yael’s tips

“So, what are your wedding colors!?” I asked my future bride as we sat at Starbucks sipping our caffeinated drink of choice. I always love asking this question. The look that a woman has on her face when she is envisioning her wedding day is priceless. The way my future brides describe their wedding details in such bliss,  brings a huge smile on my face. And the way they love their wedding day, love their fiance and love celebrating their love story, warms my heart each and every time.

I took one look at the sweet, beautiful future YPbride in front of me and realized, she was unsure.

“I have absolutely no idea what colors to choose. I fall in love with every photo on Pinterest!”   I totally get it. I fall in love with every wedding I photograph so I can only imagine how difficult it can be to pick your own wedding colors.

Picking your color palette helps set the stage for the rest of your big day. Once you choose the colors, your centerpieces, flowers and reception decor will all follow suite. So, for  those brides out there who are overwhelmed by all the breathtaking color ideas they have seen all over Social, here are the 5 things you should consider when choosing your own wedding color palette, but first… grab yourself a color wheel!

1. When and Where…

   If you don’t already have a color palette in mind, turning to the venue and date is a great way to get inspired. You already fell in love with your venue’s aesthetic, play up the colors that are already there!  Similarly, let the season guide you! Getting married in mid- October and late June can strike two totally different color palettes (especially if you live on the East Coast like yours truly)!

2. On Wednesdays we wear pink…

   Sometimes, you just have a favorite color and that is that! Take a look around your house, what colors do you see in each room? Do you have a color that keeps appearing? Do you automatically go straight to the Olive Green sweaters when you are shopping? Does Navy Blue catch your eye every time you see it? Does Merlot Red accessories give you a little extra spark of confidence? If you have a favorite color, don’t hold back! Remember, it is your day! As long as your favorite person in the world agrees to it (aka your Groom-to-be), go with what you love!

3. All of the colors!

   So, you might already have a color in mind, let’s say pink… but which shade of pink? Rose Pink? Fuscia Pink?  Blush Pink? The options can go on and on! Instead of choosing one shade of pink, choose them all! Go Ombré or go home! Indulge in it all. Showcase pink from the lightest pastel to the deepest shade. Your wedding will be the epitome of chic!

4. Keeping it Classic

   Want to make sure your wedding day has that timeless feel and classic look?! Add white or another neutral color into your color palette. Beige and cream add an extra layer of color sophistication while white matches with everything and can really tie in the other ascent colors.

5. Don’t forget about You!

   Most importantly, do not forget about your own sense of style. Sometimes, it can get overwhelming. There are so many people willing to offer their guidance and opinions that your own voice can get lost.  If everyone around you is telling you to go with Burgundy and you are more of a Lavender kinda gal, choose Lavender! Your wedding is your special day! You and your happiness is so important!

I hope with all my heart that you will not need to use your Wedding Day Emergency Kit and I know you are probably thinking “why did you just put these awful thoughts in my mind!”  Don’t worry! Your wedding day will be incredible but I am a strongly believer in being prepared! Think of your Emergency Kit as insurance. Just in case a hair falls out of place or if a hemline so happens to fall, your bridesmaids will be ready.

So grab yourself a cute little tote or make-up bag, take a trip to Target and put together your own DIY Wedding Emergency Kit! Here is the essentials (but feel free to add things that you know YOU will want on your big day).

Bridesmaids, they are like sisters (or are sisters). Your bridesmaids mean the world to you. I mean, let’s be real, you asked them to be your bridesmaid for a reason! You want your girls to be as happy as possible but you cannot get Katherine Heigl from “27 Dresses” out of your head!

The idea of finding dresses and a color that works for everyone is a little overwhelming… “What if they can’t agree on a style? What if they don’t feel comfortable in their dress?! “First off, I just want to say, you are a sweetheart for being so concerned about your ladies! Secondly, don’t you fret! With the right attitude, time and communication all your bridesmaids will be excited to put on their dress!

1. Talk about the budget!

   I know, I know, talking about finances is never easy, but trust me on this one. Your bridesmaids will feel a lot better knowing that you are being mindful of how much time, effort and money they are investing in your wedding day. Being a bridesmaid is such an honor, and they are SO excited to be a part of your big day, but let’s face it, it can get expensive. So talk to your bridesmaids, remember they are like family. They will appreciate it more than you know!

2. Pinterest and Instagram are your best friends!

   I am a huge fan of research! Knowledge is power! Know what you are getting you and your bridesmaids into before you walk into the bridal shop! Make yourself an excellent source for your ladies. Have opinions, come up with ideas and offer advice as you and your girls are sifting through all the lace and chiffon!

3. Don’t forget about YOUR dress!

   This one seems like an easy one, but I just had to put this one out there. Sometimes, we can get caught up in the excitement of shopping with our girls and forget that your wedding dress is important and must be considered! So before your girls say yes to their dress, ask yourself this “does this compliment my wedding dress?”
   

4. Bridesmaid Dresses are not on Amazon Prime!

   I know, in our instantaneous world, we forget that sometimes, we are actually going to have to wait! Bridesmaid dress shopping should be done 7 – 8 months out! I know what you are thinking… you can’t be serious? Most dresses are actually made-to-order and have a shipment time of 12 -16 weeks. Think about all the necessary steps that have to be taken between finding the dresses and actually putting them on. You have to make sure you have the correct measurements, correct order, have the dress actually made, pick it up (or wait for it to be delivered), make alterations and then finally have it all ready and perfect for the big day!

5. SALES

   Yes you read that correctly! Bridesmaid dresses do go on sale and more often than you think! There are always sales on the major annual shopping days like Black Friday, Memorial day and Labor Day… but there are also sales through out the year. Get on email lists, check websites every so often and keep your eyes pealed for the Magic word “SALE.” Your bridesmaids will be SO appreciative!

Ok, so now that you have some tips, GO have a great time! Sip the bubbly, get lost in all the amazing texture! Shopping with your best friends is supposed to be fun!  Let the stress melt away and enjoy this bonding experience with your girls!

There is a lot to do for your wedding day, so many big decisions and small details. It can get super overwhelming. You are going to want to procrastinate. I hear a lot of couples say things like “I’ll just get this done the week before the wedding” or “this can be put off for a few months.”

Get that to- do list done early: The small details that seem easy now, will not be so stress-free a few weeks before your wedding day. You don’t want to be using a glue-gun at 2am four days before your big day in an attempt to finish your centerpieces. You don’t want to be praying that Amazon Prime will arrive on time before your wedding because you JUST ordered your bridesmaids gifts. And you definitely don’t want to be running around trying to put together your Wedding Welcome Bag for all of your out of town guests.

What you will want to do the week before your wedding is relax. You will want to have time to enjoy your mani-pedi appointment. You will want to take a breath as you go and get your engagement ring cleaned and shined.  And you are going to want to spend some quality time with your beloved grandma who is in from out of town.

In other words, get that to-do list done early! Make sure you don’t just run around like a chicken without it’s head the last week of your single life. Make sure all the small details that can wait until the last minute, don’t actually wait until the last minute. Let’s be honest, of course some small things will pop up, but it will all be ok, because you got the rest of your to-do list done already!

” I already know that we are going to spend HOURS trying to figure out who sent in their  RSVPs and who we need to reach back out too. I am already dreading it” my friend said as we walked along the Schuylkill River. She was about to send out her beautifully custom  wedding invitations, designed on Basic Invite (shout out to my amazing card company partners at Basic Invite), and was trying to balance her work, school and wedding planning. This was one thing she really did not want to spend time on. “I just learned this awesome trick” I said as we started picking up the pace to more of a jog. “If you take a pencil, and mark each RSVP card with a number…on the back of course, it will be SOO much easier to keep track of.” I said as the beat of the music started picking up tempo in my ear. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, “That is a genius idea!” She explained as she threw her hands in the air. I smiled and said “Come on, I bet we can finish this run in under an hour!”

Excel + Pencil = Time: Numbers make everything better….Make things as easy as possible for yourself. I know what you are thinking, I don’t want to ruin my RSVP cards with a penciled in number in the corner. I get it, you spent all that money and all that time making sure your wedding stationary is perfect, You are going to love your stationary a lot more when it is easy to organize.  All you have to do is three easy steps:

1. Fill out an EXCEL sheet with your guest list on it (which, I am sure you already have)
2. Make sure each household has their own number
3. Mark each household’s RSVP card with their specific number!

Therefore, when the RSVP cards start coming in but number 43 is still not returned, you can go to your EXCEL sheet, look up number 43 and BAM, you now know you need to call Aunt Margret to see if she wants the fish or chicken. 

“Ok, I don’t know what to do… my parents keep telling me that it’s bad luck to do a First Look, but I don’t know… I think seeing him in the morning will make me feel a lot less nervous!” my bride explained as we were sitting across from each other at Starbucks.  I just nodded. This is a conversation I have with a lot of my brides. “Plus we can get ALL the photos done before the ceremony,” she continued. I nodded again and took a sip of my tea. “I don’t know Yael. Do you really think it is bad luck?” That was my cue…

“I think doing a First Look is a great idea! And NO it is not bad luck! Seeing each other a couple hours sooner won’t change your marriage in the least! It is going to be the most incredible day no matter what. You are marrying your best friend! Seeing him sooner will just make it that much sweeter!”

First Look? Or no First Look.. That is the question… there are plenty of reasons why couples opt out of doing a First Look, and that it totally fine! If you are more traditional and want to wait until you walk down the aisle to see your husband-to-be’s face drop in awe as he sees you in your white dress, I say go for it! But to be honest, if it was me, I would definitely do a First Look and this is why…

1. Calm those nerves:  Wedding days can be hectic, crazy and extremely exciting! There are so many little things to keep track of. So many details to take care of  and so many people to interact with. Just so many things! If you are anything like me, that combo creates one heck of a lot of nerves.  I absolutely love when my couples opt for a First Look.  The second you walk up behind your SO, tap him on the shoulder and see the admiration in his eyes, the nerves wash away and all you have left is complete and total bliss. I mean, it is your wedding day and you are marrying your best friend, why not spend as much time as possible together!
2. Looking fresh AF: No matter how much hairspray you put in your hair or how much you try not to get any part of your attire dirty, you will look the best before the ceremony! Think about it, it is right after you finish getting your hair and make-up done, your dress is perfectly in place and your mascara hasn’t been cried off yet. You’ve spent a lot of time and energy putting together your wedding day attire, may as well get photographed when you are looking as fresh as possible!
3. Finally, some alone time: The First Look is an intimate moment between you and your hubby-to-be. No one else is around, it is just you, the love of your life (dressed to the nines I may add), and your photographer (who will give you guys enough space and time to have all the feels). For the first time all day, you will have a second to breath, take it all in and just spend some alone time with your one and only.
4. Photos, Photos, Photos: This one may be my favorite reason… I am a photographer ya know? Not only does the First Look provide incredibly intimate and awesome photos, but it gives you a chance to get the majority of your formal portraits done before the ceremony, which come on, who doesn’t want that! There is less stress, less rush and everyone is excited and ready to go.  If for some reason there is a delay, because let’s face it, delays can totally happen on a wedding day, everything will be ok because you planned! You carefully scheduled plenty of time to capture every photo and every person that means the most to you! I have never had a couple say, “I wish we didn’t get all the formal portraits done before the ceremony.” I have never had a couple say “I wish we had less time for photos.”
5. Party as much as possible: You spent months, maybe even years, planning your wedding and I want you to do enjoy every moment to the fullest… but without sacrificing any photo opportunities, of course. A First Look gives you the time to get the most out of your party and your photography! It gives you more time to talk to your guests, but also make sure you have plenty of photos with Great Aunt Margie. It gives you the time to enjoy the present but also create lasting photos for the future. At the end of the day, your party will end, the wedding details will be stored away, all the cake will be gone but your photos will forever keep the day alive in your wedding album or on your walls.  If you ask me, it is a win, win situation

Don’t get me wrong, no matter what you decide, first look or no first look, you will have incredible photos an amazing wedding and happy memories that will last a life time! I just want you to enjoy every second of your wedding day!

xo,

Yael

“How do I not have enough friends to help with my wedding projects” asked my bestie as she was describing how many hours she spent on her DIY centerpieces the night before. “I mean, when we started all this wedding stuff, I seriously thought we’d have it all done by now.” Her wedding was only a few weeks away and it sounded like she needed all hands on deck. “What can I do to help?” I asked as we made our way through the hustle and bustle of Rittenhouse Square. “OH MY GOD. Seriously!?? You want to help me put the rest of the centerpieces together tonight???  I’ll buy the wine!” She asked me with the biggest puppy dog eyes possible. “Of course!” I said, and with that we walked into La Colombe and I could tell she felt a little bit closer to her goal.

DIY weddings – keep it helpful, not stressful: DIY Weddings can be an awesome idea; Cost- effective and adds that extra little something that makes your wedding personal and intimate. But, and this is a big but guys, DIY takes a lot of time, planning and energy. Some brides absolutely love it! They have a vision, the organizational skills and the creative touch to be able to DIY without even a sweat. And for those brides, I say go for it! You do you booboo! But for those brides who are more like me: for those brides who find themselves never having enough time or never having the specific details in mind and more of a general idea of what you want, I advice you to be very selective on your DIY projects. Don’t go overboard! Sometimes, just like in business, it is easier to outsource than do it yourself. You don’t want to overwhelm you, your family and your fiance even more!

If I was you, I would choose three big DIY projects that can be done months in advance; for example, centerpieces, table numbers and even party favors. This way, you can work on them over time instead of rushing to the finish line. Don’t forget! You are engaged to the one you love! This time is special and should be cherished. These DIY projects are your wedding details and should be meaningful and loved instead of stressful and rushed.  Leave the time sensitive details to the professionals. It will make the wedding planning that much less taxing!

xo,

Yael