Yes, you can “do it yourself.”

Visit www.animoto.com – yes it’s very user-friendly and you can create a 30 second wedding video for free (Yes, this is the upgrade so I could make it a bit longer.

 

Weddings in the Heat

My husband attended a wedding recently (I couldn’t) where the outdoor heat was a balmy 95 degrees, in the sun…and there was no shade. While the bride provided small white umbrellas that didn’t help much, she didn’t think to provide a water station or bottled water for her guests who sat broiling for close to an hour and his shirt was literally soaked with sweat. The outdoor (but covered) cocktail hour was more than many guests could tolerate.
Where was her coordinator? She didn’t have one. Lesson learned: In scheduling an outdoor wedding in the summer – please be considerate your guests. If it’s too hot, shift to your inclement weather plan. Yes, her guests will remember her wedding, maybe not for the right reasons.

 

When we’re not doing weddings…

What do wedding consultants do when they aren’t planning weddings? Most of us plan or work other events. My “niche” is teaching event management at UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, where I’ve (whew) helped 4 classes of event management students plan and execute 8 events this spring semester. While I like to think they learn something from me, I often learn from them as well. Here’s a couple of pictures from UCF Rosen’s end-of semester party with a Vegas theme.

Viva Las Vegas UCF Rosen

Big City Catering Crudite “Shooters”

Little White Wedding Gazebo

One of the “neat ideas” that worked with this theme, but could work for you too was crudite “shooters” from Big City Catering. Fun Planners provided the gaming equipment and staff.
And what does a wedding planner do with all those wedding leftovers? Re-use them, of course. I invited students to “clean out” my storage unit, and they collected leftovers from other weddings and events to create their intentionally “tacky” version of a “Little White Wedding Chapel,” complete with an Elvis impersonator for photos.

 

Taking care of yourself

I don’t want my blog to be my soapbox for personal issues, but this one is important.

Like most “crazybusy” women, I was a bit behind in getting my annual exam, pap and mammogram.  Getting than done and getting “all clear” reports was comforting, but I asked my practicioner about a mole on my arm that concerned me.  She assured me it was probably nothing, but since I had never been to a dermatologist, she suggested a “head to toe” since I am fair-skinned.  Of course, getting around to that was a few more months. I met with a dermatologist who I met about 25 years ago when we were both stationed in Bethesda, and he did a scraping without too much concern.

48 hours later, I received the call to inform me that it was indeed melanoma, the “bad” form of skin cancer.  The good thing about melanoma is that, when caught early, simple excision is the only treatment necessary, and I’ll have to get that “head to toe” every six months for a few years.  So this spring, I’m sporting a sizable 3″ scar on my left upper arm, and I almost want to show it off so that when people ask me about it I can share this story.  Procrastination, in this case, could have been much more serious and even deadly.

 

More on BABC Gown Sale…

Okay, I am cheating a bit here – I’m referring you to my colleagues blogs for more on the gown sale.  Kerline, who balanced the gown sale with a large wedding last weekend, had more on her blog: http://www.joiedevieevents.blogspot.com/

I went directly from the gown sale to the airport to conduct an ABC Expanding Horizons Seminar in Seattle.  Hence, I have new meaning for “Sleepless in Seattle.”

 

Brides Against Breast Cancer Orlando Gown Sale

Thanks to Allan Saltman for capturing the essence of Orlando’s Brides Against Breast Cancer Gown Sale.  http://allansangle.wordpress.com/

 Thanks to our committe and supporting vendors.  I’ll be posting a bit about each of them in the next few weeks.

Final Tally – just over $20,000 in gown sales that should grant at least two, maybe three final wishes.  Yes, that’s down quite a bit from last year, but nothing to be ashamed of.

 

A little time off… from a wakeup call

Sometimes we’re just to busy to take care of ourselves, so indulge me in the little diversion.  About 6 months ago, finally got around to my (overdue) annual check up, and three months ago got around to (also overdue) mammogram. I felt that the Chair of Brides Against Breast Cancer had at least better practice some of what is preached.  Getting an “all clear” from those was reassuring, but I had also made a dermatology appointment to have a mole checked. It didn’t have significant “changes,” but was bordering on the “A-B-C-D” criteria. While my family practicioner didn’t seemed too concerned, and frankly, neither did the dermatologist, I was contacted with the diagnosis of early melanoma – what a shock.  I was surprised to learn that  each year, more than 50,000 people in the U.S. learn that they have melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.  Early detection is the key. Once it spreads, treatment is much more complex, and melanoma can be fatal. So I’m now proudly sporting a 3″ scar on my left upper arm, but no further treatment is necessary. For more information, visit www.melanoma.com, but if you have that questionable mole, have it checked.  ~ Elise

 

Your Wedding TV Bridal Show

Do Yourself a Favor

We’ll be at the Your Wedding TV Bridal Show on January 4th from 1:00 – 4:00 pm at the Wyndham Orlando Resort, Sand Lake Rd. & International Drive, Orlando.

Our theme for this bridal show will be “Do Yourself a Favor.” Stop by our booth’s candy bar for a sweet favor for yourself. 

For more information and to pre-register, visit: www.yourweddingtv.com.

 

PLEASE Don’t Buy Your Wedding Dress (until you read this post)

Just got engaged over the holidays?  Congratulations!

Ready to rush out and find THE DRESS?

Could you slow down just a moment?  If you’re not getting married before March, consider buying your gown from the Brides Against Breast Cancer Charity Wedding Gown Sale.

When: Friday March 13th (noon to 8pm) and Saturday March 14th, (10 am – 6 pm)  2009

Where: UCF Fairwinds Alumni Center, Main Campus, Orlando, FL

Cost:  Nothing – FREE to attend and browse.  bring mom, sis, or a friend.

Why:  There will be between 750 and 1000 wedding gowns, some new, some worn for a day, all incredibly priced.  Your gown purchase directly benefits granting final wishes to terminal breast cancer patients.  Visit www.makingmemories.org to learn more. 

Our blog will be updated as details for the Thursday evening VIP Sneak Peek event is finalized.  E-mail BABCgownsale@aol.com to ensure you’re added to the invitation list to get first “pick” of this year’s gowns.

Gowns for every bride!

It’s free!

Over 750 Gowns

Gowns galore!

Brides Against Breast Cancer

 

Wedding Traditions Trivia

Weddings are steeped in tradition. But did you ever stop to wonder why there are so many customs surrounding the way the bride dresses on her big day? From wearing a veil to tossing the garter, here’s the inside skinny.

Not seeing each other before the ceremony?
In the early days of arranged marriages, the bride and groom often never saw each other at all before the wedding. Even when couples were acquainted before they married, it was still considered bad luck for the groom to glimpse the bride pre-ceremony, as she would not be pure and new. Neither was the bride supposed to see herself — it was believed that if she saw her reflection she would leave some of herself behind in the mirror. (Brides today probably wouldn’t take too well to not being able to preen before the wedding!) These days, many couples still uphold the not-seeing-each-other tradition. Others throw caution to the wind and spend time alone together pre-ceremony to calm their nerves or enjoy the excitement.