In an ideal world we go out and find vendors for our weddings and other events that are people we naturally get along with. In fact, in some ways, when we meet with vendors we are putting them through a job interview (and speaking from being on the other side of it, they're always aiming to put their best face forward) and then deciding from this pool of applicants who to choose. Of course cost plays a large part in these decisions as well, sometimes taking great and personable vendors out of the running. I will admit I've become great friends with vendors I simply met and didn't even use.
But sometimes you don't really have a choice picking your vendor (I mean you fell in love with the location and the cost...and can give up control over the specific person right?). Let me tell you I have worked with a few brides caught up in this situation....dealing with a site coordinator or catering assistant or someone else who is just a little more trouble than they're worth.
And the advice I can give you (sorry Bridezillas) is to be patient and appeasing. The way that you're going to get the most out of your vendor is by treating them as best you can. Yes, you are the bride, and it's your show, but these vendors are dealing with "I think I'm the queen" brides everyday. If they want to go over every little detail or spend hours talking examples, you may not appreciate it, but they likely just want to make sure every "t" is crossed and every "i" is dotted so that your day runs as smoothly as possible. Unlike you, they've probably done this a million times (or well maybe that's an overstretch, but you catch my drift).
This is not to say, however, to let them walk all over you. Have boundaries, discuss concerns, and have an open relationship with your vendor. Be firm in what you request, but request it politely. If you have asked six times for your florist to set up a time to show you a sample centerpiece and she keeps forgetting, bring it up to her calmly, try to set the meeting on that call (or in person), and send her a reminder the day before to ensure everything comes to fruition. If things tend to take hours with your vendor but you only have 30 minutes to meet, create an agenda, send it to your vendor ahead of time, and make clear the points you'd like to attend to in that time period. Hopefully your vendor will be attentive. But a good point to be raised is that you are paying for a service, and if (despite your hard work to be patient and appeasing) that vendor still isn't carrying their weight...change vendors (if you won't lose a giant deposit) or ask to work with someone else in their firm (if it's a specific person that you're working with who does not work for you). After all, "the client is always right".
And we all know that there are vendors you just can't deal with...some personalities are just too much to handle (all in one dose or at all) but it is only for a short time. As I would tell my sister, "put on your big girl panties and get over it". You can brave the few meetings beforehand, and then the day of your wedding it's your planner's job to deal with them, not yours. In fact, if you've hired a wedding planner to do more than the day-of, go to them with your vendor problems and see if they can deal with the vendors, instead of you. Likely they are used to this and probably very talented at dealing with difficult people. The point is that after your wedding you'll be remembering your great event and not any negative personalities you had to work with to get there.
If you are having a problem with your vendor(s) and want some advice, or want to share a story with our readers as to how you solved a similar problem, please feel free to comment below!
Happy Planning!
~A
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
My Adventure in Cake Balls
Like I said Friday, I decided that this weekend I was going to attempt to make cake balls. They didn't seem that difficult....but they kinda were. After 2 tries, I did come up with an excellent cake ball, but so that you can avoid the same mistakes I made, I figured I'd write a blog post with some detailed directions.
Step 1: Bake the cake. Ok this is the easy part. You can make it from scratch (if you feel adventurous) or grab a box and follow the simple directions; it's up to you. Once cooked, allow it to cool completely (yes I said completely..no bit of warm allowed!).
Step 2: Tear apart the cake. I used a spoon to break it into chunks and then threw the chunks in a large bowl. From there simply break down the bigger pieces into small ones. DO NOT USE A MIXER FOR THIS STEP OR THE NEXT! This is something I learned the hard way the first time, as you'll see my pics go from a chocolate cake to a funfetti cake....big disaster.
Step 3: Spoon in about half a can of frosting (any flavor, you can get creative) to the mixture and mix it together with your hands until it's pretty evenly distributed throughout the broken cake. You can add more if it's not enough, but I used a whole can the first time and it was too much. Also (esp since it's summer) make sure that your frosting has been sitting in the fridge. It works much better cold.
Step 4: Create cake balls of the cake/frosting by grabbing a chunk and then rolling it between the palms of your hands. Note: this is a messy job! Place the rolled balls onto a cookie sheet (I used one covered in a silpat). Depending on how big you want yours the mix will make more or less cake balls.
Step 5: Place the rolled cake balls (on cookie sheets) into your fridge for several hours (or a freezer for less). Once they are pretty cool and hardened you can take them out. Easiest way to do this is probably to roll the balls and let them sit overnight.
Step 6: Remove the cake balls from the fridge or freezer. Prepare an area covered with wax paper for you to place the balls once they are covered in chocolate.
Step 7: Melt your chocolate. I used vanilla chocolate melts (you know the chips that you can use to melt for chocolate molds. I got mine from a local bakery supply store, but a place like Michael's should have them too). Never burn your chocolate, so cook it in 20 second increments in your microwave (in a microwave safe bowl). If your chocolate looks almost all the way done and the bowl is warm to the touch, just stir to get them melted versus cooking them any longer.
Step 8: Drop one of your cookie balls in the melted chocolate and roll it with a spoon until covered completely (this works best when the chocolate is thin and high enough to cover the ball). Once it's covered, use the spoon to take it out and drop it on the wax paper.
Step 9 (Optional): The balls look really cool with a smooth chocolate finish, but I spooned a bit of chocolate in strings over the top, and for some of the cake balls then added sprinkles. It gave them a more fun and playful look. Here is where you can get creative.
Step 10: Once the chocolate surrounding the balls has hardened, feel free to take them off the wax paper and serve or place in a storage container and stick them back in the fridge. You can leave them out too, but I figure they'll last longer if kept in a fridge.
I hope these directions help, and if you have any questions, please feel free to comment below! My second attempt at cake balls looked great and tasted amazing!
Step 1: Bake the cake. Ok this is the easy part. You can make it from scratch (if you feel adventurous) or grab a box and follow the simple directions; it's up to you. Once cooked, allow it to cool completely (yes I said completely..no bit of warm allowed!).
Step 2: Tear apart the cake. I used a spoon to break it into chunks and then threw the chunks in a large bowl. From there simply break down the bigger pieces into small ones. DO NOT USE A MIXER FOR THIS STEP OR THE NEXT! This is something I learned the hard way the first time, as you'll see my pics go from a chocolate cake to a funfetti cake....big disaster.
Step 3: Spoon in about half a can of frosting (any flavor, you can get creative) to the mixture and mix it together with your hands until it's pretty evenly distributed throughout the broken cake. You can add more if it's not enough, but I used a whole can the first time and it was too much. Also (esp since it's summer) make sure that your frosting has been sitting in the fridge. It works much better cold.
Step 4: Create cake balls of the cake/frosting by grabbing a chunk and then rolling it between the palms of your hands. Note: this is a messy job! Place the rolled balls onto a cookie sheet (I used one covered in a silpat). Depending on how big you want yours the mix will make more or less cake balls.
Step 5: Place the rolled cake balls (on cookie sheets) into your fridge for several hours (or a freezer for less). Once they are pretty cool and hardened you can take them out. Easiest way to do this is probably to roll the balls and let them sit overnight.
Step 6: Remove the cake balls from the fridge or freezer. Prepare an area covered with wax paper for you to place the balls once they are covered in chocolate.
Step 7: Melt your chocolate. I used vanilla chocolate melts (you know the chips that you can use to melt for chocolate molds. I got mine from a local bakery supply store, but a place like Michael's should have them too). Never burn your chocolate, so cook it in 20 second increments in your microwave (in a microwave safe bowl). If your chocolate looks almost all the way done and the bowl is warm to the touch, just stir to get them melted versus cooking them any longer.
Step 8: Drop one of your cookie balls in the melted chocolate and roll it with a spoon until covered completely (this works best when the chocolate is thin and high enough to cover the ball). Once it's covered, use the spoon to take it out and drop it on the wax paper.
Step 9 (Optional): The balls look really cool with a smooth chocolate finish, but I spooned a bit of chocolate in strings over the top, and for some of the cake balls then added sprinkles. It gave them a more fun and playful look. Here is where you can get creative.
Step 10: Once the chocolate surrounding the balls has hardened, feel free to take them off the wax paper and serve or place in a storage container and stick them back in the fridge. You can leave them out too, but I figure they'll last longer if kept in a fridge.
I hope these directions help, and if you have any questions, please feel free to comment below! My second attempt at cake balls looked great and tasted amazing!
Friday, June 25, 2010
My Favorite Things: Take a Break from the Cupcake
Since I'm obviously onto a dessert theme today, I figured why stop there?
Everyone has cake at their wedding..I mean it's tradition...but if you're ready to step out of the box, why don't you try astounding them with some fabulous mini or full size desserts instead? Chances are if your wedding is late in the summer your guests have already had a few cakes/cupcakes this season anyway.
My mom makes mini raspberry cheesecakes like these every summer. Totally a hit! Top them with blueberries or blackberries too for a 4th of July wedding.
Again, what doesn't shout summer like ice cream? Top it with fresh berries for an even better treat! Just make sure you keep it in a freezer until ready to serve. This photo and the one below come from The Sweet and Saucy Shop's blog.
Raspberry topped mini creme brulees. Easy to make, just down over-carmelize the top! On the last creme brulee I had, the chef burned the sugar. Totally not tasty.
My grandpa absolutely loves it when my mom makes strawberry shortcake. I mean honestly how can you go wrong when all you have to do are a few simple steps off the bisquick box? Just top with some fresh strawberries and some homemade whipped cream and your guests will swoon. I did see a version of this on skewers with dipping cream. That was an awesome idea too. This photo is from Twig and Thistle blog.
Frozen sorbets would be the perfect and more healthy treat on a hot summer's day. Again keep them on lots of ice and maybe hidden in the shade until it's time to serve. This fabulous idea was found on the Imprintables blog.
Chocolate covered pretzels are a cheap and easy DIY project for the bride on a budget! This photo was taken from Green Wedding Shoes blog.
And obviously you can always do candy. I thought these candy cones would be perfect for a more whimsical style wedding, especially if put in matching paper and themed goodies! This photo comes from Twig and Thistle blog.
If you have a great idea for a dessert that isn't mentioned here, feel free to comment about it below!
And as always, if I have not properly attributed your photo please contact me as soon as possible. Thanks! ~A
Cake Balls & Pops
So I am not good with making food...but I usually can't ruin a cake...at the least the kind that comes out of a box. So I've decided that this weekend, should I get the time, I'm going to try to attempt making my own cake balls (or pops should I feel really risky). You see them on pretty much every dessert bar out there now-a-days and from the tutorials I've read they also don't seem that difficult.
Pretty much you bake a cake, let it cool, rip it apart, put in a can of frosting, mix it all together, then roll into balls. Let the balls cool in a fridge for a few hours or in a freezer for 15 minutes and then pour melted chocolate over them and let them harden. Ok so this isn't as detailed as the real directions, but you get my jist. For real directions/tutorials from Bakerella, queen of cake balls and pops, click here.
So I'm taking a trip over to Michael's to buy some melting chocolate and maybe some fun accessories (because we have no great baking stores around where I live) this weekend and if my cake balls or pops turn out very good I'll definitely take some photos and post them, letting you know my advice on how it all works.
In the meantime, here are some photos of dessert bars which used cake balls or pops. I hope they serve as inspiration, whether it means you purchase them from a bakery for your event or you decide to make them yourselves to save a bit of money.
~A
PS the photos above come from the following sites: Amy Atlas Events (zebra bright pink table), Green Wedding Shoes (love sweet love table), The Sweet and Saucy Shop (cotton themed dessert bar), and Southern Weddings Magazine (pops in egg cartons, eco table), in addition to other sites. If you feel your photo has not been properly attributed please contact me and I will make sure to remedy it ASAP. Thanks.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Inspiration Board: Brielle's Birthday Bash
I am 24 and without a husband or children, which is why I live for the kids of my best friends--it's so much fun to be an auntie, even when you're not related (all of my siblings are younger than me)! Well my very very best friend (since 3rd grade I might add) has been married since we were 18 and now has two beautiful children: Everett and Brielle. Well I got bored at work and started dreaming up little miss Bri's birthday board. She turns 1 this year, and of course you have to celebrate in style! So I already told her mom I'm volunteering to be her free party planner and make this event come true. Ready for the proposal?
We'll also serve pink lemonade for the kids and maybe pink lemonade with a bit of punch (if you catch my drift) for the adults. Depending on what time you hold the event you may want to include some mini appetizers as well, like some mini burgers, mini hot dogs, or mini grilled cheese, etc. just to tide everyone over and prevent the kids from only eating sugar for hours.
For decor, we'll decorate the area outside with some giant pink balloons (you know those 36" ones!) to mark the spot, and some smaller pink balloons (with a few accent colored ones too) inside. If we have the time, we'll create some cool garland, or at least buy some fun pink streamers to decorate the ceiling with. I like the idea of purchasing a variety of pink flowers and having a few vases scattered around the room, just to make everything a little more playful. If we can get in gerbera daisies, they create that perfect baby fun mood. Somewhere in the room, or at least on the door outside, we might hang Bri's initials or her full name as well.
If we can find some cheap ones, I like the idea of buying cute pink or other colored tutu's for the guests to wear (the little girls, not adults) and maybe even some cute little tiaras or fairy wands. Not sure what we'd do for the little boys yet...maybe some gold crowns and a homemade king's cape--this might take a little more creativity. I think we can do some fun little pails of fun too for each guest to take home (maybe with coloring books and crayons, a few healthy snacks, and a few fun toys you can find at the dollar store).
Of course the main emphasis would be on doing most of this party on our own (DIY all the way) and being thrifty with our cash. There's no need to pay hundreds of dollars to throw a party like this. Use the talents of your friends (I'm sure they'd be happy to help you celebrate) and if they have no talent, use their hands. Put your friends to work for a few hours getting things ready. Add a glass of wine, and it's probably a great getaway from everyday life.
In the end, she may not remember this birthday, or the fact that she put her face in the cake, but you know that as a parent you'll never forget the day your daughter turned 1 and when she looks back at the pictures when she's older, I think you'll like the compliment you receive when she says "wow I had the coolest birthday ever, even though I don't remember it". If you have some ideas for Miss Brielle's birthday party, feel free to leave them in our comment section. Thanks!
~A
PS the photos in the inspiration board above come from the following sites: Jamie Hammond Photography (gerbera daisies photo), Martha Stewart Weddings (favor box, ice cream), Style Me Pretty (balloons, drinks), Sweet and Saucy Shop (marshmallows), Twig and Thistle (CD favors), Studio Cake Design (cake), and other sites. If you feel your site has not been properly attributed, please contact me and I will remedy it as soon as possible.
As you can see from my inspiration board, the main color inspiration is lots of shades of pink (duh!) but I like the idea of including a few supplemental colors like you see in the beautiful cake (yellows, browns, a hint of light blue). And that cake is perfect btw! Add a big "B" or "1" at the top and it's ready to go for being the focal point of her dessert table. I really want an Amy Atlas style dessert table, complete with sugar cookies (maybe in the letter B or the number 1 or other princess-esque shapes), fun lollipops, marshmallows, cupcakes, and more for the kids and adults both to enjoy. Of course we have to add the tissue paper poms above it, with some sort of cute slogan...not sure what yet, but you know I'll come up with something creative. We'll also have fun favor boxes for the guests to take home their desserts in, like the photo above.
We'll also serve pink lemonade for the kids and maybe pink lemonade with a bit of punch (if you catch my drift) for the adults. Depending on what time you hold the event you may want to include some mini appetizers as well, like some mini burgers, mini hot dogs, or mini grilled cheese, etc. just to tide everyone over and prevent the kids from only eating sugar for hours.
For decor, we'll decorate the area outside with some giant pink balloons (you know those 36" ones!) to mark the spot, and some smaller pink balloons (with a few accent colored ones too) inside. If we have the time, we'll create some cool garland, or at least buy some fun pink streamers to decorate the ceiling with. I like the idea of purchasing a variety of pink flowers and having a few vases scattered around the room, just to make everything a little more playful. If we can get in gerbera daisies, they create that perfect baby fun mood. Somewhere in the room, or at least on the door outside, we might hang Bri's initials or her full name as well.
If we can find some cheap ones, I like the idea of buying cute pink or other colored tutu's for the guests to wear (the little girls, not adults) and maybe even some cute little tiaras or fairy wands. Not sure what we'd do for the little boys yet...maybe some gold crowns and a homemade king's cape--this might take a little more creativity. I think we can do some fun little pails of fun too for each guest to take home (maybe with coloring books and crayons, a few healthy snacks, and a few fun toys you can find at the dollar store).
Of course the main emphasis would be on doing most of this party on our own (DIY all the way) and being thrifty with our cash. There's no need to pay hundreds of dollars to throw a party like this. Use the talents of your friends (I'm sure they'd be happy to help you celebrate) and if they have no talent, use their hands. Put your friends to work for a few hours getting things ready. Add a glass of wine, and it's probably a great getaway from everyday life.
In the end, she may not remember this birthday, or the fact that she put her face in the cake, but you know that as a parent you'll never forget the day your daughter turned 1 and when she looks back at the pictures when she's older, I think you'll like the compliment you receive when she says "wow I had the coolest birthday ever, even though I don't remember it". If you have some ideas for Miss Brielle's birthday party, feel free to leave them in our comment section. Thanks!
~A
PS the photos in the inspiration board above come from the following sites: Jamie Hammond Photography (gerbera daisies photo), Martha Stewart Weddings (favor box, ice cream), Style Me Pretty (balloons, drinks), Sweet and Saucy Shop (marshmallows), Twig and Thistle (CD favors), Studio Cake Design (cake), and other sites. If you feel your site has not been properly attributed, please contact me and I will remedy it as soon as possible.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Inspiration Board: Classic Black & White
This black, white, and silver inspiration board is all based around this gorgeous jewel anemone cake from The Sweet & Saucy Shop down in California. I just fell in love with it and couldn't help but do a board around it. This wedding would be very classic and minimalistic, yet elegant and definitely might cost a few pennies. I'd also add in little hints of silver glitter and matching jewels wherever possible.
Photos in this inspiration board come from the following sources: Amsale's Blue Label Collection (wedding dress), JL Designs (photo inside Vibiana and succulent floral arrangement), The Sweet and Saucy Shop (beautiful wedding cake), Rowell Photography (the b&w photo of the couple kissing), and vendor Angeew on Etsy (b&w clutch), in addition to other sites.
If your photo has not been properly attributed, please contact me and I will remedy it immediately.
Happy Planning! And can I just pat myself on the back for two inspiration boards in two days?! There's even more to come!!
~A
Photos in this inspiration board come from the following sources: Amsale's Blue Label Collection (wedding dress), JL Designs (photo inside Vibiana and succulent floral arrangement), The Sweet and Saucy Shop (beautiful wedding cake), Rowell Photography (the b&w photo of the couple kissing), and vendor Angeew on Etsy (b&w clutch), in addition to other sites.
If your photo has not been properly attributed, please contact me and I will remedy it immediately.
Happy Planning! And can I just pat myself on the back for two inspiration boards in two days?! There's even more to come!!
~A
Sunday, June 20, 2010
For the Vivacious Bride: Bold Black and Party Pink Inspiration Board
This next inspiration board is very me....lots of pizazz and elegance all mixed into one. I see the bride who loves this inspiration board as a glam princess..a girl who loves a bit of pink and loves to be the center of attention, coupled with someone who knows how to throw an elegant party that keeps everyone guessing what fabulous thing will happen next. If you are this girl, then check out this inspiration board.
The photos above come from the following sites: JL Designs (beautiful ranunculus and rose bouquet), The Caketress (beautiful black and pink cake), Blum (beautiful ranunculus place setting), The Sassy Bride (the bridal party and escort cards), Green Wedding Shoes (the shoe photo), and a few other sites.
As always, if your photo has not been properly attributed, please let me know and I will remedy it as soon as possible. Thank you!
Happy Planning!
~A
The photos above come from the following sites: JL Designs (beautiful ranunculus and rose bouquet), The Caketress (beautiful black and pink cake), Blum (beautiful ranunculus place setting), The Sassy Bride (the bridal party and escort cards), Green Wedding Shoes (the shoe photo), and a few other sites.
As always, if your photo has not been properly attributed, please let me know and I will remedy it as soon as possible. Thank you!
Happy Planning!
~A
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Weddings Shouldn't Cost You Your Credit Score
My mom is a banker with a Master's degree in education, and you can constantly hear her rambling on about the need for increased personal finance instruction in high schools and colleges.
Well, CBS would elate her with a new series they just posted on their website's cash flow section, CBS Moneywatch. It's their "Wedding Survival Guide" and it includes a variety of articles and tips on how to save money while planning for your wedding. I checked it out briefly and even I was given a few tips I hadn't thought of before, so I know that you can definitely learn from it and find it useful.
To read their seven articles, including one I'm sure you'll find necessary to at least overview: "Stop Fighting Over Money: 4 Talks to Have Before Marriage", visit their website here.
New Trend Alert!
Ok, so now I must admit I'm not sure how fast this trend will catch on in the North, but in the South it is flourishing just like this crop did years ago....Cotton Boutonnieres!
As I recently went to South Carolina on vacation, I learned a lot about Southern history and how important cotton was as a crop. After tobacco, it's what created the large amounts of Southern wealth and aristocracy. So I find it no surprise that couples are now using this heritage and incorporating it somehow into their weddings.
Below are a few images of cotton bouttonieres I found from across the web.
Let me know in our comment section if you'd consider incorporating a cotton boutonniere into your wedding.
My Favorite Things: Ode to the Ranunculus
I think that when you start planning your own wedding you learn so many things you were never aware of prior. I guess this is partially due to the fact that who would have time to spend all day thinking about flowers and dresses and trends and styles and cake types and invitation suites, etc. other than a full-time wedding planner! Sorry guys, working a full time job in addition to planning, this isn't me either. So when I began planning my own wedding last year, it was fun to make time for such a learning process (it's amazing how you can make time when you want to isn't it?!).
Flowers were one of the first things I took an interest in. Blame it on my mother, but I'm actually pretty knowledgeable about flower types, when they bloom, and what looks good arranged together because she spends every amount of free time in her amazing English-style garden and so when we want to talk to her or spend time with her it equals grabbing a shovel or some pruning shears and helping out. While I am NO green thumb, my friends do find it entertaining that I am pretty good with flower knowledge.
So going into my wedding I was pretty sure what kind of flower I wanted...for an August wedding I couldn't have my beloved peonies (they bloom typically May-June naturally unless you want to spend the extra expense of flying them in from somewhere) but I would settle for a variety of roses and dahlias, mixed with some other fun aspects like billy button. Like any other soon-to-be-bride I also started looking over blog after blog and magazine after magazine for other floral inspirations, when a special type of flower caught my eye. The ranunculus! How come I'd never seen it before? It was love at first sight, let me tell you, but imagine my despair when they told me it only grew May-June as well. I'd never seen it around my mother's garden or in local flower shops because it's a bulb, and other than tulips or dahlias I really hadn't seen a lot of bulb flowers in the Northwest.
As you know, my wedding was called off last December, but I've decided that I love the ranunculus so much that when I do get married again one day I will be having my nuptials in May or June (likely inside because in Oregon that's still rainy season) so that I can include them in my bouquets and arrangements along with my peonies. Only a planner would pick her wedding date based on the flowers.
In case you are not familiar with ranunculus, or maybe just didn't know that's what you kept seeing across the blogosphere, I thought I'd include some great pictures for your inspiration. If you share my love of ranunculus, let me know! Or if you included it in your own florals, send me some pictures, and maybe I'll share them on the blog.
Hope you enjoy these as much as I do!
~A
This bouquet by JL Designs.
This bouquet is a DIY bouquet from Ruffled Blog.
The Red Ranunculus on the left are from 100 Layer Cake blog.
The huge reddish-orange ranunculus is amazing in this arrangement from Design Sponge.
This arrangement is from 100 Layer Cake blog.
Another from Clarissa at JL Designs.
This beautiful, vibrant bouquet is from Nouveau Flowers.
I really love what this little pink ranunculus head does for this place setting, thanks to Jordan at Blum in Portland, OR.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Changes!
As you can see, Blogger just made my day. Dealing with the classic templates and having to make my own minimal changes via HTML and CSS was very annoying, so imagine my excitement when I logged in today to see that they have enabled so many new options for editing the look of your blog. So be patient with me, as there may be a few additional changes, but I think you'll all appreciate the improvement.
My favorite addition is the fact that you can now leave comments! You'll see at the bottom of each post a note which will say "0 Comments" for example. Just click there and it will bring you to a page to leave a comment. This will allow for much greater communication and feedback between me and all of you! I can't wait to hear from you.
I hope you enjoy the new Tried and True!
~Amber
My favorite addition is the fact that you can now leave comments! You'll see at the bottom of each post a note which will say "0 Comments" for example. Just click there and it will bring you to a page to leave a comment. This will allow for much greater communication and feedback between me and all of you! I can't wait to hear from you.
I hope you enjoy the new Tried and True!
~Amber
My Favorite Things
It's just been one of those days...you know, the kind where you realize you should have never gotten out of bed? So since I need a breather from work and life, I figured I'd actually do a post. Smart idea right?!
I know it's against all forms of tradition but why not do something that goes against the grain? Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE to wear black! Not only because it's slimming but because the color black goes pretty well with my pale skin tone and blonde hair. I am not joking, I think 90% of my work wardrobe is black...people ask me if I remember what colors are, lol.
So the idea of an AMAZING black wedding dress almost sounds fun to me! I mean I guarantee no one would forget it....but I think there's probably some things to consider here too. First of all, would my future husband approve of me not wearing white? Some guys are pretty particular about such things, even though they pretend to be disinterested. Would my family care? Well question here is do I care if they care? If my mom hated it, I might think about doing something different. Would it ruin any image I had of the wedding I always dreamt of? Would I miss the idea of a white dress? I might (so definitely something to consider) and not sure I'd be willing to go as far as a black veil but I think if you wanted a hair piece you could always pull off a black fascinator or birdcage veil. Also, does it fit the theme? Ok you could never wear this dress at your everyday church wedding, but I did always love the idea of a gothic-inspired wedding, very formal, with black, red, and gold colors. It would fit in perfectly there.
This idea certainly isn't for everyone, but I think the right girl and the right wedding can definitely pull it off. And who knows, one day that might be me. It probably depends on how risky I feel....but like I've always said, "do what you want to do and throw away tradition and expectation if that's what it takes to make you happy!"
Well hope this is a little Friday inspiration for you!
Happy planning everyone!
~A
First off, I would like to do a new series called Words of Wisdom. If you are a married person, any age, for any length of time, I'd like you to email me (triedandtrueweddings@gmail.com) with a few words of wisdom (a sentence or two or three at the max). These can be relating to relationships, planning your wedding, handling kids, cooking, anything! I think they might be inspirational to other readers. What do you think we all need to know?
Secondly, I'd like to remind you that I still have an ongoing series called Just Ask Amber, where you can ask me specific questions concerning your event planning, and a Former Bride's Questionnaire you can get from me to answer questions about your wedding planning that may be helpful for other readers. Again, these two things can be found through emailing me.
Today I'm going to do another My Favorite Things post. In fact this is probably more like a "My Absolute Favorite Things" post....
This picture taken from Southern Weddings Magazine Blog
I know it's against all forms of tradition but why not do something that goes against the grain? Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE to wear black! Not only because it's slimming but because the color black goes pretty well with my pale skin tone and blonde hair. I am not joking, I think 90% of my work wardrobe is black...people ask me if I remember what colors are, lol.
So the idea of an AMAZING black wedding dress almost sounds fun to me! I mean I guarantee no one would forget it....but I think there's probably some things to consider here too. First of all, would my future husband approve of me not wearing white? Some guys are pretty particular about such things, even though they pretend to be disinterested. Would my family care? Well question here is do I care if they care? If my mom hated it, I might think about doing something different. Would it ruin any image I had of the wedding I always dreamt of? Would I miss the idea of a white dress? I might (so definitely something to consider) and not sure I'd be willing to go as far as a black veil but I think if you wanted a hair piece you could always pull off a black fascinator or birdcage veil. Also, does it fit the theme? Ok you could never wear this dress at your everyday church wedding, but I did always love the idea of a gothic-inspired wedding, very formal, with black, red, and gold colors. It would fit in perfectly there.
This idea certainly isn't for everyone, but I think the right girl and the right wedding can definitely pull it off. And who knows, one day that might be me. It probably depends on how risky I feel....but like I've always said, "do what you want to do and throw away tradition and expectation if that's what it takes to make you happy!"
Well hope this is a little Friday inspiration for you!
Happy planning everyone!
~A
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Inspiration Board: Ethnically Influenced
This inspiration board has a lot of rich color in it...from the dramatic reds, to yellows and oranges, with even a hint of green. I like the Indian looking bracelets and invitation suite, but also the Hispanic decor seen on the cake table. To me this wedding is about doing a lot of nuance stuff with a twist, and a lot of energy!
Photos in this inspiration board were taken from the following sites: 100 Layer Cake (cake table), French Lil (invitation suite), JL Designs (Bride with Bouquet), Martha Stewart Weddings (corn), The Knot (raspberry lemonade), DanburyLane on Etsy (child's tutu and wings), Yes, Please (large arrangement in left corner), and a few other sites.
As always, if your photo has not been properly attributed, please contact me and I will remedy it right away.
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