The Finishing Touch — Weddings, Events, Design, Paperie

One of the easiest ‘to-do’s’ to check off our list was inviting our bridal party. Since our engagement, Greg and I had no doubt in our minds who we would invite to stand beside us on our big day. The big question was, how would I ask them? I wanted to do something special to let each of them know just how important they are to me and how they have impacted my life. After some brainstorming, I decided to create a video that featured some photos and memories and incorporate a ‘proposal’ to my bridesmaids!

With a little help (ok a LOT of help!) from our good friend Damon of Absolute Media Productions, we decided to create a fun six minute video that would build some laughs and bring a few tears to my gals eyes. Damon wanted to incorporate my personality and style throughout the video as I discussed each bridesmaid, so we decided to go with a ‘Sex and the City‘ theme and drew up a storyboard. In just one day, we shot all of the scenes, recorded all audio and in what was sure the fastest turnaround time ever, by the next day Damon had created an amazing film that I couldn’t wait to share with my ladies!

I invited the girls over for dinner on a Sunday afternoon and prepared some hors d’oeuvres and martinis (of course!) for them to enjoy while I prepared our main dish. Once seated for dinner, and yes there were placecards, we all enjoyed catching up and chatting over some homemade risotto.

As the girls finished up, I snuck out to set up the movie and invited them to watch a special presentation. They had no idea what to expect and their reaction was priceless. There were many, many laughs and way more tears than I expected and when the big question was asked they all said yes! Check out the video here:

Back in the dining room, I reset the table with little cards at each setting asking ‘Will You be my Bridesmaid?’ along with a small info sheet sharing some of the wedding details we have so far. Since I now had six beautiful bridesmaids, we had to celebrate by having some dessert! A big thank you to Paula from Cake Fiction who created beautiful (and delicious!) custom mini-cakes for each of the girls that had their initial along with two rings on top.

It was such an amazing night and it meant so much to have all of my girls together for one special evening. I am so lucky to have them along for the journey and to have them by my side on our big day on January 12, 2013!

 A Huge THANK YOU again to the fabulous Damon Dietz of Absolute Media Productions and Paula Tosonotti of Cake Fiction!

If you are one of the lucky new ladies to become engaged over the holidays ~ CONGRATULATIONS!!  This is such an exciting time for you, your Fiancé (don’t you love to say that??), your families and your friends.  Now that you have made all your calls and most certainly updated your Facebook status your thoughts turn to all the details, details details!

So where do you start?  We thought we would give you a few quick pointers:

1.  Make a stop at your favorite Salon and make sure your nails look great – after all, over the coming weeks it will be all about looking at the Ring!  Try out one of Winter’s hot colors, dark blue or deep purple.

2.  Agree on your Budget & Prioritize what is really important to you.   This is the most important first step to take with your Fiancé and your parents.  Once you have a general number, think about the three areas that are most important to you, whether it be the food, the music, the photography, and note it.  This will be critical information as you start to divvy up the funds.

3.  Contact us!! In all seriousness, once you have determined the budget for your wedding you should reach out to an experienced Wedding Consultant who can help you put a detailed budget and plan in place to start you on the right path.  So many times we see couples who have spent a large majority of their budget on their venue and it makes it that much harder to have all the other things they desire.  Working with a professional will help you avoid these pitfalls.  We can also point you in the direction of some of the most qualified wedding professionals who will fit your style and your budget.  If you are looking to make your wedding design truly your own, working with a Wedding Consultant will help you think outside the box.  Not sure what you want the look to be?  We can help you develop an overall design – from the invitation to the lighting to the table number – that reflects you both.  For your free consultation give us a call at 973-525-5884 or email at info@thefinishingtouchevents.com

4.  Start a  website or wedding blog that will allow you to continue to talk about your engagement and share the details of your planning with friends and family.  It is also a great way to make it easier to share details on travel, lodging and local attractions if you have guests coming in from out of town.  Be sure to post a lot of pictures and share your Engagement story and how you fell in love.

5.  Lastly and MOST importantly, take time to enjoy Your Honey. One of the most important things to remember when planning your Wedding is that it can sometimes be a stressful time, so be sure to enjoy moments with your Fiancé along the way and remember why you making all of these plans.  Spend evenings enjoying dinner together or even schedule a couple’s massage.  Whatever you do, take the time to let each other know how much you appreciate one another and how excited you are to get married.

Just a quick point on the things you don’t have to think about right away – and don’t want to find yourself stuck thinking about so early in the process:

1.  Your first dance song – you have plenty of time to let this one come to you.  And don’t worry – it will.

2.  All the specific details of your menu – remember it should change based on season and you may not know that much yet!

3.  Picking your wedding colors – wait until you know your venue and time of year and this may help drive your decisions.

Congratulations again and we can’t wait to hear from you!!

The TFT Gals

With the new year just around the corner, engaged couples everywhere are looking for the latest trends to make their wedding stand out in 2012. From Victorian fashion, towering tiered cakes to bold themed weddings, we take a look at some of the exciting new trends you will find all through the next year!

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Colors:
For 2012, there will be quite a variety of colors seen throughout. With tangerine tango announced as Pantone’s color of the year for 2012, this will be seen on tablescapes and bridesmaids everywhere! Bold, dramatic colors such as red and black will make a comeback and be seen accompanied with lace accents and overlays. Pastels will be making an appearance through the spring with yellow, sage and lilac taking the lead. Neutral colors such as beige tones and cool blues will also be found for a more natural and organic vibe.

Tangerine Tango

Black/Red Victorian

Pastels

Bridal Fashion:
2012 is year of the lace! Victorian styled gowns are all the rage for 2012. High necklines, long sleeves, full skirts and lots of lace will be seen on many brides heading down the aisle. With Kate Middleton’s gown as inspiration, this trend will be around well through the next year. All black wedding gowns are also making their move into everyday bridal fashion. Always pushing the envelope, fashion designer Vera Wang debuted her line of black wedding gowns this Fall which have caught the attention of many brides to be.

Florals:
Simple bouquets that are classic and elegant will be found often next year. Small pairings of roses, peonies and hydrangeas in blush, ivory and white will be found in the hands of brides and bridesmaids alike. Bouquets will be adorned with pearls, lace and feathers. Custom brooch bouquets are also on the rise which is great for brides of any budget.

Themes:
Themed weddings are making a strong comeback. From old Hollywood Glitz & Glamour to Vintage Big Top Circus, bold themes will be common among couples saying ‘I Do’ in 2012. Themes will be carried throughout the wedding with decor, florals and custom invitations and stationery. Going with their theme, couples will be bringing in additional entertainment along with their DJ or band such as acrobats, magicians, specialty singers/dancers and more.

Cakes/Favors:
Dessert is going to be a main focus in 2012. Wedding cakes will be tiered higher then ever before but the styles will become more minimalist. White cakes with hand painted designs full of color will be seen and many couples will incorporate patterns from their invitations and stationery. Flavors will also be taking it to the next level! 2011 was the year of red velvet but the new year will bring in more exotic flavors such as passion fruit, mango rum and pomegranate. With edible favors still trending, couples are opting for late night snack bars and coffee to go stations with cupcakes, cookies, pastries and more. Guests better be ready to eat when they head to a wedding in 2012!

Honeymoon/Registry:
Couples in 2012 are looking for adventure! Heading to an exotic location such as Thailand or embarking on a safari in Africa has been replacing the all inclusive beach honeymoon trend. In order to experience the most during their trip, couples have created registries that allow guests to contribute towards excursions, meals, and outings during their honeymoon. Online registries such as Cloud 9 Living offer an easy to use website and encourages couples to create memories that will last a lifetime.

There were so many fabulous celebrity weddings in 2011!

From grand tented wedding receptions to barefoot beach ceremonies- celebs were sure to make their wedding reflect their personal style.

Check out some of our favorite celebs wedding day details – sorry Kim K, you didn’t quite make the kut.

Pantone, the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, today announced PANTONE® 17-1463 Tangerine Tango, a vivacious, enticing hue, as the color of the year for 2012!

The 2011 color of the year, Honeysuckle, had been selected as it encouraged us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. Tangerine Tango, a spirited reddish orange, continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward.

We LOVE this color and can’t wait to incorporate it throughout 2012 into many tablescapes, designs and decor!

The look of freshly fallen snow…the smell of the crisp, cool air…the coziness of a toasty warm fire..the feeling of family and friends bundled up and gathered together..

There are so many reasons why The Finishing Touch loves a winter wedding!

Check out this short video featuring some of our favorite past winter weddings that we adore!

When attending an outdoor wedding or event, you never know what type of terrain you may encounter. Whether it’s grass, gravel, cobblestones etc., it could be a challenge to tackle in heels as any heel lover can attest to. You want to dress up – but you don’t wanna sink in – so what do you do? Well, TFT fell in love with the solution and we’ve found our ‘SoleMate‘!

SoleMates High Heeler^® has been designed to attach to stilettos of many shapes and sizes to prevent the heel from sinking into grass or becoming stuck in cracks! The addition of a SoleMates High Heeler^® increases the area at the base of the heel which reduces the pressure and prevents the struggle on ‘rough’ terrain! It is super easy to use as it just slips right over the heel and won’t damage the shoe – and they are super discreet! They offer them in 3 sizes – classic, narrow and wide – and they come in clear, black, silver or gold. These are great gifts for any heel lover!

Now that the holidays are fast approaching, SoleMates is offering a fabulous Holiday Gift Set with their ‘Deck the Heels’ collection! This is the perfect stocking stuffer for the shoe lover in your life. Be sure to check them out and get your pair!