THE Mother Of the Bride MENTALITY

Wedding Planners: Part 1

This is the first 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.

Evonne Wong, of Events by Evonne -- a full-service wedding/event planning, coordination, and design company in Hawaii and San Francisco -- was kind enough to provide us with some information to get us started on our Event Planner searches. Evonne has planned over 300 weddings and events and strives to develop a personal relationship with her clients that allows her to understand, share, and create their vision.

She certainly does create beautiful events...

  

 

And, now, some words of wisdom from Evonne on choosing the perfect Planner:

MOB Kathy: What questions should a Bride and/or the Mother of the Bride ask to discover if they and the Planner will work together well?

Evonne: You should ask the Planner that once she's hired, what will the planning process be like so that you and the planner have the same expectations. If you expect the Planner to call or email the Bride everyday, but the Planner says she'll just check in once a week, then you need to decide if that will work or not.

MOB Kathy:  How can you be sure that a Planner will help you fulfill your Daughter Bride's vision for her wedding (as opposed to forcing her own ideas) and stay within your budget?

Evonne: In order for the Planner to achieve the Bride's vision, the Planner needs to ask alot of questions. In fact, I ask these questions before I even book my clients. I want to know what my clients have in mind in terms of the entire wedding, from the colors to the type of flowers, decor, and food that they like and don't like. I also ask what they enjoy doing on the weekends, what type of movies they love to watch together or restaurants they'd go to when they go out on dates, books that they like to read, etc. If the Planner doesn't ask any questions initially and even throughout the entire planning, that would be a red flag!

MOB Kathy:  What questions should a Bride and/or the Mother of the Bride ask to discover that the Bride's style and the Planner's style will mesh?

Evonne: You just need to ask the Planner straight out: What style of weddings do you put together -- simple elegant, over-the-top opulent, casual, etc.? And also judging from the photos of events that the Planner has planned and designed in the past, you should have a pretty good idea if the Planner's style meshes well with the Bride's.

MOB Kathy: Are there any special/different questions to ask for a destination wedding?

Evonne: If you are not familiar with the destination that you are going to have your wedding at, you should ask the Planner how many weddings she has done at that particular location and what are some of the things you need to be aware of for that location (For example, the venue has limited parking spots and all guests need to be shuttled in).

You should ask the Planner if she can plan everything via phone and email or if you should do a scouting trip to the destination prior to the wedding. I always recommend my clients do a scouting trip 9 to 12 months prior to the wedding. That will give me a chance to meet them in person and to get to know them, plus to show them all the venues and do all the food/cake tastings and meet with vendors.

If you are having your wedding outdoors, you should ask the Planner about the rain contingency plan and if the venue will provide any chairs or tables, or if you need to rent those separately.

You should ask the Planner how soon in advance you should get to your destination prior to the wedding -- one week? A few days? The day before (usually not a good idea)?

Also ask if there are any license requirements. Certain countries may require that the Bride and Groom get their necessary documentation all together prior to applying for a marriage license.

Many thanks to Evonne for providing some expert guidance in our search for a Wedding Planner. If you're planning a San Francisco or Hawaiian wedding, run to the phone NOW and call Evonne!

Be sure to drop by Events by Evonne and enjoy the beautiful photo gallery. Here's my favorite picture...which is yours?

 

Check back for more tips on choosing a Wedding Planner ... 

Getting to Know You...

...getting to know all about you...are you singing along?

A marriage is the merging of two people ... and two families. These Convo Pebbles -- found 'em over at With-This-Ring Weddings would be such a great ice-breaker and way for the families to learn a little bit about each other. So scatter the Convo Pebbles around the table at a wedding planning dinner or pre-wedding event and learn a little something about your new extended family!

The pebble colors and topics are fully customizable to coordinate with your event.

Hmmm....what was your last romantic dinner? Or your most memorable gift?

 

Mother of the Bride Dresses: Black Tie Attire

Elegance is the theme for a black tie event.

Tuxedo with cumberbund, white shirt, bow tie, and patent leather shoes are a Father of the Bride's ensemble for the evening.

A Mother of the Bride can't go wrong with any of the gowns from our White Tie inspiration board. She would be outfitted equally correct -- and oh, so beautifully -- in any formal floor-length gown, tea-length dress, or formal separates like the one in the center below. Add heels (a must!) and a cute little clutch, and the Mother of the Bride will be perfectly dressed for the day!

1. Rina Dimontella gown at Brides.com, Stuart Weitzman shoes at Nordstrom's, Carlo Fellini clutch at Nordstrom's  

2. Siri tea-length dress, Jacqueline Ferrar shoe at JC Penney, Carlo Fellini clutch at Nordstrom's  
3. Jordan Fashions gown, Paris Hilton shoe at Macy's, Worthington clutch at JC Penney

Barbie only wishes she had some of these Black Tie ensembles! I love the little gold clutch...which one would you carry?

What about you?

If you haven't discovered the My Island Wedding blog yet, you're missing out! For instance...Kelley has called for bloggers to write a "What about you?" post on their blogs detailing some of their favorite things. She'll be featuring them in a special post later this week...check it out!

Read on for my "What about you?" favs...

Topping the list is my family ... spending time with them in person or on the phone ... each and every one of them holds a special place in my heart. Contentment is snuggling up with my husband. Talking with one of my kids always leaves me with a smile on my face.

Spending time with my family has to be followed by spending time with my friends...many of whom are like family.

I love to lose myself in a good book...one that I hate to see end. I'm currently reading Jen Lancaster's books ... the first is Bitter is the New Black ... I'm on her third. For a laugh-out-loud reading experience, pick up this book. You won't want to put it down. I promise. My daughters turned me on to these books, so they're loved by all ages!

  
I love to travel, especially with my family and friends. It's so much fun to share sights and experiences that get talked about over and over through the years.

My favorite? Italy. No doubt about it. I think I may have been Italian in another life. I felt so peaceful and at home both times we visited Italy...the sights, the sounds, the smells, the colors, the people. Just call me Francesca.

Tying together spending time with family and friends and my love of Italy would, naturally, be Italian food. Giata DiLaurentis I'm not, but I totally enjoy everything about the process of cooking Italian food for my family ... except the cleanup.

Pix: Kidscooking.about.com and Grouprecipes.com

There's the aroma of tomatoes and garlic ... tasting the breaded eggplant fresh out of the pan ... rolling the meatballs ... layering the lasagna ... lifting off a perfectly formed pizzelle cookie. I even make my own Sambucca to sip while we sit around the table after dinner. See...Francesca...told ya.

Other favorites...roses, the pearls my husband's gifted me, the beach, hugs and kisses, the movies My Cousin Vinny and Life is Beautiful, chocolate covered cherries.

What are some of your favorites???

Ring Bearer Plates

Hop on over to Brenda's Wedding Blog enter her giveaway of Just Wright Boutique's Celebration Wedding Ring Bowls! They are adorable!

Contest runs through Monday, July 27...don't miss out!

Love the heart-shaped one...which is your favorite?

Entertaining: Chair Ribbons

This chair ribbon would be such an easy, pretty decoration for any pre-wedding event. It could be color coordinated to your table decorations or the wedding colors!

So many times I see very cool ideas like this and say "I can do that!" -- when, really, I probably can't.  But this....I CAN DO THAT!!!

Source: Style Me Pretty

Are you creative and crafty? If so, please share your cool idea!

 

Mother of the Bride Accessories: Pearls

You most likely have gotten an email "friendship questionnaire" asking you all sorts of things, like:

• What's your favorite movie?
• Are you a morning or night person?

That kind of thing. There's usually a question something like this: Pearls or Diamonds?

Without fail, pearls is always my answer. I. Love. Pearls. Any pearls I have are from my husband...so that just makes them extra special.

According to Pure Pearls:

Pearl bridal jewelry is a long standing tradition. In ancient Greece, pearls were believed to bring love. All guests of the wedding were adorned in pearls. Pearls were sacred wedding gems given as gifts and the word "pearl" became highly associated with "love."

Guess that's why I like it so much...love.

Pearls are a perfect wedding accessory for the Mother of the Bride.  In choosing the jewelry to wear with your wedding attire, here's a "pearl of widsom" (groan) from Pure Pearls:

When choosing jewelry for your wedding, it is important to consider the neckline and detail of the dress. The design of the dress will determine whether your wedding jewelry should be simple or more elaborate. Open necklines give you more room to work with different necklaces. If you have a high neck dress, it is best to accent the dress with earrings and a bracelet.

Here are a few of Pure Pearls' pretty pearls:

 

So, girlfriends....Pearls or Diamonds?

Rehearsal Dinners

I was recently contacted by Kathy Goodman of Well Rehearsed about a recent event that she was involved with. I learned about Kathy and her company and just had to share the information with you! While she is in the San Francisco area, Well Rehearsed can work with you to put together an event design plan that you can take to your local vendors.

Well Rehearsed specializes in creating -- or helping you create, if that's your choice -- unique rehearsal dinners that will have your guests saying, "WOW! That was a great way to kick off the wedding celebration!" What I especially like about Well Rehearsed is that Kathy stresses the importance of "keeping the event balanced and appropriately complementing or contrasting the wedding day itself."  While the Rehearsal Dinner is a special event...it's not the main event.

You can tailor your Rehearsal Dinner planning to suit your needs, desires, and budget. Well Rehearsed offers the following services:

• Enjoy the Celebration - They do it all...you sit back and enjoy
• More Than Just a dinner - Their assistance in planning, your execution.
• A La Carte - Help with venue selection, on-site event coordination, consultations on other wedding events

Well Rehearsed Rehearsal Dinners showcase the personality and interests of the bride and groom.  Here are a few examples of their great events.

Jon and Jen's love of travel:

Cathy and Brian's Chinese and American heritages:


Luke and Kirsten's love of USC football:
 

Well Rehearsed strives to create one-of-a-kind Rehearsal Dinners that create a personalized experience for the bride and groom and guests alike.

Which of the theme events pictured above was your favorite?

Mother of the Bride Dresses: White Tie Attire

An ultra formal, evening "White Tie" wedding calls for the very best.

The Father of the Bride should be outfitted in full tuxedo (tails would be perfect!) with white vest, white shirt, and bow tie.  Black patent shoes ... shine 'em up and slip 'em on.

A White Tie event calls for the Mother of the Bride to don her most elegant and formal evening wear. A MOB can never go wrong with beads or sequins at a White Tie affair. Heels are a must. An updo with knock-em-over-with-a-feather earrings would be icing on the cake!

Here are a few gorgeous evening ensembles that would be perfect...elegant and formal, yet subtle enough not to out-shine the bride...always a MOB's dress goal!

1: Tadashi gown at Nordstrom's, Valentino shoes at Saks, and Christian Louboutin clutch at Saks
2: Adrianna Papell gown at Nordstrom's, Valentino shoes at Saks, and Judith Leiber at Saks
3: Jordan Fashions gown, Prada shoes at Saks, and Christian Louboutin clutch at Saks

Check out the MOB's Guide to Wedding Dress Codes!

I've never been to a White Tie event, have you? If so, spill the details!

  

Etiquette: Decifering Dress Codes

In my ever-so-humble opinion, unless the dress code is Black or White Tie or Beach or Informal/Casual, putting a dress code on the wedding invitation isn't necessary.  Most people will determine what to wear based on the time of day and location of the wedding.  Or they'll ask for guidance from the bridal couple, wedding party, or families.

That said, here's a general guideline for dress codes.  Check back in weeks to come for pictures of Mother of the Bride attire for each category!

NOTE: This list applies specifically to weddings and may differ slightly than the dress codes for other types of events.

MOB's Guide to Wedding Dress Codes

White Tie (Evenings Only): Ultra formal - the hoityest of the toityest

• Full tuxedos with white vest, white shirt, and white tie/Floor length gowns

Black Tie (Evenings Only): Elegantly formal

• Tuxedos/Floor or tea length gowns

Black Tie Optional (Evening Only): Very formal

• Tuxedo or dark suit and tie/Any length formal dress (typically darker colors)

Formal: Elegant with darker colors for evening and lighter colors for daytime

• Suit and tie/Any length formal dress

Semiformal: Better than Sunday Best clothing

• Suit or slacks and jacket (tie optional)/Cocktail dress with heels

Dressy Casual: Sunday Best clothing

• Slacks with long-sleeved shirt (jacket and tie optional)/Dressy dress with heels

Beach Formal: Elegant but summery

• Lightweight slacks and nice shirt - tucked in (jacket preferred but tie optional)/Lightweight dressy dress any length and sandals

Beach Casual: Lightweight party wear

• Lightweight slacks and nice, casual shirt (untucked acceptable)/Lightweight dress (typically knee or tea length) and sandals

Informal/Casual: Business casual attire

• Slacks with polo shirt or buttoned long- or short-sleeved shirt/Casual dress or skirt with nice top and sandals

Remember...the Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom's dresses are guided by the length and formality of the bridesmaids dresses!

Don't forget to check back in weeks to come for pictures of Mother of the Bride, Father of the Bride, and male/female guest attire for each category!

Have you ever attended a white tie event?