The Soup: San Francisco Bay Area Wedding Blog Serving San Jose, Silicon Valley, & Monterey

National Raise Awareness Week!

2010-03-01T16:24:00.000-08:00

Spread The Good Word...

Presidents

Sasha Souza, NationalKevin Covey, LA/Orange CountyStella Inserra, New YorkIvy Robinson, The CarolinasEliana Baucicault, AtlantaMary Alice Sublett, TennesseeHeather Hamilton Sims, HoustonShelby Tuck Horton, DCElisa Delgardio, OrlandoAli Phillips, ChicagoDaniela Fageʹ́t, Seattle

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"J" is for J*Flops

2010-02-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

J*Flops are fun and unique flip flop designs, owned and designed by Jennifer Bernel.

How Jennifer Got Started in the Business
Jennifer chose to create these flip flops because it is something fun, interesting, ever changing and she can make her own hours! "I have always wanted to have my own business and when this idea came to me I just ran with it." They are celebrating their five year anniversary this year!

J*Flops has been featured in several local magazines as well as the Sacramento Bee. J*Flops was also featured on Good Day Sacramento!

About Jennifer Bernel

Jennifer has a bachelor’s degree in Communications/Public Relations and a certificate in meeting planning. Jennifer loves that her job doesn’t really get boring, and that there are always new creative ideas to explore. "I love working with brides and helping them to add a little something different and special to their big day."

Besides her job, Jennifer loves her family, "They make me smile and fill my heart with love." She has three kids, one was just born on February 12! (Congrats!) She also has a dog named Lily and a cat Noey(short for Noel).

Hottest Trends Right Now

Sparkle is in (when is it not, really!) and simplicity. Colors that seem to be popular are turquoise, brown, black and shades of pink. But that can all change with the seasons.

Favorite Type of Bride to Work With
and Most Unique and Unusual Experiences
Jennifer says her favorite type of bride is one that is creative and willing to think outside the box as far as colors or design – to make the flops something extra special for their bridesmaids. Also, brides that appreciate the work that goes into hand making the flops. "We carefully make each one to perfection and it is nice to work with brides that see that and are thankful for those special touches."

J*Flops has had many special requests, but one that stands out to Jennifer was one bride that wanted to truly create a pair of flops for each of her bridesmaids that said something about their personality. We ended up creating a horse themed pair for a girl that liked horses, a dog themed pair and several other distinct themed pairs including one that was for her friend that loved Miller Light beer – "Those turned out so cute!"

Several celebrities have J*Flops and wear them, hopefully we will see a famous bride walking down the aisle with a pair soon!

Pricing and Advice to Brides on How to Save Money!
J*Flops have affordable prices, so there is a pair to fit anyone’s budget! For styles on the website, prices range from $18 - $50. Custom orders start at about $20 and go up from there depending on what you want.

To save money Jennifer says, "Just think through reasons why you might want something that seems extravagant. Is it because it is something you really want to incorporate or is it a fad or new trend? Make sure it is something you really want."

In regard to flip flops, they make a great, inexpensive gift to bridesmaids, mother of the bride, flower girls etc., that can be worn the day of the wedding and then can become part of each person’s flip flop collection to wear all summer long, so you really get your money’s worth.

With weddings, since they are usually a one day affair, or maybe a weekend long event, ways in which to save money are finding ways to stretch your dollar, make it last longer, be more memorable and really say something about you as a couple – make it personal! That way the money you spend is well worth it.

www.jflops.com
Phone Number: 916-320-5137

"I" is for Ice Sculptures!

2010-02-23T18:46:00.000-08:00

Ice Sculptures are a cool way to dress up any event.

Here are a few of the top Ice Sculpture Companies in the Bay Area:

Ice Illusions, San Francisco

Penguin Ice Company, San Jose

San Jose Ice Company, San Jose

"H" is for the Happy Couple!

2010-02-19T09:00:00.000-08:00

The Winners of the 2010 San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveaway!

Congratulations Mike and Vanessa!

Valued at $100,000.00, this platinum style wedding is being donated to one lucky couple by the bay area’s top wedding vendors. After six weeks of public voting, the winning couple has been selected, and will be married on May 14, 2010 at Hotel Vitale in San Francisco. Over 350 couples entered the contest from all over the nation, and five of those made it to the finalists’ round.

Currently residing in Virginia, Vanessa Muza Teskey and Michael Hawkins were chosen by the public as America’s Sweethearts, and we are thrilled by this exciting news! Vicki Grafton of My Simple Details in Fairfax, VA surprised the couple with the news, and Silk and Silver Productions caught it all on video.

Vanessa and Mike met after graduating from the Air Force Academy, and fell in love after Michael’s friends encouraged him to ask her out. Mike deployed overseas and Vanessa was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. From 11,000 miles apart, their belief in God and the contest gave them hope for a brighter future. Throughout the course of the contest, Vanessa’s health has been improving.

Now they really have something to look forward to, as the prize they have won includes everything needed for a high-end, luxurious wedding, and all they have to do is show up!
Along with 75 of their closest friends and family, Vanessa and Mike will enjoy two separate catered parties: first a rehearsal dinner at 1 Fort Mason, and then the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and dancing at Hotel Vitale. The wedding reception menu includes tray passed appetizers, and a three course Chef’s tasting plated dinner, followed by a custom-designed cake from Cake Coquette. Mike and Vanessa will dance to the sounds of The Misa Malone Project, enjoy wines from Robert Mondavi Winery, and have their images sketched by talented local caricature artist, Jon Casey.

Also included: Event designer, wedding planner, custom designed invitations, favors, three florists, classical guitarist for ceremony, jazz trio for cocktail hour, DJ/Emcee, specialty lighting, specialty linens, and all rentals. Wedding gown, bridesmaids’ dresses, mothers’ dresses, bridal party shoes, hair, makeup, spa treatments including manicures, pedicures and massages. A three night honeymoon to Napa at the Milliken Creek Inn & Spa tops off this dream destination wedding.

For a complete list of Dream Team Sponsors, please visit the website.
San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveway

All photos courtesy of Kate Triano
Bouquet from Holly Chapple

"G" is for Gordon Kelly Photography

2010-02-16T16:27:00.000-08:00

Gordon Kelly Photography

Gordon Kelly is a photographer in San Jose, CA. He has been in the business for 21 years!

How Gordon Got Started in the Business

Gordon began photographing landscapes while working at the county. A few folks saw the images he was creating and asked if they were up for sale. "All of a sudden a light bulb went on- ‘making money, doing what I love?'” It was an easy answer. He started with family and children’s portraiture and then added weddings. Now weddings are his primary focus. Gordon talks about his inspiration, "I’m a people person and enjoy capturing all the emotion of a wedding day."

About Gordon Kelly

Gordon took a few dark room classes in college and lots of weeklong photography schools through professional associations. He was awarded Master of Photography through PPA in 1995. He has also won several awards through PPGBA and was named Photographer of the Year in consecutive years by PP of Santa Clara Valley.

Gordon loves when his clients look at their album for the first time. That is what he loves most about his job. Besides his job, Gordon loves his wife and five year-old son. "Trisha is the heartbeat of my soul and Evan is the light of my life." He also enjoys softball, gardening and cheering on the A’s, 49ers and Sharks!

Gordon's Wedding Experiences

Gordon and his assistant work about 22-25 weddings a year. Gordon jokes about his favorite type of bride to work with, "One whose check doesn’t bounce :0) Err, uh…I meant one who is on time and gives me the time to create."

After the wedding, the images are posted online about 10-14 days later. Couples have up to 6 months to place their album order. The hottest trend in photography right now is a modern look that is more lifestyle, and a lot of texture screens over the images.

Gordon's most unusual request was when a couple wanted to do an engagement session where they met IN A PARKING LOT! Gordon has photographed a few local professional athletes and also a few themed weddings (renaissance, 20’s, softball).

Pricing and Advice to Brides on How to Save Money

Gordon has a Commission that includes unlimited locations, myself and an associate photographer for up to 8 hours, online proofing for up to 6 months and a slideshow DVD of wedding images (up to 50 images). Everything else is Ala Carte.

Brides can save money by not bothering with the disposable cameras on the tables. "I have yet to find a bride who thought the money spent was worth it."

Gordon Kelly Photography
15132 Bel Escou Drive, San Jose
Office Hours: by Appointment only

Phone Number: 408-559-3144
www.gordonkellyphoto.com

"F" is for Felicia Events

2010-02-16T12:52:00.000-08:00

Felicia Events, Lake Tahoe

Felicia Gantar is a wedding planner based in Lake Tahoe. She has been in business since 1999.

How Felicia Got Started in the Business

Felicia has been in the hospitality business since she was young. She went to Le Cordon Rouge (Culinary) in Sausalito, California. Once completed, a mentor advised her to go to the Hotel & Restaurant Management Program in San Francisco. "Great advice! I had a wonderful opportunity to work with the best in San Francisco and met my first wedding planner. I thought to myself, 'WOW I want to learn what he is doing!'"

About Felicia Gantar

Felicia had front and back of the house training. Then, she shadowed with wedding planners before starting her own business. "I still call other wedding planners to see if I can shadow them or work with them to continue to grow." Felicia also takes continued educational classes with ABC (Association Bridal Consultants) and attends seminars and conferences.

Felicia on top of being a member of ABC, she is also a member of NACE (National Association Catering Executives), and AWPI (Association for Wedding Professional International). Felicia has been featured in Wedding Affair Magizine, and received the NACE, 2008 Table Top Designer of the year, and NACE, 1st Place for Contemporary Table Design.

Felicia does about 16-20 weddings a year and loves bringing everything together, reminding the bride of details and assisting the bride with designing the wedding.

Besides her job, Felicia loves her family, "They are my strength and support team." She enjoys traveling, skiing, cooking with her husband and having friends over for a great dinner and wonderful wine. She has a Jack Russell dog named Dash, a cat named Buffy, and two birds named Rainbow and Snow.

Hottest Trends and Most Unusual and Unique Requests

Some of the hottest trends in the industry right now are LED lights, crystals, string curtains, and blue and teal colors.

In the Bay Area, Felicia loves the The City Club of San Francisco on Sansome Street. "I used to work there many years ago and it is a classy place."

Felicia's most unusual request was when she did a wedding in Virgina City, Nevada. The bride dressed up as a Spanish dancer and the groom was dressed completely in western wear! They had an acting team, “Pistol and the Petticoats,” act out a scene. The bride(Spanish dancer) acted like she just got off the train to marry the groom that had ordered her. (Yes, ordered her!) Then another woman(actress) comes running down the aisle screaming she was promised to the groom. Then there was a shoot out! "I would say that is the most interesting wedding I have done!"

Felicia had the pleasure of working for Ron Schwary, a movie producer from Hollywood (Tootsie, Batteries Not Included, Scent of a Women, Meet Joe Black, and the show “Medium”). He married Karen Feldman, a wonderful make-up artist out of New York. It was a private ceremony on a yacht at Lake Tahoe of only 40 people.

At a wedding that could have been a potential disaster, Felicia saved the day: A bride wanted to hire the local high school floral department to do the wedding flowers. Delivery time came and past and nobody was answering Felicia's calls. The wedding was in a back yard of the parents house, so Felicia cut flowers in neighboring yards and took ribbon from her emergency case and made a bouquet and a boutonniere for the groom. The high school showed with frozen flowers about 2 hours later!

Pricing and Advice to Brides on How to Save Money!

Every client is different, not one wedding is alike, so all weddings and prices are customized.

"On a very tight budget, I would suggest having a small ceremony around 10:30 a.m. and then serve brunch with light music in the back ground. Make it intimate."

Felicia Events, Lake Tahoe
http://www.feliciaevents.com/

Phone Number: (775) 783-1948
Office Hours: By Appointment

"E" is for Everything, by Ben Harper

2010-02-12T09:00:00.000-08:00

"D" is for Diva Day

2010-02-09T16:32:00.000-08:00

Bella Diva
Featuring Beauty Society Skincare Products

"Beauty Society Divas are women who know they can make a difference in their own lives, and in the lives of others." They are skincare consultants who understand the importance of giving back to those in need!

Liza Jensen, who is also known as "Bella Diva Liza" started her own business with Beauty Society about two years ago.

About Liza Jensen

After retiring from a stressful high tech executive position, Liza wanted to do something fun, leveraging her love of entertaining and theme-based events. She also wanted to work with women and give back to the community. She discovered a line of anti-aging skincare from Beauty Society that transformed her skin and also offered a fabulous business opportunity. She created Bella Diva to allow her to touch on all of these interests.

"I love being a Diva (skincare consultant) representing Beauty Society products! It is very rewarding when I can completely transform the skin of my clients (clearing blemishes, eliminating fine lines and wrinkles, reducing redness and dryness). I am also having the time of my life creating fabulous events for brides, mothers, girlfriends and divas at heart, while also raising funds for local charities."

Liza has twice received the honor of Beauty Society Diva of the Month (Dec 2008, July 2009)! This award is special recognition for outstanding achievement as a skincare consultant with Beauty Society. She loves being her own boss, transforming women’s complexions, creating fabulous events, giving back to the community, and offering this opportunity to other women to start their own business.

Besides her job, Liza loves her family! She has been married for 24 years to her Danish husband and has a 14 year-old son named Trevor who plays ice hockey for the San Jose Jr. Sharks Bantam AAA team! She admires her parents who have been married for 53 years!

She also loves to scrapbook. "You should see my Diva scrapbook! I display it at facial events. The founder and President of Beauty Society loved my Diva book so much that she commissioned me to make one for her which she proudly displays at her Corporate offices."

Hottest Trends and Memorable Experiences

Right now there is a lot of partnerships going on. Women and small businesses are working together. There is also a lot of pampering of women. "We do so much for others, it is my absolute pleasure to pamper women and help them relax and take care of themselves."

Liza loves to do bridal pamper parties! This is a great event to hold before the wedding week. It helps brides and members of the bridal party to bond with each other. It is also a fun thing to do as part of a girl’s night/bachelorette party.

She has done facial parties while her clients received pedicures, had afternoon tea, and enjoyed private shopping in clothing boutiques. Martini & Makeover parties are among her most popular events. Diva Day massage & facial events to benefit the fight against breast cancer have also been a big hit. These Diva Day facial events are open to the public, and I sponsor at least one per month.

One of her favorite products for brides is Liquid Luxury. It is a beautiful blue color that is often given to brides as “something blue”. Liquid Luxury is perfect for dry patches (cuticles, elbows) or as a bath treatment. George Clooney uses Liquid Luxury as a massage oil for his hands.

Another favorite is Photo Shoot, a facial primer worn under make-up. It diffuses and deflects light away from the skin, giving your skin a luminous smoothness, softening fine lines, shrinking pores and evening out discoloration. Celebrity make-up artists and photographers love Photo Shoot. This is a favorite of Kim Kardashian and she has blogged about it.

Celebrity make-up artist Nathan Johnson (clients include Alicia Keyes, Paul McCartney, Ice T, Annette Bening, and the cast of Project Runway) loves their make-up and skincare products. His favorites are Poker Face (topical muscle relaxant and wrinkle reducing cream), Photo Shoot, and Keep It Lite (oil free moisturizer). Nathan often includes Beauty Society products in his blogs.

Pricing and Advice to Brides on How to Save Money!

Facial parties are often complimentary if the host provides the refreshments. When Liza is providing a full service experience at a unique location, then the event price is negotiable. A Diva Day event is often done to benefit a charity (most often the fight against Breast Cancer).

Save Money by hosting a complimentary Bella Diva facial event for a unique treat for your bridal party!

Diva Day Benefit for the Fight Against Breast Cancer

February 20, 2010

It will be held at Simply Smashing boutique in Campbell, 241 E. Campbell Ave. #B, Campbell, CA 95008. Massages, facials, in-store specials and refreshments. No appointment necessary. Drop-ins welcome any time that day, noon - 4 pm, or RSVP with Liza at 408.821.8862.

www.lizajensen.societyskincare.com

www.facebook.com/belladivabeauty

Phone Number: (408) 821-8862

Office Hours: Flexible hours by appointment, evening & weekend facial events

"C" is for Cookies!

2010-02-08T12:48:00.000-08:00

Parker's Crazy Cookies

Parker's Crazy Cookies LLC was created over three years ago by owner, David Parker. He makes people into vanilla cookies! David created a cookie of a professional football player and just made “Sully” the pilot into a cookie. He also made cookies of Ryan Seacrest and Ellen K from the radio station 101.3.

They are Kosher Certified, Licensed by the Collegiate Licensing Company and a member of the Fair Labor Association. They have been featured in Diablo Magazine Feb. 2010 issue, Daily Candy, Contra Costa Times, and now on The Soup!!

About David Parker

David started out by making cookies of his college water polo team to help out with fundraising. Later on, all of his buddies wanted him to make cookies of them for their weddings, so he started the business! David has always loved people and cookies, so his talent came naturally. His work style is lighthearted and fun. When asked what he loves most about his job David replied,"Making people into cookies!" Besides his job, David loves his friends, music, and UCLA sports...Go Bruins!

Artistic Influences and Product Uniqueness

David is influenced by his mom. He also notes that Parker's Crazy Cookies is the only company who is creating this type of product. Other cookie company's create pictures in frosting, not using the actual cookie itself.

Pricing and Advice to Brides on How to Save Money!

There is a 25 minimum per design, so for a wedding, cookies of the bride and groom would be a 50 bag minimum at $4.99 to $5.99 per bag(depending on the cookie size). There is also a $20.00 setup fee for the original artwork.

It is much cheaper to order in bulk!

Parker’s Crazy Cookies LLC, Crazy Cookie Factory 25447 Mission Blvd,Hayward,CA
Website: www.parkerscrazycookies.com

Phone Number:510-847-2634
Office Hours: 8-7

"B" is for Bella Bridesmaid

2010-02-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

Bella Bridesmaid of Los Gatos, CA

Bella Bridesmaid was created in 2000 by Southern gal Bridget Brown in response to an overwhelming need for stylish, wearable, and modern bridesmaid dresses. The boutique was so well received that Bella Bridesmaid became a franchise in May 2006.

The Los Gatos Bella Bridesmaid owned and operated by Debra Chin opened in 2009 and is one of the newest of the nearly 40 Bella Bridesmaid locations across the country.

About Debra Chin

Debra was a VP of Marketing for a software company that was acquired by Dell, and wanted to do something entrepreneurial leveraging her passion for fashion. Her experience as a frustrated bridesmaid having to wear expensive, unbecoming, and poorly made dresses led to her interest in opening Bella Bridesmaid in Los Gatos. She says, “I lived ‘27 Dresses’!”

Bella Bridesmaid provides training for its owners before each location is launched. And she belongs to Bay Area Wedding Network.

Debra loves helping brides find dresses that they and their bridesmaids love to wear at and after the wedding!

Besides her job, Debra loves travelling to new and exotic places around the globe!

Debra’s Favorite Type of Bride to Work With and Most Unusual Request

Debra loves to work with brides who have an idea of what they are interested in, yet are open to options in terms of colors, fabrications, and styles.

Debra says her most unusual request was with a bride who was expecting and had only three weeks until the wedding to find a dress. Thankfully, they helped find her something that she loved and looked terrific in!

Hottest Trends Right Now

Designers are favoring softer fabrics over traditional taffeta and shantung, such as silk chiffon, organza, and silk charmeuse. The one shoulder dress is back and above the knee lengths are now an option.

Pricing at Bella Bridesmaid and Advice to Brides on How to Save Money!

Dresses range in price from $170 to $450. Some designers offer discounts based on the number of girls in the wedding party.

“We offer some simple, beautiful bridal gowns that are $1,000 or less. If a bride is looking for something chic and elegant, there are options out there that are well made and affordable.

Bella Bridesmaid, 465 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos, CA
Website:www.bellabridesmaid.com

Phone Number: (408)399-4649
Office Hours By Appointment: Tues to Friday, 11am to 7pm, Sat/Sun 10am to 6pm

"A" is for Artisan Chocolates

2010-02-02T16:26:00.000-08:00

DIANA PHILLIPS ARTISAN CHOCOLATES

Diana Philips is the Owner and Creative Director of Diana Phillips Artisan Chocolates.

About Diana Phillips

Diana attended Ecole LeNotre, just outside Paris. Other famous alums are Alice Medrich and Pierre Hermes of Paris. She also apprenticed with Christopher Elbow for a short stint. She belongs to ABC, SMARTY, and SOS. She has been featured in Riviera Magazine, Orange Coast Magazine, Coast Magazine, the LA Times, OC Register, Brides and Bloom, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.

How She Got Started

Diana was a Creative Director in advertising, working in Italy. One of their clients was Perugian. She was based in Milan, which is very close to Turin, home of some of Italy's great chocolate makers. She has had her own business for two and a half years now.

Diana loves everything about her job, "Since I come from a creative background, most everything I do has a custom quality to it. So I love concepting with my clients to create a product that’s completely theirs. Whether it’s the hand-painted finish, or the flavor infusion, or the packaging, or the presentation. When my team is at work, we crank up the music and put all our passion into our work, so all that joy comes through in our products. Just as in 'Like Water for Chocolate'."

Her partner is a sculptor, enabling her to do all the custom molds she does. Besides her studio team which varies in number, she also has a marketing guru, an accountant, a graphic designer and business mentor.

Her company's mission statment is the same as her personal philosophy:
"Our Mission is to Share-

Exquisite hand-made-from-the-heart chocolate and all the sustenance of life:
Joy, Creativity, Beauty, Prosperity, Food, Laughter, Ideas, and Gratitude.

To our customers, our collaborators, our vendors, our family, our friends, our world."

Artistic Vision and Influences

"I am an artisan. I take that word literally in each and every aspect of my work. We want to leave the world a happier and more beautiful place as a result of the experience of collaborating with us."

She is influenced by fashion, sculpture, architecture, nature, wallpaper, paper designs, graphics, color trends, floral trends, health and nutrition, organic farming, local growers' beautiful produce, FOOD FOOD FOOD, and artisanal craftspeople of all kinds.

Most Popular Flavors and Trends

Popular flavors are as varied as her clients. Her most popular is a collection of Sea Salt Caramels. She uses a salt from Bali that’s kind of floral, a red salt from Hawaii that has a completely different mineral content and then a salt from the Isle of Cypress that has a beautiful pyramid shaped crystal that manages to hold it’s shape once it’s incorporated into the caramel so there’s little crunch as the caramel melts.

"I have a local CSA, and one day I received a basketful of rosemary and grapefruit. I puzzled over what do with these ingredients and tried a granita – which was delicious. It was so fresh and alive that I wanted to take it into a chocolate format, so I ended up creating a rosemary spiked grapefruit caramel I pair with white chocolate. The sweetness of the chocolate is a perfect foil for the tart citrus, and woodsy herb. I also have a Meyer Lemon and Thyme white chocolate ganache that has some of those properties."

The trends in general that she's paying attention to are the attention to detail and the joy of celebrating the individual. Save the date and engagements are now being celebrated,"I’m such a fan of how these events are being expressed and adding more depth and insights into each union. Let the good times roll! Even though couples may have to be more cognizant of budgets, creativity is alive and healthy."

Diana's Favorite...and Most Unusual Experiences

"One of my favorites was for a fund-raising gala where a great performer was donating a performance. As a backdrop for the dessert bar, we designed a series of 3’ x 2’ chocolate base relief portraits of the guest performer that were broken with mallets at the post-party and eaten."

Diana says one of her most unusual experiences was when,"I had a gorgeous couple that were both graduating with PHD’s from Harvard. The bride wanted to represent her Persian heritage and palate while the groom was faithful to his Hispanic roots. We had tastings that ranged from rose, pomagranate, cardamom orange blossom and saffron to chili pineapple, mango, cinnamon dulce de leche and pumpkin seed."

Diana's Advice to Brides on How to Save Money!.
"Really think things through. And trust the professionals you hire."

dianaphillipschocolates.com
dianaphillipschocoaltes.com/blog

Phone Number:310-795-0447

A Modern Art Museum Wedding in Santa Clara

2009-12-22T07:42:00.000-08:00

I love clients who know how to have FUN! Alice and Steve were some of the best clients I've ever had, and their wedding was a real party!

Instead of clanking glasses with a fork to get the bride and groom to kiss, their guests had to sing karaoke songs to get the bride and groom to kiss.

One part of my job that I really love is working on escort card displays. Here, the bride chose these cute champagne buckets and we filled them with yummy jelly beans that I purchased wholesale. Candy can be really expensive, especially when creating a candy display. Be sure you have a professional wedding consultant working for you, to ensure you get the best prices around. Another note about escort cards is that you need to allow plenty of time for your planner to get this organized in advance. Alphabetizing escort cards or place cards on the day of the wedding is not fun for anyone!!! Try to get the entire seating plan finalized AT LEAST a week in advance of your wedding, to save headache.

Instead of a traditional guest book, Alice and I came up with this fun idea. An interactive guest book, which is actually a blank canvas that an artistic friend drew the images of the happy couple onto. Guests then used the paint and brushes my team set out to fill in grids on the canvas. The end result was a piece of art the couple can hang on their wall at home!

All photos courtesy of Jerry Yoon

Love,
The Soup Maven

Wish Upon a Wedding

2009-11-30T10:03:00.000-08:00

We LOVE Press! So whenever my company, San Jose Wedding Consultants, or any other project that I am managing is featured in the press (such as the San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveaway or the brand new Wish Upon a Wedding), I like to share this info with you!

My latest project is the creation of a nationwide nonprofit 501 c 3 charitable organization called Wish Upon a Wedding. I could not possibly be more proud of this organization and what it stands for! You can read all about it right here:

Awesome logo designed by Kim Schwede

By Marina Mayer for the Chicago Marriage Examiner

Everyone deserves their dream wedding, even if they only five months to live.

That’s why Liz Guthrie founded Wish Upon a Wedding, America’s only wedding wish-granting organization that grants weddings and civil union ceremonies to couples facing life-threatening medical conditions.

Chicago Marriage Examiner chats with Guthrie to learn the ins and outs of Wish Upon a Wedding, which is set to launch January 2010.

Chicago Marriage Examiner: What is Wish Upon a Wedding? What is its purpose?

Liz Guthrie: The purpose of Wish Upon a Wedding is to:
· grant weddings and/or civil union ceremonies at destinations across the United States to couples (18 years and older) who are facing life-threatening medical conditions.
· celebrate the courage, determination and spirit of these couples by granting their dream wedding wishes. Our hope is that chosen recipients can inspire other couples facing similar situations to find hope and strength.

Chicago Marriage Examiner: How does it work? Please describe the process.

Guthrie: The application process includes an online submission form, where the couple tells their story, explains why they’re seeking assistance, a description of their illness, how long they have to live and proof from their doctors. The application also includes a photograph and a personal letter that is no longer than one page in length and describes their dream. Applications will not be accepted however until the organization’s launch in January 2010.

[Meanwhile], the founding chapter is located in Northern California and consists of a mix of wedding professionals and other prominent business people. We are currently establishing regional chapters across the country, each with its own board of directors (11 different volunteers). Wish Upon a Wedding will grant weddings and civil union ceremonies at destinations across the United States.

When a wish application is received for a certain part of the country, the wish will be forwarded to that regional chapter. It is then up to the regional chapter and their board of directors to execute the wedding planning process. That regional chapter will then call upon their database of volunteers (known as “Wish Granters”) to put together a wedding for the applicant. Each chapter will maintain a database of

“Wish Granters,” based on 20 different wedding vendor categories :
·Wedding Planner- will oversee all aspects of wedding coordination, including timeline creation, ceremony choreography, and will work with volunteer coordinator and all vendors to ensure a smooth wedding and reception
· Wedding and Reception Venue - site where wedding and reception will take place
· Caterer - will provide basic meal for wedding reception - no alcohol
· Rental Company - will provide basic rental of tables, chairs, linens, china, flatware, glassware, etc.
· Photographer - will provide basic, four-hour wedding day photography package
· Videographer - will provide basic, four-hour wedding day video package
· Cake Designer - will provide basic wedding cake
· Gown Shop - will provide basic wedding gown
· Tuxedo Shop - will provide basic grooms’ tuxedos or suits, if preferred
· Limo Company - will provide four hours of wedding day transportation for couple getting married.
· Officiant - will conduct the custom ceremony, based on couple’s desires
· Hair - will do couples’ hair for wedding
· Makeup Artist - will do couples’ makeup for wedding
· Stationery Designer/Printer - basic invitations, ceremony programs, menus, escort cards and table numbers
· Florist - will provide basic flowers: bouquet, corsages, bouts and centerpieces for reception
· DJ - will provide music and audio needed for ceremony and reception
· Musicians - will provide music for ceremony
· Jeweler - will provide basic wedding bands
· Hotel - will provide up to four rooms for two nights for couple and immediate family or loved ones
· Miscellaneous Entertainment based on couples’ wishes, i.e., caricature artist, photo booth, magician, etc.

NOTE* The term BASIC to be defined on a case by case basis.

Sometimes that may mean the ceremony will take place in a hospice or at a hospital bedside. If the applicant is healthy enough to be married at a wedding venue, Wish Upon a Wedding will make it happen. Wish Upon a Wedding will also fly up to four family members or loved ones in to the city the wedding is to be held in. If the couple wishes to marry outside of the area they live in, and the request is reasonable, Wish Upon a Wedding will do everything it can to get the couple to their destination of choice.

Chicago Marriage Examiner: What separates your non-profit from others that may be designed to carry out similar functions?

Guthrie: There is no other organization in the country specifically designed to grant wedding wishes to terminally ill patients. Wish Upon a Wedding is filling a unique void, relying on the generosity of wedding professionals’ donated time and services.

Chicago Marriage Examiner: What are you doing to get the word out?

Guthrie: We do not officially launch until January of 2010. At that time, we will be sending out press releases and hosting a launch party in the San Francisco Bay Area. We have a public relations/media chair on our board of directors, as well as a marketing chair. These two volunteers operate the Twitter page, as well as our Facebook fan page. We are working on a blog, which will feature articles from all of our chapters each month and a fabulous Web site, all of which will be publicly revealed in January 2010.

For now our primary source of getting the word out is the Facebook and Twitter pages. In the future, we hope to partner with bridal-related organizations, destination wedding locales, airlines, hotels and more.

Chicago Marriage Examiner: What other organizations are you involved in? What are these designed to do?

Guthrie: I am the producer of the 2010 San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveaway, a community service project sponsored by 45 of the bay area’s top wedding, hospitality and travel professionals. This wedding is valued at $100,000 and [rewards] one very deserving couple facing some sort of loss, illness or significant hardship.

If interested in forming a chapter in your area, please contact Liz Guthrie at liz@sanjoseweddingconsultants.com. She also is accepting donations of money, volunteers wishing to be on our “Wish Granter” database/list and seeking committee members.

Love,
The Soup Maven

The Fabulous DREAM TEAM on film!

2009-11-18T11:32:00.000-08:00

SF Wedding Giveaway 2010 from andrew msv on Vimeo.

The talented Andres Hsu from Studio MSV created this awesome trailer, featuring all the members of the San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveaway (Which I am proudly producing).

Thanks Andrew--- and THANKS everyone who is making this dream come true for one very lucky couple!

Jewels Are A Bride's Best Friend!

2009-10-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I had the honor to coordinate a simply stunning wedding for a gorgeous (and incredibly sweet) bride and her groom at the Cypress Hotel in Cupertino.

The whole scene was so dramatic!

North American Theatre Technologhy did all the lighting. And my dear friend Karin Woodward from Haute Horticulture did the amazing florals and a big chunk of the event design.

I loved the color scheme of royal purple, fuschias, and varying shaded of pink. The theme was JEWELS, which the bride and our team made sure were everywhere.

From the table names and their frames

To the escort card display

To the crystals dripping along the head table and inside the floral arrangements...

It was a very sparkly wedding!

All photos courtesy of Michele Lee Willson Photography

Love,
The Soup Maven

Meet The Dream Team Mixer

2009-09-30T12:50:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday OCTOBER 6, 2009, we invite you to join us at 1 Fort Mason in San Francisco at the Meet The Dream Team Mixer from 6-9 pm. This event is dedicated to the contestants who have entered to win The 2010 San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveaway. It's the perfect opportunity to meet the generous sponsors who make up The Dream Team and learn more about their services. There will be lots of fun surprises, so be sure to drop by!

DATE:October 6, 2009
TIME:6:00-9:00 pm
PLACE:1 Fort Mason, San Francisco

MAP TO 1 FORT MASON

WEBSITE INFO

WHAT: Meet the Dream Team Mixer

We would like to invite anyone wishing to get married in the bay area to attend this fun and informative evening.

Music from Spintronix.

Flowers from Branch Out Floral and Event Design.

Movie Trailer featuring the Dream Team, from Studio MSV.

Hors d'ouevres from Spring Loaf Catering.

Wines from Franciscan Winery.

Lighting from North American Theatre Technology.

Fashion Show featuring Bella Mia Bride, Bliss Bridal Shoes, Natural Images Skincare, One World Designs, and Get Your DO Up!

Photo Booth from The Laugh Box.

Special Display from Nancy Liu Chin Designs.

Rentals from Williams Party Rentals.

Cupcakes from Freedom Bakery & Confections.

Photography from Lilia Photo.

Limo from Lone Star Limousine.

Featured Special Guests: Haute Horticulture, Balloons Equal Fun, Jon Casey Caricatures, and Blue Water Party Rentals.

Come meet the couples vying for the title of "San Francisco's First Dreamy Couple".

You'll learn more about the vendors responsible for this community-driven project and how you can enter for a chance to win a $100,000.00 Dream Wedding!

We hope to find a hard-working and deserving couple who values the impact of giving back to the community around them.

Could it be YOU?

RSVP:
On the Facebook Fan Page

"D" is for Dilek Sezen - Fine Jewelry

2009-09-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

Dilek Sezen is a designer of fine couture jewelry, located in San Francisco, CA.
Each of her designs is "...a distinct piece created with imagination and timeless beauty".

In business for 16 years, Dilek Sezen enjoys creating timeless, custom fine jewelry and she takes pride in the personalized service she provides to her clients.

Dilek began working after she completed school in Istanbul, and was employed by a Turkish company before moving to London and then eventually the United States where she worked for Tiffany.

She now works and designs in San Francisco for her own company, DILEK SEZEN.

Money Saving Tip- Cut the Guest List

2009-09-16T09:25:00.000-07:00

Okay- it may seem obvious that cutting the guest list is the number one way to save money on your wedding. But sometimes this is easier said than done. With so many friends and family and co-workers and neighbors... you're a popular person!

However, with a clear set of rules decided upon by you and your fiance, it will be easier to accomplish this task. The trick is to set guidelines and stick by them!

Should anyone ask you why they were not invited to celebrate your big day, you'll be relieved when you can tactfully explain that you did not have the space to invite "coworkers"... or whatever the group is that you've decided to leave off the guest list.

Very often these days, my clients are paying for the wedding themselves. Perhaps they are on their second marriage. Or they've waited until they are in their 30s to tie the knot. Or they've already been living together for a few years, and want to make it official. Whatever the case, it's becoming less and less frequent that I see the bride's parents footing the entire wedding bill.

Because of this, it forces couples to find creative ways to save money and still have a beautiful wedding they can be proud of.

HOW TO DECIDE WHOM TO INVITE

DO THE MATH!
Typically, 50% of your budget will go to the reception costs: Reception venue, food, bar, rentals, and service staff. It's a good idea to decide right off the bat what your total budget is... and stick to it.

Let's say your total wedding budget is $30,000.00 (not including honeymoon or rings). Right away, you know $15,000.00 of that will need to go to the reception costs.

With an average cost for bay area catering between $90-$130 per person, the per person factor adds up QUICKLY. 100 guests x $115 pp= $11,500.00. Add the low-end average venue rental fee of $4,000.00 and now the total = $15,500.00.

If you do your math, you'll see that your MAXIMUM guest count will have to be 100.

Do this simple equation FIRST--- before you even start looking at venues! It will save you so much headache later on.

SHOULD WE INVITE COWORKERS?
If money were no object, and the nation was not in the throes of a recession, you'd be able to invite everyone in your office, plus every neighbor on the block, every friend from college, childhood pals, and every long lost cousin. But! Look around and see that people are spending less... because they are AFRAID. Afraid of layoffs, afraid of pay cuts. So- I would say a good place to start shortening that guest list, is with your coworkers. They understand the fear of not having money- and they understand the current state of your financial situation.

LONG LOST COUSINS & DISTANT FRIENDS
Extended family. For those of you whose parents come from large families (like they were one of six kids), I understand your pain. If your dad had six brothers and sisters, and they all have had children and little cousins keep popping up like mad, it can make your mind spin. Trying to figure out if you should invite that third- removed cousin... or worrying about hurting someones feelings will only make you crazy. Additionally any friends that are more like acquaintances can be removed from the guest list. And finally, just because someone invited you to their own wedding, does not mean you must invite them to yours!

JOHN SMITH ...and GUEST
No dates. It may sound harsh, but if you are really struggling with keeping the numbers down and remaining true to your budget rules, here's another option. This rule applies to your single friends only. You can't expect a couple that has been living together for 2 years to only have one half of them attend.

CHILDREN
Most caterers offer meals at 50% off for kids, or at a lower set rate. But if your list adds up to 30 children, it may be a good idea to establish the "no children" rule.

NOW MAKE THAT GUEST LIST!
I recommend using a spreadsheet like Excel or even a free software program like EZ Wedding Planner to keep an accurate record of who is invited and to track RSVPs as they start to come in.

With a little preparation on your part, you'll avoid unnecessary stress that often accompanies planning a wedding. By sticking to these rules, it will make your job so much easier and you'll always be prepared with the perfect explanation should anyone feel left out.

Contact me today if you'd like to chat about budget preparation or the wedding planning process. I'd love to meet you and help make the journey FUN!

Love,
The Soup Maven

NBC Nightly News Coverage

2009-08-28T09:09:00.001-07:00

The 2010 San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveaway is a project I created to give one deserving couple facing loss, illness or hardship the chance at winning the wedding of their dreams.

It's a community service endeavor that involves over 40 local vendors joining together to create a once in a lifetime affair that will be donated to a couple we feel truly needs and deserves it.

On August 4, 2009, the giveaway launched to much fanfare, complete with the NBC Nightly News featuring a story about this philanthropy project sponsored by some of the bay area's most sought-after wedding and travel professionals.

It's funny because the day they interviewed me was anything but calm. Around 3:30 that afternoon, as I babysat a neighbors' kid dressed in jeans, a t-shirt and no makeup, I got a phone call from NBC. They asked if they could interview me about the giveaway. "Sure," I said excitedly, "When would you like to do it?" "Well," said the NBC producer, "We'd like to interview you in the next 30 minutes, so we can get it on TV tonight."

Hmmmmm, okay. I immediately shifted gears and went into full-planning-mode! Part of being a good event planner is knowing how to be flexible and how to change plans at the drop of a hat. Needless to say, a bit of chaos went on behind the scenes.

But I think the interview went well, and I was pretty stoked to see my name in lights!!!

For those of you who have not yet seen it- please stop by the website at The 2010 San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveaway!

If you know someone who could be our Mr. and Mrs. Right, tell them to check it out :)

Love,
The Soup Maven

"C" is for Champagne Promises

2009-08-27T13:58:00.000-07:00

Custom Invitation Designs

Astrid Mueller is the owner, illustrator and designer of Switzerland-based company, PotatoMammaDesign and the recently-launched USA-based company, ChampagnePromises.com. Champagne Promises is a brand new invitation design studio, featuring something totally original.

What's so cool and unique about her wedding invitations?

Well, Astrid will design a completely original, custom illustration of the bride and groom, which in and of itself is a pretty awesome thing to have. Then she'll incorporate the one-of-a-kind illustration into anything and everything the couple could desire: Save The Dates, magnets, candy tins, favors, soap, candles, t-shirts, the invitations, table numbers, cake toppers, water bottle labels, wine bottle labels.... you name it. Wherever an image can be printed, ChampagnePromises.com can put it there for you! I have not yet seen anything quite like this before, and I just love being one of the first to introduce this company that is sure to take the world of weddings by storm!

About Astrid

Astrid Mueller specializes in fashion and lifestyle illustration for women and brides, and also provides illustrations for magazines, advertising companies and book publishers. Astrid's creations draw their inspiration from the style and the elegance of the 1950’s, and are brought up-to-date by using contemporary and trendy graphics. The illustrations she creates evoke fun, happiness and joie de vivre. Astrid has had the opportunity to illustrate for major brands, such as Swarovski and Diesel. Her designs have even been published in numerous international women’s fashion magazines, such as Marie Claire, The Knot and You and Your Wedding.

How She Got Started

Astrid loves "...a lot of things about my business--being creative, researching, designing, and all aspects that go into running a business. I feel blessed to do what I love and get paid for it!"

Though she has always been creative and wanted to live in the USA, her career began as a life insurance clerk for several years- not a creatively challenging position.

After a summer in the USA, she began a new line of work, with Swarovski, where she finally was allowed to enter the creative field. Her position there allowed her to develop her creative senses with a wide range of tasks including: catalogue design, photo art direction, photo-shooting assistance, magazine advertisement design, specialty mailing conceptualizing, and print production direction to crystal tattoo design.

After a sabbatical and studying art and design in Alaska, Astrid soon decided to open her own design business. She went straight to the top, when after creating her portfolio, she called the largest women’s magazine in Zurich, Switzerland for an appointment. She was thrilled and surprised to instantly be hired for her first illustration assignment. That was in 2005. Astrid officially opened PotatoMammaDesign.com in March of 2006, and added wedding invitations to her services in 2007.

"One of my biggest joys is when my customers write me specifically to tell me how much they like my designs, and how they will cherish the item I created especially for them for years to come.".

www.ChampagnePromises.com

http://twitter.com/ChampagneP_LLC

Face Book Fan Page:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?sid=f3ac6d6ef5ce4e66ed614323927b4037&id=559007886&hiq=astrid%2Cmueller&ref=search

Email:Astrid@ChampagnePromises.com

Phone Number: (917) 445-5223

Champagne Promises LLC, P.O. Box 2245, Kodiak, AK 99615

BRIDES TO BE: Just for fun, visit this link to play with a cool tool on The Knot that Astrid did all the illustrations for! Your Inner Bride

Love,
The Soup Maven

"B" is for Bliss Bridal Shoes

2009-08-25T09:46:00.000-07:00

Bliss Bridal Shoes will celebrate their first year in business next month, in September. In a very short time, owner Tamara Connell has taken the wedding world by storm, with her flirty line of brides and bridesmaids shoes. "Every girl dreams of her special wedding day and to be part of such a wonderful contest giving a lucky couple the perfect wedding day with all the trimmings is a very extraordinary opportunity," says Tamara.

How Bliss Bridal Shoes Got Started

Tamara's passion for pretty shoes and special celebrations led to the creation of Bliss Bridal Shoes. She is inspired by elegant, modern, fashion forward styles and has designed a collection of wedding shoes which she feels the bride and her bridal party will love.

What's Great About Tamara's Job?

Tamara loves the creative aspect of her job. She says, "Designing shoes that will compliment the most beautiful wedding gowns is amazing.". Tamara loves receiving emails from brides letting her know how much they love their Bliss Bridal Shoes.

"All girls know how a pair of shoes can transform an outfit from pretty into pretty amazing," says Tamara, "I love knowing that Bliss Bridal Shoes are selected to create that pretty amazing factor.".

As Seen In:

Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine Winter 2009 Brides Magazine February/March 2009 Collector’s Edition

And Upcoming In: Crave San Francisco, Brides Magazine September/October Issue

Bliss Bridal Shoes

Follow on Twitter:Follow Bliss on Twitter

>Email BlissPhone Number: 866.873.0677

Business Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00-4:30 PT

Love,
The Soup Maven

"A" is for ...And Something Blue

2009-08-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

...And Something Blue is a fabulous boutique store filled with gorgeous bridesmaids' dresses just waiting to be loved...

Lisa McNichol, owner of ...And Something Blue used to plan events for a living. But now she gets to talk about weddings all day long. ”It’s every girls dream!” she says. Six years ago, she started working at …And Something Blue as their “Sunday Girl”. Instantly, she was in love. “This cute little store where I got to spend my weekends was my passion,” says Lisa.

“When the previous owner was ready to sell I took a leap of faith and jumped right in. That was two years ago and I have never looked back!”.

An adorable shop located in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, …And Something Blue is described by their customers as “a very good, super cute bridal salon with a good selection modern bridesmaids dresses.”.

The shop also carries many fun gifts for brides and bridesmaids, as well as flower girl and mother's dresses.

With rave reviews on Yelp and many local wedding guides, ...And Something Blue should be a shop not to be missed on every San Francisco Bride-to-be's planning list!

...And Something Blue

2999 ½ Washington Street, SF 94115
415-409-0217

>Owner, Lisa McNichol

Love,
The Soup Maven

Win a $100,000 Dream Wedding in San Francisco

2009-08-04T15:15:00.000-07:00

Over the last 3 months or so, I have been busy putting together a magnificent TEAM of over 40 of the Bay Area's most sought-after wedding companies. Together, we will create the 2010 San Francisco Dream Wedding, aka "The Wedding of the Year".

The wedding will be held at the beautiful Hotel Vitale on May 14, 2010, and will host the lucky bride and groom, along with 75 of their friends and family.

The deserving couple who wins the contest will be announced on Valentine's Day, 2010.

The contest finally opened to much fanfare and a great response.

Be sure to stop by the site and enter for your chance to win!

You've got nothing to lose!

Love,
The Soup Maven

As Featured... on Orange & Blossom

2009-07-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

There's a new website in town. Orange & Blossom is a fabulous new website featuring upscale, boutique-inspired wedding favors and accessories. So many wedding favor websites have THOUSANDS of things to choose from, and it just gets to be too much! Orange & Blossom Founder, Lisa Marie Rovito, wanted a website that would inspire visitors, rather than overwhelm them.

Orange & Blossom finds it success through it's simplicity. Check out the site and be ready to drool!

San Jose Wedding Consultants is the "Virtual Wedding Consultant" for this fantastic site! I'm looking forward to helping brides who have questions about the wedding planning process but have not hired a wedding planner to assist them. Maybe they cannot afford one. Or maybe they have not made up their minds whether they need a wedidng planner yet. Below you can read an article featuring yours truly, on the Orange & Blossom blog!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trade a DJ for your iPod? Ask our virtual wedding consultant…
July 24, 2009 – 5:23 pm

After 17 years in event planning, Bay Area wedding designer Liz Guthrie has seen it all. Including the recent budget-boosting trend of ditching the traditional DJ or live band in order to self-DJ using an iPod. We asked Liz, our new virtual wedding planner, for her take on the trend… great way to save money, or too much to take on?

“I’ve seen it work, and I’ve seen it not work,” she says. One couple she worked with pulled it off without a hitch. BUT, the groom is a musician in a band. He knew the ins and outs of setting it up, had the proper equipment, and had a sound tech familiar with the sound system to turn it on and off throughout the evening for the first dance, toasts, and cake cutting.

On the other end of the spectrum… “It’s something you need to test thoroughly in advance at your venue with the person who is going to be controlling it,” Liz advises. ”I’ve seen a couple who didn’t test it out beforehand only to have a speaker blow out when they turned it on.” This obviously is not the way you want to kick off the celebration, no matter how much money it saves you.

A sound tech can cost anywhere from a few hundred to more than a thousand dollars, depending on your date, time, location, and number of hours of ceremony and reception time. Liz says, if you’re having a fairly small event, can test the sound system ahead of time, you someone familiar with both the equipment and your wedding timeline who is willing to man it for the duration, and are fine with no one announcing the events as they happen, this could be the right choice for you. (Talk with your venue’s coordinator about it, too.)

But remember, while live music is expensive, it can also be electric, moving, and/or one of the most memorable parts of the big day. As for DJs, not all are cheezy. (They just got a bad rap when many of them were, just like the old-school wedding photographers.) Experienced ones are very familiar with the whats and whens of the evening, more than a friend or relative will be. And most are happy to use a provided song list and only emcee as much as you ask them to, if those are part of your concerns. As always, it’s all about the right fit. Which might be an iPod after all!

Read more about our new virtual wedding consulting package on the Orange & Blossom website.
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Thanks so much Lisa Marie! I just know this website is going to be a super success. What bride doesn't LOVE to shop for truly unique wedding favors and fun accessories?!

Love,
The Soup Maven

Words to Live By

2009-07-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

I'm starting a new mini-series of articles here on The Soup. Every so often I'll post some of my favorite sayings and explain how they affect my own life. Today, I begin with:

Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

Great Love
What is Great Love? To me, it is knowing that the person you are with will love you unconditionally and respect you, not only as partner, but as a friend. Finding Great Love, is risky because, in the beginning, you really have to let your guard down. In the process of exposing your true self, you could get hurt. Many people can't ever find and know Great Love because they have been hurt too much in the past. But only when you expose your deepest innermost self to the person you are falling in love with, can they truly know you and love you.

I am happy that I let my guard down when I met my husband, because look where it has led. A decade later and two beautiful children, and here we are! Sure, I'd been hurt before him, but that's all part of life's great lessons. I also believe it's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. So my advice in Love is to just Go For It! Follow your heart, and throw caution to the wind!

My husband and I have been together for almost ten years now, and we still continue to take risks in Love. It's part of why I love being married.

Great Achievements

What are Great Achievements? This can only be defined by individual people. Great Achievements are different for every single one of us. Becoming a business owner has been a great achievement for me. There was a lot of work, and a lot of risk, to get here, but it's been so worth it. To be able to set my own hours, spend time with my children, and do what I love most in the world for money... That's pretty cool!

Having children was a definite risk. How would it change my life? How would we be able to pay for all the expenses that go along with being parents? Having them was a risk. But learning how to become their mother has been my greatest achievement to date. Watching them grow and succeed and love...is an awesome achievement.

Great Risk

I think that I am naturally a Risk-Taker and I'm pretty secure with myself. I'm not really the type to question anything I plan to do. I JUST DO IT. Head first, I dive in, and figure it out as it's happening. Well, sometimes it can lead to trouble, but for the most part, I think I have made pretty good decisions with my life. And I sure have learned a lot along the way.

Owning your own company certainly takes great risk. Leaving a job you've had for a long time, or leaving your comfort-zone, involves great risk. Trying anything NEW can feel risky for some people. There are definitely protocols to follow, and it does require a lot of planning. For me, once I made the decision to do it, the rest just fell into place.

If you don't at least try something new, you won't ever be able to achieve your dreams. You'll always be wondering, "What if...?" That's no way to go through life!

Dreams
For myself, I like to dream, and I tend to dream pretty big! Why not? The worst that can happen is that I "fail" - but if I have given it everything I've got, then it was worth the risk. It just wasn't meant to be. And there's usually a pretty good reason for that.

But I think enough things in life ARE meant to be. If I have a dream, nothing stops me from at least TRYING to make it come to life. Once I get an idea that I am going to do something, I put my nose to the grindstone, and I put in 110% effort to make it happen. I do this for my wedding clients, too. If they have a vision for their wedding day, I am bound and determined to make it happen for them. I like that challenge of creating someone's vision and having to "think outside the box".

Goals
If you plan to succeed in life, you must set goals. I set them for myself very randomly, but I am always striving for something new. And I don't stop until I have achieved these goals. There is sure to be some rejection, some set-backs, and I realize that I have to deal with that...as it happens. There is no sense in fretting over something that may never happen, right? Fear can make people paralyzed. But when you get over the fear, and realize the WORST that can happen is that someone will say "no" or, you may even "fail", it's still totally worth the attempt.

I find that when I keep an open mind and think about the GOOD things I want in my life, those things transpire. But ONLY with hard work, dedication, and great risk.

Readers: What has been the riskiest thing you've ever done, and was it worth it?

Love,
The Soup Maven