Vendor's Corner

Periodically, I will introduce you to vendors that I love. Recently, I came across a great find in Stephen and Anna Wing of Liquid Shutter Photography. They are a super-talented, super-cute husband and wife team that I’m so excited to be working with. Not only do they combine true artistry with a photojournalistic style - they know a thing or two about romance, too.

Their first date was actually a blind date. Most of us have been on a few of those and know they usually don’t go too well. Not Stephen and Anna’s - they really hit it off. After only 5 ½ weeks of dating, Stephen proposed! Total time between their first date and their wedding…3 ½ months!! They both say, in retrospect, it was a little crazy and don’t recommend it but, it’s worked. This month they celebrate 10 years of marriage! What’s your secret, guys? Match.com isn’t working for me…

Here is just a sampling of their amazing talent (the shot of the shoes is one of my favorites - I love shoes!).

Check out more of their work on their website at www.liquidshutter.com and on their blog at www.liquidshutter.blogspot.com

Tip of the Month

Have you ever been stumped by which fork to use? Take a look at this simple chart and solve the mysteries of the formal table setting.

A general rule with utensils is to start from the outside of your place setting, and work your way toward the service plate (the main meal plate).

If you are seated at a very crowed table and are uncertain whether you are using the correct drinking glass or bread plate, try this little trick...Place your hands in your lap. Take your left hand and touch your index finger to your thumb. You should notice that you have created a shape similiar to the letter "b". Take your right hand and touch your index finger to your thumb. You should have created a shape that looks similar to the letter "d". Now, look on the table; your bread plate should be on the left - "b"is for bread. Your drinking glasses will be on your right - "d" is for drink. I guarantee that you'll never be confused about this again!

Favorite Things

So, Oprah has her list...She does it at Christmas time and now she does for the summer, too. Women work themselves into a frenzy about what will be on this ever popular list (and what she will be giving away if you're lucky enough to make it into the studio audience)! I thought it was high time for me to start a list of my own - I'm going to start small, though. Who knows? Maybe at the end of the year I'll have a little surprise of my own :)


I recently came across something that I think is so cute! Donna Wilson of Butterflies Kiss has some of the most fabulous wedding cards and stationary. She custom designs these creations in the likeness of the bride and her bridal party. You can incorporate your colors, flowers, and attire into your cards. My favorite thing about these cards is that they are ethnically correct. She also has a lines for the indie bride, the expectant bride, the bride who will be wearing tradtional ethnic attire, as well as the untradtional couple. Keep in mind that everything is custom - she can make anything you want! These cards make great bridal shower invitations, thank cards, and gifts for your bridesmaids!





Take a minute to check out her website at http://www.butterflieskiss.com

Client Update

Congratulations to Ian and Ivonne! One of my favorite couples have had two very big things happen to them this month.

They celebrated their 1-year anniversary and welcomed their beautiful baby boy, Max into the world.

He's soo cute! I can't wait to meet the little guy. As soon as I have more pictures, I'll share them with you...

You can view more pictures of Ian and Ivonne on their wedding day on the gallery page of my website at http://www.kissthebrideweddings.com/gallery.htm

Tip of the Month

Happy May Everyone!



As a wedding planner, part of my job is to educate clients about how to plan "smart". One of the most common mistakes that I see brides make is to begin their planning without a firm grasp on the guest list. I know that it is not one of the more exciting tasks involved in planning your wedding, but it is one of the most important and trust me, the guest list is an issue that will lead to at least one disagreement (if not more)- so have these conversations early.

Once you have determined your budget, think about what type of atmosphere you want. Would you prefer an intimate event with just family and close friends? Will you invite co-workers? Will you have a lavish event with 300 people or more? Will there be children at the reception?


When considering your guest list, don't simply pick a number out of thin air. You will only be shocked later when the numbers are tallied and your actual guest count is out of control. The bride and groom and their families should each make a list and sit down and compare the results. Talk about what is important to you and then set guidelines. Each party will no doubt have solid arguments about who should be invited. Be honest about what compromises you are willing to make. The guest list issues will probably not be resolved in one sitting, so arrange another time when the discussion can be revisited.

For those couples that are on a tighter budget, the single best way to keep your costs down is to keep your guest list small. Your guest list should be relatively proportionate to your budget. I'll never forget a phone call that I received from one bride-to-be who had a budget of $6,000 and wanted to plan a reception for 300 people! Just in case you were wondering, that won't work!

Almost every single vendor you meet with will ask you about the number of guests, so it is important to have solid information sooner rather than later. As obvious as this may seem, I'm actually surprised by the number of times that I have encountered this issue. But with all of the excitement and eagerness to get started, some of the most obvious details get overlooked.

So if you have started planning and putting down deposits and you don't have your guest list in order, you better get started.

New Things for Spring

Welcome to my brand new blog page!

I must confess – I’m a blogging virgin. The whole idea is a little bit daunting to me because I’m wondering what the heck I’m going to be talking about on a regular basis. My plan is to keep you updated about wedding related tidbits, talk about things I love, share my latest hot finds, introduce you to my favorite vendors , and let you in on what’s going on in my life. From what I’m hearing, I’ll be addicted to it before long.

Kiss The Bride has got something new going on, too. I’m so excited about launching my new and improved website. I absolutely love it! Check it out at www.kissthebrideweddings.com and let me know what you think.

A great big “thanks” goes out to my friend Lauryn Van Rooy of Very Inviting for not only doing an excellent job designing it - but more importantly, for putting up with me during the whole process! You will be hearing a lot more about her in upcoming blogs. She’s a gem!

Missing in Action

A lot of you haven’t seen me around for a while because I had been very busy taking care of my father for the past six months. He had been in and out of hospitals and nursing facilities after he broke his hip in September and just never quite recovered. I lost my dad on February 27th. He was 81 years old.

I want to thank everyone who sent me a card, an e-mail, flowers, a gift, a warm thought, or said a prayer for me. Words cannot adequately express the ways in which I’ve been touched over the past few weeks. I am blessed and I truly appreciate it.

Until next time…Melanie