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Category Archives: Planning
Myth #1: If it’s on the beach, it’s gotta’ be casual
Casual beach weddings are fun & easy. What groomsman would say no to khaki shorts?! But what about a more formal beach wedding? You may need to save the stilettos for the dance floor but let your wedding reflect YOU and your style. There are tactful ways to incorporate a more sophisticated look. Hiring local wedding professionals is a sure-fire way to make sure you get advice to help mesh your style and formality with the elements of the beach and other details of your wedding, such as time of day, and season.
Myth #2: The summer heat will be too much!
In general, the San Diego coast line has a nice breeze and doesn’t get as warm as inland San Diego. Here are some other ways to make sure you, your guests, and your wedding doesn’t “melt”:
Pick light weight fabrics for your bridal party’s attire, as well as your dress.
Put a few parasols tucked on the sides of the last few rows of seats for your guests, or larger umbrellas in the back rows.
For florals and decor, stick to blooms that your florist suggests, which will be more hardy and ‘weather-proof.’ Or consider using items besides flowers. For example, fabrics are a great way to bring in color.
For other ideas and tips, talk with your hired professionals. We are here to make your wedding a success!
Myth #3: Since the beach is public, that lady in her bikini is going to be in the background…
The majority of people are very respectful of your wedding ceremony. You can expect to have bystanders watching in the distance, and you must be willing to laugh at the occasional loud bird or airplane, but that is all a part of the beauty of the great outdoors. The biggest factor will be the exact location you choose. If you are concerned about being in a public spot, there are places in San Diego that have private beaches and wedding locations that are more secluded, allowing just you and your guests, so your don’t have any worries about the unwanted wedding crashers.
-The BB Weddings Team
Chances are, you want to have an original wedding. You want to carry something down the aisle, but you aren’t quite sure if you want it to be flowers. What if you, GASP!… are allergic to flowers? Believe it or not, there are actually a bunch of other options instead of a flower bouquet. In wedding traditions, it was custom for a woman to carry aromatic bunches of herbs, garlic and grains down the aisle when they got married to ward away evil spirits. Now, more than ever, brides are swaying from the old school traditions and are doing their own thing!
Here are some other alternatives to the traditional bridal bouquet. Crystal bouquets: Extremely fragile but have a beautiful, elegant regal look to them. They aren’t the most cost effective option and if you are a self confessed klutz..this would not be for you! If you have a sweet spot for your sweetie…why not walk down the isle to him, holding a candy bouquet? If you are a beach bride, a simple bouquet can be completely made out of seashells….perfect for a summer wedding! If you are the crafty type, a button, fabric or paper bouquet could fit your style! For a fancier look, stop by www.emplume.com to see their one-of-a-kind feather bouquets…absolutely stunning!
No matter what item you choose to carry with you, they will be a special symbol regardless. As long as it is meaningful to you.. you can carry whatever you would like! So go get creative!
 
If you think that the lighting at your wedding is as simple as walking into the room and turning on a few lights here and there… you may want to consider taking a different approach. Lighting creates ambiance and mood, and it is this very lighting that can be the difference in whether your flowers (and even some of your guests!) look drab or fab. The truth is, the right lighting can completely transform a wedding. So many of us are guilty of planning the meticulous details of invitation fonts, music tracks and wedding cake flavors but when was the last time we gave a second thought to the appropriate lighting? Without the proper lighting, details like the intricacies of the dress may be missed, the right atmosphere may not be created and flower centerpieces may go unnoticed. If you plan on dimming the lights, also opt for inexpensive tricks like using small spotlights to highlight architectural features around the room or lighting candles for a soft glow. Paper lanterns and inexpensive Christmas twinkle lights can add the perfect romantic feel to your outdoor wedding, while also making sure your wedding pictures come to life!
Whether you decide to use soft lights, colorful strobes, big spotlights, or tea light candles… remember that each beam will add its own distinct radiance to your celebration. The only thing stopping you from creating a masterpiece of light.. is you!
Oh roses, how do we love thee. Let us count the ways. You are rich in color, delicate and classic. When it comes to weddings, you are the queen of symbolizing love, passion, emotion. That’s why we love you, oh sweet rose. OK, you get my point. And now to the nitty gritty on roses, dear brides to be. Right now, the week of Valentine’s Day, prices for roses can skyrocket to as high as $12 a stem. So if you are planning a February wedding next year and don’t have a royal budget, better look at alternatives. Other times of the year? Roses are still the fairest of all in terms of digits in your checking account so get ready for a hefty floral bill. One thing florists like to tell clients is that if the budget is an issue, to mix. That means you can add other flowers in with your roses, filling bouquets with other, less expensive flowers alongside those precious gotta-have-em petals. We actually think this makes bouquets more interesting and original. As for colors, the choice is yours thanks to creative modern science— green roses anyone? If your the kind of person who’s into symbols, check out the meaning behind some popular rose colors, courtesy of www.theknot.com:
Coral: desire
Lavender: enchantment
Orange: fascination
Pale Pink: grace
Red: true love
White: Purity
Yellow: friendship
In case you haven’t heard, the economy is climbing out of a hole— actually some are still in the abyss—and as we head into wedding season, many will be forced to dine on Ramen noodles for weeks so their beloved guests can have shrimp for appetizer. That said, we found a really useful site that will help those pinching pennies. And, if you think a used wedding gown sounds tacky, there’s an en vogue angle here: buying used helps the earth! We encourage you to check out www.recycledbride.com for some of your wedding needs— they have it ALL! This site is like an Ebay just for brides, minus the nasty bidding wars. (Here we are thinking of the classic “Friends” episode where Monica gets in a fight at Filene’s over a wedding gown.) Back to the site, it’s brides-to-be meet has-been-brides with newlywed ladies unloading things like aisle runners and centerpieces and thrifty shoppers scooping them up at a steal. If you are one of those ladies who loves designer duds but don’t have the funds to support your habit, you’ll love bumping into some of your buddies on Recycled Bride. Think Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Nicole Miller, and more.Here we have to say that Mother Earth, as well as your Visa card, are very, very pleased.
Here’s comes the bride… and every girl she’s been friends with since her toddler play dates. OK, this may be a touchy subject, especially since there are so many offenders out there. Brides, before you hire a private investigator to track down that girl you sat next to in math in the 3rd grade, you really need to start thinking of who ought to be in your wedding party. Those of you with huge families you may not have an “out” here, as a lot of family traditions call for larger than life wedding parties. Here I am thinking of the crowd in fluffy blue tulle in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” As for the rest of us, being a bridesmaid is expensive and the economy is a little shaky now. You might want to reconsider who you may be burdening with your request and keep your party in check. Here are a few bridesmaid “don’ts” that are trending right now:
- In the case of a destination wedding and fluffy gowns, being considerate in this department is super important, as it could batter a friendship. We know of one bride who paid for her bridemaids’ gowns for her destination wedding as a sort of nod to say, hey, “it’s important to me that you are there.” High five sister. Conversely, we know of one girl who made her bridesmaids–14 of them, most traveling from out of town– buy $300 designer gowns, pay for an outlandish catered shower, an extravagant bachelorette party, and a pricy trip to the salon for pre-wedding primping. OK lady, it’s your day; we get it. But please be considerate.
- Dictating every style choice for your bridesmaids can be a little annoying. As women get married later in life, and have bridesmaids that are also a little set in their adult ways, it’s fast becoming a no-no to tell a grown woman that she has to wear the same pink eyeshadow and peach nail polish, or that she has to wear her hair in a lacquered-to-her-head french twist, even if she sports a pixie do. Give your gals some guidelines– soft and natural, muted, hair swept up, shades of purple–and be easy about it. We are big girls now.
- OK, Mimi has been gaining weight steadily since college. Chances are, Mimi knows this. She may be battling her weight. She’s been chubby since your 28th birthday party in Vegas. That said, telling her she has to lose weight for your wedding is highly insensitive. Always be supportive of pals facing weighty issues; but don’t dictate. Be understanding; it’s a journey. You love her for who she is, no matter the size, right?
- On that note, new moms are delicate flowers. If you have a gal in your wedding party that just had a baby you need to be ultra patient. Being a new mom is ice-water shocking. You lose sleep. You don’t have time to shower, much less plan a shower. So if Betty forgets a fitting, give her a break.
 Wedding Paper Divas (www.weddingpaperdivas.com), a leading online retailer of premium, personalized wedding stationery, this month announced the latest wedding trends for 2010. A top online source for wedding stationery, etiquette and design, Wedding Paper Divas surveyed its top-selling wedding invitations and scoured sources for fresh new ideas and hot trends for the upcoming wedding season. Here’s the scoop, according to Weddingpaperdivas.com:
Local Weddings with Honeymoon Flair:
- Couples might be forgoing pricey destination weddings due to the less-than-stellar economy, but they are still indulging in a love of exotic locations by jetting off to tropical locales for their honeymoons. This summer we’ll see more and more couples infusing their local weddings with honeymoon destination themes so they do not have to sacrifice style for the sake of their wallets. From blissful beach themes to wine country getaways and more, Wedding Paper Divas offers a variety of destination themed invitations to set the stage of this type of recessionista celebration.
Fruit and Paper DIY Decor
Wedding decor can make up a majority of the wedding budget, especially when it comes to flowers. With more and more brides turning to DIY solutions, we are thrilled to offer our customers some popular DIY decor ideas for their summer weddings:
- Use paper as a stylish money saver. With Wedding Paper Divas personalization tools and customer service, it is easy for couples to transform their invitation design into more than just stationery. A blank set of invitations handed over to the calligrapher can become perfectly matching table number cards, or a personalized set of invitations can be placed on the tables with fun facts about the bride and groom. We have even seen brides glue or stitch together the edges of three cards to create unique centerpieces with multiple functions as menus, programs and more.
- Another low cost way to add color and a touch of tropical style to a summer wedding is to incorporate fruit into centerpieces and decor. Oranges, lemons and limes provide perfect dash of color for flower arrangements and table decor.
Haute Color Trends
- Speaking of citrus, hot colors like mandarin orange and lemon yellows are bold ways to brighten up your invitations. In addition, luxe turquoise paired with sand or marigold accents also remains popular this season. And for brides who want to be pretty in pink, summer is the perfect season to opt for fuchsia and magenta hues over pale pastels!
Bold Typography
- We will also see the rise of bold typography along with vibrant colors. Using the art of arranging text as a design element adds a new twist to traditional monograms, whether they include the couple’s names or initials. Either way, this timeless tradition will get a fresh new look this summer!
For more information, visit www.weddingpaperdivas.com.
Because pets are often considered part of the family it’s no surprise that some of them–dressed to the nines in tuxes and fluffy tutus–are often included in the wedding festivities. We think it’s cute…and it makes for great photos if your pooch is absolutely adorable and you happen to train animals for a living. However, it’s not always a great idea. In fact, wedding planners, brides and grooms are split on whether to include Fido in the ceremony. A www.pawnation.com, a Web site for pet owners, poll in 2009 revealed that of the 1,480 respondents 54 % said it was an absolute must to include pets in wedding celebrations. Meanwhile, 33 % said they would if they knew their pet would behave and 13 % said not a chance. That said, if you are planning a destination wedding, we urge you to make sure you really, really think about including your furry best friend. For one, think of traveling. Traveling with a pet isn’t always easy, or affordable. Flying? It’ll cost you extra. As for hotels, you’ll need to find one that is OK with pets. Then, of course, you will have to care for your pet while you are trying to enjoy a sunny vacation. Most San Diego beaches are OK with dogs but you’ll have to keep that pup on a leash. There are, of course, designated off-leash dog parks. Taking that all into account, look at the balance sheet. If it’s worth the time, money and energy to travel with your pet then go on, get it fitted for a tux. Thinking of a calm, beautiful wedding? We urge you to also consider a pets’ unpredictable nature. Is Lassie going to pee on Aunt Betty’s shoe? Is Flipper gonna poop on your train? Do you want your wedding to remembered for that?
Unless you are an extremely private person, in the CIA or the witness protection program, a wedding Web site, especially in the event of a destination wedding, is almost always a good idea. In a time when people often don’t send out RSVPs until last minute, when they remembered where they stashed the invitation you worked so hard to pick out, few are going to remember to bring the invitation with them in their carry-on. That said, unless you want everybody calling your hotel room in the days before the wedding and in some cases, hours before the big event (“where is the church? when are we all having brunch? where are we taking photos?”) you might want to consider creating a Web site as a one-stop shop for travel and event information. It’s also a very cute way to tell your story with your style, as most sites offer personalized templates and photo album options. And no, you do not need to be a Web designer. Sites like www.mywedding.com and www.weddingchannel.com–our favorites–provide easy step-by-step directions for creating a site that suits your needs. As another plus, a Web site is an easy, non-tacky way of telling guests where you are registered, especially if you plan on registering for gifts at more than one store. Trust us, putting a Web address on your official wedding invitation is better than putting “Jane and John are registered at Macy’s, Bed Bath &Beyond, Crate and Barrel, Williams Sonoma…” You get the point. Privacy issues? Most Web site host sites have privacy settings, which you may want to consider for safety. What are you waiting for? Get on over there and get started…
Because this is often last on the to-do list for brides and grooms planning their wedding, we thought we’d touch on the topic here: what do you do with your wedding guests who may have spent a little too much time at the bar? Weddings and drinking go together like veils and brides, so it’s something you’ll need to address at some point. We urge you NOT to wait until about 10 p.m. at your reception to find that Uncle Ennis can’t drive to his hotel and can somebody, anybody, please drive him? Relying solely on taxis is another no-no, since you may not be able to get one in time, depending on where in San Diego you decide to get married and when your reception is over. Oh no, did we just give you another thing to worry about? Shucks! Well, that’s why most destination wedding planners prefer holding receptions in hotels where people will be staying. But if you choose another venue, you do have some options for getting everyone back safely. We like the idea of shuttles: buses or trolleys that can transport your wedding guests to and from the venue. They call it a “party bus.” Not as expensive as one might think, some of these services start at $200 an hour plus gas and tip. That’s a small price to pay to avoid tragedy. Who wants their wedding day marked by a death in the family? Start planning! Here are some places to start:
http://www.epiclimobus.com/
http://www.sandiegopartybuses.com/index.html
http://www.sandiegolimousinebus.com/index.php
Early in the wedding-planning journey, you are sure to stumble upon the question of whom to invite to your wedding and whom you can leave off your guest list. You and your soon-to-be spouse, and his/her and your family, may get into tiffs over this topic. In fact, in my experience, the issue is all too often ground zero for feuding. This is where destination weddings have an edge: when there is travel involved, often times those questionable guests will fall to the wayside and become an non-issue. But there are some people you will have to deal with. While there are some basic questions you need to ask– what is your budget? people equals money!– there are some landmines you may want to avoid, or handle appropriately. Here, we provide you with some hot-button guests and how to handle the question of whether to invite or not:
- Children: This is often times the first group to be left off the seating chart, mainly because, as they can be unpredictable rambunctious monkeys at times, and hold the power to ruin a beautiful event. We say, if you can’t stomach children and their unpredictable nature, you can leave them off the guest list. But, be prepared for some fallout. Some people may not be able to make it to your wedding, especially in the case of a destination wedding. Providing babysitting services is one way to say “kids are welcome,” but know that some parents may not like the idea of leaving their precious offspring with a stranger. You also have to keep in mind the caregiver-to-child ratio: one babysitter to a roomful of children is not going to work out.
- Coworkers: You see these people everyday… often not by choice, so it is perfectly OK to leave these people off your guest list. You are, in the essence of good taste, urged to explain to them that you are on a budget and have to keep your list to family and long-time friends. If your office throws you a shower, then the question is tricky. If you insisted on a shower, then it is TACKY– all caps!– to not invite them. But if it is a surprise shower, then you are obligated to at least say thanks. But this is by no means– they surprised YOU– a cause to invite them if you budget and tastes doesn’t allow it.
- Distant relatives: If you haven’t seen them in two years, and the time before that, ten years, you are not obligated to invite them. You can invite them, and they may not show up. Remember, they feel about you probably the same way you feel about them. “What’s your last name again? Are you still in the Army?” (When you were never in the Army!)
- Relatives you can’t stand: Sorry, but depending on how close they are on the family tree, you may have to invite them regardless of feelings. There is one exception: If Auntie Meredith has a knack for ruining events by getting drunk and brawling, then it is OK to leave her off the guest list. Maybe she’ll get the point and get some help.
- Friends from long ago: So what? You were on the lacrosse team in high school and were in a sorority in college, but that doesn’t mean you have to invite the entire gang to your wedding. If you haven’t spoken to these folks in a decade, then the invite might be seen as a ploy to collect gifts.
Your wedding is an event you are likely to remember forever. Both brides and grooms will agree: you want to look your best. Sure the right dress and suit or tux is sure to do the trick. Hairstyles matter, of course, as do make up, facial hair, shoes, jewelry, and more. One thing you don’t want to overlook is your weight. Do you have a few pounds to lose? If you are one of those planning to marry this June you still have time! In April, most gyms have sales on memberships and provide deals for personal training sessions as people gear up for summer. If you don’t have time or dollars to hit the gym, we encourage you to enlist the help of an exercise DVD. Our editor recently tested the Insanity workout 60-day, high-intensity workout system and has heard wonderful things about PX90, which is a 90-day program. These tough but effective programs both include a variety of workout DVDs that help stave off a case of I’m-bored-with-this-routine.
Few people can watch the television hit Bridezillas without wanting to jump on screen and slap the bride. True, today’s brides seem to want things their way on “their day” or the highway, which is a bridal euphemism for an all-out tantrum. It’s gotten really tacky, ladies. Well, syndicated columnist Miss Manners, also known as Judith Martin, is here to save the day with her new book, co-written by daughter Jacobina Martin: Miss Manners' Guide to a Surprisingly Dignified Wedding . The book, released in January, teaches modern brides how to have a tasteful wedding without all the muss and fuss that will have your friends and relatives talking about you for years. According to the publisher, it snubs the disgustingly lavish and self-serving weddings we see on TV. The book is both preachy-- this is Miss Manners we are dealing with-- and comical-- her daughter teaches improv in Chicago. If you want a taste for Miss Manners' style, check out this latest Washington Post Q&A, click HERE. To purchase Miss Manners’ book, click the picture below.
This sort of thing has been happening every year or so since 2001: brides contending for magical same-three-digit wedding dates that are easy to remember and in some cases, deemed lucky. Remember 07-07-07, a few years ago? (Seven is deemed a lucky number, a number that symbolizes perfection, divine abundance, and completion. Very romantic, as in Tom Cruise: “You complete me.” Sniff. sniff. Tear.) Well, this year it’s 10-10-10, October 10, 2010, and as national reports indicate, people, places, and services are booking up pretty fast. Top-notch wedding venues are already booked, bakeries are already gearing up for a busy early October, and wedding photographers are getting contracted pretty quickly. Some have been booked since last year!
San Diego, a top spot for destination weddings, will no doubt be flooded with pretty brides in early October. Still want 10-10-10? Start dialing!
Unless you plan on buying a plane ticket for your wedding dress, chances are you are going to have to pack that pretty little thing, either in a just-for-destination-wedding dress box, a shipping carton prepared by your dress shop or tailor, or an extra suitcase. Imagine arriving at your hotel. Imagine checking into your suite. Imagine unpacking your dress, unfurling ruffles and ruffles of tulle and satin, and finding– Oh my dear!– something is off. It’s wrinkled. A seam has come undone. There’s a tiny stain on the side.
That’s why you may want to have these items on hand. Note: Be very, very careful handling the hand steamer. Use the bleach pen only if your dress is pure white and only after diluting the solution. Have some needles pre-threaded in a color that matches your gown. And if you only have a minute and have the jitters, opt for the double-sided tape.
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