Showing posts with label Planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Planning. Show all posts

Nov 13, 2010

Weddings, Family Style!

Robinson Family 2004Six plus years ago, I married this awesome family.  The love we share to this day is all over our faces in this picture.  

These are the types of memories Sacred Moment Weddings loves to create!

Are you planning a family style wedding? 

May 4, 2009

Shall We Dance?

I remember the dance I had with my dad when I got married in 2004. We danced to Luther Vandross' Dance With My Father. I was a teary eyed MESS! But it is one of the most memorable moments in my life. My dad passed away in September of last year and I am so thankful that he was able to meet my wonderful husband and have peace of mind that I was in good hands!



These shots are of Micaela and her dad dancing in front of 300 family and friends last June. With that many pairs of eyes on him, you would think that he would have been a bit shy. Not this dapper dude! He wasn't shy about it at all and as you can see, he even wowed us by giving Micaela a little twirl. They had so much fun with it. It was a very touching and special moment for them both.

Make sure you honor your dad or favorite father figure with a special song to dance to. That moment will live in your heart forever.

Here are a few favorites so you can choose the tune just right for you and YOUR DAD!

1. Butterfly Kisses - Bob Carlisle
2. Daddy's Little Girl - Al Martino
3. Unforgettable - Natalie Cole
4. Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
5. Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
6. The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra or Tony Bennett
7. Daddy's Hands - Holly Dunn
8. What a Wonderful World - Louie Armstrong
9. Through the Years - Kenny Rogers
10. My Girl - Temptations
11. Hero Mariah - Carey
12. Have I Told You Lately - Van Morrison
13. Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
14. Daughter of Mine - John McDermott
15. Time of Your Life - Green Day
16. Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder
17. A Song for My Daughter - Mikki Viereck
18. You're the Inspiration - Chicago
19. My Special Angel - Bobby Helms
20. You Decorated My Life - Kenny Rogers

Happy Planning!

Apr 20, 2009

Honorable Mentions

Have you just been asked to be your sister's/cousin's/friend's maid of honor? If the answer is yes, there are a few things I'd like to say to you...

Be supportive

Your bride is experiencing a wide range of emotions right now. It's your job to keep her grounded...be her voice of reason from time to time. You may find yourself as the deciding vote on many issues throughout the planning. If that isn't something you know how to do, then learn...if it's something you don't feel comfortable doing, then get over it and learn how to swallow your pride. She's asked you to take this ride with her and is counting on you to help her navigate all the madness coming her way.

Be On Time

If you are generally late for all your appointments, get an alarm clock! Get your measurements to the bridal shop before the due date and encourage the bridesmaids to do the same. Beat her to every appointment...show up at her house before she's finished getting ready. Your reassuring face should be there for her each and every time.

Take her out for a Girls Nite Out

The pressure will be difficult to handle every now and then while your bride is planning her wedding...anyone who tells you that they will eliminate ALL the stress is blowing smoke. Be sure to take her out to a favorite hot spot or to her favorite nail place to recharge and rejuvenate her. She will love you for it!

Happy Planning!

Jan 23, 2009

Wedding Planning Advice from Sacred Moment Weddings

Wedding planning season is in high gear. The holidays are over...he's asked you to marry him and you've said yes...we've got a new President in charge of the nation (Woot!) and hopefully the planning "drama" hasn't started yet.

But just in case it has started...

We've shared some great advice and ideas in the last year and we wanted to dig through our archives and pull some of our more popular posts to help you out. We've got lots more in store for you in the coming weeks so be sure to come back and see us each week for more.

"Define and Design Your Wedding Style" Series
These posts are designed to take you through the wedding planning process, element by element. We've given you advice on the five things to do first, creating your budget, picking your wedding date and venue and this week we talked to you about your personal "wedding style". Not every bride is the same and this post will help you find a style that fits your personality and taste.

Be sure to read our blog every Monday for the next step in the planning process. Up next? Bridal Fashions!

"Inspired to Love" Quotes
"Inspired to Love" was originally posted every Monday. We changed it so that they post every Friday morning. Why? Well, we thought about it and decided to hit you with an inspiring love quote to motivate you for the weekend, which is when most of you tend to spend lots of quality time with your fiance. :)

Etiquette and Advice
This is some of the most important information you'll need while planning your wedding. What to do if you've hired the wrong wedding planner, preparing for the things that may go wrong on your wedding day and how to deal with those frantic moments throughout the wedding planning process. (Yes, stress free is a myth!) All these topics and more can be found here. In the coming weeks we'll also talk about invitation wording, seating arrangements and how to pick your wedding party.

Inspiration
Not sure which direction to go with your colors or wedding theme? These posts will definitely help to "inspire" you to create a wedding all your own.

"Savvy Tip of the Week" Series
Each week we share a tip or fab find we've come across while surfing the net or reading our favorite magazines. Wedding toasts, saving on flower and bar costs and being the perfect wedding guest are some of the areas we've shared about. Be sure to come back for more savvy tips and tricks!

Happy Planning!

Jan 12, 2009

Designing Your Wedding Style: The Wedding Date & The Venue

You've said "Yes" and you've told your parents...

You have a basic plan for what you're going to spend and how you're going to spend it...

Now what?

It's time to pick the perfect date and the perfect venue to host your nuptials. For some of you, the date will be easy. There's that one special date that symbolizes your love for each other perfectly. First date...first kiss or perhaps a year from the day he asked!

Or there's a date that is more convenient for both of you and your families because of scheduling or season. Families with lots of children may want to stick to a date during a school break. If you want a spring or summer wedding, your geographical location will dictate the best date. Whatever decision you make, try to stay flexible and have a few other alternative dates to choose from. This ensures that those family members close to you can attend your wedding. Having a few dates in mind will also help you when choosing your venue.

Which brings me to the next part of this post...

Hotel or Event Hall?
If you opt for a hotel or event hall, many of the resources you need will more than likely be at your fingertips. These types of venues are in business to host events like weddings and will have all or most of the equipment, food choices and vendor referrals you may need. The other good thing about hosting your ceremony and reception in a full service venue is that it saves you the cost of transportation. There is no need to hire a limo or car service to move you and your guests from one spot to another.

In some cases it will also save you money on your other vendor fees. Florists sometime charge extra to move flowers from one location to another. Photographers will sometimes charge you based on having to shoot in more than one location. And finally, if you opt to have your celebration in one location, there's really no need for a separate reception card when ordering your invitations. You can just include "Reception immediately following" at the bottom of your invite!

Park or Mom and Dad's backyard?
This option is going to take a bit more planning. Why? Because you have to source everything! Tables, chairs, linens, heaters, umbrellas (ella, ella...). Seriously though, one of my first BIG weddings was a 300 guest tent affair on the brides parents' estate. It was a week long production that required lots of rentals and lots of hired staff. Katie and I couldn't do it alone.

The ceremony was in the front yard area and the reception in the back. Valet company, portable bathrooms (they were GORGEOUS, by the way...no port-a-pottys here!) caterer, tent, tables and chairs for ceremony, cocktail hour and reception, electricity, coolers (it was in the middle of June!)...the list goes on. And THEN all of those vendors, equipment deliveries and setups needed to be organized and timed just right for 300 guests!

I know...you're thinking, "we can do this...we have backyard barbeque's all the time!" Not the same thing. At backyard barbeque's there are plenty of helpers around to do all the work. Do you honestly want to have your guests help you set tables, decorate and then bus tables afterwards? I didn't think so. I know I'm over simplifying but you get the picture. There are many moving parts to a production like this no matter what the size. Do yourself a favor and hire a wedding planner or at least consult with one on how to put it all together. We'll be happy to hear from you and you'll be so happy you did!

Happy Planning!

Jan 6, 2009

Having Trouble Compiling Your Guest List?



Happy Planning!

Jan 5, 2009

Designing Your Wedding Style: Budget

wedding budget tips
Before the dress...before the flowers...and before the big day, you have to figure out what it all will cost. Some of you may say, "Daddy says the sky is the limit", or he may say, "Sweetheart, you have $30,000 to spend and that's IT!" Wherever your wedding money comes from, it still isn't a BUDGET until you know how the dollars will be allocated.

Creating your budget is the single most important step in planning your wedding. It will dictate what vendors you choose, the venue you'll host your wedding in AND countless other elements that will make your day special. Having a clear plan and knowing where the money is coming from and going to, is the best way to move forward. An open and honest conversation with everyone about expectations is the key to an informed and fun planning process.

Our team uses a very simple excel spreadsheet to create an initial budget for our couples. It shows them the average breakdown by category and subcategory if applicable. It gives them a visual picture of what amounts they'll spend on key wedding elements. Most couples have no idea what or how much to spend on what so the budget exercise really opens their eyes to what to expect when they meet with other vendors.

Here's a copy of a wedding budget we did recently and the actual costs incurred by our clients.

{Please note that the percentages and amounts shown are basic industry standards and should be used ONLY as guidelines. Standard costs in your area may differ.}


This exercise is one of the very FIRST meeting topics we cover when working with our couples. We encourage them to share it with their parents and anyone else that is contributing financially. Having everyone on the same financial page is one of the keys to a wonderful wedding planning experience!

Happy Planning!

Dec 30, 2008

Casting Call for My Fair Wedding in the New York/Philly Area



Just saw this on the Brides.com website...

If you're having trouble with your wedding, let David Tutera transform it from disasterous to DAZZLING!

"On the hit WE TV series, My Fair Wedding, celebrity event planner David Tutera is your super-wedding planner ready to come in and help turn your wedding day from a disaster to the fantasy you've always envisioned.

If you're getting married between March and mid-May 2009 in the New York or Philadelphia area you could be one of the lucky brides to get David's expert help - and appear on My Fair Wedding!"


To apply for the show, email the following information to MFW@pilgrimfilms.tv:

Your wedding date
A brief description of your wedding plans
Photos of what you already have planned

See the original post here.

Happy Planning!

Dec 29, 2008

The First Five Things To Do Now That He Has Popped the Question



#1 - If he's the one, then say "Yes", girl! And then enjoy the moment.

I can't emphasis this enough! So many brides get caught up in the planning right away and miss the moment. Talk about how wonderful life will be together and what your desires are for the future. Cherish this time together by finding your individual and common goals as a couple. Love each other, go on dates and savor the moment. Make a vow to always remember that despite the ups and downs of wedding planning, the reason you are getting married is more important than any decision about colors, flowers or cake!

#2 - Tell your parents

You should tell your parents you're getting married before anyone else. Both of you should be there and be sure it's in person - they'll have a chance to see your happiness up close, look at the rock, and start talking about the wedding. Traditionally the bride's parents know before the groom's do, but any order is really fine. Then share the news with a few close friends - the ones who are likely candidates for maid/matron of honor and best man, or definite attendants in some capacity.

#3 - Purchase a small notebook or journal if you don't already have one

This will be a time of ten thousand moments you won't want to forget, as well as some frustrating times that you'll need to vent about, and not necessarily to your fiance. The journal you keep while planning your wedding will not only help you through this time, but it will be something you cherish for the rest of your life.

#4 - Announce Your Engagement

Tell everyone the good news! There are many ways of doing this, and no way is more correct or better than another. Consider:

-Announcing your engagement in print publications

-Mailing announcements to your family and friends

-Creating a wedding website

#5 - Choose a Few Wedding Dates

Setting your wedding date will be one of the most important decisions you will make as you plan your wedding. Not only will it be the first question everyone will ask you, but you'd be surprised how difficult it will be to make any progress on planning your wedding without knowing the date. Choosing a few dates is smart because if you lock in on one date, other choices you have to make may be limited.

I don't want to overwhelm you...there's SO much to think about and right now you should just enjoy the moment. Next Monday, I'll share with you, tips on how to create a sensible budget and how to stick to it in the start of my "Define and Design Your Wedding Style" series. Be sure to tune in!

Congratulations, enjoy your engagement and Happy Planning!

Oct 21, 2008

Cosmo Online with Celebrity Wedding Planner Samantha Goldberg


You may know this FAB lady as one of the popular wedding planners on the famous show "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?", on the Style Network. Lately, I've gotten to know her as a down to earth, savvy planner who also shoots straight from the hip and pulls no punches when she speaks. I like that about her because its one of the qualities I value in myself and in the people I call friend.

Samantha Goldberg has just been published online for the first time! She is BEYOND excited and I wanted to pass her excitement on to you! The article is well written and is full of wise advice about how to ROCK your small wedding.

This article is "on time" advice...from a celebrity wedding planner...in a magazine that has always been on the cutting edge of savvy trends and stylish advice for today's woman. You can read the article here!

Be sure to check out Samantha's blog too!

Happy Planning!

Aug 22, 2008

History of the Bachelorette Party


My friend and party maven, Pamela Yager wrote a great blog post about the history of the Bachelorette Party. Pamela is also the founder of Bride's Night Out, a new service being offered by us!

"The now infamous bachelorette party is an event honoring a bride-to-be, a rite of passage, celebrating the end of her single life. Not to be confused with the bachelorette party, the bridal shower is usually a bit more low-key, honoring the bride-to-be and the beginning of her role as a wife."

Take a peek at the whole article here.

Jul 28, 2008

GetMarried.com Launches "Blogger Brides!"

There's a NEW place for brides to hang out over at GetMarried.com!

It's called Blogger Brides and it's a community created just for YOU!



Here's a snippet from the official press release...

(Atlanta, GA, 7/29/08) In keeping with the interests of today's brides and Get Married's commitment to bringing the best tips, trends and expert advice to plan the perfect wedding, GetMarried.com has launched "Blogger Brides" (www.BloggerBrides.com) featuring "Star Bloggers", "Blogger Brides" and "Community Bloggers".

"Star Bloggers" are the most innovative and sought after experts in their fields who share their expertise and up-to-the-second trends. Just a few of the many notable Star Bloggers include Get Married's host and celebrity event planner, David Tutera; acclaimed photographer Robert Evans of TomKat wedding fame; Hollywood stars' favorite cake designer Leslie Maynor; author, editor and wedding designer Michelle Rago; florist to Hollywood royalty Kevin Lee; Get Married founder Stacie Francombe and editor Harmony Walton who also assists Hollywood stars with their weddings and events. Experts in the fields of music, invitations, fashion and travel round out he A list of "Star Bloggers".

Take a peek and let us all know what you think!

Bride's Night Out

One of the best parts of planning a wedding are the parties! The engagement party, bridal showers, rehearsal dinner and (ahem!!) the bachelor and bachelorette parties. Traditionally, other members of the wedding party wear the hat of party planner when it comes to these parties, however my role as a wedding planner sometimes dictate that I assist in one or ALL of these festive soirees.

My favorite? THE BACHELORETTE PARTY!!

OR...



We are very excited to tell you that we have found a wonderful new service that is gaining lots of press lately. It's a service that will help your maid of honor and bridesmaids plan a fun and exciting night out for your farewell to "singlehood".

The name of the company is Bride's Night Out.

From Bride's Night Out® creator Pamela Yeager:

"Afraid your single send-off might wind up an embarrassing sleaze fest? If you're like most brides-to-be, you're a bit concerned as to what your gal pals have in store for you on your last night out. With all of the planning and expenses involved in the wedding, it's hard to find the time and the finances to ensure your girl's night out will be the right mix of decadence and grace. Not to worry, your Bride's Night Out® Party Consultant will ensure your night is just right, without breaking the bank."

If you're here in the Phoenix area, contact us for details or check out their website for a consultant near you!

May 16, 2008

What If I've Hired The Wrong Planner?

One of Arizona's favorite wedding planners...and someone who has really helped me to become a better planner, has written a VERY informative post that deals with the dilemma of hiring the WRONG wedding planner. Doing your homework and interviewing several planners before deciding to hire one is essential to having a fun and supportive wedding planning experience.

Liene gives some sound advice to a bride who isn't happy with her planner's lack of enthusiasim and apparent inexperience. Click here for all the details!

Apr 24, 2008

I Met Mindy Last Night!

Ok...after three posts in as many days about this, some of you would say that I am star struck. I'm not usually a "star-struck" type of person. I see famous folk as "normal" folk...and that is usually what they prefer...SOME of them! :) But last night...





Mindy Weiss is one of those famous "normal" people that makes you feel as those you've known her forever. She's warm, funny, very knowledgeable about planning parties and well...just an all around awesome lady! I drove to Tempe last night to meet Mindy and it was if I was visiting my BFF! Before the presentation started she sat down among a few of us and said, "so how's it going? Do you have any questions before we get started?" Of course, I jumped right in!

I asked Mindy what was her favorite type of event to plan. She LOVES kids parties! I kind of figured that...the pictures on her website of the Bar and Bat Mitzvah's she's planned are fabulous! But of course she's really famous for her FABULOUS weddings. She's been featured in all the well known bridal magazines and has worked with tons of celebrities as they celebrate those sacred milestones of life.

I picked up a few copies of Mindy's new book, The Wedding Book. I couldn't help but stay up a little later than normal last night to start reading it. It has so many helpful hints that it truly is a guidebook on how to plan your wedding from A to Z. There are tips on what questions to ask all your vendors (including ones on how to pick the right wedding planner!), information on destination weddings, and there's even a section on how to determine what kind of bride you are! There's a test and everything!!

Mindy mentioned some of the up and coming trends for weddings:

1. Black and White is Back - Mindy says that she is seeing more brides choose these neutral tones and then bring in a color to make it POP!

2. The Bling is Gone! - Bridal gown styles are changing back to the simple, classic and sleek styles of years ago. Gone are the heavily beaded and embellished gowns we've seen lately.

3. Centerpieces Go Low - More brides are opting to go with low centerpieces on their guest tables now so that folks can see each other.

4. Personalization - Couples are really concentrating more on personalizing their wedding celebrations. Find something near and dear to you and your fiance and then incorporate it into your wedding. Mindy shared a story about a couple who met while riding bikes on Venice beach. Their motif or "dingbat", as she calls it, is used throughout their papery and other wedding details. Subtle or sensational, your guests will appreciate your attention to detail AND they'll leave your wedding with that "warm and fuzzy" feeling! For LOTS more information pick up a copy of Mindy's book.

Couples? Mindy's most important tip of the night was to remember that transforming two lives into one is not going to be easy. Remember that when things go wrong, you have each other and that's what is most important before, during and after the wedding is over. It's a magical time in your life and you should enjoy it.

Thanks for stopping by Phoenix, Mindy. It was such a treat to meet with you and we hope to see you again soon!

And thanks to The Changing Hands Book Store for hosting us for the evening. You guys throw a great party!

Apr 23, 2008

The Pink Ladies

I absolutely ADORE this new blog! I found them while hanging out over at a site called the Best Wedding Blogs.



These ladies are full of new and fresh ideas to help you with your wedding planning. And they are coming to a city near you.

Getting married soon? Are you creative, innovative and have what it takes to be a blogger? You can sign up to be a Pink Lady too. Click here for all the details...

Aren't they cute?

Apr 22, 2008

UPDATE: Mindy Weiss in Phoenix! Well...Tempe!

I just found out that celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss will be here tomorrow night to sign her new book! I posted earlier today about her new tome entitled, "The Wedding Book". Its a great resource for all things wedding.



Mindy will be signing her book tomorrow, Wednesday, April 23, 7:00 - 8:15 pm at:

Changing Hands Bookstore
6428 S. McClintock Drive
Tempe, AZ

Hope to see you there!

Get Your Feet Ready For Summer!

Izzy over at iVillage.com wrote me today about a great feature article on how to get those tootsies ready for summer! Get rid of those ole rusty, dusty callouses and dry heels with these great tips. Your feet will be summer ready in no time!


{Getty Images Photo via iVillage}

And if you didn't know, there is also a great wedding blog on iVillage written by Anne Chertoff that I just love to browse everyday.


She's worked at Modern Bride, Martha Stewart Weddings and now she lends her expert advice to the readers of iVillage. Send her a shout out or ask her a question...she's a GREAT resource!

Have a FAB day!

The Wedding Book

One of my favorite celebrity wedding planners has released a new book! I'm so excited!



Mindy Weiss has been a favorite of mine and of many celebrity party seekers for quite awhile. Her style is so innovative and fresh! Visit her website and you'll discover a WEALTH of wedding inspiration for you to soak up!



Be sure to get your copy of Mindy's book for a TON of ideas on how to make your wedding the envy of all your friends.

No bride or wedding planner should be without it!