The People Make the Wedding

Remember, no matter how beautiful the flowers, the dress, the tables, it is ultimately and finally the people who make a Wedding beautiful. It is the love shared by the Bride and Groom with their family and friends that makes the Day!

Taking Pictures

The preparation for a Wedding can take a year. The day goes by in a blink -- probably the fastest 8 hours you'll ever have. And you may be so overwhelmed, with all the people, rituals, photography, etc., that you don't have an opportunity to take everything in. I recommend to all my brides that they have lots of photos, and videotape taken. The photos are what you will have forever to commemorate this one special -- this one Perfect -- day. Encourage all your friends to bring cameras. Some of my favorite wedding photos are ones taken by friends -- candid, spontaneous shots not taken by my professional photographers. After the wedding and honeymoon were over, I entertained myself by photoshopping some of my own photos with special effects, etc. It was so much fun! These photos will enhance your memories and whenever you look at them you will get to re-experience your Wedding Day. Have fun!
Coach Paula

Be Prepared!

Tips for the Bride

* Wear a white kimono over your dress after you are put in it until your big reveal.
* Test your bouquet and bridesmaids bouquets for drops of water or color release by wiping the side of the bouquet across a white towel. (Some flowers do give off color).
* Have lambswool (sticky back type) available for your shoes, if needed
* Have an emergency kit -- bandaids, needle and thread (white or ivory, or the colors of your dress and your attendants' dresses), safety pins, styptic pencil, tweezers, q-tips, face tissue, make-up remover stick (works great on eye make-up smudges), aspirin, spot remover appropriate for your dress (note: you must check with your dress manufacturer or dry cleaner about which spot remover can be used on your dress), corn starch or baby powder for minor spills to your dress, extra stockings, extra underwear, masking tape, scotch tape, scissors and antacids.
* Don't drink -- you're already at risk of being spaced out -- don't ruin your reception by being drunk or sick (yes, it has happened...)
* If you don't have a coordinator, have a go-to friend who will handle details, like your purse, and taking you to the bathroom...
* Have someone (a friend or coordinator) with your photo checklist so you make sure you get all the shots you want. Your photographer is moving rapidly in the moment and may need to be reminded of certain shots.
* It is nice to take photos with each couple/guest so that they can have a photo keepsake -- even if you just email it to them. It makes guests feel that they are a part of your big day!
* Make sure you talk to each of your guests and thank him/her for coming!
* Don't fight with anyone on your wedding day. (Trust me -- this is a biggie!).
* Get sleep and don't drink the night before the wedding -- you will need all your energy. After all, you are going to be the star of a major production!
* Have fun at your Wedding!

And this post is written with love for my niece Linda, and my cousin, Elke -- two beautiful Brides-to-be! Love, Paula

It's Still Wedding Season

All the beautiful brides are getting ready for their big day! They are thinking about many things, including the cost of the wedding, will everything be perfect, will they look like a queen -- the usual. But there is also something else happening. Each girl/woman is preparing to step into a new life, a new identity, new responsibilities. The veil will be lifted and the joy will abound! Celebrate! This is a River Crossing and there is no going back! You are joining a new club! If you need help along the way, consider Bridal Coach. At Perfect Bridal Coaching, we coach from Engagement through the First Year of Marriage and beyond.

The Wedding

I heard someone talking about how she had to get a dress for a wedding she was going to -- a dress for the wedding and outfits for the other pre and post-wedding events. Then she said she was going on a long trip and was not buying anything. I asked her the difference between the wedding and the trip. The trip is regular life, she said. Museums, restaurants, hiking, touring -- regular life. But a wedding -- a wedding is special, she said. A special occasion where everyone -- not just the bride -- wants to look their best because it adds to the specialness. I liked that.

Wwhen you go to a wedding

Make a big fuss over the Bride.
Don't gossip.
Don't speculate on the cost of the drinks, the dress, or the band.
Enjoy the party, for the sake of the Bride.
Tell the Bride she is beautiful.
Dance.
Talk to other people at the Wedding, especially the parents and close relatives of the Bride.
Show you are honored to be a part of the festivities.
Be sincere.
Come with the intention of celebrating the love of the Bride and Groom.
Don't drink too much.
Add to the love of the day.

Power Struggles of the Engaged

When two people decide to get married, it's all champagne and roses and diamonds. When they begin to plan the wedding, they often find themselves in different territory -- more like the TV show, Survivor. You don't have to travel half-way around the world to find a jungle to survive in, not when you are engaged. If you are "middle-tiers, " Brides and Grooms aged 30 and up, you may be in for a shock. You could be a participant in your own Reality Show of "Who is Going to Prevail" here. For all your love and passion, you now are making decisions together. In one true (I promise you) example, a bride-to-be and groom-to-be spent 15 minutes in an aisle of Bed, Bath & Beyond arguing over which cutting board to register for! They left, mad, without registering for either. The Bride later told me that she had gone back alone, bought two of the cutting boards for the kitchen they will already sharing, and that the Groom didn't even notice. So, a word to the wise -- If you start battling over the small, insignficant decisions, it's usually about something else, often times, who is going to be in control. My advice -- walk away from the situation if it is not a time-bound decision, and discuss it in a rational manner that encompasses room for compromise. If it is time-bound, look for an option that works for both of you. Often sitting down with paper and pencil and making your case on paper, and then exchaning papers, can keep the emotional tension down and the productivity level up. Happy Decision Making!

Bridal Soiree 2009

Paula Verbit and Perfect Bridal Coaching will be participating in the upcoming Beverly Hills Bridal Soiree 2009 bridal show on Sunday, March 29, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ingrid's Cafe on Santa Monica Blvd. $5.00 in advance, $10.00 at the door! If you are a Bride in the Greater LA Area, hope to see you there!

Bridal Soiree 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ingrid's Cafe
9861 S Santa Monica Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
310.277.9377
www.ingridscafe.com