A blog with planning tips, fun new trends, and info related to Ethereal Events.
Photo by Barbie Hull
"Today I am marrying my best friend, the one I laugh with, live for, dream with, and love."
~ Erin & Forrest Pangborn

Monday, March 22, 2010

Mishap Monday! Tent pole placement...

I just recently saw this You tube video and it brought up a really important point! Make sure that you hire a professional rental company (who specializes in tents) if you are having a tent at your wedding! And do not put a pole near the dance floor!!! You want to avoid a mishap like this one!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

I'm asking the questions: "What Kind of Groom Are You?"


Yesterday I featured an MSN article about "What Kind of Bride Are You?" Today I thought I would show some love for the Groom's out there. So this week's Dear Wendi Wednesday, I'm asking you all to figure out "What Kind of Groom Are You?/ Is He?" Good Luck and Enjoy!

No matter how well you think you know your fiancé, don't be surprised if his behavior during the wedding planning process still throws you for a bit of a loop.

By Hallie Goodman

As the big day approaches, some grooms begin behaving badly, often with comical (albeit frustrating) results. Here are simple strategies for dealing with five types of grooms-to-be. Which one are you marrying?

The Groomzilla
He's the one displaying the wedding inspiration board prominently above his desk.

How to spot him: Your wedding planner is in his Top 5. He recently said that he wasn't really "feeling peonies" and that he has a few dress ideas that he'd like to run by you. He just wants every detail to be absolutely perfect. So far, so good ... right? Wrong! The only thing perfectionism will get anyone (including you) is a first-class ticket to the dark side. And add to that the not-so-small fact that you've probably got an idea or two of your own.

How to deal: Stop pushing back. Relax; no one is suggesting that you need to take his balloon centerpiece idea seriously. Instead of getting wrapped up in his suggestions, take a step back and focus on the core issue: his sudden control freakiness. It's probably his way of dealing with inner panic, and he may feel overwhelmed and is overcompensating. So what do you do? Make him feel like an equal player — which, by the way, he is. Carve out a few things for him to oversee all on his own.

The Social Secretary
His address book looks like an encyclopedia, and he can't even walk to the mailbox without running into an old friend.

How to spot him: This week alone, he invited your neighborhood dog-walker, the checkout girl at the grocery store and "a cool guy from the gym." In fact, he's on his cell phone right now and you swear you just heard him say, "The more, the merrier." He means well, but with every "friend" he invites, you see your budget evaporating.

How to deal: His exuberance is adorable. But there are ways to express it without inviting the entire world. Here's what to do: Try the shock method. Sit him down and show him the cold, hard numbers. There's nothing more sobering than a quick tally of just how much all these extra people can drive up the bottom line (your expenses can soar well into the hundreds per guest). Then remind him of the type of atmosphere you two originally discussed. The words "intimate" and "300 guests" aren't exactly simpatico. But you can compromise. If your budget allows, create space for two or three "straggler friends" who may materialize at the eleventh hour.

The Mama's Boy
He looks like a guy who's stuck between a rock and a hard place (newsflash: you're the rock).

How to spot him: Even though you know that his taste is very similar to yours, he attempts to defend every one of your future mother-in-law's bad suggestions. Here's the most recent example: "A teddy bear theme could be cool."

How to deal: This can be a tricky one. Since your relationship with your future mother-in-law will continue long after the wedding day has passed, keep this from escalating into a huge tug of war. You need to work out the details behind the scenes and let him be the one to stand up to his mom. And keep in mind that she probably just wants to help. There are plenty of wedding tasks to go around; you can include her by asking her to do something that will play to her strengths (oh, come on — everyone's good at something!). Do you two have completely different decorating styles? Maybe she has beautiful penmanship and could address all of the invitations or create place cards or tags for favors.

The Big Talker
He's got it all covered. Yeah, right.

How to spot him: To hear him talk, it's like he's been planning weddings since the fourth grade. Researching venues? No problem — he's on it. Hiring a band? It's taken care of. But as months trickle by, it's clear that he's all talk.

How to deal: First, resist nagging — it rarely works and will just leave both of you feeling resentful. Instead, schedule a weekly check-in to give each other status reports on your progress. By corralling all wedding-task talk to one time, you'll be less tempted to bring it up over and over and risk becoming...you guessed it, a nag.

The Ghost
It's a good thing you took those engagement pictures. Otherwise, you may have a hard time remembering what he looks like.

How to spot him: Is this a trick? Sightings have been so rare that the wedding planner decided to nickname him Snuffleupagus. In fact, he's recently been making himself so scarce that you're really starting to worry he's getting cold feet.

How to deal: First, understand that his lack of involvement probably isn't an indication of a lack of love for you, or even a lack of interest in getting hitched. Second, there's a chance that he's trying to do you a favor. (Yes, really). Maybe he's heard horror stories from grooms who erred too much in the other direction. Or maybe he's seen couples bickering over wedding plans and would prefer not to go down that path. Or maybe (just maybe) he's totally clueless. The only way to know for sure is to talk about it.

Try to get him involved by asking him which details really matter to him (and let go of the fantasy that he should care about them all). And listen! If he cares about cake, crown him Cake Czar and let him set up tastings all over town. If he's into music, have him price bands, interview DJs or go nuts on iTunes. Remember: You get to do the fun stuff (go shopping for your dream dress ... hello!), so give him tasks that will make his experience equally great.


For more info on this check it out here!
Happy St. Patrick's Day!













Wedding Coordination: Wendi Hroncich, Ethereal Events

All images by Me!


Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Hire a Wedding Coordinator if...


My sister who is getting married this October emailed this to me. I thought I would share it with all of you! I think it is fun and cute! If any of them apply to you: HIRE A COORDINATOR!
We will save you all the stress, time and money!! We are there to be on your side no matter what!

FROM: the knot and MSN

What Kind of Bride Are You?
Even the calmest woman can suffer a meltdown (or six) in the course of planning a wedding. Do you still recognize yourself, or have you turned into one of these bridal caricatures?

By Hallie Goodman

Every bride has her own, well, let's just say quirks. Read on and see if you recognize anyone you know.

The Non-Decider
Shoe fit? The deadline for mailing invites is looming. Too bad you've yet to choose a location. The dress? You've narrowed it down to white. Or, wait, ivory. Ivory or white it is.

Break through it: Not a case of cold feet? Phew, okay, then the culprit could be perfectionism. It's a simple equation: perfectionism = procrastination = paralysis. Afraid to make the wrong decision, you've opted not to make any at all. If your budget can bear it, call a wedding planner ASAP. Not possible? Call a summit of your closest friends and ask for help. Divide and conquer the scary to-do list together. Relax, it'll be fun. And a fun wedding is a perfect wedding!

The Alpha
Shoe fit? Bridal binder? Check. Countdown calendar? Check. Hostages? Check (though you prefer to call them the wedding party). The upside to you bordering on bridezilla is that you know what you want. The downside — you knew there would be one, right? — you've been voted most likely to go 'zilla at the first fumble. And while bossy might get you results at the office, with friends and family it's not cute.

Break through it: If you're a proper type A, you've hired the best people, so have a little faith! Give vendors a list of instructions, in writing, and then lay off. When it comes to friends and family, any help they offer is a labor of love, so help them love it by dropping the drill sergeant act.

The Fairy Princess
Shoe fit? You went shopping for a sheath, but bought a dress so poufy it'll dust both sides of the aisle. Instead of reserving a limo, you put a Cinderella coach — complete with six white horses — on hold. You've always been a minimalist, so what's up with Barbie's dream wedding?

Break through it: Sounds like your inner 8-year-old has taken over the planning process. Hey, it happens! But your wedding should reflect who you (and your man) are now. Not something you once scribbled in a diary. Run everything by your BFF, the one who always tells you when you've lost your mind. If it's all wrong, she'll see it. And if it turns out that a castle-shaped champagne fountain is you, she'll help you get it.

Miss Baby
Shoe fit? When you hear that the flowers you wanted are out of season, you cry, stomp, and say (unfortunately out loud), "Why me?" When your honey says the groomsmen vetoed the color coral, you can barely get out of your pajamas for three days because, really, what's the point if there will be no coral on your wedding day? In short, stress has gotten the best of you. But rather than raging when you don't get your way, you throw lavish pity parties left and right.

Break through it: You're obviously overwhelmed and/or exhausted. Time to declare a serious WTO (wedding time-out). Turn off the laptop, hide the BlackBerry, and spend the evening paying attention

The Balanced Bride
Shoe fit? Not a single family member is avoiding your calls. Your bridesmaids don't roll their eyes every time you talk. Even your fiance appears to be having a relatively good time. Congrats on not driving everyone around you crazy!

Break through it: What's to fix? Sounds like you're sitting pretty. But don't be shocked if you have a few mini meltdowns. No one expects you to be perfect.


(This Girl definitely has a coordinator!!!)

For more on this from MSN click here!

Ready to figure out your intended? Read "What Kind of a Groom Is He?"