Need to RELAX and HAVE FUN??

I hosted a spa party last night...what fun!!

Those who are familiar with Direct Sales companies may know BeautiControl. I hosted a BeautiControl Spa last night, and it was a blast! My girlfriends and I pampered our feet with a footsie spa. If you're looking for a ladies' night out, definitely try either a spa or whichever in-home direct sales company you prefer. (scraping, stamping, baking, taste-testing, jewelry, skin care, etc.)

Great times connecting with friends and having taking time off from the outside world.

When the unexpected happens.

I recently saw an episode of Bridezilla where the bride made her bridesmaids spray paint the spotty grass green at her wedding/reception venue. Really??!! Now, I know there may be some extra acting on this show to make it more ridiculous, but come on!

Our unseasonable snowy weather reminds me of this episode. Would she have made her friends run out with hair dryers and extension cords to melt the snow had it snowed? I laugh to imagine the scene.

I've had clients who've broken feet and endured all sorts of weather. I remind them that this is their day to enjoy and be happy. The quirky things like casts, umbrellas, and down coats are part of their day, and it's what they'll remember. So smile and make fun of it! Your memories and picture will reflect what a great sport you are!

Wedding Planners save clients time and money

Save Money

How would hiring a wedding planner save me money?
Good question! The first thing a wedding planner will do is ask you a series of questions to find out what is important to you. Then s/he will look at your budget and prioritize money appropriately. This in itself will save you money. In our experience, couples that "just try to spend wisely" and try to choose the cheapest vendors, actually end up doubling their budget! YIKES!

A wedding planner will also negotiate contracts to give you the best deal. When s/he reviews contracts the planner will be able to find ways to negotiate extras.


Save Time

Planning a wedding is a part-time job. Literally. All the "man" hours that go into planning a wedding equal a part-time job.

A wedding planner has an artilery of vendors in his/her back pocket. Taking a look at your vision, personality, budget and items of importance, your planner will be able to recommend 2-3 vendors per catagory that you'll be happy with. Your planner will pre-call for date availabity and confirm any unique requests can be accommodated. Beats rummaging through the internet for the next 100 hours, making phone calls and scheduling interviews that go no where.

Mom stuff

As all my clients know, as much as I love planning weddings/events, I am a mom. I'm excited to have a "confession" posted on Confessions of a Mom site. Feel free to read and comment. It's really not so bad airing out some silly things that I've done as a mom. http://confessionsofamom.com/confession-i-used-my-kids-money-for-mcdonalds-happy-meals/

Updating Weddings By Jeni site

Just a quick FYI to my blog readers. I will be editing my website to include more events. I currently advertise weddings and corporate events, and I can do graduations and anniversaries too. Watch for more updates soon, and spread the word!

When the wedding's over

Just celebrated Nicole and David's wedding this weekend. What a wild time! Guests galore! Nicole wishes she could do it again, it was so much fun. Yay! That's the best compliment I could receive.

Typically the day after the wedding is gift opening. Why not? Your family is still in town...there's left over food. One piece of advice: have a plan for your gift opening. Assign tasks to family members (aunt Jane manages the coffee, cousin Karla gets the food, dad puts water and soda on ice, etc.). Yes we want the day after to be much calmer and quieter, and we also want the day to get underway and get to the presents! For the guests' sake, don't prolong the event. They may need to get packing and on the plane.

Where's the Summer Going??

I can't believe it's been two months since I've posted something. Summer is a crazy time for everyone. ..trying to get everything done in the few sort months we have nice weather. At least for those of us who live in a state that gets snow for the winter.

I'm excited for a September bride and her family this weekend as they are doing showers and bachelorette parties this weekend. It's a few short weeks until her wedding. I'm so happy for the entire family.

I hope everyone is having a fun and productive summer!

Destination Weddings cheaper??

I get asked about destination weddings and if they'll be cheaper. It depends. Here's my short answer:

Most of the time it's not cheaper because couples still end up throwing a big reception when they get back. So now they've spent money flying out to a destination (maybe paying for relatives and friends too) to get married. Then they spend the same amount of money throwing a reception later. What might be cheaper about a destination wedding's reception is that it's more informal....a back yard bbq. However, you can do that for a "regular" wedding too. Who says because you get married in a church that you have to rent a hall, band, dj, $30 a plate meal, etc.?

If you're on a budget and need more info, contact your local wedding planner and ask for a 1-hour session to get basic questions and ideas to move forward.

What do I do when mom(s) makes me feel bad?

Those mothers! (I can say that, because I am one! LOL)

This post is for those brides who have some conflict with their moms or future MIL. I can't tell you why some moms feel the need to express their opinions in a way that makes you feel unhappy.

Here are some reasons I can think of.....they like to control what's going on...maybe? Maybe it's the simple fact that they kept you from harm for 18+ years (and you're still alive!), worried about her every decision that she's doing the right thing, and now she just can't seem to let go. Speaking as a mom, yes, I believe that's difficult. You break your neck to raise a child. You put your whole being, effort, and energy into your children, and then POOF, just like that you're done. Well, not completely done, but it might feel that way to some parents.

If you are having some problems with family members, the first thing to do is think about it from their point of view. Move forward with sensitivity. (While your marriage is a happy time, it's a bitter/sweet moment for some parents. You're moving forward, and they're left to wonder "what happened...where did the time go.") Second, sit down with them and find out what's important to them and ask how both sides can compromise. No crying, no yelling, no threats, just calm ADULT conversation on how we can get this to work. You need to be brave and be prepared to hear ideas you don't like, and be willing to accept that they might not like your ideas in return.

A good rule of thumb...if you want to be able to say how you feel and be taken seriously, then you must be willing to hear things that you don't like. If you can handle that, you will be able to negotiate/compromise with better success and a happier outcome.

If you're really having issues, check into a Wedding Planner. He/She will be able to coach the whole family through the planning process.

Wedding Dress Shopping!

We had a great time wedding dress shopping this afternoon. It was fun to go with the bride, who's mom lives far away. It's such an honor to be a part of this special time in brides' lives. We were excited to get the perfect dress, and under budget! It's so much fun to be able to lead bride's in the right direction and hook them up with the vendors that fit them perfectly!

Having a bad day?

One of those good day/bad day situations today. The kids were awesomely behaved (g00d) so I was able to concentrate on other issues (bad). Ever have one of those days? I actually was able to turn things around by (1) talking to a friend and (2) playing outside with the kids and draw with sidewalk chalk. I had to play referee as they were fighting over the yellow chalk. In the end, we drew all of the cast from Spongebob Squarepants and their houses. The only one we forgot was Sandy Squirrel. I have to say, I was really impressed. A little sad we knew all the characters in such detail, but it was fun to have the kids pick out the correct colors, etc.

So my wedding advice to you is: if you get frustrated, pick up some sidewalk chalk and have at it! Or, call your wedding planner for a listening ear. Maybe you can meet at the park for a ride on the swings.

Wishing everyone sunny days and colorful sidewalks!

We're having a really nice day! The weather is perfect. The family let me sleep in, we ran errands, had a productive lunch, went to the cemetary to drop off flowers, shopped more with grandma, and I'll soon be making spaghetti for dinner.

You NEED a Wedding Planner!

It's been very busy the last few days with talking to florists, photographers, going over timelines and budgets. There's just SO MUCH TO DO! Minnesota is a HUGE do-it-yourself state, and I'm sad when I hear stories of frazzled families and horror stories. Why put yourself through that? I could have helped!

I was recently doing a follow-up meeting with a client and her mom and they commented on eerily calm the whole process has been, and how thankful they are to have me on their side. Yay!

This afternoon was I getting my hair done and my hair stylist was saying that her and her fiance want to do something small and simple...outside with a tent. Sounds easy, right? We'll let's think about that. What size tent? How many tables does it need to hold? Do you need a dance floor? How about a generator for the DJ and any lights for decorating? That's just the tip of the iceberg.

Somethings that I've recently heard that send shivers:
Wrong photographer
Underestimate timeline for hair appointments
Flowers - not enough, too much, and just not right
Over budget
Buying when you could have rented
Booking a venue that's too small
Waiting to long to book a vendor
Searching for hours on the internet for vendors

All of these things can be helped with a Wedding Planner.

For more info on me or my services, call, email, or text. It's worth it!

Venue Hunting

I've had a refreshing day out and about venue hunting. I continue to look for venues that are are unique and fresh. My assistant and I spent some time in the southern metro area looking at a unique spot for indoor and outdoor weddings and receptions. FUN!

Great meeting last night

We had a great meeting last night. The Association of Bridal Consultants, MN division, met at Windows on the River...a great facility. The Presidential Suite is fabulous and the food is yummy! Brian helped me present the topic of on-line networking. He did a GREAT job explaining the technical aspects of online networking and linking it all together to explain search engine optimizations. Social hour was great because I met more new vendors that I can refer clients too (photobooth, invitations, florist, cake decorator, and more).

Happy Friday

It's been a busy day. I met with a prospective client's sister for breakfast, caught the end of my daughter's ECFE class, stopped by the Drop N Go for prints and copies, had lunch with the fam, and now I'm getting ready for a Tastefully Simple party. The meeting this morning was very energizing. Not only did I get pancakes for breakfast, but I met a really nice person. I have such a great job.

Assn. Bridal Consultant meeting Feb. 17th.

I'm very excited to be presenting at the Feb. 17th Assn of Bridal Consultants meeting at Windows on the River in St. Paul. I'm incredibly thankful for Brian at Dick & Jane Letterpress for co-facilitating.