Bridal Premiere Question 4

Question: How do I get the wedding I want on a budget? - Anonymous

Answer: Dear Anonymous, it's really all about priorities! For my budget brides, I typically have them complete a bit of homework in which you need to evaluate what is most important to you on your big day.

Here's how you can do this on your own. Create a list including the following options below.

1. Location
2. Ambiance/Decor
3. Flowers
4. Food
5. Entertainment
6. Photography
7. Videography
8. Cake
9. Gown
10. Linens
11. Lighting
12. Favors

Feel free to add anything else you can think of that you would like to include that is not on the list above. Otherwise read through the list and put the items in order of importance. What is most important to you and your fiance on your day? Is it where you get married or just what the room looks like? It it how you look or how your photos come out? Each aspect is important to people for different reasons. Once you have come up with your list with the items above in order of importance it will be that much easier to prioritize what is necessary and what is not. In doing so, it will alleviate the pressure when you create your budget because you will be able to allocate funds based on your priorities. If after doing your homework you still are facing trouble feel free to call our office and I will try and work through your budget with you.

Another option would be to hire a coordinator to allocate your budget and design your vision at the same time. We have experience with budget management and also have very strong relationships with key vendors that enables us to negotiate discounts. As far as our fee, we always make sure to include it within your budget so you are not spending extra for the services rendered.

Happy Planning!

Hottest New Song for Bouquet Tosses!

Thanks to Beyonce, there's a hot new song out on the dance floor for bouquet tosses. To get the vibe really rolling check out Single Ladies and pump things up a notch.

Beyoncé - New Music - More Music Videos

The history for tossing the bride's bouquet dates all the way back to the 14th century in France. On her wedding day, a bride was believed to be especially lucky. Guests would charge toward the bride as the ceremony concluded in hopes of tearing off a piece of her gown. In doing so, they brought her gown pieces home for their own good fortune. This chaotic behavior often became quite wild and dangerous. To protect herself, brides came up with the idea of throwing their stockings and/or garter. This worked for a short time until brides began to rebel and reject the new idea. It was then that brides began tossing the bouquet and switched the ritual. This tradition has stuck with brides ever since and aided in ensuring that the groom is really the only man that the gown truly goes home with that night.

Don't' forget to make sure you ask your florist to make you a toss bouquet so you can hold on to your actual bouquet.



If you are not a fan of tossing a bouquet here are a few other options that still involve your guests.

▪ Ask your florist to create a breakaway bouquet where it is only held together by a ribbon. Right before you toss the bouquet undo the ribbon and this allows multiple people to catch your luck.

▪ Choose a close friend or relative to dedicate your bouquet to, give the bouquet and pass your luck on at the same time.

▪ Together with your fiance decide on a couple that represents the type of marriage you wish to have. Honor them by giving the bouquet to them and saying a few short words on why they equate what you hope to be.

▪ Ask your DJ, Band or MC to arrange an anniversary dance. This is where a song is played and all the married couples dance. While they are dancing your MC auctions off time frames, such as 6 months or 5 years and so forth to represent the length of time they have been married. As each time is said couples stay on the dance floor until their time has been announced. Eventually there will be one couple standing and this is the couple that shall receive your bouquet. Passing your bouquet to the couple together the longest to signify your luck for your future together.

Happy Tossing!

Holiday Parties at Home: Simple steps to Success!

Hello all! I'm sorry it took me a bit longer than I anticipated to get this next post out but last week was crazy for me. I had a huge holiday party for 1000 people, I will be posting photos soon and then the very next day we had our own holiday housewarming for over 100 people. Things were crazy and chaotic and somewhere in the midst of things I learned that my Godfather, Uncle Irving, had passed away. Anyway, both events were extremely successful and went very smooth.

In this post, I'd like to share with you my simple steps to having a successful holiday party in your home. This is my absolute favorite season and there's no better way to celebrate it then to be in good company with great food and decor!

1) Plan ahead! Even if your a last minute Charlie which I myself, even sometimes tend to be, always try and at least map out the direction your going in advance. For my holiday party, I made my menu the same night I made the guest list. This points you in the right direction and prepares you for what to respond with when helpful guests offer to bring someting. Plan your menu, your beverages, your decor and your entertainment as far in advance as you can and this will enable you to have more time for prep as the week of approaches.

2) Accept help! While many do like to do everything they can on their own, help is great too! This year I knew as much as I'd love to do everything on my own it just wasn't feasible with such a large event the day before. Instead, I planned to cook all my crowd pleasing appetizers and platters that I could myself, and get help with mini gourmet sandwiches and salads. I called upon a favorite vendor and immediately felt the relief. I then ordered potato latkes as well from a couple local chefs I know and they aided in taking off some of the pressure. In addition, anyone that offered to bring something I accepted. I asked all my generous guests who offered to please bring a dessert. I also ordered mini cupcakes from Yummy Cupcakes in Burbank and dessert was a huge hit.

3) Appreciate all the details... This year I was full of details! Little things that don't seem that relevant are often times the things your guests will notice most.

I hung ornaments from my chandelier using ribbon, added fabric to my mantles and placed holly around the house for a festive smell. I also made sure to place little snacks such as candy bowls, chocolate covered nuts and raisins in every room for guests to much on. I made sure that the food I was serving had little placecards in front of them to identify what each item was and made sure to have a large variety for my veggie, meat and seafood eaters. I also altered our lighting using twinkle lights, candles and dimmers. This added a real ambiance to the evening.

4) Clean up as you go! Throughout the day while I was prepping and the night while I was entertaining I consistently attempted to put away and clean as much as possible. This prevents a large mess for the end of the night and is very easy. Try and remember the guideline full hands in - full hands out. Anytime your walking in or out of the kitchen or dining area always try and multi-task as you go. The more you can do while completing other tasks along the way, the less you will have to do at the end of the night. It's a great trick to follow and is rather simple too.

5) Have fun! Don't forget to enjoy yourself with your guests. This is always one thing I tend to forget myself, I get so wrapped up in cooking and perfecting everything I tend to place enjoying myself lower on the list. But ultimately, your guests are here for you, it's important to share the night with them. Make sure you allow ample time to complete your entertaining duties and still play a part in the night as well.

So those are my top tips for a successful evening amongst your closest family and friends. I wish you all a happy healthy holiday from my home and into your own. I will try to post a few more times prior to the end of the year