Have you ever wondered what it is like to be a wedding planner?   I was definitely curious so that is why I went out to lunch with some of my favorite wedding planners in the San Francisco Bay Area and ask them these questions.  I have worked with them on a special event this year and they are probably one of the most professional and organized people I know!  During our lunch, they told me some interesting stories and insights and oh, I guess I don’t mind sharing them with you too.

Photo courtesy of Ron Shoshoni

Photo courtesy of Frabuleuse

Arlene Marcos, Ah…New Beginnings  www.ahnewbeginnings.com

Eileen Chiu, Enchanting Events   www.enchantingevents.biz

Why do you want to become a wedding planner?

Arlene: “I love weddings and I want to be able to give this gift to the couples to be their guests at their wedding days.”

Eileen: “I want to help people at the wedding day by executing their wedding of their dreams.”

What was the most interesting event that you have coordinated?

Arlene: “For one of my weddings, the groom actually called the bride a bridezilla.  The bride was disorganized and forgot to bring all the items for the wedding.  She was late and didn’t get to her own wedding until 10 minutes before the ceremony.  When the bride got to the venue, I had to use my own CD for the ceremony because the bride fired the first DJ and did not communicate to the new DJ the specific songs that she wanted for her wedding.  Besides having a DJ, she also hired a singer for the wedding but the singer only sang one out of the two songs that she requested because the sound system didn’t work at the venue so people couldn’t hear the singer.  So instead of asking the singer to sing the other song, she had no choice but to ask the harpist to play a different song since no one could hear the singer.  She blamed me for the problem because she had to pay an unforeseen expense for the harpist to play the second song.  In the future, I want to stress the importance of communication with all vendors and finalize things one month prior to the wedding.”

Eileen:  “One of my couples hired me to be their wedding planner but three months after we talked, they broke up so the wedding was called off.  Fast forward six months later, the bride got back with me and wanted to get marry in three months.  But instead of marrying the same person, she actually found a different man and was ready to get married!  We ended up using a couple of the same vendors because of short notice.  This was my first cancellation but I was happy that she was able to find another groom this fast.”

What do you like most about being a wedding planner?

Arlene:  “To help the bride and groom to be the guest of the wedding.  It’s a joy.”

Eileen: “It is very rewarding to see that the couple is very happy and not stressed about their wedding.  I want to be part of the most important day of their lives.”

What is the most challenging part of being a wedding planner?

Arlene:  “Working with vendors that the clients hired because not all vendors are professional.”

Eileen: “Communication – both with the couple and with the vendors.  Some couple will change their minds often and I have to make sure that everyone is on the same page.”

What kind of preparation is needed before the day of any event?

Arlene:

-     Meet with the bride and groom at least 2 months prior.

-     Gather all of the information from the couple.

-     Collect vendor information and contact them.

-     1 month before the wedding, I send out the timeline to everyone.  It’s a work in progress timeline and I send out a finalized version a week before the wedding.

-     Call all the vendors and volunteers the week of the wedding to follow up on the timeline.

Eileen:

-     Meet with the bride and groom 4 – 6 weeks before the wedding.

-     Work on the timeline.

-     Constantly revise the timeline draft.

-     Email the final timeline the week of the wedding.

Do you have any tips for those who are looking to hire a planner for their next event?

Arlene:  “Couples can do all the wedding planning, but it’s important to have a planner for the day of the wedding.  That way, they can really enjoy, have fun, and not be stressed out.”

Eileen:  “Couples should be educated on what planners do.  Don’t expect a good planner to show up the day of any event.  They should work with the planner a couple months ahead.  Be more proactive in this process and communicate more often.  Don’t worry that the planner will take over your vision of the wedding.”

These are some of the magnolia paper flowers that I made using a paper flower kit.

Paper flowers have been around for many years but not that many people cherish their beauty since the majority of us prefer fresh flowers over fake.  However, using paper flowers is a excellent budget friendly idea for all occasions – whether it is for decorating your home, creating a set for a photo shoot, or even dressing up your wedding reception!

On average, a typical wedding floral centerpiece is $50.  But if you purchase a pre-made paper flower kit that contains materials to make 12 flowers, it’s only $15.  The kit is perfect for those who are beginnings because it provides you with all the essentials to make it happen.  Add on a simple elegant vase that costs around $8, you only pay $23 + tax.  What a deal!  True, it takes time to put them together but it’s a fun project that you and bridesmaids can get together over a weekend to complete.  Best of all, you can make them whenever you want without having to worry that they only last 5 days like fresh flowers.  Also, I have to say that it’s probably one of the greenest ways to plan your wedding.

Left:  This a close up of the paper magnolia flower made from the flower kit.

Right:  The magnolia flower kit comes with all the materials that you need to make the perfect bouquet.

You should try them.  I am having so much fun making these flowers while watching my favorite TV shows at night.  All you need is a kit, wire cutter, scissors, and PVA glue.  If you’re creative, you can purchase different pattern papers, floral wires, and floral tape create your own designs!

Here is a bouquet of paper daffodils made from the kit.  Then I put the arrangement in a simple metal watering can.  Simple and fun.  Spring is here!

You can easily purchase the daffodil flower kit at the Paper Source store or at their online store.  If you are a beginner, you should talk to one of the sales associates at the store and he/she can give you a quick 10 minutes tutorial on how to make your first bouquet of paper flowers!

PVA is the secret ingredient to making all paper flowers.  It looks and feels like Elmer’s glue but stronger.

During this event, you will get a sneak peek of ju.Lee before its official launch later this Spring.  This will be the only chance for the public to preview the collection.  I’ll show you how ju.Lee is different from other bridesmaid collections with a styling demo.  I don’t want to give out too much so if you’re going to be around the Bay Area that day, you should definitely register for this event.  You won’t be disappointed.  To learn more about this event and to register, visit the event website.  Hope to see you all there!

Featured – from Left:  Halle Berry, Amy Adams, and Cameron Diaz

The Perfect Bra

You don’t think about it but what you wear inside is sometimes more important than what you wear outside.  The right bra can really take you the distance.  Lift up the twins and create a sexy cleavage.  Push-up bras are my favorites because if you don’t have the cleavage, you can always fake it.  Depending on the dress itself, the bra that you use will need to work well with the neckline of the dress.  You don’t want the bra to peek out.  If you are not sure, take the dress with you so when you shop for the bra and try them on together.

Left:  Jennifer Aniston – Perfect cleavage with the right support

Right: Versatile and sexy; try the Plunge Multi-way Bra with Gel-Curve, Victoria’s Secret, $50 – 53

The Perfect Body Shaper

Every woman should own at least one good body shaper.  For most occasions, you can use body shapers like Spanx.  They will offer you enough support along with smooth lines when you wear your evening or cocktail dress.  But if you plan to use it for your wedding, you should purchase one that is strapless with bonings.  A shaper with bonings will ensure that it doesn’t roll down your body.  A nude color is better than white because some times white undergarments can show throw white or light color dresses.  Shapers come in many different styles.  Some only support your torso while others support your glute and thighs.  Everyone should at least have a full body shaper that combines the bra and torso support in one.  A good body shaper can be pricy but it is well worth the money.  You can wear it under any dresses and it is not something that you need to purchase often.

Beyonce Knowles has the perfect body support – smooth lines and a flat tummy.

Left:  SPANX “Hi-Rise” Body Smoother, Nordstrom, $68

Right:  If you want the best support, try a strapless body shaper with boning.  Jezebel Caress Bustier, Ella Park Bridal, $56.99

The Perfect Heels

Once you have the perfect dress, the perfect bra, and the perfect body shaper, you should also have the perfect heels.  Depending on your comfort level, you should always have a pair of heels that will work for all type of dresses.  From my experience, a 2.5” to 3” black or nude heels are the best but any neutral color heels are great investments too.  They will elongate your legs and force you to stand up tall.  Whenever I wear heels, I will get a boost of confidence to anything that I wear.  If you are not used to wearing heels, start with 2” and slowly work up to 3”.  Although 4” plus heels look very alluring, they are usually not comfortable and can cause problems for your feet.  I am guilty of owning a few 4” plus heels but I only take them out for a walk once in a while.  Well, it’s hard to resist their charm.

Left:  Taylor Swift and Lisa Rinna wearing the perfect sexy high heels.

Right:  Try the 3″ peep toe pumps –  Pippa Patent Peep Toes, J.Crew, $198

Reds and Pinks

The combination of red and pink can create a rich and warm atmosphere.  It is the symbol of love and passion.

Oranges

Light oranges are warm and inviting.  It will give you a fresh summer feel.  Just be sure to use the darker oranges conservatively because it can become too overwhelming and dark.

Browns

Because brown is a neutral color, it can work well with any colors.  If you have an autumn wedding, you can combine browns with oranges or reds to create the fall season look.  Try not to use browns alone because it can become too boring.  Add an accent color here and there.  I’m a fan of colors.

Yellows

Yellows work very well with greens and oranges.  The citrus burst effect creates an upbeat, lively environment for your guests.  Just try not to use neon yellow unless you’re planning an 80’s theme.

Greens

Green is perhaps one color that almost everyone likes.  Using any shades of green especially soft sage is a great main or accent color to any event because it can go with almost any other color.

Blues

Because blue is a cool color, the mood will be calming and soothing.  Think of the sky and the ocean.  Isn’t that what zen is all about?  This is definitely one color that can go an extra mile for you.

Purples

Many people are afraid of the color purple because they are not sure how to use it.  In apparels, purple will work well with all skin colors.  When using purples in decors, try combining it with different shades of blues and even pinks.  Green will work beautifully because they are complementary colors but be careful not to make your wedding look like a Mardi Gras celebration.  Try a darker purple with a lighter green or vice versa.  The contrast can be bold and daring.

So, should you choose your favorite color and go from there or should you choose a color scheme that will express the best mood for your reception?  Well, it depends and there are a few factors for you to consider.  You should definitely take into account your favorite color first but also think about the time (season) of you wedding and also what kind of mood you’re trying to achieve.  My favorite color is pink and my wedding was in May so it definitely works.  In addition, my wedding ceremony was outdoors with a beautiful garden landscape.  With shades of light to medium pink accented with light green, it was romantic and lively.  Pink and light green were the perfect choices.

But if your favorite color is burgundy and the wedding is in the summer, perhaps that might not be the best choice.  Why?  Because burgundy is a deep rich color and it is more suitable for fall / winter weddings.  So does that mean you should not use burgundy, your favorite color, for our wedding?  Not necessarily.  You can certainly use burgundy in your wedding but consider using it as a secondary color.  You can tone down the color by using coral, sand, or a neutral yellow.  This will give you a more earthy, natural feel and will be better suited for a summer wedding, for example.  Or if you’re into bolder contrasts, add shades of light to medium blues to make it cheerful.  However, before you make up your mind on the color scheme, you should gather color inspirations from magazines or collect paint color swatch cards at your local home improvement stores.  Even your own closet is an inspiration too!  But, you definitely don’t want to experiment with colors on your wedding day.

Style Me Pretty, The Knot and Brides are great websites to look for inspirations.

Here is your must-have checklist for your next trip:

The basics includes the ubiquitous Trench Coat, a pair of Boot Cut Jeans and a Cardigan.

Trench coat / Jacket
Every woman should own a classic neutral-color trench coat (short or mid-length) in their closet and should carry it with her on every trip. A trench coat is sexy, sophisticated, and versatile for any occasions. If weather unexpectedly changes during your trip, you’re covered.
Featured: DKNY “Henley” Short Trench, Nordstrom, $168

Boot-Cut Jeans
They are the universally flattering denim silhouette for every body shape. A dark rinse is the best color so you should undoubtedly bring a pair with you. With the popularity of ‘casual elegance’ you can wear jeans day or night.
Featured: Paige Denim, Laural Canyon Jeans, ShopBop, $189

Cardigan
Cardigan is a great layering piece and can instantly update your look from day to night. Pick a medium weight cardigan (cotton or cashmere) in a neutral color (black, cream, gray, camel, etc.) so it’s appropriate for most weather.
Featured: Petite Extrafine Merino Ruffle Cardigan, Banana Republic, $80

A few lovely trinkets

Fun, Glamorous Jewelries
Jewelries are probably the easiest fashion items to have if you want to update your look from day to night. Since they’re lightweight and can be tucked away in your carry-on luggage, you can bring multiple styles without worrying about space.
Featured: Guess Wing Necklace, $22 | Guess Rock Rolla Key Charm Bracelet , $22

Totes to keep it simple.

Mid-Size Tote and ‘Clutchlet’
A mid-size tote would be very useful as a carry-on and also during the day when you’re out shopping or sight-seeing. The tote shouldn’t be too big because it’ll be difficult to carry when you go out. It should also be made out of lightweight materials like fabric or soft leather. Use a ‘clutchlet,’ a clutch-style wallet that may come with a wristlet, so you can use it as a wallet during the day and can carry it as a clutch for night. You want your accessories to multi-task for you.
Featured: Coach Tribeca Op Art Tote, $358 | Xhilaration Quilted Clutch Wallet, $13

The basics elements of layering while traveling

Tank Tops, Tees and Blouses
These are the basic layers for traveling. Because they’re thin and won’t take up a lot of your precious luggage space, you can pack a few in different colors so you’ll have different outfits everyday. Pair them with your jeans and change around between your track jacket, cardigan, and trench coat and no one will notice that you’re recycling your clothes during your trip. Sneaky, huh?
Featured: Gap Favorite Ribbed Tank, $10 | JCrew Perfect Fit Tee, $25 | Gap Silk Ruffle Blouse, $60

By all means these are not the ONLY must-have items when you travel because everyone has different needs. But this list will give you the basic ideas so you’re well-prepared for your next travel. Simplicity is a bliss, especially when traveling is so hectic nowadays!