Rainy Wedding Day | Toledo Wedding Planner | Perrysburg Wedding Planner

Today's weather has inspired us......to ease those brides that are having an outdoor ceremony! What do you do?

Smile and look around for rainbows!!

Here are a few ideas:
1. Have a backup (moving chairs from outside into a large indoor space)
2. Provide umbrellas or add a note into your invitation for your guests to bring umbrellas
3. Be happy (you can't control the weather so smile and enjoy your day)



See photography tips for the rain below...

As far as photographs on a rainy day, it is actually not as a big of a curse as you might think. The best lighting is a sunny, but cloudy sky. Basically a giant, natural soft box for the photographer. The shadows will not be harsh on a cloudy day, so be encouraged! If it is actually raining, a photographer can get some artistic shots, so go with it. The worst thing to happen is a bride that is so stressed it shows in her face. Relax, trust your photographer and do what they tell you. Enjoy the day and your photos will turn out great!

Hanging out under a tree while it's lightly raining can offer interesting lighting and if a few drops get on the camera it won't hurt anything. Same goes for hanging out under a bridge or on a porch. You can get great lighting without getting soaked and sometimes the best shots come from "making it work".


WHY DON'T YOU....
...gave a bride a vintage umbrella and her twirl out in the rain
...took a photo from the vantage point of her spinning dress with water flying off of it and umbrella in the background
...had a bride and groom huddle under a clear umbrella
...took a photo of them from above while they snuggled
...had the groom help the bride down wet stairs by holding out his hand
...took a tight photo of his hand in the rain reaching to hers that is still dry
...got the bride and groom to puddle jump barefoot
...took photos of the splashes from ground level
...had a bride lie on a park bench and let the rain soak her hair (at the end of the event!)
...actually caught your bride and groom with a rainbow in the background because you decided to get outside!



If all else fails, kick off your heels (since they are sinking in the mud anyway), turn your head up to the clouds and laugh at the rain on your wedding day! You'll probably end up with some great photos and you'll remember the joy of your day instead of the minor mishap!

Thank you to Allen Photo for these great ideas!

Your Perfect Day because you deserve it!

Photos by:
Love My Dress
Beth Ann Designs

Alicia & Josh | Your Perfect Day | Toledo Wedding Planner | Perrysburg Wedding Planner

We started off our wedding season with a gorgeous wedding in Ann Arbor!
We worked directly with the mother of the bride to create this wedding since the bride & groom have very demanding jobs and two children. We planned everything from Toledo and created the modern and simple wedding that the bride wanted. We were excited to work with vendors from Toledo and Ann Arbor! The vendors we got to work with are:

Ceremony & Reception: Gandy Dancer
Photographer: Kristen Nicole Photography
Band: Dan & Don
Chair covers and Centerpieces: Your Perfect Day
Cake: Cake Nouveau
Wedding Coordinator: Your Perfect Day

Here are some images from that gorgeous day!









Thank you to Kristen Nicole for this amazing photos!

Your Perfect Day....because you deserve it!

Candy Buffet | Your Perfect Day | Toledo Wedding Planner | Perrysburg Wedding Planner

The candy trend started in 2009 and has grown in popularity!
Your Perfect Day is providing over 20 candy buffets for our clients in 2011!
And with every candy buffet, we are asked many questions.
Here are some of the most popular questions we are asked when speaking about candy buffets!


Q: How many Jelly Belly beans are there in a 2.2 lb bag? A: There are 25 Jelly Belly beans in an ounce, 400 Jelly Belly beans in one pound and 880 Jelly Belly beans in a 2.2 lb, or kilo, bag. All counts are approximate, of course.

Q: Do I need to have wedding favors? A: The candy buffet is taking the place of the "traditional wedding favors". Everybody LOVES candy. Instead of worring over what type of favors to purchase and if your guests will want to take the favors home, a candy buffet is there in place of a wedding favor. If there is candy left over at the end of your event, you can always use candy later, or the candy will keep until you want to eat it.

Q: How much candy should I purchase? A: I wish there was a hard fast rule to this question. Some say 1/4 LB per guest, others say 1/2 LB per guest. But it's all about the way your candy looks. Plan by how you want the display to look, not how many guests are coming. Having enough candy is crucial in making your candy buffet look good.

Here is a tip a bride told us: "Take your candy buffet bags/containers that the guests will be taking home with them to your local grocery store and fill them the types of candy you will have for your event. Then weigh them. Multiply by how many guests, then you will get an idea of the pounds."


Tip: Add something salty or sour: Yummy! Salt or sour GOES with SWEET. Your candy buffet doesn't have to be all candy. Add potato chips or pretzels maybe some sour balls. Fresh fruit and cheese work great as well.


Q: What kind of containers should I use? Where can I find them? A: You can purchase new candy jars and containers or if you have time, (many months before your wedding) you can be "on the lookout" for your candy jars or containers. You will find them in the strangest places. Dollar stores, thrift stores, garage sales, friends and family will let you "borrow" them. TJ Maxx, Wal-Mart, Marshalls, Old Time Pottery, Home Depot. OR you can rent jars from Your Perfect Day for $5/jar and that includes scoop, set-up and tear down!


Q: Will the scoops scoop the candy I get? A: We get this question all the time. The scoops will scoop most any type of candy. You need to be more concerned about "will the scoops fit" through the container opening? Scoops will scoop, gummy or sticky candy will not scoop as well.


Q: My "theme" is tropical, I don't want to use glass containers! A: There are all kinds of containers that are not traditional candy jars. Try pails, take out boxes, plastic office bins, nautical items, up-side-down cowboy hat, flowerpots, lampshades and florist containers. There are many out there......take a look around your home, you will start to find all types of "containers". We had a wedding where basketballs were cut in half as a container.

Q: Do I need a scoop for every container? A: Rule of thumb: If the candy is wrapped, then no scoop needed. Anything you DO NOT want hands or fingers to touch, use a scoop or tongs.

Q: How can I cut costs on candy? A: Shop for candy after a holiday! Some candy will last a long time. Depending on your colors or theme, after holiday sales will save on candy costs. Don't forget Sam's Clubs, Cost Co, Smart & Final or bulk candy stores on-line like Candy Warehouse or Candy Crate



Q: My candy buffet looks so drab. Help! A: Spice up the table - tablecloths, table runners, flowers, pictures. These things can be added to make your candy buffet table look FABULOUS. Color makes a difference - coordinated colors look more elegant than random selections. Add extras to the table: Fountain, fortune cookies, cookies, brownies, bowls of fruit for the healthy option, napkins, take home bags/containers. Rent table runners from Your Perfect Day to give your table some color!

Tip: If you don't want your candy buffet table to look empty, you can put the same amount of candy in smaller containers rather than 2 or 3 large containers - more smaller containers LOOKS like more! Containers on different levels using books under a tablecloth to create risers - very pleasing to the eye.

Q: The scoop is kind of ugly? A: Spice up your scoop with ribbons or bows. If you are using a cloth type ribbon or bow, wrapping the handle will spice up the scoop and match your event colors. (hides any printing as well)

Q: I am planning eveything myself, will my caterer do the set up? A: It never hurts to ask. If you purchase the candy, your caterer could add a candy buffet into your event. Also, there are companies that specialize in only candy buffets. Search online to see if there is a company or caterer close to you who set-up or will host a candy buffet for you. If you book Your Perfect Day as your wedding coordinator, we will set up, fill, refill and tear down your candy buffet!


Q: What do my guests put the candy it? A: You can provide a bag or a small candy box to put the candy in. Your Perfect Day can custom make bags or boxes for you!

Thank you We've got the Scoop for this Q&A!

Unique Escort Cards | Toledo Wedding Planner | Perrysburg Wedding Planner

Assigned seating can be stressful but when you get unique with your escort cards, it will take the stress away! Here are some ideas!

Traveling Place Tag

Help guests find their seats by offering personalized luggage tags that make a functional keepsake. Print labels with lines for name, address, and phone number onto card stock (use the insert that comes with the tags as a template). Calligraph guests' names. Slip tag and decorative paper backing into the plastic cover. Loop cording through hole at top, and hang on chairs. Calligraphy by Nancy Howell.

Patterned Seating Cards

A display like this is sure to capture your guests' attention. Use heavy-weight patterned papers in coordinating designs and colors. We combined flower and vine motifs, but you can use dots, stripes, or another pattern. Look for papers at a good stationery or craft store, design them yourself on a computer, or work with a print shop to create them (these were made by letterpress). Cut into 2 1/2-by-3 3/4-inch rectangles, and glue on 3/4-by-2 1/2-inch solid paper strips for the names.

Parasol Seating Cards

These cheerfully colored umbrellas sporting seating assignments dot miniature sand dunes at the entrance to a summer reception.

You'll need a 1-inch-deep tray, a sheet of 1/4-inch foam board cut to fit into the bottom of the tray, and some sand. Lay the foam board in the tray, and cover with sand. Drizzle sand unevenly, sifting a bit more here and there to form dunes. Print your seating assignments onto colored paper, and cut them into strips; glue strips to the shafts of the umbrellas. Poke the umbrellas through the sand into the foam board at an angle so guests can easily find their names.

Wooden Seating Cards

Show your ingrained sense of style with seating cards crafted from paper-thin wood veneer. These inexpensive sheets are pliable enough to fold and cut easily into delicate shapes; the elegant graining makes a distinctive canvas for calligraphy. We used craft punches to create maple and birch leaves.

Herb Place Cards

At a bridesmaid luncheon or rehearsal dinner, set one of these bundled herb place cards on each plate. Gather handfuls of herbs such as lavender, rosemary, thyme, and chives into small bouquets, and tie them together with twine. The place cards are made from card stock folded in half; punch a hole in each card, and attach to a bouquet with twine. Inside the card, provide a recipe that includes the herbs.

Playing Card Seating Cards

Here's a winning look: Deal out seating cards disguised as the playing variety to guide guests to their tables. (Manifesto Letterpress created ours.) If you like, have extras printed without names, and use them to number the tables. Place them in stands on tables, and you've got style in spades. Calligraphy by Deborah Delaney.

Button Seating Cards

These buttons-cum-seating cards can also serve to introduce guests to one another. Calligraph names on paper, then follow directions included with a button-making machine. Pin buttons to 2-by-3-inch card stock with numbers written on the bottom. Calligraphy by Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls.


Thank you to Martha Stewart for these great ideas!

Your Perfect Day...because you deserve it!