It's no secret that I have a slight addiction to dinnerware, glassware, and pretty much anything a hostess would need for a perfect evening of entertaining. So you can imagine my excitement when Lisa from Terra Keramik emailed to let me know that they have recently launched a wedding registry for their line of environmentally friendly and uber stylish dinnerware.

Handmade in Switzerland, each piece is designed, crafted, and triple-fired by artisan Felix Vogler and his team. The line is lead and cadmium free so that they're safe to eat off of and the clay used is imported from Germany and "specially formulated to consume less energy when firing". The team applies platinum to the rims of each piece by brush and then Felix personally signs every piece in platinum. I love the simplicity of Terra Keramik's products and the vivid colors and I love Felix's philosophy that "good design should simplify and not complicate".

You can create a wedding registry or holiday wish list for the Terra Keramik line here and you can read an interesting interview with Felix Vogler about his creative process here.

{photos via Terra Keramik}

Short dresses are en vogue right now and wedding designers are producing cocktail length frocks for brides, bridesmaids and even the moms of the bride and groom. Unless you have model length legs however, this style isn't always the most flattering. Fortunately for the rest of us, there is a simple trick that will make your legs look longer: change your shoes.

Shoes with straps across the front of the ankle cause the length of the leg to be broken up because the eye stops at the strap. Shoes without the straps, however, draw the eye down to your foot and elongate your legs - or at least the eye's perception of your legs. By ditching strappy shoes, you can easily pull off the sassy, leggy look while wearing shorter skirts or dresses.

{photos}
{1} Janey Bridesmaid Dress in Chocolate, $275 at J.Crew; Lucie high heels in Bright Azalea, $168 at J.Crew
{2} Valentino Satin Bow Shift Wedding Dress, $2,350 at Neiman Marcus; Valentino Bow Peep Toe Pumps, $695 at Neiman Marcus
{3} Mother of the Bride Silk Belted Shirtdress by Kay Unger New York, $330 at Neiman Marcus

While some people are comfortable dropping a lot of cash on elaborate centerpieces for a wedding, that type of spending is often not feasible for smaller parties or everyday living. These cylindrical inline vases ($4.95 from cb2) are the perfect solution for dressing up your table on a dime.

You can use them as bud vases, as shown, or you can angle the stems and fit a few more flowers in each individual opening. For added drama, arrange three of them side by side so that you have a total of nine orbs forming a square.

I picked up a similar inline vase last year on a whim, and it has turned out to be one of my favorite and most used accent pieces. If you want to save even more, you can fill it with flower and foliage clippings from your own yard. It looks great filled with bright pink Bougainvillea stems or you can fill them with various leaves so that you have a pop of green.

While these would get lost visually in a grand ballroom because of the scale difference, they make a quick and easy centerpiece for a backyard Sunday brunch or garden themed bridal shower. There is something about fresh flowers that livens any space, so even if you're not planning a soiree any time soon, fill one of these with your favorite blooms and set it on your kitchen windowsill to celebrate the art of everyday living.

{original photo via cb2}

A reporter from the financial and stock market website, TheStreet.com, called me recently to discuss some of the expenses that go into weddings and to get some tips on how couples can save money on their big day. We chatted for a while and she included part of our conversation in the article. You can read the full article, which ran yesterday, by clicking here. They also ran a slightly different version of it on their sister site, mainstreet.com, as advice they would give Jamie Lynn Spears for her wedding.

{screenshot from mainstreet.com}

Some exciting things are happening around here, and part of that is the blog redesign we will be launching soon! The new one is going to be a little more user-friendly and easier to navigate (although I don't think this one is difficult) plus I get bored easily and like to change things up. Maybe it is the Spring Fever that is sweeping through the desert? My apologies to all of you who were hit with more unexpected snow these past few days, but it is a gorgeous, tank top worthy 82 degrees here this week. This is why Scottsdale is one of the most popular places in the United States to hold a destination wedding as it has over 300 days of sunshine.

Anyway, the redesign will have some new features and one of the changes is that we will start hosting advertising on the site. I promised in this post that I would keep you in the loop if we decided to begin advertising here, and so I wanted to explain some of the reasons for it.

First, as you can imagine, this blog takes quite a bit of time to produce. I am pretty quick at writing the posts, thanks to endless literature and writing classes in a past life, but formatting them so that they fit the aesthetic I want, finding pictures that I am allowed to use and uploading and formatting them for the blog and all the other behind the scenes blogging stuff takes time. I don't mind, because this blog has proven to be an invaluable part of my business, but the fact of the matter is that there are a lot of things competing for my time.

If you've been following us since the beginning of this blog back in 2006 when it was hosted in a different place, then you know that it has taken on a life of its own. It has grown quickly and exponentially and it continues to do so. I am so incredibly grateful for the several hundred subscribers and even more readers who regularly tune in to hear what I have to say. With that amount of traffic comes greater responsibility on my part, so even more time is required as slapping something together to create a blog post is not an acceptable strategy.

This site is hosted by Blogger, which means that my hosting fees are free, which is awesome. There are a few things I do have to pay for with this blog, some of which include a few domain names, the annual Flickr fee, and a couple of other things. The cost is minimal, and I set it up that way on purpose. The increased traffic however has meant an increase of visitors to my main website, which is not hosted for free. Hosting fees increase as traffic numbers increase and OH. MY. WORD. Those of you who have gotten an unexpected hosting bill know exactly what I am referring to! Don't get me wrong, this is a very good problem to have, and offsetting those costs is one of the reasons I am going to be allowing ads on the blog.

I've mentioned before that I was uncomfortable with letting vendors advertise on this blog because I am a planner and it can potentially be a conflict of interest. I've decided that wedding consultants will not be able to advertise and neither will vendors who are located in Arizona. I want to be above board with this and not enter any gray areas with promoting local vendors. I'll continue to talk about some local professionals on my blog and link to them when I write, but those will still fall under our editorial policy and no money will be accepted for it.

Also, our editorial policy is not changing. There will be no pay-for-play with blog posts and I will not accept money to write about someone or their product or service. Ads and editorial will be kept separate.

So there you have it - the main reasons there will be ad space included in the redesign. I am hoping that it will produce enough revenue to break even on the costs of running the blog, and if they turn a profit, well that is just cream cheese icing on the cake.

There are a lot of people who advertise that they are essentially coordinators on your day - site managers, caterers, florists, and even some DJs have jumped on that bandwagon. The fact of the matter is that the job descriptions are very different from that of a professional wedding consultant and there are some things they won't do that a planner will.

My friend, and fellow planner, Cicely shared a story from a wedding she did this past weekend that sums up precisely why hiring a professional wedding planner, even a day of coordinator at the very minimum, is so important. You can read her story, which includes a landslide, road closure and real life 3 am phone calls the morning of the wedding (occurrences you can't always predict and definitely cannot control), over at her blog. I can guarantee you that your caterer won't be taking care of those issues!

{Edited to add: The most interesting part of this post, in my opinion, is the discussion occurring in the comments section. Be sure to read through those and feel free to weigh in with your thoughts.}

Once a week Google Alerts delivers a list to my inbox of every place my companies, blog, website, etc have been mentioned on the web. I recently clicked on one of the links and it brought me to a popular bridal chat board that had a discussion happening about commissions collected by wedding vendors, specifically coordinators. Basically, a bride found out that her wedding planner had asked another vendor for a commission for the services they would be providing for the couple. My name came up in another bride's reply as a person who could potentially speak to this issue. So I am.

The inside world of weddings can be a convoluted and politically bumpy ride. If you want to remain uneducated and blissfully in the dark about this area of the industry, then stop reading now.

The Skinny
Kickbacks, which are often fancied up by substituting other names for them, are unethical. And they are very, very common in the wedding industry. Extremely common. Incredibly common. They happen all the time. Did I mention how common they are? Okay, just so there's not any misunderstanding and we're all on the same page here.

There is a myth floating around that if a planner has been in the industry for years, and has done a lot of weddings, that they are immune to these unethical ways. This is simply not true. You may be surprised to learn who is taking kickbacks or commissions from vendors as they often have a perceived (by the public, not the vendors) sterling reputation and may be charging on the higher end for their services.

Kickbacks, or commissions as they are more commonly referred to, are often paid by the vendor to the planner for the "privilege" of getting to work with them. Most often, the vendor will pay it because it essentially guarantees that the planner will continually refer them and send future business their way. It is a practice that is regarded by some as something they don't like but is "just the way things are done". Now, a smart vendor is not going to take a cut in their profit margin in order to pay the commission, so they will raise the price they are charging you for their goods or services by the 10% or fee amount that they will be paying to the planner. In this regard, the planner is being paid twice - by both you and by your vendors in theory, but by you both times in reality.

Hindsight is 20/20
Some planners are very quiet about this and some go ahead and state in their contracts that they may accept commissions. This is where it is imperative that you go over your contracts with a fine tooth comb prior to signing them. If there is any ambiguity as to what a clause means in layman's terms, ask before signing.

Not all wedding coordinators accept commissions and I think that in the stickiness and ugliness of this issue, it is important to remember that there are many coordinators who maintain high integrity and actually want the best for you. That said, there are a couple ways to know whether or not your planner charges vendors commissions. One is if they pressure you to go with any one particular company. If they know they are going to be increasing their income because certain vendors will pay their fees, they will insist you use them only. The second is simply to ask, both the planner and the vendors (assuming you have any lined up yet) if they do this. Whether or not you take them at their word and trust that they are telling you the truth is a matter of discernment on your part.

Moving Forward
So what do you do if you find out after the fact, as this bride did, that your coordinator was requiring commissions from your vendors? This is tough, and it really comes down to determining if they were in breach of their contract by doing so and if it is worth walking away from your non-refundable retainer because of it. In the long run, it may cost you less to cancel your contract and eat the retainer than it would to pay all markups that are covering the cost of commissions the planner is receiving.

Here is a brief synopses of some other industry practices that can and often cross into some seriously gray areas:

Preferred Vendor Lists
Most resorts and venues have a preferred vendor list that they include with their information packets. About 90% of these are paid lists, meaning that the vendors on there pay to be included. This is a gray area because it can technically be considered advertising. Often the transaction is recorded and the vendor is issued a receipt for their payments.

"Best Of" Lists
Most "best of" lists operate in a manner similar to preferred vendor lists. They are essentially advertising, and while the organization or publications promoting them may require that members be of a certain caliber, they are still only the "best of the best who are willing to pay". Some of the list sponsors disclose that they are paid listings and some do not. Almost all promote that they are by invitation only, and while some truly are, a space on some of the most prominent ones can simply be attained by a quick phone call to their sales department.

Awards
There are some awards that are legitimately awarded for quality and excellence, some are popularity contests, and some are more or less purchased by vendors who agree to advertise with the publication or organization awarding the recognition. I personally have no problem with a vendor using an award they've received for PR purposes, but I do think that the public needs to be better educated on which awards are akin to saying that you've been named Time Magazine's Person of the Year for 2006 and which are true recognition for talent and accomplishments.

These practices aren't unique to Arizona or New York or Hawaii. In 2006, Becker, a photographer based in Southern California, blogged about these same things happening in his area. He gave me permission to reprint the article and I include it in my info packets that I give to couples so they can get someone else's perspective on the matter. I believe that when more people are educated about what is happening behind the wedding scenes, and when more people are able to make informed decisions, the better off the wedding industry will be as a whole.

The Economist had an interesting article this past week on engagement ring shopping. It featured the site Blue Nile and the fact that many men are opting to purchase rings online instead of from more intimidating brick and mortar shops. The part I found most interesting was this excerpt:

"Some 85% of purchases from Blue Nile are made by men. On average they pay $6,200 per engagement ring and take three weeks to make up their minds. Yet the majority of visitors to the Blue Nile site are women, who browse and e-mail pictures of the stone and ring they want to friends for comment, and ultimately to the target fiancé-to-be."

Does this reflect your personal situation? Did you let your fiance know what you wanted prior to him purchasing your ring? Did a sister or friend share your top choices with him instead? Was your ring style a complete surprise? Share your ring purchasing story in the comments section!

{photo via Blue Nile}

If you haven't had a chance to participate in our two surveys, you can do so by clicking here. We'll be collecting answers for about the next week, and of course, we'll share the results in case you're interested in seeing them.

Click here to vote in our survey!

Thanks so much!

For you ladies who have been engaged for a little while now, you are already wise to this tip, but for those of you who are only recently sporting a rock, this advice is sage, if I do say so myself: set up an entirely separate email account for your wedding planning and give that address to all of your vendors or use it to register whenever you are requesting information online for your wedding.

Many brides don't know that when they sign up to attend a bridal show, or on wedding websites that feature several vendors, they are giving their okay for the vendors involved to contact them. It is considered another form of "opting in" to receive an email, therefore it is not technically spam. This is totally legal and buried in the fine print on the web sites or in the bridal show's literature. Depending on which photo lab your photographer uses, you may also receive emails forever and ever until the day you die, amen.

Having a separate email address will keep all of your wedding-related correspondence organized in one specific location and it will keep the literally hundreds of emails you'll receive from vendors from cluttering up your personal or business email inbox.

If you've already signed up using your private email address, there are some simple ways to bring that inbox back to normal. If you use gmail, you can go into the settings tab, and under filters, set a rule that forwards everything wedding related to a different account or straight into a specific folder or label. You can set this up to filter by incoming email address, keywords, and several other determining factors. You can even choose to have it skip your inbox altogether so that you don't have to look at it twice. Other email clients offer something similar (most call them "rules" instead of filters), so be sure to check out your options for whatever platform you use.

Another option is to unsubscribe from the mailings. By law, each newsletter sent out via email must include a full physical mailing address of the sender and an option to unsubscribe. You can unsubscribe by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom or by emailing the sender a simple note that says "please unsubscribe me from your list". You can also send them a letter via snail mail requesting to be removed from their list. Most vendors will not take it personally if you unsubscribe as it simply means you are not a qualified lead for them. In fact many email services charge by the number of subscribers, so I'd recommend unsubscribing if you are truly not interested in their services. It will save both of you time and energy.

Getting married doesn't have to mean surrendering all rights to your inbox. Give the vendors you'd like to hear from permission to contact you. Let the others know that you don't need their services.

{stock photo}

One of our core values at Blue Orchid Designs is giving back to our communities and making the world a better place. This can be an overwhelming and daunting task when you look at how much needs to be done or if you think that you need to tackle it all yourself. The key is to choose an idea or movement that resonates with your heart and focus your energy there. For example, my friend Melissa Jill is passionate about fighting Autism and participates in efforts to that end because her two adorable nephews are autistic and it hits very close to home for her. While I agree that autism issues are important, my focus partners with organizations that work with the poorest of the poor because I've spent a lot of time in developing nations and I've seen first hand the effects that debilitating poverty can have. Both causes are important, and individuals focusing on one over another doesn't diminish the validity of what each is doing. It is simply a matter of narrowing your focus so that you can accomplish more for the areas you care about seeing significant change in.

For me, one of the organizations that works in areas I am passionate about is Thirst Relief International. With World Water Day coming up on March 22nd, I wanted to share a bit about what this organization does and why they are so important. Thirst Relief International is an organization that provides clean drinking water systems to communities in developing nations. They partner with existing organizations in various locations - missionaries, non-profits, volunteer groups, etc - in order to effectively and efficiently distribute water purification methods to those who need it the most.

Clean water is not only important in that it is healthy to consume, but it helps cut down on waterborne illnesses and helps fight against Malaria and HIV/AIDS. Malaria, by the way, kills more people in Africa every year than HIV/AIDS does. Two million people die annually from lack of clean water, and 90% are children under the age of five. That's roughly 5,760 people every day or 4 people every minute. Depressing, no?

It doesn't have to be, because it is actually a very cost effective problem to battle. It simply requires that more people get involved and that we make small, yet significant changes to the way we live our lives and how we choose to spend our money. When the costs are broken down, the price of the water filters comes out to about $5 for every person it serves. So, if a person gave that amount every month, or $60 a year, that would save twelve lives. Twelve people may not seem like much compared to two million, but it is the same amount of people as the average bridal party.

For couples wanting to get involved, a simple way to do this is to donate the money you would have spent on favors to Thirst Relief instead. You can place a card on the place setting letting each guest know that a donation has been made in their name, as shown in the photo above. If that is not feasible for you, you could also opt to spend $5 less on each place setting, either by choosing a lower priced entree, less expensive table linens or by selecting less elaborate centerpieces. For couples working with Blue Orchid Designs, you can now choose to designate Thirst Relief as your organization of choice and a portion of your investment with us will be donated to them.

Click here for more information on Thirst Relief and how you can partner with them.

{photo by Kimberly Jarman}

Included in Monique Lhullier's Spring 2008 collection were these little black numbers. I love Monique's designs - she is truly an artist and her fashions are so feminine and fit the shape of a woman well. I also love that she is willing to take risks, such as with these black wedding dresses. Risk is not always welcomed easily or rewarded well in the wedding industry, so I love seeing vendors who push the envelope and create beauty outside of the norm.

All right, my Monique fan club gush aside, is anyone else warming up to the idea of the black wedding dress? We had some interesting responses after the last post on it. My favorite was Nicole's who said, "Black is slimming, right? I am all for anything that makes me look better on my wedding day!"

I am so fascinated by this trend, and I really do think it is just a trend. Actually, a trend lasts about three years, so I'd put the black wedding dress in the fad category, which in wedding world is anything that is big for 18 months or less. While there may be some women who will always opt for a black gown, just like the red wedding dress, I really don't see this style sticking around for the long haul. I do, however, love the brides who are willing to try it! If you do tie the knot in black, send us photos! We'd love to see it!

{photos via Monique Lhullier}

As much as I am a fan of serving drinking water in chic glassware at your wedding activities in order to reduce waste, sometimes reality dictates a need to provide your wedding guests with portable H2O.



Enter Aqua2Go. I saw these little cuties on the P.S. I Love This blog and was instantly smitten with their departure from the water packaging norm. And hello? Who doesn't love a juice box? These mini thirst quenchers, equal to one full glass of water, have been featured on The Ellen Degeneres Show and I have a feeling that they'll be popping up in the perfectly manicured hands of the celebs gracing US Weekly in no time.

These would be the perfect addition to welcome bags for your out of town guests, packed up with mini cheeseburgers in a midnight snack Au Revoir box as your guests leave your reception, or to provide during sightseeing outings during your wedding weekend. They may also quite possibly be the perfect way to get the kiddos to drink water while they're running around outside during the 842 birthday parties they attend between the ages of 3 and 4 1/2.

The waste produced from these is considerably less than their plastic bottle counterparts and they are made from Tetra Brik Asceptic packaging, which is made from 74% renewable materials. You can learn more about their minimal environmental impact here and you can find out where to buy Aqua2Go here.

{photo via Mums the Wurd}

Today, I decided to answer some commonly asked questions from readers. Some of these questions have been asked in the comments section, over email, or at various networking events. Some are about blogging, some about business and some about my personal life. So, here goes, some answers to your questions:

How long have you been blogging?
I've been blogging pretty much since blogs have existed, which really was only a handful of years ago (less than ten). They were called online journals back then. I worked at an organization that did a lot of work overseas and as a result I have friends who ended up living and working all over the world. Blogging was a simple way to keep people collectively updated on the daily happenings of life. Who really wants 18 emails in a row about the cute new trick your puppy learned or the new food you tried for lunch? No one. Blog about it and people will tune in when they want. I started the Blue Orchid Designs blog in 2006 at a different site and then switched it to Blogger early last Spring.

How do you find the time to blog?
As many of you know, I own an event planning company, which is my primary source of income. This blog is an integral part of my business plan for Blue Orchid Designs, so I make blogging part of my work flow. I don't view it as something I do in addition to my job, but rather as a part of my job.

Why don't you host advertising on your blog?
This is something I've gone back and forth on. I did host advertising for awhile through a company that took care of rotating the ads for me. It annoyed me to see the ads on the blog though, so I discontinued them. Also, as a wedding planner, I feel it is a conflict of interest to have other vendors advertise on my site because I refer vendors as a part of my services. I recommend vendors based on their expertise and ability to deliver quality goods and services and don't charge them to work with me or to be on a preferred vendor list. I refer only the best, not just the best of those who are willing to pay. I know that I could put a disclaimer saying that the ads are from vendors who are not necessarily endorsed by me, but we all know that no one reads the fine print anyway. If I ever find a happy medium that doesn't compromise the integrity of my company or this blog, then maybe I will host ads. I'll keep you in the loop.

Are you paid to write about the vendors or products you highlight?
No. I am pretty old-school in my belief that editorial and advertising should be separate. It helps to keep things real and all that. You can read our editorial policy here.

Are you going to continue the Over a Cup of Coffee series? If so, who will you be featuring?
Yes, we will be continuing the Over a Cup of Coffee series. I am so excited too that it has generated a bunch of other wedding bloggers doing their own interview series. It's fun to learn more about the people involved in the various aspects of this business. As for who we'll be featuring in future interviews, well, that's Vegas, baby, and my lips are sealed! You'll have to subscribe so you can stay updated.

I want to use blue orchids like you have in your picture for my wedding. Where can I order them?
That image is photoshopped. Lo siento. Blue orchids do occur in nature, but are very rare and unique, much like me. :) Your florist may be able to help you source some, and if they are available you will probably have to pay a premium for them.

Do you ever accept guest bloggers?
Yes. Last Fall, two lovely ladies, Jenn Sbranti from Hostess with the Mostess and Mary Driscoll from My Wedding Film, stepped in and wrote some posts during all the wedding craziness in October. You can read Jenn's post about Hollywood vintage style here and Mary's post about ways to make your wedding reception unique here.

Can I guest blog for you?
Maybe. If you're interested, send me an email at info{at}blueorchidweddings.com with the phrase 'guest blogger' in the subject line. Include a link to your regular blog or site and the topic you'd be interested in writing about. I am not looking for bloggers who are going to write a glorified ad for their own company. I will, of course, link to your sites however.

How did you come up with the name Blue Orchid Designs?
I wanted something different and not boring. I love orchids and buy them up at Trader Joe's whenever they are in stock. I chose the word 'designs' to show the versatility of our company - that we do both planning and design. I went through several colors and actually considered the Scarlet Orchid for about twenty minutes, but decided that I didn't want people to subconsciously associate The Scarlet Letter and its themes of adultery and religious hypocrisy with my company. (It is one of my favorite books though, definitely check it out if you haven't read it.)

Did you always dream of being a wedding planner?
Um, no. I went through a pretty severe case of reverse culture shock when I returned from Southeast Asia the first time, about ten years ago. After that I became pretty passionate about doing preventative and re-entry counseling for expats and volunteers doing humanitarian aid work in developing nations. It is intensely emotionally draining work on so many levels and as a result the attrition rate of volunteers is high. Because of this, I decided to study cross-cultural psychology at Arizona State University. To pay bills, I planned events by profession in the corporate and non-profit sectors for several years and planned my first wedding in 2001. I loved the celebratory nature of these events and loved being able to help bring people together for the milestone occasions in life. I also get bored super easily (my movie-watching attention span is seriously lacking), so I love the creative outlet that event design provides and being able to do new things that haven't been done before. So how does this all connect? Well, several years ago I saw a documentary on PBS where a plastic surgeon worked in America six months out of the year doing nip/tuck surgeries. He used the income from that during the other six months to travel and perform restorative plastic surgeries on children in Africa who had been mutilated by warlords. My goals are similar. I started my own company because I wanted to create a lifestyle where I can grow my company to a point that it can run on its own and I can travel (my very first love) and spend several months doing the counseling and relief work on a pro bono basis.

How can I be a planner/what business advice can you give about clients/etc?
I am now answering any questions about the business side of wedding planning over on The Smart Planner. If you've previously asked a business-related question, sit tight, because the answer will be on there soon!

How many of you loved that Christian won on Project Runway last week? I did. He has been my favorite all season by far.

Here is Amy Poehler's fierce impression of him from Saturday Night Live this past weekend and a little something to add a smile to your face today:



Who were you rooting for?

If you haven't had the chance to take our survey yet, please click here to share your answers. There are two survey boxes and all you have to do is click on the answer in each that best describes you. Super easy and the more that participate, the better the results for our research! Thanks so much! :)

We're also updating our "blogs that link to us" list, so if we're on your blogroll and we don't currently have you on this list, let us know by leaving a comment on that post and we'll get you on there!

Last May I blogged about Sprinkles Cupcakes opening their doors in Scottsdale, which was supposed to happen by the end of the summer. Well it followed the construction industry cliche and didn't make that deadline. Good things come to those who wait and the cupcake shop is now slated to open on March 17th! In a few weeks we can eat cupcakes to our hearts delight with nary a memory of our New Year's gym resolutions in our minds. Yay!

{photo via Sprinkles Cupcakes}

When meeting with your vendors, be sure that one of the questions you ask is "what will you wear on the day of my wedding?". This applies mainly for the wedding professionals who will be somewhat visible to guests: your wedding planner, the photographers and cinematographers, the band members or DJ, the photobooth attendants, etc.

While it is not necessary to know their exact outfit, it is a good idea to be aware of their dress code, be it a suit, business casual slacks, a skirt, formal, informal, black, bold colors, etc. It is not okay for you to dictate a specific dress code to your vendors, but it is important to let them know what is most appropriate for them to wear on your big day. Also, many vendors will wear something more comfortable while setting up, so find out how long it is before guests arrive that they usually change into their dressier attire.

For example, I rarely wear a suit to a wedding because it a) does not really fit my personality or brand, and my clients know that and b) most importantly, it makes it difficult for me to maneuver and get things done in a suit. And getting things done on your wedding day is my job. I, and my staff, are usually decked out in mostly black, as is standard in the service industry. This helps set us apart a bit so your guests know quickly who to find if they need something and it also helps us fade into the background and allows us to do our job quietly and unobtrusively. I know these sound like opposites, but it works. There are exceptions to this of course, such as a beach wedding, or a white-tie wedding, etc. They are simply our guidelines and we adjust as necessary on a case by case basis.

Another handy tip: if your ceremony site has any cultural or religious protocol on clothing, let your vendors know! It is so helpful for us to know which churches expect women to wear dresses or cover their shoulders, etc. We want to respect you and your site's rules, so don't forget to let your vendors know what is culturally or religiously appropriate for your event.

Entertaining guru, Matthew Mead, launched his Spring edition of the Matthew Mead Style website today (it changes seasonally) and it does not disappoint! Everything on there is creative and beautiful, as we have come to expect from him. I love that when everyone else is doing the cliche bold-with-color theme for Spring, he draws on a muted palette for this series of his designs. Some of my favorite things from this edition of Matthew Mead Style:

This canvas chalkboard is the perfect addition to a room. I'm thinking it will make a great pick me up for my office space. It's also great for the kiddos to draw on (and a way to save your walls!) as it's easy to clean and portable. Matthew's instructions for this easy DIY project can be found here.



He created this gift wrap by scanning some vintage fabric and changing the colors a bit on the computer. If you love this pattern, as I do, you can download it, gratis! You can also click here to get the skinny on how to make your own from whatever pieces inspire you.



The recipes he has this season look divine, including one for Irish Soda Bread, perfect for St. Patrick's Day. One of you needs to make something from his list and invite me over for dinner, stat!

There is honestly so much more on his site to peruse and be inspired by, but the last thing I wanted to mention is his new book that comes out in May, called Cakes for Kids. Just look at how cute this fish cake is! I am already my nephew's favorite aunt, but making something like this for his birthday sure would seal the deal:



{All photos via Matthew Mead Style}

{PS for those of you who may be new to the Blue Orchid Designs blog: we write about things we like and do not accept pay for it. Our editorial policy can be viewed here.}

Anne at From I Will to I Do had a great post today about brides who expect too much from their bridesmaids and expect them to play wedding planner as part of their role. It is worth a read, so click here to check it out.

It got me thinking on some of the reasons that couples don't hire a professional wedding consultant, and I wanted to ask you for your opinion on that matter. The first survey below poses some common reasons brides have for navigating the bridal waters sans planner. Please choose the one that best suits your situation or choose "other" and fill in the field (note that it cuts off after 60 characters). Of course, life is not as cut and dry as these little poll boxes allow. The answer "cost" for example can mean that it was simply not doable financially or that you could afford it, but wanted to spend more on your centerpieces instead or splurge on a couture gown. So if you would like to elaborate on your answer, please do so in the comments section below.



This second survey has to do with people who did hire a planner or who plan on doing so, and the method they used to find them. Again, if your option is not on this list, please include it in the "other" category and feel free to elaborate on your choice in the blog comments.



Thanks so much! I really appreciate your participation in this project!