Hurricane Irene made its presence known to practically everyone along the East coast. Now that she's gone and sunny skies have emerged, we here at Emily Weddings can't help but count our lucky stars that we did not have any weddings this past weekend. But believe it or not, there were weddings that did in fact take place during this crazy weekend, even if Hurricane Irene threatened to postpone it all.

Meet Erica Sternin Weiss. This bride was faced with the ultimate wedding nightmare. She and her now husband, Brett Weiss, had the ultimate face-off with Irene herself and made some worthwhile and game changing decisions just hours before Irene was expected to make landfall. After realizing that their Saturday wedding in New Rochelle, NY would not be taking place, the couple made a last minute decision. They had a rehearsal dinner planned for Friday night at Elmwood Country Club in White Plains, NY, and managed to coordinate with the club to be married that night! Within hours, they managed to find an officiant and called all guests to attend. With a makeshift bouquet of hydrangeas and music playing from a laptop, Erica made her way down the aisle and began the festivities of her perfect wedding day.

Inclement weather can have drastic effects on any special event or wedding. It's important to always have a back-up plan in case weather threatens to postpone your event. When choosing a wedding date, be mindful of any associated weather that comes with the season. If you live in the southeast, consider the chance of hurricanes. And if you live in the north, then you're already aware of the issues that can arise from snow storms. Always be prepared and consider the 'what-ifs". See our post on Wedding Insurance.

**Do you know of someone whose wedding was almost cancelled altogether due to weather? How did they, or their planners, continue to keep the event as scheduled?

Love,

The Emily Weddings Team

Wedding Insurance 101

With Hurricane Irene on its way, we thought it would be a good time to discuss what wedding insurance is, and how it can help.

Though you might not want to think about it, disasters can strike your wedding day. From a sudden cancellation to stolen gifts to a damaged gown, wedding insurance can help protect you against the unforseen, and can also afford you great peace of mind. But what exactly is wedding insurance - and how does it work? Here's the inside scoop.

What is wedding insurance?

Basically, wedding insurance protects a couple's investment from circumstances beyond their control, and reimburses expenses incurred. For example, what if your limo driver doesn't show up and you have to book another one the morning of the wedding - for three times the price? Or what if the groom's custom-made tuxedo is lost in airport baggage, and he has to buy a new one the day before the wedding? What if your reception space goes out of business a month before the wedding, and you lose your deposit and have to book another space? These are the types of big-day financial losses that wedding insurance can help to protect.

How much does wedding insurance cost?

A basic insurance policy that covers loss of photos, videos, attire, presents, rings and deposits usually costs anywhere between $155 and $550, depending on the amount of coverage you want. General liability insurance, which covers up to $1,000,000 for accidents, costs around $185.

Do you really need wedding insurance?

Before you buy wedding insurance, check with each of your vendors to see how well they're covered - your reception site or your caterer may already have their own insurance, so you wouldn't want to pay for overlapping coverage out of your own pocket. Ask your vendors for a copy of their policy, and then figure out where you aren't fully covered.

When should you get wedding insurance?

The sooner the better. Let's say you put a deposit on your wedding reception hall 12 months prior to your wedding date and then it burns to the ground a few weeks before the big day. With your wedding insurance, you'll be sure to get your deposit back. But note: most insurance companies have limitations on how far in advance you can purchase insurance.

What does wedding insurance cover?

Problems with the site, weather, vendors, key people, sickness, or injury are the top concerns come wedding day. There is usually a specified maximum amount, which can be claimed under each section, and a deductible also applies. Be sure to find out the details of your insurance plan.

-Site: Check to see if your ceremony and reception site is already insured. If it's not, wedding insurance can cover the cost arising out of unavoidable cancellation (such as damage or inaccessibility to the ceremony site), if your reception hall is unable to honor your reservation because it has burned in a fire, experienced an electrical outage, or just plain closed down. Sometimes this policy covers the rehearsal dinner site, too.

-Weather: Any weather conditions which prevent the bride, groom, any relative whose presence at the wedding is essential, or the majority of the guests from reaching the premises where the wedding is to take place. Insurance covers rescheduling the wedding and all the details involved - such as ceremony flowers, tent rental, and reception food.

-Vendor No-Show: What if essential wedding people - the caterer or the officiant, for example - fail to show up? A wedding insurance policy usually covers cancellation or postponement of the wedding for these reasons.

-Sickness or injury: Wedding insurance may also include sickness or injury to the bride, groom, or anyone essential to the wedding.

-Military or Job: It's true, military personnel may be shipped out at a moment's notice. Wedding insurance can cover postponement of the wedding due to the bride or groom suddenly getting called to military duty. This can also apply to a last-minute corporate move - i.e. the bride's company suddenly relocates her to another city.

Wedding insurance doesn't cover...

-A change of heart, in other words, cold feet don't count.

-Watches, jewelry, or semi-precious gemstones or pearls (even if they are attached to clothing) may not be covered.

-While your wedding rings may be covered by the policy, your engagement ring probably will not.

Additional Coverage

Couples can take out supplemental policies to defend against damages incurred by other wedding-related items such as photography, videography, and gifts.

-Photography: Some policies pay to retake photographs after the fact if the photographer fails to appear or the original negatives are lost, damaged, stolen, or not properly developed. Some policies will pay to re-stage the event - with the principal participants so that pictures can be retaken. A policy may also pay costs for rehiring a photographer, buying a new wedding cake, and new flowers.

-Videographer: When a videotape produced by a professional videographer is damaged (he or she used faulty materials for example), a policy usually pays a certain amount to have either a video montage created, a video compilation made of the photographs and other wedding memorabilia, or, if possible, a retaking of the official video at a re-staging.

-Gifts: Whether they're mailed to your home or handed to you on your wedding day, valuable items like gifts are something else you might want to consider insuring. Think about a party crasher lifting unattended presents from your reception. Gift coverage pays to repair or replace non-monetary gifts that are lost, stolen, or damaged. A police report is usually required for stolen gifts. The damage or theft generally has to take place within a limited time period (ranging from 24 hours to seven days depending on the specific policy) before or after the wedding, in order to be covered.

-Attire: This coverage pays to repair or replace the bridal gown or other special attire when it is in your possession and is lost, stolen, or damaged (including financial failure of the bridal store). Special attire usually includes the clothing and accessories bought or rented that are to be worn by the bride, the groom and attendants at the ceremony.

-Personal liability: Personal liability covers bodily injury or property damage caused by an accident that occurs during the course of the wedding.

-Medical Coverage: This covers reasonable medical expenses (up to the policy's limits) for each person who is injured during the covered events from a cause of loss, which would be covered by your personal liability.

-Honeymoon: Your honeymoon can cost as much as a new car. But before buying travel insurance to protect your investment, see if your credit card and/or homeowner's policy covers you if your luggage gets lost, your trip is delayed, or you have to cancel. If not, you can buy a separate, trip-only policy. Call your insurer, or ask your travel agent for details. Also, certain wedding insurance packages include optional travel insurance for your honeymoon.

Things to consider...

Every insurance policy and every wedding scenario is different. Be sure to talk to your insurance agent - and have him or her explain the nuts and bolts to you. You want to make sure you and your sweetie understand every detail of your policy.

Love,

The Emily Weddings Team

Article by Julie Komorn from The Knot

Keeping Up with the Kardashians...Wedding Style

Congratulations to reality star Kim Kardashian, who officially tied the knot with Kris Humphries last Saturday. With sneak peek footage by E News, we can start to look at some of the beautiful details that were included in this lavish celebrity wedding.

Color Palette: Black & White

Kim decided to keep her color inspiration classic and clean with black and white. Here are some other black and white weddings that we love...

Bridesmaids Dresses: Ivory

Could it be the start of a new trend? Kim chose ivory for her bridesmaids. Originally, bridesmaids wore all white to keep evil spirits from knowing which woman was the bride. Most brides chose a different color for their bridesmaids, but Kim is sticking to tradition with her choice. What do you think of bridesmaids in white?

Accessories: The Headpiece

Kim chose a beautiful veil with a diamond headpiece to compliment her dress. Here are some headpieces that we love..

What do you think of Kim's details? We can't wait to see the rest!

Love,

The Emily Weddings Team

Pictures 1-3 Pinterest

Picture 4 Etsy

The Flower 411

For many brides, choosing flowers may seem like the most exciting and interesting part of the entire wedding planning process. Bridal magazines often feature gorgeous, lush bridal bouquets of exotic flowers. The important thing to remember, brides, is that along with beauty and price, sustainability and practicality are important characteristics to keep in mind when choosing flowers for your wedding.

Sustainability 

What exactly does this mean? Flowers come in all shapes, sizes, colors and strengths, yes, strengths. Part of the beauty for some flowers is their delicate structures. Considering the strength and structure of a particular flower is important when deciding whether or not to include it in your bouquet or any floral arrangement. The last thing you want is a wilting, or even worse, broken or destroyed bouquet of flowers (and the ceremony may not have even started yet!) Orchids are a great example of fragile flowers who, while very beautiful in a bouquet, may not make it through the night. Flowers like calla lilies and roses are strong and durable and will most definitely last.




Fragrance

Fragrance of a particular flower is also extremely important when choosing your wedding flowers. A person's sense of smell often times plays a role in their opinions and decision making. While you may think Gardenias smell absolutely wonderful in a small arrangement, it's fragrance may be too powerful or overwhelming when used throughout centerpieces and bouquets. In all honesty, it is possible to become sick from an overpowering scent, and you don't want your guests to fall victim to that.

Price

Price is always at the top of the priority list when it comes to designing bouquets. One simple tip- stick to seasonal flowers. There are so many beautiful blooms throughout every season that you are sure to find a handful that will compliment your bouquet. Especially if your wedding coincides with the current season, choosing seasonal flowers will make for a more cohesive design. Not sure what flowers are in season when? Ask your florist when consulting design options with them or you can look here!

**Are you planning on using seasonal flowers to save money?

Love,

The Emily Weddings Team

Photo Credits:

1.Blooms for Business

2. Danisa Flowers

3. LoveToKnow Weddings

The Proposal

Every once in a while we will feature a proposal that is both creative and cute. Today, it comes from Matt and Ginny....

Have you seen or heard of any great proposals lately? We would love to hear about it!

Love,

The Emily Weddings Team

DIY Friday: Preserving Your Top Wedding Cake Tier

The age old tradition of preserving the top tier of your wedding cake for the first anniversary is one many couples still follow. What many don't know, is that there are variables when it comes to preserving different kinds of cake as well as alternatives.

It is important to know what the shelf life of your wedding cake is. Cakes which consist of heavier items like chocolate, carrot cake, and almond often times have a longer shelf life and will fair well in the freezer. Cakes with fresh fruit, whipped cream filling or fluffy white cakes will not last a year in the freezer. When choosing your cake flavors, consult with your baker on "freezer worthy" options if you are considering saving the top tier for your anniversary.

Some bakeries even suggest ordering a cop-cat cake for a couple's one-year anniversary. This alternative is perfect for a bride and groom whose cake will just not hold up in the freezer. This fresh copy-cat cake will be the exact same flavor as the wedding cake, allowing you to once again enjoy your cake as you remembered it, not freezer burned and stale.

                  "Sylvia Weinstock, of Sylvia Weinstock Cakes in New York, recommends storing cakes for no  longer than two months, and forgoing the first-anniversary tradition."      

-The Knot

If you do decide to be a bit nostalgic and save the original top tier of your wedding cake, here are some guidelines to follow to properly preserve your cake:

1. Remove the sugar flowers and set them aside.
2. Chill the cake well before wrapping it up so that the icing hardens. This way it won't stick to the plastic wrap and make a mess.
3. Wrap the (unadorned) cake in several layers of plastic wrap -- not aluminum foil, which can cause freezer burn.
4. Seal the wrapped cake in an air-tight bag and place it in the freezer.
5. Snag a ribbon (from your bouquet, the centerpieces, your hair, a gift) and tie it around the cake package to mark it so that you don't mistake it for anything else.

 

**Important Tip: Try not to expose your cake too much by opening it up in the freezer. The more often you do, the less fresh it will be on your anniverary.**

{Courtesy of the Knot}

**What do you think about the tradition of saving the top tier? Are you planning on saving your top tier?

Love,

The Emily Weddings Team

Photo Credits:

1. Third Eye Photo

2. Moments of Elegance

3. Wedding Wire

Packing: 16 Tips for Stuffing Your Honeymoon Suitcase

Globetrotters know how to make the most of their little closets-on-wheels. Here are some tricks to help you maximize space and pack like a pro.

• Do laundry a few days early so everything will be clean and ready for action. Have button-down shirts professionally laundered, pressed, and bagged at the dry cleaner so you can just pop them into your suitcase.
• Start your packing list a week before you leave. Begin early so that you can add items as you think of them and keep an inventory list should the bag go missing.
• When selecting your wardrobe, think coordinating solids, wrinkle-resistant microfibers (Lycra, nylon, spandex, and Tencel), and versatile shoes. Also remember that light-colored fabrics show stains, but they are cooler than dark clothes.
• To avoid wrinkles, roll or wrap clothes in tissue paper or lay clothes in the suitcase on their hangers and in plastic dry cleaners bags. Roll - don't fold! - wrinkle-happy clothes and pack tightly to minimize wrinkles.

• Avoid taking shoes or clothes you've never worn before.
• Stuff socks and underwear in shoes or purses to help these items keep their shapes.
• Pack an extra bag. If you have a luggage set, pack everything inside the second-largest bag, then put that bag inside the largest bag. When you arrive, feel free to stock up on souvenirs and duty-free goods - you have an extra bag to carry it all home in! Or, pack an empty duffel to fill with take-home goodies.
• Bring items that do double duty: a hair dryer with a curling iron attachment, an alarm clock and radio, a calculator and translation guide.
• When you've stuffed your bag to the max, zip it up and tap it on the floor a few times to make extra room.
• Don't overstuff! Suitcase zippers may bust en route, or you could exceed airline weight limitations and have to cough up extra dough at the ticket counter.
• Unfurl belts and wrap them around the inside of your suitcase.
• Share bathroom basics (toothpaste, shampoo, and so on.).
• Double-bag liquids (air pressure at 30,000 feet can wreak havoc on bottles and tubes.)
• Pack a suitcase like you would a grocery bag - heavy items on bottom, lighter ones on top.
• Pack all your valuables, one change of clothes, non-perishable snacks, a small bottle of water, and your minimum toiletry needs (at least your toothbrushes and toothpaste) in your carry-on in case your luggage gets delayed.
• As soon as you arrive, unpack and hang up your clothes.

And have fun!

Love,

The Emily Weddings Team

Article by Lori Seto from The Knot

Photos by Martha Stewart Weddings