Rainy weather has dampened many of my couple's spirits on their spring wedding day. I always tell them, not to be upset; rain means good luck is upon them!

Weather can not be predicted, but if you are planning an outdoor wedding during spring or summer, please remember to have an indoor back-up plan.  It is so important, and will save you from anxiety!

Also, the best photos are captured when the lighting is dinmmer such as on a rainy or cloudy day.  One of my past clients had the best photo ever during Hurricane Irene a few years ago. At the end of the wedding, they were good spirited and went outside, got soaked, ruined their clothing, but took the most awesome picture under a clear umbrella.!

So, go with the flow; do not stress over a rainy wedding day, and just enjoy the moment and all the wonderful moments that can be captured.

Thanks to Daniel McGarrity Photography for these images.

Although the subject of how to recognize a deceased member of the immediate family of the wedding couple is not one that most like to discuss, it is a topic that needs to be thought about.

Unfortunately, we find that many of our couples are dealing with the loss of a mother or father before their weddings.  What is the proper way to include this family member in the wedding? Some ask us if the deceased person's name should be on the invitation. While the intention is good, this is not the way to honor that person. There are more appropriate ways to honor the deceased one's memory, either privately or publicly.

For instance, to honor a deceased mother, an usher can place a white rose on the seat where the mother would have been seated. During the ceremony, a song could be dedicated to that person, or their favorite hymn sung could be noted in a ceremony program.

Deceased grandparents or siblings could be honored during the candle ceremony by lighting an additional candle, or again mentioned in the program.

Rosemary stands for remembrance, so a sprig of rosemary could be included in the bridal bouquet or in the attendant's bouquet. The bouquet  could also contain the family member's favorite flower. Many of our brides have included a special pin or piece of lace coming from their mother's wedding gown in their bouquet.  This is something meaningful and allows the bride to feel comfort and closeness to their loved one on the wedding day.

We once did a wedding where there was a specialty drink at the bar to honor the groom's deceased dad. 

Another way to honor the deceased family member would be to make a charitable contribution to one of their favorite charities. Make note of the contribution on the ceremony program.

For more ideas and inspirations, call us for a consultation, and we will make a difficult topic become something to talk about with ease.

Happy Planning....

So glad to be back and excited as high wedding season is approaching. Each  year weddings take place and many new ideas or trends pop up.  New ideas in wedding decor, invitations etc. are great, but do not be confused; tradition never gets replaced.  If you want a traditional wedding incorporating traditional elements there is nothing wrong with that!

For 2013 as you may have heard, emerald green is the go-to color. You may find this color to be a bit too colorful or strking for your taste, but little bits of it within the flowers or accessories can really be pretty.If you are a bit more daring, there are some beautiful dresses being shown for bridesmaids in the emerald green.While white and ivory remain favorites for wedding gowns, they  are being shown in colors, and touches of color are still popular in the shoes.  Of course, the floral decor carries the color scheme throughout the wedding.

Personalized weddings continue to be important to couples who are looking to include elements that have personal meaning to them. Their ceremonies and receptions can reflect multi-cultural  or inter-faith statements. Entertainment often reflects the cultural backgrounds of the couple and the use of monograms on their invitation or paper trousseau are still being used to reflect their heritage or their first names.

The internet plays an important role in wedding planning these days. High tech access is used for vendor selections, information sharing, gift registires, guest information and communications between wedding party members to name a few. Although some think that emailing invitations or replies is okay, it truly is not the correct or classy thing to do.

Look for 2013 to be the year where there are more weddings with different touches that step out of the box and possibly more casual venues being used. Stay tuned for more ideas.

Happy Planning!

A belated happy new year to all of you.  Sorry nothing has been posted in a month's time, but due to a death in the family, I have not been working.

I will be back very soon; so in the meantime, if you are planning a wedding, relax, have fun with it, and take one day at a time.  Put your priorities in order and all will get accomplished.

Be back soon with some good wedding tips and trends for the New Year!

Happy Planning !

There are so many details, rules  and wedding planning can become overwhelming. If things are kept in perspective and you have a relaxed attitude, everything will get done in a timely manner and you will have a very beautiful wedding.  It certianly is the biggest party you will ever plan, so make it uniquely yours. Remember, if you can sidestep some of these no-nos that we planners often suggest to our clients to avoid, then your planning will be a happy time.

You cannot be a superbride; you are only one person and you must accept the fact that you cannot and should not try to do it all and expect to be sane on your wedding day! You obviously will make most of the major decisions needing to be made, but don't get caught up in the minute details that demand your attention every waking hour. Don't brush away offers of help. If people offer to help, accept their offers Of course hiring a wedding planner to take care of the legion of details is a very wise move.

Do not have a cash bar! You have invited people to your party, so do not ask them to pay for their refreshments. There are many ways to watch your bar expenditures; You do not have to have top shelf brands, you can serve a specialty cocktail and offer only beer and wine. You can choose to have an open bar just for an hour and then serve wine at dinner. Always have soft beverages and juices available.

Gift registries are wonderful to have, but do not include the information about them on your invitations. Giving a wedding gift is not mandatroy, although most guests will send or bring a gift. The best way to let people know about the registry is word of mouth through your parents or bridal party, and you can always mention it if you have a wedding website.

Remember to be a friend to your brdiesmaids and not their boss. Their official function is to witness the solemn event at which you take your marriage vosw. They stand up for you, so try and take the "maid" portion out of their title. Of course they are willing to help  , but watch the demands you make on their time and pocketbooks. Let them know how much you appreciate their willingness to be part of your special day.

These are but a few of the Dont's to keep in mind while planning your big day.  Call us at FAO if you have questions about other areas where you might not be sure of how to act or what to do.  We would be happy to assist you.

Happy Planning!

Wedding season is technically over for us at FAO, but in reality, wedding season never ends!  Several clients ask me what happens to the wedding planners come December after the peak of wedding season dies down. My answer always is" there are always people getting married who may need assistance from a planner, no matter what the season.

In the past few weeks I have received several inquiries for weddings for the winter months as well as for the peak seasonal months of May, June, September and October. Many couples look to the winter months because they can get the venue that they want more easily,  and many times they receive better prices. Wedding venues tend not to be busiest in the months of January, February and March.  Same is true with most vendors.

So, if you are one of the lucky couples who will be getting engaged this holiday season, and you do not want a long engagement, there will be opportunities for you to have a great wedding during the winter months if your first choice venue is already booked for the height of the wedding season.

Remember, it is always a good idea to seek the assistance of a planner right from the beginning of your planning to avoid costly mistakes. Call us for your complimentary consultation!

Happy Planning.....

I cannot believe that I have not posted to my blog in close to two months now.  Wedding season is in full swing this fall and it has kept me captured in meetings, detail after detail, and wedding weekends.

I hope that all of you who are thinking about a wedding date for next year realize that September, October, and even November, are the new June for weddings. So, start your planning early as the best of the best get booked very early on.  If you are looking to save a bit of money, the best months to perhaps be able to do better with negotiations , would be the winter months, especially March, and in the summer July and August when it is extremely hot.  If you are not considering an outdoor wedding, then summer can be an ideal time for a wedding.

 Whatever date you might decide upon, set your budget, and try to stick to it!  Be practical and you will be able to have wonderful wedding planning experience.

 Remember, that we offer complimentary consultations, so do not hesitate to call 703-222-5912  or email us at mg@fao-events.com. We look forward to being able to assist in your planning needs.

Happy Planning!

 So many of us write about tips and articles to assist the bride and groom, so today I want to address the role of the guest.

Receivng an invitation to a wedding from a family member, a work colleague, or a friend is truly an honor. You have been slected to help those close to you celebrate a wonderful part of their life.

It is important to remember these few tips so you can be the ideal guest:

 DO....

Please make sure that you respond in a timely manner to the invitation

Arrive to the ceremony at least 20 minutes before the ceremony is to begin

If you arrive late, do stand at the back of the church

Keep cellphones on silent

Have fun at the reception and partake in the dancing

Respect the couple's wishes even if they aren't what you would choose

Dress appropriately

DON'T....

Cancel and then show up anyway

Change your mind about attending; the guest count is confirmed and  the couple has had to pay for you

Sit in the first row.  It is intended for immediate family

Wear jeans unless the couple has requested that attire

Take ceremony or reception photos unless the couple approve

Get in the way of the professional photographer

Text or tweet during the ceremony

These tips seem so silly to you, I am sure, but after being in the wedding business for so long, I can tell you that I have seen all of these rude mannered items take place.

So, be honored if invited to the wedding , be a good guest ,and have a great time!

 While the bulk of gift registeries are still run through the big box stores, there is a growing segment of the bridal population that is now leaning towards on line communication. Although always thought a bit "tacky", on line gift registeries have proven to be a real advantage to couples and their guests.

It is easy to build an on line registry. Guests find it easy to shop from their homes or even their phones, especially if they are from out of town. You can select registry items  from local stores and then list them on your e-registry.  You can also list you e-registry on national sites like the Knot.com or weddingchannel.com, if your local store has a partnership with them.

Once registered you can log on at anytime to add, delete, or change your preferences. You also can see what has been purchased for you. There are also sites that specialize in non-traditional gift registries such as weddingfuture.com that is for stocks and or mutual funds that someone might want to start for you. There are also honeymoon registries and even sites that allow you to register for monetary gifts.

Whichever method you choose for your gift registries, remember that under no circumstances should those sites be anywhere in your invitations. Members of your bridal party and family can spread the word about your registry preferences.

One important thing to remember is that although gift registries now include non traditional items, gifts for a lifetime are remembered the most!

For more registiry ideas, you can always contact us here at FAO events.

Happy Gift Searching