It's My Birthday!!

Tomorrow is my 30^th birthday and I am surprisingly excited about this "milestone".  For weeks my friends and family kept asking me what I am doing to celebrate and I really had no plans and I didn't feel like making any.  I'm not depressed or anything it's just when you plan for a living you don't feel like planning for yourself sometimes.  Not to mention I just returned from a great vacation so I'm pretty taped out right now.  So with no plans and nothing really special to do I decided I would give something on my birthday.  One lucky couple will receive 8 hours of planning hours from me!! 


During the planning process many brides need advice and not just any advice but professional advice.  So what do they do, the take the web for hours on to get the answer to one question.  I’ve decided to help one happy couple step away from the web and just ask the planner!!  I will be there to help you throughout your entire planning process. This will include vendor recommendations, budget tips, décor inspiration, etiquette advice and whatever you may need during the planning process.  Here is how you enter:

 In 500 words or less tell me about you, your proposal and your love story. Please be sure to include you and your fiancé’s first and last names, location, contact information, a picture and your tentative wedding date so I can ensure availability. The contest begins today and ends March 1^st. The winner will be announced on March 4^th. Your wedding must be taken place in New York City, Long Island or New Jersey areas during between June 2011 and April 2012. Email your entry to  info@weddedluxe.com.

Good Luck to all!!

Pantone's Color of the Year 2010

Last year, Pantone's color of the year was turquoise and it is still a popular choice for 2011 weddings. I've noticed many brides are searching for the web for turquoise inspiration. So by popular demand, here are the inspiration boards of Pantone's color of the year 2010.


Colors: Turquoise & White
Accent Colors: Gray

Photo Credits: 1) Vases TheKnot 2) Vintage Car StyleMePretty 3) Flower Girl Dress MyKateParkerWedding 4 ) Shoes Project Wedding 5) Cocktails TheKnot

Colors:  Turquoise & Orange

Accent Colors:  Ivory and Gold

Photo Credits: Top from left to right 1) Project Wedding, 2) The Knot, 3) Project Wedding, 4) Merriment Designs

Colors: Turquoise & Purple

Accent Colors: Blush, Mauve or Silver

Photo Credits Top from left to right 1) CeCi New York, All other from The Knot

Color: Turquoise & Yellow
Accent Colors: White or Ivory

Photo Credits Top from left to right 1) Project Wedding, 2) MelBarlow.com (snippet & ink) 3) The Knot, 4 & 5) Project Weddings

Happy Planning,

Deniesha Joseph
Wedded Luxe
http://www.weddedluxe.com/
718.938.4713

Unusual Wedding Venues - Tips on making it work!!

Photo Credits: New York Wedding Guide Central Park Zoo

Sometimes the venue that's for your wedding breaks all the rules but it's still the perfect setting for your nuptials. A museum, a farm, heck even an aquarium maybe the right place for your wedding.  These types of venues are more than welcomed in the world of weddings but your wedding will still need all the elements that make a great venue. You may need to add a kitchen or even bathroom to have your wedding at this unusual venue. You even have to build a reception space from scratch. As a wedding planner, I love these spaces but you should know all that goes into having your wedding there.

Photo Credits: Martha Stewart Weddings Tent Wedding 

Catering

Your caterer of choice will need to bring in a make shift kitchen for outdoor venues or venues without full kitchens. They will charge you for the rental of this equipment.

Bathrooms

Port a potties have come a long way so don’t be scared of the idea of renting one for your wedding.

Tables, chairs and linens, Oh my!

Renting all the tables, chairs, linens, china, glassware and flatware is very important. You have to have more than enough for everyone and you have to ensure you have everything you need. Consult with your caterer or wedding planner a list of must haves.

Photo Credits: My Wedding Binder

Dance Floors

An outdoor space will require you to rent a dance floor.  A rental company will be able to tell you exactly how big of a floor you will need.

The Elements

You have to keep your guests cool in the summer, warm in the winter and dry all year round.  Renting heaters, air conditioners and the right tenting are required when planning an outdoor soiree.  

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713

Real Cultural Wedding - Wendy G. Photography

A new feature on the blog is real cultural weddings from some of the country's best photographers.  Today's real wedding from one of my favorite NYC Wedding Photographers, Wendy G.  

For more real weddings and awesome portraits, check out Wendy G's blog

Infusing Your Culture Through….. Hors d’oeuvres

Adding your favorite food to your cocktail hour is a great way to celebrate your culture on your wedding day.  Let your guests enjoy some of the culinary delights from your culture or both cultures if you’re blending two families together. No one will ever refuse an empanada!!

Planning Tip:
If your venue doesn’t provide what you are looking for, discuss if it can be done or if you are able to bring outside food in. If you are already bringing outside catering, talk to your caterer of choice about the foods you would like to have.  You should know their specialty before you hire them


Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713

Wedding Venue - Room Transformation

Last week we discussed selecting the right venue and what makes it the right venue for you. Well sometimes the right venue is almost perfect but we need to make some changes to make absolutely perfect.  It fits everything you need for a great reception but the decor could use some tweaking , this is no reason to change your venue.  There are ways to fix this minor set back.

Chair covers or changing out the chairs will dramatically change the room. When you have 150 burgundy chairs in a room it’s a focal point.  Cover them with your matching colors or ivory chair covers to give a neutral look. Also consider changing out the chairs if your venue has space to store the other chairs.

Photo Credit: The Cloth Connection

Draping the room with a neutral color will create a whole new color palette to the room. This will cover any fixtures that can’t be removed from the room while providing you with a whole new look to play with.

Photo Credit: Elite Rental

Lighting can do wonders to plain room and hide what you don’t want your guests to see.  With the right lighting, you can highlight the pretty things and dim the lights on the not so pretty.  Also it can change the color of a room instantly. 

The Lighting Guy

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713

Guest Blogger - Brandy Gomez Duplessis

Today we have a special treat! Brandy Gomez Duplessis, celebrity makeup artist is sharing her great beauty tips with us.

Brandy Gomez-Duplessis is a Celebrity Makeup Artist who currently resides in New York and part time in New Orleans. Brandy is also a L'OREAL Paris Pro Makeup Artist. New York makeup artist has worked with celebrities like; Angela Bassett, Kerry Washington, Kim Kardashian, Jordin Sparks, Anika Noni Rose, Edie Falco, and Kathryn Erbe, to name a few. Brandy is also a high demand celebrity bridal makeup artist in New York, that brides usually book her makeup service 1 year in advance. You can also keep up with Brandy by reading her personal blog "Inside The Life of A Makeup Artist", her fashion blog "Black Tie Stiletto" or follow her glamxurious tweets on twitter.

Brandy take is away!!


One of the many questions that are asked by my brides during their bridal consultations is “How can all my bridesmaids have the same makeup look?”  There is no right or wrong answer about makeup looks for bridesmaids. Many traditional brides prefer their bridesmaids to have a uniform look from their dresses, hair, shoes and even makeup. More modern brides allow their bridesmaids to select their own makeup look for the wedding day.

If you’re a bride that opts for all of the bridesmaids to be uniform with their makeup and your bridal party is of different ethnicity's, this can be tricky. Consult with a professional in advance and this will save you a lot of stress and make for happy & glam bridesmaids. I find darker eye shadow colors like; golds, browns, blues, purples and grey’s to be great on all skin tones. Of course you will have to tweak some of the colors a little more as all these shades will compliment each of your bridesmaids from fair, medium, and dark skin uniquely.

My bride, Domini, wanted her girls to all wear grey eye shadow on the day of the wedding, so I selected one of my favorite shade in grey; L’OREAL HIP Cream Eye Shadow Paint in Steely. What I love about the cream shadow paint is that it’s long wearing, creamy, and bendable.  It does not crease, even on oily eye lids, and it’s an eye shadow color that can be worn on all skin tones.  I just lined the eyes with L’OREAL HIP cream black eyeliner and finished the lips with a nude lip color. Try the Cream Shadow Paints in different shades, either way you’ll be sure to have a stunning group of ladies that will help make your special day GLAMXURIOUS.

CREDITS:

Written by: Brandy Gomez-Duplessis

Photographer by Oscar Rajo

Makeup by New York Celebrity Bridal Makeup ArtistBrandy Gomez-Duplessis

Picture courtesy of L'OREAL Paris

Inspiration Board - Pantone's Color of the Year

Pantone announced the color of the year is Honey Suckle.  This announcement always causes a buzz in the bridal industry.  We look forward to seeing how it all translates into the wonderful world of weddings. So here’s my contribution to wedding inspiration. 

 All Photos Courtesy of The Knot

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713

First Steps of Wedding Planning - Selecting A Venue

One of the first choices you will make during the wedding planning process is selecting a venue. There are some key questions you should ask yourself when you go venue hunting.

Does this venue fit my wedding style, mood and theme?

Your venue should fit the mood you’re trying to create for your wedding. The space should compliment your vision not distract and confuse it. If you choose a venue that doesn't fit the vision, you are running the risk of spending more money to transform the venue to match your vision.

Does this venue fit into my price range?

Before you visit a venue you should know your budget and how much of that budget will go towards your reception which is about 50% of your overall budget. Don't visit a venue that is twice your budget. It will only upset you when you see it and it is perfect and you can't have it. It's not worth the risk. However don't select a venue solely based on price. If it is cheap, it is cheap for a reason. Like my mother always says good things aren't cheap and cheap things are not good.

Can this venue accommodate the number of guests I'm inviting?

The venue should accommodate your large or intimate wedding. You don't want your guests to be crammed in a room with no space to move nor do you want the room to swallow them. The venue should fit your number of guests comfortably. Also some venues have a minimum so make sure you will meet their requirement.

Your answer should be yes to all these questions before you sign on the dotted line. If any of them are a no then you should have a solution in place to accommodate your needs.  If you’re spending too much money to make it work, then consider another venue that makes sense for your wedding.

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713

5 Common Wedding Planning Mistakes

This week has been all about the side of wedding planning we don’t really like to talk about. The ugly side we try to ignore but we must address so we can avoid these mishaps. I’m ending this week with common wedding planning mistakes to avoid. Next week I’ll go back to all the pretty little things!

Over Budget:
This happens very often to a lot of couples. You start planning, you book the venue, hire vendors and before you know it you’re 10k over budget. How did you get there? One possibility is you probably didn’t set a realistic budget to begin with and two you selected vendors that weren’t in your price range. You must have a realistic and definite number on what you are comfortable with and you also need to know how much your dream wedding will cost you. If you are planning for 200 guests, please don’t expect to spend 15k, that is not realistic. You either have to up the budget or cut the guest list. Also give yourself a price range not just a number. You should have a little wiggle room for mishaps or some extras you decide to throw in.

Keep Your Theme In Mind:
Every aspect of your wedding will help add to your overall theme/feel of your wedding day. It's easy to get overwhelmed by all the great ideas out there for your to choose from but all of them are not for your wedding.     I know they tell you that you can have it all but truth be told you can't! You can have a lot but make sure it all fits within your vision.  Your personal style will always shine through if you stay true to yourself and not the latest trends.

Wasting Money:
I know I told you not to go over budget but you should never choose a venue or vendor solely based on price. You found a venue that’s half the price than all the others you’ve looked at but you know what it probably looks it. Now you will have to spend that extra money sprucing up the place to your likings. Spend wisely and get the best bang for your buck. It will save you a lot of time and sanity if you do.

Forgetting Your Guests:
It’s your day we all know this but you are hosting a party for your friends and family so you need to keep them in mind. You will have everything you want just remember what your guests like in the process. So if you have a family that loves to party, eat and drink, then you should have a rocking DJ and/or band, a great menu with an open bar to boot! You will not enjoy your wedding if your guests are bored to tears.

Loosing Focus:

Your wedding is about the new life you are about to start. It’s not about the flowers, the cake or the dress. It’s about you, your fiancée, the love you have for each other and the love of your family and friends. If you don’t lose sight of the bigger picture, you will enjoy your wedding planning process a lot more, trust me. When something doesn’t go according to plan just remember what the day is all about it. This will make finding a solution to the situation will be easy.

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713

Wedding Planning Myth Busting

Everyone knows what a wedding is and all it entails but do you know what it really takes to plan a wedding? I bet your answer is yes but there are some myths that I come across every now and again that I would like clear up for all my newly engaged couples out there.

Myth #1 - Destination Weddings Are So Much Easier
A destination wedding for a group of people still requires planning.  If you are eloping this statement does not apply to you.  I'm talking to the couples out there that are inviting at least 20 of their friends and family to a location outside of their home town and will require some level of traveling.  You will have to put in some work with coordinating a destination wedding.  Yes it maybe a tad bit easier but it's not free of any planning, decision making or organization on your part.

Myth #2 - I Saw It On Show Once
I love reality television as much as the next person.  I watch most wedding related shows but keep in mind these people are on television. So when that planner secures a couple a great venue for a knock out price it's all for television.  The vendor is aware of the free marketing they will receive by doing their colleague/buddy a huge favor for the cameras.  We all can call in a favor but free or half the price is not reality. Also keep in mind that some shows pay for the couples dream wedding.  The services are usually donated by the vendors in exchange for the advertising they will receive.  Use the show for inspiration for your wedding, you may even find a vendor you like but don't be surprised at the price tag that comes with it.

Myth #3 -  I Can Do Everything Myself
www.absolutelynot.com and www.youhavelostyourmind.net!! You can not plan the biggest party of your life all by yourself.  A wedding is not just a party where you invite your guests, have food, drinks and music. That is just half the battle.  A wedding is full of well orchestrated details that all come together to create the wedding you have always dreamed of.  You will need guidance and assistance.  I will not go into my spiel on why you should hire a wedding planner just yet.  However I will tell you that if you want something done right ask for help not do it yourself.

Myth #4 - My Friends Don't Mind Helping Out
I recently read on another blog, my friends at Always A Bridesmaid about this same issue and I had to address it because I could not agree more. Your friends absolutely don't mind stuffing envelops and assembling favors but they do mind being your wedding planner/bridesmaid/florist/caterer on the day of your wedding.  Don't go too far with the DIY projects that require a lot of assistance from your friends and family.  Your friends want to be supportive not be your wedding planner.

Myth #5 – DOC Coordination is just the Day of My Wedding
Day of coordination really doesn’t exist. I’m sure where the phrase came from but it’s misleading. No good coordinator will swoop in the day before your wedding and start working at least no planners I know. You need at least the last month before your wedding with your coordinator so they ensure your wedding to do list is taken cared of. They also need to get to know more about you and your wedding. For this reason my equivalent to this package is called Final Touches because that’s what it is. We come in and help during those final weeks of wedding planning. Do you really want a stranger to just show up or do you want someone who completely understands you, your wedding and the vision?

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713

First Steps To Planning Your Wedding

I usually start off the New Year with a list of the first steps you should take when planning your wedding. This year, I've decided to take a different approach.  Your very first step in wedding planning is......

STOP! DROP! & ROLL! 

Let me explain!

STOP: Stop and take it all in.  You're excited, your family is excited, your friends, your coworkers even the lady that does your manicure is happy to hear your good news.  So enjoy this moment of sharing the good news with the people who love you.  This maybe a once in a lifetime moment for you and your fiancée so enjoy it to the fullest.

DROP: Drop the wedding wedding magazines you just purchased, step away from the television, close the binder your BFF gave you as a gift and don't surf the web for hours (but please continue to read this blogpost).  There is a lot of inspiration and wedding planning advice out there. Your friends and family also have some advice to share with you but before you start looking at anything, you should make some solid decisions.  Just you and your fiancée.

ROLL: Roll with this happy feeling for a little while.  Just be giddy for a moment.  Be the girl that gazes are ring on a crowded subway when everyone else is upset that there are delays but you can't help but smile. I am not saying that there will be no happy times during the planning process, there will be plenty of them but there will also be stress, busy schedules, debates over the right shade of white and countless hours of you going over every little detail of your wedding.  The planning process is so much fun, but this feeling of  "I'm so in love I just want scream" is priceless! I want you to enjoy it to the fullest!!

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713