Meet the Oliveaire Team: Sr. Event Architect Adel Domingo

It takes a team to provide all of the services we offer at Oliveaire, all of us have our unique roles, personalities and styles. In the coming weeks you will have the chance to meet the team that makes the Oliveaire experience.

Enjoy getting to know Adel Domingo, Sr. Event Architect with Oliveaire. If you’d like to talk to her about planning your wedding or special event contact her at 847-885-3200 or e-mail her here.

What is your favorite part of planning a wedding?
It’s that moment when my bride and groom start trusting me. That means all will be well because we can tackle anything at that point. That trust between the clients and me is vital.

How would you describe your style?
As a planner I love taking care of my clients by simply listening, responding with a real, relaxed enthusiasm, and executing patiently. I’m a calm person and I think my clients and vendors feel it and they stay calm. I do love researching what my clients like and don’t like, I take great interest in each client I work with. After I’m done with an event, I keep a few notes and photos in their file to remind me how unique they are.

What one piece of advice would you give a newly engaged couple?
The wedding of your dreams is possible, just be realistic with your time and budget.

Do you have a favorite wedding moment or event?
It would have to be when I see the couple’s body language when they are announced as husband and wife. They are just so relaxed and relieved that the main part is over. You can feel everybody exhaling.

How would you describe what you do every day?
It’s sort of this crazy job but it takes a sane person to do it. Most of the time during the planning and creative process, it seems like my day is full of phone calls to vendors, email correspondence, reading, research, and making appointments. Creating time lines takes great focus and sometimes I like to do them in the middle of the night when it’s quiet. Despite what people see in the movies, it’s not always glamorous and easy. Time goes fast for planners; we know how much time a task takes even while a couple does not. We treat time like gold. I also know I can’t take being a part of an important event for granted so despite being laid back and calm, I get very serious and nervous and double check everything leading up to an event.

What advice would you give someone who wants to start working in the event industry?
If you don’t like people, don’t do it. Plan several personal events on your own, take a course, get a great pair of comfortable shoes, and work as an intern. When you want to take the plunge, try it out for a year and see if you still love it. If you can answer an emphatic YES, then it’s for you.

What did your wedding meal look like?
My husband and I were young and did not have the wisdom in planning menus and picking a good caterer like we do now. Our wedding meal was a buffet of mediocre roast beef, Spanish rice, and I don’t remember the rest. I do remember our hazelnut-flavored wedding cake being delicious and the German wine was great.

If we ever do plan a menu for a future wedding anniversary party, I would probably do an authentic mixture of Asian and Mexican fare, my favorite kinds of food, with great bottles of wine and beer and a mojito bar.


Thanks Adel for the great interview.

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),
Olivia

Silhouette to Buttons: Trends for your Wedding Party!

Today, we have team member Sayira Khokhar sharing some Bridal Party trends with you.

So much effort is spent on picking the bridal gown and the groom's tuxedo, one almost looks at the groomsmen and bridesmaids as an afterthought, but they are just as important as the flower arrangement on the reception tables!

When scouting dresses and suits for the bridal party, keep in mind the theme of your wedding. They will need to compliment the bride and groom.

Open any magazine and flip to the wedding pages, you will see they all have several components in common. While we don't encourage you to copy everything you see, we hope you'll find inspiration you can put your own unique stamp on.


In bridesmaid dresses, think bold & solid colors. The colors of the season range from the a light sage green (at the lighter end of the spectrum) to vibrant colors such as a red orange. I am loving the more exotic and non-traditional colors, such as rust or bright yellow.


The silhouette most popular this season is the “A” line dress. This is a very flattering silhouette for women with curves because the fabric glides over the hips. The top is more fitted to reveal a nice waist. To accentuate the slimmer waist, a wide sash is added. It can be of the same, or a contrasting, color.

The fabrics vary depending on the length of the dress. For example, stiffer fabric is made for something above the knees such as mix of cotton-silk faille or silk organza. These are lightweight but crisp and clean. The sharp and clean lines add an element of modern or abstract design.


Floor length dresses are typically made of feathery fabrics such as, my favorite, silk chiffon. Again, depending on the theme of the wedding, this would add the classical accent to the ceremony. It has a feather light look. It adds a beautiful whisper in the light breeze.

Another trend is exposed shoulders. There are many halter necklines and strapless dresses. The shorter dresses tend to have the exposed shoulders whereas the longer dresses have a halter neckline.

The most interesting trend is ballet flats! This adds a very cute, flower girl look to the bridesmaid. They are also less painful and fun to dance in when the night is long!

Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about the groomsmen.

The piece that has grown in fashion is the tie. It is no longer the traditional black or gray. We are seeing the bold splash of color, to compliment the bridesmaids. Usually the breast pocket napkin is the same color but I have seen many mismatching ties and handkerchief.


Depending on the theme, a 3 piece suit gives the feel of the traditional English country wedding, however, the fishtail is not always present. The most fashionable twist is using difference shades of the same color in the men's ensemble. The vest might be a light heather gray, the coat a medium black with matching pants, a white shirt and a white bow tie to contrast the vest. The combinations are endless! (Within reasonable limits of course.)


Buttons. Yes, groomsmen, buttons. Add them to your attire. We like to see different shaped buttons, such as diamonds or squares. Sometimes they are darker or lighter than the coat to accentuate the style.

Enjoy shopping for your favorite ladies and guys, and be sure to give them the chance to personalize their look to show the personalities you love so much!

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),
Olivia

Now Raise Your Glass...

The wedding ceremony was absolutely beautiful and the reception is going along fantastically. The MC has started to announce the people to make toasts. Oh no, what will he say? What will she bring up? How long is dad going to talk? These are some of the questions that may be going through your mind but can be handled with a little preliminary work. Toasts can be a very memorable part of the evening and you certainly don’t want it remembered as the time that the best man was too drunk or dad’s speech was 40 minutes long. Here are our top tips, you can share with your toast-givers, to guarantee a successful toast:


Don’t make it about you
You have been asked by the bride and / or groom to give a speech about why the wedding is happening and what makes it so great. The number one key to a successful toast is to make it about the couple you are toasting. Don’t talk about you, rather keep it focused on the bride and groom.

Save the Drinks Until Toast Time
This point seems quite obvious, but it is not. Wait until after your toast to visit the bar. Even if you are traditionally a fantastic speaker, slurring your words will certainly not impress the guests. Also, if one has had a bit too much to drink they may tend to ramble and repeat the same story, and they will not even know they are doing it.

Be clear and concisePrior to the big day decide upon three stories (Max!), and at least one good thing about both the bride and groom as individuals, and one of them as a couple, to incorporate into your toast or speech. The more these stories relate to each other the better.

Don’t get side-tracked
Stick with the pre-planned work you have done on the toast. Stay with the three stories and comments about the bride and groom. Sometimes when you are recalling memories they will lead you to more memories, which can lead to another story, and all of the sudden you are rambling and taking far too long to make a memorable toast. Since the wedding reception room is filled with family, older relatives, and close childhood friends, your toast should be PG or PG-13 rated. Steer clear of any topics that may offend.


Start preparing early
Type or write down your thoughts on the speech. By writing it down it will help you remember it better, and assist you in honing it down, and then it is quite easy to edit if needed. Also by writing it down you can practice in front of the mirror, or a loved one, to get more comfortable in delivering the speech.

Use your Speech 101 skills
All of us at one time or another in high school or college took a speech class. Now is the time to recollect and use those skills. Keep the toast short (3 minutes is a good starting point), keep it simple and keep the audience entertained. Make the guests understand why you were chosen for this special moment. Mixing in some humor and keeping it about the bride and groom is sure to be a winner.

Keep it real
The more true to yourself, the more the audience will be on your side. Some of the best speeches are two to three sentences, sharing a heartfelt congratulations and genuine wishes for full of love, because they were delivered with sincerity that you can see if their face or even hear in the sound of their voice. As long as you are comfortable in honoring the bride and groom this works best.


Have fun
Have fun but not too much fun. You want to deliver your speech fluently and clearly. You want to show emotion and sincerity and that can sometimes be difficult if you are having too much fun. It is a tradition and honor to be selected for this task, and should be given your full attention and regard.

Know that the actual purpose of giving a toast is to wish the couple happiness and blissful life ahead. Make sure you keep this in mind when you say your toast. Give your perspective of why that is the case and then you can gracefully make your exit to the bar.

Cheers!

Picking the Perfect Wedding Date

Today we are over at Top Wedding Sites talking about how to pick your perfect wedding date. Come check it out!



http://www.topweddingsites.com/wedding-blog/wedding-planning/picking-the-perfect-wedding-date

How “Real” is Reality TV When it Comes to Planning Your Wedding

I love watching "Say Yes to the Dress" as much as the next girl. WE tv can distract me for a few hours at a time as I watch couples navigate all of the decisions that go into wedding planning. However, as someone who works in the wedding industry I am watching from a different point of view than a bride-to-be or single girl daydreaming about her big day.

Reality TV does a great job of inspiring brides. The best, brightest and most cutting edge trends are highlighted for all to enjoy. Wedding related television shows have guided brides in their gown style, inspired décor and bridal party attire color selections and no doubt helped to create some fantastic celebrations.


However, I fear that reality TV has also given brides some unrealistic expectations when it comes to their big day. Many of these shows do not disclose costs, or at least the full cost of their wedding. For example, it is common to see a bride with a $3,000 budget for a wedding gown on television. Given that the gown is often budgeted at 5% of the total wedding cost, we can guess that this gown is part of a $60,000 wedding. The average wedding cost in the United States is $24,000, which creates an average gown budget of $1,200, quite a difference.


There are also costs that are unseen to the untrained eye. In addition to the base cost of any wedding related item you need to leave room in your budget to account for tax (often close to 10%), labor, shipping and/or delivery and service charges (most commonly found with your caterer or venue). These fees can range anywhere from 18% to 24% of your total bill. This will grow proportionally with your overall wedding budget.


Finally, for better or worse, there needs to be accommodation for the cost of living in different locations. The price of labor will likely be higher in a large metropolitan city (i.e. Chicago, New York) than it is in a smaller city. If you have your heart set on a product only available in a larger city you may end up paying more in shipping fees to get it to you. This information is not meant to scare you, rather provide you information to set realistic expectations.


Floral designers, bridal gown consultants, and wedding planners truly do love when an inspired bride comes in. It is lovely to work with a couple who know what they are looking for on their wedding day. So, watch all the reality tv you would like to, and keep notes on your favorite ideas. When it comes time to start your planning, be up front and realistic with your budget. Hire professionals you trust, and work with them to create the day that you have been dreaming of.

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for now),
Olivia

Modern Wedding Registry Tips

We are SO excited to welcome our friend Jennifer from Foodie Registry to the blog today to chat with all of our lovely brides about the Modern Wedding Registry.


It goes without saying that traditional wedding registries and etiquette don’t always apply to couples living in the 21st century. These days, couples are waiting longer to get married, and many decide to cohabitate together before marriage, which results in less of a need for the nest-building housewares that have traditionally graced wedding registries.

When my husband Ben and I got engaged, we had already dated for 7 years, and had most of our household necessities. Still, we felt pressured to register for traditional items that we didn’t need, but that we thought people would want or expect us to register for. After looking over our registry at a list of things we were sure would end up gathering dust on a shelf, in a fit of inspiration and rebellion (and being the foodies we are), we created a list of restaurants we loved or wanted to try. The “restaurant registry” was a great success with our guests, gave us date nights for months, and made us realize that ultimately, doing what was best for us as a couple was the best thing to do.

The wedding registry process can be tricky, especially when trying – as all of us do – to please everyone. In the spirit of the independent and diverse modern couple, we thought we would share some of our favorite modern wedding registry tips.

DO register online. This is almost a given for modern couples. Online wedding registries are infinitely more convenient for both guests and receivers. It’s fine to provide a few pick-up options for older or more traditionally-minded guests, but just keep in mind that most of your guests will prefer to purchase their gift online.

DON’T include your registries on your invitations. This is one registry rule that stands the test of time. The main reason is because you don’t want to take any emphasis away from the primary purpose of the invitation – to ask that your friends and loved ones be present at one of the most specials moments in your life.

DO make your wedding registry easily accessible. Word of mouth may be the traditional way of telling guests where you’re registered, but in modern times it is all but impractical. Instead, link to your wedding registry on your wedding webpage, which we highly encourage you to create. Most wedding webpages are free to create and serve as a central online hub of information for your wedding guests. You can also include the URL of your wedding webpage on invitations.

DON’T forget to update your registries on a regular basis. Often times, certain items will be out of stock or get discontinued. Try to monitor them at least once a month to prevent any inconveniences for guests.

DO register for items that reflect you as a couple. If you and your future spouse are avid rock climbers or amateur chefs, why not register for rock climbing gear or cooking classes? In other words, don’t feel pressured to register for things you don’t really want or need. There are many exciting alternative registry options available now, from honeymoon and charity registries, to our own Foodie Registry. You can also go the DIY route and create your own wedding registry!

DON’T wait until the last minute to register. Complete your wedding registries up to 6 months, and no later than 2 months in advance of the wedding, in order to give your guests plenty of time to choose and purchase their gifts.

DO provide a variety of options for guests. That includes a variety of price points, items and registries. We advocate doing what’s best for you as a couple, but we also think it’s polite to think of your guests. If you know your friends will have to travel far for the wedding or have smaller budgets, or if Aunt Edna has always wanted to give you a set of flatware, consider these things accordingly while shaping your registry.

DON’T be afraid to register for what you want. If you already have your towels and spatulas, don’t be afraid to register for things (or experiences!) you actually want and will use. You’ll find that many guests will not only love having some fresh or unique items to choose from, but will appreciate knowing their gift will be truly enjoyed.

DO read FAQs and check for hidden fees before setting up a registry. Unfortunately some registries have added costs, either for you or your guests. Make sure that you are not choosing registries that will charge your guests a service fee.


Jennifer a.k.a. @mrsfoodiereg started Foodie Registry with her husband Ben in 2010, after eschewing the traditional registry at their own wedding in 2008 and creating a “restaurant registry” instead. The registry was a huge hit with guests, and Foodie Registry was born.

What is wedding entertainment?

Today we will learn about all aspects of wedding entertainment from Sr. Event Architect, Adel Domingo.

It’s not just figuring out if you should have a DJ or a band. It is a combination of your wedding fitting your personality, how you want your guests to have fun and most importantly, how you as a couple want to celebrate.

Where do we start?

First, tell the band or DJ your “do not play” or “do not do” list and stick to it. You know what those are – the songs that you really dislike or not letting your crazy relative have a microphone to sing his version of “Endless Love.”

Second, if you feel like choreographing your first dance, make sure you are both committed to it, and rehearse a lot. Even if you’re professional dancers, after a few drinks and the potential weight and size of your wedding gown, you don’t want to trip or have your groom step on your gown. The first dance is important, so pick your favoring song ahead of time together.

You do not need to do a lot to entertain your guests, just enough to let them know you appreciate their presence and that you thought of them.


A few ideas to keep your guests from yawning, or leaving your wedding reception early, are:

1. Make the speeches short. It’s pretty self-explanatory.

2. Make each other feel special. If you can sing, sing something for your groom or bride. Really kiss when your guests clink on their glasses. Compliment your bride publicly on how pretty she looks. Make sure his meal is extra special like surprising him with his favorite steak instead of the chicken you ordered.

3. If you are at a regional area, serve the regional food. For example, if you are having your wedding near apple orchards, add apples to your menu or use apples as place card holders.

4. Ask your bridal party to mingle with the guests or play hosts to the guests. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifThere are always guests who just know the bride and groom but nobody else. In short, make everybody feel welcomed.

Photo by R.E.M. Photography

5. Combination photo booths and guest books are great during cocktail hour. They are still extremely popular even though they have been around for years now. Why? Because the guests feel relaxed and there is interaction.

6. Hire a great band or DJ. Not only that, make sure the emcee is professional. This means they care about your timeline, how they pronounce your names when announced, and most importantly, they are witty and funny and know when to liven up the party when there is dead time.

7. When you throw the bouquet or garter, attach a gift card to it. Will it make the single guests be more interested to be on the floor? You bet!

8. Have interactive food. For instance, design your own cocktail. Have a martini bar. A chocolate fountain never gets old but a new twist to it is maybe to add a crepe station. The latest is to adding cotton candy or a popcorn machine near the end of the party. A popcorn machine is great if you’re having your event at a theater.


9. Choose an interesting venue or design it so it fits your personality. Do you like wineries, a vintage diner, a garden, a beach, a contemporary ballroom, a barn, or a chalet? No matter what, choose a venue that is interesting.

10. Finally, do not have a cash bar. Having an open bar is still affordable; just ask the venue to customize something that is more affordable. Maybe you can buy your own wine and the venue just charges you corkage fee. You invited the guests to your wedding and it’s more courteous to not have them pay for anything.

Wedding entertainment really translates as making every second special during your celebration. Do not over think or make it over the top so it feels like a circus. Just pick a few ideas so your wedding feels like a unique celebration, something you, your family, and friends will remember as a great experience.

Thanks for this great blog, Adel.

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),
Olivia