Bachelorette for the Belles

Brittany Fuson Paper

This post has been long awaited...because, truthfully it's a tough one. I've been asked many times, 

"How can I make a bachelorette party classy, not trashy and chic, not cheese?"

It's not as easy as some may think, so let's get started with a few ideas.

I love themes! No...not matching t-shirts but an overall party theme. Lately, while tending to my MOH duties for my BF Carly, I've been contemplating cutesy ideas. I'm thinkin' a southern-country feel. The Miranda Lambert bridal party gave me lots of inspiration. Floral and pink dresses with cowboy boots, oh my. Nothing's better than cute and comfy while you prance around the town!

The Nashville inspired invitations below were handmade and copied at a local paper printer. So cute, right?

Now what about proper etiquette and who pays for what? Your bride shouldn't pay for a thing. But that doesn't mean you have to fork the whole bill (talking strictly bachelorette party). Since this includes all her special ladies, it's ok to ask them to throw a little moolah your way.

Get a hotel room. Whether you are drinkin' gals or not, y'all will want to go out to eat, dance, and strut your stuff. You don't want to worry about hitching a ride back home. Get some digs close to where you want to par-tay and have some fun!

Games...My favorite one so far has been the 'This or That' game. Before the party, call the groom with 10-15 questions (naughty or nice), his answer being his preference between 'This or That.' With each answer, have a little gift for her to take along to the honeymoon. Ex. Boyshorts or Thong? Assign each bridesmaid a gift to correlate so you don't go broke-city.

 Lauren playing This or That! 

Plan a photoshoot! Set up a self timer and work it! You'd be surprised the pictures that become with only a few seconds to get your big group together. Got an old-school Polaroid camera? Set up a clothes line to post the pictures on at the end of the night. It's great memories the bride can take with her!

Dance, dance, dance. Spend some time on iTunes and pick some jams that will get y'all excited for the night! Music will loosen the belles up and be a good background filler for games.

Keep it Southern! You can't go wrong with a splash of south! Consider drinks in mason jars, lace, candles, and hanging flower poms! Decorating the room can be inexpensive and elegant, just get a little creative! 

Lastly, consider a Boudoir Party. I'm not sure that anyone does it better than photographer, Courtney Dellafiora. Click here to see what all my hype is about. Obsessed. 

Hope this helps, dolls! Just remember to keep your bride in mind, what she likes, and how she would love to spend a night as a bachelorette! 


Don't forget to keep the dream wedding votes coming in for Ms. Amanda Nettles! Click here! 

Be a Gem...

Attention ladies (and the four guys that read SB, including my father)...I beg of your help because, yep, I'm living vicariously through my sweet sorority sister, Ms. Amanda Nettles. Recently this belle's beau put a ring on it and now they have a chance to win big! They are currently in a race to receive...

A reception at a beautiful Mississippi Country Club,Wedding Photography, a firework presentation and a Honeymoon trip to Paris! (I know...amaze)

Now, I know we are all bursting with envy but join with me in helping them win this absolutely amazing opportunity. Because if you do...and they win...then I'll blog...and for a few precious moments, we can pretend we were right there with them. Right there, kissing beneath the fireworks, and hopping in a car to enjoy tea and crumpets in Paris!

So, go on...be a gem and vote for our fellow belle! If all my readers vote once a day, there's no way we can't sweep the competition! 

Vote HERE (left side bar, Amanda Nettles and Chris Kirtland) Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday! 

Pumped Up Kicks

Hello my stylish brides-to-be. I've come upon a dilemma...it's easier to find a snow flake in a Louisiana summer then to find affordable, awesome, white shoes. And, it's not like you can just pop over to the department store whenever ya' want. White has to be in season, they have to be hott-mama, and have to be anti-maw-maw.

We are women! We want to feel beautiful at our wedding, and it can't just stop at the gown. So, before you hike up your dress, consider some of the below options. (click on the shoe for a direct link)

Christian Louboutin $165

Badgley Mischka $265

Christian Louboutin $175.80

Badgley Mischka $137.90

Something blue...

Manolo Blahnik $945

Steve Madden $86.90

What to be comfy and cute? While the white crochet Toms are my fave...I had to give you a dash of Tory Burch options!

TOMS $58

Tory Burch $178

Tory Burch $195

Now, go ahead Cinderella...Find your perfect fit.

Xo,
Belle of the Blog

His Best

Guess what friends? Tomorrow's Friday! Go ahead and say aloud with me...Woo Hoo! And before I go any further, you must know that I recently saw Ms. Marian Jordan speak. She is an outstanding author and speaker and a pretty powerful woman of God. Marian spoke on some awesome stuff so now I'd like to share with you!

But what does Marian Jordan have to do with weddings (since that's what Southern Bells is all about!)? Well'p along with your wedding comes a groom. Right? Wait, did you forget...In 'pinning' all the dresses, cakes, and burlap pics, you didn't find the perfect man to post on your 'Dream Wedding' board? (Shut up, I know you have one.)

Brace yourself because I'm about to tell you something your teacher may have skipped in grade school...No man is perfect. Not even those with pressed khakis and pastel button-ups. So it's time for us 'dreamers' to get over it. No man can fulfill all of our needs, always get us the perfect Valentines day gift, say the right things, or remember what you ordered on y'alls first date. We need something bigger than a man, a partner, a frat-daddy, or a husband. And I mean big. Like, God big. 


Marian said it best, "Only God can fill your God spot." That hole in the pit of our stomach that can't be filled with The Notebook and a big peperoni pizza.You gettin' what I'm dishin'? And don't get me wrong, there are really great guys out there, mine included. Who are kind, thoughtful, and remember you like mustard on your sausage biscuits. But they will let us down, at one time or another, as we will similarly.

As I traveled last year for my sorority I met many girls, most who asked, "So, do you have a boyfriend?" (Consultants, you know what I'm talking about). All to which I said yes, as they proceeded to tell me about their love lives. The ladies that got my heart stirring, were those that told me less-than-stellar stories about their beaus. You know, the guys that don't call...the guys that aren't ready for a commitment...the guys that aren't worthy of that girl's heart.

"God wants you to have His best. He made our souls to know what we (our hearts) are designed to do" said Marian. Yep. Let that one sink in. Jesus fought for us. Fought to show us the absolute meaning of love. So, don't settle on less than His best. Don't let your heart be complacent in 'comfortable.'

Remember you are worth it. You are worth lots and lots of love. And when you do find that man, the one that will accept you and all your faults, the one who's faults you will accept, the one that can go on your 'Dream Wedding' Pinterest board...you can be confident in knowing that God, of love unfailing, brought you to His best.


Love y'all lots and lots,
Belle of the Blog

Click HERE to check out Marian's website, more about her, and the awesome books you've got to read!

I'll Drink to That

Cheers Belles and Beaus! As I pondered a post for the week, I passed a drive-thru daiquiri joint on the way home from work. Yes, in the great state of Louisiana you can purchase alcohol in a drive-thru.

Lately, having a signature drink at your wedding is all the rage. I got'ta say...I love it! Whether you and your groom choose a joint drink or a different beverage for each, you're guests will love the yummy cocktails!

Now let's break it down by seasons...

Winter
This one is for my sister-friend, Carly who's getting married January 2013. My favorite Christmas-time drink is the Poinsettia (perfect name, right?). Nom. Nom. Consider adding frozen cranberries instead of ice to make it more festive!

(1/4 cup vodka, 1/4 cup champagne, 1/2 cup cranberry juice, crushed ice or frozen cranberries, 2 strips orange zest)

Spring

Now, for an ode to my Phi Mu ladies in South Carolina, I introduce you to the spiked Arnold Palmer. A mix of tea and lemonade, two southern staples, makes this drink yummy to my tummy.

(3 cups tea, 2 cups lemonade, 10 oz of vodka, lemon slice)

Summer

We all know down here in the pits, it gets rippin' hot. The Cucumber-Ginger Fizzes is deliciously refreshing and will cool ya down quick! Ahhh...

(1 1/2 cups vodka, 2 English cucumbers-1 peeled & coarsely chopped-1 left whole, 1 lime; cut into 8 wedges, 2 bottles sparkling water, 1/2 cup Ginger Simple Syrup)

Fall

Nothin' is better in the Fall than a good glass of wine. Spruce it up with this Rose Wine Punch recipe.

(1/4 cantaloupe-peeled, 1 small peach-pitted, 1 small nectarine-pitted, 2 bottles chilled dry rose wine, 6 tablespoons sugar, 1 1/2 cups golden/red raspberries)

So, cheers to you and your love. It's time to pour a drink and dance the night away!

Mark Eric Photography

Love,

The Belle of the Blog

Pencil Me In

Last, last year (Christmas 2010) momma-girl gave me a rad-tad stocking stuffer. T'was note cards by Brittany Fuson. From that moment on, I was hooked. After seeing a SB post about engagement gift ideas and the note cards I was obsessed with, my sweet friend Analise said that this chick is from 'round our neck of the woods! So, since she's a southern girl...I say we embrace her with open arms, deal?

First comes first...Invitations and announcements! And, yes...She does custom orders. Amaze.

  

Next, let's think about parties! Her cards alone will give you some great theme ideas.

   

    

How about a little something for the special ladies in your bridal party? She has are great cards to ask a friend to be a bridesmaid, or give as a special memento to place in their gift baskets! 

Lastly, having trouble thinking of little 'thank-yous' for your mom and mom-in-law-to-be? They'll definitely go ga-ga over these note cards.

Hope y'all loved today's post and much as I loved writing it! Click on any of the cards above to go straight to Brittany's website. Have a blessed week bellas!  

Amen Sista!

Guess what y'all? It's Thursday and you know what that means. Tomorrow is Friday! And Friday for me means dinner and a movie with my beau. (Whoop.Whoop.) I digress...Recently I stumbled upon this blog entry and it made me smile because this chick read my mind. Rhiannon Nicole, of HeyGorg.com and fellow wedding planner wrote a note to all potential clients. So without further ado, read on sister-friends...

I hope you'll read this. I hope you'll read every little last bit. And I hope it'll make you think. 

What's funny is that I didn't run around as a little girl dreaming of the day I'd be a wedding planner. I always adored crafts and was impressively organized from a young age. But it wasn't until my wedding day, that I decided I should be a wedding planner. Actually, scratch that. I decided I needed to be a wedding planner. Running around that day trying to get things styled and arranged, meeting and greeting my own vendors to make sure they were taken care of, trying to delegate things to people when I should have been playing bride. And then discovering I hadn't even remembered to shave my legs on the biggest day of my life; I needed to make sure this didn't happen to anyone else. Wedding planners are like bras. Sometimes you think you don't need one until it's too late. For me it was sort of too late. Because I needed help that day. 

I get a lot of emails from potential clients. Newly engaged women. Women who are mere months away from the biggest day of their lives. Women who love pink peonies like I do. Women who have seen my work on Pinterest and can hardly count their lucky stars they've found me. Women who need and want my help. Except they always let me know, before I can even have a chance to reply to them, that "they don't have a big budget." And I always know what that means. It means what I charge (because it's on my website), what I value my services, time and expertise to be worth, is too much money for them. Either that, or they don't truly understand what it is they are paying for. Whatever the reason it can be frustrating. 

Wedding planning, coordination, consulting, styling, designing; it can be as confusing as tenth grade algebra (which I failed might I add). Because unlike a photographer who sends you your prints and your disk a few months after your wedding with tangible memories of your big day, I can't possibly send you a boxed up memento of my wedding planning and coordination services. Three weeks, three months, three years and three decades after your big day is over, you can't gaze over to your fireplace mantle and lovingly adore a framed portrait of you and your spouse. Unfortunately, next to that frame there won't be a boxed up Hey Gorgeous Events experience (if there was though, you can bet it would be perfectly wrapped).  

But here's what you can do. You can remember sipping mimosas with your sister the morning of your big day. You can think back to how it felt seeing your reception space for the first time, decorated just the way you always dreamed of. You can remember what it felt like to sit back and enjoy each and every minute of the one day in your entire life that will seem to fly by the fastest. You can do all these things and so much more, without having to worry about lifting a finger. Because I can guarantee that the metaphorical boxed up Hey Gorgeous Events experience I mentioned above, whether it's provided by me or someone else, will be the prettiest, most meaningful, non-tangible piece of wedding memorabilia you own.  

Brides, please know that $500 price tag, for a skilled wedding planner to orchestrate your big day is a price tag too low. Please know that a wedding planner or even a coordinator is so worth  each and every last penny. Please know that as a wedding planner I absolutely want to make your big day as perfect as possible. And I am falttered when you contact me to do the honors. Please also know that trying to negotiate my prices in your very first email, is as awkward for me as it would be for you to go into a steakhouse and tell your server that you are on a budget and can only afford $20.00 of your $60.00 filet; and well, you get my points. Kind of how you'll get what you pay for with me.  

I hope you'll read this. I hope you'll read every little last bit of this. And I hope it'll make you think. 

Match Made in Jackson

Last week I had the honor of coordinating the belle-tastic wedding of Paigelee Hodges and Zach Chancellor. Hosted in Jackson, Mississippi, an old school theater was transformed into a spicy, southern seventh heaven. The setting was adorned with poms, roses, twinkling lights, and mason jars. The evening was great, sweet and covered in lots'o love. Before running through a pathway of sparklers, Paigelee topped off the night by rapping 'Tricky' to all her admiring (and giggling) guests. Check out some pics provided by my brand new camera! (Thanks Jeffrey!) 

Nom. Nom. 

Bridal bouquet. 

Do you love these vases, or what?

The beautiful couple.

Love. This. 

Yep, this is Paigelee rapping. 

Congratulations Paigelee and Zach! May marriage bring you everything you've hoped for and even more! Have a great week everyone!

What's your ultimate wedding city?