The Wedding Planners

Monday, January 19, 2009

WE’VE GONE TO THE DOGS!

I have a new puppy!

Yes, I hear you out there, asking what in the world does this have to do with weddings or romance or even books. Bear with me. I’ll explain.

But first let me introduce Moki, a Jack-rat mix adopted from a kill shelter two weeks ago. Some time past, Melissa McClone told me about Petfinders and after our wonderful old rat terrier died, we decided to adopt a shelter dog. I searched for a while but when Moki’s sad little face appeared, (above photo) I knew he was for us. A little battered from mistreatment, but eager to love, Moki is now thriving.

That’s the thing about dogs-a lot of love and attention garner a pet owner an enormous return. Such is the case in my current Harlequin Romance, THE SNOW-KISSED BRIDE. (See, I told you I’d get around to the wedding and romance part.) The book’s heroine, Melody has two search and rescue dogs that she considers family. Ace and Chili play big roles in the book, so of course, when it comes time for the wedding, guess what two, loveable canines step up to do their part?

So, tell us, have you ever been to a wedding that included a pet? Or maybe you’ve read a book or seen a movie with a dog that stole the show?

One last thing, I have to know. How many of you have seen the new comedy movie, “Marley and Me”? Did you cry?

Labels: books, dogs, linda goodnight, romance novels, shelter dogs. rat terriers, wedding planners

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Coming up this week

It's cold out there! January winds are fierce and the temperatures painful, so instead of fighting the chill, why not stay inside, curl up with a cup of cocoa and enjoy some blog time with thet Wedding Planner authors? We'll be right here waiting. I'll even share my marshmallows.....

Monday - Please come by and meet the new addition to Linda Goodnight's family!

Special Guest! One day this week (Tuesday if all goes well) we're scheduled to host author and recent M.O.G. (Mother of the Groom) Merrillee Wren. Please be here to say hello.

Wednesday - Melissa James will be posting from the beautiful land of the Swiss.

Friday - You won't want to miss Friday when Myrna McKenzie shares "Does this wedding ring come with guacomole?"

Is that an intriguing title, or what?

Labels: romance authors, wedding planners

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

LINDA'S NEW 'BRIDE' BOOK

THE SNOW-KISSED BRIDE
by Linda Goodnight

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission of Harlequin Enterprises. All rights reserved.

The call for help came late at night. They usually did.

Only this one was the worst kind. A child. Lost in the unforgiving Colorado mountains.
Melody Crawford replaced the receiver and rolled out of the bed, shoving her feet into heavy boots as she pushed to stand. She'd been asleep less than thirty minutes.
Within another ten minutes, she was wide-awake, dressed for the frigid temperatures and rummaging in her "rescue closet" for the equipment she might need on the snow-covered trail. In more than fifteen years of rescue work, she'd never stopped feeling the adrenaline rush that came with a call.

Backpack always loaded and ready, she reached for her dog's leash and vest and heard the soft pad of canine footsteps crossing the kitchen and coming toward her in the narrow hallway.

It was Ace.

A little piece of her heart broke off.

Smile wide, thick fur fluffed and ready with one hard shake of his muscular form, the big, black-and-silver German shepherd gazed up at her in question. As always, Ace was ready to work, ready to run, ready to rescue the lost.

"Sorry, old chum," she said, laying one hand on the wide, intelligent head. "Not tonight."

Not any night in the near future, although Ace was the best air-scent search and rescue dog she'd ever trained.

As if he understood, the dog whined softly and collapsed at her feet to stare up at her with sad eyes.

"As soon as I get the money, boy. We'll have you fixed up and good as new."

But money, for Melody, was hard to come by. Even by training and boarding other people's dogs, her income was limited. The monthly check from her father's insurance barely covered necessities, and the surgery to correct Ace's damaged hind knees was expensive, far over her budget. But he'd sustained the injuries in the line of duty and deserved a chance to work again. Somehow, even if she had to take an outside job, she'd find a way to help her partner and friend.

The idea of working at a regular job made her shudder. Not that she was lazy. She worked long and hard up here in her secluded section of the mountains. It wasn't work that bothered her. It was people.

"Chili," she called softly and was not surprised to find the affable, reddish-brown Lab waiting quietly in the doorway behind her. Trained to search by air and ground, Chili was an excellent rescue dog who loved kids. With a little luck and by moving quickly, he had the best chance of finding the missing child.

With regrets to the depressed Ace, she snapped Chili into his bright orange rescue vest and, flashlight in hand, headed for her truck.

One step outside and she burrowed deeper into the muffler around her neck, thinking of the search to come.

The night was still as death and ten times as cold. Unless the lost kid was well dressed or found shelter, he was in serious trouble. The colder he became, the less scent he gave off. Without scent particles floating into Chili's incredible olfactory glands, the dog couldn't do his job.

The knowledge spurred Melody to work faster. If anyone could find the boy, she and Chili could do it. They were the best in the mountains. Maybe the best in the country. They never quit until the victim was found—alive or dead. She preferred alive.

As she passed the snug kennels, the rest of the dogs, all boarders in training, slipped out of their houses to stretch and shake beneath the white moon. Silver vapor puffed around their wide, sturdy heads. Like Ace, none of them would make the trip tonight. They weren't her dogs. They were brought to her by folks too busy or disinclined to do their own initial obedience training. Melody didn't mind. Working with dogs, anyone's dogs, was her life's work and ambition.

Ace and Chili, on the other hand, were her babies, her children, her family. She took care of them and they took care of her. Together, they didn't need anyone else, but a lot of people needed them. Occasionally. And when the need was met, people faded away from her wilderness cabin like the foggy vapor faded into the night.

People.

She touched the barely visible scar at her hairline.

Not her favorite species.

Intentionally, she turned her thoughts to the little boy lost somewhere beneath the flat white moon. He would be scared. Scared of the black, inky darkness. Scared of the night cries of wolf and owl. Scared even of the bare aspen limbs rubbing together like dead bones.

Kids were a different matter. She didn't consider them people yet. They didn't have prejudices and ulterior motives. They were at the mercy of adults, just as she'd been.

But no more. She was captain of her own fate, in control of her life, which did not include people most of the time. Thank God and Grandma Perkins, who'd left her this remote cabin more than sixteen years ago when life had been hell.

She opened the truck door and waited for Chili to leap easily into the passenger side, ready for the trip to a ranger station four miles down the mountain. As she climbed in behind her dog and cranked the engine, Melody wondered why she'd awakened tonight with the old memories so sharp.

But memories were okay, occasionally. They kept her focused, kept her mindful of why she'd never permanently leave this mountain again.

4 1/2 Stars from Romantic Times Magazine.

A reader writes: "I read the last chapter over and over, not wanting the book to end. A very unexpected read. I always appreciate your books but this one goes on the top of the top of the top of my keeper pile."

Available January 13 from Linda Goodnight. Order now.

Labels: Harlequin, linda goodnight, romance novels, The Snow-kissed Bride, wedding planners

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Meet new author Kimberly Lang

We'd like to introduce to you Kimberly Lang, a new Harlequin author who has a book out in the UK. She'll be stopping back by when her book hits the shelves in April in the US.

I’m so tickled to be here on the Wedding Planners blog because, once upon a time, I wanted to be a wedding planner. Of course, I’d never actually planned a wedding (not even my own because I eloped), but I’d been a guest at several. I was working as a conference and event planner at the time, so I knew how to organize events, negotiate with hotels and caterers, and I was a hopeless romantic at heart. It seemed like the perfect idea – I had the basic training, how hard could it possibly be?

Then my friends started getting married, and I got to see the inner workings of wedding planning up close and personal. It was an eye-opening experience, to say the least. I hadn’t realized what emotional minefields weddings could be. When I’d planned scientific conferences, it didn’t matter that the napkins were more mauve than lilac. No one burst into tears at the sight of carnations in centerpieces or spent hours debating bow ties versus ascots. It didn’t matter what kind of stamps went on the envelopes or if someone got a strange haircut at the last minute.

My pride in my professional credentials started taking a beating. I – the person who’d managed to get 250 non-English speaking scientists to a conference being held an hour from the nearest airport without losing any of them – couldn’t manage to get my best friend into the shower on her wedding day. As I forcefully threw my BFF into the bathtub over her wails of “I don’t want it to be my special day anymore,” I knew that whatever I was going to be when I grew up, it sure wasn’t going to have anything to do with planning any weddings.

With that in mind, you might find it a little amusing that my first book, The Secret Mistress Arrangement (Mills and Boon Modern Heat – on sale in the UK now!), opens at a wedding, where the frazzled Maid of Honor is at the end of her tether and about to snap. There’s certainly a little bit of me in my heroine, Ella Mackenzie, in that first chapter, but I think anyone who has ever been involved with planning a wedding will be able to sympathize with Ella.

Most of my friends are married now, so my bridesmaid days and all the wonderful book fodder they provided have come to an end. However, I had such a great time writing the wedding in The Secret Mistress Arrangement, don’t be surprised if more weddings show up in later books. Give me some inspiration by sharing your favorite (or worst, depending how you look at it, I guess) wedding snafu!

Oh, and to celebrate the release of my first book, I’m running a couple of contests this month. Visit my website for details.

Kimberly

Labels: celebrity weddings, guest blogging, wedding planners

Friday, November 14, 2008

The Sword Ceremony-A Romantic Military Custom

To me, there is nothing quite as manly and handsome and sexy as a man in uniform! So, I thought I would investigate the traditions unique to having a formal military wedding. One of those traditions is the Arch of the Swords (or Sabres). This tradition is so military and formal and full of pomp and ceremony and chivalry, I just had to tell you about it.

Arch of the Swords/Sabres: The tradition comes from both the American and the British in which the bride and groom pass beneath an arch formed with upraised swords. This arch is formed by uniformed officers as a means of ‘welcoming’ the newlyweds into the service. Strict protocol applies to the display and must be done in accordance with the rules specific to the bride’s or groom’s branch of military. Generally speaking, six ushers form the sword detail except in the Air Force. This branch prohibits the saber bearers from serving in any capacity other than the arch.

The Sword Ceremony takes place immediately following the closing blessing as the bride and groom turn to leave the chapel. The sword detail lines the aisle, doing so with sharp military bearing and in perfect form and unison. At the soft command of the leader, they raise their swords with one swift and continuous motion. The honor guard continues to stand at stiff attention while the bride and groom pass beneath the arch. As soon as the couple has cleared the archway, they pause with the sword detail behind them (and sometimes kiss). Then, again at a soft command and in perfect unison, the swords are lowered, and the couple continues the recessional. This same ceremony may take place as the couple passes into the reception area.

Cake Cutting:
The sword is also used to cut the cake. Again, strict protocol is adhered to. An officer lays the sword over his left forearm, cutting edge away from the body, hilt towards the bride. The bride takes the sword and cuts the wedding cake, with the groom's right hand resting over hers on the sword's hilt and with his left arm free to place around his bride. (Sigh) So romantic and chivalrous.

I like this so much, reader beware: It’s probably going to show up in a book someday!

I’ve never been to a military wedding but now I want to go! Have any of you ever been to one? If you live outside the U.S., does your military have any unique customs to share?

Labels: linda goodnight, military weddings, wedding planners

Monday, October 27, 2008

Share a recipe for a chance to win Linda's new book

Natalie the cake fairy here. A little birdie told me that Linda Goodnight has a new Harlequin Romance on the shelves right this minute! The title is THE MILLIONAIRE'S NANNY ARRANGEMENT and features another irrepressible little girl like my twins, only this little girl has a genius brain and a lonely heart.

Here's a teaser: A child genius chooses a pregnant, down on-her-luck widow to be her mommy for hire. Now if millionaire daddy will only cooperate…

Doesn't that sound yummy? And speaking of yummy, Linda is letting me run a contest for a chance to win a free, autographed copy of the book! Being a baker, I'm always on the prowl for new recipes, so here's the contest. Share a favorite goodie or snack recipe for Halloween. Or if you don't celebrate Halloween, share a favorite recipe for fall, and you'll be signed up for the contest.

Just in case you don't win the free book, pop over to Amazon to read an excerpt and order your own for a heartwarming good time.

Off to bake my famous Black Widow Cookies!

Labels: Halloween recipes, linda goodnight, THE MILLIONAIRE'S NANNY ARRANGEMENT, wedding planners

Sunday, October 26, 2008

COMING UP FOR THE WEEK OF HALLOWEEN!

Monday Linda Goodnight (me) is blogging about a new book and a new contest.

On Wednesday Melissa James will be here with something fun and interesting as always.

And I can't wait for Friday when Myrna McKenzie will be blogging on the topic of 'horror movie brides' in celebration of Halloween. I'm already brainstorming my favorites!

Our very special guest this week is Pam Ford, the absolutely perfect guest for the Wedding Planners. Why? Because in her latest SuperRomance, THE WEDDING HEIRRESS, the heroine is a reluctant wedding planner! Pam will be blogging on the topic of 'Wedding Bliss on a Budget' and we'll get a sneak preview of that great new book.

So get ready for another terrific week of blogs and don't forget to comment. We love hearing from you.

Have a boo-tiful week!!

Labels: linda goodnight, wedding planners

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

My Good News!

This has nothing to do with weddings, but I just had to share my exciting news. The last of my “Brothers’ Bond” series, THE HEART OF GRACE, was named the 2008 short contemporary Book of the Year by the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). I didn’t attend the conference in Minneapolis where the award ceremony was held, but a dear friend and wonderful author, Janet Lee Barton kindly accepted and carried the plaque home where she presented it to me at our local writers’ meeting.

I was truly not expecting to win the award again, or I would have made the trip. (Last year, the first book in that series, received the same award.) Who knew that all three of ‘my boy’s’ would struggle up from their humble beginnings to win major writing awards—Two Books of the Year and the RITA.

I am blessed.

Labels: ACFW, Book of the Year, linda goodnight, The Brothers' Bond, The Heart of Grace, wedding planners

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

First Dance

Video and Code Provided by WhoIsTheMonkey.com

I couldn't resist this. Hope all of you get a good laugh.

Labels: funny wedding, linda goodnight, wedding planners

Friday, September 5, 2008

Bridal Shower Favors

I just love unique shower favors, don’t you? While cruising the internet for photos I came across some adorable ideas that I want to share with you. Www.Myweddingfavors.com had by far the cutest ideas if you’re into checking them out yourself.

Some favors were very pricey and others quite reasonable. They can range from as little as 20 cents to as much as ten dollars or more. Yikes! Most ran in the one to two dollar price range. Common ideas include votive candles, mint boxes, or candies. Take the candle a step further with something creative like this Wedding Cake Candle or have your mint box or candy bar personalized with wedding date and the couple’s names. Bottle stoppers, coasters, cookie cutters, key chains, shaped cookies, pillow sachets- all in wedding a design – also seem to be very popular choices.

Elegant little boxes such as these are pretty inexpensive but very cute. Fill them with your choice of mints, nuts, or other goodies. Tiny decorative bags are available too and very inexpensive.

You could also choose a favor to a match your party theme-seed packets for a garden party (check out the butterfly basket with wild flower seeds), fancy tea bags for the tea, chopsticks or fortune cookes for an Asian theme, ‘hot’ sauce for a kitchen theme, etc.

Remember how the Wedding Bellles loved their margaritas? Well, here’s a party fa

vor they would adore – a margarita-shaped note pad. Chances are the Belles would throw a margarita-themed shower in the first place, so at $2.20 each, why not have a matching party favor?

Or considering the way they loved their poker games, they might have a poker party and hand out these adorable magnet favors.

For a bit more money, ($2.95) you can treat your guests to this pink polka dot purse. Inside is a little manicure set.

Gotta love these flip-flop photo frames. They would be perfect for any shower, but especially one with a beach or luau theme. They cost about $2.11 for a set of four.

And how about this measuring tape shaped like an umbrella? How cute is that?

Last of all, a gift that would make the Belle’s photographer, Regina, swoon with delight—the chic leather stiletto key chain. At $1.65, it’s not too bad. Wow! That’s one shower Regina will not miss!

Okay now, ‘fes up. What’s the best bridal shower favor you ever received? What did you have at your shower? Or what do you wish you could have had?

Labels: books, party favors, romance, wedding planners, weddings

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Funny Story about "RITA girl"

If you read this blog regularly, you already know I was honored with a RITA award last week from Romance Writers’ of America. The after-celebration has been fantastic—lots of cards, calls, emails, flowers, even pink champagne! But life has a way of keeping us humble. Let me share a funny story that happened on the Monday after the award program.

The local florist telephoned and asked if I was the “Linda Goodnight who had just had a baby”. After some sputtering and rather hysterical laughter, I said no. She was puzzled because she couldn’t find any other Linda Goodnight in the phone directory and needed an address in order to deliver the flowers. I asked if perhaps an error had been made because I’d just won a rather major award and it was possible that someone might send me some flowers. The florist replied, “Let me read the card.”

It said, “Congratulations on the RITA, girl. We are so happy for you.”

The florist had assumed I had just had a baby girl named Rita! So I told her to bring the flowers on out and I’d introduce her to my baby girl named RITA.

She and I had a great laugh when she arrived with my bouquet compliments of my OKRWA chapter.

Oh, and here’s a shot of my baby girl with her flowers.

Labels: books, linda goodnight, RITA Award, RWA, wedding planners

Saturday, August 9, 2008

WINNER, WINNER, WINNER!

So sorry for the delay in getting the news out to you. I've been off to RWA in San Francisco and then this week finishing up a book while reveling in my RITA win.

Without further ado, from a random drawing of many, many great July comments, the winner of the $25 gift certificate to any online store of your choice is:

BRANDY!!

Congratulations, Brandy. Thank you for posting on our blog!

If you will email me your address and your choice of which online gift certificate you want, I will get that taken care of!

Labels: July contest, wedding planners, winner of gift certificate

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Groom's Cakes

Can I share a secret with you? My favorite type of cake to make is not the wedding cake itself. It’s the groom’s cake! To me, there is more opportunity to be creative with a groom’s cake because the sky is the limit. Whatever the groom’s interest, hobbies, tastes, or lifestyle is, I can create a cake to go with it. So I thought today, it would be fun to post some fun, creative cakes, all in honor of the man of our dreams—the groom!

Apparently this groom is a zoo keeper. Either that, or he and his bride do a lot of monkeying around!

Is your man a lawyer or in law school? This is the perfect cake for him.

Some folks take their favorite sports' teams very seriously.

Musicians will love this one. I've also seen drum and piano cakes. How fun is that?

How's your golf game? Eat your heart out, Tiger,

Even though he's a gambler, you'll always be his queen of hearts.

A groom's cake for the more intellectual man...

Mate and checkmate

I spared you the Elvis, the Home Depot, the armidillo, and the beer can, but believe me, they're out there! Many brides go for the more traditioinal, elegant offerings such as the one at the top of the post, so whatever your tastes, talk to your cake fairy. I'll bet she can fix you up!

Until later,

Natalie, the cake fairy

Labels: wedding planners

Friday, July 25, 2008

Bridal Showers - Decorative Theme Ideas

There must be a billion different theme ideas for bridal showers, so if you’re doing the planning, it’s hard to narrow down to one great idea. For starters, think of your bride and groom, their personalities, favorite activities, colors, etc. and try to work a theme around that. For a jump start, try any of the following:

1. Tea

Party Your setting can be indoors at a home, in a restaurant or hotel, or outside on a patio, in a park or an actual garden. Invitations could be in the shape of a pretty teapot. Any colors will work but the brid

e’s colors are a good choice. If you are doing the tea and food yourself, you’ll need pretty tea cups and plates, several flavors of brewed tea, and a selection of fingers foods such as tiny sandwiches, teapot shaped cookies, or bakery tea cakes. A lovely silver tea service is the perfect centerpiece. Ask your guests to dress accordingly, in dresses and hats, if they can. When the fun is over and the gifts unwrapped, send your guests home with a small packet of herbal tea as a party favor.

2. Pink Poker Party – I found this cute party idea online and since the Weddin

g Belles are known for their weekly poker games, I couldn’t resist including it. There are many ideas here and a video showing how to make a darling invitation on your computer. Pink is the word and everything, including the drinks which can be pink lemonade or pink martinis. Consider a shower cake like the one shown, only made in pink and decorated with playing cards, a pink and white chocolate cheesecake or any of the other recipes included at this great site: http://www.celebrations.com/article/ladies-only-pink-poker-party

3. Fiesta, Luau, or Asian garden party – Cultural themes are very pop

ular and you can find all the info and paper decorations online or at your party store. All three can be set around a swimming pool if that’s available, or anywhere outdoors or indoors. An Asian party, especially would be fun and unique. Incorporate paper fans and lanterns and parasols as part of the decor, eat with chopsticks and serve sushi, mini egg rolls, fortune or almond cookies, or even Chinese carry-out. Small, colorful take-out boxes would make terrific favor containers.

4. Cowboy – Invite your guests with a cowboy boot design or even better, create ‘wanted poster’ invites for each of your guests. Use hay bales for seats, burlap for tablecloths or the country l

ook of red and white checked. Decorate with anything western – photos of horses or cowboys, horseshoes, bandannas. Wanted posters of the bride and groom are especially fun and easy to make on your computer. Your food can be a full out barbecue or simple fare like pretzels, chocolates in the shape of hats and boots (available online from Oklahoma Chocolatier BedreChocolates.com), or have a cake or cookies in the shape of a wagon wheel or boot. Yee-hah!

5. Wine and Cheese Shower – Provide a variety of cheese and wines for guests to sample. Include the label beside each one. Party favors can be s wine glass. Invitations can be computer generated on Word with a wine glass art. Decorate with elegant flowers, lace table clothes, etc.

6. Music, Music, Music! – Plan your shower around a particular music theme. The 50’s are always fun but consider, too, the big band era, disco, the psychedelic 60’s or even a classical evening in fancy dress. Your taste, your choice!

Most of the showers I’ve attended have been simple cake and punch or finger food showers with decorations of wedding belles or photos of the bride and groom as kids. At one shower that stands out in my mind, the bride brought a large painting of her and the groom. She asked all the guests to sign the blank areas around the painting. Today that painting hangs in her home as a sweet reminder of a very special time.

So how about you? Have you seen any sentimental or unique things done at showers? Can you brainstorm any other cool theme ideas?

Labels: books, bridal showers, romance, tea party, wedding planners

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Wedding Flowers on a Budget from Tori

Tori Shelton is a talented homeschool Mom whose side business is wedding flowers. Her specialty is making gorgeous arrangements for brides on a budget. Listen in to some great ideas:

Wedding flowers are, in my opinion, one of the most creative ways to express yourself in your matrimony planning.

Maybe you’re simple and elegant, and dream of clean lines and pure white calla lilies. Maybe you’re colorful in actions and in words, and have a preference for loud, bold displays of many textures of poppies, hydrangeas, and berries. Maybe you’re classic, and have always hoped for a beautiful blushing bouquet of red roses. Maybe you’re perfectly sweet, and you dream of that ideal mixture of peonies simply because their meaning is “happy marriage”.

Whoever you are, being a bride allows you the opportunity to express that beauty in the display of your own unique arrangements of flowers. “Unique” sometimes sparks the thought of “expensive”, although it doesn’t always have to. There are many ways to make your wedding flowers all yours without breaking the bank.

✿ After accumulating several ideas, decide what’s most important: always allow for your favorite flower, even if only in small quantities.

✿ Visit your local florist, but don’t be discouraged by price. Sometimes, they can assist you in figuring out what is in season and what can be substituted for your wedding day, which will save you immensely.

✿ After precisely deciding what you want, it is often very much worth the trip to visit your local farmer’s market to contact the florist there. Most of the time, it will cut your cost at least in half.

✿ Go by referrals. If a friend raves about a florist, at least give them a shot. Take your budget, and be clear about what you can spend… then allow the florist to do what they do best… and often, together, you can create arrangements that both fit your budget and live up to your expectations!

✿ Add something to your bouquet. It doesn’t have to be costly, just special. If your personality allows, maybe you could add feathers or twigs. Polka dot ribbon adds character to a bouquet, and doesn’t

spike the budget. A bride I knew recently added a small picture of her mother to her bouquet. Although it only cost her a few more dollars, it was priceless that she had a reminder of her mother, who had passed away two years earlier, with her on her wedding day. She made her bouquet uniquely hers.

✿ Remember that small pops of color and variation of flowers add dimension, and texture. And, monochromatic bouquets speak loudly when in contrast to a dress. Bouquets of simplicity sometimes make the most impact, and cost the least.

The most important thing for all brides to remember, is to enjoy the planning and preparation. Spend evenings with your mother or your best friends finding pictures of those perfect flowers. Make memories, be yourself, and give purpose to all you do. A wedding is a grand event, but it’s also so much more. It is the beginning of a marriage… and that, is even more beautiful than any floral arrangement known to man.

Now it's your turn: What is your favorite flower? Tell about your bouquet? Did you do anything special or have you seen some unique use of flowers at a wedding?

Labels: bouquets, flowers, wedding budget, wedding planners

Monday, July 14, 2008

WINNER, WINNER, WINNER!

The winner of Liz Fielding's blog prize, drawn from the comments on that day, is Robyni! Robyni, please email me with your contact info so I can pass it along to Liz. linda@lindagoodnight.com

CONGRATULATIONS AND ENJOY!

Labels: books, liz fielding, prize, wedding planners

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

A Ukrainian Proposal

UKRAINIAN WEDDING BREAD

Today, we have a special treat. Christina, who lives in Ukraine, agreed to tell us about her surprise engagement. It’s touching, romantic, and I think you’ll love Christina’s delightful accent. Enjoy!

On September 20, 2007, my boyfriend Illya made me a proposal! He is so inventive! It was WOW! I did not expect it could happen until the very last moment. Ok, I’ll tell you the story. Illya and his two apartment-mates (Artem and Dima) decided to give a house-warming party. By the way, I heard this idea from Illya back in summer. So now finally he and they were ready for the secret party which turned out to be my surprise.

Illya invited many friends, our common friends, guys whom I was happy to see. In the afternoon Illya called, and I ask him if I can put on jeans. (Strange, why on earth did I ask it?) He answered that it would be better if I have a dressing-up, a skirt is desirable, saying that after the party we will go for a walk together. (Honey likes when I wear skirts). I did what he wanted and dressed up.

Finally we all got together in the boys’ apartment at night. Before that the boys had a good preparation. They arrived wearing festive caps on their heads and were funny and happy. My boyfriend had a little bit of a troubled look. I could not understand why. I do now!

So during the house-warming party we were talking to our friends, playing games, eating, and simply having fun. I thought it was only a house-warming party until the contest “Who is the most sensitive?” Three persons played the game in a blindfold. The task was to guess what you eat or drink, what you smell and what you touch. I was the third and the last player (I was chosen as a third player for a purpose). I tasted mango, smelled roses, and finally touch

ed a ring!!! Yes, it was my engagement ring!

Then I opened my eyes while the violin was playing (Yura played), the light was off and just candles were lit. I saw Illya on his knees with a huge bunch of flowers (there were 30 yellow roses, right as I like). He uttered cherished words, “I LOVE YOU, Christinka…Would you marry me?”

What do you think I answered? I said, “Shall I answer right now?”

He nodded. I came closer to his ear and whispered, “ok”.

And he said to me: “Please, say it once again and aloud so that everybody can hear.”

I said, “I AGREE”!
We kissed. The friends were applauding, producing joyful sounds. They were surprised. I was too. For all that time before this moment Illya was in a great tension. But after my “yes”, he breathed with relief. He was so happy. A strictly undesirable answer for him was “I will think” and of course “no”. So he still didn’t know what to expect from his girlfriend. He was all sweat, as he told me later. Our friends ran up to us and begin to congratulate us sincerely.

I was happy. But I didn’t expect this engagement would happen to us now, so soon. I thought I would get the proposal later, maybe in spring, not now. I was shocked, I could not believe it.

The guys turned on the music. They were very excited, too! Illya said, “Ok, guys, thank you all. You may have the party go on without us, ‘cause the table is ordered for two of us in the restaurant, so we need to go.”

This was one more surprise for me. We were going out to dinner. Once we were almost ready to leave, the friends asked us to dance in a circle. My favorite worship song was sounding, called “Redeemer”. I can not help dancing at that time. It was a slow short dance in the middle of the room in front of our friends for the first time. Amazing! Then was, “Bye, we have to go!”

Somebody suddenly shouted, teasing, “Christina, throw out your flowers”. You see, like according to the wedding tradition of throwing the bouquet. So I took one rose from the bunch, and threw it away

. A girl already married caught it. So I took another one, and threw. That time unmarried girl caught the rose.

Then there was the restaurant Deja-vu. I always wanted to visit it. There, live music is played. When we just came in, a very romantic and famous Russian song was sounding, called “I love you and the tears rolled”. I was touched by that coincidence. We spent a great time there. We called my parents to tell about this event of great importance. We were sitting at the restaurant until the midnight. Only in an hour or two my shock passed.

Yes, God gave us that wonderful day. I did not even expect that a normal day could turn to such a life-meaning-event!

Love,
Christina
Ukraine

Labels: wedding planners

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Bride Amanda

In the hectic days before her wedding a few weeks ago, Amanda Smith graciously visited with me about her plans for the big day. Yesterday, she sent photos of the wedding. Her professional photos are not back yet, except for the one above, so she kindly agreed to let me post photos that a friend took. I think you'll agree, the wedding was gorgeous and so is she! Enjoy.

1. Did you decide to go with a big wedding or a smaller one? Why?

We went with I guess an average size wedding. We have 183 guests for our big day which is in 11 days. The decision was challenging because we wanted everyone we ever met to share in our happiness; however, we did pay for our wedding ourselves so money was definitely the determining factor.

2. What has been the most difficult part of planning a wedding?

Coordinating all of our out of town guests and the logistics to get people to all of the activities has been the most challenging part of my wedding planning experience.

3. What has been your favorite part of planning your wedding?

My favorite part of planning my wedding has been spending time with my mom and my soon to be mother in law. I gave each of them some ownership in planning the day and it’s been great to watch everything come together. They both have helped to reduce the amount of stress that goes into planning such a large affair.

4. How did you make this wedding celebration uniquely yours? (And unusual or interesting touches you chose to go with)?

We are actually doing quite a few things to make our celebration unique to us. We are doing trivia throughout the reception. People can answer a question about us and we have made bags with local goodies that you can only get in the Carolinas. We also have created a poem to have our guest’s hoolahoop for the bride and groom to kiss. Our wedding favors are fuchsia can koozies with our name and a saying on them. The bartender will be placing guest’s drinks in the koozies so they will definitely have one to take home. Our send off will be with sparklers. We also are having BBQ, grilled boneless/skinless chicken breasts, rolls, broccoli cheese casserole, scalloped potatoes, carrots, and then peach cobbler and brownies.

Of course, we will also have a 4 tier wedding cake with each tier hosting a different flavor. Our champagne is pink which compliments our colors of pink and black. Our flowers are gerbera daisies and we are having a large outdoor reception at the Huitt House which is a large historical home in the area.

5. How many attendants do you have? Describe the dresses you've chosen (or would like to choose).

We each have 4 along with 4 ushers and 4 greeters. My fiancé has a large family. As far as the girl’s dresses go. Let’s just say I am a super nice bride. I actually picked their dresses and shoes out at White House Black Market. The girls are wearing simple black strapless cocktail dresses. They love them, I think because they truly can wear them a hundred times over.

6. Any favorite songs you’d like the wedding band to play?

-Our first dance will be to Vince Gill “If you ever have forever in mind”
-Our father/daughter dance will be to “My Girl”
-The mother/son dance will be to “The Man You’ve Become”
-We want a great mix of country, rock, cheesy dances like the electric slide and some booty music later in the evening.

7. If you could go anywhere you wanted to, describe your perfect honeymoon location.

We are going to Charleston, SC for the week. That’s where we went our first vacation and where we want to go where everything took place. We are having a private chartered yacht for Wednesday evening for a sunset cruise on the ocean. We are also parasailing one of the days of our trip. We also have a half day kayaking trip in the ocean as well as some down time to just relax on the beach. We will be doing a ton of eating…Charleston has some of the best food in the country. What we already have planned is the perfect honeymoon.

8. Have you received or requested any unique wedding gifts? What are they?

Not really. We just bought a house so we really just want gift cards to Home Depot, Pottery Barn, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Target. We have asked for a Nintendo Wii, some games for the wii, a Hepa Dyson vacume cleaner, and some Rachel Ray pans. Obviously we have asked for more, but those seem to be practical and unique at the same time. If my fiancé had his way, everything would be from Sears.

9. If a millionaire dropped by and offered to pay for the wedding of your dreams, what additions/changes would you make?

We would probably want to do a destination wedding to Italy and have our wedding party and family join us for a month long celebration in an Italian villa. My fiancé is half red neck and half Sicilian.

10. Have you chosen any interesting/different places for wedding photos?

Our engagement pictures were fun and interesting. My fiancé is a Testing Mechanical Engineer for a major race team and so he wanted some of our engagement pictures at the race shop with the race cars…so we did. As far as our wedding day pictures go…not really sure. I have left that up to our photographer. She is fantastic.

11. A wedding is a bride's opportunity to act out a fairy tale for a day. What stands out as the most special part of your wedding?

My entire day is extremely special. I have found the man of my dreams and I am super excited to unite with him as one. Also, my mom and nana never had a wedding so having our entire day with them is amazing! Don’t forget about my wedding dress…it’s BEAUTIFUL! It’s a Mikella couture and is really special to me and my mom surprised me and purchased it for me as a gift.

Labels: outdoor wedding, wedding photos, wedding planners