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A Fairytale Ending From the “Venue Disaster”
The morning began with a sweet email from the bride’s father asking me for some information. He didn’t want to bother his daughter on her wedding day. After all she had been through with moving her venue just a couple weeks before he wanted her day to be perfect. I assured him everyone was in place to make that happened. I told him not to worry and that I personally promise to see to it that her day is wonderful!
Soon the chapel bells chimed at Highland Park United Methodist Church and the heavy wooden doors opened to reveal a gorgeous bride and her proud father. I have seen lots of weddings but something about this one brought me to tears at that moment. Maybe it was because in this day and age when you see a couple embrace the elements of a traditional wedding complete with the organ playing the wedding march, it just tugs at your heartstrings. Or maybe it was because all three of us have fallen in love with this sweet bride and her adoring husband. They come from good stock and everyone was there with nothing but the best of wishes for this couple.
The sanctuary is gorgeous and didn’t need much help but the stunning flowers created by Darrell Ward Designs added the perfect finishing touch. Everything went off fine except for a cute little flower girl dropping her basket at the beginning of her descent down the aisle. It took a little prodding from her mom to abandon the fallen petals but everyone loves a precious flower girl!
Other than that everything was wonderful and the catch in the bride’s voice as she recited her vows touched me as it reiterated what a sensitive thoughtful girl our client is. Jessica and David were glowing as they went down the aisle. They truly looked like the topper on a wedding cake!
The reception took place at The Crescent Hotel Gallery Ballroom. On the terrace, the guests enjoyed a cocktail hour with mini beef wellingtons, crabcakes, and grape salad on crostinis while they waited for the arrival of the bride and groom. Pink lemonade was passed to help with those who were parched but not ready to belly up to the bar just yet.
After the first dance, all the guests were seated and served a delicious dinner of a duet of beef tenderloin and chicken. I just love a plated dinner because everyone finishes at the same time and so we can get the party started sooner. However, it was another hour before we could cut the cake as the Gacke and Teed men failed to tell us they were putting on the comedy hour…we only had them down for a toast…but the room was filled with laughter as many stories of their youths were shared. You can tell this is a couple that places great emphasis on family and I love it!
Finally, it was time for cake and eyeballs. Wait …what? Yes, David is an eye doctor and they had Panini Bakery make truffles that looked like eyeballs instead of a groom’s cake. The really funny part happened when you bit into them as they were actually cherries on the inside! This is just a small example of David’s great sense of humor.
Thanks to our friend Brian Prescott of Simply Music, the dance floor was packed. He really knows how to get a party going! Kathy and I loved seeing how much fun this whole group was having on the dance floor! Then all too soon it was time for them to depart. In a shower of bubbles, they ran off for a well deserved honeymoon. Jessica’s dad came up and whispered in my ear…”You were right.” I turned and looked at him with a quizzical look and he said “It WAS Wonderful!!” That just made my night!!
We wish them a lifetime of bliss. ~Beth
Green Wedding Registry
The Green Bride Guide is the place to go for all things eco-friendly. Learn more about planning a green wedding, find vendors who have an earth-friendly philosophy in the Green Vendor Directory, and shop for eco-chic products.
Green products are made from environmentally friendly materials or use production processes that reduce the impact on the environment.
Enjoy shopping!
Karen
Wildflower Wedding Album and Guest Book
Twisted Bead Napkin Rings from Indonesia
Martini Glasses made from 91% post-consumer glass
Five-Piece Bamboo Cutting Board Set
Perfection Replaces Disastrous Venue
First of all, can I just say, we love working with the Rosewood Crescent Hotel. This is the second time they have come to the rescue when a venue disaster has occurred for one of our brides. The first time we worked with Julian who was absolutely awesome and a knight in shining armor…or in his case a really dapper suit! For our May 29th wedding, we will be working with Alison. She is the angel who brought calm, order and a lot of class to a sweet bride who has experienced seven stressful days. Alison had wonderful creative ideas and yet was practical about achieving the best bang for the buck.
In a previous post, Venue Disaster, we had written about a venue that is under construction and who failed to tell the bride and groom about the situation…with the wedding only 2 1/2 weeks away. After a meeting that I can only describe as shock and horror, new plans began….just what every bride wants to do 2 1/2 weeks out, right?!
Let me insert lessons learned here:
1. Add a clause to your contract that states:
This agreement is based on the space as is, with no active construction or remodeling during agreed upon date. In the event that the venue has construction/remodeling during the agreed date, the venue will refund 100% of the monies paid, including the non-refundable deposit.
2. Seriously consider wedding insurance: this not only covers your venue going bankrupt, but it even covers things such as the bride or groom getting cold feet and changing their mind! (your heart may be broke but at least you will not be). One of our brides had wedding insurance due to the fact that her fiancé was out of the country and you never know what is going to happen with trying to fly whole families over for a wedding. Luckily she didn’t need it, but it was nice to know it was there. If you need insurance, we recommend contacting Tom Sowell.
So let’s talk about the good things!
At Wedding Day Bliss, we make an effort to focus on the positive. So let’s move on from the negative and talk about the fabulous aspects of this upcoming wedding. This is definitely a happy accident! The Crescent Hotel once again has stepped in and stepped up! As Jessica revisited her original plans, new ideas began to bloom and everything just got better….enhanced lighting, cocktail hour on the magnificent Terrace, improved linen ideas, superior menu, signature drinks and on and on!
Elizabeth, one of our interns, accompanied us to the meeting at the Crescent Hotel. She is my daughter and was born more Southern than me if that is possible. She loves all things about hospitality and elegance so she was soaking up every detail. Alison’s intern, Callen was also present at the meeting. She is a beautiful sweet young woman from Alabama. For both interns it was their first day on the job and what a way to get your feet wet…addressing all the venue details in one meeting and ten days before the wedding! I know that Elizabeth was AMAZED at how many details are involved in planning a reception, but she was lucky to have the Crescent as her first example of how a trustworthy and professional venue practices business. We enjoyed hearing the comments from these interns since they are in the same age group as many of our brides. At Wedding Day Bliss, we have 5 daughters in their twenties so we discuss new trends with them and we appreciate their input. We love the fresh new ideas that they bring to our company.
What a difference a week makes. Let me just say the smile on Jessica’s face was a balm to my soul! I am looking forward to one amazing wedding!!
Blissfully, Beth
Brides Against Breast Cancer-Dallas
The Brides Against Breast Cancer program provides an opportunity for a bride-to-be to find a beautiful wedding gown while helping women who are losing their fight against breast cancer.
Previous brides have an ecofriendly opportunity to donate their wedding gown to the organization. The BABC program has received more than 50,000 wedding gown donations. BABC currently has an extensive inventory of vintage, antique and retro gowns, and are looking for wedding gowns, veils, or slips made since 2005.
Mark your calendars! BABC will host a wedding gown sale in Dallas on July 23 and July 24.
DALLAS
Power Hour Preview Shopping Spree – $20 Admission per Attendee
Friday, July 23 from 10 a.m. – Noon
Click Here to Purchase Tickets!
General Sale – Free Admission
Friday, July 23 from Noon – 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 24 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Click Here to Pre-Register!
If you want to shop earlier, BABC will have a wedding gown sale in Houston on June 25-27 and Austin on July 2-3.
Interested in being a Volunteer? Click HERE to fill out the volunteer registration form.
Happy shopping!
Karen
Wedding with Bling – Sneak Peek
Jen & Jarrod’s wedding celebration took place at Brookhaven Country Club. Jen added many beautiful, creative, sparkly touches to her Hollywood theme wedding. Here is a sneak peek of the wedding day preparations.
Floral Design – Chelle’s Belles
Venue – Brookhaven Country Club
Venue Disaster
Yesterday, we met our May 29th bride and groom at their reception venue to go over the room layout and the final details for their wedding. Kathy and I reviewed our notes and relaxed knowing that we had everything in place and this was just a quick meeting.
What is that saying about counting your chickens before they are hatched? Well it is true because we found a rotten egg.
As we traveled to the top floor, we noticed construction in the atrium where the cocktail hour and the food buffet will be located. This is an important part of their plan and essential to the flow for the evening reception. Our darling couple (who we are crazy about!!) had selected this venue exactly one year ago and they are paying top dollar for this site. Yet, the once lovely brass railings were now pieces of plywood, and the columns were drywall and spackle, and in the center stood 4 paint splattered scaffolds.
Shock does not begin to describe everyone’s feelings at that moment. The manager was looking through his file and said “Oh I don’t have much information here, have you selected anything?” The bride, still stunned from the construction, turned and said “Yes, I did all that months ago with the previous manager.” I know how sick I felt at that moment and I can only imagine how our sweet couple felt. As they looked through his minimal paperwork and waited while he called the leasing agent, Kathy and I were already going over the options of how to make the one ballroom work. We checked into using an adjoining room. We considered the many options of draping to try to hide the mess and we talked through possible room layouts if we needed to combine the cocktail hour and food buffet into this one space.
The vice president of operations was called in (he has the ability to change the financial arrangements) and I must say that his demeanor was not comforting. He spent most of his time telling us what a headache the construction was creating for him and implying….what do you want from me? We would rather have had a call earlier telling us what was going on and offering solutions or financial reimbursements…but he arrived with a “hey I have no control - I just lease the space” attitude. He told the bride and groom that he had a prom with 500 kids the previous weekend and no one noticed the construction (prom….seriously?) He did finally agree to refund their money…but since the wedding is 2 1/2 weeks away, that is adding another headache that neither one of these busy professionals have the time for. At this point, the bride and groom decided to sleep on it and discuss their options over the next few days.
The only high point in the day for us was when the bride turned to us and said “I am so glad y’all were here. Both our mothers are out-of-town and it was so wonderful to have the support.” She told us two more times that our presence was very comforting. When we got in the car, Kathy and I turned to each other and we had bittersweet tears in our eyes and we said…”THAT is why we do this.” At this important time in your life, you need someone who has life experience, wedding experience and a motherly touch to handle a crisis.
Stay tuned for further news on how this plays out! ~ Beth
Wedding Dress Fashion Emergency
What would you do if something stained your dress right before the ceremony?! While reading my favorite blog – Style Me Pretty, I came across this fashion emergency story. While Tampa, Florida photographer Amy Pezzicara was taking photos of the beautiful bride Lindsay, a bottle of foundation shattered and spilled on her wedding dress. The bride’s sister was attempting to hand the bride her purse so that she could fix her lipstick, when the bottle of foundation fell out, broke, and splattered on the dress. For 45 minutes, they cleaned Lindsay’s wedding dress with toothbrushes and cleaning fluid.
Photo by Pezz Photo
Lindsay is a wedding planner at A La Carte Event Pavillion so she was not ruffled by her fashion emergency and kept smiling throughout the ordeal. Read more about this vintage couture wedding and be inspired by the gorgeous photos.
Every bride should have a wedding day emergency kit nearby on their wedding day. Wedding coordinators are well rehearsed in the event of an emergency. If you do not have a wedding coordinator, the maid of honor can assume the responsibility.
MOH Elise Milligan is prepared for any fashion emergency that might occur!
What should you include in the bridal emergency kit? Check out this list at Martha Stewart.
Most importantly, stay calm! Nothing, I repeat NOTHING should be permitted to spoil the day. Allow your trusted wedding coordinator or designated trouble-shooter to deal with the crisis for you. Do your best to laugh it off and continue to enjoy your special day.
Karen
Something Blue…and Eco Friendly
I love this Something Blue inspiration board from Eco-Beautiful Weddings! There are limitless ways to add gorgeous, fun, eco friendly touches to your wedding. These days, brides are fortunate to have so many options to choose from.
I first read about this inspiration board at Garter Girl by Julienne Smith. Her eco-friendly garters may be customized for color combination and embroidery.
Aged and Opulent Jewelr – Vintage art glass brooch $69
Hanky Lady – Vintage embroidered hanky $20
Little of Everything – Vintage rhinestone necklace $15
Garter Girl by Julianne Smith – grosgrain garter made from recycled water bottles $47
Thread Head – made-to-order organic cotton and chiffon silk wedding gown $975
Bedouin – vintage fabric bouquet $30
Cultivar – handmade reclaimed fabric shoe clip $28
Be creative and have fun!
Karen
R&R at Farmhouse Inn
As we pulled up to the Farmhouse Inn and Spa in Sonoma Valley, all I could think about is how heavenly it would be to honeymoon here amid all this beauty. Located in the small town of Forestville, California in the stunning Russian River Valley Region of Sonoma County’s famed wine country, Farmhouse represents the highest level of Sonoma Inns, Restaurants and Spas – where charming guest rooms, farm-fresh food and a relaxing spa come together in one romantic experience.
At check-in, we were encouraged to sample wonderful soaps, scrubs and bath salts to take back to our room. While chatting with our receptionist we discovered that she was a wedding photographer at www.kaliphotography.com and I promised to give her a little shout out. Hi Kali! She showed us a wall of free drinks, snacks and candy for our travels that day and the homemade ingredients for smores around the fire pit later that night. I was already having fun and we had not even checked into our room. She handed us our adorable key (even the key was cute) and we pulled around to the barn.
Lessons Learned
After reading Preston Bailey’s, Have You Ever Made a Dumb Mistake? , it got me thinking about slip-ups that I have made while planning weddings…
* Not having the contact information for one of the wedding vendors with me at the reception. When the keg began to leak on the venue’s authentic oak floors (the site manager was MIA), I briefly panicked before I found the delivery invoice and contacted the store about the situation. Lesson learned: always have ALL of the vendor’s cell phone numbers with you on the day of the wedding.
* Not double-checking the bride’s To Do list. The bride had planned to have a small memorial set up at the reception in honor of her grandmother. She forgot her grandmother’s photo and one of the relatives became quite distressed about it. Lesson learned: triple check all the details and…think on your feet!
* Touch-up painting the 25’x25’ dance floor on the morning of my daughter’s wedding. I should have let this one go…no one would have noticed the stains due to the rustic setting.
Believe me, I have made many errors in judgment in my lifetime, these are just some examples that apply to weddings. It is often difficult to admit our mistakes. Of course we know that perfection is unattainable, but there is nothing wrong with striving to be a better person. The important thing is what we learn from our errors. Mistakes have a way of embedding themselves into our memory (this can be a blessing and a curse) so hopefully we will not make the same mistake twice.
“The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” ~John Powell
What have you learned from your mistakes?
Imperfect but now wiser,
Karen
Crescent Club Reception
The Crescent Club provided a fabulous setting for Jessica and Brian’s reception.
Bride and Groom join their guests in the Crescent Club Bar.
Jessica fell in love with the look of these unique Gerbera Daisies.
A hug from her grandmother.
Bride and groom at the sweetheart table.
First dance
Thank you to Lynn Michelle Photography for all the wonderful photos!
Venue ~ Crescent Club
Floral Design ~ Chelle’s Belles
Cakes ~ Bake Rejoice
Earth Day and Green Weddings
Today is the 40th celebration of Earth Day. As a certified green wedding planner, I love the idea behind Earth Day and want to encourage brides to consider eco-friendly options when planning their wedding.
David DeFranza sparked an interesting conversation on TreeHugger by asking the question, “Does Earth Day matter anymore?”
Jill Fehrenbacher of Inhabit says, “Earth Day needs to become more like New Year’s day: an excuse to think deeply, reflect upon the past year and make resolutions for LONG TERM, ongoing commitments to real, substantial change.”
If you are looking for green wedding inspiration, the following sites are first class.
Ecofabulous has fabulous ideas for eco-friendly wedding dresses, invitations, cakes, wedding rings, flowers, shoes, catering…
Green Bride Guide has a list of environmentally friendly vendors in the Green Wedding Directory.
Eco-Beautiful Weddings magazine is overflowing with fashion and decorating ideas for Green weddings.
Check out Green with Envy’s Green Wedding Checklist.
Eco-friendly wedding invitations are on the rise and equally beautiful. According to the Wedding Wire blog, “And don’t think you have to sacrifice the design just by going ‘green’, most stationery and invitation companies are printing on recycled paper and using earth friendly printing methods.”
In honor of Earth Day, I wanted to share some of my favorite eco-friendly wedding blogs.
Enjoy!
Karen
Poem is written and illustrated by Joe Mohr
What Do You Love?
Awhile back I wrote a question on Facebook asking people what do they love. My thought was that people should put what they love into their wedding. Of course, not all of these would work at a wedding. But it was just such a sweet list of things we love that I wanted to put it on our blog. I think the telling thing about all this is not surprise but sits as a reminder to all of us. Most of these things cost nothing.I love the small of a woman’s back, good scotch, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve, and I love long, slow kisses that last three days. (cleaned up version from Bull Durham) ~ Mike
I love little country streams, sleep without dreams, sunday school in may,
And hay
And I love you too
I love leaves in the wind, pictures of my friends, birds in the world, and squirrels
I love coffee in a cup, little fuzzy pups, bourbon in a glass, and grass and i love you too
I love honest open smiles, kisses from a child, tomatoes on the vine, and onions
I love winners when they cry, losers when they try, music when it’s good, and life
And i love you too
By Tom T. Hall
Jessica’s Ceremony in the Garden Room
Lynn Michelle captures a fun photo of Jessica before the ceremony!
Keith Schmorr serenades the guests before the ceremony.
The adorable flower girls make it down the aisle…much to everyone’s relief!
The lovely bride makes her entrance.
The Crescent Hotel Garden Room is a gorgeous setting for a wedding!
Jessica and Brian Welch!
I love this picture!
The bride and groom walk to the Crescent Club for their reception. Let the party begin!
All photos are courtesy of Lynn Michelle Photography
Jessica’s Pre-ceremony Photos at The Crescent Hotel
We received these gorgeous photos of Jessica’s wedding from the extremely talented Lynn Michelle.
Pre-ceremony
Makeup artist, Kristin Colaneri works her magic.
The day before the wedding, the bridal party met with Chelle’s Belles to arrange their bouquet flowers and select the bling that would decorate the ribbon of their bouquet.
First look…
It is almost time for the ceremony to begin!
Stay tuned for more photos tomorrow…
Wedding Vendor Contracts 101
You have probably seen wedding timelines published by well-meaning authors that instruct brides about when they should be making wedding related decisions for each month leading up to their wedding. These timelines are very handy however, the problem arises when brides think that they need to follow this timeline verbatim and panic if they have not completed all the tasks according to the timeline.
Granted, planning a wedding requires organization, but do not allow yourself to be pressured into making hasty decisions about your wedding vendors. Take the time to get referrals from friends, family, and your wedding planner if you have one. Check out the sites where brides post vendor reviews and research the vendor’s website.
It is important to protect yourselves from unscrupulous wedding vendors.
- Get it in writing. A verbal agreement is not good enough. If it is not in writing then it is not binding. This applies to the price agreed upon and also the date. Most wedding vendors will not reserve your wedding date until they receive a deposit or a retainer.
- Read the contract. Seriously. I know that contracts are often difficult to read because of the legal language. It is important to understand what you are signing and what service or product the vendor is agreeing to provide for your wedding.
- Do not write a check to a vendor unless you receive a copy of the signed contract at the same time.
- The copy of the contract that you receive should include the vendor’s signature. Please read that last sentence again. Unfortunately, many vendors will give brides a copy of the contract without the vendor’s signature on it. At a later date, if the vendor decides to raise their price, they can argue that the contract was not finalized because they never signed the contract and there must have been a misunderstanding.
For more information, check out the outstanding Wedding Vendor Hiring Guide at Blue Orchid Blog.
There are many honest, reliable, trustworthy wedding vendors out there, but do not assume that they are all like that. Be cautious…and get it in writing!
Karen
Spectacular Sasha Souza
Sasha Souza’s book, Signature Sasha…Magnificent Weddings by Design is one of my new favorite wedding books! It is overflowing with photos of gorgeous weddings, beautiful design ideas, and practical advice. Included are chapters on inspiration, color couture, setting the stage, and eight featured real weddings. I am devouring this book in my every spare moment!
Sasha Souza Events features real weddings…oh my, prepare yourself for some fabulous photos! Keep track of Sasha’s latest news at Sparkliatti.
Sasha is President of the first nonprofit wedding wish granting organization, Wish Upon a Wedding. They provide marriages for couples faced with terminal illness. They have recently teamed up with Get Married to promote this wonderful cause.
Charleston – Home of Tara Guerard
Kathy and I just got back from a quick girl’s trip to Charleston, South Carolina…home of the talented wedding planner Tara Guerard.
Weddings are going strong in Charleston. It is no surprise to us, because one of our very favorite wedding planners, Tara Guerard, and her nationally known company Soiree are based there. We fell in love with her after reading her first book, Southern Weddings: New Looks from the Old South. Her latest book, Weddings by Tara Guerard is just as yummy and creative. She is amazing! We went to her office and got to meet a couple of the staffers but she was in NYC. When we left, we were giggling like we had just met a movie star!
Tara is known for creating weddings that reflect the personality of the bride and groom. Read more about Tara’s memorable weddings in an interview by Style me Pretty.
We stayed at the lovely Harbourview Inn. It lives up to its name, we had a fantastic view of the water and one of their many lush gardens. When they took us to our room the first thing I noticed was a wonderful magazine called Charleston Weddings. I was so excited….I devoured it!
We fell madly in love with the city. It is everything we adore…. beautiful homes, gorgeous gardens, fabulous food and gracious people! We continually commented on how incredibly friendly everyone was there. The college kids were helpful, cheerful and adorable. Another wonderful thing we noticed was that there was a high level of respect for everyone no matter what age. I just love that. It was southern charm at it’s finest!
Oh and I can’t write about Charleston without mentioning the man who saved our “soles”. Joey our bicyclist… another wonderfully fun Charleston creation.
We loved him so much, we were going to introduce him to our concierge at the hotel but we found out he already has a GF. We told him we would come back and do his wedding…so Helen if you are out there…Joey has your wedding planners all lined up….on rickshaw bikes!
Jessica’s Wedding at the Crescent Part 2
Everything about The Crescent Hotel and The Crescent Club is magnificent!
Jessica and Brian’s wedding celebration will continue on the 17th floor of the Crescent Club.
Jessica and Brian will have a wonderful view of downtown Dallas from their sweetheart table.
Merichelle, of Chelle’s Belles puts the finishing touches on the flowers.
The yummy cakes are from Bake Rejoice.
The Reception at the Crescent Club is about to begin…the sweetheart table awaits the happy bride and groom.
