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Pets in Weddings

Ideas and Cautions

On your wedding day, you and your fiancé become a legal family, but I have a feeling that many couples out there felt like family long before that, and often because of the addition of their first “child” – their pet! For many of us, these important and cute creatures bring us together and really complete our lives, so leaving them out of the wedding day seems impossible! If you’re thinking about incorporating your pal into your big day, here are some ways to do so, and some cautions to consider before you set any plans in stone:

Our bride Sofia and her hubby had their adorable pooch there for some photos, and we think it totally paid off! Photo credit to the fab Kate Nielen Photography

First look – Let’s face it, pets are unpredictable, so giving them a role in the more structured parts of the day (i.e. the ceremony/reception) may not be ideal for everyone. Instead, you may want to consider having them there for the more private and carefree first look portion of the day. You’ll get some adorable photos of your little family, and your pet should do wonders to ease any day of jitters you may be experiencing!
In place of a bouquet – Of course, this one only works if you have a smaller pet, but having either yourself or your maid of honor carry your pet down the aisle is a great way to include them in the ceremony while still keeping a semi-tight rein on them. Cue the ooh’s and aah’s!
Cake topper – The reception is typically a rip-roaring, loud party, which may not be the ideal situation for your pet (and certainly not the ideal situation for them to be on their best behavior). So, instead of having them there IRL, consider including them as part of your cake topper! Cutting the cake is still a major part of most receptions, so this will ensure that your BFF gets to play an important role even if they’re not there in person.
And now, some cautions:
Sure, having your pet there will make you happy, but will it make him/her happy? Be sure to keep in mind your pet’s temperament and personality before choosing to include them in your big day. Do they like crowds? Are they high-strung? If you answered no then yes, you might want to consider incorporating your pet in a way that doesn’t necessarily require them to be there in person (e.g. our cake topper suggestion above).
Safety first! Is your wedding taking place in a high traffic area or on a particularly hot/cold day? Remember that you’ll be pretty busy, and won’t be able to keep an eye on or tend to your pets needs as much as usual, so if the environment isn’t ideal you may want to opt to leave them at home.
Keep your guests in mind. Do any of them have pet allergies, or even a fear/aversion to pets? The last thing you want is to make anyone uncomfortable on your big day, so be sure having your pet there won’t cause anyone any undue stress!

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Wedding Color Schemes

How to rock black at your white wedding!

No one is happier than me that Halloween is over. No offense, October 31st lovers, it’s just that I am head over heels in love and obsessed with Christmas and now I feel like I can start to celebrate it. Don’t worry, I’m not one to put my lights up this early or anything, but Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” may have already been played and I may already have some peppermint coffee in my house. As excited as I am that it’s over, though, there is one thing that I love about Halloween; the color black. It’s my favorite color and pretty much non-existent at other major holidays. It made me think about how tricky it is to celebrate with the color black. It does have a somewhat somber vibe and that may be why it’s avoided for happy occasions, but I’m here to tell you that there are tons of ways to incorporate this chic shade into non-Halloween fetes. If you’re planning a wedding and are a lover of the darkest shade like me, here are some things you can do:
Flowers – Anemones are one of my favorite flowers because of their chic, black centers. Pop a few of these into your centerpieces for an easy, impactful touch of black. Or, consider black vases or black candelabras in addition to the florals on your tables for a truly wow statement! In terms of your bouquet, think about wrapping your stems in a bold black and white striped ribbon; gorge!
Accessories – Sure, your dress is white, but that doesn’t mean you can’t rock a little black too. Whether it’s a totally rewearable black shoe or a classic black clutch, you’ll never regret rocking a dark accessory that will beautifully pop against your dress! Feeling a little bolder? A black sash is a super chic look and (bonus) having a darker shade at your waist does really amazing things for your already fab waistline!

Chic Flair bride Ali popped a gorgeous, black AB Ellie belt onto her lace Amy Kuschel bridal gown. We LOVE the mix of modern and timeless! Photo credit: Sweet Jane Photography

Chalkboard accents – Duh, chalkboards are black and are totally in style right now, so why not add them to your wedding décor! Consider tiny chalkboard easels for your table numbers, or have your menu written on a larger board. If you don’t want to deal with the potential mess that chalk can bring, most stationery vendors have a chalkboard look option that you can go with.
Food – These days, it’s equally important that your wedding food look good and taste good. Popping a bold color into your cuisine is an easy way for your caterer to create an eye-catching look without necessarily affecting the flavor. A fun black and white polka dot cake, for example, is sure to wow your guests! In terms of dinner, a squid ink pasta makes for such a unique looking plate, and you’d be surprised at how little it changes the flavor of the dish (aka don’t be scared)!

Tell us – how are you incorporating black elements into your big day??

in Advice from Flair / black and white wedding / Boston Weddings / Stuff We Love / Tips from Pros / Uncategorized / wedding color schemes / Wedding Planning 0 comments

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Wedding Planning Tips

Get support from stats!

As a general rule, I try not to take too much stock in statistics. It seems like every morning when I flip on “GMA” they are spouting some sort of doom and gloom stat, most of which seem to want me to give up my vices. Skip my morning cup of coffee? No thanks! I saw some wedding stats recently, though, that I did find to be really interesting, even helpful. For example, did you know that almost 40% of all engagements happen between November and February? Yes, that’s right people; we have entered prime engagement season! If you’re one of the many recently (or about to be) engaged, here are some other stats you may find helpful as you begin the wedding planning process:

OK...we couldn't find any pretty photos about stats to add to this blog. So instead, we're showing off some of Jenny Yoo's new designs (which you can see at our preview trunk show next weekend)!

Confession: we couldn’t find any pretty photos about stats to add to this blog. So instead, we’re showing off some of Jenny Yoo’s new designs like the Sophia dress here (which you can see at our preview trunk show next weekend)! We thought you wouldn’t mind 😉

The average time spent wedding planning is 12-13 months – Roughly a year; that’s how long it takes most of us to plan an 8 hour day (albeit it the most important 8 hours of your life). We have to say, it seems like the perfect amount of time! That’s not to say, though, that you can’t plan in less or more time, but both do come with their challenges. Less time means potentially paying more to rush items, or missing out on your favorite vendors because they are already booked. More time means…well…more time to mull over and second guess your choices. Sometimes it’s nice to have a deadline to force you to be decisive. So, consider those things as you pick your wedding date!

Want to look as calm as this bride (wearing Jenny’s new Ophelia gown)? Give yourself plenty of time to plan!

50% of all weddings in 2015 occurred on only 25 days – We bet you can guess (roughly) which days. Saturdays in the summer months get scooped up before any other, so act fast if you want to snag one, and be prepared to potentially push your wedding off a year if they’re already booked. If you don’t want to do that, though, consider a Friday wedding, or look at other seasons. If for no other reason, sometimes you can get great deal if you book in an “off” season or on an “off” day!

Planning a popular summer wedding? You can still choose long bridesmaids' dresses as long as they're in a lightweight, flowy fabric like Jenny Yoo's gorgeous chiffon!

Planning a summer wedding? You can still choose floor length bridesmaids’ dresses as long as they’re in a lightweight, flowy fabric like Jenny Yoo’s gorgeous chiffon!

Most couples book their vendors 7-9 months prior to their big day – Let’s think about that for a second; most couples are getting married around the same time (Summer) which means they are also booking their vendors around the same time. What does that breed? Competition! Decide what vendor is most important to you and book them first, before they get scooped by another couple. Have back-ups ready in case a favorite does get booked, and don’t procrastinate on the vendors that typically book out the quickest (venues, photographers and bands, to name a few). Oh, and don’t forget about your friendly neighborhood bridal shop 😉 With summer weddings still reigning supreme in Boston, that makes winter the prime time for wedding and bridesmaid’s dress shopping. Call us well in advance to snag your spot, and be prepared to snap up a dress that you love. With 5 months to manufacture and a couple months for tailoring, Flair definitely falls in that list of vendors to connect with 7-9 months in advance of the big day! The earlier the better, though, we always say, so give us a call to make your appointment; we can’t wait to shop with you soon 🙂

Yes, even the adorable little Etsy flowergirl dress takes a few months to produce, so be sure to order ALL of your dresses well in advance of your big day!

in Boston Weddings / Bridal Gowns Boston / Bridesmaids Boston / Uncategorized / Wedding Dress Shopping Boston / Wedding Planning / Wedding Planning Tips / Wedding Statistics 0 comments

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Plan your wedding in style!

Do it right at the Omni Parker House’s Brides of Distinction Brunch!

This just in: Wedding planning is alot of work. Story at 11:00.

OK, that is obviously not newsworthy because we ALL know that wedding planning is difficult. It seems like there are almost too many options, right? One minute my Pinterest wedding board is on lock and I know exactly what I’m doing. Then the next minute, new pins populate and they make me want to change absolutely everything. The information overload can be pretty overwhelming. Those big bridal shows and exhibitions are great, but they’re kinda in the same boat. It’s just a little too much to process all at once. That’s why we LOVE the Omni Parker House’s annual Brides of Distinction brunch. It’s like a bridal show shrunken down to an intimate (not intimidating) size, complete with mimosas and cake. Interested? Here’s what you need to know:

1) If you’re considering the Omni for your wedding (which you should be) this is the perfect opportunity to see their Rooftop Ballroom decorated. It can be really tough to envision your wedding just looking at old photos; this event really brings the space to life!
2) Much like a bridal show, this brunch allows you to meet great vendors. The difference, though, is that these vendors have been handpicked by the Omni because, well, they’re some of the best in the biz! Don’t waste time sifting through a mass of vendors; come to this brunch and meet only the best! (In attendance: Madison Floral, Rentals Unlimited, Person & Killian Photography, Montilio’s Baking Company, The Gilded Harp, Joseph Gann Jewelers, Invitations & Company, Encore Event Technologies, Alexandra Makeup Artistry, Bella Hair Studio and FLAIR!)
3) As you brunch, you can also learn from seasoned wedding experts like The Knot! Guest speakers will give you invaluable wedding insight and advice, while you munch on the Omni’s amazing edibles!
4) There are fabulous giveaways from each vendor, and we’re not talking about little trinkets. You have the opportunity to save hundreds!
5) Last, but certainly not least, you’ll be treated to an amazing fashion show by Flair! See the hottest new designs in bridal and bridesmaids and well also be on hand to answer any of your burning dress questions!

Do we have you convinced yet? You really should attend this event; it’s the best of the best and one of the most fun, relaxing ways to get some of your wedding planning done! Call today to book your spot, all of the info is above 🙂 See you there!

in Boston Weddings / Bridal Shows / Omni Hotel / Tips from Pros / Wedding Planning 0 comments

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A Real Life “Wedding Ringer”

Meet “Bridesmaid for Hire”

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know about the new movie “The Wedding Ringer.” Kevin Hart has been on literally every TV show promoting it. I don’t think he sleeps. Anyways, in case you’re one of those rock dwellers, it’s about this guy (Hart) who is a professional best man. Josh Gad (a.k.a. Olaf) hires Kevin’s character to be in his bridal party and hilarity ensues. Long story short, it got me to thinking if such a service actually exists, and…it does! Bridesmaid for Hire is owned by Jen Glantz, a seasoned bridesmaid with a ton of wedding experience under her belt. Jen puts that experience to good use, offering friendship and aid to brides in need of an extra hand. Packages vary from virtual advice sessions to actually having Jen there with you on your big day. Even if you already have a bridal party in place, she can still be of service. On your wedding day, you’ll want your best girls to be free to relax and get pampered with you, so have Jen run around and do all of those last minute things for you. She can check in with your vendors, bring a gift to your fiancé, and even grab snacks and champagne! Jen does it all! What do you think? Would you use such a service? Or do you think your girls would be insulted at a relative stranger stepping on their turf? Let us know what you think! And of course, your friends at Flair are always here for some good, impartial advice. We may not be there on your actual wedding day, but we’re happy to discuss all aspects of it with you beforehand! We’ve been known to go from chatting about bridesmaids’ dresses to invitations to honeymoons, all in one appointment! We love all things weddings and can’t wait to hear about yours! See you soon, brides and bridesmaids!

in Boston Weddings / Bridal Party / The Wedding Ringer / Tips from Pros / Wedding Planning 0 comments