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At Chancey Charm, we’re huge fans of classic wedding designs with timeless details + elements of your style and personality tied in. One of our favorite ways to make a classic wedding design more personalized is by getting to know our couples and their unique love story. Doing this really allows for the opportunity to create an ambiance that truly reflects a bride and her groom. Chancey Charm’s wedding planners were featured on SheFinds.com sharing tips on accentuating your wedding design with personality, and we thought it would be fun to dive in even further below. Enjoy!

-The Chancey Charm Team

Are you a bride looking for a resource you can trust to help keep you on track as you plan your wedding?  

As professional wedding planners, we’ve spent years developing and perfecting the resources in our shop just for YOU! Click here to check them out.

Photo: Anna Shackleford Photography

6 Easy Ways To Tie Your Personality Into Your Wedding Design

Set the tone with your save the dates and carry it through to your thank you cards. As your printed materials like your save the date and wedding invitation are the first impressions guests will have of your upcoming wedding and reception, start the creative process there! Think about how these items can be a reflection of your shared style as a couple. Brie Owens, Chancey Charm Atlanta Wedding Planner, shares some of her favorite ideas to help get the creative juices flowing: a watercolor map or hand-drawn illustration of the place you met or got engaged, using verses/lyrics/quotes that are meaningful to you and your fiancé, or having a custom family crest or “wedding logo” made featuring your favorite things (even your pets). Don’t forget to tie your design into your ceremony program, escort cards, signage, and thank you cards as well, to bring your vision full circle!

Cheers with a signature cocktail. Chancey Charm Houston Wedding Planner, Skylar Caitlin, recently worked with a couple who wanted a classic wedding design, but with little pops of personality. One of the most popular ways to do so is a signature cocktail! Whether you opt for two “his” and “hers” options or just one signature drink, make it reflect you and your story. And then take it one step further by giving it a meaningful name! They named their two cocktails after their pups, but you could also pick a family member’s name to honor, the name of a city that’s important to you both, or anything else that speaks to your love story!

Get creative with your wedding guest book. Gone are the days where your guest book has to actually be a book! Alana Futcher, Chancey Charm Charlottesville Wedding Planner, loves helping her couples find ways to tie personal aspects into their wedding design. One of her couples loved to surf, so it was only fitting that their guest book was actually a surfboard. Their guests got a kick out of signing it and the couple was so excited to display it in their house as a reminder of their wedding, shared passion, and love. If there’s not an item that necessarily speaks to both you and your fiancé, consider something that can be a piece of artwork for your home like a special print, canvas, painting, map, etc.

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Honoring the love stories of your friends and family members. Jyl Deering, Chancey Charm Boston Wedding Planner, worked with a couple who asked every married couple coming to their wedding to send them their personal favorite wedding photo. They then showcased all these beautiful wedding photos throughout their cocktail hour. It brought a smile to every guest’s face to see their own wedding photo, and it got people talking to one another and sharing their stories! It was a great way to get guests mingling!

Say thank you in a more personal way. One of Chancey Charm San Diego Wedding Planner Lauren Weidley’s couples thoughtfully had hand written letters to each guest made before the wedding. The envelopes containing the letters served as their place cards! They were gorgeous and hand lettered by a friend of the couple. It was amazing and so personal! It definitely took time to plan and coordinate with RSVPs, but what an incredible and intentional way for each and every guest to feel like a huge part of your day!

Make your menu unique and memorable. Food is another favorite way to add some personality in to your wedding! Talk to your caterer about fusion menus that blend together multiple cultures’ cuisines. Do you have a favorite meal you love to cook or eat together? Share that with them – they might be able to recommend something as a nod to you and your fiancé. Bring in your favorite comfort foods (or snacks) after a night of drinking and dancing, or a fun dessert station like frozen bananas or a churro cart. And don’t forget about foodie favors for your guests! We once had a bride and groom, who along with most of their guests, were both huge coffee lovers. They blended together their favorite types of coffee in custom designed organza bags, creating a signature blend for all their guests to enjoy.

Hi friends!

Today, I’m simply focusing on the one thing that can literally de-rail your business in a heartbeat if not given proper attention – employment law. That’s right, correctly classifying people you work with is super important to the health and safety of your small business.

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I’m not going to sit over here and pretend like I’m the expert on this. Far from it! In complete transparency, I’m personally working through this same topic regularly – to make sure our team is set up properly, to protect all we have built together via Chancey Charm. So, please don’t think that this post is from a place of “having it all together”. Employment law is a topic I’ve REALLY struggled through for years, and I’m hoping, we can navigate this together in the years ahead. Because Collaboration Over Competition is not just a phrase I’m casually a fan of.  It’s something I strive to live out daily with my team and every small business owner I interact with.

Since I’m not an expert, I’ll let the lawyer do the talkin here, by sharing this fabulous article on Employment Law, that I stumbled across and this one by my friend at Engaged Legal.

I’ve been talking with my husband a lot about employment law (having a husband who owns a staffing company is actually paying off y’all!) and he helped me process the following…

Here are a few basic things to look for if you’re using an independent contractor:

An IC needs to have their own business license.

An IC needs to have their own proof of insurance.

An IC needs to determine their own rate for their services.

An IC needs to invoice you from their business for projects completed for you – aka their invoices should be project based. (read more about this in the article above)

If you’re looking to purchase an independent contractor contract, these are my go-to recommendations for great contract templates: Annette Stepanian & Christina Scalera

And finally, as always, I think that this, above almost anything else in your business – is 150% worth chatting with a local lawyer about, to make sure you’re within state regulations for interns, assistants and planners on your team. Especially since, each state has different employment laws.

I know that working through all of the details of clarifying + setting things up properly can be exhausting.‍  Y’all, I REALLY do get it. But, I promise, it’s worth the time + energy when you can sleep at night knowing you’ve protected all you’ve built to the best of your ability.

Cheers To A Better Business!

Sarah Chancey

Founder, Creative Director at Chancey Charm

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  Disclaimer: Occasionally I do share an affiliate link in my content. This means that if you click a link and purchase a product, I receive a little bit in return. This allows me to keep creating quality, free content. But, please know that I only share things I absolutely believe in! In reference to the advice given in this email, this is not professional legal counsel, but is rather a conversation for educational purposes, in the spirit of community over competition. I highly recommend hiring a licensed attorney to clarify local employment laws for your small business. Chancey Charm LLC and Sarah Chancey are not legally responsible for the accuracy or success of the content shared in this email or post, as employment law is constantly changing.

After years of balancing planning weddings, family and running a growing business, I finally came to the place where I admitted that it was not healthy for me to try to continue to “do it all.” What’s more, I wasn’t even the best person or trained for the many hats I was wearing! This began a long journey of passing on tasks I did on a weekly or even daily basis. I cringed as I tried to process the transition, but was pleasantly surprised to realize that it was far easier than expected – especially when it came to our Wedding PR and Marketing.

Photo: Horn Photography & Design

  Maybe it’s just that God sent me amazing people, like Kristen Ley Green of Something New For I Do. I’m sure this could be challenging, but Kristen has made handing over Wedding PR and Marketing work a breeze! I highly recommend her for your growing wedding business, especially if you’re looking for a stronger online presence, but don’t have the skills, time or knowledge to make it happen!

Kristen has taken over management of our social media outlets, wedding PR efforts and blog with amazing results. Our following has grown daily, our blog is incredibly organized and thoughtful and we are getting published in outlets I had on my bucket list to boot! I wanted to take a moment to more fully explain what services Kristen offers below in case any fellow entrepreneurs are looking to let their wedding PR go and watch it grow!

  Wedding PR: Styled Shoot + Real Wedding Submission Work

We like to call Kristen our “wedding finisher” as she takes our weddings one step further by getting them featured in top wedding magazines and blogs. Something New for I Do utilizes their strong relationships with bloggers, writers and editors to match your weddings with the perfect publication so that your work is seen by your target bride. And if you’re a creative looking to showcase your design talent through styled shoots, Something New for I Do puts together the perfect submission package to get your shoot featured. What’s the beauty of being published? You can create a blog post centered on the placement and promote on social media to enhance SEO. All of this further grows your client base and raises awareness of your brand!

Because Kristen has been doing styled shoot and real wedding submission work for so long, she hears back from editors quickly and makes the submission process a breeze when it can be a lengthy process when trying to do it all on your own. Since we started working with Kristen, we’ve had 110+ styled shoots and weddings featured and have been featured in wedding advice articles over 115 times. That’s over 200 media features for the Chancey Charm team!

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  Letting go, and giving things to the experts is both healthy for you, your family and your business. I know it can be hard to even think about, which is why I wanted to share what a difference Kristen has made in my business and how easy the transition can be.

  Cheers!

Sarah Chancey

Founder + Creative Director, Chancey Charm

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Your wedding is YOUR day, but when the Chancey Charm team is dreaming up bespoke events with our clients, creating a memorable guest experience is always top of mind. We’re all about helping our couples plan a wedding that is unique, personalized and inviting. Our brides want their guests to feel as though they’re treated with the utmost Southern hospitality as if the couple was entertaining them in their own home. So during the planning process, we talk about details like the length of the cocktail hour, how long guests will have to wait for dinner, possibly adding another bar so guests don’t have to stand in line too long. Your wedding can be all you’ve dreamed of, while still being considerate of your loved ones to ensure a great time is held by all. Liz Ise, Chancey Charm Dallas Wedding Planner, is sharing 4 more ways to win over your wedding guests while designing your dream wedding. Enjoy!

-The Chancey Charm Team

Are you a bride looking for a resource you can trust to help keep you on track as you plan your wedding?  

As professional wedding planners, we’ve spent years developing and perfecting the resources in our shop just for YOU! Click here to check them out.

Photo: Amy Arrington Photography | Planning + Design: Martel Event and Brie Owens for Chancey Charm Atlanta 

Transportation: The easier you make it for your guests, especially those out of town loved ones, to get to and from your wedding events – the better! To win over your wedding guests, book your room block at a hotel that will shuttle your guests to/from the airport as well as your venue. For after your reception, make sure everyone gets back safely by offering an Uber code for a free or discounted ride. Also, be sure to check with your venue if overnight parking is allowed! 

Favors: Enough with the Jordan almonds! If your favor isn’t useful to guests or significant to you as a couple – skip it! Instead, offer an edible favor like midnight snack or make a charitable donation in their honor. The more personal the favors are, the more they’ll mean to your guests. You will still need to show your gratitude for the effort your guests went through to share in your day, just make sure it’s worth the money you are allocating in your budget.

Music: Your favorite music might be underground hip hop, but at a wedding, there is nothing more isolating than only playing one genre of music. You’d be surprised how much granny wants to dance, so play a tune that she can easily shake her groove thang to! Classic hits with sing-a-long lyrics are always a wise choice. An easy way to win over your wedding guests is to build a playlist that will keep everyone on the dance floor by asking for a song request on the RSVP. This will keep your guests happily anticipating their song choice without annoying the DJ with too many requests.

Think Outside the Box: Your guests have probably been to a few weddings every year, so show them something new! Whether that’s the food you serve, activities they can partake in during cocktail hour or entertainment such as cultural dancers – your guests want to be wowed! Think outside the box to win over your wedding guests and incorporate fun things they would never expect. Plus, seeing the surprise on their faces is totally worth it!

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  Are you a bride looking for a resource you can trust to help keep you on track as you plan your wedding?  

As professional wedding planners, we’ve spent years developing and perfecting the resources in our shop just for YOU! Click here to check them out.

When it comes to weddings, the center of attention is of course on the couple, but coming in at a very close second… THE FOOD! Your friends and family love you and are happy to celebrate you, but it is safe to assume that the mouthwatering appetizers, desserts, and late night snacks have a strong influence on that RSVP. It’s time we narrow down the sweet, savory and surprise small bites that are going to leave your guests with full stomachs and big smiles. They may even hope you get married again! (Just kidding!). Check out some of my favorite ideas to evaluate your wedding day menu below!

-Lauren Stearns, Chancey Charm Washington, DC + Virginia Team

Photo: Austin Gros, Aperitif Cocktails + Events

Raising the Bar | 4 Ideas to Elevate Your Wedding Day Menu

The Southern, Stacked and Savory: It’s no secret that bite-sized food is a go-to for caterers when planning your wedding day menu; however, presentation and unique flavors will leave your guests raving long after the dance floor shuts down. For a touch of southern charm, mini chicken and waffles are a must! We have seen them stacked as mini waffles or as small chicken pieces in a waffle cone (win-win situations if you ask me). And if your guests simply can’t get enough maple syrup, surprise them with mini late night pancake stacks , passed around as guests take a breather from their wicked moves on the dance floor.

Mini and Magnificent: I may be a little biased, but there’s nothing better than a mojito or margarita after an outdoor ceremony. We all know mini foods are so much better than normal foods, so add some mini tacos with guac to your wedding day menu  and bam! I’m ready to find that dance floor. Guests will love to feel like a kid again with excitement over late-night bites such as mini corn dogs or sliders . Speaking of making an impression, guests may have seen cake pops at a wedding before, but how about late night fried mac n cheese pops! ? That’s right… cheesy, fried, delicious pasta on a stick. It may not fit every wedding catering package, but is sure to a be a winner when it is on the menu.

The Sweet and Salty: Fast forward to the cake cutting and you bet guests will be at a dessert table when there’s mini donut skewers, cookies and milk, or even chocolate covered churros available! If you’re nervous there’s too much food on your wedding day menu – fear not. Guests will not be upset visiting a popcorn or soft pretzel bar on their way out. Brides can customize these bars to fit their personality or location with their choice of dipping sauces. For my Maryland brides, adding crab dip for pretzels or old bay seasoning to popcorn can be a memorable treat for out of town guests.

Fired Up: Guests may be breaking it down on the dance floor, but having space for guests to mingle is also important for conversation, fresh air and you guessed it… good food! If your venue has a fire pit, treat guests to a s’mores spread with extra fun fixings like peanut butter cups, Oreos, fruit or caramel. For those (me) that consider cheese one of the main food groups, a late night grilled cheese bar with unique breads and fillings can be an instant crowd pleaser! Jalapeños, pears, tomatoes, bacon, fig, onion, and meats are just a few of the fillings sure to have guests craving seconds… or thirds. Another great cheese loving option is a pizza bar where mini pizzas are on display for guests to grab a late night snack before heading home for the evening. The slice is great for last minute dance floor fuel as well as preventive measures to soak up those evening drinks.

So there you have it! A round up of tried and true wedding day menu favorites when it comes to appetizers, dessert, and late night snacks. In case you haven’t caught on, my favorite conversation topic is food so let me know your favorites from your wedding experiences!

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As a couple’s wedding day is the most exciting celebration of their life, many like to keep the party going with a post-reception gathering. If a wedding after party is your style, Chancey Charm was previously featured on SheFinds.com sharing advice for couples planning a wedding after party! They offered tips on looking into closing times at the bar or pub in advance, what might happen if you don’t collect RSVPs for your wedding after party, and how failing to make reservations can backfire. Below, we’re sharing even more wedding after party tips. Enjoy!

-The Chancey Charm Team

Are you a bride looking for a resource you can trust to help keep you on track as you plan your wedding?  

As professional wedding planners, we’ve spent years developing and perfecting the resources in our shop just for YOU! Click here to check them out.

  Photo: Two Sparks Photography

4 Tips for Planning Your Wedding After Party

Location is key (as is transportation): A recommendation from the Chancey Charm Charlotte Wedding Planning team – Be sure to select a spot that is extremely convenient to the wedding reception location or even within the same building if your reception is at a hotel wedding venue. If the after-party location is not within walking distance, and to ensure guests get to and from your after party safely, be sure to arrange for transportation. At this point of the evening, it is likely that a handful of your wedding guests have had at least a couple of drinks. There’s no problem to keep the party going, but if you’re going to do so, it’s smart and considerate of you if you secure safe transportation. Bonus points if you have cab options or hotel suggestions for people who can’t drive home. Tip: But at the same time, don’t host the after party in the bride and groom’s hotel room. It ruins their romantic first night as husband and wife!

Be a good host and offer a late night snack: Chancey Charm Boston Wedding Planner, Jyl Deering, recommends having food available to help your guests sober up before their drive home. Chances are, they haven’t eaten since dinner, and it could have been four or five hours since they ate. Feed them! Consider having your favor be something guests can take with them to go and eat later. We also love late night snacks as a final way to tie in your personality! Ask your caterer for tips and recommendations. They might be able to package snack boxes as favors to go! Another trend we love – having food trucks at your after party!

Be a considerate neighbor: Hosting the after party at a private home or cabin? Jyl advises couples hosting the after party somewhere with neighbors close by to consider the parking and sound situations. Getting the police called to your after party is very embarrassing. Enough said? Just in case, it’s also smart to let them know ahead of time what your plans are. They’re more likely to be understanding if they know what’s going on in advance so they can plan accordingly.

Use your DJ to help spread the word: Whether your plans are made last minute or you’ve been planning to keep the party going for months, communication is key when planning your after party (especially if guests have had a couple of drinks and need a reminder). If you want to make sure your guests know of your after party plans, be sure that your band or DJ make a couple of announcements throughout the night.

Cheers to dancing the night away celebrating your most special day – safely!

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Are you a bride looking for a resource you can trust to help keep you on track as you plan your wedding?

As professional wedding planners, we’ve spent years developing and perfecting the resources in our shop just for YOU! Click here to check them out.

  SaveSave

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As a couple’s wedding day is the most exciting celebration of their life, many like to keep the party going with a post-reception gathering. If a wedding after party is your style, Chancey Charm was previously featured on SheFinds.com sharing advice for couples planning a wedding after party! They offered tips on looking into closing times at the bar or pub in advance, what might happen if you don’t collect RSVPs for your wedding after party, and how failing to make reservations can backfire. Below, we’re sharing even more wedding after party tips. Enjoy!

-The Chancey Charm Team

Are you a bride looking for a resource you can trust to help keep you on track as you plan your wedding?  

As professional wedding planners, we’ve spent years developing and perfecting the resources in our shop just for YOU! Click here to check them out.

  Photo: Two Sparks Photography

4 Tips for Planning Your Wedding After Party

Location is key (as is transportation): A recommendation from the Chancey Charm Charlotte Wedding Planning team – Be sure to select a spot that is extremely convenient to the wedding reception location or even within the same building if your reception is at a hotel wedding venue. If the after-party location is not within walking distance, and to ensure guests get to and from your after party safely, be sure to arrange for transportation. At this point of the evening, it is likely that a handful of your wedding guests have had at least a couple of drinks. There’s no problem to keep the party going, but if you’re going to do so, it’s smart and considerate of you if you secure safe transportation. Bonus points if you have cab options or hotel suggestions for people who can’t drive home. Tip: But at the same time, don’t host the after party in the bride and groom’s hotel room. It ruins their romantic first night as husband and wife!

Be a good host and offer a late night snack: Chancey Charm Boston Wedding Planner, Jyl Deering, recommends having food available to help your guests sober up before their drive home. Chances are, they haven’t eaten since dinner, and it could have been four or five hours since they ate. Feed them! Consider having your favor be something guests can take with them to go and eat later. We also love late night snacks as a final way to tie in your personality! Ask your caterer for tips and recommendations. They might be able to package snack boxes as favors to go! Another trend we love – having food trucks at your after party!

Be a considerate neighbor: Hosting the after party at a private home or cabin? Jyl advises couples hosting the after party somewhere with neighbors close by to consider the parking and sound situations. Getting the police called to your after party is very embarrassing. Enough said? Just in case, it’s also smart to let them know ahead of time what your plans are. They’re more likely to be understanding if they know what’s going on in advance so they can plan accordingly.

Use your DJ to help spread the word: Whether your plans are made last minute or you’ve been planning to keep the party going for months, communication is key when planning your after party (especially if guests have had a couple of drinks and need a reminder). If you want to make sure your guests know of your after party plans, be sure that your band or DJ make a couple of announcements throughout the night.

Cheers to dancing the night away celebrating your most special day – safely!

PIN THIS POST TO SAVE IT FOR LATER!

Are you a bride looking for a resource you can trust to help keep you on track as you plan your wedding?

As professional wedding planners, we’ve spent years developing and perfecting the resources in our shop just for YOU! Click here to check them out.

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We’re huge fans of a wedding day emergency kit, complete will essentials such as safety pins, Tylenol, snacks, mints and other “just in case” items. But don’t forget about the wedding day beauty products you’ll want to have on hand too! The Chancey Charm team is sharing some of their must-have wedding day beauty products to ensure you’re wedding ready all day (and night) long. Cheers, friends!

-The Chancey Charm Team

Photographer: Breanna McKendrick

Must-Have Wedding Day Beauty Products

When it comes to wedding day beauty products, always have lotion, sunscreen and eyelash glue on hand. -Jyl Deering, Chancey Charm Boston Wedding Planner

Straws! When you have your makeup and lipstick done, you often forget to touch up before the big show and drink from a cup; this results in smudgy lips. Drink from a straw to prevent that! -Brie Owens, Chancey Charm Atlanta Wedding Planner

You never know when Mother Nature will want to surprise you, so prepare accordingly! Also, hairspray. Especially if it’s humid, you’ll want to spray those stray hairs down before any big moments! And definitely face mists – your skin may dry out throughout the day and you won’t want to put moisturizer over your makeup, so a facial mist is the perfect wedding day beauty product to rejuvenate your skin throughout the day. -Alana Futcher, Chancey Charm Washington, DC Wedding Planner

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Oil wipes to touch up after those hot, outdoor ceremonies. Makeup setting spray to make sure your look stays through the whole night not matter how hard you cry though the vows. Deodorant! It’s more than just to keep you from smelling, use it if your shoes are rubbing. The deodorant acts like a barrier and keeps you form getting blisters. -Liz Ise, Chancey Charm Dallas Wedding Planner

Setting spray for your makeup so that it lasts all day. Have your makeup artist leave you a q tip with your lip gloss on it so that you can touch up right before the ceremony! Months before, give yourself a good skincare routine. This can be such a stressful season, and the last thing you want is a pimple showing through on your wedding day! find a great natural face wash, toner, serum and moisturizer to keep your skin fresh and clear all the way up to your I dos. -Sarah Duckworth, Chancey Charm Charlotte Wedding Planner.

Are you a bride looking for a resource you can trust to help keep you on track as you plan your wedding?  

As professional wedding planners, we’ve spent years developing and perfecting the resources in our shop just for YOU! Click here to check them out.