Alert! Time to hit the sales!

In the blink of an eye Christmas is over. That means, everything Christmas is on sale. If you are a bride, now is the time to go out and stock up on ribbon and all things on sale. If your wedding colors include white, red, silver, green, blue, or gold you are sure to find some great items to use for decor. Go with an open eye and look for containers, fillers, and papers that you can utilize in your wedding arsenal without it looking like it came from Christmas. And hurry, because of their incredible prices everything will be gone from the shelves in the blink of an eye. Who knows, you might even find things for a fun DIY project that you can complete over the break! I suggest trying Pier 1, Target, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, Anthropology, Michael's, and JoAnn Fabrics. But, don't forget to hit up clothing stores as well. Do you need shawls for your bridesmaids or guests? Now is the time to pick them up!

Wishing you a 2010 wedding made of amazing deals and lots of love!

Happy Shopping,

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a very blessed Christmas and a joy filled 2010!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6

We have had an amazing whirlwind of a year and thank each and every one of you for being a blessing to our lives. We cannot wait for all that is to come. May you have peace, joy, and love today and always!

Cheers,

Update...

Keep checking back. With the new year we will have a new blog featuring amazing wedding planning tips for brides of all budgets. We are going to have some great features and guests, so stay tuned.

The original plan was to keep this blog going while I worked on the new blog and site. But, I don't like to create posts just to post. I want every word to be one that makes your life easier and helps you plan your wedding. I am very excited about what is coming, and I hope you will be too when you get to see it.

Thanks for hanging in there with us!

Cheers,

Selecting Stylish Bridesmaid Dresses

Today I'm going to get up on my soapbox and talk to you about bridesmaid dresses. Many a bride will tell her bridal party that she is going to select something that they will love, look great in, and want to wear again. If you as the bride are picking the dress, then it probably won't be something your bridal party will truly love, think they look great in, or want to wear again. Sorry, but everyone has their own taste. By no means does this mean the dresses you pick are bad. However, if you really do want your bridal party to love their dresses, feel great in them, and wear them again then you must let them do the picking.

You do not have to give your bridesmaids free reign. On the contrary, you don't want them looking like some cacophony of color and style. But, they also don't have to look like quadruplets (or twins... based on how many you are having in your bridal party). Pick a color scheme and a basic style. Go shopping with them. But let them pick the cut or shade that will best suit them.

Don't want to be bridezilla? Remember that your bridal party loves. However, this doesn't mean you have to make them wear matching, off the factory floor, dresses.

Note: Take this advice with a grain of salt. I too am guilty as charged. And yes, there are dress lines that you select that may look great. I'm just saying, letting your girls pick will make them the happiest of campers. Besides, you and the grooms are the ones everyone is looking at during the ceremony!

Let the dress shopping begin,

FYI: We Are On Twitter, Talking About Weddings

I joined Twitter awhile back, but I realized today that I never posted it here. (The new blog will have a link. Yay!) It was against my better judgement, and I have made a vow never to tweet things like 'Time for a bathroom break!' However, I cannot think of a better way to stay up-to-date with what's going on in the wedding industry. If you are a bride, Twitter is a great way to hear about new venues, great deals, and be inspired with great ideas. If you are in the industry, it's a great way to keep in touch with the fast, and never ending, changes. So, come hear us tweet our wedding advice. If you dare to be bold like we were ;-), step out and follow us on Twitter.

Happy Learning,

Taking a Step Back

No, don't worry. I am not stepping back from wedding and event planning. Actually, we've got lots of new and exciting things going on that you will be hearing about over the next several months. However, I do find that I do my best work and planning when I take time now and again to step back, breathe, and take a day to gain perspective. It's in these times that some of my best ideas come to me.

Brides and grooms, remember to apply this strategy in planning your wedding. It's so easy to get caught up in phone calls to florists, emails to the caterer, shopping only for wedding stuff... Make sure you take a day every now and again where you don't do a single wedding-related task. It's important for you and the sanity of those around you.

All I want for every bride and groom in their planning is to have a day that they and those around them enjoy. One where they can sit back and take in the full meaning of the day. If you don't do this from the start of planning, trust me, it will be difficult to do on your big day!

Wishing all of you the absolute best with your weddings,

Letterpress Save the Date Giveaway

Engagement season is starting up soon. However, if you are already engaged you may be thinking about save the dates. How about some free save the dates? What bride doesn't love a freebie? Invitations by Ajalon is doing a letterpress Save the Date giveaway through their blog. Here's the information they sent over:

Everyone's got a story to tell, and everyone likes to hear about the "Grand Proposal." Tell us how he proposed (or did you?) to enter our giveaway for 100 letterpress save the date cards, over a $300 value!

Set contains: 100 one-color, one-sided 5x7 letterpress save the date cards, and 110 blank envelopes printed with soy-based ink on 100% cotton Crane's Lettra stock.

The winner will be able to choose from most of our gallery designs, fonts, and our standard ink and paper colors. Here's a sampling of our nine most popular designs:

Contest will end October 31, 2009. The giveaway winner will be selected by a random number generator and notified by email on November 2, 2009. All entries will qualify for a free letterpress sample package, a $10 value.

So head on over to their blog and enter!

Best of luck to you all,

J. Crew Wedding Trunk Show

I wanted to alert everyone that the J. Crew wedding trunk show will be in Los Angeles, at the Grove, October 24th and 25th from 8-11am. They will be featuring their fall/winter 2009 and spring 2010 bridal gowns and wedding party collections. They are offering one-on-one appointments, so if you are interested I would get in touch with them ASAP. Personally, I think J. Crew is one of the few companies that offers bridesmaid dresses that truly can be worn again. Here's the rest of the info:

The Grove . 189 The Grove Drive . Los Angeles, CA . 323-939-1070 .

RSVP to Ashley@jcrew.com

Happy Shopping!

Simple Truths to Remember for your Wedding

While weddings are typically very complex, there are many simple truths to remember. Here are just a few of them:

1. The goal of the day is to get married. As long as the officiant, bride, groom, and witness show up, you will be married.
2. This is your day. Enjoy yourself.
3. Everyone is there to support you and cheer you on. Don't worry about impressing people.
4. Be yourself. That's who your spouse-to-be fell in love with.
5. Take time to take it all in. The day will pass you with the blink of an eye.

Love Is...

...committing to love one another for better or worse and then following through.

Getting the Most Out of Your Bridesmaid Bouquets, Centerpieces, and Floral Arrangements

When it comes time to figuring out florals for your wedding, don't forget that you can use your bridesmaids' bouquets and other flowers from the ceremony to decorate your reception. You can decorate the cake table, bar, or any other area that needs a little color.

To take it even further, consider using your reception centerpieces to decorate the ceremony. Maybe you would like to line the aisle with them or create a large display around the alter. If you're concerned about transport, know that it is often cheaper to have your florist handle it as compared to the costs of ordering more flowers.

Five Cheers for Fall Weddings

Fall is my favorite season for a lot of reasons: life seems to slow down, the air becomes crisp, the weather is beautiful, I can mix and match wardrobes, candy shows up in every corner of every store, and I get to pull out the pumpkin spice candles. When it comes to weddings, I'm declaring myself the new 'fall wedding' advocate. Consider these five cheers for fall weddings:

1. The weather is beautiful, especially in Southern California. You don't have to risk it being a scorcher, and rain isn't likely early on. P.S. While I can't control the weather, I have yet to have it rain during a wedding.


2. You will have a better chance of booking the quality vendors you want. Without a doubt, the vendors you book will have a huge impact on the outcome of your day. While there are still quite a few fall weddings, it's definitely not as busy as the summer.


3. Your guests will thank you because they will be less likely to have conflicting vacation plans, be invited to another wedding, or be in the middle of experiancing wedding overload.


4. Fall offers lots of natural elements that are cheep and easy to incorporate into your design. Think trees, leaves...


5. You will have all of the summer to finish planning your wedding and wrap up the details. A well planned bride experiances much less stress during the final countdown.

Welcome to fall,

When To Rehearse?

A wedding rehearsal is a must. You will have so much on your mind come the day of your wedding, it's important to make sure everyone knows what to do ahead of time. Truly, it shouldn't take more than an hour and that hour will have saved you from a huge snafu come the wedding day. Really, I'm not interested in ranting on about this one. Just take my word for it, you absolutely need to rehearse your ceremony with all parties in attendance.

Traditionally, rehearsals were always the night before the wedding. However, as of late more and more are having them two days in advance. There are pros and cons to each, so just make sure you take them all into consideration before picking the rehearsal date. Here are 3 important things to consider when choosing your rehearsal date:

• Some vendors (officiant, consultant, venue) will refuse to have a Friday rehearsal, so make sure to check with them ahead of time. Their Friday may be booked with another wedding.
• Rehearsing two days ahead gets it out of the way. This may give you more time to relax, but for some the longer wait until the wedding might cause anxiety. You know yourself well enough to decide which category you fall into.
• If you have your rehearsal two days in advance, your out of town participants might have to take extra time off of work and pay for an extra night of hotel. It takes a lot financially and physically to be a part of a wedding, so remember to be considerate of situations whenever possible.

To-Be-Weds: Meghan & Blake

When I met with Meghan for the first time, she told me the one vendor they had already booked was Ashley Rose. I was excited, because I've been stalking Ashley's work and really thought 'I'd love to get to do a wedding with her soon.' Thus, I'm thrilled to share some of Meghan and Blake's e-pics. Of course, they were all shot by the fabulous Ashley Rose. Meghan and Blake met in high school and fell in love later on. They are both big fans of loving life and having a good time, and we will be incorporating that ideal throughout their ceremony and reception.

Their puggle is just too cute. By the way, have I mentioned how much I love 'kissing' engagement pictures. Truly, it captures the essence of what we will all be celebrating on their wedding day - their love!
I can't wait to share more with you about Meghan and Blake's wedding day, but that will have to wait. For now, head over to Ashley's blog and check out some more wonderful shots.

May you all enjoy life,

Dollar Stores Can Equal Wedding Deals Without Sacrificing Taste

Let me be clear, a dollar store is not the place to buy most of your wedding supplies and decor. Some things you shouldn't buy for your wedding - no matter how tempting that $1 price is -include fake flowers, self-stick, giant, white bows, and tealights. The first two are self explanatory. I say 'no' to tealights from a dollar store because burn time is important. You don't want your candles to burn out long before the party is over.

Now that you have been properly warned, here are some great steals for every bride...

Love these garden hooks for ganging lanterns.

Flip flops for your guests on the dance floor really show you care.

There are always lots of signs to be made (menus, instructions, storyboards...). These little easels are a great way to display them.

If you're having a toss garter, might as well throw one that didn't cost an arm and a leg.

White tissue paper is great as an unseen filler in the bottom of baskets and other containers.

I encourage you to walk the whole store and see what you find to fit your needs. Just say no to tacky. Also, keep in mind that some things they sell are cheaper elsewhere. For example, I saw small bags of river rocks during my shopping trip. However, if you need a lot to fill a bunch of vases, buying them in bulk would be cheaper.

Happy deal hunting,

Perfect Rating on Project Wedding

Last week we were honored to receive the following email from the team over at Project Wedding:

Congratulations! You have received a perfect 5-star rating on Project Wedding! Your clients love the impeccable quality and service that you provide, and we are excited to award you with this elite distinction...

Thank you for providing an unparalleled quality of service, and congratulations again on this rare honor!

Sincerely,

Joseph Wong, Margaret Wong, and Srinivas Panguluri (Founders of Project Wedding)

It has been our joy to have worked with so many great brides, and we look forward to the priveledge of working with many more. Thank you to Project Wedding for this special distinction!

Wedding After Parties --A Few Facts

Last week, a bridesmaid-to-be asked me about after parties, because she was considering hosting one in honor of the bride and groom. Awe, what a sweet bridesmaid! As these continue to be a growing trend, here are a few fast facts for you:

• After parties are just that, parties that take place after the reception is over. Often, time restraints and noise restrictions mean the wedding reception cannot go on indefinitely. But, that doesn't mean the celebration has to end.


• An after party can be informal (no invitations necessary) and tends to include the 'younger' crowd of close college friends / the wedding party / anyone who might what to stay out and celebrate.


• You can book a room at a local club or hotel, or it can be as casual as just showing up at a bar. Word of warning if you aren't going to make a reservation, check in advance to make sure they will have room for everyone / that there isn't another party scheduled at that location.


• It's a great time to kick back and catch up with old friends and people from out of town. Any past bride will tell you, the reception goes very quickly --too quickly to get to chit chat with everyone at length.


• People can change out of their more formal attire, or everyone can head straight from the wedding. I say, you really never get a chance to wear that dress again so just wear it. Plus, it's fun to be out on the town as bride and groom. You never know who will offer you a congratulatory freebie.


• Pretty much anything goes, but be clear about who is paying. Sometimes each guest is responsible for their own drinks and sometimes the bride or groom's parents might arrange to pick up the tab. Just be sure everyone knows what is going on in advance, because somebody has to pay the bill at the end of the night.

Wishing you much joy and merriment on for your wedding and always!

A little reminder...

As I've been working on new things the thought that keeps popping up in my mind is that I never want perspective to be lost when it comes to what brides and grooms take from my site and what I put forth in my work...

Your wedding day is an amazing and important event. There is great seriousness and significance in committing to spend the rest of your life with the person you love in a way you will never love any other. Because of this significance, weddings tend to be the biggest party one will ever throw. Thus, in planning this huge celebration it is easy to get caught up in the little things and lose perspective. So today I strive and ask every bride, groom, family member, and member of the industry to remember to take moments to step back from it all and remember what is most important about a wedding day.

Cheers,

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth!

Recently the hubbs and I stopped in to check out Sweet and Saucy Shop's opening day. Melody, owner and baker extraordinaire, was kind enough to plan it around my grandfather's 85th birthday --hehe. Thus, we just had to pick up one of everything to take down to San Diego. Now, my plan was to take a picture of the beautiful treats that I had purchased. However, it was all so delicious that I ate a good chunk of them during our drive. My family soon devoured what was left. If you know my family, we are all into dessert, and everyone loved every last bite.

Have no fear, because Melody was kind enough to send me a few pics to share with everyone. The pictures aren't enough, because you've got to taste these treats. They are having their Grand Opening Celebration this Sunday and giving away mini desserts with each purchase while supplies last. No matter what you're doing on Sunday, I suggest dropping in and treating yourself to a little piece of heaven. The shop is located in Long Beach, at 6400 Stearns Street, just off the 405.
The display case is one of a kind, as are the creations. Now I'm not just blogging this because I like dessert. Melody creates exquisite mini dessert displays and gorgeous cakes of all kinds for weddings and events. Go check out the My Sweet and Saucy Blog, but I'm warning you now that you will spend hours scrolling through the posts and drooling.

As you know, any business I recommend to my clients is one that I would use myself. One of the great things about Sweet and Saucy Shop is that it is truly a family affair. Above is Melody herself with some of her supportive and loving family.

I don't have a picture, because I ate it, but my favorite treat was the Chocolate Espresso Kahlua Cupcake. Oh, and the Monster Cookies. And the Cake Lollipops...

Enjoy, and may you have a very sweet weekend!

Love Is...

...a husband thinking his wife is the better person, a wife thinking her husband is the better person, and the two of them striving together to better themselves.

Coming Soon... {new website and blog}

I am usually not a big fan of teasers -really! I'm all about celebrating the joy of the moment now, so that is why I'm posting this post. Yes, it's a bit of a teaser in a way because I can't give you the full details yet. Then again, I don't even have the complete details to give. Ok, I'll stop rambling now...

I am very excited to announce that Megan Kocher Wedding and Event Design, LLC, has both a new website and a new blog in the works. Our goal is always to serve our clients best, and we strive to do that with every decision we make. The new blog is going to offer brides and grooms a different insight into all things wedding planning. We are going to attempt to do some of the planning legwork for you, and we hope that it will make your planning process as smooth as possible.

The site should be out shortly, and the goal is to have the blog fully functional by fall. Don't worry, we are still here working on each and every event. We are just very excited to be bringing you even more!

Cheers!

Personalized Wedding Vows

Writing your own vows doesn't mean you have to forgo traditional vows. It doesn't mean that you have to memorize something, come up with a poem, or have something deep to say. It does mean adding a personal touch to your ceremony. It's a chance for each of you to make a very personal pledge. You can write it out ahead of time and read it. There is nothing wrong with that. You can say what is on your heart in that very moment. Either way, I think it is something to really consider.

Often, there is so much attention put on the reception when the ceremony is the whole reason for the day. Without it, you wouldn't be married. So don't over think it, but consider saying a few of your own words on your wedding day.

A Quick Thought On Wedding Colors

There is nothing wrong with picking just one color as the base of your wedding design. This decision can lead to a very elegant and classic feel - just be careful! I came across a wedding last week where everything was purple and only purple - the bridesmaids' dresses and shoes, the flowers, the ribbon on the chairs, the canopy... everything. Just passing through the resort I thought of Oompa Loompas and the One-Eyed, One-Horned Flying Purple People Eater.

Throughout the wedding planning process, with each decision, take a breath and take a moment to step back and look at the big picture.

Summer Vacation Wedding Inspiration Part VI: Lighting and Natural Surroundings

Sadly, vacation has to come to an end at some point. However, the memories will live on for a lifetime. The same is true for your wedding day. It's over in the blink of an eye, but you will remember it forever.

Las Vegas is a city full of light; that is part of its charm. Don't forget to use various lighting aspects to add to the ambiance on your day...


It can be as simple as maximizing the light around you (i.e. planning your ceremony to end during sunset), or as complex as dramatic, color specific up-lighting.

Our hotel used this floor to ceiling chandelier to create a shower of diamonds in the lobby.

My absolute favorite use of light - candles. They are inexpensive and you can get very creative with them. Give me any wedding, and I'll give you unique ways to use candlelight for your specific affair.

Lastly, remember that your surroundings can be priceless. Keep this in mind when picking your venue or mapping our your design.

Take a moment, wherever you are in your wedding planning process, and let your mind wander. What do you like in life? In store window displays? In nature? Take what you love and incorporate that into your wedding. Anything is possible if you open up your mind to the inspiration around you!

100th Post

This is my 100th post to the blog; thus, I would like to take a moment to thank all you! Thank you to my family who reads just to humor me. Thank you to all of the brides who have made this worth while.

I have been blessed and inspired by so many of you. I hope you continue to find and share your inspirations here.

Happy planning!

Summer Vacation Wedding Inspiration Part V: It's All In the Details...

Second to last day of summer vacation blogging...

"It's all in the details..." This is a motto I live by. I find that it's the little details in life that often add up to make the biggest impact. In Vegas I found someone else who seems to have the same belief as I do - Donald Trump. The hubs and I were blessed to get to check out the new Trump International Hotel during our stay in Vegas. I've never been to a hotel that paid so much attention to the littlest of details...

The room was beautifully laid out, and the floor to ceiling windows added beautiful light and views.

This game board was such a cute touch. I wanted to put it in my suitcase to use for a wedding. Wouldn't it be perfect for your guest lounge area? Some of the simplest touches make a lasting impression.

Not only did they provide the most complete kitchenette I've ever seen in a non-suit, but inside the cupboards there were china plates and several kinds of glassware. Being prepared for a multitude of needs is always welcoming to your guests.

For some reason, this was one of my favorite features. The TV remote was stored in a leather box.

The typical hotel toiletries were taken to another level by placing a silver tray underneath. Small, simple, seemingly insignificant touches make a big impact.

Think of your wedding from start to finish. Where can you add in little, inexpensive, easy-to-do touches that will enhance the whole look and feel of your luxurious day?