Wedding Planner_June2009

Photography with Passion and Flair

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THEPRESS.NET

Wedding Planner

JUNE 26, 2009

Making floral arrangements smooth as silk

SAMIE HARTLEY

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lowers are everywhere at weddings. The bride holds a bouquet as she glides down an aisle covered in rose petals daintily strewn by the

flower girl. The bridesmaids hold bouquets and the groom and groomsmen wear boutonnieres. That’s a lot of flowers – and you haven’t even gotten to the reception yet.

All this flower business can lead to a hefty price tag, but there are ways to have gorgeous flower arrangements without spending thousands of dollars.

Brentwood’s Geri Palmer, owner of Exclusively Yours, has been doing flower arrangements for decades, but now she deals only in silk flowers, an affordable alternative to fresh floral designs.

“Silk flowers are just as beautiful as fresh flowers,” Palmer said. “The quality makes them look so real that you can’t tell the difference. They might not have the fragrance of fresh flowers, but we have a way to sneak some fragrance in.

Plus, the best part is that you can keep silk flowers forever.”

Another advantage of silk flowers is that you don’t need to worry about whether a flower is in season or not, or about flowers wilting or showing signs of decay by the end of the evening. Silk flowers can also be dyed to match any color scheme, while most fresh flowers cannot. This frees up options and allows for more creativity when planning arrangements. see Silk page 14B

Photo by Samie Hartley

Geri Palmer, left, and her granddaughter Tiffany Bruce create floral arrangements with silk flowers available for lease or purchase.

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THEPRESS.NET We have a private banquet room, which can accomodate 50 guests.

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JUNE 26, 2009

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Photo by Stacey Chance

Boating bliss Discovery Bay residents Elyse McMurray and Mark Buckman were married on their back deck overlooking the water on June 20. About 50 close friends and relatives attended the ceremony, after which the newlyweds boated off to Ski Beach, where they originally met. Here, Mark performs the quasi-traditional duty of carrying his bride over the transom. We’re not sure how the tin-cans-tied-to-the-stern thing worked out. Congratulations, Mark and Elyse!

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JUNE 26, 2009

Wedding Planner

THEPRESS.NET

Registries offer honeymoon help SAMIE HARTLEY

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etting married is quite an affair. You plan a Tammy Larsen and Carol Wilson of Antioch’s Almost There Travel will help you plan the perfect honeymoon and tell you about how your guests can help you pay for it.

ceremony and a reception

down to the finest details, from flowers and vows to napkin rings and favors. But keep things in perspective. Despite the work, when all’s said and done, you get to go on your honeymoon!

Of course, the wedding sets you up for happily ever after, but the true kick-off to wedded bliss comes with that welldeserved vacation for two. And while the wedding and reception can cost a pretty penny or two, the honeymoon can be paid off by all those guests and well-wishers you left dancing at the reception.

Antioch’s Almost There Travel offers a Bridal Registry package that allows wedding guests to present monetary gifts that go directly toward paying for your honeymoon. Owner Tammy Larsen said a recent client’s entire honeymoon, including hotel accommodations and activities, was paid for by guests. The couple paid only for meals and souvenirs.

Photo by Samie Hartley

“The bridal registry is great because your guests are able to pay toward something that you truly want,” Larsen said. “This is also great for couples who already have a crock pot and a toaster and don’t need friends and family buying them a bunch of kitchen appliances they don’t need.”

Larsen said couples should book honeymoons six to eight months in advance, not only to ensure that they get the vacation they want, but also to give family and friends plenty of time to make

a donation toward the trip. Notices can accompany engagement party invitations, save-the-dates, and wedding announcements so that guests are continuously reminded that they can contribute toward your honeymoon instead of rattling their brains trying to come up with the perfect his-and-hers gift.

While couples can plan their honeymoon on their own with the convenience see Honeymoon page 13B

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Wedding Planner

Slim-down tips for the Big Day RUTH ROBERTS

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ew events in life offer better incentive to get fit and healthy than a bride’s upcoming wed-

ding. But what’s a girl to do when she’s down to the wedding wire but not down to her fighting weight?

Plenty, say the experts. Whether she’s a few months or few weeks away from the Big Day, a few choice tips can help every bride look and feel her best.

One alternative is the popular mineral body wraps. All the rage with celebrities such as Robin McGraw (Dr. Phil’s wife) and Oprah Winfrey, the wraps are steeped in organic minerals and distilled water and applied with Ace-type bandages for 60 minutes. Clients are encouraged to lightly exercise during that time; i.e., run a treadmill or ride a stationary bicycle to keep the circulation moving.

According to Launa Stach of It’s a Wrap in Brentwood, if done on a regular basis, clients can lose as much as 10 to 30 inches overall in a matter of weeks.

“If a bride comes in about a month before her wedding, I would recommend a once-aweek treatment,” said Stach, who quoted the procedure at $139 per treatment. “The results are truly amazing and they stay off as long as you maintain your weight. I do it myself. The first time I did a treatment I was able to pull on my Wranglers. After the second treatment I

was able to wear them in public and now I can actually sit down in them and be comfortable.

It’s amazing.”

But if you’re looking for a little more traditional approach, good old-fashioned nutrition and exercise – not starvation diets – might be the answer, said Susan Emmett of Body Under Construction in Brentwood “I always tell people to keep a food diary and eat nutritiously,” said Emmett. “If you eat plant-based foods (fruits and vegetables) abundantly, it will reduce your cravings and you’ll eat more sensibly. Eat five to six small meals a day.”

Emmett also suggests exercising in some form on a daily basis. Exercise not only increases your heart rate and burns calories; it builds and tones the muscles. Plus, during the stress-filled days before a wedding, a little exercise is a great way to relax and unwind.

And don’t forget the water. “There are many reasons why water is important in our diets, but what people don’t always know is that water is a natural appetite suppressant,” said weight loss coach Virginia King. “You’re brain doesn’t differentiate between hunger and thirst, so when you think you’re feeling hungry, your body may in fact be thirsty. Try it; you have nothing to lose except some weight.”

To make an appointment for a body wrap, call It’s a Wrap at 925-634-4668. For additional information on weight loss nutrition and programs, call Virginia King at 925-8997575, or e-mail Susan Emmett of Body Under Construction at semmett1@comast.net.

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JUNE 26, 2009

Wedding Planner

Cake crafter

Photo by Sonia Beasley

ena Parish, owner/baker/decorator at TLCakes, rolls out some baby blue decorations for a cake she’s working on. TLCakes can bake whatever you need for your wedding, including cakes, cookies, cupcakes or desserts. You can reach Tena at 925-513-3688.

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Wedding Planner

THEPRESS.NET

Choosing a DJ for a wedding isn’t as easy as it looks.

Couples need to consider many factors when deciding on music for their reception.

Brides

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925-519-9138 Comfort Consultant www.susanmeyer.privatequarters.net Photo courtesy of Daley Entertainment

Not all DJs created equal RUTH ROBERTS

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o you’re planning a wedding.

You’ve ordered the flowers, secured the location and

confirmed the caterer. Now there’s just one detail left – the music.

According to Doug Daley of Daley Entertainment in Discovery Bay, more and more couples these days are opting for the modern sounds of a DJ versus a live band. The reasons

are obvious, including a wider selection of original artists, an expanded play list, and the bonus of continuous music – no need to give the band a 15-minute breather every hour.

But, said Daley, while couples might be tempted to trim corners when it comes to choosing a DJ, buyers beware: not all companies are created equal.

“Organization matters,” said Daley. “The biggest thing I tell prospective clients is that they see DJ page 11B

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JUNE 26, 2009

DJ from page 10B need to think of their DJ as a wedding organizer. Plan ahead, ask them how they organize the day to include the first dance, toasts and introductions. If your (DJ) is announcing the first dance and your photographer is in the bathroom, or it’s almost time for the toast and you don’t know where the best man is, you’re going to be bummed. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that needs to be considered, and not all DJs can handle that.”

One thing they must be able to handle, however, is song selection. When choosing the music, Daley works closely with the couple to create a play list that not only reflects their tastes, but their guests’ tastes as well.

“A good DJ needs to be diversified and know how to read the crowd,” he said. “You need to be able to work with the couple to get their preferences, but they also need to consider the fact that they’re throwing a party.

Sure, the couple may love disco, but does everyone? Oftentimes the bride and groom are the youngest people at the event – it’s important to consider the musical preferences of the guests as well and be able to adjust for that.”

Daley has been adjusting and perfecting his craft at weddings and corporate functions throughout the Bay Area for more than 15 years. He enjoys the upbeat environment (“people are always happy to see you”) and the challenge of individualizing each event – and he’d better, because weddings and celebrations have changed considerably over the years.

“When it comes to a wedding, I don’t think there is any right or wrong way to do things,” he said. “But what I’m starting to

Wedding Planner see is that weddings are becoming more of an event. People are turning their weddings into spectacles. It used to be that couples would take a ballroom dance class before their wedding so they could get through the first dance. Now I’m seeing couples hire professional dancers to choreograph their first dance; sometimes they even have professional dancers at the event who break into dance. You see a lot of different things.”

But the one thing that remains constant, he says, is quality. The price tag for a DJ can run the gamut, from $100 per hour up to a few thousand per hour. That might seem high, but when you consider the total wedding budget, dollars spent on music are surprisingly low.

“I look at it this way,” said Daley. “A typical wedding today with 200 guests runs about $20,000, and couples spend approximately 2 to 5 percent of that budget on the music. The reception is about 90 percent of the function, and if you plan on spending only 5 percent on what controls most of your function, then you could be making a mistake. If you get the wrong guy, that 90 percent is ruined.”

In the end, said Daley, a couple’s most important day should be a reflection of their tastes, needs and desires, and that includes the music.

“Couples should remember that anyone can play music, but a DJ should also serve as the emcee of the event,” he said. “Take your time, interview more than one company and make a list of what you want. Sometimes the little behind-the-scenes details don’t seem like a big deal, but when it comes to the overall picture, it all counts.”

For more information, contact Daley Entertainment at 925-766-8677.

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THE HISTORIC

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JUNE 26, 2009

Wedding Planner

Honeymoon from page 5B of online reservations, Larsen said she recommends using a travel agent to ensure you get the experience you want.

“I am a big believer in customer service, and I’ll do whatever I can do to make the couple happy,” Larsen said.

“Other agents have asked me why I go the extra mile, sometimes even babying my clients by checking into their hotels for them online and making sure they have the right seating arrangement on their flights – but why not? It’s their honeymoon. They deserve the extra attention.

They’ve been saving up for this, and they deserve the best experience possible.”

Larsen, a Brentwood resident with more than 10 years of experience in the travel business, said when planning a honeymoon, the most important thing for a couple to do is to know what type of experience they’d like to have. Does the couple want to lounge on the beach all day or do they want to go horseback riding and cave diving?

“Everyone has a different idea of what a honeymoon should be, so just

come with a list of ideas,” Larsen said.

“You can have the dream honeymoon.

You just have to know what you want and I’ll make it happen.

“I had a couple come to me who wanted to honeymoon in Europe. No problem. That’s not uncommon. People like to go to France and Italy, but this couple was interested in vampires, so I sent them to Romania. You just have to ask. I might not know of a place off the top of my head, but give me a day or two and I’ll have a vacation idea for you.”

Larsen said it’s a good idea for a couple to have an idea of their honeymoon budget, even if they sign up for the bridal registry, so that all the deposits can be paid before the wedding to make up for those relatives who put off making a payment through the bridal registry until a day or two before the wedding.

To find out more about the bridal registry, set up an appointment with Larsen by calling 925-238-0001. Almost There Travel is located at 506 W. Second St. in Antioch. For more information, visit www.almosttheretravelagency.com.

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JUNE 26, 2009

Wedding Planner

Silk from page 2B However, it is the infinite life span of silk flowers that offers the supreme perk that you don’t get with fresh flowers: you can rent them.

Exclusively Yours leases flowers for weddings and other social engagements and holidays. Palmer and her staff will even arrange flowers at the reception hall and help decorate the area where the wedding ceremony will be held.

Palmer said couples interested in doing silk arrangements should have an idea of their budget and know what the color scheme for the wedding and reception will be when they visit her Brentwood shop. It also helps to come in with photos of what you’d like.

“Tell us what you want and what your

price range is and we can make your day,” Palmer said. “We can lease centerpieces as low as $15. We can work with any budget to help give the bride exactly what she wants.

It’s her day, and we want to make her dreams come true.”

Palmer said the economic recession has made leasing flowers especially popular.

Couples can lease and buy flowers – whatever works for them – but Palmer notes that if you buy flowers, you can give them away as gifts later on.

Exclusively Yours, located at 3855 Walnut Blvd. in Brentwood, is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, or by appointment Monday through Wednesday. For more information, call 925-634-7003.

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JUNE 26, 2009

Wedding Planner

Caterer from page 12B

Can we sample from a typical wedding menu?

Catering can be a large part of your wedding budget. Make sure you know what it is you’ll be getting for your money.

Take your spouse-to-be and a friend with you to the tasting so that you can get varied opinions. Some caterers will charge a tasting fee, but it’s worth it.

May I see photographs of your table displays?

Some caterers who provide buffets or food stations include floral arrangements and other decorations. It’s also a good idea to discuss your color theme so that decorations and floral arrangements coordinate.

gies, vegan or kosher requirements.

Make sure your caterer will accommodate these needs. Some couples want to have a special family recipe at the reception – grandma’s meatballs or foods from the family’s ethnic traditions. Find out if your caterer will personalize your menu with these items.

Do you offer cakes?

Ask if your caterer offers wedding and groom’s cakes, and find out if they’re included in the price.

Will you pack us a “doggie bag” for after the reception?

What does the price per person include?

Sometimes the wedding couple is so busy at the reception that they have very little time to eat anything. Attentive caterers will prepare small boxes of food for the couple to enjoy when they are finally alone.

Is the cost strictly for food, or does it cover tables, chairs, linens, tableware, punch service, table displays, etc.?

What are the payment arrangements?

What other fees do you charge?

Are tips and taxes included in the price? Some caterers will charge a cakecutting fee or corkage fee for wines. Make sure you get all fees in writing up front.

Do you handle special menu requests?

Some of your guests might have special menu needs due to food aller-

Find out how much of a deposit is required, and if it’s refundable. Ask when the final payment is due and what the caterer’s preferred form of payment is.

When you finally settle on a caterer, make sure you sign a written contract. This guarantees that the caterer will provide the food, timelines and details you discussed.

Asking these 10 questions will help you choose the right caterer to help make your wedding a truly special celebration.

– Courtesy of Family Features

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Wedding Planner

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