Tuesday, May 25, 2010

    Proofing your invitations

    Proofing your invitations is CRUCIAL. I always let my clients know that I will happily look at their invitations to see if anything jumps incorrect out at me, but I'm not a professional proof reader and I cannot be the final word. Once you hit "approved" on your invitation proof, it is a costly error to fix any mistakes.

    Below is a link to a great blog on the subject from Custom Paper Works on how to proof your invitations correctly. Such helpful info! 

    This is Important: PROOF CAREFULLY!

    Monday, May 24, 2010

    How many assistants do you have today?


    I get asked this question a lot on particularly tricky wedding days that are when there are a gaggle of girls dressed in black running around.

    My answer? "Enough to get it done right"

    The above picture of Neusha, Nira, Sacha*, Krista, and I was taken by the wonderful Carolyn Troadec of Troadec Photography as we were taking a moment to watch Nicole & Rocco get married at The Athenaeum at Caltech in Pasadena. Assistant overload? Not in my opinion. The Athenaeum is a tricky venue where getting guests where they need to be is much easier said than done.

    Nira & Neusha were assigned to escort 185 guests from parking around the building to the ceremony site.
    Sacha was assigned to the bride, bridal party, & family for getting photos done in a timely manner.
    Krista was assigned to ceremony & reception set up (programs, mic check, unity candle, escort cards, etc)
    I was overseeing all of the above and all vendor/family questions that arose. And rocking red sparkly jewelry.

    Because we were not radioed together (walkie talkie ear buds hurt my ears) and the processional started from THREE separate areas, I had to carefully choreograph the below to make the ceremony start on time. It became a chain reaction that could not be stopped once it started. We're awesome though, so we started at 5:00 on the dot.


    4:50 PM
    POSITIONS TO START CEREMONY
    Sacha takes Nicole, Bridesmaids, Ring Bearer & Flower girls across grass to archways. (Make human shield around Nicole)
    Krista tells Mothers Elisa & Robyn to go light the unity candle. Line grandparents & parents up on side of building on brick pathway.
    Nira lines up Father Mike, Groom Rocco, then Nic, James, Michael, & Robby in side door at top of stairs.
    Neusha directs any late arriving guests

    Once people are in place, Krista instructs Jazz band to begin processional.
    5:00 PM
    Ceremony Begins Song: Ribbon in the Sky by Stevie Wonder
    Krista sends:
    1. SMOB Patsy escorted by Grandp B.
    2. Grandpa & Grandma F.
    3. MOG Robyn escorted by FOG Tony
    When Parents of Groom are seated, Nira sends:
    4. Father Mike, Groom Rocco, then Nic, James, Michael, & Robby
    When boys are in place, Sacha sends bridesmaids:
    5. Lauren
    6. Kristen
    7. Alisa
    8. Heather
    9. Ringbearer Brandon (remind him to walk the rings to the foot of the stairs) walks with Flowergirls Madi, Charli, & Mia
    SONG CHANGE to "Bridal Chorus"
    Nicole walks down the pathway by herself and meets BOTH parents at bottom of chairs to walk up to front

    Once the reception begins I cut all but one or two assistants to help me througouht the night.
    So how many assistants do I have at each wedding? Enough to get it done right.

    *Sacha is holding a fork that she found on the ground. And that is not a beer bottle in her hand. It's a soda bottle that I also believe she found. 

    Friday, May 21, 2010

    On Love

    I don't really read a lot of wedding magazines, but I do enjoy reading brides blogs to see inside the psyche of what is going on with brides getting married right now. Getting married is hard, y'all.


    One of those blogs that I currently love is A Los Angeles Love. I enjoy Becca's transparency and honesty. This quote I found on her blog hit me hard today. At a time in life when some of the marriages that surround me are crumbling (a wedding planner talking about divorice? Taboo!) this is something I want to share with my readers.



    Love is a temporary madness; it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of eternal passion. That is just being in love, which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Those that truly love have roots that grow towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two.

    ~Louis de Bernieres

    Monday, May 10, 2010

    We now return to our regular programing

    Oh. Wow. It's been over two weeks since I've blogged. My life has been upside-down crazy with the move my husband and I just went through. We found a too good to pass up deal on a cute little cottage next to Studio City and jumped on it and ended up moving right before my wedding season really kicked off. It was either move now or in November when I slow down. After 9 years in LA in apartments, we're beyond thrilled to live in a house. Yard! Covered Patio! White picket fence! Washing machine! Parking! Yay!

    My mom flew in one weekend to help me paint my new office (theme: "pink, white, and precious!") and since we moved in on May 1 my husband has had a honey-do list that only now seems to be getting smaller. He has built countless pieces of furniture for us, painted old furniture, hung shelves,  light fixtures & paintings, and even attended flea markets with me while I was on the hunt for my office stuff.

    It has been exhausting. Last week while was wallowing in boxes it was all I could do to keep up with my current clients. So I became "That Planner" who wasn't responding to new inquiries properly. My deepest apologies if any of you are reading this. You're probably not though, and I don't blame you.

    It's been worth it though! We're settling in and I'm excited to show my new office when it's done.  It's close! God bless my mom for taking two days to paint stripes for me!