You’ve been planning for months and your big day is just around the corner….then all of a sudden, just when you think you’ve stayed within budget, along comes those dreaded “additional fees”. Due to the fact that hidden costs can throw even the most organized bride for a loop, I’ll detail here a few of the most common “hidden” charges that are legitimate and which you should question.

1. Dress Alterations - Are they included in the gown’s price?

~Happy Planning~

You all know I love to throw a great party, and the being in the midst of my busiest season just makes me a little more festive. Some like to plan on a grand scale ((I must admit…..my intimate gatherings tend to get a little larger than planned)) but others prefer something a little smaller. In my years of planning & coordinating I have found that no matter the size of your party, what your guests remember most is the food .

With that being said, I am always looking for party menu & theme ideas. During my most recent search I came across the book At Home Entertaining by Jorj Morgan. This book is the best!!!! It gives menu planning and decorating tips for all types of parties.

Here is just a small sampling of what you’ll find there. Enjoy.

Just the Two of Us
(parties for 2 very close friends)

Supper by the Fire

Intimate Valentine’s Day Dinner

Everyday Celebrations
(weekday parties for 4 pals)

Supper Italian Style

A Lunch Bunch Party
*Easy Broccoli and Cheese Soup
*Quick Chili with Lentils and Black Beans
*Spicy Grilled Chicken Salad with Roasted Asparagus, Yellow Peppers and Creamy Basil Vinaigrette
*Cobb Salad Wrap-a-rounds
*Roasted Tomato and Ricotta Tart
*Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Laid Back Gatherings for a Few Good Friends
(weekend parties 6 to 8 friends)

Alfresco Lunch at the Beach

Informal Get Together
(easy parties for 8 or more guests)

Backyard Barbecue with all the Fixins’
*Bourbon Minted Tea
*Butterflied Chicken on the Grill
*Spicy Baked Bean Casserole
*Potato Salad with Sour Cream and Garbanzo Beans
*Crisp Coleslaw with Mustard Dressing
*Deep Dish Apple Pie

Bashes That are Best with a Bunch
(buffet parties for 8 or more)

Milk Shake and Cookie Bar

For more tips and the recipes for the menu selections listed here please visit the website.

 © 2008 www.Jorj.com

On my never ending quest to keep you informed on current wedding & event trends, I often come across helpful hints explained in a such a way I just have to share…..here is my newest find.

There are a million different way that you can word your invitations, but the most important thing to remember is that your wording should reflect you personal style.

Here are the six most common wording formats for wedding invitations……

			TIP: Groom’s folks are the hosts? Adapt accordingly. Mr. and Mrs. Steven Stone (or Mary and Steven Stone) request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Melissa Grace to Robert Seth Greene Saturday, the fifteenth of October at five o’clock (”in the morning/afternoon/evening” is optional) two thousand and five First Presbyterian Church Rye, New York
			TIP: While it used to be standard for the bride’s family to host, it’s now perfectly acceptable for both families to get in on the action. Mr. and Mrs. Steven Stone and Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Greene request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children Melissa Grace and Robert Seth Saturday, the fifteenth of October etc.
			TIP: The use of “request the honor of your presence” is used formally and “request the pleasure of your company” is more familiar. TIP: Reception details can go in the lower right or lower left corner of the invitation, or you can enclose separate reception cards. If the reception is in the same place as the ceremony, put “Reception immediately afterward” on the invite. Ms. Melissa Grace Stone and Mr. Robert Seth Greene request the pleasure of your company at their marriage Saturday, the fifteenth of October etc. Reception afterward at Tappan Hill 81 Highland Avenue Tarrytown, New York
			TIP: If a divorced father hosts the wedding, the invitation should carry his full name. Mr. Steven Michael Stone requests the honor of your presence at the marriage of his daughter Melissa Grace to Robert Seth Greene son of Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Greene Saturday, the fifteenth of October etc.
			TIP: If the wedding is hosted by the bride’s parent(s), the groom’s parents are traditionally left off the invite, but we like adding the “son of” line to acknowledge his parents. Jeffrey and Mary Katz request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Mrs. Katz’s daughter Melissa Grace Stone to Robert Seth Greene son of Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Greene Saturday, the fifteenth of October etc.
			TIP: Stepparents can be included on the same line as their spouses if that’s okay with everyone. But don’t put divorced parents on the same line in an invite, because it can make their relationship confusing to guests. Mr. Steven Stone and Mrs. Mary Katz request the honor of your company at the marriage of their daughter Melissa Grace Stone to Robert Seth Greene son of Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Greene Saturday, the fifteenth of October etc.

A great planner will work up an in-depth color, fabric, texture & pattern preference profile of you to better implement your overall vision of your event.

Most times you have already envisioned the colors that you want to utilize within your event. When talking with your coordinator, here are some helpful terms to know regarding color scheme and overall room design….

Color Descriptors….

Shading - Bright, Bold, Medium (in brightness), Mellow, or Subdued
Intensity - Light, Medium, or Dark
Classes - Warm (red, yellow, etc), Cool (blue, green, etc), Neutral (beige, gray, etc)

Gradient - n. Slope or degree of slope (in regard to color it is the degree of color intensity; (ex. pink is a lighter gradient of red).

You can have one signature color for your event and still have it appear that you have several different colors by just choosing items in varying gradients (shades) of that signature color.

Regarding fabrics, textures, and pattern ideas here are some terms you are bound to hear….

Fabrics

Cotton, Linen, Velvet, Wool, Chintz, Satin, or Organza

Textures

Slick, Smooth, Soft, Woven, Crisp, or Nubby

Patterns

Bold Floral, Restrained Floral, Abstract, Plaids, Stripes, Tweed, or Pictorial

Most commonly used color names (this is just a basic listing - there are a million and one names used to describe colors)

Yellow, Red, Blue, Orange, Green, Violet, Lemon, Pink, Sky Blue, Salmon, Aqua, Melon, Turquoise, Coral, Yellow-Green, Gold, Maroon, Navy Blue, Mauve, Lime, Orchid, Black, White, Pumpkin, Olive, Rust, Brown, Pale Yellow, Teal, Peach, Beige, Gray, and Gray-Green.

As you look over the list you can readily identify which colors are just gradients of anothr color (ex. Pink, Salmon and Mauve are all gradients of the base color of Red).

~ Happy Planning ~

Ok, I know the title is a little cheesy…but I couldn’t resist….LOL

 Here is my find for today and its for my grooms out there looking for that perfect way to propose…..hope you’re inspired!!!

The Romantic’s Guide to Popping the Question is a new book that challenges the myth that one has to open their wallet to show what is in ones heart. A nationwide search for the most romantic proposals brought in over 7300 stories and the best 101 showed credit cards and bank accounts have little impact on romance.

Author Michael Webb, who is a popular talk show guest, has long been teaching men and women how to get back to the romance of days gone by. The best part about Webb’s book is that it will actually save you money on your proposal by showing ways you can express your love without opening your wallet.

As usual I have been scouring the net, bridal guides, and talking to recently wed couples for new “tradition ideas”. Here are a couple of things that I really like (and have used on occasion) to make an event just that more memorable……

The 2nd Kiss

In most wedding photos, you see the bride & groom walking down the aisle (after the ceremony) amongst the on-looking faces of their applauding guests….wouldn’t it be great if at that moment (midway down the aisle) they stop, as if stricken by love’s irresistible clamor, turn toward each other and kiss again??

This second kiss will send all the right messages and it is a great way to have your love accentuate the ending of your ceremony. Having fun incorporated into your ceremony will delight you and your guests alike.

Your photographer and videographer will capture these moments, filling your wedding album & video with timeless imagery.

Entering with Roses

For a non-traditional approach, as the bride begins her walk down the aisle with her escort, the guests have risen, the music is playing, and numerous cameras are focused on her approach.

As she passes them, two or three aisle side guests will give her a rose. When she reaches her place among the bridal party, she will pass these roses to her maid of honor. A bride could also form these roses around the bouquet. These same roses can be used later in the ceremony during the presentation of roses to female VIPs or placed in an act of memoriam to honor loved ones deceased.

Accepting side roses from guests shows the connection of the bride to her guests as well as allowing them to symbolically contribute to her. An entrance with roses adds to the pageantry of the brides approach as well as providing great photo ops!

Doves and/or Butterflies

What better way to end your event than on a high note! That’s what a dove or butterfly releases is - a grand finale!!! Though many couples are still showered with rice or bird seed, others opt for doves or butterflies. Dove and butterfly releases are very dramatic indeed.

As dramatic as they both are, butterflies offer their own unique advantage. Whereas an audience watches a dove release….the audience can actually participate in a butterfly release. First the guests are invited to come gather around the both of you, then a delegated person (minister, coordinator, close friend, etc) gives a special reading followed by the instruction to release the butterflies. Imagine the surprise as your guests open their boxes to reveal a beautiful butterfly and the sound of a collective gasp as the butterflies take flight. The sight of the sky filling with color and activity - the memory of that moment - always associated with the two of you and your special day.

A dove or butterfly release dramatically brings a ceremony to a very memorable and photogenic conclusion. They are both most well suited for daytime ceremonies, concluding before dusk.

Hope these have given you some ideas….as always in parting…..

~ Happy Planning~

The best part of any meal is the dessert, so selecting the all important cake for your event is no small feat. These sweet confections should have any guest begging for more….

1. Chocolate - Almond cake, chocolate ganache and mocha buttercream

2. Banana cake and chocolate buttercream

3. Coconut cake and lime buttercream

4. Hazlenut - Almond cake, chocolate ganache and rasberries

5. White cake, lemon buttercream and rasberries

6. Chocolate devil’s food cake, chocolate ganache and praline buttercream

7. Lemon cake, lemon curd and vanilla buttercream

8. Yellow butter cake and chocolate buttercream and/or chocolate ganache

9. Chocolate devil’s food cake, vanilla buttercream and rasberries

10. Chocolate devil’s food cake and vanilla buttercream

Hope this gave you some ideas……

Ok, so I’m having a little too much fun with the blog titles these days…LOL

Here is my most recent find regarding the 6 hottest hair trends this year……

The most of-the-moment bridal hairstyle trends are more romantic than ever — think long, loose braids and tousled waves. See the latest wedding hair looks straight from the runway and find one for your own walk down the aisle.

From romantically tussled tresses to boudoir glam up-dos, the most of-the-moment hairstyle is completely vintage inspired.

Trend 1: Pintucked Poufs
A center part and perfectly placed tendrils can create a sultry style.

Trend 2: Natural Waves
Delicate rolling locks can be perfect for a breezy beach bride or an elegant diva girl.

Trend 3: Sleek Styles
These streamlined looks are modern, functional, simple, and sensational.

Trend 4: Braids
These intricately braided styles are more poised than Pippi Longstocking.

Trend 5: Hot Knots
Forget ballerina buns; the latest up-dos are looped, swooped, and fitting for the most modern bride. 

Trend 6: Hair Accessories
There’s tons of ways to dress up a bridal hairstyle, but these are super chic.

                                                            ~ Happy Planning ~

© 2008 The Knot

Good afternoon to all my dedicated wedding & event bloggers…..

As you all know, I am always on the lookout for great finds within the industry to pass on to you…so here is my latest discovery….

Our Happy Wedding Day is a local company (Chicagoland) who specializes in custom made, eco-friendly and affordable wedding & event invitations. I looked over the website and was captured by one design in particular…so of course I just had to share…..

~ The Skyline Collection ~

~ Save the date card (front & back) - great spot for that engagement photo

~ Invitation (front & back) - 3 paneled, tri-fold design

~ Invitation insert (fron & back) - RSVP card

~ Invitation insert - direction card

~ Thank you card (front & back) - great for an actual wedding photo

** There are more designs available on the website ((I just love this one)) **

All designs are…..

Printed on eco-friendly paper (100% recycled - 50% post consumer waste)
100% customizable
Elegant finish with sharp color resolution
Processed chlorine free
Ancient forest friendly
Green-e certified

Hope this inspires you…..

                                                                  ~ Happy Planning ~

Don’t send the wrong message on your big day. Using morning glory, cyclamen or rhododedron in the wedding flowers may inadvertenly convey uncertainty, resignation or danger. In-the-know brides ((like you)) will get the right point across with these top 10 wedding flowers.

1. Dahlias - Forever thine

2. Orchids - Love, Beauty

3. Calla Lilies - Magnificent beauty

4. Tulips - Consuming love

5. Peonies - Bashfulness

6. Roses - Red: True love / White: Purity / Coral: Desire

7. Lily of the Valley - Sweetness

8. Stephanotis - Marital happiness

9. Sweet Peas - Lasting pleasure

10. Gardenia - Secret love