Welcome to Sarah Gonia Photography

Sarah Gonia Photography vows to go beyond traditional posed photography and capture the true you and everything you are feeling in that instant. For in the end, it's the little moments of joy, laughter and connection with those you love that are a huge part of what makes us up as people. These are the moments that describe our souls without a single word; these are the moments truly worth documenting

Hello! Congrats on your engagement! Your wedding day will be one of the most memorable days of your life but it's going to take some planning to get there. After all, if you've never planned a wedding how do you know everything you'll need to do?? This is a simple checklist to keep track of the tasks that need to be completed before your big day. So don't let it scare you! Take charge, start planning and have fun with it!

Browse below then download you PDF copy HERE.

Wedding Essentials Checklist

Engagement

Insure ring
Set wedding date
Throw an engagement party
Get engagement photos done

Apparel

Wedding dress
Dress bag
Alterations
Wedding Shoes
Backup flats
Veil/tiara/headpiece
Garter
Reception dress
Reception Shoes
Undergarments (bra, corset, slip, nylons, panties)
Getting ready robe for bride or Button up shirt (So you don’t mess up your hair)
Earrings
Necklace
Hair accessories
Something old
Something new
Something borrowed
Something blue
Departure outfit
Groom's Tuxedo
Tie
Tie clip
Cufflinks
Vest
Suspenders
Belt
Shoes
Watch
Getting Ready Robes
Bridesmaids dresses
Flower girls dresses
Ring Bearer tuxedos
Groomsmen tuxedos
Groomsmen shoes

Rehearsal Dinner

Venue
Caterer
Bartender
Liquor/beer/wine
Non-alcoholic beverages
Decorations
Music
Parking
Dishes/glassware/silverware
Linens
Food
Servers
Signature drink

Getting Ready

Make-up artist(s)
Hair dresser (s)
Mani/Pedi
Champagne/OJ
Snacks
Emergency Bridal Kit

Find a Makeup Artist

Ceremony

Officiant
Marriage paperwork (bring on day of)
Alter/aisle decorations
Guest book + pen
Pillow or ring box for ring bearer
Basket for flower girls petals
Aisle runner
Ushers
Transportation to reception if at different location
DJ
Playlist

Find a Venue

Reception

Venue
Table decorations
Venue decorations
Sign
Cake table decorations
Guest book table decorations
Card box
Guest book + pen
Photobooth
Caterer/food
Signature drink
Dishes, glasses, silverware
Toasting glasses
Napkins
Table Clothes
Menu
Cake
Cake Knife
Plates and silverware for cake
Musician or DJ
Playlist
Bar Tender
Liquor/beer/wine
Non-alcoholic beverages
Appetizers for cocktail hour
Chairs
Tables
Parking
Bubbles/rice/sparklers
Transportations
Designated person to round up family for family portraits

Find a DJ

Rings

Wedding band
Groom’s ring
Engraving
Sizing
Insurance
Pre-wedding cleaning

Flowers

Bridal bouquet
Floral headpiece
Toss bouquet
Wedding party bouquets
Groom boutonniere
Groomsmen’s boutonnieres
Mother of the bride corsage
Mother of the groom corsage
Father of the bride boutonniere
Father of the groom boutonniere
Grandparent’s corsages/boutonnieres
Special guests corsages/boutonnieres
Petals for flower girls
Table center pieces
Arch decorations
Flowers for cake
Decorations for aisle

Find a florist

Stationary

Announcements
Save-the-dates
Invitations
Envelopes
Stamps
RSVP cards
Address Labels
Maps/direction cards
Registry cards
Wedding programs
Calligrapher
Newspaper announcement
Thank you cards
Rehearsal dinner invitations
Bachelor/Bachelorette party invitations

Find a Calligrapher

Gifts & Favors

Thank your or reminder token for your guests to take home. Handmade or store bought (optional)
Gift for groom from bride
Gift for bride from groom
Bridal party gifts
Groomsmen’s gifts
Flower girl gift
Ring bearer gift

Find Gifts

Photography/Videography

Discuss below details and expectations with your photographer

Engagement portraits
Bridal Boudoir portraits - Set up a bridal boudoir party with your bridesmaids. Super fun day and you can get an album for a wedding gift for your fiance
Getting ready
First look - Decide if you want to stick with tradition or do a first look. Ask your photographer if you aren’t sure
Bridal portraits - List several important shots
Family portraits - Who is important and specific group shots if you have a preference
Ceremony portraits
Reception photos
Bridal Session
Albums, canvases + prints - Think wedding thank you gifts, wall art and heirloom albums

Discuss wedding day details and expectations with videographer

Find the Perfect Photographer

Honeymoon

Plane tickets
Hotel
Rental Car
Entertainment
Lingerie
Appropriate clothing

Miscellaneous

Apply for marriage certificate
Wedding planner
Hotel for out of town guests
Printed copies of wedding day timeline

XOXO,

Sarah

Like what you see? To see more please like Sarah Gonia Photography's Facebook page, follow us on Instagram and check out our Pinterest page!

Contact me today and lets document all those little moments that make life beautiful

Today's blog comes straight from the floral industry. Brides and grooms, gardeners, vendors, florists and conscientious consumers, this is for YOU.

Debra Prinzing, award winning author, speaker and founder of slowflowers.com.

PC: Mary Grace Long Photography

The Slow Flowers Movement was born when flower consumers started questioning the origin of their flowers. Debra Prinzing is the founder - and heart - behind the Slow Flowers Movement which supports the idea of using local, American-grown flowers. She gave the Slow Flowers concept life with the creation of an online directory of florists and flower growers who support the cause: slowflowers.com. Prinzing initiated American Flowers Week to create awareness about Slow Flowers and bring to light the many reasons why flower consumers should buy local.

The Slow Flowers path was paved by the Slow Food movement. Somewhere along the way America went from a nation relying on local crops as a main food source for it's people to importing the same foods from areas of cheap labor and lesser health standards. Flowers also joined that list and America currently imports billions of dollars of international flowers each year. The undertow of the Slow Flowers Movement is really about making a conscious choice about one's purchases. Flowers are a necessity for many events and choosing to support locally allows one to know and better appreciate the origin of their products, support the small business owners in their area and better honor the season and region where they live with flowers that are local and timely.

Prinzing is the proactive and dedicated voice that has brought to light this conspicuous but previously unspoken subject. Prinzing has a degree in design and a long history of gardening. For many years she has worked as a journalist, writing articles and speaking about gardening, architecture and floral design. With the birth of Slow Flowers and slowflowers.com, Prinzing was able to combine all of her vast experiences to not only start a revolution of flower consciousness but also find her niche. Some of Prinzing's accomplishments are as contributing writer and editor of Country Garden's Magazine, recipient of the first annual Grower's Choice Award and author of ten books. For more information on Prinzing, please see her 'About' page. Prinzing also does a weekly Podcast 'SLOW FLOWERS with Debra Prinzing' which is very informative. For more information, click HERE.

This year, June 28-July 4th, will be the 3rd annual American Flowers Week; a celebration of the Slow Flowers Movement. These dates are appropriate because as we celebrate the freedom of our country, we celebrate the return of home grown flowers and support for local businesses. Modeled after England's British Flowers Week, American Flowers Week was designed to bring awareness to any and all flower consumers.

The concept of Slow Flowers, although fairly new, is spreading at a rate that is anything but a reflection of it's name. Seed companies, flower growers, florists, wedding couples and even super markets are getting on board and making a mindful choice to keep the flower market local. Prinzing's passion and dedication to the Slow Flowers Movement is monumental in bringing change to the flower industry. Her yearning for mindfulness, and dedication to informing consumers, will ensure that the popularity of American-grown flowers will continue to rise. Events like American Flowers Week are also critical to educating consumers and raising excitement regarding the Slow Flowers Movement. Slow Flowers has already created a huge impact on the flower industry over the past few years. As consumers become more aware, the momentum of this movement will undoubtedly and thankfully be unstoppable - a guiding light for all other Slow Movements to come.

Special thanks to Debra Prinzing for granting me an interview and for being so excited and passionate about such a worthy subject.

Resources

http://multinationales.org/Where-do-our-flowers-come-from

http://www.debraprinzing.com/

http://slowflowers.com/