Wedding Blog

We have truly seen different types of weddings in 2009. Huge affairs have been set aside for more intimate gatherings of close family and friends. Tina and Chuck’s wedding was a fantastic example of this change. The ceremony was a sweet celebration with immediate family.

Once again, it was a rain-soaked day, in Orlando, but the clouds cleared just long enough for the ceremony and photographs. Enjoy!

Susan: What was the most memorable part of the wedding day for you?
Tina: When I was walking down the aisle with my step-dad & I could see Chuck looking back at me. I was so happy to see him standing there.

Susan: What was the most memorable part of the wedding day for Chuck?
Tina: When we were standing before the minister & we were looking into each others eyes. It reminded him how excited him how excited he was to be spending the rest of his life with me.

Susan: What were you most worried about?
Tina: We weren’t worried about much but since the wedding was outside, we were worried about the rain. But other than that the wedding was very stress free.

Susan: How did having a coordinator help alleviate any fear or stress?
Tina: I was fortunate enough to be able to come down to Florida a couple months before my wedding and meet with Susan. She was very helpful, and working with Karen was also such a pleasure. As soon as we starting planning our wedding they were on top of every detail. Their attention to detail made the entire process stress-free.

Susan: What did you think about the flowers, décor, and/or overall feel for your wedding?
Tina: The Swan was absolutely gorgeous, we could not have asked for a better setting for our wedding. The flowers were not only beautiful the day of the wedding, but they also look amazing in our wedding pictures. When showing family and friends our wedding pictures, people are always commenting on the flowers.

Susan: Is there anything you wish had happened differently?
Tina: Other than the rain after our ceremony there was nothing we would change.

Susan: Do you have anything else you want to share?
Tina: We enjoyed working with Just Marry because we always felt at ease and the entire planning process was not stressful. Our phone calls and e-mails were always promptly returned. We always felt like Just Marry was on top of the planning process.

If you have questions on this or any other wedding related topic, please post for me here or send me an email to susan.southerland@pwg.com. Also become a fan on Facebook by clicking here and follow me on Twitter by clicking here.

Your partner in perfect planning,

Susan

It’s time again for Real Wedding Wednesday. Karen and Gary were a lovely couple from the United Kingdom. The had a beautiful wedding at the Celebration Hotel. I love working at Celebration… It is an intimate boutique hotel that reminds me the “old Florida” and the staff is so welcoming and friendly.

Enjoy!

Susan: What was the most memorable part of the wedding day for you?

Gary: The thunderstorm just before we married and being informed that 5 mins before the ceremony, there was no-one to marry us. Fortunately, nature sorted out the first and I was very impressed with how quickly you obtained a replacement for us. (Susan’s note: One of our favorite ministers had an emergency come up right before the wedding. In spite of that emergency, he helped us find a suitable replacement so that the wedding could move forward. That is the mark of a true professinal. That quality is something you should definitely look for when hiring your vendors).

Susan: What was the most memorable part of the wedding day for Karen?

Karen: How smoothly everything went, with all of the people you recommended turning up on time, eg the steamer from Carolyn Allen, make up artist and hair stylist, the reverend and the violinst.

Susan: What were you most worried about?

Gary: Nothing - I don’t tend to worry and as we had kept in regular touch, I had every confidence in your services. If I was to worry, these are the only aspects that caused me some slight concern - organising a wedding via e-mail and phone, never having seen the venue, other than on the web site, nor having met yourselves.

Karen: I also don’t tend to worry and as Gary and I used to run a Wedding Function Venue, I always advised our clients that as long as they got married, everything else would become a tale to tell in the future. I didn’t realise at the time how close to not having someone to marry us we were!

Susan: How did your Just Marry! planner, Karen, and I help alleviate any fear or stress?

Gary: Due to the thunderstorm, you discussed with me the possibility of moving the ceremony inside and very quickly (or so it seemed to me) sorted a replacement out for the registrar.

Susan: What did you think of the flowers, décor?

Gary: The flowers were perfect and smelt gorgeous and the decor was fantastic. We couldn’t think of anything better to say.

Susan: Is there anything you wish had happened differently?

Gary: We were so delighted with our photographs, in hindsight, we would have booked Ginger to be with us for longer and we wouldn’t have lost our own camera and camcorder! Good job Ginger did such a good job.

Susan: Do you have anything else you want to share?

Gary: Just that it was a perfect day, with everything happening seamlessly. Everyone you recommended did a wonderful job and if we ever decided to get married again (hopefully to each other), we wouldn’t hesitate in booking your venue and commendations again.

If you have questions on this or any other wedding related topic, please post for me here or send me an email to susan.southerland@pwg.com. Also become a fan on Facebook by clicking here and follow me on Twitter by clicking here.

Your partner in perfect planning,

Susan

Good afternoon everyone.

I wanted to share an article by Jean Patteson of the Orlando Sentinel. It is very cute!

orlandosentinel.com/features/lifestyle/orl-livgroomzilla26032609mar26,0,4662486.story

OrlandoSentinel.com
Watch out, world — it’s Groomzilla!
JEAN PATTESON

SENTINEL STAFF WRITER

March 26, 2009

So you think Bridezilla is scary, what with her tears and temper tantrums?

Just wait till you meet her opposite number: Groomzilla.

He’s bigger, bolder, louder. And increasingly, he’s muscling in on territory previously ruled by the bride, her mother and possibly a wedding planner.

“We’re seeing grooms becoming more involved in the wedding plans — everything from choosing the venue down to the minutest details,” says Rob Johnsen, 38, co-owner of mywedding.com, a leading online wedding guide.

“It’s the rise of Groomzilla,” he says. “We thought it would be fun to find the biggest Groomzilla in the country, so we launched a contest.”

That was three weeks ago, and the entries are still flooding in. There are grooms demanding specific color schemes, flowers, food, china patterns and officiants. Others are vetting the bridesmaids dresses — and even the bride’s choice of bridesmaids.

The contest deadline is April 21, but already several likely finalists are emerging — including one from Central Florida.

“I don’t see myself as Groomzilla. I think of myself as a concerned fiancé,” says David Taggart of Casselberry. He was entered into the contest by his bride, Bethany Haneline, an administrative assistant in Altamonte Springs. The couple plan to marry in November.

“Bethany gave the wedding plans a few shots, but got frustrated. So I embraced the challenge,” says Taggart, 36, owner of Innovative Party Rentals in Altamonte Springs.

“What I do for a living probably has an impact on the demands I have for a perfectly coordinated event,” he says. “I do have an attitude, but I don’t think I’m mean.”

Still, he did reduce a prospective photographer to tears. And he became so impatient with the cake designers, he stormed out of the bakery vowing to bake the wedding cake himself.

As he explains it: “We talked to the bakery people for about 30 minutes, back and forth. Eventually I grabbed paper and pencil, did a sketch, chose some colors, and the cake was designed in 30 seconds.”

Yes, he admits, “I ripped them apart. I’m very sorry. But when I’m paying a fee, I expect perfection.”

Had he gotten married when he was in his early 20s, no way would he have taken charge of arrangements. All he cared about then was “cold beer, hot women, and who the L.A. Lakers were playing.”

But now, “I plan events every day of my life. My goal is to make [the wedding] the best event ever.”

Overall, his bride is grateful for his intervention. “My mom is planning my sister’s wedding in July. She has no time to help me. I quickly became overwhelmed. David could see it, so he took over,” explains Haneline.

“He’s hard to deal with, but he gets the job done. He just wants to make it perfect for me and for himself. Basically, everything he’s chosen, I’ve loved. I feel like the luckiest girl. I just have to say, ‘Yeah, I like that.’”

Only the wedding seems to bring out the ‘zilla in him, she says. “He supports me totally in my personal and professional decisions.”

Still, she was surprised when her Groomzilla changed the wedding venue and signed a contract with a musician without consulting her. And when he approved only two out of seven of her menu choices.

She did select the colors for her bridesmaids’ dresses. But her fiancé will have a say in the styles “since he can’t pick the bride’s dress.”

Not that he hasn’t tried.

“He takes my brides magazines and crosses out what he doesn’t like. He took me to a bridal show, and when a model walked out in a certain dress, he said, ‘I want you to have that dress.’”

But that’s where Haneline is drawing the line. “I will take into account his likes, but I’m not ruling out my taste. The dress will be my choice,” she says.

Grooms started morphing into Groomzilla about a year ago, says wedding consultant Susan Southerland, owner of Just Marry! in Winter Park.

“I think partially because some brides have busy jobs, other times it’s because the groom wants to keep the budget in line. I also think grooms want to have the day reflect their personality — maybe not with flowers and linens, but certainly with food and music and oddly enough, cake. That seems to be huge with grooms.”

Johnsen points out that today’s grooms are older — the average age is 29 in the United States. They have been in the workplace awhile and are used to calling the shots.

“And if a guy is paying, he’s going to want to control the outcome,” says Johnsen.

“It’s a new generation getting married. It’s less taboo for a guy to enjoy his wedding. It’s not all about the bride anymore.”

Jean Patteson can be reached at 407-420-5158 or jpatteson@orlandosentinel.com

Copyright © 2009, Orlando Sentinel

If you have any comments or questions, please post it here or email me at susan.southerland@pwg.com

Your partner in perfect planning,

Susan

When most of us thing about wedding entertainment we think band or DJ. Well, it’s time to think again. Entertainment has become much, much more! Below are some of my favorite, and somewhat unusual, entertainment ideas for your wedding.

• Living statues. I have used these for a few events. Guests love them! The photos below are from Live Art by Julie here in Orlando. Her statues are amazing.
   
• Sommelier. Many of my couples are into wine. They love sharing knowledge about their favorite vintages. One great way to do that is to hire a sommelier during your cocktail hour. He or she can pour the wine and educated your guests as well. Another bonus, sometimes your caterer or reception site will have one on staff. You may be able to get one gratis or for a nominal fee.
   
• Gospel Choir. My associate, Michele Butler, had a wedding in December that used a gospel choir for their ceremony. It was amazing! When it was time for them to begin singing the soloist slowly walked to the front of the ceremony, then the rest of the group came running in from all sides. The guests were wowed. The recessional was a fast-moving, uplifting song. The wedding party danced back up the aisle with the singer. So memorable!
   
• Steel Drums. I think it is so much fun to juxtapose something unexpected amid all the tradition. One of my clients had a very traditional, long wedding mass for her ceremony. We wanted to shake up her guests a bit. When they arrived at the cocktail hour, they were welcomed by a steel drum band. It put everyone in a festive mood.
   
• Stilt Walker. They are great for the cocktail hour. Again, it gears up your guests for something fun and exciting. It makes a great transition from a solemn ceremony to a festive reception.
   
• Caricature Artist. A quick portrait makes a great memento of the evening. One thing to be aware when considering a caricature artist, a speedy one can do about eight portraits an hour. That would mean she could do about 40 portraits during a cocktail hour and four hour reception. If you have a large guest count, you may need to hire a few.
   
• Photo booth. So retro and so fun! The best modern twist on the photo booth is that now, the booth provider can give you a memory stick or cd with all of the images. It is really entertaining to see the silly things your guests did at your wedding.
   

If you would like more information on entertainment for your wedding click here. If you have any questions or entertainment ideas you would like to share with other Perfect Wedding Guide brides, post a comment here or email me at susan.southerland@pwg.com

Orlando is a popular destination for people from all over the world to travel to and get married. This week, my company, Just Marry!, has three three destination weddings. Each of them are of varying size, but they have one wonderful thing in common — relaxed brides and grooms.

Hosting your wedding away from home can be a big stress reliever for a number of reasons.

1. Destination weddings tend to be smaller, so the couple can relax and enjoy the day with their closest family and friends.
2. Since the plans are done from a distance, if the couple is able to trust the person planning the wedding, the day-to-day agonizing over every decision doesn’t happen.
3. Once the couple leaves for the wedding, they are away from their work, their house, their bills and from other regular stresses. The couple can truly relax and immerse themselves in the wedding experience.
4. Destination weddings tend to be less expensive than a traditional wedding at home. This helps relieve the number-one stress that typically comes with weddings. Couples tend not to spend way beyond their means.
5. Also, with regard to budget, since everyone at the wedding is on vacation, you can celebrate any day of the week. Planning a mid-week wedding can save you thousands!

If you are up for a bit of adventure and you want a great excuse to celebrate your wedding with only your closest family and friends, consider a destination wedding. Your blood pressure and your wallet will thank you!