Monday, December 30, 2013

Allison & Shivan

Allison and Shivan's wedding was one for the books for us! Not only are they THE sweetest, most caring, perfectly suited for each other couple, but it was set at one of our favorite locations and had a team of absolutely fantastic wedding professionals we love working with.

Can't get any better? Wait for it.... They had truly AWESOME personal details that kept us smiling all day long! Check these stunning images out from the wonderful Footstone Photography.

Warning: Amazing Wedding Eye Candy Coming Up! I know there's a bunch of pictures here, but I can't help it! Paul and Kristin did such a perfect job capturing how special the day was!



Footstone Photography
So, Allison & Shivan have a thing for all thing superheros and totally nerd-tastic! It's been a part of their entire relationship and I adored how they incorporated it in so many fun and totally unique ways throughout their day.



Footstone Photography
Their wedding was at one of our all-time favorite venues in the area - Santa Fe River Ranch! It's a simply stunning backdrop for a wedding...rolling hills, majestic oaks, gorgeous barn and fantastic owners.

Isn't Allison's bouquet breathtaking?! The Plant Shoppe did an awesome job! I love how happy and bright it is with all the textures!




Footstone Photography
Allison collected wine bottles for months to arrange the centerpieces herself. Celebrations Catering provided the beautiful linens and decor, as well as the delicious food!



Footstone Photography
My favorite quote of the day had to be the fabulous Melissa DiStefano officiating saying "Shivan, Do you like it? Then put a ring on it!" Awesometastic! :)




Footstone Photography
Love all their details! Check out how Dream Day Cakes hid tiny superheros all over the cake!



Footstone Photography
Gnys Entertainment not only kept their party going all night and the dance floor packed, but also choreographed a magical first dance for them! Priceless!





Footstone Photography
We loved every minute of your day guys! Thank you so much for trusting us to be a part of it! Congratulations again Allison and Shivan!

Footstone Photography
To check out the beautiful slideshow of their wedding images, head over to Footstone's gallery page!

Stay tuned too - Imprint Cinema's Teaser Video will be on our blog soon too!

Venue: Santa Fe River Ranch
Wedding Planner: MasterPiece Weddings
Photography: Footstone Photography
Videography: Imprint Cinema
Catering: Celebrations Catering
Flowers: The Plant Shoppe
DJ: Gnys Entertainment
Cake: Dream Day Cakes
Make-Up: Image Insight
Hair: Graceful Strands
Officiant: Melissa DiStefano

Monday, December 16, 2013

Our BRAND NEW Website!!!

It's here! It's HERE! Our brand new website!!!! 

(can you tell I'm a tiny bit excited over here?!)

Image by Footstone Photography
Image by Verve Studio
Head over to MasterPiece Weddings right now and see for yourself!

Image by Russell Martin Photography
Image by Pure by Lindsey Photography
We've been working really hard on it for the past few months and we are so excited to finally get to reveal it to you today!

We can't wait to hear if you love it as much as we do!

Image by Kristin Kozelsky
Our new website wouldn't have been possible without the amazing local photographers & videographers who shared their gorgeous images and talents with us. Thank you so much! We simply cherish working with you!

Image by Ben Sasso
Well - what do you think?!?!

Go check out the NEW MasterPiece Weddings and comment and tell us!


Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Bridal Party DO's and DON'T's

Last week, you saw our list of wedding guest DO's and DON'T's, but guests aren't the only ones who may need some pointers when it comes to their wedding etiquette. As a member of the bridal party, there are some simple DO's and DON'Ts that you should follow to make sure the bride and groom's wedding day goes perfectly as planned and as stress-free for them as possible!

DO's and DON'Ts - Bridal Party Etiquette

1. DO be prepared for the ceremony. Remember, before the bride comes down the aisle, all eyes will be on you. First off, don't have tons of things in your pockets right before you walk. You don't want to be scrambling to find a place to put your cell phone, keys, and wallet at the last second. Also, make sure you spit out your gum, put down the beer, and grab your bouquet before the eyes and cameras are on you. The last thing a bride and groom want is to see their Maid of Honor and Best Man chomping gum in their ceremony pictures.

Regina Hyman Photography via Pinterest
2. DON'T complain about the dresses. Chances are, the bride spent a good amount of time picking out just the right dresses for her bridesmaids that both complimented her vision as well as their various body types. Unless there is a big financial  or modesty concern, accept the dress that the bride has chosen for you, and rock it on the day of the wedding!

3. DO leave all the drama at home. As wedding planners, we place the bridal party at the ceremony and the head table in the order that the bride and groom envision. When the bride frantically approaches us on the morning of her wedding and says that her maid of honor and her groom's best man are in a fight and that they can't sit or walk together, she is under stress that she should not be on her wedding day. If you and a fellow bridal party member are having a personal disagreement, let it go for the day. You're all there to make the day more special, and bringing drama to the head table is not the way to go about that!

Catie Bartlett Photography
4. DON'T procrastinate. Bachelor Party plans? Check. Wedding rings? Got 'em safe. Toast written? Check. Rented the suit? Oops...Being a member of the bridal party, especially as the best man or maid of honor, comes with responsibilities! If the bride or groom has given you a task to complete before the day of the wedding, make sure you get that done early. It's always better to have time to spare than having to rush order or put something together at the last minute. So many of our brides tell us their biggest stress is praying that so-and-so finally ordered their outfit or got fitted before it's too late. Don't be that attendant!

5. DO remember that pictures are important. Photographers and couples often have long lists of shots that they want to get through by the time the reception begins. If the members of the bridal party disappear after the ceremony, someone has to go round them up before pictures can start. If the photographer gets through all of the scheduled bridal party and family pictures early, then the couple can go enjoy their cocktail hour and reception. After the ceremony, it's best to stick around until the photographer tells you you're free to go.
Beau Mitchell
6. DON'T get undressed after the ceremony. Now, this may sound a little ridiculous, but believe me, we've seen it before. Like I said, pictures are important and if you've gone and changed out of your tux or dress, the photographer will have to wait for you to change back into it. Also, pictures will be taken throughout the night, and most likely the couple wants you in the dresses and suits they've picked out especially for their big day.

7. DO make your toast appropriate. Humor is fine in toasts...to a certain point. Check out our blog post about The Art of Giving a Wedding Toast for ideas and tips. We suggest making  toasts sweet and simple...and leaving the crass jokes for another time.

Bridal Musings
8. DON'T get too drunk. We discussed this as wedding guest etiquette, but it goes for the bridal party too. You'll be in pictures, making toasts, and helping out the bride and groom throughout the night. Taking shots before the ceremony is not something we suggest. 

9. Do remember that this is their day. We can't point this out enough. The bride and groom have spent months and months planning a day that will celebrate their love and commitment to each other. This means that this day should be all about them, and you should be doing your best to make sure that is what happens. So if the wedding colors are purple and yellow, and that purple maid of honor dress just isn't your style, remember that you are here for them (and that you get to choose what she wears on your wedding day!).

Emma Loo Photography

So, these are our ultimate DO's and DON'Ts...do you have any that you would add to the list?!


Monday, December 9, 2013

Teaser Video - Katie & JP

Andrew and Meagan from Unveiling Media were so sweet to send us this teaser video, and I have to say that it turned out absolutely gorgeous! (The MasterPiece Weddings team even made an appearance!)

Their wedding at JP's family's farm was absolutely beautiful, and this video does such an amazing job in capturing their day.


Katie + John Wedding Highlight Video from Unveiling Media on Vimeo.

We loved being a part of Katie and JP's wedding, and Unveiling Media perfectly captured how fun and special it was!

Venue: Family Farm, Ocala, FL
Wedding Planner: MasterPiece Weddings
Photography: Nancy Garcia
Videography: Unveiling Media
Catering: The Mojo Grill, Ocala, FL
Rentals: Party Time Rentals, Ocala, FL
Flowers: Petal Pushers
DJ: Gnys Entertainment
Hair: Salon Bliss, Vanessa Hudson
Cake: Jan Edison
Officiant: Ike Stevenson

Friday, December 6, 2013

Shadow Box Guestbook

We at MasterPiece Weddings LOVE new and fun guestbook ideas. I saw this one recently and just couldn't wait to share it!

via weddingsabeautiful
This is so simple, but so cute! All it is is a shadow box frame with the couple's names written on wooden hearts and glued on the inside. You just take smaller wooden hearts and let guests write their name and message, and drop them inside!

A great idea if you want to be able to display your guestbook in your new home all the time!

Do you think you would "heart" this as your guestbook? ;)

Happy Friday!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Wedding Guest DO's and DON'T's

Weddings should be a fun and exciting celebration for everyone involved, including the guests! The fabulous couple that invited you to their big day truly want you to share in their complete joy with them. That being said, as a Wedding Planner, I've seen my share of Wedding Guest taboo moments that totally piled additional, unnecessary, stress on the couple.  Here's a few simple tips, as guests, to follow to make their wedding go just the way they've hoped and dreamed it would.

DOs & DONTs - Wedding Guest Etiquette

1. DO RSVP. And that doesn't mean a phone call the day before the wedding! More than likely, the couple had an RSVP date listed on their invitations, which means that they should receive your RSVP by that date. It's important for the bride and groom to know their guest count by this date so that they can plan on the right amount of food, tables, chairs, and favors for their guests. Don't make them call you the week before to find out if you're coming! It's so much extra hassle in a week full of tiny details already. 

Rita & Ben's Wedding
2. DON'T assume your invitation entitles you to a plus-one. Or, for that matter, to bring your children. While many couples may really wish they could invite your entire family, or let you bring a date, the reality is that every extra person is an additional cost for the wedding that may just not be in the budget. If the invitation doesn't indicate that you are welcome to bring your kids or a date, your best bet is to just steer clear. 

3. DO arrive on time. There is nothing more awkward than walking into the ceremony as the bridal party is making their way down the aisle! As much as you may try to sneak in around or behind them, there is still a big chance of you ending up in the couple's ceremony pictures, not to mention the fact that you've gathered the rest of the guests' attention. Arriving 15 to 30 minutes before the ceremony begins (making sure to leave time for traffic and getting lost!) is a sure way to avoid any awkward entrances.

4. DON'T forget to turn off your cell-phone during the ceremony. Imagine this: the couple is in the middle of the most beautiful vows, and about to say "I do."  All of the sudden, your phone begins to ring, echoing throughout the church. You don't want this to be you! Next time you're attending a wedding ceremony, make sure you turn your cell-phone off or on silent to make sure its not!

Via Pinterest

5. DO dress appropriately. If a wedding is set on a farm, you may want to nix the six-inch stilettos. On the other hand, just because a wedding is out in the country, doesn't mean you should wear jeans and a T-shirt. Many couples these days have wedding websites, and usually have a "what to wear" section, just for this purpose. Check it out, you'll find all kinds of great tips about the event and some fun facts about them as a couple!

A Little Dash of Darling

6. DON'T drink too much. Remember, this day is all about the bride and groom, and while they may have an open bar, this doesn't mean a "drink all you want" bar. Eat, drink, and be merry for sure, but don't be "that guy" that everyone keeps wishing had been cut off three hours ago.

Via Pinterest

7. DO be an actual guest. Chances are, the couple spent a lot of money on their vendors. This means that they already have a wedding coordinator, a photographer, and a bartender doing their jobs. As a guest, you should relax and enjoy the wedding rather than trying to take on tasks that the couple paid vendors to do for them. Even if you are a self-proclaimed wedding planner or photographer, the bride and groom invited you to the wedding to enjoy their special day, not to coordinate the ceremony or suggest a list of photos that the photographer most likely already has. Leave it to the pro's and enjoy yourself!

Footstone Photography
That's our list and biggest pet peeves for wedding guests! The next time you attend a wedding, keep in mind the DO's and DON'T's of being a wonderful wedding guest, and we know that both you and the bride & groom will have an amazing time!

How'd we do? Do you have any DO's or DON'T's to add to the list we left off?!

Monday, December 2, 2013

Caricaturist Reception Entertainment

We've all seen the photo booths loaded with props of your choice at weddings, and I will admit, our team never fails to get a photo booth memory before leaving a wedding! But what about something a little different?!

If you're looking for a way to keep your guests entertained in a unique and fun way, sketching and caricatures would be a great cocktail hour or reception activity!

Bobbi and Mike
It's not only entertainment, but makes a super awesome favor for your guests that they can take home and frame.

For something even more out of the box - Have you heard of The Original Butt Sketch?!


The Original Butt Sketch

They set up a small station at your event and sketch people from behind! I know it sounds crazy, but it's crazy cool!!! I actually had my own butt sketched at a trade show and can tell you from personal experience how much fun it was. There was a non-stop line at their booth and they were the total hit of the convention.

You could even have your own bride and groom Butt Sketch or Caricature done first, before guests, and use it as your guest book! Talk about original! Hang it up for guests to sign as they finish their own. 

What do you think? Would you have Butt Sketches or Caricatures as a part of your wedding entertainment?