James Allen

Your wedding day is your day to shine!   You’ll want to pay close attention to the details – especially since everyone else surely will!

Rock that bling!

Clean your wedding jewelry and engagement ring a few days before the wedding so it sparkles like brand new!  This is simple enough to do at home – here are some great tips that will work great on gold jewelry and most precious gemstones:

1. Soak the jewelry in small bowl of warm sudsy water with a mild liquid detergent.  A soft toothbrush can be used to gently brush the jewelry while it is in the suds.  Rinse jewelry items in warm water and pat dry with a soft lint-free cloth or tissue paper.

2. Soak the jewelry in small bowl of cold water and household ammonia (half and half) for thirty minutes.  Once again a soft toothbrush can be used around the mounting.  Swish in the solution again, then rinse and air dry on a soft cloth.

3. Use a brand name liquid jewelry cleaner and follow the instructions given on the label.

4.  Using a baking soda, add a small amount of water to create a paste.  Brush on the paste with a soft toothbrush, rinse under warm running water and let air dry.

Some people swear by a solution of vinegar and warm water, while others prefer to use vodka.  I have also read about using toothpaste as a cleaner, but jewelers seem to discourage this. (Note: Toothpaste and other abrasive substances can scratch your jewelry.)

Swarovski bridal necklaces are very popular as they are much more affordable than diamonds and precious gemstones. Cleaning of your Swarovski crystal jewelry should be done on regularly basis by using warm soapy water. You can also use ultrasonic jewelery cleaner on occasional basis. After this, it should be rinsed with warm water and air dried. It’s recommended that you keep your Swarovski bridal jewelry away from make-ups, hair sprays, perfumes and other strong chemicals.

Sparkling Crystal and Glass

I have seen so many incredibly gorgeous crystal and glass pieces at weddings: from Tiffany and Wedgwood to Baccarat and Swarovski! It always surprises me that these items are often not properly cleaned before they are displayed at the wedding ceremony or reception.

All of your personal items – unity candle sets, champagne flutes, picture frames, candy decanters, etc – should be cleaned of finger prints and filmy residue, and all stickers and tags should be removed.

Tips for removing tags and merchandise labels include GooGone (my favorite), WD-40 (be careful where you use this) and the age old ’soaking’ technique. Heating the labels with a hairdryer is also helpful in loosening the adhesive glue. Whenever possible, use cotton gloves to handle the items.

Note: Take special care when cleaning heirloom pieces. When in doubt, consult a professional jeweler.

© 2010 E. Delgardio All Rights Reserved

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Q & A with Wedding Planners as seen in Orlando Wedding Magazine

Orlando Wedding 2010

The debut issue of Orlando Wedding magazine is absolutely enchanting! I would even go so far as to declare it a ‘must read’ for engaged couples in Central Florida!

Among many terrific articles and features was “Q & A with Wedding Planners” by Megan VanWaus.  Not only was I delighted to be quoted in Megan’s piece, I was elated to be featured alongside fellow Association of Bridal Consultants members Kerline Docteur (Joie de Vie Weddings and Events) and Heather Snively (Weddings Unique). I’m proud to share a common bond with these ladies:  Heather and I are both Senior ABC members, and Kerline and I regularly work together on  ABC meetings and projects geared toward educating local association members and wedding professionals.

Good things come in threes they say, and in this case I certainly agree!

The Preferred Vendor List

(c) fotonuova.com

In it’s simplest form, a Preferred Vendor List is a compilation of vendors and their contact information. Naturally, one would assume that the vendors featured on the PVL appear to have the endorsement of the preparer, and are intended to help the recipient (client, consumer, etc.) select qualified and reputable vendors. But is there more here than meets the eye?

What You Need to Know
The reality is that the actual purpose or genuine validity of the list may not always be clear to the recipient. Generally speaking, the caterer or venue where your event will be held will likely provide a Preferred Vendor List or an Approved Vendor List. Or you may receive one directly from your wedding or event planner (we hope you are fortunate enough to have one!). It’s also common for other vendors – such as a photographer or DJ – to present a client with a list of their preferred vendors.

5 W’s of Preferred Vendor Lists

Who: It’s imperative to understand who is on the list and why. It’s always a good idea to ask “How do you select the vendors on your list?” or “What is the criteria for becoming a preferred vendor?” and “Do you have personal experience with each of these vendors?”

What: Is the PVL a select list of  tried and true vendors?  Or is it something else?  Try to assess the type of PVL.  Some vendor lists are “pay to be included”  (advertisers) while others are more akin to a list of “favorites”.   In my opinion, the first type is the best.  The second two list types have little if any value. Why? Because they are not based on specific criteria or qualifications. You can’t possibly know whether a vendor is on a list because they wrote a check, give or receive a referral fee, or have a cross referral agreement (I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine).

When: “How recently has this list been updated?” The answer may surprise you!

Where: Where are the vendors located? Some lists are based proximity (such as nearby to the venue)… But how convenient is it for you to meet with them? You may prefer to hire someone who is based closer to where you reside.

Why: If you are able to qualify the list as a good resource, then it’s wise to give strong consideration to the vendors listed. Why? Consider this example: My company prepares a custom list for each of our clients based on budget, personality, style and positive past experiences. I feel that it’s extremely important to tailor my PVL to the client because no two clients have the same needs, personality or style.

PROS and CONS of Preferred Vendor Lists

PRO: Vendors on a PVL may offer you a discount; you should always ask “Do you offer special pricing or exclusive promotions to couples getting married at Such-and-such Hotel?”

PRO: Vendors on a PVL typically have better knowledge of a property. They won’t get lost, they know where to go once they arrive, they know who to speak with if they need something (instead of coming to you with their issue) and what is expected of them. Hence, you won’t find a flip-flop wearing DJ, chronically-late officiate, or a beer-guzzling photographer on a PVL.

CON: Vendors on a PVL may not be the best bet for you IF the person who created the list is not in tune with what today’s couple’s are looking for. (This problem is more common if you are not in a metropolitan area.)

CON: Sometimes venues and hotels are reluctant to work with vendors they don’t know (and with good reason). You may need approval from the venue in order to bring in ‘outside’ vendors.

PRO:  If the PVL is comprised of vendors who have built a relationship with the caterer, venue or planner, then you can rest assured that you are being referred to trusted professionals.

CON: If the PVL is comprised of paid advertisers, you certainly would want to know that up front, and that information should be disclosed to you.

Related post : Hello – I’d like to be added to your Approved Vendor List

A Flair for Affairs is a preferred planner and coordinator for many Central Florida wedding locations, including Mission Inn Resort and Club, Wydham Orlando Resort, Casa Feliz, Buena Vista Palace, Isleworth Country Club, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort and many others.

© 2009-2010 E. Delgardio All Rights Reserved

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Welcome to 2010!  A whole year has elapsed since I last blogged about the importance of keeping your website content fresh and relevant.  My previous post – Website Tune-Up – focused on strategies to keep your website current and favorable to the search engines.  Today, I hope to share some equally important tips to optimize your website and online presence this year.

1.  Make the most of social media. Over the last twelve months I’ve enjoyed a significant increase in traffic to my website and blog as a result of social media.  Active participation in Facebook and Twitter has reinforced our web presence and generated many new leads and relationships.  If you have social media profiles, be sure to link those profiles to your website.

2.  Blog! Blogging offers great benefits due to easy to index regular content. Add a few basic SEO skills and you’re ready to go! Take your blog a step further: Host your blog on your own website instead of using a free hosted blog. Why? When you host your own blog your blog posts supplement the content of your website, thus increasing the quality and vibrancy of your site. Adding an RSS feed button to both your website and blog will make it easy for readers to subscribe to your feed and keep up with your posts. Additionally, RSS features can help make your online (internet) marketing strategies more effective.

3.  Don’t be anonymous. One of the primary goals of your website is to build trust and credibility. Does your website give potential customers the information they need? Is your name, photo and contact information prominently displayed? If you are a service provider you should make every effort to make a personal connection with your visitors.

4. Never underestimate the power of a well designed website. If your website is more than two years old, a revamp alone could boost your SEO ranking. HTML and CSS are the most common technologies used in making web pages, but there are also other ways to go. Flash is known for it’s excellent multimedia capabilities but is generally believed to be less search engine friendly than CSS. Some businesses have even abandoned traditional websites in favor of blog-based sites.

5. Use high quality images. Website images should be carefully selected; ideally they should represent your own work and style to help you connect with your audience (target market). Some vendors may use stock photography as part of their start-up promotions, but in the wedding and event industry I’d advise moving away from this option as quickly as possible (or risk possible damage to your reputation). By the same token, amateur photos will not adequately show even your best work – so select images with a discerning eye.

5.5 Upgrade to Video! If a picture is worth a thousand words than video is worth a million. Video is fast-rising as the newest ‘must-have’ feature because it helps build brand, it’s more engaging than static, printed text, and it’s easier to effectively demonstrate your product or service.

There is virtually no cost associated with these tips – especially if you have the ability or capability to edit your own website. Many resources and tutorials are available online if you need additional information. Otherwise, consider hiring someone to assist with migrating your blog or updating the look of your website – it will be money well spent.

© 2010 E. Delgardio All Rights Reserved

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As a follow up to my previous post, I wanted to share some thoughts and observations on dealing with the stress associated with planning a wedding.

Common stressors stem from personal expectations, important decisions that must be made by you and your fiance, the involvement or interference of family members, time constraints, financial circumstances and so on. Depending on your situation, you may experience some of these challenges or struggle with all of them. It’s inevitable. Planning a wedding is not only a major investment of time and money, it’s a process that’s fraught with difficult choices. And if you’re generally hard to please or have a demanding or controlling personality, you’ll likely experience an even greater level of stress.

The stress level that a Bride-to-Be (or engaged couple) feels radiates in a ripple effect and can negatively impact the planning and flow of the wedding. It’s important to keep your cool and not CREATE the chaos you’re trying to AVOID.

{image via Weddingbee}

A (Bakers) Dozen Tips to Calm your Inner Bridezilla

by Sharon Naylor

WIN THE BOOK!

Would you like a FREE copy of Sharon Naylor’s book? Share your “Bridezilla moment” with us! We’re looking to hear from Brides, Grooms, Friends and Planners (just about anyone, really- lol!). Our staff will pick three favorite stories or comments and send the winners a copy of “The Bride’s Guide to Diplomacy“    Winners will be selected on February 15th, 2010.    {Spread the word!!}

© 2010 E. Delgardio All Rights Reserved

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Are you feeling stressed and anxious about your wedding?

Are you beginning to reach your boiling point because things are not going as planned?

Has the joy and excitement of wedding planning fizzled out like a glass of luke warm champagne?

Could this woman be you…?

Elisa’s Tips: How Not To Become Bridezilla

If you’re a bride who is struggling to cope with the stress of planning a wedding, I invite you to join me on Tuesday, November 23rd at 8pm for FREE Webinar.   As the featured guest, I’ll be sharing some important ideas and valuable advice about how to plan a wedding with zero stress!  You’ll definitely want to tune in for this one!   Take it from my co-host Michael Stedman:

“Elisa’s qualifications are through the roof and she’s giving away a ton of great tips that will save you time, effort, money, and most of all, frustration on the big day.  Believe me, in 20 years – she’s seen it all!  Even just one of these tips can help make the big day extra special.”

Michael and I encourage you to register now because space is limited.  After you click on the link, enter your email address and Michael will send you the details!

How Not to Become Bridezilla

Bridezilla_by_Xubbles

For assistance with your wedding plans please call 877.55FLAIR or email Elisa: eventstaff {at} aflairforaffairs.com

Media inquiries may be directed to media {at} aflairforaffairs.com

© 2009 E. Delgardio All Rights Reserved

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Do you remember the last event or wedding reception you attended? What do you recall: The food? The entertainment? The “look” of the room? Just close your eyes and reflect for a moment; try to think of the things that were most memorable and pleasing.

Aha! I bet the pleasing part makes it a bit harder. No doubt that more than a few of you thought about the wedding with the DJ who thought he was Elvis, or the event with the cash bar (surprise!) -and you forgot your wallet.

The more events I do, the more I remember only what is remarkable. Remarkable can be fun, outstanding, unexpected and impressive. Remarkable can also be uncomfortable, annoying, disappointing and catastrophic. As your wedding and event planner, my goal is to make your event memorable for all the right reasons.

In terms of decor, remarkable doesn’t necessarily translate into expensive. Details that are well thought out can be seamlessly incorporated into event decor and the table top design thereby creating a look that is remarkable in a visual and textural sense. (If you’re wondering what I mean about ‘well thought out details” try to imagine a table top with so many tchotchkes – bells, cameras, scrolls, bags of chocolate kisses, etc. – it looks like the favor catalog threw up; and, yes, for some bizarre reason people still do this.)

Decor and design are most remarkable when they draw you in, and you experience the vibe as it was intended to be: exciting, chic and sexy, warm and inviting, modern, etc. The best designs are not limited to what can be seen; incorporating smells, tastes, physical contact, sights and sounds into the design actually creates a more memorable experience. In other words, the five senses overlap and influence each other, and combined they create the overall impression, which in turn becomes your memory of the experience.

This is why we ask our clients to describe their vision of the event. Even if they insist that they have no idea about what they want, they truly do… We ask them to imagine what it looks like - including colors and lighting, what time of day it is, how many people are present, how the space feels (intimate, modern, elegant, indoors or outdoors, etc.) and then we begin to design an event based on their  preferences and our interpretation of their style.

I must admit, sometimes the finer details do not become crystal clear until the very end.  It really is an organic process.  And it’s a challenge we face with every event: How do you know how far to go? Sometimes less is more, sometimes more is more.

In keeping with this topic, I thought you’d enjoy this short video featuring friend and colleague Rashida Erskine of BBJ Linen’s Orlando office. She offers some insightful recommendations and helpful tips for using linens to pull the look of your reception together with remarkable style.

{Our apologies; this video link has expired}

Please contact the BBJ Linen’s Orlando Office if you would like to meet with them. Ph. 407-857-6566   Or, feel free to contact us if we can be of assistance with fine-tuning your wedding or event design.  Call 877.55FLAIR or email Elisa: elisacsep {at} aflairforaffairs.com

© 2009 E. Delgardio All Rights Reserved

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Just for fun…

Because I am a Twitter fanatic, I had to share this gem of an article!

Tweet My Wedding? The Dos and Don’ts of “Twedding Tweetiquette” by Juliette Powell, Huffington Post:

Of the six weddings I was invited to this summer, four weren’t just weddings. They turned out to be what I have begun to think of as “the twedding.”

You know you’re at a “twedding” when:

1. Your wedding invitations were sent via the micro-blogging site Twitter.com.
2. All aspects of your big day have been vetted by your twitter followers who suggest everything from wedding guests to wedding vendors.
3. Members of the wedding party take “candid” photographs and videos of the ceremony and upload them directly to twitpic and twitvid for community commenting.
4. Your wedding becomes a trending topic on Twitter.
5. The groom tweets “I’m married” before kissing the bride. 

Read the full article “Tweet My Wedding? The Dos and Don’ts of Twedding Tweetiquette”  by Juliette Powell of the Huffington Post ….

We seem to get an incredible number of requests for sparkler exits! And why not? – it’s an awesome and affordable photo op! However, there’s often more to coordinating a sparkler exit than meets the eye! While sparklers are generally safe when used as intended, they still require careful handling. So, I’ve prepared some simple tips to help you plan a safe and sensational send off!

Tip #1 – Purchase the right sparklers:

Ideally, you should be looking for the metal rod type in a length that’s either 14″ or 20″ long. Shorter sparklers (8″ or 10″) will burn out too quickly for most staged exits, unless it’s for an intimate group.

Morning Glories are attached to wooden rods (sticks) and have 3 distinct burning phases – usually a red flame for about 20 seconds, then a crackle/snapping phase for 20 seconds, and finishing off with 20 seconds of a green/white flame. Since Morning Glories tend to drop small glowing particles (think of burning tissue paper) they must be used with extreme caution. It’s truly frightening to think of these fiery particles landing on skin, hair or clothing during a staged exit, so I avoid them at all costs.

Tip #2 – Displaying and Discarding Sparklers:

One of the best ways to display sparklers is to fill a pretty painted pail or metal urn with white sand and insert the sparkler rods into the sand. This way, the sparklers will stand upright, and the sand base will provide the weight needed to prevent the display from tipping. Since the receptacle can get quite heavy once the sand and sparklers are added, it’s best to assemble this nearby to the area where the exit will take place, if at all possible.

On one or two occasions, I’ve seen sparklers placed on the guest tables or at each place setting (like a favor might be placed) but in those cases, they were also shorter than the recommended length, and in my opinion not a very attractive addition to the decor.

It’s important to remember that following the sparkler exit, the rods will be hot and need to be collected with care. The sand filled urn or pail is an ideal receptacle; guests can just place the burned end of the sparkler rods into the sand where they can properly cool down before being placed into the trash. Other things that work well are metal trays, a baker’s sheet cake pan, and heavy duty foil pans; ideally, receptacles should be placed nearby to both the left and right sides of the exit line up.

Tip #3 – How to Use Properly & Safely:

I always carefully consider the number of people to be involved, as well as the size and layout of the space. Naturally, we look for an outdoor location such as a wide walkway, a courtyard or driveway, for these options seem to work best. Before the Bride & Groom exit, we organize the line up of guests so that they are shoulder to shoulder and can hold their sparkler out and away from themselves. This is much safer than a staggered line where guests must reach around each other.

Secondly, we have our staff or a few designated helpers assist with the lighting. We start at the point where the Bride and Groom will begin walking and work our way towards the furthest point. We use butane lighters or sterno fuel (cans) to get the sparklers started – the constant flame is the key! We proceed at intervals – every 5 or 6 people – because a lit sparkler can also light other sparklers; this is an organized approach which speeds the process. A few strategically placed tiki torches also work nicely. Remind guests to take turns lighting their sparklers; it’s unsafe to light multiple sparklers simultaneously.

It’s important to maintain a safe distance from the newly wed couple as they make their way through the line up. Even though the sparklers are relatively harmless, it’s better not to take chances; I avoid creating an ‘arch’ to prevent sparks from falling onto the couple. Likewise, if children are involved, they must be closely supervised; a parent may even want to give their attention to the child’s safety and protection rather than holding a sparkler.

In my experience, if there are more than 100 or so guests participating in the send-off, it becomes more difficult to get the timing of the lighting and exit just right. Whenever this is the case, I suggest that the wedding party send off the Bride and Groom as the other guests watch – this cuts the number of participants down significantly! It’s also an excellent way to control costs.

Skylighter is an excellent online resource for sparklers and realted pyrotechnic products, and they have posted some wonderful pointers and valuable infomation on their website page for Wedding Sparklers .

Photo Credits: Art Faulkner, Elegant Imagery, Misty Miotto

© 2009 E. Delgardio All Rights Reserved

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Today’s brides and grooms are very savvy and typically look for an elevated level of customization and personalization. Much like “brand building”, they look for every opportunity to incorporate monograms, logos and motifs into their wedding. Many of my couples have at least some experience with graphic design and they astound me with their creativity and resourcefulness! Other times, they call upon our expertise to help them create a cohesive look. It’s not difficult to pinpoint a few areas where details can easily be incorporated to unify event design.

Fonts: Download one or two custom fonts and use them exclusively on all the wedding stationery and printed accessories (place cards, programs, etc.). Favorite sources: My Fonts and dafont

Motifs and Monograms: The possibilities are endless! Use these on invites, programs, table decor, gobos, adhesive decals (such as Wonderful Graffiti), the wedding cake, favors, etc.

Color Themes: Color can be used in so many ways to achieve so many different things! Color themes are most impressive when colors are carefully matched to prevent discord (accidental variations). When using color to support other event themes (think of a Tiffany theme) pay close attention to the use of color for maximum impact – sometimes less is more. One of our favorite online inspiration sources for color themes: Style Me Pretty

As a wedding planner and event designer, I use all of these techniques, plus a few other signature stylings and personalized enhancements to boost the {FAB} factor of every event. I truly appreciate variety and don’t feel that every details needs to match completely. However, it is important to note that when you begin drawing the guest’s eyes to details, they best be well coordinated and tailored to compliment each other.

For more pictures of stylish weddings and events please visit our Wedding and Event Galleries.

© 2009 E. Delgardio All Rights Reserved

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