I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that the  last night’s wedding between Jason and Molly from The Bachelor was, well, a weather disaster.  If you missed watching it, it rained and it didn’t just sprinkle, it poured. By the end of the ceremony, both bride and groom were soaking wet and they and anyone in attendance completely forgot about the fact that they were there to be married and not to have their wedding broadcast on national television.

Their wedding was unfortunately the perfect example of why you need a rain plan. Sure, in Colorado we’re lucky enough to have 300 days of sun, but unfortunately, sunny weather is not a guarantee. Here’s my top five reasons (in no particular) to have a rain plan:

1. Your dress is likely the most expensive piece of clothing you’ve ever owned. If your intention is to trash the dress, check-in with your photographer, you can arrange for a trash the dress photo shoots.

2. Like you, everyone of your guests spent money on their clothing, hair and makeup. Drowned rat was probably not the look anyone was seeking.

3. There is a point where you become willing to make your guests uncomfortable. Things like opting not to hold a microphone while sharing your vows even though your guests won’t hear them is acceptable, making them miserable simply because you’re stubborn, not ok.

4. Having a plan in place will alleviate stress. At Talia Events, we always create a rain plan for our clients planning outdoor weddings. More often than not, we don’t have to use it, but just knowing it’s in place offers peace of mind. Consider it an emergency plan, you hope to never need it, but are glad to have it just in case.

5. Unfortunately, when Mother Nature’s “voice” is louder than the two of yours, the vows and everything related to the real reason you’re there gets pushed to the back burner. The crazy weather can quickly become all anyone remebers of the wedding. It’s great to have a pretty affair, but if you and your guests can’t enjoy the flowers because they’ve all blown over, they don’t really set the stage as you intended.

If you need help coming up with a rain plan, give Talia Events a call. Until then, we’ll be standing atop our sudsy soapbox!

I wanted to share another glimpse into the photo shoot at Crooked Willow Farms with you. This is a behind the scenes video that Mike and Summer from Rising Moon Video Productions took of the day. They are incredibly talented and a lot of fun. If you’re looking for videography for your wedding, be sure to snoop around their site.

Enjoy!

Even with all the beautiful things I see each day, sometimes I still gasp. It might be a dress, a flower arrangement or the way a photographer captured the look on a bride or groom’s face. You would have heard multiple gasps and squeals of delight when I first saw these shots from Becky Young Photography of a photoshoot that I was involved in a couple weeks ago.

It was the product of a group of uber-talented local wedding professionals. The design was born mid-chat at a coffee shop with Cori Cook. We were talking about how fun it would be to get together some of our wedding industry friends and put together a photo shoot. Some nearby chairs covered in burnt orange fabric provided the initial inspiration and things were off and running!

We called in the incredibly talented Becky Young, Mike and Summer at Rising Moon Video Productions, Janine from Makeup By Janine , Julie from JS Design Custom, Adrienne from Bebe & Boo, models from Premier Image Agency, Rachael from Girls & Curls and Swept Away Bridal.

Crooked Willow Farms graciously provided the backdrop and after infusions of time and love from everyone involved, here’s a (good sized) glimpse into what we created.

I honestly can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard photographers, cake bakers, florists and others rave about how hiring a wedding planner makes their jobs and the couple’s day so much more enjoyable. There are those who won’t photograph a wedding for a couple without one and venues that insist couples hire one.

If you think about it, you’ve likely paid a photographer a fairly good chunk of change to capture your day. Without a planner there to coordinate things, they are taken away from what they’ve been hired to do to find out why the cake’s late, where the ring bearer’s pillow ran off to or play “hide the bride from the groom” all day long.

I will fully admit that after hearing “Choosing to hire you was the best decision I made” a significant number of times and taking care of my tired tootsies after a long day of running around on a couple’s behalf, I am biased. I believe that no wedding is too small or too simple for a planner. In fact, sometimes those small, simple affairs are the most complicated.

The fabulous photographer Karie McLain put it all well in this post on her blog last week. Take a look and while you’re there, peruse a bit, you’ll like what you see—she’s a talented lady. When you’re done reading, I’ll be here to take your call!

Our names in lights…

from Marchorowitz on flickr

If you’ve been scouring web sites looking for the perfect dress for your maids or even for your mother and haven’t found the perfect thing, take a look at Ann Taylor’s site. As you might expect, the dresses are classic, moderately priced, and come in a variety of great colors and sizes.

And, while you’re there, enjoy perusing the jewelry and shoes too!

Is it just me or are you craving the site of some of these too? Springtime, you can arrive any day now.

from Krislyn Design

I just had a quick conversation with a potential client interested in getting married this summer in a local park. Despite the snow on the ground, the two of them are envisioning what will be a beautiful outdoor ceremony. If you’re thinking of taking things outdoors to a local park, be sure you’re up to date on the city and county’s restrictions and reservation policy.

Check out this post for more information. Happy planning!

No matter where you are or who you’re spending the day or evening with, I wish you a heart that’s a bit lighter today, a bit more tender, and more ready than ever to love.

from Our Labor of Love

One bridesmaid will be 6 months pregnant on your big day, another refuses to wear anything that accentuates her “big hips,” another is short, and another is tall. Finding a dress that will fit and flatter all your maids can be challenging.

Butter by Nadia offers one dress that can be worn 20 different ways. With 20 variations and almost as many colors to choose from, I’m certain that your handful of maids can agree on this one!