Posted Friday, January 27, 2012 4:05 PM
Knot Name: firstimersluck
Wedding Date: September 25th 2011
Tell me about the Knotties on your board that you post on. Have you ever joined them for a GTG?
I am a frequenter of three boards, in particular: Washington-Seattle, September 2011 Brides and Military Brides. The Military Brides board has been helpful in that I can just bond with other military spouses, whether we discuss the wedding or not. The September board, however, was the most helpful--in fact, I have made long-lasting friendships with a lot of those ladies. They are all incredible people! Also, getting to plan my wedding with others who have the same timeline as me was really helpful to keep me on track! There were plenty of times where someone would post about a project they completed and I would respond, "Oh man... I totally didn't think about that!" This November, I am planning to get together with the Seattle Knotties and can't wait! It's great to have so many people who are close to me and planning weddings as well. From fellow board members, I learned about vendors to use and stay away from and was also able to help other Knotties find their local vendors that are/were awesome! I'm even letting one Knottie borrow some of my wedding decor for her upcoming wedding. :)
Describe your wedding.
My wedding was by the water in Bellingham, WA. My husband is in the Navy, so we wanted a clean, nautical feel, but without overdoing it. The colors were white, royal blue and yellow with a very "crisp" feel.
How have the Knotties on your board helped you plan?
Yes! So many of my ideas came from the DIY board, AA board, and Budget Weddings board. The most helpful ladies, however, were the September 2011 brides! Whenever I needed help, they were eager to offer their advice and insight! For example, I wanted a sash for my wedding gown, and they spent an entire thread over the course of a week posting ones they found online. They took me, my style, my budget and my look into consideration and spent so much time and effort on such a small detail. Not to mention, I had the best sash ever! Also, the Seattle Brides came in handy for vendor picking and reviews. I was grateful to have real women, who actually used the vendors, give me their tips and reviews.
What has been the most valuable piece of advice you've gotten from another Knottie?
The most valuable piece of advice that I got was that you'll never be able to please everyone on our wedding day. This is so true! When you try so hard to make everyone else happy, the wedding becomes a party for everyone else--not for you and your groom.
Best vendor that you’ve worked with and why?
The best vendor we worked with was Kristin Harris from Kristin Harris Photography. She is a reasonably priced photographer who gave us everything we wanted. Not to mention, she is so easy-going and really cared about us as a couple. Kristin made sure that our engagement photos and wedding photos had a little bit of everything: Artsy, playful, classic, silly, romantic, etc. She was so easy to get along with, quick to respond to e-mails, and always early to arrive. She also listened to our concerns, my insecurities about photographs, our style and made everything happen the way we wanted! I cannot talk her up enough!
What made your wedding stand out to your guests, and where did you find the inspiration?
I think that our venue made our wedding stand out to our guests. It was overlooking the ocean with this big glass dome--you just can't beat that view! We also had a lot of personal touches that I DIYed, which made our wedding unique. Most of the inspiration came from the DIY board or just searching through all the pictures on The Knot! I really appreciate all the photo galleries on the website for inspiring what I wanted visually.
What did you look forward to most on your wedding day?
I looked forward to seeing it all come together after months of planning!
Posted Thursday, January 19, 2012 2:10 PM
Knot Name: Zimsgirl
Wedding Date: June 2, 2012
Tell me about the Knotties on your board that you post on. Have you ever joined them for a GTG?
The Knotties on the June 2012 board and Military Brides board are great. It's nice to get unbiased feedback on different projects, concerns, etc. The Military Brides board is especially nice, though, because we all have all have an understanding of what everyone is going through.
Describe your wedding.
We're going to have a very small, elegant and romantic summer wedding at a Catholic church. The colors we're using are pink and green and there will be an abundance of flowers (peonies, hydrangeas and roses) and candles.
How have the Knotties on your board helped you plan?
They have answered many questions with helpful advice and given a lot of constructive feedback on various projects and ideas for the wedding.
What has been the most valuable piece of advice you've gotten from another Knottie?
If in-laws and family are not contributing financially, you don't have to take their opinions into consideration.
Best vendor that you’ve worked with and why?
My photographer Abbi Triphan of Abbi Triphan Photography. She is incredibly talented and has been great to work with. We had to reschedule our engagement picture session three times due to my fiance's injury during his deployment and she was extremely flexible and willing to work with us on any changes. Not to mention, our pictures are amazing!
What will make your wedding stand out to your guests, and where did you find the inspiration?
I think the flowers will stand out the most because we're going to have so many. My favorite, however, is the centerpiece for the wedding party table. It is an arrangement of pink peonies with cut up lime slices in the vase, inspired by The Knot, of course!
What are you looking forward to most on your wedding day?
I'm most looking forward to marrying the man of my dreams.
Posted Friday, November 04, 2011 5:49 PM
Knot Name: sarahebrown
Wedding Date: October 9, 2011
Knot Annie: Tell me about the Knotties on your board that you post on. Have you ever joined them for a GTG?
My board's Knotties are THE BEST! I am very lucky to have been a part of a group of wonderful brides (and two grooms!) who were also planning weddings in the Outer Banks, North Carolina. We all got along so well that we started a facebook group called OBX Knotties 2011-2012 so that we could communicate more easily. We are in the planning stages of a GTG. They were all so helpful with any questions and concerns I had while planning, which ranged from my crazy future in-law's shenanigans to my dress crises. I truly felt like I was a member of a sorority of sorts whilst getting to know these amazing guys and gals. We talk every day and I consider many of them genuine friends. I don't think, unless you are a bride or groom yourself, you can truly understand the trials and tribulations of planning a wedding. Below is the note I wrote to them all just before my wedding weekend:
Well, it's finally here. After a yearlong engagement, this Sunday I will finally be a married woman. Since it's my last day at work/near my computer, I wanted to write you all a big Thank You note today.When I started planning our wedding, I had very little knowledge of weddings at all. I had attended as many as the next gal, but never been in one as a Bridesmaid or had enough involvement to understand the ins and outs of planning. I can remember flying back to DC from Florida, a day after my Fiancé and I got engaged standing on the beach. All I knew was that I wanted to be married on a beach. Wasn't sure where, when or how. After deciding on the OBX, that's where you all came in! I found this board and I cannot tell you how thankful I am for that. You all stuck by me through a year's worth of freak outs about Mother in Laws, food, venues, décor, flowers, music, wedding party drama….even CLOWNS! I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today, feeling calm and ready to be a bride on my wedding day without you. The kindness and generosity of the members of this board is unlike I expected to find through an internet forum. Ideas are shared without question, fears are forgotten through kind words, heartaches are made less painful by knowing you are not alone in your feelings, and hiccups along the way are laughed at together and forgotten.
It's not a small thing to have a wonderful "support group", as we have laughingly referred to ourselves, when you are a bride. There are so many emotions you experience along the journey of planning your wedding that are unexpected. But I always felt that this was a safe place to share those feelings without ridicule, without anyone judging. And for that, I have you all to thank. So, thank you. Thank you for being my secret wedding planning dream team. I will never forget that. You all have contributed to my wedding in different ways, whether with a DIY idea (Maria), or a laugh (Charlene), or a man's opinion (Rick), or a cry (Boo), or just someone who gets where you are coming from (Lindsay). I hope you know that and know how much I appreciate the part you have played in making my dreams come true just for one special day that I will remember forever.
KA: Describe your wedding.
Our ceremony was on the beach in the Outer Banks, North Carolina. The weather was perfection, the waves were softly pounding the sand and we had a violinist playing "What a wonderful world." Our colors were purple and green and they were incorporated into every detail. The ceremony began at 5:15 p.m., only 15 minutes late! My husband, then fiance, cried as I walked down the aisle towards him, which was lined with shells we had collected together. We took our vows under a bamboo archway created by my husband from bamboo, ribbons and hanging sand dollars. We promised our futures to one another and sealed it with a kiss. After some family photos on the sand, we joined our friends and family inside The Pearl Restaurant to celebrate. The night was perfect, in every way, and just what we envisioned. I wouldn't have changed one thing.
KA: How have the Knotties on your board helped you plan?
They helped with venue, DJ, ceremony music, florist, cake and caterer recommendations. I cannot think of one thing that they didn't have input in really! They were my secret weapon.
KA: What has been the most valuable piece of advice you've gotten from another Knottie?
I have to say, they helped me with my day-of coordination schedule a lot. My planner dropped out literally days before the wedding without so much as an "I'm Sorry" and they really helped me know how to make the whole day flow properly.
KA: Best vendor that you've worked with and why?
It's hard to chose because I really loved all my vendors but I have to say that our photographer Ginger Harvey of Ginger Snaps was the best. She was more to us than just our photographer -- she truly became our friend through the planning process. On the day of the wedding, she was in-control and energetic. She got all the "money" shots we wanted and then some. She even came to a BBQ we invited her to while we were on our honeymoon in OBX and brought us a treat -- a print from the wedding! It was one of those things that sets someone apart. She didn't have to do anything extra or special, but she did anyway. She will remain our friend for life.
KA: What will make your wedding stand out to your guests, and where did you find the inspiration?
I think our wedding stood out because of the details. We put so much thought and effort into incorporating our sand dollar theme and green and purple colors in everything we did. All our guests commented on the little touches like the favors and activity packets which we hand made. They also loved the cake, which was in along with our theme, covered in white-chocolate sand dollars.
KA: What are you looking forward to most on your wedding day?
I was looking forward to seeing my husband see me in my dress for the first time. It was every bit as magical as I imagined it would be! He cried and just kept saying, "Wow. Wow."
Posted Friday, August 12, 2011 4:07 PM
Knot Name: Sharkdiver1980
Wedding Date: September 11, 2011
Knot Annie: Tell me about the Knotties on your board that you post on. Have you ever joined them for a GTG?
I post in the the September 2011 boards and the Boston boards for the most part, and there are some really great, inspiring ladies over there! I have not yet had any get togethers with any of them, but it's always possible!
KA: Describe your wedding.
My fiance and I really love the ocean, but a wedding on the beach was not in the cards for us. We decided to bring the beach to us! We are getting married in a Greek Orthodox church in Lexington, Massachusetts, and having the reception at Nashawtuc Country Club in Concord, Massachusetts. We decided to do a beach themed wedding with all the small details from the wedding cake, to the seating place cards, to the wedding colors all reminiscent of the ocean.
KA: How have the Knotties on your board helped you plan?
I've had some questions along the way, asked their opinions on things, and also goten lots of inspiration from them.
KA: What has been the most valuable piece of advice you've gotten from another Knottie?
If there's any vendor to splurge on, it's the photographer. The wedding day will fly by, and the little details of the day can easily get lost. Pictures, though, last a lifetime, and good photographer can capture those memories for you. Also, just know that things will go wrong, so enjoy the day no matter what.
KA: Best vendor that you’ve worked with and why?
My Photographer, Adriano Batti. He is just fantastic. He took a lot of time to sit with us, showing us photos of wedding after wedding, and he has an incredible eye for detail. His photos all look like they belong in a magazine! He was also really great and willing to take our younger cousin (who will be doing some video of our wedding) under his wing for the day, showing him where to stand to get the best shots. He's definitely gone above and beyond.
KA: What will make your wedding stand out to your guests, and where did you find the inspiration?
I took a lot of time to really find beautiful decor for the reception from the table linens, to the flowers, to the beachy look. We also have a few musical surprises for the guests that I think will make our wedding stand out.
KA: What are you looking forward to most on your wedding day?
Marrying my best friend! Oh, and the cake: Coconut cake with pineapple filling. Yum!
Posted Friday, July 29, 2011 3:19 PM
Knot Name: Mrs. Chasey
Wedding Date: 9-10-11
Knot Annie: Tell me about the Knotties on your board that you post on. Have you ever joined them for a GTG?
No, I haven't. I'd love to, just haven't seen any GTG's being posted. Maybe I'll get it started!
KA: Describe your wedding.
A little vintage. The colors are champagne pink, chocolate brown, and gold. We went with these colors because my dress is champagne in color. I plan to wear a birdcage veil. We'll be getting married on the patio of the Alumni House at my alma mater, and the reception will be in the dining room of the alumni house. We'll have about 140 guests, two attendants each (no flower girl or ring bearer). And we'll have a sand ceremony. My fiance, Ty, will be building a small shabby chic style podium for the readings and the sand ceremony. The bouquets will be a mix of three roses, stock, and some other flowers, with a magnolia leaf collar, and gorgeous ribbon loops.
KA: How have the Knotties on your board helped you plan?
I am a professional event planner, but I plan political debates, conferences, etc., not weddings. They have answered questions about a variety of things about etiquette, the honeymoon, registering, and just letting me bounce ideas off of them. It's also nice to share each other's successes as the big day gets closer.
KA: What has been the most valuable piece of advice you've gotten from another Knottie?
To calm down! I'm a total type A!
KA: Best vendor that you've worked with and why?
Our photographer is Laura Munro, from Munro Photography. She did our engagement pics and we love them! We can't wait to see the pictures from the wedding!
KA: What will make your wedding stand out to your guests, and where did you find the inspiration?
First of all, there isn't anything black to speak of...the tuxes are tan. I think people will notice that pretty quickly. But we're also trying to make it very personal. For our first date, Ty brought me a box of DeBrand's chocolates so we're going to have a piece of chocolate from DeBrand's at each place setting, in a little box with our names and the wedding date on it. Also because the wedding is somewhat vintage and our centerpieces will be made with silk flowers, we are using Victorian hat boxes instead of vases. They are gorgeous!
KA: What are you looking forward to most on your wedding day?
I am looking forward to marrying the man of my dreams (we met on E-harmony two years ago!) And getting to look like a princess!
Posted Friday, July 08, 2011 10:06 AM
Knot Name: kelsey+brandon
Wedding Date: June 30, 2012
Knot Annie: Tell me about the Knotties on your board that you post on. Have you ever joined them for a GTG?
I post on the June 2012 board as well as the North Carolina board. The June board is great because all the girls are so active and we're always bouncing ideas off of each other! It's also a great environment where people give constructive criticism without being mean or degrading of each other's ideas. The NC board is awesome too because even though it's not as active as it used to be, a lot of the married girls have stuck around and give lots of great advice!
KA: Describe your wedding.
Our wedding is going to be a "Southern garden party." We're having a traditional church wedding before heading over to the reception at our alma mater's alumni center (go Pack!). After an indoor cocktail hour, our guests will be led into a big white tent with beautiful draping and breathtaking flowers. We want our wedding to be like any typical Southern wedding which means good food, great friends and family and lots of celebrating!
KA: How have the Knotties on your board helped you plan?
They've been great when it comes to getting ideas from the smallest things from whether they're wearing a blusher to dealing with the future in-laws!
KA: What has been the most valuable piece of advice you've gotten from another Knottie?
To not sweat the small stuff. In the end, it's about marrying your best friend and not having time for that last little project isn't going to change that.
KA: Best vendor that you’ve worked with and why?
Kellie Kano, our photographer. I am in love with her photography style and from the first time my fiance and I met with her, we just clicked. She is so great at not just capturing a moment, but the memory and the emotion behind it all.
KA: What will make your wedding stand out to your guests, and where did you find the inspiration?
Instead of having a traditional signature drink, we're having a bourbon tasting bar! We found the idea on the Garden and Gun website and when I told my fiance that we could do it, he literally jumped for joy! My fiance loves bourbon and this way he'll be able to share that with all our guests. Another unique idea is one that I found on TK: Our favors are going to be a collection of some of our families' favorite recipes. This way our guests have a keepsake that they can use and hopefully love as much as we do!
KA: What are you looking forward to most on your wedding day?
Besides finally being husband and wife, I can't wait for our first look. Our photographer will be hiding, so it will literally just be my fiance and I seeing each other for the first time and the raw emotion that will be captured in those photos are ones that I know I will treasure for the rest of my life.
Posted Thursday, June 30, 2011 5:26 PM
Knot Name: jesslovespete
Wedding Date: August 6, 2011
Knot Annie: Tell me about the Knotties on your board that you post on. Have you ever joined them for a GTG?
The August 2011 board is awesome. It's a very active board. We all love posting so much that we even made a Facebook page just for us where we can post pictures, ideas, rants, or just chit chat. I feel like I know these girls and we're scattered all across the U.S. and Canada! Everyone is very understanding, helpful and never rude. I feel like it's a "safe zone" where everyone understands what you're going through. They've been a big help through the planning process. I haven't gone to a GTG because we're all from different areas of the country (and Canada!). I would love to meet them though!
KA: Describe your wedding.
Very traditional yet personal. We're having a full Catholic Mass in FI's church followed by a sit down dinner reception at a nearby country club (where FI used to work!). We have a pretty healthy sized wedding party who know how to have a good time! We've invited about 190 people and we're working on counting up those RSVPs! The decor is beachy and our colors are different shades of blue with a few pops of orange.
KA: How have the Knotties on your board helped you plan?
They are my wonderful voices of reason and reassurance! They give advice and constructive criticism without making me feel stupid.
KA: What has been the most valuable piece of advice you've gotten from another Knottie?
Although I don't remember who said it, she said something like: You don't have to break the bank to have a beautiful wedding. The beautful part will be the life you build with your husband. She's right. :)
KA: Best vendor that you’ve worked with and why?
Rachel with Kindly R.S.V.P. Designs is awesome. She's a complete professional, she's creative, takes great care of her customers and she's an absolute sweetheart! She's easy to get a hold of (which has been great for me because I am full of questions) and is prompt with her answers. She's a bride herself so she knows what we're all going through. She and I worked together to design our invitations, programs, and seating chart (very soon!).
KA: What will make your wedding stand out to your guests, and where did you find the inspiration?
I think the use of photos. I love photos. We're having a slideshow during dinner, a family wedding picture display, and I made table numbers with photos of myself and FI from over the years in each.
KA: What are you looking forward to most on your wedding day?
I'm excited to see all of our family and friends of course, but I'm most looking forward to being announced as Mr. & Mrs.! We've been together almost six years and we're so ready!
Posted Friday, June 24, 2011 1:47 PM
Knot Name: MandK9
Wedding Date: 09/10/11
Knot Annie: Tell me about the Knotties on your board that you post on. Have you ever joined them for a GTG?
I post mostly on my month board and on Snarky Brides. I've made a few friendships on each of the boards, but most of the girls I seem to bond with live pretty far away. No GTGs yet, but if I'm ever out their way, I'll be pestering them to meet me for a drink :)
KA: Describe your wedding.
We're having it in a restored jazz club in downtown Detroit. I don't really mean to make anything "vintage" themed, but it all seems to evoke that feeling when I look at it together. It'll have a classic, slightly "old Hollywood" feeling (as my mother excitedly puts it). The girls will be in pewter cocktail dresses, and the guys are wearing black suits with gray shirts and individualized ties.
KA: How have the Knotties on your board helped you plan?
I've had plenty of logistical issues -- for example, my most recent issue was with menu. We're not getting to the reception until about 8, and the guests will be there at about 7:15-7:30. I didn't know if I should have a full sit-down meal, or if that was too late. A lot of helpful girls on September 2011 and Snarky Brides helped me bounce ideas around and settled on a heavy apps reception rather than a full meal.
KA: What has been the most valuable piece of advice you've gotten from another Knottie?
Bad things will happen on your wedding day (they could be really minor ranging up to pretty disastrous) but you just need to breathe and focus on what the day is all about -- you and your husband -- and everything will be all right. Oh, also, make sure you eat something, otherwise you're going to pass out.
KA: Best vendor that you’ve worked with and why?
I love my photographer. Her name is Sandy Meitzner and her company is The Camera Chick. They're based out of metropolitan Detroit. We just did our engagement shoot with them a few weeks ago, and she was just so great to work with. Can't wait for her to shoot our wedding!
KA: What will make your wedding stand out to your guests, and where did you find the inspiration?
It's going to be really... out of the ordinary, especially in our area. Weddings are very cookie-cutter around here, and I've worked in a banquet hall that hosted many weddings, so I really tried to avoid all the typical things. It's in a jazz club and there will be a live jazz trio for cocktail hour, heavy apps and dessert. And I really think everything just flows together really nicely.
KA: What are you looking forward to most on your wedding day?
I cannot wait for the first moment my new husband and I get to be alone. We'll have to find a time to sneak away, just for a second, so we can enjoy the feeling of being a brand new newlywed couple, just the two of us. That will be an amazing feeling.
Want to be featured? Email me at messageboards@theknot.com!
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Knot Annie
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