Wish Upon a Wedding (Important information to Share)

I felt the need to share this.  I'm working on starting a branch here in CT with some great talented wedding professionals.  Take a moment to read this, make a difference, and get the word out.

Wish Upon a Wedding is the world's first nonprofit wish granting organization that provides weddings and vow renewals for couples facing terminal illness or other serious life-altering circumstances. Less than one year old, the organization has 16 active chapters, and will have granted 12 wishes by the end of 2010.  

During the month of November, they are hosting several fund raising galas and auctions throughout the country, and would like to invite you to participate.  

Whether you are a bride or groom to be, a wedding industry professional, or you simply love the concept behind their mission... YOU can help make Wedding Wishes come true, while raising crucial funding needed to sustain this wonderful, new nonprofit organization.
 

Here's How:  

Attend The Blissful Wishes Ball 

A Gala Celebration to Benefit Wish Upon a Wedding  

Chicago November 1

LA November 4

San Francisco November 10

Houston November 11

Charlotte November 12

Orlando November 14

St. Louis November 14
 
Baltimore November 17

Portland November 18  

Atlanta November  21  

The Blissful Wishes Ball is a festive way to support Wish Upon a Wedding.  Enjoy a nice night out on the town with an elegant dinner, entertainment, music, dancing, and incredible auction items.  

Buy your tickets today!   

  
 
 

Bid Your Wish for Wedded Bliss

Online and Live auctions for a Worthwhile Cause 

For the first time in history, couples getting married can plan their entire wedding from virtually any city in the United States, knowing that every penny they spend will go directly towards helping a couple in need.  It's so EASY to bid.  Find everything from invitations to flowers, catering to DJs, photography to wedding planners, honeymoons and more.   

Simply visit their online auction site here to choose from hundreds of items from the industry's best vendors.   

Even if you are not getting married, check it out for other exciting items, such as dinners in top-rated restaurants, entertainment, sporting events and popular autographed memorabilia. Every cent earned goes towards Wish Upon a Wedding and their mission to provide these heartfelt Wedding Wishes.  

   

About Wish Upon a Wedding 
 

Founded in January of 2010 by CA wedding planner, Liz Guthrie of San Jose Wedding Consultants, Wish Upon a Wedding was created to help couples who did not have the time, money, resources or strength to plan a wedding on their own, because of terminal illness or other serious life-altering circumstances. The organization now celebrates the courage, determination and spirit of these couples by granting their dream wedding wishes. It is their goal that chosen recipients can inspire other couples facing similar situations to find hope and strength, while raising awareness for terminal illness.   

   

Growing up with a sister who was deaf since birth, and raised by parents who ran a board and care home for people facing numerous disabilities and life hardships, Liz learned early on to value the many blessings in life, and the importance of helping others. Volunteering throughout her life for a variety of nonprofit organizations, Liz was looking for a way to combine weddings and community service.    

After producing the San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveaway in 2009, a contest in which only one couple would be granted a dream wedding, Liz came up with a way to merge her two passions. While going through the process of giving the wedding "prize" to a woman suffering from stage IV Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Liz  created Wish Upon a Wedding. Overnight, Liz decided to change wedding history, and the way we give, by launching a nonprofit organization that was totally unique and had never existed before.  

Supported by industry leaders such as Sasha Souza, David Beahm, Stella Inserra, Jenny Orsini, Kevin Covey, Stacie Francombe, Sylvia Weinstock, Steve Kemble, Mindy Weiss, Mary Dann, and Ivy Robinson (to name just a few), the organization has experienced rapid growth and seen voracious acceptance throughout the country.   

To date, eight couples have benefited from the generous work of Wish Upon a Wedding. Over 4,000 volunteers have signed up to become Wish Granters. Their facebook page has attracted over 10,000 fans.    

None of this would be possible without public support.  



 

In Loving Memory of Wish Recipients who have Passed On   

  

Dani and Tony married in St Louis on September 1. She passed away September 30th. Dani had suffered from Cystic Fibrosis since age 3, and had recently received a double lung transplant.  
 

   

Florence and Micheal married near Sacramento on March 13. She passed away on September 28. Florence battled stage IV breast cancer, and was diagnosed with six months to live at the time of her wedding. 
 

   

Shelly and Jay married in Seattle on May 2.  Shelly passed away three weeks later. She had been battling a rare type of cancerous lymphoma, and Jay suffered from Multiple Sclerosis.   

 

Please help Wish Upon a Wedding continue to do great things.   

Attend a Gala.  Donate to or bid in the auctions.   

And help them spread the word, by sharing this article with your friends, family, co-workers and acquaintances.   

You CAN make a difference in someone's life today!

Rushing through the Summer & Fall

We have been rushing through events after events.  I've been promising to catch up on the blogs shortly...

Better than a town hall wedding

Last year,  in the summer, a very sweet lady gave me a call.  She and her girlfriend were coming to visit her daughter here in Connecticut.  Upon arriving, they decided it was the right time to get married, but they hadn't planned anything and they weren't sure they had enough time to pull something together.  They were going to get married at the town hall,  even though they would have loved to be married in her daughter's backyard.  So of course I wanted them to have what they were dreaming of.  I directed them towards some of our JP's that were available, they picked the one that was right for them, and then we dropped off last-minute rentals including one of our arches.  In just a matter of a few hours they were having the wedding ceremony they had wanted and that was the perfect way for me to end my day. 

Since then, I've wanted to be able to offer more.  I've done some serious research, locating breathtaking ceremony locations that our clients can use (even last minute) including an ocean view, vineyards, woodlands, mountains, farms and more.  Plus, I've put located a nice selection of JP's ready to create a personalized ceremony for you!  We can put together decorations, flowers and even a cake to make sure that it can still be memorable, even if it isn't planned months or years in advance.  Contact us today to see what we can do to make your wedding day complete!!  kia@estoccasions.com~860-455-6057

Book Launch

I spent my Monday night at the Hartford Bushnell with my girl Jessi enjoying the book launch of Grace Ormonde Weddings - "being in love never goes out of style".  Now why in the world I didn't bring my normal good camera I don't know.  So I put my new palm phones camera to use and then joked I'm going to start a new business.  Camera Phone Wedding Photography, my rates will be really low.  All joking aside the event was wonderful and it was nice to run into so many great wedding professionals.  Grace Ormonde has a wonderful collection in her book and I'm thankful I was able to attend.  

As you walk in, what a work of art!

As you can tell I can't do the let me take a photo by myself

Sweet, Goodie Bags!


Follow the Link to her book. 

The goodies in the goodie bags!  Little mini cakes.

Raise your glasses and toast to the happy couple

Parsons Photography

The question is of course who is paying for the drink??

Cash bars are considered “tacky” because if you were to invite friends over for dinner, you would never charge them to have something to drink.  I see no issue in having a cash bar for the last hour, because this can help your guests slow down and start to take a break or switch to coffee.

Tab is one way to go; set a budget with the venue or caterer and when it is used up it is used up.  It can be a good way to keep a limit on what you spend on alcohol and keep you on budget.

Brooke Schumacher Photography

I’m personally a fan of the soft bar, which means offering beer & wine for the length of your event.  A few clients have added on one signature drink because it is in their budget.  Either way, a soft bar offers the open bar feel but without providing everything under the sun.  The truth is the majority of your guests drink wine and beer throughout the event anyway.  A soft bar can be the budget friendly choice.  One of our 2010 weddings offered beer options, red and white wine and a wonderful blueberry sangria. 

Then comes the great and grand open bar.  If it is in your budget, then I say go for it. 

One of the biggest budget eaters is the champagne toast, and over the years, I’ve yet to find a single wedding or event where every single glass of champagne is truly enjoyed. The best way to spend your champagne budget is to put it towards your tab or soft bar and let people toast with something they will enjoy drinking.

When it comes to it, there are plenty of ways to provide your guests with something to drink that won’t destroy your budget.  Consider having one less appetizer, pass on pew bows at the ceremony, and remember the little things that can add up to a big thing.

Apples to Apples

Countless times I've been sitting with a couple and they start to explain how they have been comparing vendors to each other, and when asked what they are comparing, almost always the price is the only thing.

While price plays a huge factor, it should never be the only thing you compare. From a planner's aspect things to consider

• Years of experience :  With these years of experience comes the ability to handle any situation during your special day, the ability to work within your given time frame, and  to provide you with top notch service. On your important day, you need a planner who is able to think quickly and react in an appropriate manner. Plus the ability to guide you through difficult situations effectively.
• The number of events they have done and the sizes of these event.
• The ability to locate vendors who will meet your budget and vision without receiving a kickback.
• If they work full-time or part-time as a planner
• How many hours they will provide for day-of, if you are comparing day-of services
• Plus so much more but of course I'm a planner so I could go on and on... :)

 These are just a few simple things to consider when comparing planners. When comparing bakers, you should know if they are able to create something custom or traditional, if they work better in buttercream or fondant and so forth.  With DJ's, ask how large their selection is, do they have the newest music, do they have a back up power source (like After Hours DJ Entertainment does) and of course the quality of the equipment.

When it comes to photographer, you should be comparing the hours, extra shooters, how you will receive your photos, where they were trained, if they are comfortable with formal poses (even if that isn't what you are looking for. They need to be able to assist in making you and your guests look good in the photos.)  Diane Parsons from Parsons Photography says " A good photographer should enhance the style of the couple." This means they can capture the true feeling of the event.  Another very important thing to ask is how they back up the photos, do they do this at the wedding, and so forth.  (Note the photo: This was one of those times were the photographer only had a few seconds to capture the boy looking up the dress but on the other hand now the bridesmaid has flowers growing out of her head...)

When it comes to florists,  will they be creating standard creations or new custom ones, if they handle one or more weddings on your day, their knowledge of flowers and willingness to work with in your budget.

When all is said and done, you need to compare experience, the full services you will be receiving and perks.  Always feel free to ask a vendor explain their costs, this way you will feel better about your choice.  There are tons of great vendors throughout the state and when comparing, make sure you are comparing similar services.

Colorful Love

We all have our favorites.  The perfect shade of blue, the brightest yellow, the warmest red; and our favorites tend to be a part of our events.  When picking your favorite combo or trio of colors for your wedding or event, there are things to keep in mind.

Will your colors be contrasting, like bright red with a turquoise?  This is a color combo that can work amazingly but at the same time fail.  You don't want them to clash. Another choice is to have complementary colors, such as blue and yellow.  Or, a way to go is to pick shades of the same color.  We had a bride who picked many different shades of purple from light to dark. It worked with the space and her vision.  (See how pretty everything was?!?)

How will the colors work within your venues?  If you have your colors in mind prior to picking a venue, bring along a napkin or tablecloth if you can.  Remember certain colors will shine and work with a space, while others may fight the location.  If you have one color that you love, but don't know what to combine it with, pick a color from the venue.  If your location has an on-site coordinator, feel free to ask about what colors have been used in the space in the past, what works, what doesn't and consider the information.  If you find the perfect neutral venue, you may need to bring in a bright color to bring life to the room.

When working with color, always have a sample with you.  This way if you think you have found the perfect shade of peach, you will be able to pull out your sample and be 100% sure.  If you check your color in different lighting, make sure you still love it. I bought a comfy chair that I thought was gray, and when I got it home, I found out it was green; light made all the difference. If you have a sample of a color, have one that you can leave with your planner, cake designer, and florist.  Plus seen the photos below how well the flowers work with the colors of the dresses.

 

Think of how your colors will look on your wedding party.  They don't have to be perfect but at the same time you do want the colors to work on them.  (Thank you to Parsons Photography for lending a hand on some cute photographs showing off color)  You can see how some girls look great in the purple and others look great in the yellow. Just like how the little bit of watermelon color worked really well with the black tuxes on the guys. 

Lighting is a great way to change the color of a room.  Working with a company that knows how to be effective with lights, knows all the safety concerns, and has a large selection is the way to go.  It is smart to do a walk through with a lighting person to see how you can use a touch of color to make the room sparkle for you. 

Use color effectively & constantly without over-doing it. Work with colors that make you feel great from day one, and you will be happier!