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Engagement Season: Tips for the Lads + the Ladies

With engagement season fast approaching, we know the planning and process can be daunting! From planning the big ta-dah, to picking the shiner you will place on her finger forever, there is so much to consider. Never fear, we are here with some helpful tips and tricks to make the big day a little easier along with all the fun to follow!



For the Boys

Do your Ring Research. Start with the basics. Look at the style of jewelry she wears or ask her best friend for advice. If you think it’s too obvious to ask her ring size, take one of her everyday pieces to measure! Need more insight? It may be time to whip out that magnifying glass to take a closer look. Don’t be afraid to investigate, every girl has pinned, liked, or even commented on her dream ring through some social media platform. Do some digging. 

Ask the Future Family: While this is not customary, it shows a great deal of respect and could go a long way with your future in-laws. Who knows, they may give you some great insight on how to achieve her dream proposal! She may have mentioned it once or twice. 

Dress to Impress: Planning your outfit may sound silly, but your bride-to-be will want you looking spiffy in those proposal photos. Most importantly, keep the ring box safe and concealed until the big question arises. Choose pants or a jacket with deep pockets to keep your secret safe until the moment of truth!


Grandeur or Private Affair:  Ask friends and family whose secrecy you can trust for their advice. Trust your gut too. You know your bride-to-be and their personality. If they are shy, have the proposal be an intimate moment to cherish forever. If you have a slightly more adventurous fiancé-to-be, plan that huge party and the reveal she’s most likely expecting.

Trend NOT:  Think back to those noteworthy moments in your relationship that led you to falling in love. You are about to make the woman of your dreams your future wife, so don’t skimp on the romance. Finding the perfect proposal location might seem complicated, but the answer may lie in the simplest of places. Think about where you had your first date or first kiss, even locations with inside jokes between the two of you!

Outsmart Your Smarter Half:  Think of activities or outings you know she can’t resist. Recruit a trustworthy accomplice to join you in your plan. Great starting points include planning around friends or family member visits into town. It is easy to disguise just meeting company for dinner, cocktails, or a work party, the list never ends.

Off the Script: Collect your thoughts. You should have some concept of what to say when you propose, and how to deliver it. Your tact should be heartfelt, and your demeanor direct. However, memorizing lines will make it seem forced and less genuine. Sticking to a script may contribute to unnecessary stress, and who needs more of that?

Seal the Deal: To go above and beyond, think about what comes after the bride to be says YES (other than jumping up and down!). Consider what or where you are you going to go after. Will it be a planned dinner or celebration with friends? A lovely walk, night on the town, or maybe a simple trip back home to “celebrate” hint hint wink wink. 


Post Proposal…What’s next? 

Don’t Show THEN Tell: While the moment is beyond exciting and you want notify everyone on the face of the planet, understand how important it is to tell your parents and close loved ones before posting on social media. It is better to protect their feelings by hearing it from you, before seeing it in a picture! Remember to be prepared to tell the story a million times with the same enthusiasm and gusto, no matter the number of repeats you must endure.

Bling Without the Brag:  It is only natural to want to show the amazing job your fiancé did picking out a ring that best suits your taste and your personality! If you aren’t patient enough to wait for engagement photos, a tasteful way to show off your rock on social media is by incorporating your fiancé into the shot. Tip: Treat yourself to a manicure!

Live in Your Moment: You may want to jump right into wedding planing, however, don’t feel pressured to rush. Enjoy your honeymoon phase of being engagement before stressing over details. Remember, your fiancé put in a lot of time, thought and effort, into planning the engagement. Give him a little breather room, he may need a break! Plus, let him bask in spotlight for planning such an awesome engagement, just a little bit longer.

It’s Party Time: Why not have a get together to celebrate this new step together in the journey called life. Test your planning skills and host one yourself, or pass it along to a group of friends. (even potential bridal party) Getting engaged is a big change for both you and your friends, and you can be easily swept up with your fiancé and all the excitement. Planning these parties & showers will give you a chance to spend time with your best gal pals.

Tip: Keep track of the recipients to your engagement party/bridal shower/ initial save-the-date invitations. Guests will expect an invite to your big day..keep this in mind when you’re planning wedding numbers!

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Photo Credits: King Street Photo Wedding

Wedding Who? Enjoy your engagement, however, it is okay to start thinking of “Big Picture” ideas for the big day! We all know People wills start to ask about potential dates, details, venue, and food before you have time to think about it. Don’t stress out, just start a conversation with your future hubby and both of your overall visions and wants! Think about the date/season, venues, budget, wedding size a little later in the process. Tip: It is never too soon to start your wedding planner research. A planner can assist you in making those “Big Picture” decisions, and setting you up for a successful and less stressful wedding experience.

How to Choose a Perfect First Dance Song

The beloved tradition of having a first dance is a wonderful moment that signifies the beginning of a newlywed’s exciting journey together. Whether you choose to choreograph a routine or simply sway back and forth, this once in a lifetime moment is by no means supposed to be stressful. That being said, your song selection is a key component in making this moment magical and memorable.

We have created some tips below on how to choose a perfect wedding song that will create an unforgettable experience with your new spouse, allow for friends and family to gather around and admire your love, and kick start celebrating the wonderful night ahead of you!

1. Pick a song that has meaningful/sentimental lyrics to you as a couple; maybe it reminds you of the time you first fell in love, your journey together so far, or a special moment you have shared.

2. Choose something you can dance to. You want to be comfortable with how slow/fast the beat is so you hit those right steps you practiced. And if you miss one, don’t worry! Enjoy the moment and laugh about it together.

3. Find a song that resembles who you are as one. Every couple is unique and so are the endless amounts of songs to choose from! Decide whether you want to go for that romantic, classic, modern, or sheer fun tune.

4. Take into consideration your wedding venue. If you’re hosting a southern wedding, maybe choose an acoustic/country song or if you’re tying the knot at a destination, choose a song that originated from that location!

5. Utilize all the music services offered today. From Apple Music to Spotify and everything in between, there are sure to be tons of pre-made wedding playlists. While browsing, if you fall in love with a song, go for it!

6. Select a song from an artist/band that you both love. When you both relate to the song on a personal level, it makes your dance so much more extraordinary.

Falling in Love with Kaley & Pete

One of our favorite parts of being in the wedding planning industry is learning about our bride and groom’s story on how they met, where they fell in love, and their dreams for the future. We love them so much that we want to start sharing these magical stories with you!

Kaley & Pete’s upcoming fall wedding at Magnolia Plantation is sure to be picturesque, romantic, and memorable. We cannot be more excited to be apart of making their visions of tying the knot a reality. We chatted with Kaley and got some insight on how their love story unfolded, why they chose Charleston, and so much more!

Pete pops the big question.

How did you two meet?

We met a few years ago when Pete was living with a mutual friend. We were both dating other people at the time but were always friends and one day, the timing finally worked out and we had our first date on Halloween night of 2015. After that first night, we were inseparable.

How did Pete pop the question?

Our engagement was an elaborate scavenger hunt around downtown Orlando, at places that were significant to our relationship, like the place where he asked me to be his girlfriend. My sister and best friends were stationed at each location to give me my next clues. My final clue led me to a garden where we often took our dog Scout for walks. Pete (and Scout) were waiting for me inside the gardens and the rest is history. Right after I said “yes!” He led me around the corner to another surprise of all of our family and friends waiting with champagne to celebrate. We all went back to our place and had a giant pool party to keep the fun going.

What made you decide on getting married in Charleston?

As soon as we got engaged we decided we wanted some kind of destination wedding. We had both been to Charleston numerous times and absolutely loved it. It was an easy pick for us! Beautiful scenery, awesome restaurants and fun bars. What more could we need?!

How did you narrow your focus on venue spaces?

Once we decided on Charleston, we knew we wanted to get married somewhere with beautiful outdoor spaces. We started doing some research and found Magnolia Plantation. As soon as we saw it, we knew it was the one. Pete’s younger brother Chris was actually a wedding planner in Charleston a few years ago. He still had contact with a some of the other planners there and put us in touch with Chelsye, who is one of his good friends. We had a quick phone call and felt good about it but then completely fell in love with her when we met her in person for the first time at Magnolia. Chelsye has been such a godsend since day one of the planning process. She is so easy going, enthusiastic and makes the planning process easy and fun. We adore her.

What are your dreams for your big day?

Pete and I actually agree on the most important aspect of our wedding- Fun! We want a beautiful night of dancing, eating and celebrating our love with our closest family and friends. Honestly though we have agreed on almost everything thus far with the planning- Either that or he just lets me run the show and goes along with it 😉

Where do you see yourselves after tying the knot?

After the wedding we will still be living in Orlando, hopefully in a house that we will be shopping for in the next few months. We will be honeymooning in summer 2019, either in Thailand or Switzerland most likely. TBD!

Kaley + Pete.

Most Romantic Proposal Sites in Charleston

With proposal season in full swing, choosing a meaningful location to propose is essential for making the moment unforgettable. Home to romantic plantations and waterfront landscapes, Charleston, SC, has infinite locations to pop the question. We have narrowed down some of the best spots for you to highlight the start of a lifetime of love and happiness.

 

 

Botany Bay, Edisto Island

With the beautiful hues of sunset skies reflecting in the ocean, this secluded waterfront location is unlike no other.

 

 

Angel Oak Tree

Proposing in front of this astonishing, 1,5000-year-old ancient tree would be a perfect symbol of the eternity for your marriage.

 

 

Pineapple Fountain

A quintessential symbol of Charleston, this charming spot paired with a proposal will be a dream. 

 

 

 

 

Magnolia Plantation Garden Bridge 

Surrounded by gorgeous blooming flowers and winsome Oaks, proposing here will feel like your in a movie.

 

 

 

White Point Garden Gazebo 

Enveloped in oak trees, this classic location combines both waterfront views and a plantation-like atmosphere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Folly Beach Pier

An exemplary place for ocean lovers, this pier will undoubtedly be coupled with a stunning, panoramic ocean view.

 

 

Rooftop Bar at Vendue 

One of the best rooftops in Charleston, the 360 degree view of the historic skyline, along with craft cocktails, makes for the unparalleled proposal.

 

 

 

Wild Dunes Resort

Propose and celebrate your special day at this luxury resort and private soft, white sand beaches.