It is very cool and chic to be earth friendly these days particularly in the Northwest. What most people do not know is that it can also be very budget-wise to be “green”. Even if “fair trade”, “sustainability” and “carbon neutral” are not in your daily vocabulary, you can benefit from incorporating some of these eco friendly tips to reuse, renew, and recycle:

• Use rental (reusable) items instead of buying new. There are many local rental companies to supply you with table décor, linens, place card holders, etc. Or if you do buy items for your wedding that can be reused by someone else, there are websites you can list your items on to be bought and used again by another bride. Try Bravo Bride for this.

• Consider asking your floral vendor about which flowers are in season locally at the time of your wedding. Not only will it save you money but you will support local growers and reduce the carbon emissions caused by shipping flowers long distances. Use your altar arrangements twice - once at your ceremony and then have them moved to your reception and use them at your head table or on your buffet. This will save you money and reuse your arrangements. Bridesmaids’ bouquets can be placed in vases along the head table at the reception instead of doing more centerpieces.

• If you are not attached to saving, cleaning and preserving your wedding dress, consider selling it on Bravo Bride. Your bridesmaids can donate their dresses to Cinderella’s Closet which benefits young ladies who cannot afford to buy a new prom or homecoming dress. Brides against Breast Cancer will also take wedding dress donations.

• Try to use local vendors whenever possible to reduce your carbon footprint caused by shipping items long distance. Supporting local businesses is great for your local economy and almost always costs you less to buy local and in season.

• Reuse a family member’s items from their wedding. A grandmother’s embroidered handkerchief can be used to dry your tears of joy and your grandma will love you for using it. If your mother’s wedding dress was a classic timeless dress and close to your clothing size, you can have it altered to fit you. This is a lot less money than buying a dress new. This can be your something old or something borrowed!

• Here is a very simple cost effective tip you can utilize at the beginning of your planning. Find a venue that can hold both your ceremony and your reception. You save by paying for only one location for your wedding. Your guests save time and gas (emissions) by not having to drive from the ceremony to the reception. All your flowers can easily be moved from ceremony to reception.

• Give favors that are appealing and can serve a dual purpose. A program printed and made into a paper fan for a late summer outdoor wedding can be the program and a favor all in one and keep your guests cooler. Consider a plant-able favor  like a tree seedling in a mini terra cotta pot that makes your guest tables look great and can be planted later and green your guests’ yards.

So walk down the aisle in your white wedding gown but think “green” while you plan.

As a bridal consultant, it is my job to plan the wedding details with the couple and then on the day of the wedding carry out the details as perfectly as possible and inconspicuously behind the scenes. It is an honor to be part of a couple’s wedding day. I take it very seriously but also with a sense of humor. I will share with you some of the interesting “mistakes” I have dealt with at weddings.

* I have learned that, when a couple is planning to do the Hora dance, the chair type and chair placement is very important. The Hora is the Jewish traditional dance where the bridal couple sits in chairs. Then they are lifted up in the chairs by the wedding guests (usually groomsmen). The couple are danced around to traditional music and eventually lowered back to the ground. Chairs with arms are best and I have learned to be sure the chairs are placed not under low hanging ceiling lights. I have never had a bride or groom dumped out of their chairs but one bride was “beaned” by a light fixture by overzealous dancers holding her chair. I now coach the chair holders to watch out for the bride and groom’s heads.

* I have learned to remind all brides to thoroughly check all their wedding day apparel before the wedding day. One out of town bride flew in five days before the wedding. I had arranged for her dress to be steamed out right after she arrived. She arrived to the church with all her wedding attire ready to go. Or so we thought! Half an hour before the ceremony she realized that her half slip was still in the vehicle she arrived in. I hurried out to retrieve it from the car and returned with it still in its original bag taped closed. As I opened up the packaging, an odd smell permeated the room. Everyone was looking at the 8 week old baby in the room accusing him of needing the diaper change. The smell was not the baby but the slip which smelled like dead fish. Somehow the slip in its travels had gained a nasty scent. Between scented lotions, body sprays and hairspray, the slip was de-scented….mostly. Up at the altar, a few of the bridesmaid were touching their noses from the scent of the slip. No guests noticed but it was an event I will never forget. Now I carry perfume in my emergency kit and always remind my brides to open everything before the wedding day.

* I have learned to be like Santa and make my lists and check them twice. For every wedding, I have a comprehensive checklist of things to do, items to place at the ceremony and reception, and numerous cues to give to the wedding party and vendors. As I complete tasks, I check them off so I know the item is done. At one reception, I was making it through my list and everything was ready for guests to arrive. The favors were placed, the place cards were laid out in alphabetical order, the toasting glasses were in their spot, and the candles were all lit. The evening progresses and it is time to cut the cake. The cake knife and server were at hand to cut the cake. They cut the cake and suddenly stop and look around. There is no plate to put the slice of cake on. So the couple improvises and uses their hands. I am not able to get a plate to them since they are surrounded by guests. Never again will a plate, two forks and two napkins be missing from the cake table!

A sense of humor and a strong willingness to accept responsibility for mistakes are an important part of my business. I have learned more from my mistakes than from my successes. Humility is a quality much needed to be of better service to brides in the future.

This is a four part series of thoughts and ideas from some of my past weddings.

Part Two: 4 ideas from the couple with a sense of humor and fun

The wedding day is one of the most important days in most married people’s lives. It is a day steeped in traditions, religious beliefs, legalities and proper etiquette. Along with all of these, it is a day to celebrate and have fun and laughter as the couple begins their married life together. One of the couples who planned with me this year did a beautiful job of combining tradition, religious faith and most of all a sense of humor and fun. Let me share with you some of the fun and respect this couple included in their wedding day:

The groom, groomsmen and ring bearer– Keeping in respect for the Catholic Church where the ceremony was performed, the groom and his men still wanted to show their own sense of fashion. Their black suits instead of tuxedos spoke to their slightly more casual style along with their bright red ties which were a gift from the groom. They politely ushered the female guests with their companions to their pews in the church before the ceremony. The groom even had his long hair professionally styled that morning so he was looking sharp. Their subtle but noticeable statement of style was on their feet. The groom, his groomsmen and the ring bearer were all sporting their matching black with white trim Converse sneakers. 
                                                                       

The four flower girls – Four flower girls is a lot of flower girls especially considering they ranged in age from nearly three years old to almost ten. Getting one younger flower girl down the aisle can be a handful for even the most experienced wedding planner. But these were very well raised and well behaved young ladies. And there was a plan in place to keep them happy and busy. Each girl was wearing a red and white dress with a white faux fur bolero and black t-strap shoes. Each girl arrived at the church with an American Girl style doll in her arms with a matching dress and fur bolero. This was an unbelievably cute and fun idea to give them a gift and keep them busy during the ceremony.

The rivalry of favors – The bride and her family were all originally from a Midwest state where the Buckeyes are famous. Not only are they a football team but there is a candy that is also known as a buckeye, a delightful chocolate and peanut butter confection. The bride and her mom arranged for personalized favor boxes to put these buckeyes in as the favor for all the wedding guests. The groom’s family had to answer this out of state representation of a football team with chocolates in a WA state team’s school colors. These were brought in a tasteful basket placed in organza drawstring bags and placed on the guest book table. All of this rivalry was done in good taste and with a great sense of humor. It made for lively discussions through the night.

Buckeye bridesmaid dance – The Buckeye rivalry was carried over into the dancing when all the bridesmaids danced together with synchronized movements and shouts with their Buckeye bridesmaid dance. All who wanted to join in were guided through the movements and shouts until fun was had by all the participants, Washington natives and Midwesterners alike.

Make a statement at your wedding with your and your groom’s personal style and history. With all the money and time couples spent planning and getting ready for their day, they should have fun and express their own individual preferences. As long as a sense of humor is paired with respect, it will enhance your day and your guest’s enjoyment!

I hope you enjoyed the tip of the month. Please let me know what you think!

This is a four part series of thoughts and ideas from some of my past weddings.

Part One: 3 best ideas from the creative DIY bride

One of my 2009 brides had a flair for creativity. Not only did she have great craft skills but a motivation to keep within her budget. Her ability to craft many parts of her wedding reception herself saved her money and gave her the chance to make her wedding her own. Here are a few of the great ideas she used:

Place cards – This bride found a template to create place cards with a cut out for a swatch of fabric to show through. Each of her twenty-two tables had a 14” square of unique fabric at the center of the table. The fabric in the place card matched the fabric for those guests’ table. Ingenious!! She also added a handmade table number for each table which was also printed on the place card for that table. See the link to get your template and directions for making these place cards.

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/photogallery/place-seating-card-templates#slide_2

The place cards were then attached with straight pins to a foam core board which was covered with fabric.

As guests came and picked up their place cards, the pins were pushed into color coordinated pin cushions.

Centerpieces – Many brides will use a square beveled edge mirror for the center of each of their reception tables. So you already know this bride used the twenty-two different fabric squares for each of the guest tables. These served three purposes: 1.) Fabric squares were color coordinated with the guest place cards so each table was unique. These also echoed the wedding colors. 2.) Each served to be the base for the three potted plants that were the floral centerpieces for each table. All the plants, some flowers and some culinary herbs, were potted by the brides and friends before the wedding. The potted plants also served as an additional favor for guests to take home at the end of the night. 3.) The fabric squares were gathered up at the end of the evening and then given to an aunt of the bride. The aunt had promised to make a quilt of all the squares as a gift for the bride and groom, to be displayed in their home.

Favors – These were a square two piece glass picture frame that doubled as a coaster. This bride inserted various pictures of her and the groom into these and tied them up with a ribbon. The picture frames gave the guests a dual use. One as a framed memento of the bride and groom and two, as a coaster which could be used for protecting their own tables at home from water marks. Guests, if they chose to, could switch out the picture later and color coordinate it to their home décor. Extra frames/coasters were available if guest wanted to have a matching set.

Not every bride has the creative and crafty aspirations! However if you truly love arts and crafts and want to bring your special touches to your wedding, I hope these few ideas spark that desire in you. Remember that wedding planning can be a fantastic outlet for Do It Yourself creativity!

Now that you are engaged, you are starting to think about where and when to have your wedding. You have probably already thought about how your dress will look and what colors you like for flowers and bridesmaid dresses. The venue you pick for your ceremony and reception will affect many other decisions. You can determine ahead of time what you want for color scheme and style of wedding and then find a location that FITS what YOU want.

I suggest you ask yourself a few questions before you decide on a venue:

Do you want to have your ceremony and reception at the same location?

How many guests will be coming?

Do you want to marry indoors or outdoors?

What time of year do you want to marry?

Once you know these things, you are one step closer to selecting the right venue for you. Maybe you have already searched online to see what venues are available that fit your criteria. Once you have found a few locations that appeal to you, now ask a few more questions

What will the venue look like at the time of year you are marrying? Which plants, trees or bushes will be blooming at that time?

What is the maximum capacity for the venue?

What are the permanent colors in the space such as walls, carpeting, and maybe even the chair colors? Will these go with the colors you want to have or will the colors clash?

For reception venues, do they have an exclusive in house caterer or do they allow other outside caterers to use their facility?

What is included in the fee to rent the venue? Are tables, chairs, linens or their sound system included? Can you use the whole venue or only certain rooms?

Do they have a preferred vendor list and do you have to use their chosen vendors?

Your budget and timing for the day can be affected by all of the above. When you go and look at a few venues, ask lots of questions before signing a contract.

If you would like a full check list of questions for selecting a venue, call or email me for a complimentary consultation. I offer many wedding services including researching and recommending vendors to brides.

You have spent your time dreaming about, planning for and spending your hard earned money toward your wedding day. Friends and family have been invited and will attend to see you marry your groom. You have scheduled time off from your job perhaps before and definitely after your wedding day. This is the day you have been waiting for months, maybe even years! Will you still be working on your wedding day?

Maybe you will spend the week leading up to the day worrying, checking every detail, or calling all your vendors to confirm everything. Now your day has arrived and you are too tired or stressed to enjoy it. Getting married should be very fun and enjoyable. After all your efforts and money spent, YOU deserve to be able to celebrate it. Your guests and family want you to spend your day with them.

Hiring a bridal consultant who offers a Day of Wedding package could be one of the best decisions you make as your wedding day approaches. Many brides wish they had hired a planner either part way through their wedding day or the week leading up to their day. You don’t have to hire a bridal consultant….most brides can plan their own wedding fairly well. Brides who did hire a day of wedding consultant rarely regret having spent the money for this service.

Here are some of the things you will enjoy from my “day of wedding” package:

You will get a detailed "Day of" time line for you and your wedding party.

 

All your vendors like your photographer, caterer, videographer, and DJ will have your time line and know when different events of the day are happening. 
 

All your wedding vendors will be contacted by your planner to confirm their arrival/departure time and the details of their service at least a week before your wedding.

 

Your ceremony rehearsal will go well and any potential issues will be addressed that night. Your ceremony on the day of your wedding will be organized.

 

All the little items like the guest book, place cards, ring bearer pillow, and toasting glasses are turned over to the consultant at the ceremony rehearsal not on your wedding day. No worries for you!
         

Your vendors will be greeted at the ceremony and reception for delivery and set up.  Any problems that come up will be handled without you needing to think about it. 
 

The corsages and boutonnières will be pinned on family members and the wedding party.

 

Your DJ and bridal consultant can work as a team to oversee the schedule throughout the reception so your events happen as planned.  Meanwhile you can enjoy just being married and celebrating with your new husband, your family and guests.

         

Final payments will be distributed to your vendors if needed on the day of your wedding. These too can be given to your bridal consultant at the rehearsal. 
         

Your set up and breakdown will occur within scheduled venue hours per your contract so you don’t get unexpected charges after your wedding is over.

At the end of the night, you will have “left the building” in grand style, perhaps in a limo that showed up on time. Your consultant can make sure clean up happens, all your personal items (guest book, toasting glasses, cake server, wedding gifts) have been returned to a family member. They will keep these safe until returned to you.

         

Just in case someone in your bridal party gets a headache or a blister from their shoes or needs tissues, an emergency wedding day kit is provided. You should see what is in mine:  Band-Aids, straws, mouthwash, hairspray, pain relievers, a pair of black sox, a needle and several colors of thread, tape….ask me what else I bring!

Consider being a guest at your own wedding and leave the stress, details, and all the rest to a bridal consultant on your day. The only job you should do is to be a great hostess who has fun and spends time with her guests and family. Let me work on your wedding!

My passion is working with brides to plan their wedding day and bring creativity, focus and detail to all their ideas and wishes. I also plan and coordinate other personal and corporate celebrations such as birthdays, showers, bar mitzvahs, company picnics, bridal open houses, grand openings and ribbon cuttings.

I hope you will enjoy and comment on my ideas and thoughts here on my blog.