I could list a million amazing things about my wedding because, IT WAS MY WEDDING YO! Everyone’s wedding is their best day ever, and that’s why weddings are great! There are so many warnings, “don’ts” “do’s” or “what if’s” revolving around planning a wedding, so take this fun positive spin on advice for planning your big day.

Now everyone and their mom is asking you when you’re getting married. And where you’re getting married. And when you’re having kids. And what your social security number is. AND IT’S BEEN FIVE MINUTES.

Yep, yep, we’ve all been there. Hot dang your friends and family are excited for you, which is exciting! And scary. And overwhelming. So, how can you get ahead before you event start?

What is the first thing most engaged couples get for a gift or purchase for themselves? A wedding planning binder! I was pursuing the bookstore shortly after Wade proposed and found the perfect one.

The binder did guide you through what to do next because it had you document certain aspects of the planning journey. It simply didn’t stress a timeline or the “do nots”. It truly focused on the incredibly neat side of being engaged- exploring what “meeting in the middle” means to you and your partner, bonding with your soon to be in-laws when dress shopping, digging every cake tasting appointment and more!

Guest experience is a hot topic and one that should be top of mind when making most, if not all, wedding decisions. Having a seating chart can greatly enhance guest experience by giving your guests a purpose. From elaborate to simple and statement piece to a gorgeous accent, there are an endless number of seating chart options. Check out four of our absolute favs!

The hubs and I (Elizabeth) tied the knot in 2016. I was desk-bound during the planning process and got sucked into the Pinterest rabbit hole more often than I’d like to admit. 14 months after Wade popped the question we said, “I do” and it was the most perfect day, but trust me, there were plenty of learning lessons along the way. These five things I wish I knew before my wedding day are easily avoidable and some of them won’t dip into the $$$ at all!

Have you ever attended a wedding and left that koozie because you already have 40 others? Ate enough cake so you don’t want to take home the little box of Hershey kisses? If you aren’t doing wedding favors simply because you’ve been that guest that left theirs at the table, then check out these five neat wedding favor ideas your guests will LOVE (and, bonus, most of them support local small businesses)!

Alright- this is a judgement free zone. If you don’t want to have a kid-friendly wedding, it’s your day and your choice! If you DO want to have a kid-friendly affair, we know that it can be hard to know how to cater to the little ones if you don’t yet have little ones!

These fun ideas are sure to keep the kiddos entertained throughout your wedding!

If you’ve met me for longer than five seconds you know I have a DEEP love for Brancato’s. Of course one of the reasons is because of their stellar food, but they are my top choice for a wedding caterer because of their service. Catering can truly make or break a wedding day. You want a caterer who is going to bring extra flatware because they know some will get dropped. You want a caterer who will refresh a buffet before your guests even know anything was out! Most importantly, you want a caterer who will be transparent about pricing and flexible with building the menu you want. Check out these quick tips on what you should look out for in a caterer and what the experience is like!

You are officially on the final stretch with roughly 30 days out from your big day! After months (or even years!) of planning, every details you have thought about and decision you have made is about to come into fruition. The venue final walk through will be the last time you are onsite before your rehearsal or wedding day. This is the time to ask any final questions and clarify last minute details. Your venue will also have a plethora of details to discuss, so use this as a guide so you can know what to expect.

In a world of negative news and all the doom and gloom...shift your focus to the positives. I know this can be "easier said than done" when you've invested tons of time, money, and energy into your plans. But keep your focus on the good things to come like...marrying your best friend, being healthy, having vendors who have helped transition your original wedding to a new postponed date or helped with details to bring your vision to life with the new normal. Please remember that this time won't last forever. We are all in this together and we will come out stronger.

Samantha and Jared thoughtfully planned each and every detail of their romantic summer wedding, down to the vows they said at the altar. Their neutral color palette brought their classy and organic vision to life. With mismatched bridesmaid dresses and greenery dawned place settings, this summer affair was perfectly planned and seamlessly executed.

When making a list of everyone you want in your wedding party, drawing the line is crazy hard. You have BFFs from the first grade, gal pals you bonded with in Chem 101 and sorority sisters you can’t NOT have in your bridal party. Not to mention your future sister-in-laws, your brother’s long time girlfriend and the cousin you grew up with! Check out these four head table styles that can host large wedding parties while meshing well with your wedding design!

Are you starting to think about getting engagement photos? Use this step-by-step guide to help you through the process of who to hire, what to wear and what to expect! The point of engagement photos is to ENJOY them and get comfortable with your soon-to-be wedding photographer.

We all want to hear the Usher, Lizzo, Post Malone and Kanye songs at a wedding, but I’m not so sure those songs are for Grandma’s ears. How can you show off your personality as a couple, but make sure the songs are appropriate for all ears? HELLOOOOOOO REMIXES AND REMAKES! Check out these 3 OG songs and 3 remixes that are guaranteed to put a smile on every face.

Friday weddings are becoming the new hot thang. I know there are some doubters out there, so check out these three myths BUSTED about hosting your wedding on a Friday night!

Have you stopped scrolling when you see those gorgeous detail shots of invitation suites paired perfectly with an heirloom necklace and stunning bouquet? Yes, some of the photos are from styled shoots, but YOU can have your perfectly curated dreams come true too! Check out this list of items to bring to your wedding day and how to best prepare your photographer to bring your vision to life.

Are you topping off wedding planning by creating that minute-by-minute timeline and feeling frustrated? Have no fear, Hawthorne House is here! These tips and tricks for creating your wedding day timeline will guide you through the daunting process and break it down to a few simple steps. Happy planning from Hawthorne House!

Besides hotel room block contracts, catering quotes can be the most confusing contractual document while planning a wedding. We’ll decode the four key aspects you should look for when determining if a caterer is right for YOU!

Whether you choose to do a first look or not, the chance that you will take photos during cocktail hour is, like, 99.999%. So, what do guests do during the 45-75 minute break? Do one, two or all three of the tips below and you are guaranteed to have guests up and about just waiting to see what’s coming next.