Entertaining As Always! Weddings & Events

by Alexis Casamassima

When you think the word “wedding”, many different things come to mind. Bouquets, dresses, invitations, venues, and even the word stress may pop into one’s head. When all of these things are put together, a one of a kind wedding day springs to life. Your wedding is a day you will never forget, ever.

Napkin rings may not be the first word that comes to mind when you think “wedding”. After all, they are just small objects that keep your napkins tidy and presentable. Maybe you saw them being used to create an intricate napkin design at a prior event or perhaps you took no notice to them. What you probably didn’t realize at the time you spotted one, is the impact they can have. Napkin rings don’t only have physical importance but they hold value.

Napkin rings probably have less than a minute to catch their audience’s attention. Their audience sits down, locates their napkin, gazes in awe at the design, and then removes the ring to place the napkin on their lap. What happens to that napkin ring after it is removed? Well, a great idea would be to let the guests take them home! After all, you don’t want that hard earned money put towards your wedding thrown away. Napkin rings can be used in every home and by every person. From that moment forward, every time your guest uses that napkin ring your wedding will spring to life in their head. Memories of that day will rush back and a smile will come over their face. This is the moment Remarkable Rhinestone creates for their customers.

Dress your table up with our napkin rings and let your guests bring home a piece of your wedding.

Alexis Casamassima

Remarkable Rhinestone

242 West 36th Street

New York, NY, 10018

212 810 4050

www.remarkablerhinestone.com

by Kye Harman

Now while you might well be wondering how one apparently small question could have such massive repercussions just bare in mind what this day means to the lovely lady in question. Most guys have never really given much thought to their future wedding but for many women it is a day they have pictured from their earliest memory. When you were scuffing your new school shoes chasing a ball your bride-to-be was already dreaming of her future Prince Charming (although at the time he was probably wearing a cape rather than your favourite trainers and T-shirt). It’s an over used phrase that it’s the most special day in a girl’s life but it is true. And what’s more she expects it to hold the same significance for you. So while she’s buying a newsstand’s entire stock of wedding magazines and showing you the 27 different ways she’s thinking of wearing her hair she’s hoping that thoughtful look on your face relates to your own ideas for the wedding rather than whether you’ll get to sneak out for a quick 18 holes this weekend rather than go to yet another wedding fair. Oh yeah… and she’ll wear a dress that will cost the price of a small family car. And then never ever wear it again.

  Communication is key. Despite your beloved now having turned into bridezilla, in the words of Rudyard Kipling you need to “keep your head when all about you are losing theirs”. She IS going to get stressed. She IS going to get upset. You WILL have arguments concerning the wedding day. All this is perfectly natural and doesn’t mean you love each other any less it just means you’re planning a wedding and researchers say this is one of the most stressful events in a persons life. Especially for the bride.

  One of the biggest complaints brides have is that their husband-to-be doesn’t seem to get involved enough or show enough interest. Yes there is an impossible list of questions to get through; What kind of flowers? What colour tie? What gifts do you get the bridesmaids? Should you sit Cousin Albert near the door in case he has one of his “moments”? While it’s true that what font you use on the place settings isn’t going to end world hunger or bring about piece in the Middle East these small details can make all the difference on the big day so get involved. Your wedding should be an extension of your personalities with all the quirks and idiosyncrasies that make the two of you so different. That doesn’t mean you have to dress as Smurfs or walk down the aisle to Iron Maiden but it means you should both be have a say in how you want the day to play out.

  But you will need help to. Any bride has a whole support network buzzing around her keen to help out at every step and dress fitting. Us guys are never quite as willing to look for help but it’s not a bad idea to have someone on hand you can call when you need to head on a “fact finding mission” of you own to the nearest watering hole. Make sure your best man is the right man for the job who will sit with you and help you let off some steam when you need and also be the kind of friend that can help take some of the load off your shoulders when it comes to researching cars, musicians, DJ’s, etc.

  So don’t just sit back ignoring the chaos, it isn’t going to go away and you’ll only add to the bride’s stress levels and if you bury your head for too long you might wake up on the day to find you’re travelling to the church in a pink stretch limo in a lime green suit. Make decisions, enjoy the process because despite some of the potential sticking points it should be enjoyable. After all this is going to be the most significant day of your lives, its your big day too.

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by Amisha Mulji

The wedding day is coming up In a few weeks/months.  Often, there is quite a bit of stress prepping for the event. So much so, that the wedding party, especially the bride and groom forget to take care of the most important things…themselves!

Here are a few helpful tips for the wedding party, and anyone else for that matter, to reach their goals under a stressful schedule. Please note, these are suggestions for those with a time constraint on their schedule.  These exercises can be added to an existing workout.

1. Set a realistic time frame of 4 weeks to make headway to your goal. It takes about 4 weeks to really notice a difference in your body as well as feel the effects of your workout. This is a real difference that other people notice in you in addition to what you see when you look in the mirror. Write the date down on a calendar and make sure to keep up with your workouts!

3. This is the most important step. In order to be efficient with your time and effective with your workout, it's useful to multi task your movements. Similar to talking on the phone, and stirring the pot for dinner, saving you time, doing one exercise in another’s movement will challenge your body, save time and still be effective.

4. Choose 2 of the following to work on each day, paired with 10 minutes of jogging or jump roping and followed by 30 to 45 minutes of cardio. Cardio can include, walking, jogging, running, swimming, skating etc. Anything that can raise your heart rate and can be done continuously with only short 2-3 minute breaks in between.

5. “Multi Tasking Exercises”- Each Exercise should be done 15 times and in 3 sets each

a. Bicep curl and Lunge- 5-10 lb dumbbells for women, 10-15 lbs for men

b. Step Up and Shoulder Raise- 3-10 lb dumbbells for women,  10-15 for men

c. Lying leg raise and chest press: 10-12 lb dumbbells for women, or 10-15 lb bar/ 15-20 lb dumbbells for men, or 25 lb+ bar

d. Tricep Extension and Squat: 5-10 lb dumbbells for women, 10-15 lb dumbbells for men

e. Hip Raise and Lateral Raise: 5-8 lb dumbbells for women, 10-15 lb dumbbells for men

f.  Front Raise and Back Fly: 8 -10 lb dumbbells for women, 10-12 lb dumbbells for men

6. If unsure on how to do any of these movements, YouTube has many exercise videos that can help or you send me a message at [email protected] and I’d be happy to help.

7. Last but not least, and vital to a great workout. Pick at least 20 of your favorite songs and put them on a workout playlist! There isn’t any better way to pass the time quickly than by listening to some great music!

8. Enjoy your workout and Love the Way You Feel!

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Amisha Mulji

Salubrious Company 

by Kye Harman

Summer is here and so begins the usual round of wedding invites. You might yourself be about to tie the knot and celebrate your love. But spare a thought for those wedding guests who are not so lucky in love and all they will have to go through on your big day

  To start with the usual searches begin, finding a wedding gift; picking a dinner set that won’t be left on display alongside far grander and more expensive looking dinner sets from much more expensive stores. Finding something to wear; that three hour trek round the mall only to end up heading back and buying the first thing you saw in the first store you went in. And then of course there is finding a date.

  Weddings naturally are all about couples not just the new Mr & Mrs but all their married friends and families and while some singletons are more than happy to eschew the offer to bring a plus one, others worry for weeks about who they can take and how they can find someone who won’t get drunk and scream in delight when the DJ plays Karma Chameleon. Or worse still, someone who is sober and screams in delight when the DJ plays Karma Chameleon.

  Which is the better of these two evils? On a day which will be filled with talk of romance and togetherness if music be the food of love is it better to have some overly keen date grab your hand and drag you towards the dancefloor to the opening chords of Oops! I Did It Again or having gone solo find a quiet corner and watch couples of all ages swaying clumsily to Everything I Do (I Do It For Your) while wondering if you’re destined to be always a bridesmaid and never a bride (unless of course you’re a guy in which case that dress really won’t suit you).

  Sooner or later at every wedding someone will ask you “Who have you come with?” and if we’re honest most of us want to be able to introduce our date or other half proudly to be met with a surprised raising of eyebrows and sly wink in a “Haven’t you done well” kind of way. The alternative being to admit you are on your own and despite happily being so your admission will be met with a knowing nod and sympathetic tilt of the head in a “Don’t worry, it’ll be your turn one day” kind of way.

  The Fijians believe that the god Nangganangga (yes, that is a real god and no, we don’t know how to pronounce it either), who watches over married couples, will not let a bachelor enter Fijian paradise and will turn him to ash if he dies before he is married. Therefore if you have decided to throw a Fijian themed wedding (they’re all the rage this year) and the Best Man is still single he’d better hope there is an attractive bridesmaid present who is a big fan of the Britney Spears!

  So while planning your wedding spare a thought for those single folk you’ll be inviting, many people meet their future wife or husband at a wedding. And perhaps one day some happy couple will be telling the story of how they met at your wedding. But there are those that will be arriving and leaving alone, they don’t want sympathy, they are probably doing so of their own volition. Equally they won’t want clumsy match-making and introductions to your second cousin’s newly single friend but save them one indignity that no wedding guest single or otherwise should have to go through… Don’t let the DJ play Everything I Do (I Do It For Your). No one should be forced to suffer that.

  For more wedding tips and advice visit;

  www.simplythebestman.com

www.simplythebestgroom.com

www.simplythefatherofthebride.com

by Gretchen Strutzenberg

The Grand Entrance

The DJ is hyping up the crowd and your entire wedding party is excited and cheering and ready to go through the entrance doors!  Your best friend and Maid of Honor’s name is Samantha and she loves her full name pronounced otherwise she sounds like a guy.  The Best Man has been your now-husband’s best friend since they were in diapers together; his name is Sean.

The crowd starts to calm down and get a bit quiet.  What is going on?

Next you hear the DJ get them all excited again.

“Let’s raise the roof for Sam and Sean our Best Man and Maid of Honor!”

WHAT!!?? 

Your Best Friend Samantha is beyond mortified and ticked off.  The Best Man is such a joker that he teases her the whole night!  Not only this but the audience and guests can’t help but chuckle at the mistake.

A simple mistake some may say, however it is one that can be avoided following a simple form that the DJ would have had on hand.  Make sure that even the smallest of details are covered and cared for.

Check out pages 6 -9 or 32, 33 of the “No Stress Day of Wedding Organizer” by Gretchen Strutzenberg.

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by Fidan Ismayilova

Big, Beautiful, Outdoor Trend to Saying “I Do”!

  More couples these days are deciding on the Great Out-of-Doors as the perfect venue to pledge their troth while staying home in the beautiful spring and summer weather…

  A garden wedding, with lots of space for more guests, naturally!

  This is trending big in the wedding world…

  Wide-open spaces to fill with love.

  Some wedding couples of course, prefer a destination wedding, but those are usually more expensive and require a greater time commitment on the guest’s part, and result in a much smaller wedding.

  Full of magic, intrigue and fantasy…

  Outdoor weddings have No Limits!

  In this article, I will give you some ideas and tips for your outdoor wedding that will be helpful to the planning process.

  Location

  Your very first consideration when planning your outdoor wedding is of course, where the wedding will take place.

  Venue Ideas:

  ·         Botanical Garden

·         Local Park

·         Farm

·         Beach

·         Forest

·         Lake

·         Golf Club

·         Mountain

·         Boat

·         The sky’s the limit!

  Tip: Be sure your guests know they will be outside so they can plan their attire accordingly…

  Also, you’ll want to be prepared with Bug Control firmly in place for your guest’s comfort as well as your own. You can consider having the area sprayed as a precaution.

  Weather

  Weather forecasting seems to be more of an art than a science these days, so be prepared! Rent a tent.

  Even though the weather channels forecast a couple of weeks in advance, they can really only tell the weather within a 24-48 hour period.

  A large tent will be used by your guests, rain or shine, and remember, wind can be a spoiler as well, so even if you hold your service outside, you and your guests can retire to a “wind-free” place already set up with trash receptacles to prevent paper napkins or plates marring the scene.

  A big tent also provides an opportunity for some great decorations, which we’ve covered in the next chapter…

  Decorations

  Essential for an outdoor wedding, even though you’ve chosen a picture-perfect spot, are decorations—flowers, fabrics, lighting etc.

  Tip: You may be able to lower your costs here, as the outdoor atmosphere creates it’s own mystery and taste of intrigue, especially at sunset, when the lights go down, au natural so to speak.

  Lights! Action! Cameras!

  Here’s where the romance comes into play…

  Decorate chairs, tables, and centerpieces using aisle bows made of lots of light fabric (chiffon) and ribbons. A ceremony arch can be a beautiful gateway to marriage; according to the place and decorations you’ve chosen.

  For instance, if it’s a forest wedding, stay “on theme” with lots of leaves and flowers found in that area.

  A beach wedding cries out for seashells, coral tones and pearls.

  In a botanical garden or park, some green fruit and flowers could be used to make a statement on the beauty of nature itself.

  Let’s say for instance, you use green apples or limes in the centerpieces, with some green hydrangeas for the bride bouquet…

  You could also use apples and limes as name cardholders, with sprigs of green hydrangea in the centerpieces and mixed with flowers on your cake. This also saves you money, as repetition and consistency make for economical buying power.

  Trending:  Eco-friendly, green weddings, best displayed in a garden or park-like setting.

  Food & Beverages

  What you drink and eat at your wedding also depends on the venue. In the case of an outdoor wedding you can match things like:

  ·         Seafood with a Beach Wedding

·         More Fresh Fruit and Vegetables at a Farm or Forest Wedding

·         Wedding Cupcakes arranged in Tiers displayed in a Gazebo.

  Tip: Check to ensure your venue cook or caterer has experience in serving outdoor weddings! You don’t want any problems with spoiling food due to lack of refrigeration…

  Likewise, you should offer your guests plenty of iced drinks on a hot summer day to keep everyone hydrated and happy.

  There are so many more points to mention with an outdoor wedding…

  I have outlined some key ones in this article to help get you started…

  Look to future articles for more details!

  Fidan Ismayilova, Professional Wedding Planner

647 282 0332

[email protected]

  by Marika Somerstein

The decades that I have been lucky to plan weddings and other events the question always arose "what can I do that is something different that no one ever did before?" It was a hard question to answer. In the USA especially in New York there was very little left that was not done before. So to do weddings on the beach by volcanoes and waterfalls are tempting and are wonderful and certainly very romantic.  This is heaven for the Bride and Groom and family, but what about the guests?

First make sure they have plenty of notice before the event so they can plan ahead with their calendars and finances. Recommend at least two hotels all the while keeping in mind the more budget conscience guest.

If it is an outdoor wedding create a back up plan for inclement weather.  Arrive in the country of your choice a few days prior to your guests arriving. It is advisable to hire a private event planner as they are there for you and can help you save money and avoid unforeseen problems that are unknown to visitors.  It is not advisable to try planning a destination wedding like what you are used to in your local area, rather look at the customs and beauty of the chosen country and go with what they do best and the flavor of the venue or location.  Stay in a different hotel away from your guests so the two of you can go to sleep away from the responsibilities if being on 24/7.

Entertaining As Always!

We were just nominated the 2011 MPP Preferred Vendor!

Thank you Robert!

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You have been recognized as a Preferred Vendor.  Let others know of your achievement.

Sincerely, Greg Sanders General Manager MyPartyPlanner.com

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by Ann Guise 1. A Wedding veil can transform the simplest dress into a stunning Bridal outfit. 

2. If you are having a wedding veil then you need to consider its colour, style, length, number of tiers and the material which it’s made from. 

3. Try different styles and lengths of wedding veil to find the one that best compliments  your  outfit. 

4. Don’t  have a heavily patterned wedding veil with a very ornate dress as one will ‘fight’ with the other. 

5. Don’t have a wedding veil that cuts across detail at the back of the dress.  Let the Wedding veil finish below the decoration.  Silk tulle is sheer enough to allow decoration to show through. 

6. If you are petite, don’t  have a veil that swamps you such as a high bouffant veil. It will only make you look smaller 

7. Think of adding colour, eg. embroidery, to the veil to link in with your bridesmaids and/or bouquet. 

8. Remember the Wedding veil is part of the Bridal outfit, not something that is ‘plonked’ on your head as an after thought.   

9. If practical, take your veil with you when you have your hair trial.  Your hairdresser can help you decide where to place your veil and what size comb is best to secure it.

10. If you are nervous of pressing your veil, ask the store where you bought it if they will  steam it a couple of days before the wedding. You can transport it home covered in a pillow case or duvet cover depending on its length. 

11. Don’t wear something because you think you should, wear what YOU want. 

12. Don’t  make a decision about whether to wear a wedding veil or not until you have tried some on  with  your dress.  A long veil can create a wonderful ‘aura’ around you. 

13. Don’t  forget you can have a veil made to measure just as you can a dress.  You can have the exact length and decoration that YOU want. 

14. Your guests should say ‘YOU look stunning’ not ‘your outfit looks stunning’. 

15. You only wear a Wedding veil once so make the most of it and enjoy it !! 

  How to Measure the Correct Length for Your Veil

To measure the correct length of veil

Tier 1: Place the tape measure on your head where you will put the comb, let it fall gently then measure to the required length.

Tier 2 (blusher): Place the tape measure on your head where you will put the comb, let it fall gently forward over your face then measure to the required length. This is best done with your elbows bent if you are going to hold a bouquet.

If you are not wearing the blusher over your face only follow step 1.

The length will depend on your height, length of train, detail on the back of your dress etc. 

Once you have received your Silk Wedding Veil

1. Take your veil out of the box as soon as possible and hang it up using a veil clip attached to the comb.  Cover your veil with a single duvet cover to protect it.

2. If you feel confident enough to press your veil, place a table cloth or sheet on a large table and spread your veil out.  Use the cool/silk setting on your iron and gently press your veil.

3. An alternative to pressing your veil is to use a hand held steamer taking care not to hold the steamer too close to your veil.  Hang your veil by the comb then hold your veil out with one hand, towards the bottom, hold the steamer with the other hand.

4. If you would prefer a professional to steam your veil, take it to your dress shop or local dry cleaner who should be able to do it for you.  Transport it covered with a single duvet cover.

by Susan Hawkins

How about silver, bronze, platinum or copper? I’m talking about this season’s scorching trend—metallic’s as part of your wedding palette!

They shine, they shimmer and you can find almost anything you’ll need for your wedding in a dazzling metallic. You’ll be thrilled to know you don’t need the key to Fort Knox to give your wedding ceremony and reception the Midas touch, or any other metallic touches for that matter. Let’s take a look at a few bright ideas to put some gleam in your scheme!

A Shine on Your Shoes

You might not have seen copper or bronze bridal shoes, probably because you never looked for them. Trust me, they’re out there along with gold and silvery wedding shoes, and you’ll be strutting this trend with every step you take down that aisle. Everyone there will get a kick out of your sparkling style!

Ups and Gowns

Like wedding shoes, gold, silver, copper and bronze wedding gowns are hanging on racks just waiting for you to push back from tradition and wear a jaw-dropping dress so stunning your guests may break into applause when you pass them along the aisle. If you simply can’t let go of your dream to wear white on your wedding day, find a white or ivory gown with gold bead accents or Swarovski crystals on the bodice and/or the skirt. Sashes are trending now, too, and it’s easy to find one with metallic accents or made from a metallic fabric.

More, More, More!

Add gold-and-diamond jewelry or wear a tiara or hair combs with your chosen metallic here and there. Even your make-up can include a shimmering, metallic eye shadow. Incorporate your metallic elegantly into all aspects of your wedding—save -the-date cards, invitations, your bouquet, the vests worn by your groom and his groomsmen, centerpieces and reception-table décor.

How to Match Your Metallic

Gold, silver and platinum typically go well with virtually any color you choose to pair them with. To find out which colors work best with your metallic, hold your favorite trending wedding colors next to a photo or even an object reflecting the metal to see which combo is the most breathtaking.

A Favor with Flair

Finally, thank your guests for sharing your moment in the manner to which they’ve become accustomed—at least, at your wedding! Some of the prettiest, most practical wedding favors are available in metallics! Here’s what I’m talking about!

Imagine the glittering impression guests will take away from a totally tasteful, 24-karat or sterling wedding—so beautiful and bright, they might have to wear shades!

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Finding and Shopping for the Gown of Your Dreams! 

by Gretchen Strutzenberg

(This article was previously published on Daily Venus Divas Online)

Picture this:

You’re sweeping up the isle in a fabulous wedding dress that will turn heads, make your friends jealous, and get that “Wow!” grin and smile from the man of your dreams.

We’ve all experienced the irritation of finding an outfit we like and then not finding it in our size can be disappointing.  When it comes to finding your ideal wedding gown the frustration of a dress that doesn’t fit can be ten times worse.  With all the stress of planning a wedding and being a lovely plus-size bride, the sample dress not fitting, especially the one you love, can turn your joy into sadness, which can be avoided by making  a couple of calls. 

If you have a Wedding Planner/Coordinator who has worked with plus size brides, she can assist you with all these steps as well.

Today I am going to help you as I would do with my clients (plus size or straight size) when preparing to locate and find the dress of your dreams!

1.       Find your ideal dress (es) – make a list of the dresses you like by searching online or thumbing through the bridal magazines.  Be sure to note the a) dress maker/designer, b) style number, c) store or boutique where the dress can be purchased from.  If your wedding is more than 5 months away you have plenty of time so no need to rush or get frustrated.

2.       Make the call – once you have your list together see if you can sort and group your dresses by the boutique or store they can be found at.  Now contact the store or boutique and check that they have the style AND size you need.  Make a note of the Consultant’s name.  *A Quick Note*:  Now if you are a shy girl and prefer a bit more privacy, try to set an appointment during the week instead of the ever-popular weekend when many brides (and grooms) will be at the stores also.

3.       Take a GOOD Friend Along - Take friends along whose objective is to make sure that you look stunning and the dress flatters (not hides) your best assets.  Ask them to bring a camera as well (as long as it is permitted by the boutique) so that you can review your selections later in case you don’t decide on a dress at that moment or you have other shops to visit.

4.       Be realistic and have a sense of humor – this is an exciting time in your life but don’t take yourself too seriously.  You will find the right dress!

You can find hundreds of styles in your size on these websites:

www.davidsbridal.com  www.alfredangelo.com www.igigi.com

by Fidan Ismayilova

Originally published on Sunday, April 24, 2011

  You might be wondering…

·          Why do I even need a Wedding Planner?

 ·          What role does a Wedding Planner play?

 ·          Can I afford a Wedding Planner?

 Well, I asked myself exactly the same questions when I was getting married…It was on the actual day that I realized just how much a Professional Wedding Planner would have helped.

Weddings are all about the details as I soon learned…

From what hors d’oeuvres you choose, what wine will pair, and will you have champagne for toasting?

Seating arrangements, room set-up, round, square or rectangular tables?

Audio-Visual equipment for slide shows and special lighting…

Parking attendants, ceremony fees, entertainment.

Who does the decorating? When?

What about transporting the bride and groom?

Dance floor, ice sculptures, order of events…

Oh my!

Everything about my wedding:

·          Florist

·          Decorations

·          Cake

·         Party Favours

·         Photographer

·         Videographer

·         Music

·         Invitations & Stationary

·         And all the other numerous details…

I organized myself.

I felt that I had done a great job and had taken care of everything… 

No surprises on the big day!

I intended to enjoy my day to the fullest, along with all of my guests and my new husband.

The reality check hit when a number of small but very important last-minute details showed up…

Since I was my own Wedding Planner, guess who was busy looking after all the last minute stuff?

Right up until the last guest left, I was unable to relax and enjoy things…

Certainly not my intention!

If I’d only had a good, Professional Wedding Planner to handle all the stressful last-minute details…

We could have relaxed and enjoyed the first and most important day of our marriage.

As I came to realize after, a Professional Wedding Planner not only provides you with a “stress-free” day but you also get the luxury of TIME-your greatest treasure, during the preparation phase.

Time you can spend with your fiancé, because you’re not:

·         Searching for vendors

·         Negotiating with vendors

·         Coordinating with vendors

·         Looking up referrals on vendors

·         Following up with vendors!

A Professional Wedding Planner already has a select list of all the best and most trusted vendors at the ready and easily handles these aspects of your wedding.

But that’s not all…

Believe it or not, a Wedding Planner can also help you save MONEY!

They always have the best deals to pass along to their clients due to the discounts vendors provide for repeat business from the Wedding Planner.

The only person you need to source is the Wedding Planner…

To save yourself the same mistakes I and so many others have made.

Remember, your wedding day is a celebration of your love for one another…

Don’t let little details get in the way!

  Fidan Ismayilova, Professional Wedding Planner

647 282 0332

[email protected]

You can now find us with your phone by scanning this code:

Just another way to help our clients Eliminate the Stress...

by Derek Bembry

Lessons Learned 

I love it when a bride gets that look in her eye that says, Ill never be happy unless this guy photographs my wedding.

If a photographer’s website has more text than photographs to convince you they are the ones for you, there’s probably a really good reason for that (smile).

“It only matters that you are here dad”. Soothing words spoken in the ear of a distraught Chinese father in San Francisco upon realizing that he had forgotten his tux pants at home 100 kilometers away with the ceremony just minutes away. So he put on his formal shirt, bowtie, dress shoes and tux jacket along with a pair of jeans and walked his daughter down the aisle amidst a sea of tears from more than 200 guests.

I photographed my first wedding in Bitburg Germany as a 19 year old airman. And no it did not go well

Its ok use my ring.  My swift and creative plan to reduce the tension in a panic stricken bride when learning that her mother and sister already two hours late had forgotten the grooms ring at home on the kitchen table. Unfortunately she forgot to warn the groom who promptly threw a fit with the microphone on.

If you don’t feel it within the first few images on a photographer’s website, keep moving. Because rarely does it get any better than their first few images.

The most heart wrenching ceremony I ever photographed was not a wedding but a funeral. A beautiful 17 year old high schooler and the cherished daughter of a Colorado Hi tech CEO was killed in an auto accident by a drunk driver. He wanted to make sure that her life was celebrated and not mourned so I was hired to handle a production team of more than 12. Together we took negatives from hundreds of her childhood photos enlarged them and turned a senior center into an art gallery with life sized images of her on the wall alongside some of her favorite quotes. He expected every attention to detail would be paid and it was. More than 1000 people from all walks of life visited our makeshift gallery that day. I photographed the funeral alone, so as not to disturb the sanctity of the ceremony and watched streams of young kids file by silently with tears flowing. I went home that night and could not let go of my daughter for a very long time.

Most amazing wedding I ever photographed happened on 8/31/1997 in Incline Village Nevada at the hillside mansion of famed Beach Boy musician Mike Love. With sweeping mountaintop views of a pristine Lake Tahoe the scenery alone was worth the trip, add to it a terrific couple, beautiful guests and you have a perfect mix for why I love my job. Sadly we received the news of Lady Diana’s death during the reception and it cast a pall over the rest of the night.

I once photographed a wedding along the Pacific coast, north of San Francisco over a Fourth of July weekend. The bride and groom arranged for my accommodation at what I assumed to be a small motel room which would have been fine as this was a generous enough gesture. Imagine my surprise upon arrival at the given address to find a huge split level home gracing the slopes of a mountains side cliff along the rocky shores of the Pacific, all for little old me!!! The bedroom with the wraparound deck looking out toward the sea was to die for. I want to go back……badly! 

A young Vietnamese guy once showed up at my office and asked if I could photograph his wedding, in one week. They were an absolute delight. She spoke no English but we had a silent communication that produced an incredible array of beautiful images.

Dennis Reggie is still the man to me. Despite the fact he was a world famous photographer I gathered my nerve to place a call to his studio in 1994 and someone from his staff told me he was out but would return my call. Sure thing I thought and tossed that idea right out the window. One day later much to my freaked out assistants surprise he called me back. He invited me to come to Atlanta and spend some time with him. For two days he talked, I listened and when I returned I completely changed my entire business philosophy. He later featured me in a national campaign for what was then a fledgling site called THE Knot. I still have a copy somewhere.

Never discount and never ever agree to photograph a relatives wedding. The first tenant in Reggie rules. His feeling was that discounting showed that you don’t value your own sense of self and worth. He was harsher on avoiding relative’s weddings. They will want a discount and won’t appreciate what you have done anyway. Ok so those last words are mine.

A prospective client once called me up and said “hey I found someone who does what you do and is $1000.00 cheaper. Slight pause……I said to him why are you still on the phone with me, book him quick!!

One of my most treasured images is a black and white of legendary drummers Ginger Baker and John Entwhistle`s taken in the 1990s in Colorado. Entwhistle`s handlers must have loved it too because they tried unsuccessfully for years to get me to first sell the negative and then with threats to sue me if I didn’t give it to them. I still have both image and negative and many wonderful memories.

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Have you decided on your wedding colors? For many brides choosing two colors is a tradition, which two are you pondering? Making a choice of two colors will increase the number of changes, you will as most brides change your colors a few times. Today the colors are light pink and hot pink tomorrow light pink and purple.  There are many colors you have dreamed of and uncertainty now resides in your thinking and ocular vision of colors.

Here is a quick list to help you. I agree tradition is great, has high standards and value in many aspects of our lives.

1.     Toss tradition, just for choosing colors for the wedding

2.    You can choose three to four colors, however three is better, working that fourth color in can be a bit stressful.

3.    Choose colors that look good on you and colors that give you energy.

4.    Each color should coordinate and blend together.

  Toss tradition and colorize your dream wedding.

  Enchanted Love,

Juanita

Wedding Personality Specialist

Outdoor Wedding Specialist

It is a growing trend of today’s modern bride and groom to write vows.  These self written vows can be included with the traditional ceremonial vows or alone.

1.   Read your vows daily for seven days.  The rationale is to be certain these words are your true dedication to your soon to be spouse.

2.   Read your vows to yourself in a room, alone, out loud, feel and reflect on each word.

3.   Do not allow your friend(s), or family member(s) assist in preparing your vows. This is your dedication.

4.   Read the vows the evening prior to the wedding rehearsal with the officiating minister if they will be the one reading your vows.

I have been recent weddings where there were injections of words without the bride or groom’s knowledge or consent, yep a shocker

5.   This is Your Day, Your Celebration, Your Union, Your Wedding. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!

    Enchanted Love,

Juanita

Juanita’s Enchanted Event Planning

“creating an intimate personal event every time”

Our clients happiness is our main goal.  We have always put this as our priority in all that we do and it really is all that we are about.  It's because of this that we have been top ranked among wedding planner professionals in Riverside and Orange County on Thumbtack.

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