As 2008 winds down to a close, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for visiting me at my place here in the blogosphere. This has become a great outlet for me to share a little more of what I think, envision and query about in regards to weddings, parties and life in general. For those of you who've taken a second out to respond to a post - thank you. To those of you who took a moment to even glance at what I wrote - I say thank you again. And for those of you who've added Confessions Of The WeddingDIVA to your respective blogrolls - MANY THANKS!!
I'm always amazed at the job I have - and the unique opportunity it affords me to witness love all of the time. Thanks to all of the brides and grooms who put the care of their weddings into my hands - I sincerely appreciate your trust. For my couples who've said "I DO" in 2008 - I so enjoyed being a small part of your day..and for those lovely ladies and handsome gents who are about to "leap into da' land of matrimony" in 2009 - enjoy the ride!!
I look forward to seeing all of you in 2009 - same place, same channel. I wish all of you a very Happy New Year, filled with blessings, prosperity, peace - and LOVE.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend
My last post was all about the 72 hours following the big "question"..but I'd be remiss if I didn't ask - "What does your ring look like?" I admit to absolutely LOVING diamonds - in every way. When I got engaged all of those years ago, I had a simple solitaire - round cut, set with traditional 6 prongs. However - should I ever remarry (hey - you never know, it could happen!), I know what I want. I want a beautiful Asscher-cut ring, set in platinum. I'm not finicky about the carat weight, but I am a stickler for clarity and quality.
Not many folks are familiar with this style of diamond, but it is simply gorgeous! The way the stone is polished gives it a "hall of mirrors" effect, so no matter which way you view it - stunning is probably the only word you'll come up with....
All Shiny & New!!!
Happy Holidays to everyone!! As we wind down from the glitter and excitement of Christmas and Hanukah, there are many of you who really got something that sparkles as your holiday gift this year!
The holiday season is one of the most popular for engagements - although it has not been scientifically proven, my theory is that it might have something to do with the fact that everyone is in a giving mood, and it's the perfect time to get down on bended knee in front of EVERYONE to pop the question :)
Now what? You've got that gorgeous ring on your finger - has your mind starting racing? If so, let me put the brakes on for you..for a moment. The best piece of advice I can give you is to take 72 hours (3 days) and just soak in the wonder of saying "Yes, I'll marry you". This is a time that's so wonderful and emotional...so you need to enjoy every minute. That means for 3 days, no talk of wedding plans, no speculation of budgets, no looking at wedding websites and magazines...nada, nothing. For the next 72 hours..just look at each other and realize what a special time this is in your lives.
On day 4 - you can get started. I might be a bit biased on my next statement - but what the heck! Start compiling a short list of professional wedding planners to contact. You can go online, through local wedding websites and magazines or you can ask friends who've recently married..but don't wait on this part of the equation. Pulling together an awesome wedding celebration, no matter what your budget, is truly more than a notion. As planners, we can help you look at the situation from a realistic standpoint - not through rose colored glasses. And no - we are not a luxury. We are the ones who can truly make your event sing a majestic song, and keep you sane during the process.
So, if you got engaged on Christmas Eve - you've got one more day to stare at that ring. Did he pop the question on Christmas Day? The 29th is your date to get things started. This can be a great process for everyone involved...just be realistic and clear from the jump on what's important to you in the long run.
And if you are getting hitched in the Baltimore-D.C. area, give me a ring (no pun intended) - my team and I would be honored to make your wedding the most magical day ever......
The holiday season is one of the most popular for engagements - although it has not been scientifically proven, my theory is that it might have something to do with the fact that everyone is in a giving mood, and it's the perfect time to get down on bended knee in front of EVERYONE to pop the question :)
Now what? You've got that gorgeous ring on your finger - has your mind starting racing? If so, let me put the brakes on for you..for a moment. The best piece of advice I can give you is to take 72 hours (3 days) and just soak in the wonder of saying "Yes, I'll marry you". This is a time that's so wonderful and emotional...so you need to enjoy every minute. That means for 3 days, no talk of wedding plans, no speculation of budgets, no looking at wedding websites and magazines...nada, nothing. For the next 72 hours..just look at each other and realize what a special time this is in your lives.
On day 4 - you can get started. I might be a bit biased on my next statement - but what the heck! Start compiling a short list of professional wedding planners to contact. You can go online, through local wedding websites and magazines or you can ask friends who've recently married..but don't wait on this part of the equation. Pulling together an awesome wedding celebration, no matter what your budget, is truly more than a notion. As planners, we can help you look at the situation from a realistic standpoint - not through rose colored glasses. And no - we are not a luxury. We are the ones who can truly make your event sing a majestic song, and keep you sane during the process.
So, if you got engaged on Christmas Eve - you've got one more day to stare at that ring. Did he pop the question on Christmas Day? The 29th is your date to get things started. This can be a great process for everyone involved...just be realistic and clear from the jump on what's important to you in the long run.
And if you are getting hitched in the Baltimore-D.C. area, give me a ring (no pun intended) - my team and I would be honored to make your wedding the most magical day ever......
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Another "DISH-worthy" Item
I found out about KLEAN Bath & Body from my media-savvy friend, Peter Shankman, over at Help A Reporter Out.com (affectionately known as HARO) and since I am a nut about fragrance, I had to check it out! I'm so glad I did - it is such a beautiful line of body indulgent pamperings - from sweet sugar scrubs, soothing shea butters and scintillating scents, all eco-friendly, all delicious!!
For all of you brides-to-be, this is another cool idea for your attendants, ditto for additions to amenity or restroom baskets, out-of-town gift bags...the list is pretty much endless. And for those of you who haven't done a lick of holiday shopping (their "Scrub Of The Month Club" sounds perfect!) - I'm thinking it will work for you too.
Note to self: finish Christmas shopping :)
Monday, December 15, 2008
The DIVA's DISH
Today's DISH is all about pure, indulgent comfort.
I have a small "vice" - I absolutely adore watching television. For me, it's a way to escape the hectic rigors of a very busy existence and just take time to do nothing at all. From political gabfests, to cooking shows, home improvement ideas and old black & white movies on AMC, I love the escapism that the telly provides.
To make the picture complete, I also need my pajamas. Comfortable, pretty pj's that are cute enough to be worn in mixed company, at a slumber party with my best girls or just darn cute enough for me to enjoy them :). In between my daily dose of political "speak", an intriguing commercial caught my eye and gave me inspiration for the latest DISH..
PajamaGram.com. Have you heard of it yet? If not, let me be the first to give you an introduction! This company is the fine purveyor of a wide variety of comfortable, pretty, cozy sleepwear that comes beautifully packaged for the receiver. You can choose from an assortment of loungwear/nightware that runs the gamut from sweetly innocent to delightfully sexy and a few places in between. The pj's are packaged up in a lovely hatbox (great for storage later or as a cool gift box) along with a "Do Not Disturb" sign and a scented lavender sachet. As I watched the commercial, I immediately thought, "what a great idea for bridesmaids gifts!". You can personalize it so that it really does reflect the nature of the recipient - add in a cooling aqua gel eye mask, a deliciously scented candle or maybe a deck of cards, reflecting on "52 Ways To Pamper Yourself" (my favorite).
Since they also have offerings for the gentlemen...this would make a really nice gift for a couple's shower..or any other occasion (Valentine's Day, birthdays, just-because-I-think-your-special). The giving of gifts to the wedding party can sometimes be a daunting task, but ideas like PajamaGram.com make the task a bit easier!!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Can You Spend One Million Dollars?
On the latest episode on "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?", my colleague, James Tramondo of NYC-based DAVI Weddings, is tasked with the planning of a million-dollar shindig for the bride and groom. And I've seen a lot of feedback, with most folks asking "what do you spend 1 millon dollars on?" My answer - anything you want.
Let's be honest - everyone's checkbook and credit card lines are decidedly different. So what may seem extravagant to one person may indeed be commonplace for another. As a planner, I can tell you - it's not hard to spend that kind of money. Certain line items in a budget (or spending parameters as some of my clients like to call it) are going to be larger, namely food, location and decor. The wedding that James was working on was held in one of the more expensive cities in the United States - good ole' New York City. Weddings in NYC and Los Angeles tend to be pricier that the average of $30,000. When you add in sophisticated technology (i.e. the plasma screens), a gorgeous locale (Bryant Park and the New York Public Library), linens, florals, entertainment - oh yes, the numbers on the calculator keep growing.
Over the past 16 years, I've planned weddings where the budgets were extremely modest (less than $10,000) and where spending parameters were much larger (over $100,000). The ones that stand out to me the most are the events where the bride and groom took the time to think about the comfort of their guests, the overall "vibe" they wanted to have, attention to detail and most importantly - how they wished to celebrate their love and committment with those who meant the most to them.
On the the flip side - it's also about personal taste and desires. I admit to having a thing for dropping some serious cash on shoes...it's one of my "quirks". But I know folks who won't pay a dime over $29.99 for anything that goes on their feet, however - I'm not one of them :). That goes back to the "what you like, is what you like" theory - if you've got the dollars and it's the lifestyle to which you are accustomed, who am I to say you can't spend it?
I think this is a scenario where most people will sit on one side of the fence - those who don't mind writing the checks and those who see it as frivolous. At the end of the day, it isn't about what we think....nope, this is definitely about the two people saying "I Do" and how they wish to celebrate. For the rest of us - let's just sit back and allow them to enjoy it.....
Let's be honest - everyone's checkbook and credit card lines are decidedly different. So what may seem extravagant to one person may indeed be commonplace for another. As a planner, I can tell you - it's not hard to spend that kind of money. Certain line items in a budget (or spending parameters as some of my clients like to call it) are going to be larger, namely food, location and decor. The wedding that James was working on was held in one of the more expensive cities in the United States - good ole' New York City. Weddings in NYC and Los Angeles tend to be pricier that the average of $30,000. When you add in sophisticated technology (i.e. the plasma screens), a gorgeous locale (Bryant Park and the New York Public Library), linens, florals, entertainment - oh yes, the numbers on the calculator keep growing.
Over the past 16 years, I've planned weddings where the budgets were extremely modest (less than $10,000) and where spending parameters were much larger (over $100,000). The ones that stand out to me the most are the events where the bride and groom took the time to think about the comfort of their guests, the overall "vibe" they wanted to have, attention to detail and most importantly - how they wished to celebrate their love and committment with those who meant the most to them.
On the the flip side - it's also about personal taste and desires. I admit to having a thing for dropping some serious cash on shoes...it's one of my "quirks". But I know folks who won't pay a dime over $29.99 for anything that goes on their feet, however - I'm not one of them :). That goes back to the "what you like, is what you like" theory - if you've got the dollars and it's the lifestyle to which you are accustomed, who am I to say you can't spend it?
I think this is a scenario where most people will sit on one side of the fence - those who don't mind writing the checks and those who see it as frivolous. At the end of the day, it isn't about what we think....nope, this is definitely about the two people saying "I Do" and how they wish to celebrate. For the rest of us - let's just sit back and allow them to enjoy it.....
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