light version of another color or if you're having a more casual wedding, even a simple pattern. Once you have that down, you can decide on the collar type as well as the cuffs. Then you can decide on special cuff links if your suit needs them. 

6. Vest or No Vest 

This also depends on the formality of the wedding you are having, but vests don't always have to be saved for tuxedos or fancier suits either. Some great vests can be paired with light tan suits and add a touch of sophistication and style to the overall look. If you do choose a vest for a tuxedo, the vest traditionally matches the main wedding color or whatever color the bridesmaids are wearing. 

7. Tie or Bow Tie

Keep it simple and stick to a basic tie by choosing one that matches the wedding decor and the suit you've picked out thus far. If you're looking for something different, opt for a skinnier more fashionable tie or even take a try with a bow tie. Remember to think about whether you want to match all of your groomsmen or have your own specific color or look to make you stand out. 

8. Pocket Swatch or No Pocket Swatch

Do you have a pocket swatch that is a family heirloom or one you've held on to for years? Even if don't, it's always a fun element that can add to your overall look. 

9. Hat, Cane, or Other Accessories 

From hats, canes, or other accessories, there are several other ways to add something special to your look. Try a few items, you might be surprised to see how classy you can really look. 

10. Shoes

Will you and your groomsmen be wearing matching shoes or each of their own? Are you going for the shiny tuxedo shoes, classic loafers, or are you going bold and getting matching converse? Whichever way you choose, remember that your shoes can make a bigger impact than you think. Choose wisely!

Remember when it comes to the overall look and fit of your suit or tuxedo to be sure you find someone who really knows what they're talking about so you can have a suit tailored perfectly to you!

-Caitlin

*all images found via Google

New Year, New Staff!

Happy New Year! We hope you all had a great time celebrating and welcoming 2013!!

Every January, we take a look at our upcoming wedding season and evaluate the staff coverage we'll need. And every year, we realize- we're BUSY!! We need more amazing onsite event coordinators and production staff!!

So, if you think that wedding coordination is something you'd excel at, if you have a background in events, catering or food service, an eye for design and love for fine stationery, or if you're just a very obsessed-with-details-type-A-personality...we'd love to hear from you!

Between now and January 31st, we'll be accepting resumes and cover letters for the following positions:

-Assistant Wedding Coordinator: come onsite and help us execute the details of the day! This is a part-time/seasonal position, with evening and weekend hours required

-Production Manager: create beautiful stationery with our designers, manage our production team and blog completed projects. This is a part-time position, weeknight hours required.

-Production Assistant: put together the finishing touches that make each couple's wedding unique. This is a part-time/seasonal position, weeknight hours required.

Submit your information to info@proudtoplan.com with the position you are interested in as the subject line by January 31st! We look forward to hearing from you!