The Williamsburg Wedding Blog

Williamsburg Weddings Rock - The Williamsburg Wedding Blog's First Ever Giveaway

Alright Williamsburg brides and grooms! We're hosting our first giveaway here on The Williamsburg Wedding Blog! Here are the details:

One lucky couple will win:

·         A 2-hour planning consultation via phone or locally, in-person with expert local planner Shayna Walker

·         A free engagement or bridal portrait session in Williamsburg, Virginia from Brad Howe Photography

·         $100 towards their wedding flower order from The Flower Cupboard

There are two ways to enter (and you can do both to increase your chance of success!):

1. Leave a comment on this blog telling us one cool thing about your Williamsburg Wedding - you can do this once to enter.

2 Or, follow @weddlady on Twitter and include the hashtag #williamsburgweddingsrock in at least one tweet. New and existing followers are eligible as long as they tweet with the hashtag and only one entry per person will be counted per day (NO SPAM). The winner will be chosen randomly and all prizes expire December 31, 2011.

The contest ends at November 5, 2010 at 12:59 PM EST.

This is just the first of many ways we’ll be connecting the regions engaged couples and the professionals who serve them. It’s an exciting time to plan a wedding in Williamsburg!

Please show some love to our participating prize sponsors:

The Flower Cupboard, 205 North Boundary Street, Williamsburg, VA 23185, 757-220-0057, www.flowercupboard.com

Brad Howe Photography, 757-373-1373, www.bradhowephotography.com

Williamsburg Wedding Design, 757-592-3365, www.williamsburgweddingdesign.com

For questions about the contest, please contact Shayna Walker at Shayna{at}williamsburgweddingdesign{dot}com or 757-592-3365. And we're adhering to local legal standards here too - if it's illegal for you to win a prize in  your state, do not enter. The winner will be chosen at random and the judge's (my) selection is final. There is no cash value to any of the prizes. Don't do slimy stuff, and participate for the right reasons - because Williamsburg Weddings Rock!

Letterpress Invitation with Hint of History

Many Williamsburg weddings are historically-inspired. If you like the look of letterpress, love a touch of history, but like something that's not too stodgy and formal, you might like this collection from Minted - the  Ampersand Wedding Invitations collection. I particularly like the thank you cards which read "gratitude" across the top. Each of the cards has a detail in the same font as the big ampersand symbol in the photo, and there are a couple of really pretty color combinations (I like the light blue and gold). And take a closer look - the sample is from a Norfolk wedding (total coincidence)!

 

What do you think? What does your perfect Williamsburg wedding invitation look like? Feel free to post in the comment section!

Shayna Walker, Williamsburg Wedding Design

(This post contains affiliate links)

Save the Date with Fireflies for Your Summer Williamsburg Wedding

When I think summer in Williamsburg, one of my favorite sights is fireflies dotting the night. We're a year out from next summers weddings...it's the perfect time to start thinking of what you will send as your save-the-date. I love the inviting sweet summer image on these  fireflies Save the Date Cards from Minted:

  

What's your favorite Williamsburg summer image? Your save-the-date invitation is a great place to express what makes this your favorite destination, and the one you've chosen for your "I do's". Have fun with them...and tell us about yours in the comment section of this post!

Shayna Walker, Wedding Planner

Williamsburg Wedding Design

This post contains affiliate links

Unique Music Options for your Williamsburg Wedding

We recently did an extensive search for a client of music options with a uniquely historic twist in and around Williamsburg. Here are some fun options if you are looking for something special for you Williamsburg wedding:

Pine Wind Music - Hammer Dulcimer accompanied by various instruments

Williamsburg Field Musick - Fife & Drum Corps

Dean Shostak - locally renowned "Glass Armonica" player with various glass and string instruments

Ardie Boggs - Celtic Harpist (try reaching Ardie through Pine Wind Music)

Enjoy!

Shayna Walker

Freelance Wedding Professional

Williamsburg Wedding Design

Two Williamsburg Bridal Events

If you're in Williamsburg this weekend, stop by the Two Rivers Bridal Showcase at 1400 River Road, in Governor's Land. There are loads of top-quality vendors attending, and the club knows how to put on a sophisticated affair. Stop by the Williamsburg Wedding Design booth between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM and say hello! You might find yourself featured on our big National Bridal Show Research Tour - Virginia recap at LifeinWeddings.com. The show is free so you have no excuse not to attend!

The William & Mary Alumni Association Wedding Show is planned for March 21st at the Alumni House. It's a great opportunity to see one of our most beautiful and stately venues and meet the vendors that make events at that building rock! The Alumni Associaiton show is free but requires advance registration, so be sure to call Cindy Gillman at cbgill@wm.edu or register online at www.wmalumni.com/?weddingshow as soon as possible!

We love our readers, so stop by, say hi and let us know if you love our blogs!

~Shayna

Sweet Thank Yous from Mechanicsville, Virginia

Williamsburg inspires so many interesting favor choices for those who honor the tradition of thanking guests with a token at their receptions. While many people are choosing to make donations in their guests' names in lieu of favors, just as many still decide to combine their donations with a sweet treat!

Your favor choice tends to reflect something special about the newlywed couple. It may be a tip of the hat to their selected color palette, a treasured childhood candy or just something irresistible.

 

A Mechanicsville company, Mmm...toffee sent me an introduction letter and two samples of their delicious toffee packaged as wedding favors last week. I don't review every product sent to me, but I confess that it wasn't the worst way to get my attention (I'm weak!). In any case, I can say from experience that the toffee was fantastic.

Michele of Mmm.toffee explained that her insatiable love of sweets prompted her desire to become a candy maker. She has been making candy for her family and friends for years and says it is a fulfilling feeling to bring a simple joy to the people she cares about.

Her own adventures and success in entertaining led her to take her toffee public and to appeal to the wedding and event market.

There are four flavors (the Original is really, really good), including Smores and Luau which  sound intriguing. If you're looking for your own sweet thank you, definitely check them out. You can reach Mmm...toffee via email at mmmtoffee@comcast.net or 804-730-6584.

Custom Hand-Printed Recipe Cards on the Weddlady Blog

I just put up a post on The World According to Weddlady with the most adorable custom recipe cards. If you're shopping for a shower gift or want to make a kitchen-themed wedding gift extra special, you need these cards. Check them out on the Weddlady Blog.

~Shayna