Guest List

Have too many people on your guest list? Need to cut down your numbers? I stumbled on this useful tool from Wedding Bee to help you out with your dilemma.

Use this for people you are unsure about on your guest list.

Another way to cut down on guests is to eliminate kids. This may seem harsh, but you can always just limit it to college aged or high-school aged kids only. If all of your invitees have 2 or 3 kids, that adds up and can become quite costly.

Keep in mind that lowering your guest count is the best way to lower your out of pocket costs, less people = less tables = less rentals = less centerpieces = less meals = less overall costs to you.

Your wedding should consist of those closest to you that you want to share your life with. Not every joe shmoe you ever met!

Detail: Draping the Venue

I went to my cousin's wedding recently and fell in love with draping the ceiling! This fabulous detail really adds something extra to your venues. It's that detail that is going to make your guests stop and say, "wow".

You could go more simple like these:

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Or a bit more extravagant like this one

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Love the lights in the drapes!

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Really make your wedding pop with some drapes in your wedding color. This is such a great detail to add into your wedding to make an unforgettable event! 

Wedding Planning Intern: Rachael

Russell Martin Photography

My name is Rachael (that's me all the way to the right), and I have been interning with Melissa and MasterPiece Weddings all summer long, I know, I don't know how I've lasted either! Just kidding! But seriously, it has truly been a great experience, and I have learned a lot.

It took me a while to settle on weddings as a career choice, but I definitely think I made the right decision, especially in starting off my experience with Melissa. My first weekend interning, I worked a wedding in Ponte Vedra Beach. It was gorgeous and everything ran smoothly, I thought maybe it was a fluke. From what I had seen from various media outlets, I was expecting nothing short of a bridezilla-esque experience. I know that not every bride is that way, but I was expecting more chaos and drama, at least some sort of mental breakdown. To my pleasant surprise, none of this ever happened, throughout my whole internship! Melissa was cool and collected at all times and handled every problem with ease, not that there really were any.

Melissa has taught me many things but one of the most important things, I think, is how to compose yourself around the clients and vendors. Even if everything is going wrong and the church is on fire, you can't let the bride know. You tell her everything is under control and you handle it. You have to act like you know what is happening even if you don't. This was something I found a little difficult, but I realized the importance of it. I have learned that it is my job to make sure the bride doesn't have to stress about anything on her big day. I handle the questions, errands, and any issues that arise.

The day-to-day office work is a bit monotonous.... but I still learned a lot about social media, what with Melissa being a self-proclaimed expert and all. But seriously, she is. If you need help with blogging, twittering, and/or any other social networking, go to her. I sort of became an expert blogger myself, many of the blog posts you have seen in the past months have been from me! I liked the researching and looking at pretty wedding pictures and what not, it was fun.

I think my favorite part of my internship though was the personal encounters with the brides. I love love loved going to meetings with brides to discuss details and actually working the day of. I felt so important in helping someone on the most significant day of their life. I wished that I could have been involved in the entire planning process with each bride, but unfortunately, I was only there for a short period of time.

I know that my experiences with Melissa and the MasterPiece Weddings Teams, will help me in my future career, and I can't wait to start!

Thanks for reading :)

Blogosphere Series Part 8

For part 8 of the blogosphere series, one of my favorite blogs, How About Orange, put up this post about do-it-yourself sugar cubes. They are so adorable and such a great detail for any event! Check them out!

Aren't they scrumptious? How About Orange always has the coolest DIY projects, make sure to check them out!

To make the sugar cubes yourself go to Nifty Thrifty Things.

Jay's Bridal Expo!

Jay's Bridal will be hosting their EGainesville Wedding Expo on August 28th, 2011 from 12pm-5pm in the Phillips Center here in Gainesville!! They will be featuring tons and tons of local vendors, you can plan your wedding in one day! You can get tickets online or at the door.

Eat cake, sample food, check out some of the vendors - remember this is your opportunity to check out their work, talk to them, see if your personalities mesh... it's fun, and totally worth it!

Check out this video or click here to learn more!

Gainesville Wedding Expo - August 28, 2011 from Platinum Digital Video on Vimeo.

Cost to Wedding Guests

We all know that a wedding can be extremely costly, to the bride, the bride's family, the groom's family - really whoever is footing the cost of the schin-dig.

But have you ever thought about how much the guest is spending? It's more than you think that's for sure. We found this post on Engagement Experts and  thought it was an interesting take on the cost of the wedding.

Take a look at these stats from Engagement Experts.

Something to think about....what do you guys think?

Shannon and David Slideshow

We have got more pictures from Shannon and David's wedding to share! We promised more and we don't break our promises! Check out this awesomesauce slideshow that Bobbi and Mike made of their wedding day!



Can I just say that I LOVE that song. So beautiful, thanks again Bobbi and Mike, we can't say enough good things! And thanks Shannon and David for letting us be a part of your awesometastic wedding!!

Inspiration Board: Light blue and green

I am loving this light blue and green color combination for a wedding. Pale colors just add something lovely and soft and romantic to the feel of a wedding. If that's your cup of tea then take a looksy at my new inspiration board.




Dress; Beads; Glass rings; Cake; Cupcakes; Ribbons; Bouquet; M&Ms; Soap Flowers; Board

  What do you guys think?

Blogosphere Series Part 7

For part 7, we have to give props again to Every Last Detail! They are just the awesomest!

They have done a couple of posts recently on going outside of the box on bridesmaids dresses and mismatching the dresses instead of doing everybody in the same dress. It is such a bold and fantastic idea! We LOVE it!

All of the bridesmaids dresses are from Anthropologie (my new favorite store) and the wedding dress is from J. Crew.

Who says bridesmaids dresses have to be the same? Try out this trend and tell us about it!

Awesometastic Marriage Proposal: Kaity and Bobby

Kaity and Bobby were some of our awesometastic'est clients, and they have a seriously cute proposal story to share to go along with our theme of awesometastic marriage proposals.

Aren't they the cutest!

The story as told by Kaity:

Bobby and I were going up to Gainesville for the Orange and Blue debut last weekend. The morning of the game is the annual Gator Yard Sale - aka where they sell off game-used jerseys (Bobby's other love in his life). For weeks, Bobby told me how stressed he was about the sale and how he was nervous about not getting good jerseys, etc. I told him to be calm and thankful for anything he got!

So, Friday night on the drive up he tells me that we have to go to campus. Kendall (our friend and future bridesmaid!) had texted him that the sale tent had moved and we needed to scope it out. We were planning to be in line at 6am (for the 9am sale). I told him he was crazy and to not worry about it. He persisted and decided we had to go to campus to check.

There we are at 9 o'clock at night cruising campus at 20 mph. He pulls into the parking lot behind Gator Dining. "Why don't you park at the O'Dome. It's closer." "No. It's closed." "It's not closed! Go check." "Yeah, it is." "No, it's not."

Eventually I caved and we parked at Gator D and started walking up to the corner of North-South (Gale Lemerand for you babies) and Stadium Road. Before I know it, he's stopping me at the corner - in front of the Bull Gator...and saying some lovely things I will keep to myself and asking me to marry him. After "Are you serious?!!?" I said "Yes" and that leads me to the most beautiful ring I have ever seen...

Check out Kaity's blog for more!

Unique Wedding Favors

As much as we all love candy, little chocolates, Jordan Almonds or M&M's...  it can get a little boring.

Set a statement with your wedding favors! Try something different and unique like these treats:

Flip Flops in your colors are great for a cute outdoors wedding!


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These are the cutest things EVER!



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Or even some herbs or plants are fun



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The sky is the limit with wedding favors! Do something creative that shows your personality as a couple and make sure your guests never forget your wedding!



Wedding Cakes

So, I was blog hopping and these super cute cakes kept popping up!

If you have no clue what to do for your wedding cake, please take a look at the these cake photos, I have a feeling they just might help.

I am loving the yellow details on these cakes!!

Cake by White Rose Bakery via Elizabeth Anne Designs and Deyla Huss Photography



Cake by Ghiselani Designer Cakes via Snippet & Ink and Anna Kim Photography

I'm seeing these frosted roses everywhere and I just LOVE them!!


Cake by Tailored Sweets via Wedding Chicks and Goodnickels Photography

You can check out how to make these sweet creations at Strawberry Chic! I'm obsessed, I just might have to try them out!

Cake by Strawberry Chic via Luna and Chloe Weddings

Now for the striped cakes. I am a sucker for stripes. I find myself buying striped everything, clothes, bags, shoes, and now I want a striped cake!

Cake by Sweet & Saucy Shop via Forget Me Knot Weddings and Gabriel Ryan Photographers



via Luna and Chloe Weddings

What's your favorite cake?

Gainesville Wedding: Rachel and Scot

MasterPiece Weddings was honored to be a part of Rachel and Scot's wedding this past weekend! They were wonderful and their wedding was absolutely gorgeous.

Here are a few pictures from Lindsay Novak Photography for you to enjoy!

So sweet, brings tears to my eyes!!

Cutest flower girls ever!

Amazing vendors from this wedding:

Photography: Lindsay Novak Photography
Flowers: Joan at Prange's Florist
Cake: Cakes by Jenny Wagner
Planning and Coordination: MasterPiece Weddings
Ceremony: Christ Community Church
Reception Venue: UF Hilton
Music: Wayne's World Entertainment
Hair: Graceful Strands
Make-up: Cliff Weir from Your Wedding Make-up

Interview with...ME!

I was honored to be interviewed by the awesometastic Invitation Consultants  the other day, they asked me five fab questions about what I do.

Here's a little preview..

To see the entire post with pictures go here to their blog!

You don't want to miss out!

Inspiration Board- Blue and Purple

We have had two brides in the past two months with the color combination of blues with purples. And we are lovin it!! These colors together are absolutely gorgeous so we created an inspiration board with them together!

Check out one of them tomorrow!

Cake; Bouquet by Charlotte Geary; Gifts; Shoes by Jerry Yoon Photography; Straws; Chairs; Boutonniere; Napkin; Place Cards

Know anyone else who used these colors for their wedding? Please share!

Feeding your Wedding Vendors

Okay, so the picture really isn't what I am talking about... but that is what happens when I am starving after a

21 hour day. Before we crack open the wine.

This question has come up quite a bit about feeding your vendors, do you, should you, why? And I am here to answer the questions you have.

Firstly, one of the main reasons I bring this up, is that recently a Mother of the Bride called me to ask me which meal I'd prefer - because she wanted to make sure I ate. But she wasn't planning on feeding any of the other vendors.

Here were my concerns. The photographer and videographer would be working a 10 hour day. The DJ would be working a 5 hour day, for this event we were working with the bride for a 21 hour stint of time. And please know, I am not complaining, I love my job! But here's my point.

We pack with us protein bars, snacks, water, etc. But when the reception comes around, we have a teensy bit of down, the photographer can only take so many pictures of people shoveling food and drinks in their faces, and drinking. Plus, you probably wouldn't want pictures of that anyway - and while working a 10 hour day you probably want to feed your photographer so they stay upright. Keeping in mind, what their contract states, they may request a hot meal. And usually the venue or catering staff, have a vendor meal selections - chicken fingers and french fries work too.

The same goes for us, we aren't picky, but it is nice to sit down for 3 minutes (literally 3 minutes) and eat something once we know that you (the bride, groom, parents of the bride and groom) are being attended to. Our team usually eats in shifts, so I know someone from my team always has eyes on the bride and groom to know they are taken care of.

Our rule is that anyone working more than 4 or 5 hours in a row, should have the ability to eat something if at all possible. I'm not saying go crazy, but if you were working 5 hours or more, you'd want to eat, right?

What are you thinking, when it comes to feeding your vendors?

Summer Blogosphere Series Part 6

I found this post by Junebug Weddings and I fell in love! The silver lace jewelry from By Jeannie Jewelry is so awesomely cool!

Each piece is actual lace that has been casted in silver and then made into a piece of jewelry like earrings or a necklace! Check them out!

Seriously gorgeous'ness, right?

Friday Fun: Wedding Shoes

Just because most people don't see the shoes you wear on your wedding day, does not mean they have to be boring! Have some fun with them!

Plus, awesometastic shoes make for great pictures.

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From BD Photography



By Tec Petaja



From Etsy


Your wedding shoes are such a great way to express your personality! 

Engagement: Shannon and David

We gave you a sneak peek of Shannon and David's Nacho Cheese wedding a while back and now we have some sweet engagement photos for you to drool over.

Bobbi and Mike took these ridiculously gorgeous pictures in our beloved downtown Gainesville! They are seriously the awesomesauce!!

Shannon and David are the cutest, in real life and in pictures! Thanks again Bobbi and Mike for sharing these amazazing photos, we love them and we love you!