Unplugged Weddings | The Importance of Being Present | Put Your Damn Phone Down & Let the Pros Handle It!

OK, so this might come off as a tad ranty, but hear me out! I'm soooooo tired of looking at wedding photos and all I see are guests hidden behind their damn cellphones. Where is the bride walking down the aisle with her father? Hidden behind Auntie Carol's gigantic friggin' iPad, 17 cellphones, Uncle Bob squatting in the aisle because he has a DSLR and now fancies himself a photographer, and even a couple of disposable cameras. Seriously? Where did you even get that fossil?

Y'all, stop!  For the love of all things sacred and sugar-glazed, please stop it! Tell me this has not become the norm.

Oh, but it has! Everyone thinks they are entitled to get that special shot. But let me clarify this for you, you're not entitled to any such thing. You were invited by the happy couple to take part in witnessing and celebrating their union and the only thing you're entitled to is that, so feel free to just enjoy the moment and make memories. I'm not telling you not to take any photos...oh, wait, that's exactly what I'm telling you. PUT THE PHONE/CAMERA/IPAD (really? you carry an iPad around with you in real life situations?) DOWN AND ENJOY THE MOMENT. At least wait until after the ceremony to break out the devices again.

Buy this sign here: Paper and Pine Co.

If the happy couple hasn't already decided to make their wedding unplugged, let me break down why you, my dear guests, should just go ahead and turn off your devices for a hot second.

Now let's have a chat about "Uncle Bob"

Uncle Bob is the cousin/uncle/father/friend with the "fancy" camera and the eye for ruining a pros shot. (That's what we folks in the wedding biz call "that guy".) Believe it or not, the happy couple actually hired a professional to take their wedding photos. Can you imagine the nerve?! They had the gall to spend thousands of dollars on a professional photographer and, in some cases a videographer, to capture images of the most important day of their lives. And you, my overly eager - ahem, obnoxious - friend, are in their way!

Let me repeat myself. You are in their way. When you hold up your camera while they are having their first dance, everyone who looks at the wedding photos will see that bright little light in your hand or (worse) you blocking the photographer. When you lean into the aisle when they are exchanging vows, having their first kiss, entering the church, you are blocking the photographer. And more often than not, churches have very specific rules when it comes to where the photographer can be. The photographer will painstakingly research the best place for them to set up their cameras and then most of the time they cannot leave that location for the duration of the ceremony. But if you decide to hop into the aisle, you will be the only thing people will focus on when they see the photos. And I hate to break it to you, but the only images the couple will really and truly care about come from the photographer they hired. Your photos, while appreciated, are not the ones they are most looking forward to. Sorry.

Now, about the flash.

And, no, I don't mean a super fun flash mob! The photos are trashed when you use the flash. That flash and the awful red dot that accompanies it can be seen like a beacon fire on a mountaintop! Yes, that's how it looks. That cannot be edited out. Once the flash goes off, the photo is ruined.

Bruh, we need to talk about social media etiquette.

I can't even count how many times we've seen overly excited bridesmaids or random guests/family members post a photo of the bride in her gown on Facebook, Snapchat or Instagram before the ceremony. I actually had a bride tell her wedding party that if they posted a pic of her online before the ceremony that she would smash their phone with a hammer! I kid you not, she pulled out an actual hammer. Don't even ask me where she found a hammer at the beach...

But seriously, y'all, it's not OK to post photos of the bride or groom on the internet before the ceremony or First Look. We get it, you're super excited about your bestie getting hitched, and OMG she really does look totes fabs, but just slow down, tiger, this isn't your moment to share. We've had many grooms see their brides beforehand and it's really heartbreaking for that special moment to be ruined. Please just don't do it.

And now what you've been waiting for...the photobombers in action!  Enjoy the awfulness.

photo credits- the click chick charleston, cordele photography, style me pretty, liz yeakle, tulle & grace, patrick hall, jessie mary, krista photography, corey ann, michelle dyer

Dressing the Grooms | Same Sex Weddings | LGBT(Q) Wedding Planner | Charleston Wedding Designers

The only thing hotter than a well dressed man is two well dressed men!  Here we've culled some of our favorite looks for tying the knot in style.  Some of them are matching, some of them are complete opposites and some are just too dope (do the cool kids still say that?) not to include!  

The one piece of advice I give all my couples is to be true to themselves and to make sure your attire is well tailored.  If you're not comfortable wearing a tuxedo, then don't do it.  However, if you're the sort of couple the adores being matchy-matchy then absolutely match one another for your wedding.  This is your day and you should feel your absolute best while letting your personalities shine through!

Why not have one of you wear a bowtie and the other can wear a necktie in coordinating colors like the couple below?  I honestly just can't handle how much I love the light gray suits sans jacket and just the vests!

Matching tuxes will never be wrong in my book either!  Good gracious, men in well fitted tuxes just make your heart go pitter-patter...

And matching brown designer suits with matching socks?  That's a done deal!  

I just love these handsome fellas in blue and navy blue suits that really compliment each other perfectly.  You really can't go wrong!

There is nothing I don't love about everything in the photo below!  Super dark jeans with white tux jackets and the Happily Ever After jump?  Adore!

Show Your Guests to Their Seats in Style | Unique Escort Cards | Charleston Wedding Planner | Atlanta Wedding Planner | NY Wedding Planner

One of the best ways to set the stage for the mood and style of your event is through the escort cards.  They are one of the first things your guests will see before entering the reception and it's a great chance to show off your personalities.  Between unique cards and even more unique displays, the opportunities to do something completely out of the ordinary are endless!  We hope the following images inspire and ignite your imaginations to let your personalities shine through at your wedding!

With watercolors making a huge impact on weddings right now it's safe to say we're utterly smitten with these amazing escort card displays found on Ruffled!  How perfect would they be for a wedding in a museum or lovely garden fete? 

And aren't we all a little obsessed with gold right now?  I can't even contain my excitement over these gorgeous gilded farm animals!

What do you do when you've only got a small space to display your escort cards?  Utilize the wall!  Why not incorporate flowers from your bouquet and  the tables into one of the most unique displays we've ever seen?

Even if you're not having a nautical wedding, using a boat to display your escort cards is super fun!

Who could resist the rustic charm of these?

I can honestly say with all certainty that if I found a portrait of my own face as my place card I'd be over the freaking moon!!

And all it takes for this little gem is matchbox cars and tiny Christmas trees!  Stop. The. Madness.  I'm utterly obsessed.  If someone would like to make these for me I will love you forever!  Please & Thank You!

photo credits: style me pretty, ruffled blog, craft gawker, the knot, southbound bride

Wedding Backdrops | Having Fun With Your Ceremony Decor

When choosing your wedding decor, never think for a second that you're limited to only traditional options.  If you're getting hitched outside a church,  the only thing that you are limited by is your, or your planner's, imagination.  

Backdrops can be used for a variety of reasons.  Perhaps you'd like to add some extra color or a fun focal point for your guests.  Or perhaps you'd like to show off your wedding vows on a massive handpainted canvas.  No matter your reason, if you can dream it up, it can be done!  So be brave and go for something that really speaks to you.

This gorgeous floral backdrop would look just as at home in a lovely garden wedding as it would in a barn.  It would even look incredible in an art gallery!

If you're getting married in a garden and want something outside the traditional flower route but still want to add a bit of whimsy, check out these amazing hedges in the initials of the newlyweds!

Or this eco-friendly living backdrop!

Love books?  We do!

These wooden doors are just amazing too!

I'm especially smitten with the idea of writing your wedding vows or a favorite passage on a giant backdrop!

Or upcycle an old wooden pallet with a lovely garland.

So go have some fun with your ceremony decor!

xoxo,

sara

Losing the Wedding Cake | Non-traditional Wedding Sweets | Non-traditional Weddings

So we haven't gone completely mad when we say you should "lose" the wedding cake.  We really mean that you shouldn't feel like you HAVE to go the traditional route when it comes to choosing your sweets for your guests.  There are no rules when it comes to having (or not having) the big old wedding cake for 250 people.  If you don't like cake, you don't have to serve cake.  Or at least not an entire cake for everyone.

One of my favorite new trends I've been seeing pop up in several of my weddings is the smaller sized cake simply for cutting purposes and a huge dessert bar filled with all their favorite goodies.  I mean, what do you do if neither of you really enjoy cake?  I suggest tossing it out the window (not literally!) and serving your dearly beloved something you both actually enjoy.

What if your first date was at a fabulous little coffee shop and you shared an incredible little donut and would love to share that special moment with everyone?  Get your "cake" made out of donuts!

And who says pie is just for picnics?  We beg to differ!  Go for something outside the box and serve up adorable little miniature pies.  Or feel free to go even crazier with pies on a stick!

Or do what Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds did when they got hitched in Charleston at Boone Hall Plantation just last year, serve a little bit of everything!  They had the cake flown in from Virginia and had tons of amazing local bakeries put an incredible dessert station together for them with everything from strawberry shortcakes to s'mores bars to tiny little tartlets.

The possibilities are really quite limitless when you realize that your wedding is all about you and your new spouse.  There is nothing holding you back from serving what you want how you want it!  So be brave and throw that wedding cake out the window!