Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Real Wedding: Lauren & Leon

When I met Lauren, the first thing that struck me was her warmth - she literally is one of the nicest and most generous people I've ever come across. Now, the fact that she was marrying a fellow South African ... she earned even more brownie points in my book!

Lauren and Leon chose to have their wedding at Battery Gardens for its simple beauty and downtown location. Its an inviting space and you can create whatever you want in terms of decor simply because the space is a blank canvas - perfect for Lauren's dream of a fall themed day. Their wedding day had beautiful sun and warm-ish temps despite it being November!






















Venue: Battery Gardens
Flowers: La Jolie Events
Photography: Lina Jang
Cake: Nine Cakes

Monday, February 8, 2010

Monday Musings

Congratulations New Orleans Saints!


{via MSNBC Sports}

Friday, February 5, 2010

Weekly Round Up: Snowy Weekend Forecast

Don't you just love that all the weather reports of the 'paralyzing' winter storm headed towards the Northeast? Anyways, in an effort to embrace the cold, the husband and I are headed to Vermont to hit the slopes - but before we head north, here are some truly fabulous finds this week:

Nonpareil Magazine launched this week - its simply delightful and beautiful AND full of amazing ideas for your wedding. It is the mastermind of ladies behind The Inspired Bride and Paper Crave - two very talented women, so be sure to check it out.

The Wedding University happened last weekend in San Francisco and there are two fantastic write ups regarding the day - a female perspective and a male perspective. For those that missed it - it was an educational day filled with insider information on how to plan a fabulous wedding day and not go nuts during the planning process.

The ever inspiring Nancy Liu Chin wrote a great post on what you get for $1000 when it comes to wedding flowers. Check it out to see the realities of what is available in that price range.

And last but certainly not least - my best friend Aliza Werner, a budding photographer in Milwaukee has officially launched her lifestyle photography business! She got talent, so spend some time on her on blog and her portfolio's this weekend!


{Aliza and I at my rehearsal dinner}

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Business & Wedding Planning: Bartering

Every good business relationship is filled with some sort of give and take, a bartering of sorts if you will. I'll provide knowledge and expertise in exchange for something else. Its natural that in business, people help people or make a barter in exchange for something. So why aren't more brides and grooms bartering in their wedding planning?

In the past few years, every magazine and wedding blog has drilled into newly engaged couples that they should negotiate and they should ask for discounts. While I agree that negotiating is a great strategy - straight up asking for a discount isn't. Why? What does your vendor get in return from giving you a discount? And, why should you get a discount to begin with? Because you're engaged and planning a wedding? Vendors are providing their skill, knowledge, expertise and passion with you in their services ... you wouldn't walk into a shoe store and just demand a discount simply because you need a pair of shoes. All of the vendors that I work with and know aren't out to screw the engaged. I hear it time and time again at consultations "don't tell x,y and z vendor that its a wedding - they'll jack the prices up!" ... um, usually not so much. Vendors know their market, know what things cost and like every other company that exists, needs to make a little extra in order to actually stay in business.

If you really fall in love with a vendor but know you can't afford their services, sit down with them and be open and honest. Flattery does help. Offering a barter or exchange may work in your favor. Do you have amazing writing skills? Offer to re-write all their marketing material. Do you have the time to come in and cut flowers for them on the weekends? Let them know. Be offering something of yourself, you're much more likely to get a vendor whose willing to give you a break on the cost of your proposal, or at least work with you to bring the cost down. Use your expertise to trade with the vendor in an area that you feel they can benefit. In everyday life, we make exchanges with people based on our needs and their needs - this should apply to wedding planning rather than just demanding a discount.

Figure out what you have that a vendor needs and then exploit it! Bartering is a years old tradition and in many cultures is the way of life - time to employ it into your wedding planning process.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Wediquette: Having Entree Options at Your Wedding

Question: We're only serving one entree at our reception, but there will be a few vegetarians/special dietary needs people in our group. If there's no meal selection option on the reply card, how does one handle this? Should you include a line on the reply card to contact us for special dietary needs? Just include it on the website? Or will special needs/vegetarian guests just know?

If you've opted to have a single choice for entree for your reception - there's no need to give your attending guests an advance notice that a) you're only serving one entree and b) that they can get something else if they 'require' it due to dietary restrictions. When your guests sit down at the reception, there should be a menu card that lists what everyone will be eating that evening. At the bottom of it in very small print, have a line that says "Vegetarian Choice Available" or something to that affect {its called having a silent option}. Prior to your wedding, when you finalized the menu with the catering company or chef, there should have been a discussion regarding special meals in case any of your guests cannot eat the entree choice. The chef will be prepared to handle these, so when a waiter comes around to take drink orders, a guest can request the vegetarian meal.

It is essential to have a vegetarian option available to guests that are unable to eat your entree - in this day and age, people's eating habits are very personal and just imagine how annoyed you'd be if you went to a wedding and the hosts didn't have a choice for you to eat so you can't eat dinner? Its common courtesy especially since more and more people are choosing for health or diet reasons to eat differently. Or, they are like me and if the only choice is fish {some of which I am allergic to} I have to have the vegetarian meal otherwise the reception won't go on when I have an allergic reaction!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Venue: Crosby Street Hotel

I was really fortunate to attend a lovely lunch and then a private tour of the Crosby Street Hotel last week - what an oasis in the heart of Soho. Recently renovated and owned and operated by a British couple {who owns 6 hotels in London}; The Crosby Street Hotel is the epitome of style and chic boutiqueness. Each of the 86 rooms are personally designed and no two are alike! They also have 3 private rooms for rental - beautiful, elegant and each very different. Perfect for a rehearsal dinner or small soiree. There's also a large bar area and a 99 seat screening room ... imagine the possibilities for a fantastic evening!

PS: They do a sophisticated High Tea in the Crosby Street Bar and lunch their was amazing and scrumptious.








Simply Divine!

{all images via The Crosby Street Hotel website}

Monday, February 1, 2010

Monday Musings

"February is merely as long as is needed to pass the time until March"
- Dr. J. R. Stockton