She’s back. And she still doesn’t know what to say out of her mouth…

New Rule: Do NOT volunteer your wannabe wedding planner maid of honor or your bridesmaid to help me. I have a staff for that. I have no desire to be asked “What do you want me to do?” every five minutes. Nor do I want to have to hurt her for undoing what I just did ten minutes ago. Likewise, I don’t want to hear about how J.Lo did it in the movies or some wedding planner did something on TV.  Tell her not to talk to the vendors, touch the centerpieces, favors or cake. Tell her to stop calling me for incessant things, like when you have a run in your stocking, you lose your contact lens or you have gas. Unless you want her tied up in with duct tape across the mouth and stashed in the back of my Yukon, tell her to get her hair and makeup done and call it a night.

New Rule: Get a real wedding website. Using your MySpace page does not count. Especially with all the glittery graphics, loud music and lewd photos of you on a stripper’s pole during Spring Break (wow, isn’t your fiance lucky?).   And stop taking RSVPs in your comments section.

New Rule: PLEASE find some one to watch your dog if you are bringing it to the wedding (and do NOT ask me). Nothing says romance like Rover cocking his leg up on the cake table or a quick squat on the dance floor. But awww, he’s so cute in his little doggy tux. FYI, your deposit with the reception hall…yeah, that’s gone.

New Rule: Bringing half empty bottles from your house to your reception site to stock your bar isn’t exactly what they had in mind when they said you could bring your own liquor. Just thought you’d want to know.

New Rule: If you’re living in a tin can, but can some how find 20 grand to spend on a wedding, you need a wedding like you need a hole in your head.

New Rule:  You are not a relationship expert now that you are engaged.  We’re glad that you finally tricked your fiance into marrying you.  But that doesn’t now give you the right to start dishing out relationship advice like you’re Dr. Phil.  We all know what a good guy your fiance is…I mean, after all, he’s dating your Maid of Honor.

Until next week!

There are some new anticipated trends for next year in the fashion world– some, which can be easily transferred into your next wedding or social event. Let’s take a gander.

Color, Color, Color

And not just any color, but bold color at that! No soft pastels– but colors that make an impact. How do we integrate this into your wedding or event?

Big Money Grip: Go for the gusto! Choose lighting in your desired colors to create an event experience. If you are having a fall wedding, opt for bold golds, rusts, oranges, and reds. Choose strategic pin and spot lighting to cast emphasis and create shadows in specific areas. Lighting can turn any location from just a “room” to another world.

A Lil Som’in, Som’in: Add textures and colors with linens. Add overlays and liners (the linens under the overlays) in your selected colors. Shoot for pintucks, organzas, stripe patterns, etc. Take the concept further by adding napkins, chair sashes, swags, etc. Even the basic colors are given punch when they have textures added in. A simple red can look very dramatic in a crushed velvet. Not crazy about linens but still want a dynamic table? Rent colored table wear– plates, ornate flatware and glassware can bring instant life to your table. Even a simple charger can change the look of a table.

Itsy Bitsy Budget: Capitalize on the fact that two things will be at your wedding that are must haves anyway– your bridal party and your flowers. You have the benefit of having 3 or more people at your wedding dressed exactly the same and will throw contrast to your reception room. (believe it or not, the eye does subconsciously note this). You will also have to have flowers– your centerpieces, your bouquets, etc. Ask your florist to go bold with your flower colors– bright yellows, deep reds, lush greens, etc. Make them as dynamic as possible by presenting them in high vases or candelabras. (these can be easily rented). You could also make runners or overlays very inexpensively with fabric from your local fabric store. Sew a simple hem and you’re done! (If you’re extra creative or have some extra dollars, you can get them embroidered or do an iron-on transfer of a design that you love).

Bling it on!

Embellishments and ornamentation is going to ROCK 2008 (pardon the pun). Go luxe with the appearance of encrusted everything!

Big Money Grip: Go crystal everything. From ambiance decor to small embellishments, make it big and sparkly. Look for crystal trees shown below and at Ethereal Decor . Use them as staples in the design scheme, or make them functional by hanging your guests’ escort cards on them.

A Lil Som’in Som’in: Add crystals/rhinestones to your florals and centerpieces. Use Bouquet Jewels to bling up your bouquet and centerpieces. Some of my favorites are the Royal Pave and Monogram Collection. (FYI, the Pretty Girl jewels are on sale for $1.99 each) You can even add rhinestone bands to your ribbon wrapped bouquet. An inexpensive approach? Use rhinestone shoe clips! You get two for the price of one! Also, look into getting these glammed up candles for your table decor.

Itsy Bitsy Budget: Ok, so we can’t have an all out fling with the bling. So let’s take it down a level. Why not print your escort cards on sparkly paper and add single rhinestones or crystals in the corner? You can do the same with your menus and programs as well. Also, you can make your own? Wedding Bee had some great instructions and discussions about this very project!

Technorati Tags: wedding trends,2008,centerpieces,decor,tables

Lindsay and I were at the beach the on St. Simons for a first consult last week (how many wedding planners can say that?!) and it was wonderful! We sat meeting a couple who will have their wedding at the new casino with it’s brick encased atrium (beautiful!) and suddenly we saw dolphins! 

Ok. Not the purpose of this post.

The purpose is that Lindsay said something I have been hearing a lot lately– That I remind people that I talk to of Kimora Lee Simmons.  Since Kimora got her show, everyone from vendors to brides have been telling me "OMG that is YOU!" Could it be that  I am channeling my inner Kimora Lee Simmons?  So my interest was piqued– I went on You Tube and caught a little snippet of her show.  I saw some similarities.  So I then went to iTunes and purchased an episode.  It just so happens as I was folding clothes (I have three babies.  My life consists of weddings and laundry.  Oooh glamorous!) and an episode came on the Style channel. 

I laughed almost the entire episode, because they are so right.

If you got a camera to follow me around, it would probably be a mix of the Sopranos, a little (very little) Leave It to Beaver , the excitement and drama of Whose Wedding… as well as Kimora’s show,

.  You have to love a woman who is raising her kids, staying true to herself and running a business.

And any woman who says this is after my own heart:  "I am a living testimony that you can do anything you want to do…and do it in stilettos"

Work it girl!

Ok, so nevermind the fact that Kellie is super beautiful.  You know, one of those girls that you can’t stand because she has on no makeup and looks like a doll. LOL  I am so glad that I have the opportunity to work with this uber-bride! She’s creative, talented and has great style.

They are using that AWESOME photographer, Scarlett Lillian, who will also shoot their wedding at the Crane Cottage at the Jekyll Island Club. These shots were taken during Georgia-Florida Weekend while Kellie and Colin were vacationing on Amelia Island.  Scarlett is amazing!

View the rest of their fantastic photos over at Scarlett’s blog!

We’ve got a secret.

It’s like, huge. l’m so excited, I wish I could tell you now.

But I won’t can’t, so you will have to wait until the official launch date of Jan 1.

We hope you’ll like it!

Now that we are officially in Christmas season, I am preparing for my house to soon look like Toys R Us threw up in my living room. But it is also time for those fabuluxe holiday parties as well as gorgeous winter weddings.  These types of events make it so easy to incorporate theme/holiday related elements into the wedding. Everything from scents, textures, colors, etc.– it can create a wonderful event experience…which is what every party is supposed to be anyway, right?

Being a lover of everything Signature Drink (we’re in the alpha stages of a party for my 5 year old. She asked what her “siggy” will be.  Gotta love her), I flipped when I saw this.  YES!  Edible shot glasses! Picture it:  warm, decadent hot chocolate in your mint chocolate shot glass topped with a cone of whipped creme fraiche, sprinkled with red cinnamon sugar. DIVINE right!?  They would look so great passed on silver trays with faux ice blocks or rhinestone snowflakes.  Who could resist those at a cocktail hour?  What makes it better is that you can infuse the taste of the glass into your drink.

Available in candy cane and mint chocolate from Urban Outfitters, $9.

I am still one who thinks that black and white weddings will be big still next year. It’s something about those colors that are so classic and sophisticated, that it makes it a no brainer– especially for budget brides. I was blog stalking and came across Lea’s of Simply Sparkling Events blog. One of her favorite photographers, Jennifer Skog had a B&W wedding, and not only was it gorgeous, but it was BEAUTIFULLY shot. (Photographers were Angelica Glass, with second shooter Juliet Nicole)

Even alone a B&W wedding is absolutely stunning. Even adding accents of deep reds, bold mandarins, or soft blues can change the dynamic of the decor. Aahh! The possibilities!

Photo by Jupiter Images

The sun was gleaming. Your groom is beaming. There is a slight breeze as you hear the classical trio play the processional softly.

THEN THE BOTTOM FALLS OUT OF THE SKY AND TRASHES YOUR WEDDING.

What do you do? Well at that point, it’s not really much you can do. But if hindsight was 20/20, what should you have done?

1.) Secured a tent.

2.) Secured a backup location.
I know it may seem like an expensive hassle at the time, but the repercussions are just too great for not doing so. If your wedding is outside, and it begins to rain, let me demystify some of those things that most brides think will happen:

1.) Wedding venues will have your backup location ready to go PRIOR to the wedding should they foresee inclimate weather. They do not however setup your backup location as a mirror image of your outdoor event if begins to rain/sleet/hail during your event so that you can keep on partying like it’s 1999.

2.) Most venues take the force majeure approach to these type of situations– they make the final call to move an event indoors, whether you like or not. This may suck in the meantime, but they still have an obligation to fulfill to you and are doing their best to do so with the situation they have been given.

3.) In addition to the above, I don’t care how many forecasts you have checked– if your reception site says it’s moved in, it’s moved in period. Or you just don’t have your wedding (I have seen this almost happen before). Remember there are other people to consider– elderly guests, children, babies, your bridal party, and your vendors. Your vendors don’t appreciate having their equipment messed up. At all.

4.) Be a good girl scout– Be prepared. Always have a backup. Even though it may be your DREEEAAAMMM to have an outdoor wedding, consider alternate setups for your back up location so that you are happy either way. Try to choose arrangements that will look great in your back up location as well as your outdoor location, that way, nothing will look terribly out of place.

5.) Be sure to discuss these possibilities with the salesperson at your venue. You may also want to have a tent company come out and give you an estimate as well as some ideas.
—————-
Now playing: Fergie – Voodoo Doll
via FoxyTunes

Just when you thought it was safe…She’s back with more rules…

New Rule: Stop picking these bad kids to be in your bridal party. Exactly what color crack were you smoking when you said, “Hey, I think I’ll ask my best friend’s future serial killer 5 year old to be my ring bearer”? He may be cute, but you know sometimes, so are rabid dogs. He yells. He screams. He pushes the flower girl down. He’s GOT A PROBATION OFFICER. So at what point do you say, “Hey! Carry my rings!”? He can’t even follow simple instructions like “Walk slowly”, or “Smile” or “Shut your face or your getting handcuffed to the radiator again”. And why are you surprised when your rings don’t make it up the aisle? He probably hocked them at the pawn shop and got new rims for his Power Wheels Hummer. But hey, at least your pictures will be cute.

New Rule: Needing security when you don’t have any VIPs at your wedding is not cute. Why are you surprised when your fiance’s ex-girlfriend shows up? You sent her a hand couriered invitation! And you didn’t think she’d come alone, did you? She’s brought her crew, and now you, your mother, and the bridal party are taking off your earrings and putting on the Vaseline. Your 90 year old grandmother is in the back shadowboxing. So now, since you were so spiteful, your wedding now looks like the Michael Jackson “Beat It” video, with you and the ex dancing around in circles talking much trash. Or, it looks like this. Oodles of fun.  (Side note, did you see the girl take off her hair and beat the other girl with it? Classic.)

New Rule: You have to be walking for at least a year before you are a flower girl. Ok. I get it. Little eighteen month old Madison is cute. The only problem is that she can’t walk a straight line! She looks like Lindsay Lohan at a field sobriety test. So, for future reference, if they range in age of fetus to two years old, please reconsider.

New Rule: Don’t be surprised if you tell the wedding planner at the initial consultation that you “have no budget”, that she suddenly has “no time”. We’re not impressed by that. Even the richest people have budgets and projected goals. When you say you have no budget, what you really mean is “I have no money, I’m here for the ‘free’ ideas and am going straight to Ray Ray’s Chicken and Weddings after this so he can do my ENTIRE wedding.

New Rule: You have to stop telling people you’ve got a special choreographed dance for your First Dance. You’re doing the Cupid Shuffle and the Electric Slide, not a tango or a bachata. It’s a line dance for Pete’s sake.

New Rule: Please stop with the soft-core porn on the dance floor during the Garter Toss. I had no desire to know or see that you have a “Slippery When Wet” Yield sign on your inner thigh. Get a room!

Liene had a fantastic post today about how you can “buy” something that is so untangible, but means the world to someone else. It was awesome and moving. So on this Thanksgiving day, Oprah had a show on about giving. She featured an organization that has been the secret addiction amongst givers called Kiva. Kiva is an organization that allows everyday people like you and me to make a loan to impoverished entrepreneurs in third world countries to start a business that could change the entire dynamic of their lives. A loan as small as $25 can help a business owner feed their family for a month, buy clothes or possibly medicine for their children. What makes the process even more rewarding is that when the loan is paid back, you get a credit in your account which allows you to then give to someone else if you choose. You simply click on a person’s picture– read more about them and their story. If you feel compelled to give, you can do so at your own discretion. Kiva has had a 98% repaid loan rate. That is AMAZING. I just registered and when I clicked on someone I was interested in loaning money to, the site crashed! Their servers were overloaded with other people who are passionate about giving. I challenge you…I DARE you to count your blessings today and bless someone else.

So see– you really can buy happiness.