Want to Make Your Wedding a Blast for Your Guests?

November 10, 2012 Leave a Comment

Here are a few ideas on how you can spice up your wedding day and make it a fun and fabulous day for you and your guests!

Photo booth: You can rent a classic or digital photo booth. The classic prints out the photos, and this can be mementos for your guests or be used to create a memory book with guest messages to the newly married couple. This can also take the place of the guest book, so there are photos and messages included. The digital photo booth gives the couple all the images on a CD.

Candy Station: You want to add some sweet fun to the wedding reception? You can have various glass containers of different sizes and shapes filled with your favorite candy treats. The candies can reflect your wedding theme or your favorites as a couple. For example if the colors of your wedding are reds and browns, you can have all candy that are red. Such as red vines, red tamales, red gummy bears, etc. Its another way to also add decor and color to your wedding reception.  You can have little bags which guests can fill up and then eat throughout the reception. Its a great way to have guests interact and eat at the same time!

Fondue Station: Who can say no to chocolate?? For those chocolate lovers, its the best way to incorporate chocolate in a fun and interactive way! You can rent the fondue fountain and choose what type of fruits, cookies, pretzels, or cheese you would like to have dipped in. This can also go along with your theme or color of your wedding. This is a great dessert addition to the wedding cake. If you have kids at the wedding, this is a fun thing to for them too!

Look for more reception tips coming soon!

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TLC’s Four Weddings Episode Recap: November 8th

November 9, 2012 Leave a Comment
Lydia from TLC's Four Weddings

Lydia from TLC’s Four Weddings

Did you watch last night’s episode of “Four Weddings” on TLC? Here is a recap of the episode:

Who are the Brides?: 

  • Jennifer loves her Portuguese heritage and shared it with all her guests. She had a traditional Catholic wedding ceremony. The reception had a lot of personal touches like picture box centerpieces with flowers. Dinner was family style with a variety of  great food options.
  • Deanna is a head over heels bride who showed all the love at her wedding. The ceremony was set at a country club, with a stunning draping tent over, and a beautiful golf course as the backdrop. The wedding colors of the teal, white and black were throughout the reception space.
  • Lydia is a fun, high energy bride who loves to have a great time.  Her ceremony was held at a gorgeous historic church, which featured a magnificent organ. Her dress was elegant styled with simple accessories which stood out. Lydia LOVES flowers, so the reception featured lots of beautiful flowers all over. The wedding gave a total party vibe with all the fun details.
  • Aimee  goes country at her barn themed wedding.  Set outside, her ceremony featured hanging flowers on the chairs, their cute kids walking down the aisle, and personal vows shared. The reception was held at a barn which had white twinkle lights, horseshoe favors (for good luck), and lots of dancing. Being both huge Boston Sox fans, they had ballpark snacks given out by ballpark vendors. Great late night snacks for all the guests to enjoy!

Cool factor:  There was one detail from each wedding that stood out for me. Jennifer’s bridal gown was absolutely stunning. It was an A-line simple dress with touches of sparkles. It fit her perfectly!  Deanna had personal rocks placed on each guest chair at the ceremony. Each rock had a love saying. I thought this was very personal and worked really well.  Lydia had maracas at each table setting for the wedding favors.  The maracas had a tag which said ” shake at the kiss”. I think this was such a cute idea, because guests can shake away, have fun, and at the end of the night, take it home. What a fun idea! What I loved at Aimee’s wedding was the lawn games at the cocktail hour. I think this is great, as it is something very unique and fun for the guests to do during the cocktail hour. Why just drink and eat, when you can play games!

Who won? Congrats to Lydia winning!  She and her husband won an all expenses paid honeymoon to Costa Rica!  I was not surprised about Lydia winning at all, she seemed to deserve it! While I can not account for the food since I wasn’t actually there, all the other details – venue, dress, and originality – were owned by Lydia’s wedding, easily exceeding the rest. I thought that every detail of her wedding came together perfectly. Her party vibe personality was definitely apparent at her wedding.  It looked like a fun, lively, and beautiful wedding to be at, and I’m sure viewers (like me) could tell how excited the couple and their guests were. Way to go Lydia!  So how did the other three brides score? Aimee came in second, Deanna in third, and Jennifer in fourth place.

Stay tuned to Bridal Hot List for more TLC updates on wedding themed shows!
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Just Engaged? Top Five Ways to Start the Planning

November 8, 2012 Leave a Comment

Congratulations on your engagement! This is a wonderful time where you celebrate your love and enjoy the engagement. Typically  most couples have a one year engagement, however a wedding can be planned in six months or less. (I will tell you more about this later). Even though this engagement is very special time in your lives, there is a bigger special day coming up which requires planning.

1. Set a date! – The time of year determines almost everything from the style of dress to wear, to the colors to choose . Choosing a date can be as simple as what time of the year you like to get married, fall, summer, winter, or spring. Some couples choose a date which falls on a holiday weekend, so each anniversary they will have a three day weekend! Whatever the reason, choosing a date must happen first.

2. Set a budget – Consult with each other and set a budget. This will help with planning the wedding and avoid financial conflict later. There are no rules in who pays for the wedding. It all depends on your family, culture, and traditions. These days I have seen many couples pay for all or some of the wedding costs. Some couples will split the wedding costs between both families. (Groom’s parents and Bride’s parents). Whoever is paying for the wedding, there still needs to be a budget!

3. Venue location – Now that the date and budget have been set, you can choose your location. If you are getting married in the summer, an outside venue would work great. However, even with outside venues there needs to be a back-up plan in case mother nature decides to change. The venue location determines all the other elements of the wedding day.  This may be a good time to consider hiring a wedding planner. A wedding planner can help save the couple money and time!

4. Shopping for the dress! – Now that the date, budget, and location have been set, the you can look for your dress! This is a fun time where the bride and her family and friends can go shopping!  The advice I would give is to make sure that you go to several bridal shops and try on different styles. It may look good in a magazine, however you will not know until you try it on. No matter what your mom or friends tell you, YOU have to feel that dress is right for you for your special day. Ultimately it is YOUR decision in choosing the dress. You will know when you have found “the one”.

5. Meet with all other vendors – Now that you have the date, budget, location, and dress you can start to choose and meet with other vendors. Photographers, videographers, florists, cake bakeries, officiants, jewelers (choose the wedding bands, if not chosen at before engagement), caterers, DJ/live bands, etc.

Good luck!

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Laguna Beach Wedding: A Romantic Beach Affair

November 7, 2012 1 Comment

A love story which began in the beach town of Laguna Beach, California, turned into a romantic beach wedding. What I love is the simple and sweetness of this wedding. No bridesmaids or groomsmen, just two love birds uniting with their closest friends and family, overlooking the stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. I absolutely love this bride! Beautiful and graceful, this bride has it all, and shows it all off at her beach side wedding.

The love and sweetness is captured by inGrace Photography. Get ready to fall in love as you browse through the photos.

From our beach loving bride…

We got married on Saturday, September 3, 2012 , Labor Day Weekend. Our wedding took place at our favorite place – Laguna Beach, California. We got married at the Laguna Beach Heisler Park Gazebo overlooking the ocean. My sister Puneh Alai married us as she had an interesting role in how we came together. Laguna Beach is the town where we fell in love.

We had a Baha’i Wedding Ceremony and the back side of the que cards used by the “officiant” artistically and creatively spelled out the words L-O-V-E. Farzaneh Farhand was the florist, a long time dear family friend. The wedding flowers were as bright, modern, and hued like our wedding day.

I wore a fitted strapless white tafetta dress with a black satin bow, black heels, and black and silver jewelry to match. My hair and makeup was done at my favorite salon, the TriBeca Salon in Aliso Viejo. Lucas wore a Hugo Boss suit and an understated modern thin black tie.

We had our immediate families with just a handful of long time close family friends, making a total of exactly 19 guests. A nice coincidence as this is a very special number for both of us. We were honored to have guests from as far away as Florida, Nebraska, Kansas, and Denver.  A special guest of honor was Lucas’s 81 year old grandmother who had never seen the ocean until her grandson’s wedding!

I arrived in a 1920 award winning Model T-Ford, driven by my mom’s neighbor Bob. Who said Californians are not friendly?! This was something I  always dreamed of, and it was truly an honor to drive to the ceremony in such a classic and historic piece of history. It added a very old classy touch to a very understated and chic wedding event.

The background music consisted of melodic music from our past year of courting. Slightly Stupid’s “Ocean”, was playing in the background as I walked down the aisle.

After the ceremony, Lucas and I were driven to Casa Del Camino Hotel for our dinner reception. The reception was held at the hotel’s top level, The Roof Top. It has sweeping views of the endless ocean and romantic Laguna Beach behind them.

The reception was a sit down three course dinner with the continued black and white theme and variety of bouquets similar to my bouquet. Each table setting had hurricane candles and strewn sea shells. The wedding cake was from Cinderella Cakes and it was a simple understated two tiered cake with sea shells and a simple bow on top. My sister prepared a collage of pictures of our first year together, reminding us of our amazing courtship.

Each guest took home an original sea shell which I found in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. We stayed the night at Casa Del Camino Hotel. Our honeymoon suite name was the Moroccan Suite. It is a very beach, eclectic, and artsy theme which we loved! The photography was done by In Grace Photography. Kristin and Mark Paulkoner at the time were just our amazing photographers but have now become close friends. This husband and wife team are wonderful to have at your wedding as they exude love themselves, and this shows in the pictures they take for their clients! They have since photographed the newborn baby photos of the our son Kai (Kai means Ocean in Hawaiian by the way, go figure!).

I loved everything of the day, and had a wonderful time!

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Casa Romantica Venue

November 6, 2012 Leave a Comment

I have lived in Southern Orange County my whole life, and thought I knew all the hot spots, however I was wrong! I found a hidden gem in one of my favorite beach towns, San Clemente, California.

Tucked away near the San Clemente pier is a historical venue, the Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens. The venue is perched on the cliffs overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean with breathtaking views. Imagine a ceremony with the most beautiful backdrop!

 

This venue is not all about the views. This historical estate offers a beautiful garden, gorgeous rooms, and unique architecture. Right next to the fabulous outside ceremony area, you will find a beautiful room which can be used for a cocktail hour or reception.

This room leads into an enchanting courtyard surrounded by lush trees and beautiful flowers. It serves as the perfect setting for dinner under the stars.

I absolutely  loved this venue, and rank it as one of my favorites!

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Atlanta Wedding from My Simply Perfect Wedding and Events

November 5, 2012 2 Comments

A lovely picnic at the park with your friends and family sounds like a fun and sweet time right?  That is why I am in love with all the details of the wedding that took place at Old Fourth Ward Park in Atlanta, Georgia.  Fabulously planned by My Simply Perfect Wedding and Events, this wedding has everything to create the most perfect picnic wedding. Do you know what my favorite detail was? The green couch. Yes,a green couch.

Amazing photos were captured by Matthew Druin Photography. Are you ready to see the super fun wedding photos?


 

 



 

From My Simply Perfect Weddings and Events…

Jordan & Sharly were married at the Old Fourth Ward Park in Atlanta, GA.
This is actually their second wedding.  They got married in a traditional Indian ceremony in July when most of Sharly’s family was in from out of town visiting.
For this wedding, they wanted the ceremony to really reflect their personalities.  No frills but a little funky with style.  When discussing the reception food, the picnic idea was thrown around a bit.  The suggestion was to make the food inside the baskets somewhat fancy in order to fit the feel of a wedding.  They had gourmet sandwiches with chips and fruit, and bottled sodas.  It was an absolute HIT with the guests.
Jordan & Sharly opted out of having a traditional wedding cake and felt that cupcakes would be the way to go.  While the guests were dancing, they were able to enjoy gourmet Popsicles from the King of Pops. 
Congratulations to Jordan & Sharly!
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How to Choose a Photographer for your Wedding Day

November 4, 2012 Leave a Comment

Photos capture your wedding memories, and choosing the right photographer is key!

When you choosing your photographer here are some tips:

1. Make sure they are a wedding photographer and not just any photographer. Wedding photography is different than any other day photography. There are key elements which are captured on the wedding day, and you want to make sure you have them.

2. Ask for samples of the photographer’s wedding photography.  You can also check out their blog or website for their recent work. Photographers are like artists, and so they do not take photos the same way. Each one has their own unique photography skills which sets them apart. You want to look at their photography style and see if you like it. Is it too artsy for you? Do you want a simple photo? Do you want it to be a “wow factor” photo? Are you looking for that art style?  Does the photographer photograph in black and white?Is the whole wedding captured? Or only part of it? Find out what the photographer’s style is.

3.What do you get for your money? Typically photographers have packages which are based on the number of hours, photographers, and photo albums. You will need to find out when you like the photographer to arrive, and what moments you want captured. Some brides want every moment, from the minute they wake up that day until the last guest leaves the reception. So think about this, and then you can decide how many hours you need them there that day. You do not need to pay for hours which you may not care to capture.   You want to just make sure you ask for the negatives, or photos on a CD. This way you can make copies of the photos and create your own album. I would suggest purchasing one wedding album for yourselves, as you would want a professional wedding album of memories. Its always a nice little gift to yourself!

4. Personality! This is the most important element of choosing a photographer in my opinion. When you meet with the photographer, pay close attention to their demeanor and how they act towards you. Are they friendly? Are they too pushy? Do they let you talk about your ideas and what YOU want, and not what THEY want? Basically you need to ensure you get along with the photographer as they will spend most of the day with you. If you do not like them, then move on!

Lets have a picture perfect day!!

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Do you have a Plan B?

November 3, 2012 Leave a Comment

For those of us who live in California, its seem safe to hold your wedding at an outside venue, right? Well, not exactly. Even if you choose your wedding to be held in the summer,(for the most part it is nice and warm), however we really do not have our four seasons here. There are certain months that we tend to get more rain and colder weather, and those are the months you may want to consider an inside venue. However, since we do have such beautiful beaches and views, there are couples who want to have their wedding at an outside venue. This is great!, why not take advantage of the stunning views and beautiful weather?

If you want to have your wedding at an outside venue, make sure to book that venue when the trends have been showing as weather being good that time of year. If you decide to book an outside venue, no matter what time of year, ALWAYS ask for a back up plan. PLAN B! As much as your venue will insist and promise that it will not rain, you must insist on a back up plan! We can not predict what Mother Nature will do. It is always better to be prepared than have to figure it out the day of.  Here are some points to think about:

1.  Ask the venue, what options are available for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception spaces? Ask for these diagrams in addition to the Plan A ones.

2.  If it rains, will there be umbrellas available for guests if they have to walk outside at anytime during the wedding event?

3. If you choose to still go ahead and have your event outside, ask if a tent can be put in place, and if so, will heaters be available? Most venues need to follow the fire marshall’s guidance and may not be allowed to have heaters inside the tent. Just be aware of this, so you can kindly tell your guests to bring something warm to wear. You may even want to consider having blankets available for your guests, so they can be confortable during the ceremony.

4. Always make sure to run through both plan A and plan B for the rehearsal. This will ensure a smooth ceremony.

5. Ensure that all your vendors know both plans, and provide them with all the details. For example, the photographer will need to know if more light is needed, since the location has changed to inside. They can then be prepared and bring lighting or extra staff as needed.

No matter if you have your wedding inside or outside, its your wedding day, be prepared and enjoy the day to the fullest!

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TLC’s Four Weddings Recap: November 1st

November 2, 2012 3 Comments

Did you watch last night’s episode of “Four Weddings” on TLC? As promised, here is a recap of the episode:

  • Who are the Brides?: 

    TLC Four Weddings - Recap of Nov 1 2012 Episode

    TLC Four Weddings – Recap of Nov 1 2012 Episode

    Cheryl is a fun loving bride who loves to dance and have a great time. She had a very unique ceremony with photo poster boards and wedding date history facts. The reception had lots of music and a fun activity for all the guests.
    Mandi had a alcohol themed wedding with a beautiful lakeside ceremony, a grand reception space with alcohol glass style centerpieces, and shot glass wedding favors.
    Chrystal shared her Native American tribal traditions at her wedding. The ceremony had a stunning waterfall as a backdrop, and a very peaceful setting. It was perfect for her tribal tradition wedding.
    Lindsey is a high class elegant bride who had her wedding at a magnificent mansion with an outside ceremony. She incorporated both Catholic and Jewish traditions in her ceremony. Her reception featured tall flower centerpieces, a live band, and a leprechaun. Yes a leprechaun! It was part of the groom’s cake entrance, as he is a big Norte Dame fan.

  • Cool factor:  There was one element from each wedding that stood out for me. At Cheryl’s wedding, the fun activity that she had for her guests was a flip book photo booth. It was really cool, as each guest got together with their friends and took photos, and then instantly a flip book is created. Its great because guests have something they can take home and make a memory of the wedding day. Mandi’s wedding dress was so beautiful. I absolutely loved all the details of her dress,especially the cuffed sleeves. Just stunning!  Chrystal’s tradtional tribal round dance was fantastic. I thought it was a great way to include her guests with her tribal traditions. Lindsey’s ceremony flowers and decor was gorgeous. I loved the vines and flowers, and how great it looked with the bridesmaid’s dresses.
  • Who won? Congrats to Cheryl winning!  She and  her husband won an all expenses paid honeymoon. I was not surprised about Cheryl winning at all, she seemed to deserve it! While I can not account for the food since I wasn’t actually there, all the other elements – venue, dress, and originality – were owned by Cheryl’s wedding, easily exceeding the rest. I thought that every element of her wedding came together perfectly. It looked like such a fun wedding to be at, and I’m sure viewers (like me) could tell how happy the couple and their guests were. Great job Cheryl!  So how did the other three brides score? Mandi came in second, Chrystal in third, and Lindsey in fourth place.
Stay tuned to Bridal Hot List for more TLC updates on wedding themed shows!
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TLC’s Four Weddings Sneak Peek: November 1st

November 1, 2012 Leave a Comment

This week I am very excited to share a sneak peek of one of my favorite shows, “Four Weddings” which airs on TLC. This show features four completely different brides who attend each other’s weddings with one wedding being deemed “the winner” at the end. The brides rate the food, dress, venue, originality, and overall experience of each wedding, except for their own. At the end, all the scores of each bride are tallied, and the one with the highest score wins an all expenses paid honeymoon.

On tonight’s episode the four brides are: A fun loving bride, an alcohol loving bride, a tribal Native American bride, and a high class elegant bride. Each of these brides share their unique style and taste on their wedding day. Which bride will be your favorite? Which bride’s detail’s will you like the best? Which dress will stand out the most? What ceremony will be the most touching? Which bride do you think will win? What do I think? You will have to wait until Friday where I will provide a re-cap on this episode. All I can tell you know is that you do not want to miss this episode, it may shock you!

TLC’s Four Weddings airs tonight at 9/8c. So set your DVR’s, or watch it live tonight!

For more information on Four Weddings, check out the website: http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/four-weddings

Exclusive Sneak Peek

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