Thursday, December 22, 2011

Walking In A Winter Wedding Land!

Take advantage of the season by creating a mouthwatering menu that will keep your guests toasty on the inside and fuel them up to dance into the wee hours.

From your cocktail hour to dessert, consider these fresh-from-the-hearth menu ideas.

 







Cocktail Hour Bites

During the winter months, the hearty classics are in demand, and caterers can fulfill that desire with whimsical takes on childhood favorites. For your cocktail hour, have waiters pass trays of delectable bites, such as spoonfuls of breadcrumb-coated mac and cheese; demi forks of spaghetti and meatballs (penne pasta with a mini meatball and a drizzle of Bolognese sauce); or panini lollipops (panini on a stick). Another top-ranking winter hors d'oeuvre: shot glasses of hot soup, such as tomato bisque garnished with grilled triangular cheese bites.



Soups and Salads

Toasty soup is a no-brainer for the first course of a wintry wedding meal. Some of today's favorites: butternut squash with pumpernickel croutons, potato-leek with amaretto creme fraiche, or rich cheddar potato. And a winter salad calls for extra seasonal additions like cranberries, pears, and walnuts. Can't decide whether to do soup or salad? Go with one of the season's newest menu trends: soup-and-salad combo plates. Have your caterer place a small bowl of soup on one end of a rectangular plate and a cluster of salad on the other, or place the soup in the center of a round plate and surround it with salad.


Main Entrees

Especially appropriate for wintertime, top wedding planners are transforming the wedding meal into something more inventive and gourmet, a la what you'd find in a four-star eatery. Come entree time, classic filet mignon continues to be a favorite, but in place of roasted spuds on the side, you might consider having a risotto cake, a purple potato pancake, or wasabi whipped potatoes. Or opt out of the traditional steak and potatoes idea and serve a tasting menu -- or "degustation" -- of six or seven small courses. For example, you might start with a pumpkin soup served with an Asiago-truffle mac and cheese muffin; followed by a fish course, such as lemon-baked salmon; and then a meat course, such as horseradish-crusted lamb chops.


Veggie Entrees

Vegetarian and low-meat diets have begun to take center stage, and many brides and grooms are offering a veggie entree choice for guests. Whereas vegetarian options may once have been an unexciting afterthought (like a plate of mushy roasted eggplant, mushrooms, and peppers), caterers are now putting equal effort into making these dishes taste amazing. Two winter-appropriate, meat-free ideas: a jumbo portobello stuffed with cornbread, wild mushrooms and truffle essence, or a trio of peppers filled with three different types of risotto. Pasta dishes are back in a big way too, either as a second course or a vegetarian entree. Instead of plain pasta, go for whole wheat, spelt, or spinach.


Sweet Send-offs

Self-service candy bars (which can serve as both dessert and party favors) have been big for a few years now, but there's a new take on them that's perfect for trendy winter weddings: an all-white candy spread. Think white M&Ms, yogurt-covered pretzels, white chocolate-covered cranberries, white-coated chocolate mints, nonpareils covered in white sprinkles, and various white Jelly Belly flavors. Let your guests scoop up their favorites to take home with them in clear Chinese take-out boxes bearing a custom label or a snowflake icon. Another big menu trend that's infiltrated the wedding scene: flights, aka three or more flavor variations served on one plate. We like this trend for a late-night chocolate dessert course made up of a mini chocolate pot de creme, a chocolate cheesecake lollipop, and a shot of Baileys Irish Cream in chocolate cup. It's a sweet and stylish way to celebrate the season.








Jessica N. Parker
Owner, The Perfect Day H.E.A. Wedding & Event Planning Services
Assisting You In Turning Your Wedding Dreams Into Reality
 With Creations Limited Only By Your Imagination
Direct Phone Line: (919) 961-4951



 

Friday, December 9, 2011

Bridal Advice ....... From The Brides!


Okay, okay, we know.
Every bride looks gorgeous on her big day.
 Yet when a bride looks back at her pictures, there always seems to be something
she wishes she'd done differently.......
That's why we here at The Perfect Day H.E.A rounded up 5 brides to reveal what they wish they would have done with their wedding look.
Take their beauty advice and be regret-free!




1.)  "I have never been labeled 'traditional' when it came to my [personal style].
 I wore my hair in a very traditional way, pulled back and curled under the veil.
 I love bold colors but don't think that showed with my look. I am a wedding photographer now and most of the brides I shoot know exactly what they want!
They have these great headpieces, small funky veils, hot pink shoes-just fun! They show their personality much more than I did."

More advice: As a photographer I'd say being too tan is out. Don't go to your wedding orange! Just be yourself. -Nicole Shilliday, 28, Centreville, VA


 

2.)  Wedding wish: "I could've brightened my smile more."
"I loved my wedding look! I did my own hair, and a friend did my wedding makeup.
 I felt like me, which was key but I could have whitened my teeth. I kind of wish I'd done that, but the [teeth whitening strips] made my teeth sore so I gave it up.
 My teeth look fine, but sometimes I see those gleaming white bridal smiles and wish I'd had one, too!"

More advice: Keep a curling iron in your beauty station. My hair was pretty flat by the end of the night--I wish I'd set up a quick 5-minute refresher station where my bridesmaids and I could have re-fluffed a little together. -Melissa Walker, 33, Brooklyn, NY




  3.)  "I didn't have any help with my wedding makeup and I felt I could have used some more to make my eye shadow stand out and last longer."

More advice: "Don't rule out wearing a veil. I was against wearing one until my mom made me try it on. I loved it so much and I wore the veil during the ceremony and the reception." -Kristin Burstein, 28, Las Vegas, NV



4.)  Wedding wish: "My hair was darker than I would have liked." "I am a natural blonde

More advice: "If you want to wear your hair up or down or however-do it. Choose what you want and feel good in, not what others think will make you happy on your big day. Practice your wedding day look and take photos of it from all angles to see what looks good." -Bethany Lyons, 31, New York, NY



5.)  Wedding wish: "I should have done my own makeup." "I had my wedding makeup professionally done and I paid way too much money for a look that wasn't special at all! I think I should have had a makeup consultation at the mall or something so that I had some pointers that I would benefit from-not just for my wedding makeup but every day as well. I didn't even like my lipstick color!"

More Adive: Plan ahead, take snap shots of you in different looks, including make up, hair and any other important accerories you plan to wear. Change it up before the big day!




Jessica N. Parker
Owner, The Perfect Day H.E.A. Wedding & Event Planning Services
Assisting You In Turning Your Wedding Dreams Into Reality
 With Creations Limited Only By Your Imagination
Direct Phone Line: (919) 961-4951

*coming soon..... http://www.theperfectdayhea.com/

Saturday, November 19, 2011

The Most Common Wedding Day 'SOMETHINGS'

So whether we have been married or not we have ALL heard the infamous wedding day 'somethings' right?

Need The Perfect Day to refresh your memory?!?
Well, See Below!

"Something Old, Something New Something Borrowed, Something Blue"


Ever wondered what that age old saying means, well here at The Perfect Day we have the answer, and lets just say one 'something' is missing!
**Check out our findings**:

The next line of this old saying actually hints at its origin. The complete phrase is:
Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in her shoe.

Each item in this poem represents a good-luck token for the bride. If she carries all of them on her wedding day, her marriage will be happy.
 
*"Something old" symbolizes continuity with the bride's family and the past.
*"Something new" means optimism and hope for the bride's new life ahead.
*"Something borrowed" is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family.
 
***As for the colorful item, blue has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the color. Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding gowns, as evidenced in proverbs like, "Marry in blue, lover be true."


*** And finally, THE MISSING 'SOMETHING' a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe represents wealth and financial security. It may date back to a Scottish custom of a groom putting a silver coin under his foot for good luck. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe. These days, a dime or a copper penny is sometimes substituted, and many companies sell keepsake sixpences for weddings.

*Check out the 'Something Blue' for the bride & groom below! 



Jessica N. Parker
Owner, The Perfect Day H.E.A. Wedding & Event Planning Services
Assisting You In Turning Your Wedding Dreams Into Reality
 With Creations Limited Only By Your Imagination
Direct Phone Line: (919) 961-4951

'Come and let us make YOUR day 'The Perfect Day'

Thursday, November 10, 2011

How To Create YOUR WOW Vow's

The exchange of wedding vows is an integral part of a wedding ceremony.
It is a very romantic moment and often the perfect place to express your feelings towards your fiance.

Writing your vows, however, can be harder than it seems.

So The Perfect Day H.E.A has collected an assortment of both traditional and contemporary wedding vows  for you to use as a source of inspiration!
So Good Luck And Get Writing!




NON - TRADITIONAL *wedding vows*

1.) Today, as I give myself to you my mind is clear and my commitment
is strong and without reservation. I take you to be my life's partner.
I will never leave you nor forsake you;
I will spend all my days at your side.
We will share a lifetime of eternal, immeasurable love.




2.) All that I am and all that I have, I offer to you in love and in joy.
From this day forward I will love and comfort you, hold you close,
prize you above all others,
and remain faithful to you all the days of our lives.




3.) These things I promise I will do
That life may grant you ample grace
Because I love and cherish you:


I vow to treasure what is true
That I might touch whom I embrace:
These things I promise I will do.


I'll build a garden in your view
That with sweet fruit will stone replace
Because I love and cherish you.


I vow to love each day anew,
For love must dance through time and space:
These things I promise I will do.


I vow to make your terrors few
And then with you those demons face
Because I love and cherish you.


And now, as we make one of two,
A passage we cannot retrace,
These things I promise I will do
Because I love and cherish you.





TRADITIONAL *wedding vows*

1.) I, (Groom's Name), take you (Bride's Name) to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and honor you I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully Through the best and the worst, Through the difficult and the easy. What may come I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold So I give you my life to keep So help me God.


I, (Bride's Name), take you (Groom's Name), to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever I will trust you and honor you I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully Through the best and the worst, Through the difficult and the easy. What may come I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold So I give you my life to keep So help me God.


In unison: Entreat me not to leave you, or to return from following after you, For where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. And where you die, I will die and there I will be buried. May the Lord do with me and more if anything but death parts you from me.




2.) I, (Bride's Name/ Groom's Name), take (you/thee), (Bride's Name, Groom's Name), to be my [opt: lawfully wedded] husband, secure in the knowledge that you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love.
On this special [opt: and holy] day, I (affirm/reaffirm/give) to you in the presence of God and (all those in attendance/these witnesses) my (pledge/sacred promise) to stay by your side as your [opt: faithful] wife in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, as well as through the good times and the bad.


I (promise/further promise) to love you without reservation, comfort you in times of distress, encourage you to achieve (higher/all of your) goals, laugh with you and cry with you, grow with you in mind and spirit, always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live.




3.) Do you, _____________, take this woman/man, _______________, to be your wife/husband, according to God’s holy decree; do you promise to be to him/her a loving and loyal husband/wife, to cherish and keep her/him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, to be faithful only to him/her as long as you both shall live?


Answer: I do.






* So Let 'The Perfect Day H.E.A' Know What You Think!
And don't forget The Perfect Day H.E.A
has an affordable wedding package to meet your specific wedding needs!

Scroll up on the our blog home page and click on the APPOINTMENT TRON
to schedule your FREE CONSULTATION!
 HURRY Because Offer Ends 12/31/2011!



Jessica N. Parker
Owner, The Perfect Day H.E.A. Wedding & Event Planning Services
Assisting You In Turning Your Wedding Dreams Into Reality
 With Creations Limited Only By Your Imagination
Direct Phone Line: (919) 961-4951 - (919) 651-0923

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Be A KNOCKOUT Bride: Professional Hairstyle Tips!!!


The Bride spends endless hours searching for the perfect gown, accessories and veil. What the prepared bride knows, however, is that her finished look can come off as incomplete if she doesn't have that KNOCK OUT beautiful wedding day hairstyle!

To ensure the right style you just might have to put your hair in the hands of professionals who has the expertise to choose with you your dream style, that will work for your budget as well as your hair type!
So here are a couple of questions the brides of The Perfect Day have asked, and there answers!

1. What Styles Are Good For A Bride With Short Hair???
                                                    
Keep it sexy and very feminine. Add a little bit of lift and volume if it coordinates with what your wearing. Keep it loose and free (not too fixed) because you'll feel more comfortable that way. Lighten it up and spice it up, with some color.





2. What Would Be A Great Classical Look???
                                           
A ponytail with a bun and a small twist with a pin or accessory looks very classic. Sleek and smooth are great with a stronger wedding gown. Don't make the hair too complicated if the dress is the focus or the show stopper.






3. Great Hair Advice I Can Practice At Home, What Is It???
Rehearse the hairstyle before the BIG DAY. Keep it loose and soft, and don't overdo it. As long as it doesn't over power the make up and clothing, then it should look great. Just remember do whatever you want to do its your special day!



We Hope This Helps! And remember if YOU ever have any questions about how to make YOUR day The Perfect Day check comment and we will answer them next time!

Jessica N. Parker
Owner, The Perfect Day H.E.A. Wedding & Event Planning Services
Assisting You In Turning Your Wedding Dreams Into Reality
 With Creations Limited Only By Your Imagination
Direct Phone Line: (919) 961-4951

Sunday, October 2, 2011

How To Make It A SMASH!

Step Away From The Cookie Cutter Image....

It's A NEW DAY!

Agonizing over every last detail won't matter unless guests actually remember it for it's uniqueness.



1. GO BOLD... OR GO HOME:

You can make a huge inpact with simple updates to classic ideas. Instead of a traditional bouquet, carry floral printed paper flowers. Or incorprate something that says "YOU" into your wedding favors, such as a Family Crest cookie (which is something that mixes the family togetehr showing both sides of where you come from.)


2.  GET IT IN WRITING:

A wedding need's a statement piece, especially when it comes to certain elements of a wedding that are highly looked over, like your guest book. Vamp it up with a home made touch like pictures or the two of you.


3.  LIGHT'S PLEASE:

Nothing takes an event from amatuer to amazing like lighting does. Regaurdless of the wedding theme good lighting the right atmosphere makes all the difference. It can be very small like special lighting on the two of you for your first dance.







   And don't forget.... The Perfect Day H.E.A
 is now offering FREE CONSULTATIONS!


Jessica N. Parker
Owner, The Perfect Day H.E.A. Wedding & Event Planning Services
Assisting You In Turning Your Wedding Dreams Into Reality
 With Creations Limited Only By Your Imagination
Direct Phone Line: (919) 961-4951

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

What's YOUR Favor FLAVOR!?!?

One of many things on your wedding checklist that you will need to do is to choose personalized wedding favors for your guests!!!!


As far as the best wedding favor ideas go, the first step is always to consider the theme of your wedding. You want to find small gifts that blend into the overall look and feel of the wedding. Most couples make a decision early on about the wedding theme and then integrate it into the invitations, décor, and, of course, the wedding favors.


When your guests pick up these wedding favors, you want them to feel that you have given these small gifts care and thought. Tying the gifts into a wedding theme shows that kind of attention to detail. The best wedding favors do not necessarily need to be pricey, but should show creativity, refinement and taste.

For example, if your wedding is taking place in September, you might want to consider a fall wedding theme. The design for this type of wedding would include fall colors like jewel tones and the décor could include wheat or acorns. The wedding flowers would also integrate into the theme, so they should be things like fall leaves, daisies and roses. The menu could have some traditional fall foods like Turkey and cranberries. With this type of fall wedding, the best wedding favors would be things that also tie into the season. For example, nice ideas for wedding favors might include gifts shaped like apples or leaves. These gifts can include key chains, soaps, or coasters, just to name a few possibilities.

There are a wide variety of other ideas for wedding favors. Other wedding themes can just be a simple idea, such as “elegance.” If you are planning an elegant wedding, this choice will be reflected in your choice of venue, dress, design and flowers. Great elegant wedding favor choices might include beautiful wine glasses, and delicate candles or sachets. Another very popular wedding favor choice is chocolate wedding favors. Chocolate wedding favors can include small boxes of gourmet chocolates or truffles, beautifully decorated chocolate lollipops, or little chocolates shaped like wedding cakes.





                               


Jessica N. Parker
Owner, The Perfect Day H.E.A. Wedding & Event Planning Services
Assisting You In Turning Your Wedding Dreams Into Reality
 With Creations Limited Only By Your Imagination
Direct Phone Line: (919) 961-4951

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Who Is YOUR Wedding Planner?!?

Alot of Brides come to me with "Why Do I Need A Wedding Planner?"  And... " I Don't Need One. My Mom Is Doing It."   And lets not forget .....  "That's A Waste Of Money."




Well if you want the TRUTH..... Keep Reading!

A wedding will probably be the single biggest event a couple will ever plan. There are a myriad of details that are involved. Even the smallest most intimate wedding, may require innumerable elements and could take months to plan.


A wedding consultant is invaluable.
 We can help you maximize your time and money by making use of their abundant resources and recommending quality services and cost-saving options. This can leave you the time to tend to those details that you most look forward to when planning a wedding: trying on the dress, picking out your wedding bands, selecting the decorations and color scheme, etc. (you shouldn’t have to be worrying about who’s tipping the waiters, or if the gift table has been placed in the correct place).

To hire a consultant, determine what you want to have done, then choose a wedding consultant that will fit your specific needs. Here at The Perfect Day H.E.A we have a "build your own" wedding package, also the 3 packages we have to chose from can always be added to or subtracted from with little to NO cost!

. If you have done all the preparation and would like the consultant to supervise and direct your rehearsal and wedding day: WE DO THAT!

 Just need help with your entire event: WE DO THAT TOO!

 Some charge a flat fee; others charge a percentage (between 10-20%) of the total bill.
The Perfect Day H.E.A is not only Budget Friendly but keeps payments to a LOW monthly fee and gives discounts for paying upfront!

So need a little, or need alot.... Call TODAY and check us out!


Jessica N. Parker
Owner, The Perfect Day H.E.A. Wedding & Event Planning Services
Assisting You In Turning Your Wedding Dreams Into Reality
 With Creations Limited Only By Your Imagination
Direct Phone Line: (919) 961-4951

Saturday, July 9, 2011

1st Step..... INVITES!!!

 
Sometimes the hardest part of the process of getting married isn't planning the reception or the wedding. Sometimes it just so happens to be the process of picking out or designing wedding invitation templates. This is because there are so many options out there for people to choose from. It can be really tough to pick one out and to have one that is truly the best one and the right one.
 
 
 
Hopefully here at The Perfect Day H.E.A we hope this information below helps you! Keep in mind you should always ask a professional, please feel free to contact us with the information listed at the very bottom of this post and ask away!
 
 
It's important to first realize the correlation that needs to exist between the wedding invitation templates and the envelope that the invitations will be sent out in.
 
It's important to have them mesh well together, so they should be sort of picked out or designed at the same time.
 It's mainly all about making sure that the colors and any key designs are the same in the invitations as well as over the envelope.
 
 

The font being used is a really big part of all wedding invitation templates.
 This can be one of the hardest decisions, too, because there are many different fonts out there.
It's most important to make sure that the font is one that can be easily read because if a font can't be read, it's pretty much worthless.

So, try to pick out a font that is stylish and is unique but is also easy to read.
 If it's not, maybe increasing the size of the font can change that, so keep that in mind.
The last part to picking out or designing wedding invitation templates is figuring out what designs will be included in the invitations.

   

   




For example,
some templates have ribbons, vertical and horizontal bars with designs in them, or just general pictures of a variety of things, such as flowers. This is where it is really up to the bride and the groom to figure out what they want.


Jessica N. Parker
Owner, The Perfect Day H.E.A. Wedding & Event Planning Services
Assisting You In Turning Your Wedding Dreams Into Reality
 With Creations Limited Only By Your Imagination
Direct Phone Line: (919) 961-4951
Direct Email: theperfectdayhea@yahoo.com
Additional Sites: http://theperfectdayhea.blogspot.com/