There is a wedding in the family and I am so excited it's almost embarrassing. No, not my daughters who are nearing 40 (sorry girls!) and both of whom have been married forever.
No, it's my boyfriend's daughter, Michelle. She is such a sweet person -- really accomplished for 25 -- she is in the Navy, owns her own home, and is just about to finish her Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Business Management. She does cyber security. Talk about a timely career choice!
Both she and her fiancé (also Navy) are wonderful people. I care for Michelle nearly as much as my own daughters. Recently she went wedding dress shopping and invited me to come along with her mom and her maid of honor. What a great day!
Yes I know it could have been awkward given her mom is my boyfriend's ex-wife, but we all get along fine. It's been almost 15 years since they were married, she has a husband of 8 years and fortunately for Michelle, both her mom and dad still like each other.
I was a little concerned about being there because this was a special day for her and her mom but it was better than I could have anticipated. Michelle looked beautiful in everything she tried on but there was one dress that there was no denying -- it was meant for her. It didn't take long for her to say yes to the dress!
If you know anyone looking for wedding dresses, there are two great boutiques to visit. The one Michelle went to was called The Dresser Bridal Couture
in Fullerton. The sales staff was really helpful, kind, and quick! They have a wide selection of dresses too!
The other boutique is Pebbles Bridal
in Woodland Hills. I've personally purchased two wedding gowns (one for each daughter) at this shop and now it looks like they have another shop in Orange County. I absolutely loved the experience here and bet you would too.
When it comes to weddings, the cost can be quite overwhelming. Most brides want to have something nice but on a budget. Finding good people, especially for flowers and photography can be quite challenging, but still possible.
Locally we have an amazing photographer who specializes in weddings. Her name is Mellany Miller
and honestly she is such a nice and friendly person, I would hire her no matter what she costs. Her photographs are gorgeous too and after the party is over, the pictures and memories are what you have left so this is not a place to skimp.
If you are planning or helping with a wedding, there many great cost saving tips around (especially on Pinterest!). For example, did you know a wedding cake costs anywhere from $5 to $10 per slice! And most people buy a cake based on the number of people they are inviting only to find out they have about 2/3 of the cake left over.
Instead, why not purchase a two layer cake from a grocery store, then decorate it with flowers? This will run about $40. Cupcakes are really popular too but run about $3.50 each. Why not choose donuts instead? They are 50 cents each!
Another place to save is for the officiant. They get from $300 to $600 to perform your wedding ceremony. Why not get a friend to be ordained online? They might do it for free.
And for flowers, we saw one cost saving recommendation for buying them at Costco, which sounds like a great idea. For my youngest daughter's wedding (who wanted green and pink cymbidium orchid stems) we went to the Los Angeles flower mart and a craft-abled friend made her bouquets. Either way, a big cost savings.
And don't forget, we here at Executive Errands® have connections for flowers, cakes, photographers, party rentals, decorations, valet and other party needs. We can also help shop, serve and cleanup. We might even be able to get you a crew to keep kids entertained during the wedding reception or other party event!
No matter what you need, we are just a phone call 760-898-9604 or email away. Executive Errands® is your full service lifestyle management resource!
Until next time, I'm enjoying Michelle's planning and helping where I can. It's a big day and nobody deserves to enjoy it more than she does. If you have an event coming up, let us know how we may help!
