I'm ready for my close up!

Wow! What a great surprise I found today. Months ago I attended one of the ACPWC mixers. ACPWC is the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants and I am a proud member! At the mixer I had a great time chatting with my fellow consultants and other industry professionals as always. Mark Shepard of Legacy Films was there recording a few soundbites for our upcoming events. I was interviewed and thought nothing of it (although I did get nervous and shiny). Today I happened upon the finalized promos on YouTube and they used everything I had to say! Woo Hoo!
I am so proud I am representing the ACPWC well and that they feel I am worth putting on film!
Check out the videos to see me, Gretchen Schmidt of Altared Events!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9hc06eU4ZM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrFMDgVlDWs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhZGXMaRACM

Who says D'Orsay pumps are THE wedding shoe???

The one where I stay up until 3 am...

I wish the blog had a time stamp in addition to the date. It is 2:52 am as I begin to type this post and my eyes they are a flutterin'... soon I can sleep but now I must post.

I have spent the last three hours perfecting my website by changing the gallery section a LOT. Instead of the "Our Passion - Weddings" section we now have a "Our Weddings" section which is then divided into our most recent wedding by couples initials. This is much better and hopefully potential clients will agree. The flash page also features two new weddings!

In the next few days I will also be updating the "About Us", "Contact Us", "Our Services" and "Love Notes" sections but those changes are mainly photo based.

I also created a blog post earlier about unique wedding shoes but that will have to wait as my big soft comfy cool bed is calling me...

I love what I do so much it thrills me even at 3 am...good night. *Art by Becky Gleason*

Sweet and Sinful Stephanie James!

www.stephaniejamescouture.com

I am proud to say that years and years ago I fell in love...with a wedding gown designer! Her name is Stephanie James and she is a brilliant designer. I am also proud to say that Kleinfeld Manhattan has recognized what I knew years ago and are carrying Stephanie James Couture in their salon. For those that know this is THE Bridal Salon in New York City and is featured in TLC channel show "Say Yes to the Dress". I have selected eight of my favorite Stephanie James Couture tea length dresses to showcase here today. Her 1950's era sensiblity with modern fabrics and touches set her apart. If you want a memorable inspired gown go with Stephanie James Couture!

Alfred Angelo and Your Bridesmaids

7102 in Raspberry, 7107 in Green Apple, 7109 in Iris

7105 in Orange Sunset, 7115 in Ocean Blue, 7116 in Shocking Pink

We all are aware of the wasteland of bridesmaids dresses that are out there. Shapeless poly blend gowns in colors reserved for the walls of retirement homes.

Thankfully a wave of modern beautiful designs have been hitting the runway and Alfred Angelo is keeping up with the trend with this seasons new designs. Affordable and fashionable with great spring, summer and fall colors these looks cannot be passed up!

Also, the bonus pockets with some of the designs will make is easy for your beautiful bridesmaids to carry their lipstick and tissues without being saddled with a purse or clutch. Fantastic!

Why Hire a Wedding Planner, You Say?

This article was taken from the website

Your Wedding Day

http://www.yourweddingday.com/ywd/coordination/Why-Hire-a-Wedding-Planner-or-Would-You-Do-Your-Own-Surgery.html

Written by and from the perspective of Michael S. Willms

One of my favorite topics is, "Should I hire a wedding planner and why? After all, my mother and her mom did mom's wedding and everything came out just fine!" My parents were married 53 years ago. They had cake and punch at my maternal grandmother's house in Princeton, Illinois and they looked radiant in the photos I have from the Big Day. I'm sure Grandma made the cake and sweets from scratch...I'm having trouble writing as I'm tearing up just thinking about it...so precious and so sweet! If you are having a small reception in the same location or one close to the ceremony, it is very possible that you and your family can handle everything along with the church or temple coordinator. But, if you are planning to spend upwards of $25,000.00, get a veteran wedding planner on your side! Not only is peace of mind worth some bucks, but a seasoned wedding planner can help ensure your budget is maintained, and help you avoid making financially-costly mistakes! One of the best analogies I can give regarding not having a wedding planner, given my dad is a surgeon, is opening up your own abdomen to do surgery, and then having second thoughts as you nick an artery, and then wanting to reach out for help. Little late I'd say. I urge you to avoid learning after the fact, because once you’ve had your wedding and you’ve gone through the experience to learn what it is all about, then you’ll know why having an expert on your side is needed. Today, I compare weddings to a movie production, but with only a onetime run through. All I can say for weddings without planners is the professionals hired better get it right and the photographer better catch it perfect on camera because if not, we may have Bridezilla comin' out and eating us all alive. Give me some humor here! But seriously, in a large production, there is always the need for a "go to" person to arrange everything and keep the show under control during execution.
From my initial "What I Do First?" list, there are 54 entries of pre-wedding things I count on needing to be done, not to mention any extraneous items from each person's needs...and these are just the pre-wedding details, now imagine it is the week of your wedding. Your family starts to arrive from Sunday to Tuesday; everything begins to be turned upside down. You have all kinds of last minute things you want to do and now most certainly, you don’t have the time as your family and friends want you to go to Universal City Walk, or whatever diversion is comparable in your town.Most of the brides I work with are not available during the time the vendors are operating their business making it even more challenging for communications. Plus many vendors are occupied with several events at a time, which the event that is fastest approaching usually takes the focus making it difficult and time consuming to get the vendor to respond. A dedicated planner is persistent to get the answers you need and distribute information that is pertinent, confirming the vendor understands it clearly. Where the real action is, is on the day of the wedding. This is when it’s truly action-packed as far as details. For most weddings, set up begins before makeup; leaving vendors with the need of a point person to fine tune what is live and happening. Most of my time during the last two weeks of wedding planning is spent refining time line adjustments for vendor time in/out, confirming time for highlights (like cake cutting), etc. as there are always last minute changes once everything plays out. Along with all of what I’ve just shared, imagine the bride being a consummate hostess with a smile plus having to handle the RSVP management, wedding rehearsal execution, guest list management, guest's umpteen million questions that roll in all day long, transportation organization, amenity distribution.... I’d say that a mad woman would be an easier role for a bride left alone! But when you have someone you can trust working on your behalf, available to call, text and email like a maniac to get what needs to get done done, you have the comfort to actually relax, and enjoy your wedding day.

Amethyst Garden Wedding - Fairies Anyone?

Spring has Sprung! Finally after months of grey skies, rain soaked concrete and wool coats...the sun has arrived! Looking forward to spring weddings the next month and a half I was inspired to develop a Victorian/Garden/Amethyst//Fairy wedding!

This ad appeared in the "I Do" wedding magazine insert of the following publications:

Auburn Journal

Roseville Press-Tribune

Granite Bay Press-Tribune

Folsom Telegraph

El Dorado Hills Telegraph

Placer Herald

Loomis News

Lincoln News Messenger

Colfax Record

Inspired!

After more than a month (eek!) of not blogging... my little site is in shock to have me here! This has been a crazy time and I am sitting in my office now pondering the past month.

I was also thinking about one of my dear friends, Jessica. She and I have the sort of friendship that has us pick up right where we left off the last time we talked or saw each other, which sadly to say is often quite a long time.

Today I was inspired to create a board for my dear friend, inspired by her love of Gone with the Wind, Scarlett O'Hara, her own Snow White looks, and her Southern roots. She is a city girl who sips martinis but also has the sweet charm and kindness of belle of the Old South. This wedding board encompasses all of her beauty, sophistication and downright jubilation!

The Dream Wedding Show

The Dream Wedding Show went fantastic! We had a great time meeting all the beautiful brides and everyone was so receptive to our business and who we are. Our up-front pricing, packages, and a la carte services set us apart and everyone seemed really appreciative. The "True Twilight", "Alice" and "Queen Shahrazad" tables turned out beautifully and the brides in attendance noticed our little details.
Amy Frugoli of Twitterpated Weddings stopped by and loved our booth. That meant a lot considering Amy is the Public Relations guru for the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants.
It was a great day at the Dream Wedding Show!

We also have an advertisement coming out on Wednesday March 3rd. It will be in a special Wedding insert of the Gold Country Media publications which include...

Auburn Journal
Colfax Record
El Dorado Hills Telegraph
Folsom Telegraph
Granite Bay Press-Tribune

Lincoln News Messenger

Loomis News
Placer Herald
Roseville Press-Tribune

We hope to hear from you soon and remember we always do FREE consultations!!!

Altared Events on Wedding Trends

Every year, practically every season, bridal magazines and wedding websites print or post an article on THE trends. It usually involves the latest hottest color combination, the newest "experience" for your guests (candy bar, photo booth, karaoke, etc.) and maybe even the newest icon to use on your invitations and programs...birds seem to be hot for spring this year.

Altared Events totally understands the desire to be current and modern and feel like your wedding is the freshest, newest, best wedding out there. There are brides who are trendy in life and therefore trendy on their wedding day. There are another group of brides, one might dare say majority of brides out there to whom violet and terra-cotta just seem odd, the wedding guests are health nuts, and birds only remind of Hitchcock.

To that bride we say IT IS OKAY. You don't have to pull your wedding straight from page 250 of a magazine in order for it to be current, beautiful, and personal. In seven, twenty, fifty years you are going to look back and wonder why there are teal and pink petals scattered down your aisle or why you ever thought hearing Uncle Doug sing Karma Chameleon would be cool. Instead of thinking, "What a beautiful day we had. I wouldn't change a thing."

You will however want to have memories of the way the person you married looked at you, the moments that you shared together and the love that you felt on that day and every day after. This day should be all about love and not about trends. If you love the color pink don't be afraid to use it in your October wedding. If you love red roses and green hydrangea use it...even in July. If you love Owls or Finches or Canaries then feel free to have those little birds all over the room (on paper rather than in the flesh or feather) but do it because you love it, because you have always loved it, because it makes you happy just like the person you are marrying does, NOT because the Knot or Martha Stewart says you should.

This day should be about your love not color scheme and theme. The details of your wedding celebrate that Life is in the details and your wedding celebrates that you are in Love and always will be.

Altared Events at the Dream Wedding Show!

Altared Events will be an exhibitor at the Dream Wedding Show at Cal Expo on February 28th! Over 200 vendors will be participating but only 5 wedding consultants were recommended to participate and Altared Events is one of the 5 esteemed consultants allowed. Come out and see us! We still have summer dates available and can not wait to be a part of your wedding!

Updates to altaredevents.com!

Exciting news!!! The Altared Events website has been updated to reflect our 2010 packages and include more of our examples of our work. Look for more updates in the months to come!

We are so thrilled for all that 2010 has coming! With all the weddings and showers this year holds we cannot wait to be a part of planning every little detail that adds up to your big day!

Wishing you the very best this year and always...

Altared Events

Crazy Holiday Season!

Hello all! It has been a really busy holiday season (for you as well I am sure). What goes by the wayside is our blog not your weddings! We will update our website and this blog soon! All our Altared Love!

ACPWC training

Altared Events has been in San Jose this week attending the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants training at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
This training was fantastic and the networking was a bonus! Altared Events learned some new things but was happy to know we have been doing it right all along for our clients.
Earning this certificate sets Altared Events apart from the mail-order planners or those who watch a movie and think wedding planning "looks fun".

Altared Events is dedicated to being the best for you and your wedding!

Better Late than NEVER!

Wow! What a crazy couple of months! It has been so busy for Altared Events that we haven't even had time to post our own blogs. We missed out on updating you all on Zeb and Steph's fantastic wedding in August. What a wonderful couple. The day came together for those two and they deserved no less. With a day that could have been well over a hundred degrees we had sunshine and a nice breeze ( a bit strong for the table cloths but we at Altared Events handled that). The guests were a great mix of cowboys and rockabilly dudes, proper ladies and wild women, and what a party it turned out to be.
Zeb and Steph are so obviously in love and what makes it more amazing is what good FRIENDS they are. There is nothing better than seeing a bride and groom who really "get" each other. Zeb had the sweetest speech (he even sang!) and Steph looked like a gorgeous goddess in her gown.
Great Fantastic Ballistic Awesome Altared Day.

Steph and Zeb's Wedding!

We are so happy to announce that we have been booked for Steph and Zeb's wedding on August 8th! This couple has been through a lot in the recent past and we are so looking forward to giving them a day that they deserve. The couple is completley adorable and clearly in love. The wedding has a red and black theme with Gerber daisies galore...this is a couple after our own hearts! Check back in August for photos and and all the juicy details!

Altared Events has Re-Launched!

Welcome to the blog of Altared Events wedding and shower design! If you have found our happy little blog here then that must mean you found our happy not so little website! After months of anxious anticipation our new Altared Events website has launched. While we loved our old site it was time for an update and a new fresh face to the online side of our company. This blog is also a new addition to our web world and a place where we will be updating you on our activities both before they occur and after the happy event! Please feel free to check back for updates and as always bookmark or favorite Altared Events so you can see all our new posts and photos. Signing out ~ Altared Events Wedding and Shower Design "A La Carte and From the Heart!"