Check it out ... The MOB Mentality has been featured on the My Island Wedding blog! Grazie, Kelley, for all the nice things you said about The MOB ... and about this MOB (me!) in particular!
My Island Wedding always has such fun and different things to show and talk about! Check it out!
Also check out my What About You response that Kelley posted about! So tell me ... What About You?
I came across this on Certified Hosting Solutions Blog and couldn't resist passing it on to you...
HOW TO BE A GRACIOUS
Jennifer’s wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen her excitement — not even her parent’s nasty divorce.
Her mother had found the PERFECT dress to wear and would be the best-dressed mother-of-the-bride ever!
A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father’s new young wife had bought the exact same dress as her mother!
Jennifer asked her father’s new young wife to exchange it, but she refused.
‘Absolutely not, I look like a million bucks in this dress, and I’m wearing it,’ she replied.
Jennifer told her mother who graciously said, ‘Never mind sweetheart. I’ll get another dress. After all, it’s your special day.’
A few days later, they went shopping and did find another gorgeous dress.
When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother, ‘Aren’t you
going to return the other dress? You really don’t have another occasion
where you could wear it.
Her mother just smiled and replied, “Of course I do, dear.
I’m wearing it to the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding.”
NOW I ASK YOU - IS THERE A WOMAN OUT THERE, ANYWHERE, WHO WOULDN’T ENJOY THIS STORY?
Love it, love it, love it!
Dear MOB Kathy...
Hi! My mom is just over 6 feet tall, but she's not plus size (probably size 12 or so). She's not liking any of the typical MOB dresses you see at bridal salons, but department stores don't carry MOB dresses in the Tall length. She's looking for a floor length dress (not taffeta) for my June wedding.
Do you have a suggestion on where we should shop? We've been to a few bridal salons and she's only found 1 dress she liked enough to ever try on!!! She's really not that picky, I swear! The search is really getting discouraging!!!
I appreciate any help you can give us!
Thanks!
-M-
Dear M--
First...congratulations on your upcoming wedding! I have a few ideas that I hope will make your mom's MOB dress shopping go a little easier...
1. Please encourage your mom to try on lots of dresses. Picking out a gown or formal dress isn't like picking out an everyday outfit. The look is different, the fit is different, the styles are different. When we MOBs look for our dresses, we shouldn't be looking for the typical ... we should be looking for the special.
2. While you mention that your mom is looking for a floor length dress and is having trouble finding one long enough for her height, I encourage her to consider the possibility of alternate styles and lengths while she is looking for floor length. The one thing to remember, though, is that the length should be correct and look deliberate ... not like a floor length dress that's too short ... a good tailor can help her find that perfect length. Here are a few possibilities:
This dress from Light in the Box is perfect ... if it's a little short in the back, no one will notice.
Whether from Light in the Box or a local shop, there's so much going on with the beautiful shirred bodice and layered skirt so that the length won't be noticeable no matter how long! The shoes don't have to be a wild color, but this dress, you want to make sure they are knock-em-down gorgeous!
Light in the Box custom makes every dress ... so the length won't even be an issue!
Now look at these two gowns that both have tiered skirts. But look at the difference in length. The shorter length is one that, while not intentional, can be made to look deliberate and absolutely beautiful! Talk with the salesperson and the seamstress at the dress shop about finding this perfect length!
3. Get online with your mom and do some preliminary window shopping to find designer's styles that she likes. Then go to the designer's websites to find a shop in your area where you can go try them on! When I was looking for a MOB dress for my first Daughter Bride's wedding, I didn't realize there were so many smaller dress shops in my area! Now I do!!!
Here are a few very cool designers that you might want to start with. Check out the other MOB dress inspiration boards I've put together to find other designers, too.
-- Siri -- Jasmine -- Watters -- Mon Cheri
Online shops are also a good place to search our styles ... and can save you money when you're ready to make your purchase!
-- Magic Moments -- Christina Gowns -- Designer Apparel
I try every week to to an inspiration board on MOB dresses ... so keep checking back here for idea!
I hope these ideas help your mom find a spectacular MOB dress! Please send me a picture of what she picks out!
This is the second in a series of posts on hiring a Wedding Planner ... the hows, the whos, and the whats of finding the right person to help your Daughter Bride have the wedding day of her dreams.
Nycia Emerson of Inspired Events by Nycia -- a wedding and event planning specialist based in Austin, Texas -- graciously provides her expert insight into selecting a reputable Event Planner. Nycia has been planning and coordinating weddings for six years. Her attention to detail and her goal of making every event unique and personal helps create weddings that are ... well ... inspired.
Here are some of her inspirations:
And, now, some inspired words from Nycia on choosing the perfect Planner:
MOB Kathy: How do you know a Planner is reputable, dependable, etc.?
Nycia: A referral is always HUGE. If a friend or family member has worked with that person and had a great experience, that's a plus. Other than that, you want to look at experience or certification stats. If your Planner has been in the business for 5+ years and is not certified, maybe ask for a portfolio or a few references. If the experience is not there, then you definitely want to find out if they are certified.
MOB Kathy: Should a Planner be licensed/certified (or something like that)?
Nycia: I don't think a certification is always necessary. If they have experience and have worked in the industry for years, that's awesome. Sometimes being licensed or certified doesn't mean they have the experience. Although being certified makes it all the better!
MOB Kathy: If you don't know anyone that has used a Planner, how do you go about finding Planners to interview?
Nycia: Visiting online bridal sites allows you to view a local list of Planners and their websites. Being able to narrow your selection down to at least three Planners makes your interviewing alot less stressful. Always look at their website, read their bio, and view their online portfolio. More than likely, if you like their overall style based on their website, you may like them in person. Also, know what you are looking for when you are viewing websites; look for something that you may have in common with that Planner before even meeting them.
Also, attending bridal shows and open houses allows you to build a preferred vendors list of Planners, which is always helpful.
MOB Kathy: Should you expect a Planner NOT to have more than one wedding booked for one day? Is there a way to ensure this (example: Can it be written into a contract)?
Nycia: This is a great question. Being that I am an independent Planner, I only book one event a day, since I only have interns working with me. So it just depends...if a company has several Planners staffed, then of course taking on more than one event a day clearly works for them.
That should definitely be discussed at your meeting and in your contract, with the understanding that your event is the only one booked for that day. If not, you should be assigned a Planner that will be solely dedicated to your event.
MOB Kathy: What happens if the Planner gets sick or has an emergency the day of the wedding? Is there something that a MOB/Bride can typically ask or have guaranteed in the contract to deal with this?
Nycia: What a very important point! Yes ... "in case of emergency" should definitely be stated in the contract and, if not, that's a question that should be on your "to ask" list. Sometimes things happen that are out of our control, and it's good to have a plan in place just in case "life happens." Alot of times a Planner will have a backup Planner that handles things in case of emergencies, or a possible refund policy.
Much thanks to Nycia for providing her expert guidance in our search for a Wedding Planner. If you're in the Austin, Texas area and are looking for your wedding to be an "inspired event," then you need to look Nycia up. To get you started, check out her website and her blog.
Here's Nycia in action ... her Bride was totally allergic to mosquitos but wanted an outdoor ceremony. Nycia is spraying her with unscented OFF (one of the many items she keeps in her emergency kit of supplies!). Inspired.
Check out Part 1 of the Wedding Planner series. Be sure to stop back here in weeks to come for more tips on choosing a Wedding Planner!
Just a few pictures of MOBs in action. Enjoy.
Do you have a MOB in action picture you want taken?
Have you ever been at a party and lost track of which drink was yours? Then, rather than take the chance of drinking out of someone else's cup (ick!), you just go get a new one?
Have you ever been on the other end of that party -- the cleanup end -- and thrown out abandoned drinks?
If so, you'll like Zynks for your pre-wedding festivities. I found them over at The Party Goddess blog.
No one ever said informal pre-wedding get togethers called for arranged centerpieces or fancy vases. Who needs 'em when you can fill beer or soft-drink bottles or wine bottles with cut flowers and create something so simple and gorgeous as this.
Black tie optional and formal evening weddings call for very formal wear. Because they are evening events, darker colors are called for.
The Father of the Bride can't go wrong wearing a tux to a black tie optional wedding. If he chooses, he could wear a dark well-made, well-fitting suit ... which would also be the appropriate wear for a formal evening event.
Formal daytime weddings still call for formality, with the Father of the Bride wearing a good suit and tie. Because it is a daytime event, the Mother of the Bride could wear lighter colors.
While a black tie optional wedding typically still calls for the formality of a floor-length gown, the Mother of the Bride would be acceptably dressed in a formal -- key word, formal -- dress of any length. The fabric and detailing on the dress and the accessories worn play a big part in creating the element of formality. Black tie optional and formal weddings always call for heels and an appropriately formal dress purse. Keep that in mind and you can't go wrong!
1. ABS by Allen Schwartz gown at Nordstrom's, Linea Paolo shoes at Nordstrom's, Amarie purse
2. Christina Gowns, Via Spiea shoe at Nordstrom's, purse from Accessory Bug
3. Henri Josef gown, Christian Louboutin shoes and Judith Leiber clutch via The Purse Blog
I love the punch of color the red shoes and purse give that black dress (love the dress too!).
What do you think about adding color to an otherwise solid outfit?
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