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Real Weddings, Advice & Wedding Must-Haves
Building An Accurate Wedding Day Timeline
One Of The Most Important Aspects Of Your Wedding Will Most Certainly Be Your Day-of Timeline. An Accurate Timeline Is Key To Your Day Running As Smoothly As Possible. the Ideal Timeline Encompasses All Wedding Activities, Not Just The Start And End Time Of The Wedding Ceremony And Reception. Think About All The Things You'll Be Doing Before You Even Get To The Ceremony: Getting Ready, Taking Pictures, Travel, Are All Things That Should Be Accounted For On Your Timeline. this Helpful Infographic Highlights Some Key Areas Of Your Wedding Day That Will Impact Your Timeline:hair And Make-up: The Wedding Party's Hair And Makeup Service Should Have A Schedule That Is Incorporated Into Your Overall Timeline. Make Sure You Note What Time The Hair And Makeup Artists Are Arriving, Their Set-up Time, And How Much Time They Require For Each Service. If The Wedding Party Is Going Off-site For Hair And Makeup, Take Into Consideration Travel Time To And From The Salon/studio So That Everyone Has Enough Time To Get Dressed After Hair And Makeup.photography: When Mapping Out Your Day, Make Sure You Have Enough Time To Get All Of The Shots You'd Like Your Photographer To Capture. Consider Whether You Want To Take Photos Before The Ceremony, And Make Sure You Build Enough Photo Time In Your Timeline. Consult With Your Photographer On Your Shot List And Be Sure To Clearly Communicate Your Expectations About What You'd Like Covered So The Photographer Can Ensure There's Enough Time As Well.travel And Transportation: Make Sure You Factor In Any Travel Taking Place On Your Wedding Day. Will You Be Getting Ready At A Different Location From The Ceremony? Will You Be Traveling From The Ceremony To A Different Location For The Reception? Will You Be Traveling Off-site To Take Photos? Any Travel Should Be Timed And Documented On Your Timeline, Giving Yourself Cushion Time Is Highly Recommended. If You're Providing Shuttle Service For Your Guests At Any Point, Make Sure You Schedule Enough Time For The Guests To Arrive On Time To Their Destination. ceremony Length: Most Non-denominational Ceremonies Last Around 30 Minutes, While Religious Ceremonies Can Vary Anywhere From 45 Minutes To An Hour. Make Sure To Account For The Right Amount Of Time For Your Ceremony To Make Sure That You Don't Cut Other Events I.e. Your Cocktail Hour, Or Transportation Time If Guests Are Going To A Different Location For The Reception.reception Activities: When Mapping Out Your Timeline, Make Sure You Take Note Of All Activities Including Introductions, Cake-cutting Blessings, Speeches, Dances, Special Performances, Etc. Be Sure To Consult With The Caterer To Ensure That Your Reception Activities Algin With The Timing Of Dinner Service So That The Evening Flows Smoothly For You And Your Guests. mapping Out Your Whole Day From Beginning To End, Will Give You Peace Of Mind On Your Wedding Day, And Will Help Your Vendor Team Stay On Track To Ensure You Have A Memorable Wedding Day! 
University Of Chicago Engageent Session
I'm Excited To Tell You About Sara And Graham's Special Engagement Photo Shoot At The University Of Chicago. Their Love Story Started Here When They Were Both Students And Resident Assistants At Rickert House. They Spent Many Days Exploring Chicago Together. Later, Graham Surprised Sara With A Proposal Right On This Campus, Outside The Dorm Where They First Met.
Soft And Romantic Wedding Ideas Set In The Heart Of Provence
As A Wedding Planner Based In Provence, I Wanted To Honor The Region, Its Terroir And Its History, And Decided To Carry Out This Project At Xiith Century Open-ceiling Priory Also Called “our Lady Of The Spring”, Which Is Surrounded With A Magnificent Forest Of Centennial Oak Trees.
7 Quick Tips For A Made-to-measure Wedding Dress
With So Many Types Of Wedding Dresses Within The Bridal Market, Finding The Dress That Fits You Best (spiritually And Physically) is No Easy Task. Especially When Location, Timelines, And Budgets Get Thrown Into The Mix. From Off-the-rack, All The Way To Full Bespoke Custom, To Wedding Dresses That Are Made In A Traditional Sample Size…finding A Made-to-measure Wedding Dress You Love (and In Budget) may Feel Like You’ve Found The Holy Grail! we’ve Noticed A Lot Of Confusion Surrounding Made-to-measure Wedding Dresses Recently And Wanted To Offer Our Expertise, Especially Since Made-to-measure Is Our Bread And Butter. With A Made-to-measure Wedding Dress, You’re Getting A Dress Made To one set Of Measurements. It’s A Process That Is Ideal For Proportional Fit, Since – Unlike Our Waist, Hips, And Busts – Measurements Like Our Shoulder To Waist And Waist To Floor, Don’t Usually Change. If You Went huh? you’re Definitely In The Majority! we’re Rounding Out 7 Quick Tips For A Made-to-measure Wedding Dress So You Can Decide If Made-to-measure Is Made For You.
How To Find And Love Your Bridal Style!
One Of The First Questions We Ask Brides When Helping Them Find A Wedding Dress Is Usually…”what’s Your Wedding Vision?” It May Seem Like A Daunting, Over-arching Question, That’ll Have Some Brides Break Into A Sweat.  Sure, You Have An Image Of What You Want To Look Like As A Bride In Your Head, But How Do You Make That Vision A Reality? Or Better Yet, Explain That Vision To Your Bridal Stylist So That They Can Select Gowns That Fit With Your Bridal Style? if Your Vision Is Ever Changing Or Non-existent…have No Fear! Finding Your Bridal Style Is A Perfect Step One To Figuring Out What You Want To Look Like As A Bride. Above All, Your Bridal Style Should Stay True To Who You Are As A Person. Looking And Feeling Like Yourself As You Walk Down The Aisle Is Just As Important, If Not More, Than “wowing” Your Guests With Your Wedding Dress. we’re Breaking Down Five Key Bridal Styles So You Can Go Into Your First Wedding Dress Appointment (or Try-at-home Party!), A Mini-bridal Expert. We’re Talking Lace Types, Fabrics, Even Hues Of Ivory! You’ll Know How To Articulate What’s Already There In Your Vision or can Form Your Vision With A Better Sense Of Your Personal Bridal Style.
8 Things Every Bride Should Know Before Shopping For Her Wedding Gown
Happy International Women's Day!women To Women, We Know How Stressful Starting To Shop For A Wedding Gown Can Be. Since We've Made It A Mission To Help Brides Not Settle When It Comes To The Dress Of Their Dreams...we're Here To Help!  we Get It, Most Of Us Have Never Shopped For A Wedding Gown Before And There’s A Lot To Learn In Such A Short Amount Of Time. From The Ins And Outs Of The Bridal Industry To Timelines And Budgets…we’ll Run You Through It All. This Way You Can Go Into Your First Wedding Gown Shopping (in-person Or Try-at-home) Experience, A Bridal Expert.
5 Non-white Wedding Dresses You Can Try At Home For The Rebel Bride!
Planning A Wedding Comes With Its Fair Share Of Traditions. From The Seating Chart, To The Bouquet Toss, To The Things We Include Just For Grandma…it Can Be Easy To Lose Sight Of What You Want In The Process. Especially When It Comes To Finding Your Dress. Perhaps You’ve Even Been Eyeing A Non-white Wedding Dress With Worry (what Will My Mother Think?) but With So Many Beautiful Styles Of Non-white Wedding Dresses, Offered In Blush, Champagne, Nude, And Even Black…we’re Answering The Age Old Question: must I Wear White? 
5 Lace Wedding Dresses You Can Try On At Home!
With Temperatures Dropping And Covid Cases Rising, It Can Be Even Tougher To Get Out Of Bed These Days. If You’re A 2022 Bride, Trying To Check Off Your Never Ending List Of To-do’s, You Know The Struggle Of Finding Your Wedding Dress During A Pandemic All Too Well. Luckily, The Selection Of Wedding Dresses You Can Try At Home Has Expanded During These Unprecedented Times, so You Can Shop Like You Do For Everything Else…online And On Your Own Time.  grace + Ivory’s Try-at-home Program Makes It Simple To Choose The Gowns You Want To See And Even The Dates You Want To See Them. This Way You Can Plan Ahead To Include Mom Or Friends In The Process, Or Even Just To Ensure Your Fiancé Is Out Of The House For A Few Hours. no Spoilers Here!  although Grace + Ivory Has Wedding Dresses You Can Try At Home In A Plethora Of Fabrics And Silhouettes, (crepe Anyone?) We’re Focusing On Just A Few Favorites. Here’s Our Top Five Lace Wedding Dress You Can Try At Home.
Burgundy & Rose Gold For The Win!
This Was Old Shoe Store That Was Turned Into A Last Minute Wedding Venue For A Small Covid Friendly Wedding.
How To Find Your Wedding Calligrapher
Searching For Your Wedding Vendors Can Be Overwhelming At Times. That’s Why I Have Teamed Up With Some Amazing Local Wedding Professionals To Bring You Tips And Tricks For Finding The Perfect Wedding Vendors For You!jess Of The Letter J Creates Has Been Offering Calligraphy Services For 4 Years. Below She Shares Tips For Finding Your Perfect Wedding Calligrapher.
How To Suit Up For Your Wedding From Home And For Under $200
At The Groomsman Suit, We've Adjusted And Adapted To Our New “stay At Home” Lifestyle. Before We Had To Close Our Three Showrooms In March Of 2020, We Launched Virtual Showroom Appointments To Accommodate The Appointments We Had Scheduled At Our Physical Showroom Locations Allowing Couples To Continue Their Wedding Planning From Home. It Has Been Amazing To See People Across The Country Take Advantage Of These And We've Had Appointments With Couples From The East Coast To Hawaii. These Appointments Have Become A Service We Will Continue To Offer Permanently!worried About Ordering Online And How Your Items Will Fit? Our Suite Of Online Services Allow You To Find A Great Fit From The Comfort Of Your Own Home:virtual Showroom Appointments - For The Foreseeable Future, You're Probably Planning Your Wedding From Home Which Is Why We're Offering Virtual Showroom Appointments Via Phone Or Video. We're Having A Lot Of Fun Working With Couples Remotely To Discuss Sizing, Wedding Colors And Trends, Personal Style, And How To Get The Suiting Process Started. During This Appointment, We Will Get You Set Up With A Free Home Trial To Check Out Suiting And Accessories.free Trial - At Home Trials Are Available To Anyone Who Would Like To Check Out The Quality And Fit For Free. You Only Pay For What You Decide To Keep, And We Will Provide A Return Shipping Label For Anything You’d Like To Send Back.fit Finder- Our Online Sizing Tool Is Over 85% Accurate So Finding Your Size Online Has Never Been Easier. No Measurements Needed, Simply Answer A Few Simple Questions About Your Body Type Like Height And Weight And We Can Make A Great Recommendation. We Are Also Standing By To Help With Any Of Your Sizing Questions Via Email Info@thegroomsmansuit.com And Phone (773) 303-6006.group Coordination- This Online Tool Allows You To Get Your Entire Group Suited Up Without Stepping Out Of Your House. Simply Enter In The Names And Email Addresses Of Your Groomsmen And Select Your Look. You Get A Real-time View Of The Ordering Progress And We’ll Take Care Of The Rest.the Groomsman Suit Is Fully Stocked And Our Production Has Not Been Interrupted. We Are Shipping All Orders Within 48 Hours And Would Love To Help Groups Get Suited Up! With Us, You Can Own Your Suit For Under $200! Contact Us Today And Let Us Know How We Can Help You Plan Your Best Day! 
Unique Locations For Your Chicago Wedding Or Engagement Session
Recently Engaged And Looking For A Unique Location In Chicago For Your Engagement Session? Photos Along The River Walk Or At The Famous Lincoln Park Nature Boardwalk Are Always Beautiful, But You May Want To Find A Location Off The Beaten Path. I Have Compiled A List Of Some Of My Favorite Lesser Known Locations That Are Sometimes Overlooked But Absolutely Stunning! The Best Part Is They Are Also Great Locations For Wedding Photos.the Treelined Path On The 606the 606, Also Known As The Bloomingdale Trail, Is A 2.7 Mile Recreation Trail Running East-west On The Northwest Side Of Chicago Near The Logan Square Neighborhood. There Is A Beautiful, Tree-lined Section Of The Trail Creating A Romantic Backdrop To Capture Your Candid Moments. The Best Entrance To Reach This Part Of The 606 Is The Drake Avenue Entrance.
5 Tips For Booking Your Wedding Photographer
Are You Recently Engaged And Have Been Scouring Both Instagram And Pinterest For Wedding Inspiration? Overwhelmed With All The Different Options For Photography? Take A Deep Breath! Here Are 5 Helpful Hints To Pick The Best Wedding Photographer For You.1. Make Sure Their Style Matches Yours.most Likely, You Have Already Viewed Their Gallery Before Reaching Out. At Its Core, Photography Is Art. Therefore, Every Wedding Photographer Has Their Own Style. Do You Want A Photographer That Only Does Staged Poses Or Do You Prefer One That Captures Your Candid Moments? Maybe You Prefer A Little Bit Of Both? There Is No Right Answer To This Question! Take Some Time To Think About What You Want Out Of The Photography Experience And Ensure That Matches With The Photographer. 2. Schedule A Call Or Meeting And Get To Know Them!the Best Way To Find Out If You Vibe With A Photographer Is Talking To Them. Most Photographers, Including Myself, Will Schedule Some Time To Learn About Your Needs And Your Wedding Story. Chatting Over A A Cup Of Coffee, Some Drinks Or Even A Zoom Call Will Dramatically Help In Your Decision To See If He Or She Is The Right Photographer For You!3. Ensure They Use Contracts.reviewing And Signing A Contract Can Be Very Intimidating At First. All Of Your Vendors Should Have One, Especially Your Photographer! The Contract Is There To Protect Both Sides, Especially You. The Main Details Covered Will Be The Cost Of The Services, Expectations Of Both Sides In Case Of Any Emergency, Copyright Around Sharing The Photos And Schedule Of Deliverables. There Will Be Other Topics Covered But These Are The Main Points You Ensure Are Included.
Winter Wedding | Ivy House | Milwaukee, Wi
If You Are Someone That Loves The Wintertime, This Could Be The Right Session For You To Get Married. Katherine & Matt’s Wedding Was In January, And The Temperature Was A Brisk 33° At The Day Of Their Wedding. The Snow Was Covering Some Portions Of Patio Area Outside Ivy House Where The Wedding Took Place. I Believe That Snow And An Overcast Winter Day Could Add A Magical Touch To The Photos, With The Reflection Of The Snow Creating Nicely Lit And Soft Portraits. While The Bride & Groom Might Have A Few Uncomfortable Or Chilly Minutes, It’s Well Worth It To Capture All The Beauty That This Session Has To Offer. Katherine & Matt’s Outdoor Session Was Not Done All At Once. The Couples Were Taking Breaks Every Few Mins To Warm Up. The Ivy House Is A Green Brick, Modern Industrial Space. The Entrance Has A Beautiful Iron Gate, The Back All Y Has An Urban, Rustic Look, With Great Wall Textures And Multiple Color Bricks. The Bride Gets To Have A Wonderful, Rustic Room That Is Full Of Charming Architectural Details To Get Ready. This Location Offers Great Options And Backdrops For Pictures
5 Must Have Bachelorette Party Gifts Every Girl Needs
Let The Party Planning Begin!you’re Right In The Middle Of Planning Your Wedding And It's Time To Let Loose, Pop Some Bubbly And Get To Planning Your Bachelorette Party! Whether Your Maid Of Honor And Bridesmaids Are Planning Your Weekend In Nashville, Or The Girls Are Booking Flights To Scottsdale, You're Insta Worthy Bachelorette Party Needs A Few Little Extra To Make It Feel So Special!  these Few Must Haves Will Be Sure To Help You Take The Cutest Pictures! 
8 Ways To Make Sure Guests Remember Your Decor - Stonegate Manor
1. Consider A Themethemes Are Like Play Books.  Once You Pick Your Overall Aura For Your Wedding Everything Else Falls Into Place. choose A Theme That Reflects You And Your Partners One Of A Kind Style And Personality. Deciding On A Theme Will Also Help You Clearly Communicate Your Ideas With Your Florist, Bakers, Caterer, Dj And Other Vendors. 2. Table Settingthink About Adding A Unique Touch To Your Dinner Table.  A Narrative Tables Cape Is Just The Thing Your Guests Talk About Long After Your Wedding.  Incorporate Unexpected Centerpieces, Characteristic Menus, Or Distinctive Dish Ware. Your Table Setting Reflects Your Personality And Infuses Your Wedding Theme To A Whole New Level.3. Lounge Vibe Offer Your Guests A Comfortable And Inviting Lounge Area To Relax And Converse During Your Party. Setting Up A Few Couches And Chairs Often Encourages Guests To Get To Know Each Other And Take A Break From The Dining, Drinking And Dancing. A Settee Area Is Also A Great Way To Customize Your Space And Tie-in Your Thematic Decor.4. Something To Sip Having Something Set Out For Your Guests To Drink During Your Ceremony Keeps Them Comfortable. It’s A Nice Gesture And Can Be A Saving Grace If There Are Toddlers Or Kids Watching Your Ceremony. Consider Lemonade, Iced Tea, Cider, There Are Endless Options! 5. Games If You Have The Space Set Out Some Yard Games For Your Guests! This Is A Creative Way To Keep Your Guest Occupied During Cocktail Hour! Giving You And Your Partner Some Extra Time To Take Photos Or Just To Have A Minute Alone And Catch Your Breath. 6. Dessert Display Ditch The Traditional Wedding Cake Stand And Design A Fabulous Dessert Area! The Confection Table Is A Focal Point Of Your Reception. It Is Also One Of The Sweetest Ways To Impress Your Guests! Feature A Fun And Delicious Display For Guests To Enjoy Both With Their Eyes And Appetites.  7. Fabulous Florals Incorporate Flowers To Reflect Your Personality And Infuse Your Overall Wedding Theme. Flowers Frame Your Ceremony Vows And Brighten Your Reception. Floral Arrangements Tie Together Subtle Details In A Big Way That Your Guests Will Surely Notice! Simply “make It Yours - Do What You Like” Encourages Stella Event Design, A Local Florist In Southwest Michigan. No Matter Your Floral Choice, Their Impact Will Surely Be A Highlight Of Your Day.   8. Light-up Your Wedding Lighting Sounds More Functional Than Fun, But Trust Us, Impress Your Guests With This Decor Element To Set The Mood And Create A Lasting Impression. Illuminate Areas You Want Your Guests To Notice. Hang String Lights To Create A Whimsical Effect. Add Clusters Of Votive Candles To Radiate Intimacy And Romance. Have Your Guests Wish You Well With A Sparkler And Champagne Send-off. Whatever Your Choice, Be Sure To Create A Lighting Plan That Fuels Long Into The Night!
Boho Wedding With A Touch Of Vintage Flair
When Maurice Met Sarah At Iowa State University, It Took Barely A Glance For Sarah To Know He Was The Real Deal.  In Fact, Within 24 Hours, She Was Smitten.  Through The Highs And Lows Of A Long-distance Relationship, From That Point On, Sarah And Maurice Only Had Eyes For Each Other.  On A Historic Pedestrian Bridge Overlooking The Minneapolis Skyline, Maurice Got Down On One Knee And Asked Sarah The Best Question She Had Ever Heard!they Had Always Wanted A Smaller More Intimate Wedding So A Semi-destination Style Wedding Seemed Their Best Option.  Southwest Michigan Was Far Enough Where We Felt We Could Keep Our Guest List At A More Reasonable Number But Close Enough Where Family And Friends Could Afford To Travel And Stay.  They Fell In Love With Stonegate Manor Because Of The Beautiful Setting, Especially The Fairy Garden Where They Held Their Ceremony.  The Fact The Reception Area Was Both Indoors And Outdoors So Their Families Could Be Comfortable And Enjoy Both Was A Real Plus.  And Prudy, The Manager, Was Quick With Communication Which Was So Important Planning From Afar And In Only A Few Months.while They Didn’t Have A Theme And Weren’t Really Focused On A Style, Their Choices Just Naturally Fit Into A Bohemian Vibe.  Being Very Laid Back, Both Just Wanted A Big Party With All Of Their Favorite People There…which Is Exactly What They Got!  sarah’s Beautiful Dress Was From Zavana, An Australian Brand.  Known For Their Exquisite Lace Designs, Intricate Beading And Beautiful Details, Sarah’s Dress Did Not Disappoint.  With 2 Unique And Distinct Lace Patterns It Perfectly Embraced Both Elegance And A More Casual Boho Feel.  And It Fit Perfectly…no Bride Could Have Been More Beautiful!!!the Bridesmaids Were Uniquely And Beautifully Dressed In Rust/coral Jumpsuits That Added A Casual But Elegant Flair.  Coupled With The Men’s Navy-blue Suits, It Was An Absolutely Stunning Color Combination.the Boho Theme Was Also Reflected In Their Choice Of Decoration For The Wedding Arch…a Hand-made Macramé “curtain”.  Truly A One-of-a-kind Touch And Fit In So Nicely With More Casual Lace Featured In Sarah’s Dress.the Best Thing About Their Wedding?  Maurice And Sarah Enjoyed Everything About It But They Did One Thing That Was Especially Meaningful.  They Took About 20 Minutes After The Ceremony And Before The Reception To Enjoy A Glass Of Champagne, Just The Two Of Them, Before Joining The Rest Of Their Family And Friends.  It Gave Them Time To Reflect And Soak In The Fact That They Were Finally, Really And Truly, Married.  when Asked About Working With Vendors, They Advise Being Very Clear About Your Expectations From The Beginning.  Communication, Communication, Communication Is Imperative To Avoid Confusion As You Get Closer To Your Wedding Day.  Get All Your Questions Asked And Answered So You Are Feeling At Ease When The Day Finally Arrives.  And Sarah Recommends Getting A Wedding Planner….”some Of Our Best Money Spent!”simply The Best Day Ever!
Help Your Guests Cope With Covid
Like A Lot Of People Our Age (north Of 60), Over The Years We’ve Gotten To Know A Lot Of People.  We Get Invited To A Lot Of Weddings.  We Know We Aren’t Always On The A List And Sometimes Might Even Be On The D List, But We Always Consider It An Honor To Be Invited And Always Attend If Possible.  We Look Forward To Weddings…it’s Fun To Dress Up And Dance…we Rarely Get To Do That Anymore.  but, Honestly, Except For Noticing Our “will Not Attend” Rsvp, There Are Very Few Folks Who Would Terribly Miss Us If We Were Unable To Attend.  and Now Enters Covid… Quite Frankly I’m Afraid To Go To Any Large Gatherings.  I Am Terrified My Husband, Who Has Lungs Like Swiss-cheese, Will Not Survive If He Becomes Infected.  I Don’t Want To Risk Either Of Our Lives For An Evening Of Dinner And Dancing After Watching Two Young People Who Barely Remember Me Exchange Vows.  But I Was Raised With Good Manners.  I’ve Given Enough Parties To Know It’s Rude To Not Go Without A Valid Reason.   but Is It Equally Rude To Say “i Don’t Wat To Come To Your Wedding For Fear I’ll Catch A Disease”?  Is That The Same As Saying “i’m Afraid You Or Your Guests Might Have Bad Cooties”??!!  Is It Ok To Call And Ask If Social Distancing Will Be Done?  Or Will I Look Like The Odd Duck When I Show Up In Pearls, A Face Shield And An N-95?i Don’t Think Miss Manners Has Ever Had To Cover This Scenario.  I’m Not An Etiquette Coach But I’m Old And I’m A Wedding Coordinator.  At Times Such As These, I Think You Fall Back On Common Sense And Grace.  When In Doubt, Kindness Is Always Good Etiquette.  your “save The Dates” Probably Went Out Long Ago And Your Invitations Are Probably Printed.   You Can (and Should) Keep People Updated On Your Website About How You Are Managing The Covid Upheaval.  But Remember, It’s Older People Like Me Who Are Most Concerned About The Virus And We Aren’t Accustomed To Looking At A Couple’s Website…it’s A Pretty New Concept For Us.  So Personally, I Would Also Include In Your Invitations A Small Printed Note That Gives Your Guests Some Information So They Can Make Informed Decisions.  let Me Give You A Couple Real-life Examples:dear Family And Friends,when We Sent Out Our “save The Date” Cards, Little Did We Know That A Tiny Little Virus Would Enter Our World And Turn It Upside Down.covid Is Real And It Is Serious, Especially For Those In High-risk Categories Or Those Whose Loved Ones Are High-risk.  Our Venue And Our Caterers Will Be Taking Extra Precautions And We Do Ask That Everyone Wear Masks When Not Eating, Drinking Or Having Pictures Taken.  however, As Hard As We Will Try, These Precautions May Not Be Enough.  While Most Cases Of Covid Infection Pass Fairly Easily, We Know Some Of You Are At High Risk Of Becoming Seriously Ill If Infected.  More Than Anything We Want You To Stay Healthy!  We Promise We Will Not Be Offended If You Choose Safety Over Celebration.   It Is Far More Important To Us To Have You Healthy, In Our Lives And Part Of Our Story For Years To Come Than To Have You Risk Your Health For Just One Day.our Ceremony Site Is Spacious And Outdoors But The Reception Venue Is Indoors And A Safe Social Distance Will Be Difficult To Maintain.  We Would Love To Have You Present When We Make Our Vows But Will Understand If Safety Concerns Interfere With Your Desire To Attend The Reception.  Please Feel Free To Write “ceremony Only” On The Response Card.  Knowing You Will Be There Will Warm Our Hearts.if You Feel Traveling Or Attending Put You At Risk And You Shouldn’t Participate,, Please Be Assured We Completely Understand.  We Want You To Make The Safe Decision.  We Will Be Recording The Ceremony And Hope You Will Celebrate With Us No Matter Where You Are.  Please Provide Your Email Address On The Response Card And We Will Send You A Link And Instructions.  More Than Anything Else, We Ask That You Keep Us In Your Heart On Our Most Important Day.stay Safe & Healthy.  We Love You.sue And Georgei’m Sure Guests Loved What Jamie K From New Hampshire Posted On Their Wedding Website In March For Their May Wedding.“we Are Aware That The Coronavirus And The Concerns Surrounding It Are A Very Serious Matter, And Could Potentially Effect Our Wedding Day. As Of Today, March 14th, Our Wedding Remains As Planned - If This Changes, We Will Certainly Let Everyone Know. Locally, The Schools Have Shut Down Until At Least April And The Cruiseline We Were Planning Our Honeymoon On Has Announced A 30 Day Suspension As Of Yesterday, So Naturally, We Are A Little Worried As For What The Future Holds Right Now! Our Wedding Is Still Two Months Away, So A Lot May Change By Then, But With So Much Uncertainty, We Want Everyone To Feel Comfortable Knowing That We Completely Understand Anyone Who Cannot Attend Due The Current Circumstances, Especially For Elderly Guests, Those Flying In And Those With Compromised Health In General. Please Do Not Put Yourselves At Risk For Our Wedding - If You Feel You Are At Risk In Anyway, Please Do To Not Feel Obligated To Come. Although It Saddens Us That There Is A Potential For Many Guests Not To Be Able To Make It To Our Wedding Day, In No Way Do We Want To Compromise Anyone's Wellbeing. We Are Trying Our Best To Keep A Positive And Open Mind About Everything And What's To Come! So, Fingers Crossed It All Works Out The Way It's Supposed To  ”these Heartfelt Words Will Mean So Much To Your Invited Friends And Family.  We Are All In Positions We Never Expected And Have No Clear Roadmap On How To Proceed   So Shine A Little Light On The Path…it Could Save A Life.
Micro-weddings Vs Elopements -- Are They The Same?
Elopements Have Been Around A Long Time But It Is Only Recently That We Have Started To Hear Terms Like “micro-mony”, “micro-wedding” Or “tiny Wedding”.  Even The Term “intimate Wedding” Seems New Despite The Fact Your Wedding Is Probably The Most Intimate Experience You Will Ever Have!  so What Do We Mean When We Say “elopement”?  By Definition, Elope/elopement Has A Somewhat Negative Connotation.  At Its Heart, Elope Means To “run Away” And When We Used It To Talk About Weddings, It Typically Meant “to Run Away To Get Married Secretly, Often Without A Parent’s Consent”.  It Can Be Viewed As Terribly Romantic As When Two Star-crossed Lovers Defy Their Controlling Parents To Run Off To Another State, Find A Judge Or A Preacher And Tie The Knot.  Picture A Ladder Up To A Second-story Window And Two Young Kids Speeding Towards The State Line With Nothing But Love To Sustain Them.  Or It Can Seem Fairly Misguided As “running Away” Is Usually Not A Good First Step Towards Most Good Things.  Elopements Are Also Often Thought Of As “spur Of The Moment” And, While There Are Exceptions, Happy Endings Rarely Begin At 2 Am In Elvis Chapels, Especially When Alcohol Is Involved.  ????covid Has Changed The Landscape Of Weddings In Ways We Think Will Probably Last Long Past Any Legal Mandates.  Having Been Forced To Down-size Their Weddings, Many Are Discovering That It Really Is A Great Way To Save Money And Stress.  Coronavirus Has In Many Cases, Freed Us From The Imperative Of Having A Bigger, “better” Celebration And Allowed Us To Look At Weddings Through New Lenses.  And We Like What We See!  For Many, Weddings Have Evolved Away From “the Party” To Focus More On The “marriage” And The True Transformation That Takes Place That Day.tiny Or Micro-weddings No Longer Represent A “running Away From” But A Conscious Decision Toward A New Paradigm.  Covid Pushed Us Toward Them But More And More We Are Embracing These Small, Low-key Celebrations.  And Finding The Extra Money Leftover Is A Great Benefit!micro Or Tiny Weddings Are Not Necessarily Last Minute Or Hurriedly Put Together.  They Can Take As Much Planning And Contain As Many Details As You Want.  But, Bottom Line, They Don’t Have To!  All The Stressful Accoutrements Of Big, Traditional Weddings, Like Table Favors Or Bridesmaid Dresses, Are Neither Expected Nor Missed.  You Can Focus On Those Details That Actually Mean Something And Are Important To You…writing Your Vows Or Incorporating Other Traditions Into Your Ceremony.  And, If You Choose, Your “reception” Can Be Far More Extravagant With So Many Fewer Mouths To Feed…opt For Dom Perignon And The Lobster Nibbles.  But That Might Not Be Your Thing And That’s What Is So Freeing About Having A Tiny Wedding…surrounded Only By People Who Truly Love And Support You, There Is No Reason To Try To Meet Anyone’s Expectations Except Your Own. At Stonegate Manor, Until Recently, We Hadn’t Offered “elopements” Or Any Type Of Micro/mini/petite Wedding Options.  It Just Hadn’t Occurred To Us!  We, Like Other Wedding Venues & Vendors, Had To Pivot And Adapt And We Found We Liked It.   Initially These Were Intended For Couples Whose Plans Had Been Disrupted And Who Were Eager To Quickly Find An Alternative.  Often Couples Brought Their Own Previously Contracted Vendors But Mini-sized Everything.    as Time Goes On, We Are Getting More And More Calls From Couples Who Aren’t Desperately Trying To Save Their Weddings At The Last Minute But Who Want These Small Celebrations.  I Cannot Tell You The Times I’ve Heard Something To The Effect Of “we Were Planning On Having A Big Wedding Next Year But Covid Made Us Re-think Our Priorities And We Like The Idea Of A Small, Intimate Wedding”.  Who Would Have Thought A Virus Would Have The Ability To Transform Our Vision Of Weddings?!michigan Law Now States That Only 10 People Can Gather Inside So Our Micro-monies Are Limited To 8 Guests.  We Take Care Of All The Necessities…the Officiant, The Flowers, The Cake, A Beautiful Place To Both Get Ready & To Celebrate Afterward And A Magical Fairy Garden In Which To Hold The Ceremony.  We Are Finding That To Be A Pretty Perfect Size.for Those Who Desire A Bigger Guest List And/or A Bit More Involved Reception, Our Petite Weddings (<30 Guests) Provide A Great Alternative.  yes We Still Get Couples Who, For One Reason Or Another, Want To Know If We Have Any Spots Available “this Week” And We Love That We Are Able To Offer Them A Beautiful Alternative To A Trip To The Courthouse.  But We Truly Love Sharing Our Elegant Estate With Couples Who Are Eager To Focus On The Importance Of The Day And Let Us Take Care Of The Rest!by Prudy Barrett Nelson – As Stonegate Manor’s Wedding Fairy Godmother In Residence,  Prudy Has Shepherded Many A Couple On Their Way To The Altar And Has Always Been Successful!  Covid Has Stretched Her Imagination And Helped Her Come Up With Many Creative Ways To Get Couples Started On Their Happily Ever After And, After All These Years, She Has Found A New Passion.  Tiny Weddings Are Here To Stay And She Is Thrilled!