Going Green?

"Going Green" has taken hold and more folks are trying to live an environmentally friendly life. It's catching on in the wedding industry, too (no, weddings don't have to be wasteful!). I'm working on a new class "Planning a Green Wedding" and there are quite a few resources around now. Here are a few ideas:


Flower Seed Favors

Give the gift that keeps on giving! Visit http://www.monumentalevents.cceasy.com/ for more information.









Invitations



It's easy to find stylish invitations printed on recycled paper. Visit http://www.moumentalevents.cceasy.com/ for more options.








Cake

MallowDrama (http://www.mallowdrama.com/) has been catching some buzz in the local newspapers and I had the opportunity to meet and chat with the owners about a week ago. A good portion of their ingredients are organic and they try to use locally grown / produced ingredients when possible.



The Dress

Who says you can't have an organic dress? Rizik's in D.C. is now carrying the Eco-Coutoure wedding collection by designer Adele Wechsler.



Stay tuned for more information on my "Planning a Green Wedding" class!

We all scream for ice cream!

I don't know too many people who don't like ice cream, but I know plenty of people that say they don't care for wedding cake. I'm working with a bride and groom who fit into that category - they really don't care about cake, but love ice cream. The solution for their wedding? Ice cream cake, of course. It's something fun and different that will put a personal touch on their wedding (which is important!). They're ordering their cake from Cold Stone Creamery, so we're not just talking your plain old vanilla or chocolate from your childhood. I was drooling in the store just looking at all the flavors available.

The down side is you don't have a cake to display throughout the reception, but the plus side is it's VERY budget friendly. We're going to use a floating tier stand to still have the effect of the regular wedding cake and they'll still get the cake cutting picture. And don't think you can't do this if your wedding isn't in the summer. Just use seasonal ice cream flavors (think pumpkin pie, peppermint, gingerbread) and you can do this for a wedding in any season!

Waffle House Wedding

Oh. My. I'm speechless.

http://www.seriouseats.com/2008/09/waffle-house-wedding-gwinnett-atlanta-georgia.html

Well, I was only speechless for a few seconds. To be kind, it was a very budget friendly wedding. Maybe I'll add that as a budget tip in my next Wedding Planning class. I can only imagine the look of horror on the brides faces as they run from the room.

Happy New Year!

January always brings a renewed sense of energy and fresh start for me. We can forget about those old resolutions (finally!) and we happily anticipate once again what the new year will hold for us.

January also brings out brides-to-be newly engaged during the holidays as they start their wedding planning frenzy! I’m geared up for the craziness (and fun) that this brings for me as a wedding planner.

As we hit the ground running, I already have two classes planned for those brides in the “planning frenzy”:

“Wedding Planning for Brides on a Budget” – Saturday 1/24/09
Get tips and advice on planning a wedding on a budget from Stacey Joedicke, Professional Bridal Consultant™. Review the components of a wedding budget, learn where the hidden costs can be found, and discuss ways to save money. Review fun, do-it-yourself projects and get a comprehensive list of budget-friendly planning resources. This class is offered through Fairfax County Adult and Community Education. For more information and to register, visit http://www.aceclasses.org/

“Wedding Vendor Contracts” – Saturday 2/21/09
Before you sign on the dotted line, learn what should and shouldn’t be included in the contracts with your wedding vendors. Stacey Joedicke, Professional Bridal Consultant™, will review the contract components for each major wedding vendor category (venue, caterer, photographer, florist, etc.). This is not legal advice, but practical advice to explain what you may see in contracts and make sure everything necessary is covered in writing. This class is open to brides, grooms, their parents, and anyone else involved in the planning process. This class is offered through Fairfax County Adult and Community Education. For more information and to register, visit http://www.aceclasses.org/

All the best in 2009!

Cake Rental

It sounds crazy, but I'm intrigued by it! So you ask, how do you rent a cake? Well, you rent a fake cake. There's a company www.cakerental.com that has a number of pre-designed cakes or they can create custom cakes. They ship it to you to display for your wedding cake and then you serve sheet cake to your guests. There's a compartment in the back of the cake for you to insert real cake to do the "cake cutting".

The cost is really reasonable compared to a real cake. If you have a large wedding and want a great cake, but are looking to save money, this is definitely a unique option. I really hope one of my brides will try this! If you want someone local, you can ask a cake maker to rent one of their dummy cakes and have them make sheet cake. They may or may not be receptive to this, and you also won't have the secret compartment to do the mock cake cutting. It's worth a try, though!

Wedding Planning for Brides on a Budget

It's back! Calling all budget-minded brides that are trying to plan a wedding in the DC metro area on a realistic budget: "Wedding Planning for Brides on a Budget" class is being offered again through the Fairfax County Adult and Community Education program. The class is being held on Saturday, September, 27, 2008 from 9 am - 12 pm. For more information and to register, go to www.fcps.edu/aceclasses/.

I had so much fun teaching this course for the first time in January. I know many brides struggle with budget, but you can still have a fabulous wedding without breaking the bank!

Memorial Day Weekend Weddings

The weather was absolutely perfect this weekend for weddings in the DC area! The holiday weekends are quite popular for weddings, but I seem to remember more bad weather holidays than good. I'm always nervous about the weather with outdoor weddings, but brides were delivered a beautiful day. Bright sunshine and low 70's - what more could you ask for? I had a wedding at River Farm on Saturday (congratulations Rachel and Adam!) and guests really enjoyed being able to walk the gardens and grounds in the sunshine. The scenic view of the Potomac River topped it all off!

River Farm is one of those hidden gems off of the GW Parkway (well, it was to me until I got into the wedding business!). The American Horticultural Society is based at River Farm, so you know the grounds and gardens are gorgeous. It's open to the public and free! If you ever need to relax, just visit River Farm.