The Rain Wedding Vendor Experience- A Wedding Planner’s Diary of Love

It’s Sunday at 3:30 p.m., I am having a drink and thinking about what a great team of vendors I had last night!

Here’s my vendor line up shout out:

• Tim (BC), Tara, and Frank of Creations In Cuisine Catering for busting their balls, soaked and all, making sure we had the food on time for the guests to fill their bellies;
• Amber, Michael, Melissa and the rest of the crew of Desert Botanical Garden making sure that we weren’t flooded, having options, have electricity for the band, relocate the bar as planned, and just being there during the entire time to make sure we were functioning properly with the rain;
• Kris of Event Rents, LLC for putting up the tents and leaving side panels for extra protection without any direction and hesitation;
• Jess and her team of Jessica Q Photography for not stopping documenting every single moment and always ready to jump when spontaneous moments are happening for the newlyweds to forever treasure, umbrella and all;
• Phil, Rob and the crew of The Party Crashers for keeping the music playing for Elizabeth and Chris during their first dance, father/ daughter dance, mother/son dance all under the rain, mind you and they didn’t get to perform with all of their equipment all ready to go.  Thanks for not bailing out on us and sticking it out;
• Jill of Mariposa Limousine for being on stand by for me up until 10 p.m. to make sure that all the guests were picked up, the bride and groom safely taken to their hotel and for being accommodating for unforeseen detours during the night;
• Fred’s Flowers Tempe AZ for having someone there to make sure everyone had their corsages and boutonnieres on before leaving the premise because I truly suck at pinning;
• Lastly, to the newest member of Apropos Creations, LLC, Mrs. Lara Linnen for being my right hand woman, making sure all guests were taken care of, my ears when I wasn’t around, for taking charge when I was preoccupied, and with all honesty, for having common sense and not wait for me to bark an order to tell her what to do.

What can I say, I am such a lucky, lucky woman to have such an A Team of wedding vendors!  I would not replace any of them in a heartbeat!  We all came through to make this fabulous wedding day happen to our very open minded, fabulous, fun, beautiful, spontaneous, and totally googly eyes for each other bride and groom, Elizabeth and Chris.

Oh man, what a fun night had by all!!!

Stay tuned for the beautiful photos from the talented Jessica of Jessica Q Photography.  🙂

About Apropos Creations…

With over 10 years of assisting brides, grooms and their respective families create this moment, Apropos Creations, a local Arizona wedding and event planner, will make this journey enjoyable and stress-free.  We will be there to offer inspiring ideas and flawless coordination.  Besides our basic wedding packages, Apropos Creations also specializes in multi cultural weddings, destination weddings and Philippines destination weddings.  We pledge to you our devotion to make your wedding and event as unique as you.  We want what you want, a perfect and beautiful day of memories to treasure throughout time.

Glamping Inspired Table

Glamping Inspired Table

In this year’s 2013 Phoenix NACE Tantalizing Tables, we at Apropos Creations are very honored to be a part of it!  There were 12 very talented participants ranging from planners like myself, florists, venues and rental companies.  We worked very hard to be original, outside the box thinkers and leave with a positive impression to one another.

The trend that inspired me was Matthew McConaughey’s “glamping” wedding. “Glamping” is a combination of two words, glamour and camping. The pipes and drapes acted as the tent and we added bistro lighting with asparagus fern trimmings to add the natural effect of the campground. For glamour, the gold and crystal on the china, flatware, crystal chiavary chairs, and the glassware added that special touch . The menu cards followed suit with both glam and camp, it had the woody texture but with the gold glitters. The centerpieces were very simple, clean and refreshing but yet elegant and classy. The Production Pros, Event Rents and Celebration in Paper all helped me bring this vision together and I couldn’t have done it without them.

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Credits…  Foskett Creative; Apropos Creations; The Production Pros; Event Rents; Celebration in Paper

Please feel free to use this article in you E-zine or website.  All we ask is for you to include this complete statement:  Wedding and Event Planning entrepreneur Jo Ann M. Grant of Apropos Creations LLC, publishes “Eternal Treasures” e-zine.  Please be sure to sign up to our monthly Labor of Love newsletter where you will receive more wedding tips and advice.

About Apropos Creations…  With over 10 years of assisting brides, grooms and their respective families create this moment, Apropos Creations, a local Chandler, Arizona wedding and event planner, who services Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona, and the surrounding cities, will make this journey enjoyable and stress-free.  You will be offered inspiring ideas and flawless coordination.  Besides our basic wedding packages, Apropos Creations also specializes in multi cultural weddings and Southeast Asian weddings, destination weddings in San Diego, CA, San Jose, CA, San Francisco, CA and neighboring bay area cities  and Philippines destination weddings.  We pledge to you our devotion to make your wedding and event as unique as you.  We want what you want, a perfect and beautiful day of memories to treasure throughout time.

Arizona Weddings Magazine – Real Weddings Feature at Intercontinental Montelucia

We are so honored to have Marlene and Daniel’s wedding featured on Arizona Weddings Magazine this year.  Make sure to pick up your copy on June 1st and read what Marlene has to say about being an Arizona bride.  I apologize for the fuzziness of the writing.  If you want a PDF file of this article, please email me at joann@aproposcreations.com and I’d be more than happy to send you a copy.

Please feel free to use this article in you E-zine or website.  All we ask is for you to include this complete statement:  Wedding and Event Planning entrepreneur Jo Ann M. Grant of Apropos Creations LLC, publishes “Eternal Treasures” e-zine.  Please be sure to sign up to our monthly Labor of Love newsletter where you will receive more wedding tips and advice.

About Apropos Creations…  With over 10 years of assisting brides, grooms and their respective families create this moment, Apropos Creations, a local Chandler, Arizona wedding and event planner, who services Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona, and the surrounding cities, will make this journey enjoyable and stress-free.  You will be offered inspiring ideas and flawless coordination.  Besides our basic wedding packages, Apropos Creations also specializes in multi cultural weddings and Southeast Asian weddings, destination weddings in San Diego, CA, San Jose, CA, San Francisco, CA and neighboring bay area cities  and Philippines destination weddings.  We pledge to you our devotion to make your wedding and event as unique as you.  We want what you want, a perfect and beautiful day of memories to treasure throughout time.

5 Ways to Stay Sane During Your Wedding Planning

5 Ways to Stay Sane During Your Wedding Planning 

by Jo Ann M. Grant, wedding & event architect, Apropos Creations

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A bride should never have to say, “Thank goodness, this wedding is over.”  However overwhelming the planning can be, all brides should enjoy the process.  As someone who has been married, helped out closely with the weddings of family and friends, and who has been running a wedding planning business for the past 3 years, I have been able to see first-hand many of the stressful episodes that couples can encounter.

Stress unfortunately comes to our lives quite easily, just sneaks in and bam! we’re stressed.  What we do at Apropos Creations is take the stress away and help you obtain peace of mind throughout your journey to your wedding day.  We also compiled 5 ways so you don’t go crazy with your planning…  We hope this will help you avoid getting too stressed.  🙂

Just imagine, this can be you…

5 .    Keep Things In Perspective.  Enjoy your wedding planning process because if you don’t, this dream wedding will become a mental weight, it’ll become work and you don’t want that to happen.  We all know that planning is very stressful, this is wedding planning, your wedding, not just your girlfriend’s or your sister’s and it’s not just any other social events either but you have to remember the larger things in life.  If something doesn’t go right, you would still be marrying the love of your life.  And that’s what matters, that’s what’s important.

4.     Stay Organized.  I can go on forever telling you what you need to do to stay organized but I’ll give you the cliff note:)…  Purchase a wedding planning workbook in which we offer, or create your own.  Make sure that you have dividers with the tabs and label them accordingly for vendors, contracts, inspirations, and all other documents.  This way you  know where to put it and you know where to find it.

3.     Take Some Wedding Planning Time Off.  This is a must!!!  However excited or frustrated you may be with your upcoming special day, have a date night and anything about your wedding is moratorium.  Enjoy one another and remember how important you both are to each other.  Have a bottle of wine with home cooked dinner or go out for dinner and whichever way you do it, I will say it again, enjoy one another!

2.     Ask For Help.  Your resources are within arms reach, personally (friends, family, coworkers) and professionally (vendors).  Hire a wedding planner and find one that understands you, one who offers services that includes the tasks that you need done and that will direct your rehearsal and give you peace of mind on your wedding day.  Just hand all the day’s details over because you have much more important and funner things to do like get your hair done with your girls or visit your favorite spa and get a massage.

1.     Enjoy Your Wedding Day.  Take a deep breath, this is the big day, the day you have been planning and waiting for, your wedding day!  Hand off everything to your trusted vendors and of course, your wedding planner will be present to make sure that your vision is delivered.  If details fall apart, your planner will handle it with expertise (we do 12 ti 15 weddings a year).  Let us take care of the details while you sit back and enjoy your wedding day as the new Mr. and Mrs.

Straight From The Mouth… Mission Travel – an actual Travel Agent

We always wonder why should we hire this person or that person when we can always do it ourselves…  Here’s one of Apropos Creations’ fave travel agent to tell you exactly the reason why you should have someone instead of Travelocity or Expedia…

“Why should I use a Travel Consultant instead of an internet agency?”

There are many reasons to consider hiring a travel consultant.  Here are just a few:

• Your honeymoon is a special time for you .  Do you want to avoid unpleasant surprises?
• Do you know when hurricane season is? Or how a hurricane or other inclimate weather might impact your trip?
• Who would you call if your reservations were lost or you missed a flight connection?
• When you booked your hotel, did you know they were going to be doing a major renovation project right outside your window?
• You are dreaming of a quiet, intimate place on the beach, just the two of you.  Did you plan on sharing the beach with 1000’s of college kids on spring break?
• Besides, you are busy planning a wedding. Do you really want to spend hours researching your honeymoon too?
• Did you want to talk to a different person everytime you contact the internet agency?  Or would you prefer to work with the same person who cares and listens to what YOU want for your honeymoon.  Someone who offers that personal touch.

Don’t leave your honeymoon plans to an internet agency where you are just one person in a sea of thousands. As your travel consultant, I am your travel advocate from the planning process all the way through until you return from your honeymoon.  I have your best interest at heart.  You receive personal service from me as we work together to plan your dream honeymoon or destination wedding.

For more information or to begin your honeymoon planning, please contact Chris Erwin of Mission Travel at missiontravel@cox.net or 623-910-9810 to schedule your complimentary consultation and please make sure to mention that you read this article from Apropos Creations’ blog.  🙂

About Apropos Creations…  With over 10 years of assisting brides, grooms and their respective families create this moment, Apropos Creations, a local Chandler, Arizona wedding and event planner, who services Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona, and the surrounding cities, will make this journey enjoyable and stress-free.  We will be there to offer inspiring ideas and flawless coordination.  Besides our basic wedding packages, Apropos Creations also specializes in multi cultural weddings and Southeast Asian weddings, destination weddings in San Diego, CA, San Jose, CA, San Francisco, CA and neighboring bay area cities  and Philippines destination weddings.  We pledge to you our devotion to make your wedding and event as unique as you.  We want what you want, a perfect and beautiful day of memories to treasure throughout time.

Your Wedding Style – Stripes

We all love texture and stripes will bring exactly just that.  Whether it’s  modern and contemporary or vintage retro you are after, having stripes as part of your wedding motif will definitely complete the look. You can dress the little details like  your cake, bridesmaids’ dresses, stationery, linens and it can be as thin or as thick as you prefer it. The one I admire the best is the bouquet with the yellow, black and white striped ribbon.  What’s yours?

Martha Stewart Weddings

Jonathan Canlas Photography

Julie Hanan Design Striped Invitation

Striped Votive Candle Holder

Martha Stewart Weddings

Martha Stewart Weddings

Laura Novak Photography

Baking Arts’ Stripe Cake

About Apropos Creations…  With over 10 years of assisting brides, grooms and their respective families create this moment, Apropos Creations, a local Chandler, Arizona wedding and event planner, who services Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona, and the surrounding cities, will make this journey enjoyable and stress-free.  We will be there to offer inspiring ideas and flawless coordination.  Besides our basic wedding packages, Apropos Creations also specializes in multi cultural weddings and Southeast Asian weddings, destination weddings in San Diego, CA, San Jose, CA, San Francisco, CA and neighboring bay area cities  and Philippines destination weddings.  We pledge to you our devotion to make your wedding and event as unique as you.  We want what you want, a perfect and beautiful day of memories to treasure throughout time.

Bridal Shower Games that will Surely Entertain your Guests

Here are a few of our favorite games:

Pass the Bouquet

The bouquet can be fresh flowers, gift ribbons, or silk bouquet.  The object of the game is not to have the bouquet in your hands when the music stops, just like hot potato, you are out if you end up with the potato or musical chair, you are out if you don’t have a chair to sit on.  The music plays while the bouquet is handed from guest to guest, and the music stops at intermittent points. The guest holding the bouquet whenever it stops is taken out, leaving the rest to battle it out (please be nice) until all but one lucky player is knocked out of the game.

Another favorite game of mine is Bingo but this one has the bridal twist to it:

Prior to the shower, create Bingo cards and you can even use the word B-R-I-D-E on the top instead of the usual B-I-N-G-O and instead of numbers, use wedding-related words like wedding ring, veil, honeymoon, wedding dress, bouquet, etc. Fill out slips of paper with wedding word or question, such as the bride’s engagement ring cut, honeymoon location, or engagement proposal location . As the hostess draw and announce each one, the guests will mark the square using a pen or use something creative like the candy hearts like the peeps at The Knot have suggested.

One of the all time classic, The Toilet Paper Dress:

• divide your guests into groups, about three to four per group
• give each group one or two rolls of toilet paper
• each group will have to choose a “bride” from their group
• create a bridal gown, veil, and accessories from the toilet paper and ONLY the toilet paper
• The bride will then choose the winning dress and the group wins and receives a prize

The next two can and may be rated R, consider yourself warned.

How Low Can You Go sounds like fun but I have never seen it in action.

• place a poster board in the middle of the floor
• designate one of the bridesmaids to be the “secretary”
• have each guest approach the board one at a time
• trace their hand with a pen on the board without bending their knees or bringing the board up to them
• the “secretary” will then take note  of every single guests’ reaction and exclamation while tracing their hand
• Each guests’ outburst discloses what the bride will be screaming on their wedding night!

I can just hear the “of age” group stating, “I am too old for this”, or “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”  Would you have this game at your shower?

The last game but not the least, have the groom and a few of his friends stop by for a few minutes but before they arrive, blindfold the bride and have the guys not say a word.  This creates a bit more suspense for the bride.  To play this, the blindfolded bride feels up on the guys’ calves (and nothing else unless the house rules otherwise) and takes a “swag” on which legs belongs to her future husband.  This game is referred to as Guess The Groom!

About Apropos Creations…  With over 10 years of assisting brides, grooms and their respective families create this moment, Apropos Creations, a local Chandler, Arizona wedding and event planner, who services Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona, and the surrounding cities, will make this journey enjoyable and stress-free.  We will be there to offer inspiring ideas and flawless coordination.  Besides our basic wedding packages, Apropos Creations also specializes in multi cultural weddings and Southeast Asian weddings, destination weddings in San Diego, CA, San Jose, CA, San Francisco, CA and neighboring bay area cities  and Philippines destination weddings.  We pledge to you our devotion to make your wedding and event as unique as you.  We want what you want, a perfect and beautiful day of memories to treasure throughout time.

Bhavika + Runjan = Real <3 Love

It’s just crazy how fast time flies by…  It was just sometime in November when I received a call from a groom who lives in Atlanta, who is at the same time planning his own wedding.  Yep, the groom planning the wedding and it’s not that the bride didn’t want to do it.  It’s because she’s going through her 50 to 60 hour internship at the hospital and studying for her board.  That’s what I call great support!

As Runjan Jain and I got through the pleasantries, I found out that he is a financial analyst and all kinds of red flag came up.  Oh, crap, do I really want to assist him with this wedding?  Being an accountant, I know very well that analysts are worst! LOL!  The best part, I knew what I was getting into when I accepted the job to be their wedding planner.  After getting to know him (from emailing 2 to 3 times everyday) and the now Bhavika Jain some more, I knew that they very much are made for each other.  They would both call me, different times, just to make sure that I look out for Bhavika Jain or I look out for Runjan Jain.  They would share with me what the other may or may not like.  It’s how it should be, always looking out for each other.  The love and the respect that they have for one another truly stands out and very evident.  I truly am very honored to witness their commitment to each other, to watch Bhavika and Runjan  Jain as two individuals become one.

About Apropos Creations…  With over 10 years of assisting brides, grooms and their respective families create this moment, Apropos Creations, a local Chandler, Arizona wedding and event planner, who services Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona, and the surrounding cities, will make this journey enjoyable and stress-free.  We will be there to offer inspiring ideas and flawless coordination.  Besides our basic wedding packages, Apropos Creations also specializes in multi cultural weddings and Southeast Asian weddings, destination weddings in San Diego, CA, San Jose, CA, San Francisco, CA and neighboring bay area cities  and Philippines destination weddings.  We pledge to you our devotion to make your wedding and event as unique as you.  We want what you want, a perfect and beautiful day of memories to treasure throughout time.

Credits…  Sameer Soorma Photography; Apropos Creations; Wendell Design Group Florist; Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs; A Different Point of View; In The Mix Entertainment

May I Have This Dance?

The first dance…  This is the first activity ever that you will do publicly as Mr. and Mrs.  The question is “How do you want your family and guests to remember you as the newly married couple?”

There are plenty of options out there depending on your personality.  If you’re the “traditional” type of a couple, you can do a waltz.  If you are an upbeat, modern type, perhaps you’d enjoy a swing, salsa or tango?    Recently a choreographed hip hop routine, which includes the entire bridal party, has become an ever increasing popular and entertaining choice for the new Bride and Groom. Or you can skip the elaborate productions and just slow dance to a song that is meaningful to the two of you.

Traditionally, the first dance is an introduction of the newly married couple and as “guests of honor” at their reception.  This first dance, in terms of proper wedding etiquette, also serves as the opening of the dance floor for the wedding guests.  In European and American cultures the wedding reception is much like the old fashioned Balls of gentile society and as such it would be inappropriate for anyone to dance before the guests of Honor.

The “first dance” has become so important to some that dance studios and choreographers have had a spike in business for just such an event.   The fashionable choice to “Dancing with the Stars” has increased the demand for the return of Ballroom Dancing and has been incorporated into many “first dances” recently.    However, you have many options with which to choose for the first dance. Your wedding is a reflection of you as a couple. Your first dance can be as well.  A wedding and all other aspects and traditions you may  wish to follow throughout your celebration, are and should be reflections of who and what you are as a couple.   A proper Waltz, an energetic Swing, a sexy Tango, a seductive Salsa, or a trendy choreographed routine, can add a certain flare to your special day. But no matter what you chose, the idea is to make your introduction and your day special and meaningful. A simple dance has the power to say, “This is who we are and that is why we are one.” Give the guests and yourselves something to talk about and remember for years to come.

May I have this dance?

About Apropos Creations…  With over 10 years of assisting brides, grooms and their respective families create this moment, Apropos Creations, a local Chandler, Arizona wedding and event planner, who services Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona, and the surrounding cities, will make this journey enjoyable and stress-free.  We will be there to offer inspiring ideas and flawless coordination.  Besides our basic wedding packages, Apropos Creations also specializes in multi cultural weddings and Southeast Asian weddings, destination weddings in San Diego, CA, San Jose, CA, San Francisco, CA and neighboring bay area cities  and Philippines destination weddings.  We pledge to you our devotion to make your wedding and event as unique as you.  We want what you want, a perfect and beautiful day of memories to treasure throughout time.

Credits…  Cilento Photography; Apropos Creations; Dancing with the Stars

Bridesmaids – The Origin and Responsibilities

Photo: A Bryan Photo

“Three times a bridesmaid, never a bride” dates to about the sixteenth century. It was believed that if young maiden who had been a bridesmaid three times was unable to catch the eye of unmarried males, then she never would. But, if she served seven times as a bridesmaid, the spell was broken and the woman was thought to be a sure bet for marriage.

I was a bridesmaid two times, therefore I didn’t get cursed because I wasn’t one three times.  But yet, I was already married both times so I guess it doesn’t count.  😛

The bottom line, believe what you want to believe.  Being a bridesmaid is very honorable and not to mention fun.  It also means that you are very well-loved and that your friends are very grateful in having you in their lives.

The Origin of Bridesmaids

Back in the olden days, bridesmaids were in charge not only with helping prepare for the bride’s wedding day.  They came to exist to help confuse the evil spirits by dressing in identical clothing to the bride and the groom.  These spirits were known to give the happy couple bad luck.  Being dressed like the bride,  the evil spirits would not know who was getting married.  Long story short, a bridesmaids’ job used to be a risky one.

Duties

Maid or Matron of Honor

• assists the bride in selecting the bridesmaids’ dresses
• assists with addressing the wedding invitation and the place or escort cards
• organizes the bridesmaids’ gift to the bride and often organizes the bridesmaids’ luncheon if there is one
• holds the groom’s ring and the brides bouquet during the ceremony
• witnesses the signing of the marriage certificate
• helps the bride during the reception (gathering the guests for the cake cutting, dancing, the bouquet toss)
• helps the bride change into her going away clothes and takes care of the bride’s wedding dress and accessories after the reception

Bridesmaid

• attends the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, and bridesmaids’ luncheon if there is one
• supervises the children in the wedding party if asked
• assists the bride at the reception as requested
• participates in activities such as a receiving line and a bouquet toss
• gives an individual gift to the couple or contributes to the bridesmaids’ gift for the couple

Junior Bridesmaid

• attend the rehearsal and, depending on the girl’s age and maturity, the rehearsal dinner
• may be invited to the bridesmaids’ luncheon
• don’t give bridal showers, though they can attend pre- wedding social events when invited
• if asked, they should be in the receiving line
• may give a separate gift to the couple or be included in her parents’ gift

All Attendants

• pay for their wedding attire and accessories except flowers
• arrange and pay for their own transportation, unless provided by the wedding couple
• attend prenuptial events
• give an individual gift to the couple or contribute to a group gift from the attendants
• understand specific duties and follow instructions
• arrive at specified times for all wedding related events
• assist the bride and groom
• be attentive to other guests at the wedding and reception

Dessy Bridesmaid

About Apropos Creations…  With over 10 years of assisting brides, grooms and their respective families create this moment, Apropos Creations, a local Chandler, Arizona wedding and event planner, who services Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona, and the surrounding cities, will make this journey enjoyable and stress-free.  We will be there to offer inspiring ideas and flawless coordination.  Besides our basic wedding packages, Apropos Creations also specializes in multi cultural weddings and Southeast Asian weddings, destination weddings in San Diego, CA, San Jose, CA, San Francisco, CA and neighboring bay area cities  and Philippines destination weddings.  We pledge to you our devotion to make your wedding and event as unique as you.  We want what you want, a perfect and beautiful day of memories to treasure throughout time.

Credits…  A Bryan Photo; Apropos Creations; Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette; SouthernLiving.com; The Dessy Group