Race Day- with a few fans!

I have now completed my 6th half-marathon! And I had fans!!!

This was the first year that the kids were able to come to a race and cheer me on, mostly because Chris has had some injuries and did not run this time. It was such a fun experience to have cheering fans on the sidelines. Chris was great about getting to several places on the course. I looked forward to seeing their smiling faces.

And those signs! People loved those signs.

They made the signs the night before the race, keeping them a secret until we saw them at mile 2.

When the miles drag on, its nice to have a little humor to keep you going.

Chris and kids did a great job cheering, not just for us, but for a lot of the runners that probably needed it most. And it was sweet to hear those runners express their appreciation. People started calling them "the sign family."

Some even stopped to get a photograph with them.

It was definitely fun to have fans.

Bridal Show in Madison

We had a great time at the bridal show on Wednesday evening. There is always a lot of excitement with engaged couples as they work on their wedding plans. We were happy to chat with so many people and enjoyed the whole show.

It was amazing to be reminded by Dana at Wedding Planner & Guide that we have been a part of this show for 10 years. That is a lot of booths and brides!

The winner of the bridal show's big prize package (we included an engagement session in the give-away) will be announced soon! 

Bre & Steve's Reception Book & Why You Should Have One, Too!

We did Bre and Steve's engagement session downtown earlier this year. When we sat down to look at the results, they had many, many engagement images that they loved from their session. This is certainly a wonderful problem to have!

The solution to keeping and sharing all those favorite images was for them to put them into a Reception Book.

A Reception Book is a modern twist on the old guest book, like what your parents had at their wedding. Guests would sign the lined pages, creating a list of those who attended the wedding.

And then people would store that book away and never, ever look at it again!

Now, the better way is to use a Reception Book. Your guests get to not only see all your fun and favorite engagement images, they get to write a sweet little note for you to read later. This creates a wonderful keepsake that you will love looking at and sharing with family and friends.

Trust me, these books do NOT get hidden away!

Upcoming Spring Bridal Show In Madison

April showers bring May wedding plans!

Okay, maybe the saying doesn't go quite like that, but this is certainly a good time of year to work on those wedding plans!

We are excited for the upcoming bridal show that is happening is less than two weeks. Mark your calendar for Wednesday, May 20th. We have been a part of the Wedding Planner & Guide spring bridal show for years. I think it hits at just that *right* time, perfect for couples starting their 2016 plans and those finishing 2015 details.

This year, the show has moved from the west side of Madison to downtown. The Monona Terrace is great because it is centrally located and there is plenty of parking. The beautiful view is wonderful, too!

Again this year, we are a part of the prize package that is valued at over $5,000. Make sure to register for your chance to win! Tickets are available online and at the door.

Wednesday Evening

May 20, 2015 | 4:30-8:30 pm

Monona Terrace

Make sure to stop by our booth and say "hi!" We look forward to seeing you there!

Save The Date: All Your Questions Answered

Have you ever struggled to find space on your calendar to get together for dinner with your best friends? You all check through the dates on your phone, hoping to hit on one where no one has a conflict, until you finally give up, just vowing to get together soon? It's not that you don't want to get together, it's just that you are so, so busy.

Welcome to event planning in the modern age.

Save The Dates for weddings have become almost a necessity with today’s busy schedules. (I have talked about Save The Dates before here.)

How to "Save The Date"

For many people, weddings are the first big, formal event they plan. And like many events with long, traditional histories, etiquette is a huge concern. Today, I will answer some of the biggest questions.

Do we even need to send Save The Dates?
The short answer is no. But there is a reason Save The Dates have become so popular. With everyone’s schedules getting more full and complicated, having advance warning of your wedding date helps your family and friends plan their time so they know they can be there for you. The further your family is spread out across the country and the busier the weekend of your wedding (i.e.: holiday weekend), the more necessary those Save The Dates become. Small, intimate weddings with only very close family and friends certainly wouldn’t need Save The Dates.

When do we send them?
Six months before the wedding is a good target, with 4-8 months being the range. This may vary if you are having a destination wedding since guests need to make travel plans. Also, check what events are happening at the same time as your wedding in the city where it’s taking place. If hotel rooms will be scarce, earlier is better.

Do we send one to everyone on the guest list?
While you certain may send Save The Dates to everyone who will be later getting a wedding invitation, it is not necessary. Every guest list includes names that receive invitation as more of a way to announce the wedding, even though you know they won’t be able to make the trip. Save The Dates are for the people that you really want to make sure are able to attend.

How much information do we include?
The date and location are the most important pieces of information to include on your Save The Dates. Other information can be added to help the guests plan, such as your wedding website or hotel information. All other details can wait until the formal invitations go out.

How do we address the Save The Dates?
Save The Dates are the more casual cousin to the wedding invitations. As such, the rules are a lot more relaxed. I’m not Emily Post, so I may catch some flack, but it’s okay to put away your pen. Return address labels are perfectly fine to use. For the guest’s address, pick what you are comfortable doing: hand write, address labels or home printer.

Do my Save The Dates need to match my wedding invitations?
Not at all! Save The Dates can set the tone of the event, but also are a great time to show the couple’s personality. While video, email or texts would certainly pass on the information about your wedding date, they don’t have the lasting qualities of a printed card or magnet. Use this opportunity to let guests know a little more about your personality and your wedding style.

With the help of your Save the Dates, everyone important to you will have enough warning to put your wedding on their schedules and reserve that time for you. And that is really the biggest point of Save The Dates- to make sure your family and friends are able to join you to celebrate your big day.