A Little Help For the Holidays

If the holidays tend to sneak up on you, just as they do me, you'll need a little help to make sure your holiday dinners and/or parties are perfect!  Here are a few little tips that can go a long way when it feels like there is not enough time to get everything done:

1) Place orders for some of menu or desserts - this may sound like cheating, but it really isn't!  While you might be preparing a meal for 12 people, and just the turkey and fixings are enough to take up your day, look into your local gourmet grocery store, or places like La Boulange, that are now offering a wonderful catering menu.  I tend to like to take care of my main dinner myself, but would like some delicious hors d'oeuvres to go with the meal that I just don't have the time to put together.  This year, I have also pre-ordered our pies, since I like to bake cookies and other treats to go with the dessert course, I thought I would save some time and get some local homemade pies.  It may be cheating, but I will at least be able to enjoy this very special holiday spending more time with our family and friends than in the kitchen.

2) Have separate entertaining glassware - one of the best purchases I have made for my personal entertaining supplies is boxed glassware sets.  I have used these so many times, and they make my life so much easier on the day of my event.  I have three different glassware sets; wine glasses, champagne flutes and tumblers.  These are perfect to set out on your bar for self serve beverages, and cover everything from water, mixed drinks, champagne and wine.  The best part is after the party, you pop them in the dishwasher, put them back in their boxes, and out to the garage they go.  I have found my sets at Cost Plus World Market and Pier 1 Imports, but I know there are many other stores that carry them as well.
 

3) Make your play list ahead of time - one of the easiest things to forget about when planning an event at home is the music. Make sure you have the right music to go with your event, and you may want to have separate play lists for the dinner portion and something more upbeat for later in the evening.  I usually burn a few cd's and put them into our stereo (I know, so old school), and never think about it again.  Those of you more tech savvy can also do the same thing with your ipod.

4) Rent items instead of purchasing - We are lucky enough here in San Francisco to have places like La Tavola Linens and Hartmann Studios to rent anything our hearts desire.  Check your local area for equipment and linen rental shops and see what they have available.  A lot of times you can rent really beautiful linens for your tables, as well as chargers, china and even extra tables and chairs.  You can save money by picking it up yourself, but if convenience is your key word, have them deliver.  The best part is, they wash everything!

5) Invitations don't have to go in the mail - If you are running behind on sending out the invitations, the better thing to do is to send them electronically.  The worst thing is to go ahead an plan an elaborate holiday party only to find out only 1/4 of your guests can attend because your invitation came too late.  I really like Paperless Post as an online option.  They even let you upgrade to electronic envelope liners... love it!  Also, a quick tip about getting guests to come, don't plan your party on a Saturday evening, there is too much competition.  Thursdays and Sundays are great alternatives and you will notice a better turn out.

I hope all your dinners and parties are wonderful, and I would love for you to share any other easy tips for our readers that are entertaining this season! 

Happy Planning!

Getting Ready for the Holidays

We are so happy that our 2010 went off without a hitch, and sent a lot of happy newlyweds out into the world!  The other news is that we are going to start blogging a little more frequently now that the season has ended and we can post all these amazing images and share some things we learned over the year.

In the midst of wrapping up the season means getting ready to decorate and entertain for the holidays, and I was so excited when I opened my email this morning and saw the lovely trimmings West Elm was offering from event planner David Stark.  These are perfect in a time when we are all trying to reduce our waste, and also make things look elegant.  I'm loving this mantle-scape!

The mosaic bottles, and really mosaic anything, is not only great holiday decor, but is popping up in some of our winter weddings.

If you are entertaining this year, I always love to hear how you plan decorate your table or home!  This is one centerpiece I am hoping to try and re-create this year, since it is very similar to an installation we did at one of our weddings this year.  If you want to try and re-create this with me, you can get the instructions by clicking here: CB2 DIY Hanging Centerpiece.

Whatever you are planning, we hope it is festive and full of joy!

Happy Planning!

San Francisco Entertains - A Great Gift Idea!

Calling all foodies, if you have been racking your brain over gift ideas for a Bridal Shower, Bridesmaid's gift or Thank You gift look no further! San Francisco Entertains is the latest cookbook by The Junior League of San Francisco celebrating its centennial in 2011. According to Gary Danko “[it is] a foodies manual for the perfect party.” Top Chef contestant Ryan Scott of Ryan Scott 2 Go says, “San Francisco Entertains will help make every season delicious.”

This brand new cookbook features amazing recipes from league members and top local restaurants and chefs, such as James Beard Award winning Chef Gary Danko of Restaurant Gary Danko as well as Michelin star award winning chefs Mark Dommen of One Market Restaurant and Jesse Mallgren of Madrona Manor (a fabulous wedding location). Nearly 500 recipes were triple-tested and whittled down to the top 139 that include local and historic recipes with a twist, accompanied by enticing menu options and beverage pairings. To top it off the book contains gorgeous color images of the dishes and iconic images of San Francisco in addition to interesting facts about the people, places and events that occurred over the last one hundred years in San Francisco.

To give you an idea of the recipes included here are a few:

Sugar Pumpkin Martini
Red Snapper and Green Apple Ceviche
Grilled Peach with Warm Pancetta and Frisée Salad
Spicy Meatball Sliders
Ancho Chile Brownies

And if you are in the mood for entertaining here is a sample of the menus available:

Cozy Valentine’s Day Supper for Two
North Beach Italian Family Get Together
Wine Country Cocktail Party

Click here for some sample pages from San Francisco Entertains!

If you want to purchase multiples you can get a 10% discount off a case of 10 books as well! This is a great gift for everyone, it’s a wonderful keepsake for those visiting and it’s a fabulous addition to any Bay Area foodie’s cookbook shelf. Even if you don’t cook the photos alone make this a gorgeous coffee table book. To purchase online visit http://www.sfentertains.jlsf.org/ or visit Williams-Sonoma Union Square (founder Chuck Williams donated a recipe too) or The Real Food Company on Fillmore or Polk.

Bon Appétit!

Michelle

A Wedding on a Tuesday?

This is what most people asked me when I mentioned that I had a wedding on a Tuesday night this month. I repeatedly had to explain that the cost savings of a weeknight wedding, or off season wedding, can be one of the biggest ways to trim a budget. So, last night, along with 80 happy guests, my clients had their wedding on the Sky Terrace at Medjool in San Francisco's Mission District. It was a gorgeous and clear San Francisco night, and they had the wedding that they always wanted without the price tag. Below is a photo taken with my phone.

I only heard great things from all the guests about how amazing everything was from the views to the food, and none of them even mentioned it being a Tuesday night. I honestly don't even think anyone was aware it was a Tuesday night, since most stayed until after 11pm dancing under the stars. As I tell many of my clients getting married on off days, your friends and family love you, and no matter what day it is, they will be there.

So, if you are a couple out there that is feeling overwhelmed by the price of the wedding you want versus the budget you have, you may want to consider other options like off days. The cost saving is very significant for weeknights, and some discounts are given for Friday or Sunday weddings as well.

I'd love to hear from couples that have/had chosen an off day for their wedding, and the positives and negatives that you faced!

Happy Planning,

Picking Your Wedding Date

This may sound like a weird topic to talk about in a blog, as some weddings dates are chosen because of a significant date, or because of lucky numbers. Some don't care, and let the venue they choose pretty much decide what date they will have. Either way, something that often gets overlooked is to know what is going on that date in the area where the wedding is, or something that would snarl traffic badly.

I have had clients that didn't know ahead of time that things were going to happen that could compromise their wedding. This is hard to avoid, as we were notified three months before a wedding that the weekend that they were hosting their wedding on Treasure Island, the Bay Bridge was going to be closed. It was the first year they did this, and for those that don't know, the bridge is the only way to access the island. Now, we know that every Labor Day Weekend, the bridge will be closed. We count on it, and make sure any Labor Day Weekend weddings we are doing understand that, as well as all the vendors working on the wedding.

Another thing that happens here in San Francisco are a lot of street fairs throughout the summer. They close down large areas of major streets like Union Street, Fillmore and Haight, as well as take over all of North Beach, right in front of the most popular churches in the area, Sts. Peter and Paul. They have live concerts in the park directly across from the church, so even with the doors closed, the ceremony is compromised, as well as accessing the area for guest parking and bridal party transportation.

My personal experience with the street fairs and local events hasn't always been pleasant. I have had a group of drunk men try and take over one of our guest shuttles, I have had shuttles get stuck in extreme traffic because of street closures, and I've even had one couple have to close their eyes through a parade of naked revelers in the Bay to Breakers. There are some things you can't control, but checking the local event calendar for your area before you plan your wedding should be at the top of your list. Even though these events were known about, the thought was that they won't have any effect on the wedding. That is true in some cases, but when you have shuttles, or are going off site to take photos, it can lead to being caught in a mess.

Golden Gate Park is a very popular spot for ceremonies, and has over seven different locations host lovely garden ceremonies at. It also has many concerts, and it must be avoided during those dates. There is simply no way in or out. It will save you tons of hassle in the long run if you know the times and locations of these concerts and events.

One date that I notoriously mark off our calendar yearly is when Nascar comes through the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. It took me over 2.5 hours to get to a wedding rehearsal one Friday afternoon about five years ago, and I will never forget it. My home is about 30 minutes from the venue I was heading to. There is only one main highway, and I had many vendors extremely late for set-up on the day of the wedding, even though they had been warned of my experience the night before. I instead will take a wedding in San Francisco or south, but none on the Sonoma/Napa side of the wine country.

Part of my job is to warn my clients of these potential disturbances to their wedding. As in the ones mentioned above, I was hired late in the game as a month of coordinator, and at that point, the best you can do is just try and work around it. Venues will not always let clients know about these things, and it is worth the extra step to research it yourself or if you have a planner, make sure you have a discussion with them about this. If you are in San Francisco, this is a good list to start with: http://www.sanfrancisco.com/festivals/

If any of you are currently planning, do you have to face any of these issues? Any of you had to deal with a situation like this as a bride or a vendor?

Happy Planning (& weekend off for me, yay!)

2010 Is Off To a Great Start!

While our blog posts have slowed down, the work that is going on at the studio definitely has not! In the three months of 2010 so far, we have planned and coordinated five weddings, put on a San Francisco Bridal Tour and are putting together plans for our upcoming 2010 and 2011 weddings. It has been a busy start, but is certainly welcome, as we love the amount of happy clients we get to send off into their new life together every year.

I do have to point out though that we have been EXTREMELY lucky with the weather this year. It has been a very heavy rain season here in the bay area, and having four outdoor or semi-outdoor weddings in March was tricky. We always had our Plan B as well as a Plan C in case of inclement weather, but as most would imagine, these are rarely the preferred plans. We were lucky to not have to use any of them in and and ended up with amazing weather for our clients.

I do have to mention though, while watching a television special a few weeks ago, I was less than amused that the bride and groom were drenched by the end of their wedding ceremony. I have heard many things about this situation, such as the producers insisted on no back up plan, or that they did it for the drama. Either way, you simply don't put clients or guests in that type of situation. A simple change would have been to switch out the fabric ottomans that were used, so at least they could be dried off. Instead, they were left out there, and the guests had to sit on plastic

The umbrellas are great, but how about having two people hold them for the bride and groom? There were simple things that could have been done to partially remedy the situation, and I'm sure there were things that the planner could not do because of television restrictions, but I still think that this couple was unfortunately left out in the cold, literally.

Trust me, we have been forced to make a last minute decision before, and while the weather reports might say it will clear by the ceremony time, it is always hard to tell for sure. I have made some very iffy calls before, and luckily they worked out, but this is something that even if you know it could rain, come prepared. Have your coordinator bring towels to wipe down all chairs before the guests sit down. Have a large golf umbrella up near the alter, so if a downpour starts, the couple can take some cover and the officiant can hold it. Have your coordinator bring umbrellas or have them pre-ordered, and you can return them if they are not used after the wedding. If you have it in the budget, have a simple clear top tent on order. This usually requires a non-refundable deposit, but if you are looking to get married in somewhat rainy months, it is better to be safe than sorry.

We will be posting photos soon from our recent weddings, as we have worked with some great photographers recently. Here is a very bad quality photo taken with my phone from my March 20th wedding that was at Hotel Vitale and included the couples dogs. One of the pups decided the brides dress was her favorite spot!

Happy Planning!

Planning the Rehearsal Dinner

There are no real rules when it comes to the rehearsal dinner. It can be just you two or extended to include your immediate family, wedding party and their spouses. A lot of times invitations are extended to out-of-town family and guests because it is a great time to catch up other than on the wedding day. The decision can be daunting while writing the guest list to the rehearsal dinner. Who to invite while trying not to hurt anyone's feelings while not going over budget?

A lot of our couples have family and friends coming from all over the country. The rehearsal is an opportune time to host a dinner that is more casual. This is a great time for all of your family and friends to meet and get to know each other. Many of our clients are having cocktail or dessert receptions in place of or after a sit down dinner. A cocktail hour from 5:00 to 7:00 allows your guests not be rushed straight from the airport. It is also more relaxed and gives people a chance to mingle and catch up with everyone. Hosting a dessert reception gives you and your immediate family time to have a smaller more intimate dinner then joined with all of your out of town guests later in the evening. This is a great way to include everyone, give your guests time to arrive or explore the city a bit on their own, and then come to celebrate while you get to stick to the budget.
























Kathy Goodman with Well Rehearsed is one of our good friends and is an amazing resource when it comes to planning your rehearsal dinner. From finding the perfect location to decor and all the details, she is fabulous at working with you (and your future mother-in-law) to plan a memorable rehearsal dinner.
Wanting to include everyone, we have alternatively had picnics in Golden Gate Park, bringing in catering trays from a local gourmet market or our favorite - a taco truck! This is much more casual, you can invite the whole crew and enjoy a beautiful afternoon (with the chance of fog as always) with all of your family and friends.

Your rehearsal dinner, whether is ends up being big or small, traditional or not so much, remember as always it is your wedding weekend. Have fun!

Cheers,
Brittani

Kid Friendly or Not?

It is hard deciding whether or not to have an adult only wedding or extend the invitation to families with children as well. There is the bad rap that kids can be a damper on the wedding. What are they going to do the whole time? What if they spoil things? We want our friends and family with young children to have fun at the wedding too! There are many options to make your wedding “kid friendly”, and with a little planning, kids can attend and be a part of the wedding while keeping the focus on the bride and groom.

If you just have a few children and they are sitting with their parents having a goodie bag with activities for the children at their seats keep them entertained while adults have dinner and toasts are going on.

Creating a playroom is a fabulous option. If you are able to provide a separate room at your venue that can be a “hang out” for the kids will keep them plenty busy. A few ideas to have include coloring books, games, puzzles, supplying beads to make necklaces they can take home or other arts and craft projects. Most caterers will provide a kids buffet with all the kids favorites, and even can make the table kid friendly height. Once they have eaten their dinner and crafted their hearts out, a TV/DVD player to play movies and giant pillows and blankets for them to crash on is the perfect end to their night.

It is also important to delegate someone to watch the younger guests throughout the reception if you have a playroom out of sight. There are many professional nanny services, or you can ask your hotel if they have a company they work with are a few ways to find someone the parents can trust watching their children.

If you do decide to go the “adult-only” wedding, that is okay too. It is a way to keep your guest count lower, and it really depends on what you want and how you see your wedding. Some venues or decor installations at weddings are simply not child friendly, so sometimes it is a safer option to opt for the adult only. We have seen many a centerpiece or cake go down because of a curious little one. Out of town families might still choose bring their children along though and make a vacation out of your wedding, so providing off site babysitter/nanny options is always helpful. Make sure that you specify that you are doing an adult only reception on the wedding website as well as the invitation. A simple "please join us for an adult only reception immediately following" on the reception card is an easy way to make it clear.

Cheers,

Brittani

Real Parties | Oscar Night!

Every year I throw an Oscar party, as it is one of my favorite nights on television. It isn't too lavish, it is actually rather casual, but it is always a lot of fun, and I really have fun putting it together. I am preparing for the party this weekend and thought I would share some of my ideas.

One thing we always do is have an Oscar pool. Everyone brings $5 to put in the pot, and we all fill out our ballots before the show starts. Quick note, always put your start time an hour before the show to allow for everyone to get there, say their hello's and get their food and drink. This way they also have time to fill out the ballot. Once the show starts, pass the ballots out to everyone to grade, and let the battle begin!

Another thing I am incorporating this year is I will be having prizes awarded throughout the broadcast. The way I am doing it is on their ballot, I will have a space for them to guess the time that these firsts will happen: first crying acceptance speech, first cut off acceptance speech, etc. It will keep the interest up through the three hour show even for those that aren't as into it.

When guests first arrive, they are greeted outside by my mock "search lights." It is basically a bunch of flashlights attached in different directions to the trees outside my home, and it makes me laugh, but it works. Then I have a "red carpet" for the guests to walk on as they enter. They are always greeted with champagne, and I have the bar fully stocked and loaded so I can enjoy the show while guests help themselves throughout the evening.

On the dining room table, I create a buffet. When they first arrive there will be individual boxes of popcorn, red vines and cracker jacks on the coffee table. There will also be fancy appetizers that they can make a plate of, grab their seat and get ready to enjoy the show. I am planning to mimic the design that has been approved for the Governor's Ball, I'm loving the color combination.

At one point, I take out the tri tip and all the fixings for guests to make gourmet steak sandwiches, with a few side dishes. Nothing too fancy, guests are eating on their lap, so you always need to consider that. I also have dark chocolate, Oscar trophy red velvet cupcakes and red wine for the tail end of the show when guests need a little pick me up.

As you can see, it is super easy to throw a party like this. Get your Oscar Party Kit from the Oscar website and download all you need and get some great recipe's as well. There are a few keys to remember though when planning your Oscar Party:

1) Always make sure you have enough seats. This isn't a standard party where guests can stand and mingle.
2) Make sure the food is easy to eat, you don't want to serve something that needs a knife.
3) Create a bar that is a self serve type. Have enough glassware, open wine and a carafe of water. Always serve your guests as they enter the party, and explain that they can help themselves to the bar after that.
4) Don't invite too many people. Some are very into the Oscar's and want to hear the speeches. You don't want it to be too crowded or too loud.
5) Go light with the decor. The theme at the Governor's Ball this year is "1930's Streamline Moderne." Design your table that way instead of with the tacky party store items.
6) Some go with a full sit down Oscar inspired dinner, which can also be fun. Take the movies nominated, and play with that. Or, you can always try and serve what Wolfgang Puck will be serving that night, yum!

Do you have any fun ideas to add? If so, please share!

Happy Planning!

All About Flowers!

When it comes to selecting your wedding flowers, there is a lot to think about. Using flowers that are in season is always great to give you the freshest and most vibrant flowers. But, how are you supposed to know what flowers are in season when there are so many to choose from? That is where your florist and coordinator step in to create the vision that you have with the flowers and colors you like, all while staying within your budget.

There are a lot of things you can bring with you when you go to meet with your florist that will help them see what your vision is clearly. Here is a list of helpful aids for you to bring to your initial meeting:

- Cut, print and gather. When discussing your color scheme, style and ideas, bring photos or image collages you have put together. Be it printed from websites you like, tears from magazines or a favorite piece of art that has inspired you, everything is helpful.

- Tell you florist your favorite and least favorite flowers. Even if you only have a few to mention, or don't know the names of them, the florist can name them for you and help get a sense of your style. Florists are artists. If you give them the direction, they can take it from there and create a beautiful proposal with your planner that will fit your style.

Image by Janae Shields

- Bring swatches! If you have selected your bridesmaid gowns, or have color samples of the palette you would like to aim for, bring them. It is really helpful to have on hand, and the florist can then match the ribbon colors to the bridesmaid gowns. You may not have these at your initial meeting, but it is something you should provide them with at least a month before your wedding.

- Be honest about your budget. The worst thing is to go in without one, and then you realize all your visions cost over $10,000. If that is your budget, that is fine, but for many it is not, and if your florist knows this from the start they can provide the best possible direction for you.

- Recycle. Many of your ceremony arrangements or bridesmaid bouquets can be re-used in the wedding reception. Make sure this is discussed with your florist at your meeting, as they will have the best ideas and the most realistic way to implement that. Also check if you are purchasing your containers. If you are, which we recommend, you can either send them home with guests, or re-use them the next day at your day after brunch. Make sure your coordinator knows, as they will set aside the ones that need to be used the next day, and have a space where guests can pick them up on their way out.

- If you don't have a planner, create a simple inspiration board. You can do this by going online and pasting pictures into a document that you can then email and bring to all your design related meetings. You can also create one online at Style Me Pretty's Style Circle.

Remember, you are not expected to know every flower that is out there. You know what you like and do not like, and with the above tools you will be well on your way to a great meeting and an amazing design palette!

Cheers,
Brittani

Save the Date Ideas

Brittani Waldman is a wedding and event planner with us here at Dream A Little Dream Events, and is now going to be contributing to our blog! Brittani is a great planner with a lot of energy and humor that really makes her clients feel at ease. Here is her first post on some great Save the Date ideas:

It is that time of year where our upcoming summer and fall couples are coming up with ideas for their save the dates. The standard magnet is always a fine choice, but I have a few other ideas to make your save the dates a little more personal.

Photo booths are always a blast and an easy way to personalize the card. You can go to one at your local mall or if you are lucky enough to live in the San Francisco Bay Area, Hello! Lucky now houses their own in-house photo booth. You can do it with signs like “We are getting married!” “San Francisco” “July 3, 2010”, or without signs and have the team at Hello! Lucky take care of the rest or the verbiage.

Photo from Hello Lucky

A lot of our clients are from out of town and having destination weddings in San Francisco or in the Wine Country. Create your own post card with some of your favorite city sites to get your guests excited about the trip, or grab some tourist post cards, get a custom stamp made with all the details (you can do this at Paper Source), and send them off!

I also love the idea of incorporating a sticker that can be removed from the card and placed in a date book or on the family calendar. It makes it simple for your guests to make sure they have the date off their calendar immediately and won’t miss your big day! Check out the how to on this unique option on Martha Stewart.

No matter how you create your save the date’s, make sure the date is pronounced on the card the most so it will be sure to stay in your guest’s minds!

Cheers,

Brittani

Featured | Brides Northern California Magazine

I was interviewed recently for an article to run in the Brides Northern California Spring/Summer 2010 edition that was going to be about wedding ceremonies. They wanted to hear about the different ways couples were incorporating their traditions and guests into their ceremony. It is really a pretty magazine, with some very sweet real wedding features. Check it out on newsstands now!

Happy Planning!

Difference Between Day-of and Month-of

As January hit this year, so did a huge influx of new inquiries! It has been great to meet with so many new couples and learn all about their weddings and their stories. One thing we have been faced with though was the question of why we don't offer a package called "day-of." The answer to this question is that there is simply no such thing as day-of, and if someone is offering to just be at your wedding on the day with no pre-wedding coordination, meetings, planning, etc., then it would be something you might want to stay away from.

To put it plain and simple, every wedding, no matter how meticulously planned, has something go wrong. It might be small, or it might be a complete catastrophe. The way to make sure the latter doesn't happen is to have someone be your go-to all knowing coordinator for vendors, family and guests, as well as solve tricky problems that come up. This person should be meeting with you about month or so before the wedding to go over all your final details, at the final venue walk through and ultimately putting together the final vendor timeline and vendor lists. This is an extremely crucial part to making sure that all weddings go smoothly and that everyone is on the same page. The final venue walk through is one of the most important meetings surrounding a wedding, and I couldn't even imagine walking into a wedding not knowing the venue/vendors/family/couple and thinking that I could pull it all together without a hitch. I'm good, but not that good!

The key is to sit down as a couple and work out what your needs are for your wedding day and how much you want to be able to enjoy the day, as well as who will be taking care of your guests, bridal party and families. You could then meet with a few coordinators and look over all they offer with their packages. Find out if they charge you separately to call or email them. Find out how many hours will they be on site during the day; do they leave when the cake is cut, or stay until the very end? How many coordinators will be at your wedding, and who your lead coordinator will be. You will find that pricing for a month-of or basic package can range significantly. This usually is because of coordinator experience, staff, hours spent on the day and before the wedding, etc. It is important to look at all of those factors and not just the price. You want to be comfortable with the person you are hiring because they are your eyes and ears during your wedding day, and you need to have full trust in them and their services.

Hope this helps when considering a planner, as there are so many pros to having one! There are many stories out there regarding bride regrets for not having someone else in charge, and I feel it is a crucial part of the wedding. As always, leave a comment or drop me an email if you have any specific questions for me or need a referral to a planner in your area.

Happy Planning!

Wedding Tip Wednesday: Keep your guests comfortable

One of the major factors in planning any event is making sure that your guests are comfortable. While you may think hiking up 100 stairs to a lookout point for your ceremony is a great idea, a few of your guests may not agree. Not that it should deter you from doing it there, just make sure that there are no huge surprises on your wedding day that would make some guests miserable.

Here are some typical situations, and ways to avoid any problems:

* As stated above, if you are going to have to hike, bike, jog or walk through horse manure, please inform your guests. This doesn't need to be on the invitation itself, but in some other correspondence, like a wedding weekend itinerary, welcome basket or website. If they know in advance, they can prepare, or let you know they will be meeting up with you at the reception.

* If your wedding is going to be outside, and the temperature can fluctuate (as it does here in the Bay Area), it is best to let guests know that they should layer appropriately. While the beginning of the day may include a ceremony in a park where it may be warm, and the reception could take place much later when it really cools down. It is nice for them to know that they will not be inside, and to plan for that. Another way to make them feel comfortable in the cold would be to have a basket with pashmina's or blankets that they can wrap themselves in. To avoid the problems in the sun, make sure to have parasols or market umbrellas to cover all guests, and offer refreshments before the ceremony begins.

* Getting married on a farm or the like? Let guests know to not wear heels! It can be a recipe for disaster, and they will thank you later for the warning.

* If you are not serving a full meal when a full meal would be expected, make sure to signify that on your invitations. If you start your ceremony begins at 3pm for instance, and cocktails are at 4pm, guests would expect to be eating a full dinner around 5:30 or 6pm. If that is not the case, make sure the invitation states what the food service style will be.

* There are many venues and locations that are difficult to find, park near or even get a cab out of at the end of the evening. Spend the extra money and provide a shuttle service for your guests. I go into this topic in another post here, but truly, it is well worth the money not having stranded or lost guests. Just make sure you have ordered buses larger then what you think you need and always post a schedule somewhere at the wedding.

* If you are having a loud band playing music through the evening, try and make a more relaxed lounge area somewhere close to the rest of the reception, but far enough that if someone is wanting to have a conversation, they can still enjoy themselves in the lounge. It isn't something that is too expensive if done on a small scale, and tends to be a big hit.

* Do assigned seating. Period.

* If you are having a large group of children coming, it may be worth your while in looking into a nanny service. Most venues have a smaller space where we can build out a children's room full with a kids buffet, juices, bean bags, crafts and a movie to watch as it gets later. Parents appreciate it so much, as they are then left to enjoy your wedding, and don't have to worry about leaving too early or watching their kids during an elegant four course meal.

* This last tip is regarding food. Please, by all means, if you are only serving meat, or only serving a vegan menu, etc., let your guests know. While you may enjoy certain foods and want to share those with your guests, that is fine. Do it on a smaller scale where it can maybe be during the cocktail reception, or just one part of the main course options. When there is only one meal choice, and you get a group of vegetarians at a reception with a pig roasting on a spic, it may not go over too well.

While your wedding is supposed to be a reflection of the couple, it is just a nice touch to have thought of these things during the planning process to make sure that everyone enjoys themselves as much as you will!

Happy Planning!

Holiday and wedding shopping - all in one stop!

When Halloween rolls around, it is usually my signal to start looking online and in catalogs for places to find unique gifts for my friends, family and vendors. Last year I came across a catalog in my mailbox called Uncommon Goods. I was thinking, okay, here's another random catalog that I just need to recycle. After I opened it up, and checked out what they had, I ended up purchasing five different Christmas gifts from them, and I couldn't have been happier with the reactions of the recipients! The great thing were these were items that no one had seen before, and wasn't something you would find at your local mall.

The great thing too is that they have some great wedding gifts, and also things that can be used at the wedding itself, such as the Wishing Wall Frame or the Handmade Copper Guest Book. They now offer a gift registry, which is a nice way to get some eco-friendly gifts like your own Kitchen Composter or the Eco Picnic Basket.There is so much to explore on this site, and I have already knocked off about half of my Christmas gift list just this morning. That feels good!

Happy Planning!

Providing Transportation for Guests

It has become increasingly popular to provide some sort of transportation for guests at weddings for many reasons. For some, it is because of a difficult parking situation, as we face at most of the San Francisco venues, or rough late night driving conditions, as in the wine country. Some venues even require transportation to venues, as there is limited parking at some of these small wineries we work at.

With that said, there are ways to do it that will save you time, money and anguish over it. It will also save you (or your planner!) from having to deal with angry guests at the end of the night who want to leave and cannot. Here are some tips to deal with scheduling and making sure your transportation situation works for everyone involved:

1) Provide information on your website, on an information card in the invitation or some other way that you will be providing transportation, and what that entails. Some have only provided it for the end of the evening, or some only have provided it only for out of town guests. It is best to keep everyone informed.

2) Once you have decided on the type of transportation you will provide, make a clear and precise schedule. Map out when bridal party, families, guests and even sometimes vendors will be being picked up and from where. I worked one wedding where we could only have eight cars on site and that meant everyone (including me) was on a shuttle.

3) An easy way to see how many guests would be utilizing the shuttle is simply to put it on the RSVP card. Many couples are using these cards to find out pertinent information, such as which hotel they are staying at and how many seats they need reserved on the shuttle. That way, you avoid over or under booking, plus making the schedule is much easier when you know how many guests are at each hotel or meeting location.

4) Place a shuttle schedule on the bar at the wedding. That way, guests that are planning on leaving early can map out their departure times. It isn't proper to have your band or djay stopping to announce shuttle departures every 30 minutes, and if guests don't know, they tend to assume it only leaves at the end, and then you have 180 people trying to get on two 38 passenger shuttles all at once. That is when the fun really begins!

5) Have someone speak DIRECTLY to the drivers once they are on site. Explain to them when they are scheduled to leave, and not to leave unless they have been released to do so. Put a point person (usually a coordinator) to have any emergencies dealt with. Of course, if someone becomes ill and needs to depart, we need to make arrangements for that, but sometimes if the hotel is far away, it can create a major delay with the final departure if a shuttle has left with only two people on board. This needs to be decided by the point person, and if there is another way to get the ill person home, that would be the ideal option. I carry an assistant at all weddings, as this has happened before, and we have had my assistant or a taxi take that person home or to a hospital.

6) Do a trial run during the time of day of your wedding to and from the locations you have mapped out, and add some time especially if you are reserving motor coaches (56+ passenger busses). This will help to avoid any major delays with not factoring Saturday traffic, or any community event that may be going on that day as well near your event locations.

Having shuttles should be a relief and not a burden, so just make sure you have prepared properly, and all should go smoothly. Guests are usually very appreciative of the thought of their well being by providing this service and don't tend to abuse it. There are some things that are beyond anyones control, like your shuttle being run off the road by another shuttle on the same private road, or your driver getting in a fight with a neighbor. These are all true stories, but it goes to show you that even the most precise planning can't avoid things like that.

Happy planning!

Honoring Loved Ones

I have had many clients ask me in the past, what is the best way to honor a loved one that has passed away at the wedding? It is a touchy subject, as you always want to be discreet enough with it without making a big display, but still honor them in a memorable way. I have had clients do things like wore their grandmother's jewelry, played their parents first dance song at some point during the wedding, or had their mothers' favorite flower incorporated in the bridal bouquet.

I just saw this idea on my photographer friend Sabine Scherer's blog, (btw, she is getting married herself this weekend!), and I thought I would share it as well. The couple had a basket up with them on their bench during the ceremony, and it had photos of their loved ones that were no longer with them. It seems like such a nice way to incoroporate this in a wedding.

Bar - How Much Should I Buy?

I get asked this very question all the time! It is one of the tricky ones to answer though, as it depends on so many different variables. Is the wedding or event during the day, or late in the evening? Are you hosting a full bar, or only beer and wine? Is there a house or signature cocktail(s) being offered? Do you have a heavy drinking crowd or not? How long is the cocktail hour going to be?

All of these questions can alter how much you should plan on purchasing for your event. Some people just give the standard answer of a bottle of wine per person. That really doesn't help much, as that may be true if you are only hosting beer and wine, but if you are offering a full bar to be hosted for the duration of the night, that sometimes would not be the correct amount. My best advice, and it may sound too obvious, but run the drink calculator on Evite. The best thing about it is you can plug in all the facts; how many guests, how many hours drinking will be taking place, what you are serving, and how the crowd is in terms of heavy, light and non-drinkers. It will then calculate what you should purchase, and it usually is pretty close to what I would have come up with after a few standard calculations. As a heads up though, the beer amount tends to come out about 10-20% higher then what I would typically recommend, but if you know you have a lot of beer drinkers or it will be at a very warm location, it can't hurt to have enough cold beers on site.

No matter what you do, know that it is always better to over estimate then to run out of beverages at your wedding! I can't even tell you how many times I've sent my assistant to the liquor store (if there is one nearby) to pick up more drinks. Or, if you are serving a house cocktail, make sure you have all the right mixers and garnishes. Also check with your local stores (BevMo, Costco, etc.) on their policies on having them buy back unused cases or bottles, and ALWAYS make sure you have a designated person to take home your leftovers. It can be a lot and usually won't fit in your getaway car, and can easily be used the next day at your day after brunch or BBQ.

Happy Planning!
kathryn

Place Cards - How to Signify Meal Options

I get asked a lot of times, "how do you signify what each person is eating at the reception dinner on their place card?" We have all seen the cow and fish stickers, but sometimes, it's nicer to have it a little less obvious, and also fit in with your color scheme or concept.

An easy one that I have done for clients is simply different colored cards. If you only have two meal options, it's very simple. Say your colors are brown, apple green and cream. You can do cream for the main dish and apple green for the vegetarians, and write the names with a deep chocolate brown ink. If you have more than 2 options, you can always incorporate another color as well.

Another simple way is to punch a tiny hole at the top right or left of the card, and tie a colored ribbon. So taking the same color scheme above, you would then have all cream cards, and leave the dish with the highest number plain (for this we'll say it's fish), tie an apple green for vegetarians and a chocolate brown for the beef option. For both of these options, make sure that the colors are far enough apart so that the catering staff can easily tell the difference.

We have also used really cool stamps from places like Paper Source, tied a simple card from the back of each chair (this is best when done with the different colored cards) or put an adornment of some type on the different cards (this can be pressed flowers, rhinestones or other small objects that can be glued on).

Whatever you do, just make sure you communicate this with your caterer so they are aware of the codes, and your wedding meal will be served smoothly.

Happy Planning!
kathryn

Happy Valentine's Day

I wanted to make a quick post before the long weekend with some quick Valentine's Day ideas. I've always loved Valentine's Day; one, because I love all things love, and two, it falls two days before my birthday, so I have always felt extra spoiled around this time of year. What I love most about Valentine's Day is that it can be whatever you make of it, it doesn't have to be what you feel you are supposed to do. Here are some fun ideas for those of you still pondering what to do:

• Instead of doing a lavish prie fixe meal out, go to a wonderful late morning brunch and then to a museum. Spend the day together and just relish in the joy of having time with each other.
• Scour the internet for a new recipe to try for dinner, and make it together. Put on a favorite cd, light a fire, and eat on a blanket in front of it like you're on a picnic.
• Take a road trip to a fun place you may not have been together before. In the Bay Area, there are plenty of places; Half Moon Bay, Point Reyes, Monterey, Carmel, etc. Walk around the town, have a late lunch and enjoy the new sites.
• Take in a sporting event. One year I took my boyfriend to a Warriors game, he was beyond thrilled!
• Order the Book of Us, get some mini cheesecake bites, a lovely bottle of champagne and crawl into bed and fill out this book together. It will make you laugh, cry and remember all the things you felt when you first fell in love and why you're still together. It's a must have for any couple!

Whatever you do, make sure that you enjoy every minute of it, and not take things like the one you love for granted. Wishing you all a very lovely weekend!

Happy Planning,

kathryn