CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS:

DÉCOR: Never before published Fall/Winter ceremony sites, tabletops, lounges and after-parties. We still want to see your incredible, over-the-top designs, but we are also interested in more modern and simplistic designs. *submissions should be emailed to jessica@weddingstylemagazine.com or mailed to either address below on a labeled CD/DVD.

CAKES: Never before published Fall/Winter wedding cakes, groom’s cakes, macaroon towers, chrochenbouche and miniature cakes. We are still looking for classic, romantic cream and white cakes, but we are also interested in ethnic-inspired designs. *submissions should be emailed to jessica@weddingstylemagazine.com or mailed to either address below on a labeled CD/DVD.

WEDDINGS: Never before published, $100,000+ weddings that have taken placed from March 1, 2010 to the present. *emailed submissions will not be accepted. Please mail a CD/DVD with 50-100 images along with a brief blurb on the couple, how they met, vendors, etc. or they can be sent through Two Bright Lights.

DEADLINE: All submissions are due by Monday, March 14th, 2011.

NOTE: All images must be able to be printed at 9.5×12 inches at 300 dpi if chosen and you must be able to provide vendor and photography credits, as well as a brief description upon request. Due to the volume of submissions, only those chosen for inclusion will be notified. Anything submitted must be with the permission of the couple, vendor, etc. Furthermore, any image used is on the premise of credit and no usage fee will be given; likewise, no fee is required to be considered for editorial inclusion.

The long awaited picture has finally made it to my inbox.

Here’s some Valentine wedding inspiration from “>Wedding Wire.

This is such great information.
Written by:
Mildred Purnell
CEO of Meetings-Hotels.com

The big day is approaching and it’s time to think about planning for the wedding! It is natural for couples to be confused over where to start. As you go deeper into your planning, you will experience more obstacles. As a result, consideration of hiring a professional wedding planner might arise. If this happens, here are some reasons why you should employ a professional wedding planner.

1) Wedding Planner Protects You From Hiring the Wrong Services

Since they are familiar with the industry, they know the best and reliable vendors, as some companies may not be as professional as they claim.

Some vendors might charge you higher rates for using their services. Instead, utilizing a wedding planner may help you to get a considerable reduction in rates since in most cases; vendors will offer planner?s clients lower rates.

2) Wedding Planners Typically Offer Tiered Services

Maybe you don’t need a wedding planner to plan your wedding. However, you might need to get some advice and reliable answers regarding vendors and services. A wedding planner can go several ways. For instance, you may hire a coordinator to act as an hourly consultant to answer your questions and to gain resources.

Another option is to opt for a wedding-day director to tie everything together as a comprehensive event planner. Make sure to analyze your needs and get help only for those areas to cut on cost.

3) Planning A Wedding Can Be Stressful

Weddings can be very stressful, especially if all the details are disorganized and there are too many of things to do. Trying to reorganize details and doing most of the work will require more time. Wedding planner can help to take your load off by helping you to organize your details more effectively. Basically, hiring a wedding planner allows you to have more free time to concentrate on other important things as they will do the searching, contacting, negotiating, arrangements, etc. All you need to do is to approve their work.

4) Save Money

Wedding Planners today are more affordable and competitive than they used to be allowing you have more options for the one that suits your budget. Plus, wedding planners are experienced with working within a budget. They are familiar with negotiating contract with vendors and suppliers to work around your budget by either taking advantage of discounts or bid for the lowest rate.

5) Weddings Are Uncontrollable Events

Problems do arise on the day of your wedding. Imagine walking down the aisle only to realize and be furious about the flowers on the table, which aren’t the ones you’ve ordered. Or even friends who were hired to be the wedding planner, usually falls into guest role once the reception starts leaving the bride to manage the wedding. A bride’s memory of her wedding day need not be filled with scenes of managing and directing the event. The bride and friend should be able to enjoy the wedding, not manage. This is why a wedding planner is needed.

Wedding is one of the most meaningful events in one’s life. To make it count, regardless whether you are planning for a big or small wedding ceremony, it does not hurt to get professional help to assist you in your plans to ensure peace of mind on your wedding day.

and I wish more people would get that - especially unsuspecting brides. Here’s a blog post that is right on by my friend and colleague The Wedding Diva, Linnyette Richardson-Hall.
I AM????????
…..The title of today’s post, “I AM??” harkens to my observation process, which is always in warp mode. I make my living by watching life happen around me, so over the years - this particular question has always fascinated me as I look at those around me in the industry. What I am about to say in the next few paragraphs is going to evoke a couple of different reactions from those who read it. You’re either: A) Gonna LOVE every syllable and say “PREACH”! or B) You are going to think I have lost my mind. For me, it doesn’t matter. It’s the truth - and on many, many occasions..hearing the facts as they really are can be stinging, to say the least. I see it as an opportunity to absorb, learn and move forward towards being better….

I AM a creative person. For me, being the wedding planner has been one of the BEST outlets to showcase how my mind works and the sheer wonder of watching my thoughts play out into action. I think in terms of color, shape, light, shadow, logistics, numbers - in short, I meld the creative process with the hard reality of thinking to mold someone’s vision into an EXPERIENCE. Over the years, all of that creativity and rational thinking have led to other “talents” which I’ve been able to grow and define. They are all symbiotic to my main role and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have discovered and honed those skills.

Here’s the “rub” - I really believe that as individuals, we are all destined to do a series of “things”. But there will be ONE trait, one talent, one skill, that will stand out and shine above the rest. That “component” is our calling, it is the area where we will excel the most. It will be the talent that appears to be effortless, we don’t even have to think about how we do it…it just gets done. Now, here’s where I drop the shoe off of the other foot..wait for it…wait for it…..

YOU CANNOT DO EVERYTHING. I’ll repeat that: YOU CANNOT DO EVERYTHING. In the wedding industry, the saying “jack of all trades, master of none” is so evident. For some odd reason, people are thinking that they can take on a myriad of functions and do them all well. Well, guess what? You can’t. There - I said it. Somebody had to. Let’s get real - you can’t be the wedding planner/florist/caterer/limousine service/dj/stationer….all rolled into one being or entity. All of those capacities require separate skill sets and their relevance needs to be taken into consideration. There are only 24 hours in a day and most of us are struggling to get by on just those, so it’s simply amazing to me when I see situations like these emerge.

As the wedding planner, I really think that people somehow feel my job is easy. It’s NOT. Trust me. And because I make it seem “effortless”, they think that it can be added on to whatever they already do (hence my multi-task description in the previous paragraph) and it will generate more money/business for them. As Ed Lover would say, “C’mon SON!!” Pardon my slip into the vernacular - but it ain’t gonna happen. At some point, something is going to suffer - you can’t do 50 million things well. And with the “suffering” comes a reduction in standards, a loss of creativity and you’re nothing more than a hamster on a wheel. You’re running…but going absolutely nowhere.

Want to be successful in this industry? Know who you ARE. Understand your strengths AND weaknesses, then make the most of them. Can you bake like nobody’s business? Great - be a baker!! Does your food make people just smile for days on end? Catering is your thing! When you spin those tunes or ripple your fingers across a keyboard, does it make people want to get up and dance? You, my friend, are the entertainer. Bottom line is this: It’s time for people to start being the best at what they are and STOP being greedy. I know multiple streams of revenue are always key to staying in the black, but when you do too much, your “painting” will be a scribbled, jumbled mess instead of the beautiful art it should be…..

**drops the mic and exits stage left**

Oh by gosh by golly! It wouldn’t be Christmas if I didn’t post my grown up Christmas list:
“…Well heaven surely knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul.
No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up Christmas list.”

May God bless you this coming year.
Thank you for your business and your continued support. Lord knows I appreciate it.

Be sure to watch out for our facebook ad and like us!

Normally when I start a post I have a tip or suggestion. That isn’t the case here. This is merely a post to beware. The wedding industry has a lot of people and vendors that are fly by nights. (Definition of fly by night: unscrupulous; “a shady operation” )
In the last 2 weeks I have received 4 phone calls with similar scenarios that could be possible problems… BIG problems. Venues that have overbooked. Venues that have been sold. Employees that signed contracts then are no longer employed at that establishment. Last but not least; the financial contributors have backed out. One of the scenarios included 3 of the 4 problems mentioned here! Brides, take heed. Your wedding planning process needs to be thought out and have direction. Consult a wedding professional that has been in the industry for a while. If something seems too good to be true, more likely than not, it is. Your deposit (in most situations) is not refundable!! A reliable wedding professional can tell you something in 15 minutes that will take you 3 days of research.

It’s official… my little girl has gotten engaged. Although I’m ecstatic, I realize that I’m joining the masses of the daunting task of planning a wedding with my little beloved. We’ve been down this road before planning her Quinceanero. We had lots of time and lots of planning. I’m hoping that because Whit was turning 15, her undeveloped taste is behind her. We had too many things to choose from and, although she is quite picky, I don’t think her taste had developed for princessery. Yes, that’s a word - and I just made it up.
If I’m going to trust my planning guide - which I’ve used for years and tons of weddings, I know that the first order of business is the guest list. Without a guest list you can’t move forward. We all know this right? Not one decision can be made until you know the number of guests you’re planning on inviting.

Be sure to come out and review the unveiling of our (long awaited) strategic plan for Columbia. I’ll be thinking of Missy…