From AAWP:Music that Makes or Breaks the Party!

Hi AAWPs:

This week we’d like to ask you a two-part question:   

1. If you’re hosting a wedding, what’s the most important element of the reception?

2. And if you’re a wedding guest, what impacts you the most?  

The answer is simple: The music! Music can make or break the party and finding the best music within your budget should be a top priority.

A bride-to-be once emailed AAWP and said:

“Our families haven’t seen each other in ages, so we see our wedding as a chance to reunite ourselves and our families… Our reception is going to be like a big family reunion, and we’re going to play chamber music so that people can sit and chat and get to know each other again!”

Now let’s imagine that you’re one of the wedding guests who is about to sit at a table for four hours trying to make small-talk with people you don’t know—while surrounded by violins. How long do you think you’ll stay before you make an excuse to leave?

So here’s the advice we gave to our bride-to-be:

A wedding reception is a celebration, not a coffee klatch or a family reunion. Weddings are a time to have fun and celebrate!   Music and dancing have always been an integral part of the festivities and today, there’s no excuse NOT to have wonderful music. DJs are affordable and a good DJ can really make a party hop!

Ask your recently married friends and relatives for referrals for good entertainment because weddings are not a time “to let your fingers do the walking…” When you find a DJ or band, etc. you like, ask for references and check them out—because music makes or breaks the party—or should we say the reception.

Happy Weddings!

AAWP  

(c) 2008, AAWP. All rights reserved. 
American Academy of Wedding Professionals

Upcoming shows on LE Radio

Here is some of that is coming up on LE Radio.  Make sure that you tune in for our live discussion where the talk is all things Weddings and Special Events

OK Im Engaged!…Now What?
This will be a series of shows walking couples thru the process of getting married.  Everthing will be covered from pre marital counseling to choosing the right location, to choose the menu to planning your getaway.

Choosing a Photographer
This is a conversation with Michael Corsentino that had to be rescheduled to June 8.  Join us for a wonderful conversation with this dynamic photographer

Make sure that you join us at Noon PST/3opm EST on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month on http://www.le-radio.net 

Planning your wedding while at work

OK your getting married WOOHOO and there is so much to do but work is really getting in the way! HA!

The Knot understands your pain and came up with a list of things that you can do while at work and not get fired (which is a good thing cause who wants to be looking for a job while trying to get married)

Check out the article >>HERE<<

Drama, Glamour in Every Direction from Vera Wang Bridal

Renata Espinosa Fri Apr 18, 4:47 PM ET

New York – Vera Wang’s wedding gowns are among the most sought after for fashion-forward brides, where thoughtful, inventive design combined with luxurious fabrics and finishings extend the gown beyond the realm of mere canvas for traditional embellishments like sequins or beading. Instead, a Vera Wang gown takes ornamentation away from the mode of simple decoration, integrating the ornamental into the blueprint and structure of the dress – a true work of art. It becomes a part of the architecture of the gown as much as it is the focal point.

For Wang’s Spring 2009 bridal collection, which she presented in her showroom in New York on Thursday, April 17, the starting point was Hollywood glamour of the 1930s through the 1950s of silver screen sirens such as Jean Harlow, Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe and Ava Gardner.
Details like pleated organza ruffles or floral corsages on one shoulder, fractal-like spiraling hand-cut floral trains, hand-pleating or asymmetrically draped necklines and asymmetrically placed bows literally put a twist on the traditional bridal silhouettes, adding dramatic points of focus. Exquisitely rendered, these elements exuded not only luxury but also gave the dresses a modern sophistication that only good design can impart.

“We want to modernize the wedding vocabulary,” said Wang post-show. “It’s something we struggle with every season.”

For Wang, who approached the dress the way an architect or sculptor might approach their work – in three dimensions, from all angles – the back of the dress became a particular point of interest this season, with some of the best dresses featuring lavish trains with artistically pleated or hand cut flowers or voluminous bustles.

“Making an entrance is important, but the exit is just as important,” said Wang. “It offers even more opportunity for drama. For 50 percent of the wedding, the bride is viewed from the back, whether during the ceremony or for the first dance.”

Wang, who also designs a women’s ready-to-wear collection and her lower priced Lavender Label as well as a collection for Kohl’s, will launch a new e-commerce web site from Wang, verawangonweddings.com. In addition to tips and articles for wedding planning, the site will feature a bridal registry where couples can select from a full range of Vera Wang merchandise, including the just launched Vera Wang Fine Linens collection.

If your in New York…..

Its Bridal Fashion Week this week. There are some pictures of some very interesting Bridal Gowns … well, you will just have to see for yourself

Check out the website here
http://www.bridalfashionweek.com/

and click on “Photos”

Disney Princess-Inspired Wedding Gowns to Be Unveiled During Bridal Week in New York City

Kirstie Kelly for Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings Collection Is Inspired by the Unique Spirit and Personality of Each Disney Princess

NEW YORK–The Gown. The Slipper. The Kiss. The Prince. Under it all, every girl believes in the dream. As a tribute to fairy tale wishes and finding true love, Disney today will unveil a new collection of wedding gowns inspired by the spirit and style of each Disney Princess. Kirstie Kelly For Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings inaugural collection will be showcased on the runways this evening as part of the New York Bridal Fashion Week. Bridal gowns priced between $1,100 and $3,500 US dollars and a “Maidens” for bridesmaids collection will be available at specialty boutiques in North America, Japan and Europe beginning in June. The collection will soon expand to include “Jewels” that accessorize even the fairest of them all.

The collection combines a fashion-forward look with timeless elements inspired by the Disney Princesses themselves, including Ariel, Aurora/Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine and Snow White. Fabrics like organza, chantilly, chiffon, satins and tulle are accented with stunning embellishments, including lace, ribbons, crystals, pearls and gorgeous embroidered beading.
“Every look takes its inspiration from the silhouette, palette and icons of each Disney Princess story and interprets the spirit of each young woman,” said Kelly. “Each of them has a unique, charming and very individual style that many brides can identify with – and now truly emulate – on their wedding day.”

The Ariel dresses are sultry and alluring – ideal for the bride who feels comfortable with a more form-fitted look. Fabrics consist of gorgeous silks and chiffons, beads, leaf appliqué and pearls, with a mermaid-like “wave effect” at the bottom. The Aurora/Sleeping Beauty collection is lovely and romantic, with a mix of georgette, chantilly, high-shine satin, pearl and crystal embellishments, with pleated hems and beaded organza inlays. The Belle collection exudes stylish sophistication, with lace and ribbon, bands of satin, taffeta and gorgeous tulle flowers at the neckline. The Cinderella gowns radiate classic glamour and elegance, with silk tulle, duchesse satin, scattered crystals and embroidered beading. The Jasmine gowns convey a Bohemian chic look, featuring appliquéd lace, embroidery and draping, with chiffon and satin mixed in with clustered beadwork. The Snow White dresses are sweet and demure, with rouched chiffon, tulle inlays with beading and pleated satins.

“When brides shop for wedding gowns and see Kirstie Kelly’s Disney Princess-inspired collection, they will stop in their tracks,” said Jim Calhoun, executive VP, global apparel, Disney Consumer Products. “Every bride wants to be a Princess on their wedding day, and they want the magical feeling that goes along with it. This collection captures that magic extremely well.”
For consumer information on the Kirstie Kelly For Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings collection, consumers may visit http://www.disneybridal.com/.

About Kirstie Kelly
Kirstie Kelly of Kirstie Kelly, Inc. designs couture bridal gowns with the highest quality and attention to detail. A graduate of The Otis Art Institute of Parsons School of Design in Los Angeles, she has been designing bridal and evening wear for more than a decade. Hailed in USA Today as one of the 2003 season’s new designers favored among celebrity brides, Ms. Kelly has a growing client base that includes individuals who are influencing the worldwide media, art, culinary and political societies. For more information visit http://www.kirstiekelly.com/.

Oscar de la Renta Bridal: Everlasting Elegance

Now I know that all of us cant do a Oscar de la Renta gown….but its nice to look at. Check out his newest collection

New York – Oscar de la Renta covered all the bases in his Spring 2009 bridal collection, showcasing an ambitious array of 30 gowns that featured exquisite workmanship and fabrics at a Park Avenue church during Bridal Week in New York on Monday morning, April 14.

“I only do one bridal collection a year, so we have to have a lot of choices,” said de la Renta. “I try to make different gowns for different locations.”

And there were gowns for different characters, as well: Southern belles, Spanish dancers, high school sweethearts and classic Cinderellas, to name a few. Whatever the narrative for the bridal fantasy, however, a wedding dress by Oscar de la Renta is a must for any Park Avenue princess or those who just want to look like one for a day.

Elaborate embroidery, delicate lace and cascading ribbons, accordion pleated silk chiffon and layers that looked like petals were just some of the highlights of the elements used in the collection that had buyers from major department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman grinning ear-to-ear as they greeted de la Renta post-show.

Coming on LE Radio

Yes Lexus Events has its own radio show. We are featured on http://www.blogtalkradio.com/le-radio

The player is located here on my blog and on my website. We will talk about everything weddings, special events and travel. We will broadcast twice a month on the Second and Fourth Sundays at Noon. We will also have specials guests from time to time bringing you the best in the Events business.

We will see you on the radio!

From AAWP: Happiness Is Controlling YOUR Guest-List!

(From February 2007)
Hi AAWPs!

Many, many folks who are getting married live by the philosophy that they’ll just invite “everyone” to their weddings because the majority won’t show. Well, that philosophy can get you in big trouble, because what if they do?

Weddings that take place in “hot” spots around the country like South Florida in winter, for example, tend to attract tourists and wedding guests, who jump at the opportunity to turn a wedding invitation into a mini-vacation.

The solution is simple:

* Invite only the number of guests that you can afford to invite. If you can afford 100 guests, send out 50 invitations (Note: most people come in couples.) We’ll call this your “A list”.

People who make the A list should include immediate family members; extended family members (aunts, uncles, and cousins if applicable); your bridal party with dates and spouses; your officiant with spouse (if not a paid officiant).

* People that didn’t make the A List, you’ll place on the “B list”.

The B list is composed of your closest friends, family friends, and business associates (who must be invited). The top 50 on your lists will receive invitations. All others you’ll transfer to a “C list”.

* You now mail 50 invitations, which invite 100 guests to your wedding. When you get a negative response, send out an invitation from your C list until your quota is full.

Once it is, you’ll send no more invitations. 100 people have been invited and 100 people have responded that they are attending. Your budget—and peace of mind—remain intact.

The remaining people on the C list are sent announcements, mailed the day after the wedding.

Happy Wedding Planning!

AAWP
American Academy of Wedding Professionals™
© 2007, American Academy of Wedding Professionals. All Rights Reserved.

From AAWP: There’s Wedding Insurance in YOUR wallet.

(this was sent September 2007)
Hello AAWPs:

The holidays are fast approaching and so is the BIG day for many of you! That’s why this week’s “Words of Wisdom…” have to do with protecting your wedding investment.

What’s the average cost of a wedding today? The answer is a whopping $28,000. Wow! That’s a lot of dinero to spend on a four- or five-hour party. So it’s critical that you safeguard your investment and there’s an easy way to do it.

Every one of us carries an insurance policy in our wallet and guess what it’s called? It’s called a credit card and your credit card can be your greatest financial protection when planning your wedding. Let me give you examples. There was once a bride and groom who booked a florist and gave them a $1500 deposit… in cash. Two weeks before the wedding, the shop went out of business. The couple was totally distraught; they didn’t have money to reserve another florist–but had they used their credit card, their deposit would have been protected. Recently, a bridal salon in our town went out of business. All the brides who gave the shop cash or checks for the deposits paid on their gowns were out of luck. But the ones who used their credit cards had their deposits refunded.

And there are other advantages. Some credit-card companies refund a percentage of your total purchases—in cash or bonuses. Others offer free travel insurance and frequent flier miles. And of course, if you pay the balance due within 30 days, there are no interest charges.

The lesson to be learned is this: No matter how much money you have in the bank, use credit cards to pay for your wedding. Weddings are planned months in advance, and no one knows what’s going to happen down that long, rocky road to the altar. Credit cards offer financial protection, benefits, insurance, and may even save you $$$$.

Happy Weddings!

AAWP
The American Academy of Wedding Professionals™