BRIDES: Is your Engagment Ring Insured?

What is the Maid of Honor's Responsibility in My Wedding?

Many women have been dreaming of their wedding day since they were little girls. A  bride to be may have clear ideas of how she would like every detail of her wedding to be like. While it is important to know exactly what you want, it’s also important to realize that planning a wedding is a major responsibility and that it’s entirely too stressful for the bride to take care of every detail herself. Many brides have a difficult time relinquishing any responsibilities involved with planning her wedding for fear of losing control but it’s really in her best interests to learn to delegate responsibilities.

The maid of honor, parents of the bride, parents of the groom and even the groom are probably all eager and willing to help out with the wedding plans and it is important to let them do so. The key to delegating responsibilities is to entrust others to take control of areas that you may not be especially particular about. For example the favors are a very important part of the wedding and the bride most likely wants to shop for and choose the favors herself.

Hosting the bridal shower and the bachelorette party are two of the main responsibilities of the maid of honor. Since the maid of honor is probably one of the bride's closest friends it stands to reason that the maid of honor is the ideal candidate to host these two gatherings. It is the maid of honor who will know best what type of party the bride is looking forward to, what she will enjoy and what types of gifts are most appropriate for the bride’s taste. The bridal shower and bachelorette party are also typically parts of the wedding preparations that the bride does not have any direct control over but she usually does not stress about these activities because she has faith that her maid of honor will hold her best interests in mind when planning these parties.

The maid of honor also plays a large role in choosing dresses for the wedding. The maid of honor typically chooses her own dress for the wedding from a selection provided by the bride. Once the color and style of the maid of honor’s dress has been established, the maid of honor works closely with the bride to choose a style and color of dress for the bridesmaids that will look good on each of the bridesmaids and also complement the maid of honor’s dress. The maid of honor also plays a role in assisting the brides in choosing her own wedding dress. While there may be many other friends and relatives who shop with the  bride for her dress, it is the opinion of the maid of honor that is generally most valued by the bride.

The wedding day is a very busy day for a maid of honor. Although she has supported the bride throughout the planning process, her most important responsibilities take place on the actual wedding day. Besides simply walking down the aisle and standing on the altar beside her friend the most important roles that the maid of honor plays is to keep the bride calm and to handle and problems that may arise. Very few weddings actually go exactly as planned and it is the maid of honor’s job to make sure that small setbacks do not unnerve the bride. The maid of honor should also have a stash of emergency supplies on hand such as extra stockings, lipstick in the shade the bride is wearing, tissues, safety pins and hair pins. All of these items can come in handy if the bride has any trouble with her attire, hair or makeup. The maid of honor plays the important role of ensuring that the bride is looking her best even after hours of dancing and talking to friends and family members.

Perhaps the most significant role that the maid of honor plays is to be a friend to the bride. The planning and preparations and the actual wedding itself can be very stressful and emotional for the bride The one thing that the bride needs more than anything else at this time is someone to talk to who will understand her concerns and give her practical advice and this is the most important job of the maid of honor.

The maid of honor plays a much more important role than just walking down the aisle before the bride and holding her flowers during the ceremony. Throughout the planning the maid of honor is involved every step of the way from choosing a dress and location to helping to wrap favors and set up for the reception. As the bride's best friend the most important role the maid of honor can play is to be supportive and understanding of the bride.

Cindy Lieber

www.weddingplanneroc.com

4 Ways to Repurpose Your Content for More Exposure

Exposure, exposure exposure. We all need it in business. Are you having trouble thinking of new articles and posts to stay engaged with your audience? It can seem overwhelming at times and definitely time-consuming.

Do you find yourself scrambling to get ….

• Likes on your Facebook Fan Page?
• Linkbacks on your website?
• Followers on Pinterest and Twitter?

How do we keep up with creating new content to post to keep people engaged and wanting to spread the word about us?

Here are 4 ways to reuse 1 written piece.

Create a weekly blog post! Your 1 compelling piece of information your audience craves. Now here's what else you can do with it …..

Break it down into bite sized pieces and post the paragraphs or quotes on Facebook or Twitter linking to your blog post and/or website.

Become a guest blogger on outside sites such as ocbrides.com. You can simply cut and paste the blog post into a new post on other sites. Again, making sure your website is clearly written in the post.

Find Pinterest Boards willing to collaborate with others. OC Brides has a shared Pinterest board and invites it's members to Pin. If pinning or including a photo, be sure to include your website on the photo so others can find you.

Include your post in a weekly or monthly newsletter that you send out to your mailing list.

Feel free to contact me if you need help managing your social media and blogs.

Cindy Lieber

OCBrides.com

{DIY} How to Shop at the Flower Mart LA

Today I ran across this great article on Green Wedding Shoes about How to Shop the LA Flower Market.  Many brides may not know we have one of the best flower markets right in our own backyard.  The Original Los Angeles Flower Market is located at 754 Wall St (between 7th + 8th) Los Angeles, 90014.

Green Wedding Shoes gives you great tips from placing orders to how to dress.

Read more to get great tips on how to purchase the best flowers for your wedding.


Photos by katiepritchard.com 

What I Learned From The Mayor

This was probably the best Taste of Yorba Linda I have been to. Thanks to cousins Marya Diamond and her husband Bob for the invite. And I must congratulate Bob for being voted Ambassador of the Yorba Linda Chamber!
With a Hollywood stars theme, there was fabulous music by impersonators such as Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, and Neil Diamond.

In addition to great music, I was so excited to find several new local food businesses coming to our town with healthy choices too! Epic Noodle has been around for a few years but I never got a chance to stop in. I'm so happy to see that their noodles are Gluten Free!
And check this out ... Coming in August to the location of the old Palomar near the Vons on YorbaLlinda Blvd is Oceans and Earth. An all Organic restaurant with Catering. They source their fresh veggies right from a farm in Brea! I tried their amazing Carrot Cake that was uniquely display in a cute little plastic flower pot with edible flowers and a real (tiny) carrot on top. Very creative! I can't wait for this restaurant to open!

I was happy to see True Shabu there as well. I tried the spicy Edamame and can't wait to go check out some of the healthy choices they have on the menu such as Zucchini Spaghetti, Wild Caught Seafood, and other gluten Free and Organic options!

TapSnap , the leader in open-air, event based entertainment had a fun photobooth that we got to check out with none other than Jack Sparrow! As I exchanged cards with Nadia of TapSnap she handed me a take away gift of 6 fruit filled Godiva chocolates. She only had a few to give out so I was honored and they happen to be my favorite! Thanks so much Nadia and I hope we get to see you at one of our events soon!

I didn't get a card from Wise Guys Pizza but I'm excited to see that they are coming in to the Yorba Ranch Center taking over the old Ranch Enchilada. They do have a gluten free pizza option and they have catering. It will be a nice addition to the center and they will be utilizing the spacious outdoor patio area.

And just before we left, I was personally introduced to the Mayor of Yorba Linda Craig Young. I had a fabulous conversation with him and he really cared about answering some concerns I had about the changes in the city. So much so that he walked us to the car!
I have lived here for over 35 years and have watched this city change so much but never took an active part in voting for change or improvements. Heck I have never even been to a city council meeting. Speaking with the Mayor really makes me want to get involved in this wonderful and beautiful city that I have called home for so long!

Cindy

VENDORS: 10 Ideas for Maintaining Contact with Your Clients

• Put in place a system of regular contact where you can mention additional products and services that might be of interest to your clients

• Consider using tools of communication like invitations, postcards, newsletters, thank-you cards and sales letters

• Keep clients and prospects informed and up-to-date with any changes in your business

• Let them know first about new products and services, as well as new applications for existing products

• Keep the lines of communication open so clients can easily have their problems solved regular contact makes you seem more accessible to clients

• Do whatever it takes to make clients happy without undue delay

• Ask them to direct other people to you or if someone they know would like to receive your free newsletter, sample, catalogue, etc.

• Inform clients first about all upcoming events, new product releases etc.

• Remind clients before it’s time to renew or replenish or come back in for a review

• Provide helpful tips or pass along related information clients may find useful The quality of your on-going relationships with client s is the primary underlying value of your business.

Clients are your business and should be treated as good friends. Do whatever is necessary to stay in your client’s thoughts. The ultimate pinnacle is to be “top of mind”... that is to be the first (and perhaps only) source your client thinks of, whenever she needs what you provide. This gives you a tremendous competitive edge over others and adds considerably to the true value of your business.

PACKING YOUR BAG FOR THE WEDDING CEREMONY

Many a time, in spite of the best preparation and immaculate arrangement,

that very last week ahead of the wedding gets chaotic and things get

mislaid or left behind. As a wedding in-charge, in spite of frequent

intimations, I have had couples who fail to remember the rings,

the marriage license and the candles for the unity candle ritual as

well as other things not so crucial.

At a certain Friday evening run through I intimated the couple to

be certain to bring their marriage license to the Saturday afternoon

wedding and they stared at each other and at me with a taken

aback look. In the enthusiasm of the coming of family and friends

and with the last minute arrangements, they merely did not remember

to get their marriage license. There was a brief absolute state of alarm.

I told them I would do research of the law and call them early Saturday

morning. The consequence was that we had the fullceremonial wedding

on Saturday. And on Monday, after they got hold of a license, we had

an informal wedding with just their parents and me.

The law does not consent to a ceremony to be carried out prior to

acquiring the license and I did not want them ever to doubt if their

marriage was legitimate.

I can assure that not remembering to bring important things leads

to all kinds of anticipation and anxiety and time and again postpones

the start of the ceremony. This is mainly problematic when the couple lives

a long way from the ceremony location and we have to pass the time while

somebody goes to get the marriage license.

So, what is the way out?

Put together a listing of everything you require for the ritual e.g. license,

rings, candles, roses for the mothers, etc. Pack each article in a bag well

in advance of the ritual and put it in a location that it cannot be unrecalled.

for those last minute objects like wine or roses, put down a big note on

the outer surface of the bag. You might be able to appoint a family

member you can rely on to be in charge for inspecting the

items with the checklist and fetching the bag to the service location.

Be sure you can rely on them.

Believe me, something go off in the mind that last week ahead of the wedding.

So get the whole thing completed well ahead of time before the mind goes

into that place of “wedding-mind-fog.” A “Wedding Ceremony Bag” helps

you get there with all that you require and averts the “distress and dread”

of misplaced wedding rings and marriage license.