Buff Brides!

It's not easy getting buff - I know this! I've been working out, doing yoga, and eating right for 6 months, and I've lost about 20 pounds. That's good - I know, but it's not easy.

You want to look good for your wedding, and not just good, but the best you've ever looked. I mean how many days of your life do you have a gazillion pictures of you, a party for 200 of your closest friends, and wear one of, no the, most expensive dress you'll ever wear. Yeah, like once.

So why not look, amazing! Here are some tips:

• Be patient with yourself. It will take time. But have a plan, a food plan, a work out plan.
• Have a goal. If you know you want to lose 10 pounds write that down.
• Keep a diary of what you eat and drink. It makes you more conscience of what you are putting in your mouth all day.
• Leave a little bit of food on your plate every time you eat, and if you feel control enough, leave 1/2 of your plate. If you do that everyday imagine how many calories you didn't eat!
• Be consistent and don't make excuses. Enough with "I'll start tomorrow, I have time." Start today, don't wait for Monday, that's just another day on the calendar. Just Do It!

I am not a dietitian, I don't play one on TV, and I don't claim to be perfect (although, I am pretty darned close *wink*). I just know what I've done over the past months and what is working for me.

Attempt to lower your carb intake, up your lean protein and lower your fat intake and see where that takes you.

Good Luck!!!

What I learned While In Houston

Don't you feel that you should learn something with every experience. Sometimes I feel that I know it all, although I know I don't. You just get stuck in a routine and feel that no matter what happens, you've been there and done that.

Not true.

Houston is amazing! And I did have one day (Thursday) sort of off, and got to see my best friend and her new baby! And that was super spectacular!!!

What I learned:

• Downtown Houston is beautiful! There are plenty of places for amazing events in Houston! We were at the George R Brown convention center and you can have 32 events (or more) there simultaneously and not even see another human! And we had 5000 attendees! Did you know that Downtown Houston is mostly underground! I had the best $4 omelet, E.V.E.R!


• Traffic in Houston Sucks! (with a capital S) It took us 2 hours to go 12 miles!!! Yeah, it stinks!


• No matter how many people say that The Houston Marathon won't affect your event- don't believe them! Even though it didn't affect the event itself, even though the starting line was right outside the convention center- the traffic, the people and their families, the runners and their healthy eating, the people in the elevators, the Marti Gras running team and their screaming as I was getting ready for dinner! Yeah, it affected me, and effected me!

Oh and last but certainly not least.....

• Everything is NOT bigger in Texas, sorry it's just not. Although the 5 story Macy's was incredible and a lot of fun. The size of most everything is just the same as it is in any other part of the world. Sorry Texas.

An event with 5,000 attendees just means more food, and more break out sessions...

Oh and Yes, we don't just do weddings!

Interns! That time of year!

I am getting 100s of calls and emails this week (and while I was away) inquiring about doing an internship with MasterPiece Weddings, and while I love your enthusiam. I know how busy our firm is, I don't need 100 people to intern for me this semester. It wouldn't benefit any of us.

So I am looking for 3 very special interns to work with MasterPiece Weddings.

There are some rules that apply. You must be getting school credit for the internship. You must have communication skills, you must be interested in wedding consulting. You must be available to work on weekends (including Friday).

As I was typing this - my dear friend Terrica at Fabuluxe had written this last week, and it's perfect!!! Just perfect! So if you are interested in interning or working for us, please see the below!

_______________________________________________________

A lot of my blog and pro friends have written about this– about how to apply, or inquire about a position with a wedding planner. I never ever ever in the history of fabulousness thought I would have to write something like this… but here it goes (and of course, I write with all the Terricaisms that bring you joy, luxelings).

So…Why I won’t hire you:

1.)You use my contact form. You are not a client. You are not a prospect. You are not getting married. Why are you using the contact form? It would be awfully nice if you took the time to research to see if I had an employment page, an HR email or the like.

2.)Your FIRST communication with me is poorly written. If your email looks like one of the LOLCats wrote it, it ends up in my trash bin. Period. I can teach you the ways of a wedding planner. I do not, however, teach grammar, spelling or English. This is an internship. Not an early literacy program.

3.)Your first communication with me is your resume…and ONLY your resume. Honey, that’s just rude. This shows me immediately that you have no imagination and personality. Sure, I have enough for both of us, but I don’t want to share. It’s BYOP.

4.)Three letters: T.M.I. I don’t care to know about where you were last night, who you were with and what you were doing. I’m not your girlfriend. I don’t want to hear about or see (two words My Space…Yes, I check it!) how plastered you were for spring break. If I can google you and find you in a bikini or some other compromising position– trust and believe that my clients can too. NEXT.

5.)You call me and the first words out of your mouth are: “Are you hiring?” Again, rude. Even if I was, I wouldn’t tell you. Not the way to apply. You have to wow me, sell me, make me love you. Playing 20 questions is not the way to do it.

6.)You know nothing about me or my company. If you can’t tell me anything about my business, how can you tell my clients? Do your research. I’m not asking for a book report, but at least show me that you can fit in as opposed to blindly sending out your resume.

7.) You tell me this is your DREAM. I hate this. I’m not looking for dreamers. I’m looking for someone who can work hard, laugh hard, and make it happen. You want romance and happy flowers, get a Disney movie.

8.) You’re a wimp. (Couldn’t really find a better way to word it, sorry). Let me put it like this: On the outside, you see the beautiful bride, handsome groom, proud parents happy guests…good food, awesome music, beautiful decor, and gorgeous venue. The inside: timelines, 12 hour work days, climbing stairs, ladders, putting floors together, moving tables, bustling dresses, crying flower girls, unpaid vendors, bridesmaids, drunk groomsmen, tired feet, and that’s only the half of it. If you’re worn out just reading that, we need not go any further. Just stick to the blog.

9.) You have no sense of style or decorum. I sell style. Plain and simple. I sell style and security. When we meet, I need to see how you would meet with my clients and vendors. So yes, honey, I’m checking you out: your clothes, your hair, your makeup, your accessories….all of it. Do your clothes fit properly? No bulges, pulling buttons, tight clothes, cleavage, etc. How well are you put together? Do you look like you stepped out of a magazine, or that you should be hit with one? Have you come professionally dressed or could I mistake you for hanging out at the mall with your friends? Are you personable adn witty? Are you shy and reserved? Are you crass and loud? First impressions are not just everything, they are the ONLY THING.

10.) You think you can do it because you saw it on TV or planned your own wedding. I’m not looking for a human TiVo machine. I don’t need you to spew every line from The Wedding Planner or the hottest new wedding show. That’s like you going on a medical rotation and telling the doctors about what you saw on Grey’s Anatomy. I’m glad you’ve planned your wedding. It was fun, wasn’t it? Now do 12 simultaneously! (Why are you crying????) Realize that you have to bring something to the table, as well as being ready to learn and do some grunt work.

Leavin' On A Jet Plane!

But I know when I'll be back again!

I am headed out on Monday AM for Houston, Texas! We are working a conference there - it should be a blast!!!

If you need anything in the meantime, I'll have limited access to email, and the phones will be transferred to me directly!

See you after the 14th!

If it Sounds too Good to be True....

It probably is. As a bride it seems that you have allllll of these vendors vying for your attention and your business. (or at least they should be)And sometimes a vendor just seems too good to be true. Maybe they offer so much more than another did, or they offer unlimited this, or unlimited that... just remember the ole saying, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Recently, I met with a bride, it was her initial appointment with me, and she wanted my opinion on a vendor. We'll call him ABC Photography - and she wanted to know if I ever worked with him, and I hadn't. She wanted know if I ever heard of him, and I hadn't. Not his company or him.... to me these are red flags, I've been a wedding consultant for 14 years, I know most every vendor within 50 miles of my office.

She showed me what he was offering, and basically it was unlimited hours, a huge album, 2 photographers, 2 large canvas's for her wall, a mother's book, and several print packages, along with an engagement session for $1000. What a deal, right!

Wrong! This is a huge red flag - HUGE! She never even though to ask for references, and trusted that the images she was shown were his. Don't be afraid to ask! Get references, look at samples - and remember if it walks like a duck, sounds like a duck, it's just probably, a duck.

I found out this week, he was arrested for fraud.

Do you need a Wedding Consultant?

I don't know do you? This is a question that often comes up, but most of the time the bride thinks that she doesn't because she has it all handled. And maybe she does. I mean tons of weddings happen everyday without a wedding planner and those people are married.

But if you have a lot of details that need attention, or understand that you don't have control of timing, or your vendors on your wedding day, and you want to be a guest at your own party and not worry about IF the cake showed up, or IF the DJ has the right timeline, or IF the photographer is on the same page as the caterer. Than maybe you might want to consider a wedding consultant.

There are a lot of details leading up to your wedding day that need attention - maybe a "day of" package is what you need - or maybe something with some minimal consultation?

Your mom probably - and I am just guessing here - wants to be a guest at your wedding, and you probably want to enjoy your friends and family that traveled from near and far to see you. So just letting go of the worries of getting things done and trust that a professional has "your back" - so to speak.

Some brides say that they'll trust a girlfriend to handle the planning on her wedding day - but one thing to consider is that your girlfriend may have never planned a wedding in her life. She also wants to have fun at your wedding... and she doesn't know your vendors - so in theory this is a great idea, but it may not work out how you'd planned.

Maybe giving up some responsibility on your wedding weekend to the professionals that you trust will allow you to fully enjoy your wedding! It's not an expensive idea, it's priceless - it's a day in your life that only happens once, you want it to be perfect, trust the professionals that specialize in perfect.

** All photographs Photography by Rebecca

When Life Brings you Lemons...

We've all heard the saying, when life brings you lemons - make lemonade. But what about when life brings you soggy black beans? You make Black Bean Hummus!

The same goes for Wedding Planning - if you find yourself in a situation where you are finding that everything is going swimmingly and you know your budget is unlimited and no matter what happens in life you can buy yourself out of it - that's fantastic.

But unfortunately for the rest of us, we usually have a budget - when putting together your budget know where your priorities lay. If it is with the flowers than know in your mind and on your budget that more than the average will be placed in the floral budget. If you LOVE LOVE LOVE a fancy schmancy photographer - than you might need to budget $5500 or more for a photographer.

And one little quick tip, don't force your vendors to do something they don't feel comfortable with - if they have never "done it that way" and say that one or two times, I wouldn't forcet them to, let your vendors stick to what they are good at, and consider maybe that vendor isn't the one for you.

But if you know in advance you won't wind up with a bucket of lemons.

Party Planning

I can't believe that 2007 is coming to a close, so much to be thankful for this past year! And so much to reflect on for the coming year. If you are planning a New Years Party here are some tips on staying organized (this also works for basically any party you might be planning):

• Make a list of everything that has to get done (including your menu for the party)


• On that list note the times that things need to cooked or started or placed in the oven (for instance - make crab dip AM, put quiche in the oven 6:30)


• Have the drinks out already so you don't have to fumble in the kitchen for drinks for everyone all night


• Make sure your champagne is chilled and ready to go


• Know where your champagne flutes are in advance or have them out already


• Make sure you have enough forks, paper goods, ice - ect. before your party begins


• And be ready an hour before your first guest. (this way you can be finishing up in the kitchen when the arrive, not blow drying your hair)

And don't forget to have fun! It's a party after all! (Oh and drink responsibly!!! It's not you I am worried about, it's the other guys!)

Happy New Year Everyone!

Christmas Eve - Celebration!

I promise this is the last Christmas Post, then back to Weddings as Usual! Okay, so the one thing I love about Christmas is the food, I just love entertaining - so for me this is the Ultimate in Entertaining!

The Prep work, after my first cup of coffee I start cooking - here's our menu:

Hor's Deavours:

• Shrimp Cocktail (Fish One)
• Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese, Capers and Diced Onion on Mini Toasts (Fish Two)
• Goat Cheese with Fresh Rosemary and Cracked Pepper and Olive Oil
• Crab Rangoon's with an Apricot Dipping Sauce (Fish Three)
• Mushroom Turnovers
• Spinach Tartlets
• Cheese Souffles
• Blue Cheese with Fresh Honey
• Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

Dinner:

• Stuffed Calamari (Fish Four + Bonus Fish in Stuffing)
• Lobster and Crab Potatoes Au Gratin (Fish Five)
• Salmon with a Lump Crab Meat and Lemon Caper Butter Sauce
• Tilapia with an Orange Dijon Glaze (Fish Six)
• Smelts (Fish Seven)
• Inside Out Stuffed Artichokes

Dessert: (Mostly Made by Maria who is an incredible Chef and needs to open a bakery!!!)

• Homemade Cookies and Cakes
• Homemade Canolli's
• A ton of yummy'ness!!!

Here is the Photo Documenting that Greg did such a fantastic job with!!!

The Prep Work:

Me Playing with the Calamari:

The Finished Products:

My Table - wouldn't The Hostess with the Mostess be proud of me! The Dessert:

The People:

My Handsome Husband and his Mommy:Erin, Me and Barb:My Step Dad (Greg), My Mommy, Father in Law and Mother in Law:The Whole Group (Minus Greg)Me Cleaning:Erin and I:

It was such a lovely and Lively Christmas - I hope everyone had a fantabulous time! I know I did! And my apron looked so nice with my Christmas Eve outfit!

Christmas Eve - Pre-Celebration!

I hope you all had a fantabulous Christmas! I know we did! It was filled with so much laughter and love, and fun! And that is what the holidays are all about - regardless of how you celebrate, what you celebrate, or what your traditions are, just being together, your crazy family, your quiet celebration - it's about doing it together.

Like I posted earlier we celebrate Christmas Eve, Italian Style with the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Here's the recap:

We started with Gingerbread Smack-Down, also known as Pimp Your Gingerbread Crib - we all go together started with a standard Gingerbread Kit and made it our own - This was Christmas Eve-Eve (aka December 23rd)

The Gingerbread Mess!

My Gingerbread House (The Snowman is totally cute, no?)

The Cheater's House (aka - My Mom's - she was trying to copy a house from the Internet)

My Mother-In-Law's House:

Maria's House (I love her wreath and trees!!!)All of our Houses!

Next Post - The Food!

Feast of the Seven Fishes

One of the best things about marrying into an Italian family are some of the traditions. One of my very favorites ones is the Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes. Seven symbolizes so many things - Seven days of the week, the seven days it took for the Virgin Mary to travel to Bethlehem, the seven sacraments, the seven days of creation, or the seven deadly sins. Many families, like my husband's aren't strict about which fishes are served- but only that there are seven. (or some bonus fishes that I like to thow into the mix)

I've changed things up since I've taken over for Christmas Eve, and I love every minute of it! We had a delicious feast full of new friends and old, of family from all over - and it was amazing! Once my Stepdad sends me the photographs, I'll be sure to share them with you!

What are your family Christmas traditions?

I need your help!

I need your help! I have a client that really would like a unique way of displaying her table seating cards. I'd love you to help us decide! If you could email me or comment with a link to where we can see them. I'll post them all and then I'll let you know which image she decides to go with.

The ideas can be DIY or professionally done - there are no limits, except your imagination!

This is my last post until after Christmas, as all of the family arrives tomorrow! I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and all of that fun stuff!!!

Guest Blogger - Thursday!

Hi! My name is Reilly, and I am an Invitation Consultant for http://www.invitationconsultants.com/ and a writer for IC’s blog. I am so excited to have the opportunity to share some of my predictions for 2008 stationery trends with Adventures in Wedding Planning blog readers! The comment we receive from brides most often is that they are looking for invitations that appeal to their personal style. A wedding is outward expression of the love between you and your fiancé, so of course your stationery should represent your personalities and your upcoming nuptials. Consider your invitations to be a preview for your guests of fabulous things to come!

So without further ado, here are some very exciting new design elements and paper styles that will emerge in the new year:

* Creative Colors- Orange and turquoise look gorgeous for a spring or summer themed wedding, and are sure to grab the attention of the receiver. Stick to sleek and simple designs when combining these bright hues. Other interesting color combinations include: wine and olive in the fall, black and white accented with lemon yellow, and cerulean and sage for a chic duo.

* Fresh Beach Themes- Beach themed and tropical destination weddings are always a hit because they combine the relaxed luxury of a vacation with the excitement of a wedding. In 2008, beach themed invitations and save the dates will be updated with new embellishments and details.

Clambakes and low country boils are rising in popularity, so look out for invitations featuring clams, oysters, or nautical elements like helms or anchors.

* Letterpress- The popular printing technique is not going anywhere anytime soon. The soft and indulgent paper textures coupled with the sophisticated designs leave letterpress the most wanted stationery among style-wise brides. This year, you will see more detailed letterpress designs from save the dates and invitations to programs.

* Unexpected Florals- Bigger blooms peeking out from the corner of square shaped or layered invitations are unique and contemporary. Pressed or dried flowers may also rise in popularity as an embellishment. Brocades will remain popular, as will black silhouettes of classic flowers on bright or pastel cardstock.


My thanks to Melissa for letting me share some upcoming trends in the world of wedding invitations! If you are looking forward to any stationery styles in 2008, let us know and comment below!

From left to right: My Sailor You by William Arthur, Black Photo Floral by Krepe Kraft, Letterpess Little Dahlia by William Arthur, Vinery by Checkerboard, All from Invitation Consultants.

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The Perfect Gift!!!

For those of you who don't know I love to entertain, it's a true passion of mine! I love giving parties, making fun food, hanging out - it's just something I enjoy doing.

I've always wanted a fun apron - nothing too out there, nothing too corny, just something elegant, something you'd see the most elegant, classy person wearing... and I found it!!! There a tiny little square to the left of the Hostess With the Mostess blog- for Lynne's Whim, it looks like this:

And she has the best handmade aprons! Her shipping is super duper fast, and my apron is amazing!!! I went with this one -

I can't wait to have all 20 people over on Christmas Eve and wear my apron while preparing the traditional Italian 7-fishes feast!

Little Black Book!

We are so honored to be recognized in Style Me Pretty's Little Black Book! In case you haven't checked it out, Abby and her team over at Style Me Pretty have put together a highly edited collection of wedding service providers - from mom and pop boutiques to the A-Listers. Personally and recommended by our closest girlfriends. Industry insiders and Style Me Pretty readers, there are three hand-picked listings per category.

We have been honored with a premier listing in the Central Florida area, check out out!

And we are also featured in South Florida as well!