Love, Part II

Earlier I posted 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Today, I'd like to share with you what another couple suggested to my husband and I before our wedding day. While we were planning to have these verses read at our wedding, they suggested that before the big day we read them to each other and replace 'love' with 'I'. It was a special moment for us in the middle of all of the planning, and it made the reading at our wedding hold even more value. Here is what it looks like:

I will be patient. I will be kind. I will not envy, I will not boast, I will not be proud. I will not be rude, nor self-seeking, I will not be easily angered, I will keep no record of wrongs. I will not delight in evil but will rejoice with the truth. I will always protect, always trust, always hope, and always persevere.

Wishing you all much love and joy!

Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is often read at weddings. So much so, it can easily be glossed over. No matter your religious beliefs, it has a lot of weight in the keys to a successful marriage. For everyone in the middle of wedding planning, remember that the most important part is the marriage that comes after the big day. Later on in the week, I will share a personal story relating to these verses. For today, here is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

What To Ask Yourself When Hiring a Wedding Consultant

Today we wrap up our series about including a wedding consultant in your plans. I hope you have all enjoyed it!

Here is what you should ask yourself when hiring a wedding consultant:

1. Do your personalities mesh? No matter how talented she is, she needs to be someone who can share your vision.
   
2. What is your first impression? There are a lot of people in this industry. If something turns you off, don't wait. Look into hiring someone else.


3. Does she listen to what you have to say, or does she think this is her wedding? A good consultant should blend into the background and make sure you are the star of your day.


4. Is she looking out for your best interests, or is she referring you to vendors who pay her a cut? While there may be nothing wrong with those vendors, I believe that the best wedding consultant is one who does everything possible to put your needs first. This includes not taking kickbacks.
   
5. Can she take authority? You don't want someone who is a drama queen. However, you do want someone who can gracefully assert herself when necessary--whether she has to be firm with another vendor or tell an out-of-line guest to cool it.


6. If she has not worked with your venue in the past, is she going the extra mile to familiarize herself with the area? Southern California has endless locations for events, so it's normal for a consultant to have not worked with a venue before. However, she should be going out and meeting with the on-site coordinator and scoping everything out before your big day.


7. Is she established in the community? Does she hold the proper papers with her city and the state? Is she fully invested or just doing this as a hobby?


8. Does she respond to your inquires in a timely manner? This person is supposed to make your life easier. If it takes more than 24 hours for her to get back to you, you should be concerned.


9. What does your intuition tell you? You know if you are uncomfortable with something. If so, speak up.


10. Is she passionate about your wedding? Does she make you feel as if you are her only client? It's your special event, and you should feel important and taken care of.

We would be honored to be a part of your day, and we are happy to meet with you for a consultation. However, the most important thing to us is that you find good vendors who mesh with you and that you have an exquisite celebration that runs smoothly. Congratulations, you're getting married!

New Ann Taylor Wedding Collection

If you like Ann Taylor, you might want to check out their new collection of bridesmaid and cocktail dresses. The color choices are slightly limited, but they do offer some cuts that you don't see other places. Their selection is big enough that you should be able to find something for every body type. (Remember, your girls don't have to all wear the same dress.) I do think the prices are a bit on the high side, averaging around $200. Either way, check them out and judge for yourself. Oh, I almost forgot! Check out my favorite feature, their real wedding pictures showcasing some of the dresses in actual weddings.

Why Should I Hire a Wedding Planner

As I recently mentioned on our blog, we've added a few things to www.megankocher.com. One area I'd like to take a moment to focus on is why you should hire a wedding planner. Yes, it's good for my business. However, in all seriousness there are many reasons as to why this is one vendor you shouldn't leave out --even if you don't hire us.

-Save Money: A lot of people think having a coordinator is a luxury. While we cannot make any guarantees, a good coordinator's fees are typically outweighed by her expertise in the industry. It's our job to know the ins and outs and to find you good deals.

-On-Site Coordinators Are Not Wedding Coordinators: Your venue contract will typically list an on-site coordinator. It's easy to confuse this person with a wedding coordinator. However, there are important differences. An on-site coordinator is a very important person. They are a liaison for the venue, and they are there to oversee the venue's interests. When you are arranging everything leading up to your ceremony and reception, it's important to have one point of contact for the location. A wedding coordinator, on the other hand, is there to be the point of contact for the big day. You don't have to go hunting anyone down for anything. Your wedding coordinator makes sure everything is taken care of from the vendors being setup to the presents making it to the proper vehicle for transport.

-Creating a Quality Team: I cannot say it enough, great vendors make for great events. As wedding consultants we are here to offer personalized research in order to help you find the deejay, caterer, photographer, florist, and so on who will be the perfect match for your day.

-Creating a Timeline: How are you supposed to know how long it will take for 5 girls to get updo's and makeup done? How long will photos take? Who should prompt the caterer to bring out the champagne toast or when to cut the cake? It's a wedding coordinator's job to map it all out and see that it all gets taken care of.

-Keeping the Pace: In addition to the timeline, a coordinator is there to keep an even pace throughout the day. No matter how much planning is done ahead of time, there are always going to be surprises. It's our job to make sure your guests aren't sitting around during a lull and that you aren't rushing from one thing from the next. Keeping a consistent flow throughout the day will keep things happy for both you and everyone involved.

-All the Little Details: It's your day to shine. You shouldn't be worrying if the place cards have been alphabetized or if tips have been given to the proper vendors. There are countless little details that need to be taken care of, but none of them should be the concern of you, a family member, or a bridesmaid.

-Point Of Contact: Going back to the beginning of this post, having a wedding coordinator creates a single point of contact. There are going to be people with questions on the big day, and you can't stop to answer all of them. Your coordinator should be familiar enough with all of the day's details that she can handle directing the florist as to where the centerpieces go and notifying the deejay as to when you are ready to make your grand entrance as Mr. and Mrs.

-Is That My Stomach Growling?: Most importantly, we make sure you don't go hungry. Weddings tend to be a time where you catch up with a lot dear family and friends. It's next to impossible to make it to the bar or over to the hors d'oeuvres. Don't worry, we make sure you're taken care of.

-The Big Picture: Not only are we there to help you with the big day, but we are really good at taking a look at the big picture and making sure that all of the planning before the big day comes together to create one big magical moment.

-Emergencies: We hope they don't happen, but if they do were are there to calmly step in and do all we can to fix things. A good coordinator can take a stain out of a dress, put a centerpiece back together, and even gracefully break up that loud conversation going on between your aunt and cousin.

-Awesome People: Lastly, we like to think we're a pretty fun bunch of people.

Still not sure? The proper coordinator will meet with you for free the first time to make sure that her services match up with your needs. And, check back later this week when I talk about what to look for when hiring a wedding coordinator.

Happy Valentine's Day

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul. ~Judy Garland

Happy Valentine's Day!

Conversation Hearts

Want to make virtual, personalized conversation hearts for Valentine's Day? Check out CryptoGram. Fun, and just too cute!

Website Additions

You may have noticed, we've made a few additions to our website. If you haven't checked it out yet, cozy up with your slippers and some tea and learn a bit more about Our Story. Hey, we get to know all about you. It's only fair if you get to know about us too!

2009 Trends

As always, time is flying by. Even though we are already past the first month of the year, I wanted to stop and take a moment to highlight some current trends the industry is seeing for 2009:

• Dimensional and Patterned Cakes: Iced flowers and pearls are taking a back seat to extra layers of fondant and dynamic patterns.


• Small Cakes Act 1: One trend popping up is having a small cake as the centerpiece for each table. The cakes may be themed or all the same. Hey, here's a way to kill two birds with one stone.


• Small Cakes Act 2: I'm also seeing the trend of one small and elaborate cake for the bride & groom with sheet cake being served to the rest of the guests. (Not sure how much I like this one.)


• Modern Romanticism and Wimsey: Something about the overall feel of the wedding, there is a focus on the romance of it all without going back to the big poofy sleeves of the 80's or setting the scene of your high school prom. It's more about the overall tone and going back to the roots that this day is about two people committing to love one another for better or worse.


• 'Southern' Weddings: Even outside of the launch of the new Southern Weddings magazine (Love it!), brides across the country are incorporating sweet, Southern charm.


• Home and Backyard Weddings: Brides are going back to their roots and having backyard affairs, everything from laid back to black tie. Father of the Bride anyone?


• Subtle Monograms: Monograms are still popping up, but they are taking more of a back seat. Use them as an accent for the strongest impact.
  

Still, no matter the trends, we hope your day turns into one that is uniquely you!

Luxury Weddings Without the Luxury Price

It was an honor to be quoted on TLC's Slice of Life last week, and we loved reading all of the advice from others across the industry. We know a lot of couples are on tight budgets, and we want to see you get the most out of your wedding day. That is why we are digging out some of our timeless tips. (You'll notice our photography advice in there as well.) Enjoy!

1. Centerpieces: Forgo flowers and use other elements like fruit, various vases, and candles. If you must have flowers, use them on every other table. However, be sure to tie the tables together with one common accent or theme.

2. Cake: No, I do not recommend baking your own cake. Instead, rent a fake cake. There are lots of companies popping up with gorgeous foam-based cakes. They look just like the real thing but will save you a lot. When the cake is taken to the back to be cut, your caterer can swap in pieces of sheet cake. And yes, the foam cake still has a portion of real cake that you and your groom can cut into.

3. Photography: Find someone who will give you a CD or the negatives of all of your images. The talent you are looking for from your photographer is her shooting, not her printing.

4. Location: Have the ceremony and reception at the same location. You'll typically get a better overall price.

5. Toasting Glasses: Instead of buying 'wedding' glasses, register for champagne glasses. If someone buys them for your shower you can use them at the wedding and then continue to break them out for special occasions.

6. Cake Knife: Is there a knife that is always used in your family to cut birthday cakes? Dress it up and use it for your wedding. If not, this is another item you can register for and use time and time again.

7. Something Blue: No need to buy anything new. Have a friend or family member who is good with a needle hand-stitch your wedding date and initials in blue on an under layer of your wedding dress.

8. Drinks: Serve a signature drink instead of a full bar. It's classy, especially when passed on trays, and you can usually work out a better deal on the liquor.

As always, my two standbys:

9. Less Is More: Keep it simple, and never be afraid to take away elements from your design. You can always save those ideas to use elsewhere.

10. Stay True To Your Budget and Yourself: Set your budget before buying anything. As you can see, with some careful planning you can get a fabulous look for less. And who doesn't love saving money? No matter what, always stay true to your desires and personality. That is what truly makes your event great.

Cufflinks

Does your groom want to wear a bright blue tux? Is he eyeing some crazy shoes? Are you having a hard time figuring out what to get him as a wedding present? I suggest cufflinks. Granted, they probably won't be used on a daily basis after the wedding. However, it's a way for you to do something personal and let your groom's inner spirit shine through. As I always say, it's the littlest details that can end up making the biggest impact. I've done the Google search for you. Here are some some cufflinks as unique as your groom: CuffLinks.com, Link Your Shirt, Cuff-Daddy, and last but not least, Amazon. Happy shopping!

P.S. Don't forget that these could also make great groomsmen gifts.

*Disclaimer: I have not worked with or ordered from any of the businesses listed above and cannot attest the the integrity of their services. Always do your own research before placing an order online.

Michael's Coupon

I don't know of a bride who hasn't bought something (unity candles, ribbon, invitations, thank yous, votives, favor tins, guest books, bubbles...) for her wedding from Michael's. Everyone is always looking for their fabulous coupons. Well, I want to alert you to a coupon I came across for 25% off. Unlike many of their coupons, this one is valid for your entire purchase! It's in the current edition of Modern Bride. Granted, if you don't already have the magazine you'll have to factor in the cost of purchasing it. However, if you're doing a big trip to stock up on all of your goodies it could be well worth it. Enjoy!