Bonjour from Project Wedding HQ

Well I have many excuses for not blogging, but I won’t go into them, but I will try and make up for it this week with 2 blogs.  On the weekend I participated in a Wedding Expo in the City and met many many Brides and on the odd occasion was thrown the question “Why should we hire you over some of the other exhibitors”.  It is a difficult question to answer when there is other people in the Industry there.  However I have also been interacting with Brides on a particular Facebook Page and have been hearing some very sad stories of late, with wedding suppliers letting them down.  I also met with a lovely couple yesterday who have been let down by there venue. I am very passionate about the Industry and this upsets me as this is a couple’s special day and they need to know they can rely on us as suppliers to ensure everything goes perfectly without them having to worry.

Therefore I thought I would give you a little background on myself and my business, as for me I know the people in the Industry and I know who to select for my wedding and have started making some progress with this.

I come from 17 years in the Industry from starting off as a Waitress in a venue, to moving up to Wedding Coordinator and then managing 2 Venues.  Prior to that I worked in the Corporate World.  As a Wedding Planner I am of the belief that a Certificate of  Wedding Planning does not make you an experienced Wedding Planner if you start your business just after you have graduated.  This piece of paper does not teach how to handle a Brides emotions, deal with the mishaps of a Wedding Day and other organisational tools required.

I am down to earth and will not sugar coat anything I tell you how it is whether it be you are hiring me as a Wedding Planner, Decorator, to do your Floristy, to make your Stationery or the other services we offer.  This honesty and my experience over the years and since relaunching my business 11 months ago, has got me to where I am.

This blog is not meant to be controversial and have a go at other suppliers, far from the case and it is not meant to frighten Brides at all as there is a lot of businesses in the Industry who are very professional, but in the recent months I have just heard to many sad stories.

For Brides who don’t know where to start I host group Wedding Workshops and I educate  you on the pitfalls you can come across when planning. This workshop has proven to be very successful with past Bridal Couples. If you would like to know more just email me at firstclassevents@bigpond.com.au

TODAY’S TIP –  When selecting a Supplier:

• Ask around about the particular supplier you want to go with, get reviews and check their testimonials
• Have a list of questions ready for when you go for your consultation
• Make sure the images they are using are not royalty free, they are actual images of there work
• Read the fine print in the contract

These four tips are just to start you off, but are important.  I hope today’s blog has opened your eyes as it was truly educational for me on the weekend when I went to the Expo myself.  Until next time.

Au Revoir, The Savvy Bride

Bonjour from Project Wedding HQ

Well I have been out of action for a week as like other Brides-to-Be, I work 7 days a week and long days and time is flying by rather quickly.  I have finally lost the plot and my head is spinning out of control.  Yes yes I am a Wedding Planner, but planning your own wedding does not make it any easier.  I have decisions to make as well.

OMG the decisions decisions desions, where to next.  So at this point I have a Groom, Venue, Theme – that is all that is confirmed and the wedding is 28 weeks a way.  I said this to my fiancee the other night and it just sounded so terrible, saying 7 months so much better.

So where to next.  I did a Wedding Workshop on the weekend discussing these very things with my Bridal Couples and I said stop REMAIN CALM.  Ummmmm I don’t know if I can do it.  I was meant to have my Save the Dates out 4 weeks a go and that hasn’t happened yet.  I went for my first Bridal fitting a few weeks ago and was meant to do a follow up and that hasn’t happened.  My bridesmaids and I decided that we would go dress shopping for them and that hasn’t happened.  So when is this all going to happen.

So here is just some of things I need to start thinking about:

• Getting on top of my wedding budget
• Celebrant
• Photographer
• Floristry
• Stationery
• Wedding Vows
• Ceremony Location
• Wet Weather Location
• Permits
• Wedding Dress
• Bridesmaids Dresses
• Suit Attire
• Rings
• Hair & Makeup
• Wedding Cake
• Ceremony & Reception Music
• Entertainment
• Bonbonniere
• Menu
• Seating Plan
• Transportation
• Honeymoon
• and the list goes on.

So no wonder we go crazy as a Bride and lose control.  On top of our normal work and social commitments we have to plan a wedding which is a full time job in itself.  Did you know the average wedding takes over 200 hours to plan by the time you make phone calls, go to appointments, make your decisons, finalise and complete the wedding planning process.  Something to think about.  Until next time.

Au Revoir, The Savvy Bride

Bonjour from Project Wedding HQ

Well so far we have determined our date, our venue, started looking at attire and so we are up to the next vital element for me, which is setting the tone for the whole wedding day.

For me this is very important as a Wedding Stylist, however some brides may find that it is just not a priority.  I stewed over this for ages and I was tossing backwards and forwards over what theme to go with.  As I work in the industry I wanted it to be a little  different to everyone else that I have seen, as I have lots of  resources available to me.

I tried to keep the theme a secret, but I am very excited about it and due to the planning process and having to discuss it with particular suppliers, I thought what the heck, the word is out.

So what have we gone with.  The title is …. “Let them eat cake” …. what does this relate to.  My style will be based around Marie Antoinette, old world france Versailles.  When I think of Marie Antoinette I think of a lavish lifestyle, ribbon flowers, embellishments and more.  But most of all elegance. However my most favourite thing about the one of my design elements for the theme is a nice long candy and dessert buffet full of lots of sweets, yum yum.  My colour palette is that of that era of ivory, blush, powder blue and mint green.

TODAY’S TIP –  Styling your wedding:

• You don’t have to necessarily work with your bridesmaids colour overall and follow it through to the reception.  Remember there is only a  couple of them.
• Work with your venue.  Choose colours that will compliment your venue and not work against it.  For example if you are in a Vintage style home, avoid having a beach themed wedding there.
• What mood do you want to evoke.  Bold colours evoke modern & elegant, where as a soft palette suggests romance.
• Don’t pick to many colours 2 or 3 is enough you don’t want to go overboard.
• Create for yourself a mood board and cut pictures out from a magazine and create yourself a little wedding book.
• Popular colour trends for 2012 are tangerine, dark blue, deep red, aqua, lilac, latte, lavender, charcoal & sage.

COLOUR WHEEL

• Monochromatic Colours – This means many shades of the one colour.
• Analogous Colours – This means colours adjacent to each other on the colour wheel.
• Complementary Colours – This means colours located opposite to each other on the colour wheel.

Au Revoir, The Savvy Bride

Bonjour from Project Wedding HQ

Readers apologies for not blogging earlier as like all Brides, my job has consumed me and therefore the wedding plans have been brushed aside.

However, on the weekend my Bridal Party and I went to our first official Wedding Expo together and I had my first Bridal fitting and the girls tried on Bridesmaids dresses.  However, as a complusive purchase at the Wedding Expo I bought a Wedding Gown that was on sale and was beautiful for $350.  As I am time poor with my work I made this decision because I really don’t have to much time to be running around to fittings everywhere.

We then went to the Bridal fitting at Hills in Hollywood and we were there getting in and out of dresses for 2 hours, OMG!!, but I absoutley fell in love with 2 Wedding Gowns, therefore I am now selling the other one and now have another tough decision to make.  I have asked the opinion of a couple of people, not just my bridal party, as we know how critical they can be sometimes LOL and now I am totally confused.

We did come to one decision however, we have all agreed to be in the one colour Bride, Bridesmaids & Groomsmen which looks rather elegant.  The girls making a decision on a dress however was a nightmare.  Although very critical my girls were very supportive, so today’s tip is choosing the right bridesmaids.

TODAY’S TIP –  Bridesmaids 101:

Emotional Support – The ladies should be the perfect choice that you turn to when you are stressed and going out of your mind.  A confidant, someone to lean on.

Assorted Tasks – These can be the most menial of tasks, from bustling your dress, to make bonbonniere, just assisting you in easing the load.

Understanding there may be a financial obligations – As times have changed it is not now uncommon for the bridesmaids to have to pay for their dress & hair & makeup, therefore they need to be made aware of this upfront.  At the end of day the Bride does not want you to be financially strained, however you as the bridesmaid need to be upfront with the Bride about these outlays.

Being Upfront & Honest – Don’t just tell the Bride what she wants to hear.  Give your opinion, but in the end let her make the decision, after all it is her day.

Bridal Shower & Bachelorette Party – The good old tradition is for the Bridal Party to host the Bridal Shower & Bachelorette Party.  A bridesmaid doesn’t have to go over board, however these events should made special for the Bride-to-Be.

Remember Brides try not to get upset with your bridesmaids, you selected them. These ladies are your favourite people, they could turn around and sabotage your wedding (just kidding).  So when discussing issues remain calm.

Until next time.

Au Revoir, The Savvy Bride

Bonjour from Project Wedding HQ

Well as you can see I have gone to weekly posts starting to get busy again with work and many weddings to do, however that does not mean that my planning has stopped.  With the Bridal Party selected it is time to get out there and start shopping for my Bridal Gown.  I guess like every other Bride I have no idea where to start.  I know what types of dresses I like, but will they suit me, will I look like a meringue, will I look like I am drowning in fabric, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  The style of your dress is the single most important factor in creating your overall look on your wedding day.

I am very excited to be going to my first Bridal Appointment this Saturday with my bridesmaids Ciara & Rebecca, however I really do not know where to start and I have to consider my budget as well.  So we are off to my friends at Hills in Hollywood (http://www.hillsinhollywood.com/).

OMG the options are endless.  In between choosing colour, style, fabrics, embellishments, lengths and more as fun as it is choosing my wedding gown I know it is going to become very confusing and will become a hard decision in the end.There are so many dresses to choose from.  So how up to date are with you with all of the wedding dress jargon.  Well here are some helpful tips for you next time you go wedding dress shopping.

TODAY’S TIP – Wedding Dress Terminology:

Wedding Dress Styles …

• A-line  A fitted bodice that has a modest flair in the skirt, A-line designs are among the most popular sold today. This is a universal classic that suits almost any body type.
• Ball gown This is the fairytale princess dress style you remember from Lady Diana’s wedding and Grace Kelly’s ceremony a few decades before. It has a long, flowing skirt and a fitted bodice. It has lots of fullness, created with petticoats or hoops.
• Blouson Blouson designs are, as the name implies, blousy. They’re gathered at the waist or an inch or two below.
• Drop waist Sporting either a loose or fitted bodice, drop-waist gowns add styling that accentuates the area just below the waistline or the waist itself.
• Asymmetrical Dresses with features like one shoulder strap or layering that creates an uneven, spatial arrangement or silhouette.
• Empire Distinguished by a high waist, hitting just below the bust. The empire styling elongates the body, minimizes pear-shaped figures and can conceal a disproportionately large or small bust.
• Mermaid Also called a trumpet or fishtail design, the mermaid dress hugs the body and begins to flair, usually at the knee. The flare can be modest or exaggerated. This design accentuates a woman’s figure and shows particularly well on tall, athletic women.
• Mini A gown with a hemline that falls at or above the knee.
• Princess Created from unbroken vertical panels, this style can take a classic A-line shape or have a more exaggerated flare. It’s considered a slimming design that will suit most body types.
• Sheath Unconstructed, long and slim, the sheath is body-hugging and doesn’t have a fitted waist.

Bodice and Neckline …

• Boat neck This style rests along the shoulder points, revealing the collar bone. It’s also known as a bateau.
• Cowl neck Loosely draped fabric, styled either high or low at the neck and bust characterize this component
• Drop shoulder A look consisting of bands or sleeves that start below the curve of the upper arm
• Halter The top is angled at a diagonal along the outer bust and neck to fasten behind the neck
• Jewel A neckline that follows the curve at the base of the neck and does not include a collar
• Portrait collar This drop-shouldered look consists of a folded, sometimes exaggerated collar
• Sabrina This style is characterized by a straight neckline beginning well inside the curve of the shoulder
• Scoop neck This neckline can be daring or modest with this component but ends in a curve instead of a point.
• Spaghetti straps  A neckline characterized by very slender, supportive straps at the shoulder
• Square neck  This neckline has a horizontal line across the front of the bodice terminating in sheer vertical straps or shaping on either side. Viewed from the front, it looks like a cutout in the shape of a square or rectangle.
• Strapless As the name implies, this look leaves the shoulders bare. This style is supported by the structure of the bodice.
• Sweetheart A component characterized by a curve over each breast to dip into a shallow or deep V like the top of a Valentine’s heart.
• V-neck This neckline is defined by the shape of a plunging or shallow letter V.

Hem Length …

• Ballerina At or just above the ankle
• Floor Brushing the floor or slightly above
• Hi-lo Also called an intermission hem, it hits at mid-calf in front and is floor length in back
• Mini Above the knee
• Street  Just covering the knee
• Tea Terminating a few inches above the ankle

Sleeves …

• Bell Snug to the elbow and then flaring to the wrist
• Capped Very short, closely fitted and slightly rounded
• Dolman Joined to the bodice above the elbow and tapering to the wrist. Also called a bat sleeve
• Kimono Sleeves extending into the main column of the dress and lengthening deep and wide to the wrist
• Puff  Gathered or pleated at the shoulder. Depending on the amount of volume involved, can include: Juliet, bishop, leg-of-mutton, balloon, poet and pouf
• Three-quarter length Terminating between the elbow and wrist
• Tulip Overlapping fabric that creates a series of petal shapes

Fabric …

• Batiste A fine, sheer and delicate cotton or cotton/linen blend
• Brocade A heavy, woven fabric with a raised or sculpted design, typically only worn during cool seasons
• Chantilly A fine, mesh lace that often features floral designs outlined with silk threads
• Chiffon Sheer, mesh fabric that can be made from silk, cotton or polyester
• Crepe Lightweight, soft fabric that appears slightly crimped or crinkled
• Crepe de Chine A thinner variety of the crepe fabric described above
• Crinoline A stiff foundation fabric that’s used as an underskirt with a ball gown style wedding dress
• Organza A sheer, fine, translucent and textured fabric made from silk, polyester or nylon
• Satin Shiny fabric that’s usually very smooth and densely woven. It’s available in many different weights and color.
• Shantung Rough-textured woven silk or synthetic fabric that crushes easily
• Taffeta A high-end, woven fabric with a slight sheen that’s often reserved for fine garments. It’s available in two varieties: Piece-dyed taffeta, which is soft and often used as a lining material, and heavier, stiffer yarn-dyed taffeta used in evening gowns and wedding dresses.
• Tulle Sheer, stiff mesh made from rayon, cotton, silk or nylon
• Velvet A fabric with a distinctive pile, velvet can be made with silk, cotton or a number of blends. It’s typically a cool-weather choice.
• Voile Very lightweight, semi-transparent fabric woven from cotton, linen, synthetics and cotton blends

Good luck with your choices. Until next time.

Au Revoir, The Savvy Bride

Bonjour from Project Wedding HQ

Since we have been engaged we have been discussing how many to have in our Bridal Party.  Chris knows how many attendants he wants, I have just being a little unsure.  I want to make sure I make the right choice and I don’t want the bridal party to be huge.

So choices choices.   As I am a more mature bride with a small circle of friends, many of them in the industry, the choice of a bridal party has been made a little bit more difficult for me.  As this is my second marriage I have learnt from my previous wedding that this selection is very important.  With my previous selection I had a lot of problems with one particular attendant, amplifying all of the stress that I already had with her being quite a diva leading up to the wedding, sometimes making it near impossible.  Also pretty much after the wedding we never ever heard from the groomsmen ever again.  Silly mistake and I don’t want this to happen again.  So I do believe we have narrowed it down to our Maid of Honour, Bridesmaid, Junior Bridesmaid, Bestman, Groomsmen and Pageboy, an intimate Bridal Party.  If you are having difficulties making a decision here are some tips for you.

TODAY’S TIP:  Selecting your Bridal Party

• Write a wishlist of your attendants.
• Consider family politics.
• Think of their responsibilities, how will they cope with these.
• Evaluate your needs and expectations of these attendants.
• How many will you talk to in the not so distant future.

Hopefully these tips will assist you in narrowing down your most obvious choices. Remember once you ask someone to be an attendant you can’t go back.

Until next time.

Au Revoir, The Savvy Bride

Bonjour from Project Wedding HQ

Over the last few days I have been going backward and forwards attempting to breakdown my wedding budget, which is proving to be a lot harder than I thought.  When it comes to my clients I am pretty good at telling them how to breakdown each area.  With me I am driving my self insane and before I am finished I will be certainly wearing white to the wedding but not in the way of a dress

My spreadsheet is a mess having written over it so many times with how much money I will allocate to each area.  I pretty much know how much the reception is going to cost, that is the easy part and will certainly be determined by my final numbers, however doing the breakdown for the rest is certainly fun.  When I am sitting here doing the budget I have a little Chris sitting on my shoulder watching over me and whispering into my ear “Do what you want to do Lisa, but you know our maximum budget”.  Damn, grooms and their budgets LOL  Well I am slowly getting their and hope to have my budget complete by the end of the week.

TODAY’S TIP – When doing your budget breakdown I ask my clients to tell me what the 3 most important things are for their wedding day and that is where that money should be sent.

Until next time.

Au Revoir, The Savvy Bride

Bonjour from Project Wedding HQ

So with a wedding date, venue, guest list, what comes next. Some times this topic can come first, but who pays for what. In the case of my wedding, Chris and I are paying for everything.

In decades past it was tradition that the Brides parents pay for everything, but not anymore, far from the case. I would say a very small percentage of weddings I have taken part in that it has being solely the brides parents that have paid for the wedding.

I have found the most common options today are that the couple pay for everything or it is now split up between the brides parents,  grooms parents and the bridal couple will take on the remainder.

This is certainly a very sensitive topic and needs to be approached with due care  At the end of the day you can not make someone pay for something they don’t want to and you will never ever make everyone happy. Lesson learnt previously.  Discussions about money always causes disagreements whether it be for a wedding or not, but especially a wedding as it is such an expensive event.  If people won’t contribute and that means you have to pay for something else, so be it.   Don’t give yourself undue stress by having confrontations about who is paying for what, if it is easier for you to walk away from it, do it.  You will have many other things to worry about.  This just means you have more control over your wedding because you are paying for it.  I know this seems easy for me to say, but I have experienced this to many times taking part in many weddings and it really causes strain on family relationships and with the bridal couple.  It is just not worth it.

This is the way Chris and I see it.  We are paying for it all and we will have the wedding we want with no one else’s input. Until next time.

Au Revoir, The Savvy Bride

Bonjour from Project Wedding HQ

Like most bridal couples family politics and finances play a huge role in determining who receives an invite to your wedding, unless you have unlimited funds.

Chris and I are very lucky in respect to he does not have a lot of family, however on the flip side I am Italian and that is the complete opposite, I know the world.  For me I have had to consider family, friends and my colleagues in the Wedding Industry on my side of the guest list.  This has become really difficult as we have already completed our non negotiable guest list, but I am just trying to trim back where I can due to finances.

However only recently I was placed in the predicament when a someone I know said to me “Oh you will have to let me know when the wedding is so I can place it in my diary”.  Oucchhhhh, did I feel so bad, I was not inviting this person due to number restrictions and many other issues.  So now what do I do, this person is expecting an invitation to my wedding and I know there will be others that will expect one as well.

This is where as a Bridal Couple we will need to tread lightly so as not to hurt anyone’s feelings.  Here are some things you may want to consider if you are having diffiuclties in selecting who to go on your guest list that I found very useful:

• Does this guest know your engaged.
• Have they met your fiance.
• When did you last speak.
• How often do you see them.
• Would you be offended if you weren’t invited to their wedding.
• Will they be a part of your lives forever.

Until next time.

Au Revoir, The Savvy Bride

Bonjour from Project Wedding HQ

Today we take a step back as I refine some of the details about our Wedding Reception location.  Naturally before you can have a wedding date you need to check with your ceremonial area/church, etc and your wedding venue to see if they have the date available that you require.

Planning well in advance will assure you get the date you want and minimise stress.  Due to the popularity of a venue and if it is peak season you will need to book a venue at least 1 – 2 years in advance.  That’s why as soon as Chris and I got engaged and we knew roughly when we wanted to get married we started investigating dates immediately.

We had a basic idea of the look we were going for and we also wanted to actually get married and have the reception all at one place for the convenience of our travelling guests and also have nearby accommodation for them.  Even though we would have loved to have had our wedding on a Friday, so we could party all weekend, we had to consider our guests travelling from interstate, therefore we had to remain with a Saturday wedding.  So silly me has booked our wedding for one of the busiest times of year in my industry.  I have weddings leading up to my wedding day and weddings straight after.  So no honeymoon for me.  Oh well.

WHEN SELECTING YOUR WEDDING VENUE HERE ARE A COUPLE OF VERY IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER:

Capacity – Your venue must be able to seat the number of guests you are considering inviting.  A lot of people do get this wrong and what you have to also consider is that a lot of venues have a minimum number of guests for smaller affairs.

Car Park – Is there enough parking for my guests. Do they need to park a mile away from the location or will they have to pay for parking.  Your guests will not be impressed if they have to pay for parking, just speaking from experience.

Package Costs – When comparing venues look closely at what each venue’s packages include, they will vary hence the reason in price.

Terms & Conditions Hire – Read these very very carefully as you don’t want to be hit up with additional costs that you didn’t read about in the beginning, which will certainly add more stress to the budget closer to the wedding and to you in general as a bridal couple.  You would be surprised at the types of things that can easily be missed on your contract.

Events Manager – Straight away you will know if you are going to have a great relationship with this person who is going to be looking after your wedding reception on the day.  This is vital as is all of the wedding suppliers who you hire on the day, however this is the most important one. Simply for the fact you will be spending a large majority of your time here with your guests and this is the largest portion of your budget.

Chris and I reviewed some of these checklist points above and others and we have ended up booking a lovely vintage style venue, Topiaries Beaumont House at Samford.  It is everything we want for our Wedding.  Have a great day all.

Au Revoir, The Savvy Bride