Bridal News

One lucky Northern Virginia couple experienced a beautiful country club wedding reception - provided gratis by Stonewall Golf & Country Club, as part of the $60,000 Marry Me Group Wedding Giveaway.

Jason & Samantha celebrate at Stonewall Golf

Jason and Samantha Klickna celebrated in style August 28th as 13 vendors provided their products and services for their wedding & reception. As part of the contest, couples were asked to write, in 500 words, a personal essay regarding why they should receive the giveaway and submit it along with a photo to the Marry Me Group. Jason and Samantha had put their wedding dreams on hold in order to care for Jason’s cancer-stricken dad. He was lovingly remembered at the wedding.

Participating vendors in the wedding giveaway include: Stonewall Golf & Country Club, Lisa Schulz The Posh Planner, Cleverly Candid Photography, Julia MacInnis Photography, Holly Heider Chapple Flowers, Paperzest, Olivera Music Entertainment, Taylor Made Cakes, Capital Party Rentals, Capitol Chocolate Fountains, My Mobile Salon, Samantha Spittle, Acuity Audiovisual, Reston Limousine, Kenna’s Cookies, Dolce Video.

Event planner Myrna Grossman, owner of For All Occasions, is a fountain of knowledge and a frequent contributor to the Bridal News Blog. It is always a pleasure to share her tips and words of wisdom with my readers:

What about Wedding Insurance?

Lately, many couples have asked me about this topic. Wedding insurance, in these economic times, is perhaps one expense best incurred. Unfortunately, wedding vendors can go out of business and into bankruptcy - or simply not show up for an event. Wedding insurance is worth the peace of mind to have financial coverage - just in case.

Insurance will cover the following in most policies, but of course each company is different. So make sure your coverage is well defined. Bankrupt vendors, unforseen terrible weather conditions, sudden death, accidents at the venue, gifts that get damaged are just a few areas of coverage. Typically, the policy will have a deductible and some will be quite high, so check carefully to avoid these policies. One area of coverage I feel is well worth including is liquor liability.

Plan carefully, and cover all aspects to ensure - and insure - a wonderful wedding day.

Myrna offers full service, partial planning and day of coordination. To learn more about her services, call 703.222.5912.

Stephanie Hughes, event planner and owner of Diamond Events, recently penned this article for the new edition of Brides & Weddings of Northern Virginia. Follow Stephanie’s advice, and you’ll be ready for anything!

No matter how organized you are and how much planning you’ve done before the wedding, you should always expect the unexpected. And an emergency kit for your wedding day is the best way to prepare.

If building your own kit, start at least two or three months before the wedding so you can gather the items over time. This allows you to consider the possible needs of your close friends and family. Designate someone to be responsible for the emergency kit; bringing it from location to location and keeping it readily available.

Suggested emergency kit items:

Be prepared on your wedding day

Band Aids * Blotting Papers * Bobby Pins * Bottle of Water * Clear Nail Polish * Deodorant * Emory Board * Feminine Products * Hand Lotion * Hand Sanitizer * Lipstick or Lip Gloss * Mints * Pain Reliever * Qtips * Safety Pins * Small Lint Brush * Super Glue * Tissues * Rums/Rolaids * Sewing Kit with Scissors * Granola Bars or other easy-to-carry Snacks * Chalk (tied for easy packing, to hide scuffs and marks on white leather and fabrics) * Straws

You’ll also want to make a list of items to carry in your purse:

Cell Phone * Handkerchief or Tissues * Lip Gloss or Lipstick to match * Makeup for touch-ups * Mirror * Nail File * Perfume

One of the great advantages to hiring a day of coordinator is the extensive emergency kit this professional brings to every wedding. Your coordinator will carry glue and staple guns, floral wire, hundreds of safety pins, fasteners, packing tape, lighters, scissors and more - there is nothing the kit can’t handle!

So remember, either put your emergency kit in the hands of a professional or start putting yours together early and you’ll be prepared for anything!

One of my regular blog contributors and a favorite wedding friend is event planner Myrna Grossman, owner of For All Occasions in Fairfax. Myrna is busy planning her own wedding to be held this month in Nashville, TN, but she had a few minutes and wanted me to pass along these words of wisdom ….

“I was at a resort this past weekend as a guest at a wedding, when lo and behold, another bride was walking with her photographer through the lobby with her mother holding up her gown and practically tripping so she could keep up with them!!! I was so upset for this poor mom.”

“Ladies and Gents, please, please - if nothing else, have a day of coordinator! Let an expert in the field help with the “chores” of the day. These are not to be done by your moms or any other family member. Every family member should be a guest at the wedding and be able to enjoy themselves. I am sure it was this mom’s pleasure to be holding up the daughter’s gown, but believe me - you don’t want to put your mother in that position!”

Good advice Myrna - isn’t it enough that she raised you? Moms are special guests - not ladies in waiting. To learn more about Myrna and her day of coordinating services, call 703.222.5912.

Best wishes to you, Myrna, and your groom Paul for a fabulous wedding and a long, happy marriage!

Cindie

Gain valuable planning advice, have wedding pros answer your questions and (for you crafty types!) enjoy a DIY bridal project at one of the upcoming workshops offered by All About You Event Management. Workshops will be held June 13, July 11, August 8 and September 12, 1-4pm, at The Ahren’s Institute (located inside the National Recreation & Parks Association headquarters), 22377 Belmont Ridge Road, Ashburn. There will be light refreshments, bags of bridal goodies and door prize drawings. Cost is $25 per person, per session. For more info and to register, call 571.291.3187 or email info@aayouevents.com.

Cindie

Victoria Wagner, owner of A Splash of Elegance, a wedding planning firm in Reston, gets a lot of bridal etiquette questions. She thought this one was particularly interesting, so we thought we would share it with you.

Bride: “My mother insists that etiquette demands I ask all my sisters to be in my wedding party. Is this really necessary?”

Victoria’s Response: “This is a delicate question, for sure! It’s important to remember that a wedding is a time to bring people together, not cause friction, and sometimes as a bride, that means molding and shaping your wedding party to show your uniqueness. And, if you have multiple sisters, that certainly attributes to your uniqueness! I’ve heard of weddings where the bride had a Matron of Honor and two Maids of Honor, having all her sisters serve in that special role.”

Good advice! Victoria will be sharing more etiquette questions in future posts on the Bridal News Blog. And if you have an etiquette question, please feel free to email it to cindiereinhold@bridesandweddings.com or post it to me on the Brides & Weddings Facebook Fan page.

Cindie

You probably have a million questions when it comes to wedding planning and etiquette. One of my favorite blog contributors, Myrna Grossman, owner of For All Occasions, a Fairfax-based wedding and event planning company, has put together some frequently asked Q & A’s:

Beginning with invitations: When should they be ordered and mailed?

Invitations should be ordered when all the pertinent information for the ceremony and reception has been confirmed. Order them at least 3 months before the wedding and mail them six to eight weeks before the ceremony. Remember, the invitation sets the tone of the wedding. It’s the first glimpse into what your wedding will be like.

May guests be invited to a reception and not the wedding itself?

If the wedding ceremony is only for relatives and close friends, then yes, others may be invited only to the reception.

The Ceremony: What if the church has two center aisles?

You can use one of the aisles for the processional and one for the recessional; you do not have to use just one aisle for the entire wedding unless it’s church policy.

How many ushers and bridesmaids are needed?

It certainly depends on the size of the wedding, but normally there would be one usher for every 50 guests. The average wedding party for a formal or semi-formal wedding is typically four to six bridesmaids and groomsmen.

At the reception, on which side of the groom does the bride sit?

The bride is always seated on the groom’s right.

Who proposes the first toast?

The Best Man proposes the first toast to the bride and groom. He must remember that it is a toast, not a roast.  This is different from a welcome by the bride’s parents.

As always, thanks for the great info, Myrna. You can find this column, along with other insights, on our Myrna’s Memos page.

If you have any questions about your wedding, email Myrna at mg@fao-events.com. She’ll be happy to get the answer for you. And be sure to mention that you saw her on our Bridal News Blog.

Happy Planning,

Cindie

While enjoying lunch with my new client Victoria Wagner, owner of the event planning company A Splash of Elegance, we discussed the importance of sending thank you notes. The writing of thank you notes, like opposable thumbs, is what separates humans from the rest of the animal kingdom.

Here are some helpful hints from Victoria …

Yikes, every bridal couple is faced with the task of thanking all their dear family and friends for the wonderful shower gifts, and then all the wedding gifts, too! Never fear, here’s an easy strategy for you. Write a special thank you using five simple steps:

* Name the giver (“Dear Aunt Sarah”)

* Say something nice (“It was so special to have you at my bridal shower last Saturday.”)

* Thank the giver for the gift (Thank you for the beautiful soup tureen.”)

* Include a nice closing (“I can’t wait to have you and Uncle David over to share a special soup recipe that Paul and I just love! We’re looking forward to seeing you at the wedding, too.”)

Sign the note (“Love, Jennifer”)

And one final tip - write those thank you notes as soon as the gift arrives, then you’re done! How easy is that?

Easy indeed, Victoria. To learn more about A Splash of Elegance and the services Victoria provides, call 703.888.8728.

Thank you!

Cindie

My client and good friend Myrna Grossman, event planner and owner of For All Occasions in Fairfax, is a regular contributor to the Bridal News Blog as well as our planning guide, Brides & Weddings of Northern Virginia. In fact, she even has her own page on the blog - Myrna’s Memos (you can see all her posts if you click on the page link on the right).

Myrna is back from the Special Event Conference in New Orleans and has some new and exciting ideas for your upcoming wedding:

According to the trend setters in New York and California:

Turquoise is the Pantone color for the year.

Tangerine and cobalt will be seen as another new color palette this wedding season.

Regaining popularity is the all white wedding party which gives an “upscale estate” style and looks simply elegant in photos.

Bright, colorful shoes are peeking out under wedding gowns - reds and blues take the lead.

Vegetable centerpieces – tomatoes too – are gracing tables.

Small, multiple wedding cakes are being placed a variety of cute cake stands.

And last, but not least, the retro birdcage veil is back, allowing for an unobstructed view of the gown’s neckline and back.

These are but a few new ideas for this 2010 wedding season .. happy planning until next time!

Thanks Myrna!

Cindie

Event designer Cristina Curcio is a rising star on the social scene and one busy lady! She is an experienced bridal consultant, Special Events Design Manager for MK Catering Inc. and a contributing writer for the latest edition of Brides & Weddings of Northern Virginia.

Here are some great “words of wisdom” from Cristina on how to make your wedding reception a one of a kind event …

Inspiration: Let your inspiration represent one sentimental thing you both love. It will help you stay focused and guide you on everything from invitations to the last tablescape detail.

Budget & Resources: Be realistic in determining your overall budget and allocating for catering, rentals and décor. And give yourself a 10% cushion as things inevitably come up.

Double duty: Pick elements that serve more than one function, such as place card holders that are also favors or edible centerpieces like cupcake place card holders or wine bottle table markers.

Going “Green”: Consider reusing your floral arrangements for the day-after brunch or donating them to a senior living facility or hospital.

Natural elements: Trees and other greenery are becoming more predominant in designs.

Playful, elegant ambiance: Showcase chic design with an element of whimsy.

Fun, creative place card tablescapes: Use unique holders for place card markers.

Monochromatic color scheme: Select tones of one color, such as different shades of blue.

Creative touches: It’s all in the details – napkin folds, menus, party favors and place cards. Consider using all those wine corks you’ve accumulated as place card holders. Why be square? Use circular or fan style menus and ribbons for table runners.

Lighting: Provide atmosphere with small candles in individual votives hanging from floral arrangements or adorning tree-like centerpieces. Position spotlights from above to illuminate the center of the tablescape. Try small, battery operated spotlights on tables angled upward onto centerpieces or LED lights in the centerpieces. Change overall room lighting throughout the evening to set different moods. Use acrylic tables with translucent linens to provide a glow.

Customize it: Make your wedding uniquely you by creating a logo instead of using a traditional monogram.

Mix and match: Create interest, and still maintain cohesion, by mixing and matching shapes and sizes of cake layers, vases, votives, mirrors and lanterns.

Unique flair: Rent special pieces that accentuate your special personality and design. Think air twist glassware, square china and acrylic chivari chairs.

Multiples: Using three of the same floral filled vases or several of the same color, shape, or size of candle can be both simple and different.

Simplicity: Keeping it simple can be both cost effective and elegant. Design delicate and light floral arrangements that also serve the practical purpose of allowing guests to see across the table. Use one or a minimal number of blooms.

In the end, the most important thing is to have fun with it!