Just a few short weeks ago, I attended my 6th annual Association of Bridal Consultants' conference which was held in Orlando. Every year since becoming a wedding planner, I have attended conference -- to meet other planners worldwide, to get up to date with the trends, to learn more about the industry and to interact with new vendors on the corporate level. This year, with over 500 attendees, the conference was even more exciting and informative than ever!
Let me share some great info with you!
Sandals and Beaches - luxury-included resorts in the Caribbean. I continued my training with Sandals and Beaches and have renewed my Certified Sandals Specialist designation, so I can help anyone out there with honeymoons, weddings, or vacations to these wonderful resorts. I have been to nearly all of the Sandals and Beaches properties on Jamaica, and can say without reservation (some travel humor!) that the resorts are impeccably maintained and offer so many diverse activities and restaurants that you will always be experiencing something new...or you can simply relax by the pool everyday, and no one will interrupt you! Sandals and Beaches have teamed up with Preston Bailey and Sylvia Weinstock for their wedding packages, and Preston is introducing 2 additional packages soon! If you want to go away and be pampered, without having to pull out your wallet ever, contact me and I'll book a great vacation for you at one of these great resorts!
David Tutera - Disney wedding packages. David Tutera was the featured speaker at the conference, and a small group of us were able to go with him to the wedding pavilion on the Disney property followed by a reception at the Contemporary Resort. David has developed a line for Disney that is young, hip and trendy - perhaps not what you would think of as a Disney wedding! The packages are customizable, so you can take the "bones" of the design and put your own spin on it. David is so creative, I'm sure you will want to check out his line - and who doesn't love Disneyworld for a great honeymoon?! Feel free to contact me for more information about this exciting new collaboration!
Mary Dann - celebrity wedding planner. Mary Dann has been featured on television shows such as Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? and Platinum Weddings, not to mention her contributions to national wedding magazines. She is launching a line of stationery, with beautiful papers and verses. I spent about 1 1/2 hours talking with Mary, and can definitely say that she has inspired me to be a better person and consultant. Her outlook on life is so positive, and she views every challenge as an opportunity to grow, which is what I'm trying to incorporate into my life as well. If you're interested in Mary's stationery, contact me or go to www.marydann.com.
Until next time, happy planning...
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Attitude of Gratitude
Thanksgiving weekend is almost over. In our house, that means that the turkey leftovers have been devoured, there's some leftover vegies, and we have a lot of house to clean. For Thanksgiving, we had both my husband's and my whole family over - 13 adults, 3 kids under age 10, and 1 baby. That meant a lot of coordination to get hot food on the table at the same time!
I was very thankful that I was able to share the holiday with my grandparents and my sister-in-law's infant, and the generations in between. After all, family is what makes life worth living - and so interesting. Also, I was extremely grateful that all of the courses made it to the table hot and delicious. I was happy that we were able to invite close friends to the table as well - not relatives by blood, but family nonetheless.
My gratitude extends beyond the holiday, however. I am so grateful that I decided to leave law firm life and start Bride Ideas and now I have the privilege of helping young couples as they begin their lives together. I adore putting weddings together -- all of the planning, decisions, creativity -- it certainly can be stressful, but it is so rewarding to me. When I see a newly married couple smiling and enjoying being with their family and friends, without having to deal with the details, I know that I have chosen the right way to help others.
Until next time, happy planning ...
I was very thankful that I was able to share the holiday with my grandparents and my sister-in-law's infant, and the generations in between. After all, family is what makes life worth living - and so interesting. Also, I was extremely grateful that all of the courses made it to the table hot and delicious. I was happy that we were able to invite close friends to the table as well - not relatives by blood, but family nonetheless.
Now, believe me, I do NOT live in a Norman Rockwell painting. My family has interpersonal relationship issues that rival the best of them. But I choose not to dwell on the bad things, but rather to change what I can to improve the situation for everyone. I have found that it's my attitude that affects my mood - and the atmosphere around me, so I choose to see the best in the situation and try to make others see it from a happier perspective as well. My family is not perfect, but I'm grateful that we were able to be together, even just for one day.
My gratitude extends beyond the holiday, however. I am so grateful that I decided to leave law firm life and start Bride Ideas and now I have the privilege of helping young couples as they begin their lives together. I adore putting weddings together -- all of the planning, decisions, creativity -- it certainly can be stressful, but it is so rewarding to me. When I see a newly married couple smiling and enjoying being with their family and friends, without having to deal with the details, I know that I have chosen the right way to help others.
Until next time, happy planning ...
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Time: The Great Equalizer
I recently heard or read somewhere that the only constant for every single person on earth is time. No matter how rich or poor you are, tall or short, fat or skinny, the one thing that we all have in common is that there are only 24 hours in the day. It's how we choose to use those precious 24 hours that sets each one of us apart.
Now, before you were engaged, you probably had a routine. Get up for work or school, go to work or school, do homework, eat dinner, meet up with friends, go to sleep. Whatever your routine, you managed to fill up your time pretty full, I would imagine.
However, then came the ring and the life-changing question. All of a sudden, your full routine has been turned on its head. It has been estimated that it takes about 180 hours to plan a wedding on your own. That equals, roughly, adding in another month to plan your wedding -- over and above your other obligations!
Some people relish doing this - giving up their free time to research vendors. Others choose to hire wedding consultants, such as myself, to help alleviate the time crunch that comes with planning a wedding. No matter how you try, you simply cannot create more hours in a day, so you may want to consider hiring a professional to give you back life's most precious resource.
Until next time, happy planning...
Now, before you were engaged, you probably had a routine. Get up for work or school, go to work or school, do homework, eat dinner, meet up with friends, go to sleep. Whatever your routine, you managed to fill up your time pretty full, I would imagine.
However, then came the ring and the life-changing question. All of a sudden, your full routine has been turned on its head. It has been estimated that it takes about 180 hours to plan a wedding on your own. That equals, roughly, adding in another month to plan your wedding -- over and above your other obligations!
Some people relish doing this - giving up their free time to research vendors. Others choose to hire wedding consultants, such as myself, to help alleviate the time crunch that comes with planning a wedding. No matter how you try, you simply cannot create more hours in a day, so you may want to consider hiring a professional to give you back life's most precious resource.
Until next time, happy planning...
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Corn Maze
Now that autumn has finally arrived, I've been out and about enjoying fall activities. I just returned from an event at a corn maze. No, it wasn't a wedding - but it certainly was fun and challenging!
What does a corn maze have to do with wedding planning, you ask? Actually, there are some similarities! At the beginning, everyone is very excited to enter - then as you go through it, you get confused and lost - shortcuts can lead you down unexpected and unwanted paths - then you finally find your way to the end - and when you get out, you want to do it all over again!
The best way to get through the maze of wedding planning is to have a plan. I work with my clients to create an engagement timeline, a plan of what tasks need to be accomplished every month. This plan allows everyone to be on the same page, and avoids taking a "wrong turn." There is no need to burn out during wedding planning, so long as you work your plan! Remember that you are planning a celebration of your love, but don't forget to take time to have fun along the way!
This post may be a bit corny (pun intended!), but I hope it gave you a different perspective on your wedding plans!
Until next time, happy planning....
What does a corn maze have to do with wedding planning, you ask? Actually, there are some similarities! At the beginning, everyone is very excited to enter - then as you go through it, you get confused and lost - shortcuts can lead you down unexpected and unwanted paths - then you finally find your way to the end - and when you get out, you want to do it all over again!
The best way to get through the maze of wedding planning is to have a plan. I work with my clients to create an engagement timeline, a plan of what tasks need to be accomplished every month. This plan allows everyone to be on the same page, and avoids taking a "wrong turn." There is no need to burn out during wedding planning, so long as you work your plan! Remember that you are planning a celebration of your love, but don't forget to take time to have fun along the way!
This post may be a bit corny (pun intended!), but I hope it gave you a different perspective on your wedding plans!
Until next time, happy planning....
Monday, October 22, 2007
Saying "thank you"
Just imagine - your wedding day went perfectly, and your honeymoon was a very welcome retreat for you and your new husband. Two blissful weeks on an island, with nothing and no one to bother you except for the wait staff asking if you want a refill. Life is great!
Now you're back home, trying to get adjusted to your new life as a married couple. One of the first things that should be on your to do list is to write thank you notes to everyone who came to your wedding and/or sent you a gift. Also, every vendor who made your wedding so special would certainly appreciate hearing from you. I know that writing thank you's can be tedious, but it's as necessary as buying your wedding gown!
The best way that I've found to get this task done is to make a list of every gift you received and who gave it to you, together with your guest list that contains everyone's address. Make 1 copy of each list and then divide the list between you and your spouse. Then, start writing your thank yous!
A good thank you note doesn't have to be long. Three sentences should be more than enough! Start out by thanking the person/couple for coming to your wedding and for giving you such a generous gift. (NOTE: ALL gifts are generous in a thank you card!) The next sentence should let the person/couple know how you intend on using their gift. And then, the final sentence should thank them again, and tell them that you hope to see them soon. That's basically it!
Just one thing to keep in mind. Thank you notes should be handwritten and personalized to each person. It's just tacky to have your photographer make you up thank you cards with a verse pre-printed! Worse yet, to have your names pre-printed too! Either inserting a wallet-sized photo or having your photographer print up your photograph on the outside of the card - these are GREAT! But, please, don't take the easy way out when doing your thank yous! With all the special touches you included in your wedding, you don't want to lower the bar now!
Until next time, happy planning ...
Now you're back home, trying to get adjusted to your new life as a married couple. One of the first things that should be on your to do list is to write thank you notes to everyone who came to your wedding and/or sent you a gift. Also, every vendor who made your wedding so special would certainly appreciate hearing from you. I know that writing thank you's can be tedious, but it's as necessary as buying your wedding gown!
The best way that I've found to get this task done is to make a list of every gift you received and who gave it to you, together with your guest list that contains everyone's address. Make 1 copy of each list and then divide the list between you and your spouse. Then, start writing your thank yous!
A good thank you note doesn't have to be long. Three sentences should be more than enough! Start out by thanking the person/couple for coming to your wedding and for giving you such a generous gift. (NOTE: ALL gifts are generous in a thank you card!) The next sentence should let the person/couple know how you intend on using their gift. And then, the final sentence should thank them again, and tell them that you hope to see them soon. That's basically it!
Just one thing to keep in mind. Thank you notes should be handwritten and personalized to each person. It's just tacky to have your photographer make you up thank you cards with a verse pre-printed! Worse yet, to have your names pre-printed too! Either inserting a wallet-sized photo or having your photographer print up your photograph on the outside of the card - these are GREAT! But, please, don't take the easy way out when doing your thank yous! With all the special touches you included in your wedding, you don't want to lower the bar now!
Until next time, happy planning ...
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Picking a theme
One of the first things to be decided upon, once you have secured your wedding venue(s), if the "theme" of the wedding. Sometimes, even, this decision is made prior to finding the venue(s), as the theme may dictate what locations you look at. So, the "theme" of your wedding is integral to how you proceed throughout your planning process.
Now, what exactly constitutes a "theme"? Well, it can be very simple -- the colors of your wedding. The theme can be the color scheme; the color of the bridesmaid dresses, the basic flower colors, linen choices, etc.
Sometimes, the "theme" is more elaborate, however. Getting married on the beach? Consider carrying the nautical theme throughout - including your save-the-dates, invitations, bridal party attire, menu cards, linens, centerpieces. Are you having your wedding in a garden setting? The theme can evolve into a Garden Tea Party. Are you just in love with roses? Your theme could be just that - roses - where the invitations are in the shape of a rose, your bridesmaids wear rose colored dresses, and your centerpieces are bowls of water with floating roses.
To start, you want to choose 2-3 colors that you will use throughout your wedding. More than that, and the feel may be more frenetic than you want. Once that's decided upon, then you can see if you want to go farther and incorporate a monogram or a motif that can be repeated on all the paper used for the wedding as well as possibly used in the favors, escort cards, etc. The sky's the limit for your creativity!
Until next time, happy planning ...
Now, what exactly constitutes a "theme"? Well, it can be very simple -- the colors of your wedding. The theme can be the color scheme; the color of the bridesmaid dresses, the basic flower colors, linen choices, etc.
Sometimes, the "theme" is more elaborate, however. Getting married on the beach? Consider carrying the nautical theme throughout - including your save-the-dates, invitations, bridal party attire, menu cards, linens, centerpieces. Are you having your wedding in a garden setting? The theme can evolve into a Garden Tea Party. Are you just in love with roses? Your theme could be just that - roses - where the invitations are in the shape of a rose, your bridesmaids wear rose colored dresses, and your centerpieces are bowls of water with floating roses.
To start, you want to choose 2-3 colors that you will use throughout your wedding. More than that, and the feel may be more frenetic than you want. Once that's decided upon, then you can see if you want to go farther and incorporate a monogram or a motif that can be repeated on all the paper used for the wedding as well as possibly used in the favors, escort cards, etc. The sky's the limit for your creativity!
Until next time, happy planning ...
Monday, October 8, 2007
"Substitute Planner"
This weekend, I was asked to take over a wedding and be the wedding planner by another planner who had a family emergency come up. I received the request on Thursday night, followed by an email of the wedding day timeline and a conversation with the bride and groom on Friday morning. Under the circumstances, the bride and groom were very understanding and spent some precious time with me going over the fine details of their plans. I also spoke with all of the vendors and confirmed last minute issues. Then, Friday night I attended the rehearsal and Saturday was their wonderful, beautiful wedding.
I have to admit, it was rather difficult stepping in at the last minute and trying to grasp everything that needed to be accomplished in such a sort time frame. It was rewarding, as well, when the bride and groom entrusted me with their details and I made sure they came to life. The newlyweds were able to relax during their celebration and enjoy their day - leaving all the logistical issues to me. And their thank you's at the end of the night let me know that they truly appreciated their "substitute planner."
It certainly was flattering to be contacted by another planner to take over and represent her during this wedding celebration. Being recognized by another, highly respected, professional in my field and having her trust me to carry out her plans was gratifying.
This experience, however, certainly pointed out some important issues that you need to keep in mind when you're planning your own wedding. Of utmost importance, you should ask your wedding planner about her back-up should something unforeseen occur. My backups are other wedding planners that I know through the Association of Bridal Consultants -- and my assistant for the wedding. I always work with an assistant, someone who is learning about how to become a wedding planner, and that person is well-versed on the wedding beginning about 1 month prior. So, having a more experienced planner coupled with my assistant - or even my assistant becoming the lead on the wedding day - means that each one of my clients is well cared for on their special day should something happen to me.
Until next time, happy planning...
I have to admit, it was rather difficult stepping in at the last minute and trying to grasp everything that needed to be accomplished in such a sort time frame. It was rewarding, as well, when the bride and groom entrusted me with their details and I made sure they came to life. The newlyweds were able to relax during their celebration and enjoy their day - leaving all the logistical issues to me. And their thank you's at the end of the night let me know that they truly appreciated their "substitute planner."
It certainly was flattering to be contacted by another planner to take over and represent her during this wedding celebration. Being recognized by another, highly respected, professional in my field and having her trust me to carry out her plans was gratifying.
This experience, however, certainly pointed out some important issues that you need to keep in mind when you're planning your own wedding. Of utmost importance, you should ask your wedding planner about her back-up should something unforeseen occur. My backups are other wedding planners that I know through the Association of Bridal Consultants -- and my assistant for the wedding. I always work with an assistant, someone who is learning about how to become a wedding planner, and that person is well-versed on the wedding beginning about 1 month prior. So, having a more experienced planner coupled with my assistant - or even my assistant becoming the lead on the wedding day - means that each one of my clients is well cared for on their special day should something happen to me.
Until next time, happy planning...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
