The wedding industry has changed over the last few years and there seems to be a tug of war going on in all aspects of planning. 

          On the one side, couples are seeking to plan their weddings on a smaller budget, which is certainly understandable, but no one seems to want to sacrifice any quality.  On the other side, there are more and more people out there becoming wedding professionals and young un-experienced vendors are charging the same fees as seasoned veterans. 

          Almost with every phone call professionals are asked to lower their price, but not the quality of their work.  They are asked to do more in less time and consider discounting their services.  Clients however still have high expectations, as the wedding day has got to be perfect and there is no room for error.  Both sides have it tough.  Newly engaged couples and their families are paying a small fortune to put on the wedding and reception while wedding professionals are struggling just to stay in business.

          There is also the aspect of the internet.  There is more competition than ever before as most savvy young couples let their fingers do the walking (or typing on their keyboards) before actually making any calls or commitments.  The internet definitely saves time and money, but it also dehumanizes the process and sometimes you just don’t know what you are getting in the process.     

          So now that I have pointed out the obvious, is there an answer?  Couples consider the following:  Think about taking 100 of your friends and family out to dinner at your favorite gourmet restaurant; would you consider bargaining with the chef for the price of your meal?  Then think about dropping by your favorite custom flower shop (not Trader Joes) and picking up 13 flower arrangements (custom ordered in your favorite colors).  How much money do you spend on cocktails when you go clubbing on Friday night?  Throw in hiring a band or DJ, a photographer to record the event and the rental of the facility and you will get an approximate cost of putting on a reception. 

          If you are having a hard time making wedding budget ends meet, try something new.  Have the fairytale wedding ceremony of your dreams and then downplay the reception (where the cost is the most).  Make your wedding and reception more intimate; the more people you invite, the more expensive it is going to be.  So cut the guest list.

          The point I am trying to make is that before the negotiations begin, both sides should be aware of the other side’s position.  And instead of the tug of war that is currently going on, striving for balance should be sought after.  When a balance is met, a harmonious event unfolds.  After all, the wedding of your dreams might seem to be about appearances, but it is really about feelings.

Patrice, wedding planner at www.patrices.net and www.weddingideasnow.com

Whatever you do, do it to it. . .

          It is your wedding, be who you are!  Your parents mean well, but it is your day to shine.  Have fun and be playful with your choices.  Choose a look that is unique to you and embrace it.

A friend of mine once told me this:

“If you let your neighbors design your front yard, then your neighbors are going to be the ones who love it!” 

Truer words were never spoken.  But the most important word you need to practice saying is NO!  Okay, you want politically correct, then how about, “I’ll think about it”.  The deal is there are going to be a lot of good stuff out there, so the idea is to be selective.

          In a nutshell: when you go through the planning process you are gonna find that everyone has an opinion about your wedding (friends, families and your vendors).  But seriously, you know what to do.  Okay, so you may need some coaching about the ceremony, but when it comes to the reception you are probably an old hand at it.  Unless of course you have never been to a party; then maybe you do need to brush up on details.  But the old standards: good company, good food and beverage, and good music are always the keys to success.  Your budget is going to determine a good many factors but don’t let money determine the elegance of your affaire.

          Most important thing: have fun.  If you are stressed out and can hardly wait until it is over, then put on the brakes and take a look at the path that brought you to this stressed out point and make changes.

          Find someone who is totally objective and use that person as your sounding board.  Wedding coordinators are good about listening, but find one who can state an opinion but will back down if the idea~thought~plan is rejected.  You know your mother better than anyone, but if she is hard to handle, then find someone to run interference (like an aunt or a grandmother. . .).

          And whatever you do, don’t let your neighbor design your front yard!  Have fun. . .patrice@weddingideasnow.

TIPPING ~ when a job is well done

This question has come up a lot lately and it is a really good one.  How much and who do we tip?  Most wedding professionals do not expect a tip.  Normally their fees are substantial and they are happy in not receiving one.  But let’s be honest, most couples today are negotiating the lowest possible price out of their vendors and a tip is a classy way to say, you did a great job, thank you.

Two rules of thumb when thinking about a tip:

#1 – When a vendor has gone beyond your expectations, don’t hesitate: TIP

#2 – Don’t be cheap!!  $50’s and $100’s only please.  20% is a healthy amount and will be well appreciated.

The service staff is usually the lowest paid and they work really hard.  So hand the head waiter a tip for the wait staff and cooks only ~ if they have done a good job that is.  Again don’t be cheap.  An extra $20-25.00 per waiter is a good starting point.

Others to include in tipping would be: your coordinator, disc jockey, officiant (a donation perhaps), florist, and any live musicians.  You shouldn’t tip a photographer or videographer until you see their work.

Signature Drink of the Month

          Summer is here and thoughts of the tropics and lounging on the beach spring to mind.  For a simple and delicious summer drink, use orange juice and rum to brighten your spirit along with the sun.

          The June-go Citrus Splash was created specifically to honor films nominated for the 2008 Academy Awards. The film in this case is Juno and its designated drink is simple and fruity, combining mango and pineapple flavored rums with orange juice for a tall, refreshing concoction. Using fresh squeezed orange juice will make it all the better.

USE:

• 1 part Mango Rum
• 1 part Pineapple Rum
• orange juice

Stir and enjoy!

          Most of us (me) admit to shopping at Target.  But have you thought about buying beauty products there? I guess I didn’t think lower-priced color cosmetics could deliver the same results as their higher-priced cousins.  Sonia Kashuk™ for Target changed my mind.  And when you are saving for your Wedding Day, why not cut back and try another approach to saving money elsewhere?

          An article after the CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women) event with make-up artist and entrepreneur Sonia Kashuk and a trip to Target really opened my eyes to high-quality, low-priced mass-market beauty products. Sonia knows what a product needs for smooth application and a flawless look. She talked about the attention to detail that goes into her products to ensure that they meet her own high expectations.

          Sonia is changing the makeup game—and my beauty budget. Her line of high-quality cosmetics actually rival prestige cosmetics but cost a fraction of the price. Check out a couple of my favorite Sonia Kashuk treasures:

          Bamboo Brush Collection – For under $20, you get an eyeshadow brush, definition brush, and crease brush. My coworkers and I are obsessed with these. They’re made from a mix of natural and synthetic fibers, and the handles are real bamboo. And because of the grooves, they’re easier to hold than straight brushes.

          Super Sheer Liquid Tint Blush – At less than $10, these little bottles of color stain are perfect for summer. And they smell so fresh and fruity. The three colors are pretty bold, so pump slowly to get a dab of product and blend onto your cheeks, lips, and eyelids for a natural, refreshed look. 

          Find them at the Target Web site: http://www.target.com/b/ref=pd_sim_cat_1_7?ie=UTF8&node=387364011.  Who says you have to pay a high price for beauty?

Article in part taken from Beachbody.com.

When it comes to your hair and make-up, Kim and Co are on top of their game!

          There are many preparations to be made when planning a wedding, but planning the way you, the bride, is going to look is at the top of the list as far as importance.  So what to look for when searching for the perfect hair and make-up salon to take care of you on this most special occasion?  The best for you, of course!

         I went straight to the top and sat down with the owner of Premier Bridal Salon, Kim and Co., located on the West Coast of California, to educate myself about hair and make-up on the big day.  

          Kim Brown, of Kim and Company Salon, is a treasure.  She has been in or surrounded by the beauty business all her life.  Her mom was a stylist and encouraged (pushed) Kim into beauty school after she graduated from high school, even though she had no real interest in the field.  She started her career with some powerful goals and worked her way up and into acquiring her own salon.

          Her salon is thriving due to “attention to detail”, a great work ethic and unsurpassed customer service, not to mention top of the line stylists.  Having met and befriended amazing mentors, Kim listens to the advice of others and weighs most issues carefully.  All this becomes apparent when talking to Kim or visiting her salon.  She is truly the best at what she does and it shows!                                                      

TRENDS:  Kim is seeing more and more brides wearing their hair down. 

 And hair extensions are all the rage!

ADVICE:  Start planning early.  Book a cut and blow dry with the salon of your choice and don’t clue them in that you are looking for a wedding day hair and make-up experience.  While you’re there, see if you connect with the salon.  Sit back and feel the energy.   If it feels right, then you have found your salon!

Visit Kim at kimandcosalon.com

          This weekend the Wedding Ideas Now team is flying to New York for a large trade show.  The WIN crew will be exhibiting our newly launched product line. 

          I could not help but notice that the preparations for this show were much the same as planning for any big event, wedding or otherwise.    Being a coordinator myself and having planned several special events and weddings, I started out doing what I normally have done with my events; I sat down and made a list of the different components I needed, to pull this event off!  I then assigned deadlines to each task.  After the list was complete, I calculated how long each item would take to accomplish, putting the lengthy projects at the top of the list.  Cost was a big consideration as well, so the most important things were paid for up front.

          As each task was completed, I celebrated my accomplishments and then went on to the next.  Things I hadn’t considered popped up continuously, so my list became a living and breathing extension of myself and I consulted it weekly at first, then daily the last month.  When funds were running low, I asked friends for advice and was able to get excellent ideas that turned out better than if I had purchased a most costly item.  If I wasn’t sure how to solve a problem, I closed my eyes and willed the solution to come to me.  And it always did.

          Every morning I took time to breathe and relax and assure myself that all was well.  Looking back on this last year, I realized that this “journey to New York” has been an incredible journey in of itself; a love job.  The event itself will almost be an anti-climax of sorts.

          So ENJOY!  ENJOY!  ENJOY, your wedding planning journey.  Make it a living and breathing extension of yourself.  The day itself will fly by, but the love and emotion you put into planning it will last a lifetime.

Patrice

A Personalized Engagement Card is still a Lovely Gesture

          I was speaking to one of by former clients the other day and I was showing her images from the new greeting card line at WeddingIdeasNow.com.  There were several cards designated for “engagement” cards.  She was absolutely unfamiliar with the concept of engagement cards.  These days with cell phones, texting, the web, emails and the new “save the date” announcements going out to, well, everyone; the old fashion custom of sending out engagement cards is a thing of the past.

          The custom of sending greeting cards can be traced back to the ancient Chinese, who exchanged messages of good will to celebrate the New Year, and to the early Egyptians, who conveyed their greetings on papyrus scrolls. 

          There are those who still appreciate receiving a hand written card in the mail even in the 22^nd century.  So don’t rule out the sending of cards!  Go ahead and send out your “save the dates”, but for grandma and grandpa and close friends and distance family, pick up a few cards and send out.  They will be happy that you did.

Can’t afford the wedding gown of your dreams?  There is an alternative.

          You may have seen many beautiful actresses walking down the red carpet to an OSCAR or Emmy Awards ceremony.  Have you ever wondered if they purchased their gowns?  Not on your life!  So where do all the hip people go to get dressed for a grand affaire?  One Night Affair of course!! 

          Why spend a small fortune on a Wedding Gown only to box it up and store it in the garage! How many women have bridesmaid dresses hanging in their closet that will never be worn again?

          What a fabulous idea it is to rent top designer gowns for Brides-to-be and Ladies attending all of the award ceremonies and charity events around L.A.  Rent a gown for a fraction of the retail price, wear it once and return the gown.  Why not?  Men have been doing this for years; renting tuxedos that is!!! The whole industry is reversed, a man can wear the same tuxedo 10 – 20 times and no one will say a thing. Once a woman is seen and photographed in a gown, she doesn’t want to wear it again and it will end up hanging in her closet.

          One Night Affair and sister store, Dressed to Kill, are the largest and most successful Gown Rental stores in the country.  Housing over 1500 wedding gowns, 1200 evening gowns, hundreds of different bridesmaid styles, mother of the bride and flower girl dresses, and complimented by a full line of accessories, they are well-equipped to handle your wedding day imaginings.    

Dresses range from $100.00 to $1000.00. 

West Coast Ladies, CHECK IT OUT!  Some of the designers are:

Badgley Mischka – St. Pucchi – Cymberline of Paris – Domo Adami – Peter Brandon of England – Max Chaquel – Monique Lhuillier – Chanticlair – Elizabeth of England – Alvina Valenta – Gianni Versace – Manale – Louis Feraud – Vera Wang – Oleg Cassini – Eve of Milady – Atalier – Pricilla of Boston – Christian Dior – Birnbaum & Bullock – Diamond Collection – Scassi – Amsalle – Tatiana of Boston – Carmela Sutera – Tiffany – Tracy – Connop of England -  Hanibal Laguna of Spain – Carolina Herrera – Maggie Sottero – Alyce – Bill Blass – August O Jone Couture – Casandra Stone – Black Tie – Pamela Dennis – Alfred Sung

By appointment only: 310.474.7808

          It was my pleasure to meet with Cameron Ingalls this week.  Living and loving his work here on the Central Coast of California, I was anxious to hear about the world according to Cameron.  He is a relaxed gentle soul and speaks easily about his craft.

          Cameron has always had it in him . . . the passion, the expertise, the realization that photography is what he is inspired to do.  He calls his work “Real Life Photography”, but this is not just a tag line.  He strives to get underneath the surface of the outer demeanor of his couples and find the essence of who they really are.  In Cameron’s words, “to take this intangible, invisible thing called love, make it tangible” and capture it all on film.

          Cameron uses phases such as “honest photography” and comes from the perspective that everyone is beautiful.  His photography is more about the people and their feelings, yet he is first to admit that capturing the details of the wedding day is also important.   Over the last seven years of photographing weddings, he has strived to give his clients a thorough perspective on their wedding days, including both the passion and the details.

          Trends:  Cameron uses a technique called “Tilt Shift” in which a special lens is used.  The lens allows the focus to land on one aspect of the subject and blurs the surrounding edges of the image so one portion stands out crisp and clear.  The result is amazing and he has incorporated this technique into his photography.

          Advice:  When you are hiring a wedding photographer keep in mind that you are hiring an artist.  Look first to the art that moves you.  This will then lead you to the right choice.