Wedding Rules That Are Made To Be Broken

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There are so many rules and traditions associated with weddings, and in many cases, they offer ties to our past. Many of those rules and traditions perhaps do not fit who you are as a couple. So, what is your solution in 2012? Break them!
In times past, you were to only choose one Maid of Honor. Today, we are seeing multiple Maids of Honor, male and female alike. If the groom's best friend in the world is a woman, she could choose to be a bridesmaid, or perhaps a grooms-woman, standing on the groom's side. We are seeing men as the Maid of Honor, as well.
Why should a bride have to choose a man she may not be that close with to accompany her down the aisle when she enjoys such a close relationship with her mother or another female support figure? Select the person that means the most to you. Gender blind wedding parties are becoming more common than you might think, and offer another way to break tradition in style.
With more couples choosing nontraditional wedding venues, it just may not be possible to segregate families and friends for the ceremony. But why would you want to? Most couples share many of the same friends. There is no reason why you cannot mix up your seating arrangements at both the ceremony and the reception.










Today is the perfect time to get married, as there are new options for creating the wedding day of your dreams. Traditions are still important to many, but for those wanting to define the rules for their wedding day, we say go for it!














 No one ever regretted breaking wedding rules to truly have the wedding they want, thought plenty have regretted following rules that did not mesh will with their own personal style.  Another rule that has recently changed, is as to how long a couple actually has to send out their thank you notes.  
Split note-writing duties, and keep good records, so your're not at an loss when you site down to start writing.Write thank yous for gifts you receive before the wedding as you receive them. That would also include all gifts given to you at your bridal shower.
That period of time used to be up to a year, but now, professionals are recommending two months is time preferable time frame in which you need to get them mailed.
Break the rules and traditions that do not fit, and in the process you might come up with some new ones.
For additional wedding tips and trends, visit Liane McCombs Wedding & Event Planning
 775.786.1730Voted Northern Nevada's #1 Wedding CoordinatorLake Tahoe Destination Wedding Specialist

Lily & Robert's Wedding

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Robert said that it was when this cute girl showed up to ballroom dance class, (and it was then, when she was instantly charmed by his good looks and outgoing, silly personality), that Lily fell in love with him.  He said that she flirted with him all night and hardly left him alone!
According to Lily, yes, she had gone to a ballroom dance class with a friend, and met so many people at one time, she was overwhelmed, and couldn't keep any one's name straight, including Robert's!
Well, whatever the version of their first meeting, Lily and Robert have been together ever since, and yesterday, they became husband and wife and the Tannenbaum  Alpine Center, settled in the eastern foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Getting the tables set into place, using the linen colors that Lily specifically chose; chocolate brown and light blue, perfect colors that coordinated perfectly with the surrounding landscape and sky.
 Personalized Hershey candy bars were the guest's  take-home favor.
 A self-serve variety of delicious cupcake flavors including lemon, strawberry, coconut and chocolate, delighted guests.

 Recognizing that each guest in attendance at their wedding, symbolized a piece of their life's story, Lily and Robert's guests were encouraged to sign a puzzle piece as their sign-in to the wedding.Pinecones were the wedding theme, and in keeping with the natural beauty of the surroundings, printed table numbers assisted guests to find their seats for dinner.
It was such a great pleasure assisting Lily and Robert with their Tannenbaum wedding coordination. Our congratulations and best wishes to them for a lifetime of enduring love and laughter.For additional information on the Tannenbaum Alpine Event Center, or Reno-Tahoe wedding coordination, please contact;Liane McCombs Wedding & Event Planning775.786.1730lianemccombs@gmail.com

Tessa & Jon's Sneak Peek

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Tessa and Jon will be married at the Lakeview Lodge at the top of Heavenly Valley Ski Resort. Nestled high in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Heavenly Valley boasts the best, complete view of the entire Lake Tahoe. With a perfectly positioned wedding ceremony site, and an all-inclusive, reception venue with food and staff, un-comparable, this can be the perfect place to exchange wedding vows.

We are excited for this very special couple to get married. It has been great assisting them with their wedding coordination. P.S. Their wedding reception will include a Persian Knife Dance!
Liane McCombs Wedding & Event Planning775.786.1730lianemccombs@gmail.com
Voted Northern Nevada's #1 Wedding Coordination Company!

Carie & Joe's Wedding

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Today was another special day where two lives and families became one. After coordinating hundreds and hundreds of weddings,  I am always amazed that on the wedding day, the bride is still someone's little girl, and the groom is the little boy that his mom and dad have loved his whole life. I am blessed to be able see the entire perspective and how the bride and groom fit into their families.

What a joy to see a young man dance with his Grandma, or a bride dancing in the arms of her Daddy. These are the moments that we cherish all our lives, and today was no different.

With a unique style, perfect for this little historic Gold Rush town from which they reside, Carie and Joe blended two families and began a life together.
 
Here are some images from Carie and Joe's wedding day in Dayton, Nevada.
Set in this historic gold and silver town, their wedding was held on the back lawn at an antique restaurant, the Gold Canyon Steak House.

Carie was one creative bride and not only created her bouquet and the wedding favors, but also dyed the roses blue, for the centerpieces. Little tin pails held blue chocolate, gold-nuggets, and personalized "bride" and "groom" forks were the cake topper.

The bride wore royal blue, and looked like a beautiful Victorian bride, with a peacock feathered bird cage veil in her hair. Joe wore a vintage hat, ascot tie and vest, and escorted his mother and grandmother down the aisle.










Carie and Joe, it was such a blessing to be with you on this very special day of your wedding. Thank you for trusting us with your wedding coordination needs. Our best wishes to you always! Liane
Large or small, vintage or modern, every wedding is special to the individual. We want your day to reflect you, and no one else! We are here to assist you with whatever you find most useful, as you prepare for your wedding day.
For additional information regarding wedding coordination services;Liane McCombs Wedding & Event Planning775.786.1730lianemccombs@gmail.comVoted Northern Nevada's # 1 Wedding Coordination Company

Julianna & Bryan's Wedding

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The historic estate of Valhalla, was built in 1924. For many years, it served as a family home, but today, it one of the most popular wedding sites on all of Lake Tahoe. It's rustic wooden charm, is unlike any other place at The Lake.

The large Grand Hall, is the perfect location for a wedding ceremony, then changed-over, it becomes the finest dining space, with a huge dance floor in the center!

It is here, that Julianna and Bryan were married this past Saturday, the very first day of Fall. With a vintage, enchanted forest theme, Valhalla looked quite spectacular! Julianna radiated, as the day she and Bryan had planned for so long, had finally arrived.

 The wedding cake was created by Julianna's Maid of Honor... Quite a beautiful and delicious dessert! Each dining table centerpiece consisted of a different arrangement...all antiques that Julianna had acquired while working at an antique store.
 Vintage books, clocks, globes, crystals and tons of flowers adorned each table.
 One last image before Julianna and her Dad make their way down the aisle.
Julianna wore a fabulous lace gown, with a head wreath instead of a veil.
Bryan wore his Grandpa's silver dollar bolo tie....so cute!
 
 The Head Tables and Sweetheart tables, fit perfectly into the hearth space at the front of the room. The large center space was perfect for dancing to the band's lively music!Bryan's father and  his so-workers, have the greatest bluegrass band, "Contraband", that got everyone up and dancing! The highlight were the bagpipes and fiddle! So. Much. Fun!


It was such an honor to have assisted Julianna with the design, planning and coordination of her wedding. We are so excited for this wonderful couple, and wish them happiness and love that lasts... forever!

For assistance with your wedding coordination needs, Lake Tahoe and Valhalla Grand Estate Weddings; Liane McCombs Wedding & Event Planning775.786.1730lianemccombs@gmail.comVoted Northern Nevada's # 1 Wedding Coordination Company!

Folk Fibers - Maura Ambrose

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How beautiful are these quilts by Maura Ambrose of Folk Fibers in Austin, TX?And they don't just look pretty - they're also hand quilted, made of 100% natural fibers, and dyed with organic, home-grown dyes made entirely by Ambrose herself by materials scrounged from places around Austin including her own garden. I've only just discovered this talented lady - so I'll just let her website "about" section speak for itself below:

"Folk Fibers aims to share the craft and folklore that prevails around natural dyes and quilting. I use natural dyes to dye some of the fabrics used in the making of my quilts. I patchwork my dyed fabric with other fabrics, both vintage & new. I am faithful to using 100% natural fibers; they feel better and live longer. I favor solid colors for there timeless appeal.

Every Folk Fibers quilt is entirely hand quilted right here in Austin Texas. My passion for quilting is rooted in the love and beauty achieved from hand stitching. The art of hand quilting does take more time, but the results are greater and more valuable than a manufactured quilt. Hand quilting adds one-of-a-kind beauty and will be cherished as an heirloom, passed down through future generations. For my large orders, I have reached out to the Austin community for some helpful assistance in the hand quilting process. The selected few women are highly skilled at hand sewing, and budding new friendships. I organically grow, harvest, and forage for natural dyes around Austin, TX. With a focus on "substantive dyes" also know as direct dyes, such as Indigo, Cochineal, Walnut Hulls, and Onion Skins. I favor substantive dyes because color fast fabrics are achieved without the aid of chemical additives, known as a mordants. Without the need for mordants the dying process becomes simplified and enjoyable, as well as kind to the environment."

New Hampshire

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"'I have something to do, before the end and it lies ahead not in the Shire'" -Frodo, Lord of the Rings (hey, it's my blog. I can quote whoever I want).

On Friday we took the train 8 hours north from Baltimore's Penn Station to Brattleboro, VT and met my parents for dinner. 15 minutes east, They live in the same house I grew up in across the Connecticut river in tiny, perfect, picturesque Westmoreland, NH. We swam in our favorite spots, hiked up mountains, weeded veggie gardens, lay in the grass, and watched the end of the olympics while stuffing our faces full of fresh blueberry grunt and drinking Long Trail ale. I can't seem to recall what made us come back to Baltimore, but I think it has something to do with our cat? (or perhaps this homegrown Baltimore business? Or maybe Phil's great teaching job?)Wherever you go, there you are, we always say. (what we don't say is that sometimes when you come back, you're still there, a little bit longer in your head).

As we work on refinancing our mortgage this week, I am being forced to face the next few years, and consider that new closing costs are only worth paying if we will be staying for 3-5 more years. We've just completed our 8th year in Baltimore, which is 6 more years than we claimed we'd stay on arrival. We love our friends, we love our neighbors and we love so much about living in a city (specifically one whose art scene is a living, growing thing in which anything is possible and the resources are eagerly available). There are so many people and places 8 hours north that keep tugging at my heartstrings, making these papers so very hard to sign... but so many things in this city that we don't feel done with yet.

The nice thing here, I suppose is that modern technology has made it possible to both stay in touch with family, and visit them easily - albeit with 8 hours of travel, and a $$ fee - while still having our home base in a city, which provides an audience, and a supply of facilities we just wouldn't have in New Hampshire... we can travel easily to anywhere we want by train, plane or automobile and often in time for dinner. So I sit here thinking these things and trying to look a pile of papers the size of Mt Monadnock in the eye, and I have no answer but that we seem to be here, instead of there, and a cheaper mortgage would allow more trips between the two.

Votin' time.

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Please Vote tees & totes by Baltimore Print Studios

We have about a month and a half to figure out which of these local & national dodo's we want as president/mayor/city council/senate/etc, and which pieces of legislation we want to push forward or push off a cliff.I won't tell you who to vote for but I will be perfectly frank about this:We live in a country in which, all complaints aside, we have a very unique and wonderful right to vote for who we want in these offices. As a woman, I know I wasn't handed this right, someone earned it for me. As a citizen, I take this right very seriously. So although I normally wear exclusively Red Prairie Press apparel, I'm willing to make one small exception around this time of year for a special clothing line, also made in the finest city in America (hint: in my opinion, that city starts with "B-a-l-t-i-m-o-r-e..." and ends with everyone cheering). In all seriousness, let's not take this great place for granted. Someone fought for our right to help decide our leaders, representatives, and guidelines. We ought to take that right and wear it proudly on our sleeves chests.

Apply to HOLIDAY HEAP '12

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It's been a very busy couple of weeks for us here at RPP. We had a great trip to Chicago last week, and almost immediately turned around and headed to NYC for a wedding and a consequential full-on family reunion in Brooklyn, where I confirmed I still have the most fun and lovable cousins in the world. We made it home in time to watch the Raven's lose an embarrassing game to the eagles, and then we slept like rocks last night. This week, we're into full on prep mode for the upcoming holiday season. Speaking of which:

Applications are officially open for Holiday Heap - a super cool craft fair in Baltimore that we help organize through the Charm City Craft Mafia each year. 60+ craft vendors from all over the country, food, music and good times. Always a great show, and a huge crowd shopping for the holidays. Plus, it's in the greatest city in America. You literally can't go wrong.Applications are due October 5th, but don't wait until the last minute to apply! CLICK HERE and do it today!

I hope you're having a fantastic start to autumn. It's my favorite time of year, and it's also a busy time for us, so I have to remember to stop and enjoy it from time to time. Hope you do lots of the same.