Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I will be taking the rest of the year off to enjoy and celebrate the holidays with my family.

I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and Happy New Year!

Looking forward to a great 2013!

photo credit:  Patti Wilson

How to Find the Right Wedding Professionals for Your Unforgettable Wedding

Here are eight “must ask” questions to ask ALL your potential wedding professionals prior to booking:

How many weddings do you do per year?  How much experience do you have?

This is an extremely important question.  Ideally, your wedding professional should have ample experience specifically with weddings.  Not only will they be more skilled in their craft, this also makes them a valuable source of information and ensures that your wedding day goes smoothly.

Exactly how do you work your fees?
Price is often relative, especially when you factor in experience, reputation and expert skill.  Do not base your decision solely on the price.  Generally, the most talented professionals have a higher price tag because their value far outweighs their price and are worth it.

Is a deposit required to hold the date?

What specifically is included in the cost?
Because packages often vary, it’s likely that you won’t be able to compare one vendor exactly to the next without doing a little figuring.  The lowest cost isn’t necessarily the best deal; some higher quotes include services that you have to pay extra for in other packages.  Make sure you take this into account.

What happens if I cancel?  What happens if you cancel?
Find out if your deposit is refundable under any conditions.  Does the wedding professional have a back up plan if something happens to them?

Do you use a contract?
If the answer is “No,” run!  A contract is designed to protect both you and the wedding professional.  Don’t settle for a verbal agreement that won’t hold up in court.

Are there any additional fees?
Taxes, service charges and travel fees can add up quickly.  Make sure you understand exactly what is included and if there are any other fees you’ll have to pay.  This should be clearly defined in your contract.  You don’t want to hear “Oh, by the way, did you know you have to pay for…”

Do you carry liability insurance?
The answer you’re looking for here is “Yes.”  This protects you in case an unfortunate accident should occur on your wedding day.  It’s also a sign that this is a reputable business, since most “fly by night” operations don’t invest in insurance.

One final bit of advice: read your contract.  Make sure you understand everything that's written and ask questions if you don't.  There IS no stupid question...except the one you don't ask.  Make sure you know the price as well as cancellation and refund policies.

Go with your gut.  If something feels "off" about the wedding vendor...you're probably right.  Make sure you feel comfortable with him/her, you like him/her, and that his/her personality will be a good blend with your guests and reflect the tone of your wedding.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wish everyone a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

I will be taking the rest of the week off, but thought I would share with you a little blurb about the history behind us celebrating Thanksgiving Day on the last Thursday every November. I know I usually post this every Thanksgiving, but it is well worth repeating. Enjoy!

In the fall of 1863 the Civil War raged across this country taking the lives of the best young men that this land had to offer and threatening to tear the nation in two. In the midst of such chaos and bloodshed it would have been easy for the country's leader, President Abraham Lincoln, to raise a defiant hand toward heaven and question the wisdom of God. But, that is not what President Lincoln did, instead, he sat down and penned the following words.

"The year that is drawing to its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of such an extraordinary a nature ... (that) No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It is seemed to me fit and proper that they should solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens ... to set apart the last Thursday in November ... a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings ... and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and Union."

Happy Thanksgiving!

photo credit:  Food Network

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

As you are aware, October is breast cancer awareness month.

If you are looking for a great charity to donate to or participate in, I suggest Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, supported by the American Cancer Society.

Direct from their website:

"Every Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk is a powerful and inspiring opportunity to unite as a community to honor breast cancer survivors, raise awareness about steps we can take to reduce our risk of getting breast cancer, and raise money to help the American Cancer Society fight the disease with breast cancer research, information and services, and access to mammograms for women who need them. Since Making Strides began 20 years ago, breast cancer death rates have declined more than 32 percent."

You can donate directly through their website or get involved personally by participating in one of their walks.  Find a walk near you at Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

You may be able to find a local fundraising event in your area as well.  One of my friends is hosting a Pampered Chef Fundraiser where up to 30% of the sales will be donated.  I'm sure there are many more like this in your area.

Get Involved!  Think Pink!

photo credit:  Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Appointments with Wedding Professionals - Why Do They Make It So Inconvenient?

Do you think there is a conspiracy theory between wedding professionals in making appointments with you as inconvenient as possible?

Do you feel like it’s so labor intensive to get everything finished?  Are you finding that you and your fiancé are so frazzled and at each other’s throats because it doesn’t seem like the appointments can be made when the both of you can attend together so you want to blame the wedding professionals for making these appointments so problematic?  (Okay.  That was a long, run-on sentence)  Anyway, are you asking why the appointments can’t always be made on the weekend?

Well, let me try to explain why this may be the case.  Think about what day of the week your wedding occurs.   Most likely, it will be on a Saturday or Sunday, right?  When will your wedding professionals be working for you?  That’s right.  On a Saturday or Sunday.  This means your wedding professionals are most likely currently working at another wedding or event that is also being held on a Saturday or Sunday, and that is their first priority.  Therefore, that makes them unavailable for appointments on the weekends most of the time.  They are not purposely making it difficult for you.  In fact, several wedding professionals are willing to schedule evening appointments if the both of you can’t come during the weekday.  Keep in mind, they just want to give the same attention to their current clients as they will with you when it is your day.

We try our hardest to make appointments at the best times possible to be convenient for all parties involved.   However, that’s not always the case for the reasons I mentioned above. 

Stop for a minute and look at that drop dead, gorgeous ring on your finger, look at the love of your life and think about your commitment to one another.  Planning for that commitment is getting you one step further to your goal – getting married to the man of your dreams.  Yes, there will be bumps along the planning process road, but how you handle them will be what counts.

So stop frazzling about things that are not in your control.  It will get done.  You will get married. 

Dear Brides:  Does this sound like you?  Are you and your fiancé stressing out about the wedding planning?  Please share and comment.

35 Ways to Wow Your Guests at Your Wedding

This list is just a start of many ways to “wow” your guests and make your wedding totally you.  Remember, use your creativity, imagination and “Wow Factors” to find even more ways that suit your and your fiance’s unique personalities.

1. A list of trivia questions about you for each table to answer

2. Favors that relate to your hobby or special interest.  Make them edible, if possible.  Everyone likes to eat something.

3.  Childhood photographs of you and your fiancé displayed in an album (also could double as your guest book) or in various frames on a table

4.  Add your parents’ and grandparents’ wedding photos

5. A fantastic theme based on your hobbies, interests, etc.

6. Decorating your Sweetheart Table with mementos or collectibles

7.  Put together a collage of your love letters from a long distance romance

8.  A groom’s cake in honor of your fiancé’s hobby

9.  Choosing your favorite flower for the centerpieces

10.  Playing your favorite teams’ theme song

11.  Doing the silly line dance you and your friends learned in college

12.  Cardboard cutouts of the friend who introduced you but couldn’t be at the wedding

13.  Performances by your professional singer friends, family or guests

14.  Sharing your love story during your ceremony or reception

15.  Giving your guests “table tasks” to do throughout the reception

16.  Playing a game

17.  A special thank you friendship dance with all your guests

18.  Play or dedicate a song to a friend as an inside joke

19.  Wear an item of clothing or jewelry from a beloved family member and share this with your guests

20.  Name your tables to represent one of your favorite Wow Factors

21.  Choose your favorite poems as non-traditional ceremony readings

22.  Photo booth with props for silly photos – can rent or DIY

23.  A scavenger hunt using disposable cameras to “hunt” for images

24.  Announce birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, etc.

25.  Give a dance lesson at your reception

26.  Write special vows that unite your family and friends

27.  Include special ethnic traditions and dances

28.  Play a song or speech together

29.  Make a donation to your favorite charity

30.  Treat your guests to your favorite wine or dessert and tell them about it

31.  Play your guests’ wedding songs

32.  Include your signature animal, team, hobby or activity in your wedding theme

33.  Take Polaroid photos of your guests for your guest book

34.  Have your guests write thoughts and wishes for a “time capsule” you’ll open on your 10^th wedding anniversary

35.  Serve your special homemade brownies at the wedding and give your guests the recipe

      Dear Brides:  Don’t know how to determine your “Wow Factors?”  Shoot me an e-mail at: pwilson@smoothweddings.com and I will send you worksheets for FREE to help you find your “Wow Factors.”

Glamping = camping + glamour

Even though glamping has been around for the last several years, it seems it is becoming the latest trend for honeymoons.

Think of it as a “high-end” camping experience.  You still get the great outdoors, but have the comforts of a four-star hotel.

Apparently, these glamping sites originally started back in Africa and Thailand, but have now been popping up in Europe and the United States.

For your honeymoon, you can find very intimate and secluded sites located in the most scenic, remote and spectacular corners of the world.

Here are some of the more luxury glamping sites you might want to check out for your honeymoon:

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort (www.wildretreat.com) on Vancouver Island in the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve in British Columbia.

Resort at Paws Up (www.pawsup.com) in Montana.  Both have elegantly furnished tents, which could lure even the most squeamish camper, but the resort is also dedicated to respecting the environment.

The Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle In Thailand.  Located west of Laos and south of Burma, this site offers honeymooners private panoramic views of Burma’s Ruak River and Laos’ mountains.  You could take a trek with elephants in the morning, an afternoon dip in your private hot tub, and end your evening with a choice of dinner at one of four gourmet establishments set up throughout the camp.

Dear Brides:  Would you consider “glamping” for your honeymoon?  Please comment and share.

photo credit:  Four Seasons Golden Triangle