Going Green?

Are you trying to go green for your wedding? There are several ways to incorporate "green" elements from the flowers to the caterer. One of the easiest ways to achieve this is through your invitations. Made from recycled paper, you can feel good about selecting an invitation from this great collection "Naturally Ever After" that is offered by Invitations by Dawn.

Votive Holders

Add some color and a different element to your reception decor. These Capiz shell votive holders from Estilo Weddings are a perfect way to show off your color scheme in a whole new light.

Ring Pillows!

Looking for a ring pillow? I constantly get brides asking me about them and where to get them. I came across these while being sucked into this thing called the worldwide web, and fell in love with them. They aren't your typical white satin pillow. They come in mostly white, cream, and black but the sculptural floral applique comes in fun metallic colors as well. Check them out!

New Website!

Oh So Chic is proud to announce that our new website is up! We hope you enjoy it and provide us with any feedback. The main reason for the change is that we have brides interested in seeing more pictures and seeing them in a more fluid manner. The new site is easy to navigate and is sure to keep your attention with the many eye popping color. Be sure to come back as we will be adding more galleries in the coming weeks.

10 Pre-Wedding Mistakes

1. Blowing off your budget.

It costs a lot of money to throw a wedding. Excited brides start booking vendors and making purchases without having a real budget and then are shocked to discover they've already spent all of their money (or parents' money) and don't yet have half the things they need. Make a budget and keep track of your expenditures.

2. Messing up the marriage license.

There are so many rules surrounding marriage licenses that brides are always botching up this one. Go to obtain your license the day before your wedding, and you may not get it in time because some states have a three-day waiting period. A common mess-up for those marrying for a second time is not bringing official divorce papers when you go to get the certificate.

3. Ordering your wedding gown too late.

If your heart is set on a couture gown, be sure to order by the six-month mark since your dress will be custom-made and, many times, made overseas. In addition, most off-the-rack dresses will require alterations, so make certain that you have enough time to get the gown fitted properly. You'll want to leave plenty of time for shipping and for your fittings. The same goes for the bridesmaid dresses.

4. Booking hotel rooms too late.

Brides often leave blocking out hotel rooms for out-of-town guests until the last minute. If you're marrying during a busy time and you don't investigate hotel availability in advance, you can end up with literally not a single room for your guests to stay. Reserve rooms as early as possible. Begin your research up to a year in advance, and make sure your block is booked at the eight-month mark. Be sure to include hotel information in your save-the-date cards or invitations. This doesn't mean you will have to pay for the rooms, you are just setting them aside -- your guests can put down their credit cards when they call to book their rooms.

5. Inviting too many guests.

Make sure your guest list and your reception site capacity match up numbers-wise. You can't invite 400 people assuming only 250 will accept, because if you end up with 300 acceptances, you may have to turn 50 guests away at the door. Most reception sites can't just add 10 more tables -- fire laws limit the maximum number of people allowed in any room at one time. Analyze your guest list from the get-go, assume 80% will respond yes, and limit your guest list accordingly.

6. Partaking in last-minute beauty treatments and crash diets.

Many brides think that scheduling a facial the day before the wedding will leave their skin looking angelic on their big days. Thinking of tanning the day before your wedding? Think again: you may end up with blisters instead of sun-kissed skin. Last-minute beauty treatments can lead to breakouts, mistakes or, even worse, serious infections. Same goes for crash dieting in the weeks leading up to the wedding -- after all those gown fittings, your dress may not fit! Stick to a long-term beauty regimen with lots of rest, a good diet, and safe over-the-counter beauty products like sunless tanners.

7. Underpaying invitation postage.

You'd be surprised how many brides just stick a regular stamp on their invites and drop the whole batch into a mailbox. All but a few wedding invitations require additional postage -- sometimes up to .55 cents. The postal service will not take pity on you -- your invites will be returned, rubber-stamped with that ugly "insufficient postage" sign, and it will take at least three weeks (never mind the additional $$) to get those invitations back out the door. Get one invitation weighed -- at the post office -- before purchasing your stamps. Note: square invitations require additional postage not only because of the weight but the shape -- so don't try to figure this out by yourself.

8. Ignoring religious restrictions.

Inappropriate attire for the church or temple, or skipping the pre-canae, may keep your officiant from marrying you when the big day comes around. Take your religious restrictions seriously. To avoid any day-of disasters, be sure to meet with your officiant within one month of getting engaged. Your house of worship may perform ceremonies only on specific days, so settle on a date with your clergyman before you start to book vendors and put down deposits. Be sure to ask him or her about religious rules, such as: Do you need to complete a pre-cana course? Can you write your own vows? Do you need to cover your shoulders? Is secular music permitted?

9. Trying to go it alone.

If you are a bride lucky enough to have been offered help by friends or family members, by all means take it! Too many brides try to do it all -- and this isn't a good idea. Delegate and use all the resources that are available to you. Consider hiring a wedding coordinator, even if it is only to tie up loose ends and be present on wedding day. When people offer to assist find something for them to do, like researching a vendor or addressing invitations. On that note, it's important to keep in mind that these volunteers are not hired help -- be sure that you accept their contributions graciously.

10. Forgetting to focus on what's important.

Keep in mind that you are getting married and starting a life together, not just planning a wedding. Brides, be good to your grooms. And grooms, be good to your brides! Some tension between the two of you (and among members of your family) is inevitable due to the sticky topics that weddings stir up, but don't ever let things get out of control. Remember why you decided to take this leap in the first place!

-- The Knot

Oh So Chic Nominated!

Today is the start of 10news.com's A-List Contest and Oh So Chic is competing for Best Wedding Planner. Please show your support and vote for us. The contest runs from 8/11-10/3. Thanks and wish us luck!

8-8-08

It may not be as big as 7-7-7, but thousands of couples are heading down the aisle today, hoping the date August 8, 2008, brings them luck, not to mention an easy to remember anniversary date.

The number eight has long been considered fortuitous in China, where people pay extra to have it in phone numbers and license plates. In China, the pronunciation of the word eight sounds like the phrase for great fortune.

Many marrying couples are carrying eight even further with eight-course dinners, eight bridesmaids, 8:08 p.m. first dances.

The triple-eight wedding date doesn't appear to be as popular in the United States as 7-7-07, one of the busiest days for weddings last year. It helped that it fell on a Saturday, though Fridays are gaining popularity for weddings.

To all you 8-8-08 couples, Congratulations!!!

Some information gathered from Associated Press

Wedding Planner/Bridal Consultant/Wedding Coordinator? Oh my!

Yes, there are several acronyms for wedding coordinators. The truth is there isn't really any difference between them. Often you will find that Consultants may only offer hourly services to guide you on your way to wedding planning success. Event or Wedding Designers tend to be much more involved in creating an overall look and ambiance of the event. Wedding planners/coordinators are there to assist with either the planning of the entire wedding or only a fraction of it. Either way they are there to ensure the day and entire event runs smoothly.

On occasion, I meet with a prospective client that decides they don't need a wedding coordinator because their venue will act as their coordinator the day of the wedding. Here are a couple of descriptions of the actual job of these coordinators:

Ceremony Site Coordinator: Often, this is an on-site person that ensures the rules of the church/synagogue/wedding site are being followed. Rice, birdseed, and rose petals tend not to be allowed. Your wedding coordinator will work with the staff to ensure that your vision is still executed while respecting the integrity of the location.

Reception Site Coordinator: This is usually a catering sales manager for the venue. They are there to ensure that your event order for food & beverage is correct, floor plans created and any other requests that you have for your wedding is established prior to the event. If they are on site the day of your wedding, they typically are only there for a couple hours to ensure everything is set up as it was discussed in prior meetings. They typically will not set up any decor, favors, or coordinate with vendors during the event. Your wedding coordinator will be there from beginning to end of the event to make sure everything is executed as planned.

I hope this was helpful information and be sure to find out exactly what is included through your venue. You may have peace of mind knowing someone is there to put out fires for you and have your best interest at hand on this very special day.

OSC is getting a new website!

I am excited to announce that we are getting a new website. Be on the look out for it over the next couple of weeks.

Last night's wedding

Last night's wedding was so much fun. I had the opportunity to work with a fun young couple, Jessica & Patrick. They currently live in Texas but decided they wanted to have a destination wedding here in San Diego. With a guest list of about 60, this intimate affair was held at Pacific Union Pocket Park at the Museum of Cont. Art La Jolla and the reception was at Azul restaurant. The theme was sunflowers with chocolate brown and yellow-gold being the primary colors. Here are a few photos that I took myself but I will post professional pics once I receive them. Enjoy!

Paige & Ben 7/11/08

Here are a few photos from the wedding I had on July 11th. Paige and Ben were a wonderful couple to work with. Paige was a fireball and I had so much fun during the planning process. Paige, a music teacher, and Ben who is working on his Ph.D have a love of books and reading. One of the details I loved about their wedding was that they incorporated books into their centerpieces, which then became favors for all of their guests. With bright and bold colors this wedding was sure to be lots of fun.

There were also many great vendors that assisted in making the day so very special for the couple. The photos were taken by Nic Dragomire and his team from Tamarack Studios. We actually met Nic coincidentally at Starbuck's during the time Paige and I had our first consultation. Needless to say she hired both of us and the rest is history. Enjoy!