Hey Y'all!  It has been a hot minute since blogged.  And let's just say that life in the last 8 months has absolutely bonkers!  When I say bonkers, I mean who would have thought that in our lifetimes we would be experiencing a pandemic...it's just crazy!

I wanted to take a few minutes to share some thoughts on stepping back into events and weddings.

We are constantly learning about safety and new safety measures and yet still providing incredible experiences for our couples. 

And for some of us, even the decision to work in groups of people - no matter the size - is difficult and has health implications for our families at home.  There is no one-size-fits all answer. You don't know what is going on in the family of your vendors.  Some may choose not to work in large groups due to family members with health concerns.  Some may choose not work in large groups due to their own health concerns.  Some may choose to work, no matter the size of the event.  This is a very personal decision that each vendor has to make.  

These last 8 months have been a struggle, but one thing I have been reminded of on a daily basis..."Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about."  

We have been blessed to have multiple weddings recently and still have a few more to close out the year.  We have adapted and adjusted and learned each time.  We have become therapists to our brides who need a shoulder to cry on, we have become experts on which hand sanitizers smell nice and don't dry out your hands, we have learned to talk loudly through our masks.   And most of all, we have learned that "We can do hard things...and we are doing them everyday."

We are excited about the future.  We are excited for our current 2021 couples and can't wait to meet more 2021 couples.  We are excited about 2022 weddings.  

Celebrations will continue.  Love will always be celebrated.  Memories will be created.  

We are here to answer questions, give guidance and be there for you!

Stay safe, stay well!

Jen

Photo credit: Art Photo Soul Photographer

Rentals:  Atlas Event Rental

We have all heard the terms Mini-Wedding or Micro-Wedding recently.   With the Coronavirus changing how we celebrate, it's time to talk about Mini-Weddings and Micro-Weddings....SPOILER ALERT -  We have done them for years!  One of our most favorite weddings had only 11 guests...and was planned that way from the beginning.

Wanting to celebrate Love, Commitment and Family will never go away.  So, we adapt and change.  Though some days it feels as though the rules about social gatherings are constantly changing, your wedding professionals are here to help navigate through these challenging times.

A Mini or Micro Wedding is a wedding that usually has 50 guests or fewer.  Before the Pandemic, these were called - small-intimate weddings.  But with the Pandemic, these weddings have gained in popularity and with the smaller guest counts, social distancing and other health guidelines can be followed.

When planning a small-intimate wedding during this confusing time, having wedding professionals to help guide you through the rules and regulations is crucial! 

You will need to understand:

• Venue Capacity Limits
• Social Distancing Guidelines
• Food Service Changes and Updates for Safety
• New protocols vendors have instituted to keep their teams safe
• Mask, temperature checks and other guidelines that may be required per your municipality

But even with all of those additional items, a small-intimate wedding will create memories that last a lifetime. You are celebrating your love for each other, the joining of two families, the commitment two people are making...and no pandemic can ever stop that.

We are sharing photos from our favorite Mini-Weddings from over the past 10 years...and they are STUNNING!  So go for the opulent decor, the fantastic meal, the beautiful dress and sharp tuxedo.  With less guests, you will find that you have more room in the budget...so go for it!

Venues:

Two Private Residences

PGA National Resort and Spa

The Brazilian Court Hotel

The Colony Hotel

Photographers:

Chris Kruger Photography

Chris Joriann Photography

Blink and Company Photography

Donna Newman Photography

Decor:

Southern Floral Company

Xquisite Events

Atlas Event Rental 

Celebrations by Kathy - Lighting

A Different Look Rentals 

Tent and Acrylic Pool Cover:

Absolute Party Rentals

Hey Y'all!  We hope you are all well and taking the recommended precautions to stay well!

At this time, we have rescheduled any remaining March weddings and all April weddings.  May weddings are being evaluated on a case by case basis at this time.  We wanted to share a few tips on how to navigate this difficult time.

We are working with all of our couples to navigate through this process.  

All client interactions are via telephone, Facetime or Skype for the foreseeable future.  We are rescheduling weddings for Summer 2020, Fall and Winter 2020 and into 2021 depending what dates work for you all.

We highly urge you to postpone and not cancel.  You have put your heart and soul into your wedding day.  You will still get to celebrate your love and commitment with your friends and family...it just may be a different date.  Your friends and family WANT to celebrate with you...they want to share in your joy.

If you have friends who are getting married and they don't have a planner, please share these tips with them...

1.  Contact your venue - questions to ask

a.  What is your policy on date changes, postponement and cancellation as it relates to the Coronavirus?

b.  Will I still need to meet my food and beverage minimum if I have a smaller guest count than anticipated?

2. Room Blocks

a.  If you signed a contract guaranteeing a set number of rooms to be booked, can that guarantee be waived?

b.  If I schedule to an off season time will my room rate reflect the lower costs?

3.  Contact all other vendors and ask about rescheduling and transferring deposits or refunds if they don't have your new date available.

4.  Marriage licenses - They are good for 60 days from the date which you apply (go to the clerk's office and get the license).  If you have to reschedule and your new date is beyond those 60 days you will need to obtain a new marriage license from the County Clerk's office.  As of this time, you will need to pay another $93 fee.  The clerk's office has not announced plans to waive fees for expired licenses and rescheduled weddings.

5.  Try to stay calm - It is perfectly normal to feel sad, disappointed, angry, and frustrated.  This is uncharted territory for all of us.  None of us knows how to feel from one minute to the next. And that is OK.