3 Laurel Ave Wins
Hey crew!
Time for me to share 3 updates about the business behind the Instagram, or whatever part of our company you may interact with most.
Well, here we are, January of 2016 and a lot has happened. In fact, there are THREE LAUREL AVENUE COORDINATORS NOW. I'm going to reveal our newest addition to you in a few days, so hang tight.
Here are 3 L.A. Wins for the year!
1. Laurel Avenue coordinators have pinned more than 100 boutonnieres and there have been zero groom/groomsman casualties.
2. Not one Laurel Avenue wedding ceremony has started late.
That means no scheduling meltdowns, getting ready delays, set up fails, family picture drama, or runaway brides (I just did *cheers* with my coffee mug).
3. Between the 3 Laurel Avenue Coordinators, we currently have weddings on the books in 11 different cities around the southeast. *gasses up the CRV*
Thankfully there are a few duplicate cities in there. For example we'll be in Monroe, GA at least 4 times this year, actually. #gohurricanes
Y'all already know how we do it around here.
We thank the Lord for providing EVERY good thing. Every client match, smooth and successful wedding day, travel mercy and protecting every gown from wine spills- we praise him for. Thanks for keeping up with the good news!
Warmest,
Elena
Photo Credits: Photo 1 - 4 Corners Photography // Photo 3 - C Hope Photography
Business Portrait
See our business video and how it came to life!
So, for a while now, we've been needing a video that spells out what we do for our future and potential clients. Especially when new clients are far away, I want for them to be able to see my face, hear my voice. It really helps with the decision, "do I want this person around on my wedding day?!"
Dilemma- My favorite videographer/business video creator, Lindsey McClennahan, lives in Oklahoma. No video for us....
until one busy weekday, while scrolling through Instagram, I see this...
Less that 48 hour later, Zach and I were on the 3 hour trip to Berry College to hunt down 'ol Lindsey.
I hopped out of the car with an arm full of outfits I packed (but didn't have time to iron) and a crate full of whatever clutter was around my office.
We had two hours before Lindsey had to leave to catch a plane.
I'm telling y'all, this girl is magic.
As the sun was coming up, she helped me make sense of what I needed to communicate, and in no time flat she took this wrinkly shirt wearing, camera-shy girl and made something so helpful that I can now share over and over.
So without further ado...
If you have a business, you NEED Lindsey. You really do. Go give her some love!
www.lenaephotography.com
How to Beat the Lets-Get-This-Wedding-Over-With Attitude
For those who are not yet engaged, engagement may seem like the actual most magical time of your life. I'm not here to burst your hopeful bubble, but working with brides, I have been met with the overwhelming response of
"let's just get past the wedding".
It's easy to look ahead to your wedding and just see your savings going down drain, or see your parents footing all the bills and feeling guilty for eating grapes out of their fridge because of the $6,000 they're about to drop on one days worth of food for you. Some brides even feel guilty for feeling guilty, because this is supposed to be fun, right?
I'm here to tell you, if you plan your entire wedding without one single emotional breakdown over budgets or seating charts or cake cutting fees: you're not normal.
Our job is to make the process a little easier. Lighten the load, so to speak. But it makes me so sad when I can't produce a magic wand and make three thousand extra dollars appear for my brides.
I've got three secret weapons to beat the "I-Don't-Wannas"
1. Remember why you're throwing this party.
See, sometimes you want to pull your hair out over your wedding, and when that happens, you just need to go get a sandwich and a magazine and walk away for a minute and think about why you are getting married and why you're having a wedding and most of the time that will make your time and energy feel more necessary. Try not to let money make you so jaded you miss the butterflies of the planning process. Call your intended and talk about your first date.
2. Forget perfection.
If the price of a "normal" wedding is killing your groove, think about each part of the process and ask yourself and your groom if the $500 altar flowers are super important to you or if you're just doing it because it's normal.
3. Remember how your guests are gonna feel.
Your wedding is a huge gift to them because they're going to have an awesome time celebrating you. Every thoughtful detail will be so appreciated and noticed. Your wedding is a love language of its own, really!
Bonus Suggestion: Set boundaries. I AM SERIOUS. Choose a day of the week where you don't work on, think about or talk about this wedding. Get your family in on it!
Johna Griswell Photography, Southern Vintage Rental, Jeanne Brock Florals
Love you brides to be!
Merry Christmas,
Elena