So, I've always wanted to do a super fun April Fools joke... but I never have. Or what I thought in my head, never materialized to what I thought was really that amazing!

Soooooooooooo....when I mentioned what I wanted to do to my competition for April Fools, everyone said I had to do it! MUST. HAVE. TO.

So we did.

I cannot thank Shena enough for making our "home video" look amazing!!!

Masterpiece April Fools Prank from Platinum Digital Video on Vimeo.

There are so many fun, unique ideas out there for boutonnieres!  You really could turn anything into a boutonniere!  Guys are choosing boutonnieres that reflect their style and who they are.  You could use feathers, felt flowers, shells for a beach wedding, or something completely different like a mini guitar!  We are loving all of the creative boutonnieres people are coming up with!

What is your favorite style of boutonniere?



Links:{feather}{shell}{guitar}

I read a post by The City Bride and I thought it was exactly what I wast thinking! In this economy, even if you have a bazillion dollars to spend on your wedding, most of our clients are opting not to. Who wants to spend that much to show off for their friends.



So when I read this post, I thought it was out of my own head, so I won't take the credit, although I am pretty sure, she snuck into my head and stole my thoughts.



Photo by: Gina Leigh Photography

You need to be able to fit a little bit of fun in, no matter what you are doing. And during a wedding while we were prepping the music, I grabbed a microphone rose and starting singing....

The question is, what was I singing. If you guess it right, you win a prize!

Leave your guess in the comments section.



Oh, and yes, I sing with my eyes closed....



Thanks to Power's Photography for sneaking these hysterical images.

We just received the Real Simple Weddings Magazine for 2010 and are absolutely in love!  It is full to the brim with useful information, without being overwhelming.  The layout is beautiful, organized and...well....simple!  The pictures are crisp and clean and everything flows so effortlessly.  We love the 10 Common Questions in every section as helpful hints that every bride could benefit from.  We highly recommend to all our brides out there to pick up a copy for yourself!

We are so excited for our friend Gina Leigh in launching her new web journal, A Pen for Pearl.  It is named after her grandmother, Gloria Pearl, who was tremendously faithful to handwritten leters and always surrounded herself with the lovely things in life. We are touched by the sentiment of her new project, it is just the sweetest thing! 



Gina also has a brand new custom website!  We are loving everything she has done, it truely reflects exactly who she is as a photographer.  Great job Gina, we think that all of your work is awesome-tastic!

We are so thrilled to announce MasterPiece Weddings has been selected as a 2010 winner in The Knot Best of Weddings, a special section in The Knot North Florida magazine, the number-one wedding resource that’s most trusted by brides. We were the only winner in Gainesville, Florida for the wedding planner category.





The Knot Best of Weddings 2010 provides a “by brides, for brides” guide to the top wedding professionals across the country, and is a must-have when it comes to selecting the best-of-the-best wedding resources. From New York florists and Seattle bridal salons to DC makeup artists, engaged couples will find detailed feedback on local wedding businesses reviewed by thousands of newlyweds who had great things to say.



Thank you so much for nominating us, we are truly blessed to have such amazing clients, if there was a Knot Best of 2010 for clients, ours would surely win!

So, normally - I wouldn't do this. But I am breaking my own rules. It probably won't be the last time either. Personal, family post ahead.



Blog world, I'd like to introduce you to Gabriel. Our son. He is one month old- and Powers Photography took some incredible images of him. Take a peek... here. We cannot thank Aunt Susan and Uncle Stewart enough, we are just in absolute love with these photographs.



We know it's something our family will treasure for a lifetime and maybe more.

From all of us at MasterPiece Weddings, we wish you a super duper New Years!



Go out and have fun - make some do'able resolutions, and make the most of your year!



And remember: The rock that is an obstacle in the path of one person becomes a stepping stone in the path of another.

When I first started blogging I fell in love with Hostess with the Mostess her pictures and her style - ahhh-mazing! If you haven't been there for recipes, decor ideas, drink recipes... really tons and tons of inspiration... you need to!

Not that I play favorites, but one of my favorite people planners... is planning....forever events (don't tell her, it'll give her a big head) her personality totally shines through in her writing, and it made me fall in love with her.



Yup, I have a blog crush.

Check out Lucky Me! for beautiful inspiration boards, gorgeous monograms! Beautiful!!!

This week, I wanted to show you some of my favorite blogs, there are 100s on my Google Reader, but some of my favorites for inspiration and knowledge.

Take a peek and if you haven't added these to your Google Reader... you must!

First up, With This Ring... great for real wedding inspiration, with tons of real life wedding tips! (and life tips!)

Photographer: Rebecca Jones

I love cake! I mean I seriously LOVE CAKE! So when a client asks me what to look for in a cake, I take that very seriously... probably too seriously. Nahhh... it's cake!

How do you taste a cake to make sure that you love it, that it's everything you want it to be, especially your wedding cake!?!?

That's a great question, and I am so glad you asked!

We've actually talked about MasterPiece Weddings and how we do cake tastings for our clients. But let's talk about the actual tasting part.

First, look at the cake, does it look pretty... even if it's just a slice of cake. Is it crumbly or is it a nice moist piece of cake.

Second, check out the filling, is it pretty and glossy... if its fruit, does it look like the fruit it's supposed to be... if it's Strawberry and Cream, does it look like it?

Now you can taste it... but wait!

Taste the filling first, do you like it, is it tasty?

Taste the cake next... Yummy? Moist? Delicious?

Taste the frosting next... what do you think? Too Sweet? Grainy? Deliciously perfect?

Now taste them all together! How do they taste all together, perfect? Be thinking about how the flavors meld in your mouth, do you like the way they all come together?

It should!

That is my idea of the perfect cake tasting!

Now bring on the coffee!

{Source for Image}

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at MasterPiece Weddings! There is so much for to be Thankful for, please take a moment today (as we all should everyday) to give thanks for the amazing blessing in your life!

Just a few things we are thankful for:

• Our amazing clients! I am not just saying that, this past year, we were blessed beyond imaginable levels with how incredible our clients have been! We have definately made friends for a lifetime!


• The vendors that we get to work with day in and day out, how amazing they are, and the incredible lifelong friendships that have come out of those relationships!


• The planners that we love! And I mean that, I know that every wedding planner on the planet is supposed to be our competition, but I find so much influence and guidance from my fellow wedding planners. {You know who you are!}


• Amanda and Erinn - really, this year has been full of amazing'ness for MasterPiece Weddings! We love Gainesville Weddings, and have had the pleasure of doing some amazing things together, and I am so blessed to have them in my life and on my team!


• And if I can get personal and sappy for a moment, my husband and my family! Really, with out you John, to bounce idea's off of, and be my marketing guru, I don't know that our company would be as cool as it is! And my sister - I heart you big alot! You are amazing!

Can't wait for 2010! Thank you for an amazing year! {so far}

Happy Halloween from MasterPiece Weddings!



At our office we always have a blast with Halloween! Check out Gainesville's Best Wedding Planners have some fun with todays holiday!

Let me introduce you to Intern Melissa as Michael Jackson, Me as Beauty Queen - Miss Conception, and our own personal Wild Things Erinn as A Wild Thing, and Amanda as King Max.

Thank you Powers Photography for taking the time to have some fun with us and take our pictures, I know we are dorks -- and you are so patient and wonderful! We love you!

And of course our signature jumping photo!

So there are so many things to consider when picking a wedding date. Sure, you may have a perfect date in your head but you must realistically consider other events hapenning besides your wedding...
For instance, a beautiful Fall wedding sounds great in theory, but what happens if it falls on the biggest local college football game? Would you really want to be stuck in traffic with angry fans trying to get to a tailgate on your wedding day? You don't want your guests showing up hours late to your ceremony or reception.

Traffic isn't the only thing that worries us. Big weekend events call for higher hotel prices, higher rental rates, as well as increased package prices for some vendors.

Every season has it's downfalls. Winter brings in corporate holiday parties and increase chance of snow storms up north. Springs and Summers brings local community events like art festivals, local shows, and not to mention hot, rainy seasons.

So when picking a date, plan ahead! Consider all of your options including community events to ensure that the day runs smoothly!

We are just loving the creative ways brides and grooms telling their guests which table to sit at. Sure, a framed chart can be beautiful, but we are challenging you to get your creative juices flowing and make it a DIY Project!

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So tell us, how did you make a statement with your seating chart?

Dear Brides,



First let me congratulate you on your-up-and-coming wedding! I know you've been dreaming about this day for a long time and you want it all to be perfect! Trust me, we of all people know that. And maybe some of you haven't been dreaming about this day forever, and now are just realizing that you need to plan this shin-dig!



A lot of you want to plan every detail of your wedding, you are probably an A-Type personality just like me and want to be involved in every detail of your wedding. I get that. We get that.Wedding Planners are here to make sure that happens. Trust me, you are going to be busy on your wedding day, your mom and fiance are going to be busy too.



Who is going to be there to execute those details so you don't have to worry about them getting done and your vision happens how you've dreamed it would be. It's our job, that's what we do.



I know you hired the best photographer, and the best caterer and the best videographer! And I am thrilled that you've placed your trust in those vendors to make your wedding dreams come true! And they are fantastic at what they do!



But please, let them do their jobs - they work better when they are allowed to take pictures and give you amazing food and amazing products. Allow yourself to trust us to do ours and make your dreams come true.



Hiring someone to help you is not giving in, it's not giving up, it's allowing yourself to relax and enjoy your wedding!



I want you to enjoy your wedding!



With Tons of Love,



Melissa DiStefano

Owner and Lead Planner

MasterPiece Weddings

Wedding Planner, Gainesville, Florida

{Photo's By: Photography by Rebeca}

One of the sweetest testimonials from one of our all time favorite brides, if you are wondering IF you should hire a wedding planner... or what we as wedding planners do, please read on....



Wait, read on anyway!



One of my dreams finally came true. I'm going to marry my prince. I've waited all this time and wanted this crazy, big, fairy tale, wedding. I've been a bridesmaid 12 times and I know how weddings could be to family and friends. I wanted a wedding weekend without all the stress of making sure everything was done. A friend suggested that I hire a "wedding planner". Being an OCD, control freak, I didn't know how this will work for my personality.



I went to a wedding show in Gainesville and spoke with multiple planners. They all seemed nice but I still had misgivings. I heard about MasterPiece Weddings from various wedding vendors in Gainesville. I looked up MasterPiece Weddings website and was immediately interested in speaking with them in depth.



From the beginning, Melissa and I clicked. She personalized a package to suit me and my personality. She was a blessing and heaven sent. I could tell this was going to be one great relationship. She allowed me to be myself but was also able to reel me in, when it became too much. In her quiet, calm, confident and kind way, she was my calm within the storm.



I thought that I couldn't afford a planner, however knowing what I know now, I couldn't afford not to. I'm sure there were MANY behind the scenes scenarios that Melissa and her gang quietly handled, so that I can have the wedding of my dreams.



Although hiring a planner is an expense that most brides would rather put in their budget as an option (or in my dreams option) , I realized that it should be a must. I actually saved on many expenses because of her advice. I can go on and on about ALL the things MasterPiece Weddings has done for me, my husband and family.



I cannot thank them enough. I am proud and confident to endorse MasterPiece Weddings to MY family and friends. Thank you Melissa for everything and especially the friendship...PRICELESS.



Eiryn (1-24-2009)