FREE Wedding Coordination from K Sherrie+Company!

We're feeling generous. . .

K Sherrie+Company Planning Atelier will be giving one stylish, modern and chic bride and groom a complete Sapphire Service Level package! This contest will be open to all brides in the Indianapolis metro area. Yup--this includes Brownsburg, Avon, Plainfield, Zionsville, McCordsville, Geist--you get the idea. Any reader/visitor of our blog and website is welcome to enter.

The Sapphire Service Level is our “Month-of Coordination" service level. We box up all of your planning and details and package it nicely and put a nice pink bow on top! What this really means is that we meet with you to go over your concept and vision for the day, contact and finalize all your vendors, help with last-minute snafus, design a wedding day timeline and produce and coordinate your wedding rehearsal and your wedding day. The contest ends at midnight on July 31, 2009.

Here’s how you can enter: Send us your story—how you met, your engagement story, your vision for your day, any planning obstacles you’ve faced and why you think you’d need the extra help on your wedding day. Even if you aren’t getting married, send us the story of a couple that you know needs the extra assistance.

More parameters for the contest:

1. All entries must include a photo of the couple
2. Please include a complete list of the venues and vendors you have already booked
3. The wedding must take place between September 2009 and February 2010 (based on availability)
4. The wedding must take place in the Indianapolis metro area (or in Danville, Illinois!)
5. You can nominate yourself or a friend. Email your entries to contests{at}ksherrieco{dot}com by 12 midnight EST July 31, 2009

The winner will be decided by the team at K Sherrie+Company. We look forward to reading the entries of deserving couples and and gifting them a stress-free wedding day!

Rental Guide for Your Reception Part II

Yesterday, we outlined some rental items you may need to bring in to your venue to complete your reception. Today continues with additional items you may have to rent.

Chairs
For a seated dinner or buffet, you will need to provide seating for all reception guests. For a buffet style cocktail reception you may able to get away with enough chairs for half or more of the total number of guests.

Linens and Chair Covers
Linens and chair covers are often NOT included in the rental of the tables and the chairs. Even if they are, chic brides usually want something beyond black, white or ivory. Be sure to set aside funds for linens in your wedding budget.

Tableware
For a formal sit-down reception, tables are usually set with complete place settings. At a buffet reception where guests serve themselves, plates and silverware may be located at the buffet table.

Tent
This is pertinent if you are having an outside wedding to protect you and your guests from the elements. Tents and canopies come in different sizes and colors. A 20x20 ft. will accommodate about 40 guests at a sit-down dinner. A 20x40 ft. tent, about 200 guests and a 60x100 ft. tent, about 500 or more guests.

Heaters/Air Conditioners
You may also need to rent heaters if your reception will be held outdoors. A good rule of thumb is that heaters are needed if the temperature may drop below sixty-five degrees. Gas heaters are more popular since they do not have unsightly and unsafe electric cords. In warmer climates, portable AC units may be rented for outdoor events.

Dance Floor
The size of your dance floor depends on how many guests you expect. They can range from 12x12 ft. up to 20x30 ft. or larger.

Phew! Sounds like a lot to keep up with, eh? And this list isn't even all-inclusive! Enlist the help of a great wedding planner and s/he will keep you on track to be sure you don't go without any necessities at your reception.
Photo Credit(s): Southern Weddings

Would You? Could You? Vote For Me?

The Indy Channel A-List is running their Best of the Best competition again and we would really love to have your vote for Best Wedding Planner. When the announcement came out, I thought about not even participating, but then I reconsidered: why not?

Last year, we had tremendous support and came in 3rd place! I thought it to be a tremendous accomplishment, especially since we were brand spanking new. We want to keep the buzz alive and keep the good karma flowing. Can we count on you to vote for us?

You only have to visit the site, register using your email address and click to vote for K Sherrie+Company Planning Atelier. The Indy Channel WILL NOT spam you. . .scout's honor. If you want to leave a comment to tell us why you think we're fab, even better! We will even do something special to those who leave a comment this year {hint, hint!}.

Click {HERE} to cast your vote.

Thank you!

Rental Guide for Your Reception

Depending on your wedding reception venue, you may need to supply some, or all, of the items needed to host your wedding reception and be a gracious and stylish host. This is definitely something to keep in mind when deciding the perfect place to hold your wedding. The perfect low-key, rustic barn wedding may turn into a money pit when you factor in everything needed to make it amenable. A little later, we will detail some of the items you may need to bring in to bring your vision to life for venues that don't provide everything.

When searching out and booking the reception venue, make sure you are very clear on what exactly is included in the rental fee. Every reception site is different, so you may have to clarify with the site manager which items the venue provides and which wedding rentals you must provide. As always, make sure that everything you have agreed upon is put in writing.

Here are some items you may need to bring in to your reception site:

Guest Tables
36-inch rounds seat 4-6 guests.
48-inch rounds seat 6-8 guests
60-inch rounds seats 8-10 guests.
6 ft banquet table seats about 8 guests.
8 ft banquet table seats about 10 guests.
Square tables are also available.

Cake Table
The best size for the cake table depends on size of cake, whether you’ll also have a groom’s cake, and whether you’ll display both cakes on the same table. The 48-inch round table usually works well.

Sweetheart Table
I am a fan of the sweetheart table for just you and the groom, as opposed to the long head tables for the entire bridal party. A 36- or 48-inch table would suffice for this function.

Food/Buffet Tables
Whether you have heavy hors d'oeuvres or if you have decided on a buffet dinner, you’ll need to secure tables for the food if the catering company does not provide them {or you're doing DIY catering}. Food tables can be funky with a mixture of rounds or squares or banquet tables.

Gift Table
You want a lot of gifts, don't you?! =) The size of the gift table depends on the number of guests you are expecting.

Guest Book Table
A small table for your reception guest book or the guest book can be housed at the gift table.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post that outlines more wedding rentals you may need for your perfect reception.
Photo Credit(s): Style Me Pretty

The Greatest Entertainer of All Time

Rest in peace, Michael Jackson. May you find the solace that you never could in life.

Pack Smart For Your Honeymoon

No matter how long your honeymoon to the Fiji Islands is, your entire closet will not fit into your carry-on bag! Pack smart. Pack less. Make packing less painful by using the following clever travel tips:

1. Make a list of what you'll need on your vacation to avoid overpacking. Choose dresses and shoes that do double-duty. Can you dress up that dress with snazzy heels AND look casual cool with flip-flops or funky sandals? You should also avoid taking more than three pairs of any type of shoes. And, yes--that does include the pair on your feet.
2. Use a technique known as bundle wrapping to avoid wrinkled clothes. Start with a small rectangular pouch of underwear and wrap your clothing around it, building on each layer. Make sure the items closer to the center of the bundle are made of materials that don't wrinkle easily. Your silky tanks should be on the outside of the bundle.
3. If your hotel has it--don't bring it! Call ahead if you are unsure of the amenities they have. Even if you have to purchase travel-size toiletries, wait until you get to your destination and purchase them there at a local drugstore.

Happy honeymooning!
Photo Credit(s): Source

Win a Sapphire Service Level Package from K Sherrie+Company

I am a firm believer in passing on blessings. To whom much is given, much is required: sounds awfully cliche, but I live by it. I have been so blessed in my short lifetime and I, in turn, always try to give of myself. And that's where you and this contest comes in.

You could be the lucky couple!

K Sherrie+Company Planning Atelier will be giving one stylish, modern and chic bride and groom a complete Sapphire Service Level package! This contest will be open to all brides in the Indianapolis metro area. Yup--this includes Brownsburg, Avon, Plainfield, Zionsville, McCordsville, Geist--you get the idea. Any reader/visitor of our blog and website is welcome to enter.

The Sapphire Service Level is our “Month-of Coordination" service level. We box up all of your planning and details and package it nicely and put a nice pink bow on top! What this really means is that we meet with you to go over your concept and vision for the day, contact and finalize all your vendors, help with last-minute snafus, design a wedding day timeline and produce and coordinate your wedding rehearsal and your wedding day. The contest ends at midnight on July 31, 2009.

Here’s how you can enter: Send us your story—how you met, your engagement story, your vision for your day, any planning obstacles you’ve faced and why you think you’d need the extra help on your wedding day. Even if you aren’t getting married, send us the story of a couple that you know needs the extra assistance.

More parameters for the contest:

1. All entries must include a photo of the couple
2. Please include a complete list of the venues and vendors you have already booked
3. The wedding must take place between September 2009 and February 2010 (based on availability)
4. The wedding must take place in the Indianapolis metro area (or in Danville, Illinois!)
5. You can nominate yourself or a friend. Email your entries to contests{at}ksherrieco{dot}com by 12 midnight EST July 31, 2009

The winner will be decided by the team at K Sherrie+Company. We look forward to reading the entries of deserving couples and and gifting them a stress-free wedding day!

Shutterfly Does Save-the-Dates

In these lean economic times, not everyone can afford to go the bespoke stationery route. Thankfully, there are a plethora of options for these brides. Did you know that Shutterfly offers Save-the-Date stationery?

It is always my suggestion to go clean, simple and modern when you are trying to cut costs and these Save-the-Dates will give you just that. Available as text only, with one picture or even two or three photos, Shutterfly has designs that cover an array of tastes. Some of my favorites from their site are below.





Save-the-Dates are always welcome for any wedding if you will have a large number of guests traveling for the wedding or if the celebration is over a holiday weekend. It is best to send the Save-the-Dates at least eight months prior to the wedding. If you are having a destination wedding and some people may need to save to travel, twelve months out is more appropriate. In this case, a wedding newsletter may even be a better option that spells out the details of the wedding.

Are you sending out Save-the-Dates for your wedding? What kind are you sending?

It's a Tie!

Don't leave the groomsmen out of your wonderful color combinations for your wedding.

Looking for chartreuse?
Or periwinkle?
Or aubergine?
Or tangerine?

You can find them all with coordinating pocket squares at The Tie Bar. With over 500 ties in stock, the Tie Bar can send your men down the aisle in style. Besides having popular styles {pinstripes, paisley and argyle, anyone?}, the ties also come in extra-long lengths AND they can be monogrammed. They also carry bow ties, ascots and cuff links.

You already know my obsession about well-dressed men, right? And the absolute best thing about it?? The $15 per tie cost will never break your wedding budget.

What will your groom and his boys be wearing at your wedding? A regular tie, bow tie or ascot? And in what color? We've love to hear about your style!

We Like Her {and We Like Her, Too!}

In this case, HER refers to these cute, little diamond pendants.

Aren't these perfect for bridesmaids gifts? Or for any gifts at that matter?

Made of 18k white gold and diamonds, these Roberto Coin necklaces comes with all different types of charms that can be picked to fit the personality of your wedding party BFFs. If you want to be selfish and keep them all to yourself, they would also make lovely charms for your bridal bouquet. Just pick the charms that reflect your best traits. Designer's tip" Be sure to use them in an ODD number (1, 3, 5, 7, etc).




These beauties can be found at any Sak's Fifth Avenue, ranging in price from $380-$3900.




If I were to choose for myself, I would choose:
the frog
the cross
the skull-n-crossbones
the anchor
the question mark








Anyone care to take a stab at why I chose these pendants? Post your answers here and I'll let you know if you're right!



Photo Credit: Saks, eBay