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St. Simons Wedding Planner :: Island Destination Weddings | Terrica Talk
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Hair Today, Long Tomorrow.

beyonce2.gifI have another addiction: Hair. And makeup.  And creme brulee.  Ok. Well I have a lot, but that, my friends, is besides the point.

 In the quest to pull off the ultimate “real life” Heidi Klum pregnancy (I almost got it right), I have been trying to pick the perfect “hospital look” (trust me…it seems trivial…but you wait until 40 of your closest family and friends are bombarding your room with digital and instant cameras wanting to shoot pics of you after you’ve just pushed another human being through your body.  You will be begging someone to shoot you with something else.  Bibi gun…morphine drip….Pick your poison).  As such, most recently, I have channeled my inner Beyonce and went blonde.  Again.  (Feria, by the way, ROCKS)

I came across some great sites that I loved when I was doing my channeling. One that I loved was The Hairstyler .  Why do I heart it? Not only does it have several red carpet and celebrity styles and bridal ideas, BUT you can also upload your picture and see these styles on your face.  Talk about virtual hair trial!  That rocks! Remember you can always build volume, height and length by adding extensions. Talk to your stylists and have a pre-wedding trial to see if it is something you can acclimate yourself. to.

Before I moved back to the area, I was at my stylist weekly for deep conditioning treatments and styles.  My stylists were from the Dominican Republic, so they used a lot of Dominican products.  The absolute BEST  for your hair, especially for women of color.  I am so in love with the Alter Ego Garlic Hot Oil Treatment. The name may sound crazy, but I can assure you, it doesn’t smell bad at all and your hair will thank you.  Also, try Silicon Mix.   Both can be purchased at Blue Beez.  Since there are no Dominican salons in this area, I do it all at home with my trust ionic dryer and round brush!

 Enjoy the Rapunzel Effect!

Jacksonville’s Been Captivated!

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If you haven’t noticed by now, I love Scarlett  of Captivating Studios.  She’s beautiful, she’s an uber-talent and the girl can dress!  She also has great taste in desserts, but I digress. 

I have always been in awe of Scarlett’s great gift ever since she started as a videographer. I am so very happy to see that the rest of Jacksonville (and the world) is getting a chance to see her work!  Scarlett was recently featured in the Florida Times Union for her gorgeous work of “Dress Trashing”.    You may have even seen her as the featured photog at Mark Eric’s Trash the Dress site.

 I am SO very proud of Scarlett and love that my brides love her too and we get to work together! She does come up to our area, so check her out for your St. Simons or Jekyll Island wedding.

Serious Sugar Addiction

My body has a sweet tooth– big time!  I absolutey LOVE a good sugar scrub.  The exfoliation and softening offered by a good sugar scrub is the closest thing to heaven.  I’ve become quite a scrub snob– collecting various types from everyone like Boots to Bath and Body Works .  I’m even eyeing LaLicious! I have even ventured off in making my own (I make a mean sugar scrub, ladies! )

A good body polish will take off the outer layer of dead and dry skin, and deposit in its place, nourishing oils and nutrients.  Some are so good that you don’t even need a moisturizer after your bath!  Because of this beauty treatment, you should avoid shaving and washing your hair and body after using the scrub. Opt for doing all of that before. 

To the left is Sephora‘s BODY Sugar Scrub.  Quite indulgent, yes?  Retailing at $18 , it is sure to give your body a cavity!  For an extra soothing treat, add a teaspoon to your drawn bath and enjoy a nice soak.

 This is great to use the day before or of your wedding (gently!) to slough away dry, dead skin for your pictures!

House Beautiful

Well…my DH comes home in 6 Sundays (He hates it when I say that…but it’s easier for me to get through the weeks that way).  Surprisingly enough, our new baby will be here in….6 Sundays!  (FYI, we are now taking bets who will get there first!)

 I am in the process of buying some new things for the house and stumbled upon Rezon8Living and I love it.  My DH, even in all his metrosexual fabulousness, still has a bit of a traditional side.  He scoffs at the things I show him from Crate and Barrel or Chiasso.  However, he did come around to doing the guest bathroom in chocolate and turquoise.  Surprisingly enough, we agreed on the Baxter Bed; while I agree some of the stuff from 2Modern or Chiasso looks like something from the Jetsons, some of the other stuff is just enough to bring a contemporary measure to our home.

 Mr. Terrica just threw in that he wants a plasma or LCD to be mounted over the fireplace. Totally throws off my scheme for the liviing room…but another excuse for shopping, oui?

Reading Is Fundamental. Seriously.

Who does the Wedding Planner read?  Oh all sorts of trashy nonsense 🙂  Just kidding!  When it comes to my wedding reading, I want only the best!  Here are my favorites and I hope that they find their way in your Outlook box or browser window.

  • Blue Orchid Blog— Liene rocks. Period.  She’s (as she would say) my “sista from another mista”. No, not really; but the contemporary version of the 1970’s term “play cousin”
  • DIY Bride— If by some reason you STILL aren’t reading Khris’ blog or have been to her abfab site, slap yourself. Now.
  • Wedding Bee— I love to follow the planning stories of these sweet personas.  Also, a great way to see what current brides are going through, thinking, saying, etc.
  • Bridal Bar— One word. Hotness.
  • Planning Forever— Saundra is just awesome.  She is also FOX 7’s wedding planner in Indiana.
  • From I Will to I Do— The stuff she finds/comes up with is exquisite!
  • decor8— Because I am a slave to color and all things design right now as I am redoing my house.  Again.
  • iWeddings— Double Hotness.
  • SocialDesign— Prepare for some serious wedding sugar, divas!
  • Parisian Party— K.P. rocks. Period.  This woman has single-handedly contributed to the rapid weight gain of this pregnancy. If you were getting married in Paris, this would be the girlfriend I would send you to.
  • Captivating Studios— I love Scarlett anyway…but she affirms my belief that as long as God produces beauty, she will be there with her camera to capture it.
  • Hostess with the Mostess— I’m gearing up for a few parties of my own (for once!) in the next 40 days….I heart this place.
  • Style Me Pretty— I can officially attribute my late night snacking woes to Abby as she finds the most DELICIOUS things that have me scratching and sniffing my laptop screen.
  • What Junebug Loves— Junebug loves a lot. And I love Junebug.
  • Soiree Special Events— My gal pal Laura Auer in Virginia does it up big!

How Paris Hilton Can Help With Your Wedding

Hilty was released from jail today, with a fresh from the archives of “After School Special-dom” for all you brides:  WATCH THE DUI’s. 

I don’t care how fair or unfair you thought the sentence was.  The real reason she was locked up was because of careless and wreckless abandon for other people, aka driving under the influence which caused the snowball into other things. Yet, I digress. 

Here are some ways to keep everyone safe and happy during your wedding:

  • Secure room blocks at the reception site, if applicable. 
  • If you have blocks at other hotels, arrange for a shuttle service for other guests if the party goes way into the night.
  • Cut the bar off about 1 hour to 1.5 hours before the end of the reception.  Get the coffee going around too..
  • Limit the amount of alcohol your bar will carry.
  • Have a party earlier in the day to cut alcohol consumption.

You may even find these options will help you shave some money off your reception budget as well.

Ubercute for the Uber-Bridesmaid

I had a shopping outing this past weekend. Besides shuffling my two year old out from underneath the clothes, or prying my four year old down from the mannequin stands (“I’m working, Mommy” aka modeling), I had a good time. We journeyed over to Macy’s, and right there on the top level (at least in my mall), there were the MOST GORGEOUS special occasion dresses. Not like 1986 Prom dresses, I mean HOT.  I thought “WOW, a bride and her BP could really go to town in here…dress, accessories, shoes and possibly even make up…all for under $200 or less”. I know we always talk about being a gracious bride and finding something that the party can wear again.  When is the last time you saw someone out in a hot pink ruched fuchsia ball gown? Don’t worry. I’ll wait.  But seriously, think about it. The more functional the gown is, the more likely it is to be worn again. This is also a great idea if your bridesmaids are strapped for cash.

Case(s) in point:

London Times Halter Dress with Charmeuse Waist A.B.S. by Allen Schwartz Satin V-neck Dress with Belt  London Times Long Printed Empire Dress   
Gorgeous, and on sale for $87 bucks      A simpler design for only $58    Going beachy or casual?  $81 dollars 
Studio M Sleeveless Mesh Dress London Times Satin-Strap Goddess Dress Alfani Lace-Trim Crinkle Dress
Ruched and ruffled:   $59 dollars. Goddess style dress: $81.   Lacy and hot: $49.

Mind you, the dresses in the store were of a better variety in terms of cut, color and size selection etc.  So, if your BP is on a budget, definitely look into this alternative.  And remember, these dresses can always be dressed up with a little bling– It could be so much as a rhinestone brooch in the neckline or shoulder or the right accessories that could jazz it up for you!

What My Pregnancy Cravings Have To Do With Your Wedding Vendors

Today the kidlets and I were running errands before our flight out early Wednesday morning.  Before making a quick FedEx run, we decided to get lunch at good ole’ Mickey D’s.  My kids are little…so anything that comes in that little house shaped box of goodness is alright with them…especially the toy.  Today, my craving was for a little box of chicken nuggets. Not just any chicken nuggets…chicken nuggets with their signature Hot Mustard sauce.  I could taste it as I ordered.  Smelled it as I paid at “the first window”.  By the time I as at “the next window”, I was greedily rubbing my hands together for about 3 minutes of deep fried bliss.  I wanted that sauce.

 The girl at the second window was very cordial (I was surprised as this McDonald’s has less than stellar CS at times).  She smiled, made small talk, and was very nice. I was quite pleased. She asked if I needed any ketchup.  Of course, as you can imagine, I voiced my strong inclination for the Hot Mustard sauce. She smiled and said OK. For kicks, I also got some Sweet N Sour sauce.  Before the kids started a riot in the back of the car and had to be quelled with a handy dose of horse sedatives, I gave them their food and commenced to enjoy my own fare.  Imagine my shock, horror and anger when I pull out barbecue sauce from out of my bag.  By this time, I’m already on the road to FedEx…seriously contemplating turning around to get my Hot Mustard.

The point:  Sometimes, just being “nice” doesn’t cut it. 

How this applies to your wedding:  I know you want to be buddy-buddy with all your wedding vendors.  Sometimes, we can’t get as tied up into you, your life, or your event as you would like. That doesn’t mean that we won’t do a good job. Do you want someone nice, or do you want the job done right?  I could’ve almost put up with the substandard service from the second window girl, had I got what I wanted and paid for, versus the whole Coke and a Smile routine.  Her syrup and honey attitude didn’t do anything for my Hot Mustard craving.  So cut your vendors some slack, occasionally. I want you to feel comfortable with whomever you decide to book and ultimately finance. But just know, you may not get the BFF vibe all the time…but you should get your work done and done right.

The World Wide Wed

Being in a resort area where a lot of out of town (and out of counStry) couples come with their guests to celebrate their nuptials, we also do our best to ease the transition for everyone.  It’s really key to establish a “point person” to help dessiminate all of the wedding and travel information amongst the guests.  This can be really hard when everyone is so tied up in other details and their lives.

This is why we strongly advocate all of our clients in getting a wedding website.  Even if people don’t leave you oodles and oodles of notes or emails about your site, more likely than not, they are checking it.  Sometimes they can’t get to a phone, don’t feel like talking, or it is late– whatever the reason, your wedding website is a 24 hour portal into everything Dick and Jane or Kevin and Alicia or whatever your names may be 🙂

I know! There are so many out there.  You have those offered at sites like The Knot or Wedding Channel, to those offered by private companies like Wedding Window (our favorite) and WeddSites.  How do you choose the Free Wedding Website that is right for you?  FINALLY there is someone who heard our cries and actually assists couples in picking the right type of website. Wedding Websites is a great information portal that allows you to compare all of the wedding websites in terms of price, benefits, and design.  So no more running from site to site trying to make a decision! You can read it all in one place.  What’s more, you also have the opportunity to read reviews from other real couples as to what worked for them for their site. This is priceless information when getting started. 

Here are a few other tips to help you get started:

  • Start early.  You’re still excited and you have the energy to talk about everything wedding.  These details will help your guests, trust me.
  • Include pertinent information:  ceremony and reception locations, maps, directions, hotel room blocks and nearby airport information. 
  • Make it personal:  Put in funny stories and pictures. Remember, some guests know both of you, but a majority will only know one of you.  Wedding websites really help you communicate your personalities before meeting.
  • Don’t leave them stranded:  Some guests may choose to make a vacation out of your event.  Use sites like Wedding Mapper to plug in all the fun activities they can do in their downtime (restaurants, movie theatres, sports, arts, etc.). 
  • Include your bridal party:  If you want your bridal party to know something, do it through your website. It’s easy, fast and fun. 

Stupid Stuff No One Will Miss (or Notice)

Perhaps a nicer title would have been “You Can Stop Stressing Over ______”.

Following along the premise of yesterday’s post about brides on a budget, I would like to quell some fears.  I even discussed this with a few industry buddies, just to add some clarity and variety.  Here we go!

  1. Non-Edible Favors–Skip the seashells or swans full of dinner mints and wrapped in tulle.  It’s waste.  You can also do away with the photo frames and place card holders.  You will find a majority are going to be left on your table.  Another thing, if it is has your name on it, it will probably be abandoned.  This includes personalized CDs (copyright issues), jars, candles, etc.  I can remember years ago going to a baby shower and receiving an angel figurine with the baby’s name on it.  I thought, “Ok. What am I going to do with this?” Your guests will be thinking the same thing. Honestly,  I have no need for a 2×3 frame.  And ONE place card holder.  No. No use at all.  Instead, opt for little things, with style.  Candy, dessert and popcorn bars are a great way to show your appreciation and are a hit. Better yet, give a donation in the name of your wedding or guests. Leave a nice bookmark or card on the place setting to say that it has been done. Just don’t say how much you donated.
  2. Those 1983 Gold Imprinted Cocktail Napkins— I haven’t seen these in forever, but as long as they are selling them in the back of wedding invitation catalogs, someone is buying them (unfortunately).  No one will miss these. No one is looking for them.  Spend your money somewhere else.
  3. The Groom’s Cake—  Don’t get me wrong, the sentiment is really sweet. If you have the money and want to honor your hubby-to-be, go for it. However, if you don’t, don’t sweat it. I have been to some of the most beautiful weddings and there is wedding cake left over for days.  Can you imagine how upset you would be if you had TWO cakes that no one touched? 
  4. Champagne–Yep, unless you’re Puff Daddy, I think it’s perfectly fine to skip the bubbly.  I know, I know, it’s a wedding.  But…a lot of people don’t even like champagne. So you save yourself the pain and angst of buying it by the bottles only for people to take a sip and sit it down.  People can toast with what they have at hand, or shoot for the Italian prosecco that is more cost effective.
  5. Bathroom Baskets— Again, sweet in sentiment, but unnecessary.  Your guests are only there for four hours.  Save your money and put it somewhere else. 
  6. Ceremony Programs— If you have the money to spend on them, fine. Knock yourself out.  In some cultures it is customary to honor certain individuals.  But I will tell you, a majority of the people don’t care about what your flower girl’s name is or what song the grandmothers are being seated to.  If we leave or hand out 100 programs, 50 to 75 of them are left in the seats or the baskets. Put your money some where else.