Technology is King

BLUEman: The Male Perspective

In this every changing world of technology, it’s hard to know which product is the best. iPhone or Android? iPad or Galaxy tablet? Whatever your choice may be, tablets give a much bigger viewing area to view websites or apps that you may download, that phones would not.

Say for instance you’re out driving around and doing some shopping for your wedding day: decorations, wedding day outfits, etc. You can download a barcode app that allows you to scan an item and quickly look up more information about it, and even perhaps find a better deal for that same product online.

But how about planning a wedding and having every detail about your budget to vendors at your fingertips? Any contract you sign can be easily scanned to PDF and stored on a custom folder on your tablet so you can bring it up at any time to review deliverables of the vendor, or their contact info if you need to get a hold of them.

In addition, there are apps that allow help you to plan your wedding directly from your phone or tablet. The best of these apps appears to be from WeddingWire, with nearly a four out of five star rating. Both the Android and iPhone/Pad apps have a budget tracker (to track payments made to vendors and to ensure you stay within your budgetary constraints), and a checklist that you can customize to your specific wedding day needs. If you need help finding a vendor, you can even search local vendors in your area as well.

The one thing I like about the Samsung Galaxy tablet, sold at Verizon Wireless, is you can get month to month based service on the 3G network for as little as $20 per month for 1GB of downloads/uploads. That’s plenty, because if you’re in any area that has Wi-Fi connectivity, you can most likely use that network for free. iPads have similar capabilities on the Verizon and AT&T networks as well.

If you’re a technical junkie like me, you’ll love utilizing these new easy to use and easy to carry tablets. It’s helped us a lot more in our day to day wedding planning business, and I know they will help you stay on track to your big day as well.

Special Edition || Mother's Day {Early Planning}

Mother's Day is almost upon us and I find myself thinking of the crafty or shall we say Etsy way to show my mom love. If you haven't heard of Etsy, this is a great place to find crafty originals from people buying and selling them. I found these cute drink covers that would be fun to share with the coozy lovin' mom's out there. It's a genious idea..ahem..those DIY brides out there would also love to check this site out. They have their own category on weddings that you can discover or spend hours clicking through.

Set of 7 tissue poms - Great part is you get to pick your colors!

Love Collection Red Pillow Covers - Ships anywhere in the world to your mom!

Lavender Wine Glass Set - These are fun to buy for mom and then sneak over to

share a glass a wine with her. Or, just buy yourself a set.

For many of us daughters and sons, we don't have to rely on our own crafy or uncrafty creations that we made in our youth years. We can celebrate our Mom's Day/ Mother's Day is all its glory with creations done with entrepreneurs out there. I love to see small business owners sprouting up and help keep our lives easier. Let's face it, much prettier too!

Destination Love || The Bride's View

Are you still considering all your options for friends and family to help on your wedding day? I’m sure you just thought your wedding would happen without any issues. Dee, my recent newlywed wanted to shed some light on her wedding planning experience. Dee considers herself very ‘organized’ (yes, she knew exactly how she wanted every detail in her wedding) and wasn’t sure if hiring a wedding planner would be the best with her modest budget.

Dee was the bride who loved searching and reading through all the wedding blogs to find out as much information as possible. Her motivation revolved around, “finding the right venue, the perfect dress, finding pictures of the perfect cake, and more.” As her Day-of-Wedding Coordinator, I worked to bring together all her wedding vendors so as Dee puts it “simply relax on my day”. I love exactly how Dee said this so I included it all for you.

I learned that you can be as involved (or not as involved) as you want when you hire a planner. If a bride doesn't want to put the time and energy into planning, then hiring a planner and opting for a full-service package is the way to go. But, if a bride wants to be involved (like I was!), then checking out the day of package is awesome, because everything on the day of is handled for you. Your planning and preparation is done. So, when it's your day, it's time to just sit back and enjoy. And, you can do that, because the planner troubleshoots, keeps the timeline on track, and works with all your vendors to make sure everything is taken care of and your day comes together smoothly. Your phone won't ring and people won't be coming to you if something goes wrong. Your planner is there and ready for anything to make your day smooth and stress free.

The key to enjoying your day is staying hydrated, eat snacks throughout the day and allow yourself plenty of time to stay calm. Dee recommends enjoying the process, don’t stress, and go with your gut instincts when planning your wedding. Blueprint Affairs works to make your day special and plan for the expected ceremony and reception timelines (and unexpected on your day). Dee enjoyed our attention to her details and listening to exactly how she pictured her wedding day. She enjoyed how passionate we are and may even consider helping other brides in their journey.

Special thanks to the vendors who helped make her wedding perfect!

Photos by Mary Sandy(photography), Sassi (venue), Petals & Pizazz (flowers), Matthew Thornton (guitar), and Reverend Giovanni, Ray the DJ, Wish Salon (hair), and Shayla Mitchell (makeup)

**With Blueprint Affairs, we offer full planning services and Day-of-Wedding Coordination.

Photo by Photos by Mary

The Groom’s Duties

BLUEman: The Male Perspective

Congratulations man…you’re engaged! Now ask yourself: what's next?

Today, the modern groom doesn’t just sit back and say to his bride to be “Yes, whatever you want” when it comes to the wedding. You do have some responsibilities that fall on you, more than anyone else, including:

• Choose your best man and groomsmen
• Discuss the style of your wedding with your bride to be and make sure you both know the attire you want to have. Do you want the wedding to have a laid-back feel, or do you want it to be formal?
• Transportation – make sure you assist in arranging this for the bride to get to the ceremony, along with everyone else in your wedding party. If your reception is a drive away from the ceremony location, you’ll need transportation to get your entire wedding party there
• Arrange for accommodations, if needed, for out-of-town guests (ex. Room blocks at a specific hotel)
• Gifts – purchase for both your bride to be and for your groomsmen
• Obtain the marriage license – without it, your wedding is not official
• Plan the rehearsal dinner and prepare to make a toast at the rehearsal dinner thanking everyone for coming out to your wedding

Besides the duties specific to the groom, here are ways you can get involved in the planning process of the wedding with your bride to be:

• Determine your wedding budget and make a plan to stick within the budget. What are the most important things in your wedding to consider, i.e. planner, photographer, flowers, DJ, etc.
• Select a date, time and location for your ceremony and reception
• Create your guest list and make sure to not go over the number of guests you plan to have
• Book an officiant or minister for your wedding
• Work with your planner to hire the vendors for your wedding day

One of the things a groom should work on, and not wait to the last minute to do, is plan the honeymoon. Discuss where it is you both want to share your first week or two as a married couple. And make sure to follow our tips to planning your honeymoon. By booking at least six months out, you’re likely to save a lot more money than booking a month or two out.

Until next time, this is the BLUEman, signing off.

MAPPING Out Your Wedding

BLUEman: The Male Perspective

If you’re having a destination wedding, one of the first things to do is to check around the area. But with budgets a little tight these days, the alternative to flying out a couple weekends throughout the planning process is to use technology that is readily available.

I’m talking about Google Maps.

Simple set your browser to http://www.googlemaps.com/ and begin your visit to the far off destination in no time.

Some helpful tips about Google mapping:

1. In the upper left hand corner is the search feature. If you don’t know the exact address of the venue you selected, or if you’re just beginning your search, you can simply enter the city and state (ex: San Francisco, CA) and press Search Maps.
2. If you want to see the landscape around the area or what the buildings look like, make sure to select the Satellite option in the upper right hand corner of the map image.
3. Create a Google account. This will allow you to use the “My Map” feature where you can save maps related to your wedding location, and even a separate map for your honeymoon and the sites you may wish to see.

Once you do the basics as described above, you can click on the little red bulb with an “A” related to any of your searches to then search nearby hotels, restaurants, etc. You name it, Google map will find it.

One of the features I like about Google Maps is the street view. Zoom in as far as you can next to a restaurant or hotel you may have found, and now you are on the street looking at what everything looks like around it. This is the best way to get familiar with the area before even getting there.

One of the best things to do, is after you plotted your rehearsal dinner location, surrounding hotels, nearest airport, etc, you can share this with your wedding guests using the Send feature.

So, whether you chose to have that destination wedding or not, Google Maps is a great way to get familiar with the area before even stepping foot on the ground, or to best prepare an out of town guest for their trip to your wedding destination.

See you back here next week for the next edition of the BLUEman.

Tips To Know || Wedding Superstitions

Are you fearful of rain on your wedding day? Does catching the bouquet bring visions of wedding bells to your mind? Many people who have been to a wedding have witnessed rain drenched reception areas and could have potentially caught at least five bouquets with no wedding in sight. In some family superstitions, the girl who catches the bouquet is the next to get married in her family. I first caught my first bouquet when I was 15 but it took many, many years after everyone in my family (so it seemed) married before it was my turn. There are so many tales and some strange things that people say that don’t actually come true – but it may alarm you.




Rain

This is my favorite tale about something that every bride dreads. Months of planning to have drops of precipitation muddy up the aisle, drench the guests, and delay the ceremony in some cases. Some tales say having rain on your wedding day means: that you will have many children, many years of wedded bliss, or shed many tears in your married life.

The Dress

It’s a total no-no for anyone but the bride to wear white on the wedding day. However, some mother’s, mother-in-law’s (think of the movie Monster In Law – funny!) or even guests attend a wedding wearing white. Some tales say: a bride who wears white will be joyful on day, a ripped dress means your marriage ends in death, and making your own dress will bring tears for each stitch sewn.

The Big Toss

Challenging every single guy and girl at your wedding to participate in the bouquet and garter toss becomes more difficult as everyone gets married off. However, the fun still lives in throwing the bouquet and garter. For the garter toss, skill is not needed but attention should be made on how your groom removes the garter from your leg. Some tales say: for every inch a man removes with his teeth is the years of married bliss, the man who catches the garter is the next to be married, and this holds true for the women catching the bouquet.

Superstitions and myths are hard to forget when you’re told about your wedding day. One superstition that most brides hold near and dear to them is about the four “something’s”. You know, something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. This requires you planning to bring one item for each of these things on your wedding day to wear. No matter how great or strange the superstition may be, remember your wedding day is about new beginnings for a life to share with your husband. Don’t get stuck on the tales but live in the moment.

Love Love || How to Relieve Stress

Nothing beats a great workout. I’m slowly building myself up to running each day. The experts say if you set a goal like running a ½ marathon, tell those closest to you so you are held accountable. If you knew me, I’m not much for running and you may be the same way. My husband on the other hand, loves to run 5 miles for fun. Running does seem to relax me and I feel pumped with energy to take on my day. It could be those endorphins that are racing through my body.


Have you ever tried doing a workout while stressed or worried? Here are some things you can try while trying to plan your wedding (which, let’s face it is stressful in some way) or just trying to feel more relaxed.

Running

Where are you running to? I really have a hard time putting my hands around running for fun. However, there are so many health and beauty benefits. All of us want to be healthier and have a great body. It’s just in our nature as women. Check out this site that has inspirational blogs for runners at any point in the game at http://completerunning.com/running-blogs/  . I love the blunt honesty in some of the blog names like “a chubby girl running” or “A fool of myself” but there are focused ones like “5k to marathon training”. Running and staying active will be a great way to burn off some stress.

Yoga

I’ve never been one to really enjoy doing yoga, especially Bikram Yoga. However, if you have the Jenny McCarthy Wii- Your Shape system, you’ll love the music and how relaxed you feel. I struggle with some of the downward dog or warrior poses but take heart that marthastewart.com makes it easier to do with picture and instructions. If you’re like me, I love to see it and hear how to do it. You may consider joining a class at your local gym. Sometimes, seeing everyone else molding themselves into awkward poses takes the stress off you.

Fitness Boot Camp

No one likes to pretend they are kicking their own tush for military training but this is a sure fire way to get in shape. I’ve participated in Sgt. Hadley’s Fitness Boot Camp in Arizona only to realize I never pushed myself alone. This former Marine makes sure you burn 400-6oo calories each session for 6 weeks. Check out this and other boot camps near you but make sure to bring a friend with you. This will keep you motivated each week and spending time working out with friends is a great way to stay connected. Let’s face it, our lives are busy and stressful, but having close friends gives us that strength to keep going.

Love Love || Dresses for the Bride

Gorgeous dresses flowing through the pages of every bride magazine on the shelf. There seems to be so many choices and price points but you’re still not sure if it’s ‘the one’. That’s not decided until you are staring at yourself in the mirror glowing with pure joy. The best part of wedding planning is fussing over the most important accessory of your day – the dress. This isn’t a dress that should be taken lightly or left to the last minute to select. Your wedding dress, whether the flowing ball gown, Grecian goddess, or sparkle wonder is a focal point for all your guests to gaze upon. Finding your venue is the first stop on the wedding planning trip but coordinating your dress is next in line. Complimenting dress styles to match your venue and the colors choices are tough work. Check out your options for this season.

Sparkles Galore

Heavy embellishments and tulle may be the perfect match for you. Many brides find comfort in a sweetheart neckline that delicately accents their beauty. Maggie Sottero and Jasmine Bridal are just a few designers that bring together the beauty that you want on your day. The perfect jewelry will accent this dress perfectly. Make sure to print a picture of your dress and take with you while jewelry shopping. Zoom in on the details to make sure you match beading, crystals, and coloring styles.

In wedding details, knowing the dress color during your shopping trip such as Ivory, White, Off-White, Diamond White, Blue, or Pink are important in finding complimenting accessories. Take your mom or bridesmaids with you to sort out the best look that shines on you.

Oh So Pretty

There’s something magical to be said about the Spanish style dress. The gorgeous ruffles from Allure and rosettes are very hot this year. This includes rouching (a gathering to one side of dress), which adds a flattering look to everyone’s body. I Love Love this look that can be great for a beach or garden wedding. Plus, if you’re thinking of doing without your veil, consider a feather hair accessory. This is a fun trend that will make your head happy without the extra weight of a veil.

Fun Extras

Some things that you may not know are the extras. You can have a detachable dress for easier movement dress during the reception. This is one of the best ways to have your gorgeous flowing ceremony dress and movin’ and shakin’ dress for the reception. Also, a sweetheart neckline is not for every girl, especially those of us bustier ladies, and so you may choose a modified sweetheart. This still shows a delicate edging around your bust line but less dramatic. Another favorite I love is the lace up backing for your dress that tucks away into the back of your dress. You may not love the bowtie of your strings from the corset and this is a great fix.


***Check out your favorite designer truck shows. This is a great time to see all the newest styles at once. Plus, you can request a favorite you saw in their online gallery to be available during the truck show. Make friends with your favorite boutique. Happy brides are happy customers.

Here are a few local Arizona boutiques to check out:

• Brides By Demetrios http://www.demetriosbride.com/

• Iris D Bridal (opening March 27, 2010) http://www.irisdbridal.com/

• I Do I Do Bridal www.idoidobridal.com/  

• Uptown Bridal Boutique www.uptownbrides.com/

• Destiny’s Bride http://www.destinysbride.com/


Be sure to enter for a chance to win a Free Day-of-Wedding Coordinator. Winners chosen Valentine's Day weekend - 4 days left to enter!

Love Love || Pamper You!

Making you look beautiful on your wedding day should be top priority. As females, we pride ourselves on looking our best and especially on our wedding day. Everyone has their plain Jane days in beauty but there are places to go and be seen. I like to think of salons and spa’s as the world’s perfect haven. Invite your closest friends and family for a day of beautification. Mud baths, exfoliation, waxing may seem like just the thing you need for your wedding week.

Check out Arizona Spa Girls to find the newest trimming and slimming treat for your day. The key is not to do anything that will leave you red and irritated the day of your wedding. That’s never easy to correct for pictures if your eyebrows are red and swollen from a fresh wax job. There are plenty of salons and spa’s that make house calls to your bridal party location. Extra fees do apply but the convenience is worth it.

Some things to try:

1. Bronzing – Give your skin a subtle, warm glow that makes a great contrast to a white gown.

2. Waxing – Make your bikini area beautiful for your fabulous beach honeymoon planned.

3. Hair Treatments – Add some moisture to your dry and unruly hair before your big day.

 
** Hurry and get your entries in for the Blissful Blueprint Contest by 2/12/10. 3 Lucky Brides will win a Day-of-Wedding Coordinator on Valentine's Day weekend. Visit www.blueprintaffairs.com for those 2 big questions to answer.

Love Love || Bridesmaid Heaven

All bridesmaids out there are singing in joy about the newest styles hitting their local bridal shops. There is nothing more flattering than hearing a bridesmaid rave about her dress and saying how much she can’t wait to wear it again. I think of the movie 27 Dresses and picture Katherine Heigl doing her fashion show of some horrendous dresses for her friends to see. If you haven’t seen it, you need to catch up on your girl flicks with some of your close friends. This will also help you find out what they think about your fashion sense and get some ideas. The biggest trend flocking to shops like Brides by Demetrios is the pocket trend. Every girl wants to be there for her bride and now she can. Tuck away touch-up extras like waterproof mascara and tissues in your hidden side pockets for your lovely bride-to-be. What a novel idea!

If you love Breafast at Tiffany's style or the Tiffany's jewelry colors, you will love the newer dresses coming out. Each style flatters and the dress length is near the knee. Check out some styles from Dessy Group.

Brides, start thinking about peacocks, purples, and bright golds for your wedding colors. These are the upcoming color trends for Spring 2010 says Alyda at Brides by Demetrios. The great part is that the typical price ranges for bridesmaid dresses are $180-$330. The newest styles are fit to look good on everyone and the style cuts are made to fit. Every girl will love love this!

Extra tips:

• Order bridesmaid dresses 3-4 months before wedding.

• Schedule a fitting to get your accurate measurements.

• Make sure each bridesmaid orders her dress from the same location. (Beware color variations from different “dip” dates.)

Venue Me || How to Choose Your Venue

Time is ticking on finding the perfect wedding venue. No one said this would be an easy task. On another thought, you really may have no clue what to do when it comes to scouting out a venue and figuring out the next steps. I’m here to tell you that this is your first step after the engagement because your entire wedding hinges on the location of your ceremony and reception (of course, this is easier when both at same location). The venue sets the tone and allows you to select colors, styles, and food choices that fit your preferences.


Close To Home

Choosing a venue close to home saves time and money. This allows you to closely monitor all the special details and take tours of the venue open houses. This is a great way to select local vendors and have a green, eco-friendly wedding. Arizona also provides gorgeous sunsets and many fine venues that range from reception only sites to full-service resorts. Some venues require your vendor choices be selected from a preapproved list. This may help you find ease at “shopping” at once but may limit your favorite photographer that you can’t live without.

Stateside Selections

In all its beautiful colors and landscape, Arizona does miss the unmistakable beachside views that you yearn to see in your pictures. You may find wish to for a beach wedding soaking up the rays on the beach. Take a weekend trip six months or more prior to wedding to meet with potential vendors. Contact area venues for their vendor recommendations as this will be a current referral (vendor lists are seldom updated online).

Tropical or International Calling Card

The economy is not the only factor driving this exciting romance getaway. Your friends and family play a large part in attendance on your day. Determine if your friends and family will need a passport and/or visa for your destination wedding. I strongly recommend using a travel planner for booking hotel and flights. The Swine Flu was a big roadblock for weddings and honeymooners in 2009 causing resort closures all over. Be prepared for any unexplained natural or biomedical disaster and renovations that may leave you stranded. Destination weddings can truly be a breathtaking and magical experience for you and your guests when planned out.

Stay tuned for the BLUEman coming up on Monday at 3:33 p.m.

Also, don't forget to enter the Blissful Blueprint Contest. There is about 2 weeks left until we select 3 lucky brides!

Venue Me || Great Perks!

Finding the perfect venue really has its advantages. If you search for a venue site that really suits you, be sure to ask if they have amenities that will benefit you and your fiancé. The best way to really enjoy the week leading up to your wedding and on the wedding day is by soaking in the experience. This is the one time that your family will enjoy pampering and relaxing (with you). Check the venue website for special accommodations and the concierge for any services they recommend.


FREE Anyone?

All your wedding planning will eventually surmount to the one big day, and I give you permission to enjoy it. In many cases, the golf club you booked will also provide your fiancé and a small group of his friends a free round of golf (including the golf carts) on the wedding day. I’m really into relaxing so the spa area is where you would find me. Check out the spa area, pool, and massage services available at your venue. Booking your room and wedding day services also prompts them with special promotions for the bride and groom.

Take Me There

You may find it easy to wake up and walk outside your door to your own personal chauffeur service. Many hotels and venues also provide free shuttle service to and from your rehearsal dinner. In some cases, you may organize shuttle services for all your wedding guests from the hotel to the wedding site (if driving to two different locations). This saves your guests the hassle of finding parking and allows those who want to indulge in alcohol, a safe way home.

Just In Case!

During your travels (either by plane or across town), you may need to have your dress and your bridesmaid dresses steamed. The upright steamers are a hassle to carry with you so check on borrowing the venue’s site machine. Or, look for a dry cleaning service near your venue to take your dress for a quick fix. It’s best to hang your dress outside the bag to prevent deep wrinkles. Don’t forget to take your emergency wedding day kit with you because things do happen and you want to be prepared.

OPEN BAR...Sort of

You’ve picked the venue. The band is all lined up. The flowers are set to be delivered. The food you’ve chosen will wow your guests. What’s left to decide other than the obvious: to open bar or not to open bar? That could be one of the biggest questions of all.


In today’s weddings, men are fronting the financial responsibility just as much as women are. The traditional ways of a woman’s family paying for the wedding are less and less apparent. And let’s face it…you need all the money you can hold onto so that your life post-wedding is not off to a rocky financial start.

So how can you save a little dough and still provide a nice experience for your VIPs? As a man, you want an open bar. Let’s be honest with ourselves, when you’re invited to a wedding, one of the very first thoughts to pop into your head as a man is “open bar?” You want to drink, you want to let loose, and will gladly do so if it’s not on your dime. But now you’re the groom. Now you have to step up, right?

There are several options. Other than the obvious to have it open all night, or to a certain time in the night, you could limit the open bar for the cocktail part of your reception, the one-hour post-ceremony, while your wedding party is taking pictures. The only downfall is people will see that open bar window, and take full advantage. Plus, if someone is halfway done with their drink and decides they don’t really like it, they will leave it behind and go pick up something else. That just cost you $8 in leftover alcohol. As my dad always said, no beer gets left behind…but sad to say, people do ignore that idea.

But here is an option that worked, it can help you plan to spend no more than you can afford: Drink Tickets. By creating drink tickets, you can choose to take care of your VIPS (your parents and bridal party members) or everyone at the wedding reception. If you have 17 people in your bridal party, including parents, you can hand each of them three drink tickets good for a beer, well drink or glass of wine. Knowing that is 51 tickets, figure the high side of $8.00 per drink, and you’re sure not to spend more than a little over $400.00. But if you want to take care of everyone, consider handing out two drink tickets to each person. Let’s say you have 100 guests, including your bridal party, then that is 200 drink tickets and you can budget, on the high side, spending no more than $1,600.00 for alcohol. Anything beyond the drink tickets you hand out is a cash bar. So you’re not on the hook.

Whatever you decide, drink tickets are a great way to limit the amount of money you spend on the technically open bar. The great thing is, no matter how many you hand out, you can budget the max amount you will spend out of pocket. Better yet, you’re likely not to see all of the drink tickets turned in, hence, you save money for better things, like the honeymoon!

Stayed tuned for next week's blog on Monday at 3:33 pm.

Wait…we’re getting married this weekend?

Guys, unless you don’t care about sports, make sure to not forget about the big game. Whether it be opening weekend of March Madness, the BCS National Championship, or the Superbowl, make sure you studied up on those future dates to ensure your wedding is free and clear of the big sports weekends.


Marrying the women of my dreams was absolutely no mistake. The mistake was in the date, March 21. We wanted that wedding date to be one year after we had met, it would be romantic. But then, guys start calling me following receiving their invitations asking what gives? I wondered, and then it hit me. This was the opening weekend of the NCAA Final 64 March Madness Tournament. Something I loved going to the sports bar with my dad, brother and friends to watch a keep tabs on who was winning their respective pools, but it was too late, the date was set. If this is the case with you, and it’s locked in with the venue, invitations are out, etc. then stick with the date. You’ll be glad you did. But if you’re still deciding on a date, keep the sports calendar in mind.

But maybe getting married on the big sports weekend will help you remember your anniversary for years to come. My dad got married on the weekend of Rutgers home football game, and he remembers that every time his anniversary approaches, as will I with the opening rounds of March Madness. The cool thing is, my wife actually wants to go to Vegas for one of our future anniversaries to bet on the college action, so I can’t complain too much, now can I.

But during my wedding weekend, we had fun with all the guys watching the games that Thursday and Friday, so it wasn’t a total bust. After all, the games last 40 to 60 minutes, depending on the sport, but your marriage is meant to last a life time, so bet on the latter first and foremost and make your wedding the greatest days of your lives!

Prepped To Go || New Beginnings

You may have decided that after the horn blowing and confetti flying night we love to call New Year’s Eve is over, this may be the time for new beginnings. New beginnings are almost synonymous with weddings. Any couple you talk to on the street (think Jay Leno show-Jay walking) would wish for their day to be perfect. However, wedding perfection is really something out of the movies. There will always be overbearing families like in My Big Fat Greek Wedding or wacky situations like in Sex and the City. This time of year is all about reflection and hope for the future that you will have what you didn’t get this year. This month has revolved around preparation for your day.


Are you really prepared? Besides being financially ready, there are many things to consider:

• Where will you live once you get married? If still in school, do you plan to move?

• Have you decided on marriage preparation course for your wedding in fall 2010?

• Besides wedding finances, are you planning to indulge in a honeymoon? – Every couple needs a vacation together to jump start their new life

• Are you ready to get married? - Sometimes being the last one married seems depressing but don’t take the plunge just because “everyone else does”

• Are you planning to have children? If so, how soon and how many? – Talk to your fiancé seriously about this topic as they may be completely opposite

• If your religious views differ, are you ready to set aside your faith for your partner? – Consider marital counseling or someone unbiased to help you on this path

• Second or third time around. Does you fiancé want to celebrate your wedding as large as the previous marriage? – Tricky topic if one of you has never been married

Have a Safe and Happy New Year! See you in 2010!

All I want for Christmas is…

So you’ve done all your holiday shopping, but have you considered the one thing your girlfriend might want more than anything this time of year? Yes, we are talking about an engagement ring. Some people might say Christmas is not the time to propose, that it should have its own separate special day.

But no one said you had to propose right on Christmas. There is Christmas Eve with family and friends, or the many holiday parties that you’ve likely been invited to. Of course, you might find that special moment when the two of you are alone away from the hustle and bustle. If your girlfriend’s favorite holiday is Christmas and all she’s done is smile because it is the holiday season the last few weeks, then this could be the perfect time to pop the big question.

But if Christmas Day is the right time for you, here’s how you could go about the proposal. First, give her a gift you know she’d really love. For this, you might have to actually LISTEN to her while you’re driving together in the car from place to place. You would be amazed at how much you can pick up from your loved one as to what they like and don’t like in a ten minute car ride.

After all, if she so happens to say, you know, I’d love to go the Nutcracker sometime. You might want to take a mental note, so that if you are driving by yourself and the radio ad so happens to mention the Nutcracker is in town, you can get the perfect gift.

So now the gift is open, you’ve enjoyed dinner with family and friends. Now you can do this one of two ways, you can propose in front of family and friends, or take her for a nice private walk. Think about it, she may have thought the day has come and gone and it couldn’t get any better, but you’ve surprised once more, and hopefully, she says the words you want to her: YES!

Whatever your holiday celebration may be, Hanukkah, Christmas or Festivas for the rest of us, Happy Holidays from the BLUEman!

Prepped To Go || Rain or Shine

A beautiful wedding decorated with all the glitz and popping colors across the aisle. Picture yourself, surrounded by a delicious cuisine fit for a king, mouth-watering garnish and the smell of sweet orchids in the air. I bet you didn’t picture the rain that’s quickly approaching your gorgeous day with dark clouds and rain drops. This seems like a dream come true minus the buckets of rain drops falling on your guests along with your dress. Rain or Shine. I’m sure you’ve heard this type of policy for your favorite band or artist. (This means that the event will continue on regardless of the weather conditions.)

When it comes to planning, have you researched or asked the vendors all the right questions? Rain, shine, sickness, and health sound more like wedding vows but should ring in your ears like a sound of a secure wedding day. Fair or not for the most important day, carefully review your contracts and ask the questions for experiences beyond your control. Carefully plan for the unexpected and your wedding will bring buckets of happiness not tears. Here are some questions to rehearse and review:

VENUES

• What is their ability to have an alternate site on your wedding day?

• If you host your ceremony and receptions at the same location, do they offer inside accommodations for your entire wedding?

• Are there other weddings booked on your day?

• Do they expect to have any upcoming remodeling done to their site?

• Will you be penalized for any cancellations? If so, what are the amounts and date limitations?

• Can you change your wedding date once reserved? If so, what are the parameters?

VENDORS

• Determine who will step in if your vendor has any unexpected sickness or availability issues

• What is their guarantee for on-time service and during peak wedding dates?

• Will you be penalized for any cancellations? If so, what are the amounts and date limitations?

• Can you change your wedding date once reserved? If so, what are the parameters?

Prepped To Go || The Body Truths

Fitness routines, workout plans, and diet fads will come and go. Deciding on the best nutrition for your body should be the most important worry in life. Your wedding day is coming up and many brides are troubled with fitting into their dress. Have you determined what you want to look like on your day? My guess is the perfect bride.


There is more to consider than just getting fit. Consider all the variables that will produce the most impact on your goals. Here are some crucial pieces to make sure you are on the right track.

Stress

• Be sure that you are getting at least 7 hours of rest each night. This plays a large part in stress and weight management
• Practice stress reducing tips before and during your wedding day.
• Challenge yourself to prioritize your wedding plans or hire a planner to handle those details.
  

Nutrition

• Ensure that you stock up on healthy foods. Visit a dietician for a safe plan.
• Learn and understand some common nutrition basics.
• Tell your family about your healthy eating plans to get them on-board with your new attitude on eating. The holidays can be the hardest to balance without your families help.
• Ensure your body is fully hydrated with 8 glasses of water per day. Hydration is especially important to look fully prepped on your wedding day.
  

Fitness

• Check out your local fitness boot camps. These are great to get you moving.
• Hire a trainer. You can pay for what you can afford and interview each trainer carefully. A good trainer will learn about your health concerns and fitness goals.
• Join a local gym, health center, or group sport. You might find it helpful to attend the group classes offered at theses to include yoga or kick-boxing.
  

Skin Care

• Learn the expert way to apply your makeup and quick tips.
• Visit your dermatologist or skin care professional at least 6 months prior to wedding day for skincare treatments. A red face is hard to conceal on a fresh looking face.
• Determine the daily treatments and quick facial fixes that you want prior to your wedding day. Never experiment with a new color or topical treatment less than 2 weeks before wedding.

BPAffairs || Fun Session With Love

Weddings, engagement photos, and baby pictures are a glimpse at many types of shoots that Michelle Myers of Shelly Love Photography perfects. Recently, I decided to update some of my business photos and see how Michelle brings 'fun' to her sessions. We visited a nearby park on an unusually cool Arizona day and Michelle had her way with my pictures.


Funny to admit~ I really loved hamming it up in front of the camera. I thought many of you could get an idea of what a great photographer can do with some candid shots. Her website has other wedding samples too if you're curious. As your wedding planner, my comprehensive list of professional vendors like Michelle can provide the services to best fit your needs.

It's easy to have your dream wedding with the right vendors whose relationships can be seen behind the scenes and the cameras.

Planner Tips || To Have and To Hold

Do you have that eerie feeling that you’ll forget those all too important things on your wedding day? Not everyone thinks of the things they won’t necessarily need but are a must for their day.

It’s the emergency kit for the fallen decorations, upset tummy, wine stain, or the shoes that are so slick you slide across the floor. I compiled a list of items that are tried and true and a must for your day.

Pack your wedding emergency kit with the following items:

White towel: pat any spill dry on your dress
Baby wipes: gently pat to remove stains on dress
White chalk: then cover up any visible color from stain
Sewing kit: fix a hem or replace a button
Pencil eraser: remove smudges on your or floor also an earring backing
Sandpaper: rub shoe soles for more traction
Crochet hook: an easy way to bustle up your dress
Large diaper pins: hold up your heavy bustle or pin back the extra dress material
Hollywood tape: prevent unwanted dress mishaps
Gloves: prevent snags on nylons
Super glue: fix any wedding décor
Mints: freshen up your breath
Bobby pins: tighten up your hairstyle in a pinch
Blotting sheets: remove unwanted shine for pictures(have you maid-of-honor carry for you)
Q-Tips: quick makeup fixes
Tissues: it’s an emotional day- these are a must
Band aids: any nixes or cuts during day
Lotion: moisturize prior to event –gives that healthy glow
Nail kit: repair any broken nails or smudges
Tampons/pads: mother nature always appears
Allergy/Tums/Aspirin medicine: different seasons or situations spawn the worst bodily reactions
Makeup: be sure to bring lipstick, gloss, and loose powder to freshen your look

By setting yourself up with proper tools, this will help you prepare a Blueprint for your wedding day.