newbeginningsweddings.com Blog

Today, we met our bride at Priscilla of Boston, Atlanta.  Absolutely fabulous is what this salon is!  The selection of bridal gowns and designs are simply delightful.  Not to mention the care and service the staff extends to their brides.  This trip, we had the pleasure of being cared for by Megan Scott.  Megan was awesome!  She gave our bride, who was just starting the search for her bridal gown, a little bit of extra love:-)  Thank you, Megan!

Priscilla of Boston is right in the heart of Buckhead near Phipps Plaza and Lenox Mall.  Here is the information:

3234 Peachtree Road, N.E.

Atlanta, Georgia  30305

For appointments, call 404-475-4505.

www.priscillaofboston.com

Every bride wants to look her absolute best on her wedding day.  But sometimes, even a pretty face needs just a little enhancement.  Our experience is that it takes exceptional talent to enhance natural beauty so it does not look “fake” or “made up”.  The type of makeup you use also makes a world of difference in how wonderful your beauty is reflected in photos and on video.  So, where does a bride, or anyone who is looking for a professional makeup artist go for hot and top talent?  Alicia Brown of Makeup by Alicia is where.

Several years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Alicia.  Since that time, she has become one of Atlanta’s hottest makeup artists. But her talent is in no way enjoyed by just us here in Atlanta.  Alicia’s work was seen nationwide on last season’s “Real Housewives of Altanta” on Bravo.  She was also a key makeup artist for the 2008 BET Hip Hop awards. Yes, she is that good.

Alicia is one of my favorite artists not only because of her incredible talent, but more importantly because she puts her heart and soul into everything she does.  Our clients love that she takes care to make each one of them feel special not just about their outer beauty, but also about their inner one.  Alicia possesses a level of excellence that warrants mentioning.  Her warm, loving personality, excellence and integrity compels me to share with you that we love her way of doing business. 

Her credentials also speak to her commitment of her art.  She is a certified airbrush makeup artist, M.A.C. certified in Fashion Show, Bridal, Television and Film.  In addition she holds eye lash certification that include Oasis Lash Extensions.  By the way, I encourage “every” bride to select airbrush makeup.  There simply is nothing like the airbrush application Alicia uses.  It holds up in heat, does not have to be touched up as much, and is the best approach for enhancing natural beauty. 

If looking your absolute best is what you want, and you do not mind paying a little more for it, then Alicia Brown is the makeup artist that you are looking for.  I love that although she does have a studio, she is still willing to travel to the clients.  Now, that is what I call customer service!

Below is Alicia’s information.

Makeup by Alicia

www.makeupbyalicia.com

404-840-4301

Call Alicia today.  Her schedule books up quickly.

Happy planning!

  
Of all the wedding professional services you secure, none will be as important as your wedding photographer.  Why is that you ask?  Because the wedding photographer is the one, or ones, who will “capture” your wedding day experience on film.  Your wedding day cannot be repeated.  A seasoned wedding photographer understands that.

You also want your wedding photographer to use the necessary tools that result in photos which are able to stand the test time.  Wedding photographers have a tremendous responsibility when they are entrusted to shoot a wedding.  This duty is so important, that it really should not be left to novices.

Over the years, we have had the pleasure of working with many talented wedding photographers, in the city and across the country.  And, eventually, I hope to be able so share with you all of them. But for now, I simply must share with you one of my favorite Atlanta wedding photographers, N’neka Scruggs of Images by N’neka.  N’neka is not your average wedding photographer.  N’neka is so good, that many of our clients have said when she presents them with proofs for photo album selection, they did not even remember her getting the shot.  Now that is talent!

N’neka holds an impeccable eye for details and is exceptionally disciplined at her craft.  It probably has a little something to do with her military service in the Air Force (she was a Captain), along with her academic career which culminated in conferment of a Mechanical Engineering Degree.

I have worked with N’neka for many years and not once has she ever let any of our clients down.  Clients rave about her commitment to excellence, flexibility and service. N’neka has also worked with famous people and you can see a few of them on her wedding blog.  This is exactly the type of Atlanta Wedding Photographer that you want to book for your wedding.

If true service, talent, commitment and expertise is what you want, then Images by N’neka is where you can find them.  N’neka is not exclusively a wedding photographer.  See her gallery to view other examples of her extraordinary photography.

To contact N’neka, below is her information.  Be sure to let N’neka know how you found her.

Images by N’neka

www.imagesbynneka.com

770-413-9925

Cheers!

Yesterday, I received the most decadent chocolately designs that I have ever had courtesy of Dori O’Dell with “Totally Chocolate.”  Talk about making your wedding decor sweet:-). Totally Chocolate has been featured on WE Television’s Platinum Weddings.

Totally Chocolate offers a unique way of presenting wedding reception accents like menus and favors by making them completely out of rich Belgian milk, or dark chocolate.  All designs come in their own boxes and organza bags, which adds a touch of elegance to this unique and customized element.

Clients absolutely love these because they are different and guests take away something unique, personalized and sweet from the wedding reception.

If you are interested in getting chocolate designs for your wedding, click on the link below for the catalog.  Dori can be reached at 800-255-5506 x 1128 or via email at dodell@totallychocolate.com.  Her personal service iss excellent, both before and after order, and delivery is fast and as promised.

Tell Dori you found her courtesy of Rhonda at New Beginnings Weddings when you speak with her. 

Here is the catalog:

Totally Chocolate Wedding Specialist Dori O’Dell

Enjoy!

Here are a few bridal events that we are sure you will enjoy.

Chic Occasions Bridal Show

Sunday, March 29, 2009

12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Marietta Conference Center

Powder Springs, Georgia

Admission Free

2009 Bridal Event and Extavaganza

Hosted by Creative Ambiance

Sunday, April 19, 2009 – 2:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

The Mall of Georgia Conference Center

3333 Buford Drive

Suitve VB03

Bufor, Georgia 30519

*No cameras, video cameras or solicitation material will be allowed from attendees.

Admission Free

Do you have a unique engagement experience or unusual proposal story?  Is it inspiring and romantic?  We would love to hear from you and hopefully use it to inspire our readers.  Send us an email now describing your special experience today. 

Cheers!

One of the most common questions we are asked is “how important is the selection of my wedding site?”  Pretty darn important.  Besides the obvious concern, i.e.: money, the style and atmosphere of your location is crucial to the type of party you will have.  Specifically, you want to look at three main areas when selecting your venue:  space, design and location.

Space

Your location should be big enough to accommodate your guests.  It also needs  make your reception appear full.  For instance, if your guest list is only 100, you would not want a location that seats 250.  Because on the day of your wedding, the perception of attending guests will be that empty seats represent absentee guests.  When in essence, it was because the space was too big to begin with.

You also do not want a space that is too small.  Too many guests crowded in a tight location raises the room temperature, makes movement difficult and congested and says to your guests that you did not have enough money to secure a space large enough to accommodate them.  Embarassing!

Design

This one is often overlooked.  What are the colors like in relation to your wedding colors?  Will you have to take on additional decor cost to camouflage the designs in the space (i.e.: table linens, chair covers, etc.?  Or, do they enhance your vision?  A space should require minimal sprucing up and complement your wedding theme.

Location

Preferably, you want a wedding reception location in the same venue as your wedding ceremony.  Often you can realize a cost savings by doing this and it eliminates travel time between the two.  However, if this is not possible, choose venues that are not more than ten miles from each other. 

The reason: time.  Guests normally arrive before a wedding about 30 minutes.  If they have to travel to another location for the wedding reception, that could add another 30 minutes.  By the time you and your Groom arrive, 1 1/2 hours could have easily passed since guests arrived for your ceremony.  This can make for very anxious guests.  Sometimes, we lose guests because they are hungry and tired of waiting.  This can result in lost money because we have already guaranteed their attendance with the caterer.

So…while there are many variables to factor into selecting your special place, keep in mind that these are the top three.

Cheers!

So…you saw “The Wedding Planner” and are inspired.  Or, maybe you have planned your best friend’s wedding, or even your own and now you want to become a wedding planner because you just LOVED all of the fun you had.  That is great.  But..the reality is..wedding planning is hard work.  And, if you fail to deliver what you contract with your client’s on their wedding day, you CAN be sued.  Remember, this is one of the most important days of a person’s life and should not be taken lightly.  Thus, at the very least, you should take some sort of wedding planner training class to emanciate yourself into the “ins” and “outs” of the wedding industry. 

There are a lot of wonderful programs and courses available.  Which you decide to take depends solely on what you hope to get from the course.  Understanding the seriousness of the business of making wedding dreams come true, our course is especially beneficial.  Not only do we provide the basics of wedding planning, we also offer post-training support both from a business standpoint and a wedding planning one.  Support we believe is critical to the success of every beginning, novice and aspiring wedding consultant.

That is why if you are serious about planning weddings as a business, and want to avoid the major pitfalls of starting up, or maintaining your wedding consultancy enterprise, enroll in our course today.  You may visit the website at:

Wedding Consultant Certification Institute

http://www.weddingconsultantcertificationinstitute.com

We believe that most wedding planners run into problems with their wedding planning businesses simply because they have not been empowered with the basic tenets of truly running a business.  Do not let this be your story.  Enroll today!

Our next class is:

Saturday, July 19, 2008, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Wyndham Midtown Atlanta Hotel and Resort, 125 10th Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia

The cost is to register is:

$595 (Expires June 30, 2008)

$795 (July 1, 2008 – July, 8, 2008)

$895 (After July 8, 2008) Email or call for availability.  Spaces are limited.

Payment Installment Plans are available.  See website for details.

Cheers!

We would like to welcome our most recent partner…Belle Mariee Couture Weddings.

Belle Mariee Couture is a professional manufacturer of wedding gowns and bridal attire selling their own Belle Mariee brand of designs, along with a vast array of custom dresses worldwide.  Heather Park, Owner, and her team of talented designers are known for providing their clients with the highest quality fabrics resulting in designs that are elegant and stylish.  Belle Mariee’s designs are all handcrafted, fashionable, delicately attractive and exceptionally well-made.  Belle Mariee’s designs are delightfully affordable.  Custom designs start similar of some off the rack bridal gowns.

Belle Mariee is a total wedding shop.  By providing photography, videography, hair & make-up, flower arrangements and decor, invitations, etc. they are able to meet all your needs timely and cost effectively resulting in an exceptional wedding planning experience.

When calling, or visiting Belle Mariee, please tell them that their friends at New Beginnings Weddings and Events referred you.

7130 Buford Hwy. Suite A130
Doraville, GA
404-667-2025
www.bellemarieewedding.com

Out of all the areas of wedding planning, it appears that validating the cost associated with hiring a wedding planner is the most challenging for couples.  I do not believe it is because couples do not see a need for the service.  Rather, my experience over the last seventeen years is that many couples one) have a pre-conceived notion of how much they believe a wedding planner should cost, and two) they simply do not have a clear fundamental picture of what wedding planners do. 

Wedding planners are service professionals.  As with any service professional, you are paying for that person’s time, labor and expertise.  As service-based professionals, wedding planners set out rates along those of the service industry standard.  Said hourly amounts can be as low as $50 to as high as $125, or higher in some more populated metropolitan areas.

What does this mean? Seasoned wedding planners will have gained the knowledge of how much time and labor a particular style of wedding will take to plan and will charge for the hours accordingly.   This is quite possibly one of the many reasons why wedding service packages and a la carte rates vary so drastically.

As for Atlanta wedding planners, try to keep this in mind as you seek to employ your wedding planner.  In addition to time, labor and expertise, an experienced wedding consultant will bring to you invaluable negotiation skills, mediation abilities and Atlanta wedding connections for wedding services.  All of these are highly desirable attributes.  And, as with any real level of talent and expertise, you can expect to pay for it.   

Yes, I know there are many organizationally astitute Brides planning their own weddings.  But there is something unique to having a wedding planner on your side.  It could literally mean the difference between saving thousands, or overspending thousands for your wedding day. 

Lastly, for the cost-conscious Bride, a veteran wedding consultant/planner can provide you enough cost-effective ideas to offset his, or her fee.  Thus, your wedding planner’s fee should not be an addition to your budget, but a part of it.  

Cheers!