How Much Time Does It Really Take to Plan a Wedding?

A Professional Planner (our very own Amy!) Tells All: How Much Time Does It Really Take to Plan a Wedding?

At the best of times, planning your wedding can feel like no big deal, but at the worst of times, it can feel like a full-time job. Why? Because it kind of is. If you sat down and tracked every single hour you and your future husband or wife spent organizing the details of your big day, you’d probably be surprised by the findings. How many hours do most couples really devote to planning their ceremonies and receptions?

In this article over on Martha Stewart Weddings, Amy lays it all out for you.

How to Get Your Guests to Actually Use Your Wedding Hashtag from Martha Stewart Weddings

You know that your photographer will document the most important moments and details of your wedding, but that doesn't mean it isn't fun to relive the big day through the eyes of your guests. The very best way to do that is with a social media hashtag, which allows you to easily gather photos taken by family and friends. Martha Stewart Weddings has gathered five ideas that will get your guests excited to use your #hashtag throughout the ceremony and reception.

21 Ways to Make Your Wedding Feel More Modern from Martha Stewart Weddings

There are few events with quite as many traditions as a wedding, but that doesn't mean you can't still make the day your own. If you're looking to plan a wedding with a classic structure but modern edge, know that you're not alone. Whether they're trying to appease older generations of family members who have strong opinions on what a wedding looks like or want to follow traditions they love but ditch others that don't work for them, plenty of couples are searching for ways to bring their big days into the 21st century. Here is a list of amazing tips straight from the wedding experts rounded up by Martha Stewart Weddings. PS: #12 is from our founder, Amy Nichols!!

15 of Napa Valley's Most Luxurious Spots for a Bachelorette Party from Martha Stewart Weddings

Ready to relax with your ladies before "I Do"? If you'd prefer total relaxation to nightclubs and sunshine to casinos, sip back and relax at one of these Wine Country retreats rounded up by Martha Stewart Weddings.

15 Ways to Personalize Your Wedding from Inside Weddings

From custom welcome boxes to a special first dance, we love when couples infuse their backgrounds into their big day. Your wedding is a day that celebrates your love...that's right, YOUR love, your unique, special, one-of-a-kind love, so let your wedding details show that off! Instead of hosting your loved ones for a party, take them on a journey of your story and share all of your favorite things with all of your favorite people. Click to read the full article from Inside Weddings.

How to Word Your Wedding Invitations from Martha Stewart Weddings

Your wedding invitation is so much more than a piece of paper displaying the date, time, and location. It can truly showcase your wedding style. In this great article from Martha Stewart Weddings, you'll find examples of invitation styles and wording for each pairing.

How to Plan a Long-Distance Wedding from Inside Weddings

Are you planning a wedding in a different city from the one you live? Whether you’re having a hometown celebration or destination wedding, you’ll find that planning your nuptials from out of town adds an extra layer of difficulty. Of course, if the location is meaningful to you, it will probably be worth it in the end. Determining how to tackle this planning challenge will largely depend on your means, schedule, and the cooperation of your loved ones. With careful organization, you can have the wedding of your dreams, distance notwithstanding. Click to read the full article from Inside Weddings for some great tips. Or just contact The Poppy Group today for that final push at the finish line!

What to Do When a Wedding Vendor Is Advising You Against Something You Want from Martha Stewart Weddings

You've hired a great team and everything is going swimmingly until one of your vendors tells you they can't make your dream a reality. This is a more common dilemma than you might think, and it's a moment that's worth stepping back from and assessing the advice you're receiving. In this great article from Martha Stewart Weddings, they talk through what to do when a vendor is advising you against something you really want.

How (Not) to Announce Your Engagement from A Practical Wedding

A Practical Wedding always has the best Letters to the Editor and we definitely suggest anyone that is newly engaged read this advice!

The Pros and Cons of a Big Bridal Party from Inside Weddings

A really large wedding party can be fun-filled or full of trouble. If you’re not sure whether you want to spread the love or keep things intimate, this pros and cons list for having a large wedding party from Inside Weddings may help you make your decision.

A Year-by-Year Guide to Traditional Wedding Anniversary Gifts from Martha Stewart Weddings

Regardless of how long you've been married, your anniversary is an occasion to celebrate. Whether it's one year of wedded bliss or a decade of holy matrimony, your spouse will truly love a gift that shows how much you care. If you want a helpful list, click here to check out Martha Stewart's slideshow on traditional and modern gifts year by year. 

8 Tips for a Killer Cocktail Hour from Junebug Weddings

The cocktail hour is such an important part of tying together the main events of your wedding day. It is all about allowing guests to mix, mingle, and relax. Not only will it tide your guests over until the reception dinner, but it helps everyone transition from ceremony mode to party mode. All it takes is a little creativity, a little thoughtfulness, and these tips to create an experience you and your guests will love. Click Here to Read 8 Tips for a Killer Cocktail Hour...

How to Make Your Single Wedding Guests Feel Included from Brides.com

Our very own Amy Nichols (co-founder of The Poppy Group and owner of Amy Nichols Special Events) was recently quoted on Brides.com for a great article about ways to make your single guests feel included when your venue or budget can't accommodate plus ones! "'Don't relegate your single friends to a table that’s made up of all single people they’ve never met,” says Amy Nichols of Amy Nichols Special Events and Thumbtack Pro. Whether you serve the dinner plated or from unique food stations, seat single friends with others they may know or have heard about. “If you have a single friend from college, seat her with other friends she knows from school, regardless of whether those friends are also married or part of a couple,” says Nichols." Click here to read the rest of the tips!

37 Bridal Shower Themes That Are Truly One-of-a-Kind from Martha Stewart Weddings

Are you wanting to plan a bridal shower, but aren't sure where to start? We found a great article for you! In this article from Martha Stewart Weddings, they are sharing one-of-a-kind bridal shower themes, that your bride will love! In the article they say that the planning can get easier, "Fortunately, coordinating the perfect bridal shower is made infinitely easier when you have one very important item picked out ahead of time: Your bridal shower theme." Click here to read the full article!

7 Wedding Vase Centerpieces that Double as Table Numbers from Brides.com

Are you looking for a fun way to make your table numbers stand out? In this article from Brides.com they are showing 7 ways to use vase centerpieces for your table numbers. The sea glass vase above is beautiful, what a neat idea! In the article they say, "Table numbers are an essential reception element: They are usually displayed at the center of each table to help guests locate their assigned seat. But you don't have to stick to standard table-number cards. Instead, you should use them as an opportunity to express your personalities and wedding style." Click here to read all 7 of the ideas.

24 Cute Ways to Use Balloons Throughout Your Wedding on Martha Stewart Weddings

Balloons can be an event staple! Not only can they be dressed up, they are also kid friendly too. In this article from Martha Stewart Weddings, they are sharing 24 ways to use balloons at your wedding. Here are just a few ways you can use balloons, "If you want to use balloons as an accent, tie them to signage or to mark certain spaces, like the guestbook, gift, or head table. To make them a major part of your décor, consider creating a balloon wall or arch. Spruce up the standard style by filling them with confetti or purchasing them in unique patterns." Read the full article here.

Self-Care for the Seriously Stressed out Bride from Style Me Pretty

Has the wedding planning and decision making process have you stressed? Don't worry, you are not alone. Style Me Pretty is sharing an article about self-care for stressed brides and it is so good! The beginning of the article shares about wedding being a whirlwind, "Between booking a venue, managing your MIL, and all of the milestones and to-dos in between, any bride-to-be might get seriously stressed. But when all else fails (and it's ok if it does), try a few of these simple self-care tips to combat your nerves. You got this, brides!" Read the full article here.

How to Use Color to Tie Everything Together on Your Wedding Day from Style Me Pretty

Are you looking to add a pop of color to your wedding day? You can do that by using a unique color combination, a pattern, or even an accent color. In this article from Style Me Pretty, they are sharing multiple ways to use a color to tie your wedding together. In the article, they talk about how a color can tell a story, "Adding your colors to the ceremony and reception in all design elements, down to the smallest details, is a perfect strategy for making your wedding and reception unique and memorable. " Read more about using color on your wedding day here.

13 Valentine's Day Wedding Ideas to Send Your Heart Aflutter from Brides.com

Does the lovers' holiday have your heart? If you are looking to have a romantic Valentine's Day wedding then this article from Brides.com is for you! In it, they are sharing 13 wedding ideas for a perfect Valentine's Day wedding. They say that a wedding on Valentine's Day is the, "perfect occasion to embrace your romantic side with a feminine lace dress and a crimson lip. Your guests can enjoy romantic cocktails and sweet treats. And when it comes to decor, think red roses and heart-shaped signage. Planning to get hitched in mid-February? Here, some Valentine's Day wedding ideas that are sure to send your heart a flutter." Click here, to head over to the full article to see all the ideas.

7 Annoying Wedding Planning Tasks to Get Over With ASAP from the WeddingWire

Have you found a few wedding tasks annoying? You are not alone! While some are magical, like dress shopping with your girls, some are just boring. In this article written by Wedding Wire, they are sharing the most tedious and frustrating wedding tasks to get over with quickly. One example is, "Thinking about rounding up all their names and addresses into a living document that must be kept vigilantly up to date over the next year or so? Nightmare (for most of us, anyway). Still, the wedding wouldn’t be a wedding without guests (it’d be an elopement, which is totally an option, by the way), so you’d best get to the guest list sooner than later, because it’s a necessary evil." Read about the other 6 tips and how to check them off your list quickly, here.