Proposing Dreams Wedding & Events

to be engaged....first seminar Oct 3rd

First 10 steps to planning your wedding…..by Sabrina Torti

1) Propose or be proposed to....this is a given right??

2) Announce to family and friends that you are engaged - enjoy the celebration before the planning begins.

3) Talk with parents about finances! Where will they come from, who wants to contribute what - THIS IS IMPORTANT!! No one should start planning without a budget. Try to get a dollar amount rather than – I will pay for "blank" - This will allow you to retain control over aspects of the planning. Be realistic about what you can afford to contribute.

4) Talk about time of year for the wedding, are there dates you can't have a wedding?

4a) If you can - book a wedding planner!! A planner can save you time, stress and costly mistakes.

5) Select the wedding party and ask them to be in the wedding. Talk with each other about the number of attendants you would like to have.

6) Start the guest list, with names not just guessing the number of people you think will be invited. It might be way higher or lower than you think. You also don't want to fall in love with a location that you can't fit in, can't afford because of your number of guests or would swallow your guests because it's too big.

7) Look into locations. Ceremony and reception venues can determine the date based on availability. Also like before, you don't want to fall in love with something you can't afford or later find out that your budget is blown because the guest list has grown and the per person cost is more that you should have locked into.

8) Once the venues are selected, finalize the wedding date.

9) Start researching vendors, in order of importance to you. Don't assume anything will be available or easy to get. If you have the money for deposits - lock em' in. Some of the online budget sheets have breakdowns of what percentages go where, but I don't always find this the case. Remember if photography is most important book what reasonable (see following chart) but if you really want one that is out of the budget range, then you must give up something that you aren't as concerned with having. It's about balancing what you want with what you can afford. This goes for anything. If food or location is most important then maybe you’ll have to have DJ rather than a band.

10) Start a wedding binder, tracking all information found, received, collected. Tracking all payments made or to be made. It will become your wedding world. Come into The Wedding Design Stuido and purchase one of our custom wedding binders already loaded with tips, tricks, checklists, budgeting and so much more!

The Wedding Design Studio - Grand Opening!!

Mark your calendars.  You don’t want to miss it.  After many months of planning, Proposing Dreams is excited to announce the grand opening of The Wedding Design Studio.  Located in the heart of Maplewood, The Wedding Design Studio is a comprehensive studio offering brides complimentary access to an extensive vault of wedding resources including the portfolios of our handpicked wedding professionals, each carefully chosen based on their reputation for flawless style, innovative spirit and integrity.

Our grand opening will be celebrated with a three day open house on December 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.  Mingle with St. Louis’ most in demand wedding professionals, browse inspiring portfolios and view the latest in table top design and couture wedding décor.  Open house bonuses will run throughout the three day event including a magazine swap, color sample sets and free planning advice with a Proposing Dreams coordinator.  Hours for the Open House are Tuesday, Dec. 1^st and Thursday, Dec. 3^rd, 12pm to 5pm, and Wednesday, December 2^nd, 12pm to 6pm with followed by a happy hour from 6pm to 7pm with complimentary drinks, hors d’oeuvres and giveaways!

We look forward to seeing everyone there!

 

New Song I like....

I heard this on the radio this morning on my way in to the Studio and thought that lyrically it works for both a first dance and mother-son dance - check it out!!

Martina McBride - I Just Call You Mine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcZoNBngAnM

Alicia & Chris - Artisan Photography Slideshow

Hot off the presses -

www.stlphotography.com/slideshows/aliciachris

Thinking "inside" the Box: Guestbook

 

 

There is a new trend for guest books that does not include your mother’s traditional guest book. You know the one I am talking about a guest book with lines for the guest to just sign their names. If you are looking to for one outside of that box, you need to checkout this box by  Etsy seller Tara Lee of Cut the Cake Designs. This shop started off just selling recipe boxes but then turned them into a great fun guest box.  Each guest (or couple) have their own card to write their name and information on as well as some advice or well wishes to the newlyweds.  After the wedding, the newlyweds are displaying the boxes in their homes or offices and have a very cute address book. The Guest Box is custom designed and can take one day to two weeks to create.  Tara works with you, the bride, to design the box according to your wedding, color preferences, personality, home décor, pretty much anything you would like. She does have some premade designs to choose from as well, and if you are in a rush to get the Guest Box, she has rush order option that will get your box to you in half the time, of course you have to choose one of 14 options (which is a lot of options for a rush order if you ask me).

Not only does Tara make these fabulous guest boxes, but she also does invitations as well. Tara has been featured in Bride Colorado magazine (fall/winter 09) for her invitations.  Tara also belongs to a group called the Etsy Wedding Team. This is a talented team of individuals who create fabulously unique wedding items.   To be a part of this team more half of your items for sale must be dedicated to weddings.  Since the group was formed the team votes to accept or deny new members.  So if you are still looking for a fun and functional guest book, please check Tara at Cut the Cake Designs out.

 

Open House for The Wedding Design Studio!

If you are reading this blog you are probably planning a wedding and do we have some great news for you!

Proposing Dreams Wedding and Events is excited to announce the opening of The Wedding Design Studio; a comprehensive studio offering brides complimentary access to an extensive vault of wedding resources.  A concept seen around the country, but not yet in St. Louis… until now!

The Wedding Design Studio is a haven, a creative stomping ground, if you will, for brides to escape, kick back, and have fun planning their wedding.  Guests may browse our professional member portfolios, bridal magazines, color swatches, planning and etiquette books, and so much more!  Special events will include open houses hosted by top wedding professionals, cake tastings, mini bridal shows and networking parties with local vendors.

 

Planning a wedding should be fun, not stressful…  we’re here to make that happen! And the best part.....it's all FREE!! No where else in St. Louis can you get professional advice and access to such amazing tools with no pressure and no cost to you.

 

See more online at www.theweddingdesignstudiostl.com and please come by and check us out!

 

Bridal Open House for The Wedding Design Studio! Join us for our open house on Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 from 4:00pm-8:00pm (happy hour from 5:00-6:00 with drinks and snacks) at 3520-1 Greenwood Blvd. Maplewood, Mo. 63143.  We’re looking forward to seeing you!

 

 

Here are a few photos from our Professionals Open House, excuse my lack of photography talents:

Table Display by Aries Co

Centerpiece by Sisters Flowers

Table Stationery by Dickey Designs

Hightop Table and New High Chivaris from Aries Co

 

A little snack display by Proposing Dreams

 

Our comfy couch area

back of the Studio - that's our little office behind the screen.

 

Information Central - 40 Categories with 10 amazing wedding professional in each!

 

 

It’s an Etsy thing……

While we love all our local vendors and always suggest them first to our clients, sometimes we are not able to find the perfect piece for them. Thus enters Etsy.  As more and more people want to make their weddings unique, many of them are turning to Etsy for those unique items. You can find anything from wedding invitations to hair clips to button bouquets. Anything you want you can find on Etsy and if you can’t find it you can create a post to request someone to make it (this is called alchemy. I plan to do a post just on this topic in the future). If you have that one piece that you feel is missing from your wedding day décor, you really need to check Etsy out.

 

1. Megan Earrings (Rylee G Jewelry) 2.Hydrangea Hair Pins (Meadowbelle Market) 3.Personalized Wedding Sign (The Wooden Owl’s Shop) 4. Cherry Blossom Stationery (Your Style Invitations) 5.Luminary Table Numbers (Made for You Just by Me) 6.Pearl Necklace (heartNsoul) 7.Garters (Perfect Garter) 8. Monogram Ring Pillow (Artful Beginnings)

More and more I am hearing about people wanting to spend money at the local small business with the economy being rough. Etsy even has the option to search for local shops. Some of the vendors will allow free local pick up as well, which is always a bonus.

 

1. Daffodil Invite (P.S. Paper Goods) 2. Bridal Necklace and Earrings (Sekhmets Treasures) 3. Orchid Hair Comb (The Honeycomb)

So take the time to check Etsy out if you have not already because you might find that WOW factor for your wedding there. Also make sure you check back because I am going to tour the Etsy world and search for cool and unique wedding items. So you never know I might find you that perfect missing piece.

Call me please...

HEY YOU! Yeah you, if you want a wedding like this one from Jessica Claire as badly as I want to plan one, please call me!! We'll do lunch, my treat!! :o)

Four Seasons Wailea

See the rest here!

Wedding Vows - Beyond the norm!

I found these today and thought they were at least a great start to creating your own romantic vows.

If you're a soft-hearted dreamer who wants to ensure that your wedding vows are heartfelt and touching, here are some samples of romantic wedding vows to get you started:

With Kindness, Unselfishness, and Trust
I (name) affirm my love to you, (name) as I invite you to share my life. You are the most beautiful, smart, and generous person I have ever known, and I promise always to respect you and love you. With kindness, unselfishness and trust, I will work by your side to create a wonderful life together. I take you (name) to be my lawful (wife/husband), to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health for as long as we both shall live.

The Best Person I Can Be
(Name), from the moment I first saw you, I knew you were the one with whom I wanted to share my life. Your beauty, heart, and mind inspire me to be the best person I can be. I promise to love you for eternity, respecting you, honoring you, being faithful to you, and sharing my life with you. This is my solemn vow.

To Grow Along with You
Name, today I become your (husband/wife) and you become my (wife/husband). I will strive to give you the best of myself, while accepting you the way you are. I promise to respect you as a whole person with your own interests, desires, and needs, and to realize that those are sometimes different, but no less important than my own. I promise to keep myself open to you, to let you in to my innermost fears and feelings, secrets and dreams. I promise to grow along with you, to be willing to face change as we both change, keeping our relationship alive and exciting. And finally, I promise to love you in good times and in bad, with all I have to give and all that I am, in the only way I know how -- completely and forever.

Love You Without Reservation
(Name), today I take you for my (wife/husband). I promise to love you without reservation, comfort you in times of distress, encourage you to achieve all of your goals, laugh with you and cry with you, grow with you in mind, and spirit, always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live.

Best Friend
(Name), today I take you to be my (husband/wife). Together we will create a home, becoming a part of one another. I vow to help create a life that we can cherish, inspiring your love for me and mine for you. I vow to be honest, caring and truthful, to love you as you are and not as I want you to be, and to grow old by your side as your love and best friend.