More Help with the January & February Wedding Planning Checklist

A friend has hinted around at being your maid of honor—yet you have no intention of asking her. How do you break the news without ruing the friendship?

You should express how you feel in a way that doesn’t hurt her feelings. Say something like, it’s a difficult decision and that you value her friendship. Carefully explain why the other person is a more logical choice. Maybe she introduced you to your fiancé’ or helped you through a particular tough time. Let her down easy.

What are your thoughts?  Add a comment or if you have a question, send it through the  Formspring form on the sidebar.

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

(310) 487-9698

Wedding & Engagement Announcement Submission Process Tips

In order to help assist with your wedding planning "TO DO" list, I will provide tips and recommendations throughout the planning process.  Below are tips on submitting your wedding-engagement announcement to local publications.  

• Select one or two newspapers in your area to which you will submit your wedding/engagement information.
• Ask if there is a standard form for you to fill out that will cover the basic details.
• Your information should be typed neatly.
• Provide relevant details such as your engagement  date, wedding date, location, the bride's maiden name, your parents names and city of residence and where you will live once you are married.
• Consider including the names and cities of residence of your wedding attendants and where you will go on your honeymoon.
• Add background information such as where you each grew up, where you went to school and where you now work.
• Include a daytime and evening phone number and email in case the editor has any questions or wants more information.
• Include a photograph with your name, phone number and email address on the back. Ask the paper what size and quality of photograph they prefer. Some accept only black and white, while others will take color.
• Provide a stamped self-addressed envelope if you want your photograph back. (Since photographs can easily get misplaced in the newsroom, it is best to send a copy, not an original.)

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

(310) 487-9698

12-Month Wedding Planning Checklist

10-12 Months Before the Big Day!

You got engaged for the New Year and you've had a couple of weeks to relish in the occasion.  Now what do you do?  It doesn't matter if you've known each other for three years or three months, getting engaged is one of the most exciting and busiest times of your life.  The first step is to share the news with family and friends.  Once the news is out that you're going to get married, parties and lots of decision-making will follow.  Understand that the way you and your fiance' negotiate with each other and with your families to plan your celebration, honeymoon and new home now is the best "dress rehearsal" you have for marriage.  

Now the planning process begins.   Your families begin voicing their opinions, your friends begin giving advice, and the workload at work didn't disappear just because you got engaged.  This is where you begin to get overwhelmed.  Don't panic,  I'm going to walk you through the 12-Month Wedding Planning Checklist as if I were your wedding planner.  Take a deep breath and follow my plan.  Of course this is going be a 12 month process so you won't get all the information in one blog post.  Stay tuned each month for the next step.  In the meantime, let's get started with what you should be doing for January and February. Also, remember you can ask questions as we go along by filling out the Formspring form on the sidebar.  I'll respond within 24 hours.

• Introduce both families to share the good news. (The way this is done is based on relationships)
• Publish the news. (After you've told relatives and friends about your engagement, you can choose to announce your engagement in local newspapers, magazines and newsletters)  
• Discuss who's paying for what and then set a budget amount. (The wedding planner can help with putting together a budget as well as help manage it)   
• Create a guest list. (This can be managed the wedding planner)
• Choose your wedding party. (I suggest people that have played a meaningful role in your life.  Don't feel guilty or obligated to choose people that you're not really close to, but they feel that you are)
• Create a website to share your engagement and provide information about the wedding.
• Consider whitening your teeth for engagement parties and photographs.
• Hire a wedding planner.  (Trust me, this is the beginning of the planning process, you're going to need one.  Call me at (310) 487-9698 for details)
• Decide if you want premarital counseling.
• Start looking at photos of wedding dress for inspiration.
• Begin thinking about where you'd like to go on your honeymoon. (This is a project you can give to your fiance' so he feels involved.)
• Begin researching venues for the reception and ceremony, if they'll be in different locations. (Sit down with your fiance' and make a list of priorities.  When weighing locations, first consider the number of guest, activities (dancing, eating---buffet, finger food, or a seated meal?), budget limitations, and a proximity to your home or honeymoon site) 
• Create a Save-The-Date guest list.  (This can be managed by the wedding planner)

Remember, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me at (310) 487-9698 or submit your question(s) on the Formspring form on the sidebar.  A response will be provided within 24 hours. If you'd like to know when a new post has been posted, you can subscribe by entering your email address above.

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

(310) 487-9698

PRESS RELEASE

Beverly Harris, President & Founder of Beverly Harris Weddings & Events based in Los Angeles, California.     Best wishes for the New Year!         May it bring to you and your family health,         happiness, peace and prosperity. May it see your         hopes and dreams fulfilled and may it be rich in the         successful accomplishment of your highest aims. PRESS RELEASE Beverly Harris Weddings & Events, based in Los Angeles, California launches a new website featuring weddings & events. www.bev-harris.com Based in Los Angeles, California Beverly Harris Weddings & Events have planned weddings and events all over Los Angeles, California and its surrounding areas. Beverly Harris Weddings & Events, formerly known as Leave It To Me Events is featured in the 2010 issue of Bodas La Revista Magazine, is a 2010 Bride's Choice Award winner and in 2009 nominated by MyFoxLA as one of the Best Businesses in the Inland Empire. Weddings Services Offered: Beverly Harris Weddings & Events focuses on the "Busy Bride", offering Full-Service, Partial-Service and Month-Of wedding packages. Full-Service Wedding Package: This package takes care of every detail from finding and securing your reception site and vendors to organizing your wedding day items at the end of the wedding. Partial-Service Wedding Package: This package assists and guides you as needed. You remain hands-on, doing much of the research and decision-making on your own. Month-Of Wedding Package: This package is designed to assist the bride and groom one month prior to the wedding. All the planning has been completed by the bride and groom, now you're ready to pass it onto the to coordinate the day of the wedding. New Wedding Package Offered: Personal Bridal Assistant Wedding Package: This package offers a personal bridal assistant to assist the wedding couple with personal errands throughout the wedding planning process. Ala Cart services offered: Coordination of engagement party, bridal shower, bachelor party, rehearsal dinner, next day breakfast or brunch, candy and dessert station and welcome gift baskets for out-of-town guests. Events: Beverly Harris Weddings & Events ensures that every facet of your event is professionally coordinated allowing you to enjoy the experience. Each service is provided with great quality control, personalized service and smooth execution resulting in the creation of a unique event and extremely satisfied customers. All events are custom designed to meet the needs and budgets of the client. To make your special event spectacular, you need the right people. Beverly Harris Weddings & Events will push the parameters of excellence to produce exceptional ambiance at your next event.

Allie & Matt's Wedding

Allie and Matt contacted me almost a year before the wedding.  In 2009 I coordinated Allie's sister's wedding.  They were very happy with what they saw so they asked me to help coordinate their wedding. Allie and Matt are such a sweet couple and they have a story to tell that will have you in tears.  They are so special. 

Allie and Matt's wedding was in December, so they decided they wanted to go with the holiday colors.  Their wedding theme was, "Comfort & Joy".  Their wedding cake looked like it was covered with snow.  The wedding was absolutely beautiful, just like the couple!

Venue:  Castaway Restaurant

Coordinator:  Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

Photographer: Gloria Mesa Photography

Florist: Hanna Chang

Limo: Agate Limousine & Sedan Services

DJ:  Peter Carlstedt

Cake:  Cakery Bakery

Dress:  David's Bridal

Victoria's 15th Birthday Party

Victoria, as you can see from the photo below, is a beautiful young lady who was turning 15.  She called me and asked if I could help plan her birthday party.  There was so much excitement in her voice, I couldn't say, "No".  We scheduled a meeting with her mom and a couple of days later they called to say they wanted to hire me to help with the party planning.  We started looking for venues right away.  Victoria is definitely a young lady that knows what she wants, such elegance and class.  From the beginning she had her theme and colors chosen: Masquerade Ball - colors: Red, Black and White.  I truly enjoyed working with Victoria and her mom.  I hope I'm around to plan her wedding! 

Venue:  Verandas Manhattan Beach
Coordinator:  Beverly Harris Weddings & Events
Photographer:  Graham & Graham Photography
DJ:  Rory with You Should Be Dancing
Florist:
Videographer:
Red Carpet & Backdrop Setup:

Karina & Mario's Wedding

Karina and Mario were awesome clients. I had so much fun planning their wedding. Both Karina and Mario work for Lexus in a professional capacity. Their wedding was in October with a fall theme, colors: orange, brown, gold and white. Karina and Mario booked my "Month Of" wedding package. However, we spent time together picking out linen, looking for a harpist to play at the ceremony, deciding what kind of menzanite tree to use for the placecards and they even added my service to decorate their candy buffet using their theme colors. As usual, the wedding is over and my clients are living their lives as a married couple. I wish Karina and Mario all the happiness and blessings!

Ceremony:  St. Mary Magdalen Church

Venue: Sportsmen's Lodge - Studio City

Coordinator: Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

Photographer:  Glenn Currie Photography

Ceremony music: Pat Maki Players

Videographer:  Javier Cardenas

Table linen:  Imperial Party Rentals

Candy Buffet:  Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

Menzanite Tree:  Best Party Center

Flowers:  Lopez Flowers

DJ:  DJ Gonzo

Cake:  La Creme Bakery