How to deal with a Trouble Guest

This is something you ALL need to know. Your wedding will probably NOT be perfect. Chances are something is going to go a bit differently than you expected. You have a choice. You can either be a perfection Nazi, keeping your eye on every little detail, waiting to find something that isn't exact OR you can kick back, relax and just know that whatever happens, perfection or not, that it will be another unique page to your never-ending story. Read my latest article published by the sweethearts from Style Unveiled to hear a true story of one bride's GRACE. Here is a preview:

Me: “Are there any sensitive situations you want me to be aware of?”

Sweet Bride: “Yes, my dad’s girlfriend is crazy. Everyone hates her and she isn’t invited, but she might come anyway.”

Me: “Wow, that sounds exciting.” (what else can you say? Come on!)

Sweet Bride: “We’ll see HOW exciting!”

Two weeks before the wedding, I receive this phone call:

Sweet Bride: “Hi Jesi, she’s coming. And my sister might not come now because she will be there.”

Now, fast forward to the wedding day. The bridal party is gathered in the ceremony ballroom getting ready for family pictures. My bride’s eyes widen, her jaw drops, she looks at me with panic in her eyes.

Sweet Bride: “She is wearing a white dress. She. Is. Wearing. A. White. Dress. SHE IS WEARING A WHITE DRESS!”

The crazy girlfriend walks in wearing a floor length, white gown with a plunging (understatement) neckline, covered in one million sequins. The final touch is the over-the-top white fur stole she has wrapped around her extremely orange body.

Me: “Don’t worry. She looks like a Be-dazzler on crack. You look elegant, beautiful, magical and stunning. Don’t think twice about it.”

How did Sweet Bride handle it? Go here to read the end!

Bouquet Alternative

Alrighty, you already know I am a big fan of Trader Joe's. You already know I am a big fan of recycling. Why not combine the two? You might remember my Owl Stir Sticks post from a while back. I found yet another use for those Trader Joe's bags that are stacking up in your pantry from buying too many Joe Joe's this holiday season (best things ever)! I have a beautiful client, Ali, who wants her wedding to be 100% eco friendly and I CANNOT wait to show you guys. Meanwhile, I am trying to dream up ways of using minimal cut flowers for the bouquets. Here is what I came up with. A few tissue paper flowers (check out my complete tissue flower wedding here), and a few Trader Joe's flowers, and if my bride likes it, a minimal amount of freshly cut flowers completes my vision. What are your thoughts? Do you guys have any brilliant ideas of what to add in a bouquet to make it beautiful yet sustainable?

1. Start off with a grocery bag. (love TJ's, but Whole Foods or Henry's will suffice)

2. Draw a circle (the larger the circle, the leafier the flower) and slowly taper it in to the center like a spiral keeping the lines about 1/2 inch away from each other.

3. Take your scissors and begin cutting along the line you just drew, furthest away from the center.

4. Continue cutting, following on the drawn line until you reach the center of your spiral.

5. Snip off the end of your spiral at the point that it begins to turn back into the bag (does that make sense?)

6. Beginning at the end of the spiral, start to roll up the paper until you reach the center of your spiral.

7. When you are finished rolling it, it should look like a tightly rolled up piece of paper. I know, I'm brilliant with words.

8. Place the rolled up paper in the palm of your hand and let it fall loosely apart. You may have to gently "help" it by turning the center of the flower to open it up a bit more.

9. For the stem, I chose a green pipe cleaner, but you could use your imagination and come up with something different or funky depending on your project. Flip the flower upside down, and tape the pipe cleaner to the base of the flower.

10. And here is the finished product :)

11. Add a few paper flowers and it becomes a unique bouquet!

12. And to step it up a notch, we added a few tulips and a hydrangea.

DONE :)

Funky Holiday Photo Backdrop

Merry Christmas everyone~

Here is a lil' holiday treat for ya. This is a totally easy, eco-friendly way to spruce up a wall in your home for fun, or in this case, for a photo backdrop for a friend's party. I used leftover paper plates from a party (FYI, I normally do not use paper plates for parties, but it was a HUGE pary, I promise!), red party cups (same story as the plates!), and festive cupcake holders and yarn. I poked holes in everything, strung the items through, then hung in front of some lime green fabric. I literally took me one hour! DO IT!!!

Thanks to Mr. Haack for the insanely talented photos!

Rainy Day Wedding!

NEVER AGAIN should you live in fear of rain on your wedding day!! If you can't beat em, join em!

Aaron Shintaku and I have been designing this shoot for a while. So when we got word that it was supposed to rain last week, we got our stuff in gear! We, of course, brought in JL Designs to create our bouquets and she totally delivered! I told her we wanted something unique, and non-flowery. She is amazing, right? I had a blast designing and styling this shoot, and of course Aaron Shintaku is the MASTER. Watching him run around holding his camera in one hand and his favorite BRIGHT PINK umbrella in the other was too much for words. I am so so pumped on how it all turned out. What do you think? Could you see yourself having groomsmen wearing ponchos and bridesmaids in coats and golashes? I love it!!!

Southern Weddings Feature!

So my wonderful clients, Jessica & Curt, twittered/tweeted, me the other day with the news that their wedding received a HUGE 3 part feature on Southern Weddings! What a sweet sweet piece of news. Lara Casey, of Southern Weddings, is truly an inspiration and a leader in our industry and I cannot express how much of a blessing and honor it is to be featured on the Southern Weddings Blog! And to add to the good news? I won a scholarship to attend her new, Making Things Happen 2010 Workshop that is geared toward firing us up for 2010! Can't wait! Thanks Southern Weddings!

DIY Christmas Garland

Ok, so you wanna know the truth? I had this design idea for a tablescape. It involved these amazing craft puff balls. I had this vision. I spent time working and creating. I put it all together, and guess what? It didn't look like it did in my head. So now what? Well, plan B! I took my creation and put it, duh, on our Christmas tree! I wanted to share in the love so you can have a fantastic tree with some "at home" flavor!

1. Go to a craft store and buy your favorite color of craft balls.

2. Grab some thread and a needle.

3. Put in your favorite girly movie (I would recommend "Save the Last Dance")

4. Thread your needle and tie off an anchor at the bottom by making a thick knot in your thread for the first craft ball to rest on.

5. Randomly thread all different sizes and colors of craft balls onto the thread.

6. Keep threading until you have an enormously long garland for your tree!

7. Have a fabulous Christmas!

8. Praise Him!