Have you said "I love you" today?

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!

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

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!

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 Luca












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

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

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

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!