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A bachelorette party is intended to create the ultimate send off for the bride-to-be’s unmarried life. Wedding planning is stressful and the bachelorette party is a great way to unwind before the big day. Before you plan this fun-filled event, check out these tips for planning a fun-filled bachelorette party with the bride-to-be.

The Guest List

Keep stress at bay by knowing who to invite and who to skip over when creating the bachelorette party guest list. Ladies who attend the bachelorette party should be invited to the wedding and also should be very close to the bride. Sit down with the bride-to-be and ask her who she would like invited to this pre-wedding celebration. If you’re planning a surprise party, do your best to pay attention to the people that the bride holds nearest and dearest to her heart.  

Budget Appropriately

Although discussing money may seem a bit uncomfortable, it is a conversation that needs to be had pretty early into planning. Don’t max out your credit cards – discuss how the celebration will be paid for and who will be paying for it. Apps are available to help track spending such as Pro Party Planner or Travefy, and the budget details can be shared with multiple people. This makes it easy to ensure everyone involved with planning is on the same page.

Celebrate The Bride – Not You

The bachelorette party is to give the bride-to-be a send off celebration before she gets married. The event should be centered around her and the type of party that she would like to have. Be sure to have a conversation with the bride to find out what she would like to experience during her party. If you are planning a surprise, do some critical thinking and investigation to make sure it’s the most “her” celebration ever!

Keep The Drama Away

The last thing a bride wants to experience at her bachelorette party is unnecessary drama. The mood should remain happy and festive during the celebration, so keep personal issues aside to the bride’s sake. If something doesn’t go as planned, remain calm and resolve the issue accordingly. 

Did these tips help you plan an incredible bachelorette party? If so, we would love to hear all about it!

Contact us today!

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Many couples these days are choosing to go on their honeymoon a few months after their wedding. Whether it be to catch the right vacation season, to take some time off to chill after the stressful planning, or any other reason – we support it!

That said, we do think that it’s important to take some time together after your nuptials, and there are a few romantic destinations within driving distance that we think you’ll love!

Block Island, Rhode Island

Located just south of Rhode Island and about a 6 hour drive from Philly, Block Island is a picturesque location that is perfect for celebrating a new marriage. With access only by ferry, Block Island is just far enough away to offer privacy and romance but close to the mainland. A gorgeous brick lighthouse that dates to the 1800s sits on the southeast shore atop dramatic cliffs. History buffs will love the oldest hotel on the island, The Spring House Hotel, which housed Ulysses S. Grant and Mark Twain. We recommend spending the day in the nature preserves or exploring the island via bicycle. Sunset cruises featuring wine and cheese are also available to celebrate your new life as newlyweds.

Erin McGinn Photography

Mohonk Mountain, New Paltz, New York

If you’re looking for an all-inclusive romantic locale within driving distance of Philly, Mohonk Mountain is just the place for you. A short two and a half hour drive outside of Philadelphia and just north of New York City, Mohonk Mountain delivers class, history, and fun to all of its guests. Enjoy access to 85 miles of hiking trails, the gorgeous lake on the property, golf and tennis courts, and stables. Kick it up by staying in one of the beautiful Victorian rooms that feature luxurious decor and wood burning fireplace.

Virginia Beach, Virginia

The largest city in the state of Virginia, Virginia Beach offers 14 miles of sandy beaches that are available for public use and free. Shoot down Interstate-95 and you will arrive in Virginia Beach in roughly 5 hours. Newlyweds can take a romantic bicycle ride on the boardwalk and then enjoy the delicious fresh seafood from the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay. Art lovers will swoon over the The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art or The Sandler Center For the Performing Arts.

Ross Costanza Photography

Hershey, Pennsylvania

Bask in the sweet life with your sweetheart by visiting Hershey, Pennsylvania. Visit the world famous Hershey Park, where you can have fun riding on amusement park rides and making a splash in the water park. Stop into Hershey’s Chocolate World where you can ride through a tour of a simulated chocolate factory and enjoy free samples of candy. Lodging is ample and varied in Hershey with your choice of hotels, inns, bed and breakfasts, and more.

New Chapters Photography

Did you choose to spend a romantic getaway at one of these destinations? If so, we would love to hear all about it. Contact us today!

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For most couples, their wedding is one of the most important days of their lives. Weddings require a lot of planning and are usually a one day event, so waste is inevitable. If you want to make an ecological impact on your wedding by planning a sustainable green wedding, look no further. We’ve put together ideas to help you plan an earth-friendly wedding. 

Choose A Central Eco-Friendly Location

One of the biggest impacts that a wedding can make on Mother Earth is the travel involved for guests. Choose a central location that is as close to as many guests as possible. Guests will appreciate a shortened travel time and reduced costs that may have otherwise needed an overnight stay at a hotel. Choosing a sustainable venue not only helps the environment, but it also supports local businesses. Consider reciting your vows and holding your reception at a local farm or garden. For our favorite Philadelphia-area venues to partner with, check out our EBE Venue Spotlights!

Buy Thrifted or Borrow A Wedding Dress

The sticker shock alone of a brand new wedding dress can be totally avoided by choosing to wear a dress that a friend or family member wore when they walked down the aisle. Thrifting a beautiful vintage dress and having it altered to fit is another sustainable option that helps save the environment and the green in your wallet. 

Choose Flowers Sustainably 

Finding flowers for your wedding can be equal parts sustainable and beautiful. If you live in an area where you can forage flowers, consider making a DIY flower crown or headpiece with your floral finds. If foraging isn’t an option, work with your florist to choose flowers that are in season and locally grown. A sustainable alternative to flowers is to use potted plants or lanterns that double as decor or favors.

Shop Small For Your Wedding Food

Supporting caterers that choose locally-sourced food that is grown and raised by local farmers helps keep your dollars within the local community, AND supports sustainable farming practices. Choose local brews crafted by your favorite brewery instead of buying commercially made beers.

Recycled Paper Products

Mailed invitations are considered the norm when it comes to notifying your guests of the wedding event. More supplies are moving toward using sustainable products to craft their invitations with recycled materials or tree-free paper. If you want to skip paper invites totally, there are websites available to help you build beautiful electronic invitations, such as Paperless Post.

Did these tips help you create a greener wedding event? If so, we would love to hear all about it! Contact us today!

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There’s a famous phrase that applies to nearly every aspect of life: “Sh!t happens.” Sometimes that “sh!t” is out of our control, and weddings are no exception to this phrase. Being prepared for those setbacks as best as possible can turn a wedding from a near disaster to smooth sailing. Your bridesmaids will thank you if you give them a survival kit to keep those little disasters at bay during your big day! 

Two Words… Fabric. Tape.

If hem decides to loosen, a bra strap keeps slipping, or a flower applique falls off of the flower girl’s dress, don’t fret. Fabric tape will fix things right up. You can find fabric tape at your local sewing and craft store or at online retailers. 

Handle the Aches & Pains.

Headaches and heartburn don’t care if you’re relaxing at home or about to watch your best friend marry the love of her life. Popping a few single-serving packers of Tylenol, Advil, and antacid tablets in the bridesmaid survival kit will keep discomfort at bay. [While you’re at it, throw in a few Electrolyte Replenishers to help with the inevitable alcohol-induced dehydration.]

Bobby Pins Can Save The ‘Do.

If your bridesmaids are all rocking beautiful hairstyles for your wedding, stock their kits with bobby pins just in case a hair emergency arises. 

Avoid the Mess.

Like fabric tape, Stain Removal Sticks can be a life saver. Some sauce from that appetizer landed on the flower girl’s dress? No problem! A little dab of the stain removal stick will have her cleaned up in no time.

Don’t Skip The Food & Drink.

With so much going on throughout the wedding day, it can be easy to forget to eat and drink. Include a tasty energy bar and a bottle of water for your bridesmaids to keep their energy high all day long. 

Did these tips help you build a bridesmaid survival kit for your bridal party? We’d love to hear about it! Contact us today!

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The date is set. The venue is booked. What’s the next step? Spread the word about your upcoming wedding by sending out “Save the Dates”! If you want your Save the Dates to match the theme of the wedding invitations and decor, plan out those details as soon as possible! 

Save the dates are generally sent via mail about 8 to 12 months prior to the wedding event and the formal invitations are sent about 8 weeks before the wedding. If you’re looking for some fun and unique ideas for your save the dates, look no further. We’ve put together a list of some creative save the date ideas for you!

Infographic Save The Date

Tell the story of your love from the first date to when your love popped the question with these unique infographic Save the Dates. The “fun fact” section is particularly adorable on these save the dates from Zazzle!

Magnet Save The Date

Most people keep reminders stuck to their refrigerator, so it makes sense to create Save the Dates that double as magnets! You can easily make your own magnet Save the Dates with this DIY tutorial from Something Turquoise.

Vintage Library Card Save The Date

Although a thing of the past, paper library cards were used for decades to keep track of books that were borrowed. Keep your love of books alive by spreading the word of your upcoming nuptials with vintage library card Save the Dates. We love the vintage paper look of these found on Etsy.

Puzzle Piece Save The Date

Add a touch of playfulness to your wedding event celebration with puzzle piece Save the Dates. Step it up a notch by opting to use wood instead of paper to create a more rustic appeal that will set the tone for your wedding event. These puzzle Save the Date Wood Magnets are perfect.

Pet Save The Date

If you and yours have a pet, allow it to take center stage in your Save the Dates! These cute oversized dog tags from Etsy are the perfect way to spread the news about your wedding. You could make this a fun DIY project, or enlist the help of a professional photographer.

If you sent out creative Save the Dates, we’d love to hear about them! Contact us today!

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Cute as a button and totally endearing, the flower girl you choose will add an extra pint-sized sweetness to your big day. Although she is the smallest member of your bridal party, her important role within the ceremony is anything but tiny. If you’re not sure where to start when choosing a flower girl, keep reading! We’ve put together a list of everything you need to know about choosing your flower girl. 

The Flower Girl’s Age

Most brides usually choose a flower girl between the ages of 3 and 7 years old. Is this a rule? Absolutely not – it is your wedding! If you choose to have a young child that is not walking yet as your flower girl, consider having her ride along in a cart or wagon while being pulled by an older child. If you choose to include older children in your bridal party, give them the title of junior bridesmaid instead! 

How Many Flower Girls?

Do you have a couple of cute little girls that you just adore? Ask them both! The power of the buddy system will be in your favor here. They will walk down the aisle side-by-side scattering flower petals, confetti, or blowing bubbles. Your guests will love it. Most brides choose to limit the number of flower girls to one or two.

The Flower Girl Attire

Some people like to have their flower girl in a white dress like the bride, whereas others choose to match her to the wedding party. The bride will have the final say on the flower girl’s accessories and dress, but work together with her parents to ensure everyone is happy. Choose a few different dresses that you love and allow the parents to make the final choice. Keep in mind that kids grow pretty quickly, so if you’re buying your dress far in advance, consider sizing up a bit to account for growth.

Duties For The Flower Girl

After the maid of honor takes her stroll down the aisle during the ceremony processional, the flower girl will walk down the aisle. Typically she has a basket in hand and will toss flowers, flower petals, confetti, or candy as she walks. If you’re looking for an alternative to the traditional item to toss, some brides choose to have the flower girl hold a parasol, or hand out single flowers to guests that line the aisle. The options are endless! To make sure she is familiar with the other members of your bridal party, include her in the bridal shower and other age-appropriate events you have planned for your bridesmaids. Lastly, make sure she understands her duties and have her practice what she needs to do often!

Did these tips help you choose your flower girl? If so, we would love to hear all about your wedding event. Contact us today!

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Are you having a formal black-tie wedding with 200 guests or a laid back garden wedding with your nearest and dearest? Maybe something in between? Regardless of the type of wedding you’re having, the timing on your big day can make your day perfect or make it a near-disaster. Emotions and stress will be running high on the day of, so leaving the timing of the day’s events up to fate could cause a mishap. Creating a schedule of events a few weeks in advance is a sure-fire way to ensure the day runs as smooth as possible. We’ve put together a list of some helpful tips to keep your wedding day timeline on schedule. 

Include every major event.

Although the wedding toast, first dance, and cake cutting are important chapters in the story of the day, there are other details that should be on the timeline too. Adding in events like getting dressed, hair, makeup, transportation, and gift exchanges will take up valuable time in the day. 

Allow ample of time for photos.

One of the biggest mistakes that a couple can make is not allowing enough time for staged photos to be taken of family, friends, and the wedding party. If you have a large wedding party and a lot of family that you would like to be captured in your wedding photos, it can seem like a daunting task to corral everyone together. Giving someone the task of gathering everyone together will help keep things orderly.

Let guests enjoy their meal.

If you have decided to serve a multi-course plated meal at your wedding, allow guests to enjoy the food without them feeling rushed. Each course should be given 20 to 30 minutes before moving on to the next. To cut down on time, allow guests to move to a buffet style dessert table so they can enjoy sweet treats at their leisure. 

Give yourself time to relax with your new spouse.

You just got married… now is the time to celebrate as newlyweds! Take time to be alone with your new spouse and enjoy one another’s company at the wedding, even if it is only for 15 or 20 minutes. That alone time after getting married is special.

Your schedule won’t be perfect. 

Give yourself a buffer of time in events and understand that delays happen. If you schedule your timeline down to the minute and it doesn’t go according to plan, your stress may go through the roof. Things like traffic and road construction can cause delays so give yourself a little extra time to get from one venue to the next.

Choose a company or professional who will handle it for you.

At EBE, our bandleaders and event captains take pride in their ability to create comprehensive timelines for events. Your photographer and stylist team will also be able to give you timing pointers to fill the rest of the day. If you’re worried about staying on time, a day-of coordinator will be a great option to create (and hold you to) a timeline.

Did these tips help you create the perfect timeline for your wedding? If so, we would love to hear all about it! Contact us today!

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