Friday is a major holiday in the United States and many people will have the day off and celebrate the long weekend - and Independence Day - with poolside parties and food cooked on the grill. These Vanilla Strawberry Sandwiches from The Nest are the perfect dessert for the occasion or just the perfect dessert for a Friday, no matter which country you call home!

You could also add some variety to a summer bridal shower by setting out a buffet of different cookies and ice cream flavors and letting guests create their own sweet combo.  To make things simple and to keep a bottleneck from occurring at the dessert table, pre-scoop the ice cream into individual serving sizes. 

Ingredients:
1 pt. ice cream
1 pt. strawberries
8 cookies
Karo syrup
2 Tbsp. coarse white sugar

Chill It: Place a cutting board in the freezer to chill for about 30 minutes. (This will give the board that famous stone-cold surface.)

Thaw It: Remove the ice cream from the freezer and set aside to soften.

Dice It: While the ice cream thaws, cut the strawberries into bite-sized chunks.

Fold It: Scoop ice cream onto chilled board and flatten with spatula. Pour chopped strawberries over it and fold ice cream layer on top.

Sugar It: Brush the top cookie with Karo syrup and lightly sprinkle it with the coarse white sugar.  {Liene's note: if you enjoy sweet treats, but your sweet tooth doesn't go overboard, skipping this step will still result in a delicious dessert.}

Sandwich It: Place ice cream on the base cookie; top with the sugared one. Makes four sandwiches.

Enjoy!



{original image from The Nest}

Christy from Junebug Weddings asked me to share some thoughts on new wedding venues in Arizona and that article is featured today. Check it out at the Junebug Weddings blog!

Today's Meet the Reader is a little different in that I want to introduce you to a bunch of awesome wedding planners! Every Friday over at The Smart Planner we meet a new wedding consultant and learn a little bit about who they are and how they got started in the wedding industry. To catch up on the planners we've met so far, click here.

If you'd like to catch up on the Blue Orchid Blog readers we've met so far, click here.

It's sweltering outside (114 degrees and I am enjoying the air conditioning inside and sipping on lemonade, thank you very much), but I am loving this White Dahlia wedding dress from bridal designer Joan Shum, long sleeves and all.


I love the vintage collar and overall design structure and this style would be perfect for the non frou-frou bride having a winter wedding or a wedding with an old Hollywood glamour theme. All of Joan's dresses can be made in any length, and I see this one being a hit in tea length as well. To check out more of Joan's wedding gowns, visit her Etsy shop and her website.



{photos via Etsy}

Today's guest blogger is Melissa Jill, a Scottsdale-based wedding photographer. Melissa and I have been friends for a while and make sure to get together regularly for Mexican food and trips to the gym. Although the gym stuff seems to take a back seat to comida delicioso and we (mainly me) don't work out as often as we probably should.

Today, Melissa is sharing some advice on how to choose a photographer not just based on how much you love their photos, but on how they handle post-production after your wedding is over. It is an oft overlooked topic but one that every wedding planner gets an earful on from the bride and groom if the photographer is slow in that area. Here's what she has to say:

I Want Happy Stories

Whenever I tell someone who is married that I am a wedding photographer I inevitably get an earful about their experience with THEIR wedding photographer. I’m sad to say that generally, the story is not a good one. I’ve heard way too many times that a photographer took six months to a year to show the client their photos. I’ve even heard a few times that a couple didn’t receive ANY photos. How unbelievably crushing. I can’t imagine.

From these enlightening conversations, I’ve gathered that the number one complaint couples have about their wedding photographer after all is said and done is that their post-wedding service disappointed.

Unfortunately, when a couple is searching for a wedding photographer, how the photographer is going to perform AFTER the wedding is #1 - not largely discussed and #2 - difficult to predict with any certainty.

Photographers largely sell themselves on their art. And rightly so. I think one of the biggest things to pay attention to when you’re hiring your photographer is whether or not their images make you FEEL something. You have to resonate with their eye and style. That’s a given. But once you find someone whose work you are in love with and who you would be comfortable having around on your wedding day, make sure to ask about their post-wedding service standards. Ask questions like:

*How long after the wedding can I expect to see my proofs?

*When I place a print order, how long will it take to receive it?

*How long does the album production process take?

In my opinion, the answers to these questions should be no longer than:

*4 weeks

*2 weeks

*6 months (with partial responsibility resting on the client to choose images, revise and approve the design, etc, in a timely manner).

Now these answers are definitely on the long end of the spectrum. In this day and age of technology and our “need for speed” culture, photographers should be striving for even quicker delivery times. I take this part of my business very seriously and have been making changes to our post-production system in order to exceed clients’ expectations. The happier clients are, and the more you exceed their expectations, the more and better quality referrals you will get. And we all win.

If you want to be really thorough in your research while looking for a photographer, another step you can take after asking these questions is to ask for the contact info of three past clients. Email two or three brides and ask them the same three questions. I love to take people at their word, but with the horror stories I’ve heard, I might be inclined to dig deeper and ask other couples who worked with the photographer I’m interested in what their experience was like.

I’m so sad when I hear stories about how wedding photographers have let their clients down. I’m ready to hear some happy, smooshy stories for a change. So if you’re looking for a photographer to capture the most important day of your life, make sure to take the steps above and hopefully we’ll talk someday and you can tell me how thrilled you were with your experience.

{original photo of Melissa by Adrienne Maples}

I have some more photos now, so here is part three in the recap of my time at Engage!08, a conference for high-end wedding professionals. I don't have photos from the morning sessions, but I'll highlight some of those anyway:

First up was Rebecca Grinnals, the owner of Engaging Concepts and the person who invited me out to speak at Engage!08. She has a unique perspective on the wedding industry because she was the co-founder of Disney's Fairytale Weddings and has literally seen thousands of brides from all different walks of life. I can't think of anyone else in the wedding industry who can make that claim or who has that type of experience under their belt. She now works with clients such as Sandals and the Waldorf Astoria hotels in revamping their wedding programs so that they are more profitable and better at meeting the needs of today's couples. Rebecca is so down to earth, knowledgeable and fun and is truly a visionary in the wedding industry.

Rebecca gave a bunch of stats and trends about today's market and presented a great overview of where the industry is at today. She also mentioned that Disney's Fairytale Weddings launched during the last documented recession - just something to keep in mind if you work in the wedding industry. Here is a photo of me and Rebecca from later in the day:



Next up was Simon T. Bailey, a motivational speaker and author, or as he likes to call it - an inspiration catalyst. He is brilliant and if you ever get a chance to hear him speak, be sure you do! I will probably say that about every speaker at Engage!08 because Rebecca and Kathryn really had a great line up, but it is still true. Simon is also the author of Release Your Brilliance and several other books.

Simon spoke about the potential in each of us and the things we do that block that potential from manifesting itself. I was glad that his session was one of the first ones because it really helped everyone get in the right mindset for the rest of the day. There is no magic wand in business and no step-by-step guide to being successful. I find that often in business conferences, the fruit comes in allowing your mind to be open to a paradigm shift in your thinking rather than expecting a list of things that will make your business blossom overnight. The latter doesn't exist, but steering the course of how you think about and approach your business is what will change it for the better.

Simon's presentation helped set the stage for that, but it wasn't all purely philosophical. He had each of us go through some worksheets that identified areas and ideas we are drawn to and have strength in as well as areas to work on over the next year. Almost all of my areas had to do with work I am doing in connection with The Smart Planner. You'll have to stay tuned over the next year to see some of the new ideas I'll be implementing there. Here is a photo of Simon with Preston Bailey during another portion of the day:



The next speaker was Susan Moynihan from Destination Weddings and Honeymoons magazine. She spoke on the inner workings of publications, how to get an editor's attention, what the media looks for in stories and so forth. She gave a lot of great practical advice on the public relations side of running a wedding business. This lucky lady travels about once a month for her job and I am not at all jealous. Okay, maybe a little. Okay, maybe a lot.

After lunch, Rebecca set up an "Inside the Wedding Studio" panel with Preston Bailey and Marcy Blum. They both shared about their successes, mistakes, and the early years in business. They are best friends and have worked together quite a bit and it was hilarious to watch them interact because they tend to finish each other's sentences. One thing they both spoke about was deciding upfront what outcome you want from certain projects, such as being on television or writing a book. Both shared that certain time-consuming and expensive projects didn't result in direct sales or bookings, but served as important stepping stones to help leverage greater success later on.



Christine Boulten from Think Like a Bride and I were supposed to do a panel discussion on blogging and new media and how to effectively use them for business, but the schedule got rearranged a bit at the last minute and we each ended up speaking separately. Here is Christine, Rebecca and me discussing the change in plans:



And here we are posing for the camera:



Christine giving her presentation before she had to leave for the airport:



After Christine spoke, I was up. Several people have asked if I was nervous, and truthfully, no, I wasn't. This part was a bit of a blur for me though as I was speaking a bit off the cuff because of the change in plans. Apparently I talk a lot with my hands and make interesting faces:




Last but not least was Harmony Walton from The Bridal Bar and Get Married. If you read Harmony's blog and think "wow, she seems so nice", then you would be correct. She is 100% awesome and like everyone else I've mentioned, if you get a chance to meet her, you should. Harmony spoke on behalf of Get Married and also shared on the public relations side of owning a wedding business as well as some of the special circumstances specific to celebrity weddings that vendors face.



As you can see, I had a wonderful time and am so thankful that Rebecca asked me to participate. I have been really blessed in my business so far and am grateful for opportunities like these to meet others and grow my companies in new ways. Thanks, Rebecca!




{Previously}
Engage!08 Wedding Conference Recap :: Part 1
Engage!08 Wedding Conference Recap :: Part 2

{photos courtesy of Christine Tremoulet, photo of Marcy and Preston by Donna Von Bruening}

Name: Christine Tremoulet

Location: Houston, Texas

Blog or Website: ChristineTremoulet.com

What do you do for a living?
Wedding & Lifestyle Photographer

What is your favorite way to spend a Sunday?
Relaxing and doing nothing if I had a wedding the day before, with the exception of browsing through the photos and selecting my favorites for the blog. Spending time with my son and husband.

What is your dream vacation spot?
Anywhere in Europe!

What beauty item could you not live without?
My Lush Karma Bubble Bars - perfect for a soak after a long day on my feet!

What two people (past or present) would you have as guests at a dinner party and why?
Eleanor Roosevelt - I've always thought she would just be a fascinating woman to talk to; she always seemed so insightful and wise.

Henri Cartier-Bresson - He is considered to be the father of the modern style of photojournalism, and believed in capturing candid moments. I would be intrigued to hear what he thinks of how photography has advanced over the past 70 years or so.

What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
The first wasn't a piece of advice really, but a sign I spotted in a store last year. It changed my life, especially when it came to my business. It reads, "What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?"

The other best piece of advice I've received was when my father shared with me the Dr. Seuss quote, "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

What are your three favorite blogs besides blueorchidblog.com?
This was the hardest question of all! There are so many great ones to choose from!

Weddingbee
It is like watching a reality show of wedding planning, only better because the editors aren't twisting the story to make everyone look crazy.

The Weddex
I like knowing what is going on within the wedding industry, and this is a great resource!

Jessica Claire
Eye candy. Lots of inspiring eye candy!

(Of course, I left The Smart Planner off the list too - - I figured that one didn't count if I couldn't count Blue Orchid!)

Thanks, Christine!

As most of you know, I am a terrible photographer. I always forget to bring a camera with me and then when I do take photos they are just the simple point and shoot, luck out if you get them in focus type of shots. Now that I am a proud aunt, however, my interest in taking better photos, albeit still amateur, has grown. I want to make sure that my nephew's life is documented so that he can look back years later and see his first few years in photos. Most of the other moms (and favorite aunts) I talk to agree.

Taking great photos doesn't replace professional portrait sessions on the beach or at the park with your favorite photographer; those should still be an annual staple in your family budget. But let's face it - none of us are going to hire a photographer to follow us around to our children's soccer games, ballet recitals or to hang out in our house in the hopes that they can catch that signature pout the kiddos do when something doesn't go their way.

So I'm excited to let you know that the fab and super talented photographers Kim Jarman and Jen Bowen have teamed up to teach a beginners photography workshop this Summer. They'll be covering a range of topics from how to choose the best camera for you, to learning the fundamental tech stuff (ISO, F-stop, etc), tips for posing people, understanding how to properly use light, and so on. There is a week left to sign up, as the workshop will be on June 28th and you can download the registration form here. You can also email workshops{at}kimberlyjarman.com for more information. If you're in the Phoenix or Scottsdale area, be sure to get to this - it is a great deal with long-term benefits!

Tomorrow I'll talk more about the actual seminar portions of Engage!08 and introduce you to some more of the people I met, but I would be remiss if I did not talk about the gift bags that Rebecca and Kathryn gave each of the attendees. Part of my services as a wedding planner include designing and assembling welcome bags for the bride and groom's out-of-town guests, so I know first hand how deceptively time consuming they can be. Suffice to say, Rebecca and Kathryn took the cake with these!

Engaging Concepts' branding includes a black filigree pattern and a bright, vivid green. That design concept was woven throughout the entire event, down to the smallest, even often overlooked details. Rebecca even had the tiffany blue bows on her black and white heels replaced with green ones!

Upon check-in, everyone received a b. happybag in the Victoria pattern. And then their arms immediately fell off because the bags were so heavy. These totes are designed to be an eco-chic alternative to your typical grocery sack, so they are quite large, but the Engaging Concepts team had packed them FULL of goodies! Everyone was blown away by all the treats they got to take home with them.



Each tote was also personalized with a green luggage tag complete with the attendee's first initial. Like I said, no stone went unturned!



Included in the bag were cute green and white polka dot Kate Spade journals along with a pen adorned with green rhinestones:



Also, this jar of delicious mini chocolate chip cookies, which were quite possibly laced with an addictive substance (I am KIDDING people! Please do not send me mean emails):



Rebecca and Kathryn also had everyone send their business cards ahead of time so they could package them all together. It was such a nice break to just be able to chat with people and not worry about remembering to get their card.



Included in the bags was a copy of Southern Wedding Style magazine (the ladies at Bliss Event Group did such an amazing job producing this premier issue - be sure to order one!), a copy of The Knot magazine; The Nest magazine; Destination Weddings and Honeymoons magazine; a copy of Release Your Brilliance by Simon T. Bailey, one of the awesome speakers; as well as Preston Bailey's most recent book, Inspirations, which he was kind enough to autograph for everyone:





As if all that weren't enough, there was even more in the bag! Cindy Folak of Tulla Belles, a personal shopping service, had a huge hand in helping all these goody bags come together. Thanks, Cindy! She is also the talent behind the custom aprons made for some of the Engage!08 staff. They even had "Engage!" embroidered on the sash:



Here is Kathryn sporting hers. Cute, no?



Thanks for spoiling all of us, ladies! More stories from Engage!08 to come tomorrow.

{photos courtesy Darice Michelle}

{Previously}
Engage!08 Wedding Conference Recap :: Part 1

Earlier this year, Rebecca Grinnals of Engaging Concepts, invited me to speak at Engage!08, a wedding conference she was putting on for wedding professionals working in the luxury weddings market. So earlier this month, I headed out to Florida for a couple of days of fun - all in the name of work, of course. I've been waiting to blog about it until some others had so that I could steal their photos and showcase them here since I forgot to bring a camera along. There's lots to share, so I'll be breaking it up over the next couple of days.

When I arrived on Monday afternoon, Rebecca's husband Patrick and their friend Rochelle met me at the Orlando airport, complete with a cute little sign. I knew I was in for being spoiled when I got in the car and they had a damp washcloth rolled up in a basket for me to clean all the airport germs off my hands. Along with that, they had my choice of caffeine in a little cooler since they knew I had been up since three o'clock that morning. Southern hospitality at its finest and they truly made me feel welcome and relaxed. Thanks, Patrick and Rochelle! Rochelle is on the right in this photo, where she's chatting with Rebecca's parents at the kickoff reception:



That first evening, there was a reception for all the attendees, held in the lobby bar of the Celebration Hotel.





I was really struck by how humble almost everyone who attended this conference was. There can be a lot of ego in the wedding industry, and it was so refreshing and encouraging to be in a room full of successful people who don't act like the queen or king bees of the wedding industry, even though many of them could probably rightly lay claim to that title. Here are some of the fun and inspiring people I met while I was there:

Anayda, catering director for the Sundy House; Erin, the events manager at the Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine and a bride-to-be herself, and Nicole, the catering director at our host venue, The Celebration Hotel:



Trisha Hay is a graphic designer who lives in the little town of Celebration, where Engage!08 was held. She was responsible for several of the graphic design elements at the conference. She also has a blog called Black White Bliss which she calls "an obsessive collective of all {design} things black, white and a few shades in between". Needless to say, I love it.



Me, being ridiculous because I hate having my photo taken. Standing next to me is Susan Moynihan from Destination Weddings and Honeymoons magazine. She also spoke at the conference and shared a lot of great advice for wedding vendors who want to work more with magazines and other publishers.



The amazing photographer, Stacey Kane. Stacey, along with Dianna Fletcher of Fletcher Media, totally saved me when I was in a pickle at the airport going home. Seriously, ladies, call me whenever you come through Phoenix - lunch is on me. For life.



Kathryn Arce is the managing director of Engaging Concepts and worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help make everything happen for Engage!08. There is so much I could say about this woman - she is amazing, gracious, and fun. If you ever get the chance to meet her, be sure you do!



And of course, Preston Bailey and Rebecca Grinnals, the founder of Engaging Concepts, herself:



Okay, this is getting long and there's lots more to cover! Check back tomorrow for more!

{photographs courtesy Darice Michelle}

I first met Nicole in 1989 - almost twenty years ago! She has been a dear friend of mine over the years and has shared many life-shaping experiences with me. We worked together in the Philippines, were scarred for life by the sight of a man running on the beach in Santa Barbara, and she was one of my biggest supporters when I decided to start my own company. She is also an amazing trendspotter and finds all the best stuff, some of which I talk about here. So really, she is the one you all should be thanking for the great finds!

Name: Nicole

Location: Gilbert, AZ

Blog or Website: Believe it or not, I actually don't blog or have my own website!

What do you do for a living?
Child Therapist

What is your favorite way to spend a Sunday?
SLEEPING IN, lunch with a friend and spending some time in the sun reading a good book.

What is your dream vacation spot?
Wow, is "anywhere" too vague of an answer? Aruba, Belize, India, South Africa, Brazil, Greece; I could go on all night.

What beauty item could you not live without?
Mascara!

What two people (past or present) would you have as guests at a dinner party and why?
Only two?! Well then, probably Martin Luther King to gain insight into his incredible wisdom and strength and hopefully leave more inspired to create change. The second would probably be Adolf Hitler so that I could meet a true psychopath and understand what makes him tick. Also, to find out the why behind what he did.

What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
With struggle comes strength. It is something I constantly remind myself and my clients.

What are your three favorite blogs besides blueorchidblog.com?
Hmm . . . delight.com to meet my shopping addiction, stuffwhitepeoplelike.com to keep me laughing, and for my panda obsession, the San Diego Zoo blog.

{photo provided by Nicole}

I received an email from Jen at Destination I Do Magazine and wanted to share it with you. If you, or anyone you know, is having a destination wedding in either July or August of this year and wouldn't mind being in the spotlight, be sure to check this out!

MTV is casting for the hit show "True Life", only this time, the subject is destination weddings!

The producers from MTV have enlisted Destination I Do Magazine's help for casting an upcoming episode of "True Life: I'm Having a Destination Wedding"

Whether you're getting married in a tropical area such as the Caribbean, Mexico, or Hawaii or if you've decided to celebrate in Europe, Asia, Africa or even a domestic seaside location, we want to hear from you. Make your wedding even more extraordinary by having MTV document your journey.

If you appear to be between the ages of 18-28, are having a destination wedding in either July or August of this year and have a special story to share, email us and you may be selected to be on the show.

Send your name, wedding location and date, phone number and a photo of you and your betrothed to info{at}destinationidomag.com for consideration.

{photo via Destination I Do}

There was lots to see this year in the 2008 Spring bridal runway shows, but perhaps the most noteworthy trend was the comeback of crumbcatcher bodices. These sassy wedding dress tops are super popular right now, as is slouching and frizzy hair, apparently. They personally remind me of the Little Mermaid, but not in a bad way. This style popped up in the lines of several of the designers and I'm curious on your take. Do you love it or hate it? Vote below!



{photos, left to right: Monique Lhuiller, Elizabeth Filmore, and Carolina Herrera via New York Magazine.}

A while back I asked you all to share your favorite posts from your own blogs. Here are a few of them to check out:

An inspiration board that Lara from Bliss Event Group created for her future sister-in-law.

Kim from Parisian Events wrote about some of the differences between French and American weddings.

Kelly writes Two Brides, a blog about weddings in DC and same-sex couples getting hitched.

Kate shares about her DIY save the dates.

I'll be posting more of the other links later on. If you have a favorite blog post that you've written and you want me to feature it here, leave it in the comments!

There are several factors to consider when choosing a wedding date; here are some of the more common ones:

*Does the date fall on a major holiday or holiday weekend? If so and if you are having several guests attend from out of town then I strongly, strongly urge you to reconsider. While holiday weekends do have an extra day attached, they also mean that your guests are giving up family and prime vacation time in order to attend your wedding and that flights and hotels are at a premium price (and under blackout date restrictions). Your guests are probably not going to tell you that attending your wedding is a burden to them financially, but they will grumble about it behind your back. You can't please everyone, but if your date is going to inconvenience more than a few people, then choose another day to tie the knot.

*The availability of your venue or favorite vendor is also something to consider when setting a date. I've had clients reschedule their date so that they could have me as their planner because I was booked on a day they had originally considered. If the wedding area you are getting married in hosts a lot of corporate conferences, then you may need to be flexible in order to get the venue you want.

*If you are having a destination wedding, consider the weather patterns for that time of year at the destination. Planning a wedding in the Caribbean during hurricane season is not the best idea. Neither is planning a destination wedding to Scottsdale in the middle of our triple-digit Summers.

Today's featured reader is Natalie from I heart Peonies, who is also Miss Peacock on Weddingbee. Natalie has been a regular Blue Orchid Blog reader for quite a while now and I love how down to earth she is. Read on to learn more about her:

Name: Natalie

Location: Chicago

Blog or Website: iheartpeonies.com and Miss Peacock on weddingbee.com

What do you do for a living?
I was a graduate student until just recently. I am now on the job hunt!

What is your favorite way to spend a Sunday?
Up in Michigan, at Jake's family's lake house. A perfect day would include waking up late and driving up to our favorite coffee house (Julia's in South Haven, MI) to read the paper, drink coffee and eat one of their amazing granola cookies. We would walk around their downtown and then walk to the lake. Back at home, we would spend the afternoon out by the lake reading books (Jake would be on his laptop) before catching a matinee at the Loma theater. We would be back home in time for a view of the amazing sunset from his porch while Jake makes pizza on the grill. That was fun to think about!

What is your dream vacation spot?
Lake Como, Italy. I went there briefly in college and I have been dying to go back.

What beauty item could you not live without?
If moisturizer counts, my Keihl's Ultra Facial Cream. Make-up wise: Benefit's Some Kinda Gorgeous foundation.

What two people (past or present) would you have as guests at a dinner party and why?
Jane Austen and my maternal grandmother. Jane Austen because I pour myself into her books and time spent discussing her life and her inspirations would be priceless. My Gramy passed away when I was two years old. I would love to spend time with her for all the obvious reasons and I would love first-hand experience of her legendary warm and loving nature. She was also my mom's crafty inspiration and so she is mine as well.

What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Take care of yourself first. I love to pitch in and help others (a gift from my mother ;) and I worry about making everyone happy. Sometimes I get a little carried away, so I like to remind myself of this when I am feeling a little overwhelmed.

What are your three favorite blogs besides blueorchidblog.com?
Just three?? Weddingbee, Snippet & Ink, and The Bride's Cafe

Thanks, Natalie!

I've been out of town this week for Engage!08. I had planned to spend today doing some work and mentally unpacking everything from this week, but as usual life has me running all over town in an effort to catch up. I had forgotten how much I enjoy public speaking and I promise to share more about my experience in the days to come. Suffice to say, Rebecca and Kathryn completely spoiled me and I am a little bummed that I now have to return to real life!

It seems that I am not the only one with the subject of travel fresh on my mind. Here are a few things to check out from some talented wedding vendors in the Scottsdale area:

The ridiculously talented Marlene (the 'M' in M & Co. Papery) recently blogged about a travel-related interior design project that she and her husband recently did to spruce up her home. Lucky for us, she was generous enough to share the instructions for the inexpensive and stylish project. Check it out at the M & Co. Papery blog!

Shannon Rice, another creative guru and owner of the multi-disciplined Riso Studio, shared some tips on her blog about the best ways to pack light and still bring everything you need. I've traveled quite a bit, and packing light is the only way to go, in my opinion.

I've collected some of our more popular posts for those of you who may be new to the Blue Orchid Designs blog or for those of you who just want a stroll down memory lane. Here are some of our favorite wedding and style tips from the archives - there are currently over 400 posts, so this is just a little taste:

Look taller instantly by cheating your way to long legs.

Honor of Your Presence or Pleasure of Your Company - the etiquette rules on how to invite people to your ceremony.

Overwhelmed by the mamigma* of emails you've received from vendors about your wedding? Clear the clutter and check out these tips on how to handle wedding email.

Create more memories and send a postcard to yourself on your honeymoon.

Cute and easy centerpieces for Spring. Or Summer. Or Fall.

I was so excited to find out last night that these super cute eco-chic bags from Phoenix-based company, b.happybags are the gift bags for Engage!08. I already own the damask Victoria style and now I'll own two! Yay, me.


*Mamigma means "more than a lot". It is my life goal to get a word that I invented into the dictionary, so please, spread it around. My twin sis Terrica has already taught it to her children and they have successfully incorporated it into their vocabulary. :)

Lisa sent in this question recently:

Dear Liene,

I have found your blog so incredibly useful in the course of planning my wedding. The day is fast upon us: June 28 - so less than a month away. I wonder if you have any advice about scheduling the wedding day itself - how much time to allot for hair, makeup, etc. My wedding is at 6:30pm and my current hair appointment is at 1pm. That seems like a generous time allotment, but I'm concerned that my updo will wilt by the the ceremony!

Any advice, even if general, would be helpful!

With thanks!
Lisa

---

Hi Lisa,

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

I do think that 1:00 is a good time for your hair because the appointment will end around 2:30 or 3:00, depending on how elaborate your updo is (and other factors like whether or not your hair is thick or baby fine (both take longer), naturally curly, etc.). Then if you are doing your makeup after that, that will add more time, say until 4:00. Add getting dressed and photos in, and that brings you up until right about the time to begin the ceremony.

It is also a good idea to pad your schedule and wedding day timeline and then not tell anyone else in the bridal party that you are doing that. This way, when people run late and things run behind, as they inevitably will, everything is still on time. I do this every single time I create a timeline for my clients and I rarely tell any of the people involved. Sometimes I will let the bride or her mother in on the time cushions, but only if they are not the ones who tend to run late themselves!

As far as the concern about your hair wilting, I would talk to your hair stylist about that prior to your wedding day and see if they have any professional tricks of the trade they can share with you. If you are getting married in an area with high humidity, then your stylist is probably used to working in those conditions and knows some methods to keep your hair looking its best throughout the getting ready process, your photos, your ceremony and your reception. Bring your maid of honor or another bridesmaid along to your final appointment so that they can learn how to fix a piece of your updo should it come undone.

The afternoon of your wedding day will fly by. If you do end up with some extra time on your hands (which is very rare), it is still better to be able to spend that time chatting and laughing with your bridesmaids than to not have that time and be stressed because everything is running behind.