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a southern tradition: going green

May 1, 2013 by weddingsar

We are so happy to have Jessica Zimmerman, owner of  A Southern Tradition in Conway, on the blog. We’ve got a great Q&A for you today. Stay tuned in the coming months as Jessica shares her wedding planning behind-the-scenes tips, trends and inspirations. So happy to have you, Jessica!

 

Any wedding where the couple tries to decrease the impact of their event on the planet is considered a Green Wedding.  An eco-chic wedding can be every bit as beautiful as a conventional wedding.  There are so many ways to make your wedding green without sacrificing your own personal wedding style.  There is a shade of green for everyone and every green choice makes a difference!

A few ways A Southern Tradition can help you go green!

1.  Invitations

There is a lot of paper used for weddings:  save-the-dates, invitations, RSVP cards, seating programs, menu cards, seating cards, thank you cards, and more. Traditional paper making creates a large amount of waste and is a very energy-intensive process. We are thrilled to offer our gorgeous letterpress line which uses only bamboo paper. Bamboo is a truly sustainable and renewable resource. It’s the fastest growing plant on this planet; it grows without pesticides or fertilizers; and it requires very little water to grow. Bamboo also makes (hands down) the prettiest paper out there.

{above invitations are available at A Southern Tradition}

2. Décor

One of the easiest ways to make your wedding eco-chic is to rent items for your ceremony and reception décor.  This eliminates the one-time use items that many brides have when they purchase vases and other items new.  A Southern Tradition has a 6,000-square-foot building full of items available for rent.  Many of our items look like something you would go out and purchase.  The great thing about renting is you don’t have to find a place to store all the items when your wedding is over!

{votives above are available for rent A Southern Tradition}

3.  Candles

If you are having the reception at night, try using candles for table lights.  This saves on the electric cost, plus it’s way more romantic!

{the candles above are available for rent at A Southern Tradition}

4.  Flowers

Many of our clients choose to donate their fresh florals to a church or nursing home after the wedding.  This way, more people can enjoy the beautiful arrangements.  Also, try to use flowers that are in season, otherwise the flowers will have to be imported.

{log centerpiece above available for rent at A Southern Tradition}

5.  Food & Drink

Don’t buy paper products.  Rent glass dinnerware.

{the place setting above is available for rent at A Southern Tradition}

 

{Photo credits:  A Southern Tradition & Pinterest}

A Southern Tradition: 501.336.0326

Website:  A Southern Tradition
Blog:  Blog | A Southern Tradition
Facebook:  A Southern Tradition
Pinterest:  asouthtradition
Twitter: @asouthtradition

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: a southern tradition, arkansas wedding planner, arkansas wedding vendor, go green wedding planning, green weddings, jessica zimmerman, wedding florist, wedding ideas

a southern tradition: set your own trend

March 19, 2013 by weddingsar

We are so happy to have Jessica Zimmerman, owner of  A Southern Tradition in Conway, on the blog. We’ve got a great Q&A for you today. Stay tuned in the coming months as Jessica shares her wedding planning behind-the-scenes tips, trends and inspirations. So happy to have you, Jessica!
 

I always tell my clients the most important thing about their wedding is to throw all the so-called “trends” out the door and set their own trend.

One of the biggest “trends” right now in the wedding industry is DIY (do it yourself), but what if you’re not crafty?   What if you love a traditional, elegant wedding with no trace of a glue gun ever being used?

No matter what is on trend, at the end of your wedding, you want your guests to say, “that was so them!”

Your wedding should really reflect who you are as a couple.  The best weddings I’ve attended have been the ones that looked and felt like the couple.  Here are a few examples:

I am currently working with a client who met her fiancé when they both worked as camp counselors.  They are still very involved in the camp today.  After meeting with the couple I learned the groom doesn’t like cake.  I suggested he not have a groom’s cake.  Why serve cake if you don’t like it?  I came up with the idea to do a really elegant play on a concession stand to reflect their love of camp.  With a beautifully draped tent, personalized napkins, snacks like candy bars (something the groom loves) and mozzarella sticks (something the bride loves), coca cola in a glass bottle – this will be a super unique and fun way to reflect who they are as a couple.  Plus, as a guest, who wouldn’t love a little personalized bag of mozzarella sticks?

One of my very dear friend’s wedding was one of my all-time favorites.  The man she married is Irish – the wedding and the reception was such a beautiful blend of the two of them.  While it was elegant and sophisticated in decor, Irish music played in the background, guests wore fancy hats and Guiness was the beverage of choice.

Another client I am currently working with is putting all of her emphasis on fun!  She wants her wedding to be a festive, relaxed, outdoor event. I presented the idea of an upscale carnival wedding complete with games, corn dogs, pop corn bar, photo booth and decor with lots of bright colors.  She loved it and we are in the beginning stages of planning what I’m sure will be such a memorable evening for the couple and their guests.

I had a client appointment this past weekend who is all about elegance!  All the inspiration photos she pulled for me were images from Princess Diana’s wedding.  I expect we will produce a wedding full of decadent fabrics, lace details, cascading bouquets, complete with a very formal reception.

{all images via Pinterest}

 

Rather than following the trends that may not reflect you as a couple, I hope this inspires you to look at your interests, hobbies and passions as your guide when planning your wedding.  And if you need a little help – you can always call me!

 

A Southern Tradition: 501.336.0326

Website:  A Southern Tradition
Blog:  Blog | A Southern Tradition
Facebook:  A Southern Tradition
Pinterest:  asouthtradition
Twitter: @asouthtradition

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Wedding Vendors Tagged With: a southern tradition, arkansas wedding event planner, arkansas wedding planner, jessica zimmerman, wedding tips and ideas, weddings in arkansas blog, weddings in arkansas guest blogger

in the details: choosing a wedding planner

March 5, 2013 by weddingsar

We are so happy to have Amy Hardin with Details Weddings & Events guest blogging for us today. She’s going to be sharing lots of insider wedding information, tips and tricks for planning your big day in the coming months. We want to give her a big welcome. Thanks, Amy!

 

Alright newly engaged brides and grooms of Arkansas, you’ve taken some time to bask in your joy and have fully embraced being called a fiance. This means it’s time to set a date and choose a wedding planner.

There are several key factors you will want to consider in choosing your planner, but before we cover those, let’s talk about why you need a planner in the first place. Planners are basically the general contractor in the building of your wedding. They have a hand in every part of your day and know how to pull it together in a way that will make you swoon. It isn’t just the set up and tear down of the event (although, trust me, your friends and family LOVE this part) it’s the creation of an event that truly reflects your tastes and personal love story.

Few couples have planned weddings before, this means they can’t know all of the vendors (or venues) that are available to them. Planners do this all of the time, this means you get to take advantage of years of professional relationships they have fostered. They know who is doing the style of work you love at the highest level within your budget. This knowledge is invaluable to you as a couple when creating the perfect event.

Once you know you want (NEED) a planner, my number one tip is to USE THEM! Find them as early on in the process as possible. You may think you know exactly where you want to get married and who you want to hire as the vendors, that’s great! But why not be open to a planner who might show you options you never imagined before you sign on the dotted line with your original picks. Obviously planners can be an asset to you at any point in the process, but given my druthers, I’d like to meet you before any major decisions have been made.

Ok, you’re engaged, you have a date and you want to hire a planner before you go further, but how? Finding a planner can be truly overwhelming as in the past few years it seems new planning companies pop up everywhere with lovely websites and promises to make your day amazing. Don’t worry, there are several ways to narrow down the field to your top planner candidates.

The internet is your friend – use sites like Weddings in Arkansas, StyleMePretty.com, and WeddingWire.com to find your planner candidates. Sites like these have vendor sections, spend an evening relaxing with a glass of wine going through all of the local planner’s websites. There will immediately be some that you connect with. Their aesthetic will speak to you in one way or another. Sites like Wedding Wire also give you access to customer reviews, actually read these. Don’t just look at the star rating, see what clients have to say, do they gush and go on and on about their experience or do they just seem generally satisfied? This is your wedding planner, you are going to be spending A LOT of time with them, you want them going above and beyond.

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices with the help of these websites, look further into each company. Your ideal planner should have experience in this industry, generally the more the better. There are times a fresh, new planner can be great, but as a rule you want someone who has been doing this for years, not months. Something I feel is really important is to find a planner who does this full time. Planning weddings is my life, at my company we spend a full work week dealing with vendors, helping clients and doing wedding related office work. We spend hours pouring over wedding blogs and we travel to industry conferences to stay up on the latest trends. Often, hobby planners (non full-time planners) are not going to be able to spend an entire weekday taking you around to multiple vendors and venues and like any other industry, many wedding vendors want to meet during business hours.

At this point, you should be down to a couple of planners you are interested in. Email them (often through their websites) and ask for a general idea of their services and rates. Make sure each planner is able to provide you with the specific services you are wanting. (Do you want them to design the decor as well as create your timeline? If so make sure you have someone who designs as well as coordinates.) Can they meet with you on your schedule? Many brides are full time students or work long hours, make sure you are going to be able to work with you during the hours you are available.

The last step, which is truly the most important, is to start talking with each planner (if you still have multiple candidates) and see how you mesh. Personality compatibility is incredibly important in this business. You need to feel comfortable with your planner. They will become one of the most important people to you during this time in your life, you need to like them! Email, call, set up a consultation (most planners will offer a free consultation) and just talk! As planners, we love weddings and are always excited to talk about a new one, we want to make you feel as confident as possible when making this decision and you can’t do that if you don’t chat a while. If you find a planner you truly click with and discover they are booked on your day or that they aren’t in your budget range don’t be afraid to ask them for a referral. We are happy to guide you to a planner who works similarly to the way we do, we want you to have a terrific day!

If you follow these steps, you should be well on your way to having the ideal planner for your day. One thing to keep in mind, not every planner is perfect for every couple. Your best friend may have loved her planner, but if you call and just don’t feel a connection, listen to that instinct and keep looking! This is your day, find the company that works for you! Happy Planning!

Amy

Find me!

Website : http://weddingsbydetails.com/

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/DetailsWeddings

Pinterest : http://pinterest.com/amychardin/

 

 

Filed Under: In the Details, Uncategorized Tagged With: amy hardin, arkansas wedding planner, details weddings & events, details weddings & events tips, hiring a wedding planner, wedding planner, wedding tips, weddings in arkansas blog, weddings in arkansas guest blogger

in the details: new year, new ring

January 24, 2013 by weddingsar

We are so happy to have Amy Hardin with Details Weddings & Events guest blogging for us today. She’s going to be sharing lots of insider wedding information, tips and tricks for planning your big day in the coming months. We want to give her a big welcome. Thanks, Amy!

 

Hello lovely Arkansas brides to be! I am so excited to be sharing a few tidbits with you here on the Weddings in Arkansas blog (which I love by the way – what a great source of inspiration for you!).

Right now, we are in the middle of ‘engagement season’ which means you might have just been proposed to (YAY!). Once you’ve been able to tear yourself away from staring lovingly at your ring, it is time to get to work. I’m here to get you started on the right path.

Beaty Photography

Once you get engaged there are several things that need to happen.

1. Spend some time relaxing with your fiance and family. Celebrate and truly enjoy this special time together.

2. Come up with a time frame for when you want to get married. This can mean a specific date or a selection of 2-3 dates. If you are wanting to get married within 6-9 months (or less!) of your engagement, or if you are wanting to get married during peak season (think June), I would encourage you to be open to several dates in order to ensure you get the venue and vendors you want.

3. Set a budget. I know this isn’t the fun part, but it drives everything. You can’t begin selecting a venue or vendors if you don’t know who is in your price range. Having a range versus a set budget is fine, your wedding planner can help you solidify the budget once they know more about your event.

4. Contact a planner. To get the most bang for your buck, bring in your planner at the very beginning, they can give you tips on every vendor selection and might know of venues you’ve never thought of. I like to say we planners are like your general contractors in building your wedding so it’s important they are involved in as many aspects as possible.

5. Once you have chosen a planner, ask them to provide suggestions on the most ‘in demand’ vendors (meaning vendors who will only take 1-2 weddings per day). This will include your photographer, videographer, band/DJ and sometimes florist.

6. While you are browsing all of these amazing vendor website, get pinning! Pinterest is an amazing resource for both brides and their planners/designers. The more decor looks you can pin, the better your planner and florist can get a feel for what you want your wedding to feel like.

Miles Witt Boyer

Once the 6 steps above have been accomplished, you will be well on your way to having a fabulous wedding, maybe even one Weddings in Arkansas will be publishing in their pretty pages! I’ll be giving you specific tips on selecting your vendors and what questions to ask them later on in the blog series. Happy Planning!

Amy

Find me!

Website : http://weddingsbydetails.com/

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/DetailsWeddings

Pinterest : http://pinterest.com/amychardin/

Meredith Melody

Filed Under: In the Details, Wedding Vendors Tagged With: arkansas wedding planner, details weddings & events, wedding planners, Weddings in Arkansas, weddings in arkansas blog

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