Feeding the Masses - Food Service Options

When planning a wedding, you have A LOT of decisions to make! From color schemes to first dance songs, every wedding detail is carefully calculated by you (or the fabulous girls at NoLo)! One of the most talked about debates in the wedding industry is what style of dining you should treat your guests to. Up until a few years ago seated or buffet style used to be the traditional options to consider. However, all of the new trends and ideas in the world of weddings mean there are more food options available to couples than ever before! I’ll break down a few of NoLo’s favorites below, including the tried and true seated and buffet styles.

Original Wedding: Ashley and Joe at Belmont Manor

From the moment I met Ashley and Joe I knew that they were a special couple. Their infectious smiles, excited energy and loving gazes at each other are every wedding planners dream! Then, when they told me that they were planning a carnival themed wedding at the beautiful Belmont Manor, I was sold!

Original Wedding: Amanda and John at Swan Harbor Farm

What started as a random night out led to John missing, and having to re-do, his internship.. It was when he was asked to re-do that internship that he met Amanda at his new school. Both teachers, seemingly perfect for each other in more ways than one, Amanda and John were clearly meant to be. Her thoughtfulness mixed with his sense of humor, her perfect organization paired with his go-with-the-flow attitude, everyone can see it.

A perfect orange sunset set the tone for Amanda and John’s wedding this past July. The tent was decorated in beautiful neutrals and lilacs. The excitement in the room was loud and clear, and rightfully so, since “everyone {had} waited four year for this to happen,” as the maid of honor put it. She couldn’t hold back tears as she talked about her happiness for Amanda and John.

Cruise Annapolis

You guys! Nora and I had the opportunity a few weekends ago to hop aboard one of Cruise Annapolis' catamarans for a few hours and it was FANTASTIC. We sailed with some friends, including the lovely Hannah from HannahLane Photography, and just had the best time. Being out on the water is paradise enough, but discovering that we would be sailing on a three-bedroom catamaran was the icing on the cake.

Original Wedding: Jen and Kevin at Oregon Ridge

When I think back to Jen and Kevin’s wedding my first thought is about the heat on that scorching June day. But that is not my only thought, nor is it the most important. The important memories I have are how much fun the wedding was, how fabulous the venue and food was and most of all how in love and charming Jen and Kevin were.

Chelsey & Adam: Park Engagement Party

Nora and I met Chelsey in college. We walked into a S.O.A.P (Student Organization for Activity Planning) meeting at Salisbury University and never looked back. Clearly our love of planning and organization made us life-long friends. Or maybe it was the fact that we discovered we share the same birthday! Either way, we quickly become close friends and remained that way, even after graduating and moving to different states.

Chelsey and Adam have been together FOREVER. They started dating in high school and when their relationship lasted through college and Chelsey getting a job in Philly, everyone knew a proposal was coming. It finally happened one weekend while they were in New York and Nora and I were thrilled for them both. We were even more thrilled to throw them an engagement party! Let. Me. Tell. You. It is VERY difficult to plan an engagement party, in a different state, and collect the email addresses of family and friends, all while keeping the whole shebang a secret from the bride-to-be. But we did it! Chelsey was so surprised and spending the day with all of her and Adam's family and friends was SO worth it. 

We planned for the party to take place at a park in Chelsey's hometown. Since we had a 2.5 hour drive and an entire pavilion to decorate, we kept things simple. A homemade BBQ menu, lawn games and fun decorations set the tone for a fantastic afternoon!

Original Wedding: Joyce & Ray at The Liriodendron

Joyce and Ray met through an online dating site and had a quick connection. After a few dates they were inseparable and after traveling all over the world together their love blossomed. A few years later Ray set up the perfect proposal and it was official! It is extremely clear that this couple is perfect for one another! They have a magnetic energy between them and you can’t help but love their love!

Original Wedding: Jacqui and John at the Dulles Hilton

I could tell the very first time I met with Jacqui and John that what they had was special. The fact that Jacqui describes the way they met as her “mildly stalking” John, and the way John treats Jacqui with such tenderness, were dead giveaways.

Original Wedding: Amy & Buzz at the Baltimore Museum of Industry

At Amy and Buzz’s final appointment they were nothing but calm, cool and collected. All of their hard work and attention to detail had paid off and they were free to sit back relax and get married!

Fast forward to their wedding day. Despite the chill in the air and the heavy winds, that sense of calm remained. Buzz and Amy kept it simple with a smaller bridal party and a quick ceremony. They spoke vows from the heart and had gleaming smiles on their faces the entire time.

Saying YES to the dress!

The other day I was at a friends house and they had TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress” on. Every once in a while you need to relax on the couch and veg out on reality TV. So, I was 3 episodes in and had a revelation-- Some women have no idea how to shop for the right wedding dress.

 

Here are my quick tips when you are going dress shopping:

Original Wedding: Kaori and Jon at Turf Valley's Terrace on the Green

Having made the decision to attend a Marine Corps presentation, solely based on the free pizza, I can’t imagine that Jon ever thought that that one move would lead to the rest of his life. Not only did it decide his career path, it also led him to Kaori.

Kaori and Jon met in Japan, where Jon was stationed shortly after training and Kaori was earning her Master’s Degree and working on base. As Jon describes it, he wandered into her office one day and remembers thinking about how lovely she was, but doing nothing about it. Months later, he asked Kaori out and she said yes. She continued to say yes and when their relationship made it through stressful jobs and deployments, Jon realized he couldn’t leave Japan without her.

The Perfect Wedding Day Emergency Kit

One thing that has taken Nora and I a couple of years to perfect is NoLo's wedding day emergency kit. This is something that we bring with us to every wedding. It's filled to the brim with things that not only the couple or a guest may need, but items that we may need throughout the day as well.

Don't get me wrong, our first emergency kit was useful and functional. And Google was a great help in putting it together! But over the last few years we have added things that we ended up needing and taken out others that just seemed to go to waste.

Pinterest and Wedding Planning

When you type “Wedding” into the search bar on Pinterest, thousands of pins will pop up. With several sub categories to help narrow your search, it’s no wonder Pinterest is one of the biggest social media platforms used when planning a wedding. How on earth are you supposed to sift through the never ending pages of DIY tutorials, planning checklists and centerpiece ideas? Here are a few tips on how to use Pinterest to your advantage when planning your wedding!

Alternative Guest Book Ideas

A wedding guest book is a great keepsake and a reminder of who was there to share in your special day! Guest books can come in all shapes and sizes. Traditionally they are bound books with lines for your guests to simply sign their name. However, new and unique guest books are trending in the world of weddings.

Original Wedding: Melissa and Zeb at Corradetti Glassblowing Studio

The first time I spoke with Melissa I was so excited to discover that her and Zeb's wedding would take place at Corradetti Glassblowing Studio in Baltimore. If you've never been there, the space is a beautiful combination of exposed brick and unique works of art, and the perfect setting for an intimate wedding ceremony and reception. From the touches of babies breath on the tables, to the delicious menu, Melissa and Zeb's wedding day was just that-- Perfect!

Clearance Bin Wedding Finds!

I am my mothers daughter. If there is a deal to be had, a clearance section to sift through or coupons to be clipped, I am SO there! This passion and skill come in handy when planning a wedding.

Color Us Styled

Last week, thanks to an awesome team of vendors, NoLo was able to check an item off of its “to-do” list for this year. That item? Participate in a styled shoot. Check.

The woodsy, boho-themed gorgeous-ness will be on the blog later, but in the meantime we just wanted to satisfy your curiosity with some behind the scenes action shots and fun facts!

Happy Thursday!

Working with My Best Friend

Here we are on the brink of wedding season! There is a certain flutter in my heart and excitement in my veins. Another year of being part of the best day in our lovely couples’ lives. Another year of feeling accomplished with all the hard work we put into our passion. But most of all, another year I get to work alongside my best friend!

Caribbean Honeymoons - All-Inclusive Resorts VS Cruising

I LOVE vacations. I mean, who doesn’t? Although I’ve only been on one honeymoon, I’ve done my fair share of traveling. I’ve stayed at different brands of resorts on multiple islands and just recently disembarked from my first cruise. I’ve never come face to face with a vacation I didn’t like, but there are definitely some things I favor about one type of trip over the other, especially for a honeymoon.

Getting Grooms Involved

More often than not the bulk of the wedding planning is done by the bride. This is probably because she has been planning her wedding even before you were in the picture...Sorry buddy, blame Pinterest!

However, as long as your groom is willing why not get him involved? Think about it, by delegating jobs and sharing responsibility that means less stress for you. When sharing in the planning of the wedding you are working towards a common goal i.e. the biggest day of your life! Plus, when your bridesmaids are sick of hearing about the cost of peonies for the 147th time your beau will there to lend an ear and help offer a solution. Keep your fiances strengths and weaknesses in mind. Don’t ask them to help you with tasks that play to their weaknesses, I promise you, they will not stick around for much of the planning process.

Taking the Plunge – Quitting My Part-Time Job

As I’ve mentioned before, I quit my part-time job back in October. FINALLY! It was a long time coming, but ended up being a spur of the moment decision.

Now that it’s been 5 months, I couldn’t be more certain that I made the right decision. First of all, NoLo is better than ever. I’ve had so much time to focus on the company and I’ve been able to direct all of my energy into my clients. It just goes to show that the more you put into something, the more you get out of it.

Photo by GoBrail Photography

Featured: The Baltimore Museum of Industry

For those of you looking for a truly remarkable and unforgettable wedding venue in Downtown Baltimore, look no further than the Baltimore Museum of Industry! Whether you are looking for a more casual affair or a black tie gala, the BMI is perfect for you.

Conveniently located right off of Key Highway, the BMI offers several indoor and outdoor spaces for your private event. From the Decker Gallery and Industry Terrace to the Pavilion and Point, your guests will experience sweeping views of the Inner Harbor (my favorite photo opp is with the Domino Sugar sign!).

Photos by Maria Linz

Rocking Bridal Shows - Tips for Vendors

Bridal shows are intimidating, right?! They are such an intense day of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of potential clients bombarding up and down narrow aisles of tables, trying to grab freebies and enter to win contests. How are you supposed to stand out in a sea of craziness?

I’ll be honest-- Nora and I don’t really attend bridal shows anymore. When we first started up we attended a few larger shows, but now we only have a select one or two that we may attend and they aren’t large at all. They are more intimate events, put on by our favorite venues, for the purpose of already-booked brides getting a chance to scout out other vendors.

That being said, whether it be in the beginning stages of NoLo, tables I’ve run for other jobs, or just being an attendee, I’ve seen my fair share of large bridal expos. Some things work and some things don’t. Some booths bring people in and some don’t. If you want to attract people to your booth, and keep them there, there are some things I’ve found to really work well.

Wedding Trends - The Outlook for 2015's Wedding Season

By now we all have heard that Pantone’s color of the year is...everybody say it with me - MARSALA! For those of you who aren't familiar with the color, and keep thinking about a chicken dish served at your company’s holiday party, Marsala is a deep, rich burgundy color. What does marsala and other wedding trends have to do with you? How can you incorporate them into your day? NoLo is breaking down a few of the top wedding trends of 2015.

Color
Let’s not let marsala hog all of the attention! There are several colors that you will see everywhere this wedding season! Soft pastels like blush and pale blue are taking over the wedding scene this year. With metallic touches in gold, silver and bronze you can add a hint of sophistication and glamour!

Clicking With Your Wedding Planner - It's Essential

Let me paint a picture for you.

{Emily and Dan have planned their DREAM wedding. Emily has selected all of the details based on her love of blushes and neutrals and her obsession with garden roses and peonies. She is a true girly girl and wants her wedding to feel like a sophisticated fairy tale. Dan has taken a back seat to the details but really has an interest in the food and their guests. His Italian heritage has him putting an importance on good food and good times. Both Emily and Dan are laid-back in nature. They have conveyed to each and every vendor exactly what they are looking for and trust those vendors to execute their day perfectly.

Bring More Than Your Appetite - Tips For Taste Tests

Phew! Just over 200 more days until our wedding! Being a wedding planner, I wasted no time diving into planning right after Brad and I got engaged in September. We crossed the big to-do’s off the list fairly quickly.. The venue was locked down within a few weeks of planning, I said YES to the dress, then it was on to the food and cake tastings! Which you have to admit is the best part!

Brad and I are excited to be working with Design Cuisine and DC Rental for our big day! Their staff and service has been impeccable thus far. The attention and care they give their clients is top notch and the day of our tasting was no exception. Brad and I had talked about and finalized a preliminary menu prior to the tasting, so we were very excited to taste the items we had decided on. Below are my top eight tips for you to get the most out of your taste test!

Working From Home-- Finding the Balance

I quit my part-time job and started working from home back in October. Since switching to NoLo full time, and operating 100% out of my home office, I’ve had to learn how to manage my day. It’s AH-mazing how much of your day can pass when you don’t have a plan. There were so many times that I would look at the clock and wonder where the day went.

I thought that having so much more time to devote to NoLo would result in so much more things getting done for NoLo. Wow was I wrong. You see, the thing is, when you have an unlimited amount of time to do something, you procrastinate more. At least I do. I found myself putting things off because I “had all day tomorrow to do them”. Or, I would find myself cleaning up around the house and folding clothes because I had all of this time at home that I hadn’t had before. Sound familiar?

The more this went on, the more I realized I needed to develop an office atmosphere at home. I needed rules and guidelines, just like at a “normal” job. It’s so easy to get in a rut when you only have yourself to be accountable for so I came up with the following policies to keep myself accountable!