Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...

These are a few of our favorite things, 2009 year in review:

Sandy ceremoniesTara Photography

Birdcage veils Melinda Butler Photography

Atypical TransportationAlica Garik
Hinkley Photograhy

Claudia Kaerner Photo

Embracing Cultural Traditions
Melinda Butler photography

FeathersClaris Photography

Different DressesAphrodite Wedding Photos

Pink ChampagneAphrodite Wedding Photos

Color themed candy buffets
Melinda Butler Photography

Dogs of Honor
Aphrodite Wedding Photos

Claris Photography

Alice Garrik

Moody Weather
Melinda Butler PhotographyHinkley Photography

Hinkley Photography

Tenderness
Aphrodite Wedding Photos

Alyssa Duncan Photography

To all of our 2009 couples, thank you for your inspiration and for a wonderful year of weddings!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Non-traditional BEST OF 2009 Weddings-Music

One of our goals at Blissful Beginnings is to help our clients to create completely personalized events, and sometimes that means incorporating non-traditional elements or ideas into the event. While driving back from last Saturday's wedding, I had the idea to "shout out" some of these fabulous "out of the ordinary" ideas that we saw and loved this season.

I thought I'd start with Music because I listen to music of all genres and I think it's a great way to personalize your wedding. Not to say that Pachelbel's "Cannon in D" or Wagner's "Bridal Chorus" is passe, but many Brides fear thinking outside of the box in this area. If you'd like a traditional classical or spiritual soundtrack at your wedding, go with it! But, also take some cues from your Ipod or the tunes you rock out to in the car when planning your wedding day music...

Some of our "greatest hits" from 2009 Weddings

1. Ceremony processional selections from Michelle and Tony's wedding in Etna, NH in September. Tony and Michelle used songs from Eddie Vedder's "Into the Wild" movie soundtrack, including "Photographs" and "Tuolumne"
As a BIG Pearl Jam fan, I loved these choices. They are so emotional and lovely. Also, if you haven't seen the movie, Check it out. The sountrack makes the movie!!!

2. Best Recessional: Shiny Happy People by REM from Tamara and Will's summer wedding at Rye Harbor State Park. Fun, upbeat and definitely got guests ready for an afternoon of fun and games by the ocean. You'll see them mentioned again when we get to Non-tradtional food!

3. Cocktail hour Soundtrack- sorry, I have to take this one from my own wedding in April. Henry and I had casino themed cocktail hour at our wedding- a little tongue in cheek take on having met eachother on on the "luckiest day of the century" 7/7/07...
We celebrated by setting up a casino for our guests and awarded "high roller" prizes for the lucky winners. I asked our good friend and DJ, Noah Phillips to take his musical direction from Las Vegas based casino movies from the 70's and 80's- Rolling Stones, Louis Prima, etc. It was festive and fun...like listening to a classic rock station. It went great with turning cards and spinning roulette wheels.
photo Melinda Butler

4. Wedding Party Into- The FOX NFL fanfare from Karen and Mike's September Wedding- need I say more? This couple LOVES their sports!

5. Bride and Groom's first dance- Jess and Scott's custom written first dance song by friend, maid of honor and musician, Mary Delay. What better gift than a song about your love? It was beautiful.Photo, Alice Garrik

6. Best Wedding Closer- this is BY FAR my favorite music moment of the season- Sarah and Hugh's wedding at Crane Estete in June. After a lovely evening of Swing/Jazz standards by The Tom Snow Band these tuxedo-buttoned-up gentlemen RIPPED into a personal request of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" for the bride and groom. The room erupted, it was like a concert- hands in the air, jaws fell open! "WAyyyyyyyy down inSIDE, WOMAN, you NEEEEEEED Me! AHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhHHHHHHHhh! Really, it was the best.

Rock On. Photo Melinda Butler

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Best of NH Magazine Bride!


I am SOOOO proud to have been named Best Wedding Planner and Best Justice of the Peace by New Hampshire Magazine Bride voters! What an honor!

2009 has been a crazy season that epitomizes exactly why I love my job. Wedding season has been full of wild weather (RAIN!!! Tent heaters in August? Humidity! More RAIN!) as well as the financial concerns of couples and families during the planning process. As a wedding planner, my job is to alleviate fears and troubleshoot issues, work within the event budget and help find the answers. It's so much more than "making it look pretty"- it's making the event WORK!

I so appreciate that my clients and colleagues (friends!) took the time to vote for Blissful Beginnings and recognize our effort. Every event is a team undertaking, and I am thankful to all of the wonderful vendors who are open to keeping the wedding industry a FUN place to work!

Congratulations to all of the winners!

Thanks again to all!!!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Best face!!!


I LOVE Sarah and her incredible birdcage veil and feathered headpiece!!! She is a superstar!!! Congratulations to Sweet Sarah and Handsome Hugh!
www.melindabutler.com

Blissful Events: A Grand 4th of July Wedding Celebration


Katie and Eric's wedding celebration over the July 4th weekend was as festive as these two are gorgeous!

The event was hosted at a family summer home on Squam Lake and although mother nature has been keeping us on our toes this year (a 30 minute long thunderstorm with ferocious winds right off the lake and into our tent 2 hours prior to the ceremony??? This season it seems like par for the course!), the celebration went off without a hitch.

Boating out to Church Island for the ceremony...getting 175 guests, musicians and a design team out to the island is a strategic process!
But the Bride and Groom look flawless!!!
I love a crowd surfing couple!!!
Fireworks of course to send off the Bride and Groom in style!
Many thanks to Matt and Liz Hinkley for the photos! www.hinkleyphoto.com

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Blissful Events: The Sweetest Day


Just wanted to showcase the wonderful wedding of Valerie and Adam last Saturday.
This couple was not afraid of color and the turquoise and cherry red combination was amazing!

The florals and the custom white birch huppah were created by Jessica Christopherson of Cymbidium Floral in Exeter, NH. I was honored to officiate the ceremony as well as coordinate and provide event design details for the event.

Photos courtesy of the fabulous Claudia Kaerner

Monday, June 8, 2009

Fun with color!

I had a ball working with Sara and Paul to create their colorful and fantastically whimsical wedding last weekend in Rye.
Check out the incredible wedding cake by the amazing Owen Dyer of ConfectionArt in York.
And who says you can't play with your food?
How about this Guitar Hero Groom's Cake!

A fabulous day for two wonderful families. Congrats Sara and Paul!!!