Real Wedding - Red Hot Love – July 2012

Blanca and Edgar, both Mexican Americans, wanted their wedding to celebrate their love for each other as well as their culture and heritage. Because of this, they decided to have a destination wedding outside of the US and get married in Puerto Vallarta which was close to where they both had relatives. In this way, many of their family who otherwise may not have been able to attend, were able to be a part of this important day.

They fell in love with Martoca Beach Garden as soon as we toured it. Martoca is a tropical oasis event venue located on the Bay of Banderas in the picturesque town of Bucerias, and is perfect for all types of events, small or large. It had the warm sandy beach they were hoping for and the gorgeous ocean vistas Puerto Vallarta is known for - perfect for the sunset, toes wiggling in the sand, ceremony they were dreaming of.  Combined with beautiful tropical gardens that would make a picturesque backdrop for the wedding reception, they knew they had found “the spot”.

Blancas colors were black and white with pops of red. She wanted an elegant and sophisticated look without going too over the top. We used black tablecloths topped with rich, classic overlays of black and white damask, which provided a striking juxtaposition against the tropical garden setting. Blancas bouquet was comprised of deep red roses with a spattering of black feathers to add a touch of whimsy and we extended the same look into the centerpieces. Her maid of honors’ bouquet had the addition of white dendrobium orchids to set the two apart.

We extended the style, feel and colors into the ceremony and reception with details and design concepts incorporated throughout. The escort cards were in mounted in black picture frames with white mother of pearl inlay, each frame a little different. They hung from a lovely wooden gazebo and were interspersed with blown glass red and white hearts in varying sizes. A Wish Tree with white cards tied to red ribbons for guests to write their love and good wishes for the happy couple on and hang them from the tree. The ceremonial arch on the beach also had blown glass hearts in red and white hanging over the area where the vows would be taking place, with flowing white organza blowing in the breeze as well to add to the romance.

In line with their Mexican heritage, Mexican food and tequila played an important part in the day. Place cards were tied to mini bottles of Jimador Tequila (the bottles had white and black in their label) and set at each guests’ place setting; while the crowning tequila moment came during the ceremony. Just before the minister pronounced them and Husband and Wife, waiters appeared on the beach with trays of tequila shots for all the guests and passed them out accordingly. Right after they were pronounced, the happy couple led their family and friends in a congratulatory tequila shot right on beach, which was followed by the minister closing words, “Edgar, you may now kiss your bride.”

Mariachi serenaded the couple and guests after the ceremony, leading them from the beach and into the gardens and continuing throughout the sunset cocktail hour. Appetizers, margaritas and ice cold beer were served, while cigars were hand rolled for any who wanted to partake before dinner. After sunset photos of the couple and family were taken, dinner was served. Keeping in tune to their Mexican roots, Blanca and Edgars’ menu included such favorites as freshly caught Red Snapper and flavorful shrimp that Puerto Vallarta is known for, as well as fresh Ceviche with crispy tostadas and corn flour Tamales stuffed with chicken. Later in the evening an Al Pastor Taco stand with delicious marinated meat grilling on a spit as well as a sweet, fried dough Churro stand were set up for late night noshing…. and then as with any good Mexican fiesta… more tequila!

Take a look at the slideshow below showcasing a few more of the wonderful photos courtesy of Puerto Vallarta’s own talented photographer Josef Kandoll W.  He truly captured the beauty and spirit of Blanca and Edgar… such a lovely couple!!

Blanca & Edgar - Red Hot Love Puerto Vallarta, Mexico VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Wedding Planner/Designer/Coordinator.… is there a difference? Part 2

After last weeks post I know you’re all straight on the differences between a Wedding Planner and a Wedding Designer right? This week we’re going to take on Wedding Coordinators and onsite Venue Coordinators/Event Managers and clarify those for you… I hope!
A day of Wedding Coordinator is generally not very involved with planning the wedding. The wedding coordinator is on site on the day of the wedding and helps to facilitate a smooth running event, making sure everything is coming together according to plan; that’s what their primary function is. They’re often hired a month, more or less, before the wedding to finalize last minute details, confirm vendor obligations, create a timeline, and oversee the set-up of the decor. Many wedding planners offer or include day of wedding coordination services to their clients as part of their overall service package, however you should know that wedding coordinators/day-of-coordinators are very different from wedding planners or wedding designers. Their responsibility for anything going wrong, or turning out brilliantly for that matter, can be limited, as for the most part they are there to oversee the plans that were made by somebody else. A wedding coordinator should also not be confused with a Venue Coordinator.

An onsite Venue Coordinator or Event Manager is hired by the venue, a hotel/resort for example, to ensure your wedding follows the rules and regulations of the space. They’ll look after coordinating your menu, supervise the set up of tables, chairs, china etc., make sure your bouquet gets to you and the staff puts the floral centerpieces on the tables, but may not be of any assistance when it comes to personalized details, décor or custom items that you want to include.  They also may be of little help when it comes to creating and executing your timeline; cueing you down the aisle; making sure the violinists are there and playing your processional music at the right time; readying you for the speeches, announcing your first dance or the cake cutting; and carrying out all the various other important moments of the day. Most significantly, a venue coordinator works for the venue; their job is to answer your questions about the venue and assist you with your venue layout. Their focus is to get the best revenue for the venue using items and resources owned by the venue and their job does not necessarily include all the other details that go into planning your wedding. Some venues can have more than one reception going on, very often at the same time and cannot allocate to you the personalized service you were expecting; and although on-site coordinators may be good at what they do and know what works well in the space, their capabilities can often be stretched out to cover many other responsibilities and job duties, besides just weddings… which can lead to frustrating communications and experiences, especially in a far off destination scenario.
If you want someone who will cue your bridal party, bustle your dress, set-up decor, let you know it’s time for the first dance and the cake cutting and announce it to your guests or assist with the hundred other details at a wedding, my suggestion would be that you hire a wedding professional not associated with your venue. They’ll work side-by-side with the venue coordinator to ensure everything and everyone flows smoothly and that everything you wanted has been looked after and done.

An independent Wedding Planner, Designer or Coordinator’s loyalty lies with you! A great wedding professional handles your stress, “talks you down” and in the process, makes you feel that everything is perfect, will be perfect or is going along perfectly, even (and most importantly) when it isn’t. They are there to fix what’s not working, what didn’t happen, what didn’t arrive and/or come up with solutions to make it all better…one way or another… so on the day of your wedding you can relax and enjoy your family and friends and the wonderful celebration you’ve created for yourselves and your loved ones! Planning a wedding can become extremely emotional and stressful; here is where an experienced wedding professional wears many hats!  They are your mediator, your stylist, your sounding board, your source for ideas and inspiration or simply a shoulder to cry on, happy or sad! So, when thinking about hiring a wedding planner, designer, coordinator or a 3 for 1 combo like we are here at Weddings Vallarta by Barbara, it’s important to get a good grasp on what your needs and desires are so you can focus on finding the right wedding professional to help you create the wedding you’ve dreaming of.

Happy Planning!

**Photos courtesy of Josef Kandoll W. Photography

Wedding Planner/Designer/Coordinator.… is there a difference? Part 1

Sooo… you’re hunting around for the right person to help you plan and create the wedding you’ve been dreaming of! You’ve visited countless websites of fabulous wedding professionals and now have the words “wedding planner, wedding designer and wedding coordinator” emblazoned on your mind…. But what’s the difference?? Is there a difference?? Does it matter?? YES, it sure does!!

Here at Weddings Vallarta by Barbara we tout ourselves as being the full service deal. We plan, design and coordinate your wedding or event, from start to finish….we do all three. Not all wedding professionals do however and it can get a little confusing, especially to the recently engaged couple who have just realized that there is an entire vocabulary of wedding-speak out there that they need to learn.
I often hear couples and people in general confuse and interchange the terms wedding planner, designer and coordinator. I totally understand the confusion, but there is a difference… a big one actually! I’m going to try and clarify it for you in this 2 part series so read on…. A planner is generally a coordinator as well, but a coordinator is not always a planner. A planner can be a designer too, but don’t take that as a given; and a designer is not always a planner or a coordinator, but can be.  Some of us wear all three hats and some only one. More confused?
Although many wedding professionals are a combination of the three, many are not. Each area is different and includes specific duties and responsibilities when it comes to the wedding services provided. I’m going to outline the differences for you, so you know what to look for on your quest for a wedding professional.
A Wedding Planner is a seasoned professional who can confidently plan and guide you through the entire wedding planning process from start to finish. All the logistical elements (florist, baker, officiate, DJ, caterer, venue, musicians, rentals, etc.) you need for your big day are sourced, presented, procured and planned for you by the wedding planner. The planner is involved from the very beginning of the planning process; they have ideas, provide inspiration and are educated in everything wedding.

In the case of many destination wedding planners (like us here in Puerto Vallarta), the tendency is to offer complete planning services rather than partial planning or just day of services. It just makes more sense that you would hire the planner planning your wedding in a far off exotic destination to do everything for you as you probably won’t be flying in and out doing some of the legwork yourself. That being said, whether you hire a wedding planner in your home town to plan your home town wedding or a destination wedding planner for your tropical wedding in Puerto Vallarta, the goal of the planner is to help the bride and groom have the best wedding experience possible!
A wedding planner, and I am speaking from a destination wedding planners perspective, will assist with keeping you within your budget; source venues and assist in the selection; express your needs and vision to all the vendors/suppliers and coordinate/communicate between the two of you, maybe even manage their payments for you; work with the catering company and help with the menu selection and coordination; put together a wedding day timeline; help with the seating arrangements; help arrange pre and post wedding day events; keep you calm and focused…and more! They are your go to on everything wedding related and a shoulder to lean on for etiquette, advise and if you’re “freaking out”. As well, a wedding planner will coordinate the day of flow and is the go to person for mom, dad, uncle Bill, best friend from high school, grooms dad’s new wife… absolutely anyone… with questions, comments, needs or concerns, so they don’t bother you. They have planned everything from start to finish and know what is going on every minute and how the couple wants their big day to unfold.

A Wedding Designer is responsible for the overall visual aesthetic of the wedding. Designers think in terms of ~ look and style of the wedding ~ décor and details ~ vintage, contemporary, theme, rustic… and the list goes on. They take the vision the couple has for their wedding and help to conceptualize it through the wedding design and decor elements; ideally running that concept through all the “details” and visual elements. Colors, textures, florals, materials, lighting, props, furniture, etc., they design, create and work in conjunction with the florist, lighting technicians, baker, caterer, rental companies, and so on, to install all the extras the couple desired to take their wedding from “cookie cutter” to “uniquely theirs”. A wedding designer adds the style and creates the look and feel of the event.

I think that’s about it for this session, I don’t want to confuse the already confusing any further.

Now that you know what the realms of responsibilities are for a Wedding Planner and a Wedding Designer, which one do you think fits in with what you’re looking for?  Planner?… Designer?… Both?… Not sure??

Maybe you want to wait until next week when I break down the difference between a Wedding Coordinator and an onsite Venue Coordinator/Event Manager.
Have a great week!!

Real Wedding – A Whimsical Affair – January 2012

Friday, January 13th, 2012 was a big day for us here at Weddings Vallarta by Barbara;  It was the day of our first wedding of 2012 and I have to say, we kicked it off with an incredible bang!!  

Cindi and Carlson – Michael actually, but Cindi met her future husband as Carlson (his last name) and it stuck – wanted their wedding to reflect themselves; their unique personalities and style; which, after getting to know them a little and hearing their ideas, likes and dislikes, I described as; fun, spontaneous, whimsical, original, warm, travel loving, loving in general, elegant, professional, perfectionists. A tall order, but from our very first communications I knew I was going to love them and love being a part of this incredible journey with them… and I was right!!  Planning their wedding was such a privilege for me; their warmth, happiness and love overflowed into every nook and cranny of their lives and touched everyone around them, making the wedding planning a joy… but also making me a little sad when it was over…. I think I may have gotten a touch of the post wedding blues….

Cindi and Carlson chose the beautiful, contemporary Casa China Blanca in Punta de Mita, just south of Puerto Vallarta, as the location to host their wedding. The villa lends itself to formality with clean lines and white modern architecture and is also like a fresh canvas open to various designs and colors. Cindi wanted to use the villas elegant base of white and black and add in big pops of color and whimsy to make it her own. Formal tuxedos for Carlson and the groomsmen were finished off with bright fuchsia dendrobium orchid boutonnieres; floor length Amsale gowns in black for the bridesmaids were paired with gorgeous floral creations by my floral “guru” Francisco; bright bouquets of roses, freesias, tulips and dendrobium orchids in hot pink and fuchsia with touches of orange and apple green; and a absolutely stunning wedding dress creation by Lazaro for Cindi was complemented by a cascading bouquet of white roses, freesias, lisianthus, tulips and dendrobium orchids. The moment Cindi & Carlson saw the two trees in the back gardens overlooking the ocean and heard the history, they knew the ceremony had to be held right there. The trees had grown together and become entwined making it hard to see where one began and the other one finished….much like their love, the two became one…. straight out of a Fairytale! We hung flower balls in bright bold fuchsias and oranges on the tree limbs and added lanterns (Cindi’s favorite) to complete the look of a fantasy, deconstructed ceremony backdrop. They exchanged their vows in front of that charming tree on the cliffs edge, with the ocean behind it, their friends and family looking on and their “Love Ambassador” officiating. As they exited down the aisle all the guests tossed fuchsia and black, hand rolled wedding streamers at the happily married couple, which was a fun and unique alternative to rice or confetti…  I found those on Etsy.

In the outdoor reception area an air of elegant formality was created with the use of classic black and white Damask overlays layered on black tablecloths, accented by black Chivari chairs with white cushions. The Damask theme could be seen throughout the wedding design in the picture framed escort cards, the place cards and custom dinner menus. The formality was balanced by wonderful colors and whimsy with tall crystal vases topped with huge balls of bright fuchsia roses and freesias with touches of orange and apple green dendrobium orchids. As well, fuchsia detailing could be seen at every turn.

That same whimsical fun carried on with the entertainment and other elements throughout the whole reception. There were Aerial Fabric and Hoop Acrobats, a spicy Cuban Quartet, incredible Fire Dancers, Ramóns very yummy Taco Stand for late night snacks …when in Mexico…. ;) and a farewell exit of sparklers for everyone to light the way for their jaunt up the long driveway to their awaiting chariots (mini buses). Oh yes and we can’t forget the churros for journey back to the hotel!! Custom designed, monogrammed favor bags that I found on Etsy (love that site) filled with freshly made sweet doughy churros by Paty & Julio, the traveling Churro Stand folks. What did the back of the bags say?? Well I just couldn’t resist…. “Parting is such sweet sorrow….” of course ;)

Truly a beautiful and unique wedding, for a beautiful and unique couple, that will be long remembered!!

Take a look at the slideshow of photos below.  They’re fabulous and courtesy of the extremely gifted and talented photographers, Janelle and Shane, of HAPPINEST PHOTOS!!

 

Cindi & Michael Carlson January 13, 2012 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The Lady in Red - Spring 2013 Bridal Collection

Spring 2013 Bridal Fashion Week kicked off with a bold, bright start!!  Inspired by the traditional Chinese wedding color palette and the celebration of love, Vera Wang’s stunning collection of ethereal bridal gowns - with intricate detailing and full romantic skirts - were all designed in bold shades and hues of luxurious RED!!  Vera commented on her new collection by saying, “The symbolism of red—boldly romantic, charming, protective, grand, seductive, sexy.  From dahlia to scarlet, crimson and vermilion.  It’s a celebration of love.”

Although red has long since been the color associated with love, not every bride is ready to make such a bold statement with her wedding gown; throwing out tradition and replacing it with a bright pinch of unconventionality and yes, defiance.

So what do you all think?  Would you be ready to get into one of these incredible red gowns for your walk down the aisle??  Leave your answers with comments below… Oh and by the way, all of these lovely creations can also be made in traditional ivory -  for those of you not quite ready to be daringly different on your big day!

		Vera Wang Spring 2013 Bridal Collection VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Wedding Guest Etiquette….. Tips to being a Great Guest!!

You’ve just received the invitation!  What a fabulous couple, you can’t wait to attend their spectacular wedding!!  What’s the next step??  How do you make sure you’re the best guest ever??

Sometimes, people do not know how they should behave when attending a wedding. Although most people assume that wedding etiquette is reserved for the bride, her groom and their family members, certain etiquette applies to guests too and starts well before the day of the wedding.

Embarrassing the bride, groom or their family should be avoided at all costs especially during the most important day for the newlyweds. The rules for the guests are much easier to follow and they come naturally to most people. Here are a few tips you should be aware of that will help make you a great wedding guest!
YOUR INVITATION
Each invitation has an RSVP date. Because an accurate count is needed well before the date of the wedding, it wouldn’t do to respond late, even if you don’t plan to attend. Failure to respond in a timely manner is considered rude and disrespectful and can be very stressful to the bride and groom. Many vital decisions are based on the number of guests who will be attending a wedding and it is therefore very important and polite to confirm one’s attendance as soon as you can, to make work easier for the couple and the planners. From meals to décor to the seating list, if the bride and groom don’t have their guest count, many things cannot be finalized and their budget remains in flux. There are enough last minute details they will have to handle, try not to make your RSVP one of them.

 

There are other things to note on the invitation. For instance, if you’re allowed to bring a guest, this will be indicated as “and guest” next to your name on the envelope. If this isn’t indicated, you should assume the host is requesting only the honor of your presence and not that of your guest. It’s very bad manners to show up at the wedding, guest in tow, when you didn’t RSVP for two people. This means the caterer will have to scramble to make sure they have enough meals, and the host will have to pay for that extra meal and place setting after the reception. In addition, if children are invited, this too will be noted on the invitation, either as “and family” next to your name on the envelope, or inside the invitation where children’s names will be notated. If this isn’t the case, assume you’ll need to hire a baby sitter.

YOUR “GO TO” PERSON

Don't assume that the couple to be wed should be your first stop with all your questions simply because it's their wedding. Not sure where they're registered for gifts? Wondering about which hotel to stay at? Will there be transportation? Need to know if there will be a babysitter at the wedding reception?..….. Don't pick up the phone and immediately call the bride or groom -- chances are, they've got enough wedding stress of their own. First try the bridesmaids and groomsmen, or the couple's parents. Find out if the couple has a wedding website (look on the invitation), which could very well have all the information you need. If you still have no luck, it's okay to contact the couple -- just make sure you've tried other avenues first.
YOUR ATTIRE

When you’re picking out your wedding day wardrobe, do try to be respectful to the bride and groom. Traditionally, only a bride wears white to a wedding. For another guest to show up in white is disrespectful, no matter how cute the dress is.

On the other hand, in the case of a beach destination wedding, it is often requested that all the guests wear only white. Be mindful of the wishes of the bride and groom. If they have requested all white, this is not the time to let your unique personality shine and wear your new fabulous red outfit…. leave that for your own wedding where you’re setting all the rules.            

Black is also considered disrespectful in some cultures. Although these days it is very acceptable to wear black, you’ll still want to check with the bridesmaids or the couples’ parents to make sure you’re not wishing bad luck for the bride and groom, before you choose this color. It’s probably best to err on the side of caution and wear something a little more colorful if you’re not sure. Keep in mind as well, that black can be a very hot color to wear in a tropical destination or a summer outdoor wedding.

Always take the location of the ceremony into consideration. For instance, if the ceremony is held inside a church, it is often considered disrespectful to bare ones shoulders or wear something considered risqué. Make sure you check the rules, regulations, customs and traditions.

YOUR ACCOMODATIONS
No matter how far you've traveled to attend a wedding, the couple isn't required to pay for your hotel -- or even let you crash on their couch. Many couples will reserve blocks of hotel rooms to get a good rate for their out-of-town guests, but don't expect them to foot the bill. If you're not sure where to stay, ask a member of the bridal party for recommendations.

THE CEREMONY
The first rule is getting to the wedding on time. All wedding invitation cards indicate the time the wedding ceremony is scheduled to start and as a guest it is your responsibility to arrive on time, actually at least 15 minutes before the ceremony time is the rule of thumb. Arriving just as the bride is walking to the front of the church or ceremony location is a big NO-NO! If you are late, stand in the rear of the wedding location and watch from afar. Walking down the aisle after the bride and shuffling around trying a find a seat is a HUGE faux pas!

                                     

Another simple wedding rule to remember is silence. The only noise to be heard should be as directed by the officiate in order to treat the wedding ceremony with sanctity. This act of silence shows the deserved reverence and also creates a sense of order for the event itself. In addition, it is important to follow the leads of other guests or the officials if the ceremony requires guests to sit and stand during the ceremony. 

Even though we always see wedding guests snapping away during the ceremony, in reality it’s considered bad manners to take pictures. Even worse is getting in the way of the professional photographer and/or videographer to get “that perfect shot”. The bride and groom have hired a professional for a reason and it is very important to them that you don’t interfere with the professionals doing their jobs. The photographer will have copies you might want to purchase later, or you can wait until after the ceremony is over…you can take all the pictures you want at the reception!
YOUR SEATING
At the reception it’s likely you will have assigned seating. Your hosts have taken the time to see that you will be seated with people you know or are at least compatible with. If you’ve never made the acquaintance of some of the people at your table, start off the evening by making introductions. Before long, you’ll all be chatting like old friends. 
Changing seats or even worse, tables, is considered disrespectful to your hosts. They have planned every detail carefully and have thoughtfully seated guest where they have for a reason. Also, changing places can wreak havoc with the dinner service. The caterer will have been given a schematic of all the tables and where every guest is seated. They know, seat by seat, who gets the fish and who gets the chicken, that the guest at table 6, seat 5 is allergic to nuts and there are vegetarians at table 1, 2 and 3 in seat 3, 7 and 9 respectively. Changing places and/or tables can end up resulting in guests getting the wrong meal and being unhappy…. or even worse. It’s not something the bride and groom need to deal with on the happiest day of the lives.

In the same vein, make sure you remember which meal you chose on the RSVP that you sent back to the couple. The bride and groom have only ordered and paid for a set quantity of each entree according to what was pre-ordered by their guests. Changing your selection during dinner service not only confuses things it may also mean that another guest will not receive the entree they ordered because it was given to you.

The caterer receives a list from the bride and groom with the names of each guest and the meal that they ordered. This list is used by the wait staff during dinner service. If you feel there was an error on the list and you did not order what it says, or you’ve just decided that you want something different from what you ordered, instead of causing a commotion and interfering with the rhythm of the dinner service (as well as stressing out the bride and groom) wait until all the tables have been served and then speak to your waiter, the wedding planner or the caterer about a possible entree change. Generally the caterer prepares a little extra of each entree and will be more than happy to accommodate you.

YOUR BEHAVIOUR

Be mindful of speeches and announcements and the first dances. Guests conversing amongst themselves while something important is going on is not acceptable behavior.

Watch your alcohol consumption….everything in moderation. An open bar is fabulous but it’s no reason to overindulge and there’s nothing more apt to ruin the day for the bride and groom than a drunken and unruly wedding guest. Guests should show the newlyweds that they are happy for them but they should not embarrass them while doing it.

AND LASTLY….

The most important rule of attending a wedding is to enjoy the day!! Leave your worries, gripes and moods on the doorstep! The bride and groom planned this special day in celebration of a joyous affair and took their guests’ comfort and entertainment into heavy consideration. Be respectful, be polite and be a good guest and everyone will have a wonderful and memorable time!!!

Now test your skills…..Here’s a link to The Knot and their “Are You a Great Wedding Guest” Quiz….. Have fun!!