Marry Me Live Guest Post

I was not entirely surprised this weekend when I came across Google’s dabble into the wedding planning industry. It makes sense. Wedding planning is a collaborative process with so many people inputting information and can often be overwhelming without the right organization. I already use Google Docs to organize and collaborate on work. Why wouldn’t I use it to organize my wedding?

For those of you that have not heard, Google has entered the wedding industry by customizing their google documents to provide couples with over 20 pre-existing wedding templates that cover everything from gathering addresses for your invitations to your wedding to-do list. The photo above is an example of Google’s Form that has been prettied up to work as a contact form that pulls information into an address spreadsheet.

To add some additional flavor to the templates, Google has partnered with StyleMePretty.com to provide tips within the wedding templates.

Although most of the templates are pretty standard, one of my personal favorites is the wedding album. It is a simple way to showcase your wedding photos and add editorials.

All in all, I have no doubt that wedding couples have been using Google docs for awhile now to organize their wedding details, but Google has decided to streamline the process. They just made wedding planning a bit easier, and prettier!

I can further explain my experience, but I recommend that you just check it out for yourself. You might just find something useful!

Google Docs: Planning a Wedding

By Erin Frank

Call it “Recession Chic” or “Decor on a Dime.”  A lot of brides are looking for ways to save money on their weddings. This could mean DIY (I was on overly ambitious bride—we did everything from the decor to the food ourselves) or simply some savvy shopping to stay within a budget. When I went looking for inspiration on where to buy unique wedding decor most bridal blogs repeated the same stores:  Ikea, Michaels, Save-On Crafts, Anthropologie (Anthropologie can be very pricey—check the sale section). I love all of these places, and bought from most for my wedding, but here are a few Bay Area locales you might not have spotted that are prime for saving you cash.  Warning: none of these are glamorous places to shop. You have to have a keen eye and creative mind, but when inspiration strikes you can see past the junk and find something terrific.

1) Kamei Restaurant Supply:  Kamei is a restaurant supply store with depth.  Whether you need to outfit your bar, buy water pitchers, tongs, white dishes or serveware, their prices can’t be beat. With a creative eye you can find inexpensive ways to turn restaurant supply staples, like teapots or sake bottles, into beautiful vases and centerpieces. And you can get great prices on white takeout boxes to package homemade favors in. (Kamei: 525-547 Clement Street, San Francisco, (415) 666-3699)

2) Chinatown: Chinatown is terrific for finding favors and decor, if you know what you are looking for.  Best bets are bamboo, vases, lanterns, and favor boxes. I recommend the Far East Flea Market Liquidation Center (729 Grant Avenue, San Francisco), but you have to have a discerning eye to find the right items. The rest of the cheap imports leave much to be desired.

3) San Pablo Flea Market: One woman’s trash is, well, mostly trash but a few real gems. I won’t lead you astray on this one—it’s a junkyard. But if you’re willing to take your time, and deal with the dirt and grime, you can find some great items. With absolutely no digging I found dozens of glass milk bottles, vintage postcards, fun beaker sets for you science buffs, and lovely silver trays that just needed a good polishing. (San Pablo Flea Market: 6100 San Pablo Ave, Emeryville)

4) San Francisco Flower Mart: Many of you must know about the San Francisco Flower Mart, but if you don’t, allow me to blow your mind. The San Francisco Flower Mart is where many of the city’s florists get their blossoms, and after 10am it opens to the public. It has every conceivable type of flower and floral arranging product you need in a warehouse of pop-up shops and permanent storefronts. Some stalls only cater to the wholesale crowd, but catch the retail stalls after 10am (don’t dawdle, many close just an hour or two later) and you’ll be sure to find spectacular blooms. Cultivate a relationship with a seller. Not only will that warm up their sometimes frosty salesmanship, but the seller can tell you when prices will drop, what flowers are in season around your wedding date, and suggest affordable alternatives to create the look you want. Hiring a florist? Make a sample bouquet with flowers from the Mart so you don’t have any surprises on your wedding day. (San Francisco Flower Mart: 640 Brannan Street, San Francisco)

** Everything you see on the table at the top was purchased at one of the above shops. The milk bottles were $1 each at San Pablo Flea, the tall vase is a placemat I got for $1 at Far East Flea Market then wrapped around a vase and filled with 99-cent bamboo from there as well.  The white vases on the right are sake bottles from Kamei, as is the silver votive, all for about $6-$7 total.  The flowers were around $12 at the Flower Mart, but the amount shown is only 1/6th or less of the quantity that bought me.  The rest of the flowers I gave to a neighbor.

By Megan Peters

Image from HipsandCurves.com

It’s time to order the fun stuff. I am finally getting around to ordering my wedding lingerie. I do have quite the collection for every day use. However, I wanted to find something well made for my wedding day and smokin’ hot for my honeymoon. I normally buy my sexy attire at Lane Bryant stores but I have found a great online store called Hips & Curves. I am sure my fiancé will be happy with my findings. They have an amazing selection of lingerie, corsets, garters, leather, and fantasy costumes from sweet and sensual to down right racy. They are located in Southern California and opened for business in 2000. They aim to provide fabulous sexy lingerie that celebrates the sensuality of fuller figures. They focus exclusively on plus sizes to provide just the right amount of support, and enhancement to the body. I highly recommended this as the first, and possibly the last, place for you to look for plus size lingerie.

Image from HipsandCurves.com

Image from HipsandCurves.com

By Elizabeth Zachry

If you’re looking for something fun to spice up your wedding reception, give T-Party Photo Booths a call.  Run by Theresa Parilo, T-Party Photo Booths brings a new dynamic to any event by providing an alternative to the traditional guest book and allowing guests to ham it up for the camera.  I had the opportunity to sit down with Theresa and get the scoop on this new company.

T-Party Photo Booths was inspired by Theresa’s friend who had hired a photo booth company for her wedding.  Theresa went back to the booth for photos four, and then five times, and she began chatting with the operator who suggested starting her own photo booth company.  After the seed was planted, Theresa could not get the idea out of her head, and in November, T-Party Photo Booths was born.

The only simple part about setting up her own business was coming up with the name.  T-Party Photo Booths comes from Theresa’s nickname T-Par (a combination of her first and last names).  Theresa says that “the great thing about a photo booth is that it is simple, but unique” with the prints customized to fit your event.

Signing up to have T-Party Photo Booths at your event includes an unlimited number of photos, and guests choose their favorites to give to the bride and groom.  You also have the option of getting a scrapbook made with the photos from your event.  In addition to wedding receptions, this would be a great option for birthday parties or even showers.

One thing she is most looking forward to is having the opportunity to share her new passion with family and friends by bringing her photo booth to their weddings, birthday’s, and Christmas parties.

For more information and samples check out her website at www.tpartyphotobooths.com

by Vera Devera

Makeup and Hair by A-List Makeup (Ann Ho)

I’m low maintenance when it comes to personal beauty: I really don’t wear makeup other than powder and lipstick and I hate wearing eye makeup because I always end up looking like I had been crying. So when my sister asked me to be a bridesmaid in her November wedding at Casa Real (Pleasanton), I decided to go with a makeup and hair pro. All the bridesmaids, including myself, ended up booking with A-List Makeup, founded by Ann Ho. Her team did a fantastic job and within a reasonable budget; since then I’ve known other brides to be just as satisfied. I had a little Q & A with Ann to find out how she got started and what she offers brides and their bridal parties:

Q. Why makeup?
A. I got my start in bridal makeup because of modeling. I studied fashion design in college and hair and beauty go hand-in-hand with fashion.

Q. What should a bride bring to a makeup trial/consultation?
A. The bride should bring a picture of herself with makeup on, or what she looks like when she goes out.  She should also bring pictures of what she would like to have done, as far as hair and makeup.  This helps me decide what works best for her.

Contact Ann Ho for pricing or visit their website:
A-List Makeup
(408) 206-4222

http://www.alistmakeup.com/

Makeup and Hair by A-List Makeup (Ann Ho)

Makeup and Hair by A-List Makeup (Ann Ho)

My mom recently asked me what kind of shower I want.

“Um, the kind with friends and food and drinks?”

Apparently that’s not the answer she was looking for. We’d already determined to go non-traditional and have a Wedding Shower/Couples Shower instead of a Bridal shower. Unbeknownst to me, there are a myriad of shower ideas out there – themes, games, and topics.

And they’re all super lame-o.

Like the Cowboy-themed shower in honor of the groom, where you invite couples to wear farm clothes: overalls, blue jeans, cowboy hats. Use haybales for seats, jam jars for drinks, and burlap tablecloths.

If I showed up to a shower and my matron of honor had replaced her habitual 4-inch heels with cowboy boots and was sitting on a frickin’ bale of hay… I don’t know what I would do. I can’t even finish that sentence.

Or this thrilling game, meant to teach the little woman how to cook for her new husband: Put 10 different white substances in Ziploc bags, like flour, powdered milk, and baking soda. Be sure to number the bags so you can keep track of the right answers.

And then there’s the ever-popular Naughty or Nice shower. Frankly, the last thing I want to do is open a gift of nuptial-themed pasties in front of my mom’s friends.

I’m going to rack my brain for 3 non-lame bridal shower ideas, and please, readers – comment and add.

1. Honeymoon-themed shower. Gifts could be geared towards what you plan to do or where you plan to travel for your honeymoon – such as “dinner for two at the top of Macchu Pichu.” (The web site Honeyfund.com would be helpful for this.)
2. An updated version of the Newlywed Game could be fun to play.
3. Possibly have drinks inspired by your wedding or honeymoon destination – like a Dark & Stormy if you’re honeymooning in Jamaica or a Hot Toddy if you’re planning a winter wedding.

Marry Me Live Guest Post

When it comes to wedding favors, there is an abundance of choices. The decision becomes much more difficult when trying to find something practical, memorable and eco-friendly! I was thrilled when someone introduced me to WeePlant. Not only is WeePlant a local business, but it is also a very unique gift that serves as a memory of your wedding that can grow with your guests over time.

Weeplant sells miniature plants called Pinky Trees that grow in a 2″ capsule and was founded on the ideal to improve green consciousness through a positive symbol, a real tiny plant that you can take care of.

Valerie Auberger, the founder of Weeplant was kind enough to answer some of my questions regarding her business and green practices.

1)      What was the inspiration for starting WeePlant?

When I was editor-in-chief at MSN France, I launched a green channel with several editorial partners like National Geographic, WWF and others. At that time I thought people (and advertisers) needed something more tangible and entertaining than very “guilt-driven” advice on how to save the environment. I thought that by providing them a living symbol, I would create a more emotional reaction and would possibly give them a living and growing reminder of how fragile mother nature is and how much they would need to take care of it (like they would need to take care of their babyplant).

2) What makes the favor green? How does it contribute to re-forestation?

All the plants are grown in California in full respect of ecological guidelines (no use of chemical pesticides, choice of species that don’t require too much water or heating). Regarding the reforestation, as soon as the company was born, we started a partnership with American Forests to help them planting trees in areas that have been devastated by the human activities. Basically, for each 4 Pinky Trees sold, we donate the necessary fund to plant a tree. American Forests is very happy about this virtual circle and will start sending our Pinky Trees to their donors this springtime as a thank you gift.

3) What is the process for keeping and nurturing the tree once you receive it?

Because all the plants are succulents and cacti selected among the most resistant and little water need species, the Pinky Trees need very little care: cacti will need to be watered once every 3 months and succulents once every month and a half (or every month in summer time). The key requirement for all the plants is being exposed to light. Once the plant has grown too big for its capsule (time really depends on the species and goes from 2 or 3 months for some succulents to 2 years for most of the cacti), the person will just need to open the capsule top and split the base apart (already cut on 2 half for this purpose) and then take the plant with its soil and repot it.

4) Where would someone go to purchase these favors?

Besides selling the Pinky Trees online, we currently sell them in a few eco-boutiques and retailers in SF and across the USA (NY, Boston, LA etc…). Our main distribution is in museum stores like California Academy of Science, Chicago Contemporary Art Museum, Fort Worth Museum of Science and Industry, Walker art center in Minneapolis, Phoenix Zoo Store, and many others.

To learn more about Pinky Tree – visit www.weeplant.com

What do you think? Would you give Pinky Tree as a wedding favor?

By Erin Frank

The folks at Sibby’s Cupcakery in San Mateo, CA are busy perfecting the art of the cupcake.  Rather than dilute their talents making a wide array of desserts, this is one bakery that knows how to specialize—devoting themselves to creating cupcake perfection in mini, regular and jumbo size. The Cupcakery has been open for business for since 2004, when creator and owner Sibby left the advertising world to start a bakeshop, turning her hobby to a full-time job.

All of Sibby’s Cupcakery’s hand-piped custom creations are baked to order from scratch using fresh ingredients like sweet cream butter from local dairy farms, Scharffen Berger chocolate and Nielsen-Massey pure Madagascar Bourbon vanilla.  The cupcakes have a delicious home-made feel to them and are hugely popular with Bay Area brides who order them by the dozen rather than purchasing a traditional tiered wedding cake.

I stopped by the bakery last week where Gina (Sibby is out on maternity leave) showed me the ropes, and even taught me how to frost a cupcake properly (the secret is to put a big frosting dollop in the middle then use little swipes to push it out to the edges).  At Sibby’s the team starts baking around 6 in the morning, producing dozens upon dozens of piping fresh cupcakes daily.  Sibby’s works with brides to create custom colors and designs to fit any theme, not to mention select the flavors.  Though Buttercup (a traditional vanillla cupcake with vanilla frosting) and Chocolate remain the most popular, Sibby’s has an array of amazing flavors like Lemon Drop, Latte Love and Snickerdoodle.  And don’t let that traditional chocolate fool you—the chocolate requested most is Sibby’s “Grandma’s Chocolate Tea Cake.”  It’s a chocolate cupcake with a cream cheese-chocolate chip center, topped off with a fudgy frosting.  Now, having just moved to SF from New York I’ve had some great cupcakes in my time.  Magnolia, Buttercup Bakery, Crumbs, Billy’s…some true champions.  But I’m confident I’ve never had a tastier cupcake than Sibby’s Grandma’s Chocolate Tea Cake.  It is OUTSTANDING.  That creamy chocolate chip center puts it right at the top of my tastebud Top 10.

Eager to try some for yourself?  Call ahead to sign up for one of Gina’s bridal tastings, or, even better, order up a Sibby’s Sampler—an assortment of tastes as well as their special flavor of the month.  February’s flavor is Dulce de Leche.  Cupcakes come in mini ($24/dozen), regular ($39/doz) and jumbo ($7.50 each).  The jumbo size is a favorite for brides because it is perfect to use in the cake-cutting ceremony. Delivery is available within the Bay Area for weddings, and Sibby’s even rents out items from their terrific collection of cake stands.  To order, call (415) 613-4373 or email sibby@sibbyscupcakery.com.

Sibby’s Cupcakery: 716 South Railroad Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94401.  Call ahead, this is not a storefront, but instead a commercial kitchen so you’ll want to be expected ahead of time.

{Green and White cupcake photos by Silvana Di Franco Photography.}

By Megan Peters

Have you heard the phrase  “avoid heavier ever after”? Well I just did while searching for ideas on how to shape up for the big day. Now I’m not so sure I am really all that into the whole dieting for your wedding thing. However, what got me looking into it is my fear of having bad pictures.  So in light of this fear I have been browsing online and finding different things to get me past my crisis. Some things I found were different ways to become a fit bride, fat positive, and the negative adds like “avoid heavier ever after”.

On becoming a fit bride I don’t feel inspired to go crazy dieting by doing many of the suggestions I saw online or joining any sort of mainstream weight loss company.

Instead I am inspired by the discovery of blogs I can relate to as the person I am today. Such as these blogs bigfatdeal.com and bigfatblog.com which are written by larger women. These blogs have helped me realize something I knew deep down all along but thanks to mainstream media lost recently.  I lost myself and the image of the woman I want to be on my wedding day, the person my fiancé fell in love with.  Not an unhappy, dieting, exercising 24/7, stressed out woman. I don’t need to be smaller like the media says I should be on my wedding day.

Finding these blogs even though they are not centered on being a plus size bride they focus on weight in our culture both positive and negative, size discrimination, fat acceptance and more. I finally feel like there is even more people out there that I can relate to. I am not the only large woman out there and I am not alone after reading these blogs.

After reading upsetting articles like “Bride Dumps Fat Bridesmaid Who Will Ruin Pictures” on bigfatdeal.com, and “Reason Number 3,767 to Not Shop at Whole Foods” on bigfatblog.com these brought me back to the reality that I like my body for the most part and wouldn’t want to be treated any differently than others just because I am big.

How sad that the “fat” bridesmaid was basically dumped from the wedding due to her appearance. And that Whole Foods now offers health-based employee discount, a higher discount off their products if you have a low body mass index.  Don’t you think the not so healthy employees with higher BMI’s would benefit from buying more of their wholesome food? I think so. This action that Whole Foods took on employee discount is the exact kind of thing that makes woman like me feel pressured to fit into our thinner society. Sure I could practically starve myself, exercise like crazy, or get weight loss surgery to get a better discount at Whole Foods (if I was an employee) or to wear that perfect off the runway wedding dress. However, regardless of my size I should be accepted and thought of as a beautiful person and beautiful bride. The bride I am is plus size, happy, curvy, fat, and I intend to enjoy my life that way.

Therefore I plan to continue with my life being somewhat healthy doing yoga, occasional exercise videos, walking the dogs twice a day, eating right sometimes, and perhaps lose a few pounds because of it.  But I accept that it is okay to be a plus size bride and to just be yourself on your big day. After all you do want to look back at your wedding pictures and recognize you for you and not look back and think “oh god I killed myself for months to look that skinny and just gained it all back plus more.”  So here I am heading towards my very special heavier ever after and I am not avoiding it, I cant wait.

By Elizabeth Zachry

Bridesmaids originated from the Roman law that required ten witnesses at weddings in order to fool evil spirits.  The bridesmaids and groomsmen were dressed identical to the bride and groom, confusing evil spirits and keeping them from  haunting the happy couple.  That tradition is now gone, and instead of dressing like the bride, the bride chooses bridesmaid dresses based on her preferences for style and color.

I recently entered into the realm of bridesmaid dresses, trying to appreciate different fabrics, slightly varied shades of color, and the numerous designers out there.  Every designer and dress teasing me with the promise of being a dress I can wear again

So far we have been to one store to try on dresses.  I was shocked to find out that the “cheap” dresses were $180, with prices increasing to nearly $500.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my friend and am happy to take part in her wedding, but what really is an appropriate price for a dress?  According to etiquette expert Judith Martin in her book Miss Manners on Weddings, “Contrary to rumor, bridesmaids are not obliged to entertain in honor of the bride, nor to wear dresses they cannot afford.”

I was also surprised by the lack of samples to try.  The dresses all came in only one size (4, 8, or 10) and one color.  I consider myself to be an average sized woman, and had trouble fitting in at least half of the samples.  Does this seem reasonable?  Shouldn’t dresses come in a variety of sizes and colors so you can really tell what you’re paying a few hundred dollars for?

I’d love to hear your thoughts or suggestions!