"Masters of Reception"

Wedding reality shows. They are EVERYWHERE! Bridezillas, Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?, Platinum Weddings, A Wedding Story, GetMarried - the list is endless. I have to be honest, I used to watch these shows with avid attention. Or was it rabid?! I couldn't get enough of them; I almost considered them to be "research"!

But probably a year ago, I just stopped watching them. Don't get me wrong, if a friend of mine was featured on a show, I'd make a special effort to watch (at least most of the show). I think I felt a bit jaded on the shows, with their "made-up" dramas - or, if they weren't made up, they were just pathetic. And, for the sake of the show, someone always was made out to be the villain. Be it the wedding planner, bride, groom, maid-of-honor or perennial favorite, mother of the bride, someone was cast as the bumbling fool of the show. Or extravagant for extravagant's sake. Whenever I was asked to do one of these shows, I always declined as drama is one of the major things I try to avoid on wedding day!

So, when my friends at Frungillo Catering announced they were the subject of TLC's new wedding reality TV show, "Masters of Reception," I dutifully watched the premiere episode. For some reason, it struck me as being new and fresh! Of course, the Frungillo brothers are the center of the show, but instead of casting a villain in the show, they are the wedding heroes! Again, a bit oversimplified but it's so nice to see a show with truly happy couples versus in-fighting and drama.

In my Wedding Trends column, I offered my opinion of this show. Check it out at http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/style/njs-frungillo-caterers-stars-of-masters-of-reception-on-tlc. (ps-The photo in this blog entry is of Ben Frungillo, me and Jerry Frungillo at an event that I coordinated a couple of years ago.)

Until next time, happy planning!

Wedding Consultant Amanda's Amazing Wedding!

On Friday, I had the pleasure of attending (as a guest!) Amanda's wedding.

Amanda looked fabulous in her gown and was so happy to be marrying Darren! Everyone in attendance joined in the happy celebration, with a packed dance floor all night. The vendors (mostly ones that have worked with Bride Ideas for years) were top-notch, and the wedding was a smashing success!

One thing that really struck me, as a wedding planner sitting on the guest side, was the sheer beauty of the wedding ceremony itself. There's just something magical about the wedding processional - the anticipation before seeing the bride for the first time. Then, as Amanda walked down the aisle with her parents and a gorgeous smile on her face, everyone in attendance just knew that this couple was meant to be!

Amanda has been working with Bride Ideas for a couple of years now, helping on the day of the celebrations. Starting in October, however, she will be a Wedding Consultant for Bride Ideas, assisting our couples as they plan and prepare for their big day! Look for Amanda's blog entries soon!

Until next time, happy planning...

11 year anniversary!!

Hi all! I wanted to take this opportunity to share a personal story with you. Just last Sunday, August 9th, my husband Mike and I celebrated our 11th year anniversary. Eleven years since we got married - the time truly flies by!

For our anniversary this year, we decided to go to Emeril's new restaurant in Bethlehem, PA at the new Sands Casino there. It was about a 1 hour, 20 minute easy drive from West Orange. As we have been to Emeril's other restaurants in Orlando and New Orleans, we were very excited to try out his first place in the Northeast. And the food was great! Service was very good as well! We only wished that the "bam" man was there himself, but we had a great time remembering our engagement day, our wedding day and awesome honeymoon travels. Even after 11 years, the memory of our wedding day is fresh and makes us smile as we remember all the fun we had. So, as you are planning your wedding, keep in mind that you truly are "making memories"!

Until next time, happy planning!

Asked to speak

Hi everyone! In today's blog, I'm going to discuss 5 little words that strike fear into many a person's heart: "Would you give a toast?" Now, I know that public speaking ranks right up there with paying taxes and death as the most enjoyable activities on the planet, but how could you refuse a heartfelt request like that? I was just asked to speak about wedding planning before a teachers' group in Central Jersey in October, so I know the panic that sets in before making a presentation, whether long or short.

When preparing to give a toast (or any public speech), here are some tips that I share with my clients:

• Practice, practice, practice. This does not mean to write down your toast, word-for-word, but rather spend some time going over the topics you'd like to cover. Then, on 1 index card, write down your topics and recite what you're going to say in front of a mirror. You don't want to sound rehearsed, but you also don't want to stammer and just shout "Cheers!"
• Limit your drinks before your toast. There's nothing worse than someone with a mic who is totally wasted, making inappropriate remarks about how gorgeous the groom is (believe me, it's happened!).
• Keep it short and sweet. Try to limit your remarks to 3 minutes or so - share a story about you and the couple, talk about how their love has changed them as individuals, and offer a toast to many years. That makes an excellent toast - and eliminates the need for a hook!

Remember, people are interested in what you have to say - so make your short time count!

Until next time, happy planning!

Dancing to a whole new level!

By now, I'm sure that most of you have seen the YouTube video of the wedding processional unlike any other. If you haven't, here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0.

Choreographed first dances are nothing new. There was even a TV show about them. But this video takes the dance to a whole new level. It certainly reflects the couple's personality! Plus, in these cost-conscious times, it was something that didn't cost anything and yet added a huge WOW (not to mention world-wide attention).

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, happy planning...

The Wedding Expert

Hi all!

I have some exciting news to share ... it's been in the works for a while, but now it's "official"! I have been selected to write the Wedding Column for www.newjerseynewsroom.com! When you get a chance, click to http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/style/turning-that-dream-wedding-day-into-reality-in-a-down-economy and read my first article. I'd love to hear your comments!

Every month, I'm going to write one article and also answer any of your questions. So, feel free to email me with questions - you may see my response in my column. I hope you like the information and tips I'm providing in my column as much as I enjoy sharing my experiences with you!

Until next time, happy planning...

Invited to a wedding!

For the past couple of years now, Amanda Huckabee has been working with Bride Ideas as an assistant on the day of most of the weddings I've coordinated. Amanda has a great sense of humor and a wonderful demeanor when handling the inevitable little "incidents" that occur at a wedding - of which the bride and groom never are aware.

Pictured here are Kate Bergin (summer intern), me and Amanda.

I'm excited to announce that Amanda, starting in October, is going to be a Wedding Consultant for Bride Ideas. She will be taking on her own clients and handling their weddings, using me as a resource of course!

Why wait until October? Well... Amanda is getting married herself in August! So, I've been helping her with her wedding plans for the better part of a year and can't wait to celebrate with her. It's going to be very fun to be a guest at her wedding - I've been getting all excited about what I should wear to her black tie optional event! I guess that I've been planning so many wonderful celebrations for great couples, I needed to be reminded about the fun experience for everyone concerned.

So, take a moment, step out of the planning mode, and simply remember to feel the excitement that your upcoming wedding is generating among your family and friends!!

Until next time, happy planning...