Dear Wendi Wednesday...There's no place like home!

With the economy struggling like it is, it seems the trend is to go back to a simpler way of life. For many, this may mean an at home wedding. For the next few weeks I will be answering questions from my favorite reporter Anna Sachse, who is writing an article about at home weddings. Hopefully, by the end of the series I will have the article to share with you. I'm sure it's fantastic!

Dear Wendi,

Why might it behoove you to hire a wedding planner if having an at-home wedding?

- A.S.

Dear A.S.,

Hiring a professional wedding planner for an at-home wedding is a really important. It's not the same thing as having the family over for Thanksgiving dinner. There are many logistical items that need to be addressed and handled. A professional planner knows what these items are and solutions for potential problems. Things like parking, bathrooms, rentals, catering, ceremony and reception location and layout, rainy day backup plan, etc. An at home wedding may seem like an "easy" idea, but there is a lot of work that goes into it. Hotels have a complete staff to handle the details of a wedding; at home you don't have that luxury. A professional wedding planner can help make up the difference and let you enjoy the day.

Best of luck,

Wendi

Mishap Monday - The Wedding Dress

The Wedding Dress is huge style setter in a wedding. It's the bride's signature piece. The part that says the most about her on her most important of days. It is exclusively hers and will be looked at and talked about by every guest present, and everyone there after. Whether it be a short flirty strapless dress, or an elaborate ballgown, it sets the style and tone for the day. All the remaining elements of the wedding stem from this one piece... the formality, venue, time of day, attendants attire, colors, etc.

With all of this surrounding one piece of clothing, it is no wonder that there are many mishaps and mistakes. For the next 4 weeks I'll explain where brides can, will, and have gone wrong in the past.

1. Buy the dress that fits

All too often brides buy a dress one size too small as motivation to burn those last few pounds they have been trying to lose for years. This is a huge mistake! I know there can be sticker shock associated with wedding dress sizes. I remember hearing the size of dress I ordered for my wedding, and thinking that's not right. My normal clothes are 4 sizes smaller! What I realized, the number doesn't matter the fit does! A comfortable fitting wedding dress is so important. If it is digging in to you or you're spilling out of it, it will show. This is probably not the perfect bride picture you had of yourself on wedding day.

Buy a gown that fits you now, and have it taken in if you lose the weight. It is so much harder and costly to expand a dress than make it smaller. Not to mention, the additional stress you are putting on yourself to make sure it fits. You have enough on your plate when planning your wedding, don't add this on top of it.

A bride at any size or shape is beautiful on wedding day in a gown that fits!

Dear Wendi Wednesday...Few Months Away?

Dear Wendi,

My wedding is a little over two months away. I have all my vendors booked, and am in good shape with the planning. What are the things I should do in the last few weeks leading up to my wedding day?

Help,

J.B.

Dear J.B.

Congratulations on being so close! The last few months is such a fun part in the planning process. The largest part is over now it's all about the details. You really begin to see you wedding day take shape. To make your wedding day as wonderful as you want, the next few weeks of planning and finalization is critical.

When working with a coordinator, the task list for a Bride & Groom is far less than with out. Martha Stewart has a wonderful timeline in the Wedding Workbook portion of her magazine for Brides with out a coordinator. Her time frame is a little further out then mine, I know what works best for my clients, vendors, and I. It's smart to be further ahead if doing it for the first time or with out the help of a professional.

Two to Four Months
Manual meeting w/coordinator, put together timeline for days leading up to and wedding day and discuss all wedding related details.
Meet with Caterer - finalize the menu, room layout, linens, set up, bar options
Buy wine and beer (if needed)
Meet with DJ or Band - finalize play and do NOT play list, First dance song, Father/daughter dance song, Mother/Son dance song, etc.
Finalize:
Flowers with Florist
Transportation with pick up locations (addresses and times)
Cake design & flavors
Favors (flavors, boxes, ribbons, etc.)
Rehearsal time
Rehearsal dinner menu and time
Ceremony - readings, songs for processional, recessional, and in ceremony

Mail out invites ( 6 to 8 weeks ahead)
Hair and Makeup trial- bring veil, and any other accessories if wearing
Write Vows
Get wedding shoes and under garments
Dress alterations- have shoes and bra you will be wearing for fitting
Purchase Wedding rings -(if haven't already)
Start breaking in wedding shoes
Buy guest book, flower girl basket, aisle runner, bubbles, etc.

One to Two Months
Send out detailed timeline of wedding days events to all vendors - ask for their feedback
Get Marriage license - some states require more than others, so check and see if blood work is needed.
Purchase or make bridal party and parents gifts
Have Programs, Menus, and other paper products printed
Book Wedding night accommodations
Book Pre-wedding night accommodations
Get Final numbers to Caterer (two weeks prior)
Finalize Seating chart
Place cards sorted and in alphabetical order
Write toasts or Welcome (if doing)
Wedding Announcements

Wedding Week
Send out final timeline to all vendors
Give attendants timeline of wedding day and all days with wedding related activities (when to be where)
Prepare tips and final payments
Manicure and Pedicure (if doing)
Pick up tuxes
Pick up dress
Organize items going to wedding: toasting flutes, cake cutting set, favors, place cards, paper products, unity candle, slide show DVD, rings, etc.
Confirm Honeymoon arrangements
Pack for Honeymoon

Most importantly, enjoy this time with one another! You are so close. Yes, there is a lot to be done, but you only get to be engaged a little longer. Take some time away from the planning and spend it together as a couple. You be glad you did after the wedding is over!

Mishap Monday - This Takes the Cake!

There are a lot of mishaps surrounding wedding cakes. From being dropped when delivered, icing melting in the summer sun, falling over before the cake cutting, and many more! Here are some suggestions to prevent a cake crisis.

• Always have a professional deliver your cake.
• Make sure the baker will replace your cake if something were to happen during their delivery.
• Keep it out of direct sun (inside or out).
• Let you cake baker know the set up location for the cake.
• Have it delivered no more than 2 hours prior to ceremony (if able to have it delivered 2 hours prior to reception even better)
• Make sure your cake is baked the week of your wedding. (Fresh is SO much better than frozen and thawed)
• Order the correct number of pieces.
• Always have your caterers cut the cake - You family and friends don't know how to cut a cake to keep its structural integrity or get the appropriate number of pieces.
• Have extra flowers on hand just in case you need to add to the look of the cake.
• Pack up two to-go pieces right up front to guarantee you and your husband get a piece

It's possible to have you cake and eat it too, if you have the right cake baker! Taking these tips to heart will allow you to enjoy every wonderful bit!

Real Wedding Friday... Becky & Scott

Becky & Scott are a wonderful couple I worked with for their September 2007 wedding. They chose two of my favorite and most breathtaking views of Seattle. The day offered nothing but sunshine and blue sky for us all to enjoy the view from both sides of the city!

Coordination: Ethereal events

Ceremony location: Gas Works Park

Reception Venue: Salty's at Alki

Photographer: Red Fish Blue Fish (these pictures are not a representation of their work)

Rentals: AA Party Rentals

Cake: Madison Park Bakery

DJ: Affairs to Remember

Chair covers: Choice Linens

Hair & Make up: MODE Salon

Transportation: European Limousine

VIVA Las Vegas!!

Hi all,

I'm in Las Vegas! There will be no mishap Monday this week. Do check out some of my favorite blogs posts from 2008 for inspiration.

Rachelle & Brad
Favors & Guest Books
Here Comes the Bride

I will return on Wednesday with another Dear Wendi Wednesday!
If you have any questions you want answered please leave me a message in the comments. I would love to answer them for you!

I LOVE Lu Lu Weddings!

There are too many bridal resource guides and online sites to name. It feels as though there is a new one popping up every day. The only planning website everyone should know about is Lu Lu Weddings. It's a collaboration of amazingly talented women photographers in the pacific northwest; who have put together a site full of incredibly inspiring images, top notch vendors referrals, and wonderful information.

It is a REAL resource guide for brides and grooms to use. Vendors on this site don't pay for the advertising space. They are featured because they are respected and admired in the Seattle Wedding Community. Here is what Lulu says about the vendors featured:

"As a non-profit site, our referral network is based on reputation and exceptional performance, not a paid listing. "

Unfortunately, reputation and performance are not on the list of requirements for most wedding resource sites. It is a rarity today. I respect this site, these women, and their continued commitment to their clients pursuit of excellence. Thank you Lulu weddings!

Image from LuLu website.

Real Wedding Friday... Grace & Pete

Grace & Pete are a wonderful couple I had the pleasure of working with for their August 16, 2008 wedding. It was an amazing summer day full of sunshine, love, and laughter. The Woodmark Hotel on the Kirkland Waterfront was a stunning backdrop for this happy event. Here are some of the kind words Grace sent to me after the wedding was complete:

"Dear Wendi,

Thank you for being our day-of wedding coordinator. We heard from many of our friends and family about how seamlessly our wedding seemed to be. Thank you for helping us make that happen and for tending to the overlooked details. We're glad tho have you as a part of our big day. All the best with 2009 & future wedding seasons!

Cheers,

Grace & Pete"

Coordination: ethereal events

Venue: The Woodmark Hotel

Florsit: Miki's Flowers

Photographer: Alex Studios (phtoography above not representation of their work)

Cake: Sugar Cake Studios

Officiants: Annette and Chris Lefebvre

Hair: GEM Salon

Ceremony musicians: Bella Trio