The Importance of a Makeup Trial

Most brides decide to get their makeup done by a professional for their wedding day. Just like a hair trial, it's a good idea to try out your look prior to the wedding day.

There are many benefits to having a makeup trial:
-You get to experience the makeup artist's work and test out your look
-You can discuss all your worries/concerns with your makeup artist and tell them what you like and dislike
-You get to see how your skin will react to the makeup products
-Your makeup artist can recommend how to get your skin ready for the wedding day
-It's a nice time to relax and feel pampered before your big day

Jennifer and Eddy's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Justin & Mary Photography

I was able to get some tips from Emily Aznavourian, a local makeup artist, who owns Cheekadee Makeup Artists. Here is what she recommends for makeup trials:

1. Do you think that doing a makeup trial before the wedding day is important? If so, why?
A trial run before your wedding is imperative. At Cheekadee we will not do a wedding without one. A trial run is the bride's opportunity to 'audition' us. She gets to see how we work, our personalities and most importantly our skills. She gets to see how the makeup wears. And if there are any adjustments that need to be made, it is easier to do it at a trial run than on the day of.

2. Should I do anything to prepare before my makeup trial?
If possible, it is a good idea to try to sync your makeup trial with your hair trial so that you can see how both the hair and makeup look together.

3. Should I bring anything with me to a makeup trial (pictures, makeup)?
Yes, look through photos of makeup that you like and makeup that you don't like. Bring the photos to the person who is doing your makeup, so they have an idea of your preferences. It is also helpful (but not necessary) to bring photos of your dress and/or swatches of your dress.

4. Should I wear anything in particular to the makeup trial (white/ivory shirt)?
Yes, that is also helpful.

Casey and Will's Wedding
Photo courtesy of 217 Photography

Here are some tips from Emily on what to carry with you on your wedding day:
-Your favorite lip gloss so you can touch up during the day
-Oil blotting papers to control oily skin or blotting powder compact
-Whitening eye drops to brighten eyes
-Tissues or handkerchief- remember to dab, not wipe, your eyes!
-Mints
-Your smile

-Nicole

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10 Reasons to Hire a Professional Wedding Planner

A few weeks ago, our good friends at Synergetic Sound and Lighting, asked Erin for some insider tips on why you should hire a professional wedding planner. You can head over to their blog to see the top 10 reasons or read on below. If you head over to Synergetic's blog, be sure to check out their brand new website! It's really interactive and has great information on it!

You've got the groom, you've got the ring...what comes next can be quite overwhelming! Planning a wedding while juggling work, school, family and friends can be tough and many couples can get stressed pretty early on. Most couples have never planned such a large event and may not be aware of all the details that are involved- enlisting the help of a professional wedding planner is a perfect solution! Many couples think wedding planners are only for those with huge budgets having fancy weddings. The truth is, most wedding planners have various levels of service and nearly every couple can find the help they need within their budget!

Here are 10 reasons hiring a professional planner will be the best decision you make for your wedding!

1. Save money and manage your budget.
A professional wedding planner knows what things cost, knows where to find deals and knows how to get the most bang for your buck. Building your budget with an expert is going to ensure you allocate those funds in the manner best suited to your priorities. A planner can actually save you money by helping to negotiate your vendor contacts to get you a great deal. If you splurge in one area, a planner can make suggestions on ways to cut corners in other areas without sacrificing quality, giving you the wedding you always dreamed of.


2. Save time and build a Dream Team in the process.
Researching wedding professionals takes a lot of time out of your already busy schedule. Wouldn't it be great if that task was made easier by having a huge pool of potential vendors trimmed down to a handful of fitting candidates? Having a wedding planner on your team does just that! Professional planners have worked with the good, the bad and the ugly and can help narrow your search to those that would be a perfect fit! We enjoy helping couples find the right vendors and love building teams of professionals that are easy to work with, fun to be around and can enhance the overall experience of your wedding day.

Carley and Adam's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Childress Photography

3. Stay focused and have fun.
With so many details to manage, planning a wedding can make your head spin! Having a professional in charge of tracking those details can be a complete lifesaver. At Proud to Plan, we have at least 3 planning meetings with every client. During these meetings, we review every aspect of your wedding day and provide you with lists of what is still outstanding. This allows you to stay focused as the big day approaches, which makes planning a lot more fun!

4. No Bridezillas here! Stay stress free and savor the process.
The difference in the stress levels of a bride who has had a professional help plan their wedding and one who has not is VERY noticeable- especially during the final stages! The bride without help is frazzled, frustrated and just ready for it to be over- this is one of the most joyful times of your life, this shouldn't be the case! A good planner will make the planning process a fun one! Hiring a professional ensures that your timeline has lots of extra padding built in, your vendors are all on the same page and the day unfolds exactly according to your expectations.

Casey and Will's Wedding
Photo courtesy of 217 Photography

5. Get your own, personal Wedding Expert.
There are a million questions that will pop up when you're planning a wedding. Enlisting an expert that has years of professional experience is invaluable. Anytime a questions pops up about etiquette, protocol, logistics and ideas, it's great to get an unbiased opinion from someone that has been there and done it and knows how each decision might impact the wedding day.


6. Mediator: the must have middle-man
Having a professional handle the many unsolicited ideas and opinions from family members is a great sanity saver! Because the wedding planner isn't emotionally invested, they can help speed along decision making without hurting any feelings. You certainly don't want to offend your future mother-in-law or create bad blood with your own mom. Leaving the difficult decisions in the planners hands will remove the sense of conflict, create compromise and ensure the day is always about YOU.


7. Unique ideas for personal touches.
Do you hate cookie cutter weddings? Have you been to a dozen weddings and they all seemed the same? Do you have ideas to make the details personal but aren't really sure how to carry out those concepts? Planners are a great resource for creative ideas. They will listen to your dreams and inspiration and will develop a plan of action. They know what is well received by guests and how to best incorporate each component into your big day.

Amy and Sean's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Leave It To Me Photography

8. Advocating for you, Always.
Your church might have someone that helps with weddings, your reception venue might have a coordinator, but make no mistake about it, these folks do not play the same role as a wedding planner. A hired planner acts as your advocate before and during the wedding because they have you, their client's, best interest at heart. They develop timelines for the day and confirm your vendor arrangements. They are a driving force behind your creative ideas. They are your eyes and ears on the wedding day, making sure all you are expecting is carried out according to plan. Because they have been involved in all aspects of planning, they can make decisions on your behalf that fit your expectations. A good planner will focus on the details which allows your other vendors to show off their area of expertise- whether it be photography, music or great food service!

Kyle and Olin's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Philip Gabriel Photography

9. Be the bride. That's it. 
If you're worried about managing the details, you won't be enjoying the day. Hiring a planner allows the newlyweds to savor every moment of their wedding, without having to worry about a thing! At Proud to Plan, we ensure there are multiple teams in place to execute every detail. You don't have to be the one to ensure all VIPs are present for photos, you don't have to be the one to check on a late limo, you don't have to be the one to wrangle your rowdy bridal party...and neither does your mom, sister or maid of honor! Our coordinators are there to do all the brunt work, you just get to be the bride and enjoy your day!


10. Protect your investment.
You hire a real estate agent to help you find a house, you hire a lawyer to help with closing...why would you spend so much time and money planning a wedding without professional help, too? Wedding can be costly and having a planner on your team will ensure that every dollar spent is worthwhile and the planning experience is pleasant. Don't be the frazzled Bridezilla- hire a planner and have the wedding you always dreamed about!

Amanda and Andrew's Wedding
Photo courtesy of Carden's Wedding Photography

If you want to have the impressive event your guests will be talking about for years to come, a professional wedding planner is the answer. As soon as you start putting plans in place, set up a consultation with a planner- you'll be happy you did!

-Erin Proud, Owner and Principal Planner of Proud to Plan

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Wedding Wire Bride's Choice Winner 2012

We're thrilled to announce that for the fourth year in a row, we've received WeddingWire's Bride's Choice award! Thank you to all of our past and present couples who have reviewed us so well! You will find the official press release below.

Philadelphia, PA – January 26, 2012 – WeddingWire, the nation's leading wedding Marketplace, is excited to announce Proud to Plan has been selected to receive the prestigious WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2012 for Wedding Planning!

The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top local wedding vendors from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism within the wedding industry. While many industry awards are selected by the organization, Proud to Plan was selected based on its stellar reviews from past newlywed clients.

Proud to Plan is recognized as part of the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire local vendor community, comprised of over 200,000 wedding professionals throughout the United States and Canada. The Bride’s Choice Award recognizes  the best local wedding vendors across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on their overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is thrilled to honor the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “Since the launch of the Bride’s Choice Awards™ program four years ago, thousands of outstanding wedding professionals have been recognized by the bridal community for their supreme service and dedication to the wedding industry. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Proud to Plan for their continued professionalism and commitment to enriching the wedding planning experience for engaged couples.”

We are happy to announce that Proud to Plan is one of the very best Wedding Planners within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. Thanks to their positive feedback we were able  to receive the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ for 2012.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today by going HERE.

To learn more about the Bride's Choice Awards™, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire™, the nation's leading marketplace serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 reviewed wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers. WeddingWire also offers a comprehensive suite of online planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire is the only all-in-one marketing platform for businesses online and on-the-go. WeddingWire offers one simple solution to build a professional network, improve search visibility, manage social media and reach mobile consumers. Businesses that advertise with WeddingWire appear on WeddingWire.com, ProjectWedding.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), Brides.com and Weddingbee.com.

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How to Choose a Wedding Website and What Should Be On It

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These days, couples are embracing technology throughout their wedding planning process more than ever before. Personalized wedding websites are one example of this trend. Practical and easy to use, they provide a central location to organize, store and share information about your wedding. They are an invaluable resource for guests and a great way for you to communicate your plans and progress.

Here are some of the many things you can include on your wedding website:

Key Wedding Day Details- Even in you're sending out traditional invitations, you'll still want to include all of the major details for your wedding- namely, the date, times and locations of your ceremony and reception. 

Wedding-Related Events- Having a Welcome Reception, Day-After Brunch or other outing? Tell guests about it so they can put it on their schedules and make arrangements to attend. 

Accommodations- Let guests know about local hotels and any room blocks you may have reserved. Be sure to give them the phone number or website to make reservations and any pertinent discount codes. Provide information and times for guest shuttles if you're using them. 

Maps and Directions- Some websites offer Google maps or similar directional resources so that your guests can get directions according to their location. You can also include detailed written directions for key routes. 

For brides looking to use less paper, this is a perfect example of something you can opt to leave out of your physical invitation. 

Local Attractions- Highlight your favorite local attractions, things to do, or places to eat to keep guests entertained. 

Registries- Your wedding website is a great place to keep all of your registries in one spot. Link directly to each one so guests won't have to search.

Photos and Stories- Be sure to add personal touches that will make your website more "you". Tell the story of how you met or how your fiance proposed. Guests will love reading about those details. Add photographs of special moments throughout your relationship.

Who's Who- Some couples like to introduce key players in their wedding day, such as the wedding party, to their guests. 

Blogs- Blogging is hugely popular these days. With this in mind, several websites allow for the inclusion of planning blogs and updates for couples that want to keep guests informed every step of the way. 

Interactive Areas for Guests- Online guest books are an easy way to make your guests feel included by allowing them to leave a note or send well wishes. Other common interactive options include polls, quizzes, or places for people to include song requests for your reception.

RSVP Sections- This is another great idea for those looking to keep things green. Skip the RSVP cards and have guests respond directly through the website. Your invitation and postage costs will be reduced significantly. 

Once you determine exactly which of these details you'd like to include, search the internet for sites that provide what you're looking for. Browse sample pages, test out as many free sites as possible and compare their styles and offerings. There are several questions that you should keep in mind. Do you want something simple and straightforward or more elaborate? Will your website be strictly informational or will it be used for detailed planning and interaction with your guests? Are you design savvy or do you need a site that handles all of the groundwork for you? Be sure to factor in your budget and whether or not a website is something you can afford to pay for or need to create for free. 

There are so many websites with unique capabilities and features out there, you're guaranteed to find at least one that matches your criteria. Here are several options to check out during your search:

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WeddingWire offers a free membership that not only entitles you to excellent planning tools and vendor resources, but tons of free website templates from a variety of designers including Hello Lucky, Vera Wang and Martha Stewart. Several of the designs include Flash intros for added flair. Users are given and unlimited number of pages as well as 100MB of storage for photos and music. One of WeddingWire's best features is its selection of apps which can help guests access everything from flights and car rentals to local weather and entertainment. 

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MyWedding is another free site with a great planning section as well as beautiful designs. Choose layouts from content partners such as Brooklyn Bride and Green Bride Guide or find ones with matching invitations. Photo lovers will enjoy the ability to upload unlimited images. Send group emails out to guests by uploading your address book from mail services such as Outlook or Gmail. 

Other free and easy websites with great options and a variety of layouts that can also be matched to your invitations include OneWed and Wedding Paper Divas.

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Looking for everything in one place? You will love the simplicity of Google Weddings, which combines four easy-to-use tools- Google Sites for the actual design of a wedding webpage; Picnik for editing photos and creating save the dates; Google Docs for all of your planning and organizational needs; and Picasa for sharing photos and gathering inspiration. 

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Wedding Jojo has a free version as well as a paid version. Your options are limited if you select the free sampler version, but for $14.99 a month, you'll have the chance to create a website with incredible levels of customization. The designs are sleek and modern and allow for color changes. Photos can be stored and sorted into albums for easy viewing. In addition to the inclusion of traditional registries, you can use their special honeymoon registry where guests can contribute to anything from suite upgrades to romantic dinners or excursions. As administrator of your Wedding Jojo site, you can opt to make all or part of it private so only the people you choose can view specific pages. You'll also have the chance to create a domain name that is personal and easy for guests to remember. 

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Another paid site with truly unique and whimsical designs is Nearlyweds. It offers unlimited storage and pages, the ability to upload YouTube videos or MP3s, custom domain names and easy Drag and Drop editing. Guests will love the ability to comment on multiple areas of the site from pictures to blog posts and stories. They can even upload their own photos in the guestbook. You have the option of emailing some or all of your guests directly from the site to keep them updated on any changes. Nearlyweds costs $14.99 a month or $99.00 for the year. 

Once you've selected a site and added some content, be sure to pass the web address along to your guests. You can send an electronic announcement or include the link on your Save-the-Dates or invitations.

Regardless of how simple or elaborate you get, taking the time to make a wedding website is definitely worth it. All of your plans and details will be organized and your guests will be informed and prepared to celebrate your wedding day!

-Laura

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Who Pays For What

In the past, many thought of a bride’s family to pay the majority of the wedding expenses.  Nowadays, the costs of weddings are growing, and with many bride and grooms tying the knot later in life, when they are more likely to have careers and incomes of their own, more bride and grooms are found to contribute or even pick up the entire cost of the wedding. 

When it comes to working out your budget, one of the first steps to be accomplished with planning a wedding, could be a tough conversation to have with your fiancé and family.  Even though the traditional breakdown of who pays for what doesn’t apply necessarily in the present, still looking over the elements these list, can be a good starting point for the discussion of all potential expenses that may go along with your wedding. 

Listed below is a traditional breakdown of all expenses that can be brought up to plan. 

Bride’s Family may pay for: 
-Engagement party (optional) 
-Wedding invitations and other signage (announcements, thank-you notes, etc.) 
-Services of bridal consultant 
-Wedding gown and accessories 
-Flowers for ceremony and reception sites 
-Bouquets for bridesmaids 
-Music 
-Photographer 
-Videographer 
-Reception 
-Bridal party transportation to ceremony and reception 
-Family’s wedding attire 

Groom’s Family may pay for: 
-Engagement party (optional) 
-Rehearsal dinner 
-Their own wedding attire 

Bride may pay for: 
-Groom’s ring 
-Gifts for bridesmaids 
-Wedding gift for groom 

Groom may pay for: 
-Bride’s rings 
-Marriage license 
-Officiant’s fee 
-His formal wear 
-Personal flowers: the bride’s bouquet, boutonnieres for wedding party, corsages for mothers and grandmothers 
-Gifts for groomsmen 
-Wedding gift for bride 
-Gifts for parents 
-Honeymoon 
-Transportation to honeymoon 

Bridal Party may pay for: 
-Bachelor and Bachelorette parties 
-Gifts for bride and groom (individual gifts or chip in for a group gift) 
-Bridal shower 
-Their wedding day attire and accessories 
-Transportation to and from wedding town/city 

Again, this traditional breakdown all depends on the bride and groom’s finances; in which these past traditions of who pays for what, can fall behind. Having this conversation with your fiance and your families early on, will really help you create a budget and stick to it!

-Amanda

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Jill and Paul's Wedding

When I first met with Jill and Paul, I knew it was a match right away! I was so excited to plan their big day! They were married in November at St. Joan of Arc Church in Camden. When we first started looking for venues and came across the Stotesbury Mansion, we knew it was the perfect fit for their ultra cool reception. Their menu was created by Day by Day caterers, who did an awesome job! The color scheme for their wedding was black, white, silver and red with touches of damask. We did all of their paper products from the gorgeous Save the Dates that had a reminder magnet to invitations that were backed with one of Jill and Paul's engagement pictures and all the signage for the reception! We interviewed photographers and after meeting with her, we knew immediately that Cindy Guessford was the girl for us! She took their engagement photos and these stunning photos below! Jill started the day with getting her hair done by Natalie Pagano and her makeup done by Emily from Cheekadee. Brittany from Petals Lane made Jill's beautiful bouquet. Instead of the usual DJ or band as music for the reception, they had dueling pianos from 176 Keys! It was a huge hit! Martin's Video captured everything on film for the couple. Their simple yet chic cake was made by Anna Violet confections and was absolutely delicious! Jill and Paul had their first meeting at Sofitel before the ceremony, it left them lots of time to take these great photos!

Congratulations Jill and Paul!

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Debbie and Tom's Wedding

We had a blast planning Debbie and Tom's wedding!! This spectacular couple contacted me about 3 months before the wedding and I got right to work! We decided on holding the wedding the day after Christmas, which made finding the perfect setting easy as soon as we walked into Rittenhouse Square's Colonial Dames. It was already beautifully decorated for Christmas and Adriana allowed us to bring in our own elements to personalize the event. Next, I invited a caterer, Michael from Canape, to come up with an eclectic holiday menu for their guests.
Then came the details....

Wedding bands by my good friend and personal-sparkler-stylist, Christine, at A Gem For You.

The Radisson Warwick was the perfect spot for Debbie to prepare and beautify for her day!!

The gardens of the Colonial Dames were a perfect setting for Debbie & Tom's "reveal" meeting!
And thank goodness it wasn't very cold- I think we got 50 degrees that day!

We (and by we, I mean TJ) wrapped the railings out front and trees out back with twinkle lights and lined all the ledges with hundereds of candles!

We also did ALL of the stationary to match these cute, slider-style invitations.
The metallic paper in shades of red, green and gold shimmered in the dim candlelight.

The guests were welcomed with hot apple cider and asked to sign a platter style guestbook.

The Christmas tree was decked in candy cane placecards, and guests placed their gifts underneath or their card inside the gift cardbox. It was so cute!

The ceremony programs followed the same design as the reserved signs on the ceremony chairs. Elizabeth Frumin recited an intimate ceremony incorporating Tom's two daughters, Becca & Katie. After the kiss, guests jingled sleigh bells to cheer on the new couple! Gillian Grassie played Christmas Carols for the ceremony processional, recessional and cocktail hour and was a huge hit!
The new family hung their stockings on the fireplace and we filled them with little treats

The Dames' Ballroom has 10 giant windowsills. I stacked dozens of candles on each and decorated with various tree-trimmings... the effect was really beautiful!

We named each table after Santa and his eight reindeer. Carl Alan did these adorable cranberry, pinecone and christmas green centerpieces which we placed on a bed of red rose petals and mini ornaments. It looked so festive!

Mr. and Mrs. chair signs for the guests of honor :)

A Christmas Candy and Cookie Buffet! Complete with hilarious gingerbread bride & groom!

From the moment I took on this Christmas Wedding, I dreamt of finding a sleigh cake stand... well, when one searches high and low and can't find a sleigh cake stand, then one gets all Martha-Stewarty and makes one herself :)

Not only did Bredenbecks do those delicious cookies and the amazing gingerbread house...but they also made the wedding cake into a tower of presents, with a giant red bow on top!

Bathroom baskets and bar signs finished off the coordinating paper goods for this one!

Schaffer Sounds kept the dancefloor packed and the party going (even after the fire alarms went off and 2 trucks came to check on it!!!)

When you really dive into a wedding, as much as I did for this one, you need to entrust a photographer that you KNOW wouldn't miss a detail. Lucky for me, the incredible Misty Dawn went above and beyond EVERY expectation- she even brought Joel Plotkin as her second shooter! She never ceases to amaze me with her talent AND we always have a super fun time onsite!

Big thank you to Rik from Martin's Video for being a pleasure to work with, too!

Debbie and Tom, THANK YOU for letting me flex my creative muscles and go crazy!
I'm thrilled for such a wonderful couple- congrats!!

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