Top 5 Reasons to hire a wedding planner...

And believe me this is only a list of 5 reasons...the list could go on!!!!

1. STRESS - Obviously!!! Enjoy this time, hopefully you will only do it once :)
2. SCHEDULING - A wedding will run smoothly as long as everything is on schedule. A good wedding planner will control the schedule for photography, transportation and catering. This is KEY to planning a good wedding. 
3. VENDOR RELATIONSHIPS - You want a planner who has great vendor relationships and will guide you in the right direction. Typically, from the first time we meet a bride we know just who we are calling for her event. It is also easier for us to micro manage all the emails, deposits and so on. 
4. BUDGETING - This goes right along with Professional Experience. If you are dealing with a trustworthy and well rounded planner they will usually hit the nail on the head when it comes to budgeting. Whether you end up over or under, it is EXTREMELY important to keep up with this. 
5. FAMILY SANITY- What worse way to enter another one's family than with DRAMA?!?!?!?! Having a planner, will hopefully eliminate this! Eliminating any added stress when it comes to 2 different families is always a plus.

It's all about presentation...

Baby gifts are the BEST, especially when they are packaged cute! We all know that friends with great taste give great gifts!!! Check out this gift I received over the weekend from my amazing and talented friend, Marianna Lane
 (https://www.facebook.com/MariannaLaneInteriors).  Baby Braithwaite, in Atlanta, wins the award for best gift wrapping!!!

www.bbraithwaite.com

 what an adorable idea...a baby clothespin for the notecard!!!!

 I love a great logo!

this gift bag can also be used as an infant laundry tote :)

For the girl who has everything...

Hosting a baby, wedding or other miscellaneous shower and have no idea what to give the new mom or bride because she has everything???? Well no need to worry, we have the BEST gift idea for you! Just see below!

Design customized stationery. This can be done on SEVERAL sites and for an affordable price.

 Etsy has wonderful return address stamps...

 Go ahead and stamp the envelopes for her, just remember pick out pretty stamps :)

GOOD PENS!!!!!! My favorite are LePen's by Marvy

Package the gift in a multipurpose gift basket...

Check us out on Style Me Pretty Today!

Congrats to my old friend, Reagan, and his gorgeous bride, Julia! Love these pics from Laura Deas Photography and so thrilled to be on display at SMP! http://www.stylemepretty.com/georgia-weddings/2012/08/14/st-simons-island-wedding-by-laura-deas-photography/

The couple's entrance to the reception!

I know we've all seen a ton of pics of dresses hanging but this is so lovely hanging in the tree that it makes me happy!

Custom Frederica Township flag ties for the boys! How fitting they came in a coral color! Perfect gift!

She is so stunning and genuinely beautiful inside and out!

Seersucker little boys and bowties!

Gorgeous girls with navy bow dresses!

So happy and so sweet! Laura Deas did a wonderful job capturing the emotion of these two all day and night!

Little wedding champagne poppers! So much safer than sparklers at midnight! :)

Love the mercury glass touches and compotes throughout! Had these custom runners made and using them again! Love!

Nice little nautical touch!

Nothing like penny loafers to show off a southern style!

Lead the way!

Cocktail hour on the lawn of the boathouse and we had unbelievable weather that day for June in the south!

Mini blackberry and peach cobblers since it was the bride's favorite! Ordered the mini mason jars and put in our sisal baskets for display!

View of the boathouse with the party in action at sunset!

House wine at Frederica Club and I love it!

Grand entrance before Reagan's surprise Rhett Akins tribute and song for their 1st dance! So sweet!

She is like a porcelain doll! Flawless and so happy!

There are those runners again!

Sweet ride into the reception! What a way to make an entrance!

Yummy!

This sign has served me well! So cute tied to the back of the golf cart!

And they are off! Congrats to you both! xoxo

Lighting in your tent

When choosing the overall aesthetic of your tent or venue, your lighting decisions play an important part. The lighting should tie in and compliment the feel you are striving to have. Whether it is rustic, casual, modern or glam, there are SO many lovely options out there these days. While rental companies may only have a select inventory, most often they will special order for you. You can also purchase the lighting yourself, ship to your designer or rental company and have them hang and then choose to keep the fixture or resell. Just be sure that the proper electrical items are in tact and do-able for the tent or venue. Anyone that knows me, knows I love lighting and linens and below are some fun ideas for inspiration!

Beachview Tent Rentals twig balls done in a large cluster over the dance floor! One of our favorites we did for my best friend's wedding!

Isn't this gorgeous?! We just had this done along with Sea Island's floral team for a wedding in March. It resembles a terrarium and brought the starkness of those wrought iron chandeliers down and softened the room up. LOVE!

This was for Kate's wedding and we love the overall color scheme! It's a dome shade over a traditional crystal chandelier done in a turquoise fabric to compliment the linens. So glam!

Lots of string lighting in this clear top tent but notice the wrought iron chandeliers? They are wrapped in ivy and had tiny little faux birds on them. Such a sweet little touch! This was one of our 1st weddings at Ford Plantation!

A mini little vintage crystal chandelier adds just a nice detail to the large tent. There were several hung in Anne's dining tent to play off of the string lighting and clear top tent over her dance floor!

Anne's clear top tent with platinum swags over her dancing area.

Resembles driftwood at the beach!

Love playing with oysters in decor!

Would love to hang this little star over a bar and lounge area!

A little play off of a nautical feel with wood and rope makes a nice touch!

This is so sweet and while there is a lot going on in the tent, it all just works so nicely together! What an impact when you walk in!

You know I love a chevron pattern! Would be great over dining tables!

Would love to do these shades over a dining table grouping in a tent! Anyone up for it? I always love seagrass and jute textures!

Modern lighting for a bar?!

Using these over long dining tables for a Nov. wedding!

Mindy Weiss of course! So gorgeous!

Who doesn't love a little bling hanging from a tree?

Such a focal point! I would love to have seen this once the sun went down. That's the only thing about clear tents I don't like. They aren't as gorgeous until it's dark!

Why have 1 chandelier when you can have like 15?!

Makes me want to do this in a bar or lounge tent! LOVE the black/white stripe canopy!

Hung all along the tent with the fabric and draping. So elegant!

Chandelier in a birdcage. Why not? This is from Restoration Hardware and would definitely be one of those to purchase and then keep for your home!

Inspired from this look for a fall wedding at the Ford!

Mini chandeliers hung in beams of a patio over lounge setting. So chic!

I mean dang! That just screams drama and I definitely want to be sitting at that table!