Archive for May, 2009

Selecting Your Wedding Musicians

May

Suggestions For Selecting Your Wedding Musicians

by: Kathie Nicolet

Many brides are so overwhelmed by having to make 2,156 decisions in planning their wedding ceremonies and receptions to ensure their absolutely perfect wedding day. What to choose? Silver or gold table linens? Chicken or salmon? Pink roses or delphiniums?

Please, allow me to assist you in selecting your wedding musicians.

As a Professional Chicago Pianist and Wedding Musician for over 21 years, I have been a significant part of thousands of celebrations that included “behind the scenes” negotiations, phone discussions, music selections, rehearsals, recommendations for additional vendors, etc. Particular brides were searching for ONLY the best, and I’d like to share suggestions in how you can do the same to ensure YOUR special day being memorable, beautiful, and special.

# 1 Relax and trust the wedding professionals to help you by virtue of our expertise! We have had countless years of experience and witnessed almost every possible scenario imaginable. I, personally, have seen a bride faint just before saying “ I do”, brides who heard the Bridal March and just stood in the doorway, frozen — (The ring bearer had forgotten the ring on the 16th floor of the hotel!), ceremonies starting 45 minutes late because Uncle Bob took a wrong turn driving to the church, etc. Despite the challenges presented, these weddings were absolutely beautiful ~ with much credit given to professional vendors who knew how to handle them! When selecting your vendors, be sure they can offer you top references and have professional materials to share that represent a quality business. If your phone calls are not handled professionally and promptly, you are wise to go to someone else.

Remember: You are planning one wedding. We help plan thousands!

Many people are looking for value today and may believe that because Aunt Frannie plays the piano, she’d be perfect as your cocktail pianist! Aunt Frannie may know ” Let Me Call You Sweetheart” ~ but do you want to hear it 35 times in an hour? Will your guests be disappointed because she doesn’t know how to play anything else? Let Aunt Frannie be a guest. Leave the music to the professional who has a wide repertoire for everyone present. We are trained to take requests, play polished, professional arrangements ~ and do it all while smiling and carrying on a conversation without taking our hands off the keys!!

# 2 All beautiful, elegant, wedding ceremonies and receptions will have “live” music. Please leave your CDs in the car. If you are absolutely on the tightest budget, you can hire a solo musician for what two dinner entrees or a lovely floral centerpiece would cost you. It’s smart not to “ cut corners” with ambience. Music sets the tone for your day. Your guests WILL notice! Keep this thought in mind, as well, for your wedding showers, rehearsal dinners, and your post-nuptial champagne brunches!! A celebration without music is ONLY a meeting.

# 3 Ask your friends to share names of Chicago vendors they have dealt with for their special occasions. If you don’t know of anyone, the facility where you are planning your event usually has a list of Preferred Musicians for Wedding Ceremonies/Receptions/Corporate Events that include wonderful people such as Bands/Orchestras/DJ’s/Florists/Photographers/Caterers/Videogrpahers, etc. Just ask your Catering Coordinator for their list of Professional Musicians In Chicago. This is the best possible resource you can find in that recommended vendors do not PAY to be listed!! Preferred vendors are, specifically, recommended for consistent quality service and impeccable reputations. Anyone can get listed in a phone book or a wedding magazine for a fee. Recommendations will cost you nothing but are tremendously valuable resources. If the facility recommends someone superior who your guests are talking about for weeks to come following your wedding, this reflects extremely well upon the vendor and the facility. If WE look good, THEY look good!!

#4 Chicago brides planning Catholic wedding ceremonies need to consult with the Musical Director of their local churches before selecting musicians. It is common practice for the church to REQUIRE you utilize their “in house” musicians and will not allow you to bring in “outside” vendors. The church often has an “approved” list of musical selections allowed. Be sure to call first.

Congratulations on your special day! For those seeking recommendations for additional Chicago vendors, please contact me, anytime ~ !! My personal recommendations are provided as complimentary service for those seeking only the BEST that Chicago has to offer for YOUR Special, Successful Day!!

Warmest Regards,

Kathie Nicolet

About The Author: Kathie Nicolet, Chicago Pianist For Beautiful Wedding Ceremonies And Receptions Since 1983. www.knicoletpiano.com, Phone: 630 830 2345, Preferred Vendor Chicago History Museum, Hyatt/Hilton/Doubletree/Westin Hotels – Von Maur Lead Pianist – St. Charles. Copyright 2007 All Rights Reserved K L Nicolet Article Cannot Be Reproduced, Duplicated Or Reprinted Without Permission

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Wedding Day for Bride’s Mother

May

So, you’re daughter is getting married and you’re about to find out just what goes into making her perfect wedding day.

Of course, almost all the decisions will be hers, but she’ll probably need some motherly advice and wisdom along the way.

Here’s just a few of the items that you’ll be helping her with:

Wedding Invitations – compiling the list of wedding guests, for both the bride and groom, and sending out invitations

Choosing Her Gown – she may or may not want your help with this, if she has sisters or close friends

Flowers & Centerpieces – this is where your experience may be most useful, in helping to choose appropriate flowers and plan arrangements

Who Pays for What – you, and her father, are usually expected to pick up the majority of wedding expenses.

On The Day – you’ll probably be a whirl of activity, picking up flowers & corsages, visiting the hair salon, helping the bride with her hair and dress, as well as those all-important final touches

So, that’s all very well and, as a mother, you’ll probably feel delighted and privileged to help your daughter in preparing for her special day. But what about you?

Mums often forget that they’ll also be a focus of attention as mother of the bride, so it’s important to consider your own preparations and plan in some stress-free time for yourself too.

Here’s a few tips to help keep the stress levels down and the enjoyment levels at maximum :

Choosing Your Outfit – don’t leave this enjoyable task to the last minute, instead go shopping with a friend and take time to get the perfect style for you.

Delegate – if you have good friends who can help, don’t be afraid to ask them. After all, you’ll some day have the opportunity to return the favor.

Chat or Blog – it can really help to share the load if you can spend time talking through your anxieties with a friend. Or why not start a blog of your experiences leading up to the day, at least that way, when your wedding florist cancels in the week before the wedding, you’ll have somewhere to share it and get some helpful tips. It can also help you regain a sense of humor, when you’re sharing a story with others.

Pamper Yourself – book in regular facials in the months leading up to the wedding. In the week before the actual wedding day, book in for a pedicure and manicure, as well as a relaxing massage and facial – by this time, you’ll be needing some stress-busting techniques and will appreciate the pampering!

One of the hardest moments for any mom, is to see her little girl leave for her honeymoon, even though this is, of course, also a very happy occasion. Why not plan something special for yourself to do in the week after the wedding, perhaps a short break or holiday, a treat out with friends and family, so that you can not only have a well earned break, but begin to focus on building your life after months spend planning a wedding.

Best wishes for a wonderful day for both you and your daughter!

About the Author: Jen Carter so enjoyed being the mother of the groom at her sons wedding, that she started a website to help both the mothers of the bride and groom understand their role in the days leading up to the big day.

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Wedding Music eBook Now Available

May

Wedding Music eBook Now Available For WeddingMuseum.com Members

WeddingMuseum.com, a leading source for wedding music suggestions, now offers a free wedding music ebook for its members. The 66 page eBook can be viewed, downloaded and printed directly on your computer. Find song suggestions for the wedding ceremony and reception. Song lists include formal dance song suggestions and many “best of” lists.

May 12, 2009 — WeddingMuseum.com recently announced the release of Wedding Music eBook Version 1.0. The sixty-six page pdf file is available for free to all WeddingMuseum.com members. There is also no fee to join WeddingMuseum.com. Members can view the wedding music ebook in their browser with the option to print and download the file.

The Wedding Music eBook offers songs suggestions for a wedding ceremony. Songs for the ceremony include processional and recessional songs. Song suggestions for formal dances at a wedding reception include first dance songs, father/daughter dance songs, mother/son dance songs, bridal party songs and in-law dance songs. Wedding reception event songs include grand entrance songs, cake cutting songs, bouquet toss songs, garter removal/toss/placement songs, and last dance songs.

In addition, the Wedding Music eBook offers song suggestions from many types of music including “best of” country, rock, jazz, polka, r&b, dance. reggae, swing and more. The ebook also includes “best of” era songs from the sixties through the nineties. With a compilation of approximately 1,000 songs, members get a wide variety of music without being overwhelmed with hundreds upon thousands of songs to sift through.

For more information about the Wedding Music eBook, contact Matt Campbell or visit the Wedding Music eBook web page. WeddingMuseum.com also lists all the songs in the ebook on the web site with options to view lyrics, and listen and buy songs on iTunes and Amazon. To see an interactive list of all wedding music suggestions visit Wedding Songs.

WeddingMuseum.com, which started in July 2003, is an online wedding planning web site, offering personalized wedding web pages, planning tools and ideas, including music suggestions and vendor listings. Matt Campbell is the Webmaster of WeddingMuseum.com and has 10 years experience as a mobile DJ.

Contact:
Matt Campbell, Webmaster
WeddingMuseum.com
702-205-6874
http://www.weddingmuseum.com

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5 Biggest Wedding Preparation and Planning Mistakes

May

The Five Biggest Wedding Preparation and Planning Mistakes

Just as with any big show, your wedding day will not be perfect – but that’s okay. While you cannot plan ahead for every little detail or problematic situation that may arise, you can arm yourself with some helpful advice to be prepared at all times for any potential wedding mistakes. But before you begin planning your special day, consider these five biggest wedding preparation and planning mistakes that amateur ‘wedding planners’ often make.

1. Not Budgeting Costs

It’s hard to believe, but true – many couples do not create a budget when it comes to wedding preparation and end up in a deep hole of debt. The very first thing you should do to avoid disastrous (and bankrupting) wedding mistakes is devise an itemized budget, allowing for the necessary requirements, such as a venue for both the ceremony and reception, food and drinks, flowers, favors, decorations, etc. If anything is left over, either use this money for your honeymoon or spend it on something a little more frivolous, like a horse drawn carriage for your departure from the reception.

Budgeting ahead of time also involves your acknowledging the fact that you may surpass the total by at least 10%. Surprises do happen, so cutting back on other needless things will ensure that you don’t go over budget too much. In these initial wedding preparation stages, you and your fiancé need to discuss who will be paying for what. It used to be that the bride’s parents paid for everything, but this ideal is slowly fading away. If you’re still coming up short on funds, there are literally hundreds of ways to cut costs for your wedding day, including having fewer guests, choosing an off-season date, selecting flowers that are in season, and having friends and family play a bigger part by making the wedding cake or trying their hand at photography.

2. Not Giving Yourself Enough Time

The image of the harried bride has been engrained into the psyche through a number of television shows that hype up the combination of little to no time and a ‘my way or the highway’ attitude. This is why giving yourself ample wedding preparation time is necessary to ensuring that your wedding flows seamlessly. If you want a large, extravagant wedding, you need to begin planning at least a year and a half in advance; for a smaller, more intimate wedding of about 50 guests, eight months to a year is fine. You need to take into account what your plans are for your wedding and adjust your schedule accordingly to prevent costly wedding mistakes from occurring.

Giving yourself more wedding preparation time allows you to order your cake, dress, wedding favors, flowers, decorations, etc. well in advance so that you don’t come up empty-handed from last minute rushing. Allotting enough time also applies to your wedding ceremony and reception. Don’t keep your guests waiting at the reception venue while you and your wedding party are taking hundreds of photos – consider taking a majority of the pictures before the ceremony and the all-important couple, wedding party, and family pictures after the vows have been exchanged.

3. Not Delegating Responsibilities

Delegating responsibilities, wedding preparation tasks, and roles is vital – you cannot do everything! For brides, their bridesmaids are there to help them with the important duties of the wedding day, so creating a short list of responsibilities for each friend is not unexpected. Mothers, family members, and friends are also glad to help run a few errands or make calls for you if you ask. Just make sure you ask someone you know will get the job done on time.

Part of the wedding experience also relies on a number of people who require detailed wedding preparation directives from you, such as the caterer, photographer, florist, transportation and/or drivers, and DJ. Discussing your ideas with them ensures that you can work together on the same wavelength and avoid embarrassing wedding mistakes during the actual reception. You should also arrange for the wedding party to meet at the church or the wedding ceremony location at a specified time. Corralling so many people at the same time is what leads many couples to pick up the wedding party members at their homes. Late arriving wedding party members is one of the most frequent and sometimes uncontrollable wedding mistakes a bride and groom have to deal with.

4. Not Hiring a Wedding Planner or Someone You Trust

Many brides swear by their wedding planners, and yes, it’s true that they take care of just about everything involved in wedding preparation and planning, preventing a number of the more common wedding mistakes brides make. It’s kind of like you and your fiancé are the stars, while the wedding planner works behind the scenes for your big performance, seeing everything from start to finish. Wedding planners know all the ins and outs of great wedding preparation and planning and can help the couple find reliable caterers, bridal attire and supply stores, transportation, and DJs at lower prices. Before signing any contracts, however, talk with the wedding planner to see if it’s a situation you’re happy with.
While incredibly helpful, wedding planners can also be pricey, unfortunate for the bride who is trying to cut costs. This scenario goes back to delegating responsibilities – ask someone you trust to help you make wedding preparation arrangements and appointments with each wedding supply store and/or vendor. You can even scale back operations and have a simplistic wedding that you plan or DIY completely to save money.

5. Not Fully Considering the Reception Venue and Details

Sending your guests on a wild goose chase to find the reception venue is something that happens more often than you’d think and is one of the biggest wedding mistakes couples overlook. For out-of-town guests, this is confusing; for in-town guests, it’s an annoyance. Choosing a reception venue that’s close to the wedding site is a must, unless you provide the transportation to and from the reception. More than 15 – 20 minutes away is a hassle, and some guests may not even bother going if it’s farther than that.

Otherwise, if your reception venue is outside (or exposed to the elements), rain and windy conditions may appear so you should always have a back up in cases of inclement weather. A rained out wedding reception is one of the more common wedding mistakes brides have neglected to plan for. Part of the wedding preparation necessities should also include your requesting the venue’s landscaper to spray for bugs so your guests aren’t being bitten by mosquitoes and gnats.

Learn to Laugh Off Those Wedding Mistakes

Pre-wedding preparation, while helpful, will inevitably miss some little detail of your big day. These wedding mistakes (or, more likely, minor ‘blips’) are to be expected and may even provide a funny moment for you and your fiancé to laugh about in the future. Wedding mistakes do and will happen, but you shouldn’t be bothered by them. Simply go on with the show and smile – no one will know the difference!

About the Author: Cherie Johnson is the founder and owner of Creative Bride, a one-stop shop for personalized, unique baby and bridal shower, graduation, quinceañera, anniversary, and wedding favors, helping countless couples and families make their big events a success. Cherie’s wedding advice has appeared on several websites including Little Wedding Guide, Wedding Lenox, and The Wedding Source. Before she launched her company in 2006, Cherie worked as a professional wedding photographer, capturing the most special moments of the bride and groom’s big day. For more information on Creative Bride or to find a variety of colorful, customizable gifts and favors, please visit www.Creative-Bride.com.

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How to choose the right wedding invitation

May

How to choose the right wedding invitation

Your special day is coming up, and you are feeling the pre-wedding jitters — there is so much to do. Hopefully, you have the support of your family and closest friends — they can carry some of the load, but you, too, have your own sizable burden to bear. You have to choose your dress, pick a location for the wedding and reception, create a guest list, and pick out the perfect wedding invitation design that will capture the romance, and uniqueness, of your special day. There is a lot on your plate, but choosing a wedding invitation does not have to be a stressful event.

There are a few ways to go about choosing wedding invitations for your wedding day — you can go the cheap-o, economical route, where you purchase pre-made wedding invitations with designs ranging from plain-Jane to extravagant, you can create your own wedding invitations by hand, or you can custom-order invitations that match your style, mood, and wedding perfectly. While there are a few variations within these three general areas — these are the most common wedding invitation choices.

The economical wedding invitation is usually reserved for those who are on a tight budget, who do not have a lot of time to spend on the invitations themselves, or who really don’t care, one way or another, what their invitations look like. Using a store-purchased wedding invitation set may also be a good idea if you have hundreds of guests. Just because a wedding invitation set is economical, does not mean that it will be “ugly” or take away from the specialness of your day — these invitations may not convey the romance of your once-in-a-lifetime event, but they can do the job, nonetheless.

Handmade invitations, or DIY invitations, are very special, and convey sentiments that cannot be expressed through a common wedding invitation. However, as creating invitations by hand can take a long time, these are not recommended for those with a large wedding guest-list. For small, personal weddings, or for very close family members, they can be very fitting and even appreciated.

The custom-order or luxury wedding invitation is well suited for no-expense-spared weddings, smaller weddings, or for guests of honor who you are inviting to your ceremony. These types of invitations can match the look, feel, and even color theme of your wedding, while offering a special keepsake for your most prized attendees.

Preparing for your wedding can be burdensome enough, and weighing out your choices for the perfect wedding invitation set should not add to the load. One thing to remember, though — even if you, or your soon-to-be significant other, are indifferent toward the design of your wedding invitation, this does not mean that your closest friends and family feel the same way. For some, your wedding invitation is a memento that your loved ones will keep for years to come. Even if you’re trying to plan a budget-conscious wedding, try to provide your closest friends and family with a special gift — a special invitation — that at least partially conveys what they mean to you. This is just one small way that you can thank your loved ones for everything that they have done for you.

About The Author: Mr. Anunpas. Polnara. Keep the memory of your wedding day alive with unique wedding invitations by Thai Silk Box. View our custom wedding invitations at http://www.thaisilkbox.com

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