ESCAPING AGAIN

Tomorrow morning at 6:00 AM we are once again escaping to the Caribbean! This time my entire family is coming.....I am so looking forward to spending the week with our three grandsons, daughter and son-in-law.

We are going to Grand Cayman and Cozumel Mexico....2 of our favorite islands!

I am leaving my computer at home so I won't be blogging for a week.....I will post pictures when I get back!

Have a GREAT week!

TAKE CARE OF YOUR VENDORS

I always have clients ask me if they have to feed their vendors. The answer is YES! The next statement usually is..."My reception venue offers vendor meals." My answer to that is.....NOT A GOOD IDEA!

Vendor meals at reception sites are usually sandwiches. Some vendors, like your photographer and videographer are with you 10 hours or more...they need to eat. Also, more and more vendors have meal clauses in their contracts stating what they expect.

Another thing to think about...some venues want to seat the vendors in a different room than the guests. This also is not a good idea....vendors such as your photographer,videographer and DJ...need to be in the same room as you and your guests in case a special unexpected moment occurs that you would like photographed or announced.

When I am managing a wedding, I always choose a table furthest from the "sweetheart table" or "head table" whatever the case may be to designate for the vendors.

Also, you should inform the staff that you would like them to serve the vendors right after they serve you and your parents..THIINK ABOUT IT....they should be eating when you are so that when you are up and about, they are working, taking pictures, playing music, etc.

As far as paying for their dinners, your reception site should remove the alcohol portion since the vendors won't drink and just pay for he food.

If you take care of your vendors.....they will take EXTRA good care of you! :)

Recession Proof your Wedding

Every bride to be dreams of "HER" perfect wedding that she has been dreaming of since childhood....but unfortunately today's economy makes it a little tougher.

There are ways to cut corners without compromising the design and look of your wedding. If you would like specialty linens, thing of renting toppers rather than floor length. Your reception site usually provides you with white or Ivory linens. Throwing a beautiful topper over that,will make a HUGE difference!

Instead of large floral arrangements for centerpieces, candles, or a floating or a sunken flower makes a lovely centerpiece and willcost considerably less!!

The failing economy may make planning your dream wedding more challenging, but with a little creativity the design of your wedding can be recession proof!

Opening Shower Gifts

If you ask anyone if they like bridal showers they will all tell you that they enjoy being with friends, but they hate sitting for 2 hours watching the bride open gifts!!!

My assistant Sue is getting married in July. Yesterday we gave her a shower. She told me in advance that we had to figure out a way to open the gifts without the usual sitting for hours...we both dislike that part!

So after thinking about it for a while...I came up with a GREAT idea! We had a gift table set up, as the guests arrived they would stop at the gift table and the bride opened her gift with that guest standing with her. Several guests made a comment about how wonderful it was and they love having a little time to spend with the bride. It was very personal.

At one point, several guests arrived at once. The guests stared to mingle and when it was time for the bride to open their gift we called that person and she came back to the gift table.

For an experiment, it was a great success!!! Everyone really enjoyed not having to sit for the traditional gift opening.

Details, details, details.......

Linens by Table Toppers of Rochester


With the economy being what it is, you may find the need to scale back your original wedding ideas. While I think every bride has "GRANDIOSE" ideas...you do not have to spend a fortune to get a elegant look.

One thing that makes a big difference are bright colored linens in wonderful fabrics. Choose a color that will set off your centerpiece and make them"pop." spending money where your guests will be sitting most of the evening will give you the most bang for your buck!

Centerpieces do not have to be large floral arrangements, you can do something simple with "floating" or "sunken" flowers and candles. A colored pillar candle in a hurricane looks great with rose petals and votive candles surrounding it. A small flower can be placed on each napkin spreading the color around the table.

An interesting napkin fold will add some interest to your tables. There are several books available on napkin folding. Some reception sites will fold your napkins anyway you would like...if the fold is too involved, they may let you take the napkins home the week of the wedding so you and your bridal party can fold the them and bring them back all folded and ready to go. Tying the napkins with a simple ribbon makes a HUGE difference!

Menu cards are a very nice touch and cost very little money if you make them yourself on nice card stock. You can tuck them in a napkin with a small flower, a sprig of lavender or a sprig of an aromatic herb such as rosemary or lemon leaves.

Little small details will go a long way with your guests.....so don't forget the ladies room....a flower, bowl of potpourri or scented candle will be very welcoming along with an amenity basket containing essentials. Pick up some nice liquid hand soap and lotion at the Bath and Body shop when they go on sale 3 for $15.00. You can also purchase wonderful scented Yankee Candles at the Yankee outlet for half the price.

Cutting costs does not mean you have to compromise the "look" or "design" of your wedding, and remember, if you want to decorate your church or ceremony site, make sure these decorations serve "DOUBLE DUTY" and can be used at the reception.

Use your creativity and come up with small little details that will set your wedding apart from the "cookie cutter" weddings so when your guests leave they will be talking about your special day for years to come!

Strength

I met a woman Lauren,whose teenage daughter was diagnosed with cancer. She fought it for 2 years and died when she was 19.

Lauren sat and told me her story with such strength and grace that is was overwhelming....I pretty much lost it!!!

My mind went straight to my teenage grandsons.....I thought......if anything happened to them I would totally give up.

I think it is just human nature to complain and feel sorry for themselves when things aren't going your way and think..WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME.....or.......I am so sick of bad things happening.

I realized that my life is great! I may not have the biggest house or a huge bank account...but my life is rich in so many ways.

Lauren took her experience and started an organization called Melissa's Living Legacy/Teens Living With Cancer! www.melissaslivinglegacy.org