Dishy Events » Weddings

Going to the Chapel…

Ashley — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 03:06:42 +0000

As all of my event planning professional friends here in St. Louis approach yet another wedding weekend in the Lou, I feel the need to throw some advice into the wind for all those blushing brides out there! Your wedding is a once (or twice) in a lifetime experience, one that you should enjoy and savor for as long as you can! For many of us, the wedding bug only hits once and therefore you must take advantage!

If you’re feeling a little stressed, so much so that you are putting your big day at risk, I highly recommend taking a small chill pill to keep it all together. Besides, it’s pretty likely you want to remember your wedding day as one of the most memorable events in your lifetime, and I don’t mean memorable because you spent the whole day freaking out!

If you’re still prone to stressing out, here are some tips to help you get through the day!

Take a DEEP Breath. Hold it. Okay, now breathe out. Remember to breathe on your wedding day, not just because we don’t need any suffocating brides out there, but because deep breaths may actually help you RELAX!
Don’t Sweat the SMALL Things. It’s extremely rare that every single little tiny detail will go just as planned on your wedding day, so don’t sweat it if cousin Jane stumbles on the reading. Laugh it off and enjoy the moment!
Take a Mental Snapshot. Okay, I think I got this from The Office, but still a great tip. Pick out a moment, or two or two dozen from the day and take a mental snap shot to remember it all! You’ll be glad you did!
Have a Cocktail (or two)! When in doubt a drink can always reduce your stress level, but please, please PLEASE do not think this means you should get wasted on your wedding day. I’m thinking a mimosa or two will do (until the reception that is)!

Moral of the story…ENJOY yourself, live in the moment and go with the flow! What might seem terrible is probably not that bad. What you forget to do can always be done another time (hint hint marriage renewals). Just don’t forget to take it all in! Plus, if you’ve hired a wedding planner, well then you have no reason not to let go and enjoy!

Happy wedding weekend everyone! Cheers!

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The Rise of the Photobooth

Ashley — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 02:42:13 +0000

Until a few years ago, if someone had suggested you have a photobooth at your wedding reception, you probably would have laughed right in their face. And yet here we stand just a few years later where a photobooth has actually become quite a staple for all wedding receptions. With the increase in number of companies offering the service, a slew of new ideas on props for the booths and well just a crazy amount of fun, the photobooth has started to take over the wedding reception world! If it hasn’t in your town yet…just wait, it’ll be there soon, which means you have reason to be excited!

And if I must say so myself, the photobooth is one trend I FULLY support! While I may not be behind ALL of the prop ideas (i.e. those weird mustaches on a stick), I do think having a photobooth is a great way to get those candid, silly and ridiculously fun shots of your guests baring it all (and I don’t mean literally) in front of the camera.

If you’re in the St. Louis area and looking for a photobooth, you’re in luck because we have a plethora of different companies with various photobooth options, so be sure to check them out! Some are retro, some traditional and some even open for the room to see! Here is a list of some photobooth companies in St. Louis to get you started!

So if you want to guarantee a little extra fun on your wedding day, or just have a bunch of extra pictures, I say give it a shot. Several of my brides for this year are all doing photobooths and I am excited! I may even have to hop in for a picture or two myself!

So get in that booth, throw on a straw hat, a lei and some sunglasses…and SMILE! Cheers!

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Prepping for a Summer Wedding

Ashley — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:52:36 +0000

If you live in or around the St. Louis, Missouri area (or the Midwest region in general) you know that we tend to have some vicious and unpredictable summers. If you’re planning a wedding in St. Louis, well, you know that you absolutely need to be prepared between the months of June and August for some serious heat! We’re talking 90 to 100 degree weather here!

So, if you’re thinking an outdoor wedding might be in your future, be sure to throw out some goodies or appropriate time frames to help your guests make it through the day. They’ll thank you for it, and you’ll probably thank yourself when you put on the fabulous dress, get your hair done and apply all that gorgeous make up!

Have ice water on hand. This is an absolute must for an outdoor wedding! Bottled water is super cheap and so is ice, so go ahead and make it happen!
Fans as favors. These are always awesome to get when at a wedding, provide a personalized fan so your guests can wave that heat away!
Make shade readily available (when possible). Whether it be in the form of a pavilion, tent, umbrella or even parasol, a little shade can go a long way!
Provide some sunscreen. Seems odd I know, but why the heck not! If you’re guests are going to sit in the sun for a wedding, they may as well avoid a sunburn, right?
Avoid the hottest times. I know 3:00 in the afternoon might seem like an ideal time for an outdoor ceremony, but it won’t be for your guests. Shoot for earlier in the day or later in the evening to make sure you avoid the hottest times of the day!

Here are some great favor ideas from Beau Coup, that are ideal for summertime weddings!

Remember that when it comes to a summertime wedding, be mindful of your guests and their comfort level! I know I always say the wedding is about you and your groom-to-be, and you should do what you want! And it is! But you definitely want your family and friends to attend and have a great time, and not spend the day sweating it out!

Happy summer planning! And good luck to all you summer brides out there! Cheers!

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The St. Louis Wedding Planner

Ashley — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 03:34:06 +0000

To all my fellow St. Louisans, the St. Louis Wedding Planner is coming soon! It’s my new web site and it should be here by mid- July (at least that’s the plan)! In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s called the St. Louis Wedding Planner and my hope is that it will be an amazing resource for all of the brides and grooms in St. Louis Metro area looking to plan the wedding of your dreams!

The St. Louis Wedding Planner is a web site dedicated to helping brides and grooms learn more about all of the fabulous wedding ceremony and reception venues in the St. Louis area. By conducting in-person interviews and walk-throughs myself, I hope to give brides and grooms information that is more than valuable in helping them select their wedding ceremony and reception locations! And I’ll be categorizing each venue by St. Louis neighborhood for all of you interested in a particular area of the city!

Last week, I started with An American Place, which is located right in the heart of downtown on Washington Avenue in the Renaissance Grand Hotel! I was fortunate enough to get a personal walk-through of the space as well as a run down of pricing, what’s included in the reception package as well as some other fun details (and pics) which I’ll be sharing on the site! Be looking for all the goods come July! And thanks to Katie at An American Place for being my guinea pig!

If you’re interested in having your venue featured on the St. Louis Wedding Planner, please contact me directly! I promise it’ll be a painless visit!

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To See or Not to See Before the Wedding

Ashley — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 02:44:47 +0000

It’s an age old question…literally. Remember that guy named William Shakespeare? I swear I think he started it all with his to be or not to be. Choosing whether or not to see your bride or groom before your wedding ceremony is a personal decision each couple must make for themselves. There are many reasons to support either option and no one reason is right or wrong, just your own! So never let anyone make you feel different! It’s all about what is most important to you and whether or not you like to stick to tradition.

If you’re absolutely distraught over what to do for your big day, I’ve come up with some benefits to consider for each choice, so take some time and think it over!

TO SEE BEFORE THE WEDDING

You have a chance to get out all of the nervousness (kind of).
You have some alone time to enjoy each other before all of the guests see.
You allow yourself some extra time for some very special pictures.

TO NOT SEE BEFORE THE WEDDING

It’s a tradition in for most people, and a fun one at that!
He makes that “oh my gosh, I get to marry her” face when you walk down the isle.
It allows all of your friends and family to share in that special first moment.

These are just a few ideas to think about before making the big decision on your own. Of course there are always multiple sides to the story and various feelings involved. Just remember to do what’s best for you and your husband-to-be! If that means setting aside some private time for some lovey-dovey, kissy-kissy stuff before the wedding, then do it! If it means completely and utterly blowing him away when he sees you down the isle for the first time, then do that!

Like I said, no one way is right or wrong! Pick your preference and make it happen! Also, be sure to have a great wedding planner on hand to help ensure the choice you make actually happens the way you want!

Happy wedding day planning! Cheers!

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A Pampered Chef Wedding Shower…Say It Ain’t So!

Ashley — Fri, 28 May 2010 16:30:09 +0000

Last week I received an anonymous tip from a male friend of mine notifying that his wife received of one of the most interesting bridal show invitations I have ever heard of…a Pampered Chef Wedding Shower! That email sent an immediate chill up my spine! After all, multi-level marketing and wedding showers DO NOT go together in my mind. And I don’t think it should be any bride’s intent to earn a gift or a reward based on how many gifts her guests give her, let alone buy in front of her. What happened to being grateful for giving and supportive family and friends??

BUT, before, I started going down that path, I decided to do a little searching on the topic, so I could shy away from my assumptions only! And here’s what I found…

The Upside:

You earn FREE and discounted products, plus FREE shipping.
You get 10% off your purchases for a year.
The host puts on the party for you, so you might save a little money and time.
Pampered Chef actually makes some really cool and decent quality kitchen items!

The Downside:

You run the risk of offending people (especially if you suggest that guests opt out of gifts and purchase items directly at the shower).
You put your friends and family in an awkward situation. Buying in front of other people is not cool, no matter how coy you try to be.
Do your guests REALLY get a chance to enjoy themselves while being solicited to purchase items in front of everyone?
No matter how you spin it, your host is in fact a sales person, and a multi-level marketing one at that! Eek!

While I won’t knock anyone for their choice in bridal shower themes, I will suggest that you give a little consideration to the feelings of potential shower attendees. If you have a lot of MLM-loving friends, by all means get that party rolling! BUT, if you have the slightest feeling that your friends or family might feel weird purchasing a gift for you in front of people they may or may not know, nix the idea immediately!

As always, it’s a personal decision everyone must make for themselves. Just remember that showers are meant to be a fun few hours to celebrate your wedding day with close friends and family! Do whatever works for you to keep it that way!

Happy showering! Cheers!

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Making a Wedding Inspiration Board

Ashley — Sat, 08 May 2010 22:07:47 +0000

Making an inspiration board for your wedding day is NOT a new concept. However, it is becoming increasingly more popular and it has gotten A LOT more savvy than what most people were used to back in the day. Do you remember the old days of cutting out pictures from magazines and putting them away into a special keepsake box for when that magical day finally rolled around? I know I do and I know others do too!

A wedding inspiration board is a fantastic way to share your vision with your wedding planner and other vendors involved in the design of your big day! With everything from colors, flowers and styles you like, your wedding inspiration board isÂ a collage of images and photographs which represent the spirit and tone of your wedding, and it can be created by you (the bride) or your event planner/designer. Don’t be afraid to verbally share your vision and let someone else put together an inspiration board to match! It’s all about creating the day you dream of!

Here are some great examples of wedding inspiration boards to get your mind moving:

Photos taken from Project Wedding.

If you’re looking for a regular doses of wedding inspiration, you can hop on over to Snippet & Ink. They do a great job of putting together awesome daily inspirations, guaranteed to get you thinking. There are also lots of great online tools to help you get started on your inspiration board creation, i.e. WeddingWire, Picassa or even The Dessy Group. In the long run, having an inspiration board will help keep everyone on the same page about your vision, not to mention they are super fun to put together!!

Happy photo collage-ing! Cheers!

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Creating Your Wedding Binder

Ashley — Wed, 05 May 2010 02:35:40 +0000

Wedding binders aren’t just a tool for your wedding planner anymore! They’re a quick and easy way to help you maintain your sanity throughout the planning process. However, your planner may have a special obsession with wedding binders, ehem speaking of myself here, so you may still want to leave it up to them to create. I realized this weekend as I was putting together a binder for an August wedding, that there is not much that I LOVE more than a neat and well organized wedding binder.

And the best part about your wedding binder is how much easier it can make your life! Whether you put together your own binder or you have a planner that does it for you, trust me when I say that it is one of the best decisions you will ever make! Do I sound a little crazy yet??

To get you going, here are a few basic tips for putting your binder together:

Use tabbed dividers, the kind you can write or print on.
Label the tabs with vendor name or vendor type.
Include all contracts, payment information, receipts, etc.
Include all relevant emails regarding your big day.
Don’t forget your sheet protectors – you’ll need these for any smaller items.
Make it fun – use fun colors, fonts and paper to entertain yourself!
Grab your hole punch and get to work!

I know it seems like this may take a little time, but in the end you’ll thank me for it, and you’ll thank yourself! Why, you ask?

Because everything is in one place!
All the details are and WILL be easy to find!
You might just get to keep your sanity, and…
If you’ve hired a wedding planner, he or she will love you for it!

Remember, if push comes to shove or if you’re really just not a binder person, have your wedding planner help you! Not to mention your planner will top it all off with the always important wedding day schedule! And if you’re in St. Louis, just give me a call, because f you haven’t heard making binders is one of my most favorite activities in the entire world!!

Happy hole punching! Cheers!

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Tips for Your Wedding Registry

Ashley — Sat, 01 May 2010 04:43:02 +0000

If you’ve ever registered for wedding gifts before, you may know that it’s not quite as exhilarating as what you originally dreamed. Likely involved in the registration process are your not-so-interested groom and a pushy salesperson encouraging you to register for everything in sight! If you have a man who’s gung-ho about registering, then you’ve found yourself a gem there and he’s a keeper! However, most girls will experience the guy who could care less about what plate setting or flatware you choose!

If you’re new to the registration process, here are some quick tips to keep in mind as you begin to build your wish list. By no means is this a complete list, but it certainly includes some things I have learned a long the way.

If you don’t need everything, don’t register for everything! If you do, you’ll just end up with A LOT of stuff that will never get used or you’ll end up returning!
If you love a store, but aren’t sure what to register for, consider selecting the option for gift cards! It’s easy for you and also easy for your guests since they don’t have to sift through a long list of items!
Already have everything you need? Think about alternate gift options, i.e. Honeymoon Wishes. Or, consider having your guests donate money to your favorite charity or not-for-profit organization.
Are you really just interested in receiving money, the cash kind? Keep in mind that you’re chances of receiving money increase when you register for less!

And now the drum roll for some of the best places to register in St. Louis and nationwide:

Oh yes I did throw a Home Depot out there! You didn’t read it incorrectly! Picking a store that your groom finds useful may just make the process more fun in the long run, not to mention your husband-to-be can register for a really cool lawn mower (or something like that)!

Long story made short, registering can be fun when you make it what you want. Don’t feel pressured by a salesperson or guests suggesting you register for two of everything in the store! Register for what you need and hope for the best! Happy shopping! Cheers!

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Do Table Linens Make a Difference?

Ashley — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:00:05 +0000

Short answer: YES!! Longer answer: OMG yes they can make a huge difference in the overall design of your big day! I recently heard from a St. Louis event designer, Mr. Rob Schaefer from Steven Becker Fine Dining, that linens are an easy (and INEXPENSIVE) way to bring a pop of color to the room, which can save you money elsewhere. Are you lacking a big flower budget? Throw on some print linens, put out votive candles and call it a day! Looking to make the room look a little more expensive? Select some colorful matte linens to add a touch of class!

Now, the best part about linens is that they come in all shapes, sizes, colors and fabrics…and did I mention they are pretty economical too? While I would never claim to be a linen expert (just yet), this IS something every event planner needs to be knowledgeable of! And if you are wondering just how important linen selection is, look no further than the one and only Martha Stewart. She’ll tell you how it is! Also, if you’re in need of a linen crash course, Liene Stevens can help you out as well!

And now on to some pictures of amazing tables…transformed with a little help from the ever so simple, yet completely fabulous table linen!

Pictures taken from BBJ Linen.

Simple concept, nothing new to the industry but definitely powerful! If you’re getting married in the near future be sure to check out your local linen supplier. Right here in St. Louis we have several, so don’t hesitate to make it happen! And if you still like a little color elsewhere (ehem…the flowers) be sure to contact your local florist as well…even if it’s just for a little something here and there.

Happy linen picking! Cheers!

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