Did yesterday’s Trash-the-Dress video spike your interest for after-the-wedding dress options? If so, here are some new, old, borrowed, and maybe even blue ideas…
1. Have it cleaned and preserved. Do this if you have hopes that your daughter will wear it someday. Professional preservation can costs between $120 and $200. Check at your local dry cleaner to compare prices.
2. Stash your wedding dress back into its hanging bag and stuff it into an unsuspecting closet.
3. Sell your dress. Try a consignment store or eBay! Many of those budget brides are happy to buy your one-time-used dress for a fraction of what you paid. NOTE the fraction amount. The new bride will still have to get it altered and cleaned for her big day.
4. Donate it to a great cause. This is one of my favorite options. There are plenty of to-be brides out there scavenging thrift shops in search of their fairy tale dress. Encourage your bridesmaids too donate their dresses as well. We recommend Hope Closet. They are an organization that gives dresses to high school girls who can’t afford a dress to wear to their prom, homecoming, or other special high school event.
5. Make a new dress … out of your wedding dress. You love the fabric, it is fitted to your every curve, and you feel beautiful in it. Why not make it into the ultimate cocktail/ party dress? Have it hemmed to tea dress length and add some punches of color like a great bow, colored straps, or… if you dare … have the entire dress died to a new color.
6. And of course… Trash the Dress. Yesterday’s video is a real answer to the “What to do with the dress now?” question. Make a day out of it. Bring a photographer and make some great memories!
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Archive for October, 2009
What to do with “The Dress” after the wedding…
Friday, October 30th, 2009Trend Watch: Trash the Dress
Thursday, October 29th, 2009You dreamed about it for years, searched for it month after month, went to endless shops and fittings … Now what are you going to do with “The Dress“? Check out this video for an alternative to the traditional after-the-wedding dress care:
Could you do this to your wedding dress?
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Season Your Wedding To Perfection
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009Fall is definitely here, and in full force. It’s time to dig out your fleece jackets and get to raking the yard. Whether you are picking out your Halloween costume, carving your pumpkin, or sitting in your tree stand, you just can’t help but notice the beautiful colors around us … reds, yellows, oranges, even the browns look nice.
With all the beauty that nature surrounds us with, why not have this season be the inspiration for your wedding 
celebration? To get that perfect fall feel at your wedding, use rich autumn tones like reds, maroons, and browns mixed with accents of yellow, orange, and champagne.
You can tie nature into your decorations by using twigs and sticks for centerpieces. Add in some fake fall leaves, tea candles, and rich gem bead strands for a romantic emphasis.
Self-serve, old fashion candy store displays are a popular trend popping up in receptions. Cater this idea to your fall wedding by mixing and matching old jars and vases filled with candy matching your color pallet … candy corn, Red Hots, Reese’s Pieces, and Milk Duds.
Want to start planning your autumn wedding before the leaves fall?
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5 Tips for Choosing Unique Music for Your Wedding
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009Most of you have seen some of the crazy wedding videos featuring unusual processionals, surprise dances, and choreographed grand entrances- (if you haven’t click here) - but what are you going to do for your wedding? If you want to make your wedding ceremony or reception unique with some unexpected music here are a few guidelines to follow:
1. Choose songs that your guests will recognize and enjoy. Don’t choose songs that are too new or obscure.
2. Pick a song that reflects your personality as a couple and fits with your wedding theme.
3. Decide between an instrumental version of your song or one with lyrics. If the song you choose is popular you won’t even need the lyrics to set the mood you want.
4. Keep in mind how long your song will be played for. You may only have the first minute of music… so choose something that impacts in the first 30 seconds.
5. Whatever song you choose, it needs to be appropriate. Choose songs that are fun and upbeat. Just because your wedding may be formal doesn’t mean it has to be stuffy, BUT it is never appropriate to play explicit lyrics.
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Is there a Doctor in the House?
Monday, October 26th, 2009With all the sickness that is going around… H1N1, the flu, colds… the list goes on, we thought we would go straight to the doctor with this one..
Nearly all wedding ceremonies consist of readings. A common reading is I Corinthians 13… Love is patient, love is kind… Everyone knows that one… and for good reasons. BUT if you are looking to change up the traditional reading, 
check out this one written by one of the most famous doctors of our time… Dr. Seuss!! Although this is one of his most popular childrens’ book - “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” - it definitely fits perfectly into a wedding ceremony…
Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away! You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the couple who’ll decide where to go. You’ll look up and down streets. Look ‘em over with care.
With your heads full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down, any not-so-good street. And you may not find any you’ll want to go down.
In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. It’s opener there in the wide open air, Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you. And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.
OH! THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! …
KIDS, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So, be your name Buxbaum or Dowrie or Bassor Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So …get on your way!
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The NACE Awards
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009I’ve just returned from the NACE Awards and I am on an absolute high. It is so great to see all my NACE friends again. The NACE Awards is a night of fun and celebration all centered on recognizing the great things that are going on in the wedding community.
For those of you who aren’t wedding industry buffs…NACE is the National Association of Catering Executives.
Mike Staff Productions was nominated for three awards. It is great to be recognized, but we would really like to congratulate those who took home awards!! We appreciate what these winners do for our industry and for brides. We also really value their friendship!!
The Top Winners were:
Best Catered Event: Janet Engelhardt
Best Wedding: Jennifer Charles
Best Theme Event: Janet Engelhardt
Best Table Design: Jennifer Charles
Best Event, Technical Support: Sue Keels
Best Industry Event: Mark Ephraim
Best Team Event: Laura Davis with Janet Engelhardt, Fran Lee, Tom Hardiek, Todd Lloyd, Cheridy Mukherjee, Ryan Koral, Nolan Gottschalk
NACE Caterer of the Year: Kelly Brennan
NACE Member of the Year: Nolan Gottschalk
Michael Havens Award: Robin Bosma
I love being a part of NACE because it supports small business owners like myself, and gives us a forum to share ideas, showcase our work, and create lasting friendships and business relationships.
“NACE is awesome! It’s a good group for relationship building and small business camaraderie,” says our COO Kurt Colone who has been the Master of Ceremonies for the NACE Awards for four years running.
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Tips for your wedding budget
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009I know its not fun, but setting a budget early in your wedding planning will save you a lot of headaches and over drafts in the long run.
- Find out who is financing, how much, and what they would like to contribute towards. For example, your mom may want to buy you your dress and your To Be’s dad may want to pick up the DJ’s tab.
- If you are financing part or all, put your wedding money in a separate bank account. This will help with overspending and dipping into your savings.
- If you are using credit cards, choose a card that gives rewards or cash back. Make some money for all your spending
- Prioritize your spending. For example, if you really want great pictures, spend a little less on the invitations.
- Do not include your rings in your budget. Your rings are with you forever; they should be seen as an investment
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Seven Questions to ask your videographer
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009Videography is one of the most in demand services for the modern wedding, but most couples don’t know where to start when looking for that perfect fit. Use these ten questions as a basis for your videographer search.
1)What is the videographer’s style — cinematic, documentary, or a mix of both? 
Cinematic is more dramatic than documentary. A documentary style is straightforward where as cinematic has an artistic flair. Most wedding videos have a mix of both, but make sure your videographer’s style fits your own style and wedding theme?
2)How long has your videographers company been in business?
This clues you in to the quality of the company and the longevity of their commitment to service.
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3)How will your videographer coordinate with a wedding photographer? Has the videographer worked with your photographer before?
This is a huge necessity. Booking both services with the same company is a great idea. There will be unity in their work ethic and style.
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4)Has your videographer shot a wedding at your ceremony or reception site?
If he has, the videographer will have a knowledge that you can benefit from such knowing the lay of the land.
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5)Will your video be shot in HD?
If not, this is a major red flag. Any video not shot in HD will look dated in a only a few years. Also, it may not be compatible with new technologies.
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6)What happens if my videographer is sick? or a camera breaks? Is there a back-up plan?
Choose a company that is large enough to have on-call videographers ready for every event and has the integrity to have multiple back-up cameras.
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7)How does the videographer charge for services? Are there packages?
Request a price list.
Get everything in writing from your videographer.
Want to find the perfect videographer to answer all your questions?
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Church Decorating Tips
Friday, October 16th, 2009
If you are having your wedding ceremony in a Church, you may be stumped for some decorating idea. Check out this video for some great tips and trends.
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Some Daddy-Daughter Lovin’
Thursday, October 15th, 2009Nothing is better than some quality father-daughter time. Especially if you are practicing for a moment like this…
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