How My Wedding Coordinator Won Me Over

  

You know the saying "first impressions are everything"? It's true. After seeing Torrey and Chanel Smith's wedding on Instagram, I basically crossed out every other planner I'd inquired. Fast forward to our first meeting. I pulled up to the Elle Ellinghaus HQ to this sign. OMG. Such a lovely gesture. I'll be working with Jillian for day-of coordination for our wedding. We talked over a glass of sangria, and trust me, I'm so glad that I went with this team. She had answers for all of my questions, and gave me tons of suggestions and ideas, even before I signed the contract. I'll be sure to share my experience with the team after the wedding!

Saving Money on Save The Dates

As the days go on and the budget gets wrecked, I have to keep asking myself: is it really worth it to purchase save the dates? For the longest, I was attached to Shine Wedding Invitations. I loved the shimmery paper and the fancy branding. But the save the dates, programs and invitations would cost us close to $700 from the company. And really--are these paper accessories really worth that much money? I'd rather people be wow'ed at the ceremony and reception rather than looking at some sheets of paper they'll likely throw away.

As far as the invites go, I'm highly considering buying printable invites and using a local printer to get the job done. We got a quote from an independent printer that says we can get 100 invites on card stock plus envelopes for $45! You seriously can't beat that. Here are some of the companies that I'm considering:

E.M. Papers --Unbelievable prices! (Image above)
Up Up Creative
Printable Press (pictured above)

I'm going to take some extra time to really weigh out these options. I'd hate to jump too quickly, but I'm pretty sure we'll go with E.M. Papers. I'll keep you posted! 

The Perfect Gym Bag

I went to the gym for the first time a few weeks ago, and didn't really realize how important a proper gym bag was. I packed my huge bag with a bunch of unnecessary items. I need something a little smaller, with a zipper, where I can keep my socks, deodorant, lock, towel, and all that other stuff. I used my ShopStyle app to grab a few options. I'm kind of cheap, but it might be worth it to invest in this.

gym bags

LISTEN: Jill Scott’s New Collab w/ Robert Glasper “Calls” Our Name

I discovered Robert Glasper a few weeks before the debut of his last album, Black Radio. I still have Lalah Hathaway’s cover of “Cherish The Day” on repeat. Jilly from Philly has teamed up with Jazz musician Robert Glasper for his new CD, Black Music Vol 2. When you hear combinations like this, you don’t have to hear the track to know it’s a hit. Tonight, I got my first listen–and there was no way I could keep it to myself. Everything about the arrangement sounds like Robert Glasper, but the track takes you back to the “Who Is Jill Scott” period. Remember that soulful, pour your heart out in the coolest way era? I miss it–but I can get a great dose with this track. Black Radio Vol. 2 is available October 29, 2013. Be ready.