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.