Category Archives: Avoid Wedding Disasters

Keeping Your Cool When It Is 100 Degrees Outside!

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For some reason I thought the “Great Midwest Heatwave of 2012” was over last Sunday when the storms hit the western suburbs of Chicago, knocking out power and dumping enough rain in my own yard to make my grass green again. I was wrong. This week was even worse than last and I can’t help thinking about all of the couples who have weddings this weekend, especially those with a portion of the event outdoors.

Realistically, there is no way to stay cool when it is 90 degrees at midnight. However, you can add a few things to your checklist to help out.

Shade – Open tents or large umbrellas scattered around the seating areas will do wonders to protect your guests from the sweltering sun. Unlike enclosed tents, the air will continue to circulate and provide some relief.  Another option is to provide your guests with parasols.

 

 

Fans-  Invest in a hand fan for each guest, these can be inexpensive, attractive and extremely helpful. Also add electric fans (preferably oscillating) along the outside perimeter of the entire area. Hint: if you place buckets of ice behind each fan, it will blow cool air. The temptation is to get the biggest fans you can find. BAD IDEA! There might be too much force which will leave your guests wondering if they are in Kansas anymore. ( Wizard of Oz + tornado = classic joke)

Water –  According to the CDC you must consume 16-32 ounces of cool, non-alcoholic fluid every hour during extreme heat.  Gatorade, Vitamin Water, ( low sugar) Iced Tea, Lemonade and bottled water  to ice-filled buckets everywhere people will be standing or sitting will remind guests to stay hydrated. Avoid drinks with caffeine as they will make you dehydrated – this include energy drinks. Coffee lovers will enjoy an iced coffee as much as (or more) than their favorite beverage served piping-hot.  

Change – After the wedding you may want to change into a cooler gown. Also let the groom and his attendants change into cooler shirts after the ceremony, or take off their jackets at the very least.  Even if they all throw on matching Hawaiian shirts, they will look great and have more fun than if they were in restricted in ties and cummerbunds.

Unfortunately in this heat there is nothing that will keep you cool. The most important thing is safety. Being too overheated can cause everything from headaches to vomiting to serious illness.  Following at least some of these tips will help to keep everyone safe and happy!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Pre-Wedding Disagreements & How To Solve Them

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From the time the engagement ring is on your finger until the honeymoon begins, there are arguments lurking around every corner for engaged couples and if you aren’t careful, you can fall into the trap of  ‘agreeing to disagree’. In the beginning, wedding planning is fun; picking out colorful floral arrangements, sampling cake and planning how much fun your friends and family will have together. Then, suddenly you are in the middle of a family squabble over nothing…. literally nothing.

Top 5 Wedding disagreements and how to diffuse them:

1) Location. He grew up in South Carolina and you grew up in New Jersey but you both live in Chicago. If travel is impossible for one side of the family or another, take that into consideration, otherwise you should have the wedding where you both currently live.

2) Family. There are a million scenarios for the underlying problems of family tension, whether it is a rebellious sibling or an intolerant parent. The best thing to do is put your foot down early and tell them how things are going to work.  You may need to remind them from time to time.

3) Prenup. Why are so  many people so freaked out about prenups? Because it makes them feel like they are planning a divorce instead of a wedding. In reality, a prenup will protect both of you from yourselves and each other, and family. Decide if you love the person, sign it and be done with it.

4) The Past. Inviting ex-girlfriends/ boyfriends to the wedding may be fine for some and not for others. Don’t be surprised if this becomes a point for an argument later. There are rare situations where this is okay, otherwise – don’t do it.

5)Budget. The thing most couples (married or engaged) fight about is money.  Whether you have too much or not enough it is always a factor. Set your wedding budget, decide early who is paying for what and do not go over the total budget. You may want to cut corners on one thing to splurge on another but, always make sure the bottom line remains the same.

Whatever the reason for the disagreement, remember that planning a wedding is like a miniature crystal ball into your future. If you are arguing with his family (or vice versa) now – it will not magically change after you are married, if he is not involved now, he won’t be in the future, if you are both caught between bickering family members, this is the way of the future. The only thing you can do is stand your ground, now and don’t let outside factors interfere with your happiness.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

Weddings & Numerology

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 Your wedding should be the most special and wonderful day of your life. Unfortunately for some, getting bogged down with details, family drama, and stress can  possibly bring you to tears. Numerologists suggest that there is more to it than being overwhelmed. They say it is all in the numbers. They also suggest that picking a date that suits your personality will give you a better chance for success on your wedding day.

Numerology is based on the belief that there is a special relationship between mathematical measurements and specific dates. Although there is no concrete evidence to suggest this is entirely true, many spiritualists and numerologsist insist that numbers are the key to happiness.

Although picking  your wedding day  based on numbers will not ensure a perfectly happy marriage, why not line up a date that is aligned properly to give yourself a better chance? According to international numerologist Michelle Buchanan, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

  There are dozens of ways that numerology is used to select important dates,  and none of them guarantee a perfect wedding day but, it can’t hurt – so why not give it a try ….and see how it adds up!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

Summer Weddings – Beating the Heatwave

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There are two months it has never snowed in Chicago: July and August. If you are brave enough to plan an outdoor wedding during the only two months it has never snowed in Chicago, you may need to plan ahead in order to beat the heat. Because there is one thing we know in Chicago; when it’s not freezing cold- it is blistering hot!

Breathe– Plan on wearing a less constricting gown. A tight fitting gown or corset can restrict your ability to fully expand your lungs which reduces your oxygen intake and causes lightheadedness or fainting, especially in this heat. Avoid heavy corsets, tight fitting bodices and cinched-in waistlines in record-breaking heat.

Touch –  Polyester is the enemy. Find a gown made of silk chiffon because it  flows and breathes or silk taffeta because it is smooth and cool.  Gowns made of silk, hemp, rayon, cotton or other organic fabrics will be cooler and you will be more comfortable. Of course a silk gown lined with twenty layers of nylon tulle and polyester lining is not going to be comfortable at all. Something light and airy and comfortable where you look like a goddess would be perfect!

Manage your mane. If your hair goes limp in the heat or if your hair frizzes up in the humidity, make sure you have the right products on hand to correct it. This is why it is important to have a trial hair appointment with your hairdresser so you can discuss these things. 

Hot Feet – Consider not wearing stockings or pantyhose. (GASP) Seriously, although Princess Kate has caused a stir wearing see-through hosiery with non-skid soles remember this:  she has all kinds of restrictions placed on her by Buckingahm Palace and you don’t. You can bare your legs and no one will care. This makes your shoe choice even more important since you can now wear any kind of sandal and show off your tanned, pedicured toes. If you still have your heart set on a delicious pair of white pumps or a peep-toe platform, invest a  few extra dollars and buy shoes that are lined in leather. Fabric on the outside is okay, but pleather or plastic lined shoes will not only make your feet sweat, they will hurt after a very short time causing your feet to swell and if you take your shoes off for even five minutes under the table, you will never, NEVER get them back on again!

Cooling Stations–  Have plenty of water on hand for your guests. Consider having containers of ice filled with bottled water at every table or strategically positioned around the outdoor dance floor so guests don’t have to travel to the bar to be reminded to stay hydrated. Personalized labels make it even better as long as they can stand up to the ice water!

Fan yourself – Another great idea is to have small hand fans at every place setting so guests can fan their faces if they get overheated at any given time. There is one school of thought that says fanning yourself actually makes you hotter. I suppose if you are flapping your arms at warp speed with a heavy object this might be true. However, gently fanning your face to keep the air circulating will help aid in the evaporation of sweat on your skin. Plus, you can cleverly personalize a cute fan and even use them as  programs!

I’m ready for my close-up – Are you really? Are you wearing heavy foundation in mid-July? Are you shiny, sweaty, flushed or speckled from the heat? Ask  a qualified makeup artist to help you decide what kind of coverage you need during hot weather, hire them to do your makeup for the wedding, purchase anything you will need for touch-ups and carry it in your bridal purse. 

The temperature this week could feasibly reach 100 degrees and we are in store for another wave next week. If you are getting married outdo, it’s not too late to implement some of these tips and remember -don’t overdo it!

_Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Unconventional (and Unusual) Weddings

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Last weekend, Samantha Kolar and Andy Lee took the proverbial plunge at the Raging Waves waterparki n Yorkville, IL.  After exchanging vows, they slipped off their wedding attire and shared a ride down the Boomerang in an inner tube built for two. This may sound a little odd to you ( and me) but, this type of wedding is gaining in popularity and had not only tongues wagging but news outlets going wild. On a slow internet news day, their wedding was highlighted everywhere from Yahoo to Comcast and The Huffington Post.

From the archives (in no particular order) some more strange and unusual weddings:

Jeroen and Sandra Kippers of Brussels, Belgium, were lifted on a platform by crane up 160 feet in the air for their wedding ceremony. They were joined by the officiant and about 20 guests. Another platform held the musicians. After the vows, they made it official by bungee-jumping over the side!

The couple who got married on a Bung-jump platform – and obviously jumped after saying yes

 Lisa Satayut decided to combine bargain shopping with her excitement over bagging her beau. Explaining that T.J. Maxx is her “happy place,” Satayut married Drew Ellis in the size 8 shoe aisle of a T.J. Maxx store in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. The bride — a self-proclaimed “’Maxxinista” — wore a strapless white chiffon gown, with long black gloves and bright green gladiator-style sandals.

 

The couple who got married at T.J. Maxx

April Pignataro and Michael Curry of New York City got married in June 2010. The bride wore a white wetsuit and the groom wore a traditional black wetsuit as they climbed inside a 120,000 gallon shark tank to take their vows at Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead, N.Y.

The couple who got married inside a shark tank

A couple of bicycle lovers decided to tie the knot in a very unusual but healthy way: by riding bicycles all over the city, accompanied of course by their cyclist guests.

The Russian couple who decided to get married while bicycling

In a skeptical world, with divorce rates near 50%, who are we to say whether these ‘odd’ weddings are right or wrong. If a traditional wedding is not in the cards and you are thinking ourside the box, try something original but, always make sure it is safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Wishing each of these zany couples a lifetime of happiness!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

See Spot Run – Stain Removal Made Easy

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There is nothing worse than putting on a white blouse and then immediately spilling coffee or tea or whatever directly down the front. Actually, there is…. spilling or staining your wedding gown! Although traumatic, there are some very simple fixes.

First, take a deep breath and identify the fabric. What is the main component?  There should be a tag in the gown somewhere. Many times it is in the back by the zipper but, it may be on the inside of the skirt.

Considering the wide array of fabric and stain possibilities, it is best to focus on the main culprits; red wine,  lipstick, blood ( yes) and ink.

Red wine is a bugger. It is tasty, is reported to be good for your heart (in moderate quantities) and is nearly impossible to get out of a white gown. Do not let the stain dry. If red wine is spilled on your gown, moisten the area immediately with water. After that, Hydrogen Peroxide is your best bet. Mix with equal parts water in a spray bottle and spray on the area, blotting with a white cloth (dinner napkin) until the color is gone.  This may take a few minutes, be patient. Club soda will also work but, not as well.

Lipstick is one of those things that can easily be transferred from your lips to your fingers to your dress in an instant.  For this you will need a solvent since it is oil-based. K2R or a Tide stick, whatever you prefer. The key is in the technique. NEVER WIPE….. always blot. Dampen the cloth and blot. Dampen and blot until the stain is gone. It won’t take as long as you think.

Why would you have blood on your wedding gown? Perhaps you got a paper cut or stuck your finger on a pin, just a small drop of blood will dry to a brown stain impossible to remove later. Your best bet is ice!  Grab an ice cube, stick the ice cube on the spot and blot, blot, blot!  Blood breaks down in cold water, not hot.

Ink can easily be removed with two things: patience and hairspray. It doesn’t have to be a fancy spritz pump, either. Simple, aerosol hair spray directly onto the ink, leave for a couple of minutes and blot. The ink should disappear almost immediately.

For your wedding day, the most essential things you need to bring in your emergency kit are: 

 -Small container of stain remover (spray, pen, bottle)

-Package of cotton pads

-Hydrogen peroxide

-Aerosol Hair Spray

With those few items you should be able to tackle almost any stain. But, remember – the sooner you attack the stain, the sooner your chances of removing it completely. He who hesitates is lost…

-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

 

The Importance of Keeping Appointments

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Imagine you have been looking for a florist, or a baker, or a wedding planner. You have done your research; calling referrals, making sure they are accredited and have a good rating with the BBB. You make an appointment and then, suddenly, they cancel on short notice. What do you do? Although I’m usually  in favor of giving everyone the benefit of the doubt, there are cases when a cancellation might be a red flag. 

If the vendor cancels because they have overbooked, you might have cause for concern.  This could mean there is a time management problem.

However, if the vendor cancels because another event had a legitimate crisis that had to be handled immediately, this says the vendor is as concerned with keeping their existing clients happy as they are booking new clients.

If the vendor cancels because of weather, health or personal family issues, we can all understand… these things happen. Of course, if it happens more than once, this could be someone who has a lot of drama in their life and it could be time to take a closer look at whether or not you  can handle their drama.

In essence, when a vendor cancels you need to use your best judgement to decide whether or not they deserve a second chance. If the reason is weak or there really is no reason,  you should begin your search for another vendor to replace them … someone who is able to keep appointments. This is especially true for a bridal or wedding consultant. You are hiring them to manage your entire wedding and this is no easy task – there must be total faith and trust. The last thing you need to be doing is chasing vendors to get information or answers after you have paid a deposit or the day of your event.

 

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

 

Wedding Nightmares – What Do They Mean?

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Having nightmares that things go wrong at your wedding is fairly common, having re-curring nightmares of the same horrific scenario unfolding is less common but, still no reason to be alarmed. Women are more likely to have nightmares than men, so keep that in mind. Some psychologists feel that nightmares are your unconscious mind playing out your secret fears and desires. Only during sleep, when the conscious mind is silent, do these repressed emotions come to the surface and manifest themselves as nightmares and dreams.

The top three wedding nightmares:

1) Being unprepared. Nightmares of this kind can range from moderate to severe: showing up at a random place without a gown or cake or flowers (there are no guests because there were no invitations) feeling lost because they can’t imagine this is supposed to be their wedding. Usually this means you feel like you have lost control of things. Find your voice and make sure your to-do list is appropriately checked off day by day.

#2) Not being able to find the groom. He is there, you can see him from across the room but you can’t get to him. When you get to the altar he is not there but, someone is there in his place. Perhaps the wedding plans have taken over, you are not yourself and you have lost touch with the whole reason you are getting married; to spend the rest of your life with the person you love.

#3) It’s not you. You don’t look like yourself for any number of reasons; you have gained or lost an enormous amount of weight, you have a unibrow, your hair is unrecognizeable ( not in a good way). In the dream you are confronted with the fact that on short notice there is nothing you can do to alter your appearance to look like yourself. This stems from the tremendous amount of pressure to look good , knowing that you wil be photographed more on this day than probably any other. Don’t put anything off, make all of your hair, waxing, and manicure appointments early and be punctual. Also don’t skimp on hair and makeup for your wedding day.

Dr. Sigmund Freud was the foremost aouthority of his time decoding the meaning of dreams, however, even Dr Frued realized that sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. In today’s stress-filled world most psychologists and doctors agree that nightmares generally stem from fear, anxiety and sleep deprivation. Instead of being plagued by doubts, use these nightmares as an opportunity to tie up loose ends, confront your fears and stop them dead in their tracks.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

May Showers Bring Humidity

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As a woman, there is nothing like than spending an hour doing your hair, smoothing, curling, styling, or even just brushing and then looking out the window to see rain or, even worse, step out to a wet blanket of humidity. The truth is that humidity can not only affect your hair  but, also have an impact on your entire wedding day. Humidity (simplified) is the amount of moisture in the air. Although there are several complicated ways to calculate the actual and relative humidity, all you really need to know is that warm air can hold more moisture than cold air. So, if it rains on a hot day, you have a recipe for a humidity disaster.

The best fabrics to wear in humid conditions are natural fibers such as cotton, linen , silk and believe it or not wool because they breathe. This goes double for tuxedos since there are shirts AND jackets to take into consideration. In addition to being more comfortable, they will also stand up better to the humidity because although they are equally likely to wrinkle, the wrinkles are easier to remove. Your best bet is to wait as long as possible to get dressed to avoid wrinkling too badly.

Humidity can also have a disastrous affect on your floral arrangements. Make sure you speak to your florist about which blooms hold up best in hot humid conditions and use the ones that are geared toward a more tropical climate.  Humidity increases the rate that flowers absorb water and also the rate at which they wilt. A huge bouquet of droopy, wilted flowers is not a pretty sight.

 

Makeup has a harder time staying on your face if you are sweating profusely. Consult with a makeup professional and make sure you are prepared with an emergency kit… just in caseAlways make sure you are wearing the right foundation for your skin type – which in some cases is mineral powder.

 

Humidity vs. Hair is a huge problem for some of us. If you have frizzy hair, you you might need more than one product on a humid day. In addition to the texture of the product, take into consideration the smell and the way it reacts with your skin. Oily serums can clog your scalp pores and cause breakouts. Water based products may be too mild for severe humidity. The reality is that for this occasion you may want to invest in a good relaxer. For me, the relaxer is the only sure fire way  I know my hair can be styled with ease. For those with fine, limp hair, humidity will do the exact opposite and flatten in down. Every curl you make with the curling iron will be flat in five minutes. For you, a perm may be the way to get some extra volume. And don’t forget to use volumizer, again taking the smell and content into consideration. Either way, make sure your stylist uses plenty of hair spray to hold the completed style in place. 

Planning your wedding in the spring or summer months means being prepared for the heat and possible humidity!!!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago