iDoGifts Blog

Wedding Photo Booth

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 23:23:00 GMT

With your wedding budget already splitting at the seams should you budget for a photo booth? The short answer is yes. Photo booth’s allow instant gratification and additional lasting memories for your guests. Wedding ceremonies are very serious and emotional and the whole point of the reception is to have a party celebrating your new marriage. A photo booth is an extra layer to this celebration as guests will become silly and amused at how cool they look. Some companies even provide fun props and the ability to instantly upload the photos to Facebook, thus giving your wedding reception a social stickiness that will allow friends and family that were not able to attend the ability to see part of the wedding reception. There are a ton of companies out there that offer these services so do your homework.

One company in San Francisco, SnapFiesta has great Yelp reviews and offers custom services based on your needs.

Aric Martinez

Co-Founder & CEO

Sexy in Sixty: Nutrition

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 22:38:00 GMT

Credit: http://www.weddingdietsite.com

With all the conflicting information out there, researching how to get in shape can be an overwhelming task. Perhaps this can become even more overwhelming when you’re trying to look hot in your wedding dress. Well, put aside what you think you know and get ready to learn the truth about getting fit and looking your best for your wedding. Because let’s face it, that’s what we all really want.

If exercise is 50% of getting fit, then diet is the other half. This means that although you might be working out like crazy, you might not see the results. Why? Your eating habits are not conducive to losing weight and being toned. Skipping meals is prohibited from this point on.

Here is the secret to optimal fitness: Metabolism. Metabolism is the rate at which your body burns calories. Many women think they just have a “slow metabolism.” And while part of metabolism is a result of genetics, it is only a small part of this. Erase the thought that tells you that you need to eat less to lose weight. Forget “NO CARBS.” Most women are guilty of not eating enough calories. And if you deprive your body of food you are not only slowing down your metabolism, you are decreasing your energy available to fuel workouts. Don’t forget that you will still have to sweat to get Sexy in Sixty. So get your calendars out and let the countdown begin!

This is not a trendy “diet” with nothing but shakes for the next two months, or confusing phases of eating only certain foods. This is a new lifestyle that will serve you for years to come. So why not start 60 days before the best day of your life The good news: We can speed up our metabolism. The Bad news: You can slowdown your metabolism.

These are the top ten rules I tell all of my clients and you will need to know to get Sexy in Sixty

1) Eat every 3 hours. It’s true! 5-6 small meals a day is the way to go. In order to qualify as a meal it must be between 350 and 400 calories and is comprised of 40% lean protein, 40% “good carbs,” and 20% “good fats.” You should eat half as much healthy fat, because fat has twice as many calories of protein and carbs, not because fat is not good for you. Clients often ask me how big a serving size it. For guidance refer to the serving size on the package for most whole grains like brown rice (2/3 c), quinoa (1/4 c.), and steal cut oatmeal (1/2 c cooked). For lean proteins, the serving size is about the size of a deck of cards. You will be amazed at how hungry you will feel first thing in the morning and every three hours following our first meal. This is proof that your metabolism is speeding up. Just remember that you have to stick to one serving in order to be hungry again three hours later.

2) Eat breakfast within 30 minutes of waking up. While you sleep, your body goes into starvation mode. The result is a body that stores the food you take in the form of fat. Years of not eating often enough causes the body to conserve calories instead of readily giving them up to be burned. In order to keep your engine running on all 8 cylinders, eating breakfast right after you wake up is mandatory. You may feel nauseous if you are not used to eating breakfast.
Just try to get something down and this will pass. Some suggestions are an apple, ½ of berries, handful of almonds, ½ cup of oatmeal with small amount of peanut butter, greek yogurt low in sugar (less than 5 grams, but as little as possible), and cottage cheese. If you do this consistently for 2 weeks you will notice that you are hungry in the morning. Congrats! This is the 1st sign that your metabolism is speeding up.

3) Eat “good carbs.” Wondering what that really means? It means eat complex carbs as opposed to simple carbs. For sustained energy and in the spirit of “Mission Speed-up Metabolism” eat carbs that require your body to work harder to break them down. A great example of this is a comparison of white rice, a simple or bad carb and brown rice, a complex or good carb. White rice is processed further than brown rice: originally brown rice its hull is removed. The hull contains all the nutrients and fiber. Without the hull, the white rice is simple for your body to digest. The presence of a hull is the difference between a good carb and a bad carb. So save the white rice for the wedding day as you leave the church.

Examples of “good carbs” are: steel cut oatmeal (not quick oats), yams (think sweet potato french fries), quinoa, brown rice, apples, asparagus, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and most other veggies (note that regular potatoes are not a complex carb).

4) Eat lean proteins to facilitate the firm and toned muscles you are about to build. Protein keeps you full longer and is the essential building block of lean muscle. When you are sore from working out, your muscles suffer micro-tears and the protein repairs those tears.

Examples of lean proteins are: chicken, lean ground turkey at least 93% lean, eggs (I usually use 4 egg whites to 1 egg yolk), tofu, filet mignon, fish, and whey protein shakes.

5) Eat “good fats” with every meal. Nonfat and low fat dairy is totally fine but those are not the good fats I am talking about here. But be sure you don’t omit all fat from your diet.

Examples of “good fats” are: almonds, walnuts, avocado, olive oil, coconut oil, as well as natural raw and unsalted almond and peanut butters.

6) Fat is not the enemy! Do you gravitate towards low fat and no fat foods? Fat is crucial for proper brain function, energy supplies and is required for the absorption of tons of nutrients. Remember though that you should eat only half the amount of fat as carbs and proteins because it has twice the calories.
credit: LucasFilm

7) In moments of weakness, remind yourself that nothing tastes as good as fit feels. You want to step into your dress on your wedding day and know that you look and feel your best. Not many women are that perfect size 6, but just remember that your future husband thinks you are so hot that he asked you to marry him so this is for you.

8) If you DO slip up, don’t let it derail you. Be sure to get back on track and back into the healthy eating habits you have adopted as your new lifestyle. After you are married, you will have the tools to maintain a healthy household for the two of you and maybe someday, a family.

9) Drink water! Not drinking enough water can cause you to feel hungry when you are not. How much water should you be drinking? A good rule of thumb is 1 fluid ounce per pound of bodyweight. Expect frequent urination for up to two weeks. Just as your body adapted to not having enough water, it will adapt to the right amount. Now repeat after me, “For the next sixty days, I will drink only water.” This means not diet soda and definitely NO ALCOHOL. This will only add to extra (and empty) calories and make you not want to workout. There is one exception to this rule: your bachelorette party. Black coffee is also fine, along with tea (no milk, sugar or honey). Credit

10) Reason with yourself. If you take in more calories than you burn off, you will gain weight. In order to lose weight, you need burn off more calories than you consume. Fortunately, you are burning calories all the time so you don’t need to account for every calorie you eat in your workouts. To put things in perspective, running 1 mile burns approximately 100 calories depending on weight. So before you have that cookie, ask yourself if that cookie is worth amile. And that is just to break even. Imagine how much better that cake will taste on your big day

credit: www.mylot.com

Finally remember, that you WANT this. And only you can make this happen. There is no doubt, you will have to make sacrifices; going to the gym when you are tired, saying no to that margarita, and canceling your standard frozen yogurt run with your fiance but it will all be worth it. Female clients often get the best results because they are willing to work for them and stick to a plan as long as they know they are guaranteed results. For a comprehensive nutritional guide pick up Core Performance, by Mark Verstegen. Chapters 13 & 14 will show you exactly what foods to eat. Look for the 2nd half of Sexy in Sixty in the coming week: Workout Program

Credit: http://www.perfectweddings.us

Katie McKinley, Athletic Trainer at Renaissance ClubSport
iDoGifts.com Contributor

Broke Bridesmaid

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 21:58:00 GMT

he is always late on her bills and complaining about expenses. You are still planning the shower and bachelorette party but suspect she won't be able to participate in the bachelorette events or even worse, she will damper the fun before it even happens.

The Fix: With this economy she really could be in bad financial trouble. Get together with the other bridesmaids and see if everyone can pitch in to cover her expenses for the bachelorette party. Then she just has to worry about contributing to the shower.

For the bachelorette party consider going to dinner in San Francisco and renting a large hotel room for a night, as opposed to a destination

She is always late on her bills and complaining about expenses. You are still planning the shower and bachelorette party but suspect she won't be able to participate in the bachelorette events or even worse, she will damper the fun before it even happens.

For the bachelorette party consider going to dinner in San Francisco and renting a large hotel room for a night, as opposed to a destination

For the bachelorette party consider going to dinner in San Francisco and renting a large hotel room for a night, as opposed to a destination party in Tahoe, Napa or Vegas. This is a much more cost effective solution and you can guarantee everyone can join in on the fun. The Phoenix Hotel in San Francisco is a good pick.

She is always late on her bills and complaining about expenses. You are still planning the
shower and bachelorette party but suspect she won't be able to participate in the
bachelorette events or even worse, she will damper the fun before it even happens.

For a bachelorette party in the Bay Area consider going to dinner in San Francisco and renting a large hotel room for a night, as opposed to a destination party in Tahoe, Napa or Vegas. This is a much more cost effective solution and you can guarantee everyone can join in on the fun. The Phoenix Hotel in San Francisco is a good pick.

Aric Martinez

Co-Founder & CEO

Honeymoon Registry Do's and Don'ts

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:03:00 GMT

There are many reasons why you may want to choose a honeymoon fund in place of or with your wedding registry. Many people find themselves in a place where they already have everything they need and want for their home, and would rather have funds given towards their honeymoon adventures.One of the challenges is asking your guests to contribute to your fund instead of gifts.

It’s very simple; just treat your honeymoon fund like a registry or amongst your registry. We highly recommend mixing in regular gifts with your honeymoon fund. This will allow people to have options of where they’d like to contribute (An iDoGifts registry allows you to do this).

There are some rules of thumb to follow for proven results:

Mix in normal registry gifts with your honeymoon fund. This will give your guests options and they can choose which they would rather gift you.
Show what you will be using the funds towards: Kayaking in the Sea of Cortez, a romantic dinner for 2, Barrier Reef Tour, Breakfast in Bed…you get the idea.
Do not include your registry or honeymoon fund on the wedding invitations or RSVP.
Do include on your wedding website. Link straight to your registry/honeymoon fund.
Let parents and siblings know about your honeymoon fund. They will be sure to spread the word.
If anyone asks, feel free to tell them. Hey, they asked right?
Last, make sure you are realistic in planning your honeymoon and what you can afford.

Keep in mind that there may be some people who do not believe in a honeymoon fund or that think that it is tacky to request money. This is all up to you…Just remember, this is your wedding. It is highly recommended and you may want to consider having some items like a traditional wedding registry amongst your honeymoon fund, so that your guests have a choice on what they want to contribute.

Happy Honeymooning!

Maria P. Falaschi
iDoGifts.com Contributor

How to Let Guests Know Where You've Registered For Your Wedding

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 21:58:00 GMT

You've probably registered for your wedding, but are wondering how you let your guests know where you registered. Common wedding etiquette states that you should not include registry information on your wedding invitations or RSVP, leaving you to wonder how you communicate your wedding registry.

Here’s a list of wedding registry communication Do’s

Post a link from your wedding website.
Trust word of mouth – hopefully your mother/mother-in-law and other family/friends will pass the information along. BUT you have to make sure that they know this information.
Include in bridal shower invitations.
If people ask you where you are registered, don't be shy-tell them or email them the links for your registries.

Maria P. Falaschi
iDoGifts.com Contributor

The Dreaded Wedding Seating Chart

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:04:00 GMT

Ask any engaged couple about the seating chart and they will probably sigh and may even look at you like this:

Unfortunately, there are so many things to do with planning a wedding that this task usually gets put off until the last minute. We've heard horror stories of fire breathing Bridezillas & Groomzillas relating to this task, some couples even doing the seating chart the night before the wedding. Let’s see if we can simplify it a bit.

Who Sits Where?
This may seem overwhelming at first but consider grouping the guests following these tips.

The Bridal Table
This is probably your easiest table to identify. The party has been picked months ago and for the most part everyone usually gets along.

Mix & Match Tables
The majority of wedding guests will make up these tables. Try and match age levels accordingly so that your cheesy mortgage broker friend doesn’t pitch your grandma for the duration of the reception. Also, you may want to consider political views. Lastly, divorced parents usually need to be separated by at least a table or more. Make sure they are not back to back at different tables!

The Singles Table
Ahhh… the drunkest and most fun table. Well, it’s finally your turn to become the Wedding Matchmaker and there is usually a good chance to pair up a future couple. The groom probably has an old college buddy that would fancy the bride’s childhood best friend. Get creative here and listen to your instincts.

Seating Children
If you have several children seat them at a kids table. If it’s just the flower bearer and ring bearer seat them with their parents.

The Weird People Table
Sometimes the single persons table will overflow into this group. If you have ever been single at a wedding you probably know what we’re talking about. Try and place this table in the corner for obvious reasons.

What Websites Can Help?
We came across a few sites that can help you design your wedding seating arrangements in a snap. Here are our suggestions:

SocialTables.com
Social Tables has a really cool interface where you can import all of your guests and easily drag and drop them into seating arrangements.

WeddingWire.com
Wedding Wire has an interactive seating chart, along with other useful resources.

Good Luck and please share any good seating stories on our facebook fan page.

Aric Martinez
Co-Founder & CEO
Aric@iDoGifts.com

Top 5 First Dance Wedding Songs (You have never heard of)

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 21:34:00 GMT

iDoGifts has compiled the Top 5 First Dance Songs for 2011 that you've never heard of-but should for planning your wedding. Enjoy!

Ray Lamontagne - Shelter

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ray LaMontagne

Ray LaMontagne performing at Prospect Park, 12 July 2006

Background information

Birth name Raymond Charles Jack LaMontagne

Born June 18, 1973 (age 37)
Nashua, New Hampshire

Genres Folk, folk rock, folk blues

Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano,harmonica

Labels RCA

Raymond Charles "Ray" LaMontagne (pronounced /lɑːmɒnˈteɪn/) (born June 18, 1973) is an American singer-songwriter. Reportedly, after hearing a Stephen Stills song, LaMontagne decided to quit his job and pursue a career in music. He has since released four studio albums, Trouble, Till the Sun Turns Black, Gossip in the Grain and God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise. In the UK,Trouble was a top 5 hit, and the title track of the album was a top 25 hit. Till the Sun Turns Black was a top 40 hit in the U.S. A soft-spoken person who is known for his raspy voice, LaMontagne has won a number of awards for his music and has performed at several charity events

Ray LaMontagne
Ray LaMontagne performing at Prospect Park, 12 July 2006
Background information
Birth name	Raymond Charles Jack LaMontagne
Born	June 18, 1973 (age 37) Nashua, New Hampshire
Genres	Folk, folk rock, folk blues
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano,harmonica
Labels	RCA

Sean Hayes - When We Fall In

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sean Hayes

Background information

Born August 27, 1969 (age 41)

Origin New York City, New York, U.S.

Genres Folk, indie, soul

Occupations Singer-songwriter

Instruments Guitar, vocals

Website www.seanhayesmusic.com

Sean Padrick Hayes is an American singer-songwriter.Born on August 27, 1969 in New York City, and raised in North Carolina, Hayes began playing traditional American and Irish music with a band called the Boys of Bluehill. He traveled the south, from the Black Mountain Music festival (LEAF Festival) in the Blue Ridge Mountains down to Charleston, South Carolina and eventually found his way to San Francisco, where he has lived since 1992.

Sean Hayes

Background information
Born	August 27, 1969 (age 41)
Origin	New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres	Folk, indie, soul
Occupations	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Website	www.seanhayesmusic.com

Phil Wickman

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Phil Wickham
Born	April 5, 1984 (age 27)
Origin	San Diego, California, United States
Genres	CCM^[1] Britpop^[2] Worship music^[3]
Occupations	Singer, Guitarist
Instruments	Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Years active	2002–Present ^[3]
Labels	Simple/INO Records
Website	http://www.philwickham.com/
Phil Wickham (born April 5, 1984)^[4]^[5] is a Contemporary

Christian vocalist/songwriter and guitarist from San Diego, California. Wickham

has released five CDs, Give You My World in 2003, a self-titled album in

2006, Cannons in 2007, singalong in 2008, and Heaven & Earth in 2009.^[3] He

has also led worship at Soul Survivor.^[6]

Joshua Radin
Press photo of Joshua Radin for his 2010 album, "The Rock and The Tide."
Background information
Born	June 14, 1974 (age 36)
Origin	Shaker Heights, Ohio
Genres	Acoustic, folk
Occupations	Singer, songwriter
Instruments	Acoustic guitar, Electric Guitar
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Mom & Pop Records
Website	JoshuaRadin.com

Joshua Radin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Joshua Radin

Press photo of Joshua Radin for his 2010 album, "The Rock and The Tide."

Background information

Born June 14, 1974 (age 36)

Origin Shaker Heights, Ohio

Genres Acoustic, folk

Occupations Singer, songwriter

Instruments Acoustic guitar, Electric Guitar

Years active 2004–present

Labels Mom & Pop Records

Website JoshuaRadin.com

Joshua Radin is an American recording artist, songwriter and actor. He was born and raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and is of Swedish, German, Polish, Russian, and Austrian descent.^[1] He studied drawing and painting at Northwestern University, following his college years with stints as an art teacher, screenwriter, and art gallery employee. He turned to music when he moved to New York City, bought a guitar, and taught himself to play and write music.^[2] In 2004, American actor Zach Braff introduced Radin's first composition, "Winter," to Scrubs' show creator, Bill Lawrence, who ultimately used several of Radin's songs within various scenes of the hit television series.^[3]^[4] Soon after, Radin's songs were heard on TV shows such as Grey's Anatomy, Brothers and Sisters, American Idol, One Tree Hill, among others.^[5] In total, Radin has amassed over 75 film and television placements.^[6]

Amos Lee

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Amos Lee
Amos Lee performing at Poptech 2008.
Background information
Also known as	Ryan Anthony Massaro (birthname)
Born	June 22, 1977
Origin	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	Jazz fusion, soul, folk, blues
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, guitarist
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Blue Note
Website	Official website

Amos Lee (born June 22^{[citation needed]}, 1977^[1]) is an American singer-

songwriter and guitarist. His musical style encompasses folk, soul, and jazz. He has

released four albums on Blue Note Records, Amos Lee, Supply and Demand, Last

Days at the Lodge, and Mission Bell. He has been on tour with musicians such as Bob

Dylan, Elvis Costello, Norah Jones, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, John Prine, Dave

Matthews Band and recently, English singer and musician, Adele. Lee performs

with drummer Fred Berman and bassist Jaron Olevsky. Some of his musical

influences include Stevie Wonder, John Prine, Bill Withers, and James Taylor.

Aric Martinez

Co-Founder & CEO

aric@idogifts.com

iDoGifts Joins Technorati.com!

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 20:36:00 GMT

Puppy Love

Tue, 17 May 2011 02:27:00 GMT

Bronco the Boxer

Bronco is the little boxer who could. He could find a new a home when his old owner left him out for days on end in the cold without food. Bronco is the boxer who could beat cancer…twice. Bronco is the boxer who could defend his family at all costs, yet be gentle enough to be trusted near a newborn. Bronco is the boxer who jumps up off the ground at the sound of the leash, like a kangaroo. His family refers to him as the doggie Secret Service because he will follow each person to wherever they are going and quietly wait there until they are ready to leave, sometimes he will even anticipate where someone is going and clear the room for them first; sniffing each closet and door handle. He will turn around with his tongue out to let them know the room is cleared and safe to enter. Bronco had everything at home, but still needed something more. He was looking for his doggie soul mate. He found Gwinnie at a dog park and never looked back.

Gwinnie, The White Princess

Gwinnie was the white princess who wanted more. She also had a fight with cancer and was rescued from a bad home. Gwinnie originally came from Oklahoma where she was going to be put to sleep. By the grace of god someone paid for her to get shipped out to Big Dog Rescue located in Penngrove, California from Oklahoma. Sometimes dogs have a better adoption success rate in different areas. She ended up in Marin County at Greenbrae Pet Hospital. Gwinnie looked up at her Vet Tech with her sad and prodding eyes and fell in instantly in love with her. The feeling was mutual because the Vet Tech took Gwinnie home that day. Even though their bond was formed instantly the road ahead would still be very difficult for Gwinnie and her new owner. She was diagnosed with malignant mammary cancer and had a very costly surgery followed by a painful recovery. Then 6 months later another surgery had to be performed to get the rest of the cancer.

Thankfully she survived and today is angelic; mesmerizing people with her soulful gaze. When her owner comes home Gwinnie gets so excited that she has to run out of the doggie door first to gain composure outside. She then runs back in and up two flights of stairs to greet her owner with sweet kisses. When she first met Bronco she thought he was a big bully and hid behind her owners legs. She was slowly charmed by his strength and good looks; she also thought all his sneezing was endearing. It wasn’t long until her heart belonged with him.

Getting Ready for the Ceremony!

Bronco gets cold paws at the last minute and needs a quick walk to relieve himself.

Wardrobe Malfunction

Bronco is in the doghouse with an unexpected wardrobe meltdown and makes mental note to have a chat with the Dog’s Wearhouse about the tux he rented from them. Gwinnie tries to remain calm but her instinct is to jump off the alter and chase down a ball.

Oops! Bronco drops the ring!

Bronco drops the ring and tries to sniff for it. Gwinnie looks away embarassed , but remembers the reason she fell in love with him was because he is a clumsy, buff boxer.

Vows are read

You May Kiss the Bride

Bronco moves in to plant a wet one.

I now pronounce you Married…may you live happily ever after (in dog years)

Bronco and Gwinnie pose like doggie movie stars for their “just married” wedding photos

Off To Their Honeymoon

Bronco and Gwinnie are currently enjoying their honeymoon in the Bay Area. They are registered for new leashes, a queen doggie bed and a jumbo pack of snausages.

Aric Martinez

Co-Founder & CEO

aric@idogifts.com

How to avoid turning into a Groomzilla (MENS EYES ONLY)

Mon, 09 May 2011 04:14:00 GMT

You saved up 6 months of pay for an engagement ring (yeah right, we all know you financed it) to let the whole world know that you’re utterly in love with your princess, your butterfly, the embodiment of the figurative phrase, “You Complete Me.” You have received record “likes” and comments on Facebook with your “Just Engaged” post (that was shockingly added within 10 minutes of you kneeling down)…typical comments read, “so adorable, knew it was meant to be, I’m so happy for both of you, congrats xoxo” (times a googolplex).

Family and friends called and praised your judgment on choosing the right girl. The father of the bride looks at you like a son. Your mind, body and soul are finally at ease. If you had ever tried yoga maybe this is what it would feel like inside. Work is good and your boss who you previously despised is suddenly giving you praise. If you finish the quarter strong you may finally buy that BMW. You have a shot in your fantasy league, life is good…basically you’re walking around like Van Damme in the 90’s…nothing can stop you. Hell yes!

The wedding day is at least a year out, so all you have to do is party like a $#$#$*#$#$ in Vegas for your bachelor party, rent a tux and walk down the aisle right? Sorry Hans-Booby, there is much more ahead for you pal.

1) Avoid steps 2-4 by insisting on hiring a wedding planner and read no further!

2) Bridal Fairs

Beware of vertigo here. You may walk in and literally feel like an alien. I’ve worked at these shows and the look of grooms’ faces is the equivalent of them being asked to suddenly give birth. This is her world; she is like an Avatar on the Planet Pandora. You need to forget everything you know regarding logic and reason and literally act like your dog for up to 8 hours. Just smile, nod at everything, and don’t speak. Treat every brochure like it’s the magic ticket to Charlie and The Chocolate Factory as they may be needed later and you don’t want to lose them or misjudge their value.

Don’t ask questions. You are an information gatherer, a census taker…that’s it. Just remember that the value of this show is in the process. It’s a test of stamina. You might get frustrated here but you have a long way to go.

3) Location, Location, Location

This is not all bad if you plan right. The hairs on your arm might slowly start turning into scales when you commit to too many weekends searching for the wedding location. You should have no problem going away 1 or 2 weekends to find the right wedding location, heck it’s in your interest as well as you probably don’t want to get married like this:

Communication is important here; inform your bride what events you have upcoming even if it’s watching your favorite sports team on a big weekend, or helping a buddy move. If you don’t say anything you may end up resenting her later on when the next 8 weekends are committed to finding the right location.

4) Avoid the Bridezilla

This is probably oversimplifying quite a bit, but if you witness your bride-to-be becoming a Bridezilla stay out of her way. You have your whole life to figure out what happened later on, so don’t try and analyze the situation now. As Greg, a former groom states, “I was tasked with last minute stuff. I tried to do it my way and got yelled at which started to turn me into a Groomzilla as emotions are running very high the week before. Looking back, I would have stayed away.”

Lastly, if your bride-to-be has not become a Bridezilla raise your hand and volunteer for tasks that usually get put off, like the seating chart. I’ve seen couples do this the night before the wedding when they should be laughing and talking with friends. Another task is preparing your speech. Yes, you should give a speech that does more than thank people for traveling. So jump on this ahead of time. If you are prepared mentally you will stave off a lot off Groomzilla symptoms.

Aric Martinez

Co-Founder & CEO

aric@idogifts.com

Wedding Planner or Wedding Coordinator?

Mon, 09 May 2011 04:15:00 GMT

Getting started…

So you just said I Do, what’s next? You need to decide if you want to have an expert help you plan your big day. Sometimes the difficulty is deciding how much help you will need and how much it will cost. Wedding planners sometimes get confused with wedding coordinators. Wedding planners are the whole enchilada. They will help you decide and implement the entire strategy around the: location, wedding dress, photographer, invitations, music, transportation floral arrangement etc. Sometimes wedding planners will start meeting with a couple 1 year in advance depending on their needs.

Wedding planners have a list of vendors that they have worked with for years. This is a huge plus because if a vendor really messes up at a wedding they are never asked to work again… so essentially wedding planners are working with the A-Team of wedding vendors.

Wedding coordinators are more specifically tasked. Their biggest task is usually to manage the vendors and make sure everyone is on point the day of the wedding. This is where the biggest risk comes in. The bride or someone else may have set up all the relationships with the vendors. Most likely the wedding coordinator will not have worked with them in the past. Timing is also important here as Lea Mathewson from Simply Sparkling Events sums it up “I’ve had couples come to me three weeks before a wedding asking for help, and I have turned them down.” She recommends at least three months advance for a wedding coordinator to get involved. If you hire a wedding coordinator make sure they have a checklist. This should include timelines and review of the contracts from the vendors. A lot of times vendors get lost going to the wedding, someone needs to be giving them directions. This sounds basic but happens all the time. “You need to make sure they have directions,” says, Lea. This is just one small example of many that can lead a wedding off track.

What can you cut back on?

Ideally everyone would have a wedding planner or a coordinator but they are not free and the good ones are worth every penny. It’s tough to cut anything from your big wedding day but here are two things that couples can cut costs around. The first is the wedding cake. For a nice cake you may be quoted around $8.50 a guest. If you have 200 guests attending that can be a big chunk of your budget…or $1,700.

You may want to consider taking this out and doing a dessert table or having dessert with the entrée.

The second thing is invitations. Couples can see huge cost savings by leveraging websites like: www.tinyprints.com/, and www.etsy.com for their invitations.

Your very own secret agent

A wedding coordinator or planner is very much like a secret agent because the audience only sees the mistakes.

When the wedding goes off without a hitch it’s because someone is working behind the scenes to ensure it’s smooth. Lea says “I've saved the day so many times behind the scenes and brides have no idea.”

Hey, so how much is it already?

Wedding Coordinators should be in the $2,500 range. A full wedding planner can range from $6,000 to $10,000. You should interview as many as possible before making a decision. You will be working closely with whomever you choose on some very important decisions.

Aric Martinez

Co-Founder & CEO

aric@idogifts.com

5 Tips to Make Your Best Man, Maid of Honor Speech Memorable…in a Good Way!

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 07:06:00 GMT

Know Your Audience

“Testing…1, 2, 3, is this mic on?” You look up and are surrounded by grandparents, parents, infants, uncles from Wichita, aunts, nephews, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, caterers, and even the band…you’re about to go on stage...good luck! You’re not in Heaven though, you’re about to give the biggest speech of your life. The good news is the people around you are already blushing for you; their expectations are that you’re going to dive bomb right on stage, and possibly run off. With this mindset and the multiple drinks and counting they’ve had… they’re actually your new best friend. They want you to succeed-heck it’s the American Way! They want to laugh and cry with you. Ultimately, they want to turn to their loved ones and whisper, “that was so sweet.”

Don’t feel that you have to tailor your story and jokes because there are “grandmas” or even “teenagers” in the audience for that matter. A good speech is not beholden to age. Plus, this audience as a whole is smarter than you may think. There is a collective sitting in front of you with life experiences and knowledge that would make Wikipedia throw in the towel. They’re hip and know how to text on an iPhone and change poopy diapers at the same time. They’ve fought wars and traveled the globe…so keep the humor and storytelling universal and sophisticated. Stay away from, “this one time in Brazil” stuff because nobody in the room was there with you.

Lastly, keep in mind most of the “roasting” has already happened at the rehearsal dinner, and that is not your job anyways. Stay away from the gotcha, or peed the bed stories as they are too clichéd. This audience is different. We’re in the home stretch now…so tell the stories from your heart and the audience will love you.

You’re the MVP

The bride/groom has hundreds of friends on Facebook. They work with hundreds, perhaps thousands of people. They’ve made new friends in grade school, high school, college, and beyond. After they got engaged they had to pick the most valuable person in their life and they chose you! This isn’t a can you help me move, host a baby shower or can you come water skiing this weekend request? This is, will you be the most valuable person in my life and represent me for the most important day of my life?

Think about that for a minute.

With this honor comes certain responsibility. You need to act the part and represent them. You have a Ph.D in everything about them. You are expected to know the inner most details about them and be a real life Twitter account for them. Your speech needs to incorporate who they were, are and looking forward to becoming now that they are married. Carry your title with pride, and don’t shy away from the responsibility. This is your big day too; don’t put off preparing your speech because public speaking is not your thing. Rise to the challenge and make a commitment for a great speech.

Interview former MVP’s and Friends/Family

Anyone that has had the honor of giving a speech before at a wedding is a great resource, seek them out and ask them what worked, what didn’t and how they approached it. Even if they’ve bombed they can tell you the pitfalls. First, talk with friends and family of the wedding party. You can take other stories and weave them into your own narrative. Then on your own brainstorm about every funny story you can think of regarding the bride/groom. Next, think of the five best qualities that describe them as a person. Ex. “He is the first guy to help you move, or she can always find the positive in a situation when I’m down.” Then try and weave those stories and qualities together into a narrative. Just force yourself to write it down. It doesn’t matter how bad it is initially, this is just a first draft. Just pretend you are writing a really long email to yourself.

Next, take the body of the speech and try and condense it into ten bullet points or less. Each bullet should be no more than 1 minute of speaking. Once you’re up there you will realize that time goes faster than you think due to laughter, toasts etc. So the intro might be “I knew Debbie and I would be good friends when she helped drag me off the trail in six grade camp after I sprained my ankle.” Now you could title bullet one “six grade camp” and attach a narrative to it. Once you see the bullet or think of it you can instantly recall it because you are familiar with the story behind it.

Practice

Read it aloud to friends/family and stand up while you are doing it. Do this over and over until you have the bullet points memorized. Initially, use a note card with your bullet points. No need to label your speech with intro, body, ending etc. Just craft your bullets into a narrative that has a beginning, middle and end. The biggest mistake here is that people know what they want to say but use a script as a crutch. The audience notices this and it takes away from the speech, not to mention your head is probably down as you try and read the speech verbatim.

It’s impossible to connect with the audience this way. If you practice your speech with bullet points you won’t need a script. Practice makes perfect here and don’t be shy to rehearse it over and over. Hopefully, you can stand on stage without note cards because all the bullet points are memorized and locked away in your head. Lastly, ask for honest feedback. Ask your peers what they would change or add and why?

Connect the couple

This might be the biggest mistake made in every bad speech you’ll hear. The best man or bridesmaid may say a lot of great things about the party their representing but never mention the other half, and more importantly connect them with a story. You’re the MVP as such you have intimate knowledge about both of them. Bring it together in the end with a story, why are they different together than the 5 other boyfriends/girlfriends each other had? What makes their loving bond so special and infectious to be around? Your last bullet should be dedicated to this. Try and think of something original here, the audience has heard all the usual lines. Tell a story about how they met, how they had fought adversity in their relationship and became stronger. The audience wants a story, not “I’m so happy for them, cheers.”

If you have a tear jerker bullet this is the time. You don’t want to try and make the audience cry in the beginning and then laugh. We want to laugh and then cry, it’s kinda like the wine before beer thing.

I hope this helps in some small way. You have a big task ahead and good luck.

Aric Martinez

Co-Founder & CEO

aric@idogifts.com