Michael Willms Event Planner

Gopika's & Jordan's Big Day

2011-08-12T12:39:00.000-07:00

Before the bride came into the ceremony she was adorned gracefully.

Getting ready and beautiful took much preparation and several ceremonial blessings by family members.

Here is a mini highlight video so you can travel to the memories...thank you to David Robin Films!

The bride looked like an Imperial princess, Eduardo Lucero created her attire

and came to the wedding to help celebrate.

The color coordination of the bride and groom was sweet beyond belief!

The escort cards were set in vintage brass trays and containers filled with orange lentils, and used motifs from ancient Indian designs representing ducks, who bond for life.

Welcome to the ceremony area, where they walked into their new life on sweet rose petals.

The magical ceremony had much meaning and many, many blessings with lots of chanting and singing.

The dining tent was sublime, elegant and inspiring.

Look at all the yummy bites and treats the guests were offered from beginning to end.

Sultry dance floor, can you believe the lighting that Classic Party Rents created transformed the tent into a party palace? Thank you Maureen Harkness and Kyle Hollars.

Thank you Tara Rochelle for all the great photos.

Layla's & Aldo's Wedding

2011-08-05T19:47:00.000-07:00

The heels and dress both sparkled magically with glamour.

There was a "grass" covered stage that blended in with the lawn so the massive willow could speak it's power with no distraction. Have you ever seen so many pretty white chivari chairs?

Classic Rents Maureen Harkness got us the clear plexiglass podium.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the luckiest girl in the world?

(Josh Kaplan did hair and Jessica Hollingsworth did the make-up.)

Getting ready is so much a part of the excitement!

Glass plateaus set off the elegant flowers in the bride's favorite colors. The finest Saddlerock wines and a perfect meal by Someone's In The Kitchen tempted all the guests tastebuds.

Look how simple white roses make all the bridesmaids look so dressed up.

"Daddy's" little girl looks so grown up!

What a lovely afternoon, the lighting just got more magical as the evening wore on.

Satin, special chairs - an Italian fine dining experience was our inspiration.

The chandelier was HUGE and we spot lit it with a bit of pink for romance.

The twin lounges underneath were hot hangouts for guests.

Ice crystal plates with a gourmet cheese selection, gelato in a variety of flavors, and desserts enough to please every guest were in abundance.

Look at all the pretty macaroons flown in just for the party!

It was so fun to sit and look across the party at all the action with so many guests!

Major blast was had by all!

Man, was this ever a pretty cake to cut. AND delicious! From Dorrie Kinney.

The bouquet had just enough bling, thank you Eric Buterbaugh!
Thank you to Susan Bordelon for all the luscious photos, what precious memories you helped create!

Destination Wedding In Paris - The Experience

2011-03-22T02:04:00.000-07:00

How much fun is it to travel to a destination to party and celebrate your wedding? It is a blast! From starting early to finishing late, even though there is a challenge to the planning, the end result is nothing like having your wedding at home. This bride chose Paris, France as her location and just look at the fun we had.

Beauty Trial

Tea Presentation & Ceremony

Ruffle trim protected dress from Cobblestones

Putting on The Dress

Done & Gorgeous

Final touches & Down the Aisle

Chateau Ceremony In Vallery, France at Chateau de Conde

Married!

Sumptuous Dinner at The Salle des Tentures

Bring out The Cake, Parisian style with cute chefs!

Disco until 4 in the morning! A real bonfire.

Off to Paris for a photo shoot!

What a wonderful way to celebrate! So much glamor, charm, exquisite food,

real formal dining - choose YOUR destination and let's get going!

Birthday Party "Experience" a la Parisian

2011-03-17T16:31:00.000-07:00

We took over the entire property and created a French experience with chefs, entertainers, photo ops, sing along, seafood station - everything you can think of to make a party spectacular.

We brought in a Moulin Rouge as a backdrop.

Here is a video of the photo op area out front and the dance show

with birthday girl as the major star of the can-can!

Songbooks for the sing along in the Blue Note Lounge

set up in the front patio.

French chef in the kitchen, another chef on the grill, desserts later with crepes!

Everybody had their photos taken by the Eifel Tower

we brought in the front yard.

Thank you Carol for a beautiful evening and show!

Saddlerock Ranch Main Reception/Le Dome Ceremony

2011-03-16T12:25:00.000-07:00

Watch this wonderful video of a wedding at Saddlerock Ranch,

it is so beautiful and romantic! ...from Bliss Video Productions!

Dearest Michael,

How can anyone have you for their wedding planner and not walk away with the same sense of delight and enthusiasm that pervades your entire being. Under the title of "Wedding Planner" you have worn many hats. To Marni and I you have been:

* A total blast!

* A creative genius

* An extremely detailed organizer

* A wonderful listener and therapist

* A tasteful fashion coordinator

* And so much more...

One cannot even begin to imagine the hundreds of hours you have put into this event and the patience, class and grace with which you have handled each situation. I cannot imagine doing any event or party without the help of your expertise. There is one more thing to add to the list, you have been an irreplaceable friend!

This means, at this time, that I will not bid adieu. I hope our relationship continues on and on. All I can finally say is you are!!!

Love,

Shelli Rosenthal, May 2007

Romantic Wedding Perfection

2011-03-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

The dance space sizzling hot, with a trio of vine &
leaf chandeliers and gobo patterns projected on the dance floor.
The ceiling and walls were draped and back lit
with LED lights that could be dialed to any color.

Crisp white linen, Classic fruitwood chivari chairs,
Lord Ganesha crystal bells from India, chocolates from Switzerland,
fine crystal, white china & silver flatware
- an International setting sure to delight.


The ceremony mandap was covered in thousands of marigold flowers as is tradition. Red rose petals created a welcome underfoot.

From Head To Toe

2011-03-15T19:05:00.000-07:00

Even the socks and shoes coordinated perfectly at this fun event!

Ethnic Escort Cards

2011-03-15T19:00:00.000-07:00

Escort cards with "eternal loving" ducks from ancient motifs greeted guests upon arrival. Cards were "seated" in orange lentils displayed in a variety of vintage brass trays and containers.

Engaged and Excited

2011-01-11T20:58:00.000-08:00

Engaged? Ready to start the planning of one of the most special days in your and your families life? The energy is flowing and you are reading every blog, looking at all kinds of magazines for ideas and inspiration? Do you feel like you could stay up forever doing research?

You are not alone. Most brides spend endless hours searching for the perfect location, talking to friends/family/co-workers about the celebration day upcoming...I say again, you are not alone.

What is the first thing an organized and level headed bride does to get the ball rolling? From my experience it is off to dress shops to find the "perfect!" gown. I think it is really important to go and see what lines look best on your body, what type of body improvement you might want as far as the gym and tightening up any loose areas the dress reveals.

In the past when social situations had us play dress up for imperial occasions you could see yourself in a full lengh party gown several times each social season. Now we are much more casual in dress when we go out to parties. And shoes, are they important or what? ...as most modern party gowns are not full length. Remember, in a wedding dress you need shoes that will support you for over 8 hours of standing. I repeat, keep your eyes out for the right shoes.

Get out there, look at yourself in the mirror and get a take on what the possibilies are. This is true fun. Also, an eye opener to know what a dress costs that makes you happy. Do you want to spend $1,000 or over $10,000 - available are dresses for many different price points. Are you an ethnic bride, where it may take travel to an exotic location to find your attire?

Then now let's settle in our chair, get on the computer and really start working, talking to trusted friends, and find a few wedding planning professionals to speak with - usually the first appointment is gratis so you can work out a relationship or move on - and get some meetings set up. Is your phone call returned promptly? Does whoever answers the phone seem to be interested in your well being? Wedding planning is such a personal job, and you want someone on your team that cares about you and is going to share time, materials and resources freely.

After you find someone you can work with, check, that is one budget consideration to put on the fire. Then start looking for locations. Your professional may have some great ideas and even be able to share a turn key budget from past experience to get you to a point where you can visit with your funding base about details. Do you need more flowers? How important is food to you? What are the top 3 most important aspects of your wedding for the bride and groom?

After you have your location chosen, there is a fantastic groundwork set so that organically you can work through details in a hierarchical order of importance. My big hits to get out of the way are: planner (of course), photographer, videographer, and entertainment. Most of these vendors can handle only one occasion per night, and there are only so many Saturdays in a year, but wait, are you a Sunday bride, so you don't have as much pressure to get Saturday vendors? ...so many decisions.

Now after you have your location you can really focus on a dress that allows for movement. Are you seen in a grand large ballroom? How do you look 300 feet away? Is there a special ceremony space with a long or short aisle? How long will the dress be seen from the back? Do you want to trouble yourself with a bustle or have a more manageable train? Are your dinner tables going to be close together or far apart? Check these details with your catering director or rental company for set-up details.

You are on the way. Many blessings to you. It is an honor to be part of so many special celebrations for families over the years. Take time to decompress, bride/groom be gentle with each other. It is not the only celebration in your life, so take it easy, it is just one of the most important and usually the first time you have entertained everybody all at once.

Wedding Experience

2010-04-23T03:26:00.000-07:00

A wedding experience is different from a wedding celebration. An experience is something you get home from and can't wait to tell everybody about. A wedding is a nice time with lots of smiles. "Pretty." "She looked so nice." "The chicken was so tender." An experience brings forth the following comments, usually: "That was the wedding of the century!" "I have never had so much fun in my life or ever seen a wedding look like that before!" "I could not stop dancing all night long!" "Wait till they hear about what when on when I get home!"

What kind of wedding do you want to have?

A wedding experience takes into account your crowd, play to your crowd. Know what they are used to and give them a couple of "wow" experiences. Let them participate in something. Sometimes it is just having a bowl of freshly whipped sweetened cream by the beautiful cake a friend baked.

Sometimes, it is a pyrotechnic element that brings the house down. It depends on who your invited guests are as to how far you need to go to blow their minds, and how many times you want to blow them.

Playing to my crowd makes my life so much easier, as taking care of people and knowing what makes them happy, what will make them take stories home is what pays my heart. A fantastic wedding experience is something when thought about 10 years from now, a warm feeling comes over you, sometime you get tears, you remember. Always the most special times in our families and friends lives are something to live, and remember.

Music For My Wedding: I Want To Dance!

2010-01-07T04:51:00.000-08:00

One of the most important things at a wedding is music. If your guests don't get to party, you don't get the right memories and everybody is looking for what to do next when the wedding is over.

I call the last 45 min. dance set of the evening "sweat dancing." You know where the guys take off or loosen their ties and the girls are barefoot or in flip flops? Everyone is dancing like crazy??? If you don't have this magic time happen, the party never really "gets off" so to speak. Your good DJ or band leader will know the crowd by then and should have everything pumping.

This needs to happen before any sound ordinance kicks in or before the hall needs to close with plenty of time to get guests out, etc. before any penalties are accessed. Your invite time is directly related to the time of your last dance set. The average wedding lasts 6 hours from guest invite to guest departure.

For example, if you are starting your last 45 min. dance set at 10 p.m. and ending it at 10: 45 p.m., you will invite guests for 4:30 p.m. for the ceremony. Don't forget any travel time that may exist between ceremony and reception space. That factors in as part of your party time.

If you want to have the music off and the guests out by 11:00 p.m., you probably want to close the bar at 10:30 p.m. Make sure and leave self serve water, coffee, etc. on or near the bar so people are not just literally cut off from all beverages. You may want to leave opened liquor bottles with mixers out and some of the cold beer on the bar. It softens the blow of closing the evening.

When choosing whether to have a DJ or a band, know one looks much more impressive than the other - of course a band looks more expensive. Yet can the band play covers you want to dance to? If not, you may be better off with a DJ. You can dress up a DJ by putting a backdrop behind him, putting him on a carpet or astro-turf covered riser and having him spotlit.

It is best to think about what your crowd's favorite music is, not just your favorite music, as an empty dance floor is a very lonely place when your favs are playing and no one is with you to get crazy. Let your DJ or band leader have a list of some "don't plays" and a list of "must plays" and get out of his way. His job is to make the party rock, your job is to have a blast and pass warm or cool towels to keep everyone fresh.

Let's Prepare A Guest List

2010-01-07T04:28:00.000-08:00

One of the most difficult tasks, one of the first tasks in wedding planning is preparing your guest list. Much conflict can arise over not knowing how to accomplish this task. I have a simple formula that may make your life a bit easier when it comes to a wedding guest list.

Here is how I figure how many people each segment of the hosting committee can invite.

Break your hosting committee into four categories: bride's list, groom's list, bride's family list, and finally, groom's family list. Each category can invite 25% of the guests. That would mean for a wedding of 200 people, each category gets 50 names. Remember, each name constitutes a couple (Mr. & Mrs. Important Guest) so that really breaks down to 25 names.

Note, there will always be people declining the invite, so 200 invites should garner about 170 guests at the wedding. Later you can send out a "B" list and invite more guests...just make sure you print enough invites. It is suggested that you print about 30% more invites then you think you will need for your master list. (Invites to mail, invites to save, invites for backup, invites for guests you know can't come but must be invited)

This may seem like an impossible task....how do you break your entire world of friends down to only 25 names? The only way I think you can accomplish this is by taking a reality check when it comes to finances. Know that each individual guest breaks down to between $250 and $550, which means $500 to $1,100 per couple! You can easily realize you must keep your guest count down if your budget is important to stick to.

One of my rules of thumbs is: how many times have I been to Guest "A's" or Guest "B's" house lately for dinner? How many times have they taken me out to eat? If a guest has not been in your home in the past year, it may be they don't need to be at an expensive event you are hosting. (It may be a bit like cleaning out your closet, if you have not worn it in a year, get rid of it.)

What do you tell the people you can't invite? It seems the only answer for their not being on the list is you are having a wedding for family only, or the hall won't hold guests as you would like it too, etc. Honesty is the best policy, you just have to be honest and let those who will not be invited that you will share photos with them and let them know everything that happened, etc. Good luck!

Why Hire A Wedding Planner "or" Would You Do Your Own Surgery?

2009-11-05T11:05:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite topics is "Should I hire a wedding planner and why? My mother and her mom did Mom's wedding and everything came out just fine!"

I think a good contrary to that would be considering the scope of a wedding these days compared to 25 and 30 years ago. My parents were married 53 years ago, they had cake and punch at my maternal grandmother's house in Princeton, Il and they looked radiant in the photos I have from the Big Day. I'm sure Grandma made the cake and sweets from scratch - I'm having trouble writing as I'm tearing up just thinking about it. So precious and so sweet.

Now, however, I compare weddings to a movie production with a one time run through and better catch it perfect on camera cuz we don't want Bridezilla comin' out and eating us all alive. Please give me some humor so I can stop crying!

From my "What I Do First?" list there are 54 entries of pre-wedding things to do that I counted so far, not to mention any extraneous items that may come up from each person's needs. In a large production there is always needed a "go to" person to arrange everything and keep the show under control during execution.

One of the best scenarios I have of not having a wedding planner, given Dad is a surgeon, is opening up your own abdomen to do a surgery and then having second thoughts as you nick an artery and wanting to reach out for help. Little late I'd say.

The best way to learn about having a wedding planner from my experience is to have your wedding, go through the experience and learn what it is all about. Then you are an expert on why a wedding planner is needed.

What is it all about? Well, the week of the wedding family starts to arrive from Sun. to Tues, so everything in town is turned upside down. You have all kinds of last minute things you want to do and never had the time, now people want you to go to Universal City Walk, or whatever diversion is comparable in your town.

When you have someone you can trust working in your behalf there's a contact point that is attentive to what is current and needs attention. Many vendors are occupied with several events at a time, the one fast approaching usually takes their focus and it is often difficult and time consuming to get them to respond. A dedicated planner is persistent to get the answers you need and distribute information that is pertinent confirming the vendor understands it.

The day of the event is really action packed as far as details - early set up before make-up on large events, and vendors need a point of contact to fine tune what is going to happen. Most of my time the last 2 weeks of wedding planning is spent with time line adjustments for vendor time in/out, confirming time for highlights (like cake cutting), etc. as there are always last minute changes when everything plays out.

Most of the brides I work with are not available during day/evening as so many other activities are pulling them in different directions. We email or text like maniacs. A lot of the vendors may not respond to email or texts which can me unduly frustrating. Vendors usually work from 10 to 6 like planners do so it is easier for communication to actually happen.

R.s.v.p. management, wedding rehearsal execution, guest list management, guest's questions rolling in all day long, transportation organization, limos, amenity distribution, basic project management really, as well as being a consummate hostess? A mad woman would be an easier role for a bride left alone.

Again, if you are having a small reception in the same location or one close to the ceremony, of course you and your family can handle everything along with the church or temple coordinator. But, if you are spending upwards of $25,000.00, add a little more and get a veteran professional on your side. Peace of mind is worth some bucks.

Who Pays For What At My Wedding?

2009-11-02T14:32:00.000-08:00

I'm glad somebody asked me this as I have been dying to talk about it, on my own terms from my experience real time. From watching mothers sneak around corners and whisper about each other how they hate the taste of the other mother. "The other mother does not have as much money as we do." "We don't do things like this where I'm from!" etc., etc....so caddy and I love it! Venting with someone safe, staff, feels so wonderful and freeing.

Where I came from a wedding cost hardly anything, you had to run to the reception hall to get any of the shrimp, there was no booze, only punch, ham sliced with rolls and some cheese cubes. It lasted, thank God, about and hour and a half and you could return to your real life. O, I almost forgot, salted pecans always made a showing...usually there were plenty of those.

Now who pays for what, this life time? Most dads are coming home at 9 or 10 at night, leaving early to work, have tons of tax bills, other kids in college and any bride feels guilty asking for $130,000 cash, right now, for one event, one night! Who is nuts here? Welcome to my world...

Most of our weddings at Entertainment Design Events range in guest count of about 125 people and cost between $75K and $160K. All this depends much on the location and guest count, transportation needs, etc. This number is inclusive of all expenses, not just catering, but it does not include any clothes. The most expensive wedding we did was for 40 guests and cost 1.2 million, so there sometimes is no reason to the rules.

The best way to attack funding that I have seen in California, where wedding experiences include the 4 parties: Meet-N-Greet, Rehearsal Dinner, Wedding Ceremony/Reception, and Post Wedding Brunch, is to sit down with all those that are willing to participate financially and have a pow wow. It is important early in the game to see who is in and who is out. Those that are out may participate in other ways by giving of time and effort, just not funds.

When one family has much more money than the other, usually they will step in and shoulder 75% of the project, the other family will give 12.5 % and the kids (bride/groom) will give 12.5 %. That way everybody gets to participate and feel in the show. You can work these percentages any way you like I'm just giving an outline. The usual people that pay are everybody that can and stay comfortable.

I've also had various family members offer to pay for specific items, for example, a step-father to pay for the band/DJ/music. An aunt or Godmother pay for something like the cake. Mother-of-the-Groom to pay for all the flowers for the whole celebration. These can be really big numbers to cover and my God how generous of the donors to take on this responsibility.

Why you ask would anyone want to spend this kind of money on one night, just to show off or keep up with the Joneses? No. The reason people spend money on big parties is they want to celebrate and they understand the special joy it is to really find someone you want to spend your life with. They want to gather both clans so they are brought together, can get to know each other and form a support group for the new couple.

It is a night, a most special night, where old, young, sometimes babies, all can gather and see each other and friends look their best, get everyone in photos that last forever, and create memories that last even longer. We work and work and work, drudging in and out of our days. When we have something like a wedding to look forward to it is so exciting as well it should be. Other than a car or a house, what costs more? Little wonder there is so much stress, fighting, everyone wanting their part to fill the guest list.

One of Emily's most important lessons I learned was etiquette is something created so when we go places we don't know much about, we have a basic set of rules based on what makes others feel comfortable around us. Using common sense about what makes others comfortable you can most often not make big mistakes in society. Society, where would it be without parties and big weddings...

Budget - What Is It? Why Have One? Do I Die or Kill Somebody If I Break It?

2009-11-02T13:31:00.000-08:00

One of the first few questions I ask my clients is, "Do you have a wedding date?" "Do you have a guest count?" "Do you know what time your celebration is going to start?"

Then, the stupid question. "What is your budget?" Well, the client either has a lot of money to spend so they don't want to be overcharged and won't tell me the real budget. Or, well...the client does not have a lot of money to spend and does not want to feel less than so they won't tell me the budget.

Well, that brings us right back to the stupid question of "What's your budget?" If I was a bride I would be thinking "Don't ask me what my budget is - just give me everything I want and I'll decide if I'm going to or even can pay for that!"

Budget is something to divest from emotionally; something that is necessary to think about from a project management standpoint. We have to grow up and and deal with it so you can move forward from some starting point.

Look at it like this...what kind of restaurant food do you want at your wedding experience? A $50 per person place like Cheesecake Factory? A $250 per person ritzo New York type place? Well, take that number and double it, add a field kitchen and rentals, a location, service charge and decor, so maybe the dinner price (3 courses - this is a wedding so go "all the way") should be times 4 per person.

So here we go, $50 turns into $200; $250 turns into $1,000.

That means a wedding dinner for 150 guests lower end is going to be about $30,000.00. It means a higher end would be about $150,000.00.

Now, let's go put our head in the sand, die, and get re-born male so somebody else can pay? No, just figure out a guest count, take a number between $50 and $250, multiply it times four, then times your guest count and start early! The earlier you start the less busy vendors are and they're hungry to book dates.

My advise is also to take twenty percent of your budget and hide it for mad money, as you know you are going to encounter things you can't live without. You need mad money to pay for that stuff with.

Now layout a listing of all the items you want at your wedding and get 2 or 3 quotes for everything and you will know what your realistic budget is going to be. Then you can move forward or cut your list back, or add more items depending on your outcome funding wise.

And as I said earlier, start early so you get the first pick of the crop, you have time to adjust and you can think without white knuckle gripping pressure. A budget is just a jumping off place to help begin planning and necessary. Don't be scared and be honest with your planner, it makes our job much easier. Then we don't want to charge as much cuz we're dealing with an angel.

What Is New For 2010 Wedding Season - What's Hot?

2009-11-01T16:58:00.000-08:00

I think what is new for 2010 is the awareness that all is not forever and everything can vaporize - except for family. Being in and building a family - the first part of which is becoming married - is something that lasts.

When we begin celebrating unions in the upcoming year most people realize that a lot has changed about the world. How do we accept change? Friends have lost homes, fortunes, savings; other friends are buying houses and using this time of lack to stock up as they have plenty of hard cash.

Themes of any sort, candy bars or buffets, dogs used as ring bearers or flower "girls," chartreuse green and chocolate brown, disposable cameras on the table, wedding bubbles, so many ideas have come and gone - what is here for NOW?

Coming up with the basics and having them in place - great music people can dance to, good food that is executed well - basic components are always hot. Hot and staying hot are the photo booths used for guest books and getting the photos on disk for everybody to keep or get off a website from the photo company.

The hottest thing lately is a photo booth station in front of a green screen or regular screen backdrop complete with costumes and props guests can dress up in. You won't believe the exquisite results from this simple station. www.LAPhotoParty.com is a great company we have used 2 times. Make sure set-up is close to the dance floor as this mother is going to compete with the dancing.

When thinking about what's hot in this unusual new period - think about what people have to go through to get to your wedding and what will make them comfortable. How do I celebrate my joy and union and not show off or make others feel uncomfortable? I keep them in mind.

Room Amenities: some nice cookies, 4 x bottles of water (that don't cost $15 each like the hotel ones do), a little snack mix and a welcome note in an inexpensive basket, box or sack. This is something that really makes a guest feel welcome. I think that's hot!

Be aware and don't let any one thing be crazy over the top and look like a show off, unless all your friends and guests are show offs - then by all means go wild. Be appropriate and play to your crowd.

Videography is something I used to not recommend yet with the progression of video it has gotten so hot. Get a good videographer, the editing is more MTV style and a blast to watch. You can get a shorter mini-movie and get it up on your facebook. Some of my clients videos I've watched over 20 times and cried every time. www.DavidRobinFilms.com

In summation about what's hot: room amenity for out of town guests (remember there most likely will be a hotel room delivery fee), photo booth for guest book with stickers and writing pens for notes, live photo booth station with costumes, great dance music (a good band can be upwards of $14,000) and great food executed well. Do the basics right and have fun celebrating!

Creating Energy

2009-10-13T02:54:00.000-07:00

One of the things I'm really in tune to is creation energy while planning an event. It is distressing when I hear clients say negative things about possible outcomes at an impending party. It is not necessary to make such comments and it is not part of the creative process. Venting I can understand, but creating negative energy while planning the most special events your family will ever attend I don't.

Think of it, if you go through all the things that can go wrong my mindset will be negative, you will have a bad taste about the event and you will be creating something no one wants to be a part of.

Keep your mind in a place of what is going to go right, that all is as it should be, that Creator is with you in your endeavor and that you are in charge. It is such a safer place to come from and it is a place of power. You have the power to create something that is fantastic.

I recently helped produce a house warming or "Saturday Diversion" for my sister in Houston, TX and she had some negative vibe things going on every now and then as it was her first BIG party at her new home. I just rode the bumps, knew I understood what her doubts and concerns were and kept moving forward into the solution.

BTW - we had a fantastic event, everyone was on point, we all had time before the party to do a few things we wanted to, every one of us on the "entertainment team" looked great as well. What a refreshing afternoon.

"Enjoy The Engagement"

2009-10-13T02:41:00.001-07:00

One of the most brilliant things I have heard in ages I heard today from a hostess helping plan a wedding I'm to produce. She said, "They really need to enjoy the engagement, I want them to get this all out of the way so they can have a good time."

Well, is that a mouth full. Think about it, getting this slippery fish all cleaned up and taken care of so you can enjoy your life with your mate to be? What a concept. From a man that has seen it all, at least I hope so, take this to heart ladies.

How many times have I had last minute brides loading things, freaking out, waiting till later and when later comes, OMG - let us all have the mercy of the Lord upon our heads. It is not worth it.

Get it out of the way so you can enjoy the engagement. The best reason I have ever heard to get a wedding planner, someone to wrangle out the details fast so you can rest in peace and enjoy the parties, enjoy each other's company, go shopping together and not be stressed out.

Amen Sister

Good Bones - Start With Money You Can See

2009-03-10T05:37:00.001-07:00

Good Bones – Start With Money You Can See

Good bones are the basics of a location that come with your fees to utilize the space.

If you are using a hotel for your event, some items could include:

• tables
• chairs
• basic table linens – do they go to the floor?
• napkins
• bread baskets
• catering staff uniforms
• china, silver, glassware
• Dining room carpeting
• lighting – including rig points & power sources
• ceiling height – low or high? color?
• good views (garden, ocean, mountain scapes, lake, etc.)
• chandelier

If you are using an off-site location, some items could include:

• bathrooms
• soap, hand towels, toilet paper, toilet seat liners
• tables
• chairs
• lighting
• parking/valet service
• security
• shuttle bus parking spaces
• changing room for bride or other celebrity guest

We make assumptions about basic needs at event spaces that may not exist and can add considerable amounts to an event budget. Have a checklist with you when walking through a venue to identify possible needs so you can question the event host about your wants or concerns.

One of my favorite questions is: what have other’s done for a solution? Then you can learn about or find a vendor, be informed about pricing, get an answer so you don’t have to start from square one.

If you choose good bones or basics in your location, it can save you considerable expense and headache later.

One thing to balance in decision making is dealing with what a venue starts with, like color of walls, color/pattern of carpet, etc. One of my favorite buzz words in design is “appropriate.”

Choose an appropriate color for your décor items like linens/napkins/flowers, etc. Don’t implant your theme in a room with no concern for what is extant, unless there is a wonderful contrast that works.

I once went to a birthday party where there were linens that did not coordinate with the carpet. It did not make the room look as great as it could have. Events look much for sophisticated when the design coordinates well.

Michael Willms
March 10, 2009

Wedding Day Location

2009-02-25T07:52:00.000-08:00

When you start thinking about locations, instead of running all over the place looking at venue ideas and getting confused, instead try visualizing where you want to do your ceremony. Where do you want to look at the most special person in the world and tell them you love them? Where do you want to say this and party with those who love you?

Visualization Exercise: Consider the following as spaces for exchanging your vows:

• somewhere all ages of your family will be comfortable
• someplace you can be barefoot and comfortable
• in the church or temple you have loved with your family
• a cool, comfortable room “decorated to the nines”
• a ceremony in the round inside a romantic ballroom
• near the sound or sight of water
• at a home you have always loved
• on a promontory or cliff overlooking fields or valleys
• on a terrace overlooking the ocean

What time of day do you want to have a ceremony? What kind of light?

• in the afternoon sun, the light is golden and warm
• hot, with everyone outside in the sun, holding parasols
• clear direct light of morning or early afternoon
• as the sun is setting so you go to cocktails where there is lots of candlelight
• in the pitch of night only lit by candles and controlled light

After you have taken these considerations into mind, do research to find the place that fits your preferred requirements. Before you go to look at anything, make a list of your “deal breakers” so you don’t set yourself up for heartbreak.

The following list of questions are things to consider before you allow yourself to fall in love with a place that is not available or affordable.

• Is the location available for your preferred dates?
• Does the venue have a great caterer or allow one you love to work there?
• Is the venue accessible by transport if there is nothing to do around it for guests during their wedding stay in town?
• Does the bridal couple have a place to change into their ceremony clothes at the venue, or do they ride in ready for the aisle?
• How far away are beauty parlors?
• If you have to convert the space from ceremony to dinner, how disturbing is that process for guests and staff?

Chances are if you are romancing a public venue there have been weddings there before. Inquire what a previous project there cost to produce turn-key; make sure and get the guest count. Divide project cost by guest count to get a per person production cost.

If the per person cost is within the range of what you anticipate spending you are on a road to happiness. Book a visit to the location with your fiancée. Try to plan a time where you won’t rush in/have to rush out. Go alone if your fiancée can’t do so.

Similar to buying a home or renting an apartment – you don’t need big sales pitches, hype or explanations. Get in the space, walk around and feel the environment. Get information on the location, take a few photos of spaces there you like (it will help you know what backgrounds look like for photos) and depart.

Once you visit about three locations this way, you will have the feel of what it takes to produce your wedding at each site.

Make a list of pros and cons for each venue, compare and you’re your selection. It should take about two weeks to research and decide.

If you have a professional wedding producer, after you download to them what you want to do, they can provide you with a selection of venues that match your criteria.

Wedding Day Makeup

2009-02-25T07:48:00.000-08:00

When getting ready to make your beauty services selection for your wedding day, why not think about your setting and who will be around you, not just what you look like in front of the mirror?

Ask yourself a couple of questions to get centered: When is the last time everyone was looking at me all evening? When is the last time I wore a formal gown (the lightest color in the room) at a party for 100 plus guests? When is the last time I needed to be beautiful for 8 hours plus?

Is everyone really going to be looking at me from across the room all evening? Yes, they are, and they are going to love it! ..if you make sure you have sufficient well blended make-up to have it work for you.

These questions may take you out of “not wanting to look like I’m too made up” state of mind and get you into being gorgeous like a movie star, one that is used to being photographed. Your face needs to have depth and shadow beyond what a regular work day or night on the town usually has.

Take some photos out of magazines that have similar coloration to you with brows/hair/etc. in line with your own complexion. Lay all photos you selected out together and choose the one that best captures what you want your feel to be.

Get a really good professional artist to do a trial face on a day when you can plan to spend the evening with your fiancée if possible. Wear a button front shirt as close to the wedding dress color when you go for trial beauty. It makes it easier to swap out to a hot little dress. Get ready for people to look at you a bit more than usual and get feedback from your baby. Does he love the way you look? He is probably the one you want to look great for, right?

Make sure and take some photos in daylight and with flash at night. See how the shadows work your face from your makeup. Does it look fantastic on camera? If not you may need to keep looking until you find an artist that gets what you want.

Remember, every face absorbs makeup at different paces and different amounts. You will probably be walking the aisle about 1 ½ to 2 hours after your face is done, so do your real looking and inspecting then. You may think you have too much make up on at first – let it absorb a bit before you get to critical.

You want to look pretty when seen up close and from a ballroom away. If your makeup is correct this magic will happen.