The World’s Best Wedding Planning Advice: In through the nose…out through the mouth.

Greetings all, and a happiest of first-business-day-of-the-New-Year to all. To newly engaged couples: CONGRATULATIONS! But be prepared, wedding planning can be tough. But on behalf of My Little Flower Shop, I say Fear Not!  There is a mantra that applies to any wedding situation, question or pickle.  You’ve read it here before, but excellent wedding planning advice bears repeating:

beautiful wedding dress, covered buttons, antique veil, destination wedding, Palm Springs, CA
make sure you can breathe in the dress! – photo by Cheryl Mac

Breathe, stand up straight and enjoy your moment. 

Don’t worry and get overwhelmed by the whole process.  You’ll take it in pieces, and you’ll hire people you trust (more on selecting wedding vendors in the coming days.).  For now, savor the initial head rush of being newly engaged.  And don’t forget to adore the amazing person who you’re going to marry.  Sign up for updates to our blog for wedding tips, ideas and advice.

Be well, and breathe!

-Dinah

Ready, Set, G…wait a minute. Who said anything about ready?

“Are you ready?” Brides and event planners alike field this question as the wedding day approaches. What does that mean, ready? For the bridal magazines ready means every last detail settled. Bows tied, programs printed, Every I dotted, each t crossed.

One night, working a movie premiere party everything went wrong during set up, but we were finally back above water. Good thing too, as guest arrival was within the half hour.
I looked at my co worker, a more seasoned planner than I, by about 20 years, both of us still in our sweaty work clothes. “Are we ready? I asked. “ready?” he smiled, “we don’t open the doors because we’re ready. We open the doors because it’s the time they printed on the invitation.”

What do they call you if your ceremony's not perfect? Blissfully, happily, married.

There is no perfect.  There is no ready.  Let go of the oversized expectations, and pick up a champagne flute.  Always be ready for champagne.

A Reality TV Bride Tells All: why I said “yes.”

When my then fiancé, and I announced that our wedding was going to be taped for a TLC reality show, people were more than a little surprised.  Everyone was convinced we were adding to an already stressful time.  In fact, saying “yes” to TLC was one of our best decisions. Let me tell you why.

The last weeks before the wedding were a whirlwind.  There was one oasis: shooting the show. Stephen and I spent two hours talking and “being cute” together.  We walked down a street near the beach hand in hand, trailed by a camera, giggling. We sat on a beautiful, sunny,  patio, reading to each other. We talked about how we fell in love.  That afternoon was a brief shelter from the crazy wedding planning storm: we got to reconnect, and remember that under the tulle and the tablecloths, was our unique love story.

The bride and groom, showcasing our use of succulents in a bridal bouquet and boutonniere
incidentally, showcasing our use of succulents in a bridal bouquet and boutonniere

I treasure those two hours, every moment.  The lights, the cameras, and the questions that reminded me why I had said “yes.”

Note – Credit where credit is due: I got, hands down, the most amazing hair and make-up team in Southern California.  Dana and her team from Design Visage in Orange County made me feel like a movie star. Thanks ladies!