Howerton+Wooten Events Blog. The musings of a Maryland Wedding and Event Planner

Happy Veterans Day

Thank you for all that you do.  We are extremely grateful.

Love and Soul Always, Kay

 

(Photo: Johnny Carver)

Allison Sattinger's "The Love of Your Life"

It's no secret that I am a fan of Allison Sattinger's beautiful voice.

I first heard her song, "The Love of Your Life," when one of our couples danced to it at their wedding last year.

I have been humming this amazing song ever since.

 

Today, I play this song in honor of "my guy," Chris Wooten.  Happy 15th wedding anniversary baby!

Love and Soul Always, Kay

 

Monday Morning Thoughts: "How Much for Just One Rib!?!"

A couple of years ago, I got a pricing inquiry from a bride.

Her money was tight, so she wanted to know how much it would cost for me to show up at her wedding reception for a couple of hours on her wedding day.

"Wha?!?"

 

This request reminded me of the scene in the 1980's parody of blaxploitation movies, "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka!"

"How much for just one rib?!?"  

 

Now, I'm not trying to poke fun at this bride.

 

 

 

I just want you to see how challenging it is to extract a tiny portion of a wedding planner's service and successfully experience the planner's full value.

 

Before a wedding planner can fully execute your wedding day, we typically need to know and understand the details that you have created, the wedding day stakeholders (i.e, your mama, your fiance/fiancee), the players and most of all, your wedding day expectations.

And, we can't do that by just "showing up."

 

If anyone tells you that they can, you should run away as quick as you can.

Love and Soul Always, Kay

 

Friday Happy Hour: Pink Squirrel

I must admit, I have no desire to drink anything with a rodent's name.

But, I have to highlight this cocktail -- I've tried it, and I am happy to report that it is quite yummy.

Pink Squirrel

INGREDIENTS
¾ oz crème de noyaux
¾ oz crème de cacao
½ oz vodka
1 oz fresh cream

INSTRUCTIONS
Pour all over ice in mixing glass. Stir and serve in martini glass.

 

Enjoy!

Love and Soul Always, Kay

 

(Photo: AMC TV)

Seven Things I Would Change if I Were the Wedding Goddess of the World

If I were the "wedding goddess," . . .

1. I would make the act of "forgetting to RSVP" against the law.

2. I would require people stop blaming their culture for being tardy.

3. I would delete the word, "bridezilla," "groomzilla" and all of the other "zillas" from the wedding industry dictionary.

4. I would add some diversity to the wedding magazine covers.  Seriously folks.  This is ridiculous.

5. I would make all 50 states understand that equal rights should include the right to marry.

6. I would make sure that we never (ever) hear of another story of a bridal salon, photographer or even a wedding planner leaving a couple high and dry.

And, 7. I would make sure that each and every wedding exceeded a bride's expectations.

 

Have a great week!

Love and Soul Always, Kay

Red, White and Blue

Three of my Wedding Day favorites --

 

The perfect shade of RED lipstick

 

 

A WHITE (well, more like pearl) Winnie Couture charmeuse gown with a deep V-neck.  This gown would go well with a destination wedding on the beach.

 

 

 

And a pair of jeweled BLUE satin sandals by Manolo Blahnik.

Enjoy a great holiday weekend!

 

Love and Soul Always, Kay

(Photos -- 

Carolyn Bourne's Lack of Manners

The fact that Carolyn Bourne's e-mail message went viral, is the SECOND MOST IMPORTANT REASON why you should not send an e-mail or a text or a letter when you are upset, angry or annoyed.

*************************************************************************************************

from: Carolyn Bourne
to: heidi withers
subject: your lack of manners

Here are a few examples of your lack of manners:

When you are a guest in another's house, you do not declare what you will and will not eat - unless you are positively allergic to something.
You do not remark that you do not have enough food.

You do not start before everyone else.
You do not take additional helpings without being invited to by your host.

When a guest in another's house, you do not lie in bed until late morning in households that rise early - you fall in line with house norms.

You should never ever insult the family you are about to join at any time and most definitely not in public. I gather you passed this off as a joke but the reaction in the pub was one of shock, not laughter.

You regularly draw attention to yourself. Perhaps you should ask yourself why. No one gets married in a castle unless they own it. It is brash, celebrity style behaviour.

I understand your parents are unable to contribute very much towards the cost of your wedding. (There is nothing wrong with that except that convention is such that one might presume they would have saved over the years for their daughter's marriages.)

If this is the case, it would be most ladylike and gracious to lower your sights and have a modest wedding as befits both your incomes.

One could be accused of thinking that Heidi Withers must be patting herself on the back for having caught a most eligible young man. I pity Freddie.

*************************************************************************************************

So, what is the most important reason why Mrs. Bourne should not have sent this e-mail?

That e-mail was just plain mean.  There are numerous other (more productive) ways to express your frustration.  And, this is not it.

Before we can "blast" our future family members about their lack of manners, we should show some ourselves.

 

Love and Soul Always, Kay

A Couple of Misspelled and Misused Words in the Wedding World

Here are some of those tricky little words in the wedding industry.  Sometimes, they are not used correctly.  And, sometimes, they are just spelled incorrectly.

 

Fiance vs. Fiancee -- The word, "Fiance" refers to a male, who is engaged to be married, and the word, "Fiancee" refers to a female engaged to be married.  The two words are not interchangeable.

An easy way to remember this -- The lady gets an extra "e" in Fiancee because she gets an engagement ring.

Dessert vs. Desert -- Every now and then, I see this word misspelled on a menu card.  A "desert" describes a hot, sandy place.  It also means "barren and dull."  Desert is also a verb.  It means to abandon someone.  Dessert is the sweet meal that we get after lunch or dinner.

An easy way to remember this -- We use the second "s" to "save our appetite" for cake.

 

Prelude vs. Interlude -- The Prelude Music describes the music played prior to the start of the ceremony.  This music is played while the wedding guests arrive for the ceremony.  The Interlude Music is played during a non-speaking transition within the ceremony.  For example, interlude music is played during the unity candle ceremony.

An easy way to remember this -- Prelude is the "pre" ceremony music.

Stationery vs. Stationary -- The word, "Stationery" refers to paper, envelopes and/or writing materials.  Therefore, the word "stationery" should be used when referring to wedding invitations, thank you notes or menu cards.  The word, "Stationary" means immobile or remaining in one place.

An easy way to remember this -- Stationery has an "e" because it includes envelopes.

 

RSVP -- The acronym RSVP stands for a French phrase, "répondez, s'il vous plaît," which means "please reply."  So, your invitation response card probably shouldn't say, "Please RSVP" because it sounds repetitive (and it sounds like you are begging).

 

Can you think of some of the other tricky words in the wedding industry?

Love and Soul Always, Kay

Allison Sattinger sings Billy Joel's "For the Longest Time"

Billy Joel's "doo wop" tune, "The Longest Time" has been in my music collection for years.

But, Allison Sattinger's romantic cover made me pay attention to the lyrics.  Now, this song is perfect for a wedding (or a couple who finds each other after a painful lost love.)

Enjoy.

Love and Soul Always, Kay

 

 

Friday Night Movies on the Potomac. A Great Option for a DC Rehearsal Dinner

Last fall, I provided a list of some fun rehearsal dinner options.  One of my favorite rehearsal dinner ideas is definitely the movie in the park.

If you live in the Washington DC area, you will be thrilled to hear that the National Harbor offers a fun option for an outdoor movie.

The National Harbor's Date Night Fridays provides attendees with a blockbuster movie that begins at sunset.  Here are the Friday evening movie options for the rest of the summer.

Friday, June 24 – Dreamgirls

Friday, July 8 – Ghost of Girlfriends Past

Friday, July 15 – The Back-Up Plan

Friday, July 22 – The Switch

Friday, July 29 – He’s Just Not That Into You

Friday, August 5 – Field of Dreams

Friday, August 12 – Friday Night Lights

Friday, August 19 – Cutting Edge

Friday, August 26 – A League of Their Own

Friday, September 2 – Sea Biscuit

Friday, September 9 – The Social Network

Friday, September 16 – The Blind Side

Friday, September 23 - Inception

Friday, September 30 – Titanic

 

If you decide to attend one of the movies above, you should definitely bring your own lawn chair.  And, you will be happy to know that admission is free.

Since coolers aren't welcome, fun individual dinners (think bento box) would provide an awesome, personal touch for your rehearsal dinner guests!

Love and Soul Always, Kay