Event Planning

Sometimes Love is In The Stars. Or The Star Wars. Same diff, right?

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Having met my husband at a Halloween party, dressed as Star Wars heroine Princess Leia, this cake photo struck near and dear to my heart. As I knew well at the time, Princess Leia revvs up the hearts of many men of a certain age, and my costume interpretation of “Leia goes to the disco on Hoth” was killer. I had him at cinnamon buns. Almost exactly two years later, we threw a party (aka destination wedding) in Palm Springs, (I had another killer up-do) and became husband and wife.

The night we met: Princess Leia goes to the disco on the Ice Planet, and Harry Potter

Just about everybody knows someone who is really into Star Wars.  And when it comes to weddings, many a shout out has been made to the citizens of the galaxy. Some are musical (a recessional from the movie’s score is a good one), pastry, like these folks did, or fashion (Leia did wear a lot of white..).  So don’t fear throwing a little George Lucas inspiration in the mix.  We do advise however, that a soup-to-nuts all out costumed, Star Wars themed wedding would make people uncomfortable, as does any 100% re-enactment wedding.   And in the end, we’re celebrating our friends and family as much as ourselves.  If they are all miserable in their storm trooper armor and ewok hats, they may as well have stayed far, far away.

On wedding day. Different outfits (but still a killer up-do)
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When A Wedding Vendor’s Reputation Precedes Them

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Our fearless leaders Greg and Alan were in LA recently, and stayed at the Biltmore, a legendary and elegant hotel in the heart of downtown.  The Biltmore is a popular wedding venue, and has beautiful ballrooms that, should you visit them, would probably look familiar due to the number of films and television shows that have been shot there.

The service Greg and Al received was, to say the least, sub-par.  Thankfully, they’d gotten an internet deal and weren’t paying the normal rate of between $300-600 a night.  But, it proves a point.  You can check in to a world famous hotel, and get well below world-class service.

The wide aisles at the LA Flower Mart

Don’t hire vendors, or choose a venue because of their “legendary” reputation, or because they did a certain celebrity’s wedding.  In fact, if someone is billing themselves with a list of celebrity clients, you should ask for three non-celebrity references to make sure they received the same level of service.  Appearances (and sales people) can be deceiving, so make sure you’re getting service that lives up to your expectations.

Did I mention why the boys were at the Biltmore? So they could be close to the LA Flower Mart when they woke up at 1:00am to source peonies (out of season) for a bride who loved them.  They need to watch it with the super-attentive, every-bride-is-special thing.  They’re going to develop a reputation.

Flowers - beautiful even just arranged by accident in buckets at the Flower Mart!
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And The Bride Wore Red…Chinese Wedding Traditions (Happy Year of the Dragon)!

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Gung Hei Fat Choi! Happy Chinese/Lunar New Year!  In honor of the Year of The Dragon, the next stop on our cross cultural tour of wedding traditions is China.

A pre-wedding beauty ritual observed by brides since ancient times sounds right out of a high end spa.  The bride would bathe in water infused with essence of pommelo (a variety of grapefruit) to cleanse her of her impurities, and a “good luck woman” would comb out her hair.  Not to be out-done, the groom also prepared by donning a hat made of cypress leaves.

One fun element, more seemingly suited for an episode of the Newlywed game than wedding day is the “Procession to obtain the bride” The groom and his party go to the bride’s house to collect her – but it’s not so easy as all that. The bride’s sisters “block” the door, and an obstacle course of trivia about the couple an other games must be navigated before the couple, with her parents’ blessing departs for the groom’s family’s home.

English: Bride and groom at a traditional Chin...
Image via Wikipedi

Last, we have what is a more contemporary tradition. Modern Chinese couples have taken to having elaborate “glamour shots” taken in their wedding clothes, and other outfits, in different settings.  Is this much different from any bride and groom? Do Chinese bloggers note the rise of the American tradition of the “engagement shoot?” Truly, we’re quite a colorful culture ourselves, no?

Be well, and love well.

-Dinah

 

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