Hunting trips never held any appeal for me. All the packing, and driving, and camouflage, not to mention guns and dirt. Hunting trips held about as much entertainment value as a root canal, until last week.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Hunting Trips-Bride Style
Hunting trips never held any appeal for me. All the packing, and driving, and camouflage, not to mention guns and dirt. Hunting trips held about as much entertainment value as a root canal, until last week.
Friday, November 12, 2010
A Bride's Little Book of Diamond Shopping
Stories passed down from jeweler to jeweler, say Tolkowsky took to the streets of London, asking passersby to select the most appealing diamond from a small group. The layman's opinion, combined with those of the diamond cutters in his family's Belgian business, he "Calculated the proportions of the most appealing diamonds," said Kowallis. "He then had to use his math and physics skills to prove why this was."
When looking for your diamond, make sure you place your priorities on Color and Cut. For diamond Color aim for a stone with a rating of D, E, and F which are Colorless. An ideal Clarity would be flawless, but it's not necessary--here is why. The diamond's cut is what determines the reflection of light within the stone, or as some may call it, the "bling." Kowallis explained, "Any-thing cut too deep or too shallow will lose the brilliant fire that it could have.
Friday, October 29, 2010
LADIES! The newest trend of wedding cup-CAKE took Ogden by storm. Independently owned and operated Vintage Cupcakes opens at 10 am and can't keep enough cakes in stock to get through half the work day.
"WOW.... What a BUSY day, we have sold out of cupcakes at our main store. Please come visit us at the NEWGATE mall location...... thanks"
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Five Mistakes NOT To Make
The following common mistakes you don’t want held in your happily ever after.
5 Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make:
■ Not trusting your photographer – “My clients get great shots because they just let me do my thing,” says Jenny Hansen of Jenfolio.com. “They trust my eye, and my edgy ideas. Those shots always turn out the best photos.” You are not the professional. Your photographer is. Trust them.
■ Not hiring a professional photographer—“This day will only happen once,” says Terra Cooper of Magnifique Photography. “Make sure you hire someone to capture all the memories in the most beautiful way possible.”
■ Staring into the lens—“Make sure to have a little emotion in your eyes,” says Becky Reed of Ravenburg Photography. “No matter the photo, the eyes are the focus. Pretend that you're still looking into your groom’s eyes and not the camera's lens.”
■ Forgetting to tell your story—Let your photos tell your story. “My favorite weddings have concentrated on details that tell a story about the couple,” says Reed. “Too often brides focus too much on their hair and dress and forget to think about these.”
■ Not asking enough questions – “Make sure you know what is included in your package,” says Cooper. “Check on prices of albums, invitations, and prints to make sure it fits your budget. Find out if high resolution digital negatives are included in the cost.”
....
After our shoot,the squish from Jenny’s rain boots tickled the grass and weeds as we left the deserted riverbed and crossed the field back to reality.
“That was a great shoot you two!” she said as she struggled to pull a suction cupped boot off her foot.
“Ug,” she said pulling on her boot. “I can’t wait to get the proofs up on my website.”
Struggling.
“How does tonight sound?”
More struggling. The boot would not budge.
Brett and I looked at each other.
“Sure Jenny, but what about your boots? It looks like you are having a bit of trouble.”
“Oh this… this is nothing.”
Still more struggling followed by a gigantic pop and a boot launched high into the air.
“Ahhh. There we go. You just got to keep at it. It all works out if you just keep at it.”
Truer words never spoken.
The last piece of advice is not a NOT to do, but a DEFINITE TO DO. And it comes from me, not as a wedding planner, but as a bride. Make sure you photographer is persistent. If your photographer doesn’t have a huge portfolio—he/she soon will. If your photographer doesn’t know the exact place to shoot—it will come as he/she begins to shoot with you. Equipment and novelty backdrops help, but if I could choose any trait for my photographer, I want my photographer to remain persistent. Don’t give up on that perfect shot. It’s out there. Go find it.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Saving Your Photography Budget
Our budgets can sometimes follow a similar path. We think everything is under control and that we are getting really great products for our money. And then SLIP! We somehow lose control and our budget ends up soaked and muddy and useless.
But not you. Because you read this article.
My photographer saved me on my photo shoot day, and these next five tips can help you save your budget.
Less is More--Five tips to keep to a budget:
Decide what’s important – Is having the right venue or quality photography more important? Put your money where your heart is. And remember… a good photographer can make any venue look good.
Printing – Print the pictures yourself. Ask your photographer to sell you the rights to edited photos and put them on a disk. Professional photographers make huge profits by marking up their printing fees. You can print photos for hundreds of dollars cheaper if you take a disk to a wholesale printer.
Make sure you get what you pay for – “Do something with your wedding photos!” says Reed. Purchasing photo packages instead of single shots will keep your cost down. Reed explains, “Most of my packages include albums because I want my photos to seen, enjoyed, and not lost on a disc somewhere. But when it comes to photos the sky is the limit--you can even make them into post-it-notes.”
Try a photo booth—If you can’t afford a photographer for the reception, “DO NOT use those disposable camera’s on each table!” warns Cooper. “You are lucky to get any good shots. Most people forget to turn on the flash and take some pretty random pictures that you will have to PAY to develop.” Instead, “Try a photo booth,” says Hansen. “Photo booths are fun, inexpensive, and you and your guests pay only for the photos you want.”
Casual Elegance -- “You don’t need an elegant venue for elegant pictures,” says Jenny Hansen of Jenfolio. “The opposition of one elegant accessory, such as an armed chair in a dry riverbed, or a lamppost in the middle of a field excites the eye and saves you money.”
Friday, September 3, 2010
Hold on Tight!
Happiness, stress, reception menus, dressing shopping, photography sessions, and dreaded invitation mailings have a way of meshing together into a gigantic knot of stress that lives right at the base of your neck.
Weddings supposedly bring magic not migraines right?
Right.
And if your wedding brings you anything but happiness, you are working too hard.
My name is Heidi. I work as a wedding/event planner for the Ben Lomond Historic Suites in
Remember the days when you dressed up your Barbie and marched her down the aisle? Remember that smile she was wearing? You will wear that smile too when you use the money saving, stress eliminating, dream achieving ideas I plan to share with you.
I work with vendors from all over the state to give you the most up to date creative trends in the business. Having just planned my own wedding, I know what it’s like to work within a budget. Your wedding can be elegant and budget friendly.
I’m a girl who believes your wedding is the day you can have your cake and eat it too.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Vintage Love Story
I just found out about the most adorable love story!
A friend of mine told me his grandparents met roller skating here in Ogden on 24th street. A slip and an "almost fall" led to the greatest catch in a young man's life.
Literally!
He caught his future wife before she fell at the roller rink, and then a few years later "caught" her again forever.
So sweet. I can just imagine meeting a beau at roller rink, or the train station. Your eyes meet, he takes your hand and your heart skips a beat. A jolt of excitement for the night ahead sends you twirling. You dance the night away to the music of Big Band Swing and then steal away to secret corners lit by the glow of crystal chandeliers.
SUCH ROMANCE!
And while that time in history set the stage for elegant romance, you will still find the stage set and ready for players at the Ben Lomond. Let our crystal chandeliers, marble floors, and hand-crafted architecture provide your event with the elegant romance you seek.
And while I can't promise you roller skates, I can promise we will make your event one for the history books.
Friday, March 12, 2010
A Happy February Bride
"I must say, you guys have a beautiful hotel... getting married here was the perfect place.. i would recommend you to everyone! we got a 2 bedroom condo and it was stunning!"
-- A Ben Lomond February Bride.
I LOVE it when Brides are happy! It makes all the work COMPLETELY worth it.
Often brides are so stressed out on their wedding day, they cannot even enjoy the celebration.
Ben Lomond Brides know that PLANNING leads to partying on their wedding day!
When you meet with your event coordinator, set clear expectations as to how you want your day to run.
Did you give the coordinator a time line?
Do you need a rehearsal?
Who is running the show on the day of the event?
CLEARLY explain to the event coordinator what you expect from him or her and I can promise you THEY WILL DELIVER. In this business, we want you to be as happy as possible. Giving event coordinators clear directions and expectations leads to a party YOU will enjoy.
Thanks for stopping by!
Lets keep in touch.
heidi
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Any bride can plan a wedding reception where she is the star; but a Ben Lomond Bride plans her reception as a party for her guests. A Ben Lomond Bride can hold the spot light and throw a rockin party all at once.
Will your guests have fun at the reception or just stand in line for a buffet?
Will guests strike up conversation and meet new people, or give you a hug and leave?
Here is CHEAP, yet elegant, way to add a little something to your guest experience--
We used large pieces of paper as centerpieces for reception tables. Guests could draw pictures, leave messages for the couple, or play tick-tack-toe with new friends at the table. The table decor served as a great ice-breaker, promoting conversation and a casual, laid back tone for the reception.
BEST PART-- you couldn't tell it was paper until you touched it! The paper looked like linnen even close up.
Who would have thought right?
Paper table coverings.
Elegant. Easy. Economical.
Thanks for stoping by today!
Lets keep in touch.
Heidi
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Ben Lomond Bride--Here We GO!
You made a GREAT choice to stop by today.
I have many fun, and budget savy secrets to share with you and I don't even know where to get started. But there is so much pressure in the first blog. It's like a first date.
What do I say?
What will they think?
Will they like me?
and more importantly...
Is my outfit doing me justice?
Well, lets just get started by saying that here at the Ben Lomond Bride, I promise to provide you with as many new and budget friendly ideas for your wedding as I can gather.
Our team of decorators, florists, cake decorators, and photographers, will offer you enought tools and unique ideas to create the elegant, classy, uniquely YOU, wedding that fits your dream and your budget.
Thanks for stopping by today.
Lets keep in touch.
Heidi