This just makes me sad.

I have been chatting with a group of Bridal Salon owners over the last couple of day on the subject of the personal grooming habits of people trying on wedding gowns. Who would have thought this would be a problem?
I seems that some of our young ladies have forgotten the lessons thier mommas taught them! They are doing things like not bothering to shower between their work-out and their stop by the salon. Or coming right from the spray on tan booth or on their way home from their their job as a landscaper or chef. You get the idea. Salons are at their wits end trying to figure out how to polietly tell these stinky young ladies to please bathe before you come to their salon to try on $3000 worth of silk. Where did the break down in what is socially acceptable occur?
More disturbing is the young ladies arriving without the benefit of panties. Come on. Even if you always go commando to avoid panty lines have a little respect for other people. I would not want to try on a gown that someone else’s naked sweaty bootie had been in! Salons have had to resort to keeping disposable paper panties on hand for these rude women. so unless you want to try on your wedding gown in a reasonably facsimile to Depends, wear panties.
Some brides take the slightest remark from a salon owner or employee as “Unbelievably rude service.” I think if they weren’t often subjected to unbelievably thoughtless behavior from brides they wouldn’t have to make the policies they do.
It was also brought up that brides sometimes bring small children with them. Ok, I know your child is a perfect angel that will sit quietly in the corner and not be tempted to finger all the pretty fabrics or hide in the racks of gowns.But just in case they go completely against their usual perfect behavior, do not for God’s sake arm them with chocolate! (once again, could I make this up?)
Let’s have a little respect for these hard working retail associates out there and the deep investment the owners have made.

What would your Momma say?

I went to a fabulous party last night for the Tennessee Wedding and Events Specialists Association. The annual Bar-be-cue and pool party is always a great time to let my hair down and catch up with all my friends in the industry. It was great fun to table hop all night.

I was chatting with Dave Nuding of Blue Tone Music and Doug Spangler, DJ extraordinaire. I was telling them about the staging I had been doing lately and they loved it. Dave was saying that it was a great idea for all coordinators (especially new ones) to stage with the different specialties. Every different specialty in the event industry has its own quirks and the only way to really understand them is to live through it. Something to think about as you interview potential wedding planners.

As usual, I fell into conversation with a bunch of my photographer friends. The topic on everyone’s mind was timing. With so many different vendors involved in a wedding it is so important that everyone is a pro and understands how crucial it is to stick to the timeline. If any one vendor is late or runs over time it effects the entire day. This goes double for brides!! If the makeup runs long, it makes the bride arrive late. That sucks time from the photographer and they don’t get all the pre-wedding shots you want. It doesn’t matter who the broken link is it still affects everyone. I once worked a wedding where the mother had planned a beautiful musical prelude to the ceremony. Most of the guests were from out of town so she had hired tour busses to get everyone to the wedding in time to enjoy the music. The busses were on time, the music was ready but the guests wouldn’t leave the TV in the hotel lounge until the Kentucky Derby was over. Arrrrrrrrggggggghhhh! Mom stalled the music and the ceremony was 45 minutes late. The caterer had to hold the food, etc,etc. Oh well, it was still a beautiful wedding, but everyone was stressed more then was necessary.

I ran into a wedding planner friend at the bar that was telling me one of her destination wedding brides had given her personal email address to EVERY ONE OF HER GUESTS and told them to send the planner their travel plans. Her inbox filled up with itineraries from 200 unknown addresses, often with no explanation just the travel arrangements. What a headache. I am going to assume that your guests are grown ups and can handle their own travel plans. Don’t do a blast email to your guests with your planner’s personal email addy. It can make for one very overworked and cranky planner if you don’t at least warn her.

Oh, the life of a wedding pro.

It has occurred to me that most brides have no idea what is involved in altering a wedding gown.

Take a look at that gorgeous ball gown with 5 layers of fabric making that fabulous pouffy skirt, admire the 4″ wide border of crystal adorned beading at the hem. Now what do you think it takes to hem something like that? Well that skirt has to be removed and shortened from the waist, without ruining the lines.
Some of the sheath dresses with princess seams have to be hemmed at the shoulders which may or may not means recutting the the armholes and neckline.

I know, so what? It’s not you wielding the needles. What does it matter to the bride, you just want it right. Here is why it matters and what you can do about it.

As you find yourself narrowing down your dress selection find out what it will take to make your gown fit right. Ask the seamstress to look at the dress you are considering. A good tailor will be able to tell if the gown is cut in such a way that the adjustments needed for your figure are do-able. For instance, I am short-waisted. There are some gowns whose look would be destroyed in the process of making them fit me. I personally love the look of the ‘Fit and Flair’ style in the Rivini collection. Unfortunately I would have to either have one custom made by the designer or risk the bodice ending somewhere around my knees. Now that would make dancing fun.

If you are in love with a dress that is going to have to be adjusted at the shoulders, where will that put the waist? I don’t know and you probably don’t either. That is why you need the help of people who handle these dresses everyday and know how they are made.

Just one more thing to think about as you search for the perfect gown for your wedding. sorry