Weddings

Father of the Bride

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Cover of "Father of the Bride (15th Anniv...
Cover via Amazon

As you may have seen, the house used in the 80s version of ‘Father of the Bride’ is for sale.  So we pose the question: does the 21st Century wedding Dad fit the Hollywood mold? Are there battalions of Steve Martins stumbling their way through the planning process, and clutching their chests at the costs? Or have fathers, and weddings, not to mention the world, changed? OK, so it’s a rhetorical question. Of course, things have changed. But that Martin Short wedding planner character* Franck, like diamonds, is forever.

These days, a father’s role in his daughter or son’s wedding is determined less by convention than by the choices of the couple.  If they’ve decided to fund the entire affair on their own, all Dad needs to do is show up on time wearing what he’s asked. Planning wise, suggestions are just that. Suggestions.

We’re always impressed, on the other hand, with Fathers who hand their sons and daughters a contribution towards a wedding, and trust that the couple will be good stewards of their money.  We’ve never met one such couple who wanted anything but to make their parents proud. As one groom put it ” We want them to see we made good choices with the resources they gave us.”

Bride/Groom: Your Dad loves you, and he’s showing that love by helping create one of the most special occasions you’ll ever plan. Let him speak, and listen closely. If he objects to the zombie shooters, go gin-and-tonic and run wild with another element -like funky favors. It’s about mutual respect. Give and take. Good skills to hone for your married life.

Some things don’t change.  There is still chest clutching, and colorful event planners still amuse people all over the country*. Ultimately, Dads love their kids, and really only care about one thing at the wedding: that it be the start of a happily married life. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. Especially to the wonderful Fathers and Grandfather of a certain 2010 Bride who know who they are.

*Franck Eggelhoffer is based on a celebrity florist/event designer currently working in West Hollywood.  If you ever meet him, you’ll know because Mr. Short is dead-on. Franck appears about 2 minutes into this clip. Also note that SVU’s favorite criminal profiler did time in the events industry. Fabolos!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKFtRedJxTw&w=425&h=349]

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My Little Etiquette Shop: Keeping Showers Clean (Great Aunt Estelle can explore body frosting on her own time).

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Oh we’ve all been there – the very decorous, ladylike bridal shower with sweet games, and tea sandwiches given with love by an aunt.  And we’ve all been there when the mortified guest of honor opened the one “off-color” gift that makes her turn beet red.  Whether it’s fur lined handcuffs, edible underwear, or the aforementioned (and disgusting-but ever popular) body frosting, our poor bride is stuck in front of an audience, often including her future mother in law, holding some accessory to her intimate life, which certainly until now has not been dinner conversation among the family.

So this is a very simple “My Little Etiquette Shop.”  I’m not even bothering with a question- just putting the advice out there for all shower goers to read and pass along to generations to come.  Leave the hijinks for the bachelorette party.  Really.  You might think it’s funny to shake things up a little at your friend’s afternoon tea. Think about doing it, laugh to yourself, and then go buy some towels off her registry.

Yes, it’s the High Road.  Look for the exits.  Then take one.

Ok, this is in my top 10

photo by Deborah Austin

What’s Love Got to Do With It? Getting to the heart of your wedding.

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Tina Turner is, obviously not a wedding professional.  We in the business of sending brides down perfectly designed aisles know what Love has to do with it and yes I will be using a capital L because Love is not to be trifled with where brides are concerned.  Love, is essential to weddings, and not just in the painfully obvious way that first comes to mind; vows and eternity-  we’ve gotten that memo. There’s other Love in the air during the planning process.  All that running around looking at invitations and tasting cakes and other ways brides work on their weddings? It’s for those they Love.  They want to throw one heck of a party – for all of you.  Tying 150 tiny bows on favor boxes ? How could that be anything but Love?
On the big day: we wedding professionals get the backstage view, but so can wedding guests if you look hard enough. The Love is best captured in between the big “moments.” Sure you want to catch the cake cutting and the first dance. But also look for the bride’s Mom bustling her gown – the two of them full of excitement. Love. Or the groom’s brother bringing a flash of their childhood mischief to a photo shoot – Love.  The My Little Flower Shop Design Team and their assistants smiling proudly at the end of a job well done-  that’s a whole lot of Love.
Weddings are wild crazy rollercoaster rides that brides get off. They breathe deeply and move on with their new lives.  Wedding Professionals, for our part,  stay on the platform; eagerly awaiting the next go-round. We Love what we do. We infuse Love into everything we create- everyone whose work touches your wedding should. So right down to the petals tossed as you leave, what’s love got to do with it? If you’re working with the right team?    Everything.
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