On the Pinterest Wagon March 22, 2012

By now you have probably heard of Pinterest.  Maybe you have already an account, or maybe you are still curious.  Our quick explanation is that it’s a visual bookmarking and sharing site.  Just trust us…try it and you’ll be hooked.

Pinterest is a bride-to-be’s dream.  If you are looking for wedding dress inspiration, color schemes, cool wedding party photos, menu displays, jewelry, hairstyle ideas, or anything else wedding related, this is the place to start.  Oasis Conference Center has a page that is 99% dedicated to weddings.  The other 1% is for baby showers and other cute things we can’t help but pin.  We would love for you to follow us!  Need an invite to Pinterest (you need one to join)?  We would be happy to send you one.

If you would like to get to know our contributors a little more, you can also follow our personal Pinterest pages.

Marsha Burton, Director of Sales & Marketing

She likes to pin recipes, styles, travel and home decor.

Jennifer Suma, Social Sales Manager

Her pins include hairstyles, healthy food, weddings and pets.

Courtney Martin, Sales & Social Media Manager

My boards are for recipes, local restaurants, music and design.

Some other great wedding people/boards to follow are:

Style Me Pretty

Poptastic Bride

The Man Registry

BRIDEfinds

Let us know who you like to follow!  Happy pinning!

Oasis Wedding Central

Guest Post – Wedding Timeline March 1, 2012

This post was written by our friend Sue Glew, owner of Best Friend Errand Service.    She has taken a basic wedding timeline and made it a little more fun and practical.  If you are looking for more timelines/checklists, see our previous post on the subject.

Have you ever used a personal concierge?  Let us know!

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The Wedding Timeline-

Planning a wedding is a task that many girls imagine and dream about because it involves all the princess moments that have filled their dreams from the time they were old enough to watch Cinderella.  It is a day that brings the tomboys, the cheerleaders, the popular girls and the girl geeks to an even playing field because suddenly they can share the same glory, the glory and wonder of being the bride.

So that covers the fluffy part of this blog…now on to reality.  Planning a wedding is a lot of work, especially for the bride!  Below are some highlights from an easily googled wedding planner timeline.  The truth is that every bride needs to read through this and consider the experience of those before her and use the wisdom of those who have already traveled down this path to assure that her own wedding day is everything she has dreamed about…and more.

I have taken the liberty to add some thoughts to the timeline.  Some for the fun of reading and some because my age and wisdom have told me they are so.  Stay tuned for additional blogs that cover the rest of your timeline!

 

9 To 12 Months Before

Determine who will officiate at the ceremony.

• This may be simple for some who have a lifelong history at a particular house of worship.  I am now amazed at the possibilities and options for officiants for hire.  This is something to look into if your wedding day does not fit into a traditional house of worship.  My suggestion is to consider how important a personal relationship with your officiant will be and begin building that relationship now if it does not already exist.

Select a wedding date and time.

• Duh!  That being said, this may be harder than you think since you will need to coordinate many vendors for the same date.  It is best to start as soon as you can with the piece that is the most important to you.  If you have a specific church, reception hall, photographer or DJ in mind, you will need to confirm that first and work around all other components.

Announce your engagement in the newspaper.

• Just asking…who wrote this timeline?  I believe it is now more appropriate to announce this on Facebook or Twitter.

Determine how many guests may attend.

• This piece has an effect on everything else you consider so be thoughtful about the number you select.  Now let’s be real, this also has a lot to do with who is paying the bill so often this is a discussion and not a simple decision.  It is important to think about your dream and whether that dream involves an intimate celebration or big, bold, joyous celebration.

Determine the type of wedding you want (size, formality, style, color scheme).

• Size- please see comments above, or make something up here because I am not clear on this point.
• Formality – basic answers include: yes, no and somewhere in between.  This can also be directly tied to the budget.
• Style – This one has too many possibilities to list or consider.  Be sure to buy lots of magazines, check out lots of websites (my new fave is www.pinterest.com), and talk to friends and families for ideas that make you smile.
• Color Scheme – I keep reading that tangerine is this year’s “in” color, but that doesn’t mean you should use it for a wedding…unless, of course, you really want to do that, in which case, I think it would be beautiful, but who really cares what I think?

Select and order the bridesmaids’ dresses.

• It may work well for you to select the bridesmaids first, but I don’t see that step on this list.

Establish a preliminary budget.

• This step should probably be moved up on the list, but it is important to consider this early in your planning because it will impact many decisions.  As you do this it may be a good time to prioritize your wish list.  Pick the items that are most important (dress, dinner, reception, music, etc.) and determine how they fit in the budget.

Select and secure a photographer.

• Securing a photographer sounds a little risqué to me, but I think the idea of getting these vendors committed to your date is the intention.  The further out you are planning, the easier this may be.

Select a caterer if not already provided by the reception.

• Someone once told me that nobody will remember what they ate at your wedding unless it was really bad.  Seemed like reasonable advice.  Read reviews and definitely go for a tasting.  If the reception hall has their own catering let them offer suggestions if you are not committed to a specific menu.  They are wise to what works best in their facility.

Select and secure your reception location.

• I would think it is best to move this to the top of the list for things to select.  Any reception hall may have restrictions on caterers, times, how you can decorate, etc, so finding this first seems the most logical to me.  If you are planning on a strict budget, you may consider a Friday night.  You could see savings up to 25%!

Select and secure your ceremony location.

• Call me crazy, but I would think this is tied to picking the officiant or finding a reception location.   Maybe I am just trying to make this too easy.

Select and secure your DJ / band, your wedding cake baker, videographer, and florist, Day Of Coordinator.

• Each of these vendors will play a very important role in your big day so it is important to be sure you get the vendors you want so reserve time early and sleep better!

Pick out engagement ring with fiancé.

• In my opinion, putting this step last on this list is simply a marketing tactic to confuse a bride in hopes that she will submit deposits even though there is no concrete evidence that a groom is part of the picture.

This blog was written by Sue Glew, owner of Best Friend Errand Service. Her concierge company has been helping busy people since 2005 and helping brides since 2011 with exceptional Day Of Wedding Assistance.   You can follow her helpful and hectic life on Twitter @bestconcierge1 and on her facebook page or you can find her on the web at www.bestfrienderrand.com .  You can also read reviews from other brides on Wedding Wire and The Knot.

Real Oasis Weddings November 15, 2011

Sally & Ben

Look at this dress!

It's all in the details.

Lovely.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

Are those football players?!

The first dance.

This shot is so cute!

Photos by Jason Lykins Photography

Flowers by H.J. Benken

Cake by a Member of the Family

Real Oasis Weddings October 5, 2011

Lauren & Ben

The photos keep pouring in from weddings that have been at the Oasis this summer, and we love it!

So pretty it almost doesn't look real!

 

Pretty colors and pretty ladies!

 

All of the tables were named after candy bars.

 

Yes, yes this is a Bengals wedding cake.

 

Party crowd!

 

The happy couple.

 

Photos by: Images by Daniel Michael

Flowers by: H.J. Benken

Cake by: DessertWorks Cakery

Real Oasis Weddings August 23, 2011

 

Erin & Charlie

 

These two could not have been cuter or more fun to work with!  They put a lot of thought into their wedding, doing everything from having personlized activity books for the kids to displaying postcards that explained their song selections.

 

Sneaking Away for a Private Moment

 

 

Seriously Adorable

 

 

They Smiled from Ear to Ear All Day!

 

 

Wait - Who Carries the Bouquet?

 

  

Pretty Green Accents

 

 

First Dance

 

 

Party!

 

 

Photos by Briana Snyder Photography

 

Flowers by H.J. Benken

 

Cake by Bakery Hill

 

Lighting by Everlasting Sounds

 

Theme Weddings – Part Nine August 15, 2011

Tried & True – Cherry Blossom Theme

 

Cherry blossoms are simple and beautiful, and easy to incorporate into your wedding design.  They go well with any soft color palate and can make any wedding and reception elegant.

 

We came across a couple of really cute save the date cards with a cherry blossom pattern.  Which of these do you like best?  (Pro Tip: If you like the calendar style, it comes in other patterns, too!)

 

http://www.eventfulcards.com

 

http://www.oliostyle.com

 

 This reversible scarf would make a unique and memorable bridesmaid gift, or mother and mother-in-law gift.

 

http://shop.japanesegarden.com

 

 Are you having an outdoor ceremony?  These fans would be a great favor for your guests!

 

http://www.blissweddingsmarket.com

 

 And how fun would it be to have your caterer put these personlized labels on the wine bottles used at your reception?!  If that’s not an option, you may be able to use them at your rehearsal dinner.

 

http://www.koyalwholesale.com

 

 You can’t have a wedding without wedding cake!  Well, you can, but what’s the point?  These two cherry blossom cakes are great examples you could take to show your baker.

 

http://www.dreamdaycakes.com

 

http://www.maisiefantaisie.co.uk

 

 Quirky – Paisley Theme

 

 A paisley wedding theme can be really simple, just using the design without much color.  You can also take the theme to an extreme by using brightly colored paisley patterns throughout your day.

 

To get you started, here are a few invitation samples.

 

http://www.elumdesigns.com

 

http://www.bluetulipdesignonline.com

 

http://www.theamericanwedding.com

 

If your wedding is going to be more casual than formal, think about patterned dresses for your bridesmaids.  Your photos will be more fun, and your girlfriends will love you for picking dresses they will want to wear again!

 

http://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com

 

 Are patterned bridesmaid dresses are a little much for your taste?  Then you may want to consider a cute paisley dress for your flower girl!

 

http://www.etsy.com (PinkHorseshoe)

 

 If you want to keep the table decor at your reception simple, these personalized favor boxes would be a great way to incorporate your theme.  And, they come in several colors.

 

http://www.davidsbridal.com

 

If candy favors aren’t your style, these paisley bottle openers would be a huge hit with your guests!

 

http://www.coolbarstuff.barstore.com

 

We know that photo booths are very trendy at wedding receptions right now, but there’s a reason for that.  They’re awesome!  Since they have become more popular, you may want to make your backdrop more interesting to set your photos apart.  These paisley stencils would be a great way to make your backdrop pop – just grab some paint that matches your wedding colors!

 

http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com

 

 Nothing pulls together a wedding theme quite like the wedding cake.  Here are a few examples of paisley cakes that do the trick.

 

http://www.shellispotts.blogspot.com

 

http://www.venuscakes.com

 

http://www.kristentaylorblog.com

 

http://www.kellyoshiroevents.com

 

Is there a wedding theme that you would like to see featured on the blog?  Let us know!

 

Oasis Wedding Central

Real Oasis Weddings July 20, 2011

Britaney & Tanner

This couple had an outdoor ceremony and indoor reception at Oasis Conference Center – and the weather was perfect!

 

Recreating the moment.

 

Perfect day for a wedding...and look at the flower girl!

 

Gorgeous bouquets from H.J. Benken.

 

Did we mention how fun this bride was?!

 

We love how the pink dresses pop!

 

Photos by Wilker Photography

Flowers by H.J. Benken

 

Wedding Cakes June 22, 2011

 

There are very few couples out there (and we say couples, because we know this is one area where the bride is getting help from the groom!) who know exactly what their wedding cake should be.  We’ve got some samples that may help inspire your personal design below, but you’re on your own for choosing the flavors!

 

http://www.hitched.co.uk

 

http://www.projectwedding.com

 

http://www.utahcakes.com

 

http://www.whomadethecake.com

 

http://www.bayshorecakes.com

 

 This one is from our preferred wedding cake vendor, DessertWorks Cakery!

http://www.dessertworkscakery.com

 

http://www.vanillabakeshop.com

 

http://www.unforgettableweddingcakes.com

 

http://www.lushcakes.co.uk

 

http://www.oksugar.com

 

http://www.thebakerskitchen.net

 

Which one is your favorite?

 

Oasis Wedding Central

Wedding Bouquets May 25, 2011

It’s our One Year Blogiversary!

We want to take this opportunity to thank all of our brides and readers for their support and inspiration.  We’re excited about wedding season moving into full swing again and sharing more tips and ideas with you.  If there is anything you would like to see covered on the blog, let us know!

 

Wedding Bouquets

Before we get to some of our favorite bouquets, let’s talk about bouquet charms.  Typically we see these on the bride’s bouquet in memorium, if a grandparent or parent is no longer around to be a part of the celebration.  A newer trend, especially if there is no need for a memorial charm, is to have a charm personalized with your new monogram and wedding date.  After the wedding, many brides will use this charm on a bracelet or necklace, or even turn it into a keychain.

 

http://www.artfire.com

 

Instead of fresh flowers for your junior bridesmaids and flower girls, consider paper bouquets!  This will set them apart from the rest of the bridal party, often costs less, and gives them a keepsake from your wedding.  Look at these two samples!

 

http://www.etsy.com (AnyaShop)

 

http://www.etsy.com (AyQuePretty)

 

 Moving onto inspiration for the bride’s bouquet and bridal party bouquets…enjoy!

 

http://www.triasflowers.com

 

http://www.flickr.com (thisistami)

 

http://www.flickr.com (Marius Bell Floral & Events)

 

http://www.flickr.com (Anne Ruthmann)

 

http://www.rebeccassilverrose.com

 

http://www.flickr.com (dj venus)

 

 Your florist can also get creative with the stems.  Regular ribbon is fine to tie the stems together, but we also like these ideas.

 

http://www.dellables.com

 

http://www.bollea.com

 

 This last one is a little over-the-top and expensive, but we just had to share it with you.  It’s made out of vintage brooches, and it’s adorable!

 

http://www.etsy.com (LionsgateDesigns)

 

Oasis Wedding Central

Theme Weddings – Part Eight May 11, 2011

 

Tried & True – Diamond Theme

This is a simple, classic theme that can be paired with any color scheme you choose.  We found a fun cake that may be a little small for a wedding cake, but would be perfect on display at your bridal shower.  All brides love Tiffany, right?

 

http://www.cakecentral.com

 

 With invitations, you could either order some with a ribbon and diamond fastener across the top or side, or go for something a little more obvious, like this cute diamond invite.

 

http://www.polkadotdesign.com

 

 If you’re having a diamond themed wedding, you will probably want to go all out on the dress.  We love this diamond accented A-line!

 

http://www.maggiesottero.com

 

This is also an easy item to incorporate into decorations.  Mini diamonds can be sprinkled around table centerpieces, on the placecard table, or used in vases instead of rocks or marbles.

 

http://www.americanbridal.com

 

This larger tealight holder would be great as a centerpiece on the head table, or used as decoration on the cake table.

 

http://www.theweddingoutlet.com

 

This diamond ribbon is a great find!  It has so many uses, from table runners to centerpiece accents to bouquet wraps.  Be sure to check out the photos on their website for ideas.

 

http://www.koyalwholesale.com

 

If you know someone having a diamond themed wedding, these toasting flutes would be a great shower gift, especially when paired with a bottle of champagne.

 

http://www.dlightonline.com

 

 You can go subtle or obvious with the wedding cake, and we have great examples for both options.  Love the diamond ring cake topper?  Get it here.

 

http://www.cupadeecakes.blogspot.com

 

http://www.sweetbitescakes.blogspot.com

 

Quirky – Las Vegas Theme

 We know this isn’t a new idea, but it’s still fun!  Whether you are having a destination wedding in Vegas, or bringing Vegas to your town, here are some cute ideas for you to steal.

 

First up, we love, love, love these save the date cards!

 

http://www.etsy.com (pascomt)

 

 Wedding party gifts are easy to find if you want to stick with the theme.  These Zippos would be perfect for the groomsmen, and the totes would make great gifts for the bridesmaids.  You could also use the totes as welcome gifts at the hotel for any out-of-towners, and fill them with goodies.

 

http://www.wherebridesgo.com

 

http://www.favorsandflowers.com

 

There are tons of Vegas inspirted invitations out there, but this is the one that caught our eye.

 

http://www.best-little-wedding-shop.cceasy.com

 

You can easily carry this theme into the reception.  You could use scratch-off cards as favors, or go all out and hire a casino event company to bring the party to you!  This could either be during cocktail hour, or toward the end of the night while the party music is blaring.

 

Toast your marriage with Las Vegas champagne flutes, and decorate the reception with dice candles, chocolate poker chips and Vegas lollipops.

 

http://www.wherebridesgo.com

 

http://www.hotref.com

 

 

http://www.beau-coup.com http://www.weddingfavorsunlimited.com

 

If you’re doing a themed wedding, you HAVE to have some fun with the wedding cake.  Seriously, the crazier, the better.  Here are two fun Vegas cakes to inspire you.

 

http://www.freedsbakery.com

 

http://www.palateofparadise.com

 

If you have more ideas, please share them with us!  Or, send us photos from your theme wedding to be featured on a future post!

 

Oasis Wedding Central