Come to our annual bridal show!

We interrupt this wedding planning blog to remind you that the annual Southbury Bridal Show is happening this weekend! Please join us from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 2, here at the Heritage Hotel, Southbury!

We have partnered with Respond If You Please, a wonderfully elegant stationary and party design store, to bring you the best the area has to offer. We have gathered the top wedding industry vendors in the area to impress you with their expertise and talent, not to mention, some amazing show discounts and gifts!

We will have complimentary sampling of cakes, cupcakes, food and treats, special show promotions and discounts, cash bar and more prizes and give-aways than you can imagine! And while it’s called a “bridal” show, both brides- and grooms-to-be are welcome!

Best of all, this event is FREE to attend for brides, grooms and their guests! While pre-registration is not mandatory, it is suggested. We want to be sure that our vendors are fully stocked with giveaways and prizes. 

So, to pre-register, visit the bridal show's website.

We hope to see you there!

Olympic fever? Sports fans? Celebrate what you love together!

While we’re enjoying Olympic fever here, it got us thinking about sports themes for your wedding. Of course a sports theme only works if both of you are in agreement, but they can be a lot of fun.

A sport you enjoy together. Do you play a sport together, like tennis, softball, or golf? Use elements from your sport as accents on your invitations, cake, or escort cards. Or, if you prefer a more formal wedding look, have a wedding weekend at a golf or tennis resort. It’s the best of both worlds!

Your alma mater. Did you meet in college or did one or both of you play for your college’s sports teams? Use your college’s colors as your wedding colors; feature your college’s mascot; or play with your fight song.

Your favorite team. This one can be tricky if you’re fans of rival teams. (We’ve got plenty of Red Sox-Yankee fan marriages right here!) You can have fun with it, perhaps creating a wedding cake with two different sides representing each team or using the rivalry and team colors as accents.

However you decide to play it, using your favorite sport or team can be a great way to enjoys your wedding day!

What are your must-have photos for your wedding day?

If you’re like many other people planning a wedding, you’ve spent a lot of time on Pinterest looking at wedding photography. While that can give you some great ideas, it can also be overwhelming to have so much information at your fingertips. What to do?

Pick and choose. Of course, all the photos on Pinterest will look fantastic. But really go through and choose which ones you truly like. While that picture of the wedding party’s shoes all lined up is adorable, if your wedding party isn’t wearing fancy footwear, the picture just won’t be the same.

Talk with your photographer. Perhaps that perfect picture you saw used a particular filter or set-up. If you talk with your photographer ahead of time, you can work together to find what pictures you like and the photographer can accommodate. But, remember, you hired your photographer for a reason. He or she may have a very different artistic view than the things you’ve seen elsewhere. Trust that they will help guide your vision to what will look perfect for your day.

Don’t expect an exact replica. A lot of the wedding photography you see features professional models and extensive lighting. Your photos, your clothing, everything, will be different. You won’t get an exact copy of the pictures you saw online, but you will get your versions of them. Enjoy the keepsakes from your special day.

On a side note, happy Valentine’s Day to all our engaged, soon-to-be engaged and happily married couples out there!

Are you traditional or modern? Why not both!

Every couple tries to find a way to make their wedding special for them; they want each aspect of the ceremony and reception to reflect who they are. But one big decision has to be made first – are you planning a traditional or modern wedding? Or are you looking to find a balance between the two?

Some things to consider when trying to find a balance between the traditional and the modern is what, if any, religious elements the two of you expect to keep in your ceremony. If it’s in a house of worship, you will be keeping many traditional elements by definition. Discuss your options with your officiant, you may find you have more wiggle room than you thought to add personalized elements.

Another possibility is to keep your reception more modern. There are no rules stating you must do certain elements. Skip the bouquet toss. Serve cupcakes and avoid the cutting of the cake. It’s up to the two of you!

If you’re having a civil ceremony, then the options are much more open. You can make your wedding and reception as quirky and personal – or as by-the-book – as you want. Pick a theme like your favorite movie, TV show or era. Design your ceremony and reception around that. Or, if you prefer, just take some elements and weave them into a more traditional ceremony.

Finding the balance is about discussing what the two of you want; then working together to make it happen!