Amanda & John Got Hitched

Leave it to the most comical couple on the face of the earth to really teach me how to plan a truly memorable Welcome Reception. The Groom & Best Man showed up as Dumb and Dumber's Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne! I nearly pee'd my pants I laughed so hard when the bride said, "Kelly, look out the window!"
You can see a few more photos of Amanda & John on their wedding blog. All my wedding blogs are down below on the right (the sidebar).

Welcome Casey!

Everyone, this is Casey. She's my new assistant and I am so excited that she's here. She's hard at work already finishing up Amanda & John's Welcome Bags.
Welcome to Weddings by Socialites Casey :)

TIE-dy up that budget!

There is nothing more that I love than a great deal. A couple weeks ago I searched up and down 3 cities trying to find satin finish chocolate brown neckties for the groomsmen in one of next months weddings. I had ZERO luck. I ended up buying yards of fabric and dropping it off at a seamstress. What did I find today? A GOLD MINE. Check out SolidColorNeckties.com.
Not only are the ties extremely inexpensive, but they have about every color under the sun, and every type of tie: standard ties, skinny ties, bow ties, cross over ties. LOVE it.

A cool idea? These ties are so cheap ($3.75!!!!) you could outfit all the catering staff in your wedding colors! How awesome would that be? Just order one tie per table of guests, and you should have the appropriate number to cover the servers and bartenders. Check with your venue in advance of course.

My friend needs a wedding planner

Yes, its now almost 1am and I'm still working. I just opened up this email from the most hilarious client ever and she woke up the Jerry Seinfeld in me.

Funny Bride:

Hey there! A friend of mine (guy) is getting married in City name removed to protect the dis-organized on 6/15 and they are really behind in their planning. I told him he needs a wedding planner and started asking all these questions. He wanted your info but then I told him you were in Florida :) Do you by chance know of any City Name Removed wedding planners that could help a disorganized couple?

Me:

No, I don't, because wedding planners don't deal with dis-organized couples.

Oh my gosh, I should put that on my questionnaire!:
1) Name_________________
2) Wedding Date______________
3) Are you dis-organized? _____ (if yes, stop here)
4) Expected number of guests_____


I put the word out with my wedding planner network to see who's in the area. I think I actually know one, and if she's booked, she'll give me the name of the next best thing :)

Ok, so maybe I'm not as funny as Jerry Seinfeld. But I am giggling something fierce.

I never ever thought I'd find a cake topper I liked.

But Nicole Clark has changed that. You have to look through this gals gallery. She makes custom cake toppers that look just like the bride and groom- and even their kids or pets! I totally saw this on Risa's blog (The Partea Planner) and had to tell you guys about it. Very cool.
For the record, I try very hard to do my own blogging before I read my favorite daily blogs- so that my thoughts and ideas are really my own. But if I come across something too good to pass up- I share. Tonight I'll attribute it to the face that it's nearly 12:30am and I'm still working, with no end in sight.

Say Cheese!

So I have a couple clients who want to do the polaroid stations rather than the guest book. Because really- what in the world are you going to do with a book of signatures that you can't read?
But look at this new super cool idea! I LOVE IT.
With Usnaps you get in front of the booth, push the button, and the next day all the images are online at a designated website! You and all your guests can download away or purchase prints right from the website. But the best part- the newlyweds get a high-res dvd of all the images! How cool is that? It's all the rage at celebrity parties in LA and NY.
With Photobooth Scrapbooks, you get a vintage photobooth that spits out an unlimited number of those fun photostrips and a scrapbook for your guest to attach the photos and leave a message!
Both Usnaps and Photobooth are about $2000.

They never made it to the altar

For the 1st time ever, I had a wedding cancel. Not cancel a few months before- more like a couple minutes before (about 90 minutes). I don't know the details and am not going to ask. I imagine whatever the reason was, it was a very valid reason.
So. As you might imagine, 90 minutes before, its too late to salvage anything. But I am the "silver lining" kinda gal. I stopped being sad, grabbed the wedding cake, called up a few nearby wedding pros, and had a "The wedding got cancelled" dessert hour at my house. We all took turns cutting the cake. It was nothing short of absolutely hilarious.
Here's a photo of Clint Wiley with his gorgeous girlfriend Lauren who is currently in the Naples theatre production of Showboat. That girl can sing! She sang the Little Mermaid song to all the kids...blew us away. Clints name sound familar? Maybe because he's one of the most sought after wedding musicians in the area. Also in attendence- Rob and AnnMarie Epple from AMC video. Speaking of video, I totally had the video camera out...and we had great footage of me smashing cake all over Kelly's face (my husband and I have the same first name). Leave it to me to completely destroy the tape. Yep. I taped right over it not even 24 hours later. Ugh.

This could be good or bad.

I've learned that I can blog from my cell phone, while sitting in traffic with my chai tea frap., while thumbing through this new Martha Stewart Weddings, between a cancelled wedding and meetings.

Cancelled wedding? Yep. I'll blog about that one tomorrow. That's what I'd like to call a blog CLIFFHANGER.

Real quick--

Jen & Chris's pro wedding pics are now on their blog. Thanks to photographer Gigi Hamlet for sharing!
The Wedding of Jen & Chris

Want to be on TV?

Here are some recent casting requests for wedding or engaged/newlywed shows:



Whose wedding is it Anyway?; The Style Network is currently casting for the sixth season of Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? Looking for couples with or without a planner, who want to share their wedding-preparation adventures with the hit prime-time wedding series! Click Here for the website
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I Do Over; Did you have a wedding-day disaster? Style wants to give you a chance to turn back the clock and make things right! Dress caught on fire? Cake fell over? Tell us the dirty details, 'cause Style Network is giving one lucky couple the chance to renew their vows in a fabulously perfect dream wedding. Click here for I Do Over casting
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Platinum Weddings
If you're planning an exquisite, dream-come-true, high-end wedding between now and June of 2007, we'd love to hear about it! We want storybook romances, menus created by world-renowned chefs, breathtaking venues, and unforgettable elements.
To be considered for your own episode, please email us at casting@filmgarden.net. Include: the names of the couple and the wedding planner; phone numbers and photos; date, location and total budget of the wedding; a few sentences about why your wedding is a Platinum Wedding.
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International Weddings
WE are looking for an ADVENTUROUS AMERICAN COUPLE willing to say 'I do' according to the traditions of a completely different culture.
Only ONE LUCKY COUPLE will be chosen for an ALL EXPENSES PAID international wedding.
To apply, fill out the application here and e-mail it along with the following information to CASTING@BNENT.COM:
1) Names of the engaged couple...
2) Contact Information (all phone numbers and e-mail addresses) & where the engaged couple lives (city and state)...
3) A recent photograph of the engaged couple...
4) A list of all the countries the engaged couple has visited (separately or together)
5) Why do you want to have an international wedding?
Say 'YES' to us and maybe you'll find out first hand how couples in
countries like Japan, India, Morroco, Russia, China and beyond exchange
vows!
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ABC: The Dream House; ABC is now casting for a new, positive, upbeat show in which recently married couples will compete in fun challenges and then one lucky couple will actually win an amazing house to live in! www.abcDreamHouse.com

Uncle McPicky

Okay, so you all know I have the most hilarious clients on earth. Which is good, because I love to laugh. Here's todays winner:
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"So, I got an RSVP back tonight from my Aunt (my Dad's high-maintenance sister) she's going to have the fish, but my Uncle McPicky...yes, that's right, "Picky" needs a special option and I quote:

""If possible, please provide a low-fat, no cheese vegetarian option for Uncle McPicky""

and at the very bottom it continued to say

"" *No Eggs - prefers egg beaters or egg whites for Uncle McPicky too.""

So apparently my reception is at Mel's Diner and everyone's meal is made to order"
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Now, knowing that this client likes to crack a good joke as much as I do, I respond with,

"I'll ask the venue coordinator to send a request to the chef now to find out his suggestion for something yummy (well as yummy as something low fat, cheese less, eggless, and meatless can be)."

The comedian for a bride replies:
"HAHA yeah - what does that leave him? A chunk of tofu with tomato sauce spread over it?"
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Guess what? I learned my lesson. Chef came up with something I'm dying to taste:
Squash, mushrooms, onions, peppers, zuccini, eggplant grilled and layered with a balsamic marinade, topped with fresh herbs.

Let them Eat Cake

If you like cake, live anywhere near Philadelphia, or want to support the City of Hope Cancer Center this post is for you! My dear friend and colleague, wedding planning Guru, Mark Kingsdorf (better known as the Queen of Hearts, and yes, he's the guy from Who's Wedding is it Anyway and Emily Post Wedding Etiquette) is getting ready to roll out the fondant at the 3rd annual Let Them Eat Cake!
The extravaganza will take place Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at The Bellevue. Let them Eat Cake is a wedding cake design competition for pastry arts professionals and students, which will for sure wow the hundreds of brides and wedding professionals that will be in attendance. Oh, and of course- there will be plenty of cake to eat, champagne to drink in the Korbel Lounge, and HUGE raffled prizes. Yep- worth the donation! From the looks of last years event- I might just have to try and find a way to get up there myself. Too good too miss! Click here to see the video.
To get more details please visit the website: Let Them Eat Cake

Your Big Exit

I received this question from a reader yesterday:

I was wondering if you had any creative/unique ideas for a send off at a venue that doesn't allow confetti, birdseed, sparklers, etc.

It's such a great question because there are some really creative things that can be done. Before you start to plan your big send off, take note of a few things:
1. The rules and regulations of your venue.
2. Local laws
3. If you're planning something really great- keep your photographer AND videographer until the end of the reception. Something like this is not the thing to leave out of your professional photos and video.
4. Somebody has to be in charge of staging the exit. If you don't have a wedding planner or wedding coordinator, make sure you have someone responsible and sober enough to remember their special job.
5. Timing, and the ability to move all the guests out is crucial.

Okay, so here are a few ideas:
1. Rose petal toss. This looks so great, its environmentally safe, and the petals don't hurt. I had rice at my wedding. It was the worst ever. It hurt so bad.
2. Fog machine, Disco lights, and a big funky song. Doors swing open, and the two of you come out dancing! This is also a really great segue to an after party...
3. Feathers, bubbles, or balloon drop
4. A choreographed dance. The dirty dancing finale would be perfect. See the YouTube video down at the bottom of the blog.

No blood, No wait, Anyone can officiate!

Yep, I wrote that little doozy myself.

5 reasons why you should consider South West Florida for your destination wedding:

1. No blood tests are required. In many states and destinations you are required to have a blood test prior to getting a marriage license. Not if you come to Florida!

2. No waiting period. Several states and countries require that you either wait several days before your license is valid or that you be within its boundaries for a certain length of time prior to the ceremony. The exception- if you are a Florida resident, you have to wait 3 days.

3. Anyone can officiate. Anyone can go online, get ordained, and officiate your wedding! How cool is that? Your favorite Uncle Sam can marry you! I married some of our best friends. I balled through the whole thing. It was hilarious.

4. No passport required. Did you know you need a passport even for the Bahamas now? Save your guests the hassle.

5. None of your friends got married here. Chances are, you'll be the 1st of your gang to tie the knot here. Meaning, anyone who does it after- just followed your lead. You have such great taste.

6. It's less expensive and you'll have more time. Yes, its less expensive to travel and stay in Florida than it is to travel and stay in Mexico, the Bahamas, or Europe. I say this knowing that the majority of my readers are on the Eastern half of the US.

7. It's gorgeous here. No seriously, its gorgeous.

8. I'm here and perhaps I could help plan your wedding. "Call me!" You know, like Debbie on the Sprint commercials? Remember Debbie? Whatever happened to Debbie? hmmmmm

Photo credit (ceremony): Nick Adams
I know, I have more than 5 on the list. I couldn't stop. I have more if you need more. Hee Hee.

Supermodel!

"You better work! Work it girl, do your thing on the ..." Remember that song? What was his/her name? I Can't remember. Yes I do, it was RuPaul.

Anyway- the point I'm getting to- I'm very excited. Two of Weddings by Socialites couples are featured on Michelle Reeds website! Karyn and Len are on the enter page and the homepage; Jill & Tim are featured on Aimee's gallery.
I took the photo above- that's Aimee getting Jill & Tim set for a shot.

Jen got married!

This weekends wedding was a special one. You might recognize the gal in the photo with me, its Jen, the wedding coordinator at Casa Ybel Resort on Sanibel Island. We've worked many weddings together over the last few years. It was an honor to be able to work with her on her very own wedding. Click HERE to see her photoshow. These are snapshots I took- the professional photos will be a few weeks...