Million thanks to MODwedding for featuring One Fine Day Events on their blog! Check out their tips on how to make your wedding smooth sailing! Images by the lovely Catherine Hall.
Guest Post: Aerialist Press
Here at One Fine Day Events, we love all things "wedding". But one of our favorite things is pretty paper! From the save-the-date down to the place card, we believe the paper details have the power to set the tone for and elevate an event in lovely ways. So, we love to collaborate with talented designers that help our couples create the perfect paper suite for their wedding or event. When it comes to the invitation though, what it says is just as important as how it looks. Your invitation must honor the right people, convey all the right information, and do it all in the right way. There are so many rules, and unless your name is Emily Post, you'll likely need a bit of help finding the right words for your perfectly polite invite.
Cue: Aerialist Press. Not only are they talented designers, but they're also experts on invitation etiquette. Today we are so excited to have Alexandra here on the One Fine Day blog to share her wisdom with us!
Happy Engagement season! Alexandra from Aerialist Press & Foiled Invitations here. A big thank you to the One Fine Day Events team for having us guest post with them today.
The time has come for you to plan your dream wedding and you’ve chosen the fabulous One Fine Day Events team to bring your big day to life! There are so many experiences through the planning process to get excited about, like selecting a beautiful save the date and wedding invite. But wait, are you thinking, how in the world do I word this? Not to worry! We’ve got you covered.
If you’re like most couples, you might find yourselves a little stumped when it comes to writing the proper verbiage on your thoughtfully designed wedding invitation. Our team wanted to make the process a quick and easy task on what we know is a long list of wedding to do’s! We created a pretty little info-graphic and guide explaining the different elements of a traditional wedding invite and what is involved in making sure your wedding invitation is etiquette-approved and true to your style. We also added in some tips and tricks providing an understanding around how many postage stamps are needed and a list of attire options.
InvitationWordingGuide(Blog)
Need more inspiration? We created a full list of 21 wording examples for every celebration style we could think of. You can take a peek at the mega post up on “The Aerialist Blog”. We are also happy to answer any other questions you might have in the comments!
Tahoe Wedding Advice | Bachelorette Party Tips
Now that your best friend, sister, college roommate is engaged - it's time to start thinking about the bachelorette party!!! There are so many ideas but we have a few tips to get you started on the right track. 1. Pick the group that she feels comfortable "letting loose" around | Get the invite list from the bride and let her decide who she would like to have join - if she hasn't spoken to someone in a while or doesn't feel comfortable in Vegas with work colleagues, they don't need to get an invite.
Image: Colleen Kern Photography
3.) Remember this is her night or weekend | Focus on what will make her have fun and enjoy a relaxing evening, not what everyone else wants to do.If sipping wine by a roaring fire while glamping, or partying all night in Vegas are things that will make your bride-to-be happy, then that is what your plan should entail.
Images: Pinterest
2.) Create a Budget | Once you have the guest list created, ask everyone what they are comfortable spending. If it's relatively small, keep this in mind and maybe plan a one-night, local adventure. If everyone has a little more wiggle room, maybe consider turning this into a weekend relaxation trip or quick flight to somewhere fun.
4.) Elect one person for Planning | It's so easy for everyone to brainstorm and come up with a million locations, ideas, themes, etc. Let one person coordinate all of the details and then as a group finalize everything. That way no one is doing double work and everything will be more seamless.
Images: Pinterest
5.) Take care of Transportation | Do everyone a favor and rent either a limo, town car, or party bus. No one wants to be the "sober" one for this fun night out, so everyone should build in their budget an allotment for responsible transportation.
One Fine Day Events is a Lake Tahoe wedding planning company based in the heart of Tahoe City. We specialize in hand tailored Lake Tahoe weddings at private estates and lakefront properties.
Best of the Lake Photography Contest!
Photographers, have you entered Best of the Lake Wedding Photography Contest yet? The entries are coming in and we can’t wait to see your best work! Send your best 5 Lake Tahoe wedding photos to info@tahoeunveiled.com.
With industry judges by yours truly & Matt Theilen of Theilen Photography.
Submissions | Please email your most creative and gorgeous wedding photos to info@tahoeunveiled.com with the subject “Lake Tahoe Wedding Photos”. Please label your photos with a keyword and a number so your photos are kept anonymous from the judges.
Image Sizes | Please send up to 5 .jpg images that are 600 pixels on their longest side, without watermarks. Images can be placed in a .zip file that is no larger than 10MB.
Processing | 5 photos per photographer may be submitted for free, or a processing fee of $5 per photograph will be charged for submissions of 6 – 15 images. Please let us know if you would like to submit more than 5 images and we will send you a google checkout.
Eligibility | Open to everyone, 18 years of age or older at date of entry. Photographs should be from a real wedding that took place in Lake Tahoe who are your clients. (No engagement photos, photos of models, or images from styled shoots, workshops or commercial shoots, please. If you have questions about eligibility, please read our Official Rules or write to info@tahoeunveiled.com for more clarification).
Deadline | Photos will be accepted from 12:01 am Pacific Time, Monday, May 20th, 2013, until 11:59 pm Pacific Time on Monday, June 17th, 2013.
Prize / Exposure | If your photo/s are chosen you will receive a winner’s badge to display on your website or blog, your copyright—including your name and business name—will be prominently displayed as part of our Best of Lake Tahoe Photo Collection on Tahoe Unveiled’s website and blog, with a link to the photographers website or blog. Your photos will be part of our marketing campaign to promote Lake Tahoe as a world class wedding destination.
Notification | Winners will be determined by Friday, June 21st and notified by Monday, June 24th. Winners will be notified through the email address provided in their submission form and will be asked to approve the caption to be shown in our Best of Lake Tahoe Weddings Photo Collection.
Disclaimer | By submitting any photographs to Tahoe Unveiled and entering the contest, you agree that Tahoe Unveiled has the perpetual right to publish the Photographs on its websites and its affiliated web-based social media outlets. Tahoe Unveiled will credit you by name and/or company if it publishes your Photographs.
One Fine Day Events is a wedding planning and production company based in Lake Tahoe. We specialize in hand tailored weddings at private estates and resorts in North Lake Tahoe.
Press & Events | One Fine Day Events featured on Wedding Lovely
We were recently interviewed by Wedding Lovely and are just tickled pink to share it with you today. Tracy with Wedding Lovely asked us a few questions about our company and what it's like to plan a wedding in Lake tahoe - Click below to find out why we love what we do!
Photography Credit: Kirsty Edwards Photography
One Fine Day Events is a Lake Tahoe wedding planning company based in the heart of Tahoe City. We specialize in hand tailored Lake Tahoe weddings at private estates and lakefront properties.
Little One Love | Lake Tahoe Wedding Inspiration
You can't underestimate the charm or utter adorableness that bringing in a little one can create for your wedding day! However; although many of us have had visionary dreams of kisses on cheeks and smiley walks down the aisle with little ones, it's always a good idea to have a contingency plan. Be prepared for melt downs, and in the case that the little ones are unable to perform their duties, have someone on hand to take them to a quite place away from the celebration so that no too much attention is drawn away from your vows.
First Row: Heart Love Weddings | Elizabeth Messina Photography Second Row: Elizabeth Messina Photography
One Fine Day Events is a boutique wedding planning company based in Tahoe City, CA. We specialize in hand made weddings at private estates and lakefront properties in Lake Tahoe.
Our favorite this week from Tahoe Unveiled
Who knew there was so much to learn about ties and tuxes! This week on our sister site, Tahoe Unveiled, we were educated on all the different stylings of Tuxes and Suits. From American to Italian, take a peek & click on the image below for all you might ever want to know!
One Fine Day Events is a wedding production company specialized in private estate weddings in Lake Tahoe.
Our Favorite this week from Tahoe Unveiled
This week on our sister site, Tahoe Unveiled, we had the pleasure of receiving some much needed great advice! After the big day has (literally) flown by, it's always a good idea to look at what is remembered and what can stand to be forgotten (small, annoying set-backs, un-needed advice and stress, and hardcore dieting!). See below for some great advice from a married woman to a bride-to-be.
Photo Courtesy of Polly Alexandre
One Fine Day Events is a wedding planning and production company based in Lake Tahoe. We specialized in hand tailored weddings at private estates and resorts in North Lake Tahoe.
Our Favorite this week from Tahoe Unveiled
This week has been unintentionally devoted to some of your best allies in the wedding world - your bridesmaids! It can super stressful planning your wedding with the costs, budgets, family dilemas and destination wedding planning in general. But, one more thing to consider is the financial stress it might cause to your bridesmaids. It is always a good idea to come up with a rough estimate of what you are asking your bridesmaids to spend for your wedding and then making sure it's a comfortable and realistic amount for everyone involved - take a peek below for the average costs of a maid.
Press & Events | Lake Tahoe Photography Workshop with Bret Cole & One Fine Day Events
I am just tickled pink with excitement and so honored to be a guest speaker for Bret Cole's Photography Workshop this fall!!!
The workshop is taking place all over our beautiful Lake Tahoe! Bret will be teaching photographers the art of her fantastic eye and skills, while the guest speakers will be lending a hand on the many other aspects involved with wedding photography. We have some fantastic venues picked out for the photo shoots AND a few more locations for the speaker sessions - and of course wining and dining!! I will be talking about what wedding planners are looking for in their photographers, how to continue to receive referrals from wedding planners, and a few other topics!!
For more information and to sign up, go to www.BretCole.com/workshops
The Idea Board | Summer Welcome Bag Essentials
A great way to welcome your guests to a destination wedding weekend is to curate a great little welcome package with important items and notes that help all of your guests feel instantly comfortable in their new home for the week. I've come up with a *Summer Essentials* list to help perfectly welcome your guests & make sure they have everything they need to breeze through the wedding weekend in style!
Essentials to include in Summer Weddings:
- Sunscreen for the strong mountain sun
- Water Bottle to take on hikes
- Restaurant and Activities guide to help decide what to do and where to eat
- Important Numbers to have on hand for emergencies
.
Extra Goodies that are fabulous to add in:
- Champagne to sip on while at the beach
- Snacks to munch on after a long hike
- Facial Mist to cool off with after a hot day
- Baked Goods to eat late night after cocktails
- Lake Tahoe Souvenir to take home and remember all the great memories
Tahoe Unveiled's Weekly Juice!
This week on our sister site we saw a gorgeous PlumpJack wedding through a beautiful vintage lens & were encouraged to think outside of our flower box with innovative and super unique non-floral bouquet ideas. We were also excited for summer with a super cute parasol inspiration and are now prepped and ready to become the most beautiful brides we can be with expert makeup tips from Kari Addison. And last but certainly not least we were provided with plenty of great information about the newest Lake Tahoe Wedding Planner on Tahoe Unveiled, Melissa Panico of MAP Events! Well, Ol' Man Winter decided to pay us a visit again but I'm looking past it and getting super excited for warm weather, flips flops and sunshine. Summer - please get here soon...we're ready for you!!!
I am thrilled to introduce to you one of our newest vendors, Melissa Panico of MAP Events!! Melissa has been planning events in San Francisco & Tahoe for years and is an expert when it comes to....click here to read the rest of the post!
Today’s real wedding was brought to us by hair extraordinaire Kori Walker of Kolor by Kori! Looking through the vintage lens of David Newkirk I can see why this couple got married – they love to....click here to read the rest of the post!
I love weddings with just a touch of whimsy. There’s something so romantic about vintage and feminine touches, and parasols capture all of that. A parasol is basically....click here to read the rest of the post!
As a bonafide makeup junkie, I am so excited to bring you all this post! After browsing through hundreds of wedding pictures over the last few months, I really wanted to get....click here to read the rest of the post!
As I was browsing through Pinterest the other day, I saw a bridal party that swapped traditional flower bouquets for whimsical blue pinwheels (pictured below). This got me to thinking....click here to read the rest of the post!
Thanks for stopping by; to read any of these posts in full please visit Tahoe Unveiled
Fab Find | Emily Post's Etiquette
Emily Post is the quintessential advice guru and they've just come out with the latest edition of wedding advice that will prove valuable even after the "I Do's." Emily Post' Etiquette, 18th Edition - Manners for a New World features a section on nuptials and covers everything from classic manners and wedding no-nos to first-time topics including tweeting, iphone usage, Facebook etiquette and traditions from both the classic and new wedding era.
Be sure to pick up a copy of the latest edition so you'll alway's be on top of your P's and Q's!
Tahoe Wedding Planning Advice | Budgeting
Everyone knows one of the most stressful things about a wedding (aside from everything!), is the budget. Whether you have a million dollars or twenty to work with, one of the most important things to do when planning your wedding is to develop a realistic budget! Although, one of the hardest things to do is to develop a realistic budget that can incorporate everything you love and desperately need to have throughout the wedding festivities. Here are a few of our tips: #1) Create a list of the top 3 most important aspects of the wedding. These should be the aspects that are the most important to you, your fiancé, and whoever is paying for the wedding. Consider flowers, music, ambiance, venue, decor, photography, organization of the wedding weekend, size of the guest list, and paper goods.
#2) Create a spreadsheet detailing the vendors you wish to book and the various costs. Make sure you include a "just in case" fund and a "miscellaneous" fund. I always factor in $1500 - $2000 in the "Just in case fund" for our clients. You never know what kind of last minute situation could arise (bad weather, road closure, missing vendor, etc) and you don't want the unexpected to ruin your wedding because you couldn't afford to fix it.
#3) Find out how much vendors charge for flowers, catering, venues, and photography costs in Lake Tahoe. Our pricing is not the same as every other region for several reasons: 1) We are in the mountains and our resources are limited, 2) we have to ship many products in, or factor in a 2 hour delivery service, or drive 3 - 4 hours 1 direction to purchase specialty items, 3) the Tahoe elements can be harsh on equipment and vendors need to plan accordingly, and 4) Lake Tahoe is a tourist destination - the town only makes money during the 3 month peak season when people get married and travel here for vacation.
4) Don't forget to factor in the little details. Ask your vendors for all of their costs so that you don't forget to factor them into your budget. Catering companies will always charge an additional fee for staff; musicians from out of town will need hotel rooms; and the florist will charge an event fee for delivering, installing, and breaking down the flowers.
5) Anticipate the highest bill for alcohol. If you book a venue that charges alcohol on a consumption basis, or if you are bringing in your own alcohol you need to plan ahead. You don't want to run out of alcohol or find yourselves dumbstruck on your wedding night when you discover the bar bill is twice what you budgeted. Work with your planner to figure out an accurate consumption formula - I recommend estimating on the high end, as it is always better for the bill to come in lower rather than higher!
Lake Tahoe Wedding Planning Advice | Gift Bags
When planning a destination wedding it is really important to make sure your guests know where to go and what to do when they arrive. As Lake Tahoe wedding planners, we are very accustomed to guiding our client's guests around this beautiful destination. The best way to do so is with a pretty little gift bag! During the week prior to our client's weddings, our studio is often full of treats, welcome letters, champagne bottles, and totes for the guests. After assembling each bag, we deliver them to the appropriate hotels and vacation rentals. When the guests arrive, they are greeted with a welcome letter from the couple, an itinerary of the wedding festivities, and a few treats to make their stay more enjoyable! This past weekend, we had a winter wedding in Truckee and created the welcome bags pictured below! They were complete with a hand sewn tote by the mother of the groom, trail mix, a mini champagne bottle, and hot chocolate to keep everyone warm!
~Things to include in a welcome bag~
Welcome Letter Thank your guests for traveling to your wedding and greet them with a little note from you and your future hubby! If you are providing transportation to the wedding, include shuttle times to and from their hotel or vacation rental.
Activities Card This essential little card should provide all the crucial information for making the most of the wedding weekend. Include all of your favorite restaurants and activities to do while in town. You could also include places to go for a little pampering or a last minute mani-pedi!
Treats Who doesn't love champagne and chocolate?! Or H2O and sunscreen to help with Tahoe's intense summer sun? Give your guests the essentials for making sure they have the best time possible; they'll love you for it and you'll know you've provided everything they need to make it the best wedding they've ever been to - win-win! A few treat ideas include: cookies from a local bakery, cheese and crackers, or even a momento from a local well known shop (tahoe house has some yummy marinades and salad dressings)! Since most of your guests will not be used to the elevation, we highly recommend adding a water bottle or even a re-usable water bottle with your motif on it!
Happy New Year!
From everyone here at One Fine Day Events we wish you and your loved ones a Happy New Year!
Image courtesy of Style Me Pretty
*For information on all the great parties in Tahoe to ring in the New Year, please visit Tahoe Unveiled.
Lake Tahoe Holiday Tips!
The Holidays are here and everyone loves a party! We've compiled two different inspiration boards on our sister site, Tahoe Unveiled, for everyone to draw inspiration from. We've also thought up a few fun ways to incorporate your community into your fabulously decorated soiree along with a few tips and tricks to make sure everyone has a great time at your bash! First up; everyone loves silver and gold! Whether throwing on a fabulous silver party dress or having your guests sip out of gold-rimmed glasses, silver and gold are the ultimate holiday colors. Here are a few images to inspire your next Holiday party!
To view any of these inspiration boards in full, please visit Tahoe Unveiled's Blog!
To really make the most of your Holiday party this year, try helping your community out and giving your guests a real reason to celebrate! Make the party into a charity donation by asking guests to bring in a canned good in exchange for a drink ticket or special snack. You could also create a beautiful box in which to ask guests to donate a gently used jacket or sweater for the community shelter. To really bring a little life to the party, try throwing a festive and fun competition in which everyone contributes a small donation to & the winner gets to donate the earnings to his or her favorite charity.
*Tell all of your loved ones how much you care about them this Holiday - tis the season of joy, love, and celebration. Happy Holidays Everyone!
One Fine Day Featured on Hindsight Bride | Tips for Planning Your Destination Wedding
A few weeks ago we had a great chat with Christie from Hindsight Bride. She interviewed me to give her viewers a few tips on how to plan a destination wedding in the mountains. As 99.9% of our clients live outside of Tahoe, we work really closely with them and our vendors to make sure every little detail is organized! In this podcast interview, Christie and I discussed budgeting funds, photo shoots, the difference between a planner and a venue coordinator, and where I find my inspiration! If you'd like to listen to the interview, you can click here (side note, the interview doesn't work in Chrome)! I can be a tad bit verbose and definitely rambled on a bit - feel free to fast forward!
To listen to the podcast, click here!
Toasting Tips
After you say "I Do," friends & family will want to congratulate and honor your vows by toasting to your marriage. We have prepared a toasting guide for you and others who will be toasting at the wedding- when to speak, how to keep it short and simple, and what to drink.
Who Speaks: Traditionally, the father of the bride initiates the toast and summons everyone to enjoy the meal while congratulating the new couple and thanking everyone for joining in on the celebration. With Champagne in hand, and after most of the dinner is completed, the other speeches are given. The Maid and Man of honor are usually first to give the speeches. Siblings or non hosting stepparents are welcome to give a speech at this time as well. Finally, someone can cap off the speeches. This can be either the groom, if he wants to say a few sweet words about his new wife, or the host can come back for a final thank you (and a "Let's get this party started!") spiel.
How to make it Memorable: Here are some tips to make the speech memorable, in a good way!
1.) Don't wing it - It's important to have a game plan when giving a speech; otherwise your potential to get nervous and start rambling will only intensify as you start talking. If you have a somewhat planned speech it will give you more confidence and calm your nerves.
2.) Keep it short and simple: Most speeches should take between one and two minutes but should not go over three minutes. This is not the time to tell every story about your childhood friend or high school adventures. Keep the stories to ones everyone will know (and not be embarrassed about!) and try not to ramble or people will become uninterested.
3.) Talk about the couple: It's fine to start with, "I've know Liz for 12 years..." but also try to weave in the groom, or other half of the couple. Remember this day is about both of them and not just the person your the closest with.
4.) Limit alcohol intake before the Speech: I know you will probably be nervous to give a speech in front of 100+ people, but just remember that you will know the vast majority of them and they are your friends. Try to stay calm and don't drink too much alcohol before the speech or you may end up saying something you regret, or worse, that embarrasses the new couple.
What to Drink: Champagne is the traditional choice for wedding toasts. In order to be called "Champagne", the grapes must have been grown from the Champagne region of France. Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Brut Blue Label, Ruinart Blanc De Blancs, & Poper-Heidsieck Brut are all perfect for popping on your special day. Another idea would be a signature cocktail. The options are endless but make sure it's something most guests will enjoy and have the caterers serve another choice, such as sparkling cider, as well. Whether you decide to go the traditional route or make up your own drink, be sure your caterer knows when the speeches are so they can make sure each guest has something to toast with when the time comes.
Bridal Essentials Kit
When it comes to your wedding day you can never be too prepared. That's why we have come up with a little Bridal Essentials list to keep you from having a meltdown and make sure everything (including the wedding night!) runs smoothly. If you are getting married in Tahoe, even if it's in August, you are going to need something to fend off the night chill. Once the sun goes down, the chilly air comes out! Make sure to have a pretty scarf, vest, or cardigan to throw on over your wedding gown so you can still enjoy the outside without shivering.
Next, you'll want to eventually kick off those wedding shoes and a pair of flip flops close by will save your feet and keep you on the dance floor.
Remember we are at 6,200 feet, which means we are that much closer to the sun and sunscreen is a bridal essential.Try to avoid any oily sunscreen which will only make your face shiny for all the photos. We like Neutrogena Sunblock Ultra Sheer Dry, and you can find it in any grocery or drugstore.
You should also visit Ms. and Mrs. website; they have lots of little Bridal Essential tool kits that will save you from any last minute dilema. These little kits include everything from earring backs to double sided tape and even stain remover and extra wedding bands.
Last but certainly not least, don't forget your wedding night! Wow your new hubby with some beautiful and sexy lingerie, like this little number from Victoria's Secret.
Above everything else, just remember to breathe. This moment in your life will only happen once so try to forget any of the little things that may go wrong and enjoy your day!
First Row: Victoria's Secret | Polyvore Second Row: Catherine Hall Photography Third Row: Ms. & Mrs. | Neutrogena