Happy New Year - 2008 Resolutions

Happy New Year! This is my last blog for 2007 so I thought I would write about my resolutions for the new year. Resolutions are defined as: resolving to do something; a course of action determined or decided on; a firm determination.

The critics state that the average resolution is lost or forgot after 30 days. So by January 31, 2008 most people have tossed their resolution. Critics believe it takes 30 days to kick or initiate a habit.

My 2008 New Year's Resolutions

1. Lifestyle Change. I resolute to change my eating habits and incorporate a consistent, realistic exercise and healthy eating plan. Notice, I did not call this a "diet" I resolute to lose 30 pounds before the summer of 2008.

2. Learn a new Language. Rosetta Stone and I will have a serious relationship in 2008. I will challenge myself with learning a foreign language.

3. Volunteer. I have really slacked in this area. I resolute to do more volutneer work within the community. I have passion for the youth and at-risk population based programs.

4. Finances. I resolute to save more money in 2008 and spend more wisely.

5. Time Management. I resolute to manage my time more effectively and effeciently in 2008.

6. Networking. Networking is critical to success. I resolute to "net-work" more within the Nashville community.

My Favorite Things 2007

First, I'd like to give KUDOS to Oprah, the founder of "Favorite Things" Everyone has some favorite things. I have some things that are my absolute favorite. See below a list of 25 of my FT...

Rhonda's Fave 25

1. Blackberry 8830 World Edition Smart Phone by Verizon Wireless.
2. Flavored Coffee by Godiva
3. 57' LCD by Magnavox
4. WII by Nintendo (Dance Dance Revolution is a fun calorie burner)
5. Daisy Perfume by Marc Jacobs
6. Blue River Canyon Day Spa- Brentwood, TN
7. Blush Perfume by Marc Jacobs
8. Esscence Body Lotion by Marc Jacobs
9. Unforgivable Women by Sean Combs
10. Unforgivable Men by Sean Combs
11. Coca-Cola
12. Satellite Laptop by Toshiba
13. Accessories by Francesca's Collections
14. Be Mine Luggage by Betsey Johnson
15. Cuisinart Grind & Brew Coffee Maker by Williams & Sonoma
16. Philospophy Lipgloss by Sephora
17. Signature Studded Tote by Coach
18. GEEGEE Sneaker by Coach
19. Celebration Rings by Tiffany
20. Metal-X Cream Shadow by MAC Cosmetics
21. RSVP Cologone by Kenneth Cole
22. Japenese Cherry Blossom Signature Collections by Bath & Body Works
23. Lingerie- "Body" by Victoria's Secret
24. Nova Check Studded Tote by Burberry
25. Square Watch by Burberry

This year, I have been fascinated by the designer Marc Jacobs. His perfumes and body lotions are my favorites although his handbags have recently peeked my interest. Kenneth Cole is another great designer. He is one of my hubby's favorite designers. His clothing, shoes, and cologones will always top my list.

My blackberry is another favorite. The smart phone is just that... "SMART" This phone is top notch and of superb quality. Very user friendly!

Celebration Rings by Tiffany are a way to capture life's most important moments and milestones. I've had a lot of special moments and milestones in '07. Some of my other favorites include Coach, MAC, Burberry and cold Coca-Cola...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Decopauge the Details!

For the OCD Brides... LOL! Just kidding. Some of the brides I consult with carry the infamous white binder with sectioned tabs. This binder is well organized and contains pictures of their bridal dress, bridesmaid dresses, bouquets, pictures of the cake, their shoes and all the other details of their wedding. From magazine scraps to cut & paste pictures from the internet, it's one big collage of everything they desire for their wedding.

The binder serves as a great tool. After the wedding instead of tossing the binder, one unique idea is to take these scraps and decopauge them onto a plate. The plate can serve as a keepsake for the bride or for the bridesmaids. It contains all the sentiments and fine details of the wedding.

So get your magazine scraps, a plate and some decopauge and have fun making your collages.

Jack of all trades- Master of none

Jack of all trades- master of none.

The phrase "Jack of all trades-master of none" is a figure of speech used in reference to a person who is compentant in many skills but is not outstanding in any one. The term has become a cliche in its current form.

I recently met a wedding planner who was also the florist, decorator, caterer and photographer. So I ask, "what do you do again?"

Beware of the "Jack of all trades" mentality that is often adopted from wedding vendors. They become the JOAT-MON which results in a very disappointed bride. None of their task are mastered and everything is done poorly. Some wedding vendors become knowledgeable is many facets of the wedding industry but become greedy and try to operate a one-stop shop. One stop shops work for Wal-Mart but not weddings.

Although some vendors may be skillful in all trades it's not a guarantee they can master all trades. In the corporate world, one will not be hired as the director, receptionist, secretary and maintenence man. You will be assigned one title and expect to perform those tasks successfully.

Although one may master all trades; he/she will probably fail at something. Something will be done in poor taste. I caution brides to hire separate vendors. Hiring a combo vendor may save you time and money but in the end you may wish you took the time to consult knowledgeable, competent vendors who are experts in their individual fields. All though some vendor roles cross-over, save yourself the headache and strain by hiring qualified, individual vendors.

Tis the Season for Whimsical Weddings...

If your planning a wedding in 2008 then don't ignore the holiday bargains-

especially for the DIY Bride!!!

I was excited to hear from some of my brides who actually read my blogs. I create these blogs for my clients, prospective clients or internet browsers who are looking for the latest trends in the wedding industry. One ask what inspires my blog entries.

My blog entries are inspired by what I encounter during the course of the day or weeks as I meet with clients and other wedding vendors. I was inspried to write this blog becasue Black Friday is in a few days and I thought I would inform my clients that now is the time to find some of the best decor and gifts EVER.

Find the Perfect Holiday & Bridesmaid Dresses; Not that long ago a bridesmaid dress looked like a bridesmaid dress and no one would ever consider it for anything else. But these days, bridesmaid dresses are fun and modern and many can also work as a holiday dress too! Take an afternoon to look for bridesmaid dresses, and keep an eye out for a fun outfit for New Year's Eve or the office holiday party at the same time!

Don't forget to take advantage of the after-Christmas sales! You may think after- Christmas sales are limited to buying that sweater your sister didn't get you. But when you're wedding planning, you can get some real bargains. Now is the time to pick up strands of lights for decorating your reception hall, and candles for the tables. Look for chocolates wrapped in colorful foil for favors, or using in out-of-town welcome bags. Also you can find some great items that make wonderful wedding party gifts, all at reduced prices.

Metallics are hot accents for weddings and an easy find during the holidays and don't forget the clear iridescent christmas balls... they are Ab Fab (Absolutely Faboulous) especially displayed in tall cylinder vases-

Take advantage of Holiday decor and gifts while plentiful.


Happy Holidays.

~Rhonda

Cool things...Cheap change

As a designer, I find myself doing tons of research and shopping for brides. From wedding trends to what's NOT In, I pretty much cover it all. After spending months with the bride, I find myself not only their event designer but also their planner, fashion stylist and sounding board.... that's why I so love my job!!!

I have found some really cool shops with cute, inexpensive items for the bridal party or yourself for that matter. If your assisting with planning you bridal shower, party, etc. or looking for the right pieces to rock to your upcoming bridal shower/party/ or while your simply staying cute as Soon-To-Be-Mrs.... (because you know people are checking you out...especially his "x") then check out these cool places for cute and casual clothing, jewelery, purses, etc.

1. Steve and Barry's (Sarah Jessica Parker clothing line has absolutely adorable clothing and jewelry for cheap)

2. The Body Shop (the cutest jewelry 3 pieces for $12 - very similar to the jewelry at The Limited but at a "limited" price)

3. Fabu (some of the funkiest gifts, purses, decor, etc. that I've ever seen)

4. Geny's (cute, unique and inexpensive decor for parties)

5. For Love 21 ( OMG ! Should I say more... this place has any and every kind of jewelry and accessories you can imagine... just take your outfit (s) in and I gaurantee they will have the perfect accessories to match.

6. Vanity- I've heard their jeans fit very well and they really help accentuate your curves-

7. Marti & Liz- inexpesnive designer shoes at a fraction of the cost ( I purchased some authenic Gucci shoes from this place but didn't pay the Gucci price)

As you can see I love clothing, jewelry and shoes and have found some great bargains at these places. Just thought I'd share the news about these COOL THiNGs and CHeAP CHANGE!!!

~Rhonda

Keep the Fire Burning...

As the tempature drops, I light up my fireplace to keep the house warm and cozy. It so romantic to set by the fireplace with my husband. We watch the sparks and listen to the fire pop while we cuddle and converse and sip on some ever so fine wine.

As the fire burns down, we restock. Adding more logs to the flame ultimately keeps the fire burning. If we want the fire to burn down or burn out, we stop adding logs or turn the gas key to off. We keep a stockpile of logs outback-hint...hint...

One may wonder... what does this have to do with marriage.

Well, in my line of business I meet with eager, energetic brides everyday who are full of the Soon-To-Be Syndrome. They go above and beyond to look their best on their wedding day. They join Curves or hire a personal trainer. They go extra lengths for their locks. They visit their hair stylist and disucss various styles and may even experiment with color or new hair-do's. They will scoot to spa for a nice facial or rub down. They eat extremely healthy the entire months ahead to either lose or maintain their weight. They search long and hard for the perfect lingerie to wear on their wedding night. They walks the malls to find for the perfect outfit to wear at dinner rehearsal/bridal shower. They visit the pefume counter to find that special scent to wear the day of the wedding- the one he absolutely loves.

The day before the wedding, they have a top of line pedicure and manicure. The day of the wedding their make-up is flawless and hair is impeccable. The night of the wedding their body is banging and their lingerie is sexy.

After the honeymoon phase...what happens! Suddenly, the log tossing STOPS and the flame is depleted.

The curves membership is cancelled, you return to the fast food drive-thru's, nails are chipped, hammer time is on their toes, and their hair is mangled and worst of all- the lingerie doesn't fit anymore.

I wish brides (and grooms) put as much zeal into their marriage as they do into the planning. Marriage is a convenant. So many people take it for granted. They spend thousands upon thousands for such a beautiful day and spend -0- to maintain their marriage. Realizing not every person goes into marriage for the right reason. Some rush to the alter because their "x" recently said "I Do" while others get married just for the attention. Some get married because there close friend is now Mrs.

or...some simply marry out of desperation. They were scorned by their past lover or X-wife/husband and marry their Super-Hero to find out a few years later that they really have nothing in common. Just infactutation. People are usually attracted to what they are so no wonder why two desperate people find love so quickly. They are both the super hero's and feed off of each other's desperate affection.

Marriage is like swimming. It will test every muscle in your body. Marriages require lots of work, time and effort, forgiving, understanding, flexibility, trust (and the list goes on)...

After you've said the nuptials, make sure you continue to toss logs into the fireplace to keep it burning. In everything that you done to look your best the day of the wedding, maintain those things so that you always look your best.

And every now and then... like Beyonce' said best..

Look in the back of your closet and put your freak'um dress on...

Goodnite-

Trash the Dress

Picture Source: Trashthedress.com

I was transitioning my closets from summer to fall and there it was... my wedding dress from 2003 suffocated in plastic. It was still beautiful but what am I going to do with it. It takes up quite of bit space in my closet. I know my daughters want wear it in 20-30 years so where can I put it? I thought about trashing it. I've heard about this TDD (Trash the Dress) thing and thought I could take some steamy photos in it (that's if I can still wear it). LOL!

While TDD may not qualify as an actual trend, it's bridal portraits taken to an extreme. TDD is simply doing something in this dress you normally wouldn't do like roll around in the mud, drench it in water and get it soaking wet, pour paint over it, lay in a dirty alley, etc.

I've been married for 4 years and I am devoted to my husband. He is such a wonderful man, but I had to ask myself, would he like to see me in my wedding dress trashed? No, he would probably think I'm stupid to pay a photographer take pictures of me while I destroy my wedding gown. And besides, my gown is sentimental. He loved my gown so I wouldn't feel comfortable destroying it afterall. So, I guess it will continue to suffocate in the plastic and take up space in my closet.

Wait a minute... I have a thought.

What if I donate my dress for a healthy cause. My hubby would love that idea. I will donate my dress to Brides Against Breast Cancer. Brides Against Breast Cancer sales donated wedding dresses at huge gatherings across the country to raise money for terminally ill cancer patients. I will even go a step further and partner/volunteer with the local Cancer Society to plan a Brides Against Breast Cancer event locally. I will contact my former clients and ask them to donate there dress for a good cause in the community.

An Elegant "E-Bay" Wedding

An Elegant E-Bay Wedding

"I am having an elegant E-Bay wedding" is what the bride said with such enthusiasm. I chuckled a little at the comment and she said, "No.... Seriously, why are you laughing". I replied, "Are you really serious?" She said, "heck yea...I'm serious".

She shared with me that she was not ashame to admit it but the majority of her items were all purchased from E-Bay. Her engagement ring was purchase on E-Bay and so was her dress. All of her decor, silk floral arrangements, ring bearer pillow, flower girl basket, rose petals, paper lanterns, etc. were all purchases from E-Bay. She was able to save over 60% of her budget because she purchased really nice, quality items from E-bay for a fraction of the cost if purchased from a department/retail store.

Later that evening, I took the initiative to do my own research. I entered "wedding dress" in the search menu and 10,200 dresses appeared. To my surprise, these dresses were absolutely stunning. The picture above is a dress from E-bay. This dress was handmade by an aspiring bridal designer. The cost: $149 + $60 shipping cost. This dress in the retail market would cost over $600 bucks hands down. I entered the word "veil" in the search menu and 5,734 items appeared. Beautiful veils at all lenghts at a fraction of the cost. The most expensive one I seen was $42 bucks. Swarovski crystal tiaras under $40 bucks. WOW!

I am now convinced, with research that you can practically plan an entire wedding from E-Bay. Invitations, Programs, Favors... you name it and E-Bay has it...

I am still applaud by the bridal gowns. There are so many aspiring designers who place their items for auction on E-Bay. Speaking from someone who knows "elegant" when they see it; Yes, it's possible to have an Elegant E-Bay Wedding at a fraction of the cost.

Shop wisely and use your resources. It may have come from E-Bay but WHO will ever know?

~Rhonda