Everyday do something you don't want to do....

Every day do something you don't want to do. Pick up someone else's trash. Surrender your parking place. Call the long-winded relative. Carry the cooler. Doesn't have to be a big thing.

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Helen Keller once told the Tennessee legislature that when she was young, she had longed to do great things and could not, so she decided to do small things in a great way.

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Don't be too big to do something small. Together, we can make the world a nicer place to be.

Credit to one of my all time favorite authors: Max Lucado

Something borrowed, something blue....

Do you ever stroll through the finer jewelry stores, the designer purse sections of a department store or even try on the amazing sunglasses that are sometimes just 'calling your name'? I don't know too many women who don't oogle at some of the designer accessories - and many who own at least one or two of the items.

But now, thanks to 'Bag, Borrow, or Steal' , you can actually "rent" luxury handbags, jewelry, and sunglasses for a week, a month or longer! When that particular Gucci bag bores you, send it back and try something new. They ask you to care for the items as though a good friend were loaning it to you.

I guess it's kind of like leasing a car (you drive it but it isn't actually yours) combined with getting a DVD in the mail that you watch as many times as you and then return it to it's rightful owner. The prices aren't inexpensive, but neither are the real things...right?

Oh. And the 'Steal' part of the company name allows you to purchase a piece if you absolutely can''t give up that latest little Kate Spade bag.

Do you remember?

Lest we never forget the horrors of that day, and that there is a reason for the fact that since that day we have not been attacked again on American soil.

God Bless America on this Independence Day and Always.

Wedding budgeting tool and ideas

So he’s popped the question and you’re on cloud nine. Your coffee table has now become a mountain of wedding magazines and the adventure of planning your wedding begins.

Suddenly your ‘to do’ list grows to a size that can be literally frightening. Parents, dresses, guests, venues, cakes, entertainment, bridesmaids, dance lessons, photographers, themes, décor, flowers, music, gifts, travel, tuxes, hair, makeup…ahhhh!

There are so many decisions to be made that it may feel overwhelming. But take a deep breath. Remember that this should (and CAN) be a wonderful and fun experience. Use these tips to make the start of your planning process truly an enjoyable one:

• The best budgeting idea I have for you is to create a Budget Worksheet. A simple Excel sheet can be a phenomenal tool to keep track of your expenditures and to keep you within your budget. The worksheet sample below is a simple example of a typical wedding budget checklist. Your costs and line items may vary, but this should be a good starting point. Download a copy in PDF here, opens in a new window. Download an Excel Wedding Budgeting Tool Worksheet, this is a ZIP file, save and unzip! (Caution: not all formulas in the Excel sheet are guaranteed for accuracy. Please check your own work if you use this format)
  
• Get a grip on the number of guests you expect to attend before you choose a venue. The darling stone chapel on the hill may be the cutest thing you’ve ever seen, but it will only hold 30 guests. You don’t want musical chairs or standing room only conditions.
  
• Listen to Mother Nature. Hurricane season is called that for a reason. Be cautious about obvious weather restraints. Don't plan an outdoor wedding during the monsoon season.
  
• Cha-Ching! If you’re responsible for tracking the expenses, get a credit card that offers rewards (miles for your honeymoon, gift cards, hotel points, etc.) It can be an easy way to keep track of your expenses – and to be rewarded for paying for various costs along the way.
  
• The easiest way to trim and control your wedding budget is to reduce the number of guests. It’s amazing how guest lists have a tendency to grow uncontrollably when all of the parents and relatives offer their input. Co-workers of your great uncle may be delightful friends, but if it comes to crunch time, they should be the first to go. Imagine that each guest costs $100. Reduce 10 guests and you’ve saved $1000.
  
• Get organized. Become best friends with your 3-ring binder...make tabs for your various vendors, clip photos of things you love (or don’t), keep notes during meetings with your coordinator and others.
  
• Keep a digital camera in your car or purse to capture quick pictures of ideas you see – store them in your binder.
  
• Set up a special email account dedicated just to your wedding. We can do this for you right here at Big Event Registration.
• Set up a BLOG for your wedding planning complete with RSS feed to keep everyone posted on what's happening. Again, through we can do this for you right here at our sister company, Big Event Registration. The BLOG is free. The set up takes about an hour.
  
• Put all your vendor and other important phone numbers in your phone memory so you’re not constantly looking them up.
  
• Use Big Event Registration to handle your RSVPs online and provide an online printable confirmation if needed as a door or party pass for your guests. We can do this for 100 or 10,000 at a very affordable price.
  
• Call Jody Taylor-Smith or Maude May at Good Taste Weddings and Events for all your professional event planning needs. We create events that are legendary for all the right reasons. See how we can make your dream vision a reality. Call toll free 877-389-1382 or visit us at Good Taste Events.

Plan your big event now.

We will come back to you with a comprehensive proposal ASAP

The devil is in the details....

There is an old saying - "the devil is in the details". Six little words that the best wedding and event planners live by.

According to The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002. "The devil is in the details" has a couple of meanings:

• Even the grandest project depends on the success of the smallest components.
  
• This version of the proverb often implies that the details might cause failure. A more positive version is “God is in the details,” a saying often attributed to the architect Le Corbusier.

There are just too many reasons to NOT hire a professional for an important event such as a wedding or upscale event. Take a look at the chafing dishes above... both serve the same purpose, both may be provided by a venue, both can hold the same delicious menu items, but which would you prefer at your event? Which one looks more inviting and elegant and cared for?

With the dress, invites, cake, relatives, florals, music, catering, bridal party, gifts, RSVPs, showers, marriage license, rings, and dance lesssons on your 'to do' list, will you remember to ask about how the chafing dishes look?

A great planner will do that for you. They truly know about those details and how missing even the smallest one can make or break a fabulous occasion.

Be sure to budget for a professional wedding and event planner. It will save you time, money, peace of mind and most of all, get those pesky little details off your plate.

More of Jody's wedding

Okay.... this is the rest of our wedding photos.

Lots of smiling faces, tons of love filled the air on that amazing day.

Enjoy!

A wedding planners wedding day

I'm always asked to see photos of my own beautiful wedding which took place last September on a beautiful sunny weekend in the Pacific Northwest. The ceremony was at our lovely church, St. Barnabas Episcopal on Bainbridge Island followed by a fabulous reception at the Inn at Port Ludlow (just steps from our home).

Flowers were by the amazing Julie Borrud of Bella Rugosa, photographs by the oh so talented Janet Klinger and the design was my own vision.

Thanks for letting me reminisce about this most fabulous day in my life.

Enjoy!

For the man who has everything. Seriously.

Today I was looking for some very cool personalized postage stamps for a friend. I had found them on a great site called uncrate. The stamps are really cute and run about $.45 cents each.

As I looked further though, I found this little number.... I couldn't describe it better than the folks at uncrate did, so I'll use their verbiage for your enjoyment.


Terra Wind Amphibious RV
If you happen to find yourself in the predicament where you have a wad of cash and faced with the decision of purchasing an RV or a Yacht, Terra Wind is about to make your life just a little bit easier. The Terra Wind Amphibious RV (starting at $850,000) is every bit as amazing as it sounds. One part decked-out motor home, one part crazy-looking-lake-going-vessel, the RV is the sort of excessive splurge that only an Uncrate reader could get behind. A few of the features include GPS, tons of leather, DVD/VHS/CD players, all major appliances (fridge, washer/dryer, etc.), an 8-jet whirlpool tub, marble floors and shower, a 42-inch Plasma TV, and a 6-foot swim deck that's perfect for fishing.

I'm hoping my husband is busy today and misses this blog entry.

This baby definitely won't fit under our Christmas tree.

Summer.....

The choice is pretty easy here.

Although Seattle can be stunningly beautiful when it is pleasant out (read: not raining or overcast), I do miss the thought of a glorious warm climate on a consistent basis.

We loved the outdoor theater and the great oversized beanbags from Frontgate and the lovely beverage decanters from Pottery Barn.

Luckily, as professional wedding and event planners, we do have the opportunity to travel ~ and of course have very vivid imaginations.

Cheers!!

We LOVE this collapsible welcome bag!

We're always on the lookout for fun, festive (and practical) giveaways, and this one really caught our eye. It is a heavy-gauge polyester canvas tote that would be perfect for welcome baskets for out of town guests. It collapses completely so it can easily be stored in luggage once the goodies are gone.

Wouldn't your guests love to get this colorful bag filled with personalized wine, waters, snacks, an agenda for the planned activities and perhaps even some gourmet picnic items (it comes with a cutting board, utensils and a corkscrew!). Tie a lovely ribbon and gorgeous 'welcome' tag to it and you've got a fabulous and unique welcome gift or turndown gift.

You can find this retail for $18 at Garnet Hill. It comes in 4 fantastic colors - red, carrot, lime or black.

Cheers!