The Wedding Day Blueprint

30/11/2023

Hi! This page is no longer active. Join us in DIY Wedding Planner Pro for wedding planning tips/tricks and FREE resources and help!

09/11/2022

04/10/2022

Happy National Taco Day… ❤️🌮

04/10/2022

All you need is love…and tacos 🌮 ❤️
🌮

16/09/2022

Now offering AfterPay! Book your FREE consultation and get started with planning TODAY.

20/08/2022

Empowering couples through couples counseling is one of the toughest, yet rewarding experiences I have ever done.

It's not always pretty, but to see couples come through the other side of their challenges and disconnected places keeps giving me the gas to continue to help!

I love what I do!

~Helena A. Johnson, MS, LMFT
Helena A. Johnson Counseling Services, PLLC
Helenajohnsoncounseling.com

15/08/2022

Meet our fearless leader! ☺️☺️

Happy Monday! We have been so busy working behind the scenes that we haven’t had time to post.

For all the new faces here, my name is Jen Clark and I’m one-half of the dynamic duo that is Elopers. Five years ago, I ditched my job with the public school system to build a wedding empire. 👸🏽🤴🏽

Although Elopers is not an empire (YET 😉), it is the best job I’ve ever had. I often reflect on how thankful I am for the opportunity to work with people on one of the happiest days of their lives.

Now, real talk… it’s not Marvin Gaye and Chardonnay every day. Some days it’s stressful, long hours, hurt feet, awkward convos, bee stings, blood, sweat, and tears (I’m a Cancer, I will cry). 😆

BUT… I love my job and all the awesome couples I get to bleed, sweat and cry for every day. 😆 Ok… that’s a little dramatic but you get the point. 😉

See ya at the altar,

Jen

08/07/2022

Tip from a bride who recently graduated. I can’t stress this enough! 😩
The Wedding Day Playbook is a great solution to this problem! For $30, you get a professional coordinators game plan that includes:
• How to find the right non-professional coordinator
• Full planning spreadsheet
• Wedding Day timeline building
• Planning finalizations
• Day-of coordinator duties
• Email templates for vendors
• Tips to a successful day
• Wedding emergency kit supply list

Your wedding day is worth this investment! ❤️

https://elopers.square.site/product/the-wedding-day-blueprint/8

05/07/2022

Check out our sister company for all your elopement and micro wedding needs! ☺️

Happy Tuesday! We hope everyone had a great 3-day weekend. Even though it was the 4th, we were business as usual yesterday and cant wait to share the result. Stay tuned…❤️

04/07/2022

Are you STRESSED about who will coordinate your wedding day or how they will do it?
The solution is here! 💪
As you know it is HIGHLY recommended that you put someone else in charge of your special day. BUT a day-of /month-of coordinator is not always in your budget on top of everything else. NO WORRIES!
We've created a resource to help you:
1) Identify the RIGHT a person to be your coordinator
2) Finalize your planning to support your coordinator
3) Build your day-of timeline
4) Build your personalized "Wedding Day Playbook"
5) Organize all your wedding plans in one place... just purchase, print & complete. Throw it in a binder and set your coordinator up to WIN!
Get your playbook NOW!

👇
https://www.honeybook.com/widget/the_wedding_day_blueprint_221717/cf_id/62c288723d1bcd03aa65bf5a

28/06/2022

I’m seeing a lot of stress and turmoil in the groups about the “No Kids” rule for weddings. My opinion: Your wedding, YOUR rules. However, I know that is much easier said than done so here are a few helpful tips and tricks to navigate this touchy subject.

1. BE PRACTICAL & UNDERSTANDING
Try to put yourself in your guests shoes. It’s important to have empathy for those who are parents. It’s not always easy for them to part with their children, especially when they’re so young, so maintain your composure and explain in a nice way why you have this policy. An in-town wedding within a 2-hour drive with no kids is practical. A destination wedding hours away with no kids AND no other alternatives is not practical to me. Sorry. It’s too many factors and too costly to expect this of guests with children. If you go this route, expect lower attendance and possibly drama. Keep reading and we will discuss alternatives.

2. MAKE THE DECISION EARLY
Many couples wait late in the planning process to decide their wedding is an adult-only event. That’s no good. Decide early and let your immediate family know right away so that they can share that information. It's normal to start hearing from family members who are questioning why your younger cousins, nieces and nephews aren't allowed to come. Address the sensitive issue right away by calling and explaining. But remember, you don't have to give a lengthy explanation. You're not going to please everyone, but it's okay to say an adults-only wedding is a personal decision you've made, and leave it at that. If you have friends that have kids, be proactive and have the conversation with them early. Give them as much time as possible to make arrangements for childcare.

3. ADDRESS INVITATIONS CLEARLY
The invitation should be addressed only to those invited, not every single person in the household.
For example, “Mr. & Mrs. Shawn Carter” instead of “The Carter Family.” This drives home the message that their children are not mentioned, and therefore not invited. You can even take it a step further and write in their exact names on the response card (the same way you addressed them on the outer envelope). For example, “Shawn Carter” & “Beyonce Knowles-Carter”. Then, all they'll have to do is check "will attend" or "will not attend." That way, it will be clear only "Mr. and Mrs. Carter" are invited. This leaves no assumption that the kids- Blue Ivy, Rumi & Sir are not invited. Using an electronic RSVP? Allow the drop-down button only for however many are invited.

4. MEAN WHAT YOU SAY
No kids means no kids. If I spend hundreds on a sitter for an adult-only evening, I want an adult-only evening! Don’t give in to only a select few people and make it an “adult-mostly” wedding. Where many couples get in trouble, is they invite those closest to them with their children. This can quickly hurt the feelings of well-meaning guests who made sacrifices in order to be a part of your big day. You must be consistent and not make exceptions here and there. Otherwise… Drama!
Flower girls and ring bearers are fine to participate. However, I caution you with letting them stay for the reception. Some will perceive this as an exception being made. Perhaps give them a cool gift/toy and send them away too.

5. PUT IT ON YOUR WEDDING WEBSITE
This is a must. Some couple send their wedding website link with the save-the-date. This is a GREAT time to break the news to the majority of your guest list. It also leaves plenty of time for them to find suitable child care.

6. OFFER ALTERNATIVES
No matter how careful and considerate you are, someone will have a problem. It’s almost inevitable and kind of the nature of wedding planning. You can’t please everyone so don’t try. Nonetheless…if you’re a big softy like me, here are some alternatives to lighten the blow of a kid-free wedding:
* If money or space isn’t the issue, do a kid-free ceremony and invite them to the reception. This elements crying babies during your nuptials
* Create child-friendly area/room, menu (maybe order them Chick Fil A instead of a $30 catering plate), and child-friendly activities to keep them busy (video game console, coloring books, etc.)
* Hire an event sitter:
* You can go the professional route with a company like Nannytainment
* Or find other child care professionals (e.g., local child care providers, college students, retired/current teachers, or camp/recreation center counselors)

Good luck!

23/06/2022

As if finding a venue for some brides wasn’t hard enough, 2022’s wedding boom has made it even more difficult. When venue hunting try checking unconventional spaces for venues, such as:
• Colleges/ Schools
• Local Arts Council
• Local Parks and Recreation rentals
• Community gardens
• Wineries/Vineyards
• Restaurants
• Mountain caverns
• Sports arenas/training facilities
• Civic buildings
• Zoo/Farm/Aquarium
• State Parks
• Private land/ yard/open field
• Historical buildings/landmarks
• National Parks
• Bed & Breakfast
• Museums and Art Galleries
• Vacation Rentals
• Peerspace
• Eventective

Things to note:
• Be careful with AirBnB. Get an agreement in writing that confirms you can host events and note the renter may be subject to a background check. A simple misdemeanor can trigger AirBnB to cancel your reservation 10 days before! 😱
• Unconventional wedding spaces require more planning. Make sure you have a solid wedding day team.
• Don’t misrepresent the type of event on a contract. It’s your wedding not a “formal family party”. We gotta stop doing that, fam. 😐
• Make sure you acquire all necessary permits. That includes an alcohol permit some venues.

22/06/2022

Krystina Burton and Gabriel Solberg told Insider that engaged couples should let traveling guests know upfront which costs they're happy to cover.

21/06/2022

WRITING YOUR OWN VOWS
Use our past, present & future model to structure your personal vows.
Discuss the PAST that brought you to this day, how you met, how you felt, etc.

For PRESENT, discuss the current state of your relationship - your feelings today, what you have accomplished together, etc.

Then talk about the FUTURE. Your hopes, dreams, promises/vows to them, etc.

Each section can be 3-5 sentences or whatever length it takes.

Good luck!😊

18/06/2022

QUICK‼️ We have opened FREE access to the budget module of The Wedding Day Blueprint. Learn how to quickly build a personalized wedding budget today.

Click the link below to gain immediate access: https://bit.ly/buildingyourweddingbudget

12/06/2022

Today in history

10/06/2022

I can’t imagine why 🥴😂🤦🏽‍♀️

05/06/2022

Any brides planning an environmentally-friendly ceremony?

05/06/2022

😂😂

30/05/2022

There's a marriage boom underway, which may mean you'll be shelling out a lot of money to be in wedding parties.

25/05/2022

Yikes! Were you affected?

The company said it had blocked attempts to make fraudulent transfers out of cash funds.

23/05/2022

Dress shopping!!! What tips and/or questions can you offer or have about saying “yes” to your dress?

Mine are:
- Be mindful of who you take. Don’t take a huge entourage dress shopping or people who are notorious for being unsupportive.

- Unpopular opinion: Your mom doesn’t have to go!!

- Your dress doesn’t have to be hundreds of dollars and purchased from a boutique. Bridal consignment shops, Amazon, JJ’s House, Azazie and etc. all offer beautiful and affordable options.

- If you plan to wear one, get fitted correctly for a bra FIRST.

- With shipping and fabric delays don’t put off dress shopping to lose weight. A dress can be altered down easier. ALSO remember that you don’t need to lose weight for your wedding. Your dress should be made to fit YOU, not vice versa.

Add your tips!

11/05/2022

Oops! 😂🤣

11/05/2022

Join our next Bootcamp. June enrollment is open NOW! Get the tools you need to plan your wedding in only 2 weeks. 🙌

Visit: www.theweddingdayblueprint.com

09/05/2022

Vote for Elopers! ❤️💍

WE WANT YOUR VOTE! 💙

Vote for Elopers for WV Weddings Magazine award! Vote daily from May 2, 2022 - May 22, 2022 to help us WIN!

Category: Eat Drink & Be Married > Celebrants & Officiant > Elopers

https://wvweddingsmagazine.com/best-of-wv-weddings-2022 #/gallery/320165451/?fbclid=IwAR3_BCFkMncsObKdv9qNm7rZyLA7Xq9lkYIdIkhfvr1tVO6Ze0kQZX9anI8

Thank you!!

30/04/2022

24/04/2022

Girl. You spelled “all of it” wrong. 🥴😂

Olympic star Simone Biles is in full prep mode… not for an upcoming competition but for her wedding! Biles opened up about the planning process with fiancé Jonathan Owens after recently sharing she said yes to two different wedding dresses.

20/04/2022

A few things to consider when planning your cannawedding. 💚

Marryjuana me.

19/04/2022

This meme is purely satire but kinda true. Venue searching is a critical part of the planning process and it is NOT easy.

Here are a few tips to get you pointed in the right direction and save you a few $$ along the way.
* Do NOT start venue searching until you know your priorities, budget and wedding style.

* If your venue has required vendors (catering, etc.), get these vendors’ pricing and reviews BEFORE booking the venue.

* Consider all-inclusive whenever possible. You may end up saving money this way.

* Think outside the box for venues. Be aware that these venues may require more planning for logistics but may save you lots of money.

* Choose an off-peak day/time for your wedding. The best off-peak months are January, February and March.

* Ask for discounts! Military personnel, first responders , emergency service workers, and teachers may qualify for discounts. The worse they can say is no. 🤷🏽‍♀️

19/04/2022

Enroll now in our May bootcamp! In TWO WEEKS we will have you ready to plan the wedding you deserve! ❤️ Visit: www.theweddingdayblueprint.com