''New Program Allows Wedding Vendors to Easily Support Wish Upon a Wedding''

Message from Sasha Souza: ''Please feel free to cut and paste this information to use in your Blogs, and help us Spread the Wedding Wish Love!''

''The world’s first nonprofit wedding wish granting organization, is asking for the support of wedding vendors and industry professionals. This new organization, dubbed “the Wedding Industry’s Charity”, provides weddings for individuals facing life-threatening illness, at destinations across the United States, regardless of sexual orientation.
By donating just 1% of any sale (or 1% of your profits from one event), you can help Wish Upon a Wedding grant these very special wishes. Participants will be recognized for their generosity with an I support the Wishing Well badge.
Launched in January of this year, the organization now receives new wedding wish requests on a weekly basis. Currently lacking the funds needed to bring long distance families together, these special celebrations may often be missing something (or someone). One of the organization’s goals is to fly up to four family members or loved ones to the weddings of every Wish Recipient, so they can spend a few days with those who matter most. There are many other expenses that Wish Upon a Wedding would like to cover as well, but they need YOUR help.
Founder Liz Guthrie explains, “Many people facing life threatening illness do not have the money or resources to plan a wedding. At last, the wedding industry has joined forces- and together we are making some incredibly special wedding wishes come true, by providing the celebration of one of life’s biggest milestones.” Guthrie adds, “No matter what the setting, Wish Upon a Wedding wants to provide everything necessary for these individuals, including making sure they are surrounded by their most special family and friends.” It’s really easy! To participate, visit this link. As a supporter of the Wishing Well, participants will receive a custom-designed badge for their blog or website, that lets their clients and peers know that they support “the Wedding Industry’s Charity”. For information on other ways to help Wish Upon a Wedding, please visit our website at http://www.wishuponawedding.org/how-to-help''

Wedding budget - A must!

Recently, I’ve read many posts from Planners and Décor Designer about getting clients that want to spend more than they are supposed to and therefore, expect you to lower your price to give them what they want. For example, on May 20, 2010, Preston Bailey commented on that subject, (Common Mistakes: Indulging clients with big dreams and small budgets)
I think the big problem is that most couple begins their planning before they have decided how much their wedding budget will be. After listening to my client’s description of their big day and what are the things really important for them, I usually asked them: Do you have a budget, and how much is your budget? And so far, most of the time, they don’t have a clue! As far as I’m concerned it’s correct, because it’s one of my tasks to establish a wedding budget for them and help them respect it, but I think it’s also important for couples to at least know the average they want to spend on each category. A wedding budget is absolutely essential to planning your wedding, and one of the very first things you should do. Don't forget that a good Wedding Planner is there to help you stick to your budget, not promise you that you can get it all while you don't have a budget for it!

Happy Planning!

Weddings Destination - CURACAO! (Caribbean destination)

I'm excited to announce that I will be visiting next July the Island of CURACAO. As a Certified Destination Wedding Coordinator, it’s great to visit the destinations that we are referring to our clients. Although you cannot guarantee the resort at 100% but it’s a great opportunity to at least have a feel of the place to advise the couple, base on their needs, about the yes vs no.
I am currently taking appointments with a few resorts for the upcoming trip to take a tour of their properties and know what they have to offer to my new clients.
Stay tune for pictures!
Happy planning!

WEDDING GARTER - AN INTIMATE AFFAIR!!!

Pictures #2 to 4 credited: www.advantagebridal.com

Photo#2: Vintage lace garter

Photo#3: Satin elegance hot pink and black garter

Photo#4: Calla lilies garter

When I was doing a Wedding Consultation the other day, I had a question from one of my brides on WEDDING GARTER. Which leg is it, the right or the left? From what I knew, I told her that both garters are usually worn on the right leg just above the knee. But, this question got me curious to know if the right leg was a must. Well, to all my brides out there, you will be relieved to know that you are able to put your garter on whichever legs you want and the best news, there’s no bad luck to it! That’s one thing less to worry about!
For those who are wondering about the garter origin, please note that the garter tradition originated back to the 14th century. The couple believed having a piece of the bride’s clothing was thought to bring good luck. Before, they would actually rip off the bride’s dress. Obviously, it wasn’t something pleasant for the bride so she began throwing other things to the guest and the garter was one of them. In North America, brides wear two garters: one as a keepsake garter and the other for the throw away and it’s the groom who removes the throw away garter from the bride leg (sometimes with his teeth or more appropriately by using his hands) and throws it to the single men in the crow. Of course, let’s not forget that the keepsake garter is removed later in private during the honeymoon night.
Now, if you want to add a little style to your garter, check out these stylish garters from Advantage bridal - http://www.advantagebridal.com/ above. They even have calla lily garters, how stylish is that!

Planning a sport theme wedding or would like to make a nice surprise to your groom who's crazy about sport? check out Etsy site, they have all sport theme garter from Penguins, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, Montreal Canadians and many more: http://www.etsy.com/listing/17869557/montreal-canadiens-inspired-wedding

Happy Planning!

Free wedding website for couples

Photo credited: www.projectwedding.com

As a Wedding Planner, couple often asked me which website allow them to create a personal wedding websiste for free. Since you have a ton of choice, I am sharing with you a few of them that offers the easiest way to make a wedding website and a brief description of their features:

Project wedding: www.projectwedding.com

One of my favorite is Project wedding because you have the possibility to create your wedding website by Papeterie (http://www.papeteriestore.com), by KenzieKate Invitations (http://www.kenziekate.com), etc, with matching invitations, which I found very original. A must see!

The wedding channel: www.weddingchannel.com

With the Wedding Channel, not only you're able to create a website for free but also you have a lot of rooms that give you the flexibility to include exactly what you want.

The knot (www.theknot.com)

With the Knot, although you don't have much room but you have the option to track RSVP, post information for guests, and any other wedding information. Definitely a useful tool!

MyWedding.com: www.mywedding.com/main/wedding_websites.html mywedding.com is a very creative choice because it suits any wedding theme and style. Furthermore, it's really easy to navigate.

Topwedddingsites.com: www.topweddingsites.com

Top Wedding Sites includes ideas for designs, templates and free trials.

Weddingwire: www.weddingwire.com/wedding-websites.html

Wedding wire has beautiful templates and they have a lot of packages that will suit your needs. Among their features, they offer UNLIMITED custom pages, flash Intro, adding music and registries and also a memorable custom URL.

Ewedding: www.ewedding.com/reviews.php

You are able to find a great amount of features with Ewedding. You have unlimited photos, RSVP, events, updates and support. It's easy to use and to navigate.The website features are easy to use and manipulate.

HAPPY PLANNING!