Bee The BuZz Event

We're Moving!

2011-04-08T12:51:00.001-07:00

We are moving to a new site : http://beethebuzzevent.wordpress.com

Check us out there for new ideas and deals around Twin Cities, Minnesota!

A Valentine's Day Project Turned Proposal Idea

2011-02-10T12:58:00.000-08:00

Today was just another cold day in winter wonderland, so I decided to make a valentine's day project for my daughter's Kindergarten class.

Here are the items that we used:
Fuzzy Sticks
A box of Cheerios
Red Ribbons
Flags made of a regular printing paper with "Happy Valentine's Day" printed (I made this with Microsoft Word)

It is super easy to make that my 5 year-old daughter could make a better shape of heart than I did!

First we string the cheerios on to the fuzzy stick:

Then we shape the stick into a heart shape:

Print a few flags with Happy Valentine's Day printed and punch hole the ends:

Here is the finished product:

But then a lightbulb went on! This can be a great proposal idea. Guys, you don't need a fuzzy stick if you don't have one around. You can use any bendable wire, string the cheerios on it, tie a red ribbon, write "Will You Marry Me?" on a piece of paper, and voila! There is your proposal! Don't forget the ring, of course!

So, after she said yes and you give her the ring, she can eat the cheerios or she can keep that as a Christmast ornament and as a momento of your proposal. The best part is this does not cost you anything! Just use what you have around the house. I bet this will be one cherished cheerios that will last a lifetime!

Picking The Perfect Pallete

2011-01-23T11:31:00.000-08:00

When it comes to choosing the perfect colors to your wedding, there are few things that you need to consider:

1. Visual Feast
Each color combination must be pleasing to the eyes. Pay attention to skin tones of your bridesmaids and the overal mood of the wedding. Pick two main colors to avoid color clash and to maintain the elegance of a wedding. Choose the colors that you can't live without and your own visual feast awaits you.

2. Symbol of love
Believe it or not, the colors that you choose for the wedding will be the symbol of colors that you and your fiance's absolutely love together (the word "together" is crucial here). It is important to balance the feminine colors with masculine ones so that the look and feel of the wedding wouldn't be one sided only.

3. Base Colors
The most universal base color for weddings is obviously white. However, there are shades of whites that you may consider to match perfectly to your chosen colors. Wikipedia shows 15 shades of white to choose from:

To learn more about wedding color pallete, check out brides.com newest video about Color School.

This year's Pantone Color: HoneySuckle

Video Shoot with Staja Studios

2011-01-21T13:05:00.000-08:00

This morning I had the privilege to participate in a video shoot with Staja Studios for their new cinematic video product line. I am still in adrenaline high as I am writing this blog, eventhough I had only 3 hour of sleep last night (my little boy had a fever and was constantly up since 3 am). It was a fantastic interview by Jason Thon and me being a background person was actually quite at ease, thanks to Ryan for shooting the video. I can't wait to see the final product!

I can't tell you how much I highly recommend Staja Studios for their work in weddings and also in charity work. They are super amazing! If you are still looking for an awesome photographer for your wedding or special event, please give them a call and check out their new booklet at: www.stajastudios.com/stajabrideThey are also offering photo sessions for babies and families after the wedding. Who doesn't love that?

Also this morning (see why I was so excited?) I met a wonderful Kaja Foat, the owner of Foat Design. Do you know what she does? Well, I feel giddy for introducing her to you. She does an amazing work of re-designing bridal gowns from the past into a totally new, totally fabulous dress of the present. Let's say, your mom had this beautiful bridal gown which she wore for her wedding that you are absolutely in love with. Perhaps as time passes, some of the fabric is no longer in good condition or you just want to re-create a dress of your own but using some of her fabric for sentimental reason. By any means, call Kaja Foat! I saw with my own eyes this morning how she transformed a 1940s dress into a simple, one-of-a-kind dress that will surely be amazing to wear. She also designs yoga and every-day apparel that are just so sweet. Check her out at: www.foatdesign.com

Shop for your wedding: At the Mall

2010-12-21T19:37:00.000-08:00

image from thelimited.com

Brought to you by Mall everywhere: Your Wedding. From gown selections to skin care, I saw weddings, weddings, weddings all over the Mall.

The Limited is not only selling your work wardrobe but they also sell wedding dresses. What's crazy is the price. Gowns are selling for less than $250. The bridesmaids dresses are selling for $60. Need accessories? They are selling necklaces and bracellets less than $40. But again, what you paid is what you get. The fabric is decent but the color is not applicable to all skin tones. The seams may look like it was done too quick and therefore not giving the feeling of high point in your dress search as "the one". Some brides love it. Some don't. If you are okay with all this, go for it. Otherwise, there are plenty of local bridal shops who would be happy to have you as a customer. And in return, you will be a happy bride as well. I think you will be happy regardless what you choose. You have the man whom you will spend the rest of your life with!

Digging deeper, you would love to look and smell good on your big day, wouldn't you? My favorite skincare - Philosophy - is now offering a range of products for weddings. From the oxygen peel (which I personally use eventhough I'm not getting married again) to the field of flowers shower gel to the unconditional love spray fragrance. You can basically mix and match (and bring to your honeymoon) all these products that work for you. You will feel refreshed and lovely all day on your big day.

images from philosophy.com

Ah, love is in the air! Happy Engagement and Planning!

The Salt Covenant

2010-12-11T19:43:00.001-08:00

A new twist on Unity Candle and Sand ceremonies at weddings is the Salt Covenant. When I found out about this, the first thing that came to my mind was: brilliant. The Salt Covenant is not only unique but also brings great meaning to the bride and groom.

(Image and wording below from CenteredCeramics)

~~~~~The Story of the Salt Covenant~~~~~~

The Salt Covenant
During ancient times, agreements and promises were sealed by a salt covenant. Each person would take a pinch of salt from their pouch and place it in the pouch of the other. This agreement could not be broken unless an individual could retrieve their own grains of salt. But this, of course, is impossible.

This raku-fired salt egg has been especially made for you to create a salt covenant with your spouse in the beginning of your new life together.

Both spouses should take a bag of salt and combine the the two bags inside the egg.This a bond that can not be broken... as is a symbol of an unbreakable promise of love.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Salt is to add flavor to any meal. Just so, salt in a wedding ceremony is a symbol of adding seasoning to a marriage that will not easily broken.

~~~~~Why do you need salt in your marriage?~~~~~~

(from CenteredCeramics)

Salt is a good preservative. It will help you remember that your love for one another should be preserved for all time.

Salt adds flavor. We all need a little spice in our lives.

Salt melts ice. When your heart begins to grow cold you can melt one another again.

Salt is easily dissolved. You can remember to dissolve your issues and learn to work together.

Now use this salt in your cooking until it's gone, and then each time it needs refilled, refill it together. It is a wonderful way to remember what your marriage is about.

Why an egg? The egg shape symbolizes the full cycle of life, and therefore encompasses all that you will enjoy, create, and love with in your life together.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This Salt Covenant can be purchased at etsy.com

(image from CenteredCeramics)

Lila Couture

2010-11-23T13:08:00.000-08:00

My friend Lisa and I was at Posh Bridal Shop in Semple Mansion a few weekends ago and despite the cold weather outside, we had a BLAST! We laughed, took pictures and guess what ... we met the designer herself! I think Lisa and I were both a bit starstruck when we met Lila as we had never met a gown designer in person. Lila was so down to earth and it was really fun to meet with her.

(from left to right: me (who obviously needed a hair cut), Lisa and Lila, the designer)

And yes, what you see is what you get. Posh will also open a bottle of champagne to celebrate your wedding gown purchase! How lovely!

Serving boxed wine: tacky or savvy?

2010-11-16T16:05:00.000-08:00

Image from The Daily Green

As the Blackbox Wine gushes on their website " ... not all great wines end up in a bottle". Sure ... but is it great enough to serve at YOUR wedding?

Wine in a box is certainly not a new idea to bring up to the table, yet I wonder if there are couples out there who would be brave enough to be inside-the-box by choosing a type of wine container that would imply their out-of-the-box thinking. Aside from the taste quality, having boxed wines is convenient, more value to the dollar, and not to mention eco-friendly. According to The Daily Green, "Boxed wine packaging amounts to just 4% of its total weight, compared to 70% for traditional bottles. That all adds up to a smaller carbon footprint". Which also means you can transport more wine to your party with less fuel because boxes are lighter and the square shape means less wasted space than that of the normal wine bottles. To top it off, most boxes are recyclable, while most bottles ... not so much. Well, I guess I have seen vintage wine bottles turned chandelier sold by Pottery Barn.

I digress.

The point is: would YOU serve boxed wine at your wedding? Is it tacky or savvy?
Here are some great contenders to the beloved bottled wines:

1. Blackbox Wine
Equal to 4 boxes of 750ml at about $30 - which means about $7.50 per bottle. The value can't be beat. According to greenfaucet.com, "their Merlot was a Gold Medal recipient at the San Francisco International Wine Competition [as well as] their 2003 Paso Robles Cabernet won a gold medal at the Dallas Morning News Wine Competition. Other wines include the Napa Valley Chardonnay Reserve, Pinot Grigio and the Black Box Shiraz".

2. Yellow and Blue
From the color standpoint, they would look absolutely adorable at a wedding with yellow and blue theme. With only $12 per box, this boxed wine is not only keeping the "green" in your pocket but is also a true "green" in a sense of using organic grapes and Tetra Pak Carton (made from 75% responsibly managed forest trees). Yes, BIG HORRAY to all!

3. BOHO
Well, the name is very chic - but wait till you see the packaging. O.M.G. My head is spinning with all new ideas. Actually, it inspired me to create an inspiration board, totally from this box. Boxed with 95% recycled material, printed with soy-based ink, and at $24 per 3-litter box, this wine is worthy of an Oscar.

Bedazzled by Buttons

2010-10-12T14:00:00.000-07:00

The weather has been unseasonably warm lately in winter wonderland world, so I am skipping Fall and going ahead to Spring colors. Vintage and pastels go hand-in-hand beautifully, especially when it comes to buttons!

Buttons are certainly not new in the wedding world, but I found some that I totally adore! Plus, there is a "green" element to this - by reusing vintage buttons that are chic and pleasing to the eyes! Oh, I have been wanting to go to the nearest Fabric Store to find all kinds of buttons but haven't had a chance to go yet. So here are my inspirations - in hope that I will be able to post some of my own creations some day (FYI - I have not confirmed the images below are using vintage buttons, but one can only inspire using those for her own productions):

Images from Zazzle, Jodeli Bakery, jessicaclaire.net,Martha Stewart Weddings, Two Brunettes Shop, Design*Sponge.

Tips on Choosing A Bridal Shop

2010-10-04T10:44:00.000-07:00

Most brides's number one priority is THE DRESS. Yes, of course. That's a no brainer. But what if after you have spent hours searching online and scouring bridal magazine to select a few gowns that you liked, only to find out that you had no idea on how to choose a bridal shop that not only carries the designer that you like but is also able to deliver the best customer service that you expect?

There are a few things that brides-to-be need to know when selecting a bridal shop:

1. Customer Service
The consultants at the shop must be knowledgable about the style and fit on your body type. No bride is created equal. Each consultant must take their time to identify your needs as well as your wants and should be able to present options that you can choose from. My latest experience with my bride lately that she fell in love with a gown that she saw on a magazine. The bridal shop had the gown flown in from New York (see their name on my #1 recommendation below) only to find that it did not fit as well as it looks on the magazine. The shop's owner proceeded with other gowns that would fit the likings of my bride and with additional embelishments, she got exactly what she wanted! This level of customer service is hardly found in many of the shop around Twin Cities anymore. With confidence, I highly recommend this store to brides who are looking for a special treatment in their journey to find their dress.

2. Alteration
Once the dress is ordered, it is the alteration time. The dress must fit you like a glove, so good alteration must be a match-made on earth. The timing of the alteration is also crucial. You must ask in advance how long would it take for the shop to alter your dress. Or whether you must bring the dress to another independent alteration shop. A good bridal shop must have their own seamstress who can do just about any kinds of hems imaginable. Final fitting should be around 4 weeks before your wedding date.

3. Reputation
Never thought that a reputation of a company can play a significant role in choosing a bridal shop? Think again. Your wedding planner/coordinator can help you in recommending a shop that is solid in business and management. You don't want to be trapped in finding THE dress and then found out that the shop had closed. This certainly must be a nightmare that you never want to experience. So, yes. A shop with a good reputation will help you make your journey in planning a wedding as sweet or as sour as you want it to be.

So, here are a couple of bridal shops that I PERSONALLY have experienced and would recommend them to you. I try to stay away from the big national chain shops, because I just love small businesses and supporting each other in the industry is my way to support the local economy.

1. THE LOFT BRIDAL & DESIGN
Sara is the woman to meet. She is very fun and will never pressure you to buy the gown from her. She is very down to earth and very easy to talk to. I highly recommend The LOFT Bridal.

2. POSH Bridal Couture
What I love about POSH is they carry many eco-friendly bridal gowns that are sophisticated and yes, couture! Their location at the Semple Mansion is also strategic for many brides.

So before you find your dress, make sure you have the right shop to buy it from!

Happy Dress Shopping!

Larry & Elizabeth's Wedding

2010-09-10T15:10:00.000-07:00

I had the honor of helping Larry & Elizabeth on their Minnesota wedding last weekend and it was the best one yet! I thoroughly enjoyed planning this wedding from start to finish and this had really cemented my passion in creating and designing the look of a wedding that suited the taste of both the bride & the groom. They trusted me with all the details in the wedding and I couldn't be more honored to deliver what was expected and beyond.

The wedding was customized to the couple's West African's background with the song "Golden" played during the bride's processional which was ethereal and breathtaking. I could not even described when "the moment" we opened the sanctuary door and Elizabeth and her father walked down the aisle. It was so beautiful. I was about to cry myself!

We planned this wedding in under 2.5 months. It was the fastest in my record of planning a wedding of 150 people. This is a "destination" wedding for both Larry & Elizabeth as they actually live out of state, but decided to have the wedding in Minnesota. There were a lot of late night phone calls in order to accommodate their needs but in the end, they were all worth it!

Here are the details of the wedding:

We use origami papers to make the escort cards. A white paper insert has the guest's name and a table number will appear as the insert is being pulled out. With their wedding theme double hearts, we were able to combine the Fall colors and the theme seamlessly here.

The table centerpiece was created based on the couple's request of Fall Elegance. Flowers from Luna Vinca - www.lunavinca.com

The cake was created by Queen of Cakes - www.queen-of-cakes.com

The reception room was transformed into a warm and beautiful colors of copper and white with gold accents.

There were two kinds of wedding favors. For the adults, the couple opted a stemless wine glass with the couple's names and double hearts logo. For the kids, a coloring book with crayons! These came in handy to keep the kids busy throughout the reception.

Every wedding should be unique and I tried to make this one exceptionally personal as two beautiful individuals joined their hearts into one.

Personalized Cake Topper

Personalized Cocktail Napkins

Personalized Champagne Glasses

Personalized Unity Candle

Personalized Guest Book

Check out more pictures from Mycah Schrader Photography on my website: www.beethebuzzevent.com

Not to forget, I also did OOT (Out-of-Town) welcome packages for their guests who came from all over the world! I wanted to showcase Minnesota so I included a couple of Minnesotan products such as Pearson's Candy and Minneapolis/St. Paul City Guide. The Gold Key-Hole Gift Bag was purchased from Target (which is a Minnesota-based company!) and I designed the tag to look like the hotel card key. And of course, a Gold Double-Hearts sticker from Michael's to finish the look and to create uniformity throughout the whole wedding theme.

Ceremony: Grace Point Church, New Brighton, MN
Reception: Shoreview Community Center
Catering: Kane's Catering
Cake: Queen of Cakes
Rental: Midway Party Rental
Photographer: Mycah Schrader Photography
Stationery: Bee The Buzz Event

Amanda & Ted's Wedding

2010-08-06T08:36:00.000-07:00

Amanda & Ted's wedding started with a cloudy day but ended up with a very hot & humid one! The wedding had a vintage 1970s feel, with bridesmaids wearing crinolines - which reminded me of the "Grease" movie and the bride was wearing the bird cage veil (she was gorgeous!). The colors were black, white and turqouise. With 16 people in the bridal party, it was a fun crowd! I met the nicest bridemaids and everyone was so easy to get along with. The ceremony was in a small church where Amanda's grandparents used to worship and the reception was at Classic Rides & Rods Event Center in Annandale, MN. For vintage car lovers, this place is certainly heaven for them!
Check out their website: http://www.classicridesandrods.net/classichall/hall/index.htm

I also had the pleasure of working with Cottage Gourmet Catering, Lace/Hanky Photography and Northern Lights Entertainment.

Here is the testimonial from the mother of the bride:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for everything you did to make my daughter's wedding such a wonderful event. You were a joy to work with, and you went well above and beyond the call of duty to make sure everything went smoothly. Hiring you to help with the rehearsal and the "day of coordination" was the smartest thing I did. I was able to relax and enjoy the day (as were my guests), and feel confident that all of the tiny details were taken care of. You were very thorough and professional throughout the entire process, and I had many people comment to me on what a great job you did. If I know of anyone that is planning a wedding and would like some assistance, I would certainly not hesitate to recommend you to them. You made the entire process seem effortless! - Mrs. Davidson

See more photos from Lace/Hanky Photography here!

Ceremony: Our Savior's Lutheran Church, French Lake, MN
Reception: Classic Rides & Rods, Annandale, MN
Catering: Cottage Gourmets
Photographer: Lace/Hanky Photography
DJ: Northern Lights
Day-of Coordinator: Bee The Buzz Event

Welcome Packages for a Corporate Function

2010-07-25T09:23:00.001-07:00

This weekend Bee The Buzz Event had the pleasure of putting together welcome packages for companions of IEEE-Minnesota conference attendees. We did not have a lot of information about the demographics of the companions, so we made a natural guesstimate based on statistics that we researched as well as incorporating many local Minnesota products. For the adult companion bags, we included the latest issue of Minneapolis/St. Paul magazine, a water bottle (of course, as you know, BBE is all about green products!), a fruit and nut trail mix from Caribou, a creamy wild rice soup from Maggie & Mary's, a Minneapolis/St. Paul map and visitor guide, Ivy Spa Club gift certificate, MACY's fashion show ticket and a Project-7 Mints (another 'green' initiative product) from Caribou. For the kids bags, we included a Whole World Eco Fun Activities Book, Soy-based Crayons, a Juice box, a Fruit strip, a couple of Organic Lollipos, and the Crazy Bands! We had a great time assembling all 115 bags and awaiting for their feedback sometime soon!

The Adult Companion Bag's Content:

The Kids Bag's Content:

Drinking and ... Pedaling?

2010-07-16T22:47:00.001-07:00

It was so gorgeous today that my family and I decided to spend the evening out on the Nicollet Island area. We ate at Kikugawa Japanese Restaurant and walked the stroll along the Mississippi River. So, as we walked I spotted, what looked like from a far, a trolley but as I got closer it was a group of people, sat on bicycle seats grouped together, pedaling and drinking at the same time! I thought what a fun idea! Having a great time with your friends, drinking and pedaling (hey, cheers to being green!)your way in a beautiful Minnesota summer day. Check them out:
www.pedalpub.com

Jeanne Beatrice - Handmade Market Basket

2010-06-04T08:02:00.000-07:00

I have to admit anything with the name "Beatrice" will grab my attention. First, I was attracted by the name, given that we have the same name but also because it's a not-so-common name these days. In the movies, the "Beatrice" character was usually portrayed as a nerd, geek looking girl. Not so fab! So, I was ever glad when Prince Andrew, the Duke of York and Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson named their daughter Princess Beatrice Elizabeth Mary, which made me feel like the name is worth for royalty. Well, I think it's meaning is much better, beatrice means she brings joy!
Aside from the name, I found Laura Benson, owner of Jeanne Beatrice, lives in Minnesota and is committed to changing the public's habit from using plastic bags when going shopping to using handmade market baskets for the sake of the environment. Her baskets are imported from French and are called Morrocan baskets for their durability and natural beauty. These bags have been featured in People Style Watch Magazine, VOGUE.com, In-Style Magazine and Coastal Living Magazine.
Aren't these perfect for your bridesmaid's gift? or as a welcome package for your out-of-town guests? or even better, try giving this to your future mother-in-law, I bet she'll love you for it!

These are my absolute favorites:

La Mer - Medium $59

La Vie - Medium $54

La Vie - Orange $44

La Vie Terveer - Small $39

Aysha & Ryan's Wedding

2010-06-02T14:51:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful Thursday afternoon. The sun shone so brightly that we couldn't ask for a better weather. The ceremony was held on the Endless Bridge - Guthrie Theatre. With breathtaking architectural feature, the site was a great first impression. Aysha was truly a beautiful sight that I'm pretty sure Ryan's heart skipped a beat upon seeing her.

I first met Ryan & Aysha on a snowy October afternoon at Cafe Latte, St. Paul. Ryan was actually the one who contacted me and our first meeting was a total family affair. There were Ryan & Aysha, her mother, her sister and her best friend all present at the initial consultation. To my own amazement, I totally felt at home with them. They hired me on the spot - which was the highlight of my day.

The journey of planning their wedding was almost too good to be true (I'm not making this up!). They were so easy to get along with that almost everything (I said almost, of course there were a few bumps with other vendors along the way) went practically effortless.

For my very first Thursday wedding, this would be hard to top off. The reception at FIVE Event Center went smoothly despite the air conditioner decided to quit working that morning, but the crew was able to pull that off just 1/2 hour before the dinner started. Kudos to them! The site has a great lounge-y feel and the staff was awesome to work with!

Overall, it was an awesome experience and I am honored to be a part of their new beginning together.

PS: Did you know we re-use frappucino bottles from Starbuck as vases and Aysha's dad create a wood-bench masterpiece that the guests used to take pictures for the guest book! Wood slabs from Ryan's hometown in Wisconsin are used as a decor item on the dessert table and manzanita tree on the escort table.

Cheers!

Ceremony: The Guthrie Theater
Reception: FIVE Event Center
Catering: Cafe Ena
Photographer: Chris Emeott Photography
Videographer: Saved By Grace Studios
Dessert Table: Bee The Buzz Event

Pantone Color of The Year

2010-05-17T20:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, I maybe a few months late. But I just learned today that Pantone's color of the year (2010) is the PANTONE® 15-5519 Turquoise, which according to www.pantone.com, "transports us to an exciting, tropical paradise while offering a sense of protection and healing in stressful times"

One place that reminds me to the "exciting, tropical paradise" is BALI, Indonesia. Yes, I may be biased because I was born in that country, but a lot has changed since the last time (and only time) I came to the island. Bali is now a world-class venue which hosts events, such as destination weddings, that attract people from all over the world. No wonder it is one of the most romantic places in Southeast Asia. Marcia Selva, the president of Global Spectrum and a specialist in travel to Southeast Asia said this about Bali, "Romance is something that is unexplained and these romantic places leave you wanting more. Southeast Asian culture is dreamy. It is seductive and sexy. (Bali) has that. They have the spiritually and the allure."

So, if you're considering the color turquoise for your wedding, I hope it does transport you to an exciting, tropical paradise that you've been dreaming of. The color itself is so refreshing, airy and uplifting. Wikipedia defines it as a "rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gem and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue". And with that, I wish you: Happy Planning!

Ring Pillows ... so yesterday!

2010-05-10T14:48:00.000-07:00

I am a sucker for all things unique and out-of-the-box. This is one of them. Ring pillows are cute and pretty but take one step up and you've got a fantastic ring holder that can be matched to any wedding theme. Here are a few of my favorites:

What's for ... dessert?

2010-04-14T17:13:00.000-07:00

As I was searching for inspiration on dessert bar table for my client's wedding, I came across this name: Amy Atlas. One word to describe her creation: AMAZING. It almost seems as if she was a painter and the dessert table is her canvas. I was completely mesmerized by the colors and dessert options that were laid on the table. I am totally inspired!

Working on revamping the website

2010-04-05T13:16:00.001-07:00

I just received the first draft of the layout for my website and I am just giddy! I can't wait to see the final look! I'm also excited that we are going to do some photoshoots with some friends of mine who volunteered to be my models. Woohoo!
E-x-c-i-t-e-d!

I also just got a call from a groom-to-be who's planning his wedding in two months! Wow! I'm looking forward to meeting him and his fiance in person and see what we can produce together!

Bea

Matthew & Michelle's Wedding

2010-03-30T19:21:00.001-07:00

It was an intimate, full-on romance type of a wedding. The location was the groom's parents house - which is located out on the country somewhere in Wisconsin. The house itself was gorgeous and the view from its deck was breathtaking. I was honored to be part of this special couple's wedding. This is a wedding that I will remember for a long time.

I had the pleasure of getting to know this couple with their sweetness and sincerety that are hardly found in people nowadays. I wish them a lifetime happiness and blessed marriage!

Flower & Design: Sadie's Floral
Linens & Rental: Arcee Rental
Food: Grecco's on the St. Croix
Flatware: Family heirloom
Photography: Wendy Woods Photography

Here is their full testimonial:
"We were extremely lucky to find Bea to help us with the day of our wedding. Although we only needed help on the actual day of the wedding due to the small size, Bea went out of her way to help us firm up those essential details that one always seems to overlook. She also went out of her way to visit the wedding venue before the reception despite my horrible directions to the location in middle of no-where Wisconsin. On the actual day of the wedding, Bea showed up early in great spirits despite driving around town on our request to pick up the last food items and desserts for the reception. She then proceeded to orchestrate our contractors including the flowers, designer and chefs so that we could concentrate on getting ready. Once the reception was in full swing, Bea returned to the church to clean up so that we would not have to worry the next day. In all, our wedding would not have been as wonderful or easy as it was without Bea who handled everything, even the hiccups, with a positive and engaging attitude. We strongly recommend Bea to anyone who wants their day to go off without a hitch." - Matthew and Michelle M.

Have you said "I love you" today?

2010-03-19T15:44:00.000-07:00

Yes, I purposely timed this to not be on Valentine's day or any day that has any thing to do with love. Today is Friday - an ordinary day. But today is the perfect day to say "I love you" to your special someone. Why?

Because in the midst of all the planning and stressing over which linens go with which silverwares, there is another person who is craving for your attention. And that person is the one whom you eventually share your toothpaste with (only if you want to) and perhaps a little bit of that piece of chicken that you've been salivating over the last week (again, only if you're the sharing kind).

So, go over to your fiance/spouse/partner-in-crime (ha!) and say "I love you". Right now. Whether you want to say it out loud (while reading this blog), or send out a text message, or write it on that foggy bathroom mirror, that's completely up to you. In times when they don't expect it, these three little words matter most.

In the 7 years that I have been married to my husband. We always make the time to say "I love you" even when only the slightest opportunity arises. It helps to make our marriage stronger and our children - guess what - happier. Isn't love grand? It fills everyone surrounds it with joy! And it also builds trust which is the essence of a good marriage. I am no marriage counselor, but I can share that a marriage without trust is like sitting on the passanger seat in car where you may have a hidden built-in injector seat that can pop you out of the roof when you want to get out.

Call me old-fashioned, but I believe in spending the rest of your life with someone you love. I don't believe that people can fall "out of love" - unless there is something as extreme as domestic violence. I believe every marriage is worth saving for.

And as far as my clients, I want their marriages to last longer than the wedding preparations. I always take it personally when a client hires me for my services. I not only focus on their wedding, but I want them to think further into the marriage. Their long-lasting happiness is what I wish for them well after the wedding. I care for them not only during the stage leading up to the wedding, but far beyond into the future.

I wish them (and you) a fabulous wedding and a "love-me-forever" marriage.

Cheers! - adopted from my current clients whom I just adore!

Let's get physical!

2010-03-17T19:31:00.000-07:00

Okay ... stop the dieting and start eating. Seriously! If you want to look your best, you need to start eating - healthy that is - and do some exercise. Many workout places are offering great deals on personal trainers. Or if this is not your cup of tea, you can sign yourself up for a small group training sessions. If you need something really quick, bridal boot camps - these will hit you up on the you-know-where. One important thing is journaling! Journals help you track your progress and give you encouragement to keep going.

Here is some local boot camps for you:

1. RAD Boot Camp

www.radbootcamp.com

2. James Boot Camp

www.jamesbootcamp.com

3. Lifetime Fitness

Come on, get off the couch and go!

Next blog - get some natural products to keep that natural beauty in you! Stay tuned!

Perseverance

2010-03-13T07:05:00.000-08:00

Every time I walk into a small restaurant or drive by a mom n pop store, I wonder how did they survive all these years? Being small may be an advantage that they don't get sucked in to the "trends" of the world and that they are able to stay true to their core business. I am especially amazed with businesses run by immigrants who most likely started from nothing. They are truly an inspiration to me. Living the American dreams is not granted. It takes hard work and perseverance. And from what I see from these small businesses are not only bending themselves backward to earn a living but I see such passion and endurance through all the ups and downs in life. I salut them.

I like this quote: "Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain" -Author Unknown

Eco-Fashionista Bride-To-Be: Rejoice!

2010-01-28T20:32:00.001-08:00

Seriously, who would have thought that these gorgeous gowns were created from sustainable materials? Jason Alexander's new collection: Jason Alexander PURE has successfully combined luxurious, organic fabrics with stunning natural accents. The fact that his whole company has embraced the green initiative makes my heart burst with joy. I love what Conscious Clothing, a hemp silk wedding attire company said about the commitment in marriage and its connection to the planet: "By choosing to wear a natural fiber on this special day, a woman is honoring not only the sacredness of her commitment to her partner, but also the very sacred connection that we all share with our planet."

I also found these designers who incorporated hemp, cotton, and organic silk into stunning gowns:

Rene Geneva Design

Olivia Lu c a

Chrissy Wai-Ching

Morgan Boszilkov

Local Resource: Andrea's Vintage Bridal - 726 West 26th Street, Minneapolis, MN

So there ... keep the gorgeous in you and in your world - Rejoice!

Choosing A Wedding Date - Minneapolis/St. Paul Wedding

2010-01-01T14:33:00.001-08:00

Congratulations on your engagement! If you have not set your wedding date yet, you may want to consider certain dates that are popular, dates that are considered "unlucky" (if you are superstitious), and dates that may have save you some money.

You may have dreamed about getting married on Valentine's Day, Christmas Day or New Year's Eve since you were nine, but the fact is that these dates are extremely popular and may get booked a year or sometimes a couple years in advance. Keep in mind that flowers may soar on Valentines' Day (it's not surprising that it will triple the cost you would have in other dates), restaurant may be packed with Valentines' dinner goers (they may charge a premium on booking their hall!), and there may be a lot of competitions among the photographers, officiants, limos, and bands. The same may apply to Christmas Day and New Year's Eve weddings. While you may save dough for having the wedding in winter time. You may want to consider the frigid temperature, snow storms (aren't we lucky?), and snow emergency (you don't want your guests to not be aware of the Minneapolis/St. Paul special parking rules during snow emergencies that they end up finding their cars in the impound lot. yikes!) You may also want to do an online check on big events that are happening around Twin Cities, such as Twin Cities Marathon (during which hotel rooms maybe scarce and pricey) and depending on your ceremony or reception location, you may want to be particularly keen about the major baseball or football season, where the traffic can be a problem and a lot of rowdy crowd on the road.

If you are superstitious, the Japanese considers the number 4 as a bad luck because it is pronounced the same as the word death (shi). Since the number 4 itself is already considered unlucky, when it held on the fourth month, the potential of "disaster" may increased. Getting married in the same date as your birthday (or your fiance's birthday) is also believed to bring misfortune in your wedding. To top this list is Friday the 13th of any month. Most couples would rather not get married on the thirteenth because of the association of the number as bad luck. Some hotels don't have the 13th floor or some airplanes skip the 13th aisle, just in case their customers are superstitious.

Now after you digest all this information, the most important thing in choosing your wedding date is the personal and cultural implications on both of you and your families. Do you want to get married on the same date as you first met your fiance? or when you had you first kiss? or first dance? Do you or your fiance have certain beliefs that would affect choosing the right date? As we all know, living in Minnesota brings the best in us in terms of surviving the weather. June, July and August are the most popular months but also the most expensive months at the same time since the weather brings about warmer season and outdoor living (yes, we love the outdoors!). September and October are growing to be ever more popular for their Fall colors (gorgeous!) and their slightly more affordable months. Of course, there is nothing stopping you if you love the snow and winter time. Besides the three dates that were mentioned above, the advantage of having a wedding at winter time, especially during the holidays, is that you may slice up the cost of decorations (most reception halls and hotels are already decorated). As far as the day of the week, Saturday is the most popular day, followed by Sunday. Thursday and Friday nights are also getting more popularity due to its availability and lower costs.

So is there any particular date that is really good or really bad? All dates are connected to something. It's a good idea to reassess the story and happenings on the date and the days surrounding it. I wish you a fabulous time in planning your wedding and best of luck in your marriage. May this New Year brings happiness and prosperity for you and your soon-to-be spouse!

Winter Wonderland

2009-12-22T13:54:00.000-08:00

There is something magical about the winter in Minnesota. Even with the snow storm that is about to happen (according to forecast), I feel quite peaceful about it. It is the time of year that I usually reflect on what had happened and how the coming new year brings so much hope and inspiration to be a better wife, a better mom, a better friend, a better sister, a better sister-in-law, a better daughter, and a better person all around. Building this business from the ground up really took a lot of time from family, and I know for sure family is something that I cannot sacrifice at all cost. I am grateful that my clients are awesome individuals. They are so great to get along with and are appreciative of what I do. No bridezillas or groomzillas so far! *knock on wood* I know that deep down this is such a blessing that I can even get this going and I know I have to stay positive in the coming year. I wanted to prove it to myself that "if one advances confidently in the direction of (her) dreams and endeavors to live the life (she) imagined, (she) will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." - unknown
I need to do this for me. Not for anybody else - well, maybe a tiny bit for those who doubted me, but a lot more for those who believe in me. I hope that Christmas season brings joy in midst of sorrow, hope in the midst of difficult circumstances, and love in the midst of doubt and misunderstanding. And a great and prosperous New Year for all!

Joan & Wilson's Wedding

2009-11-04T13:17:00.000-08:00

Joan & Wilson were a fun-loving couple who was just a joy to work with! They were easy going, open to suggestions, all-around great clients! I was so honored to play a part in their wedding on Oct 17, 2009. I also met a few amazing individuals whose talents were beyond my expectations. The wedding decorations were mostly done by the bride herself. My only contribution was the mantel decoration that the couple had graciously let me did whatever I wanted!

Here is their full testimonial:

"Beatrice was extremely helpful in helping us plan our wedding. She's very organized, and kept us on the track of the planning time-line. She's very detail-oriented in identifying all the major as well as all the little things that need to be addressed. She's easy-going, accessible, flexible, and has a lot of creative ideas to make our wedding beautiful, memorable, and FUN! She understands our concern and does not mind to work around our constraints. She kept herself involved from the initial planning phase all the way through the end of the BIG DAY. She managed the flow of the wedding day very well, and she handled a lot of things which we would otherwise have to worry about. Overall, we must say that we are very pleased and really appreciate her work. Our wedding turned out to be so much better than what we had imagined. Thank you so much for your help and for making it happen!!"
- Wilson & Joan H.

The theme was fall foliage with lots of reds, yellows, and oranges. The wedding came together and it was practically flawless!

Small Business Accounting

2009-10-23T20:55:00.000-07:00

Accounting is supposedly my strength... after all, I have the advanced degree for it. But boy how it is so different for a small business. As I was trying to find a good software out there, I found QuickBooks was one that actually had a free online trial. I tried to do some journal entries and was able to yield a profit and loss statement. It made sense but I did struggle a little! It's amazing that after 2 kids and a couple of years of not working had made an impact on my brain! It's definitely shrinking .. ha!

I am excited though to see what QuickBooks has to offer. I am a bit hesitate to buy the software yet since this is the first accounting product that I tried. Otherwise, I have to resort to my beloved Microsoft Excel - which has been my lifeline all these years.

Dessert Centerpiece

2009-10-12T13:08:00.000-07:00

It's snowing here in Minnesota, but doesn't the dessert centerpiece make you warm and fuzzy inside? I really love the practicality of this idea, not to mention the visual feast right off the bat!
It is especially nice for this time of the year, while in most places of the country, the fall season had just started to kick off (we're not in talking about Minnesota - of course) that warm and gorgeous colors of rust, wheat, and gold showing up everywhere to bathe our eyes with the expectation of great bounty. Fall is definitely my favorite season.

New logo and new ad!

2009-10-06T13:22:00.000-07:00

I have the privilege of having a creative sister! She presented me with several choices and I chose one design that I think represented what I do and what I would like this company to be in the future. The possibilities of expanding the design to many marketing materials are limitless. That's the main reason I chose this simple graphic. One of the important elements of building the business is branding. With branding, the identity of the business is determined and people would know the who, what, and how I do events - the way only I do them.

Check out my ad at The Knot Minnesota - Wedding Coordinators. Today is the premier!

New look of my website

2009-10-01T12:14:00.000-07:00

"Yes!" That was my first reaction upon finishing up the new look of my website. It now has the look that I envisioned. Simple. Earthy. So me.

I do have to work on a few pages at the back but the first ones were satisfactory to me. I can't wait for placing an ad on The Knot Minnesota and am actually proud of my website! I got in touch with a couple of very helpful marketing people there and just over the moon with the possibilities!

I love this table centerpiece found from shutterstock.com - a fall ambiance with a lot of earthy elements. The use of moss here is just brilliant!

Welcome!

2009-09-30T11:23:00.000-07:00

Hey there friends!

Welcome to my blog! I am just ecstatic about writing my journey of building this new adventure. I am grateful for family and friends who are there to support me and to lift me up when I need encouragements. Lots of hard work in the future and I am going to take it one step at a time.

I finally found my niche yesterday! I am going to combine my passion of "green" living with my keen detail and artistic sense of event planning. In the current economic times, we found ourselves into D-I-Y stuff (which I love!) and I always think that by doing it yourself, you can control the materials that you use - which I strongly believe in using elements that are good for the environment.

I have to admit that my biggest satisfaction always comes when I see a client started drawing on a piece of paper about how she wanted to see it done (I love it when the creative juices are flowing!) and my role was to enhance and gave a boost to that vision! The result is rewarding not only to the client but also to myself.

Stay tuned!