This wedding brought to you by.....

You may remember several years ago Star Jones created quite a stir when she asked wedding professionals to donate their services for her wedding in exchange for promotion. At the time I thought it was tacky and a celebrity "stunt".

Flash forward to 2009. I was reading the holiday edition of Catersource magazine and came across an article about the bride who asked her caterer to sponsor her wedding in exchange for advertising the caterer's business by putting their business cards at each place setting.

Apparently, the bride got this idea from a morning TV show. While I am all for looking for creative ways to save money on your wedding, I think this is totally over the top and completely inappropriate. Your wedding should be about celebrating with your family and friends in doing so in a way that you and your family can afford.

Carly Roney, editor in chief of TheKnot.com summed it up, "have hamburgers and hot dogs before you have a sponsored wedding."

I'm curious what you think. Is there ever a time when it's OK to ask someone to sponsor your wedding in exchange for advertising?

Wait, wait... Don't trash that dress!

The "Trash the dress" fad had been around for a few years now, and although I understand the creative concept behind it, I could never get past the idea of ruining a wedding gown. Seemed a little odd to me not just because of the expense and labor that goes into producing these dresses, but all the thought that goes into selecting the gown. A gorgeous gown can inspire the whole tone of your wedding day. Seems a shame to just toss it aside.

Earlier this year Brides a la mode was made aware of an organization that helps women and men who are losing their battle with breast cancer, Brides Against Breast Cancer. You can donate your gown and bring a moment of joy into the world of someone for whom a cure is too late. Brides Against Breast Cancer has over 32 shows all over the country, providing these brides with a beautiful choice of gowns at significant savings. More information can be found at their website www.bridesagainstbreastcancer.org .

If care is used, artistic photographs can still be shot while preserving the integrity of the gown. Why not pass it on to another eager bride?

Cathy Dietz

Q & A Monday: Where have we been? And what's new?

You may have been wondering what happened to our daily blogs since the last time you heard from us was way back on October 26.


Well lots of things have been happening. First of all, shortly after blogging on October 26, I managed to fall and break my right arm in three places, requiring surgery and a four day hospital stay. Since I am right-handed, my ability to type has been severely limited. That is until I discovered voice recognition software. So, now that physical therapy is moving along and I have somewhat mastered the art of voice recognition, we are back on track.


We are busy preparing our studio for the holidays and excited about our upcoming "Second Sunday" event on Sunday, December 13. In case you didn't know, on the second Sunday of each month we host a mini bridal show featuring a number of our wedding professionals. On December 13, our event will have a holiday theme. Brides grooms and their families can stop by between noon and 3:00 PM to meet one on one with our wedding professionals and enjoy some holiday cheer.


We're excited to welcome our newest member, The Riverside Terrace and look forward to having them participate in one of our monthly events in the near future.


Remember that Brides a la mode is your one-stop wedding planning resource, regardless of what stage you are at in your wedding planning. Whether you have a question about etiquette or are looking for a unique gift for your bridesmaids or favor for your guests, we will have something perfect just for you.

Kathy

Q&A Monday - Contracts, who needs 'em?

Q: My wedding professionals want me to sign contracts, but I'm not sure what I should be looking for to protect myself. Can you help?

Contracts can be very intimidating, but you are right that they are in place not only to protect the wedding professional, but to protect you. If you approach each contract with that in mind, you will most likely end up with a contract that serves those purposes.

Please don't insult your professional by asking for contract revisions that make the contract "tilted" towards you, but also be mindful of contracts that do not offer you any protection if your professional fails to perform.

Here are some things to look for in your contracts:

• Pricing (make sure the price in the contract is the price you agreed on with your professional)
• Payment plans (you don't want to void your contract because you missed a payment)
• Cancellation policies (who can cancel and how)
• Dates and times (make sure your rental time includes time for set up and tear down)
• Contract amendments (your contract should state how changes can be made and who can make changes)

Contracts are one area where an event planner can be invaluable. They have worked with many reputable wedding professionals and can help you understand contract wording. But remember, YOU (the bride/groom) will sign the contracts and ultimately be responsible.

Remember - if you have a wedding question, email us at info@bridesalamode.com. Wedding Q&A's are here every Monday!

Saturday Spotlight - ProShow DJ

Today's spotlight is on one of Michiana's finest DJ services, ProShow DJ.

From the most elegant reception to the all-out party atmosphere, ProShow has been raising the standards of the disc jockey field for nearly 30 years. Our entertainment specialists do more than simply play music: they serve as Master of Ceremonies, encourage guest participation and incorporate important family traditions; all while maintaining the highest level of professionalism.

Through communication throughout the planning of every event and customizing details to the individual needs of our clients we have consistently delivered an evening that flows smoothly and that surpasses the expectations of our client and their guests.

ProShow has earned the respect of Michiana’s key reception facilities and vendors due in no small part to the solid group of individuals working for our company. Because we provide music for a wide variety of events including wedding receptions, church groups, youth organizations, corporate functions and school dances, it is imperative our specialists maintain the highest ethical standards in programming of music.

Each ProShow entertainment specialist has a minimum of 8 years experience in both disc jockeying and mc-ing. They have a vast knowledge of every musical era and facilitate with key vendors to ensure everyone stays on the same page throughout the course of the event. By implementing these practices as a whole, ProShow has gained the reputation as the preferred vendor for repeat clientele, referral business, event vendors and nationally recognized consultants

Friday Fun Find, a "nest" for your ring

Today's Friday Fun Find was also inspired while attending Engage09 the Encore in Las Vegas. One of our favors was a beautiful porcelin egg from Paloma's Nest. I learned that Paloma's Nest makes gorgeous hand-crafted ring bearer bowls which she sells via her Etsy Store.
Here's what Paloma has to say about this bowl:

THE ORIGINAL Ring Bearer Bowl™ design from Paloma's Nest that has created a new tradition in weddings all around the globe. As featured in Brides Magazine, Brides to Be Australia, and more!
Our spin on the classic ring bearer pillow...a Ring Bearer Bowl™, sure to become a modern heirloom, for generations to come.

Now in stock and ready to ship within 7 days of your order!

This little white ceramic ring bowl is an exclusive Paloma's Nest design. It is hand crafted and stamped with the words TO HAVE & TO HOLD .

What makes it different from our traditional tiny text bowls (please visit our shop for these options and more!), is the two little holes near the top rim, through which I have laced a silky cotton cord to hold your rings for your wedding ceremony. This cord can be easily switched out by you for a ribbon that matches your wedding style...or to a blue cord for your "something blue," if you wish!

After the ceremony, the cord can be tied into a loop or a bow, and the bowl can hold jewelry, momentos or other treasures.

But that's not all...my favorite part of this piece is that the tiny bowl can also be hung by the cord, on a wall in a special spot (next to your wedding photo would be nice), in a shadow box frame, or on your holiday tree.

Each piece is handmade of fine white clay, and fired in our kiln; the bowls have a protective matte finish applied to the surface and are designed for decorative use only.
Bowls measure approximately 3.5 inches in diameter...they fit nicely in the palm of your hand.

Note that each bowl is indvidually made to order, and therefore variations will occur in the layout and shape...your bowl may not look exactly like the one in the photo.(Rings are not included.)


What a fun way to present your ring! Be sure to visit Paloma's Nest on Etsy and check back next Friday for another "Fun Find" for you wedding planning!

Wednesday Wedding Wisdom - Dollars and Sense

If there is one word of wisdom I can impart on brides-to-be, it is: BUDGET! Without a budget, you can easily be overwhelmed by all of the services and products available and, before you know it, you have spent (or committed to spend) much more money than you have -- you don't want to start your marriage with the stress of bills you can't pay!

Once you have a budget figure, the next step is to decide what is most important to you and start allocating money to each category. If you have a modest budget and your heart is set on a Vera Wang gown, you may need to either scale down the size of your wedding or research alternatives like consignment stores to find the perfect gown.

Bridal magazines and many online resources have great budgeting tools. Need help locating a budgeting form that works for you? Visit the professionals at Brides a la mode and we'll get you started in the right direction!