Advice

Wedding Playlist Planning: Happy Guests from Groomsmen to Grandma.

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Unless you are the crown princess of Moldavia, a 16 piece orchestra playing waltzes etc. just won’t get a wedding reception going these days. Brides puzzle over wedding playlists whether they choose the DIY Ipod option for wedding reception music or decide on an experienced wedding emcee/DJ. (We recommend the latter – more expensive, but worth not having to worry all night about everything crashing to a halt when you’re in full swing). Whoever is behind the mic, turntables,or iPod, they need some direction and a song list is helpful, or at least instructions that the Chicken Dance is 100% nixed!

Here are some pointers to keep in mind when working on your Playlist:

Go with the J. Lo School of Music Management – motto: ‘everybody on the dance floor.’ You’ve got a range of guests, usually 3 generations so think about a corresponding range of music designed to appeal to everyone. Pick a band who can swing, rock, and groove their way across music history, and make sure your DJ knows there’s more to life than Usher remixes. (We’re fond of Craig at A Musical Affair that handles all of the above)!

Serious DJ
A hard core DJ – vinyl! awesome! (Photo credit: ideowl)

Playlists play well with others. There are different phases to your reception, so have multiple playlists. Maybe you want things quiet for dinner, and raucous for dancing, but then middle of the road for after cake cutting. Think about setting the mood you’re after and pick music accordingly.

Back up, back up, back up. Make sure you’ve covered your bases should something go wrong. always have hard CD copies of iPod playlists just in case, and/or a back up of the files on a flash drive. If the DJs equipment goes haywire, you’ve got options. Also make sure you have a paper copy (or two) of the song list you’ve given the band in case they show up without it.

So there you have it, a playlist play book. Go forth! In the wise words of Sly & The Family Stone, “Dance To The Music!”

Live well and love well.

-Dinah

 

My Little Flower Shop. A boutique florist in Palm Springs.

We can be your little flower shop too!

What Martha Stewart Doesn’t Want You To Know: Wedding Advice Books Exposed

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I brought two wedding books to the store yesterday to add to our growing library. (Yes, My Little Flower Shop, top Palm Springs florist, is building a wedding book library)! Looking at books with our brides gives us a chance to prepare them for the inevitable moment of panic in the ‘Weddings” section at Barnes and Noble.

At any bookstore in America you’ll find glassy-eyed people in the wedding section, not knowing which way to turn. Seriously, it’s worse than the paper towel aisle at the grocery store. (What’s on sale? Is that the cheapo brand?  How may rolls in the pack? Are they Mega-Rolls?)

If you know what to expect, you won’t be discouraged by these experiences of book-overload.   So, knowing that the mountain of information you’ll face,  keep these tips in mind.

  • Wedding planning books are not required reading, and 99.9% of what’s in them probably doesn’t apply to you. (Are you inviting Norwegian royalty to your wedding? Didn’t think so).

    Reading Offbeat Bride
    Reading Offbeat Bride (Photo credit: Aron Meudt)
  •  Once you’ve got the books, (and this is the important part,) they do not need to be  followed obsessively to the letter. They are not written in stone. They were not given to us at Mount Sinai.
  • Books should be considered guidance, opinion and advice. From someone who doesn’t care if you ignore them.
  • How about looking in the library? If you find one you love, buy it. If not you’re not out $35.00 for a book you don’t need.

Bottom line? Talk to the vendors you’re working with! Their advice is the most valuable of all.  In terms of how they do weddings, and work with their clients, well, they wrote the book.

Be well, and love well.

-Dinah

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Gold Medal Wedding Advice

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Ah the Olympics.  Young smiling athletes performing at their best representing us all.  In a way, we see the best in our country as we watch the competitions in London.

But what else do we see?  We see hear a lot from commentators about “the Olympic Ideals”  which seem like things we all ought to live up to.  Respect, friendship, education, world peace…etc.  As a wedding professional, and drawing from my experience at a top Palm Springs florist, I see lessons brides can take from these young athletes and apply to their planning.  Here are three:

  • Have a Positive Attitude.  From the moment they stepped out onto the track for opening ceremonies, the athletes were thrilled. They were full of energy,confidence, and smiles! Thinking positive changes your outlook, and makes you a happier bride.  Through it all this is a celebration you’re planning! What fun, right?

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 27: Fireworks explode o...
    LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 27: Fireworks explode over the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 in London, England. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)
  • Listen to your coach. The athletes (well, the smart ones, anyway,) know when it’s time to let someone else make a decision.  They have faith that they’re working with someone they trust to do what’s best for everyone involved.  This can be a hard one for brides, who frequently feel they need to direct every detail of their wedding.  Sometimes though, your vendor, or bridesmaid, or even (gasp) your mother knows better, so it’s important to listen, and learn to let go.
  • Live In The Moment. Listening to the athletes’ interviews, each one repeated that their overall Olympic experience was the most important thing to them. You could tell they were soaking in their time as Olympians, and relishing their time in London. Brides should keep that in mind.  Wedding planning can be a drag, for sure, but this is a time of your life that you’ll never get back.  Enjoy every minute.

Our Olympic athletes are kicking serious butt in London.  And it’s a delight to see the country rally around a group of bright, talented young people.  Be patient as you, or the bride in your life, move through the wedding planning process. In the end, everyone will rally to see you win something better than a gold medal: a happy married life.