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Trish & Greg Tie The Knot in Arroyo Grande, CA

April 28th, 2018

Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography.
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography
Trish & Greg | Cheetah Photography

 

When did you know you were meant to be together?

Greg and I were friends in high school but we both had significant others so after graduation in ’08 we broke up with our SO’s and started hanging out more. I actually ended up moving to Fresno for a bit and Greg would drive up every weekend and either take me back to Bakersfield to spend the weekend or stay in Fresno with me. That’s when we knew this was something special!

Who Proposed To Whom?

Greg proposed to me.

How / Where Did You Get Engaged?

He took me to Dinosaur Caves Park in Pismo Beach at sunset to one of the outlooks (where he asked me to be his girlfriend 8 years ago) it was our 8 year anniversary of being together. He said “let’s go closer to the edge I think I see an otter way out there” I walked close, he stayed back and I turned around and there he was on one knee with the ring!

What was your Wedding Date?

April 28th 2018

Venue?

Cypress Ridge Pavilion in Arroyo Grande, CA.

Did you have a Coordinator / Planner?

My mom and I basically took that job over and did everything ourselves but Jodi (day of coordinator at cypress ridge) was my day of and she was amazing!

Did you have a Theme / Color Scheme in mind or did you wing it?

We wanted it to be very simple but pretty. We picked a color called silver sage which is beautiful very neutral and then tan and gold for accents!

Catering?

Cypress Ridge provided an amazing dinner.

Did you have a special cake made?

We did!! It was by Pardon My French in Grover Beach, CA it was simple with a vanilla buttercream outside and the inside was salted Carmel with some gold splatter on the outside.

If Yes, what was your Cake Topper?

A gold cursive “ALWAYS” (because I had to incorporate Harry Potter SOMEWHERE in this wedding) 😂.

Photographer?

Nadine cheetah of Cheetah Photography!! Seriously such an amazing woman and so helpful and fun to be around! I couldn’t have chosen better!

Dj?

DJ cheetah (Brian Cheetah Nadine’s husband) also so fun to work with and so into doing what we wanted and not starting us in a different direction even though we had some crazy songs we wanted played!

What was your song?

‘Only one in color’ by TRAPT.

Florist?

Lori Boe Florist!! She only made my bouquet the girls bouquets were homemade by my mom.

Hair/Makeup?

Hair was done by Melissa Martinez of Indie Salon in Arroyo Grande and makeup was done by Lindsay Nettleton of Bakersfield!

Any advice for couples planning weddings today?

Don’t get too caught up in the planning. There is always going to be things that you can’t control (like the weather) you only get to do this once and planning is so much fun. Enjoy it and make sure you and your fiancé are planning some things together, it makes for awesome memories! Also it’s a little time consuming but I highly recommend making your own playlist. It adds a personal touch!

What was your favorite part of your wedding day?

Dancing!! Just looking around at all the people I love in one spot, all here for us, smiles on their faces and just having the time of their life. That was my favorite part!

Anything Else You’d Like To Share?

Take it all in! Don’t be stressed. This day goes by so fast. Just enjoy every minute!

——————–

Photographer: Cheetah Photography | Venue: Cypress Ridge Pavilion Cake: Pardon My French in Grover Beach, CA Flowers: Lori Boe Florist | Hair: Melissa Martinez of Indie Salon | Makeup: Lindsay Nettleton | DJ: DJ cheetah

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Alex & Tristan

June 24th, 2017

Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
TristanAlex11551-2
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography-3
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan | Heather Nguyen Photography
Alex and Tristan |Heather Nguyen Photography

Who proposed to whom? Tristan proposed to me on the Santa Barbara Pier on our anniversary.

Wedding date? June 24, 2017

Venue? Edwards Barn in Nipomo, CA.

Edwards Barn is a product of three historic redwood barns on the central coast that were dismantled and reassembled into one by David and Mavi Edwards. A beautiful location filled with rustic and vintage elements. It is truly unique central coast wedding venue located in Nipomo, CA.

Catering? Edwards Barn also catered our reception.

Cake? Cakes Cathedral.

Serving the Central Coast of California, Cakes Cathedral works closely with their clients to create intricate, sculpted masterpieces into a “less is more” confection your guests will love.

Cake Topper? Plum flowers arranged around an initial K.

Photographer? Heather Nguyen Photography 😊

DJ? Dj Solstice.

Florist? Darlene Romero and Rebecca Arnold.

Hair/Makeup? Hair – Alyssa Rivas, Makeup – Myshel Gordon.

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Go the extra mile. It’s never crowded

Featured image: Clark Tibbs | Unsplash


Going the extra mile & the awesome power of making a difference.

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Thomas AE | Unsplash

Wedding season is in full swing.  Feels like a good time to pause and take a breath.

This is a shout out to our fellow wedding pro’s everywhere and to the brides & grooms who have hired you as their wedding planner, their DJ, their videographer, venue, caterer, wedding cake baker, stylist, florist, and yes — their favors & gifts provider too!

Wedding Professionals – It is difficult to consistently perform at 100%+!  We worked hard to win the business in the first place, and maybe we overpromised a wee-bit, and minimized the challenges of delivering the vision the wedding couple described in such vivid detail.  Well, now its time to make good on that commitment.  And we can do it – in fact, we must — our about-to-be-married couple is counting on us to go the extra mile.  What we do matters, and we know that little things make a big difference.

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Photo by John-Mark Smith on Unsplash

 

Brides & Grooms – Your wedding professional is undoubtedly good at what he or she does.  The reviews you read validate it, their prior work demonstrates it, and you wouldn’t have decided on her or him if your gut didn’t tell you that too.  They are pushing themselves to make your event – extraordinary.  And while you are paying for their expertise, we all know that putting in the blood, sweat & tears necessary is tough. Simple gestures of thanks can make an incredible difference.  Go the extra mile and let your wedding professionals know how much you appreciate having them on your team – today!

 

David and I make exceptional customer service one of  Taylor Street Favors’ cornerstones.  It is one of the ways we go the extra mile.  David and I believe strongly in making every customer feel equally important and appreciated, something we did not experience as a same sex couple planning our wedding. Unfortunately, almost everyone will tell you that providing great customer service is a core part of their business. It can be difficult for customers to separate fact from fiction, especially when comparing similar products or services.

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Photo by John-Mark Smith on Unsplash

Here are three tell tale signs of excellent customer service – delivered by passionate wedding professionals who know how to “go the extra mile”…

  1. They respond to inquiries as quickly as possible;
  2. They listen, they don’t “pitch”, and they remember what you, the customer has told them;
  3. They fix mistakes – before they happen if possible.  [David and I always proof our customer’s personalization information,  routinely correcting errors and eliminating the expense & frustration of having a non-returnable custom gift or favor produced and delivered].  

Let’s all keep going the extra mile.  It might not be lonely, but it certainly will not be crowded.    

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Your Wedding Day Time Capsule Awaits

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” -Dr. Suess

We all know Dr. Suess is right, we just don’t necessarily act on this knowing, especially when in the midst of wedding planning.  And while beautiful wedding day photos and a professionally edited video are wonderful to look back on too, they do not re-connect us emotionally in the same way as a personal message tucked inside a wedding day time capsule does.

I’ve collected a few ideas to help you incorporate some type of time capsule into your wedding day.  Confession, we did not do this on our wedding day – not because we decided against it, but because we were not aware of it.  [And I absolutely am sufficiently cornball/romantic to have included this.] So heads-up, David. I am thinking of including some version of this into our lives now – almost 2 years post wedding day.

There are two ways couples usually incorporate the time capsule idea into their wedding day:  “Day of” ceremony time capsule or a Guestbook time capsule.

“Day of” Time Capsule

Supplies:  A box & paper.

Really, the supplies required do not create too high a bar, even for those of us who are DIY-averse or flat-out-of-time.  We have some options on Taylor Street for boxes & stationery that will not only add symbolic significance to the occasion, but also create a true wedding day keepsake.  A shoebox with blank paper or note cards, however, will do just fine.

Boxes:  Both of these keepsake boxes could first be used for your wedding reception, so they would not only be pulling double duty, they would have the added significance of having been a part of your wedding day itself.

 

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Tin Box with Blackboard Panel Display

 

9611-33-i_vintage-inspired-wood-case-with-hinged-lidc95734588dbfdba04e83603ee0386dc0__07793-1461195286
Vintage Inspired Wood Case with Hinged Lid

Paper:  There are many awesome stationery alternatives available for you to consider.  We have a few for that would work well, like these:

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Dandelion Wishes Note Card
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Fleur De Lis Note Card

The directions are straightforward. You each write a love letter to your soon-to-be spouse, expressing your feelings on this day — your wedding day — what you are most excited about, your hopes, what is most important to you about this day, and why & when you fell in love with him/her. You know, the emotional kind of “stuff”.

[And this idea is really awesome for a blended family ceremony – including your children in on the time capsule by adding their own notes makes it even more memorable.  And, it creates a potential family tradition with the opening of the time capsule and its periodic updating.]

 

 

Guestbook time capsule

This version has you asking guests to write you a note on a postcard you provide and drop it in your “time capsule” to be opened on your 1st anniversary.  This invites your guests to participate in a way that a guest book signature does not.  Here are a couple of ideas for collecting your postcards.

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Acrylic Box Card Holder

 

 

 

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Wine Barrel Card Holder

 

Kick it up a notch:  So a year has passed and you’ve opened up your time capsule on your one year anniversary.  You’ve read your letters over a glass of wine and eaten what remains of your wedding cake.  So now what?! Here are a few ideas for what to add for “the next time” — regardless of what time capsule option you decided on — for your 5 year anniversary, 10 year, … or whatever year you agree to re-open it.

  1. Take a picture of the two of you with the time capsule the day you open it up & include it for the next time;
  2. Include that day’s front page from your local paper or print-out from your favorite news source;
  3. Write about:
    1. The hardest moments you faced as a couple your first year;
    2. Your favorite memory of year one;
    3. A goal or prediction for the next time you open your time capsule;
  4. Write another personal note to each other.

You get the idea, there are lots of things you could include.  Just don’t make this list so long that it gets tedious.

Close it up, store it somewhere safe.  Done.

This may become a ritual that you continue the rest of your lives or it may be something you enjoy once and set aside. Regardless, your notes to each other or notes from your friends & family will become something you will be able to look back on, reflect & reminisce when you do happen upon it – especially after it has gathered dust for years.  Your children may also enjoy the opportunity to glimpse a bit more about you as well, in your own writing and in your own words … “when you were young”.

Life goes by pretty fast and if you are like me, unless we force some pauses along the way to reflect and reconnect, we miss some awesome & inspiring moments, unique opportunities to really connect with each other.

Your time capsule may help you both re-connect, to a younger you and to each other.  Sweet.

 

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Chuck & Marie

September 16th, 2017

Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
chuck-marie-wedding-dj-cheetah-cheetah-photography-san-luis-obispo-apple-farm-monday-club-ca181-jpg-web_orig
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
chuck-marie-wedding-dj-cheetah-cheetah-photography-san-luis-obispo-apple-farm-monday-club-ca385-jpg-web_orig
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
chuck-marie-wedding-dj-cheetah-cheetah-photography-san-luis-obispo-apple-farm-monday-club-ca447-jpg-web_orig
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.
Chuck & Marie |  Cheetah Photography.

Who Proposed To Whom? 
Chuck proposed

How / Where Did You Get Engaged?
San Diego on a gondola

What was your Wedding Date?
September 16th, 2017

Venue? 
Apple Farm & The Monday Club in SLO

Did you have a Coordinator / Planner?
No

Did you have a Theme / Color Scheme in mind or did you wing it?
Grey & Teal with a Bohemian theme

Catering?
The Bear & The Wren

Did you have a special cake made?
Sea Breeze Cupcakes made a beautiful teal drip/marble cake

If Yes, what was your Cake Topper?
Flowers

Photographer? 
Cheetah Photography.

Dj? 
DJ Cheetah

What was your song?
I chose you by Ryann Darling

Florist? 
Harbor Florist

Hair/Makeup?
Twig & Arrow

Any advice for couples planning weddings today?
Hire a Wedding planner

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SURVEY SAYS … What Your Wedding Guests Care About MOST, a couple of things they say they DON’T … & three things to AVOID

Featured Image: Kellie Pickler, Steve Harvey & Lance Bass on Celebrity Family Feud

With 2018 wedding planning here, it is worth spending a moment considering WeddingWire’s 2017 survey results about what wedding guests consider most and least important.  It is your wedding, and you (and maybe your parents and future in-laws) are paying an average of over $35,000 for your *Best. Day. Ever.*, not your guests, so you might be tempted to ignore these findings.  I totally understand, but you want friends and family to have had a good time and leave feeling glad they made the effort to attend.  So while this one survey should not determine your every decision, I think it is helpful information when thinking about how to allocate your wedding budget …  and maybe your guest list!

The good news is that 68% of guests surveyed rank celebrating with the couple as what matters most about your wedding, followed closely by the opportunity to catch up with family & friends, with 63% checking that box.

HOWEVER…when asked about what your guest is paying the most attention to, the top attention getter is  — DECOR — the setting, furnishings, attire, colors & how these all work together.  Your guests are appreciating the aesthetic your wedding and reception choices create.

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Photo:  Bruno Nascimento on Unsplash

Aesthetic is that hard-to-define, but you-know-it-when-you-see-it vibe you feel when an event is cohesive, coordinated and pulled-off in a beautiful and tasteful manner.  Aesthetic is a sincere and focused expression of your personal style, completed with surprising details and by combining various components to create a unified whole.  And maybe most important, it’s not about how much you spend, it’s about how you spend it.  Style comes through best with a light touch, IT’s A PARTY after all, and it needs to be enjoyed and able to be messed-up a bit.

What Guests DON’T CARE ABOUT

Taylor Street is excited to report what landed at the bottom of the list in terms of guest importance – escort cards.  We happily report this because wedding favors are usually toward the bottom of the list as well, so it is with relief and some delight that we report this result. WeddingWire’s survey also reports guests found toiletry amenities as unimportant.  I’ve honestly got nothing more to say about that finding, however…I do have a few comments on favors.

David and I also absolutely understand that wedding favors naturally are not going to rank high on a list that includes blockbusters like food, drink and dance.  It also is well known that favor shopping is left to the very end of most wedding planning — which kind of guarantees a rushed, less-than-optimal outcome with a budget that’s already maxed out.

So while trying to not sound too defensive, we suggest that wedding favors can not only be something your guests could appreciate, they absolutely contribute to your wedding’s aesthetic and help to create an overall impression that guests will carry with them (literally!) back home.

We humbly observe that wedding favors are [way] down the the priority list because they are not a concern of any of the big-ticket vendors – venue, caterer, photographer/videographer, florist.  The wedding planner is the only wedding professional who may consider favors important enough to discuss with you, and she or he is also usually already trying to stretch a budget to cover a very long priority list.

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Capiz Shell Gold Trimmed Lotus Candle Holder | Taylor Street Favors

Enough on favors — if you want great favors that your guests will love, we know they exist.  If you want some ideas, check us out on instagram, our WeddingWire or the knot storefronts, or send us an email letting us know your aesthetic, your budget, your guest count, and your wedding date, and we’ll get busy.

TOP ANNOYANCES TO AVOID

Guests ranked what bothered them most at weddings as: (1) drunk guests; (2) not knowing anyone & feeling alone; and (3) bad music.

So, might this WeddingWire survey have any impact on you?  Maybe those friends you were going to send a stag invite to (so you could manage head count) will now receive “+1’s”, or maybe you’ll rethink the DIY DJ mix tape decision you already were feeling unsure about.  Maybe you’ll even carve out some $$$ for wedding favors!

Next post – Choose your aesthetic in 5 [mostly easy] steps.  Plan on!

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Megan and Ryan

August 5th, 2017

Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography
Megan & Ryan | August 5th, 2017
Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography
Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography
Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography
Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography
Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography
Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography
Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography
Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography
Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography
Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography
Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography
meganryanwed969.jpg
Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography
Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography
Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography
Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography
Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography
Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography
Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography
MeganRyanWed2970
Megan & Ryan | Heather Nguyen Photography

Who proposed to whom?
Ryan proposed to Megan

How did you get engaged?
Ryan proposed at Chamisal Winery in Edna Valley

Wedding date?
August 5, 2017

Venue?
The Grace Maralyn Estate & Gardens

Coordinator?
Molly @ The Grace Maralyn Estate & Gardens

Catering?
The Ribline

Cake?
Cupcakes by Ribline

Cake Topper?
A replica of our dog

Photographer?
Heather Nguyen Photography
Second Shooter- Leana Myra

DJ?
Adept Events

Florist?
Costco

Hair/Makeup?
Kat Slay @ Luna Loft in Paso Robles

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Wedding Favor Table Ideas

Barn Wedding

Welcome guests with a charming outdoor display and stack personalized jam favors beneath an amazing floral arrangement.

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Beach Wedding

Send your guests home with a personal thank you message in a bottle.

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Rustic Wedding

Find an vintage dresser and fill it with jars of candy or kettle corn.

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Garden Wedding

Stack personalized handmade craft beer soaps wrapped
with a thank you message from the couple.

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Winter Wedding

Cover the table with a light dusting of “snow” and set out nests of Jordan Almonds.     Festive and fun.

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Vintage Wedding

Stacked suitcases topped with warm throws
for the guests to grab as the evening gets cooler.

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Bend the rules!

There is nothing wrong with sticking to traditions, just as there is also nothing wrong with bending the rules — just a little bit!

When planning a wedding it’s easy to get so wrapped up in your expectations that some details slip your mind. Just remember keep it simple and easy. An elegant visual of easy to grab favors is a sure bet and your guests will love the effort. This is your day. Have fun!

Your guests will leave feeling like it really was the best day ever!

 

Posted on 1 Comment

3 Tips for selecting favors your guests will take home.

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Classic Baby Blue Gumball Dispenser | Taylor Street Favors

There are way too many party favors.  [We feel your pain every day]. Determining good value for the money is difficult, and even some of the better known industry names have wide variances in the quality of their products (we will not mention names).  And while some couples choose to go DIY, skill levels vary (!) and not everyone has the time or desire.

If you don’t want to make your wedding favors, we at Taylor Street want you know it is absolutely possible for you to purchase interesting or fun, well made, wedding favors.


Here are 3 tips to help make your favor selection process a success.

Tip #1:  Ask yourself the right question

Don’t start your favor search with the question: What gift would my guests be so impressed with / like enough to want to take home?

The mindset behind this question — that you must thrill your guests — is guaranteed to frustrate your efforts because:

1. you will never please everyone, and

2. you are allowing your decision to be dictated by guest preferences you can not influence and can not possibly guess correctly.

Better question:  What small gift/memento would I enjoy giving to my guests — a gift to thank them for coming that might remind them of my wedding day or make them laugh, and that I can afford — without stressing me/us out more than we already are?

Or turn it around — what small gift would I enjoy receiving if I were attending my own wedding?

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Tip #2:  Incorporate your Theme…

Since most guest favors are placed on individual tables or displayed on a reception table, incorporating your theme into the favor can help you narrow your focus.   One of the simplest, and often more successful, ways to to do this is with color, and/or texture.  Every wedding or celebration has one or a few predominant recurring colors or textures.  Use something you’ve already decided on as your inspiration, and you will have streamlined your decision making process.

Tip #3:  …But don’t replicate your entire theme.

Take elements from your theme and deconstruct them.  Do not recreate your entire event theme in miniature with your favor, but rather, take just one part of it.  If your wedding reception theme is the Great Gatsby roaring twenties – repeat a deco print or black and gold color combination with your favor or tag.

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Gatsby Matte White Chair Favor Box | Taylor Street Favors

…and a warning about Pinterest. It is invaluable, but it can overwhelm — too many ideas will have you second guessing yourself in no time.  Your objective is not to make your gift or favor “pin” worthy.  When you go to Pinterest – and you know you will – first set a goal and a time limit.  Get in, get out.

Your favor lets your guests know how much you appreciate them making time to celebrate with you.  It does not have to be a lasting souvenir, and it does not have to be handmade to be appreciated.  Keep it sincere, affordable – and have some fun.

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Shannon & Brent

Who proposed to whom? Brent proposed to me.

How did you get engaged? We had been happily living in sin together for two years and we were packing for a January weekend away at our favorite little hotel in Philadelphia. He was acting so oddly, I could see him perspiring a little bit on his face, pacing around our bedroom and I thought, Hmmmmmmmm, something is up. I was in our closet grabbing clothes to pack and I turned around to put them in my bag, and he was standing right behind me. He said, I can’t wait until we get to Philadelphia, I wanted everything to be perfect, but I can’t wait. I’m sorry. He pulled out a little vintage ring holder from his pocket, opened it up… and said, I love you, will you marry me? And of course, I said yes. Standing in our little closet, in our little bedroom, in our little house, it was perfect.

Wedding date? June 10, 2017

Venue? Sombrero Beach, Marathon Key, Florida

Coordinator? Moi

Catering? We had dinner reservations for two after our ceremony at the Butterfly Cafe on Marathon Key.

Cake? No thank you. Key Lime Pie!

Cake Topper? LOTS OF WHIPPED CREAM!

Photographer? Oh we chose a cute, quirky couple that took all of the pictures

DJ? No DJ, we were serenaded by ocean waves, the island wind, seagulls… and some little boy chasing after an eel swimming around in the reef just off to our right.

Florist? Me again! I decided that I would make my own bouquet out of crepe paper flowers.

Hair/Makeup? Me: Thanks to mother nature I had some fresh sunshine on my face, a few loose curls and mascara and done. He: Thanks to poor judgement with head protection and the sun, he was sporting a mean tan line.

Anything else you’d like to say?
A little history of us. We met when we were in 2nd grade. We graduated high school together in a small town in rural Pennsylvania. He driving his 1989 Trans Am and sporting a moustache, that could be mistaken for a dirty lip and I with my acid washed jeans and hair lacquered half way up to Jesus. Yes, my friends, it was 1990. We never dated in high school, he hung out with much cooler people (upperclassmen) than I. He had no time for me, and even hung out with my older brother! Ahhh unrequited love. He reconnected with me in 2010 through the magic of Facebook. I was in the Navy in Virginia Beach and he was living in Pennsylvania, we were both newly divorced. He sent a message to me and I thought Go pound sand buddy, you lost your chance a long time ago. But he wore me down and I decided it wouldn’t hurt to be friendly. Besides, it was more than a little flattering that he was interested in me. But I was busy finding myself again after my divorce and wasn’t interested in any sort of relationship. So, we were just friends for a few years and dated other people. I finally retired from the Navy in 2012 and moved to New York to be near family and to figure out the next chapter of my life, about 3 hours away from Brent in Pennsylvania. We were still friends, communicating through text messages… eventually that turned into phone conversations that started lasting longer and longer each time we talked. We eventually decided that he would come visit me in New York, so he drove up to visit me early in January 2013. He stepped out of his car, thankfully not the 1989 Trans Am, and it was the first time we had seen each other since we had graduated in 1990. We spent the day together driving around the area where I was living, visited with my parents, and we went out to eat – our first date.  When he left the next day, we knew that was it. I knew I had finally met the person who set my soul on fire and made me feel deep comfort all at once, this was the love I had hoped for all my life. And he felt the same way. Yippeeeeeeee! I moved to Pennsylvania the following month to go back to school for Graphic Design and to live happily, in sin, ever after. 🙂