Always a Blogsmaid

Are You Going to New York Weddings?

I've spent the whole day getting ready for tomorrow's New York Weddings event!  We'll be showcasing a fabulous table top "Look for Less" and raffling off 10 hours of consultation services ($1,000 value- and that's no April Fool's Joke!). I 'll be announcing the winner on our blog on Thursday.  Plus, we have a special invitation to attendees tucked inside the gift bag! 
Our new friend Marcy Blum will be there, along with commonly mentioned names on Always a Blogsmaid like CECI, Christian Oth, Elan Artists, Mark Ingram, Pronovias, Ron Ben-Israel, Milk and Honey Video, Shiraz Caterers.... and the list goes on and on and on!  And there are tons of other vendors who I haven't met yet.

I think I mentioned before that participating in this event feels like rings on the tree of our business, and it has such a sentimental place in my heart.  We met Jessy of Fleurs there a few years ago (who is providing all the flowers for the event and has been designing day and night) and always get to connect with brides and meet some readers. So Mayra and I will be on hand to answer any questions, and generally have a great time.  If you were going to be there, please come by and say hi!  If not, I'll be posting pics!  Oh, and not too late to get tix!

Weddings in a Box

As I mentioned, during my wild night in Vegas I got to spend some time with the absolutely wonderful Marc Wilson of Marc Wilson Design.  Marc came to New York in 1986 to pursue his passion in arts and textile design and eventually found himself creating gorgeous floral designs at fabulous weddings around New York City.  While many of Marc's creations can be over the top, he's created several Wedding In a Box packages to allow brides in New York on various budgets access to gorgeous floral design with less of the hassle! 

The Weddings In a Box package simplifies the sometimes daunting process of selecting wedding flowers by offering you the option to choose from lush, beautiful arrangements that speak to your individual style.  Packages include personal flowers, ceremony pieces and reception decor and range from $5,000-$15,000 depending on the size and number of centerpieces, bouquets, etc.  Brides can also personalize their package by selecting a la carte options like custom fabric wraps on their vases, pillar candles on each table etc. Here are some of the various, lovely styles from the talented Marc Wilson.

Hello Lucky for Less (as in Free!)

I love Hello Lucky invitations.... their beautiful letterpress designs have spiced up the weddings of some of my favorite clients. And now, they offer economical and time saving digital printing. So, I needed to spread the word about Savvy Scoop's Savvy Steal Giveaway. 

The lucky winner will receive 50 sets of their favorite Hello Lucky invitation digitally printed. Entry is free and simple: register with OneWed.com, comment with your OneWed user name on as many blog postings as you wish this week. Each time you post an informative tip or comment, you are automatically entered into the giveaway contest. The more tips or advice you offer, the greater your chances of winning! So get commenting and snag yourself a steal!

Our Wild Night In A.C.

I'm a native New Yorker, so when people say Atlantic City to me, I immediately think of my Aunt Lulu on a bus and some Salt Water Taffey.  That said, when we got invited to the Water Club for an evening to check out their ballroom space, I was intrigued.  So Mayra and I spent some time with my adorable Grandparents down in Brick (in a place I like to call Del Boca Vista, and my grandmother calls "Wrinkle City") before we headed down south to Atlantic City.  

From the second we arrived at The Water Club, we were blown away.  First of all, you aren't just at a lovely resort, you feel transported.... it doesn't feel like A.C, or Vegas, but like a wonderful Miami resort.  The location proved to be perfect for a mini destination wedding for the style minded AND the dream location for a bachelor or bachelorette (the spa and the Aces train makes it the perfect location for a weekend with the girls. 

The staff literally is thrilled to be there (they said so) and it shows.  We started with cocktails, and met some of the other guests, including the really lovely Maya Kalman of Swank Productions (and her fantastic husband/ partner), and Marc Wilson of Marc Wilson Designs. 

The venue has several indoor pools (that can be plexi covered), as well as some lovely, intimate ballroom space and outdoor space.  The spa is out of this world and the food, with menus created by Geoffrey Zakarian, is to die for.  And, to die is exactly how I felt when I went to the ladies room right as Mr. Zakarian came over to introduce himself.  Finding myself midway in the conversation upon my return, I whispered "who is this?" and she said "I think he's the sales representative for the property." So, under that premise, I engage this world famous check in a completely non-sensical conversation involving such probing questions such as "How are sales going?", "You live in CT. Wow, what a commute! O, you mean, you work in NY?  How do you do sales from NY?" and so on, and so forth.  Thanks a lot Mayra.  

After cocktails we headed to dinner (menu by Geoffrey, btw - who I kept apologizing to.... REAL nice, Xochitl) and in addition to being wowed by the staff, service, setting and food, I was bowled over by the entrance of my wedding world Idol, Marcy Blum.    I didn't just get to sit at a table with Marcy, I got to MEET Marcy.  I've met her associates many times, but never HER.  And she was lovely.  In trying to explain this to a lawyer friend later, I said, it's the equivalent, in the legal world, of getting to dine with a Supreme Court Justice.  And we didn't just dine... The team at the Water Club wanted to show us everything the property had to offer...we dined, AND we danced. Wedding Planners gone wild! (maybe a little too wild, Mayra looked a little green at our walk through the next day ;-)  

Rehearsal Tips

I'm on my way to Atlantic City to check out a NEW wedding venue (details Monday!), but I wanted to share a tip for those of you who are NOT having a DOC on the BIG DAY.  As some of you know, I write the Nearly Wed "column" for Real Simple's blog, Simply Stated.  I don't like to duplicate posts, but I wrote a post on how to run a wedding rehearsal and I thought some of you would find helpful!  The full, detailed post is here, but a quick summary is below:

1. Designate a Stage Manager. Don't try and run your own rehearsal (or ceremony).  Name a friend or relative to give directions if no one on your vendor team can do so.

2. Create a Floorplan or Map.  Drawings of everyone's position help!

3. Start at the end and go backwards.  When you are going to start your rehearsal, have your "Stage Manager" get everyone into their "end position" and practice the recessional first.  Now everyone has a sense of where they need to end up.

4. Have Someone in the Back to Say "Go".  The hardest part of a wedding ceremony is the pacing.  Have someone in the back to say "GO!" (quietly) when it's time for the next 'maid or couple to enter in.  

Parents: Can't We All Just Get Along?

The Q: I'm sure i'm not the only bride with this issue but I can't seem to  find any good ideas on the web...  My parents recently divorced (and it was a nasty one).  However, I  always imagined my father walking me down the aisle.  Also, my father and I will do the traditional father daughter dance.  How can I honor my mother?
 Thanks for any advice! Also if you could point me to any other advice about dealing with angry divorced parents I would greatly appreciate it.

The A:  You are so right. Just on this blog, I've had so many questions involving divorced parents.  Here is the thing, no matter how contentious the divorce, they will want to do their very best to not freak out or freak you out on the wedding day. That said, you should always be up front about your plans in the very beginning and tell them each not only THEIR role, but also the role the other parent will have- surprises in this sensitive area often make for bad moments on wedding days.

So, in terms of the aisle, often in this situation with my clients, I borrow from Jewish tradition and suggest that both parents walk you down the aisle together.  They can put their differences aside for long enough to get you down the aisle.  If that isn't what you had in mind, then I would suggest that when you get to the end of the aisle, before you are 'given away', your mother should get up from her seat and meet you at the front of the aisle and walk you (with your dad) those final steps.  After he lifts your veil (if you are wearing one) you can kiss them both and they can both warmly greet your fiance.  

I would suggest for the reception that if you are dancing with your dad, you NOT have him make any toasts and instead offer that opportunity up to your mother.  It should be a toast early on in the evening.  This has worked well for many clients and even for one of my dear friends... after her mother's toast we segued into her dance with her dad and it was a beautiful moment with her parents whose divorce had been quite lengthy.

Another option that we've seen BRIDES do  (never seen a groom do this) is to dance  with their mothers as well as their fathers, and literally split the song. It's not "traditional", but it gives them both a moment in the sun. 

And don't forget, if you want to make mom feel more special, the dress, the getting ready portion of the day, the hair and make up.... these are all a time for ladies where you can really have some special time together.

I don't know if I have other sites to suggest (other than the knot or brides.com's etiquette columns) but here are some old posts here from other readers with similar issues:  A general list of do's and don'ts for parents who don't get on well.  Another is dealing with getting down the aisle.

I know this is stressful, and no one wants to be a bridezilla, but at some point, if it starts to become a little too much about them and their issues, remind them that this is not about their relationship.  This day is about YOUR relationship and (in the nicest, lovingest way possible) let them know they might need to suck it up for one, sure to be wonderful, day.  

Special Offer: Nicole Miller Wedding Gowns for a Steal!

Wow!  Ruelala.com is having a Bridal Boutique for Nicole Miller Wedding Gowns on Monday, March 30th at 11AM.  If you don't know, Ruelala.com is an exclusive, invitation-only online shop connecting you to that which only fashion insiders used to be privy to.  The site features up to two new private sale boutiques a day, each open for just a brief window of time.   Boutiques offer members access to current season merchandise from a mix of fashion and lifestyle brands that range from super premium labels to more mainstream must-haves at discounts of 30% to 80% below retail.

In this case, these gorgeous Nicole Miller gowns that retailed from $820-$2800 are selling for prices as low as $250-450. 

RueLaLa is accessible through membership only and they've extended a membership to all of our AlwaysaBlogsmaid Readers! Here's how to get your  VIP Membership Code:

- Go to www.ruelala.com

- Select "Invited by a Member"

- Enter this email address as your key to get in:  [email protected]

A Wee Bit More Max + Mara

I just wanted to give you a better look at their dapper wedding party, and of course, the life like Pinatas! Thanks again to Elisabeth Millay, who sent these over in a jiffy and ALL the pics (if you are really into wedding porn, as I like to call it) are on the Facebook page.

What They Did Right: Max and Mara

I had asked Elisabeth Millay for a few more pics from this awesome wedding, but I'm impatient and couldn't wait to share this with you! There are more photos (and more to come) that are up on our Facebook Fan Page.   SOO, Max and Mara got married this past weekend at The Bowery Hotel.  Several months ago, I got an email from Mara, who I've known since my days as a young lass back at Brown.  We shared many, many classes together (including one where someone presented a dead animal to the professor, but, whatever. Neither here nor there) and I had worked on some theater stuff with her then boyfriend, now fiance, Max.  Max and Mara were planning a wedding, needed some invitations, some vendor recs, and wanted to see if Always a Bridesmaid could help managing the day.  Of course, we were more than happy to oblige!
It was such a pleasure because Max and Mara are such a stylish couple who don't sweat the small stuff and they did so MANY, simple, awesome things right, I'm excited to share.  They started by picking awesome invites from Paper + Cup and took the color scheme and ran with it: Pinks and Yellows.  Mara had her bridesmaids were dresses in Pinks and Golds and the look really came together- espeically with the great accessories the bridesmaids wore.  She herself found a Diane von Furstenburg dress and replaced the black waistband with a pale pink one. The look was stylish, but effortlessly elegant.
Max is a filmmaker and Mara has a PhD in Visual Culture, so in leiu of traditional escort cards, they bought postcards of artwork and old movie posters.  The thoughtful couple tried to match cards with guest personalities.  We displayed them on these CB2 photo trees.  When it came to flowers, the only thing they really wanted (and splurged on) were these overflowing cherry blossom arrangements for the ceremony. They were a true presence at the ceremony.  When it came to personal flowers, the bride and groom didn't get hung up in the details and were able to save some money that way.  They trusted their florist (Adal at Floristry) and gave him  a color scheme and over all idea (composite pieces for their family style meal- moveable if guests needed to pass things) and the result was gorgeous.  Finally, as a favor, Mara's mom found these Pashminas for $2 each and we placed them on the chairbacks in alternating pinks and yellow and blacks.  They enhanced the decor of the room AND the guests had a blast wearing them.
The dinner was rich with toasts from loved ones and later, we moved onto dancing.  A segue orchestrated by the amazing 1/2 scale Pinatas one of the bridesmaids created and shipped from LA. They were made in the likeness of the bride and groom circa the year they met - 1996!
It was a joy to have been part of such an awesome celebration AND I couldn't have been happier with Elisabeth Millay. She's always such a joy to work with and these photos look amazing!

What a Washout.....

I had two main things to do yesterday (well, more than two, but two MAJOR goals):  start this Blue Print Cleanse and attend The Wedding Salon.  I'm being open and honest in telling you that both Mayra and I failed at both activities (though, I frankly blame missing the latter on the former.)

What can I say about the Blue Print Cleanse?  I can blame myself; perhaps I don't have the willpower.  I can blame my body; I am anemic and so perhaps that's why I couldn't deal with the blurry vision, the naseau and the dizzyness.  I can blame my appetite; I'm a little person, but I eat a lot.  I don't eat garbage, but I enjoy eating. 

I could also blame the very simple, but dumb idea of doing the Blue Print Cleanse.  I like to eat and I get nasty and dizzy when I don't.  Cleanse obsessives will say that my side effects are the signs that my body is detoxing, and that the extreme nature is reactive to my extreme need to cleanse.  That may be true. It may also be true that my body DOESN'T LIKE TO STARVE and that 1,000 calories worth of nasty tasting juices wasn't going to make the cut. The juices tasted SOOOOO VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY bad, I would have rather not eaten than to drink more green juice.  (here is a photo of Mayra after drinking the green juice- these are not staged. These are candid photos shot from my desk).


The real reason we stopped the cleanse (though I'm drinking the nasty juice as a supplement to my light meals of salad until they are done- after all, we did pay for them already) is that WE GOT NO WORK DONE.  I was listless.  Mayra spent the day browsing food sites.  It's WEDDING SEASON: not a good time to zone out.   

Onto another topic (sort of). Congratulations to the ladies at 4PM Events for what, to me, appeared to be their most successful Wedding Salon event ever!  Around 6PM we tried to go over to the Roosevelt Hotel for The Wedding Salon. The line was literally around the block and the event- partially visible from the lobby- was clearly overflowing with happy brides.  There wasn't a press check in though (not a complaint, just a statement of fact) and I'd only consumed about 800 calories worth of jugos at that point, so my patience and blood sugar levels were low.  I waited for about 5 minutes, realized I didn't have the energy to lug around the GINORMOUS victorias secret gift bag and I left.  :-(  So, I didn't go to the Wedding Salon. I didn't take any photos and I went home and had a sushi roll.

I failed myself and you, dear reader.  Sorry.