We're Having a DIY Wedding Sale

We're cleaning out our storage units!  We've partnered with Signature Florals and we're selling off tons of wedding decor to make room for new splendid items.  Stop by and see if there's anything that you can use at your wedding (or just around your house!).

Friday April 8 from 3pm-7pm and Saturday April 9 from 10am-2pm

We pretty much expect it to be the best indoor yard sale ever!

Thousands of décor and details to browse and buy: 

Vases - Crystals-Silk flowers - Tablecloths - Runners - Chargers - Candle holders - Candles - Lanterns - Stationery - Cake stands - Ribbon - Favors -Candy Buffet - Unique table decor And much more!

The sale will take place at 

The Resort at Marina Village

5971 Silver King Blvd 

Cape Coral, FL

Head to the Hope Ballroom

Free to Shop!

"Like" us on facebook (DIY Wedding Sale) to claim your Swag Bag

Friday April 8 3pm-7pm

Saturday April 9 10am-2pm

10% of our proceeds will be donated to Wish Upon a Wedding

For more info attending as a Bride, vendor, or general shopper please call 239.540.9029

or e-mail info@kellymcwilliams.com

Attention Wedding Professionals: Brides don't always know.

Yesterday I was out picking out my husbands birthday gift and I went to his favorite shop. Now here's the thing, I had every intention of buying a gift. Like a Reel or a Rod or something like that. And then, I walked into the store and saw this:

I twittered that after seeing this table of I have no idea what these all are, I quickly became confused, overwhelmed, and ready to run for the oh so not unique gift certificate. A moment later, Monica of The White Box twittered back, "Aghh! Just looking at that kind of stressed me out." This comment instantly made me think,

you know, this must be what its like when a newly engaged bride is trying to decipher the abyss of flowers,fillers & vases; playlists, instruments & protocols; linens, chairs & tables; cake styles, frostings & fillings...

Do you remember when you first realized you had no idea there was so much you didn't know?
So just a reminder to us all, to make conscious efforts to explain everything to our clients, or at least inquire into their knowledge so that they aren't feeling like a chick in a fishing tackle shop when her comfort zone is Homegoods (this would be me).
Here is a great example of a magazine that totally gets it. Bride & Bloom used to include these flower cards. I still use them to this day.


YES! You can follow Monica of The White Box, Bride & Bloom, and me on twitter. Good stuff over there...

Wedding Planner Interview for Brides

I came across this while I was archiving my emails late last night and I thought that it would be great to share with brides. It is by far one of the most thorough interviews I was ever asked to complete. After I sent it back to the potential client, we had a phone consult, which we could use to talk more about her wedding- so efficient. I should have known; turns out she was an event planner.

1. Is wedding planning your only job?
2. How many clients do you have right now?
3. How many weddings have you planned & designed, start to finish?
4. How many weddings have you planned and executed in the last 24 months?
5. How many weddings have you coordinated (wedding day coordination)in the last 24 months?
6. Who were the last 4 photographers you worked with?
7. What venues have you worked at in the last 6 months?
8. Can I get a recommendation from one of your last 4 full service clients?
9. Can I get a recommendation from one of your last 4 coordination clients?
10. Where can I see samples of your creative or design work? And are all the pictures on your website weddings that you planned?
11. Are contracts with vendors with my name or yours?
12. Do you only work with select vendors or at select locations?
13. Have you ever worked for the venues you now plan weddings at?
14. Do you accept any kick-backs or commissions?
15. Do you offer invitation etiquette assistance?
16. Can I order any products from you, such as linens, invitations, and chairs?
17. How quickly can I expect replies to phone calls and emails?
18. Do you have assistants that will be helping at my wedding day? How many?
19. Will you be on site the entire length of my wedding day?
20. Are your rates negotiable?

Want to know my answers? Check back tomorrow!

Have to cut your budget? Call a wedding planner now!

A couple days ago the NY Times published an article about the effects of the current economy and wedding planning. While some are fortunate enough to not have to cut back, many couples started their planning with a budget in mind that now seems impossible. For those who fall into the latter, this is the best time for you to call in a wedding planner. Not a wedding designer or wedding coordinator- but a planner or consultant. I have a feeling you're thinking (or perhaps screaming at your laptop),

"Is she nuts? Why would I spend money on a planner when I can't afford the band I want?"

I'll tell you why. There is no better person to show you how it may be possible to cut your costs significantly without losing sight of what you wanted for your wedding prior to having to cut back. A wedding planner or consultant has experience and professional relationships and knows how to make the most of the money you have available. Would I love for you to still be able to have the amazing 12 piece band? Yes. If the dollar wasn't an issue, go for it. But if it is an issue, let's find a way to get something just as great for less. And yes, it absolutely is possible! Dreaming of a platinum wedding on a shoe string budget? Or maybe that shoe string even just broke. Geez, I hate when that happens. So with all that said, call a wedding planner or consultant in the area where you are getting married. If nothing else, ask if its possible to hire for consulting only (usually at an hourly rate).
Just a quick note- it is crucial that you go to a well experienced professional if you're hiring specifically for this reason.

Need a referral for a great planner in your area? Email me. I happen to know some really great planners all over the world. WeddingTidbits{at}Gmail.com Another good source for good planners- ask your venue who is the planner they work with most often (again, make sure it is a planner and not just a day of coordinator!). Many venues don't list planners on the vendor lists, so you have to ask.
Photo by Julie Goodacre.

Wedding Planning Problem & SolutionGetting it all covered

I just got off the phone with a wedding pro. We were chatting about her wedding last night, and she mentioned that while it was a great wedding, it wasn't going to be completely documented because key things happened well after the photographer and videographer were scheduled to leave, amongst some other things.
The Problem: A proper detailed plan wasn't created.
The Result: The cake cutting, parent dances, and choreographed wedding party dance aren't on film. The top tier of the cake got left out all night. The couple had to pay $1000 overtime labor and site fees to the venue because nobody stayed that evening to clear out the centerpieces and rented linens, oh and the band wasn't done breaking down until an hour and a half after the doors were to be locked.
The Solution: A wedding day plan other than what was delivered to you by your venue coordinator on her BEO needs to be developed to incorporate everything involving your wedding. It should:

}Coordinate everything that is supposed to happen, every tangible item that you're bringing (with what/where to do with it), all the vendors, as well as a BEO summary.
}It should begin at the start of the day- set-up... thru the end of the day- breakdown; the 5 W's rule should be followed on your plan.

If you have a professional wedding planner, she's already doing this for you and you need not be worried(just ask, she shouldn't be offended)! If you're going DIY, start your plan in the beginning of your planning and develop it as you go.
Questions? Leave a comment!

How a wedding planner is a financial investmentand a giveaway too!

Anyone can tell you easily that having a wedding planner just makes things easier. Obviously, that's probably one of the main reasons you're considering having one. That's because before you got engaged, you already had a pretty full schedule. Adding a +200 hour project to your plate is probably not going to fit in easily. Well, maybe it would if you could plan it one hour a day for six and a half months. Not possible; wouldn't that be something though?

Okay, so besides the time saved, let's talk a bit about some things that are a benefit financially. I always get asked,

"Exactly how can you save me money?"

My answer is the same,

"I can't guarantee any specific savings, but I can tell you some things that seem to be pretty consistent"

With that said...
1. Wedding planners, especially those who also do design work, often have "stuff". Stuff left from previous weddings. What does that mean to you? That means that the rehearsal dinner and/or welcome reception (that you forgot to budget decor for- oops) might actually turn out to be amazing because your wedding planner happens to have some custom linens that a previous bride didn't want, a dozen very cool lanterns that would make perfect centerpieces, about 100 luminaries to light the path. So when interviewing your potential wedding planner, ask if she has "stuff"! Note: I am in no way saying that you should only hire a planner who has "stuff". It's just a nice little budget booster if she/he does.

2. Wedding planners know the key to contracts is not the fine print, it's the missing print. Everyone knows to read the fine print. If you don't know what is missing, you don't know what you'll be paying for later down the road. It's a planners responsibility to draw your attention to these things. Example: Let's say you are having an outdoor welcome reception in the evening. An event for which you are paying a $500 site fee. Your contract says that this includes the space, chairs, tables, linen, set-up and breakdown. Sounds all inclusive right? Wrong. There's a list of at least six things that I can think of off the top of my head that you are going to need for this event. And nope, they aren't free. So what is going to happen? A couple weeks before the event, you'll get a call from your venue saying,

"Did you want to get _____? Because you're going to need it. Yes, we can provide it at a cost of $$$$$"

Every professional planner should be able to do this for you.

3. Your wedding planner knows when to call it a night. How many weddings do you go to a year? Your wedding planner goes to lots of them. Because we've experienced it so many times, we can tell when your guests have just about had all the fun they can. So when you've been able to enjoy all the champagne, and you're having a great time on the dance floor, we're watching the door, and who is walking out of it- we know what the sign is. The time has come when we walk up to you and say, it's time for the last dance per your contracted end time. Well, you're still having a great time, and you turn around and see there are still 30 people having a great time. So perhaps you say,

"No way wedding planner, we're still having a great time, look at the dance floor!"

It's at this moment that we're going to save you $$$$. Because we've seen "the sign", and know that the cost for you to add on that additional hour to the bar, band, and venue is going to be $$$$ for just an hour. And if you were to extend that hour, within 15 minutes, there will only be 8 people left. So basically what it comes down to is that we're not going to let you make a rash decision that will cost you a great deal money that you could be spending extending your honeymoon 3 days instead! So drink your champagne, we'll watch your back (and your wallet!).

4. Myth: Super small or "intimate weddings" (under 20 guests) don't need wedding planners. Myth with a capital M. While many people are having small weddings because they like the intimacy of it, many people are doing it because it is just so much less expensive. Here's what I can say- it's the small weddings that planners are often able to get the best deals for their clients. It's these weddings where we can pull from different resources that we can't do for larger events. Why? Just one reason: because we can do so much of the work ourselves instead of having to outsource. This is just one reason, but boy do I have a list for this one!

5. Believe it or not, not all the really good and well priced vendors are where you are looking for vendors. An established wedding planner knows many many professionals, beyond the current popularity list. You're going to have to trust us on this one- but this is usually the Ace!

This is just a short list of benefits, but I thought it would be a good time to share this kind of information.

How about I save you $5 right now? Send a comment, and we'll draw 3 names to send the current issue of Destination Weddings & Honeymoons to! I'll announce the winners on Thursday.

Dear Kelly, I want to be a wedding planner.How do I do it?

I get this email every single day. I'm really quite flattered by it to be honest. So, thanks for asking, it makes me smile. This answer is NOT for everyone. I guarantee there is going to be someone who thinks that this is the stupidest answer ever. Hopefully though, it will mean something good to someone out there.

Hi, my name is ______, I'm a 20 year undergrad at University of _____, and am addicted to your blog. As a young college student, the question of my career path has come up quite often, and with much research and thought, the one job that constantly is in the back of my mind is wedding and event planner. Ive had my hand in planning a few events and parties, and loved every tiny detail. I'm originally from _________, and with a large high end mall, and many gated communities popping up on the west side of the city, I'm wondering if soon would be the time for someone like me to start up something and see if the city can support it. It's been slightly frustrating as every search for "Becoming a wedding/event planner" comes up with results of online courses/ guide books... and finally your blog, and many other wonderful sites like junebug and weddingbee. I don't think for a second I could make a website, open doors and succeed, none the less have a clue what I'm doing and would rather do this right to make a career, and not a failed attempt :) Ive contacted a few local businesses but am not receiving the friendly response I'd expected and don't know if this is due to my approach. I'm wondering if I could throw a few questions your way, and maybe get some advice on how to approach this subject. Thank you so much for your time, and I really appreciate anything you'd be willing to offer.

My response:

Hi ______,
Thanks for reading my blog! I understand your frustration. I was there once myself. The reason you aren't getting a great response from the local wedding industry is probably one of two things. Either you're contacting them during wedding season when they are all extremely busy and can't deal with someone calling on them for help at the moment, or (and more likely), they are afraid of helping the competition.
Are you at a school that has a Hospitality & Resort Management major? If not, that might be your 1st big decision...that's where you need to head to. If you are looking to get a small business degree and use that as your foundation- then stay put and start learning events from a different angle. If you can't find a wedding planner who will let you come on as an intern, look for internships with photographers, florists, wedding cake bakers, and videographers. Photographers and Videographers are your best bet so that you can actually attend as many weddings as possible. You'll also want to get a job in sales and catering at a local resort. I say resort and not country club because a resort will allow you to hold several positions outside of food and beverage that you can learn from and use in your career as a wedding planner.
I want to tell you that you are 100% doing the right thing...look for the areas that are growing and are going to need a wedding planner in the next couple years. Get in while nobody else is there so that when it does "boom"- you are it. In other words, learn how to plan in a market that has already been built, and then open shop in a market that shows signs of becoming big.
Best wishes to you _______- let me know how it goes!

Here's the thing gang. It is HARD and I mean really hard to be a wedding planner. I am not even going to try and deny that. Is it fun? Yes. I love it. I am totally addicted. When I talk to a bride and I say, "I am so excited!" I am not kidding- I really am. You have to have a passion for it. A passion for planning your own wedding does not mean you will have the passion to plan 15 weddings at the same time, with 15 different personalities, tastes, and styles. And if you're going to do this for a career, that's what you have to plan on doing. Also, you have to be prepared to work your arse off. I work a minimum of 60 hours a week, and during our wedding seasons, there are weeks on end where I don't get a day off and I work 14 hour days 3 weeks straight. Why do wedding planners have to work so much? Because on top of the weddings that we're planning, It's a business that has to be run. Accounting, marketing, public relations, administrative- it's a long list. I so wish that there was a wedding tv show that showed what this job is really like. I think so many people would be surprised.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! I LOVE BEING A WEDDING PLANNER. And _____, I hope that you will love being a wedding planner too.

P.S. For those ready to pick up the phone and call a bunch of wedding pro's and ask for internships- don't. Check their websites first to see if they have a preferred method of contact for such inquiries. I pick all my interns via email.

Wedding Bee Classifieds and other Blog and wedding website stuff that's cool

This morning I am catching up on blogs and wedding sites that I love. I thought it would be a good day to mention some of the really cool and fun things I find. I hope you think they are cool too:

Wedding Bee- they have a classified section! I found everything from paper lanterns to wedding dresses for sale. Pretty good deals too.

Plain old good advice from Anne at From I will to I do: Delegate. Thank you Anne, from where ever you found this.

Flower finder: I found a link to this Brides.com tool on Bridezilla. For those who are not in the know of flowers, this you will love. I also love Bride & Bloom magazine.After planning weddings all these years, I know my fair share of flowers but this magazine really opened my eyes.

Got sunlight? If you do then you can also have some very cool outdoor evening lighting. Check out these lanterns I found on Junebugs blog. I also found an ad from Good Taste events.Jody is a friend of mine who is absolutely as hilarious as her website. If you want a wedding planner in Seattle with a funny bone- call her asap.

The other day I posted about my celebration reception timeline. A few months ago Liene at Blue orchid answered a readers question about her wedding day timeline. Here is her very good advice.

Moo contest on Brooklyn Bride. Ya'll, if you haven't been introduced to Moo cards, you haven't been reading blogs. They are every where and there is good reason for that- they ROCK. So go get some. In fact, go get some for free (win the contest) or at least at a discount (see Vane's left sidebar).

Seriously, this is way cool. A DVD invitation that isn't ummm, dorky. Be careful, there are dorky ones out there. But Darcy at Martha Stewart doesn't do dorky.This invite from Reel Invitations is PERFECT for a destination wedding. Perfect as in, I am calling them 1st thing tomorrow morning.

Style Me Pretty. Oh how I adore this blog. The whole blog. But the part I think you all need to know about? The Little Black Book.I know that so many bloggers are adding "books" to their blogs- and they are awesome resources. But I believe Abby and Michelle were the Lewis & Clark of the wedding resource "books". I know for a fact that they really worked hard to only get the cream of the wedding crop in their book. I'm flattered to have been chosen to be listed in their Black Book the last year and hope Weddings by Socialites will always be included. Here is what you need to know about the Black Book: you can trust these are the really good vendors. They didn't just buy their way into the book. I need to do another post about this kind of thing- someone remind me. It's a hot topic.

On a totally separate side note. Yesterday I was driving through the rampage of Hurricane Gustav (yeah, it was far away and we still felt it) and my cell rang. The caller id said it was Mark Kingsdorf of the Queen of Hearts in Philly. He's a great planner friend of mine in the Philly area. He knows tons with the extensive background that he has. Anyhoo- I pick up the phone and I hear a girls voice, "Kelly! It's Susan Stripling!" Perplexed I was. Susan is a beyond phenomenal photographer whom I have adored the work of for, ummmmmm, ever. Susan used to be a Floridian, now she travels from the big NY to everywhere. Well, it turns out she was helping another photographer in Philly at a wedding that Mark was coordinating. I just called Susan like 3 days ago to book her for one of my upcoming weddings (lucky bride!). They put 2 and 2 together and realized that they both knew me. Small world. I must say, that bride & groom that had both Mark & Susan onsite- SUPER lucky. Susan's Blog and Mark's Blog

Party for the Brides!

It's been a long summer and we're finally ready to party with the brides! Our new planning studio & brides library officially opens this Wednesday at 10am. But before we open for business, let's have one last party...just for the brides.

We hope you'll stop by to have a glass of champagne or wine and see what the excitement is all about. While you're there, you might as well put your name in to win one of our grand opening prizes. We going truly grand with this one- so we figure the drawings should be GRAND as well. What does that mean? It means that at least 1 of our prizes will be worth several thousand dollars. Hint: Photography, Wedding Planning & design, invitations, and more! The list of prizes is growing, so who knows what else is in store.
Okay, you talked me into it. One last little hint at just one of the prizes: Julie Goodacre Photography

Calling all brides!

As you know, we're gearing up for our 2008 blog showcase and we're off to a great start. The Planners & Wedding designers across the country are ready to start creating a showcase piece based on what you envision, and we have a list of amazing photographers a mile long ready to photograph! Much to my surprise, we're short on brides!
The process is easy- your showcase planner/designer will contact you and let you know what showcase piece they'd like to create for you. Then all you have to do is give her/him your thoughts/ideas on what you'd like to see.

"Oh, you're doing a place setting? Great! I'd love to see something really contemporary, with greens, whites and golds. Oh, and I love the look of glass. Love, love, love glass. And my favorite flower is a rose, if that helps at all."

Easy right? Then you and your showcase planner/designer and the photographer will get together to photograph you, your planner/designer, and the showcase piece. All the submitted showcases will be featured on the blog in August.
That's it! Nothing but fun wedding inspiration. Free of charge, full of smiles. If you have a photographer or planner you'd like to work with, send me an email and I'll see if I can get you matched up!
Here's the list of cities we for sure need participants from (but we're not limiting to these!):

Boston, MA
Captiva Island, FL
Conneticut
Denver, CO
Ft Myers, FL
Las Vegas, NV
Los Angeles, CA
Naples, FL
New York, NY
Newport, RI
Sanibel Island, FL
St. Louis, MO

2008 Showcase extended!

Okay, so we have a whole buncha odds and ends for the showcase, so I think it would be best to extend the deadline for participation until the 25th. Up there on the left sidebar I have a list of cities that we have participants for, but need some match-ups: planners, photographers, and brides.
***We got a request from a videographer to participate- ABSOLUTELY! You guys know I'm all about the video!
To participate just email me at WeddingTidbits @gmail.com
The showcase is easy and fun to do, so don't wait- sign up now!
Confused? Read here: Click

Um, the picture. It has nothing to do with this showcase. I just like it. Julie Goodacre took it at Smiley Bride's wedding.

Planner + Bride + Photographer= The Ultimate Showcase

After realizing that half the readers of this blog are brides and the other half are planners & industry pros, I thought it would be fun to do another showcase. It's been a while anyway. So this time we're calling on everyone to jump in. Wouldn't it be fun to bring an inspiration board to life? Here's how its going to work:

Last time we just did tabletops. This time I say we do anything wedding.

Planners: You get to pick what wedding element you want to showcase. Tabletop, Cake, Decor & Display, Floral, Paper Details, even a picture spot...anything that can be visual. You can use one of your favorite wedding professionals to help you with this (i.e. Florist, baker, linen company). You must give credit though if you go this route. And really, I prefer that you don't just "go out and buy it". Showcases must be new...no using a centerpiece from last Saturdays wedding (but do borrow the flowers from it!). Stroll through the land of creativity!

Brides: You get to guide your planner. It's all about what you want and it does not have to be at all related to your actual wedding. Your showcase planner will tell you what wedding element you'll be showcasing. You then give your planner everything she/he needs to create what you think is great. This might mean some inspiring pictures, colors, textures, words & thoughts...you catch my drift. Keep in mind that your planner will probably restricted- so don't expect Sylvia Weinstock to bake a cake or Preston Bailey to create a centerpiece for this showcase. But Sylvia & Preston, if you are reading, we'd love to have you.

Photographers: We'll need you to photograph the bride, the planner, and the showcase element. We'll take and post a total of 6 photos for each showcase. You'll receive plenty of Blog Love (credits and link) of course.

Everyone: If you want to participate, email weddingtidbits @gmail.com. We'll take care of matching up a bride with a planner and a planner with a photographer. Obviously, we need all 3 to be local to each other for the photographing. So you might want to spread the word to folks in your area, letting them know about this blog showcase so that they can email in as well. Special request to my fellow bloggers- please pass on the news via your blogs!

Please use the subject line: "2008 Showcase".

Deadline to email in to participate is July 20th. We'll reply back with a basic form for you to fill out so that we can get everyone matched up. The sooner you email us, the quicker we can get you matched up.
I will do everything I can to have everyone matched up, but depending on the number of requests and location restrictions I might have to slim it down a bit. But again, I'll try my darndest!
Once we have everyone matched up, we'll get you all your contact info and you can have at it! We'll plan on the 1st of the Ultimate Showcase features around August 1st.
Same as last time- this isn't a contest; just blog fun & wedding inspiration!

"See this? This is what I like."

Quick tip for those heading to their design consults soon.

What are you talking about Kelly? You have me confused."

You'll have design consults with your florist, cake baker, stationer, hair & makeup stylists, lighting & decor designer, etc. When you go, of course bring all the photos you've been ripping out of the magazines and printing off the websites. Better yet, set up a blog of what you like and send them all the link a couple days prior to your appointment. Your vendors will thank you and your meeting will be totally productive!
Click here for an example: This is what I like blog.
It's a 20 minute investment that could really save you and your potential vendors some frustration!

Double Duty

Sometimes you have to find a reason to splurge on that one thing that will make you smile big at your wedding. Double duty is my favorite "excuse". For instance, in the case of the Boca Grande wedding last month, our stunning bride really wanted some great arrangements for the church. And well, you're only at the church for 30-45 minutes. So, it was a bit hard to justify; until I mentioned that we could use all the ceremony arrangements at the reception venue too.

Being that we had an hour between the ceremony end and when guests would enter the reception venue, my staff had enough time to swindle all the arrangements from the church and get them staged for ACT II (a.k.a reception) at Boca Grande Club. The entry arrangement became the centerpiece of the candy table, the altar arrangement flooded the ladies room with the sweet smell of lilies, and the church door welcome hearts later adorned the doors into the sweet surprise room. Check out The Wedding of Marguerite & Tripp to see what the Sweet Surprise was!

A smart woman once said

Isis, (who is a dear friend and absolutely fantastic wedding planner) at Posh Events in New Jersey put this so well, I had to share. For those who may be on the fence about hiring or at least consulting with a professional about their wedding...read this.

Vote on!

Being that I mostly plan destination weddings, I have clients all over the country. Turns out we have another connection to the Fox Philly Hotlist! Please vote for Urban Front Pilates Studio while you're voting for the Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants.
DO you guys remember what happened last time I tried Yoga and Pilates?
I can pretty much guarantee that UrbanFront Pilates would have done me better. HA!

You like me, you really like me!

On Newsstands this week- The Knot Best of Weddings 2007. This inaugural issue lists the cream of the crop of wedding professionals across the United States. I'm very excited about this issue. Why? Well, you know I'm a wedding magazine & book junkie, but also because Weddings by Socialites was selected for the event planners category! Totally a reason to celebrate! Thanks so much to everyone who nominated me- I can't tell you how happy it made me.
So there was a little typo, they listed me as a winner from South Florida (Miami)...but I'm actually a South West Coast Florida planner (Captiva, Naples, Sanibel, etc.). That's ok, though, you know where to find me.

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.

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.