It’s official! Social quarantine is over! We will be at The Brunswick News Bridal Show on February 3, 2008 (this Sunday) from 1-5 p.m.! All of us- live and in living color!
Stop by and see us– introduce yourself! Tell us about your wedding!
Archive for January, 2008
Come Meet Us. We Don't Bite....anymore.
January 31, 2008May I have this dance?
January 31, 2008Check out this first dance for these newlyweds… so romantic hilarious.
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Wine Pairings for Dummies
January 31, 2008
Have no fear! The Amazing Food Wine Company is about to make life a whole lot simpler.
It can’t get any easier than finding a bottle of wine with a big picture of its complementary food on it.
What makes it even better is that it has the cutest names like “Wine that Loves Chicken” or “Wine that Loves Tomato Sauce”. Others include “Wine that Loves Grilled Steak” or “Wine that Loves Pizza”.
Wine That Loves, $12.99, available from http://winethatloves.com
{AP Photo/Larry Crowe}
How to Settle Minor Disagreements with Vendors and Bridesmaids
January 29, 2008A quick lesson from my husband, Captain America (in the blue shorts):
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LOL I LOVE THAT! I just had to share. I love how the guy with the camera asks my husband, “Do you want one minute? (the length of the round)”, but he taps the guy in 27 seconds.
*Sigh* A man after my own heart.
So luxelings– have a vendor who has quoted you two different prices? A bridesmaids who still hasn’t gotten their dress yet? Future MILwho won’t help herself to a cup of STHU?
Nothing a little choke can’t fix 
—————-
Now playing: HBO – Real Time with Bill Maher – Episode 117
via FoxyTunes
{Papier Tuesday} Elva Marie Fine Paper
January 29, 2008
How absolutely gorgeous are these designs!?
They are the brain candy of Elva of Elva Marie’s Paper. Her designs are modern, whimsical and colorful. Looking through her gallery, you can see the personality of her clients, as well as how well Elva keeps up with the wedding trends.
I had the opportunity to chat with Elva. Feel free to eavesdrop:
T: What inspires your work?
:: EMFP :: Definately the couple! I love it when couples come to a consulation together. It’s so fun to watch them get excited about picking out colors, wordings, and fonts. I thrive on their excitement, and we usually work together to create a design that will suit their event. Don’t get me wrong, I work with a lot of clients via phone or email, and have created some beautiful things for them, but it’s just not the same.
T: When coming up with a new design, what are your favorite textures, colors, etc. to work with?
:: EMFP :: I really like working with handmade, and Japanese papers. I also like using vellum overlays, and pocket folds. Even though pockets folds have been around awhile they are pretty new to New Mexico and people are going nuts for them!
I like working with colors that aren’t exactly traditional. Oranges, greens, blues, yellows, and pinks are my favorites. Lately I’ve been getting requests for reds, and browns, but not much for anything else!
T: What is your favorite design currently available to clients?
:: EMFP :: My favorite job is what ever I am working on now! Currently, I am working on 3 very different projects. A pocket fold in graphite with ruby Swaroski crystal accents, and jobs that include a vellum overlay. One of them is for a 25th anniversary where the couple will be renewing their vows. We used their original wedding photo on the overlay and it looks amazing!
T: What tips do you have for clients who would like couture invites or when choosing their invites in general?
:: EMFP:: Don’t settle for anything that you aren’t completely in love with!
Planning the Honeymoon Trip?
January 28, 2008After working for a couple of years for a luxury hotel chain, I learned a trick or two for getting the most out of your money when booking your travel arrangements. I figured I would share some of them….
1. Don’t settle for the first rate you are given. Call everywhere for rates including your travel agent, AAA, the hotel itself (ask for in-house reservations), etc. Compare the rates, they can get pretty competitive. Sometimes incentives are offered for booking through the hotel instead of another booking agent.
2. Consider the time you are booking. Its a pretty widely known fact that it is cheaper to travel during the week instead of the weekend. What’s not widely known is that the best time to search for flights and rooms online is at 12:01 AM. This is because when you reserve a flight or room without paying for it and don’t go back to pay for it, they get re-released into the system. This usually happens at 12:01 AM.
3. Your company’s name or job could get you a discount. Check with the hotel if they offer discounted rates for your company. Many corporations have specials rates at hotels for their employees–and most hotels are not required to enforce the purpose of the visit (i.e. personal or business). {This is usually the same for government or military}
4. Call the hotel’s Guest Relations department. This is the area in the hotel who handles special requests (flowers, rose petal turndowns, arrival amenities, etc.) If you let them know you are planning your honeymoon (or special occasion) they will usually offer a complimentary amenity or gift. Many hotels have some sort of department that handles this. (If you have trouble with this: contact the GM’s executive assistant)
5. Ask for a discount. I know it sounds like the most obvious advice–but not many people do. You would be astonished what you may get. Things include: free upgrades, amenities, club upgrades, etc.
6. Call after hours. If you are having problems confirming a specific room, rate, or something to do with your reservation call during the 3rd shift. The reason being during the day the front desk is usually slammed during the day and the overnight staff typically has more time to personally assist you with your needs and requests.
7. Check-in late. If you want to be upgraded, check in later. If the hotel is in a sold-out situation and they have vacant suites, the late arrivals will be upgraded. In many cases someone who books a Standard room ends up in the Presidential suite. Worst case scenario: the hotel has to “walk” you to a different hotel and you get a free room and dinner.
Try to talk to as many people who have stayed at the hotel or traveled to the area. They may be able to give you some helpful insight into your upcoming vacation. Above all: Enjoy your honeymoon and Have a Fabulous time!
Top 20 Concepts/Trends that Have Changed The Wedding World
January 28, 2008What has changed the wedding world forever?
Glad you asked! Here’s my idea (in no particular order):
1.) Going Green: People have established that the earth is our responsibilty and should not be a faceless victim of our wanton and wasteful society. (Wow, sounds like it’s fresh out of Al Gore’s mouth) Brides and Grooms are incorporating organic elements, environmentally friendly caterers and vendors as well as recycled products or are recycling items at their weddings. Captain Planet would be proud.
2.) Bling: All things being equal, people have got to shine, and what better day than your wedding day? It is no longer being limited to the ring fingers, but are jumping up to the neck, ears, dresses, bouquets, centerpieces, linens and more. Can’t you hear Ella singing now? “Ain’t got that thing if you ain’t got that bling…shoo wop shoo wop shoo wop shoo wop shoo wow!” Ok.That was embarassing.
Moving on…
3.) The Wedding Planner… the movie: Thank you J. Lo! As much as I hate being compared to you (especially when they aren’t saying we’re butt twins!), you gave our industry a huge boost. It gave everyone a glimpse into how glamorous wedding planners are (rephrase, how glamorous HAVING one can be)– and made everyone one want them…as long as she didn’t run away with your man.
4.) The Wedding TV Show: I can remember when WWIIA was the staple for all things wedding on TV. Then several others emerged and what used to be a rare is now the norm. Everything from brides behaving badly, to couples going to the extreme for the perfect wedding to people spending the entire income of every Wisconsin citizen on a wedding, we’ve got it all at the flick of the remote. Lucky us.
5.) The Favor Bars: We’ve moved past the little ceramic swan wrapped in t*lle (word edited for the censors) with the soft dinner mints (Praise God). Brides have expanded their favor selection to give their guests options and interactivity– coffee bars, candy bars, popcorn bars, martini bars (you keep the glass), etc. You have to love it.
(Photo by Candy Favorites)
6.) The Fake Cake: To save money, we used to tell brides to have a small cake for picture taking purposes, while the caterer would cut sheet cakes in the back to feed the guests. You should see the look of wonder on the guests’ faces as they tried to fathom how that little cake could feed all of those people. It was like a modern day feeding of the multitudes. Now, you can ditch the itsy bitsy wedding cake and rent a huge fake cake which you can still cut for pictures. My, have we come a long way.
7.) Coffee Table Books: Goodbye old albums with the slide in 4×6′s! Now, photographers can show their creative genius by designing some of the most fabulous, wedding sexy photobooks. These are sure not ot go brittle on you as the hide in them attic. This book is sure to do what its name says it will: be a coffee table book.
8.) The Internet: Brides and their families no longer have to search through the antiquated yellow pages to get information on their wedding vendors. Now they can visit their 24/7 virtual brochure and learn everything they want at the click of a mouse, meet other brides or read this fabulous blog. Thank you, Al Gore.
9.) One Word: Diana.
10.) The Destination Wedding: Couples are traveling more frequently now to say “I do”, and not just to the sunny locales in the Caribbean. They escape to Paris a la Eva Longoria and Tony Parker or Italy a la TomKat. Any place that isn’t yours is a destination wedding– so even if you are going back your honey’s birthplace, it’s a desty. My best gal pal Precious is an expert in this area and my go to diva on everything *desty*.
11.) Guest Welcome Bags: This has been a fun way to incorporate all of the guests as well as introduce them to the wedding, its location (if it’s a desty) or provide weekend information.
12.) Wedding Websites: Pure genius. It gives your web savvy guests a chance to get to know you better and find out what you have planned for your wedding weekend. An uber simple way for you to disseminate information to the masses without repeating 125 times.
13.) Honeymoon Registries: Couples who are already living together have absolutely no desire to get toasters and other things. They are, instead, opting to register with their resorts and airlines…you know the things they really want.
14.) Wedding Industry Blogs: I know I already mentioned the internet, but WIBs deserve a spot of their own because you have so many varying topics by different vendors. The butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker all have blogs! This benefits the brides tremendously, because they get an opportunity to learn the work style and personality of potential vendors, as well as get ideas and learn information. Some that have taken the world by storm, and have changed the how and whys of wedding blogging are Wedding Bee and Blue Orchid Designs.
15.) Coordinating Separates for Bridesmaids: Somewhere, someone in the world is on their knees thanking the wedding gods for this invention. Now brides can pair their embellished tops with jeans for a sexy casual look or with another formal skirt for a different take on elegance. Not pigeonholing your bridesmaids into a dress that could earn you a sniper’s red dot on your forehead? Priceless.
16.) The iPod: The iPod has revolutionized the world, so it is truly no wonder that it crossed into the wedding realm. Smaller weddings who don’t call for the use of a DJ, rent systems and use their iPods to get a party started. I can vouch for this first hand– at a larger wedding, the DJ did not have the song the bride wanted for her bouquet toss. Luckily enough, I had it on my iPhone so we hooked it up (Saundra will tell you I’m a geek). and no one was ever the wiser…except now you, so keep your mouth shut
17.) Photojournalism: Seriously, I don’t know who woke up one morning and said, “I am so sick and tired of these weddings looking like they were shot in a Sears portrait studio” and decided to do something about it, but I HEART YOU. Weddings are about love and emotion, and that should be captured…not the Ma and Pa Kettle pose.
18.) The DIY Movement: Crafty girls unite! When brides couldn’t find exactly what they were looking for, they did it themselves! With such fabulous sites (and now books!) by Khris Cochran of DIY Bride, even the most timid of do-it-yourself’ers can get in on the fun.
19.) Cinematography: Note, I didn’t say videography. Before, brides were considering this a negotiable. Now with the high end concepts of cinematography have it the wedding scene and it is a must have. It’s not Uncle Larry with his camcorder– this is mini-scaled movie production. Seeing the day as it happeend is wonderful to relive the moment– especially in HD Just check out my friends at Turner Classic Weddings or Stellar Films.
20.) Two Words: New Rules. Eh, a girl can hope, right?
What’s on your list?
Ice Ice Baby!
January 21, 2008As I am browsing for various things on the internet I yet again found the coolest (literally) party detail I have seen in awhile…
I found them at Perpetual Kid. The best part is, they are 3 demensional–so they look real!
It says they were featured on the Today show, I guess I missed that episode!!
Sometimes, brides run things past me that sound like a good idea in theory, but logistically and realistically, it’s just not meant to be.
Here are some of my favorites, and I’m sure pro buddies will have some other tips for you too.
Ok, so first things first…
1. Scented candles in the reception hall. I had one prospect tell me that she was going to have authentic Jamaican food and lilac, lavender, and vanilla scented candles on the tables and around the reception site. I almost died. Bad, bad, bad idea. Some people (believe it or not) absolutely abhor vanilla. I find it to be a comfort scent, but others H-8 it. Then, to mix that with the spicy aromas of food on your menu is asking for a headache or other unsightly adverse reactions. Always opt for non-scented candles.
2. Going Completely DIY. Even my gal pal, Khris, of DIY Bride says that going DIY for your entire everything is a bad idea. Unless you want to push yourself to drink and pop antidepressants like Tic Tacs, opt to do about 2 or 3 projects at the very most for your wedding. What should determine who many you should take on should be the quantities you must put out as well as the amount of detail. Quality is and always forefront with DIY. You don’t want it to look like something you made in preschool (a la macaroni necklaces for mom) or Aunt Ethel’s macrame plant holders. You want something couture, handcrafted, and totally YOU. Get where I’m going?
3. Buying flowers out of season. Those flowers may be pretty in those pictures, but it doesn’t work if your wedding is in December and you are looking at summer flowers. This will put a complete smackdown on your budget. Ask your florist for flowers that look similar, but bloom in your specific time frame. Also, re-evaluate the design of your flowers: do you like the flowers or do you like the concept and design? If it is the latter, your floral designer can easily substitute in season flowers in the same design you swoon after.
4. Bloating, gassy food. There are some foods you will want to avoid on your wedding day, and especially at your rehearsal dinner. You do not want to feel like a balloon that is ready to pop on your wedding day. You have enough to deal with. So avoid foods like cauliflower, broccoli and asparagus. It can affect your shape and temperament!
5. Having a wedding during a holiday. This actually doesn’t save you more money. It can actually cost you and your guests more. There are several things you need to consider– airline tickets, room blocks, premiums, etc. We’ll discuss this more in an upcoming post.
Reptiles...
January 21, 2008So, My closet is loving anything alligator and crocodile right now–I should have known it was only a short time before it moved into my mailbox! I just found these invitations at Allie Munroe.
They are actually pressed alligator and snake skin! I absolutely love them!!
