CHANGES

Hello!

It has been a very long while since you have probably heard from me. I’ve been making lots of changes and focusing on getting myself situated with my new environment.

If you haven’t heard yet, I recently moved to the Bay Area in October 2017. It has been quite the journey for this Southern California girl who has never lived anywhere else, but I have had many learning and growing opportunities and I can definitely feel my 30th year of life taking over.

I’m so excited to bring Ellenar Events to Northern California and ready to immerse myself back into weddings and events.

Cheers!
Lyrissa N. Roman

TIPS FOR WEDDINGS TOASTS

You’ve been given the absolute honor to give a speech at the couple’s wedding where all of their family and friends will have their eyes and ears on you. And before you freak out, here are a few tips to help you give a touching and stress-free toast.

Keep it Short and Simple
Be prepared and plan for a short and simple toast. Three minutes is a good goal for your speech, but shouldn’t go over five. Being prepared helps to keep your ideas organized and make sure you’re not talking over your time, while guests are wondering when is cake going to be served.

Be True to You and Speak From the Heart
If you’re not good at telling jokes, it’s okay. They didn’t ask you to do stand-up at their wedding. They want to hear what you have to say from the heart. If you have the talent to pull off a joke to make Aunt Debra giggle, then by all means lay it on them. Just don’t try to be something you’re not. True and genuine words from the heart will always speak volumes to the happy couple.

No One Likes to be on the Outside of the Joke
Speaking of jokes, choose wisely if you decide you want to throw in any embarrassing stories or inside jokes. The bride’s mom may not know about that time in Cabo and no one likes to be on the outside of an inside joke.

Practice Makes Perfect
Unless giving speeches is what you do for a living, you’ll want to practice what you’re saying and how you will say it. This will help you deliver your speech smoothly. During the week of the wedding, practice a few times to yourself and maybe in front of anyone else in the bridal party to give some feedback. With this, you’ll be a pro come wedding day.

WORKING WITH MOTHER NATURE

You’ve probably been curating your Pinterest board for an outdoor barn wedding in the middle of spring to celebrate your love for your partner. The photographs you’ve seen only confirm it’s what you want and you’re ready to have the outdoor wedding of your dreams. But those photographs are missing what Mother Nature can do to a wedding if you are unprepared.

You already know you will be checking the weather often as it gets closer to your wedding. But here are a few more tips to help you prepare for the elements.

Earth

If you haven’t already accepted it, now is a good time; your shoes, dress and pants will get dirty. Outside there is just dirt and it happens. But that’s okay. Try using stain repellent so your shoes can weather the dancing and walking around Mother Nature’s carpets. Heel protectors ensure that you’re not sinking into the ground with every step. These protectors might also be a good idea to hand out to your guests if they come unprepared. And if your dress and pants get dirty, there’s always the dry cleaners. Don’t worry about it they day of the wedding; enjoy yourself. Know that a dry cleaner will be there to help restore your dress.

Fire

Don’t forget that day turns into night, and even though it might be warm during your ceremony, temperatures can drop in the evening. Purchase inexpensive throws to keep your guests warm while they’re not firin’ up the dance floor. If your venue space allows it, have a bonfire with s’mores supplies available for your guests to enjoy. If your space doesn’t allow it, have a s’mores station with large sternos as your fire source. Get creative with it using different types of chocolates.

Wind

It is amazing how much a wind can affect a wedding if unprepared. Trying sewing weighted crystal gems at the bottom of your veil to prevent the wind from flying it in front of your face during the ceremony. Instead of individual escort name cards, opt for a sturdy table assignment sign or use heavier favors to keep escort name cards where they are supposed to be.

Water

Always have a plan B. The weather can be unpredictable at times. As you get closer to your wedding and showers are a possibility, start looking into clear tent rentals. You’ll still be able to enjoy the outdoors while keeping your guests and vendors dry. Work with your venue on a plan B, especially if they have an indoor option to add to your contract in case of rain.

Heart

Don’t sweat the small stuff and enjoy your day. You can try to fight Mother Nature, but she will win. Enjoy what she has to offer. If it rains, dance in it! Remember the bigger picture: celebrating your love and marriage with the love of your life.

Ten points to you if you caught on to the Captain Planet theme….he’s my hero.

We’ve enjoyed last year’s Pantone Colors of the Year: Rose Quartz and Serenity. The mix of the two colors provided a calm and cool effect.

But I’m absolutely thrilled for this year’s new wedding trend and color of the year: Greenery. 

There are countless ways to use Greenery in your wedding motif and I can’t wait to see how couples get creative with it. I am drawn to simplistic, minimal styles, and when nature is used to liven up a wedding, I think of it as framing nature’s beauty in its simplest form. 

When couples think of using a particular color as the wedding motif, many think about what the bridesmaids dresses are going to look like or what color the groomsmen’s ties are. But there are many options to utilize Greenery without having your bridal party look overly done with green. 

If you’re still unsure how you can use Greenery, here are a few ideas you might want to consider.

Flowers crowns. I love, love, love flower crowns. You get to feel a little like royalty without being too flashy. Opt for more eucalyptus leaves and green ferns and less flowers to truly embrace Greenery. Customize the crown so that it speaks to your style, whether you enjoy grand, bold statements or ethereal, simple tones. Flower crowns are an easy and fun way to bring Greenery into your wedding.

Greenery in tablescapes bring a natural, elegant element and is also more cost effective than flowers. When you pop Greenery against cream or ivory linens or even vases, your guests will feel welcomed to sit, sip and dine with you to celebrate your wedding day. 

Dare to be unique and use pine and evergreen in place of traditional greens used in table arrangements and bouquets. Adding pine on the tables will give a wonderful aroma to remind your guests of a home-like feel. 

There’s no denying that Greenery has its versatility when it comes to wedding motifs and decor. Truly 2017 has a lot to offer us and I can’t wait to see it! 

4 TASKS COORDINATORS HANDLE BEFORE THE DAY OF THE WEDDING

When couples hire a “day-of” wedding coordinator, some may forget that a lot of the work happens before the day of the wedding. Your coordinator is the absolute expert to the operations of your wedding and will take the initiative to get to know every big and small detail of your wedding. Most of the work a day-of coordinator does actually happens before the wedding: pre-planning how to run the day of your wedding, finalizing details and your rehearsal. Here is a very short list of some tasks your day-of wedding coordinator will handle before the wedding.

1. Finalize details the week of the wedding
Throughout your planning process, decisions are made and minds will change. The week of the wedding hard, definitive answers are made and the coordinator will ensure all questions are answered that were still up in the air from prior meetings. Colors may change, where people are get moved around, etc. The coordinator will serve as the liaison between you and your other vendors during the wedding. This last week of planning before the wedding is an important time for your coordinator to dot the I’s and cross the T’s. 

2. Create timeline and floor plan
You’ve planned it all and finalize your details, but now what do you do with all of that information? Your coordinator puts it together for you in a way that makes sense for you and your guests. They will create a detailed timeline of events so you know how to best use the time you are given to enjoy being married, take part in all the wedding traditions and especially have an amazing time with family and friends. If the venue doesn’t provide a floor plan, your coordinator is an expert at creating a floor plan to detail where your ice cream bar or cigar bar will be placed to your liking and what best fits the party. 

3. Coordinate the rehearsal
Bridal parties get anxious about where they are standing, where they are walking, where are they looking. Your wedding coordinator will coordinate the rehearsal and answer any questions your bridal party has for the ceremony and even the reception. Also, the coordinator helps the bride and groom maneuver around ceremonial traditions so that the ceremony flows smoothly and seamlessly. The rehearsal also serves as an introduction of your coordinator to your bridal party and family members involved in the wedding in case of any questions or comments. 

4. Pick up personal items
Wedding favors, cake topper, gift box and everything else that has been taking up space in your home. Your coordinator will schedule a pick-up time to gather all of your belongings you plan to have at the ceremony and reception site. Hand these off to your coordinator before the wedding so you have a lot less to think about on the day of the wedding. Your coordinator will ensure your personal things go home with you at the end of the night (or at least a trusted family member or friend).