Want to learn floral design?

If you've ever purchased flowers from the farmer's market or the grocery store and then realized you had no idea what to do with them besides plunk them in a vase, this class is for you.  From 6pm - 7:30, Tuesday, September 10th at Nortwest Technical Institute I'll be teaching a hand's on class to show you just what to do to make your flowers look as pretty as they can. 

Classes will be on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 6pm. Class size is limited, so sign up today!

For More information, visit NTI Community Education

Design Workshops

The Do-It-Yourself wedding trend seems to be here to stay...or at least for a good loooong visit.  There are mixed feelings about this trend in the wedding industry.  Some vendors hate it; some don't care one way or the other.  And some (like me) are all for it.  Well, I'm all for it with reservations.  If it adds stress to your wedding day, I think you should avoid DIY at all costs.  Talk to your vendors. You may be surprised at what you can actually afford.  

But if you love the idea of making your wedding even more personal, do-it-yourself projects are a great way to go.  

Flowers as a DIY project can be tricky.  With fresh flowers, you really are on a tight time schedule.  This isn't something that can be done months or even weeks ahead of time.  You are pretty much limited to the two days before the wedding.  

To help with the planning of a successful DIY floral project, we suggest practice! Learn what it takes in materials and time to create the designs you want.  Take class--or two. Buy the materials and practice at home.  But DON'T wait until two days before the wedding to try for the first time.  This path can easily lead to tears, frustration and STRESS.

Still interested in floral DIY?  Did you know that you can schedule a Bridal / Large Event Workshops for you and up to 11 of your closest friends/helpers/wedding slaves?  The Workshops are designed to help the Do-It-Yourself bride or host. We will meet with you to decide on the style of arrangement and the flowers you want to use for the event, then schedule a class where we will show you how to create that design, using the flowers you've chosen. This allows you to plan enough time to create multiple arrangements for the event. Oh, and you get to keep the arrangements you make!

If interested in booking one or more classes, please click here to complete the CONTACT FORM.

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Comments? Questions? See below...

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DIY--Is it for you? + Favorite Event Photos of 2010

DIY--Is it for you?
It's wedding planning season again.  Wedding season starts somewhere around May; planning season starts with the new year. Wedding planning means client consultations for us.  Lots and lots of consultations.

And in almost every consultation we discuss DIY (do-it-yourself) items.

Two things seem to be feeding this.  First is, of course, the economy.  DIY is seen as a way to cut costs and save a bit of money.  But also, there seems to be a trend towards making wedding more personal.  

What could be more personal than being surrounded by items hand-made by you, your friends, and your family?  Whenever I meet with a client who feels this way, I applaud them.  These are the clients I want to help and to work with.  Bring me your ideas, bring me your creativity.  Let me work with you on securing the materials you need.  Ask me questions about how to do something.  Your day will be meaningful and beautiful because of your passion, your vision; because of YOU!

But for the client who is trying to save money, I ask this:  Is it really worth it?  After you add up all the costs of purchasing ALL the materials; after the stress that is added by putting ONE more thing on your to-do list; after you spend hours working on something, only to realize you don't have a creative bone in your body...is it worth it?  If so, go for it!  You will be adding a part of YOU to your wedding; something few (any?) couples regret.  And if it's not worth it, good for you for realizing it!  Hire a professional to handle it (whatever 'it' is) and save the yourself the added stress that can come with trying to do something you don't want to do, don't like doing, or just don't know how to do.

Sometimes, in the long run, cheaper isn't less expensive after all.

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Some of my favorite items from 2010

OneWed.com Ask The Experts (see our advice below)

Ask the Experts: What Are the Best and Worst Places to DIY?

by Marta

 

Ask the Experts is your chance to get all your wedding questions answered by a panel of wedding professionals.

If you have a question for our wedding experts, write us at asktheexperts@onewed.com

Dear Ask the Experts,
Every article I read gives different advice about what sorts of things you can and can’t DIY. In your experience, what are the best things to DIY, and what are the best things to leave to the professionals?

Thanks
DIY-Wanna-Be

From Wendy of 1812 Hitching Post:
Do it yourself centerpieces and party favors are a great way to personalize your wedding reception. A candy bar with cute bags for candy is one of the most popular party favor options we've seen. Centerpieces that include floating candles, silk or dried flowers, fabric, or any other material that lasts can be planned and created months in advance. A single live flower or live garden flowers added last minute can add color, dimension, and freshness to your centerpieces.

Best left to the professionals are photography and catering. You don't want either of these elements to suffer the day of your wedding. Food tastes best when it's prepared directly before it's served by people who are used to taking care of groups. Professional photographers can add their artistry to every photo for memories your family will cherish for centuries. Don't put your family and friends to work; they want to celebrate with you. If you're working, they can't have fun, either!

From Jeff of Blackbird Images
My advice is general rather than specific. Definitely do plan, at least in overall terms, your own wedding: The events, the timeline, what you want to do… it’s your wedding and should reflect your desires and dreams. Don’t take on anything you’ll have to participate in or oversee on the day of your wedding. You’ll have enough to do… and should be able to focus on enjoying the day, not on supervising and making sure everything goes as planned. So DIY the planning – leave implementation to others.

Thea of Rose of Sharon
Ideally, your budget will be adequate to cover all your desires. Realistically, you'll end up doing a lot yourself or cutting things from the plans. DIY sounds like a good idea when you still have months before your wedding. Keep in mind that wedding professions spend time and energy learning the best way, the most creative way, the most artistic way to make weddings wonderful.

The best place to DIY depends on your talents, the amount of help you have, and how much you have to do. A project that can be completed two months before the wedding is much easier to handle than one that has to be completed the day before the wedding. Creating your own personalized favors can usually be done early, but your bouquet shouldn't be made more than a day or two in advance. And if you use a computer to write everything because nobody can decipher your handwriting, hand-addressing your invitations may not be the best idea. If you're not quite sure if you are up to a project, try it out on a smaller scale--preferably while you still have time to find a professional if you find it's not your cup of tea.

Be realistic. Are you trying to DIY to save money or because you're secretly Martha Stewart? After you purchase all your supplies and materials, dedicated hours of your time (and probably some of your friends' time as well), and the end result isn't quite what you expected, was it really worth-wile? Yes, you may have save a buck or two...then again, maybe not.

About our Experts:
Jeff Haden is President of BlackBird Images, wedding photographers based in Harrisonburg, VA. Not only is he a well-respected and talented photographer, but has also gained recognition as a ghostwriter.

Thea Daniel, owner of Rose of Sharon Event Florist in Fayeteville, Arkansas, has been designing floral arrangements for events for 15 years.

Wendy Waldron, photographer and wedding coordinator of 1812 Hitching Post Wedding Venue in central North Carolina, has 10 years experience planning and photographing "simply beautiful" outdoor weddings.