From Engagement to Wedding Day-Katherine and Tom- Part One- Engaged!

I met Katherine almost 4 years ago through a phone call I placed to her while I was just starting out in the wonderful world of planning. That one phone call, was the start of a friendship that is still ongoing. We aren't just friends, we are also associates in event planning and each other's soundboards when it comes to the wonderful world that are weddings and events.  About 2 years ago, I knew, she and I would be the perfect planning team. But before I could snap her up for The Blissful Bride, she went off her own and has her own successful firm, Paisley Events.

Here is the fun part about our friendship though.

Despite all the calls, emails, and biz chats..we had never met face to face. Ever.


That changed though on the morning of September 8th, 2012, when I finally not only met Katherine, but her boyfriend, someone she had raved about for months after she met him, Tom.

I was honored to have finally not only met her, but the both of them together. And I will tell you this, these two are so disgustingly in love. There is a certain kind of look a man gives a woman. A look of adoration and love.  Tom was no exception to this rule, he was looking at her in that same way.

I knew then, that Katherine, whom I now dub, the biggest believer in love, found "the one".




Yes, this is what touched down in Brooklyn that morning I FINALLY met Katherine .
Go figure.

When I received the call this last Saturday morning (in the wee hours), from Kat, I automatically picked up, because she has never called me at that hour. But this phone call was definetly worth picking up.

HE PROPOSED!

 

 

The details of the proposal, however, will remain between them (for now).

 

 

You know how they say a little girl  usually has dreams of how she wants her wedding to be?

 

I know who that little girl is.

 

Katherine has had wedding on the brain forever. This is a girl who knows what she wants for her day. She's been dreaming about it her entire life.

But as any good planner knows, you don't really plan your own wedding.  So guess who's along for the wonderful wedding ride with her?

 

I can't wait!  And I'm taking you along for the ride!

 

 

To be continued....

 

 

 

*This is Part One in a new series of blogs I am doing about my newest brides to be, from engagement to the wedding day. *




xo
The Blissful Bride





Timing is Everything..

As The Blissful Bride's very own 5 year wedding anniversary comes to a close tonight, I found myself thinking back to my wedding day. Its amazing, I can tell you I don't remember much, only snipets of details. But its those details I want to share with you and encourage you not to do the same things I did. I guess that's why you can say I became The Blissful Bride and have made it my team's mission to ensure that those same few mistakes that were made, won't be made.

LATENESS:  I reiterate to all my couples, especially my brides, as do many other vendors, namely photographers, venues, etc. to be sure you are on time, and when I say on time, I mean at least an hour earlier (if you are doing first looks, even earlier than that). I have a confession to make, I was late to my own wedding. My wedding ceremony was supposed to start at 5:30pm. We weren't doing first looks, but I was supposed to do many before shots along the grounds during the daylight hours with my bridal party and my family. Maybe even sit down in my suite and enjoy a few moments and maybe a few drinks...what time did I arrive?  I arrived 5:45pm. Needless to say, we got some bridal picture shots (because we pushed my ceremony time back to 6pm), some family shots and some of my personal shots. My sister in law took a few pictures seperate of the photographer and caught a different version of the events as they were unfolding...in one picture, I'm posing (without my veil, because it would have gotten crumpled in the car) and to my left is my officiant, getting ready to ask me..."Where is the license?" and in another picture, you see me getting ready to sign off on the documents. Guests saw me taking pictures, so it kind of ruined the allure of mystery I wanted to bring. Why was I late? Traffic on a considerably warm, Saturday in October. I decided to get ready at my new apartment..in Brooklyn. I was married at Douglaston Manor...

Which leads me to this next tidbit...

IF YOU CAN GET READY AT THE VENUE WELL BEFORE HAND: You do it. Especially if there are no weddings before yours. I should have never stood in Brooklyn. I should have rode out to Queens, met up with my wedding party out there and with my MUA/Hair person. I may have been locked away, but I would've been there...ON TIME. Inquire with your venue or location to see if you can get ready there or atleast get dressed on location. Or you have to pick a hotel nearby and no more than a half hour away.

Go ahead, ask me in your head....ask me what time makeup and hair were started...it was started reasonably early enough..BUT it could have started about an hour earlier if...

ALL BRIDAL ITEMS (DRESS and ACCESORIES) SHOULD BE PICKED UP THE DAY BEFORE or: You have someone (a bridesmaid, and/or a coordinator) pick it up for you. And if you have to leave anything for the last minute, let it be a veil, let it be something that isn't your wedding gown or anything that is directly related to it (bra, petitcoat, etc). Without that, you can't even get the dress on. If you are waiting on a veil, you can still get shots in without it if necessary and make up for it later.

And while I've heard bridezilla's (on television) say, the wedding is about me and can't start without me, I must say, yes it can't start without you, but show some courtesy to those vendors on a schedule who may have another wedding later on. And marraige is between two people, so its not just about you, its about you and your fiance. If he's there, you should be too...ON TIME.

THE EFFECTS OF LATENESS AT YOUR WEDDING:

YOUR MONEY:  You are now a half hour late to your ceremony. This means your ceremony time will trickle into your cocktail hour/ reception. So you are losing time, because there may be another wedding after yours they have to set up for. And even if your wedding is the last of the night, some venues may not give you the extra half hour you lost at the beginning. Check with your venue about overtime charges (same thing applies with DJ's, bands, videography, photo).  Not only are you eating up the clock on your party, but your eating up possibly travel time for the officiant to get to their next ceremony. In short, time is money. And there will be a late charge.

FOOD QUALITY:  The venue's chef and staff were there early enough, or the caterers are there well before and have had this ready for awhile. Things sometimes tend to dry up if its on the heat too long and its not their fault because they have a specific timing to do things...

PHOTOGRAPHS:  Expect to lose out on certain pictures because of this lateness. Sure you can ask to have these photos taken later...but nix the outside idea if its dark and more importantly, do you want to be pulled away for long periods of time so you can miss that one song you wanted the DJ to play for you?


As my anniversary comes to a close tonight and I look back, I find myself saying, I wish could have done many things differently. The first thing has to be my lateness and switching my locations. There are so many pictures that are normally done with other brides, that I missed out on.
I was incredibly stressed because my veil was picked up the minute the store openeed the same day and I think at a certain point I became numb, in the "oh my, I'm getting married...did I do everything I needed to?"

 Which is why I encourage..



And no it doesn't have to be me...but a coordinator or planner can work wonders. Trust me.

Stay Blissful!

xo

The Blissful Bride

 

 

PS: We will be back at Douglaston Manor on October 17th! Come and See us and our fellow vendors!  

October, How do I love thee?

If there is one thing you need to know about The Blissful Bride is that not only is Fall my favorite season, but it also has my favorite month of the year, October. So this is my ode to the fabulous month and why I am determined to make this month even more popular than August for weddings.

For one,  October has some of the best weather. Its not too hot, it's not too cold (although we still have a few weeks in which Mother Nature could put this to the test). So you can still have an outdoor ceremony and/or cocktail hour.

You have a three day weekend in this month. Columbus Day weekend falls usually on the first Monday of the month, so the weekend is ideal for a wedding weekend, you can have a brunch the following day OR you can have your wedding on Sunday (which can cut costs) and your guests have time to travel home. You and your spouse can take that Monday to relax, refresh, before you head on your honeymoon.

The leaves are changing colors and falling, put this together with a beautiful sunset, the ambiance can be fantastic. Or you can utilize this fact and incorporate this into your decor, along with either apples, pumpkins, pinecones, candles. Included are two ideas from the web (one courtesy of planning elegance) as well as from our own fall themed wedding last year for Amnel and Perez.

In addition to the wonderful colors, you can also incorporate the great scents of the fall as well. Because its Halloween, you can include pumpkin spice candles or apple spice scented candles to make it aromatic. Just make sure it doesn't overwhelm! As always, vanilla scented are light and can be used.

If you are determined to have a Princess wedding, what better month to have it than in October? Cinderella had her coach made from a pumpkin, why not utilize pumpkin season as well? Want to have a masquerade themed wedding? Halloween is at the end of the month, what better month to incorporate those fabulous masks?


Courtesy of Masquerade Weddings


And last but not least, there are two reasons why I truly love and adore October...

The Blissful Bride was married on Saturday, October 6th, 2007 (yes, this weekend marks 5 years  to the actual day I got married). The weather was a balmy and unusual 86 degrees, a cloud or two, but overall a stunning, stunning day. And the sunset..



Douglaston Manor Golf Course

And the very final reason why I love October..... it's my birthday at the end of the month!



If you are on the fence with a wedding date and absolutely stuck.  Call me bias, but I believe that you should seriously consider October (especially before it grows into a bigger wedding month, perhaps superceding August). The colors, weather, and ambiance are more vast than another month.

We will be back at The Douglaston Manor on Wednesday, October 17th from 7:00-9:30pm.
Come visit us, along with our fellow vendors and see how fabulous this venue is!
We will be featuring some October Specials (including ONE couple receiving a 25% off planning package) and a fabulous fall theme!

Hope to see  you there!

Until Then,
Stay Blissful!
xo

The Blissful Bride  



The Douglaston Manor Bridal Showcase - A Must See Event!

Get ready Brides, Queens premier Wedding Venue, Douglaston Manor will be hosting their annual Bridal Showcase this coming Thursday, September 6^th, and it is the place to be! The festivities will begin at 7pm and end at 10pm.

For the Bridal newbies, a Bridal Showcase is a great place to meet and greet with various wedding professionals, learn about the services they offer, and for many, to even get the ball rolling on their wedding planning process. With a wide selection of experts, suppliers, and other resources you can shop for everything you need to create the perfect wedding under one roof.

The Douglaston Manor Bridal Showcase will be featuring an array of local wedding professionals raging from Florist to DJ’s and everything in between. And of course, yours truly, The Blissful Bride Weddings & Events, Douglaston’s affiliate Wedding Consultants.

Be sure to stop by our booth to learn how The Blissful Bride can make your dreams of a beautiful, stress free wedding become a reality. In addition, we will also be featuring some of the newest wedding trends including a Wish Tree demonstration! The Wish Tree has become the latest alternative to the “Oh so traditional" Guest Book. Not only does it serves as beautiful décor, but it also allows guests to convey their well wishes to the bride and groom.

Douglaston Manor is located at 6320 Commonwealth Blvd. Douglaston, NY 11362. For more information you can visit http://thedouglastonmanor.com or you can contact Elisabeth@theblissfulbridenyc.com

We look forward to seeing you there!

Madelyn and Mark's Wedding- Saturday 9/2/2012 @ The Montauk Club Brooklyn

I first met Madelyn and her mom Holly in late June of last year to discuss how I could possibly become the Month of Coordinator for her September 2012 wedding. At the time of our meeting, she had booked The Montauk Club in Park Slope, as her venue. She picked this venue for many reasons, but the one that truly stood out was that she was born and raised in Park Slope and it meant so much for her to be married there.

Back then, September seemed really far away.

When I woke up on Saturday morning, I was greeted by the sun peering through my windows and the I felt the opposite way...I met Madelyn and her mom over a year ago!

The weather, although a little warmer than it had been (we had gotten away with a relatively cool August) in a while, was perfect for a wedding. Guests arrived from points along the country and the globe to watch Madelyn and Mark say I do!

The intimate ceremony and reception, had its personal touches, none being more evident than having their friend, Olga, officiate the wedding for them.

On behalf of Sue and myself, thank you for allowing us to be apart of it! We wish you a lifetime full of happiness!

The fabulous vendors of the day were:

Photography: Federov Foto
Cake: Stephanie Grajales
Flowers: Langdon Florist
DJ: A Starry Night Music (Carol)
Venue: The Montauk Club of Brooklyn
Stationery (Invitations, Table Numbers, Programs, Escort Cards): Two Create
Favors: M&M
Coordination: The Blissful Bride Weddings and Events

Here are some of our pictures from the day!



Clarissa and Mike's Wedding- Saturday, May 19th, 2012- Fox Hollow

Clarissa and I go way back to High School. We met when I decided to join the yearbook staff for her graduating class. Fast forward about ten years or so, thanks to a wonderful thing called social media we reconnected. After connecting with Clarissa to discuss her wedding, shortly before the new year, the first thing I thought was..this is the most put together bride I've ever met..
I met the dynamic duo together for the first time in the late winter and upon walking through the door, I couldn't help but feel the incredible love between these two and think to myself, these two are meant to be together.

Yesterday at about 12:30pm or so, that became a reality.

I dubbed Clarissa, the Pink Princess, and in true princess fashion, she lost her shoe while heading down the steps (in true Cinderella fashion) wearing the most spectacular, sparkly gown ever.Her prince awaited her and they said I do, bubbles being blown during and after the ceremony. The reception was beyond spectacular, featuring great music that everyone wanted to get up and dance to, including this one little boy who was up on that dance floor up until the party was over.

I have to say, while each wedding and each couple are near and dear in my heart, Clarissa and Mike hold an even more special place. 

I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again, on behalf of Sue and myself, thank you for letting us be apart of your special day.

The wonderful group of vendors that took part in Clarissa and Mike's day were:

Venue: Fox Hollow
Cake: Little Miss Cake Company
Photography: Brian @ Sherwood Triart Photography
Videography: New York Video
Makeup and Hair: Essa Salon and Spa
Flowers: PWP Floral
Music: Keith @ Classie Sounds Entertainment

And as always, a shout out to my assistant, Sue, who joined me for another wedding...

Katisha and Chris's Wedding- Friday, February 3, 2012 @ Manhattan Penthouse

When I met Katisha and Chris way back in August to discuss their wedding, the first thing I thought was they had to be crazy to plan a wedding in a little under 6 months.

That time seemed to fly by and once it got down to the final month, time flew even quicker and before you could even blink, it was Friday, February 3rd. We met up with Katisha and Chris at their respective suites at Hotel Indigo. Although their suites were adjoining..they made sure neither of them could see each other before the "first look". We did get to know the wedding party a little better and from that hour or so before we headed down to Manhattan Penthouse, you knew it was going to be a great night!

Here are some before and after shots:

Empire State Building BEFORE

Gotta Love the Empire State Building at night..

Ceremony Set up BEFORE

Down the Aisle- AFTER

Up The Aisle- BEFORE

Up the Aisle- AFTER

Cake Created by Stephanie Grajales

Another Shot of the Cake- Yes those flowers are REAL orchids!

Head Table

 To see more pictures, check us out on Facebook, www.facebook.com/blissfulbridenyc . We look forward to sharing more pics from Katisha and Chris's wedding soon!

A special thanks to the vendors that day:
Cake: Stephanie Grajales
Officiant: Rev. C. Will Mercer
DJ: The Pros  (DJ Latif)
Florist: Superior Florist
Photography: Perfect Photo and Video
Venue: Manhattan Penthouse/ Green Mansions Catering

And a huge shout out to my assistant Sue, who stepped into the fold about a month and a half before the big day.

We still have so much to look forward to for 2012, our next showcase, our next wedding and so much more!

Blissfully Yours,
xo
The Blissful Bride

Guest Book Extinction??

Each year something new happens with weddings...whether it be theme and vision, types of venues, budgets, there is almost always something new happening. No two weddings are alike. But there is one thing that seems to be the same.

The Guest Book (yes you know those little books in stores and bridal shops) seems to be going extinct and is on the endangered list...

Couples are opting for unique ways of guests giving their best wishes and advice on their big day, whether it be a Wish Tree, photobooth with pictures or a polaroid (which get put into a book with words of wisdom and congrats), or the Tree of Life with thumbprints and signatures, times are a-changing for sure. And in all honesty, we are loving it!

I can say at this point, about 50% of my weddings are going sans Guest Book and opting for something that can be more of a keepsake and be kept out in the open for them to always look at.
Let's face it, the book will go away with the cake server and the toasting flutes. Will you look at these items ever again? Perhaps..but will the Guest Book be able to weather the years that will go by?

Perhaps the change of how people express their best wishes will revert once again to that wonderful guest book because the trend will die out. Maybe the creators of these books will make them much bigger, so no one misses them (because let's face it, many of us do at weddings) and bring it off the extinction list entirely.

Until then though, its still an endangered part of the wedding.

Are you doing something creative and unique for your "Guest Book"?
What other parts of a wedding are on the endangered list and may be disappearing?

The Polaroid and the Photo Album, which allowed guests to take pics and give their  best wishes

The Wish Tree

The Tree of Life at our last wedding....

PS: You are all in for a treat the next two weeks...we will be blogging about our first Bridal Showcase at Douglaston Manor on Wednesday, January 25th from 7-9:30pm and after that we will be featuring our final countdown to Katisha and Chris' February 3rd Wedding!!

Stay Blissful!
xo
The Blissful Bride

Happy 2012!!! Happy 2nd Anniversary The Blissful Bride!!

Its hard to believe that two years have come and gone for The Blissful Bride Weddings and Events. We've met some wonderful people and couples along the way.

We are off and running this year as we do our final countdown to Katisha and Chris's February nuptials. While that final month leading into the big day can be incredibly stressful, it is important to realize that its fun doing a countdown till you become one with your significant other. My best advice is that you get a massage the day before the wedding (if time allows, early the day of) and if you can, the day after because then you can truly relax because you are MARRIED!

Remember the most important part of the big day is not just that the food is great or the DJ is doing a great job, but that you are declaring your love for one another in front of all the people you love. Without that declaration of love, its just a party. Do not lose sight in all those pesky details. Just take a deep breath. Everything will go according to plan.

We look forward to sharing our February wedding with you and we look forward to sharing all our wedding stories, tips and changes happening here at BBW&E. Its going to be an exciting year!

Congratulations to all couples who were engaged over the holidays!!

xo <3
The Blissful Bride