I have always had a love affair with silver. Never quite warming up to anything gold, except of course for my Grandmother’s gold ruby and diamond anniversary ring. That of course was strictly an affection fostered by it always being on my Grandmommee’s hand. Upon her death my Granddaddy gifted that ring to me, and since that day it has been the sole gold accessory that I would declare a gold trinket I could not live without. Still I wear it sparingly and only if the color scheme does not scream “SILVER.” In light of that, and although movies are always acquainted with the “Silver Screen”– Oscar is gold…and he would certainly be another exception to my rule, if I were ever to be granted the honor of accessorizing with him. So in honor of Oscar Sunday here is a gold tablescape based on the couple John Lennon and Yoko One. The concept was created by Paige of Bash Eco Events and Kelly of Yes Please Design. For more fabulous photos and the story behind the design check out the this Milk + Honey Blog.

Wedding favors have become a must with most weddings, but plenty of people are tired of the age old small box of candies, candles, or silly trinkets that you will never use, but feel bad throwing away.  So what is trending with wedding favors?  Well if you ask this Maine wedding planner, I will give you ideas that address or compliment your theme, but won’t weigh your guests down with junk that will cost you money and just collect dust.  Look for favors that are useful.  Items that can be used or even used up.  Not only will this be environmentally friendlier, but it will make your guest happy as well.

Here are a few ideas from me, your Maine wedding planner: A fabulous gift from a Maine based Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegrette company.  Fiore is located in Rockland and Bar Harbor and they offer an original and delicious favor that can be personalized with your own message.

Of course…being a Maine wedding planner I cannot skip over our background in the Maple business.  So…personalizedMaple syrup or even Maple candy will make any guests smile sweetly.

Love love love this favor from  Jillian Events Design & Styling.  A small suntea jar with a tea bag included. Not only is this simple and beautiful, but it is useful and creative!

Sweet Chic Events touched my heart with gorgeous little plants that just happen to be herbs.  So they look great, but you can take them home and create yummy homemade recipes with them.

Finally, a recent Maine bride of mine decided to donate her budgeted favor monies to a local Maine cancer charity in the name of each guest.  She then gave a momento gift of a pink tulip pin on a card informing each guest of their gift. Below is an example of a memento card from Look Love Send.

Although I have listed resources for ideas below.  Remember you do not have to purchase manufactured favors…it is just as easy to ask your Maine wedding planner to help design and create an original favor just for you.  There are plenty of other ideas.

Resources:

Littlethingsfavors.com

Favorideas.com

Favorsbyserendipity.com

Wedding dresses are so important to a bride that they can truly make or break a wedding experience.  I mean there is a whole show about it on TLC.  So what makes a dress the perfect dress and what makes it less than perfect?

Kleinfeld’s has it right when they say the first order of business is to please the bride.  If a bride puts on a dress and it instantly makes her feel giddy, weepy, beautiful, better than ever…well good luck changing her mind.  The downside…trying on a dress in a beautiful dressing room with all of your supporters telling you how fantastic you look is not the same as really seeing your dress in the moment.  You sometimes hear the assistants discuss the season, and maybe if it is outdoor or indoor, but rarely do you hear much more than that.  Now this could be simple editing to fit the show into its half hour slot, but it is a great disservice to brides not to make this a selling point!

As a wedding designer I understand the concept of blending all of the elements into one cohesive function.  Although a wedding dress is not the only element in awedding it is one of the most important.  Remember all eyes are trained to come back to that dress.  The bride is the “Center” of that event and rightly attendees will continue to watch and react to her.  That being said…if the venue does not compliment or complete the dress than the overall event may appear choppy and disjointed in its theme.  This doesn’t mean your dress has to be matchy, matchy.  It just means you shouldn’t completely clash in style and/or color.  A church wedding, as opposed to a beach wedding, as opposed to a ballroom wedding…all of these elements should be considered when choosing your dress.

The same goes for your bridal party.  Don’t put your attendants in purple dresses if your celebration is going to be in a room that has large dark red accents in a patterned carpet.  Watch for clashing colors and patterns. Know your venue, or at least make sure your wedding designer knows your venue.  Take pictures.  Watch colors, shapes, lighting…every element to make sure they all work well together.  At the end of the day you may not even notice that they all blended so well, but believe me, if you don’t work to make sure they do, when you get your videos and/or photos back.  You will notice that something is not right, and remember you don’t get a “Do-Over.”

Feathers, feather, feathers.  I love feathers.  I honestly think I have an unhealthy fascination with them.  The best things about feathers while designing for Maine weddings is that they’re not affected by the weather.  It can be the middle of the arctic Maine winter and you can get feathers just as easily and at with the same cost as you can get them in the middle of the perfect Maine summer.   They are a wonderful accessory for a Maine wedding planner.

Yesterday I designed a wedding photo shoot based around a vintage antique white dress adorned by feathers, designed by Sash Couture.  I, of course, had to include feathers in my design.  Don’t have those photos yet, but I decided to share some other feathered ideas.

A winter wedding in Maine would be the perfect setting for this beautiful white feathered dress.  Adorned with either a short  fur bolero, or even a long fur lined cape this dress would be perfection in the snow!

Let’s talk peacock…a peacock feather has a fabulous color palate for spring, summer, and fall.  Don’t get me wrong you can certainly incorporate the colors into any season, but the gold, green, and blue just seem to bring out the warmth of these particular times of year.  As a Maine wedding planner my eye is drawn to the gold and green in this feather which just says autumn to me.

Last…a bit dramatic, but breathtaking to me is the feathered centerpiece.  This can of course be whatever color you want, but using this centerpiece to make a statement means really having either colors that pop or bling  that catches the eye.

Feathers are not for every0ne, but if you love them like I do they are very versatile and can be used in so many different ways.

Although I do enjoy a bit of their fragrance I tend to find their appearance a little common and dare I say “cheap.”

Truthfully carnations are not cheap, and although for some reason they have gotten a bad rap in the last few years they can be very good flowers to fill spaces and make for some original and beautiful décor.

Here are a few examples of what you can do with carnations that steps away from overdone traditional and into original, but still affordable!

Centerpieces

Carnation Wedding Cake

Carnation Ceremony Decor

The title of “Day of Coordinator” is a mixed bag.   First,  many designers and planners think that being a DOC is beneath them.  They view it as the McDonalds in the gourmet world of event design and management.  Second, so many event hosts or brides believe they do not need a DOC, they  want to save money and in order to do so they enlist their  family members, their friends, or their bridal party to handle all the necessary duties to pull off their special occasion.

As a Designer/Planner I take great pride in helping a client have the perfect event, even if it is not my design.  Nothing can highlight a planner’s immense talent for her craft more than seamlessly managing an event that he/she did not plan from the beginning.  Although the dream job “is” creating the picture from the blank canvas, taking someone else’s building blocks and orchestrating the perfect party can be much more challenging.  A true event designer and coordinator does not turn their nose up at these jobs, but attacks them head on with the same amount of gusto as a Full Event Design job.

Planners…Day of Coordination is not beneath you.  It is a challenge.

Hosts and Brides, doing it yourself can cause you to miss all those special moments.  Splurge a little so that you can enjoy and bask in the spotlight of your party with all of your loved ones sharing the stage!

Click here and ask us about the excellent options we offer for Day of Coordination.  We would be proud to be a part of your special occasion!

A little more romance for HEARTS day!  Here are a few creative gift ideas!

Say “I love you”  on each page with each letter of the alphabet…or how or why you love them!

OOH…a candy card expresses it in a cute and scrumptulicious (yes I made up the word) way!

So excited about helping couples artistically and creatively express their love when they say “I DO.” Check out our Valentine Proposal Ideas too!

P.S.  Why wait for Valentine’s Day to give gifts that say “I love you.”

I love proposals…and of course weddings.

As a planner…I think proposals are very important, and a well executed one can be just the influence you need to start the perfect life together.

Never underestimate the power of a perfectly planned proposal.

I’m always looking for what’s trending in events and weddings.  For the past several years vintage and/or retro has been a  popular design concept.  However, as a very literal designer I wanted to know what the difference was so that I can accurately deconstruct what my clients are really looking for and present them with ideas that fit their ultimate visions.

Retro is defined by Wikipedia as a culturally outdated or aged style, trend, mode, or fashion, from the overall postmodern past, that has since that time becomefunctionally or superficially the norm once again.   In short…something that was fabulous in the past, disappeared for a while and then reappeared and is fabulous again.

Vintage is defined by Dictionary.com as representing the high quality of a past time: vintage cars;vintage movies.

Ask how Events by Mackie can help you achieve your vintage and/or retro visions for your wedding!

.

Showing my originality as wedding designer is always my goal.  I know that I am not a traditionalist, and although my clients are sometimes very “traditional” I strive everyday to  represent ALL of my clients with something different.  I don’t just want to be out of the box…I want my events to be out of this world.  I want to represent those people who want to make a big statement with the fabulousness they deserve and the event that is unlike any other.

Every event has elements that are almost required, and if nothing else…very much expected.  One of these elements is the “Centerpiece.”

The centerpiece is a dilemma that faces many brides.  Traditionally it was big, leafy, full of baby’s breathe, roses, and more recently curly willow.  As an artist I don’t believe in tradition.  I believe in showing your spirit…making a statement.

There are hundreds of elements that can be used and re-used in different ways to make your wedding centerpiece unique.  Below are just a few.

Candles

Lighted Orbs
Bonsia Trees

Wheat Grass

These are just a few examples of traditional elements that can be used and manipulated in different ways to create beautiful, original, and creative centerpieces.  Thus, meeting the traditional need of the “centerpiece” while still remaining true to your idea of originality.   Ask your wedding designer for other ideas.