Some of my most memorable weddings comes from my interactions with the Father of the Bride. It’s a tough day for them. Watching their baby girl walk down the aisle and turning his most precious possession over to another man….yeah, if you know ANYTHING about men, it’s a really, tough day for them.

So today, for a very personal reason, I’d like to pay a little homage to past Father of the Brides (or affectionately called The FOB) who personally made a big impact with me. There are many more than just featured here…

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2007 FOB, Steve Burris

What I loved about Steve he was a total business man with a great attitude. He actually interviewed me while his daughter and Mom sat quietly. Steve would chuckle about the expense of “flour and water” for a wedding cake and roll his eyes at his wife’s obsession for the perfect floral or gown to wear. But secretly, he loves his family and would do anything for them. Our team worked extra hard to WOW him at his daughter’s wedding and we met his high standards. He also let me know at the end of the reception that he would of spent TWICE the amount that he did for his little girl. Steve, thanks for letting me know that AFTER the event….

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2008 FOB, Doug Little

Sometimes Dad’s are chosen. That was Doug Little, technically a step dad but in every important way, a real dad to his daughter. He’s pretty quiet, but has a sense of humor and a great laugh. He was a little overwhelmed by all the wedding planning. Not sure what to make of all the decoration selections or the food tasting. He would of been happy with a beer and a burger, probably. But the way he looked at his (step) daughter; pure joy would shine through his face.  He couldn’t be more proud of his little girl. He even played along with the Jewish tradition of putting on the kippa for the ceremony (which he forgot to take off until WAY into the reception).

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2009 FOB, Glen Sturm

Actually I met Glen for the first time the Friday before the wedding. You can see what an impression he made on me to make this short list on the blog. First, he’s a jokester and a prankster. I figured that out real quick. But he is also a planner. Actually all the Sturms meticulously plan out details. From taking dance lessons and practicing the day before with his daughter AT the reception hall for their Father/Daughter dance to writing his Welcome Speech about a year in advance, (which by the way, major props…that speech was awesome), to the high stool chairs that you brought from home so the bride and groom could sit while you made all the guests laugh.

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2010 FOB, Michael Espenlaub

Some Dads are rock solid, some are rockstars. Enter Michael Espenlaub. To begin with, his lovely daughter just wanted the planning…forever events team for design and decor for her wedding. But when Michael learned more about our Wedding Day Management service, he was sold and hired us. He came to EVERY planning meeting, even when we tried to “lose him” by going to sushi for a meeting (just kidding). He called me, “HIS wedding planner”. I won’t lie, a personal first. Favorite part of the day, we were walking his daughter outside to the front of the church minutes away from getting married, he hung back on the side watching her. He thought we didn’t notice, but we did. He loves his daughter very much and would do anything for her. And as a selfish bonus, has another daughter. Michael…….call me.

_{photo: my daddy and me in 1969}

Why all this talk about Daddies today? Because this morning at 6:45am marked the one year anniversary when my own Dad, passed away. Instead of being sad, I want to remember good times and celebrate the living.

Being a Daddy’s Girl, I’ve always been acutely aware of the Father of the Bride and what he must be feeling on his daughter’s wedding day. But now since my Dad is gone, I seem to be drawn to watching them, watch their little girls.

So even though it is not “Father’s Day”, do me a favor. If your Dad is still living…..please call him, email him, text him or better, hug him and tell you that you love him.

Here are some tips to keep a level head to “fix” your dress.

MOST IMPORANT: Know your fabric of your dress. Do not guess. Talk to the bridal shop and understand the best ways to care for it and what can or cannot be put on it. For instance, silk CANNOT take any water, liquid of any kind.

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1. RIPS AND TEARS: In advance find thread that matches your wedding dress color perfectly. Go ahead and thread a needle with lots of thread in advance and put that in  your emergency kit. Why thread in advance? Because you may not have much time and when people are nervous, threading a needle is difficult. Don’t forget thread to match your veil as well. Those little beads can come undone.
2. STAINS: Some household items can work well. Tide pen, Shout wipes, chalk, baby powder, even Oxy in a spray bottle (thanks April Foster for that one, never thought of it). You may want to try it FIRST on an inside seam to see how the cleanser will act. Also, never wipe… always blot.
3. BUSTLE FAILURE: This is so frustrating for a planner, as it almost never fails that a bustle gets stepped on during the reception and rips the dress or the bustle mechanisms. Before the wedding be sure to bring both your ceremony and reception shoes so your tailor will know the best finished length. The best quick fixes for fallen bustles are baby diaper pins. Large enough to do the job and can hold weight.

The best thing you can do for any of your wedding dress failures or mishaps is to keep on going and have a good time. Thank goodness photographers can remove any type of blemishes with photoshop! So dance the night away and enjoy your wedding day.

PS Catch the fun live version of this post on Fox 7 Wedding Planner.

“Lisa Sayatut and Drew Ellis, a local Mount Pleasant, Michigan couple said their “I Dos” in their local T.J.Maxx store on Saturday, July 24, 2010.  The couple’s unique nuptials came as a result of the bride-to-be’s love for T.J.Maxx. Lisa, a true “Maxxinista,” who admits to visiting the store three times a week, calls it her “happy place.”

On a $5k wedding budget, this Maxxinista got her wedding and maybe a little shopping afterwards!

What do you think, readers?

DISCLAIMER: I wrote this blog post only because I thought it was interesting and I love TJ Maxx. Consequently, the media rep that sent the information to me also decided to gift me a $25 gift card, after the post was written. It’s been spent.

Today on Fox 7 AM Evansville we talked about common guest faux pas that happen at weddings. As planners, we see A LOT of them, but here are the highlights…

1. Arriving late to the ceremony. If the ceremony starts at 1:30pm you should be arriving NO LATER than 1:20pm. Seriously, I see people give more attention to arriving at a movie theater early than they do at weddings. But let’s say something happens beyond your control and you are strolling in at 1:34. If you see pretty girls lined up and a bride at the front of the church, kindly step to the side and wait. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT, scoot by the wedding party and enter the church. If you wanted to see the bride’s face as she walks down the aisle, you should of arrived on time.

All of the guests will be focusing on the entrance of the church as the processional has already begun, so you’ll be seen by EVERYONE. Also you ruin the video and let’s face it, you’ve drawn attention to yourself at someone’s wedding. Instead, wait to the side until the bride has walked down the aisle and is at the altar. The guests will be turned around and you can slide on in, unseen.

2. Manage your children. Everyone should know that if your child starts to cry during the ceremony, please get up with crying child and leave as to not disturb all the guests. Most parents will do this. But I’d like to add, do not forget about your children at the reception. For some reason, I see parents completely relax and let their children run everywhere. And when I say run, I mean the 100 yard dash sprint. And fingers poking into the cake is not cute, nor sanitary. So please watch your child(ren). It may even mean leaving the reception to take them home.

3. You forget the gift. This is easy. Don’t say anything. Do not apologize to the parents of the bride, do not mention anything to the bride and groom. Just send the gift immediately when you get home. There is no need to draw negative attention to yourself.

4. You’ve drank too much. The best advice is to not get to this point, but I know that sometimes it can happen, to the best of people. So if you have had too much, or the bartender has cut you off, realize that they are doing this for a reason. And if other guests or staff is taking your keys from you and calling a cab, do not argue. Know that your friends are looking out for your safety and others.

ps Catch the TV version of this blog post with Saundra Hadley, Fox 7 Wedding Planner.

For your visual fun, check out our clients Whitney + Tyson who are tying the knot on August 7th later this year. We also are doing the design and decor and cannot wait for their wedding day.

incredible photographer: Equinox Photography

So I was intrigued when I stumbled across these beautiful Patriotic Garters designed by The Garter Girl (Julianne Smith). Her garters are so awesome, we featured her designs on Fox 7 Wedding Planner segment.

She makes the most incredible garters…quality, detailed and beautiful.

You MUST visit her etsy store …. It is full of garter goodness.

When creating your reception timeline … be sure to not get boxed in go with the usual flow. Look at your guests, your venue, the time of day of your ceremony and what fits you best. Below is what Kelly and I compared to what “usually” happens at our respective receptions.

Indiana: (typical 250 person reception)

Florida: (typical 120 person or less, destination reception)

Other Major differences:

Interesting, isn’t it?

I have to tell you, I triple heart the Monarch family. What is not to love? They are Type A personalities (check), lots of fun (check), very direct and blunt (check) and always want to throw a great party (check!).

Amanda politely asked me, “What’s up with the blog?” Seriously, thank you for the gentle reminder, as I have been quite delinquent. As our team has grown this year, I’m hoping to have more blog posts done by not just “my voice”.

Now Amanda and Brian are no strangers to our blog, you see when you have a super cool personality, you get talked about. Like when they decided to meet before the wedding, we used their pretty faces, or when we talked about being a “wedding risk taker“,  and finally, my personal fave….. how to make a grand entrance into your wedding reception, OH YES!

Today, though, also just happens to be Amanda and Brian’s 2nd wedding anniversary. And for that reason, I’d like to play a little homage to their wedding and see if we can get Amanda to cook more than just spaghetti for her anniversary dinner…

Enjoy….

photo credit: walker studio
flowers by: Simply Fresh Floral

We all know that for outdoor weddings, it is critical to have a backup rain plan.

But have you considered the other weather elements? Like oppressive, humid, glaring, blazing heat from the sun?

This year we have had an tremendous shift of venues for wedding selections. More people are choosing personal residences or outdoor venues for their wedding ceremony (and/or receptions).

It’s a fab idea, as bride and groom’s are looking for something different for their special day. The concern is mostly with the potential of rain, but you have to remember other weather elements. In southern Indiana, the humidity factor is a huge concern as it is oppressive to a woman in a beautiful, layered wedding dress and men in full tuxedos. This can lead to crabby attitudes, sweaty faces, heat exhaustion and fainting.

Keep these points in mind, when planning your outdoor extravaganza:

1. Your elderly guests need to have shade and comfort.
2. Outdoor musicians will not play in direct sunlight. It’s not the uncomfortably factor (although that should be a concern, imagine YOU trying to play a violin dripping of sweat and exhaustion for an hour), musicians WILL NOT expose their high dollar instruments to direct sunlight. It ruins them.
3. Should you proceed with the outdoor, sunny plan; then make sure you are choosing garments to wear that will allow some coolness factor. This includes your wedding dress, groom/groomsmen attire, bridesmaids and parent attire.
4. Prepare for helping the guests cool off: A shaded location to wait until the last minute to be seated for the ceremony, fans (electric and handheld), cool non-alcoholic drinks to refresh themsevles.
5. Choose a short vow ceremony. Short…. very short.
6. Have an inside backup plan to move the ceremony. You don’t want to think about this now, but once you step outside in full dress, you may change your mind.
7. Do NOT choose a month that an outdoor wedding will almost 98% sure to be miserable. In this area, August is the worth month of the year with high humidity and heat.
8. Encourage more casual dress for guests; open collar shirts and sundresses for the girls.

… and I see a little of myself in this skit.

Happy Mother’s Day!