HAPPY CANADA DAY!!

Photo Credits: Hyperfocus Photography

INSPIRATION - JUST MARRIED

Thinking of having your own getaway car at your wedding? Here are a few of Viva's favourite!

Check out WPP's bride Andrea on the NYWB blog!

Andrea and Justin are getting married this September in the Catskills and it just so happens that yours truly has the honor of being their wedding planner. Andrea just started a guest blog entry on the New York Wedding Boutique blog and in this first post she shares her thoughts of what it was like in the very early steps of her wedding planning process. She even mentions me in it! Check it out to see what she's said:

http://newyorkweddingboutique.com/guest-blog-entries/wedding-planning-plus/

What Not to Skip - Cake Tastings

Ok, not every wedding includes a cake. Some couples decide to go with some different like cheesecakes or pies, or maybe a selection of mini desserts. But we all know the vast majority of weddings have a big beautiful cake that we all drool over until it finally gets cut and we get a chance to eat it. When planning your wedding, you can ask to have a cake tasting, not only see if you like the taste of a certain bakery's cakes but also so you can try several flavors of cake, fillings, and frostings to know which combinations are going to work best for you. Most bakeries charge a fee for a cake tasting but trust me when I tell you it is worth it! You may not even get a chance to sit and enjoy your cake at your wedding so take this time to indulge while getting a serious afternoon sugar high. Grooms tend to LOVE cake tastings so ladies, if you have been struggling to get your man to certain vendor appointments trust me that he will come with you for this. So make your appointment, scarf down your sweets, and have fun with it! Trust me you won't regret it.

THE GETAWAY CAR

While there are many old school wedding traditions Viva has been happy to see disappear, the getaway car is not one of them. Okay, we should be specific. The time honoured tradition of the wedding party sneaking out during the reception to toilet paper the bride and groom’s car, wrap it in cellophane and fill the air vents with confetti is not what we’re talking about. Having an actual getaway car is.

A common past tradition, wedding guests would gather outside to officially send off the bride and groom earlier in the evening and then continue to enjoy the reception without them. When newlyweds decided to ditch the early exit, choosing instead to party the night away with their guests and often being the last to leave, the getaway car became obsolete.

Well Viva’s happy to report it’s making a comeback! Newlyweds aren't necessarily leaving their reception early, but after exchanging vows they definitely have a car to drive away in with the Just Married decor to prove it. We wonder if Will & Kate having their own getaway car had something to do with it.

Moving On Up!

Wedding Planning Plus has recently moved into a fun office space on Central Ave in Colonie. We are centrally located between Albany and Schenectady and are an easy drive from points north and south. We happily share the space with the amazing husband and wife photography team of Bailly Photography. Office hours are by appointment only so if you want to swing by and say hello just give me a buzz!

It's a super great feeling to have a professional office space and to offer the services of two great wedding vendors under one roof. Come by and check us out!


Office address: 1987 Central Ave, Colonie, NY 12205
To contact WPP for an appointment: 518.269.1243

Today We Made History

Photo by Finer Image Photography

Above is a photo from a wedding I planned for a wonderful couple. They were united in front of their friends and family, but unfortunately when their wedding took place in 2008 they were not allowed a legal union because they were both women.

All humans, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, social standing, or sexual orientation deserve the right to marry. Friday the elected officials of the State of New York - my home state - made the right choice to grant same sex couples the right to marry. I have never been more proud to be a New Yorker.

Alexis and Jon's magazine feature

Alexis and Jon Scahill got married on September 4, 2010. Their ceremony and reception took place at the fabulous Sagamore Resort where they enjoyed incredible late summer weather and gorgeous lakeside views. Many of my most favorite vendors worked on this wedding with me, including Amy Elizabeth Smith for makeup, David Michael Schmidt from Renaissance Floral Design for the flowers, rentals, and design, and the amazing Tracey Buyce who captured these beautiful images with her camera. AES, David, Trace and I make up our own little mini Sagamore dream team and we rocked out yet another great wedding at this property. Once submitted to For the Bride Magazine they couldn't help but put Alexis and Jon's wedding on their glossy pages. So here you are, another WPP wedding featured in the pages of a magazine. We couldn't be more thrilled for the bride and groom or for the fabulous vendors who made this all possible!

Who doesn't love accessories and gifts??

Girls love accessories, and brides are no exception! When it comes to looking for personalized bridal party or parent gifts, ceremony or reception accessories, and fun little add-ons to your wedding day, we offer a wide assortment of all of these goodies. Our new Quite Personally album is on hand in our office and takes just a few minutes to flip through. Contact us by phone or email to set up your appointment!

Check out Jolene and Brad's wedding featured on yet another site!!

Photo by Belathee Photography

Jolene and Brad Walajtys are not only two of my favorite people but they also make up one of my most favorite weddings I've ever had the pleasure to say I planned. If you are a follower of this blog then you know these guys well - they were the wedding in the summer of 2010 who chose to be vintage, soft, hadan intimate guest list of 40 and we turned out some of the most beautiful and memorable details of any wedding I've planned thus far. And as a WPP blog stalker you also know that this very wedding is currently a feature on Martha Stewart Weddings which we are still very proud and excited about! But... Drum roll please... I just learned that Jolene and Brad are also featured on the wedding blog site of Hey Gorgeous! And not only are there new and fun photos posted on this blog (seriously, you need to check this sh*t out) but Jolene adds a special little note in the text about her fairy godplanner (me!!!). Too cool, too beautiful, and seriously too much to handle. Check it out!!!

Meet WPP's newest intern Nicole!

I am so incredibly excited to introduce our newest intern Nicole Matuszko! Nicole is coming on as a wedding planning intern for the summer and fall seasons, meaning she will be working along side Katie and myself in all of our 2011 events! Nicole is a student at Siena College and comes to us with a background in customer service and a strong desire to learn everything there is about the wedding industry. She has a strong drive and a determination to the do the best work she can in both school and professional arenas and we know she will wow all of this year's brides. Nicole is going to be a huge asset and a strong additional to our team and we couldn't be happier to have her! Welcome to WPP Nicole!!

New invitation album is in - And it's all about Save the Dates!

Getting married in 2012 and want to make sure your guests mark your wedding date on their calendar? Send them a cool Save the Date card! We have save the date options in several of our albums but wanted a larger selection so we ordered an album that is filled with nothing but save the date cards, magnets, stickers, scratch offs, and a whole slew of other fun options. Invitation consultations are free and are as easy as popping in our office to flip through our selections. Call or email to set up your appointment.

INSPIRATION - LET IT RAIN, LET IT RAIN, LET IT RAIN

"Find some fun rain boots, colorful umbrellas, and show the rain who’s boss". Those were our words of wisdom in our last post should you be faced with rain on your wedding day. Now here's a little inspiration to help you do just that!







Photo Credits: Odd Sundays, Odd Sundays, Erin Hearts Court, Greg Gibson, Susan Stripling

WEDDING DRESS WEDNESDAY

This month's Wedding Dress Wednesday was an easy one. Viva loves RIVINI gowns and it just so happens that Ashton Station Bridal in Carleton Place is hosting a RIVINI trunk show this weekend. Selections from Rita's Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 collections will be in house. Don't miss it!

" Nikola" in cognac croco and opalo

"Nikola" in cognac croco and opalo