Oh, how we love etsy! And handmade items! And wedding details! Afterall, it’s the details that can really set a wedding apart. We have fall on our minds these days so we decided to see what kind of fall wedding items etsy designers have available. Here are some of our favorites! Do you have any favorite etsy finds to share?

1. Harvest Maple Fall Wedding Boutonniere 2. Fall Wedding Bouquet Hair Comb Set 3. Fall Wedding Crocheted White Shrug/Bolero 4. Fall Wedding Hair Clip 5. Fall Wedding Flowergirl Dress 6. Fall Flowergirl Hair Wreath

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7. Fall Wedding Gold Twisted Necklace 8. Fall Wedding Mason Jar Lanterns 9. Fall Wedding Marshmallow Pop Favors 10. Plantable Paper Fall Wedding Favors Kit 11. Fall Wedding Pumpkin Flowergirl Basket 12. Fall Bridal Shoe Clips

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13. Fall Wedding Custom Wedding Directional Arrow Sign 14. Fall Wedding Signature Tree Guestbook Alternative 15. Fall Wedding Oak Leaf Wine Charms 16. Autumn Wedding Cone Favors 17. Autumn Wedding Russet Cork Garland 18. Autumn Wedding Invitations

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LWPI again welcomes Sally Lorensen Conant to the blog! Sally is also known as the Gown Care Lady, and she has a wealth of invaluable knowledge for brides and certified wedding and event planners. Be sure to visit her website, the Association of Gown Preservation Specialists, too.

Plastic bags are the worst possible choice for your gown because plastic emits fumes that can yellow your gown. If you have a bag made from muslin or tyvek, there will be no harmful fumes, but bags are not a particularly good choice for long-term storage. Hanging for long periods of time can distort the shape of your gown even if it is hanging from the ribbon loops attached to inside seams. All fabric, especially lace, will stretch if you hang it, and who needs a big bubble where the bustle should be or a saggy-looking bodice?

Having a professional clean and pack your gown in an acid-free wedding chest is a much better option. A professional will pack your gown so that it maintains it shape perfectly with a minimum of folds and creases, and the wedding chest takes up a lot less room in your closet than a big bouffant gown bag. Wedding chests also protect your gown from sharp objects that can slice into your dress. And they are a much more effective barrier against insects and mice than bags. A bride once came to me in tears because mice got into her bag before the wedding, shredded her train to make a nest, and left her a present of lots of little black stuff!

No museums that I know use bags to store textiles, and that, too, should tell you something: An acid-free wedding chest is a better choice than any bag.

Saying thank you to wedding guests is one of the most important things for couples to do, and it’s made a lot easier when a little creativity is involved! Here are some of our favorite thank-you card ideas. Do you have any to share?

Photo Courtesy of Louisa Marion Photography of Minneapolis

Photo Courtesy of Three Blondes and a Camera of Maryland

Photo Courtesy of Ben Godkin Photography of Austin, Texas

Photo Courtesy of Chantel Marie of Salt Lake City, Utah

Photo Card Courtesy of Zazzle

When it comes to interviewing possible bridal clients there is one thing every certified wedding and event planner must be: prepared. Being prepared means being on top of new and exciting wedding trends, and it means that planners must anticipate the questions brides-to-be are going to ask. Here are some of those questions; how would you answer them?

. How long have you been a planner?
. Are you a certified wedding and event planner?
. Is this your full-time job?
. How much do you charge?
. How many weddings have you planned?
. How many clients do you take on at one time?
. What is the largest wedding or event you have planned?
. Will you be at the wedding?
. Are you willing to travel to another region on the day of our wedding?
. Do you bring a staff with you?
. What are the best venues that fit our budget?
. (Once they choose a venue) Have you worked with this venue before?
. Can you help us with venue contracts?
. Can you get us discounts with vendors?
. Are you willing to stick to our budget and not guide us in a direction we can’t afford?
. How, and how often, may we contact you?
. Do you also plan honeymoons?

Suffice to say - brides are likely to add numerous questions to this list, but these are some common ones that every planner should expect to answer, and answer well. Remember that brides want to feel comfortable and feel heard. They’re likely going into this interview with a very specific vision in mind, and although your ideas may enhance their dreams - they’re still the clients’ dreams!

It’s important to remember, also, that although you’re the one being interviewed it’s a good time for you to get to know potential clients and try to figure out if you will work well with them. Trying to figure out how to say no? Read this great column by LWPI instructor Amanda Allen of MMD Events in Tampa, Florida: Insight from the Wedding Planning Institute: Saying No. To do a great job and end the day with a satisfied client you have to make sure your personalities mesh well!

What other important questions would you add to this list?

Whenever I think about a fall wedding I envision leaves on a tree on an autumn day. These are the colors that are customarily used in a fall-themed wedding. Typically, you start with yellows, oranges, greens and reds. All of these colors give off the warm, bold and vibrant colors characterized by fall. Below is a great inspiration board that demonstrates some of these colors in a fall-themed wedding.

Autumn Wedding Inspiration Board (Weddingblogger on Polyvore)

I love this time of year because it is just the right weather to have an outdoor wedding during the day and not have to deal with scalding-hot or freezing-cold weather. This can prove to be great for the bridal party as well as the guests. It is also great because this time of year yields some wonderful ideas for wedding favors or decorations that can be very cost-effective, like fresh apples, gourds and pumpkins. These are great things to use as table decorations or as favors for your guests.

Be sure to visit Shafonne’s website, read her plus-size bride blog, follow her on Twitter, and read more about her in this LWPI Instructor Spotlight.

The reasons to have a Green Wedding are obvious: They’re better for the environment and better for future generations. Ideas for planning a Green Wedding are numerous, too. But have you thought beyond the wedding? That’s right: Eco-conscious couples can also plan a Green Honeymoon, even further stretching their green footsteps. As Kate Harrison of The Green Bride Guide says, “Being a responsible honeymooner does not mean you have to give up style or comfort.” Here are some great websites and options for planning an eco-friendly honeymoon.

Eco-Luxury Tours by Elevate Destinations

Elevate Destinations, a company that specializes in Green, philanthropic and eco-friendly tourism, is a favorite of The Green Bride Guide. If your couples are looking for something green yet traditional, check out these options from Sandals and Beaches, also recommended by The Green Bride Guide. Even if your couples go the more traditional wedding route they may be interested in these honeymoons, which reduce carbon footprints. We also love the ideas at Great Green Travel, a site “devoted to the green, environmentally conscious traveler.” This site breaks down travel ideas into such categories as adventure, bike, and luxury, just to name a few. We especially think the idea of canoeing in St. Augustine, Fla., sounds relaxing and amazing!

Here are a few other websites to check out for your couples, or direct them to when they ask about eco-friendly honeymoons:

The International Ecotourism Society
Planeta.com (It’s an old-school design, but it’s filled with good ideas!)
Eco-Tourism at Orbitz
Eco-Friendly and Hiking suggestions by the Travel Channel

Interested in becoming a Green Wedding Planner? Find out all the details of LWPI’s Green Weddings Course or register for a class online or in your area today!

We’ll be the first to admit that these are ideas we’ve never seen in person. Fake wedding cakes? Rental wedding cakes? That being said, we can see the need for these in many bridal situations. Wedding cakes can be very expensive, and some couples just don’t see a reason to spend so much of their budget on dessert. Chances are, however, that they still want cake-cutting photos even if they want to forgo a traditional cake! What to do, then? Here are a couple of nontraditional and unexpected ideas that certified wedding and event planners can work with. Brilliant or bonkers? You be the judge.

Fake the Cake, of California

Fake Wedding Cakes. How many times have you been served a piece of wedding cake that tasted, well, just not so good. Fake wedding cakes solve that problem. They can be gorgeous - filled with details and flowers and everything that wedding cakes are known for. Fake wedding cakes are gorgeous in photos, too, and they’re less likely to get ruined on their trip to the venue. There’s just one thing: You can’t eat them! If you have a friend willing to decorate your cake for free this is a good option. They save time by using styrofoam, and you save money by skipping the bakery. But what about your guests? They get a slice of sugary perfection - straight from a sheet cake hidden in the venue’s kitchen.

Rental Wedding Cakes. Don’t have a friend with handy decorating skills? No problem. There are companies with fake wedding cakes to rent. That’s right. You get to choose a cake that matches your theme. They set it up for you at your reception, where your friends and family ooh and ahh over it. Then it’s whisked away (your guests, once again, get a piece of sheet cake), and the rental cake is off to amaze the guests at another bride’s wedding. You can’t get more budget-friendly than this!

So what do you think? Is the wedding cake a disposable part of the overall wedding budget? Have you ever seen these options where you live? We think they’re a smart option, if done right.

Today’s post is the second of three parts on budgeting for destination weddings. Our guest writer is Chezelle Rodriguez, the owner of Chezelle Dezines, an event-planning and graphic-design company in Puerto Rico. And be sure to check out Part I and Part II if you missed them.

What couples often overlook and what to expect – Part III

Beware of the small print!

Hotels and resorts usually have fees that you won’t know about until that final bill comes. Find out in advance how much tax the city or place where you will hold your venue charges. This tax will be added at the end of the bill, plus a percentage for gratuity, usually 22 percent.

Sound equipment is always overlooked! Venues will charge for this automatically knowing that their space needs it. Sometimes couples don’t need this because their DJ will set up a sound system. Let your catering manager know if you have someone setting up the system to get that fee taken off. I always advise my clients to block rooms directly with the hotel. This always brings controversy, especially when guests arrive and the rooms they are given are not the ones with the best views. When booking through such third-party companies as Expedia, Travelocity and Hotwire the hotel has made specific rooms available, which cannot be upgraded or changed. When you block a room directly with the hotel you have control of where you want your guests to stay. You can even change the rooms once you check in if you want your parents closer to your grandparents, for example. Some venues offer free nights for the couple depending on the amount of rooms they block.

Everything is Negotiable!

Are you a last-minute or spontaneous person? I have some good news for you! If your lead time is less than two months you might be able to get an incredible deal. The sooner the event, the better the savings might be. Negotiate aggressively – your wedding planner can help you with this! Venues and vendors know it’s unlikely that another last-minute event will come along, and they are often eager to do business with you.

Destination weddings are beautiful, intimate, and a great way to have a mini vacation and celebrate your wedding at the same time!

Thank you, Chezelle, for a fantastic series on planning and budgeting for destination weddings! You can read more about Chezelle’s work in her Real Weddings From LWPI Graduates post.

Today’s post is the second of three parts on budgeting for destination weddings. Our guest writer is Chezelle Rodriguez, the owner of Chezelle Dezines, an event-planning and graphic-design company in Puerto Rico. She specializes in destination weddings, and you can read more about Chezelle’s work in her Real Weddings From LWPI Graduates post.

Photo Courtesy of Saul Padua Photography

What Couples Often Overlook and What to Expect – Part II

Tips on How to Tackle that Budget Monster!

With the huge increase in the number of DIY couples who are making their own wedding invitations and favors, it’s obvious that they are looking for ways to cut down on wedding spending. There are plenty of cost-saving ideas online.

Take your scissors to the guest list early and stay firm. Some couples opt out of having children in their wedding for multiple reasons, including reducing their wedding budget. Some child meals can cost just as much as an adult dinner.

The general rule is to set aside 6 percent of a wedding budget for your gown, but you can get away with far less. When figuring the cost factor in alterations, dry cleaning (some wedding planners offer a steamer), underpinnings, veils and accessories.

Receptions:

Receptions typically take up about 40 percent of the wedding budget but can increase to 55 perecent depending on the venue and menu. Marrying in the off season helps. Timing is everything: Roughly 70 percent of weddings take place between May and October. With this said, however, event spaces and vendors are always eager for your business at other times of the year, which can help reduce your costs.

Call ahead and ask event spaces, hotels and vendors about their down time. You will be surprised to see discounts from about 40 percent off compared with peak season. This is very important when planning a destination wedding, especially since you might not be familiar with the seasonal quirks of the area. Plan your festivities to take place between Sunday and Thursday, the slow days at most resorts, and you might benefit from some considerable discounts. Saturday evening is the prime time for weddings and prices will soar! Also keep in mind that government-owned properties have the most reasonable fees and have beautiful unexpected places to marry.

BYOB!

Some venues allow you to bring your own liquor. This will save you a boatload of money, costing about $20 a person as opposed to $60 a person at a traditional venue. Negotiate bringing in the liquor or having a bar per consumption. In some cases this will save you thousands of dollars! When buying the liquor ask the store if they have a buy-back policy.

Photography:

Photography averages 7 percent to 10 percent of an overall budget. Beginning packages start at about $1,000, and an entire day’s booking is about $3,000. One quick way to cut down on that cost is to ask for a “shoot and burn” package (very popular with small weddings and elopements). What you get is a photographer for four hours and all the unedited, minimally retouched, high-resolution images on a DVD. This allows couples to share their photos with friends and family as well as on social networking Websites. I always tell my clients that if they absolutely love the style of the photographer then splurge. After the wedding is over all you have left are memories and the pictures!

Flowers and Décor:

Flowers and décor eat up about an 8 percent of your budget. Since in-season flowers will save you money, search online to see what will be available on your wedding day. Average costs of bouquets range from $100 to $500 depending on the flowers. The more types of flowers that go into the bouquet, the more expensive it will be. Spend the money on flowers where it will make more impact. A ceremony might last up to 30 minutes, while a reception will be four hours and where guests will spend the majority of their time. Alternating flowers with candles will give your reception a romantic feel that won’t weigh down your budget.

Another great way to reduce your budget is to rent Par 64 or Par 56 lights and bases. The right lighting can save you big dollars from having to transform a space with flowers and other decorations that can cost much more.

Cupcakes or Mini Cakes?

This trend is catching on fast, and I’ve seen my clients choose them instead of a traditional wedding cake. Venues often charge a cake-cutting fee ranging from $2.50 to $6 a slice.

Be sure to check out Part 1 and Part III of Chezelle’s great series!

LWPI is delighted to once again welcome Sally Lorensen Conant to the blog! Sally is also known as the Gown Care Lady, and she has a wealth of invaluable knowledge for brides and certified wedding and event planners. Be sure to visit her Website, the Association of Gown Preservation Specialists, too.

Six Things that Can Spoil Your Wedding Day

1. Drooping bustle: Whether your bridesmaids simply cannot figure out how to fasten your bustle or your gown is very heavy or someone just plain steps on your train, you will wish you had asked for extra hooks or buttons to keep your gown from dragging on the ground. Plan ahead, and attach several safety pins to the lining near the hem of your gown so they will be there when you need them. Here are some other tips for emergency gown.

2. Flowers that hide your gown: If you are going to carry a large bouquet, practice holding your flowers low. If you hold them too high they will hide your gown when you are walking down the aisle, and you will see more flowers than gown when you look at your video and your photographs.

3. Veils and hairstyles that hide your face: Make sure your veil frames your face — not hides it — after you lift your blusher. And remember not to obscure the right side of your face with your hair. That’s the side next to the groom, the side everyone wants to see when you are at the altar.

4. Relatives taking photographs: Uncle Charlie may be a great guy, but he is not trained to stay out of the way so that others can see you when you exchange your vows. And it is also not fair to relatives who want to be part of the celebration to make them spend the day behind a camera with one eye closed. Let a professional capture all those special moments and share them afterward with your family.

5. Unplanned schedule of events: Avoid leaving hours and hours between the ceremony and the reception if you possibly can or some guests may party so hard they do not make it to the reception. If there must be a long delay, offer guests some options such as a lounge in the reception venue or, for out-of-town guests, a list of nearby things to do. On the other hand, do not forget to allow enough time for photographs. No one really minds if you miss hors d’oeuvres  with your guests, but a dinner that gets overcooked because you are still taking pictures is a disaster. If you are having your ceremony and reception at the same location, you might even consider posing for your formal photographs before the ceremony, and then you will have extra time to spend with your guests.

6. Kids at weddings: If you plan to have a very young ring bearer or flower girl, be sure each gets to bed early the night before the wedding. Designate someone other than mom or dad (if they are in the wedding party), to watch them during the ceremony. For children at the ceremony, whether they are in the wedding party or not, things such as snacks in a Ziplock bag that opens quietly, clear (in case of spills) juice in boxes, and a coloring book with washable markers will hold their interest. At the reception, serving children’s meals promptly and having books and crayons on hand will help keep them at the table.

One more tip: After all your thoughtful planning, try to relax and enjoy each moment. It will all go by much too quickly, and your friends and family are there to share the joy of your special day — not to complain about missteps along the way.

Adapted from The Seven Biggest Wedding Mistakes by Rod Jovanelly at A Touch of Color Photography in Connecticut.