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!

Q&A Monday - how inviting!

Brides a la mode wants to help you have the wedding of your dreams, so each Monday, we will be answering questions about all aspects of your wedding. Feel free to drop us a line at info@bridesalamode.com if you have a question you'd like to see answered here.

Today's question is about wedding stationery:

Q: It doesn't really matter what kind of invitation I send, does it? After all, as long as peopleknow the date, time and location, what else do they need?

A: Here is the answer from Brides a la mode's own Joya Helmuth from Spark Fine Papers:

Realize that the invitation (and save the date, should you choose to send one) is setting the tone for your entire event. It's the only thing that the guests receive prior to walking in the door. They should not only get a sense of your personal style, but also what to expect at the wedding - how formal or casual it will be, things like that.

Also think about the other items you might need, such as ceremony programs, menus, thank you notes, and the like. We recommend that you plan ahead to coordinate these items with the invitation to make everything cohesive. We like to call it your stationery wardrobe, complete with accessories!

Check back next Monday for another Q&A. Have a question? Be sure to email us! info@bridesalamode.com