First and foremost - Can you believe that the bride’s mother made her dress and veil?  It was gorgeous and impeccably made.  You would have never guessed that it didn’t come from a bridal shop.  The couple was married in Our Lady of Angels in Downtown LA, took photos at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, and held their reception at a private estate.  The color palette was Sage Green and Eggplant.  The style was backyard chic infused with elements of their Mexican culture and traditions:

• Loteria cards as table numbers
• Churro station w/ caramel and chocolate sauce and ice cream in lieu of a wedding cake
• Mariachi Band
• Tequila shot instead of a traditional champagne toast
• Chicken Mole and Black Bean Chilaquiles entree

Photography:  Steve D Photography

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!

What’s on your do not play list for your wedding reception?  Hopefully, your DJ has already given you a list of DO NOT PLAY songs or asked you to start one.  Your list should include songs you think are inappropriate, cheddar cheesy, or songs that you absolutely hate.  Here’s a short selection of songs to jump start your own list:

• Chicken Dance
• Macarena
• Baby Got Back
• Achy Breaky Heart
• Ice Ice Baby

1.  Keep it short and sweet - 30 seconds to 3 minutes.

2.  Keep it clean.  Stay away from stories involving partying, getting it on, or embarrassing moments.  No dirty or crude jokes.

3.  Speak from your heart.  Tell an endearing story of the couple’s courtship.  Avoid long winded stories about childhood.

4.  The couple’s personality, family, and ceremony set the tone.  Keep in mind how conservative and/or religious the couple and their families are.  If the ceremony and reception is very formal, leave the jokes at home.  When writing your toast, keep these three items in the back of your mind.

5.  Relax.  It can be nerve racking to be the center of attention and make a meaningful speech in a room of virtual strangers.  Stand up, speak in a clear, even tone, avoid "um(s)" and using the word "like" repeatedly, hold the microphone at your chin, annunciate your words, and make eye contact with different guests across the room and the happy couple.

Good luck!

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

1. Will you be the photographer shooting our wedding?  If not, can we meet the person who will be?
2. Will you bring a second shooter?  Can we meet them as well?
3. How many times have you specifically worked as a wedding photographer?
4. Will we receive a CD of all the digital images?
5. Have you ever shot a wedding at our venue or location?
6. How would you describe your style?  Traditional or photojournalistic?
7. Do you shoot digitally or with film?
8. What kind of equipment will you bring with you?
9. How many pictures will you take?
10. Do you charge by the hour or offer packages of unlimited coverage of the entire day, including the pre-wedding preparations?
11. Are you familiar with our style of wedding?
12. What kind of input can we have on the direction of the shots?  Can we provide you with a shot list?

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.