Savannah Wedding Planner - Re Defining Moments

Meet Featured Couple Greg & Lisa

 Bride and Groom:

Lisa Bargas

Greg Crafter

 Date He Proposed:  12-25-10

 Where and how did you meet?

WHERE – Highland Cigar Bar in the Inman Park neighborhood of Atlanta, Ga

How –   In August 2008, after a long day of work Greg decided to meet some friends for a drink and a cigar.  Little did he know, he would meet the woman he would spend the rest of his life with…  Lisa happened to be sitting outside the cigar bar, working w/a friend that late afternoon.  Greg noticed them on the way to his car.  Once he reached the car, he decided to go back and strike up a conversation.  They exchanged business cards and later spoke on the phone to set up a date for lunch. The Rest Is History…

 How and where did he propose?

How – When Lisa was in the shower on Christmas morning, Greg slipped her engagement ring in a bag of grapes.  He thought Lisa would snack of some grapes that morning but realized she was not interested.  He then asked her to get him some grapes thinking that she would see the napkin inside the bag and open it up to find a surprise.  Lisa just took the napkin out the bag and proceeded to give Greg some grapes.  Greg had to then ask Lisa what was that she pulled from the bag, that is when Lisa decided to go back and look at the napkin to find her ring hidden inside.  Greg then got down on one knee and said some very loving words as he asked for Lisa’s hand in marriage.

Where-  The proposal took place at a Marriott in Cary, NC.  We where their visiting my sister for Christmas.

 When is your wedding date? May 5, 2012

Why did you pick Savannah/ First African Baptist & Avia?

We picked Savannah because Greg took Lisa for her birthday 2 years ago and we fell in love with the city’s overall ambiance.

We chose First African Baptist because of the emotional history and the beautiful décor of the church sanctuary.

We chose Avia because of the modern flare and the intimacy that a boutique hotel offers.

 Where do you reside now?

We live in Atlanta, GA

Describe Your Dream Wedding

Our Dream wedding would consist of a beautiful ceremony and active reception… where we could offer something to spark life, love and happiness to everyone involved (wedding party and guests).  The décor would be simple yet modern, chic and sexy.

 My Wedding Colors Are:

Grey on Grey w/a touch of yellow

Or

Grey and Yellow

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Karen Moore, Senior Creative Director

Re Defining Moments Weddings & Special Events

Email: karen@unbridledimagination.com

http://www.unbridledimagination.com

Telephone:            (800) 698-1310

Re {defining moments} won the WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards 2012!

This means we are in the top 5% of Wedding Pros nationwide! The WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards™ recognizes the top local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism.

Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the organization, the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ are determined solely by the reviews from over 1.2 million newlyweds.

First Impressions & Presentations Are Everything

Recently, I had a client consultation followed by a separate cake tasting with a local baker. This was of course the first time meeting with this particular baker. I made the initial appointment over the telephone and was very excited about seeing their work and tasting their product.

It only takes a quick glance or a couple of seconds to evaluate a person or business for the first time. In a relatively short period of time one can form an opinion based on demeanor, mannerisms and product presentation.

First impressions can be almost impossible to reverse so as vendors we have to make these encounters flawless; as they set the tone for the relationship that will follow.

When I meet a client for the first time my first rule of thumb starts with presenting myself appropriately. It is has been said that a “picture” is worth a thousand words.

My client and I arrived for our meeting on time and ready to do business. To our surprise no one was expecting us and the bakery was totally unprepared for our visit. Keep in mind the appointment was made a week and a half prior and I called to confirm a couple of days before the appointment.

My client and I got through the consultation as we both were horrified at how unprofessional things progressed. We decided that we would set-up an appointment the following week for a cake tasting. We arrive for the tasting and again totally horrified, this time at the presentation.

The baker gave us 2 forks, a tray of extra large cupcakes with an obscene amount of icing. We received no instruction, signage or labels as to which cupcake was which. I had to request napkins and we basically had to eat off of the tray. We had no assistance, and we sat alone as we tried to make heads or tails through the mounds of icing. It was only when we asked a staff member to box of the cupcakes that someone actually came out to offer assistance. Long story short my client has chosen another baker.

The purpose of this blog post is not to shine light on negative vendors but to let you know that our clients really do matter.  

When you are shopping for a Wedding Planner, RDM will do anything humanly possible to ensure a great first impression. We give our clients 100% of our attention. Anything less is unacceptable.

This motto in which we live by is quite simple...."At Re {defining moments} we are committed to creating the ultimate experience by fulfilling and exceeding our client's expectations every time. We believe that " Consistency Create Encore Experiences That Enrich Lives One Person At a Time".

We recognize that you do have a choice and at RDM we want to make it a very memorable and impressionable one!  

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Karen Moore, Senior Creative Director

Re Defining Moments Weddings & Special Events

Email: karen@unbridledimagination.com

http://www.unbridledimagination.com

Telephone:            (800) 698-1310

Table Service Styles

Welcome to the culinary runway, the entire reception dinner, has become a creative artistic way to express your palate to friends and family

Here we explore the choices you have for the type of meal service when you have a sit-down meal. Whether you choose plated service, English service, Russian service, French service, or a buffet, here is a handy list of commonly used food/table styles that can help you when sitting down and meeting with your caterer.

AMERICAN SERVICE: (see ‘PLATED SERVICE’)

ANTIPASTO: (“before the meal”) traditional first course of a formal Italian meal. Unlike hors d’oeuvres, antipasto is served at the table and traditionally consists of cured meats, marinated vegetables and cheeses.

BUFFET: Casual way to serve a large group of guests; a variety of dishes displayed on tables that guests can pick and choose from. Typically doesn’t work for venues with numerous small rooms.

FAMILY STYLE: Platters of food are placed at each table. Guests help themselves and pass the food around to one another.

FRENCH SERVICE: This individualized and highly skilled type of food service is not very common in the U.S. Rather than being plated in the kitchen; white-gloved waiters prepare food table side from a single large dish or platter held by another waiter. Each guest is served individually.

KOSHER: Menu that follows strict Jewish dietary laws. Three of the requirements are:

• Shellfish, pork and rabbit are forbidden;

• Dairy and meat cannot be eaten together;

• Grape products– For example if you are serving wine it must be produced by someone who follows the Jewish faith.

HORS D’ OEUVRES: (“outside the work” in French). Appetizer typically served before a meal; food that precedes the main course. May be served at the table as part of the sit-down meal or may be served before sitting at the table. (And quite possibly this is one of the THE most difficult words to spell correctly!!)

INTERMEZZO: (“in between”) sorbet course designed to cleanse the palate before the main course of a formal, multi-course dinner (not generally served for less than a four-course meal).

PLATED SERVICE or AMERICAN SERVICE: Each plate is prepared in the kitchen and is covered. Plates full of food are brought from the kitchen and placed in front of guests. The cover is removed at the moment the meal is served.

RUSSIAN SERVICE: This is similar to French service except the extremely coordinated waiters hold trays with platters of food–prepared in the kitchen–in one hand and serves guests with the other.

TRAY/BUTLERED SERVICE: Waiters walk among wedding guests with trays of hors d’ oeuvres or drinks.

Bon Appétit!

______________________________________________________________________

Karen Moore, Senior Creative Director

Re Defining Moments Weddings & Special Events

Email: karen@unbridledimagination.com

http://www.unbridledimagination.com
Telephone:            (800) 698-1310

Re Defining Moments Engaged Couples Contest Officially Kicks Off Today!

Re Defining Moments Engaged Couples Contest officially kicks off today!

The winner will receive a "Champagne & Caviar" Full Service Wedding Consulting Package.

Voting starts December 1, 2011. Entries will be accepted until December 31st. Voting ends 12/31/2011 at midnight EST. The winner will be announced on 1/1/2012.

COUPLES
Contest is open to all engaged and newly engaged couples.

ENTRY
Entering the Re Defining Moments Engaged Couples Contest is as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Send the following to karen@unbridledimagination.com: A photo of you and your fiancé along with your full names.
2. Become friends with “Karen Y Moore” on Facebook. This way we can tag your photo so your friends can find you more easily! We will place these photos in a special “Re Defining Moments Engaged Couples Contest” album on our Facebook Page.
3. Get your friends and family to follow the directions below to vote for you! The photo that receives the most “Like” votes … wins!!!

VOTING
To place a vote, you must be a fan of Re Defining Moments on Facebook. Press the “Like” button under the photo of your favorite couple. The winning couple will be determined by having the most “likes”. (“Like” comments will not count). In the case of a tie,  a winner will be selected randomly from the tied parties.  The second runner up will receive a $25 American Express Gift Card. To maximize your chances of winning, encourage your family, friends, and acquaintances to become fans of Re Defining Moments on Facebook so they can cast a vote for you.

Voting has started, so hurry and email your photos to karen@unbridledimagination.com

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Please share your thoughts and comments with Re Defining Moments  or email karen@unbridledimagination.com.

Contact Information:
Savannah Wedding Planner - Re Defining Moments
Telephone:            (800) 698-1310

Image Credit: Luke Smith of Lone Pine Photography

Budgeting For The Wedding: Who Pays For What

Karen Moore of Re Defining Moments - Savannah's Wedding Planner, shares information on who traditionally pays for what.

When it comes to wedding expenses, and who pays for which wedding service, the options have become more and more flexible – as older traditions have faded in a more modern and contemporary society.

However, there are still many families and couples who plan traditional weddings. That often means a traditional structure. So, what does the Grooms family pay for and what does the Bride’s family pay for? Who pays for the Reception and rehearsal dinner?

If you are planning a traditional wedding and want everything to be in order, then these are important information you will want to know.

Groom and His Family

• Bride’s engagement and wedding rings
• Groom’s wedding attire
• Rehearsal dinner
• Marriage license
• Accommodations for out-of-town ushers
• Alcohol at reception
• Wedding gifts for the bride, best man and ushers
• Flowers for the bride’s bouquet, corsages for the mothers and grandmothers
• Boutonnieres for ushers, ring bearers and fathers
• Officiant's fee
• Honeymoon and transportation to the honeymoon

 Bride and Bride's Family

• Wedding consultant’s fee
• Invitations, personal notes and mailing expense
• Transportation for the wedding party
• Wedding dress, headpiece and accessories
• Lingerie
• Attendants’ bouquets
• Groom’s gift
• Guest book
• Cost of the reception
• Cost of the ceremony
• Photography and Videography expense
• Groom’s wedding ring
• Favors
• Accommodations for out-of-town bride’s attendants

 Bridesmaids

• Wedding attire - Bridesmaid dress, shoes & accessories
• Travel costs
• Shower and wedding gift for the couple
• Shower given by bridesmaids and/or maid of honor

 Groomsmen

• Wedding attire rental
• Wedding gift for the couple
• Travel costs
• Bachelor party given by best man and/or ushers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please share your thoughts and comments with Re Defining Moments  or email karen@unbridledimagination.com.

Contact Information:
Savannah Wedding Planner - Re Defining Moments
Telephone:            (800) 698-1310

Interesting Bridal Registration Statistics from Bridal Monitor™

Karen Moore of Re Defining Moments - Savannah's Wedding Planner, shares interesting bridal registry statistics.

Here are some interesting statistics that I stumbled upon in my reading. A fascinating read for brides that does a typical bridal registry as opposed to those that do not.

• Brides who register have an average of 29% more guests at their wedding (143) versus those who do not register (111).
• Brides who register tend to have weddings that are more traditional, formal and romantic than brides who do not register.
• Brides who register spend 44% more on their wedding dresses than brides who do not register.
• Bed, Bath & Beyond is the most frequently used bridal registry.
• Cookware is the most often registered-for category in registry.
• KitchenAid is the most often registered for brand in registry.
• Latin and Asian brides represent a significant opportunity for registry because they are significantly less likely to register than other brides.
• Better educated brides are significantly more likely to register than less educated brides.
• Couples who register are nearly twice as likely to go on a cruise for their honeymoon as couples who do not register.
• The top 10 largest registry categories have a projected market value of $1.3 billion dollars annually.
• Martha Stewart Living is the brand that appears in the most registry product categories.

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Please share your thoughts and comments with Re Defining Moments  or email karen@unbridledimagination.com.

Contact Information:
Savannah Wedding Planner - Re Defining Moments
Telephone:            (800) 698-1310

Make-Up & It's History

Karen Moore of Re Defining Moments - Savannah's Wedding Planner, Welcomes Guest Blogger Heather Ferguson of Beyond Beautiful By Heather as she discusses Make-up & It’s History.

As women, we are always on the hunt for the newest and best miracle to put on our face to make it more youthful, glowing, seductive, or just beautiful. But, most women don’t realize, this ritual is as old as the pyramids…. Literally!!  Traveling in time as far back as the Egyptians, this culture was already ahead of their time with their realization that women should have soft, supple skin and seductive outlined eyes to be more beautiful and capture attention. Using natural mineral elements such as unguent, a hydrating mineral for the skin and kohl or soot to outline and extend the length of the eyes.

The middle ages to the Elizabethan era to the Victorian era, they all had their own look that transpired which typically was the ghostly pale skin that was associated with wealth and status, but finally as the 19^th century rolled around, things drastically began to change. Face make-up became available to women of all cultures and every status. Max Factor was one of the very first cosmetic giants to create the perfumed face make-up. And the rest is literally….History!

Today…..Being obsessed with make-up myself which is why I became a make-up artist; I have tried hundreds, if not more, types of cosmetics. Ranging from the grocery store and drug store brands such as Cover Girl and L’Oreal to the pricey department store brands such as Chanel and Laura Mercier. I must say that there are good products in every line.  From very inexpensive to the most pricey.  I love perusing the aisles of the local CVS cosmetics aisle and trying whatever is new to compare its quality in ease of use to pigments and so forth.  I must admit, from the time I was about four years old to current day, I never tire of the cosmetics world.  I just get giddy when a new product hits the shelves.

Airbrush make-up is a fascinating product that women have now become obsessed with when thinking of getting their make-up done for their wedding. This type of make-up is applied by using a high pressure small compressor to spray a fine mist of high pigment make-up with a small gun. This has started a new revolution literally in the make-up world.  Make-up applied this way is completely seamless and makes the face appear pore less basically.

There are different formulations of the airbrush liquid that is loaded into the gun, but I personally use the kind that is waterproof and sweat proof and of course cry proof for those emotional special occasions so there is no fear of losing your face to a teary eyed moment!!  For anyone interested in seeing my work, please visit my website at www.beyondbeautifulbyheather.com .   My love for make-up will endure through the years I am sure, and so it will for all of you ladies as well.  As I always say and my motto, “Beauty is a gift to be Coveted”.  

Heather Ferguson

Professional Make-Up Artist

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Please share your thoughts and comments with Re Defining Moments  or email karen@unbridledimagination.com.

Contact Information:
Savannah Wedding Planner - Re Defining Moments
Telephone:            (800) 698-1310

Why RDM Loves Non-Saturday Weddings

 Karen Moore of Re Defining Moments - Savannah's Wedding Planner explains why RDM loves Non-Saturday Weddings.

Image Credit:            Lone Pine Photography

Contemplating a wedding on either a Friday or Sunday? I know that you may be feeling a little apprehensive but there are some wonderful advantages.

An obvious advantage is the cost. Most venues and vendors offer a discount for non-Saturday events. Some venues will offer up to a 50% discount for non-Saturday room rentals. This can be a great relief for your budget and allows you to spend money elsewhere.

I’ve also discovered that venues aren’t the only vendors that offer a Friday discount; some photographers and DJs do as well. It’s a great thing to consider when searching for vendors. And remember; don’t be afraid to ask about any discounts.

Another non-Saturday perk is availability. Saturday weddings are still the norm and vendors’ calendars fill up fast. Having a Friday or Sunday wedding gives you the best chance of getting your preferred vendors and also allows more time to find those vendors.

A reason to consider a Friday wedding relates to event setup. Since venues are far less likely to have an event on a Thursday, having a Friday wedding means you may be able to set up your space the day before.

This is great if you have DIY centerpieces or place cards that require labor-intensive installation. In addition, some rentals companies may be able to offer a discount on deliveries if they are given more flexibility.

What do you think? Are you having a Non-Saturday wedding? Why or why not? If a Friday or Sunday wedding is a possibility for you, I say go for it. It’s a great way to set the tone of doing something a little bit different for your big day.

Please share your thoughts and comments with Re Defining Moments  or email karen@unbridledimagination.com.

Contact Information:
Savannah Wedding Planner - Re Defining Moments
Telephone:            (800) 698-1310

Re Defining Moments Absolutely Loves Wedding Websites

Karen Moore of Re Defining Moments - Savannah's Wedding Planner discusses why she loves wedding websites.

A wedding website is a great place to give your guests additional information that you can’t necessarily put on your invitation. This could include information regarding accommodations, more details about your venue, or additional activities.

It is also a place to put contact information, like an email address, that your guests might not be familiar with. Your wedding website is a great place to introduce your wedding planner and his/her information. The bridal couple can alleviate and take additional burdens off of them by referring all guests to their wedding planner which is the day of point of contact.

A wedding website is fun and it opens up communication with your guests and allows them to easily get in touch with you without feeling like a nuisance as you work through your wedding plans.

Creating a website may seem overwhelming but there are many sites that can walk you through the process. Re Defining Moments is pleased to offer a “Free” Wedding Website to all new clients that purchases a full service wedding planning packages.

It is also suggested that if you put the time and effort into a nice website, you should also buy a personal web address. Buying a domain is quite cheap (around $11 for a year) and easy to do. Check out GoDaddy to search for and purchase available domains.

How have you used your wedding website? Please share your ideas and tips in the comments section.

Please share your thoughts and comments with Re Defining Moments  or email karen@unbridledimagination.com.

Contact Information:
Savannah Wedding Planner - Re Defining Moments
Telephone:            (800) 698-1310