One Event Planner's Aspirations

A Bride Set by Philosophy at Nordstrom

2010-07-28T11:42:00.000-04:00

Philosophy has done it again! This time, they're targeting all you brides out there! This is a great set to have handy especially in the weeks leading up to your big day, whether you buy it for yourself or you get it as a shower gift you should definitely have this set!

"Every bride deserves to feel as beautiful as she is. philosophy's best-selling hope, purity and grace will inspire her heart and soul and allow her to feel truly beautiful. 'the bride' set includes purity made simple one-step facial cleanser (2 oz.), hope in a jar therapeutic moisturizer (1 oz.), amazing grace perfumed shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath (2 oz.), amazing grace perfumed firming body emulsion (2 oz.) and amazing grace perfumed hand cream (1 oz.) contained in a lovely hat box. It's the perfect gift for the bride-to-be. By philosophy.

A $61 value."

CLICK HERE TO SHOP!!!

... and the WINNER IS..........

2010-05-06T20:17:00.001-04:00

Lindsay Ragozzino!!!!!!!!

Lindsay sent us in a beautiful engagement story making her the winner of the MissNowMrs.com Gift Card contest!!! Read on and see it through Lindsay’s eyes… We loved it!!!

Hello! my name is Lindsay Ragozzino and I wanted to share the story of how my fiancé proposed to me - I hope it brings a smile to your face as it definitely did for us :)

First, a little bit of back-story: We met in college in 2003, both attending SUNY Albany. I was a freshman and he was a sophomore, running for Student Association president. I knew exactly who he was, since he face was all over campus! One night, we met through a mutual friend and I felt so lucky that the soon-to-be Mr. Campus President was interested in a "lowly constituent" like myself. We hit it off instantly, taking long walks around campus and staying up late learning more about each other each day. Sadly, after the semester ended and we left for our respective hometowns, our spring romance ended as well and we parted ways.

Fast forward to the present: In 2008, I found myself single and wanting a new boyfriend... hopefully "the one!" After playing on Facebook one night, Lawrence's face magically appeared on my screen, after five years without contact, and I took a risk... I messaged him to see if he was interested in catching up after all that time. As luck (or fate) should have it, he was single as well and we made plans to see each other as soon as possible! On the first night we met up, the nervous anticipation was killing me - would this go well? is he really interested or just being nice? is he as stunning as i remembered him to be? As soon as I walked through the door, all of my fears were alleviated, and all of the giddy excitement came rushing back. I knew instantly that we would have something very special. That night in February 2008, we went to a local NYC bar with a group of his friends, shared cocktails and stories and danced the night away. Catching up was effortless and we very easily transitioned into life as a couple. We found ourselves in love early on in the relationship, and before we knew it, we moved into an apartment in Queens, adopted a cat and began building our future together.

The Proposal: The night of June 25th, 2009 - the same day Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson died - my fiancé and I had plans to return to that same bar we went to on our very first night out together, to watch his friend play the guitar. It was the same friend who was there that first night as well, so we were already quite nostalgic about returning to "where it all began." Lawrence happened to be home from work that day, so when we went into the city that night, we were greeted by a group of his coworkers who were also there to see the show. Everyone was buzzing about the recent celebrity deaths and discussing how life is too short. I found myself thinking how lucky I was to have such a great man in my life. We enjoyed the night - great food, great drinks, great friends - and before long, Lawrence asked if I wanted to go to "our park" on the Upper East Side, near his former apartment. Since June had been a soggy month, and we had a beautiful clear night upon us, I easily agreed. We took the subway uptown and I encouraged my fiance to take off his blazer, as he was sweating! He insisted he was fine, and after we got off at 86th and Lexington, we strolled down to East End Avenue to walk on the boardwalk that overlooks the East River. We walked and talked, reflecting upon when he lived in the area and how we would visit the park to get away from life and have our special place together. I was rambling nonsensically about the wind blowing the water on the river, when Lawrence stopped me to sit on a bench. The next thing I knew, Lawrence was professing his love for me, and suddenly made the motion that stops every girls heart - he got on one knee, reach into his blazer pocket, pulled out a beautiful ring ring and asked me to marry him! After a brief moment to

process what was happening, I jumped up in excitement, screaming "YES!" and the tears of joy started flowing. We spent the next hour wandering around the park, basking in our new engagement, and calling our friends and family to share the good news.

After a chance introduction during college, five years spent apart, and being blissfully reunited, we are so excited for our September 26th, 2010 wedding! He always tells me "I can't believe I get to marry 'the one who got away...'" He thinks he's the lucky one, but really, it's me :)

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WIN & AND ON A BEAUTIFUL LIFE WITH LAWRENCE!!

Hot Trend - Engagement Photographs

2010-04-21T10:11:00.001-04:00

Engagement photos are a rapidly growing trend in the wedding industry and most definitely the rage, giving couples a chance to showcase their individuality and have fun in a less formal environment. If you're looking for the perfect photographer to take your engagement photos look no further!! Ricky Restiano of Ricky Restiano Photography not only can photograph any of your events including your wedding, he's simply flawless at capturing your style through "think-outside-the-box" ways and settings.

We asked Ricky how he felt about the popularity engagement photos have received, and this is what he had to say:

"This new trend in engagement photography is really cool because it gives us the opportunity to shoot in locations that are not really accessible on the wedding day. Not many brides want to run around in vacant buildings or get in the water with their wedding gowns on. So this allows us to really think creatively and not really have any reserve when choosing locations. Also it gives our subjects the opportunity to see how we work and interact with them."

Take a look for yourself for some of his amazing work of great couples and amazing edgy backdrops!

Want more!??? Check out his website at http://www.rickyrestiano.com/ and see his full gallery of simply amazing photos that will make you run to the nearist truck stop to be photographed with your fiancé! Don't miss Ricky's posts on his own blog: http://www.rickyrestiano.com/blog.html

ENJOY and tell him Formerly Miss sent you!!

Grooms: Playbook 4 Grooms! Register Now the event is 4.21.2010!!

2010-04-20T10:52:00.002-04:00

You all know by now how I love the attention grooms are getting these days, it's not all about the bride, and it's certainly not just the bride's day, two people are getting married and because traditionally the groom hasn't always had an interest or many opinions and basically let his bride handle all the arrangements, they got lost in the shuffle... Thanks to the guys at Esquire, here's another chance for all the grooms to get in on the action! Brides reading, make sure to tell your groom to grab his best man or friend and head out to this great event, but ladies, you can't go, so stay put! This is a boy event ONLY! Enjoy!! To register, visit their website!

MissNowMrs Gift Card Giveaway Contest!!

2010-03-30T21:37:00.000-04:00

Are you hyphenating, taking his name or something in-between?

Before the ring, the planning and the altar comes one of the most memorable moments in your life! We want to know how he proposed to you or how you proposed to her! That's right, we're taking stories from the fellas too! Try and win a full service MissNowMrs gift card for yourself or for your fiancé!

MissNowMrs was created to save you the hours of time digging for information and forms, to offer you a fun, stress-free transition from Miss…to…Mrs.! They are here to assist you in changing to your married name, answer questions, provide you with your options, and most of all allow you to focus on the fun of being married!

The winner will not only win the full-service MissNowMrs gift card, but will also be featured on our blog alongside the winning story! Be creative, witty, fun and unique!

To enter: Email your story to info@formerlymiss.com and become a fan of our Facebook page!

Contest ends Tuesday, April 13th.

Second & Third runner up will receive $5.00 off their purchase!

To access the MissNowMrs site please click below on our banner to be taken directly to the site.

Not engaged? Forward this contest to anyone you know who can benefit from this great promotion

Become a Fan

Real Brides, Real Stories: Michelle's Story

2010-03-29T16:03:00.002-04:00

Michelle is a newly wed who planned her own wedding. She has some great insight on what her thought process was for some very important aspects of her big day, such as choosing a venue, centerpieces and invitations!

"The day you get engaged you are so excited and then suddenly the glitz is over. You sit back and start thinking “Holy cow! How am I going to begin to plan this wedding?!?” The first thing I thought about was, what place can hold 400 people? Since not many places can hold that many people I quickly picked the Fountainhead in New Rochelle after only having gone to see 5 other venues.

Then I thought: “How much money do I want to spend and what can I spend less on?” All I kept thinking about was flowers. I knew nothing about them except for the popular ones like Roses, Sunflowers, and Daisies so I was clueless. The Fountainhead only let you pick from two florists so that saved me the headache on what florist I was going to use. I quickly decided on Arcadia Floral in White Plains. When I walked in I saw all these beautiful flowers but I didn’t know what their names were or how much they cost. I had no idea what I was going to do so I looked through many magazines for ideas but I wanted to know the names and cost and they give you that information. I then took it upon myself, went online and looked up flowers, got the names, pictures, and how much they cost. By doing that I was able to pick out beautiful flower centerpieces for a reasonable cost.

For my invitations I on went on the website Amercianweddings.com and got beautiful invitations for very cheap. The great thing about them is they sent me a sample of a few of the invitations I liked on their website and I thought that was helpful because I was able to touch the paper and make sure they were sturdy. Then I chose between the samples and ordered them. They were delivered in less than 2 weeks and to save time I invited my bridesmaids over one day and they helped me put them together and stuff them. It was fun to have the girls together and it helped me a lot.

Weddings can be so expensive and you should do research on possible ways to cut some corners to keep your budget in check."

A special thanks to Michelle for sharing her planning story with us! We congratulate you on your wonderful wedding and marriage!

If you or someone you know also have a great planning story or anything that you feel could be helpful for any bride in such a situation please email Formerly Miss at info@formerlymiss.com with a photo of you and your fiance/husband and you will be featured as our next Bride Story!

DIY: Favor Centerpieces

2010-03-25T22:01:00.003-04:00

Wedding favors allow guests to take a little piece of the celebration home. Though often presented at place settings or displayed on a table by the door, favors can be offered in another way that is both impressive and economical: grouped together as centerpieces. Even if you spend a bit more on the favors themselves, you will most likely save money overall by forgoing traditional floral arrangements.

Here you will find examples of favor centerpieces made with food, flowers, or a combination of the two. The little gifts have their own individual charm. Mass them together, and they take on a whole new look and meaning -- so much so that guests might not even realize that the items are theirs for the taking at the end of the party. If you wish, place a small handwritten or calligraphed card next to the centerpiece or attach tags to the favors to let your intentions be known.

Humble supplies can take on an elegant air: Monogrammed stickers and crepe paper decorate clear plastic tubes filled with champagne-bubble candies. They're then piled into a glass compote around a smaller compote of crepe-paper flowers.

Tools and Materials

You will need candies; acrylic tubes, 3 3/4 by 2 inches in diameter, with lids; regular and double-sided tape; scissors; crepe paper cut into 6 1/2-by-3 3/4-inch pieces (two per tube); 3/8-inch-wide double-faced satin ribbon in 6 5/8-inch lengths (four per tube); sticker paper; and a craft punch.

Fancy Candy How-To

1. Fill tubes; tape lids closed. Wrap crepe paper around ends, lining up seams; secure with double-sided tape and fringe ends with scissors.

Tools and Materials

2. Tape a ribbon around each end where tube meets paper, lining up seams. Gather paper and tie.

3. Photocopy a monogram on sticker paper; punch out, and affix to tubes on side without seams.

Making Paper Flowers

You will need crepe paper, 18-gauge cloth-wrapped floral wire, floral tape, and our petal template. Trace template, and cut out petals (12 to 15 per flower), making sure grain of paper is vertical. For stamens, cut wire to 6 inches. Then cut a 3-inch square of paper, and fold it into a triangle. Bring tips in together; twist. Secure tips to end of wire with floral tape. Cup each petal by holding at center and tugging gently outward; curl top edge outward; and pleat base. Tape petals to stamens, wrapping inner petals low and raising subsequent rows slightly, overlapping them. Fluff out petals.

From Martha Stewart Weddings, Fall 2002

Make your event truly YOURS with customized stationery

2010-03-18T12:15:00.022-04:00

Customizing many aspects of an event is a very hot trend right now! However, at times we forget that the stationery for our event can be customized as well! This is what Kelly Adams, owner of ‘RSVP to me – ELITE’ does!! Kelly will listen to the kind of event you are throwing and what details you are envisioning your invitations to have. Do you want rhinestone and lace or a more subtle invite to match your classic themed event? Kelly will put together an invitation that will ‘WOW’ your guests! Not only that, she will also create Save-the-date cards, escort cards, place settings, thank you cards, programs, menus, table cards and anything you can think of, and the best part, they will all match!!

Q: Kelly, what inspired you to want to create such a wonderful way to express your creativity as well as allowing your clients to showcase theirs?

A: When I was looking for my own wedding invitations, there just was nothing out there that was unique and impressive. I was tired of looking in books, and finding nothing that had that “WOW” factor. So, I decided to play with some papers, ribbon, and computer designs myself. I ended up making my invitations completely from scratch and got SO many compliments on them, that I did the wedding day stationery as well! When I got these unbelievable reactions from everyone at the wedding, I thought "hey, that was kinda fun! I could do this for a living!!" And….so began ‘RSVP to me’….and the “ELITE” line of invitations that I create.

Q: Is it common to have a client order the matching items once they discover you can make them all be consistent with the theme of the wedding or event they’re throwing?

A: Definitely! A lot of brides love the fact that everything can be coordinated and matching. Even though the venues often give direction cards, and even escort carts….most brides love that custom touch. And what better way to pull a theme or color scheme together than to have customized matching invitations & wedding day stationery that really represents a brides’ personal style.

Q: In your experience, what is the most popular question you get asked about your truly unique initiations?

A: Most brides love the invitations, but get so nervous when they hear “custom”, as they equate that to “ridiculously expensive”!! HOWEVER, I tell them that customization is a blessing….you can do as simple as you want, OR as detailed as you want without going over budget. “Custom” simply means it’s created to match THAT particular brides’ style, theme, personal taste, etc. It’s so nice NOT to have to look in a book and pick out an invitation that 100 other brides have chosen. With custom invitations, yours will be ONLY yours!!

Q: What has been the most unique request you have had in terms of including special components into your work?

A: The most unique request was from a bride who had divorced parents, both remarried so, not only did the wording have MANY lines of parents’ names, but she requested that I make SEPARATE invitations for guests on the mother’s side, and for those on the father’s side each with the respective parent being listed on top. So... PERFECT example of how “CUSTOM” options come into play. I had NO problem accommodating her needs so as not to hurt anyone’s feelings. I simply designed two separate invitations.

Q: In recommending Formerly Miss clients to ‘RSVP to me’, what kind of reactions can their guests expect to gush after receiving your fabulous invitations?

A: Even though a lot of people think, “oh, the invitation is JUST a piece of paper that will be thrown out” It’s one of the MOST important “looks” into what your wedding will be, and what your guests can expect. So when they get a beautiful, custom designed invitation that fits the bride and groom perfectly, they appreciate it SO much more than just an everyday invitation out of a book. I repeatedly hear back from brides on how much the guests LOVE the invitations, and how sometimes the guests even remark, “it is the most beautiful invitation I have ever seen!”.

No matter what occasion you are celebrating ‘RSVP to me – ELITE’ is sure to make it a one of a kind event incorporating your personal flair and style. Thank you Kelly for sharing your amazing creativity with us!

Please check out her website by clicking here and make sure to become a fan of ‘RSVP to me- ELITE’ on Facebook and follow Kelly’s blog!

Credit: Photographs by Vanessa Joy Photography

New Blog Series: REAL BRIDES, REAL STORIES!! - Anabel's Story

2010-03-16T11:38:00.003-04:00

Every bride has stories from the planning process of their wedding, in this new feature series we showcase all the adventures brides go through. Reading these stories, will make you more aware of how to avoid any mishaps while planning your own wedding!

My first featured bride-to-be is Anabel, she's currently planning her July 4th weekend wedding and like any other bride, she's got stories!

Anabel's Story:

Planning a wedding? Fear not, here are a few of my useful pointers which may ease your anxiety. It all seems overwhelming but break your planning down into tasks that are achievable one by one. Use your time wisely, and once you make a final decision don't second guess, just keep it moving. With a little teamwork, patience, persistence, and timing you'll be on your way to a gorgeous wedding day!

The most difficult part of planning is probably choosing a reception site which works for you. It felt as if I had scoured the Earth in search of my reception site until finally they all looked the same after a while. Don't make your decision solely on the luxury or appearance of the place. For instance, if these places are not able to provide you with enough food, the day that you want, or they are not willing to work with you on pricing there are so many other places that will accommodate you for your big day so keep searching. With patience and persistence I was able to get it all, the food, a great place, and flexibility that worked with our wants and needs. Remember this day is about you and your future mate so don't let anyone tell you what's right for you! I learned quickly that EVERYONE has an opinion, but that's exactly what it is an opinion not YOUR OPINION.

My next most difficult choice was probably the dress. I had devoted weeks to find the perfect dress. I have gone to the upscale bridal salon Kleinfeld in Manhattan, to smaller boutique's with less of a selection but the dresses were just as stunning. Don't be fooled by the name, although the experience may have been worth it, I did not necessarily receive the best help at the higher end store. Try to look through magazines and gather pictures of the dresses you can envision wearing for your big day. I initially liked laced and opted to go with something totally different once I had tried dresses on. Surprisingly I had gathered pictures from magazines but I had put them away and forgotten all about them. When I had finally chosen my dress I went back through the pictures I had selected and I had actually picked out the same dress I chose right out of a magazine without even knowing it. What a pleasant surprise! It's always useful to envision something in your mind. Also, don't bring many people with you to try the dress on. Select only a few close friends or family whose opinion you value. Everyone steers you in a different direction and eventually you can wind up losing your mind and forgetting about what you like. Pick what flatters your figure, and what you love and you won't regret it! Once you make your choice STOP searching and keep it moving!

SHOES!!!! Something I thought would be easy to find was actually pretty difficult. In case you’re unaware, bridal shoes.....not so cute! I wanted a high heel but something comfortable and stylish. After looking at hideous shoe after shoe of which I didn't try any on, I happened to be standing in line at a grocery store where I picked up a bridal magazine. By pure accident and found an ad for a store called My Glass Slipper in Manhattan. You can actually check out the shoes on http://www.myglassslipper.com/. I dragged my fiancé to the boutique which is small but you will be in 'wedding shoe heaven' when you arrive. They have every shoe a bride can dream of. They have designer shoes as well as more inexpensive brands and they are all gorgeous. It's the perfect place to find your "glass slipper". Check it out!

Everything else is a matter of timing and decision making. Be patient and work together with your groom. If possible split up and carry out separate tasks. For example in the beginning of our wedding planning we went together on missions to find places, bands, etc. Later on I took on the responsibility of save the dates, and invites while my fiancé looked for hotels, and limos. This is the most efficient method of planning, just make sure to communicate what's going on to make sure you are both in agreement with every decision you make. Overall remember this is supposed to be a happy time in your life so through all the little frustrations and doubts keep it positive because everything will turn out beautifully once it's all put together! Congratulations and best of luck!!!

Thanks Anabel for sharing your bride-to-be story! Congratulations on your engagement and your soon-to-be new life with your future husband.

If you enjoyed reading this story and hope to hear more tell-all-tales of real brides, stay tuned for more to come! If you or anyone you know has a great story to share and would like to be featured in our blog, please email Formerly Miss at info@formerlymiss.com with your story and a photograph of the couple and we will be glad to share your story with our readers!

Happy Planning!!

Edward & Bella Enchanting Twilight Theme

2010-03-09T17:01:00.008-05:00

Check out a few inspirations for all you Twihards to make your wedding or any big Bella-Edward Themed event enchanting!

Channel Bella and Edward with a hint of crimson.

Tied Together Forever

Item #: WRN7522-700

Invitationsbyyvonne.com

$289.80 for 100

"Will you love me for eternity?"

1/3 ct Diamond and Garnet Ring in 14k white gold

mysolitaire.com

$667.44

Drink until dawn breaks with Vampire Pinot Noir

wicketwinesonline.com $10.95

Romantic purple and black bouquets complement Twilight nuptials

Dramatic Black Calla Lily Bouquet

soulflowersf.com

$200 and up

Absolute black wedding dress with rose side skirt

bridaldress.onsugar.com

Rose Red Invitation

shop.getmarried.com

$119.95 for 100

Give your guests the chance to take home a piece of Twilight

horef.com

Contact your local bakery to create a stack of series books

Remember to make it red velvet

Local Favorite: Lulu's Bakery in Scarsdale, NY

Don't be afraid to SPARKLE! Winter 2010 Inspirations

2010-03-03T11:13:00.001-05:00

Martha Stewart does it again and Marilyn Monroe said it best: "Diamonds are a girls best friend!" If you're planning a winter 2010 wedding, don't be afraid to showcase glitter at your event! Glitter, Glitter and GLITTER!!!

See anything you would love to incorporate into your wedding!? CLICK HERE for a list of websites where all these items can be found! We thank Martha again for her genius!

My interview with Shirley owner of Invitations by Yvonne!

2010-03-02T12:53:00.004-05:00

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

If you are debating over hiring a wedding planner or a wedding service, you picked the right blog to read today!

Yvonne's Invitations & Favors introduces you to one of our favorite vendors: Formerly Miss, Inc. Wedding &; Event Planning. In this blog, Yvonne asks Maria Lago, Formerly Miss Senior Event Consultant/Owner, some questions about her business and the event planning industry.

Yvonne's Invitations: Maria, first off I'd like to congratulate you on your business and wish you much success with it! In recommending your services, I would like to take this opportunity to have people learn more about the type of services you can offer and provide helpful information about the wedding planning industry, as a whole.

Yvonne's Invitations: Maria, what kind of services do you offer for someone planning an event?

Formerly Miss: I have several great customizable packages available! Whether a client is in need of full service planning or simply a few hours to guide them in the right direction, Formerly Miss will be able to accommodate anyone looking for a stress-free way to put on any event!

Yvonne's Invitations: What types of events do you do at Formerly Miss? Is there a particular area you specialize in?

Formerly Miss: I cater to any type of event, whether it’s a Wedding, Bar/Bat mitzvah, Sweet Sixteen, Birthday Party, Bachelor/Bachelorette, Housewarming, Bridal Shower, Baby Shower, you name it! I do specialize in Weddings, I love to see couples get together and embark on their new life together and I am proud to be a part of making their lives easier when details can be overwhelming and organizing can be hectic. Some brides will begin their engagement with nothing but smiles, sadly the reality is, especially in the last weeks leading up to the wedding day, stress takes over and that’s where I come in, to simplify and make all aspects of the planning process a piece of cake. Most brides want to have someone to rely on and have as their “right hand man” sort of speak. It eases their fears and calms them down so they can be their most fabulous on the day of the wedding!

Yvonne's Invitations: Why is it important for someone to book or look into a party planning service?

Formerly Miss: The number one reason why anyone looks into hiring a planner is simply because it begins to get too hectic. Most people actually don’t want anything to do with the planning process, which personally I can’t understand, since I love what I do! When planning an event, there are so many details that can be overlooked! Event Planners know this and will let their clients in on all the details needed to achieve a flawless event. Another popular reason to look into an event planner is knowing they are always dealing with local vendors. Building relationships with many of these vendors is what an event planner does all day resulting in a huge advantage to the client. If you hire a planner, they most likely will be able to get discounts on many aspects of your event, discounts that an individual alone couldn't get therefore saving them money.

Yvonne's Invitations: Because of the economic climate we are in, what services can you offer someone who has a limited budget?

Formerly Miss: The event industry like any other has taken a visible hit. Wedding costs alone in 2009 have declined 10.2% from the previous year leaving couples and other event hosts with smaller budgets. As the economy is changing, we all must adapt to its decline and work with the budgets that are available. So yes, Formerly Miss will work with anyone who has a smaller budget than desired. I don’t like to offer a fixed price to my clients, because no event is the same. Every event has different needs, so why would a fixed price be suitable for all? This is why when it comes to my packages, I like to always emphasize on the personalization of each.

Yvonne's Invitations: When scouting an event planner, what should people look out for?

Formerly Miss: I like to recommend that people in need of a planner begin looking locally. Local planners will usually have the best relationships with all the local vendors and will get their client the best deals and discounts over other planners who are not familiar with the area. Another suggestion is, Google. Research the planner online, see what’s out there and how they represent themselves. Nowadays there are so many ways to find out all the information you need with only one search. Check out their website, social networking site and blog. Blogging has become a big part of the advertising process, seen here today, and will give you a lot of information on the knowledge and dedication of the planner or vendor you are researching.

Yvonne's Invitations: What was your inspiration behind starting your own event planning business?

Formerly Miss: Event planning is something I knew I was interested in for years! Ironically, it wasn’t until I graduated college that I was sure I wanted to do it. Being the one out of my friends who was usually scheduling, organizing and planning the logistics of all parties, vacations and such, I knew I couldn’t go wrong with going into business for myself. The thought formed in my head back in 2006, and I finally decided to do something about it. With my corporate background in event planning and my passion for planning I began making Formerly Miss a reality! I’m excited for what’s to come and can’t wait to see Formerly Miss blossom!!!

Yvonne: Maria, I'm sure Formerly Miss will blossom indeed!! We are very happy to partner with you and have you among Yvonne's "Favorite Vendor Community". Thank you for providing great insights on the wedding planning industry and the importance of leaving many of the planning details to the professionals.

Please visit the Formerly Miss, Inc. website for more information about Maria's wedding planning packages:

http://www.formerlymiss.com/

Throw Traditional out the window and get EDGY with Unique Vintage!

2010-03-02T11:54:00.001-05:00

Are you NOT the traditional bride? Are all the dresses you’re seeing in the wedding magazines starting to look the same?? All the styles are traditional, and even the contemporary ones aren’t as edgy as you would like them to be? Fortunately for you, Unique Vintage caters to you!!

As a wedding planner my role is to always cater to whatever the bride wants or needs. I need to put my personal style aside and step into the shoes of the bride I am working with. My style is more so a mixture of styles… I like the traditions that a wedding can bring, with the modern take of contemporary life and a splash of edginess to reflect thinking outside the box and not being afraid to stand out.

There are some brides that want the 'edge' levels through the roof and some who want a subtle touch. Unique Vintage brings all this together in one place! Take a look at some of the amazing “think-outside-the -box” styles they have for both brides and their bridesmaids!! Best part, check out the prices!!!!! You may be breaking tradition, but you will definitely not be breaking the bank with these unique looks.

Not wearing a veil or just want something a bit different to stand out from the everyday bride and accentuate your style? Check out these extremely unique head pieces to make you a memorable bride.

Go on Unique-Vintage.com and porous for your unique style! Become a fan of Unique Vintage on Facebook and get great new ideas, special offers and know about new items first!

Enjoy!

Bridal Event you CANNOT miss!!

2010-02-23T21:12:00.001-05:00

Bridal shows are one of the best ways to find the best local vendors all in one spot! Brides, get your binders organized and ready for all the information from excellent vendors at this show!

See below and register HERE!

Valentine's Day Cocktails for your party or intimate moments

2010-02-12T17:32:00.007-05:00

Valentine’s Day is in two days and I’ve already seen some boys running around with their red roses in hand for their special lady! Girls, don’t leave it all to the boys to do all the leg work, there are some simple things you can do to make it a romantic night.

I’m a huge fan of all things themed! So for that reason why not incorporate some drinks and make them not only beautiful, but match them to Valentine’s Day.

I’ve scouted out some simple drink recipes that can help you give a special touch to your Valentine’s night. Whether you and your boy are staying in for a relaxing romantic night or heading out for dinner and drinks on the town, you can have the drinks before you leave or while you hang out at home.

Dos Amores Cocktail
The perfect cocktail for a romantic weekend

Ingredients:
2 oz. Dos Lunas Silver Tequila
2 oz. Orange Flavored Liqueur
2 oz. Pomegranate Juice
Chilled Champagne

Directions:

Place Dos Lunas Silver Tequila, orange flavored liqueur, and pomegranate juice into a large cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain evenly between two Champagne flutes. Top with chilled champagne. Stir gently.

Be Mine Mojito
This berry twist on a classic mojito will get your Valentine's Day off to a sweet start

Ingredients: (Serves 1)
1 1/2 ounces Bacardi Razz (white rum optional)
1 ounce simple syrup
1/2 lime , freshly squeezed
12 to 14 fresh mint leaves
4 raspberries
4 blackberries
Sprig of mint

Directions:

In a tall glass, lightly muddle the lime juice, 3 raspberries, 3 blackberries, simple syrup and mint leaves. The trick is to muddle just enough to release the oils from the mint leaves while leaving them intact. Add crushed ice and rum, and top with soda. Stir until the outside of the glass begins to frost. Garnish with the leftover berries speared with a mint sprig.

Hope Floats Cocktail
Break out the bubbly and mix up this tasty drink for your Valentine.

Ingredients: (Serves 1)
1 1/2 ounces PAMA
1 ounce citrus vodka
2 ounces pink grapefruit juice
Champagne
Raspberry sorbet
Sprig of mint

Directions:

Shake PAMA, vodka and grapefruit juice with ice. Strain into a champagne flute. Add one scoop of your favorite raspberry sorbet. Top with a splash of champagne. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

Now that you have your cocktails ready, go enjoy the surprises your boy will have for you! Don't forget to get the matching napkins and spring for some chocolates!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Reasons to hire an Event Planner

2010-02-10T14:04:00.000-05:00

Formerly Miss, Inc. has interviewed with Shirley Vitelli, the owner of Discount Invitations by Yvonne. Click on the link below to see what the perks are to hiring an event planner.

Click here to check it out!

Discount Invitations by Yvonne is now offering favors as well as event stationary for all occasions!

6 Ways to Secretely Find Her Engagement Ring Size

2010-02-08T16:45:00.001-05:00

TheManRegistry.com Article:

Alright men, so you’ve finally decided the time is right to pop the question. You’ve picked out the engagement ring, you have the perfect proposal planned out, but one thing is standing in your way: You don’t know her ring size. Well don’t fret because 77Diamonds.com is here with a list of tips to help you secretly find your future fiancé’s ring size to complete the perfect surprise proposal.

1. Phone a friend: Get in touch with a friend or family member of your significant other. They may have bought her a ring as a gift before, or the topic of ring size could have popped up in conversation. If they don’t know then you can always recruit them as an accomplice. Have someone take her “window shopping” for a ring and get her to see what her ring size is for “fun”.

2. ”Borrow a ring”: If you can get your hands on a ring that your girlfriend wears you can take it to a jewellers and get it measured. However, in order to get an accurate measurement you’ll need to be sure that the ring actually fits her properly and it is worn on the correct finger (left ring finger), as all fingers are different sizes. If she does not wear a ring on that finger you can settle for an estimated measurement for another finger, but beware the ring will most likely need to be re-sized.

3. When the ring can’t leave the home: Say you are unable to take her ring to a jeweller without her noticing it’s missing, there are several ways you can estimate the size without taking the ring out of the home. For one, you can try the ring on yourself and mark on your finger where it falls. Then you can go to a jeweller and have them find the size that falls in the same place. Also, you can make an impression of her ring in a bar of soap or clay and take it in for measurement. One last way is to trace the inside of her ring with a pencil and have a jeweller match the size.

4. Sleeping Beauty: While your girlfriend blissfully slumbers, unaware of what you have planned you can wrap a piece of paper or string around her ring finger and mark the size that way. If you bring this in to a jeweller they can help you to find a measurement. Just make sure she’s not a light sleeper.

5. When in doubt: Size up! A ring is easier to re-size if it is too big, and most jewellers offer free resizing. Just note that thin bands or those which are intricately covered in gems might not be able to be re-sized. Make sure you check with your jeweller if the ring is re-sizable. Also, if you’re guessing her ring size it’s important to know that rings which have a thick band will need to be larger than her normal rings.

6. Tell her it’s for someone else: You may be able to get her to divulge her ring size by telling her you want to buy a ring for your sister or mother. Tell her you want to get an estimated size for someone else and either ask her to try on a ring or ask her outright what her size is. Beware though; this method could be a dead giveaway if not done right.

Using these one of these tips you should be able to get a fairly accurate measurement of her ring size and be well on the way to spending the rest of your life with the woman of your dreams. Just remember to keep in mind these important points: 1) You need to find the size of her left ring finger. Rings worn on any other finger aren’t likely to give an accurate measurement. 2) When in doubt size up because it’s easier to resize down. 3) Make sure the engagement ring is resizable.

Good luck fellas!

The Man Registry

2010-02-02T14:27:00.001-05:00

Why is it always about the bride? What I really detest is when a bride is all about “Me, Me, ME!” Let’s be realistic, it takes two to tango and it certainly takes two to wed! In order to have a bride you must have a groom, in a traditional marriage anyway, of course it could be a groom – groom or a bride – bride but nonetheless, there is always a second person involved and usually the bride takes the lead and the groom gets dimmed in the shadows a bit.

The wedding industry is starting to see more grooms having opinions and visions and want to have their say and input on the details of their wedding and well deserved. I’m a big fan of a couple that share their visions and incorporate a little of both worlds into their event, rather than make it only about the bride.

For that reason, I’d like to share a fabulous link I came across! Who says all bridal registries need to be catering to women? Of course the couple will need all the wonderful things, Crate & Barrel, Bed Bath & Beyond, Bloomingdale’s and Macy's have to offer in order for them to have all the necessities a new wedded couple needs to embark on their life together. Why not add a wedding registry for the fellas?

Joint bridal showers are becoming more and more popular, so what would be more fun than having the groom’s friends purchase gifts that would cater to him? There can be some fun and useful items that could go on the groom’s registry, for example, a good tool box, beer mugs, and other great items that would make the groom happy! Usually the groom registry is not nearly as large as the regular registry is, but being able to have that as an option is not only cool, but your groom will really appreciate how involved he is in the wedding!

For starters, you could take a look at THE MAN REGISTRY to get some ideas for the groom to get more involved! On the website you are able to create a registry, look for a specific one you have in mind and much more! Check it out and enjoy all the manly goodies together!

The Man Registry Blog is also a great site to pass on to your groom, so he can get more into the planning process.

David Tutera by Faviana

2010-01-29T22:39:00.004-05:00

With all the designers out there, why not give David Tutera, the king of the wedding planning industry [in my eyes] a look? He's a genius and now he's crossed over to designing wedding dresses and Faviana is giving him all the help he needs! Check out the new collection, you will love these beautiful designs! To see all of them, make sure you check the website - DavidTuterabyFaviana

A Princess-Like Bridal Satin & Tulle Dress. Elaborate Crystal Beadwork embellish the Sweetheart Neckline & Waist. Crystal & Silver Beaded Medallions add Sparkle to the Full Multi Layer Tulle Skirt.

Strapless Bridal Satin Dress with a Contrast Color Satin along the Sweetheart Neckline, on the Back Lace-Up Corset Detail & on the Border along the Hemline & Train. Beaded Embroidery with Silver Accents & Crystals adorn the body & train

Bridal Satin Dress in a Mermaid Silhouette. Elaborate Beading with Crystals embellish the Illusion Front & Back Bodice. Crystal Buttons close the Illusion Back Bodice. Back Bustle Detail with Covered Buttons along the Entire center Back of Dress

Tulle Bridal Dress with Halter Neckline & Empire Seam. Detailed Embroidery & Beadwork enhance the Top Bodice. Tulle Skirt has a Soft Drape Detail with Flowers accented by Feathers & Crystals. One Additional Flower Included

http://www.davidtuterabyfaviana.com/

One of my favorites photographers! Clayton Austin.

2010-01-29T18:14:00.004-05:00

Clayton Austin is one of my very favorite photographers! I love his style and vintage touch he gives all his photographs! Read his blog post on meeting the perfect person for you and how beautifully he puts it into words.

Click here: A Letter From a Friend

Crate & Barrel - The Wedding Parties

2010-01-28T17:55:00.004-05:00

Every Sunday in February all you brides have the chance to attend Crate & Barrel's very extraordinary event! Meet with experienced advisors while the store is closed just for you! Enjoy "Being Queen for a Day" and even have the chance to create your registry while sipping on champaigne, with the luxury of avoiding the crowds!

The Westchester
White Plains, NY
914.682.0900

Sunday, February 7th 2010, 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Sunday, February 14th 2010, 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Sunday, February 21st 2010, 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Sunday, February 28th 2010, 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Click here to RSVP!
See if your neighborhood Crate & Barrel is having the registry event!

Reserving Hotel Blocks for your Event & Wedding

2010-01-26T21:28:00.004-05:00

I am currently planning a wedding for April in which there will be out-of-town guests coming to celebrate with the bride and groom, even out-of-country guests! In looking for the best hotel that would accommodate the needs of the bride and the guests, I began by taking a few steps.

First, I got my hands on a list of hotels in the area, you can do a simple Google search and voila, there's your list! I then proceeded to call every hotel on the list until I realized they were getting to be a little too far for the guests. I made an excel sheet with all the details of what each and every hotel specified. When calling I made it clear that I wanted to have rooms reserved for the specific date of the wedding and what kind of deals were they offering for my needs. The most popular hotels will be ready to give you many details and deals for your guests! There are some important questions you should ask before you decide on what hotel is better suited for you.

What is the maximum amount of rooms allowed to be reserved?
What is the minimum amount of rooms allowed to be reserved?
What is the prize per room?
Are there any deals going on at the moment that I can take advantage of?
Does your hotel provide a shuttle to and from the reception site? If so, at what discounted rate?
Does your hotel provide a FREE shuttle for guests to use within the city?
After the reception my guests may want to continue the party, does your hotel provide a bar area?
If so, what time does the bar close?
Will your hotel provide direction / information cards to be included in my invitations?
When reserving, do I need to give your hotel my credit card information?

While many hotels do not require you to place your credit card information, others may require it, in case they do not receive as many guests as you previously discussed and will want to still make some money from their loss. You want to make sure you choose a hotel that does not require you to do this, in the end, this is a risk the hotel will have to take and ultimately your guests are the ones that will be paying for their rooms, you're just making sure they have a place secure for the best deal in town!

Once you have chosen your hotel, make sure you include this information in your Wedding Website and with the direction / information cards in your invites, therefore make sure you have done all this before your invitations go out or your guests will be unaware of where they can reserve a room or it will be harder for them to get the best deal. This way, you're mind is at ease as well as your guests!

How Important are Save the Dates?

2010-01-25T11:53:00.006-05:00

Our society is now the busiest it has ever been with no signs of slowing down. Between our busy work schedules and trying to fit social events as well as family and friends quality time there's hardly enough hours in a day! This is especially true for me after deciding to make Formerly Miss a reality! With that said, I truly appreciate when I recieve Save the Dates for weddings and other special events. They immediatley recieve a coveted spot on my refrigerator and get penciled into my planner. With months to prepare, I am thankful I have the time to be able to plan for any event accordingly, whether it's the attire I will be wearing the day of event, or most importantly making sure I don't have a scheduling conflict or if I happen to be an out-of-towner.

Although Save the Date cards aren't required, it won't be long before this rule is written into wedding etiquette as a vital step in wedding planning. I have asked Shirley Vitelli, owner of Discount Wedding Invitations by Yvonne to share her thoughts on why this new trend in event planning is so important for every and any event to be executed flawlessly.

Q: Shirley, what is the best advice you can give a newly engaged bride or simply anyone looking to throw a fabulous party in terms of Save the Dates?

A: Maria, people planning a big event need to keep in mind that with the increasingly busy lives of today's society, they would need to give their invitees the heads up of their special event, ahead of time! People can be booking vacations, or other important things at the same time that an engaged couple or person may be planning their special day. Sending out a Save the Date announcement becomes increasingly important if they are inviting guests from out-of-town or if the event falls on a holiday or holiday weekend. You need to give your guests enough time to make travel arrangements and preparations so that they can handle conflicts that may arise, ahead of time.

Q: How long before the wedding or event should the Save the Dates go out?

A: This can differ, depending on the event, location and date. For a Wedding, invitations are traditionally sent 6 to 8 weeks before a wedding. The Save the Date should therefore, go out 4 to 6 months before the wedding invitation is mailed. For other events, people would need to use their best judgement keeping mind, how far people may need to travel or how much timing the invitees may need in preparing for the event.

Q: If in a chaotic moment, the bride for whatever reason took too long to send out the Save the Date, what advice would you give her now since it will not be long before she should send out her invitations?

A: You can do a couple of things in this scenario. You could send an email Save the Date announcement with details pertaining to the event such as the location, hotel accommodations, etc. You can also consider sending out your invitations earlier than the typical 6 to 8 weeks before the event, so people have enough time to prepare.

Q: Magnets have become very popular in the last few years. What are the advantages of sending out Magnet Save the Dates versus standard Save the Date announcements?

A: Magnet Save the Dates are very practical. People can place them on the refrigerator, on a file cabinet, etc.. and serve as a constant reminder for the upcoming event so that it is not forgotten. Traditional paper Save the Date announcements have a greater chance of getting thrown out, lost in mail or paper clutter. Depending on the type of event, Magnet Save the Dates can also serve as advertisements for people that may view it; such as an upcoming corporate event. Magnet Save the Dates are fun and very useful. Your invitees will appreciate them and will want to keep it as souvenir long after your event has passed.

Q: Is there any general advice you feel a bride should know about the handling of the Save the Dates?

A: A Save the Date announcement should include the date for sure, along with location, and the city/state of the event, if available. It is important to include on the bottom "Invitation to Follow" or "Invitation and Details to Follow" so that people do not confuse the Save the Date with the actual invitation. I would also suggest including any other pertinent information people may need ahead of time to plan properly such as hotel, airline information, etc.

Save the Dates are clearly making themselves a star component for any event planning process. I like to tell my clients to also include their wedding website, which is also another increasingly growing component of a wedding information center. I will be going into more detail of the importance of having a Wedding Website for your guests to admire and use. In the meantime, I would like to thank Shirley for her wonderful advice and allowing us to all be able to appreciate how important a Save the Date truly is.

Please don't forget to stop by her website and see her vast selection of Save the Dates, Invitations, Favors and more, for any occassion!

http://www.invitationsbyyvonne.com/

Yvonne923@aol.com

516.567.9611

Secrets Behind Bridal Makeup from a Pro

2010-01-07T12:18:00.008-05:00

The dress is chosen and the venue is booked, the florist, photographer and caterer are all taken care of along with all your other essentials for the big day. The event is almost complete, whether you had the assistance of a wedding professional or not... Now you have to take care of yourself with bridal makeup.

Are you a morning bride or an evening bride? These questions are important when deciding on what style of makeup you want. If you're getting your makeup professionally applied it is essential to have a trial session to make sure the color scheme you choose will fit your style and time of ceremony. Some brides want to look more like themselves and come out in pictures recognizable rather than looking like a porcelain doll and for that reason you can talk to your makeup artist about using products you already use daily.

I have enlisted the expert opinion of a fabulous makeup artist who can give tips on how to choose the best makeup style for your big day.

Secrets Behind Your Bridal Makeup with Victor Henao of Victor Henao Makeup.

Q: Victor, what would you recommend the best makeup style for a morning summer bride be?

A: Keep it simple. Keep the focus on the skin, meaning the type of foundation you use, the color of the foundation and most importantly the texture. As to the evening, you can get away with wearing a foundation with more coverage, during the day you will want something that mimics skin more. My Favorite product to achieve this is M.A.C's Face + Body Foundation - $32.00.

Q: What kind of colors would compliment an evening bride in the chilling months of winter?

A: Most winter weddings are about winter wonderland themes; in which case I would suggest colors that will compliment your surroundings more and your theme. Grays, Blues, Browns with little to no red pigment. If your wedding does not have any influence from the winter then be yourself, most important DON'T be the ONLY person at your wedding who is tan.

Q: We know how hot it can get taking pictures on a beautiful park in July, what products would you recommend for a summer bride?

A: As far as products I would recommend a water base foundation. If you perspire, with an oil base foundation it will break apart and leave makeup behind after you wipe. I would also recommend you keep handy rice paper or blot film, and a translucent powder. My biggest recommendation is a portable battery operated fan or your makeup artist with you at the park.

Q: Any secrets of the trade you can share that will help any bride look her most beautiful?

A: Get a facial two weeks before your wedding, drink lots of water, steam up at the gym, and hire your makeup artist for the day. The few extra bucks you spend will make such a huge difference at the end of the day when you still look flawless after an entire day of activities.

It's no secret every bride wants to look radiant on their wedding day! Just make sure the makeup artist is the right one, and so are the color schemes. Remember, your makeup should make you appear healthy and not artificially done, also the dress, makeup and season of the year should all compliment your bridal makeup.

Thank you to Victor of Victor Henao Makeup for letting us into his world of makeup!

Check out his website at http://www.victorhenao.com/ !

Don't forget to also stop by his BLOG!

Bridal Emergency Kit

2009-12-20T15:30:00.003-05:00

Living on the east coast, snow isn't particularly something we get to live without, especially in New York! Since the cold isn't one my favorite things and the snow, though it looks pretty isn't something I like to be mixed up in. With that said, Christmas shopping is not on my list of things to do today, instead I've decided to get together a few of my favorite bridal and event magazines, grab the best and most helpful information and put it all in one place! I'll be doing this periodically so more to come!

Though we will not be seeing another Modern Bride magazine on newstands, we can still enjoy all the goodies they have to offer from all their great back issues!

Every bride should put together a Bridal Emergency Kit, this is what I like to refer to as my BEK. All wedding planners know they should have one, but do all brides know this? I recently attended a wedding where the bride lost a button on her beautiful gown, and didn't have a sewing kit! Sure, with all the details of the wedding what bride really has time to think about the "what if's" when they have so much on their plate!? If you hire a wedding planner, chances are they are geared with a pretty well stocked BEK, leaving the bride at ease. A few things you should keep in your BEK are:

antiacid
aspirin / non aspirin
basic first aid (bandages, sprays) -
breath mints
hair spray (unscented)
scissors
tissues
clear nail polish
needles & pins (safety & straight)
roll of white ribbon
sanitary products
sewing kit (light & dark thread)
smelling salts
tape/glue
toys
zip lock bags
eye drops
tide stick
cover up

These are only suggestions for a starter BEK, one product I loved which comes out of the August/September issue of Modern Bride is Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream. This is one of those does-it-all potions! The beauty of this product is it softens cuticles, protects dry patches and makes a killer lip-gloss! This only means it is a MUST-HAVE additon to every bride's BEK. Click here to buy for $25! Make sure to browse the rest of the Eight Hour collection!

New decade means new wedding trends for 2010

2009-12-16T11:09:00.003-05:00

We're only a few short weeks from the New Year and wedding trends are already surfacing! It's no lie that weddings have been impacted by the economy alongside everything else, nevertheless, people are still getting married and it is a booming industry!! There are certain new styles that go hand in hand in 2010 with new trends and money savers!

One of the very trendy ways to cut some corners is instead of the long traditional veil we usually see, brides in 2010 are going to be more inclined to choosing a birdcage veil. This vintage-look is combined with jeweled clips or feathers that clip on the top front of the head with netting that covers the face. Not only is this look more affordable than a traditional veil, but it still allows the bride to feel like one! Below you can see Drew Barrymore wearing one to a movie premiere.

Other trends that are becoming very popular are homemade favors. This being another way to cut an expense and personally I have enough knick-knacks at home that I don't need one more with the bride and grooms name on it! There are many ways to make your wedding favors, not only classy, but useful for your guests. A recent wedding I attended didn't have wedding favors for each guest; they provided a table by the exit with the choice of white or red wine from a local vineyard. Each family/couple got to choose their wine and took a bottle home. Not only is this more personal, but it is useful and everyone can enjoy it at one time or another. Charities are also growing with popularity! Instead of spending $2 on a crystal what-have-you with your name on it and date of the wedding, the charity of your choice would be delighted take part in your special day! Leave an attractive envelope that you can make yourself with a note easily printed on a computer or provided by your non-profit of choice letting your guest know that their favor was translated into good instead of a clutter in their house.

Strapless wedding gowns a trend that has been popular for a few years now, but I'm here to tell you, it's not going anywhere! The strapless dress is going to stay here through 2010 and well into 2011. It is a comfortable look which flatters most body types and is a favorite amongst many brides. If you're getting married in a church or another religious venue make sure to check with your parish on their rules about exposing your shoulders, some venues do not allow that, and you can have a quick fix for the ceremony portion with a cropped sleeved jacket or a shawl.

Keeping a small guest list and an intimate venue is a growing trend! By this I mean, backyard weddings, which are becoming more and more common! If you have the space or are lucky to have a friend allow you to use their house, backyard weddings don't necessarily mean less formal or elegant. Keeping formality and staying elegant can very well achieved by having your wedding in the comfort of your own home! Not only will you be setting a very cool trend, but you will be going green, eco-weddings are becoming more and more popular and the benefits are obviously beneficial to everyone!

Make sure to always have a tent in case of any weather mishaps, there could be rain or unbearable heat from the sun that can be easily blocked off. There's nothing worse than having uncomfortable guests because they're either sticking to their chairs or they're getting wet.

Colors for 2010 are going to be vibrant and dramatic! These include orange, pink yellow and green, they can be combined or have one accent color to bring out the theme of the wedding. Metallic colors are big in the new decade as well, such as gold, silver, copper and pewter and they all look amazing paired with black! PS. black is the new black! This palette gives the wedding a dramatic, sophisticated look as well as modern and edgy! Don't be afraid to be original and bold! Check out Lady Ga Ga, she's taking the entertainment world by storm with her unusual costumes and performances, take the wedding world by storm and don't be afraid to be unique, these are the things your guests will be raving about weeks after the wedding is over!

Amazing Photographs by Clayton Austin

2009-12-15T09:53:00.001-05:00

It's very customary for couples now a days to hire a photographer for their engagement photos as well as for the wedding. I came across an extreemly talented photographer, Clayton Austin! If you're lucky enough to live in Texas you can get the chance to book him for your special day, and I strongly suggest it!!! See for yourself!!

How amazing is his 1920's style photography? These are just a few of my favorite photographs, check out his blog to see a more extensive collection, I promise you will fall in love just as quickly as I did! Enjoy!

ABC Seminar & more!

2009-12-07T21:16:00.005-05:00

I have made some great progress in the last few weeks! Not only have I made some great vendor connections but I've been getting emails that make me feel support and admiration that I never thought I would have! Thank you to all of you who are helping me in small and big ways with my new venture!

I have finally decided on my name, regardless of whether some people don't understand it. The name is Formerly Miss, meaning that the now bride (soon to be wife a.k.a. Mrs.) is a Formerly Miss (Ms.). It's a little play on words, which some don't get right away, but I'm not one to have a name like "Majestic Weddings" or "Occasions by Maria". You should know that incorporating your name into your business name is never a good idea... Firstly, your name will get tied to the business name and due to liability and tax reasons they should be kept separately, secondly, you're setting up your clientele to want only the person to whom the name is correlated to. For example, 'Weddings by Rose...' Who do you think a young eager bride is going to ask for? Rose! However, Rose is very busy with other brides and for that reason has a staff of 8 very credible bridal consultants, but the new bride is going to want the best, and the best points the finger to Rose herself! Finally, the third reason why incorporating your own name into your business name is, what if in the event of a crisis or an unexpected situation arises, you have to sell your business?? Are you going to have to vet all the potential buyers named Rose? It will be much more difficult to do! Always keep those 3 things in mind when it comes to naming your new business! Originality will set you apart from the rest, who all are ironically named "Unique Weddings & Events". Trust me, I've researched nearly all the listed wedding planners in the United States trying to see if I could find some inspiration and all I found were generic and lame names, that were far from "unique"!!

With my name in place... Now I need a logo! Thanks to a high school friend of mine who reached out to me after she found out I was in the market for a web designer, she got me in touch with a friend of hers who does just that! I'm actually waiting for some of the proofs that she will have for me tomorrow with a quote and see if we can make this happen and I find my perfect logo! I will definitely post it once it's all set and final!

Today was the day of the New Horizons seminar through the Association of Bridal Consultants and I could not have made a better decision to attend! Though the class seemed a little pricey set at $149.00 I took the risk to check it out! After all, it is a prestigious association directly affiliated with the field I'm getting involved in, I trust that they know what they're talking about and I was right!!! I learned a great deal of useful information that I would never have grasped and understood so well by just reading a reference book, though those are very useful as well! Due to the new knowledge I have obtained today, I'm going to have to go back into my yet to be published website and make a few changes! I learned very valuable tricks of the trade straight from the mouth of the professionals themselves! I was lucky enough to learn from two very successful event professionals who have been in the business for almost 30 years! Impressed, I can only hope to be so lucky!! I'm looking into becoming a member of the association and attend their annual conference in Phoenix in November!

I have soaked up so much information in one day, that I don't know how I can continue to soak up more, at least for today! The only thing I know I want to do before I head to bed, is make a to-do list for the upcoming 50Th birthday party I have to plan for a friend's mom, with only 6 weeks to plan it! This will be a great opportunity for me to use my new learned business skills and event knowledge from today! I'm so excited and can't wait to start tomorrow!!!

Baby Steps

2009-11-29T22:52:00.003-05:00

I've done a ton of more research on how I can make myself better and have a great business on my hands. For one, I'm very excited to attend a seminar that I will be taking through the Association of Bridal Consultants. The seminar will give me a lot of valuable information on how to run a wedding business and be a wonderful consultant. I have also been researching the local bridal shows that I can attend and have registered for them! I now have a list of vendors in the area that I am targeting to see if I could use them for potential clients. These baby steps that I'm taking do seem small, though they are a huge part of getting the word out there. I'm also excited to have my family and friends be part of this and am excited to let them know what my plans are. I have gotten alot of support from all especially after I have broken the news to alot of them through a Facebook fan page, which I also recommend as a way to get your feet wet.

Before I do get my first client, there is alot to do and research. This will be a slow process I realize, but I want to do things right and know that they are executed correctly. I have ordered business cards for networking and will be creating my own post cards to leave with vendors that I meet with and like.

There are alot of lose ends at the moment, but they will all come together soon! If you are trying to get into the wedding and event planning business for yourself a great book to pick up is: How To Start a Home-Based Wedding Planning Business by Jill S. Moran, C.S.E.P. It truly is an amazing reference book for exactly what I want to do with my business at the moment.

Working on my Website

2009-11-25T20:15:00.001-05:00

After lots of research and reading through many books, I have decided to start creating my website. I have spent the entire day trying to figure out how to do it on my own without the help of a web master, turns out, I'm definitely not one and it took me hours to figure out how to lay out a decent looking site! Nevertheless, I have finally made it presentable and professional I have come up with great ideas and set up the foundation for it to be a fabulous website for my business! I cannot be more excited!

The site of course, will be getting better as I do... I now need to finish it, link it to a Facebook fan page and make my pressence known, at least to my closest friends. I know that the key to starting off right is to tell the world know that I am an up & commer... At least my own world... However, I do not want to make my entrance in a small way... I want to at least have my web pressence as best as I can present it to my world!

I will soon be unveling the site once I think it is complete or at least as complete as I want it for right now.

For right now, I'm happy to own my business domain name and take one more baby step towards my own successful event planning company!!!

My First Blog

2009-11-20T21:12:00.002-05:00

So far, I can't say I'm impressed with blogging. I'm on roughly minute number 4 and I already don't have the option of using my favorite font... Candara, I guess Lucida Grande will have to do. I never really understood the point of blogging, n'or do I really know how, but I'm giving it a shot in order to recieve feedback and help myself through the process of becoming a successfull Event Planner.

I currently have a 9-5 job in the field, but I'm simply tired of having to deal with the way other people do things. I like things done a certain way and working for the man, that will never happen, so for that reason, I've decided to start my own event planning business. According to businessknow-how.com: "The latest statistics from the Small Business Administration (SBA) show that 'two-thirds of new employer establishments survive at least two years, and 44 percent survive at least four years.' This is a far cry from the previous long-held belief that 50 percent of businesses fail in the first year and 95 percent fail within five years." So I guess statistics are on my side and little ol' me has a fighting chance for success!

I've been going back and forth with this idea for a few years now... Read some articles, success stories, and books, but never actually made any moves towards anything tangiable.

I think I have a name for my new venture, but I will not reveal it just yet... There are still some legal hooplah I have to go through... Though I am still not 100 percent convinced this is the name I am set on choosing. The business I'm trying to start is mainly to be an event planner for weddings, mitvahs, bridal & baby showers... all and any kind of social events, of course weddings being the main one.

Once I get my business license, then what to do!? There are so many outlets that I can advertise my new business in through the internet alone, but I guess I will have to take it one step at a time! First thing's first... I need to have my name absolutely figured out, then find out how I go about getting small business license in the first place!!! I'm good at organizing and planning and completly OCD with the way I do things, but legal mumbo-jumbo, I cannot be bothered! That's where my boyfriend/consultant comes in, he's very savvy with business and financial aspects of things, he'll have to coach me and mentor me through the process... I can't be a successful Business Owner / Event Planner without the proper business mind! So to work I go... I need to read up on the boring stuff in order to get to the good stuff!!!!

STAY TUNED!