Gorgeous Waterfront Wedding at Celebrations at the Bay!

On this beautiful winter day -- the sky is so blue, the sun is shining so brightly, the air is crisp and the ground has about 2.5 feet of snow on it -- I thought you might like to escape the chilly day and see some pics of a beautiful wedding I coordinated on the waterfront in Pasadena, MD.

Jennifer and Brian contacted me in February of 2015 (via my website, and they also knew 2 other brides with whom I was working) to provide month-of/day-of coordination for their September 2015 wedding at Celebrations at the Bay. What a great venue choice for their wedding day!  I had been to the venue years ago for a networking event, but never for a wedding -- it was amazing! Jennifer & Brian were blessed with an absolutely gorgeous early fall day for their wedding, and enjoyed a day full of love and good times shared with family and friends, creating beautiful memories.

Jen and Brian were a wonderful and fun couple with whom to work!  And, they currently live only a few blocks from where I lived in Northern Virginia when I moved east from Northern Wisconsin (the move was a long time ago!!!)!  Their contracting with me was just meant to be!

Jen's very bubbly personality made working with this couple a complete joy!  She was very organized and kept good notes during the planning process.  I'd check in with her every few weeks or so to see how plans were going so we could check things off of the list!  We chatted more often as it got closer to the wedding date sharing the information I would need to know so that I could make sure the wedding day went just as they dreamed it would!

Jen chose these gorgeous purple dresses for her bridesmaids!

Getting ready!

Hair and make-up providers did a lovely job with an already beautiful bride, bridesmaids and moms!

First look picture!

Lovely setting for the wedding ceremony!

Rabbi Robin Silverman officiated at the ceremony and did a beautiful job!

Enjoying a quite moment at sunset!

Guests were on the dance floor pretty much all night!

The day of the wedding arrived and all went very smoothly!  The staff of Catering by Uptown were great to work with and we all worked very well together!

Providers who were part of making this wedding day just as Jen & Brian wanted it to be were:

Flowers by Judy, who provided the soft Chuppah, the bouquets of colorful roses, and babies breath, and the centerpieces of glass vases filled with water and stems of white spray orchids, with a white candle floating on top -- very romantic feel which is what Jen wanted! 

Soft Touch Photography, who took so many amazing photos of the wedding.  The staff of 4 photographers and assistants captured every minute of the day, which resulted in loads of lovely pictures!

Dual Cam Productions captured the many moments of the day through video.

Catering by Uptown provided fabulous food and a full bar  ~ passed hors d'oeuvres of  Spanikopita, mini beef wellington, chicken satay, cucumber rounds with salmon, and grilled shrimp; Stationary hors d'oeuvres of fruit, baked brie and Mediterranean spreads, and Lobster bisque.  Fabulous dinner of crab cake and grilled filet mignon!  To end the meal was a beautiful and delicious cake ~ yellow cake with raspberry filling and buttercream icing!  Yum!!!  

Chariots for Hire provided transportation services for guests and the bridal party to and from the venue.  The drivers were wonderful!

Bridal Artistry crafted lovely hairstyles for the bride and her attendants!

Kimberly Hughes-Song, ksong9173@gmail.com, added just the right amount of makeup to enhance the natural beauty of Jen and her bridesmaids and the mothers ~ all looked so pretty!

DJ Delights owner, Tom Gavin, kept the dance floor alive!

It was a beautiful day for a wonderful couple and

I was honored to be a part of it!

Weddings Around the World

In the United States, we typically think of weddings as a one-day affair with a white gown and a large cake, but in other parts of the world, wedding traditions can look very different than what Americans typically see. Here are some of the more interesting traditions from around the world that may inspire you to bring some of your heritage into your wedding day.

In the Congo, the bride and groom aren't allowed to smile on their wedding day because smiling is seen as not taking marriage seriously.

In France, the bride and groom traditionally enjoy chocolate and champagne after the reception - yes, please!

Ladies who don't want to go on a diet to fit in their wedding dress should get married in Mauritius! Tradition says that a man with a bigger wife is seen as wealthier because he has the money to feed her.  Therefore, women will eat more before their wedding day.

In Germany, guests traditionally break porcelain dishes to ward off evil spirits - which the bride and groom then had to clean up!

Thinking of eloping? Gretna Green in Scotland is traditionally a popular place to do so. Centuries ago, English law stated the bride and groom had to be over 21 in order to marry but Gretna Green did not have this law, so many underage couples would get married there.

Greek grooms traditionally look to their best man to make sure he looks well-groomed on his wedding day -- by letting the best man shave him, Also in Greece, the new mother-in-law would gift almonds and honey to the fresh-faced groom.

In Guatemala, it's a tradition that the groom's mom break a white ceramic bell, filled with grains like rice and flour, to bring prosperity to the couple.

In Norway, the typical wedding cake is called a kransekake and is make with iced almond cake rings with a bottle of wine place in the hollow center.

In Philippines, the couple releases a male and female dove on their big day to signify a harmonious life together.

Finally, in Venezuela for good luck, the couple tries to leave the reception without being caught. The guest who realizes they are gone also receives good luck. 

Some of these traditions are still going on but some are from the past just waiting to be brought back!

For more information on Events by Lexi, click here

2016 Wedding Trends

Happy New Year!! Hope everyone is having a good start to their year. For those of you who got engaged over the holidays, congratulations and best wishes as you begin this new chapter in your lives!  You’re in the right place if you want to get a head start on some of the trends for weddings this year!

The biggest trend you’ll probably see this year, especially in the spring, will be the Pantone Colors of the Year – rose quartz and serenity, calming colors that will no doubt bring out the joy of your special day! Not into those colors as much? Pantone predicts colors used by designers will be a variety of soft, soothing colors with the occasional pops of bright colors like Fiesta! Perfect for a high energy wedding party. Pantone’s color called Iced Coffee would be a great transitional color into fall and Green Flash would be a great color for an outside wedding. Perhaps you'll opt for letting your bridesmaids get their own, similar looking dress for the day. 

For your own dress, Glamour predicts that Boho brides, with light, off the shoulder, dresses and simple hairstyles will be popular. 

Culinary trends on the whole are predicted to continue with the recent farm to table and locally sourced foods movements. According to restaurant.org, savory, mini desserts and homemade ice cream offer a different take on the traditional wedding cake.

One trend that looks to become popular this year is having a brunch wedding instead of the traditional dinner wedding, Eggs Benedict anyone?

No matter if you consult Pantone, Glamour, Restaurant.com or go with your favorite color and foods since childhood, I hope wedding planning is fun and as stress-free as possible.

If you liked this article, please be sure to share it with friends and family!

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Hidden Venue Costs

Wedding coordinators can help you with the big things and also, all of the little things in all aspects of planning your wedding. One area couples may find frustrating is paying unexpected costs not originally budgeted for  -- such as costs associated with the venue.

According to TheKnot.com, simple weddings in a rustic barn can rack up costs for things such as bathroom trailers (which are nicer than a regular port-a-potty!), some climate control, and a generator since electricity is most likely not available. You and your wedding party will have to either hire someone or get your hands dirty setting up (including hanging lights, so your guests can actually see every kiss and the first dance!) and cleaning up.

Outdoor weddings seem simple enough, but if you plan to have two become one on a publicly-owned property, you may need to get a permit. If your reception is also outside, help your guests by having a Plan B, such as a tent to cover the entire reception space (again, another cost!) in case it rains.

Last but not least, hotels, which are very popular venues, can also have multiple hidden costs. Everything from a charge if the power goes out to a corkage fee for outside alcohol can increase your costs by more than you originally budgeted for. Keep in mind that all of this is something with which your professional wedding coordinator can be able to help you!! 

For more information about Events by Lexi, click here 

Holiday Weddings

As we approach holiday season in the U.S., I thought about weddings that are scheduled on holidays such as New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, even around Christmas. Is it a good idea? What are some Dos and Don'ts of holiday weddings?

I think the number one 'pro' of having a holiday wedding is that you won't forget your anniversary! But your friends and family may already have a vacation or family tradition scheduled for that holiday date, which may make things a bit awkward when guests are put in the situation of having to chose between your wedding and family tradition. On the flip side, friends and family may love that they will already be off work and won't feel guilty about taking a personal day to attend your wedding!

A holiday wedding may be beneficial to your budget when it comes to decorating. You may be able to ask the church or other venue to keep up their holiday decorations for your wedding if they go with your desired color theme. Guests might expect to see traditional holiday colors at your wedding, but try not to go overboard with the colors. Vendors such as DJ's and bakeries, however, may charge extra for services on and around a holiday, some may not be able to agree to the date.

If you chose to have your wedding on a holiday weekend, your out of town guests may appreciate the extra travel time as well as time to explore the area on their own. But make sure you want to invite kids to the wedding, because most families do not want to leave their kids on a holiday!

No matter what, remember that it is your day in your mind, but not all of your guests will be able to attend due to other commitments. Enjoy your day with those who do attend!

For more information about Events by Lexi, click here

Fall 2015 Wedding Trends

Drone Wedding Photos and GoPro Videos - some wedding videographers are starting to bring GoPro cameras and photographers are investing in drones to get an overhead view of an outdoor ceremony or views of the scenery around your wedding venue. The autumn leaves give your pictures and videos a pop of brilliant color that can’t be found during other seasons.

Creative Food and Drink - The Knot says hanging salads and donut dessert walls that double as escort cards are among the creative ideas you can talk to your wedding coordinator or caterer about during planning.

Marsala - Pantone LLC, the world-renowned authority on color, shared that this year’s color is called Marsala. Marsala is a red wine color that is perfect for a fall wedding as a primary color or an accent.

Pumpkins - Other than autumn leaves, pumpkins are probably the most recognizable decoration for fall. It is possible to decorate with pumpkins from the invitations to the reception centerpieces. Invitations can be decorated in a pumpkin orange that mixes well with the other colors (like Marsala) in your color scheme. Small pumpkins with leafy flowers would bring more color and texture to your tables.

Flowers in season - Many flowers may not be in season for your fall wedding or event so you’ll want to be aware of the flowers that are in season. You don't want to pay a lot for out-of-season flowers! Some interesting choices for fall include sunflowers, marigolds or carnations; classic roses are in season in autumn.

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You’re Engaged, Now What?

After calling your parents and best friends, you’re finally able to sit and start to think of all the things you have to do! Confirming a date, making a guest list, seating chart, deciding on colors, a bridal dress, the bridesmaids’ dresses, cake tastings…it can be a lot of fun but it can also be very overwhelming. One of the best decisions you can make is to decide to hire a wedding coordinator with whom you can work well and who fits your personality. A wedding coordinator, also called a wedding planner, can help with the budget, organization, planning, design, and day-of management of your special day.




Here are the top 5 reasons hiring a wedding coordinator should be the first thing you do:
        
     Coordinators will keep you on budget: Making and keeping a wedding budget can be hard when you have a million dollar wedding planned on Pinterest. But it is essential to have this discussion with your significant other and wedding coordinator. A critical part of a wedding coordinator’s job is to keep you on budget.
         Coordinators know local vendors: Planning a wedding means you and your significant other will be deciding on and working with many different people. The wedding coordinator you hire will know about the best caterers, DJs, bakers, and reception venues and will also know whom to avoid. If a vendor fails to appear, coordinators can call a backup. You may even be able to get a discount!
      Coordinators will make sure you don’t procrastinate: Wedding planning can be overwhelming, but coordinators are there to help you keep track of when contracts, deposits, and final payments are due to vendors as well as keeping appointments.
         Coordinators will make your day: Coordinators who work the day of your wedding will make sure everything goes smoothly and that you can focus on enjoying your day with your friends and family. Coordinators can do everything from making a schedule for the wedding day to being the go-to person for vendor and guest questions.
         Coordinators remember the small stuff: Seasoned coordinators know what makes a wedding go from good to unforgettable! It could be something as small as an emergency kit for the bride to something as big as remembering the tip envelopes for vendors.





Now that you know there is someone who will be in your corner, here’s why you should hire Lexi Schafer if you are planning a wedding in the Northern Virginia/Maryland/Southern Pennsylvania areas:

         Polished, Professional and Prepared: Lexi prides herself on having these three characteristics. She has over twenty years’ experience as a wedding coordinator. She has developed relationships with local vendors and knows what’s needed to make your wedding a day you’ll never forget.
         Your day, your way: Lexi always keeps in mind that her primary objective is to put her clients’ interests as top priority.
         Sole Proprietor: Lexi is the only person you will see or speak with when working with Events by Lexi. Your event is the only event Lexi will have on your special day, so she will be able to focus 100% on your wedding.
         Wedding Packages: Events by Lexi offers three wedding packages which vary from last-month preparation assistance to complete wedding coordination. Lexi will also provide timelines for planning and day-of so you stay on track.
      Works with you: No matter which package you pick, Lexi will work closely with you in all of your planning needs to make sure your day is everything you are dreaming it will be while reading this article.

For more information about Events by Lexi click here