Elizabeth Post, courtesy of The Emily Post Institute

Lovegevity was saddened by the news this week that Elizabeth Post, granddaughter-in-law of famed etiquette expert Emily Post, died this week at age 89. Elizabeth, who took over as leader of the Emily Post Institute a few years after her grandmother-in-law’s death in 1965, will be remembered as a friend to all she met. “Libby was very open minded, fair and flexible,” daughter-in-law Peggy Post said. “She was full of common sense and kindness. Not at all pretentious and not at all stuffy.” Along with revising Emily Post’s Etiquette several times, Elizabeth Post also wrote several books of her own, including a book on wedding etiquette, and she wrote a column for Good Housekeeping for 25 years.

Emily Post, courtesy of The Emily Post Institute

According to its website, The Emily Post Institute, created by Emily in 1946 and run today by third-generation family members, serves as a “civility barometer” for American society. That work has grown to address the societal concerns of the 21st century including business etiquette, raising polite children and civility in America.

As students and graduates of Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute you know how important the Posts’ work is to the work you do as certified wedding and event planners. While etiquette tends to change over time it is our belief that good manners never go out of style. We think that Elizabeth - and Emily - would agree. And as Emily once said, “Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter which fork you use.”

We recently talked about what to do when professional wedding and event planners come across a super-frugal bride. But let’s face it, it really comes down to one question: When will a bride ever get to wear her wedding gown again? Sure, a wedding gown is money well-spent if you consider it a family heirloom, but it sure would be nice to get the chance to feel like a princess again. Well, here’s your chance! The Bride’s Ball, held in New Bern, N.C., is just the opportunity for you and your groom to strut your stuff (and do it all for a good cause.) Here’s more from LWPI certified wedding planner and instructor Pam Duvall:

Photo courtesy of Bridal Wave TV

The Bride’s Ball is an event to help raise awareness and funds for cervical cancer research through The National Cervical Cancer Coalition. We invite you to wear your wedding dress or tuxedo again and re-live the wonderful memories of your wedding day, whether it was recent or years ago!

Almost every woman wants to wear her wedding dress again. The Bride’s Ball offers the perfect opportunity for women and men to experience a night they’ll always remember, and support a great cause. Brides get the chance to re-live the magic and memories without the stress. Brides To Be get to see glamorous gowns, beautiful decorations and have the experience before their big day. You can invite all your current or past bridesmaids, groomsmen, family and friends! Ladies can wear their wedding gown, or any semi-formal dress, while the men are welcome to wear a tux or suit.

Regardless of your marital status, The Bride’s Ball is giving men and women of all ages and marital status a fabulous reason to feel like a king and queen for an evening. There will be door prizes, auction items, entertainment and on-site portraits! For an additional fee, you and your sweetheart can even renew your vows! Fun for everyone! Our fundraising efforts improve the organization’s ability to educate the public and health professionals, and support women battling pre-cancerous conditions. But most of all, NCCC is a support organization for women and families who are facing the challenges of dealing with cervical cancer and its treatment.

Over the years the organization has developed a hotline, a group of phone pals, a nationally recognized web site, and a national NCCC Conference for cervical cancer patients and survivors. It has also sponsored medical experts to speak on the subject of cervical cancer to professionals and the lay public alike. As a nonprofit organization, we are dependent in large part on the generosity and creativity of our members, neighbors and friends. There are endless opportunities to give back, either by attending or by sponsoring The Bride’s Ball. You can donate money, sponsor a table in your name, or even sponsor a portion of the evening such as the photo booth, the favors, or the invitations.

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So there you have it. A great cause. An excuse to get dressed up (and who doesn’t like to do that?) And a reason to wear the most beautiful (and expensive) piece of clothing you’ve ever bought … again. It’s a great foundation to support, and Lovegevity encourages all its certified wedding and event planners to get out there and support the community. If you’re too far away to take part in this ball why not consider hosting one of your own?

The average bride will spend $1,038 on her wedding gown in 2010, according to The Wedding Report. This is of course down a bit from a few years ago, but it’s slightly up over 2009, which is a very good thing for the wedding industry. The average price of a gown is projected to increase a bit a year for the next several years, albeit slowly. This is probably because while brides are beginning to open their wallets a little wider this year they’re still a bit gun-shy because of what many of them still see as a shaky economy. This is exactly where a certified wedding and event planner steps in. It goes without saying that the most important part of planning a wedding is working out the budget, and said budget should be set in stone before a bride goes gown shopping. It’s a lot easier to fall in love with a gown that’s in her price range if she only tries on gowns in her set price range. It may sound obvious, but I think we at the Lovegevity Wedding Planning Institute can all agree that brides get stars in their eyes mighty quickly when it comes to their dream gowns!

According to online surveys of bridal couples, bridal attire accounts for 8 to 10 percent of the wedding budget. While the gown is important most brides also want to purchase shoes, jewelry and other accessories along with it, which eats into the budget even further. If you find yourself with a frugal bride who still wants to walk down the aisle in style consider these tips:

* At bridal salons every bride is likely to make a bee-line for the wedding-gown department. But many bridesmaid gowns come in white and ivory, and they’re offered for sale for a much lower price than a traditional gown - we’re talking hundreds of dollars less in many cases! No, this tip won’t work for every bride, but for the ones who are trying to get more bang for their buck this is a great idea.

* Experts all agree that brides should buy their gowns at least six months before the big day (if they have six months to spare!) This time needs to be allowed for a few reasons: mistakes, alterations, weight fluctuations and lost shipments. A portion of the budget should be set aside for these things that occur after the gown comes in. You don’t want your bride to be shocked when she gets an alterations bill that she didn’t budget for.

* Remind your bride that it’s the shape of the gown that flatters her, not the beading and lace, which can significantly push up the price. A simple gown can look gorgeous with a more intricate veil and beautiful jewelry!

* Sure, it’s fun to go to the top designer boutiques and try on everything they have to offer. And if it fits your bride’s budget that’s great. But if she’s trying to save money consider these shopping ideas:

- Thrift stores and consignment shops: You’d be amazed at what you can find at a top-quality thrift stores these days.

- eBay: Lots of brides are selling their once-worn, fabulous gowns at ridiculous discounts in an effort to recoup some of the money they spent on their weddings.

- Sample sales: If you have a bride who won’t settle for anything less than a designer gown but doesn’t have the cash for it make sure you introduce her to The Great Sample Sale. Especially take her to off-season sales. The earlier the better for the gown, like we said before, and getting an off-season piece will be even better for her pocketbook.

- Chains: Shops like David’s Bridal are always a good option for the bride who wants lots of choices but doesn’t want to spend a fortune. In addition brides may want to consider asking shops if they rent gowns, which can be a super-affordable option.

- Online retailers: If your brides has an easy-to-fit figure an online retailer may have the perfect dress, and deal, for her. And be sure to check out such sites as Craigslist, preownedweddingdresses.com and sellyourweddingdress.com.

* And last but not least see if your bride is willing to borrow a gown. We all know that wedding gowns are easily one of the most pricey keepsakes women ever buy. But in our opinion sharing a gown - even if it’s altered to suit the newest bride’s taste - is a very special thing. We love the idea of daughters wearing their mother’s - or even grandmother’s - gowns!

Many of you out there are current students or recent graduates of Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute. You’ve taken the time to build your skills set by learning from Lovegevity’s experienced instructors, and you’re doing the research (such as reading this blog!) to stay on top of wedding-industry trends. For example, you’ve learned here about going green, choosing invitations, and creating perfect, seasonal weddings. But we all know there is more to it than reading magazines and blogs and designing top-notch budgets for every kind of bride. There is the simple fact that you have to get your name out there. Here are a few tips on just how to do that:

1) The number one way to attract more business is, simply, to do a good job. This might mean for some of you that it’s time to brush up on your people skills. The success of your business will depend on how well you work with clients of all kinds. And in many instances your success will be a direct result of how cool you stayed in some very stressful situations. Maintaining a cool head in every situation - and easing the mind of the bride - will be something she never forgets. And it is sure to be something she tells her friends who may be looking for a wedding planner right now!

2) Consider posting your business name - or website - in your car window. Vinyl decals are easy to come by on such sites as etsy, and etsy shop owners usually have no problem taking custom orders. Plus you often get to choose the font and color, which is a great way to set the tone for what kind of business you offer.

3) Take part in bridal shows, and be sure to have advertising materials to hand out. Get creative! You have plenty of opportunity to show your creative side with your business cards and pamphlets. You don’t want your materials to get forgotten in the bag of swag that every bride gets at such shows. Work hard to stand out!

4) We’ve talked about it before: A wedding planner is only as good as the vendors she suggests to her bridal couples. A good, strong network of vendors is a wellspring of recommendations if they trust you, and you trust them in return. There is no shame in asking if they’ll set out your business cards by the register or if they mind recommending you to bridal couples who come in on their own.You do the same for them, don’t you? In the business world there is a mantra we all know: Scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.

5) Social-networking sites are here to stay. So your business (and pretty face!) should be on them, too. Be sure to set up business profiles on Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and any other sites you can think of. We’ll say it again: You’ve got to put yourself out there to get noticed!

6) Don’t be shy. If a bride tells you - after her own fabulous wedding - the she has a friend who would be a perfect client for you, you have to FOLLOW UP! Referrals are like gold! Use them to your advantage; we all listen to what our friends have to say when it comes to any kind of business we hire, and brides are no different.

7) Do you have a website? You should. And you should include a section on it for a portfolio filled with A) personal recommendations from brides; B) gobs of pictures because let’s face it: that’s what wedding planning is all about, and C) plenty of easy ways for brides to contact you.

These tips are just a few ways to help get your business off the ground. A lot of you out there are experienced wedding and event planners with lots of advice to share. What helped you grow your business? Are there advertising avenues to avoid? What are the strongest ways to get your name out there?

* This baby was ready to make his appearance, and he thought mom and dad’s wedding day was the best day to do it, due date or not! Well, mom can be sure that dad will never forget their anniversary. Plus, what an awesome wedding gift!

* There is a certain segment of the population that has been scrapbooking forever. The industry is booming, with scrapbook shows taking place in every market, and specialized stores popping up in strip malls all over the country. Of course scrapbooking would make its mark on the wedding industry. Crafters who like to personalize their gifts are finding that pre-made scrapbooks are a perfect wedding gift.

* It seems there is always someone out there looking to make a buck. A man was recently accused of scamming insurance companies to collect money on a $70,000 engagement ring that he said was lost but wasn’t. In fact he filed four $100,000 claims on said ring, and police are looking into the possibility of a fifth claim. “After questioning him the ring miraculously reappeared,” officials said. You don’t say…

* The most difficult part of the budget for many brides is The Budget. So the words “Free Wedding” would probably be music to their ears! Brenda Holdsworth, a co-founder of Wedding Saviours, thought of creating Wedding Saviours in September to get local businesses to pool their resources in order to give a lucky Durham couple, in need of financial assistance, a free wedding. Since then, a full cast of people in the wedding business have gotten on board. We never tire of hearing the community come together to help others, and helping bring a bride’s fairytale wedding to life is one of the best stories ever.

Heard any good stories lately about the wedding industry? Do share! As a certified wedding and event planner you’ll be sure to have some soon - if not already! But hey, that’s part of the reason we love this business, right? It definitely keeps us on our toes.

You already know that the Lovegevity Wedding Planning Institute is the No. 1 place to turn when you want to begin a career as an event and wedding coordinator. But did you know that Lovegevity also offers a Green Wedding Planning Course? Going green is all the rage these days, and it’s with good reason: Doing so can be an affordable option for many weddings - especially for DIY brides - and it can leave everyone involved with a feeling of environmental responsibility. Environmentally friendly wedding ideas are exploding all over the U.S., and the Internet has a wealth of information on “going green.” As Lovegevity says, “A green wedding is a celebration of awareness. At a green wedding, a couple is not just affirming their commitment to one another, they are also affirming their commitment to a sustainable life together - one that takes the needs to the environment and future generations into account.”

Lovegevity’s Green Wedding Certification Course comes from a class designed by Kate Harrison and her book, The Green Bride. Harrison graduated from Vassar with a major in Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Development. She wrote The Green Bride after she and her husband, Barry, planned their own green wedding in 2007.

What are some ways you can turn a wedding “green?” Have you had any brides offer suggestions to make their weddings more environmentally sustainable?

Links you may be interested in:
*Take a tour of Lovegevity’s Green Wedding Planning Course.
* Enroll in Lovegevity’s Green Wedding Planning Course.
* Check out a blog by Lovegevity’s CEO, Cho Phillips, about Going Green.
* Read an excerpt from Kate Harrison’s The Green Bride or buy your own copy.

Photo courtesy of weddingchicks.com and Fantasy Floral Designs

The bridal bouquet has a long and storied past. A quick Internet search will show that no one knows exactly where and when the tradition started, but many stories have a similar beginning. Regardless it’s a tradition that has stood the test of time and is beloved by brides all over the world no matter their budget or style. Researchers say that wedding bouquets were originally made of herbs and spices and were used to keep away evil spirits that could plague the future, but others suggest that the bouquets were a way to show love to the couples’ friends and family. As time went on the bridal couple began to share flowers with their guests, which may reveal the history of the bridesmaid bouquet and groomsmens’ boutonnieres. The first record of wedding flowers dates to the ancient Greeks, who used fresh flowers to make a crown and garland, which represented new life and fertility for the bride and groom.

Photo courtesy of Rue 42 on Etsy

The story goes that when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert the traditional herbs and spices were replaced with fresh flowers (but often edible flowers, especially marigolds.) Throughout the Victorian age specific flowers took on specific meanings, and in the 19th Century floriography - the study of flower meanings - was established. Roses, for example mean love; freesia means trust; ivy means fidelity; violets mean hope; and ferns mean sincerity. Dill was often included, and later eaten by the bridal couple, because it was said to increase lust. In modern times, of course, flowers are chosen mostly because of style and color and are used to complement the bride’s choice of bridesmaid gowns and decor.

Tips for choosing a bridal bouquet:

* A bridal bouquet should not be so large that it competes with the details of the bridal gown.

* Weight of the bouquet should be considered because some brides like to hold their bouquet throughout the evening.

* If the bride has allergies you may want to discuss flower smells with the florist.

* The price and availability of flowers depends on season (unless, of course, the budget has no limits.) If your bride has her heart set on a bouquet of certain flowers it would be wise to discuss her wedding date first!

Photo courtesy of realbadkitty on Etsy

* Some photographers suggest avoiding blue flowers in winter because the season’s dull light will also dull the color of the flowers in photographs.

* Brides are often choosing silk flowers for their bouquets because they are obviously long-lasting. Another good suggestion is to make a silk bouquet for bridal portraits, which the bride can keep, and use fresh flowers for the wedding so the bride has a bouquet she won’t mind throwing at the end of the reception.

Wedding and event planners have to do a lot of research to stay on top of trends, especially in the wedding industry. Bouquets made of buttons and brooches are popular because they’re not only unique keepsakes, but they’re also “green” choices. What trends are you seeing in bouquets? What are some of the favorite choices you’ve run across as you’ve worked with brides?

Are you an aspiring wedding and event planner in the Akron, Ohio, area? Heather Porcella is already running a successful business, and she can show you how it’s done.

Heather Porcella considers it an honor to create a spectacular wedding that brings her client’s vision to life. As the owner of Truly Your Events, Heather was voted the “Best Wedding Planner for 2008” in the Akron/Canton Ohio area by the MyFoxCleveland.com Hot List. Her company has coordinated numerous events of various sizes, budgets and styles.

After graduating from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and a minor in Business Administration, Heather worked in Residential and Commercial Interior Design as an art teacher and as a floral designer. Her experience planning showers and weddings for friends combined with her education led her to create her own event-planning business in 2003. Truly Your Events offers the latest in wedding-planning trends including eco-friendly designs, full event coordination, and free initial consultation to provide clients complete planning services to help them save time and money and alleviate stress.

After becoming an LWPI Certified Wedding Planner in the spring of 2008, Heather agreed to share her knowledge and expertise with students in the Wedding Planning Institute’s certification course at the University of Akron. Heather will be teaching aspiring students how to become successful wedding planners by bringing personalized attention and creativity to every client’s occasion. “In today’s busy world, trying to plan a special event can be very stressful and time consuming. By providing solutions to the demanding needs of event design and coordination, you can allow the client to enjoy a stress free celebration,” Heather writes.

Candidates for the wedding-planning certification course at the University of Akron can register by calling Cheryl Beckwith at 330-972-6460 or by visiting http://www.uakron.edu/ce/schedules/WeddingPlanCert.php. The Spring 2010 session is scheduled to begin April 12, 2010, and will meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for eight weeks. Tuition is $795 and includes classroom instruction, textbook, six months’ online curriculum and support access, and post-graduate job-placement assistance.

Ah, spring. Everything is green, and there is a feeling of newness in the air. The flowers and trees are loaded with blossoms, and color is everywhere. It’s no wonder that this is the most sought-after time of the year for weddings. Brides have more inspiration than they can handle! The same goes for Lovegevity’s certified wedding and event planners. Everywhere you look there is a new idea to jot down. Here are some of our favorite ways to inject spring into your weddings.

* The most obvious inspiration is color. The cherry trees are in bloom everywhere you look so consider the ways you can create a pink, cherry-blossom motif. Invitations are an obvious choice. Aren’t these beautiful? The invitation sets the tone from the get-go, and from there you can take the cherry-blossom theme into programs, bridesmaid gowns, decor and especially the cake!

* Add green as a color. Green means new and fresh, which is exactly the thing many brides are going for. Consider green hydrangeas or hints of green in the reception flowers. Grasses can be very dramatic in centerpieces, and the bonus is since they’re usually considered “filler” they’re less expensive! Green bridesmaid gowns can even be gorgeous, especially when paired with beautiful pink or blue flowers.

* When it comes to food at a spring wedding think fresh! Think picnic! Think whimsical! Pink and yellow lemonade in big, glass pitchers would be a cute addition to any table. While everyone thinks of eggs in the spring you don’t want the choice to be too obvious. Use them within appetizers, such as deviled eggs with smoke salmon on top, which would be an elegant but spring-like choice. Salads are an obvious choice, but don’t go the usual green or Caesar route. Consider adding springtime berries, such as strawberries and blueberries, to the plate. A good caterer will know what’s fresh and in season for the spring - pick their brain for advice! Consider asparagus wrapped with prosciutto; custard-filled phyllo cups; or mousse with sliced strawberries on top. Fresh is best in the spring!

* As for favors consider candied bird nests filled with jellybeans, colored to match the wedding theme, or Easter egg candies, which won’t be hard to find in the spring! You can also go with tiny flower pots with packets of seeds, tied with gorgeous grosgrain ribbon to match the bridesmaid gowns. Or if your bride is in fact getting married near Easter weekend just go traditional: Chocolate Easter bunnies for everyone!

There is little doubt that as a certified wedding and event planner you’ll be planning a lot of spring weddings. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year in the wedding business. Follow the trends, and incorporate the most spring-like ideas into your weddings. Keeping things fresh will keep the brides coming. And with everything new springing up around you this won’t be a problem!

Wedding and event planner Nadia Digilov is back with Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute to share more of her excellent planning tips. Want to read more? See her first guest post: Top 10 Wedding Trends for 2010.

10 Secrets to Feeding Guests without Eating Your Budget!
By Nadia Diglov

One of the biggest checks that you will cut on your wedding date will be on the cost of catering. Food and alcohol can really eat up your budget and typically accounts for roughly 40-50% of the overall wedding cost.

Hard to believe, isn’t it?

To put this into perspective, think about going out for dinner: the cost of a medium size dinner for one at a major city such as New York is about $30 per person with tax & tip and not including much alcohol (perhaps 1 glass of wine). If you take this number and multiply it by 200 people the total comes out 6,000. Not that scary yet? Well, take into account that most guests will have more than 1 glass of wine (more like 2 or 3), a cocktail hour and a full Viennese table for desert. This number now doubles!

Want to cut a few corners and still keep your guests full and fed? Below are the 10 ways to feed your guests without breaking your budget. Using just the right fusion of psychology, imagination and practicality, you will be able to impress your guests without spending a fortune.

Here are 10 secrets of a luxury wedding dining experience without spending a fortune:

1.) Know your guests: the first step to designing an quality and budget friendly budget is to know your people! What are their priorities? Are they more drinkers or eaters, or both? What is more important, a bar that will have a variety of top shelf alcohol or 5 entrée options during main course? Your answer to this question will drive the rest of the decisions that you will make.

2.) Make a great first impression: One of my mentors once told me “you have only one time to make a first impression.” With experience I also realized that a first impression is really hard to break. A lesson in psychology for you: make a great first impression on your guests as soon as they arrive to your wedding! Set the tone with an immaculately dressed server greeting guests as they arrive to your wedding serving Champagne Bellini’s at the door! This will set an environment where your guests will feel welcomed and comfortable at your wedding, or in other words, at this time you will need to begin breaking a first impression of comfort and joy which most of the time will be hard to do.

3.) Cocktail hour: If you are having a cocktail hour, consider having the servers hand pass the pricier items such as shrimps and scallops. This will typically save an average of 30% of your catering budget.

4.) Not all seafood is priced equally: Calamari are about half the price of shrimp, make your choices for cocktail hour and reception keeping this in mind. Ask your caterer a lot of questions!

5.) Know your seasonal foods: Some dining options are perfectly affordable during a summer season and are expensive during the fall and vice versa. Scarcity of a particular food will increase the cost by up to 40%.

6.) Discount options: If you will have children at the reception, choose the caterer that offers 1/2 price for children up to the age of 16. This will save tons of cash especially if you have a huge family.

7.) Mix it up: Depending on the evaluation of your guests, consider a tasting menu that will offer up to 8 mini courses for your guests.

8.) Mix up the alcohol brands: Certain brands of vodka for example are pricier than others. Mix up expensive brands for guests that will inquire on brand and have your bar tender use the less expensive brands for guests that do not have a preference. This little trick will save you about 30% of the cost of alcohol.

9.) Close the open bar an hour earlier: Begin serving coffee and tea approximately 1 hour before you party will end. This will have tons of benefits by default. First, your guests will have a chance to sober up before leaving your party and second, it will save you up to 35%!

10.) Fore-go the full Viennese table: Go for a 5 tier over the top cake, with a chocolate fondue station and bite sized desserts that will be passed around. This will save you about $15 per person and that’s about $3,000, a nice chunk of change that you can use towards your honeymoon or (depending on your area of residence) a few months rent on your new apartment!

ABOUT NADIA DIGILOV & CELEBRATING IN STYLE:

Nadia Digilov is Manhattan’s premier luxury wedding expert and the founder and CEO of NYC event production firm Celebrating in Style. After seven years on the trading floors of the largest investment banks on Wall Street, her passion for production led her to begin creating luxury events that leave a lasting impression. Since 2002 Nadia has created weddings, corporate events, concerts, trade shows, and marketing events in major cities around the world including New York, Miami, Moscow, Tel Aviv and St. Petersburg.