Relationships

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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Living La Vie En Rose: French Wedding Traditions. (Retail, Romantic and Rousing)!

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Oh the French. We all know about the wine, the cheese, and the persistently seductive skunks (who doesn’t love Pepe Le Pew?) But wedding traditions abound! And I’ll highlight three: One Retail, One Romantic, and one Rousing. Let’s dive in.

Retail: The concept of the “bridal trousseau,” the collection of clothes and a bride assembled, was originally a French one, coming from the word “trousse” meaning “bundle.” In Victorian times it became a status symbol to have an elaborate wardrobe prepared for the wedding celebrations, and the honeymoon. Women and society have changed, but outfit-shopping for the honeymoon is a fun way to relieve planning stress. Take your guy with you – you can “bundle” up together.

Romantic: We love this one – guess why? French wedding bouquets are usually quite fragrant (if you have allergies, skip this part) and include flowers that hold special meaning for the bride and groom. Did he pick daisies outside your house before your first date? Sneak one in there. No flower in mind? Use the language of flowers, and whisper it in his ear.

Rousing: This one’s kind of nutty, and more likely to appeal to bridesmaids reading than brides, but I couldn’t resist. Apparently friends turn up outside the happy couple’s room in the night banging pots and pans, singing, and otherwise behaving badly, loudly. And, the groom is, by tradition, supposed to invite everyone in for a nosh.

So there you have it, three ways to make your (or your friend’s/sister’s/daughter’s) wedding more French. One last note: my guess is that in any culture, a rag-tag bunch of guests at the honeymoon suite door would be about as welcome as a relative of Pepe Le Pew.

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The Official Guide to Finding a Wedding Officiant

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Wow, that really does sound official! Although the Officiant at your wedding is called upon to perform the most solemn and serious duty, it’s not what they do that I’m addressing today.  Rather, it’s when you find the person who is going to share this incredibly intimate moment with you and your fiancé.

The correct answer is, the sooner the better.  Somehow this most crucial role often gets put at the bottom of the list, but the better you know your pastor, Rabbi or other civic leader, the better prepared you’ll be for the big day.  And the basic formula is: prepared+wedding day = ability to relax and enjoy oneself.

Under the huppah with Rabbi Sally Olins from Palm Springs' Temple Isaiah

 

You’ll want to know, for instance, if your favorite pastor won’t marry you outside the church sanctuary – not a happy discovery if you’ve already put a deposit down on another ceremony location.  Perhaps your Priest has counseling requirements.  The last thing you’ll want to be squeezing into your schedule two weeks before the wedding is four hours of pre-marital classes.

Last, and I hinted at this at the start, this is a very personal moment. The sooner you meet with your officiant, the sooner you can begin developing a relationship between the three of you. Your ceremony will be more personal and meaningful when performed by someone who actually knows you.  Start early, and by the time you meet on wedding day you’ll be old friends sharing a wonderful experience.

Be well, and love well!

 

-Dinah

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