What your guests are saying http://ping.fm/CxBIh

What Your Guests Are Saying . . .

Everyone says it’s your day, and that’s correct, to a point. This is the day you are marrying your best friend which indeed makes it a very special event. So why are all these people here? Perhaps you’ve invited them to witness this significant occasion. Perhaps you’ve invited them to celebrate the moment with you. Either way, you’ve invited them, as in, you are the host.

As the host of any party you typically have several goals you are trying to achieve – you want to spend time with your guests, you want to interject a piece of yourself into the elements, and you want to entertain and please your guests.

Ah, so you never really thought about that last one as it pertains to your wedding day? Let’s step back and take a look at what your guests could be saying if the event is approached from the me, me, me vantage point.

• “My invitation was addressed to me ‘and guest’ even though they’ve known my boyfriend for 6 years!”
Make the effort to find out the guest's name and use it on the invitation and place card.  It's a thoughtful gesture that will not go unnoticed.

• “Our invitation came with a Macy’s registry card. It seemed like they were outright asking for a gift.”
This is just one great use of a wedding website.  Not only does it share directions, timelines, and other key information about your day, but it is also a more discreet way of sharing your bridal registry information.

• “I hate receiving lines. Who wants to wait in a long line to greet the one person you do know and 10 others you don’t?”
Consider the photo above - long lines, uncomfortable shoes, and a hot day - not exactly a combo for happy guests.

• “I don’t get delays between the ceremony and the reception. I’m dressed and I’m here, let’s keep this party movin’!”
This is your day and you want to drag it out and enjoy it as much as possible, however, your guests are busy and many do not enjoy having their whole day tied up to attend a function that in reality offers them only a few hours of entertainment and enjoyment.

• “I’ve been to receptions with a ‘social’ hour, but not cocktails or hors d’oeuvres offered. When you’re waiting and trying to mingle with people you don’t know, having something in your hand is a great way to occupy your hands and may even provide an ice breaker.”
Even if there is only an hour between ceremony and reception, it is much appreciated to be offered nibblers and beverages.  It does not have to be fancy or expensive, but it should be present.

• “If I see another 10 minute slideshow of the happy couple at age 3, I’m gonna throw-up.”
There are so many creative options for putting together a more fun video presentation as opposed to the old slideshow.  Also, the old KISS acronym (Keep It Short Stupid) is great advice here - 5 minutes or less is sufficient. Make it awesome and brief, leaving your guests wanting more, not yawning!

• “As a single person, I like table assignments. At least it makes me feel like the bride and groom have put some thought into who I might have interests with.”
Most people feel awkward walking into a room and sitting with a stranger as they do not want to impose.  While determining seating charts takes time and effort, you can almost hear an audible sigh of relieve when guests realize this stressor has been removed for them.

• “Give me limited options if you want, but offer those drinks free all night. I’m your guest.”
This is a touchy subject since it so significantly impacts the budget.  A good compromise is to offer certain drinks complementary so they have the option as to whether they want to purchase something different. It is not your responsibility to finance their drunken stupor!

• “It was a buffet. One buffet. For 250 guests. Can you guess my complaint?”
A real pet peeve of the Details' staff!  Your caterer may say that one buffet is sufficient but this is because it is easier on them to setup one buffet.  Don't fall for that.  No one wants to wait 25, 30, 45 minutes or more to eat or be interspersed with those who are already back up for seconds.

• “Dinner wasn’t served until 8pm!”
People get testy when they're hungry and it definitely puts a damper on the party vibe.  If you're going for elegant, spread out the courses, don't delay the whole meal.

• “The dollar dance seemed like a cheap ploy to drain your guests of cash.”
We agree.  What part of the dollar dance says "class"?
• “I was embarrassed for the bride. Who wants their maid-of-honor sharing information like that to all of your family and friends!”
Remind your wedding party and parents that this is a memorable event but that not all past memories need to be aired.  Fun stories can be shared, but embarrassment should be nixed.

• “I realize that music at a certain volume elicits people to dance, but it was way too loud. I couldn’t even talk to my partner!”
Grandma isn't the only one who is turned off by overly loud music.  A professional dj understands the appropriate volume to get guests on the floor and not out the door.

• “Nothing seemed organized. We waited on the wedding party to arrive, we waited to be served our food, we waited on speeches, then waited while they determined who would go first, we waited on the first dance, wait, wait, wait!”
Ah, another pet peeve!  Of course, we're planners so we really notice when an event does not flow well.  Your event timeline is critical to keeping your guests engaged which in turn creates a positive memory for them rather than chalking it up to another boring event.

• “They ran out of wedding cake. This is a huge hairy deal to me!”
Okay, so this is my personal quote and it really happened.  I admit that I'm a sweet-aholic and tolerate the main course only as it gets me closer to the cake.  Imagine what my husband had to listen to all night when wedding cake ran out before it got to the last 30-40 guests served.  Never run out of wedding cake!

So in planning YOUR day, remember to plan it from the vantage point of YOUR guests!

http://ping.fm/jok0q Make the right perfume choice for your day!

Scent-sational You!

Smell as fantastic as you look!

200 guests = 200 hugs!

Of course we all know that there are hundreds of fragrances out there and we’ve all smelled them walking through Macy’s, or maybe like Elf you have mistaken it for tasty fruit spray! Either way, fragrances will smell different on everyone’s skin as the oils and fragrances mix. It’s important to sample beforehand, but limit four or five to a time. Our noses our sensitive!

The fragrance should match the theme of the wedding.

• Classy/traditional: Floral, musk

o No. 5, Chanel
o Cocoa Mademoiselle, Chanel**

o Eternity, Calvin Klein

o Beautiful, Estee Lauder

• Intimate and private: Romantic, light floral
o Rose Essential, Bvlgari**
o Miss Dior Cherie, Christian Dior
o Pretty, Elizabeth Arden*
o Stellanude, Stella McCartney

• Bold, Fabulous, a party: Bold, fruity
o Flight of Fancy, Anna Sui
o Happy, Clinique
o Very Hollywood, Micheal Kors
o Outspoken, Fergie

• Outdoor/natural: Woodsy, fresh, floral
o Daisy, Marc Jacobs
o Miracle Forever, Lancome
o J’adore, Christian Dior**
o Romance, Ralph Lauren*

Some tips: Be attentive to the concentration: apply more concentrated formulas lightly to pulse points, and lighter blends can be applied all over. Perfumes are very concentrated along with Eau de Parfum, which are a bit weaker. Cologne is half as strong as a perfume, and Eau de Toilette is even softer. Splashes and mists are definitely the lightest and can be sprayed all over. It’s a nice touch to spray fragrance into your hair.

• If your flowers are very aromatic, go light on fragrance.

• Scents will be more potent as your body temperature increases.

• Spray on before dressing, keep fragrance away from you dress-- avoid fabric stains!

• Grab a sample capsule at the store for your handbag and reapply throughout the day!


Notes
**Tara's personal favorites
*Jami's personal favorites

~Tara

Hair accessories! http://ping.fm/Bbujs

Hair Comes the Bride…

There was a wedding girl, who had a little curl…all over those locks of love! Style your wedding day with not only fantastic hair, but with a hair accessory to compliment your carefully-picked-out dress. Hair accessories come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and also range from chic to traditional.

Of course floral plays a huge role in the wedding day as flowers are placed on pews, in vases, pinned on jackets, held in hands; so, why not add one or two more to your hair? Flowers in general give such a romantic feel. Add some elegance (and a great scent) to your up-do!

Wedding veils date back to the ancient Romans, and history states they were introduced to conceal the bride from evil spirits. Another belief is that the veil hid the bride’s features from the groom and kept him from leaving the altar in an arranged marriage. Either way, hiding from the groom or not, veils are still very trendy, very beautiful, and transforming for a bride. Princess Dianna’s wedding veil was 25 feet long; however, the birdcage veil is a huge hit these days, especially to flaunt a vintage look.

Also appealing to vintage brides may be feathers, pearls, and lace. Need your “something old”? Look in your grandmother’s closet!

Add some bling with some rhinestone crystals, or a great brooch! This would be a great idea for holiday brides or anyone looking to capture sparkle.

Decorative pins and barrettes, along with headbands, ribbon bands, and tiaras are also some great options. Any other unique ideas out there?

A great headpiece supplier, Margo Rouge is one of our Preferred Partners, giving a 10% discount to our bridal clients!

Preparing your feet for your big day http://ping.fm/VggPC

Happy Feet

H~a~p~p~y  F~e~e~t

It’s your wedding day! All eyes will be on you! Your dress, hair, jewelry, hands (isn’t that where the ring is?), and, especially if you are wearing open-toe shoes…your feet! Let your wedding glow shine from head to toe! Here are some tips and ideas to prepare for healthy wedding feet and great toes for your honeymoon.

1. Leading up to the wedding day, get a pedicure once a month to keep your feet healthy. If you can’t afford once a month, attempt your own and schedule every other or third month with a pro.

2. After bathing, always push back your cuticles with a towel or Q-tip, but do not cut them yourself. Let the pedicurist do it the right way.

3. Before bed (or maybe while relaxing at night) massage creams on your feet and slip into thick slippers or wool socks. Absorbing the cream will keep them nice and moisturized.

4. File the bottoms of your feet with a pumice stone regularly.

5. Schedule your bridal pedicure the day before your wedding. Avoid the day-of chaos, and the finish will be dry and shiny.

Some brides like to keep a nude or subtle look, maybe a light pink, to match their wedding dress. A French pedicure, a highly acclaimed style, appears very clean and “polished.” 
In today’s creative world, there are many expressive ideas out there using color, design, and 3D effects. Why not add some unique flair?



3D Nail-art: Incorporate some sparkle with some rhinestones and glitter.

Gel Nails: Super sparkly, quick, and many colors available. This polish lasts a very long time, definitely lasting through beach walks and hundreds of swims!

Getting a pedicure is a great event for the whole bridal party. It would be a fun option for a bachelorette party, or maybe just for an hour of relaxation and pampering before the rehearsal. Should all bridesmaids have matching toes, thoughts?

~Tara