Talk about Traditions!

If YouTube is any indication, marriage proposals in America have become increasingly elaborate. Men are planning scavenger hunts, creating flash mobs, and hiring photographers to hide in the bushes to capture the big moment on film. (If you haven’t already seen Isaac Lamb’s proposal, check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_v7QrIW0zY.)

But in other parts of the world, the proposal is the easy part! I read an article in Yahoo news about engagement and wedding traditions in other countries and thought it was definitely blog-worthy. Here are some of the more interesting traditions mentioned.

Tujia people of China: One month before the wedding, the bride-to-be slips into the hall to cry for one hour every night until her wedding day. Her female relatives eventually join her and they all cry together. The Tujia people believe that the sobs offset the joyous occasion, leading to a happier marriage.

Kyrgyzstan: The man kidnaps the bride-to-be. If the couple can successfully spend two-to-three days together, the woman officially becomes his wife.

Polynesia: The groom must wrestle a shark a few days before the wedding ceremony.

Korea: The groom’s feet are beat with a fish in a ritual that prepares him for his wedding night.

Brazil: Grooms must tame an unbridled donkey.

Czech Republic: During the ceremony, a plate is thrown at the couples’ feet. Once the couple returns home, family and friends throw nuts, grains, coins and figs at them. This ritual was initiated to appease ancient gods.

So, all you guys racking your brains to come up with creative ways to propose to the girl of your dreams, count yourself lucky. At least you won’t have to wrestle a shark or tame an unbridled donkey!

Please Don't Squeeze the Charmin

Sometimes you read an article or see a clip on the news that you just can’t believe. This item falls into that category. A few weeks ago, I came across an article in The Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch entitled, “Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest Winner Crowned.” With a title like that, you have to read on! Apparently, the Annual Cheap Chic Weddings Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest, which is hosted by Cheap-Chic-Weddings.com and sponsored by Charmin (go figure!), is in its eighth year. I love the name of the venue where the final judging took place — Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Odditorium.

According to the article, with “over 700 entries this year, participants were required to construct their wedding dresses out of nothing more than Charmin toilet paper, tape, glue and/or needle and thread.” Despite the restrictions, the level of talent and ingenuity amazed the judges. In fact, several of the dress entries included intricate details like faux embroidery, ruffles, pleats and even lace effects! This year’s winner, Susan Brennan, received a check for $2,012. Congrats, Susan! With that money, you can purchase a dress made out of satin, chiffon, organza, or any other material that won’t disintegrate in the rain!

Cinderella Never Had It So Good!

School is about to start, which means homecoming is around the corner. You can wait to find your date, dress and after party, but it’s time to start thinking about transportation. Despite the weak economy, kids and their parents are looking for more interesting ways to get to events like prom and homecoming, even at an extra expense. According to The Wall Street Journal, families spent “34% more on prom expenses” in 2012, “or $1,078 on average, compared with $807 in 2011.”

This is not an entirely new tradition. One Wisconsin couple made quite the entrance 25 years ago by “driving” to prom on a baby elephant. From vintage fire trucks, parade floats, and hearses to hand-pulled rickshaws, yellow school buses and military tanks — the more creative, the better. Last year, students in Racine, Wisconsin, asked school officials for permission to arrive by helicopter. Nor is this trend unique to the United States. In Northern Ireland, a student borrowed a General Lee-replica from The Dukes of Hazzardto take his date to the spring formal. Mike Barr, the owner of Star Car Hire, believes that kids are getting these ideas from television shows such as “My Super Sweet 16.”

So this homecoming season, you might want to leave the black limo in the parking lot and think outside the box!

Budget Conscious? Book on Friday the 13th!

Do you believe in superstitions? Would you host your wedding or other major event on a day that’s commonly associated with bad luck? According to ABC’s Good Morning America, many brides are unwilling to take the risk.

Despite the fact that Friday weddings are not as sought after as Saturday weddings, Friday the 13th remains uncharacteristically slow. The Knot’s annual wedding survey showed that 17,500 weddings were held on any given Saturday last month, compared to about 3,500 on the corresponding Fridays. However, only 1,764 weddings took place on the last Friday the 13th, which occurred in April.

In an effort to drive sales, vendors are beginning to offer discounts for those willing to book on Friday the 13th. “Jason Shukovsky, director of catering for The Crystal Plaza, a private mansion in Livingston, N.J., said Friday the 13ths are ‘a bit more challenging to sell’ so the company may offer a discount of 10 to 15 percent.” The moral of the story is: If you’re looking for ways to reduce your budget, consider booking on Friday the 13th. But if you do, just don’t walk under a ladder that day, too!

The Inside Scoop on Indian Weddings

If you've ever seen, heard of, or been to an Indian wedding, you probably know they're extravagant, multi-day celebrations with many moving parts. Below are some of the traditions celebrated:

Day 1: The Mehndi Ceremony

Typically, both families hold the first day’s celebrations separately. It’s a day for the women to apply henna, a symbol of a special occasion. Henna, also called Mehndi, is a design that is drawn on the hands and feet with a paste created from henna leaves. The beautiful designs are temporary and generally last up to two weeks.

Day 2: The Pithi Ceremony

The bride and groom also hold the second day of the wedding separately, although it is becoming more common for younger couples to hold them as one single event. In the ceremony that takes place on this day, a yellow paste called Pithi is rubbed on the skin of the bride and groom, followed by throwing raw, colored rice over their heads to wish them good fortune.

Day 3: The Nikkah Ceremony and Reception

On this day of the wedding, two events occur: the official signing of the marriage contract at the families’ place of worship and the evening reception. Something the younger generation has started is to hold a reception where the bride wears a gown instead of traditional Indian attire. The mix of traditional and modern elements is a great addition to this three-day event. and it definitely portrays the personalities of the newly married couple!

Be a Happy Couple with the Appy Couple

Sending mass text messages and emails to your wedding guests was so 2010. According toThe New York Times, there is now a smartphone app for that. “Appy Couple” is a new wedding app that has the capability to replace traditional wedding planning methods “for the tech-savvy, fast-moving and multitasking bride.”

While there are several wedding apps (iWedding Deluxe, Wedding Gawker, WeddingScan, etc.), Appy Couple differentiates itself by helping you communicate with your guests in real-time. Whether you need to send directions, event details, dates, locations, travel accommodations, last-minute changes, or just want to upload new pictures, you have the ability to do so instantaneously.

Your custom wedding app will match the tone and motif of your wedding. You can include pictures, music, the sappy story of how you met, and more. Guests with a smartphone can download it directly to their phone. Those without a smartphone can access the application through a website that is included with each custom app.

As soon as “the app has been created, the couple can enter their guest list manually or upload it from a spreadsheet, and invite family and friends to access the app for free, using a special code.” Need to communicate instructions to your family and bridal party? Don’t worry…there is a privacy function that allows you to send private messages to select people. Guests can also upload pictures and post messages to the couple’s message board. These live-stream pictures are great for those who can’t make it to your big day!

While Appy Couple is currently free (invitation-only), they expect to begin a pay model this fall. So get it now, and you really will be a h-Appy Couple!

Ole!

We had the pleasure of helping plan a fiesta-themed rehearsal dinner at El Fenix Mexican restaurant in downtown Dallas a few weeks ago. For those of you looking for a fabulous venue with a large, outdoor, rooftop patio overlooking the city, El Fenix is the place to go! From delicious food to spectacular service, El Fenix was the perfect setting for this fantastic fiesta!

As soon as guests disembarked from the coach buses, courtesy of Premier Transportation, they were greeted by a three-piece Mariachi band, contracted through the fabulous B3 Entertainment. The Mariachi band led everyone upstairs to the venue, where drinks were already being served. Party-goers enjoyed Patron shots in cactus shot glasses and frozen margaritas while mingling and taking in the view on the patio. Between appetizers and full buffet, out-of-towners definitely got a taste of traditional Tex Mex! After dinner, guests watched two montages — one sentimental and the other hilarious (perfect combination!). A great time was had by all. In fact, they would still be there partying now if it weren’t for the fact that they had festivities to attend the following day!

Additional shout outs: Beyond did a wonderful job setting up the A/V equipment and Jessica Garmon was a fabulous photographer.

Make a Difference

After any event, you’re likely to have decor left over. The question then becomes, “What to do with everything?” If you have enough room, you can always store it until you need it next. But with that mentality, you could well be on your way to becoming a hoarder! How much more rewarding it is to make someone’s day by donating the goods.

We threw a FABULOUS fiesta-themed rehearsal dinner at El Fenix a few weeks ago (pictures to come). Lo and behold, we had tons of pinatas, sombreros, paper flower centerpieces, and other miscellaneous decor leftover. What better place to bring them thanChildren’s Medical Center of Dallas?! It brightened our day to see kids in wheelchairs smile and point to the bin filled with colorful fiesta items.

Today’s motto: Make a difference. Give to others, and you will feel much more fulfilled.

You Are Cordially Invited

The Wall Street Journal featured an interesting article on invitations. The author interviewed one of our favorite international event planners, Colin Cowie. Many people feel that they can skimp in the invitation department. However, an invitation is the first communication to your guests and speaks volumes about the style of your event. According to Colin Cowie, “Your invitation plants the first seed for what’s to come.”

Chairing a fundraiser? Don’t send out $500 invitations as this sends the wrong message. Instead, chose a basic printed or etched card on thick stock. Is there a whimsical theme to your fundraiser? If so, make sure to choose a font that will portray that theme.

Sending invitations to a wedding? These more formal invitations should be printed and mailed. Try to accomplish Colin Cowie’s “J.D. moment,” a really amazing invitation that is jaw-dropping. This could include using specialty papers that feel like silk, suede, or animal skin, or sending the invitation in a luxurious box or scroll.

Hosting a casual summer bash? For laid-back affairs, it is acceptable to use electronic invitations. Not only is this method less expensive, but it is eco-friendly. If you do decide to go this route, make sure that you add warm touches to make it personal. This could include pictures, music, video, or simply wording that sounds like you.

Another element that adds personalization to your invitations is custom stamps. Design a stamp that fits the event theme, whether it be a picture of the bride and groom or the non-profit’s branding.

Dude, What a Totally Awesome Party!

We had a blast bringing the 1980s to Amarillo for a client’s 30th birthday. With decor help from Holly Potter-Harvey at Shag Carpet, we were able to transform the hotel ballroom into a totally awesome 80s party! From a lighted dance floor, 1980s neon signage, colorful lighting, and lounge furniture to completely creative centerpieces, the decor set the perfect tone for the evening. Centerpieces were made out of themed-metal lunch boxes with slinkies, sunglasses, rubix cubes and other 1980s paraphernalia. These goodies doubled as party favors — such a fabulous idea!

Surprise performance by Tommy Tutone was the perfect addition to the evening! He sounded as good as he did in the 1980s and even sang “Happy Birthday” to the birthday girl. How many people can say they have been personally serenaded by a legend?!

It makes our job even more rewarding when we receive comments like this from party-goers:

“We had the time of our lives and couldn’t have done it without you!! Thank you so much for planning this night for my wife. It was a birthday that she will never forget!! I am so glad that we…found you and your awesome services. Thanks again for everything!!”

“Best party I’ve been to since the 80’s!!!”

“Rachel Derman…created an amazing 80s Bash…it was FABULOUS!!”

Wedding Registries

I found a wonderful article on Yahoo News about the new trend in wedding registries. Here is the gist:

With more couples living together before tying the knot, they no longer need wedding gifts like fancy toasters, luxurious linens or expensive cookware. Instead, couples are asking for items outside the department store.

Honeymoon Fund

It has become quite customary to add a “Honey Fund” to your registry. In fact, there have been several websites (HoneyFund, HoneymoonWishes, and TravelersJoy) for guests who would like to contribute to the couple’s honeymoon as their gift. This might include upgrading the newlyweds to first-class on their flight or to a suite in their hotel, purchasing massages for them, or providing money toward food, souvenirs or anything else purchased on the trip.

New Home

For engaged couples ready to move out of an apartment and into a home, websites likeHatchMyHouse and MyDreamHomeRegistry allow wedding guests to contribute money to the couple’s savings account.

Art

Once the couple moves into the house of their dreams, why not let guests help furnish it with art and unique decor?

Charity

As the average age of married couples has risen, so has their income. For those who have everything they need, there are now sites like ChangingThePresent that allows you to create a special registry to ask guests to donate to your favorite charity. Will and Kate did it; now you could have royalty status, too!