Finally. I was diagnosed with degenerative osteoarthritis of the right knee when I was 33 years old. My orthopaedic specialist told me that eventually my knee would wear out and I'd have to get a new one. Fast forward 13 years and voila! I'm going to be the Bionic Woman come this time next month :)
This has been a painful journey - even though I am a young woman (yeah - being fortysomething is like being thirtysomething to me!), there are many days when I feel absolutely old and wasted away. For those of you who've watched me on "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? - you've seen how I dash around..but I was (and still am) in an excruciating amount of pain. But that's all about to change in approximately 29 days - so I am asking all of you for your prayers and good wishes as I lose this bum knee and get a brand new, shiny, titanium one!!
I will actually be out of the office on medical leave for the remainder of the year once my surgery is done...but I will do my best to check in with everyone, just to let you know how things turned out. A new and improved WeddingDIVA is about to emerge...so watch out!!!!
Monday, September 24, 2007
Wedding Season Is Winding Down...
for me and the team here at Premiere Event Management. 2007 has been a wonderful year - full of beautiful brides, handsome grooms, gorgeous weddings and as always, the opportunity to help bring visions to life.
I always like to look over things as a season ends....so let's just call these my "Top Ten List Of Wedding Observations":
1) If you are attending a wedding as a guest - consider shipping a large gift (like a microwave or flat screen television) to the couple BEFORE the event. Honestly - I don't have anywhere to store something like that at the reception (or the church for that matter)!
2) If you get an invitation for a wedding celebration that will begin after 6 p.m. - consider wearing attire that is appropriate for an evening event. Polo shirts, jeans and pedal pushers aren't really the answer........
3) If the officiant, wedding coordinator or the program tells you that all personal communication devices (i.e., cell phones/blackberrys/sidekicks - whatever your current electronic gadget or gizmo of the moment is) need to be turned off or placed on vibrate...please honor that request. There's nothing like the minister asking if "anyone objects to this marriage" and "I'm In Love With A Stripper" ringtone is the blaringly loud response...
4) For brides and grooms - KNOW your guests! While having a 5 course meal complete with wine at each level AND Intermezzo in between may register high on your list of "must haves" for the wedding - please know that this could be a complete waste (read $$$) if your attendees can't understand or appreciate it.
5) I need someone to explain to me the utter fascination with having 20+ people in a wedding party. Please?? And when I explain to you that having 32 bridesmaids will indeed, without doubt , TANK your wedding budget of $20,0000..please understand that I am not being mean, cruel or harsh. I am being the voice of reason...which is why you come to someone like me.
6) $20,000 is not the national average for a wedding - $28K is. HOWEVER - you can have a great, beautiful event with that $20K or even less. Trust me on this one. The key? Understanding your priorities versus the wants and needs. Spend your dollars where they matter the most.
7) Just because I said a wedding is doable for $20K - please don't quote me out of context. 200+ guests or more than 5 people in your wedding party is going to make short work out of that money....
8) If you are having a professional photographer capture the images on your special day - consider it a worthwhile investment to have a professional makeup artist (not your friend who likes to "play" with lipstick) provide flawless looks for everyone in the party. You'll thank me for this one when you see your wedding images and all of your attendants look Vogue-fabulous!
9) Think about cutting back on the amount of cake you order. Yes - I know they are pretty, but I see so much of it getting wasted simply because people don't eat it. Having 150 guests? Order enough cake for 120........
10) Relax and release. I can't say this ENOUGH! This is your day - your time to love and get love from those around you. Don't sweat stuff that you can't change, don't deal with crazy folks who just simply NEED drama in their lives and most of all - don't lose sight of the person standing next to you at the altar. That person is who you'll be spending the rest of your life with - so focus on them and how happy you are on this day..
I always like to look over things as a season ends....so let's just call these my "Top Ten List Of Wedding Observations":
1) If you are attending a wedding as a guest - consider shipping a large gift (like a microwave or flat screen television) to the couple BEFORE the event. Honestly - I don't have anywhere to store something like that at the reception (or the church for that matter)!
2) If you get an invitation for a wedding celebration that will begin after 6 p.m. - consider wearing attire that is appropriate for an evening event. Polo shirts, jeans and pedal pushers aren't really the answer........
3) If the officiant, wedding coordinator or the program tells you that all personal communication devices (i.e., cell phones/blackberrys/sidekicks - whatever your current electronic gadget or gizmo of the moment is) need to be turned off or placed on vibrate...please honor that request. There's nothing like the minister asking if "anyone objects to this marriage" and "I'm In Love With A Stripper" ringtone is the blaringly loud response...
4) For brides and grooms - KNOW your guests! While having a 5 course meal complete with wine at each level AND Intermezzo in between may register high on your list of "must haves" for the wedding - please know that this could be a complete waste (read $$$) if your attendees can't understand or appreciate it.
5) I need someone to explain to me the utter fascination with having 20+ people in a wedding party. Please?? And when I explain to you that having 32 bridesmaids will indeed, without doubt , TANK your wedding budget of $20,0000..please understand that I am not being mean, cruel or harsh. I am being the voice of reason...which is why you come to someone like me.
6) $20,000 is not the national average for a wedding - $28K is. HOWEVER - you can have a great, beautiful event with that $20K or even less. Trust me on this one. The key? Understanding your priorities versus the wants and needs. Spend your dollars where they matter the most.
7) Just because I said a wedding is doable for $20K - please don't quote me out of context. 200+ guests or more than 5 people in your wedding party is going to make short work out of that money....
8) If you are having a professional photographer capture the images on your special day - consider it a worthwhile investment to have a professional makeup artist (not your friend who likes to "play" with lipstick) provide flawless looks for everyone in the party. You'll thank me for this one when you see your wedding images and all of your attendants look Vogue-fabulous!
9) Think about cutting back on the amount of cake you order. Yes - I know they are pretty, but I see so much of it getting wasted simply because people don't eat it. Having 150 guests? Order enough cake for 120........
10) Relax and release. I can't say this ENOUGH! This is your day - your time to love and get love from those around you. Don't sweat stuff that you can't change, don't deal with crazy folks who just simply NEED drama in their lives and most of all - don't lose sight of the person standing next to you at the altar. That person is who you'll be spending the rest of your life with - so focus on them and how happy you are on this day..
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
G. Garvin Is Coming To Baltimore!!!
One of my favorite television chefs, G. Garvin - of TVOne's "Turn Up The Heat" fame is coming to Charm City on Saturday, September 8th for the 3rd Annual Media Cook Off sponsored by the Association Of Black Media Workers (ABMW).
Just so y'all know - if I weren't a wedding planner, I do believe that my hands would be wrapped up in everything cuisine...that's just how much I love food and how much I love the art form know as cooking. I have been fortunate to be involved with this great group as a "celebrity chef" for their past two events - and walked away with first prize each year in my category!!! My entry was a little somethin' called "Nee-Nee's Gourmet Cornbread", served up with a side of southern-fried catfish. Hey, my family hails from the south (Lynchburg, South Carolina to be exact), so good ole' home cookin' is part of my genetic code!!!!!!!
This year, I don't have to create a signature dish....oh, no, our special guest star is doing that for all of us "celebrity chefs". Here's the deal - we have to make a dish he specifies, then he'll judge them during the evening. Pressure?? Nah - not a bit!!!!
So...for an evening of great food, amazing cuisine (you'll have a chance to savor noshes inspired by G's own recipes), live music , a terrific silent auction and the opportunity to support a good cause (The DeWayne Wickham Scholarship Fund) - come on out and join the DIVA and some of my friends for a night you won't forget!
Tickets are $50 per person and are tax-deductible. You can get tickets directly from me - just email me at Linnyette@theweddingdiva.com and I'll make sure to hook you up! The event will be held at the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park Museum located at 1471 Thames Street in Baltimore (Fells Point area) from 7-11 p.m.
See you next Saturday!!!!!!
This year, I don't have to create a signature dish....oh, no, our special guest star is doing that for all of us "celebrity chefs". Here's the deal - we have to make a dish he specifies, then he'll judge them during the evening. Pressure?? Nah - not a bit!!!!
So...for an evening of great food, amazing cuisine (you'll have a chance to savor noshes inspired by G's own recipes), live music , a terrific silent auction and the opportunity to support a good cause (The DeWayne Wickham Scholarship Fund) - come on out and join the DIVA and some of my friends for a night you won't forget!
Tickets are $50 per person and are tax-deductible. You can get tickets directly from me - just email me at Linnyette@theweddingdiva.com and I'll make sure to hook you up! The event will be held at the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park Museum located at 1471 Thames Street in Baltimore (Fells Point area) from 7-11 p.m.
See you next Saturday!!!!!!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
It's My Anniversary!
YIPPEE!!! Actually, the true "date" was August 21st - but what's a couple of days in the pot? No..it's not my wedding anniversary (been there - done that!). The occasion I am happily celebrating is all about my freedom.
The "freedom" of which I speak was liberation from my 9-5 corporate gig...it was 10 years ago that I walked away from a really cool job and took the proverbial "leap of faith" by striking out on my own and devoting myself to the business of planning wonderful weddings and events. This "anniversary" is as important to me as the birth of my children - and of course, my own B-day (which happens to be Christmas Day!).
When I wake up in the morning, I thank God for another day to do what I love - and to be with those I love. I am always so grateful and thankful that I literally took control into my hands and left the corporate grind to pursue my passion. I didn’t want to do the "shoulda, woulda , coulda" and wonder what my life may have been like had I not went out on my own. I was 35 years old at the time when I walked away from my job...and now, 10 years later...I wouldn’t change a thing!
So - if anyone out there is even thinking about fulfilling your dream of business ownership and/or entrepreneurship, allow me to share some of my "rationale" with you:
Be true to your passion. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that something can’t be done....because, that's a fallacy. It may sound cliched - but you can do whatever you want. The key - you have to want it bad enough. You have to become one with whatever your drive, your motivating factor is. You have to breathe it, eat it, sleep it, feel it - to the point where folks around you will say "Enough already!!". But you can’t let it go - you have to let it grow and ripen within your conscious self. Every moment that you spend developing and growing your business will only help you realize the dream....and that’s a tall order. It means sacrifice, sleepless nights and angst over whether or not you’re doing the right thing. However - if this is the path you want to walk on - don’t let anyone or anything knock you off your course!!!
I'll finish by sharing two of my favorite "quotes" with you....
1) "When you do what you’ve always done - you get what you’ve always gotten"
In other words - defy mediocracy.
2) "If you advance confidently in the direction of your dreams and endeavor to live the life you’ve imagined, you will meet with a success unexpected in common hours"
-Henry David Thoreau
This is the impetus that I work with all of the time - I am living my dreams and am always pushing forward to more success.
And if you take away nothing else from this post, remember this:
Being successful is the one of the most powerful motivators ever.
I guarantee it.
The "freedom" of which I speak was liberation from my 9-5 corporate gig...it was 10 years ago that I walked away from a really cool job and took the proverbial "leap of faith" by striking out on my own and devoting myself to the business of planning wonderful weddings and events. This "anniversary" is as important to me as the birth of my children - and of course, my own B-day (which happens to be Christmas Day!).
When I wake up in the morning, I thank God for another day to do what I love - and to be with those I love. I am always so grateful and thankful that I literally took control into my hands and left the corporate grind to pursue my passion. I didn’t want to do the "shoulda, woulda , coulda" and wonder what my life may have been like had I not went out on my own. I was 35 years old at the time when I walked away from my job...and now, 10 years later...I wouldn’t change a thing!
So - if anyone out there is even thinking about fulfilling your dream of business ownership and/or entrepreneurship, allow me to share some of my "rationale" with you:
Be true to your passion. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that something can’t be done....because, that's a fallacy. It may sound cliched - but you can do whatever you want. The key - you have to want it bad enough. You have to become one with whatever your drive, your motivating factor is. You have to breathe it, eat it, sleep it, feel it - to the point where folks around you will say "Enough already!!". But you can’t let it go - you have to let it grow and ripen within your conscious self. Every moment that you spend developing and growing your business will only help you realize the dream....and that’s a tall order. It means sacrifice, sleepless nights and angst over whether or not you’re doing the right thing. However - if this is the path you want to walk on - don’t let anyone or anything knock you off your course!!!
I'll finish by sharing two of my favorite "quotes" with you....
1) "When you do what you’ve always done - you get what you’ve always gotten"
In other words - defy mediocracy.
2) "If you advance confidently in the direction of your dreams and endeavor to live the life you’ve imagined, you will meet with a success unexpected in common hours"
-Henry David Thoreau
This is the impetus that I work with all of the time - I am living my dreams and am always pushing forward to more success.
And if you take away nothing else from this post, remember this:
Being successful is the one of the most powerful motivators ever.
I guarantee it.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Wedding Art
Looking for something different as a bridal shower gift? Consider this divinely wonderful lithograph from artist Athena Hampton, designed exlcusively for Signature Bride Magazine.As any bride will tell you - after a day (or night) of celebration, your feet are HURTING!! This whimsical picture truly embodies the feeling of exhilaration and tiredness - on one hand, you are on cloud 9, but on the other - WHAT A DAY!!!
For ordering information, please visit Signature Bride at http://signaturebride.net/marketplace.html or call (954) 651-1346
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)