Do's and Dont's of Thank You Notes

We had an absolutely packed house last night (we had to borrow bar stools from next door!) for our Wedding Planning 101 etiquette session and we LOVED it. Molly Kellogg is such a great speaker and had the whole place in stitches we were laughing so much. I learned A LOT of things that I didn't know I didn't know. I promise to step my manners up a notch moving forward :)



I just feel so blessed to be able to work with such amazing brides and their families every day. I seriously had so much fun with all you ladies last night and can't wait for the next session.

In case you missed out on the fun, here are 10 Do's and Don'ts of thank you notes from Emily Post's The Definitive Guide to Your Wedding Experience.

1. Do personalize your notes and make reference to the person as well as the gift.

2. Do remember that a gift should be acknowledged with the same courtesy and generous spirit in which it was given.

3. Do be enthusiastic, but don't gush. Avoid saying a gift is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen unless you really mean it.

4. Don't send form letters or cards with printed messages and just your signature; don't use email or post a generic thank you on your wedding website in lieu of a personal note.

5. Do promptly acknowledge the receipt of shipped gifts by sending a note right away or calling and following up with a written note in a day or two.

6. Don't mention that you plan to return a girt or that you are dissatisfied in any way.

7. Don't tailor your note to the perceived value of the gift. No one should receive a perfunctory note.

8. Do refer to the way you will use a gift of money. Mentioning the amount is optional.

9. Don't include wedding photos or use photo cards if it will delay sending the note.

10. Don't use being late as an excuse not to write. Even if you are still sending notes after your first anniversary, keep writing!

Being in love never goes out of style

Ohh La La. Earlier this week, we had the privilege of spending time with the fabulous Grace Ormonde at a launch party for her new book -- Being in Love Never Goes out of Style. You have probably read her magazine - Wedding Style - (if you haven't, you must pick up a copy. It's GOR-geous), and her book is equally as amazing.

The launch party took place at The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota and was filled with best-of-the-best wedding specialists from around the state. Every detail was organized to perfection and we loved the pink champagne, pink mojitos and the gourmet dessert bar. The shirtless male models weren't half bad, either ;) The party was simply amazing and lasted well into the night.

Grace's inspiration for her book came straight from her experience in the wedding industry. She told us that no matter what trends or styles are "in" and regardless of what is going on in the world, people are always falling in love. We couldn't agree more! The 416-page book is filled with beautiful images and tons of wedding inspiration. We can't wait to share some of the inspiration with you!

Wedding Planning 101 Makes its Debut at Vocelles; The Bridal Shoppe

In an effort to make your life a little less hectic, Vocelles has created Wedding Planning 101 -- a series of FREE educational classes that are designed to help make the ins and outs of planning a wedding a little easier. We are teaming up with local wedding industry members and once a month have a class at the boutique to cover the most confusing aspects of your planning. From invitation wording and registering to bridesmaid duties and etiquette, we've got you covered.

Add some cocktails and snacks (free, of course!) and a bridesmaid or two and you've got yourself a lovely Brides Night Out, compliments of Vocelles :)

We has our first session last night and had so much fun. Adam and Michael from Titus Sports Academy were here educating and motivating all the ladies about fitness and nutrition and how to get in great shape before your wedding day. As Adam said, "a woman training for her wedding has the same intensity as a man training for the Navy Seals." So true.

Here is Adam sharing his extensive wisdom with the group:



We learned A LOT about the way our bodies work and what we need to focus on in order to be in the best shape for the big wedding day. Here are the key takeaways:

- Do NOT starve yourself. It's the absolute worst thing you can do and will cause you to gain more weight in the long run

- Some fat is good, especially when it comes to clear skin. Good fats include flax, fish, nuts, winter squash and olive oil

- Cutting all of anything (fats, carbs, etc..) out of your diet is bad. Balance is key

- Vitamin A is the best vitamin for clear skin, just make sure you get it in moderation as it can hurt your liver

- If you only have an hour to exercise, don't pace yourself. Go as hard as you can until you can't go anymore

- Don't try to focus on one specific part of your body while working out. It's important to work all muscle groups every workout for best results

Happy Training, and Happy Friday!

making the world a smaller place, one bride at a time....

Well hello there, bridal blogging world. It's been a while. I promise to be better and you can expect more from me than once-a-month entries.

Our cozy boutique has been open for quite a few months now and it has become very apparent that one of the most important things for our brides is that they have the most important people in their life with them while shopping for a wedding dress. It makes complete sense - most important day ever, most important piece of clothing ever, most important people ever.

To make it super simple for you to share the excitement of shopping for your wedding dress with your closest family members and best friends, we have introduced a live video web conferencing system. So your college roommate now lives in Denver, your cousin is in New York and your mom can't make it down from North Carolina? At Vocelles, we connect you and your loved ones in real time -- no matter where in the world (literally) they might be. How fabulous is that?

So now you can stop worrying about coordinating travel schedules, booking pricey airline tickets and reserving hotel rooms. We've got you covered :)

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

xo,
Kristen