I had a client who wanted to celebrate the Mexican heritage of her fiance by incorporating the traditional elements of Dia de los Muertos.

Even though the English translation is Day of the Dead, this Mexican holiday is not morbid.  In fact, it is a celebration of loved ones who have passed away.  Dia de Los Muertos is a festive day with bright colors (fuschia, purple, orange), hand painted calveras (skulls), papel picado, and an "ofrenda."  An "ofrenda" is a table of offerings for loved ones that have passed away.  Typically, the "ofrenda" has pictures of your loved ones and their favorite things.

Hey all you lucky brides!

I just received word that the Nixon Library is giving 50% off their regular rental rate for Saturday evening on March 6, 2010.  This is a STEAL!  Usually, the Nixon Library goes for $7K on a Saturday.

Make sure to jump on this deal - QUICKLY!

Instead of something blue, be different, and try something GREEN.  Raise the eco-awareness of your guests by having a simple and elegantly GREEN wedding.

• For your favors, make a donation in your guests’ names to companies that invest in renewable energy.
• Choose a venue or location that practices green initiatives like recycling, water conservation, or solar panels.  www.greenhotels.com
• Use organically grown flowers
• Print your invitations on recycled paper with soy ink
• Ask your caterer to use local, organic foods and donate all leftovers to local shelters
• For decor, use natural, local elements that are free such as pinecones, seashells, and stones
• Replace regular candles with soy-based candles that are clean-burning
• In your engagement ring and wedding bands, use conflict free diamonds
• Register for energy efficient appliances and organic sheets

The basics of a wedding are all the same, no matter who the couple is.  Here’s a list of opportunities to put your personal mark on your wedding.

1.  Ask your caterer to prepare you or your finance’s favorite dish or your grandma’s holiday pie that’s a family tradition.

2.  Design a personal logo as an element of decor throughout your wedding - invitations, menu/place cards, lighting, favors, and cake toppers

3.  Instead of the tried and true wedding march, have your ceremony musicans play a song that’s special to the both of you.

4.  Design your own wine.  At the reception or cocktail hour, service wine that you’ve made yourselves.  Try Crushpad in San Francisco.  If you’re in an area without wineries, create your own wine lables.  Try www.bottleyourbrand.com

Every movie with a wedding scene always has the bride and groom happily making a grand exit from the ceremony or reception as all their guests surround them with well wishes and love as they start a new life as husband and wife.

What happened to the grand exit?  I love this part of the wedding.  The Grand Exit has somehow faded away from wedding ceremonies and receptions.  Now, it seems like guests rush off after the ceremony to avoid traffic jams trying get to the reception site.  On the other hand, receptions fizzle like a night club when the lights come up and the bride and groom are left with a handful of straggling guests.

Bring back this classic tradition and plan a Grand Exit with style.  Your guests can send you off with rose petals, bubbles, or sparklers.  Don’t forget about the time honored tradition of decorating the get away car with "Just Married" decorations.  It’s such a great moment to capture via photo or video.    

Let your wedding planner, photographer, and DJ/MC know what time you will be making your grand exit and they will alert and coordinate your guests for you.

P.S. No confetti - it’s too messy.  It gets stuck in your hair, eyelashes, cleavage, etc.

Music is everything at any event.  Music will set the mood and attitude of your wedding.  At your wedding:

• The song playing as you walk down the aisle will frame the moment where you begin a new chapter in your life
• The songs during your ceremony makes your guests excited to share in special day
• The song played during your first dance tells your love story

With all the different types technology - MP3s, IPODs, DJ software, Itunes, etc., there is bound to be a few flubs due to human error or compatibility issues. 

Make sure you have all the special songs for your ceremony and wedding burned on a CD just in case your DJ is having technical difficulties.  Give the back up CD to your wedding planner, maid of honor/best man, or a good friend for safe keeping in case a technical difficulty arises.

If you’re using the church’s sound system, do a trial run with their staff at the rehearsal.  No one wants to walk down the aisle in silence, to the wrong song, or from the tiny speaker of a portable CD player or IPOD.

As Rihanna says, "Please don’t stop the music!"

I love winter weddings!  It combines my two favorite things - the holiday season and weddings.

Although some may feel that a holiday wedding is inconvenient, it has many positive attributes.

First, all of your family is usually in town to celebrate the holiday - why "knot" kill two birds with one stone and celebrate a wedding.

Second, every wedding venue is already decorated with beautiful holiday decor that will perfectly accent your winter wedding.  This can save you extra money in your budget.

Third, in this tough and tight economy, corporations are cancelling their holiday parties.  Vendors will be more than willing to offer freebies, discounts, and include additional services at no additional cost.