Recently in Stacy's Diary Category

I am writing from Memphis , Tennessee , home of the Heartbreak Hotel! You know I couldn't travel through here and not give you some information about how to get married in Memphis .

Check out this website for more information about Graceland 's Chapel in the Woods and more ways to really Elvis it up!

P.S. Today is Elvis' birthday!

If you are anything like me, you are always looking for a bargain. So against our better judgment we sign up to be on EVERY store email list possible. Lately we have been getting bombarded with emails about big deals being offered because the holidays are over... this is actually a great opportunities, oh betrothed ones!

I recommend paying close attention to stores like Michaels, Hobby Lobby and A.C. Moore. These craft stores offer a lot more than crayons and popsicle sticks... look for deals on things like ribbon, scrapbooking paper (place cards, table numbers), blank stationery and silk flowers. Now is a great time to stock up, even if your wedding is not until next year!

 

As I was watching the news of the destruction caused by Hurricane Irene over the past few weeks, it occurred to me that the weekend that she hit was a prime wedding weekend for the summer! I did some digging and there are some pretty interesting stories about how the weather effected weddings in the northeast. I truly hope things are getting back to normal for most of you after wedding crasher Irene graced us with her presence.

Related articles

• Hurricane Irene Disrupts Irene's Wedding In Connecticut (newyork.cbslocal.com)

Did you know that approximately 10% couples who get engaged in America every year make it official on Valentine's Day?

"I dreamed of a wedding of elaborate elegance,
A church filled with family and friends.
I asked him what kind of a wedding he wished for,
He said one that would make me his wife."

Have you chosen a photographer for your wedding yet?

Last night I met with Brenda & Paul of Upstate Photographers. I can't say enough wonderful things about them! Their work is very different from a lot of the wedding photography I have seen and after I left their awesome studio I was thinking how important it is for a bride and groom to select a photographer with whom they are very comfortable.

What to look for...

• The right photographer will have a personality that jives with yours; when this happens, you and your sweetheart are happy and relaxed and the smiles in your pictures will look natural and unrehearsed!
  

• The right photographer will spend time getting to know you and your significant other and will ask you questions in order to find out what types of photos you want at the end of the day.
  

• The right photographer will know what important moments to capture as well as what seemingly insignificant moments to capture that may ultimately be the most romantic and sentimental photographs that you will cherish for a lifetime.
  

Don't forget, flowers will die after a few days, but your wedding photographs may be passed down from generation to generation... if you are worried about your budget, spending a little extra on the photography might not be a bad idea if you can find other places to cut back. So do your homework and find a photographer who meets your needs and will go above and beyond.

I had the pleasure of coordinating a wedding last weekend (see my previous entry about creating a wedding website for more info on the couple) and it was a huge success! The weather cooperated and it was a perfect October day!

I'm interested to know if any couples in the area are getting hitched this weekend... Any Halloween themed weddings coming up? Share your Halloween wedding ideas here!

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of being the Maid of Honor in my friends' wedding. It was the most beautiful wedding I have ever attended and I just had to share!

The bride and groom were married in Ogunquit, Maine on a point overlooking the ocean. The weather was perfect and guests were transported from their hotels to the ceremony via trolley.

Officiating the ceremony was a sea captain who incorporated poetry and nautical imagery that seemed to connect each and every person present to both the bride and groom, as well as the breathtaking view.

Bridesmaids wore marine dresses and held orange themed bouquets; a color theme that was carried on and reflected at the table settings under the tent. The tables were dressed with marine or marine & white striped linens with ball jars of various heights housing all different types of flowers that carried on the theme with oranges, whites and pale greens.

At each place setting was an instructional card on "How to Open Your Maine Lobster" as well as a linen napkin rolled up with a lobster bib and tied with a twine bow.

The food was of course a traditional Maine lobster bake, complete with chowder, clams, mussels, lobster, potatoes and corn on the cob. To finish off, adorable cupcakes with a delectable cream cheese frosting, also tied with a twine bow. Guests enjoyed hand-selected Maine brewed beer in addition to wine. For favors, the bride and groom provided locally packed bags of flavored popcorn.

The couple danced the night away, kicking it off with their first dance to "Beyond the Sea". The stars were shining in a clear night sky and the Mr. & Mrs. could not have been happier! I was so honored to be a part of their day and extremely impressed by how well put together the whole event was. It was a Maine wedding to remember!

The traditional tossing of the bridal bouquet goes all the way back to medieval Europe and stems (please excuse the pun) from the fact that the bride was said to be especially lucky on her wedding day. After the wedding ceremony was over, the bride was essentially attacked by guests who attempted to rip off pieces of her dress to take home for good luck. In order to avoid the post-ceremony riots, brides began tossing their stockings (hence the garter custom) to the ravenous crowds. Finally the tradition settled on the tossing of the bouquet which was a more lady-like option for brides.