Joe and Chawee - April 24, 2010 - CCR

This weekend's wedding was so much fun to work on. The groom, Joe, is Italian/Irish and the bride, Chawee (Lee) is from Thailand -- In fact, they both live in Thailand and traveled here for their wedding

This wedding ceremony was rich in tradition and culture. The ceremony consisted of both American and Thai traditions and was really touching.

I tell all of my clients that they should personalize both their ceremony and reception to reflect their personalities, heritage and family traditions. That is what makes each wedding different and memorable!

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Outdoor Wedding

There is nothing more beautiful than outdoor ceremony……..If the weather is perfect…that is!!

Depending on what part of the country you live in….the chances of ”PERFECT WEATHER” is 50/50.

Below are some tips for you to follow to help make your outdoor ceremony everything you dreamed it would be.

· SELECTING THE TIME: You should consider the month of your wedding when selecting the time for your ceremony.

o Spring or fall: The middle of the afternoon is a good choice when the sun is the warmest.

o SUMMER: Late afternoon or early evening works best when the sun is beginning to set and not blazing on your guests.

· HAVE A BACK-UP PLAN: Weather can be VERY unpredictable, you never know when a thunderstorm or windstorm may blow in. Make sure there is an inside location available a your site that you can use in case of bad weather. If thee is not, you should rent a tent

· MAKE YOUR GUESTS COMFORTABLE: What will you do if it rains? The ideal outdoor wedding location has an indoor location waiting just in case.

Many brides and grooms opt to have their ceremony outside and reception inside. In a pinch, the tables can be moved to the back of the room during the ceremony.

A tent is another option, but only for light to moderate rain storms. A heavy rain will soak the ground underneath, leaving guests with soggy and muddy shoes. Make sure any tent you rent is sturdy so it won't flip over, and that it has thick and weighted sides.

· MAKE YOUR GUESTS COMFORTABLE: Take a few steps to ensure your guests comfort at an outdoor ceremony:

o Have large tubs of ice water available as your guests arrive or have your usher hand out bottled water as they seat your guests.

o Print your programs on fans.

o Check the weather report the week of the wedding and if the forecast is HOT…rent some fans!

o If you are not having a tent, have a basket of sunscreen available. Some guests may not realize that they will be out in the sun and not be prepared.

· PREPARE FOR THE WIND: Not only do you have to think of the rain and the blazing sun, you need to “ Mother Nature’s” friends…THE WIND!!!

If you are having a unity ceremony, consider a sand ceremony or wine ceremony instead of the traditional “Lighting of the Unity Candle.” If you must have a candle, make sure you have it in glass…..but even then……remember….you have to light a match or torch to light the candle and that may be difficult.

Tell your hairstylist that you'll be having an outdoor wedding so she/he can plan a style accordingly..

· SOUND SYSTEM: Look into renting a sound system with clip mikes for the bride, groom and officiant. Your DJ or band may be able to easily arrange this for you.

· DECORATIONS: One of the bonuses of an outdoor wedding is the natural beauty around you. Work with that, not against it.

If you have an idea in your mind for decorations, make sure you select a site that will support your ideas.

Visit the site a week before your wedding to make sure the grass is mown, the ground raked, and the flowers have bloomed. If your wedding is at a public park, you may want to ask the groomsmen to do this the morning of your ceremony. If it's been an especially cold season, you may need to supplement the flowers with some potted bulbs from a florist. Other decorations you may want to consider include an arch or trellis to focus the ceremony and frame the bride and groom as they say their vows.

· MUSICIANS: Strings or a harp are great instruments of an outdoor wedding…..but remember….Instruments do not like the hot sun…make sure there is a shady spot under a big tree or arrange for a canopy for the musicians to sit under.

· DON’T INVITE PESTS: Ask the management of your ceremony site if they spray for pests. If they don’t, be sure to provide citronella candles or a bug zapper so that your guests won't spend the whole ceremony swatting at the air.

· PERMITS: Don't forget to contact your city parks department or other local government to get a permit for an outdoor wedding. Be sure to ask about rules concerning trash removal, candle or torch lighting, and pre-wedding photography.

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New Face at Out of the Ordinary

Michael Korn comes to Out of the Ordinary with a strong background in Hospitality and Event Planning.

He has an education from Monroe Community College, The University of Buffalo and Centenary College in New Jersey.

Michael is an energetic, ethusiastic and charasmatic young man with a bright future in the Wedding Industry.

His vitality and love for the wedding and event industry is a tremendous compliment to Angela's experience.

Michael loves the Yankee's, the Buffalo Sabers and the San Francisco 49ers! He is very athletic and enjoys playing and watching most sports.

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Bridemaids Attire

For several years, brides have been selecting a bridesmaid dress designer and a fabric, then letting their bridesmaids choose the style that works best for their bodies. But the 2010 wedding trend takes idea further.

Choose only a color, then let your bridesmaids find an off-the-rack dress of any designer that they like. Not only does this take some pressure off of you, but it also ensures that women are choosing a dress they like and they'll be likely to actually wear again. If you follow this trend, be sure to tell your bridesmaids how formal the dress should be – you don't want one bridesmaid wearing a casual sundress while another has on a beaded evening gown.

One of my brides went on a shopping trip with her 3 bridesmaids. They had a great time spending the day together and they each bought a dress off the rack that they loved and the bride was there for input!

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Wedding Cake Service

Every wedding, I see so much cake wasted!! Some people just do not like cake! (Wish I was one of them...ha ha)!

I always suggest to my clients to order cake for fewer people (example: for 200 guests, the cake should serve 130 people) and then order pastries and/or cookies. Guests like to have choices and it always looks great on the table along with an elaborate coffee/tea station, whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, chocolate shavings, etc.

Serving the cake as a dessert at each place setting just does not work! It takes 45 minutes to an hour for the cake to be cut, plated and served. By that time your guests are up dancing, visiting or getting a drink at the bar. Sometimes they never return to their table and never see the cake. It always works much better when the cake is displayed on a station.

Cake and Pastries by Gourmet Goodies, Victor, NY

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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STRESS FREE WEDDING PLANNING!

NEED HELP PLANNING YOUR WEDDING?

 

WE ARE HERE TO HELP!

 

WE HAVE A VARIETY OF PACKAGES TO CHOOSE FROM

DEPENDING ON YOUR NEEDS AND BUDGET.

 

·      Ultimate Package

·      Deluxe Package

·      Basic Package

·      Diva’s on a Budget

·      Jump Start

 

·      THREE “DAY OF” PACKAGES TO MEET YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS!

o    Deluxe “Day of”

o    Limited “Day of”

o    Reception Coverage

 

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Wedding Cake Service

Every wedding, I see so much cake wasted!! Some people just do not like cake! (Wish I was one of them...ha ha)!

I always suggest to my clients to order cake for fewer people (example: for 200 guests, the cake should serve 130 people) and then order pastries and/or cookies. Guests like to have choices and it always looks great on the table along with an elaborate coffee/tea station, whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, chocolate shavings, etc.

Serving the cake as a dessert at each place setting just does not work! It takes 45 minutes to an hour for the cake to be cut, plated and served. By that time your guests are up dancing, visiting or getting a drink at the bar. Sometimes they never return to their table and never see the cake. It always works much better when the cake is displayed on a station.

Cake and Pastries by Gourmet Goodies, Victor, NY

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from weddiva's posterous

Wedding Cake Service

Every wedding, I see so much cake wasted!! Some people just do not like cake! (Wish I was one of them...ha ha)!

I always suggest to my clients to order cake for fewer people (example: for 200 guests, the cake should serve 130 people) and then order pastries and/or cookies. Guests like to have choices and it always looks great on the table along with an elaborate coffee/tea station, whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, chocolate shavings, etc.

Serving the cake as a dessert at each place setting just does not work! It takes 45 minutes to an hour for the cake to be cut, plated and served. By that time your guests are up dancing, visiting or getting a drink at the bar. Sometimes they never return to their table and never see the cake. It always works much better when the cake is displayed on a station.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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REMEMBERING YOUR WEDDING GOWN!

One of my brides called me right before Christmas to tell me that her gown was in the store. She was so excited to see it---we went the next day. When she saw the gown she became very upset and said it was not her dress.

After the sales person searched records etc., it was determined that it was her dress---She just didn't remember it.

The sample that she had originally tried on had a white sash, she ordered the dress with a colored sash and so it looked different to her.

I was not working with this particular bride when she ordered her dress and therefore, had no records.

One thing I always do when I go with a bride to order a dress is to take a picture of the dress. As long as you are purchasing the dress, stores usually do not care if you take a picture.

In this case, the bride ordered her dress in August, but her dress did not arrive until December and it’s easy to remember things differently then they are.

My advice is to ALWAYS TAKE A PICTURE of your dress the day you order it and look at it frequently!!

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REMEMBERING YOUR WEDDING GOWN!

One of my brides called me right before Christmas to tell me that her gown was in the store. She was so excited to see it---we went the next day. When she saw the gown she became very upset and said it was not her dress.

After the sales person searched records etc., it was determined that it was her dress---She just didn't remember it.

The sample that she had originally tried on had a white sash, she ordered the dress with a colored sash and so it looked different to her.

I was not working with this particular bride when she ordered her dress and therefore, had no records.

One thing I always do when I go with a bride to order a dress is to take a picture of the dress. As long as you are purchasing the dress, stores usually do not care if you take a picture.

In this case, the bride ordered her dress in August, but her dress did not arrive until December and it’s easy to remember things differently then they are.

My advice is to ALWAYS TAKE A PICTURE of your dress the day you order it and look at it frequently!!

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EXCITING CHANGES AT OUT OF THE ORDINARY

Out of the Ordinary has been growing by leaps and bounds over the past few months. In order to continue to provide excellence and quality, Michael Korn will be joining our staff as a full time consultant. He will be taking on some of the day to day operations and also assist with weddings.
Mike is a young, charismatic guy with a strong hospitality/management background. His energy and creative abilities will be an enhancement to our professional team. WELCOME MIKE!!!

Posted via email from weddiva's posterous

EXCITING CHANGES AT OUT OF THE ORDINARY

Out of the Ordinary has been growing by leaps and bounds over the past few months. In order to provide excellence and quality, Michael Korn will be joining our staff as a full time consultant. He will be taking on some of the day to day operations and also assist with weddings.
Mike is a young, charismatic guy with a strong hospitality/management background. His energy and creative abilities will be an enhancement to our professional team. WELCOME MIKE!!!

Posted via email from weddiva's posterous

OUT OF THE ORDINARY SHOWER IDEAS!

 

Let’s face it…traditional showers can be so BORING!

You sit for hours and watch the bride-to-be open a thousand presents and you think it is NEVER going to end!  Here are some ideas to cure the boring, and create “OUT OF THE ORDINARY” showers.

 

 

THE BOOK SHOWER:

Perfect for the bride who loves to read!

 

Invitations:  Send a paperback book to each guest with a homemade jacket, listing all of the party information. Example: Title: A shower for (bride’s name) Author: name(s) of hostess(es); etc.

 

What to serve:  Re-create a famous fictional food, like the tea party from Alice in Wonderland; allude to literary food such as vegetable stew or soup from Mr. McGregor’s garden in Peter Rabbit.

 

Gifts for the bride: A bookcase, his and hers reading lights, cookbooks, bookstore gift certificate, wedding photo album, guest book and pen, any type of reading material.

 

 

THE GARDEN SHOWER:

Great for the bride who loves to garden!

 

Invitations:  Clip them to assorted seed packets.

 

What to serve: Think of a summer garden: tomato and basil salad, ratatouille, pasta with veggies, etc.

 

Gifts for the bride: A gift certificate to a garden store, tools, watering can, rosebush, lawn ornaments, lawn furniture, anything pertaining to the lawn and garden.

 

 

 

THE WEDDING NIGHT SHOWER

Great for the bride who has everything!

 

Invitations:  Buy do-not-disturb signs from a paper supply store or call a hotel and they will sell them to you for a small charge. Write all party information around the borders, using a permanent marker.

 

What to serve: Room service food—champagne, finger sandwiches, chocolate bonbons, etc. Or for a real indulgent treat, have the party in a hotel room and order real room service!

 

Gifts for the bride: Overnight bag, perfume, bubble bath, lingerie, etc.

 

 

 

KIDNAPPED:

For the bride who loves adventure!

 

Invitations:  Ransom notes. Paste individual letters in different typefaces from magazines and newspapers on a sheet of paper and photocopy! Specify that the guests come very casually dressed (come as you are; bathrobes, large shirts, no make-up, etc.).  It will add to the fun and the atmosphere!

 

What to serve: Pizza right from the box, subs in the wrappers they come in, junk food (in the bag of course!) NO PLATES, maybe a napkin!  Instead of cake, “GOODIES” in the original boxes!

 

Gifts for the bride: Cellular phone, writing paper, briefcase (with or without unmarked notes), clock, etc.

 

DON’T FORGET A RANSOM NOTE TO THE GROOM!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A “DAY AT THE SPA” SHOWER

Great for the bride who loves to be pampered!!!

 

Invitations:  Tee shirts with (bride’s name) “MARY’S SPA” painted on the front with fabric paint in bright colors on the top, and all the party information written underneath in smaller letters.  You can get creative and paint flowers or other art work around the lettering!

 

What to serve:  Great salads, grilled chicken breasts, mixed veggies with low fat sauces, shrimp, etc.

 

Gifts for the bride: Massage oils, bath products, monogrammed terry robes for him and her, monogrammed towels, manicure/pedicure sets, a gift certificate to a spa, etc.

 

 

A DAY IN THE COUNTRY

For a bride who has her heart in the country, and loves the outdoors!

 

Invitations: Paste gingham fabric to plain note cards in the shape of hearts, stars, diamonds, etc.  Paint around edges of fabric with fabric paint.  Write party information inside with markers.

 

What to serve: Picnic food…chicken, potato salad, corn on the cob, brownies, lemonade and iced tea with fresh lemon slices. Low fat varieties of the above can be made for the weight conscious party!  Serve on blankets on the floor or in back yard if possible.  This would be a good party to have in a park.

 

Gifts for the bride: Picnic basket, grill, car blanket, quilt, Frisbee, portable CD player.

 

 

 

 

SPORTS SHOWER* (Can be Co-ed)

Great for the sports-minded bride and groom!

 

Invitations:  Inflate a beach ball, write party information on it in permanent marker, deflate, and mail in manila envelopes. Also, if budget allows, you can write information on basketball, football, baseball, etc., mail in small packages.  This could be a couple’s shower, with the groom’s favorite sport in mind to make him a part of it!  Have the shower at a baseball field, etc. depending on what sport you choose. Have lots of sports memorabilia around to use as decorations!

 

What to serve:: Hot dogs of course! Also, peanuts in the shell, popcorn, pizza, nachos, chicken wings, ice cream, etc.

 

Gifts for the bride & groom: Matching sweat shirts with their favorite team’s logo, sport bottles or mugs, stadium blankets, tickets to a pro game (after the wedding date, when they are ready to relax), other sport memorabilia.

--

Angela Hall
Out of the Ordinary Special Events
1151 Titus Avenue
Rochester, NY  14617
 (585) 746-7210
Email: Angela@outoftheordinary.com
Web: www.outoftheordinary.com
Founder of the Nuptial Network of Rochester

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OUT OF THE ORDINARY SHOWER IDEAS!

 

Let’s face it…traditional showers can be so BORING!

You sit for hours and watch the bride-to-be open a thousand presents and you think it is NEVER going to end!  Here are some ideas to cure the boring, and create “OUT OF THE ORDINARY” showers.

 

 

THE BOOK SHOWER:

Perfect for the bride who loves to read!

 

Invitations:  Send a paperback book to each guest with a homemade jacket, listing all of the party information. Example: Title: A shower for (bride’s name) Author: name(s) of hostess(es); etc.

 

What to serve:  Re-create a famous fictional food, like the tea party from Alice in Wonderland; allude to literary food such as vegetable stew or soup from Mr. McGregor’s garden in Peter Rabbit.

 

Gifts for the bride: A bookcase, his and hers reading lights, cookbooks, bookstore gift certificate, wedding photo album, guest book and pen, any type of reading material.

 

 

THE GARDEN SHOWER:

Great for the bride who loves to garden!

 

Invitations:  Clip them to assorted seed packets.

 

What to serve: Think of a summer garden: tomato and basil salad, ratatouille, pasta with veggies, etc.

 

Gifts for the bride: A gift certificate to a garden store, tools, watering can, rosebush, lawn ornaments, lawn furniture, anything pertaining to the lawn and garden.

 

 

 

THE WEDDING NIGHT SHOWER

Great for the bride who has everything!

 

Invitations:  Buy do-not-disturb signs from a paper supply store or call a hotel and they will sell them to you for a small charge. Write all party information around the borders, using a permanent marker.

 

What to serve: Room service food—champagne, finger sandwiches, chocolate bonbons, etc. Or for a real indulgent treat, have the party in a hotel room and order real room service!

 

Gifts for the bride: Overnight bag, perfume, bubble bath, lingerie, etc.

 

 

 

KIDNAPPED:

For the bride who loves adventure!

 

Invitations:  Ransom notes. Paste individual letters in different typefaces from magazines and newspapers on a sheet of paper and photocopy! Specify that the guests come very casually dressed (come as you are; bathrobes, large shirts, no make-up, etc.).  It will add to the fun and the atmosphere!

 

What to serve: Pizza right from the box, subs in the wrappers they come in, junk food (in the bag of course!) NO PLATES, maybe a napkin!  Instead of cake, “GOODIES” in the original boxes!

 

Gifts for the bride: Cellular phone, writing paper, briefcase (with or without unmarked notes), clock, etc.

 

DON’T FORGET A RANSOM NOTE TO THE GROOM!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A “DAY AT THE SPA” SHOWER

Great for the bride who loves to be pampered!!!

 

Invitations:  Tee shirts with (bride’s name) “MARY’S SPA” painted on the front with fabric paint in bright colors on the top, and all the party information written underneath in smaller letters.  You can get creative and paint flowers or other art work around the lettering!

 

What to serve:  Great salads, grilled chicken breasts, mixed veggies with low fat sauces, shrimp, etc.

 

Gifts for the bride: Massage oils, bath products, monogrammed terry robes for him and her, monogrammed towels, manicure/pedicure sets, a gift certificate to a spa, etc.

 

 

A DAY IN THE COUNTRY

For a bride who has her heart in the country, and loves the outdoors!

 

Invitations: Paste gingham fabric to plain note cards in the shape of hearts, stars, diamonds, etc.  Paint around edges of fabric with fabric paint.  Write party information inside with markers.

 

What to serve: Picnic food…chicken, potato salad, corn on the cob, brownies, lemonade and iced tea with fresh lemon slices. Low fat varieties of the above can be made for the weight conscious party!  Serve on blankets on the floor or in back yard if possible.  This would be a good party to have in a park.

 

Gifts for the bride: Picnic basket, grill, car blanket, quilt, Frisbee, portable CD player.

 

 

 

 

SPORTS SHOWER* (Can be Co-ed)

Great for the sports-minded bride and groom!

 

Invitations:  Inflate a beach ball, write party information on it in permanent marker, deflate, and mail in manila envelopes. Also, if budget allows, you can write information on basketball, football, baseball, etc., mail in small packages.  This could be a couple’s shower, with the groom’s favorite sport in mind to make him a part of it!  Have the shower at a baseball field, etc. depending on what sport you choose. Have lots of sports memorabilia around to use as decorations!

 

What to serve:: Hot dogs of course! Also, peanuts in the shell, popcorn, pizza, nachos, chicken wings, ice cream, etc.

 

Gifts for the bride & groom: Matching sweat shirts with their favorite team’s logo, sport bottles or mugs, stadium blankets, tickets to a pro game (after the wedding date, when they are ready to relax), other sport memorabilia.

--

Angela Hall
Out of the Ordinary Special Events
1151 Titus Avenue
Rochester, NY  14617
 (585) 746-7210
Email: Angela@outoftheordinary.com
Web: www.outoftheordinary.com
Founder of the Nuptial Network of Rochester

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Stress Free Planning

 

Planning a wedding is very exciting, but forethought and organization are crucial elements to a successful wedding day.

 

 Every wedding needs to consider the following:

 

1. SET A BUDGET:  To keep your spending under control, prioritize the services that are the most important to you.

 

1. CHOOSE YOUR CEREMONY AND RECEPTION SITE THOUGHTFULLY:  It should reflect your beliefs, type of ceremony & reception you envision, and the number of guests the site can accommodate.

 

1. SAVE-THE-DATE CARDS:  Go against tradition and create unique “Save The Date” reminders informing guests about special events, locations or themes.

 

1. INVITATIONS AND STATIONARY:. Beware of oddly shaped invitations, as they will require more postage.

 

1. FLOWERS:  Find a floral designer you can trust!!!!!  Will they be open to your ideas and make suggestions to stay within your budget?

 

1. CHOOSING A PHOTOGRAPHER:  Understand what style of photography you like. Discuss your expectations with your photographer and ask for every detail in writing,

 

1. YOUR WEDDING CAKE:  Search through bridal magazines to get ideas of your favorite decorating details. Request a tasting session with your baker before ordering.

 

1. LIMOS, TRANSPORATION AND SHUTTLES:  Consider a shuttle at the end of your reception if alcohol is being served.

 

1. ATTIRE:  If your wedding gown needs alterations, find an experienced specialist who understands bridal gown construction, fabrics and styles.

 

1. GIFT REGISTRY:  Register for items in several different price categories and in more than one type of store.

 

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SAVE THE DATE CARDS

       As soon as you become engaged, you should send out “SAVE THE DATE CARDS”. You do not have to spend a lot of money on these, and you can even make them on your own computer using pretty paper. In today’s busy times it is a good idea to alert your guests of your date so they can plan ahead.

 

      Many couples choose to send pre-wedding letters in place of save the date cards. The letters can relate other activities that the guest will be invited to such as luncheons, rehearsal dinner, golf outings and brunches.

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