What Will I Wear?

This is such a good question for a mother of the bride or groom.  While it might not seem important, you are the hostess for one of the biggest parties you will ever have.  You are right in assuming that the focus won’t be on you, but many of the bride and groom’s friends, and most of the family on the other side are people you have never met.  They will want to meet you.



Bergdorf Goodman



This is such a wonderful time in the life of your child, and the last thing you want to have to worry about is how you look.  When the wedding is over, and the reception begins, is the time to relax and enjoy yourself and your friends, and new members of your extended family.

I saw this Oscar trunk show announcement today, and thought how appropriate several of these dresses look for a mother.  The bridal shops will try to talk you into having a formal-length dress, but we are mature women, and do we really want to look like we’re going to the prom?

Happy Easter!

Wedding Season Is Here!



Banq, a restored century-old bank building in downtown
Kingsport.  This is the perfect backdrop for cake-cutting.

 I really, really love weddings, but I wish there were more throughout the year.  It seems most brides want to get married in the spring or summer.  I have neglected my blog because I have been busy with weddings.  Unlike some wedding vendors whose work begins the day before the wedding and continues long after the wedding, my work begins months ahead, and when the wedding is complete, I just have to begin work on another wedding.

If you have been seriously considering having me help with your wedding, please contact me soon.  Remember, I am just an extension of you.  My job is to see that what you have in mind actually happens.  I may make suggestions.  Due to my extensive experience, I know a lot of pitfalls, and will try to help you avoid them, but ultimately, this is your wedding, and I want you to be happy.

I have available June 3, June 10, July 2,  and July 9.  If you want only "day of" assistance, I am available May 14, 21, and 28.

What I am working on now:

Designing invitations and pocketfolds
Making a wedding banner
Completing a wedding timeline and helper checklist
Alterations of a bridesmaid's dress
Planning flowers
Attending a floral design workshop

I love being busy with these things that I love.  You may think you can do everything by yourself, but a wedding is more involved than you might think.  Celebrities have a personal assistant, someone there to do whatever they don't have time to do.  You deserve this on your special day.

Celtic Wedding

Celtic Wedding

Celtic font and picture by AON Celtic Art.

Being exposed to all types of violin music for a long period of time, I came to enjoy Celtic music.  You might hear some of that type when you watch Titanic or Braveheart.  The Irish aren't afraid to show the sad side of life, and it is reflected in the music.  If you haven't seen Braveheart, snuggle up with someone you love, and watch it one of these last cold days.

I have seen the Ashoken Farewell used in a wedding for the entrance of the mothers and grandmothers, symbolizing the woman's leaving her home to join her husband.  These are the lyrics, though I have only heard it played instrumentally.  It's really quite beautiful.

Words by Grian MacGregor
Music by Jay Ungar

The sun is sinking low in the sky above Ashokan.
The pines and the willows know soon we will part.
There's a whisper in the wind of promises unspoken,
And a love that will always remain in my heart.

My thoughts will return to the sound of your laughter,
The magic of moving as one,
And a time we'll remember long ever after
The moonlight and music and dancing are done.

Will we climb the hills once more?
Will we walk the woods together?
Will I feel you holding me close once again?
Will every song we've sung stay with us forever?
Will you dance in my dreams or my arms until then?

Under the moon the mountains lie sleeping
Over the lake the stars shine.
They wonder if you and I will be keeping
The magic and music, or leave them behind.



If you're Irish, I'd love to plan an Irish wedding for you. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

Spring Is In the Air!

Found some fabulous bathing suits at J. Crew.  Now that it is feeling a little warmer, we can begin to hope.  There were great styles for any body type. 

HERE COMES THE BRIDE

I also purchased a Martha Stewart Weddings and can't wait to show one of the ideas to one of my brides.  I think it is one of my favorite things, a banner which says Here Comes the Bride for the ring bearer. Most brides don't want to trust the actual rings to the little ones, so this would be a great thing for them to do at the wedding.  I love this look.

Are You Happy?

I love watching Oprah, and will really miss it when it ends this season.  I saw an episode today that made me really think.  I respond very well to self-help advice, anyway.

Goldie Hawn was talking about being happy, and studies have shown that you can make yourself happy by about 46%.  Outside influences and genetics make up the additional 54%.  I was pretty surprised by that because I always thought that you pretty much are as happy as you WANT to be.

Michael Buettner, who authored Thrive: Finding Happinesss the Blue Zones Way, was on the show.  He listed four things which are the most important things to being happy.

-  Are you married to the right person?

-  Do you like your job, is it engaging work?
-  Do you volunteer in some way that makes you believe that you are giving back to the community?

and the number one happiness factor

-  Do you  live in the right place?

Just something to think about.

Let Him Eat Cake!

Women love to be wooed.  We love flowers, jewelry and perfume.  Valentine's Day has to be so easy for a man, but what does a woman buy?  If you want to get something he'll really like that doesn't break the bank, think about a food gift. 

You could get cream cheese-filled cinnamon rolls or cheddar biscuits at Rose Cottage Bakery at 113 W. Market Street, Kingsport.  You could get a custom cake at Sweet Revenge Cakery.

You could get wonderful breads or apple dumplings at Scratch Bakery in Johnson City.  You could get bagels, cookies or scones at Panera Bread.  You can get cream pies, tarts or truffles at Main Street Cafe, Jonesborough.

At Blackbird Bakery in Bristol, their specialty is doughnuts, but you can get baklava or chocolate croissants.

I'm making myself hungry.  Call now if you want to get something special for Valentine's Day.

Heart Month - Be the Best You Can Be

With February being Heart month, I am thinking of ways that everyone could be healthier.  I see on TV brides who want to lose weight before their weddings.  It’s a natural thing to want to look your best when all eyes are on you and you have on a white dress, which is not the most flattering color.

I am available to be your fitness and nutrition coach through the months leading up to your wedding.  Nutrition is one of my favorite things.  I try to learn everything I can to keep myself healthy.  I work out several times a week.  If I can do it, you can do it.

We could set up times to go over nutritional information, and even to plan menus.  I could even go with you to the grocery store and help you make better selections.  I could come to your home and evaluate your pantry.  When you are giving your best effort to lose weight, some items just have to go.  We could have a weekly weigh-in (sometimes it helps just to have someone other than yourself to be accountable to).  I wouldn’t be the drill sergeant you see on TV.  I would be caring and encouraging, but you would have to push yourself.  We would make out a plan and we would be successful.  Give me a call if you want help (423)943-2630.