The early bird gets the worm

I have been asked by several 2009 Brides "Is it too early for me to hire my Wedding Planner or Day-Of Coordinator"? My answer to them is "No. It's never too early!" With 2008 so recently upon us, 2009 seems a lifetime away. The fact of the matter is, when it comes to some of the more key vendors for your day (Coordinator, Photographer, Florist, Entertainment), the good ones go fast. You could certainly wait until closer to your date, but then you risk calling all your 'wish list' of vendors, only to find that they are booked up already.

If you are looking for a Wedding Planner to walk you through the entire process, then this statement holds especially true. The more time you have, the more options you will have for your wedding. Booking your vendors a year in advance may seem ridiculous to some, but it will give you added peace of mind throughout the process, and make it easier for you to be relaxed and happy on your Big Day- just like this Bride!

Let the hunt begin!

The hunt for the perfect bridesmaids dress, that is. Now is that glorious time of year when you'll find all sorts of fabulous party frocks on sale. The holidays are over, but the deals are ripe for the taking- especially if you are looking for black dresses (which are super easy to find in stores and on the internet). I peeked around a few sites: Banana Republic, Nordstroms, and BlueFly, and there are some truly great finds. Why not check it out and see for yourself?

If you're not necessarily looking for a steal of a deal, but a dress that's take-your-breath-away amazing, then you're also in luck. Bridesmaid designers are catering more now than ever before to maids, with truly chic and fashionable options. One site where you will find gorgeous dresses aplenty is Bella Bridesmaid. Here you'll find links to some of my favorite bridesmaid dress designers including Jenny Yoo, Charsa, Melissa Sweet and Coren Moore. I dare you not to find at least three dresses on each site that you absolutely adore. Go ahead and try!

And if you haven't seen it yet, 'The Dress' designed by TwoBirds, will blow your mind. It's one dress that can be styled into 10 different designs- something sure to please your group of girls, each with their own unique figure. It comes in 10 luscious colors (you can customize a color for an additional fee), and can be ordered in either short or long length. All I have to say is- it's about time!

Good news for the New Year

Happy New Year to you all! I kicked off my 2008 with some great news; I received a package from the ABC yesterday, and in it was a certificate stating that I have earned the coveted title of Professional Bridal Consultant™. To add to that, I passed the Professional Development Course as a Distinguished Graduate. Go me!! Of course I had to take a picture:

This news leads me to believe that 2008 is going to bring good things to us all. I already know it is going to be fabulous because I get to work with many of you, my wonderful clients, who are getting married this year (Did you by chance think about that last night as the clock struck midnight? This is YOUR year!). To get you as stoked for ’08 as I am, here’s a sneak peak at some of the amazing venues I am lucky enough to work at this year:

• Hyatt Huntington Beach
• St. Regis Monarch Beach
• Surf and Sand Resort
• Marbella Country Club
• Calamigos Ranch
• Historic Cottage at San Clemente
• Rancho Las Lomas
• Orange Hill Restaurant
• Franciscan Gardens
• The Villa at Lifetime Weddings and Events

....the list goes on; it is going to be one fantastic year!!!

Wedding albums for everyone

There is no arguing with the fact that nothing beats a professionally designed wedding album. Photographers work hard to perfect the art of editing pictures and designing layouts that please the eye. And the feel of a genuine (and often higher in price) album can't be beat. I personally can't wait to see the album Derek Photography is putting together for my own wedding- I am sure it is going to be truly gorgeous.

One tip that I often pass along to clients, and used myself to make albums for both sets of our parents, is that there now exist several websites that allow you to create high quality coffee table books at a fraction of the price. If your photography package included the disc of images from your wedding, you can now design your own albums that turn out at a much more professional quality than a homemade scrapbook- which for a long time, was the only DIY option for saving wedding photos. Two great websites are http://www.mypublisher.com/, and http://www.blurb.com/. If you have Power Point on your computer, you can really get creative with your layouts and design, and bypass using the templates the sites provide you with (I have some great instructions on how to do this; feeel free to e-mail if you would like me to pass them along). It does take some time and patience, but the end product is definitely worth it!

Here are a some of my favorite pages from the album I created in Power Point and printed using blurb:

Engaging tips

With wedding season right around the corner in the coming New Year, 'tis the season for engagement picture sessions. I figured what better time than the present to pass along some helpful pointers to ensure your photos turn out as fantastic as possible. A big thank you to my lovely clients Crystal and Chris, who are tying the knot in May; and of course, Sarah K. Chen, whose phenomenal photography we have to thank for the images below.

Tip #1: Take your pictures at a location that is either special to you or that you enjoy as a couple. If you want to do something really unique, think beyond the beach or park; Crystal and Chris chose a train station to capture the urban and edgy feel they desired.

Tip #2: Long gone are the days when the Bride-to-Be had to wear white. If white is not you, then wear whatever you feel is. Your clothes should reflect your style as an individual and as a couple.

Tip #3: Wear clothes that you are comfortable in. If you are uncomfortable, it will show in your pictures. How cozy do Chris and Crystal look?

Tip #4: Many Brides choose to team up their engagement photo shoot with a hair and makeup trial. This works great, especially if you know you will be happy with the vendors work. Or, you can even go to a makeup counter and get your makeup done for free if you are going for a special look.

Tip #5: Last but certainly not least, don’t be afraid to be yourself and let your love show. The best pictures are captured at moments where the two of you are just being yourselves. True happiness never fails to shine through in pictures.

Not all wedding professionals are created equal

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending the ABC-OC (Association of Bridal Consultants- Orange County) Holiday Party. In additon to a great networking event, it was a fabulous party, to say the least! I got into a great discussion with a well-known wedding photographer about how nice it is to have an Association like the ABC available for wedding professionals to join. This conversation later had me thinking about why wouldn't everyone eligible, join a professional Association??

As you may have learned by now, not all wedding professionals are created equal. Why, you ask? Some professionals out there work hard to further educate and involve themselves in the wedding industry. Others, do not. Some important questions you should ask any potential vendor you are looking to hire: what are your qualifications? What Associations are you a member of? What training and education have you had that makes you better than the rest? The answers to these questions will more often than not, assist you in finding a vendor that takes their business seriously and is enthusiastic about what they do.

If you were to ask me these questions, I would tell you that I am a proud and active member of the ABC. I am in the final steps of completing both the Professional Development Program, as well as their Weddings as a Business Program. I have found both to provide a wealth of knowledge and wonderful resources, and am thrilled to say that I have passed all 5 sections of the PDP with honors! Once I complete the final exam on these two programs, I will have earned my title as a Professional Bridal Consultant.

At the end of the day, anyone can tell you they are a wedding professional, but not everyone can prove it! Those vendors who can are in a different league than the rest.

When a glass slipper just won't do...

Every bride wants to look and feel her best on the Big Day. Nowadays, this goes beyond finding 'THE Dress', and includes the ensemble as a whole- shoes, jewelry, veil, the whole shebang! Why not use this as an occasion to treat yourself to a pair of heels you've been dying to buy, but just haven't gotten around to. Or maybe even add a splash of color where it's least expected- on your feet. Not everyone is guaranteed to notice, but those that do are sure to be pleasantly surprised! Here are some 'great moments in bridal shoes history' as captured by the lovely Crissy Farah.

Bouquets with BLING!

One fabulous trend that has caught on big time is bouquet jewelry and accessories. I am a big fan as it is an easy way to add a small but noticeable personal touch to your Big Day. Afterall, your bouquet ends up making the rounds when it comes time for pictures. You can find a lovely and affordable brooch at many department stores; or if you are lucky enough, use an heirloom passed down from a female relative (that would take care of something old!). Enjoy the following pictures for some inspiration, courtesy of the wonderful Trista Lerit.