Planning: You Are Getting Married...Now What?

Congratulations! You are engaged now what?

 

Happy New Year. I am still feeling all mushy and gushy inside from all the proposal stories and videos I've seen and heard over the Christmas/New Year holiday. One newly engaged bride I had the pleasure of speaking with was in full on panic mode. OMG I'm engaged where do I start, what do I do, where do I look, who  do I call, I need a photographer, HELP ( no seriously that was the convo) . My response...okay breeeeeeeeathe. Let's slow down a bit, it's only the December 29th, you got engaged December 25th and you are not getting married tomorrow so let's take a step back for a hot second and talk some things through:

 

• Do you want to get married in 2017 or 2018?
• Do you want a catering hall wedding or raw space wedding?
• Are you getting married locally or destination?
• Who is paying for the wedding?
• What is your wedding budget?
• How many guests are you inviting?
• Traditional Wedding or a doing it your own way?

 

HER: INSERT panic mode AGAIN....

ME: Here have some wine

  

It's clear that this particular bride, as are many others right now, had to sort through some things. And that is totally okay. At this point she doesn't have to have all the answers yesterday. Just take a step back and allow yourself the opportunity to:

1. Enjoying being a fiancée (floss that ring honey)
2. Answer some key questions so when you get off your mark you have a clear direction of what you want to see at your finish line.

Thankfully my bride was able to relax a bit (4 days lol) and now she has a better hold on the direction of her raw space 2018 wedding and I'm ecstatic to help her.

 

How are YOU handling the stress

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Parties: A Bollywood Destination Wedding In Jamaica

As a planner you often get lost in the hustle of the wedding day that you often miss some of the most important parts of the wedding.

• The look on the brides face as the door to the chapel opens.
• The smile on the littlest faces when they see a real life princess. 
• The guests speculating on the style of the gown "she" is wearing. "I hear it's a long slinky sexy gown with small details making it very very chic...you know that is her style". "Well knowing her she is in a huge ballgown with bling EVERYWHERE"
• The groom strut and high five all his "boys" when he gets his time to shine. 
• The guests as they shift and squirm in their seat anxiously waiting and asking "is she here yet, is she hear yet?

So lucky me I had the opportunity to witness all the beauty and the excitement as a guest of a Bollywood style wedding in Ocho Rios Jamaica (Ochie for us yardies). Take a look at all the beauty that exudes from this Caribbean Destination Wedding of Trinidad's own Candace + Jules #KissoonAndSushmita #RealUnityJamaica:

Her embroidered lace Maggie Sottero gown was GORG!!!!

Like a true Roman

The Bridesmaids dresses were the perfect accent.

Check dem nuh!

Custom logo seen on the flag, the dance floor and the glasses in the bar...LOVE

Colorful, Vibrant, Festive

Symbol of strength

The detailing on the cake was a perfect compliment

The View

The ceremony took place at Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church in Ochie while the reception was held at the Golden Cove Resort in Boscobel. I loved that the couple was not shy on showcasing their own culture complimented by the islands culture throughout the entire evening. Tassa band from Clarendon, Jamaica, Bollywood attire  in every brite and vibrant hue in the rainbow (I would show you mine but ahhhm..let's just say NO), pan chicken, reggae, soca and a little bit of everything else to get guests moving on the custom dancefloor.  But the absolute highlight of the evening was taking in the love shared intimately between these two; Candace the Candy Coated Cutie and Jules The Roman, along with their closest family and friends. It was a memorable occasion and I am glad I was able to witness it...as a guest:) 

Professional Photography by Adrian McDonald

Parties: Marsha + Adetunji's Jamaican and Nigerian Wedding

Last year (yes I said last year...don't you DARE judge me) I watched a fabulous couple exchange I Do's at NYC's Landmark on the Park. A beautiful venue with superb architecture and a very helpful staff. Marsha (a Jamaican Bride) and Adetunji  (A Nigerian Groom - and I didn't even have to look up the spelling of his name) wanted a fun, culturally rich event where guests can eat well, drink well and party WELL. With clothing changes and lots of culture in the room I think we were able to accomplish exactly what they were looking for.


Look at some of my favorite shots captured by Rick Messina Photography... LOVE THEM):



My favorite part of the wedding was definitely the culture. I love when couples embrace what is true and unique about their individual and couple selves. I learned a bit of Nigerian lingo as well as had fun infusing Jamaican patois in some of the signage for the reception.


As far as JunePlumm couples go, these two are my kinda peeps and I was so happy to be a partner in creating such a splendid night.


Shout out to these Fab vendors that helped to make it all worth it!

Event Planner: JunePlumm Events

Photographer: Rick Messina Photography

Cinematography: Majestic Creative Films

Catering: Creative Foods Catering

DJ: Wale (groomsman) & Assistant

Cake: Fancy n Sweet

Florist: Marina Florist

Linens: Elezye's Elegant Coverups

Officiant: Pam Randaleman

Make-up: Vee Diddy

Planning: Love Your Wedding Like Yuh Playing Mas

There is no shame in my game, I LOVE Weddings and I LOVE Carnival (not the circus...picture Rio De Janeiro). Therefore one of my favorite things to do as a Wedding Planner is to merge my two loves together. If you have every experienced a Carnival in [Insert any Caribbean Island HERE] then you know it's a feeling like no other. The euphoria, the joy, the "nothing else can top this feeling", the "cast your troubles away feeling", the "everyone is so happy and awesome" feeling, then you know why I want my clients to LOVE their wedding like they are playing mas (as in masquerading). Wouldn't you like to experience your wedding and feel like "nothing else can top this"...I would and my client should as well. So while some clients will express to me that carnival is their favorite time of the year I try to show them well let's bring the essence of carnival into your big day.


So if this Tribe Azalea carnival costume was the my clients inspiration, their wedding would look like:

Inspiration for your wedding can and should come from ANYWHERE. So why not use what you love especially if it is what joins you and your love together and celebrate.  Embrace the culture, embrace the color, enjoy the music, feel the vibes, relive the excitement that carnival, or whatever it is brings you and Love your wedding like yuh playing mas!

Photo: courtesy of Etsy

Planning: 6 Reasons You May Not Be A DIY Bride

I envy those people that get excited at the thought of picking up a tool or thingy or thingamajig or whodat or whatdowehavehere in the attempt to recreate an item that they have seen on Pinterest but refuse to buy because they can do it better. KU-DOS!!! I am NOT-THE-ONE. THERE...I said it...whew, what a load off ! There is a time and place for everything and while I commend those that have the patience and energy for it...JunePlumm Events does not for a number of reasons:

1) I just don't want to

2) DIY isn't always the easiest route. If you are like me, no patience for the perfectionism that it takes to create or recreate that totally awesome Pinterest thingy that you MUST have. Then it will drive you insane if it doesn't come out EXACTLY as you have seen online. CAUTION...BEWARE...DO NOT PASS GO!

3) DIY isn't always the cheapest option. Items purchased in bulk are typically more affordable than those purchased one here and one there. So unless this is something the is being created or recreated on a consistent basis the cost per product will be more. Not to mention if you do not have a wholesale ID affording you the option to get these items at a cost savings then...$$$$$$$

4) DIY takes patience and time. Nobody move..no one talk to me... no one even think about breathing as I attempt to stripe this vase. Yeah... doesn't sound fun to me either. I just grew another grey hair remembering that time that I tried to... you know what, I wont go there. Let's move on

5) I just don't want to

6) See #'s 1 and 5

AGAIN: Let me be clear, I APPLAUD those that are DIY'ers but it is completely okay if you are not the one. So brides, understand that while planners may have a love for most things wedding, it does not mean that everyone of us want to recreate it ourselves. There are vendors out there that have built up the skill (and patience) to handle these items in bulk and for a fraction of the cost that it would cost your planner to do it themselves. So yeah... it's not a fun project for everyone.

DISCLAIMER: While I am not into DIY I will spray paint the heck out of anything. Oh yeah, and I'm mean with it too.

Photo: Courtesy of Pinterest

Planning: You are bound to piss off someone

Twice this weekend I found myself telling two seperate brides the exact same thing, "You are bound to piss off someone while planning your wedding". It isn't becuase you are a mean (insert word the rhymes with itch HERE). It's becuase friends, family and people have a set of expections from your wedding that is most likely different from yours.

• You can't invite EVERYONE
• You can't buy EVERYTHING
• You probably won't buy the dress someone wanted you to wear
• You are not going to serve the food that everybody wanted to eat that day
• Someone will want you to play hip hop when all you want to hear is RnB during the last half hour of the wedding

...and guess what, it's okay. Whose wedding is this anyway? Im sorry I thought it was yours. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying to completely ignore your guests and don't consider them at all. Afterall, you are creating an experience for them as well. What I AM saying is, utimately you have to make the best decision that you know how to make and please don't loose sleep over the fact that 1 guest/person will be pissed off becuase you did something that they may not approve of. *oops my bad*...and now we continue.

So while you are there on a tight budget mulling over if you should invite kids, friends of friends, colleagues that you don't speak to but they are in the same office even though you can't stand them... just say to yourself " what would Jesus do". WAIT, no don't say that to yourself... look in your purse and say hmmmmmmmm now how far am I willing to make this dollar stretch?

Happy Planning

Parties: La Wedding Nouba

Every year I spend about 7-10 days with my girlfriends in Trinidad for Carnival. I love everything that is Trinidad Carnival. The music, the vibes, the costumes, the euphoric feeling of having not a care in the world. For only but a moment there is nothing to put a frown on your face because you are too busy having the time of your life with the best people in the world...FRIENDS.

This year I played Mas (masquerade) with YUMA (Young Upwardly Mobile Adults). The theme this year was Cirque and I had the pleasure of wearing the La Nouba costume. After every carnival I like to take my costumes and merge it with my other love...Weddings.

Aaaaaaaaaand...VOILA'! Here is my interpretation of La Nouba...wedding style.

This costume merged my love of bright colors and black and white stripes so it really was a no brainer on which costume I would choose for the 2014 season. This has easily been one of my top 3 costumes, and there are many so this deserves honorable mention. I can't wait to see what bands bring for 2015. The excitement has set in already!

So what do you think, could you have a La Nouba Wedding? I TOTALLY would!

Credits:

Costume, Tabletop, Chair, Bridesmaids, Centerpiece, Lamps