Another "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" Update

So.................looks like my latest installment will be airing on June 12th at 10 p.m. Check it out if you can!!!!!!

When People Don't RSVP....

As a wedding planner - one of my pet PEEVES is when folks don't bother to respond to the invitation a couple has sent for their event. I mean - let's be for real, shall we??

If someone takes the time and effort to think about YOU and put YOU on their guest list, and pay good money for YOU to attend their wedding so YOU can eat, drink and be merry - don't YOU think that YOU can take a minute out of your busy schedule to simply check off "yes" or "no" on the pretty card, place it back in the envelope (that does have a stamp on it) and drop it in the mail, by the deadline specified? Is it that hard? Is it really rocket science to complete this small, but highly important task?

Okay - I know we are all busy, but weddings are not cheap. The bride and groom are exerting much effort into carefully crafting a group of guests that they wish to share this day with. Along with that "crafting", comes the financial portion - which generally revolves around the reception. Speaking as the planner - I NEED to know who's coming, and who's not. Because in order for me to make it pretty - there are certain factors where numbers come into play. And since the per-person cost is averaging around $70 minimum (in the Baltimore area), the bride and groom need to know so they can govern themselves and their checkbooks accordingly.

To all of you who do the right thing and send back your responses in the allotted time period - let me say "Thank You!!".

But, for those of you who think that the couple will somehow "magically" know that you plan on attending, just because they "know" you...think again -they are not psychic mind readers who can conjure up your thought processes. And - there are some folks out there who think that a phone call to the bride or groom's (or parent's) voice mail on the morning of the wedding is a sufficient response. Newsflash - it ain't!!!!!!

So when you show up at the reception and your name is not on the "list", don't get upset. And please, don't beat up (or try to) myself or my staff because you are not listed. See - that's why you send back that little card which comes in the invitation...so you can be accounted for! Being rude or impolite to me will get you absolutely nowhere..actually, no - that's wrong. For 99% of my clients, they have given me authority to only seat and accomodate those persons whose names reside on the guest list...the rest of you, well - that's a "no can do". So...being rude to me will, indeed, actually get you "somewhere"..outside of the door looking in.

And please understand this - I'm really a nice person. I just don't like seeing my couples being slammed and sideswiped by inconsiderate people. I'm protective of my brides and grooms - and they know that. This is their special day - which they've carefully crafted to be memorable. Folks who just decide to "show up"...are not a part of the vision.

Okay....I'm off my soapbox - for now.

Wedding Season

is truly upon us!! One of the main reasons I haven't been able to blog as much as I wanted to is because I'm literally inudated with weddings. Back to back, front to front, my existence right now is truly centered upon making sure that my brides and grooms get down the aisle in style and celebrate like nobody's business!!!

I want to extend my congratulations and heartfelt "thank you's " to the following couples who most graciously allowed myself and my fabulous team to be a small part of their wedding events:

Mr. & Mrs. Bernard and Doreen Hogans
April 7, 2007

Mr. & Mrs. Marc and Tia Diggs
May 5, 2007

Mr. & Mrs. Shannon and Takeitha Lawson
May 12, 2007

AND congrats go out to these couples whose special day is right on the horizon!!!
Sarah Rosensteen & Rob McCracken
June 9, 2007

Mobola Kadiri & Joe Kingston
June 9, 2007

Neshelle Nelson & Charles Cortez
June 23, 2007

Candice Smith & Mark Wilkerson
June 30, 2007

Tameka Murdock & Kevin Chatmon
July 7, 2007

Kay Patterson & Tom Shaw
July 7, 2007

Truly - it has been a pleasure working with all of these wonderful couples in helping to bring their wedding to life!!!

The DIVA Returneth...

back to blogging - that is! Ah....things have been soooooo busy as of late and I've been remiss in my blogging responsibilities! I sincerely apologize - trust me, I've got plenty of stories, pictures, observations to share with all of you..give me a minute and I'll be writing at warp speed!!!!!

A chip off the old block...

I am a proud mother of two - and my eldest was honored last week in New York City by the National Foundation For The Teaching Of Entrepreneurship (NFTE for short) as a Young Entrepreneur of The Year. This award was bestowed upon 39 young people from around the world for their accomplishments as new business start-ups.

You heard it right - my son owns his own business. A computer design and consulting business, to be exact. Terra Byte Technologies can design a customized system for you and help with the maintenance of it - it's so cool to have my own "tech guy" at home, when stuff acts up - he's johnny on the spot! And - he's only 18 years old!!!!!

Both of my children have grown up watching their mom build her business - so I like to think that I've had a wee bit of influence on how they view the working world. For my son, I have watched him from the sidelines as he's tinkered with everything in sight - and now, he's at the helm of his own company, determined to make it successful. During the media interviews prior to the actual awards ceremony, he said that I was a big influence on him and how he viewed owning his own business. That made me cry. Actually - I cried the entire evening. He was also the first recipient of the CA Technology Award (awarded by Computer Associates) for the innovative use of technology in his business. I cried when he walked on stage, to receive his plaque. And for a moment - all I could see was the little boy with the jeans, t-shirt and messy face, running up to me saying, "Hug Mommy, Hug!". How time does fly..............

As an entrepreneur for the past 15 years - I'll say this: Let your children know and understand that it's perfectly okay if they don't want to do the customary "9 to 5". Work is a factor of life we all deal with - but how we take it on is another story. As we were sitting in our hotel room, recapping the night's events - I told my son that he was, in fact, the "master of his destiny" and the "author of his life's manifesto". Big words - sorta kinda. But from the look on his face - I knew he understood every word I said......................