Category: Wedding Planning

Recently, I had the opportunity to interview celebrity wedding planner David Tutera at the Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena. Even though he’s worked on events with such VIPs as Jennifer Lopez and Vice President Al Gore, I was impressed by his enthusiasm for helping non-famous brides have equally stellar weddings.

Make it clear that this is your wedding, yet you also want to make your families’ customs a part of your day. If they’re not 100% happy with your choices, don’t sweat it. The important thing is you tried, and they’ll probably come around once they see the awesome party you’ve put together.

California’s Central Coast, celebrated for its charming wineries and photogenic vineyards, also lures visitors with landmarks like Hearst Castle, and the chance to golf, surf or go horseback riding amidst spectacular natural scenery. If you’re planning a honeymoon or destination wedding in one of the area’s picturesque towns, you might think beyond the winery.

Besides your location, the food and drink for your wedding bash will probably consume the largest portion of your wedding budget. Catering costs are usually presented as “per-person” charges, sometimes abbreviated in wedding brochures as “pp” after the amount. But be aware—the per-person charge often doesn’t include everything: Tax and gratuities (sometimes called “service charge”) might be extra, and there may also be separate per-person charges for the meal, drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and even setup.

There are a lot of wedding plans that can be made well in advance, but some to-do items are better left to the last few months. Case in point: Don’t buy your bridesmaids dresses more than two months before your wedding.

A Guide Bride wanted to incorporate the groom’s Middle Eastern heritage in the invites and place cards, so she recently asked me if I could help her find Arabic wedding stationary. As someone who did the same fruitless search 7 years ago, I suggested an alternative that didn’t involve ordering invitations from an international vendor (will it arrive in time? what’s the currency exchange again?).

Unless you’re marrying a fairytale prince and birds help you get dressed in the morning, you probably already know that planning a wedding comes with its share of stressful situations. But what if a film crew followed your every move as you trudged through the wedding details? What if your wedding planner was a big, burly man named Sandra?

As a wedding planner for umpteen years, I’ve learned that there’s no substitute for doing your homework. Follow these 3 steps before your wedding photo shoot, and you’ll increase your chances of getting the quality images you dream about.

When hiring a photographer for your wedding, remember that this is a business decision. The event professionals you talk to fully expect you to do your diligence. Besides, if they act offended, they aren’t really professional, right?

I was both maid of honor and wedding coordinator when my sister got married last year. Because so many of the guests were coming from out of town, we decided to combine the bachelorette party and bridal shower into one fun-filled weekend to save on travel time and ensure that everyone could attend.

At your wedding reception, you and your newly minted husband are more than the stars: You’re the common denominator amongst your friends and family. They’re all there to celebrate with you, but you can’t be everywhere at once. So how can you make sure everyone’s mixing and mingling and having a good time when you’re off doing necessary things like getting your pictures taken during cocktail hour?

Recently, a couple getting married at The Historic Castle Green had planned to have their ceremony in a clear tent (outfitted with a gorgeous chandelier, of course) on the facility’s grounds.