Planning Tools:

Apple Vacations

and Bahia Resort

Bryan and I attended a destination wedding a few years ago, and it was so fabulous, that we knew we wanted to do the same thing. However we learned that PLANNING a destination wedding is an entirely different (and much more stressful) route to go. We ended up deciding on a semi-destination, but if we had known about our newest sponsor, Apple Vacations, it may have made a difference for us. Their service is similar much like a one-stop shop for planning a destination wedding–from travel arrangements, legal requirements, and even a bridal registry. They offer a collection of romantic hotels for weddings throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America, plus affordable weddings in beautiful beach settings throughout the Hawaiian Islands. What’s amazing is Apple Vacations takes care of your travel arrangements, puts you in touched with an experienced wedding planner and offers fabulous discounted rates for groups as small as ten guests. You can even get airfare credits!

One of the resorts that Apple Vacations sends their destination brides and grooms to is Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts. Known for their dedication to service and luxury as well as for their idyllic backdrops any of these resort destinations are a great choice for an all-inclusive wedding vacation or honeymoon. From the moment that you arrive, friendly staff is at your disposal around the clock. Whether it’s an intimate ceremony on the beach or a vow renewal ceremony in a garden gazebo, Bahia Principe staff will work with couples to customize their ceremony details, from decor and flowers to musical entertainment and photography. What I love is that they handle all the stress–even small details and coordinating vendors, so that you can actually ENJOY your destination wedding, rather than stress!

Whether it’s an intimate ceremony on the beach or a vow renewal ceremony in a garden gazebo, Bahia Principe staff will work with couples to customize their ceremony details, from decor and flowers to musical entertainment and photography. What I love is that they handle all the stress–even small details and coordinating vendors, so that you can actually ENJOY your destination wedding, rather than stress! The services that are provided to couples extend far beyond the day of their ceremony. Every day thereafter the staff takes the opportunity to offer sweet surprises, candlelight dinners and even discounted spa treatments. Wouldn’t your guests LOVE a getaway like this? I know I would!

Apple Vacation’s service is similar much like a ONE-STOP SHOP FOR PLANNING A DESTINATION WEDDING–from travel arrangements, legal requirements, and even a bridal registry. They offer a collection of romantic hotels for weddings throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America, plus affordable weddings in beautiful beach settings throughout the Hawaiian Islands. What’s amazing is Apple Vacations takes care of your travel arrangements, puts you in touch with an experienced wedding planner and offers fabulous discounted rates for groups as small as ten guests, you can even get airfare credits!

We’d love to know if you considered a destination wedding. Where would you want to take your guests??? I think my dream was France, but Bryan wanted a beach locale like this. So hard to decide!

Planning Tools:

Lady Grey’s Wedding Photographer!

One of the hardest decisions we had to make for our wedding was choosing a photographer. Not only do we look at gorgeous images every single day, but we also have so many incredible friends who just so happen to be killer photographers. But when it came time to decide, I knew Jen Huang was a perfect fit. Not only has she already shot Bryan and me (which means we are super comfortable with her) but we are obsessed with her images. I love that Jen shoots film (duh–that was a no-brainer!) but I also love how beautifully she captures color. Her images are clean and refreshing, yet still possess the capacity to pop! Plus, Jen is a pretty rad girl to hang out with!

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If you are a photographer who wants to understand HOW Jen actually makes magic, then now is a perfect time to check out her brand new “Workshop-in-a-Box”. Jen Huang has been offering professional wedding photography workshops for the past few years for film and digital shooters, and has just announced her new book, a “Guide to Fine Art Weddings”. But she’s always getting inquiries from photographers who are hungry to learn from but aren’t able to attend her workshops in person. To meet the needs of a growing group of photographers who are hungry to learn about “Fine Art Photography” in a more interactive way, she has created a “workshop-in-a-box,” a unique new concept to bring the workshop experience home.

The guide includes her new book, a “Guide to Fine Art Weddings” which offers advice and anecdotes from Jen’s career on how to succeed in the fine art wedding industry; including passages on equipment, branding, pricing etc. In addition to the written portion, the book pairs image galleries with technical specs about each photograph so that information can be accessed in a visual way. To assist in branding, printing and shooting – each kit includes a DVD audio interview with Jen and RichardPhotoLab.com, medium format film, sample papers for fine art prints, InDesign album templates, a DearJendo.com correspondence kit with a rubber stamp, and hand made cards for clients – all wrapped in muslin bags and presented in a gorgeous wooden keepsake box. It’s like a D-I-Y workshop chock full of goodies!

The book can be purchased at JenHuangWorkshops.com, but we’re giving one away here! WOOHOO! Just leave a comment and let us know you’d like to win! You can also head over to SnippetandInk.com for images from a recent shoot and a sneak peek INSIDE the book, and also to 100 Layer Cake to get a discount code to purchase the kit at JenHuangWorkshops.com (only till Friday!)

Credits for “A Picnic Engagement”: Photography – Jen Huang Photo // Models – Jarred & Leisa // Floral Styling, Rentals – Poppies and Posies // Ombre Sandwich Tags – Dear Jendo

Showers & Events:

Scratch Wedding Djs

and our fave music selections!

One of the things that we love about our newest sponsor, Scratch Wedding DJs is the fact that they make it so incredibly easy to find a DJ. In our experience, finding someone you can trust and that you know is amazing is hard to do–especially because you normally won’t actually get to see your DJ in action until the day of the wedding. Scratch actually has a 10 step screening process to make sure that no matter who you choose is going to be amaze!

Scratch DJs are trained professionals and experts at song selection, mixing and blending, reading the crowd, building energy on the dance floor and, ultimately, entertaining guests of all ages and cultures. They also always offers a risk-free and stress-free experience backed by their 72 hour “Change of Plans” refund policy.

For fun, we thought it would be great to include a play list of recommendations for recessional/walking back down the aisle as newlyweds. These are all new songs (of course!) and they are so fun to check out! Imagine you’ve been pronounced husband and wife, and then this song hits the air:

Can’t Hold Us (The chorus)– Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis

Feel This Moment – Pitbull, Christina Aguilera

That Girl – Justin Timberlake

It’s A Beautiful Day – Michael Buble

Let’s Stay Together – Maroon 5

Ho Hey – The Lumineers

I Found You – Alabama Shakes

Gone, Gone, Gone (the bridge) – Phillip Phillips

I Will Wait – Mumford & Sons

Love On Top – Beyonce

Get Lucky – Daft Punk

Anywhere With You – Jason Owen

Showers & Events:

The NotWedding Ticket Giveaway

plan your wedding and have fun doing it!

Have you heard of The NotWedding? It is a bridal show alternative in the form of a big, fake wedding. Brides-and-grooms-to-be attend as wedding guests and they experience an emotional ceremony (which is actually a real couple’s vow renewal), dinner and drinks, and a dance party reception while they get to truly experience the vendors in action.

Today we are giving away tickets to the upcoming New York event that takes place next Wednesday, May 22nd. But to get you excited, you must see what went down at their recent LA event! The NotWedding Los Angeles was held on February 27 at a rad venue called Lot 613 in LA. Photos, video and a list of the participating vendors can be seen here.

Jonathan & Jenna from Amari Productions on Vimeo.

For the New York City Event, we are giving away a handful of tickets to our NYC couples! Each pair is valued at $80 and includes food, drinks and a seriously good time. (Plus wedding planning while you’re having a blast–so kill two birds with one stone!) Wanna win??? Just leave a comment! We’ll announce the winner on Friday!

If you aren’t in the New York area, guess what? The NotWedding might be coming to your city. They have events coming in Atlanta, Charleston, Nashville, Wichita, Cape Cod, and Athens (Ga). Nab your tickets here! And if you are a vendor, you can still apply to take part and show off your skills!

Image Credits: Candice Benjamin Photography // Meghan Christine Photography // Chelsea Mitchell Photography // Video: Amari Productions

Engagements:

Rethinking the First Look

lady grey needs your advice!

So ladies, it’s time for you to chime in. I must know: Are or did you do a first look? I already know what every photographer is going to say–do a first look! It gives us more time! (Or am I wrong, photographer friends?) But I want to know what you brides have to say on the issue. Why did you make the decision? Were you happy with your decision? Did you have butterflies and get all weepy? I need the full run down. I’m having a hard time deciding if I want to do a first look at our wedding. At first, I was totally sold. Doing it. (Duh, I’m a wedding blogger–photos are my number one priority!). But there’s really nothing that can replace that moment of getting to see Bryan from afar and walking down the aisle toward him. There’s all sorts of other reasons pulling me in both directions, so it’s your turn to give me advice!

(By the way…what’s with this whole have the groom with his back turned while you walk toward him and not opening his eyes until you are close to his face? I’m kind of a girl that likes anticipation. I like the idea of my guy WATCHING me walk toward him. Guys like that sort of thing don’t they? If I did do a first look, I’ll tell you what. Bryan would watch me walk toward him. No doubt. Am I the only crazy person that thinks that?)

While you’re mulling over your answers, take a look at what Stephanie and Ali decided to do in order to solve the problem. They didn’t want Ali to see the dress before the big day, so this gorgeous couple decided to do a day before bridal session in a different dress. And by different, of course we mean dramatic, spectacular, and black. Another reason to go shopping? Can’t say I wouldn’t mind. This session shot by Gideon Photography at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix is so unexpected and chic! We love it!