The Art of Hosting a Summer Wine Party

Hello to my wine-loving friends out there!

 I thought I would share these great tips on hosting a wine event with you. 

Cheers and have fun....Cynthia

Season Finale: Taking the Last Sips of Summer

These sandy beaches and long, warm nights will soon give way to golden leaves crunching beneath our feet and fall’s first chill. Now is the time to take the last sips of summer with simple home entertaining that is easy on the host and easy on the wallet.

Send Out the Invites:
The promise of glasses overflowing with wine is always a winner. If you’re pressed for time or don’t want to bother with the snail mail, go to www.evite.com to create a great invitation that includes your theme (wine of course has got to be center stage). To make it extra easy on yourself, invite each guest to bring a dozen of their favorite appetizers. Easy on them. Easy on you. Fun to share, compare and trade recipes of favorites.

Pick The Perfect Spot:
Take the party outdoors and take advantage of the late afternoon or early evening. When twilight comes the magic truly begins. Go for lots of candles – from simple votives floating in a bowl to tapers placed in your best crystal or silver (yeah, remember those wedding gifts? Or, the gift from Aunt Edna tucked away in the closet. Bring them out and let them shine up the night).

Set the Mood:
Here’s the deal. A great party track can make your event memorable. They’ll be humming those tunes long after they’ve said goodnight. Put your DJ face on and create your playlist, download your favorites and let the music soar. Here are some suggestions for a large outdoor gathering : "A Minha Menina" by Os Mutantes, "The Noise of Carpet” by Stereolab, "Lebanese Blonde" by Thievery Corporation, "Dance with Me" by Nouvelle Vague, "Let me Down Easy" by Bettye LaVette, “Summer Wind” by Frank Sinatra, “Blue in Green” by Miles Davis and “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young.

Pop the Cork:
Chill the white in a large bucket of ice (pouring water into the ice makes it easy to push the bottles down for a better chill), pop the cork on the reds and you’re good to go. Arrange wine stems on top of a bar, table or tray and let guests help themselves. Pitchers, or decanters of still or sparkling water (toss in a sliced lemon if you choose) make a nice touch. Add non-alcoholic beverages to the offering so there’s something for everyone. Enjoy the season’s finale with family and friends. Toast to their health, their joy, their happiness. The memories will last all winter long.

First Dance Songs!

Over the years, I have polled DJ's, brides, and Wedding Planners to find first dance song suggestions for our brides. Here are some great options - depending on your style and whether you want a classic or a modern love song. So, grab your "grande latte", log into itunes, and comb through this list. Maybe, just maybe, one of these options will become "your song"...

-Love - John Lenon
-I Will Be Here - Steven Curtis Chapman

-In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel

-The Best of My Love - The Eagles
-Love is Waiting - Brook Fraser
-Lucky - Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat

-Faithfully - Journey

-Always - Bon Jovi

-Could Not Ask for More - Edwin McCain

-Your Song - Elton John

-It's A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

-I Do It For You - Bryan Adams

-Better Together - Jack Johnson

-You Are The Sunshine Of My Life - Stevie Wonder

-Maybe I'm Amazed - Paul McCartney

-Let's Stay Together - Al Green

-When You Love Someone - Bryan Adams

-When a Man Loves a Woman - Percy Sledge

-Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis

-Making Memories of Us - Keith Urban

-Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
-Warm Whispers - Missy Higgins

-I'm Yours - Jason Mraz

-Love Is Here to Stay - Harry Connick Jr.

-How Sweet It Is - James Taylor

-All I Want Is You - U2

-She's Got A Way - Billy Joel

-I Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith

-Lost in This Moment - Big & Rich

-Come Away With Me - Norah Jones

-Check To Cheek - Fred Astaire

-Can't Take My Eyes Off of You - Lauryn Hill

-One Love - Bob Marley

I would love your suggestions, too!

Cheers --- and Have Fun!

Wedding Photography: Formal Portraits Before or After?

In the days of arranged marriages, it made sense to hide the bride from the groom and his family in the event no one approved of her! Back then, the bride wore a veil which covered her face up until the vows were made and rings exchanged. It wasn't until "you may kiss the bride" that the veil came up and the truth revealed!

Nowadays, most grooms are well aware of who they are marrying, eliminating the need to keep the bride under wraps. There are no religious or biblical reasons to hide the bride - as a matter of fact, in Jewish weddings the groom must see the bride beforehand, remember what happened to Jacob in the Old Testament?

Taking your formal photographs before the ceremony relieves much stress, allows the couple to join all their friends and family during the cocktail hour and guarantees the use of natural light. Many ceremonies end as the sun sets, which is not the best lighting for portraits. You can more easily schedule leisure time before the ceremony than immediately following. A creative photographer will orchestrate a special "first" meeting for the couple, in private (with the photographer 100 feet away with a long lens). It's possibly the only time a couple will be alone together before 2:00 AM in the honeymoon suite.

Talk about your photographic schedule with your photographer and follow their recommendations. Sticking to old traditions can leave you in the dark!


--
Mimi Teller Photography
www.mimiphoto.com
(310) 372-6464

Wedding Photography - Name Your Price Offer!

Michael Adams of Adams Studio is one of the very talented photographers on display at A Legendary Affair. He is very creative in his work and in the opportunities he offers to potential clients. I just now opened my mail and received his latest offer. It is so unique and such a GREAT VALUE, I am excited to get the word out to everyone who may be interested. Here's the scoop...



Dear Bride,

If you're looking for a photographer, you're in luck. Also if you're looking for a videographer, you're in luck.

Let me explain.

I just bought a state of the art camera that does both High Def HD video and HD photography - at the same time. This camera changes everything!

My purchase is your luck.

I need some weddings to show off our new work. I need some brides that want something different and don't want to pay our normal price of about $9000 for both photography and videography. Is that you?

Here is the deal.

You get to name your price. Make me an offer. You heard me right. Make me an offer to create both your videography and photography in HD

Now, you may be thinking: what is the catch? Here they are:

1. I don't have to accept your offer. I probably will. Just consider that I have created wedding memories for twenty years. Honestly, anything reasonable will be considered.

2. I may already be booked for your day.

3. I get to use your wedding as a sample.

4. I can afford to create 7 name your price weddings.

So, what is the downside? You make me an offer and either I'm booked or I say no. Either way, it's no big deal. We both move on. However...

What's the upside? You make me an offer and I say yes. you get incredible memories, my twenty years of experience and you save thousands on your photography and videography.
What Should You Do Now?

If all this makes sense, then go to www.michaleadams.net, click on wedding models, and fill out our on line form. Sorry - for this special wedding model search, we only take applications through our online form. Phone and email are not accepted.

Remember, I can only afford to create 7 name your price weddings.
Please fill out our form today at www.michaeladams.net

Sincerely,

Michael Adams
Adams Studio
444 Zacahary #116 - Moorpark, CA 93021
805/529-2170

Manhattan Beach/Redondo Beach Skin Care - Creating the Wedding Day Glow!

OK - so the wedding is approaching in a few months and the pressure is on to have that "Wedding Day Glow" that everyone always talks about. Are you asking yourself ... What if it doesn't happen? What if I just look OK? As if you didn't have enough to think about right now! No worries, Ardyce of Skin Care by Ardyce has put together a simple plan that will help you ease into skin care perfection -- and de-stress along the way...

3 to 6 months prior
Book your Initial Facial and Consultation
Your facialist will evaluate your skin condition, life style, and skin care products and will personally design a maintenance regimen for you to follow according to your goals. Continue with professional facial treatments every 4-6 weeks.

3 months prior
Custom Brow Design
Your facialist will shape your brows to perfectly frame your face and accentuate your own natural beauty. Maintain every 3 weeks.
Lash Tint/Lash Perm
Start tinting the lashes in advance to ensure deep, dark color that is cry-proof, and will last through your honeymoon! Maintain every 3 weeks.
Wedding Day Make-up Preview
Trial run to discuss and apply the perfect colors to accentuate your own beauty. Book wedding date to insure availability.

2 weeks prior
Sunless Body Bronze and Skin Polish
This process exfoliates and smoothes your skin, adding a sunless glow from head to toe. Maintain daily with home product until wedding day.
Final facial before the wedding day

5 days prior
Bikini Wax Final Brow Design, Lash Tint, and Beauty enhancements before the big day!

If you want to check "get my skin in shape" off your list, call Ardyce now at (310) 791-1991 to insure that you will NATURALLY look your best on your most memorable day! Skin Care by Ardyce is a select vendor of A Legendary Affair. Be sure to stop by our showroom - we'd love to help you!

South Africa Honeymoons

I just met with Barbara Matles and Linda Kahn-Ferrell of Robinson Travel Service (right next door to our A Legendary Affair showroom) about their exciting new Honeymoon Package to South Africa. This trip is particularly intriguing to me because traveling to Africa and experiencing a safari is definitely on my "Bucket List"!

This "Southern Wildlife & Roses" package includes --- 4 nights in Cape Town at Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa in a sea-facing room and 3 nights in the Manyaleti Reserve at Tintswalo Safari Lodge. Spa treatments, select meals, and wildlife viewing activities are included. Land arrangements start at $4195 per/person. It is a trip of a lifetime --- which is what a honeymoon is all about!

Do You Need A Wedding Planner??

April Whitney of April Whitney Events in Long Beach, California tells us what a Wedding Planner really does, so you can decide if this is a service that you need...

Is it possible to have a wedding without a Planner or Coordinator? Absolutely! Hundreds of thousands of weddings go off every year without Wedding Planners. The difference is in how much you will work, how much frustration you will experience, how much time you will have to spend learning about what is available and reasonable pricing of goods and services. It will determine how many problems you will run in to, whether or not you will stay within your budget and how much you and your family and friends will work the day of your wedding, Having a Wedding Planner determines whether or not you will be plagued by questions and problems throughout your wedding day, as well as the overall flow of your event and how much you will enjoy the entire process.

Some Bride’s and Groom’s need a Wedding planner more than others. Bride’s and Groom’s that are working full time jobs or are in school will need a planner more than those with lot’s of free time. The Bride & Groom who live in another city or are planning a destination wedding will need a Wedding Planner. If the Bride and Groom’s parents or Wedding party live in other cities a Planner is needed. If you are having a “Home” wedding or a wedding at a location where you bring everything in such as caterer and rentals you definitely need a planner. Or if you just want to relax and enjoy your big day as well as the process leading up to the big day, you need a Wedding Planner.

Sometimes Bride’s and Groom’s are concerned that a Wedding Planner will “take over.” A great Wedding Planner will not take over. Rather, a great Wedding Planner is a partner in the planning process, helping to inform you, educate you, guide you and make sure that it is your vision that comes to life!

Even if you feel that you have already done all the work a Wedding Coordinator is the best gift you can give yourselves for the day of your event. A great Wedding Coordinator will take care of any problems that arise throughout the day, carry an emergency kit and do all of the things you would do if you weren’t busy getting married with many years of experience. A great Day of Coordinator will confirm your vendors, direct your rehearsal, track down the limousine, pin on boutonnieres, get water, oversee set up, manage your vendors, answer questions, shield you from little problems, take care of you, calm your nerves. And that’s just before the ceremony! In addition to getting you down the aisle, a Day of Coordinator will oversee set up of the reception, set up place cards, set out favors, make sure the cake is set up properly, tuck menu cards in to napkins, place table numbers, double check assigned seating, manage the entire location, get you and your wedding party ready for your Grand Entrance and that’s before the reception! A great Wedding Coordinator will oversee the flow of the entire reception, answer questions, give cues to the entertainment while making sure that the photographer and videographer are ready to capture the next event, cue toast makers, set you up for and assist in, your cake cutting, find your comfortable pair of shoes when your feet get tired, make sure all of your plans are carried out, keep your vendors following the itinerary, keep the event flow on time keeping in mind the parameters of photographer, venue and entertainment contracts. Your Wedding Coordinator will make sure that the entertainment is playing the right song for the first dance, keep you informed throughout the event of what is coming up next, keep you abreast of bar costs, load gifts to your car, pack up all of your personal items such as guest book, cake knife, toasting glasses etc…

Your wedding only has one chance to be right. Why risk it? Why spend all the time and money planning your event without making sure someone is there to make sure all of your plans are carried out. Who will fix problems for you on your wedding day?

When you look back on your wedding we want you to remember it as a wonderful event, not to remember “working” it. It would be our honor to help make your wedding come to life!

April can be reached at (562) 760-3095. She also teaches a Wedding Planning 101 workshop at A Legendary Affair each month!

Wedding Photography: At What Cost?

When clients visit the A Legendary Affair Showroom and are seeking a photographer, I suggest that they evaluate each choice based on 3 things ... Style, Value, and Personality. Sounds pretty easy, huh?! Well - maybe not. As with other event related services, when it comes to photography pricing to determine value, it is difficult to compare "apples to apples".

One of our prized A Legendary Affair photographers, Mimi Teller-Rosicky of Mimi Teller Photography has come to the rescue with these helpful insights and suggestions...

As couples navigate the murky waters of finding the perfect wedding photographer (and they do exist!) one of the overwhelming details are the wide ranges of cost. Wedding photography packages can start as high as $100,000 and range down to $750. Assuredly, the $100k range will resemble a lavish Hollywood's Who's Who wedding, while the middle range photographers for us 'normal' folks fall between $1,800 - $8,000, depending on how many albums, photographers and hours of coverage. Still, one wonders, why such a spread?

Allow me to explain why: A lot more goes into shooting a wedding than having a nice camera, a few flash cards and the computer software to process the final product. The overhead for a reliable and knowledgeable photographer should include all of the following:

• The latest equipment, camera bodies (at least two), lenses (at least four), computer and software
• Regular cleaning and maintenance of all equipment (at least three times a year)
• Purchase new flash cards every six month or every 15-20 weddings
• Keep dozens of fresh, professional quality batteries on hand
• Attend one to two educational and informational seminars, workshops or conferences each year
• Subscribe to industry related magazines (and make time to read them)
• Research each client's venue for the best light and shooting locations before the event day
• Understand each client's style, taste and character to best represent those aspects in photographs
• Belong to a few professional organizations (annual fees start at $100 for each)
• Invest in multiple, top quality external hard drives and 100-year archival CDs for backing up
photograph files. Archive each client's event for at least one year.

These are only a few of the items behind the cost of a photographer who takes their work and their clients seriously and will more than likely be around after the fly-by-nighters have found another get rich quick scheme. If you choose to pay less for your wedding photographer, at least present this list to them and find out which items you're willing to live without?

Beach Wedding Do's and Don'ts

Living in Southern California, many couples are enticed by the prospect of an ocean front wedding, and you can't get much closer to that dream than by having your wedding ceremony in the sand. What better way to say "I Do" in Southern California! Before you send out the invitations, you might want to follow the advise of Wedding Planners, Mary Dann and Holly Lefevre...

Planning for Your Sea Side Celebration

Casual or Formal: Getting married on the beach is really best suited for a casual affair. For a more formal affair, select an ocean front home or special event venue with an ocean view. Find the perfect sand space: Call the Parks and Recreation Department or Special Events Department in the city you wish to get married. These offices will be able to discuss what is necessary for a sand wedding in their particular city. Watch out for those special events: Ask the Parks and Recreation, Special Events Department, and/or Chamber of Commerce about other public events taking place. The beach is host to many volleyball tournaments, surf competitions, and street fairs. Check into restrictions: Do you need a permit or is the beach available on a first come first serve basis? Can chairs be set out? Ask these and other questions before you proceed with the planning. Call again: Before invitations are ordered (3-4 months prior to wedding) call the city again to reconfirm rules, regulations, and schedule of public activities. Have a back up plan: Rain, wind, or an unexpected (public) special event scheduled can upset your plans. Ask your reception site if they have back-up space. Crowds and Uninvited Guests: You will attract passerby's who like to be distant witnesses to your special wedding celebration. Also, try not to plan a sand wedding on a holiday weekend. Be clear on the invitations: Indicate your wedding site on your invitation. Make it clear to your guests that the ceremony takes place on the sand. Parking: Secure a parking lot and/or hire a shuttle service for guest transportation. "Do's and Don'ts" - Helpful Hints from the Experts DO: Be aware of special needs of older or disabled guests DO: Provide some chairs for family and older guests (10-12 chairs is adequate) DO: Consider using a pedi-cab to get these guests from the hotel/parking lot to the sand DO: Acoustical guitars, flutes, and other "portable" instruments work for beach ceremonies or have a friend operate a (battery operated) CD player DO: Keep the decor simple...Pre-decorated arches and aisle markers and a few chairs for older guests and/or family DO: Hold off bringing out dÈcor until 30 minutes prior or have a friend watch over your items DO: Use a pedi-cab to get you from the hotel to the sand DO: Hire a Wedding Coordinator DO: Stake out your spot with towels & sheets to reserve your space in the sand DO: Have water with plastic glasses and emergency kit available to your guests DO: Have a basket of towels available, post-ceremony for wiping off feet DO: Think about golf umbrellas for shade (especially on hot days) DO: Use walkie-talkies and cellular phones for Strand to sand communication DO: Have the photographer/videographer bring a sand wagon to carry and secure their equipment DO: Have a person to secure all the shoes that are left on The Strand (sidewalk that lines the beach throughout the South Bay). DON'T: Keep guests waiting without seats in the sun. Start the ceremony on time DON'T: Hire a keyboardist, harpist, or DJ's to provide music or sound for the ceremony DON'T: Use candles (i.e. a unity candle) DON'T: Use a (fabric) aisle runner DON'T: Plan a ceremony longer than 20 minutes DO: RELAX, TAKE IN THAT FRESH SEA AIR, AND ENJOY EVERY MINUTE OF THIS AMAZING DAY!

Wedding Dining Etiquette

Several years ago, I created a handbook of articles written by each of the very knowledgeable vendors of A Legendary Affair, Manhattan Beach, CA. The following information on Wedding Dining Etiquette provided by Margaret Develey of The Develey International Group proved very helpful...

There are a lot of little details that the bride will have to coordinate when finalizing the details of her wedding reception. One of the most important ones is the seating arrangements of the "parents' table."

Making sure that proper seating protocol is followed is a must during a wedding reception. If you decide to go with a "parents' table" the seating should be as follows: the mother of the bride, would have the father of the groom sitting to her right. The father of the bride, or whoever is accompanying the mother of the bride, would sit across the table having the mother of the groom to his right. The seat to the left of the bride's mother is usually reserved for the person who performed the wedding ceremony. The mother of the groom has the bride's grandfather (or other male relative) on her right side and the seating arrangements go on alternating family members or close family friends.

For everyone who participates, in a wedding reception, it is important to know what part of the place setting belongs to them and what belongs to the people sitting to their left and to their right. As a rule of thumb, all glassware for a place setting, are to the right of that place setting. The bread and butter plate is always on the left of a place setting. Any utensils on top of the place setting are to be used for the dessert.

The napkin can be in a lot of different locations and knowing which one is yours is vital, as it could leave someone on the table without a napkin. Usually napkins are placed in the center of the place setting, but you can also find them next to the forks in the left of the place setting, in the wineglass or the coffee cup if this is set on the table. Another place where the napkin can be found is on the bread and butter plate. Observe the place setting before using the silverware, glassware and napkin.

An important part of both the rehearsal dinner and the wedding reception is toasting. Usually the best man will begin the toasts and then other people can follow.

A toast is a very special honor for the person receiving it. Throughout the course of the meal people will start toasting the wedding couple. The person giving the toast stands. The couple that is being toasted remains seated hold their glasses, but they do not raise them or bring them to their lips to drink. One does not drink a toast to oneself. It is appropriate for the person who was toasted to rise and respond to the toast, to which he/she may drink. Other guests may then propose toasts.

Becoming aware of all these little details will take the guesswork out the day of the special event and will let everyone enjoy the celebration.