D.I.Y Weddings

Should you consider doing it yourself, here are a few tips I can offer to consider this option. There is a lot of prep work in putting your big day together. It's not just the time or commitment. It's also the arranging, If you are in an area where you have  local "Mom & Pop" Floral shops and/or Farmers market and you are going to use particular flowers in high quantity , you may want to contact the owners about purchasing them directly.



 
By now, you've heard that the number one way of saving money on your wedding day. The area  you have complete control over it is to keep the guest list to a minimum. Really think it through before you decide DIY, It saves you a lot of money and time. Think carefully of the stress and arranging non-stop when you should be relaxing, now is not the time to be stressed. Most couples want to share their wedding day with their closest friends, family and relatives.


 Many times after speaking with married couples, who happily describe their wedding day. I hear if they were to "do it again." They would simplify their wedding and invite less people so they can spend more with those that mean the most to them. In fact one bride recalled that she barely remembers enjoying the reception's festivities because she was so tired. All she and her husband did was to go around to each table greeting guests. 

I'm a firm believer that if the two of you footing the cost of the reception, then the decision is yours. D.I.Y's are always considered by most couples who want to save. Sometimes a penny saved is five penny's lost. Your engagement is the start of the beginning of your days as Husband and Wife. Including the expertise of a wedding planner ensures you to have a memorable experience for the two of you , your family and loved ones who are sharing in this experience with you. 

Things to Remember with your budget...

• A realistic and carefully planned budget prevents costly mistakes.

• Your Photo's are only portable memories. Make the investment and go Professional.

• Bring your day alive with Music.

• Don't skimp on Beauty.

• Take your time when selecting your gown.

• Your day is sweeter with a beautiful cake.

• Always choose Vibrant Florals. It's a welcoming sights for the guests.

• Minimize your guest list. Maximize your Decor.

It seems like as soon as you say yes. Here comes family and friends; everyone is giving advice, but no one is thinking of the budget.

Planning a wedding today is not like it used to be. Today's Bride is uniquely different. Brought up in the age of the internet, credit cards as a rite of passage. Nearly two-thirds of students took out student loans to fund their college education. For the first time in decades, couples are delaying marriage altogether because of financial obligations.

Does any of this sound familiar to you and it may seem daunting. Don't fret; as a wedding/event planner I can offer my expertise and guidance from planning weddings with couples  just like you. With an average wedding totaling nearly $26,000 in the U.S. in 2011, and with an increase in most couples contributing for their wedding completely on their own. It makes complete sense to begin your engagement, with a heart to heart regarding your budget. 

I would recommend each of you to sit and discuss, how much is on the table, now to spend, including any amounts family members may have offered to contribute. 

Next on a sheet of paper, I want each of you to put  "Must Have" and "Would be nice", then write down anything that comes to mind for each category. Planning a wedding really requires careful balancing of two budgets, Finances and Time. Remember that value is worth more than merely a price.

Mother's

When most women get engaged, the first person they are usually most excited to tell are their mother’s. She’s the one whom you’ve gone to about relationship advice and it’s a mother’s greatest wish for their daughters to get married.     

A mother’s role in the wedding. 
As most brides to be plan their wedding they often include their mother. 
Some bride’s want there mother’s fully involved. From having her mother helping her to choose the wedding dress, having an input in choosing table linens and décor. Even as far as to help with her registry.  They generally receive the RSVP’s are worded in a traditional invitation, they help with the guest list, even sometimes accepting early wedding gifts.  Most often than not the Mother of the bride provides the most financial assistance. The Mother of the groom is being more involved, In aspects where the Bride has a good relationship with her fiancé’s mother she also has an input in planning the wedding and is often invited to choosing the wedding gown and is invited to dress fittings. 

Both Mother’s normally wear complimentary dresses and corsages. The Brides mothers’ corsage normally matches her wedding bouquet and the Grooms mother normally matches the grooms boutonnière.  



Most Mother’s opt to host the Wedding Rehearsal Dinner and generally attend  bridal showers and attend meetings with the Wedding Planner. Mothers are escorting their daughters down the aisle much more often nowadays when the father is not involved or has passed away. 


Idea’s for treasuring Mothers.
A very popular gift bride’s give their mother is a double sided picture frame
Put a picture of the two of you from when you are younger on one side. Explain that a wedding day picture of the two of you will go on the other side. You can engrave it with the wedding date or a saying such as "I'll always be your little girl."

Host a tea party with your bridesmaids and their moms. Your fiancé’s mother and your mom. You can pretend that it is a wedding shower, and then surprise them by saying "Actually, today is all about you, moms!" Serve them tea, show slideshows, and tell funny stories about each of the moms. Send them home with a pampering pack of spa products. If you don't have lots of friends with moms around, it can just be a tea party for the three of you. So both mothers can bond with you. If you like you can have a nice lunch or sit down dinner with your fiancé’s mother to foster a good relationship.
Never forget thank you cards for both mothers and for a really nice touch have you wedding florist make arrangements that you can have presented at the wedding.
Always try to highlight both mothers during this process and it can be a wonderful bonding process for your new mother to be. 

Including your children into the wedding.
If you have young children. Flower girls and Ring bearers are the best bet. They will feel included in the process of the procession  The “walking down the aisle. " affair.
If you have teenagers They can be ushers or can read a scripture, poem or if they are musically inclined they can sing or play an instrument during either the ceremony or reception. Many bride’s have had their older son’s escort them down the aisle.
Some bride’s opt to include their children in the sand or unity candle lighting ceremony. At the reception blowing bubbles, throwing rice or rose petals as you leave is an activity they can look forward to at the end. Your children can even help decorate the getaway car. For something fun for them to do.

Have a very Happy Mother’s Day to all you wonderful Mother’s out there.

Wedding Planner Multi-tasker.

As a Wedding Planner /Event Designer in this industry we wear many hats. We always have to be able to adapt to any situation, any style and be able to fix any situation that arises.  I do not pay much attention to popular trends. My style is to listen to a client's dreams and fantasies and then create a custom couture event that is tailored to that specific client; because I am always so inspired by my clients.

I do love to infuse the spirit of the season in which an event will take place into my designs.
I really enjoy working with the elements of the universe. Fabrics, Crystal, Flowers and anything created by mother nature. I love materials that are rich in color and texture.
I love themed events and I am best known for my detailing and making dreams come true, little things mean a lot.


A lot of brides seek help and hire people but at the same time they micromanage. They are so involved and they want things to be just perfect and they want to do everything.  To me that impedes planners from giving you there best. They can be more flexible, have faith in the people they hire. Let them surprise her. Of course planners should always listen to their bride, however every bride should let them be designers, let them be artists. Sometimes a lot of we produce is more exciting than what the bride has envisioned.

Creating the surroundings and having it be an experience that is almost permanent as far as what people will remember. It takes all of the different components to bring it together. To create that one day, that memorable day.

For a while, The Modern look was very trendy, that has now changed, a lot of people associate modern with coldness. They want warmth and Lusciousness. White is popular again, for awhile there were lots of colors. As I said earlier, the fact that brides have so much information at their fingertips. They know what they want and what they don't want. This can be a good thing. They are so much more aware of what design is, much more than ever before. Now there is Pintrest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter & Blogs. Before there   were just magazines on the shelves, books in bookstores. When I started in this business many years ago, there was not so much information on what it is to do a wedding. Now everyone is collecting images.

The good thing is that it forces us to be on our toes as planners, designers & consultants. The industry is changing, I am so curious to see what is going to happen. In the long run we have to wear many hats. They have to adapt to many different styles. This is truly a return to the days of the old, when all hollywood actors & actresses had to be able to sing, dance and act. I think in the wedding & event industry we have to be savvy in many areas.