Thank you all for sticking with me even though I haven't posted for so long. Please visit my new and improved Proper Planner Blog Site at:
Properplanner.com
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you will start following the new blog site as this one will no longer be updated!
Happy Planning!
Kelly
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Friday, July 26, 2013
The Wedding Drunk
Drinking at a New Orleans wedding
is not uncommon; as a matter of fact, I’ve never actually been a part of a
“dry” reception (and I am definitely okay with that). Because I know emotions are high, I always
keep an eye on the bride throughout the night to make sure that she’s having
fun, but not having so much fun that she does not remember what happened at the
reception! I’ve been known to water down
a drink or two, but honestly, I have not had a problem with the bride or groom
getting too drunk or too out of control.
The issues that I’ve seen with drinking come from the guests attending
the weddings.
A few weeks ago, the band had an iPOD playing during one of their breaks. The bride decided, very last minute, that she would like to throw the bouquet right then and there while the band was breaking, that way she wouldn’t have to break into their play time upon their return. Of course, we turned off the iPOD and asked all the single ladies to come to the dance floor. One of the bridesmaids was upset that we turned off the iPOD, which happened to be playing what was apparently her “favorite song”. She almost ripped the microphone from the singer’s hand and started screaming profanities because she wanted to hear the rest of her “favorite song”. She eventually got pulled off the dance floor by one of her friends, but spent the rest of the night brooding and giving “evil eyes” to the band and I.
As a wedding guest, when you find yourself in a confrontation, especially with a vendor, please think back to this blog and remember these things:
1. We have not been drinking all night (well, most of us haven’t), but you have been drinking since you were getting dressed 7 hours ago. So who do you think has a clearer grasp on the situation?
2. We are trying to get a job done, a job that has been in the works for, on average, a year and you know nothing about the details.
3. Even though every situation is different, I feel pretty secure saying that you are definitely embarrassing yourself and making a scene which will only have people talking about you, not us.
4. Whatever you are upset about is bigger in your mind than it is in reality, so let it go!
Also know that while most of the time, in my experience, the angry drunk is female, there’s also the aggressive drunk, who is male. Let me speak for all female vendors when I say that we do not want to dance with you, we do not need you to “buy” us a free drink, we do not need you to be our date for the night and we certainly do not need you to take us out after the wedding. Again, I am sober, so you slobbering all over me is not attractive. And I must repeat one more time that I am working and here to do a job, not to get a date (well, that last one pertains to most vendors, but not all of them, so it might be worth a shot!).
A few weeks ago, the band had an iPOD playing during one of their breaks. The bride decided, very last minute, that she would like to throw the bouquet right then and there while the band was breaking, that way she wouldn’t have to break into their play time upon their return. Of course, we turned off the iPOD and asked all the single ladies to come to the dance floor. One of the bridesmaids was upset that we turned off the iPOD, which happened to be playing what was apparently her “favorite song”. She almost ripped the microphone from the singer’s hand and started screaming profanities because she wanted to hear the rest of her “favorite song”. She eventually got pulled off the dance floor by one of her friends, but spent the rest of the night brooding and giving “evil eyes” to the band and I.
Then,
there was a bride’s sister who threw a fit at the end of the reception because
she wanted the band to play longer, but the reception was over. The parents were not willing to pay the band
extra to stay nor would they pay the venue for the extra time, so we ended as
scheduled. This concept was so hard for this
bride’s sister to comprehend that she pretty much lost it on the dance
floor. She was screaming profanities
because we “closed the reception” and her parents supposedly “paid enough money
to get whatever they want”. I would have
expected the bride’s parents to step in, but I’m afraid they were not in much
better shape than their intoxicated daughter, so the vendors just listened to
her bash us as we broke down the reception and got out of there.
I have seen guests go head-to-head
with the band, the DJ, the photographer and even the rental company picking up
chairs at the end of the night. When
attending a wedding, please know that you are a guest; I repeat, a guest. That means that you have not paid any money
to attend this fabulous party. This in
turn means that you have no idea what the plan is in terms of timeline, music
choices, events for the night or even who should be where at what time. Just because you are the sister of the bride
doesn’t mean you know what time the photographer is scheduled to leave the
reception. And even though you are the
groom’s mother, you might not be aware that your son specifically requested not
to have “We Are Family” played at his reception – UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.As a wedding guest, when you find yourself in a confrontation, especially with a vendor, please think back to this blog and remember these things:
1. We have not been drinking all night (well, most of us haven’t), but you have been drinking since you were getting dressed 7 hours ago. So who do you think has a clearer grasp on the situation?
2. We are trying to get a job done, a job that has been in the works for, on average, a year and you know nothing about the details.
3. Even though every situation is different, I feel pretty secure saying that you are definitely embarrassing yourself and making a scene which will only have people talking about you, not us.
4. Whatever you are upset about is bigger in your mind than it is in reality, so let it go!
Also know that while most of the time, in my experience, the angry drunk is female, there’s also the aggressive drunk, who is male. Let me speak for all female vendors when I say that we do not want to dance with you, we do not need you to “buy” us a free drink, we do not need you to be our date for the night and we certainly do not need you to take us out after the wedding. Again, I am sober, so you slobbering all over me is not attractive. And I must repeat one more time that I am working and here to do a job, not to get a date (well, that last one pertains to most vendors, but not all of them, so it might be worth a shot!).
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The most successful demise of a wedding is divorce
Throughout the last few months, I have dealt with more
parental problems, both personally and professionally, than I care to
discuss. But guess what – I’m going to
discuss it anyway. Some weeks I don’t
blog because I don’t have a topic that anyone’s asked about, or there’s nothing
that I’m fired up about at the time, or (and the most popular reason) I do not
have the time due to a busy wedding season (Thank GOD!!) At any rate, I am fired up and truly saddened
by the parental display that has been my life since I entered this industry,
but also adulthood.
If you are blessed enough to have children, be ready to be a
parent for your child’s whole life, not just until they reach the legal age of
adulthood. Over the past few years, I
have witnessed parents refusing to walk down the aisle if their ex is in the
procession (even though their ex is the parent of the bride/groom,) parents
refusing to walk down the aisle if a step parent is in the procession (most
common issue,) and then there are the parents who just plain do not show up to
the wedding due to some lame excuse that should really just be called what it
is: selfishness. Of course, these
particular parental issues are only brought to us by our divorced parents, and
God knows we have enough of them.
As little girls, most of us start day dreaming at a very early
age about the wedding we will one day have.
We dream about the man that will sweep us off of our feet, about the
beautiful flowers and what the wedding will look like, and we also dream about the
family that will share this day with us.
In most of our dreams, little girls see our parents together holding
hands as we kiss our husband at the altar and in that dream, our parents share
their own kiss and some tears of joy as we happily leave the church and enter
our new life together. Does this sound
like a scenario you girls are familiar with, or does this sound like an
unrealistic idea of what life used to be?
How about the more common “broken home” scenario? It includes my favorite parental issue. It’s the one where we spend a year planning
that little girl’s wedding, the whole time having the parents fight tooth and
nail every time the other parent’s name comes up causing them to list the
number of reasons for the divorce and why they feel the ex should have no
rights to the wedding (although cashing the checks to help pay for the wedding
is never an issue.) Hearing about that
mom had an affair or that dad worked too much was never in the day dream that
little girls have and no matter how old we are. We are not here to take sides
and to throw loved ones out of our future because you can’t overcome your past.
Overcoming divorce is hard enough at any age, but when we
get brought into the “picking sides” game, it becomes almost impossible to get
through and as adults, the children are all of a sudden the friends of the
parents rather than what we are – the children, no matter how old we are. I have seen it time and time again at many of
the weddings I’ve helped plan where the parents are divorced. No matter how much time has gone by, the
bride’s mother is always chirping in the bride’s ear talking about the women
with the bride’s father or the bride’s father talking about the bride’s crazy
mother. Why is it that for one day, for
one major event in your child’s life, two grown adults cannot put their issues
aside and act as such?
Whether you’re a parent that is divorced, married, single,
or dating, as children, all we care about is who you are as a parent - who you
were when we were children and who you are now that we are adults. The rest is just nonsense. Are you there for us when we need you? Do you put aside your feelings for everyone
else in the room and show up because your feelings for us are more important than
anything or anyone else? Do you support
our decisions because you trust that we know what’s best for us? Can you stop thinking of your failed marriage
long enough to give our marriage a chance to succeed and pray that ours has a
better outcome than yours?
There’s more to being a good parent than paying for the wedding,
and your drama around our special day affects us more than you’ll ever realize. This is just something I thought that parents
out there would want to know. And if you
truly have fresh wounds that cannot be closed temporarily to get through the
wedding, my suggestion is to hire me and call me every day if you’d like to (I
love to offer an ear and diffuse any situation), but please don’t talk to your child
about it!
Friday, March 15, 2013
New Orleans has a few wedding traditions that are specific
to us (or our Southern region), although some New Orleans natives do not
realize that things like our over the top groom’s cakes and police escorts to
and from the ceremony are not a part of weddings everywhere. My New Orleans
brides have always enjoyed keeping things traditional no matter what age they
get married, which is why they have changed some of the traditions to adjust to
their specific style, guests and desires.
One of the newest changes is the twist they have put on the tradition of
Cake Pulls.
Cake pulls, for my destination brides reading this blog, originally consisted of the bride buying silver charms tied to the end of thin satin ribbons which would be placed into the cake and pulled by the six to eight single girls at the wedding, chosen by the bride. The girls might consist of single bridesmaids and close family or friends, but all girls involved in the pull had to be single. Typically, the charms were made up of such things as a clover (symbolizing luck in your life), an anchor (symbolizing hope on the horizon), a heart (symbolizing love or romance), and of course, the coveted ring, which would indicate you are the next to get married. I’m sorry to say that there’s even an old maid button which symbolizes your eternal single status.
Now, brides want to have their bridesmaids involved in the pulls, which means married women get the chance at the cake pulls. New charms have been added to the list, such as a baby carriage indicating who will be the next to get pregnant. Then there are charms that are all together different such as the New Orleans charms. These consist of charms that are universal such as a mardi gras mask (life will be a party), St. Louis Cathedral (your marriage will be filled with peace and joy), a horse and carriage (life filled with romance), etc. The lists of charms that are out on the market today are endless. And places to buy the charms are a bit easier to come by these days as well. Your bakery may sell them or you can find them online.
The cost will vary, depending on the quality of the charm you are looking for. Typically, the charms were cheap and tied to a simple satin string. More and more, brides are choosing to get more expensive charms and attach them to pearl or sterling silver bracelets. At a place like Mignot Fagot, you can spend up to $600 on a set of 8 cake pulls, but let’s discuss the realism of putting a piece of nice jewelry into a cake. It’s like the guy that thinks putting a $20K engagement ring into a baked potato is a good idea. It’s not!
photo by Photography by Louis
Cake pulls, for my destination brides reading this blog, originally consisted of the bride buying silver charms tied to the end of thin satin ribbons which would be placed into the cake and pulled by the six to eight single girls at the wedding, chosen by the bride. The girls might consist of single bridesmaids and close family or friends, but all girls involved in the pull had to be single. Typically, the charms were made up of such things as a clover (symbolizing luck in your life), an anchor (symbolizing hope on the horizon), a heart (symbolizing love or romance), and of course, the coveted ring, which would indicate you are the next to get married. I’m sorry to say that there’s even an old maid button which symbolizes your eternal single status.
Now, brides want to have their bridesmaids involved in the pulls, which means married women get the chance at the cake pulls. New charms have been added to the list, such as a baby carriage indicating who will be the next to get pregnant. Then there are charms that are all together different such as the New Orleans charms. These consist of charms that are universal such as a mardi gras mask (life will be a party), St. Louis Cathedral (your marriage will be filled with peace and joy), a horse and carriage (life filled with romance), etc. The lists of charms that are out on the market today are endless. And places to buy the charms are a bit easier to come by these days as well. Your bakery may sell them or you can find them online.
The cost will vary, depending on the quality of the charm you are looking for. Typically, the charms were cheap and tied to a simple satin string. More and more, brides are choosing to get more expensive charms and attach them to pearl or sterling silver bracelets. At a place like Mignot Fagot, you can spend up to $600 on a set of 8 cake pulls, but let’s discuss the realism of putting a piece of nice jewelry into a cake. It’s like the guy that thinks putting a $20K engagement ring into a baked potato is a good idea. It’s not!
If you’d like to participate in this tradition and make the
charms something that your girls would want to keep and actually wear as
jewelry, I have two options for you.
First, you need to buy something worth wearing. You will need to buy the charms at a jewelry
store, more than likely, in order to make them worth keeping. If you decide to do that, my suggestion is to
have the charms wrapped in a small plastic jewelry bag to protect the charm
from the cake. No matter how many times
you wash the charm and how much you spent on it, there’s always going to be
cake somewhere in the details of your $100 charm. An even better idea for those who really want
the charms to be a gift to their bridesmaids is to pick an individual charm for
each of your girls and have them wrapped in jewelry boxes. Place them in front of the cake where the
pulls would be and have each girl open the box instead of pull from the
cake. This way, they still have the fun
of not knowing what charm they will get, but they will get to wear the charm on
a necklace or bracelet of their choice truly enjoying the gift you spent money
on.
Nine times out of ten, the cake pulls will just be a fun,
girlie tradition that’s consistently practiced intending nothing more than
bragging rights for the ring puller and heckling for the “old maid.” But I am finding more and more brides who
want to use these traditions as something special for their best girlfriends
and if that is the case, be different and pick your own charms. Spend a little more money on them and give
them something that’s significant to them and your friendship. And for God’s sake, do not make them stoop to
the level of licking cake of off their fine jewelry – for a trinket it is part
of the fun, but not for real jewelry!photo by Photography by Louis
Friday, March 8, 2013
Independent Venues and the Questions to Ask
Every destination bride has her own reasons for choosing New
Orleans as her wedding location. For some, it may be the place where she met
the groom. For others, this may have been the first place she and her groom
vacationed. Then there are the couples who have never even been here, yet they
have always loved us from afar and decided to make their wedding the get-a-way
they've always dreamed of. No matter what brought them here, nine times out of
ten, they all want the same thing; a venue that you won't find anywhere else.
What that means is that, if they can help it, hotel ballrooms are not an option. They want unique, independent venues that offer outdoor spaces or exposed brick. They want the character that this city is known for. But they aren’t always aware of what that character costs.
Here’s a low estimate of a floor plan with limited seating:
Eight tables (48 inch rounds), seating for 8 at each table plus linens for each of the eight tables – $5 x 8 tables = $40 plus $20 x 8 linens for the those tables = $160 plus $5 x 64 chairs (everyone wants chiavari chairs for their reception and those are at least $5/chair) = $320. So for seating for only 64 guests, we’re looking at an additional $520 not including tax, set up charge, delivery and pick up – which can be an additional $300 depending on set up times, etc.
I’ve just listed two minor scenarios that added almost $1000 each for rentals of things that may not be included when glancing at the venue’s rental price. My point in all of this is that asking the right questions is crucial when trying to stay on budget. Contracts are not hard to read, but sometimes it’s what’s not written in that contract that we don’t think about prior to booking which sticks us with the unexpected costs in the end. Courtyards need rain plans and potential tenting and outdoor spaces also need heat in the winter so make sure you think of all details before signing a contract based solely on a low rental rate and a cool outdoor ceremony option. Keeping in mind that New Orleans is known for 3 hour receptions should also give you a heads up to ask if the rental fee includes three hours of rental for the space or four. That fourth hour can be the budget breaker!
What that means is that, if they can help it, hotel ballrooms are not an option. They want unique, independent venues that offer outdoor spaces or exposed brick. They want the character that this city is known for. But they aren’t always aware of what that character costs.
Independent venues such as The Board of Trade, the
plantations on Esplanade, the Chicory, the Wax Museum – basically, anything not
within the walls of a hotel – will offer the charm and “New Orleans appeal”
most destination brides are looking for.
And for some reason, brides have an untrue notion that these venues are
more reasonably priced than downtown hotels.
Perhaps it’s because, when glancing at price lists, the hotels list a
food and beverage minimum, but the independent venues just give you a rental
cost. Seeing that a venue only costs
$2500 seems like a great deal when you compare it to a $15K minimum at a hotel,
but when you consider bar packages, catering prices, linens, chairs, tables,
ceremony space, etc, the price can become a lot more than that $15K you were
thinking you could beat..
When you price out these independent venues, you will be
given their rental fee and then, either a fixed menu with a price per head that
you can add to if possible, or a list of caterers they approve you to use. Bar packages and catering menus are definite
things to pay attention to, but what you really need to find out is what’s
included in the rental fee. Does the
venue provide linens or tables and chairs of any kind? Sometimes, the answer is “no,” and you need
to find that out up front so you can price out what it’s going to take to
“build” the reception or ceremony you are dreaming of.
For instance, if you are using the space for your ceremony
as well, you need to find out the ceremony fee.
And, if chairs are not included, you will have to rent those for the
ceremony, at least. To give you an example,
even for white wooden chairs (the cheapest), you’re looking at about $2 a
chair. For 100 guests, we have an
additional $200 plus deliverer and tax from the rental company. With the rental fee that can sometimes be at
least $500, you just added $800 to the $2500 rental fee. If that hasn’t broken your budget, tables can
range from $5 to $7 a piece plus linens to cover those tables can be $20 a
piece, minimum. Here’s a low estimate of a floor plan with limited seating:
Eight tables (48 inch rounds), seating for 8 at each table plus linens for each of the eight tables – $5 x 8 tables = $40 plus $20 x 8 linens for the those tables = $160 plus $5 x 64 chairs (everyone wants chiavari chairs for their reception and those are at least $5/chair) = $320. So for seating for only 64 guests, we’re looking at an additional $520 not including tax, set up charge, delivery and pick up – which can be an additional $300 depending on set up times, etc.
I’ve just listed two minor scenarios that added almost $1000 each for rentals of things that may not be included when glancing at the venue’s rental price. My point in all of this is that asking the right questions is crucial when trying to stay on budget. Contracts are not hard to read, but sometimes it’s what’s not written in that contract that we don’t think about prior to booking which sticks us with the unexpected costs in the end. Courtyards need rain plans and potential tenting and outdoor spaces also need heat in the winter so make sure you think of all details before signing a contract based solely on a low rental rate and a cool outdoor ceremony option. Keeping in mind that New Orleans is known for 3 hour receptions should also give you a heads up to ask if the rental fee includes three hours of rental for the space or four. That fourth hour can be the budget breaker!
Thursday, February 7, 2013
New Orleans hospitality - Mardi Gras 101
Coming
off of hosting the Super Bowl, the feedback about our great city has been
exactly what I would expect (except for that pesky black out which, let’s be
honest, definitely spiced up what might have been the most boring Super Bowl
thus far). Of course, it’s been said
that we corner the market in terms of our food, music, and general party
atmosphere, but it finally leaked to the media that our real hospitality comes
from our people.
We were said to have some of the friendliest locals, which I’m sure could be confusing to the average American watching our climbing murder rate, old footage of looters from Katrina that will forever follow us, reality shows about swamp people (that for some reason gets associated with the actual city of New Orleans), and drunk people showing their boobs in order to get plastic beads! The media really does a great job of showing who we really are (please sense the sarcasm in my voice).
The reality is that, for the most part, we are a city filled with tight-knit families that extend well beyond genetics. We are a loyal group whether it is loyalty to a city that was once under water and could very well be there again with each hurricane season or loyalty to a football team that gave us nothing but heartache until “the Brees” blew in. No one loves talking about New Orleans more than a New Orleanian, giving tourists the inside scoop on local hot spots, little known “holes in the walls,” the truth about Katrina, or any topic related to “ya mama and dem.”
I am hopeful that the good press of our city will continue through this week with so many tourists staying, and coming to join, in order to experience what we are known for - Mardi Gras! Once again, when using the media as a source of reference, you might be misled in terms of what to expect. I’d like to squash a few stereotypes and put some local rules to the Mardi Gras season so you can make the most out of this week and fit in with the locals!
1. Mardi Gras actually does not happen on Bourbon Street. It is true that many people party there after the parades, although most of the people on Bourbon are tourists since most of the locals are on the balconies above! Regardless, the reality is that New Orleans has a lot to offer off of Bourbon Street and Mardi Gras has everything to offer nowhere near it.
2. DO not flash, especially for beads. This is definitely something that someone from out of town started and everyone who ever visited followed suit. Locals do not do this.
3. Do not show up five minutes before a parade and stand in front of the crowds of people who slept on the route the night before in order to conserve their spot – you will get your ass kicked and if you don’t, you should. Save your own spot or stand in the back.
4. Do not throw beads at the floats as they pass. The idea is for the riders to throw to us and because of that they are not expecting to have something throw at them. You will not look cool or funny, but you will look like an idiot who does not get out much.
5. Do not follow the float down the street, unless you know someone riding on that float. There will be another float right behind the one that just passed. Wait patiently and get out of the street.
6. Do not fight a child for a pair of beads; actually, do not fight anyone. Beads cost nickels and dimes and are essentially worth nothing.
7. Pace yourself with the drinking. On Mardi Gras day and the weekend before, most people are out on the route for hours before the parade even starts. In order to make it through the whole day (and the whole season,) pace yourself. Do drink water and eat when you can!
8. Do not wear flip flops if you are planning to go to Bourbon Street (that is just a rule no matter when you are here) and, for God’s sake, do not walk around bare foot.
Now, for your survival kit – pack a backpack and include the following:
1. A roll of toilet paper
2. Antibacterial hand sanitizer
3. Aspirin or Excedrin Migraine – headaches are the worst
4. Crackers, a sandwich or some kind of snack if you are not packing a full lunch
5. A koozie in case you switch to beer
6. A few plastic cups in case you, or a friend, need to make a drink on the route
7. A bottle or two of water – stay hydrated
8. Depending on the weather, pack accordingly – a sweatshirt if it’s cooler weather – as the sun goes down, it will get colder; an umbrella if rain is predicted at all. Pack for the entire day into the night… not just the day time.
9. Extra of whatever alcohol or beer you are drinking. Tip: if you do not want to drag a cooler around all day, wrap your beer can in foil and then put it in a zip lock bag with some ice. This will keep your beer cold if you do not want to drag an ice chest around all day! Also, to conserve space, put your alcohol in empty water bottles.
No matter what, when you come to New Orleans, you will have a blast and if you stick with some of the local traditions, it will be even better! The Saturday before Mardi Gras, go to Orleans Avenue and spend the day people watching and cooking out before Endymion. On that Sunday, watch Thoth on Magazine Street and then walk up to St. Charles Avenue to catch Bacchus. If live music is your thing, go hear some of the best cover bands New Orleans has to offer downtown at Bacchus Bash before watching Bacchus, which rolls right down the street. Head to Spanish Plaza on Lundi Gras for an outdoor concert and to see Rex arrive and enjoy a huge crowd of locals and the beautiful city setting. Even in Metairie, parades are rolling every night, so if a more family atmosphere and smaller crowds are more your speed, that’s the place for you.
Take advantage of the locals – we love to make new friends. Enjoy everything Mardi Gras has to offer and then you can head to Bourbon Street!
We were said to have some of the friendliest locals, which I’m sure could be confusing to the average American watching our climbing murder rate, old footage of looters from Katrina that will forever follow us, reality shows about swamp people (that for some reason gets associated with the actual city of New Orleans), and drunk people showing their boobs in order to get plastic beads! The media really does a great job of showing who we really are (please sense the sarcasm in my voice).
The reality is that, for the most part, we are a city filled with tight-knit families that extend well beyond genetics. We are a loyal group whether it is loyalty to a city that was once under water and could very well be there again with each hurricane season or loyalty to a football team that gave us nothing but heartache until “the Brees” blew in. No one loves talking about New Orleans more than a New Orleanian, giving tourists the inside scoop on local hot spots, little known “holes in the walls,” the truth about Katrina, or any topic related to “ya mama and dem.”
I am hopeful that the good press of our city will continue through this week with so many tourists staying, and coming to join, in order to experience what we are known for - Mardi Gras! Once again, when using the media as a source of reference, you might be misled in terms of what to expect. I’d like to squash a few stereotypes and put some local rules to the Mardi Gras season so you can make the most out of this week and fit in with the locals!
1. Mardi Gras actually does not happen on Bourbon Street. It is true that many people party there after the parades, although most of the people on Bourbon are tourists since most of the locals are on the balconies above! Regardless, the reality is that New Orleans has a lot to offer off of Bourbon Street and Mardi Gras has everything to offer nowhere near it.
2. DO not flash, especially for beads. This is definitely something that someone from out of town started and everyone who ever visited followed suit. Locals do not do this.
3. Do not show up five minutes before a parade and stand in front of the crowds of people who slept on the route the night before in order to conserve their spot – you will get your ass kicked and if you don’t, you should. Save your own spot or stand in the back.
4. Do not throw beads at the floats as they pass. The idea is for the riders to throw to us and because of that they are not expecting to have something throw at them. You will not look cool or funny, but you will look like an idiot who does not get out much.
5. Do not follow the float down the street, unless you know someone riding on that float. There will be another float right behind the one that just passed. Wait patiently and get out of the street.
6. Do not fight a child for a pair of beads; actually, do not fight anyone. Beads cost nickels and dimes and are essentially worth nothing.
7. Pace yourself with the drinking. On Mardi Gras day and the weekend before, most people are out on the route for hours before the parade even starts. In order to make it through the whole day (and the whole season,) pace yourself. Do drink water and eat when you can!
8. Do not wear flip flops if you are planning to go to Bourbon Street (that is just a rule no matter when you are here) and, for God’s sake, do not walk around bare foot.
Now, for your survival kit – pack a backpack and include the following:
1. A roll of toilet paper
2. Antibacterial hand sanitizer
3. Aspirin or Excedrin Migraine – headaches are the worst
4. Crackers, a sandwich or some kind of snack if you are not packing a full lunch
5. A koozie in case you switch to beer
6. A few plastic cups in case you, or a friend, need to make a drink on the route
7. A bottle or two of water – stay hydrated
8. Depending on the weather, pack accordingly – a sweatshirt if it’s cooler weather – as the sun goes down, it will get colder; an umbrella if rain is predicted at all. Pack for the entire day into the night… not just the day time.
9. Extra of whatever alcohol or beer you are drinking. Tip: if you do not want to drag a cooler around all day, wrap your beer can in foil and then put it in a zip lock bag with some ice. This will keep your beer cold if you do not want to drag an ice chest around all day! Also, to conserve space, put your alcohol in empty water bottles.
No matter what, when you come to New Orleans, you will have a blast and if you stick with some of the local traditions, it will be even better! The Saturday before Mardi Gras, go to Orleans Avenue and spend the day people watching and cooking out before Endymion. On that Sunday, watch Thoth on Magazine Street and then walk up to St. Charles Avenue to catch Bacchus. If live music is your thing, go hear some of the best cover bands New Orleans has to offer downtown at Bacchus Bash before watching Bacchus, which rolls right down the street. Head to Spanish Plaza on Lundi Gras for an outdoor concert and to see Rex arrive and enjoy a huge crowd of locals and the beautiful city setting. Even in Metairie, parades are rolling every night, so if a more family atmosphere and smaller crowds are more your speed, that’s the place for you.
Take advantage of the locals – we love to make new friends. Enjoy everything Mardi Gras has to offer and then you can head to Bourbon Street!
Friday, February 1, 2013
The Dynamic Duo To Trump Your Wedding
This year, our great city of New
Orleans will host the most important NFL game of the year – The Super Bowl. And
following this “National Holiday,”we’ll host the most important “New Orleans
Holiday;” Mardi Gras.
What does this mean for our city? It means three months of last minute construction in order to get the city looking nice and shiny; week-long events celebrating the big game; then, parades for a week to follow. The city will welcome swarms of tourists, celebrities and camera crews invading our streets to broadcast and experience the entire celebration of the big events. As a result, we will not be able to do anything unrelated to the Super Bowl or Mardi Gras from the time the parties commence until Ash Wednesday.
What does this mean for your wedding vendors? It means working non-stop for the weeks leading up to the major celebrations - providing venues, catering, décor, itineraries, transportation and anything/everything to meet the expectations of what our clients, tourists and devoted locals are expecting – the parties of the year!
What is my point? My point is that for the last week, I have been fielding phone calls from some of my clients that are getting married no sooner than the summer months, and my vendors have been fielding phone calls from clients getting married as late as Spring 2014. Even though we have explained that our response times are a bit slower right now due to the craziness going on in the city, the clients insist that these are emergency issues that need to be taken care of on the spot - “emergency issues” that include everything from room blocks to catering menus all for weddings that are more than four months away.
I am the first person to push a vendor for a quicker response as I know New Orleans runs on its on schedule. I am always someone who answers emails right away, even if I’m on vacation. I take phone calls on Sunday nights, and while celebrating Thanksgiving with my family, I’ve been known to excuse myself to answer a client’s call. The invasion of holidays, weekends and night time hours are a problem in and of itself, but expecting every vendor to have the ability to operate accordingly during what will be two of the biggest events New Orleans will see this year, is more than demanding - it’s impossible.
When you choose New Orleans as your destination city for your wedding, you chose it because we throw a party like no other, because we always have something going on and because we have the best of everything there is to offer- from music to restaurants. With that being said, please do your research and know when key events are in the city in which you will wed. Know when the festivals are taking place, as they will drive up the prices of hotel rooms. Know the city-wide convention dates that will make it impossible for you to get a hotel room at all. Know when our high wedding seasons occur so you don’t expect a weekend tasting. But most importantly, know when our party of the year takes place; for when Mardi Gras rolls in, all bets are off and we’re shut down for at least the week! Finally, when the apocalypse of parties happen - Super Bowl and Mardi Gras fall within a week of each other - either come on down and enjoy the party, or relax until Ash Wednesday.
Unless your wedding will take place within a month of the festivities, concentrate on the things that do not involve your vendors. Know enough about what’s going on here to know that this is not like being in the middle of wedding season, or the weekend of French Quarter Fest where one or two vendors are affected. This is all of those festivities happening at the same time “x's 10” and there’s nothing we can do about it, so we sure as hell will embrace it!
What does this mean for our city? It means three months of last minute construction in order to get the city looking nice and shiny; week-long events celebrating the big game; then, parades for a week to follow. The city will welcome swarms of tourists, celebrities and camera crews invading our streets to broadcast and experience the entire celebration of the big events. As a result, we will not be able to do anything unrelated to the Super Bowl or Mardi Gras from the time the parties commence until Ash Wednesday.
What does this mean for your wedding vendors? It means working non-stop for the weeks leading up to the major celebrations - providing venues, catering, décor, itineraries, transportation and anything/everything to meet the expectations of what our clients, tourists and devoted locals are expecting – the parties of the year!
What is my point? My point is that for the last week, I have been fielding phone calls from some of my clients that are getting married no sooner than the summer months, and my vendors have been fielding phone calls from clients getting married as late as Spring 2014. Even though we have explained that our response times are a bit slower right now due to the craziness going on in the city, the clients insist that these are emergency issues that need to be taken care of on the spot - “emergency issues” that include everything from room blocks to catering menus all for weddings that are more than four months away.
I am the first person to push a vendor for a quicker response as I know New Orleans runs on its on schedule. I am always someone who answers emails right away, even if I’m on vacation. I take phone calls on Sunday nights, and while celebrating Thanksgiving with my family, I’ve been known to excuse myself to answer a client’s call. The invasion of holidays, weekends and night time hours are a problem in and of itself, but expecting every vendor to have the ability to operate accordingly during what will be two of the biggest events New Orleans will see this year, is more than demanding - it’s impossible.
When you choose New Orleans as your destination city for your wedding, you chose it because we throw a party like no other, because we always have something going on and because we have the best of everything there is to offer- from music to restaurants. With that being said, please do your research and know when key events are in the city in which you will wed. Know when the festivals are taking place, as they will drive up the prices of hotel rooms. Know the city-wide convention dates that will make it impossible for you to get a hotel room at all. Know when our high wedding seasons occur so you don’t expect a weekend tasting. But most importantly, know when our party of the year takes place; for when Mardi Gras rolls in, all bets are off and we’re shut down for at least the week! Finally, when the apocalypse of parties happen - Super Bowl and Mardi Gras fall within a week of each other - either come on down and enjoy the party, or relax until Ash Wednesday.
Unless your wedding will take place within a month of the festivities, concentrate on the things that do not involve your vendors. Know enough about what’s going on here to know that this is not like being in the middle of wedding season, or the weekend of French Quarter Fest where one or two vendors are affected. This is all of those festivities happening at the same time “x's 10” and there’s nothing we can do about it, so we sure as hell will embrace it!
Friday, December 21, 2012
Mr. Bingle
Coming up on the heels of
Christmas, all I’ve been hearing about are presents, presents, presents. I have a lot of friends with children, so I’m
hearing about everything from Mickey
Mouse toys to brand new cars (you know,
the necessary things that children of all ages need to survive.) With all the talk of material things, I’ve
been thinking about what Christmas is all about. I’m sure I’m suppose to say it’s about Jesus
and it is, but that’s not what I think about when I think about such an amazing
holiday. I think about Mr. Bingle!
Mr. Bingle is a snowman who came to life thanks to the vision a window decorator employed by Maison Blanche department store (which was originally located on Canal Street in downtown New Orleans.) Since 1948, the miniature snowman’s popularity grew to reach more than just New Orleans, but eventually, the Maison Blanche chain closed leaving Mr. Bingle out of sight for a short period of time. The heavens blessed us when Dillard’s took over the familiar New Orleans icon and he resides specifically with us, right where he belongs. Each year, Mr. Bingle’s presence on the side of the department store building was always a clear sign that Christmas was on its way, but in my house, Mr. Bingle was a clear sign that my Grandmother was around.
For as long as I can remember, my grandmother was employed by Maison Blanche so Mr. Bingle was a huge part of our childhood with her. We always had a Mr. Bingle stuffed animal in all of our houses at Christmas and we always read the story of Mr. Bingle (which is written below!) Since my grandmother’s passing 10 years ago (wow, that’s a long time,) you can find some kind of Mr. Bingle paraphernalia in each of her 8 grand children’s homes. As a matter of fact, I have a stuffed Mr. Bingle that stays out all year round; I even dress him up for Halloween!
The point of this is that the smallest things can take you back to a place and time when life was simpler and we could just worry about presents, presents, present like my niece and nephew will this year. But what this holiday is really all about is family and the memories we’ve made each holiday we get to spend with each other. This Christmas, grab a Mr. Bingle, read your children the story of the famous snowman, have yourself some beignets and make some memories. My favorite memories included this warm, lovable New Orleans favorite and I remember Mr. Bingle’s jingle way more than I remember what my grandmother gave me as a gift each year!
When Santa left his shop one day
He found a snowman near his sleigh.
"You'll be my helper now," he said,
And tapped the little fellow's head.
The snowman found that he could talk--
"Look, Santa, I can even walk!"
And then he gave a little sigh...
"Oh, how I wish that I could fly!"
So, Santa gave him holly wings,
Then, looking through his Christmas things,
Found ornaments the very size
To make a pair of shining eyes.
Then Santa said, "You need a hat;
An ice cream cone's just right for that.
And keep this candy cane with you,
You'll see what magic it can do!"
The snowman laughed and sang a jingle,
So Santa named him "Mr. Bingle."
That's how it happened. Now he's here
With us at Maison Blanche all year.
Mr. Bingle is a snowman who came to life thanks to the vision a window decorator employed by Maison Blanche department store (which was originally located on Canal Street in downtown New Orleans.) Since 1948, the miniature snowman’s popularity grew to reach more than just New Orleans, but eventually, the Maison Blanche chain closed leaving Mr. Bingle out of sight for a short period of time. The heavens blessed us when Dillard’s took over the familiar New Orleans icon and he resides specifically with us, right where he belongs. Each year, Mr. Bingle’s presence on the side of the department store building was always a clear sign that Christmas was on its way, but in my house, Mr. Bingle was a clear sign that my Grandmother was around.
For as long as I can remember, my grandmother was employed by Maison Blanche so Mr. Bingle was a huge part of our childhood with her. We always had a Mr. Bingle stuffed animal in all of our houses at Christmas and we always read the story of Mr. Bingle (which is written below!) Since my grandmother’s passing 10 years ago (wow, that’s a long time,) you can find some kind of Mr. Bingle paraphernalia in each of her 8 grand children’s homes. As a matter of fact, I have a stuffed Mr. Bingle that stays out all year round; I even dress him up for Halloween!
The point of this is that the smallest things can take you back to a place and time when life was simpler and we could just worry about presents, presents, present like my niece and nephew will this year. But what this holiday is really all about is family and the memories we’ve made each holiday we get to spend with each other. This Christmas, grab a Mr. Bingle, read your children the story of the famous snowman, have yourself some beignets and make some memories. My favorite memories included this warm, lovable New Orleans favorite and I remember Mr. Bingle’s jingle way more than I remember what my grandmother gave me as a gift each year!
When Santa left his shop one day
He found a snowman near his sleigh.
"You'll be my helper now," he said,
And tapped the little fellow's head.
The snowman found that he could talk--
"Look, Santa, I can even walk!"
And then he gave a little sigh...
"Oh, how I wish that I could fly!"
So, Santa gave him holly wings,
Then, looking through his Christmas things,
Found ornaments the very size
To make a pair of shining eyes.
Then Santa said, "You need a hat;
An ice cream cone's just right for that.
And keep this candy cane with you,
You'll see what magic it can do!"
The snowman laughed and sang a jingle,
So Santa named him "Mr. Bingle."
That's how it happened. Now he's here
With us at Maison Blanche all year.
 |
| My grandmother's old name tag |
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Flops
As a child, my mother never allowed us to take our shoes off
at other people's houses. We went completely dressed in an outfit that included
shoes and were to remain dressed throughout the day/ event. I never really appreciated that "drill sergeant"
rule of fashion until I got older and noticed the number of girls who were
quick to take their shoes off no matter where we went. In high school, girls were always taking
their shoes off at sweet 16 parties, proms, etc., and as I continued to age,
weddings became the place where the shoes came off. This became the “norm” so much so that the
trend now is to give flip flops as the favor at receptions to make female
guests more comfortable.
Traditionally, I am a big believer in being different or making things your own – always putting your personal touch on everything. I guess that’s why I’m not too bothered when everyone partakes in the “flip flop wearing” as a group! I guess I do fall into the age old saying of "if everybody's doing it, it must be ok.” I may even partake in the "casual fun" from time to time (don’t tell my mom). But weddings are starting to get so “casual shoe” friendly, that the flip flops are now becoming the go-to shoe when guests get to the reception whether they are offered as part of the wedding festivities or not.
I saw a bridesmaid this past weekend wearing platform, jeweled flip flops with a short bridesmaid dress. The last thing you should do when ruining the look of your $200 bridesmaid dress is bring attention to the situation. Just because they have jewels on them does not suddenly make flip flops a formal shoe.
Here’s the etiquette girl - You don’t have to wear stilettos, you just have to wear "dress shoes.” So if you leave the house not being able to walk in the shoes, it certainly will not get better as you start drinking and dancing. Wear shoes that you can handle for the entire night.
Traditionally, I am a big believer in being different or making things your own – always putting your personal touch on everything. I guess that’s why I’m not too bothered when everyone partakes in the “flip flop wearing” as a group! I guess I do fall into the age old saying of "if everybody's doing it, it must be ok.” I may even partake in the "casual fun" from time to time (don’t tell my mom). But weddings are starting to get so “casual shoe” friendly, that the flip flops are now becoming the go-to shoe when guests get to the reception whether they are offered as part of the wedding festivities or not.
I saw a bridesmaid this past weekend wearing platform, jeweled flip flops with a short bridesmaid dress. The last thing you should do when ruining the look of your $200 bridesmaid dress is bring attention to the situation. Just because they have jewels on them does not suddenly make flip flops a formal shoe.
Here’s the etiquette girl - You don’t have to wear stilettos, you just have to wear "dress shoes.” So if you leave the house not being able to walk in the shoes, it certainly will not get better as you start drinking and dancing. Wear shoes that you can handle for the entire night.
But wait, unfortunately, I do have to take this one step
further. I feel that this should go
without saying, but apparently I must say it, so let me tell you all that not
wearing any shoes is definitely not ok; EVER!
And to make matters worse, it breaks my heart that I have to mention
that walking thru the French Quarter without shoes is not only repulsive and a
sure fire sign that you are a tourist, but it’s also a guarantee that you’re
going home with more than a hangover. That type of etiquette is something that
I'm not sure I can ever cover. But do keep this in mind; if you are so drunk
that you think taking your shoes off at a wedding reception is a good idea then
abort immediately. Have someone put you in a car and get you home right away
for you are more than likely about to black out, vomit or at least give the
videographer his award winning footage for the night!!!
Thursday, November 15, 2012
I'm sure we are all aware of a little site called Pinterest,
which allows us to create a "bulletin board" of pictures to include
anything from home décor to the “perfect” guy we’d like to marry!
Pinterest primarily serves as a "book mark" to save the style and
ideas of what we love if we were ever to buy a house, plan a wedding, purchase
a new wardrobe, start a family or have the money for a complete makeover.
I'm not sure that I understand why pinterest is important to most people, but I
know that it is important to my brides so that they have a place to keep all of
their design ideas and "favorite looks" as it pertains to their
wedding. I think for that purpose, it is useful; but overall, Pinterest is the
disappointment of every fantasizing bride and the demise of every planner/
vendor involved in the bride’s wedding. Why do I feel this way? Well, there are
a few reasons.
Have you ever seen a Wendy's commercial and the burger looks so big and juicy that it forces you to rush over and order the very same burger that you just saw on television; however, when you get it, it's flat and dry and looks like it shrank in comparison? Well, that's because pictures of food are traditionally fake or staged for the commercials/ ads in which they are featured. This same theory can be true of the seven-tier, strawberry-filled cake that you saw on Pinterest.
When my girls show up to the bakery with a picture of a cake that is 7 feet tall and has to be filled with fresh strawberries because they saw it on Pinterest, they do not understand why the bakery crushed their dreams by telling them that a cake that size will slide if filled with fresh strawberries. It's the realism that Pinterest takes away from my brides that causes so much disappointment.
Then there is the bride who asks her photographer to take a picture of her, and she wants it to look exactly like a picture she saw on Pinterest so much so that she went out and bought the very outfit that the girl in the picture is wearing. This is not only frustrating because certain things cannot be duplicated, but it also creates a total lack of originality. The frantic desire to replicate something to be so exact is a definite set up for a major disappointment (especially when the picture you saw was taken during the day, with windows lining the back wall, with the New York city skyline as its background, and you are asking for the picture to be taken at night in your childhood bedroom with no windows.)
As I am writing this, I realize that I should not blame Pinterest, I should blame the girls that misuse it and take it to the extreme (just like Facebook, but that’s for a different day). Just like anything else, Pinterest is a great resource for most girls; but I guess when you are living in a fantasy world, you will live in that world with or without Pinterest. It is particularly hard for this planner to see the same design ideas surfacing time and time again and even harder to see my vendors pressured and limited because of Pinterest. Let's get original, ladies. And please for the love of it all, keep things to a minimum.
Just because you saw it on Pinterest doesn't mean it all looks good together and should be used in the same space. I had a bride a few months ago who had her reception looking like a real life Pinterest bulletin board. Guests actually walked in and said "Oh my God, Pinterest threw up in here." That's not good, girls!!!
So, let's use these resources for good and not for evil. Be your own person. Learn that others’ ideas should be used as inspiration; take what you like and add a twist to it!
Have you ever seen a Wendy's commercial and the burger looks so big and juicy that it forces you to rush over and order the very same burger that you just saw on television; however, when you get it, it's flat and dry and looks like it shrank in comparison? Well, that's because pictures of food are traditionally fake or staged for the commercials/ ads in which they are featured. This same theory can be true of the seven-tier, strawberry-filled cake that you saw on Pinterest.
When my girls show up to the bakery with a picture of a cake that is 7 feet tall and has to be filled with fresh strawberries because they saw it on Pinterest, they do not understand why the bakery crushed their dreams by telling them that a cake that size will slide if filled with fresh strawberries. It's the realism that Pinterest takes away from my brides that causes so much disappointment.
Then there is the bride who asks her photographer to take a picture of her, and she wants it to look exactly like a picture she saw on Pinterest so much so that she went out and bought the very outfit that the girl in the picture is wearing. This is not only frustrating because certain things cannot be duplicated, but it also creates a total lack of originality. The frantic desire to replicate something to be so exact is a definite set up for a major disappointment (especially when the picture you saw was taken during the day, with windows lining the back wall, with the New York city skyline as its background, and you are asking for the picture to be taken at night in your childhood bedroom with no windows.)
As I am writing this, I realize that I should not blame Pinterest, I should blame the girls that misuse it and take it to the extreme (just like Facebook, but that’s for a different day). Just like anything else, Pinterest is a great resource for most girls; but I guess when you are living in a fantasy world, you will live in that world with or without Pinterest. It is particularly hard for this planner to see the same design ideas surfacing time and time again and even harder to see my vendors pressured and limited because of Pinterest. Let's get original, ladies. And please for the love of it all, keep things to a minimum.
Just because you saw it on Pinterest doesn't mean it all looks good together and should be used in the same space. I had a bride a few months ago who had her reception looking like a real life Pinterest bulletin board. Guests actually walked in and said "Oh my God, Pinterest threw up in here." That's not good, girls!!!
So, let's use these resources for good and not for evil. Be your own person. Learn that others’ ideas should be used as inspiration; take what you like and add a twist to it!
Friday, August 24, 2012
The Etiquette of Friendship
I am
a major fan of a little show called Sex and the City; maybe you’ve heard of
it. While watching a few episodes the
other day, for the millionth time, I started thinking about the friendships
between these four women. I often wonder
how realistic is it to think that we can have friendships like Carrie, Samatha,
Charlotte and Miranda?
As a
New Yorker at heart, I am aware that the apartment size of Carrie Bradshaw’s is
completely unrealistic on a writer’s salary (that is until she got the book
deal and started writing for Vogue, but anyway…). And, the number of designer shoes and outfits
purchased by this New York columnist is definitely not feasible, especially
when she eats out for every single meal and only at the most expensive places
in the city. But what about the actual
story line of the girls? Is it possible
to have friends that accept you no matter what and put you first, or even in
the top three on the priority list? To
have a relationship with your girlfriends where you can make time for each
other even once a week is a definite feet, much less to see each other two and
three times a week no matter what. And the
rule of no cell phones while they are together?
My friends would die if I would adhere to that rule for even one hour at
a Daiquiri Bay night!
While their commitment to each
other is unbelievable enough in the hustle and bustle world of climbing the
corporate ladder, raising children and trying not to be included in the rising
rate of divorce, the bigger faux to this television friendship is the emotional
support. Is it possible to have friends
that support you and carry you thru life no matter what the obstacle? These girls have supported each other thru
the tragedies of dating, thru job promotions and job losses, thru changes of
address in boroughs and foreign countries, thru marriages and divorces, thru having
affairs with married men and having unfaithful spouses, thru child birth, child
loss and adoption and even thru cancer and chemo. They have been there for it all with comments
and advice, but without judgment. Judgment;
That is the key. How many of us can say
that we have not only supported our friends thru the roughest phases and
decisions in life, but we didn’t judge them in the process?
One of the things that keep
these girls together is their ability to give each other their thoughts and opinions
(directly to each other’s faces), but still be okay if ultimately the person
doesn’t do as they advise. Having the
ability to still see your friend as the person you always thought she was after
seeing her use poor judgment or react poorly to a circumstance in her life, is
often hard to do. But isn’t it woman who
always say “if you can’t tell your girlfriends, who can you tell?” Remember that the next time one of your best
friends confides in you and you barely hear the end of her thought before
running to call the other girls in the group to gossip about it. When I tell my girlfriends something, I
expect that they will say what they need to say right to my face, drink about
it with me, have a good cry and then move on.
If I wanted the gossip and judgment, I’d put it on facebook (or I’d tell
my mother).
At any rate, in my life, I have
been blessed with best friends that I have picked up at different stages of my
life (some from grammar school, high school and of course, college) and I’ve
been able to keep them with me thus far.
Ultimately, I realize that all of these women are different and I love
them because of that. There are no two
of us that lead the same life or have made the same choices and I respect each
of them for who they are. I do not
always agree with them and trust me, I let them know, but at the end of the
day, it’s their life and I’m just here to enjoy it with them, help them rebuild
it if it comes crashing down and kill who ever hurts them!
I do not have it all figured
out, that’s for sure, but I know that when I’ve gone thru the roughest patches
in my life, the last thing I needed was a swift kick to the gut by the people I
love the most when I’m already laying on the ground. Consider how you feel and what type of
support you want before reacting to situations that your friends are going thru. And when there comes a day that your friend
does something that you cannot comprehend and support; something so horrendous that
you just cannot see her the same way ever again, make sure your house isn’t
made out of glass before you throw the stone!
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Hair and Makeup Advice
As a bride on your
wedding day, before you can put on the perfect dress to pose for the perfect
pictures that will be the only physical evidence of your perfect day, you'll
need the perfect hair and makeup! A bride without hair and make-up is like a
dress with no alterations. Would you wear your wedding dress with those large orange
"chip clips" on your back? No. So let's give our entire look an
alteration or two.
Some brides choose to tackle hair and make-up themselves, but the vast majorities turn to the professions. When hiring any vendor for your wedding day, I believe personality plays a huge part in being a good fit for each bride. I tend to refer the vendors that will mesh well with my girls and lend themselves both to the type of work the bride is looking for and the "character" that works for that individual. When it comes to hair dressers and make-up artists, I'm very particular about who my girls work with. These professionals start off the day with the bride and essentially set the tone for the entire day and whether or not we stay on schedule, stress out the bride by rushing or running behind, or ease her mind by allowing her to relax with her girlfriends!
With that in mind, I've spoken to some of my favorite professionals who always stay on schedule and make my girls feel relaxed.
Kellie Bode (Kellie Bode Professional Make-up Artistry - www.kelliebode.com), Katie Malone (Katie Malone Make-up studio (pixie make-up salon) www.katiemalonemakeup.com), Trish Popovich (style squared – www.stylesquaredneworleans.com) and Hair stylist Anne Kirsch (anned324@yahoo.com).
One way to keep the day relaxed is to let the bride sleep as long as she can!!! No one wants the bride/bridesmaids to have to start their day at 7am just to so that the there's enough time to get everyone's hair and make-up done. So you have to decide whether or not you want one hair stylist/make-up artist or two and that all depends on the number of girls you have who need the services and the time that you have to get ready. Although all four of my professionals have done and can do weddings of up to 15 girls on their own, the average number of girls they feel works for majority of the time frames on a wedding day is 8. Again, they can definitely handle more, but for a stress free, sleep-as- late-as-you-can wedding day, that's the magic number.
It was agreed upon that it traditionally takes about 30 minutes per face on the wedding day (for bridesmaids) and 45 minutes for the bride and it takes anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes per head (for bridesmaids) and an hour for the bride.
But Kellie Bode reminds me that she "does an amazing job no matter what the role in the wedding". She actually spends the last 30 minutes touching up all of the girls, especially the girls that had their makeup done earlier in the day (those that were first or second in the lineup). I think making sure that each girl is fresh before pictures and the start of the actual event is so important, especially since that's why no one ever wants to go first on the morning of the big day.
As far as the line up goes, I personally think the bride should be someone in the middle of the pack, but closer to the end. I do not like for her to go first, but I do not like saving her for last either. Katie and Kellie both agree that the bride should be second to last or third to last so that she has her morning free to spend time with her friends, get any last minute details together and then she has time after her make-up is done to relax and get dressed early if she needs to.
Another suggestion that I make to my girls is to do a trial with your hair dresser and make-up artist if at all possible. And if you can use them prior to the wedding for real events, that certainly helps as well. Katie tells me that she finds it helpful when the girls come to her before their bridal portraits, engagement session or rehearsal dinner. She says that it allows her to get to know the bride's face and even her personality which can really make the wedding day more personal to the girls.
I do believe a hair trial is a definite necessity so that the hair stylist can learn your hair type, especially if you are hoping to have a more detailed hair style. But truth be told, some of the most detailed styles are coming from the bridesmaids. Trish has noticed the bridesmaids have gotten way more into their hair styles as of late and it's not just about the bride anymore. I think it's a great way for the bridesmaids to have their own individuality but we are always careful to make the bride the star of the show. A good way to accomplish that, and also a huge trend right now for brides, is to have a hair accessory such as a feather or flower. And with the help of pinterest and etsy, there are millions of options out there for the brides to find. What brides do not realize is that these accessories are not always "one size fits all".
Sometimes hair can be too thin for the accessory the bride is bringing in, so Anne has taken things one step further and she actually sells these accessories to her brides so that she can match each bride with the best fit for her! Anytime you have an option to buy something specifically from the professional you are working with thereby making it a little more customized based on your hair, face, body or budget, take it!
No matter what, choose a hair dresser and make-up artist that make you feel comfortable. Create your schedule wisely and make sure you book the appropriate number of stylists to keep your day running smoothly. Take advice from the professionals whenever possible and do a trial before your big day. And here are some last minute tips I'd like to throw in: bring pictures of hair styles (and make-up), show up with a clean face and clean/dry hair and have the hair dresser/make up artist come to you whenever possible. Relax, sleep as late as you can and call one of my professionals to ensure a great wedding day!!!
Some brides choose to tackle hair and make-up themselves, but the vast majorities turn to the professions. When hiring any vendor for your wedding day, I believe personality plays a huge part in being a good fit for each bride. I tend to refer the vendors that will mesh well with my girls and lend themselves both to the type of work the bride is looking for and the "character" that works for that individual. When it comes to hair dressers and make-up artists, I'm very particular about who my girls work with. These professionals start off the day with the bride and essentially set the tone for the entire day and whether or not we stay on schedule, stress out the bride by rushing or running behind, or ease her mind by allowing her to relax with her girlfriends!
With that in mind, I've spoken to some of my favorite professionals who always stay on schedule and make my girls feel relaxed.
Kellie Bode (Kellie Bode Professional Make-up Artistry - www.kelliebode.com), Katie Malone (Katie Malone Make-up studio (pixie make-up salon) www.katiemalonemakeup.com), Trish Popovich (style squared – www.stylesquaredneworleans.com) and Hair stylist Anne Kirsch (anned324@yahoo.com).
One way to keep the day relaxed is to let the bride sleep as long as she can!!! No one wants the bride/bridesmaids to have to start their day at 7am just to so that the there's enough time to get everyone's hair and make-up done. So you have to decide whether or not you want one hair stylist/make-up artist or two and that all depends on the number of girls you have who need the services and the time that you have to get ready. Although all four of my professionals have done and can do weddings of up to 15 girls on their own, the average number of girls they feel works for majority of the time frames on a wedding day is 8. Again, they can definitely handle more, but for a stress free, sleep-as- late-as-you-can wedding day, that's the magic number.
It was agreed upon that it traditionally takes about 30 minutes per face on the wedding day (for bridesmaids) and 45 minutes for the bride and it takes anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes per head (for bridesmaids) and an hour for the bride.
But Kellie Bode reminds me that she "does an amazing job no matter what the role in the wedding". She actually spends the last 30 minutes touching up all of the girls, especially the girls that had their makeup done earlier in the day (those that were first or second in the lineup). I think making sure that each girl is fresh before pictures and the start of the actual event is so important, especially since that's why no one ever wants to go first on the morning of the big day.
As far as the line up goes, I personally think the bride should be someone in the middle of the pack, but closer to the end. I do not like for her to go first, but I do not like saving her for last either. Katie and Kellie both agree that the bride should be second to last or third to last so that she has her morning free to spend time with her friends, get any last minute details together and then she has time after her make-up is done to relax and get dressed early if she needs to.
Another suggestion that I make to my girls is to do a trial with your hair dresser and make-up artist if at all possible. And if you can use them prior to the wedding for real events, that certainly helps as well. Katie tells me that she finds it helpful when the girls come to her before their bridal portraits, engagement session or rehearsal dinner. She says that it allows her to get to know the bride's face and even her personality which can really make the wedding day more personal to the girls.
I do believe a hair trial is a definite necessity so that the hair stylist can learn your hair type, especially if you are hoping to have a more detailed hair style. But truth be told, some of the most detailed styles are coming from the bridesmaids. Trish has noticed the bridesmaids have gotten way more into their hair styles as of late and it's not just about the bride anymore. I think it's a great way for the bridesmaids to have their own individuality but we are always careful to make the bride the star of the show. A good way to accomplish that, and also a huge trend right now for brides, is to have a hair accessory such as a feather or flower. And with the help of pinterest and etsy, there are millions of options out there for the brides to find. What brides do not realize is that these accessories are not always "one size fits all".
Sometimes hair can be too thin for the accessory the bride is bringing in, so Anne has taken things one step further and she actually sells these accessories to her brides so that she can match each bride with the best fit for her! Anytime you have an option to buy something specifically from the professional you are working with thereby making it a little more customized based on your hair, face, body or budget, take it!
No matter what, choose a hair dresser and make-up artist that make you feel comfortable. Create your schedule wisely and make sure you book the appropriate number of stylists to keep your day running smoothly. Take advice from the professionals whenever possible and do a trial before your big day. And here are some last minute tips I'd like to throw in: bring pictures of hair styles (and make-up), show up with a clean face and clean/dry hair and have the hair dresser/make up artist come to you whenever possible. Relax, sleep as late as you can and call one of my professionals to ensure a great wedding day!!!
Friday, July 20, 2012
Cutting in Line
A few weeks ago, a dear friend of mine got engaged (shout out Kelly!). I, of course, gave her three full days to revel in the glow of her new ring before hounding her with planning details and questions of wedding madness. Much to my surprise, she had yet to figure out when she would like to have this most precious event in her life, but it wasn’t because she hadn’t thought about it. The fact is, her future husband’s brother is engaged and has been engaged for quite some time, and he and his fiancé will not wed until May of 2013. Kelly’s fear is that she is suppose to wait until after May of 2013 before getting married since the other couple was engaged first. Can anyone guess my rule of thumb on this one? Yep, that’s right – YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE!
In this situation, by the time this other couple gets married, they will have been engaged for two years, which is their decision. But in the wedding world of waiting your turn, anything after a year is open season. Some couples are waiting to finish school, or move out of state, or start their careers. Does this mean that every bride should put her plans on hold because her best friend is marrying a doctor-to-be and they decided to be engaged for 5 years? No way!
For poor ole’ Kelly who got engaged early July, a Spring wedding is her first choice. If she were to wait on her future in laws, she’d have to be engaged for a year and a half and that just won’t fly for her. I say, get while the getting’ is good. As long as she does not make the wedding within a month of their wedding, she is fine. A March wedding would be the latest she could have it without interfering with the other couple. And as long as she doesn’t cross schedules in terms of showers, etc., she is good to go.
When it comes to multiple sisters being engaged at the same time, things can get a bit trickier, but a lot of that falls on the poor father who may be footing the bill for both weddings, which is a totally different topic all together. But as it relates to what order brides get married based on who was engaged first, you get married when you want to get married. There’s something to be said for the bride who has a three month engagement in order to beat her younger sister to the altar, but in most situations, timing is what it is and it’s just a preference of season or scheduling.
In any case, just be considerate of scheduling and making sure there’s enough time for you to get back from your honeymoon or them to get back from their honeymoon, etc (a month’s time to separate the events should be fine). Be considerate of showers and guests that are invited to both events and be considerate of the fact that there is another bride in your presence also going thru the planning and excitement that you are feeling (you may not be center of attention for the entire engagement), but other than that, pick your date and go for it!
In this situation, by the time this other couple gets married, they will have been engaged for two years, which is their decision. But in the wedding world of waiting your turn, anything after a year is open season. Some couples are waiting to finish school, or move out of state, or start their careers. Does this mean that every bride should put her plans on hold because her best friend is marrying a doctor-to-be and they decided to be engaged for 5 years? No way!
For poor ole’ Kelly who got engaged early July, a Spring wedding is her first choice. If she were to wait on her future in laws, she’d have to be engaged for a year and a half and that just won’t fly for her. I say, get while the getting’ is good. As long as she does not make the wedding within a month of their wedding, she is fine. A March wedding would be the latest she could have it without interfering with the other couple. And as long as she doesn’t cross schedules in terms of showers, etc., she is good to go.
When it comes to multiple sisters being engaged at the same time, things can get a bit trickier, but a lot of that falls on the poor father who may be footing the bill for both weddings, which is a totally different topic all together. But as it relates to what order brides get married based on who was engaged first, you get married when you want to get married. There’s something to be said for the bride who has a three month engagement in order to beat her younger sister to the altar, but in most situations, timing is what it is and it’s just a preference of season or scheduling.
In any case, just be considerate of scheduling and making sure there’s enough time for you to get back from your honeymoon or them to get back from their honeymoon, etc (a month’s time to separate the events should be fine). Be considerate of showers and guests that are invited to both events and be considerate of the fact that there is another bride in your presence also going thru the planning and excitement that you are feeling (you may not be center of attention for the entire engagement), but other than that, pick your date and go for it!
Friday, January 6, 2012
The New Orleans Bride
Part of the reason that I started this blog was because I was so frustrated with the “etiquette” blogs out there that are out dated and completely pretentious. The truth is, there really is no true piece of sound advice that works for everyone. Each family has their own set of traditions and “etiquette” and that is essentially what sets the tone for what is “right” and “wrong” in each individual’s situation. The idea that everyone is different is what started me thinking about a new voice for the etiquette of the future, but what is most important to me is to speak for an entirely different group of brides – The New Orleans Brides.
Nothing frustrates me more than reading a book or blog from a writer who classifies New Orleans brides as “Southern” brides. We are not Southern brides; we are New Orleans brides and unless you’re from here, you just don’t get it!
Sit down dinners are not traditional for us, an 80’s cover band will do just fine and we can just as easily have Abita beer in our toasting glass as champagne and no one gives it a second thought. Most of the time, the second line only happens at the reception, around the venue, but when we do venture out, we don’t mind second lining down Bourbon because we’re smart enough to hold our dress in such a way to avoid what might be growing on the streets. We think that cake pulls are a part of every wedding no matter where you are from and we firmly believe that the Groom’s cake is the only chance the guy gets to take part in the wedding. And speaking of cake, New Orleans is the only place where “wedding cake” is an actual flavor and the only acceptable flavor for our wedding cakes.
We have a formula for the wedding day and it typically does not include seeing our groom prior to the ceremony, which will inevitably take place in a Catholic Church. We use police escorts even if we are only going down the street and the local drivers know better than to interrupt a wedding procession. We’re all about a buffet, carving stations and an open bar and the thought of a dry reception is actually confusing to us.
Even the suburban New Orleanians (Metairie and Kenner citizens) who have the tradition of a Catholic Church paired with an all inclusive reception hall because the parents feel it’s rude to ask their friends to pay for downtown parking, follow these traditions as this New Orleans community as a whole is its own breed. Our breed has bridal parties filled with friends they’ve been with since grammar school and each of our guests will surely run into at least 2 sets of people they’ve known their whole life, yet did not realize were connected to the bride and groom.
For the New Orleans bride, it’s all about family, friends you’ve known your whole life and celebrating everything! We’re more about bloody mary’s on the balcony, than iced tea on the porch. And we’re more likely to drink past the heat than to fan ourselves. Because of our saucy twist on Southern traditions, we are not like Southerners at all and that’s why so many people travel to our city every year for their big day! After all, no one does anything quite like we do things here in New Orleans. We do have that Southern charm, but it’s got a kick that translates to anyone who comes to visit and that’s why everyone loves it here – in New Orleans proper – not just the SOUTH!
Nothing frustrates me more than reading a book or blog from a writer who classifies New Orleans brides as “Southern” brides. We are not Southern brides; we are New Orleans brides and unless you’re from here, you just don’t get it!
Sit down dinners are not traditional for us, an 80’s cover band will do just fine and we can just as easily have Abita beer in our toasting glass as champagne and no one gives it a second thought. Most of the time, the second line only happens at the reception, around the venue, but when we do venture out, we don’t mind second lining down Bourbon because we’re smart enough to hold our dress in such a way to avoid what might be growing on the streets. We think that cake pulls are a part of every wedding no matter where you are from and we firmly believe that the Groom’s cake is the only chance the guy gets to take part in the wedding. And speaking of cake, New Orleans is the only place where “wedding cake” is an actual flavor and the only acceptable flavor for our wedding cakes.
We have a formula for the wedding day and it typically does not include seeing our groom prior to the ceremony, which will inevitably take place in a Catholic Church. We use police escorts even if we are only going down the street and the local drivers know better than to interrupt a wedding procession. We’re all about a buffet, carving stations and an open bar and the thought of a dry reception is actually confusing to us.
Even the suburban New Orleanians (Metairie and Kenner citizens) who have the tradition of a Catholic Church paired with an all inclusive reception hall because the parents feel it’s rude to ask their friends to pay for downtown parking, follow these traditions as this New Orleans community as a whole is its own breed. Our breed has bridal parties filled with friends they’ve been with since grammar school and each of our guests will surely run into at least 2 sets of people they’ve known their whole life, yet did not realize were connected to the bride and groom.
For the New Orleans bride, it’s all about family, friends you’ve known your whole life and celebrating everything! We’re more about bloody mary’s on the balcony, than iced tea on the porch. And we’re more likely to drink past the heat than to fan ourselves. Because of our saucy twist on Southern traditions, we are not like Southerners at all and that’s why so many people travel to our city every year for their big day! After all, no one does anything quite like we do things here in New Orleans. We do have that Southern charm, but it’s got a kick that translates to anyone who comes to visit and that’s why everyone loves it here – in New Orleans proper – not just the SOUTH!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The "Perfect" Wedding
Most people will tell you that there’s no such thing as a perfect anything – not a perfect marriage, or a perfect person, and they always say there’s no “perfect” wedding. I tend to disagree with the last part of that theory as I have attended many “perfect” weddings, as far as my clients know anyway. But this year, I experienced the most perfect wedding of all – but it wasn’t because of anything I did, or anything that any of the vendors did – it was because of the bride, the groom and the family involved.
Last week, Dee White passed away leaving behind four beautiful children and the “perfect” wife. One of those four children, Barrett, got married in March of this year and I was lucky enough to be a part of that most wonderful wedding.
I was first introduced to the family in August of 2010 and we began planning from there. Because the bride and groom lived out of town, I planned majority of the wedding with the bride’s mother, Jessica. From the very first meeting with Jessica, she spoke so lovingly of her children and husband that I knew this was a family I would fall in love with, and I did. Both Dee and Jessica did everything possible to give Barrett whatever she wanted, not what they wanted. Barrett traditionally came in around the holidays, so the house was filled with all four children, and significant others, plus all of their puppies! And every sibling wanted to be involved in the wedding details, including the only brother of the four children, Neal.
I had never seen such a supportive family, starting with the parents trickling down to each of the children. I realized the true bond of this family when Neal came home in the middle of our cake tasting and announced he had passed a certification exam and everyone quickly put the cake tasting on hold. It was his sisters who pulled out the champagne to toast his success immediately and they included me in every minute of the celebration. I knew his parents were proud of his accomplishment, but I was more proud of the way they had raised their children.
People often say that when planning a wedding, parents in particular get wrapped up with the bride and the bride can certainly forget that other things non-wedding even exist. This was not the case in this family and it was refreshing to see that weddings do not always cause drama and stress. They were one of the most even keeled families to work with and it paid off on the day of the wedding.
My point in having this tribute to this special family is this: often times the stereotype surrounding weddings has more to do with the drama it can cause for a family, the fights it can lead to with the mothers and the stress of the planning. This family was proof that when things are done correctly and kept in perspective, a wedding is the happiest day of your life and the one of the best memories we have with our families – and that’s exactly what it should be. But this all starts at the top of the chain with the parents.
So thank you, Dee and Jessica White, for raising your children to rejoice in each other’s time of joy and to share special times with each other. For allowing your children to be themselves instead of pushing them to be who you thought they should be. And for reminding me what makes the “perfect” wedding – Being on the dance floor all night long with your wife and children dancing like no one is watching, enjoying each other like no one else exists and knowing that it’s a moment they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.
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