Leenabelle Weddings

03/20/2023

Most weddings have an hour in between the ceremony and the reception called a cocktail hour. This allows time for the venue to get the reception set up and the ceremony cleaned up. Cocktail hours can be unique to the wedding, but for the most part, they have drinks for the guest and small appetizers. Here’s some tips for a smooth cocktail hour!

💍 A tip for the bride and groom: While cocktail hour might seem like the best time to get pictures taken, that is not always the case. Most times, everyone is urgent to get the party started so pictures are rushed and you might not get all the shots you wanted. And as the couple of honor, you are excited to go see all your guests! I would recommend trying to find the time to do pictures prior to the ceremony.
👰🏼‍♀️ Some other small tips for cocktail hour: have your guest book (or other object) there for guests to sign, make sure silverware is provided for small appetizers, have your DJ play music through speakers, have at least one bar for guests to grab a cocktail, and add in some games for your guests to play. Anything interactive is always a good idea because while it is only an hour, guests are usually eager to get inside the reception!

Cocktail hour is the perfect “pre-party” event and it’s a great time to say hello to everyone and catch up before the reception begins! Enjoy! 🥂

02/13/2023

What should your bridesmaids wear?

This is a big deal because it will be in all your pictures and will affect the aesthetic/vibe you might be going for! There’s so many different ways to go about bridesmaid dresses now.

The traditional way is your bridesmaids wear a dress style of the brides choice and the color matches the wedding’s color pallet. Another popular choice is all bridesmaids must wear the same color, but each person can choose their own style of dress. I prefer this because not everyone’s body is the same therefore not everyone will look or feel good in one particular style!

Then, there’s 2 other options which are new and trending. Your bridesmaids could have the same style dress but different shades of one particular color. You could also do different shades and different styles. And lastly, the most bold option, is to allow your bridesmaids to wear completely different dresses with some guidelines. Both of these are VERY popular in 2023!

Which one is your favorite? ✨🫶

02/08/2023

Let’s talk about welcome bags! 🤗

Wedding welcome bags are used if you are having guests stay in a hotel room. They are more frequently used for destination weddings where you will spend more than one night. You can put a variety of items in the bags such as snacks, water bottles, an itinerary, hangover cures, sunscreen, etc.

Some people make it more personalized to the bride and groom by adding the groom’s favorite snack and the bride’s favorite. There are so many creative ways to fill these bags!

We did this at a wedding I planned and the front desk was kind enough to hand them out to each guest as they checked in. You could also ask that they be placed in each room.

Some guests stayed at a different hotel or rental that was not involved with the couple, so these guests did not receive a bag. Everyone who got a welcome bag raved about it and was so thankful for all the goodies inside! I highly recommend doing this for your guests at any destination wedding. ✨🫶🥂

02/06/2023

Let’s be honest, dog parents are the best kind of parents (I might be biased)! And most dog parents would love to have their babies incorporated into their big day. There are so many different, creative ways to do this and I am here for all of them!

Obviously, you could have your dog(s) at the wedding. They actually have pet sitters who will help with your dog on your wedding day and take them home after. But this all depends on how your dog is with people, how behaved he/she is, if the venue would allow it, etc.

Some ways to include your dog without actually having them there are: doggy bags, dog signature drink, dog cake topper, include your dog in your wedding stationary. The opportunities are endless! I love when couples include their dog on their big day because they are more than just our pets. They are a member of the family! 🐾✨

02/02/2023

Getting ready as a girl is stressful. But getting ready for a wedding is 10x worse!

Here are some hair tips for the bride and her bridal party to make things less difficult 👇🏼

✨This one is specifically for brides. DO a hair trial. Most hair stylists are making this mandatory now and I completely agree! A hair trial lets you see how you look with a certain hair style before the big day, shows the skill of the hair stylist, and lets you change your mind if you don’t like the style or the stylist.
✨BEFORE the bridal party starts looking for their own hairstyles, it is important to know the bride’s hairstyle. You want to veer away from anything that is similar to the bride’s. When looking for hair styles you may want, make sure to look at pictures that have your hair type (thick, thin, short, long) and hair color.
✨My last tip is to ask your hair stylist for directions for the day before and what you should bring. Most of the time, they will say something along the lines of come with clean blown out hair with your own hairbrush and a picture of your style!

*Pictures done by iDo Studios!!*

01/30/2023

Trends come and go, and style evolves. It is no different in the wedding industry. There are so many different trends arising as we entire 2023, but there’s a couple that stand out to me.

The first trend I am loving is the idea of a dessert bar instead of the traditional large wedding cake. While the cake is beautiful and a huge statement piece, most of it goes in the trash and it is wasted money. Having a dessert bar or a variety of desserts that are easy to grab and go are a much better choice for less waste. It also can be more personal. For example, maybe the couple are huge donut lovers. A donut bar with a small cake for the bride and groom is a perfect idea! 🍩

The second trend I am obsessed with is having a full weekend of events. This is especially important if it is a destination wedding. On your wedding day, it is extremely difficult to see everyone while taking pictures, dancing, etc. Having a full weekend of events allows the couple to spend time with everyone and extend the celebration a little longer. For example, having a welcome dinner the night before and a post-wedding brunch the day after. It’s a full weekend celebrating the bride and groom! 🥂

What is your favorite wedding trend you have seen recently? ✨

11/09/2022

An add-on service I provide is Wedding-Related Event Planning. This includes engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorette/bachelor parties, after parties, and day-after parties. For my sister’s wedding, I got to plan her bachelorette party. It is so much fun to plan these events, but it is important to think of the bride’s want/needs, a budget, and everyone else invited. This can get tricky and it may be easier to plan with the help from an outsider. Here’s a sneak peek of my sister’s bachelorette weekend in Asheville, NC 💖👯‍♀️

10/25/2022

Let’s talk about Wedding Websites! In my opinion, they are amazing. It is one place where all of your guests can go to receive the details of your wedding. The most commonly used website creator for weddings is theknot.com. They are fabulous! I have also heard of people using Zola and Minted. This is a screen recording of my sister’s wedding website. As you can see, you can put everything on there. The schedule, hotel, things to do, your registry, etc. This eliminates the millions of questions coming at you from your guests. You simply put this link (or a QR code) on your invitation and your guests can find any information they need!

While some couples find this fun, others find it tedious. This is an add-on service that I provide: Wedding Website Creation. It takes the stress of having to create, update, and keep up with the website off the couples’ mind. Head over to my stories to find out some other reasons I LOVE wedding websites! 💒♥️

10/20/2022

One of my 4 packages is called the Consultation Package. This is my least expensive package. It is the perfect package for a couple who is just getting started and wants to plan on their own or needs some extra help with the process! With this package, the couple receives up to three hours of consultation, referral to reputable vendors and contract advice, unlimited basic questions, and discounts on add-on services!

Planning a wedding can get overwhelming! There’s millions of thoughts going through your head. I would recommend the Consultation Package for couples who are about 6 months out from their wedding date. It is a good time to meet with a professional and make sure you aren’t forgetting anything for your big day! ☺️

10/18/2022

One of my add-on options is Invitation Assistance. This means that, as your wedding planner, I can help you with creating your invitations, prepping the envelopes, mailing, addressing, etc. Invitations may seem like an easy part of the wedding process, but it actually takes a substantial amount of time. It is also important that the invitations get sent out on time, especially if you have an A and B guest list.

Pictured here are the invitations for the first wedding I planned. The bride and groom chose the template from Etsy and filled in the necessary information. I was given a guest list, addresses, and the proper material. I saved the couple 10 hours by printing the invites, cutting them out, stuffing envelopes, and addressing them. They turned out so cute, did not stress the couple out, and were delivered on time! 💌

10/14/2022

If you are on Instagram, go follow to see a video of the first wedding I planned! 💍✨

Leenabelle Weddings 💍 shared a post on Instagram: "The first wedding I planned was a BIG one. It was on April 30, 2022. It was my older sister’s wedding, so I was the wedding planner, maid of honor, and baker (at the time, I had a small baking business). The guest count was around 250 and it wa...

10/12/2022

If you know me personally, you know I am a HUGE dog lover! My dogs are my world and they know that. I had to come up with a business name while taking my certification course and I was struggling. So, I looked around my house and there was Leena and Belle. I didn’t think I would stick with the business name, but it is so perfect for me and their names go beautifully together! And that is how I got Leenabelle Weddings.

Leena is a 1 year old Golden Retriever! She is a therapy dog and the neediest baby in the world. She is always up for snuggles!

Belle is a 7 year old Cocker-Pei, Cocker Spaniel and Sharpei mix. She is my family’s baby girl. She is small, cute, and the happiest girl in the world. She recently went blind this past summer due to glaucoma and it did not change her personality in the slightest!

Be prepared to see and hear a lot about these two. Comment below if you are a dog lover! 🥰🐶

10/11/2022

INTRODUCING:

Leenabelle Weddings 💍✨

A business dedicated to turning your wedding dreams into reality. I can’t wait to bring your visions to life and make the whole wedding process an exciting journey, as it should be! Stay tuned for more details and information.