Love Makes the World Go 'Round

Everyday, millions of people all over the world get married. So, I thought I would try to do some research on wedding traditions from around the world.

Did you know that...

Purple is the color of love in Japan. Most brides in Japan will wear purple kimonos. But the traditional wedding color in China is red, symbolizing luck. Indian brides traditionally wear pink on their wedding day.

Pakistani weddings traditionally last FOUR days! Each day is a different ceremony.

In Indonesia, it's not uncommon to have more than 1,000 guests invited to the wedding!

Before her wedding day, it was tradition for Chinese brides to retreat into seclusion with her closest friends for a few days. (Bachelorette party anyone??!)

I just wanna SHOUT IT!

So, I don't know when it happened, but I kind of let myself go. It happens, I guess. I think it came from working in the hospitality industry- especially banquets and events. At my worst, I weighed (and I'm committing a female sin here by telling everyone) 183 lbs. Yikes. I definitely didn't feel like I weighed that much, but I was starting to look like I just had a baby.

Adam and I started working out about a month ago. I am in love with this kind of stair stepper thing- if I had one in my house I would walk on it all day. It's low impact and it just feels like I'm walking kind of. I watch "Superbad" on my Zune, and it totally takes my mind off the fact that I'm working out, plus the laughing gives me a little ab workout too! I bought a scale from Wal-Mart last week, and now I weigh myself every day.

I just weighed myself when I came home from work and (drumroll please).....

I weigh 166!!!! I have lost 17 FREAKIN POUNDS!!! Although I don't really see it, but Adam says I look thinner and my stomach and waist feels a lot smaller.

I am so happy! I want to get down to 135, so I still have 30 pounds to go. But I've lost 5 pounds this week without working out. (We've slacked with the holidays). But tomorrow I'm going to work out extra hard and hopefully I will reach my goal weight in the next 2 months.

I'm asking for skinny jeans for Christmas. Booyah.

O Christmas Tree...

YAY! Christmas is upon us! It snowed for the first time yesterday and it made me so happy!

Those that know me, know that I'm a very anxious person. I don't like waiting for things, especially things that I'm excited about. When I have a vision or idea, I have to do right then.

With that being said, I have a confession.....




I have had my Christmas tree up for 3 weeks already. EEK! I got the theme of my Christmas tree nailed down, and I started buying the decorations in the middle of October. (I know, it's gross. But I saw these cute ornaments in a Crate and Barrel mag and it became the inspiration for my tree.) So I went out and bought the ornaments and all the other decorations. And, here in St. Louis there is a radio station that has been playing Christmas music 24/7 since the week before Halloween. So that didn't help matters. But it's super cute, and now I present to you- my PEACOCK CHRISTMAS TREE!






My mom always did theme trees, so that's where I get my ideas from. They are so pretty, and are a great way to showcase your personality!

I always have used artificial trees. I like the smell of real ones, but I don't like dealing with the sap and the pine needles. SUCH a mess! I bought my tree from Wal-Mart (pre-lit, which saves time AND money!) and the pre lit one was about $5 cheaper than the unlit one. So, it was a no brainer. I got it home, and I lasted 2 hours before I gave in to my urges to put it up. I got it out, put it together, and I was so disappointed! There were MAJOR gaps between the layers, which wasn't that noticeable at night, but during the day you could see right through the darn tree!

But, being my crafty self, I had a solution. If you have a tree that isn't as full as you like, then buy a GARLAND and stuff in in the middle of the tree to fill it in! It will make your tree look like a million bucks, for only about 5 bucks!

Happy Decorating!

Budget Trimming Mistakes

There are many ways you can trim down your budget, but there are also many things that you should NOT hold out on.

1. Photography: A good photographer is essential for your memories. A good photographer is one splurge that you shouldn't feel guilty about. Any photographer can line up your family members on the church altar and snap a photo (some can even manage to get them all with their eyes open!) but a GREAT photographer can capture the emotions and energy in a picture. I personally love the photo journalistic style, which is becoming outrageously popular. They do a great job at capturing the moment, and they are beautiful pictures that you will enjoy looking at in the years to come that really tell a story. They generally are more expensive to hire, but it is SO worth it, they are beautiful photos. Some say a photo is worth a thousand words, but I say a photo journalistic style picture is truly priceless. Need some suggestions? Check out Birdsong Photography's blog listed on my page, and their website is beautiful. I also love SilverBox Photography.

2. The music: A good DJ can really get your wedding reception rockin! They can inject energy into your party, and that's what your guests will really remember- how much fun they had! I've seen some DJ's that will interact with the guests and even play games and give out prizes at weddings. A good band is hard to find, which is why they can be so expensive. If you have your heart set on a band, give yourself plenty of time to do your research. Ask for demo tapes, and in either case ALWAYS ask around for recommendations.

3. The Food: Typically, the food for a wedding is about 45-60% of the total budget. You definitely don't want your guests to go home hungry. While it may be necessary to cut down slightly on the quality of the food, you don't want to cut down on the quantity. If your budget is tight, you may need to order chicken instead of the filet and lobster combo. But, they are doing amazing things with chicken these days!!!

My best friend's wedding...

Last weekend I attended my best friend's wedding as a bridesmaid, and what else but her wedding coordinator! I just wanted to share a few pictures that I took with my digital camera. It was such a cute wedding, and I'm so happy for Mr. and Mrs. Eric Baker!!! Enjoy some photos!

Lets Talk Food...

We all know the best part of the wedding- the food. The food cost should be one of the biggest parts of your wedding day budget (normally it's 40-45% or more!) But if you're planning with a tight budget, there are several ways to cut the costs without cutting the cheese... or beef, or whatever you want to eat.

1. If you are having a later wedding (after 5 or 6 pm) it is socially acceptable to only serve finger foods. Be sure to put on your invitations that it is an hor dourves reception, and your guests should know to eat before the ceremony begins. If you are having an afternoon wedding and your reception starts around dinner time, your guests will be hungry, and you will spend more money on hor dourves trying to fill your guests up than you would have if you planned a dinner.

2. If you are on a tight budget, ask if you can look at the lunch menu instead of the dinner menu. Many places will alllow you to select lunches (be it plated or buffet), and lunches are sometimes almost half the price, with a lot of the same options that some of the dinners have.

3. Which brings me to my next point- buffet or served? Honestly, sometimes they are about the same price. With buffets, people tend to eat more so they have to prepare more food which can cost more. With served meals, the food cost is controlled, but it takes more staff to run a plated dinner so the service charge may be more. It's totally up to you.

Wedding meals are a good way to treat your guests to something different that they don't normally eat. Try different flavors, colors, presentations- we eat with our eyes first and our mouths second. We all want something that beautiful on a plate, and there are so many options in this day in age. A lot of couples are afraid to try something different because they are afraid their guests won't like it even if they do. DON'T be afraid- a lot of times you are creating something memorable for a guest that they might never get to experience again. Leave the chocolate covered crickets and pig spleen at home though: no one will be able to stomach that. DO arrange a menu tasting before the big day, but DON'T be afraid to go with the sea bass if you like it. Just don't go with the entire fish on the plate- it's kind of scary.

Ebay for your wedding day

Well, it's been awhile that's for sure! But I've been researching some money saving tips from the most addicting wesbite ever... Ebay. This website is a goldmine for deals!

Do you dream of centerpieces with crystals dripping down? Well, you could spend hundreds of extra dollars by letting your florist get them, or you can spend $20 for 15 feet of crystals from a chandelier dealer. What a steal!

Don't spend a ton of money buying votives from craft stores or Wal-Mart. On Ebay there are stores where you can get 400 votives for around $40. Imagine the savings!

I even ordered a wedding dress from ebay- customized to fit me. No alterations ladies! It was a brand new dress for less than $300!!!

So when trying to find good deals, they are closer than you can imagine. Savings are just a click away- but don't get too caught up in the bidding. Set a limit for how much you're willing to spend for an item- or betting yet, search on the "buy now" feature or search for stores.

My personal favorite store- HJK imports. You can get vases, acryllic crystals to fill your vases, floral lights, and more. Perfect for the DIY bride like myself!

Happy Hunting!!!

Topic of the Week: Reception venues

There are lots of things to consider when choosing your reception venue- the look and feel, the cost, what have you. But the latest trend is not to have your reception in the typical hotel ballroom or the Eagles Lodge, but to go off the beaten path!

Museums offer lots of space, and additional things for your guests to do! There are so many beautiful and historic things in museums to look at, you may not even need much decor! You can also check out your local zoo for event space, which usually has lush landscaping, flowery foilage, and ponds/lakes. Your guests can take tours of the museum or see the animals at the zoo. (Just stay away from the monkey house!) It's a unique way for you and your guests to enjoy your day with you, and it will truly be a memorable experience for everyone!

Topic of the Week: Lighting makes the difference!

Lighting is one of the most important aspects in any event- especially weddings. It sets the tone for your event, red lighting for a sultry event, pastels for a romantic feel, etc. Lighting can change the look and feel of a room in an instant!

If you think you have to spend several thousands of dollars on lighting for your event, you're so wrong! The room appearance can change drastically by just placing lots of tea lights around the room, and you can buy those by the hundreds! Think you have to spend thousands on hiring a professional lighting company come in and design your event? Try doing it yourself! You can create a look similar to the picture by purchasing spot lights from a hardware/garden store and positioning them around the room. To change the colors of the lights, place pieces of colored cellophane on top of the lens and secure with a rubber band. That's it! And, if you're having an outdoor wedding, you can even get solar spotlights and then you can reuse them in the your yard after the wedding!

So you don't have to be technologically inclined to do your own lighting- it's as simple as that!

Topic of the Week: Wedding Cakes

I know every girl dreams of the traditonal white cake for her wedding, but the latest trend is not a big white cake, but a big purple, green, fuschia cake. It's out with the white, in with the bright. Instead of just using your wedding colors as an accent on your cake, how about painting the town (or the whole cake) red? Or blue, or purple or whatever colors your wedding are. Use fun, whimsical patterns and colors that reflect your style and personality!

Got big cake dreams on a sheet cake budget? I have the answer for you! Most bakers can make only a few layers actual cake, and then have "filler" tiers- pieces of styrofoam decorated to look like the rest of your cake! This will save you money and you can still have the big cake that only LOOKS expensive! This tip also works if you're having a small wedding with few guests, but still want the big cake. Just don't serve the wrong tier up to your guests!

So, now you can have your cake... AND eat it too!

Topic of the Week: Bridesmaids Dresses

Ladies, long gone are the days of tulle, ruffles, and lame' (we hope). I'm sure we have all seen our fair share of horrible bridesmaids dresses- I know I have and I'm only 23! Luckily for the modern day bride, the 21st century has blessed us with OPTIONS!

Okay girls, I know we all want uniformity with our bridesmaids. Some brides want everyone to be the same- down to the hairstyle! In the modern day world where women have the freedom to do whatever we dream of- please do NOT dream for everyone to have the same hairstyle too! Each of your girls probably has their own style and personality about them that you love, so why would you want to cover that up? Everyone has a different body style, and what works well for one girl might not work for the next. The newest trend is to have one uniform color, but have the bridesmaid pick the dress that they feel the most comfortable in. Some girls need more support up top, some want a long dress to cover their cankles. Whatever the case, your 'maids will love you for letting them choose their own dress. If you decide to let them pick their own dresses though, make sure they are all from the same company or designer. The colors may look the same in the catalog, but they WILL look completely different next to everyone else's dress.

If you really feel like taking a walk on the wild side, you can go completely different and choose a general color, like green, and let them be creative! If your color is green, one girl can have a bright green and white tea length print dress, another in a long seafoam chiffon dress, another in an emerald halter... you get the point. You have a uniform theme instead of color, and it eliminates jealousy because the girls won't be looking at each other and fighting over who looks the best. Each girl will feel like she looks the best because she will be comfortable knowing she picked a dress that looks fabulous on her!

Shoes don't have to match either, ladies. Feet vary in size and shapes just like other body parts. Let them choose their own shoes, especially if they're all wearing the exact same dress.

DON'T make them all get the same hairstyle- you could actually make the pictures look worse because one hairstyle can look completely different on one girl because of hair texture or length. Just... don't. Please.

Now, I know you brides are thinking "Why should I listen to you? It's my day- it's my decision." You're absolutely right. You make the decisions. But try to put yourself in their shoes (literally- try them on and see if their comfortable and if you would want to wear them) They've been good friends to you, and they have to look at their picture for the rest of their lives too. You can have exact matching dresses, but find a way to let them be themselves on your day too.

Welcome!

Well, hello there! Welcome to my blog! Basically, I'm an aspiring wedding planner. On here I'll post my ideas for my own wedding, and helpful tips and ideas for other weddings. I'll discuss growing trends in the industry, ways to save money, and many other topics!

So what makes me so qualified to do this? Well, I recently graduated from college with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, with a concentration in event planning. I have taken several event planning classes, and I'm pretty much obsessed with anything that has to do with event planning- ESPECIALLY with weddings! I read every bridal magazine, and watch every wedding show out there. I offered my assistance to a couple in LA with planning their wedding, and was sought out by a bride in London to help plan hers. I'm also getting ready to start studying to become a Certified Wedding Planner soon. I have worked in the catering business for four years now- I've worked for a winery, a national food service company, and now I'm a banquet supervisor at a Five Star, Five Diamond hotel in Missouri.

So now you know a little about me and what I love- so I hope you come back and visit me soon!