Category Archives: Wedding planning tips

How To Have A Great Wedding – According to Children

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A hot debate is almost guaranteed when the topic is children and weddings. Should you invite them? Should you have them in the wedding? The arguments are endless!  What no one ever considers is what the children actually think a wedding is all about. For a few laughs, I have compiled a short list of children’s quotes on weddings and marriage, including my own 10 and 12 year old’s views on the whole affair, along with some of their friend’s responses.

When should you get married?  “No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides it all way before and you get to find out later who you are stuck with.” (Kirsten, age 10) Now, that’s a revelation!

What does a groom do on his wedding day? “Take a shower and put on a nice suit so I can be the best man.” (Evan, age 11) I guess the groom is the best man, after all!

What does the bride do on her wedding day? “Kiss the groom, eat cake and then put your dress on.” (Olivia, age 8 ) In that order?

What is a wedding? “Weddings are mostly when the bride walks up to the husband, they have a piano player and they say stuff about if you want to get married or not. If you say “I do” and the bride says “I do” then you are married and it’s all over.” (Frankie, age 10) Sometimes thats exactly right.

How do you plan a wedding? “You pick a best man and a flower girl and go to church.” (Jacob, age 12) Interesting… no bride?

What is the best part about having a wedding? “Everybody smells good and there is enough cake for everyone.” (Alan, age 7)  Cake is definitely a bonus.

How do you decide who you will invite to your wedding? “The groom, my kids and both of our teachers.” (Pam, age 9) Don’t forget your classmates!

Follow the advice of these kids and you are guaranteed to have a great wedding!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

 

Avoid Makeup Mishaps!

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Whether you have decided to go full out glam or opt for a natural look, there is nothing that can spoil your wedding photos quicker than poorly applied or ill-conceived makeup. Countless wedding horror stories plague the internet  and makeup is ALWAYS  at the top of the list.

Most women agree that makeup is an essential part of getting dressed in the morning. But everyday makeup will not last for an event as exhausting as your wedding. In order to have a flawless look you will need to start planning early.

Hire a professional.  The best way to find a professional that you like is to see some of their work. If you really want a smoky eye and there is not one example of this in their portfolio, you may have to keep searching. Make sure your makeup professional can handle your skin color as well. Have they ever worked on African American or Middle Eastern skin tones? If not, keep searching. Just because your favorite cousin went to beauty school does not mean she can handle your wedding makeup. Find someone you are comfortable with who does the kind of work you like.

Schedule a trail makeup session to make sure you don’t leave the chair looking like a circus clown. Take an objective friend and a camera with you so you can see how you look on film, not just in person. Sometimes makeup that looks severe in person shows up fantastic on camera and vice verse.

Always have a backup plan for the day of your event in case of a serious emergency. What if…… your makeup artist has a personal emergency (ruptured appendix or worse) and cannot fulfill their obligations? How would you handle it? Make sure you have all of the products used in your makeup trial. Ask if they have a back up person who you could call in case something unfortunate happens. Make sure at least one of your attendants can be trusted with a makeup brush.

And last but not least, keep some products in your purse for touch ups. Your lipstick will be almost gone after dinner, you will robably have to re-touch your mascara so it is imperative that you keep those items close by.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Daddy’s Little Girl – All Grown Up

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If you are blessed to have a father, stepfather (or both) on your wedding day, you are one lucky woman. Losing my father at an early age taught me two things: life is short and a good dad is hard to find. Remember, on your wedding day you will be marking the passage from being one man’s daughter to another man’s wife. It is a bittersweet occasion for him and a good time to remind him of how much he means to you.  It is also a good time to remind him of his role in the wedding, that he has a very special place and purpose for being there, other than to pay for everything, if that is even your dynamic.

Walk Down The Aisle– If your father will be walking you down the aisle, this will be a very emotional moment for him. As you let go of his hand, remind him of how much it means to you with a kiss on the cheek, a nod, a whisper. Don’t be in a hurry to move forward, he might need a moment to digest this.

Father /Daughter Dance – This is when, traditionally, the father cuts in to the first dance of the newlyweds and dances with his daughter for the first time as a married woman as the music transitions into ‘their song’. Or you can have a completely different dance  just for the two of you. “Daddy’s Little Girl” is a bit outdated and kind of (whats the word?) … creepy. Find a song that means something to the two of you, and no one else.

Speech – The father of the bride gives the first speech at the reception. Whether it is lighthearted, serious, or sentimental, it should be whatever suits his personality and your relationship together. He might need help with this as some men are not as eloquent or profound as others. Spend some alone time with him leading up to the wedding, giving him an opportunity to reminisce and ponder………

Gift – Finding the right gift for your dad can mean a lot. I know from experience that men who do not express emotions easily are touched by small gestures. A framed photo of the two of you when you were a little girl, a pair of cuff-links, an embroidered handkerchief. Stay away from t-shirts or mugs with photos of shotguns. It’s only funny because it’s tacky.

Don’t be surprised if , many years down the road, you wind up thinking that your husband is a lot like your dad, it happens all the time. When it is all said and done, he was the first man you loved, the one who taught you to sit up straight and respect yourself and set the standard for what to look for in a husband in the first place. For that, he deserves special recognition.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Seating Charts Made Easy

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You are constantly being told this is your wedding and you should do things the way you want. In most cases, this is true but, when it comes to where to seat your guests, taking advice from others might be in your best interest. Use these ten simple tips to make your seating planning a breeze!

#1) Get a floor plan from the venue with the tables the way they will be arranged at your event. Make sure this floor plans hows how many seats are at each table.

#2) Don’t do anything in permanent marker, things might need to be re-arranged later. Tiny post-its or push pins is definitely the way to go.

#3) Ask both mothers or older relatives ( one from each side) to sit in on the seating plans. They will know the intricacies of some of the more difficult relationships better than you, especially if it is distant cousins or their friends.

#4) Don’t make the final seating plan until you have your final count. Moving things around too much will confuse you and you will be more likely to make mistakes.

#5) Use different color post-its for his family, your family, friends, co – workers, etc.

#6) Always start with the bridal party, then immediate family, then other family members, then relatives, then friends.

#7) Be aware of people with extremely strict political or religious beliefs whenever possible. The last thing you want is a heated debate over a touch topic.

#8) Keep a few extra seats on hand in case a guests unexpectedly shows up. this happens all the time!

#9) Try to seat all of the single people at one table. The guests who are single and choose not to bring a date will be able to mingle and meet new people.

#10) There is tons of software available for wedding seating charts – shop around and find one that works for you. But, always have a paper copy in case you lose your files.

The best tool you have when planning the seating for your wedding is common sense. That, and a sense of humor will make the whole planning process fun and easy!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

Open Bar, Cash Bar or Alcohol Free ?

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When it comes to the reception, what kind of bar you will have is a big question. First, there is the expense and then the responsiblity of guests safety when driving home, then personal taste, and what kind of friends and family will be attending. To simplify, there are three types of bar:

Open Bar – is  a bar  at which drinks are served free. The venue will charge a price per person for the bar and you will also have to factor in tax and gratuity. In addition, an open bar that offers all top-shelf liquor will certainly be more expensive than one offering lower-priced spirits. Some couples choose to offer only beer, wine and soft drinks throughout the evening. Others offer a signature drink during the cocktail hour along with the open bar. There are seemingly endless options so make sure you have a detailed description of what you want to be served in your contract.

Cash Bar is a bar where drinks are sold by the glass. basically, each geust will pay for each  drink. You may be tempted to have a cash bar for a variety of reasons, from cutting costs on your already swollen wedding budget to wanting to avoid having your guests overindulge before having to travel home from your wedding.  Be prepared, there may be some feedback since most guests have an underlying resentment about a cash bar. In fact, most wedding etiquette sites insist that a cash bar is considered ‘tacky’ no matter how cute the sign … yikes!

Alcohol Free – This is a reception where there is no alcohol served at all. Your wedding festivities don’t have to suffer due to lack of alcohol, there are many options for beverages other than booze. You can serve fun, fruity beverages and still even have your own signature drink. If you do not drink alcohol or have alcohol related issues, don’t feel bad and don’t make any excuses. You can also sleep knowing that everyone can drive home safely and there won’t be any drunken mishaps during the reception.

Whatever choice you make , it should be clearly listed on the invitation so that guests know what to expect.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Walking Down The Aisle

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In a perfect world, every bride would be escorted down the aisle by a loving father who would then pass off the daunting task of caring for his little girl to her future husband. We all know that this crazy world we live in is far from perfect so, there are many cases when the question of  “Who will walk the bride down the aisle?” is tricky and or even painful.

 What happens when a bride’s parents are divorced and she shares a close relationship with her stepfather?  If the bride is closer to her stepfather, she may want to ask him instead, although if her biological father has stepped up to pay for the wedding, she should take that into account. Some brides have asked their stepfathers to walk them halfway down the aisle, where they meet their father and continue to walk the aisle escorted by him. If your father and stepfather have a friendly relationship, you could ask them both to walk you down the aisle, one on each arm. This is a lovely solution if everyone is in agreement.

What if the bride is estranged from her father for personal reasons or if  her father is deceased or otherwise unavailable? A bride may be escorted by a grandfather or favorite uncle. The bride may also choose to be escorted by her mother. 

What if the bride simply feels that it would be archaic to be given away? One modern solution has the bride being presented at one end of the aisle and then escorted by the groom, who walks down the aisle to meet her. Another solution is for the bride to walk down the aisle by herself.

And sometimes it is only appropriate that both mother and father escort the bride down the aisle.

The worst problems occur when there is a biological father who hasn’t been in the picture and a stepfather who has… then, suddenly the father feel entitled to walk his little girl down the aisle for a tearful goodbye when there have been too many missed opportunities over the years. 

In all cases, the bride needs to decide who, if anyone,  she wants to walk her down the aisle and then inform everyone of her decision… in person. If handled firmly and politely this will be the end of the subject.

No matter what your decision; mother, father, aunt, uncle or solo, it is important to remember that this moment does not have to be the end of a father/daughter relationship. It is only the beginning……

 

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

How Good Is Your Feng Shui?

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 Feng shui is probably one of the most over-used and misunderstood terms in modern language. Most people think it solely relates to minimizing and re-arranging furniture. Although they are partly correct, there is much more to Feng shui than meets the eye.

Feng means wind and shui means water. In Chinese culture wind and water are associated with good health, thus good Feng shui came to mean good fortune, while bad Feng shui means bad luck, or misfortune. The art of Feng shui has been practiced for 3000 years and is a complex study of placement of objects, timing and lighting.

So how hard is it to create good Feng Shui at your wedding? Not that difficult, if you stick to the basics. Acheiving good Feng Shui is easier to achieve than you think, it’s about  showcasing the details that create positive energy.

1) Venue – Avoid overhead lighting, instead opt for candles, low light and accent lighting. If your wedding is in the  daytime, choose a venue with an abundance of windows and natural lighting. No clocks should be visible since your love should be ‘timeless’.

2) Attire – Choose garments that combine both heavy and light fabrics. The heavy fabrics such as brocade, satin and shantung represent the yin and light fabrics like lace, chiffon and tulle are the yang, together they bring balance and harmony.

3) Color –  Pink is  delicate, purple is passionate, blues and greens bring a calmer effect to your event. Study the meaning behind the colors and choose ones that reflect your personality and compliment the venue.

4) Exit – If you choose a limo for your exit, Feng shui experts suggest opting for black. The black color represents the stable foundation that is the basis for a good marriage. Also, hang a crystal from the rear view mirror (of whatever exit vehicle you use) to ward off darkness and create a prism of light for a new beginning.

5) Tradition. Always have something blue (the Feng shui color of peace and serenity) at your wedding. Anything ‘borrowed’  should be borrowed from a couple with a happy marriage.

With these simple elements you can achieve good Feng Shui without ever having to re-arrange furniture or sacrife your decor.

-Penny Frulla  for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

Whats New? Tablescapes!

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If you have never heard the term tablescapes, don’t feel bad – it is a relatively new term. “Tablescape” is  used to describe not just the centerpiece  but, instead the overall design of the table, the landscape of the table. Hence – ‘table-scape’. Tablescapes are about bringing the entire wedding into one spot and focusing on how all of the elements of color, style and theme fit together. It is about using the components of your wedding to  complement one another in one spot: the table.

Designing the perfect tablescape can be complicated and trying to squeeze all of your colors and themes into very few objects can be quite tricky. Although I have never personally heard of anyone’s head exploding , I think it is quite possible in this case.

Keys to a stunning tablescape: 

Pay attention to the entire table – not just focusing on the centerpiece. 

Use  favors in the design scheme of the table.

Incorporate table and seat markers  into the design.

Instead of traditional white dinner plates – use colorful or patterned china to bring out the colors of your event.

If patterned china is out of the question, consider using decorative charger plates to accent your design

Compliment the food choices with your design choices.

Remember – although you are ‘landscaping’ the entire table, it doesn’t have to be cluttered or over-the-top…. it is about details. Making sure each ribbon, each flower, each plate,  tiny element is just right and perfectly proportioned to suit your needs.

For more inspiration, call 847-428-3320 or visit our website at www.bridalshowexpo.com and use the code FB to get complimentary tickets  to a Bridal Expo Luxury event in your area.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

weddings in austin

 

Vintage china silverware and and burlap table runners tablescape wedding centerpiece mason jars

 

 

 

 

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tablescape

tablescape

Inspiration Boards … YES!

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Wedding Inspiration Boards can be found everywhere from Pinterest to The Knot! They come in all sizes, shapes, colors and vary in inspiration. AND… they are fabulous! In case you have been living on a remote island for the past year, an inspiration board is a collage of images you put together that represent the colors/styles/themes/vibe you want your wedding to have. You can refer to the inspiration board throughout the planning process to stay on track and make sure everything fits together perfectly. By using the ‘big picture’ mentality you will find the planning a lot easier and have a better visual than  with a “TO DO ” list.

You can plan your inspiration board on a website or  print pictures from websites and tack them onto a bulletin board or  cut photos from magazines and paste them on poster board. The best part about doing it online is that you can click and drag photos until you achieve the overall feeling you desire! Then, print the final version to keep with you when you are out and see something you love!

 Be careful because inspiration boards make wedding planning so much fun you will be tempted to try out dozens of different ideas! Wait… that is a good thing – even better!! Try out several different color palettes to see which one suits your taste. Try different themes to see which one is the most suited to your personality. The sky is the limit – so, don’t hold back.

Wherever you can, whenever you can – create at least one inspiration board! It will change the way you view wedding planning …. forever!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Feeling Saucy? Try Neon

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Although some of the most popular colors for bridesmaid gowns this year are subtle shades, there is a rising trend in neon. Neon? I know what you’re thinking – this is not your mother’s neon from 1985. Brides who want a pop of color are using it to make a bold statement but, be careful… neon can be a bit much if taken too far.

True neon  or fluorescent color, regardless of the shade, it will illuminate under blacklight – thats good to keep in mind for later. In modern times, neon color is usually any truly vibrant, vivid, perfect, shade of orange, green, yellow or blue. By nature, red cannot be considered a neon color – I don’t know why. If you are in doubt, neon colors are those found in a pack of highlighters. If your color is missing from there, it is most likely not neon.

The best ways to use really bright or neon color is to alternate those colors with neutral or monotone colors to avoid overkill.

Brightly colored dresses with simple accessories

Adding touches of color throughout the wedding is perfect for a summer wedding, especially if it is outdoors!

Last but, cetainly not least – remember the blacklight? You can use lighting to acheive “Neon Nirvana”.

The best way to use neon color is to think of it as an acceessory; don’t overdo it. Always  avoid metallic neon  – it tends to look too much like a circus. And remember – the best things in life are enjoyed in moderation and (especially with neon,) less is more!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago