Free Wedding Planning Advice

Posted on April 2, 2013 by admin

There is no doubt that we love what we do here at The Cordial Cricket, and part of what we do is answer lots of questions from brides, grooms and their parents about their nuptials. We love to help couples by answering their wedding planning questions, whether they are planning a wedding in Richmond, Virginia, Charleston, South Carolina or anywhere else for that matter!

We want to answer your questions too! We will now be answering your questions weekly on our blog to help any and all engaged couples and their families. Be one of the first brides to have your burning questions answered by simply leaving us a comment here on this post with one of the questions you’d like us to answer for you. You may also email questions to us at info@thecordialcricket.com

We can’t wait to help you! Leave your questions/comments below.

The Cordial Cricket is a boutique wedding planning and invitation firm located in Richmond, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina. Owned by lead wedding planner and stationer, Elizabeth Howard, they specialize in planning and coordinating luxury weddings and events for superior clients. They also offer beautiful invitations and stationery to generate enthusiastic anticipation for their client’s events.

 

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Who Do We Work Best With?

Posted on March 29, 2013 by admin

We are often asked “Who Do You Work Best With?” so we thought, why not share that answer with our readers here…

The clients who benefit the most from working with Elizabeth Howard and her staff at The Cordial Cricket on either wedding invitation services, event planning or coordination, want to have invitations and events that most people only dream of. They are smart enough to utilize The Cordial Cricket’s expertise and guidance to the fullest extent to achieve their goals. They are conscious of their time and budgets and place their complete trust in their expertise!

You will benefit from working with The Cordial Cricket if you want your dream wedding, but don’t have the time, resources or expertise to accomplish it all. If you know what it is you want, but have no idea how to get there or if you are not clear at all about what you want, that’s okay too. Either way you are a perfect candidate! Find out more about what it is like to work with us or review our wedding planning packages.

The Cordial Cricket is a boutique wedding planning and invitation firm located in Richmond, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina. Owned by lead wedding planner and stationer, Elizabeth Howard, they specialize in planning and coordinating luxury weddings and events for superior clients. They also offer beautiful invitations and stationery to generate enthusiastic anticipation for their client’s events.

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The WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Award

Posted on March 27, 2013 by admin

We are thrilled to announce The Cordial Cricket has been awarded the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Award for 2013!

This prestigious award recognizes the top five percent of wedding professionals nationwide that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness, and professionalism. Winners are determined through recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds.

The Cordial Cricket would like to say thank you to all of our lovely brides who voted and made this honor possible. Knowing that you believed we made your wedding dreams come to life makes it all worthwhile!

 The Cordial Cricket is a boutique wedding planning and invitation firm located in Richmond, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina. Owned by lead wedding planner and stationer, Elizabeth Howard, they specialize in planning and coordinating luxury weddings and events for superior clients. They also offer beautiful invitations and stationery to generate enthusiastic anticipation for their client’s events.
 
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Blogville Conference

Posted on March 26, 2013 by admin

We could not be more thrilled to announce that the owner of The Cordial Cricket, our own Elizabeth Howard will be a speaker at the upcoming Blogville conference in Charlottesville on April 13th. See more details about this event below, including how you can register to attend!

3rd Annual Blogging, Social Media &
SEO Conference Coming to Charlottesville

WHAT: Blogville 2013
WHERE: Doubletree Charlottesville (29 North)
WHEN: Saturday, April 13, 2013
PRICE: $75 for Cville Sheblogs members, $160 for non members
Blogville Conference host sponsor: Cville Sheblogs
Registration available online at www.blogvilleconference.com/registration

Charlottesville, VA (March 22, 2013)

The 3rd annual Blogville Conference will take place at the Doubletree Charlottesville on Saturday, April 13, 2013 with one simple mission: to educate and support all levels of bloggers through education in the core areas of social media, search engine optimization and blogging best practices.

Jennifer Hamlin, founder and event director for Blogville, stated, “We all hear about everyday… your business needs a blog, a Facebook account, etc. Through my experience talking with other business owners is that it can seem overwhelming and people want to know where and how to start. That is why this conference exists. To educate the beginners to get started and help the veterans learn how to expand their followers and reach.”

A seasoned and experienced group of speakers have been confirmed for this conference. They include:

Miller Murry Susen, amomynity
Marty Martin @ Adapt Partners
Elizabeth Howard @ The Cordial Cricket
Molly Fulton @ Jefferson Area CHIP
Zachary Thompson @ RYP Marketing
Jennifer Prince @ The Clutch Guide @ Hill City Bride
Mary Beth Bowen @ MBPR: Charlottesville Marketing & Communications
John Carlin @ The John Carlin Agency

Registration is open now at www.blogvilleconference.com. Follow us on Facebook (search blogville) and Twitter (@blogvillebuzz) for up to date speakers and agenda items.

Thank you to our sponsors for making this conference possible: Events with Panache, Cville Sheblogs, The Clutch Guide, Hill City Bride, WordPress Webmaster, T&N Printing, Rock Paper Scissors, In a Flash Laser, and Virginia Wedding Video.

The Cordial Cricket is a boutique wedding planning and invitation firm located in Richmond, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina. Owned by lead wedding planner and stationer, Elizabeth Howard, they specialize in planning and coordinating luxury weddings and events for superior clients. They also offer beautiful invitations and stationery to generate enthusiastic anticipation for their client’s events.
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Wedding Planner…The Groom’s Best Friend

Posted on March 24, 2013 by admin

Photo by Carly Jones Photography

Many people think that wedding planners really just help the bride and possibly her mother to plan the wedding, relieve stress and make the day they dreamed of run more perfectly than they even imagined. While this is typically true, we have been fortunate to be able to help both brides and grooms on many occasions. Sometimes the grooms have us on speed dial and we talk to them even more than we talk to their bride-to-be!

Our job is always rewarding, but when we manage to forge a time-saving, stress-relieving relationship and be a superhero for a groom, in addition to their lovely bride, well…that’s the icing on the cake! Especially when the guys take time to send you a review like this one…

“My wife and I got married this past November at an outdoor venue the week following Hurricane Sandy. Stress levels all around were high. Elizabeth and her team at The Cordial Cricket were beyond amazing. She took the thinking and worrying out of the equation and handled everything. From my wife and I’s first meeting with her until the end of the reception Elizabeth and her company went above and beyond. I’m not one to normally write reviews but couldn’t give a better recommendation to anyone. Elizabeth is the most detail oriented and punctual person I have ever met. She was even able to reign me in during the reception (looking back no the easiest task). If you need a wedding planner Elizabeth and The Cordial Cricket are the way to go!! ~ Andrew B.

The Cordial Cricket is a boutique wedding planning and invitation firm located in Richmond, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina. Owned by lead wedding planner and stationer, Elizabeth Howard, they specialize in planning and coordinating luxury weddings and events for superior clients. They also offer beautiful invitations and stationery to generate enthusiastic anticipation for their client’s events.
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A Charleston Wedding: Megan and Richard

Posted on February 25, 2013 by admin

Charleston, South Carolina is our home away from home (in case you weren’t aware, we have a second studio located in downtown Charleston) and we love getting a glimpse into weddings held in one of our favorite places. The Wedding Row, recently featured a ceremony that we fell in love with and we were delighted to see some familiar faces were involved in the nuptials.

The magic of this wedding day was captured by Kim Graham Photography. Kim Graham is one of our favorites; in fact, The Cordial Cricket’s owner, Elizabeth Howard, had her own Charleston wedding beautifully shot by Kim Graham Photography. If you look closely, you can find one of her favorite shots on The Cordial Cricket’s home page!

The classic invitations were designed by Studio R, a Charleston company devoted to expressing a client’s personal style in their wedding stationery. The Cordial Cricket also carries Studio R wedding stationery at both our Charleston and Richmond locations.

Enjoy a look at Megan and Richard’s special day and learn why Charleston weddings hold a special place in our hearts.

All photos – Kim Graham Photography

The Cordial Cricket is a boutique wedding planning and invitation firm located in Richmond, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina. Owned by lead wedding planner and stationer, Elizabeth Howard, they specialize in planning and coordinating luxury weddings and events for superior clients. They also offer beautiful invitations and stationery to generate enthusiastic anticipation for their client’s events.

 

 

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Meet Graceful Swan Rentals

Posted on February 11, 2013 by admin

Photo – Graceful Swan 

In case you haven’t noticed, we love creative and distinctive table settings.  So when we learned about Graceful Swan Rentals, we knew we needed to spread the word about this new company in Richmond, Virginia.

Graceful Swan is run by Evelyn and Sandra, a mother-daughter team who uses their love of pretty things to collect mismatched dishware and help provide events with whimsical table settings and props. Learn more about their services and rental inventory on their official website.

Thanks to Graceful Swan, “no plates get left behind” in the quest to create splendid table settings that are sure to be the hit of any event. We know several of our planning clients will be featuring their unique items at their weddings this year! Get better acquainted with the ladies of Graceful Swan Rentals on Facebook and Twitter.

All Photos – Graceful Swan Rentals 

The Cordial Cricket is a boutique wedding planning and invitation firm located in Richmond, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina. Owned by lead wedding planner and stationer, Elizabeth Howard, they specialize in planning and coordinating luxury weddings and events for superior clients. They also offer beautiful invitations and stationery to generate enthusiastic anticipation for their client’s events.

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Pulling Our Heart Strings

Posted on February 1, 2013 by admin

Photo – Katherine Elizabeth Photography

We love this String Heart project featured on one of our favorite blogs, Green Wedding Shoes. With some materials from your local hardware store, you can create a heart (the bigger, the better) to include in your wedding reception decor or display in your home.  With Valentine’s Day around the corner, we believe it would be a lovely sentiment for the sweetheart in your life.

Have you ever received a memborable DIY gift that tugged at your heart strings? Share with us in the comment section or visit us on Facebook and Twitter to let us know!

The Cordial Cricket is a boutique wedding planning and invitation firm located in Richmond, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina. Owned by lead wedding planner and stationer, Elizabeth Howard, they specialize in planning and coordinating luxury weddings and events for superior clients. They also offer beautiful invitations and stationery to generate enthusiastic anticipation for their client’s events.

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The Birthday Party Project

Posted on January 28, 2013 by admin
Photo – Rex C. Curry 

For most children, their birthdays mean inviting friends and loved ones to celebrate their special day with gifts, cake, and candles to make a wish on. Unfortunately, families living in homeless shelters can not provide their children with birthday parties and the memories that go along with them.

Fortunately for many kids, Paige Chenault, a professional party planner and mother from Dallas, Texas, saw the chance to give back and help homeless children feel celebrated on their birthday.  So began The Birthday Party Project, an organization in North Texas that visits homeless shelters monthly to throw birthday parties for children in need.  Chenault and her volunteers (appropriately named “Birthday Enthusiasts”) supply cake, candles, balloons and games for the birthday boys and girls.  Each child receives a wrapped gift and a photo to remember the special day. We happen to think this is pretty awesome!

There are several ways to contribute to The Birthday Party Project.  Donations are always accepted, as well as in-kind gifts, such as party supplies, necessary to make the celebrations possible.  Take a look at their wish list here and see how you can contribute to help a child’s birthday wishes come true. We are excited to send some fun party essentials their way ourselves and hope you will pick up some extra things next time you’re shopping for your child’s next party!

You can also like and follow The Birthday Party Project on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo – Louis DeLuca 

The Cordial Cricket is a boutique wedding planning and invitation firm located in Richmond, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina. Owned by lead wedding planner and stationer, Elizabeth Howard, they specialize in planning and coordinating luxury weddings and events for superior clients. They also offer beautiful invitations and stationery to generate enthusiastic anticipation for their client’s events.


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Meet Paisley & Jade

Posted on January 25, 2013 by admin

This month we had the pleasure of meeting Richmond-area brides at the Richmond Weddings Magazine Expo and The Richmond Bridal Showcase, two great shows that helped bring vendors and brides together.  Thanks to our friends at Blue Steel Lighting, Flowers Make Scents, and The Prop Shop, The Cordial Cricket had the perfect booth to showcase the various services we can offer brides in the Richmond, Virginia area including wedding stationery and wedding planning.

One aspect of our booth highlighted some of our favorite wedding stationery designs, invitations and save the dates.  This is where the ladies of Paisley & Jade came in, providing us with a customized Victorian era pin board we rented from them to showcase our work in a unique way.

The charming bulletin board is just one example of what Paisley & Jade has to offer.  Specializing in eclectic rentals, design, and custom fabrication, Paisley & Jade is a Richmond business started by two lovely gals, who know a thing or two about weddings and events, Perkins and Morgan. Clients can choose rental pieces from their extensive inventory that is constantly growing with each new find.  More information on their design and custom fabrication services can be found here.

Perkins and Morgan love a “beautifully crafted visual” and are ready to bring that vision to your wedding day or event.  We just love working with them on our clients weddings. Take a look through their gallery and become inspired for your next special occasion!

All Photos – Paisley & Jade 

 The Cordial Cricket is a boutique wedding planning and invitation firm located in Richmond, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina. Owned by lead wedding planner and stationer, Elizabeth Howard, they specialize in planning and coordinating luxury weddings and events for superior clients. They also offer beautiful invitations and stationery to generate enthusiastic anticipation for their client’s events.

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