Archive for the ‘Lora Ward’ Category

Welcome back to another installment of Real Weddings Magazine’s Partner Profiles!

This week we highlight four fabulous women from The Venue Vixens!  Lora Ward, Catrina Arcularius, Kendra Pfeiffer-Wershing and Laurie Schmalzel are a dynamic foursome of experienced professional wedding and event planners.  They created The Venue Vixens to help brides like you find the perfect wedding venue.  Take it away ladies!

The Venue Vixens

Tell us a little about your company?  We are four experienced planners who love to find new and interesting venues to share with our brides.

When did you establish your business?  In 2010 as a group, but we’ve been around forever!

What sets you apart from your competition?  Our site search is custom and appeals to a bride looking for an off the beaten path venue or something out of the ordinary.

Where do you find inspiration?  Each venue we visit inspires us in some way. Some show us how creative we need to be (to hide all the bad parts) and others inspire us to plan our own weddings again. It’s pretty easy to stay inspired when you have four ladies with too much energy and a love for weddings.

When you opened shop, what was your promise to your customers?  To continue updating our Web site in hopes that every bride will use our resource in choosing their wedding site.

Do you regularly blog? If so, what’s your blog site?  Yes, www.thevenuevixens.com/category/blog/

What’s your favorite local restaurant?  Hands down I think all four of us agree it is Mulvaney’s (They didn’t pay us to say that!).

What is your favorite fun thing to do locally?  Farmers’ markets and 2nd Saturday

Do you have secret vice or indulgence? What is it?  Gossiping about other people in the industry!

What are you most grateful for in life?  All of our beautiful children. 

What advice would you can give to brides and grooms getting married today?  Pick a venue that speaks to you and don’t be so concerned about distance or convenience for everyone. The people you want most to be there will be!

Find out more about the ladies of The Venue Vixens by visiting their Web site!

Photos courtesy of The Venue Vixens.

Check out the Real Weddings Contest Page! Great bridal loot for real Sacramento-area brides!

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!

Jasmine, Carie and Heather from Dynamite Weddings

We recently had the honor of being a part of the Dynamite Weddings‘ January Bridal Mixer at The Citizen Hotel. And what fun it was! Not only did we get to hang with some of our favorite wedding vendors, but we got to chit-chat with some pretty cool brides-to-be (along with their friends, moms and actually one dad — love that!).

While the Dynamite Weddings’  Bridal Mixers give brides the opportunity to interact with local area wedding vendors, it also gave them the opportunity to learn more about that evening’s educational topic, What Weddings Really Cost, compiled with input from Dynamite Weddings’ Dynamite Vendors. Not to mention, brides (and all of the rest of us!) got to  nosh on the tasty delights from the chefs at The Citizen Hotel and the fabulous dessert goodies from wedding-cake-designer and pastry chef extraordinaire Carissa Jones from Sugar and Spice and…

Needless to say, a good time was had by all! Check out these photos from the fun affair (courtesy of The Memory Journalists) and the highlight video from Phill Sheffield of Sheffield Multimedia.

(clockwise from upper left) Lora from A Day to Remember, Cathy from Visual Impact Design, Heidi from Granite Bay Golf Club, Phill from Sheffield Multimedia and Carissa from Sugar and Spice and...

(clockwise from upper left) Jen from Dynamite Weddings and The Memory Journalists, Brad from Celebrations, Harmony from The Citizen Hotel and Wendy (me!) from Real Weddings Magazine

(clockwise from upper left) Heidi from Granite Bay Golf Club, Heather from Dynamite Weddings, Lora from A Day to Remember, Haley from Our Wedding Magazine and Cathy from Visual Impact Design

Flowers from Visual Impact Design and Dress from Bella Donna Bridal Salon

Fabulous Food by The Citizen Hotel

More yummy goodies from Sugar and Spice and...

Delightful Treats from Sugar and Spice and...

Dynamite Weddings Bridal Mixer from Phill Sheffield on Vimeo.

Did you miss it? Well, then you need to sign up for the next mixer! Here’s the info:

When:  February 25, 2010

Time:  5:30 p.m until 8:00 p.m.

Where: Celebrations! Elegant Party Rentals at 7501 Galilee Road in Roseville

Educational Topic:  How to Contract with Wedding Vendors

By pre-registering (click here), your name will be on “The List” at the door (cover charge of $10 at the door if not pre-registered.)

In the meantime, check out the vendors who participated in this last week’s mixer:

Dynamite Weddings
The Memory Journalists
The Citizen Hotel
A Day to Remember Wedding and Event Planners
Granite Bay Golf Club
Visual Impact Design
Profinish Design
Sheffield Multimedia
Exquisite Events & Entertainment
Our Wedding Magazine
Real Weddings Magazine
Bella Donna Bridal Salon
Sugar and Spice and…
Celebrations! Elegant Party Rentals
Stephanie J Designs (not in attendance)

And, don’t miss the upcoming wedding workshop, Wedding Style 101 presented by Dynamite Weddings, Our Wedding Magazine and Real Weddings Magazine. For more, visit: www.weddingstyle101.com , www.dynamiteweddings.com or www.realweddingsmag.com.

Looking for local Sacramento wedding vendors?

Build your dream team at Real Weddings Magazine’s Resource Guide. Click here to get started!

We recently asked Wedding Planning Pro Lora Ward from A Day To Remember Wedding and Event Planners to be a guest blogger on our site and to share some of her knowledge with our brides.

She recently blogged for us about Five Mistakes to Avoid During the Wedding Planning Process.

For this entry, she shares tips to make your special day even more spectacular:

1. Keep to the schedule – being unorganized will cause stress and delays. I say this all the time… “There is never enough time on wedding day.” Start early in the day, be organized, have all your personal items together, i.e. jewelry, shoes, garter, emergency kit, wedding purse packed, marriage license, rings. Make a list, fill a box or bag. Tell your maid of honor (MOH) or mom all that is in the bag so that somebody knows, and you don’t have to be interrupted when something is needed.

2. Photography hogs – again…back to the schedule. Guests who have to wait and wait and wait, until the reception starts with the bride and groom due to the picture session, is the most irritating aspect of a wedding. I hear it all the time. Talk to your photographer in advance to request that he/she take no more than 45 minutes for post wedding photos. Strongly request that all family members included in these pictures remain close by after the ceremony. Let your bridal party members know what’s going on, so they don’t wander off. After the photos, you’ll more than likely need to take a restroom break or time to freshen up a bit. A cocktail “hour” should be just that… no more than an hour.

3. Who’s responsible at the end of the night? – In advance, figure out who will be responsible (and sober) to hand-carry all the wedding gifts out to the car (you’ll need more than one car). Who will be responsible for the gift cards (very important!) Who will find and collect the personal items, such as the toasting goblets, cake knife/lifter, guest book, your veil that you left somewhere, extra wedding cake (and the list can go on and on). If you provided the alcohol, who will connect with the caterer to collect the unopened bottles or cases of wine. You’ll need a separate car for the alcohol, perhaps.

4. Neglecting to thank your guests – these people have travelled, given up hours, purchased a gift and want to witness and celebrate your nuptials. Take the time to acknowledge your guests (as well as your parents and bridal party members) by giving a brief speech after your Grand Entrance. Either the bride or groom can muster the nerve to make a public statement, such as “Thank you for coming; it means a lot to us that all our closest friends and family are here today.” Then, do your best to work the room by visiting tables (try to stay together), and enjoy the dance floor with your guests, too.

5. Losing sight of the importance to the day – yes, it’s a very exciting day, you have lots of things to get done beforehand, and the event is a non-stop whirlwind, but take a moment (if not two!) and look into your sweetie’s eyes. Slip away to hold onto each other, take a breath, and acknowledge each other and your newly married status. This is a beautiful day…not a “show,” but the beginning of your married life together.

About A Day To Remember Wedding and Event Planners:
A Day to Remember Wedding and Event Planners believes planning the wedding of your dreams should be just like falling in love… joyful and effortless!

Your wedding will have a myriad of details that a professional consultant and wedding planner will have the experience to deal with, and the knowledge to implement. A Day to Remember Wedding and Event Planners listen to your wishes and concerns, offering guidance and providing peace of mind.

Based in Sacramento, California, A Day to Remember Wedding and Event Planners have 25 years experience coordinating and planning special events in the Northern California area, including the Greater Sacramento area, Napa Valley, Sierra Foothills/Gold Country and Lake Tahoe and are available for travel to your destination. They are here to help you plan and coordinate a worry-free wedding that will be memorable, exciting, unique and romantic.

Be sure to check out A Day to Remember Wedding and Event Planners’ Web site: www.adaytorememberca.com/ and Lora’s blog: www.adaytorememberca.com/blog

Photo above of Jessica & Steven Luttrell (by Lily Rose Photography), one of our featured real weddings in the current issue of Real Weddings Magazine. Lora Ward from A Day to Remember Wedding and Event Planners worked with Jessica & Steven to achieve their perfect day. To read more about Jessica & Steven’s wedding and to view more photos from their wedding, pick up a copy of the current issue or click here.

We recently asked Wedding Planning Pro Lora Ward from A Day To Remember Wedding and Event Planners for some tips to help brides achieve a more blissful wedding planning process – and, she’s graciously agreed to be a guest blogger on our site!

So here’s her first entry: Five Mistakes to Avoid During the Wedding Planning Process:

1. Wedding Gown Delivery Date – don’t give your exact wedding date to the bridal gown salon. Request (insist) that your gown be delivered at least two weeks prior to your actual wedding date. Mistakes in ordering, delivery problems or alterations could take longer than expected. Peace of mind is everything!

2. A “friend of a friend” – don’t get swayed by a good pitch or a price that’s too good to be true. Hire a professional vendor (whether it’s a photographer, caterer, florist or DJ), as they are prepared and can handle any unusual situation and have experience “walking the walk.” You cannot repeat your wedding day so don’t set yourself up for possible failure and regret.

3. The “B” word (Budget) – weddings, like home construction, almost always cost more than you originally planned. If you have an absolute set amount, research every expense in advance, don’t wait until the moment of hiring as you’ll be up against the wall, then. Track every dime, and keep the head count manageable.

4. Hair and make-up scheduling – like the first doctor appointment of the morning, if it runs late, you’ll spend hours trying to catch up to run on schedule. Set the appointment with your stylist/artist far earlier in the day than you think; communicate with the stylist/artist exactly what services are needed and don’t throw in any last minute services… you’ll run late!

5. Private/Professional Planner vs. Facility Coordinator – don’t assume the person who walks the floor at your event is also your personal wedding planner. While he/she can be and often are very helpful to you, he/she works for “the house.” They will take great care of the staff, the meal service and other details of the facility (and are often taking care of those same details in another part of the building for a second event). Services you’ll need throughout the planning of your wedding (sometimes a year long process) needs more than just the facility coordinator. Remember, a successful wedding depends on excellent planning.

About A Day To Remember Wedding and Event Planners:
A Day to Remember Wedding and Event Planners believes planning the wedding of your dreams should be just like falling in love… joyful and effortless!

Your wedding will have a myriad of details that a professional consultant and wedding planner will have the experience to deal with, and the knowledge to implement. A Day to Remember Wedding and Event Planners listen to your wishes and concerns, offering guidance and providing peace of mind.

Based in Sacramento, California, A Day to Remember Wedding and Event Planners have 25 years experience coordinating and planning special events in the Northern California area, including the Greater Sacramento area, Napa Valley, Sierra Foothills/Gold Country and Lake Tahoe and are available for travel to your destination. They are here to help you plan and coordinate a worry-free wedding that will be memorable, exciting, unique and romantic.

Be sure to check out A Day to Remember Wedding and Event Planners’ Web site: http://www.adaytorememberca.com/ and Lora’s blog: www.adaytorememberca.com/blog

Photo above of cover model finalist Theresa Garcia by Jodi Yorston Photography, dress by Alfred Angelo, flowers by Ambience Floral Design and hair/make-up by Nevaeh Boutique, Spa, Salon. Shot on location at Cosmo Cafe.

We were honored recently to be part of another bridal open house at the Delta King.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t be there myself, so I asked Catering & Wedding Sales Manager Jenny Johnson to sum up the day, and here’s what she had to say:

“You would have LOVED the fashion show!!! Seniya with the Diamond Bridal Gallery is a rock star! Her models and dresses were beautiful and Image Provocateur did an
amazing job on their hair and makeup. Lora Ward from A Day to Remember Wedding and Event Planning gave a wonderful speech on “How to Organize a Fairly Flawless Wedding Day.” All the vendors did a great job, and I’m really appreciative to have their support, especially Sound
Image Entertainment, Mimi & Co. , River City Cake Company, Diamond Bridal
Gallery, A Day to Remember Wedding and Event Planning, JnJ Treasures and Eye
Connoisseur.”

Delta King’s next bridal open house won’t be until June 2010 — be sure to watch our Web sites (realweddingsmag.com and deltaking.com) for more details!

Blog post by Wendy Sipple, Publisher/Editor.