Tag Archives: brides blog

Hire A Pro Vs. Do-It-Yourself

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Often I hear of couples trying to shave a few dollars off of their wedding costs by doing things themselves. Being an avid do-it-yourself-er, I applaud their tenacity and willingness to sacrifice their time and energy to make their wedding a success. However, there are some cases when DIY  is complicated, time-consuming and exhausting which all add up to a recipe for disaster.

Catering-  Although rare, there are some brave brides and grooms who have the inconceivable idea that because they are proficient in the kitchen the can handle catering their own wedding. There is no circumstance where this is a good idea. There is no time of day, location, theme or moment in time where this is going to have a happy ending. The end result will be stress, mess, and little success! If you are having the most casual outdoor wedding possible, find a restaurant that caters food you love and have it sent in, even if you don’t have servers, have it sent in and give the delivery person a tip to do some set up for you. Pasta looks great on the table but not so much on your wedding gown.

Cake – Second only to catering, this DIY has the potential to wreak unimaginable havoc. Making the cake yourself is a  bad idea, having a friend who makes really cute Christmas cookies do your cake is a bad idea. If you cannot afford an over-the top confectionery masterpiece  from the best bakery in town, don’t fret. Today bakeries offer cakes that are  beautiful, tasty and affordable at the same time. We understand – staying within your budget is as important as finding a cake that tastes and looks good.

Flowers – One of the most often attempted and most likely to produce an epic fail. Choosing a great wedding florist is easy,doing your own flowers is not quite so easy;  flowers need to be handled carefully so they won’t get crushed, arrangements should be done no more than a day or two before the event and flowers need to be refrigerated properly (not in the same refrigerator as food) so they won’t wilt, change color or completely die. Ask yourself this question: Which would you rather be doing the days before your wedding: relaxing, pampering yourself and enjoying the pre-wedding festivities or staying up all night arranging, twisting  and fretting about flowers? Even if you are a trained florist it is better to find a colleague or co-worker to handle this for you.

DJ– Making several mix tapes in college does not qualify you to host an entire wedding, much less your own. Having the right DJ will change the mood of your event (for the better) and can create an atmosphere that is positive and upbeat.  Since the DJ is the host of your entire event, he or she will handle the timing of all of the wedding announcements (cake cutting, first dance, toasts), transitioning from one segment to another flawlessly and effortlessly take charge of the room. Doing this yourself means you will be responsible all night for handling all of the details and timing. So in the middle of a conversation with a friend you will have to stop whatever you are doing and go to the microphone and announce that you are about to cut the cake. Find  reliable DJ and familiarize yourself with him or her before the event.

Hair and Makeup – The reason brides book professional makeup artists to handle everything for the entire bridal party the day of the wedding is simple: it makes things easier. If you decide that you are going to do everyone’s hair or makeup ( or both), you will spend the entire morning working and most likely be stressed out by the time the wedding starts. The reason people get paid to do hair and makeup is because it is work! There is also skill and talent and products involved but, it is work and should be respected as such.

Photographer – Hire a professional wedding photographer. The idea of putting disposable cameras on the table is cute as a bonus but, it was never intended to take the place of the real photographer. Now, couples are opting for photo-booths in lieu of table cameras in order to get their funny and candid guest shots.

If you are determined to get your crafty hands on one of the wedding projects, find something you can do well in advance so that you won’t be spending the days and hours leading up to the wedding stressed, overworked and worrying about the end result. There are so many better ways to spend your time, not to mention you could wind  up spending  more since you have to compensate for your failure on top of hiring someone in the end. Do things yourself like tying ribbons on table favors, bedazzling a card holder, wrapping attendant gifts or designing beautiful wedding programs. Leave everything else to the professionals and you are likely to have a  Much happier ‘Happy Ending’.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday 13th – Fear of Fiction

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Today is the first of the three “Friday the 13th’ days in 2012 so, if you’re feeling lucky today it may last the whole year. On the other hand if you are a victim of  friggatriskaidekaphobia, this is only the beginning. The origins of the fear of the number 13 and this day falling on a Friday are very sketchy and this phenomenon has only been around for about a hundred years. For me, the only thing  to fear is fear itself, as I don’t personally believe in luck (either good or bad) and this day to me is like any other with one exception; a chance to move around a little easier.

According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina,  an estimated 17 to 21 million people in the United States are affected by a fear of this day. Some people are so paralyzed by fear that they avoid their normal routines in doing business, taking flights or even getting out of bed. “It’s been estimated that  $800 or $900 million is lost in business on this day”. 

Oddly enough, even wedding advice boards are inundated with posts warning couples that Friday the 13th is a bad day to get married. As a result, a lot of venues offer specials to those who dare to mark this as their anniversary date. FYI if you get married on Friday the 13, you will celebrate your anniversary on Friday every 7 years.

Statistically, there has never been a major weather catastrophe, a terrorist attack, an assassination attempt or anything comparable on Friday the 13th in my lifetime. I have personally never seen any remarkable occurrences or suffered any particularly unlucky events which all lead me to believe that any and all fear of Friday the 13th is completely unfounded. Unless it rains on your wedding day which is extremely good luck (wink, wink).

If you are setting your wedding date for 2012 and you are not superstitious, you can still have two chances to reverse the curse (April and July) as well as September and December in 2013. Don’t forget to ask if there is a discount for non-believers!

 

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top 10 Wedding Trends For 2012

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Congratulations on your engagement! Now that you are about to begin wedding planning in 2012, take a deep breath, we are  here to help you.  After scouring the internet, news sources and consulting multiple event planners; we have compiled a list of the top 10 wedding trends for 2012:

1) Bridal Gowns – What you will see in 2012 are  more flirty, high fashion dresses that are shorter in length,  also gowns with layers of texture and (finally) a  little something on top. Inspired by Kate Middleton, designers have incorporated sheer laces and illusion on top to offer brides an alternative to strapless.

2) A great way to add interest to an otherwise simple gown is with an embellished belt. Look for these belts to explode in 2012.

3) Feathers continue to be the most popular accent for shoes, bouquets and hair. Peacock and ostrich top the list.

4)  For 2012 you will see couples continue to take a more active part in the ceremony rather than simply standing at the altar, repeating the words that someone else has written.  Writing your own vows is meaningful, personal and helps the couple to express their love for one another in their own unique way without hesitation.

5) Couples are opting for smaller, more intimate affairs with 100 of their closest friends rather than 1,000 people who they may not know very well. Spending less per head allows couples to have a celebration that is more lavish and yet controlled, it’s quality versus quantity.

6) Standard wedding videos are out, movies are in. Imagine if  you could have Steven Spielberg edit your video footage into a ten minute movie with a plot, climax and happy ending! You can still keep all the footage but, you will have a mini-masterpiece to share with your family and friends that won’t put them to sleep or bore them to tears. Find the right videographer and this dream can be your reality.

7) High-profile event planner Bryan Rafanelli says party favors and accessories are becoming more and more customized to the individual couples to reflect their interests and tastes.  For the music lover, using cleft note place-card holders and musical note candle as gifts will tie everything together.

8) The vintage trend continues as couples embrace the look and feel of antique table settings, flowers and attire. Old Hollywood, Victorian Vintage, and 1940’s Big Band themes are a popular and all have a comfortable, relaxed charm.

9) Color is everywhere. For those brides who find picking a particular color a daunting task, rest easy – the current trend is multiple colors. Color can be the only theme you need if you find the right combination; dusty rose and silver for a vintage feel or turquoise and purple for a more modern look. Either way, color can leave a lasting impression and create impact.

10) Grooms have more choices than ever with tuxedos but nothing will ever beat a classic notched-lapel tuxedo with a bow tie. For men who want to shake it up a bit, experiment with  studs that express your personality or try a classic white bow tie and vest.

Planning your dream wedding is easier than ever. Call 847-428-3320 to get tickets to a Bridal Expo Luxury Event so you can experience all of the most exciting trends in bridal attire and wedding planning.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago